The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing thread

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 02 Nov 2015, 17:11

golic_2004 wrote:
Salamander wrote:Yeah... Joey Logano can piss off. There's no excuse for just flat out spinning the other driver you're racing for a win.

Well Matt Kenseth got Logano back yesterday late in the race. And the crowd at Martinsville ROARED with cheers at that incident, not because of the wreck but because Kenseth got his revenge on Logano for ruining his chance at the championship.

Indeed. And if NASCAR has a problem with it, they only have themselves to blame.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 04 Nov 2015, 02:51

Glad to see Kenseth getting a two race ban. I'm not a Logano supporter, but the payback actions need to be punished in a harsh way.

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 04 Nov 2015, 03:00

Salamander wrote:Yeah... Joey Logano can piss off. There's no excuse for just flat out spinning the other driver you're racing for a win.

Having just seen both incidents, I'd have to disagree there. The Kansas crash was at least as much Kenseth's fault as Logano's. Yes Logano probably could have done more to avoid it but you are just begging to make contact by blocking that excessively, especially on a high speed oval. Any driver worth anything should know that. To me this was similar to say Bottas/Raikkonen at Mexico this weekend.

In any case taking a revenge shot a full two weeks later and making up a lame excuse for it is just pathetic and his two race ban is well deserved.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 04 Nov 2015, 06:28

Samster wrote:
Salamander wrote:Yeah... Joey Logano can piss off. There's no excuse for just flat out spinning the other driver you're racing for a win.

Having just seen both incidents, I'd have to disagree there. The Kansas crash was at least as much Kenseth's fault as Logano's. Yes Logano probably could have done more to avoid it but you are just begging to make contact by blocking that excessively, especially on a high speed oval. Any driver worth anything should know that. To me this was similar to say Bottas/Raikkonen at Mexico this weekend.

In any case taking a revenge shot a full two weeks later and making up a lame excuse for it is just pathetic and his two race ban is well deserved.

Keep in mind I posted that straight after Kansas, when Logano was basically gloating about having spun Kenseth out. Do I approve of what Kenseth did? No. Do I blame him for being extremely angry about being pushed around by a punk kid who clearly doesn't respect him? No. Especially when Kevin Harvick got away with wrecking a dozen or so cars at Talladega to salvage his slim (at that point) Chase hopes, which is a far worse offense in my opinion than simply carrying revenge too far.

As for what Kenseth said after the race, well, honestly. His interview was a mirror of Logano's. If he'd just admitted it he might've been given an even worse punishment.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 04 Nov 2015, 12:43

I might have to disagree with the punishment as well. Kenseth definitely got his revenge on Logano but it was during a race. I don't think the punishment fit the crime. If he had crashed Logano during a caution (safety car period) then that would be a whole different story.
For example, in 2011 Kyle Busch had deliberately crashed Ron Hornaday Jr. in a Camping World Trucks event at Texas Motor Speedway while the race was under caution and he was suspended the rest of the weekend for his actions.
While this suspension of Matt Kenseth will remain a big debate, I don't feel like NASCAR did the right thing by suspending him for that incident during a green-flagged race. That is my opinion.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 09 Nov 2015, 12:27

Jimmie Johnson becomes a spoiler to Brad Keselowski as he takes the win at Texas. http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... ce-battle/

It looks like Keselowski, along with Kurt Busch and (especially) Joey Logano, pretty much has to win at Phoenix next week in order to contend for The Chase finale at Homestead.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 09 Nov 2015, 18:22

Which they're not going to, because the race is at Phoenix, so Harvick's already won.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 10 Nov 2015, 13:25

I think the final four will be Gordon, Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr.

Jeff Gordon: What a better way to end one of the most successful NASCAR careers of all-time than to go out on top? Most everyone is hoping to see him hold the fifth championship trophy at the end of the race.
Kevin Harvick: One of the toughest competitors around, he is more than able to defend his title against the best. Harvick can go two for two for Stewart-Hass Racing.
Kyle Busch: Talk about a comeback of the year; Kyle Busch broke his right leg, his left foot and sprained a left finger in a multi-car accident at Daytona and missed the first 11 races of the season before staging a comeback with four wins (including 3 in a row) and a number of consistent top 5s & top 10s before the Chase. His hunger is there and winning a championship would be the cherry on top of a sundae.
Martin Truex Jr.: He drives a single-car team out of Colorado while every other team is based out of North Carolina. He had such terrible luck last year. He also had the pace, which is what he kept this year and the results showed. Truex has had the most consistent season of his Sprint Cup career with 22 top 10s. Could this "underdog" team score an upset by winning a championship with him behind the wheel? I would not doubt that.

