2014 Coca Cola 600 - Pre Race Thread

I've always wondered what Sprint Cup sponsors think of when they see guys who run both the NNS and NSCS wearing their NNS firesuit in their NSCS cars during practice/qualifying.
 
beantownkid10 said:
No way. Not sure how people can root for more than one person.

If Gordon's out, I just root for something interesting to happen.

When Gordon retires, I'll probably go all in on Larson or Elliott.
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If that works for you, then you should definitely stay with it.
 
lol..If something happens to DP, I find myself rooting more for "anyone but so and so"

SHR cars are always a fav too
 
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I mean I have drivers I like as people. Like really love Carl Edwards, enjoy Kyle Larson a lot, even enjoy Jr.

However once the race starts they are all enemies haha. It's no one but Jeff.

I do root against Clint Bowyer a lot.
 
reck said:
Didn't sound all that confident in his interview just now either.

Who cares though as long as the car is good for the race.
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I didn't hear the interview, but he said on Facebook that his back is pretty jacked up. 600 miles with a bad back makes for a long freaking day, but he's a tough guy. He's been doing this a long time, and he can handle it. I just hope he can end up with a nice finish to show for it all. It would really suck to go through all of that and have a lousy finish and give up the points lead on top of all that, wouldn't it?
 
BobbyFord said:
Not good for Gordon...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-cola-600-regan-smith-standby-driver/9534041/
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless something has changed, as long as he starts the race he get all the points the car earns for the race, right? I realize that pitting long enough to switch drivers and the talent drop off from Gordon to Smith will probably hurt the finish a little bit, it's not like it will cost Jeff Gordon 150 points for the day or anything. Am I right?
 
Benevolent One said:
I didn't hear the interview, but he said on Facebook that his back is pretty jacked up. 600 miles with a bad back makes for a long freaking day, but he's a tough guy. He's been doing this a long time, and he can handle it. I just hope he can end up with a nice finish to show for it all. It would really suck to go through all of that and have a lousy finish and give up the points lead on top of all that, wouldn't it?
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Yeah its kind of all making sense now.

He's been having back problems since around 2008. Wouldn't be surprised if he does do retire after this season if this continues to be a problem.

I'm kind of bummed but health comes first so let's hope for the best.
 
Benevolent One said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless something has changed, as long as he starts the race he get all the points the car earns for the race, right? I realize that pitting long enough to switch drivers and the talent drop off from Gordon to Smith will probably hurt the finish a little bit, it's not like it will cost Jeff Gordon 150 points for the day or anything. Am I right?
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They changed the points. lol

He won't lose that many points but he'll probably lose the points lead but that also doesn't matter. He has a win and he's in teh chase with it as long as he's in the top 30 in points so he's safe on that regard.

Also Regan is a stud. If the car is as good as Gordon is saying, Regan can possibly even win in it.
 
You think last week's accident pulled something the wrong way? Or maybe the zero ride height rule has shaken him enough and jarred something out of place?
 
If I were you guys, I would network with the other Jeff fans and all of you should go over and stare at your Jeff posters until the answer comes.
 
Benevolent One said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless something has changed, as long as he starts the race he get all the points the car earns for the race, right? I realize that pitting long enough to switch drivers and the talent drop off from Gordon to Smith will probably hurt the finish a little bit, it's not like it will cost Jeff Gordon 150 points for the day or anything. Am I right?
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You are pretty much right...it all comes down to circumstances. If there is a longish green at the beginning (where some back markers get lapped)...and then they can do the driver change under a caution...it should be OK. Smith is certainly no stiff so if the car is good one would expect a top 15 finish or so.

One important thing is to not have a backup driver who sees this as their "big chance" and plants the car in the wall. Smith should be a perfect backup...solid and should understand his role...stay out of trouble and bring home some points.
 
Sucks for Kyle.. but being that he was the only driver with a lap faster than Joey in happy hour I cant say I hate that he'll be in a back up car :D
 
Tony1930 said:
You are pretty much right...it all comes down to circumstances. If there is a longish green at the beginning (where some back markers get lapped)...and then they can do the driver change under a caution...it should be OK. Smith is certainly no stiff so if the car is good one would expect a top 15 finish or so.

One important thing is to not have a backup driver who sees this as their "big chance" and plants the car in the wall. Smith should be a perfect backup...solid and should understand his role...stay out of trouble and bring home some points.
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He backed up Jr. and JJ pretty well the last two years, I think if he gets in the #24 he'll do well.
 
Going on a two day trip to Galveston tomorrow, so I may not watch the race live.

Y'all have fun without me. Hopefully Jeff will be in the race since this is the 20th anniversary of his first win.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
He's already in the chase. In the worst case scenario he has to miss a few races to heal and he's already got the post season locked. Hes underrated for his toughness though. Hes raced sick, pretty much throwing up in the car and won 4 in a row. Raced with holes in his gloves & hands and won at Sonoma. I think he'll be fine after his resting today. You dont race for 20+ years and win 89 races without missing a start while being a *****.
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Took your post and quoted on here because it could get deleted..

Anyway I dont think NASCAR is going to allow that...ever.

He could possibly get away with missing this one race but as far as missing a few then come back as if nothing happened and makes the chase with his one win. The outcry would be ridiculous.

Plus they already said you must attempt all 26 races to qualify for the chase so this instance being a freak thing NASCAR might be incline to accept his withdrawal for one race but not more than.

I'll tell you though, this is a bad week for your back to flare up. He's definitely going to need backup tomorrow.
 
SpeedPagan said:
Five bucks says that Smoke isn't performing up to snuff because of his leg. Also, I only asked that because I thought David Duchovny had taken up racing. Mulder = Smolder. :D
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Byrnes acknowledged that Smoke said that he wasn't feeling good on NASCAR Radio.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Sucks for Kyle.. but being that he was the only driver with a lap faster than Joey in happy hour I cant say I hate that he'll be in a back up car :D
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I'd rather see my driver 20 something-ish after that Practice given that their set ups needed to be the opposite of what would make them go fast given the track conditions tomorrow night. Back up will be fine. His stuff will be fresh. He knows where the front is.
 
reck said:
Took your post and quoted on here because it could get deleted..

Anyway I dont think NASCAR is going to allow that...ever.

He could possibly get away with missing this one race but as far as missing a few then come back as if nothing happened and makes the chase with his one win. The outcry would be ridiculous.

Plus they already said you must attempt all 26 races to qualify for the chase so this instance being a freak thing NASCAR might be incline to accept his withdrawal for one race but not more than.

I'll tell you though, this is a bad week for your back to flare up. He's definitely going to need backup tomorrow.
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So? Denny Hamlin missed a race and hes on the chase with 1 win. The rules state you must attempt 26 races unless exempted by a health issue accepted by nascar.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
So? Denny Hamlin missed a race and hes on the chase with 1 win. The rules state you must attempt 26 races unless exempted by a health issue accepted by nascar.
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1 race being the key. NASCAR won't just allow Gordon to take several weeks off at his convinience.
 
Working until three on Sunday, stopping by Pizza Hut to grab a pizza and pasta, then it'll be time for some NASCAR! Not expecting a great race, but I'm not concerned. NASCAR excites me regardless! :)

By the way...the great news is going to give him confidence. Trever Bayne WILL win the race...
 
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FLRacingFan said:
My body is ready.
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3813577-tumblr_m9mrd7scdz1rcqnnxo1_r1_500.gif
 
Usually I start drinking at the start of the race... ish..... Im gonna be 6 or more beers in by the time NASCAR is on today because of the 500... Gonna have to start drinking coffee again at around 8 or 9 tonight lol
 
reck said:
1 race being the key. NASCAR won't just allow Gordon to take several weeks off at his convinience.
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Could you imagine if Junior missed a few races & nascar wouldnt let him in, after the jubilation of the 500 win (and finally winning a race in 5 years). There would be riots in the streets
 
Gordon not making the Chase because he doesn't attempt to qualify in all 26 races? September 13, 2013.
 
Seems like forever that this is finally race day!!! That said, I have followed Smolder's career since his IRL days and if he's not doing well there is always someone else to root for or just for a kickass race. Smolder ought to think real hard about the Turkey bowl, Chilli Bowl or the Toilet Bowl, which ever one it was that caused the broken leg. You can only go to the well so many times before it runs dry. Looking forward to a great day of racing.
 
ChexOrWrex said:
So? Denny Hamlin missed a race and hes on the chase with 1 win. The rules state you must attempt 26 races unless exempted by a health issue accepted by nascar.
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The rule states that the driver must attempt to qualify for all 26 races. Hamlin qualified the car at Fontana.
 
Would it still count if Gordon raced the first 3rd, Smith raced the second 3rd and Gordon hopped back in to close it out??
 
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