|| *Comments on the 2020 Season Finale 500:* First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page | View All On One Page View the most recent comment | Post a comment <#post> 1. Sector posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:09 am Rate this comment: (23) (22) The 2020 season finale is here! A ton of fans are upset that Kevin Harvick, having his best season ever, didn't make the Final Four and will not be champion. This is Chase Elliott's 5th pole to count toward the award. He ties Kevin Harvick for most of 2020. They both started second once for the tiebreaker. Who wins the tiebreaker now? Is it still based on the lower car number (which favors Harvick?) I hope they changed that. I'm super curious. Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott will fight it out to determine their destiny as the 2020 Cup champion. Matt Kenseth, Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson's final Cup start before heading into retirement. Jimmie Johnson will race in open wheel IndyCar starting, Matt Kenseth's replacement of Kyle Larson comes to an end (Ross Chastain confirmed to take over #42) and Clint Bowyer joins Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon in the Fox booth, all changes starting in 2021. 2. Jimmie4life posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This race name definitely isn't that great. 3. JSPorts posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) The race name sucking pales in comparison to so many other things wrong with NASCAR right now. 4. Sector posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie Johnson is coming off of three consecutive finishes in the 30's. He enters this race with only 9 Top 10's of the season. This is his last opportunity to score one last Top 10 to make that double digit for the 2020 season. If not, it will be the first time he has failed to score at least 10 Top 10's in a single season. 5. Vaxen posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Shocked RWR hasnt entered JJ Yeley at his hometrack. Kind of a bad move here by Rick Ware. 6. AJ73 posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is that seriously the name of the race?! Please tell me that's a joke... 7. Sector posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:52 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) All of the Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman, will honor Jimmie Johnson for this race by running yellow numbers in which Johnson had ran the yellow #48 car for years during his championship dominance. 8. Sector posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) The "2020 Season Finale 500" could've been worse. Imagine calling this "The COVID-500." 9. Anthony2 posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) I mean there was once a 1980 NASCAR 400 at the old Texas World Speedway. So this is nothing new. We've had the Summer 500, & so forth. So this title name of this race is like a 1980s throwback. 10. Jimmie4life posted: 11.03.2020 - 9:58 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Season Finale 500 sounds like something a fan would make up for a custom NR2003 sign up season, not an actual cup race. 11. Corey posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:02 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) It should be called the ?Championship Showdown at the Phoenix Corral? 12. JSPorts posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I prefer races that have unique names (Daytona 500, World 600, Southern 500, Brickyard 400, etc.) rather than "Sponsor" 500. So I like this better than last year's Bluegreen Vacations 500. 13. Code posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the first time that both Penske cars made the final 4. And the first time since 2016 that all 3 manufacturers are represented. 14. Ralphie posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Note to @13: Penske owns 3 cars, not 2. A Chevrolet being able to run for the championship is an unexpected change of pace. A "rigged" (ha ha) Chase win would be a fitting end to a unique 2020 season, but I'm picking Keselowski because he's got a better chance than Elliott and the other two options are nauseating. 15. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The ?Season Finale? 500? That has to be the laziest name for a race that I've ever seen. I agree with 11, that is a much better name for the event. Also, 21 upvotes and 20 downvotes on comment #1? That has to be a record in terms of polarization on a single comment on this site. 16. RaceFanX posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @15 Indeed, especially for a relatively factual post. 17. Corey posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) This season wins have been split fairly evenly between four groups 10 for SHR 9 for Toyota/JGR 8 for Penske 8 for Chevy Harvick debate aside, I believe this will be the most wide open championship, where any of the four have a good shot at winning. The four account for 18 victories with each contributing at least three of their own. 18. William24ByronFan posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:36 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cody Ware is back after an amazing return at Talladega and the Xfinity race at the Roval. 19. TeamDCRfan posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Final planned race in Cup for Jimmie and Bowyer. Likely Kenseth's too. The drivers left competing when I really started getting into NASCAR are beginning to dwindle. Joining Johnson Bowyer and likely Kenseth in retirement is supposed to be Brendan Gaughan, but who knows with him. Other motorsports greats who dont plan on running next year, Tony Kanaan and NHRA's "Golden Greek" of Chicago Chris Karamesines. Kanaan, who, like Dale Earnhardt, won everything there was in Indycar except the 500, was finally triumphant in 2013. Kanaan has said hes open to running the 500 in the future should the right offer come up. Drag racing legend Chris Karamesines has been racing longer than anyone. He won the 1959 AHRA Top Fuel title, and although he never won in NHRA, he is still regarded as a one of the all time greats. The Golden Greek plans on stepping out of the cockpit and allow his granddaughter, Krista Baldwin take over. While his age is up for debate, he is officially the oldest NHRA driver. According to NHRA, his birthday is November 11th, 1931, making him almost 89. However, other sources list his birthyear as 1928, making him almost 92. 1928 seems to be the more accurate one as stated on broadcasts by the Greek himself in 2009, as well as Big Daddy Don Garlits, and the Greeks service in WWII. Although Jimmie is essentially done with NASCAR, his career as a driver will enter a new world, the open wheel world, driving road courses for Chip Ganassi. While road racing hasnt been Jimmie's fortay, itll be interesting to see how he does, as he wont be full time, meaning he will have more time off, and weve seen NASCAR guys go to the Indy 500 and do quite well. We know Bowyers plan, joining Jeff Gordon and Mike Joy at Fox, becoming the new DW, and no doubt bring some energy that seemed to lack during the Fox portion of the season. Kenseth i think is done based on the way this season has played out. I think going in he saw this as a potential resurrection for his career. That quickly was found to not be true and poor Matt has just been out there. 20. Jimmie4life posted: 11.03.2020 - 11:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Besides the odd name, this'll be the first time since 2001 we've had a finale at any track besides Homestead. Looks like Sunday will be a race of very pleasant weather, especially for the 90+ degree days prior to the race. After Harvick got eliminated at Martinsville in a screw job, he looks to take the crown and win yet again at Phoenix/ISM. Keselowski and Elliott have yet to win at ISM Raceway, and what better time to do it than get it for the championship. Logano is the most recent winner at ISM, and looks to double up on both Phoenix wins in 2020 and career championships. Denny Hamlin won here last year to advance to Homestead, but it will be tougher to do it now, since the championship is today. He has the most wins of the 4 championship drivers at 7, and hopes to tie his career record 8 wins in a season and clinch the long eluded cup title. 21. JSPorts posted: 11.03.2020 - 11:44 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Championship 4 drivers' stats at Phoenix Raceway: Brad Keselowski: 22 starts, 0 wins (0.0%), 6 top 5s (27.3%), 10 top 10s (45.5%), 248 laps led (11.3 per race), 13.5 average finish, 1 DNF (4.5%), 16 lead lap finishes (72.7%). Brad finished 11th at Phoenix in March, leading 82 laps. Chase Elliott: 9 starts, 0 wins (0.0%), 2 top 5s (22.2%), 5 top 10s (55.6%), 249 laps led (27.7 per race), 13.0 average finish, 1 DNF (11.1%), 7 lead lap finishes (77.8%). Chase finished 7th at Phoenix in March, leading 93 laps. Denny Hamlin: 30 starts, 2 wins (6.7%), 13 top 5s (43.3%), 17 top 10s (56.7%), 821 laps led (27.4 per race), 11.3 average finish, 1 DNF (3.3%), 26 lead lap finishes (86.7%). Denny finished 20th at Phoenix in March. Joey Logano: 23 starts, 2 wins (8.7%), 5 top 5s (21.7%), 12 top 10s (52.2%), 449 laps led (19.5 per race), 14.3 average finish, 4 DNFs (17.4%), 14 lead lap finishes (60.9%). Joey finished 1st at Phoenix in March, leading 60 laps. 22. Anonymous posted: 11.03.2020 - 11:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Final race for Leavine Family Racing 23. Canadianfan posted: 11.03.2020 - 12:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think this race was probably going to be originally called the ISM 500 but when ISM dropped their sponsorship at the track back in January that was no longer going to happen. 24. Mile501 posted: 11.03.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Among the final four, Hamlin seems to be the most deserving of this year's championship, though if you look beyond wins, all four drivers are fairly close in terms of top 5s and laps led. But, since it doesn't really matter who is deserving, and it all comes down to one race...let's look at each driver's past Cup Series results at Phoenix: Hamlin has dominated a couple of recent Phoenix races, but he has also been rather inconsistent. His last 7 Phoenix races consist of 3 top 5 finishes (including 1 win) but also finishes of 10th, 13th, 20th, and 35th. He has dominated 2 of those races, but has led few or no laps in the others. It is worth noting that the 2 recent races he dominated came in the fall, including last fall's win. Keselowski has a mediocre record at Phoenix. In his last 9 Phoenix races, he has just 2 finishes better than 10th. He has rarely led laps, although he did led 82 laps in the spring before finishing 11th. His best Phoenix result came two years ago in the fall, when he led 32 laps and finished 2nd. Elliott tends to run well at Phoenix, but his finishes don't always show it. His last 4 Phoenix races have resulted in finishes of 23rd, 14th, 39th, and 7th. Prior to that, he earned a 2nd and a 3rd. He has led around 100 laps in two Phoenix races, but has led few or no laps in the others. Logano sort of has a "checkers or wreckers" record at Phoenix in recent years. In his last 9 races there, he has 2 wins, and no other finishes better than 9th (including 2 crash DNFs). Harvick's record at Phoenix is better than each of these drivers, but since he is not in the hunt, it is difficult to predict who might come out on top. (It is also worth noting that, in the last 8 Phoenix races, Harvick only beat all four of these drivers once.) Last 8 Phoenix races - best finisher among the final four: Spring 2020: Logano (1st) Fall 2019: Hamlin (1st) Spring 2019: Hamlin (5th) Fall 2018: Keselowski (2nd) Spring 2018: Elliott (3rd) Fall 2017: Elliott (2nd) Spring 2017: Keselowski (5th) Fall 2016: Logano (1st) Notice that each driver appears on this list exactly twice. With that in mind, I don't think there is a clear favorite. 25. William24ByronFan posted: 11.03.2020 - 10:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) J.J. Yeley in the 27 now. 26. Corey posted: 11.03.2020 - 11:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Clint Bowyer will be making his final race at the same track he made his first. That occurred in the 2005 Spring race here where he finished 22nd, 1 lap behind winner Kurt Busch. 27. JSPorts posted: 11.03.2020 - 11:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That'll make 35 race attempts & 34 starts for Yeley in 2020. Just 1 attempt short of being full-time (he missed fall Talladega - was entered in the #27, but replaced by Cody Ware before the race.) In his 35 attempts, he has driven 7 cars with 21 sponsors for 3 different teams, with 6 different crew chiefs & 2 different manufacturers. You don't see a season like that much anymore. 28. An_Aussie_Commentator posted: 11.04.2020 - 1:42 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #8 LOL at COVID 500. 29. Jason24 posted: 11.04.2020 - 7:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) They should have called it the Phoenix 500 or the Arizona 500. We've seen races with names of states and cities before at Pocono and the Brickyard. Anyway Brad Keselowski is bringing the car he won with at New Hampshire and Richmond earlier this year. He may be someone to watch based on those performances in the same car. 30. RaceFanX posted: 11.04.2020 - 8:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) COVID 500 LOL "Dr. Gupta what's the latest status on the pandemic?" "Well Anderson the virus appears to have mutated. It's now gained sentience and made millions investing in medical technologies designed to treat by not necessarily eliminate it." "Wow, so the virus is now flush with cash?" "Yeah, and it is using the money to launch a last minute sponsorship of this weekend's NASCAR race." "Those are some stunning developments there." 31. JSPorts posted: 11.04.2020 - 9:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And that may not crack the top 5 craziest things of 2020, lol. 32. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.04.2020 - 10:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @30, LOL. It would only be fitting, as Phoenix was the last race before the pandemic came. Seriously, though, it would probably be a better name than the lazy-ass Season Finale 500. 33. Chase9Fan posted: 11.05.2020 - 1:44 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hoping like hell Chase can do it. 34. Jason24 posted: 11.05.2020 - 10:28 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) If this ends up being Clint Bowyer's final start he'll be the 4th driver to make his final start in SHR's # 14 car. The others were Mark Martin in 2013, Jeff Burton in 2014 and Tony Stewart in 2016. 35. JSPorts posted: 11.05.2020 - 11:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's pretty interesting, especially since the #14 team has only been around for 12 years. Hopefully Briscoe can have a long, successful career in the #14. I'd love to see him make his final Cup start in that car...20 years from now. 36. RaceFanX posted: 11.05.2020 - 1:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @34, @35 You can add another driver to that list too. Max Papis' last Cup start was also in the #14; filling in Tony Stewart at the Glen in 2013 right after his sprint car crash. Unusual statistic there. 37. Jason24 posted: 11.05.2020 - 3:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 36. I forgot another. Brian Vickers made his last start in 2016 subbing for Tony Stewart. So thats 6 guys who ended their up career in SHR's 14. Stewart, Vickers, Martin, J. Burton, Papis and now Bowyer. 38. Mile501 posted: 11.05.2020 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @36 - Brian Vickers--there's a name I haven't heard in a while. He seems like a perfect candidate to randomly drive for Niece Motorsports sometime in the next year or two. 39. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.05.2020 - 6:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @38 Brian Vickers wants nothing to do with racing in NASCAR anymore. Much like Carl Edwards. 40. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.05.2020 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @39, James Buescher and Trevor Bayne didn't either and look where we are. Even though Buescher came back just for a one-off, I hadn't heard that name in years before the other day. It's not put the realm of possibility, I mean, it's still 2020 41. Corey posted: 11.05.2020 - 7:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @40 Vickers wife was supposedly involved in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Brian is probably wanting to keep a low profile and is unlikely to return to NASCAR. Plus his blood clot issues. 42. TennesseeMountainMan posted: 11.05.2020 - 7:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Unpopular opinion: Or Is it just me but has anyone lost interest in caring who is crowned this year's champion based on all of the artificial circumstances that took place leading up to these final 4 drivers? For one, Chase Eliiott getting penalized by NASCAR at Talladega, being placed back in the 20 something finish order and then because Rick Hendrick protested, got put back in the top 5. Which led to him being able to advance to the Round of 8. While they did take away Matt D and Chris Buescher's top 5 finish position in that race for the same or lesser offense. AND Denny Hamlin clearly ignores the yellow line rule entirely, way worse than any of those drivers while passing 3 cars for the win below keeping the win thus, wouldn't have made the final 4 if he had been held accountable like everyone else. It just seems NASCAR has altered the end results this year with who's in due to this and it's hard to get excited about this weekend when you know it's not authentic 43. Mile501 posted: 11.05.2020 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @42 - It's not just you. To be honest, I lost interest in who is crowned champion around 2014. It just doesn't mean as much as it used to. 44. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.05.2020 - 8:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @41, I honestly forgot about that. Now that you mention it I would agree with Vickers if he wanted to keep a low profile. Here's another name I bet y'all haven't heard in awhile: Steven Wallace. Whatever happened to him? 45. UnderdogFan89 posted: 11.05.2020 - 8:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @42 I don't disagree, and my opinion is that NASCAR should have stuck with a year-long champion, but we are well past debating that anyways. I would point out, however, that Elliot's win at the Charlotte Roval the next week kind of makes the call (or non-call) on his penalty moot, as he would have automatically transferred to the Round of 8 anyways. 46. ScottB posted: 11.06.2020 - 12:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 42, I'm definitely less interested in the championship under the current system. Not planning on watching this weekend, I'll just check in here to see what happened. I'll be enthusiastic for Daytona to come back around and kick off 2021, though. 47. George_Costanza posted: 11.06.2020 - 7:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @42 I agree. Looking back on what Harvick said after the Martinsville race, he's more interested in race wins than championships. A championship should be the goal, not the bonus. Also, going off what Denny Hamlin's comments about Game 7 moments, how lame would it be if every World Series, Stanley Cup Finals and NBA Finals were forced to have Game 7's? Having constant "Game 7" moments makes them less special. Moments that special should be an exception, not a rule. 48. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.06.2020 - 7:33 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope its Elliott but think it'll be Keselowski, I just really hope it's not hamlin 49. Chase9Fan posted: 11.06.2020 - 7:54 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder if this could be the first season that the champion actually doesn't win the race? I could see that honestly. Would be neat to see that. 50. Code posted: 11.06.2020 - 8:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @49 I dont think so,Harvick hasnt won here since 2016. And it has become clear that the Championship 4 drive way faster cars than anyone else. 51. Mile501 posted: 11.06.2020 - 9:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @49 - As I mentioned in comment #24, in the last 8 Phoenix races, Harvick only beat all four of the championship contenders once. However, Kyle Busch is the driver on the outside that we should really be watching. In the last 8 Phoenix races, he has only finished outside the top 3 once, and he has led over 100 laps in half of those races. If anyone keeps a championship contender out of victory lane, it is most likely to be Kyle Busch. 52. Corey posted: 11.06.2020 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @48 I'll take Hamlin over Logano. My order of preference Elliott Hamlin Keselowski Logano 53. Foote posted: 11.06.2020 - 9:53 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I've struggled to understand the reason why champ 4 cars are the fastest in the championship race. Yes it's the biggest race of their (and the teams) lives, but are the other drivers not trying as hard? I think back to Ryan Newman in 2014 who rarely had top 5 speed at any point in the season but was in position to win at Homestead. 54. Corey posted: 11.06.2020 - 10:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @53 They're not always the fastest. The issue is that the non-championship guys just don't race them as hard. I look at Kyle Larson who lead the most laps in 2016 and 2017. In 2016 Johnson average running position was 8th, which put him behind not only the the other championship guys but also 3 non-contenders. Late race cautions and Larson unwilling to race him for the lead allowed Johnson to win. Same thing in 2017, Larson had actually caught up to Truex and Busch but made no attempt to pass them. At one point he nearly got into the back of Busch once but backed off as he didn't want to be that guy to ruin the championship fight. 55. Corey posted: 11.06.2020 - 10:17 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) These are the results of the championship four when its come to the last race. 2014 Harvick 1st, Newman 2nd, Hamlin 7th, Logano 16th 2015 Ky.Busch 1st, Harvick 2nd, Gordon 6th, Truex 12th 2016 Johnson 1st, Logano 4th, Ky. Busch 6th, Edwards 34th 2017 Truex 1st, Ky.Busch 2nd, Harvick, 4th, Keselowski 7th 2018 Logano 1st, Truex 2nd, Harvick 3rd, Ky. Busch 4th 2019 Ky. Busch 1st, Truex 2nd, Harvick 4th, Hamlin 10th 56. Sector posted: 11.06.2020 - 10:18 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #54 Let's not forget Jeff Gordon's questionable pitting call on the last caution in 2014 when he was clearly the fastest. 57. Canadianfan posted: 11.06.2020 - 11:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Daniel McFadin: .@Keselowski estimates that without practice/qualifying #NASCAR teams are saving 20-30% of their annual budget. (Tommy Joe Martins said basically the same thing much earlier in the year about the savings with his team.) 58. CFM posted: 11.06.2020 - 11:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hate to break it to you Brad, but racing fans care most about competition and don't give a flying f**k about bean-counting. With most/all of the smaller teams already forced out of the sport because of the charter system, our hearts really bleed for the fat cats who own top-level NASCAR teams. AFAIC practice is 'meh', but get back to real qualifying ASAP. It's something that fans enjoy watching and something that has the capability to at least partially mix up the field. Even if NASCAR continues to be too squeamish to do real qualifying for their top 3 series [though no other racing series in or out of NASCAR seems to have any issues with it] there have been ideas out there for months which are better than the current procedure. 59. Mile501 posted: 11.06.2020 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @53 - At Homestead in 2014, Newman ran 6th-8th for most of the race and, if I remember correctly, only moved up to 2nd late in the race due to pit strategy. He ran 6th-11th a lot that year, so at least in that case, he didn't run significantly better in the finale than he had all season. 60. Clint posted: 11.06.2020 - 1:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #47 exactly what makes those moments special is that they dont happen all the time. You manufacture them. 61. Anthony posted: 11.07.2020 - 7:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #58 get used to it. Cup will be this formula in 28 races in 2021 62. Nathan8848 posted: 11.07.2020 - 7:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I noticed in the Contingency Awards Report that NASCAR hands out, they have a "Busch Pole Award" So technically one is given each race despite the 'random draw'. Will the site add them to each driver that's started first in all 3 series? It's odd seeing only 4 drivers won a pole this year in Cup. 63. Canadianfan posted: 11.07.2020 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: NASCAR President Steve Phelps about to start the annual "state of the sport" news conference. Not expecting any major news. Steve Phelps says he does not know the capacity yet for the 2021 Daytona 500. Phelps said NASCAR won't shut down -- but can sustain with limited fans and limited hospitality/sponsor activation. Phelps says in 2022 with new car, "probably a lot more practice and qualifying" but to be determined. Phelps said any new manufacturer is 2023 at the earliest (he didn't say it, but that would align with potential new engine package). 64. Sector posted: 11.07.2020 - 8:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Based on the champions in the lower series (Sheldon Creed in Trucks; Austin Cindric in Xfinity) I'm going with Brad Keselowski to win the title. Seems starting 3rd is the magic number. 65. danny posted: 11.07.2020 - 9:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think having a 2 or 22 is a good omen I say Keselowski or Logano win especially for Keselowski since the last time he won a title well you know! 66. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 11:14 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Haven't done my usual picks this year since there's been no practice or qualifying after we came back from the lockdown in NASCAR but now I'll make my prediction and based off how the playoffs have gone this year I'm gonna go with Logano to win his second championship here today. 67. TeamDCRfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 11:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Heart says Elliott, brain says I got no frickin idea, just like the previous two races of the weekend. 68. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 12:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliotts car failed inspection, he will start from the rear. 69. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 12:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm certainly hoping Elliott will win, but my gut tells me to go with Hamlin for the championship. It'll definitely be a tight race since all 4 drivers are basically on a level playing field, and even though this format may be broken and awful, I'm still looking forward to this race 70. Ryan posted: 11.08.2020 - 12:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) My pick is for Brad Keselowski to win the playoff championship. You have to run a similar package here at Phoenix like you do at Loudon and Richmond. He won at both tracks this year and was competitive at the first Phoenix race leading over 80 laps. If you go look at Harvick's 2006 season most of his success that year came at those tracks as well. Unfortunately, the playoff champion is determined by who is good at particular tracks, and not who is best collectively at all the tracks. Attrition used to be a factor in the old days determining a champion, but hardly ever do you see blown engines or mechanical failures now like you do then. It wouldn't be the worst thing having a mixture of the Latford system, old Chase format, and take playoff points from this system we have now determining a champion. It's sad that the WWE has more credibility than NASCAR when it comes to crowning a "champion". 71. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 12:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Reading on Facebook 9 team failed inspection. Nothing on nascar.com. 72. Canadianfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 12:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From FOX NASCAR: NEWS: Chase Elliott has failed pre-race inspection twice and will start today's race at the rear of the field. 73. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 1:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's on Nascar.com, that's where I saw it. If his car is as good as it was last week, he should be able to get into contention anyway. He's got the number one pit stall. He's just got to avoid trouble on the way through traffic. 74. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 1:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This team man.. And yeah I posted that a while ago. Sometimes they take a while to show up 75. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 1:32 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) NASCAR again showing favoritism towards the 9 car. Lord, will it ever stop? 76. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 2:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 53 is a Ford 77. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.08.2020 - 2:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So Chase gets screwed, how are his haters gonna turn this into NASCAR favoring him? 78. Danny posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) End of an era on two genres game shows and motorsports, Alex Trebek passing today, and jimmie Johnson in his last race along with Clint Bowyer, and Matt Kenseth. 79. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What a tribute to Jimmie having all his hometown fans doing the command today #OneFinaltime #48ever 80. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The 9 team shot themselves in the foot at the worst time they could. 81. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We're green at Phoenix 82. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano to the lead 83. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Love listening to the cars go from 6500 RPM to 9100 RPM. 84. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano running away early on. 85. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Denny slides and loses 2 spots. 86. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin with the slidejob failed on the 2 almost lost a spot to Blaney 87. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Phoenix on the "frontstretch" and turns 1 and 2 are so wide. They can go 15 wide, it's insane. 88. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Preece in the wall now -2L 89. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott has cracked the top ten 90. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Competition caution is now out 91. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Comp yellow out 92. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Keselowski just lost 6 spots on that pit stop, now he's behind Bowyer, Kyle Busch, and most importantly Denny Hamlin who was matching him on the short term last run. 93. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott is flying today, one of the only ones that can pass on the bottom it seems. 94. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) When Jeff Gordon retired, they ran yellow numbers. With JJ's retirement, yellow numbers again. Nice. 95. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano wins stage 1 96. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano wins stage 1 I think he led every lap. 97. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Looks like I saw the 66 RoofClaim.com Toyota of Timmy Hill had smoke coming behind from his car. 98. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Correction to previous post NASCAR scores Ryan Blaney as leading lap 33 99. GordonEvernham posted: 11.08.2020 - 3:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott is proving that dirty air doesn't matter today. You can pass with ease here. 100. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano leads out of the pits but Chase Elliott gets a lap led just because his pit stall is after the finish line 101. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) See, NASCAR? 750 HP means you can actually pass during the race, and not just on the restart. Put it everywhere(besides Superspeedways) and you'll be running smoothly. 102. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag out. Interesting to note: It's warmer in Buffalo, NY than it is here in Phoenix. 103. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The infield is a bit smaller than it should be. The spot where O'Reilly is sponsored takes up too much space, and it's completely empty. 104. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) With this stage win Joey puts himself in a three way tie for 4th all time stage wins with Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski, who both happen to also be in the final 4 for the championship, kinda funny fact. 105. Danny posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I thought they were teasing something with Pit-Bull doing something within NASCAR and NBC earlier this year I noticed when watching Eric Esteep's video from Phoenix in the spring earlier this year before everything changed and this weekend they finally unveiled it for all to see and here we are. 106. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin below Logano, and Logano keeps it. Meanwhile, Chases in chase on the top 2. 107. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Some debris on the nose of Logano's car 108. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Debris is raising concerns, but he has tons of speed. Even if he loses the spot to Denny, he can get around him. 109. GordonEvernham posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick running 17th. His team has done a complete 180° the last 3 races. 110. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Debris flies off and he keeps the lead. 111. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie doing good. Hell yes. Let's get a good final race. 112. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I feel like I can nap, then come back last 20 laps and miss nothing ;) 113. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano reporting a vibration 114. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Huge development. Logano vibration and might come in. Luckily it's within the pit window. 115. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Heard JHN in the wall turn 2 116. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Here comes Chase Elliott! 117. WhereAreTheBeers posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin has a move at Logano, but loses momentum and gets passed by Elliot 118. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase to the lead! Logano crossover! 119. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott to the lead 120. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is fun. Please run this package more. 121. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott to the lead 122. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kyle Busch made a pit stop after hitting the wall a bit ago 123. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hamlin to second 124. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Joey is starting to fade falling to 3rd. Kyle Busch over drives yet again this year and smacks the wall, now running 2 laps down. Chase Elliott from worst to first in 120 laps. 125. ThatGuy posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anybody else find it covenient the top 7 is made up of the 4 championship eligible (1-4) and 2 guys not returning for 2021 And that Harvick, who runs well at Phoenix (not as good as 2010-2017) is not even top 10. Better believe he wouldn't be back there if he was in the championship 4 126. RaceFanX posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ivan "Iron Man" Stewart sends a special best wishes to Jimmie Johnson on behalf of himself and Toyota. Johnson raced against Stewart during his off-road days. 127. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That view from the hill in turn 2 is quite awesome. 128. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag pit stops starting now 129. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That was some awesome racing right there! 130. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) They just played a commercial "Thank you Jimmie, from Toyota/TRD." Weird considering he's driving a Chevy. 131. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @125 Harvick has not been running the same ever since his Bristol win, so its not really surprising he is running back there to me. 132. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jimmie Johnson in the lead in his final race. I am happy. 133. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kes got the wall again 134. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Johnson's running a greyish car. Looks OK. It's not terrible. 135. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie Johnson gonna lead some laps in his last race during pit stops. 136. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott in the lead. Logano is 5 seconds behind Elliott, and looking worse now after pit stops. 137. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh I think I misunderstood that spotter audio, thought they said 2 in the wall but I didn't see any damage on it. 138. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pit stops have cycled through, Elliott leads Hamlin 9 tenths 139. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Dawsonville siren will blare so loudly if Chase wins, that I'll here it in North Carolina. 140. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution for Bilicki 141. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution is out for the #77 in the wall. 142. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) James Davison, a weekly caution. 143. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Actually it was for Davison 144. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution. 77 hits the wall. 145. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 53 got into the wall. 146. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bowman will get the free pass 147. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch takes two tires and will be the new leader, Elliott is in second and remains first of the four playoff drivers 148. Zach posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Michael McDowell is quietly having a great run today sitting in 8th at the moment. Front Row continues their huge improvement! 149. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kurt Busch to the lead 2 tires on the pitstop 150. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) So Kyle Busch bounces off the wall and no caution but Biliki hardly scraps the wall and a caution comes out. Does Nascar flip a coin to determine cautions? 151. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Now Kurt Busch to the lead. Takes it on the pit stop. 152. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Austin Dillon was caught for speeding he had taken 2 tires on his pit stop but he will go to the rear now 153. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 23 to go in stage 2. 154. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott back to the lead 155. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano wiggles. 3 wide for the 2nd spot. 156. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott back out front 157. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is the first year that 2 drivers from the same team other than JGR compete for a title. 158. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Or Davidson, who ever is in the 51 159. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:52 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Keselowski peaks for the lead. Can the Blue oval get their first title under the #2 car? 160. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Keselowski to the lead 161. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 to the lead 162. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This has been a fun race so far. Unfortunate that this race is only 312 laps. 163. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) OMG QFH needs to be flagged off the track! That thing was going like 50 MPH off pace 164. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:55 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @163 I assume QFH is Quinn F*ckin Houff, eh? If so, yeah, he's as fast as an interstate driver. 165. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott back to the lead 166. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott back to the lead 167. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Houff is so slow! He is just a roadblock. 168. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 4:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Davison 3 wide split with Kez and Elliott. Almost took the spot, but Chase keeps the lead. 169. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Stage 2 win! KESELOWSKI! Wow. 170. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Keselowski gets by Elliott on the last lap of stage 2 to win the stage 171. George_Costanza posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, this package needs to be everywhere. 172. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Does anyone else like the yellow 9 better than the blue? 173. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) All time stage winners in the Cup series through the 2020 season. Martin Truex Jr - 43 Kevin Harvick - 38 Kyle Busch - 35 Brad Keselowski - 25 Denny Hamlin - 24 Joey Logano - 24 Chase Elliott - 22 Kyle Larson - 18 Ryan Blaney - 16 Kurt Busch - 7 Clint Bowyer - 7 Aric Amirola - 5 Matt Kenseth - 4 William Byron - 4 Alex Bowman - 4 Ricky Steinhouse Jr - 3 Jimmie Johnson - 3 Ty Dillon - 3 Austin Dillon - 2 Daniel Suarez - 1 Paul Menard - 1 A.J. Allmendinger - 1 Tyler Reddick - 1 Chris Buescher - 1 174. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) KESELOWSKI WINS STAGE 2 ON A LAST LAP PASS 175. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @172 It's fine. I like the Blue more, but since yellow is my personal favorite color, I think it's fine. 176. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Phoenix was a great choice for the championship race. They can race hard and make passes for the lead. Regardless of who's leading, if there's a caution with a few laps left requiring a GWC finish, I'm going to be suspicious. 177. Tim posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That pass was nice and all that but the only one that will mean anything is if it is on the last lap. Chase is driving smart. Those Penske cars aren't as good on the long run. They better hope for short runs. 178. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What a way for Preece to end this horrific 2020 season: Pushed to the garage. 179. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This package, it's GOT to be used everywhere. This race has been awesome so far. 180. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott wins the race off pit road and will be the leader again 181. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why are they so excited about a stage win. It means nothing at this point. 182. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:11 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) 112 to go in the NASCAR season. 183. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That pit crew lost Austin Cindric a few spots during pit stops yesterday, Brads crew is not bringing their A game this weekend. 184. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Quin Houff is done for the day. 185. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 1-2-3-4 Championship 4. 186. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I can barely watch Nerves! I will say that I do truly think the championship 4 are given a little extra something. 187. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Handling issues is the mechanical issue for the 00 StarCom Racing team. 188. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Surprise me, but Hamlin is the worst off today of all the 4 championship drivers. 189. George_Costanza posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @186 I was thinking the exact same thing. It seems like every year, the Champ 4 are always in the Top 4-6. No matter where they start or what happens during the race. 190. RaceFanX posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Surprise me, but Hamlin is the worst off today of all the 4 championship drivers." Admittedly he's still running fourth and in contention. 191. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @190 Fourth of 4 championship drivers. 192. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If a caution doesn't come out(which it will), Hamlin is in trouble. 193. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What happened to Corey LaJoie? Scored 54 laps down in P38 194. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Green flag pit stops starting again, could be the final stops of the season 195. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano first to pit of the final 4, same lap with Hamlin and Matty D 196. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano big lead over Elliott. 50 to go. 197. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Pit stops have cycled through, Logano is now the leader again over Elliott by 1.5 seconds 198. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Logano to the lead, Keselowski had a TRASH pit stop 199. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm happy with today's race. Not only for the title, but Jimmie Johnson's sitting in 6th and has a shot for a final win. 200. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Look at the traffic. Logano boxed in and Chase closes in! 201. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Joey's crew gets it done, Brad's crew does not. Chase probably wants a caution now. 202. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lap traffic allows Chase to get right to Joey 203. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott back to the lead 204. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase leads. Could he win his first title, and back-to-back races? From 39th to 1st? That would be something. 205. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Elliott to the lead 206. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I swear Elliott looks better in traffic than he does out front today. 207. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 7 with a tire down 208. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 30 laps remaining. Caution flag when? 209. A.J. posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Caution coming for no reason at what lap? 210. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 7 has went behind to the garage. 211. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 25 laps until we decide a champion. 212. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 41 Cole Custer had a pit penalty and is now a lap down 213. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just waiting for that caution for unnecessary "drama." 214. Larry posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @209; A caution by NASCAR when their favorite driver is leading? 215. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie cracks the top 5 in his finale 216. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 20 to go for the championship, Clint Bowyer, and Jimmie Johnson. 217. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Rear end is the mechanical issue for the 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing team. 218. DB1995 posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Award for worlds most worthless pit crew to the 2 team, probably had a little faster car but the pit crew was slow on every single pit stop and that ends your day pretty quickly 219. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie is slipping and sliding. Such a great view. 220. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bowyer lapped in his final race. 221. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 32 years ago, Chase's father Bill won his one and only NASCAR title, now Chase just needs there not to be a caution, Brad K is second sitting 3 and a half seconds back. 222. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 6 to go. 223. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Please no caution! 224. Mile501 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Awesome career finale run for Jimmie Johnson today! 225. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 3 to go. 226. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2 to go. 227. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Final lap of the 2020 NASCAR season! 228. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dawsonville, sound the siren! Chase Elliott wins at Phoenix, and takes home the 2020 NASCAR Title! With this win, he becomes the 34th NASCAR driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship. 229. Altracing posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott is the 2020 Cup Series Champion 230. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #9 Chase Elliott is a Cup Series CHAMPION!!!! 231. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Two first time winners in the 2020 Cup series season. Cole Custer William Byron 232. Billy posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) As soon as Chase was sent to the back, an idiot could have predicted he'd win the race. 233. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmie Johnson finishes 5th in his final NASCAR race. The greatest I've gotten an honor to watch. Gonna be so strange to see him not in the 48. Congrats, JJ. 234. Tarheel posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm issuing an official Chase Nation call for all Elliott fans to be as obnoxious as possible until everyone else goes insane. ? 235. Greg posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well done Chase Elliott! I was genuinely rooting for the kid. He wins the championship in Jimmie Johnson's final Hendrick start. The torch has been passed! 236. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Congrats to Chase Elliott picking up his first championship and 11th career win. Yet again the final 4 winner of the championship wins the race. 237. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase, you did it. Congratulations. 238. RaceFanX posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jimmie Johnson takes one final Polish Victory Lap. Thanks Jimmie for everything. 239. RaceFanX posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson pulls up to Elliott for a handshake while still on their cars. This may be a passing of the torch. 240. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm so glad I'm over the Chase Elliott fans. I'm so happy to see that Chase Elliott won. Hendrick Motorsports has now won a championship with four different drivers; Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott. Elliott wins the championship in teammate Jimmie Johnson's final Cup race. What a storybook ending. 241. RyanM posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIENDS! 242. WhereAreTheBeers posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Congratulations Chase. The drinks will be flowing in Dawsonville tonight 243. William24ByronFan posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chevrolet wins a championship since 2016. 244. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The first of many. What an outstanding performance. 245. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) You can see the emotions in Elliott's face driving around. Truthfully, as much as everyone compares the two, you wouldn't see this clutch performance by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott now differentiates himself from Jr. 246. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Awesome!!! 247. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 5th win of the season for Chase Elliott. And he lost 3-4 races earlier in the year due to circumstances in which he'd have the same amount if not more of wins as Denny Hamlin. Honestly I'm not surprised Hamlin performed the worst of the four. 248. ThatGuy posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's too bad. That just looks waaaaayyy too fixed. Jimmie's last ride (finishes 5th, highest among non-4 drivers) and his teammate takes it home. Most popular driver since Dale Jr retired 249. DB1995 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Well, that sucked, fitting way to end a season that was overall very lackluster 250. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I won't say much about this. But it was very obvious in my opinion. 251. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Something special watching Chase win his first with the Gordon/Johnson yellow 252. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) HELLL YEAH!!! WOOOOOO HELL YEAH! 253. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) We are the champions! HELL. YEAH. That was amazing no matter what way you spin it. Move over haters, there's a new champion in town, and his name is CHASE ELLIOTT! 254. Jimmie4life posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) A crazy season, and in general, a crazy year. Best driver I've ever seen is now done. I am so proud for Chase, and glad to have seen Jimmie Johnson in his prime. Such a fitting ending to his career. Pass the torch to Chase. 255. Nascarp posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) No black flag for a faulty radio a few weeks ago, and 2 other penalties rescinded. Nascar's Golden Child has ascended to the throne. 256. MBenoit posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Not the most exciting race, but good racing among the Top 4 to decide the title. Congrats to Chase and Hendrick Motorsports, and to Jimmie Johnson on wrapping up his career with a solid effort. It seems like anytime something turns out a certain way...be it a sporting event or a national election, people instantly jump to conspiracy theories. Please, just chill out. I'm personally so happy we had a racing season this year after all the crap that has happened. 257. DB1995 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR retracted a very blatant penalty on Chase and gave it to Buescher at Talladega, let him ride around with no radio all day at Kansas, and then the questionable call on pit road last week. Great for NASCAR though. And then the crooked history of Rick Hendrick all together makes it easy for me to not feel great about this. 258. RandomFacts posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Didnt take long for the foolish conspiracy people to chirp in, please go away with that nonsense. 259. Rich posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The commentators tonight consisted of the four-man team of Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The roving commentator was Brad Daugherty. The pit road reporters consisted of Marty Snider, Dave Burns, Kelli Stavast and Parker Kligerman. The Hey Rut segment was hosted by Rutledge Wood. 260. George_Costanza posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It kind of bothers me how NASCAR is acting like Johnson is the only one retiring. Bowyer's finished, and Kenseth is one of the most underrated drivers in history. 261. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Chase wins Jimmie Johnsons last race. Who won Richard Petty's last race? 262. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I think any criticism of Alan Gustafson will end right here. 263. MBenoit posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @261 Cool trivia for the Elliott fans out there. 264. Jim4Bill posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Agree Kenseth and Bowyer should be interviewed 265. Racinglife97 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor updates #3 - Dow #7 - Victory Lane Oil Change / Kendall Oil #14 - Rush Truck Centers / Haas CNC #15 - Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing #17 - Fastenal / DeWalt #19 - Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats & ATV's #27 - Fat Boy Ice Cream #34 - Love's Travel Stops / Luber Finer #47 - Kroger / Downy Defy Damage #48 - Ally / #OneFinalTime #51 - Donate Life Arizona #53 - Hopegivers 266. Mile501 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This is Jimmie Johnson's 232nd career top 5 finish, which breaks a tie with Lee Petty and moves him into sole possession of 10th on the all-time list. However, Johnson is likely to have a very brief time in the top 10 for all-time Cup Series top 5 finishes, because Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch are both not far behind. 267. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:39 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Praying to the inspection gods that we pass 268. JG24 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "It kind of bothers me how NASCAR is acting like Johnson is the only one retiring. Bowyer's finished, and Kenseth is one of the most underrated drivers in history." To be fair, Kenseth kind of already retired once and Jimmie won almost as many championships as Clint Bowyer won races, so... 269. racingfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:40 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @261 it was the infamous 1992 Hooters 500, won by Bill Elliott, where Alan Kulwicki (hope I spelled that right) won the championship. 270. racingfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @260 YES! I don't think Kenseth got any airtime, and Bowyer got less than a minute. 271. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) And also facts about connections between this year and the 1980's/90's, 2 drivers with about the same number of wins as Johnson retired from racing the year Bill won the title in 1988 (Yarborough and Bobby Allison though Bobby's was forced by that crash with Jocko at Pocono) 272. Canadianfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:52 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) From Chad Smith: 1988: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins CART title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car 2020: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins #IndyCar title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car 273. Anthony2 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dreams do come true after all! Honestly I thought it would take longer for him to win a championship in his career, but I'm surprised it took him this fast! But when you think about it: Chase Elliott won his first championship in his fifth full season, the same length it took Jimmie Johnson to win his first championship! Unbelievable! 274. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @267 if NASCAR failed Chase at this point they would lose an insane amount of fans and sponsors. 275. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 6:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @274, right. It would be astronomically insane for them to fail him, for their sake anyway 276. George_Costanza posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I can't possibly imagine NASCAR actually disqualifying a championship winning car, even if the car is clearly illegal. It would be such a massive embarrassment for them. 277. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Who won the pole for Earnhardt Sr's last race? 278. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @277, Bill Elliott 279. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, now that the season is in the books, what were some of the best races and/or moments this year? For races: Phoenix 1, both Talladega races (yes, even the fall race), The first two Darlington races, both Bristols, Martinsville 2, Daytona 2, the 500 was spectacular as well until the Newman wreck Moments: Ryan Newman walking out of the hospital and the moment between Chase and Jimmie moments ago. 280. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Does anyone know who wins the pole award as well? It's either Chase Elliott or Kevin Harvick; Personally I hope it's Chase to add on to his incredible storied championship season, because he does have one "official" pole. 281. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @myself, I forgot about the Kentucky finish for one of the best moments as well 282. Billy posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ah, yes, the Final Four again finishes 1-2-3-4... 283. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Oh, in case it hasn't been mentioned yet. This is 7-time champion crew chief Chad Knaus' last full time Cup race as a crew chief. 284. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Races: Loudon 1, All 4 Plate Races, both Bristols, Martinsville 2, personally 1st Vegas, Homestead had a decent finish for the package as did both Kansas's, Roval as always was good. I'm not saying Phoenix 1 just because I absolutely don't remember anything about that one. Martinsville 1 was good up until the final 1/4 when Truex just ran away, finish to Darlington 2 and Darlington 3 were good, even though as races I'd say Darlington 1 was better than Darlington 3 overall, Kentucky finish (RIP Kentucky) Moments: Def Newman's crash and him being OK (thankfully!), photo finish at Talladega 1, Chase and Jimmie today, KFB #ItsStill2020 getting that elusive 2020 win Those aren't the most memorable moments though: Those would be: Newman's crash, yellow line controversy at Talladega, QFH going across multiple lanes of traffic and ruining the Texas race thus why I call him QFH, Johnson going like 10 MPH in the middle lane in the IRacing Homestead race, Larson's incident at Monza, Bubba losing BlueEmu, package woes galore, Chase and Jimmie, Talladega 1 finish 285. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 7:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dang, NASCAR couldn't even find a title sponsor for the championship race? Sad. 286. DB1995 posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There is no pole award, they only qualified for 4 races and a different driver won all 4 times. And yeah I still find it suspicious that the final 4 cars are always the 4 fastest cars, no one even came close to challenging them today. Chase winning is gonna guarantee us a lifetime of this atrocious championship format unfortunately, No other sport crowns their champion in a stupider way. But the format does what NASCAR wants and keeps the casual fans who can't manage to follow a points battle more than 3 weeks at a time entertained. 287. Anonymous posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 232 248 255 257 - Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, ha ha, ha, ha. 288. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott has won the most races during the Playoffs at 3; Charlotte ROVAL, Martinsville and Phoenix. 289. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #286 The metric qualifying counts toward the award despite not being an official pole, so yes, there is. Elliott and Harvick are at 5 apiece. 290. Nathan8848 posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:16 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) The real champion is NASCAR. They fit all 96 races plus 1 exhibition race in. After Phoenix 1, that seemed very low. 291. DB1995 posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @289, that's pretty dumb if so. But in that case I would assume it then goes down to who had the most 2nds, 3rds, etc. or maybe overall average starting position, where Harvick would have a sizable edge 292. Chase9Fan posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Unreal as a Chase fan. From no luck to much luck! My comment about the championship 4 getting a little extra for these races.. I think it's obvious. 293. RaceFanX posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @290 I concur. In a season as weird as this one NASCAR still managed to stage its national tours and get all of its races in; shuffling the schedule as needed to get through a very weird season where conditions varied greatly state to state. The 2020 season was an odd one but successful and race fans likely won't ever forget how Chase Elliott picked up a Cup championship amid a bizarre season with three Darlington races, several midweek specials planned and unplanned, and a one-off points race on the Daytona infield road course. 294. Canadianfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: Engine teardown continues (standard operations) ... Chase Elliott's car has passed tech. No issues. 295. GordonEvernham posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Congratulations to Chase Elliott and everyone on that #9 race team and to everyone who helped bring Hendrick Motorsports their 13th Nascar Cup Series Championship!!! Absolute dominance the past 2 races from Chase and that #9 team. Hendrick Motorsports, as well as Chevrolet in general, have fell behind the past few years from the dominance they were used to. It was mostly due to the new Camaro coming in and not being as slick as the Mustang or Camry. Things are looking GREAT now and 3 championships in the past 8 seasons is damn good during HMS's "down years." With Larson coming onboard, that will only push Chase and the #9 car even more. Bowman is really picking it up and the skies the limit for Byron. Again, awesome job Chase Elliott and all involved!!! 296. Allen posted: 11.08.2020 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kevin Harvick finished all but 3 laps all season long as well as in the top 5 in points all year long. 297. Sector posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder... Jeff Gordon won the All Star race 3 times in his career; 1995, 1997 & 2001. He went on to win the championship each time. Chase Elliott won the All Star race at Bristol this year. He won the championship. Chase Elliott became the second ever driver to win more than 3 straight road courses to Jeff Gordon. Sensing a pattern. 298. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I just realized that we have to go for 2 months without racing (looking forward to the Chili Bowl and Rolex 24). What are we going to do all November and December? Thoughts on the season: This is definitely going to go down as one of the most remarkable seasons of all time for more reasons than one. Obviously the COVID pandemic and the repercussions it has left will be a major reason for why this season will be remembered for years, but also, the racing has been outstanding at most points, even the bad races could've been worse and the good ones were damn good. The most popular driver won the championship for the first time since Bill Elliott did, and, perhaps most notably, NASCAR went woke, but didn't go broke, they've gained some new fans and some the old ones have stuck around. Considering the logistical hell that NASCAR has gone through to make this season happen, I give them major props for even making the season happen, and here's hoping that 2021 will be a great one. 299. racingfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did anyone catch Chase with his mask PULLED DOWN during much of the pre-race? 300. ElliottFan924 posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Man, what a race. This one means so so much to me. Ever since my return to nascar in 2016. Chase has always been my favorite driver. So happy he won! Congrats Chase! 301. GordonEvernham posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @297.....Damn, you're right. I know about Gordon's stats as well as Chase Elliott's stats this season but it didn't dawn on me the similarities until I read your post. I forgot to give a shoutout to Alan Gustafson in my earlier post. He deserves this title as much as any crew chief. He joins Chad Knaus (7), Ray Evernham (3), Gary Dehart (1) & Robbie Loomis (1) as crew chiefs to win a Cup Title for Hendrick Motorsports. His driver list includes Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott as drivers he has crew chiefed for. Amazing!!! 302. Raheem posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Gee... who saw this one coming... #WWECAR 303. Ryan posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @245 "You can see the emotions in Elliott's face driving around. Truthfully, as much as everyone compares the two, you wouldn't see this clutch performance by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott now differentiates himself from Jr." Truth. Chase has more talent in his finger than Jr. does in his whole body. And statistics will eventually prove that sooner than later. And depending how you look at it, he has a championship while JR never sniffed one before or after 2004. @257 "NASCAR retracted a very blatant penalty on Chase and gave it to Buescher at Talladega, let him ride around with no radio all day at Kansas, and then the questionable call on pit road last week. Great for NASCAR though. And then the crooked history of Rick Hendrick all together makes it easy for me to not feel great about this." There was definitely more to gain today for NASCAR with Chase winning, but I don't think anything you mentioned had or has any substance. Buescher clearly came down on Elliott at Talladega and then the crew member reestablished his position at Martinsville which was a great heads up "play" by him and in the rule book. I will agree that Hendrick is crooked as anyone in the sport. Look at Knaus over the years. And the fact that Hendrick got to spend his "prison time" at home when he had "leukemia" for his Honda kickback scandal that he said was his generosity with his friends, but NOT a desire for personal gain (lol), that sucked him into the scandal. @286 "But the format does what NASCAR wants and keeps the casual fans who can't manage to follow a points battle more than 3 weeks at a time entertained." Well put. @296 And, yet, "lost"... I've never really been an HMS fan, but growing up as a huge fan of Chevrolet it's nice to see them as a playoff champion again. It was looking rough there the last couple of years for them and I wondered if they would turn it around or even stay. I know they haven't totally turned it around with everyone, because most of the success this year was Chase with some flashes from Bowman, Byron, and a Kurt Busch win. 304. LS318 posted: 11.08.2020 - 9:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Congratulations to Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Chevy, 2020 NASCAR Cup Champion!!!!! 305. Ryan posted: 11.08.2020 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @299 "Did anyone catch Chase with his mask PULLED DOWN during much of the pre-race?" Yeah he was trying to gain an aerodynamic edge AND get more air to the engine (mouth) than his other competitors could. Couldn't you tell at the beginning of the race when he came through the field like a bat out of hell? @302 "Gee... who saw this one coming... #WWECAR" Wonder why Dale, Jr. never got a "WWE Car"? Dumb comment. 306. Jesse posted: 11.08.2020 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Harvick's fifth season with lower than 10.0 average finish. Johnson had 1. 307. Ryan posted: 11.08.2020 - 10:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It was great seeing Bill Elliott telling Chase after the race "I told you that you could do it! Didn't I tell you!?" in his Georgia accent/twang. 308. RyanM posted: 11.08.2020 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd love for someone to give me one legitimate reason why this was rigged ("Chase is the most popular driver" is not legitimate). 309. Canadianfan posted: 11.08.2020 - 10:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Jayski: From NASCAR: The teardown of the No. 9 engine is complete. No issues. All clear. Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team are officially the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champions. 310. QFH posted: 11.08.2020 - 11:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Something I found in the comments of the Eric Estepp video on today's race: All 3 series champions won the Daytona Roval race in their respective series. 311. Corey posted: 11.09.2020 - 12:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @298 Racing isn't over yet. F1 still has 4 races to go over the next 5 weeks. Then it's the holidays followed by the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl. By then Daytona will be in high gear for action. 312. Sector posted: 11.09.2020 - 12:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #310 Another trivia for you. 2016 was the last time Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports won the championship; That was also Chase Elliott's rookie season. Hendrick Motorsports went on a dry spell until 2020, which happens to be Jimmie Johnson's final season, at the same time the championship was won by Hendrick Motorsports teammate's Chase Elliott. It's like they mirrored each other's career exactly how Jeff Gordon's final championship season (2001) happened the year before Jimmie Johnson's rookie season (2002). 313. RyanM posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Don't know if anyone's pointed this out yet, but the 54 drivers to have started a cup series race during the 2020 season I believe is the fewest ever in NASCAR history. For perspective, the Daytona 500 as recently as ten years ago would routinely have that many entries alone. 314. Sector posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #298/311 Tune in to SportsCar next weekend; Cheer that 3x Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves might finally win his first premier series title! 315. Mannoroth posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2020 is the second season (2012 is the other one), in which Kyle Busch failed to score most wins across all 3 series of NASCAR since 2008, when he joined JGR. In 2012, it was Joey Logano, who won once in Cup and 9 times in Xfinity. In 2020, it's Kevin Harvick and Chase Briscoe, who managed to win 9 times. 316. RyanM posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @312 In addition, Jimmie Johnson won the championship in the final season that Jeff Gordon drove in the cup series (though not his final full-time season), after starting in the back in the season finale. He also won Gordon's final race at Martinsville. Chase Elliott wins in Johnson's likely final race, after starting in the back. 317. German500 posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @311 Lewis Hamilton will win his title next race, unless he has mechanical failure or incident on track. The 3 last races then are only show events. 318. George_Costanza posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm not a particular fan of Chase, but hey. It's much better than Logano winning, so congrats Chase! As far as the race goes, it was alright. I'm still iffy on Phoenix being the final race, but if they keep this package moving forward, I can accept that. The Trucks were great as always, Cup was meh for the majority of the season, and Xfinity turned out to be an incredible series to watch. Xfinity spent years being the most borings series of the three, now it's a lot of fun to watch! As least the Champions for all the series were the 2nd or 3rd most deserving, which is pretty good given this horrible playoff format. I'm very excited for next season. The schedule for Cup looks like a definite improvement, a lot of the older guys are leaving and some fresh, young talent in Chastain and Briscoe, Larson's return, who knows how 23XI Racing will do, etc. The only complaint I have is the Xfinity Schedule, which is basically the Cup schedule. Hopefully Trucks returns to some standalone short tracks. Most importantly; Keep this package. 319. Corey posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @317 For the championship yes, but there is a big fight for third in the constructors title. It's no show for them. 320. Ryan posted: 11.09.2020 - 9:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "2020 is the second season (2012 is the other one), in which Kyle Busch failed to score most wins across all 3 series of NASCAR since 2008, when he joined JGR." KyleFailureBusch No one cares about that besides you. Why do you? 321. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.09.2020 - 9:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @314, oh yeah, the Twelve Hours of Sebring. I honestly forgot about that, I thought that the first race at Sebring was the 12 hour event. Hopefully Castroneves can finally win that ever elusive championship. @317, that's why I didn't mention F1. Hamilton has it in the bag and I'm usually never up in time to watch anyway. Now that Chase and Jimmie are competing in the Rolex 24, I'm really looking forward to watching at least some of it, definitely not the full 24 hours, though. As usual, I'm ooking forward to the Chili Bowl as well, it's always fun to watch those guys handle those sprint cars on the dirt in Tulsa. 322. Mannoroth posted: 11.09.2020 - 11:31 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 320. Because I also post facts and this is one of them. And I don't really give a damn, if you care or not. 323. Jimmie4life posted: 11.09.2020 - 12:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, 3 months without racing. The dreaded offseason. 324. Sector posted: 11.09.2020 - 12:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #322 Sadly Kyle Busch is not the first to accomplish any of this. Even Kevin Harvick accomplished this in 2006, when he won a grand total of 14 races in 2006. So therefore, Kyle Busch will never be the first driver to win the most races across all three series. 325. Mannoroth posted: 11.09.2020 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 324. I know, but Kyle Busch is the first driver that started winning so many races across all 3 series of NASCAR on regular basis and his 24 wins from 2010 will most likely last forever, unless they remove all those lower series limits for Cup drivers. Hell, it can be even weird not to see him win at least 10 times across all 3 series. 326. Danny posted: 11.09.2020 - 1:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I believe NAPA is the 1st Primary Sponsor in NASCAR to win in all three NASCAR National Series and win their own TRIPLE Crown winning a title in all three NASCAR series. 327. Corey posted: 11.09.2020 - 2:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @325 Kyle Busch's Cup career will be successful enough that his accomplishments in the lower series won't be worth mentioning. 328. Anonymous posted: 11.09.2020 - 3:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @276 - Every final four car is illegal in the final race. Otherwise one of the other 36 cars might win and spoil it for NBC. And LOL at Johnson being the best of the illegal four. Was it an illegal five? Or was Johnson deprived of a better shot at a final victory? Harvick's average finish of 7.3 is the best since Gordon in 2007, who also didn't win the championship. Two all time great seasons deemed unworthy by NASCAR, all because Kenseth couldn't be bothered to win more races in the insanely competitive 2003. 329. Danny posted: 11.09.2020 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) it wasn't just the last race for Johnson, Bowyer, and Kenseth all running there last races, and Chad Knaus as crew chief but also it was Krista Voda's last race as a broadcaster after 19 years working with Fox and NBC among others. I wonder who they'll get as lead host when NBC returns as well as NASCAR returns to Nashville next year. 330. Anonymous posted: 11.09.2020 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #329 Krista Voda's last race with NBC doesn't mean it's her last race she can always go work for another Network or possibly go back to Fox. also the reason why she's no longer with NBC is because they called her and told her that they were not going to have a host for their NBC pre-race show so therefore she was no longer needed 331. Zach posted: 11.09.2020 - 6:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @330 I hope NBC doesn't get rid of Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty too if they are trying to downsize pre and post-race coverage. Those two should be in the booth instead of Jeff Burton and Dale Jr. 332. Anon posted: 11.09.2020 - 6:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @331 I'm sorry, but Kyle Petty would be an awful choice. He was always the most bias of anyone that's transitioned to the booth in my opinion. Give me Michael Waltrip all day over Kyle Petty. Dale Jarrett though, is one I've always enjoyed. Dale Jr isn't going anywhere, because of the name brand. Just like Gordon on Fox. He just needs to find the right partner. Gordon found his in Bowyer. Junior just needs the right partner to bring the best out of him in the role. I'm a big Jeff Burton fan, but the booth isn't for him, at least at the Cup level. I still wish he went into politics. 333. JSPorts posted: 11.09.2020 - 6:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Dale Jr. is the best one in the NBC booth, mostly because he usually doesn't feel the need to incessantly talk over the others like Allen, Letarte & Burton do. I wish NBC would just have a 2 or 3-person booth. Jarrett would be better than Letarte or Burton. Petty would, too. And they need a new play-by-play guy. 334. Zach posted: 11.09.2020 - 7:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @333 Another guy I always liked in the booth was Andy Petree. Say what you want about ESPN, but the combination of Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree is one of my favorites. In my opinion, that would be the ideal NBC booth. I know that isn't possible since NBC seems to have their mind set on Rick Allen, and Andy Petree is now the competition director at RCR, but that would be awesome to see that combination back together. 335. Anon posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @333 Petty would not. He's the only one that's ever driven me to watch a race on mute and use the radio broadcast as the audio. I would do that again too if he ever rejoined the booth. 336. Ryan posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @322 "Because I also post facts and this is one of them. And I don't really give a damn, if you care or not." You didn't @315 on the Martinsville Xfinity 500 comments. No one really cares about what KyleFailureBusch does in the lower series. Him racing in either series like he did is always joke and the fact he doesn't have 80+ wins and five championships already in Cup in the elite equipment he has been in his whole career along with his talent is embarrassing and a joke. 337. gary posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Something sounds funny. He had the pole. Only car to fail prerace inspection. twice too. I think nascar didn't want him running away with it. Notice he passed Joey with ease late. Also ironic the 4 chase guys finished 1 2 3 4... Denny said he didn't have the speed. And this is a Harvick track also. 338. Ryan posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @332 "Give me Michael Waltrip all day over Kyle Petty." Hell no we don't need that mess in the booth. 339. David posted: 11.09.2020 - 8:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm glad Chase won, especially given the other alternatives, but it does look suspicious (as it does EVERY year) when only the 4 anointed drivers seem to have cars that can compete for the win. Specifically, in this race Kevin Harvick either just didn't give a damn and drove like it, or his car wasn't up to its usual quality at this track. And where was Martin Truex Jr. all day? Don't tell me HE doesn't have a car that can compete. I'd be very surprised if at the drivers' meeting the also-rans aren't told quite clearly to stay the hell out of the way and not take any chances of affecting the outcome. It makes for a boring race, but that's "playoff NASCAR" for you. 340. possum posted: 11.09.2020 - 9:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @332 - Kyle Petty would be a great choice. Yeah, he's opinionated (which you chose to call "bias"). That's a good thing. A color man with opinions is interesting, whether you nod your head in agreement or scream at the TV in disagreeement. Mikey Waltrip, a bland, characterless shill would be the last person to put in the booth...NASCAR and the TV networks need to interest potential viewers, not put them to sleep. @333 - that's actually a weird thing about NBC - both Rick Allen and Leigh Diffey spend an awful lot of time telling us about driver hometowns and kids birthdays and other "color" sort of things, and the other guys in the both, especially Steve Letarte, do an awful lot of race play-by-play. It seems like the roles are kind of crossed up. Which leads me to the thought that Letarte as play-by-play and Earnhardt as color guy would make a perfectly acceptable booth for NBC. 341. Anon posted: 11.09.2020 - 9:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There is a difference between opinionated and bias. Opinionated is good, see Ricky Craven as an example. Kyle Petty is too biased to listen to. His pure hatred for Jeff Gordon was so hard to listen to back in the day. Maybe he's far enough removed from his driving days to have all of that out of him, but I doubt it. Anyone that doesn't think Petty was biased when he had that role in the past must have simply forgot. He was insufferable, and like I said is the ONLY reason I've ever muted a televised race, and he made me do it several times with his slanted analysis. I prefer the Michael Waltrip hype man style that pulls for everyone, with Kurt Busch with him providing insight. I enjoyed that in trucks over any other broadcast group. That is my opinion and I stand by it. I enjoy Waltrip in the Truck series. So I'll chose to respectfully disagree with you all, despite @340 taking passive aggressive jabs at me. That speaks more about him anyway. 342. Corey posted: 11.09.2020 - 9:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Biasness is one of the reasons Dale Jr pulled himself away from some of the last few Xfinity broadcasts. He fully admits that being unbiased towards his team is very difficult to do and that sometimes he probably goes too hard on them for that reason. 343. Jimmie4life posted: 11.09.2020 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @342 That's why I'd be a horrific announcer: Couldn't keep my bias out of the way of the sport. At least Darrell Waltrip felt sorry for everyone(especially Michael). 344. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.09.2020 - 10:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @343, Although people tell me that I have a radio voice, I certainly couldn't keep my bias out of commentating, even for some local football games. I would cheer for Elliott when he wins and cheer for Logano when he wrecks. 345. Mannoroth posted: 11.10.2020 - 7:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 327. His Cup career is even better than some other elite drivers' that weren't running any lower series races at all, which is even more impressive to have a good Cup career plus something extra in form of a lot of lower series achievements. 336. I said also, not always. That's a difference. Besides, I could use the same argument in Kevin Harvick's case. Yes, he has got a lot of wins with SHR (and could have even more, if him and his pitcrew wasn't constantly screwing up late during races), but those championships... Only one during 7 years of the playoffs, that's not a great resume. 346. Pancakes posted: 11.10.2020 - 7:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I hope Chase and the #9 enjoy the crap out of this until Februarys because after that his run is over. Kyle Larson is about to take over Hendrick and put on a driving show. I predict 21 wins between Larson and Elliott next season in a Hendrick domination 2021. Everyone who was crying about the same boring 4 winning the last few years will be cheering when these 2 are winning week in and week out. 347. AJ73 posted: 11.10.2020 - 8:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @339 My thoughts exactly. Seeing the "Anointed 4" finish in the top-4 is kinda fishy. Every year it's the same thing... I've loved NASCAR for almost 20 years, but this is getting ridiculous. The start of the Chase in 2004 was the beginning of the end... Playoff NASCAR is killing the sport. 348. Mile501 posted: 11.10.2020 - 8:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's hard to quantify exactly how suspicious it is for the championship 4 to finish in the top 4. Those 4 drivers did account for over 1/2 the wins and about 1/3 of the top 5 finishes throughout the season, so it's not like it's statistically impossible. However, these 4 drivers did not all finish in the top 5 together at any other time during the 2020 season. On 3 occasions, 3 of the 4 finished in the top 5 together (Martinsville-1, Loudon, and Richmond). In the Coca-Cola 600, all 4 of them finished in the top 7. Since the inception of this playoff format 4 seasons ago (the version that includes playoff points and helps the top drivers from throughout the season have a better chance at being in the championship four), this is the 2nd time that the 4 contenders finished 1st-4th in the finale. 349. Jimmie4life posted: 11.10.2020 - 9:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @348 I think teams tell the drivers who aren't in contention now: Stay out of the way of the championship 4's way. I'd think so, because who'd want to ruin a title contenders chance's out of sheer smite and anger, or just because? Not many. 350. @349 posted: 11.10.2020 - 9:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Think you're 100% right - even back in 2011 when Edwards and Stewart were fighting it out for the championship everyone was giving them plenty of space so they could decide the race among themselves. Its probably a bit the drivers themselves too knowing that if they ever get to the final 4 they want the same resect and leeway from other drivers. 351. Pancakes posted: 11.10.2020 - 10:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @349 see Matt Kenseth 352. RaceFanX posted: 11.10.2020 - 10:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase Elliott won this race and championship driving a car with a subtilely special paint scheme. Normally the NAPA #9 has blue numbers but here they were switched out for neon yellow ones specially to honor Jimmie Johnson upon his retirement, as he ran yellow numbers as he racked up title after title in the late 2000s. The day after this race Elliott returned home to Dawsonville, Georgia to an absolute hero's welcome. The town's residents turned out in droves as Elliott got a cool victory parade consisting of him driving one of the NAPA #9 Chevrolets through town with a police escort. He even got to rip off a few donuts right in front of the famous Dawson County Courthouse. 353. Jimmie4life posted: 11.10.2020 - 11:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @351 Logano had it coming. Not usual you see someone have something deserved done to them. Though, it did ruin a championship caliber season with bad luck in Texas and Phoenix the next weeks. 354. Vaxen posted: 11.10.2020 - 12:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Last career race for Jimmie Johnson (most likely), Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth 355. Nascarp posted: 11.10.2020 - 12:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah Logano had it coming after Kenseth ran him up to the wall multiple times at Kansas (Insert eye roll emoji here) 356. JR-TV posted: 11.10.2020 - 12:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Jimmie will run a few cup races for Ganassi next year. Probably in a #40 at places like COTA, Road America, Indy RC, and maybe Dover. 357. Canadianfan posted: 11.10.2020 - 1:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Adam Stern: NASCAR charters are starting to appreciate in value, bolstered by the new business model that's set to dramatically reduce operating costs. ?NASCAR's @SPrime9, who helps run the system: "In a year of incredible uncertainty, there has never been more demand for NASCAR charters." 358. Sector posted: 11.10.2020 - 2:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It is obvious that the Final Four are probably told to bring their Final Four cars. I mean, drivers like Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex, Jr most likely wouldn't have been running outside the Top 10 for both stages and being at the bottom of the Top 10 had they been Final Four. No way they worked on the cars when the Round of 8 began only to be average. 359. Sector posted: 11.10.2020 - 3:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) With the year they've had being a bit behind, after winning 4+ races and making the Final Four every year since since 2017 together, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr both ends up in a tie in the final standings with only 1 win apiece in 7th and 8th positions. Does the tiebreaker go to Truex for more second place finishes or Busch for having a better position (win at Texas) during the Playoffs? 360. William24ByronFan posted: 11.10.2020 - 4:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Probably Tommy Baldwin Racing final start. 361. Canadianfan posted: 11.10.2020 - 6:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From ShowBuzzDaily: Sunday's race had 3.063 million viewers on NBC. Last year's race had 2.537 million viewers on NBC. Last year's finale held on November 17th had 3.737 million viewers on NBC. 362. Sector posted: 11.10.2020 - 6:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #361 Honestly surprised with Chase Elliott being part of the Final Four that the viewership still went down vs 2019, and 2019 was filled with Joe Gibbs drivers. 363. possum posted: 11.10.2020 - 6:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @349 - I don't think the teams do, at least not of their own volition. I think it's pretty clear NASCAR tells the teams to let the show be about the championship, and all the teams know that there'll be a very hard time in the inspection line next year if they don't take the hint. 364. Tide1732 posted: 11.10.2020 - 8:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The possible full 2021 NCS Lineup #00 Houff #1 Ku. Busch #2 Keselowski #3 A. Dillon #4 Harvick #5 Larson #6 Newman #8 Reddick #10 Almirola #11 Hamilin #12 Blaney #14 Briscoe #15 Poole #17 Buescher #18 Ky. Busch #19 Truex Jr. #20 Bell #21 DiBenedetto #22 Logano #23 Wallace #24 Byron #27 J.J Yeley/Gaulding #31(or #30) Ty Dillon(Part-time if a other driver runs only road courses) #34 McDowell #37 Preece #38 Hunter Nemechek #41 Custer #42 Chastain #43 Jones #47 Stenhouse Jr. #48 Bowman #51 Davison?/McLeod #53 Gase #54 Boyd? #57 ? (If the #96 dosen't run this year) #66 Hill/Long #77 Sorenson/Haley/Others #96 Smithley? (If SHR dosen't get a driver for the #57) #99 Suarez Part-time drivers #03 Austin Cindric (Unknown races, probably superspeedways) #16 Justin Haley (Daytona 500) #32 Corey LaJoe or Chad Finchum(If #49 dosen't run) #49 Chad Finchum(If runs full-time or playoffs races only) #62 ? (Superspeedways only) *Doubt Plans, but could run this year Hendricks #25 or #88(Jimmie Johnson?) #29(If Richard Childress dosen't put Ty Dillon in #30 or #31) #57 SHR (The Driver is not announced yet and if runs full-timme) #68 or #86 (If Brandon Brown makes his cup debut) 365. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.10.2020 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 364, where are you getting SHR starting a 5th car with the #57? Or 03 for Cindric? 366. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.10.2020 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @365, no clue about the 57, I know it was announced that Cindric would run part time for Penske, no number has been announced though. 367. MSportRev posted: 11.10.2020 - 10:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, @364, teams CANNOT start a 5th part-time car with the Charter rules. If Johnson runs for example, it would likely be in a Spire car with a Hendrick/Ganassi alliance. 368. WB24 posted: 11.10.2020 - 11:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @364 your list is about as dumb as a box of rocks for one no team can have five cars with the charter rule so shr would not be able to have a fifth card nor would hendrik be able to have another car for Jimmie Johnson. There will be no 57 car for shr there will be no 31 or 30 car full time for RCR there will be no 25 or 88 car for Hendrick. Corey lejoy is already announced that he's not going back to the 32 car so he damn sure is not going to run part time in it 369. Ryan posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @345 "Besides, I could use the same argument in Kevin Harvick's case. Yes, he has got a lot of wins with SHR (and could have even more, if him and his pitcrew wasn't constantly screwing up late during races), but those championships... Only one during 7 years of the playoffs, that's not a great resume." Having a lead in your prime on an 45 year old man in wins at the beginning of the year by seven wins and then to be behind him by one win at the height of your prime at the end of that year is not good for the resume'. I'm content with the three points championships. Also, the 2015 playoff championship was gift wrapped for Busch and took away from Harvick. It's why NASCAR is having a hard time being taken serious right now. @361 @362 Called it. Not surprised at all. Most fans think it's a joke that the best driver for the year didn't even have a chance for the championship. It didn't help that the Steelers and Cowboys were playing each other in that time slot and Covid and The Presidential Election results are captivating the nation. I know some people that go to church that are race fans and church starts when the race was mid race. I was amazed to how many people said that they didn't like it that the finale wasn't in the South or East Coast. 370. Ryan posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @272 "From Chad Smith: 1988: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins CART title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car 2020: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins #IndyCar title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car" It's very possible that Notre Dame football could be added to this list. Even though the championship was/will be played in 1989/2021, the season is for 1988 and 2020. 371. ImaStatMan posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) For anyone looking for a legit list: Full time Definite: 00. Quin Houff 1. Kurt Busch 2. Brad Keselowski 3. Austin Dillon 4. Kevin Harvick 5. Kyle Larson 6. Ryan Newman 8. Tyler Reddick 9. Chase Elliott 10. Aric Almirola 11. Denny Hamlin 12. Ryan Blaney 14. Chase Briscoe 17. Chris Buescher 18. Kyle Busch 19. Martin Truex Jr. 20. Christopher Bell 21. Matt Dibennedetto 22. Joey Logano 23. Bubba Wallace 24. William Byron 34. Michael McDowell (Likely) 37. Ryan Preece (Probable) 38. John Hunter Nemecheck (Probable) 41. Cold Custard 42. Ross Chastain 43. Erik Jones 47. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 48. Alex Bowman 51. [TBA] (RWR Placeholder Numbers) 52. [TBA] 53. [TBA] 54. [TBA] 66. Timmy Hill (Likely) 77. [TBA] 78. B.J. McLeod (Likely) 96. [TBA] 99. Daniel Suarez XX. [TBA] (Second SPIRE Car) RWR claims to run 4 cars next year even though there aren't enough charters for all these cars. Possible other full time cars: 44. [TBA] Idea of a possible second RPM car has been thrown around occasionally. Part time: 32. Ryan Ellis (Road Courses Only) Likely shared with others for superspeedway races. XX. Austin Cindric (Penske) Possible other part time cars: 7. [TBA] 16. Justin Haley (Kaulig) 49. Chad Finchum 62. (Beard, Not likely to exist anymore with BG's retirement). 90. This team entered one race in 2020. Do they actually exist??? 372. ImaStatMan posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:09 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I guess I forgot the possibility of The Money Team entering but...lmao. 373. Dennyfan05 posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 365,366,367 and 368 Tide is a s*** poster he got he came up with the unconfirmed stuff. 374. GoRC10 posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @365, 367, 368 You do know who you're dealing with, right? 375. Canadianfan posted: 11.11.2020 - 5:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @364 Cindric would be in the #02 or possibly the #16 if it is available. Both numbers especially the #16 are historically significant to Penske. #02 was used by Roger Penske in the early 60's when he ran USAC Stock Cars. #16 was the first number used by Penske when his team joined NASCAR in 1972. 376. Aldo posted: 11.11.2020 - 7:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm from Italy and I want to ask something to you, old true american NASCAR fans: 1) it's clear that almost every single NASCAR fan doesn't like the current chase points system and most of you even doesn't like the chase at all since its inception; 2) looking at all those empty seats (preCovid races) and at the continuosly decreasing TV ratings, it's clear that NASCAR isn't a casual fan sport anymore; so why NASCAR does not come back to simple and clear rules, with no lucky dogs, no double-file restarts, no overtime, no stages, no chase points system, no high grip grooves, no choose-lane cones, just racing as it was? 377. thog posted: 11.11.2020 - 8:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @377 - Because the head honchos "like what they're seeing" with no regard for what the fans auctally want 378. Vaxen posted: 11.11.2020 - 8:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @371 dont forget, BJ McLeod and Matt Tifft are starting a team, unless its the 78 379. JSPorts posted: 11.11.2020 - 8:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Driver & team performance: 2019 vs. 2020 (used full-season point standings; only counted drivers & teams that attempted all 36 races both years): Drivers/teams that improved in 2020: 1st: #8 Richard Childress Racing, +250 points 2nd: Matt DiBenedetto, +216 3rd: Chase Elliott / #9 Hendrick Motorsports, +206 4th: #3 Richard Childress Racing, +175 5th: #52/27 Rick Ware Racing, +167 6th: Bubba Wallace / #43 Richard Petty Motorsports, +160 7th: #38 Front Row Motorsports, +146 8th: #21 Wood Brothers Racing, +138 9th: Brad Keselowski / #2 Team Penske, +137 10th: #77 Spire Motorsports, +112 11th: Michael McDowell / #34 Front Row Motorsports, +103 12th: Ryan Blaney / #12 Team Penske, +96 13th: Alex Bowman / #88 Hendrick Motorsports, +90 14th: #47 JTG Daugherty Racing, +77 15th: Kevin Harvick / #4 Stewart-Haas Racing, +73 16th: Aric Almirola / #10 Stewart-Haas Racing, +58 17th: Denny Hamlin / #11 Joe Gibbs Racing, +17 18th: #15 Premium Motorsports, +16 19th: Clint Bowyer / #14 Stewart-Haas Racing, +8 20th: Corey LaJoie / #32 Go Fas Racing, +7 21st: #48 Hendrick Motorsports, +2 Drivers/teams that declined in 2020: 22nd: Erik Jones / #20 Joe Gibbs Racing, -11 points 23rd: #95 Leavine Family Racing, -21 24th: Ryan Preece, -30 25th: #17 Roush Fenway Racing, -34 26th: Kurt Busch / #1 Chip Ganassi Racing, -36 27th: Ty Dillon / #13 Germain Racing, -57 28th: #51 Petty Ware Racing, -57 29th: Joey Logano / #22 Team Penske, -70 30th: #00 StarCom Racing, -71 31st: William Byron / #24 Hendrick Motorsports, -75 32nd: Chris Buescher, -84 33rd: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., -95 34th: Martin Truex, Jr. / #19 Joe Gibbs Racing, -97 35th: #41 Stewart-Haas Racing, -173 36th: #37 JTG Daugherty Racing, -252 37th: #6 Roush Fenway Racing, -260 38th: Kyle Busch / #18 Joe Gibbs Racing, -269 39th: #42 Chip Ganassi Racing, -422 40th: Daniel Suarez, -481 Teams that gained/lost the most points from 2019 to 2020: 1st: Richard Childress Racing, +425 2nd: Front Row Motorsports, +249 3rd: Hendrick Motorsports, +223 4th: Rick Ware Racing, +167 5th: Team Penske, +163 6th: Richard Petty Motorsports, +160 7th: Wood Brothers Racing, +138 8th: Spire Motorsports, +112 9th: Premium Motorsports, +16 10th: Go Fas Racing, +7 11th: Leavine Family Racing, -21 12th: Stewart-Haas Racing, -34 13th: Germain Racing, -57 14th: Petty Ware Racing, -57 15th: StarCom Racing, -71 16th: JTG Daugherty Racing, -175 17th: Roush Fenway Racing, -294 18th: Joe Gibbs Racing, -360 19th: Chip Ganassi Racing, -458 380. JSPorts posted: 11.11.2020 - 8:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @378 B. J. McLeod Motorsports with Joe Falk and Matt Tifft will run the #78 Ford. The driver & crew chief are TBA. 381. Mile501 posted: 11.11.2020 - 10:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @376 - I think many of us have been searching for answers to those very same questions since about 2004, or at least since 2014. Unfortunately, I don't know that there is any answer other than the one given in #377. It seems like NASCAR listens to fans in some ways; for example, we see that with the new tracks being added next year. But regarding the championship format itself, NASCAR seems to not realize that they are so out-of-touch with fans. 382. Mile501 posted: 11.11.2020 - 10:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is anyone else having trouble accepting Chase Elliott as the 2020 champion? It has nothing to do with him. He seems like a great person (much like his father) and he is likely to be a star in NASCAR for a long time to come. It's just this format that makes it seem odd to think of him as this year's champion. 383. AJ73 posted: 11.11.2020 - 11:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @382 You're not the only one. I agree, it's not him personally, I just don't care for this championship format... 384. Nebuch posted: 11.11.2020 - 11:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @382 Nah, I feel the same way. He's great for the sport. But in my mind, this is a weird year where two of the most dominant guys who won almost half of the races got screwed over yet again by a championship format that only rewards you for being the best late in the game and not overall. Congrats to Chase. My bone to pick is not with him, it's with NASCAR's ridiculous, often-times terribly skewed points system that, more often than not, results in a champion that doesn't feel fulfilling (unless it's your guy winning, in which case: it worked perfectly!) 385. Captain51 posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @382 I'm having no problem whatsoever accepting Chase Elliott as the championship. It doesn't matter what the format is; every driver who raced this year played by the same format. "he is likely to be a star in NASCAR for a long time to come." He is THE star in NASCAR, and much like Dale Jr, he will likely be THE star in NASCAR until he retires. 386. Anonymous posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The playoff format is just bad. Revert back to the chase because there were never any major complaints then. 387. JSPorts posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chase definitely isn't the worst champion this system has produced. Trying to rank them, from best-worst: 1st: 2017, Truex definitely deserved this one under any format 2nd: 2019, Busch won the season-long points battle and a very good argument can be made for him 3rd: 2020, Elliott wouldn't have won without this format but still had a very good season 4th: 2018, Logano wouldn't have won without this format but still have a good season 5th: 2014, Harvick wouldn't have won without this format, was very inconsistent for most of the year 6th: 2016, Johnson only got hot at the right time to win the championship 7th: 2015, Busch missed 11 races and would've been nowhere near the top 10 in points 388. Mannoroth posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 369. Don't worry, he will surpass him again. Anyway, this is how the final standings would look like, if the old Chase rules were still in place: 1. Kevin Harvick 2383 - 2. Joey Logano 2380 3 3. Chase Elliott 2379 4 4. Denny Hamlin 2365 18 5. Alex Bowman 2360 23 6. Brad Keselowski 2350 33 7. Kyle Busch 2347 36 8. Ryan Blaney 2337 46 9. Martin Truex, Jr. 2323 60 10. Kurt Busch 2314 69 11. Clint Bowyer 2296 87 12. Aric Almirola 2296 87 Kevin Harvick would finally win the title via this old point system. And another fact - Chase Elliott is only 6th driver that managed to win the Cup title as well as Xfinity title. The others are Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, Martin Truex, Jr. and (of course) Kyle Busch. 389. Joshua posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) In reality, the Latford system was probably overall okay, it just needed a few tweaks. Like, the winner should have probably gotten like 225 points instead of 15, and second should have gotten 175, third 150, or something like that, and then minimize the gaps down the line. That way Top 3 finishes really matter more and the guy who wins the most races would have won the title in 1985 and 1996. People forget why we even have a "playoff-style" format now. In 2003, Matt Kenseth, with one whole win, basically had the title locked up with two whole races left! Ryan Newman won 8, but was nowhere to be found in the title hunt. Folks clamored for more importance on winning and running up front, and that's what they got. The current system gives the guys who have had the best season to date a reward for running well. If they don't make it to Race 36 with the advantage they've built up, that's their own fault. It's Harvick's and the 4 team's own fault they didn't make it to 36. It's not perfect, but in my opinion, is the closest thing to right we can get as long as NASCAR's insistence on a playoff format persists. 390. LS318 posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @382 HELL NO!!!!!!! It's something I've been waiting for since Bill Elliott drove the McDonald's car and I was 5 years old!!!! 391. Sector posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #382 If Chase9Fan is still in awe and hasn't soaked in that his driver won the championship, then something is off. It's 2020. Kobe Bryant's death led to his team the LA Lakers winning the championship in the same year in NBA. As #272 posted: "1988: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins CART title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car 2020: ??Lakers win #NBAFinals ??Dodgers win #WorldSeries ??No. 9 car wins #IndyCar title ??Elliott wins #NASCAR Cup championship in No. 9 car" COVID-19, or coronavirus, leading to everything shutting down, restricted, or in sports term delayed. Frankly I am glad Elliott won the championship, because a driver who is making such drastic achievements (road course successes including an inaugural win at Daytona Road Course, bound to win the most "Most Popular Driver" award in the end, etc) should always be a champion at a premier level. The perfect face, or dynasty, of a driver. He has something that Dale Earnhardt, Jr never had; Clutch. The moment we saw his Watkins Glen dominance in 2019 is when everyone knew Elliott is more than what the car can give him. He carried Chevy through 2018-2019 when they were so far behind the other manufacturers. Not so much behind in 2020, but he could've easily won 8 times at least while other Chevy drivers still struggled. The good news is he is set for life; He is a NASCAR Cup champion. Now everything he does from this point forward is just an extra icing on the top. I sincerely hope he wins 30 road course races by the time his retirement comes. 392. TxRacer posted: 11.11.2020 - 12:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @371 it's Cole Custer not Cold Custer. Unless that's a nickname 393. Mile501 posted: 11.11.2020 - 1:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To add to that 1988 vs. 2020 list, if Chase Elliott is indeed the most popular driver in 2020, he will be the first driver to win that award alongside the championship since...his father did it in 1988. 394. Sector posted: 11.11.2020 - 1:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Plus, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex, Jr not winning multiple times adds to a weird 2020 season. 395. Sector posted: 11.11.2020 - 1:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2020 marks the first time that all drivers in the Top 11 in the standings won a race since 2007, when the Top 12 in standings won a race. 396. JSPorts posted: 11.11.2020 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR Cup Series drivers helped/hurt the most by the playoffs (updated after 2020). Numbers are amount of positions gained/lost from full-season standings to playoff standings & championships gained/lost from full-season standings to playoff standings. The playoffs have helped the following drivers: Austin Dillon, +14 Kasey Kahne, +13 Chris Buescher, +12 Denny Hamlin, +9 Aric Almirola, +8 Ryan Newman, +8 Kurt Busch, +7 (+1 championship) A.J. Allmendinger, +7 Mark Martin, +6 Clint Bowyer, +5 Jeremy Mayfield, +5 Chase Elliott, +4 (+1 championship) Cole Custer, +4 Matt Kenseth, +4 Kyle Busch, +3 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., +3 Alex Bowman, +2 Tony Stewart, +1 (+1 championship) Brian Vickers, +1 Elliott Sadler, +1 Matt DiBenedetto, +1 The following drivers have a net gain of 0 points positions as a result of the playoffs: Jimmie Johnson (+4 championships) Juan Pablo Montoya Carl Edwards (-2 championships) The playoffs have hurt the following drivers: Bobby Labonte, -1 Casey Mears, -1 Christopher Bell, -1 Dale Jarrett, -1 David Reutimann, -1 Jeff Burton, -1 Tyler Reddick, -1 William Byron, -1 Danica Patrick, -2 Greg Biffle, -2 Marcos Ambrose, -2 Martin Truex, Jr., -2 Rusty Wallace, -2 Trevor Bayne, -2 Daniel Suarez, -3 Ryan Blaney, -3 Jeff Gordon, -3 (-3 championships) Paul Menard, -5 Joey Logano, -7 (+1 championship) Erik Jones, -9 Kyle Larson, -9 Brad Keselowski, -12 Kevin Harvick, -14 (-3 championships) Jamie McMurray, -16 Dale Earnhardt, Jr., -17 397. possum posted: 11.11.2020 - 6:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @375 - #66 is probably most significant to Penske - that was Mark Donohue's number when he won the 500, which was Penske's first 500 win. #16, as you say, is also significant as that was the number Donohue used in NASCAR. I doubt Penske has much attachment to any other numbers. @392 - "Cold Custard" is how one of the announcers pronounces the name. Much like Benny Parsons always said "Jaime Makemerry". 398. Canadianfan posted: 11.11.2020 - 7:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @397 Actually it's #6. The only reason they ran #66 was #6 was already taken by Bobby Unser that year. Roger ran #6 in his first F1 race. Also lots of sports car races including Trans-Am. If he couldn't get his hands on #6 he would go with #16 or #66 or even #9. 399. Greg posted: 11.11.2020 - 11:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @375, @397, #398 Penske run #6 & #16 most of the time when she still competed in USAC sports cars. He also used #66 when he drove for Chaparral just before retirement unless #6 was available. He used #16 because Bruce McLaren was in the #6. Last time Penske run #6 was Nassau Trophy in December 1964. It's quite clear #6 is his favorite number, it was taken by Newman/Haas for a long while in CART but it was brought back to Penske in IRL (Ryan Briscoe). Does Roush still own #16 rights for Cup? #66 MBM rights could easily be purchased if Cindric goes Cup full-time IMO. 400. NASCARfan05 posted: 11.12.2020 - 12:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 399, my guess is Kaulig will use the 16 since they already used it this year in the Daytona 500 Personally I think they should use the 02 like Newman did part time before he took over the 12 401. Corey posted: 11.12.2020 - 5:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't think Penske really has any number that's historically significant. Here are the numbers he's won the Indy 500 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 22, 25, 31, 66, 68 Given that both his Indycar and NASCAR teams use 2, 12, and 22, this leads me to believe that Cindric will use a number with 2 in it. If 6 or 16 were the important to him, he'd already be using them. 402. Tigerman posted: 11.12.2020 - 8:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I really think Cindric will race the number #02. 403. JSPorts posted: 11.12.2020 - 9:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, it'll probably be the #02 car. Based on Penske's current numbering format (and the fact that #16 is taken by Kaulig, most likely) I think it'll be 2-02-12-22. 404. GGDC posted: 11.12.2020 - 9:57 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Penske could run #99 too, they've used it in ARCA 405. Mile501 posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The #02 probably makes the most sense, unless he continued the 2s up to #32, but that's not a number that Penske has used as far as I know. The only other idea that came to my mind is the #29, which has a lot of history in the Keselowski family, and which Cindric also drove in his first two truck starts. Cindric could use that number, or...what if Keselowski moved to the #29 and Cindric took over the #2? 406. Tigerman posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @404 Trackhouse has the number #99. 407. Corey posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:26 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @404 I believe Trackside and Suarez have already taken 99. 408. Ryan posted: 11.12.2020 - 7:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @385 "I'm having no problem whatsoever accepting Chase Elliott as the championship. It doesn't matter what the format is; every driver who raced this year played by the same format. " That's just it. It shouldn't be this type of format. As mentioned though Elliott had some tough luck earlier in the year at Charlotte, Darlington, and Bristol to name a few. Chevy owes him a lot during this rough stretch keeping them relevant. He was just behind Harvick and Hamlin as the best driver this year. @376 "I'm from Italy and I want to ask something to you, old true american NASCAR fans: 1) it's clear that almost every single NASCAR fan doesn't like the current chase points system and most of you even doesn't like the chase at all since its inception; I don't mind a playoff with rewarding winners during the regular season at the start of the playoff, however, the winner take all and round racing has to go. If they want to give points for early performance during races they can without stages and stage cautions. They can give points to the leaders at certain laps during the races. If they wanted they could even have a halftime like trucks used to do. 2) looking at all those empty seats (preCovid races) and at the continuosly decreasing TV ratings, it's clear that NASCAR isn't a casual fan sport anymore; It has been a collection of things... Lack of passing, NASCAR pricing itself out, fan favorites recently retiring, Game 7 championship scenario, lack of year long sponsors, stage racing (get rid of planned cautions), lack of down to earth personalities, etc. Most of your blue collar fans back in the day could relate to drivers because they were blue collar when they came up through the ranks. so why NASCAR does not come back to simple and clear rules, with no lucky dogs, no double-file restarts, no overtime, no stages, no chase points system, no high grip grooves, no choose-lane cones, just racing as it was?" I personally don't have a problem with the no choose cone and double-file restarts, but everything else I'm not too crazy about. 