The cup drivers are in the field, so this will likely be a boring race without much competition. The stages are 45-45-110. I’m anticipating a long, boring race unless, somehow, we end up with some sort of parity between the Cup cars and the rest of the field. The races without Cup drivers were more interesting, competitve, overall. I enjoyed them better than the races with the Cup drivers. I’d still like to see the Xfinity series go to different tracks more often – like they used to when I started watching the series – and race most of the season without the Cup drivers – to really establish itself as something different than the Cup series. Also I think it would be helpful if the Xfinity drivers were more competitive against the Cup drivers by the end of the regular season – showing some improvement. People keep saying the Xfinity series drivers learn from the visits by the Cup drivers. I’d like to see proof, while the Xfinity series drivers remain in the series and build a strong following that they can bring to the Cup series when they finally prove themselves, learn all they can, and move up.
Brandon Hightower in the 55 car spins on lap 24 of 200.
Restarting on lap 27 of 200 with Cup drivers up front racing each other.
They actually have a 40 car field for this race. Gosh when was the last time any of the series actually had 40 cars in the field at the start? Sad that a 40 car field is unusual.
KyBu wins the stage.
Lunch break.
It’s raining in turn 2 on lap 127 of 200. It’s sunny elsewhere around the track.
Cole Custer is in the lead currently, with Justin ‘Dewy Alligator’ Allgaier in second. Allgaier scraped the wall and lost two positions just before the caution putting Christopher Bell in second.
I saw Chase Elliott in the garage. He apparently had transmission troubles.
Looks like Kyle ‘KyBu’ Busch and Brad ‘It’ Keselowski are logging laps during the middle of the race. I expect them to get back into early race form at the end of the race.
Restarting with 69 laps to go.
Caution with 54 laps to go for Alex Labbé going for the spin and tagging the wall.
The PRN guys are discussing their theory that KyBu is just doing enough to stay in the lead instead of running full out.
Restarting on lap 149 of 200 with KyBu in front.
Overall its seemed if the leader can get far enough away fast enough he can ride by himself for most of the length of the run. The battle then seems to be for any position behind first, but rarely for the lead.
A spin by Tyler Reddick in the 9 car on lap 155 of 200.
Restarting on on lap 160 of 200.
Kyle ‘KyBu’ Busch turned in front of the 98 of Chase Briscoe damaging both cars on lap 160 of 200 bringing out the caution.
Restarting on lap 166 of 200 with ‘It’ in front. So it seems
Caution is out on lap 166 of 200 for the 28 of Dylan Lupton getting hit (by Chase Briscoe according to the PRN guys) hitting the wall then tagging Ty Majewksi in the 60.
The PRN guys are laughing about the fact that Ryan Sieg’s team was surprised to see a reporter come over to them to chat. It’s a sad statement that they no longer get a chance to talk to the whole field leaving teams surprised to get attention. That was one of the things I enjoyed about the old style of qualifying in which every car and every team had at least a little solo tv time for the driver, team and their sponsor(s).
It’s raining again as the field prepares for the restart. The cars are pacing around the track expecting it to be a quick shower.
With 28 to go the cars have been brought down pit road. The race is red flagged
The cars are covered. There’s a change NASCAR could call the race with 28 laps to go. The track is completely wet at the moment.
The PRN guys are saying the sun is shining and the track dryers are out.
The drivers are returning to their cars under a sunshiney car.
Not worth mentioning really, but since it is happening I’ll mention that Erik ‘Da Brat’ Jones rounds out the nightmare booth crew of Adam Alexander and Michael Waltrip. Shannon Spake is plagued by Larry McReynolds on the desk. FOX needs to improve their Xfinity series announcers.
The cars have been given the fire command. So far the red flag period has lasted about an hour.
Caution is out and the field is heading back onto the track.
Lights are out on the pace car so we’ll be restarting on lap 176 of 200.
Caution on lap 180 of 200 due to an incident involving the 7 of Justin ‘Dewy Alligator’ Allgaier and the 42 of Jamie McMurray. Looks like Dewy got turned by the 21 of Daniel Hemric in front of Jamie McMurray. Dewy says the radiator exploded. His team said there wasn’t much they can do about it, and he will need to just ride aorund and see what he can get out of it. Justin’s out of the car which will go on the hook for a tow back to the garage area.
KyBu is back on the lead lap getting the free pass in this incident.
Restarting on lap 186 of 200.
Caution is out with two laps to go for debris.
Overtime.
Caution is out though they put out the checkered flag. Cup driver ‘It’ crosses the line first.
Whenever the Cup guys got out front they typically stayed there leaving the tv coverage to follow the battles behind the Cup car(s). The PRN guys seem really pumped about the race – when they weren’t complaining about the rain delay and overtime – but I didn’t see the race they were calling. There was frequently lots of shouting and/or excitement in their voices over racing that was less boring than the racing before they got loud. They’re good about selling the race – as long as you’re not able to actually watch what they’re selling.
NASCAR, over the past several years, has tested new package ideas during the All-Star Race, then used those reactions their barometer for whether to implement the package in the following season. The racing at the All-Star race isn’t remotely like racing the rest of the season, so the results – and reactions – are rarely similar when the package is implemented the following season. I believe a more accurate test would be to use potential package for the Playoff races. NASCAR claims to reset things at the start of the playoffs. Using their test/potential package for those races really would reset things – taking away any advantage a team held through the regular season.
The teams won’t like it. They’ll likely hate the idea. It will force the teams to really show what they’re made of. Force them out of maintaining their momentum and ways of doing things. No one will be able to coast through the early rounds. They will have to adapt quickly and master the new package concurrently with their competition. They won’t be allowed to race the package – any aspect of it – after the All-Star race and before the first Playoff race. They won’t have the final specs for the Playoff Package until 6 weeks – at most – before the Playoffs; basically just enough time to build the cars. The big money teams will still have an advantage – but generally they’re usually the majority of the Playoffs field anyway due to their financial advantages. The only other thing that would provide similar equity is if NASCAR was able to manufacture/provide a single car – the exact same car – for all teams to use for the Playoffs. Since the manufacturers obviously wouldn’t go for that – instead let’s have them all start over again and learn a new package on the fly for the Championship. If the package is really any good, it will be super exciting. If the package doesn’t work, it will get tested under the best, most intense circumstances and give a better read on how it will play – at its best – in the following season. If parity makes for better racing then starting the playoffs with all the teams using a new package should improve playoff racing.
NASCAR News:
- Alan Kulwicki: From ‘Underbird’ to NASCAR Hall of Famer.
- NASCAR Hall of Fame class: Jeff Gordon headlines 5 selections.
- NASCAR All-Star aero package could inform 2019 Cup rules.
- Chase Elliott adds NASCAR Xfinity races after Gallagher drug ban.
- Increased plate emphasis could give Busch NASCAR future questions.
- NASCAR at Charlotte: New primary sponsor for Jimmie Johnson? Get in line.
- Why Bubba Wallace is ‘enjoying the hell out of this year’.
- PJ1 traction agent, tire dragging in use at Charlotte.
- Kaz Grala, father reveal how Fury Race Cars came to Xfinity Series.
- Harvick sizzling, but life doesn’t revolve around the track; just ask his kids.
- Smith’s push for All-Star race package at 600 denied.
- NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 evolves from race of attrition to all out speed.
- College athletes get an unlikely chance at the pros – through NASCAR.
- Watch snake wrap itself around door handle, blocking NASCAR team from headquarters.
- Appeals panel amends penalty of suspended former Xfinity crew member.
- Matt Kenseth discusses early progress for Roush cars on Dale Jr. Download.
- Not even Donald Trump can Make NASCAR Great Again.
- Man in Earnhardt-inspired No. 3 car arrested after chase, Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweets pithy observation.
- Busch Beer targets NASCAR fans to design year-end trophy.
- Emotional James Hinchcliffe fails to qualify for Indy 500.
- Kyle Busch rips his pit crew, defends his comments.
- Danica Patrick to host ESPYs; racing trailblazer first woman to get gig.