Nascar '06 Thread

**l00k** · May 1st, 2006, 05:50 PM

Jimmy Johnson is leading the points after the race today at Talladega. I think this might be the year where he finally gets luck on his side and wins a championship. He has been the closest to winning of all other drivers not named Mark Martin.

That said, Tony Stewart just seems to be that much better than all the other drivers so I'm not sure it's going to matter unless he has a rash of bad luck at the end of the year.

Any comments or thoughts?

**l00k** · May 13th, 2006, 04:45 PM

The race tonight from Darlington is on at 6:30 PM on FOX

**Gman1524** · May 13th, 2006, 04:49 PM

I will win.

I've always wanted to go, but have never done so. A friend has asked me to go with him sometime. Maybe, one day I will actually go.

**l00k** · May 13th, 2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gman1524

I will win.

I've always wanted to go, but have never done so. A friend has asked me to go with him sometime. Maybe, one day I will actually go.

Go where, to Darlington or a race?

I read something in the paper about how there was almost a brawl at the meeting to discuss the NYC Nascar track project. A lot of people were angry.

Here's a link to an article: click here, nascar.com article

**Gman1524** · May 13th, 2006, 04:56 PM

My friend has asked me to go with him to Dover, but I have resisted because it is insane trying to get in and out of there.

**l00k** · May 13th, 2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gman1524

My friend has asked me to go with him to Dover, but I have resisted because it is insane trying to get in and out of there.

I think it would be worth it. Races are kind of a Friday through (and including) Monday kind of event now. I wouldn't go to a race expecting to be home, snug in bed, the same night of that particular race.

**redwing** · May 14th, 2006, 06:08 PM

If you are given a chance to go to Dover, by all means take him up on his offer. Put up with the traffic. Get there early on race day. Get garage passes if you can. See behind the scenes, watch the teams prepare the cars, sneak a peek at tech inspection. Bump into a driver or two in their street clothes. If you spend Saturday at the track watching practice and other support races, you'll have a great time. Dover is a great track to watch from the stands, you will see all of the race, unlike the superspeedways, where you only see a few seconds of action at a time. Enyoy the post-race ceremonies, take your time leaving. In fact, ask for Monday off. Take a grill, cook up some steaks and wait for the cars to bleed out of the lot. If you do it right, you will want to go again and again.

Another great trip is Watkins Glen. The best way to experience The Glen is with general admission tickets, so you can wander around the track and watch from wherever you please. There are a lot of side attractions. Go hiking in the Gorge. Visit downtown Watkins Glen, and see where the original Start/Finish line is still painted on the street. It is, by the way, America's Oldest Road Course. Have lunch by Seneca Lake and watch the sailboats. Throw down a tent in the Family Camping area and rough it for the night. The last time I was there, our neighbors had a bonfire going at 3am, and jamming Metallica on the karaoke machine. Saturday night also brings a somewhat sordid affair to "Gumbyland," in the Boot section of the track. Think of it as being a mini-Woodstock that night. As long as nobody gets hurt, the local law enforcement pretty much allows kids to be kids. Get up early on Sunday and get your spot on the grass outside of Turn 1. Watch the start and first few laps from there. Spend a little time in the esses, then head for the end of the back straight. Again, if you can, get a garage pass. That track is just below torture on the cars, and it is great fun to see angry drivers pull into the garage and throw helmets, gloves etc as they exit their defunct machines. After the race, it's about two to three hours to get on the highway, but you will notice something interesting as you depart. As far down as central PA, race fans will be sitting beside the road, wearing their shirts and jackets, flying their banners, waiting for the transport carrying their favorite driver's car to come by. These are the people who make NASCAR what it is.

Wherever you go, if in fact you decide to , take the camera for sure. There is always something to see, and many sights you will want to keep a record of. "Tits for beer" signs will be abundant, but aside from that, general people watching is fun, getting groups of Gordon, Junior or the myriad of drivers' fans. The grandstands will be reminiscent of a field of wildflowers, with multiple spots of color as far as you can see. Television doesn't do justice to what you will experience.