NASCAR..... Winston Cup starts!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,698
Likes: 0
From: Deptford, New Jersey
NASCAR..... Winston Cup starts!
wahoo! I know it's not popular here but I love it! It's that time again, Ok NASCAR fans unite!
Who's your pick for the Daytona 500? And who is your favorite driver.
I am a Jimmy Spencer fan
new team for him this year hoping for him to break out.
Who's your pick for the Daytona 500? And who is your favorite driver.
I am a Jimmy Spencer fan
new team for him this year hoping for him to break out.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 943
Likes: 8
From: Livermore, CA
I am a major NASCAR fan (as well as F1, CART, LeMans series, TransAm...you name it) having attended races since the Riverside 500 in Jan. 1964.
Looks like you gotta have a Chevrolet and maybe Hendrick engines to win it judging from qualifying...but after the Shootout I guess I will include Junior as well. I am quite partial to Ford and Ricky Rudd in particular but looks like they may be a bit off this time.
Charlie sorry to see that Spencer was way slow, but it could be a different story in the draft come Twin 125's. He does have his work cut out for him as that car (Leffler last year) has no provisionals to fall back on if he doesn't race into the field on Thursday. At least Jimmy made the right move sponsor-wise....Target is at least solvent.
My pick for the 500??? I was not a big Dale fan but I do miss him a lot....so I would really like Junior to take it next Sunday.
Looks like you gotta have a Chevrolet and maybe Hendrick engines to win it judging from qualifying...but after the Shootout I guess I will include Junior as well. I am quite partial to Ford and Ricky Rudd in particular but looks like they may be a bit off this time.
Charlie sorry to see that Spencer was way slow, but it could be a different story in the draft come Twin 125's. He does have his work cut out for him as that car (Leffler last year) has no provisionals to fall back on if he doesn't race into the field on Thursday. At least Jimmy made the right move sponsor-wise....Target is at least solvent.
My pick for the 500??? I was not a big Dale fan but I do miss him a lot....so I would really like Junior to take it next Sunday.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,698
Likes: 0
From: Deptford, New Jersey
well 2 hours after the bud shoot out NASCAR decides Ford is at a disadvantage, good news for Ricky Rudd and the Ford guys, here is the story....
The Fords will get another rules concession before the Daytona 500. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
Ford gets another quarter-inch off spoiler
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
February 10, 2002
6:09 PM EST (2309 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With Ford and Dodge drivers howling for an aerodynamic concession, NASCAR announced Winston Cup Ford teams would get another quarter-inch lopped off their spoilers, effective with Tuesday's practice at Daytona International Speedway.
All four manufacturers currently have a 57-inch wide spoiler. Dodges and Pontiacs have a rear spoiler 6.5 inches high. Fords and Chevrolets practiced, qualified and ran Sunday's Budweiser Shootout with 6.25-inch blades.
NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the change two hours after the conclusion of the 70-lap Budweiser Shootout, won by Tony Stewart in a Pontiac.
The No. 66 Ford of Todd Bodine Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
"We're making these changes based on what we saw on the race track today and in qualifying yesterday," Helton said. "We'll still do wind tunnel testing. This comes from what we've seen in the three days in Daytona so far.
After the Shootout, the sanctioning body impounded Stewart's Pontiac, the Chevrolet of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Dodge of fifth-place Sterling Marlin and the Ford of sixth-place Dale Jarrett and planned to take those four cars to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., for testing Monday.
In addition, NASCAR ran those four cars and the third-place Chevrolet of four-time and defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon on its chassis dynamometer, which measures an engine's horsepower at the rear wheels.
NASCAR had initially said it would neither schedule any wind tunnel time in Speedweeks nor anticipate rule changes before Thursday's Gatorade 125-Mile Qualifying Races. However, only two Fords were in the top-20 in Saturday's Bud Pole Qualifying session and two Fords finished in the Shootout's top-10.
Ricky Rudd was one of just two Ford drivers to crack the top 15 in qualifying. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
"This gives us a chance on Thursday to see what this action creates," Helton said of the change's timing. "Through the whole process of this aero change, we've said all along we'd adjust to try and get it right as quick as we can.
"Qualifying yesterday and today's race results are the first facts we know about. We'll make this change Tuesday an see what it creates Thursday."
Marlin said he wanted a spoiler decrease for the Dodge as well.
"They're just killing us with all the spoiler on the Dodges," he said of his 25th-place qualifying run. "We need a little trim job. I hope we can get one. The car is just too tight like it is."
Garage area rumors had called for a possible restrictor plate increase.
"We're not going to rule it out, but it's not a short list item right now," Helton said.
The Fords will get another rules concession before the Daytona 500. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
Ford gets another quarter-inch off spoiler
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
February 10, 2002
6:09 PM EST (2309 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- With Ford and Dodge drivers howling for an aerodynamic concession, NASCAR announced Winston Cup Ford teams would get another quarter-inch lopped off their spoilers, effective with Tuesday's practice at Daytona International Speedway.
All four manufacturers currently have a 57-inch wide spoiler. Dodges and Pontiacs have a rear spoiler 6.5 inches high. Fords and Chevrolets practiced, qualified and ran Sunday's Budweiser Shootout with 6.25-inch blades.
NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the change two hours after the conclusion of the 70-lap Budweiser Shootout, won by Tony Stewart in a Pontiac.
The No. 66 Ford of Todd Bodine Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
"We're making these changes based on what we saw on the race track today and in qualifying yesterday," Helton said. "We'll still do wind tunnel testing. This comes from what we've seen in the three days in Daytona so far.
After the Shootout, the sanctioning body impounded Stewart's Pontiac, the Chevrolet of second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Dodge of fifth-place Sterling Marlin and the Ford of sixth-place Dale Jarrett and planned to take those four cars to the Lockheed wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., for testing Monday.
In addition, NASCAR ran those four cars and the third-place Chevrolet of four-time and defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon on its chassis dynamometer, which measures an engine's horsepower at the rear wheels.
NASCAR had initially said it would neither schedule any wind tunnel time in Speedweeks nor anticipate rule changes before Thursday's Gatorade 125-Mile Qualifying Races. However, only two Fords were in the top-20 in Saturday's Bud Pole Qualifying session and two Fords finished in the Shootout's top-10.
Ricky Rudd was one of just two Ford drivers to crack the top 15 in qualifying. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP
"This gives us a chance on Thursday to see what this action creates," Helton said of the change's timing. "Through the whole process of this aero change, we've said all along we'd adjust to try and get it right as quick as we can.
"Qualifying yesterday and today's race results are the first facts we know about. We'll make this change Tuesday an see what it creates Thursday."
Marlin said he wanted a spoiler decrease for the Dodge as well.
"They're just killing us with all the spoiler on the Dodges," he said of his 25th-place qualifying run. "We need a little trim job. I hope we can get one. The car is just too tight like it is."
Garage area rumors had called for a possible restrictor plate increase.
"We're not going to rule it out, but it's not a short list item right now," Helton said.
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Raritan, NJ
Charlie,
Maybe you can help me, and possibly others here, understand your last post.
I understand that you were quoting a news article, but not being a follower of NASCAR racing, I don't understand all the flap (no pun intended) about spoilers.
I'm more familiar with F1 and sports car racing where each team makes their own decisions about the amount of downforce the want in their car.
It sounds (to me) like they (NASCAR officials) are going to a lot of trouble to make the cars run at nearly identical speeds on a give track. If that is their desire, why don't they come up with a NASCAR "spec" car and just let everyone pick which "manufacturer's" badge they want to run.
I'm not trying to take a shot here, I'm just curious.
Duffer
Maybe you can help me, and possibly others here, understand your last post.
I understand that you were quoting a news article, but not being a follower of NASCAR racing, I don't understand all the flap (no pun intended) about spoilers.
I'm more familiar with F1 and sports car racing where each team makes their own decisions about the amount of downforce the want in their car.
It sounds (to me) like they (NASCAR officials) are going to a lot of trouble to make the cars run at nearly identical speeds on a give track. If that is their desire, why don't they come up with a NASCAR "spec" car and just let everyone pick which "manufacturer's" badge they want to run.
I'm not trying to take a shot here, I'm just curious.
