NASCAR 2011 - The good and the bad

[VaDirt]

OK, I want to start this before this last race, just because. But what are some of your thoughts on the good and the bad of what NASCAR has done in 2011.

Good - The simple points. We now know how the championship will be one without have to do any math.

Bad - The continued inconsistency in calls and penalties, both on track and off.

 

[FenderBumper]

The good - Boys have at it.

The bad - Boys have at it.

Only NASCAR could continue to screw up a great idea with their autocratic refusal to define what is DEFINATELY NOT acceptable.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

I'll wait till the season is over before rendering a decision but post #2 about sums it up.

 

[kkfan91]

Bad Nascar the game 2011

 

[robbybee]

The Good: Great Championship Battles in all 3 Touring Series

The Bad: The announcement that Lucas Oil Raceway (I still call it IRP) would not be on the Nationwide or Truck schedule for 2012.

 

[Joniki]

The good. We haven't lost a driver in the cup series for over ten years.

The bad. I will not be going to Lucas oil raceway next year.

 

[KingGlamis]

The Good: Tony Stewart driving his ass off to win the Championship! That's how Championships should be won.

The Bad: Tandem drafting and restrictor plates. I know NASCAR is working on a fix, I just hope it's not a "sort-of" fix. I want to see the drivers hit the brakes in the corners at Daytona and Talladega and then haul ass on the straights.

The Really Bad: The Busch brothers. You all already know the really bad about those two clowns, I don't even need to explain it.

The Surprising: Kasey Kahne coming on so strong late in the season, even though it was his last year with that team. I have no doubt it had everything to do with his ride with Hendrick next year. He wanted to prove he was worthy of being a Hendrick driver. Which proves my long standing belief that drivers try harder when "it matters" and otherwise just give about 75%.

 

[toledo47]

Kasey Kahne coming on so strong late in the season, even though it was his last year with that team.

it was also his first year with that team. Has anyone heard about who will sponsor him in the 5 car? I wonder if there is any chance red bull will stay in the sprint cup series as just a sponsor and not as a team.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

it was also his first year with that team. Has anyone heard about who will sponsor him in the 5 car? I wonder if there is any chance red bull will stay in the sprint cup series as just a sponsor and not as a team.

Beginning in 2012 and running through 2014, Farmers Insurance will be the majority sponsor of the No. 5 Chevrolets driven by Kasey Kahne. He is to run primary paint schemes for Farmers Insurance in 22 Sprint Cup Series events annually. I don't know who the sponsor is for the remaining races each year.

 

[ted@economy]

To say that Nascar drivers only give 75% is just plain ridiculous. Saying that
Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson or Kyle Busch does not go out there every week to win is just plain silly talk .Even a back marker like a Kenny Wallace or a Robbie Gordon drives to get his car as close to the front as it will go . When Mike Wallace or Trevor Bayne won those races , you think they stopped trying and went back to putting in 75%? I could go on naming the rest of the Kevin Harvicks, Clint Bowyers ,Kasey Kanes ,Martin Truexs but My point is that they are out there giving 110% while you are at home on the couch drinking your beer .

 

[KingGlamis]

To say that Nascar drivers only give 75% is just plain ridiculous. Saying that
Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson or Kyle Busch does not go out there every week to win is just plain silly talk .Even a back marker like a Kenny Wallace or a Robbie Gordon drives to get his car as close to the front as it will go . When Mike Wallace or Trevor Bayne won those races , you think they stopped trying and went back to putting in 75%? I could go on naming the rest of the Kevin Harvicks, Clint Bowyers ,Kasey Kanes ,Martin Truexs but My point is that they are out there giving 110% while you are at home on the couch drinking your beer .

OK, maybe 75% was too low. How about 97%? Ever heard a driver say "We just want to be there at the end." Sure you have. That means they are going to drive conservatively until the end of the race.

And there's no such thing as 110% effort.

 

[dirtguru]

OK, maybe 75% was too low. How about 97%? Ever heard a driver say "We just want to be there at the end." Sure you have. That means they are going to drive conservatively until the end of the race.

And there's no such thing as 110% effort.

If there is no such thing as 110% effort then Tony ran 100% during the chase and only 50% during the season. His crew cheif said they weren't doing anything different just their luck had changed. Must have been one heck of a horseshoe. But anyhow it got NASCAR's ratings up like they wanted.

 

[ted@economy]

OK, maybe 75% was too low. How about 97%? Ever heard a driver say "We just want to be there at the end." Sure you have. That means they are going to drive conservatively until the end of the race.

If you have a problem with one driver not trying to win ...then fine ...name names . If it is Jimmy Johnson , say , who is taking the year off . And that is your opinion , then say so . His fans can then argue the point . However ..to say that all drivers only give 75% ..insults all race fans equally. I just don't believe it to be true . To say that all drivers would prefer to finish to race rather than be wrecked on lap 10 is nothing new . We have been quick to criticize drivers who wrecked a lot of racecars .They have never been considered great drivers.

 

[FlFlash]

The Good: Tony Stewart driving his ass off to win the Championship! That's how Championships should be won.

I AGREE to watch Tony and SHR to struggle through the first part of the season and come very close to falling out of chase contention this year was really something. At one point Tony himself said they did'nt deserve to be in the Chase....and I agreed Thay never gave up though and kept pushing managing to make the chase.
What they did AFTER they made the chase was just plain old Work Your Ass Off Bust ASS NEVER GIVE UP RACING!!!

Congrats to Tony, Ryan and everone else associated with SHR You made NASCAR's Chase Fun

 

[KingGlamis]

If you have a problem with one driver not trying to win ...then fine ...name names . If it is Jimmy Johnson , say , who is taking the year off . And that is your opinion , then say so . His fans can then argue the point . However ..to say that all drivers only give 75% ..insults all race fans equally. I just don't believe it to be true . To say that all drivers would prefer to finish to race rather than be wrecked on lap 10 is nothing new . We have been quick to criticize drivers who wrecked a lot of racecars .They have never been considered great drivers.

I think you're taking my statement a little too seriously. I did not insult all fans. Maybe I watch the driver interviews more closely than some do. I guess we just disagree, I'm not going to get in a pissing match about it.

 

[fastfordfan]

The Good - That Line
The Bad - Nobody Cans See It Except Nascar

 

[FlFlash]

Which proves my long standing belief that drivers try harder when "it matters" and otherwise just give about 75%.

I beleive a thread along these lines could be very interesting just to hear everyone's thought's/opinion's........if we could just keep it from becomeing a pissing match
But hey we have an entire off season

 

[Nitro Dude]

I beleive a thread along these lines could be very interesting just to hear everyone's thought's/opinion's........if we could just keep it from becomeing a pissing match
But hey we have an entire off season

I agree, but you know how some take this way more seriously then others. I personaly didn't see anything in the KingGlamis post that would insult me.

 

[robbybee]

I AGREE to watch Tony and SHR to struggle through the first part of the season and come very close to falling out of chase contention this year was really something. At one point Tony himself said they did'nt deserve to be in the Chase....and I agreed Thay never gave up though and kept pushing managing to make the chase.
What they did AFTER they made the chase was just plain old Work Your Ass Off Bust ASS NEVER GIVE UP RACING!!!

Congrats to Tony, Ryan and everone else associated with SHR You made NASCAR's Chase Fun

PERFECTY STATED, FLASH!!

We all know that drivers tend to relax at times during long races, even though their focus has to be on keeping the car between the walls. That doesn't bother me at all. 3 to 4 hours without taking a moment or two to reset the "computer" has to be nearly impossible.

 

[ted@economy]

Okay..so are we all agreed that Tony Stewart was not really trying to win races until the chase started . He was just ridin around at 95% throttle tryin to collect some points to make the chase and finish races. When he made the chase , he decided to start tryin.

 

[FlFlash]

Okay..so are we all agreed that Tony Stewart was not really trying to win races until the chase started . He was just ridin around at 95% throttle tryin to collect some points to make the chase and finish races. When he made the chase , he decided to start tryin.

No I don't, they where really struggling there for awhile even at some of Tonys better tracks, funny thing was if you go back over the first 26 races Ryan Newman was really showing up the Boss. But what happened to Ryan in the Chase???

 

[Tennessee Racing]

Bad Nascar the game 2011

That thing looked like an awful mess from the start.