Posted on 09/19/2006 6:37:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Welcome to the 2nd race of the Nextel Chase for the Cup 2006 race thread.
The Nextel Cup series and Craftsman Trucks will be at Dover and the Busch series will be racing in Las Vegas.
Prayers for the troops at Walter Reed and to All our service personnel and their families around the globe and for all those who served and sacrificed so much for the freedom and liberty we enjoy today.
Never Forget.
This Week - The Dover 400 at Dover
Nextel Cup Dover 400 - 09|24|06 - TnT Sun. 1230pm ET /~/ Qualifying - Speed - 09|22|06 3pm ET
Busch Series Smith's Las Vegas 350 - 09|23|06 - Speed Sat. 9pm ET
Craftsman Dover 200 - 09|23|06 - TnT 3pm ET /~/ Qualifying - Speed - 09|23|06 1130am ET
The way to best illustrate the early history of Dover International Speedway would be to look at the list of winners in the track's early years as a site for Cup racing. From 1969 through '80, 21 of the 22 Cup races at Dover International Speedway were won by drivers who either already had or would go on to win championships in NASCAR's top series.
The names of those winners are part of the fabric of the sport -- Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Benny Parsons and Darrell Waltrip. Allison and Petty rank first on the all-time winner's list at Dover International Speedway with seven victories apiece.
About 3,200 seats were added in 1982. Each following year until 1998, more seats were added.
In 1995, the track's surface was switched to concrete -- making it the first all-concrete superspeedway in the sport. The unique look of the white concrete surface still makes Dover's appearance unique among the sport's bigger tracks.
Dover hosted the first Cup race held after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Dale Earnhardt Jr. got the win that day and took a giant American flag on a victory lap.
Track Facts
Banking/Turns: 24 degree
Distance: 1 mile
Shape: Oval
FRFL'ers - Deadline to select or edit your drivers is Sep 22 2:00am PDT
The Dover race thread is up.
Dover is awesome, like a great big Bristol.
Rank | +/- | Driver | Points | Behind | Starts | Poles | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Winnings |
1 | +2 | Kevin Harvick | 5230 | Leader | 27 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 15 | $4,833,280 |
2 | +3 | Denny Hamlin* | 5195 | -35 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 14 | $3,410,920 |
3 | -2 | Matt Kenseth | 5189 | -41 | 27 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 17 | $5,348,420 |
4 | +5 | Jeff Gordon | 5180 | -50 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 13 | $4,688,120 |
5 | +3 | Jeff Burton | 5166 | -64 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | $3,809,670 |
6 | +1 | Mark Martin | 5155 | -75 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | $3,349,250 |
7 | -1 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 5149 | -81 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 12 | $4,218,430 |
8 | +2 | Kasey Kahne | 5120 | -110 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 14 | $4,804,520 |
9 | -7 | Jimmie Johnson | 5091 | -139 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 18 | $7,166,190 |
10 | -6 | Kyle Busch | 5084 | -146 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 15 | $3,855,490 |
11 | -- | Tony Stewart | 3473 | -1757 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 15 | $5,291,410 |
12 | -- | Greg Biffle | 3160 | -2070 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 12 | $3,457,130 |
13 | -- | Carl Edwards | 3120 | -2110 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | $3,523,450 |
14 | -- | Kurt Busch | 2934 | -2296 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | $3,854,530 |
15 | -- | Casey Mears | 2915 | -2315 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | $4,253,290 |
16 | +1 | Ryan Newman | 2880 | -2350 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | $4,325,030 |
17 | -1 | Clint Bowyer* | 2846 | -2384 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | $3,066,040 |
18 | +2 | Brian Vickers | 2834 | -2396 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | $2,951,200 |
19 | -- | Jamie McMurray | 2798 | -2432 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | $3,942,680 |
20 | +1 | Elliott Sadler | 2789 | -2441 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | $3,717,440 |
21 | -3 | Scott Riggs | 2781 | -2449 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | $2,512,920 |
22 | -- | Reed Sorenson* | 2722 | -2508 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | $2,707,630 |
23 | -- | Martin Truex Jr.* | 2633 | -2597 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | $3,091,470 |
24 | -- | Dale Jarrett | 2551 | -2679 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | $3,433,110 |
25 | +1 | Robby Gordon | 2523 | -2707 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | $2,475,280 |
26 | +1 | J.J. Yeley* | 2490 | -2740 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | $3,352,700 |
27 | -2 | Bobby Labonte | 2481 | -2749 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | $3,508,070 |
28 | -- | Dave Blaney | 2449 | -2781 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | $2,697,230 |
29 | -- | Ken Schrader | 2353 | -2877 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | $3,212,860 |
30 | -- | Jeff Green | 2307 | -2923 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $2,865,170 |
31 | -- | Joe Nemechek | 2251 | -2979 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $3,124,530 |
32 | -- | Sterling Marlin | 2130 | -3100 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $2,502,700 |
