Daytona Speedweek... The Stories So Far...

The stories so far... Kevin Harvick won a relatively lacklustre Sprint Unlimited Saturday night and Danica Patrick is on pole for the 500!

2011 NASCAR Memories

With the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at an end I thought I would start the off-season by looking back at highlights of this tightly fought Championship...

After five consecutive Jimmie Johnson titles was 2011 going to become number 6?



The season got off to a great start with a new name, Trevor Bayne, winning the years biggest race. Not only that, but he also put one of NASCARs oldest teams, Wood Brothers Racing, back in Victory Lane!

The Daytona 500 signalled the start of an up and down year for restrictor plate racing in NASCAR with "tandem drafting" one of the stories of the year. Two cars have always been faster than one, but this year things got physical with drivers literally pushing each other all the way round the two 'plate tracks. Sounds exciting but was not always, until...



The finish was close but many fans were not convinced by this style of racing, me included. The downside of this style of racing was that the drivers teamed up before the race and decided who was going to do the pushing and who was going to be pushed. It all got a little too planned for my liking. I do not want a return to the old "pack" races where drivers could not overtake, but it would be nice if a driver could race for themselves... then again...



Clint Bowyer proved that even in the era of the "tandem", the slingshot is alive and kicking!!

That wasn't the only close finish of the year...



2011 brought a renewed emphasis on winning and several drivers took their first Sprint Cup win this year...





Which brings me on to another story of the year, Kyle Busch... for all the wrong reasons...



"Boys Have At It" has always had an imaginary line that drivers should not cross, trouble is NASCAR decided that he did! NASCAR told Kyle he wasn't racing any more that weekend, put him on probation to the end of the year and issued him with a fine! He also got in trouble with his team and his sponsors. What effects that incident will have on him for next year only time will tell.

"Retaliation" and "payback" were two of the years watch words...




Which brings me to what will be the long standing story of the year, not a sixth title for the 48 car but the battle between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart. After such a dominating run by one driver it was great to see that run broken by one of the tightest battles in NASCAR history.



One of the greatest NASCAR Championship battles ever?

Certainly!

Do NASCAR have to work on the product a bit... I think so, but that's for another day...

Wham Bam Thank You Men

Martinsville.

Action...

Wrecks...

Contact...

Retaliation...

All the top drivers having a go...

A late caution...

A late pass for the lead and a close finish...

What was not to like?

The little paperclip delivered just what the Sprint Cup needed, a good old fashioned short track bust up, and in the process injected some much needed on track action into the Chase.

We watched the sports best, from Gibbs, Roush, Childress, Hendrick Stewart Haas and others battle it out, no holes barred.

Finally they all got it together at the same time, and the result was great to watch.

The late pass by Tony Stewart on the outside of Jimmie Johnson showed class from both drivers. From Smoke a classy move, squeezing the 48 down low and getting the win. The lack of contact once the lead was lost showed a level of respect from the reigning Sprint Cup champion towards his fellow driver. Would I be blaming or holding it against the 48 car if the bumper had been used, no, thats short track racing, but it did show respect and a level of class from Jimmie Johnson.

For the opposite style of racing look at Earnhardt Jr among others. Again, nothing wrong with a bit of contact, nothing wrong with a bit more either.

Should NASCAR be worried about the retaliation? Not in my book. The rules at Martinsville may be different to those at Texas but I am still all for "have at it boys".

NASCAR has always been a contact sport and there have always been rivalries. It may be a bit "primal", a bit "wrestling" but hard hitting short track racing is as much a part of the sport as drafting at Daytona... And long may it continue!

N.A.S.C.A... R!!

I would be like to thank Richard Childress Racing for putting the "R" back in "NASCAR", for letting their drivers "race" for the win and not just drive.

After a few fuel mileage finishes, a few lacklustre races and some disapointing restrictor plate races, the last lap, last corner, one on one slingshot and drag race to the line was exactly what NASCAR not only needed but is also what the sport is all about.

