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10-22-2007, 02:03 PM
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| Subway 500 Observations This week's installment in the "Observations" threads will be very short. I was out of town with our race car and didn't get back in time to see the whole race. In fact, I only saw a small portion of the last 50-100 laps, so I'm gonna ask that each person that peruses this thread add an observation of their own, or comment on one (or more) that has already been posted. Gilliland's Pit Habit: Remember last week when I mentioned Mark Martin was very upset with David's short pitting? Well, guess what's the first scene I see when I turn on the race? Yep, David short pitting in front of Denny Hamlin, causing Denny to have to back up to get out of his pits. methinks, though I like David, he's digging himself a hole he's not gonna get out of very easily: racing at this level includes pit road courtesy .. something he's not showing. It'll come back and bite him if he doesn't change soon. Can't get no respect: Here's the pictures as they come off the TV screen - Shrub takes the lead from JJ, camera pans to Gordon who's just had a foul-up in the pits causing incomplete fueling, followed by an exhaustive explanation of what happened and how great Gordo's gasman was to prevent a penalty. Now we follow Gordo for about 10 laps while he's circling the track (mindless chatter in the background.) Now we switch to Dale Jr. and begin discussion of how well he's running and has been running the whole day, then follow Jr. for another 5-10 laps. Cut to commercial(s) and upon return, JJ is in the lead again, zoom to JJ and follow for 10 laps or so (accompanied by more mindless chatter.) Since I was just tuning in, I had no idea Shrub was one of the primary lap leaders, having at that particular point in time lead more than 25% of the laps (approximately the same number that JJ had lead.) It used to be customary for the network to show the leader, at least from time to time, but for that entire period of time between commercial breaks, Shrub was only in the picture on my big screen TV for a couple laps, and only for half a lap while he was leading. If it's not completely obvious to everyone watching, Shrub is not on the announcer's nor director's "favorites" list, so he's not gonna get TV time unless he crashing or in the shot with the object of their affection. Shrub is not my favorite driver, but this kind of disrespect displayed by the media is shameful in the least .. I hope he wins the championship and disses them in his acceptance speech. Commercial timeouts: As it often happens, within a few seconds of going to a commercial under green, a caution happens. about 10 commercials later the green is waved and half a dozen or so laps run when another caution waves. another 10 commercials and we return, you guessed it, after the 2nd restart! I hope ABC is getting good bucks for these commercials 'cause I hope those companies whose products were hawked during that time get lots of fan mail .. all negative .. about the way the network is not providing coverage of the event and the sponsors are gonna pay the price. I remember specifically at least 3 different Jack-in-the Box commercials being run during that time because I was hungry  ...Mosquitoes not welcome: Evidently Martinsville is having a mosquito problem 'cause the amount of tire smoke on every spin is 2-3 times as much as at any other track. Makes me wonder what the miracle chemical they and the Goodyear have come up with that generates so much smoke. 20 to go and... We get 10 exciting laps of caution followed by a green run of 5 laps and a wreck. Announcers were ready, rewind to last week and reminisce about it's finish. Gleefully they go to the GWC (green white checker) and ... well, you saw it. Newman tried but somebody (who shall remain unidentified because they may have been paid by HMS to spin - just a rumor) spun and cut his great restart charge short. How elated can we be??? If you weren't, then obviously you're not a HMS fan. Driver's interview habits: Isn't it amazing what you see when drivers are interviewed after the race? For instance, Clint looked everywhere but at the pit reporter while he was answering their questions. Jr. always seems like he needs to hit the boys room. Gordo looks straight at the interviewer and turns on the charm. JJ tries to act natural, but still comes off sort of plastic. And so, with 4 to go, here's the Chase standings:
The fat lady is humming...
__________________ Press One For English "I hate 2nd .. but it's good for points" - Carl Edwards “If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith" - Albert Einstein.      |
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10-22-2007, 05:07 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Again, nice job! I always look forward to your commentary! I hope you'll continue in 2008!  http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb097&pp=ZN |
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10-22-2007, 05:23 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
Lord willing and the creeks don't rise I'll be here! And I hope to see you here too! |
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10-22-2007, 05:52 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
 Even that has gone down hill. The good old teleprompter has ruined that too! |
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10-22-2007, 06:09 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations OK, Penny. I showed you mine, now where's yours? Observations, that is |
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10-22-2007, 06:42 PM
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10-22-2007, 06:49 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
I was glad that Gordon finally lost the lead. Was tired of watching him drive around the track and was about to change the channel. It was refreshing to see the leaders mix it up. Pit strategy played a huge role in that, but who cares? Glad to see Burton do well, but it didn't last. Also glad to see Jr. do well if only for a little while. I never found out why he finished so far back. Blow another engine? Didn't like that the announcers blamed Jr. for coming up on "you know who". Looked to me like "you know who" came down. Same happened with Truex and the 45 (I think). Looked to me like the 45 also came down. Glad to see Robby have trouble. Don't like him. Sad to see Mikey, Elliott, and Jarrett also have trouble. Alas, in the end it was all HMS. I found myself cheering for Newman, which I never do. Caution after the green-white-checkers. Game over! I would have loved to have seen Newman give Johnson a fight! I can't produce a commentary like you. These are just my observations. I'm more interested in the Sox right now. I strayed from NASCAR  and spent last night on the Red Sox forum chatting with LSC and Simon. Had a ball! No pun intended!
__________________ PPS: Goddess of All Things NASCAR |
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10-22-2007, 07:08 PM
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10-22-2007, 08:05 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
I loved your observations. I now know more about the race I didn't get to see much of .. except who "you know who" is....  I saw some sort of headline on NASCAR.COM earlier about Jr. and engines, but didn't read the story .. guess you piqued my interest in finding out! Good Job! OK, who's next? PS: I'm guilty of spending time in the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns forums .. but I think "cross pollination" is encouraged by the management, so no harm no foul... |
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10-23-2007, 12:30 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Jeff Gordon's kid must have enough diapers to cover the tiny butts of half the free world. It's sad that the thing that sticks out most in my mind about this race is how many times that commercial was repeated. I don't even know what that commercial was advertising - was it for Pamper's??? I have not clue, so I guess that commercial was annoying but not effective. Truex couldn't seem to keep his car going the right way around the track. The back end seemed to be leading the front end most of the day. It was a relief not to hear "aero loose, aero loose!" fifty zillion times. The overall lack of patience and lack of acceptance on the part of the drivers that in racing there will be contact and conflict is getting nuts. But I would not want to see anything done about the off track antics. Kenseth seems to be a target lately. I say if Kenseth has a problem with being treated like dirt by his teammate, or Gordon, or whomever, let Kenseth step up and handle it. He doesn't need the team owner to do that for him. Walk away if that's your style, or find him in the parking lot/garage, where ever, and flatten him. (Granted, Kenseth may have to resort to a sucker punch, but hey, at least he wouldn't be taking crap any more.) I'm no longer tired of seeing the Hendrick teams win. Now I'm amazed by their constant excellent finishes. What is making them all "click"? They aren't the only big money team. Maybe the fact that JG and JJ congratulate each other after the race instead of trying to kill each other has something to do with it. Even Schrub has been decent. Casey is always PC and getting more "air" time than he used to. He's going to continue to improve. I have underestimated Juablo, I think. He had a good race for the most part, and that seems to be more the norm instead of the exception now. The observation about interview habits was great and fun. I think JJ is totally uncomfortable in front of a camera. JG has it down to a science. Jr. is actually pretty good and makes me laugh with his down home, good ol' boy style. Schrub is the epitomy of trying to look cool if you're the class geek trying to ask out the homecoming queen. The Big Schrub tries to sound like a grown up, attempting to make us believe he's done with his bad to the bone days. And Stewart is the guy hanging off the front of the big boat screaming "I'm the king of NASCAR!" That was the Titanic, right? Hmmm.
__________________ If things get better with age, then I'm approaching magnificent. |
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10-23-2007, 12:45 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
I had seen the deal about Truex somewhere .. I think they said something like "spin, spin, spin"... JJ & JG always congratulate each other .. remember JG owns JJ's car so it's kinda "expected" plus they're off track friends and hang around together... |
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10-23-2007, 04:37 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Quote:
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10-23-2007, 05:55 PM
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10-24-2007, 05:22 PM
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10-25-2007, 03:00 PM
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| Re: Subway 500 Observations Do any of you listen to the in-car audio online during the races? I listened for the first time during Sunday's race-- Kurt Busch's audio since it's free right now thanks to Dodge and Miller. I actually really enjoyed the extra insight into the race. Does anyone else listen to it for any other drivers? Do some talk to their pit crew more than others? |
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