LGP NASCAR Thread

[relantel]

I am hoping Iowa finds its way on the schedule.

I'd take Iowa over Kentucky or a 2nd date at Vegas in a heartbeat.

[CBear3]

Brilliant racetrack, built in the middle of nowhere. Always looks packed with 30k seats.
The cool thing they do there though is that most of the food vendors are there by leasing spaces like it was the state fair or something. Makes for a really, wait for it, fair like atmosphere that's really down home and friendly.

[TheHammer24]

WOW! What a finish to that race. Hamlin dodged some bullets with the later wrecks. Menard appears to be his biggest threat with the win, and he wrecked to gain only 4 points on him. Kesloski looks like he is in with 2 wins. Bowyer needs a win, but Stewart got into him minmizing the points he pulled ahead of Hamlin in. Dale Jr. and Stewart are going to be hard to catch to get in on the non-wildcard spot. Hamlin won at Michigan, so maybe he can another win and lock himself.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/st ... es-revenge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pittsports87]

Nascar needs more fighting.

[shafnutz05]

Greg Biffle is a complete D-bag

[relantel]

Boris was hopping mad.

Still confused about the final finish order, as the 33 & 17 got passed by folks before the yellow came out, yet were scored in front of them. Last lap is supposed to be video and not just scoring loops. Doesn't affect much I guess, other than narrow gap from 11th (Bowyer) to 9/10 (Earnhard and Stewart, 36 and 25 points up over the 33) by 2-3 points. Original scoring had 33 12th and 88 14th, with final scoring having 33 11th and 88 15th, making the 33 2 points closer to the 88 and 1 pt closer to the 14, and the 14 1 point closer to the 88. They had the 17 jump from 17th to 14th in the change. Very strange, and the post-race was much more concerned with the replays of Said-Ragan-Reutimann-Fellows-Martin wreck than they were of Stewart-Bowyer. I wonder if they let Bowyer have the spot back because he didn't stop? Really just want an explanation.

Strange that the 88 went conservative after the 11 wrecked out. Guess I don't blame them too much, but they were top 5 before the Hamlin wreck. Seems they weren't sure they could make on fuel and took no chances. +36 on 11th is a decent, but not infallible, cushion. Bristol could wipe that out in a heartbeat.

[TheHammer24]

Strange that the 88 went conservative after the 11 wrecked out. Guess I don't blame them too much, but they were top 5 before the Hamlin wreck. Seems they weren't sure they could make on fuel and took no chances. +36 on 11th is a decent, but not infallible, cushion. Bristol could wipe that out in a heartbeat.

Hamlin won earlier in Michigan too. Both tracks could wipe that number out.

[relantel]

15 different winners this season, including 5 first timers, in 22 races. That's nuts, when you consider that Biffle, Stewart, Martin, Earnhardt, Bowyer are among the winless, as well as last year's 500 champ McMurray. I think the modern era record is 19 different winners, which would seem to be achievable. I begin to wonder if the 88 and 14 had their chances early in the season, failed to capitalize, and are destined to fade. EGR seems to be out to lunch. On the other hand, while the 16 has been fading, I'd expect them to pull it together by homestead - Biff is good there. I'd expect a win by Bowyer in the fall too. And anyone can win at Talladega.

Only one thing I am certain of - we are due for more surprise winners the way this season is going.

[TheHammer24]

This is the first season I have watched with any semblance of regularity, and I have been thoroughly entertained. The 2 wildcard spots are a brilliant addition insofar as there are 7+ or so racers chasing the 9, 10 and 2WC spots.

[relantel]

The truck race had a crazy finish, where all of the points leaders had issues late, most not of their own making. NW in Montreal sees Ambrose win another road course event.

Pleasantly surprised to see the 88 practice in the top 15 in both practices, and qualify 8th. Think this was first non-plate race top 10 qualifying effort for that team.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Jamie McMurray is so effeminate.

[shafnutz05]

Man, I love Bristol, but it has sucked since the resurfacing. The fact there are only 3 races till the Chase makes it exciting. Earnhardt has been trending way downward over the last month or two, so hoping he can put together a couple solid finishes at some of his better tracks to make it.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Those of us with DirecTV are not getting to see the race since the NY tv stations are running #irenewatch.

[shafnutz05]

That sucks. Kind of crazy that it is supposed to be a beautiful starlit night in eastern Tennessee for the race. Hoping my power outage doesn't arrive till after midnight.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

secupp S.E. Cupp
Hmmm...not a good sign. RT @WilliamCheerboy @secupp Smoke hasn't said one word on the radio since race started.

[shafnutz05]

Junior needed that caution. Still, his competition in the points race (Stewart and Bowyer) are having horrible races. He's in good shape.

[shafnutz05]

Brad Keselowski is unreal right now...WOW

[Point Breeze Penguins]

Dude is way hot.

Remember that team won the title first year of the Chase.

[TheHammer24]

Brad Keselowski is unreal right now...WOW

You're not kidding. Pretty uneventful race. Keselowski Pit-road speeding strategy was brilliant. He knew that if he started between the two VASCAR lines, he could go as fast as he wanted to the first one. He'd then drill the breaks and wait for the person who crossed the previous line at the same time as him. In the end, it won him the race.

Hamlin, my boy, had a gutsy race. That's a huge 7th place at track he's not great at, especially considering Menard spun him. His biggest threats all had horrible races. As long as Boyer or Menard or Ambrose doesn't win, he's fine. In fact, if Keselowski catches Stewart (21 points), Hamlin will go to WC1 and Menard to WC2. Wow, I love the WC component.

[Kaizer]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sick Of Everyone Assuming He's A Good Driver

http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/artic ... s-a,20661/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[relantel]

Those of us with DirecTV are not getting to see the race since the NY tv stations are running #irenewatch.

The race was on 211 here, the ESPN2 alternate. Not that it does you any good now. Also, the DirecTV Hotpass channels (796-799 range) were up as well, though they featured the four drivers left in their head-to-head competition. Keselowski was one of them, think also the 17, 24 and 33. Kind of strange they had a bracket approach in previous weeks, but got to Bristol and had the final 4 up against the other 3, rather than have a semifinal, leading to a 2 & 24 final next week at Atlana.

Back at Michigan, the Hotpass channels had the matchups featured, such that in addition to the normal in-car for one driver, they had in car for both, plus the TV feed. They would alternate team radio audio. Only know this as I got tired of ESPN's commercials, and flipped over to see the 88/33 channel.

[Point Breeze Penguins]

I ended up watching the Keslowski feed on Hotpass.

[TheHammer24]

Is hotpass free on DirecTV? I.e. have I missed out on this?!!

[Point Breeze Penguins]

If it is I will only watch the race that way from now on.