Talladega

[bluefury361]

Did anyone catch the Dega race yesterday. Edge of the seat stuff there. Happy that Brad won in a Ford, but it would have been cool to se Jr win his last race there.
Next best track to Dega is Darlington. IMHO.

 

[Polara_500]

As usual the last few laps were a wreck fest. Dang few cars left at the end.

 

[MoPar Maniac]

Plate racin aint racin. When you need to depend on others to pass or even keep up it aint racin.
When will na$car learn?

 

[sixpkrt]

I was hoping to see Dale win too. He missed a few very close calls during the wreckage.

 

[1978 NYB]

I was hoping Dale would win too during the crash fest.

 

[bluefury361]

Plate racing is REAL competition. I can't imagine 42 cars strung out around a 2.66 mile track, how exciting would that be....? Kinda like Kansas, Texas, Vegas, California. I don't even bother to watch those races.
It takes more skill, strategy, experience..... and Luck, to race Talladega then any other track.....
Talladega holds the record for the most lead changes, (counted at the start finish line), And how many times have we seen a driver who never lead a lap during the race, pass for the win at the tri oval. If you don't think racing there is cool, you've never been there.
Best stock car racing anywhere.....!!!!

 

[1978 NYB]

They should be allowed to run without restrictor plates. Then we can see the horsepower and real skill these guys have at true top speed.

 

[MoPar Maniac]

When the aerodynamics and restrictir plates control everything it aint racin. As posted there is a lot of luck involved. If you cant pass unless somebody helps how is that racing? You cant do anything without help. And if they guy behind you isnt a team mate or driving the same brand you are screwed.
Remember the days of no downforce and the cars went around the track with the tail anhalf lane higer than the front? That was driving. Now they can stand on it and basically hang on.

 

[bluefury361]

When the aerodynamics and restrictir plates control everything it aint racin. As posted there is a lot of luck involved. If you cant pass unless somebody helps how is that racing? You cant do anything without help. And if they guy behind you isnt a team mate or driving the same brand you are screwed.
Remember the days of no downforce and the cars went around the track with the tail anhalf lane higer than the front? That was driving. Now they can stand on it and basically hang on.

They should be allowed to run without restrictor plates. Then we can see the horsepower and real skill these guys have at true top speed.


The misconception here is that racing is all about speed. There is no way all these cars can compete at the same level without the plates. (The engines are built as restrictor plate engines). The fact that the cars are so equal is what creates the competition. Anyone who has been around the racing industry knows that the race is won in the shop, in the pits, and with the combined knowledge and wisdom of the driver and crew chief. The beauty of Talladega is anyone of the drivers who starts has an equal chance to win, no matter where they start. Knowledge of aerodynamics and strategy counts most.
As is true with any type of racing, at any track, luck plays a large part.

Top speed capability of these cars would be unmanageable at Talladega.
Wanna have some fun....... Go to Talladega and ride or drive with the Dale Jarrett driving adventure.

Racing Adventure - NASCAR Racing Experience

 

[1978 NYB]

FYI.....

In May 1987, Bobby Allison, after contacting debris from a blown engine, cut his right-rear tire while going through the tri-oval portion of the track. The car was vaulted airborne. His car damaged a portion of the frontstretch catch fence, but did not enter the spectator area. NASCAR imposed rule changes to slow the cars after the incident, with a 1988 rule requiring cars running there and at Daytona to again use restrictor plates. The most often cited reason is a fear that the increasing speeds were exceeding the capabilities of the tires available at the time, as high-speed tire failure had led to some terrific crashes at slightly lower speeds. The plates limit the amount of air and fuel entering the intake manifolds of the engine, greatly reducing the power of the cars and hence their speed. This has led to an extremely competitive style of racing at Talladega and Daytona. Allison's crash was very similar to Carl Edwards's airborne crash at the 2009 Aaron's 499.

 

[1978 NYB]

For the record....

