Tony Stewart came away with a damaged car at Loudon, and it had repercussions on the Chase. Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Loudon

Will Tony Stewart be a weapon in the final 10 races?

Marty Smith: No. I think that's ridiculous. Will he drive aggressively for victories? Yes. Is that any different than any other time? No.

Ryan Smithson: I am not sure. I still think he lost a Chase spot with his actions at Loudon in July, but that is just me. They sure seemed to lose a lot of momentum. That ship won't be easy to turn around just yet.

	You know, Tony, it was your fault. Credit: Autostock
	CHASE HIM DOWN Last year in the Chase opener, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart put on a late-race classic. In the 2006 July race at NHIS, it was an early race skirmish that makes a repeat rather anticlimatic.  •   Complete story, click here

David Newton: Wow. That's a pretty interesting term, weapon. If you mean will he be dangerous and take some people out, no. But he'll definitely be motivated to go out and win every race without the worry of competing for points.

Marty Smith: I wrote that on Tuesday, Smithson. In a 26-race span it's difficult to pinpoint the moment it went south. But I betcha he'd like to have Loudon back. He had a race-winning car and his temper determined his fate that day.

David Newton: This just shows you how tough the competition is today compared to 10 or so years ago. You're going to see good drivers like Stewart miss the Chase every year.

Marty Smith: It'll be fun as heck to watch the 20 through the final 10 races. Stewart couldn't care less about 11th. He's about winning now, period.

Marty Smith: I'm still baffled by his absence, though, Newt.

Ryan Smithson: Denny Hamlin was pretty distraught that Stewart missed it. And obviously that was the talk of post-race.

David Newton: Yeah, I doubt Stewart will be thinking about getting to New York for that 11th-place check.

Marty Smith: He said so himself, Newt. He doesn't care.

David Newton: Mark Martin was shocked, saying he can't believe what he considers the best driver of this era isn't in the Chase.

Marty Smith: I'll stand up and admit I was wrong in picking Martin as the odd man out last week. Kudos to the 6. They came out and got it done.

Garage PassKahne makes, Stewart misses the Chase cut at Richmond FedEx PreviewNBC/TNT's Marty Snider previews the action at Loudon Loudon PreviewCNN Radio, Benny Parsons preview the first race of the Chase You're in Good HandsJeff Gordon, Kyle Busch comment on their team's success RelievedMark Martin earns a Chase spot, chance for first title Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

Ryan Smithson: Mark Spoor said it best on Monday. Stewart wasn't a jerk on Saturday because he had time to think about it.

Marty Smith: And I'm happy for Mark. I hope he's still in contention at Homestead.

Ryan Smithson: I was wrong about Martin, too. But give us credit, it was clear that Kahne would race his way in.

David Newton: That team was worried all Saturday about what might happen. They were much more nervous than I anticipated.

Marty Smith: And for the record: The practice crash was of minimal consequence.

David Newton: Stewart's team ... that is.

Marty Smith: The team said it wasn't the car, rather the loss of 30 minutes of practice during an impound weekend, that really hurt.

David Newton: I disagree, Marty. It forced him to a backup car that wasn't as good as the primary. And that forced him to start in the back of the pack with a poor qualifying run. Once momentum started going against them, it just kept piling on.

Ryan Smithson: Marty, how can you say that? The primary car had to be much better. The backup was terrible.

Ryan Smithson: He couldn't even pass Joe Nemechek out there.

David Newton: You've got to look at the car, because the last three times he's gone to a backup he finished in the top 10.

David Newton: Unless you want to say Stewart choked as a driver.

Marty Smith: You can disagree til you're blue in the face.

Ryan Smithson: And like Marty said, they sure picked a bad weekend (impound) to wreck in practice.

Marty Smith: Fact is that car finished seventh at RIR last fall and won at Martinsville this spring

The backup car wasn't up to par with the primary, which Tony Stewart wrecked in practice. Credit: Autostock

Marty Smith: That's its only two starts.

Marty Smith: Ever.

Marty Smith: So argue on. That backup was stout.

Marty Smith: And the primary was a brand new car. So you tell me how you know it was better.

David Newton: But you started this with saying the practice crash was minimal. It wasn't, because without the crash they're in the primary car and they don't lose that 30 minutes. Argue that.

Ryan Smithson: That car may have been 1-for-2, but it didn't have a single lap in the top 10 on Saturday. Not one lap. When was the last time Tony Stewart ran a race without even cracking the top 10?

Marty Smith: Right, the loss of practice time, not the loss of the car, was of consequence.

Ryan Smithson: You can't say that Stewart wouldn't have rather driven that primary. No way.

Marty Smith: I don't disagree.

David Newton: He was pretty happy with the primary when I spoke to him.

Ryan Smithson: I know what you mean about the lack of practice time to prep, but come on.

Ryan Smithson: They had no time to prep that backup. That certainly was a downfall.

David Newton: As I recall, Stewart seemed pretty happy with the backup after practice and didn't seem concerned. Either he was putting on a good front or that team simply choked.

Ryan Smithson: But when I see Tony Stewart out there struggling to get around Kenny Wallace, Travis Kvapil and Joe Nemechek, something is up. And he spun Sterling Marlin way too early in that race. He knew his time was running out.

David Newton: Didn't he spin Marlin out because he was a lap or two from being lapped by the leaders if he didn't haul butt?

Ryan Smithson: He was about 10 laps.

David Newton: Did show some desperation, though.

Who has been your favorite interview subject of late?

David Newton: Good one, Ryan.

Marty Smith: You might want to put Carl Edwards on retainer as your body guard, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: Carl wouldn't be a bad one, Marty.

David Newton: You mean outside Barenaked Ladies the other night at Richmond?

Marty Smith: They were hilarious.

David Newton: Yes they were, although I still hold the session with David Spade at Darlington a few years back as the funniest.

Ryan Smithson: Do you remember any of his jokes?

Marty Smith: He had on a great jacket. White with orange, yellow and sky blue racing stripes down the right lapel.

Sorry Newt, this Heather has been seen out on the town with another David. Credit: AP

Ryan Smithson: That is why he got Heather Locklear. It wasn't his rat-like exterior.

David Newton: Ahhhh. Heather.

David Newton: Sorry, I pause to drool.

Ryan Smithson: She is Newton's generation for sure.

David Newton: It was a very good generation.

Ryan Smithson: Not to be confused with Heather Thomas.

David Newton: Both, as they say at the track, had a good setup.

David Newton: The whole Evernham-Mayfield-Sadler saga was pretty soap opera-type stuff, so I'll go with that one.

Ryan Smithson: I have really enjoyed talking to the guys on pit road more so than the drivers. They will give you an honest assessment if you ask 'em.

Marty Smith: I'd say my favorite interview lately was Tim Calhoun. That meant a lot to people, a story of hope.

Ryan Smithson: The three-month drawing man?

Marty Smith: That's him. Big-time talent.

Ryan Smithson: That drawing looked great, like a watercolor.

Ryan Smithson: Can't they make prints of his work and sell it?

Marty Smith: It takes significant will to do what he does.

Marty Smith: I've been working on that for a while now, Smithson. It's complicated.

Will it be Kyle Busch vs. Kevin Harvick at Loudon?

David Newton: No. It's going to be Denny Hamlin. He finished sixth in the first race there and Joe Gibbs Racing will throw all they have to make that car a winner. Besides, he should be the most relaxed person out there because nobody expects him to win the championship.

Ryan Smithson: Loudon is tough to call. Kyle's flat-track program is tough to beat.

Ryan Smithson: Denny likes to point out that he was running second in July until he faded on the final lap.

David Newton: Another reason to go with him.

Marty Smith: Sure. But Matt Kenseth will beat Jeff Burton.

Ryan Smithson: It'll be the same front-runners from RIR.

Marty Smith: And don't forget, Stewart did have the best car in the spring until he piled it up.

Marty Smith: And he'll be single-minded Sunday.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.