2011 NASCAR Thread

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The 2 car draft thing is a result of the new, stickier pavement according to the NASCAR pundits; not a change in racing strategy.

I watched some while in between online races (with the Concours Club-GTPlanet). Too many top drivers taken out by big wrecks so I lost interest.

Wait till they hit some other tracks; probably won't see as much 2 car drafting.
 
BlacqueJacques
The 2 car draft thing is a result of the new, stickier pavement according to the NASCAR pundits; not a change in racing strategy.

I watched some while in between online races (with the Concours Club-GTPlanet). Too many top drivers taken out by big wrecks so I lost interest.

Wait till they hit some other tracks; probably won't see as much 2 car drafting.
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You will only see two car drafting on the plate tracks, and maybe.. and I mean maybe Michigan and California on the front stretches.
 
Cale
You will only see two car drafting on the plate tracks, and maybe.. and I mean maybe Michigan and California on the front stretches.
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I'll bet the draft will have more than 2 cars in it at restrictor plate races like Talledega; unless they have new sticky pavemenent too. :)
 
Cale
You will only see two car drafting on the plate tracks, and maybe.. and I mean maybe Michigan and California on the front stretches.
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Don't forget Charlotte. Newman can get it done! :lol:

 
BlacqueJacques
I'll bet the draft will have more than 2 cars in it at restrictor plate races like Talledega; unless they have new sticky pavemenent too. :)
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'Dega was repaved like 2 years ago. It's where the 2 car draft started.

EDIT: I remember that all star race vividly. It was amazing how fast they were flying around there. I remember I was about crapping my pants it was so awesome.
 
Usually there is a truck that has stuff for the smaller teams. I say try to talk to someone from FRR. Maybe you can get a tour or shop visit since their on the west coast the next two weeks.
 
Not a single truck or anything for them at Daytona the past two weeks. All the major teams had stuff.
 
Just got back from Daytona last night. Awesome race, best one we've seen in a decade or so. The 2 car hookups are alot more fun than the 2-3 wide freight trains of years past.

The cars actually raced every lap, instead of the usual boring single file train from lap 50-150.

Great to see Bayne win, and great to see the Wood Brothers #21 back in victory lane. 👍
 
See? I told you Trevor Bayne would win! But did you listen? No... okay, my picks did terribly- Jeff Gordon was a non-factor after the Big One, Dale Jr. lost it late, and Hamlin wasn't much a factor either. LOTS of people were convinced that Trevor Bayne is the truth. Few of my Facebook friends even "liked" Trevor Bayne.

Well, time to head out west to Phoenix for this weekend's action. Congratulations to all winners from the racing at Daytona. In addition, congratulations to all other winners in the other levels of NASCAR competition.
 
I'll be attending the Phoenix race, which will be the first NASCAR event I have ever been to. I absolutely abhorred NASCAR until recently (about two years ago) so I am way out of the loop.
 
Michael Waltrip has been penalized in the Truck Series for his broken spoiler:

nascar.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the No. 15 team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as a result of rule infractions found during post-race inspection Feb. 18 at Daytona International Speedway.

The No. 15 truck driven by Michael Waltrip was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR Officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20B-3.1.2E (rear spoiler did not meet specifications in post-race inspection) of the 2011 NASCAR Rule Book.

As a result, crew chief Doug Howe has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31. Owner Billy Ballew has been penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points.
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This is quite confusing to me. I expected Waltrip to be penalized, and I do think that he deserved it, because it clearly reduced the drag dramatically and helped him gain the speed necessary to overtake the leader approaching the finish line. But 25 points is an extremely stiff penalty (roughly equivalent to 125 points in the old system) considering that it was by all appearances a broken part. I guess Nascar thought that the type of damage that it showed indicated that it was by design, but I find that possibility extremely implausible. It isn't possible to design a part that fails after an exactly specified number of laps, which is what they would have had to do in order for officials not to force them to fix it midrace. And it certainly isn't as though Waltrip went all James Bond and pulled a lever that released the spoiler. :rolleyes:
 
The only person it really affected was Billy Ballew as he has to pay the cash fines and was docked owners points.

Although this is typical NASCAR, giving excessively severe penalties for not so big incidents.
 
R1600Turbo
According to the National Weather Service, there's a 10% chance (so far) for rain this weekend. :(
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Update on this:

20% chance of rain on Saturday, 50% chance overnight into Sunday. No info for Sunday yet. Looks like we're going to get rained out. :(
 
With that point penalty and the new point system, you REALLY can't afford a mistake now. I know it is just the first race of the season with a long way to go, but that can really be damning to you as the season progresses. Hope Mother Nature doesn't go on a tirade out in Arizona for the action this weekend...
 
R1600Turbo
Update on this:

20% chance of rain on Saturday, 50% chance overnight into Sunday. No info for Sunday yet. Looks like we're going to get rained out. :(
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JohnBM01
Hope Mother Nature doesn't go on a tirade out in Arizona for the action this weekend...
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Update:

80% chance for rain Saturday night into Sunday. 40% chance Sunday.

I still plan on heading out there but it's going to be overcast, cold and miserable most of the day. :indiff:
 
Trevor Bayne's points will not count. From Autosport:

"...the would be points-leader is ineligible for the championship because he has already registered for the Nationwide series..."

Boo hiss NASCAR.
 
The 500 Race

Enjoyed it a lot , couldn't believe how many cautions there where :dopey:

2 Car Draft

To be honest i'm not a fan of it , sure it makes people get up on the wheel a bit more , but seeing 4 x 2 Cars way ahead of the rest of the Pack just doesn't seem right .

I was hoping that the Extra Plate put in behind the Grill would stop people doing the 2 Car Tango a bit sooner , but there again Teams adapt and it seems some Cars could keep there Water Temps down lower for longer even when Drafting .

Trevor Bayne

20 years old and One Day , can you imagine waking up the Following Morning at that age with the Daytona 500 Trophy sitting there :crazy:

He drove a amazing Race , backed off when he needed too from Drafting , drove a consistent steady pace , kid seems a Natural . Jeff Gordon seemed happy to have him as a Draft Partner .

Jack the Hat was there with a big smile and a handshake , seemed genuinely happy for Trevor and I can see him on Jacks future list .

Michael Waltrip

I was really really happy to see Michael get that Truck Win , boo too the Nascar Officals docking the Team Owner Points and fining them , I mean ffs they admitted the Part Broke so why Spoil a Memory .

You could see the Emotions overflowing in Michaels face as they interviewed him in Victory lane .

Nationwide Series

Enjoyed that Race aswell Tony Stewart just seems to be in a Class of his own .

Dale Tribute Programmes

Watched two versions and it still brings home the fact that such a simple looking Crash could take the life of Dale .

10 Years it still feels like Yesterday .


Roll on the Next Races , Hope the People going have a great time and the Weather is kinder than the Forecast .
 
Harley45
Roll on the Next Races , Hope the People going have a great time and the Weather is kinder than the Forecast .
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Update! :D

Saturday: 10% chance of rain after 11AM, 30+mph winds
Saturday Night: 90% chance of rain, 45+mph winds. :crazy:
Sunday: 30% chance of rain after 11AM.

Monday: Mostly Sunny. (go figure)

So looks like if Sunday get's rained out, they'll race on Monday. So, I can miss work with no pay and go to the race on Monday, or lose out on $25 since there are no ticket refunds. Guess we'll see come Sunday...
 

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