The latest 'Dega and 'Tona drafting style may be a bit "planned" for my liking but the changes NASCAR made to the cooling did make a slight difference, and in a good way. The cars were not able to run away at the front only to get caught by the pack one lap later, it kept the cars more bunched, the racing a little more "steady"... a little... And the RCR drivers proved that the slingshot is alive and well, if the drivers want to win the race and not just push each other.

The "wildcard" race lived up to its billing as several drivers had days they will want to forget, but probably won't be able to. The Hendrick drivers miss read the race and were not able work there way to the front after running around at the back all day. The third RCR driver, Kevin Harvick ended the day in the garage, not what his title hopes needed.

The title fight is between four drivers now, but with no clear favourite for the title... who's gonna step up and make it happen?

"Latest GP NOT a Turkey" and "Hand Bags At Dawn"

Overtaking, wheel-to-wheel, cross-over, round the outside, three-a-breast, and pit lane battles are all terms we would usually associate with a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Darlington, but Formula 1 from Turkey?

Erm... YES!!

Hold the Front page... “Latest Grand Prix, NOT A Turkey!”

I have just watched the Turkish Grand Prix. I did not watch it live, I recorded the race so I could forward speedily through the dull bits. However, I watched this all of this race... full length... every lap... the whole lot... start to finish...

And it was good...

Regular readers will know that I am not the worlds greatest F1 fan.

Regular readers will know that when it comes to F1 I can come across a little on the cinical side.

It would be wrong of me, as someone who will readily critisie F1 for boring races and who will openly accuse the drivers of not being able to “race”, and as someone who has done just that, to not acknowledge that the Turkish Grand Prix was none of those things.

While I think the DRS thingy is a bit contrived and false, combined with the KERS, it made for a very good race.

With the exception of Mr M. Schumacher the drivers have remembered how to race and not just drive. They are giving each other room and driving round each other, not just into each other.

Button round the outside of the last corner, the McLarens all over each other, the drag race in the pit lane... the list goes on... all good stuff!

I might even be looking forward to the next race, but don’t tell anybody...


“Hand Bags at Dawn” or “Racing Rivalries”


At Richmond it was Montoya Vs. Newman. At Darlington it was Harvick Vs. Kyle Busch.

The winner in each case?

NASCAR!!

Sure JPM and Newman beat up two perfectly good race cars and wrecked their own chances of a good finish, let alone each others, but it WAS a short track race and this IS NASCAR!

Was Busch loose coming off turn 4? Was he ever in control of that car? Could he have done more to avoid taking Harvick out?

Yes... no... maybe... I don’t care!



The fact is that both sets of incidents made for great TV. Long may drivers get passionate about their chosen sport, and show that passion!!


After all we all know that drivers who lack passion or emotion, and are more interested in strategy than racing don’t race in NASCAR they race in Fomula 1...

Then again...

Close... But Not Quite

eWe all know that Dale Earnhardt Jr is NASCARs most popular driver. After Martinsville Kevin Harvick must be the most un-popular driver...

However, for the second week in a row Kevin Harvick has driven his way to the front in the closing stages... and what a closer, and what finishes!!

We also all know that Dale Earnhardt Jr has a 98, now 99, race long winless streak that he would love to break. The good thing for Junior Nation is that their driver is now in contention, now up front!

However at Martinsville I hoped for more. Not because he didn’t win, but in the way in which he raced for the lead. I hoped for a battle... I expected a fight... I was looking forward to a struggle... I wanted some good ol’ fashioned short track rubbin’ for the win... What I got were the top drivers not wanting to be the “bad guy”. Before you turn on me, I understand that Junior got loose and Harvick had the quicker car. Not much was going to stop the 29 but I loved it when the 88 moved the 18 with about 20 to go, and wished for more at the end...

The 88 wasn’t the only car looking good. Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin as always, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer were always up there. One drive who raced well and finished well was JPM. The driver who used to have a distinct lack of patience on the short tracks looked pretty good on one!

We did get to see a very good short track race! Some very good tight racing, some good bump’n’runs, some good wrecks... and a very good finish.

I am glad the 88 car is up finally racing up front, and it was good to see him drive well throughout the race, and the emotion he showed after the race shows how much he cares. In the off-season I said that for the 88 to win races, first he must be in contention, so it's all good so far this year.

Another great race... however... Next time, don’t be afraid to be the “bad guy” and be the poster boy NASCAR needs...

"Racing"

The first round of the 2011 Formula 1 season has been and gone.

The Australian GP was dominated by Sebastian Vettel, with Lewis Hamilton in second. This was the order coming out of the first corner on the first lap and stayed that way to the end. 

The surprise of the race was Vitaly Petrov finishing in third!

The unsurprises of the race were the success of the KERS, the DRS and the racing in general. The KERS, (the Kinda E-relvant, but the racing so dull we need to, Recover it System) meant so much the race winner did not even have it... the DRS "overtaking" system (Drivers can't Race on their own System), meant so much, pardon, the DRS "what" system... and the amazing standard of what little racing there actually was... Barrichello got it totally wrong in a "that's never going to work" move, well at least he's still young and not one of the most experienced drivers in the field... but at least Jenson Button had the balls to attempt to go round the outside of another car only to find he was never going to make it, had to cut across the next corner and got a penalty for his "efforts". Oh dear!

In the world of NASCAR, a 400 mile race at California threw up some surprises and some not-so-surprises of its' own. What started an average race, the not-so-surprising part, ended a stunner, the surprising bit! Kyle Busch, who led most of the race, was trying to hold on while Jimmie Johnson did everything he could to take it. at the same time Kevin Harvick got physical saying "I don't think so" and beat them both... and all that in the last two laps! A great ending!!

Pity they didn't have KERS or DRS movable rear wings though...

That would have made all the difference...

2011 BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT RACE DAY!!

Lineup -

1.	Dale Earnhardt Jr.		7.	Clint Bowyer		13.	Juan Montoya		19.	Matt Kenseth
2.	Tony Stewart		8.	Ryan Newman		14.	Jamie McMurray		20.	Mark Martin
3.	Carl Edwards		9.	Derrike Cope		15.	Jeff Burton		21.	Kyle Busch
4.	Denny Hamlin		10.	Michael Waltrip		16.	Kevin Conway		22.	Joey Logano
5.	Kasey Kahne		11.	Greg Biffle		17.	Kurt Busch		23.	Jimmie Johnson
6.	Bobby Labonte		12.	Jeff Gordon		18.	Kevin Harvick		24.	Regan Smith

The season starts here...


GREEN GREEN GREEN!!

Coming Soon - NASCAR 2011!!

The 2011 NASCAR season starts this weekend with the Shootout!!

So what are my hopes for the new season?

Let's start at the end with a close points race resulting in a new Sprint Cup Champion! Not that I have anything against Jimmie Johnson, I would just like somebody else to end the year on top. A good points battle would create interest in the Chase, and a new champ would create lots of "Can JJ Regain His Crown?" articles for the following year!

A one-on-one battle from the white flag to end the Daytona 500! With the new surface, and the better looking cars, THE 500 should be a cracker! The last few years has shown that these cars draft better than NASCAR has seen in a long time and a one-on-one slingshot for the win is exactly what NASCAR needs to start the year!

"Boys have at it"... again! Give the drivers the space to race, again! Give the drivers room to express themselves, to get annoyed and do something about it, again! Keep the reigns loose and let the personalities breathe some more, again!

The 88 mans up and starts competing! Junior Nation may hope this is the year Dale wins races and the Championship, but for me just having him look competitive week in, week out, is good enough. If Dale could finally show that he deserves to be there I reckon a lot of fans would go along for the ride with him! Put in that postition he may win, he may not, but to have a shot at winning you have to be competitive in the first place!

RCR keeps its momentum! Childress lead the points last year with Kevin Harvick until the Chase kicked in and were in the hunt to the end, but could not quiet deliver the Championship. I hope they start this year as they ended the last! NASCAR needs a team other than the Hendrick 48 team in the headlines. 

