NASCAR thread

[falcongtho3]

Kesolowski really mangaed to screw up..twice! I don't know how many incidents JJ caused or was a part of but he certainly figured in to the race, and not in a good way.The last lap was such a disappointment, it really looked like Biffle was the class of the field but never got the shot he deserved to win on the caution flew.

[Thunderbolt]

Yeah, that last lap was a bummer. I hate when they end under caution.

[TKat13]

Race was terrible, also very disappointed in JR, he basically gave up. Did not go his way but then he stopped even trying, at first I thought he had a mechanical issue, but after the interview he pretty much confirmed he was not racing. He should be fine, because clearly he broke the rule for not driving 100%. BTW, I am an 88 fan, but this still irritates me. I think he was so made at being told to pit for fuel that he just threw in the towel.

Another thing that added to this was the racing was pretty poor, slower cars just plugged the hole and there was no where to go. They pretty much were stuck bumper to bumper. When 3 wide, it was just a wall of cars that could not pass. Pretty boring race. Feel like I wasted my time on this one.

[Smith]

It was a bad call on the 88 team. Pit for gas?? I think Jr. just gave up after that. And again, here we finish under yellow, very disappointing.

[Tom Yancy]

Worst race of the year, imo. Also, I've been a Dale Jr. fan since his rookie year in the old Busch (now Nationwide) series and he is as good as they get at the restrictor plate tracks, but what happened yesterday rubbed me the wrong way. I understand his reasoning, but I just don't agree with it.

Denny Hamlin commented on how many fans showed up, that it was the largest crowd in a long time. I can tell you why that is. Alabama is Earnhardt country, and fans came out in droves because they felt like Jr. was back, and would be in contention to win, which he was for a while. The call to come in for fuel while leading was idiotic and cost them alot of track position, and possibly the chance to win. That being said, the fans came to see him race, not to watch him back off in the final 2 laps and finish 26th. I agree with his strategy of backing off and waiting for the big one that came with about 15 to go, but after that, it was go time, even if his run got stopped by Wise moving up in front of him, you gotta keep racing.

[not a gt]

I thought overall the race sucked. Almost seem like lead changes were done on purpose so each fan could cheer a bit when there driver was up front for 2laps! This race and Bristol are some highlight tracks for me (along with road courses), once again I had no issue leaving and going to work to find out what results were later

also very disappointed in JR, he basically gave up
Hasn't he been accused of this in the past??

I ONLY pull for the Ford's BTW

[Thunderbolt]

With the win and you're in rule, he can do that the rest of the season.

[Thunderbolt]

That Charlotte race was a blowout after just 90 laps. Only 10 cars on the lead lap until they waved around 20 cars. I thought the commercial of Harvick shooting baseballs through Stewart's trophy case was funny as hell.

[falcongtho3]

Hated that I spent all that time watching, only to see the robot win.

Indy was pretty cool.

[Thunderbolt]

Who the hell worries about your engine temps. going up with 10 laps left in the race? You drive the car until it explodes. What a bonehead move.

[falcongtho3]

He was under hypnosis..."Let Junior Win, Let Junior Win..."

[not a gt]

Originally Posted by falcongtho3

He was under hypnosis..."Let Junior Win, Let Junior Win..."

More detail, I am at work, what happened, what happened??

[Thunderbolt]

Kesolowski was leading the race and had a piece of trash on his grill in the closing laps. He tries to do a quick duck behind Danica Patrick so he has to slow down and then swerves around her, which never got the trash off the grill. Earnhardt Jr. just flies by Kesolowski with only afew laps left and wins the race. I couldn't believe Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach were actually saying Kesolowski should give Earnhardt the lead and then get in behind him to get the trash off, then re-take the lead.

That's why I hate when the coverage ends on Fox and it switches to these other stations. You've got two loser drivers announcing the race. Darrell Waltrip is a hillbilly, but at least he's a former champ, along with a couple other crew chiefs.

[falcongtho3]

Something actually worth seeing this weekend, a 2015 will be the pace car....
http://racing.ford.com/series/stock-...ace-car-a.html

[mach460]

Originally Posted by Thunderbolt

Who the hell worries about your engine temps. going up with 10 laps left in the race? You drive the car until it explodes. What a bonehead move.

You do what NASCAR tells you to do or else...

[311-420]

Even though I don't care for Michigan, I'll still watch because I'm that die hard. Will be cool to see the 15 though!

[Thunderbolt]

I see they took out all of the turn 3/turn 4 seating at Michigan. They use to have 3 huge sets of grandstand seating. I sat in the turn 3 grandstand which was even taller than the grandstands at the start/finish line. You could see the whole track and still be sitting in your seat.

[MAD_MACh1]

Those turn 3 grand stands are now at my local track, Berlin Raceway. (Marne MI). They look freaking huge at a 7/16 mile track.

[falcongtho3]

There was a recent article in Autoweek on Humpy Wheeler and how there are large banners and flags over the backstretch seats. NASCAR needs to figure out how to keep fans and bring back ones they've lost. Nothing they done has worked so far, and I don't think the chase format has helped.

[bris09]

Originally Posted by falcongtho3

There was a recent article in Autoweek on Humpy Wheeler and how there are large banners and flags over the backstretch seats. NASCAR needs to figure out how to keep fans and bring back ones they've lost. Nothing they done has worked so far, and I don't think the chase format has helped.

Lose the chase, limit teams to one or two cars, stop playing favorites, ditch the COT and return to run what ya brung, stop plastering sponsor names everywhere, let the drivers duke it out on the track, lower the ticket prices, and the fans will come back.

I for one have found better more productive ways to spend my Sunday afternoons than to watch a whole race just to see a Hendrick car win at the end.

[MAD_MACh1]

Ticket prices are not near as bad as hotel prices. The hotels are forcing week long stays at greatly inflated prices. Bristol called me a while back with tickets starting at $40 for the night race. I turned them down because of the cost of the rest of the trip and that has nothing to do with the on track action. IMO, a lot of the boredom on track comes from the length of the races, and the dependence on aerodynamics. Go back to shorter tracks, and shorter races. They would have to get after it right away when they don't have a bunch of pit stops to adjust the cars. That's a true run what you brung there. The trucks seem to put on the best show, again IMO.

[falcongtho3]

Another Ford win today, making it four in a row. Something that hasn't happened since 2001 (?), according to the talking heads. Glad to see coverage move from TNT, these guys really can put you to sleep, race not withstanding.
Still not a Brad fan, but happy for Ford and Penske.

[not a gt]

Still not a Brad fan, but happy for Ford and Penske

[311-420]

Originally Posted by falcongtho3

Another Ford win today, making it four in a row. Something that hasn't happened since 2001 (?), according to the talking heads. Glad to see coverage move from TNT, these guys really can put you to sleep, race not withstanding.
Still not a Brad fan, but happy for Ford and Penske.

When they were showing the TNT car that was built, Larry Mac actually said this was a farewell to TNT broadcasting the races. I wonder who will pick up those 6 races next year? And more importantly, who will commentate them? Anyone heard anything?

[MAD_MACh1]

I believe the second half of the season is going back to NBC next year. So were still stuck with DW and is shtick.