NationStates Jolt Archive

Hey! Are you ready for the Daytona 500 this weekend? As NASCAR starts the '06 season, I'll be keeping track of the top drivers in the NEXTEL Cup. Feel free to debate or discuss anything about NASCAR here. Gentelmen, start your engines!


*** NASCAR - Nextel Cup - Daytona 500 - Starting Lineup ***
(Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, Florida)

Pos No. Driver, car, time
--- --- -----------------
1. 31. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 47.581 seconds (189.151 m.p.h.)
2. 24. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 47.650
3. 38. Elliott Sadler, Ford
4. 5. Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
5. 99. Carl Edwards, Ford
6. 26. Jamie McMurray, Ford
7. 8. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
8. 43. Bobby Labonte, Dodge
9. 48. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
10. 6. Mark Martin, Ford
11. 17. Matt Kenseth, Ford
12. 45. Kyle Petty, Dodge
13. 2. Kurt Busch, Dodge
14. 42. Casey Mears, Dodge
15. 20. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
16. 16. Greg Biffle, Ford
17. 11. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet
18. 12. Ryan Newman, Dodge
19. 1. Martin Truex, Jr., Chevrolet
20. 7. Robby Gordon, Chevrolet
21. 66. Jeff Green, Chevrolet
22. 41. Reed Sorenson, Dodge
23. 21. Ken Schrader, Ford
24. 09. Mike Wallace, Dodge
25. 88. Dale Jarrett, Ford
26. 19. Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge
27. 9. Kasey Kahne, Dodge
28. 29. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
29. 49. Brent Sherman, Dodge
30. 55. Michael Waltrip, Dodge
31. 61. Kevin Lepage, Ford
32. 40. David Stremme, Dodge
33. 36. Bill Elliott, Chevrolet
34. 22. Dave Blaney, Dodge
35. 25. Brian Vickers, Chevrolet
36. 18. J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet
37. 07. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
38. 01. Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet
39. 14. Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet
40. 32. Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 48.101
41. 00. Hermie Sadler, Ford, 48.122
42. 27. Kirk Shelmerdine, Chevrolet, 48.554
43. 96. Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, champion provisional

Failed to Qualify
-----------------
10. Scott Riggs, Dodge
78. Kenny Wallace, Chevrolet
4. Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet
23. Mike Skinner, Dodge
74. Derrike Cope, Dodge
52. Larry Gunselman, Dodge
37. Chad Blount, Dodge
50. Larry Foyt, Dodge
59. Andy Belmont, Chevrolet
64. Randy LaJoie, Chevrolet
89. Morgan Shepherd, Dodge
92. Chad Chaffin, Chevrolet
80. Carl Long, Ford
15. Paul Menard, Chevrolet
95. Stanton Barrett, Chevrolet

I don't understand the fascination with left turns. If NASCAR had some ramps and obsticles I'd watch every friggin race.

Watch the races at Infineon Raceway (June 25) and Watkins Glen (Aug 13). They're road courses, with alot more twists and turns. I wish they had a few more road courses on the circuit.

I really don't think people who moan about it being nothing but left turns have ever watched a single race. It's just beyond words how left out and unknown to the sport they are.

I'm a Tony Stewart fan. I have been since his rookie year. Yes, I am watching the 500. The 125's yesterday were a nice treat, too.

I'm a Dodge fan myself, kasey khane #9, and jeremy mayfield #19.

I don't understand the fascination with left turns. If NASCAR had some ramps and obsticles I'd watch every friggin race.
I bet everyone would wreck all the time if they had right turns.

Eh I prefer the Bush races. It's basically the same race as Nextell, just shorter.

I'm a Dodge fan myself, kasey khane #9, and jeremy mayfield #19.

Kasey Khane - the only driver who can wreck each and every weekend for 2 years and still hold a sponsor.

But at least its entertaining!:)

I really don't think people who moan about it being nothing but left turns have ever watched a single race. It's just beyond words how left out and unknown to the sport they are.

I'm a Tony Stewart fan. I have been since his rookie year. Yes, I am watching the 500. The 125's yesterday were a nice treat, too.

Oh, I've watched many NASCAR races. When Tony f'n Stewart can take Raikkonen, or Rossi, or Alonso, etc I'll start watching NASCAR again. Driving in circles isnt so hard, and it's not like the cars are all that different. How often do you hear commentators claiming that one degree of deflection on the spoiler is making the difference - or 1psi of air in the front left - etc is making all the difference in a driver's performance...

Hey! Are you ready for the Daytona 500 this weekend? As NASCAR starts the '06 season, I'll be keeping track of the top drivers in the NEXTEL Cup. Feel free to debate or discuss anything about NASCAR here. Gentelmen, start your engines!
Hey! NASCAR sucks!

Don't really find left turn drafting fun for a few hours. Yes, I understand the sport is pretty much TRYING to be perfect and unlike F1, the starting line isn't the finishing line.

I still wonder why americans watch this. We might actually be opening a track here in Canada for you guys. Bah.

I just don't get it.

...but then, I am a girl, so that might add to my lack of understanding...

I'm not a huge fan of motor racing, but Nascar seems the least interesting of all of them. Watching cars go around in a circle. Kinda like sitting in a swivel chair.

Dantona starting line-up know posted at the start of this thread. Any predictions on who will win this year's Datona 500?

Oh, I've watched many NASCAR races. When Tony f'n Stewart can take Raikkonen, or Rossi, or Alonso, etc I'll start watching NASCAR again. Driving in circles isnt so hard, and it's not like the cars are all that different. How often do you hear commentators claiming that one degree of deflection on the spoiler is making the difference - or 1psi of air in the front left - etc is making all the difference in a driver's performance...

When any of those drivers can perform that way in a car that isn't 100% perfect I might watch a race. The same person wins in F1 all the time, anyway. And you don't see NASCAR drivers pulling over to let their teammate win just for points. F1 isn't real racing: No one ever passes anyone and they finish in the exact same order they start.

Jimmie Johnson #48 WINS THE DATONA 500!

When any of those drivers can perform that way in a car that isn't 100% perfect I might watch a race.
They do.

Didn't see Kimi Raikkonen driving in the European GP last year? His car was so badly damaged that the suspension eventually fell off when he started the last lap; and he still carried on (and led) until it broke.

None of the cars are 100% perfect.

The same person wins in F1 all the time, anyway.
No, they don't.

Last year there were 5 different winners in 19 races (Giancarlo Fisichella, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Michael Schumacher).

2004 had 5 winners from 18 races (Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen, Jarno Trulli and Rubens Barrichello).

2003 had 8 different winners (David Coulthard, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Rubens Barrichello, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and Michael Schumacher) from 16 races.

2002 was poor with only 4 winners (Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard) from 17 races. 2091 had 5 winners from 17 races (Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumcher).

2000 only had 4 winners (Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello) from 17 races.

1999 had 6 different winners from 16 races (Eddie Irvine, Mika Hakkinen, Heinz Harald Frentzen, Michael Schumacher, Johnny Herbert, David Coulthard).

Do I need to go on?

And you don't see NASCAR drivers pulling over to let their teammate win just for points.
And you haven't seen that in F1 since Ferrari were punished for it in 2002, three seasons ago.

F1 isn't real racing: No one ever passes anyone
Sure they do.

and they finish in the exact same order they start.
No, they don't.

For one example, Raikkonen finishes the French GP in 2nd after starting from 13th on the grid.

For another, Montoya finished in 2nd in the German GP after starting 19th on the grid.

During the British GP, Raikkonen finished in 3rd, after starting 12th.

Need I go on? I have plenty more examples.

Our true Formula 1 friends would probably have a greater perspective of the science and driver~manship that is present in NASCAR races. Only the ignorant expose themselves with comments relegating the sport as inferior. But then the America people have proven that we all have different tastes and sometimes our selections are absurd... (Georgie Porgie Bush).

In any case. Americans in general do not understand road racing like the Europeans and as such have not developed a taste for what I believe is a most wonderful spectacle of man and machine. Never~the~less, as the Ego of the Clown who runs Indy destroyed open wheel racing here in the US, I am quite happy for the alternative.

I have been a NASCAR fan for over 30 years and continue to be one. I no longer care for the Ego's of Football (american style); stedoid induced Baseball; nor what we continue to call Basketball at the Pro level. No, tis far more compelling to research the tracks; learn the science and variations brought about by degrees of banking, temperature, camber, etc.; support one's favorite driver and race team; car manufacturer; and sponsors. Each of these also exist in road racing but at different levels.

The other beauty is than on any given day most any driver has an opportunity for victory; not necessarily the case in Formula One. But hey... what do I know... I'm a Jeff Gordon fan... probably the ONLY American with the ability to race in Formula One.

PS Jimmy Johnson won while my guy finished 28th: 43 cars mean wrecks happen.

BTW: Michael Schumacher is my favorite God I mean Formula One driver and Juan Pablo Montoya was the racer who said Gordon could succeed in Formula One. Juan also gave credit to the NASCAR drivers having practiced in one.

Personally, I enjoy F1 for the technology behind it, and the spectacle surrounding it. The racing is not always as close as one would hope, and races are often won on a good pit strategy moreso than great overtaking, but it's great to watch nonetheless.

Recently I have also been impressed with Australian Touring Cars (NASCAR Fans, watch out for Marcus Ambrose this year) - the "V8 Supercars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V8_Supercars)". The racing is very close, some of the tracks are great (particularly Bathhurst) and there are always at least five people who could win any given race.

Rallying is neat because of the scenery...but the best racing you will always find in the small, local competitions.

Oh, and FIA GT-Racing is neat because of the cars, but they don't show it in Oz.

NASCAR...well, I don't get it. I find it boring and a little bit obscene. :(