NASCAR 2018 Race 10: Talladega Geico 500 race thread

[dara]

Schedule:

Note: All times are ET

Friday, April 27
11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, FS1
12:35-1:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, FS1
1:35-2:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1
2:35-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1

Saturday, April 28
11 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Busch Pole Qualifying, FS1
1:05 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, FOX
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Sparks Energy 300 (113 laps, 300.58 miles), FOX

Sunday, April 29
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 (188 laps, 500.8 miles), FOX

Stage 1: Lap 55
Stage 2: Lap 110
Race : Lap 188

Track facts:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Talladega_Superspeedway.png/200px-Talladega_Superspeedway.png

Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 2.66-mile trioval 48 feet wide (12-foot apron)
Turns: Banking: 33 degrees Length: 3,750 feet Radius: 1,100 feet
Trioval: Banking: 18 degrees
Frontstretch: Chute length: 2,150 feet (from turn to middle of trioval);
Total length: 4,300 feet Banking: Minimal for drainage only
Backstretch: Length: 4,000 feet Banking: Minimal for drainage only
Seats: 78,000 [was 78,000 was 109,000, 143,231} with 30 suites

Pit Stalls:
Length: 30 feet
Width: 17 feet

Track Records & Stats (does not include 2017)

May 2016 Race Winner: #2-Brad Keselowski, 140.046mph, started 7th
October 2016 Race Winner: #22-Joey Logano, 159.905mph, started 16th
Track Race Record: Mark Martin, May 1997, 188.354mph
Slowest Race Record: Jeff Gordon, April 25, 2004, 129.396mph
Worst Starting Spot to Win: Jeff Gordon, April 2000, started 36th
Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 52 years, 3 months, 26 days, 5/6/1991
Youngest Race Winner: Bobby Hillin Jr., 22 years, 1 months, 22 days, 7/27/1986

April 2016 Pole Winner: #24-Chase Elliott, 192.661mph, finished 5th
October 2016 Pole Winner: #78-Martin Truex Jr., 193.423mph, finished 40th
Track Qualifying Record (no restrictor plate): Bill Elliott, April 1987, 212.809mph
Track Qualifying Record (Restrictor Plate): Bill Elliott, May 1990, 199.388 (15/16th inch plate)
Track Qualifying Record (Restrictor Plate): Kyle Busch, May 2014, 200.574 (1st round qualifying)
Oldest Pole Winner: Mark Martin, 52 years, 9 months, 14 days, 10/22/2011
Youngest Pole Winner: Chase Elliott, 20 years, 5 months, and 2 days, 4/30/2016

Most Wins: 10 - Dale Earnhardt
Most Wins - Active Driver: 6 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Most Poles - All Time: 8 - Bill Elliott
Most Poles - Active Driver: 8 drivers with 1 pole

[dara]

Starting Order:

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Kurt Busch
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Chase Elliott
6. Erik Jones
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. Clint Bowyer
9. Joey Logano
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Alex Bowman
12. David Ragan
13. Paul Menard
14. Daniel Suarez
15. Darrell Wallace Jr.
16. Jimmie Johnson
17. William Byron
18. Ryan Newman
19. Kyle Busch
20. Michael McDowell
21. Trevor Bayne
22. Kyle Larson
23. Ryan Blaney
24. Austin Dillon
25. Chris Buescher
26. Kasey Kahne
27. Jamie McMurray
28. AJ Almendinger
29. Ty Dillon
30. Brendan Gaughan
31. DJ Kennington
32. Timothy Peters
33. Matt DiBenedetto
34. Joey Gase
35. Ross Chastain
36. Cole Whitt
37. Gray Gaulding
38. Reed Sorenson
39. Timmy Hill
40. Aric Almirola


New rule, no practice? No problem.

Kevin Harvick, the last driver in final qualifying, took the pole for Sunday's GEICO 500 Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, turning a 49.247-second lap at 194.448 mph to edge Kurt Busch (49.340, 194.082 mph).

Qualifying Saturday came after NASCAR announced a rule change designed to decrease the speeds after Jamie McMurray's spectacular wreck during Friday's practice.

The two Fords will start in the front row, ahead of Toyotas driven by Martin Truex Jr. (49.482, 193.525 mph) and Denny Hamlin (49.633, 192.936 mph).

The context: McMurray had turned a lap of 203.975 mph just before his crash Friday, more than 6 mph faster than the fastest lap in practice in October. Brad Keselowski told ESPN.com that he estimated McMurray was going 210 mph at the time of his crash that sent him somersaulting down the track.

In response, NASCAR reduced the size of the holes in the restrictor plates from 56/64ths of an inch to 55/64ths, cutting approximately 12-15 horsepower and likely a few miles per hour. There was no additional practice scheduled for Sunday's race following the change and ahead of qualifying and racing, a move that's not unprecedented for NASCAR.

The GEICO 500 starts at 2 p.m. ET Sunday on Fox.

[4me2c]

1)...Kevin Harvick...!
2)...Chase Elliot
3)...Joey Logano

:cool:

[Capt.Kangaroo]

My favorite race of the season!!!!
:)

[4me2c]

My favorite race of the season!!!!
:)

Yep, can Almost taste the Beer and the Hotdogs...! Oh, Those were the Days...!

[carlosman]

*kyle Busch
Kyle Larson
Jimmie Johnson

[ilan]

* Keselowski
Hamlin
Logano

[crazed 9.6]

* Keselowski
Hamlin
Logano

hey we gots a Rookie here !!!
We don't have a Rookie of the Year prize but we can sure welcome you to the pool with a big smile :)

Very nice to see you join in Ilan :)

[ilan]

Why thank you, crazed. I thought I'd join in for Schlitz & giggles. I haven't followed NASCAR for a long, long time. Last race I went to was at the Glen.

[dara]

ilan, the way scoring works, you can still catch up, even though you missed the first third of the season... kind of like Kyle Busch!

[4me2c]

Why thank you, crazed. I thought I'd join in for Schlitz & giggles. I haven't followed NASCAR for a long, long time. Last race I went to was at the Glen.

"Schlitz", put down many, many years ago, along with Utica Club, Genesse and Piels ...! "Welcome to the Party Pal...!"

[ilan]

Thanks... Had them all, too. Good ol' Genesee Cream Ale...many a headache.

[4me2c]

Thanks... Had them all, too. Good ol' Genesee Cream Ale...many a headache.

Ever have Carlings Red Cap Ale and the Green Can, Black Label Beer...?!?

Gotta get back to Racing Real Soon, almost time for Pole Positions to bee Posted...!

[ilan]

Mable Black Label...yupper. I remember Carling's Black Label, not sure about Red Cap. Loved Molson Golden Ale.

[dishuser]

https://youtu.be/4EoH2Ch9aJI

[crazed 9.6]

some Trouble in that video dishuser :eek:

I get a kick outta that one announcer when he sees a wreck in progress, first thing he does is he always yells out "Trouble"

lol

[crazed 9.6]

It was Carl Edwards that went into the fence at Telladega, I almost forgot till I seen that video posted :eek:

There was a Ford Taurus promotional video with Edwards and the deal was that he'd take the Taurus engineers each out on a test drive... well some did not know who Carl was and it gets pretty funny.. Carl has that sleeper type humor and is quick witted :)


@ 3:00 into video
@ 3:30 into video
and @ 4:00 for the Telladega memories :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwLMvRDlclc

[dishuser]

It was Carl Edwards that went into the fence at Telladega, I almost forgot till I seen that video posted :eek:

There was a Ford Taurus promotional video with Edwards and the deal was that he'd take the Taurus engineers each out on a test drive... well some did not know who Carl was and it gets pretty funny.. Carl has that sleeper type humor and is quick witted :)


@ 3:00 into video
@ 3:30 into video
and @ 4:00 for the Telladega memories :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwLMvRDlclc

he then got out of the wreck and ran across the finish line :p

[crazed 9.6]

he then got out of the wreck and ran across the finish line :p

yes, I remember.. It was priceless :)

[82harley]

Brad Keselowski***
Kevin Harvick
Denny Hamlin

[ranagee]

Kevin Harvick (favorite)
Kyle Busch
Joey Logano

[Marley]

Brad Keselowski ******
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano

[4me2c]

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) Kevin Harvick will start on the pole Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway while he goes for his fourth win of the year.

Harvick won pole position for the first time since last September at Darlington. Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch joins him on the front row. Harvick won three races in a row earlier this season, matching points leader Kyle Busch’s current streak.

Talladega is often chaotic, but drivers have said Sunday’s race seems more unpredictable than usual.

[dara]

Kevin Harvick ***
Kurt Busch
Brad Keselowski

[4me2c]

The Top 10 Starters looks Strange without Kyle Up there...!

[Orziz]

Harvick *
Chase Elliott
Brad Keselowski

[dishuser]

Kevin Harvick

Martin Truex Jr.

Brad Keselowski***

[Capt.Kangaroo]

Kyle Busch***
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson

[crazed 9.6]

Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick ***
Clint Bowyer

[bigstar]

Brad Keselowski *
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Bush

[TimeKeeper]

Clint Bowyer
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch***

[erickson]

Kyle Busch* ///// Kevin Harvick ///// Denny Hamlin

[superbox]

Kevin Harvick*
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch

[minitor]

Joey Logano
Kyle Busch*
Brad Keselowski

[dara]

Green Flag!


1)...Kevin Harvick...!
2)...Chase Elliot
3)...Joey Logano

:cool:


*kyle Busch
Kyle Larson
Jimmie Johnson


* Keselowski
Hamlin
Logano


Brad Keselowski***
Kevin Harvick
Denny Hamlin


Kevin Harvick (favorite)
Kyle Busch
Joey Logano


Brad Keselowski ******
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano


Kevin Harvick ***
Kurt Busch
Brad Keselowski


Harvick *
Chase Elliott
Brad Keselowski


Kevin Harvick

Martin Truex Jr.

Brad Keselowski***


Kyle Busch***
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson


Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick ***
Clint Bowyer


Brad Keselowski *
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Bush


Clint Bowyer
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch***


Kyle Busch* ///// Kevin Harvick ///// Denny Hamlin


Kevin Harvick*
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch


Joey Logano
Kyle Busch*
Brad Keselowski

[dara]

Favorites by driver:

Harvick: 4me2c, ranagee, dara, orziz, crazed 2.0, superbox
Ky Busch: carlosman, Captainkangaroo, erickson, minitor
Keselowski: ilan, 82Harley, Marley, dishuser, bigstar
Ku Busch: TimeKeeper

[dara]

Brad Keselowski wins Stage 1

ilan, 82Harley, Marley, dishuser, bigstar get 25 bonus points for the stage.

--
Order:
Keselowski 10
Logano 9
Truex 8
KyBusch 7
Menard 6
Hamlin 5
Blaney 4
Stenhouse 3
Harvick 2
Johnson 1

[dara]

first crash...

None of the affected drivers were in the pick list.

[dishuser]

down 2 laps is affected...lol

[dara]

down 2 laps is affected...lol

Yeah, I was about to change that. I was only thinking of the guys actually "out" at the time, but Truex took some huge damage. My mind was elsewhere...:(

Larson was out.

[dara]

Paul Menard wins stage 2.

No bonus points for this stage.

--
Order
Menard 10
Logano 9
Blaney 8
Harvick 7
Stenhouse 6
Ragan 5
Johnson 4
KuBusch 3
Byron 2
KyBusch 1

[ilan]

There's a mess!

[dara]

Bigone.....

Jimmie Johnson slid, and half the field affected.

[dara]

13 cars in the mess.

Keselowski definitely out.
Bowyer, Menard, McDowell, Allmendinger, Dillon, Byron off too.

Amazing Johnson, and Kyle Busch still on the lead lap.

[crazed 9.6]

It pays to be out front at a time like this :eek:

[dara]

Congrats to Joey Logano, followed by Kurt Busch and Chase Elliott

No bonus points again.

[dara]

Unofficial points
Harvick 42
Elliott 34
Logano 58
Larson 1
Johnson 30
Hamlin 28
KyBusch 32
KuBusch 38
Keselowski 14 (+25 bonus)
Truex 19
Bowyer 6

--
These are now official

[crazed 9.6]

Fastest Lap Speed today was 203.667 mph from David Regan
Average last lap speed of the top 10 was 197 mph 'ish

[4me2c]

LMOL... I pick Logano to Win and He doesn't even Place or Show... I Pick someone else to Win and Logano makes Me Pay...!

[crazed 9.6]

4me2c
Kevin Harvick...! 42
Chase Elliot 34
Joey Logano 58
total= 134

carlosman
kyle Busch* 32
Kyle Larson 1
Jimmie Johnson 30
total= 63

ilan
Keselowski* 14+25
Hamlin 28
Logano 58
total= 125

82harley
Brad Keselowski* 14+25
Kevin Harvick 42
Denny Hamlin 28
total= 109

ranagee
Kevin Harvick 42 (favorite)
Kyle Busch 32
Joey Logano 58
total= 132

Marley
Brad Keselowski* 14+25
Denny Hamlin 28
Joey Logano 58
total= 125

dara
Kevin Harvick*** 42
Kurt Busch 38
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 119
(dara edit... 94)


Orziz
Harvick* 42
Chase Elliott 34
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 90

dishuser
Kevin Harvick 42
Martin Truex Jr. 19
Brad Keselowski* 14+25
total= 100

Captainkangaroo
Kyle Busch*** 32
Kevin Harvick 42
Jimmie Johnson 30
total= 104

crazed 2.0
Kurt Busch 38
Kevin Harvick * 42
Clint Bowyer 6
total= 86

bigstar
Brad Keselowski* 14
Kevin Harvick 42
Kurt Bush 38
total= 94
(dara edit... 119)

TimeKeeper
Clint Bowyer 6
Kevin Harvick 42
Kurt Busch* 38
total= 86

erickson
Kyle Busch* 32
Kevin Harvick 42
Denny Hamlin 28
total= 102

superbox
Kevin Harvick* 42
Brad Keselowski 14
Kyle Busch 32
total= 88

minitor
Joey Logano 58
Kyle Busch* 32
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 104

[dara]

Results should be here:



https://www.nascar.com/results/race_center/2018/monster-energy-nascar-cup-series/geico-500/stn/race/

[dara]

ranagee total should be 132, and need to add 25 bonus points for the 1st stage for Keselowski ( ilan, 82Harley, Marley, dishuser, bigstar)

Captainkangaroo total should be 104

[dara]

Top score is 4me2c at 134, unofficially. Just picked the wrong favorite this time, and all your guys finished the race.

[crazed 9.6]

ranagee total should be 132, and need to add 25 bonus points for the 1st stage for Keselowski ( ilan, 82Harley, Marley, dishuser, bigstar)

Captainkangaroo total should be 104

Fixed the post, thnx :)

I think what I been doing here is just giving you more work. With what I do,you still need to check it and then do your own as well.
How about we just go with your's and we can always check that ?
It would save some extra work that really doesn't help anyway :)

[dishuser]

Fixed the post, thnx :)

I think what I been doing here is just giving you more work. With what I do,you still need to check it and then do your own as well.
How about we just go with your's and we can always check that ?
It would save some extra work that really doesn't help anyway :)this don't look right...lol
dara
Kevin Harvick*** 42
Kurt Busch 38
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 119

[crazed 9.6]

this don't look right...lol
dara
Kevin Harvick*** 42
Kurt Busch 38
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 119

lol... see I am causing more work then needed with my ummmm.... additions :eek:

I am pulling in the graveyard shift at work and am a little tired... That's my excuse and i am sticking with it :)

[dishuser]

lol... see I am causing more work then needed with my ummmm.... additions :eek:

I am pulling in the graveyard shift at work and am a little tired... That's my excuse and i am sticking with it :)I only caught it cause I can't move
I ate 3 sour candies today...lol
http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/pp250/dishuser/IMAG0173.jpg (http://s416.photobucket.com/user/dishuser/media/IMAG0173.jpg.html)

[dara]

I'm using a spread sheet, so its hard to post that directly... I did find a mistake on one of my entries though.

What I can do is copy my entries into a separate sheet and do a screen shot, before I put the "=" sign before, and someone could verify I had the entries right.

I have another idea that might be ok, but I'll pm you on that, crazed...

[crazed 9.6]

I only caught it cause I can't move
I ate 3 sour candies today...lol

lol.... ohh them kinda sour candies :eek:

[dara]

this don't look right...lol
dara
Kevin Harvick*** 42
Kurt Busch 38
Brad Keselowski 14
total= 119


Man, how do I miss my own scoring... I had it at 94.

[crazed 9.6]

I'm using a spread sheet, so its hard to post that directly... I did find a mistake on one of my entries though.

What I can do is copy my entries into a separate sheet and do a screen shot, before I put the "=" sign before, and someone could verify I had the entries right.

I have another idea that might be ok, but I'll pm you on that, crazed...

10-4
I am just heading just right now thou.. be back in the morning :)

[dara]

Ok, I fixed the error on 'dara' and 'bigstar' scores, and they are now in sync with my spreadsheet, and we are official.

The podium didn't change this week... but everyone should check their own scores independently. I had a minor crisis during the race with family which is why I messed up on the first crash report, but all is well now.

Next week, is Dover on Sunday, then the Saturday night race at Kansas, then the All Star break.

[superbox]

94 is correct.... in fact here is the whole scoring:

4me2c .............................134 + 922 = 1056
carlosman .........................63 + 1304 = 1367
ilan ................................. 100 + 535 = 635
82harley .......................... 109 + 1184 = 1293
ranagaee ......................... 132 + 1073 = 1205
Marley ............................ 125 + 898 = 1023
dara ............................... 94 + 1128 = 1222
Orziz .............................. 90 + 861 = 951
dishuser ..........................100 + 1256 = 1356
Captainkangaroo .............. 104 + 1157 = 1261
crazed2.0 ....................... 86 + 1044 = 1130
bigstar ........................... 119 + 1176 = 1295
Timekeeper ..................... 86 + 1010 = 1096
erickson ......................... 102 + 1141 = 1243
superbox ........................ 88 + 1184 = 1272
minitor ........................... 104 + 1347 = 1451

You can double check it.

[dara]

All looks good, except ilan, should be 660. I'll recheck crazed sheet again.

--

edit, crazed and I had it ok for ilan. See the rules thread for the updated standings.