Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha -- what a joke. Has anyone else been watching this joke unfold?

Tony Stewart has been right all along -- Goodyears are junk. :eek:

I have been watching this....... uhmm...race??? What a battle of the pit crews !!!!! Think i'll go take a nap........

goodyear should give these tires away. bad race.if you can call it that.:(:(:(

Only the last ten laps were worth watching.

Its a joke for sure. They should run Firestones and Indy. They know what to expect. I bought a book off of ebay, the first autobiography about Richard Petty, from 1972. He had a whole chapter about the development of the tires in the sixties. Brock Yates book, Nascar:Off the record, also has a chapter devoted to the tires wars of the sixties between Goodyear and Firestone, not just in Nascar, but all over the world. Interesting info in both books. You would think someone at Goodyear would read thier own history, apparently not. Before this year started, people were comparing this season to the 81 season, when Nascar switched to the less-aerodynamically-stable downsized cars. Back then(on Bias Ply) Goodyear opted to play it safe with a harder compound until some data could be gathered. The radials aren't the same. They tried that at Atlanta, and the cars slid around so bad, the drivers said they couldn't pass. After the race, that's where Tony blew up about Goodyears, but he's right. I feel his pain. I have bought a set of wizzards that flew off the hub while I was warming up the car. On the other hand, I still have some wizzard sets that are ten years old and still runnable. Where is the consistancy? We run alot of stock tire classes. I don't really like the stock tomy tires on the G+ or the Turbos. I think Tyco has everyone beat on stock tires. Lifelikes can be good, depending on the track. HP7 tires work good on Magna traction stock tire classes. We use those on the street stocks and dirt car classes. Generally, stock car classes run more evenly with Tyco Tires.

Live reporting from Tyco Tire Technical Institute,
Rich

Hoosiers. Good on dirt, good on pavement. All I have to say.

If I were unlucky enough to have been a Paying fan at that race, I would ask for a Refund.
Goodyear should pay the lion's share and Na$car the rest.
What a Joke for what is the Second most important race of the season, status wise.
Thanks,
Keith

Stopped getting sucked in a long time ago, didn't watch a lap. The refrerence to Tire
Wars of old is so relevant ! Competition is good, if somebody does it better, it shows. Spec this, exclusive contract that - ends up all anything has to be is "just good enough". I mean, you could put em all on truck tires and you'd still have that "level playing field" they strive for, and no risk of somebody elses rubber showing them up.
I understand the desirability of single source tire makes for a race - wouldn't it be cool if multiple manufacturers could compete for that contract periodically rather than just award it to the highest bidder/palm greaser?

Of course, Michelin had a tire fiasco at Indy a couple of years ago on that course that runs the wrong way through the golf course, and subsequently disappeared from the series the next year...... but Goodyear already took their marbles and went home from F1 before getting a shot at the exclusive deal Bridgestone got....

No doubt, the worst showing by NASCAR at Indy ever.

It came down to a decision:

Do I watch the Brickyard race or do I mow the grass?

Based on the total lameness of past NASCAR events at the Brickyard, I decided to mow...

Much to my surprise, or chagrin, the "race" was still going after the lawn care excitement was over.

Indy is a wonderful facility, and putting those big ungainly NASCARs on a race course that's not at all suited for the cars or the spectators is definitely a novelty and a spectacle. But so is watching a monkey wearing a diaper and necktie ride a pony.

I'm just glad I had a little bit of excitement in my afternoon.

It came down to a decision:

Do I watch the Brickyard race or do I mow the grass?

Based on the total lameness of past NASCAR events at the Brickyard, I decided to mow...

Funny.....the same thought had crossed my mind, except for the fact that Mother Nature kinda decided matters for me. We had storms roll through yesterday with flooding in some areas and winds upwards of 45 mph. There are reports that locally, three people were struck by lightning as well :freak: But whatever, it's a rare day when I would have preferred yardwork over a race.

Wow... I missed it..
*yawn*
(I guess not...) lol
Scott

How many of you actualy buy Goodyear tires? Or Firestones?
I like Michelins on my truck better,they last longer.And on
the wifes car Generals have been a good value.The Firestones
that came on my Ford truck were recalled because of blowouts,
they were lousy in the rain anyway.With Nascar and IRL at least
they have someone using their tires.

the least they could have done to try and save face is let the race go green for the final 20 laps instead of bringing out the last mandated yellow..... the drivers and teams knew what they had in tires and could have let them decide when to pit or not pit.....

How many of you actualy buy Goodyear tires? Or Firestones?
I like Michelins on my truck better,they last longer.And on
the wifes car Generals have been a good value.The Firestones
that came on my Ford truck were recalled because of blowouts,
they were lousy in the rain anyway.With Nascar and IRL at least
they have someone using their tires.
True. I prefer Michelins over F & Gs as well. Again, they will NEVER top that first Brickyard 400, with Jeff Gordon sliding out of turn 4 to get the pole, the Bodines crashing each other out and having thier dirty family laundry aired out in front of everyone, and then Jeff Gordon and Ernie Irvan dualing it out for the lead the last 40 laps, til Irvan blew a tire(Goodyear). I'm disappointed every year. Did I mention their was a tire war that year? (Goodyear/Hoosier)

Rich

I have been a fan of Michelin for over 20 years. Every set I have ever owned always wore like they were iron. Good grip too.

Have had at least half a dozen new cars come with Goodyears installed, including my current ride which wears the Fortera. They're the first decent set among the whole lot.

It's been imteresting to follow for sure. I have always used Dunlop GT Qualifiers on all of my rides. They have more real rubber in there makeup than other brands so the wetter they get the stickier they get.

I agree w/ Dunlop back in the 80s they were $50 a tire cheaper than the Goodyear gator backs handled as good dry and significantly better in the rain on my Mustang. Disagree w/ Nascar, after three or four competition yellows let the teams run as they may they've received enough of a warning and know what to expect. They went to the green, white, checkered to prevent boring finishes under yellow yet ran the entire race w/ mandated yellow stops. Maybe they should move the Indy race to O'Reilly Race Park and let them race!

The first Nascar race I saw in person was in 1979. When the cars received the green flag, my legs literally shook as I stood there for the first 20 or so laps....Most exciting thing I ever saw in my life.

But today, Nascar has evolved into a show. It is no longer a race. I have a tape of the 1981 Daytona 500 and you would not believe the passing that occured just about every time the cars entered turn 3. It was Amazing to see Neil Bonnet come from third place passing Baker and Allison while bringing 2 or more cars with him. You could even see inside the car as the driver fought the wheel.

This was really racing. You had a group of guys who wanted to lead and fans that loved it. If people could be reminded of how exciting Nascar once was, today's events would be seen as not a race, but a parade. Interest would fade even quicker.

Fast forward to today.....Yawn. Forgive me but you have a bunch of pretty boy millionaires sanctioned by an organization that sees the race as a show. The LAST THING either want to do is really RACE.

This weekend's "event" at Indy pretty much sums up what a loser this type of racing has become. For the past few years, attendance has become less and less. People are leaving the stands asking themselves why they devoted their weekend and dropped hundreds of dollars in cash watching something their local dirt track does better.

Its a show....not a race.

Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama (just North of the Alabama Gang)

The first Nascar race I saw in person was in 1979. When the cars received the green flag, my legs literally shook as I stood there for the first 20 or so laps....Most exciting thing I ever saw in my life.

But today, Nascar has evolved into a show. It is no longer a race. I have a tape of the 1981 Daytona 500 and you would not believe the passing that occured just about every time the cars entered turn 3. It was Amazing to see Neil Bonnet come from third place passing Baker and Allison while bringing 2 or more cars with him. You could even see inside the car as the driver fought the wheel.

