2014 NASCAR Thread

[93henfan]

Gordon out by one point as Kyle Larson is moved out of the groove by Newman into the wall and is passed by Newman on last lap to get the one point to beat out Gordon. Heartbreaking for 24.

[93henfan]

So there will be a first-time champion in 2014.

Sucks for me because I don't like any of the four. Guess I'll pull for Harvick. Blah.

At least that mouth-breather Keselowski is out.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Gordon out by one point...

Who says there is no God?

[89Hen]

Final Four:

Harvick
Hamlin
Logano
Newman

And I'm done with NASCAR. This has to be the worst format to determine a champion I've ever seen in any sport, including international figure skating.

[93henfan]

Final Four:

Harvick
Hamlin
Logano
Newman

And I'm done with NASCAR. This has to be the worst format to determine a champion I've ever seen in any sport, including international figure skating.

Tell me about it. After the race Newman openly stated that he ran Larson into the wall on the last lap to gain the one spot he needed to bump Gordon.

To use your figure skating example, it'd be like the Russian judge saying she gave fair scores to the Americans during the preliminary rounds but had to give bad scores in the finals when it really counted.

[CAA Flagship]

And I'm done with NASCAR. This has to be the worst format to determine a champion I've ever seen in any sport, including international figure skating.

Tell me about it. After the race Newman openly stated that he ran Larson into the wall on the last lap to gain the one spot he needed to bump Gordon.

To use your figure skating example, it'd be like the Russian judge saying she gave fair scores to the Americans during the preliminary rounds but had to give bad scores in the finals when it really counted.

Damn Russians

[BDKJMU]

Gordon out by one point as Kyle Larson is moved out of the groove by Newman into the wall and is passed by Newman on last lap to get the one point to beat out Gordon. Heartbreaking for 24.

I'm rootin for Neuman. I want to see it blow up in NASCAR's faces:
"Winless champ would undermine NASCAR's new Chase

The most troubling aspect of crowning a winless driver as the champion of a new format predicated on winning is how much NASCAR tacitly suggested it was highly unlikely.

In trotting out the Chase for the Sprint Cup overhaul during a nationally televised news conference in January, NASCAR chairman Brian France made 25 references to either "wins" or "winning" in stumping for a playoff designed to weed out the scourge of pesky "points racing" – settling for a solid result rather than striving for greatness -- that often had dominated its championship storylines.

"It's going to make winning the most important thing by a wide margin," France said. "Everything is focused around winning, and that is exactly what our fans want."

So how will those fans react if Ryan Newman becomes the first winless champion in the 65-year history of its premier series?

Those are the stakes for France's brainchild entering Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 11th edition of the Chase has produced unprecedented desperation, compelling moments and incessant pressure, living up to its billing of a new and improved championship with nonstop dramatics.

And yet it could be overshadowed – and undermined to a great degree – depending on how the title is awarded at Homestead.

It doesn't seem probable that Newman, who enters the championship round as an overwhelming underdog to fellow contenders Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, can win his first championship without a victory.

But it also didn't seem probable that the Richard Childress Racing driver still would be eligible for a title.

He and his team have gamed the system perfectly and maximized their only route to a title during a season in which the No. 31 Chevrolet hasn't flaunted the speed to keep pace with the favorites.

If he emerges as the highest finisher among the final four while adhering to the methodical and plodding style that carried him to Homestead, Newman justifiably won't be apologizing for it.

"It doesn't matter to me," he said when asked Sunday about his lack of a victory. "The fastest car may not win. The best car on a restart may not win. You just never know."

Newman shouldn't care about perceptions.

But NASCAR should."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /18816477/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[89Hen]

I'm rootin for Neuman. I want to see it blow up in NASCAR's faces:
"Winless champ would undermine NASCAR's new Chase

I'm hoping all four wreck in the opening laps and it's a battle for 37th place.

AND have the top 5 be Gordon, Johnson, Jr...

[93henfan]

Kevin "Happy" Harvick: 2014 Sprint Cup Champion

[93henfan]

2. Newman
3. Hamlin
4. Logano (doomed by a fumbled jack on last pit stop)

[89Hen]

So many comments by the talking heads on how well the chase worked.

[BDKJMU]

So many comments by the talking heads on how well the chase worked.

Yep- (Just got done watching postrace).

[dbackjon]

So, you all loved the new format!

[93henfan]

Ouch. Doing some Xmas shopping in Dover and snapped a couple more pictures of the track. Pic 1 shows turn 2 seating completely gone. Pic 2 shows turn 3 coming down: