http://justafansview.com Just a fan's view of Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:52:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Just a fan\'s view of Nascar Racing Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing skynorm@embarqmail.com skynorm@embarqmail.com (Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing) Copyright Rusty Norman 2006-2010 Just a fan's view of Nascar Sprint Cup Racing http://justafansview.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://justafansview.com/category/nascar/ TV-G http://justafansview.com/2011/11/22/homestead-and-2011-season-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/11/22/homestead-and-2011-season-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:10:32 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2646 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/11/22/homestead-and-2011-season-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,The NASCAR Chase *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) *******************************... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:57 http://justafansview.com/2011/10/02/chase-race-three-at-the-monster-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/10/02/chase-race-three-at-the-monster-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:31:18 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2547 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/10/02/chase-race-three-at-the-monster-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 nascar chase,Nascar Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)Last week it was the Magic, this week it's the Monster and some drivers have to have monstrous success in Chase Race three on Sunday afternoon. If the trend continues for some, they may have to just contend for the Championship next year and take what they get for this year. That's not to say it is all over for most (other than maybe Denny Hamlin) but with every passing weekend they drop further back in the points, the harder it is for them to move back up. When one of them has a bad weekend, there is no guarantee those ahead of them will have a bad one to help them get back into contention. That's what makes the Chase format, as it stands now, so interesting (on a week to week basis, that is.) The Chasers are already somewhat separated when it comes right down to it and no one is eliminated yet, but there is a big difference between being less than fifteen points behind the top spot and being twenty three or more points behind. In case anyone doesn't get what I'm getting at, let me make it as plain as I can. That means even Jeff Gordon has to be considered as an also ran if he has another week or two finishing outside the top ten. Yes, I know he moved up six places after last weeks race in Loudon, but, if he doesn't continue to finish in the top ten, (better yet, the top five), then this could turn out to be just another year he was in contention but didn't take home the big prize. Okay, I admit it, maybe I am jumping the gun a little early in talking about drivers either being in or out of the Sprint Cup Championship hunt, but time is getting short and someone is going to step up to the plate and take it to the rest of them. It could be Tony Stewart (who has already won the first two races) or it could be Brad Keselowski who has already had an outstanding nine weeks and was considered by many to not even be able to make the Chase. Yet he sits in third spot in the points and hasn't faultered at all. It is certainly obvious, he has the most momentum of all the drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, (unless we consider Tony Stewart because of his two latest wins.) I don't know about you, but from this fan's view, this Chase is definitely shaping up quite a bit different than I expected. I have to admit, in my mind I thought the drivers that would have jumped on the first two races and been at the top of the points had different names than the ones that are. I really thought Kyle Bush, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson would have been the early leaders. I honestly expected Tony Stewart to still be struggling a bit and would have expected Brad Keselowski to have faded. As it is, they both have impressed me as being the ones to beat and Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards are right there with them. Today at the Monster Mile could be one of the races won by someone outside the twelve Chasers. I think everybody expects the Bush brothers and Carl Edwards to be atop the leader board when all is said and done, but there are others that did show some good speed in the practice sessions and look who is sitting on the pole. This fan didn't expect to see the name Martin Truex Jr in that position but it definitely is. Take a look at some of the others in the top fifteen. Some of them are names not mentioned much, at least not for being possible winners or top ten finishers. Paul Menard qualified third and could win this race. I'm not saying he will but I am saying by qualifying third he has some speed and that could be the thing that propels him to the victory. AJ Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 9:12 http://justafansview.com/2011/09/10/sprint-cup-at-richmond-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/09/10/sprint-cup-at-richmond-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:45:24 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2498 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/09/10/sprint-cup-at-richmond-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) *********************************************************************************************(http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)First, there was Atlanta. Now there is Richmond and there are basically only three spots left to claim to make the Chase. Oh, I know when you look at the standings it may look like there are four, but, there is one that is definitely in, it is just a matter of whether he stays in one of the wildcard spots or moves into the top ten and is able to take full advantage of his three wins on the season. Of course, I know you all know that “one” I'm talking about is, Brad Keselowski. What happens tonight at RIR will determine who will be in the Chase for 2011 and I don't remember there ever being such mystery and drama