|| *Comments on the 2013 Crown Royal Presents The Samuel Deeds 400:* First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page | View All On One Page View the most recent comment | Post a comment <#post> 1. Schroeder51 posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) If Jimmie Johnson wins this race, be prepared for BSPN to tell us how this makes him a superior driver to legends of Indy such as A. J. Foyt and Rick Mears... 2. Schroeder51 posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How in the hell did Truex qualify THAT badly? 3. Kenny posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Jr 15 :( but I hope Austin can finish in the top 10 with that 33 car 4. 18fan posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 50th career pole for Ryan Newman and his first since September 2011 at New Hampshire. Newman turned back the clock to the days when he was the Rocketman to knock Jimmie off the pole. 5. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) Fellow RR info members we must all unite and drive the plague known as Jimmie Johnson from NASCAR. 6. Daniel posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In using fastest 43: #19 Mike Bliss Out using fastest 43: #32 Timmy Hill Hendrick cars are 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 15, and......33rd behind Josh Wise and Landon Cassill. That says a lot. 7. Kenny posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) yes ben but how? 8. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) How many laps before we see the "pass for the win"? I'm betting no more than 1. Landon Cassill qualifies 29th in the first ever start for Circle Sport's 2nd team (which is technically the first team this week, as the 33 is being run by RCR and Austin Dillon). 9. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Hendrick cars are 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 15, and......33rd behind Josh Wise and Landon Cassill. That says a lot." Oh gee, I wonder who was 33rd? 10. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NOOOOO! Nico, you've let us all down. 11. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Whatcha Gonna do when Jimmie JohnsonMania runs wild on you BROTHER. 12. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:17 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) Piss off, Johnson! Folks, I hate to disappoint you, but I won't be here tomorrow. I appoint Schroeder51 as my official replacement. 13. TS1420 posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Congrats to The Rocketman on knocking Nap-Time off the pole. Of course Nap-Time will probably take the lead on lap 1 and lead 150 laps en route to a "HISTORIC VICTORY" tomorrow while BSPN cheerleads him the whole damn race. BSPN: "Jimmie Jimmie! He's our man! If he can't do it.... wait! That's impossible! He's a 5-time Superman!" 14. David posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I appoint Schroeder51 as my official replacement." No! All he does is lament and say "Why do I have the feeling...". Just kidding, Schroeder, I like you. 15. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) If Nap-Time wins the Title I might go all Jim Hellwig on someone. 16. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) These comments are retarded. Ben Lowe had a comment on the Nationwide page that didn't appear for an hour, but was posted as the first comment. Now Nico has a comment that appears long enough for me to reply, disappears, and then reappears a few minutes later. 17. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Schroeder51, you mention that if Jimmie Johnson won the race tomorrow to make him a 5-time winner at Indy, that ESPN would say that he's better at Indy than guys like Foyt, Mears, and Al Unser, Sr. But what if by some miracle, it's Jeff Gordon that wins an becomes a 5-time Indy winner himself. After all, he's been trying for that fifth Indy win for nearly a decade, and starting in the top ten, he certainly could factor in, as he's done the last two years. Would ESPN say that about him if he got that fifth Indy win first? 18. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) Crown Royal presents the Samuel Deeds 400. This is a major? Are we just getting the whole "Brickyard" out of this deal altogether? Ugh. Move this date to Iowa for a 400 lap Saturday night race (due to the heat). 19. TS1420 posted: 07.27.2013 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Schroeder51, you mention that if Jimmie Johnson won the race tomorrow to make him a 5-time winner at Indy, that ESPN would say that he's better at Indy than guys like Foyt, Mears, and Al Unser, Sr. But what if by some miracle, it's Jeff Gordon that wins an becomes a 5-time Indy winner himself. After all, he's been trying for that fifth Indy win for nearly a decade, and starting in the top ten, he certainly could factor in, as he's done the last two years. Would ESPN say that about him if he got that fifth Indy win first?" BSPN would be heartbroken their hero Jimmie didn't reach the "History Milestone of 5 Wins at The Brickyard" first and would barely mention or hype up Jeff's "achievement". Of course this "1st 5 Time Winner" talk is laughable when A: This is not the Indianapolis 500, so it doesn't matter. B: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has already had a 5 time winner in Michael Schumacher. 20. Sky Warrior posted: 07.27.2013 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Hendrick cars are 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 15, and......33rd behind Josh Wise and Landon Cassill. That says a lot." I'm pretty damn tired of everyone saying the 10, 14, and 39 are Hendrick cars just to try and make Danica look worse. Those teams get information and part support from HMS, they don't get setup information, crew members, strategy ideas, or basically anything that would make them equal to the Hendrick cars without the affiliate team doing anything themselves. It also doesn't help that you didn't even include all of the affiliate teams in that list 21. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 5:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Long Shot I liked your points system proposal on blog. Better than what Nascar has today. 22. NASCAR posted: 07.27.2013 - 5:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I saw, Ryan. To be honest, I'm surprised anyone liked that system, considering it was made up almost on the spot. 23. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 5:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dammit. Post 22 was me. 24. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's really a shame that they have cut out the "Brickyard" all together now. The hype has wore at Indy for Nascar and I expect a lot of empty seats again. The racing product is just not there anymore for this race. It hasn't been for a while now. This race was such a big deal when it first started, now it is a joke, thanks to a lot of help from the 2008 tire debacle and the "aero push" since 1995 where it is so difficult to pass with close to equal cars. Hopefully the Gen 6 cars are different, but by judging from Pocono... probably not. For this race there is a lot more pressure on the teams to perform well in the pits than any where else where it so difficult to pass. That is only the strategic factor that can weigh in for most of the good teams. I'd almost bet my life that the #48 gets a top 5 in this race. I would feel very comfortable. #jinx Probably the best race was the first one in 1994 when Gordon and Ernie traded leads a few times in the late going and plus you had the Bodine War that race in which Geoff probably would have won had it not been for Brett. This race was so "big" at one time that in 1995 they waited as late as they possibly could to start that race and it ended around 7-8 Eastern because of the rain earlier in the day. 25. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 6:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ed Hinton posted a very good read on ESPN.com "click nascar" on how Nascar has changed here and there since its beginning called Daytona Dynasty. It talks about starting the association, starting Daytona, Talladega in 1969, the cheating scandal in Daytona in 1976, sponsorship with RJReynolds and beer companies, Earnhardt-Bodine rivalry during the late 80's, safety since Earnhardt's death and Brian France. A must read for any real Nascar fan. It may take about an hour to read it, but it's very good. 26. David posted: 07.27.2013 - 7:01 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Dammit. Post 22 was me." Why would you possibly post as NASCAR? Were you going to do satire? 27. Neal posted: 07.27.2013 - 7:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well the good news is that I don't think the Ickyard 400 will be as boring as the Nationwide race was...but that's not saying a hell of a lot. It'll still suck, and we'll still hear the talking heads blather on about what a great and historical race it was. *cough*bullshit*cough* 28. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 7:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) btw, I saw today on BSPN that NBC has signed a 10 year contract with Nascar starting in 2015 to have the final 20 races of Cup, including 19 in Nationwide and other series as well. They will also have the rights to the banquet at the end of the year and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Some of the races on Sunday will lead into Sunday Night Football. Also, 2/3 of the races will be on NBC Sports Newtork. Fox has the rights to the first 12 races including the Daytona 500 every year. They are expected to bid on the other four races and the first part of the Nationwide season. NBC is paying 50 percent more than what ESPN did. Go figure. I still think ESPN is going to have Nascar Now and be at the track for the Daytona 500. Lets just hope they hire good commentators. It will be interesting to see how they do things, or how they don't do things. 29. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.27.2013 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Satire = eternal damnation 30. murb posted: 07.27.2013 - 7:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) All I can really say is that I hope this race goes better than the NNS race did. I understand that I'm probably getting my hopes up, but there's really nothing else you can do. 31. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No they won't, Ryan W. In fact, don't be surprised if ESPN has virtually no presence at all at the track, and certainly there will be no ESPN programming for NASCAR. What I wonder is what will happen to their ESPN Classic NASCAR programming? 32. The Long Shot posted: 07.27.2013 - 8:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Why would you possibly post as NASCAR? Were you going to do satire?" I made a quick little crack on the Nationwide comments page as "NASCAR" and then forgot to change my name back. That was all. 33. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Watching the Nationwide race today, I noticed something very concerning, but something that's come up before at Indy. The cars were running so low in the corners that they were throwing grass onto the track, and that drew more than one caution, and that grass had an adverse impact on the days of Sam Hornish, Jr., Regan Smith, and probably a number of others. I wonder how much of an impact that the throwing of grass onto the racing grove is going to have on the race. Remember that this has been an issue at Indy before. In 1996, it got so bad that NASCAR threatened to actually penalize drivers for running onto the edge of the grass (they never did). Remember that there were a number of blown tires in that race. Then in 2004, that became a factor, with a number of the competitors running onto the grass and again tires became an issue that day. So look for guys running onto the edge of the grass to have an adverse impact on the days of other drivers, and we're likely to see overheated engines and possibly some tire issues from running into the grass. Just something to think about. 34. JG24FanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 8:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) "Of course this "1st 5 Time Winner" talk is laughable when A: This is not the Indianapolis 500, so it doesn't matter. B: Indianapolis Motor Speedway has already had a 5 time winner in Michael Schumacher." A: This is a 400 mile race,at Indianapolis,in heavy stock cars. It matters. B: Schumacher won on a road-course,that almost no american racing fan can even remember, not the Oval. C: Jimmie Johnson and Sebastian Vettel both start second in their respective events D: They will both win easily. E: Jeff Gordon has 14 Top 8 finishes at Indy F: Jimmie Johnson has 4. 35. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:05 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) "All I can really say is that I hope this race goes better than the NNS race did." Can it be any worse? Mr Tony Hulman and Mr Bill France Sr probably would roll over in their graves if they seen that deal! Hey, that's another reason why Dale was better than Jeff. Dale used his angry rants to get NASCAR plate racing AWAY from the single file crap fests like the '00 Daytona 500 which led to the epic wicker bill and roof fin package. Jeff's rants against plate racing and bump drafting CAUSED perhaps the worst plate race ever, the '09 Fall Dega Sit Down Boycott Race. 36. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:17 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Joe Gibbs Racing in Cup 2008-present: Wins: 46 Championships: ZERO (including an epic collapse in 2010) Joe Gibbs Racing in Nationwide 2008-present: Wins: 69 Championships: 1 driver's title with KyBu, and shit ton of owner's titles Nice to see they have their priorities in line. How can they live with themselves having that much more success in the minor leagues than Cup? For me, as a Brad fan, I am beside myself that he has 2 minor league wins this year and ZERO Cup wins. If he ends the season with more Nationwide wins than Cup wins and fails to win the championship (he is in big danger of missing the chase), I will be very angry. And as for his foray to Iowa next week, if he doesn't get a Top 5 at Pocono, I will go APESHIT. I am sick of this. 37. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Now first understand I am not being sarcastic. I was at ESPN, reading the comments on the NNS recap. There was one commenter who was so pro-Kyle Busch and pro-Buschwhacking, that he was defending Busch saying his NNS and CWTS are worth just as much as a Cup win and that this win today is worth as much as an Indy 500. I'm not kidding when I say I think that that guy was mentally ill. He actually seemed like one of those guys who violently shoves people down the staircases at events. 38. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:20 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "No they won't, Ryan W. In fact, don't be surprised if ESPN has virtually no presence at all at the track, and certainly there will be no ESPN programming for NASCAR. What I wonder is what will happen to their ESPN Classic NASCAR programming?" I don't think it will affect Classic NASCAR programming at all. In fact, from 2001-2006, there were more classic races shown on the network during that time than now. 39. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) JG24FF, Johnson won't win if he's one of those drivers victimized by that grass that's being thrown up onto the track, either by virtue of a flat tire or an overheating problem. On form, he should he heavily favored to win, but the fact that grass was being thrown onto the track in today's race concerns me that it will be a significant factor in the race tomorrow, and it will almost certainly ruin someone's day, and I think that at least one contender will fall victim, though it's impossible to predict which one. And if what you're saying is true DSFF, then what Dale, Sr. said at Daytona in 2000 led to his own demise. And what happened at Daytona in 2000 was six years in the making, because except for 1996 and late in the 1997 Daytona 500, the racing at Daytona was terrible from 1995-2000. And there were a number terrible races at Indy when Tony Hulman was in charge at Indy, and you can name any number of them from 1963-1973, the worst being 1964 (when two drivers were killed and two others badly burned), '65, '66 (when there was a melee involving half the field and only six cars ended up finishing), '67 (the year of the turbine car), and '73. (There were other bad ones, as well.) It's just when one car is so much faster than everyone else, especially when it has so much more horsepower than everyone else, it makes for a bad race. But what happened on the last restart at least put some drama into it because Kyle Busch actually had to earn his victory by passing the leader on the track, and if it had been someone other than Brian Scott, Kyle might not have won. 40. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (5) (1) Lol, there is an article on BSPN's website titled "Tony Stewart says Danica is meeting expectations". He also called Kyle Petty's comments inappropriate. What a farce. Has he forgotten the '06 Daytona 500 and SpeedWeeks already? If he was gonna have a press release from SHR, this is how it should read: "As you are all aware, there have been numerous questions as to whether or not Danica has met the expectations set forth in her first full time Sprint Cup season by Stewart-Haas Racing. The answer is yes, she has absolutely met our expectations of bringing in a ton of sponsorship money for the organization. The way she has selflessly self promoted herself at every opportunity to make sure GoDaddy is getting exposure and hopefully extend their contract with Stewart Haas in the future is to be commended. Just look at how she has exploited her relationship with fellow 2013 Rookie Of The Year candidate Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and her personal life as a whole. Leaking information at the most opportune times to take the attention away from the real racers has been pure brilliance. Announcing her divorce at the same time as the Sprint Cup awards banquet, taking the attention away from first time champion Brad Keselowski shows her talent in marketing. Then announcing she is dating Ricky right before the preseason media blitz, forcing the real race car drivers to have to answer questions about her and Ricky was a very nice touch. I might go so far as to say she has exceeded expectations of bringing in sponsorship money. Now obviously on the track she has been terrible. But we all knew that was going to happen. There were no expectations there. This is Brian France's NASCAR. You don't need to perform to get constant exposure. So even though she looks like crap out there and has brought the overall performance of Stewart-Haas Racing down, she has met expectations of making us richer and more exposed. I would also like to address the recent comments made by former driver turned analyst Kyle Petty. In his comments, he stated that Danica is a driver capable of going fast, but is not a true race car driver. I am very appalled by these remarks. What makes him say she can go fast? Where is the evidence behind that? I certainly haven't seen it. It is very offensive to me, as a race car driver, to hear him say that. That is highly inappropriate. Danica has done exactly what we expected out of her. Bring in a lot of sponsorship money, wreck a bunch of cars, look foolish on the track, and have every excuse in the world made for her." 41. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) SpeedWorld97, what it might do to their classic programming is eliminate the special programming that they do in advance of the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, because they only started that in 2007, when they got the rights to the second half of the Cup season, as well as the entire Nationwide season. You'll note that they still can not air any NASCAR race from 2001-2006, the six years that they were not a part of the NASCAR TV deal. All the races they aired from 2001-'06 were races from the ESPN archives, and were usually races won by either Dale Earnhardt, Sr. or Jeff Gordon. In fact, ESPN Classic never aired any classic Daytona 500s, even those they had aired before, from 2002-'06, and only the 2007 Daytona 500 has aired on ESPN Classic among the years since FOX and NBC came on board in 2001. I expect the amount of NASCAR programming on ESPN Classic to be reduced, not that three's very much NASCAR programming on ESPN Classic now besides the special programming that leads in he Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 anyway. I just hope that the NBC Sports Network finds a way to incorporate the older races into their schedule, but I doubt it. 42. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "And if what you're saying is true DSFF, then what Dale, Sr. said at Daytona in 2000 led to his own demise." What led to his demise was his complete lack of regard for his own safety. I'll spare you the gory details unless you want to hear them. "And what happened at Daytona in 2000 was six years in the making, because except for 1996 and late in the 1997 Daytona 500, the racing at Daytona was terrible from 1995-2000." While it is true the racing was really really REALLY bad, that doesn't mean NASCAR was going to do anything about it. The racing overall in Cup has been really really REALLY bad almost everywhere since 2005. Have they done anything about that other than make it worse? The COT was a joke, NASCAR's way of finally achieving their dream of having their Series mirror the IROC Series and make the races much more easily manipulatable. And the highly overrated Gen 6 car only came about to keep Chevrolet in the sport. 43. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DSFF, I completely agree with you and have always thought that Dale was cavalier when it came to safety, both his own and that of his competitors, but he had predicted that someone might very well get killed with the roof fin aero package. And he actually had a premonition that it might be him. A few days before that Daytona 500, he had a conversation with Terry Labonte, and the subject of Earnhardt's breaking Labonte's record came up, and Earnhardt told Labonte "if I make it that far", which tells me that Earnhardt, though he didn't outwardly show it in his final TV interview, had a feeling that someone might get killed in that race, and that someone might be him. But Earnhardt had silently questioned whether NASCAR was trying to kill someone with that particular rules package, and that someone happened to be him. But Earnhardt never truly cared about safety, either his own, or that of his competitors. His comments constantly criticizing the need for restrictor plates, despite being right behind Bobby Allison when he crashed and nearly went into he grandstands at Talladega in 1987, and the way he raced just show that he never cared for the his own safety, or that of his competitors. 44. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) cjs3872, I can see where you say that Earnhardt's demise was asking for rules packages being changed for the 2000 Daytona 500, but I'm not so sure that's the kind of package he liked. I figure he would have liked the old one they had from 95-99 and even though he had a lot of success with the restrictor plates, I think he would have rather not raced with them at Daytona and Talladega, maybe with a smaller engine package. A combination of the restrictor packages for his last win at Talladega and death at Daytona and the lack of safety features that he failed to use such as the HANS device and closed face helmet (although I don't know for sure if that would have saved him) contributed to his death. Some people believe that he may have loosened his belts up one the last lap of that race, but I seriously doubt that though because for one he was 3 wide down the back stretch with Marlin and Schrader and then going into turn 3 as well and secondly he would have had the whole cool down lap to loosen his belts and get out of the car to celebrate. 45. cjs3872 posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And as for the poor quality in the racing overall in the Cup Series, since we know it's mainly from aerodynamics, there's really nothing NASCAR can do other than slow the cars down. Aside from that, there's really nothing NASCAR can do. They can't get rid of the side skirts because the cars would get airborne in high speed spins and crashes if they did. They can't reduce the size of the rear spoiler because the rear wheels would be off the ground if they did. And getting rid of the front splitter would only work if they moved the bottom part to align with the nose of the car. If NASCAR puts in a rule mandating the elimination of that area beneath the grill area, the teams would just run really soft springs and shocks on the front to get the nose on the ground, so that wouldn't work. In effect, NASCAR's hands are tied. Their only option is to slow the cars down to what they were in the 80s and early-to-mid 90s. How they would do that, I don't know. 46. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I've always felt maybe a V6 might work. But that might be too expensive for a lot of teams to have to develop two engines (maybe Nascar could provide some of the cost, that would be too much though instead of trying to save lives), but then again one man gives seven cars engines and usually there is only about 20-25 cars that could win a race anyways and a V6 might be cheaper where a lot of low funded teams could just try for the Daytona 500 and that's about it. I believe winning the Daytona 500 is the American Dream anyways. 47. Ryan W posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm sorry nine engines. I forgot about Montoya and McMurray. He could provide more as well here and there, who knows. 48. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale's solution to restrictor plates was simple: get rid of them. He didn't like any package that involved a restrictor plate. But his rants got NASCAR to make changes. No, they weren't what he had in mind, but it got them away from single file parades. And his racing death was inevitable given his "cavalier" attitude towards safety (I call it a complete disregard). Kinda surprised he made it as far as he did. 49. David posted: 07.27.2013 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) "And the highly overrated Gen 6 car only came about to keep Chevrolet in the sport." Oh please, give it some credit. With it, Fontana was the best speedway race this season. That says more than enough. 50. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.27.2013 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "B: Schumacher won on a road-course,that almost no american racing fan can even remember, not the Oval." Yet I seem to know that almost all of the F1 Indy races were attended by many, many people. 51. 18fan posted: 07.27.2013 - 11:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DSFF, I have been trending this way for a while, but I, similar to have you are with Brad, am really getting fed up with Kyle running so many damn Nationwide races. I think Kyle has started to get smarter as a driver and seems to be able to grind out good finishes more than he ever has and I think if he can focus even more on the Cup car I think he could contend for the title. 52. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Happy belated 18th birthday 18fan. Kyle will finish either 18th or 1st Sunday. 53. David posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I posted the Grand-Am league results in a blog post quite a while ago, but they are not showing up. Where are they, webmaster? 54. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) You'll see more passing on the interstate than in today's race. 55. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well even if this race turns out to be a bummer, the good news for me is that I am officially going to the race in Atlanta on Labor Day weekend! 56. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Dale Earnhardt's brother/Dale Jr.'s uncle Randy has passed away after a battle with cancer. Keep the family in your prayers. This will be the second son, not to mention a husband, that Martha Earnhardt has had to lay to rest. 57. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:31 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) The Kool-Aid drinking on NASCAR Raceday right now is comical. Jim Jones would be proud. 58. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) So sad to hear about Randy. Apparently he's had cancer since last Semtember. At least for him the suffering is over and he's in a better place with his brother Dale. 59. Eric posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:29 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) There is story lines that ESPN isn't talking about for the Brickyard 400 because Matt Kenseth isn't one their "selected" drivers or Ryan Newman having a chance to the fist indina If Matt wins the Brickyard 400, he'll only be the 4th driver ever to win the Daytona 500, Southern 500, World 600/Coco Cola 600 and the Brickyard 400. The only drivers that did that so far is Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jimmie Johnson. 60. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Eric, often times, regardless of what the media wants to follow, big events seem to create their own storylines. A prime example of this was the 1996 Daytona 500. The four big storylines going into that one were Sterling Marlin's quest for a third consecutive win, Ernie Irvan's comeback, Jeff Gordon's first race as champion, and Dale Earnhardt's continuing quest to win the Daytona 500. At 85 laps, only Earnhardt was left and everyone had to look for new angles to cover the rest of the day. I'm not saying something like that's going to happen today, but when the media wants to cover certain stores at a big event, that event, in effect says "no, I'm going to create my own stories" for you to cover. Another prime example was the 2011 Daytona 500. The big stories going into that one were of the 10th anniversary race of Dale Earnhardt's death and any role that might play, especially with Dale, Jr. on the pole for that race. As it turned out, that was never really a factor, nor were most of the big teams, thanks to wrecks, and most of the big name drivers were in those crashes, and you had a bunch of upstarts up front, one of which should have won, and another did, while the old-timers had a very good day of their own. You just never know what's going to happen in a big event. 61. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:49 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hate that for Randy, and I am very sad for his mother, Martha. She lost her husband very young in life, and has now seen two of her children die too soon. My prayers to her and the entire family. 62. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) TRD is running the reliable engine this week, they are bringing the fast engine back at Pocono i'm not a mechanic, i'm also not making 7 digits a year designing engines (for obvious reasons) but shouldln't that be the opposite way? put the reliable engine at Poccono and the fast one at Indy? 63. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, they're having inspection issues AGAIN. And it's not one particular car, but rather NASCAR's inspection process, namely the laser they've been using. Less than 90 minutes before the start, more than half the field, 24 of 43 cars, have not gotten through inspection because of NASCAR's continuing inspection issues. This has been going on most of the year, but this is undoubtedly the worst it's been, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. We've chided some of the teams, the #48 in particular, for having problems with the inspection, but this has been a problem most of the year with multiple cars and teams, but it's reached a new low today. By now, most of, if not the entire field should be through and on their way to the grid, but more than half the field hasn't even gotten through inspection, not because of what the teams are doing, but because NASCAR can't get the tools they use to work right, and I suspect that's the root of most of the inspection issues this year. 64. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just a random thought, but does anyone else think that NASCAR at Indianapolis can be compared to F1 at Monaco? Think about it, in both races it's extremely hard to pass unless you make risky moves and the only reason they're both famous is due to their long history. Obviously the difference is that Monaco always draws large crowds at its races. 65. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Well, they're having inspection issues AGAIN." Again? That's just pathetic. 66. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) oh, Luke Lambert woke up with eye problems so he's going to call the race from the hauler and the race engineer is going to sit on the pit box 67. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This won't be a popular opinion, but I thought that was a pretty badass into that ESPN just did. 68. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "If Matt wins the Brickyard 400, he'll only be the 4th driver ever to win the Daytona 500, Southern 500, World 600/Coco Cola 600 and the Brickyard 400. The only drivers that did that so far is Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jimmie Johnson." My artificial bias version of Crown Jewels wins. Daytona 500: Jeff Gordon 3 Jimmie Johnson 2 Dale Earnhardt 1 Southern 500: Jeff Gordon 6 Dale Earnhardt 3 Jimmie Johnson 2 Brickyard 400: Jeff Gordon 4 Jimmie Johnson 4 Dale Earnhardt 1 Matt Kenseth 0 World 600: Jeff Gordon 3 Dale Earnhardt 3 Jimmie Johnson 3 Matt Kenseth 1 Spring Talladega: Jeff Gordon 4 Dale Earnhardt 3 Jimmie Johnson 2 Matt Kenseth 0 Bristol Night : Dale Earnhardt 4 Matt Kenseth 2 Jeff Gordon 1 Jimmie Johnson 0 Daytona Firecracker 400: Jeff Gordon 3 Dale Earnhardt 2 Jimmie Johnson 1 Matt Kenseth 0 Sonoma/Sears Point: Jeff Gordon 5 Dale Earnhardt 1 Jimmie Johnson 1 Matt Kenseth 0 Watkins Glen: Jeff Gordon 4 Dale Earnhardt 0 Jimmie Johnson 0 Matt Kenseth 0 Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson 8 Jeff Gordon 7 Dale Earnhardt 6 Martinsville 0 Gordon is the only driver in Nascar history with a win in all 10 of these events and has at least 3 wins in 9. Kenseth has a good ways to go to be in this class. 69. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Into should be intro. DAMN IT TYPOS. 70. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:07 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) 5 minute upadate into ESPN's coverage of Cup in 2013: Brad Daughetery is already on my nerves. Is it 2015 yet? 71. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Man I really love those Pure Michigan commercials. 72. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes The Long Shot, they're having inspection issues yet again, and this time it's backed up more than half the field, as at the time I wrote that comment, 24 of the 43 cars had not even gone through the inspection process, much less passed inspection, and the was less than 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the race. And again, it's with the NASCAR equipment, not any team. Issues may be expected for the first race or two, but this is the 19th race of the season. These things should have been ironed out long ago, but they're still having these problems, and it's an embarrassment to the sport. 73. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) So his inspection issues are affecting over half the field? Chad Knaus and the entire 48 team should be ashamed of themselves. 74. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:24 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Frankly, seeing how much this race means to the drivers, I think we should all just suck it up for this race each year no matter how boring it is because I don't know how anyone could want to deny these drivers the opportunity to win here. 75. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "This race was so "big" at one time that in 1995 they waited as late as they possibly could to start that race and it ended around 7-8 Eastern because of the rain earlier in the day." This race was the second biggest race of the season from 1994-2007. Since 2008,the race has been won by Johnson 3 times in 5 races with Mcmurray and Menard taking the other two. 2008 is a joke of an event and Johnson's 4 shouldn't be held in the same respect as Gordon's 4. Which includes the best of all the Brickyard's,in 1994,and also the first to 2,3 and 4 wins. 76. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Has anyone muted the T.V? 77. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:29 pm Rate this comment: (5) (1) To hell with these millionaires and their lake homes or Manhattan apartments and constant ass kissers. This race sucks, move it. If they want to race here so bad, leave NASCAR and join the IRL. ESPN update: RUSTY! He just flat out said The Baroness and Newman have held him back. Are we going to get the real Rusty this year? Looks like it. Otherwise the prerace is its typical self of being unwatchable. 78. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Certainly a pre-race concert can be cool for the people who are at actually at the track, but why on Earth does any part of it have to make it on the TV broadcast? 79. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) That's why I like Rusty and Kyle Petty as analysts. They don't drink the NASCAR kool-aid and aren't afraid to speak their mind. 80. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I'm so tired of hearing "the drivers really wanna win here" used as justification to keep this stupid race on the schedule. I imagine all the drivers would like to win at Monaco, too. Should we hold a NASCAR race there as well? This race SUCKS. Indy has bar none the WORST attendance erosion on the schedule. Attendance is down over 60% from its peak, and it's _never_ going to bounce back because the race is terrible. Always has been, always will be. 81. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:34 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) "To hell with these millionaires and their lake homes or Manhattan apartments and constant ass kissers." Whatever dude. It's one race per year. 82. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "I'm so tired of hearing "the drivers really wanna win here" used as justification to keep this stupid race on the schedule. I imagine all the drivers would like to win at Monaco, too. Should we hold a NASCAR race there as well?" Did you really just compare an oval track in the U.S. that a U.S. series races on to a street course overseas that only a European/international series races on? That's a bizarre comparison. 83. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You've got to be kidding me. ESPN is still saying Hamlin has a shot at making the chase. I wouldn't be surprised if they're still saying that at Richmond in September. 84. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:39 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) ...Can we replace Indianapolis with Isle of Man? 85. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did you really just compare an oval track in the U.S. that a U.S. series races on to a street course overseas that only a European/international series races on? That's a bizarre comparison. --- No, it's not. The Monaco GP is just as prestigious as the Indy 500, and if you ask any of the drivers in the field they'll tell you they'd love to win there. Indy may be prestigious, but the Brickyard 400 isn't. It's contrived and stale. The race itself is mind-numbingly boring. The pack is single-file and strung out for most of the race. There's almost no action at the front of the pack and you can typically count on-track lead changes that aren't the result of pit stops or restarts on one hand. If it weren't Indy, it wouldn't be on the schedule, and that is a fact. 86. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Neal, attendance is never going to bounce back to what it was, but I always thought they would never be able to keep those attendance levels. In fact, I was amazed they were able to keep them up there as long as they did. But remember that IMS can't even come close to selling out it's crown jewel event, the Indianapolis 500 any more, which is one reason why they're apparently going to take out quite a bit of the seating. They only got 200,000 at this year's Indianapolis 500, which is only about 70-80% of the track's seating capacity, and if they can't cone close to selling out the biggest race there is, what hope do they have of coming close to filling up the seats for the Brickyard 400? But also, even if they get 100,000 in the stands, what we don't know is how many more are in the infield. And it looks like there may be 100,000 people there today. But there might be as many as 40,000-50,000 more in the infield who intend to keep tabs on the race from there. To me, that's why, even though attendance is dwindling for all events at IMS, attendance numbers there can be very deceiving. What we see in the grandstands are usually not all that's there, because others got stay in the infield without ay intention of ever going to the grandstand area. 87. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The media still thinks Hamlin is going to go on that tear they thought he would go on that would push him into the Chase? Why am I not surprised... Out of morbid curiosity, did BSPN air their "LEAVE DANICA ALONE!" segment yet? 88. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "No, it's not. The Monaco GP is just as prestigious as the Indy 500, and if you ask any of the drivers in the field they'll tell you they'd love to win there. Indy may be prestigious, but the Brickyard 400 isn't. It's contrived and stale. The race itself is mind-numbingly boring. The pack is single-file and strung out for most of the race. There's almost no action at the front of the pack and you can typically count on-track lead changes that aren't the result of pit stops or restarts on one hand. If it weren't Indy, it wouldn't be on the schedule, and that is a fact." Yeah, but it's realistic for NASCAR to race in Indianapolis, hence they've been doing since 1994. Montreal on the other hand is completely unrealistic. Do you know how much money it would take just to get there? If you want to make a comparison to downgrade the Brickyard 400, at least make one that make sense from a practical point of view. 89. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 500 Million people watch the Monaco GP world wide. Extremely Liberal estimates have put Indy 500 viewership worldwide at 10-20 million. 90. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "...Can we replace Indianapolis with Isle of Man?" Most people on here are probably wondering what you're talking about. Isle of Man = Greatest challenge in Motorsports history. 91. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Calling the Brickyard 400 a race is a bit of a stretch. Parade is more like it. 92. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:49 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I wish Jeff would run his Pepsi Max scheme more often. It's easily one of the best looking cars on the grid today. 93. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) You guys can try to justify it all you want. You're fanboys, that's ok, but it doesn't change the fact that the Brickyard 400 is a shitty excuse for a race. NASCAR's there because it's Indy, not because the product is any good, and any attempt to place this race at the same level as the Daytona 500 or the Indy 500 is asinine. It's a sham. 94. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hungaroring had more spectators today than the Brickyard 400 95. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Neal, what do you expect from the same Lemons that think the farce known as The NASCAR all star race is a big deal and one of "the biggest races of the year?" 96. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:53 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "but it doesn't change the fact that the Brickyard 400 is a shitty excuse for a race." I don't deny that, but I'm willing to suck it up for one race per year just because of how much it means to the drivers. Believe it or not, what they think actually matters to me. 97. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Neal, until the last couple of years, the Indianapolis 500 always had the field strung out, and until the last 15-20 years, only two or three finished on the lead lap, and there were times were the winner actually finished more than a full lap ahead of the field. In 1989, Emerson Fittipaldi finished six laps ahead of anyone else that finished, Mark Donohue won the 1972 race by almost four laps, and for most of the final 200 miles of the 1987 race there, the leader, whoever it was, was a full lap ahead of the field in that race. And there were races with very few cars even running at the finish. In 1966, only six cars were running at the end, in 1982, there were just eight cars running when the race ended, and in 1973, there were just ten cars running at the end of a race that went just 133 laps. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was never designed for high-speed competition. What it was originally designed for was as a test track for the automobiles of the early part of the 20th century. 98. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If it means so much to the drivers grow a pair of balls, strap into a 230 mph Indycar, and maybe show up late for driver intros at Charlotte. Otherwise, too bad. 99. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Neal, what do you expect from the same Lemons that think the farce known as The NASCAR all star race is a big deal and one of "the biggest races of the year?"" I assume you're talking about me. The all-star race is one of the biggest events of the year, but it needs to be rejuvenated or done away with. Every race is essentially an all-star race. 100. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It isn't, and it's the least watched race of the year. 101. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Man I really love those Pure Michigan commercials" I ain't watching them but I am wondering do they make you wanna go to Michigan? I was leaving Michigan the other day headed south on the 69 and there was ALOT more traffic LEAVING Michigan than there was going into Michigan 102. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree, every auto race is effectively an all star race for that series. 103. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "If it means so much to the drivers grow a pair of balls, strap into a 230 mph Indycar, and maybe show up late for driver intros at Charlotte." I don't know??? Maybe because they're NASCAR drivers, not IndyCar drivers. And if you did happen to miss the start of Charlotte it could be disastrous to your season. That can't have anything to do with it can it? Honestly, if you think so lowly of the drivers why are you even a fan? I can understand having favorites and least favorites, but it seems like you have a problem with the drivers as a collective whole if you're going to suggest they all lack testicles for making a decision that makes more sense for their season and career. 104. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I haven't done this in a few weeks (I honestly forgot about it), but you know...It's time for me to predict how many cautions this race will have. I predict this race will have...6 cautions, and at least 3 of them will be BS "debris" cautions actually thrown to bunch the field back up and make things more exciting. 105. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:03 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "I ain't watching them but I am wondering do they make you wanna go to Michigan?" Michigan, yes. Detroit, no. I wouldn't be caught dead in Detroit. Actually, I take that back because if I ever ventured into Detroit I probably wouldn't have any choice but to be dead. 106. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll go to Detroit just so that I can by something at Hardcore Pawn (American Jewelry and Loan). :P 107. epzik8 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Doesn't surprise me that two of the ESPN people picked Jimmie Johnson to win. 108. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Honestly, the debate about whether NASCAR should leave Indy is pointless, no matter which side you're own. NASCAR spent too much time and energy on getting this race that there is only a snowball's chance in hell they're ever leaving as long as it turn a profit for them. 109. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I haven't done this in a few weeks (I honestly forgot about it), but you know...It's time for me to predict how many cautions this race will have." Seven. -1 actual caution -6 "debris cautions" (1 for the show, 5 for Danica and/or Jimmie when she/he needs it) 110. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A lot of people seem to be over-hating Indy as a stock car event. Sure it never has been great stock car race. But the races were enjoyable until the last resurfacing in '05 and then it was worsened by the introduction of COT platform. 111. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The Gen4 could actually draft... 112. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:23 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Top 5 greatest Brickyard 400's 1. 1994 (The best Brickyard and the largest crowd in Cup history.) 2. 1995 (It's # 2 simply because # 3 won.) 3. 2011 (Jeff Gordon's late race charge is one of the most memorable moments in Brickyard history.) 4. 1997 (Ricky Rudd becomes the only owner/driver that will ever win this race.) 5. 2002 (Bill Elliott declares this his greatest win ever after delivering yet another Brickyard heartbreak to Rusty Wallace.) 113. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 7 laps in, and they're already strung out in single file. 114. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Trouble for Jr. early. 115. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What is McDowell still doing on the track? He has already completed the 10% of the race distance... does he have a sponsor? 116. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) As soon as Jimmie gets the lead, that will be the race.. 117. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) If Danica were really flying that plane, it would either crash or arrive at the airport 5 hours late because she was flying so slow. 118. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Uh oh, Jimmie Johnson is 3 seconds behind Newman. That means it's almost time for a "debris" caution... 119. ch posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "What is McDowell still doing on the track? He has already completed the 10% of the race distance... does he have a sponsor?" Yep, K-Love and Curb Records are both on the car. I believe that it may be a full race for them. 120. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And back to our every 20 laps update on the 30th place driver with in car cameras and all. Also, anyone else having some audio issues? 121. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And now our pit stop update on the 30th place car. 122. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) BSPN: The (Other) Danica Network Nice to see Newman leading a lot of laps early, but I can't help but have that lingering "when in the next ten minutes will Jimmie make the pass for the win?" feeling. 123. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I have a game to make this race interesting: Anytime they mention breaking a record, drink a shot of vodka. In case of a Debris Caution, drink someting of your choice. Double take if debris is not shown Anytime a backmarker/underdog has bad luck drink a shot of whiskey or brandy. Anytime TuRD engine blows, drink a beer. I probably won't remember the last laps. Lucky me. 124. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And the winner has taken the lead. 125. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Go figure. Thanks to pit stops, Jimmie Johnson now has a HUGE lead. 126. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nap-Time to the lead. Race over. 127. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And now we will probably not see any BS "debris cautions" until Johnson laps BoB. 128. AveryNH posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:52 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Johnson is to the point... NAP TIME! 129. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yep, pass for the win, probably. The fact that it is a major bitch to pass here basically kills most everyone's chances. 130. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Debris caution comng up 131. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) BoB is moments away from being lapped. "Debris" caution time? 132. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie laps Danica. Time for a debris caution. 133. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I predict one before lap 45. 134. Kenny posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dammit I'm missing the race(I hate missing races) 135. Cash posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newman sure has one hot rod so far. 136. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ...is Newman's car faster than Johnson's? He's caught back up to him. 137. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow, Newman is actually catching Johnson? 138. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 1:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 71 F at Indy? Damn, it was 104 at the Hungaroring. 139. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:01 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) This race is so boring the NASCAR race officials fell asleep and didn't throw the debris caution in time. 140. Cash posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did I miss the discussion on the new Nascar on NBC deal? I think the sport just keeps getting sadder... 141. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:05 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) For anyone still awake, a certain black car with neon yellow numbers is creeping towards the front. 142. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And thank you DJ for calling these drivers of today out. 143. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "For anyone still awake, a certain black car with neon yellow numbers is creeping towards the front." You're my friend. 144. WinstonCup4Ever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @71: I hear ya. I'm usually in Pure Michigan (Da U.P. eh) visiting family around Brickyard 400 weekend. 145. Dave #38 Fan-Go Gilliland! posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For anyone that wants to see a real race, live timing / scoring and audio for the ARCA Racing Series event at the Road Course in Milville New Jersey is available here http://timing1.arcaracing.com/ Currently under caution, pits stops jumbled up the leaderboard, Chase Elliott and Andrew Ranger have been trading the lead back and forth all race long. About halfway through now. 146. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) When an F1 race at the HUNGARORING, has more overtaking than a stock car race, you know the sport has troubles that need addressing. 147. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hear that emotion in Rusty's voice reliving one of his many battles with Dale? Those were special days and and special rivalry. I'll never forget it, they were the best and they actually cherished RACING each other. Of all of NASCAR's problems of today, the drivers are #1. And Rusty, I appreciate the love for Dale, but the fact is getting bottled up on that last restart is what lost the race for you. 148. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson's probably whining about why J.J. Yeley didn't let him by on pit road. Not that it matters. Fantastic stop by Stewart. 149. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) *last pit stop, not restart 150. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) TeamPlayers, today's race had surprisingly many overtakes for Hungaroring. 151. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution out for Timmy Hill's slow car. 152. Cash posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did the 24 and 88 cars just catch a break? Wow 153. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution for Timmy Hill's slow car. Great break for Junior. 154. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For what is this out? #32 going pit entry speed? Nevertheless, shot #1 is taken for Hill. 155. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good break for Jr. He's now back on the lead lap for good. 156. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:21 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Why the hell did Stewart pit again? 157. David posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For the uninformed and disconnected, what lap is it? 158. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lap 65, David. 159. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Go figure-Gordon sinks like a stone on the restart. 160. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Was Carl scared to race Jimmie on that restart? 161. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sure am glad I'm not wasting my time or my DVR space on this crapfest. 162. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Switching back-and-forth between this and the Rangers vs. Indians game at the moment. 163. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The 48 just magically drove in way deeper than Carl and his car stuck. Carl looked determined to take the lead. 164. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The 48 just magically drove in way deeper than Carl and his car stuck. Carl looked determined to take the lead." Traction control maybe ;) 165. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I hope the NBC execs watching this who just gave out all that money don't have sharp objects around them. I'm telling ya, NASCAR is NOT going to make it. Who wants to watch that 48 car with the most boring human being that has ever existed just be untouchable every week? See that the stands are 2/3 empty? There is reason for this. 166. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, Newman looks like the only one that can hang with Jimmie, but he needs clean air to do it. Damn I hate this clean air racing. 167. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:39 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) 48 running away and hiding from the rest of the field.... Hopefully he has a piston decide to run away and hide from his engine block. 168. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Im hoping no one wrecked or blow up in 80 laps 169. Ryan posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 70,000 estimated attendance smh 170. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:40 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) The aero problem is ridiculous. There is always going to be advantages from having clean air, but it shouldn't be nearly as big as it is. 171. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeff Burton problems 172. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution out for Jeff Burton stalling on track. Now we can have another opportunity for Gordon to drop further back in the field and yet another chance for Johnson to rocket away from the field! 173. Ryan posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Really wish reporters would put pressure on Nascar as to why aero issues haven't been fixed with Gen6 174. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Apparently Jeff Burton fell asleep behind the wheel. 175. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 70,000, to give you an idea Qualifying at Indy for the 500 used to have 150,000 176. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Jeff Burton can fix his rear gear and no one else wrecked or has problems. Every car will finish the race 177. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hopefully Jimmie pulls another one of his patented restart fails, gets black flagged & the race goes green the rest of the way. Of course we'll have to listen to him bitch & moan that it wasn't his fault and he got screwed it for another month too. 178. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, there goes one of my favorites. This race is going just like I expected. 179. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano, Keselowski, Gordon stay out. 180. Daniel posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sounds like it's a good thing I decided to skip this race. 181. Ryan posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hopefully Jimmie can't pass in traffic (not likely) 182. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Hopefully Jimmie can't pass in traffic (not likely)" Hopefully traffic decides to manhandle Jimmie if he tries passing them (also not likely since they all wuss out and pull over when Nap-Time is coming) 183. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The reason I think Gordon and the Penske cars stayed out is that it appears that they're on a 4-stop strategy, so pitting now would put them off sync on their fuel strategy. I actually think Gordon was conservative on the restart, not just because he doesn't like restarts any more, but also because he seems to be trying to conserve fuel to make it on four pit stops. If they can make their next stops around laps 96-98, they should make it. 184. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is BoB's car smoking? 185. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart's restart right there was the most exciting thing I've seen in this race in about 6 or 7 years. 186. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:54 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) "Is BoB's car smoking?" I think it was, but I think Nascar hit their magic "Danica Engine Reset" button and made it all okay. 187. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) NASCAR has no plans on black-flagging Jimmie ever again, im convinced of that 188. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart was smart, you have to get all the positions in the first 2 laps, after that passing is next to impossible. 189. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Joey gets the clean air advantage and sails off, surprise surprise. 190. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Joey gets the clean air advantage and sails off, surprise surprise." You could put one of the start-and-parkers up front in clean air and they would take off. 191. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Well, I'd much rather have Joey win than Nap-Time. 192. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Gordon pits under green. It's about time for a debris caution to come out to trap him down a lap. 193. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 2:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnny Aitken won 15 races at IMS. 194. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Well, I'd much rather have Joey win than Nap-Time." So would I, and Joey is probably one of my two or three least favorite drivers. Damn, Earnhardt Jr is up to 5th after his early problems. 195. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Gordon pits under green. It's about time for a debris caution to come out to trap him down a lap." Yes, we need to give out "The Crown Royal Presents the Jeff Gordon Bad Break of the Week Award" 196. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) KyBu Agree To Lose fade alert 197. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Whoops, I didn't realize that Jr was one of the guys that stayed out too. Still a pretty good comeback though. 198. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's Nap-Time again! 199. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:03 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) The Gen 6 Car is a piece of crap. fine me 25,000 NASCAR. 200. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It would be fun to see what Montoya could do if he got some track position. 201. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope Newman can win this over Jimmie. Also im surprised that Trevor Baynes car is so slow Donnie Wingo said it was their best chassis and it cant go higher that 28th 202. JG24shouldbe5time posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) So, after seeing the other comments...I'm glad I decided to let the kids watch their shows. Since this is a Nap-time run away (LOL, nap-time, love it)all I can hope is that karma bites his boring butt come the chase. The chase has screwed other drivers out of what should have been run away season title wins (such as JG24) and gifted them to "Five time"; it would be wonderful to see it happen to him. 203. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jimmie reports a water temp of 268 204. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) That Brad radio transmission was a mirror image of something DSFF would say. 205. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Horrible call for Gordon's team to stay out. His car a 7th place race car and they stay out and take none. Dumb dumb dumb and it could cost them a Top Ten finish. 206. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Loved what Brad had to say! I wonder if he visits this site. 207. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Jimmie reports a water temp of 268" You posted that and then I looked over to the TV to see Jimmie on pit road and got my hopes up that he blew up :( 208. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 16.1?????!! Great job Stewart Haas, idiots just cost Newman again. 209. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Didn't Jimmie say that they were taking their Pocono winning car to Indianapolis? 210. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newman got hosed by his pit crew. 211. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 90% of the 'passing' today has been done by Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch. 212. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Say what you will about Brad, he says what the rest of us are thinking (usually). 213. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Really 39 team.... 214. Rusty posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) I don't know why Brad continues to have all these sour grapes towards the 48 all the time, didn't he beat him last year? Grow up, dude... 215. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:16 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) The Gen 6 Car is a piece of crap. fine me 25,000 NASCAR. --- "They're still getting used to it...give it time!" "It made Fontana good, so it must be an awesome chassis." 216. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Timmy Hill is slow AGAIN and the caution flag comes out once more. 217. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:17 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I don't know why Brad continues to have all these sour grapes towards the 48 all the time, didn't he beat him last year? Grow up, dude..." He's as fed up with the 48 as the majority of the NASCAR fanbase is. 218. Jim Davis posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) "Say what you will about Brad, he says what the rest of us are thinking (usually)." So is Keselowski a "whiner"? 219. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Now Timmy Hill falls asleep. 220. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Since Newmans crew screwed him i needed it to stay green and damn as i type this caution out 221. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why did Gordon pit?! 222. epzik8 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the second caution Timmy Hill has caused today! 223. JG24shouldbe5time posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Didn't Jimmie say that they were taking their Pocono winning car to Indianapolis?" Not sure if that was said/did or not, but it makes sense. Pocono and Indy share quite a few similarities. I do some Nascar video gaming; on a forum when someone asked what a good Indy set-up is, one of the top replies was "a good Pocono set-up". Sure that's video games BUT again, there are similarities in the tracks. Isn't it sad that this comment section is better than the race right now? 224. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Can these guys that pitted now make it the rest of the way? 225. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:21 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) "Why did Gordon pit?!" Starts with an "Alan", and ends with a "Gustafson". 226. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) No Gordon needed to pit. Now he's at least got four fresh tires. He doesn't have a good enough car to keep track position with old tires. He at least has a chance to get a solid finish cause it was looking like an 18th-22nd place finish. 227. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Isn't it sad that this comment section is better than the race right now? ---- Not really. This race has always sucked. Mowing the yard is more interesting than this garbage. 228. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, actually, that might have been a good move to pit. I wasn't really paying attention (can you blame me with how horrid this race has been?) there for a minute. 229. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:23 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Isn't it sad that this comment section is better than the race right now?" It's sad that a lot of races are like that, especially the "Nap Time with Nap-Time" races and the "NASCAR Kyle Busch Series co-presented by Joey & Brad" races. 230. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow, it seems like no one knows how to line up on restarts anymore. They were three wide in the back on that whole "one to go" lap. Jimmie blitzes by on the outside. Go figure. 231. JG24shouldbe5time posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "'I don't know why Brad continues to have all these sour grapes towards the 48 all the time, didn't he beat him last year? Grow up, dude...' He's as fed up with the 48 as the majority of the NASCAR fanbase is." Yup. That and I'd be a little sour too if JJ was complaining about my "performance" as champ/ambassador for the sport. When JJ made a comment along those lines is when I lost almost all respect for the guy. 232. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Going...Going...Gone. 233. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Wow, it seems like no one knows how to line up on restarts anymore. They were three wide in the back on that whole "one to go" lap." Two wide restarts seem to baffle a lot of racers, especially IndyCar drivers. 234. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Funny how people harp on about the Gen 6 car at Fontana yet the 2011 race there was amazing with the Gen 5. It's a great track, and the reason it was good this year was because of tire wear/strategy, maybe NASCAR should learn that... 235. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Funny how people harp on about the Gen 6 car at Fontana yet the 2011 race there was amazing with the Gen 5. It's a great track, and the reason it was good this year was because of tire wear/strategy, maybe NASCAR should learn that... 236. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Double Post oops. 237. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe if were lucky we will see a late race caution where Jimmie gives it away like Kentucky 238. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Funny how people harp on about the Gen 6 car at Fontana yet the 2011 race there was amazing with the Gen 5." I wouldn't call the ENTIRE 2011 race there "amazing". If I remember correctly, it was pretty terrible up until about 30 to go or whatever when the epic Harvick/Johnson/Kyle duel came about. But yes, the Gen 6 is god awful. 239. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I should say, the Gen 6 is god awful on the big tracks. I've liked the performance of it on the short ovals and short tracks. 240. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes but the 2012 event wasn't that great either until the final 40 laps. 241. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This has simply been a soul crushing weekend. The guy who has ruined the NWide Series dominated and won that one, and the guy who has ruined the Cup Series has dominated and is gonna win this one, all on the worst track for NASCAR they go to. What a waste of a weekend. If JJ were in any other car, he'd barely have 20 wins now. It looks just like an Indy Car with an added on roof. 242. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Come on Newman. He seems to have the only car that's equal to Johnson's. 243. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newman seems to be the only driver who can challenge Johnson. 244. Kubica fan Ireland posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newmans car is equal to Johnson whoever wins the last restart wins the race 245. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Come on Newman. He seems to have the only car that's equal to Johnson's." Too bad his pit crew isn't equal. 246. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newman might as well go with 2 tyres. 247. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like everyone is going to finish this race. 248. Paul posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:36 pm Rate this comment: (4) (2) Jim Davis, haven't you gotten the memo? When Brad speaks his mind, he's speaking for the fans. But when Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, or Ryan Newman speak their minds, then they're whiners who need to shut up. Coincidence that Brad is the only one of those four drivers who is popular on this page? I think not. 249. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin... 250. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:37 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) LOL at Jimmie's pitstop. 251. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A slow stop for Johnson! 252. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Don't screw this up... 253. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Get ready for Debris... 254. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting strategy for Newman. 255. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeez. Jimmie has a 90 second pitstop and the 39 team is putting on 2 tires? Dumb. 256. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) "Jim Davis, haven't you gotten the memo? When Brad speaks his mind, he's speaking for the fans. But when Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, or Ryan Newman speak their minds, then they're whiners who need to shut up. Coincidence that Brad is the only one of those four drivers who is popular on this page? I think not." When Brad whines like he did after Talladega or saying Gibbs and Hendrick were stealing employees from Ford, he does get called on it. Just because he's our collective favorite doesn't mean we give him a free pass. 257. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Great pit stop 48 guys we need those every time 258. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "But when Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, or Ryan Newman speak their minds, then they're whiners who need to shut up." Even though pretty much everyone on here supported Denny when he was fined for speaking his mind on how the Gen 6 still needs work... 259. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If everyone finishes this race, it would be the first time since 2008 that this would occur. 260. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't know if Gordon needs a caution or not. I think he's screwed either way cause he still has to pit. 261. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is gonna get really interesting now. The 48 guys totally flubbed that one. 262. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 tires for Gordon. 263. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Where does this rank among the greatest Johnson failures? 264. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I REALLY hope Nascar lets this one play out. 265. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:45 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) Cue Tommy Hill stopping on the track. 266. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Was 7 seconds, now 4 seconds... Do the math. 267. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Timmy oops. 268. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Watch us have a "debris caution" with less than 10 laps to go. 269. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hamlin on pit road. 270. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:48 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Why have a commercial when there is drama building with 15 to go? What is this, TNT? 271. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:49 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Why didnt Newman go ahead and take 4 tires its been like 5 laps and hes shaved 3 seconds off his lead 272. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The commercial is just a decoy, they'll have a caution when the audience can't see it and blame it on Thomas Scheckter crashing or what. No replays - No evidence. 273. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:50 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Why have a commercial when there is drama building with 15 to go? What is this, TNT?" TNT: We know drama!... *cuts to commercial when something dramatic happens* 274. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:52 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Newman to the lead. If there aren't any cautions, he should have just enough time to hold off Jimmie. Nascar, do the right thing. Let this race play out. 275. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:52 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) This is the first time in my life that I have ever wanted Ryan Newman to win. 276. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If NASCAR throws a caution, I am going to go on a rampage. 277. Kubica fan Ireland posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:54 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) since nrf is not here might as well, piss off Johnson 278. DB1995 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) This weeks strategy blunder goes to Paul Wolfe for banking on 20 caution laps to make it to the end i usually agree with Paul but here a blind monkey could see it wasnt gonna work 279. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Go Newman! Sadly, everybody in the media will deflect away from the fact this is one of the worst and most aero dependent races in NASCAR History because of his awesome win. 280. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 3 laps to go. Will NASCAR actually let this play out...? 281. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 3:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And all 43 cars are still running. WOW, could be first time since 2007(?). 282. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) White Flag. 283. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) White flag! 284. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Get outta the way Burger King 285. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) It's Over!!!!!!! Johnson failed!! Johnson failed!! No history for him!! 286. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Awesome job Newman. 287. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) interesting, look at the winners of the crown jewels this year Jimmie wins the 500 who will never leave that team Kenseth wins the Southern 500, on a new team Harvick, who is going to a new team wins the Coke 600 and then Newman, who is also losing his ride next year wins the Brickyard 400 and even more ironicy, Jimmie was going to win them all, or so we thought 288. Smurfette posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Papa Smurf goes to Victory Lane!!! 289. Dense Drip posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Everyone finished.... 290. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Terrible job NASCAR aero engineers. 291. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) AWESOME win for Ryan Newman. That's all you can say. Hopefully this will help him in his pursuit of a new ride for next year. 292. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ALL CARS FINISHED 293. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Smurfs are going to victory lane! 294. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeff Gordon finishes in the Top 8 at Indy for the 15th time in 20 starts. 295. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Alright Rocketman Newman!! 296. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Johnny Aitken keeps his real record of 15 wins at IMS. 297. Vince posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Ryan wins! 298. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Can't wait to see who Jimmie blames in his interview. 299. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:03 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) The ogre wins!!! 300. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:03 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) BOB JENKINS!!! 301. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The ogre wins!!!" LOL! 302. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just heard Bob Jenkins on the P.A. system. 303. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Woot woot! WTG Rocketman! Thank you NASCAR & Timmy Hill for letting this last run play out! Thank you 48 Pit Crew! F you SHR for getting rid of this driver and not that perennial 30th place gimmick! 304. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (5) (1) Congrats to Ryan and his team. His pit crew did the job, the 48 faltered. Happy for Ryan's family too. Him winning salvages the race a bit. Happy for him. How about DJ's emotion knowing his son, the spotter, gets to win here? Oh yeah, KYLE BUSCH, OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT! 305. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Anybody want to explain why Danica gets to stay after this?? Ryan Newman win his 17th Cup series race from his 50th pole Lewis Hamilton wins his 22nd Grand Prix from his 30th pole 306. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch looks like a true idiot now. 307. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I said in a comment on another page that I dislike drivers doing burnouts, and that only rarely do I make an exception to that rule. Well, this is one of those exceptions. Congratulations, Ryan. You deserve it. Hopefully this will help you find a good ride for next year. 308. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great win for Newman. Really happy for him and even nicer that he beat Jimmie. This makes Kyle's comments from New Hampshire look even dumber. Kind of like when Harvick ripped Kurt at Bristol in 2006 and then Harvick finished 2nd to Kurt. This is Matt Kenseth's first top 5 finish this season that is not a win. Top 4, 6 of the top 7, and 7 of the top 10 were Hendrick powered cars. 309. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm really happy for Newman and I'm glad he won, but Nascar seriously needs to figure out the Gen 6 on these big intermediates. I'm not really looking forward to Pocono next week at all. 310. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The lame duck at Stewart Haas wins, meanwhile the ride buyer at Stewart Haas who will be there next year finishes in her usual 30th place. 311. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Newman wins, Stewart finishes 4th... ...and BoB finishes 30th. But it's already been established numerous times that the problem is NOT the driver! 312. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Anybody want to explain why Danica gets to stay after this??" Money talks. On the plus side this win should help Newman get a good ride for next year, Congrats to him and the whole #39 team. 313. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) hey wait, it was just a few months ago we were all "SHR is going to be winless this year" well, they have had 2 cars go to victory lane! man, we suck at our predictions 314. JG24shouldbe5time posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Congratulations Ryan Newman -He denied Nap-time an "historic" win -He won in his home state -He made a good case for himself to be somewhere next year. Oh goodie, Jamie Little! 315. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (6) (0) Congratulations to Ryan Newman and team #39. They had a great car. Jimmie had the best car obviously and I'm so glad he didn't win it. The race was about average for the Brickyard 400. I know there will be complaints about how terrible the race was but was it any surprise. They have to slow the cars down a bit for the racing to be better. Also happy Gordon was able to manage a 7th place run. That's about as good as his car was. Everyone was all worried that Gordon would struggle. He did a little bit but posted some of the fastest laps during the race. He led some laps and had a solid finish. Good job team #24. THANK GOD JIMMIE DIDN'T WIN!!!! 316. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:12 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I'm not a big Newman fan, but he is a quality driver that deserves a quality ride for next year. 317. Matt posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Ok yes the gen 6 has an aero problem, it isn't any worse than the COT though. But sometimes I think people on here expect every race to be a back and forth battle the entire time between like 10 cars-it just cant happen. Jimmie and Ryan were the class of the field today, so there wasn't much passing for the lead! Something that I think needs to be said is THANKS TO NASCAR FOR LETTING GREEN FLAGS NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY FAKE DEBRIS!! ONLY REAL CAUTIONS!! 318. 83andJoe posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) People fishing for reasons to hate on start-and-parkers: Where is your cod now? 319. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) As horrible as the ending to yesterday's race was is how good the ending to today's race was. And guess who's in 10th in points....Jeff Gordon! I've said it many times before and I'll say it again, he WILL make the chase. 320. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:16 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) What happened on that final pit stop sequence was an almost-exact replay of what happened in the 1981 Daytona 500. Bobby Allison was the dominant driver that day, but ran out of fuel on the backstretch as he was about to pit. Seeing that, Richard Petty's team decided to not change tires on their final stop, and that stole for Petty his seventh and final Daytona 500 win, as Allison's car was much faster. Well today it wasn't Jimmie running out of fuel, but rather a slow pit stop (17.2 seconds) that opened the door for Newman, who's team chose a right side only change to put him ahead of Johnson, enough that there was no way Jimmie could catch him. An although Jimmie tried his best just after the pit stops, one it became obvious that he couldn't catch Newman, he conceded defeat and finished second. This win by Newman also shakes up the Wild Card situation, as it puts him right in there in the hunt for the Wild Card as one of three not in the top ten to have won this year. I'll post what the Chase standings would look like using my weighted system later. Newman's win also makes Tony Stewart the first man, not counting Ricky Rudd's win as an owner-driver, to win the Brickyard 400 as both a driver and as a car owner. And this race made more track history, as it's the first time in track history that every car that started a race also was running at the finish, and it's the first time that's happened in one of the sport's biggest events. Ironically, more cars finished a full Indianapolis 500 than ever this year, as well, as 26 of the 3 cars that started that race were running at the finish. And I believe it's also the first time in Indy history that the cars that started 1-2 also finished 1-2 in the same order. 321. Paul posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm very happy for Ryan Newman. He's been doing a great job this season considering the quality of his team, and now he finally has a win to prove he's had a good season. And selfishly, I'm also glad that I have been behind Newman all the way this season in spite of all the criticism, so this win makes me feel like a genius. Congrats to the Boilermaker on winning in his native Hoosier state! Also, HMS/SHR cars finish in six of the top seven positions. Guess which one didn't place in the top 7... The #10 team's goal was to finish in the top 25, and they couldn't even do that. Ugh. 322. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:18 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Isn't any worse than the COT? These idiots had millions of dollars to spend into R and D to save the sport from themselves with the creation of the COT, only to make a product "no worse than the COT." Don't give me that B.S., the sport is in trouble and has been since 08, and NASCAR had a golden chance to save it and they didn't, attendance is falling, ratings are falling, and that's despite Danica Mania still in it's prime. What will it take for NASCAR to change, 50k at the Brickyard? 80k at Daytona? We're getting close to that. Don't give me that B.S., NASCAR acted and still acts like the Gen 6 car is the second coming of Christ and will make NASCAR like it was around 2001-2005, and truth is, it hasn't, and hasn't even come close. 323. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 318 Brain Keselowski Team is rumor to run next week and Mike Bliss and Scott Speed would of start and parking. THANK GOD THEY MISSED THE RACE 324. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) what is the "pecking order" at SHR? is it 14, 10, 39? or 14, 39, 10? 325. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kudos to Jimmie for finally admitting that he's given away some races this year, and that he's sticking by his guys (as much as his crew chief probably won't stick by them after this race). Best stuff in a while that I've heard Jimmie say after a crushing defeat like this. 326. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If NASCAR isn't competent enough to design a decent enough car that drafts and races well on these kinds of tracks then stop racing on so many intermediates and superspeedways. 327. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why do I have a hunch that BSPN will interview BoB? 328. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "what is the "pecking order" at SHR? is it 14, 10, 39? or 14, 39, 10?" 10>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>14>>>>>>>>39 329. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, Harvick's gonna love being 3rd on the pecking order next year... 330. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So, in the modern era this is only the 5th time that every car finished the race. Thus joins the 2008 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 the 2007 Sylvania 300 the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 and the 1995 Tyson Holly Farms 400 Wonder if anyone has any info on the pre-73 era. Maybe I'll ask Mr.Brock Beard, he must have knowledge on this. 331. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Badass race for June-Bug,and Gordon had a far better finish than he seemed to deserve. Not my least favorite Brickyard after all. 332. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just wonder how the media would react if a driver didn't kiss the bricks. 333. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Well, I also wonder if these cars make so much downforce that they've become too easy to drive? Keep this in mind. I believe that this is the first race in the history of IMS not to have a single spin or crash, which was one reason why everyone that started was able to finish. And we're talking a history of 117 race on the oval. Now I'm not for taking too much downforce away from these cars, but for the first time I wonder I there's too much downforce on these cars. After all, we just witnessed a full race at Indy, which is supposed to be a tough track to race on, without a single spin or crash. In fact, I don't think there was ever an incident of even the slightest wall contact. I think it's time for NASCAR to take some downforce away from the rear of the car, because it's obvious that the bigger rear spoiler, which was supposed to enhance the effect of drafting, hasn't done that, and may have made them to easy to drive. First they smash the race record for the Southern 500, and now they run a full race at Indy without a single incident? If these cars can't draft even with the bigger rear spoiler, then they should cut some of it off to make the cars harder to drive. 334. Kubica fan Ireland posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Newman could well win next week as well he finished 3rd 2 months ago. Funny fact but Johnson now has a good chance to record a runner up finish at every track he has raced at he just needs pocono the 2 road courses and kentucky to complete the set. He finished runner up at rockingham Gordon needs daytona and kentucky maybe more 335. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great recovery by Dale Earnhardt Jr. to recover from that loose wheel and finish 6th. Also a good run for Jeff in 7th. Like I said he is 10th in points but unfortunately it came at the expense of Brad, who is now 13th in points. Also, how did Kyle Busch recover to get a top 10? That car seemed to be a 20th place car all day. 336. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Another barnbuner at Indy. Not even slightly remorseful that I didn't watch this pile of a race. 337. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "what is the "pecking order" at SHR? is it 14, 10, 39? or 14, 39, 10?" I think the order is actually 10, 14 & 39. It's just Stewart & Newman are good enough drivers to overcome lower priority cars to finish well. I don't think Danica could even finish top 10 in a 48 car co-prepared by Red Bull F1 and a braintrust of Chad Knaus & Paul Wolfe crew chiefing 338. Cash posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Man did Greg Biffle even run this week? I don't know how he is still in the top 10 in points 339. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sounds like BSPN still expects good things out of Danica before the year's end. 340. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:36 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Didn't Kenseth finish 5th? Where's his interview? 341. New14 & 88Fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The customary BofB interview. 342. Schroeder51 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh my God, I was right. They are interviewing her. She's getting an interview for finishing an uncompetitive THIRTIETH. I bet BSPN interviews her after EVERY race they cover this year, no matter how crummy the finish... 343. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) The Gen 6 car has shown what happens when you have 43 identical, perfectly driving cars. This is the result. 344. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Here it is! Our weekly interview with the 30th place driver. TNT really dropped the ball on this NASCAR tradition. 345. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Let's interview the 30th place finisher. 346. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Seriously? If their going to interview her every week, then that's just ridiculous. 347. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Gordon needs daytona and kentucky" Watkins Glen 348. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Impressive that two races where all cars finished was at Wilkesboro. 349. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm still shocked that it is now easier to pass in an F1 car than a Stock car at Indianapolis. 350. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) F1 car at Hungaroring no less. 351. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:41 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Jeff Gordon. 10th in points. You can't count him out. Ever. 352. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Seen many old races a North Wilkesboro and those races always had really low attrition. 353. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Kenseth's performance was actually the most impressive to me because he was the only top 9 finisher not in a Hendrick engine who didn't make it up there due to pit strategy. "Don't give me that B.S., NASCAR acted and still acts like the Gen 6 car is the second coming of Christ and will make NASCAR like it was around 2001-2005, and truth is, it hasn't, and hasn't even come close." And it's not like 2001-2005 were the glory days. Yes, 2001-2003 were less bad than 2004-present, mainly due to the depth of the field and the surprise winners (and probably better than 1998-2000) but not close to 1985-1997, which I would call the glory days. "Wonder if anyone has any info on the pre-73 era." 1959 race #16 at Nashville (the race didn't have a name) is the only known race from before the modern era where every car finished, but it was only 12 cars. However, it's possible this happened in other races in the '50s and '60s where the lap/status data are incomplete... 354. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I see how future races are gonna go. BSPN: Let's get a word with 43rd place finisher Danica Patrick, who dropped out of the race on the 1st lap, on how her day went.... HypeCenter: GREAT DAY FOR NASCAR AS DANICA PATRICK FINISHES 15TH ON THE LEAD LAP AT TALLADEGA! Oh, someone else won the race, we're not sure who... BUT LETS TALK ABOUT DANICA PATRICK!!!! 355. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Now they air the Kenseth interview! He is probably already in the air and halfway home right now. He was in his street clothes I betcha before Ryan finished his burn outs. 356. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2001-2005 were the glory days of NASCAR's popularity, I could care less about what I think was the glory days (I think it was 1988-2002), but I care more about the overall health and success of the sport than what I think is good racing. 357. We need more Onion posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Thank you Sean, I was already in the process of finding that '1959 race' mentioned in the '95 Wilkesboro broadcast. But you saved me a few hours of searching with info on that Nashville race being the only known race of this kind. BTW, this site has a name for that race: 1959 Music City 200 358. Matt posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @322 I agree with you, it could be better especially with all the time they had, I'm just saying everything is never right to the people on here. and actually @333 I believe that is an answer making the rear end less stable 359. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart just said passing isn't racing, no I'm not making that up. 360. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My Greg Fielden book did not have a name for that race, so apparently somebody else found this information elsewhere in the time since. 361. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "10>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>14>>>>>>>>39" "I think the order is actually 10, 14 & 39." I belive y'all, but I really am shocked, I cant belive that Tony would let himself drive HIS #2 car, I figured he'd be in the #1 because his name is above the door, why would you drive anything else than the rest if you took a gamble to purchase a failing team? but I belive y'all 362. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's official, the drivers, media, and even the fans are so full of crap induced to them by the sanctioning body that the sport won't realize it's in serious trouble until it's FAR too late. 363. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow Jeff Gordon sounded kind of dejected in that interview. This is one of those races where if Gordon doesn't win he's not very happy. What people think is the glory days is relative. NASCAR's struggling to sell out races but still there are a ton of people going. TV ratings aren't too bad. Overall they are a little better than the last couple years. The racing isn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. Sorry it's just not. How many times do I and others have to bring up the 60s through early 80s were there was hardly any passing and you'd be lucky to have more than three or four cars on the lead lap. 364. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) TV Ratings are the worst they've been since 1996 except for the Daytona 500. 365. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 4:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) On average of course 366. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There's nothing that can be done to make the racing at Indy better. Nothing. The track is flat, and flat tracks are downforce tracks. A Sprint Cup car will _never_ produce enough downforce to make the Brickyard 400 exciting. It's the same reason why Loudon, Michigan, Pocono, and Fontana are such lousy races. Those tracks are not suited to these cars. The Brickyard 400 is an embarrassment to both NASCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 367. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "TV Ratings are the worst they've been since 1996 except for the Daytona 500." OK, you've been ranting on here for a while now, but this isn't true. Ratings have been up slightly overall this year. 368. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes but they also aren't putting on good racing at 1.5 milers, which make up so much of the schedule, there is the problem. 369. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) BON GORDON, I don't think most fans want 1974 back. They want 1992 back when there were more than three competitive engine companies, when single-car teams were actually competitive, when there were random surprises like Rick Mast or Jimmy Spencer or Hut Stricklin or whatever dominating out of nowhere once or twice a year, when the races weren't simply decided on horsepower so much (although I, unlike NRF, do not think they are TOTALLY decided on horsepower now), when the broadcasts and the sanctioning body themselves weren't pandering to idiots, when the rules weren't AS gimmicky (yes, there are certainly many exceptions like the 1991 pit rules), and where the drivers weren't such prima donnas (I mean, the early '90s IndyCar drivers being such prima donnas may be one of the main reasons NASCAR overtook CART in popularity, if you believe it did so before the split, which I think is debatable...) 370. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Incorrect do I need to bring out the chart. FOX races were slightly down TNT average was down. FOX had the same ratings, but lower viewership. 371. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And that was inflated by HUGE increases for the Daytona 500 due to Danica Mania. 372. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "It's the same reason why Loudon, Michigan, Pocono, and Fontana are such lousy races." Did you see the races at Loudon and Fontana this year??? Or do those not count since it would hurt your argument. And what's wrong with Michigan? Not the best track, but it produces some decent racing in my opinion. 373. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Although there are certainly a few things that are better now, and the main one is the increased safety of the cars and tracks (the idea of Jimmy Horton escaping Talladega and landing in the parking lot as recently as 1993 is horrifying...) 374. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not true. Kentucky through New Hampshire were higher than last year. And FOX's TV ratings increased in major cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles from last year. However, TV ratings as a whole for FOX were the same as last year. 375. ch posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 14>10>>>>>>>39 You gotta figure that with Ryan being a lame-duck driver this year, combined with the lack of sponsorship, his team is at the bottom. Which makes his win today just that much more impressive. 376. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Ya know what they call one good race out of a series of really bad ones? An outlier. When Fontana and Loudon can string together more than 1 or 2 good races every decade call me and we'll talk. 377. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "I belive y'all, but I really am shocked, I cant belive that Tony would let himself drive HIS #2 car, I figured he'd be in the #1 because his name is above the door, why would you drive anything else than the rest if you took a gamble to purchase a failing team?" The same reason he's getting rid of a competent top 10-15 driver with ability to pick up wins every now and then over a barely ARCA Truck Series level driver with the ability to squeak out a miracle top 15 finish every once in a blue moon: $$$$$$ 378. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) As for Michigan, the racing there is vastly overrated. "5 wide" happens right after restarts and lasts for about 3 laps. After that it's strung out single file and most of the races are decided in the engine shop, not on the track. 379. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) BON GORDON, The AVERAGE of TNT races was DOWN. Simple Fact, More people on average watched Sprint Cup races last year than this year. FOX had the same ratings but slightly lower viewership. The Gen 6 was supposed to save NASCAR along with Danica. 380. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) BON GORDON, maybe that's because Gordon knows he doesn't have enough speed to contend for wins. However, this was the first of the four races he had to dodge, and he did a great job of finishing where he needed to in order to make the Chase. However, he still has Pocono, Watkins Glen, and Michigan hovering over him. And Newman's win has given winless drivers like Gordon and Brad Keselowski a much bigger problem, because that adds a third driver not in the top ten in points that has won. The only good thing for those drivers is that Greg Biffle's awful day has put a third position in the bottom of the top ten in the points in play, because prior to today, only ninth and tenth were in play. Now eighth place is in play because Biffle's now just seven points ahead of Tony Stewart, who's now in 11th. There's now a chance, if he knocks out the right driver, that Tony Stewart could put Newman in the Chase just by getting into the top ten in points, since Newman is now third in line for the Wild Card behind Stewart and Martin Truex, Jr. with his win. 381. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Ya know what they call one good race out of a series of really bad ones?" You know what I call a good race even if it's the race of it's kind? A good race. 382. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Neal and TeamPlayersBlue, can't you guys find at least ONE positive thing about this race, or this year in general? Seeing all of these rants and negativity is annoying and somewhat childish. 383. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And those major market increases compared to an average stagnation/decline? Shows NASCAR is losing more diehard fans from traditional markets. 384. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) You know what I call a good race even if it's the race of it's kind? A good race. --- Again, you're a fanboy. I've been watching NASCAR for over 25 years and the last 5-10 years has really tested my fandom with the series. The racing has sucked, and there's so much money in the sport that the drivers are for the most part a bunch of Madison Ave pansies who'd have gotten their asses handed to them "back in the day." 385. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I found positive things about this year. Sonoma, Fontana, the best Bristol race in years, Truex and Vickers winning, Kurt Busch bringing a team like FRR to be competitive, Front Row 1 2 at Talladega and of course the Truck Series going from Strength to Strength becoming one of the best racing series in the world. 386. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well then here's a solution TeamPlayersBlue don't watch. Don't mean to sound like a jerk but just don't watch. Anyone who wants to complain about the same things every week just needs to watch something else then. I watched every lap and didn't get tired or fall asleep or whatever. I sat watched and enjoyed. We should be lucky we even have the freedoms to watch NASCAR racing. And I'm sorry but it's not 1992 anymore. The Gen6 car is in it's first year and I know it will get better over time. Compare 2008 to 2012, I think it was a BIG difference. 387. Anthony posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good job for Ryan Newman my friend Matthew is a fan of his &........ Jeff Gordon finally is on the the Top10 by a single point. 388. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) "Neal and TeamPlayersBlue, can't you guys find at least ONE positive thing about this race, or this year in general? Seeing all of these rants and negativity is annoying and somewhat childish." Honestly, I don't care if they hated this race or all the races. I've never been a fan of Martinsville and I know how well that opinion goes over here. Haha. But in general I am usually fairly easy to please when it comes to these races and I don't understand how people can make it through life being such negative curmudgeons. 389. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Don't watch? With this attitude NASCAR wont have any viewers by 2020. 390. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) Neal and TeamPlayersBlue, can't you guys find at least ONE positive thing about this race, or this year in general? Seeing all of these rants and negativity is annoying and somewhat childish. ---- I'd love to but I ran out of Kool-Aid a few years back and don't enjoy sticking my head in the sand and pretending everything's ok in NASCAR-ville. This series is in the toilet right now and the audience is ripe for IndyCar to pick if they can somehow get their heads out of their asses from an organizational standpoint. 391. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Overall I would give this race a 2. If Johnson had won it I would give it a 1 (yeah I'm childish and whiny and lame MStall41), but seeing a native son of Indiana was enough to push this race up to decent in my mind. 392. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll give ya something positive - the race at Eldora was a boon for NASCAR from a buzz perspective. We'll never see a dirt track in the Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series, but hopefully the race is a mainstay for the trucks. 393. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll give ya something positive - the race at Eldora was a boon for NASCAR from a buzz perspective. We'll never see a dirt track in the Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series, but hopefully the race is a mainstay for the trucks. 394. ch posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hendrick Powered Cars finished: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 22, 30 395. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Then why do guys keep watching and commentating when NASCAR is making you sick and miserable? 396. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sorry for the double. 397. JG24FanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Noteworthy fact: Harvick's 9 consecutive Top 10 streak is over. 398. I Love Japan posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:16 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I thought it was 2013, not 2003. Seeing Newman win is a blast from the past that gives me nostalgia 399. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2005 Brickyard 400: 280,000 2013 Brickyard 400: 70,000 2005 Daytona 500: 200,000 2015 Daytona 500: 101,000 (at most) 2005 Coca Cola 600: 165,000 2013 Coca Cola 600: 97,000 Facts suck. 400. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) I think NASCAR will be just fine. I have a great attitude. Is NASCAR racing as good as it once was. No, but like I said that's relative. It's still my favorite sport and my favorite racing series in the world. Be patient and give the GEN6 car a chance. They will tweak on it. IndyCar is rubbish. I can only watch the Indy 500 and that's it. F1, boring three cars have a chance to win follow the leader crap. NASCAR is the best form of racing still in my opinion. 401. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Ok...hold on, I've got the standard lines for the attendance decline. "It's the economy, stupid." "Hotels are overcharging." "Ticket prices are too high." "Even the NFL has had attendance declines." "Tracks overbuilt in the 90s." Now, if attendance were solely down due to the economy, prices, etc. where's the corresponding uptick in the ratings? Riddle me that. 402. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Attendance: 70,000 403. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "The Economy is bad", yet it seems Obama's 'evil socialism' has brought the stock market to record highs, unemployment is down and many state economies are improving. Yes, the states is still going through extreme struggles and many states/areas/industries are bad, but it's not 2009 and the economy excuse is wearing thin. 404. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree with I love Japan, it was really awesome seeing Newman shatter the track record, go out and dominate the race with Matt Borland at the helm. All you needed was a Dodge nose and a Black Alltel car and you would think it was 2003. 405. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes, those facts are true. The racing isn't as good as it once was, attendance is down, etc. I will give you that. I respect your opinions and your facts. I'm just saying that you guys just never seem to be happy with anything that happens. That's just my stance on the situation. 406. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) cjs3872, I think Gordon can get a 5th-12th place finish at each one of those tracks. Pocono will be around an 8th place finish, Watkins Glen Gordon has really improved since 2008-2009. He can get a solid 5th-8th place finish there. Michigan I think he can get a 9th-12th place finish. Bristol he can win or crash. That's one of the tracks I have my eye on. He will be really good at Atlanta. He can still win there despite not having overall speed. Richmond is the other one I'm worried about. He wasn't to great there despite finish 11th earlier in the year. He needs a little bit of a cushion heading into Richmond. I'd say at least 15-20 points ahead of 11th by Richmond and I'd be happy enough. 407. ch posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor changes: 9 - DeWalt / Stanley Tools (same for Charlotte / Pocono) 10 - GoDaddy.com 15 - RK Motors Charlotte (Same for Martinsville / Pocono and the #55 at Bristol / Sonoma) 16 - 3M Safety / SpeedGlas 18 - M&M's M-Prove America / Habitat For Humanity 21 - Motorcraft / Quick Lane / Henry Ford 150 Years 30 - Widow Wax 32 - OXY Water 33 - Mycogen Seeds / DOW Agriculture 39 - Quicken Loans / The Smurfs 2 78 - Furniture Row / Beautyrest 93 - Burger King Fire Grilled Rib Sandwich 408. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I've been happy many times this year when the racing was in fact good, it's just unfortunate to me that is now a minority instead of a majority of the time. NASCAR on road courses and Short tracks still produces some of the best racing in the world, so why don't we get more of that??? F1 was on the verge of death and collapse in 2004, they went through changes that were able to save the sport's competition and it's popularity. Can NASCAR do the same? I guess so. 409. richiesbx137 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) this race is doomed.... if its 70,000 IMS is in big trouble economy or not....they have to sell or lose the race...2008 had an impact and will cause to lose this race. 410. epzik8 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow, all three cautions were for slow cars. There weren't any wrecks or debris. I don't know how long it's been since there's been a race this clean. I think this is the lowest number of cautions a Cup race has had this season. 411. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sebastian Vettel seems like just as much of an emotionless juggernaut as Jimmie Johnson is and Michael Schumacher was. Having said that, I'll grant that the racing in Vettel's era is better than the racing in Schumacher's... 412. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (10) (0) On a lighter note the Associate Press's Jenna Fryer asked Newman why he didn't show much emotion after winning and he said "Ogres don't show much emotion, you know that." 413. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I thought NASCAR was done posting attendance figures. The track seemed pretty empty but 70,000 seems a bit low. 414. Neal posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes, those facts are true. The racing isn't as good as it once was, attendance is down, etc. I will give you that. I respect your opinions and your facts. I'm just saying that you guys just never seem to be happy with anything that happens. That's just my stance on the situation. --- I want change. Real change. Not this "here's our new chassis now shut up and like it" change. Yeah then Gen 6 looks spiffy, and it's faster than the COT car, but better overall? Not hardly. It'll probably be marginally better come this time next year, but will it be enough to close the aero gap between the leader and the rest of the field? No. NASCAR has got to get over this fixation with front-end aero and tell Goodyear to grow some balls and build a softer tire. 415. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Indianapolis Star has posted estimated attendance at Indianapolis since the 1980s for every series except F1. Daytona news do the same with DIS. CMS announces figures over the radio. Darlington does the same as CMS. The others don't bother. 416. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The 2010 fall race at Fontana was very good. 417. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) @408 "NASCAR on road courses and Short tracks still produces some of the best racing in the world" ...wtf am i reading 418. richiesbx137 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) question if the attendance figure from the star or the track....I felt it was more than 70,000 and also what was the total attendance for the super weekend...Which I think it will be in trouble as well. 419. Hank1469 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:42 pm Rate this comment: (3) (12) Racing will always be popular so stop bitching about it. Half of the post on this site are dumb. Some of you people have no life! To type all this info down in the middle of a race makes me wonder just how much of the race are you watching? There are about 6 to 8 people that post on this site that must be at home drawing a check, no working person has that much free time. Get a job! 420. FHgrad99 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:42 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) It's a refreshing thing to see a race with NO start and parks. 421. Casey Hayes posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I really don't think attendance went down to 70,000 for this race. That is a dramatic drop to the 125,000 a year ago. 422. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, Webmaster I'm about 99.99999% certain that the race title should include "At the Brickyard" in it. 423. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) OK whoever said 70,000 as the attendance please post your link because doing searches on both Google and the Indianapolis Star website produces no such number as the attendance for this race that I can find. 424. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Posted on November 17 2013 The one positive thing I can say about this season is that it's over. 425. Rick Scott posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Congrats to Ryan Newman!! He deserved it! HOWS THAT KYLE BUSCH!!!! 426. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Doing a search on Twitter tells me that none of the big NASCAR writers have mentioned this 70,000 figure either (Fryer, Gluck, Ryan, Pockrass, Pistone, etc.) Say what you want about the NASCAR media, but those 5 in particular are usually very honest. 427. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Newman!!! 428. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Fryer did, so did Gluck, are you blind? 429. Sean posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And honest is not the first word I would use to describe Pete Pistone. 430. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Fryer did, so did Gluck, are you blind?" So they did. I stand corrected. 431. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) " 419. Hank1469 posted: 07.28.2013 - 5:42 pm Racing will always be popular so stop bitching about it. Half of the post on this site are dumb. Some of you people have no life! To type all this info down in the middle of a race makes me wonder just how much of the race are you watching? There are about 6 to 8 people that post on this site that must be at home drawing a check, no working person has that much free time. Get a job! " Hey, dumbass, I'm a Dean's list student at one of the most prestigious schools in the world studying to be a scientist. I'm on my summer break, and I DO have a life. Even during the summer's I'm researching. 432. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First, it looked to me as if there were far more than 70,000 there today. In fact, the main grandstands looked fuller than it has for this race in two or three years. Then there's the factor of how many just stay in the infield and never have any intention of sitting in the grandstand area. But if I had to guess, I'd say there were about 100,000-120,000 there today. And I hate to belabor this point, but they can't com close to selling out the Indianapolis 500 any more, and at the rate that race is going, they may have trouble getting more than 150,000 for the Indianapolis 500 in a few years time. And BON GORDON, Jeff Gordon might run 7th-12th at the next 2-3 races, but that might not be good enough to keep him in the top ten in points. Remember that Tony Stewart is just one point behind him, and Truex and Keselowski are within easy reach, even if he runs in that 7th-12th the next three races. But at Watkins Glen, you also have to remember one thing. That's a road course, and strategy plays a big part there, and he has probably the worst crew chief I've seen in my years of watching the sport when it comes to calling a race. Alan Gustafson might cost Gordon 20-30 points just on his bad pit calls, never mind the lack of speed in Gordon's cars, which I partly attribute to Gordon's unwillingness to take chances on restarts, and partially due to their long run setups, which will get Gordon so far behind at Pocono and Michigan that they'll never catch up. Those are the main reasons why I say he has to jut hang on through Michigan, because that team's stronger tracks come after Michigan. 433. richiesbx137 posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I looked at a twitter and its 70,000 but cjs3872 is right it had to be way more than 70,000. I think 100,000 to 120,000 is about the right number....probably no more than that. As for this race Ryan Newman won this race and outsmarted the 48...Popular win regardless how people view it. He won I believe two of the four (or five) grand slam events.... 434. BON GORDON posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We will see CJS3872, Stewart, Keselowski, and Truex haven't been perfect this year either. I'd be worried about Brad more than the other two. But guys like Biffle and Kahne have been inconsistent. Jeff Gordon I felt had a better car than Kahne but lost track position when team 24 decided to stay out and not pit and played catch up the rest of the race. Alan Gustafson isn't a great race strategist but is a great mechanic and understands Gordon and his race car better than Letarte did. If Gordon keeps getting solid finishes like today he'll be fine. No more races outside of the Top 10 or 12! 435. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:36 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) No matter how you slice it, NASCAR is in trouble. They are on a sustained downward slide that shows no signs of stopping. We are briefly saved by the 48 winning and Ryan's feel good win (wow, did I just say "Newman" and "feel good win?" although I did feel good for Bodine's 1996 Bud At The Glen now let's never speak of that again). But the 48 is in a class by their selves. Only an epic chase collapse will stop them. And the fans simply turn the channel when he has success. With his success inevitable, people are tuning out by the minute. Throw in bad racing, unlike able personalities, and DanicaMania already running on fumes, this sport needs to be totally reimagined. Period. 436. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) You said it DSFF there is no light at the end of the tunnel for NA$CAR. 437. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) BON GORDON, I'm not sure I agree that Gustafson knows Gordon and his car better than Letarte did, and I go back to something I mentioned a few days ago. In three of Letarte's last four years as Gordon's crew chief, he had Gordon either leading the championship or battling for the lead (led in '07, 2nd in '09, and 2nd in '10), and never were they lower than sixth in points entering the Brickyard 400 from 2007-'10, including in 2008. In the three years Gustafson has been his crew chief, Gordon's got off to terrible starts, and only in 2011 were they even in the top ten entering this race, and it took a king-sized rally to get there then. It's also true that Biffle, Kahne, and Truex have been inconsistent, but they all have something that Gordon doesn't have, and likely won't have when the Chase field is set, and that is a win. So even if one or more of them are outside the top ten, at least they're eligible for a Wild Card. Believe me, guys like Gordon and Keselowski would have preferred to see Jimmie Johnson win today because Newman's win actually hurts their chances because Newman becomes the third driver outside the top ten to win a race this year. But with Biffle and Kahne both having won and teetering on the edge of the top ten and Stewart, Truex, and now Newman being outside the top ten, but with a win, Gordon and Keselowski can not afford any more mistakes, or they'll probably fall out of Chase contention. There's a lot more pressure on Gordon and Keselowski than there is on any other driver in and around the Chase bubble, because they don't have a win to fall back on, while the others do. But Biffle's rapid fall in the points does open up one more spot than there was when this race began, because now there are three spots at the bottom of the top ten now available, instead of two. This race changed the dynamic of getting into the Chase in more ways than one. 438. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:02 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) "Racing will always be popular so stop bitching about it. Half of the post on this site are dumb. Some of you people have no life! To type all this info down in the middle of a race makes me wonder just how much of the race are you watching? There are about 6 to 8 people that post on this site that must be at home drawing a check, no working person has that much free time. Get a job!" If you have enough time to read the "dumb posts" on here then doesn't that mean you have "no life" too? I spend a lot of time posting the comments on my mobile devices when I am on the go, so does that mean I have no life? Like NicoRosbergFan, I am always busy with school from September-May so having the time to post comments this summer is the exception rather than the rule for me. 439. M11 posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:05 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) DSFF, you sound ridiculous. I'm not sure how you can say fans are tuning out by the minute when the past two races have seen year to year increases in TV ratings. If NASCAR is so horribly doomed why do you even bother watching? Seems rather counterintuitive to watch something if its just going to get your panties in a perpetual wad every week. Your dooming and glooming sounds unintelligible and benefits no one. 440. Horan posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:15 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I enjoyed the race. Great battle between the 39 and 48. Looking forward to Pocono. 441. Team22 posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:16 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) best brickyard 400 since '07 442. KKahneFan5Forever posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think NASCAR should ditch the front splitter, would help passing. Still a pretty good race today. Better than last 2 years for sure. Gen 6 > Gen 5 443. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:23 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Honestly, DSFF when NASCAR's ratings fall below 1 million viewers and attendance falls below 10,000 then we'll talk about how doomed NASCAR is. As long as NASCAR still turns a profit it'll be around. NASCAR, ISC, and SMI are each still bringing in hundred of millions of dollars per year at this point. That's nowhere near the near collapse you seem to be predicting. Do you really think NBC would have have just spent $4 billion, outbidding sports mega-channel ESPN in the process, if the sport was dying? No because if it was dying it would only have depreciative value and would be a terrible investment of that money. Start looking at things from a business point of view and you'd realize things are nowhere near as bad as you say. 444. MStall41 posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:30 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Hmmm, I actually agree with every word Zachary just said. That's startling. The ridiculous "OMG THE SPORT IS DYING" comments are pure comedy. I immediately disregard that person's opinion when I see that kind of tin foil hat crap. The Gen 6 needs work, and NASCAR will continue to work on it. I think the racing has been an improvement on a lot of tracks and kind of just the same on others. It's going to get better. People need to stop assuming everything will be fixed overnight and let NASCAR and the teams work stuff out. It'll take time but I think we're getting there. No need to rant about the fall of the sport every week, that solves nothing. Look for something positive and you'll be happier. All things considered, I thought today's race was decent. Some interesting strategies at the end and there was some good racing at points. Decent stuff and much improved over last years race here. 445. 12345Dude posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I missed New Hampshire and Indianapolis..two upset winners. ""And as for the poor quality in the racing overall in the Cup Series, since we know it's mainly from aerodynamics, there's really nothing NASCAR can do other than slow the cars down."" No it's not CJS. It's these awful tracks. Add IRP, Iowa, Montreal (they talk 24/7 about how important the Canadian market is to them), and Eldora to the sprint cup schedule. Eldora: 32 car field (I would only have 36 car fields for the other races, which would add prestige to the drivers that are in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series (that they really are the best drivers in the world), increase talent in nationwide series, and get rid of the start and parks that NEVER try #19 team, or #98 that tries once a year except for this year there trying twice a year. Before start and parking became popular again the same team ran 5-7 races a year. That was right when the team was created. And get rid of all these cookie cutters or other really, really boring tracks that aren't in KEY markets. 446. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Hmmm, I actually agree with every word Zachary just said. That's startling." If you want to get back to normalcy, just go read post 391. 447. YoungSteeze posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) This was a fun race to watch. The pit strategies at the end spiced things up. Cool to see Newman win too. 448. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:48 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) I'm not one of those who says or thinks that Nascar will go "belly up" or whatever in the next 20 years, but I do think they have fallen tremendously as a sanctioning body over the last 5 or 6 years, and they just seem to keep falling even further. They're wildly inconsistent with their on-track rules, lately they've been doing just a pathetic job with the inspection process, and though there weren't any faux cautions or anything in today's race (which was nice for a change), when I watch these races I just can't help but get the feeling that they are up to no good in the control tower most of the time. I guess since Brainless Brian and His Stooges won't listen to us, the only thing we can do is hope for SOME sort of changes over the next couple years. I'm trying to remain as optimistic as I can about the future (the "F1 was almost dead in 2004 but eventually came back strong" point that was made earlier gives me some hope), but it is REALLY hard sometimes to stay positive, given some of the stuff that's been happening with Nascar recently. 449. 18fan posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree with you murb. While the on-track product is not as good as a lot of fans would like it to be, but NASCAR's inconsistent rulings on everything lately have caused the sanctioning body to lose some creditability. 450. MStall41 posted: 07.28.2013 - 7:58 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) I get what TeamPlayersBlue was getting at with his "F1 almost died in 2004" comment, but lets be real here, F1 wasn't even remotely close to dying that year. NASCAR will turn around, much like F1 did. It's funny how quickly people forget how great the 2011 Cup season was. I distinctly remember some people on this very board in the 2011 Ford 400 thread saying that 2011 was "one of the best seasons ever", and many were praising NASCAR and saying it had momentum and whatnot. My point of course is that it will only take a few good races strung together for people to start singing NASCAR's praises again, much like it only takes a few crappy races for people to start with the "NASCAR is dying" stuff. Seriously guys, patience is a virtue. The Gen 6 will get there. NASCAR will eventually stumble onto something that boosts the racing quality. Everything changes in time. 451. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I get what TeamPlayersBlue was getting at with his "F1 almost died in 2004" comment, but lets be real here, F1 wasn't even remotely close to dying that year." Yeah I don't remember when the second most popular sanctioned sport in the WORLD, behind FIFA soccer, was anywhere near dying. IndyCar has been A LOT worse off, for A LOT longer than NASCAR and I'll be honest I haven't checked since May, but I'm almost certain IndyCar is still around 452. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Glad to see Ryan Newman win. He won the 20th running of the Brickyard 400 today, which goes nicely with his win in the 50th Daytona 500. Not too shabby. This should definitely help him in his search for a ride. 453. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danny Sullivan and Robin Miller just said it best. 454. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Danny Sullivan and Robin Miller just said it best." You say that and then don't tell us what they said, which does us no good if what they said was so insightful. 455. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's that NASCAR and much of it's fans really don't care how good the racing is. Danny also suggested wisely that stock cars at this track have always struggled, and for every series the track has been single grove since the loss of the Apron at IMS. 456. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "Racing will always be popular so stop bitching about it. Half of the post on this site are dumb. Some of you people have no life! To type all this info down in the middle of a race makes me wonder just how much of the race are you watching? There are about 6 to 8 people that post on this site that must be at home drawing a check, no working person has that much free time. Get a job!" No life? Buddy, I may be homeschooled, but I'm at least as busy as everyone else on here, and maybe more than some. I'm a brown belt in karate, I play the drums for a band, and I've performed in theatrical plays (getting paid for one or two of those shows, I might add). Does that still spell out "no life" to you? 457. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Racing will always be popular" Not Horse racing, which once upon a time was more popular in America than NASCAR is/was at it's prime. "Get a Job" I have one, thanks, and certainly make a lot more than the average NASCAR Bubba. 458. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) "If NASCAR is so horribly doomed why do you even bother watching? Seems rather counterintuitive to watch something if its just going to get your panties in a perpetual wad every week. Your dooming and glooming sounds unintelligible and benefits no one." First off, I feel like I have given some really good reasons to be worried for the future of the sport. Did you see the stands? It's been within the last 10 years the place was damn near full every year. It was barely 1/3 full this year despite the absolutely gorgeous late July weather. And this is happening everywhere. Attendance isn't just "declining", it is falling off the map. Did you see the crowd for this year's Coke 600? I went to that race in 2004 (9 years ago) and had to sit in the East Grandstand, which is that little concrete section of grandstands that go along the back straightaway which have long since been replaced with more luxurious corporate seating. That was packed that year with a bunch of working class racing fans, as was the Diamond Tower (that huge section of grandstands that hover over Turn 2) as well as the seats in the middle of Turns 1&2 which have been replaced with RV parking. Not only have they had to raze entire sections of grandstands, the Diamond Tower was all but empty. And what about the entire backstretch seating at Daytona for the 400? The huge sections of Dover's seating covered by sponsor's tarps? The backstretch seats at Martinsville? And what about Bristol? Used to be the toughest ticket to get, now barely half full. These aren't minor bumps in the road, these are major holes! And I keep watching because I love stock car racing, or at least what stock car racing used to be and keep holding out hope it will be that much fun again one day. Is it probably foolish to feel that way? Yeah. But it is hard to describe how obsessed with NASCAR I was throughout my youth. Maybe I do need to just let go, but seeing that old footage of Rusty hounding Dale at Indy in '95, just the CHANCE I'll have half that much fun watching NASCAR again one day keeps me coming back. 459. Bronco posted: 07.28.2013 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First time that all 43 cars were listed as running at the finish since the 2008 fall Richmond race. 460. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Todays race was probably the best race at Indy since the introduction of the COT platform, but still nothing like it was in the pre-aero monster years (1994-1995) or the pre-last resurfacing years (1996-2004). It had it's enjoyable peaks (strategy mix-ups & Newman) and unenjoyable valleys (Johnson & clean air being like having two extra cylinders or a turbocharger/supercharger under the hood) Congrats to Newman on his feel good win from the pole at his home track. Hopefully he can secure a ride with a decent team like RCR next year. Glad for the good day for Stewart-Haas Racing with Newman picking up the win from the pole, Smoke qualifying and finishing really solid, and Danica..... didn't wreck? I was shocked to hear Jimmie man up to his past chokes over the season in his post race interview after spending months blaming everything but himself for them. I don't think NASCAR is dying but they sure have fallen a long way from the mountain they were once on. IndyCar, MLB & NHL have basically tried committing suicide over and over again for the past 20 years and they are still around so I'm pretty sure NASCAR will still be around in 20 years (a certain lower NASCAR sanctioned series on the other hand...) The Gen 6 is a step in the right direction, but it is a baby step and NASCAR is too stubborn to make a bigger step. It has improved the racing on tracks 1 mile and below, tracks that mostly didn't really need improving. But it has done virtually nothing to to improve the racing on the tracks that needed the most, the 1.5 mile and above. They need to get the damn splitter/nose off the track (and penalize the hell out any team that messes with the shocks to get it back on the track), dirty up the aerodynamics a bit adding drag & stop letting Goodyear be lazy and make them come up with a tire that isn't a 100+ lap hockey puck. I give this race a 6/10 461. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The East Grandstand is covered up by Tarp right now. My seats I had for 12 years in season tickets (gave it up in 07) in turn 1/2 have demolished for RV parking. 462. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anyway, I'm excited to be able to go to another Houston Texans game. This time it's against the London, er, I mean Jacksonville Jaguars on November 24th. :D 463. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) "No life? Buddy, I may be homeschooled, but I'm at least as busy as everyone else on here, and maybe more than some. I'm a brown belt in karate, I play the drums for a band, and I've performed in theatrical plays (getting paid for one or two of those shows, I might add). Does that still spell out "no life" to you? " Homeschooling rocks! 464. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) But TeamPlayersBlue, let's remember a few things about the old apron. First, there were the skew of horrible crashes at Indy in 1992, which were made worse by running on the apron. But when NASCAR had their tire test there later that year, it was obvious that they had to change the track in the corners or they would tear up the edge of the grass every year, because that's where they ran during that test. And let's also not forget that someone was probably going to get run over exiting the pits because there was no safety area for those getting up to speed, because the apron they were using had now become a big part of the racing groove. In fact, it was so bad that USAC threatened to penalize drivers one lap for running and passing on the apron, something they actually followed through on during the 1991 Indianapolis 500 when thy penalized Mario Andretti one full lap for running down there, because USAC and IMS wanted drivers to run the track the way it was originally intended to be run, which was why they threatened, and then followed through on penalizing drivers for running on the apron, because they were using that as the racing groove more and more as he years went by, and finally USAC had to go through with that unprecedented action in the 1991 Indy race. And in turn four, they were beginning to run two and three lanes below the white line, so something had to be done to get the drivers to run the track the way it was intended to be run. Look at an old Indianapolis 500 before 1989 and you'll see that the apron was rarely, if ever used as part of the racing groove, but from 1989-'92, they used it practically all the time. In short, I was not only a good move to get rid of the apron, but a necessary one because of the safety implications. The IndyCar guys like Robin Miller and Danny Sullivan tell you one side of the story, but they don't tell the whole story. And remember that Sullivan was a part of the 1996 Brickyard 400 broadcast when NASCAR was threatening to penalize drivers for running on the edge of the grass, and he even brought up what USAC had done in regards to threatening to penalize drivers for running on the apron. If they had kept the track as it was, guys would be literally run over exiting the pits, and there would be grass thrown up from the edge of the track every year because the racing groove had moved down to the edge of the grass. 465. Bronco posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (6) (5) "Hey, dumbass, I'm a Dean's list student at one of the most prestigious schools in the world studying to be a scientist. I'm on my summer break, and I DO have a life. Even during the summer's I'm researching." Is your ego really THAT fragile? Does it make you feel like a big shot to brag about your super important life to a bunch of people you've never even met? NRF, you are pathetic. 466. Xrated posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) For a two-time Nationwide champion, it's pretty remarkable that Stenhouse hasn't scored even a single top ten finish through 20 races. I know Roush has fallen a bit, but that's pretty bad. Other than Kansas, he really hasn't even been in contention. Maybe he wants to hang out in the rear and keep his girlfriend company. 467. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "For a two-time Nationwide champion, it's pretty remarkable that Stenhouse hasn't scored even a single top ten finish through 20 races. I know Roush has fallen a bit, but that's pretty bad. Other than Kansas, he really hasn't even been in contention. Maybe he wants to hang out in the rear and keep his girlfriend company." NASCAR is probably paying Ricky to tank this season so they can give Danica the Rookie of the Year honors. 468. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Apparently Carl Edwards suggested that NASCAR remove the front splitter and decrease the spoiler to help the racing. On another note, I found a really funny video pertaining to Jimmie Johnson (warning, LOT'S of language though!) youtube.com/watch?v=G6dGILOOgIY 469. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) "Is your ego really THAT fragile? Does it make you feel like a big shot to brag about your super important life to a bunch of people you've never even met? NRF, you are pathetic." 1. I was responding to our neighborhood troll. 2. This website has about 1560 times the dirt on you than it has on me. 470. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) I'm seriously thinking of abandoning NASCAR once this season ends. 471. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) I think this season has reduced us to a bunch of whining, bickering, little children. 472. murb posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hey guys, it would be awesome if these Nascar.com style personal insults could stop. It is a major pain in the ass to see those types of comments on the world's greatest racing forum and the best kept secret in motorsports media. 473. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Homeschooling rocks!" I went to Catholic school my entire (even though I do not consider myself a Roman Catholic) life in Mobile, Alabama until going to Auburn, but during that time I met a lot of people who homeschooled their children (usually through 8th grade and then they would send them to the Catholic high school, but some did it all the way through high school) and a lot of their children were almost always smarter than the those of us who weren't homeschooled. The only problem I have ever seen is that a lot of homeshooled kids have a problem being social when it comes to interacting with people in person. Not saying NicoRosbergFan or Long Shot are like that, but it's what I observed. NicoRosbergFan, do you go to an Ivy League school? I like discussing college with people. Even if I was smart to go to one of those I don't think I would have. An SEC school like Auburn represents everything I love...great food, nice people, Christianity, GORGEOUS WOMEN, college football. Oh yeah, and a little thing thing called NASCAR. 474. Chives5150 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, sorry about instigating that whole debacle, guys. I usually just lurk here most of the time and don't really post a lot. It was just one of those heat of the moment type things that was really agitating me at the time. No hard feelings. 475. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) "NicoRosbergFan, do you go to an Ivy League school? I like discussing college with people. Even if I was smart to go to one of those I don't think I would have. An SEC school like Auburn represents everything I love...great food, nice people, Christianity, GORGEOUS WOMEN, college football. Oh yeah, and a little thing thing called NASCAR." No, but I do go to one of the most prestigious schools in the whole American South. My school is more on par with MIT or Yale though where you're either at my school because you're either damned smart or damned rich. 476. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "On another note, I found a really funny video pertaining to Jimmie Johnson (warning, LOT'S of language though!) youtube.com/watch?v=G6dGILOOgIY" Sounds like the same rant I went on after Hamlin choked and after Kevin "I'll do anything to win this championship" Harvick proceeded to intentionally crash... an out of contention Kyle Busch. 477. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Well, sorry about instigating that whole debacle, guys. I usually just lurk here most of the time and don't really post a lot. It was just one of those heat of the moment type things that was really agitating me at the time. No hard feelings." You didn't do anything wrong. No need apologize, everyone has points of view and almost no two are exactly the same. What I hate is the select few of posters on here who think their points of view are more correct than other people's. That's what get annoying about this site sometimes, even though I do love it. 478. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "No, but I do go to one of the most prestigious schools in the whole American South." I think I know where you go, but if you're uncomfortable revealing it I won't say what my speculation is. 479. cjs3872 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:48 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @468, what they should really do is to slow these cars down about 15 MPH, because if they slow the cars down, the racing groove might widen because they won't have to use so much of the track. I agree that they should take some off the rear spoiler, but if they get rid of the splitter, the teams will just run softer front springs and shocks to get the front downforce back to where they can lay the front ends on the ground. One thing the early Brickyard 400s had that recent editions haven't had is drafting. They couldn't use it to pass, but the trailing cars could use the draft to stay closer. I just watched part of the 1996 race, and the top six cars stayed within a second of each other for practically an entire fuel run. The difference was that they were running 168-170 in the race as compared to about 180. If they slow the cars down, it will make for much better racing. This was a point Tom Sneva was making emphatically as far back as the late 1970s when it came to IndyCar racing. If you slow the cars down, the racing will improve. The pole speed for this race was almost as fast as Johnny Rutherford ran in 1976 when he won the pole and the race (his pole speed was 188.957 MPH), and those cars had aerodynamic devices. If they slow these cars to about 170 (at Indy), you'll see better racing there. 480. MStall41 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @Benjamin_Lowe I am willing to bet any sum of money that you continue watching after this season. 481. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Go ahead and make a list of schools you think are "possible" answers, with the one you think I go to in it, and I will let you know if it's in the list. Don't make it obvious, like having one Saskatchewan school amongst 12 California schools though. 482. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "if they get rid of the splitter, the teams will just run softer front springs and shocks to get the front downforce back to where they can lay the front ends on the ground." If they got rid of the splitters why couldn't NASCAR also make a rule outlawing softer front springs and shocks? 483. TS1420 posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ""if they get rid of the splitter, the teams will just run softer front springs and shocks to get the front downforce back to where they can lay the front ends on the ground." If they got rid of the splitters why couldn't NASCAR also make a rule outlawing softer front springs and shocks?" Like I said earlier. Get rid of the splitter, get the nose off the track and give out the same engine/fuel/tire tampering death penalty to teams that mess with the shocks/springs. 484. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 9:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) OK NicoRosbergFan in alphabetical order I'll list 10: Auburn (hey it has to be on this list) College of William and Mary Emory University Rice Spring Hill College UGA UVA Vanderbilt Virginia Tech Washington & Lee 485. Benjamin Lowe posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) DSFF: Brad Keselowski is a fraud he doesn't care about anyone other than himself and one day you will see through him just like you saw through Carl Edwards. 486. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) want to know NASCARs problem? simple its just too big NASCAR has been around for 65 years, in that time its gone through one hell of an evolution probably more than Baseball has in 141 years, and Football in 120 years(?)(please fact-check me on both of those)NASCAR has evolved from buying a car at your local new-car dealership and tuning the engine and going on to win, those days have been over for 40+ years. according to many fans(whom are old enough to be our grandparents) that's what NASCAR needs to go back to, we can debate all day if they are right or not. Society has also evolved (again, we can debate it for the good or the bad) we're now living on a 5 minute news cycle, our action movies have to have explosions every 5 minutes, as one of these idiots like this I think im allowed to make fun of these people. since everyone has a 5 minute attention span (guilty) we don't have time to sit down and watch a race for 4 hours, especially one much of the quality of today or Daytona. and Society today is saying "its ok to have a 5 minute attention span" my parents taught me better, they told me to grow up and sit still and that I need to change to satisfy my elders, my elders don't need to de-evolve to suit me. also, NASCAR fans are the most negatively stereotyped fans in sports, we all fit a certain stereotype and if we publicly say we like NASCAR we're shunned. its more acceptable to be an unwed mother living off the government than it is to be a NASCAR fan (again, my last 2 girlfriends were single mothers) my point is NASCAR has 3 or 4 generations of people to satisfy, its trying to bring young people into the sport so its actually "selling out" to make us young people happy and sadly to make young people happy involves angering the loyal fans to bring "fans" in. with NBC investing Billions of dollars into NASCAR it must have something, if it loses ratings before 2024 yes, we all like short tracks, but the cookie cutters bring in more fans, more fans means more money and a bigger purse, these cars cost $200,000 each, NASCAR is doing everyone a favor. sadly its hurting them in the long run, but please, please give them credit for trying to help the teams, please? Will Constntatly bringing 70,000 fans help the track and NASCAR turn a profit? I don't know, we don't know those numbers aren't revealed to us. and with NASCAR being so big and having so many traditions it got too big and is trying to fix itself, problem goes back to its trying to fix itself because it got too big, to do that involves everything that I covered in this rant or whatever the hell I just typed 487. 12345Dude posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) Zackary who really cares what school he goes to? For all we know he could be living with him Mom. On the internet you can make up any lie you want. There is no way to prove anything. Unless he was to take a picture of himself at the school, and it's summer vacation. So unless there are summer class, he can make up any school he wants. 488. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Zackary who really cares what school he goes to? For all we know he could be living with him Mom. On the internet you can make up any lie you want. There is no way to prove anything. Unless he was to take a picture of himself at the school, and it's summer vacation. So unless there are summer class, he can make up any school he wants." I care because, as I said earlier, discussing college is something I'm interested in and in particular the level of education among NASCAR fans interests me becuase of all the negative stereotypes that surround NASCAR fans (uneducated, white trash, etc.). NicoRosbergFan and myself are the only two who ever bring it up on here. And maybe I'm gullible, but I tend to take people at their word until proven otherwise. I can guarantee you 100% I am a junior at Auburn University majoring in Political Science and Communication with an interest in law enforcement after I graduate. I'll even go as far as to tell you my student number in 903091935. I'm not lying and I have no reason to suspect he is. 489. The Long Shot posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:25 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "The only problem I have ever seen is that a lot of homeshooled kids have a problem being social when it comes to interacting with people in person. Not saying NicoRosbergFan or Long Shot are like that, but it's what I observed." Zackary, I think everybody on the site is a bit awkward socially, because, if you haven't noticed, we're all nerds. That being said, most homeschoolers that I've met come from extremely reclusive Christian families, which should at least partially explain why they're very socially awkward. (And for the record, I am not Christian, but my feeling is "live and let believe", so if you don't criticize my beliefs, I won't criticize yours. No hard feelings, okay?) 490. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Zackary, I think everybody on the site is a bit awkward socially, because, if you haven't noticed, we're all nerds. That being said, most homeschoolers that I've met come from extremely reclusive Christian families, which should at least partially explain why they're very socially awkward. (And for the record, I am not Christian, but my feeling is "live and let believe", so if you don't criticize my beliefs, I won't criticize yours. No hard feelings, okay?)" Well....I would hardly call myself a nerd so speak for yourself...HAHA. And nothing against people who are nerds, I'm just saying I'm not into stuff that would typically be considered nerdy (I don't really play video games except for NASCAR and football, for example.) And even though I don't agree with a "live and let live" life philosophy since I find it inconsistent with Christianity, I would never have hard feelings towards anyone over religion since I never know people's full story as long as they respected my beliefs. That's especially true on a NASCAR website. 491. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) And for the record, I don't think being a nerd and knowing a lot about auto racing is necessarily the nail in the social coffin that some people think it is. There are a lot of girls here at Auburn who come off as really nerdy when you talk to them, but are very involved on campus and are in sororities and stuff like that. Honestly, I'd rather date a girl like that, then one of those who pretends to be stupid. Besides is auto racing really that nerdy? It seems like one of the most masculine things there could possibly be. 492. Anonymous posted: 07.28.2013 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Denny Hamlin just called himself the face of Joe Gibbs Racing.... "He needs surgery to fix the bulging discs, and some observers have called for Hamlin to give up on his longshot Chase hopes and have the procedure done now to make sure he has enough time to heal before 2014. But Hamlin told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday he plans to "tough it out" for the rest of the year. "It's tough because there are no backups in our sport," he said while relaxing in his motorhome before qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm the face of our team  the (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) team, FedEx, everyone  so you can't just insert another player for the rest of the year and have no one know the difference." 493. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR: for White Trash and uneducated rednecks that's why a Perdue Grad won todays race! 494. jabber1990 posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was obviously being sarcastic, but I want to use that logic on somebody!!! 495. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "NASCAR: for White Trash and uneducated rednecks that's why a Perdue Grad won todays race!" The people who think those things are so stuck in their ways they aren't about to let their points of view be dictated by facts. You know something that's funny is that I have at least two friends who have thought negatively about NASCAR and I managed to get them cheap tickets to Talladega (which is about as stereotypical as you can get as far as NASCAR is concerned) last year and you know what? They loved it! Also, there is this very, very cute girl I go to school with who is a NASCAR fan and has gone to Dega two years in a year and she's the definition of class, not trash. 496. 83andJoe posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) >1985-1997, which I would call the glory days. Agreed. The aero push started becoming an issue in 1995 but the real problems didn't start until 1998 with the introduction of the Taurus... >The people who think those things are so stuck in their ways they aren't about to let their points of view be dictated by facts. "Don't confuse me with the facts" is the attitude of lots of people like that, alas. >I think NASCAR should ditch the front splitter, would help passing. They can't, at least not by itself. The splitter is an ugly monstrosity but it was instigated for a reason: because teams were running front springs made from Jell-O so that they would pass the height sticks in inspection but have the front end dip down glued to the track in the race. Those shenanigans are what led to the splitter: you could scrape away the air dam just fine (you'd just keep getting squished down by the springs to compensate) but if you scrape off the splitter you're toast. Now, if there was a way to either mandate a specific front spring strength and have that be enforcable, or use a technique like F1 did in the 1990s for dealing with the exact same scenario*, then you could get rid of the splitter. * Teams ran ultra-soft suspensions to get their cars glued to the track under load but still pass the height test. The FIA's best brains came up with a counter: a simple plank of wood bolted under the car. If after the race more than a certain amount of leeway had been shaved off the plank, and you didn't have extenuating suspension damage, you got DQ'd, no questions asked. I think they still use it. 497. 12345Dude posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm sorry for my comments earlier guys, you do seem like good guys. I don't know..maybe I'm just a sceptic. I'm the only talking about living at with your mom as an adult, so that probably makes me bad. On another note this is for everyone that is saying nascar is going to "belly up" In the span of eight days, while the rest of the stock car racing world was taking some rare down time, the NASCAR boss not only announced a huge shakeup in this sport's competition/R&D department but followed that with a blockbuster $4.2 (B) billion 10-year TV deal with NBC, through 2024. This year already he's padded this sport's bank accounts with a guaranteed $420-million-plus per year for nearly the next decade. On top of the $2.4 (B) billion eight-year deal he signed just last fall with Fox, which is $23 (M) million a race weekend, or about $300 (M) million a year through 2022. And whoever wants those last three Sprint Cup tour weekends still unsigned, well, that looks like another $70 (M) million a year yet to come. That looks like about $800 (M) million a year till well into the next decade, and that's before a single ticket or hot dog or Coke is sold. Yes: one word: Wow! NASCAR gets 10 percent of all that. The tracks (owned principally by the France family and the Bruton Smith family) get 65 percent. The 40-some stock car teams (principally some 10 owners) get to share the other 25 percent. Yeah, yeah, sluggish TV ratings for a couple of years now, grandstands less than full and sellouts a too distant memory, and on-track action, well, rather mediocre most weekends.... But France just blew a big kiss at those naysayers who worried that in this next major TV deal, his third, he would have to settle for less money than when the sport was riding so high. Bada-bing, bada-boom. You guys are right, this might be the very end of NASCAR. In the next 20 years it might be done. 498. 12345Dude posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) *that probably makes me look bad (1st paragraph) And guys that's 23 million dollars per race! And that's just the FOX deal. You guys really think NASCAR is going to die in the next 20 year!? 499. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wouldn't say Brad is a "fraud". I can understand not liking him, but how can a guy who talks so much, often controversially be a "fraud"? Although I like him a lot, I can certainly understand why people wouldn't like him. A blowhard? Yes. A fraud? No. 500. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.28.2013 - 11:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I know this doesn't have anything to do with this race, but if I posted elsewhere no one would ever see it. Say what you want about Marty Reid, but I was just found a video of the conclusion of the 2010 Aaron's 312 and I couldn't help but get a really good laugh out of just how incoherent his commentating was just in those short two laps. My favorite zinger of his from that race: "Heeeeeeeeee's got trouble now!" Said as Keselowski was moving up to pass Harvick on the last lap. Honestly, me typing doesn't do it justice. I was literally laughing out loud. 501. Jim Davis posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I care because, as I said earlier, discussing college is something I'm interested in and in particular the level of education among NASCAR fans interests me becuase of all the negative stereotypes that surround NASCAR fans (uneducated, white trash, etc.)." For the record my undergraduate years were spent at Ohio State and my graduate years at Georgia Tech. 502. Anthony posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well Done to Reutimann for beating Danica!! 503. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:47 am Rate this comment: (2) (1) All wrong Zachary Shawn. In fact, I go to this dinky little school called Florida Tech. But is it fun! 504. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) NASCAR def of "kissing the bricks": to rub one's nose on the yard of bricks after winning Actual def of "kissing the bricks": to die 505. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 486, Generally I think NASCAR issue is that it's fanbase is dying. Literally, if you look at NASCAR's ratings in the 18-49 and 18-34 category they're very low and have been decreasing at an even faster rate than the overall ratings in recent years. NASCAR's average fan age was even older than that of baseball, which has always been considered to do well in the 40 plus category. Most young people today either don't care or think it's boring, and can you blame them. The most popular NASCAR Youtube feature is a video series by a user who 'trolls' the typically 'Redneck' players of NASCAR The Game and makes fun of them, that says a lot about NASCAR's pull on social media. It's odd considering F1's fanbase is unusually young for sports. 506. Ryan W posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Out of the twelve drivers that have won the Brickyard 400, eight of them have also won the Daytona 500. Rudd, BLabonte, Stewart, and Menard have not won it. Top 5 Brickyard 400 races (It's tough to find five good races) Honorable Mention: 2013- Indiana native Ryan Newman wins at Indy from the pole after getting the lead from Jimmie Johnson who had some miscues on pit road on his last stop keeping him at four wins at Indy. Newman's crew chief Matt Borland sees Jimmie's misfortune and calls a two-tire stop to make sure Newman is well ahead of Jimmie to where he can't catch him. 1995- The Intimidator takes the win as the sun goes down in Indianapolis. The race got started after 4:00 due to rain and most people thought it wouldn't be started until the following day. I believe that pole winner Jeff Gordon was affected by this more where him and Evernham thought it would be a slick set up like the year before. The race was dominated by Bill Elliott early in the race with his new team. Earnhardt who was running second at the time got a lucky break on the last scheduled pit stops. Rusty Wallace came in as the leader and got caught up behind a collision in the pits as well as a tire and as he was coming out of the warm up lane and onto the back stretch Earnhardt smelled blood and was able to pass Rusty at the end of the back stretch going in to turn three. The race was over after that. Even after another caution that brought them back together, no one was getting by Earnhardt unless he had a problem mainly due to the new aero push if cars were close to being equal and thus the greatest driver of all time won at Indianapolis. Trying to play mind games with Jeff Gordon in victory lane, Dale was told of him being the second man to win the race, he said, "Yeah I'm the second man to win it, if not the first." Unfortunately for Earnhardt the games didn't work this time and he fell short to Gordon for the championship by 34 points. 1998- This was probably more of a memorable moment. Dale Jarrett looked like he had the field covered (and he did by making up four laps), until his team and him decided to let greed lead to their destiny that day. He decided to stay out and lead lap 80 instead of pitting on lap 79. Leading lap 80 paid $10,000. He had a chance at the No Bull 5 Million Dollar bonus if he won the race. After leading lap 80 he would run out of gas midway down the back stretch and would have to stroll to pit road. What I saw next is something I will never forget. Members from both the #28 and #88 team ran about 300 yards to get to Jarrett and then push Jarrett those 300 yards to his pit stall and service him and get his engine refired. The decision to stay out more than likely cost them $990,000 extra. He made up four laps, but when he got back on the lead lap he had to deal with cars in the back and only managed to get back to 16th place as Jeff Gordon dominated the rest of the day to win his second Brickyard and be the first repeat winner of the race. Jarrett and crew chief Todd Parrot came very close to splitting due to this. They would make up and win the Brickyard the following year along with the championship. 5. 2005- The best driver of this generation Tony Stewart (Don't get mad, I don't like him but it's true unfortunately) passed Kasey Kahne back with 11 to go after being passed by Kahne with 27 laps to go and winning his first race at Indy. He would celebrate by climbing the fence in front of his home crowd. 4. 2011- Gordon giving a furious charge at the end trying to catch gas gambler Paul Menard. He was catching him at a rate at about a second a lap (reminded me of 1982 Indy 500 when Mears was closing in on Johncock at that very same rate at the end of that race). It looked like he was going to do it until the very end. Menard held on for his first and only career win. 3. 2002- Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace turned back the clock to the 1988 championship battle and Elliott passes Wallace with 12 to go to break Rusty's heart like it had been two other times already there (This race also had the humorous Jimmy Spencer-Kurt Busch incident). Elliott had dominated much of the race along with Stewart here and there. 2. 