409. Pancakes posted: 11.12.2020 - 9:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @382 You are acting like he finished 9th, 10th or 11th in the full season long standings or something. He finished 3rd with 5 wins on the season. Aside from Kevin Harvick there was no one more deserving of the championship this year. You want undeserving try looking at 2016 when the champion ran like garbage all regular season and ended the year 7th in points and only 11 Top 5's all year. Or Kurt Busch in 2002 with only 10 Top 5s all year. 410. Onion posted: 11.12.2020 - 9:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @409 You are acting like Kurt Busch in *2004 finished 9th, 10th or 11th in the full season long standings or something. He finished 4th with 21 top 10s on the season. See? It's easy to make excuses and Chase WILL get ALL of them. If Chase is your deserving champion, it's very counterproductive to point at a guy who finished in the position Chase would have gotten under that system. Sure he's superb, probably he'll get one where he actually scores the most points like how it works in every serious motorsport. But he was nowhere near Harvick and did quite a bit worse than Hamlin as well. 411. Sector posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #410 I don't know, I would put Chase Elliott in a tie with Denny Hamlin for second best driver of the year behind Kevin Harvick despite what the official points says. Elliott got wrecked by Kyle Busch at Darlington in which Hamlin won. William Byron, Elliott's teammate, literally screwed Elliott out of the win at the 600 mile race at Charlotte. He was a sitting duck on the restart no matter what he does. That would put Elliott at 7 wins, and Hamlin probably at 6 without the Darlington win since Elliott was faster than Hamlin in the end. Not to mention of the races Chase Elliott got involved with in Joey Logano at Bristol #1 and Martin Truex, Jr got into him at Darlington #3. They've both had a handful of average races too. 412. Sector posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #410/411 My point is do you really say the same about Denny Hamlin "losing" a race as much as Elliott has this year? There are a few times Hamlin finished second but he simply got beat (Loudon, Michigan & Daytona Road Course for example). Elliott never really had a shot to finish the deal and kept getting involved in incidents that put him right there with Brad Keselowski who is the fourth best of 2020. 413. RyanM posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Was Harvick really that much better than Elliott? He cleaned up on tracks where equipment strength heavily outweighs driver skill, other than Darlington (where he inherited one of his wins after Chase got walled while battling for the lead), Dover and Bristol. Chase thrived on the drivers' tracks, such as the road courses and Martinsville. And yes, Chase coming through when the stakes were highest matters as opposed to Harvick melting. Full season points don't tell the whole story. Harvick still probably had the overall better season, but it's much closer than the stats show. And Hamlin is a clear step below both of them. 414. ThatGuy posted: 11.12.2020 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd be willing to bet that if we ran the '03 format (or any format prior to the 2014-present), Chase wouldn't have been 3rd, but 5th behind Brad & Joey. There's a big trend in Nascar that the playoff/chase drivers perform better during the playoff/chase races. Not the best example, but Austin Cindric completely flipped his season in 2017 in trucks, while he'd been outperformed all year by teammate Chase Briscoe. He only got into the playoffs because he dumped Grala in Canada and won. Without that win he doesn't make the playoffs, as he was 10th (only 8 drivers got in) in points at the cutoff AND Grala was 12th, but already had his Daytona win to lock him in. After Chicago, he had 9 top 10s and 4 top 5s in 16 races. In the final 7 races (he made it to the championship 4) he had 4 top 5s and 7 top 10s. Matching his top 5s and almost matching his top 10s in LESS than half as many races. You know Joey would've been more aggressive at Martinsville if he wasn't trying to avoid making enemies since he was locked in, and I don't think the 9 team would've had the must win attitude, plus if Brad didn't get that speeding penalty (though he recovered very well) he would've had a shot to win. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think Phoenix would've been different if Harvick was a part of the championship 4, and MUCH, MUCH different if there was no playoff or chase format (Harvick would've had the championship locked up) 415. Sector posted: 11.13.2020 - 2:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #413 I agree I would put Chase Elliott just over Denny Hamlin this year. Harvick melting the second half of the Playoffs really put a dent on what would've been an amazing year but instead it turns out to be a "consistent" year with no bad races much like Jeff Gordon's 2007 (except Harvick managed to go without a DNF!). Harvick having only one finish outside the Top 20 is probably the most amazing thing about his season on top of his 9 wins. As for Elliott, he's definitely made more noise this year than ever before. Road course prowess, dominant win at Martinsville when it was all on the line and took it to Joey Logano by actually making a pass late in the race to earn it at Phoenix. We've had worse "championship years" however. Kevin Harvick finishes 5th in 2014 and still won the title. Kyle Busch missed 11 races in 2015 and still won the title. Jimmie Johnson doesn't score Top 10 50% of the schedule in 2016. Chase Elliott in 2020 is equivalent to Joey Logano's 2018 championship in all honesty. Strong Martinsville win to advance to Final Four and wins the championship finale while being 3rd-4th best all year. #414 Chase Elliott is slightly better than Joey Logano this year in weaker equipment. He has 3 more wins and 3 more stage points over Logano and 0.2 better average finish with 2 more wins, 3 more Top 5 and 1 more Top 10 and 14 more points ahead of Logano. Don't see where you saw how Logano is ahead. 416. Onion posted: 11.13.2020 - 7:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @411 After taking a closer look at Hamlin's season race-by-race, I have to say that's fair. He's had less bad luck outside of his own doing than Chase. Still, level is about what I'm willing to go with, since at the end of the day Hamlin scored a lot more and had an average finish 2,5 spots above Chase. @413 LOL Much closer than the stats show, right. I mean, there's plenty of room there to close. The difference in average finish between the two is about as much as the difference between Byron and McDowell. @414 He'd have been beaten by Brad, but ahead of Joey. Just why I find it ridiculous that some guy was bringing up Kurt's 2004 as an undeserving champion in contrast of Chase. 417. possum posted: 11.13.2020 - 6:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @401 - I don't think Penske has any special attachment to numbers he's won at Indy with. I do think he has an attachment to Mark Donohue's memory. @403 - that would be 2 - 102 - 12 - 22. 00 to 09 are actually 100 to 109, but of course the leading 1 doesn't appear on the car since NASCAR only allows 2 digits. 418. Corey posted: 11.13.2020 - 7:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @417 But that's my point. The fact the Penske has used so many different numbers at Indy leads me to believe that 6 and 16 aren't as significant to him as people are making it out to be. He had used 6 at one point in Indycar up until 2011 then switched it to 2 for 2012. 419. JSPorts posted: 11.13.2020 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Penske's most historically-significant numbers are 2, 3, 6, 12, 16 & 22. 420. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.13.2020 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is the most important thing going on in NASCAR really people wondering what number a car that will run 2-3 races next year tops is going to be? 421. JSPorts posted: 11.13.2020 - 8:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's the offseason. We can have a discussion about NASCAR silly season-related things here. Also, that car will probably run more than 3 races. I imagine they'll at least try to run all the road courses. Probably some ovals, too. 422. Ryan posted: 11.13.2020 - 10:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @388 "369. Don't worry, he will surpass him again." That's just it. Harvick should have never passed him at his age and during Busch's "prime". ======================================================================== It's interesting that people say Harvick "melted" during the playoffs... He had some tough luck during the last round before the Championship 4. At Kansas he got beat because his pit crew got beat by Logano's and couldn't do anything with Logano because of the dreaded aero push. At Texas, fair to say that NASCAR had no business racing with mist in the air and rain on its way while the track was considerably damp and that caused him to hit the wall. At Martinsville, he got a flat tire early in the race and had a hard time getting his laps back. He just fell short of making it. And had Erik Jones raced like a man at the end he would have made it to Phoenix in the Championship 4. Although he probably doesn't win Phoenix, he still gets there with a chance. The man won two races during the playoffs and yet he "melted". I'd hate to see what would have been said if he hadn't won any. 423. kup posted: 11.14.2020 - 12:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) UPS: Universal Points System. Driver's UPointS = Miles / Aver.Finish 2020 UPS _ Driver = Miles / AF 1850 Kevin Harvick 13503 7,3 1448 Denny Hamlin 13471 9,3 1314 Brad Keselowski 13273 10,1 1116 Joey Logano 13279 11,9 1114 Chase Elliott 13036 11,7 1113 Martin Truex, Jr, 13022 11,7 983 Aric Almirola 13080 13,3 952 Kurt Busch 12752 13,4 932 Kyle Busch 12863 13,8 926 Ryan Blaney 12779 13,8 901 Matt DiBenedetto 13330 14,8 900 Alex Bowman 13225 14,7 870 Clint Bowyer 12788 14,7 823 Erik Jones 13084 15,9 792 Austin Dillon 12828 16,2 789 William Byron 12775 16,2 747 Tyler Reddick 13073 17,5 715 Jimmie Johnson 12366 17,3 667 Cole Custer 12801 19,2 661 Chris Buescher 12965 19,6 614 Christopher Bell 12405 20,2 613 Michael McDowell 12820 20,9 603 Ryan Newman 12052 20,0 598 Ty Dillon 13165 22.0 584 John Hunter Nemechek 13092 22,4 582 Bubba Wallace 12271 21,1 512 Matt Kenseth 10960 21,4 507 Ryan Preece 12308 24,3 496 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, 11217 22,6 493 Corey LaJoie 12629 25,6 474 Daniel Suarez 12618 26,6 424. MJM posted: 11.14.2020 - 7:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The final standings for Cup should be like this for the Top 4 1) Chase Elliott - 5040 2) Brad Keselowski - 5035 3) Joey Logano - 5034 4) Denny Hamlin- 5033 425. JSPorts posted: 11.14.2020 - 11:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Miles led in 2020: 1st: Kevin Harvick, 2076.302 2nd: Denny Hamlin, 1578.68 3rd: Chase Elliott, 1569.699 4th: Joey Logano, 1192.838 5th: Martin Truex, Jr., 1162.678 6th: Ryan Blaney, 1018.77 7th: Brad Keselowski, 998.843 8th: Alex Bowman, 727.878 9th: Kyle Busch 575.707 10th: Aric Almirola, 509.583 11th: Clint Bowyer, 446.326 12th: William Byron, 283.578 13th: Kurt Busch, 253.218 14th: Austin Dillon, 140.424 15th: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 133.8 16th: Erik Jones, 124.742 17th: Matt DiBenedetto, 124.123 18th: Jimmie Johnson, 97.934 19th: Ryan Newman, 80.99 20th: Chris Buescher, 74.04 21st: Tyler Reddick, 70.36 22nd: Daniel Suarez, 48.866 23rd: Christopher Bell, 37.353 24th: Bubba Wallace, 33.358 25th: Matt Kenseth, 31 26th: Ryan Preece, 27.72 27th: Ty Dillon, 22.328 28th: Michael McDowell, 14.16 29th: Kaz Grala, 10.83 30th: Corey LaJoie, 9.786 31st: Cole Custer, 7.5 32nd: Brennan Poole, 6.276 33rd: J.J. Yeley, 3.366 34th: Timmy Hill, 2.66 35th: Cody Ware, 2.66 36th: Ross Chastain, 2.5 37th: Garrett Smithley, 2.5 38th: Kyle Larson, 2 39th: John Hunter Nemechek, 1.5 426. Canadianfan posted: 11.15.2020 - 1:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Talking in Circles: (Carl) Long said that #nascar is eliminating the money allocated to open teams for 2021. It was $20k a race and now it's gone. That's $750k a season the team has lost. 427. JSPorts posted: 11.15.2020 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Did some calculations today to further emphasize how bad the current NASCAR playoff system is. In 2020, drivers with the following stat lines could've won the championship: Driver 1: 36 starts, 2 wins, 5 top 5s, 5 top 10s, 2 laps led, 25 DNFs, 31.5 avg. finish Driver 2: 15 starts, 5 wins, 5 top 5s, 5 top 10s, 13 laps led, 0 DNFs, 15.0 avg. finish However, it was possible for a driver with this stat line to lose the championship: 36 starts, 35 wins, 36 top 5s, 36 top 10s, 9913 laps led, 0 DNFs, 1.03 avg. finish Obviously none of these would ever happen, but the fact that the drivers in the first category would even have a shot & the driver in the 2nd wouldn't automatically win a championship is asinine. 428. possum posted: 11.15.2020 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @426 - that is not particularly surprising. It's been clear for a while that NASCAR would prefer a 36 car field of just charter teams. 429. Foote posted: 11.15.2020 - 6:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't buy that the top 4 finishers here were the championship 4 cars. I don't buy Chase Elliott as the 2020 champion, even though I like him and want him to be successful. I don't buy my favorite driver losing his ride because of money. Nascar is starting to turn me off. 430. Corey posted: 11.15.2020 - 6:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @427 How exactly can Driver 2 get win the championship? This past season would require them to earn 293 points to get in the Top 30 in only 5 races which would require 4 of those wins. Without more Top 5's and Top 10's, I don't see them making it to the championship race on points. 431. Sector posted: 11.15.2020 - 7:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) #427/430 I'm trying to figure out how clutch this driver is to only lead 13 laps but still managed to win 5 times, unless all of to those wins resulted in another driver being disqualified (which I feel the win should still be provided to them, however the second place would get all the Playoff points and whatever points they would get plus one position). 432. TeamDCRfan posted: 11.15.2020 - 7:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 426 If true, NASCAR really is just trying to piss away any future involvement from any potential start ups. And they dont even seem to want smaller teams to have charters. I know this is falling on deaf ears, but; Eliminate the stupid F**KING CHARTERS! 433. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.15.2020 - 7:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @428 and its possibly the worst decision NASCAR can make in a storied history of bad decisions. NASCAR's original take was "we don't want teams starting and parking" then when open teams run the whole race they change it to "we dont want open teams running at all". It's just politics to make the big teams bigger and one day that's going to be terrible for NASCAR. 434. TTaylor944 posted: 11.15.2020 - 10:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Stop blaming NASCAR for the charters. It was the idea of the owners, and if it wasn't, they should probably stop calling on Rob Kauffman to represent them. 435. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.15.2020 - 11:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @434 I don't specifically blame the charters. To an extent they make sense. But it makes completely no sense to completely eliminate the barrier for entry to the highest series in the sport. NASCAR is going to have a wake up call next time a team goes to sell a charter and there are no buyers out there. They don't even have a system in place if something like that happens. 436. 1995-Subaru-WRX-Sti posted: 11.16.2020 - 1:00 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "NASCAR is going to have a wake up call next time a team goes to sell a charter and there are no buyers out there. They don't even have a system in place if something like that happens." That is a team problem. They wanted something that makes it exclusive for them then they can find some way to fix it when a team wants to sell its charter and there ain't someone to sell it to. Then maybe they can go in the mirror and slap the first person they see. They got what they wanted and they can deal with it and they can deal with the Snake Oil Salesmen Superman who sold them on it. BTW according to the Sports Business Journal, the charter system is starting to appreciate value after 5 years. How the hell is that supposed to happen when the people who run and participate in this scam (The teams) don't want full fields? And they only way we can ever truly get another auto make into the sport is with the charter system. Jim France has relationships from his Grand-Am/IMSA days. I have faith in Jim France to bring another one in but the charter system is F***king him over. 437. JSPorts posted: 11.16.2020 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2020 drivers ranked by most cautions they were involved in: 20 - John Hunter Nemechek 15 - Matt Kenseth 13 - Austin Dillon, Christopher Bell & Ryan Newman 12 - Chris Buescher, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. & Ryan Preece 11 - Erik Jones, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch & Tyler Reddick 10 - Bubba Wallace 9 - Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski, Michael McDowell, Ryan Blaney & William Byron 8 - Clint Bowyer, Joey Gase, Joey Logano, Martin Truex, Jr. & Quin Houff 7 - Alex Bowman, Cole Custer & Kurt Busch 6 - Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick & Ty Dillon 5 - Brennan Poole, Chase Elliott, Corey LaJoie, James Davison & Matt DiBenedetto 4 - Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain & Timmy Hill 3 - Brendan Gaughan & Garrett Smithley 2 - B.J. McLeod, J.J. Yeley, Justin Haley & Reed Sorenson 1 - Bayley Currey, David Ragan, David Starr & Gray Gaulding 0 - Chad Finchum, Cody Ware, Josh Bilicki, Justin Allgaier, Kaz Grala, Kyle Larson & Stanton Barrett 438. Vaxen posted: 11.16.2020 - 4:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That makes JJ Yeley, Timmy Hill and Daniel Suarez the three full time drivers with the least amounts of cautions to their belt in 2020 (though Yeley did miss a few races, he is a full-timer). That should tell you a lot about these 3 guys. 439. Anonymous posted: 11.16.2020 - 4:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes, it tells me that none of them take risks nor are fast enough to be involved in cautions. 440. Corey posted: 11.16.2020 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @439 What do you want from three guys who are driving for underfunded teams. Hill and Suarez drove for uncharted teams and one of their primary jobs was probably to bring the car home in one piece and they did their jobs. By comparison, Quinn Houff was involved in 8 and he's in the slowest car in the field. 441. ScottB posted: 11.16.2020 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 434- It's true Rob Kauffman is the one who put the charter proposal out there on behalf of the owners, but NASCAR approved it. After the initial approval, they've taken additional steps to stack the deck against non-chartered teams, lowering the financial return on the investment. I find this odd, since NASCAR had a long history of fighting against any attempt at organizing drivers in the era of Big Jim and Jim France Jr. In the end, they've protected themselves against the drivers gaining too much negotiating leverage, and against independent race promoters or rival sanctioning bodies by having most of the track facilities under their influence, but left themselves open to the current team owners seizing more and more control over how things are run. It would really be in NASCAR's best interest as the governing body to always have new people looking to get their foot in the door as team owners. 442. Zach posted: 11.16.2020 - 5:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @438 It isn't that impressive when you consider a good 60% of the cautions for incident nowadays are simply just a result of flat tires or mechanical issues. It would be impressive back in like the early 2000's when spins and crashes were much more common. 443. Foote posted: 11.16.2020 - 5:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's extremely rare that a crash nowadays is due to a driver losing control, because the cars are slow and stable. In the glory years of Nascar you might see 8 backup cars needed at a race at Texas because controlling the cars was a challenge. I hope JHN stays in the Cup Series because he's a (fast) wild card who loses control all the time, which no other driver does. 444. possum posted: 11.16.2020 - 7:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @441 - yes, it's not clear to me either where the benefit is to NASCAR to eliminate the non-charter teams. A number of things they've done over the past couple of years point to a desire to reduce the field to just 36, so they must see some advantage...it's just not obvious what they think it is. 445. TTaylor944 posted: 11.16.2020 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @441 A couple years ago JJ Yeley showed up at Charlotte with an entry that caught a lot of people by surprise. It was a #7 car out of the Xxxtreme Motorsports shop, which hadn't raced in three years and hasn't raced since. When the team announced their entry Kauffman took to Twitter to go on a rant about how this team was wasting their time and the only thing their presence did was take money away from the big teams for a car with no shot to win. The fans that saw it were pretty relentless, as should be expected. I haven't heard much from or about Kauffman since that incident. I suspect he learned to stay in the background as he pulls strings for the RTA. This just sounds entirely too much like one of his moves and not really anything at all that NASCAR would want to implement. 446. Corey posted: 11.16.2020 - 8:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR is probably doing this for financial reasons. The tracks loss a $100+ million dollars in ticket revenue so you can only imagine what that was like for NASCAR. They need to cut costs somewhere in order to maintain financial stability. And for all the changes that NASCAR made that fans loved, it doesn't surprise me that they need to make changes that we are goi g to hate. 447. TeamDCRfan posted: 11.17.2020 - 10:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Busch Clash eligibility list has been released. Eligibility requirements are the following: 2020 Busch Pole Award winners Past Busch Clash Winners who competed full-time in 2020 DAYTONA 500 Champions who competed full-time in 2020 Former DAYTONA 500 Busch Pole Winners who competed full-time in 2020 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Race winners 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Stage winners 19 of the 24 eligible are likely to compete. Questionable is: Johnson, Bowyer, Kenseth (retired) Ty Dillon (rideless) and Jones (Petty usually doesnt enter the clash because of Beer sponsor.) 448. Mile501 posted: 11.17.2020 - 10:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Following up on the eligibility guidelines in comment 447, these 24 drivers are eligible for the 2021 Busch Clash: - All 16 playoff drivers - Erik Jones (2020 Busch Clash Winner) - Jimmie Johnson (Stage Win - Spring Martinsville) - Tyler Reddick (Stage Win - Spring Talladega) - Chris Buescher (Stage Win - Fall Talladega) - Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Stage Win - Spring Talladega) - Ryan Newman (2008 Daytona 500 Winner) - Ty Dillon (Stage Win - Charlotte Roval) - Matt Kenseth (2009 & 2012 Daytona 500 Winner) Drivers from the top 29 in 2020 points who are left out: - Christopher Bell - Bubba Wallace - Michael McDowell - John Hunter Nemechek - Ryan Preece In my opinion, the criteria seem rather arbitrary. Two categories (former Daytona 500 pole winners and 2020 race winners) aren't even necessary because they add no additional drivers. Yet 5 midpack drivers are in because they led at the right time (mostly at Talladega) and happened to get a stage win sometime in 2020. 449. Sector posted: 11.17.2020 - 10:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) "2020 NASCAR Stage winners" A big LOL! If they really want Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, Ty Dillon, Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher in they could've just said former champions in ARCA and Xfinity instead. 450. guac_is_extra_ posted: 11.17.2020 - 11:16 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) They should have 3 road course provisionals for the most points on road courses among drivers not yet in. 451. ACM88 posted: 11.17.2020 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm pretty sure bowyer and Kenneth are done for. Richard Petty won't touch the clash unless he wants his mother's ghost to haunt him, so that rules out jones. I'm pretty sure ty will have a ride for speedweeks, whether it's with spire or FRM or pop pop running him in an extra car. The wild card is Jimmie pending on if he wants to and if he can get sponsorship in a third ganassi car. 452. JSPorts posted: 11.17.2020 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Why? If they're going to put everyone in the Clash, why not just make it a points race? I wish they'd go back to the original format - Sunday before the 500, 20 laps on the superspeedway, only for the previous season's pole winners (or for 2021, every driver who started 1st in a race in 2020, since qualifying only happened 4 times.) But the best thing they could do would be to eliminate the event entirely, and instead replace it with a Saturday-night road course race at the Daytona road course the weekend before the 500. That would give us a race on that layout that actually matters, and it would also be a "throwback" of sorts to when NASCAR used to run a road course as the season's 1st race before going to the 500 (back then, that road course was Riverside.) 453. Corey posted: 11.17.2020 - 1:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @448, 449 Ricky Stenhouse is not in because of the stage win. He's in because he won the pole for the Daytona 500 last year. I do agree that they could have left the stage winners criteria out. 454. ScottB posted: 11.17.2020 - 2:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, I'm hoping that including stage winners is a one time only thing because there were so few conventional pole winners in 2020 before COVID hit. But the original idea of the race being a showcase for pole winners has been eroded over the years, anyway. Just tell yourself it's only an exhibition, it doesn't matter. That's what I do. 455. Halcyon posted: 11.17.2020 - 2:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "Petty usually doesn't enter the clash because of Beer sponsor." Could someone please explain why that is? This is the first I'm hearing about that 456. JSPorts posted: 11.17.2020 - 2:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Richard promised his mother that he wouldn't accept money from alcohol sponsors (this was mainly in reference to sponsoring his car). The last time a Petty-owned car entered the Clash (when it was sponsored by an alcohol company) was Marcos Ambrose in the 2012 Budweiser Shootout (the last year it was sponsored by an alcohol company prior to 2020.) Wallace didn't enter last year because he wasn't eligible. I imagine Jones will enter in 2021. 457. Foote posted: 11.17.2020 - 2:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cheapskate Petty just doesn't want to tear a car up. Being a fan of a driver who goes from elite team to a bad one is miserable. I'll have to adjust to the new normal. 458. RaceFanX posted: 11.17.2020 - 2:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I think Petty loosened his stance a little. Remember, Richard Petty Motorsports WON the Clash in 2010 with Kasey Kahne driving the Budweiser #9 Ford car after a few mergers put that car under the team's ownership. 459. ShinyMew151 posted: 11.17.2020 - 3:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) While he did have Budweiser and then later Twisted Tea, Petty has kept that promise alive for the 43. Twisted Tea left when RPM became a 1 car team and I wouldn't be surprised if this was why 460. Anonymous posted: 11.17.2020 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @452 Just no. There is nothing wrong with the Clash as is. Besides, it's always been at the regular Daytona track so it should stay that way. NASCAR needs to at least keep SOME semblence of tradition. 461. ScottB posted: 11.17.2020 - 4:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Don't forget RPM (2009 and later) is a different organization that the original Petty Enterprises, which was a true family operation. It's much more corporate now, and Richard Petty as less direct control. Petty did pass up a lot of potential earnings when it was a family team by not running any beer decals on his cars. 462. possum posted: 11.17.2020 - 6:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @452 - I agree, the Clash is pretty much meaningless when pretty much everyone gets in it (same goes for the All-Star race, for that matter). But NASCAR doesn't care about meaningful, they care about dollars, and Busch & Fox will pay more if there's more drivers. @456 - if I remember correctly, the actual issue was that, because of his promise, Petty would not run the Busch decal on his car as a contingency sponsor (remember back when Cup cars had 20 or 30 small sponsor decals on the front fenders? Busch was one of those.) Since Petty didn't run the decal, he wasn't eligible for the Clash. @461 - correct. Petty is basically a figurehead at RPM. Ownership, and all the financial decisions, are elsewhere. 463. Corey posted: 11.17.2020 - 6:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @462 That was the reason. John Andretti won a pole for Petty back in the late 90's but made a deal to drive Hendrick's #25 for the Clash. 