1. Should Jimmie Johnson finish the job and win a third consecutive Cup title, where does that accomplishment rank in NASCAR history?

David Caraviello: Anything that happens once every 30 years is a very, very big deal, and this is. I think people have become so numbed to Johnson winning, that maybe this actually gets less attention than it deserves. But it's huge.

Joe Menzer: Should he? Should he? What, does anybody in their right mind think he's NOT going to finish the job this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway? Let's ask, WHEN he finishes the job. ...

Duane Cross: Then he's right there with Cale Yarborough -- but 1A. Even with the argument for better competition today (as if the 1970s drivers were slouches), Jimmie has had the benefit of the Chase system.

David Caraviello: Joe, given that Carl Edwards does still have a mathematical chance -- slight though that is -- we have to be fair to the man.

Duane Cross: Someone get David a tree to hug! C'mon, let's be realistic; Johnson will not lose this championship.

Joe Menzer: OK, OK. So Carl mathematically has a chance. But we all know Jimmie won't stumble badly enough to give him a real opportunity.

David Caraviello: Hey, I don't think he will, either. But if he goes out there and blows an engine on the first lap and Carl wins the race, things are different. Right now, we have to account for that. And Duane, the guy played by the rules he was given. Can't knock him for that.

Duane Cross: No argument he played by the rules -- but everyone knows the rules are different, and that affects how I (and many others) look at this three-peat. It's not a knock against Jimmie; give them props for playing this system for all it's worth.

Joe Menzer: As for Duane's argument, I lean toward agreeing with the Tree Hugger here. The rules now are the rules. You can't fault the guy by winning under the current format.

David Caraviello: Plus, I believe he'd still be ahead even under the old system.

Duane Cross: This year, yes. But not 2006. We're talking about a three-year stretch.

David Caraviello: Actually, DC1, Johnson would have won the 2006 title under the old system by four points over Matt Kenseth. And right now, he'd be 56 points ahead of Edwards. So either way, the guy has at least two titles, Chase or no Chase.

“

Even with the argument for better competition today (as if the 1970s drivers were slouches), Jimmie has had the benefit of the Chase system.

”

DUANE CROSS

Joe Menzer: At some point, though, we've got to get away from comparing everything to the old system. I'm not good enough at math to figure it out.

Duane Cross: NASCAR fans, who are steeped in tradition, will never forget. And that's why Johnson will remain 1A ... unless he does it four consecutive years.

Joe Menzer: That might be the better question: can he do it again next year for four in a row? (Or should we save that for the first Smack session of 2009?)

Duane Cross: I don't think he'll win four in a row. I think it's clear that Roush Racing has caught up, after not being on the COT bandwagon.

David Caraviello: Well, regardless of what points system he's under, I think this still is a very big deal. Even Cale Yarborough, the man he's tying, believes so. Now if he wins four straight ... wow. Then you're getting into King and Intimidator territory.

Duane Cross: It is a big deal -- anyone who questions that is nuts. But he's the second guy to do it (and under the Chase, for what it's worth).

Joe Menzer: The Intimidator was awful tough.

Duane Cross: They never won three in a row, so he's ahead of Richard and Dale.

David Caraviello: Just don't tell the Richard and Dale fans that. Then you'll get some e-mails.

Duane Cross: Carl Edwards has to be the odds-on favorite in 2009.

David Caraviello: How is Carl Edwards the favorite for 2009? The favorite for 2009 is the guy who's won three straight and has shown very few signs of weakness.

Duane Cross: Law of averages? And who likes the frontrunner? It's always best to root for the underdog!

Joe Menzer: OK, now I have to go against Tree Hugger and agree with Boss Man. I think Carl Edwards, based on what we've seen down the stretch, is the favorite to win in 2009.

David Caraviello: Sorry, but Jimmie's going to have to be buried before I count him out. And again, because it's Johnson, I don't think this achievement gets quite enough credit outside of the press. Imagine if it were Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt Jr. doing this.

