Junior leads list of drivers who need to step up in '10

1. We all know Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had a miserable season. But other than him, which driver who disappointed in 2009 needs to step it up next year?

David Caraviello: Clearly, it goes unsaid that Junior heads this category. He can't endure another year like this one, not at Hendrick, not while three teammates are all vying for the title. But if I had to pick another driver, it would have to be Kevin Harvick. The guy hasn't won in a while, and he wants out at RCR, and he needs to show people he's still the top-flight driver we all think he is.

Dave Rodman: As most questions of this ilk are, very complicated. Step up for personal satisfaction? Step up to stay in a ride? Step up to stay in the series? So all of those do figure in. Thanks for diverting me. Harvick's a complicated one. To me, he's proven who he is and what he can do, so I'd eliminate him because I feel if he's leaving, he already knows where he's going.

Duane Cross: This could take a while -- pick an RCR driver; the Roush guys have struggled; Brian Vickers made the Chase and then disappeared. If I had to narrow it down to one, it would be Kevin Harvick. He needs to step up and lead the RCR team even if it is his final season with the No. 29.

David Caraviello: Duane, I agree, you could pick any RCR driver. But Harvick drives the flagship vehicle, and he's also placed a lot of the onus on RCR for the struggles of the No. 29 car. If Jeff Burton or Clint Bowyer breaks out next year, and Harvick continues to struggle -- well, maybe we're placing blame in the wrong place. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but given that he's put himself on the market for 2011, Kevin can't necessarily afford it to.

Duane Cross: Harvick is the most glaring -- probably because of his comments about closing the book with RCR. But there are others who are fully aware of their need to step up in 2010. It'll be interesting to see how several drivers -- and teams -- play out during the early part of next season.

Dave Rodman: From a personal standpoint, Clint Bowyer needs to step up. And I think he and Shane Wilson will be back in the Chase, no trouble. It's too easy to forget that's a new team, basically; but even yet they were the best of the RCR bunch. So that's a done deal, though it appears Richard and his group have struck gold with the Burton-Berrier pairing and getting Scott Miller into an overview spot.

David Caraviello: We need to start seeing a little more progress out of Scott Speed. Sam Hornish Jr. has to take the next step and be a little more consistent. And Kyle Busch needs to get back into championship contention -- for both himself and the betterment of the sport. Things are a lot more fun when he's winning races and mixing it up. I think Kyle is going to be OK, though. He won some races this year, didn't miss the Chase by much, and I like what I've seen with him and new crew chief Dave Rogers thus far.

Duane Cross: If there is one driver who can end the Driver for Five -- for both Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon -- it's Rowdy. Personally, I'd love to see him in the mix a year from now; I'd like the Chase to live up to its expectations with at least three drivers heading to Homestead with title aspirations. Also, I'm eager to see how Martin Truex Jr. gets out of the blocks with Waltrip. It'll be interesting to see if David Ragan gets back on the beam. And Joey Logano's learning curve continues.

Dave Rodman: Ragan had that one season when he was on the verge of the Chase. Assuming he's going to have a new team structure next season, it would seem Ragan would have to show distinct signs of getting back near where he was in 2008 to stay aligned with Roush Fenway.

David Caraviello: Goodness, guys, I completely forgot about David Ragan. That shows you how far off the map he's fallen. From the brink of making the Chase to anonymity. Yeah, he's right up there with Harvick. Jack Roush has invested a lot in him, he's proven he can be in contention, and he needs to get back up there again.

Dave Rodman: And now this gets to be where it's pretty funny for three guys like us, who have neither skin nor a vote in the game, are in a position of kicking people out. But Casey Mears needs to continue on the upward curve he's been on lately or, with real crop of new talent: The Trevor Baynes of the world, guys like him could be in trouble for staying in cherry Cup rides.

Duane Cross: For as accommodating as Casey is, the reality is his window has closed; he's not going to be a top-tier driver, a guy you build a team around in the hopes of contending for a championship.

David Caraviello: And Casey needs a ride first. We haven't heard anything definitive on the status of that No. 07 team for next season. Childress wants to run it, even part-time, but sponsorship will dictate that. Though it would be nice to see what the guy could do with two years in the same car.

2. Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin: is it just theatre, or is there some serious dislike brewing there?

Duane Cross: Denny doesn't impress me as the theatrical type; he means what he says.

David Caraviello: I think it's dislike. I hope it's dislike. Everybody in this sport is a little too chummy for my taste. All we hear is about how there are no rivals -- well, that's because everybody thinks they're in the same "family." Enough of that. Nothing wrong with two guys wanting to beat each other into the ground.

Dave Rodman: Saturday at Phoenix was priceless, and pure heat-of-the-moment -- 1,000 degrees worth -- emotion. Denny started taking the high road and I was "you go, boy..." Then he dropped the line of the year: "I'll be first in line at the payoff window."

Duane Cross: Everyone has been clamoring for a villain in the sport, and many just slapped that black hat on Kyle Busch. Well, maybe Special K is the one who will wear that black hat.

Dave Rodman: Brad is not a black-hat type guy in general. But in this case, their long-running bad blood involves the wrong two individuals. I can't stop thinking of that classic Jack Nicholson scene from "A few good men," the one about "messing with the wrong Marine" as he was restrained by two hulking MPs.

Budding Rivalry

After Brad Keselowski spun Denny Hamlin at Phoenix, words were exchanged and meetings were held with NASCAR officials.

• Wreck at Phoenix
• Driver reactions
• Keselowski meets with France
• Scuffle in Dover

David Caraviello: I don't remember when it was, but I remember Brad saying several weeks ago -- "this is the kind of stuff that makes this sport fun." He's right. Everybody is too damn nice to each other. There's nothing wrong with athletes not getting along. It happens in every sport. It adds color and tension and drama. Bring it on.

Dave Rodman: As J.D. Gibbs said on Sunday morning, regarding both Denny and Kyle Busch's Saturday post-race displays: it's an emotional sport, and they're emotional, passionate guys. But as far as extreme payback? Neither he nor I see it coming. Now, continued brawls? Definitely. And Brad won't back down an inch and in my opinion, NASCAR will have to park him to make a point.

Duane Cross: The interesting dynamic is that Denny and Kyle are teammates while Brad and Kurt are teammates; let's have a loser-leave-town, hair match with a cage thrown in for good measure. And let's do it in Vegas! C'mon boys, NASCAR needs this type of rivalry; let's not squelch it!

David Caraviello: I will say, we need to cool it on the intimations of payback in Cup races. That's throwing-at-the-batter's-head stuff, and it carries things a little too far. But guys spouting off? Guys honestly not liking each other? Goodness, this sport could use more of that. Everybody makes a lot of money, everybody lives in the same motor coach lot, and everybody gets along too well. To steal the nickname of the Georgia-Georgia Tech football game, how about some "clean, old-fashioned hate?"

Dave Rodman: If you saw the raw video from their confrontation earlier this year at Dover, that was far beyond priceless and proves why these two will never, ever see eye to eye. And you hope they don't continue to involve anyone else in their shenanigans.

David Caraviello: Funny how so much of this stuff stems from Nationwide races, when guys have relatively less at stake. There's too much riding on Sundays, evidently, for drivers to mix it up that much. Maybe a reason why all these Cup guys competing on Saturdays isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maybe the Nationwide tour should use a new slogan: "Where the drama is!" Or "We know drama." Wait, I think that's been taken ...

Duane Cross: In regards to on-track retaliation, I'd like to think Denny understands there are limitations. Like he said, he's entered in the Nationwide Series race and glad for it. I doubt these guys' dislike will spill over into the Cup Series. Now, I also know these guys have long memories. We'll see what shakes out at the first short-track stop of the year ...

Dave Rodman: Denny ought to just figure out he needs to chill. On a competitive level, he is so far ahead of Brad it will take him and the Penske group years to catch up, if their first two races are any indication. That being the case, Denny needs to think doubly hard about just staying away from him. For the second time in recent Nationwide memory, for a split second lapse in judgment, he was cost a very good finish.

David Caraviello: Staying away from him? Those two being around one another is a reason to watch Nationwide races these days.

Dave Rodman: Well, I said that's what he ought to consider. The fact that he is too damned stubborn ought to drive a ratings point or three.

