2010 NASCAR running thread

I heart Mark DeCotis.

That is all.

 

How about Bristol, 1999?

 

Thanks, lono. That was going to be my response too.

 

Two things about that race:
1) People remember the ending, but Labonte had done a phenomenal job to even be in that position. He had gotten spun by someone else (might have been Gordon, but I can't say for sure) with about 15 laps to go, lost the lead and fell back a good ways -- maybe into the teens, but I don't think it was quite that far -- and made all that ground back before Earnhardt spun him.
EDIT: Checked it. Per Wiki, Labonte was spun by a lapped car in the last 10 laps and only fell back to sixth. He still had to pit, though, and made an incredible comeback.
2) It's the same tactic, no doubt. But there's a big difference between doing it at a smaller, slower track like Bristol than there is at a place like Atlanta or Gateway.

 

Careful, lono. Mentioning Earnhardt is anything other than deified terms can get you death threats where I'm from.

And because of crap like Bristol (above), he'll always be Ironhead here.

 

You are very welcome. There was also this fun little incident:

http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/opinion/05/01/kpetty.richmond.maumann/index.html

 

I heart DeCotis, but you won't catch me saying a nice thing about Aumann.

 

Labonte was a touch faster than Earnhardt on equal tires that night. Late in the going he was pulling away until a late caution (I think his brother may have spun). As the caution came out, Labonte slowed but DW didn't and spun him. Labonte and several others pitted for new rubber. There were like five laps to go when green came out. Labonte blew threw the field, glued to the bottom. He caught Earnhardt on the backstretch, then got alongside coming to the white. What most people forget (and confirmed by the video) is that Labonte went into turn 1 way too hot, likely since he figured Earnhardt would try dumping him. Look at the video and notice the sparks Labonte is shooting up and notice how high he slides up the track compared to the previous four laps. If Labonte gets a decent run through turns 1 and 2, there is NO way Earnhardt can even sniff his rear bumper.
My initial reaction when I watched that race live was the same as everyone else, Earnhardt flat wrecked him. But that doesn't explain how he was able to catch a clearly faster Labonte.
And regardless, that contact isn't in the same league as the two hits Edwards has done on Brad this year. Intentionally turning the wheel left on a straightaway as a car passes inside puts Edwards in a league by himself. He's done it twice, and will keep doing it until either NASCAR parks him or until Brad (or another driver hitting a spinning Brad) gets hurt.

 

Earnhardt was about to go a lap down early in the race that night in Bristol. Dave Marcis, who was an unofficial R&D guy for RCR in exchange for some equipment, mysteriously stopped in turn two, bringing out the caution before Earnhardt could be lapped. As soon the field slowed, Marcis took off. He claimed he had motor trouble.

In the press box (remember when they actually brought the winner of the race and his car owner to the press box? what a concept!), I asked "Was that a Childress engine in Marcis' car that sputtered and brought out the caution at such an opportune time?" Richard looked at me, smiled, and said "You know, I'm not sure if that was one of ours or not." Then he chuckled.

Just a funny story about the night in discussion.

 

Now I know why it's called the Brickyard 400. That's about how many people are here today. Place is half-empty, and when IMS is half-empty, it looks like nobody's here.

 

I think it's funny how the TV shills, although I like Marty and wish he still did NHRA, say "We acknowledge there are a lot of empty seats but we aren't going to talk about it."