Bemused, Bewildered, Confused, Or To Put It Another Way... I Don't Get It...

The 2013 Daytona 500 was... odd...

Old school drafting a la Earnhardt was back, and this is not a good thing in my opinion.

As I have documented in the past I am of the opinion that the two things the much unloved COT did well were keep drivers safe, and draft at Daytona and Talladega. In fact the cars drafted too well, and the bumpers lined up so perfectly that tandem drafting was born. We all know that NASCAR spent many hours trying to eliminate the tandem draft and to much success.

The first proper race of 2013 would show us what type of restrictor plate racing we would get with the Gen 6. The answer was the one I hoped I would not get... 90's pack racing. Drivers apparently unable to overtake without help, a lot of help. Drivers running round playing follow the leader until the very end. To be fair the early wreck didn't help, but that's not the answer to the fairly processional 500. That's not the answer, but what is the question?

Here is what is bothering me...

During and after the race Danica said she was only using part throttle while running in the draft. This alone is not surprising, in fact this is how it should be. What is surprising is the lack of overtaking by drivers with the loud pedal buried on the floor. The end of the race showed that the drivers and the Gen 6 could overtake, they just didn't. Why didn't more drivers "play" early in the race, find out what happened when they did pull out of the draft. Why didn't a few drivers get together to see what would happen? This was the Daytona 500 after all and no one looked like they wanted to win it, but they all looked scared stiff of losing it. If the drivers had that much accelerator to play with, why didn't they?

The questions are obviously... How does NASCAR make the racing better? Does NASCAR need to change anything?

The Gen 6 car is supposed to do two things, bring back manufacturer identity, and improve the racing. The first it does very well, a Ford now looks like a Ford, a Chevy looks like a Chevy, a Toyota...

The jury is still out on the second and to be fair will be for the first half of this year. Every time the cars race NASCAR, the teams and drivers, and Goodyear will learn a little bit more and by the time the Cup Series starts going back to tracks again we will see what this car can really do.

I do wonder if NASCAR will do something to the 'plate package to increase the closing rates and make it easier to overtake, but lets give NASCAR the chance to get this car right before we talk the sport we love out of business. I am not convinced much needs to change, just a few tweeks and am sure the powers that be will get the show right in the end.

While I think about it I get the feeling there are going to be two attitudes towards Danica Patrick, love or hate. Some will love her and see her as the new Earnhardt Jr, the fan favourite and darling of the sport. Others who hate her will see her as the new Earnhardt Jr, all talk and no action, a driver living off of a "gimmick", Dales is his name, Danicas her gender. I am not sure where I sit yet, I just know this, I would take pole, running up front all day, leading a lap and a top 10 finish in the first race of my rookie year thank you very much, especially when that race was the Daytona 500! The media circus around her might get a bit much at times, but as Keselowski said, she's just another racing driver so lets rate her on her performances in her rookie year, and so far shes done all right.

On a slightly different topic I do wish a speedy recovery to the fans injured at the end of the Nationwide race. Racing is dangerous, but no one want to see fans hurt supporting the sport they love!

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!

NASCAR at Talladega!!!

The last restrictor plate race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season was a good'un.

The "big pack" was definately back with the "tandem draft" of the last few years now gone, replaced by old fashioned big pack bump drafting!

Dale Jr is complaining... Get over it! That was a good 'plate race!




This is the end of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, again from Talladega... pity they did not get to race back to the line.



And finally the end of the Nationwide Series race... A great last lap slingshot... maybe the tandem was not all bad...




Whether you like the "tandems" or the "big pack", if there is one thing NASCAR can still do, it's put on a great show at Talladega!!

To me the best balance for the Cup Series is a combination of the "big pack" but with the ability to race one-on-one, slingshot if you will, on the last lap for the win...

Don't want much do I?

Mid Season School Report

F1

How many different winners...

From how many races...

Alonso came from which position on the grid to win...

Late pass for the lead and lots of overtaking at Silverstone?

