Insert your own "Ryan Smithson is a nerd" joke here.

Track Smack: Texas

What should NASCAR do in the Robby Gordon-roll bar padding case?

Ryan Smithson: They never should have thrown the caution, period. It's roll bar padding, not a sway bar. There was no need for a caution. Robby threw it a pretty good ways.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, you're analyzing it in hindsight, which is neither fair nor appropriate. From our perspective, and the other competitors' perspectives, Jeff Burton had it about right: Throw the house at him. But you have to give NASCAR credit for knowing the whole story -- or what they need to know to make a decision.

David Newton: Unless they have absolute proof that Robby did it, they can do nothing. Kind of like instant replay where you have to have absolute proof to reverse a call. Guys throw crap out the car all the time to bring out cautions, so this isn't the first time.

Duane Cross: If the roll bar padding came from the No. 7, Robby did not throw it a pretty good ways. He may have let it fly from the window -- but think about it: No way he "threw" the padding that far; the wind turbulence whipped that padding around. All RG could do is let it go from the window.

Ryan Smithson: If drivers really want to create artificial cautions, they should throw the backup ignition box.

Dave Rodman: Smithson, when they threw the caution they did not definitively know what it was.

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

Ryan Smithson: It was all the way down the track, Rodman. No one will hit it.

David Newton: It's hard to blame NASCAR for the incident. If they didn't call a caution and the piece had been something that damaged another car or caused a wreck, then we'd really be bashing them.

Duane Cross: Guess the bigger issue is why there was no caution when Clint Bowyer slammed the wall; that was the epitome of a "debris caution."

Ryan Smithson: Duane, that is a great point. We have tons of times where a driver slams the wall and no yellow.

David Newton: Had a Chase guy not been involved, would we really care this much anyway?

Dave Rodman: Newt, that is kind of a sad issue, ain't it.

Duane Cross: Prolly not; don't remember a Track Smack topic centered around Glovegate earlier this year.

	"Hmm ... maybe a tire would be more subtle." Credit: Autostock
	DEBRIS CAUTION •   Debris caution good for R. Gordon, bad for Burton •   R. Gordon penalized for causing caution at Atlanta FrustratedJeff Burton was unhappy after his 13th-place finish Debris on track?Robby Gordon defended himself from debris throwing Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836 MESSAGE BOARD •   What do you think about Robby Gordon's actions?

Ryan Smithson: Here is another thing: How can NASCAR check every car? I have been to a hundred races, and after the race, 75 percent of the cars are on the hauler within 30 minutes. Gone. See ya.

David Newton: NASCAR probably was holding its breath on the Bowyer incident to avoid a green-white-checkered finish.

Duane Cross: True, Newt -- but is that fair? Hoping against a G-W-C -- seems kinda backwards, in light of all the yellow fever fans have endured in recent memory. And what about the word du jour: Safety?

David Newton: Not fair, but I can understand the hesitation.

Ryan Smithson: If there had been a green-white-checkered, Earnhardt would have finished out of the top five.

Dave Rodman: Side-slapping the wall is hardly a reason for a caution in and of itself. Did NASCAR throw a caution when the 01 squeezed Gordon into the wall?

David Newton: Good point on the Gordon-Nemechek bump. There are lots of times when a car brushes the wall or spins out that caution doesn't fly.

Duane Cross: No -- but there was crap everywhere from Bowyer's slap of the wall.

Dave Rodman: I didn't see it -- so good for you for catching it.

Duane Cross: But NASCAR is in a no-win situation -- too many cautions, not enough cautions ... we'll never be satisfied. Each time a yellow comes out someone's favorite driver gets the short end of the stick. If it doesn't come out, then NASCAR is catering to the stars who are in position to gain from staying green.

Dave Rodman: If you're not familiar with the system, the easiest thing in the world to do is fall into fan-driven pinheadism and accuse NASCAR of race engineering. I'm sure someone saw something when Junior got saved by that early caution.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, you were eating at the time. Of course you didn't see it.

David Newton: Rodman, you don't have to take that. Ryan was on the fourth hole when the incident occurred.

Ryan Smithson: At night, Newt?!

David Newton: Doesn't matter with your game.

Are the media and competitors being too harsh with its criticism of the Car of Tomorrow?

	Too harsh? Who's being harsh? Credit: Autostock
	CAR OF TOMORROW •   Sorenson sides with seats, walls over COT's safety •   COT's critics grow louder, larger in Cup garage area •   COT hits Homestead with Toyotas, others during test •   COT has biggest test as teams tackle Talladega •   Waltrip encouraged by Toyota's COT test at Michigan •   Car of Tomorrow completes two-day test at Charlotte

David Newton: We're not being harsh. It's the drivers and crew chiefs and owners that are being harsh. We're just passing the word along.

