2021 NASCAR thread

Yep, make them drive like shit and they'll have to lift, alot less downforce and it will be like it used to be.

 

Exactly.

 

That was NASCAR in the 90s... drivers driving shitty cars to the best of their abilities. They took big boy engines and slapped into cars that were heavier than dirt. Hell... the Luminas and Thunderchickens of yesteryear had the drag coefficient of a brick... but damn were they fast. And even the little guy (cough Kulwicki cough) had a chance to thrive. The engineering was mo powah and small tweaks to kinda get it to turn. It was the drivers job to make both work in tandem. The biggest teams had the powerplants with the most vroom.

Today you have to have a degree in advanced engineering to even understand what it takes to make a stock car fast. Its all in tweaking the aero. The better funded teams have the cash to get it all figured out and the little guys get last years junk.
An owner driver would never make it today. Even Stewart had to have the support of Haas to succeed...He would have never made it on his own.

 

Make it about the driver. NASCAR made this move in attempt to get closer racing. However, in my opinion, closer doesn't necessarily mean better. Especially when you're nearly wide open around a 1.5 mile oval and basically banking on getting the good run off the corner to make any passes. It killed the once fun tracks like Michigan and made Pocono and Indy even less exciting. Pocono and Indy already had the issue with needing to get the perfect run, but it worked. Now, as drivers say, you can catch cars easily, but don't have the power to pass.

 

My buddy and a longtime NASCAR fan wrote a solid article on NASCAR then and now. I think most of you will identify and agree with his perspective. We've traveled across many states to attend any kind of racing we can find. He's better with words than I am:

https://beyond-the-trestle.com/2021/02/15/learning-from-the-past-to-lean-into-the-future/

 

The only reason I'm remotely still into the sport today is because of a guy named Matty D. I came to this thread hoping talking racing would get me back engaged... no offense to you guys but I still wasn't feeling it... then Bristol 2019 happened.

Its not even just about the cars... the personalities of the current crop of racers are just dry and uninteresting. Then... I have to have Fox or NBC force feed me the Hamlin, Busch, or Logano line( admittedly... I did buy in to him a little at first). It wasn't like the golden age when the driver more less sold himself on the track... with heart. When Matt took that low budget wreck of a car and damn near beat the big boys in their field I found that heart again. And let me tell you... he didn't disappoint. Talladega I actually found myself bawling like a baby back bitch when he came to the line inches south of Denny. I haven't done that since Mark did it in 2007 at Daytona. And... it felt good to finally feel part of a sport I grew up loving.

All that to say this... if they wanna continue going down this destructive road... they are gonna need personality to keep fans interested. And a few drivers engaged in the art of fisticuffs wouldn't hurt either. Not gonna lie... would have loved to see some garage brawling highlights after the race.

 

So they called about my tickets renewals today... the lady was nice so i politely declined. Yall should be proud of me for behaving lol

 

The only thing more toxic than fans of an underperforming sports team are NASCAR "fans."

 

Idk, I disagree with him on the accept the political changes. All the other sports did this crap, and Nascar was the one that didnt have it... until now. And well, the fish bite all year, the short tracks are cheap and still welcome my kind. I mean what does nascar expect?

 

Nascar top brass has been said to wipe out entire species with its poisons. (Brian France Steve o'donnell and others at the top)

 

Brian France wasn't worth a fuck anyways, I'm glad his ass is out.

 

Chase Elliott starting 1st Sunday.

 

I hope he gets out and stays their. With his road course performance I expect someone to punt him. Sure would like to get a win so I can relax the rest of the season until the chase.

 

Exactly! I was explaining to my kid Sunday, "it's easy to guess who is going to win the race these days but for me, the more exciting story is how the little guys do in the big race." I've rooted for Front Row as my backmarker team for many years. Seeing them succeed and win the big one is fantastic. We've gotten to know Brandon Brown and Jordan Anderson and it's far easier to root for them than the big teams. The personal connection helped build this sport and it keeps me and others tuning in. I wouldn't say I'm a Matty D fan but I've rooted for Wood Brothers my whole life. it pained me when he went out so early in a race he was surely going to compete for the win. Front Row winning was a consolation. I wouldn't say I'm a Michael McDowell fan, but being that he's a Front Row driver, I'm pleased with the finish, just wish it would've been cleaner, but Joey did what Joey does, and anyone else in that position at Daytona. He was trying to back his car up so he wouldn't get trounced on the home stretch. It just didn't work out. Throwing blocks at the most intense moment of the biggest race rarely works out.

 

I have this little 350 small block about buttoned up. Should have it in with headers and a new 3" duel exhaust in the next couple of weeks. Gonna finally have some fun with this 5 year project.

 

WHAT! Have you seen the 4's performance on that road course? It's like his kryptonite. You should be happy if Kevin keeps that bitch pointed the right way. LOL... I think Chase will get punted. So JGR or Penske for the win this week.

 

Nice.

Here is my almost complete project.

 

NICE! That stance is awesome. After I get this all together I just have some interior work to do. I am almost done wiring the Dakota Digital dash so I am super excited for that.

I couldn’t keep dumping money in the weak worn out 305. This little package will make 340-360ish HP. Should be sporty.

 

Good little package. I've still got some interior work myself. I'm considering do the Dakota digital dash myself.