The Official NASCAR Talk Thread

#852
#852
Burhead said:
Austin Dillon in the #14 for Michigan after that undetermined.

Not sure I agree with it, I would have put in Regan Smith. I'm not that big fan of the Dillon brothers and I think Austin will be a huge disappoint at the Cup level.
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I can see pros and cons to both Smith and Dillon. I figured Childress might be a little upset with Tony for stealing Harvick and not want Dillon to Fill in. It gets his grandson experience and may help Dillon steal the Bass Pro sponsorship if and when he moves up to Cup though.
 
#853
#853
jhen713 said:
I can see pros and cons to both Smith and Dillon. I figured Childress might be a little upset with Tony for stealing Harvick and not want Dillon to Fill in. It gets his grandson experience and may help Dillon steal the Bass Pro sponsorship if and when he moves up to Cup though.
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I highly(and I mean HIGHLY doubt that'll happen)
 
#857
#857
jhen713 said:
I don't know. They are already primary sponsor of his Nationwide car. Who wouldn't want to put their logo on the famous 3 car when he moves up to cup?
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That would be enticing. Even if he doesn't win, they will be clamoring to get on that GRAVY TRAIN!
 
#858
#858
I just re-watched the 2000 Winston race.

Some notes:

1. I miss Winston, they were great for racing and they really put up a lot of money into that series.

2. I miss TNN. They had Eli Gold, Buddy Baker, Dick Bergren, and Shoutin Ralph Shaheen!

3. Dale Jr. was a bit of a sensation that year. Two wins I believe, I remember watching his race at Texas, to take his first. You really would have thought that he was on his way to a championship career.

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4. The young talent was sort of weak at that time period. Dale Jr was one of the most successful "young" guys in that field and he was 25. Guys like Steve Parks and Jeremy Mayfield were also showing great promise. Tony Stewart would of course be a legend, as would Jeff Gordon.

5. NASCAR fans like drivers in their twilight and hate persistent winners. Dale Sr., a massive thunderous applause while Jeff Gordon got boo'd at a level that would surprise Kyle Busch. Mind you Jeff was a super nice guy too, never punted anyone off the track or shoved reporters, just a fast driver. Now folks like me, who cheered super hard for Dale Sr., and didn't care for Jeff are now firmly in his camp, now that he sort of seems to be in the twilight of his career.

6. The Winston had the best looking special race cars. Dale Sr., had a gorgeous yellow and pink job, which I remember lusting over when I was younger and remember wanting a die cast of so badly.

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7. The race wasn't sold out, there were a bunch of sections completely empty.

8. Remember that store NASCAR Thunder? We had one in Knoxville, that place was awesome, and it was still operating in 2000.

9. I have no idea the internet was that decent back in 2000. On the broadcast, they mentioned a couple of times that if you went to TNN.com you could watch the race live from Jerry Nadeu's car during the race. IN 2000!!! I still find race buddy in 2013 to be a delightful luxury in 2013. What sort of magic computers did TNN have back then?

10. There will never, EVER, be another Dale Earnhardt. He was the most charismatic driver in all of motorsport. He could be kind and likeable like a Jeff Gordon. He had the honest background that endeared the common man to his camp, there was no having his way paid for him, he had to work. He was genuine county, yet still sophisticated, you believed that this man was who you saw out working his farm, and he was just a country guy who made the big times. Now you get the faux country of the Dillon brothers, who think putting on a Stetson after the race somehow makes you country or more relatable to the common man. He had the wit and cutting remarks of Tony Stewart, but he never came off like a mean spirited jerk that Tony often comes off as. He embraced his fans and his critics, and he had driven in a manner to earn both. Now you get guys like a Kyle Busch, who seem to still show honest surprise whenever he is booed. Dale Earnhardt knew why he was being booed, and he was happy to create emotion from the crowd. I know this may be heavily influenced by rose tinted glasses, but there will never be another personality in this sport like The Intimidator, and that truly makes me sad.

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#861
#861
I was a casual fan in the late 90's and really started following more closely when Stewart came on the scene. His say what I mean(right or wrong) mentality is what made me a fan of his.
 
#864
#864
jhen713 said:
I was a casual fan in the late 90's and really started following more closely when Stewart came on the scene. His say what I mean(right or wrong) mentality is what made me a fan of his.
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I grew up watching Thursday night Thunder on ESPN and I can remember watching Stewart and Gordon both coming up through the midget and USAC stuff. That show was awesome. Got to see a lot of racing on that show. I think that's why I enjoyed the truck race at Eldora because it reminded me a little of those times.
 
#865
#865
jhen713 said:
Great post, by the way.:hi:
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Thank you. I enjoyed writing it.

Yankee_Vol said:
What were you like 7 in 2000 Nerd?
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I was 13.

I first started watching in 1996 when I was 9 cheering for the #29. Why the 29? I loved Cartoon Network and fast cars, so once I saw that they came together I was hooked.

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I watched NASCAR religiously until about 2005-06, when I just got too busy to tune in every Sunday, and by that time F1 had been my favorite since about 2002. I started back watching NASCAR weekly in about 2009-2010. It would behoove me to fill in the blanks and watch some of the races I missed, but those Car of Tomorrow's were so damn ugly.

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NASCAR now is in a pretty good place. I think the talent is there, the tracks are decent, the cars are the prettiest around, and the coverage is great. I hope they can figure out how to get the fans back at the races.

Something real special though about that 1997-2001 period for me though. I can really remember watching those races and be reminded of where I was and what I was doing.
 
#866
#866
I started watching around the same time, 1996. Jeff Burton was my first favorite driver. I liked the way the #99 looked (reminded me of the SuperFlo Days of Thunder car)

The next year is when I started following closely. That's when I became a fan of Bobby Labonte in the #18 car. Worked at Home Depot in 2002 and became a Stewart Fan.

I still like seeing Tony do well but I've always stuck with Joe Gibbs.

And now I like Rowdy
 
#867
#867
My parents loved Nascar. My mom was a big Davey Allison fan and my dad was an Awesome Bill fan. So I have been following Nascar ever since I can remember. I am 31 now. I probably don't follow as closely as I used to or watch as many races as I used to but I still keep up with it today.

When I was younger I always like DW because he was from TN. I cannot stand DW the annoucer though.
 
#869
#869
I have never been a big Jeff Gordon fan but I will say that the sport is a little more fun to watch when he is contending to win races and championships.
 
#872
#872
Nerd-Vol said:
Wow, I wonder where he will land? I also wonder who will take his seat?
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Don't see any open NASCAR seats, so maybe back to open wheel? I think the most obvious choice would be Kyle Larson but I wouldn't rush his development. I guess Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman could be another option.

Oh and Target is coming back, so ride is sponsored.
 
#873
#873
Burhead said:
Don't see any open NASCAR seats, so maybe back to open wheel? I think the most obvious choice would be Kyle Larson but I wouldn't rush his development. I guess Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman could be another option.

Oh and Target is coming back, so ride is sponsored.
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I think Kurt would be a good fit
 
#875
#875
Burhead said:
Don't see any open NASCAR seats, so maybe back to open wheel? I think the most obvious choice would be Kyle Larson but I wouldn't rush his development. I guess Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman could be another option.

Oh and Target is coming back, so ride is sponsored.
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Newman would be a great choice. Maybe Monty can go back to Indy.
 
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