http://justafansview.com Just a fan's view of Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Sat, 12 May 2012 17:50:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 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/uncategorized/ TV-G http://justafansview.com/2009/10/24/nascar-at-martinsville-the-chase-for-the-sprint-cup-continues-and-the-pressure%e2%80%99s-on-%e2%80%a6-everybody/ http://justafansview.com/2009/10/24/nascar-at-martinsville-the-chase-for-the-sprint-cup-continues-and-the-pressure%e2%80%99s-on-%e2%80%a6-everybody/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:42:11 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1705 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/10/24/nascar-at-martinsville-the-chase-for-the-sprint-cup-continues-and-the-pressure%e2%80%99s-on-%e2%80%a6-everybody/feed/ 0 Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Apparently, the obvious question for this week’s “Tums Fast Relief 500” race at Martinsville is, “Will this be the week of Jimmie Johnson’s mulligan?” If you listen to many of the reporters and commentators, Apparently, the obvious question for this week’s “Tums Fast Relief 500” race at Martinsville is, “Will this be the week of Jimmie Johnson’s mulligan?” If you listen to many of the reporters and commentators, it’s the only thing that can save Nascar’s 2009 season from becoming a ho-hum experience the rest of the way to it’s finale in Homestead… that is, if you listen to all the doomsayers… Personally, I don’t think they have a valid point, but then who am I but “Just A Nascar Fan” with my own point of view, (just like most other Nascar fans.) For a season that started with so many question marks because of the present economic situation of our Nation, I think it has been a pretty competitive year, full of excitement, drama and suspense and the stands may not have been full every week but, there have been lot of people sitting in them at every stop. Do I like Jimmie Johnson? Yes, but he isn’t my favorite driver, (at least not yet), although I have been a Hendrick Motorsports fan for a long time. Now before you cop an attitude, let me quickly add I’m also a fan of most, if not all, of the teams in Nascar and over time I have grown to appreciate the individual personalities of almost every driver and visible team member involved. (Yes, there are still a few I can’t, or don’t understand, but hey, that’s racing!) Admittedly, I have mellowed over the years and some of the ones I could hardly stand at all, I now have a greater respect and appreciation for than ever. I like the diversity of personalities represented in this “Great American Sport” and though I know none of them are perfect, I love the competitive spirit they display on a weekly basis. They prove to me every week that it’s okay to be real. Taking a look at the top twelve in the standings shows an interesting fact that has kinda been the story for much of the season this year. As of last weeks race at Lowe’s, there are four of the top five that are Hendrick or Hendrick associated teams and five out of the top eight. If we just take a little closer look those top four guys we find that three of them are multiple Cup Champions, (so, is it any wonder they’re running up front?? I think not…) Of course those names are familiar names and would be the likes of Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. If we throw the qualifying positions out the window, any one of those three could come away with the victory this weekend along with about ten others I can think of right off the top of my head. Well, I guess it’s time to talk more about the question of Jimmie Johnson having a bad week. We all know it can happen and if you’re one of those that has been enjoying the racing rather than looking for everything you can find wrong with it, you probably noticed how one bad week affected Juan Montoya’s position in the Chase. He was in third place before Lowe’s and everyone was saying he was the one to look out for because he had finished all of the first four races in the top five. After Lowe’s, he had lost three places in the standings and is 195 points behind the front runner, Jimmie Johnson. That’s why Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson keep reminding us there are still five races to go. They know as well as anyone, the very same thing could happen to them this week at Martinsville or next week at Talladega. (In fact, they also know something could go wrong both weeks and everything would be tightened up again in the standings.) Taking an honest look at the points before the race this weekend, I have to say, barring the unforeseen, anybody that’s more than 155 points out of first is probably not going to have much of a chance at taking the top spot.  That doesn’t mean I’m ruling anybody out, but I have to agree with a statement I heard earlier this week. It is possible that one or maybe two of the front runners could have problems over the next weeks but it isn’t likely that all of them will. For that reason, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean http://justafansview.com/2009/10/17/nascar-at-charlotte-race-5-of-the-chase-from-just-a-fan%e2%80%99s-view/ http://justafansview.com/2009/10/17/nascar-at-charlotte-race-5-of-the-chase-from-just-a-fan%e2%80%99s-view/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:04:09 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1662 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/10/17/nascar-at-charlotte-race-5-of-the-chase-from-just-a-fan%e2%80%99s-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Fan,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Qualifying aside, who will really be eliminated from taking the top spot in the Chase and added to the list of the ones already eliminated? Is this the week Jimmie Johnson begins to leave the rest in the dust on his way to number four? Qualifying aside, who will really be eliminated from taking the top spot in the Chase and added to the list of the ones already eliminated? Is this the week Jimmie Johnson begins to leave the rest in the dust on his way to number four? Will anyone come out of Charlotte and show they have anything at all left to show to the #48 (and the fans) that could change the direction the Chase appears to be headed? These are all questions that have been asked going into this weekend and won’t be answered until the checkered flag falls on the Nascar Banking 500 this Saturday night. As a fan, I look at this weekend as one of the key races for what will likely happen over the next five. There are a lot of “ifs” contained in the rhetoric going around right now and it remains to be seen exactly how it all pans out. Looking at the lineup for Saturday night’s fifth race in the Chase, I find it interesting, once again, that three of the four actual Hendrick teams and five total Hendrick associated cars are starting in the top ten. Those would include, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon. I don’t think that looks to good for the competition but it is possible that we could all be surprised when the race is over. I just don’t intend to start putting a lot of stock in the way the cars have qualified even though it is beginning to be a habitual thing for with the Hendrick cars. This is the first week that Juan Montoya has shown any weakness since the actual Chase began. Qualifying 18th means he has at least a little challenge ahead of him on race night. Since he has been qualifying and running so well over the last four weeks, it is at least a little surprising to see even a hint of a chink in the performance of the #42 team at this point. I guess it is a reminder that no one is exempt from something going wrong and possibly making the Chase a bit more exciting. Montoya’s consistency has been the one factor many have pointed to since the Chase began four races ago. I haven’t heard what the thinking is now that he has had a bad qualifying session, especially after his qualifying attempt last week. If you recall, he bounced off the wall in his qualifying run and still started in the top five. As hard as he hit the wall in that qualifying run, it had ‘starting much further back’ written all over it and yet he kept his foot in it and started where he did. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I think qualifying is a bit over-rated at times. Even with his 18th starting position this Saturday night, I won’t rule him out of the hunt for the win. If  qualifying does actually say anything about how the race might go for the rest of the Chasers, Kurt Bush, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin could have long nights and, barring some unforeseen circumstances, will only be racing for who can finish highest in the 7th to 10th spots in the top twelve for the rest of the Chase. Although Kurt Bush still has a chance to move into contention, this fan’s view thinks the actual Chase is down to five people and this fifth race is going to narrow the field even more.  The real problem is not the teams further back in points not being able to run well and make up ground, it is the strength and consistency that has been shown by the three teams leading in the Chase. Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Juan Montoya would have to have a couple of disastrous weeks for anything to change much in the top six positions and the disasters would have to start this weekend in the Nascar Banking 500. Although there are several commentators that would like to see the disasters start and make the points battle tighten up, this fan doesn’t think that is likely to happen.  After the race finishes this weekend, it is this fan’s view, the Chase for the Sprint Cup will be down to four teams and quite possibly only three. No matter how we look at it, time is running out for Jeff Gordon and Kurt Bush. Realistically, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 6:10 http://justafansview.com/2009/09/30/nascar-at-dover-after-chatter-just-a-fans-view-of-the-latest-monster-tamers/ http://justafansview.com/2009/09/30/nascar-at-dover-after-chatter-just-a-fans-view-of-the-latest-monster-tamers/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:05:06 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1535 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/09/30/nascar-at-dover-after-chatter-just-a-fans-view-of-the-latest-monster-tamers/feed/ 0 Nascar Fan,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Say what you will about the Hendrick teams and their performance this year, but no matter what you really think, they have been strong. Jimmy Johnson and Mark Martin "Tamed the Monster" and finished 1-2 in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway S... Say what you will about the Hendrick teams and their performance this year, but no matter what you really think, they have been strong. Jimmy Johnson and Mark Martin "Tamed the Monster" and finished 1-2 in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway S... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 6:08 http://justafansview.com/2009/08/29/nascar-at-bristol-thunder-valley-after-chatter-from-just-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2009/08/29/nascar-at-bristol-thunder-valley-after-chatter-from-just-a-fans-view/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:03:18 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1281 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/08/29/nascar-at-bristol-thunder-valley-after-chatter-from-just-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2009/08/22/nascar-at-bristol-sprint-cup-returns-to-short-track-racing-in-thunder-valley/ http://justafansview.com/2009/08/22/nascar-at-bristol-sprint-cup-returns-to-short-track-racing-in-thunder-valley/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:58:24 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1247 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/08/22/nascar-at-bristol-sprint-cup-returns-to-short-track-racing-in-thunder-valley/feed/ 0 Nascar,Nascar Fan,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing How about that "Old Guy", Mark Martin? Another pole starting position and that makes five on the year, so far, for the guy that wasn't even supposed to be racing this year and who will be making his 1000th start in the Nascar Cup Series Saturday night ... How about that "Old Guy", Mark Martin? Another pole starting position and that makes five on the year, so far, for the guy that wasn't even supposed to be racing this year and who will be making his 1000th start in the Nascar Cup Series Saturday night in Thunder Valley. I always find it interesting how Mark Martin talks about his qualifying experiences week in and week out. He doesn't step out and say things like, "I think I left a little out there, I hope it holds up..." or, "Well, it was a good run but I think I could have gone a little faster..." No, he says things like, "I've never been so scared in my life, I can't believe how fast that lap was...", or "It is unbelievable how loose the car was; there's no way that lap could have been that good... I can't believe I'm on the pole." Now, don't misunderstand what I am saying here. He never criticizes his crew chief, car owner or the team. He is always saying how hard they work and how good a car they've provided for him. It's just that, (and I think this is the key), he is outside his comfort zone. To get the results he is getting, he is pressing the envelope of comfort he would like to be in -- keeping it right on the edge -- and getting those poles and victories shows that's what it takes. (Not bad for an "Old Guy". Hey, I can say that 'cause I am one.) He may be enjoying what is going on for him this year, but he isn't as "comfortable" as he would like to be. He also says the pressure of making the Chase is taking a little bit of the fun out of all the good stuff going on for him this year. Although he has had some bad luck during the year, he is performing well but, he also doesn't want to waste all of these "good results" when he is so close to making the Chase. It is this fan's opinion, once he definitely makes it into the Chase this year, his racing life in Nascar will once again be fun for Mark Martin. Once again, I don't think where someone qualified is going to tell too much about where they will finish. During qualifying, it definitely looked as though many were taken a bit by surprise by how slick the track was. It looked like many missed the setup on their qualifying runs. That makes it look even more like it will be a very exciting race because, the outside lane is going to prove very "racey", also. One thing that can be said about Bristol; you don't pass that many people in the pits. This is one track that is a driver's track. When you win at Bristol, it is usually because the driver did his job. That doesn't mean the crews and what they do doesn't matter. It simply means that if the crews give the driver a good car setup, the driver is more responsible for the end result. The crew still has to do their part, but, more passing is going to be done on the track "rather" than in the pits. I disagree with the overall consensus that Kyle Bush is the strong favorite to win the Sharpie 500 this weekend. It is this fan's opinion there is just too much that has been going wrong for him this year. He may have won the Truck race but look what happened to him in the Nationwide race. To win these days a lot has to go right. He has the same chance as anyone else to take the victory, but he also has the same chance as anyone else to have something go wrong not of their own making. At Bristol, anything --and I stress the word, a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g -- can happen to change the outcome of the race. Bristol is a track that demands a lot from the competitors and in particular the demand on their ability to endure mentally and physically throughout the race. This is a place that breeds short tempers and high emotions. That sometimes causes the drivers to react in ways that changes the whole outcome of the night for them and for those that happened to be in the wrong place at the right time. The winner tonight could be a total surprise. It could be someone like Marcos Ambrose, David Reutimann or even Scott Speed. Actually, out of those three, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean http://justafansview.com/2009/08/02/nascar-at-pocono-a-fans-view-of-sundays-sunoco-red-cross-pennsylvania-500/ http://justafansview.com/2009/08/02/nascar-at-pocono-a-fans-view-of-sundays-sunoco-red-cross-pennsylvania-500/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:34:01 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1099 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/08/02/nascar-at-pocono-a-fans-view-of-sundays-sunoco-red-cross-pennsylvania-500/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2009/07/30/nascar-at-indy-after-chatter-from-the-brickyard/ http://justafansview.com/2009/07/30/nascar-at-indy-after-chatter-from-the-brickyard/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:08:09 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1074 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/07/30/nascar-at-indy-after-chatter-from-the-brickyard/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2009/07/16/nascar-at-chicagoland-after-chatter-mark-martin-double-file-restarts-and-the-race-for-the-chase/ http://justafansview.com/2009/07/16/nascar-at-chicagoland-after-chatter-mark-martin-double-file-restarts-and-the-race-for-the-chase/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:08:48 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=1016 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/07/16/nascar-at-chicagoland-after-chatter-mark-martin-double-file-restarts-and-the-race-for-the-chase/feed/ 1 http://justafansview.com/2009/07/04/nascar-fireworks-from-daytona-the-coke-zero-400/ http://justafansview.com/2009/07/04/nascar-fireworks-from-daytona-the-coke-zero-400/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:53:02 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=919 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/07/04/nascar-fireworks-from-daytona-the-coke-zero-400/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2009/06/28/nascar-at-the-magic-mile-just-a-fans-view-of-the-lenox-industrial-tools-301-at-nhms/ http://justafansview.com/2009/06/28/nascar-at-the-magic-mile-just-a-fans-view-of-the-lenox-industrial-tools-301-at-nhms/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:12 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=858 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/06/28/nascar-at-the-magic-mile-just-a-fans-view-of-the-lenox-industrial-tools-301-at-nhms/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2009/06/21/nascar-at-sonoma-infineon-will-be-a-shootout-between-ringers-and-regulars/ http://justafansview.com/2009/06/21/nascar-at-sonoma-infineon-will-be-a-shootout-between-ringers-and-regulars/#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:10:50 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=814 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/06/21/nascar-at-sonoma-infineon-will-be-a-shootout-between-ringers-and-regulars/feed/ 3 http://justafansview.com/2009/06/17/nascar-at-michigan-after-chatter-fuel-mileage-with-horsepower-takes-mark-martin-to-the-victory/ http://justafansview.com/2009/06/17/nascar-at-michigan-after-chatter-fuel-mileage-with-horsepower-takes-mark-martin-to-the-victory/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:56:23 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=789 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2009/06/17/nascar-at-michigan-after-chatter-fuel-mileage-with-horsepower-takes-mark-martin-to-the-victory/feed/ 0