Ryan Smithson: It it what it is. But people would be a lot happier if NASCAR didn't phase it in.

Dave Rodman: I think at this point it's too late to back up. This thing is a heck of a lot further down the road than the L-R car ever got.

David Newton: People would be a lot happier if NASCAR blew it up and let them incorporate some of the safety factors into the current cars.

Ryan Smithson: I heard Michael Waltrip praise the car during the Truck Series broadcast, and that was honestly the first nice thing I have ever heard someone say.

Duane Cross: Mikey's been a fan since he first drove it -- but he's about the only guy to date. NASCAR isn't happy with Tony Stewart bashing the car, since he hasn't graced any of the tests.

David Newton: That's because Michael hopes the new car will bring the field back to him. ... Just kidding, Michael.

Ryan Smithson: Newt, that was cruel. Funny, but cruel. And it's not polite to make fun of people. ... NASCAR, it is not too late to abandon this idea. I doubt the teams will be too angry.

David Newton: It's way too late. I'd hate to think of how much money they've spent. And the last thing they want to do is say this was a big mistake.

Ryan Smithson: I really like Reed's point last week: Why do we need a safer car when soft walls and carbon-fiber seats seem to work?

Dave Rodman: Because you can never be too safe -- or stop striving to be safer.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman, like Reed said: Driving at 200 mph will never be safe.

Dave Rodman: The sport is inherently unsafe -- but you got to keep trying.

Duane Cross: Cost-cutting -- remember? ... At least that's part of the corporate pitch. Not saying I agree, just passing the Kool-Aid.

	The 2007 Toyota Camry, Car of Tomorrow version, is available in showrooms in fall of ... uh ... Credit: Turner Sports New Media
	HENDRICK HAS SAY •   Hendrick says COT won't drop manufacturers' identification Look into the futureCNN's Sanjay Gupta looks at the Car of Tomorrow Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

David Newton: The bottom line is will the car improve competition? Make for better racing? We still don't know the answer to that one. If that doesn't happen, NASCAR will have no choice but to scrap it somewhere down the line.

Duane Cross: Bring back the 1980s models! VH1 could do an I Love the 80s on NASCAR. It would be huge!

Ryan Smithson: Guys, did you see that truck race?! They were three-wide, two-deep for the freaking lead with five to go.

David Newton: Remember Mark Martin's crash at Charlotte a few weeks ago? You can't have a much harder hit than that and Mark walked away unscathed. The soft walls are the technology that has improved safety more than anything the COT will do.

Duane Cross: Ditto Gordon earlier this year; he broke the bank with his hit at Pocono and walked away. ... Against better judgment, I think the COT will be even more like IROC than the current Cup cars are. It is a stock car racing organization, but who can tell any more. ... OK, call me an old fogey; I don't care.

David Newton: Truthfully, though, you can't tell a Dodge from a Chevy or a Ford when you're sitting way up in the stands watching the cars fly by at 190 mph. So from that perspective, what the car looks like is no big deal.

Duane Cross: But it should be -- much like the need for speed, rooting for YOUR car is a plank in this sport's platform. Or, at least, it should be again.

David Newton: I don't argue that point, Duane. I'm just saying those days have been over for quite a while. The COT hasn't changed that.

Dave Rodman: But if you look at the percentage of total viewing time that is spent at speed on a racetrack, identification is an issue for manufacturers -- and fans.

Duane Cross: I sure hope the COT stickers are all that these guys promise; that's been the angle everyone has used in trying to deflect from the sameness of the COT.

Predicts for Texas? Is Kasey Kahne unpredictable, or what?

	Wait Junior! Here's where you pit!" Credit: Autostock
	Texas Predictions Round 8 of Chase Smacker Texas Pick Newt Dale Jr. Ryan Tony Stewart Rodman Dale Jr. Duane Jimmie Johnson

David Newton: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins, Jimmie Johnson finishes second and takes the points lead. Mark Martin has engine problems and leaves early, but thanks the fans for all their support.

Ryan Smithson: From what I remember, Tony led the most laps in the spring, and he is going to be tough again. It'll be his final win of the year.

Dave Rodman: Dale Jr. has kinda got his stuff together, I think; he's got a previous Texas win -- and who knows, maybe all the race calls will fall his way, including when to pit.

Duane Cross: Jimmie Johnson becomes the 12th different winner in 12 races at Texas. Book it, Dano.

Ryan Smithson: NASCAR throws caution after seeing hot dog wrapper in the infield, Dale Jr. pits, gets four tires, wins, crowd goes nuts.

David Newton: So you picking Dale Jr. and Tony, Ryan?

Ryan Smithson: Tony. The Dale Jr. thing was a joke, in case you didn't get it.

David Newton: I got it. Just wanted to clarify before somebody throws a yellow flag for cheating.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.