Track Smack: Pocono
June 8, 2006
02:03 PM EDT (18:03 GMT)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said last week that his sponsor limits his non-Nextel Cup racing. Does that hinder his Nextel Cup success at all?
Marty Smith: Doesn't appear to. He has a win and is top five in points. There are drivers that run every Busch Series race known to man that can't say that. Only thing it hinders is the width of the wallet. Track time doesn't hurt anyone, of course. It's always a plus. But it's not a necessity.
Ryan Smithson: Man, I just don't know. Most of the guys that have fought for the title in recent years (Johnson, Busch, Gordon, Stewart) don't have heavy Busch schedules. Then again, I am sure Harvick and Kenseth would be lesser drivers without it.
David Newton: It definitely gives him less track time, but Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and several others that aren't running much outside of Cup seem to be doing just fine.
Dave Rodman: Doesn't seem to bother Tony Stewart at all -- or Jimmie Johnson, for that matter. I think, to some degree it can be a benefit to whoever's doing it -- but I don't think it's any kind of a hindrance.
Look at The Biff -- he did not practice in Happy Hour at Dover -- finished eighth. Of course, he did run the Busch race.
Ryan Smithson: Please don't call him the Biff. Come on.
David Newton: The bigger issue is: Do we think sponsors should have that much control?
Dave Rodman: That's a tough question, Newt. They're putting a ton of money into the program and the brand is built around driver X, Y or Z -- or in this case, E -- and they need their man in the seat.
Marty Smith: Folks take issue when situations occur like Stewart is currently experiencing -- getting injured outside his Cup car. The wrist injury in the Sprint Car, and the shoulder at Charlotte. (Though, of course, the break came in the Cup wreck.)
David Newton: There are only a handful of drivers that sponsors are that concerned with getting hurt because of their marketability.
Ryan Smithson: With the way people drive on the interstates these days, I am surprised more drivers do not get hurt in a road car.
David Newton: Greg Zipadelli made that point at Dover, saying [reporter] Mike Mulhern is more of a health risk driving to the track than Tony Stewart is driving in a Busch race.
Dave Rodman: It seems like a trite excuse when Tony says, "I could get hurt coming to the track," but you're right, Ryan. Wow, never thought I'd say that...
Marty Smith: Well, I can totally understand Budweiser's stance. Junior is synonymous with the brand. If he's out of the seat, they suffer.
Dave Rodman: And as someone pointed out over the weekend, he about got fry-olated there at Sears Point, a couple years ago.
Marty Smith: Rodman is a risk 24/7. He steers towards obstacles.
Dave Rodman: Moving obstacles, yes -- because they'll typically be gone by the time I get there.
Ryan Smithson: Rodman is the worst road driver I've ever seen. And I have 10 people who will back that up.
Marty Smith: Rodman, have you ever totaled a rental?
Dave Rodman: Mud-splashed spectators don't count.
Ryan Smithson: Rodman is referring to Dover 2001, when he drove through a field and splashed mud toward fans.
David Newton: Don't pick on Rodman. If there weren't drivers like him, the earth would be way too overpopulated.
Dave Rodman: I have never totaled a rental. Worst thing that ever happened to me was when I was hemmed-in by three trailer trucks on an interstate -- and one of them scooped up a construction barrel.
Ryan Smithson: You hemmed yourself in.
David Newton: Good thing Rodman doesn't have a big bucks sponsor.
Dave Rodman: Smithson, you probably would have done three barrel rolls dodging that one.
Ryan Smithson: No, the bottom line is that you wrecked a rental in a construction zone.
Dave Rodman: I didn't wreck anything, and I'd put the brake wear on anything I'm driving up against yours any day. You are the classic point and poke driver. Point the car, mash the gas, drive to the red light and do a brake check.
What's this about Teresa Earnhardt?
Marty Smith: So fellas, I was just over at MB2 Motorsports, and it seems there's some validity to the DEI rumor. Word over there is Teresa Earnhardt is interested in the purchase.
David Newton: From what I heard it's more of a partnership than a purchase.
Ryan Smithson: Did MB2 ever find more funding for Sterling?
Dave Rodman: Hmm. How could DEI own five Cup teams, given the cap and the fact they only own three now?
Ryan Smithson: Roush owns five, Rodman. Do you really think they will ever truly scale back?
