Track Smack: Intrigue of quick inclines, declines

1. Carl Edwards has won two in a row, and Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth have also been strong. Is Roush Fenway Racing really the best team in NASCAR right now?

Joe Menzer: You can't argue against that. Facts are facts. It's still VERY early in the season and that doesn't mean they'll be the best all season long. But right now, the answer to the question is a resounding yes.

David Caraviello: Absolutely. And enough with this "we're only three races in" stuff. These first few events set the tone for the rest of the year. A slow start forces people and teams to dig out for the rest of the season.

Raygan Swan: I would say so, because Jack Roush knew he had to start this season strong to prove they were caught up.

David Caraviello: Just seems amazing, though, that this is the same team that started last year so poorly, and was so woefully behind on the new car. Interesting how fast things can change in this sport.

Joe Menzer: Well, Jack certainly can and does whine from time to time -- like almost every time we talk to him. But I guess he really was being truthful when he said last year's COT testing rules caught him off guard. Or rather, his misinterpretation of how those rules would be enforced by NASCAR.

Raygan Swan: I agree, and his apology to Ford was sincere.

Joe Menzer: Whoops. Did I just say a bad word? I guess I figured if Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still calling it the COT, I could -- just this once.

David Caraviello: The thing is, Joe, he was the only major car owner sticking to the letter of the law. You've got to give him some credit for that. He didn't want to do outside testing because he thought NASCAR forbade it. And now NASCAR has tacitly endorsed it by giving teams tires for outside testing.

Joe Menzer: What was amazing about that whole thing was that, as long as Jack Roush has been in this game, he didn't just attack it as aggressively as the rest and wait to see if he got slapped on the wrist for it. Of course, the slaps never came and Hendrick, most of all, got a jump on everyone else in the new car.

David Caraviello: Maybe a guy who had been burned so many times just didn't want to risk getting burned again. But you're right, it did seem rather un-Roush-like for them to stand so pat like that.

Joe Menzer: Did you just say I'm right. Well, thank you very much.

David Caraviello: Take it when you can get it, my man.

Joe Menzer: And any way you can, too.

David Caraviello: And let's be fair, this isn't exactly the five-cars-in-the-Chase Roush team from 2005. They still have some work to do with McMurray and David Ragan. But those top three cars are stout, even if the results haven't always reflected it.

Raygan Swan: I was impressed with Ragan last weekend in Las Vegas. He has talent when he can keep it on the track.

Joe Menzer: Ragan was strong in Vegas, and was running OK in Daytona if I remember -- when he suddenly took himself and Kenseth out.

Raygan Swan: Yipes, that was rough.

David Caraviello: Yeah, the guy's involved in far too many incidents. That's always been the case with him. As for McMurray, Darrell Waltrip was basically advocating on TV last week that he should run more Nationwide races to get his confidence back up.

Joe Menzer: What I found most interesting post-race in Vegas was Biffle's comment that they owe it all -- well, at least most of their sudden improvement -- to Robbie Reiser being in his new role as general manager. Robbie might not like it as much as being a crew chief, but you can't argue with the results.

Raygan Swan: Well I think Robbie appreciates his position because now he can spend more time with his family.

David Caraviello: Yeah, he's kind of the unseen guy in all this, making it all happen. Kind of like Dave Rodman at NASCAR.COM.

Raygan Swan: Oh David, Rodman will so be your new BFF forever now!

Joe Menzer: Suck-up!

David Caraviello: Dave and I are tight already. We go quail hunting every weekend.

Joe Menzer: About the only hunting you do with him on weekends is for food at the tracks. And for that, I have to admit that Rodman is the best guide you could have. (Continued)