The Frontstretch: Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Sylvania 300 by Matt McLaughlin -- Monday September 15, 2008

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Matt McLaughlin's Thinkin' Out Loud: Sylvania 300

Matt McLaughlin · Monday September 15, 2008

 

The Key Moment: On the final restart with twelve laps to go, Greg Biffle muscled his way past Jimmie Johnson to the subdued delight of anyone left awake.

In a Nutshell: Another NHMS snoozer. C’mon, Bruton, fix this mess.

Dramatic Moment: Drama at NHMS? You might as well be searching for couth in Philadelphia.

What They’ll Be Talking About Around the Water Cooler This Week

Before we start discussing Sunday’s race, let me say the entire Frontstretch staff and myself want to offer our prayers and support to our friends and fellow fans down on the Gulf Coast who bore the brunt of Hurricane Ike’s fury. We are with you during this difficult time. A good friend of mine in Galveston lost everything he owned to the storm, but his positive attitude in discussing the fact that he, his wife, and children survived unscathed is a less than subtle reminder that all of us need to be grateful every day for those things we have — and to remember the relationships we have with those who love us outweigh anything we can own.

Could the Chase have started off with any more drama? Sure, if the Brady Bunch were allowed to play a spirited game of lawn croquet before the race.

To those detractors ready to write off Kyle Busch as a title contender after a disastrous afternoon at Loudon, it might be wise to recall that Jimmie Johnson finished 39th here in 2006 en route to his first Cup championship.

OK, how many laps did you make it before drifting off for a nap?

NASCAR’s network partner “ESPN/ABC” tried to break a story this week accusing Craftsman Truck stalwart and multiple time champion Ron Hornaday of using performance enhancing drugs. The sad fact of the matter is the drugs in question were prescribed not to enhance Hornaday’s chances against younger competitors, but to save his life after he was finally diagnosed (after many missteps) with a thyroid disease. I have my own somewhat unique perspective on the issue in that after my own nasty fall that almost cost me my left leg, I was also prescribed with steroids and male hormones to help my body heal. I don’t recall being able to juggle pianos, win marathons, or star in porno movies while I was being treated. What I do recall is that the drugs the doctors prescribed me allowed me to toss aside the walker and begin those first few fleeting steps to a normal life again against the odds. Kudos to Ron Hornaday for the class with which he faced this non-issue, and his willingness to face it head on — but brickbats to ESPN for trying to invent a story and then refusing to address their error when it was proven false. I am especially disappointed in Dr. Jerry Punch, who due to his medical training could have issued a unique and authoritative opinion on the issue, stating this was standard treatment of Graves’ disease. If Ned Jarrett and the late Benny Parsons were still around, they’d doubtless we hosting a “Come to Jesus” meeting with their colleagues over this sensationalized story, and they’d give them such an ass-chewing nobody involved would be able to sit down for a week. I’m just glad that NASCAR took an informed and compassionate look at Hornaday’s treatment and condition, then decided no penalties were in order. That’s in stark contrast, of course, to their lifelong ban of Tim Richmond for “substance abuse” of over the counter cold remedies prior to the 1988 Busch Clash.

Ron Hornaday Jr., and his team owner Kevin Harvick talked with the media this weekend to squash the frenzy surrounding the driver’s supposed steroid use.

Qualifying was canceled for the seventh time this season and the second week in a row at NHMS. It’s almost as if our infinitely patient and forgiving God is weighing in on the Chase from above.

