Track Smack: Will Burton keep the heat on Johnson? (cont'd)

3. The driver lineup for next season is almost complete. But who's the best driver out there right now without a secure ride for 2009?

Joe Menzer: I might have said A.J. Allmendinger before his fiasco at Lowe's Motor Speedway last Saturday night. But he's shown steady improvement this year and deserved a better fate than what he got. So maybe him.

David Caraviello: Boy, who's in that select group, anyway? A.J. Allmendinger, Regan Smith, Patrick Carpentier, and Sterling Marlin? Have to go with A.J., who despite wadding up a car Saturday night, has shown some real progress.

Bill Kimm: I think A.J. has the made the most progress and will become a great driver, so if you're looking to the future, go with A.J. If you are looking to get some decent results quickly, maybe a guy like Scott Riggs.

Joe Menzer: Sterling Marlin? Does he want to come back to Cup full-time?

David Caraviello: I don't know. I think he's made some overtures as to getting a part-time ride, and he's started a few events this season. Oh, and I forgot J.J. Yeley and Ken Schrader. And of course Riggs, who I think is better than the equipment he's been in.

Joe Menzer: Riggs is a guy who has hung in there pretty well under difficult lame-duck status at Haas CNC (soon to be Stewart-Haas Racing). But I think he's headed for life in the Truck Series, where he probably will do pretty well.

Bill Kimm: I'm a fan of J.J. -- but he is not ready to be in a Cup ride. He's had two opportunities and he was disappointing in both of them.

Joe Menzer: Geez, Ken Schrader? I mean, I love the guy and all -- but when you start talking about him and Marlin, who's going to give them a full-time ride at their ages. And does Marlin even want one?

David Caraviello: Interesting to see where J.J. will end up. He's a great guy with a strong resume, but not exactly a pup. Of course, as we've seen since, his struggles in that Hall of Fame car weren't all because of the driver. And hey, Schrader has a ride now, doesn't he? Who knows if he'll still have the itch.

Joe Menzer: J.J. Yeley struggled in the No. 18 car at Joe Gibbs Racing, too! And that team has done pretty well since he left. Not much else, other than the switch to Toyotas, has changed. Let's go back to Bill's off-hand comment that A.J. Allmendinger is going to be "a great driver." Um, that's a little premature, isn't it?

David Caraviello: Well, he is Bill Kimm. I just kind of let that go.

Bill Kimm: No I don't think so. The improvement he has made this year shows me he has what it takes to be successful. And you can ignore me, DC, but I will never go away!

Joe Menzer: The one guy here we need to be talking more about is Regan Smith, who's a free agent at the end of the season. In a year when all these open-wheel hotshots were expected to contend for rookie of the year honors, he's been the best newcomer.

Bill Kimm: I'm sure David wants to take away Smith's good run at 'Dega because it was in a restrictor-plate race.

David Caraviello: I will choose to ignore that comment, Kimmer. Hey, we still don't know if the forever young James Hylton is going to show up in a car for Daytona in 2009.

Joe Menzer: If you listen to Dale Earnhardt Jr., most folks in the garage still believe Regan won that race. I don't. But his body of work for the season has been pretty solid.

David Caraviello: Regan's been under the radar, and the rookie class hasn't been that strong, but the guy's still done a good job. Boy what a boost that Talladega victory would have been to them.

Bill Kimm: Let's be honest -- the 2008 rookie class has left much to be desired. No one has made me go, "wow." Just like David in this week's Track Smack.

Joe Menzer: Yet you are ready to anoint Allmendinger as "the next great driver" and dismiss Regan Smith -- when Smith has on the whole had a better season.

David Caraviello: You know who might be the best driver out there without a ride right now? David Pearson, that's who. That dude still thinks he can get out there and whip up on some people, and after seeing him wheel a vintage car around Darlington, I might be inclined to believe him.

Bill Kimm: What is your fascination with old people today? Marlin, Schrader, Hylton and now Pearson?

David Caraviello: Hey, people love these guys, man. Who do you think gets stopped for more autographs, Ken Schrader or Regan Smith? And Pearson is a freaking legend.

Joe Menzer: I'm about ready to whip up some on Bill Kimm! Don't talk bad about old people!

Bill Kimm: Oh yeah, you are in that AARP group -- my apologies!

Joe Menzer: What? You'll have to speak up some, son. I'm hard of hearing.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers