1. Ron Fellows would've won the race going away had he not had some bad luck in his pit strategy. It was so obvious the half-witted announcing crew on Fox (mainly D.W.) mentioned it a couple of times.
Fellows went from 1st to 21st on a yellow pit stop (because most of the field had JUST pitted under green), worked his way up to 9th, got spun and fell back to 20th again only to make it BACK up to 7th (I think) for the checkered. He was by far the fastest car on the track for the last 20 laps of the race.
Fellows and Said both passed a whole bunch of cars under green. It was fun to watch when Fox actually bothered to show it.

2. NASCAR goes full-course wayyyyy too much. They apparently are either scared of hot pulls or take every opportunity to bunch the field back up. Hmmm... I wonder which one it is?

3. There seems to be very little middle ground when it comes to regular NASCAR drivers and Road Courses. Some (Gordon, Gordon, Wallace, Rudd) are very good at it. Some are just plain awful. I don't think there's was anything or anybody that Kurt Busch or Kyle Petty didn't hit. It was funny at first, then just plain ridiculous.

4. Why no brake lights? Seriously.

5. I really hope there was something wrong with C. Fittipaldi's car. If not, then he has no excuse for making such a monumental *** of himself out there.


In the end, I think NASCAR either needs to add a couple more Road Courses each year or drop them altogether. They seem to be kind of sitting on the fence with it right now and it needs to fall one way or the other. I'd like to see a couple more added to force the teams and drivers to take them seriously and learn what the hell is going on out there.

Scott, who thinks a Road Atlanta NASCAR race would be cool.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who thinks a Road Atlanta NASCAR race would be cool.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Walter Mitty. HSR. Retired Cup cars and Trucks. Seriously, one of the best races I have ever spectated. Sat on the hill looking at turn 5 watching these guys power up the hill. Simply the coolest thing I have seen in a while.

Seriously, though, there is nothing wrong with NASCAR that a complete change in rules and management wouldn't fix. I think that more road courses should be added, running VIR, Road America, Laguna Seca, Sebring....Ahh. I could become a fan if they would only...But they won't.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
In the end, I think NASCAR either needs to add a couple more Road Courses each year or drop them altogether. They seem to be kind of sitting on the fence with it right now and it needs to fall one way or the other. I'd like to see a couple more added to force the teams and drivers to take them seriously and learn what the hell is going on out there.</TD></TR></TABLE>

To say what I wrote in another thread, there was even a poll that showed that the majority of nascar viewers *want* more road races!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who thinks a Road Atlanta NASCAR race would be cool.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh that would be great. Nascars can be drifted more than the more planted trans am cars. It wouldn't be boring at all to watch even one nascar at a time going through the turns.


And yes, Ron (as well as Boris) put on quite a clinic out there. It was great to watch. Too bad their teams screwed up so bad. They would have had a 1-2 quite easily imo. I'm also surprised Ron wasn't spun out more than once! He was hit a second time in the rear bumper, which bent the hood of the guy who hit him, but at least this time it was the guy who hit him who spun off. lol

 

I would like to see more road coarse added to the schedule also. Guys like G. Gordon, Robby Gordon, Rudd, definitely shine over most of the other drivers..

 

While I believe that the NASCAR drivers are very skilled in what they do, I don't like watching them go roundy round.

When they are on a road course, it is a different story. There was some good racing. I think Fellows still could have won even with the ill timed pit stop. That is until he got spun near the end. I really can't believe that is considered an aceptable part of racing for them.

How about them trying to go three wide into T7? IMHO, it happened because those three cars just thought they would push their way thru. Another thing I found interesting is on a full course yellow, you race until you pass the start/finish line.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Another thing I found interesting is on a full course yellow, you race until you pass the start/finish line.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep...which sort of underlines the fact that they're probably just trying to bunch up the cars when they could just covered the incident with a local yellow.

 

Nascar has got a good thing going and the only reason they do a road race in Northern California is because that is the only venue in that market.

I hate Nascar and all roundy round racing (as well as drag racing) as the skill required is relatively low.

What I would like to see is a form of sedan racing (similar to Europe and Asia) based upon production 2 and 3 litre cars with suspension pick up points in stock locations. That would force manufacturers to improve the product to succeed in the series.

Scott

 

I agree 100% Scott. They need to add road course dates or drop them completely. They'll make the argument that revenu would drop because you can't fit 180,000 people at Sears Point or the Glen. But Daytona, Atlanta, Charlotte, Pocono, and Indianapolis have infield courses and you can still fit in 180,00 people no problem. Mid-Ohio and Road America can certainly handle a good bit. Not 180,000 people, but at least as much as the Glen.

**** or get off the pot.

Matt&lt;--intentionally makes time to watch NASCAR on road courses...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Another thing I found interesting is on a full course yellow, you race until you pass the start/finish line.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Even if you have to pass the incident that caused the yellow? Yikes!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cbstd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What I would like to see is a form of sedan racing (similar to Europe and Asia) based upon production 2 and 3 litre cars</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then you would like to see the speed WC Touring.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaddMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I agree 100% Scott. They need to add road course dates or drop them completely. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I like watching all forms of road course racing also. I too, like to watch the NASCAR @ Infineon race.

Looking at the circumstances of CART and it's bleek future, WHAT IF... NASCAR added more road courses and many of the CART drivers and or teams went over to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup?

Would this be a good thing?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cbstd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I hate Nascar and all roundy round racing (as well as drag racing) as the skill required is relatively low.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

What are you basing this on? To say that you do not like NASCAR or drag racing is more than fine, it is your opinion, to say it takes no skill is ignorant
have you ever driven an oval track at speed? have you ever tried driving a 9000 HP drag car?

back on topic, what I like is that Boris was then driving the Trans Am race right afterwards
you guys no my opinion on NASCAR, I am a huge fan, I would absolutely love to see more road courses but realize that "oval" racing is what the series is about right now

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cbstd &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hate Nascar and all roundy round racing (as well as drag racing) as the skill required is relatively low.

Scott</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ummm... Have you done turns 3 and 4 at Lowes Motor Speedway flat out?
3 wide?

I didn't think so.

While going left doesn't require the skill of going left and right, it certainly requires a great deal of skill. Oh, and great big melon-sized ballz.

Scott, who has racing with Brinson, Kent, Meredith, and Reid in NASCAR 3/4 at Lowes as one of his top 5 favorite all time on-track moments.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ummm... Have you done turns 3 and 4 at Lowes Motor Speedway flat out?
3 wide?

I didn't think so.

While going left doesn't require the skill of going left and right, it certainly requires a great deal of skill. Oh, and great big melon-sized ballz.

Scott, who has racing with Brinson, Kent, Meredith, and Reid in NASCAR 3/4 at Lowes as one of his top 5 favorite all time on-track moments.</TD></TR></TABLE>


no i haven't.....and don't know if i ever will....i'm sure my speeds this year will be near 150....and possibly more....and this scares me....with only a bolt in cage.....hmmm.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it certainly requires a great deal of skill.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, skill is involved for sure.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and great big melon-sized ballz.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ding ding ding, no more calls please, we have a winner. Buckets of skill will not summon the courage to keep you foot on the floor through those turns. I did it once, saw 133 mph indicated on the front straight, said the f-word, and proceeded to do a 2 second lift before turn 3 every lap after that.

Fastest I've ever been, really not that interested in going any faster...

 

i also saw the indicated 130-135 bout 50 yards before turn 3....at 8200 rpms....my ecu cuts fuel at 8400....i really didn't want to hit fuel cut off at 136 mphs in the turn....so i backed out....

 

What I found totally silly was the so-called "strategy" some of these guys were discussing post qualifying; i.e., "moving" the tire barries out of the way to get a better lap time. That's hysterical! ****, I should just drive through the pits every lap at WOT, shake seconds off my lap time, no problem.

 

Quote, originally posted by cbstd »
I hate Nascar and all roundy round racing (as well as drag racing) as the skill required is relatively low.



