NASCAR IS BACK ~ DAYTONA Budweiser Shootout/Duels ~ (Begins) Saturday Feb 12, 2011 FOX 8PM

Warning there are rule changes this year. France is scrapping the long time point scoring system of NASCAR for a simpler version that will be easily understood by fans (I guess he thinks we are stupid) and NASCAR teams alike (if the teams didn't understand the old points system we are in trouble). Brian France has also made changes to spice up the qualifying process by creating a buzz around practice. The new qualifying process will invert the top 35 drivers according to their practice speeds (fastest in practice go last). If practice and qualifying rained out they start by points.

The most interesting change will be to the NASCAR Chase itself. In an effort to place more importance on winning, the final two Chase spots will go to drivers that won the most races in the first 26 races of the season. The driver will have to place in the top 20 after 26 races or they will not qualify. This will be interesting, as there is a slight possibility someone who didn't really do well competitively, but remained above P20 and won a rain called race or one on fuel, that will be embarrassing. I call it the Jamie McMurray rule. and in his case a Chase berth would have been warranted.

Other tweaks of the scoring system will be bonus points. Three points for a win, one point for leading a lap and one point for leading the most laps.

Tire rules will force crew chiefs to plan their practice and qualifying strategies. The teams will be allocated five sets of tires for practice and qualifying instead of six. Once qualifying is in the books the teams will have to return four sets to Goodyear to receive their race package of tires. They make keep one set from qualifying.

The new fuel can to be used this season will solve a few problems. The cans will assure less fumes for the pit crew and NASCAR officials on pit road. The second is a safety issue that the can will solve is the elimination of the catch can man. This will result in a safer pit road with less congestion and less confusion for drivers entering and exiting their pit boxes. Watch for pit crew errors until they get used to this though.

Good Luck!

1 posted on 02/02/2011 2:28:49 PM PST by WestCoastGal

To: WestCoastGal

2 posted on 02/02/2011 2:37:00 PM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)

To: WestCoastGal

3 posted on 02/02/2011 2:37:39 PM PST by TexasCajun

To: WestCoastGal; SouthTexas

Looks like your rolling black-outs are over

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2667589/posts

4 posted on 02/02/2011 2:44:36 PM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)

To: WestCoastGal; AT7Saluki

5 posted on 02/02/2011 2:49:53 PM PST by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)

Woo Hoo! Banana Slug Racing Team looking forward to fitting secret slug juice sprayers under our back bumper.

6 posted on 02/02/2011 2:50:55 PM PST by MtnClimber (Osama and Obama both hate freedom and have friends that bombed the Pentagon)

7 posted on 02/02/2011 2:51:08 PM PST by DJlaysitup

Thanks we shall see what happens tomorrow.

Ice and snow predicted.

8 posted on 02/02/2011 2:56:11 PM PST by WestCoastGal (SL I believe hes a remarkable race-car driver, I think some people in the world have forgotten that)

....as long as you’re not BLOCKING!!!!

};^)

9 posted on 02/02/2011 3:00:28 PM PST by Roccus (Joe Biden.....America's only living brain donor.)

To: NormsRevenge; glock rocks; Pete-R-Bilt; NYTexan; WestCoastGal; tubebender; advertising guy; ...

Ping for the Daytona Budweiser Shootout, Qualifying and Duel races known as Speed Weeks.

500 thread will be a stand alone thread.

10 posted on 02/02/2011 3:02:37 PM PST by WestCoastGal (SL I believe hes a remarkable race-car driver, I think some people in the world have forgotten that)

I second that emotion!

WhooooHOOOO!

11 posted on 02/02/2011 3:07:17 PM PST by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)

To: WestCoastGal

I’m ready...... going thru the DT’s. Liking all the new changes too.

12 posted on 02/02/2011 3:16:02 PM PST by umgud

To: WestCoastGal

I'm ready for some racin.

13 posted on 02/02/2011 3:43:14 PM PST by McGruff (If you are catching alot of flak, you must be on target!)

To: WestCoastGal

Bump for some Racin...

14 posted on 02/02/2011 4:13:47 PM PST by tubebender (The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Eureka...)

To: WestCoastGal; Roccus

Great looking thread!

Home now and the heat is running!

Off to SA in the morning. How’s that for brilliant planning? LOL

15 posted on 02/02/2011 4:15:47 PM PST by SouthTexas (Is it time for tea yet?)

Why thanks - it only took 15 posts to say the thread looked good, I thought I messed up.;p

Be careful tomorrow.

16 posted on 02/02/2011 4:19:53 PM PST by WestCoastGal (SL I believe hes a remarkable race-car driver, I think some people in the world have forgotten that)

To: WestCoastGal

Engaging Warp OverDrive.. Let ‘em Roar!!

Thanks for this and to come!!

17 posted on 02/02/2011 4:25:18 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard .. Obama: Epic Fail or Bust!!!)

To: WestCoastGal

Going to the northside first, then to the middle, and finally to the southwest side.

Who knows, you may end up with a stranded traveler on your doorstep. ;)

18 posted on 02/02/2011 4:25:22 PM PST by SouthTexas (Is it time for tea yet?)

To: WestCoastGal

awesome
a trip to Daytona would be quite pleasant considering our currrent state of ice encapsulation

19 posted on 02/02/2011 4:43:10 PM PST by nascarnation

To: NormsRevenge

Thx :) Just praying the weather will be good in Daytona and here so I can watch considering I took days off.

20 posted on 02/02/2011 4:52:11 PM PST by WestCoastGal (SL I believe hes a remarkable race-car driver, I think some people in the world have forgotten that)

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