Smack: NASCAR took the easy way out on schedule (cont'd)

2. Will Richard Petty Motorsports' move to Ford make that organization more competitive in 2010?

Joe Menzer: Well, sadly, I think we all have to admit that RPM is a mess right now. It's a real credit to Kasey Kahne and that No. 9 team that they've done so well and are in the Chase despite all the stuff swirling around them at Mergers-R-Us.

David Caraviello: I can't see how it wouldn't help. Roush-Yates engines are a proven commodity. Although Roush Fenway hasn't won since February, Fords over the long haul have proven more competitive than Dodges. And if Roush builds RPM's chassis -- which seems a distinct possibility -- Richard Petty's drivers will be in pretty good stuff.

Dave Rodman: OK. I'm not exactly doing the math here -- or the stats -- but it seems to me that Yates two years ago, with Kvapil and Gilliland, was better than they are now, so the Roush-Yates chassis and engine connection isn't a given for success. RPM has one guy who's seemed to figure it out, but that's it.

Bye-bye Dodge

Richard Petty Motorsports will merge operations with Yates Racing and switch to Ford in the 2010 season.

• Complete story
• Kahne back with Ford
• Audio: King moving to Ford
• Audio: Petty, Yates merging

David Caraviello: Is that a matter of their cars, or their driver stable? Hey, nobody's pounding on Elliott Sadler and A.J. Allmendinger here. But is Kahne just so good that he can sort of rise above all of this? Or does he have something figured out that everybody else doesn't?

Joe Menzer: I tend to agree with Roadman on this one. Sorry, DC2. But here you have one driver and car -- Kahne in the aforementioned No. 9 -- who has done well. One with seemingly good potential in Allmendinger who has yet to really show consistent results for it. And then two guys in Paul Menard and Elliott Sadler who probably should be replaced, but won't be (because Menard brings his Dad's sponsorship dough and Sadler has one more year left on his contract).

Dave Rodman: I think Penske has proven the Dodge stuff can run, and be pretty darned competitive. We're not behind closed doors, so how financially strapped RPM might really be is unknown to us. And even with competitive chassis and the best engines in the world, lack of finance will doom you in this league. I think Kasey and Kenny Francis have proven when things are right, they are easily among the top five combinations in the sport, period. I swore when A.J. got dumped by Red Bull they'd live to regret it, and I still believe it -- he needs some consistency and this is another disruption. And ESad didn't forget how to drive overnight. So this might be another building year.

David Caraviello: Wait a minute. You have a company in Roush Fenway that, in all honesty, is having a tough time this year. But nine years out of 10, they're going to win a bunch of races and contend for titles. And you're telling me it's not going to help RPM to be associated with them? Please. These are the same Smackers who habitually rip Penske for underachieving, and now they're the gold standard? Let's take the long view here, people.

Joe Menzer: OK, now I have to tee off on Roadman. I knew I couldn't agree with him for long. How has Penske shown they can be all the competitive with the Dodge? Because Kurt Busch won one race about four months ago and is seventh in the Chase seeding? When he was as high as second in points not all that long ago? What has Sam Hornish Jr. done? Or David Stremme, for goodness sakes? Penske has been a disappointment again this year, unless Kurt gets on a roll in the Chase -- which isn't likely.

Dave Rodman: I think Paul could be considered an "NBA project." As Larry Carter said a year ago at Phoenix, to him he hadn't proven he couldn't do it, unlike a number of other competitors in the Cup garage. I think he's shown slow and steady improvement, and he's proven most of the places he's been he can win, so I'd say he's not the weakest link.

Joe Menzer: I think you are nuts with that overly optimistic view of Paul Menard's career and potential at the Cup level.

David Caraviello: I'm sorry, did you just say that Paul Menard has proven he can win in most places? Did I miss something? Paul's a good kid, and no question, he's making the most of what he's got. But let's not turn him into A.J. Foyt all of the sudden.

Joe Menzer: I'm not even sure he's making the most of what he's got!

David Caraviello: Well, that may be a little harsh. This doesn't need to turn into Menard Smack. And no question, there's a little chaos over at RPM right now. Who's in charge? Nobody knows. They made an announcement last week and then seemed to go out of their way not to talk about it. I have the impression this is very much a work in progress. But I cannot imagine that they won't be better in the long run because of an association with Ford and Roush.

Dave Rodman: Wow, Joe. I think the Kurtster has run much better than he has finished. They needed to step up at Richmond and they did. Sam Hornish Jr., for his non-stock car background and big lack of experience in Cup cars has been pretty good the last two months, through my glasses. Stremme has virtually no competition experience in these cars. They were running better than they were finishing early in the year, but they have leveled out, so that's indecisive. Menard won at the touring level and he's won in the Nationwide Series. In my opinion he's progressing and that's cause for hope, that's all.

Joe Menzer: No doubt Hornish has gotten better and Stremme has been better of late. But this is a bottom-line business. Penske has lots of money and resources. They have one guy in the Chase, and he is not coming into it with much positive momentum. That's the bottom line.

David Caraviello: And besides, Richard said one reason they switched was because all the Dodge money was going to Penske. That may not be completely accurate, but if it's even close, I'd be bolting, too.

Dave Rodman: There's no question it's a financial decision, and it'll play best for Roger, if he's now in position to get all the Dodge money -- whatever that amounts to. And I don't think, as I think I pointed out, that a manufacturer switch will be an instant fix or a cure-all for everything. If the cars are as alike as they allegedly are, Kahne will still be the team leader and the best the other three can hope for initially is to maintain the level they're at.

Joe Menzer: We've gotten way off track on the original question. I guess my big-picture answer would be that I guess Ford will be better than Dodge for RPM, but it's not going to be a cure-all for an organization that is fighting lots of inner turmoil. I think that was an organization once built mostly on loyalty and continuity -- when it was truly Petty Enterprises. That all changed with the first Boston Ventures deal, then the merger with Gillett, and now this. Too much change, too fast. Now they have no real true identity. No matter how much they plaster Richard's face on the front of the company, they are struggling to establish their true identity to where they can move forward as a solid, committed organization in the way Stewart-Haas did.

Dave Rodman: But Stewart-Haas has way better drivers, and better personnel across the board in the critical spots.

David Caraviello: And that little Hendrick connection doesn't hurt, either. (Continued)