Kurt Busch practices scribbling "2" under his autograph. Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Testing

Jeff Burton said that his team "pretty much took an ass-whipping all year" in 2005. Has anything changed?

Marty Smith: Everyone enters the new season with optimism. Every driver interviewed at testing says his team is capable of making the Chase.

Ryan Smithson: It all depends on how well he gets along with new crew chief Scott Miller. It will be very difficult to make the Chase simply because its so hard to catch up.

Dave Rodman: They tested well last week, and if he was disturbed about the way they came out of the box last year in his first full season at RCR, they seem a little ahead of the curve in '06.

Duane Cross: Burton says a lot has changed -- top to bottom, left to right (and diagonally). He was pretty pumped during testing. I don't think he's a threat to win the Daytona 500, but certainly he can expect better results than 2005.

Marty Smith: They certainly have the components necessary to excel, it's just a matter of coordinating the three parts to achieve a more successful whole. That means improving the 31 and the 07.

Duane Cross: Burton talked about that -- RCR being behind. He was quite candid that RCR was still caught up in the way things were done when Dale Earnhardt was driving. Burton also contends all that's out the door. It'll be interesting to see if all the money RCR spent will pay dividends.

Which RCR driver is most likely to make the Chase? Clint Bowyer Jeff Burton Kevin Harvick None of the above

Marty Smith: Jeff Burton is the man. He tells it like it is. He's not going to blow smoke. If he thinks his team is ready, he'll say it. If not, he'll say that, too. He seemed pretty confident last week in Daytona.

Ryan Smithson: He has got to be sick of this slump. I mean, it's been over four years.

Marty Smith: What was his last win, Statboy? I think Phoenix 2001?

Ryan Smithson: Yes. It was 98 degrees that day. Casey Atwood should have won.

Marty Smith: Casey Atwood should have won Homestead that year, too.

Ryan Smithson: If Atwood had won, he wold have kept his job at Evernham, and the women would have flocked. Millions would have been made. ... Marty, I am surprised you don't remember Phoenix 2001, because you caught a foul ball at the Diamondbacks game.

Marty Smith: Dang right I did, Smithson. Curt Schilling was pitching to Scott Brosius. He fouled it straight back. It slammed this fat dude in the upper deck square in the chest, then fell down into my outstretched hand. I didn't even spill my beer. It is sitting rihgt in front of me right now, on my desk. ... One more thing about that baseball: It's cool to have because it has the American Flag stamp on it. All the balls had that following 9-11.

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Dave Rodman: If Jeff and Scott Miller can hit it off as it appears they are, they could elevate the whole deal -- and Clint Bowyer and Gil Martin have already shown they have got it goin' on. So without knocking anyone, it appears the current generation of RCR might be able to wipe out the bad memories in a hurry.

Marty Smith: Again, RCR has every last piece of the puzzle to get it done, Rodman. I don't know this, this is just an outside-looking-in opinion, but it seems it's more communication at RCR than anything else.

Duane Cross: A lot of folks made a big deal of Carl Edwards taking the No. 99 to the Chase last year, when Jeff couldn't do much with it for much of 2004. But it's apples and oranges. Burton is confident he can have a better 2006 -- and who's to doubt him? It won't be because the driver isn't trying.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, I am in a "wait and see" mode for RCR. They have been down so long. They have a lot to prove.

Duane Cross: True -- but the team has Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer ... there are three worse drivers you could have. I'd take that trio and make a run in Cup racing, without question.

"To hear this menu in Virginian, press 6." Credit: Don Bok/ISC Publications

Dave Rodman: You're right, Smitty -- but the only troubling thing to that premise is that all three of the crew chiefs have already been there -- but sometimes simply mixing it up can make changes. Let's hope so.

Duane Cross: I think RCR is happy with what they have. The pieces are there; getting them to fit is what Childress is trying to do.

Ryan Smithson: Guys, Roush and Hendrick crowd up the top 10 too much for other teams to really gain steam. If Denny Hamlin comes in and does well, it will only make it tougher for everyone else. Jeff Burton had only six top-10s all year. It has gotten to where 10 top-10s is a lot for the mid-range team.

Marty Smith: All four Hendrick teams will make a run at the Chase in 2006, Smithson. They won't all make it, but they'll all be in the hunt.

Dave Rodman: What it means is everyone has to elevate their games and you'd like to think that would create more fireworks -- and fun -- for the fans.

Duane Cross: So can anyone see more than 10 cars in the Chase? Is this the year when parity adds to the playoff field?

Ryan Smithson: The 400-point rule will come into play eventually. It has to.

Dave Rodman: I don't really think so unless NASCAR adjusts the minimum. They knew what they were doing when they fixed "400" as the limit.

"Joe, Gillette wanted a young gun from each team. You're it." Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images

Marty Smith: I thought that, too, Smithson, but I'm not sure. It seems every season one team has a runaway summer and eliminates everyone else.

Dave Rodman: But Ryan's right about the disappointment factor.

Ryan Smithson: It just kills these teams to miss it. I don't want sponsors for 20th-place teams starting to create undue pressure.

Dave Rodman: So some kind of team limiting factor might be the way to go for the long-term benefit of the Chase.

Duane Cross: Well, with the four-car limit more teams will have a chance to crack the Chase.

Ryan Smithson: That changes little, Duane. Only one car is affeted. How does that help? And that isn't until 2009!

Marty Smith: How's that, Duane? Roush is the only organization that's gotten all of its teams in the Chase simultaneously.

Duane Cross: And that will be the exception to the rule.

Marty Smith: Penske was the only other organzation to get more than one in in 2005, and I think Hendrick was the only team other than Roush to get more than one team in in '04.

Duane Cross: That's where the parity comes into play for these other teams. I doubt we'll see three cars from one team getting into the Chase; there are too many competent teams out there to continue with one, two teams dominating the Chase field with seven, eight of the 10 teams.

Ryan Smithson: I'll bet Vickers finishes between 10th and 15th, Marty.

Marty Smith: Brian will win in 2006 and make a run at the top-10. I'll say he finishes around 12th.

Ryan Smithson: Thanks for agreeing with me.

Marty Smith: You're welcome. It's rare.

Ryan Smithson: I'll buy your T-shirt and tape over your name and add mine.

Dave Rodman: I hope the stars line up for him, because he's been on the verge of winning.

Marty Smith: Have y'all seen those photos of BV on the Garnier Fructis displays? He looks like a boy band reject. Then again, I'm told the same in at least one e-mail every week.

The opinions listed here are solely those of the writers. Did you know that 60 Minutes is the only show wiithout its own theme song? Tick tock.