|| *Comments on the 2013 U.S. Cellular 250:* View the most recent comment <#192> | Post a comment <#post> 1. We need more Onion posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:05 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Drew Herring blew the competition away, great for him. Also decent qualifying runs for Whitt and Clements, as always. And for this race I'll be hating on Brad K, woo-hoo. 2. Joe Fan #87 posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not too bad either for Joey Gase, considering the equipment. Hopefully Travis Sauter has more speed in the race, making first NNS start for Joe Nemechek. 3. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:16 pm Rate this comment: (3) (2) Go anyone but Brad. 4. 83andJoe posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Ironically, this is exactly the type of race I DON'T mind Brad running - as it's where the argument "the fans can come and see (Cup driver X) race!" applies. 5. Dave #38 Fan-Go Gilliland! posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) "Ironically, this is exactly the type of race I DON'T mind Brad running - as it's where the argument "the fans can come and see (Cup driver X) race!" applies." I've seen a LOT of fans upset / angry that he's in this race. I hope that by running this race tonight and missing out on time that he could have been working with his cup team at Pocono, Brad misses the chase. Since the NNS owners "championship" is so important to him and Penske, they probably won't even care if they miss the chase and have to explain to Miller why they thought running Brad in so many Nationwide races was a good move. 6. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "Ironically, this is exactly the type of race I DON'T mind Brad running - as it's where the argument "the fans can come and see (Cup driver X) race!" applies." I understand this, but it's idiotic to have him run this race because A. He is dangerously close to missing the Chase in the Cup Series (you know, the series that matters and the series that he is the defending champion in). B. Someone else is being deprived a good opportunity in good equipment (I know Ryan Blaney wouldn't have run it because of the Truck race at Pocono, but there's still plenty of other guys that deserve a shot in a car like this). 7. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anyway, other than Brad's presence, this should be a pretty good race and a nice break from all of the Prelim Cup Series "action" that's been going on. Congrats to Drew Herring on getting the pole. That dude definitely needs a full time ride somewhere. 8. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (3) (2) Herring's pole speaks volumes about that car. 9. 83andJoe posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) >I've seen a LOT of fans upset / angry that he's in this race. Yes, and IMHO they really shouldn't be. But that, of course, could just be me. 10. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 6:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Finally, Regan Smith got his qualifying crap together! 11. Eric posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:10 pm Rate this comment: (2) (3) I actually want Brad to win the race. The fact is I want Vickers or Austin Dillon to win the Nationwide tittle without a win. That means NASCAR has to make rule changes such as more points to the winner and cut down the amount of races the cup regulars do Nationwide races even it means only down to 18 Nationwide races. 12. We need more Onion posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:15 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Eric, there are many other solutions for that, Sadler, Smith or another underdog winning. It doesn't have to be Brad. A cup guy winning will NOT make nascar realize that they need to limit their schedules. See: 2008, 2009 and 2010, we already have more winning regulars than those years. 13. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) "The fact is I want Vickers or Austin Dillon to win the Nationwide tittle without a win." In my opinion, a driver winning a championship without a win is something that's been in the making for a long, long time now. The current stat of the Nationwide Series might finally be the time that pushes it over the edge it's been tethering on for a long time. Everyone likes to say Chase championships have no meaning, but a championship won without any wins would be about the most meaningless thing awarded in all of sports. 14. We need more Onion posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Zackary, you might already know that, but look at Dale Shaw's 1994 Busch North (K&N East) championship season. Not a top series, but he didn't just go winless, he failed to lead a single lap over the season. 15. 83andJoe posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) >a championship won without any wins would be about the most meaningless thing awarded in all of sports. Why? >That means NASCAR has to make rule changes such as more points to the winner and cut down the amount of races the cup regulars do Nationwide races even it means only down to 18 Nationwide races. I have some bad news for you... 16. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Onion, I actually didn't know that. I wouldn't take his championship away from him, but I know personally, I wouldn't be as enthused or feel like I really accomplished anything at all by winning it that way as I would if I did by winning several races and leading lots of laps. Interestingly, after you said that, I looked up stats from that season and noticed Martin Truex Sr. drove a #56 car that year. Is that why Truex Jr. got that number in Cup? I always just assumed it was because it was the number closest to 55, but now that I know that, it makes have to ask that question. 17. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Zackary Shawn (Yes! I spelled it right!), that is indeed the reason Truex drives that number. I remember from when they announced it. If you look at it upside-down, it looks like Lightning McQueen's #95. 18. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The fact is I want Vickers or Austin Dillon to win the Nationwide tittle without a win." I've always wanted to see that too, although my fear is if somebody wins the championship by top 5ing everyone to death will that actually take down some of the incentive to win? "I can win the championship without actually winning" 19. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Not only that, but if you look Dale Shaw was easily the best driver in the Busch North in 1994. HE may not have won or led, but his average finish was FOUR positions better than the next best full-time driver. 20. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Someone else is being deprived a good opportunity in good equipment (I know Ryan Blaney wouldn't have run it because of the Truck race at Pocono, but there's still plenty of other guys that deserve a shot in a car like this)." Murb, the choice is not Keselowski or some other guy, the choice is Keselowski or nobody. Discount Tire will sponsor Keselowski. They will not sponsor "some other guy". Those are the facts of life. Penske and Keselowski have to live with them. 21. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:41 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) "The fact is I want Vickers or Austin Dillon to win the Nationwide tittle without a win." Be careful what you wish for. In Cup, that kind of thinking led to the chase format. Is that the way you want this to play out? 22. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Why?" I feel like the answer to this question is so obvious, but apparently not. What's the point in even keeping track of wins if they don't really matter? How in the world could you stand up on that stage knowing you just won a championship not only by not winning the most races in a year, but actually by having the LEAST amount of wins. I just don't know how you could possibly feel good about yourself. It's so ridiculous. It's completely empty. 23. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:45 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "It's so ridiculous. It's completely empty." I don't think Kenseth felt empty when he won the Cuo title in 2003 with only one win. 24. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Not only that, but if you look Dale Shaw was easily the best driver in the Busch North in 1994. HE may not have won or led, but his average finish was FOUR positions better than the next best full-time driver." See this is why I'd like a championship format that can somehow balance wins and consistency. I don't think Kenseth deserved the championship in 2003, but I don't think Newman deserved it either. I think Johnson, Earnhardt, and maybe Gordon were the most worthy contenders that year with Johnson probably being the most deserving. In my mind 2 wins and a 30th should count as much a fourth, a seventh, and a sixth in the same 3 races. That's the way I'd like to see it work ideally. 25. We need more Onion posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:48 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kenseth's whole hometown cheered and partied after Rockingham. Surely, he wasn't feeling empty. 26. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (6) "I don't think Kenseth felt empty when he won the Cuo title in 2003 with only one win." We're talking about drivers winning without a win and then you bring up a driver who won...irrelevant. Besides, I don't think Kenseth deserved that championship. I think Jimmie Johnson did. 27. 83andJoe posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Because while you may not have won, you still were the best driver /over a whole season/, which is the entire point of the Chase. Yes, wins should give more points. But a no-win championship is STILL a championship, and it's nowhere near the end of the world. 28. 83andJoe posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:51 pm Rate this comment: (7) (0) > I don't think Kenseth deserved that championship. He scored the most points under the championship system that all the drivers competed under and which everyone knew exactly how it worked. Why in the name of all that is Goodwrench would he NOT deserve it? 29. We need more Onion posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Newman's 2003 win count is a bit strange. Most of those wins were because of his exceptional fuel mileage. 30. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Discount Tire will sponsor Keselowski. They will not sponsor "some other guy"." Monster is sponsoring Drew Herring in this race and Joey Coulter in a bunch of others, Menards is sponsoring RYAN GIFFORD tonight (with all due respect to Ryan, NOBODY outside of hardcore race fans knows who he is), and Discount Tire themselves are sponsoring Ryan Blaney in some races this year if I remember correctly. So no, I don't think Keselowski was absolutely the only option for this weekend. They easily could have gone with someone else just for one race. It's just unfortunate that they have this much say in who drives the car. 31. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (4) "Because while you may not have won, you still were the best driver /over a whole season/, which is the entire point of the Chase." So good that he got beaten by his competitors 36 times and couldn't even beat all of his competitors just one measly time in a season? I'm sorry, I just couldn't rally around a "champion" like that. There's no point in being good if you can't use that goodness to get wins. 32. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 7:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "He scored the most points under the championship system that all the drivers competed under and which everyone knew exactly how it worked. Why in the name of all that is Goodwrench would he NOT deserve it?" As I said with Dale Shaw, I wouldn't take that championship away from Kenseth the way some would do with Johnson if given the chance. I guess what I should have said is that I don't like the system under which he won the championship produced genuine champions sometimes. 33. Anonymous posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Drew Herring's pole just proves that Kyle Busch is not as good as everybody makes him out to be. I mean Herring gets in the car and gets the pole! So it's the Gibbs equipment that makes Kyle look so good 34. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That last sentence I typed made no sense, so let me reword it. I don't think the 1973-2003 system, or the 2004-present system are either legitimate way to produce a champion. And I don't buy the argument that drivers would race differently under a different system because at their core they want the best finish possible no matter what system is used. 35. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "So no, I don't think Keselowski was absolutely the only option for this weekend. They easily could have gone with someone else just for one race. It's just unfortunate that they have this much say in who drives the car." You think Discount Tire is just going to hand Penske a check and say "Put whomever you want in the car"? Would you, if it were your money? If sponsors didn't have this much say in who drives the cars they sponsor, they wouldn't be sponsors. 36. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) that girl did an ok job on the national anthem, but I cant tell if there were electrical issues, or her voice was too high for us to hear, or the mic to pick up if her voice is that high-pitched that's awesome! 37. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) It's not like Kenseth's only win in 2003 was a fuel mileage fluke or something. He took a dominating win at Las Vegas and led laps and got a butt load of top tens all year (25 - which is a pretty rare feat in a single season even by today's standards). Meanwhile, ALL his competition did was beat themselves all year. Earnhardt Jr, Gordon, and Harvick were all closing late in the season only to fail to capitalize. Johnson basically only finished 2nd because he racked up three wins that were enough to help him slide by those other guys. You can go with the whole "But Jimmie would have won it had there been a Chase" nonsense, but there wasn't a Chase, so it's irrelevant. I've never understood the outrage of Kenseth's 2003 title. I would be much, much more outraged if Ryan Newman had been the champion that year just because of his inflated win total (about 5 of his 8 wins were fuel stretches). 38. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "You think Discount Tire is just going to hand Penske a check and say "Put whomever you want in the car"? Would you, if it were your money? If sponsors didn't have this much say in who drives the cars they sponsor, they wouldn't be sponsors." Jim, unfortunately, a lot of people don't ever look at it from the point of view of the people who have (A LOT) of their money invested in this sport. Why in the world would the people who are paying MILLIONS OF DOLLARS not have say in who was their representative for a certain race. I don't like Cup drivers in Nationwide, but people who say that are essentially saying that a company shouldn't have the power to decide who their employee is for the weekend. 39. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "You think Discount Tire is just going to hand Penske a check and say "Put whomever you want in the car"? Would you, if it were your money?" If I was sponsoring the car of a legendary racing mind like Roger Penske who knows what he's doing and probably knows way more than me about racing, yeah, I actually probably would do that. 40. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Knowing the last time we had just one Cup series regular in the field, he won the race... ...I fully expect Keselowski to win this race. 41. OldSchoolNascarDude1 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) That was an inspiring story of Joey Gase's journey over the past few years. He had to grow up fast. I've never lost a parent, but I'm sure it was extremely difficult, especially since he wasn't even of legal age yet. Hopefully he can have a solid run tonight. 42. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) Nice to hear Craven in the booth. He's another one of the guys who I would like to see end up on NBC Sports. 43. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Curious question...where has Dexter Stacey been the last couple weeks? Did he abandon running in the Nationwide Series, or what? 44. cjs3872 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Zack, in the 1970s, the USAC IndyCar series was considered the top racing series in America, and in 1978, Tom Sneva won the championship without winning any races, but he also finished second seven times, won six or seven pole positions, and had far more top 5 finishes than any other driver that year on the USAC IndyCar circuit, and when the points were counted up, he had more of them than any other driver. 45. Watto posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Glad to see Ricky Craven in the booth, he usually provides good, intelligent commentary. "I've always wanted to see that too, although my fear is if somebody wins the championship by top 5ing everyone to death will that actually take down some of the incentive to win?" I'm pretty sure there's always incentive to win. Guys DO NOT want to win the title without a win. They'll take a championship any day of the week, but they want to win, too. Racers want to win. It doesn't matter if it's a one point difference or a ten point difference. If they're in position, they will race as hard as they can. 46. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I've never understood the outrage of Kenseth's 2003 title. I would be much, much more outraged if Ryan Newman had been the champion that year just because of his inflated win total (about 5 of his 8 wins were fuel stretches)." As i said earlier, in my opinion, a perfect system would have rewarded neither Kenseth (lack of wins) or Newman (lack of constancy) the championship. And who knows, maybe under a perfect system that rewards wins enough to balance out with consistency, Kenseth may have STILL won the championship. That doesn't change the fact that i still, personally, hate the NASCAR points system because it can reward a champion that has no wins (which, the last time I checked--which admittedly was awhile ago--, Kenseth DID NOT do, so why is his name even relevant to this conversation???) It's a personal preference...I think a no-win champion is about the most ridiculous thing I can think of. 47. epzik8 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I can tell this race is going to be very different from the June race, because that one ended up being run during the day after being scheduled for the night before. 48. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Guys DO NOT want to win the title without a win." ^^^This guy gets it. I just can't imagine any driver would want to win the championship without having at least one win to back it up with. 49. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And let me say this, there may be some extreme situations in which a driver with no wins should still win the championship, but the whole point I'm trying to make is that I just don't think drivers would really feel good about that one and I'd have a hard time rallying around such a champion. 50. 12345Dude posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's why DSFF's point system doesn't work. Beacause of Dale Shaw's 1994 season. Unless he gives even more points for lead laps. 51. 12345Dude posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting note about Dale Shaw's 1994 championship. Not only did Dale Shaw not win a race, he didn't lead ANY laps. For the whole season! I'm still emotional after that Joey Gase story. 52. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Nice to hear Craven in the booth. He's another one of the guys who I would like to see end up on NBC Sports. " Buddy Baker said the same thing, I think he also said he likes Rick Allen too and obviously DW, Larry Mac, Mike Joy, Most of the Fox crew, he also likes Jim Noble, Brad Ghilie, 53. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution flag is out. 54. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The caution is for Herring going for a loop. 55. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Damn, hate that. Hope he can come back. 56. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Keselowski had a tire outside the box and has to go to the tail end of the field. ...This leaves me feeling more hopeful! 57. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I posted this on the truck page earlier today and I'll post it tomorrow on the Cup page, but I just wanted to share an idea I had today. What if NASCAR brought back consolation races? One for each of the top 3 series, either at the end of the season or during the offseason, for all the drivers who had a DNQ during the year. Have it be a race for charity, and hold a random drawing to determine the track it's held at each year. I think that would be an awesome idea. Here's the field of cars so far if such a race were held this year: Matt DiBenedetto Carl Long Morgan Shepherd Joey Gase Tim Schendel Mike Harmon Blake Koch Dexter Stacey J.J. Yeley Bryan Silas Tanner Berryhill Jason Bowles Derrike Cope Stanton Barrett John Wes Townley Jamie Dick Derek Thorn Chase Miller Scott Riggs Jason White Michael McDowell Tony Raines Danny Efland Brendan Gaughan Kevin Swindell My money would be on Gaughan 58. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) Finally in front of a TV so I can say this: Brad you look like a tool out there. 59. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "What if NASCAR brought back consolation races?" I'd be more enthusiastic if the field consisted of non-winners instead of DNQers. Aren't drivers who made all their scheduled races but never won entitled to some consolation? 60. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (6) (0) Look at that crowd. Give this place a Cup date already. Great racing, great fans. 61. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The second coming of Dale Earnhardt...er, I mean Austin Dillon takes the lead. 62. Kenny posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yay 63. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Look at that crowd. Give this place a Cup date already. Great racing, great fans." Just out of curiosity, how can Nationwide have more stand alone races if we give a Cup race to one of the tracks that doesn't have a Cup race already? This isn't my question. It was raised on the radio yesterday. 64. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'd be more enthusiastic if the field consisted of non-winners instead of DNQers. Aren't drivers who made all their scheduled races but never won entitled to some consolation?" Well, consolation races used to be run by NASCAR before the Daytona 500 for drivers who failed to qualify. And as long as the Cradle Robbers of Busch, Keselowski, Logano, and Harvick are allowed to run the Nationwide series, there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 cars at such a race. I don't really think a driver who runs the whole season and doesn't win deserves more consolation than a driver who missed races during the year 65. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johanna 2 laps down already? Brutal. I was hoping she could have runs this year like last year and get a high dollar ride, but this isn't helping one bit. 66. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) You know...I don't care what anyone says. I really like Austin Dillon and I really want to see the #3 back on the track in Cup. I think it's time. I was 8 years old when Dale died and I remember that day like it was yesterday. For me, having the #3 back on the track will be the final step in moving on. If Junior doesn't have a problem with it, I certainly am not entitled to have a problem with it. 67. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Just out of curiosity, how can Nationwide have more stand alone races if we give a Cup race to one of the tracks that doesn't have a Cup race already?" What's the problem? The Cup and Nationwide races don't have to be on the same weekend. 68. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I'd be more enthusiastic if the field consisted of non-winners instead of DNQers. Aren't drivers who made all their scheduled races but never won entitled to some consolation?" The irony is...that field could legitimately include the reigning champion, which just goes back to what I was saying earlier. "Well, consolation races used to be run by NASCAR before the Daytona 500 for drivers who failed to qualify. And as long as the Cradle Robbers of Busch, Keselowski, Logano, and Harvick are allowed to run the Nationwide series, there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 cars at such a race. I don't really think a driver who runs the whole season and doesn't win deserves more consolation than a driver who missed races during the year" I don't think any of them are entitled to a consolation. That's too close to a "everybody gets a trophy" mentality, which is something I just can't support. 69. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The irony is...that field could legitimately include the reigning champion..." Good point. 70. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "What's the problem? The Cup and Nationwide races don't have to be on the same weekend." The problem is that the fans in Iowa already have 4 weekends a year where they have to show up for races between Nationwide, Trucks, and IndyCar. Isn't adding another weekend to the that for Cup just asking them to stretch it a bit too much. The attendance for one, or all of the other races would be hurt most likely because fans would save money to go to the Cup race and pass on Nationwide, trucks, and maybe even IndyCar. 71. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^^^Again those aren't my points. They were made on Sirius radio yesterday and to me they make sense. 72. Ryan posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Marty Reid has lost about 20 mph on his fastball in the past year 73. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's not that I have a problem with Dillon running the #3...the problem I have is that he is currently and will always be compared to the driver most famous for running that number as long as he drives the #3. He's not going to get the chance to forge his own identity...he's already basically expected by the media to be Dale Earnhardt's second coming. 74. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) Marty Ried is choking worse than Kyle Busch when points matter. STOP TALKING ABOUT BRAD! 75. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "It's not that I have a problem with Dillon running the #3" I don't either. But I do think it's a problem for him to be running a BLACK number 3 that is painted up like an old Earnhardt car. If they would just give him his own paint scheme with different colors it would be fine. 76. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (5) (1) Marty Ried is choking worse than Peyton Manning in a home playoff game. 77. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Marty Ried is choking worse than Marty Schottenheimer in the playoffs. 78. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The problem is that the fans in Iowa already have 4 weekends a year where they have to show up for races between Nationwide, Trucks, and IndyCar. Isn't adding another weekend to the that for Cup just asking them to stretch it a bit " I think giving the fans a choice in which or how many races they will support is a feature, not a bug. 79. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Another terrible pit stop for Brad. 80. David posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Marty Reid is choking worse than DSFF is spelling his name. Sorry, couldn't resist. 81. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I don't think any of them are entitled to a consolation. That's too close to a "everybody gets a trophy" mentality, which is something I just can't support." You did see that I said it should be a charity race right? It's sort of like an anti-All Star race, or a thank you to the drivers who show up to the track knowing they have no chance to win and might not even make the race. They're what help keep the sport going, but rarely get any thanks for it. They're often independent efforts too. Don't know how but my list failed to include Bobby Gerhart. That would push it to a field of 26 cars. Randomly draw some track and put that field out there for charity, I think that'd be an entertaining show. Best part? No Buschwhackin' Insurance Fraudin' Cradle Robbin' Cuppers 82. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "It's not that I have a problem with Dillon running the #3...the problem I have is that he is currently and will always be compared to the driver most famous for running that number as long as he drives the #3. He's not going to get the chance to forge his own identity...he's already basically expected by the media to be Dale Earnhardt's second coming." Believe it or not, if Austin goes on to be a successful Cup driver, I don't think he's going to be sitting around worrying that the hyperbolic media is comparing him to Dale Earnhardt. Likewise, if Ty ends up being better than Austin, i don't think he'll care that he most likely won't get to drive the #3 in Cup. 83. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) as much as I love seeing the helmet cam (or whatever that "google glass" cam is called) it gives me a headache when I see it 84. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Good Lord, stop talking about Brad! 85. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) "Hey, you know which driver we haven't given a shoutout to yet tonight? BRAD KESELOWSKI! DID WE TELL YOU HE'S DOING DOUBLE DUTY THIS WEEKEND TO HELP ROGER PENSKE WIN THE ALL-IMPORTANT OWNER'S CHAMPION I WISH I HAD A FONT BIGGER AND MORE OBNOXIOUS THAN CAPSLOCK TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT WINNING A MINOR LEAGUE OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP IS TO AN OWNER LIKE ROGER PENSKE BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE BRAD IS SLOWLY FALLING OUT OF CHASE CONTENTION OR ANYTHING, SCREW THAT THEY HAVE AN OUTSIDE SHOT AT A MINOR LEAGUE OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 86. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "You did see that I said it should be a charity race right? It's sort of like an anti-All Star race, or a thank you to the drivers who show up to the track knowing they have no chance to win and might not even make the race. They're what help keep the sport going, but rarely get any thanks for it. They're often independent efforts too." So these teams who are apparently so poor that they can't even pony up enough money to fund a competitive team in the second tier NASCAR series are supposed to pony up the funds to go race somewhere in the country, and they won't know where until this draw happens so they can't plan their budgets around it, and race in race for which they don't even get to keep the money for? That's not a "thank you", that's a waste of money. Good luck with that. It's even worse than I originally thought. How on Earth would it even be worth it for the underfunded teams to even show up? The only way charity events work is if you have people who are wealthy (or willing) enough to lose money on them. 87. RaceFanX posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) K&N East winner and diversity driver Ryan Gifford makes his Busch debut. 88. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) SkyWarrior, the only way I could ever see your consolation race working is if NASCAR, Sprint, Nationwide, and Camping World all came together to foot the bill for the event. And would that even be worth it for them? I highly doubt many people would want to buy a ticket to see a bunch of S&Pers (YOU may want to, but most people probably don't) race anyway which races the question...would this really raise that much money for charity? And I highly doubt there would be a large TV audience for it so if it made it on TV it would probably by Pay-Per-View. 89. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just personally would like to see Austin be allowed to be Austin Dillon rather than being portrayed as "Dale Earnhardt Mk. II". Those are some seriously lofty expectations that, while I do think he'll have a successful Cup career, I can't see him living up to. Personally, I see him as someone having a 10-20 win Cup career with a few top-5 points finishes. We already know he has a guaranteed ride for life, so if he fails to perform up to expectations, it's not like he's in danger of getting kicked out of the sport... I don't know, personally, I just hate it when drivers get over-hyped to be more than what they really are (Same thing with Danica). I guess it's just a personal thing. 90. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) yea, amazing how a Sprint cup Champion who psyched-out Jimmie Johnson is able to figure out how to recover from a pit road penalty in a Nationwide race 91. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pastrana spins. 92. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ..son of a Bitch! 93. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:45 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Travis Pastrana crashes...again. Man, Travis has ZERO luck. 94. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Zackary Shawn, first the stuff about a driver who doesn't win isn't a champion, now this. Are you sure you don't just want to argue with people tonight? 95. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) BSPN is excited because this gives Brad a chance to catch back up and win. ...Where's my Donny Lia bucket? 96. 18fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mixed strategy on that pit stop, should be interesting to see if two or four tires is the better strategy. 97. Jim Davis posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Man, Travis has ZERO luck." I wonder how much of his misfortunes are actually bad luck. Maybe he just really over drives his car. 98. David posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You're misquoting Zackary, Sky Warrior. He said a winless championship would be meaningless. 99. 18fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) That was a left-rear tire that went down, which usually is not the result of over-driving a car. 100. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Zackary Shawn, first the stuff about a driver who doesn't win isn't a champion, now this. Are you sure you don't just want to argue with people tonight?" Arguing? I thought this site was for discussion...The championship thing is pure opinion and I'm going to exercise my right to express it. Now, give me a scenario where your consolation race is actually economically feasible so that the S&P teams don't lose money, which apparently they are down on or they wouldn't be S&P teams to begin with, and the consolation race actually achieves its goal of raising money for charity. I know this isn't a popular opinion among people who just love racing for the sake of racing, but most people don't want to see a bunch of S&Pers race in a race that doesn't count for anything. 101. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yep. Keselowski is going to win this race. He's gotten past Dillon and has moved into second. I keep watching these races hoping for a surprise, and I almost NEVER get one... 102. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pass for the win coming up right here... 103. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) GUYS THERE'S OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS HAPPENING!!! LET'S TALK ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF THE ENTIRE REST OF THE FIELD 104. New14 & 88Fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Brad K to the lead Bah Humbug! 105. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The balloon that is this race is starting to deflate. 106. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 9:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Can we cut this whole "Brad has never won a race after getting a pit penalty" garbage? Watching him, as the only Cup guy in the field, win is depressing enough as is. 107. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 23 car spins, caution. 108. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) would we complain as much about him being in this race if he (as well as other Rate suckers, or whatever term we coined) had a much better personality? 109. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Richard Harriman spins out, erasing Brad's "small, yet very impressive" lead. So if a Cup driver comes back from a big penalty in superior equipment, it's impressive, yet it's not when one of the series regulars does it? Wait a minute, I forgot that BSPN was covering this race... 110. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I never said these were the S&P drivers though. Sure some of them are, but generalizing all the drivers I mentioned like that doesn't make your side of the argument look good, especially since Brendan Gaughan is among those. And I asked the argument question because if you were just pulling a Willy on Wheels, I wasn't going to bother continuing to respond 111. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Man, it was gut-wrenching to see Bayne drop like a rock on that restart. 112. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Man, it was gut-wrenching to see Bayne drop like a rock on that restart. 113. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Now they're giving us a full comprehensive overview of Keselowski's night and the incredible odds he's had to overcome to (most likely) win this race. It's official...BSPN is in complete ecstasy right now. 114. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Whoops, sorry for the double post. 115. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "would we complain as much about him being in this race if he (as well as other Rate suckers, or whatever term we coined) had a much better personality?" He already does have one of the most unique personalities in the sport. We're complaining because it is YET ANOTHER Cup guy beating up on the NNS only guys in his Cup quality equipment. 116. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Everyone not named BK should've pit. 117. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Brad's "small, yet very impressive" lead." I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard that garbage. 118. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow that was a great save by Brian Scott 119. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Sam, PLEASE don't be brainwashed by this "Roger wants an NNS owner's championship" stuff. 120. New14 & 88Fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Come on Sam 121. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The #101 of Dee Brees looks slow, but I doubt they'll throw a caution because of who's leading 122. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sam is closing in on Brad, but the question is will he actually try to pass him... 123. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well, so much for that break from Prelim Cup Series like I was talking about earlier. 124. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 straight standalone NNS wins for the Penske poachers. 125. jabber1990 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) did you know that Brad isn't running for Nationwide points? 126. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cuppiewinslol 127. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) Congratulations on still Cup win #0 on the season Brad 128. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Oh my God! Brad Keselowski FINALLY won a Nationwide Series race in which he got a pit road penalty! What an AMAZING story! What an INCREDIBLE comeback! ...said BSPN. 129. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:15 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) If Brad stinks it up in Pocono tomorrow (in other words run like he has since May) I will be VERY angry. 130. Peter posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:15 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Despite being 3 laps down Johanna had a really decent race; just a victim of car junk in the first part of the race/long green runs 131. DB1995 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 tires basically destroyed my drivers top 5 or win chances Trevor barely held on to 10th... 132. New14 & 88Fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:18 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) AT least Ryan Blaney won the truck race earlier today. 133. Chives5150 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hey, at least Sam had a good points finish. Also, shout out to Ryan Gifford scoring a top-10 in his first ever Nationwide Series start! 134. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) I like Pastrana a lot, but a total bush league move of BSPN to interview him (finished 27th) before interviewing other top five people just so they can plug the lame ass X Games. 135. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I never said these were the S&P drivers though. Sure some of them are, but generalizing all the drivers I mentioned like that doesn't make your side of the argument look good, especially since Brendan Gaughan is among those. And I asked the argument question because if you were just pulling a Willy on Wheels, I wasn't going to bother continuing to respond." I don't even know what Willy on Wheels is? Should I? So 1 driver isn't in an S&P car? So unless someone steps in and covers the others expenses, wouldn't his team be the only one who could afford to actually race in a race for which there was no prize money? And if NASCAR, et al. were to step in to fund the expenses of the teams that would probably cost into the millions of dollars for an event that would raise $50,000 and that is a very liberal estimate I think. Just give the money to charity to begin with. However, I did come up with another suggestion that might work...the bigger teams could donate the cars to be run in this race. But that doesn't change the philosophical objection I have to consolation races/games/everyone gets a trophy. Shannon Spake is cute. 136. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NESPN...where self-promotion is king. 137. epzik8 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just noticed that the electronic driver position tower at this track (right above victory lane) looks just like the one at Pocono, which is where the Sprint Cup is tomorrow. 138. 18fan posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I was impressed by Gifford, mainly the way he was methodical and worked his way up and kept his nose clean. 139. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Every winner so far this weekend had/has a father who races in NASCAR and is objectively not as good as their sons. Who does that mean will win tomorrow? 140. Anonymous posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Regan Smith ran either 1st or 2nd all night until the end, I don't know what they were thinking taking 2 tires. Bad call. 141. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Or has obvious potential to be better than his father, to acknowledge Randy LaJoie's accomplishments 142. DB1995 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe Brad is in for a good cup race tommorrow its already been a great weekend for him. On a sad note there have been 3 standalones this year all three won by the 22 with 3 different drivers , all basically cup drivers, A.J. at Road America (i dont hate this one), Joey Logano at Chicago, and Brad at Iowa right now, it sucks that nationwide guys couldnt beat them , except A.J. 143. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) "Every winner so far this weekend had/has a father who races in NASCAR and is objectively not as good as their sons. Who does that mean will win tomorrow?" Jimmie Johnson of course, whose father Junior is NOWHERE near the pure racer that his epic son Jimmie is!!! Seriously now, obviously I know that's not true, but can't you see the media trying to get us to believe that? 144. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Every winner so far this weekend had/has a father who races in NASCAR and is objectively not as good as their sons. Who does that mean will win tomorrow?" If we can't choose Brad K., all I've got is Martin Truex Jr. I'd be OK with that. 145. Peter posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Really impressive run for Gifford he will have a great career 146. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:29 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Every winner so far this weekend had/has a father who races in NASCAR and is objectively not as good as their sons. Who does that mean will win tomorrow?" David Ragan. 147. Schroeder51 posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #143 I am sad to say that I have actually legitimately seen people out there ask if Jimmie Johnson was Junior's son... 148. David posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) David Reutimann. There's tomorrow's winner, right there. 149. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Seriously though...what is Willy on Wheels? 150. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) WIlly on Wheels is a troll who posts on here occasionally. And it's more than 1 driver who doesn't regularly start and park. Swindell, Bowles, Efland, Stacey, Townley, Dick, White, McDowell, Raines don't usually start and park in the Nationwide series, and most of the other drivers wouldn't if they had the funding either. "However, I did come up with another suggestion that might work...the bigger teams could donate the cars to be run in this race." That's actually a pretty good idea. The teams that can afford it don't usually run their cars for too many races. Make RCR, Penske, JGR, etc. provide the cars since they suck all the other resources from the lower series. Since it would be a charity race, I would imagine a lot of companies would be happy to step up and cover some costs for it because of the good publicity it would generate. From that they could put together a small purse for the drivers like the All Star qualifying race. That event gets teams who run the full distance knowing fully well they have no chance at winning. The trophy could also be something unique from Sam Bass, or a company could offer a sponsor package for the next season to the winner or top finishers. Lots of different possibilities, but it's doubtful this will ever be more than a fantasy 151. Eric posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Zackary Shawn, Willy on Wheels is an infamous poster. He is best known for vandalizing wikipedia. 152. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Can Someone PLEASE send me a picture of the 50 car 153. murb posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I am sad to say that I have actually legitimately seen people out there ask if Jimmie Johnson was Junior's son..." lol, I know, me too. I was just making a joke about how since the media loves trying to rewrite history, they might as well just start convincing everyone that that's true. "David Reutimann. There's tomorrow's winner, right there." That would absolutely make up for Brad winning this one. 154. Sky Warrior posted: 08.03.2013 - 10:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kramer Williamson was airlifted from Lincoln Speedway tonight and is in surgery for what's being reported as internal injuries after a flip in the United Racing Club/360 Challenge tonight 155. David posted: 08.03.2013 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "That would absolutely make up for Brad winning this one." Not to mention, 83andJoe would probably have a stroke. 156. Mannoroth posted: 08.03.2013 - 11:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Ah, what a ridiculous race! When I saw the entry list for this race for the first time, I bet with my cousin for 500 crowns that Brad Keselowski will win this race and I was right and won. :D It's always easy, when Kyle Busch isn't racing, right, Brad? 157. Matt L posted: 08.03.2013 - 11:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The positive to take out of this race is the top 6 drivers in points all have a great shot at being the champion this season. This will be fun to watch the final 13 races. 158. The Long Shot posted: 08.03.2013 - 11:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Austin Dillon leads almost half the laps, and again can't seem to close the deal. If he wins the championship this year and doesn't win a race, he'll be the most undeserving Nationwide champion in a long time (not counting full-time Cup drivers who won Nationwide championships before 2011). 159. Eric posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:06 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) At least Austin Dillon is improving his points lead from 6 to 14. I just hope Austin stays of trouble for Watkin's Glen and Mid Ohio with Smith and Hornish finishing behind Austin at those two tracks. 160. Eric posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If NASCAR does a chase for Nationwide next year, there still is a possibility of a winless champion if NASCAR allows cup regulars to race in the Nationwide chase. 161. cjs3872 posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:13 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is what Sky Warrior mentioned in post #154 more proof that guys like Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson should not be running sprint car races, not that any was needed after Jason Leffler's fatal crash. And yet, where does Kyle Larson go after the Nationwide race but to Knoxville to race sprint cars there. I hope I'm wrong about this because I don't want to see anyone get hurt in any way, but one of these days, someone like Stewart or Larson is going to get seriously injured or even killed in one of those races. Again, I sincerely hope that doesn't happen, but I'm afraid it may take something that for these drivers that came up through sprint cars to stop running those type of cars when there's something more important in front of them. And Matt L, there are only five drivers currently in serious contention for he title, but everything will be in much sharper focus in two weeks. That's when the back-to-back road course races will have been run. Those are the two remaining wild card races left in the Nationwide Series season. After the race at Mid-Ohio, we'll find out who the real contenders are because all the quirky races will have been run. I like where Austin Dillon is sitting, and not just because he's the points leader, but he's racing for an organization that knows how to win championships, and I'd say that if he was 14 points behind. JR Motorsports certainly doesn't know how to win a championship, and I'm not sure either one of the two JGR drivers in the top five will do what it takes to snare the title. But one thing about the Nationwide Series championship battle is for sure. Winning races and the three point bump for doing so will not factor into the championship battle because I think road course specialists are likely to win the next two races (Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio) and Cup regulars are likely to sweep the remaining races except Kentucky, which may be the final shot for a Nationwide Series championship-eligible drier to win this year. 162. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "It's always easy, when Kyle Busch isn't racing, right, Brad?" Actually, out of Brad's 3 Nationwide wins this season, 2 of which had Kyle Busch in the race. In fact, Kyle finished in the top 5 in both of those races. In fact, Kyle Busch was in the race in 16 of Brad's 23 career Nationwide wins, and that dates back to the JRM vs JGR days. "So if a Cup driver comes back from a big penalty in superior equipment, it's impressive, yet it's not when one of the series regulars does it?" When a regular does it, we hear about it repeatedly, too. I guess some people just like to make fun of it when it's a Cup driver recovering from going to the back twice. 163. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I liked having Ricky Craven in the booth. Marty Reid may be annoying from time to time, but he's not worth obsessing over like many choose to do. Craven certainly is intelligent and offers good commentary, in my opinion. I would love if he was a frequent commentary, as long as that's what he wants to do, of course. Brad Keselowski has actually won the last 3 Nationwide races that he has run (Richmond in April, Kentucky in June, tonight @ Iowa). He and Logano both have 9 starts in the car. I know it's frustrating and all when Cup guys are repeatedly seen in Nationwide, but I don't believe the TV coverage was overly reflective of "we must follow Cup guys at all times". If you put any other driver in the exact same set of circumstances, they are gonna be a focus of the race. The 22 was one of the fastest cars on the track from the drop of the green flag. He gets a pit penalty, has to come from the tail end. He drives through much of the field. The motor overheats. He comes from the back of the lead lap cars again. When ANYONE comes through the field like he was, it becomes a focal point. When the broadcast is focused on the leader running solo laps as opposed to the actual racing midpack, people complain; and yet, here was some guy coming through the field all race that was clearly going to come up through the field and grab the win, and that's exactly what happened. That's TV, man. You'll see the same things tomorrow if there are drivers coming from the back and making up ground running the fastest times on the track. 164. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sorry for 3 posts in a row, but I do want to note Alex Bowman's really solid finish. He started fading early and I thought it was going to end up being a struggle after a good qualifying run, like we've seen previously, but he hung in there and got a really solid finish. Also, I wasn't sure that Ryan Gifford was going to do much this weekend, but he really started adjusting to the car and did a commendable job. To keep your nose clean and grab a nice top 10 finish in your first start without ruffling anybody's feathers is a good way to begin your NASCAR career in a top 3 series. As far as the talk of Travis Pastrana potentially creating his own bad luck, that does happen from time to time, but you can't blow out a left-rear tire by overdriving. It'll always be the right-front or right-rear if the driver is the cause. It surely was a cut tire or some other factor he couldn't control. Maybe it was from contact that he initiated by coming down on someone, but I don't think there was any evidence of that. 165. ch posted: 08.04.2013 - 1:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor Changes: 01 - G&K Services 23 - AC General / Ringwall Foundations 51 - Clements Automotive 60 - X-Games L.A. 74 - I-Car / Country Roads Group Riding 166. Sky Warrior posted: 08.04.2013 - 1:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) It does worry me cjs that it's only a matter of time before NASCAR loses a major star to sprint car racing, maybe even a matter of months. I didn't realize this until just now when searching for more news about Williamson, but Jason Leffler was already the 6th person to be killed in American dirt racing this year. 2 people were killed back in March when a car lost control and hit them on the pit lane. That was the incident where one of the victims was the cousin of the driver who hit him. Leroy Kay and David Richardson were killed in a Memorial Day dwarf car race in Nevada after a t-bone crash on the last lap, both drivers were in their 60's. And on May 24th, 22 year old Josh Burton was killed in Bloomington during a sprint car wreck. Then of course Leffler on June 12 and Williamson who was, as of this post, seriously injured and in surgery after wrecks while in sprint cars. Just earlier this week Speed did a story where Tony Stewart got uppity with the media for hounding him after a wreck where he flipped recently, saying it was a normal thing for that form of racing. I'm not a big sprint car fan, but is the mortality rate really this high normally or has this year been some sort of nightmare? Auto racing is dangerous, we all know that. Going that fast is like playing with fire. But it seems like the NASCAR regulars moonlighting in sprint cars, which are far less safe than stock cars and flip easier, and which they don't drive regularly, it seems like they're adding gasoline to that mix. Something should be done in the name of safety if the style of dirt racing across various series has killed 6 people from March to June. Unfortunately, I don't think Jason Leffler was a big enough name to pressure anyone enough to get things done 167. Sky Warrior posted: 08.04.2013 - 2:22 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Carl Long's sponsor might not be right. That's currently an empty domain hosted through GoDaddy and up for sale. 168. b4il3y posted: 08.04.2013 - 2:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) This whole race wasnt right..Congrats Sam Hornish for winning! Nice second place Austin! 