Track Smack: Get Amp'd; the Chase really is on TV

1. Two popular drivers get new sponsors for 2008 -- with one getting a new number -- so will we see a marked changed in Dale Earnhardt Jr. and/or Kasey Kahne?

David Caraviello: Notice on Wednesday how scrubbed up Junior was? A new haircut and no stubble -- but at least the shirttail was still out. He's still Junior, just in a prettier box.

Duane Cross: I think we're already seeing a different Dale Jr., maybe a more business-minded Junior. He came out pretty buttoned-up (looked like his hairdresser found the mousse) but still he kept to his laid-back look with the un-tucked shirt.

Dave Rodman: Junior obviously will look a lot different, and like you say, probably not just from the different colors; but I think his persona is pretty well set -- which is a good thing. For that matter, I don't see Kasey changing much, either -- and switching from one red suit to another, we may not even notice.

Duane Cross: As for Kahne, I'd like to see him with some stubble. Junior's had it for so long with Budweiser, it's amazing they don't market a can with stubble on it!

Dave Rodman: That would have raised the "ouch" factor when you dove into the cooler, for sure.

David Caraviello: Let's not forget, it wasn't Budweiser and the No. 8 that made Junior the way he is. It was the other way around.

Dave Rodman: Exactly. Stubble was Junior. They just fit together real well. I'm hoping getting with Rick doesn't mainstream him too badly.

David Caraviello: He was able to use the sponsor and the car number to enhance his image. He'll do the same thing here -- he'll be thrashing with Tony Hawk in an Amp commercial in no time.

Duane Cross: Unless you've tasted an Amp, I prefer the taste of his current sponsor. ... Kahne should lobby for a black Bud Select car for the 50th Daytona 500, and all the races under the lights. That car would be a money maker for die-cast folks.

Dave Rodman: True that -- though the red car is Budweiser, so I don't see them doing much with that -- or without that. And I think it's safe to say that Junior will have a Schrader-esque lifetime personal supply clause with Bud.

David Caraviello: When we see Junior walk out one day in a tucked-in, button-down-collar white shirt, then we start to worry.

Dave Rodman: That would be the team owner/sponsor/marketer redesigning coup of the century, though I don't see it happening. With Junior, what you see is what you've got and most people like that just fine.

David Caraviello: He's reiterated again and again that he will continue to be genuine to himself. I believe him. People are just going to have to get used to seeing him in different colors and commercials.

Duane Cross: Junior is a marketer's dream; he has the most loyal fan base in the business. Now, he's gotta take the HMS equipment and take it to Victory Lane for this to pay off.

Dave Rodman: That's something that I think the backers are counting on in both Kasey and Junior's cases. And it seems like it's inevitable in both cases, too.

David Caraviello: Yes, he does. The sponsor and number are the easy part. Now it's time to start winning races again. NASCAR and its less than stellar TV numbers could use that as well.

Dave Rodman: Speaking of colors, how many other people thought the "Guard" car kicked the snot out of the soft drink ride? And I'm not just talking about from a "personnel potential" side: I'd take two-dozen Guardsmen over a like number of drink-truck drivers any day -- though I guess in effect they could be one and the same.

Duane Cross: I love the green of the Amp/Dew ride; that is sweet! But I think it could have been skinned a lot snazzier.

2. Clint Bowyer won the Chase opener in New Hampshire. Is this guy really a threat to win the thing, or is it still Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson's game?

Dave Rodman: It's still Jeff, Jimmie -- and Tony Stewart's -- game; but Clint and Little Martin definitely have a license to play -- Truex kicked butt and won there in June.

Duane Cross: Whoa -- let's not lose sight of two other guys who will make some noise before this is over: Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth. But yes, Gordon and JJ have the upper hand -- for the time being.

Dale Jr. to No. 88

• Earnhardt's new look unveiled
• Junior adds to history of 88
• Hendrick excited about future
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Dave Rodman: As much as he's complaining, Matt's "mediocre" is still better than 75 percent of the field on a good day. He'll lurk throughout the Chase.

David Caraviello: And the thing is, you don't have to win races to win the whole thing. I know Kenseth feels they're a little behind as far as being able to reach Victory Lane. But he won't have to do that to win the Chase.

Duane Cross: Matt Kenseth should come to my Fourth Annual Halloween Spooktacular as The Wind -- you know he's there, you just can't see him.

Dave Rodman: That's a costume simply made for TV -- you'd need plenty of special effects to make it work, but I like the concept.

David Caraviello: Clint's a heck of a driver who's going to be around for a long time. But Gordon and Johnson have been the class of the field all year. Until somebody else takes control of the thing, it's their game.

Dave Rodman: I think the two youngsters are still the ones most apt to have just a bad race -- and this Chase magnifies that incredibly. But as usual, the wild card races will tell a big part of the tale.

Duane Cross: I think Clint can be a player -- but this isn't the year for RCR. The teams have made significant progress since Speedweeks 2006, and they're closing the gap, but it won't happen this year.

David Caraviello: Really, no one has an advantage right now, as small as those points margins are. But it's just like college football -- you want to pull the upset, you've gotta get the lead first.

