NASCAR

L

LCL

Well-known member
Does anyone follow NASCAR enough to get a thread going? The Daytona 500 is a month away, but the season kicks off in 16 days in Los Angeles with The Clash.

Lots of new this year: Busch heads to RCR, Gibbs' son moves up to JGR to drive the #54, meaning the #18 is gone. Reddick moves to 23XI (Jordan's team). Johnson joins Petty for part ownership, and will drive the #84 in the 500. Harvick retires at the end of the year. NASCAR will also run its first ever street race in Chicago the weekend of July 4th. Looking forward to year 2 in the next gen car. Ought to be a fun year.
 
 
I'm in. Big motorsports fan in general. Season starts with the 24 Hours of Daytona next weekend. I've been playing fantasy Nascar for about 10 years.
 
The sport is in a serious downtrend with regards to $s and many don't see a turn around unless a dynamic driver can put the series on his back and bring it back to some sort of prominence. I was just at the recent sports licensing event and there was absolutely no talk about NASCAR, heck Indy has more buzz at this time than closed wheel racing. A couple folks have opinioned that they have just not gotten the juice with the big $ folks unlike other more southern heritage pastimes like SEC football and country music. I know a lot of fans like to disparage the shift into big markets from the smaller tracks a few years back but that was a necessary move and wasn't that much of killer from marketing perspective. No the real problem is that there are no drivers with any good juice on and off the track and until they find one it will continue be a niche motor sport.
 
LCL said:
Does anyone follow NASCAR enough to get a thread going? The Daytona 500 is a month away, but the season kicks off in 16 days in Los Angeles with The Clash.

Lots of new this year: Busch heads to RCR, Gibbs' son moves up to JGR to drive the #54, meaning the #18 is gone. Reddick moves to 23XI (Jordan's team). Johnson joins Petty for part ownership, and will drive the #84 in the 500. Harvick retires at the end of the year. NASCAR will also run its first ever street race in Chicago the weekend of July 4th. Looking forward to year 2 in the next gen car. Ought to be a fun year.
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Lost interest over the years. Owners with multiple teams that work together and help each other on the track is a turn off. Add in all the cars are basically the same there is no rooting for the manufacturers. The change in the championship was the last straw. Why not just run the 10 finalists in the last few races and be done with it?
 
It's a personality sport. Always has been. Rooting for the driver, the brand or both. Indy and Daytona 500s were a staple in my Ma run house. I don't know why, just was. We never went to a race. I've been to exactly one, a motocross at Daytona.

Interest had nothing to do with the speed or performance of the cars, that couldn't even be determined if the announcers didn't announce it. Helping other teams on the track, I don't recall that being made apparent. Whether it happened or not, I'm not recalling. Changing that formula is a mistake.
 
Changing the formula alienated the core fanbase. They did it to appeal to a wider fanbase. I think the jury is still out on if they can draw up interest from that more general crowd of fans.

F1 seems to be gaining popularity in the US. That race in Austin drew a monster crowd a year or two bakc
 
I know I'm in the minority. I grew up watching it at its height in the 90s. The Labontes, Burton, Jarrett, Rudd, Martin, Earnhardt, and young kids named Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. One could argue that Gordon brought in more fans due to his success at an early age, but I'm a Gordon fan so I'm biased😉 I enjoyed the old format, it was consistent, and rewarded the best driver all year.

When Nextel/Sprint took over, accompanied by Earnhardt's death and Toyota's entry, the sport had to go through a growing pains in order to keep sponsors and fans. Their answer was to create a 10 driver playoff, like other sports, in the last 10 races. This did the opposite in terms of sustaining their fan base. Drivers that would be, otherwise champions were not rewarded for their great year. As a Gordon this was frustrating because I believe he would have broke 7 titles under the old format.

Since then, they've messed with the formula trying to determine the champion. They would not return to the old format because that would be an admission of failure. Instead, the sport resorted to stage racing, which had been introduced in the Busch/Nationwide/Xfinity racing before using it at the Cup level.

Now it is used as the determining factor for who gets to the playoffs. Drivers are rewarded for consistencies throughout the season and the stage points factor into seeding the playoffs. In example Chase Elliott was 1st entering the playoffs and the stage points helped him get to the final 4 despite performing poorly in the playoffs because he was the best driver all year. continued...
 
As the sport continued to change newer, younger drivers entered the sports. This was like Gordon originally entering, but on steroids. Johnson, the Buschs, Logano, Newman, Harvick, Kahne, Hamlin all led the way. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it had to happen eventually.

