Smack: Final thoughts on a memorable Daytona 500

1. Michael Waltrip Racing had two cars in the top six. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second. Richard Childress had perhaps the two best cars in the race. Who are the contenders and pretenders leaving Daytona?

Dave Rodman: Well, you know how squirmy and wormy I am ... Obviously, I'd rather wait until after California, where the real season starts. But there's no question that it appears MWR picked up right where they left off with David Reutimann last year, and if Lil' Martin and Pat Tryson hit it off that well, look out!

Joe Menzer: Let's just go back to last year for a minute. Matt Kenseth won the race. If I recall -- and I don't have this in front of me -- but didn't Richard Petty Motorsports put three Dodges in the top 10? You tell me what kind of bearing all that had on the rest of the 2009 season.

David Caraviello: Well, this is when I make my annual statement saying that Daytona means nothing as far as a harbinger for the rest of the season. The last two 500 winners didn't even make the Chase, remember? And Richard Petty Motorsports tore it up at Daytona last year, and was hardly heard from again. So you really have to view everything that happened Sunday within the prism of Daytona, and nothing outside of that.

Dave Rodman: Wormy and squirmy times three!

Joe Menzer: I will interject with this. Kasey Kahne looked good all Speedweeks in his new RPM Ford -- and let's not forget that he went on to make a little noise last season as well. So to say RPM was never heard from again after '09 Daytona is not entirely correct. And I like the looks of Kahne for 2010.

David Caraviello: Yeah, Joe, I don't think people have a lot of faith in RPM as an organization, which is why so many people picked Kasey to miss the Chase this year. Sunday, though, he clearly looked strong. And I do think the MWR guys are better. I think Reutimann continues to improve, and I think Martin Truex Jr. is a serious upgrade. They could make noise and they could win races. The Chase? I'm not sure, because it's a crowded field. But I think they'll be better, and would be even if they had been swallowed by the Daytona pothole.

Dave Rodman: It had to be heartening for Richard Childress, Scott Miller and the rest of that RCR group to have a couple of the best cars and real contenders all the way around. But on the flip side of that, you know that Hendrick is not going to be in a hole for long. I can't believe I just said that, considering their potential impact on "the hole," but we'll get to that later...

Joe Menzer: Ah, you guys had to bring up the pothole, didn't you?

Dave Rodman: I swear, I typed it first, looked back at it, and said ... did I really just type that?

David Caraviello: The "whole" truth is that RCR showed vast improvement late last season, and carried that through to Speedweeks. They weren't just good in the 500 -- that 29 car was the best vehicle of the entire two weeks. I'd be shocked if they didn't continue that upswing through California and Las Vegas, at least.

Joe Menzer: Well, we've mentioned the pothole and I'm sure we'll mention it some more. We've mentioned MWR and RPM and RCR. I can't believe it's taken this long for someone to mention Dale Earnhardt Jr. What about his impressive charge at the end last Sunday? That was really something. But does it -- will it -- really mean anything going forward? My answer to that is yes, because he drove confidently like we haven't seen him in a while. If he keeps that up, he will win some races and could get that 88 team on track.

Tyme Out

MWR's goals in 2010 were clear -- contend for the Chase. After two top-10s in the Daytona 500, vice president and general manager Ty Norris believes they are well on their way.

• Complete story
• MWR beaming with pride
• Harvick strong all weekend

Dave Rodman: Wait for California. Daytona was a plate race -- his territory. But having said that, the confidence he and crew chief Lance McGrew and their gang displayed was impressive. Then again, Junior has never really been a "lay-down-on-the-job" kind of guy.

Joe Menzer: Well, except for at times when it has been, um, suggested he get in the gym and work out more!

Dave Rodman: But the confidence factor is key, to Joe's point. And these next couple races will really give us some insight into what '10 is going to mean for them.

David Caraviello: Here's the thing about the 88 right now -- it's not a matter of winning races. It's a matter of getting off to a good start, of not getting buried the first few weeks of the season and spending the rest of it trying to climb out of a hole. They need to get ahead a little, to give themselves something of a cushion, to relieve all the pressure on them. In that vein, Sunday was a job well done.

Dave Rodman: There's that word again. But if it's the whole truth -- how can you avoid it.

Joe Menzer: Right. They've got to build on their Daytona result not by winning at California or really anytime soon, necessarily, although I'm sure they would love to be able to do so. The key for them is to come out of the next two or three races with no disastrous 30th-or-worse results because of mistakes of their own making.

David Caraviello: They're going to be better, Joe. They have to be, given all the resources Rick Hendrick has thrown at them. It's just a matter of seeing a little progress and a little daylight. That happens, everything eases a little, and they can just do their jobs. That's why Daytona was so key for the 88 group.

Dave Rodman: Sunday was key for a couple of others, too. Earnhardt Ganassi might have made the most impressive group rebound -- even considering their group is only two cars. And it'll be interesting to see if Roush Fenway can keep it going -- though it was alarming a little to hear Matt Kenseth say [again] he wasn't that good but finagled a decent finish. I guess the crew chief change was inevitable. (Continued)