This was really racing. You had a group of guys who wanted to lead and fans that loved it. If people could be reminded of how exciting Nascar once was, today's events would be seen as not a race, but a parade. Interest would fade even quicker.

Fast forward to today.....Yawn. Forgive me but you have a bunch of pretty boy millionaires sanctioned by an organization that sees the race as a show. The LAST THING either want to do is really RACE.

This weekend's "event" at Indy pretty much sums up what a loser this type of racing has become. For the past few years, attendance has become less and less. People are leaving the stands asking themselves why they devoted their weekend and dropped hundreds of dollars in cash watching something their local dirt track does better.

Its a show....not a race.

Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama (just North of the Alabama Gang)

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I miss my local dirt short track -- it is a super Menard's now. Pavement late model racing is kind of drying up around here too. :(

I second, or third, that. I try to record or buy any old footage of Nascar I can find. Anything from '92 on back, for obvious reasons. :thumbsup:

Rich 43

Ditto you guys, just going fast in shiny cars doesn't make great racing.

There is a dirt maybe 8 miles from me, doing great, asked my TM if she wanted to go last week and she said sure. Now if we get a Saturday night without rain, and the sprints are running I know it'll be a great show - not because it's designed to fill up a certain amount of air time, but because there are a bunch of guys trying to win a shootout.

When one of the washed up older Nascar drivers was asked why he still
raced, his answer was "where else can I make this much an hour?

man i sure am glad that i went to the truck race at IRP and not the cup race. i have been to it two times and i will never go back! the truck/busch race is a night race on short track good seats every where you go its awesome!! :thumbsup:



http://z9.invisionfree.com/CITRO/index.php?

IRP is a great track with the progressive banking.:thumbsup:

I watched this race between mowing and replacing a broken drive belt on the mower, and mowing some more. Not happy at all with the race. Lawn looks good though.

Goodyear needs to step it up. But the drivers need to voice their opinions also. Not just Tony, but all of them. I think Tony got in trouble for his comments earlier in the year about Goodyear. But if all the drivers said to fix it, NASCAR wouldn't fire all of them, now would they?

But it was a different car at Indy this year also. This COT car handles and acts very much the same way the cars of the 60's, 70's and early 80's did.

I'd like to see Hoosier tires in NASCAR again, along with Firestone and Michilen. Competition would give the racers the best effort from the tire companies.

As for the Firestone recall:
The Firestone recall was NOT Firestone's fault. Firestone was the fall guy. Ford told people to inflate the tires below the recommended P.S.I. The next year Ford increased the length and width of the wheel base of it's SUVs to prevent further rollovers.
Ford is a much bigger company than Firestone. The powers that be wasn't going to let Ford suffer and go bankrupt. That would've been bad for the economy.

OK HERE IS THE FOOTAGE!!

PIT LANE ! http://media.putfile.com/CRAFTSMEN-TRUCK-RACE-IRP-2008-27

CAUTION LAP. http://media.putfile.com/CRAFTSMEN-TRUCK-RACE-IRP-2008

RACE ACTION ! http://media.putfile.com/CRAFTSMEN-TRUCK-RACE-IRP-2008-87

Thank god i didnt go to that crappy nascar race !!! wink.gif

sorry about the shaky camera !


http://z9.invisionfree.com/CITRO/index.php?

The Firestone recall was NOT Firestone's fault. Firestone was the fall guy.

You must be referring to the Little Recall. The Big One was the infamous Firestone 500 recall. The company has still not regained its reputation and consumer confidence from the Big One.

Indy Fiasco '08 was a combination of factors that each contributed to a failure of the complete system. New car, wrong tire compound for the track, track conditions, inadequate testing, just to name the primary contributors. In defense of NASCAR there was no good outcome to be achieved once the race was underway and they were faced with the prevailing conditions. You can't exactly tell 200,000+ people "oops, nevermind, come back next week when we get our act together ... so sorry, here's coupon for a free hot dog..." They had a losing hand and tried to bluff their way out of it the best they could. The result sort of loosely resembled a race. At least the celeb-drivers all stayed around to participate in the Show, unlike a very similar problem that occurred at Talledega in 1968.

