Track Smack: On tour

Humpy Wheeler thinks the point changes are driven by lower TV ratings and sagging attendance. Do you guys agree?

Ryan Smithson: I am not sure. But someone at the media tour made a really good point -- when you have guys like Tony Stewart (2006) and Jeff Gordon (2005) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2005) missing the Chase, it hurts the merchandise sales.

David Caraviello: Let's not forget that this whole playoff system was devised as a vehicle to increase viewership during football season, when NASCAR's television ratings are lowest. Now, coincidentally, there's another change on the heels of a dip in TV ratings. It's all about people at home in front of the box.

Joe Menzer: I agree to a point. Brian France said he wanted to make the changes WHILE the sport had momentum. But it clearly has lost some. Of course, Kyle Petty thinks Humpy is off his rocker.

Ryan Smithson: Oh yeah. Kyle thought the TV ratings were down because of traffic, crowds, etc.

Joe Menzer: He actually said if he was a fan, he would rather watch it on TV. I guess that would help ratings, hurt attendance.

David Caraviello: TV is the whole ballgame here now, boys. The sponsors aren't paying $20 million so their brand names can be seen by folks in the grandstands, who are the loyalists who buy the products and watch the races anyway.

Ryan Smithson: Here is another reason for the TV ratings, but it has nothing to do with playoffs: There are too many races. The fans are being burned out. There is no buildup anymore at all. It's a constant stream, even to the Daytona 500.

David Caraviello: Burned out? The fans love this stuff, Joe.

Joe Menzer: And easy, D.C., I wasn't the one saying the fans are burned out. But something has to be done to pump the smaller events between the big ones.

David Caraviello: It's all about finding new fans and new markets, and you do that through television.

Ryan Smithson: A lot of sponsors use the $20 million to find franchisees, David. How many fans are going to see Dave Blaney go by and say, "I want a bulldozer?"

Joe Menzer: The problem is the lull for the races between signature events like the Daytona 500, Bristol, the Brickyard, etc.

Ryan Smithson: Bristol is not a signature event. The TV ratings for its two races are average. And a place like Pocono actually does very well in the ratings.

Joe Menzer: I think that's a ridiculous statement. Of course Bristol is a signature event -- especially the night race!

Ryan Smithson: Joe, the Bristol night race is the most overrated race on the planet. The TV ratings are not high, the racing has become horrible because of the Chase, and there simply aren't the wrecks of yesteryear.

Joe Menzer: Pocono must do well in the ratings because no one in the heart of race country can get there -- so they have to watch on TV.

David Caraviello: Sorry, Joe, but we're ganging up on you here. Bristol's big show is on a Saturday night, traditionally a low-viewer night. It's big to the fans, but it's really a small-market race. Sponsors would rather have Chicagoland, which is unfortunate.

Joe Menzer: Well, I like Bristol. But it's definitely one of those places where it's a whole lot better to be there than to watch from your couch.

David Caraviello: Agreed. Hey, should we rename this Menzer Smack?

Joe Menzer: If it sells, sure.

David Caraviello: I can see it now: The No. 00 Menzer Smack Chevy ran good all day.

The media tour is all about visiting shops, and teams consistently use the terms "excited, looking forward to, we're going to be better." Which team will truly be better in 2007?

Joe Menzer: I think Carl Edwards is going to get back in the championship hunt.

David Caraviello: Gotta be Penske. The drivers are too good. The people are too smart. The shop is too big. There's really no reason Roger's bunch shouldn't start contending for titles again.

Ryan Smithson: That is easy. Penske Racing. They can't get much worse. They are working on the intermediate tracks like crazy.

Joe Menzer: Penske and Chip Ganassi have already proven that money can't buy everything in this sport. I do think the Penske teams might get a jump on some others in the COT, Kurt Busch's bad corn jokes notwithstanding.

David Caraviello: Oh, no question. They're poster boys for an argument that owners waste too much money on bells and whistles.

Ryan Smithson: One thing about Ganassi: That shop had some freakin' energy, guys.

David Caraviello: Every shop has freakin' energy this time of year. Everybody thinks they can make the Chase. Heck, there was plenty of energy at Petty, too, and they'd be happy just to win one race.

