**** OFFICIAL 2014 NASCAR THREAD ****

[GloryDayz]

In honor of JJ's win (), I thought I'd start this now. Here comes #7!!!

February 15th 2014 is right around the corner folks, get ready now!!!

[alanm]

Originally Posted by Dylan

The cream rises: 2014 McLaren P1

Oh. My. God! The videos are stunning. My new favorite exotic supercar.

903 horsepower, can hit 62 mph in less than 2.8 seconds, can hit 186 mph in less than 15 seconds. Top speed 221 mph. McLaren-engineered powertrain that combines the company’s own twin-turbo V-8 (as seen in the MP4-12C), a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and hybrid components.

The car is chock full of modes, Launch, Track, Race, Sport, and E among them. They’re all activated, fittingly, once you depress the “Active” button. They variously enable breakneck getaways, adjust suspension height and firmness, tweak powertrain programming and power delivery, and adjust other sundry chassis settings. Stability control can be fully defeated in Track and Race modes. Price starts at $1.6 million.

It's no Bugatti Veyron but it's nice.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by alanm

It's no Bugatti Veyron but it's nice.

alanm, so true. Well, true for straight-line performance. Although, Kienigsegg Agera and Hennessey Venom GT go back and forth with Bugatti Veyron as fastest car in the world in absolute top speed.

The difference for McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari (versus Bugatti, for example) is the F1 technology of downforce that beats the Veyron in cornering speed.

You do have good taste.


McLaren P1 8.8 out of 10 vs Bugatti Veyron 8.9 out of 10
http://twinrev.com/cars/McLaren-P1-vs-Bugatti-Veyron

Ferrari LaFerrari 8.7 Out of 10 vs Bugatti Veyron 8.7 Out of 10
http://twinrev.com/cars/Ferrari-LaFe...Bugatti-Veyron

Guinness returns fastest production car world record to Bugatti
http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...NEWS/130419848

LaFerrari

Gorgeous car.

[Al Bundy]

Austin Dillon's #3 cars.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Austin Dillon's #3 cars.

Sweeeeeet!

[In58men]

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NASCAR considering overhaul of points, Chase

By Jim Utter
jutter@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Jared C. Tilton - Getty Images
Under a proposed NASCAR points system – which could still change before an expected announcement later this month – winning would become virtually a necessity to make the Chase and win the championship. Above, Jimmie Johnson celebrates his 2013 Sprint Cup championship.
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NASCAR is planning a vast restructuring of the points system in its premier Sprint Cup Series that would greatly emphasize winning races and feature eliminations in its Chase playoff system, according to multiple sources briefed on the plan this week.

In addition to expanding the Chase field from 12 to 16 drivers, a win in the season’s first 26 races would virtually ensure a driver entry into the championship Chase. If there were more than 16 winners, the 16 with the most wins and highest in points would gain entry.

Once the Chase field was set, a round of eliminations – similar to the NCAA tournament – would take place after the third, sixth and ninth race of the Chase, culminating with the championship determined by a winner-takes-all season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Under the proposed system – which could still change before an expected announcement later this month – winning would become virtually a necessity to make the Chase and win the championship.

In an interview on Motor Racing Network earlier this month, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said he was “not satisfied” with the current points structure.

“We think we can make some tweaks that continue to incentivize risk-taking, racing harder and so on,” he said.

NASCAR vice president and chief communications officer Brett Jewkes would not confirm the changes shared with the Observer but offered the following statement:

“NASCAR has begun the process of briefing key industry stakeholders on potential concepts to evolve its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship format. This dialogue is the final phase of a multi-year process that has included the review of extensive fan research, partner and industry feedback and other data-driven insights,” he said.

“NASCAR has no plans to comment further until the stakeholder discussions are complete. We hope to announce any potential changes for the 2014 season to our media and fans very soon.”

According to sources briefed on the proposal on Friday, 16 teams would make the Chase, with positions first going to full-time series contenders who won a race through the first 26 races of the season. Should 16 drivers not win races, the remaining slots would be filled by the drivers highest in points.

