NASCAR at NHMS this Weekend

[trfour]

Video/s; http://www.nascar.com/video/preview/...iew/index.html

Terry
_____________________________

PS. Yes, we are all feeling the pinch of todays economy! Remember though that the good days will one day return to Loudon NH. and NHMS through NasCar's interests in the fan base this area is, and will become. And also important to remember is that none of the previous NasCar ticket sellouts at NHIS, were attended or purchased by the majority that have posted in this very thread...

[gtxrider]

A couple of years ago, two I think, Mr. Bahre gave away a few tickets at the Sandy Point Resturant. We had a tickets we could not use so we gave them back.

Attended both races last year but will miss this weekend not due to econonmic pressure. My couch will have to do on Sunday. I plan on being there for the fall race and perhaps the Indy car race in August.


GO Junior

[trfour]

The race lineup for Sundays Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at NHMS.
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2011...ta/lineup.html

Terry
__________________________________

[Argie's Wife]

The race got out and traffic is STACKED up in Alton - whoa! We've got people inching by the house, whooping it up and waving. Lots of grills in the backs of pickup trucks and lots of out-of-state plates.

It's nice to see the good turn out - hoping the tourist industry did well this weekend!!!

[Superduty1]

Well, whether they gave the tickets away or you bought them, the stands for Sundays Sprint Cup race were at near capacity. It was good to see all the fans come out on a great sunny day in New Hampshire. I sure hope the new owners don't take a race away from Loudon because Nascar is good for New Hampshire. Even if you got the tickets for free, you spent money somewhere in this great state, either on gas, six pack, lodging, dinner, D and D, local supermarket, souvenirs at the track, you get the point.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Superduty1

. I sure hope the new owners don't take a race away from Loudon because Nascar is good for New Hampshire.

Unfortunately as a race fan for many years, I see the direction I believe Nascar is taking, or trying to take. Eventually NH is bound to lose one of the races. Slowly raceways are being built all over the country. I do believe the eventual goal of Nascar is to have tracks all over the country such that every venue and every corner of the country will have a race. This will mean that tracks like NHMS will end up forfeiting a second date. I believe that eventually the only tracks that will hold two events will be Daytona, and Talladega.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Superduty1

Well, whether they gave the tickets away or you bought them, the stands for Sundays Sprint Cup race were at near capacity.

I didn't go to this race but I turned it on the tv with about 40 laps left and there was thousands and thousands of empty seats then.

[Webbsatwinni]

We went Sat for the modifieds, it was hot but a great day. They should have more misting stations though, the people were way overheated. I don't know why they were dehydrated, they were drinking lots of liquids.

[SPT13]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I didn't go to this race but I turned it on the tv with about 40 laps left and there was thousands and thousands of empty seats then.

I went Sunday, there were a lot of empty seats compared to yrs ago. There was a decent breeze, so heat wasnt to bad were we sat. A lot of people started to leave with 40-50 laps left, to beat traffic I assume

[sa meredith]

Thousands upon thousands of unsold tickets...despite advertising blitz past month or so...newspaper, radio, TV. Very little walk up crowd purchase.
This coming from a race day volunteer that I know, who directs traffic in the lots.
Says Fall race has 20K plus seats still available.
This is by no means a situation unique to NH. This sport routinely sold out every track it went to, for years and years, as the sport simply exploded in the early/mid 90's, into the early 2000's.
Now watch a Sunday race...pockets of empty seats are every where.
I was absolutely shocked...shocked...to be watching speed vision, and see an ad letting people know that tickets are available for the Bristol night race. After Daytona, it was considered one of the toughest race tickets to come by...Saturday Night at Bristol.
Now, they are trying hard to sell it out.
Sign of times???? I say not so much...
The sport has changed a bit, but really, for me, it just ran it's course. I enjoyed it for a solid 9/10 years, watched every week, but as my sports plate was full enough, I finally just had enough.
I think as time goes on, these venues that now all hold 100K plus, will never sell out.

[LIforrelaxin]

sa_meredith I don't disagree with you that for some people NASCAR has run it course it is out of there system and they are paying less attention to the sport. However I believe most of those people, where also the ones, that didn't go to the track to begin with. For many many people that I know who go or have gone to races religiously, the current economy has play a roll into the decision to purchase race tickets or not.

Lets start with the ticket price... At Loudon, the last time I went my tickets alone where 110$ a piece and very nice seats, when I went to Daytona my tickets where something like 180$ a piece. It gets awfully expensive to take your family to the race track for an enjoyable afternoon. My excursions to Loudon, have cost me anywhere from 500$ to 700$ by the time the weekend is over, when I include gas and food for the weekend. Luckily I have a place to stay so I never have lodging expenses.

Unfortunately NASCAR is not the only sport suffering for the problem, watch football games, basketball teams, etc. The only ones that sell out are the ones that are consistently winning. the difference is that in those sports it is a little easier to not show the empty seats, as once the game starts all those seats close to the playing area get filled as spectators move around. However in NASCAR the seats that get acquired after the start of the race, are the ones higher up in the stands. So the seats closest to the track end up empty, and on tv.

Unfortunately spectator sports have gotten outrageously expensive to see live. Nascar like any other sport is falling victim to this, and now we are starting to see its effects even in venues where they where traditionally sold out for years.

Finally if you ask me someone who has watched racing for over 30 years, the lack of character and uniqueness in the drivers today, has also caused some of the attendance issues at the track. The are all now highly polished, and politically correct. The reason, that men like Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Buddy Baker, etc. help the sport grow, is that they where down to earth, no where near politically correct, and spoke there mind. The sport has lost some of it roots. People don't have nicknames anymore, no Intimidator, no King... Sure smoke has come along, but it is not the same. racing is falling into the slump of most professional sports, there are no captivating personalities, any more that make your turn in every week, just to see what they might try to get away with.

