[Mudcat]

Here is my understanding - but it seems so ridiculous I feel like I must be missing something:

The Daytona 500 is this weekend. It is considered the biggest event on the NASCAR calendar. I just heard someone with a convincing southern accent call it NASCAR's Super Bowl.

It is the first race of the season.

So they have their Super Bowl first, before the regular season?

That can't be right, can it?

[bobbyfk]

left turn, left turn, left turn, add fuel, left turn, left turn, left turn, drink a beer, left turn.....thats it

[boulay50]

mudcat i hear that superbowl stuff all over the place too. thats just how they roll i guess

[erybdyducksth]

Daytona 500 is the start of the season It has been called the superbowl of racing for years. They have the chase now so that kind of takes away from it a little but it truely is the biggest race of there year.

[sickler]

Yep, the biggie starts off the festivities.

Kinda backwards until you look at the diehards.

Here are the boys getting ready for the tailgate party:

[Mudcat]

But if it's the biggest race of the year,they need to have it at the end of the season. They need to build up towards it.

They need to change how they do things. Like now. Just change.

[fiveteamer]

Mudcat for a guy who's made it I'm surprised you would ask this question.

[mmike032]

I think alot of it has to do with tradition. I am a southerner but just cant get into Nascar. I tried watching it a couple years but I just cant get into it. I will watch the lap 100 laps or so of a race but thats about it.

As far as the Daytona 500 being the biggest race of the year, it is true. IDK why but it is.
correct me if I'm wrong but when Nascar was in its early years Daytona was one of the first tracks. although the race was held on the beach instead of the track you see today.
my dad used to go the race in Daytona back then.

[AMBlai01]

It is a bit strange and I never understood why it is this way but you just have to go with it. My biggest issue with having it first is that a team can change and figure their car out throughout the year and be a lot different at the end of the season as opposed to the beginning.

The sport is more popular than ever, gets great ratings and is making a ton of money so who are we to complain? They must know what they are doing...

[mmike032]

Originally Posted by Mudcat

But if it's the biggest race of the year,they need to have it at the end of the season. They need to build up towards it.

They need to change how they do things. Like now. Just change.

they have another race at Daytona later in the season I believe but its not the Daytona 500. I think its something like the Pepsi300.
again I may be wrong so someone with more knowledge of racing might correct me.

[Fiasco]

Michael Waltrip and Tony Stewart are the two drivers I'll throw a tad on!

[Chi_archie]

I don't think education and Nascar should ever be used in the same sentence without NO or "Lack of" in their somewhere

[fiveteamer]

Archie with comments like that you will make it someday.

[mmike032]

Originally Posted by AMBlai01

It is a bit strange and I never understood why it is this way but you just have to go with it. My biggest issue with having it first is that a team can change and figure their car out throughout the year and be a lot different at the end of the season as opposed to the beginning.

The sport is more popular than ever, gets great ratings and is making a ton of money so who are we to complain? They must know what they are doing...

they do this throughout the season with different tracks. tehy have to adjust the cars for different tracks. thats why they have qualifiing so they can get the car tuned in.



I have heard the sport isnt doing as well as it has been in years past.

[Mudcat]

They need to just change. It is a screamingly blatant opportunity for improvement. Build towards your biggest event. No-brainer of all time.

Change and make things better people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Seriously, the people behind the BCS must look at that and think, "Pffft. What a stupid system."

[applepicks]

Town is packed and it's crazy around here. Ran into Micheal Waltrip on the golf course at Hammock Beach on Tuesday and at lunch yesterday sat next to Kevin Harvick and Delana Harvick at Carrabas. Pretty much anywhere you go for the next few nights the drivers and teams are out and about. With weather in the mid to high 70's they are out of the motorcoaches much more.

Money is on:
Gordon
Jr
Stewart
Kyle Bush

Dark Horse: Juan Pablo Montoya

[flyingillini]

Middle America White Trash

[Prime]

whats the lineup look like for the daytona

[BestPlay2day]

Not a big NASCAR fan but I always try to catch some of the Daytona 500 and be there for the ending. One thing I learned from the past is don't bet on this sport. You could pick someone leading most of the race with the best car and the engine would blow or be involved in a crash and you wager is screwed.

[InTheHole]

This appears to be "The General's" area of expertise