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  *Comments on the 2014 U.S. Cellular 250:*
  View the most recent comment <#118> | Post a comment <#post>


  1.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 6:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (5)      (5)

f**k you Keselowski. You REALLY don't need to be running this race.


  2.   1995z71 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 6:21 pm
   Rate this comment:      (4)      (0)

I dont care who wins, just not Brad K!


  3.   Seyb32 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 6:26 pm
   Rate this comment:      (3)      (0)

@#1- Was thinking the same thing. Last week, Brad is at arguably the
most historic race track in the world and the NNS race is being run at
the same track as the NSCS race and he chooses not to compete. The very
next week, with the Cup Series at Pocono, Brad chooses to run the No. 22
at a meaningless (for him anyway) NNS race at Iowa against a field
containing no other Cup drivers. God forbid we have ONE race with no
Cuppers in the field. I will root for anyone but the 22 but we've all
seen this before. Likely, Brad leads AT LEAST 200 of the 250 laps and
wins going away pissing off at least 90 percent of the viewing audience.
Thanks for nothing Brad.


  4.   The Long Shot posted:
  08.02.2014 - 6:31 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Nationwide race with Keselowski or Paul McCartney concert? Hmm, tough
choice...


  5.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 6:36 pm
   Rate this comment:      (7)      (0)

Who else could Penske run in the #22 car, except someone racing at
Pocono this weekend? All three of his drivers are there, Brad and Joey
in the Cup Series and Ryan Blaney in the Truck Series, which also raced
there this weekend. And I don't think it would have been practical to
have Blaney run the Truck race and have to start at the back of the
field because nobody would have been there to practice and qualify the
#22 car. As a result, one of Penske's two Cup drivers had to go, and
Brad drew that assignment. It would have been different had the Trucks
been with the NNS cars at Iowa, but since they're at Pocono with the Cup
Series this weekend, a Cup driver would have more time since their
duties at Pocono on Saturday are over before the Truck race begins.

So it's either put a Cup driver in that car for this race, or not run
the car at all, which could also cause some problems down the road,
since the NNS still uses the exempt rule the Cup Series had from
2005-2012, and the NNS version requires a team to compete in every race
in order to be an exempt team. Remember that caught out Roush a few
years ago when Trevor Bayne fell ill. Roush did not enter the #16 car
for one race, and they lost their status as an exempt team the rest of
the year. So Penske's hand was effectively forced by the schedule and
the qualifying rules in the NNS.


  6.   New14 & 88Fan posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:01 pm
   Rate this comment:      (3)      (0)

What cjs said. As much as we despise Brad running this race Penske
really didn't have anyone else available and having Ryan Blaney run back
and forth between Iowa and Pocono(especially since he's fighting for the
Truck Series championship) would of been impractical.


  7.   23andJoe posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (1)

There's also the possibility that Brad prefers racing at Iowa to the
once-prestigious-but-now-just-another-track IMS.


  8.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I agree with the 2 above me, Ryan running this race could have been
trouble, It rains often in Pocono and could had extended the time he had
to be there racing and left the 22 in Iowa with no driver that Discount
tire would agree with.


  9.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:28 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Keselowski stole the pole from Bayne, and then Bayne stole it right
back, both during the last two rounds of qualifying. Keselowski also has
to fly from Iowa to Pennsylvania tonight for the Cup race tomorrow.


  10.   murb posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:40 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Obviously I would have preferred they just fly out Ryan Blaney for the
#22 and have him start in the back, but whatever. Hopefully Brad doesn't
win.


  11.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:48 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

When did they start calling these races "Nationwide insurance races"
instead of just a nationwide race?


  12.   murb posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:51 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

"When did they start calling these races "Nationwide insurance races"
instead of just a nationwide race?"

I read that Nationwide pays them a bonus every time they say "Nationwide
Insurance". It's getting pretty annoying.


  13.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 7:59 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Oh boy, they're already mentioning the most important championship in
this series, the owners' championship. I've said it before, but prepare
for ESPN to REALLY hype up the owners' championship down the
stretch...something I REALLY hope NBC doesn't do next year.


  14.   23andJoe posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:04 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Also: how about that Josh Berry in 10th?


  15.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:05 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

But that's not nearly the hassle it is to go form Pocono to Iowa to race
on the same day, epzik8. He figures to have about 18 hours to get to
Pocono from Iowa, but he had only about four or five to get to Iowa, but
that's more than twice as long as Blaney would have had. And if they had
committed to have Blaney drive the car, and it rained and delayed the
truck race at Pocono, they literally would have had nobody to drive the
car. They made the right decision to have one of their Cup drivers drive
the car at Iowa. Logistically, it made the most sense. Unlike Gibbs, who
has development and/or substitute drivers available (Michael McDowell
and ex-Penske driver Sam Hornish, Jr. are driving the two JGR entries
for this race), Penske doesn't, and making things worse is the fact that
the IndyCars are also racing this weekend, so NASCAR veteran Juan
Montoya was not even an option.

