The 2012 NASCAR Thread

[Hdf561]

I cant belive there are not more NASCAR fans than this, people waste there time on the NBA (boring), oh well to each there own I guess.

Cant wait for the Vegas Race hope the Busch Brothers ( well Kyle at least) show up at the home track!

[Hdf561]

Welcome to LAS VEGAS home of the Busch Brothers....should be some interesting racing here this weekend already have seen alot of people struggling in Nationwide practice (Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick) Elliot Sadler wins the first Nationwide practice with Cup cars getting ready to take the field.

In other news cant belive MWR hired Vickers for the races Sadler turned down. Vickers has been in some great rides and has never produced alot but is still a name and is probably expensive. he could have gone with Kenny Wallace, or a young driver for cheaper and similar results.

[tone_dubbz]

GREAT WIN FOR DENNY HAMLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also solid races for Kyle and Joey....JGR ran up front all day great stuff, dont want to get to confident but I have a good feeling for the JGR cars this year.

I knew pairing Denny up with Darian Grubb was going to work wonders. I think they finished 5th at Daytona then 1st at Phoenix.

I still think Addington and Smoke are going to win a lot of races together. I hope its starts this week at LV.

[Teller]

Welcome to LAS VEGAS home of the Busch Brothers....should be some interesting racing here this weekend already have seen alot of people struggling in Nationwide practice (Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick) Elliot Sadler wins the first Nationwide practice with Cup cars getting ready to take the field.

I haven't seen any practice yet, but Kyle won't struggle come race time. If the kid can win a truck race with only 2nd and 4th gear, he can drive any garbage car to a respectable finish. I can't stand him on a personal level, but he has talent on top of talent.

Danica on the other hand is still adjusting to the lack of downforce in Cup. She's learning, and she's progressing faster than I expected. But that, combined with a hot, slick track in Vegas, doesn't bode well, IMO.

In other news cant belive MWR hired Vickers for the races Sadler turned down. Vickers has been in some great rides and has never produced alot but is still a name and is probably expensive. he could have gone with Kenny Wallace, or a young driver for cheaper and similar results.

Vickers is a former N'wd champ, and was starting to turn a corner when he had is blood clot issues. Mikey's clearly fielding better cars this year, and personally, I'm glad to see Vickers get the chance. I do agree that MWR could have gotten someone else cheaper, but I think Mikey's really pushing to become a legitimate contender. Vickers gives him another solid vet who can help with that.

[Mongo2365]

To quote Eric Cartman, F You, Kyle.

[mikered30]

Anyone knows who makes engines for JGR and KBM in nationwide? KB mentioned not having enough speed last week.

[Hdf561]

Anyone knows who makes engines for JGR and KBM in nationwide? KB mentioned not having enough speed last week.

JGR gets there engines straight from Toyota now, they used to get there engines from the own engine shop, but shut that down. KBM I assume does the same since he is running Toyota.

As for Vickers I think he is just a recognizable game, and has had his chance in alot of top equipment over years. Sure he is a veteran but I think Mikey could have used the opening to try out a new driver and possibly find a driver for his organization in the future. Especially Since the 55 seems to have sponsorship for the full season. Hope he puts someone in the car full time next year and finally takes himself out of the car. If he is looking at Vickers to run for him next season might as well give him the road course races as well.

I happen to love Kyle and agree with you about his talent, dude could race a dump truck and finish in the top 10!

Hoping for another good weekwnd for JGR.

[Bubble Screen]

Welcome to LAS VEGAS home of the Busch Brothers....should be some interesting racing here this weekend already have seen alot of people struggling in Nationwide practice (Kyle Busch, Danica Patrick) Elliot Sadler wins the first Nationwide practice with Cup cars getting ready to take the field.

In other news cant belive MWR hired Vickers for the races Sadler turned down. Vickers has been in some great rides and has never produced alot but is still a name and is probably expensive. he could have gone with Kenny Wallace, or a young driver for cheaper and similar results.

