2018 NASCAR Thread

IF they're going to repave, they should seriously consider reconfiguring the track back to the old layout. The '97 repave and dogleg only added 70-90' to the surface distance. Knock out the dogleg and grass (Make Kyle Busch happy), bring the pits closer to the grandstands, put a fan pavilion in the gap between the stands and the wall. It'll be like a Super-Dover again.

 

So we can have 2 Homesteads? No thanks!

 

Yeah, but if the banking is different than homestead they could possibly have more than the outside to dominate.

 

It ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

I say leave it alone and make KH start two laps down! Or just go back to The ROCK...

 

Old AMS was way different than Homestead. Homestead has progressive banking up to 20*. AMS has 24* non-progressive banking. The progressive banking was originally put in for the CART series at several ovals. The stuff they're doing to tracks like Texas and Kentucky is similar to Hot Wheels layouts with variable banking lanes and what not. Kind of gimmicky. AMS is just one wide, STEEP turn which is what makes it so great. You can rim ride and come down to block if you need to without upsetting the car. Current NASCAR brass is all about "fan engagement*", so putting something in like a fan pavilion on the front stretch below the sight line of the seats would look like progress. Plus, the lower seats at AMS (and most cookie cutters) are junk for visibility. Knock out the lowers (in the name of "safety," like at Dover and Darlington), put all the folks up higher, and fill the gap with "Fan Engagement."



*milking more $ out of folks for stuff that used to be free

 

Sounds about right

 

RIP Harris DeVane. ARCA racer and peanut farmer from southwest Georgia. I still remember the day Harris conquered Atlanta Motor Speedway. I was a young teen. It was the first race on the newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway. I had the luck of sitting in the suites atop the Champions grandstand. I was sitting next to Terry Pendleton (of Atlanta Braves fame) for the race. It was Terry’s first stock car race and my first ARCA race. I explained drafting, banking and grip to him as the race played out. There was a big wreck late in the race. Frank Kimmel and Andy Hillinburg led the field to the green for a shootout to the finish. Harris Devane blasted out of the pack on fresh rubber, in an old Junior Johnson car (a ‘91 or ‘92 chassis, IIRC), chased down the ARCA titans and passed them, nosing out Andy at the line for the win. It was such a huge day. Seemed like something out of a movie that this South Georgia peanut farmer with an old used up race car he wrenched in his barn conquered the big guys for the win on the biggest stage in the state. One of my buddies from school later married DeVane’s daughter and farmed with him for several years. They still have the race car under a tarp in the barn.

ARCA page obit: https://www.arcaracing.com/articles/2009147-arca-winner-harris-devane-passes

https://youtu.be/DS5W_0JjYQE

 

RIP Mr DeVaine and my prayers to his family. That was an amazing story and glad you have such awsome memories of him.

 

Used this website: https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/search/search.action?search=&query.query=nascar
and got 4 tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for $29 TOTAL. I was the only bidder. Race tickets and driving experiences regularly pop up too. Keep an eye on the site for updates as things cycle through each week. It's like Ebay but items are donated and proceeds go towards nonprofit organizations.

 

Last night was a pretty fun run to the finish. That Brett Moffitt has some grit! 3-wide last week for the win and he nearly split a couple lap cars last night.

 

Apparently the Ford drivers did not get the memo they are driving lame-duck cars. Even Paul Menard is turning out the most consistent finishes of his 15 year career!

 

No kidding! Well maybe the bowties will get it figured out by June...

 

I do love seeing the 48 run like crap!

 

I see Austin Dillon is back to his mid-pack ways, too.

 

Yep, It's a lot of work spinning cars from 20th for the win.

 

I'd like y'alls input on this:

Of the current Cup drivers, which drivers; based on merit, deserve to be in Cup rides this year?

1. MacMurray drives his heart out but he's no all star.
2. Keselowski gets a lot out of a car.
3. Austin Dillon: Go Away.
4. Harvick is one of the last wheel men.
6. Bayne. One win. Daytona 500. 7 years ago. Austin Dillon shows that means nothing.
9. Elliott drives hard under immense pressure. Zero personality.
10. Almirola is like MacMurray. Drives his heart out but not top tier.
11. Hamlin drives hard. Wines harder.
12. Blaney gets a lot of a car like Kes. Doesn't complain as much. Keeps his nose to the grindstone.
13. Ty Dillon: Silver Spoon 2.0, seems to take his licks and keep going.
14. Bowyer. What's he done since Spingate? Nada.
17. Stenhouse. 2 Xfinity Championships. Hot or cold. Maybe improving?
18. Busch is a double edged sword. Even the handle is a blade.
19. Suarez. Rags to riches story. Xfinity Championship, now what's he gonna do?
20. Jones seems to have plateaued for the time being.
21. Menard has dad's money and not much talent besides keeping cars clean. He does not DNF often, nor does he score Top 10s.
22. Logano has hit that point in his career where he got hot fast, proved himself and has lost that youthful fire.
23. Gaulding: Dad's money?
24. Byron: Moved up too soon. Liberty's donors have no high expectations, they're just washing money.
31. Newman is stubborn, drives hard, but another MacMurray Almirola situation.
32. DiBurrito- Idunno. Hard driver, junk equipment? Could he do more?
34. McDowell- Collecting a paycheck, should stick to road racing.
37. Buescher, man what are you doing in Cup?
38. Ragan, hang it up dude. collecting a paycheck.
41. Busch, dudes gets every last drop out of his equipment but he's past his prime. 2nd best driver at SHR.
42. Larson is a classic wheel man.
43. Wallace- man I have high hopes but he's hit or miss on performance. Like Elliott, LOTS of pressure to succeed.
47. Dinger- Flash in the pan. Only thing keeping him around is that long-term contract.
48. Johnson- I seriously expect him to hang it up at season's end.
72. Whitt- I've seen the kid drive and he can drive, but he came along in the glut of rich kids trying to be Jeff Gordon.
78. Truex- Another wheel man. He & Harvick are the new brand ambassadors.
88. Bowman- Hard driver like Kes and Blaney. I have high hopes.
95. Kahne- Past his prime like Newman, Busch, MacMurray, etc. Still a hard driver.

 

Anyone else see the jab Kurt Busch took at the aero wars today???

 

All I know is, Don't Forget To Get Your Bloomin' Monday Onion at Outback Steakhouse! The End.

 

UH-OH. Looks like Harvick’s edge has been discovered: