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August 21, 2005
Mayfield gambles and it pays off
Mayfield and his team gambled on fuel mileage at the end of the race and it paid off, giving him his first win of the season and moving him up to 6th in points.
Tires were an issue for some, left rears mostly, one thing NASCAR and Goodyear can't blame on camber, but the biggest issue was the trash flying around the track. The trash collected on the grills of many cars and some had to make pit stops to take care of it. I'm not sure what needs to be done, but the tracks need to do something about this.
There wasn't a big shuffle in points, most stayed about the same, some moved up one and some moved down, but no one outside of the top ten really made any big gains on that 10 place position as the Chase gets closer. Both Stewart and Johnson officially locked themselves into the Chase, so they can breath a little easier, but I really don't see either one of them letting up any.
Next week is Bristol, it should be interesting how the points look after that one.
August 21, 2005 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Tracked on Aug 25, 2005 11:29:30 AM
Comments
DonB,
Maybe we have the tire problem because Nascar does regulate to many things...The aero package, the gear ratios etc. Tires are the cheapest and for now a legal way to try for that edge. These are car savvy engine and body people groping for whatever edge Nascar lets them look at.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 26, 2005 2:06:38 PM
The left rear tires went down due to being cut by other cars. Saw the 43 get hit, saw the 0 get hit. The spoiler gets em loose and they slip up hitting the outside car.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 23, 2005 10:27:57 PM
DonB, there is a tire problem, but you're certainly right to note how the new spoiler rules and so forth have contributed enormously to it.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Aug 23, 2005 5:57:29 PM
Just a thought, mayne we don't have a tire problam at all, maybe it's the new spoiler, crews running less pressure to try to get some grip, most drivers don't like this new package, and NASCAR just doesn't seem willing to admit they made a mistake
Posted by: DonB | Aug 23, 2005 12:21:40 PM
19Jay while true "fuel" has decided the racing a # of times over the years, you said it yourself "it's not the most exciting way to win". And while its a high stakes gamble and I applaud the strategy...I want a race for the flag. Not tires not pits (and I love those fools who jump over the walls infront of the cars)...I want that 2 car slide off of turn 4 for the win. but that's Nascar...We don't always get what we want but we love it when it happens!
Posted by: Keith | Aug 23, 2005 10:53:58 AM
I agree with Jay. I keep getting asked "what's so ineresting about watching 43 cars turn right for three hours?"
The fact there are no guarantees. No sure thing and 43 guys that face injury and more to go faster and finish first. With the exception of Kyle Petty, any one of these guys could finish first (just kidding Kyle). I guess that's why I keep coming back.
Posted by: Buddynoel | Aug 23, 2005 10:41:46 AM
What is so bad about someone wining a race on fuel mileage once in a while, I know it's not the most exciting way to win, but the fastest car can't win every week. IT's not like we have many races decided by fuel mileage these days. Not many complained at Chicagoland win Dale Jr won on pit strategy. He sure wasn't the fastest car. There are so many ways to win a race other than going out and leading every lap.
Posted by: 19Jay12 | Aug 23, 2005 9:56:42 AM
You're right Keith I doubt fuel mileage will have anything to do with surviving Bristol.
Posted by: Jon | Aug 22, 2005 10:01:54 PM
Well thankfully we can pretty much rule out Bristol as a "Fuel Mileage" win.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 22, 2005 9:34:12 PM
Are the left rear flats a result of too low tire pressures to try to help a tight race car? Seems like if these flats were mostly debris related, they would not have mostly singled out the left rear tires.
Posted by: SonOfAMonkey | Aug 22, 2005 9:11:51 PM
Mayfield's crew chief made one hell of a gutsy call to push their fuel mileage even after they started seeing carts drop like flies. That is why the crew chief makes the big bucks. :)
Posted by: Jon | Aug 22, 2005 8:58:30 PM
I know Mayfield didn't have the best car, but it sure felt good to see my driver win. He gets overlooked compared to his high profile teammate, but it's mayfield who wins races and makes the chase for MS. Kahne can have the media attention & commercials. It was a great weekend for me at least, Newman winning the Busch race, and Mayfield winning the Cup race.
Posted by: 19Jay12 | Aug 22, 2005 11:00:00 AM
Something I forgot to note earlier. There is a rear axle camber adjustment.
In fact NASCAR mandated a maximum angle a few years ago for the same reasons they limited front wheel camber angle to 8 degrees this week and for the rest of this season.
And I agree the error by Martin is very unlike him. He's not under threat to miss the Chase so it most likely just a case of brain fade. Something we all suffer at times.
Posted by: Marc | Aug 22, 2005 8:54:19 AM
Buddy,
I agree it was a bit odd for Mark just to miss the entrance to pit road and then took a full tire stop with so few laps to go. When he missed pit road they should have just done a splash and go.
Posted by: Jon | Aug 22, 2005 4:47:52 AM
Buddynoel you take this just a bit too serious. I'd also say you would be hard pressed to find any driver "more consistent" over the last 20 years.
A strange race indeed, but it did follow the "dodge pattern" set for the weekend after Steve's then Ryan's win in Dodges earlier.
As for the paper, you'll note California was mentioned as having the problem. Not sure about Cali, but I have attended every event at MIS since it's opening up until 1981 and about 10-12 events since.
Part is due to the open space around the track. it's location is far enough from a big city to give the wind a chance to become stronger.
Secondly is the nature of the racing. A single line of cars create less of a vacuum as they go by. At MIS with it's 3 wide and occasionally 4 wide racing that suction is greater. In the past all the trash receptacles had covers and that alleviated the amount of paper that was sucked out of the stands onto the track.
Perhaps someone who attended Sunday's event can verify if that is still the case.
Posted by: Marc | Aug 22, 2005 3:42:46 AM
I was baffled by the absolute blunder of Pat Tryson and Mark Martin on their last set of pit stops. First, Mark was having tire trouble and had fallen from third to 15th, but stayed out instead of pitting for tires with Johnson and everyone in front and behind him. The team then ignored the splash and dash of Mayfield and Riggs. About 12 laps later, he "missed the pit" for a mysterious yellow flag call, then he pitted for four tires, lost 50 seconds and wound up an outstanding 17th. I've watched Martin for most of my life and these end-of-race stumbles have cost me three remote controls, a broken clock, two holes in apartment walls and a broken toe. The "6" has left me stunned at the end of many a race. Once he retires, I'll try to cheer for someone more consistent, like the Chicago Cubs.
Posted by: Buddynoel | Aug 21, 2005 9:02:03 PM
I remember the races I went to back in late 70's at Michigan and trash was a problem then. I don't know what they can do, but ignoring the problem definitely hasn't donme much for the drivers.
Posted by: Jon | Aug 21, 2005 8:19:58 PM
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