Daytona 500

honda450 · #1 02-12-2008

Well don't know if there is many NASCAR fans out there but the big race coming Sunday. Lets hear your pick. I say #24 Jeff Gordon.

TheClash · #2 02-12-2008

i pick the guy that can turn left for the longest at the highest rate of speed for the most consistent amount of time....haha

honda450 · #3 02-12-2008

Well I guess we picked the same guy.

TheClash · #4 02-12-2008

haha....it is an amazing talent i have....

CBRHunter · #5 02-12-2008

Dale Jr. has new life and better eqiipment with Hendrick, he has already won the Bud shootout. Cheering for Elliot Sadler or Denny Hamlin though.

Dustin

Rockymtnx · #6 02-12-2008

I would have to say that it will be any of the following three from the four man Hendrick Motorsports team.

#24 Jeff Gordon, #48 Jimmie Johnson, #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr

honda450 · #7 02-12-2008

What about #5 Rocky?

Rockymtnx · #8 02-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by honda450

What about #5 Rocky?

I just don't think the #5 Kellogg's car is going to be in the winners circle. I personally wouldn't be putting any money on Casey Mears. I could be dead wrong. He did do fairly well on Saturday night @ Daytona. ????

It should still be a good race. Even after getting their fingers slapped I wonder if Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch are going to have another demo derby with each other?

I also think its going to be a Chevy vs. Toyota race.

ducky_hunter · #9 02-12-2008

# 1 Dale JR
# 2 Tony S
# 3 Mark Martin
# 4 Jimmy J
# 5 Mike Waltrup

I was at the Daytona 500 last year it was awsome

honda450 · #10 02-12-2008

Ducky how could you pick Mikey? Yeah Tony got all year to get Kurt back and he will. Thats Tony.

Sakoman · #11 02-12-2008

Gotta pick Gordon maybe Junior now that he is in the Hendrick Stable.

Crossing my fingers Villeneuve can some how make it into the race and post a top 25 position.

mountainmike · #12 02-12-2008

4Me Gotta Always go with Lil "E". Dale jr will be in the running.

sparky660 · #13 02-12-2008

Number 88 for me. A new team, new paint and better equipment. It will be fresh start for him and feel that it was much needed. I just wish he could have kept the 8 and budweiser sponsor.

mud slug · #14 02-12-2008

dale jr #88 to win.... as far as #24 jeff gordon

he can crash first lap as far as i'm concerned can't stand him.

TreeGuy · #15 02-12-2008

Coooool! Finally some fellow fans. They just put Tony and Kurt on a 6 race probation for their incident in/after practice the other day. Here's a good link.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/7779422?MSNHPHMA

Ya gotta think that there should be 3 of the Hendrick cars in the top 5. They'll have a pretty dominating season once again as they will be running the COT full time this season and they certainly seemed to have them figured out last year.

Personally, I'd love to see Martin knock off his first 500 win after coming so close last year, but I'm not putting any money on it.

They'll be racing hard to get Jr his win guarenteed. It will be interesting how he fits in to that team. I'm pretty much an anti Jr guy but we'll see how the season pans out.

As a dark horse, I'm picking Montoya (what a character) for a top 10 at least and will be keeping a close eye out on how the open wheel guys do, particularly Francitti.

Either way, it's tough to pick a winner in a plate race as there is always the 'Big One'! I'll pick at least one guy to cross the finish line on his roof again (probably Mikey or Sadler)

Can't wait.

Tree

Sakoman · #16 02-12-2008

Don't worry Mudslug JR is in some good equipment now he will win regularly. As for not licking Gordon, everbody hates a winner!! You must have thrown a beer can at the TV when he passed SR on the alltime list.

ducky_hunter · #17 02-12-2008

Sakoman I was at that race I could not beleave how many beer cans were in the air I got soaked with beer They are crazy in Alabama I loved it

Roughneck71 · #18 02-12-2008

tony stewart
waltrip
martin
cant wait fun to watch!

mud slug · #19 02-12-2008

don't know why i cann't stand gordon never liked him from the start.allway been a earnheart sr fan love the little bump he would give ya as he went bye.still hard to belive he left his dads team for hendricks.

TreeGuy · #20 02-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by mud slug

don't know why i cann't stand gordon never liked him from the start.allway been a earnheart sr fan love the little bump he would give ya as he went bye.still hard to belive he left his dads team for hendricks.

Mud, it's not his Dad's team anymore, it's his step-Mother's. He was reportedly asking for a 51% share of the company ($125M/year organization) on top of about $20M contract per season, plus, plus, plus. He made his bed, but I'd be frustrated running inferior equipment also. He'll be fine.

As for Gordon, we are now fans of him. We found out that my buddy's parents are close personal friends of his. When Gordon heard that our 6 year old son liked NASCAR, he personally sent up some autographed gear for his b-day, and we are on a standing invitation to be his personal guest at a race whenever we can get down for one. We were pretty impressed, and now root for him. Just have to pick a race, I'm thinking the short track at Bristol, but we'll see.

Tree

Rockymtnx · #21 02-13-2008

Well Tree I will be another one to put up my hand and say I am a Jeff Gordon fan. I have been a Gordon fan for years. I am not sure why everyone dislikes him?
I never was a Dale Jr or Sr fan. Now that Dale Jr is a member of the Hendricks team I am sure I will begin to like him.

CBRHunter · #22 02-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeGuy

we are on a standing invitation to be his personal guest at a race whenever we can get down for one. We were pretty impressed, and now root for him. Just have to pick a race, I'm thinking the short track at Bristol, but we'll see.

Tree

I would defintily pick the night race at Bristol, I went to Michigan 2 years ago and talking with lots of the people there they said it's the absolute best race, theres not a bad seat in the "Stadium". They siad it's also extremely hard to get tickets for that race. That would definetly be my pick.

Dustin

TreeGuy · #23 02-13-2008

Yeah, I know a guy who has been to Daytona, California and Vegas. The atmosphere at the big tracks was great, but the feild was quite far away for the most part. At least at Bristol you are constantly on top of the action in a 160,000 seat football stadium. What a hoot. I've also heard wisperings of New York building a similar stadium type of track, but with a capacity to seat over 300,000 of your closest friends. Would be cool, but will be a multi billion proposition over a decade away. Can't wait for Sunday!

Tree

mud slug · #24 02-13-2008

do you think hendricks can keep gordons and earnhearts ego's in check long enought for them to work together?or do you think it wil be a problem? if he can your going to see at least one of his cars at the top all season. bristol would be a great race to take in. but i've always liked the road courses.

TreeGuy · #25 02-13-2008

Mud, I think he can. Rick Hendrick is such a great 'rags to riches' story it's unbelievable. He was always such an hands on/over the radio type of owner that every driver seemed willing to check their egos at the door. That type of owner/friend/father figure status really manifested itself after their plane went down on route to a race, killing his son, his brother, his twin (?) neices and several others that were very important to his organization. It really seemed that after that point, EVERYONE stepped up, and an unbelievable team spirit developed. I think that Jr will just be happy to be finally running good equipment on strong team with no stupid internal politics messing with his head. Hendrick has no favourites. He only asks that if you are going to tear up a $250,000 race car, make sure you don't take any teamates out with ya! He's pretty well known for getting on the radios of his drivers when it's under yellow, late in the race and laying the law down. Race hard and get the points win or lose. Fantastic organization led by a true leader.

Tree

mud slug · #26 02-13-2008

no dout hendricks is a hands on leader. can't wait for the season to start.might have to start cheering for a team instead of a driver.

Rockymtnx · #27 02-13-2008

Tree - just to add to your list of rumors. Well its not really a rumor but a fact. There is a county that I spend time at in California that has been trying to get a race. Tulare County has been proposing building a new venue for NASCAR. The past year they have been really rallying to get this. I kind of doubt it since there is already two NASCAR tracks in California.

As far as the Hendrick boys go I am sure Rick will keep them inline.
I am sure you will see one of the four in the top 5 every race.

TreeGuy · #28 02-13-2008

Rocky, if they build it, it does not mean they come. When Texas decided to build their track ($1B+ and a boring California style race to boot) NASCAR told them that they could NOT GUARENTEE them a race. They said 'whatever' and spent the money anyway. Since there were a few pretty influencial politicans from the great state of Texas, NASCAR relented and gave 'em one. You have to remember that it is only a 36 race season and to build a track means that NASCAR has to take 10's if not 100's of millions of dollars out of some pretty small communities.

I know the old tracks like the Richmonds and Darlingtons, etc have their days numbered, but NASCAR still has it's finger on the pulse of its grassroots traditions that made this sport, and they know who matters.

California will NOT get a third race.

Supper time, I'll babble later....................

Tree

Rockymtnx · #29 02-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeGuy

California will NOT get a third race.

I think their wish was to pull the race away from Fontana. ???
Yes with 36 races the season can't really go any longer, so someone would have to be cut.

TreeGuy · #30 02-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockymtnx

I think their wish was to pull the race away from Fontana. ???
Yes with 36 races the season can't really go any longer, so someone would have to be cut.

Perhaps. The thing that people have to remember it that most tracks are situated in small, backwoods communities outside of major urban centers. To take a race away means you take a community away. Very tough decisions. One thing I do forsee is the elimination of the two road course races in Waltkins Glen and Sonoma (California again?). They are using machines that are NOT conducive to such races, and they are certainly not that fan freindly. They will be the first to fall. Probably will be transferred down to Busch or the Trucks series. As for Canada getting a race, forget it. A REAL race I mean.

Tree