Nascar - Painting in the Poconos Begins The 2nd Half of the Season

[GA_Boater]

14th Cup race this week, so the halfway point of the season begins the countdown to the playoffs. This week we have Cup and X-Men running at Pocono, while Truck are off by themselves at Texas. Once again only Cup 39 teams signed on to race. The Cup/X-Men and Truck schedules from MRN;



Here is the Truck schedule. They had 3 practices today and will qualify tomorrow followed by the race in the evening.



Weather for Long Pond, PA looks OK. Thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow at Texas, may be some rain delays.


News and Notes

• Dover Penalties - The Twerp loses his CC, tire changer and carrier for 4 races after a wheel came off because of no lugnuts. Same thing for #29 in the Truck series, same issue.
• Autoweek wasn't real happy with the overtime finish at Dover. They thought the race was a good one until the finish. Bring back the the Green-White-Checkers, I agree - http://autoweek.com/article/nascar/...p&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awracingdaily
• Nascar TV viewers are getting older. The average age of those watching Nascar on TV has gone up 9 years since 2006, to 58. Of 25 TV sports properties only 3 had average viewer age go down.
• Dover TV ratings - Down 16% from last year which was down 16% from 2015. Lowest rating since 1998. Maybe some of those viewers reached their expiration date.

iBoats Fantasy Live

Smokin'!, aspeck's iFL entry took the marbles on Sunday. 'speck's win earned him a nice big Congrats, Art.

TB2448 has another week on top of the overall leaderboard.​

Make your roster changes and good luck on Sunday.

Humpty_Boater, Esq.

 

[boatman37]

not a fan of Busch18 but i think that penalty was bull. nothing intentional there. there needs to be exceptions to these rules

 

[GA_Boater]

Well they give penalties for 1, 2, 3 or 4 loose or missing lugnuts. But all 5 and none were tightened because the changer didn't reverse the air wrench. What if the tire flew out and hit a crew member? They don't creep out of the pits.

Sounds fair to me, no matter what team?

 

[MTboatguy]

As it is written so it will be done, It is a standard penalty that covers this situation and they will not be appealing it. Kyle knew it was coming as soon as it happened last week.

 

[GA_Boater]

It's a rule that was put in place along with the post-race lugnut check. No point's or fines, so not as bad as it could have been.

Other news;

• Dale Jr. is starting Sunday's race from the back. The engine was changed after a missed shift for Turn 3 in his 8 practice laps this morning. Shifting at Pocono does add something interesting at this track.
• Nascar is looking at the loose tire rule after The Twerp and a Truck both had tires fall off. When or what is anyone's guess.
• After the rash of cars not clearing the multiple inspections at many races this year, Nascar is talking about reducing the number of tire sets available to teams not making inspection after several passes through the inspection lane. Losing 15 minutes of practice or held back from qualifying with the guaranteed starting spots for Charter teams means nothing. Having fewer tires is a big deal, a real reason to clean up the cars presented for inspection. Now if they would fix laser inspection!

 

[GA_Boater]

Cup qualifying - The Twerp is on the pole, followed by Truex, Kenseth, Blaney, Busch41, Keso, Larson, McMurray, Musky's Joey, Newman, McDowell and Harvick in the 12 spot.

Trucks are about to qualify from Texas and the race waves off in about 3 hours.

 

[GA_Boater]

Truck race is going well. 8 laps and 2 cautions for swiping the wall, one and then #2 on the restart.

 

[GA_Boater]

Nice (???) wreck to end the race. Peters flipped and was spinning like a top on the cab of the truck. They said he is OK.

Bell wins by a hair over Briscoe. The Fox Twitter feed of the wreck - https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/873365697883119616

 

[GA_Boater]

X-Men from Pocono is about to start on Fox.

 

[GA_Boater]

All Cup drivers are doing all the reporting and commentary. I guess the Fox X-Crew are with the fans NOT in the stands. Empty looking place.

 

[GA_Boater]

Keso wins Heat #1 and takes more points away from 2nd place Benjamin, an X-Reg.

 

[GA_Boater]

Keso takes more points away with a Heat #2 win.

Menard spins coming around Turn 3 after the heat yellow waved.

The Cup driver broadcast crew is really good. HA! What is this - Auditions?

 

[GA_Boater]

1st non-heat caution for Brendon Jones spinning and into the inside wall.

 

[GA_Boater]

Keso sweeps the heats with Allgaier 2nd.

 

[MTboatguy]

Boy, I didn't get to watch the X Men today, but I was able to watch the Indy Boys and you would have sworn you were watching a cup race, I have never seen so much banging going on in a open wheel race, there were only 8 cars left when the race ended and only 7 on the lead lap, race ended under yellow and Will Powers took the checkers, but it was a wild race!

The Indy guys been hanging out to much with the back street brawlers in cup these days!

 

[GA_Boater]

Is Danica running an IndyCar racing school?

Truex had to change his motor so he is moving to the back from the #2 starting spot.

 

[GA_Boater]

Dale Jr. changed his motor that cooked during the first practice, so he's back with Truex.

Did anyone see the simulator Gordon was using? It looked more like a flight sim. than a driving sim. with the wrap around video. Beats the heck out of the C-130 simulator with motion and visual I worked in the mid-late '60s

 

[GA_Boater]

Now Stenhouse to the rear for unapproved body adjustments. :tsk:

Only 36 more to move to the back! LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

Decent job sing the Anthem.

That was one old C-130, looked like a B model with no wing tanks.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Go Joey!