coming into the last race before we know which teams will actually be involved. Oh sure, we all know eight (actually nine) are locked in but there are a lot of possibilities depending on where Tony Stewart and Dale Jr finish in tonight's competition. If the two of them finish twentieth or better only one spot remains to be filled. If disaster strikes either one or both of them, it opens up a whole new set of options and the whole thing won't be determined until the checkered flag drops at the end of the race tonight. Personally, I don't think NASCAR ever dreamed this would be the case, even though I know it was what they hoped for when they made the changes to the points system this year. Now, before I move on to tonight's race completely, I have to mention a few things about the Atlanta race. I don't have to tell you who won because Jeff Gordon winning his eighty-fifth career race has been talked about all week since the checkered flag dropped Tuesday afternoon. I don't even have to mention who finished second because there has been no end to references to the number of wins and championships represented by the ones that finished first and second, also known as, “Four-time” and “Five time”, (but just in case you've been completely out of touch, that would be Jimmie Johnson.) One thing I do find interesting is that another multi time Cup Champion finished third, but was hardly ever mentioned in the comparisons of number of wins and championships and that would be Tony Stewart. Considering how many spots he moved forward at the end of the race, I would have thought he would have at least be included in the conversations as an honorable mention for his two championships and thirty-nine wins. (Hm-m-m, maybe it was just because he wasn't mixing it up at the end with the other two...) One thing is certain in looking back to Atlanta last week though. Things did change as far as the Chase was concerned. Tonight at Richmond will be a night of hard racing, bumping and banging and quite possibly hot tempers. One can only hope that someone with no chance of making the Chase doesn't ruin someone else's chance of making it by either doing something really stupid or by reacting to a situation ruled by temperament. However, this is a very fast short rack and emotions will play a great role simply because of all the adrenaline the drivers will be pumping through their systems. There is a lot riding on tonight for some drivers and teams and for others, well... let's just say some have nothing to lose. That makes for an interesting mix and could mean we could see an unexpected winner tonight. Some are obvious choices for possible winners and others, well... let's just say... from this fan's view, they don't have snowball's chance in the Arizona desert of winning. Of those unexpected ones, I would have to say AJ Allmendinger has an outside chance along with his teammate Marcos Ambrose. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 8:22 http://justafansview.com/2011/09/02/sprint-cup-at-bristol-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/09/02/sprint-cup-at-bristol-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 03 Sep 2011 03:50:23 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2488 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/09/02/sprint-cup-at-bristol-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) *******************************... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:04 http://justafansview.com/2011/08/27/sprint-cup-at-bristol-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/08/27/sprint-cup-at-bristol-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:50:24 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2484 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/08/27/sprint-cup-at-bristol-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2011/08/17/watkins-glen-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/08/17/watkins-glen-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:11:50 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2470 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/08/17/watkins-glen-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 - ************************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/20100220RSNTest001-120x150.jpg)There's definitely one advantage to an extended rain-delay when it comes to TV; When the thing is drawn out until they just have to move it to the next day, you find out a lot of things about the drivers they wouldn't normally have time to tell you about. I just happened to be able to watch most of what went on for the three plus hours before they called it and moved it to the Monday morning time slot and it was fun to listen to them in a more laid back atmosphere. Oh I know drivers get interviewed before every race, sometimes to ad-nauseum, but for some reason on Sunday afternoon, it just felt different. It seemed the drivers were more candid and less corporate; in other words, from this fan's view it seemed we got a better feel for who they really are as opposed to when they put on the game face. It was a nice change of pace. (Who knows, maybe it was because it was at a road course.) Monday morning may have been gray and overcast but it was not at all dull on the track and the intensity started right at the beginning of the race and didn't let up until the very last official lap they ran. From this fan's view, there was something going on just about everywhere in the field at one time or another and the race strategies for each team changed on a regular basis. That is, for at least thirty-five of the forty-three starters while the others just hoped to survive the weekend. As it turned out there were more than eight or ten that needed to do more than just finish. Of course there was more than one that needed the race to go just slightly different than it did. too. One of those would be Tony Stewart, while Paul Menard and David Ragan would be a couple of more. Menard and Ragan looked as if they were going to come away from The Glen by closing the gap a bit on Denny Hamlin. Because of late race incidents, neither of them was able to do much at all. Menard cut down a tire which put him in the wall and Ragan was involved in a spectacular accident involving him, David Reutimann and several others. Needless to say, Ragan's day was not at all what he needed to him to take advantage of the one victory he has this season. Since I mentioned Denny Hamlin, this was another weekend he couldn't buy a break if his career depended on it. It has been proven more than once over the years, that when you have a bad year, you have a bad year and it seems there is nothing you can do about it. Hamlin is in one of those years that comes along every now and then in a drivers career and to say things have gone unexpectedly wrong for him and his team this year is about as obvious as sunshine during the daytime. He is definitely having a bad year. Unfortunately, it just doesn't seem to get any better for the guy many thought was going to be the one to stop Jimmie Johnson from winning his sixth straight Cup Championship this year. Unless things change in a hurry for him and the #11 FedEx team, it looks like it is going to be up to someone else to take care of that (but I'm going to wait on talking about that until we get a few more weeks of racing done. After all, with the way things are going, things can change several times around those ninth through twelfth points spots before we actually get to the Chase.) The end of the race was enhanced, at least competition-wise, by the blown tire of Paul Menard. Had it not been for that, the race would have likely finished under green and it would have still been a shootout. Of course we'll never know, but, I still think it was going to be won by Marcos Ambrose, although it was going to be close. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:15 http://justafansview.com/2011/08/06/sprint-cup-at-pocono-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/08/06/sprint-cup-at-pocono-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:56:55 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2456 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/08/06/sprint-cup-at-pocono-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 - ************************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)Late summer at Pocono is different than early summer. Just because someone finished in the top ten in June doesn't mean the same will happen for them in August (although it could.) Coming into this weekend are several with the capability of winning on Sunday afternoon but which one will is the great question and before we actually find out, 500 miles will have to pass beneath the tires of the one who takes the checkered flag first. One thing, in particular, stands out to this fan when it comes to this later race and that's how many have found more speed and that alone makes this second race even more interesting and adds to the drama of the weekend. Another thing about this race is the different agendas the teams are on when they arrive. Some have nothing to lose and can afford to experiment. Others absolutely must have a good finish to either stay in contention or move into position to be a participant in the important top twelve for the Chase. A few need a win just to help“seal the deal” for their place in those top spots, while others need to finish at or near the front just to put themselves in a place to be able to take advantage of winning a race and have a shot at those two wild card slots for the Chase. From this fan's view, it does seem there are some mind games going on amongst some of the teams. Already questions have been raised this week about the #11 FedEx Toyota of Denny Hamlin possibly sandbagging for an earlier qualifying draw and of course there is that possibility. If that was their plan, they absolutely needed it not to rain or they would have started way in the back anyway. So far, they are starting in a good spot. Joey Logano turned the fastest lap during qualifying and will start on the pole (unless something happens between now and Sunday's start to the race.) There is no doubt he drove a great lap and deserves to be on the pole. Now, the question remains, will it translate into a win for him on tomorrow? From this fan's view, the cloud cover did nothing but help all of the competitors and many of their qualifying speeds were well above what they ran in practice, (well, at least the first practice.) The obvious observation from that is if the sun is shining, look for the speeds to be slower. Judging from the qualifying session, (which I really don't like to do), shows another weekend where the Chevys didn't show they had the fastest speeds. In fact, the Toyotas are looking very strong with four of them starting in the top six. One of them was Kasey Kahne and he had a very fast car at Indy last weekend. Although his finish didn't show it, he was fast enough to win last weekend, had things gone a little different. I'm still mulling it over but I think he has a chance to be up front at the end of the race. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he is going to win, I'm just saying he has looked strong both of the last two weekends. The Hendrick Chevys just weren't fast during qualifying. Of them, Jimmie Johnson will start closest to the front on Sunday afternoon, but that is only in eighteenth spot. Of course Dale Jr starts in nineteenth so I guess both of them have a chance to move up but they will have a lot of cars to pass. Now this is just this fan's view, but I still think Jeff Gordon had the fastest of the actual Hendrick team Chevys. Had he not slightly over-driven turn three and hit the wall, he was on pace to take the pole. Instead he will start thirty first and that is not at all what he wanted to do. Since he won the race in June at Pocono, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:51 http://justafansview.com/2011/07/30/nascar-at-the-brickyard-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/07/30/nascar-at-the-brickyard-from-a-fans-view/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:30:13 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2446 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/07/30/nascar-at-the-brickyard-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) *******************************... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:55 http://justafansview.com/2011/07/21/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/07/21/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:22:09 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2441 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/07/21/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Articles,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) *******************************... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 6:55 http://justafansview.com/2011/07/13/nascar-at-kentucky-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/07/13/nascar-at-kentucky-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/#comments Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:09:15 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2433 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/07/13/nascar-at-kentucky-after-thoughts-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/20100220RSNTest001-120x150.jpg)Well, Kyle Bush won the inaugural Sprint Cup Race at the Kentucky Speedway and he did it just the way I didn't think he would. Yeah, that's right, you got it, (and I know you already knew it)... He may not have led every lap but he did dominate the race. Although there were moments in the race that his winning might be in question, he had the fastest car throughout the night and once out front with two laps to go, from this fan's view, there was no doubt he was going to win. Once again, Kyle Bush has dominated a weekend and not just in the Cup series, but made a very strong statement in the Nationwide race by coming from the rear of the field and finishing third and won the Campingworld Truck race, too. To top it all off, he moved into first place in points for the Cup series ahead of Carl Edwards and looks to be a very real contender for the Cup Championship this year. Sure, I know it is way too early to start making predictions for the end results of the Sprint Cup Championship, but he is looking awfully strong at the moment. Of course you and I both know looking strong with nine races to go until the Chase starts and ten races in the Chase itself doesn't mean a Championship is definite. At best at this point, it is a definite maybe that Kyle will be in position to dethrone five-time consecutive Sprint Cup champ, Jimmie Johnson. In fact, there are several drivers I am sure won't be sitting back and waiting for him to ease into the top spot during the Chase and, obviously, Jimmie Johnson is one of those. From this fan's view, it is probably fortunate that the Kentucky Speedway had some diverse problems with getting people into the track Saturday night for the capacity crowd. In fact, I would go so far as to say those problems have overshadowed the overall event. Now, I'm not trying to be critical here, but I would like to offer my “observations” on the night... Now please remember, these are just my observations of the overall inaugural Cup race on Saturday night. The Kentucky track is known to be a track where the lap speeds are fast and there is usually a lot of racing room even though the track is rough and bumpy. Saturday was no different and the laps times were fast, but the racing was often single file and many found it was hard to pass. It is nothing new that the track changed between the time the race started and the time it ended (and it is expected that should happen when a race starts in the daylight and goes into the night.) More than one team had problems with one or the other of the racing conditions and some managed to get better while others just fell back. During the night, there were several cars that looked strong but the #18 JGR car of Kyle Bush always seemed to have the field covered whether or not they were out front or not. In my opinion, he just wasn't always pushing the envelope and was waiting for the race to come to him. I don't think Kyle ever doubted he could win, but I do think he knew it all depended on how and when the cautions came out and how his team performed in the pits. (They were pretty much flawless all night from my view.) It did seem that once a car was out front in the “clean air” it was easier for them to stay there for a period of time. I realize there is nothing new about that and it has been a normal situation for some time in NASCAR, it is just the nature of the beast these days. I think most fans expected this race to be a fuel mileage race and it very well could have been had it not been for the cautions near the end. In fact it is my opinion, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:54 http://justafansview.com/2011/07/09/nascar-at-kentucky-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/07/09/nascar-at-kentucky-from-a-fans-view/#comments Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:32:24 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2429 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/07/09/nascar-at-kentucky-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Articles,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)This is the first visit for the NASCAR Cup teams to visit the Kentucky track, but really, it's not. Many of the drivers and teams have gone there to test and they could do that up to about two years ago because it wasn't a track that had Cup racing on it. So, it is the first time the Cup teams do go to Kentucky for a race on their schedule, but many of them are familiar with the track even though it sounds like it is brand new to them. Even if it was the first time for some of them to be on the Kentucky track, NASCAR allowed a test session over several hours on Thursday, before they actually took to the track for practice or qualifying for the weekend on Friday and the race Saturday night. Of course, the rain out of the first test session did throw a little wrench into to works and then rain causing qualifying to not be completed has given us the starting lineup for tonight based on the second practice session, (Wow! That sure sounded confusing, didn't it?) So, tonight's race becomes even more of an uncertainty (as to who might win) with the way they are lining up. Some of the faster cars didn't even get to qualify, so lining up according to the practice session times doesn't tell us the whole story. I do like this new way of qualifying NASCAR has been tweaking here and there this year, but it is unfortunate for those who might have actually qualified on time before the rain came. That means drivers like, Michael Waltrip don't get to race tonight (and he would have made it in according to his qualifying time before qualifying was called). In particular, he would have really liked to have run in this inaugural Cup race at