2009 NASCAR running thread

[imjustagirl]

I love Jim Hunter as much as anyone...but I had no interest in ever going back to Darlington. Don't know why (aside from the fact I had to stay in Florence). Just held no charm for me.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

NASCAR at fault in plane crash that killed Lesa France's husband, the pilot and three people on the ground. The NTSB said NASCAR violated federal rules when it allowed the plane back in the air.

The safety board also said the crash resulted partly from sloppy maintenance record-keeping at NASCAR’s aviation unit. The organization has a fleet of planes comparable to a small charter operation or a tiny airline.

“I think we’re going to find that this accident started before the airplane even left the ground,” said one board member, Robert Sumwalt said. He said NASCAR “enabled this tragic, unnecessary crash.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=ap-nascarplanecrash&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

[Bubbler]

Bastards.

 

[playthrough]

NASCAR's gonna need a lot more money for those lawsuits than what they needed to make Mauricia Grant go away.

 

[KG]

If they indeed violated federal safety rules, which ultimately caused the crash, they deserve every ounce of punishment they receive, plus more.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Part 2 of Daytona Speedweeks starts this weekend.

TR.com reports that there are plenty of ad buys for the Daytona 500 but that advertising post-Daytona is down about 25 percent.

http://www.thatsracin.com/116/story/21993.html

And Jeremy Mayfield is back as co-owner/driver of a one-car team with Toyotas and full-season sponsorship.

http://www.thatsracin.com/232/story/22017.html

 

[expendable]

Part 2 of Daytona Speedweeks starts this weekend.

TR.com reports that there are plenty of ad buys for the Daytona 500 but that advertising post-Daytona is down about 25 percent.

http://www.thatsracin.com/116/story/21993.html

Down 25 percent, huh?...Hello, Vegas? Put the house on the No. 88 Chevrolet to win the Daytona 500. While you're at it, double it on him to be leading the points heading into the chase.

 

[Rough Mix]

Part 2 of Daytona Speedweeks starts this weekend.

TR.com reports that there are plenty of ad buys for the Daytona 500 but that advertising post-Daytona is down about 25 percent.

http://www.thatsracin.com/116/story/21993.html

And Jeremy Mayfield is back as co-owner/driver of a one-car team with Toyotas and full-season sponsorship.

http://www.thatsracin.com/232/story/22017.html

Remember when Mayfield was driving the Fingerhut/RCA car for Cale? Time flys..

 

[Sam Mills 51]

You know, Bristol and Talladega infield are really the only NASCAR experiences I'd still be open to.

Darlington's infield was a treat to watch from the press box back in the 80s and 90s ...

It didn't lose its luster a decade later.

 

[Rough Mix]

I never made it to Talladega or Bristol night race when I had a business reason to be at the track. Wish I would've gone at some point.

 

[Rough Mix]

Part 2 of Daytona Speedweeks starts this weekend.

TR.com reports that there are plenty of ad buys for the Daytona 500 but that advertising post-Daytona is down about 25 percent.

http://www.thatsracin.com/116/story/21993.html

And Jeremy Mayfield is back as co-owner/driver of a one-car team with Toyotas and full-season sponsorship.

http://www.thatsracin.com/232/story/22017.html

Remember when Mayfield was driving the Fingerhut/RCA car for Cale? Time flys..

Just so there's no confusion, I think it's a safe bet that what All Sport is paying is likely pennies on the dollar compared to AMP or Red Bull.

Do you think they'll last the year?

 

[DCaraviello]

Bristol won't drop a race. The places that would be a danger won't be because NASCAR will do what it takes to keep the races in Fontucky.

And as for the open weekend in August...you mean like Aug. 29?

http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2009/data/schedule.html

I'm more looking at the 9th and the 16th where there is a race penciled in but no name on the race.

This is sad and fascinating at the same time.

Races aren't going to be canceled and tracks will not start losing money.

In fact, Sprint Cup weekends typically return profits in the millions of dollars and up, sometimes way up.

Yes, there is a lot of pain among the teams.

And the two big track operators are publicly traded, so they'll try to bleed every dollar they can. But the two companies who run most of the races are still cash cows.

Last year, Speedway Motorsports Inc. had a net profit of about $65 million and a profit margin of 10.42 percent, while International Speedway Corp. netted roughly $123 million and a profit margin of 14.75 percent.

Nice work if you can get it.

Thank you. Been hearing this canard all offseason, on this board and elsewhere, about races being canceled because of the recession. Not going to happen. BLOGS! like to mention if offhand all the time, as if it's a foregone conclusion. The truth is that NASCAR is in the second year of an eight-year, $4.8 billion TV contract, and tracks get 65 percent of that cash. Barring food riots in the streets, races will go on.

Besides, everyone is focused on the wrong sport here. Golf is in a much more serious position. LPGA, European and Asian tour events have already been canceled. While the PGA Tour has a healthy reserve fund, anyone who watches TV knows that financial companies make up a large percentage of their sponsorship base. These days, that's unsteady ground.

 

[playthrough]

One race was canceled, but that was a truck race.

I think NASCAR and motorsports in general is getting more attention on economy problems than golf because of all the crewmen and layoffs. But I agree with you, golf is in bad shape. At least in racing, every big name shows up every weekend.

 

[kleeda]

I'm seeting the over-under on tonight's first wreck at Lap 2, Turn 4. What say you?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

I'm seeting the over-under on tonight's first wreck at Lap 2, Turn 4. What say you?

I had it at lap 17 of the ARCA race and still got shorted.

Helluva finish.

And the guy who was driving #23 in the ARCA race ought not be allowed near any racetrack again. He was hospitalized after causing that last wreck, as was the driver of the green/yellow car he tried to drive through (who had to be cut out of his car via the roof).

Frank Kimmel (44) was an innocent bystander.

Bobby Gerhart (5 car) was also hospitalized; he suffered a broken neck in 2007 at the Pocono ARCA race and his flat-tire-wall-crunch may have aggravated it.

 

[DanOregon]

I realize Fox isn't in the business of giving away free advertising, but I wish they'd give viewers good looks at the cars and the drivers at the start of the year, especially this year with so many faces in new places.
I reaize its probably moot though seeing the top 10-15 last year will be the same top 10-15 this year.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

I realize Fox isn't in the business of giving away free advertising, but I wish they'd give viewers good looks at the cars and the drivers at the start of the year, especially this year with so many faces in new places.

Speed Channel's been hitting that hard for days now. Where you been?

 

[budcrew08]

Part 2 of Daytona Speedweeks starts this weekend.

TR.com reports that there are plenty of ad buys for the Daytona 500 but that advertising post-Daytona is down about 25 percent.

http://www.thatsracin.com/116/story/21993.html

Down 25 percent, huh?...Hello, Vegas? Put the house on the No. 88 Chevrolet to win the Daytona 500. While you're at it, double it on him to be leading the points heading into the chase.

****in' conspiracy guys[/jr fanboi]

 

[DanOregon]

RCP has a good column from the Orlando Sentinal about Daytona slashing ticket prices, kind of on the heels of Tim Rosaforte's similar take on the PGA Tour with regard to fans.

Watching the qualifying today made me think the first month of the season might be pretty interesting. The off-season was like musical chairs and some pretty good drivers were left with crappy rides when the music stopped.

I do have a question though. What is the point of some teams only racing a limited schedule?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

RCP has a good column from the Orlando Sentinal about Daytona slashing ticket prices, kind of on the heels of Tim Rosaforte's similar take on the PGA Tour with regard to fans.

Watching the qualifying today made me think the first month of the season might be pretty interesting. The off-season was like musical chairs and some pretty good drivers were left with crappy rides when the music stopped.

I do have a question though. What is the point of some teams only racing a limited schedule?

You hope to do well in those few races to convince another sponsor to pay for running in some other races.