The Official Race Thread

[FavreChild]

I was hoping that FC watched the race.

LW, I checked in on the race earlier but McMurray was back in 17th or something. I didn't really "watch" much, though. I caught the highlights, though, which is good 'cause I would have been ticked at the end. Stupid Kenseth!

Really, I got nothing against Kenseth, and I guess he's supposed to be the local guy. How come him and Jamie don't like each other? They're teammates now, though, right?

[Little Whiskey]

up until last year Mcmurry drove for chip gnassi racing. the last couple years the two of them have had a couple "run-ins" and duked it out on the track and to a lesser extent in the media during the post race interviews. however, on sunday they raced each other very clean at the end. if either was holding a grudge they could have ruined each others day. or at least cost them the win. so i think they have kissed and made up.

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't know if they kissed and made up. I know Kenseth said that he tried to call him after the 2005 season and his phone call was never returned by McMurray. That was 6th months ago.

[FavreChild]

How is this not a soap opera for men?

Someone needs to draw up a chart for me of who hates whom. You need to create a storyline to get non-fans more interested in the race outcomes.

In fact, I also suggest that technique for getting your wives/girlfriends/female friends more interested in football (and therefore more tolerant of your spending countless hours watching/reading about it). I wrote an article for Mad on the subject (coming soon).

[HarveyWallbangers]

Favorite: Matt Kenseth
Also Like: Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte
Don't Like: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman
Least Favorite: Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch

I'm indifferent on everybody else.

[FavreChild]

I mean, a chart of which drivers hate each other.

I don't care who YOU like, Harv.

Just kiddin' - good to have on record for bragging rights. Not kidding about the master chart, though.

[Little Whiskey]

its not really who hates who. but it is more like rivalries. bears vs packers, redsox vs yankees, Notre Dame vs USC. you get the picture. however, each of these rivalries "play" every week. It also extends to the fans. you might root for certain drivers/teams, you might tolorate other drivers, and hate (or strong dislike) other drivers.

for instance. kevin harvick vs curt busch. Tony Stewart vs Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon vs Dale Earnhardt sr (back in the day). kurt busch vs Jimmie Spencer, (again back in the day) (classic rivalry, spencer ended up punching busch in the face while he was belted into his car!! he deserved every bit of it.)

i root for kenseth and the old timers, as well as the other rousch cars. I tolorate, jeff burton, Earnhardt Jr. Micheal Waltrip, truex jr, and a some others. I hate both gordons, harvick, both buschs, tony stewart, jimmie johnson, and a few others.

but you see how great this is!! Its like Sunday ticket every week, and i dont' have to pay to get it!!

[FavreChild]

its not really who hates who. but it is more like rivalries. bears vs packers, redsox vs yankees, Notre Dame vs USC. you get the picture.

Semantics!

for instance. kevin harvick vs curt busch. Tony Stewart vs Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon vs Dale Earnhardt sr (back in the day). kurt busch vs Jimmie Spencer, (again back in the day) (classic rivalry, spencer ended up punching busch in the face while he was belted into his car!! he deserved every bit of it.)

Ok, good. But take it a step further. WHY do these rivalries exist? How did they develop? You gotta provide some historical context. Again, like tv characters - maybe there is a business rivalry, or one slept with the other's wife. I know y'all don't like to think of it that way 'cause you're manly men and all, but it really is the same. You have to create a storyline for the viewer. "Harvick hates Busch because...." Create characters. Who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? That's what gets new viewers interested - the prospect for drama. And then by watching, you have the potential for adding to the drama.

Obviously, y'all don't watch soap operas, but trust me - it's the same.

[Little Whiskey]

like other sports the rivalries and "soap opera" stems from the game (in this case the race). unlike in other sports, this sometimes flows over into post race interviews. this mainly brought on by the media. no other sport allows such access to the athletes. imagine in hockey they interview the player as he sits in the penalty box, or the baseball player as he walks into the dugout after a bench clearing brawl. in those sports the media allows the player to cool down after the event. in nascar they stick the mic in the drivers face as they are pulling him from the wrecked car, heck they are even broadcasting the communication between the driver and crew while they are racing. so there isn't a cool down period, no locker room.

some drivers are better then others at controlling there emotions after a race. but even the best will lose there cool if they have the car to beat and are taken out by someone who is being an idiot on the track.


as far as good "guys/bad guys", that is a matter of personal opinion. I think busch, harvick and gordon are "bad guys", but others might tend to disagree. just like harv thinks that newman is a "bad guy" whereas i would put him in my tolerate group.

[jack's smirking revenge]

Ok Whiskey, I'm here. I'll follow NASCAR if you can find me a driver who is...

a) Negro
b) A Homosexual

Those are my criteria for following the sport. I'm big on diversity.



tyler

[FavreChild]

How 'bout you take the scientology-sponsored driver, JSR? I think that's as diverse as you're gonna get...

[HarveyWallbangers]

b) A Homosexual

A homosexual? Like all of the other sports. Well, I can just about guarantee you that Jeff Gordon is gay--with his Rainbow Warrior car.

a) Negro

A black dude has attempted to qualify for a NASCAR race this year, but hasn't been successful. I believe the Trucks series and Busch have a couple. I just read an article in ESPN Magazine a few weeks ago about diversity in NASCAR. They are making a big push for diversity in NASCAR. They have a number of minority driving programs and scholarships, and there are some good, black drivers coming up the pipeline. Actually, I think NASCAR, in a very short time of pushing these programs, are farther along than the PGA Tour and USTA. NASCAR has some heavy hitters, like Magic Johnson, working for their diversity programs. What's funny is that NASCAR is appealing to black folks. The percentage of NASCAR fans who are black is around 9%. That's just under the percentage for the overall population. There are a number of black athletes (e.g. a few of the Carolina Panther players) that are getting into the NASCAR business. From 1995 to 2002, Hispanic and black interest in NASCAR increased by up to 40%--according to an ESPN poll. NASCAR execs see huge dollar signs, and they REALLY WANT a Tiger Woods of NASCAR to come along.

The lack of sponsorship money is what's keeping a minority driver from excelling. There's enough money out there in the black community to make it happen. There are some blacks getting involved in the ownership of lower level teams. I believe it will filter up.

[jack's smirking revenge]

b) A Homosexual

A homosexual? Like all of the other sports. Well, I can just about guarantee you that Jeff Gordon is gay--with his Rainbow Warrior car.

a) Negro

A black dude has attempted to qualify for a NASCAR race this year, but hasn't been successful. I believe the Trucks series and Busch have a couple. I just read an article in ESPN Magazine a few weeks ago about diversity in NASCAR. They are making a big push for diversity in NASCAR. They have a number of minority driving programs and scholarships, and there are some good, black drivers coming up the pipeline. Actually, I think NASCAR, in a very short time of pushing these programs, are farther along than the PGA Tour and USTA. NASCAR has some heavy hitters, like Magic Johnson, working for their diversity programs. What's funny is that NASCAR is appealing to black folks. The percentage of NASCAR fans who are black is around 9%. That's just under the percentage for the overall population. There are a number of black athletes (e.g. a few of the Carolina Panther players) that are getting into the NASCAR business. From 1995 to 2002, Hispanic and black interest in NASCAR increased by up to 40%--according to an ESPN poll. NASCAR execs see huge dollar signs, and they REALLY WANT a Tiger Woods of NASCAR to come along.

The lack of sponsorship money is what's keeping a minority driver from excelling. There's enough money out there in the black community to make it happen. There are some blacks getting involved in the ownership of lower level teams. I believe it will filter up.

Interesting stuff Harv. Thanks for the info.

tyler

[Little Whiskey]

hey jack thanks for stoping by. for your homo driver, i'll agree with harv. jeff gordon is your man. the rumor has always been that there was always something between him and his crewchief. whether it was robbie lomis or ray evernham. why else would his first wife leave him. the answer is that it was just a front. she could no longer put up with his tendencies!!

anyway, for your black driver. there actually was a driver who qualified for a cup race this year. his name escapes me now but i believe his car was sponsered by waste mgmt. and he drove for gibbs. I also think it is only a matter of time before you see a minority in the cockpit. (i think that word gives Gordon a stiffy).

i would suggest we dig a little deeper to find you a driver. that black guy was not very successful his first time out. and has not qualified for another race. so it would be pretty tough for you to root for a guy who doesn't make the show. Jeff Gordon has also had his troubles of late. you can pull for him if you like, but you won't be very popular if you ever make it to a race. every lap he makes he is boo'ed by the fans seated in that section. this happens even during the introductions. the two drivers you can always tell where they are at on the track is Gordon and Jr. Gordon from the boo's and Jr. from the cheers.

I think your driver should be Dale Jr. I usually don't ever recommend him since he is always the default answer when you ask who people root for. But he has been sponserd numerious times by bands and since you are into the music thing. i think it is a good fit. however, Kenseth is a huge Metallica fan. infact his cat is named Lars. so there is a couple drivers for you. i think a little longer to come up with a couple more.

[Little Whiskey]

this week the cup teams make their way to Pocono race way in the Pocono Mtns. this track is always very tricky since it is shaped like a triangle. each of the three corners are at different angles and banking, and the three straightaways are different lengths. these factors make it very difficult for the crew chiefs to get the right set up for all the variables. you might be good in turns one and two and lousy in turn three. it makes headaches for both the driver and the crew. should be a good race.