"I swear Jeff, if you take my car one more time ... " Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Loudon

Danica-mania already, and she's not even said yes ... or no

Does Danica Patrick need to make the move to NASCAR?

Marty Smith: No. I don't think so. She doesn't want to race 38 weeks a year. Obviously there's something to it or her dad wouldn't have been at Chicago. I think they were just feeling out the intricacies of our side of motorsports.

Ryan Smithson: This story was clearly a move architected by Jeff Gordon to throw the media off the coverage of his little bump-and-win on Sunday. And it worked. Just kidding. Sure. Why not?

David Newton: Would be a circus if she did, so yeah. But I don't think it'll happen. Sounds more like a negotiating ploy than anything else. She's just trying to drive her value up for the IndyCar series.

Dave Rodman: Unlike J.P. Montoya, who apparently was in a dead-end situation, Mr. Patrick's deal appears to be clearly a case of negotiation for better financial rewards for his daughter. She has expressed little or no interest -- at least at this time.

Marty Smith: She's seeing what her value is.

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

Ryan Smithson: The thing is, in today's NASCAR, you have to be a very fast driver merely to make races with the top-35 rule. If she can't drive she wouldn't be racing at all if she moved over here.

Dave Rodman: Exactly. I have seen no interest on her part either for the rigors of our schedule or of adapting to radically different vehicles.

Marty Smith: Everyone seems to think Montoya's decision has less impact because his status in F1 was down. I disagree. In years past, an ousted F1 driver would have gone to CART first. I think this decision is just huge. Groundbreaking.

She wouldn't be getting in a Cup car immediately, Smithson. There's no way. She'd have to do ATBC, likely.

Ryan Smithson: What I said goes for all three series, Marty.

	It was reported earlier this week ... that ... uh ... uh ... that ... Credit: AP
	DANICA TO NASCAR? It was reported earlier this week that IRL driver Danica Patrick may have some interest in NASCAR, since her father, T.J., was seen at Chicagoland last week in the garage area.  •   Complete story, click here

David Newton: She wouldn't come, Marty, if she had to pay her dues.

Dave Rodman: Plus, she has goals in IndyCar racing she has to achieve, so I don't see it happening any time soon under any circumstance -- because I think the circus-like marquee value would be seriously outweighed by the sheet metal bill.

Ryan Smithson: I'd have a hard time seeing her in an ARCA car. Are you kidding me?

David Newton: I could see her doing exactly what Montoya is doing if she decided to come. Drive a few Busch races and jump in a Cup car.

Ryan Smithson: Montoya will be in the ARCA race at Talladega. That will be weird.

Marty Smith: It's a very difficult transition. Very difficult. Montoya will want to pull his hair out for a while.

Ryan Smithson: He doesn't have any hair.

Marty Smith: More than you.

Ryan Smithson: Yes I do. Come on man. I didn't cut it that short.

Dave Rodman: He'll be in a Cup car for Watkins Glen -- probably a Busch car, too. That ball is already rolling 150 mph. JPM may run the God-blessed Chase for the Nextel Cup, just for giggles and grins.

Marty Smith: I don't think he'd replace Mears, though, Dave. I think Ganassi would probably enter the 39.

Ryan Smithson: I would have been a lot less surprised if Danica entered NASCAR than Montoya. That was simply, wow.

And oh yeah, Juan Montoya will drive a Cup car next season. Credit: Autostock

MONTOYA HEADLINES •   Ganassi names Montoya driver of No. 42 next season •   Mears, other drivers embrace Montoya's NASCAR arrival •   Montoya won't be first international Cup Series driver •   Montoya, F1 team agree to part ways immediately •   Ganassi: No timetable set for Montoya's Cup Series debut Garage PassGanassi hopes to get Montoya some seat time Garage PassCould Casey Mears be released from his ride early? Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Dave Rodman: No, didn't even mean that Marty -- and I don't know what JP has in the way of personal sponsorship alliances -- but if that could be procured, that would be cool as heck ...

David Newton: Montoya's definitely on the fast track now, and if Danica made the move, which she won't, she'd be on the same track whether she's ready or not.

Marty Smith: If the idea was to drive her value up, it's working. She's the story in a week when Juan Pablo comes to NASCAR and Gordon dumps Kenseth to win.

Ryan Smithson: One thing though: The media cares more about the Montoya move than the American fans have. I wonder what the Colombian reaction was.

Dave Rodman: If the proper program could be put together for Danica, it could be very worthwhile for her backers. As it is right now, I don't think Argent cares that she's a field filler.

Ryan Smithson: She'd have a hard time filling the field if she can't run a qualifying lap.

Dave Rodman: I meant, she's a field filler in most cases, now.

David Newton: Even as a field filler, she'd get more headlines than half the field.

Dave Rodman: You're right, unless she got in a top-35 car right off the bat, making races would be tough for her at the start.

Marty Smith: Think how much extra weight a team would have to add to her car to get to 3,400 pounds. She's 95 pounds.