169. b4il3y posted: 08.04.2013 - 2:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Im sorry...nice 2nd place play Kyle! Drew Herring was a beast! 170. 83andJoe posted: 08.04.2013 - 2:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) >I didn't realize this until just now when searching for more news about Williamson, but Jason Leffler was already the 6th person to be killed in American dirt racing this year. 2 people were killed back in March when a car lost control and hit them on the pit lane...Something should be done in the name of safety if the style of dirt racing across various series has killed 6 people from March to June. I crunched numbers on this back when Brad started shooting his mouth off on Twitter about "omg short track safety is horrible". Short track racing in the United States has EXACTLY THE SAME SAFETY RECORD AS NASCAR 2001-present, and a /better/ safety record than NASCAR had in the 1990s. You can't say "six people killed, safety is out of control" without noticing the vastly greater number of tracks and races. For /deaths per number of races run/, the fatality rate in NASCAR's National Touring Series almost /exactly/ matches the observed fatality rate at short tracks. Yes, there are improvements to be made. But the sky isn't cracking, yet alone falling. 171. 83andJoe posted: 08.04.2013 - 3:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) -Michael Annett's 150th start -Brett Butler's best career finish (2 starts) -Travis Sauter's first career start 172. nascar_vd posted: 08.04.2013 - 6:03 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Brad Keselowski / Kyle Busch / Joey Logano /... Same struggle... I do not succeed in Sprint, so I'm in a lower series to brush the hair from my ego. So I feel a good driver ... While I am not ... This is especially sad for Keselowski ... that unlike the others, has already been champion in Sprint. But 2012 seems light years away! Gangrene sows its seeds ... This is euthanasia of the Nationwide Series... Thank you drivers, especially the top teams and big sponsors who see only the present day. Do not think about the past, let alone the future. And thank you NASCAR to endorse all ... Big Bill must be turning in his grave seeing what is today her baby .... 173. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 6:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I am sad to say that I have actually legitimately seen people out there ask if Jimmie Johnson was Junior's son..." It's honestly not the worst thing in the world. Anyone who's asking that is a fairly casual fan and trying to become more knowledgeable about the sport. Asking if the top Cup driver of this era is related to one of the greats who started the sport, because of the last name Johnson, isn't too depressing. They're both great for different reasons. Junior was a pioneer, Jimmie is the cream of the crop right now. I know everyone loves to hate on Jimmie Johnson, I'm a Brad Keselowski fan so I wanted nothing more in the world than to see Brad win that 2012 title, but it's a little ridiculous. The 48 team is leaving where previous dominating teams left off. You need a great car, and you need a great driver. There's no need to discredit Jimmie Johnson as a driver, like everyone loves to do. 174. Mannoroth posted: 08.04.2013 - 6:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) It looks like the Nos. 54 and 22 are the only one, which can compete for the Owners Championship so far. I don't think the Nos. 3, 7 and 12 have any chance to win (they're more than 100 points behind the 54), when the Nos. 54 and 22 will keep finishing like that. 175. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:02 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) The constant coverage of Brad was ridiculous. And making him out to be a hero for "overcoming" a penalty on the first stop of the day was over the top. Considering he is the Cup champ in a field of minor leaguers. But he did mention Ryan Blaney's kick ass win in Trucks in victory lane and seemed more excited about that than his own win (as he should have been). And I wanna give Marty Ried kudos for being a good sport about him choking his way through that promo segment, mentioning Kenseth's text then making a Heimlick joke on the next round of promos. I give him hell a lot, but I do want to mention that. 176. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I want to add a few things from the discussion we had about the championship format. I genuinely don't care how people think the champion should be rewarded, but I'm still amazed at the very intense opposition I got for suggesting that the champion should be a race winner. It really amazes me that so many of you think that someone who actually didn't win a single event or even lead at any point in their chosen sport for that year actually makes a good champion and I really wish someone would explain this to me in a non-condescening manner to me because I just can't wrap my head around it. What's the point of even winning races and taking chances to do so, if you can just top-5 and top-10 the field to death and still become champion? Not to mention from the standpoint of a fan if drivers aren't taking chances and are content with a "good points day" that gets kind of boring for a lot of fans to watch. Personally, I would not be satisfied if I were a driver and won the championship without wins and I'm willing to bet a lot of the actual drivers probably feel the same way. With that said, I would like to make an amendment...a no-win champion in NASCAR would not be the most meaningless championship in all of sports. That title belongs, and will always belong, to the University of Alabama's 2011 National Championship. LSU had already defeated them in an SEC West matchup, had already won the SEC West championship, and had already won the SEC championship. How in the world did Alabama even deserve to play in that game? The fact they had already lost the division championship LSU is the part that really gets me. Alabama weren't even eligible to win their conference, but they can play for and ultimately win the national title against LSU, the team that not only was eligible for the conference title, but actually WON the conference title for which they became eligible to compete for by defeating Alabama in the conference standings to begin with? Does that make any sense to you? RIDICULOUS. (For the record I'm not denying the good performance by Alabama and terrible performance by LSU in the title game itself. I'm merely questioning the tactics by which they got to that point to begin with.) 177. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Of course the more complicated question in college football for 2011 was if not Alabama, then who? That was a weird year. Towards the end not only were the top 3 in the BCS from the same conference, they were from the same DIVISION. (Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU) 178. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Zackary, I'm not going into NCAA's insane bias to the SEC, but I side with you on that one. The difference between major sport and racing is this: you have more than two competitors. Therefore, there are two choices. (1) You can only count wins, and have a champion who won 8 times but DNF'd 23 times, or you have to reward wins while awarding positions in a descending pattern (or ascending if you do like the pre-WWII Grand Prix points). If you then refuse winless drivers, then you reject the careers of guys like James Hylton, John Sears, Cecil Gordon, and Neil Castles who, if they could have won a race or two most years, would have won the title but were nevertheless extremely good competitors who were sometimes still eligible for the title at the season finale. You then must say "Driver with most points." If you say "Driver with most points who won a race," then people will clamor over how many wins is enough to be eligible for the title and eventually you will either be back at only awarding wins or giving 50000 points for win and 42 points for second. So the only way to do it is like how IndyCar does it: 50 points for win steeply declining, including only 40 for second. Therefore, a guy could have 12 podiums in 18 races (aka Tom Sneva and Tony Bettenhausen), but still lose to a guy with 10 wins and 8 DNFs. The idea is to reward drivers for not destroying their car, like what happened to JG in 1996. Yes, they had the same number of top-5s and top-10s, and Jeff had 8 more wins, but the 7 races where Jeff was outside the top-10 he was PUTRID, whereas Terry was on the outside of the top-10 looking in. 179. Anonymous posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm a fan of BK, and while I'd like to see him win in Cup, its almost sad when he, as well as other Cuppers, win in Nationwide, a series they should have grown out of by now. Should have... Welp, at least I didn't watch it. Another NW race I'm glad I missed. 180. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.04.2013 - 8:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Zackary, I'm not going into NCAA's insane bias to the SEC, but I side with you on that one." Well, I wouldn't call it a bias per say because I think each year it's an SEC school that emerges as most deserving for a spot in the NCG. This is especially and doubly trie for 2010 when Auburn won the National Championship. It's just in 2011, it makes no sense that a team can win the more important national title against a team they has already lost the less important division championship to. That would be like Taylor Swift (who I actually adore, so I'm not picking on her) winning Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards against another country artist after she had already lost Best Country Album to the very same artist. It's make no sense. "The difference between major sport and racing is this: you have more than two competitors. Therefore, there are two choices. (1) You can only count wins, and have a champion who won 8 times but DNF'd 23 times, or you have to reward wins while awarding positions in a descending pattern (or ascending if you do like the pre-WWII Grand Prix points). If you then refuse winless drivers, then you reject the careers of guys like James Hylton, John Sears, Cecil Gordon, and Neil Castles who, if they could have won a race or two most years, would have won the title but were nevertheless extremely good competitors who were sometimes still eligible for the title at the season finale. You then must say "Driver with most points." If you say "Driver with most points who won a race," then people will clamor over how many wins is enough to be eligible for the title and eventually you will either be back at only awarding wins or giving 50000 points for win and 42 points for second. So the only way to do it is like how IndyCar does it: 50 points for win steeply declining, including only 40 for second. Therefore, a guy could have 12 podiums in 18 races (aka Tom Sneva and Tony Bettenhausen), but still lose to a guy with 10 wins and 8 DNFs. The idea is to reward drivers for not destroying their car, like what happened to JG in 1996. Yes, they had the same number of top-5s and top-10s, and Jeff had 8 more wins, but the 7 races where Jeff was outside the top-10 he was PUTRID, whereas Terry was on the outside of the top-10 looking in." OK can we at least all agree there should be at least some type system where there is a very steep at least 10 point difference (weighted to the current system) difference between first and second? I guess my main problem with a winless champion is actually rooted in the fact that I don't believe there is enough that distinguishes finishing first in a race with finishing second in a race as it is right now and I just don't see the motivation to fight for that extra position. First place should be in a zip code of it's own when it comes to points since that is the ultimate goal of the race itself. Plus, I think there should be incentives rewarded for running up front. If you want to "save your stuff" and then sneak in a win, that's fine...but you won't receive any of the bonus points that you would have gotten otherwise. That system may produce a winless champion, but it would be increasingly less likely. I, personally, would still not rally around a winless champion, though. It's a matter of personal taste so don't anybody get all offended. 181. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 8:24 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I guess my main problem with a winless champion is actually rooted in the fact that I don't believe there is enough that distinguishes finishing first in a race with finishing second in a race as it is right now and I just don't see the motivation to fight for that extra position." I hate to nitpick, but there's always motivation to fight for that extra position. Find anybody in the garage who's running 2nd with a car capable of winning and will settle for 2nd simply without the motivation to fight for that extra position, and I will find you a flying unicorn named Sally. There can always be gains made to the system, but they're all racers. If they're running 2nd, they want to win more than anything in the world. You only take 2nd place if you can't get 1st. They're gonna try, no matter what. 182. startandparkfan posted: 08.04.2013 - 8:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good race until lap 216. Then I turned the TV off. Good run for Herring after spinning out. Also, good runs for Larson, Bowman, and Gifford in his first start. That 33 team seems like the best place for rookie drivers to get their starts. 183. Unicorn Named Sally posted: 08.04.2013 - 8:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hate to tell you this, but there are plenty of drivers content to be second, for whatever dumb reason. 184. Daniel posted: 08.04.2013 - 12:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) One reason is points. You win you get 43, if you stay in second you get 42. So if you push the issue and are successful, you only get 1 more point. You push the issue and crash and finish 20th, you get 18 less points. 185. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I hate to tell you this, but there are plenty of drivers content to be second, for whatever dumb reason." Your perception isn't truth. Plenty of drivers are content with a 2nd place finish, but they're not happy if they missed out on a win with a car capable. "One reason is points. You win you get 43, if you stay in second you get 42. So if you push the issue and are successful, you only get 1 more point. You push the issue and crash and finish 20th, you get 18 less points." Winner gets 47... 48 if they lead most laps. It's usually a 3-4 point gap compared to 2nd, which is proportionally more than the way it was for years and years and years. Talking about pushing the issue is the same for any position. You push the issue for 10th, you can wreck your car just the same and end up with nothing. People are going to try to win no matter what. But, risky moves that have very little chance of success might not be attempted if a driver needs a good points day BAD to have a shot at making the chase or something. However, I guarantee you that they'll always try to get a run and get underneath. They just won't dirty up the leader or do something stupid. 186. Watto posted: 08.04.2013 - 7:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) to elaborate on that "content" statement, what I mean is that... a 2nd place finish is a pretty good day... but theyre only truly content if they dont have a car capable of competing for the win or stealing one. if they have a shot, theyre gonna go for it. theyre not gonna just ride behind the leader if theyre faster than the leader and can win. that thought is ludicrous. so they're somewhat satisfied with a good day, but theyre gonna be pissed if they feel like they let one slip away. drivers don't drive up to 2nd and then back off. theyll try to get the lead the same way they passed everyone else. I don't see how you can argue otherwise 187. RACE34 posted: 08.05.2013 - 1:23 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I like Keselowski but hate to see the only cup regular in the field win!! 188. Daniel posted: 08.06.2013 - 7:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 39 entered at Watkins Glen: -Landon Cassill in the #4 -Anthony Gandon in the #23 -Derek White in the #24 -Brendan Gaughan in the #33 -Josh Wise in the #42 -J.J. Yeley in the #46 -Joey Logano in the #48 -Andrew Ranger in the #53 -Kyle Busch in the #54 -Tony Raines in the #70 -Kevin O'Connell in the #74 -Kenny Habul in the #75 -Bryan Silas in the #79 -Kyle Kelley in the #87 -Dexter Stacey in the #92 189. JRacingFast posted: 08.07.2013 - 2:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 188. Daniel posted: 39 entered at Watkins Glen: -Landon Cassill in the #4 -Anthony Gandon in the #23 -Derek White in the #24 -Brendan Gaughan in the #33 -Josh Wise in the #42 -J.J. Yeley in the #46 -Joey Logano in the #48 -Andrew Ranger in the #53 -Kyle Busch in the #54 -Tony Raines in the #70 -Kevin O'Connell in the #74 -Kenny Habul in the #75 -Bryan Silas in the #79 -Kyle Kelley in the #87 -Dexter Stacey in the #92 Am i the only one shocked at the lack of "ringers" in this race? 190. numbah48n10hatah posted: 08.07.2013 - 10:16 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I have to agree with most of the people on this site, its ridiculous how many Cup drivers are winning in the Nationwide series. Just feel like pointing this out only 4 Nationwide races this year have been won by Nationwide drivers. Regan Smith has won 2, Sam Hornish Jr has won 1, and Trevor Bayne has won 1. Ridiculous. 191. 83andJoe posted: 09.02.2013 - 10:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #29 crew cheif: Keith Hinkein 192. Anonymous posted: 09.07.2013 - 7:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #4 Daryl Harr crew chief--Carl Harr ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: