Daytona 500

[Lockiephoto]

Just watched the opening ceremony of the Daytona 500.  Announcer asked that everyone rise and remove their hats for the prayer then the National Anthem.  So refreshing, prayer and no kneeling, nuff said!

[rocketray]

I drove it before in a GT.........a '74 Chevy Vega GT station wagon at 2 AM while baby sitting an IMSA Camaro for the nite in the infield..CRAZY STEEP!!

[Hooter]

I have gotten away from it since this segment crap started.

[Romeo]

I have gotten away from it since this segment crap started.

what don’t you like about the segments? Seems like all it really does I should give them an incentive to get to the front a couple more times.

[3fan4life]

I have gotten away from it since this segment crap started.

I didn't like the segment thing when they first started it.

But, I have to admit that it has made for more exciting racing.

[phideux]

I haven't been watching for several years. When they started bringing in drivers whose focus was on having a good points day over winning. When they started slowing the cars down "for safety", Christ, it's a race the guy with the biggest nuts to drive the fastest and take the chances wins.
The points race playoff, you had drivers in the points race, "the Chase" at he end of the season who didn't win a race.
When they started just letting the field of stars race. It wasn't that long ago you had folks bringing their own cars to tracks, qualifying and racing. Nowadays the field is set no outsider is allowed to qualify. When was the last time a big name got kicked from a race by a nobody??? When was the last time an unpainted car ran because the outsider qualified and won a spot???
Up until the mid 90s those cars were actually Fords, and Chevys and for a $50,000 or less a family operation could build a car and enter. Not anymore.
Take off the restrictor plates, turn them loose, let them race.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I used to go to the Daytona 500 every year, from 1996 to 2003 (along with the rest of Speedweeks at New Smyrna and Volusia County speedway). Finally stepped away when my tickets were almost $200 each, and the hotels were insane. Would like to go again, but my bud that I used to go with recently passed away. Maybe with the kid someday, but who knows. We'll see if he gets into it. It's a long day in the sun (more so when you've been on a Budweiser IV drip, not that I'd know  ).

I don't watch as often as I used to, but I don't necessarily care about the stages one way or the other. Goody's used to do a halfway point front runner bonus, so there used to be an incentive before the checkered, even then.

I do like that there is no grey area about the flag and patriotism in general. They take it very seriously. As do I, so it does feel good to see it. I was raised a Christian, though I don't frequent church too often these days. It is also refreshing to see a sport where it's still OK to thank God for your blessings. I'm sure there are atheists in the sport, but religion is still accepted, which also is OK with me.

I've been involved with race teams here in the northeast. Whelen (Featherlite back in the day) Modifieds, Pro-4 Mods, late models, etc. I guess you can never fully write off racing once you've been involved personally.

And yes; currently watching the 500.

[scooperhsd]

I like NASCAR, but I'm not a big fan of the restrictor plate races. Waiting for "The Big One" or more just isn't my idea of racing.

[NewValker]

I can deal with the segments, but do they have to have 10 yellow flag laps for every segment?
Craig

[John Schmidt]

Driving in stock car racing, the 500, etc.,.....hmmmm. OK....coming up on a left turn so better hang on. Ok....got through that one, finally able to go in a straight line. Whoops....coming up on another left turn....hang on. OK, going straight again. Uh oh....another left turn....where's my GPS, I feel like I'm going around in circles. Think I'll just switch to road racing in an open wheel machine, at least I get to see some scenery and the girls are everywhere. Doggone it....here's another left turn. Whoever built this road needs a little more imagination. Those people in the stands, wonder if they actually had to pay to watch all of us go round n' round 'n round for hours on end. I get much the same degree of excitement in the traffic circle back home....for free. Wonder if the county would let me build some bleachers alongside the traffic circle back home and charge folks to sit and watch. At least there would be some variety since there would be different vehicles going by all the time.

And....in case you're wondering; yes, been there, done that a couple times. Got bored outa my gourd so finally went inside the RV and made some lunch, then watched a movie on TV. Was the only person in our bunch to not have a hangover or major sunburn. Twice was enough considering the cost, et al., never did it again...including today on TV.

[Hooter]

Segment racing creates unnecessary racing, like the end of a segment is the end of the race.. ie:  more wrecks, more cautions and torn up cars. What should matter the most is who is there first at the end of the last lap.

[Alpha Dog]

I was happy for the Dow car to win.  I bet a lot of mucky mucks, and others back at the corporate head quarters of my hometown of Midland, MI tied one on last night.   That  race in the final ten laps is always chaos .

[The emperor has no clothes]

Segment racing creates unnecessary racing, like the end of a segment is the end of the race.. ie:  more wrecks, more cautions and torn up cars. What should matter the most is who is there first at the end of the last lap.

I agree. A lot of cars were eliminated from contention right off the bat due to it.

[Skinhead]

I was happy for the Dow car to win.  I bet a lot of mucky mucks, and others back at the corporate head quarters of my hometown of Midland, MI tied on on last night.   That  race in the final ten laps is always chaos .

When did you live in Midland?  I lived in Auburn (Fisherville actually) 1986-1995.

[Alpha Dog]

I was happy for the Dow car to win.  I bet a lot of mucky mucks, and others back at the corporate head quarters of my hometown of Midland, MI tied on on last night.   That  race in the final ten laps is always chaos .

When did you live in Midland?  I lived in Auburn (Fisherville actually) 1986-1995.

From birth at end of 1955 until I graduated from Northwood University in 1978 and then one final year in 1983.  My mother use to get her produce for canning from a fruit market which would be I think in Fisherville.  My sister married a gent from Auburn.  Heck I grew up  right off Midland/Bay City road about a mile west of the I-10.  I still have a sister and( brother in law in management at Dow ) and I get up there a few times a year to see them and friends who are still there.

[old2soon]

When Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona I continued to watch for awhile. BUT It wasn't the same. More phantom yellows and then they started effin with a format that had worked for years. Segments and other cursed stuff that made zero sense. I used to follow it-nascar-avidly. The "news" I got yesterday-danica crashed out-HOW Zackly is That "news"? Glad the 3 was back in the winners circle but Dale was NOT driving it.  I'll give my local dirt track another chance here soon. NOT gittin any cursed dish thingy I gotz ta pay for no more no how. RIDE SAFE.

[¿spoom]

IMHO, Daytona was much better racing Sat AND Sun was better than I've seen in a decade! Drivers actually driving individual cars and swapping places instead of two trains racing side by side until "the big one(s)" wipes out half the field. The segment is different, but not bad. It's like the Electoral College-play by the rules in place and do your best planning accordingly. There were a few big crashes, but it was more young drivers and bad blocking than anything else. Saturdays' Infinity race set a record for sudden death restarts, and it took something like an hour to run the last 10 laps or so. I didn't care too much for Austin Dillon simply running into Almirola to crash him on the last lap and then talking a bunch of "Intimidator" crap after. I suspect he'll find himself more like a young Logano than an old Earnhart, i.e. he'll be getting run over a lot, himself. Danica left NASCAR much like she existed in it-collected in the middle of the pack, by an accident she didn't cause and couldn't drive through. She'll be missed about as much as Montoya.

[¿spoom]

When Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona I continued to watch for awhile. BUT It wasn't the same. More phantom yellows and then they started effin with a format that had worked for years. Segments and other cursed stuff that made zero sense. I used to follow it-nascar-avidly. The "news" I got yesterday-danica crashed out-HOW Zackly is That "news"? Glad the 3 was back in the winners circle but Dale was NOT driving it.  I'll give my local dirt track another chance here soon. NOT gittin any cursed dish thingy I gotz ta pay for no more no how. RIDE SAFE.

I wish I could see the TV revenue $$$ numbers for NASCAR that made them decide to put so much racing on pay channels. I watched the Infinity race Saturday on FS1 because it's part of my semi-standard TWC/Spectrum cable package, but my dad didn't because he only gets over the air. Sunday's race was regular network, so he watched. Any wonder he has pretty much lost interest? Vicki & I have a Direct TV dish up at our trailer, but FS1 is extra so we just don't watch most racing unless we happen to be at the bar. Love my racing, but I'm not paying extra. 

[Romeo]

Segment racing creates unnecessary racing, like the end of a segment is the end of the race.. ie:  more wrecks, more cautions and torn up cars. What should matter the most is who is there first at the end of the last lap.

I agree. A lot of cars were eliminated from contention right off the bat due to it.

a lot of cars were eliminated because the drivers in those cars lacked patience. It is called racing for a reason. I just Love it’s when the drivers themselves point a team the rules as to why they wrecked.
Last time I checked the rules don’t have their feet on the pedals.

[Romeo]

BTW, great to see the 3 back in the winners circle.

[f6john]

I hated seeing good cars and drivers get knocked out due mostly to the competitive environment that the segment points chase produced. I did like the driving and the lead changes that it produced. Now if we could get rid of the restrictor plates maybe the better cars and drivers could separate themselves from having to run in a pack for 500 miles.

[3fan4life]

As a huge Dale Earnhardt fan, it is good to see the #3 back in Victory Lane.

I must admit that I have mixed emotions but over all it's good to see.

I do think that it's pretty awesome that Austin Dillon (7 yrs old) was in victory lane with Dale in 1998.

[Hook#3287]

As a huge Dale Earnhardt fan, it is good to see the #3 back in Victory Lane.

I must admit that I have mixed emotions but over all it's good to see.

I do think that it's pretty awesome that Austin Dillon (7 yrs old) was in victory lane with Dale in 1998.

What a great picture that is