Nationwide Series - Drive4COPD 300

[DanicaFan]

Well, Danica makes her Nationwide Series debut this Saturday for the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway. The race will be televised on ESPN2 at 1pm Eastern on Saturday, Feb13th.

I cant wait. I feel that Danica will have a great race. I know she will crack the top 10, I can feel a top 5 possibly. http://lasttofirst.com/Smileys/yarex2/smiley.gif

The Nationwide Series will practice today from 3-5pm Eastern. They practice on Thursday as well. Qualifications are this Friday at 3:10pm Eastern

[Mark in Oshawa]

DF...this is the Nationwide series. Be warned this isn't going to be easy, and if you think she is going to be in the top 5 on a regular basis, you are dreaming.....this is a tough sport for anyone to just walk into. Dario Franchitti struggled and only a really delusional fan would believe Danica would succeed where Dario failed...

[Easy Drifter]

Well at least DF is not predicting a win which is almost a first.
A top 20 would be a good result.
The Nationwide crowd will go all over the track and Danica like to play catfish (bottom feeder) so that will make a difference to her race.

[TURN3]

The only open wheel regular that I can think of that has been moderately successful in their first venture is PT. He ran Daytona in a Nationwide car for an absolute back of pack team a few years back and drafted up to about 12th before John Andretti spun him (out of jealousy). I think he still finished in the top 20 or so thanks to a crash fest. About all the other talented open wheelers have started out with tons of testing, halfway respectable Nationwide programs, or ARCA races and we all know the results. Little Princess says she just wants seat time so the expectations of her results aren't too high. She will draft in the 2nd pack and if she doesn't cause a pile up she'll be at the back of the back pack still running toward the end. Don't see the media glossing this over very easily so start expecting the storys to read more like "She gained valuable experience and should be a contender in Fontana...etc etc etc"

[71Fan]

Yup, expecting anything more than a quality lead lap finish is imo expecting way too much. But, with a two tire late race stop a top 10 or 15 would certainly not be out of the question depending on whether she restarts on the top or bottom.

[NickFalzone]

I would like to see Danica do well, but the likeliness of her crashing is far higher than getting a top 15 or top 20 finish this weekend. Although I was impressed with her run at Arca, the reality is that she was only a few feet from backing hard into the wall. At higher speeds with more aggressive and competitive drivers, it's hard for me to believe this weekend will end on a similar high note.

[slorydn1]

I do hope she does well, although I am not looking forward to all the hype that will surround her every move. :eek:

Just to keep everything about early results in Nascar in perspective, just remember that in this race in 2006, Burney Lamar finished P2 and almost pulled off the win driving a "class of the field" KHI car (the winner, Tony Stewart, was also driving a KHI car)...... :D

Where is he now? :s mokin: :dozey: :beer:

[dunes]

As rowdy said to cole in days of blunders.....
"Now go get your own can and lets see how you do in a crowd".
All the best to her and her crew, It won't be easy out there.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I do hope she does well, although I am not looking forward to all the hype that will surround her every move. :eek:

Just to keep everything about early results in Nascar in perspective, just remember that in this race in 2006, Burney Lamar finished P2 and almost pulled off the win driving a "class of the field" KHI car (the winner, Tony Stewart, was also driving a KHI car)...... :D

Where is he now? :s mokin: :dozey: :beer:

He did marry a Supermodel....so I think ole Burney don't care!!!!

[Mark in Oshawa]

The only open wheel regular that I can think of that has been moderately successful in their first venture is PT. He ran Daytona in a Nationwide car for an absolute back of pack team a few years back and drafted up to about 12th before John Andretti spun him (out of jealousy). I think he still finished in the top 20 or so thanks to a crash fest. About all the other talented open wheelers have started out with tons of testing, halfway respectable Nationwide programs, or ARCA races and we all know the results. Little Princess says she just wants seat time so the expectations of her results aren't too high. She will draft in the 2nd pack and if she doesn't cause a pile up she'll be at the back of the back pack still running toward the end. Don't see the media glossing this over very easily so start expecting the storys to read more like "She gained valuable experience and should be a contender in Fontana...etc etc etc"

I am sure Danica has more realistic projections than her fans. Danica has never said she was going to be a contender. DanicaFan is the one who isn't realistic.

