At 8/14/09 02:04 AM, Gooch wrote: Well in order to have a rebound year, they're going to have to try and perform strong the rest of the year. If they do that, it'll be easier to evaluate what they need to improve on for the next season.

Not necessarily gooch. In most drivers cases yes, but you're talking about one of the best superspeedway drivers of all time starting the season on a superspeedway. All he needs is a good car, good vibe, top 5 finish at daytona and he's back in business.

At 8/13/09 06:30 PM, michelinman wrote: NASCAR was exciting for DECADES without the chase system, and I think they really tainted a lot of history by instating it. What do you guys think?

The main issue I had was that Kenseth ran away with the title by being consistent, as opposed to winning lots of races. I think that while NASCAR made a pretty poor decision to install a playoff for the final 10 races to the end of the season.

I think that the main solution to the issue would be to place more emphasis on wins - more points in the championship - an extra 20-25 points for the winner would serve to push drivers like Mark Martin up the rankings, as they have had quite a consistant season, but 4 wins would be an extra 100 points, pushing him up 4 spots. Of course, this would only mean that Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have realistic chances of winning the championship.

Also, how about some bonus points for pole positions? It's something of a specialist subject for Brian Vickers at present, but has been the stomping ground of Ryan Newman at one point. I'd suggest 5 points for the pole winner (none if qualifying is rained out)

At 8/14/09 03:31 AM, Gooch wrote: All I know is that I'm confident Lance McGrew can get the team turned around for next season.

Giving him this season to get used to working with the personnel and the equipment will pay dividends for next year. When the program comes around for 2010, I am confident that Dale Jr. will be able to emerge from the ashes of the 2009 season and build a successful run.

Didn't there used to be 5 points for the pole? I thought the way it worked was 5 points for the pole, and 5 for leading a lap. Or is it just 5 for most laps led, and 5 for leading a lap?

At 8/14/09 09:35 AM, michelinman wrote: Didn't there used to be 5 points for the pole? I thought the way it worked was 5 points for the pole, and 5 for leading a lap. Or is it just 5 for most laps led, and 5 for leading a lap?

5 points for leading a lap and a further 5 points for leading the most laps. I've never been aware of points awarded for Pole Position.

Maybe that was just it. I remember, I think it was Ryan Newmans sophomore year, when he was getting the pole like once every two races, there was a big controversy over it. As i sit here and think though, I'm pretty sure that there wasn't points given for it. I agree that there definitely should be.

A lot of guys don't take qualifying THAT serious because if they have a good car, they don't want to toy with it by running as fast as a lap as they can, knowing they can just cruise the pack come race day. I think a 10 or 25 point award to the driver on the pole would decrease that, as drivers like Newman and Vickers would be getting an extra 50 - 150 points every year, and I think they deserve that because obviously they push themselves to excel on qualifying day. Plus it would make qualifying, which is pretty dull, a lot more interesting.

At 8/14/09 10:40 AM, michelinman wrote: Maybe that was just it. I remember, I think it was Ryan Newmans sophomore year, when he was getting the pole like once every two races, there was a big controversy over it. As i sit here and think though, I'm pretty sure that there wasn't points given for it. I agree that there definitely should be.

It's something that got mentioned in Track Smack a few times, but other than that, I think it's something that needs to be discussed by the bosses.

A small sign of things to come from Team 88? 15th place qualifying for Michigan could mean a decent run tomorrow... possibly... maybe...

Nah, who am I kidding?

Well, Vickers came through with the win from the pole - perhaps he's a better driver than Ryan Newman after all.

Dale Jr even managed 3rd, which is a very welcome boost to the program this year. I think that maybe it's a sign of things to come with Lance McGrew, that we've been waiting for.

1 Brian Vickers
2 Jeff Gordon
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4 Carl Edwards
5 Sam Hornish Jr.
6 Casey Mears
7 Joey Logano
8 Clint Bowyer
9 David Reutimann
10 Denny Hamlin

3rd is definitely impressive. That takes some serious work, and obviously he's got a good car. It should be interesting. I'd like to see him get a top 5 to get their moral up and finish the season strong. I like Gordon for the win though. Hendrick really has this track on lock for qualifying though huh?

At 8/16/09 09:23 PM, JKMonkey wrote:

At 8/16/09 06:13 PM, Coop83 wrote:
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

^^ there were a few laps where I seriously thought Earnhardt Jr. would win the race, it would have been nice considering he hasnt won since June of 08

I think that he looked strong after pitting out of sequence for that vibration, then he seemed to have a faster car, but I think he burnt through his good rubber on the tyres early on in a run, leaving him short of chasing down Vickers and Gordon.

Still, green shoots and progress for the 88 team. Though 500 points is a little (a lot) too much to make up in order to get a chase berth this year.

Hey ill join.

I just found this thread. my favorite driver is Jeff Gordon #24. cant wait for the season to start back up next weekend!

At 2/3/10 08:08 PM, gamewiz202 wrote: I just found this thread. my favorite driver is Jeff Gordon #24. cant wait for the season to start back up next weekend!

Wow, NASCAR fans are few and far between - I'm a die hard Dale Jr. fan, so hopefully we'll be able to annexe 2009 as a really bad blip and get on with some serious racing and winning.

Do you get the feeling that Gordon's Drive for Five is doomed from the start? How about Jimmie Johnson's first Drive for Five this year? Maybe his streak will come to an end.

At 2/4/10 03:50 AM, Coop83 wrote: Wow, NASCAR fans are few and far between - I'm a die hard Dale Jr. fan, so hopefully we'll be able to annexe 2009 as a really bad blip and get on with some serious racing and winning.

Seriously. He has to do something besides look pretty if he want to follow in dad's footprints.

Do you get the feeling that Gordon's Drive for Five is doomed from the start? How about Jimmie Johnson's first Drive for Five this year? Maybe his streak will come to an end.

Hendrick Motorsports is light years ahead of the competition so I think those two will do well. I'm predicting more of the same with Jimmie and I don't think Gordon is overly doomed as you say. Maybe Stewart has a crew that could compete with them but that still no where close.

Oh yeah I'm predicting the Danica to be a flop. :P

At 2/4/10 04:27 AM, reverend wrote:

At 2/4/10 03:50 AM, Coop83 wrote: Wow, NASCAR fans are few and far between - I'm a die hard Dale Jr. fan, so hopefully we'll be able to annexe 2009 as a really bad blip and get on with some serious racing and winning.

Seriously. He has to do something besides look pretty if he want to follow in dad's footprints.

Well, we'll see, as a lot of people are talking about next season as his make or break season, where he could be staring down the barrel of a completely ruined career if he doesn't come up with the goods.

Do you get the feeling that Gordon's Drive for Five is doomed from the start? How about Jimmie Johnson's first Drive for Five this year? Maybe his streak will come to an end.

Hendrick Motorsports is light years ahead of the competition so I think those two will do well. I'm predicting more of the same with Jimmie and I don't think Gordon is overly doomed as you say. Maybe Stewart has a crew that could compete with them but that still no where close.

JGR might be another team to throw in there, since they've been the leaders with the Toyota brand. I wonder if the Camrys will suffer from stuck gas pedals? Not necessarily a bad thing at Daytona though :P

Oh yeah I'm predicting the Danica to be a flop. :P

Yeah, she looks like a female Dale Jr - getting a pretty good contract, with little to show for it. At least she's got some talent to get herself there. I'll be watching the Nationwide results with interest though.

At 2/4/10 03:50 AM, Coop83 wrote: I'm a die hard Dale Jr. fan

Do you get the feeling that Gordon's Drive for Five is doomed from the start? How about Jimmie Johnson's first Drive for Five this year? Maybe his streak will come to an end.

Jr is pretty good but I really hope he gets at least 1 win this year..
Although i do like Jimmie i hope he doesnt win this years championship, 4 in a row is enough seriously. I hope Gordon will get his 5th within the next 1-3 years but right now Jr needs it the most, at least in my opinion.

Did anyone watch the Bud Shootout on Saturday night?

I wish Dale Earnhardt was still alive. That guy was always fun to watch.

At 2/4/10 04:27 AM, reverend wrote: Oh yeah I'm predicting the Danica to be a flop. :P

I'm so sick of all this hype about her. She got 6th in an ARCA race. Frank Kimmel used to DOMINATE ARCA. Like won the championship every year, and he couldn't even compete in Nationwide, Let alone Nextel. She's overrated. LOOONG way to go before she can be labeled a competitor.

Well, the ramblings about Danica aside, we've got to concentrate on some real racing - The Gatorade Duels are tomorrow night and we've got Hendricks on the pole for both of these races. Time to get yourselves warmed up for some racing coverage.

I might see if I can get a package to watch these events... probably not, since I think that Sky Sports aren't showing these races, just the 500 itself :(

At 2/10/10 11:03 AM, JKMonkey wrote: He's a great driver in the peak of his career and definitely has another Sprint Cup win in his future.

Yeah, that's what they said of Gordon when he had just won his fourth :P

Still, I fear you might be right. I don't want to see NASCAR get all rail-roaded by one guy always winning, like Michael Schumacher did. At least Johnson is winning by consistently performing well in the chase, as opposed to winning every single race out there, like Schuey did.

It's not like Johnson could expect Dale Jr, Gordon or Mark Martin to hold up traffic for him, like the Ferrari drivers used to.

Did anyone around here see Sports Illustrated's article on the 1979 Daytona 500? Freakin' classic, man.

At 2/10/10 06:57 PM, puddinN64 wrote: Did anyone around here see Sports Illustrated's article on the 1979 Daytona 500? Freakin' classic, man.

Sorry for the double-post, but this needs to be said.

Why does NASCAR feel the need to have the Daytona 500 during the Winter Olympics? It's like America's Rednecks are telling the rest of the world to go to hell...

At 2/13/10 02:29 AM, puddinN64 wrote:

At 2/10/10 06:57 PM, puddinN64 wrote: Did anyone around here see Sports Illustrated's article on the 1979 Daytona 500? Freakin' classic, man.