What are you basing this on? To say that you do not like NASCAR or drag racing is more than fine, it is your opinion, to say it takes no skill is ignorant
have you ever driven an oval track at speed? have you ever tried driving a 9000 HP drag car?

back on topic, what I like is that Boris was then driving the Trans Am race right afterwards
you guys no my opinion on NASCAR, I am a huge fan, I would absolutely love to see more road courses but realize that "oval" racing is what the series is about right now

Thank You for putting people in there place

 

After watch Aussi V8 Supercar racing for the last 3 winters on SPEED I do find that I would like to watch NASCAR if they did more road racing course. Driver skill and talent becomes the winning factor over chassie set up, aero package, down force from the rear wing and just plain top speed.

As to the cars they should have brake lights or at least one cyclops over the rear glass. Or just have a car set up for road courses only.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't think there's was anything or anybody that Kurt Busch or Kyle Petty didn't hit.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Just to back up Kurt Burch (since he's not going to care that a bunch of amateur road racers are smack-talking him)...

To preface this, i didn't watch the race...

He started out in karting and did very well. He's a Vegas local and I've had an opportunity to race with him at an indoor karting place here in Vegas. He knows what he's doing for the most part. Maybe he was just having a bad race? It happens.

On the flip side, I was watching the CART race. I'd much rather hear (and watch) CHAMP cars blazing thru the gears making passes than nascar. Another Vegas local Paul Tracy placed second, even though he got into someone (which probably screwed his front spoiler up a bit...reducing his speed in the straights).

 

also,

there was a LOT of racing to be watched Sunday. it was GREAT!

 

Interesting... http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/nascar/6868/

Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick both have sour grapes about Robby's victory. Weird.

 

Regarding the "racing back to the stripe during a full-course yellow," on Inside Winston Cup the drivers mentioned how spotters make that a little safer than it sounds. And for many years I have though that WC at Road Atlanta would be way cool--maybe matched with Busch race at Lanier the same weekend. (They used to run Busch there.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by David S. Wallens &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Regarding the "racing back to the stripe during a full-course yellow," on Inside Winston Cup the drivers mentioned how spotters make that a little safer than it sounds. And for many years I have though that WC at Road Atlanta would be way cool--maybe matched with Busch race at Lanier the same weekend. (They used to run Busch there.)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I watched this as well and to add, it was mentioned that unlike typical road racing, there are not debris and passing flags (information flags), only the local yellow which could represent debris or a car on its top. The local yellow is an informational flag and the spotters, they said, give them the additional information they miss from the various flags. Simply put, they aren't driving into a corner w/ a yellow without indication of the state of the corner. This, just like a local yellow in NASCAR, is simply informational

 

Misc. thoughts... "Real" road racing cars don't have brakelights (them ones with the wheels out on the ends of skinny metal bits). Kyle Petty has been fast in the past on road courses. I seem to remember him dueling for the pole at Sears the year that Adam died. Road racers - are right turns inherently harder than lefts? If not, how is it that a race comprised strictly of left-handers is magically easier than one on a road course? No - they aren't. Road courses DO have a greater variety of turns to deal with and laps are longer but anti-NASCAR people don't make that case. I think Jeff is just PO'd that he got knocked off of his king-of-the-roadcourses throne. I listened to the end of the race driving home from the Lowes SCCA event (on Racing Rocks Radio - only in NC) and it strikes me that the problem might not be that 150,000 people don't fit at the really good road courses in the country: It might be that there aren't 150,000 people in any of those markets willing to buy a ticket and not get a seat where they can see the WHOLE track. Dang - driving through the tunnel at Charlotte is an eye-opener for those of use from the racing hinterlands. If you wanted to start a road racing series, run the NASCAR "Elite" series rules (a la Southwest Tour) - composite bodies on the same kind of technology that Cup cars run, but with engines that last longer. You could make TransAm look really lame by comparison. If they SW Tour race from Infineon is broadcast, try to catch it.

K