Just curious to see if we had any Nascar fans in here and who your favorite drivers are and any projections for the upcoming 2009 season............
I myself have been a Tony Stewart fan since his days in the Indy circuit......and now he has decided to go the driver/owner avenue......I can only hope that it pans out lilke Jeff Gordans stake in Jimmy Johnson's team....and not like the Micheal Waltrips, Robby Gordan's. So far, I would have to say that Stewart-Haas racing has the funding, the sponsers, and a good team mate in Ryan Newman so now all they have do is go out and win a championship.......
"Winning is not a some time thing, it's an all the time thing" ....-Lombardi-
Dale Jr. fan, but not as much as I was of his old man.
Now that Stewart is away from Toyota, I'll pull for him again too, but I don't expect much from him this year.
Until someone beats Jimmy Johnson, he's got to be the favorite to win again. The only one I think can upseat him is Kyle Bush. That kid can flat out wheel a car. I wish Dale Jr. would drive more like him.
Drug testing of drivers, teams to begin in January
By The Associated Press December 18, 2008
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will test drivers for performance-enhancing drugs next month under a tougher policy that also bans using illegal drugs and abusing prescription medications.
NASCAR likely will test drivers the third week of January, and crew members must submit results from an approved lab by Jan. 16, according to documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
In September, NASCAR announced it would begin random drug testing in 2009, and drivers are supportive.
A NASCAR memo sent to teams lists specific banned substances for which crew members must be screened. No similar guidelines were issued for drivers, as NASCAR reserves the right to test competitors for anything.
Under the old policy, NASCAR had the right to randomly test based on suspicion of abuse. Under the tougher guidelines first announced in September, everyone will be tested before the season begins, and random testing will continue throughout the year. NASCAR expects to randomly test 12 to 14 individuals per series each weekend in 2009.
The guidelines were strengthened in part because of former Truck Series driver Aaron Fike's admission that he had used heroin -- even on days he raced. That led Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and other veteran drivers to call on NASCAR to add random drug testing to its policy.
The memo, dated Dec. 8, is the first time the new policy has been laid out in writing and specifies who falls under the guidelines. Those who must be tested before Jan. 16 include: pit crew members, including "over-the-wall" crew members, the crew chief, car chief, team members responsible for tires, fuel and pit crew operation, spotters and race-day support personnel that includes engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists, chassis specialists and tire specialists.
Among the substances those participants must be tested for are:
• Seven different amphetamines, including methamphetamine and PMA, a synthetic psychostimulant and hallucinogen.
• Three drugs classified under ephedrine.
• Thirteen different narcotics, including codeine and morphine.
• Ten different benzodiazepines and barbituates.
• Marijuana, cocaine, zolpidem, nitrites, chromates and drugs that can increase specific gravity.
No such list exists for the drivers, but spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed NASCAR will test for performance-enhancing drugs.
The driver testing, which will be administered by NASCAR, had been scheduled for preseason testing at Daytona next month. But because testing has been suspended for 2009, NASCAR likely will screen drivers when most are in Charlotte next month for the annual media tour of race shops.
The gap in the drug policy was exposed last September when Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday admitted he used a testosterone cream during 2004 and 2005 to treat a medical issue.
Hornaday has Grave's disease, a condition he's treating with Synthroid, which replaces a hormone normally produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy and metabolism.
NASCAR did not punish him for the testosterone admission, saying the cream did not enhance his performance or impair his judgment.
I'm kind of a big fan. Bobby Labonte WAS my favorite driver, until Hornish went to nascar last year - now Hornish is my favorite. Bobby became my second favorite, but now it looks like he doesn't have a job yet for this year.
I've always liked Stewart. Jimmy Spencer was also someone I pulled for quite a bit. I liked his attitude, wish he was still driving.
Now that Stewart is away from Toyota, I'll pull for him again too, but I don't expect much from him this year.
I think that lead to Tony's decision to leave Joe Gibbs to be honest with you. He didn't really hide the fact that he wasn't happy driving a Toyota. Yeah, I don't know what to expect from him this year.......and I don't know where they will be getting their engines from either....I think that is what will make the biggest difference. For some reason, I thought that Hendrick provided engines for Haas racing this past year, so if that is the case...I would have pretty high expectations for him.........
"Winning is not a some time thing, it's an all the time thing" ....-Lombardi-
not a huge nascar fan, but i will watch a few races a year and check to see who's one....
why would Stewart care if he is driving a toyota car? is it because it is not an American brand or because he thinks the GM/Ford motors are that much better?
I'm coming home, I'm coming home, tell the world I'm coming home
Quote: ..The Noone can Stand a Winner Jeff Gordon...
Well i guess us jealous haters havent had to worry about that for quite awhile have we
Ok, for the original question. I am a ie hard Jeff Burton fan, have been since his Roush days. I have stayed a fan of his even though I hate to see him in a Chevy. If JB isnt winning I like to see Smoke doing well, and have a little like for Little E.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
why would Stewart care if he is driving a toyota car? is it because it is not an American brand or because he thinks the GM/Ford motors are that much better?
I guess because it's not American made.....or that is the way that most people think......I know that all of his other race teams use GM parts, and I think he some sort of sponsership in maybe the sprint car team that he has.....not real sure...I just know it was a big issue for him....or at least the media mde it appear that way......
"Winning is not a some time thing, it's an all the time thing" ....-Lombardi-
Quote: not a huge nascar fan, but i will watch a few races a year and check to see who's one....
why would Stewart care if he is driving a toyota car? is it because it is not an American brand or because he thinks the GM/Ford motors are that much better?
Since you are not a huge NASCAR fan, I can understand that you would wonder why people would care what a guy drove.
As a life long fan I can tell you that at one time, a much more fun time in NASCAR racing IMHO, what a guy drove was just as important as the guy himself. Chevy v. Ford during the heydays was like Browns v. Steelers. Dale Earnhardt WAS Chevrolet. Bill Elliott WAS Ford. You would never have seen a Chevy driver's number sticker on a Ford Pickup truck or vice versa.
The brand wars have declined considerably over the years as "Stock Cars" have become anything but "stock". A slight name plate skirmish is still there, but now if anything, its more of American nameplate v foreign (Toyota). There are many who look at Toyota more than just an auto company that employs a few workers in the US.
My prediction... other than the big races there won't be extra cars not making the race. Seems there are way too many teams still without sponsorship for that to change.
Quote: My prediction... other than the big races there won't be extra cars not making the race. Seems there are way too many teams still without sponsorship for that to change.
They already canceled the NASCAR Truck Race in Mansfield OH about a month ago...
I didn't renew my 2 extra seats for Bristol this year after having them for about 13 years.
Could be a very difficult year for auto racing in general. Grassroots tracks are going to get hurt big time.
They already canceled the NASCAR Truck Race in Mansfield OH about a month ago...
I head about that....that is a shame too......I was born and raised in mansfield, and due to my job, I had to relocate to Florida....The truck race was about the only thing left in Mansfield......the people that bought the Mansfield Raceway where the race was held did alot of work to get that race to come there....it was a great location, right next to the airport, plenty of room for expansion.....it's a shame.......the last I heard, there was still 7 races in the Sprint Cup series that was without sponsers as well......not to mention the race teams still looking......
"Winning is not a some time thing, it's an all the time thing" ....-Lombardi-
Quote: Grassroots tracks are going to get hurt big time.
I witness that darn nearly daily. Hubby's best friend, his wife and her brother are managers of a local road course (Nelson Ledges in Garrettsville). They've seen entries down across the board and races cancelled. Sad, it's such a great track. Though we are adding the 24 Hours of LeMons race (cars costing less than $500 racing for 24 hours straight...fun stuffs)
Anyway, NASCAR was the first racing I watched. My first race was the inaugural Brickyard 400 in Indy, in which Jeff Gordon won. After that, I followed him, since I remembered his name. Well, it helped that he was kicking everyone's butts then too...
Quote: Though we are adding the 24 Hours of LeMons race (cars costing less than $500 racing for 24 hours straight...fun stuffs)
I would LOVE to see that...Mansfield had a race that I loved to watch...kinda along those same lines...not for 24 hours, but they had a 4 cylinder class and there was more action in that race than in the main race.....
"Winning is not a some time thing, it's an all the time thing" ....-Lombardi-
I used to follow it regularly but when Rusty retired I sort of gave up interest. I still look at the results and standings but I dont watch the races anymore. I guess I pull for Jeff Burton these days.