464. JSPorts posted: 11.17.2020 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I never knew that Andretti drove the 25 in the Clash. Interesting. Finished 9th in 1998. 465. TeamDCRfan posted: 11.18.2020 - 10:43 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Breaking: Matt Yocum no longer with Fox. That leaves only Mike Joy and Larry Mac as the OG onscreen team. (Not counting Myers because he only does the 500 now) 466. Jimmie4life posted: 11.18.2020 - 12:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There are 24 drivers eligible to compete in the 2021 Busch Clash: 1. Aric Almirola 2. Ryan Blaney 3. Alex Bowman 4. Clint Bowyer 5. Chris Buescher 6. Kurt Busch 7. Kyle Busch 8. William Byron 9. Cole Custer 10. Matt DiBenedetto 11. Austin Dillon 12. Ty Dillon 13. Chase Elliott 14. Denny Hamlin 15. Kevin Harvick 16. Jimmie Johnson 17. Erik Jones 18. Matt Kenseth 19. Brad Keselowski 20. Joey Logano 21. Ryan Newman 22. Tyler Reddick 23. Ricky Stenhouse 24. Martin Truex Jr. 467. Mile501 posted: 11.19.2020 - 11:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Kevin Harvick ended the season with (by far) the highest point total among drivers who did not make it into the final round (since NASCAR went to the 16-driver playoff field). That means he began with a lot of playoff points and had a strong run throughout the playoffs but he had a poorly-timed stretch of mediocre races at the end. Final point totals for drivers finishing 5th in points each year: 2410 (Harvick 2020) 2380 (Logano 2019) 2377 (Elliott 2017) 2368 (Edwards 2015) 2361 (Keselowski 2014) 2354 (Almirola 2018) 2330 (Kenseth 2016) 468. Canadianfan posted: 11.20.2020 - 1:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: Have gotten questions on open team payouts in 2021. The $18-20K per race for each open team to show up (about 30% of what charter teams get) will instead go into purse (teams get approx 1-5% of purse depending on finish). So open team approx $18K less per race ($650K if 36 races) The goal is to have new teams that have enough investment that they can get a charter ? it is a potential sign of seriousness to reach success in its top series. Or enough sponsorship to run well. From Tommy Joe Martins: A direct attempt from some teams (not NASCAR) to put more $ in their pocket & remove open teams from the equation. They consider it wasted money on uncompetitive cars. Math works out to +72k per chartered team w/the change, but likely weighted to the front cars, not even split. And btw I'm not presenting this with any opinion attached - I'm not sure what's best. I wanna see 40 cars on track in the cup series but I also know fewer cars is more money to each car. Open teams are eventually gonna get cut out of this deal whether we like it or not. 469. TTaylor944 posted: 11.20.2020 - 1:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21115/nascar-team-owner-rob-kauffman-against-unchartered-teams Just going to go ahead and refer back to this little gem. 470. Yeet posted: 11.20.2020 - 2:31 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @468 welcome to life. Big guys always want to funnel the little guys out. There is only so much NASCAR can do to try and promote participation in this sport but when dominant teams always give them death threats as they approach the door, it's very hard to walk through. @469 Rob Kauffman belongs in F1 with that kind of attitude, not NASCAR. 471. Mile501 posted: 11.20.2020 - 3:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Nearly everyone involved in NASCAR's early days (aside from Carl Kiekhaefer) must be rolling over in their graves at those words from Rob Kauffman and this apparent decision from NASCAR for 2021. 472. JSPorts posted: 11.20.2020 - 3:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Think of all the current teams that have started by running a few races on a smaller budget than they have now & then going full-time. This is so hypocritical for these owners to support this move, but it also doesn't surprise me. They'll do anything to "protect their investment." Essentially, they want less competition and they're eliminating some by doing this. 473. Ed posted: 11.20.2020 - 3:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @469 And every true NASCAR fan is against Rob Kauffman 474. 1995-Subaru-WRX-Sti posted: 11.20.2020 - 4:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "There is only so much NASCAR can do to try and promote participation in this sport but when dominant teams always give them death threats as they approach the door, it's very hard to walk through." Exactly. NASCAR wants more people in the sport because it is good for everyone (the fat cats will not admit it but it is). Having another OEM in the sport is nothing but a good thing. But if you ask RK and the fat cats will say that it isn't. Reminds me of the older drivers not liking the young guns coming up and stealing their thunder and fame. Barney Vasser is the Case A example of a small team making the big time, beating the fat cats at their own game, and then getting pushed out. The bigger teams need to need a change in paradigm and business model. I honestly hope that the Jorden/Hamlin teams stay around for at least as long as Barney Vasser did and with the same amount of success if not more. 475. John posted: 11.20.2020 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wouldn't consider Vasser a small team. The dude was super rich and had a top class facility. The bad results in the beginning make it look like a small team. 476. John posted: 11.20.2020 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @458 It's because he owns like 2% of the team. It's his name on team because it helps with getting sponsors. 477. Sector posted: 11.20.2020 - 5:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "I honestly hope that the Jorden/Hamlin teams stay around for at least as long as Barney Vasser did and with the same amount of success if not more." I do too, in fact if Hamlin doesn't win a Cup by the time he retires I'll want him to win a title as an owner, to join Mark Martin and Junior Johnson as the trio of drivers to win 40+ Cup races as a driver but never a championship, but does have a championship as an owner. 478. Canadianfan posted: 11.20.2020 - 5:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: The argument would be is that pre-charters, there was no one who came in who has had any significant success without investing mid-eight-figures into the program. Front Row owner puts in millions every year. Furniture Row's Visser didn't even want to estimate how much he spent. Charters not huge issue. The inability to be competitive w/o alliance -- that probably costs about or more than charter -- is issue. U need depth/manufacturer support when it comes to engineering. That's the hurdle to attracting new owners imho. Will Next Gen help? That is hope. From what I can tell, a charter team is getting around $2-2.5M a year just for showing up, then approx $1-2.5M depending on its performance the last three years and then $1-4M in purses/year-end bonus money. 479. John posted: 11.20.2020 - 5:57 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Imo there is no point in having teams with the funds to always run 30th, teams that will never be competitive take money away from the other teams. If there's not enough charters for teams that do have the funding to eventually compete than that's a different story. The latter isn't happening. What's the point of having Rick Ware-esque teams with pay to play drivers who will never compete outside of superspeedway races take money away from the other team? Not to mention the unnecessary cautions they bring out that determine races. 480. possum posted: 11.20.2020 - 6:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @470 - it's my understanding that, for a number of reasons, Rob Kauffman is persona non grata in European racing circles. 481. Anon posted: 11.20.2020 - 6:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm conflicted on that. I believe that the underfunded teams should be running Xfinity, and that makes everything better on track. However, I strongly believe that there needs to be 40+ cars per race. I enjoy watch the race within the race amongst lapped cars, etc. So I both win and lose either way I suppose. 482. possum posted: 11.20.2020 - 6:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @478 - Pockrass's arguement seems to be a sequence of non-sequiturs (making the possibly unjust assumption it's his, and not a quote of someone else). Yes, it takes millions to start a Cup team. How does requiring them to spend additional millions to purchase a charter benefit the sport or make it more likely they'll become successful teams? Further, bearing in mind that there are only 36 charters, if you require a charter to compete then you're limiting the series to only 36 teams; how does that benefit the sport? Wouldn't 40 successful teams be better? And beyond that, even with millions of dollars it's hard work to create a team to run an entire season in it's first year, many teams which eventually became successful ran only a partial schedule their first year. Yet with the charter you're required to run the full schedule - again, there doesn't seem to be a benefit to the sport to require a team to spend millions and run poorly all year just to be present at all the races. 483. Canadianfan posted: 11.20.2020 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @482 He was answering questions from other people responding to stuff he posted earlier. I felt there was enough information in them to post here. 484. Zach posted: 11.20.2020 - 7:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @475 Nowadays when you have billionaires like Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske pumping several millions into their organizations every year, yes I would consider Furniture Row to be a small team. Granted once they got into the alliance with Gibbs and TRD, you could pretty much consider them a 5th Gibbs car, but before that they were small single-car organization. Sure Barney Visser was probably spending a ton of money, but I'm sure it paled in comparison to what teams like Hendrick, Penske or Gibbs were spending. 485. Jimmie4life posted: 11.20.2020 - 7:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The more teams, the better. I want more than 43 cars for Daytona this year. I want like 45+. The more of them show up, the healthier it makes our sport seem. 486. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.20.2020 - 9:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Here's a list of possible/confirmed Daytona 500 entries: Confirmed: 00 - Quin Houff 1 - Kurt Busch 2 - Brad Keselowski 3 - Austin Dillon 4 - Kevin Harvick 5 - Kyle Larson 6 - Ryan Newman 8 - Tyler Reddick 9 - Chase Elliott 10 - Aric Almirola 11 - Denny Hamlin 12 - Ryan Blaney 14 - Chase Briscoe 15 - TBD (Likely Brennan Poole) 17 - Chris Buescher 18 - Kyle Busch 19 - Martin Truex Jr. 20 - Christopher Bell 21 - Matt DiBenedetto 22 - Joey Logano 23 - Bubba Wallace 24 - William Byron 27 - TBD (Gray Gaulding?) 34 - Michael McDowell 37 - Ryan Preece 38 - TBD 41 - Cole Custer 42 - Ross Chastain 43 - Erik Jones 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 48 - Alex Bowman 51 - TBD (JJ Yeley?) 52/53 - TBD (Garrett Smithley?) 66 - Timmy Hill 77 - TBD (Corey LaJoie?) 78 - TBD (Matt Tifft? BJ McLeod?) 99 - Daniel Suarez Second Spire Car - TBD Possible entries: 02 - Austin Cindric 7 - Tommy Baldwin Racing (Josh Bilicki?) 16 - Justin Haley 32 - Ryan Ellis? 49 - Chad Finchum 50 - The Money Team (lets be real, this definitely is not happening) 62 - Ty Dillon? 96 - Gaunt Brothers Racing (Kligerman? Nemechek?) That's 38 confirmed entries and 8 (well, actually 7) possibilities, so we could see 45 cars attempt to run the 500. 487. Anonymous posted: 11.20.2020 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @486 the 16 confirmed the Daytona 500 but not a driver 488. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.20.2020 - 10:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @487, yeah, but there is a 99.9% chance that it will be Justin Haley. 489. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 11.20.2020 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @488, It's more like a 60% chance, as it could still be Allmendinger, Jeb Burton, Alfredo, Moffitt, or pretty much any other RCR and affiliates driver. 490. JR-TV posted: 11.20.2020 - 11:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^Could be Allmendinger. 491. Vaxen posted: 11.21.2020 - 7:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Is Chase Briscoe the only rookie for 2021 ? 492. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 11.21.2020 - 7:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @491 Pockrass said that Chastain should be eligible, but we'll have to wait and see. 493. Corey posted: 11.21.2020 - 8:38 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @492 Trevor Bayne ran 50+ Cup races before he started competing full time for Cup points. He was ineligible for ROTY. Ross Chastain is over 70. I expect him to be ineligible as well. 494. Mile501 posted: 11.21.2020 - 9:03 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Chastain is eligible for ROTY, NASCAR will lose even more credibility. That makes no sense. He's been active in Cup for the last 4 years and ran nearly all the races in both 2018 and 2019. 495. Vaxen posted: 11.21.2020 - 10:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chastain ran 2 full time seasons back then though.. 496. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.21.2020 - 10:12 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Chastain shouldn't be eligible, he practically ran a full season in 2019. 497. Anonymous posted: 11.21.2020 - 11:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe he shouldn't be, but he has scored 0 career Cup points, so it is entirely possible he is eligible. Baseball does very similar things with their rookie declarations, so it shouldn't be surprising if Chastain is considered a rookie next year. Also, there are still rumors of Kaz Grala landing a full time Cup ride, so that could add another rookie. Also 488, if you knew the 16 was a confirmed entry, why list it as a possible entry. 487 is correct. 498. Jimmie4life posted: 11.21.2020 - 12:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) He never was eligible for points due to the fact he never said he would go full time in 2020. So, therefore, he got zero points. NASCAR "loses credibility" is all a bunch of hoopla if you ask me. Yeesh, guys. There's no need to get upset about who becomes a rookie or not. 499. UnderdogFan89 posted: 11.21.2020 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) While it is by no means a reliable source since it has no citation, nor can I find it myself, Chastain is listed as ineligible to the reward due to his 2018 season on the Nascar Rookie of the Year Wikipedia page. 500. John posted: 11.21.2020 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Imo rookie of the year doesn't matter because it doesn't factor in equipment. It's not a true measure of the best performing rookie. 501. TotallyNot52 posted: 11.21.2020 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @500 what?? So by that logic is the champion not a true measure of the best performing driver?? 502. LFRD23 posted: 11.21.2020 - 1:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) According to Wikipedia, Chastain lost his rookie eligibility in 2018. 503. Anonymous posted: 11.21.2020 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lol at using wikipedia as a source. I mean, I agree that he shouldn't be considered a rookie, but literally anyone on this board could've made that comment on wikipedia in the last 10 minutes. 504. JFM01 posted: 11.21.2020 - 3:36 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @501 Under the current format it really isn't. 505. Timothy_Eklund posted: 11.21.2020 - 4:02 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @502 Wikipedia and Reddit aren't sources 506. UnderdogFan89 posted: 11.21.2020 - 4:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) For lack of a better way to describe it, the "Trevor Bayne Rule" for running too many races would disqualify both Chastain and McLeod from running for ROTY in 2021. Since there's never been an official number, it's hard to say what it is, but Bayne ran 58 races before his first season running for points in which he was told he was ineligible for ROTY. McLeod has 57 (technically less, but I doubt the cutoff is exactly a weird number like 58), and Chastain has 79. To summarize: If Chastain is declared eligible, then McLeod must be as well, and Bayne should be VERY upset. 507. Onion posted: 11.21.2020 - 4:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I mean, the criteria are right there in the sporting regulations and what's on Wikipedia is correct according to them (and also, you can check who made the edit and when), so lol at people not understanding how can or can it not be a source. The question now is whether Pockrass pulled it out of his ass or NASCAR did. Somehow I'd be less surprised if out of these two NASCAR turns out to be utterly unreliable. 508. possum posted: 11.21.2020 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @506 - for many years there was an official number: 7 races entered. Some years back, when the number of rookies decreased, that rule went away and NASCAR started making it up as they went along, just to keep the ROTY viable. It would not surprise me if they come up with some justification to include Chastain (and, being NASCAR they won't be honest and say a ROTY with only one contender is pointless; they'll come up with some other far-fetched reasoning). 509. possum posted: 11.21.2020 - 7:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @498 - just for clarity, Chastain was not eligible for Cup points because he chose to receive points in the Xfinity series, not because he didn't go full-time in the Cup series. A driver has to pick one series (of Cup, Xfinity, Trucks) to score points in. 510. UnderdogFan89 posted: 11.21.2020 - 8:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @508 From what I gather, the number is actually still 7, with two caveats. 1) In the truck series, you need to be 18 to declare for ROTY, so any races done before that don't count against you (See Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Harrison Burton, Christian Eckes, etc.) 2) If you haven't declared for points in that series, races don't count. There is a limit to this "not counting" aspect, which I call the "Trevor Bayne Rule", since he was the first to have that happen, and it was never really mentioned before that. Since they don't publish that count, it definitely gives off the impression that they can "make it up" as they go. Remember, though, that by declaring Trevor Bayne ineligible, it lead to an extremely weak rookie field that year, and from 2010-2012 there was a point in each season where there was only one rookie eligible, so I'm not sure if either NASCAR doesn't want to repeat that, or whether it means NASCAR is okay with it. Either way, I firmly believe that whatever specs are used, McLeod will be a ROTY contender if Chastain is, so we either have 1 or 3 in Cup. 511. Corey posted: 11.21.2020 - 8:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @507 It's possible Pockrass forgot about the Trevor Bayne rule. @508 It had originally been five races prior to 2001. The 7-race limit went away when NASCAR had drivers declare for series points in 2011. Before then, the limit caught out Carl Edwards (13 races in 2004), Marcos Ambrose (11 races in 2008), and Brad Keselowski (15 races in 2009). Each ran more the 7 races the year prior and were ineligible for future ROTY consideration. I do not believe that NASCAR will allow Ross to race for ROTY. Given the precedent set by Bayne and the fact the Chastain has already run nearly two entire season prior to 2021, they don't have any justification for making him eligible. 512. Corey posted: 11.21.2020 - 9:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @510 NASCAR has always had years of period of weak rookie fields. There's really not much they can do about that. All rookie classes between 1995-1998 combined for a total of 9 wins. Even recent years of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 haven't exactly had stellar rookie classes. 513. Sector posted: 11.21.2020 - 9:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This debate just makes it obvious that NASCAR doesn't understand the meaning behind "rookie." Ross Chastain is no longer a rookie for Cup. If he is eligible for 2021 Rookie of the Year, it's a massive joke. Points or no points should never been considered for this equation. Austin Cindric could run all 36 Cup races next year while going for the Xfinity championship, and he's already have enough experience while in Cup than the next "rookie." This whole "declaring for points" rule is bogus now. With limitations toward Cup drivers racing in Xfinity and Truck, do we really need it anymore? I find it pretty idiotic that those running for points in Truck or Xfinity are ineligible for the top series in the NASCAR Cup series to begin with. Why even run (besides money)? It's like NASCAR doesn't even care for "racer's racing" anymore. 514. Corey posted: 11.22.2020 - 12:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @513 NASCAR hasn't said anything one way or the other about Chastain being a rookie. It's a bit unfair to say that they don't understand what a rookie is. This debate started with comment #492 claiming that Bob Pockrass said Chastain should be eligible for ROTY. I would like to know where Bob said this. Even Jayski only lists Briscoe as a Rookie. 515. Mile501 posted: 11.22.2020 - 7:37 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @513 - I've thought the same thing. NASCAR should either have limits in place for Cup drivers in lower series, or they should make drivers pick 1 series to earn points in. But there's no need for them to do both of those things. 516. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 11.22.2020 - 10:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @514 https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/status/1326998233206448129 517. JG24Ever posted: 11.22.2020 - 5:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Was thinking about Jimmie Johnson's run today: It was wonderful to see him slowly work his way up through the field to eventually finish 5th, just behind the Championship Four, to close out what was an otherwise unlucky and unfortunate season. I hate that he didn't win in 2020 but it was nice to see him go out with a good final full-time race -- one of the best final full-time races of the all-time greats -- after everything he's been through on-track. 518. Mile501 posted: 11.22.2020 - 6:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @517 - I did a blog on that topic a couple of years ago--how the final career race went for some of the sport's all-time greats. Indeed, Jimmie Johnson's final race was one of the best! Blog Link: https://www.racing-reference.info/showblog?id=3290 519. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.26.2020 - 12:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I haven't taken any time to really think about Jimmie's final run, but it was a great way to go out considering how down these few years have been for him. He will go down as one of if not the greatest driver in NASCAR history. Also, Happy Thanksgiving, Racing Reference 520. JSPorts posted: 11.26.2020 - 2:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm really glad he was able to close out his career with a strong performance. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! 521. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.28.2020 - 1:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) After his championship this year, I'm not really sure what to expect from Chase next year. He'll win some races, but I don't think that he'll go back to back. Obviously it would be great if he did, but I'm not expecting it (nor am I getting my hopes up). 522. possum posted: 11.28.2020 - 5:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) @521 - all he has to do to go back to back is win the last race. Back to back championships are a lot less meaningful in the playoff era. 523. DI9_ForLife posted: 11.28.2020 - 6:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @522, well yeah, I didn't think about that. I'm just talking about whether he'll even advance that far into the playoffs next year. 524. DI9_ForLife posted: 12.02.2020 - 5:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Off-season thought: I wonder what state shows the most interest in NASCAR. I did some research and I was shocked to find that West Virginia is the top result. I was fully expecting #1 to be North Carolina, since it is the hub of NASCAR, but I guess West Virginians benefit from being so close to Martinsville. I also found that Iowa, South Dakota, Vermont and Maine each show more interest than any other '?southern'' state with Kentucky and Tennessee being next in line behind Indiana. More shocking results: Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Maryland all show some to minimal interest in NASCAR according to Google Trends. Maryland and Louisiana didn't really shock me since there aren't any races out there, but I figured that Mississippi would benefit from being adjacent to Alabama (Talladega). Also, Texas was in the bottom 5 states/regions in terms of interest (along with California, Massachusetts, Hawaii and DC), which only kind of shocks me when you look at the crowds at the races in 2019. Florida and Georgia I figured would be higher, especially Florida since they have the Daytona 500 and Homestead-Miami. Georgia has Atlanta, which usually puts at least 75% of butts in seats, so that shocked me as well. If you guys want to see the results, here's the webpage: https://www.wsn.com/nascar/most-popular-states/ 525. possum posted: 12.02.2020 - 6:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @524 - well, that was interesting. I don't know that Google Trends is the most reliable source of info, and I wouldn't be surprised if the results were skewed by the pandemic (at the time of that article, NASCAR was the only sport running), but I'd guess the general trend is accurate enough (anecdotally, back when NASCAR was popular 10-15 years ago I had to travel Florida to Texas fairly often, and there were zero MRN/PRN stations in LA or east Texas before Houston, which supports the idea that NASCAR wasn't and isn't popular in that area). It kind of highlights NASCAR's quandry in years past - they want to expand, but the areas where interest is high, like S Dakota, is where people aren't; and where people are, like WA or NY, the interest isn't. 526. JSPorts posted: 12.02.2020 - 7:34 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I live in Texas. NASCAR used to be a lot more popular when I was growing up, but with all the changes that have happened recently and F1 coming to Austin, NASCAR isn't nearly as popular as it once was. I know a lot more F1 fans than NASCAR fans. Of course, I like them both, but most of the people I know only like one or the other. 527. DI9_ForLife posted: 12.02.2020 - 9:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @526, Living in Kentucky, I kind of relate, the interest in NASCAR has definitely gone down around my tiny town. A lot of people around there used to be NASCAR fans but have become disillusioned with the sport because of all the changes they've made. Locals have mostly stuck with local dirt track racing. Some of my friends are fans, even one is an F1 fan, a rarity for a Kentuckian. The popularity is bound to drop in the whole state now that NASCAR left Sparta, but I think that eventually the fandom will stabilize. 528. possum posted: 12.03.2020 - 8:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @526 - well, Austin's weird (*). But I'd guess it's much the same as what DI9 says, the real race fans are back to watching dirt cars, and the bandwagon fans have moved on from NASCAR. My impression of Texas is there really isn't a pavement racing scene (are there any paved tracks outside of Houston?), but there's lots of dirt. So no real path to build a paved track fandom that'd follow a driver to NASCAR. (* I have family in Austin) 529. JSPorts posted: 12.03.2020 - 11:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There's a good number of dirt tracks. A few paved tracks interspersed throughout the state. Road racing is pretty big, especially among younger fans. Sports cars are popular. In fact, I know several people who have been involved (or their families have been) with sports car racing in one form or another. 530. Anonymous posted: 12.11.2020 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) 522 - Yeah, all he has to do is beat Harvick, Hamlin, Logano, Keslowski, Busch, Truex, you know, no big deal. 531. JSPorts posted: 12.14.2020 - 9:35 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Drivers' win shares for 2020 (this is calculated by # of laps led / # of total laps in a race. For example, Chase led 153/312 at Phoenix, so he got 0.49 win shares. The season-long number is the sum of all 36 races for each driver. The resulting number is the number of races a driver would be expected to win in a season.) 1st: Kevin Harvick, 5.727 2nd: Chase Elliott, 4.490 3rd: Denny Hamlin, 4.222 4th: Joey Logano, 3.244 5th: Brad Keselowski, 2.900 6th: Martin Truex, Jr., 2.900 7th: Ryan Blaney, 2.531 8th: Alex Bowman, 1.616 9th: Kyle Busch, 1.535 10th: Aric Almirola, 1.362 11th: Clint Bowyer, 1.194 12th: William Byron, 0.793 13th: Kurt Busch, 0.618 14th: Austin Dillon, 0.406 15th: Erik Jones, 0.322 16th: Matt DiBenedetto, 0.321 17th: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 0.292 18th: Jimmie Johnson, 0.283 19th: Ryan Newman, 0.205 20th: Chris Buescher, 0.159 21st: Tyler Reddick, 0.142 22nd: Daniel Suarez, 0.121 23rd: Christopher Bell, 0.105 24th: Ryan Preece, 0.092 25th: Ty Dillon, 0.084 26th: Matt Kenseth, 0.078 27th: Bubba Wallace, 0.070 28th: Kaz Grala, 0.046 29th: Michael McDowell, 0.034 30th: Corey LaJoie, 0.031 31st: Cole Custer, 0.019 32nd: Brennan Poole, 0.016 33rd: J.J. Yeley, 0.010 34th: Kyle Larson, 0.006 35th (tie): Garrett Smithley, 0.006 35th (tie): Ross Chastain, 0.006 37th (tie): Cody Ware, 0.005 37th (tie): Timmy Hill, 0.005 39th: John Hunter Nemechek, 0.002 532. Mile501 posted: 12.14.2020 - 10:08 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @531 - Interesting statistic! Here is how your "win share" compares to each driver's actual number of wins in 2020. I think this shows how drivers like Harvick and Hamlin know how to come on strong at the end of a race, while the opposite was true for drvers like Almirola and Bowyer. 