Comments on: Minter: They’re Going 200 mph Again At Talladega

By: Rick Minter

Rick Minter — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:59:27 +0000

Chuck,

NASCAR has been trying for years to make changes to the cars to address the problems that come with racing at Talladega, but a good solution continues to elude them. That’s why a lot of people, including Jimmie Johnson, and others are saying that the race track needs to be altered.
Rick

By: Rick Minter

Rick Minter — Fri, 01 May 2009 02:54:31 +0000

Billy Bob,
That’s one of several suggestions. Engine builder Ernie Elliott has said for years that working on the banking would help.
Rick

By: Billy Bob

Billy Bob — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:37:40 +0000

Benny Parson solved the problem years ago – put a chicane on the back stretch.

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:53:52 +0000

Look I dont want to see someone fan, driver anyone hurt or killed!
But look 3 people were killed on Interstate I 95 North Carolina mile marker 7, when a driver crossed the center line and hit another car head on and killing 3 people! When the cars are hauled in and the debris is hauled away,if the past history is used nothing will be done, the speed limit will stay the same and three people with loving families will miss a loved one!

In Nascar or anytime you are in a racecar you need to accept it as a reality that can happen, freak accidents is ususally what happens!I remember Cale Yarbrourgh in the 1965 Southern 500 going out the track running apox 140 mile per hour, he could just as easly went in the stands!

My point is I am for safety, but when a driver is making millions a year driving a racecar just because a bad or freak accident occurs he should accept just as the family on the highway!

By: Stock Car Gazette e-zine for Thursday, 4/30/09 | The MotorSportsNews.Net(work)

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:19:10 +0000

[...] Minter: They’re Going 200 mph Again At Talladega By Rick Minter | Senior Writer In his final column, David Poole called for changes to the race track at Talladega Superspeedway to prevent a disaster from happening in light of the Carl Edwards crash at … http://www.racintoday.com/archives/2916 [...]

By: Barbara

Barbara — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:35:50 +0000

I give pit tours and garage tours to chalet and suite guests at Kansas Speedway. My volunteer part of the Pit Tour Club is that I was assigned giving pit tours through the NASCAR GARAGES.Before bringing my assigned group to the garages, I was in the garage finding out more info to be usded in my talk to the group.

David Poole was siting beside Lynn Wood in front of the Wood’s Brothers’ Transporter. I asked what he would want me to be sure to tell my group.(It was following a qualifying session)He immediately wanted me to realize the signicance of how close the times are.Thousandths of a second had just decided who had qualified and who went home. He said, “Make sure to tell your groups just how close qualifications can be as that decided who races and who goes home”. This happened in the Cup 2008 race weekend.

I asked Lynn Wood what he wanted me to tell my group about his transporter. He invited me in, introduced me to Bill Eliott, and then proceeded to open each door to show me what each cabinet holds and how that affects the race team. He moved the roof hatch to show me the back-up car.

They were so generouo with their time and being helpful whith giving me more information to share with my groups that receive a garage tour.

It was a wonderful experience for me and my guests.

By: marc

marc — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:30:18 +0000

Let me start by saying I’ve been an advocate for a smaller engine size, smaller carb or both for some time.

All sides to this debate have valid points, but one thing sticks in my craw.

I distinctly recall NASCAR saying the Gold Standard so to speak on speeds was 190mph.

What happened, so much for that “standard.” Last years August MIS event pole was 4 tenths of a second faster (with drafts speeds of 205) than this years Daytona 500. Texas a couple weeks ago was 191mph with drafting speeds well over 200.

Some say the problem only lays at the feet of the two superspeedways, I say hooey that’s due to the shear Grace of God and luck.

Someone will be riding a fence at one of the other tracks sooner or later.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:46:53 +0000

This all depends on what everyone is trying to fix — cars getting in the air of “The Big One” or cars running in a big pack. Slowing them down may help reduce the car’s propensity for getting airborne, but it will not eliminate it.

Slowing them down will still keep them in a big pack. When they all run the same speed whether it is 160 or 190, they will run together.

Remember the smaller fuel cell to “force” green flag fuel stops? That really didn’t work well did it?

Cars packed together on lap 6 crashing will make a mess no matter where you race.

Even if you reduce the engine to a size that can be unrestricted so there is variance in horsepower to help cars separate, the draft keeps them more together. You might get a long train of cars traveling at 160, but if they crash it will still take out a bunch.

And then wouldn’t you just call it the Nationwide series?