LGP NASCAR Thread

[TheHammer24]

The new Chase format continues to impress. You may be dissatisfied with the winner. You may not credit their accomplishment. But the format compels you to turn on the TV every Sunday. Every race is a must watch, and I really like it.

As for the remaining eight, I know I'm biased, but Hamlin has to be considered a very legitimate contender. He's, at worst, the second best driver on the circuit at Martinsville, where he as won four times. In 2012, he from back to front twice before the master switch failure cost him his Chase bid. They're racing on the 2012 tire this weekend. He has two wins at Texas, and one at Phoenix. Both tracks are not the 1.5 mile, hard-to-pass, low-tire-fall-off tracks where Penske and Hendrick have dominated.

If he gets to Homestead, he's won twice at the track, including last year.

That said, Keselowski has to be the favorite.

[dodint]

The new Chase format continues to impress. You may be dissatisfied with the winner. You may not credit their accomplishment. But the format compels you to turn on the TV every Sunday. Every race is a must watch, and I really like it.

For me to accept that premise you have to concede this is now full blown Sports Entertainment and not an actual sporting series anymore.

[CBear3]

Do you feel the same way about the Stanley Cup or Super Bowl?

The only issue for me is that the four contenders have to share the track with everybody else in the last race. If this is supposed to be head to head, winner take all, somebody not involved in the actual championship shouldn't be able to impact the outcome.
Because of that possibility, I find the new format fundamentally flawed. It's not awful, "I'm going to stop watching because its a gimic" bad, just not my first or second choice. I prefer the old pre-Chase championships because like the EPL its simply who's best over a full season, not who's hot at the right time.

Of course, if MLB did that I wouldn't have a World Series hat, so I'm a bit of a hypocrite.

[relantel]

Hamlin won at Homestead last year largely because of Kenseth's blocking...

I'd about half suspect a recently eliminated Chaser to win at Martinsville, as Busch and Johnson in particular have been good there, and Earnhardt is no slouch.

[Sigwolf]

The new Chase format continues to impress. You may be dissatisfied with the winner. You may not credit their accomplishment. But the format compels you to turn on the TV every Sunday. Every race is a must watch, and I really like it.

For me to accept that premise you have to concede this is now full blown Sports Entertainment and not an actual sporting series anymore.

It's compelled me to stop watching altogether. I'll check in after the race to see finishing positions, but I'm not sure how much longer I will continue that. It's wrestling on wheels, and been hopelessly corrupted by the reality show generation.

[TheHammer24]

Hamlin won at Homestead last year largely because of Kenseth's blocking...

I'd about half suspect a recently eliminated Chaser to win at Martinsville, as Busch and Johnson in particular have been good there, and Earnhardt is no slouch.

Still bitter about Homstead last year, eh?

[TheHammer24]

Do you feel the same way about the Stanley Cup or Super Bowl?

The only issue for me is that the four contenders have to share the track with everybody else in the last race. If this is supposed to be head to head, winner take all, somebody not involved in the actual championship shouldn't be able to impact the outcome.
Because of that possibility, I find the new format fundamentally flawed. It's not awful, "I'm going to stop watching because its a gimic" bad, just not my first or second choice. I prefer the old pre-Chase championships because like the EPL its simply who's best over a full season, not who's hot at the right time.

Of course, if MLB did that I wouldn't have a World Series hat, so I'm a bit of a hypocrite.

This. If MLB structured it's season like Soccer, where the team with the best record was declared champion, then switched to a format where the team has to beat three other teams in shot series (like those short series where the Marlins take 3/4 from the giants, for instance), baseball fans would be outraged and declare their sport has been turned into sports entertainment. All American Sports' playoff formats are gimmicky, designed to capture dramatic moments instead of the best team in the league. Two awful Giants teams have won Super Bowls, one over arguably the greatest NFL team of all time, but no one is calling for NFL playoffs to be abandoned.

If I made any change, I would have 12 make the Chase, reduce it to eight at Kansas, reduce it to four at Talladega, then declare the champion the driver with the most points combined at Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead.

[dodint]

As someone mentioned, if that's the case then only the qualified race teams should be allowed to attend. See how many tickets you can sell with 4 cars on track. There is no way to have the other 38 cars not influence the results so it has to be one or the other.

[relantel]

Hamlin won at Homestead last year largely because of Kenseth's blocking...

I'd about half suspect a recently eliminated Chaser to win at Martinsville, as Busch and Johnson in particular have been good there, and Earnhardt is no slouch.

Still bitter about Homstead last year, eh?

You might say that. I can admit it at least. And it at least it was a portend of things to come.

[TheHammer24]

Ha, nothing wrong for not looking the result and kudos for admitting it. Hamlin was awful in both practice today, which really decreases Mt confidence in a win. Look for the twenty four and penske tomorrow, I think.

[relantel]

Wow. I can't believe that restart. I thought for sure pitting with 10 to go was sheer folly.

[JS©]

As someone mentioned, if that's the case then only the qualified race teams should be allowed to attend. See how many tickets you can sell with 4 cars on track. There is no way to have the other 38 cars not influence the results so it has to be one or the other.

Agreed.

Having a NASCAR playoff with all 42 cars on the track at the same time doesn't work. It's the equivalent of the NFL playoffs taking place with teams still having to play against the Jets or Jaguars in January, despite both teams having less than a handful of combined wins throughout the season. I see what they're trying to do and it's not a bad concept, but it just doesn't work with the way their sport is set up.

[shafnutz05]

Was nice to see Junior finally grab that elusive Martinsville victory, albeit one week too late. I know how badly he wanted that clock after competing there for so many years (11 top 5s)

[relantel]

Was nice to see Junior finally grab that elusive Martinsville victory, albeit one week too late. I know how badly he wanted that clock after competing there for so many years (11 top 5s)

I thought had that yellow not come out, it was all but over. That although Gordon had been closing, not enough time. With the yellow, I figured it would be a tough restart alongside the 24. Didn't think for a second that they would pit. Restarting 5th I still had my doubts. But once he cleared all but Stewart I knew he had him. Pretty good race overall, it seemed - but then again I didn't see the whole thing, only from about 150 to go to the end.

[JS©]

I think if Gordon had another three laps, he could have passed Jr.

[shafnutz05]

Yeah Gordon definitely looked strong. Loved seeing Jr charge to the front at the end there, obviously the tires were the difference, but he desperately wanted that win. Stewart respected him for sure on the pass for the lead, but still banged some fenders.

[TheHammer24]

Martinsville remains my favorite track on the circuit, but it's the one track that i don't like late-race restarts. I'm newer to the sport, and I can't imagine how bad single-file restarts must have been. But at Martinsville, it'd be better to start 7th than 4th. The outside lane is just so bad.

Hamlin had a winning car for a few runs, but the handling fell apart on the second to last run. I thought he had a W when he got past Gordon on the second to last restart. Alas. He was running p6, third among Chase drivers, only to be shuffled to 9th on the final restart because Ricky Stenhouse stayed out. Stupid. I guess this goes to your points: a non-Chase driver can have a big impact.

Also, Harvick is such a bum. He told the press that "Kenseth won't win the championship." Harvick did the exact same thing to Denny at Bristol.

[relantel]

Harvick can be quite the hot-head. Him along with Robby Gordon managed to get themselves suspended in the Cup series for actions in other series. Might have happened to Kyle Busch a few years ago too. He'd be quite dumb to repeat his mistake, as that would deep-six himself from the Chase. (2002 - threatened Biffle in the Truck series)

[relantel]

Fight at Texas!

Harvick with a swipe at Keselowski, setting up the main event of Gordon vs Keselowski, after the latter drives in over his head and ruins Gordon's day.

And the 48 wins, the 2nd non-chaser in a row wins meaning 3 drivers will get into Homestead on points...

[shafnutz05]

Keselowski is a turd, I hate that he won a championship.

[pittsports87]

LOL at Harvick trolling everyone to start that brawl.

[mac5155]

Who shoved brad? Gordon went over there looking for it but whoever shoved brad started the action lol. Love the reporter.. "brad your lips bloody, how does it feel"

[CBear3]

Gordon comes after Brad, gets held back. Brad stands there smug and untouched, Harvick trolls everyone by pushing Brad within Gordon's reach.
It was like it was out of a cartoon or something.

[shafnutz05]

Harvick was absolutely hilarious in that skirmish. Dude pops in for one second and starts a full-blown brawl.

With time to reflect, I still dislike Keselowski, but I think Gordon was in the wrong in this situation. Of course he was on older tires, but I think he got a lousy restart and made a critical error in choosing the top line. It looked like Gordon came down the track a bit into the 2 as well

[CBear3]

My only problem with what Kez did was he made the move too late.
The "hole" Gordon opened up is to get a run on the 48 on the high side, and if Kez had a brain he'd have known it was going to close with him in it. Fortunately for the WWF NASCAR, all he has is a heavy right foot and big balls, so he put Gordon three wide at corner entry. He's got to get along the 24 100-200 feet further up track so the spotter and Gordon can react. While not "wrong," do that to too many of your competitors and you'll spend more time flying into the fence (Atlanta) then you will on track. If he'd gotten by the 48 it would have been worth it because he'd be locked in. Instead, I wouldn't put money on him finishing Phoenix without getting his fenders knocked in. You've got two Hendrick cars that aren't in the Chase you'll be racing around and they would love to ruin your day (Kasey might even take a swing at you when you're lapping him).

And then Kex will be whining about all those guys that race him too rough like he did about Kenseth and Hamlin two weeks ago. Plant corn, grow crumpled fenders or something like that.