Official 2011 Nascar thread

• Speedofsand

  

  300 miles on this 67 Firebird (phone pics)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Barney Oldfield's 1919 car
  
  
• Speedofsand

  

  Such is the case with Kurt Busch, who hasn't switched teams -- he's still with Penske Racing -- but has switched numbers (from 2 to 22) and primary sponsors (from Miller Lite to Shell-Pennzoil, formerly on Kevin Harvick's No. 29 car.
  
  "That will take a little while for all of our fans and everybody to get adjusted to," Busch said."And then when everybody stops calling me Kevin, we'll be settled in."
  
  http://www.news-journalonline.com/racing/sprint-cup/2011/01/21/testing-notes-no-word-on-new-format.html
  
  DAYTONA BEACH -- NASCAR has scheduled a "competition update" for noon today with president Mike Helton and competition director Robin Pemberton.
  With a lot of recent talk regarding a change to the season-long points standings, today's announcement was considered a potential time and place to unveil a new format, but that won't happen.
  Today's announcements will likely be highlighted by a news item leaked last week: That drivers will no longer be allowed to run for championships in more than one of NASCAR's major series.
  Any changes to the points system will be made public at an announcement next Wednesday in Charlotte.
• GoChiefs

  

  There's some video of the drivers talking about the points change over on NASCAR.com (sounds like it will be the 1 to 43 points that was discussed early.)
  
  http://www.nascar.com/video/none/none/110120/cup-thunder-media-points-mov/index.html
• Speedofsand

  

  Jeff Gordon told a really great story at lunch today about the time he was racing Schrader and Dale Sr. down the backstretch. He was behind Ken, pulled up next to him inside, then here comes Dale. They went forever and ever down the backstretch. He looks to the right, Ken is focused, looking straight ahead. He looks left, Dale is looking at him with a huge smile, all relaxed, elbow on the window, one hand on the wheel. (This was back before they had all the headrest/seat equipment). Jeff thought he was not going to be the one to back out, but he did just before turn 3, and said it was a good thing he did, because Dale slid all up the bank in front of Ken, it would have been a spectacular wreck. That was his best memory of Dale at this track, because in his mind he can still easily see that happy relaxed expression on Dale's face. Jeff Hammond then mentioned all the good old stories told at Mac's Famous Bar back in the day. Damn this was better than watching a race. They got on track about 2, and are going until 6 because of the rain delay.
  Jeff Gordon said he went to the wrong stall once yesterday, and Steve LeTarte said he timed the wrong car once yesterday, lol.
  Jimmie Johnson and Dale are among several guys heading home tonite. Dale's sister Kelly is getting married to L.W. Miller.
• GoChiefs

  

  Some highlights from Mike Helton's press conference today:
  
  NASCAR president Mike Helton confirmed Friday that drivers will be allowed to race for only one championship this season. The rule is designed to prevent Sprint Cup drivers from dominating the second-tier Nationwide Series. Full-time Cup drivers have won the last five Nationwide titles. Helton also said NASCAR is leaning toward a simpler points system for all three of its national series.
  
  Helton says bonus points would be added to put an emphasis on winning races (ESPN).
  
  Helton also indicated that a new points system is coming to the top three series. It likely will be one in which points are awarded one per position from with the winner getting 43 points and the last place driver just one. There likely will be bonus points offered to encourage drivers to race for wins and to keep championships from being decided by consistency alone. And there are expected to be provisions that allow drivers who don't finish the regular season in the elite group but have won races to have a shot at being added to the Chase field. He said the goal is to make the points system easier to understand for casual fans as well as those more familiar with the sport.
  
  The rookie of the year program also is expected to undergo some changes. With no rookie drivers signed up to run full-time in Cup this year, adjustments likely will be made to deal with a rookie like Trevor Bayne, who is signed to drive the Wood Brothers' #21 Ford but only has 17 races scheduled this year.
  
  Helton said starting times for Cup races, which were standardized last year, could see some changes. He said the times might need to be adjusted given the length of the NASCAR season. Last year, races started just after 1 pm, 3 pm. or 7:30 pm depending on the location of the track.
  
  NASCAR appears to be on pace to switch from carburetors to fuel injection, but fuel injection won't be used in points-paying Cup races this year. Cars will run on an ethanol blend fuel and a new fueling system that doesn't require a traditional vent will be used.
  
  Helton also said the sanctioning body has not made a decision concerning possible changes to the championship point systems for the 2011 Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. He admitted, however, that the move is receiving serious consideration in an attempt to make those championships simpler for fans to understand. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France is expected to announce the sanctioning body's final decision next Wednesday
• Speedofsand

  

  Chiefs, all those clips were from the streamed coverage of interviews in the media center. Helton and Pemberton and Darby were boring as hell, they should just issue press statements and leave the talking to Chitwood.
  http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-joey-chitwoods-thrill-show-now-runs-in-daytona-international-speedway/
  “I had just turned 14 years old, and we were at a fair in Delaware, and I was going to do an ‘aerial wing walk,’ something I hadn’t done before – standing on the side of a car while my dad drove it up on its side on two wheels,” he said. “We sat the car up on blocks so I could practice, and my grandfather was helping me. I was practicing climbing in and out of the car like I’d do on the track, and my grandfather was rocking the car to simulate the motion.
  “About the seventh time he pushed the car over on four wheels, and I got thrown off. I’m rolling around on the dirt and asking, ‘Why’d you do that?’
  “You’ve got to learn that, too, he said. You’ve got to learn what it’s like to fail, to get that taste in your mouth.”
• Speedofsand

  

  
  Pastrana Unveils Nationwide Car
  Pastrana will drive the No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing in seven Nationwide Series races this season, including a mid-summer debut in Indianapolis designed to bridge NASCAR with the ESPN X Games. Pastrana plans to compete in at least 20 races in 2012.
  http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Nationwide/News/Articles/2011/01/Pastrana-Unveils-Nationwide-Car.aspx
• Speedofsand

  

  Newman and Stewart hooked up at 197mph. I will be surprised if the plates don't get smaller holes by Speedweeks to slow the cars down. Two cars is ok, 20 cars in a bunch that fast is a lot of turbulence.
  
  
  edit : Penske duo hit 198.53mph
• GoChiefs

  

  
• DeyDurkie5

  

  GoChiefs;648297 wrote:

  
  lol
• Murdski99

  

  fuck nascar
• Speedofsand

  

  Murdski99;648837 wrote:I love nascar

  cool story bro.
  
  
  
  Kyle wore out Joey's bumper drafting.
  
  pic of the Penske cars http://www.news-journalonline.com/racing/sprint-cup/2011/01/23/takes-2-to-tango.html
• Speedofsand

  

  Speedtv has a Rolex 24 preview show on now. The winning car will go about 2400 miles including stops, driver changes, cautions. There are 78 cars in Friday's race, 49 in the Rolex 24.
  http://www.grand-am.com/
• Speedofsand

  

  Michael Shank Racing from Columbus Ohio testing at the new Daytona
  [video=youtube;y8DqU64oqdM][/video]
• Speedofsand

  

  Friday
  Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
  
  Saturday
  Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
  
  Saturday Night
  Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.
  
  Sunday
  Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s
• Speedofsand

  

  
  
  http://www.nhra.com/story/2011/1/24/nascar%E2%80%99s-busch-to-make-nhra-pro-debut-at-gatornationals/
  NASCAR’s Busch to make NHRA Pro debut at Gatornationals
• GoChiefs

  

  Press conference on NASCAR.com now with Brian France to announce the points changes. It's expected he will confirm the following changes:
  
  Twelve NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2011 -- the top 10 in points and the two drivers not in the top 10 who have the most race victories in NASCAR's 26-race regular season. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France is expected to confirm that arrangement, along with a points system that gives 43 points to race winners and then one-point increments down to just one point for the last-place finisher. Each driver who leads a lap will get one bonus point, and regular-season race winners are expected to get two or three Chase bonus points for each victory. There will be no knockout rounds in the Chase, as NASCAR had hinted at earlier.
• GoChiefs

  

  To recognize the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death in the 2001 Daytona 500, SPEED announced it would broadcast a one-hour special titled "The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt" on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The program will reflect on the tragic events of that Sunday from sunrise to sunset and focus on how that moment forever changed NASCAR. The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt, will mark the first time Michael Waltrip, who won the 2001 Daytona 500, will give a television interview to discuss the death of his former car owner, friend and mentor.
• GoChiefs

  

  OK, so for winning a race, you get 3 bonus points plus 1 point for leading a lap and 1 point for leading the most laps. So you can get a total of 48 points for a race. I like this system. MUCH simpler. If you're in 2nd place by 12 points, you know you have to finish 13 cars ahead of the 1st place driver to take the points lead. Simple to figure out. The two 'wild card' spots to make the chase also have to be in the Top 20 in points.
• Speedofsand

  

  qualifying will be set by practice speeds. I predict alot more weather watching by crew chiefs, possible sandbagging in practice if they want to qualify early. This will depend on the track and time of day. If its hot, they will want to practice hard and qualify later.
• ptown_trojans_1

  

  Point system actually makes sense now, more like F1 and Indy cars.
  Chase is a little better, but still need to change the tracks.
  The qualifying is odd, as teams will sandbag more I feel like.
• Speedofsand

  

  
  
  
  
  Anyone able to connect to the internet using a mobile device can use this service, which can be accessed from the GRAND-AM.com home page or by visiting http://m.grand-am.com.
  
  Information to be streamed will include drivers' names, car numbers, class, position in class, last lap times and time behind the car ahead.
  
  live timing and scoring starts today http://www.grand-am.com/
• Red Rum

  

  I've been watching since 1990 or 1991,(Kulwickis championship year) saw some great racing, wild subplots, tragic accidents and attended a few live events AND
  
  NASCAR is destroying itself IMO, heres why...
  1. Pick a name for the championship trophy and stop selling it like a whore to the highest bidder. Leave that one thing stable and sacred. I understand the need for sponsorship dollars, the constant changing of race names, having an official victory lane sponsor and so forth. This well is just about dry and if NASCAR really understands branding...Brand the "whatever you name it cup" and leave it alone.
  
  2. Greed, NASCAR is, was and always will be "the southern sport". Dumping old tracks like North Wilkesboro was a mistake. Sure, they weren't set up as the latest and greatest in the track profit center model, but they were close to the teams shops and the true core fans. Now more travel by the teams has pushed up costs and in return fans got yet another round of price increases.
  
  3. The Ivy league CFO, after his hiring, everything seemed to become a profit center. There's nothing wrong with profit, but you can't get carried away and price things beyond the real fans budgets.
  
  4. Southern California can't muster up the fan base to support a pro football team. Why would anyone think it could support 2 races from NASCAR.
  
  5. Competition with football. Stop doing it, proven losing proposition. During football season race Saturday nights. I just don't buy it that NASCAR cares about the local saturday night tracks.
  
  6. Someone has to beat Johnson. Its gotten to the point its like the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals. The latest push to make things more competitive seems to be making things less exciting and competitive.
  
  Thats just my take, any opinions?
• Speedofsand

  

  Les Richter is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I knew Les when he worked with Nascar. That kind of man is what Nascar is missing these days.
  http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=295
  Second player picked overall, 1952 draft … Rams traded 11 players to obtain rights … Known for rugged, punishing style of play … Eight straight Pro Bowls …Los Angeles had to wait two years while Richter served in the military. When he returned he signed with the Rams and embarked on a nine-season career that earned him the reputation as one of the best linebackers of his era.
• GoChiefs

  

  Red Rum, I will agree with all of those points.
  
  I've been saying it for a while that NASCAR has become TOO corporate. Every sport in the end is all about the almighty dollar, but NASCAR takes that to an extreme.
  
  They can't even sell out tracks on the west coast, and they are talking about wanting to go global. That's going to hurt too. More driving up costs, and will get no different results in my opinion. They have seemed to have forgotten all about their roots and what made them so popular and have abandoned that for the dollar as well. Trying to expand to different markets and what not. Hello! Wake up NASCAR, that market it is what made you that fastest growing sport. Why the hell would you tell them to fuck off like your doing? Instead of getting rid of tracks that everyone loves for boring as tracks (looking at you Fontana), embrace those tracks, redo them, add more seats, do whatever it takes.
  
  Johnson is killing the sport, and even NASCAR knows that. They hate seeing him win. I believe that's why they are rotating the tracks in the chase next year. Why they are revamping the points system. The last race of the season was one of the highest rated races in a while. And I think that's just simply because everyone wanted to see Jimmie Johnson get beat.