what he and his brother Darrell would call their home track. Unfortunately, because of the that last rain shower, that won't happen this time. There was a lot of talk during the week about how the drivers that had raced in the Nationwide series might have an advantage, but from this fan's view, I just don't think that will be the case. It is my opinion any advantage those drivers may have had is pretty much eliminated by that six hours of testing the teams had on Thursday. I could be wrong but there is a reason why they often call the NASCAR Cup drivers the best in the business and I think they and their teams learn very quickly. Being able to spend that much time on the track on the same weekend they race on it has to be an advantage for all concerned. Now that I've said that, it is this fan's opinion tonight's race should be a very interesting one. Kentucky Speedway is a track that is rough and that makes it a little bit harder for these Cup cars to be set up and keep their splitters from rubbing the ground. I'm not saying that's the only thing that will make it interesting but I am saying it will contribute to what will make it interesting. Since they didn't make it but about half way through the field before qualifying was rained out, (and so they would have time to get the track ready for the Nationwide race), this fan thinks this is a race that is going to be hard to pick a winner. Like any other weekend, you can't tell a whole lot from the way they qualified, (and particularly from this weekend's lineup being set up from the afternoon qualifying session), but there are some people that have run well here in the Nationwide series. Whether or not that will transfer over to the Cup race tonight is anybody's guess, but from my view, it is a definite possibility and could affect the results of the race. I expect tonight's race could be a fuel mileage race and, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 6:48 http://justafansview.com/2011/07/02/nascar-at-daytona-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/07/02/nascar-at-daytona-from-a-fans-view/#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:54:35 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2421 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/07/02/nascar-at-daytona-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar,Nascar Articles,Nascar Racing *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 ***********************************************************************************... *******************************Two Buck Themes ad ********************************** MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 (http://twobuckthemes.com/amember/go.php?r=10&i=l1) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)The big question has already been answered about the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona this weekend. That question was how the different drivers were going to handle the “Two Car Draft”, (some call it “the Two Car Tango”), but it was answered before they got to Daytona this week. Many had already started planning their strategy a couple of weeks ago and most had already chosen their partners for drafting before unloading their cars off the haulers. It still remains to be seen how that strategy plays out simply because “stuff” happens in restrictor plate racing that can't be forseen and this fan doesn't see this night race at the super speedway being any different. The next big question was wondering who would actually sit on the pole and that was answered Friday in the late afternoon and early evening. Mark Martin was fastest and took his fiftieth career pole in NASCAR Cup. He and the Daytona 500 winner for 2011, Trevor Bayne, will make up the front row. Yeah, I know many, (including myself), downplay the importance of qualifying on a regular basis but I do find it interesting that a fifty two year old and a twenty year old make up the front row. (Some have even said it is the old and new of it.) From this fan's view, after observing the practice session and qualifying (even though qualifying doesn't tell us anything about the way the race will go), I don't see this race being that much different than the race in February. The track is still smooth and still has a lot of grip according to the drivers. And it is very obvious it will be two-by-two unless someone discovers how to go faster in groups of three or four. I look forward to this race with mixed emotions and it is my opinion the two car draft has changed restrictor plate racing completely. Now, when I say mixed emotions, I'm not saying they are negative emotions, I'm just saying restrictor plate racing is different than it was. In some ways, I kinda miss the big packs and watching them swap positions lap after lap. It seemed there was little to distract those watching because, at any moment, someone in that large pack of cars could get just a little squirrely and suddenly there would be mayhem and a bunch of spinning and sliding cars often changing the possible outcome of the race. The “big one” usually affected more than just those close to the action, it affected anyone that couldn't get out of the way. In those big packs, it could have been a contender, or someone with no chance of winning, that was taken completely out of contention and it didn't matter which number was on the side of the car or who was driving. With the two car draft, there is still a lot of action and they still run in packs. The difference is, (at least from my view), there is a bit of separation and when one of the twosomes get a run, they seem to blow by everyone and then they hit a wall. Of course you know I'm not talking about a literal wall (at least, most of the time) but a wall of air that seems to slow their progress and let's someone else take over until they hit that same momentum killer. In this case, momentum is key and that is what makes the end of the race so interesting. The teams have to time their move just right if they want to win. A great example of this was the race at Talladega in the spring. With eight of the contenders finishing four abreast and only thousandths of a second apart at the finish line, to me that says the finish at Daytona tonight could be one of the most exciting in recent history, including the race in February and the one at Talladega. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:23