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Posted on 01/25/2010 12:57:25 PM PST by WestCoastGal
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Here we go again and it’s a very good thing indeed.
Great set-up, WCG. Thank you.
Well Mr. “Bender de Fenders” with the tweaking done to the rules to let the boys be boys you might indeed see quite a few bent fenders.
What a difference a year makes. Last year I would have made several changes to my drivers by now. This year I haven’t even considered who to run. This unemployed stuff is teaching me to “walk” a bit instead of “running” 24/7.
Alas, Mrs. Happydog is still running. She’s already packed for the race in Las Vegas.
I have been told there are several drivers ordering large red & white bulls-eye decals with the #48 in large letters...
and don’t forget the season ending feuds btn Stewart & Montoya and Hamlin & Keslowski.
This might be the best season in several years.
Getting us all up to speed on rules for today........
NASCAR has changed two pit-road rules, one to keep drivers from being penalized when they are not at fault and another to keep drivers from exploiting the rules.
The changes, which apply to the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series, were revealed by NASCAR officials Thursday during a session to go over pit-road rules with select media.
A driver can no longer speed down pit road to avoid being lapped. In the past, if a driver needed repairs to his car on pit road, the team would work as long as possible and then the driver would speed down pit road to remain on the lead lap. The penalty would send him to the tail end of the longest line – where the driver would be anyway because the time spent on pit road would put him at the back of the field.
Now a driver caught speeding down pit road in an attempt to beat the caution car would either be held at the end of pit road or be forced to stop on the track and give the lap back.
The other change involves a situation in which a driver crosses the pit-road commitment line under green but then the yellow flag comes out before the driver hits the pit-road entrance line where the green/red light is located. Now, instead of being penalized, the driver can continue down pit road – even though the pits are technically closed – as long as the driver does not pit. The driver would be put back in line where the car was when it entered pit road.
In the past, drivers were penalized – either for coming back on the track after crossing the commitment line or for entering pit road when the pits were closed.
...don’t forget the use of a LARGER restrictor plate this year at Daytona...don’t know if that will apply to Tally or not, probably depends on how much carnage happens at Daytona!~
True - doubt it will make a difference, they decided on larger plate because of some tweaking to body of car which required a bit more hp to even out things.
Check this out...........I’m sure Chad is on it already!! ;p
The most noteworthy rumor my source provided is that NASCAR is going to make it easier for teams to get through both qualifying and race day inspections by allowing “significantly” more generous tolerances on the engine specs as well as the body measurements of the cars.
I was told that these changes — including the spoiler, the plate, and the relaxed tolerances — will be introduced throughout the 2010 season, with the wing disappearing soon after the open test at Charlotte Motor Speedway March 23-24.
Apparently, NASCAR feels the wing has been one of the biggest causes of the lack of competitive racing with the Car of Tomorrow, along with the challenges faced by Goodyear in making tires that suit the car — leading to the added rumor that the sanctioning body is pressing Goodyear to produce a racier tire without jeopardizing the safety of the car.
I contacted NASCAR spokesperson Ramsey Poston this week about the potential for looser engine specs and body tolerances. Poston said, “I have not heard a single word of that — we announced all changes that are currently under consideration last week.”
Those modifications already revealed — the larger opening in the restrictor plates and the return of the spoiler — have been cited as proof that NASCAR is listening to the fans — and there is no doubt some truth to that.
But my source tells me that a lot of the impetus for these changes (real and rumored) is economic: that NASCAR is very concerned about lagging ticket sales, slumping TV ratings, and the departure of some big sponsors, while other financial backers are reviewing their financial commitments this season.
The only way to improve the situation is to bring back the excitement that comes with truly competitive racing — something that’s been hindered by the boxy COT, which limits green-flag passing and favors the car out front with clean air on its nose.
In addition, easing up the body templates and relaxing the engine tolerances would put some much-needed creativity back in the hands of the crew chiefs — leading back to idea of promoting racier races. The more flexibility teams have to work with, the greater the likelihood that more of them will be able to put competitive cars on the track.