33 | -- | Kyle Petty | 2075 | -3155 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $2,791,860 |
34 | -- | David Stremme* | 1985 | -3245 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $2,601,330 |
35 | -- | Travis Kvapil | 1847 | -3383 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $2,227,940 |
36 | -- | Michael Waltrip | 1842 | -3388 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $2,347,870 |
37 | +1 | Tony Raines | 1691 | -3539 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1,640,980 |
38 | -1 | Jeremy Mayfield | 1647 | -3583 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $2,582,060 |
39 | -- | Scott Wimmer | 1630 | -3600 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1,774,480 |
40 | -- | Kevin Lepage | 1226 | -4004 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1,617,110 |
41 | -- | Terry Labonte | 1074 | -4156 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $1,313,760 |
42 | -- | Kenny Wallace | 670 | -4560 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $1,001,380 |
43 | -- | Bill Elliott | 452 | -4778 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $765,101 |
44 | -- | Paul Menard | 446 | -4784 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $321,058 |
45 | +1 | Chad Chaffin | 443 | -4787 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $679,768 |
46 | -1 | Boris Said | 415 | -4815 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | $429,000 |
47 | -- | Brent Sherman* | 372 | -4858 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $637,056 |
48 | +1 | David Gilliland | 336 | -4894 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $573,840 |
49 | -1 | Stanton Barrett | 285 | -4945 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $466,918 |
50 | -- | Hermie Sadler | 251 | -4979 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $716,355 |
51 | -- | Derrike Cope | 249 | -4981 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $520,009 |
52 | -- | Mike Wallace | 243 | -4987 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $446,218 |
53 | -- | Scott Pruett | 223 | -5007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $203,530 |
54 | -- | Kirk Shelmerdine | 177 | -5053 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $445,624 |
55 | -- | Mike Garvey | 138 | -5092 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $312,210 |
56 | -- | Jimmy Spencer | 122 | -5108 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $122,275 |
57 | -- | Ron Fellows | 119 | -5111 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $135,772 |
58 | -- | Mike Skinner | 104 | -5126 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $223,708 |
59 | -- | Brandon Ash | 88 | -5142 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $127,995 |
60 | -- | Todd Kluever | 74 | -5156 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $144,402 |
61 | -- | Chad Blount | 74 | -5156 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $147,678 |
62 | +6 | Morgan Shepherd | 71 | -5159 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $149,407 |
63 | -1 | Bill Lester | 67 | -5163 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $135,360 |
64 | -1 | P.J. Jones | 55 | -5175 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $67,610 |
65 | -1 | Brian Simo | 40 | -5190 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $57,460 |
66 | -1 | Carl Long | 40 | -5190 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $101,433 |
67 | -- | Ted Christopher | 40 | -5190 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $67,060 |
68 | -2 | Tom Hubert | 34 | -5196 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $67,116 |
69 | -2 | Marc Goossens | 34 | -5196 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $57,537 |
70 | -1 | Johnny Sauter | 0 | -5230 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $85,750 |
71 | -1 | Stephen Leicht | 0 | -5230 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $62,275 |
IATP...
Louden; 7th
Dover; 4th
Talladega; 41st ouch
Kansas; 1st
Lowes; 5th
Martinsville; 34th ouch
Atlanta; 3rd
Texas; 2cnd
Phx: 14th
Homestead; 2cnd
Hope he survives Talladega, Martinsville this year. He looks good otherwise.
Headed to the Flyer memorial this Saturday in Houston. Will post a link to the live thread.
You got it!
Thanks!
Pinz and Needlez for the next few races...gotta see how our favorite drivers will do. One race at a time.
Just hope the NON chase drivers all behave themselves...'specially at TallyDega!
I'll be here for a day or so, but most likely will miss the race. Work.
Very sorry about your friend, Flyer. Have his webpage with his Mason Cam bookmarked. Used to check once or twice a week to see what Mason was doing. It's still up. Date on webcam is Aug.11.
With all due respect, send us your boss's phone # and maybe we can work something out.
Thanks for hosting and the ping;
From Jaski's;
"Classic" Points Standings...the old way, not the Chase after New Hampshire:
1) #17-Matt Kenseth 3924
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson 3774 -150
31) #29-Kevin Harvick 3671 -253
4) #11-Denny Hamlin 3513 -411
5) #24-Jeff Gordon 3491 -433
6) #20-Tony Stewart 3473 -451(2 wins)
7) #5-Kyle Busch 3473 -451 (1 win)
8) #31-Jeff Burton 3473 -451
9) #6-Mark Martin 3471 -453
10) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3462 -464
11) #9-Kasey Kahne 3434 -490
(9-17-2006)
http://www.jayski.com/stats/2006standings/sept17.htm
If everything goes well on Saturday I should be here for the race.
Thanks for the ping......
BTW the Truck race is in Vegas, can't wait to see that new high banked track.
