2013 NASCAR Thread

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I got out of karting because people were pushing me out of the way. If you don't like chrome-horning, don't race in NASCAR. If Kahne thinks he's fast, he can get into single-seater formula car racing.


Otherwise, isn't NASCAR all about people smashing into each other?

No...not necessarily you seem to be generalizing. There are plenty of clean drivers out there that have made a career and won and don't wreck people Kahne is one of them. This idea that you have to drive like a moron, the way Vickers did isn't correct. All that hard driving Jeff did didn't help him get close to a win today either so it really doesn't sell the idea of you wreck someone = you win. Also on a short track like Bristol once again (you didn't address) if you wreck in such close proximity you risk taking yourself out.

Also what formula racing are you suggesting he could get in to?

Three drivers that have been assured chase spots, JJ, Bowyer and Kenseth.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

On the last lap, most people take the gloves off. That's all I'm saying.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

On the last lap, most people take the gloves off. That's all I'm saying.

I think the wanting of your dad to win money is clouding better judgement, if Kahne was truly faster he wouldn't need to run over Matt. Matt drover better at the end of the day and Kasey couldn't do anything, if you have to wreck someone just to win, I don't think you were fast enough.

 

[BKGlover]

Otherwise, isn't NASCAR all about people smashing into each other?

No, it isn't. If it was, do you thing they'd use built and prepped cars? If it was, would they bother having laps? If it was, would there be anyone sponsoring them? Demo derbys exist for a reason, if that's what you want, go find one.

 

[iRevelationz]

if Kahne was truly faster he wouldn't need to run over Matt.

Kasey ran him down from 3 seconds back and dogged him to the finish. How is that now truly faster?

He couldn't get around him because of the combination of an overly-dominant high groove and 100 lap fresher tires that were nearly worthless.

 

[Wilbur]

Why must people always assume NASCAR is this cave man style of racing? Kahne was frustrated with JGR but he isn't an idiot who will wreck you trying to win or maybe wreck both. Sure a win is better but 2nd is heck of alot better than 15+!

I still have no clue what 83 was up to earlier when he wreck Bowyer, that was one of the dumbest moves I've seen in awhile. This race was a weird one with so many guys having issues.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Kasey ran him down from 3 seconds back and dogged him to the finish. How is that now truly faster?

He couldn't get around him because of the combination of an overly-dominant high groove and 100 lap fresher tires that were nearly worthless.

Nearly worthless? How so, if you think Kasey's tires were gone then Matt must have been driving on ice, since he had the longest stint on that set of tires he finished with. Hence the ability to run him down, Kasey also had a show to do a slide job and Matt out drove him.

 

[ICEYOU]

Hope he's eating plenty of soda cookies, he needs his strength.

Ha!

Anyway If Kurt Busch misses the Chase it will be because of his pit crew. If Ryan Newman misses the Chase it will be because he couldn't hack it. I don't understand where all these Newman supporters are coming from all of a sudden, but it should be obvious to any reasonable fan that Kurt Busch is clearly an enormous upgrade. What does Newman do better than Busch besides win pole awards? Literally nothing. Kurt Busch (and Kevin Harvick while we're on that topic) are so far ahead of Newman it's incredible that anyone can think otherwise.

 

[Jahgee]

Ha!

Anyway If Kurt Busch misses the Chase it will be because of his pit crew. If Ryan Newman misses the Chase it will be because he couldn't hack it. I don't understand where all these Newman supporters are coming from all of a sudden, but it should be obvious to any reasonable fan that Kurt Busch is clearly an enormous upgrade.

They don't support Newman, they just hate the principle of someone losing a job because of a nonexistent ride, while another driver gets offered to drive said nonexistent ride.

 

[Northstar]

Ha!

Anyway If Kurt Busch misses the Chase it will be because of his pit crew. If Ryan Newman misses the Chase it will be because he couldn't hack it. I don't understand where all these Newman supporters are coming from all of a sudden, but it should be obvious to any reasonable fan that Kurt Busch is clearly an enormous upgrade. What does Newman do better than Busch besides win pole awards? Literally nothing. Kurt Busch (and Kevin Harvick while we're on that topic) are so far ahead of Newman it's incredible that anyone can think otherwise.

This(although I am a Newman fan)...

They don't support Newman, they just hate the principle of someone losing a job because of a nonexistent ride, while another driver gets offered to drive said nonexistent ride.