And despite what you think 23andJoe, IMS will always be one of the two
or three most prestigious tracks in motorsports. It's just that the
Indianapolis 500 is the only event there that has any kind of
attendance, and even attendance for the Indianapolis 500 had been
dropping until this year. Nobody shows up for even Indy 500 qualifying
or Carb Day any more, and hasn't for years, and the attendance was sure
to drop off for the Brickyard 400, but the way that happened, several
things conspired against the speedway at the same time that could not
have been foreseen, and I don't ever expect attendance to go back up to
what it was (which is unreasonable to expect), though I do think it will
slowly improve. But even a crowd of 150,000 will look very small at that
place, though the crowd was nowhere near that for the Brickyard 400.


  16.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:05 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (1)

Ricky Craven is in the booth!!! Woohoo!!!


  17.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:15 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Who is Matt Frahm? Any story on that guy?


  18.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:17 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Kenny Wallace's first start of the year.


  19.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:18 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

...The scoring ticker is already displaying Trevor Bayne as the winner
just 2 laps into the race.


  20.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Trevor Bayne leads the opening laps from the pole but Bad Brad is
closing in...


  21.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:21 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

If Trevor can't win i really really want to see Michael Mcdowell win, he
is always really good in the Gibbs car.


  22.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (2)

Go f**k yourself Keselowski.


  23.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Bayne and Keselowski have been running side by side for the last several
laps.


  24.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Bayne already lapping the slow cars.


  25.   Jacques posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:28 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I have arrived!! Huh huh!!


  26.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:28 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Jacques has arrived.


  27.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:34 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Race over.


  28.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:34 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

Keselowski is clear to the lead. Yay...


  29.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:35 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Does this race just seem really quiet to anyone else?


  30.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:39 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Yawn!


  31.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

#BadLuckBerryhill


  32.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:42 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Something's up with Berryhill's car, caution


  33.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:42 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Caution for Tanner Berryhill.


  34.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:45 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Dakoda Armstrong takes two tires to win the race out of the pits. He's
probably not going to be up there for very long at all...


  35.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:48 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Elliott Sadler is now the leader as he stayed out.


  36.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:51 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Berryhill's car just stopped on the track to cause the caution, they
said he hit the wall (there looked to be some damage) but ESPN didn't
get footage of it.


  37.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:53 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Hornish leads, but Keselowski is waiting to pounce...


  38.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 8:55 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

And Brad blows by him for the lead.


  39.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:01 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Ty Dillon's running an old-school aluminium racing seat instead of a
composite one, interesting.


  40.   Paul posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:11 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"Who is Matt Frahm? Any story on that guy?"

A super late model driver currently competing in the New Hampshire-based
Granite State Pro Stock Series. He now has 11 career starts in the
Nationwide Series dating back to 2011, including earlier this season
when he tied a career-best finish of 25th place at New Hampshire Motor
Speedway in the No. 44 TriStar Motorsports car.


  41.   numbah10hatah posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:12 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Has to be a caution since EVERYONE is on pit road....


  42.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:12 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Caution flag. Hornish wins the race out of the pits.


  43.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Jaques, where are you? bogus debris caution


  44.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

...Just as I suspected, NASCAR.com confirms my suspicion: it's a Jacques
caution.


  45.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:15 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The 6 crew has lost spots on both stops, even with the number 1 pit stall


  46.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Oh it isn't bogus, a piece possibly of the #3


  47.   Jacques posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

No, it ain't me.


  48.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:17 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

OK I am confused now. It was a bogus caution that wound up becoming a
legit debris caution


  49.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:17 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

A Jacques caution during which actual debris appeared; interesting.


  50.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

McDowell is up to third.


  51.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:22 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I honestly had no idea who Josh Berry was before this race, but he's
having a pretty solid debut in the JRM #5; he's running in 15th and
staying out of trouble.


  52.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:23 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Bayne now reporting an issue.


  53.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:38 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Pass for the win right there, yawn!


  54.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:40 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

It really sucks that there are only 2 cars that are capable of winning


  55.   Dawson posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:43 pm
   Rate this comment:      (5)      (1)

There should be a rule that cup drivers can't run NNS I mean this race
was a double header with K&N pro series I think they could have found a
good up and coming driver from K&N to run the 22 this weekend.


  56.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Dakoda Armstrong spins out and brings out the caution.


  57.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 9:59 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Brad is pulling away from Hornish.

My money is on there being another Jacques caution...


  58.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:02 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Now Sam is starting to close in on Brad a bit in traffic.


  59.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:09 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

So will we have a long run to the finish or a short one?


