"So will this thing be called the way-back machine once we hit Bristol?" Credit: Autostock

Track Smack: Car of Tomorrow's test of time

Jeff Burton said this week that the Car of Tomorrow criticism has been overblown. Do you agree?

Duane Cross: I do believe it's been overblown -- but that's a natural human reaction to change. You cannot fault the drivers (or fans) for the negative reaction. Bottom line: It's going to be implemented.

Ryan Smithson: The Car of Tomorrow problems will fix themselves. Teams -- and NASCAR -- have made more strides with it in the last month than they did in all of 2006. It appears that teams can get them built quickly, which is good, because everyone is behind.

Mark Aumann: NASCAR teams are notoriously unwilling to accept change. That said, some of the criticisms of the new design may be justified, especially when it comes to having each chassis inspected and approved.

Dave Rodman: You remember that old' saw, "Opinions are like ear holes -- everybody's got 'em." I think that fits the bill here. Not to dis Jeff, but enough people are knocking the concept to make me think there's something there.

Ryan Smithson: There are far fewer people complaining now, Rodman. They know it's coming. That and they don't want to openly blast NASCAR.

Duane Cross: Once the kinks are worked out in building, inspecting and approving the chassis, it'll be smoother for everyone. There will be bumps in the road -- but NASCAR isn't going to throw out the baby with the bath water. Too much has been spent on the COT. It will evolve, like everything else in NASCAR.

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Dave Rodman: Ryan, we're not talking about accepting it. They have because they have no choice. But voicing concerns and complaining are real -- and they aren't going away any time soon, Smithson.

Ryan Smithson: So what happens if we go to Dover and see a fabulous race with two distinct grooves the entire day? Chuckle. Although, we have that now.

Mark Aumann: Plus, even though crew chiefs and guys back at the shop aren't happy, they'll find ways to create loopholes in the rulebook, maybe not as many in the past, but that's why those guys get paid the big bucks.

Dave Rodman: At this point, this really looks like a classic case of costing the teams a pile of money while (trying) to save them some. That may be the case eventually, but it doesn't seem to be, now.

Duane Cross: Anyone seen a roof hatch on one of these things? Remember when that was the most innovative concept since the seat belt?

Ryan Smithson: The Car of Tomorrow will probably end up skyrocketing salaries for over-the-wall guys, because pit stops will be even more important now.

Dave Rodman: Ryan, How do you figure they will be any more important than they already are?

Ryan Smithson: Pit stop times will need to be quicker, Rodman. In case you didn't get that. Track position.

Mark Aumann: Hasn't that always been in the case at places like Bristol and Martinsville?

Dave Rodman: Right Smithson, and since that is already a pretty big issue -- how in the world do you figure it could possibly be more of one?

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Ryan Smithson: It isn't maxed out yet, Rodman. The Car of Tomorrow will cause people to find ways to gain speed, and one of the ways you can gain speed is by a faster pit stop.

Duane Cross: I still don't see how that is any different than now; track position is paramount now. It will be with the COT.

Ryan Smithson: I am simply agreeing with Duane's statement that the gray area will be smaller, forcing the guys to find new ways to make the car go faster.

Duane Cross: Teams already make pit guys a priority (at least the contenders do). If it does anything, it may make some of the pretenders step up to the plate.

Mark Aumann: The thing that seems to concern some drivers is the fact that the new design gets to be a handful in turbulence. I wonder what will need to be done to make these things superspeedway viable.

Ryan Smithson: Rodman kept saying all week that Todd Berrier built seven COTs, and all of them failed inspection. I was merely impressed that the 29 team had already attempted and completed seven of the cars. They can build 'em pretty fast.

Dave Rodman: To set the record straight, at the time, RCR had four approved chassis, and seven or eight brand new, never run COT show cars.

Ryan Smithson: So they built 11 of them. Even better. We're going to be up to 20 COTs before this chat session is over.

Dave Rodman: They also built the test mules, which apparently hadn't been run through the approval process.

Duane Cross: The teams that embraced the COT from the get-go, naturally, will have the upper hand at Bristol in March. The teams that did not will raise hell -- and I think that will be a major factor in the Chase. Half of the Chase races are COT races.

Ryan Smithson: I still can't believe NASCAR is only going to add maybe 10 more points for victories. Come on.

Duane Cross: Cash that championship check after Homestead and a lot of the COT apprehension will be forgotten.

Ryan Smithson: $15 million heals a lot of wounds.

Which team is in the biggest hole as testing wraps up at Daytona?

Dave Rodman: That's hard to quantify without knowing what any team's test goals were. The easiest thing to do is look at a speed chart -- but without knowing a team's test plan, that ain't the most relevant measuring stick to use.

Ryan Smithson: James Hylton. He has a serious age problem that he needs to correct before he comes back. I can say this because he doesn't check our Web site. ... I am kidding. That is easy: Red Bull.

Dave Rodman: His age has very little to do with it. As we said a week or two ago, competing in Nextel Cup isn't something you can waltz into and expect to succeed at.

Mark Aumann: I'd be worried a little bit if I were Red Bull.

Duane Cross: Hendrick Motorsports:
• JJ is the defending champ; bull's eye on his back.
• Gordon hasn't won a title since Moby Dick was a minnow.
• Kyle Busch is hero or zero each week; runs in the family.
• Casey Mears has the expectations of living up to potential.

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Ryan Smithson: I heard a crazy story about Red Bull: They went to Kentucky to test and only had one car prepped. The crazier rumor is that Vickers wrecked the lone car.

Duane Cross: Lots of pressure on those guys before the garage even opens for Speedweeks.

Mark Aumann: Mike Bliss can't be happy with his testing times.

Ryan Smithson: If Mike Bliss was hired to run that 6 truck instead of Kvapil, he'd win half the races. But in Cup, he has never done much except for that run that night in Richmond when no one noticed.

Mark Aumann: And another team that was surprising in a negative way was DEI: Truex Jr. and Menard weren't where I thought they might be.

Dave Rodman: Guys, guys, guys -- we're getting off track. Very few of those guys are in holes.

Mark Aumann: You have to think the Yates guys are brimming with confidence, at least from what they saw the last two weeks.

Ryan Smithson: One thing from testing that I can't stress enough: RYR will be insanely strong at Daytona. They always are. They can build some plate cars. When they get to Fontana, it'll be another story.

Dave Rodman: All I can say is, with a 15-race David Gilliland and an insanely fired-up Ricky Rudd -- look out. If I were you, I would not throw RYR under the bus anywhere. I couldn't believe Ricky's here again for the second test.

Duane Cross: OK, you brought up Yates. Guys, that two-car team has the potential to be the comeback story of the year. Gilliland needs to keep the fenders on it each week, but the potential is there.

Ryan Smithson: I hope you guys don't expect either Rudd or Gilliland to finish in the top 15. They won't.

Dave Rodman: It's possible.

Ryan Smithson: No it isn't, Rodman. You also think it is possible for Brett Bodine to make a comeback and make the Chase with his own team. He won't.

Duane Cross: No -- but top 20 has to be the goal. Top 20 teams can garner more money through sponsorships -- and that is what Yates needs right now: A solid year with David and Ricky.

	"I would like to formally announce my plans to run a Car of Tomorrow both at the track AND as my street car." Credit: Autostock
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Ryan Smithson: Thank you, Duane. That is what I meant.

Mark Aumann: I can't see either car being consistent enough to crack the top 15. There are just too many better teams out there right now.

Dave Rodman: It's a little early in the day for you to be drunk, isn't it, Smithson?

Ryan Smithson: So you think I am drunk by saying Brett Bodine probably won't make a comeback? ... You saying he will?

Dave Rodman: Sorry. I meant to say you were a raving lunatic.

Ryan Smithson: Better than an ostrich with his head in the sand.

Duane Cross: It's all about the money in this sport (a sad, but true, story). Yates is Exhibit A -- and he knows that and must be applauded for making a move to get his team back into contention. Each year has to be approached with one eye on the future.

Ryan Smithson: If Rudd finishes 17th with 10 top-10 finishes, he will have done extremely well. That is major improvement.

Dave Rodman: I just hope Yates currently has enough money to make it happen. I doubt he has M&M's money times two. ... I hate to be a party pooper, but what's happening here won't come into focus until Saturday, Feb. 10.

Duane Cross: The Bud Shootout won't bring this into focus. Quals on Feb. 11 and the Duels on Feb. 15 will be the measuring sticks.

Dave Rodman: The Vegas test will be more telling. But even at that, they're tests. The events will tell the tale -- and Feb. 10 is the opening of practice for the Daytona 500.

Mark Aumann: Sorry to call bull on you, Dave, but the teams that weren't fast out of the box this month aren't going to suddenly find speed in February.

Dave Rodman: You're pretty much right, Mark -- I just don't want to fire up the backhoe, yet.

Ryan Smithson: Daytona 500 qualifying -- not the Duels -- is the ticket into the race.

Duane Cross: Huh? Quals sets the front row. The Duels set the rest of the field.

Ryan Smithson: Duane, the rest of the field falls back on their speed if they don't finish high enough in the Duels.

Duane Cross: True -- but it's in the Duels where that plays out.

Ryan Smithson: Back to the qualifying deal. Shelmerdine made the race last year based on his speed. So did Robby I think.

Dave Rodman: The Duels are a mighty tenuous straw to cross a canyon on. A great qualifying speed is the ticket. Just ask Kirk Shelmerdine.

Ryan Smithson: So that is why qualifying is more important than the Duels, Duane.

Dave Rodman: If your car won't qualify well, chances are it won't pull up enough mph to hang onto the draft in a Duel, either.

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Duane Cross: I disagree -- the Shelmerdine-like storylines are not factors. Nice little ditty, but I'll take my chances racing into the show.

Mark Aumann: And your starting position in Daytona 500 is probably the least important one of the season, outside of Talladega. It's all about drafting, catching the cautions and track position for the final green-flag run.

Ryan Smithson: I kind of disagree, Aumann. The guys that qualified badly last year immediately got caught up in a wreck.

Duane Cross: If you have a good car for the Duels, you're more than likely going to be a factor in the Daytona 500.

Mark Aumann: And only seven guys are really going to care how fast they went on Sunday.

Dave Rodman: Yup -- starting position doesn't matter so much -- but with 60 cars on hand and 24 going for seven spots -- you've got to seize every advantage available.

Mark Aumann: Actually, three, since the other four spots are determined by the Twins.

Duane Cross: And then there's the past champion provisional for Dale Jarrett.

Ryan Smithson: Daytona 500 qualifying is going to be pretty neat this year. Kind of like how Indy used to be.

Mark Aumann: Well, if you enjoyed watching the last three guys get bumped out of the race.

Dave Rodman: Right. Congratulations, NASCAR, on making a convoluted qualifying format even more pretzeline. ... Pretzeline -- is that a word?

Ryan Smithson: No.