2016 Charlotte - Bank of America 500 - Pre Race Thread

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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The NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series will gather for a doubleheader showing at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. Check out the full schedule below.

Note: All times are ET
THURSDAY, OCT. 6:

ON TRACK
-- 1:30-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 3-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 5:30-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 7:20 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
-- 1 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
-- 2:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series

FRIDAY, OCT. 7:

ON TRACK
-- 3:30-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series second practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 4:45 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 6:30-7:20 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
-- 8 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC (200 laps, 200 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

SATURDAY, OCT. 8:

ON TRACK
-- 6:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 (334 laps, 501 miles), NBC/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
 
Maybe I should go to this one too. I'm on work disability with a dislocated hip so might as well sit there and watch some NASCAR live
 
4tires17gals said:
should be during the day for fan vision and tire use
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I agree. Racing at Charlotte during the day seems to be much better. I remember one of the last day time fall Charlotte races featured 43 lead changes. Of course that wouldn't likely repeat itself, but the cars are too tight at night for much passing.
 
Charlotte II Last 10 Winners:

2006 - Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
2007 - Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)
2008 - Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)
2009 - Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
2010 - Jamie McMurray (Chevrolet)
2011 - Matt Kenseth (Ford)
2012 - Clint Bowyer (Toyota)
2013 - Brad Keselowski (Ford)
2014 - Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
2015 - Joey Logano (Ford)
 
29-4 said:
I agree. Racing at Charlotte during the day seems to be much better. I remember one of the last day time fall Charlotte races featured 43 lead changes. Of course that wouldn't likely repeat itself, but the cars are too tight at night for much passing.
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Last fall's race was delayed to the following Sunday. I scampered up there and had a great time. Frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing the hurricane push this one off too, although I'd hate for anyone already sitting on tickets to be inconvenienced.
 
trackmap_storm3.jpg
 
AdoubleU24 said:
trackmap_storm3.jpg
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Keep in mind the wind and rain will affect areas well outside that cone of probability.

For those outside the hurricane-obsessed areas and unfamiliar with this graphic, it's a guesstimate of where the center of the storm could be, not the limits of the effects of the storm. Should the storm steer to the right of the cone, effects on Charlotte would be minimal. Should it steer to the left side, and I'll be talking to y'all from somewhere west of the Appalachians.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Keep in mind the wind and rain will affect areas well outside that cone of probability.

For those outside the hurricane-obsessed areas and unfamiliar with this graphic, it's a guesstimate of where the center of the storm could be, not the limits of the effects of the storm. Should the storm steer to the right of the cone, effects on Charlotte would be minimal. Should it steer to the left side, and I'll be talking to y'all from somewhere west of the Appalachians.
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Last night, that cone was a decent bit to the east. Other models even had it taking a pretty sharp turn east once it got even with the SC/NC border. It has slowly been creeping to the west. Not good.

Not sure I can extend my stay thru Sunday night if it gets pushed, I already have a room booked thurs-sat. Sucks.
 
ToyYoda said:
Charlotte II Last 10 Winners:

2006 - Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
2007 - Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet)
2008 - Jeff Burton (Chevrolet)
2009 - Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
2010 - Jamie McMurray (Chevrolet)
2011 - Matt Kenseth (Ford)
2012 - Clint Bowyer (Toyota)
2013 - Brad Keselowski (Ford)
2014 - Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet)
2015 - Joey Logano (Ford)
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Thought The Closer took the '14 edition :)
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Last night, that cone was a decent bit to the east. Other models even had it taking a pretty sharp turn east once it got even with the SC/NC border. It has slowly been creeping to the west. Not good.

Not sure I can extend my stay thru Sunday night if it gets pushed, I already have a room booked thurs-sat. Sucks.
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Monday's 5:00p update pushed it even further to the west. If you have to eat the room, you might just go to Charlotte anyway. The weather should be good Thu. and most of Fri. Visit the HOF, some race shops, Carowinds amusement park (currently Halloween themed), the National Whitewater Rafting Center, and stuff your face full of barbeque. But I don't know where you're coming from or what conditions you'll have to drive home through.

For those who aren't aware, the National Hurricane Center does major updates at 5:00 and 11:00. When they feel the need (and for this storm, they do), they also do minor updates at 8 and 2.
Regardless of what the local hacks may say on the tube, most outlets just parrot the most recent NHC forecasts, which could be three to six hours old.
 
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Charlie Spencer said:
Monday's 5:00p update pushed it even further to the west. If you have to eat the room, you might just go to Charlotte anyway. The weather should be good Thu. and most of Fri. Visit the HOF, some race shops, Carowinds amusement park (currently Halloween themed), the National Whitewater Rafting Center, and stuff your face full of barbeque. But I don't know where you're coming from or what conditions you'll have to drive home through.

For those who aren't aware, the National Hurricane Center does major updates at 5:00 and 11:00. When they feel the need (and for this storm, they do), they also do minor updates at 8 and 2.
Regardless of what the local hacks may say on the tube, most outlets just parrot the most recent NHC forecasts, which could be three to six hours old.
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Coming from Tampa. I can still get out of the room at no cost, but I'm actually thinking of extending my stay because I'm coming for a race, and a damn race I better see. I don't see NASCAR proactively moving it to Friday, so that leaves me only one choice. I was there a couple times last year so I did the HOF and shops, etc., but the 2 people I'm coming with have not. So that's adding to my stubbornness to still make the drive, I want them to see it.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Coming from Tampa. I can still get out of the room at no cost, but I'm actually thinking of extending my stay because I'm coming for a race, and a damn race I better see. I don't see NASCAR proactively moving it to Friday, so that leaves me only one choice. I was there a couple times last year so I did the HOF and shops, etc., but the 2 people I'm coming with have not. So that's adding to my stubbornness to still make the drive, I want them to see it.
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And the 5am has now pushed it even further west. I expect my NC coastal parents will be calling later today to declare their refugee status.

