2021 NASCAR thread

Him, Kurt, and Harvick are the only drivers left to have raced in the WC era.

 

Maybe Matty D could mash the gas better if he didn’t skip leg day:

 

Where was that taken?

 

Hickory, last weekend.

 

So jealous.

 

Where are we this weekend, Watkins Glen? Cup didn't even go to the Glen last year. I sure missed that one. The Glen is a wild track with tons of history dating back to the earliest days of American auto racing. Did you know they used to race down the streets and through the countryside back in the day? A young boy died when a car hopped a curb and careened into the crowd of onlookers. This tragic event set in motion not only Watkins Glen as we know it, but auto racing around the world, as racing clubs began constructing purpose-built speedways and road courses to protect viewers. Drivers, on the other hand, have not fared so well at the Glen. I have witnessed some spectacular stock car crashes at the Glen. The track has claimed 11 racers including beloved drivers J.D. McDuffie and F1 driver François Cevert. The track has also produced some spectacular finishes, including one of my all-time late-race duals:

https://youtu.be/cpBjJvUAcys



WATKINS GLEN, by the numbers:

Wins by manufacturer over last ten years:

• Chevy- 4
• Toyota- 3
• Ford-3

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

Wins by active drivers over the last ten years:

• Logano- 1
• Ky Busch- 1
• Hamlin- 1
• Truex- 1
• Elliott- 2

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

Active driver averages:

• Jones- 6.3
• Elliott- 7
• Suarez- 8
• Ky Busch- 9.4
• Truex- 10.6
• Blaney- 11
• Keselowski- 11.2
• Harvick- 12.9
• Larson- 13.6
• Byron- 14.5

Source: https://www.driveraverages.com/nascar/track_avg.php?trk_id=22

I tell you what- we think of the Glen as Chase Elliott's playpen given he has two recent wins at the track. Take a look at the average finishes though, Erik Jones bests Elliott's average finish and Suarez is only one notch below Elliott's performance. I don't expect to see the 43 in victory lane Sunday but we've seen stranger things. It sure would be sweet to see the 43 or 99 roll into victory lane but with guys like the 9, 18, & 19, with all their experience, this is unlikely. The 11 and 4 could also step up and grab that missing W, too. There is a 70% chance of rain showers Sunday, so we may see some racing in the rain! The Glen is always high on my Must-See list of Cup races. Hopefully, this one does not disappoint. My picks: 9, 11, 19. Sentimental picks: 43, 99.

 

Good Stuff! I think we're all going through NASCAR withdrawal right now as it seems the whole sports world has paused for the Olympics. Next race, as you mentioned, is at the Glen but not until 8/7 - 8/8

 

NBC is considering putting their portion on Peacock for 2022.

 

NOOOOoOoOoOoOoO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yeah... I was reading that myself going wtf.

Sure... NASCAR fans might shell out for streaming... but a casual viewer wont.

 

Peacock sucks. my wife has it and she’s always bitches that it freezes and goes slow with the refresh rates.
Edit. She debating about getting rid of it

 

Works alright on my phone... on the Roku TV its spotty as hell. I use it to watch some old 80s shows and Ray Donnovan.

 

She uses it threw our xfinify account

 

Honestly, I haven't tuned into the Olympics since 1996. It was interesting as a kid but that's about it.

 

Cool thing about 96... I loved in Columbus GA at the time... they had the softball events there. Got to go to the Gold medal game.

 

Me and the family are in Dawsonville Ga today. Stop by the Bill Elliott museum, got a pic with Chase's mom, Cindy. Now we are eating at the famous pool room.

 

Peacock is free. Although I imagine if they put their portion on there it wouldn't be limited to just there.

 

Yes... it is free (aside from if you want ad free on demand and their premium content... as I do) but I still don't think the casual viewer wants to go through the hoops of watching on a streaming service. Us NASCAR fans would... but were a slowly dying breed.

Heck... even the giant NFL acknowledged they would lose viewers if they went strictly streaming.

 

Like I said, I don't see them ever going strictly to streaming. But that being said I have YouTube TV so technically I stream every race. I know I'm not the average viewer though.

 

Good looking crew!