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October 05, 2006
Restrictor Plate Mayhem
By Mark Young
This weekend's race at Talladega has been circled on my schedule for months. To me this event has the potential to make or break several drivers who are in the Chase for the Cup. It is my opinion that Kahne and Bush are out of it and Jimmie Johnson is not far behind from having a repeat season for withering at the end after running up front for the regular season. Everyone is on edge on the eve of a restrictor plate weekend and I have a feeling that the tension has a bit of a pucker factor for everyone involved.
Everyone dreads the "Big One" at these races. Everyone is waiting for the inevitable crash that takes out a huge chunk of the field leaving drivers, owners, and crew members red-faced and dejected. To me this weekend has the potential to really jumble up the standings either by spreading them out or lumping everything into a jumbled up mess thus creating the "drama" our television network friends are always talking about.
Undoubtedly the Hendrick cars are king of the plate races of late and they are surely all going to be contenders on Sunday and that may be trouble in more ways than one for the rest of the field. Jimmie Johnson does not have the best reputation here having triggered three accidents in recent history. Two of them from poor decisions to block passing cars and another from contact with another driver. Jeff Gordon has a chance to make up for his engine troubles last week and I feel he will be a contender for the win on Sunday. Kyle is the wild card of the group. Will he have team orders to be a drafting partner for Jeff or Jimmie? Since he is basically all but eliminated from contention to win the Cup but could play a large role Sunday.
The DEI cars are hungry to regain their past dominance here and Junior needs a strong run to gain positions in the Chase and create momentum for the stretch run to the finish. Have they found the power that they have lost to other teams? Will they stay together long enough to see the finish? Will anyone work with him in the draft?
The Childress cars have gotten a lot of attention both on and off the track of late. Jeff Burton finally has a win and is up front tin the standings but still isn't getting the respect he deserves and a strong finish on Sunday could help bolster his status with the media. Harvick is sitting fifth in the standings and is lurking to move his way up and I believe that if he and Burton can hook up in the draft they could both have a good finish.
I don't look for Mark Martin to play a big role Sunday at all. He hates these races and the mode he is in to keep his car clean and stay out of trouble could be in jeopardy. Matt Kenseth is going to need some drafting help from someone in the Ford camp in order to stay up front but if there is none I believe he will find a way to finish up front.
The big question is still will there be "The Big One" and who will be in it? There has been a lot of drivers that are out of the Chase who are running well and could prove to be spoilers this weekend. Tony Stewart is running well and is surely a favorite to win. Could he be the drafting help Junior is looking for? All three of the Evernham cars are running well but have had bad luck and they too could make things difficult for the title contenders.
Get your chores done early on Sunday race fans this race is going to be a good one. With a newly paved track and tensions running high I am betting there will be plenty of action for us to see, I just hope we aren't at a commercial break when it happens.
October 5, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Mark,
I'm picking the Childress cars to do well and the "Big One" to rear its ugly head between laps 13-17
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 9:01:00 AM
Every time folks start talking about the "big one" and when it might happen, it ends up being a fairly accident-free race. But with the new pavement, and factor in The Chase, who knows what will happen.
When I first read you questioning if Jr. will have a drafting partner, my first thought was Tony, but you thought the same. I think the two could really be a factor on Sunday.
You ask if Kyle Busch will be given "team orders" to help Jimmie and Jeff. What about Brian Vickers? He's ran up front at the restrictor plate tracks, just to be pushed aside by his "upper level" teammates.
However, I have a feeling it might be Jeff. It seems whenever he has a bad weekend, he ends up winning the next. Don't think that will help his "Drive for Five" but it wouldn't surprise me to see the 24 in Victory Lane on Sunday.
Amen about the commercial break, Mark. Let’s see if NBC decides to accommodate the fans or Corporate America.
Good topic and enjoy the race!
Posted by: Shirley | Oct 5, 2006 9:06:46 AM
Vickers is on the outside looking in and I don't look for him to be of any help to the other three. They are going to cry about it if he doesn't help but that is what they get for excluding him.
Posted by: Mark | Oct 5, 2006 9:17:30 AM
I wish I had not given up my season passes to Talladega. I used to love going to this track. I think it is going to be very exciting this weekend.
I think Tony and Dale will hook up. If I was Jeff or Jimmie, I would be really nice to Brian this weekend. He usually runs good here. I hope if he gets the chance that he goes for the win.
Posted by: Michelle | Oct 5, 2006 10:04:11 AM
The Big One will happen and one or two drivers in the Chase will have their championship hopes taken away through no fault of their own. The whole idea of restrictor plates is retarded.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Oct 5, 2006 11:10:57 AM
Retarded but a necessary evil I am afraid Kurt. We all wish they could take them off but I have heard Rusty as well as Bobby Labonte (right here on TR.com) say that they just can't do it.
Maybe the COT will not have to have them?
Posted by: Mark | Oct 5, 2006 11:49:08 AM
Kurt, I'm really torn on plate racing. It's not good racing - it's a time bomb waiting to happen. So yes, it's retarded, to use your phrase.
BUT it is also the most exciting racing on the schedule by a long shot.
I have not read anything, though, to indicate that they can just remove the plates and unleash the cars at the plate tracks. The consensus seems to be that they would simply go too fast.
So we sit back and enjoy and hope.
Posted by: Doug | Oct 5, 2006 11:52:14 AM
LOL, NASCAR ditch the plates for actual racing? Oh, my, it's good to see there's peeps around still smokin' the ganja. Plate racing is a "Cash Cow" a "Golden Goose" a "Ratings Bonanza" and "The Perfect Storm" rolled into one. We might not like "The Big One," but you bet your bippy there's no seating at the track and we'll be glued to the set so as not to miss it. I don't look for Ol' Pope Brian I to be real eager for this to disappear.
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 12:45:58 PM
When they asked Kirk Shelmerdine what his thoughts were,as he waited out the red flag at Daytona this year,he answered I
realized I was only 19 cars away from winning the Daytona 500.
We could have the same thing happen at Dega.I have never watched racing because of wreaks.It was always because I thought my favorite would win.I am not a fan of restrictor plate racing.
Posted by: SHORT LADY | Oct 5, 2006 1:35:13 PM
I hope that it's "Wreckfest" free... I can't see a "Big One" happening between laps 15-17...they've hardly begun to start breathing again! I would LOVE to run restrictor plate races...we actually did...don't ask, stupid call by a track promotor!...IF and when IT happens, I will say the the "Usual Suspects" will be involved! And I'm hoping that Dale and Tony JR will have that shiny red Bud car in Victory Lane!
Posted by: Tbfka#5 | Oct 5, 2006 2:31:00 PM
Having nothing better to do, I just looked at some numbers from the 2004 chase. The average finish for the ten chasers at Talladega was 17.3, second only to Atlanta, where the ten averaged a 24th place! The best? Dover and Lowe's, average finish of 9.5. I had forgotten that Johnson won four of ten chase events, including three in a row - pretty impressive. Busch, though, had top tens in 9 of the races, 42nd in the other one - Atlanta. But he did win a race! In fact, chasers won 8 of the 10 races. (Biffle, Nemechek)
Aren't you glad you know this now?
Posted by: Doug | Oct 5, 2006 2:40:38 PM
Doug,
We are all that tinie bit wiser because of your efforts.
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 3:00:25 PM
DEI is so behind in performance compared to their plate racing dominance in 2001-4 that they'll lead at Talladega but not have the muscle to win it.
RCR hasn't gained as much in their plate program as they have everywhere else, so they'll run well but they don't look strong enough to win it.
I'm picking either one of the Hendrick cars or Tony Stewart to win this race, though I think the Ganassi Dodges and Bobby Labonte can make an upset bid out of it; of the Evernham guys Kahne has never shown much bravery on a plate track so I expect Sadler and maybe Riggs to run up front. The Penske Dodges are good but Ryan Newman gets worse each year as a driver, so it looks like Kurt Busch will be on his own here.
As far as the so-called Big One - let's stop with that talk. A crash is a crash, they need to put it out of their minds and go for the lead.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Oct 5, 2006 3:02:03 PM
I have a tire question. Doesn't Goodyear bring in the tires each week to hand out to the teams? If so, how long are they going to be able to supply tires since they are on strike?
Posted by: Michelle | Oct 5, 2006 3:09:47 PM
Michelle,
The order was filled long ago so the tires are ready and I imagine they'd send salaried workers if they had to to keep things "rolling" so to speak.
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 3:17:08 PM
Mike Daly,
Good one. I'm going to give you a check mark in the "I Agree" column and maybe a happy face.
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 3:18:23 PM
Keith can I get a happy face?
Posted by: Mark | Oct 5, 2006 3:46:32 PM
Mark,
Ask the wifey after you cook an elegant dinner and do the dishes. Preferably on the same night...LOL
Posted by: Keith | Oct 5, 2006 4:04:07 PM
I don't really think you can say anybody is out of the chase until after this race is over. the "Big One" could start at the front as well as the middle. After this wild one is over, I think the picture will be a little more clear.
Posted by: jeff | Oct 5, 2006 6:54:40 PM
I'm sure an alternative to the plate can be found. Maybe lower the banking in the turns, raise the fences or other things, but you're absolutely right Keith, as long as they can market the big wrecks, they're here to stay. And Doug, yes, it's exciting, but for all of the wrong reasons.
I'll have plenty to say about it after the undoubtedly abominable race to come this Sunday. I think they should use restrictor plates at Bristol.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Oct 5, 2006 8:46:50 PM
Hey you all!
What about Dale Jarrett? W(Ho is that, he is washed up, etc.)
I will be very upset if the media continue to ignore the 2005 winner of this race!
It pisses me off that the media can't say more than three sentences about the finish of last year's race!
Keep an eye on DJ! new surface, conservative racing, 4th at Kansas, etc.
The race could play right into his hands (again)
Posted by: martin | Oct 6, 2006 2:23:00 PM
I don't think the media does a good job of covering anyone who isn't in the Chase....
Posted by: Mark | Oct 6, 2006 3:06:39 PM
Hey Mark,
Would like to see Tony be a team player and help Denny Hamlin! Truex will be there for the Red car, along with Paul Menard(if he makes the show).
Don't see the 25 car helping anyone..
Still rootin' for a Penske plate race, but will probably have to wait til' Sam Hornish is in the 2 car. lol dks.......
Posted by: Larry | Oct 6, 2006 8:01:03 PM
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