Smack: Wing and a prayer

1. With seven of the last 13 races with the COT, does that give an edge to anyone in particular?

Raygan Swan: Not to state the obvious, but Hendrick and Gibbs, don't you think?

Dave Rodman: Jeff Gordon's the title favorite because of the number of races he's won, which gives him an edge going in -- and his success with the COT. JJ is next, because he's the defending champion. But check me in three weeks, because the Gibbs guys are not only creeping up on 'em, they're taking huge chunks out of whatever advantage was in place.

Joe Menzer: Earlier in the year, I said that I thought the Penske guys would do well in the COT races and they made me look like a liar. But now, with what they've learned and the momentum Kurt Busch is building, I think they are going to start making the noise I talked about earlier.

Dave Rodman: Joe, I hear ya on Mr. Busch the Elder. With the "Big Mo'" he's currently got going on, he's like the championship Kurt of 2004 -- he can win anywhere, anytime, anyplace.

Raygan Swan: Toyota could get an edge after the progress they appeared to make in Michigan but it's too late! See ya next season, Toyota teams!

Joe Menzer: Toyota? Toyota? Are you kidding me? Actually, they ran pretty well at Michigan and deserve a nod for putting two guys in the top 10.

Dave Rodman: Well, obviously they've been building for next season all of this season -- and they knew that. They could have an impact because they are starting to run better and take top-10 spots.

Joe Menzer: Come on, guys. Think outside the usual box. It's been Hendrick and Gibbs in the COT races so far, but the other teams are catching up -- Penske and Roush Fenway included. But you're right, Raygan. It's too little, way too late. See you next year!

Raygan Swan: That's what I was saying, Joe. See ya next year at Gibbs! Tony the Toyota instead of Tony the Tiger! Yipes!

Dave Rodman: Blaney and Vickers, in particular, are beginning to impress a little bit -- particularly when you look at the way Mr. Blaney navigated MIS and knocked its former king, Bill Elliott, back out of the top 35.

Joe Menzer: Let's not get too carried away with them "taking top-10 spots." I think they've taken a total of six of those all season long, and two came at Michigan.

Raygan Swan: And a pole Joe, don't forget the lone pole! Dave Blaney's pole.

Joe Menzer: As an Ohio guy, I can never forget "the Buckeye Bullet." Unfortunately, he's like a guy from the Old West packing a six-shooter most of the time -- and fighting against guys with automatic weapons!

Dave Rodman: Yeah, but let's hope Junior doesn't rue those 10 points Blaney and Vickers usurped from him. Of course, his "cross-eyed entry" into the pits cost him the most.

Raygan Swan: Good description, Dave.

Joe Menzer: True enough on Junior. But what I like is that, as usual, he owned up to his own mistake and admitted it was totally his fault.

Dave Rodman: Once again, you got to like a guy who said he was distracted by the lady walking her poodle and he drove through a storefront -- whoops -- saw another car and drove through his pit box!

Joe Menzer: I won't say the lady and the poodle deal was a good description.

Dave Rodman: But the "point" is -- the guy he's racing won the race and even though he picked up a spot, he lost 63 points and Team Penske has not been running lately like they're gonna throw piles of those things away. (Continued)