3. Carl Edwards, the series runner-up a year ago, is 11th in points and in danger of missing the banquet. Is it time to invite all 12 Chase participants to Las Vegas?

Dave Rodman: Absolutely, positively not. That would be the ultimate in knee-jerk reactions -- and I know the subhead to that would be to expand the Chase field to 15. Please. He wasn't good enough to go, end of story; and I think Carl would tell you that in excruciating detail.

David Caraviello: My first inclination is to say yes. Forget this "integrity of the top 10 stuff." This sport is all about the Chase. It's all about 12 guys now, not just 10, and 12 guys should be invited to the banquet. If you wanted to limit it to 10, then you should have kept the Chase to 10. As it stands now, 10th is irrelevant. It's all about the top 12.

Duane Cross: Exactly, David -- if it's about the "integrity of the top 10," then why are there 12 in the Chase? How about cutting it to the top five, like the Nationwide and Truck series do? If it's 12 in the Chase, then send everyone to the banquet. I never liked the 12-in-the-Chase, 10-go-to-the-banquet deal.

Dave Rodman: If we get into this argument, then we're ripping the top off the can o' worms in the Nationwide and Truck Series. Only five get to go to their award ceremonies. I'm laughing hard, and we're going to revisit the argument about stick-and-ball comparisons again, but I think what you guys are proposing is like the NFL bringing all the teams that qualified for the playoffs to the Super Bowl champion's dinner -- if they even have such a thing.

David Caraviello: There's a Super Bowl champion's dinner? Who knew?!

Duane Cross: When the Super Bowl was in Atlanta, the dinner was at the Gold Club and Eugene Robinson was named emcee emeritus. Alas, that tradition fell to the wayside with that whole court ruling.

David Caraviello: Don't get me started on the "top five" deal with Nationwide and Trucks. That's ridiculous. You want to protect the "integrity of the top 10" in Cup, but not in your other two national series? Five, 10, 12, who knows. I understand the economic need to consolidate the Truck and Nationwide banquets, but inviting only the top five drivers in each series shortchanges a lot of deserving people.

Duane Cross: There are a lot of things that can be construed from the whole top-10 angle. I don't think anyone wants to open that can of worms, even if some of the arguments have relevance (like points for only the Chase contenders, or a separate point structure for the Chase contenders, etc.).

Dave Rodman: The rules are known before you enter the game. If you're not good enough to go to the ceremony, try harder next year. For whatever zany reason, NASCAR wanted 12 contenders for the championship. And Brian Vickers deserves to be a championship contender, but their performance in the Chase has lodged them in 12th, and it proves there's a difference between getting into the playoffs and being a championship contender. Try again next year guys, but there is no way they merit being at the ceremony.

David Caraviello: Edwards is only what, 44 points out of 10th, so we may be a little premature here. As well as the Roush cars historically run at Homestead, he could conceivably be in the top 10 by Sunday afternoon. So in Carl's case, this could be a moot point by the end of the week.

Champion's Week

• Schedule released
• NASCAR Foundation auction
• Tweet2Vegas contest
• Fans can get tickets

Dave Rodman: What you can't discount is the payoff to the teams and their supporters. Priceless is the word of the day, I guess; but the value to a sponsor, and as it comes back to the team, cannot really be quantified if you measure the satisfaction of a CEO who gets to soak in that championship celebration atmosphere versus being told: "Sorry, we'll deliver for you next year."

David Caraviello: No question, Dave, and that's why they go. It's an obligation, just like hospitality on Sunday mornings. This is ultimately a sponsor event, and in that vein all of these guys are good soldiers. They can't afford to be otherwise.

Duane Cross: True Dave -- the banquet is all about giving the sponsors a bit of the spotlight. And, in the end, they deserve that.

David Caraviello: Now, I will add this -- if I'm Edwards, and I finish 11th, I'm glad I don't have to go. No way I want to truck it all the way across the country to be "rewarded" for what he'll ultimately term a disappointing season. I'd want to be on some sandy beach somewhere the day after Homestead. I can go to Vegas later by myself!

Dave Rodman: You nailed it. And you could make that argument for a large number of the guys in positions four through 10, too.

Duane Cross: Guys, if it's 10 or 12 -- all of them would rather skip the dog-and-pony show and be on a beach the day after Homestead!