What should be done with Talladega?

HoneyBadger

HoneyBadger

I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
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Another lackluster weekend of racing and another serious crash begs the question we ask after every Talladega race: What should be done?

Previously, my answer has been to tear the banking down, take the plates off and let them race. But I have come to my senses and realized that this is not a good idea. The fans who like racing would be bored with the lack of, well, anything going on. And the fans who came to watch the big crashes would also be upset about there not being a 20 car accident on the frontstretch. So, now, I'm going to say that they should tear down the track and reconfigure it to a half mile oval. This might create some crashes for the so-called "fans" and would create real racing.

Your thoughts on what NASCAR should do to get rid of the destructor plates?
 
Mandate a smaller displacement engine for RP tracks. This can probably be done with longer piston rods and a milder crankshaft..OR....simply mandate smaller injectors and limit duration. The cars will go slower, and teams will still be able to find a small speed advantage over the other guys by refining their intake design, injector angle and position, etc.
 
FenderBumper said:
Mandate a smaller displacement engine for RP tracks. This can probably be done with longer piston rods and a milder crankshaft..OR....simply mandate smaller injectors and limit duration. The cars will go slower, and teams will still be able to find a small speed advantage over the other guys by refining their intake design, injector angle and position, etc.
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I would personally like to see the plates go... but I guess, since Keselowski won, you're a fan of plate racing.
 
Absolutely nothing. I like restrictor plate racing just like I like short tracks, road courses, etc.... They are all different and require a different set of skills. If they do anything, fix the cooling system and let them race tandem or no tandem. That too will change in time.
 
Nothing needs to be done with Talladega. The cars, however, need to be worked for the track. If someone could come up with a well planned and acceptable to all parties way of slowing the cars down (or keeping them at about their current speed) while still allowing throttle response.

That being said though, I like plate racing. But like DPKimmel said, I also like short track and road course racing, it's all part of the season. And I also thought yesterday's race played out well and enjoyed it overall.
 
Go back and watch some footage of pre-plate racing at Dega or Daytona and you will see racing as racing really should be. A team that hits on a favorable formula pulls away while others who miss on the set-up fall to the rear.

The problem is not the track. It is spectacular. The problem is not the car. It is sturdy, safe and reliable. The problem is that with the restrictions, every driver runs flat out (with occasional breathing of the throttle for strategic advantage) and at the same speed for the entire event.

I would like to see a formula that requires drivers to lift off the throttle when entering the turns. The cars are regularly going faster at Michigan and California (205-210 entering Turn One) than the do at Daytona or Dega. But drivers are required to lift off of the throttle if they want to make it out of Turn One.

I have been saying for years that if NA$$CAR would reduce downforce and mechanical grip, forcing the drivers to reduce speed in the turns, the pack would be a thing of the past. And if they did this, they could eliminate the plate and get back to racing as racing should be.

What we see now at the Superspeedways is nothing more than an expensive - albeit exciting - form of destruction derby. It's an exhibition. It is NOT a "race".

...in my opinion...
 
Rowdy said:
I was there And loved it!!! dont change nothing
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And therein lies the reason that things will never change.

Rowdy, I am not criticizing your opinion. You are not the only person who feels that way. Some people prefer Road Courses, some prefer Short Tracks, some prefer Destructor Plates. And that's just how it goes!

Thanks for your input and Welcome Aboard!
 
I thought all three races this weekend were great. I wouldn't fix anything. The big one wasn't caused by anyone's stupidity yesterday. I thought the finish was good, would of been more of a battle if Kenseth waited.
 
robbybee said:
And therein lies the reason that things will never change.

Rowdy, I am not criticizing your opinion. You are not the only person who feels that way. Some people prefer Road Courses, some prefer Short Tracks, some prefer Destructor Plates. And that's just how it goes!

Thanks for your input and Welcome Aboard!
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And some of like it all because it's racing.
 
robbybee said:
Go back and watch some footage of pre-plate racing at Dega or Daytona and you will see racing as racing really should be. A team that hits on a favorable formula pulls away while others who miss on the set-up fall to the rear.

The problem is not the track. It is spectacular. The problem is not the car. It is sturdy, safe and reliable. The problem is that with the restrictions, every driver runs flat out (with occasional breathing of the throttle for strategic advantage) and at the same speed for the entire event.

I would like to see a formula that requires drivers to lift off the throttle when entering the turns. The cars are regularly going faster at Michigan and California (205-210 entering Turn One) than the do at Daytona or Dega. But drivers are required to lift off of the throttle if they want to make it out of Turn One.

I have been saying for years that if NA$$CAR would reduce downforce and mechanical grip, forcing the drivers to reduce speed in the turns, the pack would be a thing of the past. And if they did this, they could eliminate the plate and get back to racing as racing should be.

What we see now at the Superspeedways is nothing more than an expensive - albeit exciting - form of destruction derby. It's an exhibition. It is NOT a "race".

...in my opinion...
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God, could you hear the opinions on this board if that were to happen? One driver leads the field by over a straightaway, and the rest of the field is all strung out. I can hear the complaints now.
 
What NASCAR has done to the cars that run at Daytona and Talladega (plate cars) makes for sh!tty racing. It's become a crapshoot where anybody can win. It has nothing to do with skill (example: Michael Waltrip, Trevor Bayne, Derricke Cope).
Damn near 50% of the field DNF'd. That's not exciting to me. It still beats the hell out of watching Golf but it sure as hell isn't racing.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Absolutely nothing. I like restrictor plate racing just like I like short tracks, road courses, etc.... They are all different and require a different set of skills. If they do anything, fix the cooling system and let them race tandem or no tandem. That too will change in time.
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This.

Plate racing is so much better than the 500 miles of parade laps at all the cookie cutter tracks.
 
For everyone who dislikes Talladega....quit watching the race. Pick something else to do on those two weekends. Problem solved.
 
BobbyFord said:
Incorrect. If I don't watch it plate racing will still suck.
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Nope. Not everyone thinks plate racing sucks. So if you think it sucks, and someone else thinks it's great, the problem, for you, goes away, while the guy who enjoys it still gets to enjoy it, and doesn't have to put up with the guy who thinks it sucks (you) constantly complaining. Two birds with one stone. You don't have to watch, and we don't have to hear you whining.
 
Is there anything in this vast world you don't byitch about? For Krist sake give it a break.
 
VaDirt said:
Nope. Not everyone thinks plate racing sucks. So if you think it sucks, and someone else thinks it's great, the problem, for you, goes away, while the guy who enjoys it still gets to enjoy it, and doesn't have to put up with the guy who thinks it sucks (you) constantly complaining. Two birds with one stone. You don't have to watch, and we don't have to hear you whining.
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You sound like me talking to Andy!! LOLOL
And the fact that I agree with 100% Bobby Ford makes it even more interesting!

I watch EVERY Race and I STILL HATE Destructor Plates!!
A Plate Race should most certainly NOT be in The Chase!!
 
VaDirt said:
God, could you hear the opinions on this board if that were to happen? One driver leads the field by over a straightaway, and the rest of the field is all strung out. I can hear the complaints now.
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That's what happens in a RACE!!! Plate Racing just ain't Racing. At least not in my opinion...
But I am probably wrong cause I like Road Courses and would LOVE to see a couple more of them on the schedule!!
 
robbybee said:
That's what happens in a RACE!!! Plate Racing just ain't Racing. At least not in my opinion...
But I am probably wrong cause I like Road Courses and would LOVE to see a couple more of them on the schedule!!
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Yes, and when it does, look at all the complaints. Got back and look at the thread for, say, California. Or Texas. NO RP, and the leader and the whole field was just as spread apart as can be. And now ready how people say it was boring.

Y'all can hate RP races all you want, I will continue my enjoyment of them, and probably continue to sit on the edge of my seat while watching.
 
VaDirt said:
Yes, and when it does, look at all the complaints. Got back and look at the thread for, say, California. Or Texas. NO RP, and the leader and the whole field was just as spread apart as can be. And now ready how people say it was boring.

Y'all can hate RP races all you want, I will continue my enjoyment of them, and probably continue to sit on the edge of my seat while watching.
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I don't consider the races you mentioned "boring".
And thanks for your permission to hate destructor plates! LOL I do and I will! LOL
 
robbybee said:
I don't consider the races you mentioned "boring".
And thanks for your permission to hate destructor plates! LOL I do and I will! LOL
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But like I said, look at the threads for those and any other races where the leader goes off and hides.
 
I like the Talladega race in the Chase. Plate racing makes up 10% of the regular 26 race season and deserves to be part of the Chase. I'd also like to see a road course in there even though that type of racing only makes up 7% of the season. I'd really like to see them run the same Daytona course as the Rolex 24 as part of the Chase.

The diversity of the tracks makes for a great season of racing IMO. I'm not real partial to the 1.5er's that make up a majority of our schedule. I'd love to see a couple more road course races and and another short track or two in there in their place but it is what it is.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Me too with the exception of the overheating issues.
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Overheating issues have been a fact of life at restrictor plate racing since day one . I have never seen a superspeedway race when overheating wasn't an issue , including those when there were few cars on the lead lap .As many things as you can put into a race for drivers and crews to deal with , seperates the good cars from the bad cars . None of the leaders complained about overheating ,to my knowledge.
 
Rowdy said:
I was there And loved it!!! dont change nothing
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Great post Rowdy . Don't pay any attention to the ex fans that start these threads . They haven't found a Nascar track that they DO like ,and wouldn't tell us if they did .For the most part their heads are stuck in dirt.
 
ted@economy said:
Great post Rowdy . Don't pay any attention to the ex fans that start these threads . They haven't found a Nascar track that they DO like ,and wouldn't tell us if they did .For the most part their heads are stuck in dirt.
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Ted, Ted, Ted...

LOL
 
Plate races are about Crashing, not driving skill. Coincidentally, they also get the highest TV ratings.

Another website I post on does Bingo Cards for Dayton and Dega. I think we had 50+ people do cards for the last race. The season winner gets a Derrik Cope action figure. :headbang:
 
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