|| *Comments on the 2015 Federated Auto Parts 400:* First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page | View All On One Page View the most recent comment | Post a comment <#post> 1. Christian posted: 09.11.2015 - 7:10 pm Rate this comment: (8) (9) And it's Penske/JGR dominance again. Yawn. 2. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 7:47 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) Junior struggled in one qualifying session, so I guess its only a matter of time before he retires because he clearly doesn't care about racing anymore. He'll never win another race. He's even worse than he was in 2009 LOL 3. MAR posted: 09.11.2015 - 8:18 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) The Forgotten Earnhardt because he's (Kerry's son) makes his debut go Jeffrey. 4. racefangurl posted: 09.11.2015 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 2, you sound like that Anonymous pessimist guy. And 3, I wish Jeffrey Earnhardt the best. Hey, what's up with the Biff? Did he get a dump truck to drive or have an issue? 5. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (12) (1) Congratulations to racefangurl on winning the "Joke went over my head" award. 6. We need more Onion posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Still can't understand what people see in Jeffrey Earnhardt... He was okay in his Nationwide attempts, but nothing out of the ordinary. Here, he is slower than Wise was in the #30 and got 43rd fastest. He'll run same or worse than Gase did. Though I won't mind if Jeffrey ran well, but I just don't see it happening. 7. joey2448 posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jamie McMurray only needs to take the green flag Saturday night (or Sunday, depending on weather) to qualify for his first ever Chase. To that, I say FINALLY! I can't believe it's taken him this long to make the Chase, but there have been several occasions of which he missed it by only a few points (2004 and '05 come to mind). Thursday brought the news that Denny Hamlin had torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for a second time in his life (he also tore his ACL in January 2010), and also did so while playing a pickup game of basketball. Lightning strikes twice. Hamlin is expected to race this weekend and the rest of the year before deciding to go ahead with surgery in the offseason. Three names that caught my eye in qualifying were Danica Patrick, Justin Allgaier and Casey Mears. All three looked really fast in subpar equipment (or in Danica's case, looked faster than she normally does), even though none of them made the cut to the third round of 12 drivers. 8. Anonymous posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @7 - The #10 was 7th in final practice and 4th of 29 drivers in 10-lap runs in the first practice (Allgaier, Harvick and Kyle Busch were the top 3). Kasey Kahne also looked a lot better than he usually has been, 4th in final practice which was on pace with the #48. 9. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Well based on the Xfinity race, I'm hopeful that the Chevys could actually have a chance. Now that we're done using the Gibbs package. 10. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @9 Which package are they using in the chase? 11. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 9:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) HAHAHA!!! I LOVE how they put Stenhouse, Bayne and Hornish at 500-1 and everyone else at 100-1 besides Almirola and Ragan. Does anyone else find that funny? 12. JG24Ever posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Twenty-f**king-third. *sigh* This team is seriously not looking Chase-worthy, and it's sooo sad to see. 13. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @12 As a Gordon fan myself, let's just be glad he hasn't done as bad as Stewart this season. 14. racefangurl posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 11, Stenhouse and Bayne's odds just show where Roush is right now. No bueno. 15. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) One more thing I like about this race... JAY ROBINSON CAME TO HIS SENSES AND PUT REED IN THE 98 CAR!!! THAT MEANS NO TIMMY HILL!!! WOOHOO!!! 16. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) They are using the regular 2016 package during the chase. 17. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And what exactly is the 2016 package? 18. Schroeder51 posted: 09.11.2015 - 10:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Unless we see one of the winless guys currently in the Chase wreck out early or we see something amazingly stupid like Spingate happen again (I would not put it past some team to try cheating to help a teammate get into the Chase...), I really think the 16 drivers who are currently in the Chase are going to be the ones who will be a part of it. I'm pretty confident this race will see a repeat winner... 19. 88&4Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The normal 2015 package. My bad. 20. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.11.2015 - 11:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) This also marks the two year race anniversary of the beginning of the end for MWR. Congrats on ruining your future just so you could get one driver into the chase (would they a really have a shot at the title anyway?) 21. Sarf52 posted: 09.11.2015 - 11:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "where Roush is at right now" Equipment may not be the best, but the drivers are pitiful, it's time for an overhaul of that team wants to keep its head above water for the next few years. Buescher can't singlehandedly save this team 22. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 12:03 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Agreed.. Geez I didn't know Stenhouse wrecked 19 times this year. Mabye we should bring Wrecky back? 23. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 12:36 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) This is a serious question. Realistically, where do you think Dale Jr will finish in the race? Do you think he will do all right or not? I really don't know how he will do and I was just wondering. Please answer this if you don't mind, as I said it is a serious question. 24. joey2448 posted: 09.12.2015 - 3:37 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I have a serious question too. Why do you insist on posting such frequent concerns on Junior's performance? Please, for your sanity and ours, do not live your life according to how Dale Jr. is running. He managed to break out of his 2009-10-11 funk, and he'll do it again (although I wouldn't call his current season a "funk" at all. It's actually pretty good. He's got two wins and is third in the season standings). 25. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why would you be posting concern on Junior's performance when he has up his best average finish ever this season? 26. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Agreed.. Geez I didn't know Stenhouse wrecked 19 times this year. Mabye we should bring Wrecky back?" Just asking, but did you get that from my question on the xfinity race? Because he did crash 19 times. 27. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 12:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Yeah I got that from the Xfinity race comments. 28. Tyson posted: 09.12.2015 - 1:24 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Sucks to see Josh Wise qualify 37th and get booted from the field because the team doesn't have enough owner points. This system is so flawed. 29. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 2:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @28 I agree they need to gp back to the 90's provisional system and limit teams how many provisional they could use at certain points in the season. 30. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 2:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Yeah I got that from the Xfinity race comments." Okay, Sorry. But Wrecky Crashouse indeed. 31. Sarf52 posted: 09.12.2015 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) @28 Totally agree, NASCAR's current qualifying rules need a revision, the backmarker teams are abusing the system and making it totally unreasonable for part-time teams to even bother and compete. The small field sizes we see are a byproduct of this if you ask me, and if NASCAR returned to the old provisional system it would allow for way more part time operations to establish themselves 32. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 3:52 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Jeffrey Earnhardt joins the late Adam Petty as a fourth-generation Cup driver. 33. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Instead of making this complex system of provisionals, why don't we just do away with the 43 car limit and just do the 107% rule? That way all teams can race. Several teams have been folded just because they lost thousands by not being able to qualify. 34. Darrell posted: 09.12.2015 - 5:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 1.) The current system is markedly superior to the top-35 rule of the 00's. 2.) Agreed that the 90s system with limits on provisionals (start with four, only get a new one every 8 races) was the best. The only flaw was exempting the top-25 in owner points from limits. The rules should apply to everyone. Big Mac Fan's idea is interesting. I'd be ok with that if it's a situation where just one car goes home (Which I hate). Although I do think some teams need to eat the humble pie that comes with a DNQ. If provisionals are abolished, my solutions would be as follows: Either: A.) Top 36 on speed, rest get in via "Last Chance Qualifiers" race. (15-30 lap sprints with a mandatory pit stop.) B.) Qualifying based purely on speed. Sponsors can buy way into race on an unsponsored car, but not drivers. No exceptions. Kyle Larson spins and can't complete his lap? Too bad. Next time don't suck so hard in Turn 3. 35. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 5:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't know if the 107% rule would work on tracks that can barely accommodate 43 teams as it is for races now or years from now when nearly 50 cars may attempt to qualify. Maybe provisionals should only apply to cars within the top 25-30 in owners points; not locked in like the old 'top 35' rule. For instance in this race, Biffle (16 car) gets a provisional while everyone else makes/misses the race based on qualifying speed. 36. Matt Fink posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Owners points should be abolished. If it was up to me, the fastest 43 in Qualifying would be the 43 in the race. So if Jimmie Johnson, or any other top notch drivers wreck in Qualifying,or just go really slow, they won't race. 37. Unser1 posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's raining right now before the race. It should clear before the main event though. 38. 28DaveyAllison28 posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:20 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Only true way to do it for qualifying: 40 fastest qualifiers make the show, 41-43 next top three in points and the rest is history. No exceptions!! Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt jr go home, sorry about your luck!! Would make for excitement on Fridays and in Indy Car during the 1990's, I remember several times a big name driver would miss the race. It makes for good storylines on race day 39. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Its raining. *SNORE* 40. Matt Fink posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I have said since the beginning of 2014 that the reason Kevin Harvick has a race capable winning car every race is because Rodney Childers can setup a racecar better than everybody else. Also, if any other team was as fast as the 4 car, they would have 6-7 wins, 10 2nd place finishes is good, but also bad depending on how you look at it. 41. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I have said since the beginning of 2014 that the reason Kevin Harvick has a race capable winning car every race is because Kevin Harvick is driving it. Seriously, look at Harvick's stats from 2011 to 2013, and then his teammates. None of his teammates come close to him. I agree though, Rodney Childers is an extremely good crew chief. 42. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @38 Dale Jr, Jeff Gordon or even Danica misses a race NASCAR t.v ratings would be in the toilet for that race weekend as far as Indy car doing that in the 90's look how that turned out. 43. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Very off topic, but I found some names online for cup drivers that drive in the second league for each sponsorship: Buschwhacker- Busch Claim Jumper- Nationwide Signal Pirate- Xfinity 44. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Question for everyone if Menard makes the chase tonight does he lose the title of ride buyer and has he earned the respect as a racer to the NASCAR community. 45. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 6:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @44 I've treated him as a racer ever since he won the Brickyard. 46. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Calling it now...Kahne magically races his way into the Chase. Can't have the Chase this year without all the Hendrick cars. 47. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Jeffrey Earnhardt joins the late Adam Petty as a fourth-generation Cup driver." Isn't there one more fourth generation driver? I could be wrong, but I remember reading that somewhere. 48. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Question for everyone if Menard makes the chase tonight does he lose the title of ride buyer and has he earned the respect as a racer to the NASCAR community." I hope so. Because I've been a fan of him ever since I started watching. Go Menard! 49. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, my college football team is playing like shit. So I guess, I'll watch this race. 50. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Probably not going to be commenting much on this race, if at all, (I've been under the weather today), but no matter who wins or who makes the Chase, all I'm hoping for tonight is a safe, BS-free race with nothing wacky or crazy happening that ends up determining who does or doesn't make the Chase... Of course, I have a feeling the amount of BS will go up exponentially come Chase time. Look for the number of questionable debris cautions to increase significantly, and look for more driver fights like we saw last year... 51. Eric posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think it is a combination Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers for when the 4 team is so fast. The best Teammate Kevin had from 2011 to 2013 was using the information Kurt Busch and the 78 team gave the 29 team in 2013. Kevin credited Kurt matter of fact in 2013. Kevin as a driver to me from 2010 to now is a better driver than he was from 2001 to 2009. 52. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:25 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I think Menard lost the "ride buyer" title several years ago, once he began to race like a competent driver. Same with Brian Scott, although there are still some people (even on this site) who still consider him one. What bugs me are the people who throw the "ride buyer" label at anyone who has a family connection through either their sponsors or having a family member who was a driver. Seriously, I've heard people like Dale Jr, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Petty, and Brendan Gaughan be called ride buyers before. 53. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd like to see someone not clinched yet win. No matter how much criticism that would cause. 54. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I know its their job, but I just can't help but laugh at how NBCSN is trying to hype of this race. ESPN did the same thing last year by saying how exciting it was gonna be and how someone was gonna race their way into the Chase. Then Brad went out and led 383 laps on his way to the win lol. I have to say with how last year went and how this year is shaping up this is not the Chase format NASCAR wants when it comes to making the last race of the regular season exciting. 55. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, as much as I would love to see someone like Dillon, Larson, Kahne, or Stewart win, I doubt it... it'll probably be one of the Gibbs or Penske cars again. 56. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell praying. Cool. 57. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I have to say with how last year went and how this year is shaping up this is not the Chase format NASCAR wants when it comes to making the last race of the regular season exciting." Don't worry, your pal Bri-Bri is on top of that. I like seeing Michael McDowell perform the prayer. 58. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #43 I swear I have NEVER heard anyone refer to Cup drivers racing in the second-tier series as "claim jumpers" during the Nationwide era or "signal pirates" during the current Xfinity era. Where on earth did you find those? 59. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @58 look on the Wikipedia page for Buschwhackers. I'm not kidding, it actually lists them. 60. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I have to say with how last year went and how this year is shaping up this is not the Chase format NASCAR wants when it comes to making the last race of the regular season exciting." Don't worry about that. NASCAR will end up changing the Chase format again either next year or the year after that to try to make things even more exciting. If there is one thing they are consistent in, it's being inconsistent with the Chase format. The longest one format has lasted to date is a whopping FOUR years...(the "top 12 make the Chase" format from '07-'10). 61. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Another competition caution for a race. 62. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This time the competition caution is actually merited though. 63. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Don't worry, your pal Bri-Bri is on top of that." Lol probably not all he does is mess it up haha. I hate the Chase but I think if they wanted excitement they should have stuck with top 10 and 2 wild card winner format. After 2013 though I highly doubt they ever think of bringing that back. Thanks MWR..... 64. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If there is one thing NASCAR is consistent in, it is driving fans away with its constant changes and neglect for the history of this sport. 65. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) The guy said "Bill Rooney" but the TV graphic clearly said "Matt Rooney"... NBC, you're outta here! 66. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "look on the Wikipedia page for Buschwhackers. I'm not kidding, it actually lists them." My question is still who the hell actually calls them that because I've never seen those terms used ANYWHERE. Don't tell me this is a term NASCAR.com commenters use frequently...? Now if there's one thing popular on NASCAR.com comment sections that I hope never catches on here, it's the first commenter on a race saying "POLE!" Every bit as obnoxious and pointless as saying "FIRST!" on a new Youtube video. Congratulations, you're the first person to comment on the race. Do you want a medal or something? 67. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Competition caution around I think lap 40? 68. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 66- 100% agreed. In fact, I've actually replied to a lot of those comments saying things like "don't care" or "you want a sticker" or other sarcastic things like that. 69. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I never look at NASCAR's comments section because all it is raging against other drivers or NASCAR. 70. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And then there's the "P2/ Outside pole/ Second row!" comments that are just as obnoxious. The only reason I only even visit NASCAR.com anymore is to see nascarcasm's satire stories. Other than that, I get all my NASCAR news from Jayski and RacingReference now. 71. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I always read the comments on NASCAR and Yahoo because some of them are so ignorant it's hilarious... 72. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Bowyer the in race reporter. Maybe they can ride along with him when he itches the arm LOL 73. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Ah yes, Yahoo. Talk about a website I don't go to anymore. One of the best decisions I ever made. 74. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) And then there's the NASCAR on FOX Facebook page, which is usually filled with idiots having meme wars insulting each others drivers rather than having intelligent discussions. NASCAR's Facebook page is a little better because you can't put photos in the comments and therefore it isn't filled with horribly misspelled memes that say "Chad + Jimmy XOXOXO" (Yes I said Jimmy). 75. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Seeing someone say Hendricks Motorsports is really annoying. 76. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cars may run out of fuel before the green flag thanks to 100 pace laps being run. Zzzzzzzz....... 77. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I try to avoid looking at NASCAR.com's comments at all costs because from what I've seen there is primarily fanboys of THE highest order and people insulting and trashing others just for being fans of certain drivers. I've seen VERY few insightful comments there... 78. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag! 79. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A couple of the trackside cameras had water on the lens. 80. Christian posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And already it looks like it's gonna be a JGR/Penske/4 snoozefest again. 81. dennyfan11 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jamie mcMurray is IN THE CHASE! WOOO! 82. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Woohoo!! Jamie Mac in the chase!!!!!!! 83. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hard to believe it has taken McMurray THIRTEEN years to actually qualify for a Chase... 84. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Big Mac Fan must be happy 85. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Jamie is in the chase! 86. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) At long last. 87. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Surprising considering his 2010 year. 88. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) His 2004 was even better, but Mayfield happened to the Chase. 89. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Casey started really well and is pushing Newman for P12. 90. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Surprising considering his 2010 year." Not really. He was extremely boom or bust that season, having as many 30ths as he had top 3's. He came just short. He also came close in 2004 and 2005, barely missing out each time. 91. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I remember the years when Hendrick was dominate and everyone was complaining they wanted to see someone else. Now it's JGR that is drawing complaints. People will find anything to complain about. 92. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Also Jeffrey is currently 43rd, I'm betting there are people already labeling him a bust, ride buyer, or both. 93. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Jeremy's run in the 2004 Richmond Fall Race was one of the most clutch performances ever (aside from Tony in the 2011 Chase, obviously)... that's always a fun race to watch on YouTube. 94. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth powers to the lead on the outside on a green racetrack. 95. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth takes the lead out of turn 2. 96. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) JAMIE MAC-MARY! 97. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @92 They sure are! I mean, Jeff Gordon crashed in his Winston Cup debut. BUST!!! 98. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Kinzis to the lead 99. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I remember the years when Hendrick was dominate and everyone was complaining they wanted to see someone else. Now it's JGR that is drawing complaints. People will find anything to complain about." I think that has to do with the fact that people generally don't like it when one team is dominating in the sport...Of course, the odds of every team being on equal footing at the same time and having an equal opportunity of winning outside of Daytona and Talladega are exceptionally slim... 100. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeffrey is not a bust or ride buyer who has ever had good results in #32 Terry Labonte that's it. Jeffrey is just getting the well deserved seat time. 101. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony Stewart gets passed by the Dinger. 102. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Allgaier, Mears, and Brian Scott running well so far. 103. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Also Jeffrey is currently 43rd, I'm betting there are people already labeling him a ride buyer" Hard to call someone without any real funding a ride-buyer, but yeah there are some who are ignorant enough. "He is only there for his name hurr-durr" The #32 regressed a lot since Stoddard sold majority, though Jeffrey is nothing special either. 104. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) People like variety in winners and for the most part I think NASCAR and IndyCar do that better than any other series. NASCAR always has more than 10 winners a season and most of the field has won a race at some point. It's nice to see lots of guys in the hunt. 105. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Kandy Kahne is being awfully aggressive early on. And he has the throwback scheme again for some reason. 106. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan Newman has to finish 31st or better to make the Chase, how fitting. 107. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) A lot of eople like F1 more then NASCAR, but Lewis Hamilton wins every race it seems. 108. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I always wondered If Jeffrey Earnhardt's was named Dale Earnhardt III how would the NASCAR community be treating him most definitely he would of been in top notch equipment from birth 109. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 of the SHR cars that qualified pretty well have faded way back now. 110. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Jr already up about ten spots from where he started. 111. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) People don't like it that Gibbs is dominating because: A) They drive Toyotas B) They became great after NASCAR changed the aero packages C) They think their drivers are immature 112. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Jr already up ten spots where he started" But don't you realize that he'll fall back when it really matters? He still qualified bad, and he will be back to running like 2009 as this race goes on LOL 113. Christian posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @111 "B) They became great after NASCAR changed the aero packages" Then where the hell was this dominance earlier in the year? Same with Penske. 114. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "C) They think their drivers are immature " This group is surprised to see that Matt Kenseth is a JGR driver. 115. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Was the football deflated? (Get it, because its the "Brady" bunch) Okay, bad joke. 116. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Danica has already fallen from her good qualifying run back to her normal spot of 25-30th. Itchy also dropping. 117. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) MWR update: Ragan is running in the top 10 early, which probably means he'll crash later on. Bowyer running outside the top 30 right now. Yikes. 118. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yellow flag for Truex smacking the wall. 119. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex in the wall. Caution out. 120. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex hit the wall and this will likely be the competition caution... 121. dennyfan11 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Martin Truex Jr. hits the wall. This will be the competition caution. 122. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Martin Truex Jr. got into the wall, bringing out the caution which will also be the Competition Caution. 123. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "If Jeffrey Earnhardt was named Dale Earnhardt III" Wouldn't he have to be Dale Jr.'s son for that? At least that's how it works in my country. 124. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex with a flat. Annett gets the free pass. This will be the competition caution. (WHOOHOO!) 125. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch loses 7 spots off pit road. 126. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "A lot of eople like F1 more then NASCAR, but Lewis Hamilton wins every race it seems." I think that has more to do with how F1 races all over the world while NASCAR is just the US (outside of one truck race) not the actual on track racing. Here in America NASCAR is more popular than F1 and it's not even close. 127. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I have no problem with the Penske and Gibbs domination at least it's not half as bad as Roush vs Hendrick in the mid 00 seems like they won 20 plus races a piece a season for a few years. 128. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Premium" Motorsports. 129. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Great. So the one race that Reed (NOT Timmy Hill, Rick) gets to drive the 98 car, it has a problem. This guy has NO luck. 130. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I take that back, the 98 has problems every week lol. 131. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @123 that's what I meant if Jeffery was Dale Jr's son this would be a huge moment in NASCAR history but since he's Kerry's son he's the forgotten Earnhardt but I'm a fan of Jeffrey. 132. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Umm...Rick Allen, Reed Sorenson is in the #98, not Timmy Hill. 133. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green back out! 134. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Austin's car actually looks pretty decent. 135. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) How 'bout MEARS in eleventh? Could HE make the chase? Doubt it, but running great early on. 136. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:21 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I hate the people say JGR has only been doing good because they changed the packages.... They only used those packages for FOUR races... they have won races outside of those four. They've been better not because of NASCAR changing the rules, but because they as a team have found speed that they lacked at the beginning of the year. 137. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (2) (3) Here's the weekly suck-up-to-Kyle-Busch-fest. 138. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) @137 Stop Hating on the most talented driver in the garage king Busch lol. 139. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Guys having solid runs: Mears Scott Allgaier Allmendinger Ragan Crappy runs: Truex Jr. Biffle Patrick Bowyer Menard 140. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Truex was in the wall because of Sorenson blowing up. Can't really say he is struggling. Patrick is running where she always runs. 141. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Danica is a guy? LOL 142. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) My favorite drivers have to be the most hated on drivers this year Kyle Busch Trevor Bayne 143. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) I thought of a NASCAR Deflategate. Someone deflating their rival's tires. LOL Blame 115 if my joke sucks. That comment inspired me. 144. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Trevor Bayne is hardly the most hated driver... only people who say it like it is and call him an underachiever and say that his 500 win was a fluke. That isn't hating. I've said it multiple times, I like Trevor as a person, I just don't think he is a very good driver. 145. Quasar posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like McMurray is very fast tonight, already up to 8th. 146. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) MAR, I kind of like Jeffrey Earnhardt. And btw, when you called me "one of my favorite posters" was it because you like Bayne, too? 147. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:32 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "Trevor Bayne is hardly the most hated driver... only people who say it like it is and call him an underachiever and say that his 500 win was a fluke. That isn't hating. I've said it multiple times, I like Trevor as a person, I just don't think he is a very good driver." I've said it before: I don't think Bayne would have such lofty expectations placed on him if he never won that Daytona 500. Winning the biggest race on the calendar SO early on in your career will definitely do that... 148. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, Jr went from 30th to 20th right away and then stalled out there since then. I guess he really does suck now, he'll never win again. 149. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm beginning to wonder if Hendrick will win again this year. Maybe Dover because of Jimmie. 150. Sarf52 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:33 pm Rate this comment: (3) (2) No one hates on T Bayne he just sucks 151. Sarf52 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony sure has sank like a rock since the green ... 152. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I now mute my TV every time the "Li'l Doggies" commercial comes on. Same with that beyond annoying Car Fox. 153. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I guess you can throw in Martinsville for Hendrick. Since they always dominate that track. 154. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I always wondered If Jeffrey Earnhardt's was named Dale Earnhardt III how would the NASCAR community be treating him most definitely he would of been in top notch equipment from birth" With Junior getting married there is a legit possibility we could actually HAVE a Dale Earnhardt III in the future... 155. dennyfan11 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth still leading. 156. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mr. "I settle for second" just went a lap down. Tony is next. 157. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) 144, the problem is MAR is a crazy Bayne fan, so anyone that bad things about his driver is hating. And he is a good guy, which you allude to. That's probably why he has fans. Certain people like good guys. 158. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:35 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Boooooooo-ringgggggggggggg 159. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Tony has gone from a top 10 starting spot to about to get lapped in under 100 laps. 160. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jamie is up to the T10. 161. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Correct Racefangurl, and we seem to like all the same drivers except you don't Kyle Busch and we agree on a lot of topics so you are my favorite poster. 162. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:37 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Bayne is driving for a shitty Roush team. That doesn't help his cause. 163. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 88&4Fan, some people blame MS for his performance. 164. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I'm beginning to wonder if Hendrick will win again this year. Maybe Dover because of Jimmie." Don't worry the 48 team will exit "Coast to the Chase/Summer Vacation" mode and start stinking up the show come next week. 165. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish is also running well. And the caution is out. 166. Jacques posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Bonjour! 167. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Bayne doesn't suck and yes I been a Bayne fan since he was 15 in the Pro Cup series he will be better than a lot of guys just takes time. 168. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish in 16th. WUT?? 169. Jacques posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Bonjour! 170. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Jacques is warming up for the Chase too. 171. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Caution is out for "Debris" in turn 1. 172. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Someone beat me to it LOL (169 was me) 173. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I will say, again, though, that I do think Bayne has underachieved this year. No, I did NOT expect him to have multiple wins and easily make his way into the Chase, but I DID anticipate him at least making the top 20 in points, having 5-8 top 10s by this point in the season, and at least have an outside shot at making the Chase. I was not expecting him to be hovering just 30 points above 30th with just two top tens (and only one of those not a result of pit strategy)... 174. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 162, Roush is bad because their geometry is so far off and that causes handling issues. 175. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sarf52 who is your favorite driver? 176. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sam has always run well at the flat tracks like Richmond, Phoenix, Loudon, etc. 177. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Serious question here: (I asked this before, but never got a response) Considering the speed the Gibbs cars have found recently, there is a chance (I don't THINK it will happen, but it COULD) that the final four at Homestead could be comprised entirely of the Gibbs drivers. My question is...What do you think would happen in this situation? 178. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick's 2014 pit crew returns. 179. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green is back out! 180. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lagano takes the lead. 181. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano to the lead and here comes Kenseth again! 182. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 177- I doubt it, now with Denny's ACL and you know that Harvick and at least one of the Penske cars will be there probably. Although just as I type that, Denny is third, so you never know. 183. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "88&4Fan, some people blame MS for his performance." If Bayne's MS is effecting him that much he probably wouldn't be racing. The Equipment at Roush might be down but that doesn't give the drivers a free pass. I honestly don't feel it's that much worse than it was last year and Carl won two races in it. I think Biffle's age has caught up to him, Stenhouse has regressed as a driver, and Bayne, well he's just an average driver. When you put a group of drivers like that in the average equipment Roush currently has the results aren't gonna be that good. 184. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth retakes the lead. 185. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Reed Sorenson is back in the race, 59 laps down. 186. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Annett slams into the wall. 187. dennyfan11 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael Annett wrecks! 188. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Trouble Backstretch! Michael Annett hits the inside wall HARD! 189. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Annett's team has the BK Racing curse. 190. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No, Steve, the "right time" is not the end of the regular season. They are NOT peaking at the right time. Annett crashed, apparently Jeb Burton had something to do with it. 191. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael Annett crashes hard on the backstretch and brings out the caution. 192. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 4 team excels on pit road once again. 193. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @177, if you told me this time last year that Hendrick would be shut out at Homestead, I would've taken your bet and lost. In each segment, at least one team won't have a win to ensure advancing and the Gibbs team have been known to have their shaky moments in the Chase era. 194. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) You know I actually thought Jeb was something special back when he was a rookie in the truck series with Turner, but then he went to ThorSport and underachieved greatly. Now he just sucks and even Yeley (one of the kings of underachieving) is outrunning him most races. Now I feel like it was just the Turner equipment that made him look good. 195. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Serious question here: (I asked this before, but never got a response) Considering the speed the Gibbs cars have found recently, there is a chance (I don't THINK it will happen, but it COULD) that the final four at Homestead could be comprised entirely of the Gibbs drivers. My question is...What do you think would happen in this situation?" Since Harvick owns Phoenix and it's in the round before before the Homestead I'd say the chance all 4 JGR car's make the final is just about 0 lol. 196. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Is it just me or does Jimmie Johnson have the last pit stall at the end of pit road 95% of the time? 197. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) As the old saying goes you're only as good as your equipment. Unless you have good equipment and have nothing to show example Kurt Busch when he drove for James fince vs him driving for Stewart Hass I'm pretty sure Roush equipment is never gonna be top tier again so Bayne will never reach full potential. 198. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) MAR, It seems to me Roush cars are holding him back. His performance dropped off in 2013, when Roush went downhill. He averaged better in the Cup 2012 than in 2011, so I feel if Roush got up to their 2011-2012 level, he would be in the top-20 in points with at least 5 top-10's. No one can do that with 30th or whatever place equipment, which is what he's had to work with most of the time, IMO. He had 2 top-10's in 2012 and that was with a 16 race schedule with the Wood Brothers and they used Roush cars at that time, which is what my previously stated opinion was based on. 199. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think its entirely possible though that the final eight end up being the four Gibbs cars, the two Penske cars, and the 4 and 41. 200. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why is it teams leave the 48 a prime spot to pick on pit-road each week eventhough they qualify 10th or worse? 201. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) 88&4fan, you judge guys to quickly Jeb is beyond a true rookie and that thorosport truck was basically a R&D truck and the only driver who made BK racing look decent was Cassill who now my 3rd favorite Driver on the tour 202. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish stays out. This will be a crapshoot. 203. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Racefangurl, I'm with you 100% it's the cars that suck not Bayne. 204. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @194 That's because: #1-J.J. Yeley has been running in Cup 10 years more than Burton. #2-That #13 truck last year was basically the R&D team put together a week or two before Daytona, with Hayley basically putting up the same results that Jeb had last year. Give Jeb a break. This is his first Cup season with the most craptastic multi-car team, take a chance and put him in the #9 car next year, and we'll be able to see what he can do. 205. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Why is it teams leave the 48 a prime spot to pick on pit-road each week even though they qualify 10th or worse?" At the very least, just take the spot for the purpose of getting them out of their comfort zone. 206. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 183, I was kind of wondering if 88&4 might be one of those people. I agree if his performance was MS related, he wouldn't be racing, so it really bugs me when do that. He says it doesn't affect him and I'd think he'd know more than some random race fans. 207. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Since Harvick owns Phoenix and it's in the round before before the Homestead I'd say the chance all 4 JGR car's make the final is just about 0 lol." Exactly why I said I didn't find it likely for such a scenario to happen, I just thought it was something interesting to think about. Like, who would Gibbs put the most effort behind at Homestead in that scenario? 208. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) when people do that. 209. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish is going to get trampled on this restart... 210. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green back out! 211. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin to the Lead!!! 212. dennyfan11 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) HAMLIN'S IN THE LEAD!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO! 213. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeb in the 9? Absolutely not. He is nowhere near ready for even that. If anything, put Cassill in the 9 and Jeb in the 40, then see how he does. 214. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, that didn't take long for the cars on tires to overwhelm Logano and Hornish. Speaking of Gibbs, they now run 1-2-3-4. 215. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danny Hamlin is leading, torn ACL and all. Gibbs is running 1-2-3-4! 216. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish did much better than I expected on the restart. 217. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 201, Jeb is a rookie and Jeffrey Earnhardt is making his Cup debut, so I'm easy on them. I also realize they don't have the best teams. One of my rules is never yell at rookies, unless they don't survive (literally). 218. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "As the old saying goes you're only as good as your equipment. Unless you have good equipment and have nothing to show example Kurt Busch when he drove for James fince vs him driving for Stewart Hass I'm pretty sure Roush equipment is never gonna be top tier again so Bayne will never reach full potential." I get what you're saying but Bayne has been in great equipment before. When he took over the 6 in the Xfinity series for Stenhouse it was pretty much the same team he had won two straight titles in, and Bayne only managed to win one race in it. I know your next argument is probably gonna be how Jimmie Johnson only won one Xfinity races, but Jimmie is really the only driver to have little to no success in the Xfinity Series and have a great Cup Career. I'm sorry but I just don't think Trevor has "it". You could put him in better equipment and he would run better, he might even win a few races but I can't see him doing much more than that. 219. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) JGR 1-2-3-4!!! 220. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson 6th, Mears 11th. It would be AWESOME if one of those two could win, especially Mears! 221. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Like, who would Gibbs put the most effort behind at Homestead in that scenario? I think going into the race, they'd get equal treatment. What would be more interesting is if a team DNF's or gets multiple laps down, would any of the crews be cherry-picked a la Knaus in '10. 222. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson now P5. 223. NASCAR8824 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth back to the lead. 224. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) OH NOES!!! Ragan and Menard are running near each other on the racetrack! When will NBC mention it??? 225. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I said it before: I admire racefangurl's and MAR's dedication to Bayne and never giving up on him no matter what, but I'm still not convinced that this is a case of the equipment being 100% of the problem and the driver being 0% of it...I honestly don't see his career and results DRAMATICALLY improving if he gets to a better team like Hendrick or Gibbs... 226. Sarf52 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm a long time Casey Mears fan, and Richmond is possibly his worst track (1 T10 in 30+ starts) so that Germain car must be tuned perfectly tonight 227. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @218 no I agree Bayne underachieved in the xfinity series but he also had several near wins taken away by Busch wackers/ Cuppies 228. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^The thing is, unlike Stenhouse, Bayne was NEVER in any real contention to win the championship in either year he drove the #6 in the then-Nationwide Series... I have nothing against Bayne at all (how many times have I had to say that?), he's a pretty likable guy and seems like a nice person off the track. But being nice and likable doesn't always mean you will be a highly successful driver...it RARELY does, in fact. 229. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson and Jamie 5-6, best of the non-Yotaas 230. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth has a real rice rocket tonight. Gibbs is still 1-2-3-4. 231. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) MAR, he had a lot of bad luck in his minor league races. Like last fall, he cut a tire while leading at Texas and hit the wall. He also got wrecked by other drivers, for example, he had some incidents with rookie drivers last year. 232. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Man, that #1 car is really fast... 233. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:16 pm Rate this comment: (3) (4) Keep Toyota out of victory lane. 234. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "@218 no I agree Bayne underachieved in the xfinity series but he also had several near wins taken away by Busch wackers/ Cuppies" You're right he has, but not as many as you might think. These are just my numbers, so they might not be 100% right, but he would only have 7 wins. I only go through at the end of the year so these numbers are only through 2014 but Bayne is behind other recent Xfinity driver like Chase who would of had 9 wins, Ryan Blaney who was at 10, Justin Allgaier at 13, and of course the driver he took over for Stenhouse who would be at 27 yes 27 wins. Even if you take away the Cup drivers Bayne's numbers would still be on the low end. 235. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (4) Brian Scott, if he had a head cold, he'd be full of snot. 236. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 233, maybe Jamie McMurray or even Kyle Larson could so that. 237. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^We have a winner for the most childish comment posted on this page tonight! 238. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:20 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jamie to fifth. Even if he won I'd be happy. Just give us a new winner, PLEASE 239. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:20 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Bayne lead the points in the xfinity series on a couple different occasions 240. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Gibbs 1-2-3-4. I think this will be a Gibbs championship race at Miami. 241. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Hey "Anonymous", do us all a favor and actually get a real name. Because people who post as "Anonymous" are just cowards behind a computer. 242. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 239, I remember last year, he was tied with Regan Smith at one point. 243. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) For the record, I was referring to comment #235 as the most childish post on here tonight, not racefangurl's comment right afterwards. This is a comment that needed to be made WHY exactly? 244. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) To Be honest with Stenhouse was one hell of a driver in the xfinity series I did the stats to myself i think he would of had like 13 wins in one season but since he got with Danica he lost all his talent he's the second coming of Elton Sawyer 245. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Still 23 cars on the lead lap surprisingly, considering there haven't been hardly any cautions. 246. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Except Patty Moise wasn't a whiny drama queen like Waaahnica. 247. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bayne was on top of the points early last year through early-season consistency, but his performance tapered off over the course of the year. Yeah, he had several accidents along the way, but he just was not consistent enough to stay up front in points and ultimately ended up being a non-factor in the title hunt. I know you are hoping for this to be a Joey Logano-type situation where his performance significantly picks up when he gets with a new team, but again, I honestly don't foresee it happening... 248. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth is about to lap into the top-15. 249. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jamie Mac has broken up the Gibbs 1-2-3-4 stranglehold on the field. Finally! 250. We need more Onion posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "Keep Toyota out of victory lane. " Let's get the Australian Chevy SS there instead! 251. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ...how the hell is Almirola 9th? 252. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A lot teams are having good runs. Just none of them are giving Gibbs anything. 253. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What happened to Edwards? He's back to 11th! 254. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chip ganassi seems to be fast here this season. 255. Quasar posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Menard and Newman are out to lunch. 256. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Bayne lead the points in the xfinity series on a couple different occasions" Try once, after Auto Club last year which was the 5th race of the season. Trevor has led the Xfinity series as long as Ryan Reed has. One Week. 257. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) We'd have had a competition caution by now if someone like Harvick was lapping the field like this , but NASCAR can't seem to find any bogus debris when their favored team is dominating. 258. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh goody Nap-Time's getting closer to the front. Kenseth's been fast all night but i guarentee he rolls over to Jimmie if he gets near him. 259. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Menard 27th if a new driver currently wins he's out. But the only drivers I could see legitimately winning Richmond that is 17th or below without a win would be Larson,kahne and maybe almirola to add that underdogs twist to this. 260. Jacques posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I'm back! 261. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola went from outside the top 20 to passing Gordon for seventh in just 50 laps. Caution because Matt Kenseth had too big of a lead, and NASCAR just can't have that! 262. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) At worst Trevor wins 10 races in his career if he switches teams but however I'm kinda suspicious that advocare is going to sponsor Buesher now in the xfinity series to end the season so idk maybe Bayne could be replaced in cup. 263. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Could ALMIROLA be the driver who wins his way into the chase? Nah, doubt it. Caution, Wrecky gets the free pass. 264. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @259, Kahne's been lapped. That's gonna be a tough go. 265. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This race seems to be so bi-polar almirola running 20th to 8th Edwards 4th to 11th 266. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @256 let's not compare Ryan Reed with Jayne please don't let me laugh myself into a coma 267. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Kenseth won the "race" off pit road by about 5 seconds. Geez. 268. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:36 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Reed isn't even a pimple on his ass compared to bayne. 269. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't know about anyone named Jayne racing. 270. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "At worst Trevor wins 10 races in his career if he switches teams but however I'm kinda suspicious that advocare is going to sponsor Buesher now in the xfinity series to end the season so idk maybe Bayne could be replaced in cup." If by 10 wins you mean 10 Cup wins i'm willing to take you up on that bet. At this point I can't see him having a better career than say Jamie McMuarry and he currently only has 7 wins. 271. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @269 welcome to the world of auto correct 272. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Crazy to think that if not for Kyle Busch's hot streak in which he won four races and stormed his way into the top 30 in points, we'd quite possibly see Almirola race his way into the Chase with just one prior top 10 all season long... 273. Zackary Shawn posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I'm kinda suspicious that advocare is going to sponsor Buesher now in the xfinity series to end the season so idk maybe Bayne could be replaced in cup." I think it more likely that Stenhouse gets replaced at this point, though. He may have had a better Xfinity career, but he's had 3 years and hasn't done diddly squat. 274. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Nap-Time should win this one. 275. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) With all the comers and goers in this race, maybe, just maybe, the Gibbs cars will start to fade. Doubt it though. 276. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "@256 let's not compare Ryan Reed with Jayne please don't let me laugh myself into a coma" Not trying too. Just trying to show you that measuring someones success by how many weeks they have led the series standings is a bad idea lol 277. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch with a Reverse-Jeff Gordon restart! 278. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch goes three-wide going into the first corner on the restart, easily takes the lead, and pulls away. 279. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @272 Almirola beens extremely consistent has raced around 10th thru 7h just seems to fall off around the end of it which gets him 11th-20th at the end of the day 280. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) He should be okay, he's NASCAR's favorite. 281. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) @280 no that's Jr. 282. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kyle should be black flagged for that, but at the same time Chris did that same move at the first Iowa race this year and he wasn't either. 283. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle may have been an unapproved lane change to make that aggressive move on the restart to take the lead. Looks like he definitely was beginning to make that move before they took the green... 284. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) @274 i didn't post that I don't know who nap time is. And who is using my post name @266 isn't me either 285. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Is Danica STILL trying to wreck Sam? 286. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I defend my favorite drivers no matter what. As long as you can respect them, you'll be fine in my eyes. 287. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @280 And don't forget that the pit road speed limit doesn't appear to be quite as "limiting" lately (Edwards last week, Kyle tonight at least) for the JGR drivers as it is for the other teams. 288. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth the new leader. 289. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @286 so who u defending, danica Patrick? 290. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nap Time = Jimmie Johnson Dumb nickname if you ask me 291. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Of course there's no penalty... if that was Harvick or someone there would've been a penalty. 292. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR calls no penalty on the #18 for that restart. Saw that coming... 293. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This race is such a drag. 294. Zackary Shawn posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:48 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) It's kind of shocking that, even with a 16 car Chase, the once mighty Roush Fenway Racing almost certainly isn't going to land a single car in The Chase. 295. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Stenhouse 15th that's a first 296. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) And now we have an all- Gibbs & Penske top five. Snore. 297. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "This race is such a drag." Still not the worst race of the year...that Michigan race a month ago was just painful to watch. 298. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 289, no. I like 1. Trevor Bayne 2. Joey Logano 3. Martin Truex, Jr., Landon Cassill 4. Austin Dillon, Cole Whitt 5. Ty Dillon, Ryan Truex, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Regan Smith, Chase Elliott 299. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 294, they need to handle like they did in 2012. I've been told the geometry of the Roush cars is so off, it messes up the handling. 300. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 RCR cars will be in the chase possibly this season that's a first. 301. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (5) 297, this race isn't a drag. It's not a drag race. LOL 302. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) ^That was such a bad joke that I couldn't help but facepalm myself upon seeing it... 303. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Already lap 255 304. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well at least my fantasy team isn't completely sucking this week *knock on wood* 305. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) @301 just stop posting on here 306. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 9:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 RCR cars will be in the chase possibly this season that's a first. I'm pretty sure Harvick(29) and Jeff Burton(31) made the Chase together a couple times. 307. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @306 RCR has actually put 3 cars in the chase before. Burton Harvick and Bowyer all made the Chase 2 or 3 time for RCR. I want to say 07, 08 and 10 is when they did it. 308. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Racefangurl keep posting 309. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm pretty sure there were a few years where Harvick, Burton, and Bowyer all made the chase. 2007 and 2008 come to mind. 310. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) You need to chill out on the bad puns racefangurl, they are not cool. 311. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) 305, you're not the boss of this site. I was compared to "a certain arrogant control freak" poster once. Actually, last year, when I was new to the race comments boards. Stop being a control freak. Based on my experience here, that behavior doesn't go over too well. 312. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mears has fallen off the face of the Earth 313. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola's got to have one of THE best long run cars, he's on the move again after dropping back on the restart. 314. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Actually in 2010 RCR had all 3 cars in the chase. 315. Matt L posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just a deflating race so far. Gordon, Larson, Mears, Almirola running better than usual, but it's too little too late for all except Gordon. 316. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Oh yeah, a time when RCR and Roush were contending for wins on a regular basis. Those were the days. 317. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) First time a non-Gibbs car breaks into the top 3 in over 150 laps. 318. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) So if someone new wins, will Menard and Bowyer have an "intentional spinout" contest to get the last spot in the chase? 319. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm surprised Denny has been running this well with his ACL. 320. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @319 who isn't 321. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 315, the only way a race could be deflating would be if a crapload of drivers blew their tires. 322. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Annett rejoins the race, 160 laps down. At this rate, this will be the first time ever we have TWO races in which every car took the checkered. 323. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @318 Clint Menard and Paul Bowyer will do everything they can to make the chase. 324. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) racefangurl, can you PLEASE stop with the corny attempts at humor? A monkey wouldn't even laugh at those... 325. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 319, he's probably too adrenalized or focused on the race to be bothered, when he's in the car. 326. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What ever happened to Richmond being an exciting race? 327. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think the best chance for someone to win their way into the chase at this point is Almirola. But it would pretty much have to go green the rest of the way and at least two Gibbs cars would have to blow up. 328. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hat trick for Jacques. 329. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution to get Harvick back on the lead lap. 330. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution for, err, something. Harvick being lapped? 331. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 324, maybe you should go to the monkey house at the zoo and test your theory out. 332. Jocko Flocko posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) OOH OOH OOH EEH EEH EEH AAH AAH AAH *slings poo at Schroeder51* 333. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "What ever happened to Richmond being an exciting race?" Dunno. Iowa needs to get a date. 334. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 95 pulls a Montoya. 335. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael McDowell hits the clean up truck 336. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael McDowell hit the safety truck under yellow! Everyone's alright but the back end of the #95 Ford is torn up pretty bad. 337. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell hit the vehicle out to pick up the debris and turned his car into a Camping World truck. 338. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Michael McDowell went to the driving school of Juan Pablo Montoya. 339. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell hits the safety truck and tears nearly his whole rear end off. 340. Brad R. posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) the 95 just hit the safety truck 341. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Juan McDowell strikes again. 342. Stewart14rocks posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @315 that's not even corny that's just flat out shitty 343. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell swung inside at the last minute and only clipped the truck, doesn't look like the truck moved much thankfully. 344. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well NASCAR, thats what happens when you throw cautions for invisible deBriS. 345. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Suddenly all of Hendrick's cars are near the front. Except............wait for it...........Kahne. 346. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Funny how McDowell was doing the invocation where they usually thank god for safety and stuff, and he runs into the safety truck. 347. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell, his crew chief, and spotter get called to the "Big White Truck" for a conversation after the race for that incident. Interesting how NBC showed that clip once with no replays, mentioned it somewhat humorously, and is now icing over it a bit. 348. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No!. McMurray and Harvick all got penalties. 349. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell and his crew have been called to the trailer after the race. McMurray, Keselowski, and Harvick got pit penalties. 350. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Maybe my corny humor stems from lunch. I went to a picnic for the disabled (for the new posters' sakes, I have Asperger's) and ate some corn there. Asperger's is a form of autism and some of the autistic are race fans. 351. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick is already almost a lap down again. Under 100 to go. 352. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Allgaier is 19th. ð??¸â?* And yes I just made an emoticon. 353. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 352- Or not. 354. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "What ever happened to Richmond being an exciting race?" I don't know. It feels like teams kind of treat this track as a 1.5 miler rather than a short track and don't race as aggressively any more. 355. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So much for Kahne pulling that upset Richmond win... 356. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jr to 5th. Yes! 357. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:19 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) The last time there was any aggressive driving in a September Richmond race was 2003 at the latest. Everyone drives like a wuss now so as not to hinder anyone's last-minute chances of making NASCAR's idiotic playoff. 358. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) racefangurl. Just stop, you aren't funny. 359. 02Justin10 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe Richmond needs to be used next year with the low downforce package? 360. jabber1990 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "the race was postponed due to an accident involving the Safety vehicle"-Text from a friend 361. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The last time I remember aggressive racing at Richmond was, well, Spingate. 362. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell is done for the night, and Annett has gone back to the garage. Well, so much for all 43 cars finishing this race... 363. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell was parked by the look of it. Annett is off the track again too. 364. Quasar posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 359. Yes, it would be better. Right now they have too much grip for a track like richmond. 365. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell was actually parked for his incident. 366. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) WTF happened to Hornish? He was in the top 20, now he's 31st! 367. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 359, they'll probably use the Indy/Michigan package at every track next year and then when Sprint is done, no more NASCAR and we can all go watch IndyCar, F1, drag races(they're such a drag) and the local tracks. 368. Pun posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth and his Toyota are having a Supra night. 369. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:26 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Seriously the drag joke is getting really old. 370. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Biffle needs to retire. Unlike his teammates, he hasn't cracked the top-25 all night. 371. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) McDowell's car WAS badly damaged enough to the point where I don't think they could have fixed it, anyways... 372. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hate to say Kanhe needs to go, but I don't want to because he is actually performing better then Dale from 09-11. 373. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @370 Come on. Throughout the season Biffle has done much better than Stenhouse and Bayne. 374. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Come on Aric! 375. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Annett is out of the race. 376. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Look who's just ahead of Danica Patrick. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! 377. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Dan Patrick: what Danica would be if she were a man. 378. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola's car is fantastic on the long runs, but I doubt he'll catch the Gibbs juggernauts to contend for the win. He'll definitely get a top 5 if we stay green, though... 379. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:32 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @377 A popular, successful sports commentator? 380. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 373, he's an old guy. He needs to retire so Buescher or even Bubba can move up and show how bad the cars handle. 381. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Allgaier??? 382. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 379- Not a race car driver. 383. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth is performing how Brad did last year at this track. Dominating. 384. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Uh oh, Kenseth has a three second lead with fifty laps to go. Will we say a Jacques caution before the end of the race to try to let someone else have a shot at the win? 385. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm surprised that Waffle House is on a blue car... 386. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 381, it was Bayne when I first typed that comment and she hates him. Says he races her too hard. He got rear-ended by her last week and I'd hate to see a repeat of that. If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. 387. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @384 Instead of Jacques we will see the return of Clint Menard. 388. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Its because any car Almirola drives is Petty Blue because its the 43 (except the Air Force car which is dark blue), that started a few years ago. Originally the Smithfield car was white. 389. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A step in the right direction for Ricky Stenhouse would be not hitting the wall. 390. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @385 Smithfield I think actually promoted the fact that they would sponsor the #43 car for most of the season with a Petty Blue paint scheme when they started that pattern. 391. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Jaques where are you!? 392. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola is up to fourth. If they could just get that car to run as well on the short run as well as the long one he would be a major threat for the win. 393. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 30 to go. Menard is on the bubble, 18 points in front of Almirola. 394. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 392, looks to me, based on something I saw on twitter, BLOWman may show up instead of Jaques. "Bowman blowing up?" 395. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes!! I can't believe I'm excited for a caution. 396. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 391, not 392 397. MAR posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Serious question I been on here two years who the hell is Jacques 398. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NBC hyping up the caution and they get it. 399. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Jaqes where are you?" He just arrived. 400. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 26 to go and just as the announcers openly cheer for a caution we get one. Looks like its for a chunk of rubber on the course. 401. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Debris for clag? 402. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Jacques is here to try to help Almirola sneak his way into the Chase. 403. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That looks like a piece of rubber......................... but that's besides the point. 404. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Petty has to battle the Gibbs' 'Super Guns'. 405. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Knew it lol Nascar would never let a race like this play out 406. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @397 It appears to be a nickname for debris cautions, especially phantom ones, that some site users like. I don't get it either. I don't think it's a reference to Villenueve. 407. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Bonjour, Jacques. Called it. 408. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @397 Jacques refers to the phantom debris cautions that NASCAR throws. I don't know who came up with the nickname though. 409. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola got a spot, didn't take fuel. 410. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola moves up to third as his team chooses not to give him fuel to speed up his pit stop, passing Kyle Busch in the pits. 411. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 406, some say it's a play on Jaques DeBris a French racer because debris came from French. 412. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Almirola comes out third. While a part of me would be really happy to see Almirola pull off the upset, another part of me DOESN'T want to see him win because based on his performance thus far this year, I can easily see him be done in just one round. 413. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How the hell wasn't Kyle speeding there...... 414. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's early in the football season, so it's only proper to compare Almirola vs. Gibbs to "random FCS team" vs. SEC powerhouse, only he's facing 4 of them at once, plus some Big 12 teams. It would really be something if he could pull it off. 415. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) How does not taking fuel save time? Even though he still took 4. 416. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Come on Aric... 417. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Kenseth jumped that restart. 418. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth just jumped the $hit out of that restart... He was gone like 2 car lengths before the restart box. 419. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 15 laps left to set up the Chase. 420. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Almirola loses a spot on the restart. That move would have been amazing if his car was great on the short run... 421. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:52 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) To all my haters here: One of these days, I may just disappear. 422. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Just of note here, the Petty team bought the remains of Evernham, who Jeremeth drove for in 2004. 423. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Will the obvious jump go unpenalized? This is a Gibbs car we're talking about, so it would be surprising to see justice served. 424. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ten laps to go. Can we have ten BS-free laps before we start the Chase? 425. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kenseth just jumped the $hit out of that restart... Logano on the race start cleared 2nd/3rd by 2 car lengths before start/finish. I guess it doesn't matter now. 426. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeffrey Earnhardt loses another lap. He's 39th BUT he's kept his nose clean and stayed out of the way so not a hopeless night. 427. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The rules are so inconsistent. I say the drivers go when they see the green flag waving. 428. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:54 pm Rate this comment: (5) (1) BS. Second time tonight a Gibbs car gets no penalty on a restart. 429. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Five to go. 430. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) MWR's #15 crew heading for the unemployment line but it looks like they are going to get a shot at the Chase first. Go get'em boys! 431. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Junior is going to get a top five out of this. Amazing. 432. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) White flag! One lap left before we start the Chase! 433. Nathan8848 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Led all but 50 laps. Wow. 434. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hornish didn't spin out before the white flag. Game over. 435. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) All right Clint, time to itch at the arm! 436. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Matt Kenseth scores his third win in the last six races leading up to the chase. Almirola finishes fourth but it's not enough. Paul Menard has made the Chase! 437. Lucstar88 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:57 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Can 2016 happen already. Bring the darlington package please. 438. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Kinzis wins, IAS and Menarche are both in the chase. Sucks for Almirola, he's the only one who even tried. 439. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:59 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) After a very fun Darlington race we are brought back to earth with the malaise that is the 2015 Sprint Cup Package. 440. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Kenseth dominates this race NEARLY as much as Brad dominated it last year and easily takes home the victory. Almirola comes home fourth, but it isn't enough to unseat Menard from the Chase. Not THE most exciting race, but at least we didn't see somebody cheat to try to help a teammate squeak into the Chase! 441. Anonymous posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) I'd be shocked if all four Gibbs cars aren't still standing come Homestead. If it were four Hendrick cars with such a huge advantage, you know everyone and their mother would be crying foul. But when Gibbs is so far ahead of everyone else, the world is A-OK apparently. 442. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 10:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jeffrey Earnhardt's Cup debut ends with a 40th-place finish. This was the first Cup race with two Earnhardts in the field the 2005 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega where Jeffrey's father Kerry Earnhardt raced against Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 443. Lucstar88 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @440 At least that race is still talked about. This race will be forgotten in 2 days. Even less. 444. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'd love to see Kenseth win the title. He should been black flagged but leave it to NASCAR to be inconsistent. If I had to describe the race in one word it would be yawn. 445. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) He might have jumped that last start but Kenseth is the only driver at JGR that I actually don't mind so congrats to him. 446. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:01 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) Pretty much a mirror of last years race. Hyped up to be "one last chance for a driver to get a win" and its a total snorefest. 447. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (8) (0) But MAN, was NASCAR ever lenient to the Gibbs cars on restarts tonight... 448. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Jeff Gordon's final season sees him make the Chase. Wonder Boy's still got it! 449. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "At least that race is still talked about." Could just be me (in fact, it probably IS just me), but I would honestly rather an unmemorable race over a race memorable for ALL the wrong reasons such as the 2013 race. Races like that just leave a REALLY bad aftertaste in my books... 450. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) 446 wasn't me. Roush missed the Chase. What skunks! NASCAR's Mets. The entire team's performance stinks. 451. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The biggest question for Almirola should have been if they plan to finally take the yellow 43 off the roof. 452. Canadianfan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) JGR has now won eight of the last 12 races they have really turned it on as of late and they have won 11 of the first 26. 453. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) And no Roush in the chase. The team that once put all 5 of their cars in the chase when it was only 10 cars. 454. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:08 pm Rate this comment: (4) (1) Kyle Busch jumps from 28th to 3rd in points! If he wins the title, then you have lost all credibility NASCAR. 455. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 457, how the mighty have fallen. :( 456. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:09 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @454, but the Mets are making the playoffs. 457. TS1420 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:09 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Is it just me or did it seem like everybody except the 20 & 43 team gave up and was just content to ride around after about half-way? 458. BMan0213 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "446 wasn't me. Roush missed the Chase. What skunks! NASCAR's Mets. The entire team's performance stinks." Ummmmmmmmm yeah you do know the Mets are leading the NL East and are more than likely gonna make the playoffs right... 459. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (5) 463, I once saw some people making Mets jokes, saying it stands for My Entire Team Stinks, May Ends The Season and Mathematically Eliminated These Season. Roush is NASCAR's M(y) (E)ntire (T)eams (S)tinks. Their cars all stink. 460. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) at least, in the Cup. 461. racefangurl posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I meant to say This not These 462. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) More like the New York (J)ust (E)nd (T)his (S)eason 463. 02Justin10 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:17 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Maybe it's time for the September Richmond race goes to Iowa...and Richmond could finally bring IndyCar back. Congrats to Kenseth though...he had the dominant car. And I would give a pat on the back to Almirola. It's not every day the #43 car runs in the top 5. 464. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:17 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Matt now has three wins since Busch last won, yet people will still probably argue that Kyle is the hottest driver in NASCAR right now. 465. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) So, now that we know who the 16 Chase drivers are, the question is...who do you think the unlucky four who fail to advance past Round 1 will be? Paul "Invisible Man" Menard is probably the most obvious choice (but then again, it's possible he could get his way through Round 1 through consistency), but other than that, it's a bit more difficult to say. My guesses are: Menard Bowyer Gordon (hate to say it, but based on how inconsistent he's been this year, it's EASY to see him failing to advance past Round 1) And I'll take a shot in the dark here with my fourth guess...McMurray Guess we'll just have to see. Now when we get past Round 1 it will probably be a LOT easier to guess who won't get past Round 2... 466. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Did he seriously just mention that moron Justin Bieber??? 467. Schroeder51 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^Justin Bieber is STILL relevant...? 468. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Justin Bieber is relevant in 2015. Said no one ever. 469. 02Justin10 posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm thinking the first 4 eliminated will be: #24-Gordon (He won't have no terrible races, but 3 finishes of 15th-20th may leave him just out this time.) #31-Newman (I just have a feeling. I believe Menard will get further than him.) #78-Truex Jr. (One car team...they'll get railroaded.) #15-Bowyer (This is the only one I'm almost 100% confident about, I can realistically see the 24, 31 and 78 at least moving on.) So that's what I'm thinking... 470. Chad's Hair Plugs posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think the 1st 4 out will be Bowyer, Menard, McMurray, and unfortunately Truex. The 78's been running bad/been having bad luck since they won at Pocono. I hope I'm wrong. 471. RaceFanX posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "...and Richmond could finally bring IndyCar back." I doubt that will ever happen. After the last IndyCar race here in 2009 turned into a virtual parade with no on-track passing Richmond actually told the series not to come back. I doubt they'll ever return. 472. Eric posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In this round, I see Menard, and Gordon for sure. I am taking a shot in the Dark with Truex and Mcmurray. My reasoning for Truex is the team isn't as hot as it was early in the year. I see Clint making this round because that team since Indy is good enough to go to the 2nd, but not the 3rd. 473. 88&4Fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:49 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think the first four out will be: Bowyer (do I even need to explain?) Newman (hasn't run well consistently since the beginning of the year) Gordon (15th place driver all year) Hamlin (he ran well at Richmond with the ACL injury but I think it will hurt him in the long term, besides Richmond has always been one of his best tracks) Next four out: Menard (he'll make it past the first round on consistency but not any further) Truex (knowing him, he'll probably run into bad luck at Dega) Kyle Busch (always chokes in the chase, and IMO he peaked too early this year) Kurt Busch (has been somewhat slumping lately and might be the weak link of the guys left) Next four out: McMurray (bold prediction, he wins Dega to advance to final eight, won't go any further though) Edwards (probably the weakest of the JGR cars) Keselowski (hasn't been as good as Logano this year) Earnhardt, Jr. (won't be quite good enough to get to the final four, unless he wins Martinsville) Final four: 4. Johnson (hasn't ever been great at Homestead) 3. Harvick (shenanigans will mess him up) 2. Logano (will fall just short) 1. Kenseth (hottest driver at the moment, is peaking at the right time, my pick to win it all) 474. Jarrett88fan posted: 09.12.2015 - 11:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Strangely enough TS1420, it did seem as if Kenseth and Almirola were the only drivers trying to actually race in the final 100 laps. I know that the #43 didn't make it, but what an effort by that team to put themselves in position late in the race. 475. BMan0213 posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:01 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) "4. Johnson (hasn't ever been great at Homestead)" Again Johnson and his stats at Homestead get a bad wrap because like 75% of the time he goes in there just needing to finish 20th to clinch the title. In the three times hes had to drive his ass of there he finished second, second, and probably would have won if his crew didn't mess up his final pit stop. When Jimmie needs to run good at Homestead he does. 476. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Owner Updates #43 Waffle House/Smithfield #1 Cessna/Bell Helicopter #42 Cartwheel by Target #4 Budweiser "Make A Plan To Make It Home" #17 Sam's Club/Cargill Beef #47 Kroger/Bush's Beans/Kingsford/Scott Products #9 GoBowling.com/Draft Kings #34 Dockside Logistics #35 MDS Transport #23 Estes Express Lines Owner Update #33 Richard Chlidress 477. Eric posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree with BMan0213 on Jimmie Johnson and Homestead, but I don't know if Jimmie is going to the final round this season. I don't like the 48 team going into the chase, but at the same time the team is known not to be at their best in most of the races past June due to experimenting for the chase. 478. Eric posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Matt Kenseth is the oldest cup driver to win at Richmond since Ricky Rudd did in the 2nd Richmond race of 2001 when Rudd was almost 45 years old at the time and become the first cup driver since 2001 to win at Richmond over the age of 40. 479. Sarf52 posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Racing-Reference favorite Cole Whitt was surprisingly awful tonight, did he have some issue that wasn't reported or was he that slow? 480. Eric posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Matt Kenseth is my favorite to win the chase. I like how hot the team is and I wouldn't be shocked if the 20 teams wins 3 to 5 chase races this season. 481. Captain51 posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:33 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) My question is... why don't teams like Almirola try this hard every week? 482. 88&4Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:50 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Whitt probably had some kind of problem, maybe he was down a cylinder or something. He hardly ever runs the worst of the three FRM cars. 483. Ryan W posted: 09.13.2015 - 5:48 am Rate this comment: (5) (1) I'm really glad NBC Sports and Jimmie Johnson cleared up that usually the last 10 races of the year/Chase are his "bread and butter" tracks and he even said he struggles during the summer for the most part more so than he does any other time historically. In the summer is when the tracks are slick and harder to race and Jimmy has never been a great driver when tracks are hot and slick. Yea Yea I know he has over 70 wins, but he's had superior cars and if not for the Chase he would probably just have 2-3 titles. Still don't consider him a "great" one... I've tried to tell people for years that Jimmie benefited majorly from the Chase because he was better at those last 10 than others were and trolls try to say that he just used the early part of season and summer to test! Really? Get serious. Hendrick/Johnson has been great on the cookie cutters and Martinsville for years. Too many cookie cutters in the last 10! They really need to mix up the races some how (although I know they won't, Brian France is not smart enough to realize that) in the Chase. Ahh! I really miss the Winston Cup Days! 484. Anonymous posted: 09.13.2015 - 5:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^Soon to go down in lore next to... those other guys (biffle16, for one)... 485. MAR posted: 09.13.2015 - 9:52 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) Chase prediction 1st Eliminations Kurt Busch Ryan Newman Carl Edwards Clint Bowyer 2nd Eliminations Jeff Gordon Denny Hamlin Paul Menard Martin Truex 3rd Eliminations Brad Kesolowski Kevin Harvick (sorry there has to be an upset) Dale Jr Jamie Mcmurray Final Four Jimmie Johnson Kyle Busch Matt Kenseth Joey Logano Champion Jimmie Johnson I hate to say it but that summer stretch was pure B.S he and Chad take every summer off just to kick ass in the chase I don't see this year being any different Jimmie wins his 7th Championship 486. 88&4Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 12:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think its safe to say that Aric Almirola gained quite a few fans during this race even though he couldn't pull it off. Seriously, it was almost like he was the only guy even trying to win. 487. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Imo MAR, your predictions seem far off. I agree with Bowyer being eliminated. However, I disagree with the rest. With JGR being dominant, Edwards should easily make the 2nd round if nothing goes horribly wrong. Newman has been too consistent this year, and I think he will at least make the 2nd round. And Kurt Busch has been one of the best cars all year. Here is my predictions: 1st round elimination Clint Bowyer Paul Menard Martin Truex, Jr. Jeff Gordon 2nd round Jamie McMurray Ryan Newman Dale Jr Brad Keselowski 3rd round Carl Edwards Denny Hamlin Kyle Busch Kurt Busch Final Four Joey Logano Kevin Harvick Matt Kenseth Jimmie Johnson Champion: Matt Kenseth 488. MAR posted: 09.13.2015 - 4:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Big Mac fan, you do realize Talladega is a chase race so is martinsville so there are goin to be upsets like Newman and Hamlin making the final four and 3 Hendrick cars got eliminated because of talladega so I didn't go with the obvious I mixed it up. 489. BMan0213 posted: 09.13.2015 - 5:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I get the picking upsets in the Chase rounds but seriously with Phoenix in the 3rd round I highly doubt Harvick gets knocked out there. Same goes for Johnson with Martinsville and Texas being in that round too. I really feel with both those guys the only way they don't make it to Homestead is if they get knocked out in one of the first two rounds. If they make it to round three I think they're both locks to make it to Homestead. 490. WinstonCupStandings posted: 09.13.2015 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) Top 22 (that are on the big teams) 1) Kevin Harvick (4007) -Leader 2) Joey Logano (3839) -168 3) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (3633) -374 4) Brad Keselowski (3574) -433 5) Jimmie Johnson (3502) -505 6) Matt Kenseth (3407) -600 7) Denny Hamlin (3302) -705 8) Ryan Newman (3184) -823 9) Kurt Busch (3162) -845 10) Jamie McMurray (3123) -884 11) Carl Edwards (3115) -892 12) Jeff Gordon (3096) -911 13) Clint Bowyer (3006) -1001 14) Paul Menard (2964) -1043 15) Aric Almirola (2903) -1104 16) Kasey Kahne (2882) -1125 17) Greg Biffle (2666) -1341 18) Kyle Larson (2664) -1343 19) Austin Dillon (2638) -1369 20) Danica Patrick (2472) -1535 -Out 21) Tony Stewart (2352) -1655 -Out 22) Sam Hornish, Jr. (2338) -1669 -Out 491. NASCARLover22 posted: 09.13.2015 - 8:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates: #35 MDS Transport #43 Waffle House/Smithfield 492. racefangurl posted: 09.13.2015 - 10:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 1st Eliminations Kurt Busch Ryan Newman Paul Menard Clint Bowyer 2nd Eliminations Jeff Gordon Denny Hamlin Carl Edwards Martin Truex 3rd Eliminations Brad Kesolowski Matt Kenseth Kyle Busch Jamie Mcmurray Final Four Jimmie Johnson Dale Jr. Kevin Harvick Joey Logano Champion Joey Logano (you, at times have to lose a championship to win one) 493. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Alright, so I say Kenseth, MAR says Johnson, and racefangurl says Logano. Anyone else want to post predictions to see who was the most accurate come Homestead? 494. Baker posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Bored. Been pondering it so I'll ask here, and keeping a Chase them I'll go with 16... Who are your Top 16 drivers in the history of NASCAR? 495. Schroeder51 posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) You know what, what the hell, I'll try to predict who gets cut after each round and who wins the title (I'm sure to be VERY wrong, but we'll see...) Round 1: Menard Bowyer McMurray Gordon Round 2: Truex Hamlin Edwards Newman Round 3: Junior Keselowski Kenseth Kurt Busch Final 4: Johnson Harvick Kyle Busch Logano Champion: Johnson, who is promptly given the cringe-worthy nickname of "7-UP" to commemorate his record-tying seventh championship (Though I could also see Kyle possibly winning the title, which would be hilarious as it would show the serious flaws of this championship format. Kyle winning the title is probably what NASCAR would LIKE to see happen, though, because of how inspirational a story it would be for the media considering how he was badly hurt at Daytona...) 496. Driver X posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 1st Elim: Bowyer, Truex Jr, Newman, McMurray 2nd Elim: This is where some strange things will happen. Ky Busch, Keselowski, Dale Jr, Logano 3rd Elim: Harvick, Gordon, Edwards, Menard Final four: Johnson, Hamlin, Kenseth, Ku. Busch Champion: Jimmie Johnson will somehow get to the front when one of the last four gets a terrible penalty late at Homestead. 497. Schroeder51 posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd also like to go ahead and predict who wins the Chase races, an even more bold prediction considering there is a good chance I'm going to be wrong with more than half of these... Chicago: Logano New Hampshire: Kenseth Dover: Johnson (Because it's Dover and it's his personal playground, of course...) Charlotte: Kyle Busch Kansas: Harvick Talladega: I want to say Junior will get the sweep, but since this is a plate race and they can often be real crap-shoots, anyone could feasibly win this race... Martinsville: Jeff Gordon, for his 93rd and final career victory (Probably wishful thinking on my part, but he DID run strongly in the spring and could have won if not for a pit speeding penalty, and wouldn't it be fitting for him to get a final victory at one of his best tracks) Texas: Johnson Phoenix: Harvick (This place is Harvick's playground as of late, barring terrible luck I can't NOT see him winning this race Homestead: Johnson to win the title, much to the majority of people on here's chagrin 498. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:59 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @494 1. Richard Petty 2. David Pearson 3. Dale Earnhardt 4. Jeff Gordon 5. Darrell Waltrip 6. Jimmie Johnson 7. Cale Yarbrough 8. Bobby Allison 9. Rusty Wallace 10. Herb Thomas 11. Lee Petty 12. Tony Stewart 13. Buck Baker 14. Ned Jarrett 15. Bobby Issac 16. Junior Johnson Honorable mentions: Bill Elliott, Terry Labonte, Matt Kenseth 499. Eric posted: 09.13.2015 - 11:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chicago: Kenseth New Hampshire: Logano Dover: Jimmie Johnson Charlotte: Kenseth Kansas: Kenseth Talladega: Dale Jr. Martinsville: Jimmie Johnson Texas: Kenseth Phoenix: Harvick Homestead: Kenseth 500. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.14.2015 - 12:04 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Chicago: Someone New Hampshire: Someone Dover: Someone Charlotte: Someone Kansas: Someone Talladega: Someone Martinsville: Someone Texas: Someone Phoenix: Someone Homestead: Someone 501. Ryan W posted: 09.14.2015 - 1:24 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @ 494 Top 16 of all time It's really hard to compare before and after modern era so I'll do a Grand National top 16 from 1949-1970 and modern era from 1971-Present when the Cup days started. Grand National 1949-1971 1. Richard Petty 2. David Pearson 3. Fireball Roberts 4. Lee Petty 5. Junior Johnson 6. Ned Jarrett 7. Tim Flock 8. Herb Thomas 9. Buck Baker 10. Curtis Turner 11. Joe Weatherly 12. Lee Roy Yarbrough 13. Fred Lorenzen 14. Rex White 15. Bobby Isaac 16. Marvin Panch Also ran: Cotton Owens, Speedy Thompson, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Jack Smith, Fonty Flock, Jim Paschal, Dick Hutcherson, Donnie Allison Modern Era 1972 1. Dale Earnhardt 2. Cale Yarborough 3. Bobby Allison 4. Jeff Gordon 5. David Pearson 6. Richard Petty 7. Jimmie Johnson 8. Darrell Waltrip 9. Tony Stewart 10. Bill Elliott 11. Kevin Harvick 12. Dale Jarrett 13. Rusty Wallace 14. Matt Kenseth 15. Terry Labonte 16. Mark Martin Also ran: Benny Parsons, Tim Richmond, Harry Gant, Brad Keselowski, Neil Bonnett, Davey Allison, Ricky Rudd, Geoff Bodine, and last but certainly not least Alan Kulwicki I did these rankings based on a combination of championships, wins, major race wins, equipment, competition they faced, and the impact they had on Nascar. 502. Ryan W posted: 09.14.2015 - 1:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hardest decisions I had were Elliott and Stewart, Allison and Yarborough, Pearson and Petty, and Junior and N. Jarrett. Elliott had wins at Darlington and the Daytona 500 two times. Has the speed record, won the Winston Million. Tony has more wins and 2 more titles. Tough. Allison and Yarborough will always be a toss up. They both made impact, most notably the '79 500. Pearson had a better winning percentage and would only race select races and not points races. It's hard to ignore 200 wins though. David had 10 wins at Darlington which is very impressive. I put one in front the other in one and vice versa for the next. Junior and Ned are tough because they have the same amount of wins and both even gave back to Nascar after they drove in their own way. Junior gets the nod for being a rebel lol. Kulwicki should get more respect because of where he came from (NorthMidWest) how he made it, the equipment he had (his own team and money), winning the championship and how he did it. #1 on the last list was an easy choice and hard to argue. 503. 88&4Fan posted: 09.14.2015 - 7:21 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 494- 1. Richard Petty 2. David Pearson 3. Dale Earnhardt 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Jeff Gordon 6. Bobby Allison 7. Lee Petty 8. Darrell Waltrip 9. Cale Yarborough 10. Tony Stewart 11. Tim Flock 12. Herb Thomas 13. Junior Johnson 14. Rusty Wallace 15. Bill Elliott 16. Kevin Harvick Honorable Mentions: Alan Kulwicki, Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Ned Jarrett, Kurt Busch, Dale Jarrett, and Mark Martin Chase Winner Predictions: Chicago: Joey Logano New Hampshire: Brad Keselowski Dover: Jimmie Johnson Kansas: Joey Logano Charlotte: Kevin Harvick Talladega: Jamie McMurray Martinsville: Jeff Gordon (final career win) Texas: Matt Kenseth Phoenix: Kevin Harvick Miami: Kyle Larson (Kenseth finishes second and wins the cup) 504. racefangurl posted: 09.14.2015 - 9:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) A (nyone) B(ut) J(ohnson) to win the title. I think then people would call him the greatest since the Intimidator and the King, but others would say his championships are less than theirs, so he's nowhere near up to their level. It would be a crapstorm in the NASCAR e-community. 505. 02Justin10 posted: 09.14.2015 - 12:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Well...I've just spent the last hour going through all the qualifying sessions this year in the Cup Series and I've dug up some numbers on provisionals. This is the list of the top 13 cars/teams in terms of number of provisionals used. (All cars that have used 4 or more.) And another note, we are 26 races in, there have been 22 qualifying sessions I have counted. (Excluding rainouts at Daytona and Kentucky in July, and both Pocono races that only featured 43 entries.) Here we go: 1.) #23-BK Racing > 18 Provisionals Used 2.) #32-Go Green Racing > 13 Provisionals Used (+4 DNQs) -.) #34-Front Row Motorsports > 13 Provisionals Used -.) #98-Now Premium Motorsports > 13 Provisionals Used (Parsons used 6 in 15 races and now Jay Robinson has used 7 in the last 8.) 5.) #35-Front Row Motorsports > 11 Provisionals Used -.) #38-Front Row Motorsports > 11 Provisionals Used 7.) #33-Circle Sport Racing > 10 Provisionals Used 8.) #83-BK Racing > 8 Provisionals Used (*Not bad at all considering this team.*) 9.) # 7-Tommy Baldwin Racing > 7 Provisionals Used -.) #46-HScott Motorsports > 7 Provisionals Used 11.) #26-BK Racing > 7 Provisionals Used (+4 DNQs) --.) #40-Hillman Racing > 7 Provisionals Used 13.) #62-Premium Motorsports > 4 Provisionals Used (+17 DNQ's) I went through the list of races and made up this list because I noticed some posters were talking about the provisional system and how its a shame that 37th place Wise got sent packing while BK Racing and Go Green Racing used their 18th and 13th provisionals on the season respectively. I definitely think NASCAR needs to start charging teams on using a provisional. Either that or start 38/40 on time and have less provisionals. From time to time, bigger/better teams do need to take provisionals (Sam Hornish Jr. and Casey Mears have used three each.) But I think sitting in provisionaland as often as some teams do is just silly. Aren't these numbers interesting? I'm sure in trucks Benning's provisional use would be double digits, same for Harmon in Xfinity. 506. Sponsor Updates posted: 09.14.2015 - 2:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #26- Maxim (wasn't promoting fantasy sports) 507. Scott B posted: 09.14.2015 - 4:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 18 provisionals used out of a possible 22, wow! It's hard to believe that a team can be that weak and still make races on owner's points. 508. Sean posted: 09.14.2015 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) 1. David Pearson 2. Richard Petty 3. Dale Earnhardt 4. Bobby Allison 5. Jeff Gordon 6. Cale Yarborough 7. Jimmie Johnson 8. Darrell Waltrip 9. Rusty Wallace 10. Herb Thomas 11. Tony Stewart 12. Lee Petty 13. Fireball Roberts 14. Tim Flock 15. Fred Lorenzen 16. Junior Johnson Left out Ned Jarrett because he scored half of his wins in 1964 and 1965 which I have calculated on Racermetrics to be the two shallowest seasons in Cup history (strangely '64 came out as shallower than '65, which makes no sense...) Left out Bill Elliott because of his lack of versatility. Left out Mark Martin because he was never arguably the best driver at his peak (which all the 16 above can claim). Martin is essentially what you get when you put Ernie Irvan or Harry Gant in good equipment for 20 years with no injuries, and few would put Irvan and Gant in such exalted company. In the past couple months, I have been trying to measure competitive depth on Racermetrics and it has actually caused me to have more respect for the current drivers and less for the past ones, hence why I put Rusty and Tony higher than I would have previously but despite that I think listing Harvick or Kenseth would be a bit of a stretch and Jarrett or T. Labonte an even bigger one. Anyway, rather than linking the column here, I will just type up the results. The Cup seasons ranked best to worst in competitive depth came out as follows: 2002 2003 2011 2004 2001 2005 2010 2012 2013 2009 2000 2006 2014 2008 2007 1993 1992 1991 2015 1990 1999 1994 1996 1989 1997 1988 1995 1985 1998 1986 1984 1987 1983 1982 1981 1951 1950 1973 1980 1976 1972 1956 1979 1977 1975 1960 1978 1974 1959 1966 1952 1961 1954 1949 1958 1957 1971 1962 1967 1955 1970 1953 1963 1968 1969 1965 1964 To obtain these rankings, I calculated 'season scores' for each driver, which take into account winning, dominance, and consistency. I wanted a single uniform discrete statistic to measure each driver's performance in a season. For winning, I award 1 point for a winning percentage from 2-3.99%, 2 points for a winning percentage from 4-7.99%, 3 for 8-11.99%, 4 for 12-19.99%, and 5 for 20% or greater. For dominance, I award 1 point for averaging 2-2.99% led in a season, 2 points for averaging 3-4.99%, 3 for 5-9.99%, 4 for 10-14.99%, and 5 for 15% or greater. For consistency, I award 1 point for beating 40% of cars competed against, 2 points for beating 50%, 3 points for beating 60%, 4 points for beating 70%, and 5 points for beating 80%. This gives each driver a season score between 0 and 15, and I think it does a very good job of measuring performance (except for accounting for equipment differences), and what I like about this system is it can be applied to any series in any era if I have the needed data. Unfortunately, there are many pre-modern era NASCAR races that do not have lap leader data, so those seasons would definitely go up some if those data were available. Next, I calculated a weighted average for each driver for each season to measure that driver's ability in time. For drivers who competed in five consecutive seasons, I used the following formula: .4(current year season score) + .2(year n+1 season score) + .2(year n-1 season score) + .1(year n-2 season score) + .1(year n-2 season score) That does an excellent job of correcting for single-year blips and measuring a driver's true performance in time. This allowed me to calculate who the best drivers were for each year, and I got the following: 1949 - Red Byron 1950 - Johnny Mantz 1951 - Fonty Flock 1952-54 - Herb Thomas 1955-56 - Buck Baker (maybe I really should have listed him then) 1957-58 - Paul Goldsmith (easily the biggest surprise) 1959-61 - Fireball Roberts 1962 - Richard Petty 1963-64 - Fred Lorenzen 1965 - Dan Gurney (I allowed any number of starts including one in this analysis) 1966-73 - Richard Petty 1974 - David Pearson 1975 - Richard Petty 1976-78 - Cale Yarborough 1979-85 - Darrell Waltrip 1986-91 - Dale Earnhardt 1992 - Davey Allison 1993-94 - Dale Earnhardt 1995-03 - Jeff Gordon 2004 - Jimmie Johnson 2005 - Tony Stewart 2006-14 - Jimmie Johnson 2015 - Kevin Harvick I don't agree with all these results but they make sense as I have defined this statistic to measure the best driver of the time (a ton of times imo the best driver does not win the title, but this view is not widely shared.) To obtain the season ratings, I added all multi-year weighted season scores for all drivers in each field together and adjusted by the standard deviation of the field and field size. I think it's pretty accurate, although I still don't get why '64 comes out worse than '65. Regardless, the field weights adjust the perspective a lot. When adjusting for field strength (with 1 win going to an average-strength field, more than 1 going to a stronger field, and less than 1 going to a weaker field) the win list changes to this: Richard Petty - 149.1 Jeff Gordon - 113.2 Jimmie Johnson - 97.3 David Pearson - 83.8 Dale Earnhardt - 82.4 Darrell Waltrip - 79.9 Cale Yarborough - 75.7 Bobby Allison - 74.8 Tony Stewart - 64.4 Rusty Wallace - 63.1 Does this mean I completely agree with that? No, I don't think Gordon and Johnson are the 2nd and 3rd best drivers, but I do think they're probably a bit underrated by most fans. Eventually, I will adjust for equipment as well as field strength and hopefully they will drop behind Pearson, Earnhardt, and Allison as a result. But people really do underestimate how impressive Gordon and Johnson's results really are given the fields they competed against. But notice I personally still only put them 5th and 7th. 509. Sean posted: 09.14.2015 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm going to change my #16 to Buck Baker. I was disinclined to put him there because of my distaste of how he backed into the 1956 title, but Johnson doesn't really have that strong a case since if I'm going to dock Jarrett for how weak 1964-65 were, I have to dock Johnson too and Jarrett at least won titles. I think Baker has it over either of them, looking at my data and realizing I rated him as the best driver two consecutive years while Jarrett peaked at 3rd behind Lorenzen and Petty in 1963, and Johnson never made the top five in my season rankings (due to his lack of consistency.) 510. Sean posted: 09.14.2015 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) If you're curious about this year's season rankings, based on the 5 point scales for winning, consistency, and dominance, here they are: Driver - Winning Score - Consistency Score - Dominance Score - Overall Kyle Busch - 5 - 4 - 4 - 13 Joey Logano - 3 - 5 - 4 - 12 Kevin Harvick - 2 - 5 - 5 - 12 Jimmie Johnson - 4 - 4 - 3 - 11 Matt Kenseth - 4 - 4 - 3 - 11 Kurt Busch - 3 - 4 - 4 - 11 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - 2 - 4 - 2 - 8 Brad Keselowski - 1 - 4 - 3 - 8 Martin Truex, Jr. - 1 - 4 - 3 - 8 Carl Edwards - 2 - 3 - 2 - 7 Denny Hamlin - 1 - 3 - 3 - 7 Jeff Gordon - 0 - 3 - 1 - 4 Jamie McMurray - 0 - 3 - 0 - 3 Ryan Newman - 0 - 3 - 0 - 3 Paul Menard - 0 - 3 - 0 - 3 Aric Almirola - 0 - 3 - 0 - 3 Kasey Kahne - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 Kyle Larson - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 Greg Biffle - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 Austin Dillon - 0 - 2 - 0 - 2 A.J. Allmendinger - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Casey Mears - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Danica Patrick - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 David Ragan - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Tony Stewart - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Sam Hornish, Jr. - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Trevor Bayne - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 It may be crude, but I think that does a pretty good job of reflecting who the best drivers were this season, and surely better than the chase did. I did this for F1, Cup, and IndyCar for every season (well IndyCar only 1979-present) and IndyCar was particularly hilarious. Not only did Montoya and Dixon tie in the actual points system, they tied with 4 points in all three categories for a total score of 12 (next was James Hinchcliffe's 11 due to his flukish win at Barber in an injury-shortened season, which caused that one win to be reflected big time, and Power/Newgarden's 10. I don't buy the Hinchcliffe rating, but the others make sense). So if Montoya really thinks Dixon had a shit season, what can he say about his own (rather identical) season? 511. Canadianfan posted: 09.14.2015 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Nice that Sean this is pretty much what I thought the best Racers have come out of the last 15 years This of course is because the difference between first and last is so much closer than at any point in the history of NASCAR. I would have to guess that 2015 is so low probably because of Kevin Harvick. 512. 88&4Fan posted: 09.14.2015 - 9:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Top 16 of All Time: 1. Richard Petty 2. David Pearson 3. Dale Earnhardt 4. Jimmie Johnson 5. Jeff Gordon 6. Bobby Allison 7. Lee Petty 8. Darrell Waltrip 9. Cale Yarborough 10. Tony Stewart 11. Herb Thomas 12. Rusty Wallace 13. Junior Johnson 14. Tim Flock 15. Bill Elliott 16. Kevin Harvick Honorable Mentions: Alan Kulwicki, Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte, Dale Jarrett, Ned Jarrett, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner 513. 88&4Fan posted: 09.14.2015 - 9:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Chase Winners: Chicago: Joey Logano New Hampshire: Brad Keselowski Dover: Jimmie Johnson Kansas: Joey Logano Charlotte: Jimmie Johnson Talladega: Jamie McMurray Martinsville: Jeff Gordon* Texas: Kevin Harvick Phoenix: Kevin Harvick Miami: Kyle Larson* (But Kenseth finishes best of the final four) * = Eliminated From Chase At That Point 514. Sean posted: 09.14.2015 - 11:00 pm Rate this comment: (6) (0) Canadianfan, I didn't claim what you're saying. I wouldn't say that the best drivers ever came from the last fifteen years. Just the best competition (especially the strongest mid-pack), and bear in mind that a lot of that competition was manipulated due to gimmickry (green-white-checkered finishes, shootout style, lucky dogs, increasing numbers of debris cautions and so on to ensure more cars on the lead lap and more possible gamble wins). I find 2011's depth hugely overrated as a result because several of those wins (Bayne, Smith, Menard, even Ragan to some degree) were let's face it, quite lucky. What makes 2002's depth so staggering is the number of drivers who could DOMINATE. SEVENTEEN different drivers led the most laps in races in 2002, and 16 of them won (only Nemechek did not, with only two winners B. Labonte and Benson who did not lead the most laps in a race). Even though 2002 and 2011 had the same number of winners (18) 2011 only managed 13 different drivers leading the most laps (not that that's bad either - this year has only 10 and Edwards and Hamlin are the only drivers I could see doing it who haven't yet). What is also incredible about 2002 (and to a lesser degree 2003) is that that happened BEFORE most of the gimmickry designed to make the field closer, when even with the competition gimmicks, it hasn't improved since. 2002 had most of the Gen-X major stars already competitive (Stewart, Junior, Kenseth, Harvick, Busch, Johnson, Newman) while the years since have only managed the same number of new major stars as 1999-2002 did (Biffle, Kahne, Edwards, Busch, Hamlin, Logano, Keselowski). Furthermore, the old baby boomer guard was still competitive in 2002, albeit having a bit of a last hurrah for most of them (Jarrett, Rudd, Elliott, Marlin, Martin, B. Labonte, R. Wallace - even though he didn't win). 2002 had the lowest average points per race for a champion with the classic points system (and 2003 was 2nd lowest, which I guess alone says it all about those seasons), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (the most dominant driver) was the only most dominant driver in history to not manage to average 10% of a race led in a season, and Mark Martin (the most consistent driver) had the worst percent beat (field-adjusted average finish) of any driver who led that category, both great signs for competition. How about this? The champion (Stewart), most consistent driver (Martin), most dominant driver (Junior), winningest driver (Kenseth), and driver who led the points standings most of the season (Marlin) were FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I bet that's never happened before or since... There isn't as much money in NASCAR now as there was then, that bubble popped, the feeder series are much weaker than they used to be and there seem to be fewer and fewer new talents emerging over time. Eventually as NASCAR ratings likely continue to decline being mostly on FS1/NBC Sports, big time sponsorship will decline. In 2002, we had more good drivers than good cars, but the drivers in the mid-pack cars were still strong enough to challenge on occasion. These days, we have way more good cars than good drivers (with so much dead weight on the premier teams at the moment) that a contraction may actually be in order... While the last 15 years in aggregate may have been the deepest period (and I didn't say this in the past but am now forced to conclude it), what that really means is the mid-pack teams were closer to the leaders in 2002-03 than ever before or since, but that doesn't mean the top drivers then were better than the top drivers now just before there was more competition. BECAUSE there was more competition, pretty much all the stars had weaker stats than they did in shallower periods to compensate for this. So Matt Kenseth's 5 wins in 2002 were worth a lot more than his 4 wins today, but that doesn't mean they were worth as much as a 10-win season in another period. I believe drivers in the early 2000s are mostly undervalued, but that doesn't mean that adjusting everyone's stats for field depth will mean the best drivers' stats in 2002 will remotely compare to some of the knockout championship seasons. Jeff Gordon's 2001 on the other hand may, since he had WAY more competition in that year than his late '90s years, and the gap between his stats and everyone else's stats was massive, even more massive than the gap between him and Martin in 1998. I don't think it's right to conclude that the modern drivers ever are the best ever, just undervalued because 10-15 years ago, NASCAR had the deepest average fields in history, but that's a trend that I see reversing right now. Gordon, Stewart, and Biffle are all washed up, and who is going to replace them? Larson hasn't shown much yet. Elliott will probably win but he could end up just being like a Kahne or Junior or something, or possibly flame out like Vickers. You never can tell. Etc... However, I will admit that the 2014 and 2015 seasons are likely underrated in terms of competitive depth because while for all seasons that had two years before and after I was able to calculate drivers' scores over a 5 year period. Since there was only one year after 2014 and no years after 2015, drivers' scores are more volatile for 2014 (based on only four years, not five) and 2015 (based on only three years, not four) which increases the standard deviation of the field which I used to calculate season scores, so at the moment you can take the 2014 and 2015 scores with a grain of salt until 2016 and 2017 data becomes available. Of course, there's a solid chance those seasons will be even shallower and then '14 and '15 may not shift much. 515. MAR posted: 09.14.2015 - 11:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Great stat work sean 516. Ryan W posted: 09.15.2015 - 3:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good work Sean. A lot of input there... Only problem I have is Rusty Wallace being #9 on the all time list. I don't think he was ever the best driver when he was at his peak. He was lucky to win the championship he did. 517. Spen posted: 09.15.2015 - 8:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sean: I would guess that multiple 12 car races are the culprit for '64 coming out the lowest. I'd assume that the same reason would apply for why a year with 19 different winners ('61) is lower than '74, a year with a five different winners (not to mention three drivers winning 27 out of 30!) 518. Spen posted: 09.15.2015 - 9:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "The champion (Stewart), most consistent driver (Martin), most dominant driver (Junior), winningest driver (Kenseth), and driver who led the points standings most of the season (Marlin) were FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I bet that's never happened before or since..." Correct. But '61 and '63 came close. In '63, the only repeat among those categories was Weatherly leading the point standings the most. And in '61, the most consistent driver (White) had the point lead longest. 519. Eric posted: 09.15.2015 - 1:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan W, Your bias is showing. Rusty in 1993 actually was better than Dale Earnhardt Sr despite Dale winning the 1993 Championship and I am saying as person who has Dale Sr. as one of my favorite drivers of all time. Rusty in 1993 had 4 more wins, 2 more top 10's, and 1475 more laps lead compare to Dale Sr. The only reason Dale won the 1993 championship was Daytona and Talladega. There has been seasons in the modern era where the best driver for that season didn't win the championship like happening 1993 and in a higher degree in 1985 as examples. Sean in the past has put a lot of value into Short Tracks and Road Courses. Rusty is one of the best cup drivers of all time when it comes to short Tracks and Road Courses. 520. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.15.2015 - 1:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Couple reasons why Sean and I put Wallace at 9: One of the best short track drivers of all time. Has 55 wins. Has a title. He may not have been the most dominating driver of his time, but he was easily in contention. And besides, would you put Terry Labonte who has 2 titles but only 22 wins in front of Bobby Allison, who has only 1 title but 83 (I think) wins? Of course not. 521. racefangurl posted: 09.15.2015 - 1:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 514, Bayne and Ragan were plate race winners. Is that why both were lucky? 522. CNF posted: 09.15.2015 - 2:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I'm still not convinced that this is a case of the equipment being 100% of the problem and the driver being 0% of it." 225, which is more the problem, in your opinion? What percentage do you think each is? 523. 88&4Fan posted: 09.15.2015 - 2:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael McDowell's status should be listed as "parked". 524. Sean posted: 09.15.2015 - 5:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Only problem I have is Rusty Wallace being #9 on the all time list. I don't think he was ever the best driver when he was at his peak. He was lucky to win the championship he did." I think Rusty was the best driver in 1993 and Dale won the title. Of course, I think Dale was the best driver in 1989 and Rusty won the title, so it goes both ways and they were both pretty even both years, a lot more even in 1993 than Eric implies I think. You can argue both of those years either way I think. However, it cannot be argued that Rusty was for a brief period (1988-94) almost but not quite on par on with Earnhardt, and I also think he came closer to challenging the Earnhardt dynasty than anyone did to challenging the Petty, Yarborough, Gordon, or Johnson dynasties, which I rate highly. (Bobby Allison came closer to matching the Waltrip dynasty, and considering the equipment they have I think he was better, but it shows you what elite company Rusty was in...he easily came closer to challenging the dynasty of his era than any other one-time champion did, except for Bobby Allison). Further, I rate anyone who is the best driver on a particular discipline highly as long as they do *nearly* as well on their weaker specialties. Rusty Wallace was probably the best short track driver of the '90s, but he was also a really good superspeedway driver which is overlooked because he happened to struggle on the superspeedways that held marquee races. But on anything shorter than 1.5 miles he dominated (except for Darlington), he also did so at Michigan and Pocono, and considering how late in his career the Brickyard 400 started, he had a great record there despite never winning. He was a lot more well-rounded than his contemporary Bill Elliott was (who struggled miserably on short tracks even in a lot of his strong seasons). Consistency was his Achilles' heel (he was basically a slightly more consistent Kyle Busch 20 years earlier) but I don't think it's enough reason to dock him. Yes, his consistency was such that he never led my weighted season score rankings, but he was second in 4 seasons which ties with Bobby Allison and Bill Elliott, and he managed to make the top five in weighted five-year averages 13 times (1987-98 and 2000) while Elliott only did so seven times (1984-90). He just had misfortune of going up against Earnhardt, who was barely worse on the short tracks (I would say worse) but better enough on the restrictor plate tracks and Darlington to compensate. Regardless, Wallace is one of a bunch of people who has a solid claim for the last two spots in the top ten (I personally think the top eight winners have clearly separated themselves from any pioneer drivers at this point, although I wouldn't criticize anyone for putting Lee Petty, Fireball Roberts, or Herb Thomas over Waltrip - only Waltrip though I think), and I'm more inclined to do it now that I've done my research on competitive depth. Additionally, Wallace's dominance is staggering. 8th in laps led (he's still ahead of Jimmie Johnson). However, bear in mind that he dominated primarily on short tracks with races that had many more laps than the superspeedway races. To correct for this, the correct stat to use is what I have called cumulative races led, where I add up the percent led every driver I earned for each race they led and divide by 100. So leading 45 laps of a 90 lap Watkins Glen race, 94 laps of a 188 lap Talladega race, or 250 laps of a 500 lap Bristol race, all count the same (.5 cumulative races led). It also works as an expectation for how many wins a driver SHOULD have based on their level of dominance. You can easily tell who the chokers and closers are. Kevin Harvick has 30 wins and 26.4 cumulative races led, which proves that he is a closer, but he's not the best one today, and his 2014 and 2015 have been bad in that regard. Jimmie Johnson (74 wins to 56.6 crl) and Brad Keselowski (17 wins to 12.4 crl) are better to name two examples. Kyle Busch has 33 wins and 35.6 crl, so he is a choker, but not by as much as most people would think (compared to say Buddy Baker or Geoff Bodine's discrepancies that's nothing). Anyway, Rusty comes out *really* good using this statistic, at 56.52. Jimmie Johnson at 56.57 has just BARELY passed him to drop him to 9th behind the top eight. Rusty's laps led data are skewed because of his road course dominance, but he is STILL one of the top ten dominant drivers and top ten winners in the history of Cup, and he did so in a deeper period than the '60s/'70s drivers. I think that makes his case. If I adjusted this statistic by field strength as well, he'd look even better (but granted he'd be considerably farther behind Johnson). So yeah, ultimately I end up choosing Wallace for his dominance in a stronger period over somebody like Lee Petty, just as dominant in terms of winning (but not so much in terms of dominating races) and a lot more consistent but in a much weaker period. But you can agree to disagree on this for sure. The all-time leaders in cumulative races led are (and bear in mind that the pre-modern era drivers will all be underrated due to races with missing lap leader data): Richard Petty - 164.1 Cale Yarborough - 90.6 David Pearson - 85.8 Jeff Gordon - 82.3 Bobby Allison - 82.2 Dale Earnhardt - 76.4 Jimmie Johnson - 56.6 Rusty Wallace - 56.5 Junior Johnson - 47.7 Bobby Isaac - 45.9 Mark Martin - 44.0 Tony Stewart - 43.6 Ned Jarrett - 40.3 Bill Elliott - 36.9 Tim Flock - 36.5 Kyle Busch - 35.6 Buddy Baker - 34.9 Matt Kenseth - 32.6 (people who call this guy a 'consistency robot' as I used to are DEAD WRONG; yes, he still has more wins than that though) Buck Baker - 30.6 It gets more interesting considerably down the list when Sterling Marlin is actually ahead of (in order) Davey Allison, Dick Hutcherson, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Marvin Panch, Donnie Allison, Joe Weatherly, and Bobby Labonte. Since Marlin is not considered second-tier by most (along with most of the other names on this list), this is one of my main arguments when I say Davey Allison was the most overrated driver in Cup history or B. Labonte was the worst Cup champion of the modern era. Anyway, Rusty's high placement on this list as well as the winner's list and the fact that he WAS versatile (except for plate tracks and Darlington) and the strength of the era he competed in is enough for me. You can agree to disagree. "Rusty in 1993 had 4 more wins, 2 more top 10's, and 1475 more laps lead compare to Dale Sr. The only reason Dale won the 1993 championship was Daytona and Talladega." I agree the plate tracks decided it and I agree Rusty was better, but I think it's closer than you imply by that actually. Bear in mind Wallace was leading laps on the short tracks (which had more laps) and Earnhardt was leading laps on the superspeedways (which had fewer laps). When you count all races equally, Wallace beats Earnhardt 21.90%-18.67% (or 6.57 to 5.60 cumulative races led, whichever way you prefer to look at it), which is actually not THAT huge a difference. At least not what is implied by Wallace pretty much doubling Earnhardt in laps led. When you bear in mind that Earnhardt had a lot of near-misses (the last-lap passes at Daytona and Talladega, cars wrecking in front of him in both road courses races which he had dominated), Earnhardt could have actually gotten up to 10 wins without a lot of difficulty also...and if he had just had better luck in the road course races and led the majority of them he would have pretty much evened Wallace in dominance, and Earnhardt WAS more consistent. While I personally choose Rusty, I wouldn't argue with anyone who chose Dale. They were really close that year. Closer than the championship looked for Earnhardt and closer than the level of dominance looked for Wallace. "He may not have been the most dominating driver of his time, but he was easily in contention." Essentially being the second best driver over a decade-long period (1986-95) is worth a lot more than being the best driver for a more fleeting time period, I think. 525. Sean posted: 09.15.2015 - 5:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Bayne and Ragan were plate race winners. Is that why both were lucky?" Bayne was lucky because he inherited the lead under caution when David Ragan was penalized for a lane change. He didn't actually DO anything to take the lead. This ties in with my 'How the Races Were Won' series where I divide all race wins into natural, off-track (beating someone on a pit stop exchange), incidental (inheriting the lead when the leader encounters trouble), or strategic assist (passing a driver on the track to take the lead who wasn't previously relevant in the race after beating the relevant leader on pit strategy). Bayne, Menard, and Smith aren't that impressive because they were incidental, off-track, and off-track respectively. Ragan's technically counts as a natural win so I give him slightly more cred for that than the other three but those tandem drafting races were all essentially about timing and which set of teammates happened to flip-flop positions at the right moment, and which driver happened to be in front of the tandem at the time, so I don't rate that win TOO highly either. His Talladega win for FRM was definitely more impressive than that. But way too many plate races come down to luck or simply who has the superior car for my liking and I don't rate a lot of plate races highly. Some I do. When an inferior car passes superior cars (Ernie Irvan on Dale Earnhardt in the 1991 Daytona 500, Dale Jarrett on Earnhardt in the '93 Daytona 500, Joey Logano on all the Hendrick cars this year) I do rate it as significant. Most plate races though? Nah. Far too many flukes. 526. Sean posted: 09.15.2015 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Rusty's laps led data are skewed because of his road course dominance" Sorry, meant short track dominance obviously. The short track races have many more laps. 527. Sean posted: 09.15.2015 - 5:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Since Marlin is not considered second-tier by most" I meant to say Marlin is considered second-tier by most. And I don't mean to besmirch the true legend Joe Weatherly there. His actual statistic will be much higher than that because I believe he dominated a bunch of races that don't have lap leader data available (same probably goes for Marvin Panch). 528. Baker posted: 09.15.2015 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Kenseth grabs another win or two this year and title #2 does anyone consider him Top 16? 529. Eric posted: 09.15.2015 - 7:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It depends on the he tracks wins at. While having a 2nd cup title would increase his ranking, but it doesn't automatically put him in the top 16. The fact is winning more on 1.5 mile tracks really doesn't do much for him outside of homestead. Matt already has 12 1.5 mile track wins in his cup career. I want to see at least one 1.058 mile or less track wins from Matt during the chase for improving his versatility legacy on ovals as a driver. Matt right now has 6 short track wins on the cup level, but a Martinsvile win would be huge for him. I am looking at smaller tracks for Matt because being poor at road courses could be ignored to a point due to the fact road course skills are not a first priority in the cup series considering the cup series has 2 road course races each season. 530. Baker posted: 09.16.2015 - 12:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't think Herb Thomas gets near enough credit historically. 531. Ryan W posted: 09.16.2015 - 3:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Ryan W, Your bias is showing. Rusty in 1993 actually was better than Dale Earnhardt Sr despite Dale winning the 1993 Championship and I am saying as person who has Dale Sr. as one of my favorite drivers of all time. Rusty in 1993 had 4 more wins, 2 more top 10's, and 1475 more laps lead compare to Dale Sr. The only reason Dale won the 1993 championship was Daytona and Talladega." There is no bias. Dale had his own misfortunes as well that wasn't his doing. He was the better driver and deserved to win it in 1993. I'll admit their battles in the late 80's and early to mid 90's were classic. "There has been seasons in the modern era where the best driver for that season didn't win the championship like happening 1993 and in a higher degree in 1985 as examples." I can see 1985 with Elliott winning 11 and Waltrip 3, but 1993 as Sean mentioned was a lot closer. Dale finished 2nd to Rusty four times during the year. Through 18 races Dale won 6 races while Rusty won 5. Dale won 5 races over an 8 race period. I'm not saying he coasted at the end, but he didn't try to do anything to ruin his big picture racing over those last 12 races. Dale should have won Sonoma that year when Tommy Kendall I believe it was took him out. He also should have won the first race at Talladega after he just passed Rusty and Nascar called a red flag for a little mist to bunch the field up. As Sean mentioned while Kyle Petty was leading at Watkins Glen he wrecked and collected Dale when he was running 2nd and he finished I believe 16th maybe? Then at Dover late in the year Rusty hit into Hut Stricklin who then hit into Earnhardt to take him out of that race (Rusty would go on to win that race). So Dale had his misfortunes, too. He still had an average finish of 8.2. Rusty won 9 of his 10 races that year at a mile or less track (Only the last race at Atlanta was his intermediate+ win). Sean in the past has put a lot of value into Short Tracks and Road Courses. Rusty is one of the best cup drivers of all time when it comes to short Tracks and Road Courses." He definitely belongs in the top 10 when it comes to short track racing and road courses and yes he probably should have won the Brickyard in '95 if he wouldn't have run into traffic in the pits, but he never won many prestigious races. No Daytona ('99 was his year to win if he would have pitted late), No Southern 500 (Had Bill on the ropes in '88), No Talladega, I think 1 World 600, No Brickyard (finished 2nd 3 times '95, '00, and '02)... I guess I'm putting more into those races and why I have Jarrett ahead of him (although DJ had really good equipment, he made the most of it though). Jarrett started to win some at the end of his career on short tracks. "When an inferior car passes superior cars (Ernie Irvan on Dale Earnhardt in the 1991 Daytona 500, Dale Jarrett on Earnhardt in the '93 Daytona 500, Joey Logano on all the Hendrick cars this year) I do rate it as significant. Most plate races though? Nah. Far too many flukes." Ernie Irvan passed Dale Earnhardt because Dale got a good restart on the last restart and Irvan got a horrible one. Irvan would pass him because Dale was sitting duck. Really Rusty wrecking cost Dale. I think he would have been hard to pass without that caution. Also, in 1993 the two best cars were Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. I know Earnhardt led 100+ laps, but truth be known they had the better cars that race and it showed in the last 250 miles. Petty got caught in the back over some pit problem and got caught in a wreck. Jarrett had an Hendrick engine and was patient with his better handling car and was able to pass Gordon and Earnhardt with ease when Earnhardt's tires were bad and handle was gone (go watch the whole race). To be honest Gordon fell back and was able to catch back up with a few cautions and Rusty's big wreck and if he had a clue what he was doing at the end he might have won. It truly was a great race (Hard to believe Derrike Cope led 30 laps that race) with a lot of story lines. At one time Earnhardt and Petty were running 1-2 together and Jarrett was running by himself in 3rd and was gaining on them! I felt for this year Jr. messed up on the restart where they all went around him and him and Jimmie weren't lined up together and that was pretty much Logano's main competition and it took forever for Jr to get caught back up and he ran out of laps at the end. 532. Ryan W posted: 09.16.2015 - 4:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kevin Harvick should move up that ladder also. He had sub-par equipment with Childress for years (still won a lot of races including some big ones and had success) and then he got in some top equipment finally and has been on rails for the most part ever since. What he did in 2010 with a Childress car was quite amazing. 533. 23andJoe posted: 09.16.2015 - 7:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Meanwhile, according to Jayski, the fine folks in Charlotte want to host a Truck Series dirt race at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway (4/10mi, located across US-29 from CMS's Turn 4). 534. racefangurl posted: 09.16.2015 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 532, Childress tunes engines more for reliability than power, like Roush. Is Childress sub-par because of the engines or is there other stuff to it, too? 535. Ryan W posted: 09.17.2015 - 2:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) racefangurl 534: Most engines are reliable this day in age (blown engines happened all the time back in the day), except Hendrick Gibbs and Penske have more power, technology, resources, etc. 536. Spen posted: 09.17.2015 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Backing up the conversation a minute, while I agree with Sean that 2011's depth was increased by a few flukey wins, there is one thing about that year that really impresses me. None of the top teams were really dominant for any more than a few weeks. SHR and RCR were tied for most wins by an organization, and they only had six wins apiece. Meantime, HMS, JGR, RFR & PRS each had five wins. When you compare that to say last year, where three teams combined to win 30 races, that's a remarkable degree of equality. 537. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.17.2015 - 10:03 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sean- I completely agree with you about 2002. Anyone who complains about dominance needs to watch that season. 7 drivers led more than 650 laps that season. ELEVEN teams won as well: Roush Racing (10) Hendricks Motorsports (6) Joe Gibbs Racing (4) Robert Yates Racing (3) Chip Ganassi Racing (3) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (2) Evernham Motorsports (2) Bill Davis Racing (2) Richard Childress Racing (1) Penske Racing (1) MB2 Motorsports (1) Like you said, there was 18 winners: Matt Kenseth (5) Kurt Busch (4) Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson (3) Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Bill Elliott, Sterling Marlin and Ward Burton (2) Mark Martin, Ryan Newman, Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick. Johnny Benson, Jr., and Jamie McMurray (1) In addition, 3 others went winless but finished in the top 15 in points: Rusty Wallace (7th) Jeff Burton (12th) Ricky Craven (15th) One driver led the most laps in a race but didn't win: Joe Nemechek (111 laps at Homestead, finished 2nd) Jeff Green, Jimmy Spencer, and Jerry Nadeau also led more than 100 laps that season. That is TWENTY FIVE drivers. In the 21st century, (I don't count 2000) here is how many drivers/cars fit these four qualifications: 2001: 28 2002: 25 2003: 25 2004: 21 2005: 22 2006: 20 2007: 19 2008: 21 2009: 20 2010: 20 2011: 24 2012: 18 2013: 20 2014: 19 2015: 16 2001 to 2003 had to be NASCAR's golden years from a competition standpoint. You had the rookie superstars, to the old but still dominant veterans to everyone in between. Except for 2011, this number has dropped off and now it is at a terrifyingly low rate of 16 this year. In those three years, there were more good drivers than cars. Now it's the opposite. I think we can all agree that the Winston Cup era was the greatest era of stock car racing we'll ever see. 538. Evan posted: 09.17.2015 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I have to agree, the more and more I see how this sport has evolved and changed I continue to thank my lucky stars I grew up in an era that NASCAR was relevant and I got to see so many great drivers race. But I don't think the Winston Cup era will ever be replicated again. While this era provided the 2011 championship thrill and last year's finale, I just won't look on this era as fondly as I will the Winston Cup era. 539. racefangurl posted: 09.17.2015 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 536, so the first time winners added some depth, seemingly at least in 2011? To me, it looks "bouncy" in terms of depth after 2003. 2004-2013 shows a down, up, down, down, up, down, same, up, down, up pattern, if we compare each year to the previous year. Other than 2011, even with the bouncing up and down, the Winston Cup era had significantly better depth, I admit. The new Chase or the decline of Roush, which started in 2013 seems to have sent depth down, but maybe next year, if we're lucky depth will bounce up again. Spin-gate and MWR's decline after may also contribute to the down trend in depth. 540. racefangurl posted: 09.17.2015 - 11:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 538, as a twenty-something, I saw the Winston Cup era as a kid. It was the late '90's, when I first saw a car race, on CBS or ABC. These channels and PBS were all I could watch at home then, so the last thing I saw as a kid was Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., racemates. After season 2000, I have no memory of seeing a NASCAR race until the 2011 Daytona 500. It blew my mind because in the 90's I noticed Joe Nemechek seemed to crash a lot and was told "He's newer", so I had a poor opinion of rookies. The 2011 Daytona 500 was an exception to the rookie norm, but I can never discount that race. After that season, some question on some site asked whether the Daytona 500 or championship was better that year and the person it was directed at preferred the championship, saying "I'm not a Bayneiac", which is where I got the word from. Btw, even if I'm what that person wasn't, I only find people like that offensive if they're haters. Even if Winston Cup was better, this era has had its bright spots, like some might call Kyle Busch this year a feel good story. I may not like him as a person, but he can drive, so I find it hard to say he's undeserving of a Chase spot. I'm trying to be somewhat reasonable about Kyle, even if I'm not a real fan of his. 541. MAR posted: 09.18.2015 - 12:00 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) 98-2005 by far where the best years in cup nothing but memories and most important the competition was equal and the talent pool and teams where way deeper than it now just imagine if mid level teams from back then still existed today they probably would be top of the food chain vs competition now that era spoiled me as fan the Gen 4 car was the most under appreciated car style of all time. majority of Teams had there own engine programs Yates power vs penske power vs Roush engines all under the Ford banner competing against each other Dodge came back also several teams started building driver development programs the sport was healthy and in great shape then came Brian France and Sprint and yea now we have phantom cautions, competition cautions, rigged races, gimmick championship system, Cot, and millionaire owners out spending the back half of the garage competition is lacking big time right now. But also the talent pool is under developed because of a broken development system. 542. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.18.2015 - 12:34 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) MAR: Couldn't have said it better myself. To me, 1998 to about 2006 was a truly special time for NASCAR. It was a time of great popularity, competition, and memories. Any true NASCAR fan would be nostalgic about this time. There was also a perfect development system, which created the superstars today. But now, the sport is dying. The ladder is broken, races are rigged, and so many things to count have ruined NASCAR beyond repair. It's not even racing anymore. It's entertainment. Most of the blame can go on the France family. If NASCAR doesn't get new leaders soon, the sport is on life support and it may end up like CART. I will still watch NASCAR though because I love auto racing and I will always watch it. Anyone want to guess who will sponsor the Series in 2017? I dont even think there will be a sponsor. 543. MAR posted: 09.18.2015 - 1:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good point Big Mac Fan, who exactly is willing to step up and take the chance on NASCAR about a decade past it's prime I mean exactly who are the options to fit the bill sprint left. I mean the only companies that have money to spend like that that now is probably credit companies like Visa or American Express but I doubt they have any interest in NASCAR the next title sponsor will pay less than what Sprint was paying. It was hard for them to sign xfinity and Camping World good luck Brian France. Not to mention the new t.v deal that started this year is by far the worst t.v deal they signed barely are races on NBC and I hate Fox Sports 1 the fans I believe got screwed with this deal fans are paying more money on cable to watch races. 544. racefangurl posted: 09.18.2015 - 11:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) MAR, I remember Rusty Wallace (I actually got a Rusty Wallace trading card when I was 6-7, but I seem to have lost it somehow), Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Bobby and Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott Joe Nemechek, Elliott Sadler, Darrell Waltrip, Kevin LePage and the Earhnardts, as mentioned. Maybe at least Ward Burton. Not sure if I remember Jeff Burton, Ricky Craven Michael Waltrip, Ricky Rudd Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth the same way. 545. racefangurl posted: 09.18.2015 - 12:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) Just sharing some drivers I'm aware of and were racing in the Winston Cup era/ special time. As far as actual race memories I have, there was the Die Hard 500 and I remember some guy doing good at some race and then he had an issue of some kind so he was 4 laps down and some race we missed part of because we got home after it started and there was a rain delay before we could watch. It wasn't over when it seemed it should have and then they said something about a rain delay. Many times, a driver would wreck and go to the hospital, "where he is in critical but stable condition.", at least to my memory. Just names mentioned random things like that is all I remember. I was such a casual fan, I thought they were just racecars until I was 12. There was an article in this magazine my family has gotten for years that mentioned Jeff Gordon's car was a Chevy. It was about Jeff Gordon's 2001 Coca-Cola 600. Even if the 90's-mid-2000s was good in certain ways, as I once read those days "weren't all gumdrops and happiness and Dale Earnhardt standing on the hood of his moving car, a mighty golden angel roaring for vengeance.", the part Earnhardt lived during that is. Safety is better than it was in the 90's-2001. I wish it was possible to have the safety stay as it is now (safety means our drivers are less likely to die)and all that was good from before, like the competition and development, how it was in 98-2006. I mean, it's rather sad when a driver dies. Like when Jason Leffler died in that sprint car wreck, the other drivers were devastated and sad and so were his fans. 546. racefangurl posted: 09.18.2015 - 12:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe I should've said and that were racing in that first sentence. 547. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.18.2015 - 12:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, my mistake, DEI won 3 races in '02 not 2. 548. Sean posted: 09.18.2015 - 7:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Ernie Irvan passed Dale Earnhardt because Dale got a good restart on the last restart and Irvan got a horrible one. Irvan would pass him because Dale was sitting duck. Really Rusty wrecking cost Dale. I think he would have been hard to pass without that caution." That sounds like Talladega 1993 to me, not Daytona 1991. I was referring to the 1991 Daytona 500. I think the #3 and #4 were pretty even on the plate tracks in '93, but I think the #3 easily had the best stuff on the plate tracks in '91. In the Busch Clash, he went from last to first twice in a lap. He had untouchable equipment. Obviously the ridiculous pit rules screwed that race up a lot, and if Irvan had fresher tires (I haven't watched it in full) that alone would explain it. But pretty much everyone had conceded that race to Earnhardt after the Busch Clash and for Irvan to take the lead from him on track when nobody expected him to was HUGE. I agree his Talladega '93 win, while not undeserved (and I wouldn't badmouth it as it was all the top stars Earnhardt/Wallace/Martin/Irvan battling for the win after all) was luckier. "Also, in 1993 the two best cars were Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. I know Earnhardt led 100+ laps, but truth be known they had the better cars that race and it showed in the last 250 miles. Petty got caught in the back over some pit problem and got caught in a wreck. Jarrett had an Hendrick engine and was patient with his better handling car and was able to pass Gordon and Earnhardt with ease when Earnhardt's tires were bad and handle was gone (go watch the whole race). To be honest Gordon fell back and was able to catch back up with a few cautions and Rusty's big wreck and if he had a clue what he was doing at the end he might have won. It truly was a great race (Hard to believe Derrike Cope led 30 laps that race) with a lot of story lines. At one time Earnhardt and Petty were running 1-2 together and Jarrett was running by himself in 3rd and was gaining on them!" That race I have watched in full but Jarrett didn't really stand out to me until right at the end. Maybe I'll need to watch again and pay more attention behind the leaders. Regardless, I'm not going to say in general that he had SUPERIOR equipment to the #3 on the plate tracks in that period (maybe just as good though...) "I felt for this year Jr. messed up on the restart where they all went around him and him and Jimmie weren't lined up together and that was pretty much Logano's main competition and it took forever for Jr to get caught back up and he ran out of laps at the end." It's true Gordon, Junior, and Johnson didn't have as strong teamwork in the second half of the race as the first, but they still easily had the three fastest cars and all lost. Furthermore, Logano was the *only* Ford up there at all (he passed all three dominant Chevies for the lead in that race with zero help from Keselowski, other Fords, or even a consistent drafting partner). Because he seemed to have an inferior car and little consistent support, Logano's Daytona 500 win impressed me more than any plate win in a LONG time. He passed all three dominant cars without consistent drafting support. I haven't seen a run like that on a plate track in some time. Sure, if Hendrick had put up a more united front they'd have probably finished 1-2-3, but they didn't and he capitalized. Hendrick had the fastest cars and they lost. Period. And to think I along with everybody else made fun of Logano as late as early 2013. "Kevin Harvick should move up that ladder also. He had sub-par equipment with Childress for years (still won a lot of races including some big ones and had success) and then he got in some top equipment finally and has been on rails for the most part ever since." He has a minor case for top 16 but I'm thinking 21st-25th would be the most reasonable placement for him. A title this year, as little as I rate titles (especially now) would likely force me to put him in the top 20. "2001: 28" Yeah, I was expecting 2001 to lead, not 2002 before I did this, but I guess it's not surprising that didn't happen because Gordon's dominance prevented many other drivers from having very high average percent led statistics, not to mention that the 2001 score was calculated based on the 1999-2003 period and the 2002 score was calculated based on 2000-2004 and that latter period was deeper (especially because 2001-03 have the highest weights for the 2002 score while 2000-02 have the highest weights for the 2001 score, and 2003 was deeper than 2000). 2002 2003 2011 2004 2001 2005 2010 2012 2013 2009 2000 2006 2014 2008 2007 "536, so the first time winners added some depth, seemingly at least in 2011?" Technically yes and it's reflected in my more detailed calculations as well. However, realistically, not so much. The 2011 first-time winners (Bayne, Menard, Smith, Ragan, and Ambrose) were not regular race threats. The breakthrough drivers in the early 2000s were actually regular or semi-regular race threats. That is a massive difference. Spen does make a good point that the powerhouse teams in '11 were unusually balanced (i.e. it wasn't just the usual Johnson steamroll, which was one refreshing thing about that year), but that was about the only improvement over the surrounding seasons. "To me, it looks "bouncy" in terms of depth after 2003. 2004-2013 shows a down, up, down, down, up, down, same, up, down, up pattern, if we compare each year to the previous year." Because my system is based on 5-year periods, the single-year blips don't matter as much, so what I got is a series of steadier trends. Competitive depth increased every year from 1998 to 2002, dropped every year from 2002 to 2007, rose every year from 2007 to 2011, and dropped again every year from 2011-present. When you base things on both the current year and two years before/after, the single-year blips are averaged out and the clear trends become apparent. However I do think much of the 2007-11 rise was in large part due to fluke races resulting from NASCAR gimmicks. Nonetheless, I think the rises and drops make a lot of sense. "The new Chase or the decline of Roush, which started in 2013 seems to have sent depth down, but maybe next year, if we're lucky depth will bounce up again. Spin-gate and MWR's decline after may also contribute to the down trend in depth." Roush, not so much. Edwards and Kenseth were competitive for them (and still are competitive) while Stenhouse and Bayne never did much. Kenseth replaced Logano who wasn't very competitive at Gibbs but is hugely competitive at Penske, while the #22 wasn't competitive the year before Logano arrived there. I'd say the Roush effect doesn't matter much. I think the decline of MWR has played more of a role (Bowyer looked really good for a while and is now invisible) and Childress also. My data at least are based on drivers, not teams. So I think it has more to do with only two post-2006 drivers emerging into stars (Brad and Joey) while Gordon, Stewart, Biffle, and Kahne have all fallen off big-time... "98-2005 by far where the best years in cup" 1985-97 was the peak of Cup. 1998 is when the gimmickry started big time (fake red flag at the end of the spring Richmond race), when the owner-drivers and single-car teams were all flailing, and when the races suddenly got more boring due to the 5-and-5 rule. The racing was most entertaining the years directly before that, I think. Aero push was everywhere in the early 2000s. You might have different drivers running up front every week (which is good), but you had a lot more single-file parades (and more gimmickry) in that period than in the early '90s. There's more than competitive depth to determine when the best racing was. But I do agree that entire period was better than today. "Brian France and Sprint and yea now we have phantom cautions, competition cautions, rigged races, gimmick championship system, Cot, and millionaire owners out spending the back half of the garage competition is lacking big time right now. But also the talent pool is under developed because of a broken development system." Almost all of that predates 2005 (I remember competition cautions even the years *I* consider classic), with the exception being competitive depth (which was largely riding the years when NASCAR peaked in quality, which was about 10 years earlier). The current decline in competitive depth is likewise following the decline in quality from ten years earlier. "I dont even think there will be a sponsor." Oh, come on. IndyCar got Verizon, the Series Formerly Known As Grand National got Xfinity, and even ARCA has Menards. The size of the sponsorship deal will markedly decline, but they'll still find sponsorship if *tons* of less popular series do. Also, I forgot Darrell Waltrip's cumulative races led total in post 524, which was 63.7. 549. 88&4Fan posted: 09.19.2015 - 7:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Some of these comments are actually really funny. Proud to say that I played my part. 550. Rich posted: 12.12.2020 - 9:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte were the commentators. Mike Massaro, Kelli Stavast, Dave Burns and Marty Snider were the pit road reporters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: