Track Smack: Junior, Kyle and ... um, Matt Kenseth?

1. Now that Kyle Busch is a member of Joe Gibbs Racing for 2008, who has the stronger lineup -- the revamped Gibbs team, or Hendrick Motorsports with Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

Dave Rodman: The simplest thing is to base it on hard statistics -- in which case it's Hendrick in somewhat of a landslide. Of course, things are never that easy. The bigger question might be the long-term ramifications for the sport, because these potentially are two super teams.

Joe Menzer: I've still got to go with Hendrick. Jeff Gordon has won championships, Jimmie Johnson is the defending points champion and Junior has won 17 races and will win again. And they've even got Casey Mears!

David Caraviello: The new Gibbs lineup is pretty stout. In terms of results, Busch is a big step up from J.J. Yeley. But it's hard to go against that 1-2 punch of Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

Joe Menzer: OK, so maybe mentioning Mears, at least at this point in his career, is irrelevant.

Dave Rodman: You go man-to-man off the numbers and Gibbs loses at each turn. But it is NOT that simple and I don't want to get accused of over-simplifying it. The chemistry of those respective third teams will be critical -- not to say that Casey is No. 4, by any stretch.

Joe Menzer: The thing about the Gibbs lineup that should be scary to other teams -- and maybe to themselves when you angle in the maturity factor -- is that KB and Hamlin are so darn young. Their best years definitely are ahead of them.

Dave Rodman: Very true, Joe. And it seems to me I said somewhere, probably in this forum, that Tony Stewart was the one that everyone needed to fear in terms of eclipsing seven Cup titles.

David Caraviello: There are still some unknowns here. Can Gibbs upgrade that 18 team, which has clearly slid since Bobby Labonte's glory days? And can Hendrick help Junior blossom into the title contender everyone thinks he can be?

Joe Menzer: A lot of e-mailers have been asking me: Who challenges for a championship first, Kyle Busch or Dale Jr.? It's a legitimate question, as long as KB gets better equipment than J.J. Yeley seemed to be getting.

David Caraviello: Who are you, Claire B. Lang?

Joe Menzer: Yeah, the e-mailers were from NASCAR.COM Nation.

David Caraviello: We have a nation? Cool.

Joe Menzer: Why not? I think I heard that even Monte Dutton has one. And you know we love Monte!

Dave Rodman: If you scan Inside the Garage this week, seems to me Junior might be angling to have a Jr. and Jr. tandem on that 5 car -- and, just a wild hair idea, if Alan Gustafson slotted into an engineer or even co-crew chief role there, that team could be formidable.

Joe Menzer: That team SHOULD be formidable. That's the whole idea behind their signing him!

Dave Rodman: Well, obviously we've seen chicken salad ingredients turned into dung piles before.

Joe Menzer: If it's not, then signing him, especially to a five-year deal, is going to be disastrous. But having said that, I do think that team is going to be formidable and if I had to answer the e-mailer's question, I go with Junior being a title contender before KB.

David Caraviello: There's no reason why Hendrick and Gibbs shouldn't place three cars each in the Chase next year. That doesn't leave a lot of room for everybody else.

Dave Rodman: Hmm. If you look it based off pure numbers, again -- KB has been a championship contender the past two seasons, and he's ahead 2-0 there. So Junior's got some ground to make up.

David Caraviello: Thing is, Joe, Kyle already is a championship contender. Junior has been, but only in spots.

Dave Rodman: Having said that, it's impossible for me to imagine a team not getting behind Dale Jr. to the point they would flat brawl you bloody to win for him. That's tough to contend with.

David Caraviello: Junior's days of finishing top-five in points are a few years behind him. We all know he's capable of getting back there, if the distractions are eliminated and the cars don't break down.

Gibbs signs Busch

Kyle Busch has signed with Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the No. 18 Chevrolet beginning in 2008.

• Complete story, click here
• The 'Real' Kyle Busch: Q&A
• Menzer: Busch adds to puzzle
• Caraviello: Reversing decline?
• Message Board: Sound off!

Dave Rodman: He's been running well enough to do it, but you have to finish the deals.

Joe Menzer: I don't think just getting into the Chase makes you a true championship contender. KB finished 10th in points last year -- it's not like he was right there at the end, pushing Jimmie Johnson for the title.

David Caraviello: Joe, you get in, you have a shot. Bottom line, you can't win the Super Bowl without making the playoffs.

Dave Rodman: Yeah. Joe, I don't disagree with you -- but in NASCAR 2005-6-7-8, getting into the Chase is a huge first step. And if you can't even do that, you got a fair ways to go.

Joe Menzer: But there is a difference between a team that gets in as a Wild Card and goes out in the first round, if you want to use the NFL analogy. Those teams aren't considered true Super Bowl contenders until they at least get to a conference championship game. Kyle Busch hasn't been to that game yet.

2. The Juan Montoya-Kevin Harvick shove-fest at The Glen made for great TV (watch video). So was it good for the sport, a major misunderstanding, will it make for retribution and should it have been penalized?

Dave Rodman: You know what would be an instant pay-per-view hit? Wire every driver -- but you have to pay to hear 'em. Name your price. In the case of "the match," it's a little difficult to comment much, based off the video alone.

Joe Menzer: Penalties? Are you kidding me? NASCAR needs some more of this stuff, not less! It wasn't just great TV -- it was great for the sport. It showed some of its harder edges, like in the old days.

Dave Rodman: Of course, we've heard plenty about what was said, after the fact, thanks in large part to Sirius NASCAR Radio's hustle -- but man, it seemed like, while Harvick's hand to the arm was not quite a conciliatory gesture, JPM was the more aggressive, the quickest.

Joe Menzer: Roadman, Harvick was out of the car and in his face, immediately putting Montoya on the defensive. When you're put on the defensive in a situation like that, I don't think you can blame JPM for getting aggressive -- especially if Harvick was threatening to kick his ass. (We're allowed to say that on NASCAR.COM without getting penalized, aren't we?)

David Caraviello: Joe Menzer has just been penalized 50 writer points and suspended from Smack for six weeks.

Joe Menzer: I've been suspended from Smack for six weeks? Hmmm, and I just came off a vacation. But I guess I could take another one.

David Caraviello: It truly made the race fun to watch. But the people calling for penalties need to keep a sense of perspective. This happens from time to time, and unless somebody throws a punch or uses a car as a weapon, no penalties are needed.

Joe Menzer: As for retribution, if Harvick hasn't gone after Montoya yet on the track for some of the other stuff JPM has done, it's probably not going to happen.

Dave Rodman: I don't think NASCAR would ever make the mistake of emasculating the sport, i.e., fining you for leaving your car, fining you for not walking into the ambulance in 15 seconds, fining you for using bad judgment in picking a parking place. Hah!

David Caraviello: The anti-Montoya xenophobes needed about two seconds to start e-mailing in manifestoes about how JPM should be suspended. Nobody seemed to notice that it appeared Harvick laid hands on him first.

Joe Menzer: More e-mails from NASCAR.COM Nation!

Dave Rodman: You gotta love the diversity that Juan brings to the sport -- almost like a movie, and not some of the bad ones we've seen lately. He said he went off because Kevin was "rude ..." Hah, again.

David Caraviello: Hey, JP isn't blameless here. Things clearly escalated. But calling for suspension? Please. Have there always been so many knee-jerk reactionaries in the fan base? I thought the fans liked this stuff?

Dave Rodman: And to backtrack, I think the time for retribution is long gone for anyone who has any thought of competing in the Chase. Then again, a la Mr. Excitement, not many of these guys forget too easily. Stay tuned.

Joe Menzer: Hey, and what about the point that Truex booted JPM from behind? Or should JPM not have been blocking him so aggressively?

David Caraviello: When these cars are running so closely together for so long, this kind of stuff happens. That's racing. Where have I heard that before?

Dave Rodman: I thought that, too -- RE: Martin -- but I think I almost passed out when half my fantasy team got wiped out. But Juan could have tried for 10 years and he still would not have made that corner, even if Martin wasn't behind him.

David Caraviello: And at the bottom line, that's what it's all about -- Dave's fantasy team.

Joe Menzer: So we agree: It was a racing deal -- another one I like.

David Caraviello: Yes, it was. Can we still have racing deals? Or does someone always have to be strung up?

Dave Rodman: And as Chip Ganassi pointed out, depending on which foot the shoe's on, you're going to have a corresponding opinion -- like KH blocking Tony Stewart at Indy, punting Scott Pruett at Montreal, JPM dive-bombing Pruett at Mexico City and on and on.

Joe Menzer: Amen, brother. BTW, who did you have in your fantasy deal at Mexico City?

Dave Rodman: It was a Busch race. That's pure reality, man.

Joe Menzer: There was a time, not long ago, when a race of any NASCAR variety in Mexico City -- or Montreal -- would have been pure fantasy.

3. It's on to Michigan, where Ford has won seven of the last 11 races, including Carl Edwards in the spring. Is Roush Fenway the team to beat in Brooklyn again?

Dave Rodman: It's been their house, and I really can't see any reason why they wouldn't seriously challenge. Carl Edwards or Matt Kenseth goes to Victory Lane.

Joe Menzer: Without question. The truth is in the numbers. Drivers often accuse us in the media of putting too much faith in them, but the fact is that Roush Fenway is tough to beat at Michigan.

David Caraviello: Strange place, Michigan. Chevy does all the marketing there, and the Dodge proving grounds are right around the corner, but Ford owns the place. You ready to see Matt Kenseth back in Victory Lane?

Dave Rodman: While I hope there are no red flags to incite the behavior, I'd like to see what fans' strategies for getting Matt Kenseth's autograph are there?

Joe Menzer: Loved Kenseth's line to the dude who ran onto the track during the red flag at Watkins Glen. "I'm a little busy here, buddy!"

David Caraviello: We ought to do a What's Your Job? with that guy -- assuming that he has one.

Dave Rodman: Hmm. He might not, after he gets out of jail. And for everyone who's a Matt Kenseth fan, the neatest aspect was that Matt actually said he regretted not giving the guy the autograph, considering how much trouble he was probably going to be in.

David Caraviello: Class act, that Matt Kenseth.

Dave Rodman: And you got to hand it to the guy. He might have been out of his mind, but he had enough brain cells left to carry his own Sharpie with him.

Joe Menzer: Speaking of Ford drivers, Roush Fenway Racing and Michigan, how is it that Kenseth so quietly keeps right there in position at the top of the Chase? If he wins Sunday, look out.

David Caraviello: He's kind of the forgotten man in this whole thing. Something tells me he likes it that way.

Dave Rodman: They're a good team. If you believe they're due to break out, I don't know if it would be better for anyone if they did it sooner or later. Either way, I think you can expect them to be there until the end of things.

Joe Menzer: I like how he goes about his business. Sometimes I wish he was a more colorful quote, but that's not him and that's OK. On the track, he's smooth and remarkably consistent.

Dave Rodman: Matt's dry, low-key sense of humor is a delight to me -- it keeps you thinking.

David Caraviello: And Joe, please no cracks this time about Michigan's much-improved traffic pattern. Sammie from the PR office still gives us grief over that one. She's still waiting on your apology.

Dave Rodman: When you've been about in the center of the earth in terms of traffic egress, any progress is appreciated.

Joe Menzer: And speaking of Michigan, I like how Sammie goes about her business up there. Traffic in and out of that track was indeed much easier last time than I had envisioned prior to the event. Does that count as an apology for my crack before the last race?

David Caraviello: You'll have to ask her. It's not the track's fault that you couldn't resist the lure of all those "Irish" bars on the way to the speedway.

Dave Rodman: It's not so much the track's fault as it is the road system that fits the area perfectly -- but just doesn't really accommodate an event of that magnitude.

Joe Menzer: Seriously, though, the traffic wasn't that bad at the last race. And I thought the drive in from Ann Arbor was absolutely beautiful. But we digress. Weren't we talking about Matt Kenseth?

Dave Rodman: Anyway -- how about a Carl Edwards sweep on Sunday? He's been a little erratic lately, but Michigan is kinda his house lately.

Joe Menzer: Edwards obviously has a chance, but I want to talk about Matt Kenseth. Do you guys realize he has finished eighth or better in points every year since 2002?

Dave Rodman: Matt will challenge. But so will Stewart, Gordon, Johnson, the Busches and Denny Hamlin -- coming off that spectacular road-race run.

Joe Menzer: You just named a bunch of Chevy drivers, Rodman. This is a Ford track! I thought we established that.

Dave Rodman: And you want a dark horse -- try Ryan Newman. They've been coming on and if some people aren't careful, as Pat Tryson keeps pointing out -- both those Penske cars could make the Chase.

David Caraviello: A Chevy hasn't won at Michigan since 2001.

Joe Menzer: Now you're talking about Dodges! It's Michigan. That means Ford, Ford, Ford!

Dave Rodman: Edwards will win. I don't think anyone could sanely say he won't be challenged. And I did drive a Ford Escape last weekend -- it was a darned nice little truck.

Joe Menzer: No one ever said you were completely sane, my friend.

Dave Rodman: True that, Josephus.

David Caraviello: Dodges are traditionally pretty good there, too; and it might be a good place to see if that revamped Evernham team can make some strides.

Dave Rodman: I still remember Sterling Marlin winning in a Dodge at Michigan. That was a beautiful day.

David Caraviello: Why? Was he on your fantasy team?

Dave Rodman: No, he wasn't. And the results he put up that year were nothing but hard-core reality. But that was a season that everyone should use as the poster for "no guarantees."

Joe Menzer: Sterling Marlin? Winning at Michigan? That just shows that not only are you not completely sane, but you're old, too!

Dave Rodman: I hope no one ever forgets how Sterling should have won the title that year -- but shades of "Awesome Bill" in 1985 -- he didn't.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.