  60.   An Aussie Commentator posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Buescher crashes, late caution


  61.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

A short one, as James Buescher hits the wall on the frontstretch with
less than 10 laps to go.


  62.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Everybody is coming to pit road.


  63.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:16 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Saw it coming.


  64.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:19 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Green with three to go.


  65.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Hornish is on a tear with his four tires, but it's too late for him.


  66.   Schroeder51 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:22 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

And Keselowski wins...how amazingly predictable. Those were a fun last
few laps, though.


  67.   Jarrett88fan posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:26 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (1)

McDowell drove a hard first lap and at least tried to win, but yet
another stand alone Nationwide race is won by a Cup Chaser whose focus
should be entirely in one series. There will be more Kyle and Brad come
October when their both out of Chase contention.


  68.   joey2448 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:29 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Wow the track people sure got those port-a-potties out on the
frontstretch pretty fast! Lol, they outta just leave em there during the
race! Everyone would be extra careful not to spin out.


  69.   epzik8 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:29 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Michael McDowell came close to victory Michael McDowell came close to
winning but Keselowski prevailed. And Trevor Bayne won the Dash 4 Cash.


  70.   DB1995 posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:35 pm
   Rate this comment:      (4)      (1)

I wish Michael Mcdowell could get in the 20 or 18 or any number Gibbs
wants to run full time next year, or take over the 6 car Trevor Bayne is
vacating next year


  71.   Jim Davis posted:
  08.02.2014 - 10:45 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (1)

"I think they could have found a good up and coming driver from K&N to
run the 22 this weekend."

The trouble is finding one that Discount Tires was willing to pay for.


  72.   Christian posted:
  08.02.2014 - 11:22 pm
   Rate this comment:      (3)      (0)

@71 Sounds to me that Penske and JGR care more about their sponsors than
finding full time regulars.


  73.   Rusty posted:
  08.02.2014 - 11:24 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Didn't watch this race but what a disappointing result


  74.   Anonymous posted:
  08.02.2014 - 11:32 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

"@71 Sounds to me that Penske and JGR care more about their sponsors
than finding full time regulars."

Uh... yeah.


  75.   Anonymous posted:
  08.02.2014 - 11:36 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

12 top ten finishes in 14 career starts for JGR since 2011 for Michael
McDowell. He's only 29, which is not only the same age as Kyle Busch,
but makes him one of the youngest drivers in JGR's stable aside from
Darrell Wallace Jr! So a full time ride isn't completely out of the
question. He's in the prime of his career and showing his talent in the
limited opportunies he has.

Ah who am I kidding, he'll never get full time sponsorship. :/


  76.   racefangurl posted:
  08.02.2014 - 11:54 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Trevor Bayne was the highest finisher to earn driver points. When he was
sick and his car wasn't entered a few years ago, as cjs mentioned, that
was the other (first) Iowa race. He won that race last year. Happiness
in my house tonight. Trevor must be happy about his pole, good finish
and Dash 4 cash win. I bet he's been all smiles tonight. He does that a
lot, smile that is.


  77.   racefangurl posted:
  08.03.2014 - 12:09 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Trevor was -63 in points. Now, he's -41, which is a good gain. If he's
good at the road races, which should happen as long things fall right,
he could climb back to the top-3. That is, nobody wrecks him so bad he
can't be around up there at the end and he has no car issues. It depends
on Ty Dillon. Brian Scott and Trevor Bayne are the best road racers in
the Nationwide top-6 right now, according to cjs and Ty Dillon's said to
make rookie mistakes. If Brian Scott and Trevor Bayne avoid trouble and
trouble never finds them, at least not so bad they can't recover and Ty
makes rookie mistakes, they could pass him in points.


  78.   Sarf52 posted:
  08.03.2014 - 12:25 am
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

In one of the the few races Matt DiBenedetto is allowed to go the
distance, bad luck strikes and he has an engine expire. Poor guy, his
equipment failed him in one of his few shots to impress this year.
Hopefully that 40 will hold up better at the other non-companion races
later this season!


  79.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.03.2014 - 12:45 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

@77, I think just top 3 might not be high enough for Bayne and Brian
Scott if things were to fall right for them at the two road course
races, because at 41 points back, which they both are, if things fell
their way, one of them could conceivably take the championship lead,
because so many things can happen, in terms of on-track incidents, or
parts breaking, and Roush and Childress may be two of the most
conservative teams when it comes to how they set up their engines, but
they usually have some of the most durable equipment in NASCAR's top
series, which is why they contend for the title, even without the
horsepower that some of the other teams can produce.

