NASCAR Race to the Chase

Farmwithjunk · Sep 16, 2005

I'm of the opinion that the driver make about 51% of the difference between success and failure. Crew chief, engine builder, shop foreman, pit crew, dumb luck, and a good sponsor make up the other 49%. I've heard more than one NASCAR "great" (after retiring) make the comment they'd rather have an average driver in a great car than a great driver in a junk car.

This past season, Gordon had to deal with "junk" for the first time in his carreer. He didn't respond well. No one expects him to, with the possible exception of a few of his "less than realistic" fans.

(In this case, "JUNK" is what I would call "less than competitive". From someone with JUNK in their name, I can appreciate that)

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

( You need to look at the facts, and NOT the Jeffy-Boy fan club chat line on that points deal. The first three places (last year) would have turned out just as they did anyway, with the OLD points system.)

What?! I don't consider myself an avid NASCAR fan, and I can tell you for a fact that you are simply wrong here. My gosh, it's been published nearly everywhere that Jeff Gordon would in FACT have won the championship last year under the "old" points system. I actually got rather sick of every reporter shoving a mic in Gordon's face to ask him what he thought of the new point system since it prevented him from winning his 5th championship. At least his reply was something to the tune that the change was made at the beginning of the season, and not running well in the final 10 races was in fact what prevented his 5th.

I don't even need my female friends to tell me that fact. It was plastered across NASCAR.com at the end of last year as a sub-title to Bush's win.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 16, 2005

What is the deal with NASCAR?

Seriously I've never watched a race. I've tried to read this thread and while I've heard of some of the names of these guys that is about all I know about it.

When I was a kid the Indy races were the thing. Folks like AJ Foyt were the household names, and Parnelli Jones was already a legend. Correct me here, but NASCAR sort of started as an entry level affordable way to get into racing. I gather that has changed and it is now almost as expensive to field a NASCAR team as a real race team like in F1?

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

The Indy people we remember are following the money to NASCAR. I just read today that Sara Fischer is now running NASCAR, and there is already a Mears and Andretti running NASCAR. If you remember, our own (Indiana native) Tony Stewart ran Indy car first. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples. There have been internet rumors that Schumacher is considering a NASCAR run. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif C'mon Bob, it's the money!! I'm your student, remember, it's always the money! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · Sep 16, 2005

There have been internet rumors that Schumacher is considering a NASCAR run. 

The day Ferrari fields a NASCAR team is the day I'm going to buy some Carharts!

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

( The day Ferrari fields a NASCAR team is the day I'm going to buy some Carharts! )

Ohmygosh! You don't own any Carhartts? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I actually took a nice gift package of Carhartt products out to my buddies in Napa a few weeks ago and now it's a fashion trend in Napa! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Right now I'm wearing a nice kaki colored pair of Carhartt shorts with my Tommy Bahama shirt. The Napa group thought that looked quite dapper last time I was there; thus the gift package. They even sent me a group shot to prove that they were wearing them. Ya know, afterall, Carhartt ain't exactly cheap stuff! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I even spotted some at the Silver Dollar (Tommy's) and at The Lew a month or so ago; yeah, you know where I'm talking about.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 16, 2005

Ohmygosh! You don't own any Carhartts? 

I don't even know where to buy them. Then again I don't go shopping to malls or places like that so maybe I lead a sheltered life? But the lovely Mrs_Bob drags me out shopping exactly 1 time each year, we go to Marshall Field's on State Street in Chicago for a day. If I need clothes, that is the day I get them. Otherwise my clothes just magically appear in my closet, I sort of figure that there is a clothes fairy that picks them out and brings them to me. You are not going to burst that bubble are you? I still believe in Santa too.

RobertN · Sep 16, 2005

You were in Napa? You were only about 2 hours from here. Hopefully you didn't go for wine tasting... Up here, the motto is "NAPA's for autoparts, El Dorado is for wine" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You could have been the catalyst for a Northern Calif TBN get together/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

funny, some of us Californians know about Carrharts.

Did you stop by the Speedway in Calistoga? That is suppossed to be an incredibly fast dirt track...

Dargo · Sep 16, 2005

( Did you stop by the Speedway in Calistoga? That is suppossed to be an incredibly fast dirt track... )

Is that where they had that freakin' Indy Car race that booked up all the hotel rooms?! There was a "7/11" car sitting outside my Marriott. I guess that is how they justified doubling the rates for my stay there. I went and ate at some place called The Dead Fish next so some bridge. It was actually pretty nice.

RobertN · Sep 16, 2005

Now that's twice in one week. First, gsrx1100 places all the Harley labels on me because I ride a Hog. Now, I'm a ( typical "California Pretty Boy" ) ? Well, I aint typical, I aint pretty, and I aint had everything handed to me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I am kind of lucky though, although I dont often get time to take advantage of it. Within a short distance, we have a great Dirt 1/4 mile oval, a paved 1/4 mile oval, another dirt oval and drag strip, a flat-track speedway motorcycle track, and motocross track. In addition we have Infineon/Sears Point about 1.5 hours away.