Reiser's agony and ecstasy revisited atop No. 99 box (cont'd)

But after Sunday's nut-cracking heartbreaker, he was looking for more time to settle into his job.

You'd have to think that going through the agonizing burn that's a crew chief's worst nightmare -- engineering a car nearly to perfection, calling a strategy that puts you in position to win, having a driver up on the wheel who's totally capable, and then pffft, it all goes up in a puff of smoke -- would cure him of any desire to get back on the box full time.

Is that a massive case of heartburn or, in the case of a guy with a heart as massive as Reiser's has proven to be, a demand to come back and win?

Robbie Reiser

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With Roush and his management team still mulling an appeal of the penalties that put Osborne off the pit box for five more weeks, Reiser has little choice but to seize a few more chances.

Bristol this weekend, and then Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix and Talladega -- which on the one hand presents a virtual cornucopia of fear and loathing for a lesser crew chief.

But I don't think that would be the case for Reiser. And despite what many outside the Roush Fenway organization have surmised, I don't think he'll be leaving his new role any time soon.

All he's managed to do is place three of his five cars, those of Greg Biffle, Kenseth and Edwards, in prime position -- if momentum means anything -- to be serious Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders in 22 more races. Plus he has a fourth, youngster David Ragan, with only 42 career starts, within 72 points of a Chase spot today.

Disrupting that, I also believe, is a price that Roush won't be willing to pay.

Reiser doesn't appear to want to, either -- as much as he enjoyed being out in the sunshine, at a racetrack, and up to his elbows in racecars and race strategy at Atlanta.

He said he's been hearing a lot about role changes -- but not from where it would matter.

"I've heard it from everybody else [but Roush]," Reiser said. "It's just that everybody has to understand that I've been in racing my whole life. I always went to the racetrack with my father [John Reiser, who passed away in November 2005] and my own racing stuff through the Busch years and then the Cup years with Roush.

"It's a way different program [now]. I don't know what to tell you. I'm not an office-type guy and I've just got to learn the role."

When he does, that might be even bigger trouble for the competition, judging by the way he's come out of the gate -- while mostly "being in an office" or a meeting.

And if it brings back that smile, a lot of people will be able to more easily deal with a little less of Reiser around the racetracks.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.