Official NASCAR Discussion Thread

[mistertripps]

Alright NASCAR fans. The Daytona 500 is next weekend. I've been a huge stock car fan since I was a little kid, but my interest has waned over the past few years. The rule changes and cookie cutter drivers and car templates have taken a lot of the excitement out of it for me. I figured I would start this thread to see if there were any other fans out there who could get me excited about the upcoming season again.

I started out as a Darrell Waltrip fan since I lived next door to some friends of his in Franklin, TN when I was 10. I became a Davey Allison fan during High School and college, then couldn't watch for a year or so after he died. Jeff Gordon reminded me of Davey after he won his first race at Charlotte and I've been a fan of his ever since.

So, who else out there likes good old American racing?

[atl530i]

I was an Earnhardt fan since I was a little kid until he passed, then moved onto Jr. I'm glad he finally has a good combination of a team and owner.

[mistertripps]

I was an Earnhardt fan since I was a little kid until he passed, then moved onto Jr. I'm glad he finally has a good combination of a team and owner.

Nice start for Jr. last night. Looks like the Hendrick stable will be strong again for the title.

[500ZHP]

I use to be a nascar fan. But dropped it years ago when the massive teams started winning all the time. If they want me back as a fan they would need to make the largest team a 2 car only operation.

[mistertripps]

I use to be a nascar fan. But dropped it years ago when the massive teams started winning all the time. If they want me back as a fan they would need to make the largest team a 2 car only operation.

I agree that the big teams hurt the sport, but I don't see them ever limiting it. The thing I can't stand is the new qualifying rules. They need to go back to having everyone get in the race based on what they do in qualifying. If Jeff Gordon's team screws up a car and he runs slow, he should miss the race. IT would certainly make the points much more interesting.

[Kelleyo]

Formula 1 fan here but I started paying more attention to NASCAR now that Juan Pablo Montoya is racing there...

[Stretch]

Growing up in Charlotte I went to a number of races. I was always a #3 fan. I didnt watch much until the last year or so (because Speed took WRC off their programming :( ) Ive begun to start pulling for Tony Stewart mainly because his driving and attitude remind me a lot of a younger Dale Sr.

[atl530i]

I use to be a nascar fan. But dropped it years ago when the massive teams started winning all the time. If they want me back as a fan they would need to make the largest team a 2 car only operation.

Agreed. Hendrick is really good, but the team that really pisses me off is Roush (sp?). There have been times where all his cars finished 7th or better, I was like WTF??? So I can see your point here.

Growing up in Charlotte I went to a number of races. I was always a #3 fan. I didnt watch much until the last year or so (because Speed took WRC off their programming :( ) Ive begun to start pulling for Tony Stewart mainly because his driving and attitude remind me a lot of a younger Dale Sr.

I'm amazed that he is driving a Toyota...

[Jdudley13]

My kind of thread....I'm a huge NASCAR fan and can not wait until next weekend. I'm a die hard tony stewart fan even though he's driving the same car as my mom now....I think we'll be fast on the super speedways but aside from that, I have no clue...Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Catmint]

I'm amazed that he is driving a Toyota...

And therein lies the straw that broke the camel's back, for me anyway. I was so sick of the mid-year rule changes, the "leveling the field", the friggin' "car of the future", and when Toyota came on board that was it for me.

The biggest change that started the downward slide is the rule that they cannot race to the line when the yellow drops. They "freeze the field". (If I hear Daryl Waltrip say "Lucky dog" one more time, I may vomit.) That's a huge competitive strategy they stripped away, all in the name of safety. I think the changes for safety's sake are great, but they can't protect them from every little bump and bruise at the expense of competition. (No wonder the Busch's drive like they do; at least there's a little excitement on the track when they're slamming into Tony Stewart after the race!)

I don't like the top 35 automatically getting into the next race, nor the champion's provisionals, I agree with Tim that everybody ought to race their way in.

And they just need to change the name NASCAR. There ain't nothing "stock" about any of those cars anymore. Used to be, even 10 years ago, you could look at any car on the track and tell if it's a T-bird or a Monte Carlo. Now they all look alike and you have to refer to your program to see what manufacturer's are running. Is that so very important? Maybe not for the new fans. But it's an integral part of what made NASCAR so popular for so many years (manufacturer rivalries).

Not only do the cars all look alike, but so do the drivers now! Do you think someone that looks like Richard Petty would ever get a contract nowadays? Nah! It's all the pretty-boys. It's all image.

I'm pretty much done this year. I may check the results, but it won't mean much to me. I really like Tony Stewart, but I cannot root for a Toyota in a NASCAR race. Just. Can't. Do it.

[BMRSEB]

Formula 1 fan here but I started paying more attention to NASCAR now that Juan Pablo Montoya is racing there...
In a somewhat related note, now Dario Franchitti of Champ Car/IRL whatever it's called fame, is now going to be in NASCAR as well. JPM was in Champ Car/IRL as well a few years back..

And yeah, I used to be a fan back in the late 90's when Jeff Gordon won a few (3?) of his NASCAR titles..

Now, all we need is Michael Schumacher in NASCAR!!! :p:steeringwheel::tongue_smilie: lol!!!!!

[mistertripps]

Michael Schumacher driving the Johnson Brats BMW 540 - now there is a car I could root for....

[Mitch]

I forget who it was, but a NASCAR team boss has an open invitation for Schumie to drive his car. Yeah don't they wish! If Mike ever comes back, it will be with Ferrari.

I do like watching NASCAR, it is exciting to watch. I'll be watching Daytona for sure!