Official NASCAR Thread

[kk9fan97]

there are times where I can understand why they would throw the caution instead of letting them race where someone hits really hard and there is that chance that medical help is needed but this was not one of those times. Truex got going after being stopped for a couple of seconds, and like you said everyone else was was already gone

Edited February 14, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

I'm excited for qualifying tomorrow, but I never liked the new format with the rounds. Oh well at least it won't be as bad as last year when they had group qualifying. I don't know what they were thinking with that.

 

I always loved Clint's famous rant:

Edited February 14, 2016 by theGTAking101

[kk9fan97]

Daytona 500 qualifying is going on right now on FOX and Martin Truex, Jr. will not put up a time due to an issue with the right side roof flap. The team was put on to the 5 minute clock and had to push the car to the garage which allowed the 5 minute clock to expire.

 

edit: Round 1 is now done. Ryan Blaney and Matt Dibennedetto lock theselves into the Daytona 500 on speed.

 

Top 12 drivers for round 1 in order of speed- Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano. Those 12 drivers move to the second and final round and get to go for the pole for the Daytona 500.

 

Logano knocked Casey Mears out of the final round by one one thousandth of a second.

Edited February 14, 2016 by kk9fan97

[kk9fan97]

Chase Elliott wins the pole for the Daytona 500. Matt Kenseth will start second. Elliott is the youngest Daytona 500 pole winner ever.

 

Junior was third fastest and along with everyone but Elliott and Kenseth will set his starting position in the Can-Am Duels on Thursday.

Edited February 15, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

That was disappointing watching Jr. fall back in the second round, but happy for Chase. Looks like Wise, Gilliland, Sorenson and Whitt are screwed unless they pull a miracle in the Duels cause it looks like Richardson and McDowell will likely take the other 2 spots.

 

Isn't it suspicious that the last 4 pole winners for this race have been the most talked about drivers during the offseason?

2013 Danica - First woman in the 500

2014 Dillon - Return of the 3 car

2015 Gordon - Final full season

2016 Elliott - Rookie taking over the famous 24

[Ex Hellraiser]

Inn not saying it was rigged, but I'd never felt compelled in my life to bet on something more than Chase getting the pole. It just seems like too much of a storyline for it to not happen...

 

I mean, I'm happy for the kid (mostly jealous); if any rookie could do it, he's the one, but if there was a poll on who the NASCAR community thought would get an upset pole, and they couldn't vote for their favorite driver, they would've all voted for him.

 

I mean...

 

I dunno. It just seems like too much of a storyline to be completely authentic.

[theGTAking101]

Hopefully Jr. can drive Amelia to victory next Sunday. But if that happens then he won't be able to dominate with it for the rest of the plate races this year

 

EDIT:

- Harvick and Vickers will start last in the Duels cause of track bar violations. Similar to Jr. and Hamlin last year.

Edited February 14, 2016 by theGTAking101

[theGTAking101]

Truex will drive this car at Indy, Martinsville and Darlington:

[kk9fan97]

There was a multi-car pileup in Can-Am duel practice today. Ty Dillon put oil down on the track, and #83 Michael Waltrip, #31 Ryan Newman, #42 Kyle Larson, #35 David Gilliland ended up hitting it and crashing. Newman's team decided to repair their car, Larson and Waltrip have gone to backup cars (meaning they will have to start of the rear of the field in tomorrow nights Duels. Kurt Busch might have also been involved.

 

video here - http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2016/2/17/ty-dillon-wrecks-practice-daytona-international-speedway-ryan-newman-michael-waltrip.html

 

 

The #78 team picked up another sponsor. Auto Owners Insurance will be primary sponsor on the #78 at Indianapolis, Darlington, and the October Martinsville race.

 

http://furniturerowracing.furniturerow.com/frr/news/01172016/Auto-Owners-Insurance-Joins-Furniture-Row-Racing-Partnership-Team/10101551

 

 

#59 Michael McDowell was fastest in first practice, and #44 Brian Scott was fastest in the second practice.

[theGTAking101]

I dread the time when Ty comes full time to Cup.

[kk9fan97]

can't really blame that on Ty though. A crack opened up on one of the welds on the oil cooler which allowed the oil to leak out. Chris Buescher also got damage in the crash caused by the oil and the team decided to fix their car instead of going to a backup car. The #35 team also chose to repair their car as well.

 

Jimmie Johnson was fastest in Can-Am Duel final practice.

 

Hard to believe that today is the 15th anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt.

 

edit: 2 minutes into the first Truck Series broadcast of the season and the on-screen graphics team is already failing. Somehow they managed to make the practice clock go from 80 something minutes to 0 seconds. Then they left it like that on screen for about a minute before pulling it down, and putting it back up, this time showing 70 something minutes left...