I said a week or two ago that Bayne and Elliott Sadler might be guys to
watch because neither has a teammate in championship contention right
now, while the other four among the six title contenders each have a
teammate in title contention. Scott and Ty Dillon are teammates, as are
Regan Smith and Chase Elliott, and those sets of teammates may very well
end up taking points away from each other that could prove pivotal
before the season ends. But Bayne and Sadler don't have that problem,
though for different reasons. Bayne's teammates aren't experienced
enough to race with, and take points away from Bayne, and Sadler's
teammates at JGR are usually the Cup drivers, who may not race Sadler
quite as hard as they normally would.

And Bayne may suddenly have an ace in the hole in the experience of Mark
Martin. Martin's ability to set up a car can't do anything but help
Roush across the board, both in the Cup Series and the Nationwide
Series, and you can bet that experience is going to be given to all the
Roush crew chiefs across both series, and if Bayne doesn't fall much
further behind, I believe he may be a contender for the championship
yet, because his cars are likely to get nothing but better since he now
has someone capable of helping to set the cars up, even if he's not at
the track. Mark's experience is invaluable in that regard, more than
even what he can give the drivers themselves in his role as a driver
coach, which is more likely to be of assistance to Chris Buescher and
Ryan Reed, who definitely need the experience of a Martin.


  80.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.03.2014 - 2:10 am
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

I hate it when you can tell who is going to win a race before it begins.
This series needs a shakeup before Gibbs and Penske drive it to fold.


  81.   Seyb32 posted:
  08.03.2014 - 2:26 am
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

At least Brad acknowledges that there are fans out there that don't love
seeing Cup guys win NNS races every week. Especially standalone events
with the Cup series half a country away. I do respect Brad for always
voicing his opinion....even if he is a tad whiny sometimes. But hearing
him say that was a lot more refreshing than listening to the guys in the
booth try to convince us how incredible an NNS win is for a Cup guy or
how we should love a field that has Busch, Keselowski, Harvick, Logano,
etc....

I looked up the Entry List on my way to work last Tuesday. At that
point, I saw Brad K in the 22 and said..."Keselowski wins and leads 150
laps." The end result was pretty close. There is something majorly wrong
with a series when you can predict a race finish four days before the
green even waves.

You want to watch a series where you don't know what the Hell is gonna
happen. Watch the IndyCars. You never know what is going to happen in
those things. Can't wait for Mid-Ohio tomorrow.


  82.   b4il3y posted:
  08.03.2014 - 3:01 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

If Brad sees this, why does he stink the hell up?


  83.   Watto posted:
  08.03.2014 - 3:12 am
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

"yet another stand alone Nationwide race is won by a Cup Chaser whose
focus should be entirely in one series. There will be more Kyle and Brad
come October when their both out of Chase contention."

That was Brad's 7th Nationwide race of the year... meanwhile, he won a
Cup championship during a year he ran 21 Nationwide races, so if he's
out of Chase contention come October, it probably wouldn't be because of
a few Nationwide races. He's already proven he cares most about Cup.
CJS' point early on in this comment section drives home the truth, which
is that Ryan Blaney would be the ideal guy to have in the car, but the
scheduling between the truck and Nationwide races made it impractical.
Brad's been very open on twitter about sponsorship driving his
Nationwide schedule and he even mentioned in victory lane that he didn't
want to be the one driving the car, but circumstances made it happen.


  84.   Watto posted:
  08.03.2014 - 3:15 am
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

"If Brad sees this, why does he stink the hell up?"

He listens to his boss and does what the sponsors want. Without Discount
Tire, there's no full-time Penske car, and Ryan Blaney has *even less*
starts. Plus, in this situation, Ryan Blaney was running the trucks
today as well, so it was easier to send Brad out there than to make Ryan
run the truck race and then start Iowa from the back. It's simply less
practical.


  85.   Watto posted:
  08.03.2014 - 3:37 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

"I hate it when you can tell who is going to win a race before it
begins. This series needs a shakeup before Gibbs and Penske drive it to
fold. "

For the record; as bad as it is now, it was worse in previous years.
This year has seen an increase in Nationwide regulars winning races. The
time to post about impending doom would be as it's at its worst, not as
we're seeing more Nationwide regulars winning races and guys like Brad
Keselowski running fewer races than they did in previous years.
Certainly, the situation isn't ideal, though. I'm just not predicting
the series to fold.

The biggest problem, in my opinion, is simply the schedule. When this
series began following the Cup around on most weekends and leaving
various short tracks in the rear view mirror, an increase in Cup drivers
running NW races was inevitable. If the NW series had more of an
identity on its own and REGULARLY raced away from the Cup series, not
just on sporadic weekends like this one, the difference would be very
noticeable.


  86.   Anonymous posted:
  08.03.2014 - 8:16 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

@85

More nationwide series drivers winning does not mean anything. I don't
know why people keep going back to this point when trying to defend this
series. Chicagoland was won by Chase Elliott. Does anyone even remember
what happened in that race? There were 3 debris cautions and a
completely boring race all around. But it's okay. More nationwide series
drivers are winning, so this must be a good thing for the sport.