Dave Rodman: Exactly. And Dover is the place to do it. I think both the 1 and the 07 will still be in the top five when the series heads towards Kansas.

Duane Cross: You know, Clint can win the race at Dover and conceivably still not have the points lead. That is ridiculous.

Dave Rodman: As David said, as small as the point margins are right now -- if Clint wins, I'd bet you he would also be the point leader.

Duane Cross: Not if Jeff or Jimmie lead a lap and finish second, and you know, they have a habit of doing that.

Dave Rodman: Aaah -- I guess I'm figuring they'll hiccup, finish fourth or fourth and give one of the other guys a week in the sun.

David Caraviello: We'll know a lot more after Talladega. I don't think drivers are looking forward to go to that place, with a new car and so much on the line.

Duane Cross: David you're spot-on: Talladega will be -- more so than usual -- the wild card in this Chase.

Dave Rodman: At 190 mph is not the time to be timid -- and I really wonder how much the lack of visibility in these cars is an issue for these guys, and how much they're just ignoring it.

David Caraviello: They're talking about how the COT handles on plate tracks like the old roof-rail cars did. And you know how much everybody hated those.

Duane Cross: Well, good thing we know the COT has roof flaps -- at least Junior's model did on Wednesday in Dallas. The flaps may come into play at 'Dega.

Dave Rodman: It will be an adjustment. And speaking of which, do y'all think whoever figures out how to consistently pass people in this car will have a huge advantage? Though it seemed Clint had plenty of patience -- and plenty of car -- to make that happen consistently enough at Loudon.

3. The TV ratings for Loudon were very low. Is there any particular reason why?

Dave Rodman: Yeah -- football, which will always rule the fall in this country.

Duane Cross: I don't want to hear anyone say, "Because Junior isn't in the Chase." It's not like he's not on the track. He's still racing for wins.

David Caraviello: Well, that track doesn't necessarily make for the most dramatic racing. Dale Jr. isn't in the Chase (sorry, Duane). And yes, as Dave points out, you've now run headlong into the juggernaut that is the NFL.

Dave Rodman: If you have one sucky race -- and I'm not saying Loudon was it, because I thought Clint's dismemberment of the field was rather fascinating -- versus a dozen or more football games, the odds are there's way more intrigue available flipping the channels there.

Duane Cross: Last weekend was a tremendous sports weekend and combined with Loudon not being a "sexy" track, the fact is fans went elsewhere besides ESPN on ABC -- which in itself may have confused a couple of folks.

Dave Rodman: And I bet that football fans are more enthused about watching their team, say, decimate the Chargers than anyone would be watching someone dominate a race, anywhere -- not just Loudon.

David Caraviello: This is where the Chase is supposed to earn its paycheck. The whole thing was cooked up to make NASCAR more competitive with the NFL in terms of TV ratings.

Dave Rodman: Well, if that's truly the case -- does anyone else think completely dynamiting the schedule would be the thing to do in the interest of better ratings?

David Caraviello: At some point, it seems, they're going to need a wholesale revision of the thing.

Duane Cross: A 2.8 on network TV is horrible -- no matter how anyone wants to spin it. I'd bet Bret Michaels' Rock of Love did better numbers on VH1. If the numbers don't spike, spicing up the final 10 races should become a priority.

Dave Rodman: If you stack NHIS-Dover-Kansas up against Sonoma-Bristol-Talladega, as Tony Stewart has recently become fond of saying, I don't think you'd have to be a rocket scientist to figure out which package would win.

Duane Cross: Bingo!

David Caraviello: No question. The 10 races that comprise the Chase are kind of lucky that they were in that position prior to the Chase being founded. Because all NASCAR really did was lop them off and say, "You have a playoff!"

Duane Cross: And if Kentucky gets its hands on NHIS, don't think that there won't be talks surrounding giving Kentucky a Chase date in exchange for dropping the lawsuit vs. NASCAR.

Dave Rodman: I don't see either one of those happening -- either a sale to Carroll's group or the suit being dropped under any circumstance.

David Caraviello: Woo-hoo. Cincinnati in October -- what fun!

Duane Cross: Nah, it'd be one of the early races. And hey, Sparta is hopping when the sun goes down!

David Caraviello: Let's not make it seem like we're piling on the folks at NHIS, who do a great job selling that place out race after race. But I think we're in agreement the final 10 needs a shakeup.

Dave Rodman: Definitely not -- NHIS has earned its place. But if gate numbers and TV ratings are off -- stage is set for a major revamp. But as I said before, football is king, that ain't changing in the next five lifetimes, so no idea what you could really do to contend with that.

Duane Cross: Change the point system -- which remains the root of the problem -- and nix the Chase! Motor racing isn't stick-and-ball, so why play their game just for the sake of having a "playoff?" OK, I'll get off my soapbox and return to regular programming ...

Dave Rodman: They still need to do something stronger for race wins. The bonus point situation in the "regular season" was a decent start.

David Caraviello: How about this: A 36-race Chase! Driver with the most points at the end wins? How revolutionary!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.