To steal a line from the end of the movie "Independance Day", "not bad, not bad at all!"

NASCAR

I think the phrase "must try harder" sums up this year. The two stories of the year so far have to be an overabundance of average, lacklustre racing for the most part, and Dale Jr wins ends his winless streak.

It's a good thing the restrictor plate package works so well!

The new spec car bodies debuting next year can not come quick enough!

BTCC

So far we know the new Civic is a very good car, period. We also know the MG6 is also a good car in the hands of Jason Plato... When it runs... And when Plato stops complaining...

Some really good racing this year, offset against some bizarre races where the drivers seemed hell bent on taking themselves out. The current grid format of qualifying, race 1 result gives the grid for race 2 and randomly reversing some of the front runners for race 3 is working very well.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some changes made to the NGTC cars for next year as the suspension gets damaged too easily when the cars race close together. Otherwise so far... So good!!

Grand Am

So far this year I have watched the Daytona 24 Hours, the Mid Ohio race and some of the Watkins Glen race... And I have enjoyed what I have watched! Good racing from the latest batch of Daytona Prototypes on some of Americas best road courses.

Keep up the good work!

Indycar

I was lucky enough to see the closing stages of this years Indy 500 but thats about it. I enjoyed Indy and from whats I read the season is going well.

Now lay off of the politics and concentrate on the product, the racing, for a while and spread the word!

Nightona 500

Ten post Daytona 500 thoughts...

1 - Rain rain go away... nuf said.

2 - Wow Here it Comes, Here Comes the Night... The first Daytona 500 under the lights, and on a school night! Well done to NASCAR for getting the race done!

3 - If Jimmy Spencer was Mr Excitment, Elliot Sadler has to be Mr Impatient... Lap 2? Really?

4 - Oh look its a girl in a race suit... the new "face of NASCAR" was stuffed in the wall, hard, in her Duel race, taken out by her team mate in the Nationwide race, and her 500 effectively ended courtesy of Mr Sadler. Pity! Only time will tell if she can win races in either series.

5 - Pack is back... Much credit to NASCAR for delivering the style of racing the fans wanted while also giving the drivers the ability to race for themselves and slingshot for the win.

6 - Juan for the delay, Two car for the show, Three delays to get ready, now go cat go, but don't you, wreck my new tarmac... or something like that... Who would have thought the "big one" would be between one race car and a jet drier? Que a Twitter and Facebook world full of "Juan less jet drier", or Days of Thunder, "hit the pace car" gags. While it looked like something on the 42 car broke, JPM needs to start looking like the world class race car driver again, and not, frankly, a waste of space!




7 - Two car for the show? It can only be Brad Keselowski... posting on twitter... in the middle of the race... brilliant!!

8 -  More NASCAR love... Half way payout worked perfectly, as did fuel injection!

9 - Umbrella, ella, ella... This years Daytona 500 proved once and for all that in racing... just when you think you have seen it all...

10 - Ford rules... Well done to Matt Kenseth, 2012 Daytona 500 winner!!



Now the regular season starts... roll on Phoenix!!

Bud "Shootout" Indeed!!

So last night, or this morning, 3.30am UK time this morning in fact, I sat up to watch the 2012 NASCAR Bud Shootout...

Was it worth it??

Hell yeah!!

If you listed every element the perfect pre-season event should have the list would include lots of lead changes, close racing, wrecks, and a nail biting finish.

This years race had all those elements packed into an 82 lap action packed sprint!

Surely the racing was exactly what NASCAR fans wanted, a return to pack racing... or was it? The racing was definately more "pack" than "tandem" but a "return"? This was not "old school" pack racing where drivers sat two or three wide, lap after lap, unable to race for themselves. This was "new school" pack racing where drivers could draft or bump draft to overtake... and it was good!

There were wrecks, several wrecks, but what do you expect when you put that many drivers, that close together, for that few laps. The only real sticking point and the cause of the wrecks, was the effect of bump drafting in the corners, especially when the pushing car is lower on the track than the car being pushed.

FoxSports.com are already running a poll asking fans, "Should NASCAR make changes after the Shootout?" Richard Childress is not happy. Should NASCAR change the rules package? Should NASCAR ban bump drafting in the turns? Should NASCAR do this, should NASCAR do that?   

“NASCAR asked the teams and the drivers what we could do to make it better,” said Tony Stewart, the defending Cup Champion. “My point is, this is better than having to sit there and stare at the back of a spoiler for 500 miles and not be able to see where you're going half the race. We had control of what lane we got to run in. We got to move whenever we wanted. You didn't have to not move because you had a guy behind you that you had to rely on making your decision on what he had to do also. We had more control as drivers today.”

The answer according to Dale Earnhardt Jr - "You just hold your damn car where it needs to be and not drive around like an idiot."

Quite! The rules package worked perfectly. I do not believe the drivers will bump draft to the extreme we saw in the Shootout for the whole 500 miles next Sunday. The 500 is a different kettle of fish, a long race to survive, not a sprint. We might see more of the same in the last 100 miles but that has always been the way, hasn't it? The drivers have the Gatorade Duels next, more time to get the hang of the "new school" pack racing.    

The other story from the Bud Shootout was Kyle Busch and his “stab and steer — and some braking" saves and his last corner slingshot for the win on Tony Stewart. Love Kyle or hate him, that boy sure can drive a race car.

So what have we learnt so far?

"Pack" racing is back, don't bump draft the left side of another car in the turns, Kyle Busch sure can save a race car...

Don't lead the last lap...

Now that's very old school after all!!

2012 Here We Come... or... Silly Season, You Bet!!

So what do we know about 2012 so far?

Well 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart has a new Crew Chief in Steve Addington and his team has poached Greg Zipadelli to oversee all things "Competition" including Danicas Cup efforts... Sounds good...

Kurt Busch has "left" Penske and has found a ride... where? Seriously...

Penske now have 'Dinger instead of Kurt... Cool...

Smokes former Crew Chief, Darian Grubb, is now with Denny Hamlin at Gibbs...

At Daytona... Smaller rads... Bigger 'plates... Smaller spoilers... Softer springs... Higher air intakes = less tandem drafing? My breathe is held...

In F1 Raikkonen is back... Hhhmmm... We will see...

and Patrick Head retires...

Caterham... in F1? Well I never...

In Indycar... New car is good on road courses but still needs work on the ovals... Keep trying guys as you need to get it right for the sake of the Indy 500. It doesn't matter if they are slower as long as the racings good...

Kentucky off... Watkins Glen on... Pity about loosing an oval but if you have to have another road course the 'Glen is a good'un...

In BTCC... New NGTC cars being developed... Goodo...

and it's not even 2012 yet...

Excited??

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

This year I have been a very good boy. I have eaten all my greens, went to bed when I was told and have not been on the naughty step for at least a week!

For Christmas I would like...

BTCC - Lots of nice, shiny, new NGTC cars, all rear wheel drive so the cars oversteer like real race cars and not understeer like my dads boring car...

F1 - can your elfs show McLaren and Ferrari how to build a car like Red Bull as I am bored of Vettel winning all the time...

NASCAR - The two car drafting is a bit silly, and the old pack racing got a bit dull so something in the middle where the cars stay together but can still overtake would be nice...

Better racing at the mile and a half tracks as there are so many of them...

Less "fuel mileage" finishes as there were far to many of them...

Another close Chase as years was really good...

INDYCAR - A new car that drafts and races well at Indy as I really like the Indy 500...

Oh and a Buzz Lightyear...

And a Lightning McQueen...

Please

Thank you...

James
Age 3.2 going on 32.

2011 Shiftin' Gears Quotes Part 1... NASCAR

To start the off season I thought I would review my favourite quotes from this seasons blogs... so here we go...

Part 1... NASCAR

In the world of NASCAR, Daytona International Speedway is the new Noahs Ark and the drivers are coming in two by two!!

If 2010 was "have at it, boys" then maybe 2011 is... "NO LONGER YOU'RE GRANDDADS NASCAR"!

Las Vegas wasn’t the greatest race ever, but it does show that anything can happen, and probably will!

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...

I have nothing against international drivers racing in NASCAR as long as they earn their place, and as long as the series for the “good old boys” stays true to that.

“Hand Bags at Dawn” or “Racing Rivalries”

I think it’s a shame that the ”All Star Race” is included in NASCAR probationary periods, imposed after a driver has done something untoward. The non-points scoring sprint race format is be the perfect arena for drivers to “have at it,” safe in the knowledge that their actions in the “All Star Race” would not affect the regular season.

Am I the only one who thinks it a bit odd that the track creating the best old fashioned bump-‘n-run racing is... not Martinsville or Bristol... but... a road course?

Performace parity... that's BTCC talk, in NASCAR it's called good hard racing!

I have never minded the two car bump drafting we are currently seeing at the ‘plate tracks, however when it gets to the point where drivers plan in advance who they are going to work with, and stay together until the end without any thought of changing, it has gone a bit too far.

Jeff Gordon is now third on the all time NASCAR win list!

One point has to be made though... while Tony Stewart might have won the race because of his fuel strategy; he got to the front by out racing the opposition!

I enjoyed watching Jeff Gordon lose last weekends NASCAR Sprint Cup race from New Hampshire. I also enjoyed watching Clint Bowyer lose the race.

For the first time since the current Cup car was introduced I am wondering if something about the COT is hurting the racing.

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.

Was I supposed to be surprised by the actions of Kyle Busch in last weeks Truck race? Oh good, 'cos I wasn't.

A few weeks ago I may have commented on the particularly disjointed nature of the pre-Chase regular season. No one driver looking strong enough to dominate, but many in with a shot… I might have been wrong..

What will 2012 bring??

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...

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?

Falling A Bit Flat

**APPOLOGIES FOR THE LATENESS OF THIS POST - I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERNET ACCESS ISSUES**

I watched every lap of the Daytona night race, and have been trying to figure out why I ended the race feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Firstly I thought it was down to the fact that I watched the race live...

Not a particularly odd prospect and not one that would usually leave me feeling disappointed...

Until you bear in mind that the race ended at three thirty in the morning so I was ready for some sleep... but that wasn’t it.

Then I realised...

No slingshot. Not even an attempt. Not even given a thought. Since the COT was introduced into Cup racing we have seen the slingshot, the ability to pass one-on-one on the last lap at Daytona and Talladega, make a comeback. Until this race that is.

I have never minded the two car bump drafting we are currently seeing at the ‘plate tracks, however when it gets to the point where drivers plan in advance who they are going to work with, and stay together until the end without any thought of changing, it has gone a bit too far.

When we hear the pushing drivers saying to their partner “I will push you to the flag”, something’s gone wrong. Help each other, sure, but on the last lap it should be everyman for themselves.

The trouble is if the pushing driver falls off of the front cars bumper they go backwards so quickly that they might have not bothered starting the race in the first place.

It was interesting to see Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach try the two car draft in the pre race show. It showed how hard it was and how little the driver behind sees when pushing. It was also interesting to see the Stewart Haas cars in the windtunnel, although I would have liked an hour on this in detail, as I am very interested by the effects of the draft and the bump draft with the latest car.

And so the season rolls on getting ever closer to the Chase.

Next up for me, the British GP from Silverstone...

Speaking of a bit flat...

Down To The Wire

A “Good” GP!

A Grand Prix with pit stop strategy and late race overtaking!

With the introduction of DRS, the movable flappy paddle wing things, and the reintroduction of KERS, the nod to the environment slash overboost push to pass button, Formula 1 accepted the need to do something to aid overtaking.

They may be a bit false. They may be gimmicky. They may work, they may not...

They did provide us with a GP worth watching!

Overview - Red Bull badly need KERS, McLaren need more qualifying pace, Ferrari are not good enough, Rosberg is doing well, Schumacher is a waste of space, DeRista is looking good!



