Truth & Rumors > Auto Racing

How new car has changed NASCAR

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26

When you look at this season's final results for the Sprint Cup Series, it's hard not to be a little puzzled. You can say that three teams dominated the season, but you have to be careful how you use the word "team." Roush Fenway Racing won 11 races this year. Joe Gibbs Racing won 10 and Hendrick Motorsports won eight. That's 29 of 36 races. But if you look at it, Carl Edwards won nine of the 11 at Roush. Kyle Busch won eight of the 10 at Gibbs. Jimmie Johnson won seven of the eight at Hendrick. So those three drivers won 24 of those 29 that their teams won. It wasn't that multicar teams dominated as much as it was that particular drivers and their teams did. I actually have a theory about why that is. I believe that the new car that Sprint Cup teams used this year is a big part of that. Specifically, I believe that teams haven't figured out nearly as many ways to adjust on the car and make it both comfortable for a driver and fast enough to be competitive as they had with the old car. What that means is that a team gets the car as good as it can get it. From that point, it's up to the driver to adapt to the car. It's no longer - or at least not right now - a matter of conitnuing to work on the car to give the driver the feel he's looking for. The successful teams are the ones where the driver has been able to adapt to how the car feels when the team finds a way to make it go fast. The driver becomes the variable, not the car.

Charlotte Observer

Carl Edwards, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images Carl Edwards, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
November 21, 2008  05:57 AM ET

"first" - cereal killer.

November 21, 2008  08:19 AM ET

Come on TRASHCAR -- admit it you'all made a mistake ... get rid of the COTTIE car!!@#$

November 21, 2008  08:48 AM ET

NASCAR will NEVER admit they made a mistake EarnTaz!!! We will be stuck with how it is !!!

November 21, 2008  09:15 AM ET

tie some beer cans on the back, yeah!

November 21, 2008  09:31 AM ET

COT=SUX

Yea, #5!!!!!!!!!!!!

November 21, 2008  10:22 AM ET

Brian S-Bag France or any other **** that runs NASCAR will never admit they ruined EVERYTHING

November 21, 2008  10:52 AM ET

Sooner_Sully -- I like that ... here is how it would work >>> debris on the track >>> let's race >>> debris on the track >>> Let's race >>>>debris on the track >>> etc.etc.etc.

November 21, 2008  10:58 AM ET

I didn't like the new car at first because it seemed like it slowed the cars down too much and ruined racing the way it was suppose to be. It made car owners have to change their cars and seemed like they had to start from scratch again. However, now that we have raced our first full season in the new car I have found myself to liking the new car. There have been many close races and they have been pretty exciting. I now like the new car and what it has done for the racing. I will have to say that it was a success.

November 21, 2008  11:09 AM ET

I think I'll go back to sleep after these exciting threads today,
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

November 21, 2008  12:33 PM ET

Wow, The season IS over!

November 21, 2008  12:50 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Sooner_Sully -- I like that ... here is how it would work >>> debris on the track >>> let's race >>> debris on the track >>> Let's race >>>>debris on the track >>> etc.etc.etc.

And how is that any different then a normal race?

November 21, 2008  01:55 PM ET

IARYAW -- exactly the point!

November 21, 2008  02:47 PM ET

Okay - I actually took a minute and read the article. W_T_F ? I feel like I am reading the Driver's review of the Gremlin. Duh........may be a toofless ornary uncle dad from Bugtussle....but we have read more interesting stories on the menu.

November 21, 2008  02:51 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I didn't like the new car at first because it seemed like it slowed the cars down too much and ruined racing the way it was suppose to be. It made car owners have to change their cars and seemed like they had to start from scratch again. However, now that we have raced our first full season in the new car I have found myself to liking the new car. There have been many close races and they have been pretty exciting. I now like the new car and what it has done for the racing. I will have to say that it was a success.

Someone get me what this person is taking while watching the races. The only excitment is at tracks 1 mile or smaller and at Dega and Daytona, oh and maybe the road courses. Other than that they are a snooz fest.

November 21, 2008  03:05 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

COT=SUXYea, #5!!!!!!!!!!!!

Float words you not helping your retarded reputation on T&R by turning words into math equations..

November 21, 2008  03:29 PM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Float words you not helping your retarded reputation on T&R by turning words into math equations..

Carson, sad thing is, You can't figure it out! LOL

November 21, 2008  03:32 PM ET
QUOTE(#16):

Carson, sad thing is, You can't figure it out! LOL

Shucks you miscreant you think you have gotten me don't you... I say I throw you in the Ohio River with an anchor tied to your leg... LETS SEE HOW LONG YOU CAN REALLY "FLOAT"

November 21, 2008  03:57 PM ET

GEEZ Float -- looks like yoiu got Hip-Hop 09 fired up ... the only thing is the statement about the OH Ten river is wrong ... there is so much crap in that creek you can stand on it!

November 21, 2008  04:36 PM ET
QUOTE(#18):

GEEZ Float -- looks like yoiu got Hip-Hop 09 fired up ... the only thing is the statement about the OH Ten river is wrong ... there is so much crap in that creek you can stand on it!

Yes it's very polluted... More fun to watch for me to you tube the action as it goes down..

 
November 21, 2008  04:56 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

COT=SUXYea, #5!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Float = No Fun

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