Smack: Could a Toyota find Daytona's Victory Lane? (cont'd)

3. After his victory in the Budweiser Shootout, is Dale Earnhardt Jr. back to the form that saw him win 17 Cup events?

Joe Menzer: And will it carry over to the Daytona 500 and beyond? Those are the bigger questions. I say yes. I happen to believe he's going to have a big year.

Dave Rodman: A lot of things make it seem that way. The current Hendrick legacy -- four cars in the top six of the Shootout, although one of them mysteriously "rose back up" overnight -- or had gotten damaged.

David Caraviello: Gang, I don't think he ever left. If Junior doesn't have his crew and equipment taken from him after finishing fifth in points, if he doesn't have the distraction of his fight with Teresa, I don't think he has this winless streak.

Joe Menzer: I keep going back to Darrell Waltrip's bold prediction, made last June or whenever it was when Junior's new No. 88 cars were unveiled in Dallas. DW said Junior would win the Daytona 500 and "at least six races."

David Caraviello: People have very short memories. The kid could always drive, especially at Daytona. In all honestly, I think he'll win the 500 on Sunday.

Dave Rodman: The depth of that organization, the chemistry between him and his cousin -- there are a lot of things. They still have to do it -- but I think he will, and I think it's ironic in his first attempt, he beat his teammate. So it will be interesting to see how the Hendrick win total fluctuates.

Joe Menzer: Frankly, I thought DW's prediction was a little bold and over the top at the time. But what interested me more was that when I asked Rick Hendrick about it, and then Junior. They both were like, "Yeah, that sounds about right." They certainly didn't back down from it. And if they were confident then, they are supremely confident now after what happened in the Shootout. Plus Junior was fast in Daytona testing.

David Caraviello: Of course, you can already hear the conspiracy theorists: Jimmie and Jeff let him win! Please. It's drafting. It happens.

Dave Rodman: It absolutely could happen. You know, it could be a revisit of what, 1997, when the Hendrick cars went 1 - 2 - 3 in the 500? Or was that 1996. Where is Stat Boy?

Joe Menzer: He's playing golf somewhere.

Dave Rodman: Good assignment if you can get it.

Joe Menzer: Probably cheating.

David Caraviello: Either way, good point, Dave. If somebody wins other than a Hendrick or Toyota driver, I'd be surprised.

Joe Menzer: BTW, I picked Junior to win before you did, David Caraviello!

Dave Rodman: I almost was gonna say, "What about Tony?" Whoops. Bag of dung for his doorstep, too.

Joe Menzer: I picked him right after DW did!

David Caraviello: Easy, Menzer. I don't want to suffer the fate of that basketball ref.

Joe Menzer: I say all those fans e-mailing Rodman place bags of dung on HIS doorstep. Imagine the stench! Oh, and for the record, it was another coach that I went off on. Maybe I'll send a bag of dung his way ... Nah, that would just mean more probation.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers