Party at Rodman's house. He's got like seven kegs! Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Track Smack: Chicago

If NASCAR adjusts the 400-point rule, will it cheapen the Chase?

Marty Smith: Well, first things first, the 400-point rule was never viable in the first place (though I will admit that one high-ranking NASCAR official, with whom I debate the sport daily, does make a good point that if Gordon had been caught up in the wreck Johnson was collected in at Richmond '04, 15 guys would have made it).

Ryan Smithson: Right, Marty, at RIR in 2004, we had 14 guys in the Chase with about 50 laps to go. I hope they do not extend it to much beyond 500 points. If they extend it to 1,000 points you'd get some teams in that are not worthy of being in the playoff. 500 is about right. And we'd still only have 10 drivers a year.

David Newton: I always thought 400 was a bit tight to begin with, because seldom if ever, is there anybody outside the top 10 within that. I'd like to see it stretch to 450 to bring a player or two back in the mix.

Dave Rodman: If they adjust it, I think they will do that with a set number of "Chasers" in mind. They knew 400 was going to limit it to 10 men. If they are trying to suck up to sponsors, setting another point limit will be tough.

David Newton: Ten's a good number anyway, because realistically only about five teams will be a factor halfway through the Chase. And I agree, Rodman, extending it would be sucking up to sponsors.

Dave Rodman: Considering the nature of the sport, and the way some of the stick-and-ball games are looked down on because "everyone" gets into the playoffs -- including teams that barely have winning records -- I think 10 is a legitimate number and shouldn't be screwed with.

Marty Smith: The scuttlebutt in the garage is France wants to make 15 drivers automatically eligible.

Dave Rodman: Then he ought to make it easy for everyone. Put the points away and just say "15 makes the Chase."

Marty Smith: That's crazy. It shouldn't be that diluted.

Ryan Smithson: Well, the thing is, you can't turn a 15th-place team into a champion in just 10 races.

Marty Smith: Exactly, so why qualify them in the first place?

Nobody had the heart to tell these guys they weren't really posing with Jeff Gordon. Credit: AP

David Newton: It's the way of the sports world. The NFL, NBA, NHL all have expanded and it hasn't hurt them. It actually sweetens it because the underdog gets a chance.

Marty Smith: I don't think a team that runs 15th after 26 races deserves to make the playoffs. I'm all for the underdog, Newt. All for it. But 15th?

David Newton: So you don't think the wild card team deserves to win the Super Bowl?

Besides, the odds of the 15th team turning things around in 10 races are pretty slim.

Marty Smith: Of course. The Wild Card team is a fourth-place team.

David Newton: The Wild Card team also didn't win a division and often has a record barely at .500.

Marty Smith: I don't buy that Wild Card from other sports argument for a second, Newt. Not for a half-second. It is apples and oranges.

Ryan Smithson: Sooner or later, we have to stop applying other sports' templates to NASCAR.

David Newton: Or what about the 65th team in the NCAA basketball tournament?

Marty Smith: It's interesting that other sports have begun applying NASCAR to their templates, though.

E-MAIL •   Dave Rodman •   Ryan Smithson •   Marty Smith •   David Newton JOIN THE FRAY •   Send us a topic for discussion

Ryan Smithson: Golf's new copying of the Chase is simply crazy.

Marty Smith: Oh, the team that doesn't belong at 12 wins, 18 losses, Newt? Right.

David Newton: The Chase won't really change with more drivers involved. It'll still come down to four or five over the last five races.

Ryan Smithson: Not 4-5. About eight.

Marty Smith: I don't disagree, Newt. It's still Roush, Hendrick and Gibbs. Kasey Kahne and Earnhardt.

David Newton: The change I look forward to is giving more points to the winner. I think it cheapens the championship when the champion coasts through with one or no wins.

Dave Rodman: And a winner's bonus would make 'em fight for wins even harder -- so hear, hear to that idea.

Ryan Smithson: Like I said last week, the champ is 0-for-19 in the last 19 Chase races. Stewart just rode around at Homestead. He had little to lose.

David Newton: The champion hasn't won a race since Kurt Busch won the first race of the 2004 Chase at New Hampshire.

Dave Rodman: I still love David Poole's idea -- a 500-point bonus for your first win of the season -- or your first win in the Chase.

Marty Smith: Well, Newt, now we're able to agree on something! Well done. I had this debate with some drivers at Daytona and they say I'm crazy. Well, he also benefited hugely from NASCAR's debris caution.

Que Newt's Mears joke now:

David Newton: Yeah, Marty. You should be all for 15 drivers. It gives Mears a chance to make the Chase. Then you'd be right.

Ryan Smithson: You'd need a top 20 to get to Mears.

Dave Rodman: That's ryan.smithson@turner.com

Marty Smith: Again, a man has to grow a set at some point in his life, Newt. Good luck.

Where in the world will Ganassi find a driver?

David Newton: Maybe he could offer Roush a boatload of money for one and help Roush get to four teams as NASCAR has mandated.

Marty Smith: Same place Yates does.

Dave Rodman: The problem is more like, where can he get one that is going to make an impact right now?

Ryan Smithson: Ganassi hired McMurray in 2002 before McMurray had won a Busch race. That was a shocking hire.

Dave Rodman: But that proved to be an astute move -- despite Jamie only winning one Cup race.

David Newton: There are plenty of unknowns out there waiting. Who was Carl Edwards a few years ago?

David Newton: Instead of buying a Roush driver, Ganassi should hold his own reality show.

Uh, you're going to take this off me soon, right? Credit: Autostock

Ryan Smithson: I'd go get Chad McCumbee. Seriously. There is an unknown for you.

David Newton: Outside of his immediate family, totally.

Dave Rodman: Hire Ward for two years to mentor his two youngsters. He should know what he has, by then.

Marty Smith: It's kind of surprising the Burton is having such a tough time getting a seat.

Ryan Smithson: He is talking pretty much exclusively to Yates. Trying to land them a sponsor.

David Newton: Right, Ryan. I think he'll have a ride soon.

Marty Smith: Sources close to the team tell me Yates is contemplating elevating Stephen Leicht to Cup with Citi Financial on the hood. His competitors say he has talent, but man, talk about a quick jump. He has, what, maybe 10 Busch starts?

Ryan Smithson: Marty, I thought that too, but no way. They know he is not ready.

Dave Rodman: Sounds like same old, same old -- how many fenders do you want to buy?

Ryan Smithson: And it is an age thing. He is only 19.

Marty Smith: Well, if I'm Bill Elliott, I suck it up for one more shebang and get paid.

Dave Rodman: I think Citi is smart enough to know they need someone of Sadler's caliber in the seat -- that is why they wanted him back in the Busch car -- not just a diet of newbies -- no matter how much promise they have.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, they pulled Sadler from that car.

Dave Rodman: Uh, why did he end up back in it, Smithson?

Ryan Smithson: Because Matt McCall wasn't working out.

David Newton: Bottom line, there are two choices. A driver with promise or an older veteran that "may'' be able to be competitive.

Ryan Smithson: McCall got a weird deal though. They made him start at Bristol. Bristol!

Marty Smith: Same as Blake Feese at Hendrick.

Dave Rodman: Either way, they have to have some patience -- which seems to be in short supply across the board these days.

Predictions for Chicagoland?

Dave Rodman: How about a bounce back for Kevin Harvick, the former Czar of Chicagoland?

David Newton: How about a double for Tony Stewart?

Ryan Smithson: Chicago is tough to call. Always a fuel issue if the cautions are not plentiful. Matt Kenseth is the favorite.

Marty Smith: Kasey Kahne. That car is 4-for-4 this year..

David Newton: The 9 car they're taking to Chicago is undefeated, so good pick.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.