Ryan Smithson: Well, heck, let's bring her over so she can DNQ. That will make for some great stories.

David Newton: NASCAR might implement a new rule, top 35 and top woman qualifier.

What was Jeremy Mayfield thinking last week when he essentially called on Ray Evernham to repair his struggling team?

David Newton: There's not a more genuine guy in the garage than Mayfield, but he got exactly what he wanted when he called out Evernham. And that was to find out where he stood with the boss.

	"Shhhhhhhhhh." Credit: Autostock
	FRUSTRATION MOUNTS •   Mayfield irked by Evernham's absence, wonders why •   Evernham taken aback by talk of distraction from others

Ryan Smithson: He was thinking, "I wonder what team would want me where I don't have to start in the back every week?"

Dave Rodman: I wasn't there so that's pretty hard to comment on. He said it was taken out of context. I'm not so sure about that, since his frustration is genuine.

Marty Smith: Mayfield was ticked off that his team sucks and decided to call out the boss. The general opinion is it's a plea to get fired so he can get out of his contract.

David Newton: Now if Mayfield decides to leave he at least knows more where Evernham stands.

Ryan Smithson: Mayfield has been fired before. He knows the game.

David Newton: I was a bit disappointed that he said his comments were taken out of context. They were completely in context.

Marty Smith: Ryan, remember when he called Penske out at Kansas? That was hilarious.

Ryan Smithson: In 2001. Yes. And he lasted four weeks after that.

Dave Rodman: If you put it that way, it was probably half plea to fix and half positioning. The bottom line is, for the last two seasons, he has been the most productive EMS driver. So to get dumped back to square one is a slap in the face.

Marty Smith: I was surprised they addressed it together Sunday morning.

David Newton: Well, Michael Waltrip said he'd probably name a new driver within a week and a half. Perhaps this was positioning for that.

Ryan Smithson: What was funny, if Evernham hadn't called a press conference, the story would have died when the media starting chewing on Montoya.

"Mmm, Burger King." Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but my take is that Ray is a guy you would not exactly want to mess with -- and without knowing Jeremy's contract situation, you would not want to be sitting around next season if Ray wouldn't release you.

Marty Smith: How funny will it be if Mayfield drives the Burger King car? He'd be in those commercials wearing the Whopper suit. "What're ya gonna do, spank my bun?"

Ryan Smithson: Report: Stewart wrecks Mayfield, claims he just wanted to see his logos.

David Newton: Stewart wrecks Mayfield 'cause his eyes were fixated on the double cheeseburger on the back of Mayfield's car.

Marty Smith: Whopper of a wreck: Smoke flame broils Mayfield.

Ryan Smithson: OK Jeremy. Make the move to Waltrip. Evernham, release him. You have our blessing. And Jeremy, you'd be the youngest driver on the team.

David Newton: They should hire us to write the commercials.

Predictions for Loudon? Tough race to call.

Marty Smith: Jeff Burton breaks through. It's his turn.

Ryan Smithson: If he uses Harvick's PIR car, Marty. If not, Harvick wins.

David Newton: Watch out for Kurt Busch. He's had five straight top-10s and starting to get within striking distance of the top 10 in points.

	To concentrate on this weekend, Jeff Gordon is driving his own car from Charlotte to Loudon. Credit: Autostock
	Loudon Predictions Smacker Pick Marty Jeff Burton Ryan Kevin Harvick Newt Kurt Busch Rodman Jeff Burton FedEx PreviewNBC/TNT's Marty Snider previews all the action for Loudon Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Dave Rodman: How about Burton and Harvick get together coming through 3 and 4 on the last lap -- Busch slides through to win. Naw, seriously, I also go with Loudon-Meister Burton. The extra track time he'll get in KHI's Busch car gets him over the top.

Ryan Smithson: Jimmie Johnson hasn't had a top-five in forever. Forever for him anyway.

Marty Smith: Gordon's hot, and he's awesome at Loudon. And Tony Eury Jr. is awesome at setting up a flat-track car. This one's a toss up. But I still say Burton.

Dave Rodman: I wish we were calling out Ward for it, don't you guys?

David Newton: Yeah, Jimmie was a distant sixth last week, Ryan. What's wrong with that program?

Ryan Smithson: He wasn't that distant.

David Newton: I wouldn't be surprised to see Gordon win again, either, but I can't pick him every week. And I was being sarcastic, Ryan.

Marty Smith: Sure you can. Don't be surprised if Kenseth wins, either. It's a trend. He won Fontana after Stewart planted him at Daytona.

David Newton: My point was he's still been right around the top five, which 99 percent of the field would kill for.

Dave Rodman: That 48 is still the championship favorite right now.

Ryan Smithson: Not sure if they taught you in South Carolina that six comes after five. My daddy taught me that via a plastic wrapper.

David Newton: But in South Carolina they don't teach us to count beyond 10 unless we use our toes.

Ryan Smithson: Some of y'all have 12 toes.

David Newton: Quit picking on Rodman, Ryan.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.