Track Smack: Welcome to 'To Tell the Truth'

1. Mark Martin currently leads the point standings, but keeps saying he has absolutely no interest in running a full-time schedule for Ginn Racing. Should we believe him?

Joe Menzer: I think Mark Martin believes himself at this point, but I still think there may come a point, very shortly, where someone talks him into doing what he says he will not do. He's off to such a great start!

Dave Rodman: Even though Mark's recent track record on "retirement statements," ain't the best, in this case, I think you can take it to the bank. I'm already looking forward to being in Lake City, Fla., with him later this month.

David Caraviello: He's been pretty consistent in saying he plans to get out of the car at Bristol. But you have to wonder if he'll reconsider if we get closer to that race weekend and he's still in the points lead. After all, he's supposed to have retired from Cup what, two times? Three?

Joe Menzer: For a guy who has come so close and never won the points championship, if he's leading after Atlanta, I think he may just let himself get talked into staying.

David Caraviello: He was asked at Fontana if he planned to do the whole season. He gave a one-word answer: No.

Joe Menzer: Besides, couldn't he always climb out of the car later if the points lead evaporates?

Dave Rodman: Well, I put "retirement" in quotes for a very good reason. We have to be careful to interpret what he says exactly as he means it. Retirement, in the true sense of the word, will probably never happen for him.

David Caraviello: We're talking retirement from Cup, Dave, which he attempted to do what, three years ago?

Dave Rodman: Much like Bill Elliott, he's just become overwhelmed by all the hoopla for which he has very little use.

Joe Menzer: This guy has staged more comebacks than Rocky Balboa. And he's just about as old as Rocky, too.

Dave Rodman: Again, "retirement" implies "done," "finished," "no more." I don't think he's ever intended that.

David Caraviello: At the Cup level, he has.

Dave Rodman: Again, I think some people might have heard him say that, but that isn't what he meant. What he meant was what he's doing this season, and once again, people are putting words in his mouth.

David Caraviello: Maybe he's doing so well for the same reason Tony Stewart flourished in the Chase last year despite being out of it: No pressure.

Dave Rodman: That's a good call, perhaps, David. He's a racer, so of course he craves the title -- but he is so thrilled to be writing his ticket and executing it, that I think in his warped little way he'll get -- maybe not nearly as much pleasure -- but a big kick out of walking away with the points lead.

Joe Menzer: Deep down, though, he still craves a championship, though. Don't you think, Dave? And when I say "Dave," either one of you can respond.

David Caraviello: He very well might. But he might not want to go though the 36-race wringer to get it.

Joe Menzer: I guess we'll all see soon enough. I still say he may rethink his position if he's in the lead after Atlanta.

Dave Rodman: Remember how much he said he wanted to win the championship, just so he could not defend it? And I say, no way will he continue after Atlanta.

David Caraviello: Lord knows he's going to get asked about it enough before then.

2. Who's either gonna have a restless two weeks freaking out over the fact they haven't made a race yet and who's figuring they've used up all their mulligans as far as staying in the top 35?

Dave Rodman: I've said from the beginning that if you miss one race, your season is over as far as contending for the championship. If you miss two, you will never get back into the top 35, barring a miracle. So the sweating is already on in force.

David Caraviello: The Red Bull folks have got to be wringing their hands over A.J. Allmendinger. Granted, his wreck in the Daytona twins wasn't his fault. But remember his Las Vegas test? He's facing the distinct possibility of going 0-for-3.

Joe Menzer: We all knew A.J. was going to be in serious trouble even before he got to Daytona.

Dave Rodman: Yikes. You could make a pretty good argument for Red Bull to develop its Nextel Cup race team by using its noted spotter, David Green, for a while -- and run A.J. in the Busch Series, which needs teams and Toyotas.

David Caraviello: Joe is channeling noted A.J.-hater Ryan Smithson.

Joe Menzer: I miss Ryan. Don't you, Rodman?

David Caraviello: Ryan who?

Dave Rodman: He hasn't been gone long enough, Joe. Give it four or five years, OK?

Joe Menzer: OK -- before I die laughing, back to the topic. I certainly would like David Green's chances of driving without hitting anything at Las Vegas more than I do A.J. Allmendinger's!

Dave Rodman: The one who needs to worry, though he and his team certainly proved they could produce under duress last season, is Scott Riggs and the 10 bunch. They are already 61 points out of 35th, which means they need to uncork a couple good runs.

David Caraviello: Oh, just in case no one has noticed, Dale Jr. is 40th in points.

Dave Rodman: But David, here's the thing with that -- he is not very far out of 35th -- and his team is much more solid than everything from 34th back to him, on a consistent basis. So he has nothing to worry about, right now.

Joe Menzer: We also all know that Michael Waltrip is wringing his hands over how his season is going -- if not banging his head against one of the walls at the $20 million Waltrip Raceworld.

Dave Rodman: You know what? After watching Inside Nextel Cup on Monday night, I think Michael has undergone the ultimate transformation -- from racecar driver to hmmm -- I don't quite know what. But for him, it doesn't seem to matter if he's making the races or not, because he's still projecting a presence.

Joe Menzer: Well, that's weird ... bizarre ... and kind of stupid, if true. It sure seems like it should matter to him a whole lot!