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NASCAR 2011

Frayed Knot Feb 15 2011 04:29 PM

So with zero wins and almost as few top finishes over the last few seasons - and on the eve of the 10th anniversary of his father's death at Daytona - the still-popular Dale Earnhardt Jr. manages to snag the pole for next week's Daytona 500. Some surrounding NASCAR apparently find this more than a bit ... how you say, convenient - as if the powers at be, maybe by letting his car slide past a few restrictions for the qualifying, were anxious to create a media-friendly 'moment' for the lead-up to their season-opening bash, particularly in the face of recent slides in both the sports' attendance and TV ratings.

metirish Feb 16 2011 04:34 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 16 2011 06:45 AM

Couldn't be more fixed if they tired.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 16 2011 05:21 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

Well, I wouldn't doubt they'd like a storyline like this. I don't know if Nascar quants exist but if they did I wouldn't be surprised if they discovered the advantages of the pole position aren't terribly significant, at least not as much of an advantage as starting in the back would be a disadvantage. It gets him an easier pit stop to make and allows him to sit out potential wrecks in the twin qualifiers this week, but, not sure what else. I also understand that turning 1 fast lap is a completely different thing than 500 fast laps, so cars that are "set up" to qualify well don't necessarily have an advantage when the long run begins.

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2011 06:39 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well, I wouldn't doubt they'd like a storyline like this. I don't know if Nascar quants exist but if they did I wouldn't be surprised if they discovered the advantages of the pole position aren't terribly significant, at least not as much of an advantage as starting in the back would be a disadvantage. It gets him an easier pit stop to make and allows him to sit out potential wrecks in the twin qualifiers this week, but, not sure what else. I think that's why a lot of people are buying into the idea. Even if the story of "fixing" this were to be exposed it can still be written off as they're not fixing the outcome of the race itself but merely helping to grease the skids for favorable ink leading up to it that even most of the competing drivers will think is a minor deal if they think about it at all. I also understand that turning 1 fast lap is a completely different thing than 500 fast laps, so cars that are "set up" to qualify well don't necessarily have an advantage when the long run begins. I heard a reporter who covered NASCAR for a decent amount of time say not only that but also suggested that 'Little E' himself is more set-up to succeed at a time trial than he is to maintain the concentration needed over a 500 mile race, all but saying that he's a bit of an ADD case.

metirish Feb 16 2011 06:48 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

Nascar does seem to have lost some of the luster it had, popularity no doubt peeked a few years ago. When FOX had it that time it looked like a perfect marriage. Cars2 is coming this summer , if that means anything to Nascar I have o clue.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 16 2011 07:30 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

TV ratings and attendance are way down. I think the whole phonyality of Nascar got to people after a while. The whole sport is way too heavily linked to sponsors, and the economy really killed that starting in 08 and beyond, not to mention robbing the Red Staters of so much of the disposable income they used to pump into the game. Beyond that it just seems to me to be totally overmarketed, with everything they do designed more to benefit the whole profit machine than the competition or the fan. Even stuff they say is "for the fans" is really for the TV or sponsors primarily, and I think many people see right through it today. I do love to watch the Daytona 500 each year though.

Willets Point Feb 16 2011 07:34 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

Is the extra A for asinine?

Edgy DC Feb 16 2011 07:37 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

There's also the collapse of the US auto industry to take some of the air out of it, along with the rise of Obama and the pushing of green technology sapping the the sinful allure. But markets inflate when the economy is good, and recede when the economy is bad, and NASCAR as a national sport rather than a regional one was a phenomenon of good economic times. I imgagine ice hockey isn't doing so well in the south anymore either.

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2011 07:38 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

I think NASCAR's problem is similar to that of a lot of sports/businesses during boom times: they assumed that the growth arrow was going to continue pointing forever upward. It didn't of course and now they have to re-think their projections. Their season is absurdly long and the fact that sponsors aren't exactly lining up to attach themselves to the events is a reason why people can see them rigging something like having the popular Dale Jr. look like he's about to return to the top (was he ever actually there?).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 16 2011 07:53 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

Apropos of something, there's a band called "Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr." out now. People seem to love them, but I don't get it: [youtube:3p9f3ktx]wm1p3jl-7b4[/youtube:3p9f3ktx]

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2011 08:02 AM Re: NAASCAR 2011

Willets Point wrote: Is the extra A for asinine? Damn, I didn't even notice that (and now I can't change it).

seawolf17 Feb 16 2011 08:03 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

Fixed. Not because I care about auto racing, but because it would drive me bonkers every time I saw the thread title.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 16 2011 03:02 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

