Track Smack: Talkin' it over with a Daytona 500 winner (cont'd)

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers took out 10 cars when they tangled late in the race. When is it OK to block, and when it such a move too aggressive and over the line?

David Caraviello: I don't understand why so many people seem to have an issue with blocking. It's legal, and it's necessary. Enough of this "let the faster car by" stuff. This isn't canasta, people. What's the old adage -- getting to him is one thing, passing him is another?

Matt Kenseth: Blocking is part of restrictor-plate racing. You have to do it. But at the same time, you almost wish there was a little give and take. There's also a time when it gets late enough in the race and something's happening. If you get a position on somebody that blocks you, the way the yellow line rule is set up, there is a potential for wrecks.

Someone's mess

Kyle Busch got caught in the 10-car crash that began when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brian Vickers tangled late.

• Complete story, click here
• Wreck caps Junior's bad day
• Busch irked by others' moves
• Video: Junior, Vickers crash

Dave Rodman: You'll never get everyone to buy into anything, and this is a great example. If you're going to do that extreme a case of blocking, you need to expect to get the chrome horn. Just like when you're driving around on the street and someone does something silly, don't get out of your car unless you're prepared to go at it, because you never know who's packing.

David Caraviello: We certainly had people going at it Sunday night. Not a lot of give and take there, Matt. I don't think Earnhardt spun Vickers on purpose, but he certainly didn't give him much room. And people scream about the yellow line, but remember, that's to guard against advancing a position -- as NASCAR said Regan Smith did last year at Talladega, where blocking also was an issue.

Matt Kenseth: It's like the Talladega race last year when Tony [Stewart] won it. When the 01 [Smith] went underneath him and he blocked him, there's three choices for the 01. You can go under the line and race him to the finish line and know you're going to get black-flagged. You can hold the wheel straight and stay on the yellow line because you know he can't go under it and let the guy who blocks you spin himself out and wreck himself -- and maybe wreck more people. Or you can get out of the gas and let the guy have it.

Dave Rodman: I thought the 88/83 confrontation was 60-40 Junior's fault. Kinda like another driver told me after David Stremme pushed into Greg Biffle while they were racing for last in the Shootout. I asked, when your car's pushing real bad, do you get past a point of no return, like driving on ice? He said, "All you do is lift off the accelerator."

David Caraviello: I don't think people realize, watching from the outside, how fast this all happens and how little contact has to be made for these cars to go sideways. But Vickers has every right to protect the bottom of the race track and not let anybody by. You don't give up positions out of the kindness of your heart.

Dave Rodman: In Junior's case, he no doubt was fired up when he got run off the race track. He had to come back on and if he'd floated the throttle, he'd have had a much better opportunity to fall in behind Vickers. In this case, I think Vickers' "red mist" was rain-induced, and he probably figured he couldn't afford to let Junior -- who was obviously faster at that moment -- by to drop in behind him and draft by in another lap or two.

Matt Kenseth: The guy who does the blocking always knows there's a risk to get crashed. You've just got to figure that out and hopefully make the right moves.

David Caraviello: Definitely not the case in the Daytona 500. You'd think Vickers might be a little more forgiving, though, given how his lone Cup victory unfolded.

Dave Rodman: Well, those shoes don't often fit on the other feet as well as they should. (Continued)