Track Smack: Where will Junior end up? (cont'd)

David Caraviello: And Humpy will call Bristol, "The Launching Pad of East Tennessee." Seriously, though, looks like we might have a situation at Vegas this year like we did in the Coca-Cola 600 a few years back.

Joe Menzer: You heard what Kyle Petty said about it: You don't just give someone -- or some thing -- a nickname out of nowhere after 50 years. He said, and I quote, "It doesn't work that way, dude."

Ryan Smithson: In Vegas' defense, the Trucks put on good show there last fall.

David Caraviello: Was the new banking complete then?

Ryan Smithson: Yes. But obviously the Trucks are slower.

Joe Menzer: It could be that Vegas is too fast now -- at least until the drivers learn to deal with it by simply slowing down a little. These things sometimes take time.

David Caraviello: And it being a testing session, guys are playing around with unorthodox stuff. You'd hope they'd rein it in on the race weekend.

Joe Menzer: I'm more worried about reining myself in at the Blackjack table when we go out there for the race!

Ryan Smithson: Just don't play, Joe. Play poker instead, you can control your winnings easier.

Joe Menzer: Or my losses.

David Caraviello: I'm more worried about reining you in to the track the next morning.

Ryan Smithson: The track is forever and a day away from the Strip.

David Caraviello: And it may take Joe that long to get there.

Joe Menzer: Sounds like I'd better quit playing by sunrise to make it.

3. Penske's building a test track? When will the spending stop?

David Caraviello: Man, all we heard last week was owners griping about money. Well, if that test track becomes a reality, Roger has upped the price of poker considerably.

Ryan Smithson: Let's wait and see if he actually builds it first.

Joe Menzer: For some of these guys, including Penske, the spending will never stop. He's got it, it's going to keep coming in from all his other sources, and he's going to keep spending it.

David Caraviello: He sounded pretty sure. Now you won't just need a 300,000 square-foot shop. You'll also need 70 acres of land in the backyard.

Joe Menzer: I think he will definitely build it -- unless some local ordinance prohibits him from doing so. He's already got the land, by the way.

Ryan Smithson: He is out in the sticks, but the neighbors will fight him for sure. Those things are not very quiet.

David Caraviello: Is it not like they'll be testing at 3 a.m., Ryan.

Ryan Smithson: No, but noise isn't much fun for seniors. Remember the RCR engine dyno story?

David Caraviello: There was an RCR engine dyno story? How did I miss that?

Ryan Smithson: Yeah, the engine room got to be so loud, neighbors started complaining.

Joe Menzer: If that happens, Roger will probably buy the neighbor's house, and the one next to it, too.

David Caraviello: Penske has no neighbors. He's in an industrial park.

David Caraviello: RCR has houses a block away.

Ryan Smithson: There are houses within 2 miles, David. Like I said, we will see.

Ryan Smithson: I remember Robert Yates used to have his shop in a bad area because no one complained when he ran his dynos.

David Caraviello: I don't know. They kind of like their race shops in Mooresville, N.C. They kind of let the NASCAR types do what they want.

Joe Menzer: I have a funny feeling that Roger will have a way with the local authorities if anyone complains too much.

Joe Menzer: He'll buy whatever he needs to. But like I said, he'll clear it with the local powers-that-be first -- and I don't think he'll have a problem.

David Caraviello: Suddenly, there will be a new Penske dealership in Mooresville, complete with 200 new jobs.

Joe Menzer: You are right, David. They love NASCAR in Mooresville and bend over backwards to accommodate it. I don't think this will be any different. I think it's going to be awesome, by the way.

David Caraviello: I hope for test rides on an upcoming media tour.

Joe Menzer: I'm up for some media rides.

Ryan Smithson: Can you fit in the car, Joe? Through the right-side window? They don't have a door.

Joe Menzer: Hey, I worked out this morning. Maybe we could play Blackjack to see who gets to ride first?

Ryan Smithson: Just double down on 11.

The opinions expressed are solely of the participants.