Smith's Las Vegas 350
Las Vegas
SPEED MRN XM
Sat., Sept. 23, 2006
TV Time: 9:00pm ET
Busch race........This Weekend
The No. 88 Navy Accelerate Your Life Chevrolet team will compete in the Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway on Saturday. The race is scheduled to air live on TNT and MRN Radio affiliates at 3 p.m.
And no, I ain't crazy. :o)
Tanks for the ping!
Is side-by-side coverage feasible in NASCAR?
By Marty Smith, NASCAR.COM
September 21, 2006
10:49 AM EDT (14:49 GMT)Commercially saturated NASCAR broadcasts have long been a considerable point of contention for viewers, to the point now that one mother/son tandem on a fan-produced Web site tracks weekly the number of commercials and companies advertised therein; short corporate promotions and the number of companies promoted therein; restarts missed due to commercials and total minutes of commercial time vs. race time in each NASCAR broadcast.
That, to me, is a sign. Fans are fed up.
They plead incessantly that side-by-side coverage be implemented into NASCAR broadcasts as it is during Indy Racing League events, and quite frankly don't care why, as I wrote here two weeks ago, it's "simply not an option in NASCAR."
If it can work for the IRL, it can work for NASCAR, they say. And while the hows and whys are indeed complicated, I'm not certain that rationale isn't fundamentally true.
My understanding was that IRL broadcasts are advertising buys by the series to the network partner. Five different people -- some in NASCAR, some, even, involved in the production of ABC's IRL broadcasts, confirmed this notion. Five people.
But IRL executive vice president for communications Fred Nation says that's incorrect. The IRL, he said, gets paid for the rights to broadcast its races just like NASCAR does. Though the IRL contract isn't as lucrative as those enjoyed by NASCAR, they are structurally similar, Nation said.
That got me thinking -- if that's indeed true, and the IRL can produce side-by-side coverage during its broadcasts, why can't NASCAR? Money?
"IndyCar worked closely with ABC/ESPN and our key sponsors to implement side-by-side two years ago," Nation responded in an e-mail. "There was some initial resistance by some sponsors fearing less attention to their commercials.
"Those fears have proved unfounded according to network research. Side-by-side is ideal for auto racing, and there is no inherent reason not to do it.
"It takes a commitment from both the network and the series to work with sponsors. If both are willing and enthusiastic, it is possible."
ABC/ESPN spokesman George McNeilly said Wednesday that the network would enjoy the opportunity to bring side-by-side coverage to NASCAR fans, but obstacles abound. Intricate dynamics are involved.
It's not as easy as simply doing it.
"ESPN is on the cutting edge of technology and would like the opportunity to pursue side-by-side with NASCAR, but we are contractually prohibited at this time from doing so.
"We see side-by-side as an opportunity to serve sports fans so they don't miss the action, and still provide great value to advertisers on the telecast. We'd like the opportunity."
McNeilly said, too, that ABC/ESPN is in dialogue with NASCAR daily, and that NASCAR officials have shown they're willing to listen to new and innovative broadcast ideas.
Contacted Wednesday, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said NASCAR is still searching for the proper solution.
"We are always interested in finding the best way to showcase our racing in a manner that serves fans, sponsors and the networks," Poston said. "Up to this point we have not seen a split screen solution that accomplishes that."
In other words, NASCAR is open to a picture-in-picture concept, just not in the same fashion the IRL uses.
Truth be told, side-by-side coverage has produced no noticeable increase in IRL viewership ratings for ESPN/ABC. Nation said it was "arguable."
The fundamental difference between here and there, it seems, is the cost difference between a 30-second commercial spot during an IRL broadcast and the same spot during a NASCAR broadcast, which is considerable.
"The reason NASCAR probably doesn't want to use side-by-side is the same problem we had with the Indy 500 in 2005 -- advertisers don't want it," Nation said. "In 2005 we did it for all races except the Indy 500."
The IRL works with fewer advertisers than the Nextel Cup Series does, so fundamentally there are fewer sponsors to convince that it's a viable course of action.
FedEx is one of many Fortune 500 companies that runs multiple commercial spots weekly during NASCAR broadcasts.
"As a marketing leader, FedEx is always looking for unique ways to communicate with our key audiences," FedEx spokesman Chris Swearingen said. "Side-by-side broadcast coverage of races and commercials with NASCAR is certainly a way to effectively advertise without interruption."
So ABC/ESPN is open to it. NASCAR is open to researching ways to make it work. And it seems some sponsors see its effectiveness.
I'm not so sure side-by-side coverage in NASCAR can't happen.
Granted, it might not look like it looks in the IRL. But if it ultimately comes to fruition, it'll look pretty dadgum good to the NASCAR fan base, regardless.
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.
I hope you are right. But it makes me sick to say it, as I am not a fan, but I don't know how anyone could bet against UnHappy Harvick right now.
I used to like him. But when he tried to wreck Menard at Milwaukee, that was unforgiveable.
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