Once the field is set for the Chase and re-seeded, the four lowest in points among Chase contenders would be eliminated from title contention after the third, sixth and ninth race in the Chase.

The four remaining contenders would enter the season finale reset with the same amount of points. The driver who earned the most points in the season finale would be the series champion.

Participants have been told changes could still occur in the format but the proposal addressed this week was the direction NASCAR was now seemingly headed.

NASCAR has used a consistency-based points structure for the most part since its inception, determining the season champion by a season-long accumulation of points through the 2003 season.

The 10-race Chase format to determine the series champion was adapted in 2004 and has been used with some variations – including bonus for wins – ever since.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/201...#storylink=cpy

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Sweeeeeet!

I have a feeling that driving the #3 in Cup is not going to go over well with Earnhardt fans, who still proudly wear the #3 at each and every track.

Dillon should build his own legacy independent from the #3.

Just my opinion.



Driver Changes for 2014:
#4 [was #39] Kevin Harvick moves from the #29 to Stewart Haas Racing #4
#7 Michael Annett brings Flying J sponsorship and replaces Dave Blaney in the #7
#30 expands to a two-car team with Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman; the #30 and un-numbered 2nd car
#31 Ryan Newman replaces Jeff Burton
#35 Josh Wise will not return, team will likely run different drivers in the car
#41 Kurt Busch moves to a brand new 4th Stewart Haas Racing team
#42 Kyle Larson replace Juan Pablo Montoya who heads back to Indycar
#47 A.J. Allmendinger replaces Bobby Labonte, switches to Chevy
#55 Brian Vickers(if healthy) takes over the ride full time after sharing it last two years
#66 [was #56] Michael Waltrip runs Daytona 500; Jeff Burton at Las Vegas, maybe other races
#78 Martin Truex Jr. moves from the #56 and replaces Kurt Busch

[Fairplay]

{{{{ Hi Dylan }}}}

I've missed you

[Dylan]

Oh, how sweet, Fairplay.

I've missed you too. Hopefully, I will see you in tomorrow's game thread.

Smooch!

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Oh, how sweet, Fairplay.

I've missed you too. Hopefully, I will see you in tomorrow's game thread.

Smooch!

Great car auction going on at Fox network I know you love cars.

[Dylan]

Oh thanks. I am turning it on now.

Would you like to share some of my Tomato soup? Lunch time...

[Dylan]

Bruce McLaren 1937-1970
McLaren 50 - Courage

Simply stunning.



McLaren systems is used by NASCAR today.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Oh thanks. I am turning it on now.

Would you like to share some of my Tomato soup? Lunch time...

Yes I'll PM you

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Great car auction going on at Fox network I know you love cars.

Gawd, do I love auctioneers. They are mesmerizing.

"Do I hear $100 thou....ldfjlkdf jdlkjlkjf alkdjf...lkdkjf lalkdlk lakdkj, alkdjd...;slfkg ldkjkjd akjldljf...Sold $185 thou"

Edit: Oh look, there's Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon sitting in the front row.

Wow, famous '69 racing Chevy Corvette opened at $1 million - Only four made -15 sec. it is up to $1.8 million - up to $2.55 million...

[Dylan]

U.S. Formula 1 Team?

Gene Haas, co-owner of the Stewart-Haas Racing team has responded to a recent call for potential new teams to come forward.

He is working on the project with Guenther Steiner, previously technical director at Red Bull and Jaguar.

However, it is likely the interest being shown from Haas, a United States national, will result in participation from the start of either the 2015 or 2016 season.

The intention is that the Haas operation will be run by former Toro Rosso boss Guenther Steiner. The Austrian, who runs a composite facility in North Carolina –

The 61-year-old owns one of the world's leading CNC companies, and also owns the Wind Shear wind tunnel, also in North Carolina, which has been used by F1 teams.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/25774084

http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/formu...entry-in-2015/

[RNR]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Austin Dillon's #3 cars.

I will continue to pull for RCR even though I am a Harvick fan. I have an autographed 24 scale truck signed by Austin Dillon I bought the year he won the truck series. It will take a little getting used to watching the 3 again~