2009 NASCAR running thread

Yeah the standings changed Johnson's lead got bigger ... He all but locked it up... 5 laps left, Cocksucker moved up to sixth.. seventh car car wrecks takes out 20 cars behind him incluijng Martin and Jeff - I ran out of gas - Gordon.
Damn it!!!!!

 

Helluva call by Knaus there. And it seems like we could say that about every other week.

Also, the Washington Post had a great quote from Jeff Gordon this morning: "I guess I'm glad we were able to run out [of gas] when we did. We were at least able to get back out there and destroy our car."

 

I remember many years ago, probably early 1990s, Yates called for using smaller engines (like 305 c.i.) at Dega and Daytona, while Earnhardt called for plates to be removed, take out the first few rows and let 'em fly. I liked both ideas, and it sounds like Jr. trotted out the smaller engine idea again this weekend. Makes me laugh when people dismiss the idea because it would cost too much to have a special engine for just four races. Meantime, for many years teams spent big bucks in wind tunnels for the plate tracks, and spent tons of money and time figuring out how to wring two more HP out of a plate engine used in just four races. How again was that saving money versus using a smaller engine.
If NASCAR truly wanted to get rid of the wrecks at the plate 'races,' they would do whatever it takes -- i.e. smaller engines or letting cars go more than 200 -- to space out the field. But they don't want to do that, because they want cars running three-wide all day with the manufactured made-for-TV 'excitement.'

 

NASCAR drivers bitch and moan about the plate races every year ... rightfully so.

But when it comes down to really doing something about it, i.e., protesting to the point where they sit out -- as F1 drivers did in the late 60s/early 70s when they were racing on dangerous road courses (literally, real roads that had a race course on it) with only hay bales to keep them off track, and with primitive to no medical attention on site, and with cars that were rolling firetraps -- they don't do shit.

NASCAR drivers do less with the power they have over their sport than any other professional athletes. Frankly, most of them are a bunch of spineless, corporate pussies, who will be yes-men to the point where one of them goes into a needless early grave.

It's going to take one of them getting killed before anyone does anything about improving their lot ... maybe.

 

One of them did get killed, and we got a car that will probably prevent death in most cases.

But yeah, their middle finger to NASCAR this past weekend was about as far as they're going to go. It's a sponsor's sport, and with the exception of probably 3-4 drivers, no one's bigger than the sport.

 

NOT NOT NOT CAUSE DEATH!

Crap. That's what I get for posting after a night like last night. Sorry all. I will fix.

 

Wasn't there a lot of talk about rumors drivers would boycott a Dega race, in either '01 or '02? Seems like the drivers boycotting the first Dega race in '69 was the last time drivers truly stood up to the French family.
Looks more and more like Earnhardt was indeed correct with his "candy-ass" tirade at Daytona in 2000. Even truer now.

 

I've heard that, Moddy. And wouldn't be surprised if that was indeed the case.