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 TV-G http://justafansview.com/2012/05/12/nascar-at-darlington-from-just-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2012/05/12/nascar-at-darlington-from-just-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 12 May 2012 17:47:00 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2789 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2012/05/12/nascar-at-darlington-from-just-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2011/11/17/chase-race-at-phoenix-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/11/17/chase-race-at-phoenix-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:44:10 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2635 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/11/17/chase-race-at-phoenix-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Articles,Nascar fan opinion,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 7:47 http://justafansview.com/2011/08/25/michigan-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/08/25/michigan-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:45:58 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2479 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/08/25/michigan-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-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 7:25 http://justafansview.com/2011/08/03/brickyard-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/08/03/brickyard-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:00:47 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2451 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/08/03/brickyard-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 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) *******************************... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:31 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/2011/07/09/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 http://justafansview.com/2011/06/11/nascar-at-pocono-from-a-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/06/11/nascar-at-pocono-from-a-fans-view/#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 20:46:53 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2388 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/06/11/nascar-at-pocono-from-a-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Articles,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing,stock car racing   MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10 Pocono is not an oval, does not have four turns and it is a cross between a road course and an oval. They call it a triangle (and it actually looks like one),   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)Pocono is not an oval, does not have four turns and it is a cross between a road course and an oval. They call it a triangle (and it actually looks like one), but one thing is slightly confusing to me. If NASCAR races at a race track called an oval they have four turns but this track, being a triangle, should have six in my book. When they talk about this track, they talk about as if it is a road course and it only has three turns. Of course, they name some of the turns and straightaways and that is supposed to make it easier for us to understand where they are on the course, (and notice I purposely used course instead of track in this instance just to show there is an assumed difference.) Okay, okay... enough with the trivial stuff already... Pocono is a unique track and it is always interesting to see how the different drivers handle the challenges it presents. Some just love it while others just suffer through it. It is a place you have to sacrifice something in at least one spot to make gains in others and it really does have three distinct turns, each one having its own characteristics. On top of that, the track has three distinct straights and one of them is wide and long and can handle six wide racing to the turn at he end of it. Hopefully, the drivers sort themselves out before they get to that turn or some of them aren't going to make it through. NASCAR has made some interesting changes for the teams to deal with this weekend and one of them is loosening the gear ratio rules so it is advantageous to shift into what many call a passing gear to better accelerate off the turns again. That may or may not be good for all of the drivers, but it will make the race all the more interesting. If they do shift there is the possibility they can miss a shift and that can cause them problems. The expectation, is they will shift to try and pass coming out of the turns by throwing it down into third gear to get a jump off the turn and then back into high gear. Speed is going to be the determining factor on shifting and then there is the concern of how much more fuel they might burn by shifting. Personally, I think shifting is the biggest unknown going into the race tomorrow. I think it will be something the driver will decide on the fly. If it works for them and moves them toward the front, you can bet they'll use it to the fullest advantage. So what is the expectation of how things will go on Sunday afternoon for the 5 hour Energy 500 at Pocono from this fan's view? Well, since you asked, I tell you what I think... First of all, (and judging from the practice and qualifying sessions), I think the bumps in turn one are going to throw more than one car out of balance and possibly out of control. (Mike Skinner's qualifying