Thread: Okay fearless predictors, Daytona 500 time...

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My prediction - Kenseth will win!!

(Oh nuts - late again.)

As far as the Vickers/Earnhart crash - not an unusual thing for a couple of, IMHO, mediocre drivers. Yes, I do know that there are lots of Jr lovers here and elsewhere - but how much support would he have if he didn't have that magical name, even if it is a Junior. Would he even be a factor if Dale Sr hadn't been killed? He bitches and bellyaches about everything - why?? He has the best equipment that money can buy. His cousin is his crew chief and can't control his driving and whining? At least one other crew chief has tried - and probably even more. It almost appears that Johnson and Gordon wont "work" with him on the track. He's ~35 years old, and has never really been able to make a real lasting mark - except by his name. Not a lot of wins for the dollars spent - he barely made the Chase last year and did not 2007 and 2005 He has endorsements from about every sponsor in NA$CAR and is making more money then ever, but how many more years will it continue until they drop off. Does he spend too much time sampling his wares at the Charlotte bar he owns? The two pit road screw ups are inexcusable for a driver at this level. Then he has to know Vickers will be blocking with the incoming weather and a chance to be the "lucky dog" - but maybe he thought he was still on the lead lap and Vickers was just trying to hold him up for unknown reasons. Whatever - these things happen in mini-milli microseconds and a zig that should have been a zag causes these wrecks

Vickers - he is usually a mid to back marker driver. Could be good with some teams, but then, maybe not!! Not ever been one of my favorites.

Originally Posted by IC2

My prediction - Kenseth will win!!

(Oh nuts - late again.)

As far as the Vickers/Earnhart crash - not an unusual thing for a couple of, IMHO, mediocre drivers. Yes, I do know that there are lots of Jr lovers here and elsewhere - but how much support would he have if he didn't have that magical name, even if it is a Junior. Would he even be a factor if Dale Sr hadn't been killed? He bitches and bellyaches about everything - why?? He has the best equipment that money can buy. His cousin is his crew chief and can't control his driving and whining? At least one other crew chief has tried - and probably even more. It almost appears that Johnson and Gordon wont "work" with him on the track. He's ~35 years old, and has never really been able to make a real lasting mark - except by his name. Not a lot of wins for the dollars spent - he barely made the Chase last year and did not 2007 and 2005 He has endorsements from about every sponsor in NA$CAR and is making more money then ever, but how many more years will it continue until they drop off. Does he spend too much time sampling his wares at the Charlotte bar he owns? The two pit road screw ups are inexcusable for a driver at this level. Then he has to know Vickers will be blocking with the incoming weather and a chance to be the "lucky dog" - but maybe he thought he was still on the lead lap and Vickers was just trying to hold him up for unknown reasons. Whatever - these things happen in mini-milli microseconds and a zig that should have been a zag causes these wrecks

Vickers - he is usually a mid to back marker driver. Could be good with some teams, but then, maybe not!! Not ever been one of my favorites.

IC2- I was wondering if some time you would be willing to share your real feelings on JR's driving abilities?
Ken

I would like to know if Vickers had even a slight head cold????Even without it---driving/flying---imagine this-- accelerating, turning head to look in mirror, track banking changes(tips) turning head back frontwards, turning car, looking in mirror, more track angle (tip) looking back to front, increasing turn, turning back, check mirror, track angle increse, turn rate change, check mirror, spin starts, close eyes, rotational rate increse, abrupt negative Gs and deceleration, impact, open eyes, impact, rotation, more deceleration, rotation, panic ,

these guys are all pretty good drivers but there are many physical things plus physics that effect high speed objects along with there human components

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

IC2- I was wondering if some time you would be willing to share your real feelings on JR's driving abilities?
Ken

Ken - He's the best!!! (I hope you can read between the lines)

Quite frankly, I think he has excellent driving abilities - but is too side tracked by his outside interests and 'fame' to currently be on a par with Kyle Busch (who I REALLY dislike), his team mates, Gordon, Johnson or even Martin or for that matter most of the Roush drivers.

Even in the big leagues, your name will only carry you so far..... There are so many talented drivers, would be curious to see what some of them could do with Jr.s ride... My usual question to all his fans, how many even new there was a Dale Jr. til Dale Sr. got killed??? As for the blocking, Dale Sr. was blocking on the last lap for Dufus Waltrip and Jr. when he got killed. Anyone who's made a lap or two in a circle burner knows about blocking, when you get in front or trying to save your present position in the closing laps of a race you make your car as wide as possible.... Nothing new there. The biggest downfall of Daytona is the restrictor plates and bump drafting. Not saying they should turn Daytona and Talladega into a "run what you brung" race (the speeds would be in excess of 220), but there are many ways to slow a car down besides killing the air intake and making acceleration a 2 lap process. ASA did it many years ago, limited the compression ratio to 9:1.... As for bump drafting, well, ya should restrict it to drivers who are smarter then the bumper!!!! Also with the new car, I sure don't like to see them using the suspension bumpers as a tuning device!!!! Shock packages and spring rates that keep the car off the snubbers might be a good way to build a bit of control in the turns. And the tires??? I'm like Smoke, don't even ask what I think of Goodyear!!!! Should be a couple choices for the crew chief as to what would be the best tire, though I wouldn't want it to turn into the tire debacle of years back.....

I was following NASCAR when about the only coverage it got was Chris Economacki's column in Speed Sport. Can't say I like all the changes in NASCAR, but it's their game and their rules so that's how the competitors have to play......

Originally Posted by IC2

As far as the Vickers/Earnhart crash - not an unusual thing for a couple of, IMHO, mediocre drivers.

I'm certainly not going to contend that Jr is one of the best drivers out there, and for sure, I think he's his own worst enemy in some of the choices he makes, but putting him in the same category as Vickers is inappropriate too. Jr is 7th on the active driver win list with 18, Vickers has 1 (in Hendrick equipment yet).................and he got that by knocking out Johnson and Earnhardt (who was leading) in the last lap at 'dega. Like I said earlier, I doubt he thinks a 5 lap penalty would have been an appropriate response then. In fact I recall his comment when asked if he thought he won unfairly was something like "that's racin'!". Jr will probably drop on that list as Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards continue to win regularly, maybe even Kenseth and Biffle will pass him by, but that would still have him in the upper 25-30% record wise. It might be interesting to see if all the criticism he's taking this week will make him stronger or beat him down.................that'll tell us what kind of man he is.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

I'm certainly not going to contend that Jr is one of the best drivers out there, and for sure, I think he's his own worst enemy in some of the choices he makes, but putting him in the same category as Vickers is inappropriate too. Jr is 7th on the active driver win list with 18, Vickers has 1 (in Hendrick equipment yet).................and he got that by knocking out Johnson and Earnhardt (who was leading) in the last lap at 'dega. Like I said earlier, I doubt he thinks a 5 lap penalty would have been an appropriate response then. In fact I recall his comment when asked if he thought he won unfairly was something like "that's racin'!". Jr will probably drop on that list as Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards continue to win regularly, maybe even Kenseth and Biffle will pass him by, but that would still have him in the upper 25-30% record wise. It might be interesting to see if all the criticism he's taking this week will make him stronger or beat him down.................that'll tell us what kind of man he is.

Unk - I guess you really didn't read my Post, # 34. Fame and fortune have relegated him to mediocrity - and until he gets into a competitive frame of mind, starts to ignore the cries of "you are the greatest" - he will be at best, a mediocre driver in my estimation. But opinions are what makes these discussions interesting

Kinda reminds me of something a sales manager told me once; "When you're green you grow, when you're ripe you rot." Hmmmm