All Purpose NASCAR Thread

[Jeff Gluck]

That's Kevin Harvick's house, I think. Recognized it from NASCAR Drivers 360. Yes, I watched that show. Shut up.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Wondering if some people who are actually IN Daytona can provide some insight:
Outside of Tony Stewart and Mark Martin -- who will complain about restrictor plate racing at the drop of a hat -- has anybody in the garage complained about the bump drafting?
(I apologize, I haven't had a chance to peruse jayski yet today).
I think it's interesting, especially on the heels of Nate's USAT cover story about the heir apparent to Dale Sr., that Stewart complained, Junior said there's nothing you can do about it, and NASCAR basically sided with Stewart. Part of it obviously has to do with Stewart being the defending champ. But I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed (Jr. complained and Stewart shrugged it off).

Elliott Sadler looked up from his baloney burger to blame Jimmie Johnson's bump-draft for causing his wreck at Talladega last fall. Johnson blamed Earnhardt Jr. for pushing him too aggressively from behind, forcing the wreck. Ricky Rudd had some less than nice things to say about it at Daytona last year, and Junior caused the 25-car "Big One" wreck at Talladega last May with a bump-draft of Mike Wallace. Junior, of course, promptly said it was Johnson's fault for moving up the track at the same time he tapped Wallace.

And under the aerodynamic skin, these days a Nextel Cup car looks like it has a cow-catcher for a front bumper. Trouble is, you can't take some of the steel out without making it less safe. Maybe the Car of Tomorrow (which will punch a bigger hole in the air than the current models) will alleviate the problem by making it easier to draft.

Also, I disagree with coolpapa's prediction of failure for the Aikman/Staubach team. Simply because of who they are, they're gonna attract sponsorship. Because Labonte is automatically making these first few races, that guarantees money. If they do the right thing and dump that money back in the business, they could be OK. I'll confess that I don't know much about their organization -- who's running the shop, where they're getting their engines -- but from a money standpoint, they're five or six steps ahead of most one-car startups.

They have major sponsorship from DLP HDTV by Texas Instruments, they're getting their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing and Bill Saunders (former CEO of HighwayMaster, competed in the SCCA Trans Am series for six years with two wins in his final season), who once ran that Trans Am team with Paul Gentilozzi, who's now one of the principals in the Champ Car World Series. But all that said, I'm still taking a wait-and-see. Open-wheel and desert-racing mogul Cal Wells came in with two cars with major sponsorship (Tide and McDonald's) in 2001 and his team has absolutely flopped in NASCAR. McDonald's didn't even stay with him for a full season, and the Tide ride has floundered with only occasional success.

 

[dog428]

Wondering if some people who are actually IN Daytona can provide some insight:
Outside of Tony Stewart and Mark Martin -- who will complain about restrictor plate racing at the drop of a hat -- has anybody in the garage complained about the bump drafting?
(I apologize, I haven't had a chance to peruse jayski yet today).
I think it's interesting, especially on the heels of Nate's USAT cover story about the heir apparent to Dale Sr., that Stewart complained, Junior said there's nothing you can do about it, and NASCAR basically sided with Stewart. Part of it obviously has to do with Stewart being the defending champ. But I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed (Jr. complained and Stewart shrugged it off).

Elliott Sadler looked up from his baloney burger to blame Jimmie Johnson's bump-draft for causing his wreck at Talladega last fall. Johnson blamed Earnhardt Jr. for pushing him too aggressively from behind, forcing the wreck. Ricky Rudd had some less than nice things to say about it at Daytona last year, and Junior caused the 25-car "Big One" wreck at Talladega last May with a bump-draft of Mike Wallace. Junior, of course, promptly said it was Johnson's fault for moving up the track at the same time he tapped Wallace.

And under the aerodynamic skin, these days a Nextel Cup car looks like it has a cow-catcher for a front bumper. Trouble is, you can't take some of the steel out without making it less safe. Maybe the Car of Tomorrow (which will punch a bigger hole in the air than the current models) will alleviate the problem by making it easier to draft.

Also, I disagree with coolpapa's prediction of failure for the Aikman/Staubach team. Simply because of who they are, they're gonna attract sponsorship. Because Labonte is automatically making these first few races, that guarantees money. If they do the right thing and dump that money back in the business, they could be OK. I'll confess that I don't know much about their organization -- who's running the shop, where they're getting their engines -- but from a money standpoint, they're five or six steps ahead of most one-car startups.