To place all of the blame on Goodyear is ridiculous, as is making a purchase decision about the kind of tires you run on your family hauler based on the performance of a specially formulated racing component that has no more resemblance to the tires run on your street cars than the NASCAR vehicles have to the street car models they are supposed to represent. NASCAR is entertainment, well most of the time, and sometimes they have a flop. This year's Indy race was a flop for everyone but the folks who walked away with a boatload of cash.

The lawn still looks pretty good.

It was shared with me that the rollover deaths which brought about the recall was not as much about the tires as the driver.

Supposedly, the majority of these deaths were women at the wheel. When the tire failed, the women were unable to bring the SUV back under control and the worst happened.

This is just what was shared with me. In this politically correct world I can see such facts being surpressed and discounted. I know for a fact that I can drive better than my wife.....The media would never acknowledge that however.

For what its worth.....

Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama

Regarding the race ... I watched the Brick till the second No Competition Caution and switched over to Bonanza and then Gunsmoke on TV Land. Sure, I sneaked a peak at the Brick during commercials but the race never materialized. I would have loved to hear the off-air comments in the TV booth.

It's a far cry from 1969 at Talladega when the top drivers loaded up and left because they couldn't race on the tires that Goodyear and Firestone provided. They didn't want to drive around the track at 3/4 throttle, they wanted to race.


Regarding Ford and Firestone. They're both to blame but I give the edge to Ford. They got complaints that their SUV rode like a truck and rather than redesign the suspension they under-inflated the tires to soften the ride.

Ford gambled with the life of their customers to save a buck. Firestone was guilty of a sin of ommission for failing to object and went along to make a buck.

You must be referring to the Little Recall. The Big One was the infamous Firestone 500 recall..

The recall related to the SUV rollovers was no Little Recall. Every SUV Ford made came with Firestones. Firestone lost alot of money on that. The Firestone 500 recall was the little one.

While it's subjective to call either recall little, the Firestone 500 recall affected 14 million tires versus 6.5 million for the Wilderness tire. The 500 recall dropped Firestone from its top spot and nearly bankrupted the company.

Had Firestone not handled the 1978 recall so poorly from a PR and liability perspective they would have been given more consideration in the Ford related case. But after the Firestone 500 debacle their credibility was forever tarnished and so the quick rush to judgment and damage control by the company (and Ford) when the year 2000 case hit. Every article about the Wilderness tire issue always brings up the 500 case. Whether it was Ford or Firestone most at fault with the Wilderness tire failures, Firestone's handling of the 500 case forever ruined their reputation and credibility. Putting a total dollar figure on what the Firestone 500 issue cost Firestone over the 30 years since the 500 bomb would probably yield a staggering number.

Interesting topics for discussion but little relevancy to the Indy '08 charade. I've used a lot of Goodyear, Firestone, Bridgestone, tires over the years on the family haulers and they all seem to be good quality. However, if I'm looking to compare tires for my own car I'll look at Consumer Reports and not the results sheet at Nascar.com or Formula1.com.

Well, Goodyear? can't blame competition from Hoosier like they tried to get away with years back for substandard stuff.........now if you do the math, a set of tires from Goodyear? in NA$CAR is, I believe that I've read, $1200. If they only go 10 laps at 16 sets per car that's $19,200 for each car times 43 cars is $825,600!!! They are in business to make money, right? At least Michelin had the balls to admit the problem, warn the teams AND refund the paying spectators. ....I turned on the TV just in time for the lap 10 competition yellow, found out what was going on and that was it....Speaking of competition yellows, if they throw it so that the teams can check/monitor tire wear, it seems to me that they should "Freeze the field" and restart in the order that they were running rather than gain positions in the pits. Just my 2 cents.

Speaking of competition yellows, if they throw it so that the teams can check/monitor tire wear, it seems to me that they should "Freeze the field" and restart in the order that they were running rather than gain positions in the pits. Just my 2 cents.

What excellent insight. That does make a lot more sense than turning a race with one of the largest purses of the year into a glorified pit crew competition, especially at Indy where passing is difficult. Any way you slice it, what happened is clearly on NASCAR's back since they own the show.

If there is a silver lining to this dark cloud it's that the meltdown on the Cup side completely masked the travesty that took place on the Nationwide side over the weekend at Indy where the Toyota teams got rewarded for their success by having to effectively run restrictor plates on their engines for the rest of the season. Welcome to NASCAR, try your best, play by the rules, be good, but not too good because we'll punish you if you win too much and spoil "the show."

Back in 1988 or so when Hoosier was getting the better of Goodyear week in and week out in Winston Cup, Goodyear came up with the wonderful 'racing radial' that would be so much safer for the drivers than the bias-ply race tires that had been in use for decades.

NASCAR mandated the radials and Hoosier could not compete financially and had to withdraw from the sport. Oh, and the new safer radials caused a slew of crashes early on as they did not give any warning before they broke loose like the bias ply tires.

Coincidentally, Cup racing -- RACING -- has sucked pretty much since then. The races on the bias ply tires pre-1989 were always entertaining since the drivers had so much control. If Darrell Waltrip was pushing to catch Bobby Allison, you could see the smoke trailing his right rear tire as he 'hung it out' to go faster.

Now, it's all about the set-up and who can hire better engineers. :mad:

Exactly Doba. Where did Earnhardt finish in the points in 92, the first full season of the radial? Also, in 89 they brought in the freakin "Lumina", and so, "stock cars" didn't even have be rear wheel drive anymore. Now they run 4 door Camrys. Can someone just start a new series somewhere? What's ASA doing these days?

Rich :(

I look at NASCAR as the racing world's version of professional wrestling.

COT with tech of yesteryear. Carbs and analog instruments. Join the 21st century.

Drivers keep saying all they can see is the back of the car in front of them. If they can mount 50 cameras on a car for TV they can certainly put some cameras and monitors in the car for drivers.

They love to pat themselves on the back for their commitment to safety. If DE SR hadn't died how many tracks do you think would have safe walls? The announcers love to say it is part of his legacy. Nice of them to downgrade everyone who has died in the past as worthless.

Why haven't they put lights in and on cars so drivers know instantly that there is a caution? Why no lights so a driver can signal others that he is in trouble and needs to pit? Why haven't they done something about pit road safety?

What about the collusion between cars? Like making deals let me lead a lap for the points and I will give back the lead. Teammates blocking for each other and so on. The commercials said 42 versus 1.

The Lucky Dog. Where else can you go laps down and still win. NASCAR added the race to the chase to be more like other sports. How about a Lucky Dog in baseball? Going into the 3rd, 6th and 9th innings if you are only 1 run down the game is tied. Think of the excitement it would create.

Mandating the same gears, shocks and everything else has made races really boring.

Overall the races I enjoy most are the GP2s. Lots of passing and bonehead moves. If you have the Speed Channel check them out.

Agreed, those GP races are scrappin races. When do those bodies come out on SuperG+? I thought it would be neat to make the body in pieces, like the real cars.

Hey Rudi, how's your track coming along?

Rich

COT with tech of yesteryear. Carbs and analog instruments. Join the 21st century.
That's good Steve. :lol:

I think the last year for the big 3 factory cars using carbs was 1985. And Toyota never had a naturally aspirated V8. Or how about 4 speed transmissions? Their motives for preserving the sport seem to be blurred.

NASCAR = No Actual Stock Cars Are Racing. :dude:

As far as the tire issue. NASCAR needs to back Goodyear, not let them take the fall. Goodyear has the ability to make the tires they need for these bloated dinosaurs in a timely basis if they were alowed enough testing time and if NASCAR would realize that these COT's are a different animal and they cannot rely on past track experiences for input. :rolleyes:

While it's subjective to call either recall little, the Firestone 500 recall affected 14 million tires versus 6.5 million for the Wilderness tire. The 500 recall dropped Firestone from its top spot and nearly bankrupted the company.

Had Firestone not handled the 1978 recall so poorly from a PR and liability perspective they would have been given more consideration in the Ford related case. .

Oh, 1978. Thanks for setting me straight. I was in Junior High School then. That was the big recall.

I read a couple of articles about The 400. One on Tuesday and the another on Wednesday. The lion's share of blame is NASCARS'. A lack of testing and NASCAR's testing policy was a major factor. This COT car is much heavier and the center of gravity is higher than the old car. Thus causing more wear on the right side tires.

I'm not happy with everything NASCAR has done in the past 9 years. They're alienating the group of people that help put NASCAR at the level it enjoyed just before Dale Sr's death. Nascar is catering to people that want back the sport over the long haul.

Dale Sr's death was tragic, but let's not forget he was the fourth driver who died in a year. You had Kenny Irwin, Adam Petty, and Tony Roper who died in right front impact crashes. It wasn't until Dale died that NASCAR got off their keister and started to do something about it. I get upset when this topic comes up and Dale is the only one mentioned. All four of these people where important. Randy.

The past 9 years. How different things are now. After race 26, throw your points lead away that you and your team has worked so hard for,(and a championship or two, or three.), forget working your way in from the short tracks, change the name of the series 3 times, waffle on issuses, screw the fans and make em like it, oh, and let Toyota in. What, no more country music? A ZEN GARDEN?????????????

Rich

ditto Randy. As I recall some drivers got their hands slapped when they brought up the too heavy/too rigid car issue before Sr's untimely and preventable death. Not much impetus for change when one small group of people hold all the cards - that is, the series and rules, most of the tracks, the majority of the media, and a heavy hand over everybody involved. With the vast diversity of tracks, one wonders why testing isn't allowed at each for safety reasons alone?

The France dynasty - they came up with Grand Am and have made "Daytona Prototypes" that draw little interest - the resurgent IMSA does much better. You want to see another poorly done spec car? Grand Am's Miller Cup Mustangs. Plenty of power, no grip and a silly spec wing on the back. I am not a motorcycle guy, but I understand they bought AMA and want to turn things into a spec series too - I guess would make a cycle company with money and sponsorship but no technology suddenly a bigtime player (profit source) - but that's the name of the game, isn't it.

Support your club and local/regional racing, because as this flower wilts alternatives who don't get any limelight now need to be strong enough to compete for viewers and fans when they get their chance.

[edited] improper language - 7 day suspension

Read Announcement #2 at the top of the Slot Car General Discussion page...

I agree with what many have already said: Nascar today is no where near as exciting as it used to be. I remember as a kid, being 10, watching that 1979 Daytona 500 race with my father (he was a mechanic, and we would watch ANY racing on TV during those days, as there was never really much coverage). I really got into Nascar in the early-mid 1980's once ESPN started carrying it, and for me, the hey-day of sport was 1980-1995 or so. You still had the "old guard" of Petty, Allison, Yarborough, Pearson, Baker, etc. rolling around, and some great "young guns" in Waltrip, Earnhardt, LaBonte, Gant, etc. A nice mix of experience and enthusiasm. No restrictor plates, racing bumper to bumper, fender to fender, etc. Drafting and "sling shot" passing were common place. It was really exciting stuff. Drivers still worked on their cars somewhat, and were down to earth guys.

Sadly, its a lot different today, and I find it very hard to follow the sport with much enthusiasm. Sure, I still tune in for the "major" races, but I find it hard to get into events at Las Vegas for example. I don't find many drivers today to be "interesting": So many are so bland and neutral it seems. I dunno, to me, it seems like Nascar went "corporate" in the chase for big money, and while they got it, it feels to me like they lost a whole lot of what made the sport great back in the day: A Southern flavor to it, short-trackin', 2 car-teams (at most), etc. Its just not the same animal as it used to be, and I don't think it changed for the better.

Guess I am getting cranky in my advanced age, LOL....(but then again, I feel the same way about F-1 too.)

I also agree with a lot of what is being said here. I used to follow it in the late sixties to the early eighties but then lost interest. Engines all the same size, same four barrel on top, same restricter plate blah blah blah. Back in the eighties you could at least identify the make of car but now all of the jelly beans look the same.
When was the last time you saw a Monte Carlo with a V8 in the front and rear wheel drive? I haven't seen one on the show room floor in years so if it stock car racing why don't they have a V6 and front wheel drive. Why aren't they on the track . Racing should be the best of wht you make against the other guys best. I really started following drag racing. They are going faster and faster all of the time . Engines are evolving etc etc. Nascar is just the (Yawn ) same old (yawn ) thing anymore. I have to go take a nap now.

A Zen Garden?????????????????????????????????

I've started following Drag Racing also. But there is talk of slowing the Nitro cars down since Scott Kallitta's death. The finish line has been move to the 1,000 foot mark, It used to be 1,320. This is until the end of the year. I don't know if it will be permanent yet.

The fun about watching Drag Races is the upsets. Except for Top Fuel, looks like Tony Schumacher is unbeatable right now.

I still like NASCAR, but if they keep the monkey business up, I'll be another lost fan. ABC's / ESPN's coverage needs to get much better. Last year they covered the races like everyone watching was just plain dumb or a first time veiwer. It hasn't got too much better this year either.

As for Stock in Stock Car, there is nothing stock about a Stock Car today or for the last 45 years. Bill France's idea of a Stock Car meant stock when he first formed NASCAR. But evolution made the Stock Car less stock as time went on. I read in one book where one racer got a car off the showroom floor. Taped up the headlights ripped out the back seat and other unwanted weight and went racing.

I was born in 65'. But when I see old photos, or old race footage, and read the stories of the days from the early 70's on back to the beginning. I feel like I missed the glory days of NASCAR.

I have a ticket to the August race at MIS. I'm looking forward to the friends I've made from Canada, spending time with my brother and his buddy, oh and tossing back some cold beer, that's always a bright spot. Hopefully the race will be just as fun. Randy.

Sorry jump on the band wagon late but..... If Larry can do it.....

#1 I think F1 set the standard for tire fiascos. I also think there needs to be a refund, AND an appology, not just the later.

#2 I also remember the "heydays". I seem to have memories of LOTS of one groove racing. One or two up front runners. Lots of tire issues, and little, if any TV.

#3 I think we are LIVING the heydays of racing NOW!
With all the talk of pollution,global warming,conservation, and energy starvation, I can see a day coming soon where racing will be out of vogue. Just keep an eye on the "Le Mans" race. That will be the bell weather event.

#4 Support your local racetrack.
Take the family out this weekend!

AFX nut ,I know that the cars are not stock I just meant back in the day they resembled what you could buy off of the showroom floor. Even in the eighties they looked the part. But even then they had there engines in the front and were rear wheel drive. Today they have transverse mounted v6's and are front wheel drive. They should at least have to resemble the product they represent I think. If the monte stock car has a 305 or 350 in it then so should the show room version. If the stock version has a transverse v6 so should the racing version. Otherwise change the name to facsimile racing. At least Chrysler runs fairly close with front v8 and rear wheel drive.
I used to drag race at English town where Scott was killed. Drag cars are constantly evolving , going faster . Unfortunatly they have remained far behind in safety advancements , whereas stockcars & F1 cars have progressed. Even using composite materials to do the job.
At English town they need a , longer run off but that will probably never happen. The neighborhoods nearby complain about the noise and property values have gone up to the point that for them to buy enough property would be cost prohibitive. Don't forget though that years ago there were few if any homes nearby and rail jobs and fuel cars were much slower.
Well thats my rant Nascar you lost me a long time ago , to bad 'cause I love cars & racin'