Track Smack: Change good for Mears, not so for quals (cont'd)

3. Richard Childress is splitting up driver Clint Bowyer and crew chief Gil Martin, who together have reached the Chase in each of the last two years. Is it the right move?

David Caraviello: You know, Childress has forgotten more about racing than I will ever know. He's made some brilliant personnel moves throughout his career as a car owner. But I keep thinking, why break up a good thing?

Joe Menzer: I can't say I fault him for it. In some ways, it feels like Clint underachieved a little this season. I know he made the Chase, has finished well in the Chase races, but I thought he would win more races.

Raygan Swan: When I first heard this I thought: bad idea, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But then when I read what Clint had to say, it may make sense for the long term since he is changing teams.

David Caraviello: Joe, that's what I wonder -- have perhaps Martin and Bowyer gone as far together as Childress thinks they can? And maybe that's why Gil will work with Casey Mears on the fourth car next season.

Raygan Swan: And Richard wants to give Casey a strong shot out of the box with a strong crew chief, no excuses for Mears next season. And Clint has worked with Shane Wilson on the Nationwide side and they apparently work well together.

David Caraviello: But let's face it, it's hard to argue with the results. I mean, Clint came out of nowhere. And a lot of that was because of Martin, who might be the most underrated crew chief in the garage.

Joe Menzer: Well, here's another thing to consider: Before I go throwing Clint too far under the bus, his season sort of reflects the kind of season RCR has had as a whole. These guys -- meaning Clint, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton -- are good enough drivers to get the most out of their equipment. But most weeks, that means running top 10 but not really contending for the win.

Raygan Swan: Richard has a knack for hiring the right people and putting them in positions to succeed.

David Caraviello: Of course, everyone thought RC was crazy back in the 90s when he swapped Larry McReynolds and Kevin Hamlin, the respective crew chiefs for Dale Earnhardt and Mike Skinner. It was a stroke of genius. Nobody had done such a thing before, and now it's the first thing everybody tries. So far be it from me to second guess the guy on personnel.

Joe Menzer: I want to be Raygan's crew chief on her next ride-along!

Raygan Swan: I want to drive a trash truck through the Talladega infield!

Joe Menzer: As long as we don't have to do two laps of qualifying there, I'm in.

David Caraviello: But Joe, going back to your point, you're right -- to be more of a championship threat in 2009, those RCR cars are going to have to win a few more races. I think they know that. They're always in the running, and they're always in the Chase, and there's something to be said for that. But to finish the deal, to get to where Jimmie Johnson is now, they've got to take the next step.

Raygan Swan: Yeah well, maybe if Jimmie Johnson would retire, others could have some fun, too.

Joe Menzer: The RCR guys know it, too. They talked about it -- a lot -- last offseason. And Jeff Burton has made some noise, winning at least twice, including once in the Chase. But they still seem a tick behind Hendrick, Roush and even JGR on the Cup side.

David Caraviello: Give them credit for realizing it. And certainly these moves -- and the addition of another big-dollar sponsor in General Mills -- are steps toward potentially closing that gap.

Raygan Swan: But give Clint some more time, and I bet you'll see him pull some more wins next season on the Cup side. That is, if the new crew chief swap works.

Joe Menzer: Maybe NASCAR.com should try switching the days when we write our columns. Shake things up a bit. Maybe DC2 should write a One Menz Opinion.

David Caraviello: Sorry, Joe, but the last name doesn't exactly work for me.

Joe Menzer: Raygs could take the Inside Line and I could do a Splash-n-Go. Speaking of which, is it time to go yet?

Raygan Swan: Oh no, let's have David do Splash-n-Go. He can write about NASCAR-licensed pet toys.

David Caraviello: Pet toys? Are you serious? Now it's definitely time to go.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers