NASCAR, Roundtable, Start Your Engines
We'll preview the Daytona 500 more in-depth next week, but what are you looking for in the early part of Speedweeks?
Eric: The further development of the new car would be first, my continuing concern about pack racing second, trying to figure out what the heck the Bud Shootout or whatever is called now works third, and Danica and Stenhouse 490th.
Debi: I definitely want to see the car in race form. We've see it at testing, but in race trim, under race conditions, we all know the circumstances change. It appears the two car tango is gone (thank God) and we will have pack racing again, which can be entertaining, IF we get some decent coverage on TV. The problem is that they seem to show too many looooooong shots to get a lot of the cars in the shot. From far away you just don't see how dicey it can be. If FOX can give us some great on track racing shots we do get to see how close the racing is. Everyone says it is boring, but try being a driver, in that car. Show us more of that and we will be entertained, I guarantee it.
Jen: I am curious about the changes to the cars. It is now called the "Sprint Unlimited"....Nascar is trying to get the fans more involved (ugh) and I say that because I know there is going to be some stupidity. Nascar should of left it alone.
Scott: Outside of what Eric has said...minus Danica and Ricky....I'm interested in seeing how Matt Kenseth copes with his new ride and how Kevin Harvick fares in what could be his last year with RCR.
Debi: It is definitely Kevin's last year at RCR. It has also been confirmed that he will be with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014. I think he will be left out of the mix somewhat at RCR
Finally (for this week), is there any other more "under the radar" news that you would like to discuss?
Eric: Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time is asking for government money, specifically $100 million of current state taxes to pay for improvements, which many are speculating mean lights. I'm very much against the use of public money for sports facilities, and I always admired IMS for never taking any public money, and building such a gorgeous place (albeit one showing its age) without it. It's not surprising given the way things are run now at IMS, but it's still saddening to see.
Debi: I'm torn in the IMS thing, because I believe lights would be a huge benefit to the speedway, but I agree that it is very sad they are having to appeal to the taxpayers to do so.
Eric: Debi, yeah, NHRA is always a good show on Sunday nights. The one negative is Paul Page won't be commentating anymore, and in fact is currently out of a job anywhere in racing.
Jen, I doubt ticket prices would be cut (although I think prices for the 500 are reasonable). All the rumors are is that IMS wants lights for the Brickyard 400. I'm pretty agnostic about it. It could be nice if there's rain in the afternoon on 500 day. What I don't want is a night start for the 500.
Thanks guys for your input, and thanks to all of you for reading. What are your thoughts as the 2013 racing season gets set to begin in earnest. See you next week for another edition of Start Your Engines.
2/17/13 |
kramer
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10835 respect
Fair enough, in that case I guess the view doesn't matter.
2/17/13 |
JrCanuckFan
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10136 respect
Debi, you don't want to go to Pocono. The only seats are on the front stretch and I've been told by several people who have gone to a race there that the view sucks. Because of the track's shape, it juts out so far that you can't see anything but the front stretch.
LOL thanks Bryan. It's more of an experience, I think, than the actual race. I'd want a motorhome with satellite TV so I could watch most of the race from there. ;)
2/17/13 |
kramer
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10835 respect
After tonight's Busch Clash/Bud Shootout/Whatchamacalit, I'd say the cars handle about the same as the "car of tomorrow" did, evidenced by Tony Stewart trying to wreck himself twice and not. That said, however, Daytona isn't exactly the best test. We'll all get a better sense of how the new car races when they start going to the other tracks.
Debi, you don't want to go to Pocono. The only seats are on the front stretch and I've been told by several people who have gone to a race there that the view sucks. Because of the track's shape, it juts out so far that you can't see anything but the front stretch.
2/16/13 |
Eric_
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6484 respect
Blame me for not steering things towards the new car. I'm sure it will get more play in next week's edition, once it's been seen in race conditions. For the record, saying we're not "door to door race lovers," that's accurate in regards to me, but probably not for my co-writers.
2/16/13 | orangemen90 | 2618 respect
The level playing field brought us the COT and template racing... The new cars will have more of a stock look up front and a smaller spoiler.... It looks like they got rid of the spoiler...The drivers don;t know what these cars can do.. But 200 mph at Daytona is a possibility.....
The Lowes will be yellow for tonights race....The cars tonight are not last years cars bt the new Gen6.. So there may be some interesting racing .. Especially if Kennseth listens to his spotters and doesn't take out half the bunched up field...
It does appear that tandem racing may be a thing of the past based on the new rear bumpers... So bump drafting attempts may spin these guys out.. Watch for JR to forget that!!!!
2/15/13 | JenX63 | 27008 respect
Viewer alert. If you are looking for something to watch Monday evening about 8ish. Richard Petty Special on Speed!
2/15/13 | JenX63 | 27008 respect
They successfully chased off millions of fans the past decade and they will never return... ole DW was a fan favorite. Now we have a Patrick soap opera...That ain't gonna work....
Lets have a good season and see what tandom racing will be like this weekend...
I'm horrible at Math and I write as if I am having a conversation with someone, which sometimes means I make no sense, but, what can I do?
Nascar in all of it's (little) wisdom, is trying to bring the cars on a more level field across the board. Which in my mind, takes it farther from it's roots. They went from the cars all looking alike to bringing some features of the individual models back. They have been quite wishy washy with quite a few things in the last few years, I agree with you about the fans. Patrick was not so much in the news last year, and if she was I did not notice, because I stayed away from where she might be, ie: Nationwide.
I am not sure I would have to check, but either the fans or drivers or both wanted a car that could draft without having the huge wrecks. From all that I have seen and heard so far, the new car does not draft well, which will make racing on the super speedways difficult.
I am waiting for the first race and maybe it will take a few more to see how the cars run, then I might have another or the same opinion.
2/15/13 | orangemen90 | 2618 respect
To be honest I am a mathematician not a writer... i would only write what is written someplace else...Bt what is interesting is the change for the COT template to the Gen6 template... Why Nascar did this and what they would accomplish or hope too..
They successfully chased off millions of fans the past decade and they will never return... ole DW was a fan favorite. Now we have a Patrick soap opera...That ain't gonna work....
Lets have a good season and see what tandom racing will be like this weekend...
2/14/13 | JenX63 | 27008 respect
"A discussion on the new Nascar Gen6 would be appropriate."
This is exactly what we are looking/asking for. If you are a fan of the sport, give us any/all suggestions you have. I didn't see a favorite driver/type of racing on your profile.
In the past, there have only been a handful of people that talk racing and I know personally, i would love to have more folks chime in.
What exactly are you wanting to know about the Gen6 car?
2/14/13 |
JrCanuckFan
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10136 respect
Paul Page just retired or was retired,.... ESPN keeps some pretty bad announcers.. see Brent Mus......
thanks for the column...
Who are you referring to when you say "both"? There are four people participating in this round table discussion. It appears to me that we are all pretty serious fans, and I'm not sure what you mean by we aren't door handle to door handle race lovers. My collection of collectibles and the amount of time I've spent at local racetracks, and the number of TV hours I've logged watching anything NASCAR related lead me to believe I'm pretty serious.
Not one of us cares about Danica Patrick, her love life (or her minimal talent).
I believe that NASCAR is trying to bring those life long fans back to the sport. Yes, we acknowledge they were trying to target new fans - that was abundantly clear by the "lessons" we have been subjected to during broadcasts. But losing the long time fans at the cost of newer fans, who may not be spend the money the lifers would is not what they wanted. I believe the Gen6 car is a step NASCAR is taking to bring back those fans who quit watching because the COT was butt ugly and drove like a tank.
I don't know if it will do any good, but I believe they are trying.
2/14/13 | orangemen90 | 2618 respect
A discussion on the new Nascar Gen6 would be appropriate..... But you both are not door handle to door handle race lovers....Nascar is much more than lights and who Danica is sleeping with ot on this case not sleeping with.,,Nasca is the heart beat of America and it has lost that.. and until it finds that it will never be to the point it wants to be....
Paul Page just retired or was retired,.... ESPN keeps some pretty bad announcers.. see Brent Mus......
thanks for the column...