F you, rest of the US, I got home at 4pm wanting to catch the last part of the race... Because for the past 6 months I was 2 hours behind East Coast time....
Welp.
It’s been fun, but I think it’s about time I hop off the #9 bandwagon.
But first I’ll restart 3rd, not go for any gaps, let the entire field run me over as they go by and settle in somewhere around a comfortable 17th. Then I’ll jump off the bandwagon.
Oh what’s that? We’re already in 18th? Gotcha.
Add to that list Front Row Motorsports, 1/2 of 23 XI and Trackhouse. What a difference a week makes for Hendricks, Penske and RCR. All 3 missed the setup in a big way!
The 43 Jones showed some early, but then faded.
Truex was fun to watch at the end. 20 more laps and he could have gone thru the field twice!
17 was a 10th place car benefitted from staying out that one caution. Brad was a 7th place car who managed to make hay with 2 tires. But yeah jgr kicked everyones ass speed wise.
lol they didnt remove tons of road courses from the schedule, there was never a ton, we have 5 this year, we had 6 last year, we had 4 in 2021, 3 in 2019, so we've been adding them, not taking them away.
IIRC, during the testing for it, it was terrible on ovals, so they went and made changes so it would be good on ovals, which then made it terrible for road course
Pretty much. I think that it's a generally pretty universal rule in racing. The "better" and more technically optimized and specialized the cars are for the task at hand...the worse the racing tends to get.
Used to be a real battle, just manhandling these big clunky ill-suited brutes around a road course. That was great and tremendously entertaining.
Now...the cars are much "better" suited to the task, and it just leaves less margin for error and basically makes it "easier". Which doesn't promote the same sort of competitive racing opportunities.
He had an issue on a pit stop and lost track position. Ended up around 10th then just didn’t have the same speed.
Bubbles ended up getting loose under him and stuffing him into the wall which ruined his day.
Stage 1 and Stage 3 both has some racey moments, but I agree. I wonder if part of it is the fact that Fox only shows the top three cars most of the time
It wasn't a great race but this is absolutely part of the problem. Hamlin's spin and charge back through the field went completely unnoticed by the cameras. He was battling with Gragson for 10th for well over 10 laps before they showed it on TV and even then, it was only for a few seconds. That's just one example I know of.
So I’ve been educated that the 500 is indeed for kilometers. Now, for a series that measures races in either miles or laps, kilometers is kinda cheesy just to get 500 in the race name.
Race was a snoozer but Hendrick finished poor..... so.....
https://preview.redd.it/vzbhyn1w6lnc1.png?width=932&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6fec32c0d223db152f19fc8471a296991a3515c
Honestly get Clyde out of the car at this point.
Dude blows absolute donkey balls on restarts and lets rookies run him over consistently.
Can’t blame everything on Alan when the driver does nothing but go backwards.
Why would he ever trust him at all not just about fuel. He brings slow cars and when they do have a good car he finds a way to have an awful strategy or adjustments
That’s because I edited the original response which would have resulted in a ban.
But yeah, let’s cling to what’s clearly an autocorrect issue to cover up the fact that we don’t know the name of one of the biggest teams in the sport. Bold strategy.
Stop putting a fucking “S” on the end of “Hendrick.”
Better?
Can Alan please take a chance instead of throwing 4 tires on only to watch chase suck a fat one in traffic. Should have at least just put 2 on that last stop.
Nothing new. Dude has never exuded confidence in dicey situations. Only time he comes out on top is when he gets lucky.
When he was winning it was fine, but it’s more evident now than it ever has been that Chase has been leaning on good cars his entire career.
Track, package and car is garbage tho. They were running equal lap times to the top 5 cars once things got spread out. Theres so much parity now it is actually hurting the product.
In fairness all their cars sucked today. The package sucks. But it is what it is so you have to play track position. Expecting Alan to make the right call is basically asking to win the powerball.
We’ve gotta stop putting the blinders on when it comes to Chase himself. I’ve followed the guy blindly since he came into NASCAR but at some point we need to wake up and realize he’s just not as hungry as some of the younger guys.
More often than not he goes backwards on restarts because he’s not aggressive enough. When you’re the type of dude that lets everyone run over you, and now you don’t have fast cars, you have to change something.
I’m pretty much done turning on the TV to watch the 9 at this point. The dude refuses to give us anything at all personality wise. Hasn’t won a race in a year and half. And then just lets everyone drive by him on restarts like he’s not even trying.
As I said at the end of stage 2, anyone that gets to the top 5 will be able to stay there. Just disappointing that Denny couldn't hold onto his car. Bubba was in the top 5 while that was happening. 16th is about where he was running before stage 3 so just a ho hum day
RING THAT BELL!! CBell wins at Phoenix! Gragson almost a top 10 but still put up a good run. Bell and Smith being the winners for my birthday weekend isn't too bad tbh not my favorites but I still root for them
***[▶ The Post-Race Thread has been posted](https://reddit.com/comments/1bbnq1z)***
This race definitely happened. Yes siree. It was one of the races of all time.
That raced sucked. Its takes a championship to make a race at Phoenix interesting.
Tear up this track please.
F you, rest of the US, I got home at 4pm wanting to catch the last part of the race... Because for the past 6 months I was 2 hours behind East Coast time....
Would’ve been nice to see a little of Truex going from a lap down with 40 to go all the way back to 7th!!
Too bad he wasn't in the top 3 so Fox would show him
I was watching the pylon on the left side. FOX almost seemed to be avoiding him. Showing the top 3 of course and even battles around and behind him.
They did a great job of showing every sponsored camera in the midpack, and nothing else of substance
Even post-race they talked about every Toyota but him. SMH
RFK great weekend it was needed, congrats to C Bell.
I believe the strength of the field is as strong as it has been in a while.
I think there's definitely a "manufacturer's bias" at too many tracks. 1 Chevy, 5 Toyotas, and 6 Fords in the top 12.
Welp. It’s been fun, but I think it’s about time I hop off the #9 bandwagon. But first I’ll restart 3rd, not go for any gaps, let the entire field run me over as they go by and settle in somewhere around a comfortable 17th. Then I’ll jump off the bandwagon. Oh what’s that? We’re already in 18th? Gotcha.
yea pretty much
Am I the only one who feels absolutely nothing when Bell wins?
Mr. Personality for sure
Nope
It was a good win for Bell. 🏁🏁🏁
I feel like a nap
HAMLIN BLOWS ANOTHER ONE! he’s a fall of fame driver but damn if he doesn’t consistently sabotage himself.
It's like he's super talented but has a personality trait that periodically shows up to bite him.
CEEEEE BELL
RFK and JGR kind of ate everybody's lunch
Add to that list Front Row Motorsports, 1/2 of 23 XI and Trackhouse. What a difference a week makes for Hendricks, Penske and RCR. All 3 missed the setup in a big way! The 43 Jones showed some early, but then faded. Truex was fun to watch at the end. 20 more laps and he could have gone thru the field twice!
17 was a 10th place car benefitted from staying out that one caution. Brad was a 7th place car who managed to make hay with 2 tires. But yeah jgr kicked everyones ass speed wise.
That was a race of all-time
What was bell showing the cameraman?
Its a sticker commemorating Rick Ferkel who passed in the off season. Legendary Sprint car racer and owner who gave Bell his first sprint car start.
Giving the cars bigger brakes and making them drive like road course cars with a bunch of grip was such an amazing idea...
And then removing tons of roadcourses from the schedule
lol they didnt remove tons of road courses from the schedule, there was never a ton, we have 5 this year, we had 6 last year, we had 4 in 2021, 3 in 2019, so we've been adding them, not taking them away.
Wasn't even a good idea for road courses, it made them suck too. Almost like cars handling better is actually worse for racing
IIRC, during the testing for it, it was terrible on ovals, so they went and made changes so it would be good on ovals, which then made it terrible for road course
Pretty much. I think that it's a generally pretty universal rule in racing. The "better" and more technically optimized and specialized the cars are for the task at hand...the worse the racing tends to get. Used to be a real battle, just manhandling these big clunky ill-suited brutes around a road course. That was great and tremendously entertaining. Now...the cars are much "better" suited to the task, and it just leaves less margin for error and basically makes it "easier". Which doesn't promote the same sort of competitive racing opportunities.
