Track Smack: A.J. and despair at Daytona (cont'd)

Joe Menzer: And we'll have had the story first. Well, more specifically, you will have had the story first, DC!

David Caraviello: Just no more "he left his turn signal on" jokes.

Joe Menzer: I'm sure you haven't heard the last of those!

Ryan Smithson: I wonder just how disappointed the teams will be because I am sure that Michael Waltrip knows that there is a better than average chance some of his cars are going home.

Joe Menzer: That is going to greatly disappoint those Toyota folks, if it happens.

David Caraviello: No question. But to be honest, sponsors and teams that are on the brink know it, so it might not be quite as crushing as it appears. They know going in they're facing long odds.

Joe Menzer: It's like Ward Burton said during testing. For him and others like him this time around, qualifying will feel like winning the darn race!

Ryan Smithson: I know it bothered Scott Riggs a lot last year-- for just a few days. It actually helped him focus more at Fontana [the following week]. It worked out.

David Caraviello: Let's face it -- there are eight spots left for the 500, and six Toyota teams that need to get in? Those numbers don't work.

Ryan Smithson: I just don't see how Allmendinger will even qualify for a race in the coming months.

Joe Menzer: It sounds like he will be out of a job before long, frankly.

David Caraviello: Man, this has turned into Allmendinger Smack.

Joe Menzer: Well, that's better than the usual Menzer Smack.

Ryan Smithson: You can't come into stock cars with three races of experience. And don't bring up Juan Montoya. He is a different animal, and he hasn't wrecked in testing.

Joe Menzer: Or wrecked twice.

David Caraviello: A.J.'s top test speed at Daytona was 54th-fastest.

Joe Menzer: Or wrecked twice.

David Caraviello: And we all know what happened at Vegas.

Ryan Smithson: A.J. hasn't wrecked twice, Joe. More than that.

David Caraviello: Let's just say the guy still has quite the learning curve.

Joe Menzer: Oh, my bad. Didn't he wreck twice at Vegas, though?

Ryan Smithson: Yes, but he also wrecked at Kentucky in testing. The bad thing is that Red Bull doesn't have a high car count.

Joe Menzer: Maybe he'd better quit destroying them, then. Especially since he's doing it with no other cars on the track!

Ryan Smithson: I don't see how he will get the chance to race other cars anyway.

Ryan Smithson: Except in practice.

2. Why did Hendrick change Casey Mears' crew chief on the eve of the 500?

Ryan Smithson: That was weird and unexpected. And I wonder how losing Darian Grubb will hurt Jimmie Johnson's team.

David Caraviello: You have to think either things weren't totally clicking between Mears and Lance McGrew, or they needed to do something to keep Darian Grubb from being lured somewhere else.

David Caraviello: Remember, the guy won two races last year when Chad Knaus was suspended, including the Daytona 500. You've got to believe he had offers. (Continued)