Smack: Two icons call it quits in the same week (cont'd)

3. Dale Jarrett, now officially retired, won 32 Cup races but did not secure win No. 1 until age 34. Will we ever see someone become successful in their 30s like DJ?

Raygan Swan: No because you get fired after a half a season if you don't win and team owners hire at age 16 now!

Joe Menzer: Sadly, no. These days owners are not patient enough to give a guy who had Dale's background as much of a chance. Remember, he went 134 Cup races before winning.

Bill Kimm: A driver becoming successful at 34? Sure, why not?

Joe Menzer: Butts, you are nuts!

One last time in the truck.

DJ's last ride

• H2H: Stayed too long?
• Menzer: Victory lap for career
• 1on1: Dale Jarrett
• Video: Emotional farewell
• Garage Pass: Last hurrah

Raygan Swan: No way will we see a driver wait until he is 34 to win and a team owner won't hire a guy over the age of 30, Dario Franchitti barely made the cut.

Joe Menzer: Raygs is right. Not only is the trend -- and actually it's been going on so long now that it's more than a trend -- to go with the younger drivers out of the gate but they get no more than two years to produce, that's it.

Bill Kimm: Guys ... the man we just talked about -- Casey Mears -- was 29 when he won the 600, which I believe was his first victory so he wasn't that far off.

Raygan Swan: And Casey is still with Hendrick....why? AND IT WAS FUEL MILEAGE BK!

Joe Menzer: Um, let's do the math. Jarrett was 34. Mears, according to Bill (I'm going to double-check) was 29. That's still a five-year difference, man.

Raygan Swan: He hasn't sniffed a win since.

Bill Kimm: In fact, Casey ran more races than DJ before his first win ... so your point means nothing to me!

Joe Menzer: Raygs is right. Casey better start producing more wins soon or he'll be out at Hendrick. I don't care what they keep saying "on the record." You've got to produce.

Bill Kimm: He will ... you guys are unbelievable -- so quick to shut the door on a talented driver. Some would read this, and shut the door on you unless you start producing -- JOE!

Joe Menzer: Well, before all the Casey Mears fans start e-mailing me (I still have about 900 who think I hate Kasey Kahne sitting in my in-box), I like the guy a lot and I'm not saying his firing is imminent.

Raygan Swan: Define talent for me again then maybe I'll change my mind

Joe Menzer: I'm just saying that if Mears doesn't produce at least a couple more wins between now and, say, maybe the end of 2009, I doubt he will remain at Hendrick beyond that.

Raygan Swan: And here's another valid point guys, NASCAR isn't upping the legal age to race to 21 anymore so no way in hell will a driver be in a car at 34 still waiting for a win.

Joe Menzer: It also would be different if Mears was getting consistently solid finishes, like he did after the 600 last year BTW, but he's not. He's down pretty far in points.

Bill Kimm: He's down in points because he's had some rotten luck.

Raygan Swan: I have a feeling since he's in the boys club with Gordon and JJ, Mears ain't going far.

Bill Kimm: Back to DJ and success later in life, someone like Juan Montoya, who comes from open-wheel could follow that line of success.

Raygan Swan: HE ALREADY WON and he's under 34 right?

Bill Kimm: He's 32, he'll be 33 in September and come on Raygs, were talking about two years here Mrs. Nitpicker!

Raygan Swan: There ya go BK!

Joe Menzer: Montoya will never stick around long enough to win 32 races, which is another factor in this equation. With all the money these guys make, they don't have to stick around as long.

Bill Kimm: That's true ... but I don't think Montoya is in it for the money -- the cat has enough. He's in it for the challenge and to be successful.

Joe Menzer: Montoya may even win a title before he cuts out, but I'll bet he doesn't win more than 15-20 races before calling it quits. If that.

Raygan Swan: Well he looks young and that's all that matters and besides you can't use JPM as an argument, he's already proven himself.

Joe Menzer: And I like the guy, think he's a tremendous talent, which is more than I can say for Bill!

Raygan Swan: Agreed and his wife Connie is sooo nice.

Bill Kimm: Connie is an amazing woman, met her at NASCAR Day this past weekend.

Raygan Swan: Oh no Bill you're fine, you're fabulous!

Joe Menzer: You're too nice, Raygs!

Bill Kimm: And as for you Joe ... I got promoted to Smack this week so obviously I'm doing something right. Me being here has nothing to do with Caraviello out on his honeymoon!

Joe Menzer: If that's what they told you, Butts, you can believe it.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers