Track Smack: Time is a tickin' on Roush Fenway

1. At some point Jack Roush has to shed a car to meet NASCAR's four-team limit, and speculation has centered on Jamie McMurray. What should the championship car owner do?

David Caraviello: It's just an odd situation. You talk to NASCAR, and they seem to hold a very firm line on this. You talk to Roush, and they seem like it's all going to work itself out. We still don't know what exactly is going to happen.

Dave Rodman: Since he has a satellite-team-in-waiting, Yates Racing, there is no hurry on Jack's part. Of course, some in the media have no such compulsions.

Joe Menzer: The thing we all have to remember is that the economic climate of the sport has changed dramatically from when the rule was put in. NASCAR will find a place for a fully-funded car from a major sponsor, and yes, it probably would be at Yates Racing.

Dave Rodman: If you think about it, the 26 has kind of always been Roush's stepchild car, so if one has to get parceled out, it's the most expendable. And Yates has two spots to spare -- though I bet their first priority would be reviving the 28 car.

David Caraviello: Still, it won't seem this simple to whatever driver gets moved over. It's going to feel like a demotion, given that the goal at Roush is to win races and get into the Chase, and the goal at Yates is to try and crack the top 10. That's a significant difference.

Dave Rodman: Well, look at it this way. The situation is years old, and nothing about it has changed. The end of 2009 is a long ways off. Whatever someone's deadline is, it should earn a little bit of respect, but the "public's right to know" rarely lets that rest. OK, pardon me while I go puke.

Joe Menzer: The first priority for Yates will be whatever Jack tells them is their first priority, especially if he offers them up a car with a primary sponsor in place. But the end of 2009 is not so far away, my friend. It will be upon us -- and all of these race teams -- faster than it may now seem. I think that's especially true if you're planning something as huge as shutting down and/or moving a team.

Getting to know you

There's so much more Jamie McMurray focuses on than pesky rumors about his future -- he's got a wedding to plan.

• Five things about ... McMurray
• Garage Pass: McMurray out?
• Five cars: Roush yes, sport no

Dave Rodman: To me, the far more relevant issue right now is when Michael Waltrip will make a decision on what he's going do in 2010. He started out like gangbusters, but has rolled off the edge of the earth, lately -- and he might be biased, but Robby Gordon sounded at Phoenix like he already knew what Mikey's decision was going be.

Joe Menzer: I could be mean here and say something like, since when is Mikey relevant -- whoops, did I say that out loud? Actually, I think Waltrip is starting to realize he might be better at this ownership thing than he is at actually driving the car. And that's OK.

David Caraviello: No offense to Michael, but MWR isn't exactly a two-time championship organization with three bona fide title contenders like Roush Fenway. Somebody is almost certainly going to get moved from that group before the beginning of next season, and regardless of what Jack says, the clock is ticking. It's completely within reason to ask about that.

Dave Rodman: Where those dominoes fall will be determined by whose contracts are up or extended, and ditto for the sponsors. But Yates is a pretty comfy safety net. But the bottom line on that might be chemical balance, and who can adjust best to what these sensitive drivers might take as a "demotion" from the primary team -- even though it's all the same stuff.

David Caraviello: I think speculation has focused on Jamie here because he's in a contract year. You have to think Kenseth, Edwards and Biffle, the three rocks of that organization, are safe. So common sense would tell you that it comes down to McMurray or David Ragan, and that No. 6 team just inked a new sponsor last year.

Joe Menzer: You are assuming that if a car -- and just for argument's sake let's say it's the 26 -- makes that switch, it will not receive the same type of technical support, etc. that it is receiving now. I think perhaps it will be a switch of teams mostly in name only.

David Caraviello: Really, Joe? So you think drivers would willingly make the move? I mean, we'll see, but Yates gets a lot of stuff from Roush now, and they're not exactly contending for race wins.

Joe Menzer: I believe Jack is confident that a way can be found to keep that car competitive and "under his umbrella" while still letting NASCAR save face and make it look like on the surface that they are enforcing the rule. In this economy, NASCAR cannot afford to make life too difficult for fully-funded cars. (Continued)