2017 NASCAR Discussion threadNASCAR

[MustangRyan]

My favorite driver, Kenseth, got eliminated last week. His race last week at Phoenix went a lot like first race of 2016, the Daytona 500. Everything was looking good for him until the final lap, when it went all to hell in a hurry. I'm afraid Kenseth only has a few more real chances to compete for a second championship.

So, let's talk about 2017.

I'm most excited to see Clint Bowyer escape from racing purgatory and join SHR. I'm excited to see SHR move from Chevy to Ford. Unfortunately, this gives Ford five of the most disliked drivers in the field (Kes, Logano, Harvick, Kurt Busch, & Danica).

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

That was...fast...?

 

[MustangRyan]

That was...fast...?

I was ready to start this thread after Kenseth crashed last Sunday.

 

[RACECAR]

My favorite driver, Kenseth, got eliminated last week. His race last week at Phoenix went a lot like first race of 2016, the Daytona 500. Everything was looking good for him until the final lap, when it went all to hell in a hurry. I'm afraid Kenseth only has a few more real chances to compete for a second championship.

So, let's talk about 2017.

I'm most excited to see Clint Bowyer escape from racing purgatory and join SHR. I'm excited to see SHR move from Chevy to Ford. Unfortunately, this gives Ford five of the most disliked drivers in the field (Kes, Logano, Harvick, Kurt Busch, & Danica).

I don't know about that, he doesn't anywhere near the amount of hate the other four do. If anything, he gets more cheers.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

I was ready to start this thread after Kenseth crashed last Sunday.

LOL

 

[BKGlover]

With Jahgee off-site, you probably weren't getting sniped this time.

I think 2017 could be the year JGR was hoping for this year, all four cars in the final 4 at Homestead. This'll be year 3 of the #19 team as it stands, Kyle and the #18 are strong, and if the #20 can shake their end-of-race gremlins, he could be the favorite. The weakest link in JGR itself I see is the #11 with Denny, a combo of driver, team, and equipment faults.

Close behind would be Furniture Row. Truex should be as good as this year, but the new 77 and Erik Jones are gonna be the wild card. Could be great, could be mediocre, no one knows.

Hendrick is next with Johnson and the 48 leading as of now, Chase and the 24 next in line, then a trying to return Jr. and Kasey Kahne. The 24 SHOULD break through, but the 88 and 5 are almost unknowns in this.

After that, all bets are off. Penske will be trying to get SHR up to speed on Ford bits, all while keeping the 21 up and possibly dragging Roush with them. RCR and Ganassi can be so polarizing any of them could be contenders, or they could all end up as cabbies before the end of the year. Petty? I'm not even gonna feign it.

Then there's the thorns in the eye, Front Row, BK, and now Leavine. I'd bet one of the three gets a win and really makes a mess of the Chase system.

 

[Leadfoot530]

Okay, I'm ready to move on after the last race in 2016 just backfired.

I'm about ready to burn my Kyle Busch shirts. Every time...EVERY TIME I wear them, the finishes haven't gone my way...

 

[Eh Team]

With Jahgee off-site, you probably weren't getting sniped this time.

What if he was banned purposely so that he couldn't start the thread again.

 

[BKGlover]

I'm about ready to burn my Kyle Busch shirts. Every time...EVERY TIME I wear them, the finishes haven't gone my way...

This is why I have given up almost all my "fandom". It's nothing but unndeeded heartache and despair. I've been much happier since.

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

Carl Edwards or bust.

...

Probably going to be bust because someone will just wreck him or won't even be in the finale.

 

[Smurfybug]

Wow, that was something wasn't it?

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Congrats to Jimmie Johnson the 2016 (sprint) Cup champion!

 

[RACECAR]

Not gonna lie, I kinda had a thread saved before I found out Jahgee was banned

 

[MustangRyan]

This is why I have given up almost all my "fandom". It's nothing but unndeeded heartache and despair. I've been much happier since.

That's my year. Panthers go 15-1 last season, but get killed in the Super Bowl earlier this year. This season, they keep finding new ways to lose.

Last week was a double kick to the face, with the Panthers giving up a 17-0 lead at home, losing 20-17, despite not allowing Kansas City's offense to score a touchdown. Then, Kenseth looks poised to cruise to victory, with a berth in the title race hanging in the balance. The 95 cuts a tire with 1.5 laps remaining, brings out a caution, and all hell breaks loose on the restart. Kenseth went from race winner to eliminated because the 95 cut a tire twenty seconds too early.

That's two straight years of playoff elimination for the 20 while leading a race in the final laps. My wife has asked several times why I continue to watch sports.

 

[Northstar]

I guess that's one nice thing about being a Minnesota sports fan, I've been disappointed so many times over the years it really doesn't have much of an effect on me anymore.

My predictions for 2017:

I watch the first few races until the rest of the racing world starts their seasons and don't tune in again until they turn right.

 

[TheBook]

I guess that's one nice thing about being a Minnesota sports fan, I've been disappointed so many times over the years it really doesn't have much of an effect on me anymore.

As a Lions fan, I feel your pain.

 

[Northstar]

As a Lions fan, I feel your pain.

At least the Pistons and Red Wings have won championships this lifetime. The Twins have one but I was 2 at the time and I'm not really into basketball so the Lynx winning doesn't mean much to me.

 

[Adamgp]

2016 has been a good year in the sports world, JJ wins a record tying #7 and the Cubs finally win the WS again.

 

[Blood Eagle]

Looking forward to see what Erik Jones can do in the 77. SHR to Ford. For Tony Stewart to be the Chevy leg humper he always has been, that's a weird thing for me to wrap my head around. I think Ford has something big planned. Good for Bowyer. Fresh start for him. But honestly I think SHR's good days are over.

 

[BKGlover]

That's my year. Panthers go 15-1 last season, but get killed in the Super Bowl earlier this year. This season, they keep finding new ways to lose.

Last week was a double kick to the face, with the Panthers giving up a 17-0 lead at home, losing 20-17, despite not allowing Kansas City's offense to score a touchdown. Then, Kenseth looks poised to cruise to victory, with a berth in the title race hanging in the balance. The 95 cuts a tire with 1.5 laps remaining, brings out a caution, and all hell breaks loose on the restart. Kenseth went from race winner to eliminated because the 95 cut a tire twenty seconds too early.

That's two straight years of playoff elimination for the 20 while leading a race in the final laps. My wife has asked several times why I continue to watch sports.

Yeah. Yeah, I know. I've been asked that about sports and video games. I gave up the sports side, games are harder to give up.
I rooted for the Packer's since '97, but after suffering through my dad's "Watch Party" (read: reason for everyone except me to get 🤬-faced and be massive jack-asses) I decided I'd had enough with it. Next in line was the Mavs...That didn't last too long as they choked year after year, usually to the hapless Kings. Then the Rangers, and that went horribly. In the time I rooted for them, they lost every game I attended. Racing-wise it went Bobby Labonte & Dodge to Kasey Kahne & Dodge to just Dodge, then with it just being the Penske guys I finally said 🤬 it.

It sucks.

 

[Kingofweasles]

My predictions for 2017:

I watch the first few races until the rest of the racing world starts their seasons and don't tune in again until they turn right.

This is the plan I stuck with all year and I enjoyed it. It might change if NASCAR goes ahead and impliments the "Caution-Clock" in all three divisions next year like a couple of websites I frequent have rumoured...

 

[GTFan24]

Alright so the first 2017 question: Will we see a new Camry?

 

[Blood Eagle]

Alright so the first 2017 question: Will we see a new Camry?

Not until 2018. You heard it here.

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

That's my year. Panthers go 15-1 last season, but get killed in the Super Bowl earlier this year. This season, they keep finding new ways to lose.

Last week was a double kick to the face, with the Panthers giving up a 17-0 lead at home, losing 20-17, despite not allowing Kansas City's offense to score a touchdown. Then, Kenseth looks poised to cruise to victory, with a berth in the title race hanging in the balance. The 95 cuts a tire with 1.5 laps remaining, brings out a caution, and all hell breaks loose on the restart. Kenseth went from race winner to eliminated because the 95 cut a tire twenty seconds too early.

That's two straight years of playoff elimination for the 20 while leading a race in the final laps. My wife has asked several times why I continue to watch sports.

Well, could be worse. I'm also a Panthers fan and an Edwards fan. Hopes and dreams destroyed just like Edwards' car and no prior title to fall back on.

 

[ukfan758]

The 2017 TV schedule:

Cup Series:
*Many races have later starting times this year, there are now only two 1PM EST starts. The Daytona 500 now starts at 2 EST.*


*Races at Indianapolis, Bristol (summer), and Talladega (fall) will move from NBCSN to NBC while the races at Darlington, Charlotte (fall), and Kansas (fall) will move from NBC to NBCSN. Watkins Glen will return to NBCSN after being on USA in 2016.*

February 18: Unlimited/Shootout (Daytona)

February 23: Duels (Daytona)

February 26: Daytona 500 (Daytona)

March 5: Atlanta

March 12: Las Vegas

March 19: Phoenix

March 26: Auto Club Speedway

April 2: Martinsville

April 9: Texas

April 23: Bristol

April 30: Richmond

May 7: Talladega

May 13: Kansas

May 19: Showdown (Charlotte)

May 20: All-Star Race (Charlotte)

May 28: CocaCola 600 (Charlotte)

June 4: Dover

June 11: Pocono

June 18: Michigan

June 25: Sonoma

July 1: Daytona

July 8: Kentucky

July 16: New Hampshire

July 23: Indianapolis

July 30: Pocono

August 6: Watkins Glen

August 13: Michigan

August 19: Bristol

September 3: Darlington

September 9: Richmond

September 17: Chicagoland

September 24: New Hampshire

October 1: Dover

October 7: Charlotte

October 15: Talladega

October 22: Kansas

October 29: Martinsville

November 5: Texas

November 12: Phoenix

November 19: Homestead

Xfinity Series:

*The 4 races on NBC will be Iowa, Road America, Kansas, and Phoenix. The races at Darlington, Chicagoland, and Texas will move to NBCSN.*
February 25: Daytona

March 4: Atlanta

March 11: Las Vegas

March 18: Phoenix

March 25: Auto Club

April 8: Texas

April 22: Bristol

April 29: Richmond

May 6: Talladega

May 27: Charlotte

June 3: Dover

June 10: Pocono

June 17: Michigan

June 24: Iowa

June 30: Daytona

July 7: Kentucky

July 15: New Hampshire

July 22: Indianapolis

July 29: Iowa

August 5: Watkins Glen

August 12: Mid-Ohio

August 18: Bristol

August 27: Road America

September 2: Darlington

September 8: Richmond

September 16: Chicagoland

September 23: Kentucky

September 30: Dover

October 6: Charlotte

October 21: Kansas

November 4: Texas

November 11: Phoenix

November 18: Homestead

Truck Series:

February 24: Daytona

March 4: Atlanta

April 1: Martinsville

May 12: Kansas

May 19: Charlotte

June 2: Dover

June 9: Texas

June 17: Gateway

June 23: Iowa

July 6: Kentucky

July 19: Eldora

July 29: Pocono

August 12: Michigan

August 16: Bristol

September 3: Canadian Tire

September 15: Chicagoland

September 23: New Hampshire

September 30: Las Vegas

October 14: Talladega

October 28: Martinsville

November 3: Texas

November 10: Phoenix

November 17: Homestead

 

[BKGlover]

I know it's subject to change, but there's something I don't see that makes me...less dismissive. No mention of FS2.

 

[NinjaDesignz]

Alright, after that heartbreaking lost. I'm ready to move on.

To quote Carl "We'll be on fire next year". I really hope this is true. Plus, I have to wait another year to see Carl on twitter.

 

[RACECAR]

That was...fast...?

Would you say it was...freaky fast?

Looking forward to see what Erik Jones can do in the 77. SHR to Ford. For Tony Stewart to be the Chevy leg humper he always has been, that's a weird thing for me to wrap my head around. I think Ford has something big planned. Good for Bowyer. Fresh start for him. But honestly I think SHR's good days are over.

I think Erik Jones proved in 2015 that he can handle a Cup car (that and if I'm not mistaken, he's tested in one as well) so he already has some idea of what to do and will now have a fast team (that more or less will now be JGR II after the speed they've shown).

As for Stewart, well he's not driving so he doesn't have to worry too much about violating his GM loyalty. The team itself has also proven at times to be actually better then Hendrick in Chevy equipment so I wouldn't be too surprised if when they got to a competitive point, they are at times as good as Penske. Either way, I see another forgettable year for Roush and even if Buescher gets in 16 (which I feel is a forgone conclusion at this point), its not gonna be any better as they stay stuck at the back.

 

[MustangRyan]

Which team wins a Cup race first next season: RCR, Roush, Petty, or Front Row?

It's got to be RCR, with Dillon or Newman, right?

I think I would bet on Blaney and the Wood Brothers first over all of those teams.

 

[BKGlover]

Which team wins a Cup race first next season: RCR, Roush, Petty, or Front Row?

It's got to be RCR, with Dillon or Newman, right?

I think I would bet on Blaney and the Wood Brothers first over all of those teams.

Of those 4? I want to say Front Row as a joke but they're all jokes. Newman has a little left, give him a really good car he could do it, Menard likes to "LOL, HAI" every once in a while, especially at Dega and Daytona. Austin...well, there was a white-and-black car that stuck it's nose in the title contender's race at Homestead. He's done it a few times, he just needs to figure out how to not 🤬 it up at the end, which lets be honest is why he, and Chase Elliott by shenanigans, were out of the chase.

In short, Don't Bet!