With Dodge having announced their withdrawal from the Truck Series next year, Bobby Hamilton Racing, the last marquee Dodge team, has announced they will throw their lot into the crowded Toyota pool next year. One part of me thinks that the late Bobby Hamilton must be spinning in his grave considering his team will be driving for a foreign manufacturer next year. But the rest of me acknowledges that Hamilton was a realistic man, and given the present circumstances with Dodge leaving the series, he’d likely have decided “Any port in the storm.” Born into near poverty, Bobby Hamilton was a practical guy who never lost his roots. He once told a senior class at a local high school to pursue their dreams no mater what the odds, given that he was a “redneck millionaire” but a millionaire nonetheless. My other favorite Hamilton quote was his answer to a question as to who was the greatest NASCAR driver ever. Hamilton responded that the greatest NASCAR driver ever was probably driving a tow truck somewhere in the Charlotte area, because he wasn’t pretty and well-spoken enough to earn a ride in today’s NASCAR climate despite his talent. Hamilton died of cancer on January 7th, 2007; and as Forrest Gump might add, “and that’s all I’m going to say about that.”

Is it just me, or does Jeff Gordon look and sound a decade older than he did last year? It bears mention that Gordon, the original young gun, has been at this game full-time for fifteen years now; and by his own admission, he’s got more career behind him then ahead of him. Where do the years go?

The Hindenburg Award For Foul Fortune

Last week, Kyle Busch saw a 200-point plus lead evaporate due to the Chase format. Busch could use a few of those points back after a failed sway bar link and subsequent crash left him 34th in the field.

Matt Kenseth was looking slightly less hapless than usual this season when he got hooked by the out of control No. 45 car and took a quick jaunt into the wall. It was the first DNF for the No. 17 bunch this season.

Joey Logano may indeed be the next big thing; but at New Hampshire, he was just another rolling road block running a lap down. Sweet.

Jeff Gordon seemed to have a solid run going, and avoided yet another Robby “he ain’t my brother” Gordon wreck. But locking up his tires to avoid it all forced Gordon to the pits and an eventual fourteenth place finish.

The “Seven Come Fore Eleven” Award For Fine Fortune

The brake problems Greg Biffle encountered early in the race seemed to indicate he was in for a very long afternoon coasting around the track. Instead, he coasted into Victory Lane for the first time in almost a year.

A pit road collision and a penalty for speeding on pit road seemed to doom the No. 20 car and Tony Stewart; but, he rallied back nicely to post an eighth place finish.

With the sort of season he’s had since Daytona, few people might have noticed — but Kurt Busch finished sixth.

Worth Noting

  • Greg Biffle won for the first time since his controversial “out of gas” victory at Kansas last year.
  • Jimmie Johnson (second) has finished first or second in the last three Cup races.
  • Carl Edwards (third) has Top 10 finishes in eight of the last nine Cup races.
  • Jeff Burton (fourth) enjoyed his best Cup finish since Martinsville this spring.
  • Martin Truex, Jr. (seventh) managed his first Top 10 finish since the Glen.
  • Kevin Harvick (10th) has now posted seven straight Top 10 finishes.
  • Bobby Labonte (13th) matched his best season finish since Loudon last time around.
  • The Top 10 finishers at NHIS drove five Cheys, two Fords, two Toyotas, and a Dodge. Barefoot girls sitting on the hood of cars in the soft summer rain continue to prefer Dodges, and those driving to the levy still prefer Chevys.
  • Regan Smith in 23rd was the top finishing candidate in this year’s woeful Rookie of the Year class.

What’s the Points?

For the first time seemingly since mankind invented the wheel, Kyle Busch no longer tops the standings. In fact, he tumbled seven spots to eighth, 74 points out of the lead.

Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are technically tied atop the points standings, each having gained one spot — with Edwards holding the advantage over Johnson with more race wins.

Greg Biffle’s win launched him up six points in the artificially contrived points stratosphere to third in the standings. Other beneficiaries of this silliness include Jeff Burton (up two spots to fifth) and Tony Stewart (up a spot to seventh). Kevin Harvick climbed a spot to tenth in the standings.

On the flip side, Clint Bowyer tumbled four places, from fifth to ninth in points. Jeff Gordon fell a spot to eleventh, and Matt Kenseth remains the Chase cellar dweller — in twelfth, already 177 out of the lead.

For those few of you who realize there were more than twelve drivers out there on the track today, Kasey Kahne remains atop the standings for the “Non-Chaser Invisible Men,” 59 points ahead of David Ragan in 14th.

Overall Rating (On a scale of one to six beer cans, with one being a stinker and a six pack an instant classic) — We’ll give this one two lukewarm cans of the generic stuff. It wasn’t as mind-numbingly insipid as some NHMS races, but it wasn’t far off.

Next Up: It’s off to the white cliffs of Dover, the second most hazardous to Talladega in the Chase. None of the Chasers will win the championship at Dover, but some of them will surely piss away their chances at winning the title.

Contact Matt McLaughlin

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Douglas
09/15/2008 08:00 AM
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Boy! Am I stupid or what??

Can someone please, please, (try) to explain this “CHASE” thing?

Lets see now, ONLY 12 cars are in the “CHASE”! All others being “eliminated”! (please note the parenthesis),
ELIMINATED”?

Well, supposedly so, because they, the remaining 31 cars, cannot win the CHUMPIONSHIP! They have been “eliminated”! (mmm, there is that ugly word once again)!

So, if 31 cars have been “eliminated” from “THE CHASE”!

My very simple questions is: “how can they, the 31 cars in the elimination group, then take points away from the chase contenders?

Example: Kurt Busch “stole”, or took away, 150 race points from several “chase drivers”!

Now how can that be? He, Kurt has been “eliminated” (oh, oh, that word again) FROM THE CHASE! Or so I was told, and how about Martin Truex, he “stole” 146 points from some “chase contender”, BUT! Truex also has been officially “eliminated” (that word once again) from the chase.

Folks? Are you paying close attention?

In this playoff format, and a very sick one at that, how can “teams” that have been “eliminated” take points away from the CHUMPIONSHIP contenders?

And how about the chase leader going into the “race”! (love these parenthesis)and then come out with only 66 points because all the other points were stolen by those “eliminated” (!!!!) from the chase?

And worse yet, Matt Kenseth gathers only 43 points, because, YEP! Teams/cars that have been “eliminated” from chumpionship contention “stole” his points!

So, to begin the “CHASE”, Kyle has many many points deducted from his total that he earned in “good faith”, but then has even more points “taken away” by cars not even in the “CHASE”??

Gee? Can one even begin to try and describe what a mess NA$CAR and it’s “CHASE” format is in?

Mike In NH
09/15/2008 08:20 AM
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Things I saw at the race this weekend, with my kid… I was sandwiched between “F-bomb Guy”, three rows back, who couldn’t use a sentence (it seemed) with out the F word – and the fact that I could hear him with the jet dryers or cars running testifies how loud he was (and we had earplugs to boot) – and “Finger Guy”, who had to raise his middle finger high and proud three rows in front any time a racer he didn’t like came by – KB and anyone he thought should give way to his car (the 24). Yeah bud, I’m sure they could see you up in the 40th row above the pit exit. Nice do-rag cap by the way, very 90s.

I was a bit concerned about exposing my kids to these guys until my son asked me, “Why are those guys being such jerks?” Good question kid. I’m proud of you.

Another thing I saw – a couple who left after 50 laps (Biffle fans no less)(they let us take up the room in their seats because they said they were leaving). I know the race was boring, but leaving at lap 50? From $110 seats? Wow.

Oh, and there was a boring race too. Bruton now says he thinks the track is very racy so they’ve scrapped plans to reconfigure it. Bruton, were you watching the same race I was? More likely tight financial times are the real reason. And good luck getting the lights, the more he thinks he can just go out and say he’ll be able to just ignore the agreement with the neighbors, the more they’ll dig in and fight it.

Attendance aficianados take note, I’d say (though it was tough to tell with so many people constantly wandering the trailer and front areas rather than being in their seats)we were looking at maybe 90% capacity at most. My guess is if the race was more interesting more people would be in their seats.

