2018 NASCAR Discussion threadNASCAR

[Adamgp]

Our Daytona 500 tickets arrived yesterday.

 

[BKGlover]

Petty to rejoin GM. Switching to Chevy, allying with RCR to the point of moving in with them.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Petty to rejoin GM. Switching to Chevy, allying with RCR to the point of moving in with them.

Didn't expect RPM to basically become a Childress satellite team. I wonder if this will kill off the rumors of RCR moving to Dodge or be considered the first step, since Petty has so much history with Mopar.

Either way, this hopefully gives Bubba a much better chance of doing well since the team won't be living week to week now.

 

[BKGlover]

And here's the advantage of having two engine builders instead of one. I seem to recall someone had a short tech alliance with RPM, and I believe we laughed at it. RCR and Hendrick have strong programs and sell engines, Roush has to supply almost all the Fords, TRD builds for their customers, and if you don't have one of those four it's a really good bet you 'aint winnin' anything.

Also its now Childress, JTG, and RPM...and Germain? If yes, Richard has a hand in 6 cars, but only has to manage 2 IIRC. Not as crazy as Hendrick having say in 10+, but surprising from him.

 

[RACECAR]

And here's the advantage of having two engine builders instead of one. I seem to recall someone had a short tech alliance with RPM, and I believe we laughed at it. RCR and Hendrick have strong programs and sell engines, Roush has to supply almost all the Fords, TRD builds for their customers, and if you don't have one of those four it's a really good bet you 'aint winnin' anything.

Pretty much. You could try Pro Motors or Triad Racing Development if you wanted, good luck with that though

Also its now Childress, JTG, and RPM...and Germain? If yes, Richard has a hand in 6 cars, but only has to manage 2 IIRC. Not as crazy as Hendrick having say in 10+, but surprising from him.

Actually, JTG is now with Hendrick.

 

[yellosnake]

Always wondered if there are consumers out there who buy certain products or from certain stores based on sponsorship of a NASCAR team. And on the opposite side, who refuse to buy from stores based on the same principals. I know back when Logano was sponsored by Home Depot, I chose to go there over Lowes or Menards. Anyone out there base purchases as such?

 

[Blood Eagle]

Always wondered if there are consumers out there who buy certain products or from certain stores based on sponsorship of a NASCAR team. And on the opposite side, who refuse to buy from stores based on the same principals. I know back when Logano was sponsored by Home Depot, I chose to go there over Lowes or Menards. Anyone out there base purchases as such?

Not really. I hate Keselowski but drink Miller Lite as my go to beer. I do occasionally buy M&Ms as a good luck charm to the 18 bit every time I do he wrecks out lol

 

[EngieDiesel]

Always wondered if there are consumers out there who buy certain products or from certain stores based on sponsorship of a NASCAR team. And on the opposite side, who refuse to buy from stores based on the same principals. I know back when Logano was sponsored by Home Depot, I chose to go there over Lowes or Menards. Anyone out there base purchases as such?

I don't think it happens so much these days, but it was definitely a thing in the past. I distinctly remember my dad cussing out my brother for putting Quaker State oil in his new (2000) car instead of Pennzoil, simply because Jeff Gordon was sponsored by Quaker State and Pennzoil was on a DEI car.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Didn't expect RPM to basically become a Childress satellite team. I wonder if this will kill off the rumors of RCR moving to Dodge or be considered the first step, since Petty has so much history with Mopar.

Either way, this hopefully gives Bubba a much better chance of doing well since the team won't be living week to week now.

Finally I get my dream of Bubba in a Chevy.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Posted over in the Auto News forum, but relevant here:

Ford Fusion: May be dead by 2020.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/report-ford-to-end-fusion-production-in-north-america/

So the question is, does Ford introduce a new car before 2020, or just ride it out until the model dies and decide on their future in NASCAR then?

 

[The Bman]

They could go back to the Taurus.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

I'd guess Taurus or Mustang.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Tree'd on Taurus and Mustang (the latter is preferable thanks to GT Sport) But...

If only they had not fouled this thing up in 2005.

 

[yellosnake]

In heartbreaking news, Ricky and Danica are no more.

 

[Leadfoot530]

In heartbreaking news, Ricky and Danica are no more.

It ended the same way many of their races did:

They just hit a wall.

 

[EngieDiesel]

In other news, NASCAR's official diecast maker Lionel Racing announced that Junior's Axalta car is the best-selling diecast in the company's 25 year history. Much to the surprise of probably no one anywhere.

Also, the Air Force will be sponsoring the 43 car again in 2018, during the 4th of July and Veterans Day weekends:

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

In other news, NASCAR's official diecast maker Lionel Racing announced that Junior's Axalta car is the best-selling diecast in the company's 25 year history. Much to the surprise of probably no one anywhere.

Also, the Air Force will be sponsoring the 43 car again in 2018, during the 4th of July and Veterans Day weekends:

This thing's gonna be a bear to replicate in GT Sport

 

[JohnBM01]

Beautiful! I love that blue U.S. Air Force Camaro! This is an awesome looking blue car with the blue colors and the lightning graphics. Of course, that's my favorite color.

Since I'm debuting in this season's thread, I will mostly want to follow if NASCAR can retain its audience and appeal or if NASCAR may be headed towards obscurity after we've seen all the changes made in the 2017 season. I'll still watch because I'm a motorsports enthusiast. NASCAR is very much different with some of the many names either retired or no longer full-time drivers. But... NASCAR is a sport, and sports evolve. So it will be interesting to see how NASCAR in 2018 goes.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Since I'm debuting in this season's thread, I will mostly want to follow if NASCAR can retain its audience and appeal or if NASCAR may be headed towards obscurity after we've seen all the changes made in the 2017 season. I'll still watch because I'm a motorsports enthusiast. NASCAR is very much different with some of the many names either retired or no longer full-time drivers. But... NASCAR is a sport, and sports evolve. So it will be interesting to see how NASCAR in 2018 goes.

This is something I addressed near the start of the thread, NASCAR is rapidly approaching its evolve-or-die threshold and 2018 can be a perfect opportunity to transition the sport into the modern product it needs to become. But to do so they're going to have to finally start letting go of the old ways, and fully commit to promoting both the young talent that's coming in and the format that they're trying to make unique from any other racing series.

If they just keep trying to pander to the last vestiges of Junior Nation for the next couple years or spend more time reminding us of the retired drivers that used to drive the cars instead of the new drivers that are in them now, then I guess they'll just ride that nostalgia train until it plummets off a cliff into irrelevance. It is what it is.

 

[Blood Eagle]

2018 prediction - Dale and Amy have their baby girl and name her Dale Earnhardt III and Teresa sues Jr for naming the child after Dale Earnhardt.

 

[RACECAR]

This is something I addressed near the start of the thread, NASCAR is rapidly approaching its evolve-or-die threshold and 2018 can be a perfect opportunity to transition the sport into the modern product it needs to become. But to do so they're going to have to finally start letting go of the old ways, and fully commit to promoting both the young talent that's coming in and the format that they're trying to make unique from any other racing series.

If they just keep trying to pander to the last vestiges of Junior Nation for the next couple years or spend more time reminding us of the retired drivers that used to drive the cars instead of the new drivers that are in them now, then I guess they'll just ride that nostalgia train until it plummets off a cliff into irrelevance. It is what it is.

They'll still pander to the people still buying Earnhardt Sr merchandise because he's still making bang for them even in his absence (although 2018 might finally be the year Jr starts being that money train, especially now that he's retire and ironically is responsible for bringing many new drivers to the sport). We'll see what happens in the first few months but if NASCAR continues to appease an audience that all but still exists, then they've failed.

 

[Northstar]

2018 prediction - Dale and Amy have their baby girl and name her Dale Earnhardt III and Teresa sues Jr for naming the child after Dale Earnhardt.

She will sue them just for using the last name.

 

[RACECAR]

She will sue them just for using the last name.

I'm surprised She hasn't gotten Jeffery yet, that ATV ad with his appearance and people's knowledge of who he is related to sure make for some dubious profitability.

 

[Silver Arrows]

http://autoweek.com/article/monster...car-refuses-recognize-bobby-allisons-1971-win

Oddly, NASCAR has never acknowledged Bobby Allison’s untainted Cup Series victory at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There was no scoring dispute, no inspection issues with his Mustang, no dirty driving, no untoward shenanigans ... nothing to suggest the Aug. 6, 1971 victory wasn’t well earned. Veteran journalist Rick Houston spoke for many when he recently said: “To give anyone credit for an ‘encumbered’ win and not Bobby Allison for his infamous 85th is beyond crazy.”

Between 1968 and 1971, NASCAR promoted Grand American races for what were known as pony cars. These Mustangs, Camaros, Cougars, Firebirds and Javelins generally ran standalone events but often were invited to help fill Grand National (now, Cup) grids. The first combined race was at Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile bullring surrounding a football field. Allison’s Mustang won ahead of Richard Petty’s Plymouth, Jim Paschal’s Javelin, Buck Baker’s Firebird and Dave Marcis’ Camaro. Ten of the 29 entries were GA cars.


Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/monster...cognize-bobby-allisons-1971-win#ixzz521WXovBW

So, in comes Austin Dillion, who takes 'escalation' to a new level:

 

[Blood Eagle]

So, in comes Austin Dillion, who takes 'escalation' to a new level:

I agree with him but drivers mentioning sponsors is nothing new.

 

[RACECAR]

Not sure how that's "Escalation". If anything, Austin had a point (and a well placed sponsor plug as mentioned by @Blood Eagle )

 

[yellosnake]

Miller/Coors leaving NASCAR. The question is now, will there be a NASCAR in 5 years?

 

[Northstar]

Miller/Coors leaving NASCAR. The question is now, will there be a NASCAR in 5 years?

They're not leaving NASCAR, they're just not sponsoring the pointless pole award anymore.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Miller/Coors leaving NASCAR. The question is now, will there be a NASCAR in 5 years?

D'N'F'd.

Spoiler: Translation...

Dead and F:censored:🤬🤬:censored:ed

 

[RACECAR]

Might take much longer because people somehow still are interested in this (That and its in the category of "Too big to Fail"). There is only so long you can hang on though before you start to plummet.