NASCAR Road Racing Weekend
Thursday June 21, 2007
This Sunday the Toyota / Save Mart 350 will feature the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars on a race track that forces them to turn right. This is a rare event as Infineon Raceway in California is one of only two road courses on the 36 race NEXTEL Cup schedule.
This weekend some NASCAR regulars will give up their seats to road racing experts like Boris Said, Ron Fellows and P.J. Jones. A "ringer" has never won in Sonoma. Could this be the year?
Comments
Gordon will win, IMO.
And I will be doing yardwork instead of watching. I’m probably not a real NASCAR fan b/c I find road courses boring.
Nutzabout#9 You are not alone on the remarks of Road Racing is BORING!!!!! It almost ranks right there with Hockey, Golf, Billards, Poker, and Bowling when watching it on tv.
O.K road courses, pool,golf,poker,and bowling… agreed! But leave hockey out of it! That’s just good sports right there! I could add football and baketball to the boring list, but I’m a lady, and ladies don’t pick fights, we just win ‘em! LOL
Will watch the race anyways, Gotta see how my boys from Roush/Fenway do.
Go Matt!!!!
Hey Now, I was trying to be nice that is why I did not put football and basket ball on my list. lol
Go Tony!!!!!!!!!! Stewart Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!
only thing worse than road racing on tv is fishing .
Got to be a Jeff Gordon win in this road race for his new baby girl and wife.
Road racing rules. The rest of the world races road courses and it seems to go over well. I guess I’m a “RACE FAN” because I love them all. Open your mines and welcome the change and see how your favorite can do on a different track. Oh yeah, what happened to the triangle track in PA that was raced as a road course?
Here we go again what is a real race fan. You are not a real fan if you don’t like road racing to some people. Hey jaye nascar road race is not a new thing I’ve nascar road race for several years now, and no matter how hard I try to like it. It’s boring. To your question about the track in PA, maybe nobody liked it as an road course, just an guess.
Well ME TOO, I raced road courses and I guess that is why it is in my blood. All in all I just love most all racing. To each their own. Thats why there are different manufacturers and different people buy different stuff. I respect the other persons opinions and hope they respect mine. Have a great race weekend no matter what you watch or race. No matter, I hope you guy does well, who ever that is.
Any race is going to be boring if your guy isn’t competitive at the track. I’m a Ryan Newman fan, and since he’s a great road course driver I look forward to the road courses. I used to not look forward to the restrictor plate tracks when Penske wasn’t competitive there, but since that’s changed I look forward to those too. Every kind of track has a place in NASCAR. These drivers are the best in their field (or at least they’re paid like they are), so they should be able to drive anything, anywhere, any time. The only thing that annoys me is teams substituting “ringers” for their drivers. Do what Junior did, spend some money and get these guys to train your driver how to drive a road course, don’t bench them.
The race in Sonoma is so much better in person than on TV. I live in Napa so I know everything already and quite frankly, I could care less about the coverage our grapes get. I only wish it was longer.
Tanya, ditto on the longer. But that is hard on the drivers. Ken, I remember Ivan Baldwin running at Sears point in the seventies and it was great but not as good as Riverside CA. Wow, what drivers went to Riverside. Richard Petty would use the outside out turn 6 to keep his car strieght for turn 7a. You can say road racing is boring but so much is really going on. Ever take a turn in the mountians and not reaaly know where the road was or what may be waiting for you when you get there? Try that at high speed as they do.
I am hopin for a Said Head showing top 3 at least Odds are Jeffy will win one for his new child tho…
You can pretty much pick the top 10 before the race even starts on road courses. not in any order, Jeff Gordon,Tony stewart, Boris Said, Jimmie Johnson,JR,Robby Gordon,Harvick,Martin,Burton,and 1 wild card.Road racing is cool the car control these drivers have is amazing,Altho most purists would say stock cars should stay on ovals.Its a change of pace so even if i think its boring it does give a break to the same cookie cutter tracks week after week.In my opinion I’d rather have a road course than the vegas, california, chicago, kansas, michigan style tracks week after endless week.We are losing great tracks like Rockingham to these kind of tracks.Once we lose Darlington, Bristol, and Martinsville, Nascar will lose many fans who followed the sport many yrs.
