2015 NASCAR Thread

[93henfan]

Truex wins at Pocono and makes the Chase.

Third win of his career. Snaps 69 race winless streak.

[BDKJMU]

Truex wins at Pocono and makes the Chase.

Third win of his career. Snaps 69 race winless streak.

FINALLY!

[BDKJMU]

I didn't know Junior was part Krout
http://nascartalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06 ... ny-begins/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well he did it:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ear ... n-germany/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

Prenup. Do it.

[BDKJMU]

NASCAR trying to lose more fans & alienate their southern fanbase.

"NASCAR working to get rid of Confederate flag at racetracks

Calling the Confederate flag an "insensitive symbol" he personally finds offensive, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sport will be aggressive in disassociating the symbol from its events.

"We want to go as far as we can to eliminate the presence of that flag," France told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I personally find it an offensive symbol, so there is no daylight how we feel about it and our sensitivity to others who feel the same way.

"We're working with the industry to see how far we can go to get that flag to be disassociated entirely from our events."

Earlier this week, NASCAR said it backed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from state capitol grounds, and noted that it bars the flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity.

In Alabama, Gov. Robert Bentley also ordered the flag removed from capitol grounds.

But banning it on race track property is a much larger task for NASCAR, which began as a Southern sport and many of its fans still embrace the flag. It flies atop campers and at camp sites at many races as fans spend entire weekends in either the infield or surrounding areas of track property.

The size of the crowd, and NASCAR's own acknowledgment that fans have a right to freedom of expression, would make it difficult to police the presence of the flag.

But France insisted NASCAR is exploring its options.

"That's what we're working on — working on how far can we go," he said. "If there's more we can do to disassociate ourselves with that flag at our events than we've already done, then we want to do it. We are going to be as aggressive as we can to disassociate ourselves with that flag."

The flag issue was heightened last week after nine black churchgoers were slain in Charleston, South Carolina. The suspect in the case, Dylann Roof, embraced Confederate symbols before the attack, posing with the rebel battle flag. That revelation prompted a reappraisal of the role such symbols play in the South.

In 2012, NASCAR banned pro golfer Bubba Watson's plan to drive the "General Lee," the car from the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard," at Phoenix International Raceway over concerns about a negative reaction to an image of the Confederate flag on its roof.

France admitted the Charleston church shooting has pushed the sport to find a way to take a tougher stance. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, two of NASCAR's biggest stars, on Friday backed NASCAR's efforts.

Brad Daugherty, the lone black Sprint Cup Series team owner in NASCAR, told SiruisXM NASCAR Radio this week that seeing the Confederate flag at races "does make my skin crawl." On Saturday, JTG Daugherty Racing won the first pole in team history when AJ Allmendinger qualified first for Sunday's race at Sonoma Raceway,

"Obviously, we have our roots in the South, there are events in the South, it's part of our history like it is for the country," France said. "But it needs to be just that, part of our history. It isn't part of our future.

"We want everybody in this country to be a NASCAR fan, and you can't do that by being insensitive in any one area.""
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015 ... _of_c.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Disappointed in Junior. Sr wouldn't have put it like Jr did. Never thought Gordon would be less outspoken. Think Austin Dillon put it best...
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/d ... sue-062615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dbackjon]

Disappointed in Junior. Sr wouldn't have put it like Jr did. Never thought Gordon would be less outspoken. Think Austin Dillon put it best...
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/d ... sue-062615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You sure about that...

Here's what Dale Sr. did years ago when he learned in a very personal way what that flag means to other people. According to his daughter Kelley, Earnhardt had put one of those "American by birth, Southern by the grace of God" bumper stickers on one of his trucks. The bumper sticker included the Confederate battle flag.

Earnhardt's housekeeper, a black woman, told him that flag made her uncomfortable.

How did he respond? Did he rebel? Did he explain to her that she didn't understand history, that the flag was a symbol of heritage, not hate?

No. He understood that different symbols mean different things to different people. If a symbol means hate to a large number of people, what message are you sending by displaying it or defending it? He went to his truck, cut out the flag part of the bumper sticker and discarded it.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015 ... ended.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[93henfan]

Dale Sr was a good-hearted person, as long as you were not driving a slower car in front of him in a race.

[dbackjon]

Dale Sr was a good-hearted person, as long as you were not driving a slower car in front of him in a race.

[93henfan]

Not so well-kept secret. There haven't been many Confederate battle flags displayed at NASCAR races for the past twenty years.

There is no more Rebel 500 or Mason Dixon 500.

I almost always survey the campground flags and you'll still find a rebel flag, but maybe one or two out of a hundred, even at southern tracks.

[BDKJMU]

Not so well-kept secret. There haven't been many Confederate battle flags displayed at NASCAR races for the past twenty years.

There is no more Rebel 500 or Mason Dixon 500.

I almost always survey the campground flags and you'll still find a rebel flag, but maybe one or two out of a hundred, even at southern tracks.

Only been going to races the last 7 years. Never have camped. Sometimes I've driven by, walked through, or ridden a shuttle through/by some of the campgrounds.
-Seen a few at Dover.
-The 1 Pocono race I went to don't remember.
-2 Loudon, NH races I went to don't think so, but really don't remember.
-Indy and Chicagoland don't think so.
-As far as the southern tracks I've been to Richmond, Bristol, Martinsville, Charlotte. Have seen them there, but a small percentage.

I'll be at Bristol in Aug and the Southern 500 in Darlington in Sept. I wouldn't be surprised to see a backlash with an increase. We'll see...

[93henfan]

Backlash is exactly what will happen. When you tell somebody they can't do something...

[dbackjon]

Backlash is exactly what will happen. When you tell somebody they can't do something...

Like stores with a no-return policy

[BDKJMU]

"Daytona offer: Turn in your offensive flag, fans

We’ve had gun exchange programs, cities trying to get weapons off the street by offering gift cards, money, tickets for gats. They have made not a dent.

We’ve had needle exchange programs, to get the dirty ones out of circulation.

Now the latest effort at cleaning up a societal sore, just in from the capital city of NASCAR racing, Daytona: A Confederate battle flag exchange program.

Honest. This is real, not an Onion parody.

Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood announced Tuesday that the track, site of this weekend’s Coke Zero 400, will offer fans the chance to turn in their Confederate battle flags for nice, new U.S. flags....."
http://furtherreview.blog.ajc.com/2015/ ... flag-fans/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The stupidity of some NASCAR officials is frankly quite baffling. Their actions are going to have the opposite effect & increase the # of flags at southern tracks..

[BDKJMU]

GD double post............................

[BDKJMU]

Not so well-kept secret. There haven't been many Confederate battle flags displayed at NASCAR races for the past twenty years.

There is no more Rebel 500 or Mason Dixon 500.

I almost always survey the campground flags and you'll still find a rebel flag, but maybe one or two out of a hundred, even at southern tracks.

I never asked, even at Dega or Dalington?

[93henfan]

Not so well-kept secret. There haven't been many Confederate battle flags displayed at NASCAR races for the past twenty years.

There is no more Rebel 500 or Mason Dixon 500.

I almost always survey the campground flags and you'll still find a rebel flag, but maybe one or two out of a hundred, even at southern tracks.

I never asked, even at Dega or Dalington?

Those two and Atlanta and Bristol have more than Dover for sure. Oddly enough, Richmond (the CSA capital) has few as does Martinsville.

But they're all a fraction of pre-90s NASCAR.

[BDKJMU]

Backlash is exactly what will happen. When you tell somebody they can't do something...

Yep. Wednesday:
"NASCAR tracks unite, ask fans not to fly Confederate flag

NASCAR's national series tracks announced Thursday that they are asking fans to refrain from displaying the Confederate flag at races following the deadly attack at a South Carolina church two weeks ago.

The facilities vowed to have the most "welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment."

The statement was signed by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. — which own most of the tracks in the Sprint Cup Series, stretching from Florida to New York to California — as well as 30 specific tracks. It also includes independent tracks such as Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Pocono Raceway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

"We are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events," the statement read. "This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate flag at our facilities and NASCAR events."

The move follows NASCAR's statement last week reiterating that the flag is banned from official use at its events. And it comes ahead of Sunday's race at Daytona International Speedway — the first in the South since the mid-June attack....."
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/07/ ... rate-flag/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Today, still 2 days out from the Cup race:
Fans fly Confederate flag at NASCAR race in Daytona Beach
Race fans say they've seen no evidence of flag exchange policy
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/fans-f ... h/33982236" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
NASCAR’s Confederate Flag ‘Ban’ Is Being Met With Defiance At Daytona Speedway
http://www.inquisitr.com/2223166/nascar ... -speedway/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All NASCAR had to do was last week was take this 1 sentence quote from their long winded statements:
"NASCAR will continue our long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity." The tracks could have issued the same 1 sentence with a 2nd sentence about vendors on track property not being alllowed to sell the flags or anything with their likeness.
With no more comments on the it. Story dies.

Instead they wet on and on about the flag this and the flag that and were looking at banning it, inclusive environment, exploring options at banning it, blah, blah, and more this week, with stronger language against the flag.

All NASCAR has done has spark a redneck rebellion....

[BDKJMU]

I never asked, even at Dega or Dalington?

Those two and Atlanta and Bristol have more than Dover for sure. Oddly enough, Richmond (the CSA capital) has few as does Martinsville.

But they're all a fraction of pre-90s NASCAR.

I've never been to a race at Atlanta. 2 at Richmond and 1 each at Bristol and Martinsville. Yeah, I probably saw a few more at Bristol than either Martinsville or Richmond.

Aug I'll be at Bristol and Sept at Darlington, so I'll see the reactions there...

Pre 90s I wasn't even watching on TV. Didn't start watching any till mid-late 90s.

[Ivytalk]

The Stars and Bars were out in full force in western Sussex County yesterday!

[BDKJMU]

The Stars and Bars were out in full force in western Sussex County yesterday!

Probably wasn't the 'Stars and Bars',

but the

but good to hear..

[93henfan]

Can we get over that? Yes, we know it's not the Stars and Bars by definition but that's what 96.93 of the public knows he means. You look really BDKJMUish when you are a stickler about things like that.

[BDKJMU]

Disappointed in Junior. Sr wouldn't have put it like Jr did. Never thought Gordon would be less outspoken. Think Austin Dillon put it best...
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/d ... sue-062615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good Karma. Dillon wins Xfinity @ Daytona and will be starting on the front row tonight next to Junior..
http://news.yahoo.com/austin-dillon-win ... EEc2VjA3Nj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Edit: oops, Daytona, not Dover...

[93henfan]

Disappointed in Junior. Sr wouldn't have put it like Jr did. Never thought Gordon would be less outspoken. Think Austin Dillon put it best...
http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/d ... sue-062615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good Karma. Dillon wins Xfinity @ Dover and will be starting on the front row tonight next to Junior..
http://news.yahoo.com/austin-dillon-win ... EEc2VjA3Nj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hate fields set by practice times.

[CAA Flagship]

Good Karma. Dillon wins Xfinity @ Dover and will be starting on the front row tonight next to Junior..
http://news.yahoo.com/austin-dillon-win ... EEc2VjA3Nj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hate fields set by practice times.

Meh. On superspeedways, running solo on the track never happens during the race.