If they would have said Busch was taking the ride at the same time they announced Newman wouldn't be coming back I would have no problem with them at all. It's like a company laying off 20 people only to announce they are hiring 40 people a month later and giving those 40 people more money than the ones they laid off.

 

[GTPorsche]

So, NASCAR has all these tracks add progressive banking in the corners to allow for multiple racing lines.

Then they throw in a gear rule that prevents teams from having a choice of gears to use at the tracks.

One of those things needs to go for the racing to get better.

 

[Wilbur]

This(although I am a Newman fan)...



If they would have said Busch was taking the ride at the same time they announced Newman wouldn't be coming back I would have no problem with them at all. It's like a company laying off 20 people only to announce they are hiring 40 people a month later and giving those 40 people more money than the ones they laid off.

If it happened like Furniture Row did with Regan and Kurt (which some still call a dirty after Regan moved close to the shop to get more input there), that was an ok move since they said we are letting one go, but hiring this guy. I completely agree with this being a shady move and if Haas doesn't have the guts to talk to Tony about this then I think he is a sheep! If I were Tony I would be a little concerned with how things are there as far as who has some input and who doesn't.

So, NASCAR has all these tracks add progressive banking in the corners to allow for multiple racing lines.

Then they throw in a gear rule that prevents teams from having a choice of gears to use at the tracks.

One of those things needs to go for the racing to get better.

It's always some stupid idea that someone has, they limit teams way too much in some areas. You want to give some guys some options, then I think a softer tire option (limited to like a set possibly) would be awesome along with the gears.

 

[JohnBM01]

I saw most of last night's race. All congratulations to the 2003 Cup champ- Matt Kenseth- on winning the Irwin Tools Night Race (they could given this race a much more interesting name). I didn't know what to make of that moment that involved the likes of Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.

A few lighthearted comments from me now...

I had no idea what Axalta was until I looked online. I just didn't know that DuPont is now AXALTA. So that's why I thought Jeff Gordon had some new sponsor or something. I still dig the flames on the #24 Chevy. However, the nostalgic fellow in me would like to see a one-off rainbow design like when I first got into racing back in 1998 and 1999.

The area around Bristol is actually quite beautiful to me. I actually like the hilly landscape with the many lovely trees, but you don't really see the hilly area unless you're watching from the Bristol drag strip. That's why I think Bristol is so scenic.


Bristol is done for all three top series. NASCAR stays in the South for Nationwide and Cup while the Trucks will leave the country for one race weekend. So... bring on Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsports Park) and Atlanta!

 

[MustangRyan]

No one can force Gene Haas to sponsor an entire team out of his own pocket (about $15-20M per season). He didn't pull sponsorship away from Ryan Newman. No one could get enough outside sponsorship to keep Newman there, and it was decided months ago that without outside sponsorship, Newman was gone.

If Gene Haas wants to sponsor an entire team from his own pocket, and is only willing to do so if Kurt Busch is driving the car, that is his decision, NOT Stewart's. Stewart has no say in how Haas spends his own personal money.

If Tony loves Newman so much, he should have offered to keep him in the car, even with only partial sponsorship lined up (Quicken Loans and Outback rumored to follow him). The fact that Stewart didn't tells you all you need to know, it's simply business. Sponsor dollars talk, and Newman didn't have enough in his back pocket to stay at SHR.

If Haas thinks Kurt Busch is good enough to open his own checkbook, that's his decision, and I'm good with it.

 

[RACECAR]

If iRacing has Mosport, I plan on getting it (along with the Truck) and do some laps around it and see if my times end up anywhere close to the eventual times next weekend. Just for fun, I might have one of you guys with yer twitters to post the video to the drivers

 

[GTPorsche]

However, the nostalgic fellow in me would like to see a one-off rainbow design like when I first got into racing back in 1998 and 1999.

I had been thinking about this recently. I'd like to see a new take on the rainbow design. The flames are nice, but I think it's about time for a new look, and I really like the AARP design.

 

[iRevelationz]

Nearly worthless? How so, if you think Kasey's tires were gone then Matt must have been driving on ice, since he had the longest stint on that set of tires he finished with. Hence the ability to run him down, Kasey also had a show to do a slide job and Matt out drove him.

You misunderstood me.

Kasey's tires weren't gone, nor was Matt's. It's the fact that Goodyear is creating such hard tires that don't give up much, if any speed as laps are continually put on them.

Remember when Earnhardt punted Labonte on the last lap in 1999? What many people don't see is that Terry had fresh tires and restarted all the way back in 5th with only 5 laps to go. In that short of a time span, he stormed passed everyone and had it in the bag until Earnhardt.....well...did what he did.

