|| *Comments on the 2017 FireKeepers Casino 400:* View the most recent comment <#231> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Anonymous posted: 06.13.2017 - 8:19 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) 38 Cars? In 2015 all but 5 races had more than 43 people enter, thanks charter system. 2. Altracing posted: 06.13.2017 - 10:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan Sieg will be in the 23 car this weekend not Gray Gaulding 3. Jonathan King posted: 06.13.2017 - 11:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Who will be in the 51? I think either Timmy Hill or Cody Ware 4. Tide1732 (Jimmie Johnson fan) posted: 06.13.2017 - 11:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Probably is a other rookie in #51 5. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.13.2017 - 11:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) They 51 actually ran decent for a turd with Timmy behind the wheel. If I was Rick Ware, I'd put Timmy in as often as I could 6. Anonymous posted: 06.13.2017 - 1:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Guess BK is already tired of Gray's dad 7. Tide1732 (Jimmie Johnson fan) posted: 06.13.2017 - 1:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (7) In Future we have 18-car field in cup Series. The 43-field probably never back 8. Bobby Joe posted: 06.13.2017 - 2:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Aric Almirola could return between Kentucky and Indianapolis, he is hopeful for New Hampshire. 9. Anonymous posted: 06.13.2017 - 2:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @7 We won't have 43 cars again but 18? That would mean getting rid of half the charters... 10. joey2448 posted: 06.13.2017 - 3:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm gonna be at the track all weekend! Cannot wait! 11. Tide1732 (Jimmie Johnson fan) posted: 06.13.2017 - 6:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) Next drivers to won a race this year Chase Elliott Daniel Suarez Can a chance for a 'OMG! win' this year Erik Jones Trevor Bayne Can make a chase with a potential wins this year Kyle Busch Denny Hamilin Kevin Harvick Matt Kenseth Jaime McMurray Joey Logano Clint Bowyer (Good Ride in #14) Can get a Runner-up (include superspeedways) in 2017 cup season Michael McDowell Landon Cassill Cris Buescher Paul Menard 12. Stewart14Rocks posted: 06.13.2017 - 7:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Jones will get a win before suarez and elliott. 13. Anonymous posted: 06.13.2017 - 7:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @11 How is Daniel Suarez not an "OMG" but Erik Jones is? 14. JSPorts posted: 06.13.2017 - 7:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, Jones has consistently shown more speed than Suarez. Also @11 they changed the format for the Chase in 2014 so now if you win you're in the Chase. So that means if any of those guys you listed win, they make the Chase. Not just the 7 you listed. 15. George posted: 06.13.2017 - 7:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Because the #19 is a JGR driver/car as opposed to the "it's-JGR-but-we-can't-officially-call-it-that" #77? And therefore that somehow makes Suarez less of a surprise winner than Jones? I'd say it's the other way around myself since they're in equivalent equipment and Jones is the more talented driver. 16. Jonathan King posted: 06.13.2017 - 11:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We will be very close to having 16 different winners, I dont think it will happen, but it will be very close. 17. JSPorts posted: 06.13.2017 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) And if we don't end up with more than 16, it's quite likely that a good driver will end up missing the Chase. Right now, as it stands, Harvick, Busch, Elliott, McMurray, Hamlin, Bowyer & Logano are in on points. That leaves out Kenseth & Jones, as well as Kahne & Earnhardt. If we get some more surprise winners, it could even push guys like Bowyer, McMurray, even Elliot or Logano out of the Chase. I think Harvick & Busch are pretty safe, even if they don't win (but I think they will win.) 18. Stewart14Rocks posted: 06.14.2017 - 4:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "38 Cars? In 2015 all but 5 races had more than 43 people enter, thanks charter system." The charter system isn't really to kick small teams out but to keep the bigger ones in. Nascar made the charter system to keep teams that are struggling like roush, rpm, etc. What better way to keep a bigger team in the sport than a guaranteed entry. The field will probably be around 25 cars in the next 10 years. 19. JSPorts posted: 06.14.2017 - 4:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's not intended to kick smaller teams out, but it's done that. And it's even hurt many of the mid-level teams. 20. Anonymous posted: 06.14.2017 - 7:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @18 and 19 I know it wasn't intended to but it has 21. JR-TV posted: 06.15.2017 - 9:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The #51 is still entered as "?". Cody Ware may have been scheduled to drive but had back issues at Dover and Pocano so he will sit out this weekend at Michigan. Hopefully, Timmy Hill will return to the #51 Chevrolet this weekend. I don't expect it to happen but it would be a pretty big blow if they withdrew. 22. Jonathan King posted: 06.15.2017 - 3:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hey, didnt they announce that Stanton Barrett and Kevin O'Connell was going to drive the 51 part time? 23. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.15.2017 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm starting to think that deal has fallen apart. Timmy was only supposed to be in the car for the 500, but he's been the main driver. And with Bilicki supposedly running Sonoma, where would they put KO in since he's a ringer 24. Anonymous posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) With the #51 withdrawing this is the 1st race since North Wilkesboro in 1996 to have 37 cars 25. Anonymous posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #51 has withdrawn :( 26. Jonathan King posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @23 I also heard that Tommy Regan was going to compete at Sanoma as well in the 51. Idk how that is going to work. 27. Anthony posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) One car away from NASCAR's "full field" 28. Tide1732 (Jimmie Johnson fan) posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (7) The future Daytona: 500 will have 30 fields to 32 cars Talladega: will have 31 fields to 32 cars Bristol: to get 16 fields to 18 cars Sonoma: 16 fields to 18 cars Richmond: 14 fields to 18 cars Kentucky: 20 fields to 22 cars Watink's Glen: 19 fields for 22 cars Fontana: 21 fields to 23 cars Charlotte: 17 fields to 18 cars Martinsville: 12 fields to 15 cars (in future 8 fields for 10 cars) Fontana: 17 fields to 19 cars Brickyard: 400 23 fields to 25 cars Chicago: 17 fields to 19 cars Phoenix: 21 fields to 23 cars Michigan: 28 fields to 31 cars Kansas: 27 fields for 27 cars Miami: 23 fields to 25 cars Las vegas: 25 fields to 27 cars Dover: 27 fields to 28 cars New Hampshire: 17 fields to 21 cars Charlotte road course: 21 fields to 23 cars Pocono: 26 fields to 28 cars Atlanta: 18 fields to 20 cars Texas: 18 fields to 21 cars (In future: 8 fields per 12 cars) Darlington: 18 fields to 23 cars IT WOULD LIKELY BE THAT THE FUTURE NASCAR FORMATS HERE ARE SOME YEARS AGO. DECEIVING THIS DECREASE BECAUSE WHO WILL USE THESE NUMBERS WILL BE THE TRACKS AND NOT NASCAR. 29. JSPorts posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) FYI @28, no. Also, the words you used here do not make sense. At all. 30. Tide1732 (Jimmie Johnson fan) posted: 06.15.2017 - 6:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (4) And 28 fields of daytona night race for 30 cars. 31. Seibaru (Tylor Thaber) posted: 06.15.2017 - 7:10 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @28 I know I said I would ignore you, but this one is too much. EIGHT CARS? Let's see your evidence, you delusional fool. 32. Tyson posted: 06.15.2017 - 7:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To get back on topic with the race... The 51 has withdrawn. We're down to 37 cars. 33. Anthony posted: 06.16.2017 - 6:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If you include many non-qualifiers, this is the lowest number of cars to enter a race in Cup since Martinsville in September 1993!! 34. JR-TV posted: 06.16.2017 - 7:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) The reason non-chartered cars will withdraw and other non-chartered cars will not enter to fill the field is because of the massive difference in the amount chartered teams make to what non-chartered teams make. Nascar needs to fix this. They up the amount non-chartered teams make so that it is closer to what chartered teams make and is worthwhile for small non-chartered teams to make the trip to every race. I like that the charter system guarantees that we will have at least 36 cars show up for every race. Hopefully that never changes. I hope Nascar expands the charter system to Xfinity and Trucks for that very reason. However, they cannot do it with these massive pay fluctuations. It drives smaller non-chartered teams out of the sport. I know there has to be some difference in what charter teams make(or it wouldn't make any sense to own a charter). I don't know what the number is but I've heard non-chartered teams make pennies on the dollar compared to chartered teams. 35. A Ford Thunderbird posted: 06.16.2017 - 10:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (3) I agree with #34/JR-TV. The charter system is great and needs to be expanded to Xfinity and Truck to ensure "x" amount of teams will show up to every track. For Xfinity, give out 33 charters for the 40 car field. For Trucks, give out 27 charters for the 32 truck field. But...in Trucks, that would be a problem. As of this week there will only be 24 truck teams to be full time in 2017. So maybe give them the 24 charters and expand on them in 2019? But it does seem that the non-chartered Cup pay is a joke. I mean...isn't that why NASCAR hid the purse money last season? Either they don't want us to know how much chartered teams get, or how little the open teams get? If starting and parking a Cup car was feasible nowadays, wouldn't somebody have already done it? 36. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 06.16.2017 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @28 God what is going on in this dude's head? 37. JR-TV posted: 06.16.2017 - 1:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^I don't think he even knows! 38. Tide1732 posted: 06.16.2017 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (5) My Predictions 1 Kyle Larson (Segs 1,2 and 3) 2 Kyle Busch 3 Clint Bowyer 4 Joey Logano 5 Denny Hamilin 6 Jimmie Johnson 7 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8 Martin Truex Jr. 9 Brad Keselowski 10 Chase Elliott 11 Austin Dillon 12 Daniel Suarez 13 Erik Jones 14 Trevor Bayne 15 A.J Allmendinger 16 Kasey Kahne 17 Matt Kenseth 18 Ryan Blaney 19 Darrell Wallace Jr. 20 Paul Menard 21 Jaime McMurray 22 Danica Patrick 23 Kevin Harvick -1 24 Matt DiBenedetto -1 25 Ryan Newman -1 26 Kurt Busch -1 27 David Ragan -2 28 Landon Cassill -6 29 Michael McDowell -25 30 Ty Dillon -114 31 Reed Sorenson OUT 148 Handling 32 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. OUT 125*2 Engine 33 Jeffrey Earnhardt OUT 102 Clutch 34 Corey LaJoe OUT 57 Vibration 35 Ryan Sieg OUT 49 Transmission 36 Cole Whitt OUT 46 Suspension 37 Cris Buescher OUT 13*1 Crash *Restart Lap 18 *Restart Lap 129 (4 Cautions Only out-of-segments, include 1 derbis and 1 oil) 39. 1995z71 posted: 06.16.2017 - 6:07 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Tide1732 get a life, maybe go back to elementary school or something. 40. jw4444 posted: 06.16.2017 - 6:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Remember that in the days of 43 car fields, half a dozen of them were start-and-parkers. I for one, don't miss that. The main thing IMHO that will limit Nascar Cup fields in the future is dwindling sponsorship (largely related to dwindling viewership). Roush & Petty recently contracted. SHR and Hendrick are having sponsorship problems. So it may soon come to charter teams not running (full time) for lack of sponsors. And soon could be next year. 41. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 06.16.2017 - 6:57 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @39 one day Tide will be the only poster here 42. Seibaru (Tylor Thaber) posted: 06.16.2017 - 7:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @41 Just the thought of that is truly awful. 43. Ak47 posted: 06.16.2017 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @36 I'll have to agree. This guy's posts are everywhere now and I can't tell if he's a troll or not because 99% of the time they're just absolutely ridiculous and have no logical basis 44. RaceFanX posted: 06.16.2017 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "one day Tide will be the only poster here" I don't think so...(laughs) 45. Ultimate Warrior #18 posted: 06.16.2017 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @35 you do realize charters cost millions to buy let's think about this example the #92 Truck team that Regan Smith was driving for they can't afford to run a full truck schedule which requires about 2-4 million to run so what makes you think they could come up with let's say 1 million in a off season to buy a charter from a full time truck team when they can't even afford to run a full season charters in trucks won't work horrible idea. Same goes for Xfinity series ownership I don't think the Biagi Brother team who have a technical alliance with RPM could buy a charter from a Xfinity team if that system is in place the sport is in bad enough shape we lost almost all the independents from Cup we don't need to run away the independents in the Xfinity series and Truck series. 46. Kenny posted: 06.16.2017 - 10:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) I'm still hear @Racefanx hi race :D 47. Sector posted: 06.16.2017 - 11:56 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Can we do something about the ridiculous amount of posts by Tide? Honestly, they are so cringworthy to read and provide no logical insight to the races whatsoever. Not to mention everything he post doesn't make a lick of SENSE. I rather use google translate from fluently languages (which I have no problem with) rather than reading some poor English sentences that isn't understandable to a single soul in the world. 48. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.17.2017 - 12:05 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Just do what I do, skip over them 49. Seibaru (Tylor Thaber) posted: 06.17.2017 - 12:37 am Rate this comment: (1) (3) @48 But we shouldn't have to skip over them. We deserve better. Honestly, someone tell the fool to type in his home language and that we will translate it. If you're going to try and communicate with English speakers on an English site in English, it needs to be good. There is nothing wrong with Google Translate. 50. Tyson posted: 06.17.2017 - 12:50 am Rate this comment: (4) (2) We deserve better? Lol what? This is a site about racing statistics and the comment board is optional. What in the hell do we deserve? It's not hard to skip over Tide's comments. I respond to them every now and then, but half of you resort to name calling. Calling him a fool and telling him to grow up is not only childish, but it can be considered just as much s***posting as what Tide does. For the 9,000th time, just ignore him. It's really not that hard. What is hard to ignore is everyone making fun of him constantly. 51. chevyfan98 posted: 06.17.2017 - 1:41 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) Honestly I don't see how Tide's English is any worse than certain people, not necessarily here but just on the internet in general who don't type in complete sentences, misspell half the words they type, don't capitalize anything, and don't use punctuation. And his English HAS gotten significantly better since he first started posting here, he'll respond to comments on occasion now and use complete sentences. I can understand most of his comments, sure he can be a bit excessive at times and the silly season rumors he makes up out of thin air are another matter that I think needs to stop, but I also don't go around replying to every single one of his comments. Just my two cents. 52. Stewart14rocks posted: 06.17.2017 - 6:29 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) One day tide's post is bound to come right 53. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 06.17.2017 - 10:55 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) @51 The dude said 8 cars will start Martinsville one day, that is absolute stupidity. 54. Tyson posted: 06.17.2017 - 11:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Back on topic of the actual race: Ty Dillon's time was disallowed after the team made unapproved body adjustments. He'll start last. 55. Altracing posted: 06.17.2017 - 11:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson will start from the rear of the field in a back-up car after a practice crash earlier today 56. Tide1732 posted: 06.17.2017 - 5:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (4) I'm a Bot from Wales, and not a people from Bermudas 57. Seibaru (Tylor Thaber) posted: 06.17.2017 - 5:33 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) I need to lay down. I'm not even kidding, I swear on my bones, that comment made me lightheaded. It feels like my brain just divided by zero. 58. StenhouseFan17 posted: 06.17.2017 - 5:46 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) My life is complete 59. nascarfan posted: 06.17.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @56 "I'm a Bot from Wales, and not a people from Bermudas" What are you even saying? 60. JSPorts posted: 06.17.2017 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hahaha what the heck. Does that mean everything Tide is saying is translated from Welsh? 61. BOT_Tide1732 posted: 06.17.2017 - 8:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) BK Racing may not continue to compete this year, it may be that they can run with only 1 car, but using the #84. If the BKR close the doors. Need to sell #83 to redo #23 And sell O #23 to use #98 or #99 Or sell the #83 only, and BK use the #84 with Danica or Gaulding at full-time. Gallagher and Kahne are most likely in the two cars of the GMS, Or just one of them in case BK Racing uses the car #84 only. 41-Car field can come back if that happens. Or sell the #11 JGR charter, as Denny Hamilin may not continue if he does not win the cup this year, but I find it impossible for Gibbs to do that. My Prediction: Gallagher and Allgaier. Or in 2020 replaces Roush to use Stenhouse Jr. Bayne and Gallagher. 62. Tyson posted: 06.18.2017 - 10:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd like to again point out that Ty Dillon lost his starting position after post-qualifying tech. NASCAR's official starting lineup lists him starting 37th. 63. Karn Evil 9 posted: 06.18.2017 - 1:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @56 I feel like I need to reboot my mind after reading that. 64. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.18.2017 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder how long it's going to take for that Hulu money to start helping the 33 team out. I know it chat happen overnight, but I am expecting some sort of improvement by Daytona. 65. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 1:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I know I sound like a broken record and I apologize in advance but again it looks like to me that Kyle Busch has had the car to beat today so that's my pick once again 66. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 1:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What is the deal with these race start times? People arent gonna wait around all afternoon for the nascar race when the weather is beautiful in june. Get these things started by noon no one cares about the pre race show. Looking at the ratings less and less people care about the races and i think the start times are a big part of that... 67. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.18.2017 - 2:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 64 should say can't, not chat. Stupid phone keyboard 68. Captain51 posted: 06.18.2017 - 2:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @66, Don't forget there's people in this country 3 hours behind on the west coast. 1pm start times are great but it's 10am on the west coast. It's actually a move to improve the ratings, but some people just choose to criticize NASCAR without thinking about the "big picture" 69. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 2:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If its a move to improve the ratings why id almost every race down double digits in viewership from 1 year ago? 70. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 2:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Even dale earnhardt jr on his podcast criticized the 3pm eastern pocono start time. 71. chevyfan98 posted: 06.18.2017 - 2:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "If its a move to improve the ratings why id almost every race down double digits in viewership from 1 year ago?" Because there are other factors besides the start times that affect viewership. Besides, as #68 said, a lot of NASCAR fans don't think about the big picture. 72. BMan0213 posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd agree with the whole big picture argument with the later start times if it wasn't for the fact NASCAR tried this earlier this decade and it failed miserably which is why they went back to the earlier 1 PM start times in the first place...... Just like before I doubt this experiment will last. 73. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick and Kurt will start from the rear due to unapproved adjustments 74. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There will be a competition caution at lap 20 due to some rain earlier today 75. jensenators posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Smallest field since 37 cars in for the Miller 400 in June of 1985. Also, with all these guys starting at the rear this should a a heck of a first stage with fast cars coming up through the field. 76. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag we're underway at Michigan 77. Tears of The Sun posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) NASCAR races should start at noon and 1pm like the early 90's, no exemption! I miss the days watching a race and still having the whole afternoon to get stuff done outside 78. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Debris on the frontstretch caution is out 79. Sean posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "If its a move to improve the ratings why id almost every race down double digits in viewership from 1 year ago?" Because half the schedule is now on FS1/NBC Sports. I know this happened in 2015, not this year, but that was the moment NASCAR became really no longer a mainstream sport. When most of the schedule is now on channels that many people don't get or afford (back in the ESPN/TNN/TBS era, there were only like 40 cable channels and those ones pretty much everybody got) people are obviously going to eventually forget to watch even the races on broadcast networks. Throw in that there were obviously a lot of Gordon, Junior, and Stewart fans who were sick of the increasing gimmickry who hung in there as long as their drivers were around but possibly no longer and it is understandable. I don't think start times really affect ratings much, unless you are starting a race or ending a race when one of the coasts will generally be asleep. West coasters will not be asleep with a 1 pm east coast start time. 80. Sean posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Smallest field since 37 cars in for the Miller 400 in June of 1985." That would be the smallest field at Michigan, right? Because the short track races had 36 cars in 1995-1996 and 32 cars in the years prior to that. 81. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Competition caution moved to lap 25 82. jensenators posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @80. Correct. I should have put at Michigan. 83. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Competition caution is now out 84. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Most of the drivers who pitted took two tires 85. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex to the lead 86. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Erik Jones on pit road for a possible loose wheel 87. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jones is right now the only car one lap down. Johnson in the top 10 after starting from the rear 88. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex wins stage 1 ninth stage win of the year 89. jensenators posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Matt Dibenedetto will get the free pass, so Erik Jones will either need to take the wave around, or wait for the next lucky dog to get his lap back. 90. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson beats Truex off pit road 91. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like Jones will take the wave around 92. Anonymous posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I hope everyone who is whining about the start times realizes that America actually has a west coast, and some of us don't want to get up at 9am on the weekends. 93. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag pit stops starting 94. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Leaders are on pit road 95. Anonymous posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The NASCAR problems have nothing to do with the start times. 96. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex passes Larson with 4 to go in the stage 97. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex wins stage 2 98. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Okay other drivers, don't be afraid to go up there and challenge the 78 99. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 4:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex stays out along with a few other cars 100. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) F the west coast! Start those races out there later along with the night races thats plenty of times you don't have to get up early on sunday. 101. nascarfan posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @100 I love late afternoon start times and I live on the east coast 102. racefangurl posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Both Roush drivers top-20's getting to be a somewhat more common sight. 103. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bubba Wallace and Ryan Newman are racing each other hard back in the pack. 104. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan Sieg spins out caution is out 105. Sam posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ryan sieg spins 106. Sector posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The transitioning between Kevin Harvick's dominance to Martin Truex's dominance over the past couple of years have been rather fruition in my opinion. No matter how Martin Truex Jr finishes today, I would like to see him (or Kyle Larson, but more Truex since Larson is still very young) win the championship. He's that good. 107. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Whoa, Sieg's spin almost took out the leading Truex. 108. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Truex nearly hit Sieg's car there 109. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jones, Earnhardt, Jr., and Blaney take two tires and leap into the top-5. 110. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kyle Busch wins the race off pit road Truex is back to fifth 111. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think at tracks where one lane restarts so much better than the other they should do cone choice. I think that would be great, add an interesting aspect to it 112. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Way too many of these races are decided by which lane a driver restarts in... 113. Jeff posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Man Blaney could get his first two wins back-to-back 114. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) The NASCAR-themed Pixar animated film "Cars 3" was released the week of this race and topped the box office. Fittingly Kyle Larson is running a paint scheme this week based off the film's main character Lightning McQueen. 115. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 113 And he could pass Kyle Busch for the win again 116. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch may not have enough fuel to make it to the end if we stay green 117. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution for debris 118. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution for debris and everything is out the window... 119. Jacques Debris posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hi Everybody! 120. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chris Buescher has dropped out of the race. 121. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chris Buescher has gone to the garage for some reason not sure yet 122. George posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Kyle Busch benefit caution. Not obvious at all. 123. HouseOfPenske posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Nice fake caution, Nascar. You suck. 124. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Back half of the field pits under caution 125. Ak47 posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Feel how you will, but this is what makes enjoying the product impossible for me. Potentially interesting finish brewing, "debris on the backstretch", camera pans backstretch, *crickets* Come on. These big team owners have NASCAR eating out of their asses. 126. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:46 pm Rate this comment: (4) (2) Nascar awards the firekeepers 400 to kyle busch. Nascar applauds as they do everything they can to get jgr their first win of the season. The NFL cannot start soon enough... 127. Jacques Debris posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope everybody enjoyed my speciality: L'invisible hot dog wrapper. Don't worry it isn't actually invisible. The trusty NASCAR officials can see it, but you can't. 128. HouseOfPenske posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:47 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) Thumbing down my comment? Did they show the debris? They didn't even attempt to mention it. 129. racefangurl posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) 126, Ugh. Football, I don't like at all. I love to hate football. 130. Clint posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Nascar extends the cautio for "additional debris" this is an absolute joke.. 131. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson to the lead 132. Jacques Debris posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They overlooked my other speciality: L'invisible french fry container. 133. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bowyer into the wall caution is out 134. Lucstar88 posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And not only does Kyle lose the lead, he lost 2nd. 135. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well that yellow came out as quick as possible 136. Lucstar88 posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle is raging on the radio. Said *Thanks, NASCAR* Bowyer is too. 137. Ak47 posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) He's raging now? Probably would've finished 27th without the original Jacques caution...what a jackass 138. HouseOfPenske posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) Logano in 6th with much fresher tires than the front 5. 139. racefangurl posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cautions breed cautions. 140. JeffGordon24FanForever posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Menard is getting outrun by Matt Dibenedetto, he has struggled a lot this year. 141. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danica wrecks as they stack up from Blaney's flat tire 142. HouseOfPenske posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) These drivers are idiotic. Blaney was backing up for half a lap and they still wreck. 143. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Danica Patrick was actually making a nice move for position and got collected in another's mess. If it weren't for bad luck she wouldn't have any. 144. HouseOfPenske posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Raging for a bogus caution in the first place and now a caution that may save his chance at a win? 145. Lucstar88 posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 19 comes down 2 lanes and danica is the only car with bad damage. 146. Not Sure posted: 06.18.2017 - 5:59 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @ 139 - Fake debris caution breeds unnecessary car from top team grazes wall caution breeds actual caution. 147. Ak47 posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Danica's 6th DNF of 2017...ouch. Blaney and Harvick were getting blasted by 3 rows at once, there was no way that situation was ending well. 148. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Looks like Logano may be in the catbird seat restarting fourth with fresher tires than Larson 149. Vince posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (5) (2) @147 And 5 of those 6 DNF are due to getting caught in someone else mess. Like her or not, but I have never seen a driver being so unlucky than has been Danica so far this season 150. Sam posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) That crash was similar to the Kenseth/Danica crash last year but Danica didn't flip unlike kenseth 151. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Larson wins two in a row at M.I.S.! 152. Altracing posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Larson gets his second win of the year and third of his career all on 2 mile racetracks. Elliott finishes second again at Michigan 153. RaceFanX posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Larson celebrates his win with a few donuts in victory lane (since at M.I.S. it's in the infield) before going for a victory lap. Nice! 154. Sector posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Danica Patrick finishes dead last in 37th. Kyle Larson gets his third win of his career, each at different 2 mile race track events (August Michigan race in 2016, Spring Fontana race in 2017 and now the June Michigan race in 2017, aka this race). Brad Keselowski finishes 16th at his home track. Wonder when he'll ever have a solid shot at a win here at the Cup level. Chase Elliott finishes 2nd at Michigan for the third straight race. That is his ONLY finish at Michigan so far, but this is is first to not lead a single lap. He's bound to win one here soon. Watch out for Chase in the August race. 155. StenhouseFan17 posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #42 - Target/Cars 3/Cottonelle #48 - Lowe's/Kobalt Tools #31 - Velveeta Shells and Cheese #47 - Kroger ClickList/Nature Valley/Crest #21 - Omincraft Auto Parts/Quick Lane #3 - Dow Salutes Veterans #32 - KeenParts.com/CorvetteParts.net #34 - Front Row Motorsports (backup car was just plain yellow) #37 - Kingsford/Bush's Best Beans 156. Not Sure posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The people who run the sport have so little faith something interesting will happen naturally in the final 20 laps. 157. BOT_Tide1732 posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I'M Right again!!! I'm Predicted JHN for Trucks, John wins at Gateway! And predicted Larson for CUP: Larson wins again! 158. TeamDCR fan posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Larson didn't pull a Larson. Good for him. Poor Chase, 3 2nd places at MIS in a row 159. That's Racin' posted: 06.18.2017 - 6:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Half empty stands at most tracks, TV ratings falling, a constant flow of gimmicks from the NASCAR brass, and races with short fields...other than that, NASCAR is perfectly healthy. 160. 2017 Debris Caution Update posted: 06.18.2017 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Through 15 races there have been 0.8 debris cautions per race, more than 2001 but less than any year since. Texas had 4, Richmond and Michigan had 2, and Atlanta, Martinsville, Kansas, and Dover all had 1. 8 of the first 15 races have had 0 debris cautions. However, if you treat the stage 1 and 2 (and 3 for Charlotte) cautions as debris cautions the number is 2.9 or 0.4 higher than the 2005 high and double last year's 1.4. Nearing the half way point of the season it is now even more apparent that NASCAR regularly used debris cautions as entertainment cautions the past 10-15 years and now that they have the stage cautions they don't use them as much. 161. Sector posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also to note for the June Michigan races: Kyle Busch ends his streak of 40th or worse finishes at the Michigan's June race with his 7th place finish today. 41st in 2014, 43rd in 2015 and 40th in 2016. Before those finishes, he finished 4th in 2013, which he started in this race. 162. Not Sure posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (6) @159 - In other words, Jr. will have a souped-up car at Daytona in 2 weeks. It might cause more to look back with skepticism at one of the sport's most cherished moments, but most will get emotional and check reason at the door when he wins. 2001 was the pre-Enhancement Era anyway, so nuts to that. Just have NASCAR & NBC meet with the top team's owners and they'll understand what a smart business decision it would be. They'll just have to keep any Jimmy Spencers from saying something stupid after the race this time. Jr. could win the race without any special help (he's actually my favorite active driver so I'm not knocking his driving ability), but if his car is as dominant as his car in 2001 you'll know they decided not to chance it. Remember: the stages came into being because NBC panicked at the low TV ratings last season and demanded changes. The stages haven't prevented FOX's ratings from falling this year, so NBC needs something big for their first race. A real crowd pleaser might create enough momentum to enhance their TV ratings for the rest of the season. 163. Anonymous posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @161 Well considering there were only 37 cars that's not suprising In other news BK will NOT field the #83 at Sonoma 164. chevyfan98 posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) "I have never seen a driver being so unlucky than has been Danica so far this season" I'm sure Aric Almirola's heart is breaking for her. 165. Nascar Lead Lap Points posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) To the Rear #33 Driver Choice 166. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.18.2017 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (3) (1) "In other words, Jr. will have a souped-up car at Daytona in 2 weeks. It might cause more to look back with skepticism at one of the sport's most cherished moments, but most will get emotional and check reason at the door when he wins. 2001 was the pre-Enhancement Era anyway, so nuts to that. Just have NASCAR & NBC meet with the top team's owners and they'll understand what a smart business decision it would be. They'll just have to keep any Jimmy Spencers from saying something stupid after the race this time. Jr. could win the race without any special help (he's actually my favorite active driver so I'm not knocking his driving ability), but if his car is as dominant as his car in 2001 you'll know they decided not to chance it. Remember: the stages came into being because NBC panicked at the low TV ratings last season and demanded changes. The stages haven't prevented FOX's ratings from falling this year, so NBC needs something big for their first race. A real crowd pleaser might create enough momentum to enhance their TV ratings for the rest of the season." Mind telling us what brand of tin foil is best for making your mind-control-protection hats? 167. Not Sure posted: 06.18.2017 - 9:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @166 - Do you have an actual argument? I merely analyzed a possible business decision NASCAR and NBC could make. Just today the end of the race was "enhanced" by a phantom debris caution. Why do you think they do that? 168. chevyfan98 posted: 06.18.2017 - 10:01 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) It always amazes me how we romanticize storybook endings in, well, storybooks, but whenever one happens in real life, then we all complain that it was "rigged" and "too good to be true." People have dominated plate races plenty of times. It also helps when you have the best restrictor plate driver in the best plate car, and he's motivated more than anyone else. Nobody calls the 2002 EA Sports 500 rigged and Junior made basically the exact same moves to win that race that he did in the 2001 Pepsi 400, only difference between the two races is one of them had a major storyline surrounding him and one of them didn't. 169. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.18.2017 - 10:17 pm Rate this comment: (3) (0) #166 Is it true that NASCAR has had a hand in manipulating races before? Undoubtedly so. But I'm really damn tired of the "NASCAR rigged the 2001 Pepsi 400 so Dale Jr. could win" argument/conspiracy theory. It will never go away though, no matter how much I would like it to. If it makes you or anyone else sleep better at night to believe NASCAR rigged the race for him, good for you. Unless hard concrete, irrefutable evidence comes out that it was rigged, or Junior or someone high up at NASCAR at the time actually comes out and says so themselves, I'm not buying into that. I think the whole conspiracy theory would have more of a leg to stand on if Junior and the DEI cars had run like garbage and been noncompetitive in the previous 2 plate races in '01 and then suddenly out of nowhere Junior suddenly dominated the Pepsi 400, but that's not the case. Junior and Waltrip both ran strong in the 500 and the first Talladega race. It would also have more of a leg to stand on if they didn't typically run competitively on those tracks afterwards, but again, that's not so. There are also just too many variables to believe that NASCAR rigged it for him. It's a plate race and anything can happen. What if he suffered a tire failure that put him deep in the field? What if his engine blew? What if he got caught up in a crash? Could NASCAR HELP try to get a certain driver a win? It sounds plausible they might try to help out a LITTLE, after all they are happy to throw questionable cautions to try to inject excitement into fairly dull races. Straight up rig a race and hand it to them on a silver platter before it even starts, I have a much harder time seeing that. The only "evidence" I've seen that race was rigged is A. it was the first Cup race after his Dad died. B. he supposedly made passes for the lead that were extremely unusual and implausible to do, and lead an unusually high number of laps in the event and C. Jimmy Spencer suggested it was after the race. And we all KNOW Jimmy Spencer is one of the most intelligent, trustworthy sources of info to ever step into the garage area. If he said it, surely it's got to be true. I need MUCH more evidence than that to change my mind on this. Actual evidence that NASCAR gave him an illegal engine, or had everyone else lay back and roll over for him. If that actually comes out and is verified by actual experts (IE, not armchair ones online), I will gladly change my tune and accept that NASCAR rigged the race. Until then, you are free to call me a "sheeple" and tell me to wake up as much as you want. Not budging on this one. 170. chevyfan98 posted: 06.18.2017 - 10:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "2002 EA Sports 500" Meant the 2001 EA Sports 500 sorry. The one where he kept getting shuffled out by Stewart and Labonte in the last few laps but fought back and passed Labonte for the lead coming to the white flag and then they all wrecked behind him. 171. Scott25 posted: 06.18.2017 - 11:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @jolly mean giant I don't believe the 2001 Pepsi 400 was rigged, but the 2010 Daytona Nationwide race with Junior in the #3 was a different story. 172. Aaron posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:41 am Rate this comment: (3) (0) Doesn't happen too often this year so I gotta give him props: Dale Jr. had a hell of a drive to the finish yesterday to get a top-10. He was rocketing around 'em on the high side those last 8 laps. And to note the post above mine -- was the 2005 Pepsi 400 rigged for Tony Stewart, since he dominated it like no plate race Dale Jr. ever dominated? His car was absolutely unpassable. The 2010 July Daytona race wasn't rigged, Dale Jr. got up on the wheel and drove it to the win. However -- the debris caution once he took the lead was probably a wink-wink caution. Nothing that didn't happen for Gordon or for Stewart or others at points in their careers. It's easiest for people who don't like drivers to just say their wins are rigged to justify their narrative that they can't win. It's like *some* Trump supporters -- whatever they say is real and if they don't like what you say, it's simply fake news. 173. Josh posted: 06.19.2017 - 10:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) People saying Danica's bad luck this year is like nothing they've ever seen, go look at the first half of Alan Kulwicki's 1990 season. 174. Anonymous posted: 06.19.2017 - 11:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "People saying Danica's bad luck this year is like nothing they've ever seen, go look at the first half of Alan Kulwicki's 1990 season." I hardly realize she has any bad luck, wreck or not, she's still going to finish where she finishes. That deep in the field. 175. Scott B posted: 06.19.2017 - 12:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Josh, Also see Ryan Blaney's start to the 2015 season. Three DNF's due to engine failures in his first 5 races with the Wood Brothers. They were part time then, too, so there was extra time to think about the disappointments between starts. A lot of drivers hit a streak like that, the difference is how they react. Winners can ride it out and eventually elevate their teams. 176. Vince posted: 06.19.2017 - 1:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @174 : "she's still going to finish where she finishes. That deep in the field" The thing is, your statement is totally wrong. Having 6 DNF, with no own responsibility on any...) in 15 races is already a incredibly awful run of luck. But if you watch in detail, most of the DNF happened when she had better than (her) average races. Yesterday she was making a pass for 11th place with 10 laps to go (and fresher tires) when she was taken out. At Kansas, she was also turned by Logano while running just outside the top 10. Daytona and Dega, had she got away of the big ones without damages, she clearly had the car to get at least a Top 10 finish. Just replace 3 of those DNF by a 15th average finish position (which is extremely conservative), she would be 6 spots higher in standings and her average finish around 4 spots higher 177. Ak47 posted: 06.19.2017 - 1:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You guys are being rather naive when it comes to Danica's season thus far. Yesterday is a perfect example of how it isn't all just "bad luck"...the 4 and 21 were getting absolutely freight trained by three rows of traffic, and you could tell coming out of the corner onto the backstretch that it wasn't going to end well. That she ducked below the 4, 21, and a couple other cars simultaneously could have been avoided, as that situation was clearly rather uneasy and was looking like trouble. You can't duck to the bottom in a 5-wide scenario and accept no responsibility. Now, the Logano parts failure where he piledrove her into the wall was a completely different situation. 178. clint13 posted: 06.19.2017 - 1:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) its very rare that the interval from 1st to 37 is only 10 laps 179. Vince posted: 06.19.2017 - 1:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You're kidding right? Are you seriously suggesting that Danica, who had a huge run and a big space opened in the inside on a straight line on one of the largest track of NASCAR, should have slowed down and carefully stayed behind? Specially on a restart with 10 to go? If Suarez didn't clip her car, she would have easily cleared everybody way before the entry of turn 3. The most ridiculous thing is that if she had hadn't taken that opportunity, you would be the first to say that it showed her lack of purpose... 180. Ak47 posted: 06.19.2017 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) It looked like they were about to wreck in front of her, so that would've been the smart move... But in no circumstance can you truly play the victim card when you put yourself in a 5-wide situation; that would be my opinion no matter which driver(s) ended up on the wrecker. Is it her fault the wreck happened? No. Did she put herself into the midst of a clearly volatile situation? Without a doubt. 181. Vince posted: 06.19.2017 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) http://hpics.li/34b4ab0 Coming out of turn 2, Blaney/Harvick/Suarez were door-to-door on the outside, leaving more than half of the track width opened. Actually there were largely enough space for Johnson, Bubba and Danica, who also were leveled, to all make a run on the 21/4/19. Maybe Johnson, who was in the most uncomfortable spot, might decide to play it safe and lift, but there is absolutely no reason for either Bubba or Danica not to go for it, if they don't take that chance there, they better stay at home... Even if Suarez hit a little Harvick, that was only a door to door contact on a straight line, he should have been able to hold his line instead of crossing all the track width like he did 182. Jim Davis posted: 06.19.2017 - 4:32 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) "Having 6 DNF, with no own responsibility on any..." Actually, she does have *some* responsibility. While it is true she didn't start the incidents she was caught up in, she typically runs where incidents are most likely to occur...midpack. If one is typically running around and racing for position with 2nd and 3rd tier drivers one is going be inevitably caught up in incidents that such drivers are prone to and in consequence be thought of as 2nd and 3rd tier as well. There is a tried and true method of minimizing being involved in accidents not of one's making. That is to run up front with the more skilled drivers. Patrick has the car to do that but has rarely demonstrated the skill and talent. 183. Damon posted: 06.19.2017 - 5:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (2) 182, False She got wrecked yesterday running in the top 15 and pushing for a top 10. Suarez failed to hold his line and pin balled off the 4, then cut in front of the 43 and into Danica. At Talladega she was collateral damage as the 3rd place car of Allmendinger started the wreck with the 2nd place car of Chase Elliott. At Kansas she was running 11th and got turned by Logano's busted brake roater At the Daytona 500 she was only back in the pack due to pitting at the end of Stage 2 like her teammates did while others stayed out to start the final stage. McMurray and Bayne triggered the wreck with Johnson and she had nowhere to go 184. Vince posted: 06.19.2017 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @182 A lot of drivers are running midpack. I think it is fair to consider every driver in the 16th-24th range for average finish a "midpack driver". Let's watch how many DNFs they have... - Kenseth 3 DNF - Blaney 2 DNF - K.Busch 2 DNF - Jones 4 DNF - Newman 2 DNF (1 crash) - Bayne 2 DNF - Suarez 1 DNF - A.Dillon 1 DNF - Kahne 3 DNF - T.Dillon 2 DNF (1 crash) - Junior 4 DNF (3 crashes) - Menard 2 DNF - Buescher 2 DNF - Allmendinger 2 DNF - McDowell 1 DNF - Almirola 1 DNF So on average those 16 midpacks drivers have 2.13 DNF (1.94 crash DNF). Clearly your point doesn't stand... On another note, you say Danica has the car to run up front. Actually I'm convinced that unlike JGR or Hendrick, Stewart-Haas doesn't have the resources to run 4 top-level structures. Don't forget that they moved from 2 to 4 cars very quickly only because Gene Haas absolutely wanted Kurt Busch. So, being the worst of 4 drivers (I think everyone agree about that), Danica get the worst chassis, the worst engines and the worst crew of SHR. But that is an other debate... 185. George posted: 06.19.2017 - 5:06 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 162 non-top-10 finishes in 169 career starts with an average finish of 24th, and not driving Premium, Front Row, BK, etc. garbage-level equipment either. Yep, that sure is a whole lotta "bad luck". 186. Not Sure posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (2) (2) I've pointed this out before, but he wasn't the dominant car in the two previous RP races in 2001. The 8 was a top five RP car in those races (perhaps only a top ten at Daytona, a lot of good cars were involved in the big one). Two Dodges were the class of the field (40, 22) but not dominant. About three months after the spring Talladega race (the 40 was the class of the field but again not dominant) the 8 is in god mode. No one was challenging him which was out of the ordinary with a rules package practically designed to prevent that level of dominance. He was actually being challenged in the '01 EA Sports 500, ergo not in god mode. But if anyone wants to look into the DEI dominance at RP tracks from the '01 Pepsi 400 to 2003 or 2004, go ahead. (For instance, what accounts for the relative lack of success for RCR, who shared a plate program with DEI, during that time period?) The reason why they don't get much or any focus is his car in those others wasn't unbeatable to the degree he was in that Pepsi 400 which happened to feature the best possible story. Spencer wasn't the only one, only the most prominent. Offhand I believe Benson hinted at it in a much more measured way. There had to be other drivers who simply kept their mouth shut. There was also that Talladega race in 2003 he made a pass below the yellow line and wasn't penalized. I recall a few drivers being miffed at that. Preferential treatment? Fear of fan response if he was penalized? I guess the drivers felt more comfortable questioning this rather than the religious moment at Daytona in July 2001. I agree that for the vast majority of races NASCAR doesn't care who wins*, but they clearly care about a close finish like the major sports do for their big events. From June 2016 to February 2017, the NBA, MLB, and NFL all had historic comeback victories occur - Game 7's for both NBA and MLB, extra innings/overtime for MLB and NFL, the latter featuring late game coaching too atrocious to be on the level. I suppose NASCAR could fit in with Johnson at Homestead. He had no business winning that race, but NASCAR's intervention (in the form of a BS caution) made it possible. Not saying they wanted Johnson in particular to win - there were plenty of narratives they could have spun with the other golden lottery ticket holders - but Edwards was much better than the others and that wasn't acceptable. (I think Brian would like the Craven/Busch Darlington finish every year at Homestead and he'll keep "enhancing" things until he gets it.) The best story prevailed though, as was the case with the NBA, MLB, and NFL. Lots of storybook endings in a short period of time - dream endings, really, because you have to be asleep to believe it (hat tip to George Carlin). As far as evidence, do you think they write this stuff down? Even if some whistleblower comes out and says something he'll get the Tim Donaghy treatment. In that case, the same media which funds the NBA gladly accepted David Stern's mafia don explanation and forgot about it. Most fans will disbelieve the whistleblower and continue watching as if nothing is amiss. Jimmy Spencer who briefly questioned it before retracting is labeled not credible. Spencer ironically was a beneficiary twice due to NASCAR looking the other way on McDonald's behalf. What was OK for that Junior Johnson car in 1994 was suddenly not early on in speedweeks sans McDonald's sponsorship the following year. Regarding my main point in post 162, does anyone disagree with the notion that would be a great business decision for NASCAR and NBC to make? The only other result that would generate any buzz that might stop the bleeding is Danica winning it, but a lot more people would be willing to believe a fix was in if that occurred. I hope I'm wrong and Jr. doesn't win like that. I'd prefer it if he won at least once more at a non-RP track with real racing. *Another example to the contrary is the 2015 Auto Club 400. They clearly didn't want Kurt Busch winning. 3 debris cautions in the final 20 laps (technically final 10 plus overtime) in a race which only had 1 accident with a single car sustaining damage. They intervened until the result they didn't want - news headlines across the far left PRC that a driver with his sort of legal troubles at the time was the winner at the local track - was avoided. Nothing personal, just a corporate business decision. 187. Not Sure posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @172 - Different rules package in 2005. 188. Sector posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:23 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @186 Nice written article. I'd have to thumb up. 189. Damon posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 'So, being the worst of 4 drivers (I think everyone agree about that), Danica get the worst chassis, the worst engines and the worst crew of SHR. But that is an other debate...' Yes it is and one Tony Stewart would have you believe is not the case in terms getting the worst chassis. 190. Ak47 posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:42 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) @184 really, this again? The driver who has finished infinitely far behind ALL of her teammates for 4.5 seasons now, despite changing teammates around her, is getting the worst stuff? Is that why she's never finished in the top five? Obviously her first year before the fourth team was added they couldn't support 3 cars... And then when Kurt came and immediately destroyed her, that was because they gave her the worst of everything despite $20m+ from GoDaddy, and miraculously became able to support a third car (4,14, 41).... And don't say they couldn't, because Stewart was way out of his prime at that point, and the 4, 14, and 41 are all clearly leagues above the 10 in 2017. Obviously SHR wants their driver to fail so badly that they ensure the #10 has no equality to their other three cars, and if Harvick and Danica switched rides for the rest of the season, all other things equal, Danica would lead 500+ laps and Harvick couldn't finish in the top ten. Lmao. You, Vince, are an idiot. Even if they did have a deficiency that didn't allow them to run four good cars, there's no excuse for the disparity between the 10 and the other three, and that certainly wouldn't explain why her car has been so far behind all the others the entirety of her tenure there. And if the team is the problem and not Danica, she obviously had an AWFUL team during her time at JR Motorsports before coming to Cup. What a joke. 191. Guy posted: 06.19.2017 - 6:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) If she gets the worst equipment there it's her own damn fault for running off Tony Gibson and making SHR give her Kurt's 2014 team that sucked. Danica fans like to gloss over that detail though along with everything else that makes her look bad 192. JSPorts posted: 06.19.2017 - 7:36 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I get that some of you just want to defend Danica no matter what happens, but come on. She isn't getting the worst equipment. Come up with something better than that, because we all know that isn't true. She brought the most sponsorship to the team from 2013-2015, and maybe 2016 (at least 2nd most that year.) Therefore, more sponsor money buys you a better car. And, though I don't believe that SHR singles out any one of their drivers and gives them bad cars or the best cars on the team, it would make sense to give her the best car. She is clearly the most recognizable driver on their team, so if she was winning, it would be really good for the team and the sport. In fact, because she brings in the most money and has the biggest following, it would make sense for SHR to give her the best cars. But I don't think that's true either. All 4 SHR cars are probably about equal. I think Kevin Harvick could go out and run well in any one of the 4 any given weekend. Same with Bowyer or Kurt, though to a lesser extent. I mean, Kurt & Bowyer barely have ANY sponsorship, you really don't think Stewart is saying "let's give the guys with no money the best equipment?," do you? 193. JSPorts posted: 06.19.2017 - 7:40 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @172 you're completely right. If a person doesn't like a driver, they will say that driver cheats to win. A lot of people don't like that Jimmie Johnson has had success, so every time he wins it's either "cheating" or a "fluke." The funny thing is, cheating & winning actually makes you more likely to get caught, because NASCAR automatically inspects the winning car every week. Yes, Chad Knaus (not Johnson) has been caught cheating a few times, but not really any more than any other crew chief, especially in the last 10 years. Historically, and this is factual based on penalties and other data, the biggest cheaters of the Chase era have been Michael Waltrip Racing, Richard Childress Racing & RCR-affiliated teams. 194. Maverick19 posted: 06.19.2017 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @186 Couldn't really have said it better. I used to be in the crowd that the conspiracists were crazy, but Homestead last year kinda opened my eyes. This is a sport, but a business foremost. 195. 1995 Subaru WRX STi posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) "Is it true that NASCAR has had a hand in manipulating races before? Undoubtedly so." Need we forget that teams and drivers have done the same thing? Spingate 2013 Robby Gordon throwing a piece of rollbar padding too get a caution 2006. Hamlin stopping on track with a flat tire at one of the RIR races in 2008. Paul Menard did the same damn thing that year I think. Kyle Busch about taking out Austin Dillion in a Xfinity race at ACS last year (BTW Dillion called him out on it, on National TV no less). Matt Crafton about did what RG did at a Truck race in Vegas a couple years ago. The #2 crew having their Jackman body slam the side of the car too get an advantage. (May not be a manipulation of the race but too have the balls too do it on National TV and get caught and complain about it afterwords? Yeah) Might as well include that whole incident in the 1950s (someone help me out with that one. I completely forgot.) Teams and drivers aren't some holy sect that have never done anything wrong. 196. Maverick19 posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Teams and drivers aren't some holy sect that have never done anything wrong." No one said they were. "Might as well include that whole incident in the 1950s (someone help me out with that one. I completely forgot.)" You mean the one where Speedy Thompson wrecked Herb Thomas so that Buck Baker could win the 1956 title? It was also in a race added at the last minute (most likely for this purpose). The plot would succeed and Thomas would also be injured in the crash. 197. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #195 Oh, I never said the teams were saints. Cheating and attempts by drivers and teams to manipulate races and results in their favor have been undoubtedly going on since the very first days of auto racing. I have no idea what the first confirmed incidence of cheating of motorsports is (I wish I could say I did, but my knowledge is not quite THAT encyclopedic), but I'm sure it was in one of the very first auto races ever held. It's happened all throughout the history of motorsports, and it will probably ALWAYS be a part of motorsports...like it or not. Matter of fact, I admit I'd be skeptical if anyone told me there was a team in motorsports that never attempted to bend the rules or manipulate results their way at any point! One thing I learned long ago is that those into conspiracy theories and those who are skeptical of them will never see eye-to-eye, EVER. It's pretty much a physical impossibility and that's why I tend to hate arguments in this territory-because no matter how much you argue your point the other side will never see your way. Almost feels like a fruitless endeavor even trying to have that kind of debate IMO...And that's why I rarely bother with debating over these sorts of things. Because it's often going to fall on deaf ears and can get real ugly and sensitive in a heartbeat. Same reason why I do not go out of my way to start political or religious debates... 198. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) And I see the never ending "is Danica merely a poor NASCAR driver or is it everyone and anyone else holding her back from potential greatness" debate is just as strong as ever. This reminds me why I'm glad I rarely post on these comments before... 199. JSPorts posted: 06.19.2017 - 9:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think the important thing here is this: we tend to hold NASCAR to a higher standard than the teams, and so we are more upset when we perceive that they are intentionally altering the results of a race. We don't want teams to cheat, but we also acknowledge that they do everything they can to get ahead, even if it sometimes means bending the rules. We expect it. When NASCAR does it (even though it's pretty expected now with a "debris caution" every week with 20 to go), we still see it as worse than the teams. Because NASCAR is the one who is supposed to enforce the rules of fairness. It's like when you see a cop breaking the law in his car. 200. chevyfan98 posted: 06.19.2017 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I used to be in the crowd that the conspiracists were crazy, but Homestead last year kinda opened my eyes. This is a sport, but a business foremost." Right, because a race where there's an obvious bullshit caution in the late stages is the exact same thing as a race where *gasp* the biggest storyline just so happens to dominate. Yes NASCAR obviously manipulates certain races but you can't just go around calling every race where you don't like the outcome or it "just seems too good to be true" rigged. If you want to talk about a manipulated race where the biggest storyline won though I'll point you to the 2007 Aaron's 499 where NASCAR waited and waited and waited to throw the caution for a car blowing up until Jeff Gordon took the lead. 201. Maverick19 posted: 06.19.2017 - 10:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Right, because a race where there's an obvious bullshit caution in the late stages is the exact same thing as a race where *gasp* the biggest storyline just so happens to dominate." Except that Johnson didn't dominate (if that's what you're referring to), he was the last running Chase driver almost all race until the seas parted for him after that caution and the following chain of events. "Yes NASCAR obviously manipulates certain races but you can't just go around calling every race where you don't like the outcome or it "just seems too good to be true" rigged." You said it yourself, there was a phantom caution at the end of the race. Regardless of the outcome of the race, I'd say that's manipulation on their part. "If you want to talk about a manipulated race where the biggest storyline won though I'll point you to the 2007 Aaron's 499 where NASCAR waited and waited and waited to throw the caution for a car blowing up until Jeff Gordon took the lead." Pfft, of course the caution taking 30 seconds to come out was bogus. Even I know that. I'd also like to point you out to the 2003 Aaron's 499, where Jr. was going for 4 Talladega wins in a row, went below the line, and NASCAR had a no call on it. 202. chevyfan98 posted: 06.19.2017 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Except that Johnson didn't dominate (if that's what you're referring to), he was the last running Chase driver almost all race until the seas parted for him after that caution and the following chain of events." I was referring to Junior in the 2001 Pepsi 400, not Johnson. You can't rationally call a race rigged simply because a driver dominated and they were the biggest storyline. "You said it yourself, there was a phantom caution at the end of the race. Regardless of the outcome of the race, I'd say that's manipulation on their part." I'm not denying that. Every Homestead race since 2014 has been manipulated with one or more fake cautions at the end because "excitement". But if you're implying that it was rigged for Johnson specifically then NASCAR must have really planned that one out to perfection to have Edwards and Logano wreck and Johnson just barely get through it. "I'd also like to point you out to the 2003 Aaron's 499, where Jr. was going for 4 Talladega wins in a row, went below the line, and NASCAR had a no call on it." NASCAR has never been consistent about that stupid rule to begin with, but I'll grant you that win was probably bogus. 203. chevyfan98 posted: 06.19.2017 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "Need we forget that teams and drivers have done the same thing? Spingate 2013 Robby Gordon throwing a piece of rollbar padding too get a caution 2006. Hamlin stopping on track with a flat tire at one of the RIR races in 2008. Paul Menard did the same damn thing that year I think. Kyle Busch about taking out Austin Dillion in a Xfinity race at ACS last year (BTW Dillion called him out on it, on National TV no less). Matt Crafton about did what RG did at a Truck race in Vegas a couple years ago. The #2 crew having their Jackman body slam the side of the car too get an advantage. (May not be a manipulation of the race but too have the balls too do it on National TV and get caught and complain about it afterwords? Yeah) Might as well include that whole incident in the 1950s (someone help me out with that one. I completely forgot.) Teams and drivers aren't some holy sect that have never done anything wrong." Would you mind pointing me to where anyone even implied that teams and drivers don't manipulate races as well? I'm not seeing it. 204. 33kalam posted: 06.19.2017 - 11:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the shortest field Nascar points paying race (37 cars) since the final North Wilkesboro race in 1996 205. Vince posted: 06.20.2017 - 2:18 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @192 "I mean, Kurt & Bowyer barely have ANY sponsorship, you really don't think Stewart is saying "let's give the guys with no money the best equipment?," do you?" Interesting remark. You do realize than those 2 teams (14 and 41) are mainly financed by Gene Haas own pockets, right? So far, Haas Automation has been on the 41 14 races (9 as primary sponsor, 5 as secondary sponsor to Monster Energy), and on the 14 12 races. So if anything, yes Gene Haas (who is as much an owner as Stewart) would want to give the best equipment to the cars he pays for... 206. Ferret posted: 06.20.2017 - 4:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) My take on the bullshit cautions is this: Yes. NASCAR is a sport, but it's a usiness. It's ina a no win situation, if they go too far to the entertainmnt side of things, they losethe hardcore fans. If they go too far to the racing side, the goldfish attention span get bored. IMO NASCAR is in a similar state to the WWE and XFL circa mideason. Ratings are declining so NASCAR went with gimmicks. Those honestly are not working very well. Why'd I bring up pro wrestling? Well, for decades it pretended it was a legitimate sport but everybody knows it's a show now and I'm just sitting here wondering how soon NASCAR is going to rebrand itself as sports entertainment. Hm, Vince McMahon involved in NASCAR, oh that'd be both and horrifying. See also, XFL for what happens when he puts his hands on a sport...though admittedly the ten WWF did dive into drag racing and do pretty good. Point is, I think over the past few years, NASCAR's been going more and more toward sports entertainment than pure racing, bogus cautions, questionable no calls, , the stages, and a format that is supposed to be all OMG WATCH THE HOMESTEAD RACE Problem is, when you're always going to have a four driver playoff at Homestead it saps the excitement, it IMO makes the first 26 races meaningless. I think NASCAR should either just admit they are in the sports entertainment business and they are selling us a bunch of storylines each race, or ditch the gimmicks and go back to pure racing and let what happens on track decide who wins. There's no easy middle ground for them at all, the current gimmicks are awkward, clunky and do not, ever, wor for anyone but the drivers and TV networks, who are seeing declining ratings. 207. PickleStomp posted: 06.20.2017 - 6:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Here's a conspiracy: Kyle Larson wins at Michigan when the Cars 3 movie is #1 in the box office and he is a young father that won on Father's Day. What a great story/situation for NASCAR to come up with to promote the movie and to get the younger generation interested in the sport. 208. Damon posted: 06.20.2017 - 8:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) "So if anything, yes Gene Haas (who is as much an owner as Stewart) would want to give the best equipment to the cars he pays for..." Yep, let us not forget Zippy's comments after the crew chief swap in 2014 that there was a sense of urgency needed on the 41 and that they weren't worried about Danica because she was going to be at SHR for awhile. Also in the crew chief swap not only did Kurt get Gibson, he got the chassis that were prepared for/used by Danica in 2014 that she showed speed with. If the cars at SHR were all equal like Smoke says they are, then why did they make sure they switched the cars too? Not to mention why did they give Harvick and Childers free reign to start their team from scratch and build all new chassis for him? 209. 1995 Subaru WRX STi posted: 06.20.2017 - 2:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Would you mind pointing me to where anyone even implied that teams and drivers don't manipulate races as well? I'm not seeing it." All i'm saying if you want too throw NASCAR under the bus for manipulating races, throw in teams and drivers too. Don't say one without saying the other. They go hand in hand. "I think NASCAR should either just admit they are in the sports entertainment business and they are selling us a bunch of storylines each race, or ditch the gimmicks and go back to pure racing and let what happens on track decide who wins." Bill France Jr. did say that NASCAR is in the sports entertainment business. Before he passed away. "I think the important thing here is this: we tend to hold NASCAR to a higher standard than the teams, and so we are more upset when we perceive that they are intentionally altering the results of a race." I hold them equally. Both sides are equally guilty of altering races. Past history tells us so. 210. Ferret posted: 06.20.2017 - 6:42 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) But there's a huge diffference between saying you're in that business at the time he said that, and today's NASCAR, if anything the sport, no, 'sport' has slid further and further toward that end of things. I'm simply wondering how long before Brian France stands up and declares the sport is fake, scripted racing with the drivers being told exactly when debris cautions will fall, and when the phantom benefit cautions will fly and for who. Give it another ten or so years and I feel we will be at that point though. That is, if things don't change, honestly the wrestling analogy is valid here, NASCAR is, at this point, approaching pro wrestling no matter what branch, in terms of trying to fool people into the idea it's a legit sport. Wrestling at least had the guts to tell people, hey, we're not a real sport, you guys deserve to know it's scripted and you're watching performance art. So, given NASCAR is in the same general business, how long before they admit that as well? If they do, I won't mind if they fix races, or favor a certain driver as it's expected if it's a show and they fully embrace the sports entertainment side of things, and ditch any pretense of being a real sport. 211. Not Sure posted: 06.20.2017 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "So, given NASCAR is in the same general business, how long before they admit that as well? If they do, I won't mind if they fix races, or favor a certain driver as it's expected if it's a show and they fully embrace the sports entertainment side of things, and ditch any pretense of being a real sport." That may actually reverse the ratings slide. Maybe Vince picked the wrong sport to experiment with back at the turn of the century. 212. John Lee Pettimore III posted: 06.20.2017 - 10:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I've said it before, but I'll say it again: If NASCAR could "FIX" races - Dale Jr would have 100 wins and 10 Championships. Do you know how big that would be for NASCAR? 213. Eric posted: 06.20.2017 - 11:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't think NASCAR fixes races for certain driver because Dale Jr. would've won 2 times as the amount of races he has in his cup career. What NASCAR should be guilty of is manipulating races for making the races closer than they actually are and try to make races more exciting than they actually are. NASCAR is doing this because the ratings are down and the fans are leaving the stands for good. What NASCAR needs to do is have less aero issues, get a rid some of the gimmick stuff like Segments, and do something with the costs of racing. I already have answers for fixing the problems that ill NASCAR. 214. Eric posted: 06.20.2017 - 11:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) My own answers for fixing NASCAR is easy. Cutting down on costs should be focused on not allowing race teams to use Wind tunnel and own 7 post shaker rigs. The way to make NASCAR less Gimmicky is by a rid of stage racing, lucky dogs, getting a rid of the caution line outside of plate racing, no fake debris cautions, and make the chase less gimmicky. The answer for betting racing is getting a ride of the splitter, and make the cars higher off the ground. 215. Gelato101 posted: 06.21.2017 - 12:48 am Rate this comment: (1) (4) Racing back to the line is a dumb idea and I can't believe some fans want it back 216. Eric posted: 06.21.2017 - 12:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I mentioned cutting down the costs because the truck series is hurting. While charters are hurting the cup series, the cost of running a team isn't helping matters. I mentioned getting a rid of the lucky dog is because there are too many options getting a lap back at this point. Race teams get a lap back by a lucky and a wave around at this point and that is too many options. What I mean by making the chase less gimmicky is the way take a look at how Jimmie Johnson was last year. Jimmie had a career low in top 10's and there was more drivers deserving winning the championship. The win and you get into the next round of the chase needs to stop. Also a team that automatically wins in the regular season shouldn't get in either because that basically means a team can start testing for the playoff early. The other issue is the chase has the issue of you don't have to start all the races before the chase in order to be in the chase if you win a race. That type of a thing shouldn't be allowed at all due to the other driver being fresher than the competitors. 217. Eric posted: 06.21.2017 - 12:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) @Gelato, I wasn't referring to race to the line as you made it sound. I took the lucky dog away because there are 2 ways for getting a lap back under caution. 2 ways getting a lap back is overkill. Right now, teams are able to get a lap back by not pitting under caution when the leaders pit besides having the lucky dog. That is too many ways. The only way is by not doing the lucky dog or stop having times getting a lap back by not pitting when others pit. I decided to get a rid of the lucky dog, but allow race teams to get back their lap, but not pitting. 218. Gelato101 posted: 06.21.2017 - 6:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I actually misread your comment about removing the caution line and thought it had said something about bringing back racing to the line 219. Not Sure posted: 06.21.2017 - 6:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @210 - This seems relevant: http://racing-reference.info/comments?jp=0&id=2016-36&s=W&drvid=&blogid=&trkid=&ccid=&ownid=&p=Y&st=0#1304 220. Jim Davis posted: 06.21.2017 - 8:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Cutting down on costs should be focused on not allowing race teams to use Wind tunnel and own 7 post shaker rigs." This is totally impractical from both a legal and enforcement perspective. For example, suppose there is a building near the Gibbs shop, not known to be owned by Gibbs. Does it house a 7 point shaker? What if it does? What can NASCAR do? But worse, the fundamental problem isn't being addressed. Money makes cars go faster. No amount of NASCAR rules is going to change that. "The answer for betting racing is getting a ride of the splitter, and make the cars higher off the ground." That would make the racing better but it would also make the cars more likely to get airborne. NASCAR's nightmare scenario for the last 30 years has been a car getting airborne and clearing and/or penetrating the catch fence and taking out dozens of spectators. NASCAR can't survive such a tragedy if they walk back rules designed to prevent it. 221. Scott B posted: 06.21.2017 - 12:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree with Jim, a spending cap in racing is pretty much impossible to enforce. If you restrict wind tunnel time or shaker R&D by the teams, the factories will do it for them and pass the data down to the teams they support. About the only thing that would help would be doing a sealed crate engine or going into full IROC mode where the teams can only do minimal race day adjustments. I don't really want to see the sport go in that direction, but I'm more open to it now than I would have been a few years ago. If NASCAR starts providing crate engines or even turnkey racecars, though, can you imagine the conspiracy theories that certain drivers were getting better equipment than others? I don't think those fears would be completely unfounded, either, so there would have to be extreme measures in place to make sure things were on the level. 222. Scott B posted: 06.21.2017 - 12:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "That would make the racing better but it would also make the cars more likely to get airborne." Yes, unless there was also drastic change in the engine package to reduce horsepower. We don't need qualifying speeds in the 190's to be the norm, we'd actually see better, less aero-dependent racing at reduced speeds. Changes in body and engine design do add costs that hurt smaller teams in the short run, unfortunately. In the long run, though, it's a good direction to go. 223. Jim Davis posted: 06.21.2017 - 1:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Yes, unless there was also drastic change in the engine package to reduce horsepower. We don't need qualifying speeds in the 190's to be the norm, we'd actually see better, less aero-dependent racing at reduced speeds." But then you run into the problem that drivers can run flat out lap after lap, making passing almost impossible, which would not be better racing. You could keep the engine power, get rid of the 1.5 mile and longer tracks, and add more short tracks and road courses (like the Charlotte road course). But I can understand NASCAR's reluctance to move in this direction. The real point is that NASCAR is up against complex, interrelated problems which aren't amenable to simple solutions with no one feeling any pain. We should all be very wary of posts with some variant of "NASCAR just needs to..." or "The answer is simple..." 224. Benjamin LordLowe posted: 06.21.2017 - 6:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jim you sound a bit like CJS minus the repeated references to the 73 Indy 500 225. Aaron posted: 06.21.2017 - 6:45 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm hoping against hope that Dale Jr.'s top-10 at Michigan can jump-start his summer a little bit like it did in 2010 (but with a better overall point finish) 226. JSPorts posted: 06.21.2017 - 7:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope so too. Doubt it will happen, but it's not impossible. Unless they can get that car running better, I don't see how they can expect to finish well. They've only run well at Daytona & Texas this year. Maybe a few more races I'm forgetting. I'm starting to think that Greg Ives isn't helping get the car much better on Sunday than it was when they unloaded it on Thursday or Friday. 227. chevyfan98 posted: 06.21.2017 - 7:26 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Probably a safe bet he finishes higher in points than in 2010, or at least matches it. He's been about a fifteenth place driver most of the year and eventually the law of averages has to play into his favor and he'll luck into some good finishes (he kind of already has the last few races minus Pocono). He's definitely been faster this year than in 2010 (which I think may have actually been his worst season ever, even worse than 2009, he was far luckier in 2010 than 2009). "They've only run well at Daytona & Texas this year." Las Vegas, Martinsville, Talladega, Charlotte, Michigan... ran in the top ten for decent portions of all those races. Dover as well but he was only there because of the caution that came out in the middle of green flag pit stops. 228. JSPorts posted: 06.21.2017 - 9:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You're right. I meant Texas & Daytona were the only two tracks where I feel he had a car capable of winning the race or a top-5 car. 229. Jim Davis posted: 06.22.2017 - 8:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Jim you sound a bit like CJS minus the repeated references to the 73 Indy 500" I don't think either of us is comfortable with that comparison. :) CJS's encyclopedic knowledge of motorsports history far exceeds my own and I have learned much from his posts over the years. However, I'm put off by his conspiracy theories (like Jack Roush intentionally sabotaging Matt Kenseth's cars when he announced his signing with Gibbs) and his superstitions (like Jimmie Johnson facing bad luck with 66 wins and 6 championships). 230. Wot posted: 05.17.2018 - 5:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie's sponsor was Lowe's/Kobalt Tools 231. Rich posted: 12.15.2020 - 7:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon were the commentators. Matt Yocum, Chris Neville and Jamie Little were the pit road reporters. Larry McReynolds was the in-race analyst. Chris Myers and Michael Waltrip were in the Hollywood hotel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: