Smack: Grading the 2009 season at halfway mark

1. It's the mid-season off week, so it's time for a report card. Biggest surprises and disappointments on NASCAR's national levels thus far?

Raygan Swan: If you ask me, the obvious disappointment might be Dale Earnhardt Jr., but the largest spanning disappointment has to be the drivers at Roush. Carl Edwards has yet to win. David Ragan was predicted to be in the Chase this year, and he's nowhere close with only one top-10 finish thus far.

Joe Menzer: Well, obviously Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing get a big fat A on the mid-term report card, which rates as a major surprise. And Mark Martin, even despite early struggles, also is a huge surprise with a series-high four wins.

David Caraviello: No question the surprise is the sustained strength of Stewart-Haas Racing. People knew they'd be good, but this good? Win the championship out of the box good? I don't know about that. And as for disappointment, it's hard to say it given all Richard has devoted to this sport, but it's kind of shocking to see where Richard Childress Racing is right now.

Joe Menzer: I guess I have to give Martin an A- only because of the early struggles, most of which were due to uncharacteristic parts failures and bad racing luck not of his doing. Junior is the biggest disappointment, followed by RCR only because Matt Kenseth won two right out of the box for Roush Fenway.

David Caraviello: I know Joe loves to hammer on Dale Jr. and Ragan, but given where RCR was the past two years -- three cars in the Chase -- and given where they are now, to me the fall is kind of stunning. Ragan was still something of an unknown quantity, and we all knew Junior had the potential to be up and down. But we thought RCR was a rock.

Raygan Swan: Yeah David, I do feel bad for Richard Childress. He is my older-man crush. But I can't believe Kevin Harvick will likely miss the Chase this year after making it three years in a row! And while I hate to pick on Casey Mears, I still think going to four cars was a bad idea.

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Joe Menzer: Raygs likes RC because they both share an affinity for shooting guns!

Raygan Swan: Yes sir!

David Caraviello: And Harvick's not just going to miss the Chase, Raygan, he's going to miss it by a mile. Jeff Burton seems to get caught up in another accident every week. Clint Bowyer started strong and couldn't sustain it. Casey Mears has been a non-factor. This from a shop that has prided itself on completing laps and consistency. I mean, it wasn't too long ago when Harvick had the longest streak without a DNF in the sport. No more.

Joe Menzer: And wait a minute, Caraviello, I don't love to hammer on Junior. But he's obviously been a huge disappointment this year. Just calling it like it is. And I haven't said anything about Ragan -- yet. And I believe the longest streak without a DNF belonged to Bowyer, by the way.

Raygan Swan: Bowyer had a great thing going with Gil Martin and that 07 team.

David Caraviello: Oh, but I know the David Ragan comments are coming. Something about this year being a disaster if they didn't win and make the Chase? Finish the thought for me, Joe.

Joe Menzer: Now that you brought David Ragan up, though, you have to admit that both he and Jamie McMurray were widely looked upon as guys who were expected to have breakout years, win races, and challenge for the Chase. Neither is close. This is what galls me -- those expectations were placed on David Ragan by Ragan himself and Jack Roush. Both said the season would be a major disappointment if those things didn't happen.

Raygan Swan: David Ragan, sure, but Jamie Mac? Really?

Joe Menzer: Jamie Mac, really. Go back and look, guys. Coming into the year, everyone was talking him up and pointing to how strong he finished last year. What is he? 19th or 20th in points? Or about 10 ahead of David Ragan? I guess that's the same.

David Caraviello: Actually, Harvick had the longest active no-DNF streak at 81 ... and then Bowyer passed him with 83. Either way, goes to show you how rock-solid the RCR organization has historically been. And if we're talking about disappointments, Kyle Busch called himself out last weekend in Chicago. Yes, the dude has three wins and he should make the Chase. Most guys would take that. But Kyle knows what that group is truly capable of, and they haven't really approached that potential this year.

Joe Menzer: RCR has indeed been strong in starting what they finish and playing the points game well. But the fact is, they've struggled to win races for three years in a row.

David Caraviello: They have, Joe. But there's a big difference between struggling to win races, and being 25th in points like Harvick is now.

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Raygan Swan: RCR at least had consistency last season and in the seasons before.

Joe Menzer: RCR won a total of three races -- by three different drivers -- in 2007, followed by three last year (two by Jeff Burton, one by Bowyer). And they have yet to win this year. Harvick's winless streak is up to what now? Eighty-nine?

Raygan Swan: The 2007 Daytona 500 was his last win.

Joe Menzer: Yep. So to be honest, this has been a long-running problem that only has gotten worse this year.

David Caraviello: Yeah, it's getting up there. Now there is a published report that Harvick is looking to leave, although I don't know how solid that is. But combine the Cup performance with losing the manufacturing backing for his Truck and Nationwide teams, and this has been one tough season on Happy.

Joe Menzer: Getting back to the original question, though, if you want to talk surprises, how about Juan Montoya being ninth in points at the halfway point? At least he's happy. And we covered Stewart-Haas as a whole, but don't forget to mention Ryan Newman being seventh in points. That's a major surprise, too. And Kurt Busch has been stronger than even he seems to realize when he's complaining about his car all the time. Or Jimmie Johnson running into him.

David Caraviello: Ouch. Wonder if we're going to see Part IV of that saga next week at Indy. (Continued)