Personally, doing well at Daytona is more of a crapshoot than running and doing well at the intermediates and short tracks. THERE is where we will really see what Danica is made of. Daytona is not as bad as Talladega for eliminating the role of the driver, but it is a superspeedway, and handling the draft here and at Dega is NOT a skill you see applied at places like Fontana, Texas, Charlotte et al...

[slorydn1]

He did marry a Supermodel....so I think ole Burney don't care!!!!

OK OK SHEESH...Ya got me on that one! :D

[Mark in Oshawa]

OK OK SHEESH...Ya got me on that one! :D

Failure on the track...but not off of it.

[harvick#1]

can we please keep it to all drivers, and not just Danica :rolleyes:

I know your a big fan of hers, but seriously, quit being biased and talk about all the drivers who are making debuts and are the real threats to win

[dunes]

Heres another one That'll probally get me jumped on: Is Tony driving for Keven in the nationwide series again this year?

[harvick#1]

so far, I don't believe so. Harvick is in the 33 for all but 7 races in the NWS and I tend to believe that Hornaday may run the road course races or maybe a ringer.

and Newman may run the 33 as well so I dunno, and I know Sadler is running the #2 truck in a few races, so he may run the #33 as well

[Mark in Oshawa]

so far, I don't believe so. Harvick is in the 33 for all but 7 races in the NWS and I tend to believe that Hornaday may run the road course races or maybe a ringer.

and Newman may run the 33 as well so I dunno, and I know Sadler is running the #2 truck in a few races, so he may run the #33 as well
A ringer on the road courses? I suggest if Ron Fellows isn't in the Jr. Motorsports ride he snap Ron up. Not sure if Ron is officially signed to do the road courses for JR. or not.

[slorydn1]

so far, I don't believe so. Harvick is in the 33 for all but 7 races in the NWS and I tend to believe that Hornaday may run the road course races or maybe a ringer.

and Newman may run the 33 as well so I dunno, and I know Sadler is running the #2 truck in a few races, so he may run the #33 as well

I dunno, Tstew is the fastest in practice driving harvick's #4 car....He's excited to be driving for Delana!! (I would too :D )

[dunes]

I like the Harvick Stewart thing. both ways for and against.Maybe they could just buy into eachothers programs.I think that would gel real good.
As for Tony in Delana's car It just fits to me.All the intrigue of a soap opera.

[harvick#1]

:laugh: I did not know that.

Harvicks site has no info of the #4 car

[DanicaFan]

After today's first practice session, Tony Stewart was on top of the speed chart. He had a lap time of 48.729 with a speed of 184.695. Danica was 26th fastest with a lap time of 49.183 and a speed 182.990.

The top 10 were..

1. #4 Tony Stewart 48.729 / 184.695
2. #43 Scott Lagasse Jr. 48.768 / 184.547
3. #40 Mike Bliss 48.834 / 184.298
4. #66 Steve Wallace 48.836 / 184.290
5. #27 Greg Biffle 48.949 / 183.865
6. #1 James Buescher 48.983 / 183.737
7. #22 Brad Keselowski 49.001 / 183.670
8. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 49.008 / 183.643
9. #20 Joey Logano 49.013 / 183.625
10. #18 Kyle Busch 49.019 / 183.602

[71Fan]

49.183-48.729=.354......or just over a third of a second off the pace. Being that she probably never really realy pushed anyine, I would call that a pretty good day.

Good to see Lagassi, Bliss, and Wallace running so well.,

[harvick#1]

dont ever judge anything on plate practices, its the most pointless times you'll ever see

[slorydn1]

and the fastest car, the 4 is a go or go homer (51st in owners points). Wouldn't it be a travesty if Danica races and Tony Stewart doesn't? IF the 7 car has 5 cars owners points from last year she's locked in in a rain scenario (the 5 was 31st in owners points). :eek:

[slorydn1]

The more I think about it, the more stunned I am that Harvick didn't take the 4 and let Stewart have the 33. 33's locked in at p4, and Harvick would be the first driver eligable for the past champion's provisional (2006) in that scenario (18-busch, 60-edwards are locked in, and BoyYAY is not running).

[71Fan]

dont ever judge anything on plate practices, its the most pointless times you'll ever see

Shucks, plate...ahem...racing is pointless.

[slorydn1]

Looking for any rules I can find on the "rain scenario" I came across the Cup rules, anyway, on Jayski, and i guess substituting top 30 for top 35 would make itfit for the Nationwide series, so if the rues were the same Tony's guaranteed in under a rain scenario because he won a nationwide race last year (this race as a matter of fact).

If they hold qualifying then he must qualify on time or go home

[slorydn1]

It would have been nice if BSPN had addressed the near 100% probability of qualifying being washed out tommorrow but I understand, that would have taken time away from Danica :rolleyes:

[DanicaFan]

Nothing but rain at Daytona. Not looking good for qualifications at the moment.

[dunes]

Are the Nationwide quals on trackpass as well?

[DanicaFan]

Are the Nationwide quals on trackpass as well?

Not sure. Watching ESPN2.

[slorydn1]

Are the Nationwide quals on trackpass as well?

No. Trackpass only covers the Cup Series now. ANyway, nothing but rain going on now

[DanicaFan]

Well, the qualifications have now been rained out. Danica will start 15th. The lineup is determined by the rulebook.

[DanicaFan]

Due to qualifying being rained, the rulebook was used to set the starting grid. This is how it should look for tomorrow's race..

1. #18 Kyle Busch
2. #60 Carl Edwards
3. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. #33 Kevin Harvick
5. #21 John Wes Townley
6. #20 Joey Logano
7. #32 Brian Vickers
8. #38 Kasey Kahne
9. #16 Colin Braun
10. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
11. #1 James Buescher
12. #12 Justin Allgaier
13. #66 Steve Wallace
14. #43 Scott Lagasse Jr.
15. #7 Danica Patrick
16. #62 Brendan Gaughan
17. #99 Trevor Bayne
18. #15 Michael Annett
19. #28 Kenny Wallace
20. #34 Tony Raines
21. #40 Mike Bliss
22. #10 Jason Leffler
23. #01 Mike Wallace
24. #22 Brad Keselowski
25. #81 Michael McDowell
26. #24 Eric McClure
27. #23 Robert Richardson
28. #26 Brian Keselowski
29. #61 Josh Wise
30. #87 Joe Nemechek
31. #4 Tony Stewart
32. #27 Greg Biffle
33. #05 Jeff Green
34. #97 Jeff Fuller
35. #04 Brad Teague
36. #41 Chrissy Wallace
37. #02 Danny Efland
38. #11 Brian Scott
39. #48 Johnny Sauter
40. #09 Scott Riggs
41. #89 Morgan Shepherd
42. #31 Stanton Barrett
43. #5 Bobby Gerhardt

Would Not Qualify

#0 Clements
#35 Keller
#42 Kligerman
#49 Green
#52 Nuenberger
#56 Lepage
#70 Howard
#73 Cope
#75 Rowe
#83 Borneman
#92 Chapman
#96 Setzer
#98 Menard

[Scotty G.]

Danica will start 15th.

15th in her first Nationwide quals effort?

Impressive. That gal is sure showing she can handle a stock car and might be the most talented and versatile racing driver in history. She outqualified Tony Stewart? And he has been at this a long time, hasn't he? Outqualified 7 total drivers, who will be racing in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Maybe she should have just gone straight to Cup. This stock car stuff is easy.

I just hope ESPN gives her some love and tells the story so many of us are craving for. I want to see multiple shots of mommy and daddy. I want to hear the announcers gush about her "handshake" and her "determination".

All this gal needs is someone to properly market her and she can go places!

[slorydn1]

15th in her first Nationwide quals effort?

Impressive. That gal is sure showing she can handle a stock car and might be the most talented and versatile racing driver in history. She outqualified Tony Stewart? And he has been at this a long time, hasn't he? Outqualified 7 total drivers, who will be racing in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Maybe she should have just gone straight to Cup. This stock car stuff is easy.

I just hope ESPN gives her some love and tells the story so many of us are craving for. All this gal needs is someone to properly market her and she can go places!

Uhhhh, I guess you must have have been stuck at work all day and have not been able to watch TV, but, uhhh, and you may have failed to ck the weather forecast thread, uhhhh,ummm but there was NO qualifying today.

The fields was set by the rule book, and Danica's team PAID for that starting spot by buying the owners points from the former 11 team that Scott Lagasse and Mike Bliss worked so hard to accrue last year.

Tony Stewart is starting p31 because he is taking a provisional as a past race winner (he won THIS race LAST YEAR)

AS for the most talented and versatile in history, the jury is still out on that. Come back and see me when she wins both the Indy Car Championship and The Sprint Cup Championship like Tony Stewart has or won both the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 like AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti have (oh yeah, did I mention that Mario is also a Formula 1 World Champion?) Best in History?????? Are you KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!? :s mokin:

:beer:

[71Fan]

Interesting to note that according to nascar.com, everybody in the points order in front of Menard went to the trailer and withdrew their entries.

Money talks and there is more than one way to buy yourself a ride,

[NickFalzone]

Interesting to note that according to nascar.com, everybody in the points order in front of Menard went to the trailer and withdrew their entries.

Money talks and there is more than one way to buy yourself a ride,

I find this a very disturbing part of the sport these days, along with the regular start and parks, but these is even worse and makes a mockery of "competition". I do give NASCAR props though for putting this article up going into more details:

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/opinion/02/12/road.ramblings.drodman.nationwide.payouts.daytona/index.html

[71Fan]

Yup, that's the link. Sure can't blame the the skippers for taking the money (which was probably more than they would have earned for last place).

Racing is a hard, expensive, and unforgiving business.

[71Fan]

btw, Danica is going off at 50/1. I might just have to go put a 10 spot on that. Shuckems, I got a $2 ticket from Willie Shoemaker's last ride so why not one on Danica's first?

[DanicaFan]

I already have money on Danica for this race. :)

[dunes]

I think and feel todays race will have the sprint boys helping Danaca in more ways than she may be ready for. Nothing harmful but with the new bump drafting rules i'm looking for some early action in positioning to be taught and learned here in the early laps.

[dunes]

figures and more


Race No. 1 -- Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Raceway, green at 1:34 p.m. ET Saturday.
0.068 -- In this race last season, Tony Stewart beat Carl Edwards by 0.068 seconds, the closest margin of victory in 36 Nationwide Series races at Daytona
1 -- The race at Daytona went caution free in the last 10 laps only once in the past 10 races.
1 -- Tony Stewart is the only repeat Daytona winner in the past 11 races; he has won four of the past five February races.
1 -- The defending series champion has won the Daytona February race once: Randy Lajoie, 1997.
2 -- The Daytona winner has started on the pole in two of the past four races (Tony Stewart, Feb. 2008 and Clint Bowyer, July 2009) and in the top five in three of the past four.
2 -- Only two non-Cup regulars have won at Daytona in 28 February races: Chad Little, 1995; and Randy Lajoie, 1997, 1999 and 2001. Two fo eight July races were won by non-Cup regulars: Mike Wallace, 2004; and Martin Truex Jr., 2005.
2 -- The driver starting first finished in the top 10 only twice in the past 14 February Daytona races -- Tony Stewart won from the pole in 2006 and J.J. Yeley finished eighth in 2006.
3 -- Only three drivers have won at Daytona in the past eight February races: Tony Stewart (four), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (three) and Kevin Harvick (one).
4 -- The driver leading the most laps has not won in the past four Daytona February races.
4 -- Daytona is one of only four active tracks that Roush Fenway Racing has yet to win: Chicagoland, Iowa and Watkins Glen.
5 -- The last five July Daytona races have ended under green-white-checkered conditions. No Feburary race has ended in a green-white-checkered finish.
5 -- Clint Bowyer (both last season) and Kyle Busch (both in 2007 and Feb. 2008) combined have led the most laps in five of the past six Daytona races.
6 -- The driver leading with 10 laps to go went on to win six of the past eight races at Daytona but not in the past two February races.
8 -- Chevrolet drivers have won eight of the past 10 Daytona races, including both in 2009. Toyota won both races in 2008.
8.25 -- Average starting position of the Daytona race winners is 8.25.
12 -- The past three Daytona races have had at least 10 leaders; the record of 12 leaders at daytona was in Feb. 1995.
13 -- Thirteen drivers failed to finish at Daytona in July 2009 due to an accident, the most since 15 drivers failed to finish due to a crash in Feb. 1999.
28 -- The first Nationwide Series race was held at Daytona on Feb. 13, 1982 -- 28 years ago race day.
42 -- Worst starting position of a Daytona race winner is 42nd: Chad Little, 1995.
2,735,855.00 -- The purse for the Drive4COPD 300 is a Nationwide Series-record $2,735,855.00, surpassing last year's previous high of $2,649,071.00.
Powered by Racing Recall

[slorydn1]

Apparently trackpass has brought back the scanner feature for the Nationwide Series, first time in years, and its free

[dunes]

Thanks I appreciate that but I was hoping to see her compete and get an idea of her possible place in our top arm of the sport.I'm really interested in her ability,heck I can close my eyes and see her face but what can she do with a car and a crowd.

[slorydn1]

7 laps 2 wrecks.....thats the nationwide series

[TURN3]

Point proven (5 green flag laps in)...Danica stinks as usual, can we please move on. There is a race on.

[slorydn1]

looks like Happy's dominating :D

[beachgirl]

Point proven (5 green flag laps in)...Danica stinks as usual, can we please move on. There is a race on.

There's no way this can be spun positively at this point.

[slorydn1]

It always pisses me off when a LAPPER causes the big one. WHY was the 61 not low on the track to let the pack go by???????? :angryfire

Meanwhile, KHI 1-2 :D

Game over for Danicamania it appears :p :

[TURN3]

I'm a little disapointed...I have to wait until Fontana to watch more comedy.

[dunes]

For those of us not able to watch- who was involved and who got collected not involved.The scanner report was some one came down on patrick,but it sounded to me like she didnlt know how things flow downhill.

[slorydn1]

Keslowski is a freakin MORON

[dunes]

after 30 cation laps they've thrown the red flag. Is this how its going to end.
Probally not but it doesn't do much for the race attitude.

[slorydn1]

Harvick just said on the radio he thinks he can still win.....obviously he hasnt seen his left front fender

[TURN3]

Keslowski is a freakin MORON

It was flipping Edwards, not Keslowski that caused the big 'n. Is that what you meant?

[muggle not]

Cousin Carl must have blinders on. WTH was he thinking.

[slorydn1]

It was flipping Edwards, not Keslowski that caused the big 'n. Is that what you meant?

No I meant what I said...Carl was side drafting up and Kez came down on him

[dunes]

Brad Keslowski was asking if someone hooked Carl into him. any facts in that or was it the Carl and Kyle thing all over again. I heard Kyle flipped off Carl when Carl passed him.

[The instant classic]

Keslowski is a freakin MORON


i can see now from fans Kyle who?? we hate Carl now :rolleyes:

[slorydn1]

I feel better now, P11, kev says car is good to go, plenty of time :D :p :

[dunes]

Tony and Keven both strong enought o finish 1st.

[slorydn1]

Tony and Keven both strong enought o finish 1st.


Im not gonna go THAT far...he does have some front end damage (kevin does) but I am looking top 5 for sure at this rate :D

[e2mtt]

Cousin Carl must have blinders on. WTH was he thinking.

Carl seems to have problems changing lanes. Always has. Too aggressive, tends to clip the corners too much.

[DanicaFan]

Congrats to Tony Stewart for the win!

[dunes]

Congrat to #12 Justin AllGaier,Raced with the big boys all day and held off Edwards and Harvick for a forth place finish

[DanicaFan]

That was a wild race. Lots of wrecks. Unfortunate for Danica, that crash caused her to get out of a good race.

She ended up 35th.

[slorydn1]

Congrat to #12 Justin AllGaier,Raced with the big boys all day and held off Edwards and Lagano for a forth place finish

allgaier did a great job today, too :up:

[dunes]

That was a wild race. Lots of wrecks. Unfortunate for Danica, that crash caused her to get out of a good race.

She ended up 35th.
I didn;t see3 it of course but the way I heard it she flat ouit drove into and t-boned him, not saying it was her fault but its not like she had nothin to do with it at all.

[muggle not]

Tony, Kevin and Jr were the best teams today. Any one of the 3 could have won. Kudos to Tony, drove a good race.

