 | | "Come here, you little ..." Credit: Autostock |
NASCAR.COM
September 28, 2006
02:30 PM EDT (18:30 GMT)
Jeff Gordon insinuated that Brian Vickers was not really his teammate. Is he right? Dave Rodman: I think the fact he said it means he's written off, as far as Jeff is concerned. On the one hand, that's unfortunate, but on the other hand, at some point a driver on his way out of a team starts looking ahead more than he's looking back -- or sideways. David Newton: I can see where Gordon is coming from with Vickers leaving for Red Bull next year. That they didn't talk all week after the New Hampshire incident furthers the argument. But I don't believe Vickers is out to ruin an HMS teammate's day. Ryan Smithson: It was just bad luck that Gordon had to race Vickers at Loudon. There is no way Vickers could have been expected to simply move over because he had a legitimate shot to win that race and he has got to do everything he can to accomplish that. Marty Smith: Well, Gordon insinuated that Vickers was overaggressive on the racetrack -- i.e. he raced Gordon too hard when he's chasing the Cup and Vickers isn't. That's crazy. Vickers has every right to race him hard. Vickers hasn't won, and he had a great car. David Newton: Gordon probably would have been upset had any non-Chase driver raced him as hard as Vickers. That Vickers was a teammate just added to his frustration. Marty Smith: The larger point is that Vickers would have raced him just the same whether he was leaving or not. Dave Rodman: He's made note of that before, so you're right, B.V.'s leaving is incidental in this case. David Newton: Totally, Marty. What upset Vickers most is that his crew chief came over the air to tell him to move on or move over. Ryan Smithson: We probably won't see this issue pop up much more since most of the rest of the races are on the mile-and-a-half tracks. Marty Smith: Well, ultimately, if J.G.'s faster, Vickers will get the message. He'll move or be moved. Gordon is racing for a title, and he doesn't care who's in the way. David Newton: I still think it's bull to expect a non-Chase guy to get out of the way when a Chase guy is near him unless the non-Chase guy is notably slower. Marty Smith: I agree 1,000 times over, Newt. Race like hell. Dave Rodman: But teammates should be able to communicate and cooperate, if someone has caught someone to the tune of a couple seconds, then gets hung up behind him, the teammate should let him go and if he can hang with him, then pass him back. Touchy subject, for sure. Ryan Smithson: I can see why Gordon was frustrated though. He knows the title could come down to five points. Marty Smith: Sure can, Smithson, that's why the 17 deal Sunday is a big deal. David Newton: If it comes down to five points, he'll regret not racing Newman harder for the lead at Dover on the first lap last week. How funny is that that the polesitter didn't lead a lap? Ryan Smithson: That 17 deal wasn't too bad, Marty, because he is going to win the title whether he gambles for gas or not. He has been far and away the best team all season, and that won't change. Marty Smith: Kenseth probably forfeited seven or eight positions, Smithson. That's a lot of points. The first Chase was decided by eight points -- and the loser won four times. David Newton: Kenseth was lucky he didn't run out a few laps earlier when there were more cars on the lead lap. He could have finished 20th or so. Ryan Smithson: Kenseth probably would have made it on fuel had he not raced Burton so hard there for 35 laps. David Newton: The funny thing is Kenseth had no idea fuel was an issue. Where is the communication there? Ryan Smithson: Yes he did. They told him it was going to be close. Marty Smith: He was told he could make it, Ryan. And that tells Kenseth, mat it -- no pun intended. David Newton: Kenseth said he would have pitted had he known fuel was an issue, so they must not have made it clear. Dave Rodman: When did they exchange notes about "We can't handle a green-white-checkered?" Ryan Smithson: They told him they could make it with a caution buffer and that they would run out with a GWC. That tells me, the driver, "You can't run 100 percent." Dave Rodman: I distinctly remember Matt asking and Robbie telling him that, but I don't remember when -- and maybe their mileage wasn't what they needed at the end. Marty Smith: So Smithson, you say it's on Kenseth, then? He should have let Burton go? Ryan Smithson: Not entirely, but they had to know it was going to be close, you know? There is no telling how much gas was used racing Burton like that. Marty Smith: I disagree. "You have enough," means get on it. David Newton: Kenseth had the best car. If they had done a splash-and-go on the final caution he still could have made up the difference and won. Ryan Smithson: Absolutely, Newt. You can pass people at Dover. And that is why I just don't think it hurt Kenseth that badly, guys.  |  | | "Where's Victory Lane at, Matt?" Credit: Autostock |
