1. We had some stunning finishes at Lowe's last weekend. Were they season-savers or a nice job of mixing it up?

David Caraviello: Were they season-savers or a fluke, may be more the question. Had the final pit stops cycled a little different and fuel held out for the top contenders, we may be talking about a completely different top five.

Joe Menzer: I've got to believe that a guy like Casey Mears, with all the resources of Hendrick Motorsports behind him, can build on his win in the Coca-Cola 600 -- and maybe J.J. Yeley, too, because of his Joe Gibbs backing.

Dave Rodman: No one race saves a season -- but at this point no one had been given a death notice, either. But it was a nice validation, if anyone needed it, that those guys -- Mears, Yeley and yeah, Petty -- are top-flight race drivers.

David Caraviello: That said, nobody needed a good result more than J.J. Yeley. No driver is more on the hot seat. Which is too bad, because he's a good guy you want to see succeed.

Joe Menzer: But some of the others, like Kyle Petty, may have a tougher time parlaying their strong finishes into more. I kind of hope I'm wrong on that one, but I think that will be the case.

Dave Rodman: Was nice to hear Casey tell NASCAR Live he had already been given a vote of confidence. J.J. has run plenty good enough to make his case -- he just needs to post some numbers -- and Sunday night he did.

David Caraviello: Hard to believe this is the first time in J.J.'s Cup career he's posted four consecutive top-20s.

Joe Menzer: Wait a minute, DC! J.J. said after the race that it's the media who is saying he's on the hot seat, and not anyone else!

David Caraviello: When you're racing in the final year of your contract, you're on the hot seat.

Dave Rodman: I often go back to the '90 Daytona 500 when people talk about valid results ... Did Derrike Cope deserve to win? Of course, he ran at the front all day. And so did Mears and Yeley.

David Caraviello: They did, and fuel mileage is part of the deal. They managed it better, they took the risks and they deserved to win.

Joe Menzer: Of course J.J. also said he didn't read anything the media writes, and then a few minutes later he made reference to something he'd read! I do like J.J., though.

Dave Rodman: For sure both of those kids are the real articles -- so it's nice to slap it in the face of the doubters. Kyle Petty, on the other hand, long ago proved he could get it done.

Joe Menzer: One guy you two haven't mentioned was Reed Sorenson, who finished fourth. Or Brian Vickers, who was strong all night and finished fifth -- in a Toyota! Michael Waltrip couldn't even get started in his Toyota, but what else is new?

David Caraviello: Vickers probably had the night's best car, until his power steering went on the fritz.

Dave Rodman: It was 600 miles. You think he could have lapped the field with a full complement of power steering fluid?

David Caraviello: No, but he likely wouldn't have faded to 15th or whatever it was, and then been forced to claw back.

Joe Menzer: Fighting through all that he did to finish where he did was mighty impressive. As for Petty, Rodman -- yes, he proved long ago that he could get it done.

Give me the mic

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Dave Rodman: Would be cool to see him do it this weekend at Dover, another place he used to own.

Joe Menzer: But it had been nearly a full decade since he last got it done well enough to finish in the top five.

David Caraviello: Great race, though, with plenty of action and drama and unlikely heroes. Best 600 I've ever seen. Humpy should be overjoyed.

Dave Rodman: That race was the prime reason why you just can't put much stock in fantasy racing. Since I ain't betting on it, it was pretty funny to watch the order -- and standings -- changing up.

Joe Menzer: The 600 was as exciting as the All-Star race was boring. What a switch!

David Caraviello: That's why we have those extra 100 miles. Didn't I read that somewhere?

Joe Menzer: I think maybe you did. The Weekend That Was was a pretty good one -- meaning the race, not necessarily the column.

Dave Rodman: You know what -- I hate to over-use "ever" and "never" -- but in this case I agree it was a damned good one.

David Caraviello: It's hard for a race to keep your attention for five hours. This one did.

Dave Rodman: I didn't even fall asleep. And I can't remember the last time I did -- or didn't -- do that during a 600.

David Caraviello: Some of those you were covering, Dave!

Dave Rodman: Uh, no. I've actually covered one Charlotte race, live, in the last 10 years -- and it was last October.

Joe Menzer: I guess when you get to be your age, Rodman, it's tough not to nod off.

2. Is it nice we won't have to worry about a fuel-economy run at Dover?

Dave Rodman: No way, no how. I think we'll have a tire roast before we make fuel runs.

Joe Menzer: I tell you what, I think fuel-mileage races are great. I love how it all plays out at the end, the uncertainty of who has to stop, who can afford to gamble, etc.

David Caraviello: Will somebody please tell me what's wrong with fuel-mileage races? They're terribly dramatic, and produce unlikely winners. But some people act like Mears cheated to win.

Dave Rodman: And I'll tell you what else -- fuel mileage is just one more aspect that the bash-and-crash crowd just can't appreciate. Like pit strategy, tire management or any other intricacy.

Joe Menzer: Listen, Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart could have gambled at the end, too. But they -- or their crew chiefs -- both said they had too much to lose. That they couldn't risk not coming in and ending up 18th or 20th.

David Caraviello: Everybody starts off with the same amount of fuel. Everybody has the opportunity to stop and get more. The playing field is even, so he who manages it the best, wins.

Joe Menzer: But you know what? They could have risked it, too, if they wanted to go for the win. It would have taken some real kahunas, but they could have done it.

Head2Head

Casey Mears used fuel to his advantage to win at LMS. Are those races boring? Bill Kimm and Mark Aumann debate.

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Dave Rodman: Bottom line, Mears was there all night. Nice to see him finally pocket one after he's gotten screwed by cautions and other weird stuff in previous efforts.

Joe Menzer: Listen, Billy Wilburn told Kyle Petty that their calculations had them roughly two laps short, too -- same as Zipadelli with Stewart. But the Petty crowd gambled and stayed out, and they finished third.

David Caraviello: Some people seem to think you're less of a driver if you win a fuel-mileage race. Please -- enough of that macho crap. This sport is all about the engineers and math guys now, anyway.

Joe Menzer: If Stewart does that, maybe he wins.

Dave Rodman: But Kyle executed it, so hip-hip-for-him. Kinda like Dan Wheldon's Indy win. I never thought he got enough credit for executing a perfect fuel-to-power ratio.

Joe Menzer: The Indy what? Was there a race there last Sunday or something?

Dave Rodman: But enough gas fumes. I think Dover is gonna tear some stuff up, no question. So even though you do get some long, green runs there, typically, I don't know about this go-round.

David Caraviello: The only thing we know for sure about Dover is that it's going to be 200 degrees. That place bakes in June.

Joe Menzer: I'd be willing to bet that this week won't be as entertaining and as exciting as last week was. But you'd better stay awake, Rodman, because you're on-site for us!

Dave Rodman: Aaah -- I don't know about that. Tire management could be brutally critical this weekend.

David Caraviello: Hey, if the thing will hold up at Bristol, it should hold up at Dover.

3. Will an untested Dover with the Car of Tomorrow be a cluster or will teams have a clue?

Dave Rodman: I think, for the first time maybe ever, I am gonna make sure I am inside Turns 1 and 2 at the start of Nextel Cup practice at Dover.

David Caraviello: Where are you usually, Dave -- the casino?

Dave Rodman: If they have to do the ridiculous things with camber we've seen some other places, who knows what's gonna happen?

Joe Menzer: Tire management ... brutally critical ... I don't know about all that. But I am interested to see them drive the COT at Dover.

Dave Rodman: I'm usually in the media center -- monitor bound.

Joe Menzer: You sure you're not usually at the casino?

David Caraviello: I'm sure the Dover Downs management will be terribly disappointed to not see Menzer on the scene this weekend. As he proved at Las Vegas, the man can lose $100 in a casino quicker than anyone.

Dave Rodman: I had what I thought was a bright idea for the Cup teams to come in Thursday and get some open practice in. I was told in no uncertain terms the May schedule -- followed by June and July -- was gonna be merciless for the crews.

David Caraviello: Man, June and July in this sport are brutal on everyone, which is why so many media members take vacation during that time -- like me. Enjoy the First State, boys!

Dave Rodman: You know what? I was glad to hear someone thought of them, for once. We might be on the road same as them, but we're hardly working as hard.

Joe Menzer: Yeah, well, I think they prefer to have the losers who don't stop gambling when they lose their first and only $100 ... or $120.

Dave Rodman: And no, I prefer video poker in the evening.

David Caraviello: Joe, they'd be able to afford a new seating terrace with all the money you'd lose. Think of it -- the Menzer Grandstand.

Dave Rodman: Priceless.

Joe Menzer: When you say "open practice," do you mean practice on those video poker machines?

Dave Rodman: Well, if they could tear themselves away, the track would be open. "Optional practice," maybe.

Joe Menzer: I think I might prefer the Menzer Tower.

Dave Rodman: Wire me some money. I'll take a shot at losing it for you and make the next step toward that stand's dedication.

Joe Menzer: Sure. Let me adjust the camber on my minivan and make a run to the bank, and I'll get it right to you.

Dave Rodman: Do you think this might be the shot for a breakthrough by someone with the COT? Or is it gonna be another Hendrick / Gibbs / Childress deal?

Joe Menzer: I'm running the MVOT -- Minivan of Today (and tomorrow, and the day after that).

Dave Rodman: Watch out for sludge, and engine gunk.

Joe Menzer: I gotta believe that another team is ready to break through. Denny Hamlin has been right there in all the COT races -- but I think maybe this is the week Tony Stewart breaks through.

David Caraviello: Wonderful. Perfect. So he's the favorite for Pick 'em?

Dave Rodman: Well, that's the thing. Tony's always been good there -- but we'll see what the testing vacuum leads to.

Joe Menzer: Or maybe I'm just saying that so you'll pick him in Pick 'em, then I grab Hamlin and pass you like you're both standin' still.

Dave Rodman: Whew -- I took a bullet with Gordon last weekend -- so caution rules this weekend. Yikes -- can't believe I said that.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.