2021 NASCAR thread

I think he was referring to the year he DAMN NEARED the system without a win... 2014. Finished 2nd I think.

 

New Hampshire
by the numbers, over the past ten years:

Manufacturer Wins-
Ford- 5
Toyota- 8
Chevy- 4

Source: https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/New_Hampshire_Motor_Speedway/

Driver Wins-
Harvick- 3
Hamlin-2
Keselowski- 2
Ky Busch- 2
Logano- 1

Source: https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/New_Hampshire_Motor_Speedway/

Top Recent Average Finish-
Harvick 2.3
Truex 4.3
Hamlin 5.7
Almirola 7
Logano 7.3
Custer 8
Reddick 10
Blaney 10.3
Newman 11.3
Byron 12.3

Source: https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar/track_avg.php?trk_id=16#recent

Notes-

• Ford has won the past three events here, two for Harvick, one for Keselowski. Keselowski is quietly falling in rankings and performance. Blaney seems to be carrying the most momentum at Penske. he has an outside chance at a win here but he'll have to be spot on with the setup. I'll always think of New Hampshire as the last race I ever saw* with Davey Allison.
• Toyota is solid here. Look for Truex to quietly run well again, or bring home win #4 on the season. It's his kind of track. Flat and hot. Like Newman, his modified background will benefit him here.
• Chevrolet went on a tear here between 2006 and 2012 but they've only logged one fresh Lobster in the past 14 events. I'm not sure if Hendrick has the package to dominate here on Sunday.
• All teams are running the 750hp, low-downforce package this weekend, which favors the veterans who have better car control, so look for an older, more experienced driver to prevail.
• My Pics: 11, 19, 22

*Listened to on the radio, no TV at the ol' mountain cabin.

 

I should have said Matt Kenseth. I must be getting old. Holy shit. I could be wrong, I thought someone did it without winning a race. Newman did almost do it in the playoff format.

 

i think he had a single win in his 2003 Championship.

 

Probably.

 

If we believe Wikipedia, a single win for Kenseth was in fact true during his championship run. However, he dominated that year even with that single win.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NASCAR_Cup_Series_champions

 

1 win... and an early season one too.

The Ryan Newman confusion might have been because he won 8 that same year but was inconsistent af.

The only driver to win any of the 3 top Nascar series' without a win was Matt Crafton in the Truck Series. I wanna say 2018(?)

 

even 2018 seems like it was soo long ago...

 

Matt Crafton won the truck series championship a couple years ago, without a win. It was the playoff season as well.

 

LOL. The Camry will never not be this in my mind, and it's why I've never taken it seriously as a NASCAR nameplate (just like the Fusion and Taurus).

 

Kia Stinger Cup concept:

 

Honda Accord Cup concept:

 

thats FUGGLY looking!!!!

 

It would be great to see more auto makers in cup, still want to see them stock

 

I am still dumb founded why dodge pulled out few years back..

 

I don’t remember all the details, but the had Ray Evernham, in due time they would have been contenders.

 

They were working their way out of a 2009 bankruptcy. The US Govt. gave Chrysler and GM a combined $80 billion in bailout loans. GM doubled down on new SUVs and revamped their midsize trucks. Dodge made a bunch of Chargers and Challengers and revamped the Viper. They had to make some cuts and their marketing dept. took a big hit. Part of that was NASCAR involvement. The Viper is dead. the CHA-cars are long in the tooth (still look good IMO). They spun off Ram, and after a while doubled down on Jeep. They just seem to be perpetually behind the curve on making sound business decisions. I'm not saying they're wrong at heart, but things just don't seem to ever pan out for them. I'm not a Mopar diehard but they've certainly made some exciting cars in my lifetime. From the now dead Intrepid, to the revamped Ram and Dakota, Viper, Charger, and Challenger; all have been exciting cars in my life. I was real close to buying a used V8 Dakota before opting for my Tacoma.

 

I know a guy with the hellcat Charger. that thing is a BEAST!!!!! thats the car I would buy if I was in the market for another ride

 

They were consistent contenders but never tore it up like Chevy or Ford. They placed Dodge drivers 3, 7, 8, 7, 6, 8 in points across their first six seasons. But then they fell off BIG TIME. Coincidentally the same year Toyota came into the sport. Remember when Bill Davis got blacklisted for sharing all Dodge's secrets with Toyota? That was a big hit not only for Bill Davis Racing, but Dodge as a whole. Mopar limped along for 5 sad seasons before Keselowski delivered their 2012 championship. That season says a lot for Penske and Keselowski carrying a lame-duck manufacturer to the championship.