NASCAR Cup The 2012 Chase Thread

[Matt]

Originally Posted by gomick

How do they work out the finishing order when that many cars are taken out? Ambrose was running 6th or 7th when the accident happens & is classified 27th, double J is classified 17th & wrecked too...

Transponder at the moment of caution.

[NaBUru38]

Now that's a big one!!!

There are chicanes at Rafaela. The TC and TC2000 raced there this year. It's an interesting course.

[fieldodreams79]

That's plate racin'.


Quotes of the weekend (and Monday too):

""I'm a finely tuned athlete. I mean I have a really strenuous workout regime." - Smoke (he and I have the same regiment, btw).

"If this is what we did every week I wouldn't be doing it I will just put it to you like that. If this is how we raced every week I would find another job." Junior



Points Courtesy of Jayski:

2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE Championship Points Standings:
[after Talladega, race 30 of 36]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 2179
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2165, -14
3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2156, -23
4) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2143, -36
5) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2139, -40
6) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2137, -42
7) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2133, -46
8) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2131, -48
9) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2130, -49
10) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2130, -49
11) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2128, -62
12) #17-Matt Kenseth [2 wins], 2117, -62
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)

[Salamus]

That was a crazy finish, I've never seen 4-wide racing like that. Great result for Gordon but shame that he is still so far back. Brad's got a nice little lead now but the next couple of tracks do favour JJ.

[fieldodreams79]

So just heard that Junior's got a headache from the last lap crash at Talladega and won't race for the next two weeks. Regan Smith to substitute in the #88. JR's championship run is over .

Apparently, the dinger is rumored to be wheeling the #51, which Smith going to drive...now I gots a headache.

[HJJ]

^^^
Yep, 'Dinger in the #51.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...AR01/121019978

[Clive Brown]

Hard to understand just how Regan Smith, a driver with RCR connections through Furniture Row, ends up in the 88 ride when Brian Vickers doesn't have a ride for Charlotte....

Could this be because of his current, albeit loose, Toyota connections, or does it date back to his previous relationship with HMS?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Clive Brown

Hard to understand just how Regan Smith, a driver with RCR connections through Furniture Row, ends up in the 88 ride when Brian Vickers doesn't have a ride for Charlotte....

Could this be because of his current, albeit loose, Toyota connections, or does it date back to his previous relationship with HMS?

Vickers is in Japan this weekend.

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Matt

Vickers is in Japan this weekend.

What in the wide world is he doing out there?

[Purist]

He's driving in the FIA World Endurance Championship race: the Six Hours of Fuji. I think he's in the AF Waltrip Ferrari 458 Italia.

[fieldodreams79]

The Bank of America 500 at Charlotte
746 est start time
The Bif sets new record with his pole qualifying time

Jayski Race Page

This should be the best race of the Chase thus far, or at least the most entertaining. I predict NO 30 car pileups tonight.

[The Original Instag8or]

Spoiler Alert!






Yawn. Its kinda sad that the only entertainment of the whole race is who can go how far on a tank of fuel at the end.

[MJ_N_09]

Looks like a 3 way race between Kez, JJ, and Denny now. Clint could factor in only if these 3 guys have problems.

[gomick]

Pretty boring race. Ambrose ordinary - been poo since crew chief change... Hope Bowyer wins the title!

[MJ_N_09]

Spoilers: This race quite possibly had more cautions than any other Cup race this year. Unbelievable.

[Paradise City]

That Regan Smith isn't a bad pilot. AJ also performed well for awhile. Kyle Busch and Aric A. were fast but seemed to spin every twenty minutes at one point there.

[MJ_N_09]

Yep. Jayski says this race had 14 cautions, the most all year.

[gomick]

Where lots of cautions - not a bad race though... Brad is hanging in there tho it seems only a matter of time before the 48 hits the points lead. Dont know if he is one lucky s.o.b or whether he is the best driver/team out there, most likely the latter!
Ambrose, good run - any talk of his 2013 drive yet?

[MJ_N_09]

Heard Ambrose is very, very close to resigning with RPM. Just in the final details.

[gomick]

Almirola isnt re-signing is he?

[Axeman444]

RPM have re-signed with Ford, so my guess is he will be staying.

[gomick]

40 laps to go in Texas, hope the #48 runs out of fuel & Bowyer wins...

[Paradise City]

That race was quite long but the finish was excellent. Brad K is impressive but Johnson won.

[fieldodreams79]

Anyone else notice that for the past half decade or so, the truck series or the NW series as a just as or closer and better battle for the championship without resetting the points?

Can't tell you how stoked I am to see JJ and Keso battle to the end.

[Paradise City]

I never knew Bowyer was an Olympic standard runner. He'd do well in the boxing ring too. Gordon under guard.

They 'forgot' to throw caution with Danica's bounce. Brad had some last lap problems but still scored his 6th. Oh and Johnson had a tire go West.