[cheerbren]

Has this thread been started yet? So, Tony won Busch today maybe a sign of things to come. I am just getting a handle on all the changes. Watch the Bud Shoot out last week and was happy when Jr. won.

[thepostman]

not huge into nascar, but i like the super speedways...especially Daytona....part of that is I grew up around Daytona....its a huge deal down there

[jcmanson]

Whooo caaares???

[Sly Fox]

Whooo caaares???

Based on ratings & tickets sales, less than just a couple of years ago.

I admit I'm not a real fan or hater. I don't mind watching a few races a year. But I have never caught the fever that some of you guys seem to possess. Perhaps much of apathy has had to do with never being comfortable with how the sport operates under the Frances. It all seems so incestuous and frankly pushes the limits of anti-trust tests. But I admit I couldn't argue with the roaring success of the circuit until the past year or so.

The Daytona 500 is the one NASCAR race a year that I try to make a point of catching on television. I put it on similar ground with the Indy 500 which I grew up holding to a similar standard as the Super Bowl or NBA Finals. I've always been an open wheel guy and it has been pained me to certain extent to watch stock cars soar in success while most open wheelers slide into oblivion with the possible NASCAR-esque rise of World of Outlaws.

I'm really anxious to see how this recent flood of open wheelers does on the circuit. The last time we saw this many guys making the switch it resulted in the glory days of the sport thanks to Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart et al.

[01LUGrad]

I am in the same boat as Sly. Being originally from Indiana, the Indy 500 was must-see TV for the entire family. Except for a few races, NASCAR is great for Sunday naps. I do like Daytona, though.

I often wonder how the NASCAR guys would do if they switched over to open-wheel racing for one or two weekends a year. That would really help both sports grow, imo.

[bigsmooth]

thanks for getting the 08 thread started bren. the 08 season should be exciting. toyota has spent a ton of money and it has showed to pay off dividends already as hamlin won one of the duals and tony stewart won the nationwide(busch) race. little E has made the switch to The best team in NASCAR with hendrick motorsports, and the 48 looks for a three-peat. it should be a great season and hopefully a championship for the 24. hey medic who ya pulling for this year??

[jack_sparrow81]

It was packed yesterday. You could of probably filled a large college football stadium twice with yesterday's attendance. People are into Nascar nowadays

[bigsmooth]

people have always been into NASCAR. it has become more a national deal over the past 5 years. you have to go to a race to really buy into it though.

[jack_sparrow81]

Yeh, thats how I got into it. I used to make fun of it until last year when I went to the Busch race in Daytona. You don't appreciate it until you actually go to one. It was actually boring for the first 50 laps yesterday because there wasn't a caution until then and all the drivers were driving in single file. It was intense the rest of the race because there were more cautions. It 's always amusing to watch the diehard Junior fans in the crowd as well. The guy could be in last place and move up one spot and the crowd will just go nuts. I'm still trying to figure out how he finished third yesterday after being mostly in the middle of the pack for the majority of the day.

[bigsmooth]

restrictor plate racing that's why. you could literally be in the back of the pack but with proper teamwork you can get to the fornt very fast. Jr. sure looks good early on.

[PAmedic]

hey medic who ya pulling for this year??

Still sentimental about the little guy- but now that he's wheeling the 8 ...

Still like McMurray, though.

Gonna be a rough year for the Rousch camp and Fords in general.

[ToTheLeft]

Good race. I have always been a fan of Kurt and Kyle, especially Kyle. And Elliot Sadler. But now that Kyle is in Sadler's old car (sponsor wise), my mind has been made up.

Kyle Busch! Go Kyle Go!

[Fumblerooskies]

Kyle is a tool...his only chance to win would have been to follow Smoke. He was covering for big brother. I KNEW that was a bad hire by Gibbs.

[bigsmooth]

a nice run by newman and by dodge in general with six in the top ten. here is the wrap-up from NASCAR.com

Newman gets last-lap push from teammate to win 500
By Sporting News Wire Service
February 17, 2008
09:24 PM EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Throughout Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, all the talk had been about teamwork -- and most of it involved the dominant Hendrick Chevrolets and the presumptive pretenders to the throne, the Joe Gibbs Toyotas.

But it was the unsung Dodges of Penske Racing that ganged up on Tony Stewart during a three-lap run to the finish, with Kurt Busch propelling Ryan Newman to victory in Sunday's 50th Daytona 500.

http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlin ... index.html

[givemethemic]

Great race yesterday!!! It was good to see Vickers finish in the top 15 after last year's start of the season... I really think this new car will make the races even closer each week which should make for better racing...

[HenryGale]

I was real happy to see Newman win. Maybe my Alltel bill will go down

[sweetnahmah1]

DJ all the way baby!

[givemethemic]

Medic might be doing here in a few mins as Cousin Carl has 5 laps left before he wins the race

[bigsmooth]

cousin carl get the win but the hendrick boys go 2,3. a very good race indeed.

http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlin ... index.html

[PAmedic]

PAmedic was wrangling a testy 9 wk old at the time, but did manage to see the end of the race!

whoo hooo. Rousch back on track.

Anyone else catch the "coverage" this AM on ESPN where the female anchor referred to him as Rooosh (at least twice) and her call of the video was "he's making his move.... and....he's making his move... and..... he's making his move"

here's a thought- could we maybe have someone that has WATCHED Nascar actually do the highlights? the worst I've seen yet on Satan's network.

[Schfourteenteen]

the worst I've seen yet on Satan's network.

Id actually go for the time we got on ESPN for our game against Florida.

"Florida hosted Liberty, a school that once had 500 people at one of their home games. Liberty hasnt won on the road in 23 games. Seriously watch this play again: no one even tries on the court. Oh yeah, Florida won by 40."

Sometimes its better to not know alot

[cheerbren]

Didn't get to watch it as I was at work but so excited Carl won!! Love him! I can't stand lady announcers so glad I missed it!

[Schfourteenteen]

Regan Smith best finish of the year. YES

[Rocketfan]

Anyone else catch the "coverage" this AM on ESPN where the female anchor referred to him as Rooosh (at least twice) and her call of the video was "he's making his move.... and....he's making his move... and..... he's making his move"

She was probably having a flash back to a bad date the night prior.......

[MacGeek]

yeah... ummm nascar isn't a sport.