Matt's Thread of Racing...

[NewYorkSpider]

I think he's very well capable of running good in the chase. Look at the chase tracks and his finishes there this season.

New Hampshire - 15th (Rain Shortend)
Dover - 36th (Doesn't really run well here)
Kansas (Same track as Chicago) Finished 5th
California - 6th
Lowes - 11th (Rain Shortend)
Martinsville - 2nd
Talladega - 22nd (We know he can run well at restrictor plate races)
Texas - 12th
Phoenix - 6th
Homestead - (Has run 4 races here) 2 Top 5 finishes


Hamlin is very well capable of running for the championship. You just have to get lucky like Jimmie Johnson. Johnson was 3 laps down today and finished 13th.

 

[El_Citrus]

This Chase has the potential to be so unpredictable this year, it's going to be a crazy or boring 10 races.

I was surprised by Montoya's performance this week, and with a road course next week, he might be starting to find his momentum.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Talladega will be interesting this year since it's the 7th race in the chase rather than the 4th.

 

[The Depp]

Are you all mostly Nascar fans or do you also follow on the more general racing?

 

[BlackLantern]

mostly Nascar, but Ill keep up with IRL or Formula 1 if something interesting is happening over there

 

[El_Citrus]

Mostly Nascar, but also the occasional dirt race on Speed, Monster Jam, and NHRA.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I watch mostly NASCAR. I'll catch an IRL race if I'm not busy.


Joey Lagano will be at my local Home Depot signing autographs tomorrow. Reed Sorenson will be at McDonalds and Kurt Busch will be on hand at Market Street in Corning. NY. The event on Market Street is called "Race Fever". They'll have cars on display and several suvioners trailers where you can buy stuff. I haven't been up there in about 5-6 years. I've met Ken Schrader and Bill Elliott up there before. I'm thinking about going next year.

 

[BlackLantern]

http://deadspin.com/5335746/nascar-fans-love-their-drivers-love-bank-robberies

If you're going to rob a bank, please remove your Dale Jr. hat

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Now that was a more respectful Kyle Busch tonight. He went an congradulated Harvick on his win and didn't blow of the media.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I really think this is going to be an exciting chase. Hamlin, Vickers and Montoya are running very good. I'm pulling for Edwards since he's my favorite driver, but if a guy like Martin/Hamlin win it, i would be happy.

 

[El_Citrus]

Well, here's the standings for the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup:

1) #5-Mark Martin [4 wins], 5040,
2) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 5030, -10
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 5030, -10
4) #11-Denny Hamlin [2 wins], 5020, -20
5) #9-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 5020, -20
6) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 5010, -30
7) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win], 5010, -30
8) #83-Brian Vickers [1 win], 5010, -10
9) #99-Carl Edwards, 5000, -40
10) #39-Ryan Newman, 5000, -40
11) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 5000, -40
12) #16-Greg Biffle, 5000, -40

Honestly, Jimmie and Tony have the best chances of winning it seems, but I'm still gonna root for Martin. It's his best, and possibly last, chance at a Championship.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I don't like the way they entered the chase. (Johnson/Stewart) I really don't think they have the momentum here. Hamlin and Vickers look really good. If Vickers can survive New Hampshire and Dover, then he has some tracks coming up he's really good at.

 

[El_Citrus]

Johnson never seems to have the momentum heading into the Chase, but finds a way to win it in the end, and Tony has had mediocre finishes lately, but still was riding high atop the points, so that's why I give them the advantage. However, I won't count out guys like Hamlin, Kahne, and Vickers if they hit a hot streak.

If Martin can keep up that "Back against the wall" feeling that he's had the past couple weeks and deliver those solid top tens and top fives, I think he can seriously pull this off. I truly would LOVE to see Martin win the title and finally have his moment.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

The last two years Johnson has gone in with momentum. He swept California/Richmond on his way to his second/third championship. Those two championships came down to himself and one other driver (2008/Edwards) (2007/Gordon). In 2006, he finished around 23rd at Richmond. The last race it came down to 5 drivers at Homestead. So, I really don't think he's coming in with much momentum like the last two years. Will he be a threat? Absolutely. I'll never count him out of a championship run.

The only race I'm concerend about with Martin is Talladega. He always finds himself caught up in someone else's mistake.

 

[El_Citrus]

I just keep remembering 2006, I believe, when Johnson seemed almost out of it by the middle of the Chase and bounced back with wins and top fives to get himself back into the hunt by Homestead. This Chase is exciting and frustrating at the same time, since it's so tough to pick out a clear cut favorite. The competition is so damn even this year.

I agree. Talladega will be a key race this year, as Martin could go in with the points lead and who knows who will get caught up in the big one(s). Gah, I'm gonna hate waiting ten weeks to watch all of this play out.

 

[El_Citrus]

Another win by Mark Martin Sunday at New Hampshire. That was, in my opinion, the confidence booster that Martin's team needed for them to believe that they could win this Championship. Granted, there's still nine races left, including Talladega, but I can't help but think that the old man has made himself one of the top favorites to win alongside Johnson.

Also, great run by JPM. He is going to be the marquee name for Earnhardt/Gannassi if he can keep this up.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I really like Martin in this chase. He's consistently good wherever he goes. I'm still going to keep my eye on Hamlin. His mile and a half program has stepped up greatly.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

Glad to see Joey Lagano is ok after that bad accident.

 

[El_Citrus]

Bad wreck for Logano. Nascar got one thing right about the new cars, and that's the safety.

Another great run for Martin. He's barely holding onto the lead, but I certainly didn't expect him to have a win and 2nd place finish to start the Chase. Keep it up, old man.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It was great to hear Lagano say he was pain free after the accident. That wreck 10 years ago, someone would have been injured.


Nice run again for Martin. I really think this is his year. He's doing everything he needs to do to win a championship. I'm still impressed with JPM. Running very consistently and not getting into any trouble.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

It seems NASCAR told Brad Keselowski to not race aggresively against the people in the chase.

Keselowski

IMO, that's wrong of NASCAR to tell a non-chaser that. He has every right to race around these people. I watched Sunday's race and Keselowski was racing clean around everyone. He did race hard which should be expected for a driver who's going to compete full time next season and is learning. Now, if he was bump drafting someone down the backstretch or if he made a daring move three wide to pass someone, then I could see a warning be issued here. But, in Keselowski's defense, he did nothing wrong.


Bill Kimm's arguement is hilarious and could easily be debated. I think I'll take a crack it.

I've been a firm believer for years that rookies shouldn't make their Cup Series debut in the Chase, so I have no problem with NASCAR telling Brad Keselowski to cool his jets in the early part of the race at Kansas.

If rookies can't make their debut in the chase, then why should they make their debut in the regular season? Rookies could easily make a mistake and cost a driver a chance to make the chase. Also, I've seen plenty of vetran drivers make mistakes that cost other drivers at wins/championships.



Kind of ironic since the next race at Talladega, Edwards made an aggresive block on Keselowski and ended up wrecking.

To be fair, Keselowski isn't David Ragan in 2006, Juan Montoya in 2006 or Sam Hornish Jr. in 2007. He's made his fair share of Cup starts and has a win at Talladega to show for it.

It's still doesn't give NASCAR the right to tell him not to race hard. He has every right to race for a spot. Keselowski has 1 win, 1 top 5 and 3 top 10's this season. Martin Truex Jr, Jamie McMurray and Casey Mears have around the same stats, but with more starts. Nascar should warn these drivers also.

Twelve teams are racing for the championship -- and that shouldn't be derailed by some young guy with nothing to lose.

43 drivers are racing for a win -- and that shouldn't be derailed by NASCAR.

And that's exactly the situation with Keselowski. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. If he crashes 50 laps in, so what -- does't affect him in any way. He can afford to take chances and be aggressive (read: foolish) because for him, points mean nothing.

Guys 13th in points on back don't have much to lose either.(other than making the top 35 in points) They can be aggresive on the track as well. The fact is, Keselowski wasn't doing anything wrong in this situation. He was racing drivers clean.

NASCAR has every right to tell him to turn it down a notch early in a race. Officials are trying to keep the sanctity of the Chase intact, and having a hot-shot rookie race Chase drivers too aggressively early on can lead to disastrous results

I've seen Joey Lagano race Juan Montoya hard this season and NASCAR hasn't said anything. He's a rookie this year. Where was NASCAR on that one?

