LGP NASCAR Thread

[Kaizer]

Just so you know relantel, Dale Earnhardt jr. isnt going to win this one either.

We all need to think this way if it is going to happen. The second we all think he has no chance, he will break through. /reverse psychology

well in that case, he's the greatest driver of all time, and certainly not a disappointment to his family name and will definitely win a championship in his lifetime.

[jimjom]

I love how Bristol is basically a college football stadium with a track inside.

[relantel]

money time in the NW race, 50 laps to go. KyBusch with the dominant car, but the 5 looked like he could have unlapped himself under green that last run. Now, Danica's wreck puts him restarting with the rest of the lead lap cars.... Gut says KyBusch holds Kahne (38) off at the line, with the 5 settling for 3rd.

[CERV96]

The stands looked like a New Jersy Devils game this weekend. Its a shame that it used to be very difficult to get a ticket to the spring and fall races at Bristol. I guess with the combination of the track changing and the economy it has slowly gone down hill over time.

[shafnutz05]

The stands looked like a New Jersy Devils game this weekend. Its a shame that it used to be very difficult to get a ticket to the spring and fall races at Bristol. I guess with the combination of the track changing and the economy it has slowly gone down hill over time.

Yeah, I couldn't believe that, but I think you are right. I chuckled whenever DW and several others were still trying to sell Bristol as this rough, bumping and running track. Give me a break. There are two clear lanes of racing, the inside is no longer necessary, and the contact between vehicles was pretty much nonexistent (or no more than any other track). Bristol used to be a spectacle, and one of my biggest regrets is not attending a race there before they resurfaced it.

At least I still have Martinsville to go to...that is a legit, rough racing track.

[Malkamaniac]

Danica Patrick needs to go away.

[shafnutz05]

And I just noticed Fontana was next weekend...perfect weekend to be down in Savannah at a wedding.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Makes no sense to me why NASCAR decided to move Fontana. They should have kept it in the "Western Swing".

Should be Daytona, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fontana, Texas, and then Bristol. Seems like that would save some money.

[relantel]

Makes no sense to me why NASCAR decided to move Fontana. They should have kept it in the "Western Swing".

Should be Daytona, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fontana, Texas, and then Bristol. Seems like that would save some money.

Replace one of those middle three with Rockingham, and I'm all there. NASCAR never should have left that track. Fontana did alright when they had one date. Once they got two, both races suffered. This is a good reason they ought not rush for two dates in Las Vegas. *Still bitter at Texas and the 2nd New Hampshire dates coming from North Wilkesboro in 1997*

Oh, and return the Southern 500 to Labor Day weekend. And while we're at it, add a rotating date each year to an old short track from before the 1972 schedule-reduction. Hickory, Bowman-Gray, Greenville-Pickens, etc. Throw in some that lasted into the modern era like Nashville Fairgrounds and North Wilkesboro...

[/schedule pipe dreams]

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Totally agree with that.

[relantel]

So close, yet so far...

[relantel]

now that I can post without being on the phone...

thought the 88 would pull it off until he struggled in lapped traffic, and the gap closed late. All it took was one bobble by the 88, and the 29 had the run. I think a younger Dale Jr takes that inside position back on the crossover... he had the nose in there and could have punted the 29. I don't know what's worse - being so close yet so far, or leading and not pulling it out like that. I.e. not all 2nd place finishes are equal. Hard not to be disappointed after a finish like that, but that team sure seems headed in the right direction. Minor consolation to beating the 18 on the track.

Texas up next, also Talladega, Richmond, Darlington and Dover before the All Star race cutoff. Question is, will that team finish the deal in one of those before the All Star weekend, and thus not need the fan vote to get in the main event? Dale has won at four of the five (all but Darlington), and I am heartened by the way Letarte seems to be able to do what McGrew and Eury Jr could not - close out races strong.

Happy for Harvick and Richard Childress, but it's a bittersweet happiness the way the race ended. That's a hard allegience choice there, between Earnhardt's team and Earnhardt's son. They haven't really been in that position to be close for all the marbles in a race in many years, maybe since the 29 finished second the the 8 at Dega inthe Fall of 2004? And the 29 had their own drought of three years to break last year, so kind of some parallels there.

The prospects for this season look good right now. My wife is estatic that Harvick won though - she came into following him right after Earnhardt's death.

[shafnutz05]

Yeah, I thought it was a very enjoyable race. Martinsville has always been one of my favorite tracks, and it delivered again. Ditto on Earnhardt....I thought at a track like Martinsville, he would be able to hold the inside. As soon as I saw him bobble, I knew it was over. Kudos to him for finishing 2nd though, I think this crew chief change worked. And have you noticed that every single race, his car has gotten BETTER rather than worse? Who cares where he qualifies, he has been communicating, in detail, what is wrong with the car to his crew and they have delivered.

Earnhardt will break through this year, no doubt.

[CERV96]

I thought the end of last two races have been very entertaining.

[shafnutz05]

It's just nice to see Earnhardt (knock on wood) back in the fight. Yeah, I would have loved to see him win that race, but to see him fighting for a win is something I haven't seen in a long time. I think he's happy, and gaining confidence.

[relantel]

It's just nice to see Earnhardt (knock on wood) back in the fight. Yeah, I would have loved to see him win that race, but to see him fighting for a win is something I haven't seen in a long time. I think he's happy, and gaining confidence.

Kind of like the difference between a hard-earned 2nd (yesterday) when they had been near the front much of the day, and the 2010 Daytona race where they weren't really in it until the series of late cautions. I'm thinking it's Richmond. This team is building toward Richmond.

Qualifying has to get better, though. 24.5 average start isn't helpful, and his markedly worse than his career average of 16.3. Dad was 12.9 career, though the last three seasons were all 20+. Though earlier years were somewhat mitigated back when there was 2nd round qualifying, and a chance to improve a deep (30s) run up to 26 if you could. Neither manage poles often - Jr has 10 in 405 starts, and Sr only had 22 in 676. Sr's last pole was at Watkins Glen, broken collarbone and all, in 1996. Might have won that race if the 7 of Geoff Bodine hadn't short-pitted and gotten a caution, ended up 6th leading the most laps. Works out to 4 poles for Osterlund, 1 for Bud Moore, and 17 for Childress, and won from the pole but 3 times, all for RCR. Jr has no wins from the pole, and best finish as polesitter was a 2nd at Pocono in 2007 for DEI when Kurt Busch dominated the race, and the 8 led only 10 laps or so. Jr breaks down as 7 poles for DEI and 3 for HMS. Have to think that now that Letarte and Earnhardt are on the same page in-race, that they will get better in qualifying.

I always hated HMS in general going back to the mid-90s, but NASCAR has a way of having shifting hates and loyalties. I.e. someone else comes around that you dislike more than the one you hadn't liked for many years. Probably that chain includes Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and now sits on Kyle Busch. Guys you once hated now become guys you don't mind when they won because some more hated driver didn't win. Can point to when my opinion turned on Waltrip, back when Steve Park was hurt and DW filled in for the DEI #1 Pennzoil team, and near won at Pocono. Think that was 1998. The turn on Gordon partially was due to the 48, but the rest softened when Jr came to HMS. In other words, in order for the 88 to do well, had to be prepared for the 24 to do so as well. Now, it's all a matter of lesser evils. Gordon winning at Phoenix was better than Kyle Busch. Edwards, still half mad at him for Atlanta 2004 but that softens over time. A similar thing can be said for Vickers at the Fall 2006 Talladega race when he wrecked the 48 and the 8 on the last lap...

Among the drivers that I'd like to see get a win this year, so long as not at the expense of the 88 or 29:
Labonte
Menard
Allmendinger
Ambrose
Truex
Burton

Ambrose really blew it at Sonoma last year. Race was his for the taking and stalled uphill during a caution. I wonder if the new 9 team can get him competitive at the road courses - probably his only shot. Some others seemed to be coming, but fell off quite a bit at Martinsville. This new points system seems to have lots of drivers going up or down by 4 spots or more in the points. 29/88 were both +4, 39 was -4, etc.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Spoiler:

Texas has been a major snorefest....Kenseth currently with an 8 second lead...

[shafnutz05]

Thank God a caution!!

I've got to say, I have been EXTREMELY impressed with the 88 team this year. One of the constant trends in the last few years is his car starting out well, and then progressively getting worse throughout the race relative to the rest of the field. It seems like Letarte is finally bringing out the best both in Earnhardt and the car...the changes they are making are actually improving their car. Obviously I would love for him to qualify better, but the fact they have been qualifying in the 20s and advancing to the top 10 consistently makes the sting not quite as bad.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Ku. Busch up by 15 seconds.

[shafnutz05]

CAN WE PLEASE GET A CAUTION

[DMcGrew]

That race was turrible, turrible, turrible.

[slappybrown]

Just saying. I'm sure some people would absolutely love it if I checked, for example, the NASCAR thread every day just to tell the people there how boring and lame I think NASCAR is. Those people would simply tell me to piss off and they'd be right about it.

[shafnutz05]

Wow....Talladega is one of the most boring races now. Used to be my favorite. Thank you for ruining another great thing, NASCAR.

[thepittman]

This team drafting stuff is terrible.

[JS©]

I can't stand FOX's coverage. Between the commercials that dominate their coverage and that stupid groundhog, I can't watch it for more than a few minutes.