2017 NASCAR Discussion threadNASCAR

[GTFan24]

All i gotta say is:

🤬 DENNY HAMLIN!

 

[Leadfoot530]

As I said back in 2015, if we didn't have this format, where people will do these crazy things, and just had points racing like we did back in '03, we wouldn't have these chaotic melees.

 

[BKGlover]

As I said back in 2015, if we didn't have this format, where people will do these crazy things, and just had points racing like we did back in '03, we wouldn't have these chaotic melees.

For better or worse.

 

[Leadfoot530]

For better or worse.

Better for NASCAR: Monies.
Better for Fans: "And there's a fight!"

Downside for Fans: As Hamlin said in 2015, "How can you determine a real champion?"

 

[BKGlover]

Better for NASCAR: Monies.
Better for Fans: "And there's a fight!"

Downside for Fans: As Hamlin said in 2015, "How can you determine a real champion?"

I'd apply that to the driver's as well. Jimmie's great and all, but he wouldn't have had 7 if the chase never existed. Who all lost out on titles because of it?

 

[L8 Apex]

I'd apply that to the driver's as well. Jimmie's great and all, but he wouldn't have had 7 if the chase never existed. Who all lost out on titles because of it?

This article was done before last season was over, but it's sobering nonetheless: Gordon would have tied Earnhardt and Petty with seven in 2014, and Johnson might only be on three.
http://autoweek.com/article/nascar-...ns-would-look-different-if-chase-format-hadnt

 

[GroupB]

The problem with the chase format has always been that the price for all the short-term excitement and drama is a history book full of artificial champions.

 

[Northstar]

This article was done before last season was over, but it's sobering nonetheless: Gordon would have tied Earnhardt and Petty with seven in 2014, and Johnson might only be on three.
http://autoweek.com/article/nascar-...ns-would-look-different-if-chase-format-hadnt

I never take those articles seriously simply because they ignore the fact teams strategies would have been completely different if there was a different championship structure.

 

[ukfan758]

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I think Hamlin deserves a three race ban after those wrecks.

 

[Blood Eagle]

No sense in getting worked up about the old points system since it's been gone for like 13 years. It's obviously not coming back. It's unfortunate people like Larson get eliminated as well as Truex last year for an engine failure but it is what it is.

 

[MustangRyan]

Probably an unpopular opinion here but I think Hamlin deserves a three race ban after those wrecks.

It was viewed more like Logano dumping Kenseth for the win at Kansas than it was when Kenseth paid it back to Logano while ten laps down at Martinsville the following week.

Chase had just finished moving Keselowski out of the second lane the lap before Hamlin did it back to him.

NASCAR isn't going to punish the drivers for doing this for the lead at the end of the race. The win-and-advance elimination format practically demands that they do it if presented the chance to win the race.

 

[BKGlover]

In kinda-news:

Smithfield and RPM have settled their quarrel, will have a minor relationship next season.

David Starr is gonna attempt the Texas cup race, keeping that 40th place warm for Cope to reclaim next week.

Danica may be going to Roush-Fenway... OK, my family has established a few unwritten rules to life. #1 on all of our lists is "Never work with family.", and I really think Danica & Ricky on the same team directly is a reeeeeally bad idea for them.

 

[RACECAR]

Danica may be going to Roush-Fenway... OK, my family has established a few unwritten rules to life. #1 on all of our lists is "Never work with family.", and I really think Danica & Ricky on the same team directly is a reeeeeally bad idea for them.

Frankly, Roush has been nothing but bad ideas the last few years. This year was looking like the spell was gonna be broke until Ricky decided to be Ricky again. Not like a massive difference will be made should this happen, they'll never be on the same level as SHR and Penske, yet Ford will continue to waste money on them. At least their road racing team is still there being competitive. Oh wait...

 

[BKGlover]

Matt Crafton staying at ThorSport. He stated he's a Truck lifer, and at 39 there's not much moving up he can do now, but we need more drivers like that who take a non-cup series, stay near the top regularly, and make it their own thing. Xfinity could definitely use more of them.

 

[Northstar]

Ford will continue to waste money on them.

Roush-Yates still makes great engines even though Roush hasn't performed well overall. If Ford were to cut that funding they would have to hope Penske or SHR can build an entire engine program on short notice.

 

[RACECAR]

Roush-Yates still makes great engines even though Roush hasn't performed well overall. If Ford were to cut that funding they would have to hope Penske or SHR can build an entire engine program on short notice.

Surely they can stop spending money on the team while still helping the engine program, can't they?

Also, don't Penske still have an engine program themselves?

 

[MustangRyan]

Surely they can stop spending money on the team while still helping the engine program, can't they?

Also, don't Penske still have an engine program themselves?

Not since Dodge, I thought. They are using Roush-Yates engines.

 

[BKGlover]

Surely they can stop spending money on the team while still helping the engine program, can't they?

Also, don't Penske still have an engine program themselves?

Nope.

Not since Dodge, I thought. They are using Roush-Yates engines.

Yep. This was the biggest factor in their move to Ford.

 

[Blood Eagle]

14 team gets an L1 penalty for an underweight thingamajig in place of the onboard camera. Sounds pretty weak but it's unknown if if was just a few ounces or a blatant thing.

 

[Blood Eagle]

The problem with the chase format has always been that the price for all the short-term excitement and drama is a history book full of artificial champions.

That is a problem unless who wins is a fan favorite. If Chase Elliott wins it all this year people will think it's great but the same people rooting for him to win it are probably the same people who made a huge fuss when Kyle Busch won it all in 2015 after missing 11 races but winning 5 races of the 25 he entered while a fan favorite like Chase Elliott can theoretically win it without winning a single race thus far in his whole career.

 

[MustangRyan]

That is a problem unless who wins is a fan favorite. If Chase Elliott wins it all this year people will think it's great but the same people rooting for him to win it are probably the same people who made a huge fuss when Kyle Busch won it all in 2015 after missing 11 races but winning 5 races of the 25 he entered while a fan favorite like Chase Elliott can theoretically win it without winning a single race thus far in his whole career.

Ryan Newman almost won the championship three years ago without winning a single race in the first 35 events. If it wasn't for the final caution, he probably would have held off Harvick and won the championship.

 

[Blood Eagle]

Ryan Newman almost won the championship three years ago without winning a single race in the first 35 events. If it wasn't for the final caution, he probably would have held off Harvick and won the championship.

I remember. Just think people wouldn't make so much of a deal about the chase if a fan favorite wins the whole deal after a decent season but no wins.

 

[GroupB]

On the flip side, the chase was created because Kenseth won the title with one win in a year that Newman had dominated.

 

[RACECAR]

On the flip side, the chase was created because Kenseth won the title with one win in a year that Newman had dominated.

Now that you bring that up (and looking at the drivers who should've won, but got taken out by small things), I just realized this chase is basically bringing back the very issue NASCAR tried to get rid of. It makes it even more puzzling and all the more reason to question what was even the point?

 

[GroupB]

Another key component that gets overlooked is that Bob Latford, the guy who designed the 1975-2003 points system, passed on during the 2003 season. With him out of the way, Brian France felt free to start tinkering.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Another key component that gets overlooked is that Bob Latford, the guy who designed the 1975-2003 points system, passed on during the 2003 season. With him out of the way, Brian France felt free to start tinkering.

I think the change would have happened anyway, since '03 is when NASCAR started coming down off its golden period and France was really getting hooked on the idea that overtaking the NFL in fall ratings was the key to fixing that. Latford might have at least been able to act as a voice of reason and help with hammering out the finer details though, so they wouldn't had needed to spend the next several years monkeying around with the format and further eroding the fanbase in the process.

 

[Dylan]

Almirola expected to replace Danica Patrick at SHR.

Darian Grubb to be William Byrons crew chief.

 

[Dolph Drago]

I think the change would have happened anyway, since '03 is when NASCAR started coming down off its golden period and France was really getting hooked on the idea that overtaking the NFL in fall ratings was the key to fixing that. Latford might have at least been able to act as a voice of reason and help with hammering out the finer details though, so they wouldn't had needed to spend the next several years monkeying around with the format and further eroding the fanbase in the process.

It sure didn't help that they kept watering the field down. It was okay with 10 drivers. Then Gordon and Jr. missed out, so they increased it to 12. Now we're at 16. And with this goofy system, a top 3 driver gets knocked out before it even gets to the 2nd to last round.

 

[Leadfoot530]

One thing about the truck series that always amazes me?

How on earth does Jennifer Jo Cobb make minimum speed every week?

 

[EngieDiesel]

It sure didn't help that they kept watering the field down. It was okay with 10 drivers. Then Gordon and Jr. missed out, so they increased it to 12. Now we're at 16. And with this goofy system, a top 3 driver gets knocked out before it even gets to the 2nd to last round.

Given how they seem to keep copying more things from football's playoff system, it wouldn't surprise me if the next move was putting the Chase drivers in a bracket system and if Driver A performs better over 3 races than Driver B, they move on to the next round. But of course winning a race would trump everything, so if one pair had both drivers win they would both go through and the pair opposite them on the bracket would be cut, or some other roundabout nonsense that makes zero sense.