SO tell me - WHO make the field THIS week

[Chris]

OK folks,.. we hadn't done this in a while... and we got some new folks joined the group here recently,... SO here's the poop.
I'll list the "go or go home" cars for this weekends CUP race...
There are 51 entries this week so 8 will make it and 8 will go home

You pick the 8 cars you think will make the field.

4  -  Ward Burton  -  Lucas Oil Chevy
15  -  Paul Menard  -  Menards Chevy
32  -  Travis Kvapil  -  Tide/Downy Chevy
34  -  Chad Chaffin  -  myAutoloan.com Dodge
37  -  Bill Elliott  -  R&J Racing Chevy
44  -  Terry Labonte  -  Kellogg's Chevy
45  -  Kyle Petty  -  Wells Fargo Dodge
49  -  Mike Bliss  -  whatsOnline.com Dodge
55  -  Michael Waltrip  -  NAPA Dodge
60  -  David Ragan  -  Pennzoil Ford
61  -  Kevin Lepage  -  Oak Gloves Dodge
66  -  Jeff Green  -  Best Buy Chevy
72  -  Mike Skinner  -  Dutch Quality Stone Chevy
74  -  Derrike Cope  -  Sundance Vacations/Royal Admin Dodge
78  -  Kenny Wallace  -  Furniture Row Chevy
84  -  A.J. Allmendinger  -  New York Red Bulls Dodge

[FS_Amy]

The 44 is guaranteed in-past champion's provisional.

[falcon325]

OK, Chris.  The 44 is a gimme.  I'll take the 4,66, 45, 55, 72, 60 (yeah, the 60) and 32.

[Chris]

Pretty good picks Falcon...
we run out of room before we got the 15 and the 49 in the field,.. and theres the 84 that people are so high on...
just not enough spots for everyone...
the 72, 37, and the 78 has a shot also
Some drivers JUST not gonna be happy.

[falcon325]

Yeah, this might just be a preview of next year.

I saw the thread about NA$CAR setting up two divisions.  I talked to a Cup car-owner once a couple of years before the Chase and he predicted that was coming.  Is all about the money.

The France family and Burton Smith both made big chunks of their billion-dollar fortunes owning tracks.  Now, both have big holdings in publicly-traded corporations (ISCA and TRK).  Publicly-traded corporations need to show steady upswings in earnings and dividends.  But 36 dates is about all they can squeeze out of the teams and heaven knows the ticket prices can't get much higher.  In fact, my theory on the empty seats at Atlanta is that area race fans have already blown their budgets at the eight races at Daytona, 'Dega, Lowes and Darlington already this year (not to mention Richmond, Martinsville).  Anyway, the only way for the big money interests to squeeze anymore dollars out of the fans is to create new race dates.  Create two leagues and, insantly, cha-ching!

The only hope for the fans is that this will lower ticket prices.  No.  really.  Don't laugh.  Again, pubicly-traded corporations need to show steady increases in profits.  Sharply increase the number of race dates (26 new dates in league #2 with a 10-race "Chase"), cut the price from, say $75 to $45 to compensate for fans not getting to see Little E and Jeffy G racing against each other every weekend, then ratchet it back up over the years as fan acceptance (or resignation) grows. 

It's coming.  Happy Halloween!  ]

[flamehothead]

I'm going to have to go with .4,15,37,44,45,66,72,78.

[Chris]

guess I better get my picks in...
it's thursday night,.. and (I assume) qualifying will be tomorrow

Kinda figured some of the "old timers' would throw their picks in...
Kinda surprised since so any people were so 'high' on this Allmendinger kid,.. no one has picked him to make the field yet...

Guess I'll take:
4, 15, 44, 49, 45, 55, 60, 66
MAN thats TOUGH whittling it down to JUST 8...
Even tougher when I have to leave out my own cousin (Bill)
Still got some guys I think could make the field... 72, 78, 37.. maybe the 84??
Could all come down to who gets the GOOD qualifying draw??

[Chris]

well FIRST I'm surprised only three of us did this little deal... and none of the old timers got in...
Oh well anyway,... it was interesting.
Jayshi listed someone that was "locked in" as a go ro go home car,.. so thats where I got my list.  The #66 was already locked in...
We all picked him so I guess it don't matter.
Lets see how we all came out...
I missed the 60.. Man he sucked this week.  I listed the #32, and dropped him... so I missed one

FHH missed the #37, and 72.  Bill was the first car to miss the race again.
Sucks that T Labonte knows he is ALREADY in the field,.. and looks like he makes no effort to make a 'decent' qualifying run.

Falcon only missed the 60 and the 72... so all in all not bad considering there were SO MANY cars capable of making the field.
I kinda figured the #72 WOULD make the field.
AJ was the slowest of ALL the cars... hhuummm  5 time Champ car winner,... looks like he needs LOTS of CUP seat time.