They have major sponsorship from DLP HDTV by Texas Instruments, they're getting their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing and Bill Saunders (former CEO of HighwayMaster, competed in the SCCA Trans Am series for six years with two wins in his final season), who once ran that Trans Am team with Paul Gentilozzi, who's now one of the principals in the Champ Car World Series. But all that said, I'm still taking a wait-and-see. Open-wheel and desert-racing mogul Cal Wells came in with two cars with major sponsorship (Tide and McDonald's) in 2001 and his team has absolutely flopped in NASCAR. McDonald's didn't even stay with him for a full season, and the Tide ride has floundered with only occasional success.

Somewhere around the middle of last season it became really easy for guys to blame Johnson for everything. I don't know if it stemmed from them thinking Knaus was cheating and getting away with it or if Jimmie slept with somebody's sister, but damn they turned on him. If not for Gordon, dude wouldn't have had a friend in the world ... and I'm not so sure how committed Gordon was.

You're right about the Aikman/Staubach team. And that was my point. I wasn't saying they were going to be a success, just that you can't lump them in with the ain't-no-doubt-failure's-on-the-way teams.

 

[Boom_70]

Wondering if some people who are actually IN Daytona can provide some insight:
Outside of Tony Stewart and Mark Martin -- who will complain about restrictor plate racing at the drop of a hat -- has anybody in the garage complained about the bump drafting?
(I apologize, I haven't had a chance to peruse jayski yet today).
I think it's interesting, especially on the heels of Nate's USAT cover story about the heir apparent to Dale Sr., that Stewart complained, Junior said there's nothing you can do about it, and NASCAR basically sided with Stewart. Part of it obviously has to do with Stewart being the defending champ. But I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed (Jr. complained and Stewart shrugged it off).

Elliott Sadler looked up from his baloney burger to blame Jimmie Johnson's bump-draft for causing his wreck at Talladega last fall. Johnson blamed Earnhardt Jr. for pushing him too aggressively from behind, forcing the wreck. Ricky Rudd had some less than nice things to say about it at Daytona last year, and Junior caused the 25-car "Big One" wreck at Talladega last May with a bump-draft of Mike Wallace. Junior, of course, promptly said it was Johnson's fault for moving up the track at the same time he tapped Wallace.

And under the aerodynamic skin, these days a Nextel Cup car looks like it has a cow-catcher for a front bumper. Trouble is, you can't take some of the steel out without making it less safe. Maybe the Car of Tomorrow (which will punch a bigger hole in the air than the current models) will alleviate the problem by making it easier to draft.

Also, I disagree with coolpapa's prediction of failure for the Aikman/Staubach team. Simply because of who they are, they're gonna attract sponsorship. Because Labonte is automatically making these first few races, that guarantees money. If they do the right thing and dump that money back in the business, they could be OK. I'll confess that I don't know much about their organization -- who's running the shop, where they're getting their engines -- but from a money standpoint, they're five or six steps ahead of most one-car startups.

They have major sponsorship from DLP HDTV by Texas Instruments, they're getting their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing and Bill Saunders (former CEO of HighwayMaster, competed in the SCCA Trans Am series for six years with two wins in his final season), who once ran that Trans Am team with Paul Gentilozzi, who's now one of the principals in the Champ Car World Series. But all that said, I'm still taking a wait-and-see. Open-wheel and desert-racing mogul Cal Wells came in with two cars with major sponsorship (Tide and McDonald's) in 2001 and his team has absolutely flopped in NASCAR. McDonald's didn't even stay with him for a full season, and the Tide ride has floundered with only occasional success.

Somewhere around the middle of last season it became really easy for guys to blame Johnson for everything. I don't know if it stemmed from them thinking Knaus was cheating and getting away with it or if Jimmie slept with somebody's sister, but damn they turned on him. If not for Gordon, dude wouldn't have had a friend in the world ... and I'm not so sure how committed Gordon was.

You're right about the Aikman/Staubach team. And that was my point. I wasn't saying they were going to be a success, just that you can't lump them in with the ain't-no-doubt-failure's-on-the-way teams.

These drivers are all pampered babies. Its part of reason why NASCAR is just not as engaqging any more.

I long for the days of LeRoy Yarborough, David Pearson and the Allison Brothers. It was much more interesting when Junior Johnson and the Woods Brothers were car owners instead of some corporate entity.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Wondering if some people who are actually IN Daytona can provide some insight:
Outside of Tony Stewart and Mark Martin -- who will complain about restrictor plate racing at the drop of a hat -- has anybody in the garage complained about the bump drafting?
(I apologize, I haven't had a chance to peruse jayski yet today).
I think it's interesting, especially on the heels of Nate's USAT cover story about the heir apparent to Dale Sr., that Stewart complained, Junior said there's nothing you can do about it, and NASCAR basically sided with Stewart. Part of it obviously has to do with Stewart being the defending champ. But I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed (Jr. complained and Stewart shrugged it off).

Elliott Sadler looked up from his baloney burger to blame Jimmie Johnson's bump-draft for causing his wreck at Talladega last fall. Johnson blamed Earnhardt Jr. for pushing him too aggressively from behind, forcing the wreck. Ricky Rudd had some less than nice things to say about it at Daytona last year, and Junior caused the 25-car "Big One" wreck at Talladega last May with a bump-draft of Mike Wallace. Junior, of course, promptly said it was Johnson's fault for moving up the track at the same time he tapped Wallace.

And under the aerodynamic skin, these days a Nextel Cup car looks like it has a cow-catcher for a front bumper. Trouble is, you can't take some of the steel out without making it less safe. Maybe the Car of Tomorrow (which will punch a bigger hole in the air than the current models) will alleviate the problem by making it easier to draft.

Also, I disagree with coolpapa's prediction of failure for the Aikman/Staubach team. Simply because of who they are, they're gonna attract sponsorship. Because Labonte is automatically making these first few races, that guarantees money. If they do the right thing and dump that money back in the business, they could be OK. I'll confess that I don't know much about their organization -- who's running the shop, where they're getting their engines -- but from a money standpoint, they're five or six steps ahead of most one-car startups.

They have major sponsorship from DLP HDTV by Texas Instruments, they're getting their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing and Bill Saunders (former CEO of HighwayMaster, competed in the SCCA Trans Am series for six years with two wins in his final season), who once ran that Trans Am team with Paul Gentilozzi, who's now one of the principals in the Champ Car World Series. But all that said, I'm still taking a wait-and-see. Open-wheel and desert-racing mogul Cal Wells came in with two cars with major sponsorship (Tide and McDonald's) in 2001 and his team has absolutely flopped in NASCAR. McDonald's didn't even stay with him for a full season, and the Tide ride has floundered with only occasional success.

Somewhere around the middle of last season it became really easy for guys to blame Johnson for everything. I don't know if it stemmed from them thinking Knaus was cheating and getting away with it or if Jimmie slept with somebody's sister, but damn they turned on him. If not for Gordon, dude wouldn't have had a friend in the world ... and I'm not so sure how committed Gordon was.

You're right about the Aikman/Staubach team. And that was my point. I wasn't saying they were going to be a success, just that you can't lump them in with the ain't-no-doubt-failure's-on-the-way teams.

These drivers are all pampered babies. Its part of reason why NASCAR is just not as engaqging any more.

I long for the days of LeRoy Yarborough, David Pearson and the Allison Brothers. It was much more interesting when Junior Johnson and the Woods Brothers were car owners instead of some corporate entity.

Somebody's been playing with Google, I see.

Too bad he misspelled both the first and last name of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers, LeeRoy Yarbrough (no relation to Cale Yarborough, another NASCAR legend).

Boomer, since you're a NASCAR noob, you may now fetch each of the board's gearheads one bottle of Sam Adams apiece.

 

[Boom_70]

Wondering if some people who are actually IN Daytona can provide some insight:
Outside of Tony Stewart and Mark Martin -- who will complain about restrictor plate racing at the drop of a hat -- has anybody in the garage complained about the bump drafting?
(I apologize, I haven't had a chance to peruse jayski yet today).
I think it's interesting, especially on the heels of Nate's USAT cover story about the heir apparent to Dale Sr., that Stewart complained, Junior said there's nothing you can do about it, and NASCAR basically sided with Stewart. Part of it obviously has to do with Stewart being the defending champ. But I wonder what would happen if the roles were reversed (Jr. complained and Stewart shrugged it off).

Elliott Sadler looked up from his baloney burger to blame Jimmie Johnson's bump-draft for causing his wreck at Talladega last fall. Johnson blamed Earnhardt Jr. for pushing him too aggressively from behind, forcing the wreck. Ricky Rudd had some less than nice things to say about it at Daytona last year, and Junior caused the 25-car "Big One" wreck at Talladega last May with a bump-draft of Mike Wallace. Junior, of course, promptly said it was Johnson's fault for moving up the track at the same time he tapped Wallace.

And under the aerodynamic skin, these days a Nextel Cup car looks like it has a cow-catcher for a front bumper. Trouble is, you can't take some of the steel out without making it less safe. Maybe the Car of Tomorrow (which will punch a bigger hole in the air than the current models) will alleviate the problem by making it easier to draft.

