NASCAR 2014
- Thread starter mascho
- Start date
I hope we get a better race than yesterday's Nationwide race. Before this, track position has never been the most important aspect to a plate race, but it will be from here on out. Unless you've got 2 cars that are 2 of the fields best and get some luck with side drafting, the outside line goes nowhere. If that's the case today, it's not going to make for a very interesting race. Hope I'm wrong.
Footage of Michael Waltrip walking on pit road serving as a reporter was hilarious. Especially when he came across 50 Cent with his arms around two Sprint Cup girls. Awesome.
Sponsoring a team.rembrat said:
No, really.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/50-cent-he-s-back-and-sponsoring-a-nascar-team-020414
Terry Labonte's first Cup Series race was in a 1978 won by Cale Yarborough, back when races weren't even shown flag to flag.
Yep, I've been fist pumping for about 10 minutes straight. It's like an episode of Jersey Shore up in my living room.
Great race. As a 24 fan, would have loved for him to pull it off, but it was just Jr's night. I will take it though...good start
Got a kick out of this. Both could be fake but whatever...
http://www.boston.com/cars/2014/02/27/racing-champ-jeff-gordon-pulls-off-priceless-revenge-prank/B5RCqt2Fmw9nXx3VFxySVK/story.html
http://www.boston.com/cars/2014/02/27/racing-champ-jeff-gordon-pulls-off-priceless-revenge-prank/B5RCqt2Fmw9nXx3VFxySVK/story.html
Pretty awesome ending shaping up right now in Phoenix. Caution just came out with 25 or so laps to go. Harvick, Junior, Keselowski up in front.
Junior runs out of gas on the last half of the final lap, and Keselowski goes by him for the win. Junior finished in second, so he's got a win and 2 seconds to start the year. Keselowski has a win and 2 3rds. Keselowski also won the nationwide event. Could be a season long duel for the two of them. Harvick was running another strong race, but blew up with about 40 laps to go. Logano started on the pole, and finished fourth for the second week in a row. Interestingly, there were about 3-4 caution flags, but not a single wreck in today's race. Not sure I can remember the last time there was a race without a wreck at all.
has anybody been to a race at Fontana? Looks like I'll be going to the race with a friend. Any advice for good seats or general suggestions? Any parking suggestions? When I go to Loudon, I park off track property and can get out pretty timely. When I park on the track property, it takes several before I even can think about getting in my car to head home...
I think the race today has re-started after a lengthy rain delay, and it's now under the lights. Anyone know where to find it on television, or if it's even being televised at this point?
What do folks think of the new Chase format? I find I'm more interested in NASCAR right now than normally (which is usually not much).
Listening to the announcers during the race it sounds like it could be confusing, but that's because they are watching real-time updates of where drivers will stand based on where there are at any particular moment within that race ( (i.e., "if that #47 car can finish 3rd, and neither #2, #48, or #88 cars finish higher than 6th, then he's into the next round."). Here is an explanation. It's pretty straightforward.
What really throws lugnuts into the oil pan is that some non-Chase qualifier could muck the whole thing up.
Some don't like the reset at the end of each round, arguing that prior good performance should be rewarded. But this is no different than the regular season in baseball merely determining who moves on to the post season. They all start off at 0-0 at the beginning of division, league, and world series.
What I don't get is why they reset those that do NOT advance to the next round back to 2,000 points. What's the point (no pun intended) in that? I don't think it is mathematically possible to add 2,000 + regular season wins bonus points + Chase points and still challenge. Or is it? Honestly, I haven't done the math, but there must be some reason.
.
THE SEEDING
Each of the 16 drivers who qualifies for the Chase Grid starts with 2,000 points, plus three points for each win earned during the first 26 regular-season races. After the bonus points for wins are added, drivers are ranked in order of the reset points. See the updated standings.
THE ROUNDS
Challenger Round: The 16 drivers will battle at Chicagoland Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway for the 12 spots available in the next round (Contender). A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of 12 will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 3,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Challenger Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so these nine drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
Contender Round: The 12 drivers will battle at Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway for the eight spots available in the next round (Eliminator). A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of eight will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 4,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Contender Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so the drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
Eliminator Round: The eight drivers will battle at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway for the four spots available in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of four will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 5,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Eliminator Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so the drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
The highest finisher among the four finalists at Homestead-Miami Speedway will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
Points note: In all but the final race, bonus points for laps led will still be awarded in the Challenger, Contender and Eliminator Rounds. However, at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the four drivers will start the race tied and there will be no bonus points for laps led, etc. The highest finisher among that group will be the champion.
What really throws lugnuts into the oil pan is that some non-Chase qualifier could muck the whole thing up.
Some don't like the reset at the end of each round, arguing that prior good performance should be rewarded. But this is no different than the regular season in baseball merely determining who moves on to the post season. They all start off at 0-0 at the beginning of division, league, and world series.
What I don't get is why they reset those that do NOT advance to the next round back to 2,000 points. What's the point (no pun intended) in that? I don't think it is mathematically possible to add 2,000 + regular season wins bonus points + Chase points and still challenge. Or is it? Honestly, I haven't done the math, but there must be some reason.
.
THE SEEDING
Each of the 16 drivers who qualifies for the Chase Grid starts with 2,000 points, plus three points for each win earned during the first 26 regular-season races. After the bonus points for wins are added, drivers are ranked in order of the reset points. See the updated standings.
THE ROUNDS
Challenger Round: The 16 drivers will battle at Chicagoland Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway for the 12 spots available in the next round (Contender). A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of 12 will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 3,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Challenger Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so these nine drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
Contender Round: The 12 drivers will battle at Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway for the eight spots available in the next round (Eliminator). A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of eight will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 4,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Contender Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so the drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
Eliminator Round: The eight drivers will battle at Martinsville Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway for the four spots available in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. A win at any of the three races equals advancement into the next round. The rest of the field of four will be determined by order of points scored in the three races. After this round, each advancing driver will be reset to 5,000 points.
Tiebreaker: If any position comes down to a tiebreaker, only the three races in the Eliminator Round matter. Wins and finishes in the regular season won't, so the drivers will need to run up front to challenge for the win. If they can't win, they'll need to have more second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc. than their competitors in order to break the tie and advance. If two drivers have the exact same finishes, the tiebreaker then goes to the driver who scored the best finish first.
Points note: Drivers who don't advance to the next round will have their point totals reset to the Chase-start base of 2,000 (with any regular-season wins bonus points), plus the additional points they've earned during the Chase.
THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
The highest finisher among the four finalists at Homestead-Miami Speedway will win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
Points note: In all but the final race, bonus points for laps led will still be awarded in the Challenger, Contender and Eliminator Rounds. However, at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the four drivers will start the race tied and there will be no bonus points for laps led, etc. The highest finisher among that group will be the champion.
The one thing I think is that drivers who are better at shorter tracks get a leg up with two one-mile tracks in the challenger round. I'd like to see each round have three completely different tracks. Maybe a one-mile or less track, a 1.5 miler, and then a 2+ mile track. Or replace one with a road track. I get that just because tracks are the same size doesn't mean they drive the same, but I'd like to see it mixed up more.
*I just had to edit and update a book about NASCAR, so the new format piqued my interest
*I just had to edit and update a book about NASCAR, so the new format piqued my interest
That was a legit fight there. Jeff Gordon called Keselowski a dipshit on TV. If this was the NBA Harvick would be suspended a game for coming off the bench.
Did you catch on the video who it was that stepped in and pushed Keselowski from behind? I don't think it was anyone on Gordon's crew. Looked to be wearing a red and white jumper. Was that Harvick?
http://bcove.me/ee97wu68
http://bcove.me/ee97wu68
I didn't see any tangling between the two any time during the race. And I don't think there's any jkind of feud between the two. Harvick saves most of his venom for Matt Kenseth. Of course, Keselowski was dropped to the back of the pack at race start (for changing a transmission I believe), and to come all the way back from there and win probably means he pissed off a number of drivers.
Final four Logano, Harvick, Hamlin, Newman.
While I think the new format has potential, I think they should reduce the Chase field to 10. 16 is way too many and lets guys like Newman into the hunt who have no business winning a title. Newman has a 1/4 shot of winning it all without any wins all season. He only had 2 top 5 finishes before the Chase.
Take anyone with 2 wins or more, and then fill out to ten by points. If more than 10 guys win two of the first 26 races, they all get in, and no one with only one win can get in. A lot of guys can get lucky and get one win, they shouldn't all automatically get in.
Had they done that this season, Logano, Gordon, Keselowski, Edwards, Harvick, Earnhardt, and Johnson won multiple races. So that's seven, and fill in more with the most points and at least one win, Kyle and Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin.
While I think the new format has potential, I think they should reduce the Chase field to 10. 16 is way too many and lets guys like Newman into the hunt who have no business winning a title. Newman has a 1/4 shot of winning it all without any wins all season. He only had 2 top 5 finishes before the Chase.
Take anyone with 2 wins or more, and then fill out to ten by points. If more than 10 guys win two of the first 26 races, they all get in, and no one with only one win can get in. A lot of guys can get lucky and get one win, they shouldn't all automatically get in.
Had they done that this season, Logano, Gordon, Keselowski, Edwards, Harvick, Earnhardt, and Johnson won multiple races. So that's seven, and fill in more with the most points and at least one win, Kyle and Kurt Busch, and Denny Hamlin.
I don't know about cutting the field to 16, but something could be done to reward higher finishes. Like maybe an extra 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 bonus points for the top 5.
Most of the talk of course centers on Newman edging out Gordon. I mean, Gordon had three 2nd place finishes and a win. The highest Newman finished in any Chase race was 3rd. They both had 4 top 10s. But the average Chase point total per race comes out at Newman 34.375 vs. Gordon's 33.75. When Gordon wasn't finishing well, he was finishing much lower than Newman and that cost him points.
Now we can see just exactly what Keselowski cost Gordon ion Texas. Had Gordon finished 2nd as it looked like he would, he would have walked away with 44 points (43 + 1 bonus) instead of the 20 (19 + 1 bonus) that he did - easily enough to make the final 4.
Most of the talk of course centers on Newman edging out Gordon. I mean, Gordon had three 2nd place finishes and a win. The highest Newman finished in any Chase race was 3rd. They both had 4 top 10s. But the average Chase point total per race comes out at Newman 34.375 vs. Gordon's 33.75. When Gordon wasn't finishing well, he was finishing much lower than Newman and that cost him points.
Now we can see just exactly what Keselowski cost Gordon ion Texas. Had Gordon finished 2nd as it looked like he would, he would have walked away with 44 points (43 + 1 bonus) instead of the 20 (19 + 1 bonus) that he did - easily enough to make the final 4.