OT- Yesterday’s race the closest finish in Daytona 500 history

Submitted by MGoGrendel on

Yesterday’s race was the closest finish in the Daytona 500.  The last two laps were pretty exciting, even if you aren’t a race fan.  In the video, you’ll hear Jeff Gordon talk about while Denny Hamlin (11) is attempting a pass but not going to win.  Watch what happens to the leader, Kenseth (29, yellow) in the last turn and then Hamlin trading paint (“side drafting”) with Martin Truex, Jr (78).

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6PoDebf_8

(I will try to embed)

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Daytona 500

FauxMo

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^

I did not watch. As my father would say (who is a bit of a snob), "I just have no desire to watch 50 rednecks make a series of 800 left turns..."

Joined: 06/17/2010

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FauxMo

February 22nd, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^

It's just a humorous anecdote, not intended as a wholesale indictment of NASCAR, its culture, or your worldview.

 

FYI, football IS just a bunch of kids running into each other for 3.5 hours with breaks in between.

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137610

Everyone Murders

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^

It seems to me that so many of the same people that decry soccer as boring and insufficiently macho are big fans of NASCAR.  Yet they seem pretty similar in the respect that they are both boring as hell if you don't put some effort into understanding them.

I'm not a big auto racing guy, and don't watch the races except for maybe the last few laps if I stumble onto it.  I suspect if I put effort into learning more about it (beyond the huhhrr huhhrr of "and then they turn left") I might be more interested.  I vaguely understand pit strategy and some of the teamwork that goes into the sport, but really mostly just see shiny cars going extremely fast.  And sometimes some fakey fights that never really turn into anything.

In any event, I always laugh when a NASCAR fan criticizes soccer.  Because it seems like criticism from a might big glass house.*

*At least I know I'm ignorant on NASCAR, and that's on me.

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

bluebyyou

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:36 PM ^

I've always had a big interest in all things automotive, including racing.  NASCAR, though, is one exception.  When cars are pushing other cars on the final lap....it just seems wrong.  I know, I know.

If you want to see something interesting, go to a major NHRA event where dragsters are pushing out 8-9,000 HP or go to an F1 race.  I suspect you won't be bored, although F1 is not what it was a few years ago.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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WMUgoblue

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^

The new safety regulations have really handicapped what F1 cars are able to achieve. I understand why they did it, but man those cars used to fly around tight turns at 120mph.

As a college graduation gift my Father and I went up to Montreal for the Canadian GP and watching those cars live is a surreal experience. Bucket list event for sure.

Joined: 12/06/2009

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bluebyyou

February 22nd, 2016 at 2:16 PM ^

Safety regulations?  Hmmm...thought it had more to do with attempting to make racing more affordable and being environmentally friendly via the kinetic energy recovery systems, limiited amounts of fuel, etc. etc.  

Regardless, it is killing the sport.  Fan viewership and attendance are both down.  F1 needs to go back to some formula that incorporates what made the sport great.  I've been going to F1 races in the US, Canada and Europe for several decades, and the sport has just about lost me with this watered down version F1 is promoting.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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Wolverine In Iowa

February 22nd, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^

I used to be a pretty big F1 fan, but now I am not.  Not sure why, but something is lost in F1 these days.  I have gone to Montreal once and I went to Indy twice for F1, and we had great times, but now I have lost interest.  I will definitely go again to a race, but I am not religiously waking up early to watch practice, qualifying and the races like I used to.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Everyone Murders

February 22nd, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^

I've actually spent a fair amount of time working with a few NHRA top fuel and funny car teams.  First thing I learned was that while several of the Crew Chiefs and crew members were rough cut, they tended to be whip smart and amazingly efficient.  Second thing I learned was that it is really an expensive sport.  Tremendously expensive unless you have really good sponsorships.  Third, is that the dragsters are tailor-made for the drivers.  I asked a driver if I could sit in his top fuel car, and he said "you can try, but you won't fit"!  It makes perfect sense once someone mentions it, but never occurred to me.  Fourth was that the between-race adjustments is a lot of where the races are won.  This was all few years back, and I'm guessing it's only gotten more engineering and money-intensive.

I never got to the point where I "understood" the sport.  But it taught me that the NHRA types are quite different than what I might have guessed, and that there's a lot more going on than initially meets the eye.

Joined: 12/14/2010

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Brihj

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^

Our qb depth chart could potentially look like 1. John O'Korn on the cob 2. Bust Morris (He will pass Speight because i said so) 3. Jabrill Hot Peppers (Cant have him below 3 at any position) 4. Wilton Speight 5. Alex Kalzone 6. Any qbs i forgot and Redshirt Peters

Joined: 01/05/2016

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1201SouthMain

February 22nd, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^

after the Michigan game.  Help out a non race guy.  Why did Kenseth leave the inside, which appeared to be the fastest lane, to try and basically cut Hamlin off?  I don't know how wide the Daytona is but I'm going to guess it's 50' in that turn.  In a race that looks like it's coming down to the wire, Kenseth drives 50' out of his way to block a car from a path that nobody has been able to make up ground with the last half of the race.

Did Kenseth have reason to think that Hamlin was going to be able to catch him or did he just have an "oh f#&$" moment and panic?

 

Joined: 11/25/2008

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DreisbachToHayes

February 22nd, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^

If Kenseth stays put he has no chance at all.  Hamlin was getting a huge run coming down off the more elevated part of the bank, had the benefit of the better drafting situation, and had a very powerful 4 car (Harvick) pushing him.  Kenseth's only chance for the win was to move up and stop his momentum.  He moved-up too far though.

At that time, 4 of the top 5 cars were Joe Gibbs' four Toyotas, with the other one also being a Toyota who is alligned with Gibbs.  This was Toyota's first ever win at the 500, coming off of tons of historic Toyota firsts last year.  The other manufacturers no longer have a stranglehold on everything.  And team Hendrick (chevy) is no longer the class of every race.  Things are getting more exciting in the world of Nascar if you ask me.

Joined: 12/04/2012

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DreisbachToHayes

February 22nd, 2016 at 3:40 PM ^

There's a difference between making it work for half of a straightaway by a margin of a foot or so, versus actually being able to make it a viable strategy over the course of a lap or more.... And all the stars were definitely aligned in that unique situation for Hamlin. Watching the race, the announcers were pointing this out with about 10 laps to go when they are saying things like "Your only chance is to wait until last lap turn four to make the move."

Joined: 12/04/2012

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DreisbachToHayes

February 22nd, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^

By the way, Hamlin is a Jordan brand driver, the only Jordan guy in NASCAR.  Surely a good sign for things to come for our program under Jordan.

I'm a huge NASCAR fan... but 10 years ago I was the first to pile-on with redneck jokes, etc.  So I get both sides.

PS, for any other NASCAR fan... I predicting the Gibbs boys will run away with nearly everything this year.

Joined: 12/04/2012

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Rage86

February 22nd, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^

I am a sprintcar driver in Central Pennsylvania and most of our fanbase and friends just watch the Daytona 500 because thats the only racing on at that time. The finish of the race was an excellent finish but if they want to make the racing great again get rid of the "Cookie Cutter cars" get rid of the restrictor plates and allow innovation in the sport. The problem with the racing yesterday was, if you could draft and stay in a draft tight on the bottom line there was no one gonna pass you. The only reason that finish happened was because Kenseth left the bottom to block and broke up the draft. If not i dont think Hamlins run would have done much coming to the finish. I think he would have ran out of steam but that is all super speedway racing these days...just tuck in line and follow.

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