Daytona 500

[yellowperil]

There's a local lottery on Nascar races (for the year) and I drew pole sitter Chase Elliot for the win. I like him. Son of Awesome Bill, one of my favs. My chances should be pretty decent with this guy even though he looks about 12 yrs old.

Not a big payout but a $$win$$ is a win.

I can only stomach this race and 'dega and the two road courses. It seems to get less interesting each year. Passes the time waiting for MotoGp and F1 I guess.

[pwd72s]

I figure it beats watching basketball...

[stevej37]

Went to the annual auto show at the Cobo in Det in the mid 90's
Was hungry..went downstairs to the cafe they have and took a seat across from another guy.
Looked up...it was Awesome Bill from Dawsonville!
Very nice guy to talk to.

[yellowperil]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Went to the annual auto show at the Cobo in Det in the mid 90's
Was hungry..went downstairs to the cafe they have and took a seat across from another guy.
Looked up...it was Awesome Bill from Dawsonville!
Very nice guy to talk to.

Great, bet you enjoyed that.

[BeyGon]

I went to Daytona twice but I knew some people so it was fun. Got some autographs, Petty, Smokey Yunich and I think Dale E. plus some of their girl friends. and Linda Vaughn

[URY914]

The track grandstands are really nice now. More like a college football stadium.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by yellowperil

I can only stomach this race and 'dega and the two road courses.

Exactly where I am these days. What a mess:

You can bump, but don't push
Lucky Dog
Green, White, Checkered
"The Big One'
Free Pass
Caution for a candy wrapper (debris)
Miss half the races and win the Championship
Restrictor plate
Bogety, Bogety, Bogety
Split 500 miles into 3 races
Talking Heads
Mandatory caution
Pits are closed

No wonder you see more empty seats each year.

[JackDidley]

I like Martinsville, Dover and Louden a lot. Some of the 1 1/2 mile tracks are ok. Plate races, not so much but last year the Daytona races were pretty good. I watch nearly all the races but not live. I record them and watch late at night. I used to do a fantasy league and that made it a bit more interesting but decided not to this year. Anyway, Sunday at 10 PM, I will be watching.

[Alfasrule]

Been going since 84, before the PLATES 210MPH with a 3500LB CAR, don't knock it till you try it. great experience. Nothing like it
2 years ago brought a friend who's never been, the grin on his face told me all.
Great time! Couldn't make it this year, but be next year!
TV does it NO Justice! Go there you'll be enlightened!

Jack the Hot Dogs at Martinsville OMG ate 8 of them, hurt me the next day, but worth it.
Been going to Dover for the last 7 years. Great track Turn 1 stands

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by Alfasrule

Been going since 84, before the PLATES 210MPH with a 3500LB CAR, don't knock it till you try it. great experience. Nothing like it
2 years ago brought a friend who's never been, the grin on his face told me all.
Great time! Couldn't make it this year, but be next year!
TV does it NO Justice! Go there you'll be enlightened!

Jack the Hot Dogs at Martinsville OMG ate 8 of them, hurt me the next day, but worth it.
Been going to Dover for the last 7 years. Great track Turn 1 stands

I am a car guy in general. I have been to the SCCA nationals several times just to watch. I went to the Brickyard race in '07 I think. Saw the truck and ARCA series races in Nashville one year. Both were great times. I dont care for crowds so I prefer tv. Ive been to the US Nationals a few times and that is also something that can not be experienced on tv. Nothing like the feeling of a fuel car shaking the earth.

Truth is, I didnt expect to find NASCAR fans on this forum. I would have started a fantasy league had I known.

[Brian 162]

I used to go to the Michigan race in the 90's. It was always a good race, multiple grooves and lots of passing.
I've been to Daytona (summer race) and I'd like to see the 500 one year.
I'm thinking of going to Bristol this spring.

[KFC911]

Been to Daytona a bunch (Twin 125s, my favorites, and 400s). Martinsville, N. Wilkesboro, Rockngham many times too. Not much about Nascar interests me anymore, but the Daytona 500 still does

[porsche tech]

I've never attended a NASCAR race but love watching them on TV. They hit the wall at 200 MPH and with a little duct tape, they finish the race. Indy and F1 cars hit a bump on the track the wrong way and they're finished for the day. I attended the US Gran Prix at Watkins Glen in 1975 (camped there in a VW camper bus) and I never saw so many drunks congregated in one place. Incidentally, I worked with the flagman (the lavender suited Tex Hopkins) who started that race for years.--Dave

[URY914]

So will NASCAR rig the race Jr. wins?

Associated Press

[URY914]

New rule says it's really 3 races not 1 500 mile race.

"In an effort to add excitement to the racing — something both the television partners and Monster wanted — all events will be run in segments this year. It means the Daytona 500 won't exactly be a 500-mile race of attrition, but will instead be cut into three parts. There are points on the line for each segment, giving drivers incentive to race hard for the entire race, and one final long push to the checkered flag."

I'd like to hear what King Richard thinks about this.

[VFR750]

The new format now makes being in front very important. Xfinity and trucks races were contested all the time

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by URY914

....

I'd like to hear what King Richard thinks about this.

I was at his last race in Daytona....Bush Sr. was there and Petty qualified 2nd. When Petty took the lead and led the field those first few laps...
it was epic....and totally not staged

[JackDidley]

I am ok with points segments. I do not see a need for a caution at each segment. At Datona restarts get crazy.

[black73]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Exactly where I am these days. What a mess:

You can bump, but don't push
Lucky Dog
Green, White, Checkered
"The Big One'
Free Pass
Miss half the races and win the Championship
Restrictor plate
Bogety, Bogety, Bogety
Talking Heads
Mandatory caution
Pits are closed

No wonder you see more empty seats each year.

And Jeff Gordon. When Jeff showed up NASCAR shifted it's emphasis from racing to marketing and signaled the beginning of the end. Now all we have are pretty boy tooth paste salesman cruising around in identical cars, waiting to see which one is going to cause a wreck.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by black73

And Jeff Gordon. When Jeff showed up NASCAR shifted it's emphasis from racing to marketing and signaled the beginning of the end. Now all we have are pretty boy tooth paste salesman cruising around in identical cars, waiting to see which one is going to cause a wreck.

Nascar has ALWAYS been about marketing...priority one . The marketing has gone caddywhompous however....

I was a die-hard #3 fan....Jeff Gordon was a better racer...there, I said it!!!

First July night race I watched Gordon hold off Dale for the final dozen or so laps from turn one....it was HUGE...and two drivers at the top of their game duking it out at 200 mph .