2015 Daytona 500

by Backmarker Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:04 pm

The offseason is finally over - NASCAR is back! Use this thread to discuss the Daytona 500, plus pole qualifying, practice, the Budweiser Duels, and anything else regarding the race.

I will be writing an extended OP with all sorts of information and goodies over the next couple of days. Very Happy

Entry List:

Source

Some notes on qualifying:

Drivers who need to be in the top-36 in qualifying speed or race into the Daytona 500 via the Budweiser Duel 150 qualifying races and have no provisional available to them (lowest in 2014 owners points): #19-Edwards, #29-Marks, #30-Hornaday, #35-Whitt, #44-Sorenson, #46-Annett, #87-Nemechek
Drivers who would miss the race in the unlikely event that both qualifying and the Budweiser Duels are cancelled (least 2014 race attempts): #19-Edwards, #21-Blaney, #29-Marks, #30-Hornaday, #35-Whitt, #46-Annett, #87-Nemechek
NOTES: #19-Edwards is a new team and has no owners points, no word if the #19 and #20 teams switched owners points with Kenseth being a past champion. Or if the team made a deal with another team for owners points.

Schedule:

Source

Weather

by gone-sovereign Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:17 pm

Quite possibly the most boring off season I've endured. Can't wait to go racing.

by Lucstar88 Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:09 pm

First practice of the new season has STARTED!!!

And we already have 2 penalties in the first minute Laughing

Harvick and Jamie Mac, both blend line violations!

Nascar's BACK BABY!!

Sprint Unlimited Lineup
The Lineup:
1) #27-Paul Menard
2) #5-Kasey Kahne
3) #22-Joey Logano
4) #2-Brad Keselowski
5) #18-Kyle Busch
6) #3-Austin Dillon
7) #16-Greg Biffle
8 #4-Kevin Harvick
9) #11-Denny Hamlin
10) #78-Martin Truex Jr.
11) #24-Jeff Gordon
12) #31-Ryan Newman
13) #41-Kurt Busch
14) #19-Carl Edwards
15) #10-Danica Patrick
16) #20-Matt Kenseth
17) #48-Jimmie Johnson
18) #15-Clint Bowyer
19) #43-Aric Almirola
20) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
21) #1-Jamie McMurray
22) #14-Tony Stewart
23) #13-Casey Mears
24) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
25) #42-Kyle Larson

by **crl** Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:43 pm

Jeff Gordon has said this will be his last Daytona 500; he will not run any restrictor plate races after this season, because of, in his own words, "the risk versus reward".

by Lucstar88 Sat Feb 14, 2015 1:52 pm

Newman and Truex Jr, both blew their engines at the same time O_o in the second practice.

Also, Stenhouse Jr, fastest in practice, with Hornish, Bayne, Almirola and Junebug the top 5.

by BWard Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:14 pm

Lucstar88 wrote:Newman and Truex Jr, both blew their engines at the same time O_o in the second practice.

If I remember correctly, does Furniture Row Racing run engines supplied by RCR?

by RyanB06 Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:22 pm

by Lucstar88 Sat Feb 14, 2015 2:43 pm

Lucstar88 wrote:Newman and Truex Jr, both blew their engines at the same time O_o in the second practice.

Also, Stenhouse Jr, fastest in practice, with Hornish, Bayne, Almirola and Junebug the top 5.

Twitter has reported that Truex will not have to change the engine.

by NASCARLOVER427 Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:03 pm

Lucstar88 wrote:
Lucstar88 wrote:Newman and Truex Jr, both blew their engines at the same time O_o in the second practice.

Also, Stenhouse Jr, fastest in practice, with Hornish, Bayne, Almirola and Junebug the top 5.

Twitter has reported that Truex will not have to change the engine.

How does that work?

by bsoyuz Sat Feb 14, 2015 3:05 pm

NASCARLOVER427 wrote:
Lucstar88 wrote:
Lucstar88 wrote:Newman and Truex Jr, both blew their engines at the same time O_o in the second practice.

Also, Stenhouse Jr, fastest in practice, with Hornish, Bayne, Almirola and Junebug the top 5.

Twitter has reported that Truex will not have to change the engine.

How does that work?

About Blaney, it was a problem in a cracked oil pan, so that doesn't require a complete engine change.

by gone-sovereign Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:08 pm

Lucstar88 wrote:First practice of the new season has STARTED!!!

And we already have 2 penalties in the first minute

Harvick and Jamie Mac, both blend line violations!

Nascar's BACK BABY!!

Sprint Unlimited Lineup
The Lineup:
1) #27-Paul Menard
2) #5-Kasey Kahne
3) #22-Joey Logano
4) #2-Brad Keselowski
5) #18-Kyle Busch
6) #3-Austin Dillon
7) #16-Greg Biffle
8 #4-Kevin Harvick
9) #11-Denny Hamlin
10) #78-Martin Truex Jr.
11) #24-Jeff Gordon
12) #31-Ryan Newman
13) #41-Kurt Busch
14) #19-Carl Edwards
15) #10-Danica Patrick
16) #20-Matt Kenseth
17) #48-Jimmie Johnson
18) #15-Clint Bowyer
19) #43-Aric Almirola
20) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
21) #1-Jamie McMurray
22) #14-Tony Stewart
23) #13-Casey Mears
24) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
25) #42-Kyle Larson

I already put up a thread for the Unlimited, but okay.

I did a simulation of the Unlimited in NR, and coincidentally Paul Menard got on the pole when I randomized the starting grid in the Save Game Editor. And then Danica Patrick ending up winning...

So what do you say, guys? Can we finally get a 500 in without a hitch?

by **crl** Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:27 pm

The national anthem before a qualifying session. That's a first.

by JMac525 Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:41 pm

Well, this hasn't started well...

by **Ben Atkins** Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:41 pm

Go away, Clint Bowyer.

by bsoyuz Sun Feb 15, 2015 1:53 pm

ARCA and Indy are the only good series in this racing season.

by Lucstar88 Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:06 pm

Bowyer had the spot... Reed sadly came down... Reed was slow and impeding the group.

Agree with Bowyer... Group Q at plate tracks is useless...

by Alta Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:11 pm

That was six kinds of special.

by Lucstar88 Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:15 pm

And the system is getting crapped on by everyone XD

FINES WILL BE IMPOSED LOL

by **Ben Atkins** Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:35 pm

Team Penske totally pulled that stunt at the end of the 2nd round intentionally...

by Lucstar88 Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:45 pm

Gordon wins the pole...... i'd put a * along with that since the system is broke!

by bsoyuz Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:45 pm

The qualifying system itself rigged it.

by FlashRod4 Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:46 pm

by BooyakaDragon Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:52 pm

Well, that was stupid, but I'll take a pole alongside with Jimmie.

Sauter was so close to making it the final round though Um...

by Alta Sun Feb 15, 2015 2:59 pm

That was like the trainwreck that you couldn't help but watch as it was occurring.

by BooyakaDragon Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:03 pm

I just wanna get out of Daytona, Superspeedways are garbage in NASCAR nowadays.

I'm starting to like Clint Bowyer more and more each year now lol.

by f1fan12 Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:04 pm

by Lucstar88 Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:10 pm

Thanks Haney!!

Nick DeGroot @ndegroot89 · 2m 2 minutes ago
Locked In
Front row: 24, 48
Speed: 1, 17, 19, 43
Owner pts: 4, 31, 11, 22, 2, 20
Past Champ: 14
#NASCAR
#Daytona500

by bigdc48 Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:31 pm

The qualifying format was completely garbage, but congrats to Jeff Gordon on his final 500 pole.

by **Ben Atkins** Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:37 pm

Sweet, Jamie's locked in! Someone good did come out of this at least, then.

by bsoyuz Sun Feb 15, 2015 3:42 pm

Jeff Gordon is in the next year's Unlimited oh wait.......

Still, good for him to take the pole, but this was a bad session.

by bsoyuz Sun Feb 15, 2015 5:02 pm

Jr. and Hamlin failed post tech inspection.

by **crl** Sun Feb 15, 2015 5:21 pm

bsoyuz wrote:Jr. and Hamlin failed post tech inspection.

How come someone always fails tech at the plate tracks?

by BWard Sun Feb 15, 2015 6:34 pm

Daytona Speedweeks more like Daytona SPEDweeks.

by BWard Tue Feb 17, 2015 6:54 pm

Oh and also another thing, just thought if I'd like to speak my mind on this but I gained a lot of respect from Clint Bowyer for what he said about the format. Quite honestly, this Qualifying Format is just as stupid as the current Chase Format, it's such a shame that NASCAR's come to this today. It's just not the same than what it was when I first started watching the sport about 11 years ago.

Brian France has turned everything into a bunch of junk these days, and the drivers and fans don't like it. I can't imagine how guys like Bill France Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. would say about this if they were still alive today, but I can absolutely rest assure you that they would find this totally unacceptable.

I didn't watch NASCAR for this load of crap that it is today, my intention of watching it is to enjoy the Racing and cheer my favourite driver's on, not to feel let down by the recent horrible changes to NASCAR. I'm so glad someone like Bowyer came out and told it like it is, because he has every right to be mad about how NASCAR is taking a nose-dive into destruction.

by PYLrulz Tue Feb 17, 2015 7:41 pm

BWardboy88 wrote:Oh and also another thing, just thought if I'd like to speak my mind on this but I gained a lot of respect from Clint Bowyer for what he said about the format. Quite honestly, this Qualifying Format is just as stupid as the current Chase Format, it's such a shame that NASCAR's come to this today. It's just not the same than what it was when I first started watching the sport about 11 years ago.

Brian France has turned everything into a bunch of junk these days, and the drivers and fans don't like it. I can't imagine how guys like Bill France Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Sr. would say about this if they were still alive today, but I can absolutely rest assure you that they would find this totally unacceptable.

I didn't watch NASCAR for this load of crap that it is today, my intention of watching it is to enjoy the twig and cheer my favourite driver's on, not to feel let down by the recent horrible changes to NASCAR. I'm so glad someone like Bowyer came out and told it like it is, because he has every right to be mad about how NASCAR is taking a nose-dive into destruction.

Sad thing is, NASCAR behind the scenes will put the screws to Bowyer for calling him out, and publicly claim that the "matter is dealt with", and act as if everything is all fine.

by Lucstar88 Wed Feb 18, 2015 2:09 pm

Wreck in the first 5 minutes of today's practice, Danica, Jeb Burton and Michael Annett... Danica came down when Hamlin made a move, likely not seeing him. That could've been bigger.....

Looking at that again, Hamlin, was still on Danica's left rear quarter-panel, maybe that moved the 10 down, and she over-corrected? Hamlin did take the blame.

by gone-sovereign Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:27 pm

Duel races are tonight.

The thirteen cars locked in no matter what are:

Jeff Gordon (Pole)
Jimmie Johnson (Outside Pole)
Aric Almirola (Speed)
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Speed)
Carl Edwards (Speed)
Jamie McMurray (Speed)
Kevin Harvick (Owner's Points)
Ryan Newman (Owner's Points)
Denny Hamlin (Owner's Points)
Joey Logano (Owner's Points)
Brad Keselowski (Owner's Points)
Matt Kenseth (Owner's Points)
Tony Stewart (Past Champion's Provisional, if necessary)

This is all very stressful if you're a Junior or Bowyer fan, but the worst case scenario for both of them, assuming that neither of them make it through their own Duel race, is that none of the guys in on owner's points make it through the Duels, and someone uses a past champion's provisional. But the chances that none of those six guys make it through their Duel race is slim to none, mind you.

by Backmarker Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:32 pm

Go-or-go home drivers:

Michael Annett
Justin Marks
Ron Hornaday
Ryan Blaney
David Ragan
Reed Sorenson

by gone-sovereign Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:35 pm

NeverNeutral wrote:Go-or-go home drivers:

Michael Annett
Justin Marks
Ron Hornaday
Ryan Blaney
David Ragan
Reed Sorenson

For some strange reason the #34 swapped owner's points with the #35. Personally, it wouldn't really surprise me if David Ragan didn't make it through.

by BWard Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:40 pm

As crazy as this might sound or not, I think Alex Bowman could be a contender for the win in the 2nd Duel Race.

by Pyrozooka0 Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:22 pm

Wonder what BS NASCAR will pull if Jr. or Danica DNQ. Also, why the heck do the two drivers who got the front row still have to run the duels?

by **Ben Atkins** Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:30 pm

Pyrozooka0 wrote:Wonder what BS NASCAR will pull if Jr. or Danica DNQ. Also, why the heck do the two drivers who got the front row still have to run the duels?

The drivers who got the front row have always had to run the duels... scratch

by **crl** Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:31 pm

Pyrozooka0 wrote:Wonder what BS NASCAR will pull if Jr. or Danica DNQ. Also, why the heck do the two drivers who got the front row still have to run the duels?

Y'know, I've always wondered that myself. All they're doing is risking having to start from the back in a backup car.

by Lucstar88 Thu Feb 19, 2015 7:35 pm

That's the 3rd engine problem for RCR this week... Casey Mears tonight, along with Newman and Truex Jr.

ECR Engine holders should start getting worried now!!!

by Pyrozooka0 Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:10 pm

Ben Atkins wrote:
Pyrozooka0 wrote:Wonder what BS NASCAR will pull if Jr. or Danica DNQ. Also, why the heck do the two drivers who got the front row still have to run the duels?
The drivers who got the front row have always had to run the duels...

I knew that, I was questioning why that is the case.

by Lucstar88 Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:24 pm

Dale Junior wins the 1st duel!!!

Cole Whitt, Michael Annett, Ty Dillon, JJ Yeley and McDowell make it!!!!

by Backmarker Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:27 pm

Landon also in. Very Happy

29 and 30 are out.

by Lucstar88 Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:27 pm

Hornaday and Marks DNQ'ed

by JMac525 Thu Feb 19, 2015 8:37 pm

Good to see guys like Cole Whitt and Landon Cassill (and the rest of them) sneak in the field. There's going to be a lot of provisional used this weekend.

by Lucstar88 Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:18 pm

Josh Wise has a fuel pressure issue at the start -___-

Likely going home.

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