NASCAR Thread.

[JohnBM01]

Any other thoughts regarding the Nationwide race in the rain?

 

[TS]

I applaud ESPN for having some great HD shots for the race and keeping the bit rate high. Anyone else watching in HD? My cell phone pics don't do it justice:

Uuuuuueeeeerrrrraaaaaaahhhh, ffrrrooooooooooooooom.

A shame the commentary still sucks.

Probably because nationwide cars make about 620 horsepower, the cup cars around 800. Also the cup cars weigh more. That's probably around 20 mph more straightaway speed and with cars this heavy NASCAR probably deems it too dangerous which is probably the right call

I disagree, considering that when it rains, track conditions get worse and track grip is reduced the cars will obviously go slower. And because the cup cars have more power, it'll probably be harder for the drivers to control wheel spin in the wet than the Nationwide cars.

Something I would change though, I would require all cars to have wipers in the wet if the teams wish to race, that's a safety issue. Only the 2-3 cars that did wreck in the wet at Montreal were cars that weren't equipped with a windshield wiper and they were the same cars whose drivers complained of a lack of visibility.

 

[CAMikaze]

Now someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Nationwide cars were equipped to race in the rain, but the Sprint Cup ares aren't? If memory serves, the Sprint Cup CoToday's were originally built with no extra equipment added on for road racing in the rain, right?

 

[JohnBM01]

I think of it like this. You let a lower NASCAR series use these features, but not the primary series? There are two schools of thought here (feel free to enroll in these schools of thought. Free tuition!). The first is that this may be a test bed to allow stock cars to have the same adornments for racing in the rain. The second school of thought is that this is all of a part to do road racing in wet conditions.


Here is a look at detailed changes I'd like to see all road racing cars prepared by NASCAR teams (no exceptions):

* permanent windshield wipers (perhaps two of them)
* brake lights (along the back of the car and even somewhere at the top of the rear windshield)
* high-intensity fog lights or tack-on headlights (to see in misty/foggy conditions; more a safety concern than "extra baggage")
* some covering of the equipment along the dashboard on the "passenger" side to protect those electronics devices
* (any other changes you'd suggest)

I hope for a few things in NASCAR. First off (as I mentioned in the past), the Truck series needs to get off of their asses and go back to racing road courses. It's a feeder series to NASCAR, so why make a feeder series not race these tracks? This is a series that knows road courses even for a series that doesn't campaign on a huge percentage of road courses. NASCAR will need to install some lights on the cars to see through misty/foggy and/or dark conditions. A key element to road racing (or any racing really) is being able to see your way around. You can't accomplish that if you don't have any lights put onto the cars. Look at that Trans-Am Jaguar that raced the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002 as well as the IROC race last year on the road course at Daytona. Those cars don't have permanent headlights. You can still make some headlights available for cars. I'd make them available for all cars whether there is rain or not. I'm not real sure as to what parts of the vents and ducts are actually functional on stock cars, so I don't know where you would place these headlights.

Any more chatting on these cars for racing in the wet? Because of Tropical Storm Edouard, I may not be able to respond online for a few days (unless something real bad happens). So respond away in my abscence.

 

[RACECAR]

I think of it like this. You let a lower NASCAR series use these features, but not the primary series?

Considering the COTs have just been introduced, No one knows how this car will react in the rain. The lower series has the older cars, which everyone knows better and therefore have proven knowledge of it. Its not that they aren't trying to make the COTs better equiped for that, its that its never been tested in those conditions.

Here is a look at detailed changes I'd like to see all road racing cars prepared by NASCAR teams (no exceptions):

* permanent windshield wipers (perhaps two of them)
* brake lights (along the back of the car and even somewhere at the top of the rear windshield)
* high-intensity fog lights or tack-on headlights (to see in misty/foggy conditions; more a safety concern than "extra baggage")
* some covering of the equipment along the dashboard on the "passenger" side to protect those electronics devices
* (any other changes you'd suggest)

I'm thinking the brake lights and Headlights can be like what we've seen with the Daytona prototypes. I agree about manditory windshield wipers.
.

Any more chatting on these cars for racing in the wet? Because of Tropical Storm Edouard, I may not be able to respond online for a few days (unless something real bad happens). So respond away in my abscence.

As I stated earier, Watkins Glen may get some rain this weekend and ironically enough, on saturday. AS for the hurricane, if you have a laptop, it works wonders.

 

[TS]

Now someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Nationwide cars were equipped to race in the rain, but the Sprint Cup ares aren't? If memory serves, the Sprint Cup CoToday's were originally built with no extra equipment added on for road racing in the rain, right?

Yes, hopefully that changes though.

I think of it like this. You let a lower NASCAR series use these features, but not the primary series? There are two schools of thought here (feel free to enroll in these schools of thought. Free tuition!). The first is that this may be a test bed to allow stock cars to have the same adornments for racing in the rain. The second school of thought is that this is all of a part to do road racing in wet conditions.

Like RACECAR said, the Nationwide series uses an older chassis that has been tested in the wet conditions while the new cup car hasn't ever been fitted with rain tires.

Here is a look at detailed changes I'd like to see all road racing cars prepared by NASCAR teams (no exceptions):

* permanent windshield wipers (perhaps two of them)
* brake lights (along the back of the car and even somewhere at the top of the rear windshield)
* high-intensity fog lights or tack-on headlights (to see in misty/foggy conditions; more a safety concern than "extra baggage")
* some covering of the equipment along the dashboard on the "passenger" side to protect those electronics devices
* (any other changes you'd suggest)

Agreed.

 

[JohnBM01]

Hey guys... Edouard mostly did heavy rain, but I'm all fine here. Thanks for your concern. Any other comments about my debate or even a look ahead to Watkins Glen?

 

[Earth]

This article says NASCAR shouldn't run on road courses

 

[RACECAR]

This article says NASCAR shouldn't run on road courses

Well, this fan here says he should shove it. I find it funny how he's the only one who feels this way and all just because of what happened last week. Obviously, he's never watched road racing nor even comprehends the difficult task to drive one of those cars around it. His "Opinion" Has no damn logic and I find it funny how this idiot works for a channel that doesn't even show NASCAR at all.

 

[JohnBM01]

To each their own. Road racing's not for everyone. Oh, what am I saying? It's time for the real John Marine to speak?

Who the hell does this nutjob think he is? Granted I don't know my stock car racing history very well, I welcome road racing. It's something to challenge drivers and one key word- different. Hell, I've seen big rig trucks race around road courses on TV, and those brothers from another mother are much heavier than stock cars. And what else? They race in the rain (unless it's a monsoon). I applaud NASCAR for doing this on an F1 track. Do F1 drivers shy away from rainy tracks? Oh hell no. Sure NASCAR cars aren't F1 cars as far as being overall capable on the race track. NASCAR even raced one of the most popular race tracks in American motorsports history- Riverside. Sears Point and Watkins Glen (though I'm not much a Watkins Glen fan lately) still test driving ability and being able to navigate a car not made for road racing around a road course. That's character as well as a showcase of driving ability. I don't even want to hear "ratings" when involving road courses. This is about driving ability as well as simply challenging yourself and taking on new challenges. Do you want EVERY race to be an oval? These cars can do oval and road courses. You may well tell CASCAR (nowadays the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) to stop racing Montreal and Toronto and stuff. Fact is... these are race cars, and these are race car drivers doing circuit racing. Who the hell is dope to say that road racing should NEVER happen in NASCAR? Doesn't ovals get old after a while, don't you think? Do you want to make this motorsport more monotonous with oval racing than with a mix of oval and road courses? I'm not crazy about NASCAR, but I at least like the sport enough to say I have respect for it. NASCAR earned my respect when they decided to race Mexico City and Montreal. They earned even more of my respect when they raced Montreal in the wet rather than running away like little wimps whenever it rains. It was an amazing experiment that worked beautifully (give or take certain accidents and rough moments). These drivers piloted these cars like professional road race drivers. I LOVED the Montreal race. I didn't even see the Pocono race (though I respect Pocono as one of the most interesting ovals NASCAR races).

By his logic, he'd probably make this conclusion:

If stock cars aren't designed for road courses (yet raced anyway), then why don't John Force race his Funny Car around Watkins Glen?



Simply put... this guy is pathetic. These drivers need challenges that ovals don't usually provide often. Most of these drivers have done road racing before just to have a profession in a series that specializes in oval racing. Why not test their past road racing knowledge? We can't have 15 Bristols and five Talladegas. Road racing is my specialty as a sportscar racing fan, and so I love ANY series that road races. Who's this guy to say that road courses are terrible in NASCAR? I still want NASCAR to race a road course in the Chase for the Cup. I know there's tradition involved in road racing events (like how Sears Point is usually the weekend after the 24 Hours of Le Mans). However, I'd be more interested in a road racing challenge than any race on a poor man's Charlotte or Martinsville.


I'll even post this in a Myspace bulletin to see what responses I'd get from this.

 

[JohnBM01]

By the way, I just thought of something. This Montreal race can also be thought of as the NHL playing games in football stadiums out in the snow compared to usually being in arenas. It was still great fun to watch this Montreal race.

 

[wrcsti]

Parents just told me we might be going to the race tomarow. We are leaving tonight to try make it.

EDIT:
Just got told that there will be tons of weather so we wont go.

 

[RACECAR]

Parents just told me we might be going to the race tomarow. We are leaving tonight to try make it.

EDIT:
Just got told that there will be tons of weather so we wont go.

I don't see any rain. And sorry that happened to you. Its very frustraiting when your plans don't go the way you hoped.

 

[RACECAR]

Marcos Ambrose wins the Zippo 200 from Watkins Glen and Scott Speed wins the ARCA Toyota 150 at Nashville. So far, my weekend is looking pretty good

 

[TS]

Hehe, Ambrose may go for the sweep, he was fastest in cup practice yesterday, but he starts 43rd today.

 

[RACECAR]

Kyle wins the race. Phenominal driving.

 

[ND4SPD]

Erm wow....Nascar race is over?! I've been looking for it all day and TSN usually shows it but they have stupid PGA from 2pm-7pm!!?

 

[Blackbird.]

Yeah I thought that too but it seems... I found ESPN broadcasting the Sprint Cup race at the Glen from 11pm to 2am!!!! But that's it no other programming,.... quite confusing...

 

[-Fred-]

Erm wow....Nascar race is over?! I've been looking for it all day and TSN usually shows it but they have stupid PGA from 2pm-7pm!!?

No one broadcasted it this afternoon, not even Fox or NBC or ABC or whatever.

 

[Blackbird.]

Yeah the only broadcast I could find was on ESPN starting at 11 tonight.... very odd.

 

[wrcsti]

I don't see any rain. And sorry that happened to you. Its very frustraiting when your plans don't go the way you hoped.

Rain disipated about 70 miles from the track so it was sunn there. No problem thoug, being here let me get my first car

 

[RACECAR]

Yeah the only broadcast I could find was on ESPN starting at 11 tonight.... very odd.

I caught it on ESPN at 1:00 over here in Dallas, about the same time the American Le Mans Series race came on.

 

[Earth]

Personally I'm happy the road courses are done with for the season. The initial spectacle of it all has worn off I'm already tired of the pit "strategy" (more like luck) almost always deciding who wins and who doesn't. NASCAR needs to change more rules to fix that problem.

Back to the ovals, thankfully.

 

[Blackbird.]

I don't have a problem with ovals but I have to disagree. They need to implement more road courses IMO. I know the sport is based and is traditionally an oval course racing but obviously road racing is more interesting and the drivers seem to enjoy it.

I caught it on ESPN at 1:00 over here in Dallas, about the same time the American Le Mans Series race came on.

Yeah I realized PR didn't mention ESPN and I remember looking to watch it at around 3PM my time only to find it nowhere on TV. So I may have missed it on ESPN but I did see the highlights on ESPN. God i'm sick of that guy winning.

 

[RACECAR]

Personally I'm happy the road courses are done with for the season. The initial spectacle of it all has worn off I'm already tired of the pit "strategy" (more like luck) almost always deciding who wins and who doesn't. NASCAR needs to change more rules to fix that problem.

Back to the ovals, thankfully.

Strategy is always part of racing, Oval or Road Course racing. Strategy was what Gave Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr a win at Road America, Strategy was what Got Marcos Ambrose to victory in the Zippo 200 and its what got Scott Dixon the win at Kentucky. Its not just NASCAR road races that require strategy. You can't go racing without some sort of strategy, man. NASCAR can do as much changing as they want, you won't get of it.

 

[JohnBM01]

You have to love the media. They do nothing more but show the crashes like everyone sees races for crashes. That "Big One" at Watkins Glen may be different since it's not on an oval, but who the f:censored: wants to see the same damned crash 15 times? It's why I'm glad not to associate myself with NASCAR or say I'm a NASCAR fan. Kyle Busch won the race, his third road course victory this year. I said Kyle. If I'm wrong this time, I'll stop announcing his victories this season. So set me striaght if I got it wrong again or forever hold your peace.

SPEED Channel's Leigh Diffey was certainly happy to see one of his fellow Australians win a race. That would be Mr. Marcos Ambrose (he's actually from Tasmania). The two-time Australian V8 Supercar Series champ (which can be every bit as intense as NASCAR) got it done in upstate New York.


This debate has to do with a graphic I saw during the ESPN broadcast. It had to do with the international drivers who won races in NASCAR. So let's debate a bit, shall we?

John's Debate! - It's a Large World After All...
If any driver in the world from anywhere in the world (meaning a driver not born in America and is from Planet Earth) competed in and won a NASCAR race, what foreign-born driver would you want to see win a NASCAR race? Please note that it has to be an existing driver from a real place. So no "I want to see a driver from Tuvalu or Antartica win" comments, okay? The driver has to be one to take on Sprint Cup, Nationwide, or even the trucks.



Since I've regarded Japan a lot in various things, I would find it interesting to see a Japanese racer win. Shigeaki Hattori and Hideo Fukuyama have raced stock cars before here in the States. Adrian Fernandez has done some circuits in stock cars. I highly respect the Mexican racing driver. Someone would really have to be compelled or really honored to have a drive in a NASCAR stock car and win races. I wanted Jacques Villeneuve to win that Montreal race, but another fellow Canadian (Ron Fellows) won at Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve.

But to be honest... I don't know any real international talent that could compete in any of NASCAR's top three series... and WIN a race in any of the series. I have no true international favorite that I'd like to see in a race. What I've loved about NASCAR having this more international approach is that it gives more fans a chance to hear of racers from other places win races. Opens your eyes to the world a little more and respect driving talent. Even if NASCAR sees a Middle Easterner compete in Sprint Cup (imagine that), it's all about talent from around the world taking on America's premier racing series. Talent, not nationality.

Then again, Suntrust Racing's Max Angelelli from Grand-Am would be cool to see win in NASCAR. What other non-American drivers would you want to see a race in NASCAR's top series?

 

[Blackbird.]

Well i'm watching the race now... 40 laps to go.

John: I understand where you're coming from and I also don't watch it to look for some crashes but even if it wasn't an oval wreck it still was quite a big wreck so they were only disecting the crash (if you're talking about the actual broadcast, nevermind if you mean the summary of the race that they broadcasted afterwards)

 

[nissan tuner]

i hope everyone was ok after yesterdays incident

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I think that the race was screwed by qualifying being rained out. Having all the "road course specialists" at the back made it pretty much impossible for them to win the race, and we didn't really seem to see any of the action. There wasn't much of a race story, I didn't think, and while the commentators made repeated reference to the progress through the field of Ambrose & Montoya, we really didn't see much of it. As it was, we had the early race being led by three Hendrick Chevys, and finishing with the JGR Toyotas 1st & 2nd.

So are we going to see anyone consistently challenge JGR for the rest of the season? At the minute I wouldn't bet on anyone other than Kyle Busch for the championship.

As for the repetitions of the crash, I think that ESPN were really struggling to fill the 45 minutes.

 

[TS]

Whose idea was to put Michael McDowell in a cup car with only a year or so of general stock car experience?