Duffer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 943
Likes: 8
From: Livermore, CA
Duffer-
You have pretty much hit the nail squarely on the head. NASCAR is under a lot of pressure from manufacturers to keep the field competitive for all makes involved. They are extremely methodical in "granting" the exact shapes of the cars down to the closest contours, and the inspection process is equally intense. They have four brands involved now and want all along with the factory support ($$$$) to stay. Thus the constant finger-pointing and claims of inequality and "sand-bagging" that are a constant part of the series.
A spec body with perhaps decal grills to identify various brands has been suggested in the past. The current Dodge, for example, is very close to the current Taurus, and all of the cars are worlds away from their front-wheel drive production versions. So yes truly the adjustment and tweaking we have in open-wheel and sports cars does not exist especially on the tracks where the engines are restricted. On the other hand we do not have all the manufacturers packing up when one make dominates, as is the case in American Le Mans Series competition (Audi) at the moment. And this has transpired before in earlier days of IMSA as well.
The focus in NASCAR is more on the drivers than the cars, a quality that has made it more mainstream here in the US where the personality stories are the feature.
You have pretty much hit the nail squarely on the head. NASCAR is under a lot of pressure from manufacturers to keep the field competitive for all makes involved. They are extremely methodical in "granting" the exact shapes of the cars down to the closest contours, and the inspection process is equally intense. They have four brands involved now and want all along with the factory support ($$$$) to stay. Thus the constant finger-pointing and claims of inequality and "sand-bagging" that are a constant part of the series.
A spec body with perhaps decal grills to identify various brands has been suggested in the past. The current Dodge, for example, is very close to the current Taurus, and all of the cars are worlds away from their front-wheel drive production versions. So yes truly the adjustment and tweaking we have in open-wheel and sports cars does not exist especially on the tracks where the engines are restricted. On the other hand we do not have all the manufacturers packing up when one make dominates, as is the case in American Le Mans Series competition (Audi) at the moment. And this has transpired before in earlier days of IMSA as well.
The focus in NASCAR is more on the drivers than the cars, a quality that has made it more mainstream here in the US where the personality stories are the feature.
Trending Topics
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Raritan, NJ
Thanks Bob, that helps.
I last remember being interested in full-sized sedan racing back when they were still "stock cars" (late 60s-early 70s). I was racing SCCA 5L sedans back then and the stock cars were just the bigger brothers to the pony car I was driving. I especially enjoyed seeing them horse those monsters around the road courses.
I remember all the stuff about teams trying to build 7/8th sized cars and such until they started usinq the body templates and everybody accusing everybody else of some form of "cheating". Great stuff and fun to watch.
Well, I guess in racing, as in everything else: "The only thing that's constant, is change".
Duffer
I last remember being interested in full-sized sedan racing back when they were still "stock cars" (late 60s-early 70s). I was racing SCCA 5L sedans back then and the stock cars were just the bigger brothers to the pony car I was driving. I especially enjoyed seeing them horse those monsters around the road courses.
I remember all the stuff about teams trying to build 7/8th sized cars and such until they started usinq the body templates and everybody accusing everybody else of some form of "cheating". Great stuff and fun to watch.
Well, I guess in racing, as in everything else: "The only thing that's constant, is change".
Duffer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,382
Likes: 1,624
From: La Crescenta, CA
Exciting race the whole way, with the pack of five a train at the end. Jeff Gordon moved up from last to 3rd and almpst nipped Dale, Jr. for 2nd. I miss dale a lot. I'm much more of a CART and F1 fan, but I've like NASCAR. We go to the 500 at Fontana every. Always a big crowd.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 943
Likes: 8
From: Livermore, CA
Duffer-
That was a great era for pony cars...did you do any Trans Am or was it A/Sedan? I do remember out here in CA back then there were some guys who did quite well in SCCA A/Sedan in Falcons, running at Riverside, Santa Barbara and such. And of course in my mind the 1970 Trans Am season was a high point that will never be seen again.....
That was a great era for pony cars...did you do any Trans Am or was it A/Sedan? I do remember out here in CA back then there were some guys who did quite well in SCCA A/Sedan in Falcons, running at Riverside, Santa Barbara and such. And of course in my mind the 1970 Trans Am season was a high point that will never be seen again.....