1st: Kevin Harvick, 5.727 (9 wins) 2nd: Chase Elliott, 4.490 (5 wins) 3rd: Denny Hamlin, 4.222 (7 wins) 4th: Joey Logano, 3.244 (3 wins) 5th: Brad Keselowski, 2.900 (4 wins) 6th: Martin Truex, Jr., 2.900 (1 win) 7th: Ryan Blaney, 2.531 (1 win) 8th: Alex Bowman, 1.616 (1 win) 9th: Kyle Busch, 1.535 (1 win) 12th: William Byron, 0.793 (1 win) 13th: Kurt Busch, 0.618 (1 win) 14th: Austin Dillon, 0.406 (1 win) 31st: Cole Custer, 0.019 (1 win) 533. possum posted: 12.14.2020 - 6:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @532 - I had the same thought, and reached the same conclusion, with a minor caveat: a # of wins greater than the "win share" indicates either skill at managing late-race strategy (Harvick, Hamlin); or it indicates extreme good luck (Custer, Dillon, etc; all those drivers who rarely appeared at the front of the field, but somehow got a win). 534. ScottB posted: 12.14.2020 - 7:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Interesting stat. I'd like to see career comparisons for some current and all time great drivers. Obviously flukey things can happen in a single season, but if they don't even out over hundreds of starts then there is a strong case for driving style making a difference. 535. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 12.16.2020 - 3:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 2021 Daytona 500 projected entry list as of right now Confirmed: 00: Quin Houff 1: Kurt Busch 2: Brad Keselowski 3: Austin Dillon 4: Kevin Harvick 5: Kyle Larson 6: Ryan Newman 7: Corey LaJoie 8: Tyler Reddick 9: Chase Elliott 10: Aric Almirola 11: Denny Hamlin 12: Ryan Blaney 14: Chase Briscoe 15: TBA 16: TBA (non-chartered) 17: Chris Buescher 18: Kyle Busch 19: Martin Truex Jr. 20: Christopher Bell 21: Matt DiBenedetto 22: Joey Logano 23: Bubba Wallace 24: William Byron 32: Ryan Ellis (non-chartered) 34: Michael McDowell 37: Ryan Preece 38: TBA 41: Cole Custer 42: Ross Chastain 43: Erik Jones 44: TBA (non-chartered) 47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 48: Alex Bowman 51: TBA 52: TBA 53: TBA 66: TBA (non-chartered) 77: TBA* 78: B. J. McLeod 99: Daniel Suárez *Justin Haley will drive select races in the 77, but has not confirmed any specific ones. Teams that have confirmed to run a limited schedule, but have not said that they would run the 500: 96: TBA TBA: Austin Cindric 536. HColby posted: 12.16.2020 - 4:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I may have missed something, who is the owner of the 44? 537. Zach posted: 12.16.2020 - 5:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @535 It's kind of pathetic how NASCAR didn't want to give Carl Long a charter yet they're okay with Rick Ware being involved in some way with like 6 or 7 charters. Carl even offered more money but NASCAR wouldn't give it to him. 538. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 12.16.2020 - 5:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @536 NY Racing Team. Sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIUEp-whqd8/?igshid=cujgfz1trwkm and http://www.nyracingteam.com/#section3 539. Corey posted: 12.16.2020 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @537 There are only 36 charters. if Carl Long wants one, he needs to buy it from another team. NASCAR doesn't give them out. 540. JSPorts posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @539 Long attempted to buy one for another team, but NASCAR stepped in to make sure 23XI got it. Apparently Long had a sponsor lined up that would've allowed him to spend the money to buy it. So yeah, NASCAR did block Long for getting a charter. And they gave them out in the first place. 541. JSPorts posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also, we'll wait & see if NY Racing Team will actually show up. They're notorious for saying they're going to be somewhere & then not running. 542. Corey posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @540 But that haven't given any out since then. Also I don't se how NASCAR can just block a team from buying a charter. There multiple charters for sale this year, did Carl just go for this one, or did they block him from all available charters. If they blocked him from all charters, then obviously there was something fishy with his deal. 543. Zach posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @539 Carl was trying to buy the Germain charter but NASCAR stepped in and said "we want to go in a different direction at this time". And that direction was 23XI. Carl had apparently offered more money for the charter than 23XI did, but NASCAR gave it to 23XI anyway. Obviously for the publicity purposes that the Jordan-Hamlin team could give NASCAR. Pretty pathetic if you ask me. 544. possum posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @535 - so 41 cars. How the mighty have fallen; it's not so many years ago that the Daytona 500 attracted 60+ entrants. @537 - Long is kind of persona non grata with NASCAR...they tolerate his participation, but they don't like him. 545. DI9_ForLife posted: 12.16.2020 - 6:50 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @535, NY Racing? Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm with everyone else on the Carl Long scenario. I can't believe that NASCAR would straight up block a team from buying a charter when they are perfectly fine with Rick Ware and Spire hogging like 8 charters between the two of them. Long does have a reputation with NASCAR, though, so it could subconsciously be a personal thing. 546. TeamDCRfan posted: 12.16.2020 - 7:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, Im sure that NY has been working on other cars besides that Texas car. One is bound to be a superspeedway car 547. Fuzzy posted: 12.16.2020 - 7:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @543 I would not be surprised if that's true 548. TTaylor944 posted: 12.16.2020 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I've been a fan of Carl for years, but there are a number of things about this that cast doubt. For starters, let's just go with the idea that he's capable of outbidding Michael Jordan. 549. Corey posted: 12.16.2020 - 8:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @543,544 How do we know Long didn't twist the facts a little? The only thing I could find that back up what people are saying, a series of tweets from an interview Long gave. Is there anything to else to back up Long's or are people just taking him for his word? How do we know that 23XI didn't come in with more money then he did? 550. JSPorts posted: 12.16.2020 - 8:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) It sounds like a sponsor was willing to put up the money, so it wasn't just Carl himself. And of course, I'm sure Jordan/Hamlin would've increased their bid...but it appears that NASCAR didn't make them. 551. Ultimate_Warrior_#18 posted: 12.16.2020 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Question did Carl Long ever pay his 200k fine? If not maybe that's why nascar declined his bid? 552. ACM88 posted: 12.16.2020 - 10:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) He's apparently been good with nascar since 2017, hence why he's been able to run cup. While I don't know 100% whether or not this is the case, it doesn't matter. Are you seriously gonna say no to MJ? 553. Anonymous posted: 12.16.2020 - 10:54 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) There's a pretty obvious reason why NASCAR would want the 23 to have the charter over the 66 554. Jimmie4life posted: 12.16.2020 - 10:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) I see there being more than 41 cars in the Daytona 500 entry list in February. I think around 45 will show up. 41 would probably be the fewest. Would not be shocked if more teams show up for Daytona, or announce an additional driver. 555. Anonymous posted: 12.17.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If you're being fair, then yes, you do say no. You make him race his way in like any other new team would do. 556. 1buff posted: 12.17.2020 - 7:19 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) How many people out there are honestly sad that the slowest car in the field doesn't have a charter? NASCAR is slowly getting to the point where the slow teams will be removed from the field anyway and we'll be down to 20 or so cars that can stay on the lead lap every week soon. 557. Mile501 posted: 12.17.2020 - 11:15 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) @555 - Fairness would be not having the charter system at all. As it is now, new and/or non-chartered teams are severely disadvantaged. 558. Ultimate_Warrior_#18 posted: 12.17.2020 - 11:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @556 It's not about being sad it's about being fair. Long's team deserves a charter. But like what @552 said there's no way nascar is gonna tell MJ of all people no his marketing value is way too high to deny a charter. Honestly nascar needs to strip Rick Ware of 2 charters give one to Long and the other to the Gaunt Brother's. I'll take those two teams over 4 Ware cars. 559. Corey posted: 12.17.2020 - 12:46 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) This isn't just NASCAR though. Germain Racing also had a say on who got the charter. It was theirs to sell. It could have been that Long and the sponsor put in the offer but before the deal closed, MJ and Hamlin came in with a better offer. From the outside, it would appear that NASCAR went with the big name minority over the long time racer, but it could just be a simple business decision, the guy with more money and resources won out. 560. possum posted: 12.17.2020 - 7:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @558 - of course, the charter system has never been fair. That's why the Wood Bros, NASCAR's oldest team that's been in the sport since 1953, did not get a charter; and Rob Kauffman, who did not own a Cup team, got 2. 561. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 12.19.2020 - 10:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) *Preliminary Entry List Update: 66: Timmy Hill (non-chartered) TBA: Chad Finchum (non-chartered, new entry) New confirmed total: 42 New combined total: 44 Combined total means a combination of the confirmed car count and the limited schedule with unknown 500 plans car count (if that makes any sense). Quick side note: At this point, all teams that do not have charters (with the possible exception of whatever team Spire got their mystery charter from) are running a limited schedule. 562. SirRelkinstein posted: 12.19.2020 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @561 I've heard that it was the 15 from Rick Ware that Spire got the charter from but Ware is going to be running 4 cars full time so It appears that car may run uncharted full time but I've also heard about Front Row maybe downgrading to 1 car the 34 for McDowell so it's possibly spire also got the charter from them. 563. Bodyblower posted: 12.19.2020 - 8:01 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Maybe the 37 from JTG. 564. Tigerman posted: 12.19.2020 - 8:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @562 I don't think the 38 is downgrading to 1 car from what I've heard. I think next month Front Row will announce a driver for the 38. 565. RacingRedemption42 posted: 12.19.2020 - 8:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @562 Spire's second charter could also be Ware's #51 charter. Apparently, NASCAR can revoke a charter if it's finished in the bottom three in owners points for three consecutive years, and the #51 has done just that, so Ware may not be going to 4 full time cars 566. DI9_ForLife posted: 12.19.2020 - 8:30 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @565, the 51's charter actually belongs to Petty, so that would be where the charter goes if the rumor is true. 567. Mile501 posted: 12.19.2020 - 8:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @565 - Following charters can be a challenge, but based on the information I have, the #51 and #43 teams swapped charters prior to the 2019 season. So, the charter that the #51 currently holds has only finished among the bottom three in the last 2 seasons. 568. ACM88 posted: 12.19.2020 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I didn't realize someone made that correction when I posted. 569. ACM88 posted: 12.19.2020 - 9:55 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) That's not the case. The #51 has run with the same charter with only 2 years, so it can't be revoked yet. 570. DI9_ForLife posted: 12.20.2020 - 5:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Off topic but I have a question: is The Spotter's Stand forum still active? I only ask because I was scrolling through old blogs to pass the time and came across the name of the forum. 571. Canadianfan posted: 12.23.2020 - 6:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Sports Business Daily: Excerpt from the article Expect the NHL's rights fees to more than double as the league looks to split its package among multiple networks. NBC is a shoo-in to keep half of the package; the league likes NBC and NBC likes the league and is committed to pay to keep it. Look for Fox to pick up the other half, which will see the two networks split the playoffs, producing the Stanley Cup Final every other year. The NHL deal means that Fox eventually says goodbye to NASCAR ? but that's a prediction for the 2024 version of this column. 572. Gopher88 posted: 12.23.2020 - 6:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So with the addition of Beard Motorsports' #62 to the Daytona 500 entry list, I believe this is how things stand: Confirmed (39): 00-Houff 1-Busch 2-Keselowski 3-Dillon 4-Harvick 5-Larson 6-Newman 7-LaJoie 8-Reddick 9-Elliott 10-Almirola 11-Hamlin 12-Blaney 14-Briscoe 15-TBA 17-Buescher 18-Busch 19-Truex Jr 20-Bell 21-DiBenedetto 22-Logano 23-Wallace 24-Byron 34-McDowell 37-Preece 38-?Alfredo? 41-Custer 42-Chastain 43-Jones 47-Stenhouse Jr 48-Bowman 51-TBA 52-TBA 62-Gragson 66-Hill 77-TBA 78-McLeod 99-Suarez TBA-Finchum Possible Entries (5): 16-?Haley? 32-TBD 53-TBA 96-TBD TBA-Cindric With only about a month and a half until the 500, it seems we'll have over 40 cars for sure. It's just a question of which open teams decide to give it a try. 573. JSPorts posted: 12.23.2020 - 7:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Actually, 41 entries. 16 (Kaulig) have announced they're running the 4 super speedways & 6 road courses. 53 (Ware) has a charter, so they're automatically in. The #44 (NY Racing) have announced that they plan to attempt the race. However, they haven't always followed through, so until they're on the entry list, I doubt it. So 41 currently. The 32 & 96 should attempt the race, so that will bring us to at least 43. 44 with the #44. 45 with Cindric. That would be the most since the charter system came into place. The previous high was 44 (in 2016.) 574. TeamDCRfan posted: 12.23.2020 - 8:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder if there's potential for Baldwin to enter with whatever car number he's going to have, if his team is still open, that is. 575. TotallyNot52 posted: 12.23.2020 - 8:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm pretty certain J.J. Haley is confirmed in the #16 car in the 500. 576. TotallyNot52 posted: 12.23.2020 - 8:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Also the #53 car is racing the full-season charter or not. 41 entries confirmed so far I believe. Someone's going home. 577. Gopher88 posted: 12.23.2020 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I thought that the #53 was the only Unchartered car that Rick Ware has. 578. Anthony posted: 12.23.2020 - 10:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I predict Cindric and Penske will use the #32 in partner with GoFas for Cindirc's Races. Baldwin team would probably use the #36 again 579. TotallyNot52 posted: 12.24.2020 - 7:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @578 Maybe, but GoFas has done their business with Haas historically. Speculation says they're likely just going to have their own 4th car for those races anyway, or a 2nd Wood Brothers car (which I'd love to see). 580. Gopher88 posted: 12.24.2020 - 10:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Anybody know what number Penske would use for a fourth car? 02? Or perhaps 13 because it's sequentially close to their current numbers. 581. Fuzzy posted: 12.24.2020 - 1:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @580 Penske used #77 most recently, but that isn't available now due to Spire using it. That was also an inherited number anyway, from the Jasper Motorsports team. With Rick Ware dropping the #27, that number is now available if Penske wants it. In my opinion, #02 would make the most logical sense since they would have #02, #2, #12, & #22, and Penske has used that number before. Penske has also used these before, but I would consider them less likely possibilities: #06, #39 This is all assuming that they don't partner with Go Fas Racing to put Cindric in the #32 for select races. 582. JSPorts posted: 12.24.2020 - 5:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Numbers Penske has used before that are available for 2021: #02 (2000-2001 Cup; 2001, 2006 Xfinity) #06 (2004, 2007 Cup) #26 (2010 Xfinity) #27 (2000, 2005-2007 ARCA) #29 (2008 ARCA) #39 (2005-2007 Xfinity) I hope they go with #02 or #32. The #02 would be if they ran a 4th car, the #32 would be if they entered into an alliance with Go Fas. Both numbers would fit with their current numbering scheme. 583. PucciMan posted: 12.26.2020 - 1:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There was an article posted a few days ago saying that NBCSN will be gone after the 2021 season. Makes me wonder who will pick up the second half of the season TV coverage and the IndyCar coverage. 584. Canadianfan posted: 01.03.2021 - 3:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Talking in Circles: This should make some fans happy. @TimmyHillRacer said he expects 4 or 5 teams to miss this year's #Daytona500. This will be the most competitive race to make the Daytona 500 in a long time. Let the speculation run rampant! 585. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.03.2021 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Just based off of Opens last year and what weve heard so far from teams 36 chartered cars plus: 96 TBA 32 Ellis 66 Hill 49 Finchum (If Carl can afford it) 62 Gragson Baldwin Racing? NY (Ha ha yeah right) Kaulig Possible but not super likely should any of the listed above appear: Second StarCom car 4th Penske car Maybe Robinson makes a return (highly doubt, just a suggestion) Dream entries NEMCO 87 and 97 with Joe and John Hunter 586. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.03.2021 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Should say "Possible but not likely should any of the above listed NOT appear And Finchum should have 49/TBD since that number is up for changing 587. Zach posted: 01.03.2021 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @585 On a side note regarding NEMCO, I wonder what Joe is planning to do with the team now that John Hunter is running full-time for KBM. Keep it going and just run some races himself or shut the team down? I don't know, but I really hope he keeps the team going. It would be cool to see NEMCO go Xfinity or cup racing again. 588. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.04.2021 - 7:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 587 Itd be cool if NEMCO got some KBM grade stuff if he decides to run the 8 and or 87 next year. As far as Xfinity it seems like Joe and Harmon are splitting a third car there part time (at least according to rumors). Cup, even part time would be nice to see. 589. ShinyMew151 posted: 01.04.2021 - 7:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) NEMCO can barely handle truck these days, there's no way they're moving up 590. DI9_ForLife posted: 01.05.2021 - 9:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Jim Utter: ?'Wednesday sounds like is shaping up to be a fairly interesting NASCAR new day'' I wonder what this could mean. Maybe some sponsorship announcements for Larson or Jones? 591. Vaxen posted: 01.05.2021 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @590 I'm really hoping that we learn who's going to drive the RWR cars and the #38 car. The wait is killing me ! 592. JSPorts posted: 01.05.2021 - 10:56 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Lots of speculation about this tonight. I bet, whatever it is, it likely won't be as big as what people think. 593. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.06.2021 - 7:39 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Should be mentioned that today NY Racing announced the intention to attempt a full schedule in Cup. Drivers and Sponsorship TBD 594. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 01.06.2021 - 8:58 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) SS Greenlight Racing is supposed to announce the 07 driver today 595. JSPorts posted: 01.08.2021 - 10:31 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Confirmed 2021 teams and drivers: #00: Quin Houff, StarCom Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: George Church) #1: Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: TBA) #02 (LS): Austin Cindric (TBA races), Team Penske Ford (crew chief: TBA) #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: Rodney Childers) #5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Cliff Daniels) #6: Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #7: Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Ryan Sparks) #8: Tyler Reddick, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Alan Gustafson) #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Chris Gabehart) #12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: TBA) #13 (LS): Chad Finchum (1+ race(s)) / Stephen Leicht (8 races), MBM Motorsports Ford (1 race) / Toyota (TBA races) (crew chief: Mark Hillman (1+ race(s)) / TBA (8 races)) #14: Chase Briscoe (R), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: Johnny Klausmeier) #15: TBA, Rick Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #16 (LS): TBA (11 races), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #17: Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Ben Beshore) #19: Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: James Small) #20: Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Adam Stevens) #21: Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #22: Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: TBA) #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota (crew chief: Mike Wheeler) #24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Rudy Fugle) #32 (LS): Ryan Ellis (1+ race(s)), Go Fas Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #34: Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Drew Blickensderfer) #36 (LS): David Ragan (1 race), Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Derrick Finley) #37 (NC): Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #38: Anthony Alfredo (R), Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Seth Barbour) #41: Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #42: Ross Chastain, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: Phil Surgen) #43: Erik Jones, Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Jerry Baxter) #44 (NC): TBA, NY Racing Team Chevrolet (TBA races) / TBA (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Greg Ives) #51: TBA, Petty Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #52: TBA, Rick Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #53: TBA, Rick Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #62 (LS): Noah Gragson (1 race), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #66 (LS): Timmy Hill (1+ race(s)), MBM Motorsports Ford (1 race) / Toyota (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #77: Justin Haley (TBA races) / TBA (TBA races), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Kevin Bellicourt) #78: B. J. McLeod, Live Fast Motorsports Ford (crew chief: TBA) #96 (LS): TBA (1+ race(s)), Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota (crew chief: TBA) #99: Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet (crew chief: Travis Mack) (LS) denotes non-chartered team running a limited schedule (NC) denotes non-chartered team (R) denotes rookie There are currently 38 full-time & 8 part-time teams confirmed for 2021, for a total of 46 teams so far. 596. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.10.2021 - 5:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If we have small entry list for the 500 (40-42) I'll be a little disappointed, since there seems to be such a large number of teams saying that they are going to run part time. 597. Fuzzy posted: 01.11.2021 - 9:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @595 Last I knew, 13 was not the confirmed number for the second MBM car, nor was 02 confirmed for the fourth Penske car. Are those just assumptions or do you know something I don't? 598. Ultimate_Warrior_#18 posted: 01.11.2021 - 10:16 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) MBM is deciding between #13, #46, #61 as numbers for the 2nd team. Penske hasn't mentioned a rumored numbered but #02 has been used in the past also #27 is available, Penske has used that number in the past as well. 599. Corey posted: 01.11.2021 - 11:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @598 MBM has used 49 for their second cup at in recent years. I do agree with Penske's part time car. While 02 is likely, nothing has been confirmed and even Jayski has a question mark for the 2021 Cup teams page. 600. Canadianfan posted: 01.11.2021 - 12:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Sports Business Journal: Sources tell @A_S12 that #NASCAR is looking into permanently sliding number decals back to maximize sponsorship exposure, a move that drew ire from fans when tested during last year's #AllStarRace, but offers more creativity and consistency for sponsors. 601. Yeet posted: 01.11.2021 - 2:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @600 i have no problem if sponsors want more exposure by moving numbers around, however I think that should be a choice should they want it. Forcing teams to put the number in one spot limits creativity, so moving it to one part permanently would do the same thing and cause the same issue. 602. Canadianfan posted: 01.11.2021 - 2:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @601 I think they have plans to eventually put the number on the quarter panel. I've heard due to wanting to limit aero dependency with this new car there has been talk of making the quarter panel quite a bit smaller which would lead sponsors wanting the door entirely for exposure. We've already seen this to a degree in the regional series. I've seen it in Pinty's and the ARCA East series. 603. Pacer posted: 01.11.2021 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) There is the issue though that moving the number off the door breaks with about 65 years of tradition across the majority of the stock car racing spectrum. While it isn't a good idea to get too bogged down in the past that tends to be a feature most like and at a time when NASCAR is fighting for relevance after some misfired attempts change things up alienated fans and didn't bring in new ones that seems like a bad idea...although that said the underglow from the All-Star race was pretty cool and I wouldn't mind that. Experimentation can be good. 604. 1995-Subaru-WRX-Sti posted: 01.11.2021 - 3:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree with Yeet, it should be a choice. But sponsors have a lot of say and power in what goes gone. 605. Fuzzy posted: 01.12.2021 - 7:15 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) For the love of God... The numbers looked horrible in the All-Star race, and a lot of them were smaller than normal, which diminished the number one thing NASCAR fans associate with the drivers. Once again, NASCAR is focusing on the wrong thing. What they really need to do is win back the real fans. They need to come to the realization that racing is inherently entertaining without all the gimmicks they added to it, and then gradually start eliminating those gimmicks and advertising better. Sell the racing more and the championship less. Let football fans watch football and race fans watch racing. But of course, it's easier to just cover the infection with another bandaid. 606. Corey posted: 01.12.2021 - 8:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @605 were the really smaller, or was the giant logo because it making them look smaller? 607. Mile501 posted: 01.12.2021 - 9:25 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @605 "They need to come to the realization that racing is inherently entertaining without all the gimmicks they added to it..." While I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding gimmicks, I do wonder, is the racing itself truly entertaining these days? I'm not so sure it is a lot of the time, due to a variety of factors such as car design, track layouts, car reliability, and driver personalities. 608. Canadianfan posted: 01.12.2021 - 4:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Bob Pockrass: (Daytona 500 entry list update.) Go Fas is not doing the Daytona 500. TBD on Cindric schedule and who will race for Kaulig. 