2019 NASCAR Cup Series

[rustyfan]

I'm guessing the double-header has something to do with giving the teams a two-week summer break (when was the last time we saw a break that long?) and seeing as it'll be two full 400-mile races I'm guessing the teams will bring double of everything.

[Alfisti]

I don't remember a two week break in the schedule ever (but that could be my memory!). I think it is a good thing, give everyone involved in the sport the opportunity of a good vacation mid Summer. In F1 the teams are banned from performing any work during the summer break - the intention being that people do rest rather than chug away trying to improve the cars. 35 long weekends away from home has to be better than 36! I've always thought the season long, but that's my perspective as a European where F1 used to be mid-teens number of races and British Touring Cars are 10 meets.

I guess NASCAR will be watching the attendance and TV figures for Pocono very closely. If they get pricing right to pull fans in the whole weekend and the weather Gods play nice it could be very successful. And if it is maybe they'll look at the same formula for other tracks that are a long haul from the Carolinas?

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

Next year will see quite a shake-up in regards to the schedule. Full info here:

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/20...-race-changes/

Some highlights:
- ISM Raceway will host the season finale, while Homestead moves to March.
- Indy replaces Daytona during the 4th of July weekend. Daytona will instead mark the end of the regular season.
- Pocono will see a double header, with two races the same weekend.

I think it's good NASCAR is starting to shake up the schedule for real and I suspect we'll see even more changes once the current contracts run out.

Yeah maybe there will be more of shakeup in 2021. Brickyard 400 is a 25 year experiment that has not brought much to the table honestly. The best running of that were the first couple in the mid 90's. Time to say good bye unless a double header is thrown in there with a race on the road course the day before.

I think Circuit of the Americas should be an early season race as well. More double headers are needed. But make the races 200 mile runs with no stages. Michigan and Chicago are example of this. Can have over 40 races on the schedule with these double headers in place. Watkins Glen can do this too, with one race on short course and one using the boot.

[NaBUru38]

I'd change the Brickyard by running clockwise and adding two chicanes at the end of the straights.

[Nick Woodbury]

Waltrip will retire at the end of the FOX Broadcast Syndication in 2019.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/20...h-19-year-run/

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Nick Woodbury

Waltrip will retire at the end of the FOX Broadcast Syndication in 2019.



https://www.nascar.com/news-media/20...h-19-year-run/

And not a decade too soon...

[Alfisti]

I kinda like the old duffer; in all the time I've watched NASCAR his voice has been there. Much like Murray Walker was Formula 1. He certainly loves and cares for the sport. Does look and sounds like he's aged this past year or two. Happy retirement DW.

(Does this mean MW moving into the booth for Cup?)

[skycafe]

So it will be an era of no 'boggity, boggity, boggity?'

I agree that it will be weird not to have his commentary, although it seemed lke he was struggling to keep up with Gordon.

[Alfisti]

So, Dega this weekend. Without restrictor plates.

What will the racing be like? Will the big packs and those horrible multiple car wrecks still be a thing? Hopefully not the latter.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

So, Dega this weekend. Without restrictor plates.

What will the racing be like? Will the big packs and those horrible multiple car wrecks still be a thing? Hopefully not the latter.

Should be interesting, if nothing else. I'll be watching some "historic" stockcars at Road Atlanta. Maybe I'll get home in time to see the big crash, I mean, big finale.

[chernaudi]

Well, the Xfinity guys made it though yesterday without major carnage by superspeedway standards. Can the Cup guys manage that without running plates per se on the cars now? Reportedly throttle response on the Cup cars is much better than it has been since the plates came into use.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Should be interesting, if nothing else. I'll be watching some "historic" stockcars at Road Atlanta. Maybe I'll get home in time to see the big crash, I mean, big finale.

I hear the kid of some guy named Bill running an oldish, especially in that field, stock car this weekend won the big race.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I hear the kid of some guy named Bill running an oldish, especially in that field, stock car this weekend won the big race.

Chase! And Bill! They're Awesome.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Chase! And Bill! They're Awesome.

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Awesome Bill from Dawsonville?

Yessir!

Latest, may not be the best article but the tradition that they rang a siren in Dawsonville when Bill won. Now, they do it for Chase!

[S griffin]

Internet will always have some good reports if you can find them. Shame about the Chase, not like the old days

[fieldodreams79]

Looks like I forgot to post the actual article I was referencing:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Yessir!

Latest, may not be the best article but the tradition that they rang a siren in Dawsonville when Bill won. Now, they do it for Chase!

http://www.fox5atlanta.com/sports/wi...elliott-knows-

Originally Posted by S griffin

Internet will always have some good reports if you can find them. Shame about the Chase, not like the old days

It is what it is at this point but yes. Shameful.

[S griffin]

Thanks for the article. It seems though there's a way to go before this series is what it was again

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Yessir!

Latest, may not be the best article but the tradition that they rang a siren in Dawsonville when Bill won. Now, they do it for Chase!

That is just awesome (no pun intended)! I did hear Bill won his class at The Mitty, wish I could have seen that.

[S griffin]

I hope it continues to go well for him

[skycafe]

We are all hearing the siren's blare.

[S griffin]

Good to see Chevy continue to do well in the main series

[Alfisti]

Yeah, I hope this is the start of a Chevy resurgence. I LOVE the sound of V8's, but the Chevy is by far the sweetest music to my ears.

And we need somebody to make Kyle Busch and Joey Logano work hard for their living!

[S griffin]

Certainly seems like it. Great sounding engines compared to the others and will make the competition closer too

[S griffin]

So we’ll see if Chevy can keep it up, would be great for them and the series if they do