[AlexanderDrew]

I'm not sure about the new Daytona. Two car separations, and a lot of shaky cars. Going to be a big mess come 500 time.

[cepAceryTem]

1st Practice is halfway done.

Hendrick drivers Dale Jr. and Mark Martin leading the way with speeds around 199.850 MPH. That's not a bad pace for opening practice. New surface = FAST.

Speeds over 207 MPH.

But these drivers pairing up seems very..., err..., ... gay.

[wantedLOX]

This is the year Tony Stewart finally wins the 500!!!!!

[Dr. Shon Thomson]

JR wins the pole!

[DariushPetresku]

JR takes the pole!

....and he liked it.

[triardwonvada]

Pretty impressive that Bayne placed 3rd in the initial qualifying.

I'd bet that Junior is out of the Top 10 by lap 15.

[Barryrich]

I'll probably watch the 500 on Sunday, but I'm working 3rd shift on the weekends and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get up in time.

For the last few seasons, my interest in NASCAR has been declining a lot. Outside of the 500 last year, I watched maybe two races at best. I know part of it is that Jr. hasn't been doing all that well as of late and it just isn't that exciting anymore for me without Sr. I don't know if he would have been racing this long, so I may have had to root for someone else anyhow.

Also, I'm not a fan of a lot of the guys racing right now. If it's guys trying to take each other out on the track in a bad way or guys just being whiny little bitches, I just am not finding the allure this sport once had. I suppose I could start rooting for Keselowski. Hell I like Montoya, but even he doesn't get me excited like he did in his CART days. I support Harvick, but it's just something about him still driving the car Sr. used to drive despite the number change. I've got some respect for "Smoke" as an owner, but don't like him in the least as a driver. His Gibbs replacement looks like a band geek to me. Despite being from Wisconsin, I really don't care for Kenseth in the least. I get that feeling he's quite the arrogant prick. Paul Menard is a joke, but not so much the butt of jokes anymore as he's showing some improvement. I like JJ, and can't stand "Wonder Boy," and think Martin is hanging on too long. The rest of the guys are just so-so.

There just doesn't seem to be much appeal to me anymore. I hope this season gives me reason to watch again.

[weO1bVp1]

Pretty impressive that Bayne placed 3rd in the initial qualifying.

I'd bet that Junior is out of the Top 10 by lap 15.

This is a pretty dumb post. Maybe he will. Have you never watched Daytona? Drivers can go from 1st to 30th and BACK to 1st in a span of two laps. Jr, like every other driver out there, will likely be all over the field over the course of the race. What decides the winner of these restrictor plate races is the drivers that know how to be in the right place at the right time to make their move to the front in the final lap. Something that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the BEST at among the current drivers. Say all you want about Jr, and hate all you want on Jr, VERY few drivers can match his success at restrictor plate tracks, namely Daytona.

Junior will finish in the top 5, if not win it altogether. His car has a lot of speed this week, as do the other Hendrick cars, which means he'll have plenty of teammate help near the end (and throughout).

So yeah, he'll probably be around the middle of the field around lap 15. And it'll mean absolutely NOTHING.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the folks posting about NASCAR ever really watch these races. Honestly.

[XinordiX]

This is a pretty dumb post. Maybe he will. Have you never watched Daytona? Drivers can go from 1st to 30th and BACK to 1st in a span of two laps. Jr, like every other driver out there, will likely be all over the field over the course of the race. What decides the winner of these restrictor plate races is the drivers that know how to be in the right place at the right time to make their move to the front in the final lap. Something that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the BEST at among the current drivers. Say all you want about Jr, and hate all you want on Jr, VERY few drivers can match his success at restrictor plate tracks, namely Daytona.

Junior will finish in the top 5, if not win it altogether. His car has a lot of speed this week, as do the other Hendrick cars, which means he'll have plenty of teammate help near the end (and throughout).

So yeah, he'll probably be around the middle of the field around lap 15. And it'll mean absolutely NOTHING.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the folks posting about NASCAR ever really watch these races. Honestly.

That used to be true when there was one big pack. Now they are all paired up. I'm guessing that 30th to 1st would be quite a trick without the big-pack drafting.

[freeringsf]

This is a pretty dumb post. Maybe he will. Have you never watched Daytona? Drivers can go from 1st to 30th and BACK to 1st in a span of two laps. Jr, like every other driver out there, will likely be all over the field over the course of the race. What decides the winner of these restrictor plate races is the drivers that know how to be in the right place at the right time to make their move to the front in the final lap. Something that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the BEST at among the current drivers. Say all you want about Jr, and hate all you want on Jr, VERY few drivers can match his success at restrictor plate tracks, namely Daytona.

Junior will finish in the top 5, if not win it altogether. His car has a lot of speed this week, as do the other Hendrick cars, which means he'll have plenty of teammate help near the end (and throughout).

So yeah, he'll probably be around the middle of the field around lap 15. And it'll mean absolutely NOTHING.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the folks posting about NASCAR ever really watch these races. Honestly.

Not knowing a Fk'ing thing about NASCAR got me a third place finish last season.

Yes, Virginia, a fu*king rally monkey armed with a dartboard can pick winners just as easily as somebody hopped up on fruity-beers.

[wowwieholmes]

Not knowing a Fk'ing thing about NASCAR got me a third place finish last season.

Yes, Virginia, a fu*king rally monkey armed with a dartboard can pick winners just as easily as somebody hopped up on fruity-beers.

Dear strawfail,

This thread is not about fantasy nascar. At no point until YOU brought it up was it ever even mentioned. The post, and the reply thereof, had absolutely nothing with "picking winners", "fantasy nascar", or anything even remotely close.

As a matter of fact, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Stasher11]

That used to be true when there was one big pack. Now they are all paired up. I'm guessing that 30th to 1st would be quite a trick without the big-pack drafting.

Perhaps someone going from 30th to 1st is a stretch now, with the pairings, but from 15th or so? Absolutely. Pairings coming from a half a lap back are RUNNING down the leaders. It's crazy the difference in speed between the "trailers" and the leaders.

All I can say is that this is going to be a very unique race.

[Kneefrenolf]

Perhaps someone going from 30th to 1st is a stretch now, with the pairings, but from 15th or so? Absolutely. Pairings coming from a half a lap back are RUNNING down the leaders. It's crazy the difference in speed between the "trailers" and the leaders.

All I can say is that this is going to be a very unique race.

Talladega was like this last fall. 43 cars with 21 pairs and one wall flower until the first wreck. It IS Different, but its anyone's guess how it will play out. If anyone thinks they know, they is lyin'.

My guess is that someone we never suspected will win.

[Weislenalkata]

Talladega was like this last fall. 43 cars with 21 pairs and one wall flower until the first wreck. It IS Different, but its anyone's guess how it will play out. If anyone thinks they know, they is lyin'.

My guess is that someone we never suspected will win.

And in that "someone we never expected" category, I'd have to say keep David Ragan, Paul Menard, and Brad Keselowski on your radar. In that order. I think Ragan just might have a breakout season, and he's due for a win or two. This is a track where he just might could get it done, too. I'm not a Rousch fan, and I typically make every effort to hate on his drivers, but Ragan's got something I think. And he knows if he doesn't show it this year, he's going to be booted from the Rousch banner.

[oB8LI2kP]

And in that "someone we never expected" category, I'd have to say keep David Ragan, Paul Menard, and Brad Keselowski on your radar. In that order. I think Ragan just might have a breakout season, and he's due for a win or two. This is a track where he just might could get it done, too. I'm not a Rousch fan, and I typically make every effort to hate on his drivers, but Ragan's got something I think. And he knows if he doesn't show it this year, he's going to be booted from the Rousch banner.

I have Keselowski in my pool for right now.

Yeah, I'm surprised Ragan still has a ride, McMurray got the boot from Rousch with much more success.

And being a Sconsin boy, its good to see Menard get a Childress full time ride. Hope he can hook up with Harvick or Burton for a good finish. It would probably take one of them dropping out though.

Anyways, Childress is doing a lot of squawkin'. Let's see if his team can back it up.

[Stasher11]

I have Keselowski in my pool for right now.

Yeah, I'm surprised Ragan still has a ride, McMurray got the boot from Rousch with much more success.

And being a Sconsin boy, its good to see Menard get a Childress full time ride. Hope he can hook up with Harvick or Burton for a good finish. It would probably take one of them dropping out though.

Anyways, Childress is doing a lot of squawkin'. Let's see if his team can back it up.

I think that Keselowski was picked by Yahoo experts it seemed every other week last season. It is going to be really tough picking my team at this much changed track.

[Machater]

I think that Keselowski was picked by Yahoo experts it seemed every other week last season. It is going to be really tough picking my team at this much changed track.

I'm in a pool at the office pick one driver from each of 5 groups for a segment of 6 races.

I tried yahoo last year and a couple of times it didn't save my picks. So I got frustrated and quit.

But yeah, it looks like Brian Keselowski is the favorite for ROY.

[longrema]

I'm in a pool at the office pick one driver from each of 5 groups for a segment of 6 races.

I tried yahoo last year and a couple of times it didn't save my picks. So I got frustrated and quit.

But yeah, it looks like Brian Keselowski is the favorite for ROY.

I have never heard of a Nascar office pool. Are you in the South or some other Nascar hotbed?
So you are not in our Fantasy League? Supposedly it is new and improved and you should give it a shot.

[Poreponko]

I'm in a pool at the office pick one driver from each of 5 groups for a segment of 6 races.

I tried yahoo last year and a couple of times it didn't save my picks. So I got frustrated and quit.

But yeah, it looks like Brian Keselowski is the favorite for ROY.

Brian, eh?

[opelonafqe]

Brian, eh?

#92 Dodge.