Smack: Chase Preview

1) With the field set, could this be the best Chase on record?

Dave Rodman: Obviously, there's no way to predict this stuff -- which is why I can't believe I continue to play fantasy on NASCAR.COM -- but when you look at it -- with duos from Gibbs and Roush and trios from Hendrick and RCR -- plus Kurt Busch and Little Martin -- I'd say the prospects are fabulous.

Raygan Swan: I believe so because everyone is talking about how stiff the competition is and how it's much greater than the 2006 Chase. There are five past champions and I also believe the COT has been a factor in the competition -- and there's the Stewart factor...with Smoke back in the Chase, you're in for a wild ride!

Mark Aumann: Hard to say. I thought the lineup for the first Chase was pretty stout. I think what's changed is the depth of the top-tier teams. Where once you had half the field consisting of Roush cars, now there seem to be two or three cars from each of the top organizations. That's the biggest change.

Dave Rodman: And Gordon, also. The motif isn't going to change -- consistency at a high level, with a couple wins, is going to tell the tale. The thing is; all these qualifying teams have done well at the COT events -- so what's going to be the difference? Who blinks first, of course.

Raygan Swan: Smoke is definitely going to add something special, which could make it one of the best shows ever. You know the Chase this year has all the potential story lines for a great drama: Excitement, heartbreak, comedy. What should we call it?

Dave Rodman: A helluva duel, for starters.

Raygan Swan: Bruce Willis would play Stewart and Brad Pitt plays Jeff Gordon.

Mark Aumann: Obviously missing Stewart last season and Jeff Gordon in 2005 took away some of the feel of this being "NASCAR's 10 best drivers." But that's the beauty of the 10-driver system. Not every good team makes the postseason every year, and the original Chase format made it that much harder to get in every year. That tells you something about Matt Kenseth's consistency, doesn't it?

Dave Rodman: The only thing that would be better would be if we had a true long shot -- or David -- though you could argue Little Martin fits that bill, right?

Raygan Swan: Yep, but how heartbroken or maybe just super bummed will Bowyer be if he can't pull out a win?

Dave Rodman: He's in the Chase, and that's a pretty big consolation prize. But the movie theme is priceless. I think you're on the right track -- or tracks -- Raygs. And the subplots are great: Can Dale Jr. or Newman win? Or Biffle? Depending on how much caution these guys throw to the wind, just fascinating doesn't even begin to describe it.

Raygan Swan: Oh yeah, they definitely are in the script, but played by second-tier actors like Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller... the Frat Pack types!

Mark Aumann: I don't go to the movies often enough to have any idea who you're talking about, Raygan. If Tom Hanks wasn't in it, I probably haven't seen it.

2) Who's in , who's out at New Hampshire? Along with the regular go or go homers, we got Sam Hornish Jr. and Boris Said. So what are their chances?

Mark Aumann: I don't see either one of those guys making the show. The COT has proven to be a unique animal, and I'm not so certain even the full-time teams -- read, Kyle Busch, for one -- have a real handle on the handling characteristics of the thing. Hornish at least will have Penske's notes, but even if this were a regular race, that's asking a lot of a guy who's never even driven New Hampshire, let alone a Cup car.

Raygan Swan: Well as long as the weather holds up, Boris Said is a pretty good qualifier.

Dave Rodman: If ol' Sam gets in, he gets three gold stars. Even Boris is going to be hard-pressed given the edge everyone else has in the COT. The one to worry about here is Scott Riggs. It appears he is literally racing for his future at GEM.