2016 NASCAR thread

Who are your pics to win tonight?

Race #1:
Safe bets: Dale Jr./Denny Hamlin/Joey Logano
Rooting for: Ryan Blaney

Race #2:
Safe bets: Matt Kenseth/Kyle Busch/Jimmie Johnson
Rooting for: Kyle Larson

 

Your the man for posting this

 

Whole bunch of Tundras tore up last night:

https://youtu.be/Jq1Z6YzlqoU

 

That caution clock caused a big one on pit road...

 

Who are your picks for the 500 today?
Here are the guys with a legitimate shot today, based on performance during speed weeks:

The previous winners:
Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick

The hungry guys:
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne

The hot shots:
Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney

The dark horses:
Jamie MacMurray, Kyle Larson, Greg Biffle

 

prediction? anyone can win the 500....

 

It's hard to pick against Jr., but I'm pulling for Ryan Blaney.

 

Denny made a hell of a move to win that, was hoping Truex could've edged him. Decent race overall, Toyota dominated

 

First Daytona 500 win for Toyota! Way to go Denny Hamlin.

 

At least it wasn't Busch

 

Crazy how loose everyone was today, lots of complaints of vibrations too.

 

Ban the aero package

 

Austin Dillon and Brian Vickers though....

 

I've seen some people calling today's 500 a boring race. Those people probably watch for the wrecks and have IQs under 90. I like a good clean race where drivers touted as "The Best Drivers in the World" deliver on that hype. Sucks for Chase Elliott & Dale Jr. to go out like that, but turn four spins are no fluke at Daytona. That exit has always suffered from a mean crosswind. That wind, coupled with the transition off the banking is tough for even the best drivers.

https://youtu.be/5gLM0RkwPGE

The Daytona 500 is a strange entity. There's always a point where the personality of the race significantly shifts. The Indy 500 is the only other American race that shares this phenomenon. This year's moment was when Dale crashed. The Gibbs cars were stout for the entirety of Speedweeks. Even with backup cars, their A-game rarely meanders. Shoot, check out Carl Edwards, who brought it home in fifth place with only 1/2 a front clip on his machine. It goes to show just how powerful pack racing aerodynamics can be at these plate tracks.

I was pulling hard for that third lane to open up at the end with Keselowski and Blaney pulling steam. Unfortunately, Austin Dillon doused their fire and sunk them to mid-pack finishes.

Truex is my Toyota team this year and I was pulling hard for him. He's smart, patient, and calculating. He could've walled Denny, but he exhibited class coming down to the line. I am vehemently anti-Gibbs, due in part to their lineup of narcissistic drivers. I used to have a theory that Gibbs grew tired of straightening out NFL players with emotional problems and needed a bigger challenge in his life, so he turned to NASCAR drivers, but his first drivers, Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte were very chill dudes.

I am impressed with Regan Smith's wherewithal to stick it out for the final 10 laps with a car devoid of water. He must've doused that entire track en route to an 8th place finish. That'll help Tommy Baldwin Racing out big time heading to Atlanta.

How 'bout the old timers in previous 2-time winner Michael Waltrip and previous champ Bobby Labonte bringing it home on the lead lap in 30 & 31st places?

I watched the last 45 laps in a bowling alley bar and, save for one guy rooting for Kenseth, everyone was jumping and screaming for Truex to win it at the end. It was a clean race with a classic finish. My guys didn't win it, but I'll take a clean & close finish any Sunday.

https://youtu.be/tfe0K62uGbA

 

This is the year Austin Dillon gets a win.... the way he raced shows hes coming along...

 

I thought Truex had it at first but then Denny's name moved up the score sheet, but I wasn't upset cause I'm a Toyota fan. I was happy that Danica wrecked for trying to close the gap late on Biffle.

 

That was BS. She just completely ran over him. That's inexcusable, but some dumbass will defend a typical Danica move... Tired of her in the top seat, when guys like Regan Smith get crap equipment and still do better... (They should trade cars....)

 

Danica is just a successful marketing tool. The sport is stuck with her.

 

God forbid she dies in the sport, they will somehow make her out to be a legend.

 

Biffle was a lap down.

That was her spotter's fault more than anything. Y'all ever sit in one of these cars?