NASCAR 2012!

[Crafty_]

Cup race is 6pm our time..

[Crafty_]

Ok, starting ceremony under way. Green flag 17:43 our time I am told..

I just found out that for Sky viewers the race is free to watch on Premier Sports today..

Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 28th October 17:39

[Crafty_]

Yeah not sure, I wanted to watch another car launching but they don't stick with one long enough.

Impatience when trying to pass JPM, was no need.

Gotta feel for Hamlin.

[Crafty_]

Texas this weekend, Truck race was last night.

Nationwide race starts 11pm our time, its live on motorstv. Highlights will be shown 6:15pm Sunday.

Cup race starts 7:15pm our time Sunday.

Jimmie Johnson has taken pole followed by Biffle, Kyle Busch and Bowyer. Keselowski 8th.

The only other news of note is that the Ganassi team have dumped Childress engines for Hendrick units next year

[Crafty_]

Green flag in 1h 20 (8:15pm)

[Crafty_]

Yeah great finish, on the second to last restart I thought Brad was going to bin it, still not sure how he managed to keep hold of it.

I think after he won races last year he's grown up a bit and come in to his own.

I think part of the hate for JJ is he's too good - he won 5 years in a row, gets kinda boring. The Jnr fans also don't like him because they love Jnr and some see JJ as being in his way..

[Crafty_]

Penultimate race weekend in Phoenix, trucks ran last night, the race was red flagged for an accident, everyone ok.

Nationwide is live on MotorsTV at 8:30 tonight.
Cup green flag is 8:15pm Sunday, Kyle Busch has pole, Keselowski is 14th and Jimmie could only manage 24th.

Big fuss over the past couple of days with rumours that Harvick is to move to SHR in 2014. No-one will confirm or denoy the rumours.
We have a new team in cup running this weekend "Xxxtreme Motorsport", owned by a New York nightclub owner will have Reutimann in a Ford Fusion, they hope to run full time in 2013.

Pre-season test is 10-12 January at Daytona.

[Crafty_]

Race starting imminently..

[Crafty_]

eastlmark said:

yesssssssss! 48 in the wall, 2 in the lead. a good noght so far!

I swear half the worlds reaction was : hmm, uhh, woah! hahahaha heh, goin' to the garage.. hahahaha



I really want to know how this kid reacted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybbud7k4TZM&fe...

[Crafty_]

Fisticuffs is just funny, I expect Oprah to appear at any moment

Gordon is an asshat though, no need for that. Have to feel for Logano, he was just trying to stay out of the way and got pinned to the wall for it, given he looks about 12 he probably got his Dad to go fight the others guys

[Crafty_]

That was Harvick, not Keselowski : http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog/eye-on-nascar...
Knowing Harvick he was just pissed he couldn't join in.

Brad was not impressed, especially as some people criticised him for racing hard in Texas: http://www.cbssports.com/nascar/blog/eye-on-nascar...

[Crafty_]

Interesting, thanks for that.

So here we go then, 3 champions to be made this weekend.

Truck race is tonight, starts at midnight.
James Buescher just needs to come home 7th to win the title. The chasers are:
Timothy Peters (-11)
Ty Dillon (-12)
Joey Coulter (-29)
Parker Kligerman (-37).

Nationwide race is live on MotorsTV at 9pm Saturday.
Ricky Stenhouse will look to secure his second NNS title before joining Sprint Cup next year. He needs to finish 18th. the chasers are:
Elliot Sadler (-20)
Austin Dillon (-25)

Cup race is Sunday, green flag at 8:15pm our time.
Brad Keselowski is looking for his first title, he needs to finish 17th to beat his only chaser, Jimmie Johnson to the title.

All three leaders can make their title bids easier by either leading a lap and/or leading the most laps for extra points.

So who are you rooting for this week ? Can Sadler make good the disappointment from last weekend and steal the NNS title ? Does Ty Dillon have a chance ? Can Brad keep his cool ?

Apparently there is some other sort of race going on in Austin.. not sure what thats all about

[Crafty_]

Whassat you say ? the #48 to win ?

I'm going for Brad too, I think his journey in cup from the "krashalotski" tag to today is amazing.
He starts (effectively) from pole as Logano #20, Biffle #16, Smith #51 and Hamlin #11 to the back, all in backup cars.
Biffle and Hamlin were running close together in practice, they got together and collected Logano (he must be getting used to that lately ), not sure what happened to Smith.


Congratulations to James Buescher for the truck title, Ty Dillon had a good go - more to come from him I think.
NNS was only last night, so spoilered: And to Stenhouse for his second NNS title in a row. he was disappointed not to win last night but with 2 titles and a cup ride next year he will get over it I'm sure!

Good news for Aussies, RPM has re-signed Ambrose and Amirola for next year. Lately it seems that Amirola has started to find some form, would be awesome to see the #43 take a title again (big ask though!).

Brian France held a press conference yesterday about the future, for 2013:
Sponsor names allowed on the roof of cars
Drivers surname to be written at the top of the windshield
No sponsor or car number decals on lights because lights are seen as distinguishing features. Rear car number moved to bumper.
Example (thanks to Jayski):


No specific details were given but he mentioned a "digital cockpit", possibly for 2014. This came about during a question about Brad using a smartphone whilst in the car. Seems they are looking at providing live telemetry from the cars during races. I guess we'll hear more on that next year.

I'll be doing double duty with F1. Lewis & Brad wins please!

Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 18th November 11:02

[Crafty_]

Shame for the #48, but I don't think he would of taken the championship, Brad set out to be cautious and I think it would of seen him through in a good enough place.

So, 13 weeks until the Daytona shootout, I hate winter