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Marty Smith: Yep, Newt. That's right. Kenseth's car was unreal off the corners. Holding Burton off that long with older tires was impressive. Dave Rodman: Under caution he could have taken tires and been an absolute rocket. Marty Smith: Kenseth still wins the championship. Ryan Smithson: If that team can get wrecked, run out of gas, etc., like they have this season and still be up there, they are going to be the favorite. David Newton: Wrong. Gordon. He's gotten past two tough tracks and is only six out. Look at his record over the next five. He'll have a cushion at the end of those. Dave Rodman: It will be interesting to see how many of the frontrunners can totally avoid trouble. Though in Kevin Harvick's case, it doesn't seem to have cost him much. Ryan Smithson: Gordon is certainly on a roll, but I always worry about things with that team. Brakes on flat tracks. Inconsistency on the fast tracks. Dave Rodman: As Junior said, "too many races left to determine that." David Newton: Speaking of Junior, how many times can he throw his team under the bus? Dave Rodman: This really could be a classic. Watch J.J. come on, the other guys not falter too badly -- and in the end at least a five-man war. More than anything, I would hope that means NASCAR doesn't mess around with the Chase, yet. Is Kasey Kahne done? Dave Rodman: Not according to Dale Jr. Ryan Smithson: He is done for the title hunt, but with his 1.5-mile program, he can get back into the top three. Marty Smith: Yes. Said so himself -- 182 points is a ton. Dave Rodman: I like his logic. But realistically, as we've had to say over and over -- it ain't the points, it's the bodies you have to leapfrog. David Newton: If you'd seen the look on his face in the garage you'd have to say yes. Deer in the headlights doesn't begin to describe his emotions. Marty Smith: That was a shame. And Stewart has more fodder for his take that racing around Chase drivers sucks. Stewart was sick about that wreck. David Newton: Totally, Marty. He could have handled taking himself out, but taking Kasey out made him ill. Dave Rodman: Yup, but there is no way around it -- short of going to two point systems in one race, which might not be a bad idea. Marty Smith: Those two respect one another immensely, Newt. It sucked. It killed my fantasy team. David Newton: I'm starting to get on board of having a separate points system for Chase guys. At worst it would guarantee tight drama until the end. Dave Rodman: But having a "Chasers only" series of races is one of the limpest ideas I've heard lately. Marty Smith: Nice! A debate. Worm vs. Newt. Ready. GO! Dave Rodman: I think we agree on the need for a separate system for Chasers -- though that isn't what the series was built on. David Newton: The series also wasn't built on a Chase, Rodman. Dave Rodman: Yeah, but I'm trying to adjust, a step at a time. Predictions for Kansas? Marty Smith: Jeff Gordon beats Kasey Kahne in a close one. All 10 Chase drivers finish top-15. Ryan Smithson: I'll bet Kahne pretty much kills the field this weekend. |  | | "You know, this Truck of Tomorrow, it's just not that good today. We'll finish 30th, maybe. We'll see. I just want to thank my team." Credit: Autostock |
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| Kansas Predictions |
| Smacker |
Pick |
| Marty |
Jeff Gordon |
| Ryan |
Kasey Kahne |
| Rodman |
Greg Biffle |
| Newt |
Mark Martin |
|
|
Dave Rodman: Greg Biffle rings it out. If he ends the season with one win, I'll be somewhat amazed. Marty Smith: Judging by his performance on like tracks this year, that's a solid assertion, Smithson David Newton: Mark Martin wins ... in a truck Dave Rodman: Where? Talladega? Ryan Smithson: That is right. Martin should just enter trucks for every Sunday race. If it could pass inspection. David Newton: He can enter in the Truck of Tomorrow. Ryan Smithson: He was joking, Rodman. Come on man. I know you got it ... right?! David Newton: Seriously, Martin is due to win a race, and he won there a year ago. Ryan Smithson: He didn't win. He annihilated the field. Killed 'em. It was a serious butt-kicking. He led like 222 laps. David Newton: So, you're agreeing with me? Ryan Smithson: Calling it a win doesn't do it justice. He must have used bleeder valves. | 
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