2014 in NASCAR

JRS

JRS

JRS

Soldato
Joined
6 Jun 2004
Posts
19,729
Location
Burton-on-Trent
Getting this up now, while I'm thinking about it!

So, Five-Time is no more. Jimmie Johnson enters the '14 Cup season as a six-time champion - what price a seventh, to tie him with The King and The Intimidator?

The Rules Package

There's been some rules changes, oddly enough aimed at increasing downforce. Yes, you read that right. Funny what happens with a governing body that actually cares about the quality of the racing, isn't it? This package doesn't apply to the restrictor plate tracks (i.e. Daytona and 'dega):


  • Rear spoiler now 8in tall (up 0.75in from before)
  • Rear fascia trimmed 1.375in higher in the current scallop region
  • Skirts set with a ground clearance of 4in each side
  • Front splitter must have a square leading edge
  • Radiator pan now 43in by 13in.
There's also a ride-height rule change. NASCAR is going to have each car set to the same height in initial inspection at the race weekends, but will give the teams freedom to alter that height for the race. There will also no longer be a post-race inspection for ride height.


Some thought was given to reducing engine power, as recently speeds have started climbing. That's been put on hold for the moment, but may be revisited. They may be able to control speeds with gearset changes for now, but the simple truth is that these engines are turning higher and higher revs and making more power. Lord knows where they'd be now if they'd allowed the horsepower race that started in the '60s to continue - those Boss 429 Fords and 426 Hemi Dodges were already making insane power when they were legislated out of the sport!


Drivers



There's been some driver changes in the field. A quick rundown as matters stand:



  • A.J. Allmendinger replaces Bobby Labonte in the #47 JTG Daugherty Racing entry
  • Kurt Busch will drive for Stewart-Haas Racing in the #41.
  • Ryan Newman leaves SHR to replace the departing Jeff Burton in the #31 for Richard Childress Racing
  • Kevin Harvick is leaving RCR, and moving to Stewart-Haas to drive the #4
  • Martin Truex Jr. leaves Michael Waltrip Racing to join Furniture Row Racing
  • Kyle Larson is taking the departing Juan Montoya's #42 Earnhardt-Ganassi car, he'll run for Rookie of the Year.
  • Michael Annett is also going for RotY, driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing
  • Brian Vickers is now in the #55 MWR car full-time
  • Parker Kligerman and Cole Whitt are driving for Swan Racing as that team moves up to a two car operation
  • Michael McDowell leaves Phil Parsons Racing to drive for Leavine Family Racing
  • Josh Wise joins Phil Parsons Racing from Front Row.
Think that's about it for now. Oh, wait, forgot one. Austin Dillon graduates to the Cup series, driving for his grandfather Richard Childress.


In the #3.


Dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN!!!!!!! :eek:
 
Testing starts later today with Preseason Thunder. Here's the Cup line-up for the next two days:

g8we.png

Nationwide teams are testing on Saturday and Sunday, the Trucks on Monday and Tuesday. Note that the aero rule changes I posted in the OP don't apply to Daytona as it's a plate track - but if teams start turning speeds that worry NASCAR during this test you can bet that there'll be plate adjustments or something similar in time for Speedweeks.
 
Duels done, grid set. Barring moves to the rear for backup cars and engine changes (and there'll be a few) this is the lineup.

Some notes:

1) Both Swan cars are in, pretty fantastic achievement for that team.
2) Kevin Harvick's car failed post-race inspection after Duel 1, the team made a track bar adjustment in the race and I guess went a bit too far with it.
3) Both of the Labonte brothers are in on Duel speed, neither one had to use the champions provisional. Terry swears this Daytona 500 (his 32nd, I think?) will be the last one he enters.
 
Trucks soon. Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy....

....oh boy.

Been looking forward to this all winter :)

***edit***

Weather not looking grand for it....
 
Last edited:
Rain delayed the start of the Truck race, but when it got going....damned good show. Everyone behaved themselves until lap 74, and the inevitable Big One.

It seemed as though Timothy Peters was the only one able to drag the outside line right to the front - when anyone else tried, they got up into the top 10 then got stuck. I guess they got the side draft working on that truck to such an extent that it didn't upset its performance at pulling people along. The bump draft was working much better this year with the shape change to the trucks - since pushing one another around the track is now banned, bump drafting is essential and you don't want to be spinning someone out every time you do it. Still got a few trucks wiggling around, mind. And the speeds are inching higher and higher.

Kyle Busch - what can I say? I don't like the kid, but when he's on form and behaving himself he's possibly the fastest driver out there. Hopefully he's finally grown up this year! That last gasp move was perfectly timed - closest finish ever for the Truck series at Daytona I think (0.016sec :eek: )
 
Skeeter said:
JRS is often keen to point out when he thinks F1 is chickening out :).
Click to expand...

Well, if F1's management would stop chickening out on stuff then I'd stop hanging a lampshade on it. I'm quick to praise TPTB when they do something decent. Just as I'm quick to rag on NASCAR's hierarchy when they pull BS moves (the lack of action against Carl Edwards after Atlanta '10 for example).
 
NASCAR could run on ovals in the rain just fine....as long as Goodyear could make a tyre that would let them.

But they can't.

Because it isn't possible.
 
I love Phoenix. I especially love that it isn't Fontana. Best* decision NASCAR ever made was taking that race off them.


/edit

* - okay, one of the best ;)
 
Last edited:
Sooooo....Harvick pretty much dominated that one then! Didn't have to wait long for his first win with his new team. And another good day for Junebug - actually a decent showing for Hendrick all around, three cars in the top 10 and Kasey Kahne dragging his #5 up to an 11th place that you wouldn't have said it necessarily deserved.
 
Keselowski sweeps the weekend - first weekend sweep for a Ford driver in years. Junior came up just short on fuel but still took 2nd, he's having a great start to the season. The gamble on mileage was certainly worth taking, he'd not have been in the hunt without it.
 
Start of the Cup race has been put back due to rain. Every attempt will be made to get it in today (and Bristol has lighting, so they can run it late if need be). If it's a no-go, then it could be from noon (Eastern US time) tomorrow.
 
So, Bristol didn't end the way I would have liked. Hopefully that's the last race that the Braindead Moron™ wins for a while.

Fontana this weekend. Denny Hamlin got pulled right at the last minute (not fit to race - sinus infection affecting vision) so Sam Hornish Jr is in the car. Currently about 44 laps in, and under caution.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom