Nascar

[xXSilencerXx]

I searched and there dosen't seem to be any other threads like this.

This just a thread about nascar in general. A place to talk about current events in the sport and express opinions on things.

I'l start what do you think about them letting Toyota run the Camry in the Nextel Cup next season?

I personnlly don't like it. That car to me has always been a cheap little car for people who need somethin realiable and cheap as to not hurt there pokets too much. It has never had a sporty edge to it IMO.


If you don't not like Nascar at all and are in here just to start crap please don't post and just go back to your F1 threads or whatever you like. And please try to respect other peoples opinions.

 

[The Internet]

There's a 1990 Taurus sitting in my driveway, and it's not much of a sports car either. I don't see why they shouldn't run Camrys.

 

[a6m5]

I agree with the Internet. If the cars like Taurus, Fusion could be in the NASCAR, I don't see why not. Didn't they used to have Lumina in there also?

P.S. I am aware that Fusion(or whatever) stock cars are not really based on the said car.

Edit: If it was up to me, I'd throw in a Solara instead, but I guess Toyota's goal here is to sell more Camrys, so........

 

[toyomatt84]

Well, actually if you were to look at what cars were based on in the Nextel Cup, you could easily fit the Camry alongside them. Taurus, Monte Carlo... pretty much same class of vehicle that the Camry falls into. Also, it's good to see foreign competitors join the sport. It'd be nice to see a more diversified fan base.

 

[McLaren]

I'm more interested in seeing what it's going to look like, really.

Will this be the 1st time a non-American company has been in Nascar?

 

[Poverty]

There was a half sporty camry at one point actually.

 

[YSSMAN]

Toyota is the first foreign company to participate in an offical NASCAR race in quite a long time (someone I think used to run a Jaguar back in the '50s...). Toyotas presence is mostly due to their relative success they have had with Craftsman Truck Series Racing, and it really was a logical step for Toyota to join the Nextel and Bush series cups.

Toyota had been campaigning the Celica in some lower-level NASCAR races with some success as well, so it is up in the air to see how well they will perform next season. After Toyota joined the truck circuit, domestic teams decided that they need to do whatever possible to deafeat Toyota, and the pretty much did. If I remember right, Chevrolet ended up walking away with the manufactuers and drivers championships in 2005.

So then I suppose if Toyota can compete in NASCAR, how long will it be before Nissan and Honda join in? Nissan builds some of their cars and trucks in Alabama and Tennessee, and Honda has been building the Accord in Ohio for decades.

 

[xXSilencerXx]

I'm more interested in seeing what it's going to look like, really.

Will this be the 1st time a non-American company has been in Nascar?

No there used to be a lot of manufactures in the early days. I know Jaguar won one race. Ofcourse there was no factory support back then.

 

[McLaren]

I can see a Honda Nascar right now.

 

[Kylehnat]

It would have cupholders and a childseat in the back.

 

[toyomatt84]

 

[a6m5]

Very nice pics! Purdy car.

 

[YSSMAN]

If you know anything about NASCAR, you know there really arent "looks" to any of the "stock cars," only vynlils over bodies that are nearly identical in terms of shape.

The 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Stock Car

The 2006 Ford Fusion Stock Car

The 2006 Dodge Charger R/T Stock Car

Dodge has been complaining about their shape as it adversely affects their speed on the super speedway events at Daytona and Talladega. As to a change comming, the only new things are the "cars of the future" that will be put to use in 2007 which are supposed to retain looks closer to the production models.

 

[a6m5]

If you know anything about NASCAR, you know there really arent "looks" to any of the "stock cars," only vynlils over bodies that are nearly identical in terms of shape.

You mean those headlights are not real!? j/k Unless the cars are invisible, some cars are going to look better than the others. I think I like the Monte Carlo and Camry's design so far.

 

[red70mach1]

I'm more interested in seeing what it's going to look like, really.

Will this be the 1st time a non-American company has been in Nascar?

In the early fifties a VW Beetle was privately entered in a NASCAR race.

 

[red70mach1]

I agree with the Internet. If the cars like Taurus, Fusion could be in the NASCAR, I don't see why not. Didn't they used to have Lumina in there also?

P.S. I am aware that Fusion(or whatever) stock cars are not really based on the said car.

Edit: If it was up to me, I'd throw in a Solara instead, but I guess Toyota's goal here is to sell more Camrys, so........

I agree. TRD should have develop the Solara instead. Chevrolet's entry is the only 2-door coupe in american stock car racing. I believe that the Solara is a better fit.

 

[xXSilencerXx]

Jeff Burton (31) won the pole for the Daytona 500 yesterday and Jeff Gordon (24) got the outside pole.

Anyone watch the Bud shoot out yesterday. It was pretty good race. Only two cautions and a few dropouts. Denny Hamlin(11) did a pretty good job of gettin that win but I don't think he could've done it with Tony Stewart(20) Blocking for him most of the time.

What was up with the second penalty on Carl Edwards(99). I mean I hate Jack Roush cars but that was ridiculous. He had two choice rear end Jimmy Johnson(48) or go below the yellow line to avoid an accident. So they penalized him. The best part was he didn't pass anybody with that move either.

 

[YSSMAN]

NASCAR has a pre-determined "size" to the cars that are suppose to be used in racing, and generally it has been in the "economy/small midsize" class that currently is dominated by cars like the Monte Carlo/Impala, Charger, Fusion, Accord, Camry, Sonata, Grand Prix, Altima, Passat, etc.

Back in the '60s, IMO NASCAR's greatest years of racing, the track was dominated by American Muscle Cars such as the Chevrolet Chevelle, Dodge Charger/Daytona, Plymouth Roadrunner/Superbird, Ford Torino/Talledega, etc.

The Solara would be a more logical choise if you considered only the Monte Carlo and the history of NASCAR, but as it stands today, the Camry is perfectly acceptable in the context of the Fusion and Charger.

...Now if they really wanted things to get interesting, they would bring back the old NASCAR standards when they used to race Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers...

What was up with the second penalty on Carl Edwards(99). I mean I hate Jack Roush cars but that was ridiculous. He had two choice rear end Jimmy Johnson(48) or go below the yellow line to avoid an accident. So they penalized him. The best part was he didn't pass anybody with that move either.

I'm really not sure what happened there, and I really dont think Edwards deserved it at all. There would have been a wreck if he didnt do what he did, so I guess he cant complain too much. They need to work on the rules a little bit again, but I doubt they will before the 500...

The "Twin Duels" (which will be forever known as the Gatoraide Twin 125's) are on Thursday at 2:00 ET (I think on TNT)... So I'm excited for that... Its going to be interesting seeing how the DEI cars work together as they all start pretty much within the same spot.

 

[VNAF Ace]

Agreed. Carl Edwards didn't deserve to be penalized. He was trying to avoid an accident and even lost 3 positions in the process.

 

[Sting]

Man I hope Jeff Gordon has a better season then last, where he didn't even make the chase for the cup, a system that I quite frankly hate, but 0.069 behind Burton ain't too bad, and he performs well at Daytona. Heres hoping he starts off the season with a win.

 

[YSSMAN]

Man I hope Jeff Gordon has a better season then last, where he didn't even make the chase for the cup, a system that I quite frankly hate, but 0.069 behind Burton ain't too bad, and he performs well at Daytona. Heres hoping he starts off the season with a win.

...Hmmm... Not a Gordon fan myself, rather enjoyed seeing his engine blow during the Bud Shootout on Sunday... It was funny hearing all the fans cheer as Gordon pulled into the garage, sometimes I wonder how he deals with nearly every NASCAR fan hating him at some level...?

I personally dont have a problem with the "Chase for the Cup" system as it does encourage consistancy and competition throughout the season. Plus, twards the end of the season it keeps the racing interesting instead of previous seasons that I can recall where the #1 spot lead by more than 100 points by the end of the season...

This year should be a good year (I hope atleast), but I dont know if the Hendrick cars are going to have much success at Daytona this year. The DEI cars all qualified pretty strong, and although we still need to wait for the Twin Duals to decide qualifying position, the DEI cars are notoriously good in the draft (as seen by Jr's finish in the Shootout) and it will be interesting as Truex, Menard, and Jr. all start within a few spots of eachother.

Other than that, Dodge seems to have fixed their super-speedway problems, as many of the Chargers had pretty fast qualifying times at Daytona. Its still an event that is dominated by Chevrolet, but if Dodge has improved that much, it will be interesting to see what happens.

I'm just going to have to cross my fingers that there will be more Hendrick engine failures during the 500... Ha, ha Gordon...

 

[Sting]

There's one thing I don't understand about NASCAR, is why does everyone seemingly hate Jeff Gordon???

Is it because lots of fans are so ignorant that they can't realize he's a good driver and a multiple time cup champion? He's got an equal chance of winning a race as each of the other 42 runners in a race, and with the Hendrick air crash, they've had a tough time dealing with lost friends/family and then trying to get a competitive car on the track.

Someone please explain the hatred towards him, cause it just annoys the sheer hell out of me.

 

[VNAF Ace]

Some people hate Jeff Gordon because he's won too much. Same reason why many F1 fans hate Michael Schumacher or why many baseball fans hate the New York Yankees.

Others hate Gordon because he's not Southern. Gordon is from California and represents the newer wave of mainstream NASCAR fans from other parts of the country. Notice that Gordon gets cheers when he wins in California and boos when he wins at Talledega. I'm a fan of Jeff Gordon, but I see nothing wrong with cheering for your hometown heroes and booing the "visitors." Just another part of sports.

And other fans just simply hate him because Gordon beat their favorite driver.

 

[xXSilencerXx]

There's one thing I don't understand about NASCAR, is why does everyone seemingly hate Jeff Gordon???

Is it because lots of fans are so ignorant that they can't realize he's a good driver and a multiple time cup champion? He's got an equal chance of winning a race as each of the other 42 runners in a race, and with the Hendrick air crash, they've had a tough time dealing with lost friends/family and then trying to get a competitive car on the track.

Someone please explain the hatred towards him, cause it just annoys the sheer hell out of me.

It's not that he isn't reconized as a good driver its because he won too much and people got tired of hearing about him. Same reason I hate the Patriots.


I don't hate him but I don't cheer for him either and frankly Jimmy Johnson annoys me more than Jeff Gordon does. Jimmy just seems to always be complaining and what not.


Edit: This hatred didn't start after the plane crash. Its been around for at least 4 or 5 years.

 

[dropzone]

I saw the Bud Shootout and enjoyed it. Highlights for me was Mark Martin(#6) saving his car from causing a pontential "big one", Carl Edwards(#99) close call collision at the pit entrance(I can't believe he was penalized), and the last laps where Tony Stewart(#20) helped Hamlin(#11) in the lead(which was done like a third of the race). Listening in to Edwards after getting his penalties was amusing.

 

[McLaren]

Every time I watched a Nascar race, I usually cheered for Gordon, Martin, or Rusty.

These were the 3 guys I usually cheered for, and is it me, or is Dale Jr. getting a little more aggressive these years?

BTW, anyone hear the comment about someone's going to be killed between now and Talladega b/c it's getting a lot more aggressive?

 

[h0ss]

Yeah, it was Tony Stewart that said that.

I'm not sure I disagree with him. The restrictor-plate tracks are just scary, IMO. There's no variation in the drivers' speeds, so they keep bumping each other to stay competitive.

His solution was impressive, though. He said that they should get rid of the 1/4" plating on the front of cars. This way, if you bump someone, you're hosing your aerodynamics. That would keep people from being so aggressive. It's one thing to constantly complain about NASCAR, it's another to come up with a solution, and present it to the league directors.

I'll tell you what, though. I'm fed up with NBC. If they cut short Daytona this Sunday to show (already tape-delayed) Olympics, I'm going to be pretty POed.

 

[dropzone]

BTW, anyone hear the comment about someone's going to be killed between now and Talladega b/c it's getting a lot more aggressive?

Nope, and that better not happen. To have to lose a driver in the series sucks, I recall at the moment from when I started to casually watch NASCAR, Davey Allison(#28 Halvoline Texaco car) and especially Dale Earnhart, we don't need anymore. I thought there's more aggression in restrictor plate races, but in the non restrictor plate races too? If the Shootout from last night was any preview to the rest of the series, it's bound to be a good one.

 

[YSSMAN]

...More about Gordon:
I use to be a Jeff Gordon fan way, way back in the day when he used to drive the Baby-Ruth car. He was a fresh face, and it was good to see... I of course was a Dale Sr. fan (everyone in my family is), and although I got some heat for liking Gordon, I still liked him... Then, he got cocky after he moved over to DuPont. He started winning race, after race, after race. My man in the #3 car was finishing behind them, and there were several confrontations between the two on the track and it made me mad.

Eventually I joined up with everyone else, and now look what happens. Everyone hates Gordon because he is cocky, wins way too much (mostly for stupid reasons, remember the one he won on a yellow?), and he causes more trouble than he thinks.

Although I have to admit that one of the greatest moments in NASCAR history will be the fistfight between Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. CLASSIC!

..............................................................................................

As far as someone getting killed, I think its a bit of a stretch, but bump-drafting needs to get under control or stop all together. Too many accidednts at the super speedways are because of it, and it often takes out top compeditors that had a good chance of wining that particular race.

I belive it was during the shootout that they told Kyle Bush to "Settle Down" out on the track, as he was causing problems all night.

But NASCAR has done they best they could with slowing down the cars on the super speedways. The different teams have found ways to speed up the cars despite the fact that the restrictor plates are holding them back, and that could be a possible explanation for all the bump-drafting (which has only recently become a major problem).

BTW: I don't know if any of ya'all read the story about Rusty Wallace where he got to run his Charger at Talledaga without the restrictor plate a few years back....

Wallace Tops 228 MPH At Talladega
NASCAR Racing Blog
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From Steve McCormick,
Your Guide to NASCAR Racing.
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June 11, 2004
Wallace Tops 228 MPH At Talladega
Many have wondered how fast a NEXTEL Cup car could run at Talladega without the restrictor plates that have limited speeds on the superspeedway for over 15 years, now we have an idea. In testing this week Rusty Wallace turned it loose at Talladega topping out at 228 mph at the end of the straight.

Rusty believes that with a little tuning his car had more in it and that 235 mph at the end of the straightaway is attainable.

His best lap of the session was a little over 216 mph average over the 2.6 mile tri-oval. This unofficially beat the track record held by Bill Elliott of 212.809 mph by seven tenths of a second.

Wow, can you even imagine 43 cars racing off into the turn at 235 mph? Those speeds were just Rusty running alone, cna you imagine what could happen with a good strong draft? Clearly this is not safe for the drivers, fans or for that matter the helicopters that hover over the race but it sure is fun to test.

 

[toyomatt84]

I'm hoping Stewart pulls off a back to back year. I like his anti-social behavior as well.