2021 Food City Dirt Race Pre Race Thread

This is giving me major Indy 2008 vibes. We’re running the race during the day instead of the night for the 6 fans in LA so it’ll be a one groove snooze fest, and the tire compound is so bad we’re gonna have mandatory yellows every 20 laps. This doesn’t sound ideal
I swore I wouldn't go here this year but this one pushed me over the edge.

They're running it in the day because if they ran it at night, the NCAA tournament would slaughter it in the ratings.

Okay, I fell off the wagon. I'll climb back on and try again.
 
In addition to the obivous tire issues, the cars really tore up the track..

Which is why turning a concrete oval into a dirt track was a stupid idea to begin with, oh and visibility is awful too
 

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In addition to the obivous tire issues, the cars really tore up the track..

Which is why turning a concrete oval into a dirt track was a stupid idea to begin with, oh and visibility is awful too
We get a dirt race with cup cars and an excuse to reconfigure bristol to it’s original form.

win/win.
 
It's eviscerating tires like Rockingham's bigger uglier grandfather.. They'll be lucky to make 50 laps on one set under green..

It's getting so bad, NASCAR's considering giving teams an extra set of tires and an extra opportunity to change tires..

We could be looking at a tire massacre on par with the 2008 Brickyard 400
 

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Would you explain the difference between day and night races in terms of the racing?

Thanks!
Night racing doesn't suck the moisture out of the track like the sun does. Frequently a well prepped track with get FASTER at some point due to moisture wicking to the surface. My main complaint is the dust. My last trip to local track for a Super Late Model invitational was a miserable experience. In the stands at exit of turn 4 and as far up in the stands as I could get, it felt like being in a sand blaster. THIS was a night race. A day race is worse. Plus a locked down dry slick track is just one-line follow-the-leader crap. This situation will be prime for one of the guys that start in the 30ish position to win it all. Slow and steady will be the winner. Maybe diamond off the corners to reduce RR tire wear? There WILL be TONS of blown RR's. That isn't nec a fail for the concept. They have to start somewhere and build a notebook. Not sure if I answered the question?
 
Night racing doesn't suck the moisture out of the track like the sun does. Frequently a well prepped track with get FASTER at some point due to moisture wicking to the surface. My main complaint is the dust. My last trip to local track for a Super Late Model invitational was a miserable experience. In the stands at exit of turn 4 and as far up in the stands as I could get, it felt like being in a sand blaster. THIS was a night race. A day race is worse. Plus a locked down dry slick track is just one-line follow-the-leader crap. This situation will be prime for one of the guys that start in the 30ish position to win it all. Slow and steady will be the winner. Maybe diamond off the corners to reduce RR tire wear? There WILL be TONS of blown RR's. That isn't nec a fail for the concept. They have to start somewhere and build a notebook. Not sure if I answered the question?
Honestly, if this race sucks.. This will be the last Cup dirt race we ever see
 
I swore I wouldn't go here this year but this one pushed me over the edge.

They're running it in the day because if they ran it at night, the NCAA tournament would slaughter it in the ratings.

Okay, I fell off the wagon. I'll climb back on and try again.

At minimum 3 tournament games will be overlapping with the race. First one is at 2
 
In addition to the obivous tire issues, the cars really tore up the track..

Which is why turning a concrete oval into a dirt track was a stupid idea to begin with, oh and visibility is awful too
Learning process.

Make the race a series of shorter heat races and make sure the track is soaked.
 
In addition to the obivous tire issues, the cars really tore up the track..

Which is why turning a concrete oval into a dirt track was a stupid idea to begin with, oh and visibility is awful too
Most established dirt tracks import clay materials for placement on a properly prepared base.

This is no different.
 
It's eviscerating tires like Rockingham's bigger uglier grandfather.. They'll be lucky to make 50 laps on one set under green..

It's getting so bad, NASCAR's considering giving teams an extra set of tires and an extra opportunity to change tires..

We could be looking at a tire massacre on par with the 2008 Brickyard 400
I guess you missed practice. Some teams were having no tire problems at all, while others who didn't have the hang of it were wearing out the right rear ONLY. The procedure for a flat tire during the race? Teams are allowed to replace that tire only until a race break in which the option of changing tires OR not is in play.

For some of us, that adds another dimension to the race.
 
Learning process.

Make the race a series of shorter heat races and make sure the track is soaked.
Track cannot be soaked because of the windshield. Yes, the windshields have tearoffs, but not something that the driver can do, like face shield tear offs. Just like the truck race at Eldora, it will be packed as hard as it can be...
 
Interesting. It might be worth knowing why.
It showed his grill was clogged, he wasn't the only one who was blowing steam. I would imagine some screens are being re designed in the pits. Harvick has one that is different then the others. It isn't flush but stands out from the bumper a little bit. I'll see if I can find a pic.
 
@aunty dive
It doesnt look like the cars are slammed to the ground wonder if NASCAR is allowing different shock combos - you hear anything?
Look at the tire / wheel well in the pics above in post # 234. Compare to below profile for asphalt racing. The ride height on these cars has been increased significantly to run on the dirt.

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I’ll guess that in the absence of history, shocks are “free”.
 
Either way, if this is good or not, I don't see this lasting for longer than a few years.. The logistics of having to haul in dirt annually and haul it out, plus removing and reinstallong SAFER Barriers will probably do it.. Remember, that's why Bristol stopped doing this originally in the first place, back when sprint cars used to race at BMS
 
Look at the tire / wheel well in the pics above in post # 234. Compare to below profile for asphalt racing. The ride height on these cars has been increased significantly to run on the dirt.

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I’ll guess that in the absence of history, shocks are “free”.
Back to running 90/10 shock on LF instead of 10/90.
 
Either way, if this is good or not, I don't see this lasting for longer than a few years.. The logistics of having to haul in dirt annually and haul it out, plus removing and reinstallong SAFER Barriers will probably do it.. Remember, that's why Bristol stopped doing this originally in the first place, back when sprint cars used to race at BMS
I’m pretty sure a lot more revenue is derived from a NASCAR race at dirt Bristol than from WOO events.

TV
 
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