@80

We've been able to predict the winner for years. That feeling you
described has been experienced for a while, it's not a recent thing. The
real fallout started in the mid 00s.


  87.   Watto posted:
  08.03.2014 - 8:34 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

86-

The point is that it used to be even more predictable. To pretend that
it's never been worse than it is now would be ignorant. I don't think
the Nationwide Series is in the best shape possible, I just think we've
seen worse. When people complain that Cup drivers win too much, OF
COURSE it's better for the sport when more Nationwide regulars win.
That's not even disputable.


  88.   Reut00 posted:
  08.03.2014 - 8:39 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Solid Nationwide debut for JR Motorsports late model driver Josh Berry
in the JRM #5. After qualifying 10th, he kept his nose clean and ran top
15 all race before taking the checkered in 12th.


  89.   ii posted:
  08.03.2014 - 10:02 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

It's almost inevitable that when a Cup regular wins a Nationwide or
Trucks race the comments on here always lead to "oh shit Kyle Busch and
Brad Keselowski need to stop playing around in here and give everyone
else a chance," I'm positive most of the time Penske and Gibbs are
trying to get younger guys in the rides, and when they can't the cup
guys volunteer to drive.


  90.   Nascar Lead Lap Points posted:
  08.03.2014 - 10:43 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

Sponsor Updates
#3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats
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#51 RepairableVehicles.com (All SouthE lectric was not on the car)
#87 Colonial Countertops/South Philly Cheese Steaks
#52 Iowa Donor Network
#72 James Carter Attorney / CrashClaimsR.Us


  91.   Nascar Lead Lap Points posted:
  08.03.2014 - 10:47 am
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And
#89 Racing With Jesus/Courtney Construction, Inc


  92.   Anonymous posted:
  08.03.2014 - 1:32 pm
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#01-Landon Cassill crew chief--Ricky Viers


  93.   Nascar Lead Lap Points posted:
  08.03.2014 - 7:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

Few More
#84 Billy Boat Performance Exhaust
#93 SupportMilitary.org
#60 Milwaukee/Fastenal


  94.   racefangurl posted:
  08.03.2014 - 7:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Cjs, Regan Smith and Brian Scott are a bit like Trevor Bayne in that
they have rookie teammates. The difference here is Smith and Scott's are
the Rookie of the Year candidates with the best chances. Even Chris
Buescher, the higher in the standings of Trevor's rookie teammates may
realistically forked as Rookie of the Year. And as far as the road races
go, Trevor and Scott are both in a position to be able to take the lead
by gaining over 20 points on the leader per race over the course both
races. 20.5's the exact average points gain per race needed to erase
that deficit in two races. Trevor believes he could be champion and I
won't give up until he does on that regard. I really hope Trevor can
finish strong at the road races. If his cars get better, I could see a
win or a few. I'm a fan fiction writer and I've made up stories in which
Trevor's Nationwide champion this year. After Fontana, he was tied in
points with leader Regan Smith, I remember, until he had a cut tire (I
think it was) at Texas that knocked him to 5th. He remained in the
top-5, though it was a low top-5, bouncing between 4th and 5th until he
was knocked 6th from his Road America wreck. Now, he's 5th again, by
virtue of his best finish of 2nd, which is better than Scott's best
finish. I'm all sunshine and rainbow about what could happen with
T-Bayne. Nothing is impossible in regard to how high he can climb in
points. In other words, he could take the points lead after the road
races, if they go well for him.


  95.   Watto posted:
  08.04.2014 - 12:29 am
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Unless Chase Elliott DNFs the road courses, I think he'll do well. He
captured 4th at Road America after getting no practice time at all due
to blowing an engine during his first lap in practice. He won at Mosport
in his only truck road course start. He was extremely competitive in
ARCA in his 3 road course starts over there. Things will have to go
wrong in a big way for him to lose even close to 40 points.

What makes me think that Chase Elliott has a great shot at this title is
simply that he seems to have a speed edge (on average) over the guys
he's competing against for the title. Regan Smith is solid and
consistent, but Chase has pulled out 3 wins and double the top 5s of his
teammate. He's also been driving like a veteran and avoiding making
notable mistakes. This is Trevor Bayne's most consistent year to date,
but I don't think he's going to have the weekly speed. Sadler hasn't
been the same force in the 11 car as he was in the 2. Brian Scott has
been fast but isn't a weekly force. Ty Dillon's been more solid than
spectacular, but he has been stringing along some better runs lately
(including a great win at Indy). Unless Chase Elliott's team implodes, I
think he's got the best shot.


