 | | "See, David, that's the part of the track where you turn ... and over here ..." Credit: Autostock |
NASCAR.COM
October 26, 2006
03:19 PM EDT (19:19 GMT)
Was David Ragan thrown to the wolves on Sunday? Dave Rodman: No. If he's the heir apparent, he has to get in there sometime. Having said that, hard to say whether he acquitted himself admirably or not. The interesting thing is, with all three series racing this weekend, he isn't racing anywhere. And "his" car was entered, and then withdrawn at Atlanta. Ryan Smithson: The more I think about it, the more I think, "Well, he has got to start somewhere." It is just fortunate he didn't take out any title contenders. But Schrader had a top-five car on Sunday, so that sucks. Duane Cross: He was thrown to the wolves at Dover. He just got picked over at Martinsville. No way should a rookie -- not to mention one with minimal NASCAR experience in the Busch and Truck series -- be put in those situations. David Newton: Roush Racing had to know he would be a target for criticism at Martinsville where even the experienced drivers get into trouble. That's part of the education process. If he's going to race with the big boys, he'd better be ready to handle their wrath. Dave Rodman: If Roush is mulling the sheet-metal budget, better to spend some of it this year and hope it's less next year. Atlanta will be a critical event next season. Duane Cross: The "he's gotta start somewhere" excuse doesn't cut it. Ryan Smithson: What is the alternative, Duane? Make him start next March? Duane Cross: NASCAR would have been better off -- safer, at least -- leaving him turned sideways in one of the corners. At least the other drivers would have known where Ragan was at all times. Ryan Smithson: Atlanta is less dangerous than Dover. Duane Cross: Let him run ARCA, let him run a lot more Busch ... this is the Nextel Cup Series -- and we're in the Chase for the championship, in case you've forgotten, Ryan. Ryan Smithson: Oh yeah, ARCA has a ton of events left, Duane. Come on man. NASCAR would let my mom drive at Martinsville. It's a short track. Very little clearance needed. Dave Rodman: It's a question to ask Jack this weekend, for sure. After all, the car was entered with a "TBA" driver. Duane Cross: Roush is lucky that Ragan's spin moves didn't take out Matt Kenseth or Mark Martin. It was stupid to put Ragan in the car at Dover. It was idiotic to put him in the car at Martinsville. David Newton: Dover may be more dangerous, Ryan, but Atlanta requires more changes setup-wise during a race and perhaps they feel he's not ready for that. Ryan Smithson: So he isn't allowed any Cup starts at all? Is that what y'all are saying? Dave Rodman: At this point, he needs laps in something. He should be racing somewhere this weekend, so he can get that vital experience. David Newton: Roush was joking on Sunday that people such as us would be calling for Ragan's head after two to four races, so I think they're prepared for this. Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you made your third great point of the season. Good deal. Dave Rodman: Glad you could wake up and join us Smithson. How was that 10-month snooze? Duane Cross: He shouldn't be allowed Cup starts until he proves he can handle the heat in the kitchen. On Sunday, I was looking for Dennis Leary. David Newton: Can't put him in the Busch race. Imagine the uprising if he took out Juan Pablo Montoya? Ryan Smithson: Nah, I'll bet some of the fans would like it. I am already getting e-mails about how we are promoting him too much. Duane Cross: At least if Ragan took out JPM, it'd be a budding rivalry -- something all three levels of NASCAR could use a lot more of in these antiseptic times. Ryan Smithson: And again -- kill the Lucky Dog pass. No reason why Ragan should have had a lead-lap finish. No way. Dave Rodman: Shoulda put him in the truck and let Michel Jourdain Jr. make his Cup debut. Ryan Smithson: Rodman has Michel Jourdain Jr. making a Cup debut. You're off your rocker, son. Duane Cross: C'mon, Dave -- Jourdain in a Cup car? Now? ... Put down the pipe, Dave. David Newton: Don't know about you, but the best moment of last weekend's race was Ken Schrader standing on the track with a piece of pipe in his hand waiting for Ragan to come back around. Ryan Smithson: I don't think Schrader knew what car Ragan was in. It was hard to see in that sunlight. David Newton: Still made for great TV. Lucky Dog or not, that the kid came back from three wrecks and remained on the lead lap was somewhat of an accomplishment. Ryan Smithson: He handled the post-race criticism well. Dave Rodman: He didn't lose his head, at least, you're right. He was digging until the end. David Newton: We'll find out how mentally tough he is from all of this. Duane Cross: Good for him. Meanwhile, Ken Schrader was back at the 7-11 munching on snack cakes. Ryan Smithson: Ken Schrader? Maybe. Did Red Bull do the right thing by hiring A.J. Allmendinger? Ryan Smithson: Not really. I'd rather see a recycled Cup driver in there for a year while A.J. got some truck or Busch work in. David Newton: Next week we'll be talking about Allmendinger the way we are Ragan if he makes the race at Atlanta. Duane Cross: Not quite on par with Ganassi signing Montoya, but Red Bull / Toyota has the deep pockets to withstand Allmendinger's learning curve. Dave Rodman: It depends if they made the commitment to him. And by reading Marty Gaunt's and Ricky Viers' comments, it appears that they have. Ryan Smithson: Ricky Viers is a very solid hire, guys. Dave Rodman: Ever since Allmendinger got his first hiccup out of the way in the truck, at NHIS, he's been solid. Duane Cross: Meanwhile, Ward Burton can't buy a second-tier ride. It's pathetic how sponsors are ruling the roost. If another Young Gun doesn't come into the sport, it'll be too soon. Dave Rodman: Well, I'm sure they didn't have to pay him what they were reportedly offering Bill Elliott. Ryan Smithson: Well, duh, Rodman. David Newton: Totally sad, Duane. Unfortunately for Ward, his Virginia accent doesn't quite fit into Red Bull's marketing plans. Ryan Smithson: Young. Hip. Etc. David Newton: Ward can be hip, in a country sort of way. Ryan Smithson: Vickers and A.J. are a combined 47 years old. Ward is 45. Duane Cross: Ever drank four Red Bulls? You'll sounds a lot like Ward. Ryan Smithson: If I drink four Red Bulls and pour a bag of marbles in my mouth, that'll be even better. Atlanta picks? And who will lead the points? Ryan Smithson: Kahne. Johnson top-fives it, regains points lead. Dave Rodman: Carl Edwards wins. Kevin Harvick retakes the point lead. David Newton: Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes back with a vengeance. Had Vickers not wrecked him at 'Dega and he not screwed up last weekend he'd be leading the points now. David Newton: Matt Kenseth retains the points lead ... for the rest of the season. Duane Cross: Kasey Kahne is the obvious choice, but a couple guys ahead of him in points continue to run well and he doesn't make up a lot of ground. Dave Rodman: Woulda, shoulda, coulda. Check back with me on Nov. 20. Ryan Smithson: In Atlanta in March, DEI had an amazing engine package. Junior would head off Turn 4 and pass 106 guys. Duane Cross: Newt, your lips to God's ears -- but Matt will have a tough time holding on with Phoenix and Miami still to come. David Newton: Just look at the top four drivers, experience and all the intangibles. I think he'll be hard to knock off the top of the mountain. Jimmie Johnson is the only one I can imagine doing it. Dave Rodman: And if RCR had not had two bad valve-spring suppliers they'd be one-two right now. David Newton: Point taken, Rodman. Dave Rodman: If either Kenseth or Harvick run right -- look out. Duane Cross: Had Vickers not taken out Johnson at 'Dega, he would be leading the points. But that's the beauty of this thing. Everyone is going to get a scraped knee (or two); it's how you bounce back. And right now, the No. 48 team smells blood in the water. The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants. | 
