Smack: Could a Toyota find Daytona's Victory Lane?

1. Michael Waltrip is on the front row. Toyotas were fast throughout testing. What's the reaction if a Camry wins the Great American Race?

Joe Menzer: Well, the reaction from Jim Aust and Lee White and those guys will be, um, pretty wild. They might not go to bed for a week!

Dave Rodman: I could say Japanese manufacturers have already won at the Brickyard, and Toyota has done well in virtually every series it's attempted in this country. But this is Cup racing -- a whole different ballgame. To be kind, let's say reaction would be "mixed."

David Caraviello: People had better get used to seeing a Toyota in Victory Lane. It's going to happen several times this year, and maybe this week. Seeing a Camry win Daytona would be hard for some folks to swallow, but there are also a lot of people out there who drive Toyota passenger cars.

Joe Menzer: In fact, I believe there may end up being more Toyota drivers in this Great American Race than Ford drivers. Isn't that possibly going to be the case?

Dave Rodman: It will depend how the Duels shake out -- but since there were more Toyota drivers going in than Ford drivers -- that may happen.

David Caraviello: Could be, Joe. Got to wonder what's going on up in Dearborn these days. Their hands seem tied when it comes to their racing program.

Dave Rodman: Sorry gang, we don't live in our provincial little backyard anymore. It's a new world, there's no turning back and I'd like to think people would tune in as much to see them get stomped as they would to see if they can win. That's sports.

Joe Menzer: Here is something else to consider, something that Mark Cronquist, chief engine builder at Gibbs brought up recently: The TRD people (that's Toyota Racing Development, you guys) have been working on their Daytona engine since like June of last year, ever since they knew they didn't have to worry about any Toyota drivers in last year's Chase. In other words, the Toyota folks have put probably more time and money and manpower into this engine for this one race than everyone else -- by a long shot.

David Caraviello: You hear so many people complain about wanting to keep NASCAR "All-American." But there were international drivers in the first Daytona 500. And didn't someone once compete in a Jaguar?

Dave Rodman: Someone once WON a race in a Jaguar -- Al Keller, Linden (N.J.) Airport.

David Caraviello: Thanks, Dave. Big Bill France saw this day coming. After all, he was smart enough to procure FIA sanctioning for the Daytona 500 to smooth the entry of international drivers into his sport's biggest event.

Joe Menzer: Al Keller? Linden (N.J.) Airport? What year was that?

David Caraviello: The thing is, when competitors get beat, by anybody, it only drives them to go back and work harder. The anti-Toyota brigade in the grandstand could take a lesson from that.

Dave Rodman: Absolutely. It would create controversy, and that's what all these fans are saying they want -- so they should revel in it. If it happens they can go put a burning bag of dung on their Japanese neighbor's doorstep.

Joe Menzer: Let's not endorse putting any burning bags of dung anywhere, OK?

Dave Rodman: I'm just trying to read this gang. Sorry. I don't think I could give them any ideas -- I was just trying to be a little more genteel.

2. Did NASCAR correctly handle the Tony Stewart/Kurt Busch incident? And what exactly is probation, anyway?

Joe Menzer: Funny you should mention that. I once -- I won't say when -- got put on probation for three games in a girls' youth basketball league. So I'm an expert on this. I was coaching, of course.

Blown opportunity

For the second time in eight months, Kurt Busch used his vehicle to show is displeasure with Tony Stewart. Dave Rodman says NASCAR should have sat Busch out of the Shootout and blew it.

• Complete story, click here
• Video: Busch, Stewart tangle

David Caraviello: Joe, you really shouldn't have gone all Latrell Sprewell on that referee.

Dave Rodman: Maybe we can straighten some misguided people out. But first, probation means absolutely nothing until NASCAR takes it to the next step.

David Caraviello: Seriously, does probation have any teeth? Stewart seems to have been on probation more often than the boys at Delta house.

Dave Rodman: Am I wrong -- or was someone's probation EXTENDED last year, after he was already ON probation?

Joe Menzer: All it means is that you have to keep your mouth shut and your nose clean for the duration of probation. Then you can start being yourself again and hope that nothing crazy happens where you are provoked and lose your temper.

David Caraviello: Yeah, but even if guys do something while on probation, they're not made to sit out or anything. It comes across as window dressing.

Joe Menzer: I have no further comment on my own personal situation. Fact is, I do think NASCAR handled this OK. If they say they are going to let these guys be themselves, do it ...

David Caraviello: That, Joe, I will agree with. I'm reading a lot of things that imply NASCAR is going back on its pledge to let drivers loosen up. Of course, the punishment here is really nothing -- so far, at least.

Dave Rodman: I don't want to beat it up too much, but they missed a chance. There are a lot of confused people out there. When Kurt Busch drove across Tony Stewart's nose in practice, was Tony wrong not to cut him any slack?

Joe Menzer: And if they get a little out of hand like this, where Smoke reportedly tapped Mr. Kurt on the head, probation seems appropriate. Then again, as Roadman just pointed out, the real issue is what they did to each other on the track. You don't want anyone to get away with anything that endangers anyone.

Dave Rodman: Maybe -- but they're on a racetrack -- he doesn't have to. Just like he didn't have to -- and didn't -- at Dover last year. If Kurt thought he was gonna get a break, that was doubly his fault.

David Caraviello: Rodman has been the hammer on this issue. He wants Kurt's head!

Joe Menzer: You just don't like Mr. Kurt.

Dave Rodman: No, Joe. The issue, the whole issue -- was that Kurt assaulted Tony Stewart with his racecar under caution. That don't cut it. I happen to like Mr. Busch, and his little brother, quite a bit. I've never had a problem with them, so it kills me to see him go nuts.

David Caraviello: Kurt could feel the pain you felt, Joe, in being suspended from your basketball league.

Joe Menzer: There you go, twisting the facts. "Suspended" is altogether different from being placed on "probation."

David Caraviello: Has that restraining order expired yet, by the way?

Dave Rodman: From what I've inferred from all these peoples' comments -- they want it both ways. They want action -- but they HATE Tony Stewart because he's a bull in a China shop on the racetrack. At least he picks his spots correctly.

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