4 x 2 x 0.002

The second ‘plate race of 2011 was another two car draft story.

If you like the latest style of restrictor plate racing then it was a good race.

If you don’t...it wasn’t.

I kinda do, so I enjoyed it.

2011 is turning into the year of great finishes and todays was no exception!

Two deep, four wide, and first to second was 0.002 seconds!

You can’t tell me that wasn’t good!?!

British Bumper Car Championship

Good things - The new turbo engines seem to be working. Anybody can now buy an engine, put it in a car and be competitive! Lots of different cars!

Bad things - The driving standards are appalling! Most of the cars are old... I hope the teams running the new spec cars can sort out their issues and be a factor later in the year as I don’t fancy watching old Vauxhalls and Focus’s up front all year.

Come on race control, get a grip, instill some kind of respect and stop the blocking and the bump n’ run.



Ginetta is Betta... erm Better...

I am loving the new G55‘s. They look good, sound good and race great! At last a National series I look forward to watching!

Why No Three Car Draft?

I have been thinking about the two car drafts in the 2011 Daytona 500 where the first car was a "puller" and the second a "pusher". This made for a new style of drafting and for a very exciting 500 mile race!

This became possible due to a number of elements.

Firstly the cars have bumpers that line up perfectly. In the past the rear bumper was slightly higher than the front nose so when touching the front cars trunk was lifted off of the ground, loosening the car up in the turns. The latest generation of Cup car was designed with bumpers that line up enabling the cars to bump draft without lifting the car in front.

Secondly the new tarmac at Daytona! Smooth, smooth, smooth! No bumps or dips to throw the cars around!

Two cars have always been better than one at Daytona, and three better than two. Not being an expert in the field of aerodynamics I am perplexed by why three cars couldn't draft together? 

If the car in front is braking slightly to keep the two cars together, and the second car is constantly pushing, why can't a third car use the hole in the air created by the first two and come along for the ride? I understand that the third car would not be able to bump draft, as the second car would be a pinball in the middle, however I am surprised that other cars, other pairs, were not able to "old school" draft along behind.

 

As the last lap "slingshot" seems to be alive and well, you would assume the "draft" still works, so why no third car?

Were the cars "drafting" at all, or were they just pushing each other to faster speeds? 


Do we really care as the race was so good?

Will we see more of the same at Talladega?

Food for thought...

"Not You're Granddads NASCAR"

With about 10 laps to go the phone rang. A friend of mine was also watching the race. At this point I was sat leant forward half-on, half-off the couch. Volume levels started to go up as the excitement grew... then the yellow. I sat back for a minute and our voices dropped to their normal levels. 

 

Who's lined up with who? Mark Martin pushing Tony Stewart on the high line looks good! The 21 is in front for the first time, surely a "sitting duck" as the TV commentators kept saying. Low line looks less promising. Can the 21 hold on? 

Green flag flies and suddenly I am on the edge of the couch again, and our voices go up a level. Go Smoke! White flag, the 5 and 14 have gone backwards; they are out of it, 21 still in front. Go 21! Turn 3, voices LOUD NOW but nervous, no couch needed now!! Come on 21! Oh no here comes Edwards with a big run! GO 21! Out of turn 4... 21 blocks Edwards run... COME ON 21!! Nowhere near the couch now!! At the tri-oval... HOLD ON 21!! Chequered flag!! 

Wood Brothers to Victory Lane!! How cool is that!! And relax...

A lot is being said about the Daytona 500 so I will keep it short and simple - 

Good Things -

TV Coverage - For me the pre-race show alone was an enjoyable roller-coaster ride. I felt the FoxSports guys did a good job of portraying the excitement, the anticipation, the drama... the volume went up for Brad Paisley and down for the well judged Earnhardt tribute.

Push-me / Pull-me - The two car hook-ups are fun to watch. The cars move around a bit, work together, pass, drop back, go high, go low. The drivers are not just sat in a big pack unable to race for themselves! They have to earn their pay checks!