Kyle, stop talking, start driving! I don't want to hear anything from Kyle Busch this year. I want his driving, his performance on track, his wins, to do the talking. I am not much of a Rowdy fan, but the sport would be much better off if he just "shut up and drive!" We all know he can pedal, we all know he can be controversial, don't change anything Kyle, just deliver, on track, this year!

Ford back in the game. Two years ago the Ford of Carl Edwards was winning races. Last year, nothing. This year NASCAR needs a FORD back in the game! NASCAR has always been about Ford vs. Chevy. Recently Dodge and Toyota have joined in but the basis should always be the Blue Oval against the Bowtie!

Richard Petty and the 43 become relevant again, Stewart Haas raises its game and becomes competitive all year and not just late on, Jeff Gordon breaks his winless streak, JPM finally wins an oval race preferably Brickyard, Ambrose finally wins the Nationwide road race that keeps escaping him...

As long as the racing's good, I'm happy!!

 NOT LONG TO WAIT NOW!!

Home Sweet Homestead

One race... 400 miles... Three drivers... One Champion!

The race for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup title is close, 46 points close. In a sport where the top non-Chase drivers have 4200 plus points, that's close!!

#11 Denny Hamlin - leading , #48 Jimmie Johnson - second 15 points back, #29 Kevin Harvick - third 46 points adrift...

Others have tried... Tony Stewart had a run of good performances but fell away, Clint Bowyer is good at the 'plate races, Jeff Gordon has been a regular under-achiever, Carl Edwards won last week to break his winless streak and put him next in the standings, but none have stayed with the top three throughout the Chase.

In the past the last race, at Homestead-Miami, has been a disappointment. The top drivers were more interested in calculating the points and staying out of trouble than they were going for the win. This year, with the points this close, the top three will have to race hard!!

The driver who leads on track, the driver who leads the most on track, the driver who wins on track will be Champion. No sitting back and watching the points, they will have to race, hard!

Homestead, the 1.5 mile progressively banked oval, could finally deliver the explosive season ending "race" that NASCAR needs and it's fans want.

Potential first time Champion driver and first time Champion manufacturer vs. Potential five timer vs. Potential first time Champ trying to put Richard Childress back on top.

So come on "have at it boys"!!

"Dominate by Kyle Busch" (no its not a perfume)

"DOMINATE"

dom·i·natev. dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing, dom·i·nates

v.tr.

1. To control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power: Successful leaders dominate events rather than react to them.

2. To exert a supreme, guiding influence on or over: Ambition dominated their lives.

3. To enjoy a commanding, controlling position in: a drug company that dominates the tranquilizer market.

4. To overlook from a height: a view from the cliffside chalet that dominates the valley.

v.intr.

1. To have or exert strong authority or mastery.

2. To be situated in or occupy a position that is more elevated or decidedly superior to others.

3. Ref. Kyle Busch, Bristol Motor Speedway, August 2010.

Over the past eight Cup races there have been eight different winners... not a bad run.

The last three races have been on a road course, a mile-and-a-half speedway, and a half-mile short track, and each has produced some pretty good racing. Not necessarily really close finishes, but some good racing thru the field.

Kevin Harvick won in Michigan; a race full of 2 and 3 wide racing, with the smooth wide oval giving the drivers various grooves to choose from. While I am not the biggest D-shaped mile-and-a-half fan, I do enjoy watching the drivers go into a corner 2 wide, using the different grooves in the turns with one on the white line and the other an inch from the wall, and coming out of the turn side by side again.

It was good to see the 29 team prove they are capable of not only being consistent, but also of winning races. 

On the whole a good race!!

Then came Bristol... 

In the aftermath of the three-way Kyle Busch walkover, a lot of fans, commentators and journalists will be saying the same thing... say what you will about the mouth, attitude, opinions, choice of haircut blah, blah, blah... but he can drive!!

It is one thing to say you beat the whole Craftsman truck field in your own truck... another to say you beat all the young upstarts in the Nationwide series, and something else to say you dominated a Cup race at Bristol, but to do all three... over the same weekend... that’s something... and remember this is coming from a self confessed 18 non-fan (hater is too strong a word)!!

Other than the Kyle Busch show, Bristol also had some good racing. Once again the variable banking in the turns gave the drivers two good grooves to work with. The Nationwide race also showed, courtesy of the aforementioned Mr Busch, that the bump-and-run is still possible on the Bristol banking. Like it or not and like him or not but Busch had a point when he said “He does it to everybody else. Why can’t I do it to him?” of Brad Keselowski. You've also gotta love that Kyle just came out and said "I dumped him"!!

JJ's drive for 5 is not going as well as planned. He keeps putting himself in a position where he has to race harder than he would probably want, and gets himself in trouble. He should have given Montoya a bit more room, as in my opinion he was half a car width higher than the others drivers who were 2 wide behind him. Still a way to go though and JJ always seems to find extra pace once the chase starts, so don't write him off yet.

Off track, I am glad Marcos Ambrose has got a drive for 2011 with Richard Petty Motorsport; maybe not the greatest team on pit lane right now, but capable of being in the mix as Kasey Kahne has shown. 

On a different note, I was glad to see Keselowski win the second Nationwide "new car" race in a  Dodge Challenger... gives me a reason to include a picture of his pretty car!!

So an off week for the Cup teams and then 2 races before the Chase in Atlanta and Richmond, but for now the moment rightly belongs to Kyle Busch... the first driver to win all three national series races in the same weekend!!

"Have at it Boys"... and Girls... Fathers... Wives...

I am not the world biggest Pocono fan. I find the track too flat, the staightaways too long, the turns too single groove.

However thanks to the 2 wide restarts, Sundays race went from another fuel and tire strategy race to a good'un.

Due to its comparative lack of banking Pocono is never going to be a 2 wide every lap type of track, but there were some good 2 wide battles. However the 3 wide and 4 wide racing at the end was better still. It was interesting to watch how hard certain drivers fought for position, knowing when and where to battle, and when and where to concede.

So the car action was good, however anybody who thinks racing is about cars is only watching half the show. Sport of any kind, racing and NASCAR in particular is about the people. On Sunday we once again got to see the person inside the 20 car. An incident involving one driver going for a line which the other driver was always going to make hard for him to take, turned into a pushin' and a shovin' and a shoutin' match on pit lane involving not only the drivers, but the crews, and the families as well.

While I am not sure what Logano thought was going to happen (didn't I say that last week about Mr Kyle Busch) when he went 2 wide with Harvick, what he did afterwards was great. Being able to vent his frustration in the way he did is exactly what NASCAR is about, and again NASCAR need to be applauded once again for letting it happen. Whether Logano senior should have been involved is debatable. To me he needs to get out the way and let his son do the driving and talking. Joey is the man with the steering wheel, he is responsible for his actions, and the actions of his crew, and his dad should keep out. Did I say debatable...

The way I look at the Harvick / Logano incident is this...Pocono has several strips of new tarmac thru the turns and when single file the drivers were using this tarmac and its grip to get round the track as quickly as possible. Now try going 2 wide, only one driver is going to have the new grippy line, while the other is on the old slicker line. This can't make overtaking easy. To me the 29 / 20 incident occurred because they were both trying to take the turn on the newer tarmac, and collided. I wonder what Pocono would be like if they resurfaced the rest of the turns?

What about Allmendinger... what was that about?? To me of all the open wheel drivers to cross over to stock cars in recent years, the top two have to be JPM and 'Dinger. In his first year the now driver of the 43 car had to qualify for every race as he didn't have a guaranteed starting spot, and he did it, every week. He looks like he has learnt the art of stock car driving better than most converts and races well. That went out of the window at Pocono. Moving over on someone to attempt the block is level one of stupid, putting them on the grass is something else, now remember he did it to his team mate!?!?!

So all of this added up to another exciting finish. You can criticise the three G-W-C attempts or the 2 wide restart rule but once again it created excitement and headlines.

On another note... am I the only one who thinks the late models used in the Prelude to the Dream are ugly??