Forum Activity for @andy-denardi

After a Lot of consideration I came to this conclusion

Current NASCAR

I'm in favor of splitting the 500s (except for Daytona) into two races, and your qualifying deal sounds good too. I'm not as certain about the chicane out of turn 3. I wish we could bring back bias ply tires because I think they made for better racing on the speedways.

In 1973, David Pearson had 11 wins and Petty had 6. Would you have been willing to tell Benny Parsons that he didn't deserve the championship because he only won one race? If we were using the 60s point system, Newman would probably still be in contention (like James Hylton often was) and Keselowski would have been eliminated long ago.

I'm fine with having Newman or Kenseth as the champion. I also have no objection to "Jap Crap" winning the whole deal. I do have a problem with manufacturers racing cars that have no high-performance equivalent in the marketplace. And however long it's been since NASCAR started running the SS, I've yet to see one on the road or a dealer's lot.

I made it to New Orleans

Stock Car Racing History

I thought Jackie wore what my father called a pea cap. But that seems to be more of an Irish thing and Stewart is of course, a Scot. The pictures prove me wrong. The pea cap is flatter and looks like a Kangol but is softer tweed.

I made it to New Orleans

Stock Car Racing History

Sorry. These days a fedora means you're a hipster. And that's not a good thing. If you were old school, you'd wear a Kangol like Jackie Stewart and LL Cool J.

At the end of the day, it is what it is.

Current NASCAR

Danica did a good job there at the end but it's good for her brand that she didn't win. Then she would have a restrictor plate win to go with her Indycar fuel mileage win. Both written off as lucky wins instead of earned ones. She was impressive holding off JJ but she'll need to win on a 1.5 mile track to convince me she's got the right stuff.Chase - Talladega is a crapshoot and finishing well is dependent on luck in avoiding wrecks rather than driving to the front. You could run upfront all day and finish 12th just because you got in the wrong line with three to go. There's nearly always a GWC, so it's really a 5 lap race instead of 500. Using Martinsville as the elimination race would put things more in the hands of the drivers. If you did wreck, there's a better chance you could fix it and get back in the races instead of falling from 2nd to 9th in points like Busch. If you had a horrible run at Talladega, ther would be two opportunities to make up for it.Besides, Martinsville is further North and the weather could could benefit from running even one week earlier in the Fall.I hate restrictor plate races and usually watch only the Daytona 500. I would have skipped last week's race if it wasn't an elimination round. So NASCAR's plan brought at least one more viewer.

At the end of the day, it is what it is.

Current NASCAR

It was a surprise to see Kyle Busch eliminated after being 2nd going into Talladega. But Busch didn't have a great season and was only 12th in points without the chase. So no big loss. It also wasn't Jimmie or Kahne's year. Even if Jimmie had won this race, he was having a hit-or-miss season, three wins but a lot of bad finishes. I don't think there are many fans eager for Jimmie's 7th anyway. A late career championship, like Gordon is going for, would go over much better.Junior was having a very good year. He would be 4th in points without the chase. I don't think he would win it, but even many who weren't "Junior Nation" were pulling for him. And you can bet that NASCAR wanted him in the mixc at Homestead. With his age and a new crew chief next year, I think this was his last chance.I thought Ryan Newman was robbed by that late race debris caution and I'm glad he didn't get eliminated in the crashes afterward. I think he had the race won and NASCAR wanted to add drama by giving Jimmie & Keselowski another chance. Seeing the outcome, I agree with what they did. Keselowski and Penske are having a terrific year, especially late in the season. Brad definitely deserved to be in the final eight. I believe he belongs in the final four but I wouldn't give him another mulligan to get there.There are five drivers in the final eight that I would be happy to see win the championship. I hope Je3ff Gordon gets it and retires after next year. In my opinion, he's done as much for the sport as Richard Petty, although I've never been a fan.I like the year-long championship race but this new format has done exactly what Brian France wanted it to do - bring more attention to the sport. I'm sure he his very happy with the results so far, even if Junior is out. I'll even admit to being more interested than before in the chase. For me, where it all falls down is the final four. Still too much room for nonsense there.It's my belief that Martinsville and Talladega should switch places. There's too much risk involved with Talladega to make it an elimination round. You can recover from a crash at Martinsville.

reminder about Ford Archives

Stock Car Racing History

I know that some of you are no slouches when it comes to digging up stuff on the web. But sometimes we visit somewhere and forget to go back. That's why I'm posting this reminder

The Ford archives have pictures of a lot more cars than Fords. For example, they have some fine pictures of Richard and Lee Petty at the 1965 USAC race in Indianapolis. There aren't many that concentrate on stock cars but what they have is petty darn good. I think every stock car that ran at Riverside in 1963 and 1967 is pictured.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/sets/72157629329523411/

There's also www.fordimages.com where they sell photos. Also some good stuff but hard to browse.

updated by @andy-denardi: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM

North Wilkesboro by drone

Historic Speedways and Ghost Tracks

I don't know how many of you have seen this drone's-eye view of the North Wilkesboro so I'll just drop it here

updated by @andy-denardi: 12/05/16 04:08:38PM

Iceman's Final Race Sunday @ 'Dega; Terry Labonte Promises No Burnouts

Current NASCAR

I hope he gets to run the whole race instead of a start and park deal. I'd want to take every moment to remember and enjoy my last ride and would be disappointed to come in after 25 laps.

THE CHARLOTTE POLE KEEPS GETTING HIGHER

Stock Car Racing History

5 to 6 million would be roughly 14 million today. From what I read, it would take 20 to 30 million to sponsor a Hendrick or Penske car for a full season. So you could get Brad Keselowski but not Jimmie Johnson. The difference being that Miller does 24 of 36 races and I think Lowe's does the full season.

That said, I think the 14 million quoted is all to the team and you were giving maybe 20% of your 6 million to the team. As I've said before, I think the carousel of sponsors and paint jobs diminishes the value of sponsorship by eliminating easy identification. You can look at a 1 inch square picture and immediately identify the Wrangler Chevy, STP Pontiac or Rainbow Warrior. With a new color every week, can you do that with the Lowe's Chevy? How about ten years from now?

Has Hendrick supassed Petty Enterprises in wins?

Stock Car Racing History

Thanks Dave! To clarify your statement, the 268 total runs to 2008 and is bundled under Petty Enterprises. I'm not knowledgeable enough to say whether that's correct. RPM is listed separately beginning in 2009 - 5 wins.

I thought Hendrick would have more by now. Rick isn't that young anymore but it looks like he can beat the PE record if he hangs in there another three or four years.