NASCAR thread- The Chase begins
 

I fully expect WinstonCup and I to be the only ones on this thread, but feel free to join in. I know how unpopular racing is around here, but there are a few of us here who really enjoy it.

Thoughts on the new Chase format anyone? My top complaint about it right now is that to me....too few drivers were let in. The starting grid in a race is 43 cars and they are only letting 10 in? I know the reasoning behind it, but if you think about it, that's less than one quarter of the field.

Also, I just can't wait to see all the pot shots that will be taken at the Chase drivers. I mean, really....what do the other 33 drivers have to lose now? I'm sure NASCAR has or will issue strict admonitions to the other drivers, but I see it coming into play.

It ought to be a great end to the season, though...so gentlemen, start your engines!

P.S. Hey WC, better tell Tony to make sure he takes some Immodium or something. Wouldn't want an "accident" messing up his chances for another championship. ;D ;)

Afterall the talking we've done in the chats about NASCAR, you omit me in this thread, and give full credit to just you and Winstoncup as NASCAR fans around here.

My main complaint, while I like the idea behind it, is that the points leader gets his lead shrunk from up by 100's to just 5 points. Makes the "regular" season a lot less meaningful for guys who you know are going to be in the top 10(Gordon, Earnhardt, Kenseth, and that jackass Stewart).

I also agree that 10 isn't enough, at least 15 should be in. As long as they're only going to seperate each driver by 5 points each, 15th place still would have a shot at winning the Cup. Plus Kahne is quickly growing on my favorite drivers list, and it's a shame to see a season like he's had be meaningless now with 10 races to go. He was a Tony Stewart spin out away from being in the field, plus all those damn 2nd place finishes, his efforts shouldn't just be over like they are, but on the brightside, the kids got a lot more year ahead of him, a lot better ones as well.

Holy sh*t! I suck, DF. Sorry about that. Plus we Gordon fans will have to stick together so we can celebrate our 5th championship in style this year. ;D

I really like Kasey Kahne too. You can tell that kid is an up and comer. I wonder how much he hates 2nd place by now. I was really pulling for him to make it into the field, but noooo...his dumbass teammate does instead. On the other hand, I was thrilled to death to see Harvick miss the cut.

Yep, and I agree with the points erasure too, DF. Just anyone's game now. Five points? Cripes, that's a freaking lap leader bonus. I can just see the tempers flaring now.

It's cool, just had to call you out a bit ;) , all in good fun.

We'll get #5 this year, the 24 car will get it done, even if his points lead is erased to just 5 for the time being.

Nascar needs to get rid of some of the loose cannons. That nutcase <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/4310" target="_blank">Jimmy Spencer</a> is one, Tony Stewart is another crazyman. Alot of DEI drivers love to spin out drivers by driving too hard into the corners. Dale Jr. isn't so bad, probably because his dad bit the wall, but he's kinda crazy too. It's always the same drivers getting into trouble. Harvick is another DEI crackpot. Michael Waltrip is just a plain flake. The widow I dunno, I still wonder what role she had in that torn seatbelt. That SheMale is just plain vicious.

Hendricks has those motors putting out the power, but they seem to be breaking lately.

I'm predicting alot of backroom deals between contenders and pretenders. I don't really understand what is going to keep pissed off losers from having a little vengance.

Sure, they can still get a win and cash in, but the whole thing is odd IMO.

I am new here but love NASCAR, so count me in your group! Anyway, I like the chase BUT what I don't like is the environment it is going to breed.

After the last race they interviewed Mark Martin and he said he had never been so nervous and anxious, and this is a calm and normally cool veteran we are talking about. If it shook up a guy like that, imagine what some jackass rookie will do!

The way I see it, and the part I do not like, is that people will race like they don't normally race and take unnecessary and stupid chances and opportunities to get ahead, despite the cost. It will mean more "gunning" for the top guys because it means more now, and I truly think that if a top 10 driver in the chase has a team mate not in the top 10 and that tem mate can help out by blocking, wrecking or whatever, it will eventually happen. Like I said, I like the idea of the chase because it makes people more competitive but with morons like Stewart and Spencer out there, it will get ugly sometime.

Go Gordon for 5 times.

The really exciting race will be at Talladega. Some of the contenders get caught up in the "big one" and that is going to turn people into complete maniacs. It's generally an idiot that starts the big one anyway.