Finally, us NH folks get bombarded with political ads practically all day, so the last thing I wanted to see was a candidate at the race. Hopefully that’ll be the last of that. Though I can’t remember the last time I saw a potential first lady in a t-shirt of any kind, never mind for her husband’s campaign. Wierd year.

Douglas
09/15/2008 08:26 AM
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AND!! I must also mention, how can one ever even make it to the “CHUMPIONSHIP” round, WITHOUT EVEN WINNING ONE (1) RACE? (as in Biffle)

NO WINS! ZERO! NADA! NOTHING

But a “contender” none the less!

While “actual” race winners don’t make it!

Ed
09/15/2008 08:32 AM
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Yesterday the football announcers talked about how “exciting” the “chase” is and picked their “favorites.” Obviously, someone scripted it for them. Boring race. The “Chase.” Who cares?

janice
09/15/2008 08:35 AM
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i was confused when i saw the points line up before the race of the chase contenders. what, did they all get the same amount of points and then the winners got extra 10 points? how could 3 or 4 drivers be 70 points behind the leader at the start of the race? this requires too much concentration. i woke up from my nap when biffle was in v/lane. then of course espn/abc hand to interview all the chase contenders. post-race show was almost as long and interesting as the pre-race show.

kind of surprised at you matt….no comment about the number of times john mccain said “new hampshire”?

hey i just got offered free tickets and pit passes to ‘dega, and i didn’t jump right on it. have to weigh the options and the $$$ of gas. $4.29 here this morning in west georgia. ouch!

Gordon81Wins
09/15/2008 08:54 AM
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Wow. From being 207 points ahead to 74 points behind in just 20 laps. Now a guy with eight wins is just barely ahead of a guy with half as many top fives.

But hey, we needed to create more excitement.

Guess racing wasn’t exciting enough before.

Dang you Matt Kenseth!

Jim
09/15/2008 08:59 AM
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I was also at the race yesterday, and for the life of me, I just don’t know what has to happen on the track to satisfy people anymore.

There were at least a half-dozen passes fot the lead under green, the last coming with just 10 or so laps to go. No one car dominated, and it seemed any of a half-dozen cars could have pulled the thing out after the red flag.

Oh, and a couple of wrecks, too.

There was plenty of passing throughout the field (how many cars did the 20 have to pass…70 or 80, I bet.)

I guess if we have to compare every race to Matt’s memory of some long- forgotten Goody Headache Powders at North Wilkesboro (won by Tim Richmond, of course) then nothing will ever satisfy him.

I’m sorry Mike had a couple of A-Holes and John McCain ruin his day, but the consensus in my well-mannered section up in Row 40 of the Concord section agreed it was a great time.

Hope my rosy outlook hasn’t ruinned anyone’s day…You’ll just have to wait until Matt returns next week for Chapter 27 of “Why Nascar Ain’t No Good No More”.

Mike
09/15/2008 09:09 AM
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Mike in NH: If he says the track is ‘racy’ as it is, and that he wants to install lights – even though there’s an agreement with neighbors not to, I think there’s changes-a-coming at NHMS.

He’s making a show of a capital improvement that he knows he’ll probably not get (lights, and approval from the neighbors for them), while he’s not going to make an improvement that is within his control (track reconfiguration). I realize that the racing surface is much more costly; but, I smell a red herring…

I would say this as the first step in him arguing why a date needs to be moved from NHMS to another SMI property.

Mike In NH
09/15/2008 09:45 AM
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Jim – I did watch Tony as he made his way through the field, and that was fun to watch, I’ll grant you. But while that was going on, until the last few laps – sprints interspersed with red and yellow flags – the same 7 guys in front ran in pretty much the same position, strung out in a line for about half the race. People pay to see the folks up front battle for the lead, not just the middle and rear of the field, and for most of the race that didn’t happen.

