2016 NASCAR thread

[BDKJMU]

I was going to start a thread with the big news about Tony Stewart, but, then I'd go ahead and start the yearly NASCAR thread, since the NASCAR Sprint Cup season kicks off in 9 days with the Sprint Unlimited from Daytona.

Several big stories coming into the season, one of them being Tony Stewart's farewell tour. Well, the story just got a lot bigger.

Tony Stewart to miss early-season races with injury; full recovery expected
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/t ... 500-020416" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

Let's go 22 and 88.

I'll be at both Dover races, as always, top row 46, Sec 101. My youngest son fell head over heels for NASCAR last year and is pestering me for additional races. Considering some combination of New Hampshire, Pocono (bleh), Richmond or Martinsville (my personal favorite since I first went in the mid 70s). If either 22 or 88 are in the final four, I'd love to hop a flight to Homestead/Miami as well.

And Tony Stewart makes some really dumb decisions in life. Running over a guy, breaking his back in an ATV a month before Daytona, believing in Danica Patrick, etc.

[bluehenbillk]

Without the Rainbow Warrior I'm not feeling it yet.

I need a new favorite driver, any suggestions?

[93henfan]

Without the Rainbow Warrior I'm not feeling it yet.

I need a new favorite driver, any suggestions?

You want to start on the ground floor? Chase Elliott

Safe, boring pick? Jimmie Johnson

Like batshit crazy people? Kurt Busch

Don't care about winning; like affirmative action? Danica Patrick

Current hard chargers: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Dale Jr, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex

The Peyton Manning-like swansong season: Tony Stewart

[ASUG8]

Where's Willie T. Ribbs when you need him?

[YoUDeeMan]

Without the Rainbow Warrior I'm not feeling it yet.

I need a new favorite driver, any suggestions?

Are there any Asian drivers? I hear they are good drivers...go with one of those.

[93henfan]

Without the Rainbow Warrior I'm not feeling it yet.

I need a new favorite driver, any suggestions?

Are there any Asian drivers? I hear they are good drivers...go with one of those.

Kyle Miyata Larson

[93henfan]

I just saw on Race Hub that NASCAR introduced its charter system today. It's a nine-year rollout that gives a financial guarantee and guaranteed starting spot to 36 teams. It also reduces the NASCAR field from 43 to 40 cars. So, there are only going to be four open spots in each field for qualifying.

[dbackjon]

I just saw on Race Hub that NASCAR introduced its charter system today. It's a nine-year rollout that gives a financial guarantee and guaranteed starting spot to 36 teams. It also reduces the NASCAR field from 43 to 40 cars. So, there are only going to be four open spots in each field for qualifying.

Thoughts on this?

[93henfan]

I just saw on Race Hub that NASCAR introduced its charter system today. It's a nine-year rollout that gives a financial guarantee and guaranteed starting spot to 36 teams. It also reduces the NASCAR field from 43 to 40 cars. So, there are only going to be four open spots in each field for qualifying.

Thoughts on this?

Well, it hurts any new independents, but there haven't been many independents make waves in NASCAR since the early 80s (Richard Childress, Buddy Arrington, JD McDuffy come to mind). This basically locks out those guys. I also find it curious that the delta of four cars matches up perfectly with the four somewhat heavy hitter teams that didn't get a charter: JGR #19 Carl Edwards, Wood Brothers #21 Ryan Blaney, Stewart-Haas #41 Kurt Busch, and H Scott Motorsports #46 Michael Annett. One odd twist is that Michael Waltrip Racing statistically qualified for two charters but just went out of business. So, Michael can sell those two charters.

Anyway, for the sport as a whole, this is good. For potential new entrant teams, it's obviously a barrier.

[BDKJMU]

Let's go 22 and 88.

I'll be at both Dover races, as always, top row 46, Sec 101. My youngest son fell head over heels for NASCAR last year and is pestering me for additional races. Considering some combination of New Hampshire, Pocono (bleh), Richmond or Martinsville (my personal favorite since I first went in the mid 70s). If either 22 or 88 are in the final four, I'd love to hop a flight to Homestead/Miami as well.

And Tony Stewart makes some really dumb decisions in life. Running over a guy, breaking his back in an ATV a month before Daytona, believing in Danica Patrick, etc.

Of all the drivers out there couldn't you got him for root for someone other than Joey Lawhino..

[BDKJMU]

Without the Rainbow Warrior I'm not feeling it yet.

I need a new favorite driver, any suggestions?

You want to start on the ground floor? Chase Elliott

Safe, boring pick? Jimmie Johnson

Like batshit crazy people? Kurt Busch

Don't care about winning; like affirmative action? Danica Patrick

Current hard chargers: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Dale Jr, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex

The Peyton Manning-like swansong season: Tony Stewart

Yep. He's as close as you can get to a Philly area guy. From Mayetta, NJ, he moved to NC in his early 20s about 15 years ago).

