CaveLupum wrote:

grantwolf wrote: I preferred the restrictor plate races prior to the COT (before the two-by-two), back when you'd have lines of drafting cars passing the other line...then one forming in the middle...where you could go from 25th to 1st in 5-10 laps...a new leader practically every lap...and always a crazy *** finish.

Yesterday wasn't great, but is still better than what we got the last few years w/ the two-by-two, which was just annoying.

Pretty much spot on. Daytona and Talladega have sucked since the COT.

Daytona and Talladega have sucked since plate racing started.  The cars are too close, the racing is nothing like it used to be, and I believe it is actually more dangerous.

I realize that the days of 206 MPH laps and 212 MPH qual laps are over, but there just has to be a way to get these cars free-breathing and able to pass on their own again.

I know he has many detractors, myself and PackME..VT.. not included, but there are many fans that would be shocked to know how gracious and how good of a guy Tony Stewart is. 

I grew up pulling for Terry Labonte, but I guess I did just about a 180 when he really cut back and become non-competitive to go and throw my support behind Stewart (kind of like wrestling I guess, which I'm going to catch hell for referencing, all the kids cheer for Hulk Hogan and John Cena, but when they grow up, they pull for Andre the Giant or C.M. Punk).

Stewart on Sunday, after the 500, went to Halifax Health/Medical Center and met/visited with fans that were injured Saturday, individually, for over 2 hours (per Jayski, he didn't want it publicized, but ESPN and Marty Smith caught wind of it and had to make it something). 

I know it might seem insignificant to most of us, but I don't recall hearing about any other drivers doing the same.  Send their well wishes in front of a camera or on Twitter, but to go hang out with those fans and give them autographed hats, etc.. probably took a little of the sting off (except those that have retained John Morgan so they can sue).

Throw in the fact Smoke has give millions, yes, multiple, to Kyle Petty for the Victory Junction Gang Camps, he's probably one of, if not the most decent guy out there.

PackChem91 wrote:

wrcwolf wrote: Could be the case, but when NASCAR goes to Fox to negotiate the TV deal or when Fox sells ad space to companies for it's races, those numbers will be used over any number from Richmond, Va or Columbia, SC.

Yep, so now that the NASCAR leaders see the light, there will be about 5 women running next year...guaranteed though they will have to meet a certain "easy on the eye" requirement. 

And contrary to Hun's assertion, Jeff Gordon doesn't count :)


On flip side....maybe they can get the TVs they want in those big markets by adding sexy women, and then pull the races from the borefests that are California and Chicagoland
 since racing there has clearly not increased market share.

Nah. NASCAR won't think to do this, because that's what the executives in Daytona and Charlotte do best - not think.

Funny story on Smoke. We are at VIR and I go up to Tony saying that my bro is his front end mechanic. He says "that ***** mofo?" God help you.

packmanncsu wrote: I know he has many detractors, myself and PackME..VT.. not included, but there are many fans that would be shocked to know how gracious and how good of a guy Tony Stewart is. 

I grew up pulling for Terry Labonte, but I guess I did just about a 180 when he really cut back and become non-competitive to go and throw my support behind Stewart (kind of like wrestling I guess, which I'm going to catch hell for referencing, all the kids cheer for Hulk Hogan and John Cena, but when they grow up, they pull for Andre the Giant or C.M. Punk).

Stewart on Sunday, after the 500, went to Halifax Health/Medical Center and met/visited with fans that were injured Saturday, individually, for over 2 hours (per Jayski, he didn't want it publicized, but ESPN and Marty Smith caught wind of it and had to make it something). 

I know it might seem insignificant to most of us, but I don't recall hearing about any other drivers doing the same.  Send their well wishes in front of a camera or on Twitter, but to go hang out with those fans and give them autographed hats, etc.. probably took a little of the sting off (except those that have retained John Morgan so they can sue).

Throw in the fact Smoke has give millions, yes, multiple, to Kyle Petty for the Victory Junction Gang Camps, he's probably one of, if not the most decent guy out there.

+14

Fourthepack wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- SoonerWolf wrote:

Dale Jr. started his run too late. He had the speed. Danica didn't have the experience with draft/restrictor to go on the offensive.

Kudos to Keselowski and his crew for running 4th with a damaged car.

---------------------------------------------

Something about a polish name and NASCAR just doesn't seem right. This sport has long since buried its Southern roots. Saddens this ole boy.

