Edwards throws caution to the wind in attempt to win (cont'd)

3. A.J. Allmendinger is parting ways with Red Bull, clearing the way for Scott Speed to take over the No. 84 in 2009. Is the former F1 driver ready for Sprint Cup?

Mark Aumann: Well, if his steady progress in ARCA and the Craftsman Truck Series is any indication, he should be ahead of guys like Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. But the new chassis is a completely different animal than anything he's driven so far, so I'm not sold just yet.

• Speed: Monster performance

David Caraviello: In all likelihood, as ready as he's going to be. They've done a good job with his development, getting him in ARCA cars and trucks. He's had plenty of advance seat time on the right tracks. Now it's only a matter of time to see how he adjusts to the Cup cars.

Mark Aumann: Not to say the guy doesn't have boatloads of talent. If there's anybody who could be like Juan Montoya, it's probably Speed.

Raygan Swan: I was blown away when he won a Truck race in Dover in only his sixth start. He's transitioned better than anyone expected, and certainly faster than any of his other open-wheel counterparts.

David Caraviello: Yeah, guys, I agree. The dude also has charisma to spare, and would be a refreshing addition to the Cup series.

Mark Aumann: Now, when you look at the guys in contention every week, it's all about car control and knowing just how hard to push it before it spins out. Carl Edwards? Dirt late models. Jimmie Johnson? Off-road racing.

Raygan Swan: He's leading the ARCA championship but his equipment is top notch, and I think that was a bit expected. He was fast in his test at Lowe's, but testing doesn't really indicate how he will do on race day (read more).

Mark Aumann: I still don't think that a driver with an exclusive background in light, rear-engined formula cars isn't having to completely re-learn how to race in heavy, front-engined stock cars. Has Speed shown that can be done? We'll see.

• Speed: Style here to stay

David Caraviello: Speaking of refreshing, how nice is it to see a driver actually get development time? Red Bull brought Speed along kind of like Penske did Ryan Newman with its old "ABC" schedule. Slowly, no pressure, making each step when he's ready. Compare that to guys like Allmendinger, Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier, who were basically just thrown into this.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, Penske wants to do that with Justin Allgaier next season, like it did with Newman.

David Caraviello: This "sink or swim" mentality of developing drivers needs to end. Everybody suffers in the end. Drivers get forced out, teams have to hire someone else. Who know what A.J. and Patrick, given their marked improvements in the second half of this year, might have been capable of with a little more lead time?

Raygan Swan: Only time will tell if Speed can get up to speed (ha-ha) but I certainly like watching him in the media center. What a clown, and he knows so much about fashion!

Mark Aumann: And of course, Raygs is all about clothing.

David Caraviello: Well, somebody does need to tell Scott that the trucker hat went out of style about three years ago. Seriously. Ashton Kutcher called, and wants his cap back.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, well, Ashton Kutcher is back on network TV so maybe the trucker hat will come back as well! And it's not a trucker hat. Trucker hats are mesh in the back. Scott's is not mesh, just a flat bill, very skater-boy style.

David Caraviello: Mesh or not, it's a big honkin' sequined trucker cap. Seriously, some guy must have let it fly out of his cab on I-85.

Mark Aumann: Can you imagine Raygan covering racing back in the '60s, when all the drivers wore dirty, old-stained white uniforms?

David Caraviello: Yeah, Mark, and when all the writers wore dirty, food-stained ... well, wait a minute ...

Mark Aumann: Oh, that was last week.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants.