NASCAR 2012 Thread

[Austin343]

It's frustrating that Johnson seems to have this pixie dust that allows him to escape bad situations. I agree that he's a little lucky, but mostly, he and his team are just that strong. There's no way that most teams could have repaired that much damage and gotten a top-ten finish out of it, right? It's genuinely impressive.

Also, I just watched the interview with Danica, and... wow. Either she had absolutely no awareness of what she had done, or she isn't willing to admit any sort of error on her part. She just about blamed Cassill for putting her out of the race, never mind that she retaliated dramatically out of proportion to the initial offense, or that her idiotic overcorrection was directly responsible for her contact with the wall. I don't think I would have much of a problem with her competing in the Cup series next year if I were looking solely at her Nationwide performance - but she's been such a train wreck in Cup this season that Stewart shouldn't in good conscience let her move up.

Oh, and one more thing: you know it's been a wild race when Timmy Hill almost finishes in the top 20.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Where'd Smith finish?

 

[OutlawQuadrnt]

Where'd Smith finish?

7th. What's left of the 78 finished 25th.

 

[JohnBM01]

We're not in Kansas anymore... seemed like there was contact just about every so often. Just like in most sports, you got to learn to win ugly games. This race was an ugly one. Maybe not as ugly as the 2012 Daytona 500, but doggone ugly. Congratulations to all winners from this weekend's action.


Up next... Martinsville. Do you like your action on short tracks? If so, you'll get plenty of lovin' next weekend with Trucks and Cup rocking Martinsville.

 

[RACECAR]

Same here, I don't get why they can't air the chase races on ABC, all that was on today was infomercials.

And ESPN's Castrated Petit Le Mans Highlights.

From the highlights I see of the chase races, you guys aren't missing much.

 

[CodeRedR51]

7th. What's left of the 78 finished 25th.

Great considering where he started.

 

[GTPorsche]

Didn't see the race. Saw the highlights.

Terrible track now that it's Las Vegas Midwest.

 

[Cale]

Great considering where he started.

He drove to battling for third at one point.

 

[RACECAR]

Didn't see the race. Saw the highlights.

Terrible track now that it's Las Vegas Midwest.

Like I said, not much being missed.

 

[GTPorsche]

Regan Smith definitely showed the potential he has in the last two races. Hopefully that gets him a great ride for next year.

 

[Northstar]

Also, I just watched the interview with Danica, and... wow. Either she had absolutely no awareness of what she had done, or she isn't willing to admit any sort of error on her part.

Please tell me you aren't surprised by that, she has been that way since she came into the IRL. At least she hasn't thrown a tantrum on-track in NASCAR... yet.

 

[Austin343]

Even when you're expecting it, it's still startling.

Drivers are going to have to give her a mile-wide berth next season. It's too bad, because there's a lot of potential for a talented female driver to break some barriers in the Cup series and make some inroads to improve NASCAR's image - but Danica just isn't that person.

 

[Adamgp]

Regan Smith definitely showed the potential he has in the last two races. Hopefully that gets him a great ride for next year.

He definately impressed me.

Im wondering if Junior will sit the rest of the season out. Like they said in the pre-race shows, he can't do any better or worse than 12th in the points, and there is nothing to learn for next year with the new cars.

Even when you're expecting it, it's still startling.

Drivers are going to have to give her a mile-wide berth next season. It's too bad, because there's a lot of potential for a talented female driver to break some barriers in the Cup series and make some inroads to improve NASCAR's image - but Danica just isn't that person.

I wonder what Johanna Long could do if she had equipment as good as what Danica has.

 

[Wilbur]

He definately impressed me.

Im wondering if Junior will sit the rest of the season out. Like they said in the pre-race shows, he can't do any better or worse than 12th in the points, and there is nothing to learn for next year with the new cars.



I wonder what Johanna Long could do if she had equipment as good as what Danica has.

I'm not sure what sponsors will think if he sits out til next year but I wouldn't say it's a bad idea either. Regan get more seat time with the team as far as his comfortable with HMS in general and it allows Jr to make sure everything is back on track too.

Johanna would be the one being talked about more so if she had someone to fund her some good cars like Danica has. I'm not taking away from Danica as far as she has some ability but still hasn't figured it out.

 

[Adamgp]

I'm not sure what sponsors will think if he sits out til next year but I wouldn't say it's a bad idea either. Regan get more seat time with the team as far as his comfortable with HMS in general and it allows Jr to make sure everything is back on track too.

I don't think the sponsors would have a problem. Like I said he is locked in 12th place in the points, not like he can plummet any further.

Can't imagine the sponsors (or fans) would be too happy if he came back, then suffered another big hit at Texas that could potentially end his career.

IMO it would be smart to sit out the rest of the season and concentrate on his health.

(For the record, I'm not a Jr fan, nor a Jr hater)

 

[MustangManiac]

It's frustrating that Johnson seems to have this pixie dust that allows him to escape bad situations. I agree that he's a little lucky, but mostly, he and his team are just that strong. There's no way that most teams could have repaired that much damage and gotten a top-ten finish out of it, right? It's genuinely impressive

That and the fact that nascar gave then 6 or 7 laps of caution to fix it when nearly all other cautions were 3 or 4 laps...just sayin. Do you think his rear spoiler would have passed post race inspection for height. No wonder he was so fast at the end. Before you say it shouldn't pass because it was damaged, I remember a few times when nascar fined the winner for his roof failing post race height and the only reason it failed was because they got out in victory lane and danced around on it in celebration! That's why you don't see them doing that anymore It will be even more an accomplishment if BK and Dodge win the championship this year, they will have beaten not only all the other racers, but nascar as well.

 

[Müle]

Will people ever stop with the conspiracy theories?

 

[MustangManiac]

Will people ever stop with the conspiracy theories?

When somebody can explain why they ran 7 laps of caution after Johnsons wreck and only 4 after Labontes, which was much harder and spread much more crap all over the track. I talked with somebody who was at the race and she said they ran 3 full laps of caution after all the safety workers were off the track, any idea why that is?

 

[The Bman]

That's some evidence that NASCAR has a bias towards Johnson. While I don't believe that NASCAR scripts their races, they try to help certain drivers as much as possible, which messes everything up.

Just let the drivers race, not have them slow down just so that Jimmie can get back to the front.

 

[Furinkazen]

With Dale Jnr gone NASCAR have no-one to favour

 

[CodeRedR51]

NASCAR should take V8 Supercars as an example for cautions and how many laps NEED to be run under caution. NASCAR runs way too many.

 

[RVDNuT374]

I have also long believed that NASCAR "aids" certain drivers. But still, to drive a damaged race car back into the top 10 takes talent and teamwork. 👍

 

[MustangRyan]

I have also long believed that NASCAR "aids" certain drivers. But still, to drive a damaged race car back into the top 10 takes talent and teamwork. 👍

And extra time to make repairs?

 

[The Bman]

I was thinking about going to Talladega next year for the Aaron's 499. Has anybody on here gone there, and is it worth it?

 

[Wilbur]

NASCAR should take V8 Supercars as an example for cautions and how many laps NEED to be run under caution. NASCAR runs way too many.

They should your right for the most part because half the cautions seem to take longer than needed which allow what happened with the 48 this weekend.

I have also long believed that NASCAR "aids" certain drivers. But still, to drive a damaged race car back into the top 10 takes talent and teamwork. 👍

Nascar has done alot of things to help certain drivers win or do better and I am going to say this but don't take it as a hater comment because I like the guy overall. Dale Jr was NOT on the same tires as the rest of the field when he wont at Michigan.

And extra time to make repairs?

Funny how that works out but that car was not going to pass inspection if it was top 3 and he would have let 4th place pass them just for that reason too.

I was thinking about going to Talladega next year for the Aaron's 499. Has anybody on here gone there, and is it worth it?

Everyone I know has loved it there but if you like the style of racing they have then it's a good place to go from a fans standpoint.

 

[ICEYOU]

Martinsville will definitely eliminate the Roush cars.

 

[Blitz24]

Martinsville will definitely eliminate the Roush cars.

Was that some sort of obvious statement?

 

[KBRacing2488]

They need to spice the tracks up some more. I heard Tony Stewart was talking to NASCAR about taking the trucks to Eldora. And yeah the roush cars are already eliminated in my mind.

 

[GTPorsche]

Was that some sort of obvious statement?

Aren't they all?

 

[RVDNuT374]

Realistically, the championship is Jimmie Johnson's down to five drivers: Keselowski, Johnson, Hamlin, Bowyer, and Kahne.