I will definitely be keeping a keen eye on the teammate deal. Tony is in, Bobby isn't. Gibbs is very team oriented. Three Roush drivers made it in. It will be interesting to see who slits whose throat there. I know that Jeff and Jimmie are teammates too, but they seem to have a darn good relationship. Put a championship on the line and I"m sure things change though.

Thanks for getting involved on the racing thread, WINSTONCUP. :unamused:

I"m wondering if there will actually be a race this weekend. Qualifying and both practices have been rained out this weekend. The Busch race had a big ol rain delay. Even the NHRA had their qualifying postponed because of rain.

Rain, rain go away...come again another day. PLEASE!

At least Gordon started this championship chase off right...on the pole. :thumbsup:

Shocking.....it got ugly quickly. I just don't know about this format. Now as much as I can't stand Tony Stewart....that just sucks that he got caught up in a wreck like that. Huge hit in the points.

Points as they stand now:

Rank Driver Behind
1. +2 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Leader
2. +5 Kurt Busch Leader
3. -2 Jeff Gordon -9
4. +1 Matt Kenseth -10
5. -3 Jimmie Johnson -30
6. -- Elliott Sadler -38
7. +1 Mark Martin -71
8. -4 Tony Stewart -124
9. +1 Ryan Newman -136
10. -1 Jeremy Mayfield -142
Unofficial | More

thats brutal, still sucks to see that lead change.

I agree with DF about the zapping of the lead. What if, say, Johnson continued to be hot throughout the final month and a half? He could have easily built up a 300 point lead the way Jr. and Gordon were finishing. What if someone, anyone, wins 7 of the first 26 races? I know thats a stretch, but it takes away from the importance of winning a race when you take points away. Anyone else notice how Daytona doesn't mean **** anymore? It's a nice race to win for the drivers, but in the big picture of the season it's worthless...both races.

I agree tho, Talledega should be fun. You know Spencer, R.Gordon, Leffler, or any other of the 20 or so scrubs will cause a big one. Although last race at dega didn't have a big one. Damn football...It comes along and I stop watching Nascar. And I'll miss the end of this weeks race because of the late game for Denver...damnit.

You can wear out the recall button on the remote, Sideburn. That's what I do. Commercial on football, back to the race. My family just LOVES it. ROFL!

I am reading Gordon is the pretty heavy favorite to win this Chase this year....hope that's not a jinx or something!

Oh and Talladega just isn't Talladega without the "big one". Unless of course my boy gets caught up in it.

I see winstoncup hasn't chimed in on this thread, but, if I was a tony stewart fan, I wouldn't be chiming in on winning the championship either.

He has to be extra pissed this time cuz it wasn't even Tony's fault for once. Good ol Wrecker Robby Gordon strikes again.

And ironically on that note, I just read in either the Sporting News or ESPN the mag, that Childress has not said whether or not he will renew Gordon's contract, and rumors have it that he could be headed to Gibbs. Can you imagine those two hotheads on the same team? Although it really wouldn't be much different than his teammate scenario now...with Harvick. Those 2 do not like each other at all.

I missed the race watching the Jags disaster. I see the usual suspects wiped out, Tony Stewart, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/4310" target="_blank">Jimmy Spencer</a>, Harvick, Robbie Gordon.

I didn't even see the race but I bet at least 3 of those got wrapped up.

I swear they just bring these guys along for the crash freaks.

Just to finish at that track is an achievment. It's pretty bloody. I have no clue with the rat pack this year. It's like NASCAR wants blood. What the hell do they expect? Terry Labonte running fullback for Jimmy Johnson?

It's totally insane! Mikey Waltrip pushing leaders into the corner to let little Dale into the lead?

I can't even imagine the carnage in week 10. It's going to be a demolition derby. It might work if there were not two and 3 car teams.

You know Johnson, Gordon, Vickers and Terry are going to have to team up for Hendricks.

Then you have DEI with Jr., Micheal and crazy man.

These players out of the loop are going to be hired assasins. Just wait. This is totally insane.

Hey, I never knew this thread was up. I usually don't visit this forum!

Eh, Robby Gordon is a jerkoff, what else can I say. He was actually rumored to be in line for the new Gibbs 11 car team next year. Guess that's done.

I'm not terribly worried yet. Stewart does very well at all of the upcoming tracks. He needs to rip off a couple of wins or at least a string of top 5's.

