Nascar 2018 Race #15 - Michigan

[GA_Boater]

This week Trucks split off from X-Men and Cup with Trucks running at Texas and X-Men/Cup going at it in Michigan.

Texas has great weather today and tomorrow. Hot as Hades, but no rain. Michigan, I don't want to use the R word, but Saturday has 1.2 inches of R forecast and I'll guess the X-Race and other on track activities may be impacted. For the Cup race on Sunday, much improved and cooler.

39 Cup teams are on the entry list. The MRN schedules for Texas and Michigan;

[h=1]Texas Schedule of Events - Trucks
All Times Eastern[/h]

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Thursday, June 7
Camping World Truck Series First Practice: 4:05 p.m.-4:55 p.m.
Camping World Truck Series Final Practice: 6:05 p.m.-6:55 p.m

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Friday, June 8
Camping World Truck Series Qualifying: 5:45 p.m. (FS2)
Radio Pre-Race: 8:30 p.m. (MRN)
TV Pre-Race: 8:00 p.m. (FS1)
Camping World Truck Series PPG 400: 9:00 p.m. (MRN/FS1)

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[h=1]Michigan Schedule of Events - X-Men & Cup
All Times Eastern[/h]

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Friday, June 8
ARCA Final Practice: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Monster Energy Cup Series First Practice: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. (MRN/FS2)
Xfinity Series First Practice: 1:05 p.m.-1:55 p.m. (FS2)
ARCA Qualifying: 2:00 p.m.
Xfinity Series Final Practice: 3:05 p.m.-3:55 p.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series Qualifying: 4:00 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
ARCA Zomongo 200: 5:30 p.m.

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Saturday, June 9
Monster Energy Cup Series Second Practice: 9:05 a.m.-9:55 a.m. (MRN/FS1)
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 10:05 a.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series Final Practice: 12:00 p.m.-12:50 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
Radio Pre-Race: 1:00 p.m. (MRN)
TV Pre-Race: 1:00 p.m. (FS1)
Xfinity Series LTi Printing 250: 1:30 p.m. (MRN/FS1)

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Sunday, June 10
Radio Pre-Race: 1:00 p.m. (MRN)
TV Pre-Race: 1:30 p.m. (FOX)
Monster Energy Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400: 2:00 p.m. (MRN/FOX)

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News And Notes

• With the Michigan race sponsored by a gambling joint, is it prophetic that Delaware just approved sports betting, including auto racing, following the recent SCOTUS ruling?
• Nascar is considering use of the All-Star package, plates/splitter/aero/spoiler, at 2 or 3 races this year. The dumbing down of Nascar continues.
• Pocono penalties - The Twerp got a post-race L1 penalty because his X-Car car height was out of range. Crew Chief suspended 1 race, fined $10K and loss of 10 owner points.
  • What about The Twerp? Nothing, no points lost cuz he isn't eligible, no fine, no lost race win, no cucumbers and he still gets the winner's check. Am I the only one thinking there is something wrong with Nascar's penalty process that still rewards cheaters?
  • No other penalties.
• TV ratings - Down, continuing the 2018 spiral with every race this year having lower ratings and viewership from last year. Pocono got a 1.6/2.7M viewers, 2017 was 2.2/3.6M and 2015 earned a 2.3/3.6M viewers. 2016 was rain delayed, so the numbers don't mean much.
  • ESPN says that with Michigan moving to FOX from FS1, that there is good chance for better ratings. This is an interesting take since so far Fox has broadcast 9 of the 14 races this year. Which one had improved ratings?

iBoats Fantasy Live

• A first time winner at Pocono. Tiz got a narrow 8 point win to earn congrats and a
• FlaCowboy is sitting happy on top of the overall standings. He's enjoying a 204 point advantage over Trackchick Stars.
• Pole picks lock at 4:05 PM ET tomorrow.

Humpty_Boater

 

[GA_Boater]

Cup practice before qualifying is over.

9 cars went over 200 MPH! Blaney, The Twerp, Keso, Harvick, Elliott, Busch41, Bowyer, Menard and Almirola.

This will be fixed next year with the All-Star package. :facepalm:

Pole picking is locked at 4:05 with a line of thunder storms approaching from the WSW.

Watkins Glen is reporting;

.@WGI is pacing toward its fourth consecutive sellout of its 35,000-seat grandstand for the annual @MonsterEnergy NASCAR Cup Series race in August, per @TheGlenPrez. — The track is up 7% in overall ticket sales and typically sells general admission to another roughly 15K people.

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Maybe fans want to see more road races? ?

 

[GA_Boater]

Cup qualifying results;

Busch 41 on the pole and Keso, The Twerp, Harvick, Joey, Almirola, Stenhouse, Jones, Blanry, Hamlin, Newman and Bowyer follow.

Race rosters close at 2:11 PM ET on Sunday.

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Truck qualifying is in progress with the Truck race starting at 9:00 PM from Texas on FS1

 

[GA_Boater]

Johnny Sauter wins the Texas Truck race with no BuschWhackers in Texas

 

[GA_Boater]

Rain is messing up things at Michigan. The 1st Cup practice was shortened when rain fell, the 2nd Cup practice and X-Qualifying were scrubbed. The X-Race is due to start at 1:45 which appears to be in jeopardy. There may be a window to dry the track coming, but how long the window is, is anyone's guess.

For Cup race day tomorrow, still have a chance of rain, but much reduced. Race picks still lock at 2:11 tomorrow.

 

[MTboatguy]

Well I am not feeling optimistic about this race today.

 

[GA_Boater]

If it does go off, TV is switching from Fox to FS2 at 5PM.

 

[MTboatguy]

If it does go off, TV is switching from Fox to FS2 at 5PM.

That is a no go for me! No FS2 on my TV

Should have went fishing today, but we have big T Storms in the area!

 

[GA_Boater]

I'm gonna watch a race, but it only has 10 horsepower. LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

After the start of heat 3, the skies opened. With 2 heats done, the race was called with ADillon in front. Hemric, Reed, Custer and Menard are the rest of the top 5.

 

[GA_Boater]

A Triple Crown Winner - Justify!

 

[GA_Boater]

Still raining and a short gap is coming before it returns.

The Twerp, Hamlin and Jones, teammates, are starting at the back for flunking splitter inspection.

 

[GA_Boater]

Nascar doesn't give up! Had to bring the jet driers in for a pit stop to refuel. Probably changed right-side tires and cranked in a round of wedge, too. LOL

 

[MTboatguy]

Drivers Start Your Engines!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Atkins was lame....
Mowed, trimmed the lawn. Have a large yard. Started taking down the kids swingset saving some hardware like quick links....

Go Joey!!!

Someone wake up GA from his afternoon nap....:sleeping:

 

[GA_Boater]

They've started the race. Lap 19 and a comp. caution at lap 25.

Seems foggy.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Bubba and Ragan get together and around they go..

 

[GA_Boater]

1st caution for Bubba and Ragan after Bubba tapped Ragan. Light rain falling.

 

[GA_Boater]

Kenseth spins with 3 laps left the1st heat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Blaney wins heat 1.