Luckily, these drivers all had personalities that filled the niches the sport needed. Harvick and the Busch brothers (especially Kyle), could probably lump Hamlin in there too. were the cocky drivers you loved to hate. Logano is the young rich driver who essentially bought his way in. Newman is successful, but not as much as he couldv'e been (believe it or not he was rookie of the year the same time Johnson entered as a rookie. Speaking of Johnson, he became the new face of Hendrick. Kahne was the baby faced driver that grabbed the attention of the female demographic. Oh yea, another driver around this era, Dale Jr., who could never live up to his dad's life, but gave the fans some nostalgia impact.

Fast forward 10 or so years and the sport is faced with identity crisis once again.
continued...
 
Now the sport has taken notes from other motorsports. They've added more roadcourses, venues, and styles of racing. After years of the trucks racing at Eldora, the Cup series filled Bristol up with dirt, making for entertaining racing. They've raced at COTA, Road America, and added Nashville and WWT Racewaway to bring in more demographics. They run the Clash in the Rose Bowl, a novel idea, and are going to run a street race, like open wheel series, in Chicago. The All-Star Race this year is going to be run at North Wilkesboro, a track with tons of history.

Along with all of this is the next gen car that is durable and resembles very much the car you drive on the street. If you pulled a Camaro up next to a next gen it looks like a Camaro. The car led to 19 different race winners.

As for the drivers, they're still there, you just need to look. Those spry, wild drivers still have the same personality as a veteran. There is a new most popular, nostalgic-feeling driver in Chase Elliott. Elliott and Larson have become the faces of Hendrick, both winning titles. Those, along with Blaney, Bell, Custer, Cindric and Chastain will create a new, solid fan base. Add in this year's rookies Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson.

As far as teams and manufactures. I'm a Chase fan now, who runs a Chevy for Hendrick. So if Chase isnt in it, then I root for Hendrick, if Hendrick isn't in it, then I'm rooting against other manufactures. I'm excited to see what this year brings.
 
I cannot speak to the product on the track as this is just not my sport but I can speak to the marketing and financial aspects. Many on the business side think the France family is to be blamed and their iron fist control over the sport. I mean which major sport League is owned by 1 family who makes up all the rules? I guess the WWE but that is fake and there is no real comp aspect to it. Could you see the NFL in this type of corporate structure?
 
There should be a chase car. You get caught, you're out of the race.

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Auggie said:
I cannot speak to the product on the track as this is just not my sport but I can speak to the marketing and financial aspects. Many on the business side think the France family is to be blamed and their iron fist control over the sport. I mean which major sport League is owned by 1 family who makes up all the rules? I guess the WWE but that is fake and there is no real comp aspect to it. Could you see the NFL in this type of corporate structure?
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Since Ben Kennedy (great-grandson of Bill Frane Sr.) took over for Brian France he's done a great job in marketing the sport. There are things NASCAR has done in the last 5 years that has attracted more fans. Road Courses, Dirt, now a street race. All things NASCAR would've thought of. The development of the next gen car saw a great deal of success as well.
 
With The Clash at The Colisseum kicking off the season Sunday, let's take a look at the teams and drivers entering the season.

TRACKHOUSE RACING
#1 Ross Chastain
#99 Daniel Suarez

TEAM PENSKE
#2 Austin Cindric
#12 Ryan Blaney
#22 Joey Logano (defending champion)

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
#3 Austin Dillon
#8 Kyle Busch (replaces Tyler Reddick)

STEWART-HASS RACING
#4 Kevin Harvick (retiring at end of year)
#10 Aric Almirola
#14 Chase Briscoe
#41 Ryan Preece (replaces Cole Custer)

HENDRICK MOTORPORTS
#5 Kyle Larson
#9 Chase Elliott
#24 William Byron
#48 Alex Bowman

ROUSCH-FENWAY-KESELOWSKI RACING
#6 Brad Keselowski
#17 Chris Buescher

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS
#7 Corey LaJoie
#77 Ty Dillon

JOE GIBBS RACING
#11 Denny Hamlin
#19 Martin Truex, Jr.
#20 Christopher Bell
#54 Ty Gibbs (replaces Kyle Busch) (R.O.Y. candidate)

RICK WARE RACING
#15 JJ Yeley/David Ragan/Garrett Smithly
#51 Cody Ware

KAULIG RACING
#16 AJ Almendinger
#31 Justin Haley

WOOD BROTHERS RACING
#21 Harrison Burton

23XI RACING
#23 Bubba Wallace, Jr.
#45 Tyler Reddick (replaces Kurt Busch)

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
#34 Michael McDowell
#38 Todd Gilliland

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (Formerly Petty-GMS)
#42 Noah Gragson (replaces Ty Dillon) (R.O.Y. candidate)
#43 Erik Jones

