Smack: Agony, alignment and angst on the prairie

1. Guys, the 2008 Nextel Cup schedule has been released: No changes of consequence. What does that say about the general scheme of things?

Dave Rodman: I think it says extreme rutsville -- and in no way can that be construed as a good thing. At some point, the schedule has to be radically, radically redone. I hope it happens in my lifetime.

Joe Menzer: Geez, now you're really putting some pressure on them, Dave. Do they have any idea how old you are?

David Caraviello: First, a moment of silence as we mourn a Saturday night out in Chicago, brought on by Chicagoland's Saturday night date in 2008.

Dave Rodman: NASCAR needs to establish a minimum standard for a facility, using its least amenable facility in any number of categories for a measuring stick. Then give every facility that qualifies a single race date.

Joe Menzer: Well, there are a couple areas that obviously need to be addressed with the schedule -- and instead they were obviously ignored. Again.

Dave Rodman: Determine a limited number of deserving facilities that will get two dates annually. And with whatever's left, assign rotating "second dates" to the other facilities.

Joe Menzer: Hmmmm, at first I wasn't sure what language Rodman was even speaking ... but in the end, an idea that might have some merit. I must say I'm surprised. I don't know how you determine all the mumbo-jumbo "deserving facilities" criteria, and that would be the sticking point ... but the rotating second dates sounds like a decent idea.

Dave Rodman: Criteria would include number of seats, high enough posted awards, suitable physical amenities. It would be real simple, actually.

David Caraviello: Of course you'd have to overcome the whole conflict-of-interest issue between NASCAR and ISC, which owns the bulk of the tracks. They're not going to part with dates easily -- or willingly.

Dave Rodman: Kentucky, Nashville and Iowa would all be in. Throw in a third road course and then rotate the three dates through all the acceptable facilities. Read those: Road America, Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio.

David Caraviello: Iowa?

Joe Menzer: Man, I love Mid-Ohio. That's a cool track. I actually did a ride-along there back in the day.

David Caraviello: Hey, nothing against the Hawkeye State. But K.C. isn't that far away. I think the first step should be juggling what they have to get the best 10 events in the Chase.

Joe Menzer: And that's another topic probably for another day, but I'd like to see a total of four road courses -- including one among the 10 Chase races.

Dave Rodman: You can't argue against another short track. I think they fit the criteria: Enough seats, adequate access and a decent infrastructure.

David Caraviello: Not exactly the market NASCAR is looking for, Dave. That's strike 1.

Joe Menzer: If you can't get to Wrigley Field from there, that's Strike 2.

Dave Rodman: You could -- rent a chopper!

Joe Menzer: Of course we couldn't get to Wrigley before the eighth inning from Chicagoland!

Dave Rodman: You shoulda had the Blue Brothers' ride for that. But the proximity of Iowa and K.C. means they would never have more than three events between the two in a season. But aren't K.C. and Chicagoland kinda close, too?

Joe Menzer: The bottom line with the schedule is that they needed to tweak it and refused to. I mean, the Labor Day race in California makes no sense. Having no second date in Vegas makes no sense.