Alan Kulwicki says HI!

Who do you think started the Polish Victory Lap?

PackChem91 wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote:

ATLPACK wrote: Not to bring the Nationwide crash back up...but this was being discussed quite a bit before the 500. This website has a great photo just prior to the front of the car being swallowed by the fence. You can clearly see both tires still in tact, and the car sitting just above the safer barrier.

No way the tire went over the fence from there. Most definitely went through the fence. One tire and the engine got caught up in the fencing...the other tire continued through the fence. I've been to enough races to know a tire can't get over the fence from where this car is sitting.

m.nbcnews.com/technology/techn...edown-1C8537538

For sure.  I saw it clearly on my TV from the sportscenter highlight Sunday morning.  The youtube video on the computer is not as good.  You can see the tire behind the fence AND rising on the video as it flies into the stands.  It would have to be the "magical tire" in order to go over the fence.

I am sure nascar knows it went through the fence, but they are probably trying to keep that to themselves as much as possible.

The video I saw, you could clearly see it flying over the fence.  One thought -- perhaps it got ripped off by the fence, fell back to teh track where it got punted by another car over the fence.

I don't know much about the technology...but could then not tether the tires to prevent them from rolling away?  Surely they've considred that before....I thought Indy went to that after the Charlotte fatalaties?

I read that they are tethered, but between the crash and the fence, the tether broke. 

The problem that DIS and NASCAR is going to have, is that the debris came through the fence at the access gate.  And if they find that the access gate was not properly closed, then they are really going to be on the line.  DIS/NASCAR would have been much better off if the tire had gone over the fence, because then, at least, they could have taken past accidents and studies to show that they did what they could to prevent this.  But if it went through the fence due to negligence, then NASCAR/DIS has a bigger problem.


GH

The old man rules!

55 on the pole!

http://www.thatsracin.com/2013/03/01/101823/mark-m artin-54-easily-outduels.html

Thats great news. I really like Mark and hope he can pull it off Sunday. On anoter note, see where Danica qualified (or didn't).

Bob Keselowski was racing ARCA at Talladega, Daytona, Atlanta, etc., back in the 80s when I crewed an ARCA car. That kid is from as much of a racing family as anyone in the south, and the area of the country he is from runs full body stock cars, not open wheel. 

colajacket wrote:

Fourthepack wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- SoonerWolf wrote:

Dale Jr. started his run too late. He had the speed. Danica didn't have the experience with draft/restrictor to go on the offensive.

Kudos to Keselowski and his crew for running 4th with a damaged car.

---------------------------------------------

Something about a polish name and NASCAR just doesn't seem right. This sport has long since buried its Southern roots. Saddens this ole boy.

Alan Kulwicki says HI!

Who do you think started the Polish Victory Lap?

Mark Martin in the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota on the pole for the Subway Fresh Fits 500K in Phoenix

go or go home that did not qualify
none

wolfer79 wrote: Mark Martin in the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota on the pole for the Subway Fresh Fits 500K in Phoenix

go or go home that did not qualify
none

Even at Daytona, they only had 45 cars enter for 43 spots.  That's one thing that made the "whatever" sponsored 250 qualifying races so bland.  Once one car fell out of each race, everyone pretty much went to cruise control.  Wasn't that long ago when there would be 60 cars vie for the 43 starting positions at Daytona.

I still say the way to do it is to franchise the car teams and only have 43.  It would help greatly in selling sponsorships back in the field if sponsors knew they had a spot every week.

espn is the suck with their nascar coverage on the sports ticker.  This morning I saw that Martin won the pole and danica qualified 40th.  That's all. 

FLWolf88 wrote: espn is the suck with their nascar coverage on the sports ticker.  This morning I saw that Martin won the pole and danica qualified 40th.  That's all. 

The media is wearing out the Danica story real fast.

NeverQuitPacker wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: espn is the suck with their nascar coverage on the sports ticker.  This morning I saw that Martin won the pole and danica qualified 40th.  That's all. 

The media is wearing out Danica real fast.

Nah, that would be Stenhouse, jr.

NeverQuitPacker wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: espn is the suck with their nascar coverage on the sports ticker.  This morning I saw that Martin won the pole and danica qualified 40th.  That's all. 

The media is wearing out the Danica story real fast.