I don't get SI over in the UK.

Why does NASCAR feel the need to have the Daytona 500 during the Winter Olympics? It's like America's Rednecks are telling the rest of the world to go to hell...

I think this question needs to be asked the other way around - why does the IOC feel the need to stage the Winter Olympics to coincide with the Daytona 500? It's like the Olympic fans are telling the NASCAR Rednecks to go to hell...

After all, the 500 happens at this time of year every year, while the winter Olympics happen once every four years and they change due to local conditions.

Also, bear in mind that they probably worked in close accord with organisations like the NHL, since their professional season needed to take a break, to accommodate this, due to the high ranking players from each team peeling off to play in the games.

It's all politics.

Over an hour to fix the track and no real "Big One" to speak of so far. If they were repairing it in the UK, you'd have to have half of the track cordoned off with diversions around the place, to stop the racers from interfering with the repairs.

78 laps to go and we're looking at anyone's race at present. Well... except for the 9 drivers that are over 1 lap down. 19 different leaders so far and that could become more in the final charge... I can't wait to see some highlights of this.

Well... maybe not the highlights of the track repair, that is...

Predtion: Jimmie Johnson is taking home the trophy.

This Race is still going.. alot of wrecks... and they have gone into over time. if they keep wrecking like this they will only have 5 cars left!

At 2/14/10 07:27 PM, gamewiz202 wrote: This Race is still going.. alot of wrecks... and they have gone into over time. if they keep wrecking like this they will only have 5 cars left!

Scratch that race over

Gordon wrecked on the last lap CRAP that frickin sucks mc murray won

Man, i would like to watch some NASCAR. It's one of those kind of things i could watch and follow, but i don't have any channels that show it :(

Anyone know if there's some website that does live coverage or anything of the sort?

At 2/14/10 04:46 PM, puddinN64 wrote: Predtion: Jimmie Johnson is taking home the trophy.

The aging track surface said no.

Note to International Speedway Corporation - It's time to resurface the track. This cannot happen again!

At 2/14/10 07:37 PM, gamewiz202 wrote: Gordon wrecked on the last lap CRAP that frickin sucks mc murray won

I'd like to dedicate this running of the Daytona 500 to the memory of Benny Parsons, after all, Jamie McMary won it.

What a charge from Dale Jr. in the last few laps. man, he just blew past the field and found a way to the front. McGrew seems to have a good setup there and Jr's confidence is there for us to see.

All hail the beard!

At 2/14/10 07:42 PM, Life-Stream wrote: Man, i would like to watch some NASCAR. It's one of those kind of things i could watch and follow, but i don't have any channels that show it :(

Yeah, I have to wait for the highlight reels here as well. Occasionally Sky Sports show the races live, but I'm never in the right place long enough. Perhaps when I get some more money...

Anyone know if there's some website that does live coverage or anything of the sort?

Try the US broadcasters - Fox; TNT; ESPN and see what you can find. I couldn't even find a radio station broadcasting it >:(

At 8/8/09 05:33 AM, michelinman wrote: well i just did a search to see if there was a nascar crew, and it turns out i made one 5 years ago and forgot about it. haha. if anyone is interested in this sport (yes SPORT) at all on here, lets get a discussion going about it. we're starting to get down into crunch time. watkins glen tomorrow which is always an exciting race. here are the standings as of now.

1 -- Tony Stewart 3188 Leader 21 0 2 12 17 4,850,180
2 -- Jimmie Johnson 2991 -197 21 0 3 9 14 4,472,040
3 -- Jeff Gordon 2989 -199 21 0 1 10 15 4,178,270
4 -- Kurt Busch 2751 -437 21 0 1 6 11 2,928,560
5 +1 Denny Hamlin 2713 -475 21 0 1 7 9 3,001,390
6 -1 Carl Edwards 2665 -523 21 0 0 5 9 3,519,110
7 +1 Kasey Kahne 2642 -546 21 0 1 4 9 3,495,070
8 +2 Juan Montoya 2631 -557 21 1 0 1 10 3,137,850
9 -2 Ryan Newman 2627 -561 21 1 0 5 9 3,220,820
10 -1 Mark Martin 2622 -566 21 4 4 6 11 3,279,150
11 +1 Matt Kenseth 2564 -624 21 1 2 4 8 4,867,830
12 -1 Greg Biffle 2563 -625 21 0 0 6 9 3,024,880

20 -- Jamie McMurray 2163 -1025 21 0 0 0 3 2,487,740

(

poor jamie. why do i have to like such a hopeless driver? haha. who are you guys rooting for in the chase though?

He fucking won.... I can't believe it. I was watching the race near the end and I said fuck it after the 3rd caution in 3 laps with 2 laps to go and changed the channel. That would be his 3rd career victory if I'm not mistaken. :p I still remember when he won his second career race in Charlotte. If he's in the top ten in points in the next 3 or 4 weeks to come, I'll be back posting in this club all the time again. Haha. I was a McMurray fan when I made it.