Smack: Two icons call it quits in the same week

1. Humpy Wheeler's retirement as president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway goes into effect after the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. Can the legendary promoter really be replaced, and who fills his large shoes?

Raygan Swan: I'm going to say NO on this one simply because as a new NASCAR writer, he was the only track promoter that reached out to me about stories.

Bill Kimm: The man has been a huge part of the NASCAR world for some time, and there will be a hole, but can his shoes be filled -- absolutely.

Joe Menzer: Well, I saw something Ed Clark said about Humpy the other day written by our friend David Poole in the Charlotte Observer. Clark said they were all sitting around talking about a big event they just put on, and Humpy suddenly said, "Don't start feeling too satisfied or full of yourself. If you do, put on some old clothes and walk down the street and see who stops to pick you up. You'll quickly realize you're no different from anyone else. Don't get too proud of what you've done." The point: we all can be replaced. But it will take some real doing to replace Humpy.

Bill Kimm: Exactly Joe, Humpy has helped put the sport into the mainstream, but he can be replaced. Look at sister-track Texas president Eddie Gossage, he's following in Humpy's footsteps and someone else will do the same at LMS.

Raygan Swan: And who would think to get Joey Chestnut, the hot dog eating king, 66 in 12 seconds, to promote ticket sales! His ideas were fun to cover and to watch him connect with a crowd was impressive.

Joe Menzer: It's the Circle of Life, NASCAR-style. But Humpy's legacy will be that he came along during a time when he helped spur tremendous growth -- not only at the track he has run for 33 years, but in the sport overall. And, as pointed out in the aforementioned story, the man was NEVER satisfied. He always wanted to trump himself.

Raygan Swan: I think the other tracks lack what Humpy brings. I mean, who would bring a dead shark on a flat bed truck and put a chicken in its mouth? Remember Joe?

Bill Kimm: There's no question he's been vital to NASCAR, but in the end, he's one of many track presidents -- the sport will survive.

Joe Menzer: Well, Bill, since you are a newcomer to Smack, let Raygs and I show you the ropes a little ... Humpy Wheeler is NOT just another track president, you twit!

Bill Kimm: Nice Joe, name calling in the first question.

Raygan Swan: GO JOE!

Joe Menzer: And of course the sport will survive. But it won't quite be the same without Humpy and his live shark attacks, schoolbus races, and military invasions in the infield!

Stepping down

Humpy Wheeler made a surprise announcement as he will step down from Lowe's Motor Speedway and SMI at the conclusion of the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.

• Conplete story, click here

Raygan Swan: Yeah Bill, the deal is you "mess with the bull you get the horns," that's Joe's mantra

Joe Menzer: And Kyle Busch's. You gotta bring it on Smack, Billy Boy!

Bill Kimm: Look, I'm not trying to disrespect the guy. I can only say so many times he was a pioneer and he will be missed, but in the grand scheme of the sport, he is a small part.

Raygan Swan: OK but tell me who is cooler than Humpy, Bill?

Joe Menzer: No, not Bill. He is definitely NOT cooler than Humpy.

Raygan Swan: Even for what 69? I know Bill isn't.

Bill Kimm: My very small fan base would beg to differ, Joe and Raygs.

Raygan Swan: Sorry BK, nothing personal.

Joe Menzer: I just hope I'm still breathing at 69. And Humpy is not only alive and breathing, but still coming up with great, innovative ideas -- even if the hype over his All-Star prognostication ability was, um, somewhat inflated.

Bill Kimm: Joe, don't start digging at him now ... don't want you to become a hypocrite.

Raygan Swan: Hey Joe, I think you should tell the story of how Humpy got his name.

Joe Menzer: Ah, he inherited the name from his father, who got it because he got caught smoking Camel cigarettes by his football coach at Illinois. They used to call H.A. "Little Humpy."

Raygan Swan: Nice! That's priceless and dubbed a name like that early on -- you have to live up to it!