 

[El_Citrus]

I agree completely. Nascar shouldn't be telling ANY driver not in the Chase to take it easy around Chasers. You're trying to manipulate the competition by doing so, which is just wrong on all levels.

It would be interesting to see if someone like Dale Jr. wrecked someone in the Chase and watch Nascar do nothing, where if Kesolowski had done it, he'd probably be fined or even, psychotically enough, parked for the rest of the race.

In other news, it's looking like the Chase is already starting to sort out, with Martin, Johnson, Montoya, and Stewart. Gordon's starting to lose points, but I wouldn't count him out as he can make them all up at any track with a win. I wasn't expecting Montoya to be THIS good in the Chase, but he's the only driver with a Top 5 in every race this year.

This week at California, I'm looking for Hendrick to win this weekend, with Montoya a dark horse among the three favorites, Johnson, Gordon, and Martin. I think Johnson will take this one.

Random news from Jayski:

Danica Patrick has talked to MWR and Hendrick. We'll probably see her in some Truck/Nationwide races next year.

Nascar is considering an award of some kind for the regular season champ. It had better be a points bonus (Although that point system NYS posted a while ago has grown on me).

Daytona and Talladega have raised the height of their catchfences (Talladega could only finish the front stretch before the race in a couple weeks).

There's a press conference this afternoon with all the Nascar TV broadcasters. More than likely a more uniform start time for the races will be announced. I just wish NAscar would cut out the half hour it takes to start the race, not including the pre-race show. Have the pre-race show, have the announcers talk about the race for a few minutes before firing the engines and getting them on the track.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

In other news, it's looking like the Chase is already starting to sort out, with Martin, Johnson, Montoya, and Stewart. Gordon's starting to lose points, but I wouldn't count him out as he can make them all up at any track with a win. I wasn't expecting Montoya to be THIS good in the Chase, but he's the only driver with a Top 5 in every race this year.

Montoya is due for a win. He deserves it for being in this position this late in the season. I think Hamlin will be in the mix of things before you know it. At this point, they all need Martin and Johnson to have a bad finish.

This week at California, I'm looking for Hendrick to win this weekend, with Montoya a dark horse among the three favorites, Johnson, Gordon, and Martin. I think Johnson will take this one.

Prediction time? I've been pretty good at that. I'm gonna go with Greg Biffle. He runs good here and did fairly well last week. I think Roush gets back to victory lane.

Random news from Jayski:

Danica Patrick has talked to MWR and Hendrick. We'll probably see her in some Truck/Nationwide races next year.

I would like to see her succeed. NASCAR could use this kind of attention with a female athlete.

Nascar is considering an award of some kind for the regular season champ. It had better be a points bonus (Although that point system NYS posted a while ago has grown on me).

I'll have to go through and see what the points would've been if this points system was in place.

Daytona and Talladega have raised the height of their catchfences (Talladega could only finish the front stretch before the race in a couple weeks).

It's good NASCAR is taking some precaution with these races.

There's a press conference this afternoon with all the Nascar TV broadcasters. More than likely a more uniform start time for the races will be announced. I just wish NAscar would cut out the half hour it takes to start the race, not including the pre-race show. Have the pre-race show, have the announcers talk about the race for a few minutes before firing the engines and getting them on the track.

I love what they did with the start times. There's no need for an hour and half pre-race. The only thing I don't like about it, is the fact the the Daytona 500 and Ford 400 won't end under the lights. They both start at 1:00.

 

[El_Citrus]

I love what they did with the start times. There's no need for an hour and half pre-race. The only thing I don't like about it, is the fact the the Daytona 500 and Ford 400 won't end under the lights. They both start at 1:00.

The only downside is some races that go from day to night. On the other hand though, Daytona already has a night race, so the 500 should be a day race. It does suck that the last race of the season won't be under the lights though.

In another piece of news that I forgot, there's a tire test taking place in Richmond that is testing a larger tire. It's one and half inches wider and taller than the current tire, and runs on a 17 inch rim as opposed to 15. I doubt it'll make a HUGE difference, but it could improve the COT and make it easier on the drivers.

 

[El_Citrus]

This week at California, I'm looking for Hendrick to win this weekend, with Montoya a dark horse among the three favorites, Johnson, Gordon, and Martin. I think Johnson will take this one.

Wow, I didn't expect to predict the top 4 AND the winner. Go me. [/ego boost]