NASCAR running thread

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

It was pretty cool they had the camera view from Harvick's car when Jr. got loose in the turn.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

So many Junior fans, so much disappointment. I could hear my brother screaming from five states away.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

I was pretty impressed with JPM's race - the crew has done a much better job of giving him a car that doesn't go away in the final parts of the race this season, which really has sunk him in the past. I think we'll know a lot more about if he's a true Chase contender after the next four races. Three of them (Texas, Richmond, Darlington) are tracks he's struggled badly at in the past. If he can get a few Top 10s at those tracks over this stretch, I'll be more of a believer.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

Following ... California & Michigan were AWESOME open-wheel tracks. Some great racing -- CART/CC/IRL -- at both. Shame that Penske sold out to ISC, who salted the earth for anything that doesn't have fenders.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

A couple of things to think about ... Dale Sr. would have either blocked Harvick or spun him out after the pass. He took no prisoners. Dale Jr. does not have his dad's killer instinct.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

I don't know if Senior would have spun an RCR car.

He knew where his bread was buttered.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

Not necessarily. No doubt Dale Sr. would have given Harvick a bump or two, but he wouldn't have automatically spun someone out, RCR car or not. There were obviously some times Dale Sr. spun out someone that passed him late (DW at Richmond in '86 immediately comes to mind) but not always.
About Dale Jr. not having his dad's killer instinct, however, I completely agree. I think it was about 2002 he had the chance to knock Newman out of the way to win The Winston (of All-Star race, whatever you want to call it) and he backed off. We'll probably never know how much of that lack of killer instinct comes from his dad being killed on the track.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

Which is ironic, given that his dad got killed running interference for someone else and not by being overly aggressive.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

Terry Labonte thinks you're full of it.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

For sure. Who could ever forget Bristol?

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

Well, to be fair, Dale Sr. just wanted to rattle his cage a little bit.

 

Re: 2011 NASCAR running thread

A little more than 48 hours until I fill the family SUV with $3.89 Sunoco racing fuel and make the 10-hour drive to Talladega. Staying in beautiful Gadsden, Ala. (note sarcasm). Can't wait to leave work behind for a long weekend of racing.