But first we shall have to see who makes it to the final four after this weekend.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 10 Nov 2015, 16:50

The title is Harvick's to lose at this stage. He's unstoppable at Phoenix, and is by far the fastest car out of those remaining week-in week-out. It's just a question of if things go wrong for him at Homestead. Hopefully they will, I'd hate for the title to go to a piece of **** who thinks deliberately causing a wreck at Talladega is reasonable under any circumstances.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 10 Nov 2015, 17:43

I read an interesting comment earlier about the falling popularity of NASCAR in the US. Apparently both track attendance and TV audience are both in continual decline. I was quite surprised to see that.

I'd like to think it was because of the daft Chase format which I find ridiculous and gives me a good reason not to watch. But does anyone else think it could be other factors?

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 10 Nov 2015, 22:33

Mostly it's the economy. People have less and less disposable income. But displeasing your not-inconsiderable core fanbase doesn't help much either.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 10 Nov 2015, 23:06

Salamander wrote:Mostly it's the economy. People have less and less disposable income. But displeasing your not-inconsiderable core fanbase doesn't help much either.

The economy hitting race attendances I can appreciate, but TV audiences? Strikes me as very odd.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 11 Nov 2015, 12:44

AndreaModa wrote:
Salamander wrote:Mostly it's the economy. People have less and less disposable income. But displeasing your not-inconsiderable core fanbase doesn't help much either.

The economy hitting race attendances I can appreciate, but TV audiences? Strikes me as very odd.

Well one of the other reasons is that part of the season airs on NBC Sports, which not household has (yet).
Another reason (which is think is the biggest) for television decline is NFL (National Football League) is happening right now and that is the most popular sport in America with a number of games happening on multiple channels. There will always be competition in sports among viewership with NASCAR, other forms of auto racing, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, and hockey. Not everyone will enjoy one sport or the other. Most Americans are football fans, whether it's pro or college, and I don't ever see it as anything but the most popular sport in the country.

However, I do believe the rating should be up come the championship race at Homestead. It would be especially so if Jeff Gordon wins the title for the final time in his illustrious career.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 16 Nov 2015, 10:08

Dale Earnhardt Jr wins rain-shortened race while I called who'll be the four to contend for the championship. http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... -cup-race/

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 23 Nov 2015, 00:56

And the championship goes to (spoiler)! Very deserved championship!

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 23 Nov 2015, 06:24

I guess it's about time that Kyle Busch won something that wasn't another Xfinity race.

So glad that Harvick didn't win.

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 23 Nov 2015, 23:49

So Kyle Busch winning the championship having missed nearly a third of the season actually happened.

If this isn't proof that the chase in any of its formats is bull then nothing is. Congrats to Harvick on scoring the most points this season, in my universe the 2010 and 2015 champion.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 24 Nov 2015, 15:53

Samster wrote:So Kyle Busch winning the championship having missed nearly a third of the season actually happened. If this isn't proof that the chase in any of its formats is bull then nothing is. Congrats to Harvick on scoring the most points this season, in my universe the 2010 and 2015 champion.

Busch even had a compensation to enter the chase, being that if he won a race and got into the top-30 in the points by the cut-off stage to be eligible...

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 24 Nov 2015, 22:46

dr-baker wrote:
Samster wrote:So Kyle Busch winning the championship having missed nearly a third of the season actually happened. If this isn't proof that the chase in any of its formats is bull then nothing is. Congrats to Harvick on scoring the most points this season, in my universe the 2010 and 2015 champion.

Busch even had a compensation to enter the chase, being that if he won a race and got into the top-30 in the points by the cut-off stage to be eligible...

That's fair to me.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 25 Nov 2015, 14:06

Has there ever been an uglier NASCAR champion?

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 25 Nov 2015, 15:00

CoopsII wrote:Has there ever been an uglier NASCAR champion?

It's not about the ugly. It's about the talent behind the body. He has grown up this year, got a huge advantadge thanks to the new rules. Moaning is useless, 100 years from now, it's still always be: "2015 Nascar Sprint Cup Champion: Kyle Busch". Period

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 25 Nov 2015, 16:59

I... don't think he was being entirely serious with that remark...

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 25 Nov 2015, 17:54

Salamander wrote:I... don't think he was being entirely serious with that remark...

