Track Smack: Triple Crown

1. Kyle Busch will try to run in all three national division races this weekend, even though they're in different cities. Will this distract from his attempt to win a second consecutive Sprint Cup event Sunday at Pocono Raceway?

Dave Rodman: First off, I don't think I can imagine anything distracting the Shrub in his goal to win. And second, he's securely focused on Cup, so I don't see it being an issue.

David Caraviello: Maybe, but you know what? I don't care. I love the fact that he's trying to do this. This is a kid with all kinds of cash in the bank and every reason to sit back and say he needs to focus on his Cup stuff. But he's not. Go for it, man.

Raygan Swan: I believe Kyle is used to running all over the place in the name of racing. He balances Kyle Busch Motorsports along with competing in three different NASCAR series. But he's going to have to have a lot of logistical help and his teammates briefing him over the three events.

Dave Rodman: In fact, I'm pretty surprised he's not doing the Truck sessions on Thursday, because he certainly could. But again, he's doing it smartly and marshalling his strength and resources.

David Caraviello: Yes, he has said that the Cup stuff will come first. He has to say that. But man, imagine if he won three races in three different cities in three days. That would be amazing. It's like Kyle's own personal Triple Crown.

Dave Rodman: I continue to be disappointed how anyone could not just love someone who is such a hard-core racer. Just ask Bill Davis. Here's a guy whom Kyle Busch really cost in the Truck Series, yet he can recognize and appreciate his ability. That proves, as if you needed more proof, what a stand-up guy BD is.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, and that kind of notoriety is what fuels Kyle. He wants to be the best at everything.

David Caraviello: Of course, one ill-timed thunderstorm over Memphis throws this whole thing off. These aren't short distances he's hopping. Pocono to Fort Worth is a haul.

Raygan Swan: Good point, and David, how many practice sessions is he going to miss, if any? Or what if one of the backup drivers puts it in the wall for qualifying?

Dave Rodman: It sure as heck isn't short. But again, it underscores the commitment. He'll miss two practices each for the truck and Nationwide car, if I calculate correctly. Nationwide qualifying works out great for this one -- I believe all seven guys who are doubling-up the Nationwide race will make qualifying no problem.

David Caraviello: But given that the Cup stuff comes first, he could wind up starting from the rear of the field in two of the three events. Of course, he went to the back at Darlington, and still won.

Raygan Swan: Kyle in the back of the pack doesn't worry me. It's the factors outside of his control that do.

Dave Rodman: And you want to know what's almost totally freaking amazing -- though off-topic a little? Nearly all the sub drivers -- who Sprint Cup drivers and teams felt comfortable setting up their stuff -- not only do they have no full-time rides, they have virtually no rides, period! Casey Atwood, Willie Allen, Auggie Vidovich, Jason Hedlesky, Chad Blount and J.R. Norris have raced virtually nowhere else this season. And that's odd.

David Caraviello: My man Auggie Vidovich is back! Might be time for somebody to earn some attention that might get them a job, Dave. And if Kyle is completely spent by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around, no matter. He's going to be in the Chase. These first 26 races are only about seeding anyway. He deserves a lot of credit for trying this. You hear the stories about the old-timers who used to race like four times a week. This is a throwback.

Raygan Swan: I haven't heard Auggie's name since 2005 or '06. DC, we gave him a shout-out earlier this season, remember? We were good luck!

Dave Rodman: You know what? If Bobby Allison's at Pocono he would be a great one to weigh in on Shrub's efforts. BA used to be a track-hopping fool back in the day!

Raygan Swan: You know who is green with envy right now? Carl Edwards. But my question is why?

David Caraviello: Why would Kyle do it?

Raygan Swan: No, why pick Auggie?

Dave Rodman: Auggie's been a consistent Roush Fenway stand-in. That ought to get him a second look from someone.

David Caraviello: Because I recognize talent, Swannie. Actually, I just like his name.

2. A stockholder of Dover International Speedway wants Bruton Smith to buy that track. Jeff Gordon says he's shocked Pocono still has two races. Do either of those facilities deserve to lose a date?

Raygan Swan: NASCAR scheduling annoys me more than filing my taxes!

David Caraviello: I'll tell you what, Dover has some issues. That excuse for a garage area is pathetic. They had a surprisingly sparse crowd last Sunday. And they're in Dover, Del. But that track has done absolutely nothing to deserve having a race taken away. Not given its proximity to so many major markets, its unique configuration, and its track record of getting people through the gate.

Raygan Swan: Agreed David, my first time there I think I was nearly ran over about six times. Drivers need spotters in the garage as well! But if you're Tony Stewart, he tries to run over reporters on purpose!

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Dave Rodman: There's a number of facilities that deserve to "temporarily" lose a date. I know Brian France said enough changes for a while -- but I've said it before and I'll repeat it here. Go to an alternating events schedule. Kentucky, Nashville, Iowa -- at least -- all deserve a shot. NASCAR can set parameters and if you fail any of them, or a set number of them, for any reason, you fall to one race in the successive season. And one of those other venues comes in.

Raygan Swan: I don't think Dover should lose a race, Pocono maybe, but the Mattioli family has a death grip on the place. Too much history and ties to the France family to sell.

David Caraviello: The alternating date sounds like a good idea, but it won't happen. How's that track supposed to make any money the year it's off the schedule?

Dave Rodman: Well, I don't know the exact specifics, but tracks have all kinds of intricate ways to make money away from their major dates -- and if they don't, God, they need to. And what they do if they can't meet the parameters isn't NASCAR's concern. As for Dover, it should be fine, as track president Denis McGlynn pointed out. Within the physical constraints they have, with the horse track inside the infield, they have done pretty well.

David Caraviello: But Bruton is infatuated with Kentucky and Las Vegas, and should he get his hands on Dover, who knows what might happen. As for Pocono ... when Jeff Gordon blasts you, you know you're in trouble.

Raygan Swan: OK, at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Smith said Kentucky had sex appeal. Can someone explain that to me?

David Caraviello: Sparta, Ky., is one sexy place.

Raygan Swan: I've been there, I must have missed something. But I am happy to have another track close to Indy.

Dave Rodman: The logistics of doing a race at Kentucky in its current configuration would be overwhelming, so I can't imagine it unless Bruton adds the seats he says he would.

David Caraviello: Boy, another 1.5-mile tri-oval coming to the Cup schedule. Thanks, Bruton! And I've never been to Pocono -- and I am thankful of that every day -- but if somebody who's been going there 16 years tosses you under the bus, then well, it's hard for me to disagree.

Dave Rodman: Obviously, I'm not gonna cut my wrists over it, but that alternate venue idea, I think would work and it would serve everyone -- the fans who deserve some different venues, ditto the race teams and also the track owners, who deserve a shot.

Raygan Swan: Pocono is fine but the races are too close together, the track is not easy to get to and yes the facilities leave something to be desired, namely the fact that reporters male and female share one bathroom in the media center.

David Caraviello: What? There's only one media center bathroom?

Raygan Swan: Yes, and that should be a health hazard. There are two, but when I was there, one was broken.

Dave Rodman: And to skip back to Jeff's comments, he as much said he didn't necessarily want to see Pocono go anywhere as he said it needed upgrades. I think most competitors would want to lose neither it nor Dover.

Raygan Swan: Yeah but do either deserve two races? No.

David Caraviello: Although when Jeff Gordon says you're outdated and he's "shocked" you still have two races, that's a wake-up call.

Dave Rodman: That head situation at Pocono actually doesn't seem so bad since there's a third bathroom in the outer media area -- and I guess it doesn't because the population in that room isn't overwhelming.

David Caraviello: That's Dave for you. Knows the secrets to everything. He's the Indiana Jones of the NASCAR circuit.

Raygan Swan: No kidding!

Dave Rodman: And don't forget, since the fans rule, Doc Mattioli is justifiably proud of the "world's largest bathroom," or whatever it is he has out there in the Pocono grandstand area.

Raygan Swan: Sweet, maybe I'll walk out there every time.

Dave Rodman: That's survival, man. You got to have those intricacies mastered or you go nuts.

3. Many of NASCAR's best competed in a charity dirt late model race Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway. What other kinds of vehicles would you like to see the Sprint Cup stars drive?

Raygan Swan: OK I worked hard on this answer during our morning conference call. Mark Aumann helped me out. I want to see radio controlled cars, drivers in the pits operating radio controlled cars around the track. Like the kids in the Toyota commercial.

Dave Rodman: With the wonders of the HANS device, and the tempers that these guys percolate at any top-level event -- I'd vote for either enduro cars -- or a demolition derby.

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David Caraviello: I know it will never happen, even though the rumor was out there for a while ... but Gordon in a Formula One race would just be phenomenal. I remember that ride which he did with Montoya when JPM was still in F1, and the ease with which Gordon took to the car ... I wonder if Jeff could transfer as seamlessly into that series as Montoya did into this one.

Dave Rodman: Well, if you could buy his onboard camera and telemetry and in-car radio it would be. But other than that, I can't see that would improve the typical F1 show very much.

Raygan Swan: And I want to see Tony and Juan in an IndyCar race.

David Caraviello: Shoot, Dave, a competitive American -- with apologies to Scott Speed -- would do wonders for F1. Heck, Stewart could probably drive the wheels off those things. He can drive anything.

Dave Rodman: But you know what -- getting into the right stuff in F1 is just so hard. There's no denying Michael Andretti's talent -- and his foray to F1 was kind of a disaster. I could hardly see a Gordon or Stewart leaving the notoriety and respect they have to do anything in F1.

David Caraviello: Yes, Dave, but we're talking perfect world here. And with all due respect, Michael Andretti is no Jeff Gordon.

Dave Rodman: But in the same scenario, I could not see him doing any better.

David Caraviello: Frank Williams was knocking on his door for a long time, at a time when Frank's cars were pretty good over there.

Dave Rodman: Another one that would be priceless would be a driver and crew chief bag race.

Raygan Swan: Last, a drift race would be entertaining because operating the new car likely has given the drivers some experience with sliding these days!

David Caraviello: Heck, imagine if the Indy 500 broke with tradition and ran on Memorial Day itself. You'd have a ton of NASCAR guys giving it a shot. A lot of those old sprint-car guys -- Kahne, Newman, Stewart, etc. -- would do it.

Raygan Swan: Now that would be amazing!

David Caraviello: That would be fun to see. Imagine the look on Tony George's face if Kahne or Stewart took the Borg-Warner Trophy back to North Carolina.

Raygan Swan: Well Stewart would take it to Columbus, Ind., so Tony George would prefer that over North Carolina at Kahne's house.

Dave Rodman: It would be interesting if a schedule change like that did anything to mix up the team lineups -- like, adding cars for those guys to drive, or in a case of a guy like Robby Gordon, building a team just to do it.

David Caraviello: There is a downside here. We've all seen up close how some of these open-wheel guys have struggled in NASCAR. That gives you an idea of how hard changing disciplines can be.

Dave Rodman: As far as reasonable and achievable cross-promotion goes, it would be cool as heck to see Indy switch to Memorial Day. And as much as Tony says his NASCAR commitments rule, I'd have to think that would tempt him.

David Caraviello: Yeah, I think you'd see a boatload of guys go over there, Dave. But NASCAR might not be too keen on the idea. It would make Indy a big deal again.

Dave Rodman: There's no question a permanent change would be difficult. But if you want a glorious one-shot deal, how about figure-eight school bus racing at Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan?

Raygan Swan: Double-decker, red, London-style buses, Dave! To your point David, Speed made a comment about age. His youth is helping his transition whereas the other open-wheelers are all married with kids ... is that really a huge advantage?

Dave Rodman: I'd bet it helps his focus. Only worrying about scuffing your toenail polish is a lesser concern than husband and daddy breaking his neck.

Raygan Swan: Ha! I love the fact that he painted his toes! Outrageous!

David Caraviello: Don't know Raygan. Of course, he's also starting in the Truck Series, unlike a lot of these guys throwing themselves straight into Cup.

Dave Rodman: You wanna talk unfair advantage, I don't know what engine package those London lorries have. That might be the hot ticket. We might be able to get it cleared through the ARCA offices by August.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.