Smack: Evaluating the ups, downs after an early break (cont'd)

3. Brothers Kyle and Kurt Busch have won the last two Sprint Cup races. Given their success at Bristol, can they make it three in a row?

David Caraviello: Absolutely. I like Kyle in this race a lot. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten last year's tete-a-tete with Carl Edwards in the fall event at Bristol, and the way that race ended. The kid is really good there, so I think a Busch three-peat is definitely a possibility.

Joe Menzer: Certainly, they could. Both have won there. Kurt multiple times, in fact. Don't forget, too, that they combined to win three races in a row at one point last year. So they definitely could get it done.

Ranking brothers

Kyle and Kurt Busch are obviously a talented duo, but they aren't the best brother combination in NASCAR ... yet.

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Dave Rodman: They sure can. This is picking up to be a really fascinating race season. I was reading some message boards and people were taking the networks to task for not keeping them up with the field. These cats (out in TV land) need to launch Live Leaderboard on NASCAR.COM. They'll get an education in running orders, lap times, position differentials and race watching, by God.

Joe Menzer: Nice plug for the home office, Roadman. You tryin' to get another raise?

David Caraviello: Rodman, bringing the fire and the brimstone! I think the TV guys do a nice job, for the most part, although they have tended to sugar-coat some things this year.

Dave Rodman: Sorry for getting off-track with a shameless plug. The Busches are a pair who can contend anywhere -- at least Kurt could when his stuff is right to his liking -- and Pat Tryson and the boys are delivering. Kyle, actually, is not gonna contend everywhere, as Atlanta proved. But they have both won at Bristol, though Kurt will have to prove he can do it with this car, on the current track. But I think he can.

Joe Menzer: Any number of guys could emerge victorious at Bristol, of course. But I'm going to go out on a limb here. I'm not picking Junior, I'm not picking either of the Busch brothers. I'm picking Cousin Carl Edwards.

Dave Rodman: To skip back, Joe, I was citing the fans' harpooning of the network guys. They certainly have faults, but failing to keep me abreast of what's going on isn't one of them. Since I've made the mistake of participating in two fantasy deals -- one of them for money -- I'm all too painfully aware of where everyone is at any moment.

David Caraviello: I think people underestimate how good Kurt is, because the last few years have been kind of lean over at Penske, and because his championship came in the first year of the Chase. But this is still a guy with as many career race wins as Davey Allison, Buddy Baker and Fonty Flock. And more wins than Geoffrey Bodine, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Harry Gant, Ernie Irvan and Tim Richmond. That's pretty strong company.

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Joe Menzer: He also has one more career win now than Matt Kenseth, I believe, after Matt had surged to tie him following those two opening-season salvos. Kurt also obviously has been overshadowed in the last year by Kyle, whose rise has not only been mercurial but also, at least from time to time, controversial enough as to be unforgettable.

Dave Rodman: Kurt has a way of rubbing a lot of people the wrong way. That's what makes his success this season even cooler, because his guys continue to take a little bit of a beating sometimes (on the radio) and they don't hesitate a bit when it comes to supporting their guy when it counts. Ditto with Kyle at Las Vegas. You have to look past the surface, just like there's a lot of slag on the surface of most gold mines.

David Caraviello: Yes, he has been overshadowed by his little brother, and to his credit doesn't seem to mind. People forget that Kurt won four out of five races at Bristol at one point. He loves the place.

Dave Rodman: Joe, I think Carl is flat desperate to make it happen in the Cup race this weekend. If you had asked him if he wouldn't have won through four races, he and Bob Osborne would have looked at you funny and said, "No freaking way."

Joe Menzer: Here's the thing: even though Kurt is careful to say all the right things about Kyle and all the attention Kyle has received over the last year or so, I think it does bother him to a degree. I think it possibly motivates him as well, which is not a bad thing.

Dave Rodman: I don't think it bothers him. It seems to me I read a quote recently from back about five years ago where Kurt was saying words to the effect of "wait until you see my little brother ..." At least, I think it was Kurt that said it. I think he loves him and loves his success -- but yes, it's mighty powerful motivation.

Joe Menzer: And Carl, as Roadman so duly noted, is motivated to go for the win, too. That's what all these guys, Junior included, need to have engraved on their brains.

David Caraviello: That is the Coach Menzer Way. Failure is not an option! Lose and no ice cream, kids!

Joe Menzer: No pizza, either, dang it!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.