  96.   racefangurl posted:
  08.04.2014 - 10:49 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Ty Dillon makes rookie mistakes. Chase Elliott will, I think, within the
next few months choke under the pressure of Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler
and even Ty Dillon so close behind, 'cause he's a rookie, like Ty, too.
In fact, I think the pressure may be starting to get to him or Regan
Smith is doing what cjs mentioned. I don't think he can maintain his
lead, with Regan Smith only 2 back. Chase's lead was cut into by Smith
at Iowa and the top-6 tightened from a 47 to 41 point spread as the ones
behind Chase in the top-6 in points beat him, other than Sadler. Cjs
said Mark Martin can help Roush with the setups back in number 79. If
this is the case, it could help Trevor. In 77, which Cjs was replying to
with 79, I mention how in another week, he (I think Cjs is a guy) said
Trevor Bayne and Brian Scott are probably the best road racers in the
Nationwide top-6. Their teams also have durable engine set-ups, he says.
He believes this combined with all that can happen at road races in
terms of incidents and parts failures, which he mentions in 79, leads
him to believe either one could narrow or erase the deficit. Chase had
an incident with Trevor at Kentucky and got blamed for it 'cause of the
way he drives. If he gets near Dylan Kwsaniewski or has a parts failure,
he could DNF or have an extended period off track, more than he could
make up. Regan Smith and Chase Elliott are teammate of each other as Ty
Dillon and Brian Scott are each other's teammate and will points battle
each other, cjs says. Trevor's teammates are too far from the top-6 to
do the same and Elliott Sadler's teammates are running for another
championship, so his top picks are Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne. He
thinks these drivers not having teammates in championship contention. He
said this stuff late last month and refers to it in 79.


  97.   Christian posted:
  08.04.2014 - 11:24 am
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Uh-oh, guys. Milka Duno will be running some Nationwide races this year.


  98.   racefangurl posted:
  08.04.2014 - 11:39 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Cjs thinks Roush and Childress having durable engines combined with
Trevor and Scott's road race abilities will help them if they can avoid
bad incidents. Trevor, anyway can recover from littler ones if
circumstances allow, like if's a ways before the race ends. If he had a
little contact, say on a restart, he could still perhaps climb back to
the top-10 or maybe even low top-5. He was fourth at Vegas last year
after an incident with Kyle Larson and I think he had a little incident
at a road race last year and finished strong, top-10. I watched the one
that was on ABC. I believe Chase and Ty lack the experience to handle
the pressure of championship contention and in Ty's case at least that's
added to rookie mistakes, so they're both improbable. I feel the Chase
implosion could happen as he's only 18 Regan Smith had a big lead last
year at one point and choked on it, but he may wanna redeem that.
Elliott Sadler has no teammate in Nationwide championship contention, so
no one to points fight with as I mentioned cjs said. Regan Smith and
Elliott Sadler are my head top picks and Brian Scott and Trevor Bayne
are my next-in-line head picks. These two are the same in point number,
but Trevor's best finish this year's better than Scott's. Trevor has
slight edge as I believe at this point in the season over Scott due to
how Scott's never been second this year. Since I'm a fan, my heart
pick's Trevor if he remains healthy enough to race. In this scenario, he
needs to gain an average of just over 3 points on the leader per race to
erase his current -41. He believe he's still got a shot until he says
otherwise. Trevor has more top-10's than Chase, who, unlike Trevor, has
no poles now, though Chase has more of the other stuff (top-5's, wins).
I guess I'm determined to hope, as I have a strong will and the ability
to be positive.


  99.   racefangurl posted:
  08.04.2014 - 11:41 am
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in 96 read thinks as thinks of.


  100.   racefangurl posted:
  08.04.2014 - 11:44 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The bit about Chase near Dylan K. was just an example of something that
could cause him to wreck. There's more that could cause that, like if he
got tight or loose, a parts failure that could cause a wreck or another
driver, besides Dylan K. wrecking him.


  101.   Daniel posted:
  08.04.2014 - 3:32 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

41 entered at Watkins Glen:

-Marcos Ambrose in the #09

-Joey Logano in the #12

-Matt Kenseth in the #20

-Kevin O'Connell in the #23

-Chris Cook in the #24

-Dylan Kwasniewski in the #31

-Paul Menard in the #33

-Josh Wise in the #40

-Kyle Larson in the #42

-Carlos Contreras in the #44

-Matt Dibenedetto in the #46

-Kyle Busch in the #54

-Brennan Newberry in the #55

-Roger Reuse in the #74

-Kenny Habul in the #75

-Joe Nemechek in the #87

-Tomy Drissi in the #93

-#5, #29, #72, #84 not entered


  102.   racefangurl posted:
  08.04.2014 - 3:42 pm
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Chase Elliott being champion's just pie-in-the-sky.


  103.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.05.2014 - 1:46 am
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Racefangurl, you said in post #96 that Elliott Sadler and Trevor Bayne
are my picks for the title. That isn't true. In fact, based on what I've
seen, Chase Elliott is the favorite, and I'd even go as far as to say
that Chase is the prohibitive favorite. But the thing I think helps out
Sadler and Bayne is the fact that they won't be as likely to have points
taken away by other teammates racing for the title, and I think that
will help them somewhat. Whether that will be enough, only time can
tell. However, after the race at Mid-Ohio, things figure to be much
clearer with the last road course race out of the way. And with the Cup
drivers there for all but one race the rest of the way, the three-point
bonus for wins won't be that much of a factor, so depending on what the
standings look like after Mid-Ohio, what I think we'll see is the
championship rivals racing each other, rather than worry about winning
the race, unless that's an attainable goal for that given race.


  104.   racefangurl posted:
  08.05.2014 - 3:09 pm
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Cjs, I guess I got confused by Sadler and T-Bayne being guys to watch. I
took it to mean they could prevail due to the other guys points battling
with their teammates. Chase has only a 2 point lead over Regan Smith and
a 12 point lead over Sadler, so we could easily see a new leader after
the road races. It all depends on how Chase and the rest of the top-6 do
at the road races. I still think, since Regan Smith cut into Chase's
lead at Iowa, the points battling among the top-6 that are teammates,
Chase and Smith are one pair, with Ty Dillon and Brian Scott the other
may have come into play. Either that or Chase's age and inexperience are
catching up with him since the tight points battle must, at least in my
mind put pressure on the top-6. Chase may be starting to choke under the
pressure. The top-3 I mentioned, Ty Dillon's tied with Sadler in points
and so are Trevor Bayne and Brian Scott tied with each other in points.
Other than the rookies, all the top-6 have a shot at this point, I feel.
The rookies I don't think have what it takes yet, too inexperienced.
Maybe another year, if they stay in the series, but it's just too soon now.


  105.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.05.2014 - 8:30 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Racefangurl, I disagree with your assessment of Chase Elliott and Ty
Dillon being too inexperienced to win a championship. Unlike the Cup
Series, there have been occasions where rookies have won the NNS
championship. Actually, I think a bigger problem for Chase Elliott may
be the fact that his father's history of being a bad closer in
championship battle, and that shadow haunting him, because Bill Elliott
was in three championship battles in the Cup Series, and did not finish
any of them well. He and his teams gagged the titles in both 1985
(Melling Racing) and 1992 (Junior Johnson), and even when he won the
championship in 1988, Elliott finished the season poorly and just barely
hung on and won the title with a mediocre run in the finale. I think the
specter of his father's failures may be a bigger factor than Chase's own
inexperience will be. And Ty Dillon has the experience of Richard
Childress Racing behind him, so I don't think lack of experience will be
a factor there, either.


  106.   racefangurl posted:
  08.05.2014 - 8:44 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

So Chase may be too Elliott, basically? What's Ty's version of that?
Perhaps rookie mistakes or Childress engines? Just thinking of what Ty's
issue might be. I still won't count out the experienced drivers in the
top-6. I never knew too much about the lower levels as a kid, as I was a
casual NASCAR fan then. Now, I'm a big fan.


  107.   Feetduck posted:
  08.05.2014 - 9:21 pm
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It's going to be interesting close championship battle


  108.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.05.2014 - 11:34 pm
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If the NNS race at the Brickyard was any indication, I don't think Ty's
going to crack under the pressure, racefangurl. After all, he had both
Kyle Busch and a fuel problem to worry about, and he didn't make one
wrong move in those final 25 laps at one of the most historic race
tracks in the world, if not THE most historic, to take the win. There
are other problems that might take Ty out of the running, but I don't
think cracking under pressure is going to be one of them. Ty's biggest
problem, if it were to become one, is the conservative nature of how RCR
sets up it's engines, because they've always sacrificed a little
horsepower in exchange for greater reliability going all the way back to
the Dale, Sr. days of the 80s and 90s, but if it's a close battle, that
might jump up and bite them against faster cars.

But if it becomes a battle where the team that makes the fewest errors
ends up being the one on top, Ty Dillon may be one of the favorites,
because while he's a NNS rookie, no organization can points race like
RCR can, and that's something Ty has going for him. After all, his
brother won the title last year without even winning a race, and the
last thing those atop the standing wanted to see is RCR getting
stronger, which they have become in recent races.


  109.   racefangurl posted:
  08.06.2014 - 1:35 pm
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Cjs,I remember a few months ago, you said Trevor could perhaps beat Ty.
He was ahead of Ty until Texas. Then, he caught Ty at Talladega but Ty
got 1 point ahead at Iowa. Trevor got a point ahead of Ty at Charlotte,
then was ahead until wrecking at Michigan and is now -29 relative to Ty.
Do you think Trevor can ahead of Ty at a road race, say? Like if Trevor
avoids race incidents and no car trouble finds him? I remember what you
said about Trevor and Brian Scott regarding the road races.


