NASCAR - still shaking my head

[QC]

If you saw this week's race then you know what I'm talking about . . .

1) Trevor Bayne and "Team orders" - Ford basically admitted it. Roush denies it. Poor Trevor hates it. "I'm not happy about what this has become," Bayne wrote. "It's too premeditated. We should be able to go with whoever is around. I would have rather pulled over and finished last than tell [Gordon] I would work with him and then be strong armed into bailing."

2) My guy Burton coming up short, although I like Bowyer too and they worked so well together all day it had to be one of them.

3) The whole "Love-Bug" bump drafting tandems. I guess it was cool for a couple of races, but the Bayne/Gordon thing and the silliness at the end of pit road (they were slowing down to stay in sync with their "partner") is getting stupid. I absolutely LOVE that the teams outsmart NASCAR attempts at breaking the tandems up. A sort of racing Darwinism deal that results in whatever is fastest. The fact is the teams figured out how to keep these guys locked together indefinitely despite NASCAR tweaking the cooling system, fuel storage, the "plate" itself and on and on.

4) And now the 48 . . . Basically Chad told Jimmie that if he won he needed to bash in the back end on purpose. LOL, their little pre-race, last minute chat, was caught on the in car video/audio :facepalm:

BTW, I get most of my NASCAR news here: Jayski's I love this guy and what he has done from his house. Very simple, but comprehensive site

 

[sasto]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Like DW always said "a cat and mouse game"

Jayski has been in my favorate bar for several years now.

Jeff "The Mayor" Burton is a champion in my mind.....no matter what happens on track!

 

[QC]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

I knew I liked you

Even while shaking my head I am hopelessly addicted to NASCAR. Very unlikely if you knew me well, as Baseball is my favorite sport, and I complain that the NFL is flawed with too many stupid rules and no way to fix it. NASCAR's perfectly beautiful rule is "Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing". Gotta love the arrogance . . .

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Haven't seen so much love thrown Burtons way in a long time. The "Mayor" has been my guy for years. Was watching Clint when he was in Nationwide, or shall we say Busch series.

As far as the Bayne thing, Gordon had a deal with Casey Mears on the last restart until he heard Bayne was available. So Gordon dumped Casey then Bayne dropped Gordon.

I heard that Chad/Jimmie news as it broke on NASCAR radio today, which is where I get most of my info. I'm sure that's what will be talked about for the rest of the week. Some (Chad/Chocolate Meyers)tried to pass it off that NASCAR has such tight tolerences and all the bumpin and bangin at Dega, something could get tweeked out of specs. If they backed it into the wall after the race, they wouldn't have to worry about meeting any specs even tho they started out with a "legal" car b/4 the race. I say BS. Nobody deliberately wrecks a car unless they're trying to hide something. But as we know, ol' Jimmie and Junior forgot to go at the end.

Now NASCAR is talking about not letting the front of one bumper match the rear of another. Basically, making them at different heights. Supposedly to break up the tandems.

Just wait until fuel injection shows up next year. That will open up a whole nother can of worms...

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Jeff Burton is awesome, no doubt. I love Talladega, my favourite racetrack....But, the last couple of years of watching this, leaves me shaking my head. This isn't racing. I'd rather they went back to the drag bars across the roof, big spoiler. It was very intense watching them race all packed together. Dangerous yes, but very exciting, for me anyway. Maybe put some 3 or 4'' spikes across the back bumper to keep the cars off. I don't know what the answer is but I really hope things change for the next 'dega race.

My pick for the cup has to go to Tony Stewart. I am an Earnhardt fan but I'm not sure what the issue is with him. :facepalm: The last 3 years have been disappointing to say the least. There isn't much Henderick can do to improve his style.

Anyway, my 2 cents worth.

 

[JB]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Back in my day NASCAR was about cars and racing. Guys named Unser and Petty would help you out in the pits to get you on the track, then blow you in the weeds and buy you a beer. Jerry Unser taught me how to race in Honolulu Stadium (1/4mile dirt).

Now it is strictly big bux show business and entertainment. There are no race teams, only race corporations.

 

[QC]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

One of the attractions for me is that NASCAR is a business and it's not ashamed of that. So are the other major league sports. I wish Dodger Stadium had no advertisements on it's wall and that the only food you could get was a Dodger Dog, but things change and the ability to adapt means survival, so I get over that pretty quickly. I have always said the the role of the Sponsor in NASCAR for the most part keeps out the drugs and the scandals and the creeps. The other side of that coin is that competing for Sponsor dollars makes for an ever escalating game that includes the loss of the original flavor. I guess that is just part of the deal . . .

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

This just gets harder and harder for me, nearly lifelong avid Dale Earnhardt fan, then he died, racing.

I have never connected with another driver, I tried and tried with Jr. but he is far from the same type of driver his father was.

I still love NASCAR but I truly get my fix in local racing at my local NASCAR track, I have several teams I help out in different classes and honestly NASCAR has become just another reality show for me.

