Talladega Race Thread (both races)

[slorydn1]

THE RACE: Aaron's 499

TRACK: Talladega SuperSpeedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #9 of 36 for the 2010 season

Track Specifications:
Track/Race Length: 2.66 mile quad oval, 188 laps, 500.08 miles
Superspeedway: 2.66-mile trioval 48 feet wide (12-foot apron)
Turns: Banking: 33° Length: 3,750 feet Radius: 1,100 feet
Trioval: Banking: 18°
Frontstretch: Chute length: 2,150 feet (from turn to middle of trioval) Total length: 4,300 feet Banking: 16.5°
Backstretch: Length: 4,000 feet Banking: 2°
Pit Road: Length: 3,000 feet; Width: 48 feet
Pit Road Speed: 55mph
Pace Car Speed: 70mph
Grandstand Seating: 143,231
Track last paved: Summer 2006
Opened: 1969

Track/Event Qualifying Record (no restrictor plate): Bill Elliott, April 1987, 44.998 sec @ 212.809mph

Track/Event Qualifying Record (Restrictor Plate): Bill Elliott, May 1990, 48.027 sec @ 199.388 mph (15/16th inch plate)

Most Wins - Active Driver: 6 - Jeff Gordon; 5 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.

ALL ABOVE INFO FROM http://www.jayski.com/next/2010/9tss2010.htm

[slorydn1]

Speed just announced on Race Day that there will be a competition caution at lap 20 to check tire wear

[Mark in Oshawa]

Speed just announced on Race Day that there will be a competition caution at lap 20 to check tire wear

Boy WONT THAT BE EXCITING! I am really tired of the competition yellow....

[harvick#1]

Boy WONT THAT BE EXCITING! I am really tired of the competition yellow....

I really never understand this, its so annoying, no practices were rained out. it just shows how nervous and unconfident Goodyear keep showing in their tires

[slorydn1]

wow...60 lead changes at the halfway point!!!!!! the record is 76 in 1984

[Mark in Oshawa]

I really never understand this, its so annoying, no practices were rained out. it just shows how nervous and unconfident Goodyear keep showing in their tires

Well Engineers always look at it that way. I don't put that down as a Goodyear thing, I call it a NASCAR thing. Yellow's are so common to them that one more wont make a difference to them...

[slorydn1]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:beer: :beer: :beer:

[harvick#1]

its been a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:beer: :beer: :beer:

:bounce:

WTG Harvick, and the week Pennzoil/Shell leaves for Penske :laugh:

[TURN3]

Why is it that anytime I turn on the end of a Cup race, every 3 years or so when Harvick is winnng a race it is because he's punting somebody? Take into account what he did to Logano earlier this year and seems all this talk of Keslowski being the cheap artist of NASCAR is a bit misguided. I realize that is NASCAR but Harvick only seems to win more races by being a cheap bi&#h than a real race car driver. Only time before somebody does it to him and we see the classic pouting tantrum that we've seen before.

[slorydn1]

Why is it that anytime I turn on the end of a Cup race, every 3 years or so when Harvick is winnng a race it is because he's punting somebody? Take into account what he did to Logano earlier this year and seems all this talk of Keslowski being the cheap artist of NASCAR is a bit misguided. I realize that is NASCAR but Harvick only seems to win more races by being a cheap bi&#h than a real race car driver. Only time before somebody does it to him and we see the classic pouting tantrum that we've seen before.


OKAY....DO you want to explain to us all who he punted????????
You obviously saw something we didn't, so enlighten us, please.... :rolleyes:

[tstran17_88]

Wonder Baby is still po'd at 4 Time! LMAO!

[harvick#1]

Wonder Baby is still po'd at 4 Time! LMAO!

well, good ole JJ basically took out Gordon today, along with Speed and Burton. thank goodness Johnson got his by thinking he was clear

[harvick#1]

Wonder Baby is still po'd at 4 Time! LMAO!

well, good ole JJ basically took out Gordon today, along with Speed and Burton. thank goodness Johnson got his by thinking he was clear

[harvick#1]

OKAY....DO you want to explain to us all who he punted????????
You obviously saw something we didn't, so enlighten us, please.... :rolleyes:

He think Harvick is the only dirty driver, I guess he didnt watch Kyle wreck about 5 cars today, and JJ wrecking 3, or Logano basically causing the bigone

Mcmurry would've done the same thing Turn3, every driver (except for Danica) would've done all they could to win.

all he did was get Jamie alittle loose, he never wrecked him

[tstran17_88]

well, good ole JJ basically took out Gordon today, along with Speed and Burton. thank goodness Johnson got his by thinking he was clear
He gets to blame his spotter though!

[harvick#1]

He gets to blame his spotter though!

yeah but still, its nice to see the 48 out of comission, no chance for victory then :laugh:


all I can say now is Harvick has a chance to do the rare feat of winning the Nationwide race now that starts hopefully soon :D

[slorydn1]

88 lead changes....the record for the most competitive race in racing history

[tstran17_88]

OKAY....DO you want to explain to us all who he punted????????
You obviously saw something we didn't, so enlighten us, please.... :rolleyes:
I'm lost as well...didn't see Happy do anything wrong? Can't remember anything he's been involved in the past few years that wasn't just a racing deal.

[slorydn1]

oh, just in case y'all didn't know...the nationwide race will be on espn2 right after the cheerleading champinships...was originally supposed to be on ABC this weekend

[muggle not]

Pretty good driving by Harvick. He drove a good race and deserved the win by his smart move.

Gordon has every right to be pissed at 4 time. I think that JJ has got to where he thinks everyone should kow-tow to him.

[TURN3]

OKAY....DO you want to explain to us all who he punted????????
You obviously saw something we didn't, so enlighten us, please.... :rolleyes:

Come on don't play dumb, it is the classic NASCAR move when you're in 2nd and can't beat the guy in front of you fair and square. He got McMurray loose and moved him up coming out of the tri-oval. Just because he's your favorite driver doesn't mean you play blind in the rare chance you actually see him win. He's cheap, he's always been cheap, but the worst part about his cheapness is like I said before, he can dish it out but he sure as HE&& can't take it. If Kyle Busch had done that to him he'd be out the car throwing punches and cussing like a sissy. History tells us that. He will get his, hard to doubt that.


He think Harvick is the only dirty driver, I guess he didnt watch Kyle wreck about 5 cars today, and JJ wrecking 3, or Logano basically causing the bigone

Mcmurry would've done the same thing Turn3, every driver (except for Danica) would've done all they could to win.

all he did was get Jamie alittle loose, he never wrecked him

I know Harv, that is the classic NASCAR move of the past decade and a half. I know any other driver except for maybe Burton or McMurray would have done the same thing. It is just that it seems to me that Harvick gains much more than he loses by doing this. Then he always has a reason or an excuse or whatever. Sure today it was for a rare win for him, I get it. Just burns me with him because he is such an ass that if anybody crosses his line or gets him bent out of shape then it is payback time.

I don't think what Kyle Busch did today was dirty at all, circumstance of a driver on old tires if you ask me. Gordon's crew chief seemed to think that way. Kyle is Kyle though so anything he does will be scrutinized.

On the other hand, JJ needs to learn more than a little class. I realize he and Chad are probably the best combo ever but he was a complete idiot out there today. Whether it was dirty or not, I won't say either way but stupid to say the very least. First what he did to J. Gordon and then the Biffle thing. Seriously, when you are 4 time defending champ I think a little more class is expected. I totally agree with you on his actions today.

[harvick#1]

well you go back to several of his tirads.

Rudd in 03, that was a big cheap shot by Rudd as Harvick was in the championship race with Kenseth, and was 2nd to Newman late and basically got dive-bombed and wrecked, Rudd wanted to claim revenge from 2001, but Rudd got back at Harvick when he moved him back out of the way to win at Richmond that year.

with Monty in 07, he got divebombed again and wrecked with a race winning car. he was trying to talk to Monty but JPM thought he wanted a fight.

what he did to Logano was wrong at Bristol, I cant defend that move because it was wrong, but there aremuch more dirty drivers in the races today than Harvick.

[tstran17_88]

I think that JJ has got to where he thinks everyone should kow-tow to him.Sounds exactly like the attitude of some other four time Cup Champion that I know.

[harvick#1]

I don't think what Kyle Busch did today was dirty at all, circumstance of a driver on old tires if you ask me. Gordon's crew chief seemed to think that way. Kyle is Kyle though so anything he does will be scrutinized.


oh so a light tap to get a guy loose for the win is more dirty than slamming into a drivers rear bumper and wrecking 5 cars :rolleyes:

[tstran17_88]

Rudd in 03, that was a big cheap shot by Rudd as Harvick was in the championship race with Kenseth, and was 2nd to Newman late and basically got dive-bombed and wrecked, Rudd wanted to claim revenge from 2001, but Rudd got back at Harvick when he moved him back out of the way to win at Richmond that year.Not that I'm complaining but that basically killed Happy's chance of catching my boy for the championship.

[TURN3]

what he did to Logano was wrong at Bristol, I cant defend that move because it was wrong, but there aremuch more dirty drivers in the races today than Harvick.

You know what harv, it takes a hell of a man fan to admit when their guy does something wrong...props!

[TURN3]

oh so a light tap to get a guy loose for the win is more dirty than slamming into a drivers rear bumper and wrecking 5 cars :rolleyes:

Dirty = on purpose in my opinion. I seriously doubt Busch had any intention of spinning whats his name (Sauter was it?). They were pushing on each other all day and even if Busch slowed down he gets it from Waltrip who was tucked up under his hood...then everybody gets it from behind anyway. You can't blame Kyle for the guy not being able to hold onto that...trainwreck waiting to happen. Logano did the same thing to Newman at the end and you hear Newman, he said he would've been doing the same thing...just 'Dega.

[harvick#1]

You know what harv, it takes a hell of a man fan to admit when their guy does something wrong...props!

what, you think I'm like DF :p : I'm not that biased towards my drivers

[slorydn1]

One last note on harvicks win....he was driving chassis 237....the 2010 Bud shootout winner. That car has seen the track twice, and brought home a trophy, twice. :beer:

[slorydn1]

Come on don't play dumb, it is the classic NASCAR move when you're in 2nd and can't beat the guy in front of you fair and square. He got McMurray loose and moved him up coming out of the tri-oval.

Not playing dumb-what did he do that was wrong? He was the second car of a two car break-away, and when he was ready to turn left to pass he did-cleanly I might add. Mcmurray didn't get up close and personal with the fans like Edwards did last year, did he? That little wiggle you saw McMurray do was him thinking abut blocking then thinking about the flight Edwards did last year and him deciding not to....He basicly said that in his interview. I think it's time to put the Hater-aid away, don't you?

[slorydn1]

Nationwide race is on....surprised to see that the natonwide cars can do the same 2 car breakaway that the COT has been doing....

[slorydn1]

competition yellow at lap 20 in this race too....not sure why, the cup cars have rubbered it up nicely already tire wear shouldn't be a problem.

[slorydn1]

well theres the big one...lap 20 :eek:

[slorydn1]

wow....i'd like to be a fly on the wall at the Roush team meeting this week :D

[slorydn1]

Well I guess I would say that just about covers the competition caution doesn't it?

[TURN3]

Not playing dumb-what did he do that was wrong? He was the second car of a two car break-away, and when he was ready to turn left to pass he did-cleanly I might add. Mcmurray didn't get up close and personal with the fans like Edwards did last year, did he? That little wiggle you saw McMurray do was him thinking abut blocking then thinking about the flight Edwards did last year and him deciding not to....He basicly said that in his interview. I think it's time to put the Hater-aid away, don't you?

Clean is when you shove a car in the back, get it loose where he rides up the track to chase it? For the 3rd or 4th time, I realize it is a classical NASCAR move these days but it isn't "clean". So Harvick keeps dishing this out and getting his cheap wins, what will it be when he's on the receiving end? He's an absolute baby. He needs his butt kicked a few times to put him in his spot and he'll be fine.

[TURN3]

what, you think I'm like DF :p : I'm not that biased towards my drivers

Man, I wasn't trying to insult you!!! :D I know, these things are what makes racing what it is...gotta love it.

[slorydn1]

Clean is when you shove a car in the back, get it loose where he rides up the track to chase it? For the 3rd or 4th time, I realize it is a classical NASCAR move these days but it isn't "clean". So Harvick keeps dishing this out and getting his cheap wins, what will it be when he's on the receiving end? He's an absolute baby. He needs his butt kicked a few times to put him in his spot and he'll be fine.

For the third or 4th time it was a clean pass and with in the rules...its called BUMP DRAFTING....you know, restrictor plate 101.

The two-car break away is a relatively new phenomenon that Denny Hamlin taught the rest of the world back in 2008 at 'Dega...

Now will SOMEONE explain to me how you bump draft without touching someone???????

OR

Is it only dirty if Harvick does it?

[harvick#1]

this is for Turn3, Jamie it appears says Harvick did not bump him



"Q: Could you talk about Kevin's pass on you down there at the flag? Was it more a matter of he loosened you and did he get into you any, or was this more of a drafting thing?

JAMIE McMURRAY: Well, I mean, I really thought that Kevin was going to go high. I felt like I was close enough to the yellow line that there was a lot more racetrack to the right, and it seemed like you could stall guys out more on the outside than you could the inside. And so I was really guarding against the outside, and when he went left, it did, it really loosens the car up. It's hard to explain to you guys that aren't in cars, but when there's someone directly behind you and they pull their car out of line really fast, it's like you pull a parachute in your car. It literally feels like you lose three or five miles an hour immediately, and when that happens, the car that's doing the passing just has the momentum.

Really once he got underneath me, all I was doing was side drafting and hoping I could stall him out and just get him back to the start-finish line."

[TURN3]

For the third or 4th time it was a clean pass and with in the rules...its called BUMP DRAFTING....you know, restrictor plate 101.

The two-car break away is a relatively new phenomenon that Denny Hamlin taught the rest of the world back in 2008 at 'Dega...

Now will SOMEONE explain to me how you bump draft without touching someone???????

OR

Is it only dirty if Harvick does it?

Not to discount harvick's quote above but, what Harvick did was withing the rules. It is how anybody in 2nd these days in NASCAR gets a cheap win. It is my opinion that if you can't pass a guy because you're faster then you shouldn't be hitting him or "loosening him up" to benefit your position. I think it is cheap. I thought it was when Dale Sr. did it, thought it was when somebody did it back to him and he threw a fit. I can't remember who that was by the way, one of the current guys but when they were a rookie or 2nd year. I thought it was cheap when Kenseth did it to Gordon and vice versa. Incidently, all of the givers were crying about it when they were the takers. Just a few weeks ago at Martinsville, Gordon gave it to Kensenth and Kensenth cried for 2 weeks, but Gordon got it in the same darn race and cried about it then too.

My point is that there is no other form of motorsports that allows you to knock the guy off line or whatever to slow him up where you can get around. In NASCAR it is accepted, but it is cheap and the better MAN is the guy that finishes 2nd. But when you have guys like Harvick that don't win very often that is what you'll get. As I said, he's a cheap punk and he will get his. Then he'll throw a fit and then you'll get on here and defend him because somebody knocked him out of the lead and cost him a win.

[harvick#1]

Harvick does win often, but not in the Cup Series because RCR is not up-to-par with the rest of the other teams like the Gibbs cars, Hendrick cars, etc...

take a look at his Truck and Nationwide stats, and even Cup series, how many 2nd place finishes hes had as well, in 03 he had about 4-5 races in a row where he finished second and was just on the wrong end of the stick every time. even the start of this year, what about Cali when he was chasing Johnson down, only to have Johnson at the last second to move up his line to take all the air off Harvick front end making him bounce off the wall.

basically every Cup race hes won, have all been clean, hes never spun a leader to win a race in the Cup series.

[slorydn1]

Not to discount harvick's quote above but, what Harvick did was withing the rules. It is how anybody in 2nd these days in NASCAR gets a cheap win. It is my opinion that if you can't pass a guy because you're faster then you shouldn't be hitting him or "loosening him up" to benefit your position. I think it is cheap. I thought it was when Dale Sr. did it, thought it was when somebody did it back to him and he threw a fit. I can't remember who that was by the way, one of the current guys but when they were a rookie or 2nd year. I thought it was cheap when Kenseth did it to Gordon and vice versa. Incidently, all of the givers were crying about it when they were the takers. Just a few weeks ago at Martinsville, Gordon gave it to Kensenth and Kensenth cried for 2 weeks, but Gordon got it in the same darn race and cried about it then too.

My point is that there is no other form of motorsports that allows you to knock the guy off line or whatever to slow him up where you can get around. In NASCAR it is accepted, but it is cheap and the better MAN is the guy that finishes 2nd. But when you have guys like Harvick that don't win very often that is what you'll get. As I said, he's a cheap punk and he will get his. Then he'll throw a fit and then you'll get on here and defend him because somebody knocked him out of the lead and cost him a win.

I can agree with you IF that is what somebody is doing, and doing it constantly.....Kes found out the hard way what happens if you do that too much.

But that's not what happened here..

The 29 and 1 were in constant bumper to bumper contact from the drop of the green flag until the 29 turned left to pass....Its not like Harvick dropped back then came up and gave him a shot to loosen him up and pass....this was a restrictor plate race...it really doesn't work that well do that anyway because you break your own momentum doing that because you have to lift a little to keep from wrecking yourself and have no power in reserve to complete the pass. This was not a bump and run. Harvick pushed the 1 and himself way ahead so that they could settle it amongst themselves, and it was brilliant restrictor plate strategy...

Had it been Mcmurray instead of Harvick it would have been a big thumbs up from me....

[slorydn1]

basically every Cup race hes won, have all been clean, hes never spun a leader to win a race in the Cup series.

Actually, looking back at it, he's never taken anyone out for the win, not in any of his 56 national touring series points wins (59 when you add 2 Bud Shootuts and All-Star wins, not a small number by any means)...The one time he did try to do that (Menard-Milwaukee, 2006) it didn't work out so well for him-he took himself out and ended up finishing p19 (http://racing-reference.info/race?id=2006-17&series=B )

and ya know what? I was highly critical of that bone headed move at the time.

What has everyones panties in a wad is the fact that he dumped Wonderboy II at bristol because he got tired of Logano blocking....I wasn't thrilled with it but I understood it, he felt the need to teach the youngster a lesson.

[slorydn1]

well with 15 to go in the Natwide race business is picking up!!!! And of coooourse DSPN has to get more commercials in

[slorydn1]

damn...big one with 4 to go...yellow yellow yellow..........

Here we go again

[harvick#1]

damn...big one with 4 to go...yellow yellow yellow..........

Here we go again

its always sad cause its the guys back in 20th :rolleyes:

[slorydn1]

Looks like the 16 just lost it

[harvick#1]

clipped by the 7

[slorydn1]

its always sad cause its the guys back in 20th :rolleyes:

I know....I really hate that, but c'est la vie

[slorydn1]

1st att at GWC

[harvick#1]

and Bowyer takes everyone out

thank goodness Setzer is ok

[harvick#1]

Brad K wins from the push by Lagano

[Mark in Oshawa]

I can agree with you IF that is what somebody is doing, and doing it constantly.....Kes found out the hard way what happens if you do that too much.

But that's not what happened here..

The 29 and 1 were in constant bumper to bumper contact from the drop of the green flag until the 29 turned left to pass....Its not like Harvick dropped back then came up and gave him a shot to loosen him up and pass....this was a restrictor plate race...it really doesn't work that well do that anyway because you break your own momentum doing that because you have to lift a little to keep from wrecking yourself and have no power in reserve to complete the pass. This was not a bump and run. Harvick pushed the 1 and himself way ahead so that they could settle it amongst themselves, and it was brilliant restrictor plate strategy...

Had it been Mcmurray instead of Harvick it would have been a big thumbs up from me....

Harvick just proved conclusively how you win in the same situation that Regan Smith was in. You don't go below the yellow, you don't wreck the guy, you just get him loose.

Well done...and I had Harvick in my suicide pool...so it worked out very nicely for me...lol

[slorydn1]

another beautiful move by Boyay....

Oh well, 1st and 3rd....a good weekend for harvick and company

[TURN3]

That was an exciting finish to N-wide. Little concerned about some of the good young up and comers...looks like Roush will be cleaning house soon (21 car already did). Both JRM cars ended up ripped apart again but both ran at the front at least.

[slorydn1]

That was an exciting finish to N-wide. Little concerned about some of the good young up and comers...looks like Roush will be cleaning house soon (21 car already did). Both JRM cars ended up ripped apart again but both ran at the front at least.

Agreed :up:

I think Arpin aquitted himself well for the most part....

Roush is in trouble if he keeps those two in his cars much longer, especially Stenhouse. Braun needs more seasoning in trucks I think.

[harvick#1]

Rumor has it right now that Brad K's NWS car has failed post race inspection.

I'm sure there will be more too follow

[slorydn1]

Rumor has it right now that Brad K's NWS car has failed post race inspection.

I'm sure there will be more too follow

He'll keep the win....I'm sure this will tighten up the points battle :D

[willracefan]

Not that I'm complaining but that basically killed Happy's chance of catching my boy for the championship.



that and dave blaney at atlanta, followed by the crash at phoenix we got thrown in, and the untimely caution at rockingham where if we didnt pit we would have gotten the free pass and back on the lead lap contending for a top ten there. i still think of what could have been for that year and 06.


i think the one positive thing for this year that could happen is that gordon could keep jj from winning his fifth title which will open the door for someone else to win it and at this point its between harvick, hamlin, and kenseth outside of jj.

[harvick#1]

He'll keep the win....I'm sure this will tighten up the points battle :D

I'm thinkin some driver in the 33 is gonna be the point leader :p :

you know the only driver thats in the top 5 in all top 3 Nascar series right now

[willracefan]

yep and this will lead to harvick racing the full season. i was waiting for the other three to have their bad luck race because i knew when it happened harvick would lead the points, he has been bar none the most consistent driver in the nns. noone is gonna beat him at that.

[willracefan]

Actually, looking back at it, he's never taken anyone out for the win, not in any of his 56 national touring series points wins (59 when you add 2 Bud Shootuts and All-Star wins, not a small number by any means)...The one time he did try to do that (Menard-Milwaukee, 2006) it didn't work out so well for him-he took himself out and ended up finishing p19 (http://racing-reference.info/race?id=2006-17&series=B )

and ya know what? I was highly critical of that bone headed move at the time.

What has everyones panties in a wad is the fact that he dumped Wonderboy II at bristol because he got tired of Logano blocking....I wasn't thrilled with it but I understood it, he felt the need to teach the youngster a lesson.


do you think kevin would have won montreal 07 without spinning fellows before that robby caution?

[Mark in Oshawa]

do you think kevin would have won montreal 07 without spinning fellows before that robby caution?

No...because when you spin Ron Fellows...you automatically take a great threat away on a road course.

[slorydn1]

I'm thinkin some driver in the 33 is gonna be the point leader :p :

you know the only driver thats in the top 5 in all top 3 Nascar series right now

Yeah, that one :p :

Actually keep in mind this aint the cup series nor is it a COT...25 points has been the norm in natwide

[slorydn1]

do you think kevin would have won montreal 07 without spinning fellows before that robby caution?

Doubtful....possible but doubtful.....Ambrose and Gordon would probably have wrecked each other anyway at some point leaving Fellows and Harvick to fight it out

BUT

Fellows wasn't the leader and Harvick wouldn't be dumping him intentionally anyway...he just got in to the chicane to deep and has two wheels on the grass, not real conducive for traction under braking :p :

Good memory though...really had to dig deep to find that one

[harvick#1]

No...because when you spin Ron Fellows...you automatically take a great threat away on a road course.

and Ron really had the car to beat too, although he rallied still to finish in the top 5

[jeffmr2]

What a great days racing,wish there was another high banked restrictor plate race in the season,havent they considered doing something like this at Fontana?
Also wish all race weekends were double headers like sunday.

[Iceman778]

i too agree with you