Grand Prix Rejects

East Londoner wrote:Junior's on the sidelines for another two races at least.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's forced to retire. If he's still suffering over a month after he was diagnosed, he should really think about calling it a day. The risks to his health are just not worth it, given what we know about concussions in the modern era. Do what Dario Franchitti did and get out whilst he still can. He could transition to a car owner very easily.

Now he's out for the rest of the year.

Yikes.

He needs to retire. He's over 40 already and another concussion could be deadly for him.

https://www.facebook.com/NASCARonFOX/vi ... 606958486/

Classy finish there guys.

Apparently almost-reject Alex Caffi has the NASCAR bug because he made his debut this weekend with his own team in the Whelen Euro Series.
https://twitter.com/golic_2004/status/7 ... 6228585472

Martin Truex Jr. wins again while Stewart, McMurray, Larson, and Chris Buescher fail to advance to the top 12.
http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... se-832694/

Bad luck with mechanical issues takes both Ganassi drivers out of The Chase.
http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... se-832698/

Harvick wins at Kansas and secures a spot in the next round of 8. http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... in-839567/

As a fan of NASCAR and understanding the sport for 20+ years, I agree on that. http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... ry-839569/

With Talladega coming up, I would be worried about everyone in The Chase except for Harvick and Johnson (who won the first race of the round of 12 at Charlotte) based on the unpredictability of the track and the likelihood of the big one happening at any time.

The Georgia Golden Boy (Elliott), and my ROTR for Kansas, is effectively in a must-win situation now. A combination of mechanical issues and good old Larson-esque overdriving results in his second crappy finish of the round of 12. Took long enough for the scrappy, sloppy side of Elliott to come out. At the best possible time, too. That drive of his, post-puncture, was approaching Verstappen-at-Spa awful to watch.

Now the other Hendrick drivers will have to babysit the #24 car at Talladega. Maybe they'll do a better job of doing that than the RCR stable would at babysitting Austin, if Menard's radio from Richmond is any indication. Then again, maybe Austin will wind up pleading for help from Pop Pop, again.

Joey Logano wins at Talladega after being penalized early in the race for taking a jack with him. Yes the jack actually went the whole lap around the track underneath the car.

http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... se-842324/

Martin Truex Jr and Brad Keselowski both had engine failures which led both to be eliminated from The Chase, along with Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott.

Could this win mean a record-tying 7th championship for Jimmie Johnson? We shall find out at Homestead.
http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... in-845217/

Forget Tony Stewart's impending retirement, this is the big news of the 2017 silly season.

http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/ ... eason.html

Certainly was not expecting that considering he is all of two years older than me. Who replaces him next season is anyone's guess.

http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/ne ... ly-864387/

Pulling the Nico Rosberg, Carl Edwards has announced his retirement from NASCAR effective immediately. His replacement in the 19 will be Xfinity champion Daniel Suarez.

golic_2004 wrote:http://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/carl-edwards-to-retire-from-nascar-racing-effective-immediately-864387/

Pulling the Nico Rosberg, Carl Edwards has announced his retirement from NASCAR effective immediately. His replacement in the 19 will be Xfinity champion Daniel Suarez.

That's an even bigger shock than Rosberg's retirement for me!

Everyone's favourite chicken sponsored wrecking ball has also retired as John Wes Townley has decided to settle down and return to college having got engaged last year. I suspect his injuries from last season have also had something to do with it. Shame how his final season turned out as he finally seemed to turn a corner during 2015.

Via the press conference (replay here), it appears that Carl is not fully retiring, unlike Nico. He even goes as far to say he's not "using the r-word".

He opened up to the possibility of returning to JGR... if the stars align just right. Right now though, looks like he wants to be out of the race seat.

At least this now opens up a potentially big Rookie of the Year battle between Suarez and Jones in essentially the same equipment (Dillon won't be a threat, especially in the #13). Or the battle might flame out like Elliott/Blaney did...

Judging by the wording of his announcement, I fully expect to see Carl in the 2018 Daytona 500.

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:Judging by the wording of his announcement, I fully expect to see Carl in the 2018 Daytona 500.

Indeed, as the rumors are that he was forced out. He was the only Gibbs driver without a contract for 2018, and word is the 19's primary sponsor, being Mexico-based, wanted Suarez.

Better question is will there be a NASCAR at all in 2018 after the stupid points system announcement. Long story short, all the races (except Daytona) are now made up of three sprint races with points for each, plus overall aggregate points. Points now carry over into the Chase, which is no longer called the Chase. However, the stupid elimination format still applies. So a driver can enter the "not Chase" with a nearly insurmountable lead (which I'm ok with) but then have two bad or possibly even mediocre races and be out of the championship. Well, the second championship anyway. They are adding a regular season championship now too.

Wallio wrote:

RonDenisDeletraz wrote:Judging by the wording of his announcement, I fully expect to see Carl in the 2018 Daytona 500.

Indeed, as the rumors are that he was forced out. He was the only Gibbs driver without a contract for 2018, and word is the 19's primary sponsor, being Mexico-based, wanted Suarez.

I don't think Carl was forced out. He was being paid $10 million a year, and should really have won the title last year. Even if Arris pushed extremely hard to get Edwards out, I highly doubt JGR would've listened, considering I'm pretty sure Toyota pushed hard for him to join them in the first place.

No idea if its true or not, but the rumor just will not die. I personally don't care either way. I never liked Carl, so I'll enjoy this year without him.

Another day, another fight for Kyle Busch.

Junior is calling it a career at the end of this season.

You could probably have seen this coming after that concussion wrecked his 2016 season. Still, another big name retiring straight after Gordon, Smoke and Edwards is not ideal for NASCAR.

Alex Bowman in the #88 full time next year though? Yes pls.

East Londoner wrote:Junior is calling it a career at the end of this season.

You could probably have seen this coming after that concussion wrecked his 2016 season. Still, another big name retiring straight after Gordon, Smoke and Edwards is not ideal for NASCAR.

Alex Bowman in the #88 full time next year though? Yes pls.

For the best given how awfully his season has gone so far. I just hope Hendrick aren't douches and rush Will Byron into the seat instead of Bowman.

Samster wrote:

East Londoner wrote:Junior is calling it a career at the end of this season.

You could probably have seen this coming after that concussion wrecked his 2016 season. Still, another big name retiring straight after Gordon, Smoke and Edwards is not ideal for NASCAR.

Alex Bowman in the #88 full time next year though? Yes pls.

For the best given how awfully his season has gone so far. I just hope Hendrick aren't douches and rush Will Byron into the seat instead of Bowman.

Agreed. As much as I like Byron, I'm not a fan of rushing kids into Cup series and would much rather see Hendrick keep him in the Xfinity series for another season (much like certain Chase Elliott ) and replace Kasey Kahne in 2019 when his contract is up. Never been a fan of Kahne and after a couple of very disappointing seasons I can't see him getting a new contract.

Bowman of course is a worthy candidate for the #88 but who I'd really like in that ride is a former Roush and Joe Gibbs driver

In defense of Kahne, he's performed better this year than any point for the last 2-3 years. They just need to finish races.

Bowman most likely going to the 88 at the end of the season, Had a few good runs last year, according to speculation, Bowman will be the best choice for the 88.

Today sees the retirement of a well-worn GPR NASCAR meme.



Goodbye Spedhouse. Hello Speedhouse.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr, take a bow.

Epic final stage at 'Dega, thankfully nobody seemed to be injured in that mahoosive pileup.

SPEDHOUSE, YOU BEAUTY!!!

This deserves a Pinty's car.

Classic Russler.

Was really pulling for McMurray. Guy had brass ones making that last move. I also don't get all the Kyle Busch hate, but then again I root for Johnson, so that automatically makes me public enemy #1 to 90% of NASCAR fans.