try was the most obvious example of what I am talking about.) One miscalculation and it can mean losing a lot of ground on a race track that is already hard enough to pass on anyway. If they lose it coming out of turn one, it puts them out of position going into the next turn which can lose them positions and possibly a car as they use one of the walls as a brake. I think the problems will only be more obvious under racing conditions and being able to be in the best groove may be a thing much harder to do when you blow the turn and have to move up the track in that area. Two drivers looking very confident after the qualifying session were Kurt Bush and Denny Hamlin. Bush said he was very pleased with the way he and his team performed to take the pole even in a backup car. I don't think that it necessarily follows that he will win, but I do have to admit the Penske Dodges are looking much stronger than they did just a short time ago in the season. Once again, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:38 http://justafansview.com/2010/10/06/nascar-at-kansas-after-thoughts-biffle-wins-and-race-3-shakes-up-the-points/ http://justafansview.com/2010/10/06/nascar-at-kansas-after-thoughts-biffle-wins-and-race-3-shakes-up-the-points/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:08:07 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2147 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2010/10/06/nascar-at-kansas-after-thoughts-biffle-wins-and-race-3-shakes-up-the-points/feed/ 1 motorsports,Nascar,Nascar Articles,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing If you would have asked me if Greg Biffle had a snowball’s chance in the hottest of places of getting back in the hunt for the Chase going into the race at Kansas, I would have told you, “No Way!”  As I mentioned in the last article, (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)If you would have asked me if Greg Biffle had a snowball’s chance in the hottest of places of getting back in the hunt for the Chase going into the race ... Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 8:05 http://justafansview.com/2010/10/03/nascar-at-kansas-chase-race-three-is-crunch-time-for-four-or-more/ http://justafansview.com/2010/10/03/nascar-at-kansas-chase-race-three-is-crunch-time-for-four-or-more/#comments Sun, 03 Oct 2010 11:30:32 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2143 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2010/10/03/nascar-at-kansas-chase-race-three-is-crunch-time-for-four-or-more/feed/ 1 motorsports,Nascar,Nascar Articles,Nascar Fan,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing No matter what some may say, this third race is crunch time for the NASCAR teams in ninth to twelfth in the Chase or they’ll have to face the reality of waiting until next year to make another run for the Sprint Cup Championship. (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)No matter what some may say, this third race is crunch time for the NASCAR teams in ninth to twelfth in the Chase or they’ll have to face the reality of waiting until next year to make another run for the Sprint Cup Championship. The pressure is on them to finish at, or near, the front if they want to have even the remotest chance of being in the Chase for the Championship by the time they make it to Homestead. Those in fourth through eighth have their work cut out for themselves, but those other teams have to finish well not only this weekend, but from here on out (especially if those top eight don’t struggle and help them cut their points separation.) I know anything can happen simply because this is NASCAR and the competition throughout the Cup series is the closest it has ever been, but there comes a time when opportunity slips away and reality sets in. So, will this be the week everyone was talking about as the Chase began when someone besides the twelve “Chasers” actually finish ahead of everyone else. From this fan’s view and the looks of practice and qualifying, I say this is probably the weekend (possibly more than any so far) that anything can happen. Once again let me qualify that statement by saying, that doesn’t mean it will, but, there are some non-Chasers looking awfully strong, especially in the Ford camps. I mean, just look at the front row; Kasey Kahne on pole and Paul Menard outside pole. That’s a pretty strong showing for the Fords (not to mention Richard Petty Motorsports.) Just a quick glance at the rest of the top twelve qualifiers shows six Fords, three Chevys, two Toyotas and one Dodge. (No partridge in a pear tree though…) Hey, I’m just sayin’, if qualifying says anything at all about how the race may go on Sunday afternoon, then the Fords have a great chance at pulling off the victory. (But when have I ever put much stock in qualifying telling us who will win? Yeah, that’s right…hardly ever…) Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth are the only “Chasers” that qualified in the top twelve driving Fords and both of them have to finish near the front to have much of a chance at staying in contention for the rest of the Chase. To come to what is called an intermediate track (1.5 mile oval) and have a strong performance is not unheard of for the Roush/Fenway teams, but it is a lot of pressure to have to come in and perform well with no room for error to stay in the hunt. They are on the edge and it is imperative they gain points on those ahead of them or it is all over for them when it comes to winning the Championship. It is interesting how the practices go and the last one today was no different. The Hendrick teams of Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson ended up at the top of the speed charts for the third practice session and I wouldn’t rule out either one of them from the possibility of winning on Sunday afternoon. Of course, with Greg Biffle having the third fastest time, his chances do look hopeful for making up some points like I mentioned earlier even if only a little at a time. While we’re talking about making up points, the teams that are furthest back in the points have an interesting decision to make. Either they have to go for broke and try to make up the points quickly or try to hack away at those ahead of them steadily by consistently making up points over the next eight races. Unfortunately, desperation is setting in on a couple of them and they may not have the patience to try the little by little method and, as we all know, desperation sometimes causes stupidity. The thing about the Chase that makes this time of the season different is we have a tendency to focus on the top twelve and overlook the other thirty-one. Admittedly, because of the economics involved and the existence of the “start and parks”, some of them should be ignored. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:29 http://justafansview.com/2010/09/27/nascar-at-dover-after-thoughts-johnson-wins-number-two-and-the-monster-bites-a-few/ http://justafansview.com/2010/09/27/nascar-at-dover-after-thoughts-johnson-wins-number-two-and-the-monster-bites-a-few/#comments Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:56:08 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2139 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2010/09/27/nascar-at-dover-after-thoughts-johnson-wins-number-two-and-the-monster-bites-a-few/feed/ 1 motorsports,Nascar,Nascar Articles,Nascar Fan,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing,stock car racing Jimmie Johnson won race number two of the Chase and once again tamed the Monster Mile. He didn’t just win, but it could be said that he had a dominate performance by also taking the pole and leading the most laps. (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)Jimmie Johnson won race number two of the Chase and once again tamed the Monster Mile. He didn’t just win, but it could be said that he had a dominate performance by also taking the pole and leading the most laps. So does this mean he is headed for his fifth Cup Championship in a row? Well… if you ask some, this is exactly why NASCAR found Clint Bowyer’s #33 car illegal last week; so Jimmie Johnson could once again make history and he and Denny Hamlin could battle it out for themselves for the championship. Now we all know, NASCAR doesn’t do things like that (no matter how many people think they do) but it does give more opportunity for the “Black Helicopter” rumors to once again get started. You know, as a fan, I do grow tired of the suspicion of how NASCAR tries to manipulate things like others do in those “Reality TV” shows. (Personally, I don’t watch them for several reasons, but mostly for the reason stated above – there’s hardly anything real about them even though they’re called Reality TV.) You see, I have an advantage over some of you… I’ve raced and I do definitely understand how things can change in a race and in a season simply because racers go through a spell where nothing seems to go right. (Honestly, sometimes it does seem like there are racing gods and they do try to manipulate things even though I know there are no such things.) So, what does happen? Well, as usual, that’s a great question and I’m glad someone asked it. Racing is an interesting sport. It has highs and lows and it definitely seems to ride waves of times when you can’t do anything wrong no matter what you do and other times that nothing goes right no matter what you do or how good you car is. These are just my observations, but if you ask anyone who has raced, they will probably tell something similar. Yes, I’ve heard people say, “Well, you make your own luck,” and I can say I understand where they’re coming from. The only thing I will say to that is; yes, you always try to put yourself in position to make the most of a situation by being well prepared, but in racing, not everything depends totally on your preparation or performance. Sometimes other people affect your performance by their actions and lack of preparedness. That’s because there is more than one person on the track at the same time… you’re racing more than a clock and a piece of asphalt or concrete. You’re racing those and the others on the track and the situations that come about because of them and their performance and actions. (It’s not a war, really, but sometimes it does seem that way. I guess that’s why it’s called competition.) The Joe Gibbs’ teams did make a good showing by all of them finishing in the top ten. The best of the three was Joey Logano in third followed by Kyle Bush in sixth and Denny Hamlin in ninth. Denny was happy to finish in the top ten since he usually seems to have problems at the Monster Mile. Kyle wasn’t happy about finishing sixth but was definitely happier with that than any further back in the field. The RCR cars were mostly bitten by the Monster with Kevin Harvick finishing fifteenth and Clint Bowyer finishing twenty-fifth. Jeff Burton was the RCR bright spot finishing second. Clint Bowyer definitely had a bad week over all and we’ll find out whether NASCAR finding his car illegal will be reversed on Tuesday. If the ruling is reversed he will be ninth in points instead of twelfth. Others in the top twelve for the Chase bitten by the Monster were Jeff Gordon finishing just outside the top ten in eleventh because of a lug nut issue on the last pit stop; Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle finishing eighteenth and nineteenth and Tony Stewart finishing twenty first which definitely was not what he needed after running out of gas with a lap to go last week while leading. So far, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:07 http://justafansview.com/2010/09/22/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-the-chase-begins-clint-bowyer-wins%e2%80%a6-on-fumes/ http://justafansview.com/2010/09/22/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-the-chase-begins-clint-bowyer-wins%e2%80%a6-on-fumes/#comments Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:07:09 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2129 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2010/09/22/nascar-at-loudon-after-thoughts-the-chase-begins-clint-bowyer-wins%e2%80%a6-on-fumes/feed/ 1 Nascar,Nascar Articles,Nascar Fan,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Racing,Nascar Sprint Cup Racing Clint Bowyer is on a roll… His performance over the last several weeks has been enviable and he won the Sylvania 300 on fumes Sunday afternoon. To say no one expected him to win it would not be quite correct, (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/20100220RSNTest001-120x150.jpg)Clint Bowyer is on a roll… His performance over the last several weeks has been enviable and he won the Sylvania 300 on fumes Sunday afternoon. To say no one expected him to win it would not be quite correct, but he was the “twelfth seed” going into the Chase and he received the least amount of attention as to who would win at Loudon. Oh, and by the way, he probably wouldn’t have won, IF, (and that’s a mighty big if), Tony Stewart hadn’t run out of gas about a lap from the end. I find it interesting how things sometimes go in racing. I mean, if you take a good close look at the end of the race Sunday afternoon, three teams chanced not coming in for fuel and possibly tires and two of those three ran out of gas. (In case you weren’t watching, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart were the three and we all know who didn’t run out of gas.) To me, it just goes to show that sometimes a thing called luck, or possibly that thing called “Big Mo,” has to figure into the mix. Now, I’ve heard some say, “It just wasn’t in the cards for Stewart to win” and others say, “The ‘racing gods’ weren’t smiling on him.” I don’t agree with those evaluations, but, I do know that sometimes things just don’t go the way you think they should, or could. Why Tony Stewart and Jeff Burton ran out of gas and Clint Bowyer didn’t is a good question (and don’t forget, the #31 team of Burton is also a Childress team like Bowyer) but I don’t think it had anything at all to do with ‘cards’ or ‘racing gods.’ I do, however, think it had everything to do with fuel mileage and the driver’s right foot. (I guess we could also figure in which one used the least amount of brakes and did the most coasting over the last laps doing that thing called “saving fuel.”) I’m not sure whether it was the race only being 300 laps or because it was a shorter track, but the racing on Sunday was aggressive to say the least. No one, and I mean no one, could accuse any driver of just laying back and waiting for the last fifty or so laps. Many were aggressive (and some overly aggressive) from the drop of the green flag on the first lap. It really set the tone for the day and the intensity was high for the whole race. Even though the intensity was high, the Sylvania 300 had minimal cautions even though there was quite a bit of pushin’ and shovin’ going on. If anyone questioned whether the thirty one cars vying for 13th place in the Chase were going to move out of the top twelve’s way or just lay back and let them go, well, I think that thought can be put to rest. From what this fan observed on Sunday afternoon, they don’t really care too much about those other twelve drivers… its racing as usual for all of them and that tells me this is going to be an interesting Chase. The top twelve may still be the ones finishing up front, but they are going to have to work for it if they do; (hey, I’m just sayin…’) One thing I like about the first couple of races in the Chase is how fast the points’ situation gets shaken up. Considering how they all started the day and how they finished, there was a gigantic shakeup in the top twelve. By not running out of gas and winning on Sunday, Clint Bowyer jumped ten spots, going from twelfth to second. (Okay, maybe gigantic is a bit of an over statement, but there was a lot of movement in the top twelve spots even though Deny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Bush somehow managed to stay in their positions but I don’t think Jeff Burton is very thrilled about staying in the tenth spot after he ran out of gas in the final two laps while running in the top five.) All in all, Sunday’s race a Loudon was a great start to the 2010 Chase for the Cup and, if it is any consolation to those that had a bad start, there are still nine weeks to go to move up to the top of the points standings. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:08