“Prohibited substances are those substances that, in Aegis’s determination in consultation with NASCAR, may adversely affect the safety and well-being of the Competitors, Officials, and/or spectators, or the performance of a Competitor or Official in or at a NASCAR Event, including without limitation illegal drugs,” the rule book states. “Aegis, in consultation with NASCAR, may make this determination with respect to a particular substance at any time, including and without limitation at the time of discovery of the substance following a drug test.”
The rule states that competitors and officials are prohibited from using, possessing, purchasing, selling or participating in the distribution of any illegal drug, regardless of the amount. Illegal possession and distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medication is also prohibited.
The rule book lists banned drugs that might not fall under that category. It also notes that derivatives of the prohibited drugs are not allowed and that the list is not exhaustive.
Among the drugs listed:
• Stimulants, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA) and Phentermine.
• Narcotic analgesics, such as hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, heroin, codeine and hydrocodone.
• Ephedrine, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine if used in a manner inconsistent with the instructions provided by the drug manufacturer or in a manner or amount that risks the health, safety or impairs a driver.
• Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan), oxazapam (Serax), temazepam (Restoril), Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam (Xanax) and Nordiazepam (Valium).
• Barbituates, such as amobarbital (Amytal) and secobarbital (Seconal).
• Performance enhancing drugs, such as Human Growth Hormone (hGH), as well as anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone.
• Muscle relaxers, such as carisoprodol (Soma), meprobamate (Miltown, Meprospan).
• Sleep aids, such as zolpidem (Ambien)
• Beta blockers, such as alpernolol and carteolol.
• Alcohol: A competitor is prohibited from consuming any alcohol 12 hours prior to or during on-track activity. A driver is considered unfit if the blood-alcohol level is above 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters (0.02 percent).
• Dietary supplements with a warning advising non-use if the purchaser is subject to a drug-testing program even though available without a prescription.
• Masking agents designed to avoid detection, including Aromatase inhibitors that may be used to biologically manipulate the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, and/or using epitestosterone to artificially alter the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio.
Thank you.
#2 is a no brainer and needs to be implemented but I have questions on #1. Say a guy (or gal :) gets in a wreck and trys the old stopping every lap to get his car repaired. He then speeds down pit road and gets the penalty to put him in the back of the longest line. Is the penalty the same the 2nd or 3rd time he does it..he just gets put back on the end of the longest line? Is there an additional penalty for the 2nd or 3rd violation?
We need to clarify this for Tubebender because his drivers will undoubtably try to circumvent the rules and we need to be perfectly clear on this.
And it dripped and dripped and dripped...man I need to move that aluminum ladder away from the house.
Sun's out now.
It’ll fix, I did the same thing.
May I suggest Sheep Dip for that braying dog...
I’m going out of my way to offer you some old school advice. Please wait and remove the ladder between lightening flashes...
Great idea!
Never think about it when it’s not raining, only when I hear the ping, ping, ping...LOL
Semi-functional here, not as bad as the first one that’s for sure.
I’m really beginning to wonder (and worry) about you.
Donkeys bray, dogs bark.
If you dip a dog in sheep won’t the sheep scatter?
Perhaps the 1st wife should take away your grape juice.
Dear reader; It is with great satisfaction that I am able to report to you that my First Wife gave her Current Husband a 23” Vizio HDTV for his 53rd wedding anniversary and her Current Husband pledged to reward her with a luncheon at the Canton Cafe Monday*.
This Vizio replaces his current desktop 20” Sharp FP which will be donated to the kids Sunday School at her Church. The sound sucks on the 23” and he is not fond of the wide aspect but 53 year old marriages are scarce and apparently hard to come by.
*luncheon prices are less than dinner prices
If Donkeys are your thing then Donkeys it is...
Anyone home?
PING to 100...
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