Tony just being Tony, but Bristol has not been Bristol (cont'd)

2. After four races, are we getting a clear picture of how the season will look? Are Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards really the class of the field?

Raygan Swan: Not if NASCAR's penal system remains the same.

Dave Rodman: The coolest thing is, after launching the tirade against Goodyear, Tony's actually continued to laud Kyle Busch. It's way too early to hand them anything -- and they've done too good a job of taking it, anyway. But people need to start stepping up.

That's CTNLCBCWNOWETCI ... and by the way, it's 15 letters, Dave.

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David Caraviello: We made a few jokes in the preseason about engraving Kyle's name on the 2008 trophy because he was so good in testing in the new car. It's not a joke anymore.

Dave Rodman: The -- damn, I can't remember that 10-letter acronym Joe Menzer came up with two weeks ago for this car -- but anyway, the most telling aspect is that Kyle continues to hate it, yet he continues to excel. That's the sign of talent and commitment.

David Caraviello: Raygan, if memory serves me right, the guys who finished first and second in final points last year also suffered 100-point penalties, and they survived quite nicely.

Raygan Swan: One blow from NASCAR can drop you several spots in the points, regardless if you meant to cheat or not.

David Caraviello: Yeah, but all you have to do is get into the top 12. That's the thing. Under the old system, Edwards would be buried. Now he just has to make up five spots.

Raygan Swan: True, but NASCAR didn't take 10 extra points from Johnson after he made the Chase.

David Caraviello: And they haven't done that to Carl this year, either.

Dave Rodman: The most interesting thing will be when Edwards and Jeff Gordon and Johnson get back into the top 12. Then the battles will ensue for the remaining spots.

David Caraviello: The Chase has some good points, it really does. But it takes all the teeth out of any penalty levied against a title-contending driver between February and September. The top-35 guys are the ones who feel those the most.

Raygan Swan: Bottom line, penalties can change the landscape, drastically. NASCAR knows that.

David Caraviello: Not as much as they used to, Raygan. Those penalties levied at Sonoma last year didn't change the landscape much.

Dave Rodman: If Brian Vickers hangs in there, that will be the story of the year.

David Caraviello: Dave, you're right about Vickers. That would be unbelievable after what they went through last year. New VP Jay Frye, one of the best guys in the garage, is doing some good work over there. And I don't think Hendrick has quite warmed up yet. Johnson can't be as mediocre all year as he's been the past two weeks. Gordon is lurking. And nobody mentions Junior, who might be the points leader had a weeper not taken him out at Fontana. Earnhardt has quietly lived up to every billing.

Dave Rodman: Yes, Junior has lived up to the billing -- so again, it makes this top-12 race, which has been some degree of scary every year, truly terrifying to some of these guys. Newman, Kahne, Vickers, Junior and Biffle are all in there -- and they weren't last year. We're gonna have some new dropouts this season, gang.

David Caraviello: The thing is, people like to say, "Well, it's early." No, it's not. You look back over the past few seasons, and the teams that would become the best that year rarely waited until midseason to get going. Tony's last championship year is a notable exception.

Raygan Swan: Regardless, it's too early in the season to say Kyle and Carl are the class of the field. RCR and Hendrick haven't stepped up, and they will.

David Caraviello: I don't doubt that. But it's much easier in this game to play from ahead than play catch-up.

• Also: Roush opts not to appeal penalties against 99 (Continued)