My thoughts are Jeff wining, Jimmy 2nd and Casey 3rd but doubt that this year. I hope Jeff wins this race for his new daughter. That would be so good and he is good there. I would love to go to that race.
Hey, I got to meet Boris Said today, he was signing autographs at the Bel Air grocery store by the house. He had his son with him, seemed like a nice guy too! I will watch this weekend, I used to not like the road courses, but started getting into different racing events like F1 and other stuff. Go Boris, and Go Nemechek!
Road racing is a nice change and i think a complete driver would love the challenge .Its nice to see some open road and watch this boys throw the cars hard into the corners .the Bush race in Mexico was great !! .
Hi NUTZABOUT#9 (I really like your new catch name) Wish I would have thought about it. Anyway I wont get in to Road races vs. Oval tracks. HOWEVER I did get into GT4 video game (which has INFINEON SPEEDWAY — as well as Laguna Seca) I absolutely love racing those courses “ON THE GAME” and will be awesome seeing INFINEON on TV. Only problem is I will be working and unable to watch. Please update all of you “TRUE RACE FANS” hee hee. I promise I will not use that term again, but I couldnt pass this up. THANKS GO KASEY
Tx, 9 fan. ;o}
I know I’ll watch the race Sunday. I’ll try to keep an open mind as they zoom single file, lol. That’s my problem: I want passing drama!
Re Boris Said — I saw him at HMS when we met Kasey Kahne (fan appreciation week). I had no clue he was a ringer. All the fans were there for 9, 19, and 10 … didn’t see anyone after Said’s autograph. Maybe I shoulda gotten it after all.
Let’s go racin’, y’all!!
THIS IS OFF SUBJECT–BUT STEVE DID YOU JUST HEAR ABOUT JR INKING A DEAL W/SONY? WHAT KIND OF INSIGHT COULD YA GIVE US ON THAT? BTW–YOUR WEBSITE IS DEFINATELY THE BEST—THANKS MAN!!!!!!!
The Jr/Sony deal is a personal endorsement contract. That means that we’ll see Junior show up in some Sony ads. It does not mean that he will be driving a Sony car.
It’s not news until somebody announces a contract with Hendrick Motorsports
GOOD POINT STEVE!!THANKS FOR RESPONDING SO FAST–THAT SHOWS PEOPLE THAT UNLIKE OTHER WEBSITES YOU ACTUALLY READ AND CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK. THANKS!!
jr fan from bama, Thanks for asking that question. I had heard something also, but LIKE YOU, I had no real details. STEVE—-Thanks from me also for the response. (nutzabout#9)–how is Kasey in person? I bet he is a heck of a nice kid! I wish I could have met him. The only drivers I know are the Wallace bros (primarily MIKE) and Ken Schrader–Kens parents and dirt car team lives a mile away. Maybe I can meet some drivers at the Brickyard in aa few weeks. GO KASEY
Did Nascar actually find something wrong with the 24 & 48 cars and not allow them to practice or did I just imagine it? It is about time Nascar quit turning a blind eye to the antics of the Hendrick Team!
WISH THEY DID MORE OF THIS TYPE RACING!
ENJOY WATCHING RACES PERIOD BUT MORE ROAD WOULDN’T HURT!
Dave, guess you see they found something on the fenders between the mounts that was not right. They got thru inspection today finally. There is not much news yet. Tomorrow will be more for sure. But need a miracle for the the guys racing from the back.
9fan — Kasey is VERY shy, IMO. He’s also small — could be a jockey racin’ horse flesh instead of engine horsepower. There were SO MANY fans to get his autograph — there was no chance to really talk to him. He did get up on stage with ES (#19) and talk about the upcoming CC600. When the interviewer asked (the crowd) who was hoping to make the CC600, Kasey raised his hand! Kid has a great smile. I get the impression the publicity stuff is the real challenge for him. Kasey’s mom is an absolute angel. My starstruck, 24 y/o daughter asked for a pic with her, and she enthusastically agreed. It was a great day. We basked in it the whole drive home. Should’ve gotten ES’s signature, too, but logistics worked against us.
Cheers! Enjoy the race Sunday, y’all!
The road race is one of my favorite
races.The cars need totally differant
set ups and all strategies change.I
figure either my man Jeff will win
or Rosie O’Donnel Stewart(20).Lee
Yep schools out. We have people like Lee still have too make childish remarks.
I thought it was funny, Lee.
But then, I’m not crazy about Stewart either. LOL
As far as the 24 and the 48 cars go, NASCAR found during tech inspection that the front fenders on both cars had been modified illegally. Apparently from my sources in the garage, both teams had cut out a portion of the sheet metal on the fender wells in an arc shape right below the Good-Year emblems. When asking Letarte and Knaus about this, the response was that they were just trying to push the envelope in a so called “Gray Area” in the NASCAR rules regarding the COT car. When interviewed, both crew chiefs said that when NASCAR says, “Don’t Mess With These Cars!” They meant it. It just so happens that this area was to be right between the contact points of the “Claw Template”…It was obviouse by NASCAR officials as soon as the cars rolled out of the trailers that something was not quite right. The teams were allowed to stay in the garage and make the required modifications to bring the cars back to spec. The other side of this is that Gordon and Johnson were NOT allowed to practice or run Qualifying, therefore they have to start in the 41st and 42nd position on Sunday. NASCAR is going to fine and possibly suspend the crew chiefs and doc owner points sometime today or tomorrow. Thats going to be interesting!
That is the buzz from the garage as I have heared it. Anyway….Boris has a real good shot at this win! Go Boris.
Just in, the 24 and the 48 car will be allowed to practice today afterall. After the required repairs and going through tech inspection again, they were granted the stickers and allowed to run practice but this is far from over.
Doesn’t Nascar realize they can’t penalize HMS Its going to completly kill the Conspiracy theorists. Probably sent 80% of them to the hospital with chest pains. Guess HMS knows at least one of the grey areas just turned black and white. And so does every other team that was thinking about fender mods. for more down force. Guess we are going to have to find air somewhere else. Good show HMS you finally threw the HMS HATERS a bone. NASCAR you haad to call it but you screwed up a good conspiracy.haha
Eric, I’m with you bud. How bout’ that conspiracy theory now? Get out the straight jackets and lithium because half the people are going for a ride on the crazy train! LOL……again…..WHAT CONSPIRACY THEORY? Oh crap…I forgot about Tuesday when NASCAR will hand out the penalties. Could this be the beginning of another conspiracy?
Thought they weren’t going to be allowed to practice???????????????
There is NO conspiracy in Nascar. So you kids should stop it. Or stop being on here. Steve is just talking about racing and of couse you have to talk about conspiracy again. Again there is no conspiracy. no no no. Go to bed you guys.
Why are the anti-conspiracy people so aggressive and name calling? We’re just trying to make a point without name calling. Makes me wonder if the Hendrick people are replying here????????????? Nothing is beyond belief in this day and age. OK, now all you HMS folk can call me all sorts of names.,,I opened myself up to your abuse.
Road coarse racing is the only real racing in NASCAR other than road short tracks.All the rest is nothing.So id any of you NASCAR fans are real race fans, watch real racing like F1,champ car,rolex,and any dirt racing.Anyway, Dale JR. has sonoma wrapped up.
First time here, my two bits. I hate #24 and #48, I am so bummed on Jr. going to HMS but I will survive. One an Earnhardt always an Earnhardt fan!!!
I’m not down with the conspiracy theories as much as the inconsistency with NASCAR and their rules. I only wish they had a strict guideline that declared exact points taken away or whatever the penalty is for a particular offense before they figure out who they are penalizing and then deciding the actual penalty. Would a guy with no chance for the cup get the same penalty as the leader? It seems usually not and think NASCAR should define their rules more clearly and then all conspiracies could be put to rest. Go Boris, GO Nemechek, and a safe race to all.
right on thekingcobra!!!
KingCobra I agree. Set the rules, stick to them , no matter who it is.
MKB, look at your comment then ask that question duh
mkb, no name calling here. Everyone has their right to their oppinion. There is just a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that not everyone is privy to. I have direct connections to NASCAR and a team that I’m not at liberty to mention. Just know that I agree with the rules but there should be a little breathing room here but now we know the fenders are not one of them. We are a little anxious to see what happens Tuesday. Meanwhile, lets go racing.
Wow I had a premonition,that Tony Stewart won Sonoma with a last lap battle w/ Mark Martin,is MM even in this race? lol lets hope I’m right
Thanks Arm Pit Krazy. I don’t think I called anyone a name. I have kids and call them kids.But again like I said no conspiracy. Nascar would not allow it and please stop saying the Hendrick’s are doing it. No one is. Yes clear rules would be so much better then guessing. Like Rick H, said he told them to clear up the rules so everyone would know them. Good idea to me.
Keith, duh IS name calling!
Vito, sorry, Mark Martin optid out for this race. For those of you wondering, about the rule book(s) for the COT car, there are atleast 4 of them. Each one is about 3″ thick. One for the engine package, one for the aero and body, Chassis and suspension one for safety and misc. There are also dozons of telephone numbers and email addresses of NASCAR representatives and Officialials all throughout. These are also on CD and DVD along with a direct link to NASCAR via the INTRAnet for real-time linkups.
The COT program is also a learning experience for NASCAR as well as for the teams. There is a lot af “gray” area in the rules but regular daily updates keep us all abreast of the changes. FYI..NASCAR has also changed some of the rules several times already mid stream which does enable us to modify and work on certain areas of the cars where they did not before. Remember…this car was 7 years in the making and a lot has changed since it’s inception. They were and still are very strict and probably will be for sometime in regards to enforcing them. They needed to be as so they could set the initial baseline. There are fines, infractions and penalties clearly defined as well and are outlined i.e. An infraction depends upon many criteria which I could go on for days explaining that one. The penalty is like a sentence carrying a minimum of Y and a maximum of X etc. This is all determined sevarity, interpritation cause and effect basically. Believe me….There are NO favorites as far as NASCAR is concerned when it comes to playing by the rules. EVERY team has a little something that might be questionable by interpritation but thats just racing! Hope this helps.
Hey Arm Pit Crazy Legs, It’s nice to hear comments from a knowledgeable person.
Hey Vito, liked that premonition!!
MKB, Maybe you can help me a litle from your comment. I said “MKB, look at your comment then ask that question duh” So try to read YOUR comments and then read mine and figure it out. Oh by the way I did not know DUH was a name. I did not CALL you stupid. moron, rosie O’ donnel etc. those are name calling but did I call you one of those words? DUH is not a name!!!It’s states how dumb that comment were.
If the 24 & 48 teams are not penalized severely, the conspiracy theory will still be alive and well. If this was not a clear rule violation, then everyone else would have been doing the same thing in order to gain an advantage.
Keith, duh????????
I applaud Jimmy Spencer you hit the nail on the head by saying Denny Hamlin should have “be a Man” and declined to replace driver in the Busch car. Also the Joe Gibbs race team owes that young driver an apology. Suggestion for DEI you are looking for talent try this young man he has potentional He has already proved his ability in that race.
Charleston,S.C. lost 9 firemen this week.the news made national head ,but I never anything on the race about sending out prayers to the families and fellow fire fighters who lost their brothers.
mkb I know you have to be brighter than that. Can’t you figure it out? Maybe people just tired of everybody thinking or hearing there is a conspiracy. Would you cry conspiracy if your driver was winning?
Kieth, no rely needed here…your words speak for themselves.
Hey Roger, I was there and I did see atleast one car that had ALL the names and their ranks of the fallen Firefighters on their car. It was really busy but I’m pretty sure it was Kevin Harvick. Sorry I was busy with our team. Get ready for the penalties to be handed out for HMS on tuesday possibly wednesday because of the long treck back across the country. I dont think that the fans that dislike HMS are going to be satisfied with the final penalties! JMO.
Good point, Roger. Such a tragedy in Charleston.
HELP!!!. Can someone please explain why if you are not allowed to qualifiy you sitll get to run the race. I feel that you fail inspection you don’t race. Owner point should not apply here. If you can’t qualify, you can’t race. Oh yes, I liked the race, no matter who won, I just love road courses.
I guess you were all wrong! First of all the road course is the most awesome race all season. It’s the hardest race those guys run all year. Secondly was Jeff Gordon even in that race? I sure didn’t see him in practice and I didn’t see him in qualifying. It was fun to see Juan Pablo Montoya win his first Nextel Cup race. There’s alot of skill involved at Sonoma, but there’s also alot of luck involved too.
The comments by NASCAR fans in this thread leave no doubt that NASCAR is not a real motorsport. Real cars turn right as well as left.