Posted on 10/21/2004, 11:48:09 PM by WestCoastGal
At slightly more than half a mile, Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Circuit, but it's one of the biggest when it comes to action. It has 800-foot straights, turns banked at only 12 degrees and has been called "two drag strips with a turnaround on each end." The demanding layout consistently produces some of the wildest fender scrubbing, push and shove racing on the tour.
Last race: Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon finished 1-2 in the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The win completed a season sweep for Johnson at Lowe's. Last year: Jeff Gordon completed a season sweep at Martinsville by winning the Subway 500.
Potential storyline: Competitors in the Subway 500 will be racing across a new surface, one encircled by the SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier system.
The track was resurfaced (asphalt and concrete) following the track's spring race. In the exits of Turns 2 and 4, where concrete extends onto asphalt, the concrete has been extended an extra 100 feet.
The SAFER barriers, installed last month, extend 832 feet on the outside wall of the first and second turns; 640 feet on the outside of the third and fourth turns 706 feet along the inside frontstretch wall and 569 feet along the inside of the backstretch wall.
Point to ponder: There have been 13 different Nextel Cup Series race winners in 2004. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are tied with a series-leading five victories this season. Johnson has posted a series-high 16 top-five finishes. Gordon has a series-high 21 top-10 finishes.
ALSO PLEASE VISIT OPERATION SEASONS GREETINGS FOR OUR TROOPS!!!
THIS THREAD IS DEDICATED TO THE TROOPS WHO ARE PROTECTING US PRESERVING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL, GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I'm in mourning.
I'm a Martin fan.
Go inside the Chase and read indepth analysis on how each of your favorite drivers made the cut for the race to the championship. Visit the driver pages each week to get updated news, stats, videos and more!
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Some days you're chicken, and the next day you're feathers. That's pretty much how Jeff Gordon's 2004 race to the Chase went. More
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A sure-fire championship contender at the start of the season, Jimmie Johnson got off to a slow start in 2004, falling out of the top 10 in points for the first time in nearly two full seasons. More
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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. opened the 2004 Nextel Cup season like a house afire, winning the Daytona 500 and streaking to 10 top-10 finishes -- including victories at Atlanta and Richmond. More
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Tony Stewart won twice, at Chicagoland (amid controversy) and at Watkins Glen, and he was as steady as a Ridgid Tool workbench along the way. More
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Despite the fact that he's had a few more short-circuits in 2004 than he did in his championship season of 2003, Matt Kenseth was again Mr. Consistency in his Race to the Chase. More
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After nearly fulfilling all the promise of his first season with Robert Yates Racing, Elliott Sadler became a potent contender for race victories and the Chase for the Nextel Cup. More
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Kurt Busch has been as dominant at times as Jeff Gordon, touchier at times than Tony Stewart and a sparring partner for Jimmy Spencer at least once. More
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If ever there was a driver who deserved a chance at a championship, it is Mark Martin. He's contended before and lost, once on a questionable point penalty and again on a late-season surge Stewart. More
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Jeremy Mayfield's drive to the Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2004 resembled nothing so much as a boxer outclassed for 14 rounds rallying to upset a heavily favored opponent with a single, knockout blow. More
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After eight victories and nearly every pole position that was up for grabs in the 2003 season, Ryan Newman was one of the four or five drivers everyone figured would be in the catbird's seat for 2004. More
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Thanks for reminding me about the race. I wouldn't have changed the drivers on my sorry FR Yahoo fantasy team otherwise in time.
Subway 500
NBC Sun. 1 p.m.
Sam's Town 250
TNT Sat. 3:30 p.m.
Kroger 200
SPEED Sat. 1 p.m.
Subway 500 Bud Pole qualifying
SPEED Fri. 3:10 p.m.
All times EST
NBC to use five-second delay starting at Kansas
From Press Release
October 7, 2004
11:46 AM EDT (15:46 GMT)
NEW YORK -- NBC Sports will institute a five-second delay in NASCAR coverage beginning Sunday from Kansas Speedway during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Banquet 400.
"We're disappointed for our viewers to have to do this, but the delay provides a level of protection against anything inappropriate going out over the air," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.
Ebersol thought NASCAR's warning to drivers in February about inappropriate language was enough.
"We thought we could rely upon the precedent of NASCAR's disciplinary action taken earlier this year when two Busch Series drivers uttered profanities during radio interviews."
Ebersol said the network originally planned to only use the delay in spots, but decided use the technology for the entire race was the way to go.
"Our initial hope would have been to broadcast on delay only during pre- and post-race coverage, but by using the delay during competition, our pit reporters won't be limited in interviewing drivers, crew chiefs and team owners as compelling stories inevitably unfold under the pressure and intensity of the moment."
Ebersol said the delay was not something they necessarily wanted to do, but something they felt they had to do.
"For more than a half century, most major American sporting events have aired live. While broadcasting on delay is extremely unfortunate, we've come to the conclusion that taking this step provides the additional safeguard needed in today's climate."
The radio communication between teams and drivers during actual racing has always been heard on delay during NASCAR telecasts on NBC.
Great now we will miss all of the race action instead of just most of it!
nbc- You SUCK
Hmm, do I start using Larry Mac's color charts after this race?
Thank you for running this weeks thread.
A few weeks ago I watched a race with the 5-sec delay (I think it was TNT). It cracked me up because they also left the commercials on the delay. I imagine it upset the sponsors.
Nice looking thread, WCG. I hope I get to join the live thread at once before the end of the season. These last few races are going to be rough.
This week has been so long I forgot who your favorite driver is... <;o(
NBC .. Must Flee TV .. ;-)
11 days to go 'til election .. Whewww!!!
Then we can put al eGore back in his lockbox and toss the key. :-D
Just got a note while on Trackpass, first practice was delayed due to weather this morning and will run through 2pm ET. They are running now.
Qualifying has been moved back to 3:40 pm ET.
Go 8... He's second fastest so far......
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