JTG-DAUGHERTY RACING
#47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

LIVE FAST MOTORSPORTS
#78 BJ McCleod/Josh Billicki

PART TIME DRIVERS/TEAMS
#13 Chandler Smith (Kaulig Racing)
#27 Loriz Hezemans/Jaques Villenueve (Team Hezeberg)
#44 Greg Biffle (NY RACING)
#50 Kaz Grala (The Money Team)
#55 JJ Yeley (MBM Motorsports)
#62 Austin Hill (Beard Oil Motorsports)
#66 Timmy Hill (MBM Motorsports)
#67 Travis Pastrana (23XI Racing)
#79 Tsaro Marques (Team Strange)
#84 Jimmie Johnson (Legacy Motor Club)
#91 TRACKHOUSE RACING TEAM
 
CLASH ENTRY LIST
Lots of cars to fit on such a small track

#1 Ross Chastain
#2 Austin Cindric
3 Austin Dillon
4 Kevin Harvick
#5 Kyle Larson
#6 Brad Keselowski
#7 Corey LaJoie
#8 Kyle Busch
#9 Chase Elliott
#10 Aric Almirola
#11 Denny Hamlin
#12 Ryan Blaney
#14 Chase Vriscoe
#15 JJ Yeley
#16 AJ Allmendinger
#17 Chris Buescher
#19 Martin Truex, Jr.
#20 Christopher Bell
#21 Harrison Burton
#22 Joey Logano
#23 Bubba Wallace, Jr.
#24 William Byron
#31 Justin Haley
#34 Michael McDowell
#38 Todd Gilliand
#41 Ryan Preece
#42 Noah Gragson
#43 Erik Jones
#45 Tyler Reddick
#47 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
#48 Alex Bowman
#51 Cody Ware
#54 Ty Gibbs
#77 Ty Dillon
#78 BJ McLeod
#99 Daniel Suarez
 
I remember years ago when Roush was a 5-car operation (6, 16, 17, 97, and 99) before they even got additional capital from John Henry (Red Sox owner). How long ago did that team cut down to 2 cars?
 
Mr. Slippery said:
I remember years ago when Roush was a 5-car operation (6, 16, 17, 97, and 99) before they even got additional capital from John Henry (Red Sox owner). How long ago did that team cut down to 2 cars?
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They cut down to 4 teams in 2009. I think that was the same year NASCAR implemented a rule where teams were allowed 4 cars max per team. However, some teams find ways to cheat around this by forming "technical alliances." JGR currently operates as a 4 car team with the 11, 19, 20, and 54. However, they have a technical alliance with 23XI. 23XI is also co-owned by Denny Hamlin (driver of JGR's #11 car.)

Technical alliances are seen throughout NASCAR, Toyota is exclusive to Toyota Racing Development, Chevy engines are built by Hendrick or Childress (ECR), while Roush Yates are the exclusive member of building Ford engines.
 
Current Unofficial Entry List for the Daytona 500.
#1- Ross Chastain
#2- Austin Cindric
#3- Austin Dillon
#4- Kevin Harvick
#5- Kyle Larson
#6- Brad Keselowski
#7- Corey LaJoie
#8- Kyle Busch
#9- Chase Elliott
#10- Aric Almirola
#11- Denny Hamlin
#12- Ryan Blaney
#13- Chandler Smith*
#14- Chase Briscoe
#15- Riley Herbst
#16- AJ Almendinger
#17- Chris Buescher
#19- Martin Truex Jr
#20- Christopher Bell
#21- Harrison Burton
#22- Joey Logano
#23- Bubba Wallace
#24- William Byron
#31- Justin Haley
#34- Michael McDowell
#36- Zane Smith*
#38- Todd Gilliland
#41- Ryan Preece
#42- Noah Gragson
#43- Erik Jones
#45- Tyler Reddick
#47- Ricky Stenhouse Jr
#48- Alex Bowman
#50- Conner Daly*
#51- Cody Wasre
#54- Ty Gibbs
#62- Austin Hill*
#67- Travis Pastrana*
#77- Ty Dillon
#78- BJ McLeoud
#84- Jimmie Johnson*
#99- Daniel Suarez

*Must Qualify on Time
 
Daytona 500 Results:
Winner- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr (3rd career)
2nd- Joey Logano
3rd- Christopher Bell
4th- Chris Buescher
5th- Alex Bowman
6th- A.J. Allmendinger
7th- Daniel Suarez
8th- Ryan Blaney
9th- Ross Chastain
10th- Riley Herbst

Notables:
Kevin Harvick (12th)
Denny Hamlin (17th)
Kyle Larson (18th)
Kyle Busch (19th)
Chase Elliott (38th)

Stage 1 Winner- Brad Keselowski
Stage 2 Winner- Ross Chastain
Stage 3 Winner- Stenhouse, Jr. (Winner)

Playoff StandIngs (Top 5)
1st- Joey Logano
2nd- Chris Buescher
3rd- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
4th- Christopher Bell
5th- Alex Bowman

Notable- Longest Daytona 500 (212 laps)
53 Lead Changes, 8 cautions

Next Race: Pala Casino 400 (Fontana, CA)
 
Auggie said:
That ending was horrible, there has to be a better way to finish a big race.
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I only caught the very end, but notable (to me) was the commentators all predicting (accurately) that there was no way they were going to get through those last two OT laps without another wreck. It was pretty well assumed that someone was going to slam someone into a wall.

I think I'll stick to Formula 1 watching this year.
 
soccerdad72 said:
I only caught the very end, but notable (to me) was the commentators all predicting (accurately) that there was no way they were going to get through those last two OT laps without another wreck. It was pretty well assumed that someone was going to slam someone into a wall.

I think I'll stick to Formula 1 watching this year.
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Its super speedway racing, it always ends that way. Wouldv'e not been a wreck if Travis Pastrana, who has ZERO experience driving s cup car didnt decide he was going to do something he didn't know how to do. For the most part, it was a clean race until the end.

They don't hit a superspeedway until July, so I expect races to be sharp. Daytona and Talledega are just races of attrition, make until the end and you've got a shot at winning. Thats part of what makes superspeedways fun to watch. I'd rather watch drivers go door to door at 190ish mph, than watch F1's get into trouble for touching another competitor.
 
NASCAR is one sport that should not be PC, it has ruined the sport, I mean could you imagine Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt or some of the other good ole boys in todays NASCAR? NASCAR was about the personality of the driver not about the car or the team in general, back in the day when NASCAR was good most of the people (besides the diehards) could not even tell you who Dale Earnhardt race for. The sport was all about the driver. I was never a big fan of auto racing, but I could tell you who the top 5 or 6 drivers were, I don't know a single one today.
 
That was one of the worst Daytona 500s I've seen. Commercials were completely nuts most of the race to the point that I watched other stuff to get behind and fast forward

Ending sucked but Kyle Larson made one of the dumbest moves I've seen in recent restrictor plate races to go to the middle by choice. Jobbers often win these types of races because they have a lot of luck that go into them. Stenhouse is another
 
MentorGrad2002 said:
That was one of the worst Daytona 500s I've seen. Commercials were completely nuts most of the race to the point that I watched other stuff to get behind and fast forward

Ending sucked but Kyle Larson made one of the dumbest moves I've seen in recent restrictor plate races to go to the middle by choice. Jobbers often win these types of races because they have a lot of luck that go into them. Stenhouse is another
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It was the worst Daytona 500 in recent memory. Fox did not do themselves any favors either by staying in commercial for basically the entire race, even during wrecks. Horrible. I like Mike Joy, but he and the rest of the broadcast crew had zero enthusiasm outside of maybe Bowyer. Just a terrible race all around

California should be better next week. I really like that track, even if it's just another 2 mile tri-oval.
 
Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2023 Daytona 500

Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 249
Minutes of race broadcast: 200
Minutes of traditional commercials: 49
Minutes of side-by-side commercials: 14
Total number of commercials: 133
Total number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 102

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2022 Daytona 500
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 240
Minutes of race broadcast: 192
Minutes of traditional commercials: 48
Minutes of side-by-side commercials: 8
Total number of commercials: 135
Total number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 115

According to Larry Mac on Sirius, Fox Nascar has a new producer. His plan was to front load the ads in the first 2 stages to give themselves some long runs late.
 
Pala Casino 400 Results:
Winner- Kyle Busch (61st career)
2nd- Chase Elliott
3rd- Ross Chastain
4th- Daniel Suarez
5th- Kevin Harvick
6th- Denny Hamlin
7th- Brad Keselowski
8th- Alex Bowman
9th- Austin Dillon
10th- Joey Logano

Notables:
Martin Truex Jr (11th)
William Byron (25th)
Ryan Blaney (26th)
Kyle Larson (29th)
Christopher Bell (32nd)

Stage 1 Winner- Ross Chastain
Stage 2 Winner- Ross Chastain
Stage 3 Winner- Kyle Busch (Winner)

Playoff StandIngs (Top 5)
1st- Ross Chastain
2nd- Joey Logano
3rd- Kevin Harvick
4th- Alex Bowman
5th- Daniel Suarez
6th- Chris Buescher
7th- Ricky Stenhouse Jr
8th- Kyle Busch
9th- Denny Hamlin
10th- Brad Keselowski

Stage Wins
Chastain- 3
Keselowski- 1
Stenhouse Jr- 1 (1 win)
Busch- 1 (1 win)

Notable- Last race to be run at Fontana (sold out)

Next Race: Pennzoil 400 (Las Vegas, NV)
 
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