2021 NASCAR thread

I wish Hendrick would change the 5 font back to the Bodine or Rudd era:

 

I really wish Hendrick had used the 5 and 25 instead of the 48, 24, or 88. I get it, they're Hendrick numbers, but at least give them a few years off given who they're known for.

 

Personally, I like the current 5 the best. Then again, I was a Terry Labonte fan...which is also why I'm a Kyle Busch fan.

 

IIRC they changed the 5 between Labonte and Busch. For Labonte, the 5 leaned forward toward the front tire. With Busch, it leaned back toward the rear tire and has never changed.

 

No, the 5 has leaned to the right since 2001. Busch didn't take over until 2005.

 

Ah gotcha. I did not remember correctly.

 

Jordan Anderson called me yesterday. Real nice guy. Took the time to chat with my kiddo and encourage him to get into dirt kart racing.

 

Texas Numbers:

Manufacturers:
Ford-6
Chevy-7
Toyota-7

Winners:
Jimmie Johnson-6
Denny Hamlin- 3
Kevin Harvick-3
Kyle Busch-3
Joey Logano-1
Austin Dillon-1
Matt Kenseth-1

Average Finish:
Erik Jones- 9
Matt Kenseth- 9.7
Kevin Harvick- 10.2
Jimmie Johnson- 10.9
Chase Elliott- 11.1
Kyle Busch- 11.3
Joey Logano- 13.5
Denny Hamlin- 14
Martin Truex Jr.- 14
Kurt Busch- 14.1

Week after week, Hamlin and Harvick are the best bets. I'm impressed by Jones' average finish over 8 events. I didn't realize until today that Jones is only 24. The kid hasn't peaked. I hope a good opportunity opens up for him after a year at Petty.

 

Brandon Brown is cool as hell, y'all. Laid back, easy-going dude. Spent about half an hour talking to him about dirt racing today.

 

As a Petty fan since the early 1970s, I'm glad RPM was able to get Erik Jones.

I think he'll help restore the damage done to RPM's reputation this year. I hope Erik sticks around and helps to elevate's RPM's performance.

 

Pretty sure the sponsorships increased this year over last for RPM. Of which, several are leaving with Darrel. True, sponsors don't necessarily equate to reputation. However, they're not going to write checks if they don't believe there to be a larger return.

That said, I think Erik will help that team and I also think Bubba is a better fit for 2311 than Erik.

 

So you want to make the cars less stable? They're safer now than they have ever been. Look at the 18 getting airborne at Talladega recently. The flaps came up, the car came down and he was even able to continue the race after the caution.

 

There has to be a balance that will keep the cars on the ground, but will also bring driver skill back into the equation.

 

I think there's a lot of skill, just maybe not the kind we used to see, depending on the track of course. I think the kind of skill you guys are discussing is more relevant on short tracks, but speedway racing is still a chess match for sure.

 

I want folks to be safe, but the raving sucks now.

 

Superspeedways are outliers. I was there for this crazy 'Dega wreck. Race trim there will always need to be different. I'm speaking for the majority of the tracks; 1/2 mile to 2 miles. I'd like to see suspension travel and the need for drivers to lift going into the turns. Richmond is less and less exciting. The only eventful races I can recall there were Spin-Gate and the Earnhardt/Busch duel. Bristol has been ho-hum since the '90s.
Not the best example, but the first that comes to mind: Remember when Joey stayed in the throttle to pass Truex for the championship at Homestead and made it stick? The commentary guys were blown away that he didn't lift. I want to see that kind of excitement; which driver has the guts to absolutely haul off into the turn to beat the other guy. No taking away the opponent's line, no bump & runs, just balls to the wall sending it and seeing if it'll stick.

A vocal contingent seemed upset with the ending to last week's race at Kansas. I thought it was pretty cool. It was still a dogfight. I don't recall people being so vocal when the exact same scenario played out between Blaney and Harvick at Pocono three years ago, when Blaney got his first Cup win. It was the same deal, listening to the spotter, driving with the mirror, and taking away the closing car's line.

I'm assuming you're a dirt racer based on your name. Is this true?

 

No, but I've done some pitting in Baja a couple times. I actually work in the industry, so of course I was upset with the outcome last week too hahaha

 

I'll buy that.

 

Predictions for the winner in the Cup race tomorrow? I'm going with Harvick.

 

Harvick is getting off to a bad start.