NASCAR OFF SEASON WITHDRAWAL THERAPY THREAD (post news updates here)

ME

[WestCoastGal]

Hoping to add news and DAILY rule changes by Nascar to this thread as they come along.

Awards banquet information and any other silly off season rumors etc.

[Wolfstar]

Great idea for a thread, WestCoastGal. The next exciting thing coming up is the Race of Champions that Flash and JJ will participate in, along with the best drivers from F1 and other series. I'm looking forward to seeing that on Speed Channel.

Apparently, many fans are interested in telling NASCAR what they think of the so-called chase. So much, in fact, that Jayski and other forums are posting the following contact info:

NASCAR's mailing address is:
1801 W. International Speed Blvd
Daytona Beach, FL, 32114
Phone: (386) 253-0611
(386) 253-8804
Public Relations (386) 253-0611

Contact Nextel:
Mr. Tim Donohue
President, CEO
Nextel Communications
2001 Edmund Halley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20191

[flutters]

I already miss the races, is it ok to come here just to pout?

[KJacob]

Not sure what NAPA thinks about that.

Interesting point. Sort of like Kenny Wallace with Stacker2. They both are great spokesmen for the products but don't perform that great.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

"lol.....very early 70's."

Thank God the '70's fashion is gone. They wore some real messed up things.

[Wolfstar]

What the new qualifying rules and fewer practice runs will do, in my opinion, is make racing more dangerous. Teams won't be able to find mechanical problems and fix them prior to race time.

[Mr. Mojo]

Clycone = Cyclone

[ChefKeith]

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

"What the new qualifying rules and fewer practice runs will do, in my opinion, is make racing more dangerous. Teams won't be able to find mechanical problems and fix them prior to race time."

I agree totally. How many times do you hear that broken engine parts are found during practice or in the garage after practice. Someone unfortunately will get hurt before they change their minds on this one.

[WestCoastGal]

Pouting is allowed here.

:-)

[Fierce Allegiance]

I agree with that, but it will also make it harder for new teams to break into the top ranks without the experience. That will make the racing less competetive and more top heavy which is boring. Unlike a Mark Martin Viagra commercial this is not a "Good move".

[Wolfstar]

The most distressing rumor that I have heard is that Goodwrench is considering pulling it's sponsorship.

I said just yesterday that sponsors will not be happen with the chase thingy. Look what happened to Texaco. They had a legitimate 7th place car, but were frozen out of the top 10 after the 26th race of the season. So they get a consolation prize of $1 million and a trip to NYC for 11th place. Big friggin deal. That's cump change when compared to the cost of sponsoring a team these days.

In addition to the money and business angles, sponsors are human beings subject to all the same emotions as the rest of us. I sure know how I would feel as a Texaco sponsor if I see three other teams get 10th, 9th, and 8th place recognition, when the team I sponsor actually had a 7th place year-long performance, but it's stuck in 11th.

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks for the info on F1.

Is there a date and time yet?

Jr's fans are starting a letter writing campaign about the suspension of Hmiel the day before the biggest and final race of the season.

It is about time Nascar heard from the fans who made them what they are today. Nascar didn't make racing by themselves, it was the drivers like Earnhardt, Baker, Gant, Yarborough, Waltrip et al. and the FANS who spend the money to attend the races and buy the merchandise.

[KJacob]

Mikey is one of my favorites, too, but I don't see how DEI can keep him on much longer. He just hasn't produced.

With Ward Burton losing his ride you could have the winners of three of the last four Daytona 500's out of work.

[Wolfstar]

...but it will also make it harder for new teams to break into the top ranks without the experience.

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of that aspect, but you're right. Driver seat time, interaction with the crew chief, and overall team practice are very important to new teams.

[Wolfstar]

Is there a date and time yet?

There is, but I don't know it off the top of my head. Will research it and post the info. Be back in a few...

[WestCoastGal]

2005 SCHEDULE

   Date           Race *                    Facility                    TV-Radio   Time  

                                                       
 
 02/12/05    Shootout                 Daytona Int'l Speedway *       FX-MRN    8:00 pm
 02/17/05    Twin 125's               Daytona Int'l Speedway *       FX-MRN   12:30 pm
 02/20/05    Daytona 500              Daytona Int'l Speedway        Fox-MRN   12:00 pm
 02/27/05    Auto Club 500            California Speedway           Fox-MRN    2:30 pm

 March 6, 2005 * Off Weekend 

 03/13/05    UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400  Las Vegas Motor Speedway      Fox-PRN    2:30 pm
 03/20/05    Golden Corral 500        Atlanta Motor Speedway        Fox-PRN   12:30 pm

 March 27, 2005 * Off Weekend 

 04/03/05    Food City 500            Bristol Motor Speedway        Fox-PRN   12:30 pm
 04/10/05    Advance Auto Parts 500   Martinsville Speedway         Fox-MRN   12:30 pm
 04/17/05    Samsung/RadioShack 500   Texas Motor Speedway          Fox-PRN   12:30 pm   
 04/23/05    TBA                      Phoenix Int'l Raceway         Fox-MRN    2:30 pm   
 05/01/05    Aaron’s 499              Talladega Superspeedway       Fox-MRN   12:00 pm   
 05/07/05    Dodge Dealers 500        Darlington Raceway            Fox-MRN   12:30 pm 
 05/14/05    Chevy Amer. Rev. 400     Richmond Int'l Raceway         FX-MRN    7:00 pm
 05/21/05    All-Star Challenge       Lowe's Motor Speedway  *       FX-PRN    7:00 pm
 05/29/05    Coca-Cola 600            Lowe's Motor Speedway         Fox-PRN    5:00 pm
 06/05/05    MBNA America 400         Dover Int'l Speedway          FX-MRN    12:30 pm
 06/12/05    Pocono 500               Pocono Raceway                Fox-MRN   12:30 pm
 06/19/05    DHL 400                  Michigan Int'l Speedway       Fox-MRN   12:30 pm   
 06/26/05    Dodge/Save Mart 350      Infineon Raceway              Fox-PRN    2:30 pm

 Considered Midway Point

 07/02/05    Pepsi 400                Daytona Int'l Speedway        NBC-MRN    7:00 pm
 07/10/05    TBA                      Chicagoland Speedway          NBC-MRN    2:30 pm
 07/17/05    Siemens 300              New Hampshire Int'l Speedway  TNT-MRN    1:30 pm 
 07/24/05    Pennsylvania 500         Pocono Raceway                TNT-MRN   12:30 pm

 July 31, 2005 * Off Weekend 

 08/07/05    Brickyard 400            Indianapolis Motor Speedway   NBC-IMS    2:00 pm
 08/14/05    Sirius at the Glen 2004  Watkins Glen Int'l            TNT-MRN    1:00 pm
 08/21/05    GFS Marketplace 400      Michigan Int'l Speedway       TNT-MRN    1:30 pm
 08/27/05    Sharpie 500              Bristol Motor Speedway        TNT-PRN    7:00 pm
 09/04/05    Pop Secret 500           California Speedway           NBC-MRN    7:00 pm
 09/10/05    Chevy Monte Carlo 400    Richmond Int'l Raceway        TNT-MRN    7:00 pm

 Chase For The Championship Starts 

 09/18/05    Sylvania 300             New Hampshire Int'l Speedway  TNT-MRN   12:30 pm 
 09/25/05    MBNA America 400         Dover Int'l Speedway          TNT-MRN   12:30 pm
 10/02/05    TBA                      Talladega Superspeedway       NBC-MRN    1:30 pm
 10/09/05    Banquet 400              Kansas Speedway               NBC-MRN    1:30 pm
 10/15/05    UAW-GM Quality 500       Lowe's Motor Speedway         NBC-PRN    7:00 pm
 10/23/05    Subway 500               Martinsville Speedway         NBC-MRN   12:00 pm
 10/30/05    Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500  Atlanta Motor Speedway        NBC-PRN   12:00 pm
 11/06/05    Dickies 500              Texas Motor Speedway          NBC-PRN   12:30 pm
 11/13/05    Checker Auto Parts 500   Phoenix Int'l Raceway         NBC-MRN    2:30 pm
 11/20/05    Ford 400                 Homestead-Miami Speedway      NBC-MRN   12:30 pm   


Subject to Change 

All Times Eastern Time 

      
 *Non-championship point events   

[B4Ranch]

The legends and their years of fame.

1948-1949: Red Byron,...
1950-1960: Curtis Turner, Lee Petty, Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, Tim Flock,...
1960-1975: Richard Petty "Le King", Fireball Roberts, David Pearson,...
1975-1985: Darell Waltrip, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker,...
1985-1997: Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace,...
1998-....: The young wolves: Jeff Gordon, John Andretti, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonté, Jeff Burton......

Note: This list is VERY uncomplete and the dates are an average of the drivers' years of fame.
http://membres.lycos.fr/binuxracing/history.html

[Mr. Mojo]

Note: This list is VERY uncomplete

Yep, gotta find a place for Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson in there somewhere ;) (50 wins apiece).

'60 - '75 was my favorite era. .....and the era with by far the best cars.

[Wolfstar]

The Michelin 2004 International Race of Champions -- Nations Cup from Paris will be carried LIVE Dec. 4 on HDNet. Speed Channel will tape it to air the following weekend, Dec. 12.

The race features Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Loeb, and top drivers from F1 and other international series. Jeff and Jimmie represent the United States. They won the first Nation's Cup last year.

The Speed Channel's first runs will be Sunday, Dec. 12 at 8:00pm and 1:00am (Eastern time). Speed will repeat it several times during the week, so those interested should check their local listings.

[B4Ranch]

Yes,VERY incomplete.

'60 - '75 was some exciting times but my man, Bill Elliot didn't hit the sunshine until the 80's. So, I'm torn.

Richard Petty was another hero of mine as was Marty Robbins. NASCAR was still learning how to let the boys race under 'rules' back then.