Joe Menzer: As for the Pettys, they'll be doing backflips if Bobby Labonte cracks the top 20 most weeks. Oh, and weren't the Pettys pretty much doing backflips at the end of last season when Bobby Labonte ran better? That's my point, exactly. But man, you gotta love the Petty operation. I truly do.

David Caraviello: Actually, Bobby did just that fairly consistently at the end of last season. I have some reference materials for you if you need them, Joe.

Joe Menzer: I think the whole Juan Montoya deal has brought a little extra energy and attention to Ganassi.

Ryan Smithson: A little? A little? Are you nuts? He's the general over there.

David Caraviello: Uh-oh. Menzer Smack is on again.

Joe Menzer: As for my Montoya comment, yeah he's brought more than a little energy. Now he has to back up all the hype by actually winning some races. Can he do it?

Ryan Smithson: Oh yeah. He will win this year. Road courses are going to be even more interesting this year, especially with the COT.

David Caraviello: Maybe on superspeedways. Definitely on road courses. Everywhere else, he's a work in progress.

Ryan Smithson: Rookies don't win plate races, David.

Joe Menzer: Ryan, Montoya isn't really a rookie. Not in my opinion.

David Caraviello: Montoya was consistently at the top of the second Daytona testing session, and other drivers raved about his ability to hang in the draft. This isn't David Stremme we're talking about. With apologies to David Stremme.

Ryan Smithson: Stremme doesn't accept your apology.

David Caraviello: I'll have my people call his people.

Joe Menzer: Poor Stremme. Everyone forgets about him with Montoya around now. And he's the guy who won the bubble-gum blowing contest on the media tour.

David Caraviello: Actually a very nice guy and a good interview.

Ryan Smithson: They should give him an All-Star Challenge spot for that win.

Joe Menzer: Of course, most people forgot about Stremme even before Montoya came around.

David Caraviello: Welcome to Stremme Smack.

What was the best moment on the media tour this week?

Joe Menzer: Going to Petty Enterprises. It's like going back in time. And you gotta love talking to The King.

Ryan Smithson: It was funny when Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray both admonished Jack Roush for his sudden crew chief changes.

David Caraviello: In public.

Joe Menzer: How about Jack's bashing of Toyota?

Ryan Smithson: He acted like it was Pearl Harbor all over again. And I can't help but point out that Greg Biffle crashed at LVMS on Dec. 7.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, I think I read about that somewhere. Good stuff. Too bad he doesn't remember it.

David Caraviello: Petty is always great. Hendrick is always full of good information. But you can't beat Jack Roush's anti-Toyota manifesto. Seems like Jack takes this personally. Isn't he the only car owner with direct ties to the Big Three in Detroit?

Joe Menzer: You think Jack ever eats at a Japanese restaurant?

Ryan Smithson: Joe, now that is funny. We should have asked him if he would accept a Benihana sponsorship.

Ryan Smithson: The best food all week was at RCR. They brought in traditional Southern barbecue with sweet tea. It was all meat.

Joe Menzer: You know how I hate to agree with you, Ryan. But you are right. The Penske dinner was very good, but that lunch at RCR was excellent. A real Meat Feast.

Ryan Smithson: Penske was the highest in quality, no question, but it wasn't a quality contest. I mean pound-for-pound.

David Caraviello: I think the best part of the media tour was NASCAR.COM night, when the media got a preview of the incredible new TrackPass. And we ate very fine roasted peanuts.

Ryan Smithson: You homer.

David Caraviello: And we ate very fine roasted peanuts.

Joe Menzer: You are such a suck-up

Ryan Smithson: I am trying to think of the stop with the worst food. I mean, this is important stuff.

David Caraviello: Oddly enough, maybe Hendrick. Not on their usual game.

Ryan Smithson: A lot of the shops had to reinforce their floors before we arrived.

Joe Menzer: The Ginn Racing lunch was so long ago, I can't even remember what we ate there.

Ryan Smithson: Hendrick's food was saved by the beef they had in there.

David Caraviello: There was beef in there?

Ryan Smithson: Ginn had some really good, um, I forgot. I really did forget. That was the first stop.

Joe Menzer: I think Ryan likes beef. You could work for Roush Racing. Or whatever it's going to be called after he takes on his new partner.

Ryan Smithson: Hibachi beef. Jack Roush loves him some sushi.

Joe Menzer: There will be no Hibachi grilling at Roush.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.