Smack: Not the Jimmie and Carl show as many thought

1. All the talk in the preseason was about Carl Edwards potentially overtaking Jimmie Johnson. Did we forget about Kyle Busch?

David Caraviello: Evidently so. But in all honestly, his last victory before Las Vegas was in August, which was a long time ago. And as poorly as he ran in the 2008 Chase -- which wasn't necessarily his fault, by the way -- it was easy for him to get overlooked.

Bill Kimm: I don't know if "forgot" is the right word, but maybe inadvertently left off the list. The thing is, he has yet to prove himself when it matters most -- in the Chase. And until he does that, he might be the "forgotten" man.

Dave Rodman: Rip Van Winkle, ahem, Kyle Busch, was in such a deep Sprint Cup slumber in the stretch run last season that it would have been easy to do that. I can't say I forgot about him any more than I gave the title to Carl. I didn't do that, either. But to my mind, KB is on his way to eclipsing last year's record win total. But great point, Bill -- that team needs to do it when it counts the most. But now that they got riddled in the 2008 Chase, I think they will be contenders to the end in '09.

David Caraviello: I think that was quite a statement win last Sunday. He's the forgotten man when it comes to the championship, and he goes out and wins a crazy race, just hammering past people at the end ... that says something.

Bill Kimm: The kid is a threat to win at anytime -- no question about it. And while all the talk was about Carl and Jimmie, and who will be there at the end, I do think Kyle's name needs to be added to the "watch" list, along with that of Jeff Gordon.

David Caraviello: But that 2008 Chase outcome wasn't because of the driver. The pieces and parts let him down. People tend to forget that. The heim joint doesn't snap at Loudon, and who knows where Kyle finishes.

Dave Rodman: Well, there's not much connection from what happened at New Hampshire to what happened at Dover. And the fact is neither the driver nor the team nor the crew chief -- I guess in conjunction with each other -- ever recaptured the magic they had from March through August. But that was a year ago.

David Caraviello: No question, Dave. The way last season ended probably led everyone to forget just how dominant Kyle was from March through September. Las Vegas was a reminder that the kid's still around, still has all that talent, and isn't backing down.

Sweet, sweet victory

• Busch race chatter at LVMS
• Vegas sights and sounds
• Menzer: Talent not in question
• F1 a possibility for Busch
• H2H: IS Kyle best on track?

Bill Kimm: And we wouldn't expect anything less. Scary thing is at 23, he could win his first title. He would have plenty of opportunities to catch Petty and Earnhardt's seven.

Dave Rodman: Maybe the most significant part of last Sunday was that "Bratty Busch" was rearing his head early in the race, and crew chief Steve "the Elder" Addington did his best to calm him down. And as he's often done, despite the public outbursts, Shrub keeps his focus and when it counts, as Jeff Gordon so eloquently pointed out, there may not currently be anyone better -- and scant few the equal -- of young Mr. Busch.

David Caraviello: Whoa, Kimmer. Bringing up the magic number already? The dude has to get one championship first.

Bill Kimm: Agreed, I'm just saying -- first one at 23, and the King better watch out!

Dave Rodman: Ha! Maybe -- if he doesn't branch out. It's pretty neat that in this era of specialization, Kyle could contemplate winning a NASCAR championship, wander around the world a few years, and then come back and finish his career in NASCAR. That is quite refreshing and a throwback to the Allison/Yarborough days of yore.

Bill Kimm: Come on Roadman, Kyle isn't going anywhere. He's just having some fun with everyone -- he will stay in NASCAR.

David Caraviello: I think Johnson is a bigger threat to the King and the elder Earnhardt right now. And yes Dave, Kyle didn't sound like he was joking at all when he talked about potentially running F1 cars one day. Wouldn't that be a sight.

Dave Rodman: But as DC opines -- he has to win the first, first. And I don't think he'd contemplate any new career branches without winning that first title. For JGR's sake, it would be cool if that didn't happen until 2011, because that means he no doubt would have a new deal in place -- though the fascinating thing is, who knows how long-term it would be.

David Caraviello: Well, regardless of where he ends up, I will say that nobody does a post-win celebration better. With all due respect to Carl's back flip and Jimmie's epic burnouts, I love Kyle's little bow. And kissing the start-finish line Sunday in Las Vegas was a nice touch. The kid has some style to him.

Bill Kimm: And as we know -- sports these days is all about "style"!

Dave Rodman: Bill, I think Kyle is unique enough -- and certainly uniquely talented -- that he is dead serious about an F1 dalliance. Mostly because he can. Think about it -- he's won in every major NASCAR discipline. That is something that takes some doing, and has taken most of his peers a good bit of time to do. Sky's the limit, and for race fans world-wide, that's a great thing.

2. Jeff Gordon is back atop the Sprint Cup standings. What are the odds that he's still there at the end of the season?

David Caraviello: Well, given that we're just back from Vegas, I'll say 3-to-1 -- those three of course being Johnson, Edwards and Busch. But Gordon is inching his way back into that elite group. He has that look in his eyes this year.

Dave Rodman: Finally, someone steps up to rip a title out of Jimmie Johnson's hands. It ain't ripped yet, don't get me wrong -- but how consistently Jeff has been able to be competitive, to persevere, and to come back -- should be scary to the competition and a real treat to fans everywhere. What Steve Letarte's bunch did at Vegas was nothing short of spectacular. Just when you thought they were relegated to walking wounded status, Gordo's trying to win with 90 percent of an aero package!

Bill Kimm: I'd say the odds are pretty darn good. There is something about that No. 24 team that smells like a championship. Gordon looks hungry and this could be the year for No. 5.

David Caraviello: Kimm is handing out championships like Christmas presents this morning! How about one for Mark Martin while we're at it, big man? And Ricky Rudd called, he'd like one, too.

Surviving Vegas

• Tire woes doesn't slow No. 24
• Gordon leads 20,000th lap
• Cross: Top 10 full of storylines

Bill Kimm: I'm in a good mood today, what can I say -- this is Track Smack baby! Dave, I'm glad you mentioned Letarte, because I get the feeling this is Jeff's way of sticking up for his battered-by-everyone crew chief. Let's win the thing and show 'em Letarte is pretty good at this.

Dave Rodman: Mark Martin has taken up residence in the La Brea tar pits. All but fossilized. Actually, I think he'll be the comeback story of the year, because I think they will come roaring back. But right now things are looking rough over there in the 5's neighborhood.

David Caraviello: Well, two engine failures in as many weeks will do that to you. But if the first three weeks are to be believed, Jeff is clearly back on his game. That winless streak is going to end, likely sooner than later. All those folks who ripped Letarte last year are going to have to eat their words.

Bill Kimm: It will be nice to see Jimmie go shake Jeff's hand in Victory Lane for once.

Dave Rodman: Well, I think both Letarte's and Tony Eury Jr.'s detractors should have equal shares of crow pie. Of course, they need to consistently deliver. But maybe it's time to get up a pool to see who'll get back to Victory Lane first. By the looks of things, I'd say the 24 bunch is a little ahead of that game.

David Caraviello: Whatever troubles Jeff had with the new car seem to be behind him. Since we're big on statements this morning, Jeff can make one this weekend at Atlanta, and an even bigger one next month at Texas, which isn't one of his better tracks. If we get to that point and he's still in the mix, he's for real.

Bill Kimm: Gordon is more for real than Junior. How did the No. 88 even get into this conversation? We're talking about teams up top, not flirting with the top 35.

Dave Rodman: Junior's Junior no matter where he is, but a strong Gordon can certainly make some things happen. It would be cool as hell to see that first win happen at Texas, but I honestly think if Jeff wins at Texas, it will be no less than his second victory this season.

David Caraviello: Well, I think Junior started digging himself out of that hole at Las Vegas. As for Gordon, the sport needs him to be back on his game. A hugely popular driver winning races again can only help at the ticket office.

Bill Kimm: There you go DC -- one guy I'm not handing out titles to: Junior!

David Caraviello: Finally, Bill Kimm shows some restraint!

3. Joey Logano has had a rough start and stands 32nd in owner points. Can he turn it around at Atlanta, where he was once a terror in Legends cars?

Bill Kimm: I think Joey still has a shot at the championship! Just kidding. He better hope he turns it around, because Home Depot ain't gonna be happy if the No. 20 ain't makin' laps on Sunday.

Dave Rodman: That's a joke, right? But seriously, I think he made a remarkable turnaround in Las Vegas -- not that he's anywhere close to being out of the woods, at this point. His track sessions-to-wall contacts ratio is probably leading the league right now -- but the good thing is it's dulled his ardor not a bit. For him to cycle into a top-10 spot late in the Vegas race, and then maintain a great finishing spot was a Cup career high point for him; though granted, there aren't many chapters at this point.

David Caraviello: Ah, the usual hilarity that ensues when we unlock the basement door to let Kimm into Track Smack. The No. 20 is still guaranteed a starting spot for Atlanta. And honestly, I don't think the kid has done too badly. He had a nice finish at Las Vegas, and showed some flashes at Daytona before he was spun into the wall. He's run better than his points position right now might suggest.

Bill Kimm: Come on, Caraviello. I know he's in at Atlanta, but at Martinsville he's probably going to have to qualify on time. That's a crap shoot I wouldn't want to take.

Dave Rodman: As we came to a sane realization with Junior a week or so ago -- the top 35 is not in question with Joey any more, because as Junior needed to do at Vegas, he made something happen. And I think as he piles up the laps, he's only going to get better. To his credit, I think Joey has the focus and determination of a 23-year-old, at least, which is admirable in this day and time. Everybody's still got to get through Bristol, but I think the "expansion" of that race track and the toughness of this car make a poor finish there less of a prospect than it might have been in a bygone time.

David Caraviello: It's quite obvious that the kid is learning on the fly a little bit, especially since he wasn't able to test in the offseason and he made only three Cup starts last year. And that seems just fine with Joe Gibbs Racing and Home Depot, which in the preseason told anybody who'd listen that they weren't putting any expectations on the guy. Of course, his past successes did that for them.

Inauspicious start

• No. 20 smacks wall in practice
• Logano crashes out of 500
• Rookie debut ends in early laps
• Which way will the rookies go?

Bill Kimm: And you guys say I'm the nice one. Look, six career Cup finishes and four of them are 32nd or worse. Coincidence, or not ready to be in the big show? As for expectations, you can be assured Home Depot expects him to make the race.

Dave Rodman: Some things just come with the territory. I think that whole group, from Zippy to the kid to J.D. and Joe and the whole danged crew, has a good perspective on where they are and where they need to be. And really, Logano has only three legitimate Cup starts. Those events last year were for laps and window dressing, so you can't put much stock in 'em.

David Caraviello: I think Joey has shown enough in spots for people to believe that he's going to be OK. Though the idea of matching Tony Stewart's rookie accomplishments -- two wins and a top-12 position in points -- seems a little ambitious at this point. Joey's getting what rookies often don't get anymore, time to find his footing on the sport's top level. Too many kids are thrown into it without adequate preparation, and fired when it doesn't work out. The Gibbs folks are doing this the right way, which is to be expected given the investment they have in the guy.

Dave Rodman: Joey can definitely win, because he has the car, the crew and the raw ability and nerve to get it done. But having said that, there would almost have to be some divine intervention in there somewhere for that to happen. But it could, make no mistake about it.

Bill Kimm: I don't think anyone expected him to match Smoke, but the fact is, he's learning on the fly and the possibility of him falling outside the top 35 is a very real one. And Dave, you're insane. There is no way Logano is winning a Cup race this season. It's not going to happen!

David Caraviello: I wouldn't be shocked to see Joey steal a win somewhere. Zippy and that No. 20 crew know how to get it done. The car is obviously a good one. The driver has shown in spots that he can hang up front with the big boys. The right combination of circumstances unfolds, absolutely he can win.

Dave Rodman: I didn't say he would win, but as my esteemed colleague pointed out, it wouldn't be a total surprise if he did, since he's already executed it against a lot of the same competition in the Nationwide Series.

Bill Kimm: I didn't realize I was doing Track Smack with JGR employees. Jack Roush and David Ragan get criticized for doing the same thing, and for Gibbs and Logano it's all rosy and fine? By the way -- Ragan had a better average finish in his first six Cup races than Logano has.

David Caraviello: When did we ever blast Jack Roush for giving David Ragan time? Now, Ragan caught heat on his own because he was wrecking everyone when he first started out. Logano hasn't done that.

Dave Rodman: Well, Joey has proven every step of the way their decisions have been correct. For better or worse, and assuming everything else has been equal, he's outrun Marc Davis at each level, and -- not to say Marc doesn't have a lot of potential -- but I think Logano has proven the expectations he's been given at every level, has maintained a level head while doing it and thus is a real treat to observe and deal with.

David Caraviello: I propose a Bill Kimm vs. Joey Logano heads-up event this week at Atlanta. Thunder roadsters on the quarter-mile track.

Bill Kimm: If I could drive I wouldn't be here Smackin' with you!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.