Joe Menzer: Rumor has it that Duane Cross caught Bill smoking in a no-smoking zone at the NASCAR.COM office. Nicknamed him "Butts."

Bill Kimm: The bottom line: Humpy is an innovator, he was big for the sport at a time it needed him. But is he irreplaceable? No ... just ask Beyonce! "To the left, to the left."

Joe Menzer: OK, Butts. The question now is who replaces Humpy? Sounds like it's going to be Marcus Smith, Bruton's 34-year-old son. Frankly, I don't know that much about him yet. I like his chances of getting the job, though, if he wants it.

Bill Kimm: Neither do I...but nice for ol' Bruton to keep it in the fam.

Joe Menzer: Nice of him, but will it be smart? We'll see on that one. He will be surrounded by good people, though, and I would imagine Humpy will stick around for a while as a "consultant" of sorts.

Raygan Swan: BK, that was damn funny, props for the Beyonce reference but I don't think anyone will be able to fill the man's shoes; it's not that they are too big, but too unique, like the cheetah Tori Burch ballet flats ... you just can't find them.

Bill Kimm: Raygs, I have no idea what you just said.

2. Last year's Coca-Cola 600 ended up being a fuel-mileage affair with Casey Mears winning. Are fuel-mileage races good or bad for the sport?

Bill Kimm: I've said it before and I'll say it again ... fuel mileage races are ABSOLUTELY AWESOME for the sport!

Raygan Swan: Huh? Exsqueeze me, baking powder, did you really just say "awesome?"

Joe Menzer: Geez, I hate to agree with Butts, but I guess I will here. I thought last year's Coca-Cola 600 was outstanding, one of the more interesting races of the year.

Stop the madness

Casey Mears is tired of answering questions about his future and David Caraviello says, if an owner would just give him some stability, Mears has the potential to become a superstar.

• Complete story, click here
• Caraviello: One-night career

Bill Kimm: The will he or won't he make it question with every lap that ticks by -- drama at its best.

Joe Menzer: I have never really understood all those who say fuel-mileage races cheapen a victory or take away from an event. I think it brings strategy into it in a way that can be absolutely riveting.

Raygan Swan: Wake me up when this is over, and no, I don't think fuel mileage races are good.

Bill Kimm: The only reason last year's 600 finished the way it did was because those who were "points racing" were too chicken to go for it. Kudos to those who stayed out and took a chance and were rewarded for it.

Joe Menzer: You may not agree with the girl, Butts, but you have to respect her.

Raygan Swan: Good points Joe, but in the end, you still want to see side-by-side, or close racing, not cars coasting to save fuel ... Phoenix last season ring a bell?

Joe Menzer: The problem with fuel-mileage races sometimes becomes a byproduct of the one thing Humpy hates most: points racing.

Bill Kimm: Raygs ... I want to see strategy and risky pit calls...and you get that in fuel-mileage races.

Raygan Swan: I more of a give it to me straight kind of gal.

Joe Menzer: Guys looking for a good points day -- guys with their eyes on the big picture and the Chase -- are never going to be as likely to gamble late on fuel as guys like Casey Mears, Reed Sorensen, J.J. Yeley and Kyle Petty. Guys who finished top five in last year's Coca-Cola marathon.

Bill Kimm: Exactly ... that's why fuel races are so exciting. Was the gamble worth it ... and for Casey Mears last season, it clearly was.

Raygan Swan: And what have they done since then? Nothing

Joe Menzer: Um, I have to get back to Raygan's last comment. What kind of gal did you say you were?

Raygan Swan: Hahaha -- black and white. I'm in a rare mood with BK in the mix today.

Joe Menzer: OK, just clarifying there. And BTW, a belated congrats to you on your recent marriage.

Raygan Swan: Oh thanks! My better half will be here soon from Indiana and he hates fuel mileage races too!

Bill Kimm: A match made in heaven.

Raygan Swan: He doesn't realize that yet, but he will when I'm done here

Joe Menzer: Well, I'm going to have to strategize my fuel mileage just to get to the track. I'm glad Turner is paying for our gas.

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