Nascar 2020 - Phoenix - Spoiler Alert.

[GA_Boater]

We're at sunny Phoenix this weekend according to the forecasters - Sunny and dry through Monday. Hope they got it right.

We have news about the NextGen car and some updated race info for this year and next - All below in the News and Notes sections.

MRN's schedule for this weekend with on-track activities beginning Friday afternoon;

[h=1]Phoenix Schedule of Events[/h] All Times Eastern

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Friday, March 6
ARCA Menards Series Final Practice: 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Xfinity Series First Practice: 2:30 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (FS1)
Cup Series First Practice: 3:30 p.m.-4:25 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
ARCA Menards Series Qualifying: 4:30 p.m.
Xfinity Series Final Practice: 5:02 p.m.-5:27 p.m. (FS1)
Cup Series Final Practice: 5:30 p.m.-6:25 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150: 7:00 p.m. (MRN/FS1)

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Saturday, March 7
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 1:00 p.m. (FS1)
Cup Series Qualifying: 2:30 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
Radio Pre-Race: 3:30 p.m. (MRN)
TV Pre-Race: 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Xfinity Series LS Tractor 200: 4:00 p.m. (MRN/FS1)

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Sunday, March 8
Radio Pre-Race: 2:30 p.m. (MRN
TV Pre-Race: 3:00 p.m. (FOX)
Cup Series FanShield 500: 3:30 p.m. (MRN/FOX)

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News and Notes

• Spoiler Alert - One of the 2020 rules for short tracks and road courses is instead of the whale tail, the rear spoiler is only 2.75 inches instead of 8.
• The road course race at Sonoma will once again use the "carousel", joining Watkins Glen in returning to a full track.
• Smoke is back. Tony Stewart will race in the Xfinity Indy race, which is on the Indy road course this year.
• NextGen stuff
  • Yes, only one big nut to hold a wheel on.
    • According to a direct quote from NASFACTS - nascar will be using one bigger lung nut instead of several tiny ones now that many of the drivers have small children who are conern about choking harzard
    • ESPN has an An Ode to the Departing Four Lugnuts
  • Cast aluminum 18" wheels instead of steel wheels, Sidewalls on the new tires are very short compared to the current wheel and tire.
  • William Byron tested the NextGen car on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday's testing was cut short when the car went around and he hit the wall. Overall he seemed to happy with the car except the short tire sidewalls make the car harder to control when sliding. Some quotes - https://www.jayski.com/2020/03/03/next-gen-car-testing-at-auto-club-speedway/
• 2021 Track Updates
  • Daytona SpeedWeeks will be a week long instead of 2 weeks. That's a good change when this year Cup qualifying was on Sunday and the track was idle until Thursday, a complete waste of time.
  • The Destruction Derby known as the Clash will be on the Daytona road course instead of the oval. More reason to wreck 'em, but it reduces the amount of oval racing to emphasize the 500.
• Penalties at Fontana were loose lugnuts in the post-race check. Next year this check will be easier because a loose nut and wheel will be laying on tracks somewhere.
• TV ratings - Again because of schedule differences only Sunday's number means anything. 4.8 million viewers, down 6% from last year's third Cup race (at Vegas) but up 14% from last year's Auto Club race (which was the fifth event).
• Finally - With the COVID-19 outbreak, Nascar has issued guidelines which mimic those from the CDC. Everybody, please be careful out there.

iBoats Fantasy Live

• That guy from Georgia, not the one on the shores of the Black Sea, found an acorn at Fontana.
• 64osby is holding on to the overall lead by 1, that's ONE, point.
• The pole bonus pick locks at 2:30 PM EST on Saturday.

Good luck all,

Humpt

 

[GA_Boater]

First Cup just finished - Byron, Elliott, Keso, Bowyer and Busch1 are the 5 fastets.

Next and final practice is 5:30-6:25.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Byron was happy with the NextGen test except he hit the wall! Shorter sidewall should make them corner better, but what about longevity? Sure dont want more wear and more tire changes. That goes against lowering the cost they talked about at one time......

 

[GA_Boater]

Nascar will go broke with no fines for loose lugnuts.

Final Cup practice - Elliott, TWT, Almirola, Bowman and TDillon are the 5 fastest.

Pole locks at 2:30 EST tomorrow.

 

[GA_Boater]

Truex changed his motor and will start at the rear.

JHNemechek is moving to join him for a radiator change.

Pole locks at 2:30.

 

[GA_Boater]

Xfinity motto - Names are made here.

TWT has the X-Race pole.

 

[GA_Boater]

Because TWT and Keso are looking to make a name, two of these guys wanting to make a name were forced out.

5:
@mattmillsracing
74:
@BayleyCurrey
99:
@jjyeley1

 

[GA_Boater]

Elliott is on the Cup pole followed by Harvick, Hamlin, Larson, Blaney, Almirola, Busch1, Bowman DiBenedetto and The Whining Twerp.


Rosters lock at 3:40 PM DST tomorrow or 2:40 if you forget to change your clocks.

X-Race starts shortly on FS1.

 

[GA_Boater]

Brandon Jones wins the X-race with TWT coming in 3rd. :thumb:

Two drivers got into a tussle after the race.

 

[GA_Boater]

Here we go - Green for 75 lap 1st heat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Elliot led all laps through #15 - Half a sec. up over Harvick.

 

[GA_Boater]

Through 50 laps it's Elliot, Harvick. Lapped traffic is letting Harvick close up.

 

[GA_Boater]

1st caution on lap 58 for Stenhouse.

 

[GA_Boater]

Harvick got the lead out of the pits.

Restart on lap 63 and Harvick holds on until Caution #2 when Blaney and Hamlin crunch. Both are on my roster.

 

[GA_Boater]

Keso in it too.

 

[GA_Boater]

Harvick takes the heat with Elliott in second.

 

[WIMUSKY]

We'll be watching OSU vs MSU. MSU wins, they'll share the B1G regular season championship with Maryland and WI. Is that like kissing your sister? I don't have a sister..

 

[GA_Boater]

Watchin' BB in shorts? :smile:

Harvick leading after 2nd heat restart with Elliott pressuring and takes the lead over Harvick.

 

[GA_Boater]

Harvick back to the front. Harvick and Elliott didn't pit between heats.

 

[GA_Boater]

Yellow for ADillon scraping the wall after a tire goes down.