Can you shift your dates to maybe Sat thru Mon?
 
Charlie Spencer said:
And the 5am has now pushed it even further west. I expect my NC coastal parents will be calling later today to declare their refugee status.

Can you shift your dates to maybe Sat thru Mon?
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Exploring that possibility now. It looks like it could actually be a Monday race at this point.

If anybody hears anything regarding NASCAR shifting the schedule please post. I wish they'd say something but I know there's still a lot of uncertainty.
 
C'mon, get serious. You know they won't say anything before Friday, and even then they'll only address the X race.

Yep, I'm betting on Monday too.
 
11am update shows it moved off the Florida coast some, but taking a more direct line for NC than before.
 
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Yep. Rats.

The NHC’s 1100 hours guess shows it making landfall just about on the North ‘n South Carolina line, Saturday mornin’ @ 0800 hours.

I’m lookin’ at the adjusted path ‘n it’s lookin’ like Isabel’s for me. Ain’t thinkin’ I’ll be watchin’ the race Saturday evenin’. Ain’t thinkin’ anyone will. Thinkin’ on headin’ for the hills.
 
If it pushes any farther west, I may be joining R Clarence.

A while back, we had a discussion about postponed Chase races. This may be the case. This sucker is predicted to still be a Cat 3 or higher early Friday. I'm thinking mostly about flooding and power outages, both at the track and back at the shops. The storm may have moved through by Monday, but the resulting damage may prevent running the race next week.
 
A 500 mile race at Charlotte would be very cool as a season finale. Brain wouldn't let that happen though, Homestead bowl is too important.
 
They need to announce something. There's a category 2 (possibly 3) hurricane going to hit the state, and a state of emergency has been announced for 66 counties and could rise. Sitting here and waiting is doing a huge disservice to everyone who's bought tickets and or hotels for set dates, taken off of work, etc. It doesn't take a genius to make a firm decision in a situation like this.

Forward thinking seems to be a struggle for these people.
 
AdoubleU24 said:
They need to announce something. There's a category 2 (possibly 3) hurricane going to hit the state, and a state of emergency has been announced for 66 counties and could rise. Sitting here and waiting is doing a huge disservice to everyone who's bought tickets and or hotels for set dates, taken off of work, etc. It doesn't take a genius to make a firm decision in a situation like this.

Forward thinking seems to be a struggle for these people.
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Still too early to tell what's going to happen, so to early to make a decision. The forecast accuracy beyond 48 hours drops off quickly. If the forecast shifts back east by 11:00am Thursday, Charlotte could receive rain only Friday and /or Saturday morning. In that case, they could easily run under the lights Saturday night. Then people who changed or cancelled their plans would be the ones complaining.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but I guarantee that's how NASCAR is looking at it. Don't expect anything from them before the Thursday 11 or 2 forecasts, maybe even the Friday 5a.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Still too early to tell what's going to happen, so to early to make a decision. The forecast accuracy beyond 48 hours drops off quickly. If the forecast shifts back east by 11:00am Thursday, Charlotte could receive rain only Friday and /or Saturday morning. In that case, they could easily run under the lights Saturday night. Then people who changed or cancelled their plans would be the ones complaining.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but I guarantee that's how NASCAR is looking at it. Don't expect anything from them before the Thursday 11 or 2 forecasts, maybe even the Friday 5a.
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Yeah this thing has changed too often to make any kind of call.

I guess I just assumed why not be proactive and be on the safe side of things rather than make more folks pay the price by waiting 2 more days. It wouldn't be a big deal to me if it were only a 5 hour drive versus 9 lol. I do look forward to at least Thursday and Friday worth of beautiful weather though!
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
It's still Tuesday, right? Just checking.
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I'm with you when it comes to forecasted rain. Forecasted hurricanes are a whole other animal though. They can change course, but not often do they change drastically. This one has changed little by little, in a bad way :(
 
AdoubleU24 said:
Heading up for this one. Going to be cutting it really close with this Hurricane I'm afraid :(
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Stay safe. It might miss the race. The weather guessers are showing it doesn't hit Miami until Friday. That would be good for Charlotte's weekend. I hope.
 
Four years ago, while @ Martinsville for the fall race, we were waiting on Hurricane Sandy. We debated on even going to the race eventually deciding to as the weather got pushed back a day or so. You never know how these things are going to turn out.

I remember that as the week and then the weekend progressed the timetable for its strike did too. NASCAR waited until the last moment to make the call to go for it as it looked like Sandy was going to hit after the race. We were hanging out in the track campground with some friends the morning of the race. Safety personal were driving through the campgrounds telling people that were there from the coast that if they intended on saving anything at home, they needed to head out now..... Before the race. I think a lot of people heeded the warning as the stands were relatively empty for the race that day.

It started raining immediately after the race that day and then tapered off until the next morning. It was a helluva tow home with the 5er and the increasing crosswinds. Something that I wouldn't want to endure again.
 
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