Also, I disagree with coolpapa's prediction of failure for the Aikman/Staubach team. Simply because of who they are, they're gonna attract sponsorship. Because Labonte is automatically making these first few races, that guarantees money. If they do the right thing and dump that money back in the business, they could be OK. I'll confess that I don't know much about their organization -- who's running the shop, where they're getting their engines -- but from a money standpoint, they're five or six steps ahead of most one-car startups.

They have major sponsorship from DLP HDTV by Texas Instruments, they're getting their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing and Bill Saunders (former CEO of HighwayMaster, competed in the SCCA Trans Am series for six years with two wins in his final season), who once ran that Trans Am team with Paul Gentilozzi, who's now one of the principals in the Champ Car World Series. But all that said, I'm still taking a wait-and-see. Open-wheel and desert-racing mogul Cal Wells came in with two cars with major sponsorship (Tide and McDonald's) in 2001 and his team has absolutely flopped in NASCAR. McDonald's didn't even stay with him for a full season, and the Tide ride has floundered with only occasional success.

Somewhere around the middle of last season it became really easy for guys to blame Johnson for everything. I don't know if it stemmed from them thinking Knaus was cheating and getting away with it or if Jimmie slept with somebody's sister, but damn they turned on him. If not for Gordon, dude wouldn't have had a friend in the world ... and I'm not so sure how committed Gordon was.

You're right about the Aikman/Staubach team. And that was my point. I wasn't saying they were going to be a success, just that you can't lump them in with the ain't-no-doubt-failure's-on-the-way teams.

These drivers are all pampered babies. Its part of reason why NASCAR is just not as engaqging any more.

I long for the days of LeRoy Yarborough, David Pearson and the Allison Brothers.  It was much more interesting when Junior Johnson and the Woods Brothers were car owners instead of some corporate entity.

Somebody's been playing with Google, I see.

Too bad he misspelled both the first and last name of one of NASCAR's greatest drivers, LeeRoy Yarbrough (no relation to Cale Yarborough, another NASCAR legend).

Boomer, since you're a NASCAR noob, you may now fetch each of the board's gearheads one bottle of Sam Adams apiece.

hah - real NASCAR fans are certainly not drinking Sam Adams. Now we know you are a fraud.

I have forgotten more racing than you know. I grew up in Iradel county where the racing was pretty much invented . You probably do not know that though.

 

[Jeff Gluck]

A sense of humor is always appreciated, in my book.

With that in mind, did anyone see Tony Stewart bump draft the pace car in the first qualifying race today?

Is anyone watching the Gatorades?

 

[Moderator1]

Who beat the twins?

 

[jimmyu]

Boom,

Its spelled Iredell County.
If you grew up there, why can't you spell it?

 

[Moderator1]

Who beat the twins?

 

[Boom_70]

Boom,

Its spelled Iredell County.
If you grew up there, why can't you spell it?

Jimmy - you should know by now that I can barely spell my name the same way twice. I think it may be too much moon shine in my youth.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Who beat the twins?

Elliott Sadler beat the first one, Jeff Gordon's winning the second.

 

[Moderator1]

You go JGo!

 

[Inky_Wretch]

You go JGo!

Nobody who wears Birks should be cheering for Jeff Gordon.

 

[Moderator1]

So, you one-a them F.A.G.'s or something?

 

[Double J]

These drivers are all pampered babies. Its part of reason why NASCAR is just not as engaqging any more.

I long for the days of LeRoy Yarborough, David Pearson and the Allison Brothers.  It was much more interesting when Junior Johnson and the Woods Brothers were car owners instead of some corporate entity.

Why don't you ask Bobby Allison if Junior Johnson's cars were corporate-owned? He certainly seemed to think so when he used to refer to Darrell Waltrip's No. 11 Mountain Dew ride as "the company car."

You go JGo!

Nobody who wears Birks should be cheering for Jeff Gordon.

Gordon rules. Face it.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

No, I'm a ABG "Anybody But Gordon." I like Tony Stewart because he's a bit of an ass.

I'd like Woh Buhdun to win just so I could hear that accent.

 

[Jeff Gluck]

So does this pretty much knock out any chance Riggs might have had to make the Chase already? Not that he was a major contender, but it was possible. How could he possibly make up enough points? I don't see it now.

 

[dog428]

This here should bring a smile, Inky.

http://www.thebigshow.com/additions/roughcuts.html

Make sure your sound is on.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Nice to see Mark Martin make a successful transition into the What ever happened to? Truck series with the Daytona pole.

Jeff, err, I think it knocks Riggs' chances of making the Chase lasting the season down to even money.

Riggs' missing the race can be attributed to two factors: A busted gear during qualifying and a jack problem during his final pit stop yesterday. In other words, stupid ****.

He won't get better than 15th in the standings now.