Another improvement needed, Jim – a display of more than just the top 7 positions on the light pole, and while they’re at it, keeping up with what is actually on the track (a few times I noticed the positions on the pole display didn’t change until three or four laps after the positions actually changed). Also one time the #4 was displayed in 4th – Ward Burton would be thrilled to find he was running that day. Finally after 4 laps they changed it to 48. As for any position outside the top 7, I had to count cars. The displays were showing Chase point updates but not positions (or at least not often enough for me to catch them).

The end salvaged what would have been a real snoozer, and that’s because all the flags kept the leaders from being on the track under green long enough to string out again. A long green at the end would have resulted in more of what we saw the rest of the race (plus some fuel strategy stops since some guys were getting low before being saved by the flags).

It seems to me that you shouldn’t have to depend on crashes and debris cautions to make the race exciting. No, not every race is (insert your favorite race in the past here), but with the new car the racing at NHMS is just not as good as, say, Bristol or Richmond. Hopefully as they tweak the new car that will change.

Just last week Bruton was saying that over time the cars change and tracks need to change with them. Now suddenly the racing is fine with him? I think not. Bruton is up to his usual shenanigans, and we’ll see where they wind up.

masondrew8
09/15/2008 09:47 AM
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M&M Peanuts – $1

JGR Racing Hat – $25

Electric Visual, LTD Series Sunglasses – $250

8 wins enterinig the chase – MEANINGLESS!

marshall
09/15/2008 10:28 AM
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Come on Matt . Jeff Gordon the original young gun . Your background in NASCAR racing goes back further than the ninetys . Jeff Gordon has never been the original anything , unless maybe he was the original publicity mahine in NASCAR . Fred Lorenzen would easily qualify for the young gun designation , and several others even before that .
The best driver in NASCAR quote by Bobby Hamilton is not only accurate , but oh so true .He was someone who had a very clear perspective on NASCAR racing .
My memorable moment in the race was with 11 laps to go . As Biffle caught and passed Johnson for the lead there was a loud and annoyed “ where did that come from “ from Jerry Punch . How dare someone pass the driver he had been shilling for the entire race ad nauseum . He then dissolved into bitter tears i imagine .
Speaking of Gordon , you really have to question what is going on with the 24 . We know the HMS cars are competitive , look at Johnson .I’m not sure i fall for the corporate line that Gordon can’t use Johnsons’ setups . I think its time to stop blaming the car and start looking at the driver . The car setup and Letarte weren’t responsible for Gordon sliding through his pit stall . And i’m not sure either one is really responsible for the poor runs the 24 has had all year . I’m starting to think the driver isn’t getting it done .

janice
09/15/2008 11:30 AM
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oh yeah, i forgot….seeing jeff gordon stretch like he did before he got into the car…looks like me when i’m getting ready to do yard work or major cleaning. however i have a few more years on jeff gordon. jeff burton even mentioned aging.

Jeff G
09/15/2008 11:43 AM
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I think “Mike” makes a very good point. Bruton is a snake. I live close to Charlotte and he is NOT well liked at all.
He is setting NH up!

He wants to move races to his other tracks.
He didn’t purchase Kentucky just to look at it sit there empty on Sunday afternoons.

Remember, he is a self made Billionaire…. He KNOWS what he is doing..

budsudz
09/15/2008 12:06 PM
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Jim,

If you are going to rip Matt’s view of history, at least get it right. The Goody’s races were always at Martinsville. North Wilkesboro hosted the Northwestern Bank/First Union 400 and the Holly Farms/Tyson 400.

Even the racing at Wilkesboro changed dramatically when the series changed from bias ply to radial tires. Just like to COT at Bristol today, the radial tires allowed the drivers to run multiple lines and produced such memorable races as Geoff Bodine’s caution free win on a Monday.

Despite being a NASCAR fan for 30 years, once again I watched the NFL yesterday and pretty much “forgot” the race was on until 100 laps remained. Even then, football dominated my TV and I switched over to watch the final 15 laps of the race. If it wasn’t for Fantasy Racing, I don’t know that I’d keep up at all with the diluted product.