1996- Dale Earnhardt decided to get out of his car early in the race after a frightning crash the previous week at Talladega where he broke his collar bone, had a cracked sternum, and a separated shoulder. The wreck was caused by Ernie Irvan who clipped Sterling Marlin in the tri-oval and who would clip leader Earnhardt and he hit head on in the wall at 190 MPH. For those who say he didn't care what happened to him or others in a Nascar race I think this says differently (even though it was like pulling teeth for him to get out of that car to let Skinner drive it, he was crying when Jerry Punch talked to him about getting out of his car) because he got out of the car. It about destroyed him that he couldn't defend his title in the race. It was probably one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Jeff Gordon was the favorite, but he crashed out early. The race was surprisingly dominated early by rookie Johnny Benson. Terry Labonte stayed out on a late caution to take the lead gambling on fuel, and both Dale Jarrett and Ernie Irvan passed him. Both Jarrett and Irvan were teammates for Robert Yates Racing. A few laps later Irvan would get by Jarrett looking like the race was over, but Jarrett hung with Irvan and put a lot of pressure on Irvan over the next 15 laps and Irvan choked by going into the marbles with six laps to go out of turn one and Jarrett took advantage passing him and never relinquishing the lead as a late caution came out and he held on for the win. This was Jarrett's seventh career win making people call him a "big race" racer because earlier in the year he won both the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 beating Dale Earnhardt both times while also beating Earnhardt in the Daytona 500 in 1993 as well. (He had a date on Labor Day weekend at Darlington with a chance to win the Winston Million Dollar Bonus if he could win the Southern 500... he would lose it by being in the lead and getting into some oil and hitting the wall and infamously saying over the radio in disgust, "I'm in the wall."). Labonte would take over the points lead from Gordon after finishing 3rd. This was the first 1-2 finish for teammates in this race, and it didn't happen again until Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin finished 1-2 in 2009. 1. 1994- First you had Rick Mast on the pole which was a big surprise. Then you had Brett Bodine having the race of his life (I know he won at No. Wilkesboro in '90, but this was bigger especially because he had struggled for a while) that would have some controversy to it which was equally a big surprise. Indiana's son Jeff Gordon started 3rd and dominated a lot of the race until Geoff Bodine gave him a run for his money with his Hoosier tires that he had some success with (most of us know it could have been more if he wouldn't have crashed out or blew engines while he had the lead in a lot of races that year). All of a sudden we have a Bodine battle up front, and then a WAR. Brett leads Geoff after a restart going down the back stretch on lap 100 going into turn 3 when Geoff takes the air off Brett and gives him a little nudge in the process as he goes by. Brett keeps it together and hits his brother point blank in the rear and makes Geoff hit the wall while he gets T-boned by Dale Jarrett in the process. Geoff said in his interview afterwards that him and Brett had some differences and that this definitely added to it. After that Jeff Gordon would regain the lead shortly afterwards and it looked like he was well on his way to the win, so we thought. Gordon would be joined by Ernie Irvan after another caution with about 25 laps to go and they would swap the lead four times during a 17 lap period like the Brickyard hasn't seen since in Nascar. They would continue to loosen each other up and finally after Irvan crossed the yard of bricks with five laps to go he would come out of turn one wide and Gordon would go by. Irvan had a flat and he would end up finishing where he started in 17th. He would also lose the points lead to Dale Earnhardt who had started 2nd in the race but hit the wall on the first lap as he was trying to pass Mast to lead the first ever lap at Indy for Nascar. He rebounded after that and also had some damage after the Bodine wreck to somehow finish 5th. After that Gordon had no pressure from behind and coasted to be the first winner of the Brickyard 400 and get his second career win. 507. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.29.2013 - 7:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Only NASCAR fans would think a race with 1 On-Track pass for the lead was good. 508. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:11 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Only NASCAR fans would think a race with 1 On-Track pass for the lead was good." I don't remember seeing anyone on this page saying yesterday's race was good. I personally rated it a 2/5 only because of Newman winning it as a native son of Indiana. If Johnson had won I would have given it a 1 easily. What I have seen people say is: 1) It's a terrible race, but we should keep it because of what it means to the drivers. 2) It's a terrible race, but we know it isn't going anywhere. 3) This race and a lot of races are boring, but NASCAR isn't dying I haven't seen anyone on here say that this was a good race or even a good season by any means. By the way Formula 1 and IndyCar have a much more scanty amount of green flag lead changes than NASCAR does on average, so by your definition can any of the 3 big auto racing series actually put on a good race on average? And if not why do you even bother in the first place? 509. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:16 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "By the way Formula 1 and IndyCar have a much more scanty amount of green flag lead changes than NASCAR does on average" IndyCar, Pocono, 2013, did you see that? 510. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "IndyCar, Pocono, 2013, did you see that?" On average, Nico, on average. We can all pull exceptions to the rule out of the air. And to answer your question, no I didn't see the IndyCar race at Pocono because, outside of the Indy 500, IndyCar doesn't really mean anything to me. IndyCar to me is kind of like the Academy Awards, I like to know who wins but it's not something I'm going to invest my time watching. I'm a NASCAR fan through and through. 511. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:53 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @510, wow you should stop talking already. You just admit it that the only series you watch is nascar, so how can you make assumptions about indycar and other series? Must suck to be stuck to just one series and miss the actual good racing going on in other places. 512. Cornys posted: 07.29.2013 - 9:35 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) All 43 cars were running at the finish. When did that last happen? Also, I was rather happy with this race in the fact that there wasn't any debris cautions period. It made me feel as though it was a better race automatically. Not that exciting of a race, but at least it was fair and did have a little bit of interest involved :) I'm going to make a large quote from Carl Edwards following this race the basically sums up what I think is wrong with the sport of Auto Racing in general and not just NASCAR: CARL EDWARDS, NO. 99 FASTENAL FORD FUSION ' 'The early part of the race went real well. We had track position. This whole event track position was key. It was very difficult for me to pass people. We lost our track position on the restart and Tony made it four wide. I made the decision to not go down there and wreck everybody and that cost us a lot of track position. We made it back to 13th. I am proud of my guys. They brought a really good race car but we just really struggled on some parts of the track that we don't normally struggle on.' WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT DEBRIS? 'Yeah, we had paper on my grille and we couldn't get that off. Fortunately it didn't heat up too much so that was good. If I would have had a teammate around, after everything we went through with that before, we would have been fine. It was pretty interesting at the beginning. You were actually driving the race car and dodging the trash out there.' WHAT WAS THE COMPETITION LIKE? 'I felt like our competition was really stiff, the guys we were racing against. It was extremely difficult to pass.' WORSE THAN BEFORE? 'Yes, it was really tough. But there were cars that were able to get up front and stay up front. We weren't able to stay up front so I can't say that everybody had the same problem but we had a lot of trouble.' HOW DO YOU FIX IT? WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? 'My opinion is that we saw it Wednesday night. If you are not racing aerodynamic devices and the tire and track can interact so that the car can slide around a little more I think you will see more side by side racing. I have been preaching that a long time. I am not an aerodynamicist, that is just what I see.' DOES NOT PRACTICING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN PRACTICE MATTER? 'Here is the thing guys, when you rely on downforce and your car is going 200 mph and everything has to be perfect and there is a car up there in front of you that disrupts that air it just becomes difficult. There were guys back in 2008 where I was the only guy that could pass people. Right now it seems like the 48 is able to make it work. I don't know that there is a fundamental problem with the car but I would be really curious to see what no front splitter and a really tiny rear spoiler would do. I think it would allow Goodyear to make a tire that is softer so that it would fall off more. I think you would see those great races like we saw at Fontana. That was the track that showed me it isn't just down force but the way the tire interacts with the race track. That was one of the best races we have ever had.' 513. Daniel posted: 07.29.2013 - 9:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #445, the #19 actually attempted the full distance at Sonoma and, I think, attempt the full distance at Watkins Glen. This race was also the 3rd race the #98 attempted the full distance, not the 2nd as they attempted the Talladega race as well. 514. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This race is a great example of why na$car's popularity has gone down the toilet. 515. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:03 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sure cure for insomnia. 516. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) Post 511 is the perfect example of what's wrong with this website. I like NASCAR and not IndyCar. Only the select few of posters on this site who make it miserable for the rest of us would even give a damn. Are you really arrogant enough to believe that only what you think matters or is the only correct point of view to hold? News flash, buddy. We live in a pluralistic world and not everyone likes the same things. Just out of curiosity, how is stating that IndyCar has less lead changes on average than NASCAR making an assumption? There was no assumption made on my part. That's simple mathematics. It's a cold, hard fact. Maybe if you went back and read what I said in post 508 you would realize I actually defended IndyCar by implying that they had decent racing despite the few number of lead changes. Why do the minority on this website make it so bad for the rest of us who like to analyze and post opinions, then discuss. Most of us are mature enough to respect other people's points of view, but some of us aren't. 517. The Long Shot posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:18 am Rate this comment: (1) (3) Zackary, as I'm sure NicoRosbergFan will tell you, people who post under the name "Anonymous" have little credibility on this site. Don't listen to them. 518. David posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) After reading through the comments, I think my thoughts on it can best be summed up in posts #471 and #472. NASCAR is not dying. Great to see Jimmie Johnson not win. Congratulations to Ryan Newman, who won from the pole (he's won 10% of his pole starts), won in his home state, and was the only other driver who could keep up with Johnson all day. They don't call him "Rocketman" for nothing. 519. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Just out of curiosity, how is stating that IndyCar has less lead changes on average than NASCAR making an assumption? There was no assumption made on my part. That's simple mathematics. It's a cold, hard fact. " When you consider that IndyCar has fewer cars AND runs half the distance of a NASCAR race at most tracks, they actually do have more lead changes. The two tracks IndyCar shares with NASCAR, Indy and Pocono, had more lead changes in the IndyCar races. 520. Scott B posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:24 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) This race certainly won't go down as a classic. But, it did redeem itself somewhat, in that pit road strategies and execution made up (partially) for the lack of on-track passing for the lead. So, for fans interested in that part of the sport, it was mildly interesting to see two teams (not just two drivers) go at each other the whole race. Bottom line... it was better than the Nationwide race, at least, but there were still 41 starters that had no real shot at winning. Compared to the Trucks at Eldora, though, not even close to being as interesting. 521. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "NASCAR: for White Trash and uneducated rednecks that's why a Perdue Grad won todays race!" A 'C' student, nevertheless. Contrary to Newman's beliefs, Newman ain't too bright. They won a race on the pit stop game, something that is the reason for between 75%-95% of the positions Johnson has gained this season. Feel good, #39 team, you won on the very thing that Johnson would belly up without. 522. Scott B posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And now, the Random Stat of the Week, the #32 team's scorecard: 14 pit stops in a race where 5 or 6 was the norm. 2 cautions caused by their car slowing on the track. Points earned for the event: 2. That's a lot of work and not much to show for it, I give them credit for toughing it out instead of taking it to the garage. 523. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:50 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Ratings for yesterday's race rose to 3.4. Up 13% from 2012. But yeah NASCAR is dying. 524. Ryan posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The Indianapolis 500 got a 3.8 on ABC (Broadcast), and the Brickyard 400 got a 3.4 on ESPN (Cable) #dying 525. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) For any F1 fans like myself on this site, I just saw what the new F1 2013 video game for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 looks like on YouTube. In addition to the 2013 F1 teams, cars, and tracks, the game will also feature a "Classics Edition," in which you can race in famous F1 cars of the 1980s and 1990s. You should see the realistic cockpit cam of a 1980s F1 car racing at Suzuka on the new game, which will be released October 4. 526. The Long Shot posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll ask you all this question: Which game is better: NASCAR The Game: Inside Line, or F1 2012? 527. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "I'll ask you all this question: Which game is better: NASCAR The Game: Inside Line, or F1 2012?" Of the 4 video games I actually play one is NASCAR The Game: Inside Line and the other is F1 2011, which I know isn't exactly the game you asked about. NASCAR The Game: Inside Line was a lot better the NASCAR The Game 2011. I play it on hard mode and I'm 4 seasons and have 40 wins and 2 championships and am currently leading the points in my fourth season. You have to buy parts to upgrade your car as you go along in your career. Despite my high win total I found a lot of the tracks on this game to be very difficult especially Texas, Charlotte, Watkins Glenn, Homestead, and Indy. Bristol is pretty easy to navigate, but tire wear and handling become a pain there. Talladega is the easiest track, I've never lost a race there and won 7 in a row. Martinsville is a pretty easy track too, IF YOU SAVE YOUR TIRES. The cool part about this game though is you can play strategy the right way to make up for the harder tracks, especially when it comes to saving fuel. I was able to save fuel to win in my first ever Daytona 500, which may explain my reason for so much success so early in the game. As far as F1 2011, I actually found this game to be a little crazy. I would say team definitely matters on this game. My first season I drove for Williams and barely managed to squeeze out the championship. My lack of knowledge of F1 caused me to leave Williams at the end of the season and sign with Force India and I think I've won a few races, but I'm like 4th in points The reason I say this game is crazy to is because there were some tracks (Montreal, Dubai) that I could drive on hard mode and just dominate, but others (Monaco) where I could do it on easy and still suck it up. I know that didn't really answer your question, but that would be my review of those two games. 528. The Long Shot posted: 07.29.2013 - 12:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I have played Inside Line, but I'm terrible at it. The steering is extremely sensitive and my hands are rather unsteady, which isn't exactly an ideal combination. The F1 games look really good from what I've seen. I might have to get one of them at some point. 529. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2013 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The Indianapolis 500 got a 3.8 on ABC (Broadcast), and the Brickyard 400 got a 3.4 on ESPN (Cable) #dying " Shut up Ryan Foy..... 530. ///WWE posted: 07.29.2013 - 1:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Was Walmart closed on Sunday? 531. Neal posted: 07.29.2013 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just saw an interesting little factoid - courtesy of Dustin Long from MRN. Over the last 20 laps of the race yesterday there were TWO legitimate passes in the Top 15, both of them by Stewart. Now THAT'S excitement! 532. ///WWE posted: 07.29.2013 - 1:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The Pocono Raceway office is offering free blankets and pillows throughout the weekend available at the main gate. Great seats still available! 533. Neal posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Here's the link: http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2013/07/Brickyard-Opinion-Stewart-is-Wrong.aspx 534. AveryNH posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I personally prefer the f1 racing games as opposed to Nascar inside line. It just looks too arcade like for me to consider buying it. The f1 games have the realism and the strategy bit down to a science not to mention the dynamic weather... Lately though I've blown the dust off my ps2 and dug up Nascar thunder 2004. Now that was a true racing game! 535. 18fan posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The NASCAR Thunder games were my favorite NASCAR games. All of the F1 games are fun and the most fun races to win are the wet/dry races. 536. murb posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The NASCAR Thunder games were my favorite NASCAR games." Same here. I still regularly play Thunder 2004. 537. Rusty posted: 07.29.2013 - 2:55 pm Rate this comment: (3) (2) Indianapolis is the worst track in all of NASCAR racing, IMO. The racing there has been pathetic for years while the crowds are awful and we have to listen to ESPN hype this race up as if it were the biggest thing in the world. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it was for Ryan Newman yesterday, but clearly NASCAR fans don't see the big deal. Also, the Indy 500 is normally a great race, but stock cars on this place is just too damn boring. I know NASCAR wants to make it work because of all the history the place has, but it isn't NASCAR history and it will never be a NASCAR track. Their whole idea of bringing the Nationwide series there to draw people there was so stupid and clearly has no effect. The only thing they've done is rip one of the few remaining fun tracks away from the sport in favor for more boring racing dominated by the likes of Kyle Busch. The truck race in Eldora was just so fun and was such a breath of fresh air for NASCAR, events like that is what this sport desperately NEEDS. But they'll likely just keep limiting it to the trucks and continue sending their top series and drivers to some of the worst tracks in the world all for capacity reasons. NASCAR is just too stupid to realize that it doesn't matter how many seats a facility holds, if the entertainment on the track isn't good enough people won't spend their money and go. 538. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 3:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "530. ///WWE posted: 07.29.2013 - 1:27 pm Was Walmart closed on Sunday? " Where do these satire trolls keep coming from? 539. Daniel posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 44 entered at Pocono: -Tony Raines in the #33 -Landon Cassill in the #40 -Brian Keselowski in the #52 -Brian Vickers in the #55 540. 18fan posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Interesting that Vickers is running this week in the #55 car since Nationwide is in Iowa and Vickers is back in the Nationwide title hunt, plus Mark Martin ran both Pocono races last year. About Mark, it appears that age might have finally caught up with him this year, as in many races this year he's been the least competitive MWR car. 541. cjs3872 posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:28 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Rusty, Indy is one of a long list of tracks where the racing is not good, mainly because the speeds are too high. Just look at one of the early runnings of the race and you'll see that when the cars were 10-15 MPH slower, the racing was much more competitive. I brought up the 1996 race, but 1994, '95, and '97 were also like that. Cars could race in packs back then because they were running 167-170 MPH instead of 180. There might not have been as much passing as most would like, but at least the cars could run closer together. But they're running too fast. The racing at just about every other big track has suffered for the exact same reason, including the ones with higher banked turns. Danny Sullivan mentioned on Wind Tunnel last night that the NASCAR cars need higher banking. And while I agree on him there, never once was the high speeds mentioned, and that's the biggest problem. The pole speed for the just-completed Brickyard 400 was almost as fast as Johnny Rutherford ran when he won the pole and the race at Indy in 1976, and more than 15 MPH faster than the pole speed each of the first two years. And the IndyCars back in 1976 had aerodynamic devices, such as side pods and front and rear wings. The cars are just going far too fast, until NASCAR slows them down about 10-15 MPH, the racing will NEVER improve. 542. cjs3872 posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 18fan, when has Mark actually been competitive this year? Frankly, I don't think Michael Waltrip could do much worse at Pocono than Mark did earlier this year, and Mark has been terrible this year at other tracks he used to be strong on, such as Darlington, Indy (he actually got lapped yesterday before getting a free pass on the last of the three caution perids), and a number of others. With Vickers, I think they may have a chance to do well, since Vickers has usually run very well at Pocono in the past, and they're still in the running for the owner's Chase with that #55 car, thanks to Vickers' win at Loudon. The fact that Mark came within three laps of winning at Pocono last year and now he gets booted from the #55 car after another terrible run at another traditionally good track for him tells me that he may be done, once and for all. 543. Jim Davis posted: 07.29.2013 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Indy is one of a long list of tracks where the racing is not good, mainly because the speeds are too high. Just look at one of the early runnings of the race and you'll see that when the cars were 10-15 MPH slower, the racing was much more competitive." Debatable. The Nationwide cars are about 10-15 mph slower than the Cup cars but the racing isn't any better. 544. Eric posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) cjs3872, Mark was competitive at Phoenix this year despite his 21st place finish there. Mark led 75 laps at Phoenix. The 55 car had 21st place finish due to a combination factors including bad strategy. Mark had a great car for the first half of the race. Mark led 75 laps in that race and the only diver that led more laps in that race was Carl Edwards. If you claim Mark wasn't competitive at Phoenix earlier this year, I don't know what race you are watching. Mark also did well at Daytona. Mark struggled after the first 2 races of the season. 545. Eric posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) cjs3872, I didn't see any info on Mark getting released from the 55 car. The other thing is Jayski claims Vickers is in the 55 car for Pocono, but NASCAR.com's entry list says Mark is racing the 55 car this weekend. 546. Eric posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I do think no cup team is going to pick Mark up next year. I think the best Mark could do is get a Nationwide or a truck series ride. The fact is I don't see Vickers back at JGR in the 20 car next year for the Nationwide Series. I don't see Darrell Wallace Jr. getting the 20 car next year either. 547. cjs3872 posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Well, someone's wrong Eric, though I don't know who. And when I said booted, I meant apparently only for his week's race, though that wouldn't make sense for reasons mentioned by other posters, especially given that Vickers will be racing at Iowa the night before the race at Pocono. And while Mark was good at Phoenix, mentioning his performance at Daytona isn't saying a whole lot. After all, that was the race in which Danica ran in the top five practically the entire race, so I wouldn't qualify that race as one in which he was stellar, just based on that alone. What he did at the end was to follow Dale Earnhardt, Jr. through the field the same way he followed Dale, Sr. for all those years in the 90s, and he wound up third in what was probably the greatest top three finishing order in the Daytona 500 in many years (probably since the 2005 top three of Gordon, Kurt Busch, and Dale, Jr.). But the fact that he's struggled so horribly at most of the other tracks where he's excelled in the past would tend to indicate that he's probably through. (Though watch him prove me wrong, since I've now said it twice.) Remember that Mark Martin did something that's very difficult for a top-tier driver in a top-tier car to do at the Brickyard 400. He got lapped. And Jim Davis, I actually thought the racing in the Nationwide race wasn't all that bad. It's just when one car has such an advantage over everyone else, it tends to make it look worse than it really was. In fact, I thought the racing was better than in the Cup race. But if you look at just about any Cup race on a track longer than 1 mile in length this year, you'll see the same thing. Cars running apart because they can't get close to each other. That's from the aero-push brought on by the high speeds, even at the banked tracks. People say that race at Auto Club Speedway was a real good one. I don't see it that way. What happened there was a combination of strategy and a chaotic finish made the race look better than it was, because that was a race dominated by Kyle Busch that he almost threw away. Only the Logano-Hamlin battle at the end prevented that from being another race thrown away by Busch, and that from being another forgettable race at Auto Club Speedway. If they slow the cars down by about 10-15 MPH, you'll see better racing. They put a restrictor plate on the cars in 1970 for just that reason, and the result was some of the better big track racing in the sport's history from 1971-'74. 548. Dummy posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) NicoRosbergFan: "Hey, dumbass, I'm a Dean's list student at one of the most prestigious schools in the world studying to be a scientist. I'm on my summer break, and I DO have a life. Even during the summer's I'm researching." I find that hard to believe seeing as how you don't even know how to use an apostrophe properly. 549. Anonymous posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) ^^Nico and I have had our disagreements, but where did he misuse an apostrophe in that sentence? I'm is a contraction of I am so that was correct. And Dean's list is correct also since it is referring to (ceremoniously, of course) a list the dean has in his possession of students who are achieving high academic marks. 550. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Whoops, post 549 was me. 551. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) With Vickers trying to do the double this weekend, there is a possibility that Saturday night's race can be rain-delayed to Sunday afternoon, and in that case Mark Martin will have to drive the 55 car. While it may sound stupid to predict the weather for Iowa this far in advance, this summer has seen a lot of rain in Newton. June's Nationwide race was rain delayed, the IndyCar race in late June had a slight delay before the start due to weepers from an overnight rainstorm, and this month's Truck race was run in cloudy skies, but no rain. 552. Dummy posted: 07.29.2013 - 5:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @549 Anonymous I was talking about the word "summer's". That just sticks out to me like a sore thumb. 553. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) Dummy is the "nutless wonder." An internet "troll" who is waging an asinine campaign against me. Please, Dummy, use better grammar than that. I know that you cannot. 554. Dummy posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) For one thing, that is proper grammar. Second of all, I have nothing against you personally. I just can't stand people who claim that they are intelligent and fail at writing simple sentences. 555. 83andJoe posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) >but where did he misuse an apostrophe in that sentence? To be fair, there is a misued apostrophe there: "summer's" (and misuse of the possessive is a pet peeve of mine). But to squawk about it is just very silly and should be stopped at once. 556. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (1) (5) Does anyone know why everybody on this site has an all-out campaign to attack me, insult, thumbs-down my comments, support my attackers, thumbs-up my attackers, etc. lately. I already have enough people in my life who orgasm when they try to hurt me, and I don't need more. 557. cjs3872 posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Okay, as promised, here what the Chase standings would look like at this point using the weighted points reset I unveiled last year. For those that may not remember, I give each Chase driver 2,000 points, as NASCAR does. After that, I award them an increasing seeding bonus of three points per position for each position you go up from tenth, starting with 2,003 points for the tenth place driver and going all the way up to 2,030 points for the points leader. This guarantees even the tenth place driver to be ahead of either of the Wild Card drivers. (The way NASCAR does it, if the point leader doesn't have a win, he would be equal with the Wild Card drivers, which would be grossly unfair.) After the seeding bonuses are awarded, then there's an additional three point bonus for a victory for the top ten drivers in the points. There's no bonus for the Wild Card drivers, as their wins, if they have any, would be banked for Chase eligibility. Any ties would be broken the by current points standings. So here's what the current Chase reset would look like with my formula: 1. Jimmie Johnson (points leader, 4 wins) 2042 (2030+12) 2. Clint Bowyer (second, no wins) 2027 3. Carl Edwards (third, 1 win) 2027 (2024+3) 4. Kevin Harvick (fourth, 2 wins) 2027 (2021+6) 5. Matt Kenseth (sixth, 4 wins) 2027 (2015+12) 6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (fifth, no wins) 2018 7. Kyle Busch (seventh, 2 wins) 2018 (2012+6) 8. Greg Biffle (eighth, 1 win) 2012 (2009+3) 9. Kasey Kahne (ninth, 1 win) 2009 (2006+3) 10. Jeff Gordon (tenth, no wins) 2003 11. Tony Stewart (11th, 1 win banked, gets the tie-breakers over Martin Truex, Jr. and Ryan Newman due to higher points position) 12. Martin Truex, Jr. (12th, 1 win banked, gets the tie-breaker over Ryan Newman due to higher points position, but loses tie-breaker to Tony Stewart for the sane reason) NOTE: Truex gets the tie-breaker over Ryan Newman due to being higher in points (12th) than Newman (16th). However, recently much has changed at the bottom of the top ten with those above, along with Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch also having spent time in the to ten in points recently, and are currently in contention for a top ten position. And with Greg Biffle's recent struggles, three spots at the bottom of the top ten in points are now in play. In the current top 20 in points and in contention for a Wild Card spot, but not in the Chase: Ryan Newman (16th in points, 1 win), Brad Keselowski (13th), Kurt Busch (14th), Jamie McMurray (15th), Aric Almirola (17th), Joey Logano (18th), Paul Menard (19th), and Jeff Burton (20th). A driver must be in the to 20 in points in order to be eligible for a Wild Card spot. I'll be updating this each week, and if drivers are eliminated that are in the top 20 in points, I'll post them. 558. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) "For one thing, that is proper grammar. Second of all, I have nothing against you personally. I just can't stand people who claim that they are intelligent and fail at writing simple sentences. " I'm not allowed to make one error in 3 years of commenting? 559. 83andJoe posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pocono entry list is out. 44 cars: -Timmy Hill in the 32 -Tony Raines inthe 33 -Cassill in the 40 -Brian K in the 52 -Vickers in the 55 Cassill would be the odd man out. 560. 83andJoe posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:15 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This just in: Travis Sauter will make his Nationwide debut at Iowa this weekend, in Joe Nemechek's car. 561. ceno00 posted: 07.29.2013 - 6:17 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) NASCAR is fun to watch. Almost as fun as watching this comment section squabble over grammar like a group of middle school students. 562. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.29.2013 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I never pay any mind to the grammar and spelling police. Most of us post these comments on our phones and try to do so quickly, resulting in inevitable speeling and grammar error's (yes, those were intentional, don't ask). Don't worry about those people. 563. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I will just gently let people know... there will be hell to pay. Exactly, ceno00. Except for one thing, it's not over the grammar right now as much as it is I cannot EVER make a post without someone here or a troll making vicious attacks at me over, no matter what I post. I'm sick of it because nobody here has conduct deserving of irrational attacks, hatred, and using fake accounts to thumb-down my comments and violently insult me. 564. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) So does Johnson and the 48 team choking away/just having bad luck in about 4 races this year that they should have won (Dover, Michigan, Kentucky, Indy) scare the rest of the competition since he STILL has a huge point lead despite those problems? Or does it give the other teams optimism since, if that happens in the Chase, it will almost certainly be game over for championship number 6 since Johnson will have less time to build up a big lead and less time to recover from bad races? 565. Baker posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I didn't find the race nearly as boring as some of you are making it out to be. Not every race can have 25 lead changes, constant back and forth action, 3-4 wide dive bombing, last lap passes or awesome comebacks. I, personally, found it refreshing that NASCAR let this race play out naturally. I would much rather watch a race where the 2-3 best cars ran out front by 8+ seconds than watch NASCAR throw debris caution after debris caution. I know it was obviously not my doing, but ever since I decided to quit watching NASCAR because of their bogus inconsistency they really started to get their act together more so than years past. First they correctly hammer Johnson for his blatant jumping of a restart at Dover, and that is what brought me back to watching again. They turn around and let the race finish despite a wreck behind the leaders at Daytona and now yesterday they let a race play out naturally despite a non existent battle for the win. Honest to God I have been extremely thrilled because I have not see that much good from the officiating of NASCAR in 10 years let alone the last 8 weeks. You can call me a bias homer since Stewart is my guy, but I feel he had far and away the best car all race long. He was just never able to take advantage of the clear air like the 48 and 39 could. He had to have pasted 4-5 time more cars for position than any other driver in the field. He was the only driver who could consistently gain ground and make passes on the track. Everyone else was making time or getting spots via pit stops or strategy. There was also never a pit stop where Tony didn't lose ground during that exchange and he still wound up 4th. Congrats to Ryan Newman. I am not a big fan or anything but it is always great to see people win at there home town track. It was also a huge thrill to see someone other than Jimmie win this race. 566. cjs3872 posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If it ends like it did this past Sunday, Zack, it's likely not to hurt him at all, because it only cost him the win, as he finished second, and only lost four inconsequential points. But if it results in what happened at Dover, Michigan, and Kentucky, it may severely damage his chances at a sixth title. Remember that Jimmie Johnson has, to my knowledge, not hit a run this year where he's not performed that well. The only race I know of in which he ran poorly was at California, and all the Hendrick cars were off that day. If he hits that stretch, and he's bound to at some point, he'll have to salvage a good day, and this team has faded and made mistakes at the end of races, really going back to last year. Remember that it was a pit stop mistake not unlike the one that cost him the win on Sunday that cost him a shot at the title last year at Homestead (it proved moot because of the gearbox failure he had moments later). But consider this. Johnson's been both dominant and consistent so far this year to such an extent that in my weighted Chase reset, he would still have a 15-point lead on a four-way tie for second place. That's how dominant and consistent he's been this year. And 15 points is not far from half a race, and that's the lead he would start the Chase with if my system was used. (Check post #557 for how it would look at this moment.) But Johnson's run so well and has been so consistent that one has to wonder when the other shoe's going to drop, and if it does, who else might benefit from Johnson's misfortune. 567. 83andJoe posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Um, Nico, you /can't/ "use fake accounts...to thumbs-down [you]". The thumbs-up/thumbs-down is based on IP number, I think. 568. The Long Shot posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "NicoRosbergFan: "Hey, dumbass, I'm a Dean's list student at one of the most prestigious schools in the world studying to be a scientist. I'm on my summer break, and I DO have a life. Even during the summer's I'm researching." I find that hard to believe seeing as how you don't even know how to use an apostrophe properly." That's a minor grammatical error, genius. Everyone here is entitled to one of those once in a while. I've argued with NRF more than most on here, but I still like him and respect him as a commenter. I hope I'm not one of those trolls that Nico was talking about, but if so, I never meant to really hurt your feelings. I certainly hope that's the case when you take your jabs at me like you did on the Eldora page. 569. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Regardless, I owe this entire site (minus Dummy) a huge apology today. I should not have behaved the way I did, and I reduced this site to the level of (shudder) Youtube. 570. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.29.2013 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I've argued with NRF more than most on here, but I still like him and respect him as a commenter. I hope I'm not one of those trolls that Nico was talking about, but if so, I never meant to really hurt your feelings. I certainly hope that's the case when you take your jabs at me like you did on the Eldora page. " I take your jabs as playful. My jabs were also in jest. No hard feelings. 571. JG24FanForever posted: 07.29.2013 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The top 12 "greatest" individual Nascar Cup seasons: -1. Richard Petty's 1967 (17 wins in a 22 race stretch) -2. Jeff Gordon's 1998 (5.7 average finish is the best in 35 years since 1979) -3. Richard Petty's 1971 (16 consecutive Top 3 finishes) -4. Jeff Gordon's 1997 (Triple Crown+Championship) -5. Richard Petty's 1975 (11 consecutive Top 2 finishes) -6. Tim Flock's 1955 (11 wins where he led every lap!) -7. Dale Earnhardt's 1987 (11 wins in the first 22 races and 6 straight short-track wins) -8. David Pearson's 1973 (9 wins in a 10 start stretch and a .611 win%) -9. David Pearson's 1969 (16 wins and the title against Richard Petty's 16 win season) 10. David Pearson's 1976 (Triple Crown plus Riverside sweep) 11. Jeff Gordon's 1996 (Darlington sweep plus a Dover 500-mile-race sweep and a short-track grand slam) 12. Bill Rexford's 1950 (1 whole lead-lap finish and the youngest champ ever.) Honorable mention: Red Byron's 1949 and Jeff Gordon's 2007 572. DB1995 posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) i for one hope it does rain in iowa and delays it til the next day, so Brad keselowski cant run in it 573. David posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sometimes, I can't resist making a crack about someone's misspelling, especially if the error forms another word. But other than that, it doesn't bother me (except when they aren't even trying to get it right). And this comes from a former spelling bee champion. And I can sympathize with those who have misspelled words on their phones, as I have done the same on my Kindle Fire. 574. Chives5150 posted: 07.29.2013 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I thought it was pretty funny that during the broadcast of the race yesterday, no one even mentioned "Smurfs 2" being on Newman's car. Newman didn't mention it, and neither did Stewart, Borland, or even ESPN for that matter. It makes me wonder if everyone was embarrassed to be seen or associated with "Smurfs 2". 