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[How-doFolks]

Any of ya on here watch The Great American Race?

[Zephon]

I will...at least most of it anyway.  It will be interesting with most of the racing being done in drafting pairs.  I'm not sure whether I'll like it that way or not. 

[How-doFolks]

I agree with ya Zephon.

[Zephon]

I watched the Drive4COPD 300 Nationwide Series race today, which Tony Stewart won over Clint Boyer in a photo phinish.  It turned out to be a pretty good race.  The thing is though, with the tandem drafting, the two guys who were doing the pushing had no chance at the win even though they were right there.  Landon Cassill was pushing Stewart and Earnhart Jr. was pushing Boyer.  By the time they exited turn 4, they were pretty well boxed out from going around or slingshoting, as they used to do.  Jr. tried to make a move but would have risked wrecking and pulled back in behind Boyer...and it was the loss of push from Jr's trying his move that probably cost Boyer the win.  Seems to me that if they're going to tandem draft like that, they ought to just go ahead and form official pairs call it team racing.  That way the pusher gets as much credit for a win as the pushee.  I don't know...it just seems a little unfair to the guy doing the pushing.

[betamike]

Soooo...chalk it up to being another thing that I just don't take advantage of here in Florida (other theme parks, beaches, cruise lines), but I've never been to the 500 even though it's 1 hour away from my living room. 

Mostly because traffic in the Daytona area is as grueling as being on the Branson 76 strip without air-conditioning in your parent's old Chrysler New Yorker with Corinthian Leather before the bypass roads!  You get the picture.  It's madness, but I assume it's all part of the fun.

Don't kill me, but this is on top of the fact that one of my Disney Medic buddies is the chief EMT for the Daytona Raceway and has invited me onto the infield this year.   I guess one man's treasure is another man's junk, but I said "pass!"   

[How-doFolks]

I dont blame ya betamike, i've had many free chances to go to Kansas speedway but passed also. Like you, just way too many people & hipe for my country lovin' self.

Zephon - I watched the Nationwide race too. I dont like the tandom racing myself, kinda boring to me because i always enjoyed the 3-wide racing. I understand the safety issues, & why, but they are still having crashes. That is just part of racing that will never go away. Call me ol'-school, but NASCAR has gotten way too technical for me for a long time now. After Carl Edwards crash last year, i'd hate to see something terrible happen at 200+ mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlytg1bYI0

I hope everyone makes it thru the 500 ok..

[Zephon]

Friday I tuned onto the Speed channel to watch a little of the practicing, and the talking heads were commenting on the new surface at Daytona and how smooth it was.  The jist of what they were saying was that the new surface allows for tandem drafting because of it's smoothness.  It's easier for the drivers to hold their line, not get bounced around so much.  So...maybe this type of racing will only happen at Daytona and the other speedways will feature the "normal" style of racing.

Oh...they also had a "remembering Dale Sr." show which was really good and really sad.  Ten years ago...doesn't seem that long.

Who do you like for the race?  I don't really have a favorite driver, though I always pull for Jamie McMurray because he's a local boy.  But you have to think Tony Stewart, Dale Jr., Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip all have a great chance.  It would be great fun to see Danica Patrick in the winners circle.

[How-doFolks]

I hear ya, i hope Talladega aint tandem racing!
Yes, i watched "The Day" also. Its hard for me to watch Earnhardt Sr. stuff still, he was the voice for the drivers & seemed to be a down to earth guy. I caught a thing on Tim Richmond yesterday, it was sad too.. I guess what bothers us humans so bad is watching someone get hurt, or worse. Being involved in racing all my life, i have seen many drivers get hurt or burned. I have only witnessed 1 death in racing before my eyes. It was at Knoxville Iowa in the 70s, Gary Scott died when he flipped & got thrown out of the car & got ran over, it was terrible. Anyways....

Ofcourse i'd love to see any Mo. boys win, Bowyer ( Bowyer used to race here in KC at one of the tracks we go to all the time, my dad & i interviewed him many times. Wish we still had the footage of it. ) - McMurray - Edwards - Schrader, if he's in the 500. I guess Bowyer or Edwards would be my pick cuz they have never won this race yet. Fords are good at pushing this tandem thing cuz'a their new motor & cooling system, & i did pick Kenseth on our NASCAR game at work.

Danica led 1 lap in the BUSCH race yesterday. Sorry, i'm still ol'school. LOL! She looked kinda leary to tandem with Clint Bowyer, she just didnt know what to do. Live & learn.  

[Zephon]

Hah!  Trevor Bayne...in only his second Cup race...at just barely 20 years old.  Jeff Gordon said early in the week that this kid was good.  Who'd a thunk he was that good?  It was a very exciting race at the end...as always.  White knuckle all the way.  And the tandem drafting wasn't all that bad.  Best thing though, he praised God for the victory in the winner's circle.  Way To Go, Trevor! 

[How-doFolks]

I totally agree with ya Zephon. And a 1st time winner is always sweet!