Prior to the chase, fall racing used to be great because you would have teams trying to salvage a season by going for a win, and from Labor Day on, you would see 4 short track races, Darlington, Rockingham, Dover, Charlotte, and the Atlanta oval.
Now we get Fontana, Kansas, Homestead (racing has improved since the reconfiruation), New Hampshire, and the Cookie Cutters of Charlotte, Texas, and Atlanta.
Kill the Chase, bring back the old car (or have them race trucks), and take the NW/Busch series back to Hickory, Myrtle Beach, South Boston, Nazareth, and the Rock.

Dennis
09/15/2008 12:11 PM
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Jim hit the nail on the head. From the seats that was a great time. Matt sits and pronounces what is a good race from what TV allows him see.

I was in EN 47 10 and from where I sat it was a very good race. About 5 people could have taken that race.

Mid pack there were a lot of battles and passing going on.

Drivers who can drive, even these lead assed shoe boxes, were driving into the corners and making progress all race long.

That was one fine afternoon under the clouds if you ask me. It just shows how bad TV coverage is, they just don’t get it.

mindcrime
09/15/2008 12:41 PM
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Marshall,
Did you really want to comment on the race or were you just looking for an opportunity to bash Gordon and HMS?
Thanks for providing the inane “chatter in the background” that all blogs need.

Kevin in SoCal
09/15/2008 12:42 PM
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Matt said, “Another NHMS snoozer. C’mon, Bruton, fix this mess.”

Not according to Amy in the newsletter. She said, “the New Hampshire track put on a good show this week.”

I guess it all depends on your perspective.

Jim
09/15/2008 01:15 PM
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Budsudz;

With all due respect, you are making my point.

The fact that fans like you and Matt even care to remember that Goody’s was the sponsor at Martinsville and not N. Wilkesboro shows that you guys are steeped in the nostalgia of when this was “your” sport, and that you are hyper-critical of whatever current tracks not in the Southeast have to offer.

You never mention the races that were won by laps, not seconds, or that the field was full of racers that couldn’t sniff the finish line unless Petty, Pearson and Cale got in a multi-car wreck on the first lap.

And while we are at it, what NFL games held you so spellbound yesterday?

That Denver/SD game looked like fun, but other than that, I didn’t see a lot of drama. And how about that Ohio State/S. Cal game from the night before? I don’t know when I haver seen such an over-hyped game result in such a blow-out.

My point is that week in and week out the race is just as good as whatever else is on the tube, and in person, there is nothing like it.

But if you are only going to compare it to your memories and not current reality, then you might as well not watch anymore. And in Matt’s case, write any more.

Douglas
09/15/2008 01:59 PM
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added notes: while I only caught a few glimpses Sunday, I did notice how much the CoT “porpoises” thru the corners!

Must be hell to drive, or try to drive, one of Brian’s brain far**!

Did anyone else pick up on this?

Racing at it’s finest!

NOT!

Joe
09/15/2008 02:27 PM
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Nice Bobby Hamilton reference. Don’t forget he got his big break based on his stunt driving, if that’s the correct term, for Days of Thunder.

As for the race and the Chase, the race first, it was a snoozer. I was more annoyed that my friend made me watch all 300 laps of that crap. Bruton knows what he’s doing and for the first time since the late 40’s, he has a member of the France family he can outwit. It seems like he’s trying to either bore us with a bad product or piss off the Chowderheads enough that he is “backed into” giving a date to Kentucky. Remember Bowyer looked like a darkhorse after Loudon last year as well.

As for Jim, yesterday’s NFL leaving you spellbound is a bad comparison. There were at least 5 games that were down to the wire along with the SD/Denver game. Bottom line is in the good ole days, pre 2001, the racing was pretty good. Now, I can’t say I’ve watched an entire race on my own accord. Heck, I was at a bar in Washington DC watching the Bristol night race and I can honestly say, I probably didn’t watch half of it whereas in the past, I’d watch every televised lap.

Bill
09/15/2008 02:42 PM
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The race was a snoozer? I beg to differ. I don’t know what needs to be done to New Hampshire to please some of the whiney fans. The race was an excellent show to say the least. I guess there are many that would rather have the cookie cutter type of race track than one that actually tests the drivers abilities. There was certainly plenty of side by side racing and there were multiple drivers that lead at some point during the day, so I’m not sure where the snoozing comes in.

I wasn’t even there and things kept my attention all day long. I will say that television doesn’t do the race any justice as I saw much action on RaceView that never hit the television screen.

Patrick
09/15/2008 03:13 PM
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The race was ok except for the fact that they didn’t qualify. If they are going to continue with this Great Chase, they should consider starting the top 12 in the rear of the field if qualifying is rained out. At least that way they would have to work for their points.

Señor Obvious
09/15/2008 03:55 PM
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Jim — What has to happen on the track to satisfy the McLaughlinites? Simple. David Pearson, Richard Petty and everyone else from that long past generation would have to be out on the track. Nothing else will satisfy the true disgruntled “old school” fan that was there. They don’t like today’s racing and probably never will.

Here’s the thing though. MOST of the people complaining about it weren’t around then. They only know what they see on ESPN Classic, and then come on the blogs pretending to be “old school” even though they either weren’t alive to see the crappy races that never made it to ESPNC, or if they were, they didn’t even notice NASCAR until they saw Jeff and Brooke Gordon selling Fritos. They just pretend to have been fans since the 40s. Since you can’t talk to them face to face, where they don’t have the vast reference resources of the Internet to fall back on, you can’t prove them for what they are. Pretenders. Until I see otherwise though, I assume they all are. And 4 out of 5 times, I’m sure I’m going to be right.

It’s just guys driving around in a circle faux-school guy. It’s never going to be exciting for an entire race. If you want non-stop action, go watch drag racing.

Sure the races are only three – four seconds long, but it’s non-stop action for those three – four seconds.

ConfederateWolf
09/15/2008 06:55 PM
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after reading all the posts, I have to say…bad racing, Bruton scheming, Chase crappiness…it’s all been

covered…but I didn’t see anyone adress the most important point Mike in NH made…
Do-Rag Hatred rears it’s evil head!
Stop the Madness, people!
(us guys with more forehead than hairline who refuse to grow up need something to help us through the day)
;)

Michael T.
09/15/2008 06:55 PM
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I thought the race was interesting and fun to watch throughout. It was better than I expected.

Matt, can you please spare us for a couple weeks on the Tim Richmond speel? Seriously, it’s tiring. You get your vacation week where you repost the same story about him every year. Can you let up on it for the remaining months?

Mike
09/16/2008 10:42 AM
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I won’t pretend to be anymore ‘old school’ than I truly am – I started paying attention to Winston Cup racing in early 1988 (after watching Lake Speed win the TranSouth 400 at Darlington on ESPN). That said, I’m sorry that I missed getting to watch Tim Richmond drive. I’m sure Matt has fond and nostalgic memories of Tim, and maybe he likes to write about these times – but, its important to remember that NASCAR in the 80’s and 90’s was more than Dale Sr and the re-invented DW. Considering how little information there actually is on Tim Richmond, its nice that Matt has provided this tribute to a part of NASCAR history that might otherwise fall by the wayside.

Wolfman NH
09/17/2008 12:32 PM
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NHIS is now NHMS. Other than that I don’t see any difference between this year’s and last year’s “Thinking Out Loud” on this race.

As for the C4C, NASCAR had a plan to keep viewers late in the season, when they usually dropped off. I guess they never noticed the NFL is just 1 station up and 2 down from their show. You could make the teams use Playboy Bunnies for pit crews and you still won’t get a football fan to watch if their team’s game is on too.