Joe Menzer: You're saying because he's Jimmie Johnson that it's getting downplayed? I don't buy that.

David Caraviello: I do, Joe. I don't think he gets enough credit among the rank and file in the grandstand, many of whom are tired of seeing him win. Maybe that's because Johnson isn't the most lovable figure, maybe it's because too many people see him as a product of the Chase. Either way, it's unfortunate.

Joe Menzer: I think it's more that folks in the stands want to see someone different win, plus he's never had the same passionate fan base that Gordon or Dale Jr. has. But everyone knows he's great.

Duane Cross: It would be a bigger buzz, no question -- especially if it were Junior. But fact is, Jimmie can be a funny dude; sadly, it's away from the cameras.

Joe Menzer: Jimmie has gone a long way this year to show a little more of that subtle humor. He's even laughed at a few of my lame jokes when others in the press room didn't get 'em.

Duane Cross: It's a "pity laugh," Joe. We all do it for you.

2. The economy is crippling some race teams. How different might the Sprint Cup garage look in 2009?

David Caraviello: Very. I think there are going to be a handful of smaller operations who aren't going to find sponsorship for next season and aren't going to come back. There are going to be a lot of crew guys out of work. But the heavy hitters will still remain.

Duane Cross: I don't think the fans' perception of the garage will be much different; the big names will still have their sponsors. To those within the industry, it'll be very different.

DEI, Ganassi merge

Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi will combine their slumping race teams next season, an effort to stabilize their organizations in a tough economic time.

• Complete story, click here
• Head2Head: Good move?

Joe Menzer: Well, the way this is headed, you are going to have an extension as we go forward of what we're already seeing now: about four true super teams dominating the landscape more and more. The four super teams, of course, are Hendrick, Roush Fenway, Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Childress Racing.

Duane Cross: This is not the time to be a second-tier operation. The money just isn't going to be there for these teams to compete, even with the move toward the new car (which was supposed to level the playing field).

David Caraviello: Everybody's wondering what's going to happen to a lot of these smaller and middle-level teams. The thing is, I don't think a lot of them still know what's going to happen.

Duane Cross: Brian France says that eventually we'll see a more level playing field -- but that will come too late for several teams.

Joe Menzer: You might be able, over time, to throw Gillett Evernham Racing in there with the Hendricks and Roushes. At least they won a couple of races this season. But they and Penske, who happen not so coincidentally to be running Dodges, don't appear to be close to the same level as the others previously mentioned.

David Caraviello: Well, GEM has some sponsor limitations right now that Penske doesn't. And what about Ganassi and DEI? Petty Enterprises? These aren't fringe organizations, and each of them is facing some very uncertain times.

Duane Cross: Take this a step further: "Super" teams will have a four-driver max. You'd need 10 of those and still not have a full field (not that there will be 10 "super" teams). Does anyone truly believe that 43-car fields are going to be the norm?

Joe Menzer: Oh, come on, DC1! Everyone knows that Roush Fenway already is circumventing that rule by "assisting" the fielding of teams at Yates Racing. Hendrick is going to be aligned with Stewart-Haas Racing, closer than ever before. And RCR already is intertwined with DEI, which wouldn't likely exist right now without them.

Duane Cross: Yeah -- and name me a full-time sponsor for Yates. There are not going to be enough dollars to sustain these second-tier teams -- even the likes of Earnhardt Ganassi and, which are big names within this sport. Sorry to rain on the parade, but this sport will be haves vs. haves very soon.

Joe Menzer: The fact that Yates has run this entire season without a true primary sponsor (at least in terms of dollars) proves that some combination of Roush/Ford/NASCAR have helped keep them afloat. As far as Petty, Ganassi, etc., you are right. They cannot survive in the current climate without merging with someone bigger and better.

Duane Cross: And neither Yates team has been a factor. That's the elephant in the room no one is addressing. It's now the sport of who-has-the-most-money.

Joe Menzer: I still can't figure out why Penske struggles so much. They've got the money and the expertise, one would think, plus the sponsorship dollars.

David Caraviello: Sponsorship dollars are in short supply right now, which is why everybody's talking about mergers. But no one knows if and when all this stuff is actually going to happen. People are wondering if it will be testing -- if there is testing -- before we see the type of announcements we usually see at Homestead.

3. Johnson excepted, what moment or driver left the biggest impression on you in 2008?

Duane Cross: Kyle Busch has owned the national touring series this year. I think he's grown up a lot and is very comfortable in his own skin.

Joe Menzer: Being in Michigan when Dale Jr. broke his long winless streak was very cool. Just standing there while the crowd reacted, you knew it was something special.

David Caraviello: Kyle Busch. I still can't believe the guy isn't going to have any hardware to show for his phenomenal year. Tell me you didn't see his pass of Johnson at Chicagoland as a kind of a changing of the guard.

Duane Cross: On the flip side, Junior Nation cannot be happy with his overall performance. I understand it's his first year at Hendrick, but it's been very inconsistent.

Joe Menzer: The driver who stood out most to me this year was Carl Edwards. While Jimmie was the best overall again, Carl took the most chances, was the most dynamic Cup driver, and still has an outside chance to win the Nationwide Series.

Duane Cross: Carl's effort at Kansas will shine for a long time. That was a tremendous effort, playoff race or not. He earned a lot of fans that day.

David Caraviello: No question Carl spiced things up this year, whether it was gambling on fuel, doing backflips, or going after Kevin Harvick in the garage area.

Joe Menzer: Yes, overall Junior's season has to be rated as a disappointment. It seems to me that Rick Hendrick has been working awful hard lately to tell everyone that it wasn't. It wasn't horrible, but he should have won more races.

David Caraviello: Joe, you're right. Their season was like a lot of their races -- they could just never get better at the end.

Duane Cross: And while David Ragan leads the most improved lot, I still think Martin Truex Jr. has had a good year. He's been overlooked -- especially in light of a lot of folks ripping DEI equipment.

David Caraviello: I will admit, I was not the biggest believer in David Ragan, until the last few weeks before the Chase. The guy has improved a tremendous amount. And he gives phenomenal feedback over the radio.

Joe Menzer: I am surprised to hear Martin Truex mentioned in response to any question about what was most memorable about 2008. I think he's been a forgotten man, maybe through little fault of his own.

David Caraviello: You also have to wonder if Martin is regretting signing that one-year extension, given the state of DEI right now.

Joe Menzer: David Ragan, on the other hand, did impress me. And you know what? Another Roush Fenway driver who was a forgotten man has been coming on strong as this season closes, and that's Jamie McMurray.

David Caraviello: Guy's having a tremendous finishing kick. Who knows, maybe personal happiness is translating over to the professional side. But he's got to back it up with a strong first half in 2009.

Duane Cross: So if you're Jack Roush, and you've got to be down to four cars after 2009, does Jamie McMurray still seem like the odd man out in light of his recent surge? Might Matt Kenseth be the driver on the bubble? Next year is going to be pivotal in someone's career in that stable.

Joe Menzer: When you talk about moments to remember, though, I have to bring up the night race at Bristol. I thought it was fantastic. And Carl won fans that night, too, when he repaid Kyle Busch for the post-race bump.

Duane Cross: No question that 2008 will be most remembered for three drivers: Busch, Edwards and Johnson.

Joe Menzer: Plus chowing down at Ridgewood Barbeque is always memorable!

David Caraviello: Chowing down with Dave Rodman is always memorable, too. That could merit its own Smack segment.

Joe Menzer: You have to admire a guy who can order breakfast and dinner in the same sitting ... Oh wait, that was Rodman AND me!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.