Granted that was a completely different Bristol, but you just don't see fresh tires worth anything these days. Ironically at Atlanta this coming week, that will not be the case. Guys will practically be wanting stickers before they leave pit road.

 

[JohnBM01]

I love the AARP colors and that candy-like crimson color. Funny thing about flames on cars to me... I usually think most flame graphics are tacky. Not on the #24 Chevy, though.

And RACECAR, iRacing does have Mosport and the Silverado truck. I know so after I blogged not too long ago with a post on iRacing. I visited the iRacing site researching my post and saw both Mosport and the NASCAR truck prior to releasing my post. Blogging and research... two terms not commonly used in the same sentence. Anyhow, go show your iRacing talent at Mosport in a NASCAR truck!

 

[TheDabbinDave]

So, NASCAR has all these tracks add progressive banking in the corners to allow for multiple racing lines.

Then they throw in a gear rule that prevents teams from having a choice of gears to use at the tracks.

One of those things needs to go for the racing to get better.

Well stated.

 

[Wilbur]

I saw most of last night's race. All congratulations to the 2003 Cup champ- Matt Kenseth- on winning the Irwin Tools Night Race (they could given this race a much more interesting name). I didn't know what to make of that moment that involved the likes of Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.

A few lighthearted comments from me now...

I had no idea what Axalta was until I looked online. I just didn't know that DuPont is now AXALTA. So that's why I thought Jeff Gordon had some new sponsor or something. I still dig the flames on the #24 Chevy. However, the nostalgic fellow in me would like to see a one-off rainbow design like when I first got into racing back in 1998 and 1999.

The area around Bristol is actually quite beautiful to me. I actually like the hilly landscape with the many lovely trees, but you don't really see the hilly area unless you're watching from the Bristol drag strip. That's why I think Bristol is so scenic.


Bristol is done for all three top series. NASCAR stays in the South for Nationwide and Cup while the Trucks will leave the country for one race weekend. So... bring on Mosport (Canadian Tire Motorsports Park) and Atlanta!

I will touch base on this. Irwin Tools has put alot of money in that that place outside of just a race, so not really sure how much more it could change for the name but it's better than we have things like the Finger Lakes 355 or whatever. It would be like calling Bristol's race Thunder Valley 500 which doesn't sound that terrible but doesn't pay respect to a sponsor unless they were ok with it.

The whole Dupont thing is all messed up right now because of them selling things off, I only knew because it was heavily talked about around that time. I really miss his older cars even if they were called the Rainbow Warrior but that's what I remember him as. They have really played out the flames for him (it's on almost every random scheme he has outside AARP).

Bristol as far as the track setting is interesting, it really just pops up out of no where while driving through this little town (it's not really in Bristol) but Martinsville is very similar but it's not really even close to anything major. I enjoy seeing things like that too, unlike we see alot of tracks in this big areas with urban sprawl.

No one can force Gene Haas to sponsor an entire team out of his own pocket (about $15-20M per season). He didn't pull sponsorship away from Ryan Newman. No one could get enough outside sponsorship to keep Newman there, and it was decided months ago that without outside sponsorship, Newman was gone.

If Gene Haas wants to sponsor an entire team from his own pocket, and is only willing to do so if Kurt Busch is driving the car, that is his decision, NOT Stewart's. Stewart has no say in how Haas spends his own personal money.

If Tony loves Newman so much, he should have offered to keep him in the car, even with only partial sponsorship lined up (Quicken Loans and Outback rumored to follow him). The fact that Stewart didn't tells you all you need to know, it's simply business. Sponsor dollars talk, and Newman didn't have enough in his back pocket to stay at SHR.

If Haas thinks Kurt Busch is good enough to open his own checkbook, that's his decision, and I'm good with it.

I think it's more of how the deal went down not so much a driver replacing another with or without sponsorship. If they had said Ryan will not be here next year but we are looking at Kurt Busch to replace him in that car or a driver to put in a 4th car, less people would have said a word. The word that got spread was Tony (from his own mouth) said they aren't going to expand to 4 cars and next thing you know they are. So what that says to me is neither of them are on the same page on the business side of things, and I think that's partly why Haas couldn't ever get decent drivers or anything til Stewart came; it doesn't matter who pays the bills overall but if we are going to include someone as an "owner" not just an investor then I believe they need to be on the same page not being shady behind anothers back.

IF Tony wanted newman, he should have done what you say but he knew that wasn't going to be a long term option.

If iRacing has Mosport, I plan on getting it (along with the Truck) and do some laps around it and see if my times end up anywhere close to the eventual times next weekend. Just for fun, I might have one of you guys with yer twitters to post the video to the drivers

Actually they are running next week in their official races at Mosport in trucks!

I had been thinking about this recently. I'd like to see a new take on the rainbow design. The flames are nice, but I think it's about time for a new look, and I really like the AARP design.

x2 how long have we seen the flames now? Everyone else has changed.

You misunderstood me.

Kasey's tires weren't gone, nor was Matt's. It's the fact that Goodyear is creating such hard tires that don't give up much, if any speed as laps are continually put on them.

Remember when Earnhardt punted Labonte on the last lap in 1999? What many people don't see is that Terry had fresh tires and restarted all the way back in 5th with only 5 laps to go. In that short of a time span, he stormed passed everyone and had it in the bag until Earnhardt.....well...did what he did.

Granted that was a completely different Bristol, but you just don't see fresh tires worth anything these days. Ironically at Atlanta this coming week, that will not be the case. Guys will practically be wanting stickers before they leave pit road.

I think Nascar is afraid to allow softer tires in fear of things like we had at Indy or blow outs which we still get BUT Indy was a weird thing that we can test more for now and blow outs are usually from teams knowing they can run more than a fuel run on a set of tires. If you made tires actually mean alot to where you could make up alot of ground over a short run (not just 5-10 laps and you are equal again) then I believe we would see alot harder racing.

 

[GTPorsche]

Flames first showed up in 2000 or 2001 I think.. then were adjusted around 2006 to what they are now. If they weren't used for everything outside of AARP, I'd be fine with it.

Kasey Kahne's Pepsi Max scheme is terrific. If only Jeff had something similar to it.

Even the Aussie V8's Pepsi Max schemes are interesting.. although rather colorful.

 

[Northstar]

If Haas thinks Kurt Busch is good enough to open his own checkbook, that's his decision, and I'm good with it.

As am I, I just think he is a complete D-Bag going about it the way he has(I'd imagine he at least thought of doing this before the Newman announcement, so he could have said nothing about closing the team and saved face). I do have to wonder if going to SHR would have any effect on his plans of running the Indy 500 next year like he wants to do as well, not sure SHR will be as open as FRR is when it comes to possible contract & schedule conflicts..

I also think this may hurt SHR in the long run, how are they supposed to attract drivers if they know at any minute their ride may be "going away" at the end of the year, only to magically return later? I know I wouldn't want to race for a team that has no problem screwing over someone.

 

[GTPorsche]

Bob Varsha just answered a question on twitter about what he will be doing this coming weekend.

https://twitter.com/bobvarsha/status/371741537635672064

 

[TheDabbinDave]

Bob Varsha just answered a question on twitter about what he will be doing this coming weekend.

https://twitter.com/bobvarsha/status/371741537635672064

It was a treat to have Varsha doing the F1 Spa race this weekend. It sound natural and not like some gnat buzzing around my ear.

 

[GTPorsche]

It was a treat to have Varsha doing the F1 Spa race this weekend. It sound natural and not like some gnat buzzing around my ear.

He's doing one more F1 race this year for the Korean GP since it's the last conflicting weekend with Indycar.

 

[RACECAR]

It was a treat to have Varsha doing the F1 Spa race this weekend. It sound natural and not like some gnat buzzing around my ear.

Funny you say that because some people find him "boring" (not me BTW) and think Leigh Diffey is better. I think I'm the only one here that doesn't dislike either

Exactly why don't you like Leigh Diffey?

 

[GTPorsche]

I don't dislike either of them, but I prefer Varsha a bit more.

 

[JohnBM01]

I have and always considered Bob Varsha the finest announcer on TV. Hell- I even told him on Facebook that if I become an announcer, I have him as my inspiration. I actually respect Leigh Diffey and have for quite a while.

 

[Ganon83]

I do have to wonder if going to SHR would have any effect on his plans of running the Indy 500 next year like he wants to do as well, not sure SHR will be as open as FRR is when it comes to possible contract & schedule conflicts.

Tony is a racer, I doubt he'd stand in Kurt's way when it comes to this.
It isn't like Tony just outright said no to Penske's offer to run Indy last year anyway, I'm pretty certain he gave it a few hours thought before saying no.

 

[ICEYOU]

The Pepsi sponsor doesn't belong on the side of a Ford only Chevrolet.