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Posted on 05/19/2010 6:57:19 PM PDT by glock rocks
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 Please pray this day and every day for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families—especially families of those fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, who have granted their lives in defense of American liberty. The Patriot Post - It's right, and it's free. |
Lowe's Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 1.5-mile quad oval
Race Length: 334 laps, 501 miles
Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 5 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch - 1952.8 feet; Backstretch - 1360 feet
Grandstand Seating: 171,000
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Pace Car Speed: 55mph
1st
The Other Races this Weekend:Nationwide Series:
The B team is on leave this weekend.
Camping World Truck Series: Charlotte Motor Speedway - North Carolina Education Lottery 200, Friday, May 21, 8:00pm ET on SPEED
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Dude!
You were waiting for the new race thread, right?
Yep...but my pinger works very well!
Tell him what he’s won, Jay!
Turkey...
Ah, forgot about the fabled pinger. Good job.
Yep, Obama isn’t going to pardon next Thanksgiving’s turkey. He’s sending it to New York to stand federal trial...
Wait, what? No Racing League points?
It’s pride and money this weekend. The race, too...
Lessee Gibbs and Hendrick put an end to this one-sidedness press!
Go Smoke! Go Nothrun!
Great tagline you have there, my FRiend.
Reagan: Tear down this wall.
Obama: Tear down this country.
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Other than it looks like it was painted with a roller, she’s a beaut!
Mears will drive for Vickers in the All Star Race...
Pit Crew Challenge is on Speed and the Cat team is looking good...
(Ya might need to login to Yahoooo before you click the link.)
Work challenge here. :(
How to Watch a NASCAR Winston Cup Race
NASCAR has become the premier auto racing series in the United States. Fans follow their favorite drivers in a noisy and colorful 34-race quest for the Winston Cup. The pageant begins each year with the Daytona 500 in February and ends at Atlanta in November.
Instructions
Things You’ll Need:
* Film
* Satellite Dish Self-installation Kits
* Stock Car Racing Magazines
* Televisions
* Direct Satellite Systems
* SLR Camera
* Binoculars
* Computers
* Winston Cup Scene Magazines
* Camcorders
* Point-and-shoot Cameras
* Digital Cameras
* Picnic Basket
* Coolers
* Internet Access
* Internet Explorer
* Polaroid Film
* Videocassettes
The Cars
Step 1
General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota are the competitors in NASCAR.
Step 2
Remember General Motors fields the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Pontiac Grand Prix.
Step 3
Check the nose of the two. The Grand Prix has a distinctive two-piece grille opening.
Step 4
Look for cars marked with the famous Blue Oval. That’s the Ford Taurus, a four-door model competing in NASCAR.
Step 5
Watch for new competitors or changes in the automakers that compete. Dodge reentered the fray in 2001 with the Dodge Intrepid and Toyota started competing in 2006.
Step 6
Remember all the cars are “purpose built”—they’re specialized race cars with tube frames, roll cages and other safety features covered with sheet metal similar to the “stock” models.
The Drivers
Step 1
Remember you’ll see drivers young and old behind the wheel. Speeds may approach 200 mph and temperatures in the race cars may rise above 140 degrees, but training, conditioning and experience allow these athletes to succeed well into their 40s.
Step 2
Watch for Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Rusty Wallace, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch—just a sample of the sport’s biggest stars.
Step 3
Check out the young guys, who compete for the Rookie of the Year award.
The Race
Step 1
Note most NASCAR Winston Cup races start with 43 cars on the track.
Step 2
Understand that the 43 participants are set by qualifying sessions held before the race.
Step 3
Remember many fans follow a favorite driver rather than a car or team.
Step 4
Check out the colorful paint jobs. The distinctive markings are usually mandated by sponsors, companies that feel NASCAR offers an excellent method of advertising.
Step 5
Note car numbers are assigned by NASCAR and are kept by a car owner throughout his participation in the sport.
Step 6
Understand that NASCAR competitors race on oval tracks ranging from a 1/2 mile to 2 1/2 miles in length, and that strategy varies according to track size and race length.
Step 7
Watch for the NASCAR races each year on “road courses” at Sears Point, California, and Watkins Glen, New York, where the big stock cars take on the sports car venues.
Step 8
Remember most NASCAR races are 300 to 500 miles in length, but race speeds of up to 190 mph mean races last no longer than a football or baseball game.
Step 9
Watch how closely the cars run together on the longer tracks. Running two or more cars in a line close together is called “drafting,” which uses aerodynamics to allow a group of cars to run faster than a single car.
Step 10
Understand that pit stops are both exciting and important. The cars come to a precise stop, and the crew will change all four tires and add 22 gallons of fuel in about 18 seconds.
Step 11
Note that strategy plays a central part in a winning race. Conserving fuel, saving wear on tires and avoiding wrecks on the track are as important as driving fast.
Step 12
Watch the flagman. A green flag means the race is under way. A yellow flag means there’s debris or a wreck on the track and the cars must slow down. A black flag waved at a driver means his or her car is a hazard, and must be taken to the pit area. A checkered flag represents a winner.
Step 13
Remember season-long performance puts a team in the running for the Winston Cup, the trophy for earning the most points during the year.
Tips & Warnings
*
NASCAR prides itself on being the “fan friendliest” of sports, with easy access to drivers. It’s still possible to secure a “pit pass,” but added pressures on the drivers means much less interaction.
*
Listening to live scanner traffic at a racetrack is not for tender ears. The pressure for teams to win is enormous, and passions—as well as language—can be intense.
*
Youngsters should wear ear protectors while around race cars. Race cars
Bummer Man...
Well, should be interesting. He won't be halal if not butchered live by... no, wait, what?
wait, what? What? You start thinking about virgin turkeys?
The All Star race is a hoot. I ‘member two years ago during the burn-out contest that J.J. made it a point to knock over as many cones as he could - I hope the weather holds back there so we can get the race & festivities in.
I should know this but I don’t - when do they announce who was voted in? Right before the final race??
What, you missed post #1?
I am taking small doses of Crown Royal to control the fever and the ringing in my ears.
I confess, I wanted to have dessert before dinner and didn’t look at the rules before reading posts. Last year I understood and could explain the event. I’ve since forgotten besides they’ve probably changed the rules.
As a peace offering I’ll be sending more rain & snow your way...say about Saturday & Sunday?
To be eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote (and the Sprint Showdown), drivers must have finished in the top 50 of the final 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, attempted to qualify for the 2010 Daytona 500 or competed in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event during the 2009 or 2010 season. The driver accumulating the most votes, who also finishes the Sprint Showdown qualifying race on the lead lap, will earn a spot in the prestigious All-Star field. The Sprint Fan vote winner will be announced immediately following the completion of the Sprint Showdown.
Beyond the sharp fangs and “cop look eyes”, as Mrs. Happydog calls it, I’m really a romantic. This “Love, Darlington Style” is a nice story -
http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/features/05/19/inside.nascar.darlington.wedding/index.html
I met the missus when I first moved to Oregon 28 years ago. She was the loan officer at the bank where I was applying for a home loan. I was lost and she found me.
Worked on it until 10:30 last night and they postponed it for a week.
I might be a tad cranky today...
That happened to a friend in construction twice that I know of. We had a brief shower around 6 this morning and I hope that ends the rain for a day or so. The weeds are sending threatening messages mocking me...
I know...
It’s getting quite common these days.
We have impending doom clouds all around, but so far the sun is still out.
What is it a 46 Chev?
It’s a 1947 Plymouth business coupe and it has low milage for it’s age...
It's a nice short race so maybe McGoo can't screw it up!
Now that is a beautiful car.
The question is, will it turn? :)
That’s very similar to my ‘53 Plymouth, but mine was black.
That’s a purdy feller...
Showdown & Allstar Practice and qualifying today - sequentially - 1200PM, 1:30PM, 5PM & 6PM
OK, after working outside in flurries yesterday and with similiar weather being forecast thru Sunday I am broken man and admit I will trade this weather for a few misquitos along with warm weather. This is a limited time offer.
We have spray for skeeters. Nothing I’ve ever seen works to make snow go away.
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