I despise math in all its forms, but I am curious if anyone has ever complied statistics comparing the average number of years in NASCAR and wins.  I would like to see how drivers’ finishes with the CORN versus the COY.  Outside of that obvious correlation (younger drivers do better), I think that the number of years in Cup with the old car is going to have a bigger impact on current performance due to an inability to adapt.  If my hypothesis is correct, then drivers with less seat time in the COY are going to have better finishes than those who do. (Which means that the open wheel guys might really take off once they find their feet.)  Conversely, well maybe additionally, I would also like to know if NASCAR’s second agenda, equalizing the field, is really happening. Since everyone is starting at square one, it should follow that more teams should have similar finishing averages.   

That said, I think that a part of Busch the Pariah success in the Cup series is he doesn’t care what car he’s driving.  Yeah, I know, no kidding, but think about how many drivers you hear comparing the two cars. Busch grouches about the handling of the car, but I don’t hear him comparing the two like many drivers. Which is why the lack of success from Hendrick Nation and Gibbs (Busch excluded) stymies me. Those drivers are all talented multi –track, -vehicle, -series winners. I don’t think for a minute that Kyle Busch is THAT much better driver than (it pains me to say this) either Gordon, Johnson, or Stewart. But I am beginning to think that Busch IS that much better at taking the necessary (and un-necessary) risks to see what the car will and will not do and dealing with the car on its own terms and adapting to it, rather than trying to force the car to be something it isn’t (the old car). 

That still doesn’t make him any less annoying, but I think until more drivers adapt to the car instead making futile attempts at making the new car act like the old one, we are going to hear about Kyle for a loooong time.

I would hate to be the poor schmuck that doesn't have a recording device or a sympathetic significant other. Anyhow,a couple of small observations and a few questions about today's practice.

Continue reading this post »

Aric Almirola gets the pole, is running a darn good race, and gets rewarded by being replaced by Denny Hamlin. Personally , I think it should be a case of "tough titty, said the kitty" to Hamlin. I won't blame Almirola one bit if he has a private grin if something happens to the #20 because the driver change put it back in the pack.

And oh by the way: As for the lame excuse about sponsors expecting a certain driver in the seat, bologna. A sponsor wants tv time, and Almirola was doing just fine in that department.

Continue reading this post »

Couldn't find the darn thing. I just wanted to tape it so I could watch it later. Is this too much to ask?!?! All I want is a simple, no-graphics-video-flash-allowed link to all the date/start times/channels of the races. I still have yet to find it on the NEWLY annoying NASCAR site. Since I do not receive a channel guide and only have basic cable, I must rely on the television tv guide. The Busch race wasn't even listed!!!!! As I am limited to dial-up, a quick to the web to track down the race really wasn't an option--I was on a schedule, and didn't have time to fuss with it. The only good thing about the idea of pay-per-view: I would know what channel it would be on. Oh what a fantasy! An entire channel devoted to all three series all in one spot, every time. <sigh> Man, if any other form of motor sports really gets any more popular, I wonder if the fans will have to go channel hunting for their series as well?