Rate The Race: Talladega II

first 150 laps a 0
last 5 laps a 10
total average a 1.38

toss the plates
have a bunch of 5 lap elimination shootouts.
they can rum ads time between heats
when car repair occurs,
 
8 I was disappointed more teams didn't pit before the end of stage 2.
 
I have mixed opinions on Talledega. I've always liked the big tracks but the plate races have become less racing (if they aren't lifting they aren't racing) and more spectacle (the big one). I'm impressed with the drivers being able to drive at 200 mph in a tight pack, but they have little room to change their position. I've been thinking back to when they had the wings and they were able to move through the pack, now they are pretty much stuck until someone misjudges a move or someone makes a mistake. In yesterday's race, drivers improved their positions through attrition. Only the drivers in the front had a chance to race but the weaving leader can keep the pack at bay- blocking isn't racing either. At a smaller track you can block once but the second time you'd be moved out of the way (or wrecked), at plate races the leader blocks multiple times a lap and the consequences for moving him out of the way are much higher. In yesterday's race I didn't notice a second pack, for many races some drivers would choose to ride it out in the back trying to avoid the wrecks.
 
If I did not have a fast forward option: 2
But, since I did have a fast forward option: 7.5 Last two laps were the best.

I can not remember that few cars finishing at Dega before, what a mess. Can anyone remember fewer?
 
8: great racing and a lot of action plus a crazy finish. But its only an 8 because brad wining and not jr
 
7.75 out of 10. Plate racing is my least favorite phase of the sport, but I enjoyed watching some great performances under pressure and fascinating strategy ploys. Keselowski delivered a master class in the "peculiar and idiosyncratic" skill set that is restrictor plate racing (credit to @gnomesayin ). He caught some breaks and capitalized fully. His juke move on Chase Elliott late in Stage 2 was indicative. Blaney was aggressive but smooth, clever, and fast. He deserved better than being taken out by others. Chase Elliott was aggressive and fast, also deserved better. I'm not sure if he wrecked Suarez or vice versa, but not sure it matters... it was hard racing for the win. I wish Chase had raced with the same spirit at Dover... would have won that race most probably.

Hambone was the luckiest of all, falling into a golden opportunity with two to go. He blew it and he knew it. More film study and less golf would have served him well. LMAO.
 
missed by one car of tying the fewest cars running at the finish, 14 in 1986 to 15 in 2017
slowest race average is the previous 11 caution race 2004 129.326
2017 11 cautions close but no cigar 131.677
 
The one race I actually watched from start to finish and it was terrible.

They're going to have to do something about the drawn out cautions on huge tracks like these. First few stages, I felt lasted a good 2 and a half hours and by then it was like 5PM.

Oh yeah, a 2 for my own efforts.
 
8.8

  • The hype surrounding Dale Jr.'s pole position heading into the race was something else. I had not heard cheers for anyone all year like I did on Saturday. :jamming: That was amazing. :)
  • Stage results were quite interesting today. Some rather unfamiliar names graced the top ten in both stages, and Ryan Blaney even managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat with his stage two victory. B)
  • What made this race for me was definitely the final stage. After a pretty remotely contested first two stages, all hell broke loose in the final stage. :headbang: I had never seen anything like what we all saw Sunday. I think fifteen cars made it to the finish, and only six of those could come home relatively unscathed. Having Junior, Kasey Kahne, Hamlin, Keselowski, Newman, and several underdogs in the fray kept me on the edge of my seat. :pbjtime:
  • (Kind of) unfortunately, Keselowski came out on top of the battle. Junior Nation was left feeling like there was One Lap To Go Brought To You By CreditOne Bank. :idunno:
 
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