Testing Done….Now What?
by markyoungw on Jan.18, 2012, under BLOGS
By Mark Young
So testing at Daytona International Speedway has come and gone. NASCAR did a lot of tinkering with the cars in an effort to eliminate the two car tandem draft that everyone hates. Smaller radiators, different pop-off valves, grille opening changes, restrictor plate changes, spoiler changes too………and amid all of those changes a couple of things happened.
The cars got faster……A LOT FASTER. Shorter rear spoilers, softer rear springs, and a restrictor plate that lets the cars breathe a little better will do that to a race car. Along with the increase in speed came a reduction in stability. This was compounded by the reduced spoiler height and some imbalance in the cars (I think the Engineers will have that issue fixed in no time). The two car draft happened, but not to the extent that we saw it in 2011. The cars began to instantly overheat in less than a straight-away. Drafting in a pack is back but I am not too sure it is going to be the same pack racing we are used too. The radiator and pop-off valve changes are going to make it hard to tuck up under the car in front and push your way along.
I hate to be a pessimist, it is the beginning of a new season after all, but I have a feeling the 2012 Daytona 500 is going to be wreck-filled, engine grenading, no passing, boredom. Hopefully NASCAR will make some changes to help ease my nerves but I am a little concerned here peeps.
What say you?
January 18th, 2012 on 9:40 pm
I agree, it will be a race of attrition….43 cars go in…only one comes out!
I don’t know why the Brain Trust in Daytona Beach can’t take their martini adled minds and stick to something that worked…My case in point the Fall Talladega race of 2000, and any Nascar fan will remember that #3 car’s charge to the front with Kenny Wallace in tow! Their ain’t a soul in that garage that gas a hair on their ass to make a stand about the sorry ass racin’ of late…on the plus side real racing begins the next weekend
January 19th, 2012 on 12:47 am
That was one heck of a race, Fan #5! That’s exactly the kind of racing fans aren’t seeing these days.
I don’t like wreck-fest crap shoot racing and tandem racing is for the birds along with follow-the-leader. Maybe that’s why I prefer short track and road course racing to restrictor plate racing.
January 19th, 2012 on 7:22 am
Wicker-bills and valences are the way to go on plate tracks but who are we to say? NASCAR knows EVERYTHING……
January 20th, 2012 on 8:05 am
2000……oh how I miss those days. Races were fun to watch at Dega and Tona. NASCAR has managed in the last 4 years, to ruin my favorite sport. Football is now my fave. But I will watch the 500 as I ALWAYS do. I will hold my breath, then scream, then pace around, then chug another beer.
I just do not wanna see 2 car tandem b.s.
January 20th, 2012 on 5:30 pm
Mark….I caught some of them there wicker-bills and valences channel fishing yesterday and then I shot em lol!!I’m not gonna pretend that I know the things that make the cars do what except camber,wedge,tire pressure,spoilers,horsepower,and alot of skill(14,18,22,24 example) or Daddy’s bucks and or a pretty face(27,6,48(haha)ect…
Now as far as what I could tell, I will agree with all you said such as blown motors and big wrecks. That pack racing I liked but even the best driver could mess up taking out all my fanatasy picks damnit! Or we will get the 2 car crap that might not make a bigger one happen but again even the best can spin a partner,once again killing my fantasy team. So I’m worried already. But yes F5 B and G….That Dega race with the 3 and all the other plate races were my favs,till this crap of late. I mean I’m literally standing in front of the big screen like some delusional 88 fan hollering!!Of course 14 beers on board…..
Nascar is trying but I think they are F’d either way. These changes just don’t seem to prevent the inevidable 2 car mess. And the pack racing will take out half the field. Either way I’m ready for whatever. 2011 was better overall so I’ll hope for the best.
If you ain’t first ,ur last……….
January 22nd, 2012 on 11:03 am
NASCAR is sooo focused- as they should be- on driver safety. And they seem to have not been able to find the “happy medium” between being SAFE and still being ENTERTAINING. And that sucks. I wish there was a way to be SAFE and also haul a$$ damn fast! I will continue to watch/follow. I admit I skipped certain races in 2011 for football games. But I have my races that I NEVER miss. Daytona, Talledega, Bristol, Atlanta, Martinsville, Darlington, and The Glen. ( yes, I like the roadies and I want one in the damn CHASE damnit!)
January 23rd, 2012 on 12:20 am
Hear, hear to a road course race in the Chase! If you want to be the champ you need to be competitive on every type of track. That’s my theory.