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
I Watch. started during Earnhart Sr. was around. I am a Junior fan but since they changed to this chase for the Race, I find myself only watching the races on the tracks I dig such as Talledega and Daytona plus others, but if their racinging at lets say Fontana, or Dover, I usually find other things to do, but I used to not miss any races.
Good sport, not as great as I once found but I still follow the sport.
Roscoe~The 24 Hours of LeMons is the first weekend in October at Nelson Ledges. Not only will the hoopties be struggling to last 24 hours, they'll have to contend with fall weather in NE Ohio!
Yep~Does he race with SCCA, WERA or another group?
Yep... he kicked butt in it too. Cheap cars and it was easy to find parts. Once it started to get hard to find parts he switched to the Renault. Now they're starting to get harder to find parts as well, but he's in his mid 60's now so he's not sure how much longer he's going to race to warrant finding a new car to race.
My dad was a huge Nascar fan. He tried getting me into it and we decided to go down to the Bristol night race in the summer of 2003. When we arrived there, and parked, I thought t was a really cool atmosphere. - People hanging out, throwing footballs around, cooking, it was great. I also thought the various merchandise trailers, beer gardens, and other features were cool. - We drank, ate, and hung with cool strangers all day Saturday. Then we walked over to the track. -Man do they make a big event out of it, like it was the Superbowl. Pops and I were able to bring in a cooler full of beer, and all the food we wanted. - Really cool. Needless to say, my first impression was that TV does not do Nascar justice. - I couldn't believe how fast they were flying around the track.
It was a cool experience. We sat there all night, watching the race, drinking beer after beer, eating roasted peanuts, and talking to one another amidst the noise of those powerful engines. -It was awesome. We even hung out at our seats after the race and talked with several of the strangers who were sitting in the same section as us. I loved it. Thanks Dad.
In the Spring of 2004, we went to the Vegas race. We were shuttled there from our hotel. - It was cool, but the ambiance wasn't the same as it was in the south. - Couldn't bring your own food & drink in, not as much tailgaiting, just not as authentic as Bristol was. The race was exciting though.
I don't recall if I ever posted this after I did this or not....but here is a little vid I put together of me and a couple of friends doing our Richard Petty Driving Experience at Michigan International a couple of years ago...I have a couple more on there (one of the GF doing her ride-a-long and my full driving experience (which I've needed to edit down now for 2 years).
My first race was an IROC race at MIS. The year Jr. and Sr. bumped each other on the final lap in turn 3 (jr. bumping sr.) and turn 4 (sr. popping jr.).
When we first got to the track, the cup guys were practicing. My wife went to the bathroom and my son and I went up under the grandstands, where my wife would see us.........I remember (we were about by the start finish line) telling my son "here they come, in turn 3.........now they're in turn 4............here they come" And BAM, when they went by it was so loud!!!! It was not windy at all, but as the cars went by there was a nasty breeze..........that, the power of the engines, the sounds......hooked me instantly.
We now attend Bristol for every spring race and have made 2 august races. We've made friends from TN, N. Carolina, Maryland, Canada, Indiana......Heck, I have the phone numbers for many of them on my cell phone. I'm in almost daily contact with the couple from Canada (e-mail contact)
Funny thing is, I'm 40 now, and most of the people we've befriended are over 60. John and his wife, from Indy, are 75, Dave and Lynda from Can. are both retired, about 65. Big john (he works at the campground) is, of course, from TN and man, if even 1/3 of his stories are true that man could outdrink a horse.
We all get the same campsite each race, very close to each other. A few weeks before the spring race our phone starts ringing......friends from there calling to plan the evening meals so we can all eat together. The workers at the campground like us enough (well, I'm not stupid, I know it's because of my wife and her twin sister) that, even though we don't go to the august race, they save our campsite, just in case. We're at the top of the first hill, great location, and the workers don't let anyone camp there.
We've been there when my wife and sis in law laid out to tan cause it was so hot, and we've been there when it's snowed so hard you could hardly see. Last august, our friends set up a webcam so we could see them, watch them......they put a pool in our spot.
I love racing, but trust me, even if we didn't have tickets for the spring race, we'd go just to see the friends we have made. We go probably more because of them than because of the racing.
