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 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/2011/11/17/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/2011/11/13/chase-race-nine-at-phoenix-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/11/13/chase-race-nine-at-phoenix-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:59:23 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2614 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/11/13/chase-race-nine-at-phoenix-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 7:39 http://justafansview.com/2011/11/05/chase-race-eight-at-texas-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/11/05/chase-race-eight-at-texas-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:22:53 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2606 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/11/05/chase-race-eight-at-texas-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 nascar chase,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 8:23 http://justafansview.com/2011/11/04/martinsville-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/11/04/martinsville-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:15:55 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2603 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/11/04/martinsville-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar Fan,Nascar fan opinion,Nascar Sprint Cup 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 7:58 http://justafansview.com/2011/10/30/chase-race-seven-at-martinsville-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/10/30/chase-race-seven-at-martinsville-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:28:46 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2598 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/10/30/chase-race-seven-at-martinsville-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) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)NASCAR at Martinsville in the fall is always subject to the weather and this year's fall race is no different. Cooler weather and a different tire compound may compound the weather issues for some and earlier tire testing my give some an advantage. Now that's just speculation from this fan's view, but with only one practice session and and no real qualifying, it remains to be seen what effect the non-cooperative weather situation will have on Chase Race seven. Because there was no practice or qualifying until NASCAR decided to turn the qualifying session into the final practice, the teams will lineup for today's race according to points. That will benefit the top twelve in the Chase and all of them will start in the top twelve spots. When the green flag drops it will be 500 laps to see who drops like a rock through the field and who advances (or stays) in front. The Martinsville track is the smallest on the NASCAR circuit and it follows the largest, which was Talladega last weekend. It is interesting to note how the Chasers consider both the largest and the smallest tracks as tracks they just hope they can survive without too much damage in points. Most of the dread at the Talladega track comes because it is a restrictor plate track and so little of what can happen there is in the drivers hands. At Martinsville it is because it is a short track with two drag strips and two very sharp corners and forty-three cars running and pitting in very tight quarters. In addition at Martinsville, with the closeness of the competition these days, there is very little separation in speed from the fastest to the slowest and that makes track position one of the most important factors for getting, or staying out front and also adds to the tension and stress levels for the drivers and the crews. If the short final practice is any example of what may happen this Sunday afternoon, this fan thinks the patience level is going to be very short. Now why do you suppose I would suspect a thing like that? Well, first of all, just look at how the points battle is shaping up. Just twenty six points separate the top five and only another twenty-six points separate the next three spots from them. Although some appear to be eliminated from the Chase, a complete reversal of the way it has gone so far over the next four races would really make it interesting by the time the teams reach Homestead for the finale. Of course, this fan realizes the chances of that happening are basically slim and none, but since we are talking about NASCAR Cup, it is not completely outside the realm of possibilities. The reality is, this Chase is probably between the top five in the standings from here until Homestead, but we can't rule out those next three just yet. Taking a serious look at spots sixth through eighth show two former Cup Champions and one of them has won five consecutive championships. The other has never won a Cup championship but still has to be considered a contender simply because he can go on a winning streak himself and that could put him back into the mix relatively quickly. Of course you know, that last one I'm talking about is Kyle Bush and the other two are Kurt Bush and Jimmie Johnson. Since this is the first year for this points system to be in place, there really is no way of knowing what the possibilities are (even though those guys that like to compare statistics for everything would tell you those last three don't have a chance, mathematically.) I really hate to state the obvious, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:08 http://justafansview.com/2011/10/29/talladega-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/10/29/talladega-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:03:36 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2595 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/10/29/talladega-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 6:34 http://justafansview.com/2011/10/22/chase-race-six-at-talladega-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/10/22/chase-race-six-at-talladega-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:49:51 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2589 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/10/22/chase-race-six-at-talladega-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 nascar chase,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 7:29 http://justafansview.com/2011/10/05/the-monster-leaves-its-mark-on-the-chase-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/10/05/the-monster-leaves-its-mark-on-the-chase-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:00:20 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2552 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/10/05/the-monster-leaves-its-mark-on-the-chase-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar,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) ***************************************************************************************** (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/091218_iPhoneCamPixes-060-003A-150x150.jpg)The Monster Mile at Dover left its mark on the top twelve contenders in the Chase for the 2011 Sprint Cup Championship. Shaking up the points a bit was only part of the story as the day was a struggle for some but there's one thing it wasn't... it wasn't a fuel mileage race. Even though several of the teams did experience problems, mistakes on pit road and often changing track conditions (mostly due to the differences of rubber in the racing groove), the points race tightened up, at least in the top nine spots. The biggest losers on the day (as far the Chasers) were Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ryan Newman and Brad Keselowski. All of them finished twentieth or worse and that was not what any of them wanted or needed. With these four finishing where they did, it helped tighten up the points, (at least somewhat), and makes the coming weekend in Kansas all the more interesting. From this fan's view, Jimmie Johnson appeared to be about the only Hendrick or Hendrick associated team that had any kind of handle on the concrete Monster and he finished second to Kurt Bush. Things may have turned out a bit different if it hadn't been for two cautions close to each other near the end of the race and he did lead the most laps. Compared to him, the rest of the Hendrick teams struggled all weekend and Sunday afternoon was no different. In my opinion, it appears the Hendrick engineers have a little work to do on their concrete surface setups. The problem with that statement is that Jimmie Johnson ran well. I'm guessing the rest of the teams are wondering why he was hooked up so well and they weren't. I'm also guessing there will be some figuring going on amongst the engineers and the crew chiefs in the days ahead. Although the finishing order for the race was part of the puzzle, the biggest shift took place in the points of the top twelve. Even though Jeff Gordon dropped four places in the points, he still closed the gap slightly points-wise bringing him to within nineteen points of leaders, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards. Brad Keselowski had a few problems during the race and he dropped three places to sixth. Tony Stewart dropped two places to third, Kyle Bush dropped two places to eighth and Dale Jr dropped two places to tenth. The biggest gains were made by both Kurt Bush and Jimmie Johnson. They both gained five spots each putting them fourth and fifth in the points battle. A quick look at the finishing order did show there are more than just Chasers running well and Kasey Kahne finally had a finish that matched his overall performance in the race and he finished fourth on the day. Teammates AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose both finished in the top ten along with Clint Bowyer. Denny Hamlin is continuing his struggle for the 2011 season. He didn't have a stellar day but nothing really major happened and he did finish eighteenth. That means he didn't loose a lot of ground on those ahead of him in the Chase, but from this fan's view, he is pretty much relegated to finishing twelfth in the Chase. He is only sixty-eight points behind, but with the different points system this year, that is a lot of ground to make up. I kinda feel for his fans, but sometimes in racing you just go through a bad stretch. It looks like the 2011 season is one of those for him and his fans can only hope his luck either turns around quickly or, at the very least, it doesn't carry over into next year. Some would call this a character building time and it remains to be seen how he and the #11 team come away from this. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 8:51 http://justafansview.com/2011/09/27/chase-race-two-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/09/27/chase-race-two-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:12:11 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2529 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/09/27/chase-race-two-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 Nascar,Nascar fan opinion *******************************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)Chase race number two for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series didn't really go as I expected except for one thing and that was that it was a fuel mileage race right down to the wire (which I did say it would be in my pre-race article.) Now, let me remind you, I'm not bragging but it does feel good to be right more often than it does to be wrong. I don't have to point this out (but I will) and that is the fact, Tony Stewart waited all year to win a race and now he has won the first two Chase races. A few weeks ago he was lamenting how poorly they were running and they weren't likely to do well in the Chase (even if they made it) and now he sits atop the standings in the run for the 2011 Cup Championship and even though his lead is slim in points, he is one that absolutely has to be considered as one of the major contenders for the Championship. I am somewhat surprised at how many people are complaining about the number of fuel mileage races there have been this year. Another surprising complaint is how those that complain, in particular, seem to think NASCAR should do something about it and that the race should not be decided on fuel strategy. (It strikes this fan as peculiar when all the rest of the time these same folks complain that NASCAR tries to alter the outcome of a race by throwing debris cautions and now it sounds as if they want them to throw a caution so the race won't be decided by strategy.) Let me just say, I do understand what they are saying, but, I do think the strategy for fuel and tires is just part of the overall picture when it comes to racing in NASCAR these days. Yeah, I understand what they're saying, (especially when the driver I would rather see win loses because of a late race caution which alters his track position by erasing a large lead or some other advantage he may have acquired because of an extended green flag run.) But I also understand that fuel mileage is not a result of some miraculous or hidden agenda, or because one make has an advantage over the others (although there is that possibility even though NASCAR tries its level best to keep things as even as possible). It is a calculated item and the engine builders and crew chiefs figure what they need to accomplish with the amount of fuel they have and yet perform well and then they put it in the hands of the drivers to “save” all they can and still be at the front with fuel still in the tank when the checkered flag falls. I guess I just don't see what is wrong with fuel mileage deciding the result of a race. From my view, it makes the end of the race just as dramatic and just as much a mystery until all of them drive across the finish line. I mean, over the last two races we have witnessed a large difference in the finishing order over what it might have been just a lap or two earlier. If you don't think it is dramatic, just ask those that have run out of fuel and lost a bunch of spots and points on those last two laps. (Uh... can anyone say, Denny Hamlin?) He has to be one of the most disappointed drivers actually in the Chase with the kind of things he has suffered in the 2011 season. I'm sure he and his team are looking over their shoulders to see what lurks there. If it can go wrong, it has gone wrong for them this year, (and unless something big happens, I just don't see them anywhere in the mix for the Championship at all.) His teammate, Kyle Bush, didn't have a great day either, but he did manage to pick a few spots back up from last week's terrible performance. It seems to this fan, Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:34 http://justafansview.com/2011/09/25/chase-race-two-at-loudon-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/09/25/chase-race-two-at-loudon-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:17:36 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2525 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/09/25/chase-race-two-at-loudon-from-a-nascar-fans-view/feed/ 0 http://justafansview.com/2011/09/22/sprint-cup-at-chicago-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/ http://justafansview.com/2011/09/22/sprint-cup-at-chicago-after-thoughts-from-a-nascar-fans-view/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:52:38 +0000 Rusty Norman http://justafansview.com/?p=2521 Continue reading →]]> http://justafansview.com/2011/09/22/sprint-cup-at-chicago-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) ********************************************************************************************* (http://nascarfansview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/20100220RSNTest001-120x150.jpg)The first Chase race at Chicagoland Speedway did two things... it gave Tony Stewart his first victory for the 2011 season and, as is usually the case, shook up the standings for the top twelve contenders in the Chase. Not unexpectedly, it turned into a fuel mileage race and several of the top names ran out of gas in the final laps which mixed up the standings even more and caused a little confusion as the checkered flag dropped. Matt Kenseth benefited from an illegal push on the last lap which cost him his eighth place finishing position and he was penalized by being placed as the first car a lap down. When all was said and done, the teams packed it up and immediately had to get ready to head for Loudon. Disappointment was fairly obvious throughout the top teams and, in particular for those that ran out of fuel before the end of the race. Matt Kenseth's situation was probably the most obvious since he sat on the pole and led almost fifty laps on the day. As it was, with the penalty and the empty fuel tank, he finished twenty-first instead of eighth because of being pushed (whether or not they wanted to be pushed or not, by the way) and ended up tenth in the standings after this first race. Jeff Gordon and Kyle Bush both struggled all day with different problems, but Gordon probably was one of the most disappointed of all. After having a fairly stellar six plus weeks leading up to the first Chase race, this day was a complete struggle and only at the end did he and his crew get the car moving toward the front. As we all know, he ran out of fuel while running twelfth, ending any hope he had of finishing any where near the top ten, or, being able to take advantage of any of the others misfortunes of running out of fuel. From this fan's view, there was no doubt the intensity of the race was high and often it was the crew chiefs that bore the brunt of the abuse. I have to say, I don't know how much crew chiefs get paid, but these days, they earn every penny. Not only do they have to have the proper strategy for all aspects of a race, but they have to handle the attitude of the crews and particularly the driver. From my view, it appears they often deserve more pay than anyone, including the driver. I'm fairly sure that is not the case, but many of the drivers would never make it to where they do without them. Look, I know the drivers are the “glory boys” and get most, if not all, of the accolades simply because they are the ones the fans come to see and follow. But, think about it for a moment... Could you take some of the garbage the crew chiefs have to put up with and still be the leader of the crews and still keep the driver in the hunt and focused all the while maintaining and attitude of calm. Yeah... I hear ya and that's kinda how I feel about it, too. Although I know I mentioned this earlier, the races this season have seemed quite intense even from the drop of every green flag. As a fan, I find it interesting and haven't quite figured out which rule change NASCAR made for this year that had the most effect on the drivers and their teams. In my opinion, whether it was the way they hand out the points for every race or the way teams were able to qualify for the Chase with those two wildcard slots, I just don't know. From this fan's view, something changed and it has been one highly competitive race after another all season. Now, I do admit, had it not been for the fuel situation, the Chicagoland race may not have had quite the intensity it did, but it was a nail-biter for many right down the the finish line. Just A Fan's View of Nascar Racing clean 7:30