Bristol Sprint Cup thread --- new and improved.

Smoke14 said:
Getting any weather?
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The leading edge is about 50 miles SSE of us, will start getting some weather tonight, one of the two computer models that they use the ECMWT shows it coming ashore as a cat 2 Wed. morning with the eye moving over the top of my home on Perdido Key. We have been getting hit regularly here since before there were people, we will be fine. Just saw the model again, right straight up Perdido Bay.
 
Driving past, Johnson caught a glimpse of Stewart preparing for launch. "I saw him lingering, kind of waiting with his gear," said the eventual race runner-up. "I figured something was going to happen. I heard Tony had a GOOD toss on it. I know he IMPRESSED our crew. They were ALL talking about it. They said he had a GOOD arm on him. He had a GOOD throw, and hit it DEAD CENTER."
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LOL
 
BobbyFord said:
Jeez, what about the goofy crow-hop before the toss? :confused:
The fatboy needs to hit the gym.
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Well in truth...when you are throwing something as heavy as a nascar helmet..across your body from the left side (as a probable right hander - that's the odds) you need the hop to get all "grinded down" and throw mostly with your hips as force generators. The key is putting enough force into the throw (turning the hips for power) but also letting loose with both hands simultaneously to get a straight throw (no small feat I can assure you). Tony took the hop to square his hips and allow him a follow-through that would keep the helmet on a proper trajectory to impact the Kenseth driven car at the front - where it would bounce off in the front of the sloped frontal portion and bounce upward and go directly through Mr. Kenseth's visual area - thus making his point.

You can make fun of Tony's weight if you want - but let me assure you - a lighter man (like Jeff Gordon or Kasey Kahne) could have never pulled off that throw. First of all, they wouldn't have the hip-turn thrust to get the thing done - simple as that. Additionally, if they tried it they would have likely "come of the ground" in their effort to get the power they needed for the throw...that would have messed up their aim and they probably would have thrown the helmet high and short of the target and looked foolish.

Bottom line is...the throw Tony executed was exceptional for doing it on short notice. It was similar (in technique) to a "hammer throw" in the Olympics with the added factor that he wasn't just going for distance - but for accuracy - he had to hit a car - a moving car....plus he did it from the left side...it was absolutely amazing IMHO.
 
BobbyFord said:
Sorry, I'm 6'1". The crow-hop is what you do when you're 5'6"
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Actually Bobby..if you were experienced at the crow hop you would know that it is all about balance, center of gravity, and to allow you to flex properly and explode into the throw with your hips..height makes little difference. Now the "chicken jump" which forces you to just thrust forward...is a different story altogether...accuracy is great but distance is almost non-existent. Chicken throws rarely go beyond 10-15 feet (accurately) and land like a puff.

Many folks 6-foot and over...try the overhead throw...but under pressure they tend to either let it go too quick (and pop it up) or simply spike the helmet into the ground before the opposing car target gets to them. Now if you get excited and spike the helmet it may at least bounce up (if you are accurate) and hit the car - but it's still a 5.0 at best.

It's not "all about" height and weight...there have been a few taller helmet throwers who have done reasonably well...but as a rule a 5'10" 210 lb thrower is the best. It is similar to a golf swing and that's the size Jack Nicklaus was. Trevino wasn't as tall or as heavy as Jack or Tony but he had awesome hip action and probably would have been one of the best helmet throwers ever - except he was Mexican so he had to take up a less exclusive sport like golf B).
 
So, it looks like many of you finally got the drama that you wanted from Bristol? Even though they took most of the race out of the track, it was certainly a good event. There will be plenty of new advertising footage for the next Bristol races. Me, I prefer them actually being able to complete the pass. I think that it's pretty damn funny that they tried to keep those teams from being able to use the top groove yet it turned out to be the way around the track and most fans seem to like it again.

This year was less than last years night race. I don't think that fact really translated to the television viewer. The stands at each end of the track, under the terrace, had many empty seats. I'd guess though, as a result of this past weekends race, next spring will see an increase in fan turnout.
 
BobbyFord said:
I agree. What they did by grinding the track, basically eliminated the lower groove.
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These teams will figure it out and eventually get back to running lower again.

I'd love to see them throw a layer of asphalt over this track again and let them have at it. I'm sure the concrete is much more durable and faster drying but I'd love to see them go back to asphalt. I heard that mentioned from more than one drivers scanner the other night.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
These teams will figure it out and eventually get back to running lower again.

I'd love to see them throw a layer of asphalt over this track again and let them have at it. I'm sure the concrete is much more durable and faster drying but I'd love to see them go back to asphalt. I heard that mentioned from more than one drivers scanner the other night.
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IMO, the tires killed the low groove. Kasey was running and passing with his right tires on the grind zone, and he was making it work until he struck oil. The next time, we'll probably have the high and middle groove working, and people will ignore the low groove most of the night because passing was near impossible down there without a softer tire.
 
Tony1930 said:
Well in truth...when you are throwing something as heavy as a nascar helmet..across your body from the left side (as a probable right hander - that's the odds) you need the hop to get all "grinded down" and throw mostly with your hips as force generators. The key is putting enough force into the throw (turning the hips for power) but also letting loose with both hands simultaneously to get a straight throw (no small feat I can assure you). Tony took the hop to square his hips and allow him a follow-through that would keep the helmet on a proper trajectory to impact the Kenseth driven car at the front - where it would bounce off in the front of the sloped frontal portion and bounce upward and go directly through Mr. Kenseth's visual area - thus making his point.

You can make fun of Tony's weight if you want - but let me assure you - a lighter man (like Jeff Gordon or Kasey Kahne) could have never pulled off that throw. First of all, they wouldn't have the hip-turn thrust to get the thing done - simple as that. Additionally, if they tried it they would have likely "come of the ground" in their effort to get the power they needed for the throw...that would have messed up their aim and they probably would have thrown the helmet high and short of the target and looked foolish.

Bottom line is...the throw Tony executed was exceptional for doing it on short notice. It was similar (in technique) to a "hammer throw" in the Olympics with the added factor that he wasn't just going for distance - but for accuracy - he had to hit a car - a moving car....plus he did it from the left side...it was absolutely amazing IMHO.
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Wow, you put a lot of thought in work into this. :D
 
FenderBumper said:
IMO, the tires killed the low groove. Kasey was running and passing with his right tires on the grind zone, and he was making it work until he struck oil. The next time, we'll probably have the high and middle groove working, and people will ignore the low groove most of the night because passing was near impossible down there without a softer tire.
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There were only a handful of drivers out there that could actually get in some decent passing. Like you said Kasey, Bowyer, Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth and a few others were really hooked up at times and could complete the pass but that was mainly after a restart. Once these guys got going passing was a tough deal. The outside line was where it was at..... this time. That could all change by next spring. Heck, it changed over the weekend.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
There were only a handful of drivers out there that could actually get in some decent passing. Like you said Kasey, Bowyer, Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth and a few others were really hooked up at times and could complete the pass but that was mainly after a restart. Once these guys got going passing was a tough deal. The outside line was where it was at..... this time. That could all change by next spring. Heck, it changed over the weekend.
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I think Kasey has it all figured out already. His bump and runs were perfect. He would rub right at the turn apex and dive low to clear on exit. When he couldn't get that done, he would fake low, and when the guy went down to block, he just drove by on the high side. He was doing this to top 10 cars, not just the slow pokes.
 
FenderBumper said:
I think Kasey has it all figured out already. His bump and runs were perfect. He would rub right at the turn apex and dive low to clear on exit. When he couldn't get that done, he would fake low, and when the guy went down to block, he just drove by on the high side. He was doing this to top 10 cars, not just the slow pokes.
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Yeah, I haven't watched the television coverage yet so I don't know what all they did/didn't show but in being there watching it, it was easy to see who all were getting this figured out. I think we'll see a completely different type of race in the spring. I think it'll be as different as the two races that where there this year.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
SportsBusiness Daily reports that overnight ratings for Bristol up 19% from 3.1 to 3.7.
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Up .6 share? Note to the brain: 19% sounds much more impressive.

So it isn't JUST the economy, it's the quality of the show. Bruton promised the old Bristol would be back, and the fans came to see. I hope they were satisfied. NASCAR needs more tracks that strip away the gentlemans agreement and emotionless drivers.
 
FenderBumper said:
Up .6 share? Note to the brain: 19% sounds much more impressive.

So it isn't JUST the economy, it's the quality of the show. Bruton promised the old Bristol would be back, and the fans came to see. I hope they were satisfied. NASCAR needs more tracks that strip away the gentlemans agreement and emotionless drivers.
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Viewership up, attendance down. This night race compared to the 2011 edition. It's much cheaper to stay home and watch it on TV.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
These teams will figure it out and eventually get back to running lower again.

I'd love to see them throw a layer of asphalt over this track again and let them have at it. I'm sure the concrete is much more durable and faster drying but I'd love to see them go back to asphalt. I heard that mentioned from more than one drivers scanner the other night.
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I think Kyle Petty has the right idea.Get rid of that rear end gear rule.Let them run what they want..
 
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