Track Smack: Stewart will build on All-Star victory (cont'd)

2. Jeff Gordon underwent a minor procedure to alleviate the pain in his lower back. Will this help him endure the grueling race that is the Coca-Cola 600 or could it possibly end up backfiring on him, so to speak, and make it even more difficult for him to last the 600 miles?

Dave Rodman: Well, if Jeff made it through his charity go-karting deal, and then through Thursday's practice session, he'll have a pretty good idea. I will say this, there are very few people who know exactly how much pain he's been in -- but I would put a lot of money down on Jeff Gordon being maybe one of the best-equipped in the Cup garage to deal with it, persevere through it, and to win despite it.

Joe Menzer: The fact that Gordon felt it was necessary to undergo the procedure so close to this race speaks volumes about how much his back has been bothering him. Anyone who has ever had any kind of back pain has some idea of how painful it is to do much of anything -- let alone sit in a race car and try to drive it at speeds of nearly 200 mph for five hours at a time.

Lessen the pain

In the last few years, Jeff Gordon's back pain has become worse, so the four-time champ had a procedure done Monday to allieviate some of the pain.

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Raygan Swan: Seemingly the procedure, facet block, has little to no side effects. It's just a numbing agent in the joint, either it will work or it won't. But he is already accustomed to driving with back pain. So I don't think it could backfire. The important thing is that he is working out now to help remedy the problem or at least strengthen some other muscles back there.

Joe Menzer: Minor procedure or not, I wonder how much back pain may have contributed to his struggles to win races last season. It certainly could not have helped, that's for sure.

Dave Rodman: The hardest thing about it might be having to think about it all the time and trying to avoid doing things that would aggravate it. As simple as that seems, I bet it's not.

Raygan Swan: I recall Kasey Kahne talking about back pain as well a couple seasons ago and he had a special seat made. His was disc-related and his back would swell, I believe, so these problems are not uncommon for drivers.

Dave Rodman: I could see it taking the better part of a season to work out exactly how to deal with it. But if it was an issue -- and assuming it's not gotten better, in fact, it's gotten worse to hear Jeff talk about it -- his results this season show he has made the necessary adjustments. Like Jeff said, it was only during cautions where he even noticed it. While they're under green, baby, drivers at this level can focus. At least most of 'em can.

Joe Menzer: Well, I'm certainly not going to compare myself to Jeff Gordon (I weigh a little more). But to put this in perspective, I know when I had back pain about 18 months ago, one of the things they told me was NOT to sit in the same position for longer than like 30 minutes at a time. If you did, it risked causing spasms. Now can you imagine having back spasms while driving a race car at high speeds? I can't.

Raygan Swan: It would be nice if NASCAR could implement a therapy room or get a trainer.

Dave Rodman: Motor Racing Outreach had that at race tracks each week -- does that facility and those people not travel with the series any more?

Raygan Swan: No Dave, they no longer get the donations for it. And now the wives don't have a place to work out either and only a handful of tracks have gyms.

Joe Menzer: I'm sure he can get whatever treatment he needs at any track -- whether it's provided by NASCAR or not. Remember when Elliott Sadler hurt his back last year and was in danger of missing the race at Martinsville because he could barely walk the day before? He flew in his own doctor and got it worked out so he could race.

Raygan Swan: You're right Joe, these drivers have personal chefs even. Of course they could fly their own docs down but what about a place they could get treatment before the race like NFL players?

Dave Rodman: We forget -- but I bet they don't -- that these are professional athletes who have the ability and the contacts to get whatever done that they need to do their jobs. Not like us ordinary guys who have to plan and prepare and in a lot of cases, scrimp and save to make this stuff happen.

Joe Menzer: The saddest thing of all is that this no doubt is adversely affecting Jeff's ability to play golf on the Wii video gaming system in his motorcoach!

Dave Rodman: I thought he was a tennis buff?

Raygan Swan: I thought he liked to ride his bike and that is what irritated his back problem a bit.

Dave Rodman: So it's a cinch he's not joining Carl for his ride across Missouri later this summer?

Raygan Swan: Ha, right Dave.

Joe Menzer: He loves the Wii tennis, and said he has found a way to "flick his wrist" to play that game on the Wii without aggravating his back. But hey, if the "facet block" works its magic, he could be playing Wii golf -- and maybe even a little Dodgeball, or whatever else he wants -- in no time. He might just win a race, too. And I'm not talking about just on the Wii system.

Dave Rodman: If he can pick up Ella with no limits that would be the best payoff of all. (Continued)