So much for that anyway... Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrecks car By Terry Blount ESPN.com Archive DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the pole for the Daytona 500 in Pole Day qualifying three days ago, will start in the back on Sunday. Earnhardt was involved in an accident during practice Wednesday and will go to a backup car. He will start his qualifying race Thursday in the back but cannot improve his position for the Daytona 500. Since the front row is locked in on Pole Day, Earnhardt can't improve his starting spot in the qualifying race, something every other driver can do except Jeff Gordon, who also earned a front-row spot. The rest the grid positions are set in the two 60-lap qualifying races Thursday. Earnhardt was running in a two-car tandem Wednesday with teammate Jimmie Johnson when the accident occurred exiting Turn 4. Johnson checked up because three slower cars -- driven by Robby Gordon, David Gilliland and Michael Waltrip -- were veering over in front of him. When Johnson slowed to avoid hitting them, his car got loose. Earnhardt slowed down and was hit from behind by Martin Truex Jr. Earnhardt and Truex slid down the track and Earnhardt hit the inside retaining wall. The back sheet metal panel of Earnhardt's car was torn off. "The closing rate for two-car tandem is so much faster. You've got to pay attention out there, man. If you're gonna race, you've got to pay attention. It's just hard," he said. Earnhardt said he was hesitant about participating in Wednesday's first practice, which was delayed because of rain. "I didn't feel good out there in practice today," Earnhardt said. "I just had a bad feeling about it. But we have plenty of race cars. It's never a good thing tearing them up, but we'll be fine."

HahnSolo Feb 16 2011 03:09 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

? Confuzzled. What's the point of "winning the pole" if you can just lose it during practice?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 16 2011 03:21 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

It's supposed to be the same car or something.

Edgy DC Feb 16 2011 07:09 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

"Martin Truex, Jr., bitch."

The Second Spitter Feb 17 2011 07:47 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

Do any of you Revheads follow F1 or is that too Eurotrash for you?

Willets Point Feb 17 2011 08:04 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

The Second Spitter wrote: Do any of you Revheads follow F1 or is that too Eurotrash for you? I don't follow any autoracing, but F1 seems more interesting to me than stockcars. Of course, I'm Eurotrash-American.

TransMonk Feb 17 2011 08:09 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

My name is Jean Girard and I am a racing-car driver, just like you, except I am from Formula Un. I am the greatest one in the whole world. I have been following your career with great interest, Monsieur "Booby".

The Second Spitter Feb 17 2011 08:18 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

TransMonk wrote: My name is Jean Girard and I am a racing-car driver, just like you, except I am from Formula Un. I am the greatest one in the whole world. I have been following your career with great interest, Monsieur "Booby". First, I want you to say..."I love crêpes." Willets Point wrote: I don't follow any autoracing, but F1 seems more interesting to me than stockcars. Of course, I'm Eurotrash-American. What kind of Eurotrash?

seawolf17 Feb 17 2011 08:50 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

TransMonk wrote: My name is Jean Girard and I am a racing-car driver, just like you, except I am from Formula Un. I am the greatest one in the whole world. I have been following your career with great interest, Monsieur "Booby". What a hilarious movie. Added to my Netflix queue.

Edgy DC Feb 17 2011 09:01 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

I thought the character of Jean Girard was achingly un-funny.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2011 10:28 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

The Second Spitter wrote: Do any of you Revheads follow F1 or is that too Eurotrash for you? I don't follow any kind of auto-racing, I just started the thread because I like discussing sports-related issues. And, yeah, F1 is sooooo Euro-trash.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 20 2011 07:51 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

Race starts at 1:30 today. Nice viewer guide here: [url]http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2011/02/20/2011-daytona-500-viewers-guide/

Kong76 Feb 20 2011 08:57 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

Kasey in the juiced up car!!

metirish Feb 20 2011 11:59 AM Re: NASCAR 2011

Gotta say it's pretty fucking astonishing to watch these drivers push each other around the track at these speeds , supreme concentration needed.

Kong76 Feb 20 2011 02:08 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

This race kinda sucks today!

metirish Feb 20 2011 02:47 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

No amount of enthusiasm from Waltrip in the booth can sell this shit, nothing but start and stop.

Kong76 Feb 20 2011 03:13 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

Last car not to wreck is gonna win.

metirish Feb 20 2011 03:27 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

Kong76 wrote: Last car not to wreck is gonna win. Ah shucks you may be right partner

Ashie62 Feb 20 2011 03:32 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

Trevor Bayne 20 year old Rookie without a full-time ride wins!

Kong76 Feb 20 2011 03:35 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

That was nice, looks like he barely shaves every day.

metirish Feb 20 2011 03:35 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

Ashie62 wrote: Trevor Bayne 20 year old Rookie without a full-time ride wins! he'll get some ride tonight I'm guessing. How would you like to be a pbp man and totally drowned out at the finish by a screaming Darryl Waltrip , fucking guy never shuts up.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 20 2011 03:36 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

pretty good finish for the kid. That 21 team is a dinosaur.

Fman99 Feb 20 2011 06:04 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

Did they turn left?

Ashie62 Feb 20 2011 06:12 PM Re: NASCAR 2011

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: pretty good finish for the kid. That 21 team is a dinosaur. David Pearson's old number.