Bizarre Things - 

Radio Chatter - Not only are the drivers racing at 200 mph, two or three wide, not only are they bump drafting all the way round the 2.5 miles of new tarmac, not only are they communicating with their own team and their own spotter but they are also talking to each other, team mate or otherwise, while they are doing it! Amazing!

Exciting Things -

Great start for NASCAR! Good Daytona 500, lots of close racing, a big wreck with no flying cars or injuries, a dramatic finish, and a great plot line to start the year!!

In the pre-race show one of the TV guys said this is "not you're Granddads NASCAR". New points system, new drivers, new Daytona surface, new style of drafting...

So far so good!!

If 2010 was "have at it, boys" then maybe 2011 is... "NO LONGER YOU'RE GRANDDADS NASCAR"!

Congratulations to Trevor Bayne and Wood Brothers Racing, winners of the 2011 DAYTONA 500!!

Slingshot!

In the world of NASCAR, Daytona International Speedway is the new Noahs Ark and the drivers are coming in two by two!!

You would think that leading a motor race with one lap to go would be a good thing. You are in front, in charge, in control, the race is yours for the taking. Err, no...

To lead the Daytona 500 on Sunday it looks like you will need someone pushing you, to win you need to be the pusher. How does a racing driver, in such a competitive field, drive to be second at the white flag, so he can race to the win at the chequered? 

If you can figure that out you might just win the 2011 Daytona 500!

Downsides... maybe less big pack racing with the cars spread out more than we are used to seeing? 

Upsides... more overtaking than we have ever seen at Daytona including a last lap one-on-one slingshot for the win?

Will NASCAR make more changes to the cars before the 500? Regardless of what you think of the racing, should NASCAR make technical changes now, after the 150's?

What would I do? Nothing! The teams have raced in the Duals with the smaller plates' and the cooling system changes. Let the teams run the remaining practice sessions with the same rules and give them a chance to find out what works. If the 500 does not work they can run some more tests to tweak the package before the July race. The more you mess with the package, the more of a risk you are taking. Right now the drivers can draft and they can overtake. 

NASCAR, let the race run and see how close the finish is!

NASCAR 150 Thoughts

It's Duel day!

Since the Shootout NASCAR has mandated changes cars to slow them, and to reduce the two car hook-ups that dominated that race.

Changes have been made to the cooling systems; a smaller grille opening and a "pop off valve" all designed to make the engines overheat quicker. In theory this should stop the cars bump drafting lap after lap as the pushing cars engine will overheat, making the two car hook-ups a method of overtaking, not a way of just running round as in the Shootout. 

NASCAR have also reduced the restrictor plate size by one-64th of an inch, to 57-64ths. This has already dropped speeds from the 206mph in the Shootout to 200mph in practice.

I think it is a shame they didn't run the 150's with the bigger plate to see what effect the cooling system changes would have made on their own, but NASCAR obviously wanted to slow the cars as well as limit the two car drafting.

One thing has been bothering me since the Shootout... the yellow line rule. Should Denny Hamlin have been penalised for going under the yellow line when he was alongside Ryan Newman above the line. I am still of the opinion that the driver should not be allowed to jump below the yellow line to advance your position. However, on the run to the flag, if a driver pulls out and is alongside the other car above the line, should they be penalised if they are forced under the line by the other driver? Put it another way, drivers should not be allowed to block! Bearing in mind what happened 10 years ago this should go without saying!

Its also great to see the new Nationwide cars at Daytona. It is a pity that the new square fronts of the Challenger and Mustang are limiting speeds... to 200mph!! Cool!!

Gatorade Duel Race No. 1 Lineup - 
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 186.089
2. Paul Menard No. 27 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 185.422
3. Ryan Newman No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 185.002
4. Mark Martin No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 184.991
5. Tony Stewart No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 184.911
6. Kurt Busch No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge 184.896
7. Juan Pablo Montoya No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 184.763
8. Marcos Ambrose No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 184.748
9. Kevin Harvick No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 184.740
10. Jimmie Johnson No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 184.687
11. Bill Elliott No. 09 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 184.532
12. AJ Allmendinger No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 184.290
13. Joe Nemechek No. 87 Nemco Motorsports Toyota 184.222
14. Matt Kenseth No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford 184.102
15. Dave Blaney No. 36 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 183.793
16. Regan Smith No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 183.681
17. Kasey Kahne No. 4 Red Bull Racing Toyota 183.602
18. Bobby Labonte No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 183.576
19. Brian Vickers No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota 183.557
20. Kevin Conway No. 97 Nemco Motorsports Toyota 182.949
21. David Gilliland No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford 182.697
22. Michael McDowell No. 66 HP Racing Toyota 182.434
23. JJ Yeley No. 46 Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 180.977
24. Andy Lally No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 180.828

Gatorade Duel Race No. 2 Lineup -
1. Jeff Gordon No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 185.966
2. Trevor Bayne No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford 185.445
3. Clint Bowyer No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 185.223
4. Jeff Burton No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 185.071
5. Greg Biffle No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford 184.911
6. David Ragan No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing 184.612
7. Carl Edwards No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford 184.475
8. Travis Kvapil No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford 184.271
9. David Reutimann No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 184.019
10. Brad Keselowski No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge 184.008
11. Michael Waltrip No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 183.966
12. Jamie McMurray No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 183.685
13. Kyle Busch No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 183.595
14. Martin Truex Jr. No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 183.456
15. Joey Logano No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 183.206
16. Todd Bodine No. 60 Germain Racing Toyota 183.057
17. Casey Mears No. 13 Germain Racing Toyota 182.867
18. Steve Wallace No. 77 Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota 182.574
19. Robby Gordon No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 182.120
20. Terry Labonte No. 32 FAS Lane Racing Ford 181.492
21. Robert Richardson No. 37 Front Row Motorsports Ford 181.466
22. Denny Hamlin No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 181.316
23. Derrike Cope No. 64 Max Q Toyota 177.894
24. Brian Keselowski No. 92 K-Automotive Dodge 177.581

Hey Buddy, Need A Push? Yea Cool!

The 2011 Budweiser Shootout certainly lived up to its name, a Shootout. Two drivers, who was going to draw first? Actually two sets of two drivers, but you get the point.

It definitely was a different style of racing. 

Some will say that it was dull. No big packs. No solid 2x2 trains of cars. No "pack" to speak of. Is this a bad thing? Throughout the 90's restrictor plate races were full of cars running together, unable to race for themselves. Race winners were decided by who had the most cars behind them. If the low line had 5 cars nose to tail and the high line only had 3, the low line was probably going to be ahead at the flag. One-on-one passes for the lead on the last lap were few and far between. Top speeds were always kept just under the 200 mark, and big packs were the order of the day, literally.

With the COT all that changed. The big square cars have been able to draft much more than the last generation cars. What we saw in the Shootout was drivers who were able to decide their own destiny, drivers who were able to "race" for themselves. Yes they were still being pushed, still reliant on help from behind, but that's just the nature of racing at Daytona, it was this way before restrictor plates and it will always be this way.

I liked the race. I liked the fact that the drivers could overtake. I liked that come the last lap the third and fourth place cars were able to pull out and get level with the leader. I also liked that the second place driver was able to slingshot round the leader coming out of turn four on the last lap, with no help. 

Was NASCAR right to call Kurt Busch as the winner? Yes. The yellow line ruling should be enforced at all times. The last thing we all want is another (avoidable) airborne wreck. Will Hamlin pull down below the line next Sunday, err no.

Do I want 500 miles of that next Sunday? No... 100 miles? Yes!

Do I think that's what we are going to see? No. 

