The Nascar and other Motorsports thread!

[Kevin R.I.]

I hope somebody else wins it next year.

[Scuilly]

I hope somebody else wins it next year.

ME TOO!!!!! I like Jimmie but enough is enough!!!

Congrats to CARL for winning his second straight cup race!

[JRRacing64]

Tonight Nascar officials made their big announcement of the major changes to Nascar's top touring series for the 2011 season.

NASCAR announced Wednesday that it has added a wild card element to setting the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field and it has simplified its points system for 2011, making it easier for fans, competitors and the industry to understand.
While the 12-driver Chase field remains intact, the final two spots will be determined by the number of wins during the first 26 races.
The top 10 in points following Race No. 26 -- the "cutoff" race -- continue to earn Chase berths.
Positions 11 and 12 are "wild card" qualifiers and will go to non-top-10-ranked drivers with the most wins, as long as they're ranked in the top 20 in points. The top-10 Chase drivers will continue to be seeded based on wins during the first 26 races, with each win worth three bonus points. The wild card drivers will not receive bonus points for wins and will be seeded 11th and 12th, respectively. It's a move aimed towards rewarding winning and consistency during the regular season.
Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, made the announcements at the NASCAR Hall of Fame during NASCAR's annual media event as part of the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour.
"The fans tell us that winning matters the most with them, so we're combining the tradition of consistency in our sport with the excitement that comes along with winning," said France. "This makes every race count leading into the 26th race of the season at Richmond, when we set the field for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup."
The new points system -- which applies to all NASCAR national series -- will award points in one-point increments. As an example, in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, race winners will earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the win. Winners also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing their total to a possible maximum of 48 points.
All other drivers in a finishing order will be separated by one-point increments. A second-place finisher will earn 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on. A last-place finisher  43rd place  earns one point. In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the last-place finisher receives eight points, to account for that series' 36-driver race field.
"Many of our most loyal fans don't fully understand the points system we have used to date," said France, referencing the system that has been in use since 1975. "So, we are simplifying the points system to one that is much easier to understand. Conceptually, it is comparable to our previous system, but it is easier to follow."
During his remarks Wednesday night, France reflected on the outstanding competition the sport enjoyed in 2010 and expected to see that high-caliber of racing to continue once the green flag drops for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 20.
"NASCAR enters 2011 with positive momentum and a great sense of excitement and optimism," said France. "We're extremely excited for the launch of the season. Leading the season off with Daytona, Phoenix and Las Vegas, we believe our fans are in store for some of the best racing the sport has to offer."
Other competitive enhancements announced Wednesday:
Pick a Series  Drivers in all three national series now must select the series where they'll compete for a driver championship. Drivers still may compete in multiple series and help their teams win owner titles in series where they're not competing for a driver title. The move helps spotlight young talent in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
New Qualifying Procedure  The qualifying order will be set based upon slowest to fastest practice speeds.
Inclement Weather Qualifying  If bad weather cancels qualifying, the final starting lineup will be determined by practice speeds. The same rule book procedures will be used to determine eligibility to start a race. If weather cancels practice sessions, then the starting lineup will be set by points, per the rule book.
Tire Rules Revision  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams now are allowed five sets of tires for practice and qualifying instead of six. They must return four of those sets to Goodyear in order to receive their race allotment, and may keep one set of practice/qualifying tires. Tire allotments for race weekends will vary according to historical performance data.
Closed Loop Fueling System  Introduced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, this goes into effect for all three national series in 2011. It combines a more efficient fueling system with the elimination of the catch-can man, considered the most "vulnerable" pit-crew member. Teams now will use six, rather than seven, over-the-wall pit-crew members.
Evolution Of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car  NASCAR continues to work with the manufacturers and teams to enhance the look of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car. The cars have new fronts this season and the body makeover will continue to help appeal to fans and aid manufacturer identity.
(NASCAR)(1-26-2011)

Chase will go to top 10, plus 2 biggest winners: Twelve NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2011 -- the top 10 in points and the two drivers not in the top 10 who have the most race victories in NASCAR's 26-race regular season. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France is expected to confirm that arrangement, along with a points system that gives 43 points to race winners and then one-point increments down to just one point for the last-place finisher. Each driver who leads a lap will get one bonus point, and regular-season race winners are expected to get two or three Chase bonus points for each victory. There will be no knockout rounds in the Chase, as NASCAR had hinted at earlier.(SPEED)(1-26-2011)

[Celtic Lass]

I like the changes. Makes it more "fair" so to speak. Winning is important, that is what NASCAR has always been about and it should still be that way. Points system or not.

[JRRacing64]

Well we are 6 days away from the first race for the Sprint cup cars at the newly repaved Daytona. The Budweiser shootout should be exciting! Rooting for Dale Jr to end his Cup Series winless drought on Saturday. ;-)

[JRRacing64]

I'm really amped up for tonight's race! I watched the practice sessions last night and things were quite wild! The two car drafts are just as prevalent as they were at Talladega. Speeds were up as well! I believe Joey Logano had a lap of 203 mph. We'll see if Nascar will change the plate size for tonight or make a change later in the week for the Daytona 500.

[Kevin R.I.]

figuring it was gonna be Buton or Harvick....surprise!

[JRRacing64]

Kinda funny how the Shell - Penzoil colors have now won this race 3 years in a row!

I wish Nascar would clearly define whats a pass below the yellow line. I've heard them say many times if you if you've made it past the rear bumper before your under the line then it's considered a clean pass. Also what happened to forcing someone under the yellow line rule? Newman clearly forced Hamlin down and he wasn't penalized. 

I think the best way to describe this Bud shootout would be different. The two car draft was the norm for the whole race. After the race last night I wasn't really liking this type of racing at Daytona. But now that I had a night to think about it. It wasn't all that bad. I guess the game for Restrictor plate racing has evolved to this.

Now for todays qualifying. Should be an interesting one.

[Kevin R.I.]

Kinda funny how the Shell - Penzoil colors have now won this race 3 years in a row.

will Kurt Busch be called "double deuce " now??

[JRRacing64]

Kinda funny how the Shell - Penzoil colors have now won this race 3 years in a row.

will Kurt Busch be called "double deuce " now??

I think it'll work.

[JRRacing64]

What a day today at Daytona for the Duel 150 races! Kurt Busch held off a charge from Regan Smith in race #1 and Jeff Burton got by team mate Clint Bowyer to win race #2! It was unfortunate for the rookie, Trevor Bayne driving the woodbrother's #21 crashed on the last lap after running up front pushing Jeff Gordon the whole. Can't wait for the truck race tomorrow. Should be interesting to see what that race will be like on the new pavement.

[Kevin R.I.]

If it wasen`t for bad luck, Junior would have no luck at all, good thing pole position isn`t too important at plate tracks. He using a Talledega car they`ve used in the past.Could this be Kurt Busch`s chance???  Looking pretty stout, especially for being only one of two Dodges.

[JRRacing64]

What a truck race last night! Michael Waltrip 10 years to the day after losing his friend and boss Dale Earnhardt, wins! What an emotional win for him. 

[Maggie]

I don't follow Nascar even though Daytona is only 68 miles away, although right now we can't avoid it on local TV! 

I just pray everyone stays safe.

I do know a little about the drivers etc, just what I've picked up on the news...and I've been to the Daytona track when my friend Maggie May got her husband 8 circuits of the track for his birthday surprise....they were so thrilled it was easy to get caught up in it.

A lady I know is a friend of Bobby Labonte, who may not be one of the top drivers, but is certainly one of the good guys of Nascar.
Please take a look at this:
http://www.bobbylabontefoundation.org/events/11_jordan.php

Our friend Wendell at Daytona:                                       ...and there he is on the track!

[Kevin R.I.]

I think it`ll be Harvick again today..just a feeling......black car and all.