Track Smack: A.J. and despair at Daytona

1. Which drivers will be watching the Daytona 500 on television?

Ryan Smithson: It will be a major achievement if Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger make it. Vickers is going to have to use the 150s to race his way in. Michael Waltrip won't have a quick qualifying speed, so like Vickers he better have a strong 150s.

David Caraviello: What are there, like 30 cars coming to Daytona without guaranteed spots? Got to think Michael Waltrip's going to get in, and Ward Burton has historically been good there. But you wonder about young guys like Regan Smith and Paul Menard, and the Red Bull guys, who weren't very good in testing.

Joe Menzer: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say A.J. Allmendinger and James Hylton. Richard Petty won't make it, either. I guess the hard question that must be asked is who's more qualified to attempt qualifying: Allmendinger or Hylton?

David Caraviello: A.J. has had two tough tests. As for Hylton -- he was 15th-fastest overall in Daytona testing, and he's got RCR stuff.

Joe Menzer: You just love that guy, don't you?

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Ryan Smithson: David, Menard will be a pole threat, so I like him to make it almost as well as any of the go-or-go-home guys.

Joe Menzer: Think about how much faster Menard can get out of the car than Hylton ... isn't he, like, 50 years younger?

David Caraviello: I just don't think you can totally dismiss Hylton, especially now with that quite appropriate Retirement Living TV sponsorship.

David Caraviello: Although if he misses the 500 and has to watch it from his Barcalounger, the sponsorship works just as well.

Ryan Smithson: If Hylton makes the race, people who claim NASCAR isn't a sport will have a field day.

David Caraviello: No they won't, Ryan. People love this kind of stuff. The national media will be all over Hylton if he makes it.

Ryan Smithson: It is certainly a great story. I'll give it that. (Continued)