How 'bout that 18 car?


LETMGROW

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Not really the first race...it don't mean anything for the championship!

He def. saved the crash several times...but I don't put much stock in winning a restrictor plate race. Its just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place at the wrong time! ;)

I'm not really a big fan of restricor plate racing either. However they are at this time a necessary evil. Can you imagine the speeds of these cars without the plates? I'm sure the speed would reach or exceed 220 mph. Even with all the safety devices they have today this would certainly be a recipie for disaster. Other alternatives have been researched such as gear ratios and rev limiters. Can you picture a car with a lower gear ratio than what they are running now breaking the tires loose at 180 plus mph in a tight turn or trying to manuver around an accident? With the HP they have available it would send the car totally out of control. The rev limiters would destroy the engines when they shut the engine down at say 7500 rpm. Cut the ignition off at that speed and you still run fuel through the cylinders which in a short time would dilute the oil and BAM you have an expired engine throwing oil all over the track surface. With the new fuel injection system they are using this could be cured by cutting off fuel delivery but, have you ever been to a race where rev limiters are in use? The popping and banging when the revs hit the chip are bone chilling. Then their is the chance crew chiefs will toy with the ign. boxes to get a little more out of them. At least the plates provide a level playing field for all the teams.

Being in the right place at the right time isn't just luck. The driver has to be alert and place himself in the right position to make a last ditch pass to take the checkered flag. Staying out of trouble is sometimes luck, the real skill is evident when the drivers can avoid a crash at full speed and save their car.

I hate the crashes myself. Give me a race which starts 43 cars and finishes 43 cars and I will tell you that was a great race Not likely to happen but sure would be good to see.

Lynn

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Its simple...NASCAR can tell owners of theses tracks...take away the high banking or we ain't racing there.

Take away the banking and the plates...they will not be able to run wide open...they'll have to lift to make the turn or hit the wall.

Restrictor plate races are ALL luck period! Anyone can win it...ie: Trevor Bane. Another good example...Michael Waltrip...only tracks he ever did well at where plate tracks.

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I never said there wasn't any luck involved but on the other hand when someone like Dale in the 3 car could go to the inside lane, side draft off every other car on the inside and outside lanes to drive to the front I can hardly call that luck. The same holds true for Kyle last night. To draft Tony and pull away from the rest of the pack then time it perfectly to duck out and make a pass for the win was anything but luck. It was all about planning and execution at 190 MPH.

The drivers, crew chiefs and spotters deserve more credit than that.

NASCAR is not about to change the layout of two of the most well atttended tracks on the circuit.

Imagine the Daytona 500 on a flat track.

Lynn

Edited by LETMGROW
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Don't get me wrong...not just anyone can do it. But I feel it doesn't take as much skill as say Darlington or a road course. Racing Dover or Bristol is a lot harder to do than the plate races...even the drivers will admit that.

That's why you see drivers like Waltrip, Bayne win at restrictor plate races and not the others. I just don't see the point in running that many laps when only the last ten are the only one worth watching.

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I've been to Dover, Bristol, Atlanta, Pocono and have been going to Watkin's Glen the several past years. I love the road course. I was on the pit crew for a racer when The Glen ran sports cars on the ice in the early 60's.

A young fellow who is one of my son's best friends grew up three houses away from where I live. He now is the crew chief for Greg Biffle. We get together each year at The Glen and my son and I get to spend a lot of time in the pits with Matt. It's good to see what these drivers and crew chiefs do during practice and the race. Amazing!

This is where I aquired a lot of respect for the Busch brothers. I watched Kyle during Nationwide practice when he would run about 3 laps, bring the car in, jump out, stand in front of a computer with his crew chief and actually get dirty turning wrenches. Most all the other drivers would stay in the car and talk to their crew chief. I like the hands on approach Kyle had. I saw Kurt walking across the pits and a young crew chief from another team ran up to him and started to ask a question of Kurt. Kurt stopped him and I heard him say: " let's go and take a look". Off they went.

I'll admit these boys don't always use a lot of tact sometimes in the things they say or do, but I have to look at all the sides. Hopefully they have learned a little something from last years mistakes. I'm quite sure they did. They are both fierce competitors.

Kyle's attitude sometimes reminds me of myself when I was his age. Boy, do I have some things I'd like to share with him. Kurt might do well to listen in also.

Lynn

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Both them boys got talent...can't take that away from them. I'm not a fan though! ;)

Guess I just really dislike the plate racing...most of the time the best car/driver don't win.

Alrighty lets get to next weekend and get this race over...lol...I'll be sure to tune in for the last 20 laps or so.

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It takes alot of talent to win a race, regardless of what track. Luck plays a part but talent is more important in my opinion. There is alot more going on behind the scenes than most of us know when it comes to strategy and preparation to put a driver in a position to win. Pit stops play a huge part in who wins also.

Not a Kyle Busch fan, but I have to say that I dont know if I have ever seen a save as good as he made last night. To pull a car out of a spin at 190 mph is impressive. He has a crazy amount of driving talent and it seems like he can win no matter how bad his car is beat up.

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While Kyle Busch is a complete rubberhead, he can drive a race car. To me what happened speaks more to the new car than anyting else. If the same thing would have happened with the old car he would have went straight to the back and stayed there. Time and again those cars can sustain significant damage and still run like scalded dogs.

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