[LSC9901]

It looks like the biggest NASCAR race of the year might be getting a date change. For the past 25 years, NASCAR has led off the season in Daytona Beach, FL with the sports biggest race, the Daytona 500.

Daytona's famous "SPEEDWEEKS" is a two week blitzkrieg of motor sports that begins in early February and runs through the Daytona 500 on President's Day weekend. Known as the "Great American Race", the Daytona 500 has been a staple of American sports and American culture for nearly fifty years.


This week, sources within NASCAR told me there has been closed door discussions to move the date of the Daytona 500, to November.

Apparently, NASCAR is intrigued by the idea of switching the dates of the season ending Homestead race with the season opening Daytona 500. The allure of ending the NASCAR season and crowning a new Nextel Cup champion at the sports biggest race is something the France family is strongly considering.

NASCAR and the International Speedway Corporation own both tracks so a change of date would be easy to accomplish.



In 2008, NASCAR will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 on February 17th for what may be the final time ever in the month of February.

If NASCAR does choose to move the Daytona 500 to the final race of the season, the potential drama for race fans could be overwhelming, or it could be a bust.

For the drivers, the perfect end to a future NASCAR season would be a victory in the Daytona 500 and a clinching of the Nextel Championship on the same day.

But, imagine a season ending Daytona 500 with the champion having been decided the week before and the 40th driver in the Nextel Cup standings takes the checkered flag. The championship would be a bust and so would the race.


The idea of holding the "Superbowl" of your sport as the last event of your season is the "norm" in most sports, but this is NASCAR and NASCAR is about tradition.Not to mention there is no "norm" in NASCAR.

There is no player union, the rule book is flexible, NASCAR makes rules up as they go along, they introduce new race cars in a whim, and...they move race dates with the stroke of a pen.

Sources said the late Bill France Jr. was very much against moving the Daytona 500 and felt that it would hurt the integrity of the sport.

But, with the old school traditions going by the wayside year after year, the new brass of NASCAR is more willing than ever to make some major changes.

NASCAR does not intend to have a final decision regarding the date change until the end of the 2007 season, but don't be surprised if your 2009 Florida vacation takes place in November instead of February.

[Quality88]

You have got to be sh!ttin me. That dumba$$ France can't leave anythin alone. Nothin is sacred. You can't have the 500 in November. The season has to start off with a bang. Homestead can't provide that. The 500 sets the tone for the year. That particular race(and track) have to many unforeseens. What do they do when( and this is just a scenerio) Jeff Gordon clinches the title two weeks before the 500 and then wrecks to laps into the 500. Not only that, if the driver that wins the 500 is not the championship winner, then thier victory will go by the way side becuase they will be celebrating the champion. All that hard work teams put into Daytona will be for nothin basically because the potential is there for their victory to be overshadowed by the championship. The 500 is a totally different race from the rest of the season, and there's a reason for it. What a bunch of Jacka$$es.

[Phils20]

hmmmmmmmmm, I think it could be just the opposite. It is possible that the championship could be decided, even with the bogus "chase" format. And homestead has never been a very good race! It could actually save the teams some headaches, to not prepare so much for such a different race to start the season.

I wouldn't start with Homestead though! Hell, start in Vegas! But since they don't own that track, they will never do that, even though it would make more sense. Not much rain, warmer temps, and it would give the West Coast a big bump in status. Not to mention Vegas is a lot more attractive a place to go than Homestead.

I don't see it as a disaster. If anything, it could take away from the Champion, if someone like Dale Jr won, and Kurt Bush won the championship, no one would even want to talk to Kurt!

That would be intersesting!

[PenelopePitStop]

I agree with Q on this one!

If they do move the Daytona 500 to November, it won't be the Daytona 500 anymore. I don't need to explain to any of you how fans anticipate the first race of the season at Daytona and all the drama that goes along with it.

This really s*cks! I don't know what else to say ... except ... You Flippin' Idiots!









http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb097&pp=ZN

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

I agree with Q on this one!

If they do move the Daytona 500 to November, it won't be the Daytona 500 anymore. I don't need to explain to any of you how fans anticipate the first race of the season at Daytona and all the drama that goes along with it.

This really s*cks! I don't know what else to say ... except ... You Flippin' Idiots!

Now Penny .. be gentle. We're just idiots, not flippin' idiots !!!

Maybe it's time you made a trip to the trailer.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Now Penny .. be gentle. We're just idiots, not flippin' idiots !!!

Maybe it's time you made a trip to the trailer.

Now, LSC, you know that wasn't directed at GTG members!

I hope the trailer is a double-wide ... it's about to get really crowded!

Speaking of trailers, I would hate to be at NHIS right now. It's pouring to beat the band here. The only thing worse than a bunch of drunken race fans is a bunch of wet, drunken race fans.

I doubt the trucks will run, and I don't even think the Cup cars will be able to practice.

Tomorrow should be ok, though.








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Now, LSC, you know that wasn't directed at GTG members!

I hope the trailer is a double-wide ... it's about to get really crowded!

Speaking of trailers, I would hate to be at NHIS right now. It's pouring to beat the band here. The only thing worse than a bunch of drunken race fans is a bunch of wet, drunken race fans.

I doubt the trucks will run, and I don't even think the Cup cars will be able to practice.

Tomorrow should be ok, though.








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN

You can use my recliner PPS. Just don't spill anything on it. I'm steppin out for a while. Bourbon Festival time.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Now, LSC, you know that wasn't directed at GTG members!

I hope the trailer is a double-wide ... it's about to get really crowded!

Speaking of trailers, I would hate to be at NHIS right now. It's pouring to beat the band here. The only thing worse than a bunch of drunken race fans is a bunch of wet, drunken race fans.

I doubt the trucks will run, and I don't even think the Cup cars will be able to practice.

Tomorrow should be ok, though.








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb114&pp=ZN

weather is saying it may clear for this afternoons race ?????

[Phils20]

Just turned spped on, and it is bright and sunny! Good, I came home early to see the truck race! Glad it's running!

[Jeffrey4318]

I don't mind finishing the Season up in Daytona, but if they are going to do it move the 400 race. Also there should be a bye week before the race to build up hype just like the NFL does before the Super Bowl. Also I'd change it to the Daytona 600. Start the season with the 500 and end with the 600. The last race, potential championship race needs to be bigger and better. I'd make it 600 miles make those drivers really earn that championship.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Phils20

hmmmmmmmmm, I think it could be just the opposite. It is possible that the championship could be decided, even with the bogus "chase" format. !

I don't think they should EVER let a plate track decide a championship. There are too many variables at these tracks, who's gonna follow who, the big one, etc. Running good at a plate track does not take much talent, but it does take a lot of friends.
Guys like Kyle Busch wouldnt have a chance.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I don't think they should EVER let a plate track decide a championship. There are too many variables at these tracks, who's gonna follow who, the big one, etc. Running good at a plate track does not take much talent, but it does take a lot of friends.
Guys like Kyle Busch wouldnt have a chance.

If they don't want a plate race to decide that title, they should take away the plate tracks, or find a way to fix them so they don't need the plates. No matter when the race takes place, it impacts the title. It just doesn't show as much!

I don't care of the run four cyclinders, but the plates should go. The we wouldn't have to worry about em!

[thunderfoot]

BF needs to quit thinking for a while. Daytona at the end of the year? Is he nuckin futz? He must of found a bale washed up on the beach and started smoking the sh$t.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by thunderfoot

Is he nuckin futz? He must of found a bale washed up on the beach and started smoking the sh$t.

[jks812]

Boy just when you think ol France boy can't get any more stupid, he proves you wrong.