[SIKSUKR]

Ya, I guess Jimmy Johnson is too nice of a guy LI.

Wow, the Luoden tickets were $110? Yikes. I've never sat in the stands so I've never bought those seats. I have a few friends that have Rv's trackside on the hill so I get on their list and buy a general admision ticket. I think the last one a few years ago was around $55. What I like about being there is your not confined to a seat and get to walk around and barbecue etc. Getting too hot?...jump in the rv and watch a little in there, along with replays of the crashes. Don't know if I want to go in the grandstands after being in that area.

[ishoot308]

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

No reason to duck for cover, your response is honesty...what is better then that... Although I love going to races, I find it more practical to watch them at home... With the occassional trip to a race track. While it is great fun tailgating and meeting people with a similar interest. After a year or two, it just seems to loose the excitement. Right now I am trying to decide which race track I want to go check out next... And then I am going to work towards a nice vacation, with the race as one of the highlights of the trip at a track I have never visited before. Las Vegas currently has some appeal....

[challmec]

I too have been following racing for many years and have seen the change in the sport..
Its all about sponsorship and driver image.. Yes the days of Dale and Bill and Richard are long gone and their larger than life images fading.. The best racing to be watching is still the local Saturday night racing tracks... Guys out there doing what they love to do for the sport ,not so much about the money!!!

Only an opinion here and viewed from these eyes!!

[spider22]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they use restricter plates at Loudon.

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by spider22

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they use restrictor plates at Loudon.

They used restrictor plates at NHMS once, it was a mess. They have not used them at NHMS since the "softer-barriers" were installed. Much safer now. There is nothing like standing down on the walkway in front of the stands going into turn 1 when the race restarts. Pure power!!

Also, there are 43 cars, minus the three or four "start and parkers" in the race.

I used to go to several races a year, two at NHMS and two others, usually Daytona plus a random track. I now go to one or two a year at NHMS. It is not as interesting as it was in the 90's but it is still a good show. Going once or twice a year gives me a better feel for what is happening when I watch NASCAR on TV.

R2B

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by spider22

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they use restricter plates at Loudon.

I know for a fact they used them at one of the races I went to. This was back in 2000 or 2001. They were 1" restrictor plates and were the talk of the crowd. I believe they still use them at Talladega and Daytona not positive though.,..

Dan

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I know for a fact they used them at one of the races I went to. This was back in 2000 or 2001. They were 1" restrictor plates and were the talk of the crowd. I believe they still use them at Talladega and Daytona not positive though.,..

Dan

Dan,

You are correct about when they used them at the then NHIS, now NHMS. It was a result of a few very unfortunate accidents.

They are still used at Daytona and Talladega, totally different tracks.

R2B

[John A. Birdsall]

this is much like going to see a guy wack a little white ball and then go chase it. sometimes scratching his head cause the little ball fell in a hole and his club won't go in there. He then looks around and if nobody is looking he picks up the ball and puts it in his pocket. Does this for perhaps 18 holes.
I suppose standing in a crowd watching the cars go around and around makes sense to some. But unless they have an accident then whats the fun.

[trfour]

From NHMS with flyover; http://www.nhms.com/multimedia/video/

Terry
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[Mr. V]

One sport that is ascending is the recently reborn woman's sport, Roller Derby.

In Portland, anyway, it is regularly sold out.

I see you have it in New Hampshire as well:

http://www.nhrollerderby.com/

[Winnisquamguy]

Newman's modified win was taken away here is a short article I got from Jayski.

Newman's race winning modified confiscated by NASCAR: UPDATE: The car Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman drove to victory in Saturday's NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was confiscated by NASCAR during post-race inspection. NASCAR spokesman Jason Christley said the car was confiscated to allow NASCAR to make further evaluations concerning restrictor plate and airflow issues with the motor on the car. Newman, who won the pole in qualifying for the event on Thursday, beat second place finisher Todd Szegedy to the checkered flag by 1.901 seconds on Saturday. "The action is not necessarily an indication of any impending penalty," Christley said. The car will be taken by NASCAR to their Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. for further inspection.(Hartford Courant)(7-17-2011)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced the #7 team that competes in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has been penalized as a result of rules violations committed Saturday, July 16 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-I (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20D-5.9P (the intake manifold ports did not completely seal to the cylinder head ports. The use of metal shim-type intake manifold gaskets is not permitted) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violations were discovered during post-race inspection on July 16. Mike LaRochelle, crew chief of car #7, has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011. Kevin Manion, owner of car #7, has been disqualified from the July 16 New Hampshire race, and has been suspended from all NASCAR regional touring series events until Dec. 31, 2011. Ryan Newman, driver of car #7, has been disqualified from the July 16 New Hampshire race.(NASCAR)(7-20-2011)

[trfour]

I took a quick look out at NHMS's website and found the ( NasCar ticket there too ). http://www.nhms.com/media/news/593366.html

Ryan is a great Chauffeur and of course had nothing to do with the engine setup on the #7 car. However, and rightly so, got busted by association, so to speak...

He did win the most important race of the weekend there at NHMS that will help him and his team in the chase for the SprintCup finals, later on this year...

There is a lot more to NasCar racing than some folks think. Too many variables to go into here. Sophistication and the Space shuttle, are of no interest to some, wise?...

Terry
________________________________

[Winnisquamguy]

Yes I am big fan of Newman and agree with you he has no idea about the motor in the car. Tough break for the whole team, Kevin Mannion is somewhat of a local guy (Portland Maine) he was Martin Truex Jr's crew chief for a long time. But like you said he did win the big one, and the one that counts the most, hopefully that locks him into the chase now.