  110.   racefangurl posted:
  08.06.2014 - 1:44 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

can= can get


  111.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.06.2014 - 4:24 pm
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I think he can beat Ty, racefangurl, especially if his cars get better.
But of the six championship contenders, his cars are significantly worse
than the those of the other five, especially on the kind of tracks on
which the title figures to be decided. The faster the track, the more
Roush will struggle because of being down on both aerodynamics and
horsepower, and with races at Kentucky, Atlanta, Texas, Charlotte, and
Homestead among those left, Bayne's the longshot because his cars are
slower at those tracks than the cars of the other championship
contenders. But if all six had relatively equal cars, which they don't,
I actually give Bayne and Ty Dillon a slight edge on the other four,
because of the six main contenders, I don't think they would make the
mistakes the others figure to make.


  112.   racefangurl posted:
  08.06.2014 - 10:31 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I think they call that PEER, how a driver would perform compared to
another if they had equal cars. You think Trevor and Ty are better
drivers than the rest of the top-6, in certain ways at least? You said
Mark Martin might be able to help with Roush's set-ups. If Trevor's
aerodynamic disadvantage is lessened by Mark Martin's knowledge, then he
could beat Ty more readily, you're saying? I mean better set-ups would
be a way to make his cars better, right?


  113.   cjs3872 posted:
  08.07.2014 - 12:33 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

@112, the reason I think if the cars that both Trevor Bayne and Ty
Dillon had were more equal to the other championship contenders, that
they would be among the favorites for the title, has to do with the
teams they're with, because both Roush and Childress have far more
experience than JR Motorsports does. I think the fact that drivers from
Roush and Childress have won the title the last three years in a row,
and one of those was a Roush vs. Childress battle, says something about
the experience level of those operations when it come to racing for a
championship, and I'm not sure that JGR cares about whether Elliott
Sadler wins the title. JR Motorsports has the edge, in terms of speed,
among the championship contending teams, but I think that gap is being
narrowed.

And absolutely, I think Mark Martin being back with Roush, albeit as a
"driver coach", can do nothing but help with the setups of the Roush
cars across the board, because like fellow ASA drivers Rusty Wallace,
Alan Kulwicki, and Dick Trickle, all contemporaries of Martin, they had
to know how to set a car up, and they all took that knowledge with them
to NASCAR, and with Martin, Wallace, and Kulwicki, the results speak for
themselves, and the only reason Trickle was never a winner in NASCAR's
highest series because he never got with a top-notch team. I don't think
Martin's knowledge can do much about the aerodynamic or horsepower
disadvantages Roush are at, but he can sure help in the chassis and set
up department to help make up for that where they can.


  114.   racefangurl posted:
  08.07.2014 - 3:22 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Trevor Bayne and Brian Scott are tied in points, 29 points behind
Scott's teammate Ty Dillon. Trevor has been ahead of or just a few
points behind Scott previously. Of these three, which one would have the
best shot at winning the championship, if they all run in all the
remaining races? Ty's a rookie and he and Trevor are Nationwide race
winners, unlike Scott. Ty has one win this year, Trevor's been second
twice and Scott's best finish is 5th three times. Ty has 1 win. 3
top-5's, 14 top-10 and 1 pole. Trevor has 4 top-5's, 15 top-10's and 1
pole as well. Brian Scott has 3 top-5's as mentioned, 11 top-10's and 2
poles. Ty has no DNF's and 18 lead lap finishes and 43 laps led. Trevor
has 2 DNF's, 17 lead lap finishes and 53 laps led. Scott has 18 lead lap
finishes and 78 laps led. Ty Dillon's been 3rd-5th in points (4th now).
Trevor's been 2nd-6th (5th now on a more top-5's tiebreaker with Scott)
and was once 2nd only on a tiebreaker as Regan Smith had a win and
Trevor's best was 3rd then (2nd now). Brian Scott's (6th now) been
5th-10th.


  115.   racefangurl posted:
  08.07.2014 - 3:24 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Scott has 1 DNF, btw.


  116.   racefangurl posted:
  08.08.2014 - 10:52 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

If I'm annoying, I could stop commenting on this site. I spew either
sunshine and rainbow in regard to Trevor Bayne or negativity about
rookies quite a bit. Unless the rest of what I say is fine. I do mention
more knowledgeable stuff, like stats or points standings.


  117.   Windows Millennium Edition posted:
  03.14.2016 - 6:27 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Best career finish for Billy Boat Motorsports #84 Chevrolet.


  118.   Rich posted:
  08.30.2020 - 9:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Dave Burns and Ricky Craven were the commentators. Vince Welch, Rick
DeBruhl and Jim Noble were the pit road reporters.


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