609. Yeet posted: 01.13.2021 - 2:10 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bob Pockrass has "8-9" uncharted cars attempting this year's 500... - 16 Grala (Kaulig Racing) - 36 Ragan (Front Row Motorsports) - 37 Preece (JTG-Daughtery Racing) - 44 TBA (NY Racing) - TBA Chad Finchum (Motorsports Business Management) - 62 Noah Gragson? (Beard Motorsports) - 66 Timmy Hill (Motorsports Business Management) - 96 TBA (Gaunt Bros Racing) He also says Penske hasn't said what Cindric's schedule is for Cup this year and that Go Fas will not be there. Tommy Baldwin hasn't announced anything either for this year but unlikely Tommy would enter unless he felt he had a strong shot of making it and this field is significantly tougher than in 2019 when they narrowly missed out. Also TMT Racing is not even worth considering as an entry considering they were supposed to debut 2 years ago. So I think 43-45 is a realistic number for this year's list. 610. Anonymous posted: 01.14.2021 - 7:52 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Effective January 13, 2021 the main page of racing-reference.info has been updated to reflect the wishes of the site owners. All of the information formerly present on that page is still available, with the following exceptions: 1. User blogs have been discontinued, effective immediately. 2. User comments are still permitted for the time being, however comments will no longer appear on the main page. If you need to contact the site administator, particularly with data updates or corrections, please use the Contact Form or you may contact the webmaster directly via email at webmaster@racing-reference.info. 611. RyanM posted: 01.15.2021 - 7:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'll echo the sentiments many have expressed on Hailie Deegan's page regarding the redesign. It's a crying shame that this website's days of functioning as an interactive forum seem to be reaching their end. As a formerly highly active poster here under several different names - some might remember me as 88&4Fan, Braindead Zombie, or chevyfan98 - I can say that posting on Racing-Reference was the first time I ever felt like I was part of a community of fellow race fans, and I know many others feel that same way. I had an absolute blast live-commenting on races each week in which race threads often turned into pure comedy shows, even if mine and others' comments were rather immature and childish (what can I say, I was 16 when I first found this place), and I enjoyed how discussions would often form on weekdays and during the offseason about any subject imaginable. At the very least, I hope that RR will always be available for its primary intended purpose as a reference website, after all, that's why I began using it for various statistical projects and continue to do so. 612. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.15.2021 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dunno know if this got mentioned on Justin Marks or Suarez page, but Pitbull the singer or rapper or whatever he is a partner at Trackhouse 613. Anonymous posted: 01.16.2021 - 7:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @612 I just hope they keep him off TV. He's so obnoxious. 614. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.18.2021 - 12:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Fr8 Auctions to sponsor McDowell for 6 races. Cody Ware to run full schedule in the 51 with Biohaven Pharmaceuticals as sponsor 615. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.19.2021 - 1:00 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Big news dump this morning Bilicki to drive for RWR full time McMurray returns to driving for the 500 in the Spire 77 Ty Dillon to run the 500 for Gaunt (wonder what RC thinks about a member of the family driving Toyota) Mane N Tail returns to StarCom for several races including the 500 Dixie Vodka to sponsor Cole Custer 616. GoRC42 posted: 01.19.2021 - 3:14 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @615 I would hope RC would be happy for Ty that he was able to find a ride. 617. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.19.2021 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Another update Derrike Cope will compete for RWR in an effort with StarCom to run the 15 sponsored by Jacob Companies, in what they are saying will be Copes final 500. 618. Jimmie4life posted: 01.19.2021 - 4:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So far, a promising start to the 2021 season. At least, for the Daytona 500. Maybe then the duels serve more of a purpose now if we can get 45+ cars in. Are Spire and Ganassi working together? I assume so based upon McMurray's previous one off race was for Spire in 2019, but who knows? Did not see Ty Dillon getting the 96 car. Thought it would be maybe Parker Kligerman(He usually does superspeedways), and Ty would be given, say the 31 car as a part time ride for Daytona by Richard Childress. 619. Mile501 posted: 01.19.2021 - 6:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @618 - Yes, McMurray's car will be prepared by Ganassi. I posted that on McMurray's page, but I know it's hard to find things on here anymore. 620. Jimmie4life posted: 01.19.2021 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @619 Yeah, I assumed because Spire ran him last time he ran at Daytona in 2019. Just so damn hard to see new comments. 621. Canadianfan posted: 01.20.2021 - 7:40 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @618 We have 43 confirmed so far and Chase Briscoe himself said on reddit that he knows of at least one more. Probably Cindric. Carl Long trying to get the #13 for Finchum that gets us to 45 with Cindric. Pockrass said NY Racing is coming with the #44 so that gets us to 46. Baldwin is trying to put something together that would be 47. 622. Mile501 posted: 01.20.2021 - 7:41 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @620 - The recent comments page is still active; you just have to use the actual url to access it. https://www.racing-reference.info/comments?l=1 623. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.20.2021 - 11:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Cindric to drive number 33 for Penske. Kind of an odd choice since he usually uses numbers with a 2 in them (except in 04 and 05 when they absorbed Jaspers 77, and there was the part time 06 a couple years). 624. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.20.2021 - 11:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 622 Good find. 625. NASCAREnthusiast posted: 01.20.2021 - 1:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Current Projected Daytona 500 Entry List: 00: Quin Houff 1: Kurt Busch 2: Brad Keselowski 3: Austin Dillon 4: Kevin Harvick 5: Kyle Larson 6: Ryan Newman 7: Corey LaJoie 8: Tyler Reddick 9: Chase Elliott 10: Aric Almirola 11: Denny Hamlin 12: Ryan Blaney 14: Chase Briscoe 15: Derrike Cope 16: Kaz Grala 17: Chris Buescher 18: Kyle Busch 19: Martin Truex Jr. 20: Christopher Bell 21: Matt DiBenedetto 22: Joey Logano 23: Bubba Wallace 24: William Byron 33: Austin Cindric 34: Michael McDowell 36: David Ragan 37: Ryan Preece 38: Anthony Alfredo 41: Cole Custer 42: Ross Chastain 43: Erik Jones 44: TBA 47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 48: Alex Bowman 49: Chad Finchum 51: Cody Ware 52: Josh Bilicki 53: Joey Gase 62: Noah Gragson 66: Timmy Hill 77: Jamie McMurray 78: B. J. McLeod 96: Ty Dillon 99: Daniel Suárez Total entries: 45 626. ThatGuy posted: 01.20.2021 - 4:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @622 Mile501 Off-season/January MVP 627. Mile501 posted: 01.20.2021 - 5:28 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @626 - Haha, thanks. I just had the link bookmarked already so I thought I'd share for anyone who didn't have it. 628. ThatGuy posted: 01.20.2021 - 5:37 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I didn't, so thank you. I thought my use of this site was going to plummet 629. Jimmie4life posted: 01.20.2021 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Projected entry list for the 500 is also on Jayski, for anyone else. It also features unconfirmed, but potential future entries. 630. Corey posted: 01.20.2021 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So far the Open cars for the 500 are (according to Jayski) 16-Kaz Grala, Kaulig Racing 33-Austin Cindric, Penske Racing 36-David Ragan, Front Row Motorsports 37-Ryan Preece, JTG-Daurghety Racing 44 TBA, NY racing 49 Chad Finchum, MBM Motorsports 62 Noah Gragson, Beard Oil Motorsports 66 Timmy Hill, MBM Motorsports 96 Ty Dillon, Gaunt Brothers Racing Possible additions include the Tommy Baldwin car and The Money Team. Atleast two of the 16, 33, 36, 37, 62 and 96 are going home. 631. Jimmie4life posted: 01.20.2021 - 9:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If the additional Tommy Baldwin and Money Team entry join the field, we'll have the most drivers to fail to make a Daytona 500(at 7) since 2010, when 11 failed to qualify for the 500. 632. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.20.2021 - 9:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I can normally predict whos gonna race and who wont, but I dont know where to begin. MBMs 66 actually had okay speed on plate tracks last year, NY (if they show up) could pull off an upset. Ragan is plate racer, 62 team is a threat, Grala won his first ever NASCAR Superspeedway race at Daytona, Preece can run the draft pretty well. Cindric isnt great on plate tracks but hes got the Penske Power behind him. 633. Jimmie4life posted: 01.20.2021 - 9:43 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @632 Yeah, and that makes the duels actually worthwhile. Last year, it was cool seeing the sparks and the speeds, but 2 of the 3 drivers went home wrecked, and the bubble battle was essentially nonexistent even then. 634. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.21.2021 - 12:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The only time I found the Duels meaningless was in 2018 when only 40 cars showed up and they were only racing for starting position. 635. ScottB posted: 01.21.2021 - 1:03 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 632- I'll risk an early prediction on the 4 open entries to make the field: #16 Grala, #33 Cindric, #36 Ragan, and #96 T. Dillon. I'm picking Cindric on the basis of equipment, the other three on drafting skills. If I could add an alternate, it would be #37 Preece. That could come down to who gets assigned to which duel. 636. Mile501 posted: 01.21.2021 - 1:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @635 - It's a shame the charter system means at least one of those teams will be left out. There at at least 6 open teams that all deserve a spot more than all 4 RWR teams do. Qualifying speed order for some of these teams in the 2020 Daytona 500: #36 #16 #62 #66 #96 The #62 has consistently been quite a bit faster than the #96 in each year's Daytona 500 qualifying. But, it seems highly likely to me that the #33 will take at least one of the two spots on speed, so both of those teams may need to race their way in anyway. 637. Yeet posted: 01.21.2021 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @636 agreed.If we had the Top 35 Rule or Top 15 in each duel,we would probably see one to three of the Ware cars sent home. It is what it is, sometimes you need people to exploit the rules for them to change. I have the 33 and 37 clocking in on time, the 16,62,96 and 66 all with a legitimate shot at racing in, but it would be difficult having to beat the 37 and 33 in their respective duel. All in all, this is the hardest Daytona 500 to make in quite some time and I think that is great. 638. Yeet posted: 01.21.2021 - 2:58 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Completely forgot Ragan is an open car, so add him to that list of racing in. 639. Anonymous posted: 01.21.2021 - 3:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) As far as NY racing i could see JJ Yeley drive the machine but maybe not 640. Jimmie4life posted: 01.21.2021 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Tommy Baldwin is to run at the 500(Which he has said he is trying to doing so), who'd be the driver? Possibly a Rick Ware driver? But, I don't see it. 641. ScottB posted: 01.21.2021 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 636- I was tempted to pick the #62 to make the field on based on past results, but I'm not sure how the change from Brendan Gaughan to Noah Gragson will affect that team. Gragson is certainly capable of showing raw speed, but he's also more of a risk to make a mistake, compared to Gaughan's more methodical, veteran approach. I agree that there are certainly 6 teams capable and deserving of being in the 500 on that list. 642. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.21.2021 - 5:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 639 There was a rumor floating for some reason that Johnny Sauter was gonna drife that car when they announcee their plans, but that seems to have lost a lot of steam. 643. Yeet posted: 01.21.2021 - 8:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @642 apparently NY Racing said themselves it was fake. Which honestly sucks because Sauter would I think give them a decent shot to be honest. @640 I would think someone like Sorenson or Smithley could drive it, but I don't personally think TBR should skip the 500, just because like you said, I don't see them making it. Unless I was Tommy and a driver came to me with a fat check with a sponsor, I wouldn't bother and focus on other Cup events. 644. JSPorts posted: 01.22.2021 - 12:01 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, I think Sauter would be a good choice for that ride. Especially if he is indeed out of a Truck seat. 645. DI9_ForLife posted: 01.22.2021 - 7:48 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) It's a shame that some of the open teams that are truly competitive will have to miss the 500 thanks to the ridiculously stupid charter system. On the bright side, this year's duels are gonna be really good and really compelling. It's really tough because Grala, Gragson, Ragan and Dillon are all really good plate racers, 3/4 have won at Daytona and Dillon has come damn close before. I'm going to predict that Cindric and Preece will lock in on speed and Grala and Ragan will race their way in via their Duels. The odd men out will be Ty Dillon, Noah Gragson, Timmy Hill, and Chad Finchum. 646. JSPorts posted: 01.22.2021 - 11:17 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wins in the Gen-6 car (2013-present): 1st: Kevin Harvick, 39 2nd: Kyle Busch, 33 3rd: Martin Truex, Jr., 26 4th: Brad Keselowski, 25 5th: Joey Logano, 24 6th: Jimmie Johnson, 23 7th: Denny Hamlin, 22 8th: Matt Kenseth, 15 9th: Chase Elliott, 11 10th: Carl Edwards, 9 647. Yeet posted: 01.22.2021 - 1:12 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @645 while the charter system has flaws, there'd some races with only 33-35 cars, and people would think that is ridiculously stupid. Competitive teams have missed the 500 ever since the 500 has been around. Welcome to a competitive environment. 648. Canadianfan posted: 01.22.2021 - 3:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) From Adam Stern: @NASCAR will be among the properties that NBC Sports moves to @USA_Network for some events as a result of shutting down NBCSN by end of this year, @Ourand_SBJ reports. ? Unclear what it would mean for IndyCar, whose deal with NBC expires after '21. (NBC also has IMSA, Super and Motocross, and MotoGP.) 649. Yeet posted: 01.22.2021 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) USA Network will carry or simulcast some of the NASCAR events this year as NBSCN shuts down at the end of 2021. One report has USA Network in roughly 86 million homes, NBCSN has roughly 80 million homes carrying the channel. 650. Corey posted: 01.22.2021 - 4:25 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @648 and the NHL and the Premier League. This isn't just horrible for racing fans, but also for soccer and hockey fans. A lot of people cut cable to save money and all that did was force all the networks to start creating streaming services. Depending on how many services you get, this can add up. 651. JSPorts posted: 01.25.2021 - 5:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) After today's announcements, here's how many teams are currently planning to compete in each series: Cup: 47 (36 chartered, 2 non-chartered full-time, 9 non-chartered part-time) Xfinity: 49 (40 full-time, 9 part-time) Truck: 48 (34 full-time, 14 part-time) Here's the breakdown for 2020: Cup: 45 (36 chartered, 2 non-chartered full-time, 7 non-chartered part-time) Xfinity: 44 (35 full-time, 9 part-time) Truck: 51 (27 full-time, 24 part-time) Cup & Xfinity are poised to gain teams, while Xfinity & Truck are poised to gain full-time teams. With 20 days to go until the Daytona 500, we could see another team or two in each series pop up, as well. 652. JSPorts posted: 01.25.2021 - 6:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Additionally, here are the confirmed rookie of the year candidates in each series: Cup: Chase Briscoe, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Anthony Alfredo, #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Xfinity: Ryan Vargas, #6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet Jordan Anderson, #31 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet Jade Buford, #48 Big Machine Racing Team Chevrolet (32 races) Truck: Hailie Deegan, #1 David Gilliland Racing Ford Kris Wright, #02 Young's Motorsports Chevrolet Chandler Smith, #18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Chase Purdy, #23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Carson Hocevar, #42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Briscoe should win pretty easily in Cup. Xfinity should be a really interesting battle. None of those teams will likely run up front, but they will probably be looking for some top 10s (mostly Vargas at short tracks, Anderson at super speedways and Buford at road courses.) The early Truck favorite should definitely be Chandler Smith, but Deegan & Purdy both have equipment capable of winning the award, so that will be a good one to watch, as well. 653. Yeet posted: 01.25.2021 - 6:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @651 increasing field counts are always a positive. 654. Zach posted: 01.25.2021 - 6:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @651 So basically 2 supposed full-time trucks will miss the race at Daytona since NASCAR for whatever reason still thinks 32 truck fields is the way to go. It really needs to go back to a 36 truck field since the series has had no problem getting 36+ trucks to show up for races over the past couple years compared to 2015 when less trucks attempting to qualify for races. We could have nearly 50 trucks show up to Daytona which would mean 18 trucks would miss the race. 655. Jimmie4life posted: 01.25.2021 - 6:35 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) So... since there are 34 scheduled full time teams for the Truck Series, this means that the "full time" teams will have to bring there A game to Daytona if they want a chance to race in more races this year, unless NASCAR increases the field size(which I doubt they'd do in the next 3 weeks). Same thing for Xfinity, except right now, there are 35 full time teams and 36 potential starting spots, so most, if not all full time teams have a chance to make it this season. If this trend continues, I think NASCAR will have to increase the field sizes for the Xfinity and Trucks back up in the near future. Of course, it could change, but it seems like a move that is likely gonna happen. 656. JSPorts posted: 01.25.2021 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR hasn't announced whether the field sizes will remain at 40 or revert to their pre-COVID numbers, I don't believe, so there could still be 40 spots for the Trucks. 657. Corey posted: 01.25.2021 - 7:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What is the quality level of these 34 trucks? Do we really need two more moving chicanes on the track? 658. Jimmie4life posted: 01.25.2021 - 8:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @657 Rather have a full field of cars/trucks than a field of like 25-30 good ones. Just looks better visually, and almost signifies the sport to be in better health. 659. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.25.2021 - 9:42 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Itd be nice if they left it at 40, since its very apparent only a few races have a full weekend and its very apparent that exlusions are going to be happening on a regular basis, at least in Xfinty and Trucks 660. JSPorts posted: 01.26.2021 - 12:56 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I agree. It would kill a lot of the small/part-time teams if they put the fields back at 36 & 32 and then didn't hold qualifying. 661. TeamDCRfan posted: 01.26.2021 - 11:55 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Iracing Pro Invitational is returning for 10 weeks. It will run mid week and be a companion event to certain tracks, including Bristol Dirt, Dega, Cota 662. Anonymous posted: 01.27.2021 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Are Trending Pages locked into place now, with the site changing? 663. Jimmie4life posted: 01.28.2021 - 7:34 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @662 Believe so, since Hailie Deegan hasn't had a comment in several days, while this comments section has seen over 75 comments since the new year began, and a lot of them in the last week and a half. 664. JSPorts posted: 01.29.2021 - 10:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Updated 2021 entry list: #00: Quin Houff, StarCom Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: George Church) #1: Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: Matt McCall) #2: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: Jeremy Bullins) #3: Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #4: Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: Rodney Childers) #5: Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Cliff Daniels) #6: Ryan Newman, Roush Fenway Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #7: Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Ryan Sparks) #8: Tyler Reddick, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #9: Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Alan Gustafson) #10: Aric Almirola, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Chris Gabehart) #12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: Todd Gordon) #14: Chase Briscoe (R), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: Johnny Klausmeier) #15: Derrike Cope (1 race) / TBA (TBA races), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet (1 race) / Ford (TBA races) (crew chief: Pat Tryson) #16 (LS): Kaz Grala (1 race) / A. J. Allmendinger (1 race) / TBA (9 races), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: Matt Swiderski) #17: Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #18: Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Ben Beshore) #19: Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: James Small) #20: Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (crew chief: Adam Stevens) #21: Matt DiBenedetto, Wood Brothers Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #22: Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford (crew chief: Paul Wolfe) #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota (crew chief: Mike Wheeler) #24: William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Rudy Fugle) #32 (LS): Ryan Ellis (TBA races), Go Fas Racing Ford (crew chief: TBA) #33 (LS): Austin Cindric (1 race), Team Penske Ford (crew chief: Miles Stanley) #34: Michael McDowell, Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Drew Blickensderfer) #36 (LS): David Ragan (1 race), Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Derrick Finley) #37 (NCT): Ryan Preece, JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #38: Anthony Alfredo (R), Front Row Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Seth Barbour) #41: Cole Custer, Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (crew chief: Mike Shiplett) #42: Ross Chastain, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: Phil Surgen) #43: Erik Jones, Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Jerry Baxter) #44 (NCT): TBA, NY Racing Team Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: Brian Pattie) #48: Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Greg Ives) #49 (LS): Chad Finchum (1 race) / Stephen Leicht (8 races), MBM Motorsports Ford (1 race) / Toyota (TBA races) (crew chief: Mark Hillman) #51: Cody Ware, Petty Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: Mike Hillman Sr.) #52: Josh Bilicki, Rick Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #53: Joey Gase (1 race) / James Davison (TBA races) / Garrett Smithley (TBA races) / TBA (TBA races), Rick Ware Racing Ford (TBA races) / Chevrolet (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #62 (LS): Noah Gragson (1 race), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) #66 (LS): Timmy Hill (1 race), MBM Motorsports Ford (1 race) / Toyota (TBA races) (crew chief: TBA) #77: Jamie McMurray (1 race) / Justin Haley (TBA races) / TBA (TBA races), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (crew chief: Kevin Bellicourt) #78: B. J. McLeod, Live Fast Motorsports Ford (crew chief: Frank Kerr) #96 (LS): Ty Dillon (2 races) / TBA (9 races), Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota (crew chief: TBA) #99: Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet (crew chief: Travis Mack) #TBA (LS): TBA (TBA races), Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet (crew chief: TBA) (LS) denotes limited schedule (NCT) denotes non-chartered team (R) denotes rookie With 11 days to go until the start of the season, 36 chartered teams, 2 complete schedule non-chartered teams & 9 limited schedule non-chartered teams have announced plans to run in 2021 (for a total of 47 teams.) Last year, there were 36 chartered teams, 2 complete schedule non-chartered teams & 7 limited schedule non-chartered teams (for a total of 45 teams.) That means the series is on pace for a net gain of at least 2 teams in 2021. Both of these teams will run limited schedules. 665. ScottB posted: 01.29.2021 - 11:23 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I won't believe NY Racing will turn a lap at Daytona until I see a car roll out of the hauler. Baldwin's entry is questionable too, but at least he's done it before and can make an informed decision on whether to keep pushing to prep and entry or sit this one out (and possibly try later in the season). Under the circumstances of COVID and the loss of sponsors, I would consider even matching last season's total of 45 teams a solid accomplishment, and anything beyond a bonus. 666. Jimmie4life posted: 01.29.2021 - 12:18 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Am I the only one who thinks that just like last year, we're gonna see a gigantic awful wreck at the end of the 500 that will prompt NASCAR to make some changes? These guys on Superspeedways never take a break, and always push 100%, even on lap 1, and, to me, it seems like it's bound to happen again. 667. DI9_ForLife posted: 01.29.2021 - 2:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 666, I certainly hope not, but it's very possible even with the changes NASCAR has already made to the package. The brothers Busch both got major air at Talladega in the fall and speeds were up to around 204. 668. Tarheel posted: 01.29.2021 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Let them use the 750 hp package and completely remove the spoilers. The pack will separate. Ok, I'm dreaming. It's nice to dream. 669. JSPorts posted: 01.29.2021 - 6:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'd be all in favor of that, but it won't happen, and the new car appears to be a permanent change (for the most part) to the 2019-21 rules package. 670. Jimmie4life posted: 01.29.2021 - 10:39 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @667 I don't think speeds the main issue for crashing(On Keselowski's fast lap at Talladega he hit 212 MPH, so yeah, they are quite fast), I think it has to do with people being too risky for too long. At Talladega in the fall, everyone was pushing and shoving on lap 20 like it was lap 200. Plus, veteran drivers are slowly going away, and in there places are youthful and less experienced drivers(for example, Alfredo and Cindric), who take more chances than others, and I think that, with the package we have, and the stage racing will lead to consistently big crashes. 671. TeamDCRfan posted: 02.01.2021 - 6:08 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Field sizes Cup 40 Xfinity 36 w/P&Q, 40 without Truck 36 w/P&Q, 40 without Opens in Cup series field will be determined by two highest entered on 2020 points and two highest in 2021 points for Day-Road and Homestead-Miami before reverting fully to 2021. 672. TeamDCRfan posted: 02.01.2021 - 7:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Additionally, drivers are only Past Champion Provisional eligible if they won their title in the previous 10 years, screwing guys like Nemechek and Jeff Green and even Kyle Busch. 673. Corey posted: 02.01.2021 - 8:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @671 Thats put Preece's team in a bind. Apparently the points go with the charter. The 37 points from 2020 went to Spire with the charter. Failing to make the Daytona 500, or performing badly could cause them to miss either of the next two races. 674. TeamDCRfan posted: 02.03.2021 - 2:09 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Baldwin says no 500 per Pockrass, expect 44-45 cars, but cannot make it official until haulers show on Tuesday. 675. racefangurl posted: 04.27.2021 - 7:02 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) 506, the rule you allude to was brought about by a new rule in 2011, the one driver, one championship rule, I believe anyway. That rule was tested when it was barely dry (refers to ink) by the 500 that year. You mentioned the winner of that race, so you made me remember that crazy race. I'll love that race until this life's over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: