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.

2. Did Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. deserve stiffer penalties for their run-in Saturday night in Phoenix?

Joe Menzer: Nah. I didn't see this as that big of a deal. Probably the only reason it's being discussed so much is because one of the players involved is Dale Jr.

David Caraviello: Of course not. This stuff is childish to be sure, but far from worthy of NASCAR "lowering the boom," like some said they would. I believe this is exactly what Edwards and Kyle Busch received for a similar incident last year at Bristol -- probation. And we all know what probation means in NASCAR. Virtually nothing.

Law in own hands?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn't happy with Casey Mears and let him know it on the cool-down lap. Should NASCAR have set penalties for such infractions?

• Complete story
• Your turn: Weigh in
• Video: Junior spins Mears
• Both drivers get probation

Dave Rodman: If there's a simple way of checking the progression of penalties for pit road assaults, that's the only way to tell if this one was consistent. And as long as everyone understands that Mears is on probation for running after Earnhardt and banging into the back of his car on pit road -- not for spinning him out -- no harm, no foul. Move on.

David Caraviello: Joe hits the nail on the head. Junior is involved in a meaningless fracas, and it turns into Watergate. If he's not part of this, nobody cares.

Joe Menzer: Wow. DC2 is saying I'm right. That happens about as often as my wife tells me I'm right about something.

Dave Rodman: Hmmm. I think we've all been right once or twice of late.

David Caraviello: Well, Joe, given that you have that invasive root canal scheduled for later today, I decided to be nice. And I must say, deciding against anesthesia is quite a manly thing to do.

Joe Menzer: Well, being that I'm working the race this weekend at Talladega, I do think it's worth following up with the two guys to see what they say and see if there are any lingering anger issues. But I doubt there will be. And then, as Roadman said, it will be time to move on. And speaking of Talladega, I always like to get a good teeth cleaning in before I go down there. You want to be able to fit in with the crowd.

David Caraviello: Joe, those shiny bicuspids will surely mark you as an outsider. That, and the fact that you won't be wearing beads shaped like human body parts. Back to the topic at hand, we love Junior Nation and all, but sometimes they really need to dial it back. Amazing how quickly somebody like Casey Mears -- as nice a guy as there is -- can be elevated to public enemy No. 1. It really is a "with us or against us" kind of thing.

Joe Menzer: With all these fancy terms you're throwing out, maybe you should have gone to dental school.

Dave Rodman: But you know, race drivers never forget. This may rear its head back up somewhere, sometime. So never go to sleep on it. And Talladega is the only track on the circuit where every cavity on your vehicle is searched for weapons. Front seat. Back seat. Glove box. Console. Trunk. Makes you feel like an extra in "Cool Hand Luke."

Joe Menzer: One of the greatest movies of all time.

David Caraviello: Well, I wouldn't go quite that far. But back to the issue. Funny how everyone wants drivers to be all emotional and everything, and then when something like this happens, they want to crucify somebody because their guy was on the wrong end. Can't have it both ways. And the truth of the matter is that Junior was way loose at Phoenix before Mears got to him. Of course, Mears most certainly did get to him.

Joe Menzer: I see very little wrong with a little post-race antics like what happened with Edwards and Kyle Busch at Bristol last year, or what happened with Junior and Mears. Shows they're human and have emotions. It's like arguing with an umpire occasionally in baseball.

Dave Rodman: Well, they should be happy he got emotional and then only got six races' probation. Or are you saying they're disgruntled because he got spun out?

David Caraviello: I'm saying many in the fan base claim to want one thing, and then raise a fuss when it actually happens and their guy is involved. They want action. They want rubbing and racing and bent fenders. They want emotion and controversy. Oh, but just keep my guy out of it! Sorry, doesn't work that way.

Joe Menzer: There is nothing wrong with occasionally allowing fans to see a little of that passion that boils from within. They love it, and it reminds us all of how deeply these guys care about doing well. But again, if Junior is not involved in what happened last Saturday, this is a mere footnote. Remember that when Carl and KB did it at Bristol, they had been fighting for the lead. Totally different and more relevant to the big picture that day.

Dave Rodman: Except the consequences can be much more serious -- and I think that's what the penalties are designed to preclude, or decrease. What they ought to do is brief these guys that under no circumstance will they detach or remove any of their safety gear until the place is completely quiet.

David Caraviello: That's right. Make 'em wear full helmets until post-race inspection is complete. Of course, that would make interviews a little difficult.

Dave Rodman: But as if we didn't know, it indicates the massive burden an underachieving Junior carries. Again, he had reached a point where he wasn't running half-badly, thanks to finagling some track position, and all of a sudden he's in the wall. It figures Casey says he overdrove the corner when the lap before, Junior made a great tail-out save of a truly evil car coming off Turn 4.

Joe Menzer: Hey, Mears was high-tailing it to another great 20th-place finish.

David Caraviello: Watch out, Joe. You'll have the Mears bunch on you now.

3. Time for Talladega. What are the odds that Tony Stewart becomes the first driver-owner to win since Ricky Rudd did it in 1998?

David Caraviello: Oh goodness gracious. It's Talladega. Who knows? Pick a number out of a hat. Seriously, did anyone have Regan Smith in the pool last fall? Something tells me no.

Joe Menzer: It's always a crapshoot at 'Dega, but I like Tony's chances. He has been building momentum for several weeks now and knows what he's doing at the place where so many others don't. So if he can stay out of trouble and be there at the end ... And, um, Regan Smith didn't win last year, remember? Or at least NASCAR said so.

Stewart and Newman

Talladega Cup stats

	T. Stewart	R. Newman
Races	20	14
Wins	1	0
Top-fives	9	3
Top-10s	12	6
Avg. Start	16.8	14.1
Avg. Finish	13.3	19.6
DNFs	4	4

David Caraviello: No question Tony has been very good there for a long time, and should have more wins to show for it (though some would claim he hasn't won there yet). Tony also knows how to manage that draft, often staying near the back and out of trouble until money time.

Dave Rodman: Now mentioning Ricky Rudd brings back a pleasant blast from the past. But to stay on topic, I'd say that if you take into consideration just how crazy Talladega is, with the progression Stewart has been exercising lately, and his competitive history at both Talladega and Daytona, I'd say this is the most likely spot yet for a Stewart-Haas score.

David Caraviello: He's going to get one somewhere, and soon. There are just so many unknowns at Talladega, though. Some back marker rides the draft to the front, makes an ill-advised move, and it's all over.

Joe Menzer: For the record, I thought NASCAR made the right call on the Regan Smith deal last year. I have said so and will continue to say so. And I will go on record right now as saying I think Tony will finish ahead of young Regan again this week.

David Caraviello: Yes Joe, I think Regan will miss that Earnhardt power, which is always good on restrictor-plate tracks.

Dave Rodman: I'll tell you what would be some stuff, is if Ryan Newman gives Stewart-Haas its first victory. It could happen, very easily.

David Caraviello: Doesn't Ryan merely tolerate Talladega? Hasn't he bashed the place in the past? I want to think he's been in more than his share of Big Ones there, and they've left a sour taste in his mouth.

Joe Menzer: Poor Regan Smith, by the way. Wins rookie of the year and then has to struggle to find a quality full-time ride. I mean, who doesn't love the guys at Furniture Row Racing, but you're limited in what you can accomplish with them.

Dave Rodman: But with Furniture Row, he has Hendrick power, and if you haven't noticed, that team has performed a million miles out of the box. A part-time operation is not supposed to contend the way they've contended in every race they've come to, and at Phoenix their pit crew badly let Regan down. But as we all know, they're in good company on that score, this season.

Last-lap dash

The last race at Talladega saw Tony Stewart win in a controversial finish. What does this spring's race hold in store?

• Video: Talladega preview
• By the Numbers: 'Dega
• Power Rankings: 'Dega
• Video: Talladega track facts
• Menzer: Is Smoke next to win?

Joe Menzer: Of course, if I think back on it, didn't they win the pole last year at one of the 'Dega races with Front Row Joe Nemechek behind the wheel for them?

David Caraviello: I will agree with Dave, the Furniture Row team has improved. Not to the point where they can seriously contend, but they are clearly better than they were last year. Still, that's not the kind of place a reigning rookie of the year figures he's going to wind up.

Joe Menzer: Getting back to Tony and his new team, I think even Mr. Stewart is floored by how well they've gotten out of the gate. He said the other day that he believes this is the best start of his Cup career, and that's saying something. The wins can't be far behind -- and, yes, I mean plural.

Dave Rodman: And to backtrack, Newman showed he could manage the draft pretty effectively to win at Daytona. If patience rules, who knows what will happen. It seems to me their pit crews have been pretty consistently solid. I know Tony's praise has flowed on that subject. And the reason I mention Newman beating Stewart was so that we could see the latest chapter in "Tony the team owner," which has created a more consistently balanced Tony in public while not lessening his effectiveness behind the wheel one bit.

David Caraviello: No question about that. Talk about another team benefitting from Hendrick engines, as Dave mentioned earlier. They're done everything right to this point, and Tony has juggled his dual roles admirably. He's been able to do what a lot of people can't -- delegate.

Joe Menzer: Whatever "assistance" Hendrick is now giving Stewart-Haas ought to be the same kind of "assistance" that Roush Fenway ultimately starts giving to Yates Racing -- and perhaps that No. 26 team if they have to be cut from the main organization. And I think that may be what you start to see. But of course, the difference there is that at Yates, they don't currently have the driver star power to attract the same kind of sponsorship money that the boys at Stewart-Haas do.

David Caraviello: Now Joe, that is quite a segue. Go get those choppers shined up. Talladega awaits!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.