Great run by Ricky. He actually has been fairly competitive all year (Ditto Bayne as well to an extent). Rousch cars are gonna breakthrough this year no doubt. Although I thought I was watching a circa-2005 Indycar race with how the Fox crew fawn over Danica in Victory Lane for the first 6 or 7 minutes or so, before actually interviewing the winner.

Wallio wrote:I also don't get all the Kyle Busch hate...

Well, he said Dega isn't a "real race track" after losing the victory.

Dj_bereta wrote:

Wallio wrote:I also don't get all the Kyle Busch hate...

Well, he said Dega isn't a "real race track" after losing the victory.

Well he's not wrong......

The 2018 schedule has been released. The good news is that there is finally a road course in the playoffs. The bad news is that instead of a proper road course, its a crappy 'roval' track at Charlotte, replacing the fall race on the oval.

Also Las Vegas gets a fall race as the playoffs opener with Indy moving to the final regular season race.

Samster wrote:The 2018 schedule has been released. The good news is that there is finally a road course in the playoffs. The bad news is that instead of a proper road course, its a crappy 'roval' track at Charlotte, replacing the fall race on the oval.

Also Las Vegas gets a fall race as the playoffs opener with Indy moving to the final regular season race.

Should have made Indy the Roval.

Wallio wrote:

Samster wrote:The 2018 schedule has been released. The good news is that there is finally a road course in the playoffs. The bad news is that instead of a proper road course, its a crappy 'roval' track at Charlotte, replacing the fall race on the oval.

Also Las Vegas gets a fall race as the playoffs opener with Indy moving to the final regular season race.

Should have made Indy the Roval.

Should have made Brands Hatch the roval. Oh wait, that's EuroNASCAR...

Samster wrote:The 2018 schedule has been released. The good news is that there is finally a road course in the playoffs. The bad news is that instead of a proper road course, its a crappy 'roval' track at Charlotte, replacing the fall race on the oval.

Be fair, the Charlotte road course doesn't look terrible, and let's be honest - it's not like the oval race it's replacing is much good either. Indy would've been preferable, but NASCAR still wants to sell that race as being a crown jewel, so running the road course is most likely to be a last resort for them (and likely will happen once the restrictor plate experiment inevitably fails).

dr-baker wrote:

Wallio wrote:
Should have made Indy the Roval.

Should have made Brands Hatch the roval. Oh wait, that's EuroNASCAR...

I would pay stupid money to see Cup cars at Brands. I used to the like the "Thunder" exhibitions at Suzuka years ago.

For the first time since the October 2000 Talladega race, the #3 Richard Childress car is back in victory lane @ Charlotte, wheeled by none other than Austin Dillon . Both Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were denied the win after RCR pulled another fortunate strategy out of the hat.

Currently, RCR has two wins in the bag this season to Joe Gibbs Racing's zero (not counting Furniture Row's two), who had six wins at this point last season. That definitely sounds like team Reject of the Year material, unless JGR find some upturn in form later.

lance_rambert wrote:For the first time since the October 2000 Talladega race, the #3 Richard Childress car is back in victory lane @ Charlotte, wheeled by none other than Austin Dillon . Both Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were denied the win after RCR pulled another superb strategy out of the hat.

Fixed that for you

RCR is doing really good job this year. They can't fight for the wins on pure speed so they have to outsmart other teams and have been excellent on it so far. One time might be luck but winning two times with similar strategy requires more than just luck.

Dillon is by far not my favourite driver but it's always great to have new winners. I'm pretty sure he and Ricky won't be the only first-time winners this season.

Bobby Labonte to race at Brands Hatch for Alex Caffi

https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-euro/ ... ch-912709/

Wallio wrote:

dr-baker wrote:

Wallio wrote:
Should have made Indy the Roval.

Should have made Brands Hatch the roval. Oh wait, that's EuroNASCAR...

I would pay stupid money to see Cup cars at Brands. I used to the like the "Thunder" exhibitions at Suzuka years ago.

Bring back the Calder Park Thunderdrome I say.