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Pocky's Paddock

A NASCAR BLOG BY Bob Pockrass

Junior win means new car is awesome

Jun 16
There won’t be any more criticism of NASCAR’s new race car now. It must work really well because Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a race and there are plenty of people in NASCAR nation who have big smiles today.
 
Who can criticize it now?
 
While drivers were encouraged last weekend to give the new car some time to develop, Michigan wasn’t a place to determine the viability of the new car. Ever since the first test of a prototype there, drivers knew this car would present challenges at the 2-mile track.
 
Like most typical Michigan races, the cars ran three-wide and four-wide following cautions and at other times they got strung out. At least there was more than one racing groove that driver could choose if he wanted to see if he could make his car get around the track quicker.
 
NASCAR officials obviously know the challenges with the new car, and they probably held that meeting last weekend knowing that with Michigan’s challenging economy – not to mention the overall national depression – that they couldn’t afford to impact walkup ticket sales with more moaning about NASCAR’s new car.
 
Fans got to see a dramatic finish thanks to drivers getting more racy near the end of the event and bringing out the caution flag. Having Earnhardt Jr. gunning for his first victory in a couple of years didn’t hurt.
 
NASCAR can hold all the meetings it wants with drivers about being more conscious of the situation with the new car. But it got the best thing it could get for its fans – everyone wearing Earnhardt Jr. green is happy with NASCAR today.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

9 responses to "Junior win means new car is awesome"
  1. 1
    Kris Leonia said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 11:06 AM

    This car still has a long way to go. Just because JR won doesn't mean all its problems are solved. Be realistic. The meeting was to remind these guys to back off some of the open bashing of the car (albeit it has stunk up the place on more than 1 track this season), but also to remind them that the fans are still dishing out money for gas at over $4 a gallon to get to the speedway and see their favorite driver race and race hard and to remember they are what carries this sport. Not a bad reminder if you ask me.

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  2. 2
    S Beau said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 12:36 PM

    That some crazy logic there. Up until those last set of green flag pit stops...it was the same game of follow the leader for the most part. The only thing that made the race interesting was wondering if Jr could actually make it to the end on fumes. The most passes for the lead came from Jr and Jamie messing around with each other...and they were just nursing their cars around the track. The CoT needs work still.

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  3. 3
    Francine D'Alonzo said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 3:11 PM

    Junior is awesome - but the COT needs alot of work. Loved seeing Junior win....but he won on fuel, not because the car suddenly got better. One has nothing to do do with the other, unless you are under NASCAR's spell and believe what they tell you to think.

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  4. 4
    Ronald Schwalbe said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 4:45 PM

    I'm still wondering what NASCAR was actually DOING during those yellow flag laps after the spin that placed absolutely NO debris on the track - and NO car in danger at ALL but - we go around and around under yellow because ........... ?

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  5. 5
    Run Jump said:
    Jun 16, 2008 at 6:57 PM

    Dude....really? I sense a bit of tongue in cheek humor at the expense of Jr. fans. As much as you all want to portray us, we are not a mob of unthinking, uncouth idjits. I'm getting tired of the condescending attitude shown to Jr. fans by the media. I'm thrilled that Jr. won, but the COT should still be scrapped.

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  6. 6
    Jacki Stevens said:
    Jun 18, 2008 at 5:33 AM

    I feel that these races w/cot are more and more turning into "stratagy" races. And if not that, then its one car has "checked out" and left the field behind. Come on...6 cars on the lead lap at the finish??? I understand and agree completely about safety but, races are not as exciting to watch as they used to be. And, folks, I am a HUGE Dale Jr fan, and lovin every minute of this year of success he is having, topped off Sunday by his win.

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  7. 7
    Jacki Stevens said:
    Jun 18, 2008 at 5:52 AM

    as an added note.......let us imagine, for a second or two. How many wins do y'all think Jr would have under his belt, were he driving one of yester-years cars, owned by HMS? Alrighty then. Back to reality and the cot.

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  8. 8
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 19, 2008 at 10:53 PM

    WONDA S---, AS IM NOT A DALE JR FAN, AS I THINK HE THINKS , HE-S ALL THAT & THEN SOME. SOOOOO, NO I CANT STAND DALE EARNHARDT JR, SO I DONT CARE IF HE NEVER EVER WINS WISHING YA NO LUCK JR, SORRY,

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  9. 9
    Frank Humphrey IV said:
    Jun 20, 2008 at 12:26 PM

    What In The Wide Wide World Of Sports Kind Of Logic Is That ? The COT Is Horrible Period, So Jr. Wins In His Poor Handling Car Out Of The Other 42 Poor Handling cars That Makes It A Good Car ? You Are Very Wrong -Sarge

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