Track Smack: It's all stars at Hendrick, not so at DEI

1. Why did NASCAR bust Tony Eury Jr. and DEI with such a severe penalty?

David Caraviello: Welcome to the Car of Tomorrow, boys and girls. The tolerances are airtight and they don't want anyone messing with them. This is a message to the rest of the garage: Stay in the box.

Dave Rodman: Like with a lot of other things in life, they have painted themselves into a severely restricted corner. There is no stepping back from here, unless, of course, they go inconsistent on us. And we know they would never do that, would they?

Raygan Swan: Well they are making a firm statement, especially with violations found on the COT. NASCAR said they were going to do this, back in Daytona. I do think it was a bit heavy on Eury, a first-time offender, though.

David Caraviello: You have to think it didn't matter who committed the penalty or what it was for, but the first guy to trifle with the COT was going to get hammered.

Dave Rodman: Obviously, the biggest question to ask is, why did it take NASCAR all the way to pre-race inspection to determine the brackets were illegal, since the car was initially presented that way?

David Caraviello: Great question Dave. You mean, why did they miss it earlier in the race weekend?

Dave Rodman: Exactly.

Raygan Swan: Does anyone have an answer?

David Caraviello: Can you tweak that wing in between initial inspection and pre-race inspection?

Dave Rodman: I believe you can make incremental adjustments. But you would think the gang would be good enough to determine "that bracket" would allow an out-of-bounds wing adjustment -- therefore they could have just taken them in opening inspection, and no penalty would have been needed.

Raygan Swan: I agree Roadman. Especially when these could potentially be some of the last races spent with his pal and cousin, Junior.

Dave Rodman: It seems like NASCAR screwed up and Tony's head is on a stake for the next seven weeks on account. And that seems unfair as heck. Unless there's something I neither understand nor know about what went down.

David Caraviello: I'm far from a technical guy and likely out of my depth here, but if it passed the first time and failed the next time, you have to think it was tampered with in between.

Dave Rodman: Well, it made it through initial inspection and pre-qualifying inspection, so third time was definitely not a charm.

David Caraviello: Maybe that's what NASCAR was so displeased with.

Dave Rodman: But having said that, COT infractions cannot be trifled with, and that statement would have needed to be made eventually -- but those brackets are very noticeable in inspection, when the car goes into the "claw gallery" with its bare butt exposed like a plucked chicken.

David Caraviello: Six weeks at home does seem inordinately harsh. But again, I think they're trying to send a message. You can bet every other crew chief in the garage took notice. You mess with the Claw, you go home.

Raygan Swan: What's funny is Junior could potentially get the penalty money back, since the $100,000 he said he would fork over for Tony Jr. goes into the year-end point fund.

Dave Rodman: But he'll have to start a pretty serious comeback to make much of a dent in $100,000.

Raygan Swan: So give me my money back you b****! Another song for you guys!

Earnhardt docked, Eury suspended

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100 points, and crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races following Darlington.

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2. Do drivers really care about this Nextel All-Star Challenge -- their all-star race?

Raygan Swan: Absolutely. Wouldn't you, for a cool mill?

Dave Rodman: Since it's at Lowe's Motor Speedway I'd say they care a lot more about it than if it were, say, at California Speedway, Michigan or even Atlanta.

Raygan Swan: Yeah -- it's home for just about everyone who lives in NASCarolina.

David Caraviello: Yes and no. I think they grow weary, as do all of us, of the goofy rules and all the TV hoopla surrounding it. But I think they like very much racing for no points and having a chance for $1 million.

Dave Rodman: It's a racers' race -- but the biggest deal is that all they have to battle is the infamous traffic in and out. Other than that, they sleep at home -- and given the schedule they have to keep, you can't minimize that.

Raygan Swan: I think they are geeked to be super-aggressive on the track. I wonder if we'll see any scores settled on the track since wrecked racecars won't be as big of a deal.

Dave Rodman: I'm not saying over-aggressive moves haven't been seen, but none of them have been anything beyond the garden variety "momentary idiocy" category -- though Brian Vickers dumping Mike Bliss was pretty brutal.

David Caraviello: Even though there are no points on the line and guys are typically more aggressive, remember that the All-Star cars are usually their backup cars for the 600. So they don't want to total them if they don't have to.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, but I would risk a totaled backup car for a million any day. I know Kyle Busch would!

David Caraviello: But the whole thing seems a touch over-orchestrated, and I think that sort of grates on everyone.

Dave Rodman: I think the biggest shortcoming of the All-Star Challenge is that it has largely been same-old, same-old. The potential winners can probably be picked on one hand damaged by poorly timed Fourth of July M80's.

David Caraviello: But you can do without the tedious breaks between segments, the almost ridiculous rock-star introductions and the way TV plays such a role in it. Thankfully, at least, the inversion is gone.

Dave Rodman: Thank God for small favors.

David Caraviello: And even with the TV influence -- wasn't it a few years ago, when FOX guys were announcing the inversion number on a big cell phone? -- it's better than the Pro Bowl.

Dave Rodman: They need to figure out a way to shave weight out of the cars running at the back, so by the fourth segment you could be running a couple hundred pounds light per how badly your car is handling. Then, dilute your payoff per how much weight you've given up.

David Caraviello: Like the Pit Crew Challenge -- yeah, it's a chance for some unknown guys to take home some cash, but they're not even doing real pit stops.

Raygan Swan: Tell that to Mr. Kerr. Are you saying he didn't earn his cash last year pushing the hell outta that car?

David Caraviello: Oh yeah, pushing cars 40 yards at full speed is exactly how pit crewmen earn their keep.

Dave Rodman: If I was a team owner I might not want my guys risking hernias and pulled muscles doing something they just don't have to do in the normal execution of their jobs.

David Caraviello: But at least nobody begs out of it, like athletes in other all-star games.

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Raygan Swan: It is what it is, and I think it's sweet for the unsung heroes in the garage to have their day in the spotlight, no matter the format.

David Caraviello: Not exactly, Raygan. Some of those "unsung guys" think the format is a little ridiculous, too.

Dave Rodman: It's a chance for a special event.

David Caraviello: They'll take the money, but they know it's not what they do on Sundays.

Dave Rodman: But if you want to make it pop, you'd make the Pit Crew Challenge an integral part of qualifying on Friday. Real pit stops, real payoff.

David Caraviello: Rodman, you're in charge. Make a few calls.

Raygan Swan: I know the ones you're talking about and they already get enough attention in the media in Victory Lane. When was the last time we saw the Cup crew of the No. 1 in Victory Lane?

Dave Rodman: Could happen this season. Little Martin has stepped up his performance considerably. And he could be the team leader next season.

David Caraviello: Well, heck, let's just not keep score. Everybody's a winner!

3. Is Hendrick really good or just lucky?

Raygan Swan: Rick Hendrick doesn't believe in luck! He believes in preparation, clearly.

David Caraviello: They're lucky and good. They're lucky that Tony Stewart's fuel pump failed at Bristol, that cautions came out at Atlanta and Phoenix and that Denny Hamlin's pit crew had some unfortunate moments at Martinsville and Darlington.

Dave Rodman: They are really talented, they really expend the pre-event sweat, miles and commitment it takes. And to everyone else's disgruntlement, it's paying off in Victory Lane.

David Caraviello: But they're also good enough to be up front, lead a ton of laps and capitalize when those things happen. You don't win three races and lead the standings by 200 points by accident.

Raygan Swan: Good point DC, that's true! Gordon said they weren't lucky, they just weren't making any mistakes!

Dave Rodman: I'm as good with a cliche as anyone, but the one about it not being luck if you put yourself in position to take advantage of someone else taking the apple, either fits, or I just made it up.

David Caraviello: And Dave's point is right on, too. They beat you with personnel and resources long before you get to the racetrack.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, Evernham said he'd have to hire 50 more people today to catch up and he just doesn't have the green -- yet.

David Caraviello: But that said, if a few things go the other way, Denny Hamlin is having the kind of season Gordon is enjoying right now. Hard to believe a guy that high in the points and with all those top-fives is snake bitten, but he is.

Raygan Swan: Poor Hamlin, wonder if he and his crew have been to the head doctor yet this week?

Dave Rodman: I don't think there is any question they support each other, and Denny's comments obviously were very much heat of the moment and not designed to be unsupportive. But facts is facts and they probably would have two wins if they had Gordon or Johnson's over-the-wall crews.

David Caraviello: No question. They almost certainly win at Martinsville and Darlington.

Raygan Swan: Agreed

David Caraviello: But if you can win a race on old tires and with steam belching out of the hood of your car, you've earned it.

Dave Rodman: I don't want to wrack my brain hard enough to remember if the season Steve Letarte and Gordon are having even begins to parallel anything in any of Jeff and Ray's three championships.

David Caraviello: Darlington is the perfect example of just how good Hendrick is. Even without the best car, and in quite dire situations, they beat you.

Dave Rodman: But if I was a competitor I would either be getting a little nervous, or buckling down a little harder.

David Caraviello: That, my friends, is scary.

Raygan Swan: How long is it going to take for other teams to catch up, and will it happen this season?

Dave Rodman: I don't see J.D. Gibbs or Chip Ganassi or Roger Penske running away screaming -- but their think tanks are certainly at full percolation mode.

David Caraviello: Obviously. The Gibbs boys aren't that far off. Neither, it appears, is RCR. But they just don't have that across-the-board depth that Hendrick does. If they do, it's not showing.

Dave Rodman: Well, Gibbs is only a hair's-breadth behind. Between Tony and Denny they could easily have halved Hendrick's win total for the season. And J.J. Yeley has stepped up his game (see Luck, or lack thereof).

David Caraviello: Just imagine if we didn't have the Chase. With the lead Gordon has now, the season would almost be a foregone conclusion.

Dave Rodman: David, I think that's why we DO have the Chase, and are damned glad of it.

Raygan Swan: You can say that again.

Dave Rodman: And what does everyone do when Casey Mears get up-and-running?

Raygan Swan: Or if Junior replaces him in the No. 25 next year?

Dave Rodman: Rick Hendrick has worked long and hard, and paid an indescribable price for what his teams are achieving, so I say "all hail to him and his gang."

David Caraviello: Dave, if Casey Mears' squad reaches the level of his three Hendrick teammates this year, then it's time for everyone else to see if the World of Outlaws has any openings.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.