575. JG24FanForever posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) *-9. David Pearson's 1968 (16 wins and the title against Richard Petty's 16 win season) 576. REALLY?!? posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:35 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) I think that you guys should just go ahead and un-wad your panties then move on with your lives. Last time I checked this is RACING-reference.info, an awesome website for us to discuss RACING... Not grammar / spelling / education / intelligence. 577. David posted: 07.29.2013 - 11:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^As you wish, Your Highness. 578. The Long Shot posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Who the hell is making all these "Bill Clinton" joke comments? They're not funny at all, and they're also rather classless. @577: Your rudeness does not become you. The great thing about this website is that we can talk about things OTHER than racing on occasion. Apparently some people don't realize that. 579. RCRandPenskeGuy posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Congrats to Ryan Newman and the #39 team. I normally wouldn't root for him to win, but I've officially signed myself up to cheer on whoever can beat Jimmie Johnson since it seems the #48 is in a league all of their own this year. "i for one hope it does rain in iowa and delays it til the next day, so Brad keselowski cant run in it" That'd be nice, seeing as we got lucky earlier this year when Logano had to not run a Nationwide race for that reason. I can only hope Brad will get his Cup season back on track, as seeing him win Nationwide races and then acting like he accomplished something big is silly. 580. Chives5150 posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Jayski: Four drivers have ran all 20 races this season and do not have a top-10 finish. The order is based on driver points positions. #17 - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (21st in points) #83 - David Reutimann (31st in points) #93 - Travis Kvapil (35th in points) #35 - Josh Wise (53rd in points due to only scoring points in the Nationwide Series, otherwise 39th in owners points) 581. Baker posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:55 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) JG24FanForever with yet another crap list that just shits on Herb Thomas. How do you make such a list and not have 1953? 31 top 10s in 37 events with 27 top 5 and 12 wins to go along with 12 poles and an average finish of 5.2 Any one of those stats in a season and you'd be handing from Jeff's balls. 582. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.30.2013 - 6:58 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Anyone see Tony's comments about the racing? How passing isn't racing? Ugh. That's Tony for ya. After Wednsday night, I wanted to hug him for all he's done for dirt racing and bringing NASCAR back to dirt. Then Sunday he says passing doesn't make good racing. Just another week in the life of Tony I guess. I can love him and hate him in the same damn week. 583. cjs3872 posted: 07.30.2013 - 8:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) JG24FF, there are some other great seasons, including Bill Elliott's 1985 season in which he won 11 races, all on speedways, including the first Winston Million. Then there was LeeRoy Yarbrough's 1969 season, in which he won seven times, including becoming the first driver to sweep the Triple Crown (the Daytona 500, World 600, and Southern 500), and becoming the first NASCAR driver to win the Driver of the Year. Then there are the seasons Jimmie Johnson put together in 2004, and 2007, which you conveniently left out. In '07, he won 10 times, and won eight times in 2004. Then there are any of Cale Yarborough's three championship seasons (in which he won a total of 27 races), as well as either on of Darrell Waltrip's first two (in which he won 12 each year). And let's not forget Rusty Wallace in 1993-'94, in which he won a total of 18 times (10 in '93 and 8 in '94). Those are just some of the other great seasons. But putting a list of greatest seasons together is subjective, but I wanted to throw a few others out there. 584. Baker posted: 07.30.2013 - 10:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Tony's comments, at least the way I took them, meant that passing is not the only thing that makes good racing. I said it in a post earlier on this same page you don't need constant position swaps or 25+ lead changes to have a good race. Certain tracks and certain weeks it is going to be that way. As long as NASCAR lets it play out naturally and it wasn't some bogus strategy that allows a 30th place car to steal a win then it is a good race IMO. 585. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 10:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just before I saw Baker's comment, I was thinking the EXACT same thing. Passing alone doesn't make a race good. I like to see pit strategy as well. Though you can't beat good, hard battling for the lead. I agree with Baker. As long as the race plays out naturally, with no manufactured excitement, then it is a good race. 586. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) cjs, if it wasn't for the Chase and Knaus, we'd be talking about Jeff's 2007 as one of the very greatest. NASCAR had not seen a season where a driver was that dominant since the 70s. Without the Chase, Knaus most likely doesn't cut off the info supply and Jeff takes the biggest title points margin since 1975, when Richard won by 722 points. 587. super39fan posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:16 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @574 "I thought it was pretty funny that during the broadcast of the race yesterday, no one even mentioned "Smurfs 2" being on Newman's car. Newman didn't mention it, and neither did Stewart, Borland, or even ESPN for that matter. It makes me wonder if everyone was embarrassed to be seen or associated with "Smurfs 2"." I realized that too. I've heard that it might have been contractual, that the Smurfs people did not want to be mentioned. Apparently, they also don't want the diecast to be made which is strange considering it's simply extra promotion and publicity. 588. BluesTravelerFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:38 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) Did anyone read this today? There is a full report on this on Sports Business Daily, I will just post in a nutshell what I saw on Jayski. "According to a Sports Business Daily report, ESPN and Turner ditched NASCAR, not the other way around. ESPN and Turner sports each informed NASCAR in early July that they did not intend to bid on the available television rights packages, Sports Business Journal reported Monday. The rationale was similar for both organizations: declining television ratings made NASCAR a less attractive property. Turner, according to the report, "ultimately decided that more NASCAR races weren't worth the investment". ESPN, meanwhile, "had soured on the sport because of declining TV ratings, an aging fan base(yeah) and a tough ad sales market". The report casts a somewhat negative light on both NASCAR apparently abandoned by two high profile broadcast partners and NBC sports, which will pay $440 million dollars per year for rights through 2024". I guess the truth finally came out. 589. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I did read that. Thought it was very interesting. 590. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:15 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "Did anyone read this today?" Yep. Read it. Think it's incredibly misleading. It's been no secret for almost a year that NBC wanted back in on NASCAR and was willing to pay more than ESPN and TNT for it. ESPN and TNT got outbid and didn't want to increase their payout to the 30% increase NBC was giving NASCAR. So while it's somewhat truthful, i think the entire true story is simply that ESPN/TNT were unwilling to pay what NBC was paying, not that they just blatantly dumped NASCAR. NBC is still a business too and has their money at risk. Why would they take such a risk on a "dying" sport. You've been ranting on here for 3 days and never answered that question. Don't you understand they wouldn't spend $4 billion on NASCAR unless they thought they could make that money back and then some (A LOT more for that matter)? Or do you lack common knowledge of how business works? 591. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:20 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Run for your lives!! Take cover!! Alex Kennedy is entered in the Cup race at Pocono!! 592. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "NBC is still a business too and has their money at risk. Why would they take such a risk on a "dying" sport. You've been ranting on here for 3 days and never answered that question. Don't you understand they wouldn't spend $4 billion on NASCAR unless they thought they could make that money back and then some (A LOT more for that matter)? Or do you lack common knowledge of how business works? " They bid on IndyCar, F1, NHL, UFL, AFL, UFC, ARCA, and others, all of which were suffering declining ratings. No, NBC just wants to have a little of everything. They've taken a gamble and succeeded on the others (including turning UFC [glorified manslaughter, as far as I'm concerned] into a major sport). They know they can succeed with NASCAR, as well, because ESPN and Turner don't want something unless it's big money. Tennis declined in the early 00s, and ESPN stopped treating it like a sport. Tennis rises back to popularity and suddenly their throwing 10s and 100s of millions to try to get exclusive US rights to every Grand Slam Tennis event. 593. cjs3872 posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NicoRosbergFan, who's to say that the seasons that Johnson AND Gordon put together in 2007 don't both belong among the best of all-time? Gordon's season belongs there because of Gordon's insane consistency (30 top 10 finishes), and of course, Johnson won 10 races, which in itself says that belongs among the best of all-time. I actually think that both belong up there among the greatest of all-time for their own reasons. And the point reset saw to it that it wasn't the biggest points blowout since 1987. I not for the point reset, it wouldn't have mattered what Knaus did because the best they could have done was second, since they were about three races behind when the points were reset. You're right on the other points though, particularly about the cutoff of the info supply, but I think both the season Gordon had and the season Johnson had belong up there with the best of all-time. And interestingly, Gordon's win in the finale last season was his first win in a Chase race since 2007. 594. Sean posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I think Tony's comments, at least the way I took them, meant that passing is not the only thing that makes good racing. I said it in a post earlier on this same page you don't need constant position swaps or 25+ lead changes to have a good race. Certain tracks and certain weeks it is going to be that way. As long as NASCAR lets it play out naturally and it wasn't some bogus strategy that allows a 30th place car to steal a win then it is a good race IMO." I mostly agree with that. Look at most of the tracks that people here seem to like the most. The road courses, the short tracks, and Darlington. None of those tracks is renowned for a large number of lead changes (although Martinsville actually has been lately relative to most of the cookie-cutters), but BECAUSE it is hard to pass, lead changes and passing in general are more meaningful. The exact flip side is tracks like Pocono, Michigan, and Fontana. Because the tracks are so wide, it is TOO EASY to pass so the fastest cars instantly make it to the front and stay there for the rest of the race. These tracks tend to be very fair in rewarding dominance relative to most other tracks rather than ending up flukish as a result of this, which is one good thing about them. It's very entertaining to watch a faster car far out of the lead slice through traffic at these tracks, but the way television coverage is presented, where you just follow the leaders nonstop, it looks very, VERY boring, since once the fastest cars arrive at the front, they will seldom be challenged. The 1.5-mile cookie cutters are also like this to a degree, but not quite as bad, I think. Finally, you have the plate tracks. They may frequently have copious numbers of lead changes, but that can be a drawback, as lead changes don't really have any meaning (as they do on short tracks or road courses). At least at Michigan and Fontana, the fastest cars instantly make it to the front (too quickly as it is too easy to pass), but on the plate tracks, lead changes mean even less. Post-2000, especially at Talladega, it has little to do with driving ability and little to do with who even has the best car and simply has to do with who catches a lucky draft at the right time. To me, those are the most unwatchable. Although strangely I did like the CART Handford device races and the last two Indy 500s (which were virtually identical to the Handford device races) which aren't fundamentally very different from plate races. I'm trying to figure out if I'm being a hypocrite here. I want to say the Handford device races had less carnage, but that's not true - Adrian Fernandez's tire in the 1998 Michigan race killed 3 fans and Greg Moore died in one of them. I think it's because Handford-style races were full of endless slingshot passes rather than side-by-side drafts that move back and forth. The former seems to have A BIT more to do with skill; the latter seems like mostly luck to me. Las Vegas 2011 was closer to restrictor plate-style racing I think, and we saw what happened there... So yes, if he meant a large number of lead changes isn't necessary for good racing, he's right. He's even right if he meant that too many lead changes is a bad thing (if they are too artificial). I'm probably a hypocrite for finding most plate races artificial and the CART Handford device races/2012/2013 Indy 500s classics, but I just think the latter were less gimmicky and rewarded talent a bit more. "cjs, if it wasn't for the Chase and Knaus, we'd be talking about Jeff's 2007 as one of the very greatest. NASCAR had not seen a season where a driver was that dominant since the 70s." One of the most overrated seasons in Cup history. Consistency usually comes down to not having bad luck. And dominance? Dominance is about winning races and leading the most laps. Gordon was more dominant in all four of his championship seasons and 1996. In Gordon's 2007 (and not in his earlier seasons), he tended to BACK INTO most of his wins. While I might still say it was a better season than Johnson's (but actually I think it's VERY CLOSE) it's not even close to his 1995-1998 or 2001 performance. And REALLY, more dominant than '95, '98, or even '01? More CONSISTENT than any of his other seasons except '98, but I care about consistency less than almost anybody else here. "Sometimes, I can't resist making a crack about someone's misspelling, especially if the error forms another word. But other than that, it doesn't bother me (except when they aren't even trying to get it right). And this comes from a former spelling bee champion." Almost all of the above, including being a former spelling bee champion. I will always make fun of somebody writing "wreckless" instead of "reckless" since it completely changes the meaning of the word, although you do have to be really, really careful when you tout your academic credentials since people will criticize if you say anything that could be construed as stupid after that. That's why I rarely do it. 595. The Long Shot posted: 07.30.2013 - 12:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Run for your lives!! Take cover!! Alex Kennedy is entered in the Cup race at Pocono!!" At least it's not Paulie Harraka, or worse, John Wes Townley. Townley attempted his Cup debut at this race last year, and we all know how well that went. 596. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For me, here are the greatest seasons ever: 1. 1967 Richard Petty - insanely good 2. 1971 Richard Petty - ridiculously good 3. 1955 Tim Flock - 11 races flag-to-flag!! 4. 1973 David Pearson - 11 wins, 14 top-3s in 18 races; oh, yeah, 4 DNFs. 5. 1966 David Pearson - 16 wins to hold off winless James Hylton for the title and 16 win Richard 6. 1975 Richard Petty- 13 wins, 722 points margin of victory 7. 1987 Dale Earnhardt- Earnhardt WHACKED them; that year the #3 Wrangler (still my favorite car of all-time) was the fastest, had the best crew, AND had the best driver. 8. 1976 David Pearson- the second and last time a Cup driver won double digit races and/or had the most wins, the other being this guy in 1973. 9. 1969 Bobby Isaac- he won 17 times and won 19 poles, which is still the record. 10. 1970 Richard Petty- 18 wins... would have topped his 1971 performance in the same number of races if not for the horror that was Darlington in May. Honorable mention (in order): Herb 1953, Jeff 1998, LeeRoy 1969, Fireball 1958, Johnson/Gordon2007*, Bill 1985, Pearson 1968, Jarrett 1964, Byron 1949. 597. 83andJoe posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) >I will always make fun of somebody writing "wreckless" instead of "reckless" since it completely changes the meaning of the word "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter ' 'tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning." - Mark Twain 598. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:26 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 588, It's no secret NASCAR has an aging fan base as ESPN States. Even congress knows this as it was one of the facts presented to them in the Military Sponsorship debate. It's typically measured as above that of Baseball which has always been popular in the above 50 crowd. NASCAR's weakest demographic is 18-34 and ratings show this. For all the Talk of Brickyard 400 and Indy 500 Ratings (3.4 and 3.8), it's interesting to note those races got a 6.2 and 6.5 respectively in 2005. Talk about a decline in auto racing. 599. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bye bye, A-Rod! 600. cjs3872 posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sean, what you said about Pocono and Michigan is not true any more for one reason, which I'm amazed that nobody among the media is mentioning. The cars are simply going too fast, and at the speeds they're going, even on a track that's supposed to have a wider groove, they can't pass because they can't get close enough to make a pass. If they get to within a half second of the car in front of them, the aero-push takes over and they can't get any closer. Now we know the aero-push phenomenon in NASCAR started at Indy, but even there they used to be able to run closer together, even if they couldn't pass, but in Sunday's race, if they got to within 10 car lengths, the aero-push would take over and their progress was stopped. That's simply because of the much higher speeds that are being run. If they go back to running 165-170 like they used to (175-180 at places like Charlotte, and 180-185 at places like Michigan), the racing would be much better. I'm not sure anyone has noticed, but the recent Indianapolis 500 races in which the speeds have been up, the competition level has been down, and the reason is simple. They can't get close enough to each other to use the draft that's made the races there the last two years so scintillating to watch. But the cars have gotten a little slower the last two years, and the racing has improved so a result. And that's the way it is in racing. When the speeds go up, the level of competition goes down. That's one reason why I disagreed with the "experts" who said that 2013 was going to feature great racing. I knew that with more aerodynamic cars coming in, as well as a reduction in weight, that the speeds would be way up, and knowing that, I also knew that the racing would not be good at all, and that's exactly what has happened. There's a limit to how fast these cars can go and still put on good races, and they've gone WAY past that. The only way to get better racing is to slow the cars down about 10-15 MPH, because then they'll be going at the speeds at which they can actually race. But until that happens, you're not going to see good racing, except on the shorter tracks (1 mile and under) where speeds really don't mean that much. 601. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:40 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) I just wanna take this opportunity to say how angry I am that Brad is racing at Iowa this weekend followed an absolutely PUTRID performance in this race. Priorities? 602. 83andJoe posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DSFF: Blame The Captain, he's the one who insisted Brad run the race. 603. 83andJoe posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting note: despite it being announced that Owen Kelly will run the #51 at Watkins Glen, Jan Magnussen is testing the #51 there today. 604. The Long Shot posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:45 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) East Series driver Ryan Gifford will make his Nationwide debut this weekend, driving the #33 for Richard Childress Racing. 605. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.30.2013 - 1:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "DSFF: Blame The Captain, he's the one who insisted Brad run the race." To quote Brad from an off season interview when asked how he would avoid being overwhelmed by requests as the champion he said "you have learn the art of saying 'no' ". Also, does Tony have a death wish or something? Last year he questioned Brad wondering if he had a death wish. Once again, Tony needs to look in the mirror first. "Bye bye, A-Rod!" You mean A-Roid? Or A-Fraud? 606. RCRandPenskeGuy posted: 07.30.2013 - 2:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "At least it's not Paulie Harraka, or worse, John Wes Townley. Townley attempted his Cup debut at this race last year, and we all know how well that went." LOL, true. He didn't even make it a lap before crashing if I remember right. Owners are most likely leery about having JWT in their car after that. "I just wanna take this opportunity to say how angry I am that Brad is racing at Iowa this weekend followed an absolutely PUTRID performance in this race. Priorities?" Completely agree. He already won there when he was still a Nationwide regular, and since Cup doesn't race there he has nothing to gain whatsoever by running that race. 607. Jim Davis posted: 07.30.2013 - 2:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Blame The Captain, he's the one who insisted Brad run the race." He's the one taking the blame for it; Discount Tire is insisting that Keselowski run the race. 608. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.30.2013 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A-Roid, or A-Fraud? Neither. A-Froid, the A-Hole *rimshot* #nonsatiricaljokesonRR 609. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 3:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Doug Duchardt has been named General Manager and Executive Vice President of Hendrick Motorsports. Or, as they call it in that organization, General Gray Area Manager and Executive Vice President of Underhanded Operations. *rimshot* He will report to Marshall Carlson, Rick Hendrick, and Chad Knaus. *rimshot* #nonsatiricaljokesonRR 610. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.30.2013 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (4) (3) I feel like Brad is my brother. He is my favorite active driver, but I am very quick to get mad at him and want to quarrell with him when he does stupid crap like racing in Iowa in the minor leagues while on the cusp of having the most uninspiring Cup title defense since Earnhardt in '92 or Earnhardt in '81. But I am also quick to defend him against detractors that don't have the exact same complaints as me, and to bring up all his haters from back in the day (I'm looking at you Bronco) and drivers. One more time cause its funny. Cup titles: Brad Keselowski 1 Denny Hamlin 0 Carl Edwards 0 Kyle Busch 0 611. The Long Shot posted: 07.30.2013 - 3:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "LOL, true. He didn't even make it a lap before crashing if I remember right." He didn't even make it to qualifying. He hit the wall on his warm-up lap, brought the car back to the garage, was promptly kicked out of the car by owner Frank Stoddard, and was replaced by Jason White for the race. Sadly, I believe that was the same weekend that Stephen Leicht killed a groundhog during practice when it crawled onto the track and he plowed into it while slowing to enter pit road. "Owners are most likely leery about having JWT in their car after that." If they weren't already. 612. Jim Davis posted: 07.30.2013 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "He hit the wall on his warm-up lap, brought the car back to the garage, was promptly kicked out of the car by owner Frank Stoddard..." Actually, if memory serves, Townley realized he was in over his head and took himself out of the car. Or maybe Stoddard was letting him save face. If it was Townley's idea to step out of the car, it reflects well on him. Not many drivers would do that. 613. SpeedWorld97 posted: 07.30.2013 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I just wanna take this opportunity to say how angry I am that Brad is racing at Iowa this weekend followed an absolutely PUTRID performance in this race. Priorities?" Like I said in post 551, there is a good chance that Saturday night's race in Newton can be affected by rain, which there seems to be a lot of in Newton, Iowa this summer. June's Nationwide race was rain-delayed, the IndyCar race had a slight delay before the start due to weepers from an overnight rain, and the Truck race was run under very cloudy skies. 614. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 4:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jim Davis is correct. Townley did take himself out of the car. 615. 83andJoe posted: 07.30.2013 - 5:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Indeed, as mentioned, Townley stepped out of the 32 car of his own accord. Granted, he wrinkled it up first in practice, but, yeah. Also, I get the feeling I'm probably the only person on the planet who thinks the whole 'steroids in baseball' thing should be a "so?" issue. It makes you hit the ball harder, yes, but you still first must hit the ball with a wooden bat held by human hands... 616. csj3872 posted: 07.30.2013 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DSFF, add Terry Labonte in 1997 to those recent title defenses you mentioned that was uninspiring. If not for a huge crash at Talladega that was started when Jeff Gordon had a cut tire, Labonte would likely have had the first winless season for a reigning champion that ran the entire season since Earnhardt in 1981. 617. 18fan posted: 07.30.2013 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle is not entered in the truck race at Pocono, so the only Cup driver entered in either the Truck race at Pocono or the Nationwide race at Iowa is Brad Keselowski. 618. Scott B posted: 07.30.2013 - 6:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just to comment on the new TV deal. This makes sense that NBC went after the contract. They recently launched their NBC Sports channel, and not all cable operators carry it (I'm a Comcast customer, so I do get it). By having Cup races on this channel, fans will pressure their local cable systems to add it, if it is not already available. ESPN and TNT are already well established, they can walk away from the deal if they feel the price tag is too high. NBC is willing to pay more because they NEED it more, even if there has been a ratings decline in recent years. If NASCAR ratings rebound and go back up, that will be a bonus, but even if they stay at the current levels, having the contract will help NBC Sports gain a foothold in the marketplace. It's pretty staightforward, the ones who needed the content the most were willing to bid highest to get it. Free market in action! 619. Zackary Shawn posted: 07.30.2013 - 9:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting discussion just took place on Twitter among some prominent motorsports writers and fans about whether blacking out the Brickyard 400 in the Indianapolis metropolitan region could help with attendance at that race. I recommend you go to Twitter and check it out (Dustin Long, Jenna Fryer, Jeff Gluck, Nate Ryan, and Bob Pockrass all participated). 620. Baker posted: 07.30.2013 - 9:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) DSFF, what did Tony say that has you questioning whether or not he has a death wish? I am currently working from sun up to sun down and have very little time to keep up with current events in the sports world. 621. jabber1990 posted: 07.30.2013 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Interesting discussion just took place on Twitter among some prominent motorsports writers and fans about whether blacking out the Brickyard 400 in the Indianapolis metropolitan region could help with attendance at that race. I recommend you go to Twitter and check it out (Dustin Long, Jenna Fryer, Jeff Gluck, Nate Ryan, and Bob Pockrass all participated). " that conversation started with Jim Noble and Chocolate Myers earlier today, Jeff Hammond was talking about how the Indy 500 is a blackout event (and has been for probably 50 years) 622. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Baker, Tony was involved in another sprint car crash. 623. cjs3872 posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Baker, it's not what Tony said that makes DSFF think he has a death wish, which I believe is not true. It's what he did, racing at a sprint car event and having a significant crash, and it's the second significant crash he's had in a sprint car recently. I know he's giving any sprint car event he participates in more spotlight with his mere appearance, but he also has to think about what's more important. If we're going to chastise drivers such as Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and others for running Nationwide Series races when there's more important business going on in the Sprint Cup Series, then I think it's only fair to criticize guys like Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson for doing the same thing when more important NASCAR-related stuff is calling, namely for Stewart the Cup Series and a shot at the Chase, which he has not locked up a spot in by a long way, and for Larson a budding career in NASCAR as well as his season in the Nationwide Series, which I think he may win a race in before too much longer. But if one of them has a serious crash racing sprint cars, it could jeopardize, if not end their career. At least Kasey Kahne has had the good sense to not race sprint cars that much, if at all any more. Does the name Gary Bettenhausen ring a bell? He was a promising driver that had already won some IndyCar races and was racing for Roger Penske in both IndyCar and NASCAR, and nearly won the 1972 Indianapolis 500, but he threw it all away because he liked racing sprint cars so much, and got seriously injured racing one. That's why Roger Penske does not want any of his drivers racing in a type of car other than what Penske's paying him to drive. He fired Bobby Allison for the same reason in 1976, when he got injured driving a modified near the end of the season. And that's also why Penske never let Al Unser, Jr. try to run any NASCAR races in the years he drove for him, even though he likely wanted to (he even said he intended to return to the Daytona 500 in his post-crash interview in 1993). I believe Al, Jr. wanted to run the Daytona 500 again, as well as the Brickyard 400, but Penske wouldn't let him because he wanted him focused solely on his IndyCar racing, along with having Al, Jr. represent Penske and IndyCar racing in the IROC series. 624. joey2448 posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:29 pm Rate this comment: (5) (0) Hey R-R community, just wanted to check in and read your always entertaining posts... I was at the race on Sunday, and as my debut NASCAR race, it was an absolute blast!!! I was able to join the crowd behind the SPEED stage in the infield a few hours before the race and watch Kenny Wallace, Kyle Petty, John Roberts and Brian Vickers chat about things! I even got Kenny's attention when I yelled out, "HERMAN!" Lol.. From there, I was able to spot Sam Hornish Jr, and I got an up-close view of a Q&A session with none other than King Richard himself! You guys will probably find this hilarious, but once we found our seats in turn one and situated ourselves to watch the parade of drivers around the track, the two drivers that received the loudest boos were Danica and Kyle Busch. Interestingly enough, Jimmie Johnson really didn't get many boos (although he didn't really get many cheers either -- guess that's why he's called the emotionless juggernaut). Of course, I was absolutely thrilled to see my guy Jeff Gordon! Also, while you poor souls had to endure the ESPN broadcast circus, I was treated to the voice of Bob Jenkins! Of course, I couldn't hear him much over the engines, but the times I could were soothing to my ears, lol... Before the race even started, someone from the penthouse seats up above dropped a styrofoam cooler cover onto the track, but I don't think an extra pace lap was needed for the workers to go out there and pick it up. A few of the Camaros that were making laps ahead of the field ran over it. As far as the race itself, I wasn't even really paying attention much to the running order in the early laps, as I was just in awe of the pure spectacle of something I have never seen live in person before! After a while, I realized that Jimmie was not able to catch Newman, it seemed the gap was staying the same. Of course, that changed after the first pit stop.... Dale Jr. pitted early, although I didn't know why at the time, I figured it was a cut tire or something (obviously it ended up being a loose wheel), and so he was off-sequence the rest of the day, and it ended up working to his advantage. Midway thru the race, I noticed the Hendrick cars of Junior and Jeff Gordon and the Penske cars of Keselowski and Logano were using pit strategy to start up front on the restart, although Jimmie seemed to be one of the few cars to be able to pass. Pretty clean race, no accidents at all, and poor Jeff Burton had a problem, as he slowed up in front of us in turn one and brought out the second caution. And Timmy Hill had two separate problems to bring out the other two yellows. In the final laps, I was watching thru my binoculars when I saw that the 48 team had a slow pit stop, followed by the two-tire stop from the 39 team, which made me pretty happy. I was texting my family around me (since we couldn't hear each other) how much they wanted to bet a "debris" caution would fall. To my surprise there were none, and Newman took the checkered flag! We were able to move down the frontstretch and get an up-close view of Newman and his team kissing the bricks! (And Krissie Newman is just as smoking as she looks on TV lol!) Afterwards, we strolled through the infield looking for drivers, and I was able to catch glimpses of Tony Stewart, Kevin and Delana Harvick (and Keelan), Bad Brad, Roger Penske, Joey Logano, Danica, and none other than Richard and Kyle Petty (once again)! As a side note, I was also able to check out some of the Indianapolis Hall of Fame Museum where I saw the Marmon Wasp that Ray Harroun drove to the Indy 500 win in 1911, as well as the car that Dan Wheldon won with in 2011, which is my favorite Indianapolis memory. Very cool. 625. David posted: 07.30.2013 - 11:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I looked at the standings and just realized Jamie McMurray is in 15th. Wow... 626. Ryan W posted: 07.31.2013 - 2:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) AveryNH, Nascar Thunder 2002 was awesome, too, on PS2. You could get behind another car on the back stretch and tap X continuously to sling shot like the old days. Four players was the best. A lot of late nights and early mornings having a lot of fun with the game. If you got behind and had computer's assistance on you could turn laps faster than Elliott there. Good times. 627. b4il3y posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) hashtag violation... 1 lap. 628. Baker posted: 07.31.2013 - 4:29 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) cjs, Criticizing Stewart in the same light as Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano for running Nationwide and Trucks is a huge error. Driving on dirt and sprint cars in general takes a completely different style and approach to driving. Busch, Logano and Keselowski are especially NFL caliber players dropping down to NCAA just to get their rocks off beating lesser talents while Tony would be more like a NFL caliber player playing in a minor league sport other than football. He is still racing against the best of their discipline unlike the Nationwidewackers. He's caused 2 big sprint car wrecks big whoop there is not a Sprint Car driver in the world who doesn't cause at least 1 or 2 every single year. It doesn't take much to set of a change reaction pile up with Sprints. I see it happen every Outlaws event I see and every local event I attend. It wouldn't get 1% of the attention if his name wasn't Tony Stewart. 629. Ryan W posted: 07.31.2013 - 4:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe by Brad going to Iowa it could spark even more interest in getting a Cup date there. Hopefully he has a classic race with another NWide regular like Earnhardt and Nemechek did in '92 at New Hampshire in the Busch Series to get a Cup race there like NH did the following year. It really needs to happen. The race between AD and Bayne there was awesome earlier in the year. In 1997, TLabonte had the lead until the 2nd Pocono race which was race 18, but he had a bad race and his repeat run for the title faded after that. In 1992, Dale was as close to the lead after the Sonoma race. In 1981, Osterlund was losing his interest in the sport and in the team and it affected Dale's racing that year. He had bigger investments in CA. He didn't even go to the awards banquet for the championship. After Osterlund sold his team to JD Stacy, Dale raced for Stacy for four races and walked away to Childress (who wasn't ready to compete at high level yet). Dale had no contract besides Osterlund's word. What's wild is Osterlund talks to NO ONE about his early success with Dale. Many people have tried to interview him the last few years and he declines. You can't really blame Dale for having a rough year. 630. Sean posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:36 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) Great article on Dick Trickle: http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2013/7/30/4567960/dick-trickle-suicide-nascar-profile 631. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rusty Wallace and Doug Fritz must be cursing themselves with the kind of weather they've had at Iowa Speedway this year, looks like Saturday Night will be no different. 632. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 9:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Rusty Wallace and Doug Fritz must be cursing themselves with the kind of weather they've had at Iowa Speedway this year, looks like Saturday Night will be no different. " The conditions were great for the IndyCar weekend... 633. cjs3872 posted: 07.31.2013 - 9:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Baker, the comparison between the two situations is the fact that you have drivers running races they have no business running at this particular time. Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski have no business running Nationwide or Truck Series races where the Cup Series is not running, and Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson have no business running dirt races because their focus needs to be on their NASCAR-related activities, Stewart on making the Chase and trying to win a fourth championship and Larson on his budding NASCAR career. And if anything, what Stewart and Larson are doing is far more dangerous than Busch, Logano, and Keselowski are doing, but all fie drivers mentioned are running races, or have been running races they have no business running in. 634. startandparkfan posted: 07.31.2013 - 11:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor- #16 3M Safety/SpeedGlas/Peltor 635. Baker posted: 07.31.2013 - 12:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) cjs, who the F are you to say who has any business being anywhere? Stewart is his own boss now and has ever right to run dirt races during his free time from NASCAR. He has stated numerous time he has much more fun running dirt than he has ever had in Cup. If you could make a decent living running dirt events I'm not so sure Tony Stewart wouldn't hang up his NASCAR helmet a lot earlier than many expect. Every single driver has every right to race any and all forms of racing during their NASCAR breaks IMO. I think it would be awesome to see Kurt Busch get a ride for the 2014 Indianapolis 500 and I don't even like the guy. I love when cup guys do the 24 hours of Daytona, Prelude to the Dream and I wasn't even upset about Newman running the Eldora Truck race. Racers want to race period. The only reason guys like Keselowski, Logano and Busch need called out is because they are out beating up on young kids in darn near the same exact cars they drive on Sunday with cup level teams. Stewart, Kahne and Bowyer on dirt or Kurt Busch and Allmendinger in the 500 are completely different disciplines of racing and is 100% fine. 636. Baker posted: 07.31.2013 - 12:30 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Oh and Tony Stewart has won 48 races and 3 championships running enormous amounts of dirt races in his career. I believe he can handle it. There are 45-50 other "cup" drivers who haven't hit those stats while being 100% focused on Cup racing. Him not 100% focused on cup has obviously kept his stats down to some degree but that is his own choosing. 637. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 1:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You know the issue was with Eldora? Yankee clay? Damned smart-mouth yankee b@stard clay. Not good ole Southern clay. Hence why it ran like an oval race. That Yankee clay is hard as a rock, but Southern clay forms a nice groooove. But seriously, folks, everything I've read says NASCAR did that to screw the dirt guys like Hines and Landers out of their chance to stink up the show. They even change Eldora Speedways surface and spent over a week packing the clay down so that it'd look like Truck race from somewhere like Michigan that actually ended up happening. 638. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) This isn't NASCAR related, but what the NFL apparently is doing with the Pro Bowl is just preposterous. From Rotoworld.com, with analysis: "ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the NFL is scrapping the traditional AFC/NFC Pro Bowl format, and will adopt a "Pro-Bowl fantasy-like draft." Analysis: "Captains" Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will reportedly choose the squads in Hawaii. This year's game will be played on January 26 in Honolulu, and will not feature kickoffs. It's similar to what the NHL has done with its All-Star Game, though Canada's national pastime lets current players choose the teams. Perhaps it's an improvement on the now defunct AFC/NFC format, but the hand-wringing over the league's All-Star exhibition has never made much sense. The game is inherently meaningless. This isn't going to change that, and will likely make the proceedings even more frivolous." I'll leave you all to discuss this, but all I can say is: what the hell are they thinking? Just scrap the damn game and have done with it. 639. murb posted: 07.31.2013 - 2:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Great article on Dick Trickle:" That was great. Thanks for sharing, Sean. "I'll leave you all to discuss this, but all I can say is: what the hell are they thinking?" I don't know, but it totally sounds like a Brainless Brian move. 640. murb posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I was just reading that apparently Logano will be running a third Penske NNS car at Watkins Glen, and because there weren't any better numbers available, it will be number 48. I don't know whether I should make a joke comment about how Jimmie will probably complain about someone else using his number, or if I should make another depressing "another Cup guy in an NNS race for his Cup team" comment. 641. cjs3872 posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Baker, my point is that it takes their attention off where it needs to be, which is on their NASCAR-related stuff. That's where I draw the comparison to what Stewart and Larson are doing and what those guys that run the Nationwide Series away from where the Cup Series is being run. And in the case of Stewart and Kyle Larson, did what happened to Jason Leffler teach them nothing? Leffler was one of the best when it came to sprint car racing, and even he was killed, so the same thing can happen to Stewart and Larson. You mention guys like Clint Bowyer, but Bowyer doesn't run into the same risk that those running sprint cars on dirt do because Bowyer runs late models on dirt, instead of sprint cars, but he's making a mistake, as well. I do, however, like the idea of these guys staying in touch with their roots by becoming team owners. Bowyer is a team owner in late model dirt racing, and Stewart and Kasey Kahne have stayed in touch with their roots by becoming team owners in both USAC and the World of Outlaws. I have no problem with that at all. In fact, I like what they're doing by giving others chances. I just don't think they should divert their attention away from what they do full-time. And I have the same problem with the Cup guys that run the Nationwide Series races when they're split from the Cup Series, because they're diverting their attention from where it should be. 642. cjs3872 posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Murb, could the fact that Penske is going to run the #48 for his third Nationwide car at Watkins Glen be a tribute of some kind to his long-time friend and rival Dan Gurney? After all, even with Jimmie Johnson's success, most people actually associate the #48 more with Dan Gurney than with anyone else. Remember that Penske and Gurney, who came from the same racing background, started CART together (with Pat Patrick), and are both of the same mindset when it comes to racing, as both are innovators and would stretch the rules to the limit to gain an advantage. In fact, Penske even ran one of Dan Gurney's Eagles for Mark Donohue in the 1973 Indianapolis 500, even though Penske always ran McLarens back then (his other two cars in that race were McLarens), so Penske and Gurney have always had great deal of respect for each other, and maybe running the #48 is a way for Penske to pay tribute to Gurney, who has been in ill health recently. 643. ch posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (4) "After all, even with Jimmie Johnson's success, most people actually associate the #48 more with Dan Gurney than with anyone else." I like to think that I am a fairly knowledgable fan, but I've never heard of Dan Gurney, and the #48 will always stand for Johnson to me. Maybe that's because his rookie year was my first year watching, and he's been one of the only consistencies throughout the years. Kind of like Jeff and the #24. 644. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I don't know, but it totally sounds like a Brainless Brian move." "Brainless" Brian France is the last thing the NFL needs. They already have enough buffoons on the field. They don't need any more buffoons running the show. "After all, even with Jimmie Johnson's success, most people actually associate the #48 more with Dan Gurney than with anyone else." Saying that "most people" would associate him with the #48 more than they would Jimmie Johnson is rather ridiculous. Nothing against Gurney, as he was certainly a legendary figure in the history of motorsports, but unless you are particularly well read in 1960s motorsports, which most people unfortunately aren't, I don't see how you can associate anybody but Johnson with that #48. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but it's the truth. 645. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 3:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I like to think that I am a fairly knowledgable fan, but I've never heard of Dan Gurney" Unfortunately, I hadn't heard of him either. I did look him up, and he certainly was a key and integral part in motorsports history back in the 1960s. He started the tradition of spraying champagne in the winner's circle, he created the Gurney flap, which is a small extension to the wing that increases downforce with only a small increase in drag, and he was the first driver ever to wear a full face helmet in Grand Prix racing. After reading all that, I'm surprised that I've never heard of him. 646. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) This is sad, because Gurney in his prime was one of the 3 or 4 best drivers in the world, and maybe one of the greatest races who ever lived. He is definitely one of the most versatile as he won in every kind of car he drove, AND he developed parts that are still used in almost all racing series (The Gurney flap) and the airline industry. Gurney in his prime could beat the asses of every driver in NASCAR or IndyCar, and maybe even F1 and sports cars, today. Which is sad. Johnson, possibly one of the biggest cheaters in sports history who didn't use illegal drugs, is definitely the most identified driver with the 48. Logano, I hope you shit in Hendrick's office in that 48 and pull a big win out of your hat. This is will be the only time I hope you get that meaningless win. 647. cjs3872 posted: 07.31.2013 - 4:19 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) Well, from the late 60s through the early 80s, Gurney always ran the #48 on one of his cars. He drove the #48 in the late 60s, finishing 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd at Indy with it from 1968-'70, and when he became a full-time owner, he didn't run that number, in case he wanted to race himself. But after he became a full-time owner, he ran two cars in 1972-'73, with Jerry Grant running that number, and when Gurney reduced his team to one car in 1974, Bobby Unser ran his #48, and won the USAC championship that year and the Indianapolis 500 the next year (1975), and from the through 1981, his cars almost always carried that number, except for 1979, when he ran the #36. Even when Gurney did his one race comeback in NASCAR in 1980 at Riverside, car owner Rod Osterlund changed the number of that car from, which usually was #98 to Gurney's familiar 48. In fact, a number of posters have mentioned Dale Earnhardt's good record at Riverside. He doubtlessly learned quite a bit about racing there from the master, as Gurney, a 5-time winner at Riverside, was his teammate for that race. For many historians of racing, while James Hylton and Jimmie Johnson are known to NASCAR fans as the bearers of car #48, to me, that will always be Dan Gurney's number. 648. AveryNH posted: 07.31.2013 - 5:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think the most impressive thing I remember Dan Gurney for is being the last American F1 driver to win with an American car and an American engine, at Spa nonetheless. I learned that from one of Sam Posey's pieces during Speed's F1 coverage last summer and was just awestruck by that fact, and even more mystified no American has even come close to accomplishing that since. Even more important than Gurney's F1 legacy is the legacy and impact he had in sports car racing with his All-American Racers team absolutely dominating IMSA in the late 80s and early 90s with those souped up Toyota's like the Eagle MK-III which obliterated everyone and everything in 1993. And his CART team wasn't very good when he and Toyota returned in the late 90s but as CJS just illustrated they fared mighty well in the 70s especially, and at Indy. 649. Peter posted: 07.31.2013 - 6:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Take that for kicking me to the curb Tony... 650. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.31.2013 - 6:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Off topic, back to the NFL. The Carolina Panther's GM said something to the effect of "It's time for Cam Newton to start winning here". THANK YOU! FINALLY! It's about time somebody calls him on the carpet for the fact he is not winning. I have never seen anybody who can rack up meaningless stats quite like Cam. If he played in first 50 minutes like he played in garbage time, we could make the playoffs. Ben Lowe and I were talking on fb, and he joked they should call the the Fall Charlotte race the Cam Newton 500. I said it would be a race where a driver would get lapped 4 times, then spend the final 100 laps running the fastest laps of the race. 651. David posted: 07.31.2013 - 6:36 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) How have you NOT heard of Dan Gurney?!?! 652. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 6:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I said it would be a race where a driver would get lapped 4 times, then spend the final 100 laps running the fastest laps of the race." Didn't that work out for Bill Elliott one time at Talladega back in the 1980s? Didn't he get lapped twice, then made his way up through the field and won the race WITHOUT ANY CAUTIONS? And also, DSFF, it tells you a lot about the 2011 NFL Draft's quarterback class when Cam Newton is the best of the lot. The only other quarterbacks from that class who have shown much of any promise are Andy Dalton (you can thank A.J. Green for that) and Colin Kaepernick (while a lot of people are high on this kid, I need to see more). The 3 other first-round quarterbacks (Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder) have shown absolutely no promise over the past 2 years, and all 3 could be on the outs from their respective teams following the season if they don't improve (I haven't heard anything about Locker, but neither Gabbert nor Ponder have impressed anybody at training camp so far). "Just had another infamous NASCAR argument with my butt-r@ping Johnson-psycho mother." That sucks, Nico. Let me guess: she was pissed that Newman won the Indy race on Sunday, and you weren't? 653. cjs3872 posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Especially when Bobby Unser was his driver, AveryNH. Gurney knew how good Bobby was. After all Bobby Unser beat him in the 1968 Indianapolis 500 in one of Gurney's own Eagle cars (driving for Bob Wilke's Leader card Racers), so he knew what he was getting in 1971 when he signed Under to drive for him. Their problem, especially in 1972 and 1973 was that they could never finish hardly any races, but they were easily the fastest car in those two years. (The fact that Jerry Grant almost won the 1972 Indianapolis 500 in Gurney's second car may be the best indicator of that.) But when the rules makers came up with the pop-off valve to slow the cars down after the 1973 Indianapolis 500, they mysteriously began to struggle with speed, though I suspect that they also changed their strategy to a more conservative one, which helped them win the championship in 1974 and the Indianapolis 500 in 1975. Strangely, at the moment that his team achieved the ultimate, they ran into problems, and it was all downhill from there. Unser left in 1976, and the team was never the same, even after he returned in 1978, other teams had caught up and passed Gurney. Gurney responded by going to a stock block engine (which he loved) with Mike Mosley, and again they were fast, even qualifying second at Indy in 1981, but very unreliable, and by 1983, Gurney's team was effectively done. Then in 1985, Gurney and NASCAR team owner Mike Curb would team up. Gurney built engines for Richard Petty (they were very unreliable as Gurney's engines usually were), and the two formed a partnership on the IndyCar side with drivers Tom Sneva and Ed Pimm, with Sneva havng a real chance to win the 1985 Indianapolis 500 before getting caught up in Rich Vogler's crash on the restart that followed Danny Sullivan's famous spin, but Gurney was out of IndyCar racing after 1987, and as you mentioned, his brief return was abysmal. 654. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No, she was pissed because I said Junior Johnson had 50 wins in fewer years of running (when you consider Junior lost over 2 years in Chilecothe) than Jimmie Johnson did and that Junior would be way better than Jimmie if he'd had more starts. 655. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "No, she was pissed because I said Junior Johnson had 50 wins in fewer years of running (when you consider Junior lost over 2 years in Chilecothe) than Jimmie Johnson did and that Junior would be way better than Jimmie if he'd had more starts." Try putting the two in equal equipment. I'm sure Junior would have WAY more wins than Jimmie. 656. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's what I said, but Miss Psycho-killer couldn't handle it. 657. 83andJoe posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Meanwhile, if sponsorship can be found, Kurt Busch plans to run the IndyCar season-ending race at Fontana as a warmup for the 2014 Indy 500. (If sponsorship can't be found for Fontana, he doesn't plan to run Indy, as he wants experience instead of going in "cold".) 658. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is she really THAT bad, Nico? I can't believe she'd kill her own son over a NASCAR argument. 659. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 7:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Is she really THAT bad, Nico? I can't believe she'd kill her own son over a NASCAR argument. " There are times I wonder whether or not she would. I've had people tell me to have her arrested. :/ 660. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "There are times I wonder whether or not she would. I've had people tell me to have her arrested. :/" Jesus. Christ. I'm really sorry about that. And I thought I was unhappy because my family doesn't follow NASCAR at all... 661. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't want to go into it again. I was hoping for more of a "Your mom's a loser" type response. 662. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I don't want to go into it again. I was hoping for more of a "Your mom's a loser" type response." I won't push it any further. And why in the world would I say that? No way in hell am I insulting someone else's mom, no matter how good, bad, or terrible of a mother she is. 663. startandparkfan posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:23 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) On a completely different note, these are car and driver's 20 rules to improve NASCAR: 1. Fans may throw anything on the track at any time, as long as it is: a) an item made of glass, b) a car battery, or c) a riding mower. 2. One grandstand at every track must be reserved exclusively for: a) alcoholics (blood-alcohol levels will be tested), b) persons wearing electronic ankle tethers, and c) rodeo clowns with snakes. 3. All cars must be capable of 300 mph. To achieve this, no scrutineer will ever glance under the hood of a competitor's car. (Note: Solid rocket fuel, while discouraged, will not be expressly banned as long as it is 'The Official Solid Rocket Fuel of NASCAR.') 4. The speed limit on pit lane will be 175 mph'strictly enforced, no exceptions. 5. Three (3) celebrity drivers and/or politician drivers will compete in every race. At least one (1) must be severely maimed or paralyzed in a crash so violent that it shuts down the track for thirty (30) minutes, a period henceforth to be known as 'Free-Beer Time.' 6. A lottery will be undertaken in which three (3) RV and/or bus owners in the infield will be permitted to compete in the actual race for any ten (10) laps of their choosing. 7. During 'Free-Beer Time,' fans will electronically vote to sacrifice between six (6) and nine (9) spectator vehicles to a peat bog maintained at every track, starting with the automobile the promoter drove to that day's race. 8. During the event, the spectator who starts the largest fire will be invited to participate in the victory celebration. 9. At one race each year, the National Rifle Association will hold its annual convention and, during green-flag racing, will oversee a competition that determines the organization's 'Marksman of the Year.' 10. During 'Free-Beer Time,' drivers will demonstrate their helmet-throwing abilities. Any driver who inflicts a closed head injury will be crowned that day's 'Helmet-Hurling Hero' and will restart the race in first place. 11. Every pit crew must employ one (1) actual simian, with DNA to be tested by the San Diego Zoo. This simian may have any name as long as it's 'Walker, Texas Ranger' and must perform a vital pit function'changing tires, adding fuel, or challenging the driver to a game of rock/paper/scissors. 12. At any time, members of the France family can demand the installation of snow chains on the driven wheels of five (5) competing vehicles. 13. On lap 100, one (1) driver will be selected at random to undergo a personal IRS audit that is televised live on the infield JumboTron. 14. The TV broadcasting team will, at every race, include two (2) of the following persons as color commentators: John Madden, O.J. Simpson, Ellen DeGeneres, Michael Jackson's physician, Sly and the Family Stone, Sharon Stone, Oliver Stone, Stone Phillips, or the Rolling Stones. 15. One (1) car per event must explode. 16. Twenty (20) minutes of each TV broadcast will be allotted to a segment videotaped in the grandstands. This segment will officially be known as 'Is She Wearing a Bra?' 17. Any competitor with the surname 'Busch' will be ejected from the premises of all tracks, including those tracks that have never hosted a NASCAR event. 18. At the night event at Bristol Motor Speedway, the back straightaway will include a ramp-to-ramp leap of no less than sixty (60) feet. Competitors who misjudge their entry speeds and land amidst throngs of spectators will be subject to a drive-through penalty but will not lose a lap. 19. Any driver whose car is disabled can reenter the race but only in a rental car acquired through 'The Official Rental-Car Agency of NASCAR.' 20. On an undisclosed lap of every race, NASCAR will prominently display a handsome skull-and-crossbones flag, informing drivers that the event, effective immediately, will proceed in a clockwise direction. NASCAR reserves the right to change any of these rules at any 'time it pleases. (This is not a new rule.) 664. startandparkfan posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Don't know why the text is weird like that, sorry. 665. The Long Shot posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm not sure what to think of comment #663. That was...unusual. 666. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 663 is no more ridiculous than ESPN"s proposal of NFLCAR on NASCAR now in 2007. 667. startandparkfan posted: 07.31.2013 - 8:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "663 is no more ridiculous than ESPN"s proposal of NFLCAR on NASCAR now in 2007." Agreed, or the 1991 pit road rules. 668. murb posted: 07.31.2013 - 9:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "663 is no more ridiculous than ESPN"s proposal of NFLCAR on NASCAR now in 2007." I second what Jeff Burton said in that Nascar Now piece. "The first word that comes to my mind is absurd." 669. NicoRosbergFan posted: 07.31.2013 - 9:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 663, the sad part is I could see Brian France doing something that screwy. 670. Sean posted: 07.31.2013 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) I definitely associate Jimmie Johnson with #48 more than Dan Gurney, but that doesn't mean I think Johnson is the more legendary racing figure or anything. I certainly rate Gurney higher career-wise. It just means that car numbers are for the most part less meaningful in open wheel than NASCAR in general... In Formula One for quite some time, car numbers were essentially meaningless and even changed from race-to-race (much more than in NASCAR; yes, I know Richard Petty won in the #41 and #42 cars sometimes). Take a look at Emerson Fittipaldi's 1972 championship season. In 12 races, he had NINE DIFFERENT CAR NUMBERS. The same held true for almost all the other drivers of that time. Things stabilized in the late '70s when most teams had defined back-to-back numbers with the defending champion getting car #1, the champion's teammate getting car #2, and trading numbers with the previous championship team. So certain teams did get associated with certain numbers (most of the powerful teams were associated with #27 at some point as I know car numbers #27/#28 and #1/#2 were traded more than once (as so few teams were competitive for titles...) However, the number-swapping in this period meant that the most successful teams/drivers did not have one defining number for their entire career (except for the repeat champions who were obviously most associated with #1 - and I DO like that open-wheel tradition, rather than the litany of mostly mid-packers that NASCAR has had in the #1 over the years...) The teams that did not change numbers were the teams that had relatively little success and less attention, so they would be less likely to be associated with a number except to hardcore F1 fans. Then in 1996, they scrapped that system and instead gave the defending champion #1, defending champion's teammate #2, top driver on the 2nd team in the Constructor's Championship #3, that driver's teammate #4, on and on through the rest of the field skipping #13 (lol). In other words, in F1 especially, drivers are not defined by their numbers as much as in NASCAR. IndyCar was somewhere in between. In the USAC years drivers were defined by numbers more than in F1 certainly, but not as much as in NASCAR, largely because most IndyCar teams even from the '60s/'70s did not last nearly as long as the top NASCAR teams from the period (Petty Enterprises, Wood Brothers, Bud Moore, etc..., etc...) The drivers were the stars, and the team owners tended to last not as long as the top NASCAR team owners did (although this was probably more true of CART than of USAC). Some of the owners that did have longevity had stable car numbers (A.J. Foyt - #14, but most of his success as a driver was before he had that number; Patrick Racing - #20/#40; Dan Gurney - #48), but that was about it. Penske didn't really have consistent car numbers from year to year any more than he had consistent engine manufacturers from year to year for most of the '70s and '80s. As USAC was replaced by CART, besides Foyt, Patrick, and Gurney, all the other successful car owners had varying numbers. Penske, Ganassi, Newman-Haas, TrueSport, Rahal, etc... had no car number loyalty. Even though Mario Andretti drove the last 12 seasons of his career for Newman-Haas, try to associate a number for him as easily as you can for Foyt. Can you do it? No (he drove #2, #3, #5, and #6 in those years...) By the late '90s, most of the CART teams had settled on fairly stable numbers, but then everything was naturally shaken up again when the top teams left CART for the IRL in 2002-03. Not to mention that the champion always took car #1 in CART also (or the Indy 500 winner in some years when USAC sanctioned the Indy 500 while CART sanctioned the rest of the schedule and the Indy 500 winner wasn't the CART champion). The IRL seemed to care more about car number equity than F1 or CART, and most of the teams have defined numbers there (a lot more like NASCAR), although I'm disappointed that #1 has been rarely used by the champion lately (RHR did revive that tradition this year though), and there are still all sorts of goofy things you'd be less likely to find in NASCAR (Marco switching from #26 to #25 because he thinks it will bring him more "luck" - well, he is better this year, but that's only because he had Kimi Raikkonen's former driving coach teaching him how to drive road courses; Dario Franchitti changing to car #50 for one race at Indy last year (instead of #1, which would have been much cooler?); Alex Lloyd driving the #40202 at the 2009 season finale at Homestead (I wish I was making that up)? Bottom line: Don't get snobbish about associating certain car numbers with NASCAR drivers instead of more legendary open wheel drivers, when most legendary open wheel drivers were rarely defined by a single car number in their primes (yes, Foyt is an exception, but again, his first two Indy 500 wins came with different car numbers than #14, #1 actually since he was a defending champion). These days, since IndyCar teams seem to be sticking with consistent car numbers from year-to-year, it becomes easier to associate single car numbers with individual drivers (Castroneves-#3, Dixon-#9, Franchitti-#10, Kanaan-#11, etc..., etc..., etc... But in the past, this was rarely the case.) 671. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.31.2013 - 11:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) startandparkfan, I only liked numbers 1 through 20 on your list. "2. One grandstand at every track must be reserved exclusively for: a) alcoholics (blood-alcohol levels will be tested)" Hell, this used to be EVERY grandstand at EVERY NASCAR race. That was the race day ritual for every spectator that was an adult and not my Dad. They'd show up early, grill some chicken and/or bratwursts, drink 12 beers, head to the track with their cooler full of another 12 beers, and drink those during the race. As great as the racing was in the 90s, the people watching, or more accurately drunk watching, was half the fun of going to a race. That fell off in the 2000s. But as I have mentioned numerous times, lately the "people watching" has become "hot young ladies and their assets watching". North Wilkesboro was the best for drunk watching. Not only would they be loaded on beer, half the crowd also had large consumptions of some of Wilkes County's own homemade alcohol, the clear kind. Watching them trying to get from their seats to the bathrooms was pure comedy gold. 672. DaleSrFanForever posted: 07.31.2013 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Agreed, or the 1991 pit road rules." Shhhh! Don't mention these out loud! If Brian France ever finds out about those rules, he will re-enact them immediately. 673. David posted: 08.01.2013 - 12:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) You think the 1991 pit road rules were horrendous? Try the 1973 Formula Two points system. 674. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 12:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Worse than the 1974 Winston Cup points system? 675. David posted: 08.01.2013 - 1:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hmmm, let me think about that... It was just plain BIZARRE. So bizarre, Brian France saw it, was inspired, and time-traveled back to 1973 to implement an equally bizarre system for the 1974 Winston Cup Series. Just look up "1973 European Formula Two Season" on Wikipedia and you'll see what I mean. 676. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 1:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yikes, just looked it up. I have a few thoughts: 1) That Brian France crack was hilarious. But in all seriousness, we must add "1973 Formula Two Points system" to "1991 Pit Road Rules" to things we must never speak of for fear Brian will get wind of it and implement it. 2) How do you even come up with a system like that? I'm guessing a pint or two of Guiness was involved. Or ten. 677. 12345Dude posted: 08.01.2013 - 1:44 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) About the pro bowl... It's known as the biggest joke in sports. Almost everyone talks about how big of a joke it is. Plus the 6 pro bowlers per year that decide not to do it. Which allows people that shouldn't be in it to be in it. Everyone looks board the whole game and you rarely ever see anyone actually trying in the game. I think the new for format is really cool. People will actually try because they are upset they were "picked" so low. Or trying to prove why they were picked so high. 678. 12345Dude posted: 08.01.2013 - 1:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @638 Also Roger Goodell wanted to get rid of it but the players said no because it meant a lot to them to make the pro bowl. The current players voted and came up with the current system. 679. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 7:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wow! So because we decided you can only score points in a COUNTRY once a year, we deliberately run 20 races in 5 or 6 countries so that you get screwed for running more races. I'm sorry, folks, but 1974 Winston Cup Grand National Champion Richard Petty had a more logical points system behind him. Hell, that makes the Chase champions look credible! 680. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 7:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If you haven't already, read "King Richard I." After that, you will have absolutely no respect for any driver who started in the last 30 years or so. 681. startandparkfan posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Wikipedia- "For every race points were awarded: 9 points to the winner, 6 for runner up, 4 for third place, 3 for fourth place, 2 for fifth place and 1 for sixth place. No additional points were awarded. All scores from basic events counts: Race No. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 17. Also the first four starts (not scores) in the complementary races counts: Race No. 1, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 15. But only the first result in any country of the complementary races counts. Three drivers had a point deduction." ... yeah. 682. startandparkfan posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) That beats the 1974 points system. Purse winnings were multiplied by the # of races you entered divided by 1000. We must never speak of these points systems again. 683. startandparkfan posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "17. Any competitor with the surname "Busch" will be ejected from the premises of all tracks, including those tracks that have never hosted a NASCAR event." We can only hope... Sorry for all the posts, I'll stop now. 684. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) You forgot the rule that says that outside the celebrity drivers the only drivers allowed must be surnamed Johnson, Earnhardt, or Patrick and/or drive for an owner surnamed Hendrick. 685. dennyfan11 posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) if you think this NASCAR season is boring so far compared to other series, consider the following. I averaged out the lead changes for NASCAR Sprint Cup,IZOD Indycar Series,Grand-Am,and F1,then rounded to the nearest whole. I found that NASCAR Sprintcup,with an average of 17 lead changes per race,is only second to Grand-Am,which has 18. Indycar is 3rd with 12. And even though it is the most popular of the 4,F1 is the least exciting,with only an average of 6 lead changes per race. So why is the least exciting series,F1, the most popular? 686. David posted: 08.01.2013 - 10:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ...and the rule that any driver with the surname "Earnhardt" or "Patrick" has a base points total of 1000 to start the season. 687. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 08.01.2013 - 10:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The average F1 race is perhaps 300km and 1 and 1/2 hours, the average Cup race is 3-4 hours, on a oval compared to a road course. Also, road course overtakes are much more exciting than oval overtakes, don't tell me otherwise. If F1 was 4 hours, it would be just as harped on as NASCAR rightfully is. 688. SpeedWorld97 posted: 08.01.2013 - 10:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) dennyfan11, those may be true facts, but lead changes don't tell the entire story of a race. Remember that they count lead changes even during green flag pit stops, which is the reason why Sunday's race had 20 lead changes when there were only about 3 quality lead changes the whole race. Also, the amount of lead changes doesn't determine how good or bad a race is. For example, June's IndyCar Iowa race featured very little passing for the lead, as James Hinchcliffe lead nearly the entire race, but there was still great racing from 2nd-20th place all race long. 689. David posted: 08.01.2013 - 11:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I've been seeing a quite a few of those Redd's Apple Ale commercials lately. I was just thinking of how much I liked that paint scheme on Keselowski's car, then I saw on Jayski that he will be running that scheme at Pocono. It also said in the same article that Keselowski will be making his only non-companion Nationwide start at Iowa this Saturday. So while he may run Nationwide races at the same track as Cup, he won't be running non-companion races after Iowa. 690. The Long Shot posted: 08.01.2013 - 11:43 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) That's not saying much, David. The only non-companion races left are Mid-Ohio, in which A.J. Allmendinger will drive the #22, and Kentucky. 691. Jim Davis posted: 08.01.2013 - 2:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Guys, you might want to take a listen to David Smith's latest podcast on his Motorsports Analytics website (it's free). After a very interesting interview with Penske engineer Brian Wilson, Smith goes on his usual post interview rant. This time he gives his impassioned take on the "boring" races at Indy this past weekend. Great stuff. 692. SpeedWorld97 posted: 08.01.2013 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Speaking of rants, another good rant to hear is Darrell Waltrip's on the current state of NASCAR, which is on the Fox Sports website (to find it easier, look in Jayski's current news/article links for today). It is titled, "Don't beat yourself." 693. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 3:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hell has frozen over. I agree with DW and that article. 694. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 3:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We need to go back and redo all NASCAR titles under the '73 Formula Two points system. Only instead of points per country, do points per state. And go.... 695. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Go ahead, DSFF. We'll come to your funeral because you'll be dead first it'll take so long! 696. The Long Shot posted: 08.01.2013 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) DW needs to leave the airwaves and stick to writing columns. That was brilliant, much better than anything he's ever done on TV. 697. SpeedWorld97 posted: 08.01.2013 - 3:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I know. That was some of the best material I've seen written about NASCAR. It's nice to see Waltrip stop drinking the NASCAR kool-aid like he does every other week and speak the truth. 698. startandparkfan posted: 08.01.2013 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) dennyfan11, lead changes aren't the only things that make a race exciting or not, I just watched the K&N West at Colorado, and it was a GREAT race, although Derek Thorn lead almost all the laps. There were only 5 lead changes at Eldora, a GREAT race. 699. ch posted: 08.01.2013 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, the suspected FOX expansion is now official. All races on FOX until 2015. Then 9 on FOX and 7 on FS1 thru 2024. 700. dennyfan11 posted: 08.01.2013 - 5:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I understand. Sorry. I did not mean to offend you,just sharing a stat. anyway,these are some ideas for NASCAR to make it better! 1. Remove Texas Motor Speedway and Indy(no matter how famous it is, it is quite boring),from the schedule. 2.Don't penalize someone for cheating if it does not make the car run better. 3.Add a road course to the Chase,might shake things up. 4.Find a way to eliminate start-and parks,but keep 43 car fields filled out. 5.Get rid of the double yellow line rule. I dont see why they need it. 6.Allow drivers to work on cars under red flag. 7.Bring back Montreal to Nationwide. 8.Add Eldora in cup. 9.Remove 4 car limit on teams. 10.Do not throw a caution if it is the final lap. 11.Don't throw debris caution if the debris is not sharp or harmful. 12.Allow passing under caution,but still make cars go slow. Hope you like! 701. startandparkfan posted: 08.01.2013 - 5:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My thoughts on dennyfan11's list. "1. Remove Texas Motor Speedway and Indy(no matter how famous it is, it is quite boring),from the schedule." Keep one Texas race, replace the other with Iowa. Keep Indy. "2.Don't penalize someone for cheating if it does not make the car run better." I don't see how roof flaps could improve a car. But really, who would "cheat" if it is not to make their car better. "3.Add a road course to the Chase,might shake things up." Yes! "4.Find a way to eliminate start-and parks,but keep 43 car fields filled out." Less cars are S&Ping, despite my name I would like guys to stop it. "5.Get rid of the double yellow line rule. I dont see why they need it." Maybe, I like the rule, it makes racing closer. "6.Allow drivers to work on cars under red flag." No, because that would allow them to change engines and other stuff you can't do normally. "7.Bring back Montreal to Nationwide." YES!!! "8.Add Eldora in cup." Eventually, but not now. "9.Remove 4 car limit on teams." Sure. "10.Do not throw a caution if it is the final lap." The reason they do that is for safety. If the crash is not bad, they don't usually put the caution out. "11.Don't throw debris caution if the debris is not sharp or harmful." Yes. "12.Allow passing under caution,but still make cars go slow." No. How could they pass if there is a maximum speed? Also... More road courses! PLEASE! NO MORE CUP DRIVERS IN NATIONWIDE OR TRUCKS! Rain tires on Road Courses. No more chase. It may make things closer, but we want a fair battle. 702. dennyfan11 posted: 08.01.2013 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My thoughts on s&p fans thoughts on my list. "1. Remove Texas Motor Speedway and Indy(no matter how famous it is, it is quite boring),from the schedule." Keep one Texas race, replace the other with Iowa. Keep Indy. Indy should go. the racing is more criticized than even texas. "2.Don't penalize someone for cheating if it does not make the car run better." I don't see how roof flaps could improve a car. But really, who would "cheat" if it is not to make their car better. how would a small connecting rod warrant a fine and point docking? "3.Add a road course to the Chase,might shake things up." Yes! agreed. "4.Find a way to eliminate start-and parks,but keep 43 car fields filled out." Less cars are S&Ping, despite my name I would like guys to stop it. Agreed. "5.Get rid of the double yellow line rule. I dont see why they need it." Maybe, I like the rule, it makes racing closer. I would like it removed because it allows for better passing. "6.Allow drivers to work on cars under red flag." No, because that would allow them to change engines and other stuff you can't do normally. Oh. "7.Bring back Montreal to Nationwide." YES!!! Yes!!! "8.Add Eldora in cup." Eventually, but not now. Sure! "9.Remove 4 car limit on teams." Sure. Yeah. "10.Do not throw a caution if it is the final lap." The reason they do that is for safety. If the crash is not bad, they don't usually put the caution out. Many races have been deprived of good finishes because of it. "11.Don't throw debris caution if the debris is not sharp or harmful." Yes. Yes "12.Allow passing under caution,but still make cars go slow." No. How could they pass if there is a maximum speed? Good point! Also... More road courses! PLEASE! Yes. NO MORE CUP DRIVERS IN NATIONWIDE OR TRUCKS! YES!!!!!!!!!! Rain tires on Road Courses. I dont think it would work. No more chase. It may make things closer, but we want a fair battle. I find it fair. and plus,it offers a surprise. would you really want the driver who is definitely going to win to win,or someone else? 703. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I find it fair. and plus,it offers a surprise. would you really want the driver who is definitely going to win to win,or someone else? " The Chase punishes the very premise of auto racing, which is greatness over a long-time frame. It's actually as ridiculous as telling the number one seed in football that they can't play their normal offense anymore. In any other sport, you maintain the original status of things and just have more organized play. In NASCAR, you have REorganized play AND you have your regular season advantage abolished. Could you imagine the controversy if this year's Blackhawks were told "Since you're the number 1 seed, you can't play Toews, Kane, or Sharp anymore"? If I want racing the only rewards greatness over a very short time frame, I'd do weekly racing in Canada where the season lasts from June to September because of the weather or run part-time in 2500 (exaggerated) different series, like Parnelli did. 704. Anonymous posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 1. Partially agreed. Second Texas date should go to Iowa. Also, move one Pocono date to Miller Motorsports Park in Utah - it's an untapped market, Pocono races are always snoozers, and having the two Pocono races a month apart has never made sense to me. 2. Er...cheating is cheating. The penalties should be more rational, though. And consistent. 3. Ditch the chase alltogether. 4. No. As has been pointed out, S&P /isn't/ harmful, helps struggling teams and drivers, and is, in fact, nothing new (Kirk Shelmerdine S&P'd a second Childress car (#8) at Texas World Speedway in 1981, for instance). 5. At least eliminate it on the final lap. 6. Reasonable enough. 7. Pretty sure it was the Montreal folks who weren't interested in doing what was needed to renew. 8. A nice dream but there is no way the track could ever host a Cup race without enough changes it wouldn't be Eldora anymore. 9. No. We need more one- and two-car teams, not more. If anything the cap needs to be dropped to three. 10. Agreed. 11. Tricky. Sometimes you can't tell... 12. ...whut? Um. No. Just, no. I'll add: 13. Eliminate double-file restarts. 14. Change the "Lucky Dog" to "all cars between the leader and the second place car at the moment of the caution get one lap back", which makes it /de facto/ what it was before racing back to the line was eliminated, and makes it a requirement that some level of performance be maintained to /get/ the free pass. 705. 83andJoe posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ...bah, the above was me. 706. 83andJoe posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Entry list updates: -Cup: No changes -N'wide: Kevin Lepage in the #74. -Trucks: Ricky Ehrgott in the #81, Mike Harmon in the #84, JJ Yeley in the #07 707. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) C'Mon stat nerds. A few races ago I joked about "most races won with Chad Little in the field" and somebody had that list up in 10 minutes. And it was hilarious. Get those databases cracking. Now! And just because I have to know, under the '74 Winston Cup points system, would Derrike Cope be the 1990 champ? Remember, you can't count purse winnings from The Winston. 708. ch posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sponsor change: 78 - Furniture Row / Beautyrest 709. AveryNH posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) As much as I hate to say it nascar will never return to Montreal. The promoter of the track is a snob much like many French-Canadians (believe me, they invade my state every weekend.) I've heard and read F1 also is soon to get the boot out of Montreal as well which is a damn shame. It's a phenomenonal track with passionate fans and dumbass promoters. Meanwhile Arca premieres tonight at 11 on NbcSN! 710. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 6:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I want the modern era champs under the '73 F****** T** points system (can't type it out, Brian France might find out about it). And instead of penalties for too many starts in a country, the penalties will be for too many starts in a state. Oughta be fun for races in NC and Virginia. 711. Eric posted: 08.01.2013 - 7:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My thoughts on dennyfan11's list. 1.) The racing Texas isn't as bad as Indy's, but it should a give away a date. It is due to the fact there is a lot of mile and half track dates and I think there should be more short and road courses besides giving Rockingham 1 cup date. I think the Nationwide Indy race should go, but I think the Indy cup race should stay for another year because of conflicting reports. I read conflicting reports on Indy's attendance anywhere from 75,000 fan to over 110,000 fans. If the attendance does drop at Indy, use the Indy Road course instead. Too bad this question didn't ask about all tracks with 2 track dates because I give a detailed answer the cup schedule would look like. 2.) Cheating is cheating. 3.) Ditch the chase instead despite the fact I do think there should be more road courses on the cup schedule though. 4.) Starting and parking isn't harmful as long its not out of control. 5.) It could be kept. 6.) Depends on what under red flag. 7.) The problem with Montreal is the ownership and that is why the track isn't on the Nationwide schedule. 8.) Eldora can't be a cup race or for an all star race even. I don't think the track can produce enough seats for that. 9.) No, drop the amount of cars a cup team can have down to 3 instead. Having an unlimited amount of teams one organization can have would hurt NASCAR in terms of Competition. No new owners in their right mind would join NASCAR if there is a 6 or 7 car team organization. Before the 4 team rule, a cup organization could have 6 or 7 teams without any problem even though I think no organization handle that amount of teams. I said a 3 team rule because some organizations can't handle 4 teams like RCR proved in the past. If a great driver has a sponsor, it would make one of the small teams stronger. 10.) Depends on what the problem is. 11.) All I have to say is there better debris on the race track it is called or there is oil on the track. 12.) no 712. TeamPlayersBlue posted: 08.01.2013 - 7:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) People are forgetting that in 3-5 years Texas is basically going to become another Atlanta. 713. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The transitions in and out of the corners at Texas are too abrupt unlike Atlanta so no matter how worn it gets it will never produce a race like 2011 Atlanta. 714. Eric posted: 08.01.2013 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) TeamPlayersBlue, I didn't forgot that the Texas surface is aging. The problem right now is the amount of mile and half track dates on the cup side. There is 11 mile and a half points races on the cup side without adding the all star race. That means there is not as much balance on different types of tracks as there should be. The fact is a cup schedule should have 8 short track races and 5 road course races. Rockingham can be used used as an all star date instead of Charlotte. The fact is Charlotte to me has one too many cup dates. 715. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.01.2013 - 8:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The only true All-Star race: 500-miles, Darlington, Labor Day Weekend 716. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.01.2013 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) I would love to see the All Star race at Rockingham with the final segment being 75 laps and NO tire changing. Did you lose it and spin out flat spotting your tires? Too bad, learn to drive straight Jimmie. Did yoy run over something and cut a tire? Tough luck, see ya next year. This isn't a joke, I love this. 717. TS1420 posted: 08.01.2013 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I would love to see the All-Hype Gimmick-Fest turned into a actual All-Star "RACE" and also moved to some place like Rockingham or even Eldora. A 75 or 100 lap showdown between the winning drivers of the past year. No stupid segments. No even stupider pit road rules. No charity provisionals/races/votes that lets everybody and their 3rd cousin into the race, diluting the "All-Star" aspect of the event. 718. The Long Shot posted: 08.01.2013 - 9:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "A few races ago I joked about "most races won with Chad Little in the field" and somebody had that list up in 10 minutes. And it was hilarious." That was me, and it was ridiculously easy to look up. My thoughts on dennyfan11's list, since everyone else is giving theirs: 1. I agree with everyone else that Texas should give up one date to Iowa. However, I am going to make a bold statement here: the Brickyard should be made an open wheel-only track. That's how it started, and it should remain that way. Besides, almost all the stock car races at Indy have been boring to say the least. If NASCAR drivers still want to run at Indy, then do a one-off attempt at the Indy 500, or maybe even run the Grand Am race. 2. Cheating is cheating, no matter how unsuccessful the cheating was. 3. COMPLETELY agree. A Cup date at Montreal or Mid-Ohio in October would be awesome. 4. The start-and-parks are eliminating themselves. Only about 2 or 3 cars per race still start-and-park. This hopefully won't be an issue in a few years. 5. Eliminate the rule on the final lap. 6. Absolutely not. Like startandparkfan said, teams could then change engines and whatnot, which shouldn't be allowed. 7. DEFINITELY YES. 8. In a few years, sure. 9. I'm not sure I'd be happy with teams like Hendrick entering 5-6 cars per race (Jim Smith, anybody?), but this would increase the amount of teams on the entry list, which might be for the best for the sport. 10. Suppose someone wrecks on the frontstretch as they take the white flag? Should the leaders be free to simply plow into them? NASCAR's current rules are fine, but they just can't enforce them consistently. 11. Well...it's a bit hard to tell from where the officials are placed. 12. Ridiculous. No comment on this idea. 719. AveryNH posted: 08.01.2013 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well to those it may concern, the X games big air ramp was moved from inside the staples Center to the front stretch of none other than Irwindale Speedway! Cool stuff. This weekend it'll also host a rallycross drift competition which should be equally exciting to watch. 720. DB1995 posted: 08.01.2013 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I got my Bristol Tickets in today! going to my 3rd consecutive cup race, and 5th consecutive nationwide (6th overall) both in the wallace tower (my personal favorite seats there for the night race) Unfortunately theres a 99% chance Kyle Busch will ruin the nationwide race and give my mom a "reason" to say hes better than Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne, but i still have hope lol, hopefully the cup race will be good, as in Keselowsk, Logano, Mcmurray, or Danica (lol) win, just kidding i know Danica wont win unless theres a 30 car pile up, but im hoping for a top 20 from her. Anyway every race ive been to at bristol i have found to be much better in person than on tv. Have a nice day guys! 721. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The first thing that needs to be done to fix the racing is overhaul the points awarded per race to give more incentive to run up front all race. Tony's comments about passing and racing really disturbed me. Besides, too many races come down to late race strategy calls anyways, so there is no need to race for the first 4/5 of the race, just keep the car intact and get track position in the end. Disclaimer: This may result in the winner not getting the most points in certain situations. But is that such a bad thing? The winner already gets the trophy, the check, and their name in the history books (Good God, did I really just say that?). Example: In the Spring Dover Race of 1998, Jeff Gordon led 375 of the 400 laps. Nobody else led more than 9 laps, the winner (DJ) only led the final 8 laps by conserving fuel. Would anybody be offended if Jeff were to get the most points by a large margin in that one? Disclaimer II: It will be complicated. But is having a complicated points system worse than having things like they are now? NASCAR today is like a basketball game. Everybody coasts until the end, and only the last 10% of the competition really matters. So here are my ideas for awarding points in the course of a race. It isn't a completed work by any means, but these are the aspects that need to be factored in. And I am using the current 1 point per position system just as a reference. That may or may not be changed: -Average running position. At the stripe of course. I'm not a fan of scoring loops. Award a series of points for the driver with the best avg running position, with less points to the driver with the second best, and so on. Give them incentive to race hard for 6th place 100 laps in. Because apparently pride isn't enough anymore. The Top 10 avg running positions only get points. The driver with the best gets 20 bonus points, 2nd best gets 18 points.... 10th best gets 2 bonus points. -Laps led. Not this 1 point for leading anywhere from 1 to 500 laps, with an additional point given to the one driver who leads the most. I have never liked that. You must lead a certain percentage of the race to get points. You must lead 5% of the laps to get 1 point. So in a 500 lap race, you must lead 25 laps to get a point. If you lead 50 laps, it is 2 points. If you are Cale Yarborough at Bristol 1973, you get 20 bonus points. And this is based off the advertised distance. Laps led past the scheduled last lap in a GWC don't count, if those are the only laps you lead all day, you get no bonus points for laps led. -Staggered points. My favorite aspect of the Latford points system, the way you get more points differentials the higher up in the finishing order you get. The Top 25 only get points. We'll call this the Danica Rule (imagine the TV networks: Can enough cars fall out that Danica will actually earn points today?). 16th-25th are separated by 1 point each, 25th gets one point, 24th gets two points.... 16th gets 10 points. 11th-15th are separated by two points. 15th gets 12 points, 14th gets (ironically) 14 points.... 11th gets 20 points. 6th-10th are separated by 3 points. 10th gets 23 points, 9th gets 26 points.... 6th gets 35 points. 1st-5th are separated by 4 points. 5th gets 39 points, 4th gets 43 points.... the winner gets 55 points. And no winner bonus. If a driver needs bonus points as the carrot dangled to try to win a race, then they don't need to be driving. I think this would get drivers trying harder throughout the entire race to gain every position, to scratch and claw the whole way. Obviously get rid of the cha$e. You can make up a ton of points in this system with a dominant day relative to the field. And I have ideas for the cars as well, getting the noses off the ground, take downforce away but making the cars boxier (with the paint schemes and stickers nowadays, the lines of the car are hard to tell anyways), making mechanical grip more important. I would also open up the rule book, BUT hammer those who violate the rules (not the "spirit" of the rules). All technical failures result in loss of points, and repeat offenders have more points taken away, with the slate not being cleaned until you have gone one CALENDAR year without an infraction. Yep, the Chad Knaus Rule. Thoughts? 722. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "And I am using the current 1 point per position system just as a reference." Whoops, I wound up changing that. Ignore that sentence please. 723. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also meant to add under the laps led part: A shortened race will have the % points adjusted. But not an overtime race. 724. OldSchoolNascarDude1 posted: 08.02.2013 - 1:17 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) If I could change rules I would do the following: 1)I wouldn't totally eliminate "freezing the field", but I think there should be two different flags. One that signals for the field to be frozen, but another one to signal for the field to race back to the line. 2)Eliminate Wave Arounds and the Lucky Dog rule. How often are Wave Arounds necessary? Maybe five percent of the time? Anyway, the only time a Lucky Dog rule should be instituted under my system is when the field is frozen. At that time, all cars between first and second are given a lap back. 3)Since the Wave Arounds and Lucky Dog rules are eliminated, that means they can no longer have double file restarts. Maybe the only time to have double file restarts are during "down fingered restarts." During that time, all cars one or more laps down should be required to park and finish in the current spot they are running in. Actually, it may make sense to pick a specific number of cars still running at that point, just in case of something quirky happening and a driver has the field lapped. Less cars would mean less of an opportunity for wrecks and GWC's. 4)Get rid of the debris cautions. I think it's really hard for an outsider to take the sport seriously when the sanctioning body deliberately manipulates the competition's strategy by artificially changing the flow of the race. 5)I'm not an engineer, but it is time to work together to eliminate as much of the aero problem as is possible. Track position and horsepower can make an average driver look great. On that same note, I'm certainly a fan of tire wear, too. It makes a driver take responsibility on how hard he/she can push his/her car. Racing these days have become more about strategy than actual driving talent. I'm not saying it's not a team sport, but it should be 80 percent driving and 20 percent crew/crew chief. Not the other way around. 725. 83andJoe posted: 08.02.2013 - 2:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Unfortunatly, the forecast for Saturday night in Newton, IA is for no rain. 726. 83andJoe posted: 08.02.2013 - 2:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) >I wouldn't totally eliminate "freezing the field", but I think there should be two different flags. One that signals for the field to be frozen, but another one to signal for the field to race back to the line. And they already use a "special" yellow flag - yellow with red stripes - in open-wheel racing as a "fluid on track" flag, so there is precedent. 727. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 6:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Guys, you might want to take a listen to David Smith's latest podcast on his Motorsports Analytics website (it's free). After a very interesting interview with Penske engineer Brian Wilson, Smith goes on his usual post interview rant. This time he gives his impassioned take on the "boring" races at Indy this past weekend. Great stuff." I attempted to listen to it several times on my tablet, but the page kept reloading for whatever reason. I will get around to it, soon. We were visiting family this week, and left for home just after this comment was made. Here are a few other comments I need to respond to: "Speaking of rants, another good rant to hear is Darrell Waltrip's on the current state of NASCAR, which is on the Fox Sports website (to find it easier, look in Jayski's current news/article links for today)." I read it. Great article, but I disagree with him on removing the pit road speed limit. We don't want another Atlanta 1990. "We need to go back and redo all NASCAR titles under the '73 Formula Two points system. Only instead of points per country, do points per state. And go...." Exactly how does that system translate into NASCAR? Basic events, complementary events, how would those work? "C'Mon stat nerds. A few races ago I joked about "most races won with Chad Little in the field" and somebody had that list up in 10 minutes. And it was hilarious. Get those databases cracking. Now!" Hey, /I'm/ the points tabulator here. I can do the standings for cjs's points system just like /that/. "And just because I have to know, under the '74 Winston Cup points system, would Derrike Cope be the 1990 champ? Remember, you can't count purse winnings from The Winston." Very difficult to calculate, because base earnings from any race in NASCAR history are next to impossible to obtain. I find your points system...interesting, DSFF. Once it is a completed work, hop on over to my blog post and post it in the comments section there. After all, we all know I need more views and comments there. *sarcasm* One issue I have with the system is the points awarded for average running position. Sure, it sounds great on paper, rewarding front runners, but I've always looked at it the other way. Do you really want to punish a Pearson type, someone who lays back all race, conserving his equipment, and then making a mad dash to the front? Also, you can only get average running position for races dating back to 2005. This system would be impossible to apply historically. That's just my gripe. Other than that, the system looks great so far. 728. MStall41 posted: 08.02.2013 - 6:35 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) https://twitter.com/AndyJGraves ^^^^ Click on that link and read all of Andy's tweets from last night. In case you are unfamiliar, Andy is the VP of Chassis Engineering for Toyota Racing and works as the aero/chassis info liaison between NASCAR and the teams. According to him, Toyota Racing has been independently working on a special aero package with no minimum ride heights that, theoretically, would eliminate aero push without having to sacrifice the current levels of downforce. The idea is actually quite brilliant and I assure you all that the tweets are rather intriguing and well-worth the read. He replied to a lot of people so you may have to scroll a bit to get to the hard info. The general idea is that with no minimum ride heights under this aero package, the trailing cars nose would remain sealed to the ground when following a lead car, unlike the current package in which the trailing car loses the nose when behind a leading car. The result would be no more aero problems in traffic, thus allowing teams to no longer have to use the suspensions to create aero grip, which would lead to more variation in setups, which finally could help Goodyear develop better tires. It sounds pretty pie-in-the-sky, but thinking this through a bit, I think they may be on to something. Apparently the plan is to have this new aero package in place by the start of 2014. 729. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.02.2013 - 8:58 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) My response to Dennyfan11's list. "1. Remove Texas Motor Speedway and Indy(no matter how famous it is, it is quite boring),from the schedule."-Texas almost always has one of the largest attendances throughout the season. Why would they eliminate that? Personally, I'm not willing to give up on Indy just yet, but apparently I'm more easily entertained than most. I actually like that Indy is that one race a year that becomes a crew chief battle more than anything and I especially liked Knaus came out on the losing end this year. "2.Don't penalize someone for cheating if it does not make the car run better."-NO. Cheating is cheating! "3.Add a road course to the Chase,might shake things up."-Should have been done a long time ago. If they are going to keep the Chase (and let's be honest here...it isn't going anywhere) then it should force the drivers to excel on all types of tracks. "4.Find a way to eliminate start-and parks,but keep 43 car fields filled out."-I think they are slowly fading out. Which may actually prove that S&Ping is an effect means of financing your team. "5.Get rid of the double yellow line rule. I dont see why they need it."-Yep. Supposed to eliminate crashes, but has actually caused more than it's eliminated. I don't think it's a coincidence that Keselowski vs. Edwards happened at Talladega the very next race after Stewart vs. Smith. "6.Allow drivers to work on cars under red flag."-Let the drivers work on their cars under red? Sir, most of those drivers don't know a damn thing about the mechanics of the cars. HAHA. I assume you mean the teams. I don't know why NASCAR won't allow this as is. "7.Bring back Montreal to Nationwide."-Like the idea, but easier said than done. Politics got in the way. "8.Add Eldora in cup."-Yep. "9.Remove 4 car limit on teams."-Wouldn't eliminate the fact that there aren't enough sponsors out there to fund those extra teams. I never liked the four car team rule, though, because too many good drivers would inevitably be stuck in sucky equipment even if sponsorship was abundant. "10.Do not throw a caution if it is the final lap."-Depends on where the accident is. If it happens off of turn 2 all the way around the rest of the track, then fine since the drivers would have ample time to slow down.. If it happens just after the S/F line all the way through turn two, there is no way risking the lives of those already in the wreck and those safety workers is worth a green flag finish. I'm just not sure drivers could scrub off enough speed to make it safe. This would obviously changed depending on the size of the track. "11.Don't throw debris caution if the debris is not sharp or harmful."-Giving them the benefit of the doubt, sometimes it may be hard to tell just what is on the track. This, of course, assumes there is anything AT ALL on the track. "12.Allow passing under caution,but still make cars go slow."-Ehhh. I don't know. The image I have in my head is kind of cheesy. 730. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.02.2013 - 9:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Some additional thoughts to what I said above: 1) Why pick on Texas to begin with? Of all the cookie cutters I actually find it to be one of the more enjoyable ones. Also, I know that a lot of races turn into crew chief battles, but Indy is the one that is, by its nature, that way. I kind of like that. 6) Upon further thought, I don't like the idea of teams being able to change engines and get back into the race. That would be ridiculous. Maybe a quick 15 minute red flag they could repair damaged fenders, but extensive work should have to be done under green/yellow as "punishment" (for lack of a better word) for being involved in an accident to begin with. I feel like there is an analogy I should make, but I can't think of one so I'll just leave it at that. 12) Try as hard as I might, I can't accept this idea. I understand the need for slower speed racing, but THAT SLOW? I just can't imagine how it wouldn't come off as quite comedic rather than competitive. 731. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) On point #12: Maybe do it on road course only and have the drivers do caution speed through the section that has the yellow with a one lap penalty for violation and have the rest of the track green. 732. 83andJoe posted: 08.02.2013 - 10:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^ You mean, local yellows? They already have those. Supposedly. 733. 83andJoe posted: 08.02.2013 - 10:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Entry list update: Brian Keselowski has withdrawn from the Cup race. Tony Raines has been added to Trucks in the #38. 734. Zackary Shawn posted: 08.02.2013 - 11:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Buddy Baker just said on Sirius that Brad Daugherty brings a lot to the table when it comes to broadcasting booth and should absolutely be a part of the NBC team. Personally, I've never understood the hatred for Brad Daugherty (or Darrell Waltrip for that matter) and it seems like one of the best NASCAR broadcasters of all time shares that point of view. But different strokes for different folks. 735. dennyfan11 posted: 08.02.2013 - 11:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I like that i am getting good response! and about drivers passing under caution, i don't know why i added that :) 736. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Racing-Reference's #1 Public Enemy--Brian France--has a birthday today. 737. SpeedWorld97 posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Speaking of birthdays, both Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch have a chance of becoming only the fourth driver to win on their birthday on Sunday, August 4th. Only Cale Yarborough, Kyle Busch, and Matt Kenseth have accomplished that. 738. Sean posted: 08.02.2013 - 12:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I find your points system...interesting, DSFF. Once it is a completed work, hop on over to my blog post and post it in the comments section there. After all, we all know I need more views and comments there. *sarcasm* One issue I have with the system is the points awarded for average running position. Sure, it sounds great on paper, rewarding front runners, but I've always looked at it the other way. Do you really want to punish a Pearson type, someone who lays back all race, conserving his equipment, and then making a mad dash to the front? Also, you can only get average running position for races dating back to 2005. This system would be impossible to apply historically." DSFF's system is very much in line with some ideas I have about calculating a worldwide driver ranking to challenge Autosport's hilariously misguided world driver rankings (where Joey Logano > Jamie Whincup, lol), but I don't know if I'm going to do it since there's probably no money in it and I have more than enough unprofitable obsessions and not enough profitable ones. I was going to use % qualifiers beat (the equivalent of % beat for starting positions, but based on actual qualifying results, not the starting grid which can differ from qualifying results), % beat, average natural % led (if we're evaluating drivers, let's cut the pit strategy out of it), fastest lap percentage (which I discussed, like average natural % led, in one of my Motorsports Analytics columns), and average running position (converted to a % beat scale). I would then list only drivers who had a certain number of starts over a given period and rank drivers according to average points per race - all worldwide championships or domestic championships with worldwide interest (I would include Sprint Cup, IndyCar, V8 Supercars, DTM, BTCC, and several other domestic series here) would be considered equivalent or nearly equivalent - none of this snob crap. DSFF's ideas are very close to my own. I'm not sure if I'd weight equipment or how I'd attempt to do this across series (or if/how I would weight individual tracks). What DSFF suggested is very similar to the NASCAR Driver Ratings that actually exist, and I do think that giving the championship to the driver with the highest average driver rating might be an improvement over what we had today. It's funny, because I recall him criticizing the Driver Ratings when they first appeared, but they definitely reflect dominance and running up front, and tend to ignore bad luck. I also am not averse to a points system that doesn't automatically give the winner the most points, and didn't really have all that much problem with the Latford system giving 2nd place finishers who led the most laps the same points as the winner. I prefer rewarding dominance to consistency. I would have no complaints if what DSFF suggested was the points system. I think I'd add a slight, minor points bonus for winning the pole and possibly setting the fastest lap (although it annoys me that NASCAR, unlike virtually every other series, does not report who set the fastest lap in the race). But other than that, I'm with DSFF on this one. As for David Pearson, I'm not sure where people get the impression that he didn't dominate races. He won 105 races and led the most laps 97 times! His CAREER average percent led was 14.92% (which is 6th all time, and beating most legends). This isn't backing into wins over and over and over like it seems like Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman do (never dominate but get lucky at the end). Just because a couple of his most publicized races (1974 Firecracker 400/1976 Daytona 500) he hung back at the end and won on quick thinking does NOT mean that defined his entire career. He was freaking dominant and still would have been using a points system like this. A points system like this would hurt the true strokers (like again, Harvick and Newman) who back into wins again and again and again. Well, in fairness to Harvick, he HAS proven to be extremely good at taking over a race on a short run or green-white-checkered finish or whatever, and doesn't really BACK into wins the same way Newman does, but Harvick does take advantage of lucky situations to give him the opportunities to come back - put him before the charity rules era of NASCAR where holding an advantage early in the race was actually significant and he'd be lost... 739. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 1:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, Sean, I just defaulted to Pearson as my example. I'd say that maybe the modern-day Jeff Gordon would be a better case for my argument (though his win at Pocono is a perfect example of "backing into a win"). I just don't think that every come-from-behind win is lucky and totally due to attrition (I'm sure you don't either). 740. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 1:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "As for David Pearson, I'm not sure where people get the impression that he didn't dominate races. He won 105 races and led the most laps 97 times! His CAREER average percent led was 14.92% (which is 6th all time, and beating most legends)." Exactly. I have never understood this misconception. In about 100 less starts, he has almost as many laps led as Earnhardt. And yes, I am looking to penalize those who truly are "Vultures" when it comes to winning races. As for recalculating championships historically, I am actually not a huge fan of doing that EXCEPT for comical purposes. That is why I wanted the '73 F2 points deal figured (which I understand why it would be impossible to do). I was looking for a "Ted Musgrave: 1995 Winston Cup champion" type situation. 741. startandparkfan posted: 08.02.2013 - 3:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Unfortunatly, the forecast for Saturday night in Newton, IA is for no rain." Iowa is not the worst. If it's anything like 2011 Stenhouse/Edwards, I'm watching. I know that is like a 1 in a million chance. 742. startandparkfan posted: 08.02.2013 - 3:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just checked the Pocono ARCA entry list, Buster Graham is entered. I'm sure it rained there recently. 2011 repeat? 743. cjs3872 posted: 08.02.2013 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting you mention that Jeff Gordon has a birthday coming up on the day of this upcoming race. After all, has anyone noticed that except for 2011, Jeff Gordon has not been a dominant factor in the Brickyard 400 since it was moved off the weekend around his birthday. After all, his four wins in that race all came prior to the move off the weekend closest to his birthday, but only once since it moved off that weekend has he been a serious factor in that race, and that was two years ago. And of course, his win in the second Pocono race last year, which of course did have tragic overtones because of the lightning storm that ended the race early, came the day after his birthday. That means he's won around his birthday five times (four Brickyard 400s and last year's August race at Pocono), but curiously, never on his birthday. I have to wonder if the Brickyard 400 had never been moved off the weekend closest to his birthday if he would have won the race at least one or two more times? After all, I wonder if one reason Al Unser, Sr. always had such good luck at Indy was because of when it's run, right around his birthday, which is May 29. In fact, he even won it on his birthday in 1971. Remember that Mario Andretti's first big win, the 1967 Daytona 500, came just two days before his 27th birthday. Sometimes I wonder if Bobby Unser should have run the Daytona 500 more often, since it's always been run around his birthday, which is February 20. It's just odd that the Unser brothers have birthdays around the two biggest races in American racing, Bobby's being around the Daytona 500 and Al's around the Indianapolis 500, with the races sometimes occurring on their birthdays over the years, though the Daytona 500 won't be occurring on Bobby's birthday any time soon with the date change made in 2012. So I wonder if, by some chance, some of Gordon's luck on this particular weekend, first at Indy and also last year in this race at Pocono have something to do with it being around his birthday, just as was the case with Al Unser at Indianapolis. 744. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 3:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How much says the Human Piece of Shit wins the pole? 745. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 3:54 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Michael Waltrip isn't competing, NRF. 746. murb posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Michael Waltrip isn't competing, NRF." lol 747. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Thank you, Robby Gordon. 748. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mmmm... Johnson has missed his qualifying position by quite a lot... having problems with inspection again maybe? 749. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:24 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) 3 times through inspection again? When is NASCAR gonna do something? 750. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:29 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) And he's on the pole. At this point it's pretty clear that there is something illegal going on between Hendrick, the 48 team, and NASCAR, don't you think? 751. murb posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Damn. 752. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) NASCAR, Hendrick/Knaus/Johnson... sittin' in a tree. 753. DaleSrFanForever posted: 08.02.2013 - 4:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Absolutely NRF. This has me so angry I can't even see straight. 754. NicoRosbergFan posted: 08.02.2013 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I will try to be serious and objective in my wording of this... Is it possible that Johnson, Hendrick, Knaus, and this entire 48 team are the biggest cheaters in all of sports history? 755. Chives5150 posted: 08.02.2013 - 5:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson kills the field and the other 3 Hendrick cars aren't even close. 756. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 5:22 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Sickening. 757. MStall41 posted: 08.02.2013 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I see the tin foil hats are out in full force again. This site provides massive lolz on a daily basis 758. David posted: 08.02.2013 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Glad we can entertain you, MStall41. I read your post (and followed that link) about the aero package Toyota is developing. I must say, it is extremely interesting. I really hope that works out and eliminates aero push. 759. How to Fix Indy! posted: 08.03.2013 - 2:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) http://www.racefansforever.com/can-racing-at-indy-be-fixed 760. Destroyahirismix666 posted: 08.03.2013 - 3:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) IS THIS A JOKE GUYS! ALL 43 CARS STARTED AND FINISHED THE RACE!? IF THAT IS TRUE< HOLY COW! I think the last time that happened was the 2007 Richmond fall race...not sure... I know it happened in the 1996 Tyson Holly Farms 400 at N. Wilksboro, but still... 761. Hank1469 posted: 08.03.2013 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My comment to post 759... Could you imagine them racing stock cars? One wreck and you would be out, the DNF list at bristol and martinsville wound be over half the field. Nobody would finish the coke 600 and front wheel drive burnouts would not be as fun. Heck the cars wouldn't run but about 125 mph, and bump drafting would fry a engine after 20 laps. Most engines in new cars are aluminum and plastic. 762. Destroyahirismix666 posted: 08.04.2013 - 2:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) My thoughts on the same list everyone else is looking through: 1. Remove Texas Motor Speedway and Indy(no matter how famous it is, it is quite boring),from the schedule. Keep Texas, but remove it's spring date if it comes down to it. However, last time I looked, it's getting good seats still, so I see no reason to. Indy should be kept, yes, but not the Oval configuration after about 3 more years I say. Make them run the Road Course. 2.Don't penalize someone for cheating if it does not make the car run better. You mean don't penalize someone for rules infractions if it doesn't make the car run better? Sure. I'm all for that. 3.Add a road course to the Chase,might shake things up. Honestly, I think Infenion should be the season finale. 4.Find a way to eliminate start-and parks,but keep 43 car fields filled out. After what happened on Sunday at Indy, I think this needs not to be answered. 5.Get rid of the double yellow line rule. I dont see why they need it. God bless you for this suggestion alone man. 6.Allow drivers to work on cars under red flag. Errrrr, yeah, why the heck not? Nothing huge like Engine changes, but anything outside of that, like full Axle changes, are fine. However, when the race goes back under 'yellow' after the red flag falls, make any team that made any changes to their car face a one-lap penalty. That way if it was nesscary to keep them in the race without posing a danger to other drivers, it can be done. But a team like, Johnson/kanus/Hendrick *Le-Gasp! I used them in a negative example* can't change to lighter springs or the like without facing a bad penalty. 7.Bring back Montreal to Nationwide. Wish it would happen. Politics. I hate Politics. 8.Add Eldora in cup. NO! Oh god please NO! 9.Remove 4 car limit on teams. ...It seems to be working fine to me. Keep the four car limit. 10.Do not throw a caution if it is the final lap. I agree, but only to an extent. Any debris on the final lap can NOT be reason to throw a caution, regardless of circumstance unless it is something that would put multiple drivers in severe danger, like an entire thing of sheet-metal laying on the track. If it's a crash, don't bring out the caution if the crash has happened behind the leaders, but at Turn 2 toward the start-finish line. If the crash happened behind Turn 2, yes, throw a caution instantly please! 11.Don't throw debris caution if the debris is not sharp or harmful. Yes. 12.Allow passing under caution,but still make cars go slow. Uh...Benny Hill music anyone? Just, no. That's ridiculous. Hope you like! I like quite a bit of it. 763. 83andJoe posted: 08.09.2013 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #30 sponsor should just be Widow Wax, Lean1 was just an associate for this race. 764. Anthony posted: 08.16.2013 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 70,000 people. Well that don't sound right :( NASCAR is losing fans left to right. Sad very very sad. 765. 83andJoe posted: 09.10.2013 - 3:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #31 crew chief: Matt McCall (this event only) 766. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 05.28.2014 - 9:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor of the #95 was Leavine Family Racing 767. NestieTheKid posted: 08.07.2015 - 2:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (5) Ryan Newman outduels Jimmie Johnson to score his 17th and final Nascar Sprint Cup Series win. 768. BMan0213 posted: 08.07.2015 - 2:31 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Really should lay off the final win comments until I don't know maybe they're actually NOT racing anymore..... 769. 88&4Fan posted: 08.07.2015 - 7:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) LOL. Thats the third time in two days that someone has posted "____'s last win". Check out the comment sections for the 2013 Michigan race that Biffle won and the 2013 Dover race that Stewart won. And the funny thing is... all three comments were from different people (although they could very well be the same troll using different names). Whose next do you think? My money's on Bowyer or Gordon, of course neither of those are from 2013. 770. 88&4Fan posted: 08.07.2015 - 7:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And just as I say that, now I look on the page for the 2012 Charlotte fall race and sure enough theres a comment saying it was Bowyer's final win. 771. Danish Pie posted: 07.16.2018 - 8:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) To date, the last Indianapolis Cup race not won by either Hendrick or Gibbs. 772. RaceFanX posted: 07.16.2018 - 8:45 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) This victory was Ryan Newman's only one of 2013 and his last with Stewart Haas Racing before he left the team at the end of the year. He would have to wait more than three years before his next Cup victory at Phoenix in early 2017. @767 This is why you don't post "final win" comments for active drivers. 773. Tarheel posted: 07.16.2018 - 12:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Exactly 772. The 1994 Southern 500 was Bill Elliot's last win....... until over seven more years had passed. 774. Rich posted: 12.30.2020 - 7:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Allen Bestwick, Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett were the commentators. Dr. Jerry Punch, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Vince Welch were the pit road reporters. Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace and Ray Evernham were in the ESPN pit studio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: