It’s a partly cloudy day in Charlotte with a breeze. The clouds look heavier than at race time yesterday. I’m guessing that’s why NASCAR moved up the start time for activities today. This race is an elimination race. The drivers whined and whinged so much about Talladega being an elimination race due to the uncertainty of the outcome – more so than the average race. So now we have the race on the new track – idiotically called the Roval, grow up please, what a lame name. After lots of wrecks during practice NASCAR modified a portion of the course. Since the drivers are so very careful during all of the races during the play-offs I expect this will be another snoozer of a race. One of the joys of the race at ‘Dega was the lack of control the drivers had on the outcome of the race as well as on their outcome. It actually provided some excitement. The drivers do their best to avoid the unexpected during the play-offs. They play it safe. They make boring television and worst racing. NASCAR would do better to insist the drivers make the fans happy by racing all out, not carefully. Kurt Busch has the pole for today’s race. The stages for today’s race are 25-25-59. Yesterday’s race indicated that a long third stage will be a boring third stage – though the entire race yesterday was boring and I expected it to be more exciting, interesting, entertaining than the Cup race going into the weekend. I’m dreading this race, but hoping for the best. Continue reading “2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Nine Charlotte”
2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Twenty-Eight Charlotte
After much, too much, hype the first roval race is here as the kids from the Xfinity Series take on the challenge. It’s fantastic to see a challenging race in the play-offs. The Cup teams whined so much about ‘Dega that it was moved to a different position in the play-offs. I like having a wild card in the play-offs because the Cup teams are so careful they take all the fun out of watching the race. We really need a better format than the play-offs. The Elimination format has resulted in much more stilted, mild, boring racing for the majority of the field for most of the play-off races. It would be a lot more exciting if Continue reading “2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Twenty-Eight Charlotte”
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Eight Richmond
The skies grew cloudy as the sunset in Richmond. The drivers walked a runway during introductions I believe. I glanced up an saw it a couple of times, but if I continued to look I’d end up looking at Rutledge Wood which immediately caused me to look elsewhere. I find him so thoroughly boring and aggravating simultaneously. It would be grand if NBC overhauled their broadcast crew in the off-season and found (and hired) some talent. That group they have now can easily be described as a hot mess. The stages for tonight’s race 100-100-200. Kevin ‘Happy/KHarv’ Harvick (4) has the pole. ‘Dastardly’ Denny Hamlin (11) had outside pole. Continue reading “2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Eight Richmond”
2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Twenty-Seven Richmond
Dale Jr is in the Xfinity house this evening. It’s his first race since his retirement. Amy, Isla, and Kelley Earnhardt-Miller are there with him. He seems happy and proud. Elliott Sadler’s family joins him at his last full-time start at his home track. The drivers’ intro looked like the Cup All-Star Race presentation of the drivers, though I’m not sure if all of the driver’s teams came out with them, or only some of them. This is the first race of the Xfin playoffs. Regular season champ Justin ‘Dewy Alligator’ Allgaier (1) had his daughter with him during the pre-race ceremonies. They seemed to be having fun together. The stages are 75-75-100. Wyatt and Austyn Sadler joined the Grand Marshalls in giving the command. ‘Reckless’ Ryan Reed (16) and Ross Chastain(42) will start at the back of the field for unapproved adjustments. Christopher Bell (20) and Dale Earnhardt Jr (88) will lead the 40 car field to green. Continue reading “2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Twenty-Seven Richmond”
2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Seven Las Vegas
Erik ‘Da Brat/That Jones Kid’ Jones (20) will lead the field to green. Kevin ‘Happy/KHarv’ Harvick (4) is outside pole. The stages are 80-80-107.
Joey Logano (22) takes the lead in turn four of the first lap.
Harvick takes the lead from Logano on lap 34 of 267.
Green flag pit stops underway on lap 36 of 267.
Earlier today I realized why I find the shot of the driver driving so dumb. Continue reading “2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Twenty-Seven Las Vegas”