Track Smack: Breaking down the HMS penalties (cont'd)

Dave Rodman: It was not my story. I was in the other room doing the "web-streamed" version -- the first up on the Web, as it was happening.

Raygan Swan: People want to know what was behind the augmentation and if he's so damn innocent then explain it to us, Chad.

Joe Menzer: I say if the penalties at least are making teams think twice about trying to bend the rules in the future, then the point has been made.

Dave Rodman: Uh, wait a minute. Those guys knew they were in a gray area on the COT and they did it anyway. That's why I said they had to set an example somewhere, and 10 races would've done it.

Joe Menzer: Let's face it, though, this isn't the last time something like this is going to happen in NASCAR.

Dave Rodman: The interesting thing to see is that, in these three penalties, two of them involved first-timers, Tony Jr. and Steve -- but Chad's "history" did not seem to affect his penalty in this case.

Joe Menzer: That may be the first good point you've made today, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: Bottom line, if I had to build a better battleship I'd want him on my team.

Raygan Swan: Nope! Guys; cheating is very simple -- like men, really. There are some who don't and others do. No gray on this matter. You're either a cheater or you're not. It's black and white.

2) Juan Montoya wins at Sonoma and is rewarded with a Busch crew chief swap. Did Kurt Busch have the last word on the "impact" of Juan's win, when he said it was impressive and he didn't mind getting knocked out of the way?

Dave Rodman: Kurt said Juan reminded him of himself, at a similar stage, so he was good with it.

Raygan Swan: Oh, please.

Dave Rodman: Chip is lucky he's got the personnel in place to make the switch and, I bet, not lose a beat. Brad Parrott and Brian Pattie can win races with plow horses -- so they'll be fine. Chip did not have any of those in stock, last time I checked.

Raygan Swan: The crew chief swap is random, but I think Reed needs some intervention from Parrott, who is good at reeling things in. He's been just about everywhere in this sport and worked with the best.

Dave Rodman: Well, I don't think it exactly came out of nowhere, but they will still be effective, like I said.

Joe Menzer: Well, the Busch crew chief swap had nothing to do with his winning a Cup race on a road course.

Raygan Swan: I think Juan is strong enough now to withstand a swap and Reed needs some tough love and Parrott will give it to him.

Dave Rodman: Juan's lucky Chip has the pieces in place to keep him happy. Because he'll certainly wander a few more back roads before he consistently runs up front in either Cup or Busch.

Joe Menzer: As for Kurt Busch and his post-race comment that Juan "reminds him of himself," so he was OK with getting spun out by him? That merits a chuckle.

Dave Rodman: Well, I wasn't scanning him when it occurred, which might have been funny to hear. But not really, since he was on my fantasy team.

Joe Menzer: Let me get this straight, Rodman: you are taking this opportunity, just after the great JPM's first Cup victory, to bash him? Why? (Continued)