2021 NASCAR thread

Should be a fun weekend...

 

Hopefully the 4.

 

Anybody, except the 11, 22 or 23.

 

My guy is buried in the back again... just hoping for a reasonable finish.

 

I'm interested to see how the 23 does now that we're away from Daytona.

 

Typical Homestead. Boring.

 

Not any better.

 

I just think this high downforce, low HP package is a bust at tracks like this.

 

Nascar keeps saying, this is going to be the best season ever. Hell its kinda looking like it, there may be 36 different winners. This week is going to be just as boring.

 

Put the low downforce 750hp package in every event except the baby tracks... and it most certainly would be.

I dont know why the bean counters at NASCAR feel us fans want boring racing. The only event I'm really looking forward to outside of superspeedway races is the dirt Bristol race.

 

I listened off and on on the radio and tuned in for the last 36 laps, which is kinda how things go these days. It was fun watching Reddick knocking off 1 second per lap on the leader there at the end. The math said he would catch Byron on the last lap but he got caught up with Truex and Larson.

 

It was exciting at first because it produced closer racing. But as we've seen, closer =/= better racing necessarily. Especially when you need the perfect run in order to pass and a slight brushing with the wall ruins your entire day. It used to be tracks like Indy and Pocono were the only ones where you needed the perfect run. But, drivers used to describe tracks like Michigan as "fun" but now it is one of the worst races to watch, let alone Pocono or Indy.

 

Harvick starting on the pole Sunday.

 

Las Vegas personal picks: 21, 12, 48

Past ten event winners:
Keselowski- 3
Harvick- 2
Truex- 2
Logano- 2
Ku Busch- 1

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

Recent average finish:
Logano- 8.4
Blaney- 9.67
Larson- 10.67
Truex- 11
Keselowski- 11.4
Kyle Busch- 12.42
Hamlin- 13.39
Harvick- 13.74
Newman- 15.64
Dillon- 16.27

Source: https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar/track_avg.php?trk_id=12

Notes: Keselowski is hit or miss. Logano is always the biggest threat here. Blaney has been so close many times but can't put together a solid late-race run. He has near Gragson-Homestead luck here. Larson is BACK and in a better ride. I think he shook the dust off last weekend, so he'll be a threat at intermediates again. I'd really like to see Dibby get a breakthrough win and Wood Bros win #100.

 

Everyone knows my pick...

2 second place finishes in a row... somethings gotta give.

 

I'm picking the 18.


...I can have hope!

 

Congrats to Larson.

 

Funny...this is the first season ever I dont hate any Hendrick driver. I've spent my whole NASCAR fandom hating at least one. I'm actually glad Larson got him a win. He deserves it. I've never been a fan of the death penalty or nuclear option being assessed over words. And I'm just glad 21 got a higher finish than 30th

 

The 5 always has a special place in my heart from the days of Terry Labonte. That's also why I like the 18. Can't say I much care for the other Hendrick drivers though. Although I'm pretty indifferent to 2 of the 3, to be fair.

 

I caught the last 7 laps yesterday. Looking forward to Atlanta. Eager to see how Bell, Briscoe, Larson, Alfredo, and Chastain handle that slick surface. I haven't been to a race there since 2019 and haven't done the Cup race since 2017. Booked my camping last week.