NASCAR and Stockcar Racing

Re: NASCAR: Atlanta Starting Grid

pr…@motorsport.com wrote:

> Starting Grid
> NAPA 500
> Atlanta Motor Speedway
> Race No. 33   /  November 7, 1998

>  Pos No.  Name             Make Time     Speed
>   1  28 Kenny Irwin                Frd 00:28.657 193.461

Congrats!

>   5  31 Mike Skinner               Chv 00:28.859 192.106
>   8  90 Dick Trickle               Frd 00:28.940 191.569

Good Showing!

>   21 24 Jeff Gordon                Chv 00:29.182 189.980

Gonna have to work if you want to win, Jeff.

>   30 71 Dave Marcis                Chv 00:29.273 189.390

WooHoo!  Maybe part of Dave’s problem was the 5 and 5 rule?

>   37 3  Dale Earnhardt     Chv Provisional
>   38 5  Terry Labonte      Chv Provisional

Apparently took regular provisionals so that:

>   43 35 Darrell Waltrip    Pon Past Champions’ Provisional

DW could extend his record of Past Champ provisionals.

Can anyone tell me how many times DW actually made an effort in 2nd round, vs.
how many times they said "we missed it, let’s try to do better for the race"?

Eric

Eric O. Troldahl, etr…@flash.net
Lead Moderator, rec.autos.sport.nascar.moderated
http://rasnm.carracing.com/

Comments (10)




10 Responses to “Re: NASCAR: Atlanta Starting Grid”

  1. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    "Eric O. Troldahl" wrote:

    > pr…@motorsport.com wrote:

    > > Starting Grid
    > > NAPA 500
    > > Atlanta Motor Speedway
    > > Race No. 33   /  November 7, 1998

    > >  Pos No.  Name                Make Time     Speed
    > >   37 3  Dale Earnhardt        Chv Provisional
    > >   38 5  Terry Labonte         Chv Provisional
    > Apparently took regular provisionals so that:

    > >   43 35 Darrell Waltrip       Pon Past Champions’ Provisional
    > DW could extend his record of Past Champ provisionals.

    > Can anyone tell me how many times DW actually made an effort in 2nd round, vs.
    > how many times they said "we missed it, let’s try to do better for the race"?

    I’d say judging by practice speeds(not just this week, but every week)
    DW has no chance of making the field without a provisional.

    John

    John ‘aka’ Deliveryboy http://www.mindspring.com/~deliveryboy/index.htm

    "Pa, what’s a hussy?"

  2. admin says:

    On 7 Nov 1998 15:16:02 -0600, etr…@flash.net (Eric O. Troldahl)
    wrote:

    >pr…@motorsport.com wrote:
    >>   37 3  Dale Earnhardt         Chv Provisional
    >>   38 5  Terry Labonte  Chv Provisional
    >Apparently took regular provisionals so that:

    >>   43 35 Darrell Waltrip        Pon Past Champions’ Provisional
    >DW could extend his record of Past Champ provisionals.

    I believe that the rules were changed this year to require that a past
    champion who needs a provisional *must* take a regular provisional if
    one is available, and that the 43rd starting spot is available to
    others if a past champion does not need it.

    This change (a good one, imho) was no doubt triggered by the race last
    year when Terry Labonte could have taken a regular provisional,
    leaving the 43rd spot for DW.  Instead, he chose to take the past
    champion provisional, which allowed then-teammate Ricky Craven to use
    the last regular provisional, and left DW out of the field.  

    Matt Thul
    [to reply via email, please delete 'dont.spam.' from my address]

  3. admin says:

    Matt Thul, in article <3646bce4.7034…@test.news.rcn.net> from
    dont.spam.t…@newsguy.com on 8 Nov 1998 09:59:01 -0600, took a mighty
    swig of Jack Daniels, deeply inhaled a lung-busting hit of chronic,
    coughed profusely and then uttered…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > On 7 Nov 1998 15:16:02 -0600, etr…@flash.net (Eric O. Troldahl)
    > wrote:

    > >pr…@motorsport.com wrote:
    > >>   37 3  Dale Earnhardt    Chv Provisional
    > >>   38 5  Terry Labonte     Chv Provisional

    > >Apparently took regular provisionals so that:

    > >>   43 35 Darrell Waltrip   Pon Past Champions’ Provisional
    > >DW could extend his record of Past Champ provisionals.

    > I believe that the rules were changed this year to require that a past
    > champion who needs a provisional *must* take a regular provisional if
    > one is available, and that the 43rd starting spot is available to
    > others if a past champion does not need it.

    > This change (a good one, imho) was no doubt triggered by the race last
    > year when Terry Labonte could have taken a regular provisional,
    > leaving the 43rd spot for DW.  Instead, he chose to take the past
    > champion provisional, which allowed then-teammate Ricky Craven to use
    > the last regular provisional, and left DW out of the field.  

    > Matt Thul
    > [to reply via email, please delete 'dont.spam.' from my address]

    Frankly, (yes, I DO like DW) I think there should be some sort of time
    period, say five years, to take advantage of Past Champ provisional
    ‘gimme’.  I know DW struggles from week to week, but is it fair to knock
    someone else from starting a race that DID qualify better to allow a
    driver who, in all likelihood, will never see another top ten spot in
    points at season’s end (much less another Championship)?  While they’re
    at it, maybe they could limit a regular provisional as well, say a
    twenty race limit since posting a win.  I know my ideas on this subject
    aren’t likely to be popular with many, but it just seems to me that
    Champions, past or present, have a guaranteed starting position while
    those who can usually afford it the *least* are sent packing.

    Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    this advantage to an extent.

    Have a hardcore day…

    Rick

  4. admin says:

    On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 06:30:04 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    wrote:
    >Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    >pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    >doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    >this advantage to an extent.
    >–
    >Have a hardcore day…

    >Rick

    Earth to Rick, Earth to Rick…

    That particulaer abomination was eliminated two years ago

    Blue Skies,
    Jack
    NCB108…

  5. admin says:

    On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 06:30:04 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    wrote:

    >Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    >pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    >doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    >this advantage to an extent.

    That rule was dropped this season (or was it last season?).  JG just
    usually qualified well enough that it might have looked like he got
    first choice.  

    Given the way that team works, Ray’s probably got a whole pit choice
    strategy broken down by track, qualifying position, and who knows what
    else.  Even when they have had first choice, they haven’t always
    chosen the first pit stall.  I guess for some tracks it’s an advantage
    to be able to cross the line quickly and for others it’s not…

    Matt Thul
    [to reply via email, please delete 'dont.spam.' from my address]

  6. admin says:

    dont.spam.t…@newsguy.com (Matt Thul) wrote:

    >Given the way that team works, Ray’s probably got a whole pit choice
    >strategy broken down by track, qualifying position, and who knows what
    >else.  Even when they have had first choice, they haven’t always
    >chosen the first pit stall.  I guess for some tracks it’s an advantage
    >to be able to cross the line quickly and for others it’s not…

    At tracks where you expect all or nearly all pit stops to be under caution, the
    first pit is the best choice.  At tracks where you expect nearly all stops to
    be under green, the pit in the middle of pit lane that has the gap to go
    "behind the wall" is the preferred pit, since you are back up to pit road speed
    before you get to the #1 pit, making the overall time in the pits lower, yet
    you still can’t get blocked in by the guy in front of you.

    In any case, the pits with extra space in front of them (#1 and the one or two
    I just mentioned) are some of the best, followed by the ones with space behind
    (so you can actually pit at the very back of the pit box giving yourself more
    maneuvering room to get back out) and spots like the #2 pit stall are also
    good.

    Eric

    Eric O. Troldahl, etr…@flash.net
    Lead Moderator, rec.autos.sport.nascar.moderated
    http://rasnm.carracing.com/

  7. admin says:

    Jack R. Ceman, in article <3648b99b.74018…@news.jacksonville.net> from
    jce…@mediaone.net on Tue, 10 Nov 1998 22:13:59 GMT, took a mighty swig
    of Jack Daniels, deeply inhaled a lung-busting hit of chronic, coughed
    profusely and then uttered…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 06:30:04 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    > wrote:
    > >Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    > >pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    > >doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    > >this advantage to an extent.
    > >–
    > >Have a hardcore day…

    > >Rick

    > Earth to Rick, Earth to Rick…

    > That particulaer abomination was eliminated two years ago

    > Blue Skies,
    > Jack
    > NCB108…

    LOL…my bad.  Guess wishes DO come true, even if one isn’t aware of it
    :-)

    Have a hardcore day…

    Rick

  8. admin says:

    On Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:54:49 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    wrote:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    >Jack R. Ceman, in article <3648b99b.74018…@news.jacksonville.net> from
    >jce…@mediaone.net on Tue, 10 Nov 1998 22:13:59 GMT, took a mighty swig
    >of Jack Daniels, deeply inhaled a lung-busting hit of chronic, coughed
    >profusely and then uttered…
    >> On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 06:30:04 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    >> wrote:
    >> >Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    >> >pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    >> >doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    >> >this advantage to an extent.
    >> >–
    >> >Have a hardcore day…

    >> >Rick

    >> Earth to Rick, Earth to Rick…

    >> That particulaer abomination was eliminated two years ago

    >> Blue Skies,
    >> Jack
    >> NCB108…

    >LOL…my bad.  Guess wishes DO come true, even if one isn’t aware of it
    >:-)
    >–
    >Have a hardcore day…

    >Rick

    BTW, I didn’t cough….

    …and it was Maker’s Mark!
    Blue Skies,
    Jack
    NCB108…

  9. admin says:

    > In any case, the pits with extra space in front of them (#1 and the one
    or two
    > I just mentioned) are some of the best, followed by the ones with space

    behind

    How does the start/finish line figure in to pit selection?  I seem to
    recall that being a factor a few times when caution came out during green
    flag stops, some pits were in front of the line and some behind, and a lap
    was lead from the pits by somebody who was stationary or something like
    that… pretty fuzzy on details I wasn’t paying that close attention at the
    time…

    -Russ.

  10. admin says:

    On Tue, 10 Nov 1998 22:13:59 GMT, jce…@mediaone.net (Jack R. Ceman)
    wrote:

    >On Mon, 9 Nov 1998 06:30:04 GMT, rick_wil…@email.com (Rick Willis)
    >wrote:
    >>Another rule I’m not very fond of is the previous year’s Champ getting
    >>pit choice for an entire season.  BIG advantage to someone who obviously
    >>doesn’t particularly need one.  I guess pit speed limits has negated
    >>this advantage to an extent.
    >>–
    >>Have a hardcore day…

    >>Rick

    >Earth to Rick, Earth to Rick…

    >That particulaer abomination was eliminated two years ago

    I gather that the fastest qualifier gets his choice, second fastest gets
    second choice and so on.  How did JG get a spot so close to the front of
    the pits with a qualifying position of 21?  Seems like close to the
    front would be desirable.

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