Toyota Save Mart 350 - Pre-Race Thread

Kiante

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So, there is a lot going on this week. NASCAR does its final invitational at the new Chicago street course.

Xfinity has its stand-alone event at Mid-Ohio and "Big" ARCA Menards Series as well. *cough* Ty Gibbs invitational *cough*

Cup and ARCA West will be at Sonoma.

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Credit to Reddit (r/NASCAR) for this awesome graphic!
 
Gut says MTJ, heart says Chase keeps the HMS streak going.
 
Gut says MTJ, heart says Chase keeps the HMS streak going.
Gut, heart, brain, universe, space time continuam says Elliot wins by 25 seconds.

With the way HMS has been running and the way he's run at RCs, I think it's pretty easy choice.

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Gut, heart, brain, universe, space time continuam says Elliot wins by 25 seconds.

With the way HMS has been running and the way he's run at RCs, I think it's pretty easy choice.

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Important weekend for MY Toyotas. Already jacked for the race.
 
Gut, heart, brain, universe, space time continuam says Elliot wins by 25 seconds.

With the way HMS has been running and the way he's run at RCs, I think it's pretty easy choice.

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Sonoma is more of a rhythm track. Chase excels in charging the braking zones and outbreaking everyone. He's smooth, but Sonoma just seems to be MTJ's playground.
 
Gut, heart, brain, universe, space time continuam says Elliot wins by 25 seconds.

With the way HMS has been running and the way he's run at RCs, I think it's pretty easy choice.

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Rick may have to build a new building because the last time I was there all of the trophy cases were full. :)
 
Got Elliott and Larson on the front row, and MTJ is mid pack at best. Truex has his work cut out for him IMO. might be better for the Gibbs/Toyota fans to go with KDB?

 
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Chase was running 3rd at Sonoma in 2019 before losing oil pressure, he should be pretty stout Sunday.
I'll be shocked if he doesn't win.

Also have a weird suspicion that Larson will win.

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Gutsy posters tonight. I mean Chase and Larson are the picks? Wow. Out on a limb. Not giving up on MTJ.
 
I going with the 48 team getting their 3rd win of the season.
 
Logano had a good run at COTA, I believe he led the most laps. I don't think he can be left out of the mix
 
Some former winners at this track
View attachment 55735
One thing that always interested me was the flames helmet during the rainbow era. Obvious where the flames primary scheme came from.

Ray used to say that he could see when Jeff was digging hard in the turns because his helmet would lean more and Ray could see more of the feathers on the helmet.
 
One thing that always interested me was the flames helmet during the rainbow era. Obvious where the flames primary scheme came from.

Ray used to say that he could see when Jeff was digging hard in the turns because his helmet would lean more and Ray could see more of the feathers on the helmet.
I always thought those were feathers on Jeff's Rainbow era helmet, I never looked at them carefully.
 
With all 4 HMS teams starting in the top 7 on Sun I could see anyone of them winning this race.
 
Hendrick's luck has to run out soon. I'll go with a minor surprise of Logano winning
 
Hendrick's luck has to run out soon. I'll go with a minor surprise of Logano winning
That is a legit possibility too. There are a numerous amount of teams that could win this race. I just meant if an HMS team does win on Sun that it could be any of the 4 with the positions they are starting in. It's going to be interesting that's for sure.
 
Luck? Team finished 1-4 at Dover. They're way faster than the field right now
I didn't mean that luck was the primary contributing factor to their recent success. What I did mean was the law of averages will rear its ugly head, thus eventually resulting in some less-than-stellar results.
 
Wondering just how different this track will drive in the low downforce configuration. Thinking that the carousel will be pretty slippery, and the breaking zones into 7 and 11 should be pretty interesting. The 19 coming from 20th or whatever should be interesting as well...I think that Hendrick will be tough. They had pace there when they sucked in '19.
 
Wondering just how different this track will drive in the low downforce configuration. Thinking that the carousel will be pretty slippery, and the breaking zones into 7 and 11 should be pretty interesting. The 19 coming from 20th or whatever should be interesting as well...I think that Hendrick will be tough. They had pace there when they sucked in '19.
I don't see much of a change myself. There isn't enough high speed that one package or another is going to be that different. They might turn a little faster times with more horsepower, but by the same token wheel spin exiting corners will be harder to control. I think it is going to play into the smoother drivers hands and nobody drives smoother than Chase Elliott.
 
Wondering just how different this track will drive in the low downforce configuration. Thinking that the carousel will be pretty slippery, and the breaking zones into 7 and 11 should be pretty interesting. The 19 coming from 20th or whatever should be interesting as well...I think that Hendrick will be tough. They had pace there when they sucked in '19.
 

I appreciate this. Thank you. Wanna know what I love most about this sport....this. Love thinking about how the package might change the way they drive this track. Can't wait to see what the new car is like there. This stuff is fascinating to me.
 
I appreciate this. Thank you. Wanna know what I love most about this sport....this. Love thinking about how the package might change the way they drive this track. Can't wait to see what the new car is like there. This stuff is fascinating to me.
It is stuff like this is wish my wife would watch instead of saying "what is so hard about driving in a circle?" when I have a race on TV. And yet she thinks drag racing requires more talent than any other sport in existence (I'm not knocking drag racing).
 
I appreciate this. Thank you. Wanna know what I love most about this sport....this. Love thinking about how the package might change the way they drive this track. Can't wait to see what the new car is like there. This stuff is fascinating to me.
I didn't realize they are using a different tire. I think that is throwing a wrench in the works for the teams. I really like the races where they have to just show up and run with no nothing until the flag drops.
 
It is stuff like this is wish my wife would watch instead of saying "what is so hard about driving in a circle?" when I have a race on TV. And yet she thinks drag racing requires more talent than any other sport in existence (I'm not knocking drag racing).
I wouldn't say any sport in existence...but with stock car racing she is probably not far off from being right. I would say the skill level would be pretty close, but the NASCAR drivers definitely has to have more stamina to endure the hours of physical abuse from the heat in their car and the g-forces in the turns. I realize drag racing looks like they are just pointing the car straight and stepping on the gas and hanging on... but with the professional nitro cars that isn't even close to being accurate.
 
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