Official 2012 NASCAR Thread

• Speedofsand

  

  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/01/patrick-dempsey-puts-racing-first-greys-contract-second/1
  "We're certainly talking about the future (with ABC)," Dempsey said. "The biggest point for me in negotiations is getting time off to come race -- so if I don't miss races, I'll probably stay on (Grey's).
  "It certainly helps with the racing, and that's my real passion, but I also enjoy the show as well."
  
  
• Speedofsand

  

  Ray Mason has changed from BMW to Honda and joined Compass 360 Racing
  
  
  
  
• Speedofsand

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Speedofsand

  

  Jeffrey Earnhardt
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Speedofsand

  

  Billy Johnson, Jack Roush Jr
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Billy Johnson, Boris Said
  
• Speedofsand

  

  where is all the Nascar testing chatter? anybody watch tv or online today?
  
  http://nascar.speedtv.com/
• GoChiefs

  

  NASCAR has banned the car to car communications at 'Dega and Daytona beginning with the Daytona 500 to try to cut down on the tandem duo drafting.
• Speedofsand

  

  Stewart ran 3rd in a Chili bowl prelim last night, locked him into the A main on Sat. back in Tulsa. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jason Leffler, Cole Whitt & JJ Yeley are also racing there.
  There are 261 entries for this week’s Chili Bowl Nationals representing 31 states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland.
• said_aouita

  

  Speedofsand;1050235 wrote:Stewart ran 3rd in a Chili bowl prelim last night, locked him into the A main on Sat. back in Tulsa. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jason Leffler, Cole Whitt & JJ Yeley are also racing there.
  There are 261 entries for this week’s Chili Bowl Nationals representing 31 states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland.

  That's one event which would be fun to attend. Gotta be insane.
• Speedofsand

  

  After studying the data collected Thursday afternoon, the sanctioning body decided to go with larger restrictor plates - for more power - but decrease the horizontal size of the grill opening by 2 inches, from 20 to 18 inches. The pressure relief valve will be more hair-triggered at 25 psi.
  These rules, designed to overheat the race engines if cars run too close, will be used in today's morning session.
  NASCAR, which had several rules changes already in place before the start of Preseason Thunder, is doing everything in its power during this test to uncouple two stock cars racing in extended runs.
• GoChiefs

  

  Nice. Richard Petty says the reason that Kurt Busch wasn't hired as the driver of the #43 car was because Best Buy and Smithfield Foods, the #43 sponsors, didn't want him. Smithfield Foods went as far as saying they wouldn't sponsor the car if Kurt was behind the wheel of it.
• GoChiefs

  

  Speedofsand;1050618 wrote:After studying the data collected Thursday afternoon, the sanctioning body decided to go with larger restrictor plates - for more power - but decrease the horizontal size of the grill opening by 2 inches, from 20 to 18 inches. The pressure relief valve will be more hair-triggered at 25 psi.
  These rules, designed to overheat the race engines if cars run too close, will be used in today's morning session.
  NASCAR, which had several rules changes already in place before the start of Preseason Thunder, is doing everything in its power during this test to uncouple two stock cars racing in extended runs.

  The fastest two car tandem ran 202 mph. The fastest three car draft ran 195 mph. The fastest single car run was 192 mph. The drivers know what is faster. NASCAR can try to get rid of it all they want. The drivers know where the speed is, so in the end, that's what they will end up using. To me, all those changes are going to hurt the 'pack' racing that they are seeking too. It should give those with the single car runs more speed though and help level that out, which I'm hoping. I'd love to see Super Speedway racing where the entire race didn't depend on the draft.
• Speedofsand

  

  I think the mechanics are worried about blown engines next month if they race more than a couple laps in a tandem. That's what all the rule changes are doing. Drivers are wondering how the cars and engines will do this afternoon in a bigger pack. JJ48 is worried about wrecking his perfect car that he wants to save for next month. I hope he wrecks in the Twin 125s
• GoChiefs

  

  Of course they are worried about it. I bet you will see a few blown engines in the race, just because the drivers are going to push it to the max. Roush is saying the engines are turning 9,500 RPM's. Not good.
• GoChiefs

  

  Looks like that #51 car might not be a joke after all. Kurt hit 206 mph so far today.
• Speedofsand

  

  Finch has always had great superspeedway cars. Seems like I remember him at New Smyrna with Gary Balough and then Bobby Gill back in the day. I hope he does well with Kurt.
  http://www.phoenixracinginc.com/
• said_aouita

  

  GoChiefs;1050853 wrote:Nice. Richard Petty says the reason that Kurt Busch wasn't hired as the driver of the #43 car was because Best Buy and Smithfield Foods, the #43 sponsors, didn't want him. Smithfield Foods went as far as saying they wouldn't sponsor the car if Kurt was behind the wheel of it.

  Good job Smithfield Foods! I'm gonna eat more pork now.
  
  (edit) Kasey Kahne does not like super speedways, it seems. Will be interesting with KK being part of the "evil empire" Hendrick's now.
• Classyposter58

  

  GoChiefs;1050075 wrote:NASCAR has banned the car to car communications at 'Dega and Daytona beginning with the Daytona 500 to try to cut down on the tandem duo drafting.

  I think it's entertaining in all honesty. The ends to those is insane...4-5 duo's jockeying in the last few laps is crazy to watch
• GoChiefs

  

  Classyposter58;1051651 wrote:I think it's entertaining in all honesty. The ends to those is insane...4-5 duo's jockeying in the last few laps is crazy to watch

  
  Right. As Jr. pointed out today, thats when you are the fastest, so no matter what NASCAR does, at the end of the race, it will be tandem racing.
• said_aouita

  

  I like the in-race communicating between drivers, it adds another twist. Keep the radios and lose the restrictor plates.
• Speedofsand

  

  said_aouita;1051879 wrote:I like the in-race communicating between drivers, it adds another twist. Keep the radios and lose the restrictor plates.

  The big teams already have enough advantages over the low budget teams. They don't need another.
  ..............................
  
  Jac Haudenschild won his heat and ran 4th in the A main last night at the Chili Bowl. He starts front row of the 2nd B main tonight, top 6 transfer to the main event. 50 laps, 24 cars. I like his chances.
  
  
  https://www.facebook.com/ChiliBowlNationals
  
  
  today's feature line ups
  http://www.chilibowl.com/news/?i=10096
  
  audio & highlights
  http://www.racinboys.com/
• Speedofsand

  

  Sad story. Donnie Ray Crawford, was shot and killed by his grandfather this morning. Donnie won a Wed. A main last year while flipping his car across the checkered flag racing with Cole Whitt and another car. A few years ago, he saved a young girl's life rescuing her from her car engulfed in flames. A real hero. R.I.P.
  
  http://dirtdogtvnews.blogspot.com/2012/01/rip-donnie-ray-crawford-iii-we-lose.html#more
  
  
  [video=youtube;D_LHNnIAg-U][/video]
• Speedofsand

  

  Pablow is knocking people off the track again. I need to make something up to rip him for the Rolex race.
  
  [video=youtube;Fl_dP_rxbyw][/video]
• GoChiefs

  

  If anyone is interested, I do a yearly fantasy game from NASCAR.com called Streak To The Finish. Pretty fun. We had about 20 people last year. 1st place took home $400.00. Entry fee is $25.00 which you can either just mail it to me or pay by Paypal.
  
  http://fantasygames.nascar.com/streak/pages/rules
• Gardens35

  Labonte's crew washed and waxed the car today. It looks really fast.