[93henfan]

Let's go 22 and 88.

I'll be at both Dover races, as always, top row 46, Sec 101. My youngest son fell head over heels for NASCAR last year and is pestering me for additional races. Considering some combination of New Hampshire, Pocono (bleh), Richmond or Martinsville (my personal favorite since I first went in the mid 70s). If either 22 or 88 are in the final four, I'd love to hop a flight to Homestead/Miami as well.

And Tony Stewart makes some really dumb decisions in life. Running over a guy, breaking his back in an ATV a month before Daytona, believing in Danica Patrick, etc.

Of all the drivers out there couldn't you got him for root for someone other than Joey Lawhino..

I'm now a huge Logano fan as well, especially after seeing what Kenseth did to him. My goals this year are 7 Logano wins, a championship, and wrecks of as many JGR cars as possible.

[93henfan]

You want to start on the ground floor? Chase Elliott

Safe, boring pick? Jimmie Johnson

Like batshit crazy people? Kurt Busch

Don't care about winning; like affirmative action? Danica Patrick

Current hard chargers: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Dale Jr, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex

The Peyton Manning-like swansong season: Tony Stewart

Yep. He's as close as you can get to a Philly area guy. From Mayetta, NJ, he moved to NC in his early 20s about 15 years ago).

That's a great point. Truex is pretty much a local and considers Dover his home track. He's supposedly a huge Flyers fan. His father also owns Sea Watch, which has a large clam plant in my hometown of Milford DE. The Truex family really does have roots in the area. Would have loved to see Truex latch on with Hendrick, but Furniture Row is doing well regardless. Furniture Row amazes me honestly. Every other shop is in North Carolina and their garage is in Denver. That's wild.

[BDKJMU]

Of all the drivers out there couldn't you got him for root for someone other than Joey Lawhino..

I'm now a huge Logano fan as well, especially after seeing what Kenseth did to him. My goals this year are 7 Logano wins, a championship, and wrecks of as many JGR cars as possible.

And that made me even root for Matt a little.

You're goals should be 7 Junior wins and a championship...

[BDKJMU]

Yep. He's as close as you can get to a Philly area guy. From Mayetta, NJ, he moved to NC in his early 20s about 15 years ago).

That's a great point. Truex is pretty much a local and considers Dover his home track. He's supposedly a huge Flyers fan. His father also owns Sea Watch, which has a large clam plant in my hometown of Milford DE. The Truex family really does have roots in the area. Would have loved to see Truex latch on with Hendrick, but Furniture Row is doing well regardless. Furniture Row amazes me honestly. Every other shop is in North Carolina and their garage is in Denver. That's wild.

Moves from Chevy & an RCR alliance to Toyota and a JGR alliance. Big upheaval, but in the long run definitely a step forward..

[93henfan]

I'm now a huge Logano fan as well, especially after seeing what Kenseth did to him. My goals this year are 7 Logano wins, a championship, and wrecks of as many JGR cars as possible.

And that made me even root for Matt a little.

You're goals should be 7 Junior wins and a championship...

Junior will never win a championship.



I hope I just unjinxed him.

[93henfan]

Brian Vickers strongly rumored to be the replacement driver for Tony Stewart at Daytona.

Good for him if so. His medical history of blood clots has been sad.

[93henfan]

Chase Elliott takes the pole for the Daytona 500. Matt Kenseth second.

Everyone else will race it out in the duels Thursday night.

[BDKJMU]

Hamlin won a wreck fest of a Sprint Unlimited on Sat night that ended under caution. New overtime rule came into play. I guess its better than 1 GWC attempts at Daytona & Talladega like they did last season instead of the prior 3 attempts. I just wished they would go back to 3 attempts, so it would mostly limit the races ended under caution to be if the caution came out on the white flag lap...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2616 ... d-reaction#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If anyone doesn't know what the new OT rule is, its explained here:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/ ... rules.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

The Unlimited was a snooze fest. Jr had his typical luck. Pretty wild seeing all that spacer foam fly out of the side of his car when it was ripped off.

[89Hen]

Do I just keep rooting for the 24 this year? I always liked Bill Elliott and really haven't heard many good/bad things about Chase.... seems like it would be an easy transition for me.

[93henfan]

Do I just keep rooting for the 24 this year? I always liked Bill Elliott and really haven't heard many good/bad things about Chase.... seems like it would be an easy transition for me.

He's going to be good. Plus he's less gay than Jeff Gordon and intelligible when he speaks, unlike his dad.

God damn, I remember laughing my ass off the first time I ever heard Bill Elliott in the mid-80s. Dawsonville, GA makes Statesboro look like NYC.

[Gil Dobie]

Caually thinking about going to the race on Sunday. See how motivated we are. I've seen tickets for $137, in the Grandstand.

[CAA Flagship]

Caually thinking about going to the race on Sunday. See how motivated we are. I've seen tickets for $137, in the Grandstand.

Do it. Bucket List checkoff.