No, I was . I think he's an uggo.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 25 Nov 2015, 18:46

CoopsII wrote:
Salamander wrote:I... don't think he was being entirely serious with that remark...

No, I was . I think he's an uggo.

Yeah, but not in the way Axel seems to have taken it...

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 15 Jan 2016, 01:48

Well Speedweeks is about a month away. Time to predict the Daytona entry lists.

Cup - 44 Cars?
#1 Jamie McMurray (Ganassi)
#2 Brad Keselowski (Penske)
#3 Austin Dillon (Childress)
#4 Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas)
#5 Kasey Kahne (Hendrick)
#6 Trevor Bayne (Roush)
#7 Regan Smith (Baldwin)
#10 Danica Patrick (Stewart-Haas)
#11 Denny Hamlin (Gibbs)
#13 Casey Mears (Germain)
#14 Brian Vickers (Stewart-Haas)
#15 Clint Bowyer (HScott)
#16 Greg Biffle (Roush)
#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush)
#18 Kyle Busch (Gibbs)
#19 Carl Edwards (Gibbs)
#20 Matt Kenseth (Gibbs)
#21 Ryan Blaney (Wood)
#22 Joey Logano (Penske)
#23 David Ragan (BKR)
#24 Chase Elliott (Hendrick)
#26 Robert Richardson Jr. (BKR)
#27 Paul Menard (Childress)
#31 Ryan Newman (Childress)
#32 Bobby Labonte (Go FAS)
#34 Chris Buescher (Front Row)
#35 David Gilliland (Front Row)
#38 Landon Cassill (Front Row)
#40 Reed Sorenson (Hillman)
#41 Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas)
#42 Kyle Larson (Ganassi)
#43 Aric Almirola (Petty)
#44 Brian Scott (Petty)
#46 Michael Annett (HScott)
#47 A.J. Allmendinger (JTG)
#48 Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick)
#49 Timmy Hill? (Premium)
#59 Michael McDowell (Leavine)
#78 Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row)
#81 Erik Jones (Gibbs)?
#83 Michael Waltrip (BKR)
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Hendrick)
#93 Matt Di Benedetto (BKR)
#95 Ty Dillon (Leavine)
#98 Cole Whitt (Premium)

Xfinity - 45 cars?
#0 Eric McClure (Davis)
#1 Elliott Sadler (JR)
#2 Paul Menard (Childress)
#3 Ty Dillon (Childress)
#4 Ross Chastain (Davis)
#5 Kasey Kahne? (JR)?
#6 Darrell Wallace Jr. (Roush)
#7 Justin Allgaier (JR)
#01 Ryan Preece (Davis)
#05 John Wes Townley (Athenian)
#07 Ray Black Jr. (SS-Green Light)
#10 Jeff Green (Tri-Star)?
#11 Blake Koch (Kaulig)
#13 Mark Thompson (MBM)
#14 Mike Bliss? (Tri-Star)
#15 Ryan Ellis? (Ware)
#16 Ryan Reed (Roush)
#17 ??? (Ware)?
#18 Bobby Labonte (Gibbs)
#19 Daniel Suarez (Gibbs)
#20 Erik Jones (Gibbs)
#22 Brad Keselowski? (Penske)
#24 T.J. Bell? (JGL)
#25 ??? (Ware)
#28 Dakoda Armstrong (JGL)
#33 Brandon Jones (Childress)
#39 Ryan Sieg (RSS)?
#40 Derek White (MBM)
#42 Kyle Larson (HScott-Ganassi)?
#43 Jeb Burton (Petty)?
#44 David Starr (Tri-Star)
#46 Anthony Kumpen (Precision Performance)
#48 Brennan Poole (HScott-Ganassi)
#51 Jeremy Clements (Clements)
#52 Joey Gase (Means)
#66 Travis Kvapil (PEG)
#68 Jacques Villeneuve (Wing Nut)
#70 Derrike Cope (Cope)
#74 Mike Harmon (Harmon)?
#78 B.J. McLeod (McLeod)
#80 Ross Kenseth? (Hattori)?
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (JR)
#89 Morgan Shepherd (Shepherd)
#90 Mario Gosselin? (King)?
#97 Harrison Rhodes (Obaika)
#98 Aric Almirola? (Biagi-Denbeste)?
#99 Chris Fontaine (McLeod)

Trucks - 36 Trucks?
#4 Christopher Bell (Busch)
#6 Norm Benning (Benning)?
#8 John Hunter Nemechek (NEMCO)
#9 William Byron (Busch)
#00 Cole Custer (JR)
#02 Tyler Young (Young's)?
#03 Mike Affarano (Affarano)?
#05 John Wes Townley (Athenian)
#07 Michel Disdier (SS-Green Light)
#08 Korbin Forrister? (SS-Green Light)?
#10 Jennifer Jo Cobb (Cobb)?
#11 Ben Kennedy (Red Horse)
#13 Cameron Hayley (ThorSport)
#14 Gray Gaulding? (NTS)?
#15 Mason Mingus? (Boat)?
#16 Chad Boat (Boat)?
#17 Timothy Peters (Red Horse)
#18 Cody Caughlin (Busch)
#19 Daniel Hemric (Keselowski)
#21 Johnny Sauter (GMS)
#22 Austin Wayne Self (AM)
#23 Spencer Gallagher (GMS)
#28 Ryan Ellis (FDNY)
#29 Tyler Reddick (Keselowski)
#33 Grant Enfinger (GMS)
#35 Shane Lee (Win-Tron)
#36 Bobby Gerhart (Gerhart)
#41 Ben Rhodes (ThorSport)
#44 Tommy Joe Martins (Martins)
#45 B.J. McLeod (McLeod)?
#49 Timmy Hill (Premium)
#50 Travis Kvapil (MAKE)
#51 Daniel Suarez (Busch)
#58 Kyle Weatherman (Lira)
#59 David Levine (Lira)
#63 Reed Sorenson (MB)
#66 Jordan Anderson (Bolen)
#74 Tim Viens (Harmon)
#86 Brandon Brown (Brandonbilt)
#88 Matt Crafton (ThorSport)
#92 Parker Kligerman (RBR)
#98 Rico Abreu (ThorSport)
#?? Donnie Levister (Faith)

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 15 Jan 2016, 15:41

Interestingly enough, both NBC and FOX have reported that NASCAR is very close to signing a deal with whatever the wanna be FOTA that the teams have formed.

Said deal will establish 36 "franchises" just like CART back in the day, but unlike CART (IIRC) these 36 cars are locked into every race. All of the other non-franchised cars get to shoot it out for 4 spots, as the report claims Cup will be "only" a 40 car field in 2016.

Also NASCAR has changed the Bud Shootout/Busch Clash/Sprint Unlimited rules AGAIN, just so Danica can be eligible.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 15 Jan 2016, 17:05

Wallio wrote:Also NASCAR has changed the Bud Shootout/Busch Clash/Sprint Unlimited rules AGAIN, just so Danica can be eligible.

Remember when that race had prestige?

No, me neither.

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 15 Jan 2016, 18:32

Salamander wrote:
Wallio wrote:Also NASCAR has changed the Bud Shootout/Busch Clash/Sprint Unlimited rules AGAIN, just so Danica can be eligible.

Remember when that race had prestige?

No, me neither.

While it never had "prestige" it DID have meaning for awhile in the early-mid-90s. So did the twin 125s. I'm old enough to remember when NASCAR used to track a drivers wins at Daytona and included the 125s, the Clash, the 24, and the 500 and 400. That was so long ago now.

The pint of the Unlimited was to be a selective race to kick off the year. When you have 30 some drivers including Danica and David Regan running, why even bother? Just have another 500.

RealRacingRoots · Post by **RealRacingRoots** » 16 Jan 2016, 12:26

Wallio wrote:
Salamander wrote:
Wallio wrote:Also NASCAR has changed the Bud Shootout/Busch Clash/Sprint Unlimited rules AGAIN, just so Danica can be eligible.

Remember when that race had prestige?

No, me neither.

While it never had "prestige" it DID have meaning for awhile in the early-mid-90s. So did the twin 125s. I'm old enough to remember when NASCAR used to track a drivers wins at Daytona and included the 125s, the Clash, the 24, and the 500 and 400. That was so long ago now.

The pint of the Unlimited was to be a selective race to kick off the year. When you have 30 some drivers including Danica and David Regan running, why even bother? Just have another 500.

I say run the Busch Clash on the road course configuration at Daytona, it would make it way more interesting than the junk-fests that the race has been the last few years. Also bring back the International Race of Champions.

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 19 Jan 2016, 14:56

http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-xs/new ... es-668756/

Since I'm pretty much a NASCAR casual, I'm neutral. More to come later today, so let's see the result when I wake up later in morning

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 19 Jan 2016, 15:27

AxelP800 wrote:http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-xs/news/nascar-expected-to-unveil-chase-format-for-truck-and-xfinity-series-668756/

Since I'm pretty much a NASCAR casual, I'm neutral. More to come later today, so let's see the result when I wake up later in morning

Oh ffs......

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 19 Jan 2016, 16:43

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 19 Jan 2016, 19:43

And confirmed.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122536

Some good news from this though. Sounds like Cup drivers that qualify for their chase will be banned from the chase races in Xfinity and Trucks. So at least no Busch/Harvick/Logano/Keselowski stinking up those races though we might still have Dillon, Larson and Menard.

simonracer · Post by **simonracer** » 19 Jan 2016, 23:31

The thing that truly deserves a 'facedesk' (not to say that implementing a chase into the lower series doesn't) is that they are now introducing a "caution clock" for the Truck Series. Meaning that if 20 minutes go by in a race and a caution hasn't appeared, a caution will be thrown without failure, unless it is within the last 20 laps of a race.

"Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we've seen in the sport's history," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

Sometimes I question Brian France's sanity. I don't believe I am the only one to do that, either.

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 20 Jan 2016, 04:05

simonracer wrote:The thing that truly deserves a 'facedesk' (not to say that implementing a chase into the lower series doesn't) is that they are now introducing a "caution clock" for the Truck Series. Meaning that if 20 minutes go by in a race and a caution hasn't appeared, a caution will be thrown without failure, unless it is within the last 20 laps of a race.

"Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we've seen in the sport's history," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

Sometimes I question Brian France's sanity. I don't believe I am the only one to do that, either.

Now it is safe to assume that the most prestigious "stock car" car race is Stock Car Brasil

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 20 Jan 2016, 06:18

AxelP800 wrote:Now it is safe to assume that the most prestigious "stock car" car race is Stock Car Brasil

Not really. You could win everything in SC Brasil for years and years and you'd only be known about as well as Jamie Whincup at best. Not until NASCAR collapses will it stop being the pinnacle of stock car racing.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 20 Jan 2016, 12:57

simonracer wrote:The thing that truly deserves a 'facedesk' (not to say that implementing a chase into the lower series doesn't) is that they are now introducing a "caution clock" for the Truck Series. Meaning that if 20 minutes go by in a race and a caution hasn't appeared, a caution will be thrown without failure, unless it is within the last 20 laps of a race.

"Fans, partners and the industry have embraced the new Chase format like nothing we've seen in the sport's history," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.

Sometimes I question Brian France's sanity. I don't believe I am the only one to do that, either.

That is a bunch of _______ (bathplug word) that NASCAR has to make this. Part of the problem for Trucks (as well as Xfinity) is the Cup guys racing and stealing the regular drivers' spotlight. And the former do this to get extra track experience. I mean get real Cup guys. There HAS to be a limit to how many Xfinity & Truck series races the Sprint Cup drivers can race per year.

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 20 Jan 2016, 15:27

simonracer wrote:The thing that truly deserves a 'facedesk' (not to say that implementing a chase into the lower series doesn't) is that they are now introducing a "caution clock" for the Truck Series. Meaning that if 20 minutes go by in a race and a caution hasn't appeared, a caution will be thrown without failure, unless it is within the last 20 laps of a race.
.

I cannot understand this one for the life of me. A caution every 20 minutes. Why? What ungodly purpose does this serve? I do like how these timer cautions don't allow for a lucky dog, but seriously, w...t...f???

Samster · Post by **Samster** » 22 Jan 2016, 08:07

Regan Smith replaces Alex Bowman in the Baldwin #7. Apparently they wanted to run both but the charter system prevented them from doing so. Hate this system already, its so badly executed, why restrict the amount of full time teams that can race? :facepalm:

At least Bowman still has his part time schedule in JR's #88 in Infinity but it sucks he lost his full time ride so close before the season. And as glad as I am that Smith has a ride I don't see him doing much better if at all. He's essentially NASCAR's Sutil and Bowman seemed to be getting the most out of the car.

Leavine Family and Circle Sport have merged and will take over Furniture Row's technical alliance with Childress and will run full time. This means Ty Dillon will share the #95 with Michael McDowell.

golic_2004 · Post by **golic_2004** » 03 Feb 2016, 11:42

Tony Stewart with a back injury from an ATV accident.
http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... ry-671267/

and his farewell season could be in jeopardy before it even begins. http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... dy-671301/

Considering he's my favorite driver, I have been heartbroken to see Tony have the really poor few seasons he's had and now he might not even get to race at all? That's just not right.