Not a fan of Vickers', but he's at least on par with Sadler. Being that he's younger, he might be a notch better. With that said, he would have already gotten a similar (if not better) ride had he not played bumper cars with a few drivers last season. The episode with Kenseth at Phoenix last year was the final straw. He had already gotten "back" at Kenseth at, I think, Martinsville earlier. Then, I guess in Brian's eyes, he wasn't quite even, so he wrecked him again at Phoenix. You can't go around tearing up million dollar race cars on purpose. I think he learned his lesson. Or at least you'd think so.

And he hasn't really had "great" rides, other than his stint with Hendrick. And even then he was very, very young. Red Bull was a mid-tier operation. It's amazing that Kahne was able to run that well there at the end of the season with a team that closed up shop after Homestead.

Kenny Wallace has had more than his share of opportunites, and failed. And at his age, you don't get rides like that unless you're someone like Mark Martin. And exactly what younger driver could Waltip have gone with? Cole Whitt? Nah, he's not quite ready.

---------- Post added March-10th-2012 at 02:34 AM ----------

I knew pairing Denny up with Darian Grubb was going to work wonders. I think they finished 5th at Daytona then 1st at Phoenix.

I still think Addington and Smoke are going to win a lot of races together. I hope its starts this week at LV.

Denny was 4th at Daytona.

[Hdf561]

Not a fan of Vickers', but he's at least on par with Sadler. Being that he's younger, he might be a notch better. With that said, he would have already gotten a similar (if not better) ride had he not played bumper cars with a few drivers last season. The episode with Kenseth at Phoenix last year was the final straw. He had already gotten "back" at Kenseth at, I think, Martinsville earlier. Then, I guess in Brian's eyes, he wasn't quite even, so he wrecked him again at Phoenix. You can't go around tearing up million dollar race cars on purpose. I think he learned his lesson. Or at least you'd think so.

And he hasn't really had "great" rides, other than his stint with Hendrick. And even then he was very, very young. Red Bull was a mid-tier operation. It's amazing that Kahne was able to run that well there at the end of the season with a team that closed up shop after Homestead.

Kenny Wallace has had more than his share of opportunites, and failed. And at his age, you don't get rides like that unless you're someone like Mark Martin. And exactly what younger driver could Waltip have gone with? Cole Whitt? Nah, he's not quite ready.

---------- Post added March-10th-2012 at 02:34 AM ----------

Denny was 4th at Daytona.

Yea i can see all that I just would rather see a guy like Ryan Truex (who used to race for MWR) Brad Coleman, Marc Davis, even John King, or James Buscher get a crack at a ride like that...Mikey is feilding cars that can finish in the top 15 to top 10 which could be huge for any number of young guys trying to break into a full time Nationwide ride next year

[Bubble Screen]

Yea i can see all that I just would rather see a guy like Ryan Truex (who used to race for MWR) Brad Coleman, Marc Davis, even John King, or James Buscher get a crack at a ride like that...Mikey is feilding cars that can finish in the top 15 to top 10 which could be huge for any number of young guys trying to break into a full time Nationwide ride next year

I understand what you're saying, but I completely get what Waltrip is trying to do. He signed a guy like Martin because he wanted a guy with experience to give him feedback on what the cars are like. Like how they can possibly improve. Martin has driven for all the top operations. He knows what good equipment is. Guys like Truex (Ryan) and and those other guys, are too raw. And Vickers most recently drove Toyotas. And is still relatively young. Waltrip I'm sure will start mixing in youngers guys like that once he has his overall race team where he wants it.

Hell, look at Joe Gibbs. He took that route with Joey Logano. And to this point, it hasn't worked out. Vickers and Martin are stopgaps. They will get those young drivers in their soon enough, imo.

[SC_RedskinsFan]

Hell, look at Joe Gibbs. He took that route with Joey Logano. And to this point, it hasn't worked out. Vickers and Martin are stopgaps. They will get those young drivers in their soon enough, imo.

There was way to much pressure and expectations for Logano, the same could really be said for Kahne as well. Both were supposed to take NASCAR by storm.

[Bubble Screen]

There was way to much pressure and expectations for Logano, the same could really be said for Kahne as well. Both were supposed to take NASCAR by storm.

They rushed Logano along too fast, yes. He was much too young to assume a ride like that. Another year in NW would have done him wonders, imo. And I think the guys in Bayne's camp have learned that. It could have been easy to just bump him up to a full-time Cup ride after he won the 500. But he wasn't ready for that. Kudos to Roush/Wood Bros for realizing that. Another limited schedule in Cup this year should prepare him for a full-time Cup ride next year. I like how they are handling Stenhouse Jr as well.

As for Kahne: he was around 22 when he broke onto the scene. I don't think there was too much pressure or expectations placed on him. I think the thing that's held him back is all the constant change he's had to endure. I mean it seems like he's driven a different make every year, and been bounced around to a different team every few years. And until now he's never really been in top equipment. The next few years will define what kind of driver he is. If he doesn't have a lot of success these next few years he may never get another top ride like this again. And unlike Junior, who's been garbage during most of his time at Hendrick, he wouldn't still be able to keep his ride. Let's face it, if Junior had any other last name he isn't driving for Hendrick right now after those 21st and 25th place points finishes (and only one win).

[SC_RedskinsFan]

They rushed Logano along too fast, yes. He was much too young to assume a ride like that. Another year in NW would have done him wonders, imo. And I think the guys in Bayne's camp have learned that. It could have been easy to just bump him up to a full-time Cup ride after he won the 500. But he wasn't ready for that. Kudos to Roush/Wood Bros for realizing that. Another limited schedule in Cup this year should prepare him for a full-time Cup ride next year. I like how they are handling Stenhouse Jr as well.

I agree 100% with this, and not to mention he had to follow Tony.... JGR may have costed him a great career by rushing him. I remember when it was happening, I kept saying don't do it.

As for Kahne: he was around 22 when he broke onto the scene. I don't think there was too much pressure or expectations placed on him. I think the thing that's held him back is all the constant change he's had to endure. I mean it seems like he's driven a different make every year, and been bounced around to a different team every few years. And until now he's never really been in top equipment. The next few years will define what kind of driver he is. If he doesn't have a lot of success these next few years he may never get another top ride like this again.

The expectations were there for Kahne, a lot of people said he was gonna be the next Jeff Gordon. I mean lets be honest, nobody will be a Gordon, Petty, Big E, or even JJ. To put that on somebody is just unfair. That had to get into his head, that and the year he was getting all those 2nd place finishes. He is a very good driver no doubt, but not to that level. I think he will get some wins and do fine at HMS.

And unlike Junior, who's been garbage during most of his time at Hendrick, he wouldn't still be able to keep his ride. Let's face it, if Junior had any other last name he isn't driving for Hendrick right now after those 21st and 25th place points finishes (and only one win).

You can say what you want about him, and for once it doesn't seem like you are bashing him but him even being on the race track after his Dad died at Daytona is beyond me. Jr may not be a great driver, and sure his mane has helped him a lot but he is good for the sport. He does not sugar coat or say the politically correct thing, he tells it like it is. That is why a lot of people like him.

Also as a car owner he does very good, he has found young talent and given them a chance.

I totally understand why you don't like him and why you think he is overrated. We don't need to discuss that again cause neither of us will change our minds

[Bubble Screen]

SC, you know I had to get a jab in about Junior..

Honestly, he ran pretty well last year. Letarte might finally be the missing link, who knows. And so far this year they are starting off on the right foot. Finished 2nd at the 500. Then took an awful car and managed to get a 14th place finish. And he seems to have another fast car again at Vegas.

Trust me, if he backs up last year with another top 10 points finish, you'll be hearing less and less from me about Jr. The guy has GOT to start also winning races, though. One race win in 130+ starts driving that equipment just isn't cutting it.

[Hdf561]

I agree that the pressure on Joey was to great early on....But he seems to finally be getting the hang of it at least with his performances in the first 2 races this season.