Even without NASCARs new cooling system pop off valves I do not think the 500 would be like that. Firstly; 43 cars will be on track, not 8 as it was at the end of the Shootout. That many cars on track together are going to stay together. There may be breakaways but eventually the rest will catch up and the pack will be together again. Secondly the drivers are not going to be able to maintain that style of intense racing for the whole race. 75 laps is one thing, 500 miles is something very different. We all know that the first 400 miles of a 500 mile race is a matter of survival, while the last 100 miles are serious. With this in mind I think the drivers will give each other a bit of room until the last 100 miles.

I also like NASCARs answer to the speed issue. For a change they have resisted a change to the restrictor plate. By leaving the plate the same NASCAR are saying, we like the racing, we like the draft, we like the overtaking. What NASCAR are trying to do is limit the length of time the cars can bump draft by restricting the airflow to the engines. The longer you bump draft, the more chance you have of overheating. So in theory the cars will still be able to hook up and pass as they did in the Shootout, but not for 50 laps solid. Now the two car draft should be used as an overtaking tool and not for lap after lap driving. If this works NASCAR should be applauded for being bold and not just running to a plate change to slow the cars.

 

Hopefully on Sunday we will see 43 drivers who can draft, can overtake in the pack with help and  one-on-one for the win. 43 drivers who are able to race for themselves and not just sit in the pack unable to move, waiting for the wreck. Drivers having fun!

The 125's will give us an idea of whether NASCARs changes have worked.

I for one can't wait!

What the Daytona 500 Means To Me

The Daytona 500, NASCARs season opener. NASCARs biggest race. To the drivers it is the race to win! Some drivers spend their whole career trying to win it; some do it more than once.

To me the Daytona 500 is about the speed, the drama, the closeness of the cars, the wait for "the big one", the dramatic finish.

I never tire of restrictor plate racing at Daytona and Talladega. You can debate the merits of opening the season with your biggest race, but to a fan bored of the offseason, starting the year this way ensures the year starts with a bang, NASCAR racing at its most extreme! 

There was the year Dale Jarrett won with his dad commentating, the year Dale Jr won. There have been lots of memorable 500's.

Back in 1998 I was 18 and had just finished college. I decided to go travelling and undertook a solo 3 month trek across America. I flew into San Francisco and flew home from New York, stayed in youth hostels, travelled coast to coast by Greyhound bus. For the weekend of the 1998 Daytona 500 I was in LA. I found a TV in the hostel, tuned into the race, and watched it on my own as no one else seemed to care.

 

'98 was the year Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500! As the race began I pulled up a chair, which is odd as I don't remember using it much. In fact once the race got serious, as Earnhardt was pacing the field, I was pacing around the room unable to stand still let alone sit for excitement. Watching the black 3-car pull onto pit lane, seeing every crew member from every team come out to see him, the "3" on the grass, the Victory Lane celebrations, the excitement was huge. Earnhardt fan or not, it was a great day for NASCAR, and for me.

Later in my trek across the States, I found myself in Las Vegas the week of the city's first ever NASCAR race weekend. I could not afford Cup tickets, but did get to see the then Busch Series race! To date this is my only live NASCAR experience. The excitement in Vegas that week as palpable. NASCAR was everywhere. It was the sports 50th year and there were modern and classic race cars everywhere.

Later still in my coast to coast trip, while others were off to Miami to drink themselves silly, I went to Daytona. I did the track tour, stood on top of the banking and looked down, and I saw the black RCR Chevy Monte Carlo with 3 on it, as it was when it won the race. Standing outside of the track I used a pay phone to ring home and at that moment I changed the direction my life was heading. I gave up the university place I had waiting for me when I got home, and decided to make racing my ambition, my life.

Lots of people will talk about the tragic end to the 2001 Daytona 500, and the effects that day had on the sport and its people, but the experience of the 1998 Daytona 500 and seeing the Daytona International Speedway was literally life changing for me.

Each February I remember my 3 month trip, that years Daytona 500, the track tour, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, New York, and everything in between.

One day I will go to a Daytona 500 and experience it in person, but this year I will settle down in front of the TV and enjoy the race. I may even use a chair this time...

RIP 3.

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!!