[harvick#1]

Congrat to #12 Justin AllGaier,Raced with the big boys all day and held off Edwards and Harvick for a forth place finish

what, Justin didn't hold off Carl and Kevin, they both passed him off of 4 and into the tri-oval :p


got to watch the final 16 laps and that was pretty wild finish, Brad K and Kryle again having a piss storm.

I also noticed the ESPN ticker gives us the ever so improtant "Danica" update, like many of us real fans even care

[dunes]

what, Justin didn't hold off Carl and Kevin, they both passed him off of 4 and into the tri-oval :p


got to watch the final 16 laps and that was pretty wild finish, Brad K and Kryle again having a piss storm.

I also noticed the ESPN ticker gives us the ever so improtant "Danica" update, like many of us real fans even care

like i said he held them off until the finish and came in fourth

and as i also stated i only had the scanner not espn2

[TURN3]

No I meant what I said...Carl was side drafting up and Kez came down on him

Oh, well that sure is an interesting perspective. Looked like to 99% of everybody Carl hooked him. Aerial view pretty clear of that.

[TURN3]

That was a wild race. Lots of wrecks. Unfortunate for Danica, that crash caused her to get out of a good race.

She ended up 35th.

Yep, caused her to get out of a good race that she was on her way to getting lapped 2x with one of the strongest cars in the field. She was clearly clueless and crashing out saved her from another 40 laps of embarassing herself further. The crash wasn't her fault but when you're constantly loosing touch with the front 25 you're bound to have to drive through something eventually.

[beachbum]

For those of us not able to watch- who was involved and who got collected not involved.The scanner report was some one came down on patrick,but it sounded to me like she didnlt know how things flow downhill.The fact that she doesn't understand the dynamics of a wreck is not a surprise. Situational awareness have never been one of her strong suits. Since this was the Danica! show, the wreck was replayed over and over and over and over and.. you get the idea. She did slow down, but since she went right through the middle of the first one, she thought (by her own admission) that she could do the same in this case. Nope. However, there was probably no way she was going to miss it anyway as the spinning cars just blocked the track.

The initial contact wasn't too severe, but then she spun and hit the wall. Most of the damage was from the wall. Since we got to see it many times, it was obvious she was "just a passenger" as she made no steering corrections after the first hit to try to avoid the wall. She still had steering because she drove the car back to the pits. However, part of the radio chatter was pretty funny as they had to tell her which way to turn the steering wheel to straighten the front wheels so she could drive out of the the infield grass. The spotter sounded a bit exasperated.

For a short moment, I thought we might now be free of the Danica! show and actually have the announcers focus on the racing. But noooooo..... They had a recap of her day, had a number of shots of her walking from the garage and had a the lower ticker on the screen repeating over and over and over again that she had been knocked out by a wreck. At least the rest of the race was pretty exciting.

[NickFalzone]

Yep, caused her to get out of a good race that she was on her way to getting lapped 2x with one of the strongest cars in the field. She was clearly clueless and crashing out saved her from another 40 laps of embarassing herself further. The crash wasn't her fault but when you're constantly loosing touch with the front 25 you're bound to have to drive through something eventually.

Watched the wreck a few times and not her fault, she had nowhere to go, couldn't see, and just did what her spotter said. Have to say though, the Marty Reid/Danica combination drives me up the wall, and he was even worse about it here than in IndyCar.

[beachgirl]

It's 6:24PM, and we're still getting the Danica! ESPN feed on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, during the basketball game.

ENOUGH ALREADY. NOW.

NASCAR's going to need all those "new fans" they're anticipating on getting with Danica!. If you read the forums right on the NASCAR site, the current fans are getting mighty ticked off about the whole situation already. NASCAR just might end up losing more fans with this garbage than they'll ever gain. And the spin doctors (no pun intended) are already out in force.

[NickFalzone]

It's 6:24PM, and we're still getting the Danica! ESPN feed on the ticker at the bottom of the screen, during the basketball game.

ENOUGH ALREADY. NOW.

NASCAR's going to need all those "new fans" they're anticipating on getting with Danica!. If you read the forums right on the NASCAR site, the current fans are getting mighty ticked off about the whole situation already. NASCAR just might end up losing more fans with this garbage than they'll ever gain. And the spin doctors (no pun intended) are already out in force.

Beachgirl, the hardcores may be getting fed up with it, but the reality is that it is JUST starting. Wait till get she gets a decent run a few races from now or one of those "laps led" during a yellow, and we won't hear the end of it. That said, I do think that at the moment, this event is growing the sport. I know people at work that have no idea about NASCAR, never watched it, but know all about Danica now and planned to watch her this weekend (they'll probably expect to see her tomorrow, haha). So I do think this will bring in a decent number of new viewers, along with a larger female audience. That you and the hardcore fans are annoyed is no surprise at all. NASCAR and ESPN know that they're not going to lose you anytime soon, and the few they lose will be greatly offset by the casual viewers that they gain. In the long run, this will not work, but as a quick fix for ratings and attendance, it will help.

[beachbum]

In the long run, this will not work, but as a quick fix for ratings and attendance, it will help.It won't work if she keeps running like she did today. With all of the hype, they want to see if the swimsuit model can really race. While the spin doctors are already explaining away the poor performance, eventually she has to step up and prove worthy of the PR. Celebrity worship can turn in an instant if the person being idolized fails to meet expectations.

IMHO, there are some casual NASCAR fans, but there are a lot of hard core fans who don't take kindly to their favorite driver being ignored while the announcers talk about a driver running at the back. These hard core fans also pay very close attention to everything, from performance to scanner talk and how a driver interacts with other drivers. Most are very knowledgeable and aren't fooled easily, or for very long. Danica's quote after the race that she could have run up front if she wanted to doesn't match her scanner communications where the spotter kept telling her to get behind very driver that went by to try not lose the draft. She couldn't.

[Scotty G.]

Congrat to #12 Justin AllGaier,Raced with the big boys all day and held off Edwards and Harvick for a forth place finish

Allgaier is the REAL deal.

With another solid season in Nationwide, he is also going to be putting serious heat on Mr. Hornish for that #77 seat in Cup. If Sam stumbles along with another ho-hum 25th place points finish, it might be time for Mobil 1 to end this "experiment". The replacement, is already warming up in the bullpen. ;)

A Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Justin Allgaier team in 2011 in Cup, might be just what Roger Penske needs to get his team to the front of the field.

Keselowski will piss off every driver in the series before the year is out (or the month is over) ;) but the kid is talented and has no fear. He'll be a force to be reckoned with all year.

[Scotty G.]

Danica's quote after the race that she could have run up front if she wanted to doesn't match her scanner communications where the spotter kept telling her to get behind very driver that went by to try not lose the draft. She couldn't.


I found Danica's comments after the race, very telling.

Basically, it was "this stock car stuff is HARD and these drivers I am racing with now are REALLY good."

She had the sound of someone who knows what an extreme uphill climb this is going to be.

[mileman]

I found Danica's comments after the race, very telling.

Basically, it was "this stock car stuff is HARD and these drivers I am racing with now are REALLY good."

She had the sound of someone who knows what an extreme uphill climb this is going to be.

Her comments were actually pretty similar to most of the OW guys when they started. JPM has on many occasions talked about the difficult transition to NASCAR. Last year, when commenting on how Danica may do in NASCAR, he also said: "A top-five here is like three wins in Indy car or something like that."

[dunes]

[quote="Scotty G."]Allgaier is the REAL deal.

With another solid season in Nationwide, he is also going to be putting serious heat on Mr. Hornish for that #77 seat in Cup. If Sam stumbles along with another ho-hum 25th place points finish, it might be time for Mobil 1 to end this "experiment". The replacement, is already warming up in the bullpen. ;)

I'll be watching him a little more. he showed good composure as harvick and Edwards came roaring past on the last lap. He really got my attention.

Anybody catch the beguining to the prerace show for todays 500. funny and cool.
Tony and Kyle cracked me up. Brad K. explains himself in a few.

[Scotty G.]

Her comments were actually pretty similar to most of the OW guys when they started.


Except most of those OW guys were really talented drivers. ;)

I think Dave Despain summed up the DP situation pretty nicely tonight both on his TV show and the web program afterward.

And I agree with him....Janet Guthrie was a more accomplished race driver and did it with CLASS and DIGNITY in the process. 2 words that are not in DP's vocab.