2019 NASCAR Season Thread

**Midnightmoon** · 01-01-2019, 08:13 AM

I just couldn't wait until Jan 1 rolled around to start talking about spring and the upcoming NASCAR season.

Lot's of story lines to follow in the weeks leading up to Daytona.

Will Ford come out of the box strong with the new cup body?

How will Kurt Busch, Truex, Newman and the others settle in to their new rides?

Will Johnson find any success with the new crew chief?

Woodworker · 01-01-2019, 08:28 AM

I say SHR will be strong. ROUSH will struggle an Penske will take a few races. We won't know for sure till about the 4th race tho.

Kurt will a lot to the table may make the playoffs

Truex an Bush won't get along, Newman, well he's Newman

Johnson won't win before his teammates but will win.....at some point.

Suarez if he ends up at SHR as thought won't be as good as Almirola was his first yr but better than he was

Alimirola wins 2 races misses out on 1-2 more

Lot of penalties this year across the board with the new cars.

The plans for 2020 when announced this yr won't go over very well with a lot of people

Just my guesses.

**Midnightmoon** · 01-01-2019, 11:48 AM

The rumor of racing coming back to Nashville is exciting to me. Bring the sport back to its roots a little.

Johnson will be a non factor. Should have retired instead of trying the new crew chief thing. Chevrolet will struggle again this year. Except for a few Chase Elliott wins and maybe 1 or 2 from the Ganassi camp, not much from the GM teams. Childress will make a lot of show with the #8 and their 50th anniversary deal, but nothing significant on the track.

Roush will be back in victory lane, likely at a plate track with Stenhouse but look for Newman to make some real strides for that team. Not maybe victory lane at a non plate track, but some consistent top 10's.

Championship 4 guesses for this year are Kyle Busch, Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Clint Bowyer with Harvick taking the trophy.

Woodworker · 01-01-2019, 12:39 PM

Interesting picks for the final 4. I'd agree with Harvick an Kyle havin the best shot at being there. Boyer would be nice an I'm a huge fan but he might have to beat out Almirola for a spot. Brad K, hmmmm, have to ponder that one a bit. I'm on the verge of sayin Penske don't make it

**Midnightmoon** · 01-01-2019, 12:53 PM

Almilora and Bowyer had very similar stats last year.....Almirola 1 win, 4 top 5's, 17 top 10's. Bowyer 2 wins, 9 top 5's, 16 top 10's.

Bowyer just showed some flashes of excellence last year that I hadn't seen before in his driving career. I look for them to really peak next year. Not taking anything away from the 10 team, but just my gut feeling.

I don't think Logano can repeat 2018. Keselowski had almost identical stats to Logano last year, but some bad luck and caught up in some untimely wrecks. I look for him to bounce back and be real strong in '19.

jerdog · 01-01-2019, 12:55 PM

Looking forward to another racing season. I've been a racing fan since I was about 5 years old. Having been raised around sprint cars, I was blessed to be able to actually get to drive one throughout the 80's. Always have been a NASCAR fan as well and have watched the sport evolve through 6 decades now and know that as it changes it still is racing and I'll always be a fan.

**Midnightmoon** · 01-01-2019, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerdog

Looking forward to another racing season. I've been a racing fan since I was about 5 years old. Having been raised around sprint cars, I was blessed to be able to actually get to drive one throughout the 80's. Always have been a NASCAR fan as well and have watched the sport evolve through 6 decades now and know that as it changes it still is racing and I'll always be a fan.

I give you guys that have driven sprint cars all of the credit in the world. I've never had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one but have always been amazed at the car control it takes to handle one.

I've been down the drag strip hundreds of times, but never tried turning.

**Midnightmoon** · 01-03-2019, 04:31 PM

Germain Racing announced yesterday that they are moving to Welcome NC to be closer to Childress headquarters. They didn't state where they are setting up shop however. I wonder if they are just going to base themselves out of the Childress shop?

Woodworker · 01-03-2019, 04:36 PM

We've been to the old compound when Earnhardt was still alive an there is a lot of buildings on that property. Every stage of building a car to gettin loaded on the trailer had its own building. If he left any of those up they'd have room. Not a lot but at least a building. Petty is out there already.

Woodworker · 01-03-2019, 04:37 PM

Heck the old museum would be big enough to build a few cars in if it's still there

**Midnightmoon** · 01-03-2019, 04:38 PM

I haven't been over there since probably 2003 or so. i'll have to make it a point to drive by next time we are in NC.

Woodworker · 01-03-2019, 05:00 PM

We went the season before he passed an I think the following season after he passed. Maybe 2 yrs after I can't remember.

Cannon · 01-03-2019, 09:41 PM

Ran a lot of dirt tracks and some asphalt in the 80's and 90's. Most fun I've ever had and the brokest I've ever been.

Woodworker · 01-04-2019, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon

Ran a lot of dirt tracks and some asphalt in the 80's and 90's. Most fun I've ever had and the brokest I've ever been.

That was a good lookin car. I never had the time to get into it if I wanted to. Had some friends, buddies an people I just knew that raced but I could hardly ever make it to watch them race.

edatlanta · 01-04-2019, 05:46 AM

The new Turn 3 Tunnel at Talladega is progressing.
https://www.talladegasuperspeedway.c...-Update-5.aspx

Woodworker · 01-04-2019, 06:48 AM

Nice. I went thru the tunnel the one time I stayed in the infield an it is impressive to see the actual banking of the turns from that perspective. It was like looking up a wall. That really put the reality on just how much those turns are banked. Had to do it at least once, won't do it again

**Midnightmoon** · 01-04-2019, 04:24 PM

Ganassi announced today that they will not be running the 42 car in the Xfinity series. This is the second major team to leave the series, following the Roush 60 car.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/20...y-series-2019/

Woodworker · 01-04-2019, 05:52 PM

Ya I saw that comin when I saw the FBI raided DC Solar a while back. I feel bad for Ross. I guess after a month of lookin for a sponsor they gave up

**Midnightmoon** · 01-04-2019, 06:17 PM

Possible seat in the SHR 41 cup car for Ross if Suarez doesn't work out?

Woodworker · 01-04-2019, 06:40 PM

Yep,

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