 

Scott Lagasse just crashed in Trucks practice. Something broke on the truck and got launched straight out in front of the truck, and in the process seemed to cut the right front tire down and put him into the wall coming out of Turn 2. Red Flag was displayed as a result to clean up the debris.

 

edit: FOX Sports 1 is reporting that the track bar was left loose on Lagasse's truck. Lagasse says when the tire blew it launched the shock out of the truck.

Edited February 18, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

I've been thinking about this whole Earnhardt thing a lot in the past few months, well actually in the past year. There's not really a time when I'm not thinking about it. It's crazy how much time flies. If I was old enough back then to know what was going on, I'm not sure how I would've taken the news. It must suck to have been at the race and see it happen. I saw on Reddit earlier, a story of a guy who was at the race that day. Being a Gordon fan, he cheered when Dale crashed, only to cry when he found out that he died.

 

Honestly the crash didn't even look that bad compared to some of the wrecks prior to that race. Even compared to Tony's flip, it looked like nothing. But his open helmet, faulty seatbelts and the angle in which the car hit made it much worse than it seemed. The worst part was nobody was really focusing on this because they thought everything was ok. All of DEI was celebrating the win and 1-2 finish, not knowing that their boss and friend just got killed. Then there's this eerie quote of Darrell's:

How about Dale? I hope he's okay ...I just hope Dale's okay. I guess he's all right, isn't he?

I think that's when people suspected something was wrong.

 

Then there's Mike Helton's famous quote:

This is undoubtedly one of the toughest announcements that I’ve ever personally had to make, but after the accident in turn four at the end of the Daytona 500, we’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.

 

That whole day itself was really weird and ironic.

• First race on Fox.
• Dale himself said we'd see something that we've never seen before.
• First speedweeks in a while where Dale never won anything.
• Dale said something along the lines of "If we keep racing like this somebody's gonna get killed".
• First race for Michael Waltrip in Dale's car.
• Michael wins in his first start in a DEI car, with Dale Jr. in 2nd while Sr. was running third.

Then there's Steve Park who wins the week after, then Harvick who wins in Dale's car in Atlanta. An of course we can't forget Jr.'s victory in the Pepsi 400.

Something I do find cool though, is that Michael Waltrip won the Truck race in Daytona 10 years to the day of the 2001 race. What would be even crazier is if he wins the Duel tonight. Just imagine, he wins at Daytona on February 18th 2001, February 18th 2011 and February 18th 2016.

 

But there's always a bright side to everything. If this never happened, we'd be remembering a bunch of other drivers who were killed. Some that come to mind are:

• Jerry Nadeau - Richmond 2001
• Steve Park - Pocono 2002
• Dale Jr. - Fontana 2002
• Jeff Gordon - Las Vegas 2008
• Michael McDowell - Texas 2008
• Carl Edwards - Talladega 2009
• Brad Keselowski - Atlanta 2010 (He got really lucky the whole roof didn't hit the wall and cave in)
• Elliott Sadler - Pocono 2010
• Denny Hamlin - Fontana 2013
• Kyle Busch - Daytona 2015
• Austin Dillon - Daytona 2015

I really hope Fox does something special this week, like doing a salute on lap 3 of the 500 like they did in 2011.

Edited February 18, 2016 by theGTAking101

[kk9fan97]

Nadeau's wreck at Richmond was actually in 2003. Park's Pocono wreck was not all that bad, the guardrail he hit acted like the SAFER Barriers do now and took a lot of the energy away from him. His wreck at Darlington in the Busch Series race was a lot worse.

 

 

 

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it took them 44 laps but there is finally a caution in the first Duel. Whitt was making some crazy moves trying to get around Michael McDowell for the transfer spot and spun himself. Brian Scott who was two cars behind Whitt also spun...

 

and Fox Sports on-screen graphics team just failed again. Used the wrong FedEx car, and used Harvick's Busch Beer car instead of the Jimmy John's car... It's like they can't even go a single broadcast without messing something up.

 

Kasey Kahne pitted alone during the green flag stops because of confusion caused by a miscommunication between his crew chief Keith Rodden, and spotter Kevin Hamlin.

 

edit: Cole Whitt and the #98 team have gone to the garage. Whitt/Premium Motorsports will not make the Daytona 500. The battle for the transfer spot is now Blaney, McDowell, and Wise.

Edited February 19, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

Jr. wins the first Duel race, and Brian Scott magically wrecks himself coming out of 4 with no help. Blaney and McDowell will race in the 500.

[kk9fan97]

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. wins Can-Am Duel #1. Brian Scott wrecked coming out of Turn 4, went head on into the inside wall, and will no doubt have to go to a backup car. Ryan Blaney got the transfer spot, and raced his way in and finished 3rd in the Duel (starts 7th in the Daytona 500 as a result) and that allowed Michael McDowell to make it in on speed. #30 Josh Wise, and #98 Cole Whitt won't be in the race on Sunday.

