Nascar - Race #10 Lizard 500 At Talladega

[GA_Boater]

Talladega is up this week for Cup and the second round of the Dash 4 Cash X-Men race. Weather looks goods for the weekend, no snow or rain is forecast. For once, Cup has 40 teams entered for a full field. Trucks are still on the month of April Spring Break.

Talladega Schedule of Events From MRN
All Times Eastern

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Friday, April 27
ARCA Final Practice: 9:30 a.m.-11:20 a.m.
Xfinity Series First Practice: 11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series First Practice: 12:35 p.m.-1:25 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
Xfinity Series Final Practice: 1:35 p.m.-2:25 p.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series Final Practice: 2:35 p.m.-3:25 p.m. (MRN/FS1)
ARCA Qualifying: 3:30 p.m.
ARCA General Tire 200: 6:00 p.m. (FS1)

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Saturday, April 28
Xfinity Series Qualifying: 11:00 a.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series Qualifying: 1:00 p.m. (MRN/FOX)
Xfinity Series Sparks Energy 300: 3:00 p.m. (MRN/FOX)

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Sunday, April 29

Radio Pre-Race: 1:00 p.m. (MRN)
TV Pre-Race: 1:30 p.m. (FOX)
Monster Energy Cup Series GEICO 500: 2:00 p.m. (MRN/FOX)


News and Notes

• The Cup Giveth - Matt Kenseth is returning to Cup racing for Roush Fenway in the #6. The seat is a part time ride in place of Trevor Bayne. Why the change, I'm not sure. But Bayne was diagnosed with MS in 2013 and no idea if the disease is progressing or hindering his racing. A transcript of the presser from Jayski's and down a way is the question "How did Trevor take the news" implies he wasn't real happy - http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/...nce-transcript
• The Cup Taketh Away - Maybe an explanation of why Ford will be running Mustangs in Cup beginning next year - https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/26/for...us-car-business-and-gm-is-not-far-behind.html I can't see this dressed in Cup livery, the only other car along with Mustangs Ford will be selling in the future. Mustangs, Focus Active, SUVs and Trucks - That's all. And what happens when gas goes up and up? GM and Chrysler are going the same way - Giving up the small/intermediate sedan marketplace to the Asian and European makers, primarily the Asian car builders.
• Plastic bodies for Cup? The X-Series is using what is called flange-fit bodies - Composite/plastic/fiberglass pies that are fit together to form the body shell. Rumors are growing that Cup will go the same way - http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/23275203/is-nascar-considering-composite-bodies-cup The "S" in NASCAR should be thrown away because the direction they're going means there will be nothing stock about the cars except the emblem on the front. Spec motors are coming - Not motors from Chevy, Ford or Toyota, all use the same transmission/rear end and now not even metal bodies from the 3 brands. What a shame!
• TV ratings - 1.7 overnight and 2.7 last year. See above :facepalm:

iBoats Fantasy Live

• (late entry)RGF Racing 1 won what I think is his 2nd race this year. Congrats RGF.
• FlaCowboy is keeping his overall lead, actually adding to it over Trackchick Stars.
• Pole locks at 1PM ET on Saturday.

Humpty_Boater

 

[GA_Boater]

Both Cup practices are finished. Ty Dillon was the fastest in the first and McMurray the fastest in the second with Ty Dillon next.

Suarez, McMurray, TDillon are starting at the back on Sunday, along with Newman.

Cup qualifying is at 1 PM ET tomorrow, so make your pole pick in time, 5 minutes before the first Q-Round starts,

In other news - Nascar has acquired ARCA Racing. ARCA is a training ground for Nascar and many of Nascar's drivers started their professional career and often has support races the same weekends as Cup. ARCA is at Tallagega this week.

Trevor Bayne spoke briefly to the media, not taking questions. It sounds like he isn't real happy about the Roush Fenway decision to bring Kenseth back.

Bayne: "First of all, my health is 100 percent. I am as fit physically, mentally, spiritually as I've ever been to do my job well." Full report at https://t.co/teNJNybILv

 

[GA_Boater]

Why is Jamie McMurray starting the back?



7 or so barrel rolls after a tire cut-down and he went in front of Newman, so both start at the rear on Sunday.

Nascar figured cars are going too fast, so restrictor plates for qualifying and the race will have reduced holes. From 5664ths to 55/64ths causing a 12-14 HP drop.

 

[GA_Boater]

Don't know if this will work, a gif with McMurray's rolling pin move. He got out of the car himself, but he has to be sore as all get out!

 

[MTboatguy]

It was one of those crashes that takes your breath away and you don't know if you will have passed out by time it ends, it was something.

 

[GA_Boater]

Jamie Mac said he just shut his eyes until things stopped moving. My eyes might be shut, something else may be wide open.

The X-Race finished minutes ago with Gallagher taking the checkers in OT and a lot of cars running out of gas at the end. Sadler won the $100K Dash 4 Cash check. Next week the Cash Dashers are Gallagher, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgiaer and Elliott Sadler.

Kevin Harvick grabbed the Cup pole, with Busch41 starting second, then Truex, Hamlin, Elliott, Jones, Stenhouse, Bowyer, Joey, Keso, Bowman and Ragan.

McMurray, Newman, Suarez and Ty Dillon are starting the rear after switching to backups after the McMurray Spin Cycle Ride.

2:09 PM ET is the lock time to get your picks in. Good luck.

 

[sam60]

Thanks GA_ for all that you do here in the iBFL.

 

[GA_Boater]

Keeps me off the streets, Sam.

And out of the Admirals hair! :lol:

 

[sam60]

Keeps me off the streets, Sam.

And out of the Admirals hair! :lol:

I think I can speak for the Admiral and others that appreciate it. Keep off of them GA streets! :fish2:

 

[GA_Boater]

Two more to the back; Elliott for a tire change after qualifying because you must start the race on Q-Tires and Almirola for adjustments after impound. If the car was impounded, how did they make adjustments?

This makes 6 cars starting at the rear if it affects your roster, which is locked at 2:09.

 

[GA_Boater]

Sad news - Two time Winston Cup winner (Talladega and Richmond) James Hylton and his son James Jr. were returning home after the Talladega ACRA race and were in an accident in Georgia. Both Hyltons were killed. RIP

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/20...bile-accident/

 

[GA_Boater]

Busch41 is having radio trouble in the pits, still not on track for warmup laps.

 

[GA_Boater]

#41 got the radio fixed and got out and is playing catch up.

 

[GA_Boater]

Pace car off and green flag at Talladega for Heat #1 - 55 laps

 

[WIMUSKY]

Go Joey!

Butz to the streets, the Admiral is the main reason...:laugh:

 

[GA_Boater]

Heat #1 finishes caution free with Keso in the front.

 

[GA_Boater]

Green flag stops for Heat #2 and Keso too fast entering.

Gotta keep Mama happy. LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

Bowman too fast, too!

And a mess of cars wreck.


I see Larson, Truex, McMurray and more.

 

[GA_Boater]

Add Bayne, Jones and Bowman.

 

[GA_Boater]

Larson ran out the repair clock and is done for the day. Elliott out of the garage.

Joey leads on the restart if anyone cares,