Track Smack: AMS meets Jeff, Jimmie and The Carl (cont'd)

2) Speaking of teammates, is this now a two-man Chase between Hendrick Motorsports buds Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson?

Duane Cross: Without question -- and Kyle Busch has positioned himself to give us something else Hendrick to talk about: Can HMS sweep the top three?

Joe Menzer: It sure looks that way to me. I know Clint Bowyer is still lingering back there within striking distances -- and hat's off to Clint for doing what I thought he couldn't do. But one of the Hendrick guys is going to win it. And I'm not talking about Kyle Busch.

David Caraviello: Well, Bowyer at 115 back isn't out of it. Of course, we considered Stewart in the conversation at like 198 back until he faded this past weekend.

Duane Cross: Clint's gotta out-point Jeff by an average of 30 points over the next four races -- that ain't gonna happen.

David Caraviello: So in all probability, this is a two-man show. They've shown no signs of coming back to the pack.

Joe Menzer: One of the top two could have a bobble, but you just don't get the sense that they are going to at this point. And both would have to have at least one terrible race to bring the rest of the pack back to 'em.

David Caraviello: Even now if one of them has trouble, it's only going to allow one to gain ground on the other. Everybody else is too far behind.

Joe Menzer: Like Duane said, ain't gonna happen. So who wins it?

David Caraviello: Look at all Jimmie did last week. And he gained what, 15 points? That was so much effort, and so little gain. Of course, he keeps gaining 15 points a weekend, he wins the title. But he has to do that every weekend.

Joe Menzer: I say Gordon still wins it. Even though Jimmie now has seven wins to Gordon's six on the year, this has had the feel of being Gordon's year from almost the very start to now, the near finish.

Duane Cross: Jeff Gordon -- and it's his sixth title! (No, I won't give up the ghost; the Chase has skewed comparing "championships," and from where I sit, he won it in 2004 and should be one behind Earnhardt and Petty).

Joe Menzer: I think he will finish strong and hold Johnson off, but it will come down to the final race. But Boss Man, you gotta let go of the ghosts -- even though I know you love Halloween! These are the rules they play by now, and everyone is playing by them.

Duane Cross: It's robbed Gordon of a loftier place in the sport's annals -- and that blows chunks.

David Caraviello: Funny how this whole season has come full circle. It was Hendrick domination at the beginning; and Hendrick domination now at the end. They know when to come up big.

Duane Cross: Yep, they have the system knocked -- get ahead, idle, full throttle to the end.

Joe Menzer: I have a sneaking suspicion that before he's done, Gordon will even it all out by making a Chase when he's behind in points, and pulling it out in the end when he couldn't have under the old system.

Duane Cross: And you just know Dale Jr. is going to fall right into that blueprint and reap the rewards in '08.

Joe Menzer: But until that time when Gordon evens up, I guess we will have to listen to The Duane rant about his ghosts!

3) So with four to go in the Chase, it's on to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. What's in store for us there?

David Caraviello: A pretty good finish, in all likelihood. AMS has an iron grip on those. They turn them out like Frito-Lay turns out corn chips.

Joe Menzer: Well, I found it interesting when talking to crew chief Brandon Thomas about Atlanta last weekend. He said he "fears Atlanta."

Duane Cross: Not only this weekend, but next weekend at Texas -- a lot of speed, probably some dicing it up in the middle of the pack and a great finish.

Joe Menzer: When asked why, he said because they use "prehistoric" tires there and the No. 96 team has never been able to get a handle on them.

David Caraviello: I fear Atlanta, too -- because of the traffic.

Joe Menzer: Of course, I hear the cheap shots coming already ... the No. 96 team has had problems many places this year! But I like those guys and think they are going about things right.

Duane Cross: Atlanta's a bear. We did the Petty Driving Experience last year at AMS. I cannot imagine fighting that track for three hours at 185 mph.

Joe Menzer: For a single-car operation, they aren't doing badly. And Tony Raines deserves better than to be booted back to Trucks or wherever he's headed after this year.

David Caraviello: One of those weeks I wouldn't trade places with these guys. And let's not forget that engines can let go ant any moment.

Joe Menzer: I guess part of the problem with the tire is because the pavement there is so old. That place hasn't been repaved recently like so many other places. Of course, when they repave places like Charlotte, no one seems to be able to get any grip and they are spinning out all over the place.

Duane Cross: The COT will bring about repaving at AMS, I believe. With the speeds at AMS, dude, new pavement would usher in talk of plate-racing at Atlanta. We do not need that!

Joe Menzer: So it's always going to be something, no matter where they race.

David Caraviello: That and likely because of the high speeds. This week and next, with Atlanta and Texas back to back, make for two straight races of 200 mph entering the corner.

Joe Menzer: As long as I'm just watching, that sounds like fun!

Duane Cross: I think being more in control with the COT and new pavement at Atlanta are a natural progression.

David Caraviello: Qualifying at Atlanta is supposedly the most white-knuckle experience these guys have all year.

Joe Menzer: Well, for some guys like A.J. Allmendinger, even Michael Waltrip, it's been a white-knuckle experience all year -- no matter where they've been!

David Caraviello: "The Joe" strikes again!

Duane Cross: How 'bout The End? There's only so much Joe you can take this early in the a.m.

Joe Menzer: Now the new part-owner at Michael Waltrip Racing, there's a guy who has enough money to be called "The Rob."

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.