The *Official* NASCAR Thread

[SRASC]

The hell is going on today? Everyone so far (sans 21, 55) is/was a Chaser had issues

[SRASC]

Ain't over till is over.

[SRASC]

7 and a half hours later...

Once again can't say NASCAR doesn't try to get the race in...

[brickman]

Rain is falling again & it's getting late so the race can end now:-D

[SRASC]

Sunday will mark a momentous occasion in the history of Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR as a whole. Jeff Gordon will make his final start behind the wheel of the No. 24 Chevrolet SS.



But the remaining three Hendrick Motorsports cars will also celebrate the close of an iconic career.

In a collaboration Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick announced Tuesday morning on Twitter, Gordon’s teammates and their partners worked together to run the familiar “Jeff Gordon yellow” for the car numbers on the No. 5, No. 48 and No. 88 Chevrolets as well.

I’m excited to run the yellow numbers for a lot of reasons. I want to show my respect for Jeff and what he has accomplished as a driver as well as what he has done for the entire sport. He was my favorite driver growing up. It’s been an honor to be his teammate at Hendrick Motorsports. He's just been one of those guys that I've always really admired and looked up to. What he's done for open-wheel racers, what he's done for any racer, NASCAR, people, the fans – he's just an unbelievable guy. I’m going to miss him as a teammate. I know running his iconic yellow numbers at Homestead will be a great way to honor him and show him my respect as he makes his last start. He will always be one of the greatest drivers of all time. He’s as good as it gets.

The fans of the No. 48 car will be so happy to see the return of the yellow numbers, and I know Mr. Hendrick is going to be excited because he will be able to see the cars better with all the numbers being the same. (laughs) On a serious note, it’s just a great tribute to Jeff and all he has done for this organization and even for me personally. If it wasn’t for him, I might not be where I am today. I think it’s going to be really cool-looking for all of the teammates to run the yellow and a fitting tribute to a true champion.

Jeff has done so much for this sport over the years that I personally like to see the respect and appreciation that he has been shown throughout the season, especially as it has ramped up toward the end of the year. He deserves every bit of it. I think that with everything going on with the Chase and all of the excitement in the sport today, I would just hate for his accomplishments and what he’s meant to the sport to be overshadowed in any way, so I think it’s a great way to tip the cap to him in Homestead with the yellow numbers. I think everyone genuinely has appreciated what he’s lent to the sport as a driver but also Hendrick Motorsports and what he has made of the company. He’s really helped Rick a lot, bring the company along and improve the company to what it is today. He’s been a huge part of that. A lot of people were involved with making Hendrick Motorsports what it is, but Jeff’s had a huge hand in that and I think it’s great for the company and the drivers to acknowledge his last ride.

[brickman]

Finally after all the rain the race will be starting soon & running late,hope gordon takes it today for his final ride.Will have to watch this & survivor series at the same time.

[SRASC]

Was a good race. Kyle had the restart of his career to clinch. Congrats to him.

Good job for Jeff as well. Still went out pretty good.

[brickman]

Bah,crappy day,jeff gordon retiring,jr taken out in an early accident,kyle winning the championship.

[SRASC]

My pictures from the Ford EcoBoost 400

[SRASC]

[SRASC]

History in the making: Chase Elliott’s 1st official lap in #24 (video)

https://twitter.com/toddparott/status/6 ... 9048144896

[SRASC]

2017 Ford Fusion & Fusion NASCAR



#24 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet SS (Hendrick sponsorship sure has done some shuffling since Jeff's departure)
Side note: the SS also has gotten a facelift to reflect the street version.

[SRASC]

Flow and their crap self moved Fox Sports Racing from one of the basic channels to part of a pay for package. Steups. Digicel/Massy can't establish soon enough.

[brickman]

Flow and their crap self moved Fox Sports Racing from one of the basic channels to part of a pay for package. Steups. Digicel/Massy can't establish soon enough.

Pissed me off when they did that,now the nascar 2016 season is 95% stream cup.

[SRASC]

Chase format coming to 2016 Xfinity Series & Camping World Truck Series.

Xfinity Series
12 - 8 - 4 format

Camping World Truck Series
8 - 6 - 4 format

Also introduced was the 20 minute sessions for CWTS races, caution would come out every 20 mins of green flag competition (if a yellow doesn't come out prior) (not within the last 20 laps (10 laps for road course races)) as well as heat-style races for the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program.

[SRASC]

[SRASC]

Breaking News

NASCAR announces charter system
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /80057604/

NB: Sprint Cup starting field reduced to 40 from 43, starting with the 2016 Daytona 500
Teams now dead set at 4 teams. Can no longer run 5th car at select events.

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Changes to the points structure and the qualifying process for the Daytona 500, plus the addition of an "overtime line" will greet NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams when the 2016 season kicks off this weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

The changes were announced by the sanctioning body Thursday and two -- the points structure revision and qualifying format -- were adopted as a result of NASCAR's Charter system that was announced earlier this week.

Because Sprint Cup race fields going forward will consist of a maximum of 40 cars (36 Charter team cars and four Open team cars), the race winner will be awarded 40 points instead of the 43 that had been previously awarded. Second place will receive 39 points, third 38, etc., with 40th place receiving one point.

The total does not include bonus points awarded to the winner, or those awarded for leading the most laps or leading a single lap.

Likewise, the race points structure in the XFINITY and Camping World Truck series have also been re-configured based on a 40-car field for the XFINITY Series and a 32-truck field for the NCWTS. Last season, drivers in all three series earned 43 points, excluding bonus points, for finishing in first place regardless of the size of the field.

For the Daytona 500 , which is scheduled for Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. ET, the 36 Charter teams will be assigned a starting position based on either their qualifying effort or their result in one of the two Can-Am Duel races.

The remaining four positions will be awarded to Open teams attempting to qualify for the event.

The highest-finishing Open team in each Can-Am race will earn a starting spot in the 500. The two remaining Open positions will be determined based on Coors light Pole qualifying, if a team is not already a top finisher in one of the Duels.

As in the past, only the top two starting spots for the Daytona 500 are determined via qualifying. The starting lineup for the Can-Am Duel races will be based on qualifying results with the number of Charter and Open teams divided equally among the two fields.

If qualifying is canceled due to weather, the top two finishing Open teams in each Can-Am Duel will be awarded starting spots in the Daytona 500.

If both Duels are canceled due to weather, officials will use qualifying results to determine the four Open teams that would advance.

Should only the second Can-Am Duel be canceled due to weather, the highest finishing Open team from the first Duel would earn a starting berth, with the remaining three positions determined based on qualifying results.

Also, if no qualifying or Can-Am events are held, combined practice speeds will determine the lineup and the four Open teams; if there is no on-track activity whatsoever, 2015 owner points will be used to determine the Open teams making the 40-car field.

The final procedural change, which impacts NASCAR's green-white-checkered rule, dictates that a race may go beyond its scheduled distance only once if the race leader has advanced beyond an "overtime line."

In that instance, it will be considered a clean restart and any caution coming after that point would effectively conclude the event. Cars would proceed to the start/finish line under caution and be scored accordingly.

The location of the line will vary by track, according to officials.

After taking the green flag, if a caution flag appears before the leader has reached the overtime line, the restart will be waved off and another attempt will be made. If necessary, multiple attempts will be made until a clean restart is achieved.

The overtime line will be in effect for all three national series.

[brickman]

Sprint unlimited tonight,time to bring out your inner ricky bobbie!

[brickman]

Time to take in qualifying.

[brickman]

Dale jr & kyle busch win the can am duels.

[brickman]

Time to go green & start the 2016 season.

[SRASC]

Watching that green flag would be bittersweet.

Bitter: official end of Jeff Gordon's consecutive start streak
Sweet: start of the 2016 NSCS season

[SRASC]

That's disappointing for Chase. Probably should be obvious but I'm not as upset about it as I would have been had the previous driver of that car was in it.

Can't recall seeing so much loose conditions off of 4 though, solo too.

[brickman]

Well that's it for Jr steups:(

[SRASC]

2 to go...

[SRASC]

1 to go...

[SRASC]

Damn!

Gotta love this sport. Awesome finish!

[SRASC]

Breaking News

Ford is joining forces with Stewart-Haas Racing starting in the 2017 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as the team switches manufacturers and engines.

The team currently consists of Stewart, a three-time champion, 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, 2004 champion Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick and drives Chevrolets.

SHR was founded in 2003 by Gene Haas as Haas CNC Racing.

Tony Stewart became a co-owner of the team in 2009. Stewart said 2016 will be his last as full-time driver. Clint Bowyer, currently driving for HScott Motorsports, will replace Stewart in the No. 14.

"I am proud of our association with Chevrolet as they helped build our organization into the team it is today," said Stewart in a team statement. "This new partnership with Ford allows us to strengthen our position in the sport and ensure the long-term stability and success for everyone who is a part of Stewart-Haas Racing."

NASCAR made the following statement about SHR's move:

"Stewart-Haas Racing has been a top-tier team in our sport for many years, and we wish them well in their future endeavor with Ford Performance. Our sport is rooted in healthy competition and NASCAR is fortunate to have three strong auto manufacturer partners all committed to the common goals of winning and growing the sport. We know that SHR and Chevrolet will work together as hard as ever this season to win races and pursue their third Sprint Cup Championship together."

[brickman]

Time to go green at atlanta.

[SRASC]

And they stayed green for 2+ hours. With this new lower downforce package didn't expect that to be the case.