2021 NASCAR thread

I like Jeff in the booth. A goat would be better than DW. Plenty of people can cover the booth though. I prefer Jeff at HMS.

 

I was never a fan of DW in the booth. He always found a way to make it about what he used to do and would not get it through his head that he had no idea what these cars and drivers were like today. I mean I still miss hearing Eli Gold on MRN on the local country station on Sunday afternoon too so that's what I am comparing. Can't beat the days when Ned was in the booth.

 

I stand corrected. You are correct.

 

I was just watching this video about the Fox coverage this year...

 

Ned, Ken, Benny, Buddy, Dave.

 

I do not know why they do not make Dale Jarret the voice of Nascar. I love his commentating. He is close to his dad but they just have him on the stupid after show with Kyle. Total waste.

I do think when Harvick hangs it up he will be in the booth and he does a good job so I don't mind that but I think they need some time removed because they all carry a chip for the peers they were racing the year before when they come right off the track and into the booth. Gordon is bias AF but that's because he is a big deal at HMS and has an ownership stake. I think the way Ned and Buddy and those guys were well respected but removed from the drivers seat long enough was great. I think that is what they thought they had with DW but I just never got into his style and the last 5 years was just painful. I think DW has a lot of resentment for the new drivers and the money they made and it showed.

 

I would love to hear Ward call the southern 500 though! That would be epic!!

In time Dale Jr is the one who will carry the Ned torch. He is humble, has the pedigree that no-one can argue with and loves the sport. I think Mike Davis and his podcast really helps him and he will get a lot better over time. In 5 years he will be the closest thing we could ever get to Ned.

 

Couldn't agree more. He has grown into his skin and now truly seems comfortable in who he is and where he is in life. I disliked "jr nation" but never rooted against him. Now I am happy for him that he doesn't seem to feel the pressure of his last name. Absolutely love the download!

 

I’m in the middle of the Ward Burton episode and I love how much this show makes me laugh. There are numerous, relatable elements to Jr’s upbringing that hit close to home for me. He is certainly a role model and has surpassed his dad in the parenting dept.

 

haha Wahhhd Burton

 

Of course Kyle Larson won the pole for the all star race via random draw .

 

LOL, imagine that.

 

I think NASCAR reversed course from trying to let him quietly reenter to just accepting he draws fans.

Mans a winner. Can't be understated.

 

ALL-STAR RACE by the numbers:

Guys, I don't know what to expect. not in an exciting way or anything. Just kinda ambivalent about the All-Star race these days. The first one I ever saw was in 1992 and few have lived up to my lofty expectations since then. I was a kid, home alone, up past my bedtime, jumping up and down in front of a small TV set.

NASCAR pulls out more and more un-needed steps with every passing year but the whole thing just flops in spite of the gimmicks. At this point, I expect to hear The Undertaker's music with five laps to go.

Things I've liked from race's past: alternative tire compounds, moving the event to different tracks. I'd like to see more of each of these.

Run the all-star race at typically Non-NASCAR tracks. After all, it is an exhibition race. Run the cars at Hickory, Volusia, New Smyrna. Heck, even North Wilkesboro or the Rock!

I'll tell you how to fix it quickly. Have an SRX event on a dirt track at the same time, and see which event gets better ratings. This is basically happening this weekend and I do think it is calculated. People are going to get jazzed up by Saturday's SRX event and compare the (probably lackluster) All-Star Race to it.

For me, the open event has always been more exciting. A short sprint to the finish. Win & you're in. Easy as that. Let's keep the Open and shift the All-Star to a similar format like it was at its peak.

Picks:
5, 9, 24

 

I feel like it has run its course. All the gimmicks in an attempt to remain relevant. TV has a sweet spot # of cars in the field but imo it is getting to be like the Clash: too many cars qualify.
However, to contradict myself a bit...I heard an idea tossed out that I liked: release the combined number of laps in advance but nothing else. In driver's meeting give the teams the details of number of stages & stage lengths. Don't give the crew chiefs weeks to think up strategies. That said, I also realize that would preclude any 2002 Jeff Burton gamesmanship.

 

Agreed on all points. I'm sure all the NASCAR brass are cringing in their marketing chairs knowing their best driver and probably a championship driver was expelled for racist comments only to come back a year later under HMS and dominate. Good 'ol Rick has some great pull. He's sitting pretty right now!

I'm a 5 fan. I hope he continues his winning ways. Can't keep good talent away and he's got it!

 

I think the real issue is that the entire world completely overreacted to the one comment that KL said. Being destroyed over saying a word is pretty fucked up. I get it was not in good taste and was in fact wrong but the punishment did not fit the crime. Most people are guilty of worse or at the very least the exact same thing as some point but nobody wants to admit that shit. Perhaps if we did not hang the man from the cross for saying a word it would not have been such a big deal. At the end of the day he owned it. Did not make excuses and took his punishment like a man. You know, unlike being spooked by a rope with loop handle tied into it trying to convince the world you are not a spoiled privileged POS.

 

^truth!

We live in an over sensitive society right now, for may reasons. I'll leave it at that

 

I'm no Bubba fan but to be fair it was a crew member that saw & reported it. How the story was run with afterwards is another issue, imo.