It's not like they can talk about Dale Jr ever winning races...

Good friends with the guy who runs Stewart Haas racing and been Tony's main guy for a long time - he does more than most even hear about - he, Tony, is the one who makes most decisions on these or will call my friend randomly and say "hey I think we should go do xyz"

Tony opened up his shop for all our boys to visit one weekend. Tony didn't have to be there but he was and he was running around playing with these 6 year olds he had no idea who they were. From that visit he heard the story of one of the kids who's little brother was in the hospital fighting a rare cancer. Next thing you know the following day Tony showed up at the hospital to visit the kid and his family. The dad was amazed. Tony also made a nice donation to help with their medical bills.

---------------------------------------------
--- packmanncsu wrote:

I know he has many detractors, myself and PackME..VT.. not included, but there are many fans that would be shocked to know how gracious and how good of a guy Tony Stewart is. 

I grew up pulling for Terry Labonte, but I guess I did just about a 180 when he really cut back and become non-competitive to go and throw my support behind Stewart (kind of like wrestling I guess, which I'm going to catch hell for referencing, all the kids cheer for Hulk Hogan and John Cena, but when they grow up, they pull for Andre the Giant or C.M. Punk).

Stewart on Sunday, after the 500, went to Halifax Health/Medical Center and met/visited with fans that were injured Saturday, individually, for over 2 hours (per Jayski, he didn't want it publicized, but ESPN and Marty Smith caught wind of it and had to make it something). 

I know it might seem insignificant to most of us, but I don't recall hearing about any other drivers doing the same.  Send their well wishes in front of a camera or on Twitter, but to go hang out with those fans and give them autographed hats, etc.. probably took a little of the sting off (except those that have retained John Morgan so they can sue).

Throw in the fact Smoke has give millions, yes, multiple, to Kyle Petty for the Victory Junction Gang Camps, he's probably one of, if not the most decent guy out there.

---------------------------------------------

Hopefully the first of 2 bows this weekend at Phoenix!

52 Nationwide wins now for Rowdy...most all-time

EastChapelHill04Class wrote:

NeverQuitPacker wrote:

FLWolf88 wrote: espn is the suck with their nascar coverage on the sports ticker.  This morning I saw that Martin won the pole and danica qualified 40th.  That's all. 

The media is wearing out the Danica story real fast.

It's not like they can talk about Dale Jr ever winning races...

So true.

Hey, BTW, this is a good website for some insight into Engineering that goes into Nascar.   http://www.buildingspeed.org/blog/2013/02/secrets- of-the-gen-6-car-superstrength-windshields/

Couldn't do it in his own equipment, though. LOL!

EastChapelHill04Class wrote:

Hopefully the first of 2 bows this weekend at Phoenix!

52 Nationwide wins now for Rowdy...most all-time

Go Mark Martin!!  Would love to see the old fella win. Hasn't won in a long time, but 3rd last week was cool.

goturbackpack66 wrote: Go Mark Martin!!  Would love to see the old fella win. Hasn't won in a long time, but 3rd last week was cool.

Jinxy.  . . on pit road now.

Spoke too soon about Martin. LOL

Sure did Copper. But he ends up getting a free pass, could have been worse.

The Toyotas are having a horrible start to this year.

Martin got a 3rd last week in a Toyota. Since the restart Martin has moved from 36th to 25th, not bad.  Damn, I better shut-up. LOL.

39 hits the wall.  Looks like Packpride car is out. Heavy damage to right side.

NO BLOOMIN ONION ***************

Not much traffic here today, compared to the Daytona race.

Newman again!!

39 revisits the wall.  Looks like could be terminal this time.

He's through.

Were those some illegal immigrants I just saw??

Danica down!

That was a hard hit.

Jr. out front.

Blake002 wrote: Danica down!

Danica whining on MRN broadcast about having to park in the dirt. Yeah, Danica,  a little asphalt for you to park on and you'll be there. 

I'll say this for Danica (and obviously that wreck was not her fault), she knows what she is talking about and she seems to have a good attitude and grasp on what she needs to do.

copper2945 wrote: I'll say this for Danica (and obviously that wreck was not her fault), she knows what she is talking about and she seems to have a good attitude and grasp on what she needs to do.

+10

If I was betting on fuel mileage i'll go with Keslowski

Hamlin had some balls to go to the apron on that last lap to try to get by the 2 & 48