Cool vid. I've wanted to do that as well. I'm surprised at the speed though. Not knocking you, or the Petty Experience, but I did 142 mph up there when I worked for Pontiac (a dealership) At the end of pit road we went through the infield "road course" and came onto the track just before turn 3. Once on the track, we cranked it up, from 3rd gear, then to 4th. We were still accelerating down the front stretch when we had to back it down to come into the infield road course again. In Pontiac Formula Firebirds no less, basically right off the factory floor.
Regardless, the formulas didn't sound as good as the cars you drove. One thing that sticks out in my mind is, standing a hundred yards or so from the track, we didn't hear the exhaust as much as we heard the wind noise, (wind going over the car - sounds like a thunderstorm approaching really ) Especially when 2 or 3 would go by close together.
However, that was back when GM had money, or thought they did - 1994 I believe.
One other thing that stuck out was how wide that track seemed when you looked at it, and how dang narrow it seemed when you were cruising along at 142 mph. Did you get that feeling too?
Quote: One other thing that stuck out was how wide that track seemed when you looked at it, and how dang narrow it seemed when you were cruising along at 142 mph. Did you get that feeling too?
ABSOLUTELY! I don't think I need to tell you Michigan is a wide wide track (but it is;) ). Drivers love it for how wide it is. I can tell you that thing shrinks up to the size of a one lane bridge when your on it! I did the ride-a-long too and the driver took me up to 168- 170mph. The feeling that the car is on the edge is amazing and that is 30 MPH less than what they race at. It makes you wonder how they don't wreck more often going 3 and 4 wide. I respect the drivers even more after doing this.
As for the 142. You have to stay behind your instructor. His pace determines yours. I think fastest was 147 out of 30 people. My one friend who does race at 1/2 mile tracks asked what it would take to have them let us go faster. The supervisor told us, "More money," and winked. We did an 8 lap program. They have 1/2 day stuff where, for more money, you get more speed and passing.
Yeah, you've been there. I was amazed, standing there looking at the track, at how wide it seemed. When I was driving? I definitely remember tucking my elbows in a little closer........amazing what speed can do for a persons perception.
Come on, can anyone give Sammy just a little love? Like maybe he's your 30th favorite driver or something like that?
Big Martin Truex fan here...but if he seems out of the running, i lose interest quickly.
It just happens that way. I hope he picks it back up this year. Im bummed that Menard was just starting to become a driver and then he bailed on DEI, so IDK what theyre going to do. Hopefully Marty keeps the team afloat.
"It has to start somewhere It has to start somehow What better place than here? What better time than now?"
Quote: I Needless to say, my first impression was that TV does not do Nascar justice.
You hit the nail right on the head, being there is just indescribable(but I will try ). The thing that I like the most is the smell,a combo of burning rubber, fuel, and exhaust . People who have been there will know the smell I am describing. The sound of 43 cars with about 800 HP each all starting their engines at the same time, the incredible sound when they all hit the accelerator at the same time after the pace car pulls off and they cross the start/finish line and head towards turn 1.
I will also say goingto a race in the south is way better than going to one in th north. I have been to Charlotte,Martinsville,Bristol,and Richmond. The atmosphere was way better down there than the races I went to at Michigan,Pocono, and Indy.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
lol...or, depending on the rear impact, driving with a rocket launcher.
He usually finished in the top 2 in that car... People would laugh at the car until it blew by them on the track
Actually their are a few tracks in Cali that have a Pinto racing series. They are completely stock cars so you can get into a car and race for $5-600. If you dont have a car their are people at the track who will lease you one for cheap.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
I find myself every year being excited about Daytona - then catching only a few more of the big races as the season drags along... Brickyard, Pepsi 400, 600 at Charlotte. The sport as a whole can't hold my attention.
I have two main problems...
1. The cars are ALL the same. Ford's look like Chevy's. Chevy's look like Toyota's - you get the point.
2. Unless you're in a team of one of the big ownership groups - you have NO CHANCE. 3 teams have a legit shot every year - I can't stand it. Money has killed the sport of racing IMO.
I was a Bill Elliot guy growing up, I liked Dale Jarrett after him and I've always loved Dave Blaney because he's from right down the road from me - but let's be honest, he ain't winning a championship anytime soon.
So come time for the 500 I'll watch, then the Monday after that it's time to get ready for baseball.
"If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college" GO ROCKETS
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