Dave Rodman: They are grandfathered. The threat seems to be they need to downsize by when, 2009, or 2010?
Marty Smith: Well, it's the same deal as this Roush/Yates rumor about "merging," or pooling resources. They aren't going to be under a single roof, so what constitutes "merging?"
David Newton: Definition of merging -- when Rodman wrecks in a construction zone.
Marty Smith: Excellent, Newt.
Dave Rodman: You guys are just jealous. They'll be cooperating, sure. The more resources you can pool, the better it is for everybody.
Ryan Smithson: MB2 has got to do something, anything. They have been really bad this year. And they were usually good for one win a year.
Marty Smith: They're aware of that, Smithson, and they're actively seeking the answer.
Dave Rodman: Maybe they need to do the big shuffle. I have no doubts about the ability of the personnel -- but something isn't working there this year, you're right again.
David Newton: Not sure how much this really helps DEI, though.
Marty Smith: Instant depth, presumably, Newt.
Ryan Smithson: MB2 is a classic example of how a two-car team simply doesn't cut it anymore when you have to go out and battle Gibbs, Hendrick, Roush and RCR.
David Newton: Depth is good if it's good depth. Adding bad depth may just take you deeper into a hole.
Dave Rodman: Seems like what some of the RCR boys have said -- when the teammates aren't running well, they can't be much help. And now, with them all running like bad-boys -- they are all thriving. So that's true about DEI benefiting in the short haul -- they won't.
Ryan Smithson: I really feel that DEI will benefit greatly from Paul Menard next season.
Marty Smith: How impressive is RCR, by the way?
David Newton: I think the big deal here is the Car of Tomorrow. It lets one organization focus more on that and the other to focus on the Car of Today.
Ryan Smithson: RCR is the most shocking story of the season by far.
Marty Smith: All three teams will win before the year's out.
Dave Rodman: Very, very impressive, considering they have never had anyone in the Chase and they are threatening to have three men in there, this year.
Ryan Smithson: Marty, a win is asking a lot from Bowyer.
David Newton: Burton has been the biggest surprise. Harvick has been in this position at this time of the season, including a year ago, and faded. Burton hasn't been in this position for a long time.
Dave Rodman: Yeah, but there are some places Clint could pull one off. I think he is the individual surprise of this season.
Marty Smith: Certainly is. But I think he's up to it. When I saw the slide job he pulled at Richmond through Turn 2, I was sold. It's really about focus.
Ryan Smithson: I am not sure a rookie will win this year, boys.
David Newton: I'm betting on Hamlin to win if one does.
Ryan Smithson: They have been solid, but hardly leading a slew of laps.
David Newton: A lot of those rookies are going to be burned out driving both series at different tracks the next three weeks.
Dave Rodman: We ought to start up a pool of who's going to be where in Cup and Busch after Pocono in July -- with four doubles affecting 11 pairings, to some degree.
Marty Smith: Hell, Clint could win Pocono.
Ryan Smithson: Could, should and might all day.
Dave Rodman: I think Denny is the most likely to win -- but Clint and Little Martin could pull one off in the right circumstances. And J.J. Yeley -- man -- just think if he put a whole race together...
David Newton: You could say that about half the field, Rodman.
Dave Rodman: Yeah, but we were talking about rookies.
Ryan Smithson: More than half. More like three-fourths.
David Newton: I stand rightly corrected.
Predictions for Pocono?
Ryan Smithson: We all missed the winner again last week.
Dave Rodman: Ryan Newman's going to win a damned race somewhere -- so I think Pocono might be it.
Marty Smith: Clint Bowyer could win. Brian Vickers might win. Mark Martin should win. All day, Smithson. All day.
Ryan Smithson: Well, that is the beauty of it. Remember last year I said Vickers and people chuckled, and he led 121 laps.
David Newton: I can't pick against Jimmie Johnson. What he and that team did last weekend at Dover was truly amazing. And he won at Pocono twice in 2004.
Dave Rodman: Smithson, we're still waiting for your pick.
Ryan Smithson: I am going to go with Harvick.
Dave Rodman: No fear of jet lag, eh?
Ryan Smithson: Actually I am sure he will be top three.
David Newton: We're picking winners, not top three.
Ryan Smithson: Rodman picks Newman every week.
David Newton: Rodman has adopted Newman because they both crash a lot.
Dave Rodman: Once in 25 years, I think I have Ryan beat.
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