"The World of Vee" (theworldofvee)
08/11/2013 at 13:58 • Filed to: NASCAR
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"The World of Vee" (theworldofvee)
08/11/2013 at 13:58 • Filed to: NASCAR | 5
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I'm a motorsport junky, I specifically love the NASCAR series but give me a guide and a race and I'll watch no questions asked. Say what you will about most NASCAR races being on super speedways and "they only go left!", but to deny that NASCAR driving takes real skill is to deny that childbirth is painful. Nowhere is this fact more apparent than the two road courses in the Sprint Cup Series, Watkin's Glen and Sonoma.
This is Watkin's Glen. This is a tough track. Factor in that Gen 6 NASCAR cars aren't the most nimble things in the world and you'll wonder how there isn't a caution every lap. There are a few notable passing opportunities at this track:
Turn 1 is the prototypical passing turn, but it's a tough one expect a lot of attempts and fails right there. Turns 3 and 4 are another risky passing situation, it's the fastest part of the track entering into the back straightaway. You won't see a ton of crashes or passes here, but it's a desperation move. Drivers tend to ramp up the speed to get into the back straightaway and a careless driver can lose traction and crash or be forced to heavy brake. The Inner Loop was installed to lower the speeds going into the #5 corner because drivers would crash into that turn all the time, it makes a nice bump-stop to keep the race on pace, doesn't slow it down too much and prepares drivers for the chute and boot. Finally the track Post-Heel (Turns 9/10/11) are heavy passing situations mainly because it's the last chance to do so. Go wide and test your luck, though you may find yourself in the wall if you do.
NASCAR Road Racing also gives the drivers a chance to really showcase their talents. These drivers are world class, and it shows. There's a reason Juan Pablo Montoya, a CART, Indy 500, and F3000 Champion has barely finished in the Top 10 in his 6 years of racing in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. So watch it if you can, hell it's a Sunday morning/afternoon, gets some runny eggs and a good beer and enjoy the show. And look out for those three-wide passes!
Clown Shoe Pilot
> The World of Vee
08/11/2013 at 14:18 |
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I hope we can convince these guys to come to our little road course in Austin. That would be a HOOT.
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The World of Vee
> Clown Shoe Pilot
08/11/2013 at 14:22 |
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what track? I'd love for more nascar road racing, but i think they've kind of agreed on two being the upper limit to the insanity
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Clown Shoe Pilot
> The World of Vee
08/11/2013 at 14:29 |
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Circuit of The Americas
We've had some NASCAR guys out here where they ran a brand new road course car against an Aussie V8 Supercar. The lap times were really close. That Aussie V8 was faster through the corners and the NASCAR was faster down the straights.
I think it'd be damn entertaining to watch 40 of them go at it.
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The World of Vee
> Clown Shoe Pilot
08/11/2013 at 14:30 |
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oh hell yeah! that'd be awesome
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The World of Vee
> Clown Shoe Pilot
08/11/2013 at 14:38 |
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was just thinking, there's probably a much higher chance that Nationwide Series gets a race there. They just announced a newcomer to the Nationwide race next week in ohio
one can hope!
Bakkster, touring car driver
> The World of Vee
08/13/2013 at 09:29 |
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Wrong Watkins Glen, they don't run the Boot.