Plus as mt pointed out, 'dega is the wildcard. It was at that race in 2002 that Mark Martin crashed into the 48 on the pace lap before the race that pretty much clinched the Cup for Stewart.

Plenty of racing left!

Looks like even Richard Childress has had enough of Gordon:


Blaney 'expected' to replace Gordon UPDATE 3 Craven in at Dover? it's been more than a year since one of his [Richard Childress] teams last won, and that was Robby Gordon at Watkins Glen. Now Gordon is expected to be replaced by Dave Blaney.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-19-2004)
UPDATE: after Gordon's 'incident' with Biffle, Stewart, Mayfield and the media [see below] at New Hampshire, rumors have caught fire. Have heard Ricky Craven or Dave Blaney could be in the #31 as soon as Dover this week.(9-20-2004)
UPDATE 2: the Boston Herald is reporting.....Ricky Craven will replace the embattled Robby Gordon behind the wheel of the #31 Richard Childress Racing machine at Dover (Del.) this Sunday, Bostonherald.com has learned. Gordon’s contract was to expire at the end of the season and RCR is not seeking to re-sign him. Craven, of Newburgh, Maine, could not be reached for comment. Childress is expected to fire Gordon later this week after a poor showing at NHIS. Craven is without a ride after being replaced earlier this month by Bobby Hamilton Jr. He was asked to race the No. 32 Tide car at NHIS for the Sylvania 300, in which he finished 17th.(Boston Herald)(9-20-2004)
UPDATE 3: XM Radio's NASCAR Channel 144 reporter, Claire B. Lang, reports that her contacts at RCR say Robby Gordon is still their driver and will be in the #31 Chevy at Dover. Also, Claire said she was not pushed by Gordon and was in a group of about 10 other reporters at the time.
AND more from the Boston Herald - According to a NASCAR source, Gordon's employer, Richard Childress Racing, has taken immediate action, reportedly asking driver Ricky Craven of Newburgh, Maine, to take over the wheel at Dover, Delaware, this weekend. Craven was behind the wheel of the #32 Tide Chevy for PPI Motorsports in Sunday's Sylvania 300, in what was to be his last race since team owner Cal Wells signed another driver in the beginning of September. Craven could not be reached for comment, and a spokesperson from Hawk Sport Management would not confirm or deny that the agency's client will be driving for Childress this weekend.(Boston Herald)(9-21-2004)

Bwahahahaahaha! Wrecker Robby out! YAY! Blaney is a good driver ( just has some really sh*tty luck ). I hope he does well at RCR if he goes there.

LOL at recalling the Mark hitting Jimmie on the restart at 'Dega, WC. That was priceless. I was watching that race with an avid Mark Martin fan and he was mortified. You can bet I jumped on that one for all it was worth.

I see you visit Jayski too, WC. ;)

With Robby out ( crossing fingers here that no other owner is dumb enough to pick him up ) cautions should go way down. ;D

So to cap off such a ****ty week for me, my sister in law calls me to tell me her sister in Delaware won two tickets for this weekends race and didn't want them so they offered them to me. As luck would have it, I have the flu and can't even THINK about making the trek down there.

So typical.

Whoa! Now that is some unbelievably sh*tty luck, wc. Both of our guys are starting in not so great positions as it happens. Hope no stupidity goes on til we get up to the front.

I don't like the fact that Mayfield is coming on so strong right now. Its bothersome. Evernham is one smart cookie. If anyone can get someone as inconsistent as Mayfield a championship, its him.

Dodge sucks anyway. Bring on the Bowtie Brigade!

WOW, what a **** up by Kenseth!

Bwahaahahaahaha! You are supposed to be laughing about that one, WC. That was a classic. That pit road entrance has been ****ing people over for years now. I saw Tony getting some little paybacks on Robbie. I was waiting for him to really let him have it though. I know it ain't over yet.

Woohoo! My boy is back on top of the points....by one, but I'll take it! On to the wild ride it will be in Dega. Can't wait!

If the 24 comes out of this weekend unscathed, he'll go on to win it. You know those guys are having nightmares already about this weekend.

I like Tony and Bobby's strategy in restrictor plate races. If they qualify outside the front, they'll lay back and keep their noses clean until it's gametime. The 20 has done really well at plate races in recent times, after having horrendous luck early on. Remember his little ride in the 500 a few years back, where he literally landed on top of the 18? Or back in 2002, where his engine expired after lap 3 in the 500?