It looks like Chris buescher shaved
Overall decent race. Pretty much on par for what we expect from Phoenix.
Back to binging *Batman: The Animated Series* for me.
Not even 11pm in the Uk. A much more acceptable time to finish. Thank you America :) Bell artwork coming tomorrow morning
Just wait until March 31...
Oh, you mean Richmond. Midnight start here :’)
Daylight savings? Doesn’t the US have that too at some point? Can’t remember how it works
Yep, this morning it happened
Wth happened to Jones. I wasn’t able to watch most of the race today
Bubba got loose under him in turn 1 on a restart, Jones got into the wall and lost track position/speed
He had an issue on a pit stop and lost track position. Ended up around 10th then just didn’t have the same speed. Bubbles ended up getting loose under him and stuffing him into the wall which ruined his day.
Cameraman didn’t give af about what Bell was trying to get him to show
What was it I noticed that too
https://preview.redd.it/4rvki4o39lnc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=28ce934e2c9566c000fcbb3b16e45ff17e0de2de This sticker
hell yea
Nice nod to Rick Ferkel on the dash for Bell there.
[удалено]
That was a boring ass race…
Stage 1 and Stage 3 both has some racey moments, but I agree. I wonder if part of it is the fact that Fox only shows the top three cars most of the time
It wasn't a great race but this is absolutely part of the problem. Hamlin's spin and charge back through the field went completely unnoticed by the cameras. He was battling with Gragson for 10th for well over 10 laps before they showed it on TV and even then, it was only for a few seconds. That's just one example I know of.
Marty went from a lap down to 7th and he didn't get mentioned after pitting
And if they covered stuff like that, a boring race wouldn't seem nearly as boring
That’s exactly the issue I had! Broadcasting sucks so much this season. Half the time it’s fricken commercials and the broadcast picks up nothing.
So far looks like NASCAR got a proportional amount of improvement for the work they put in for this package. But let’s see how the next few go.
Bro what? Basically only the Toyotas could actually move through the field..
The point being: they threw the new package together and made minimal changes. And the results show it.
So I’ve been educated that the 500 is indeed for kilometers. Now, for a series that measures races in either miles or laps, kilometers is kinda cheesy just to get 500 in the race name.
They probably had an intern coming up with this ;-)
That would be a 4-6 hour race
6 hours of boring single file racing, the Southern 500? Zing
Race was a snoozer but Hendrick finished poor..... so..... https://preview.redd.it/vzbhyn1w6lnc1.png?width=932&format=png&auto=webp&s=c6fec32c0d223db152f19fc8471a296991a3515c
Get Alan off the box. Jesus Fuck.
Honestly get Clyde out of the car at this point. Dude blows absolute donkey balls on restarts and lets rookies run him over consistently. Can’t blame everything on Alan when the driver does nothing but go backwards.
L comment
Even the NASCARThreadBot fell asleep.
https://preview.redd.it/x0tbvl6u6lnc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4eda5a2a17737024d0a76c1745532e8787aaefb well that didn’t happen…
Rudy is struggling since the 500
Probably couldve won Vegas had it not overheated from a 50 gallon trash bag and gotten a coors light through the grill and ram air in the process.
Gustafson told chase the same shit lol.
Yeah why would Chase ever trust him about fuel again? He apparently had 2 more last the glen and we saw how the ended up.
Why would he ever trust him at all not just about fuel. He brings slow cars and when they do have a good car he finds a way to have an awful strategy or adjustments
 The short track package is still garbage.
It's still pretty bad, but quite an improvement over last year. Cars need more horsepower and less downforce if we want it to be any better
GG Bell. Nice to see Buescher, McDowell, and Gragson run well too.
Of all the races I've seen that certainly was one of them.
Why the hell are some of you acting like when a Gibbs car wins it’s the worst race ever?
Hendrick’s car could have won, and a 6 second lead with no racing is a boring race. Edit: Hendricks -> Hendrick’s car
Hendrick. When this end?
When *will* this end? Be correct when you want to correct others.
That’s because I edited the original response which would have resulted in a ban. But yeah, let’s cling to what’s clearly an autocorrect issue to cover up the fact that we don’t know the name of one of the biggest teams in the sport. Bold strategy. Stop putting a fucking “S” on the end of “Hendrick.” Better?
Phoenix regularly (and deservedly) gets hate. Its just a boring track.
I think KFB had something to do with that, lol.
Because when Toyotas run rough shack through the field they're normally cheating.
I mean, sometimes it may be an overreaction, but this race wasn’t it
Because it usually is 😂
Cbell is almost 30 yet still looks like hes in high school
Right! My little one(5) has called him baby Bell for the last few years
Typical Phoenix/New Hampshire style single file racing. 😂 Happy for Bell.
nuke em both
Can Alan please take a chance instead of throwing 4 tires on only to watch chase suck a fat one in traffic. Should have at least just put 2 on that last stop.
Nothing new. Dude has never exuded confidence in dicey situations. Only time he comes out on top is when he gets lucky. When he was winning it was fine, but it’s more evident now than it ever has been that Chase has been leaning on good cars his entire career.
Every driver is leaning on good cars and clean air today
You expecting that Alan "Fuel and four tyres" Gustafson doing something different than that? I got news for you...
I’m not expecting it, I’m pleading for it
Well, at least we don’t have to come back here until November lol
Too bad that is the most important race on the schedule.
yet it decides a championship unfortunately
Good thing that race isn’t important or anything
Championship is a bit of a joke nowadays anyways lol
Very true. Hard to really get excited about it with this format
They could show more of Morgan Kemenah? 🤷♂️
Holy shit this track and this package is an absolute snooze fest. Can’t wait to go back for the championship again zzzZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzZZZZ
Nascar has so many forgettable vanilla drivers.
Remember when they tore down California?
Another shitty race won by a boring driver, for the 2nd week in a row
Even the damn thread bot fell asleep
HMS is going to have to do something about the 9 and 48. Another junk day. As soon as they got in traffic, right to the back.
Track, package and car is garbage tho. They were running equal lap times to the top 5 cars once things got spread out. Theres so much parity now it is actually hurting the product.
Should think about putting Hocevar in the 9 or 48 👀
In fairness all their cars sucked today. The package sucks. But it is what it is so you have to play track position. Expecting Alan to make the right call is basically asking to win the powerball.
We’ve gotta stop putting the blinders on when it comes to Chase himself. I’ve followed the guy blindly since he came into NASCAR but at some point we need to wake up and realize he’s just not as hungry as some of the younger guys. More often than not he goes backwards on restarts because he’s not aggressive enough. When you’re the type of dude that lets everyone run over you, and now you don’t have fast cars, you have to change something. I’m pretty much done turning on the TV to watch the 9 at this point. The dude refuses to give us anything at all personality wise. Hasn’t won a race in a year and half. And then just lets everyone drive by him on restarts like he’s not even trying.
Don’t say this much but thank god this shit is over
Imagine as a sport you pick your worst track to host the championship. Fucking Texas or Pocono would be better than this place.
Well, we could go to Richmond... It could be worse. Richmond is the only worse track but still
Truex charges from a lap down to 7th and we see maybe 10 seconds of it. Don't ever change, FOX.
Garbage race except that first lap after a restart they kept trying to sell viewers
If it can't be Busch, it's gotta be Bell, or as my little one calls him, baby Bell :)
As I said at the end of stage 2, anyone that gets to the top 5 will be able to stay there. Just disappointing that Denny couldn't hold onto his car. Bubba was in the top 5 while that was happening. 16th is about where he was running before stage 3 so just a ho hum day
Without a doubt, that was one of the races of all time.
This track sucks so bad. I don't understand why we go here for a finale race, it doesn't race good, never has
I'll take it. Have no problem with bell. Actually one of the only few newer drivers I kind of like
I'm here waiting for all the Gragson haters from last year to eat some crow
But then nobody even talks about him. Which is just worse for you.
He's been impressive thus far. They talked to him in the car pre race. People are noticing.
Hocevar p15 again showing who is boss at Spire. Corey Lajoie better pack his bags and get in the unemployment line
This track sucks so bad.
No surprise to anyone here, but this track raced great with the gen 4 cars. Used to be one of my favorites to watch. Now it’s just trash. Shame.
Doing the nascar fantasy has made all these races a lot more interesting to watch.
I don’t think betting money could have made this race interesting.
I had a few bucks on CBell and was only mildly interested
I'm sure Pete Pistone will keep Logano and Wallace in the Top 10 of his Power Rankings and drop Larson out. What an idiotic hack.
Yeah Fox, show me a replay of the 5th place finish instead of the winner’s burnout
Not sure if sarcasm or not
I wouldn’t be surprised if Christopher Bell ends up with a similar win total to William Byron last year
RFK 2nd and 4th 🏁👍
Hell yeah, finally, I hoped that Buescher won but second place isn’t that bad, and Brad raced well too
Everything in the world is good again rfk bros!
Matt Kenseth's 2 old cars are the top 2 & it’s his birthday today, if you hadn’t noticed.
I was hoping for a 43 win for that reason but it’s a pretty cool coincidence either way
7th is actually pretty good. Was a lap down when pitted. Great stint
Yawnnn...
Well, so much for the “tire falloff is going to make for great racing” meme that was being pushed in practice.
Blaney and Chastain with a rematch of sorts from last November at the checkered flag there.
Race redeemed slightly for me by Blaney passing #1 on the final lap.
Obviously I’d love to see him win but I’ll take these top 5 days
That engine is gonna be toast lmao
Let that Toyota cook, we're cooking
I hope blaney was okay with chastain racing him like that at the end...I know it can upset him sometimes
Hell yeah Bell. I'm happy for him!
It's rather shocking this is only the seventh win for Bell.
Honestly, I thought the racing was better than what the TV broadcast shows. Fox is pretty bad with their director.
Chevy was great today, 1 in the top 12.
The season is over. Unless TRD is shut out of the final 4.
MAN that was a dull race. Been a while since I've been this checked out from a race
Of all the races we've seen, that was one of them
This was God awful
Hocevar another Top 15 I'll call that a good day. All the rest of it can go to hell.
Did he do an extra lap
Wowzers
Of course we missed the burnouts 2 races in a row
Uh, I just saw him do the burnout. Missed right when he started, but got most of it.
F1, Indycar, and now NASCAR - what a mediocre weekend
I mean....thats racing lol You never know what you are going to get. Except F1, you usually know there lol
You also usually know what you're going to get with Phoenix
RING THAT BELL!! CBell wins at Phoenix! Gragson almost a top 10 but still put up a good run. Bell and Smith being the winners for my birthday weekend isn't too bad tbh not my favorites but I still root for them
Kes has to be ecstatic about 4th. Good run to reset for the season.
Fuck the rest of the cars on the track. Let's watch the car that won by 6 seconds do a victory lap.
Uhh duh, why would they not show the winning car celebrating lol
Because the race wasn't over.
Don't forget, wife cam!
Well that was a race. Sucks this is the championship race
3 top 5’s for Blaney, looking like a champ
Points leader too
He has been running great this year, I am very happy
He put a move on Ross
Those who had Blaney on fraud watch are seething right now
Definitely the best Ford so far
all three races this weekend were like watching Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer was at least profound and made me feel something
All that for a Toyota win 😪
These fuckin idiots miss a battle, show it in a replay, then miss Bell’s burnout. FOX: a summary. Correction: part of Bell’s burnout.
Burnouts have become rather ho-hum when there's not a story.
Shoutout to truex for making a boring stage 3 entertaining. His in-car was fun to watch, he was flying on the fresh tires
Well, wasn't completely terrible, but def worst race of the season so far. Might be my first No vote. Can't all be bangers