NASCAR 2011

So much for the script which a team of PR hacks in Charlotte
likely spent all winter writing. Give us a break.

Even in Earnhardt, Jr's post qualifying interviews when he
was reminded of the Tenth Anniversary said, "It's been
ten years already. Y'all (the media) need to get over it".

Easier said than done perhaps as sales of Earnhardt, Sr.
t-shirts, hats and trinkets still ranks in the top five annually
according to sources who track such things.

All this for a guy who routinely flaunted safety standards by
refusing to wear a HANS Device, calling drivers who did "*******"
and intentionally wore his harness belts loose.

Those whom recall Earnhardt, Sr. talk about an unquestionable
driving talent but also remember he was booed by fans
more often than not as he enjoyed casting himself as the
villian vs. Jeff Gordon's squeaky clean "Pretty Boy" image.

And, when we remember that day ten years ago, let's not
forget while Earnhardt, Sr. was hot dogging, riding blocker
for his team cars ahead, he was directing the bird out the
window to anyone trying to pass and to the starter's stand.

As for this "Lap of Silence" on Lap 3 Sunday. How is that
going to work exactly? Are all the drivers shutting off their
engines and coasting around the track?

We'll see what sort of a debacle this once great race will
turn into Sunday as expecting anything less is pure folly.

BHW

 

Wow Barton, tell us how you REALLY feel.
You had nothing nice to say about anybody.

I do have a bit of news for you: LOTS of
drivers did not wear a HANS device or the other
one that was available back then, and MOST
drivers do indeed loosen their belts as a race
drags on.

Sr. was just playing the part, and it worked
WELL for him, as far as being the 'bad guy' goes.
He knew that role and he played it well, I never
liked him much until about a year before his death,
when he took part in the 24hr race and did a long
interview during/after it, and he had a lot of pretty
nice, down-to-earth things to say about it and
racing in general.

'Hot dogging' ?? I didn't see it in that race, nor do
I recall him flipping anyone the bird, and I didn't see
him blatantly blocking anybody, certainly nowhere
near what I have seen in F1 with blatant swerving.

And, nice swipe at Jr. for what he said at the press conference,
first you blast him for saying that, then you go on to blast
everything else that eminates BECAUSE the press won't let it go,
pick a side and stick to it, will ya?


I am looking forward to your complete and unbiased (sic) report
on the Daytona 500, although for a guy that seems to loath nascar
racing, I don't understand why you would watch even 2 minutes of it...?

 

I don't understand how you can propose that these guys can put on a show for 500 miles. I just can't imagine how they would script it out like a WWE event.

 

I think it would be pretty hard to truly "fix" a race, but you can certainly give a driver/team an "unfair advantage", particularly in tech inspection or judicious use of the yellow flag.

years back, Tony Stewart's car was impounded by NASCAR (at Texas, I think) for failing tech in a fairly significant way. a reporter asked Tony what it would take to make the car legal, and his response was "paint it red and put an 8 on it".

 

OK, was that actually a race, or a synchronized driving demonstration?

 

the latter

and lo and behold, a late-race caution! that never happens in NASCAR

 

Oops , pit speed violation.....aww, and 42 was runnin' real well too.....

Different calibrations for each car...

 

That's me exactly.

 

love the Great American Race! Can't wait....always a great time.
Barton - your post was pretty absurd - are you related to Tony Kornheiser?

I like what Jimmie Johnson said today....

Johnson, speaking from Daytona International Speedway, invited Kornheiser to come to the track so he can make "educated comments" about the sport in the future.

"I'd love to host you, [have you] come and be part of the team, come hang out, and we'll keep you from saying stupid things," Johnson said.

 

Yep! That's almost the weirdest piece of racing I've ever seen.

 

New to the sport are you?

Listen, my first love is NOT nascar, and all the cars ARE the same, for the most part, but that is no different from any other motorsport, and you can scream all you want about how F1 is different, but when you get down to it, it's no different.

There is a lot that goes on, from pit stops, gambling on no tires, 2 tires, 4 tires, 1 can of gas or two, who to hook up with, who to either pass and get around or just stick behind in the draft. Pit or stay out, what adjustments to make during the race, how the car changes as the sun moves around.
There is a lot going on with cars that go around in circles all day.

I feel the same way about baseball, where a 3+ hour game has 7 minutes of actual action.
Pro basketball makes me literally sick to my stomach to watch, and football season is over.

 

that was an eventful race.

anything happen re: the rear spoiler that fell down on Mikey's car, er truck?

 

Big party here tomorrow that I'm looking forward to. My mother is the biggest Jeff Gordon fan on the planet.

 

Danica started 4th in the Nationwide race on now. ESPN2. She's back to 20th in 3 laps.

This tandom racing stuff is goofy.

 

I agree, it is rather odd. hopefully it will avoid the "big one", though.

 

The "Big One" is the only reason I watch

 

To get ya'll in the mood.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXCh9OhDiCI[/ame]

 

Them doing the National Anthem is going to be so cool