Smack: Toyota's big gain, Chevy's loss, Hall at a draw

1. Martin Truex has announced he's joining Michael Waltrip Racing as of next year. Can Truex expect to enjoy greater success at MWR than he did at Dale Earnhardt Inc.?

David Caraviello: Well, if "greater" means equaling or surpassing his one career race win, maybe. It's a step up, no question. The Waltrip team has made some moves in the right direction, and this was one of them. But given the somewhat stagnant situation at Earnhardt, it would be difficult for him to do worse than where he was.

Duane Cross: Overall success -- yes. I think MWR is moving forward (no pun, Toyota) while Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's pace has slowed considerably during the past few years. The fact that Michael was able to sign Martin to a multi-year deal speaks volumes for the team.

Joe Menzer: I think so. Even though he only won one race in his time at DEI -- and made one Chase, in which he finished 11th in 2007 -- he could be a fairly consistent challenger for wins and a Chase spot if MWR continues to improve.

David Caraviello: Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. No question, we saw when DEI was at its height what Martin was capable of. No question, MWR is better. But a lot of things need to work out. I'll take a wait-and-see attitude on this one.

Joe Menzer: The thing about Martin to remember is that he won the Nationwide Series in '04 and '05. The dude was poised to take a step forward in Cup just when then-DEI imploded, more or less.

Duane Cross: MWR needed to get a young driver in the seat. Michael proved, in this case, he's a shrewd businessman. Now it's a matter of keeping the momentum that David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose have. It's a long-haul venture, not a sprint.

David Caraviello: Again, we know, given the right combination of factors, that Truex can drive. No one is doubting that. But the guy kind of got rooked by timing. You wonder how he would fare in a top-level ride like, say, a fourth car at Richard Childress Racing. But the timing didn't work out for that.

Duane Cross: I'd also contend DEI/EGR is a long-haul venture. The folks over there -- specifically Teresa Earnhardt -- are going to continue to catch crap for "letting Driver X go" in the wake of Dale Jr. -- but they have business-savvy folks in place and will rebound eventually. One thing we should not lose sight of is that Martin is joining a team with factory support -- something the Chevy teams do not have right now.

Joe Menzer: Interesting that you mention Marcos Ambrose. I sat next to Jody Geschickter of JTG/Daugherty Racing at the MWR luncheon announcement Tuesday -- and even though the MWR folks talk like it's a done deal, there are still some details to be worked out to make sure Ambrose and JTG/Daugherty run out of the MWR shop next season and perhaps beyond. I think they will, but it's not quite a done deal yet.

David Caraviello: Joe, what are their other options? I don't think they can exactly field that Cup operation out of their own shop. And their Nationwide team is struggling for sponsorship. They clearly need to align with somebody, and the MWR thing is working for them.

Another brick ...

By signing Martin Truex Jr. to drive for his team, Michael Waltrip is proving one thing as a car owner: He's pretty smart from the business side.

• Complete story, click here
• Truex to drive for MWR in '10

Duane Cross: Again, I believe MWR is business-savvy enough to realize Ambrose's value. The deal will get signed, though maybe with a few more dollars in the JTG/Daugherty column.

Joe Menzer: Like I said regarding Ambrose, they're fairly sure they'll be back at MWR and the MWR folks certainly talk that way, but the way Ambrose is driving the wheels off, they might just be marketable enough to have other options. And um, David, did you just imply that the fourth car at RCR is "a top-level ride" right now? Not so sure about that.

David Caraviello: Historically, Joe, it is. Richard hasn't won all those races by accident. A one-year dip doesn't obscure the fact that RCR is one of the top organizations in the garage. MWR isn't there -- they may get there, they may not. That's what I meant.

Joe Menzer: I think you could open a legitimate debate and say it's it better to be in car No. 2 at MWR vs. car No. 4 at RCR right now -- and I think I'd take car No. 2 at MWR.

David Caraviello: Oh boy, Joe's drinking before noon again.

Duane Cross: The car-owner pecking order will not be shuffled for another 12 to 18 months, but certainly MWR is making inroads on chipping into the upper echelons of the sport. I'd take the Nos. 1 or 2 rides at MWR over the No. 4 car at RCR 24/7. In the long run, I mean.

David Caraviello: OK, this is not meant to be a shot at MWR. They really are doing everything right over there right now. But you've got to show me more than one rain-shortened race win before you start ranking MWR right behind Hendrick and Roush in the garage pecking order.

Joe Menzer: David, things don't always stay the same in the Cup garage. In my crystal ball, which isn't clouded by alcohol (at least not this early in the day), I see the Toyota-funded teams rising over the next two years. Last time I checked, MWR was not only backed by Toyota but has solid sponsorship in place for their two teams -- plus assuming the arrangement continues with Ambrose, that team is solid, too, both on performance and sponsorship. I'm not saying MWR is there already -- but they're coming.

David Caraviello: Did I miss something? Did MWR just hire Richard Petty, circa 1968?

Duane Cross: Dude, clean your glasses, wipe the sleep out of your eyes -- we're saying the signing of Truex is another brick in the foundation. It's going to be another 12 to 18 months, but MWR is on the move up -- and Toyota's backing, combined with GM's problems, will lessen that gap considerably.

Joe Menzer: Thank you, Boss Man. Sometimes David likes to pick on me. He's cranky after 18 hours in the Akron-Canton Airport earlier this week.

Duane Cross: Ha -- I guess I would be, too! But I have to draw the line at picking on the elderly.

David Caraviello: I'll give you the brick-in-the-wall bit. I'll give you that Truex is a driving talent who has been underused, that MWR has made great leaps forward, that manufacturer and sponsorship support are all in place. Not arguing any of that. But over the next five years or so, I still think it's going to be tough for MWR to trump historically successful teams that have been in the garage for decades.

Joe Menzer: The Toyotas are coming, man. The Toyotas are coming.

David Caraviello: Joe Menzer has been inhabited by the ghost of Jack Roush.

Joe Menzer: Well, we are about the same age -- or at least you guys seem to think. (Continued)