The tracks I can't miss are the short tracks Bristol, Martinsville but also The big MamaJama Daytona, after that ho hum, sad deal.....

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Late 60's through the 70's of the heyday of nascar for me(I used to capitalize nascar) They need to let the boys run, running a race with a cement block chained to your bumper is not racing. That said, nascar is a BIG business, and they run it like a big business and I for some reason keep watching it..

 

[QC]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

You really have to separate plate races from the rest. It is not a problem with the cars, but with the tracks. There is no "cement block" anywhere else . . . This week is a better indicator of the sport. I am a relative newbie. Only been watching since '98, but I quickly caught short track fever

 

[JB]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Well, I have to agree. Local short tracks do still have the flavor that to me was NASCAR. If they are dirt, so much the better.

 

[roscoe]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

They still race the old way on the road courses.

Check out the Nationwide races they held at Road America the last 2 years, 4 mile course with 14 turns, yeehaw !

Sidenote: Road America is probably the best drivers road course. But plan on damaging your car.

Max Papis posted a 19 minute highlight video,
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ofX4DQ&usg=AFQjCNESOXX2R0VkGJHx0PM1EQk4VggAfQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yikcLKtbHA



The "ringer" drivers at the road courses rarely if ever win, but they bring back racing to its purest, for a win, no points worries, etc.


I find it interesting when people complain about "team orders."

They've been around ever since they have had a manufacturers trophy.

They are just more public and vocal about it now.
Seems the owners can't keep their drivers mouths shut nowadays.

The rest of the circus is getting to be just that.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

First let me say anybody that doesn't give Burton a ton of credit knows nothing about racing.

Oh yeah Bowyer too. Both are great drivers.

Tallcanadien it would be great if your right about Stewart winning. Being a Stewart / Stewart Haas fan I'd love to see that. How about next year with Danica and Martin in the third Stewart Haas car?? Seriously boys I'm for the hot chick! She needs to stop slipping up and talking about her husband though. I know kind John Lennon like but oh well.

Personally I though it was going to be Harvick's shot but he's fading.

Oh and not just from living next to Daytona we had a great party watching Dega and everybody loved (except Jr fan but he's used to disappointment)

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

You really have to separate plate races from the rest. It is not a problem with the cars, but with the tracks. There is no "cement block" anywhere else . . . This week is a better indicator of the sport. I am a relative newbie. Only been watching since '98, but I quickly caught short track fever

Short tracks is what NASCAR really is. Those two huge superspeedways are an aberration to the true sport. Martinsville and Bristol, with Dover are what NASCAR's roots were. And Darlington was the original SuperSpeedway. Now everyone wants the 1.5 mile high banked tracks. They are better than the huge tri-ovals, but I'd rather see the track be 1 mile and under.
That said, I can live with the 2 by 2 racing at Dega and Daytona twice a year. Just wish it wasn't 4 times a year!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

I don't like the 1.5 miles tracks because more times than not they turn into fuel mileage races. Running half to 3/4 throttle just so you can "hopefully" make it to the end isn't racing. Bristol used to be fun to watch, but they screwed that track up too. Now you get long green flag runs until they throw a debris caution to bunch them up again. We've also got to the point if a driver gets tapped/rubbed he's complaining to NASCAR, with the exception of bump drafting. Rubbin' IS racin'.........

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Myself, I like the super speedways as well as the road courses, not a big fan of the short tracks, I like to see the drivers get out there and run, I would have to say Indy is also one of those super speedways, so it ain't just dega and daytona. There is never such a fond memory as I have of watching the Petty's, Dale senior and a host of others ramping up and heading down the straightaways at those big tracks.

 

[QC]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

I would have to say Indy is also one of those super speedways, so it ain't just dega and daytona.

I have to disagree with this . . . the flat corners at Indy make it work very well for NASCAR. The problem is the ability to run flat out. The closest thing to that (other than Dega and Daytona) now is Atlanta, and they still can't quite do it, so speeds stay under 200 for the most part. Fastest tracks for top speed now are CA, Michigan and a couple of the 1.5s. You sometimes see 208 MPH entering turn 1 on qualifying laps. I don't recall seeing 209 anywhere yet, but the point is they have to use the brakes or at least back out of the throttle. Solves the core issue, a car get into the stands.

 

[bassman284]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Indy corners at 12?, Dega and Daytona 30? to 33?.

Indy cars can run Indy flat out but Cup cars have to brake for the turns. About a 45 mph difference in lap speeds.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

Myself, I like the super speedways as well as the road courses, not a big fan of the short tracks,....

And this seems to be the current "majority" opinion, and the reason NASCAR keeps adding races at the 1.5 mile tracks, while eliminating races at Martinville and other short tracks. I don't think the road courses are going to increase anytime soon, though.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: NASCAR - still shaking my head

I don't think the road courses are going to increase anytime soon, though.

I hope not. Leave the road courses to the open wheel guys.....