Speeds in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h) are commonplace at Talladega. Talladega has the record for the fastest recorded time by a NASCAR vehicle on a closed oval course, with the record of 216.309 mph (348.116 km/h) set by Rusty Wallace on June 9, 2004.[12] Wallace circled the 2.66-mile (4.28-km) trioval in 44.270 seconds, which surpassed the previous record held by Bill Elliott (212.809 mph (342.483 km/h)) set in 1987, but did not replace the record due to the fact that it was a radio test and not a NASCAR sanctioned event. Buddy Baker was the first driver to run at a speed over 200 mph (320 km/h), with a 200.447 mph (322.588 km/h) lap during "testing" on March 24, 1970. Bill France himself invited Chrysler to come on down to run a 200 lap for publicity for the April race. The car was fully Nascar inspected and certified. Nascar sanctioned the event and Bill Gazaway was there with the official timing equipment. Baker's 200 mph lap was set while driving the No. 88 Chrysler Engineering Charger Daytona. It is currently undergoing restoration in Detroit, after being found in the late 1990s in Iowa. Benny Parsons was the first driver to qualify at over 200 mph (320 km/h), doing so in 1982 with a speed of 200.176 mph (322.152 km/h).

 

[MrMoparCHP]

There are other ways to control speed without the plate, tires and down-force.


Alan

 

[Rwc]

The plates are what makes it possible for the millionaires to compete with the billionaires. They are impossible to fudge. They are handed out at the track and installed with supervision. Downforce can be increased with investment at the shop.
The racing before the plates was not that good. Top one or two cars would be laps ahead of the field.

 

[commando1]

They should be allowed to run without restrictor plates. Then we can see the horsepower and real skill these guys have at true top speed.

 

[cantflip]

Did anyone catch the Dega race yesterday. Edge of the seat stuff there. Happy that Brad won in a Ford, but it would have been cool to se Jr win his last race there.
Next best track to Dega is Darlington. IMHO.

Sorry I missed that one Will. Talladega is a track I would like to get to someday. I do agree with you that the plate races are technically demanding of everybody involved in the car. It's kinda a shame that the drivers and some crew chiefs are the only ones recognized by most for the effort.

I do see the spectator viewpoint, especially on tv, that the aero packages they run sometimes tie the cars together too much. Too much of the challenge to the driver is lost when watching those races as they gang up like I4 traffic trying to figure out how to pass the slow guy in the fast lane.

Nothing beats watching live...

I've kinda liked Brad ever since he pushed his brother into the 500 years ago. The silliness and whining that he and others seemed to get so caught up in a few years ago soured me a bit... I'd be happier watching them "duke it out" then acting like reality tv drama queens. Maybe I'll pay a little more attention for the rest of the season... football isn't worth watching anymore.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Concrete is for sidewalks
Asphalt is for the road leading to the track
Dirt is for racing.

Go watch a race at your local dirt bullring. 2-3 heat races, a transfer race, and the main. If you ever see a top level late model dirt race you will never look at asphalt again except from your couch, because there is nothing else to do.

 

[polara71]

There are other ways to control speed without the plate, tires and down-force.



Alan

Like the accelerator pedal

 

[78Brougham]

42 cars? I thought this was the "playoffs" what the hell are those back markers even doing out there?
Every other sport that has a "playoff" or "The Chase" as in this case whittles the field down. All those losers who didn't make the top ten should be in their shops prepping for next year.
Reset the points to zero and let the top ten battle it out on the shortest tracks on the circuit.

can't imagine 42 cars strung out around a 2.66 mile track,

I can't imagine 42 cars running "Nuts to Butts" on those short tracks. Get up for a beer and there's been three wrecks and 30 caution laps how boring is that?
Got so many cars out there you can't even tell whose leading if it wasn't for those pointy things they use lol

 

[bluefury361]

Like the accelerator pedal

When to feather....... when to mash.

 

[bluefury361]

[QUOTE="78Brougham,

I can't imagine 42 cars running "Nuts to Butts" on those short tracks. [/QUOTE]


The bump & run method works better on the short tracks.
The "nuts to butts", as you put it, really only works at Dega. The aerodynamics involved during the race fascinates me. You can't see it but its there, and is a huge factor to being successful.
Example: On a interstate hwy you come up on a big truck that pushing a lot of air. You move to the left and tuck in close to the left rear of it. There's a vacuum area, (negative air), at that point. As you progress ahead you notice the drag of the air coming off the truck. Then move over as far left as you can to break through the "wall of air". You can "feel" the resistance diminishing as you go past.