Edited February 19, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

So far Duel 2 is just a Gibbs freight train. Hopefully there's more action later.

 

EDIT:

Exclusive picture of the second Duel race:

Edited February 19, 2016 by theGTAking101

[kk9fan97]

and big wreck, thanks to Johnson once again.... Kurt Busch, A.J. Allmendinger, Martin Truex, Jr., Matt Kenseth, Johnson involved..

 

edit: Danica Patrick as well.

 

two of the last three years now, Johnson has triggered a huge crash on the last lap of Duel #2. McMurray was right there as well.

 

 

 

 

edit: Kyle Busch won, Matt Dibennedetto took the transfer spot and that allowed his teammate Robert Richardson, Jr. to make the Daytona 500 on qualifying speed. David Gilliland and Reed Sorenson join Cole Whitt and Josh Wise in not making the Daytona 500.

Edited February 19, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

Huge crash at the end. Johnson, Kenseth, Truex, Danica, Allmendinger and Kurt all crashed. Kenseth goes to a backup car and loses his front row starting spot.

Kyle Busch dominated and won the race.

Johnson's impact reminded me of Sr.'s fatal crash.

 

Poor Mears was doing good then he ran out of fuel.

Edited February 19, 2016 by theGTAking101

[kk9fan97]

Aric Almirola also ran out of fuel with 2 to go.

[Ex Hellraiser]

Yet again, Danica managed to wipe out all by herself driving past an already developed crash.

[kk9fan97]

Darrell Wallace, Jr. just put himself into the wall in turn 3 in the first practice for he Xfinity Series. He moved up to the top lane on the turn 3 end of the backstretch to follow the #22 car and then moved back down entering turn 3 and spun himself off of the front of #98 Aric Almirola. He slid low and then went back across the track and hit the outside wall, right side first.

 

and another massive fail by Fox Sports on-screen graphics team - they show the #25 of Dylan Lupton as having put a time down in practice - problem is, Dylan Lupton is not driving this week, and the #25 team he drove for last year swapped numbers during the off-season and is now the #05 and is being driven by John Wes Townley. Rick Ware Racing swapped numbers during the off season and went from #15 to #25 and have Chris Cockrum as driver.

 

Also last night on one of the on-screen graphics they used the wrong M&M's car for Kyle Busch..

Edited February 19, 2016 by kk9fan97

[SupaDoopa]

and big wreck, thanks to Johnson once again....

Kind of hard to blame that on the 48. He had a big run and the 1 came up to block when he was already at his quarter panel.

Yet again, Danica managed to wipe out all by herself driving past an already developed crash.

I literally LOL'd when I saw her spin herself out.

[Thundurus-T]

The #88 really looks like the car to beat on Sunday. Some people are claiming that the whole thing is rigged, and NASCAR wants Dale to win on the 15th Daytona 500 following his father's death. Personally, I just think he's a top notch restrictor plate driver.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Thundurus-T

[theGTAking101]

The #88 really looks like the car to beat on Sunday. Some people are claiming that the whole thing is rigged, and NASCAR wants Dale to win on the 15th Daytona 500 following his father's death. Personally, I just think he's a top notch restrictor plate driver.

People will put on their tinfoil hats over anything these days, saying things are rigged. "OMG NASCAR GAVE CHASE THE POLE BECUZ HE'S A ROOKIE WITH A FAMOUS LAST NAME". Except that 24 car won the pole on 3 of the 4 plate races last year, so of course it's gonna be fast.

 

I agree Dale is the guy to beat. "Amelia" as he calls it is one fast car. Joey, Kyle, Kevin and maybe Chase look good as well. Matt and Jimmie were also fast, but we'll have to see how their backup cars run.

[kk9fan97]

people who say it is rigged are dumb.

 

 

the Truck Series race is about to begin on FS1, and GMS Racing teammates are on the front row - #33 Grant Enfinger won the pole, and #21 Johnny Sauter starts second. This will also be the debut of the 20 minute caution clock.

 

A large numbers failed to qualify - #1 David Levine, #6 Norm Benning, #10 Jennifer Jo Cobb, #28 Ryan Ellis, #43 Austin Hill, #58 Ryan Reed, #59 Kornin Forrister, #63 Reed Sorenson, #68 Clay Greenfield, #71 Carlos Contreras, and #74 Mike Harmon.

 

and the race is green, and the 20 minute clock has begun.

 

edit: #44 Tommy Joe Martins just wrecked coming out of turn 4, and no caution at first, but it is out now. Caution Clock will be reset. Looks like the right front tire went down on the #44.

Edited February 20, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

I looked to see if this race was on TV earlier but TSN isn't showing it, just like last year. Meh, I'll probably find a stream and watch some parts of it here and there. I'd like to see how this caution clock plays out and I'll also probably tune in to see the finish.

[kk9fan97]

#44 just wrecked again, and almost took out #49 Timmy Hill in the process. They went green and a lap and 3 quarters later coming out of turn 4, the #44 cut another right front tire down and darted across the track right in front of Hill and smacked the wall. He took the truck to the garage this time.

Edited February 20, 2016 by kk9fan97

[kk9fan97]

and they just almost had the big one. #9 William Byron got out of control coming out of turn 4 in the middle of the pack and somehow caught his truck and saved it without running into anyone and without being run into.

 

sounds like the clock that FS1 is showing is somehow just under a minute ahead.

 

edit: these trucks are so unstable, they come off of turn 4 and all bobble left to right big time.

 

 

edit: about a minute left on the caution clock, and a group of 4 trucks pulled of to pit road, and #98 Rico Abreu barreled on to pit road, and no doubt speeding.

 

big wreck coming to pit road now. #18 Cody Coughlin, and #23 Spencer Gallagher got together and hit the inside wall, and then Gallagher slid into Coughlin's teammate #4 Christopher Bell and set him spinning on to pit road.

 

now a third Kyle Busch Motorsports truck with problems, #9 Byron has a flat left front tire. #41 Ben Rhodes ran into Coughlin from the looks of it and that forced Goughlin into the back of Gallagher. So they came up just short of running out the caution clock, there was (according to FS1) under a minute left when the wreck happened. Sauter, Suarez, and Townley all just barely avoided getting collected in the wreck. Cameron Hayley also just missed the wreck.

 

Cole Custer got penalized for an uncontrolled tire on pit road. Back to green now.

 

huge save by Christopher Bell, got turned by John Wes Townley in the middle of the pack entering Turn 1 and managed to save it everyone managed to miss him.

 

drivers are reporting that someone is leaking oil, possibly the #66 of Jordan Anderson. Sauter might be blowing up as well. - actually Sauter says he can smell oil and that someone is likely going to blow up (probably the #66)

 

edit: epic save by leader Johnny Sauter. Got sideways coming out of turn 4 in front of the entire pack and managed to save it and again everyone else avoided wrecking.

 

and caution for debris in turn 4.

Edited February 20, 2016 by kk9fan97

[kk9fan97]

lots of crazy saves in the last few minutes - Scott Lagasse saved it off of Turn 4, Ben Rhodes almost got turned around a couple of laps after that, Grant Enfinger got launched out of control by his teammate Johnny Sauter and Saved it. Cole Custer also had an insane save in the middle of the pack in the trioval.

 

 

now huge wreck entering Turn 3 - #00 Cole Custer, #8 John Hunter Nemechek, #88 Matt Crafton, #98 Rico Abreu, #05 John Wes Townley, #51 Daniel Suarez, #33 Grant Enfinger, #17 Timothy Peters, #13 Cameron Hayley, #22 Austin Wayne Self, #2 Austin Theriault, #29 Tyler Reddick, #86 Brandon Brown, #41 Ben Rhodes, #78 Chris Fontaine, #19 Daniel Hemric, #14 Scott Lagasse, Jr., involved (17 trucks involved - could be more). edit: the official list from NASCAR, has all the drivers listed above except for Lagasse, but the replays showed him getting involved. edit: #11 Ben Kennedy was also involved. So 18 trucks total involved in the crash.

 

so 18 of 32 trucks involved - over half the field.

 

edit: the race is red flagged. lot of debris and fluid that has to be cleaned up, plus a bunch of trucks that need to be towed from the crash site.

 

edit: video of the wreck here - https://www.facebook.com/MartinsvilleSpeedway/posts/10153856891441101

 

edit: NTS confirmed on their twitter page that Lagasse was involved, so it's confirmed that 18 trucks were in that wreck. - NASCAR is still saying 17 though.

 

edit: Fontaine was not even in the actual wreck. He went to the grass to avoid it, and the front of his truck dug into the grass and it destroyed the front of the truck.

 

nearly 20 minutes later and there is still a huge mess to be cleaned up. still under red. Also all of the drivers that were taken to the infield medical center have been checked and released.

Edited February 20, 2016 by kk9fan97

[theGTAking101]

I was hoping for Custer or Nemecheck to win, f*ck.

 

I just opened the stream and saw a replay of the wreck. People on Reddit are saying there was some great 3 wide racing going on for a while. The Trucks always have spectacular plate races.

 

Might as well cheer for Ryan Truex now.

Edited February 20, 2016 by theGTAking101