NASCAR Sprint Unlimited Practice #2: The Oppositelock Live Blog

Kinja'd!!! "For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
02/14/2014 at 18:26 • Filed to: Oppo Live, Live, Sprint Unlimited, NASCAR, Daytona

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 1
Kinja'd!!!

NASCAR's Back! Kinda. It's the pre-season, so close enough. Let's talk about it!

All times local Daytona time (EST)

7:27: The practice countdown graphic has gone away and Fox is interviewing drivers. It appears practice is over. Goodnight!

7:25: Mere minutes remain and we're in commercial.

7:23: Stewart's coming in with 7 minutes to go and lining up for inspection. Not sure if anyone is left on track.

7:22: Stewart is lapping alone. There's a little rust (it's his first time back in the car since breaking his leg).

7:21: Order unchanged for top 3: Hamlin, McMurray, RSJ

7:20: No, Advil commercial, when your sinuses are backed up before a date, you take cocaine.

7:18: More commercials. Apparently College Basketball happens outside of March. Who knew?

7:17: Fox is still paying Michael Waltrip to color commentate. I wish they would do this for owners in other sports. I want to see Kraft in the booth during an NFL game.

7:15: Booth crew now trolling Steve Burns for his lame peanut questions.

7:14: Now Fox's pit reporters are shilling for Mars Corporation.

7:14: I think Denny Hamlin is still leading, but Fox isn't telling me.

7:11: More commercials. Did FS1 actually sell this much ad space? How?

7:10: No one ever asks Kurt Busch about his Valentine's Day Plans

7:09: RSJ is perpetually pre-pubescent; unfortunate. And of course he's getting Valentine's questions. "RSJ, DID YOU BONE DANICA TODAY, AND HOW WILL THAT AFFECT YOUR RACE?"

7:08: The [Sponsor] Unlimited title guarantees that a LLC will never be NASCAR's title sponsor.

7:04: I just realized I'm live-blogging on Valentine's Day. Don't worry, I'm not on EST; I still have plans.

7:03: Fox Sports 1 has the same graphic design theme as Fox News; the horrible theme.

7:00: How do you know no one gives Ambrose a chance at Daytona? Reporters are talking to him about snow.

6:57: Fox is showing establishing shots again, namely a Cessna 172 silhouetted against the moon. DIS is right next to the Daytona airport and the Daytona campus of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I have heard first-hand reports that no ERAU students living on campus sleep during the 24 and Speed Weeks. Too noisy.

6:54: Lots of cars in the garage, and even more engineers in the back furiously running GoalSeek in Excel (I don't actually know what programs they use)

6:53: Establishing shots show the lake at Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR should allow houseboats on the lake during races. It would be awesome/deadly.

6:51: mmmm pizza

6:50: RSJ in 3rd, Jr. second to last going into commercial break three.

6:49: Carl Edwards hasn't crashed, primarily because he's in the garage.

6:47: Announcers talking about Jeff Gordon retiring after a potential 5th championship. Hopefully he'll go into Indycar/Rally after he retires from NASCAR. We can dream...

6:46: Hamlin still in first, McMurray second as we come back from break.

6:45: While we're in commercial, I cannot overstate how horrible Kinja is for live-blogging. There was a time when you could save a post without leaving the editor. Those days are gone.

6:44: Going into another commercial break, Stewart heads back into the garage for adjustments. Doesn't he know this is qualifying?!

6:43: Edwards hasn't crashed yet: updates as the situation develops.

6:42: Penske is charging with Keslowski following Logono. You might as well not race if you're not in the pack.

6:41: Times are falling off, drivers seem to be settling in and actually, you know, practicing.

6:40: Hamlin's 45.03s lap time has held out for several laps, but Patrick is charging

6:38: Times falling fast, Jamie McMurray had fastest lap until Hamlin took it back just a few seconds later.

6:37: This would be easier if I didn't have to leave the editor every time I save the post. K.R.E.A.M.

6:36: Commercial break. Practice times are falling fast each lap. SHR had success drafting their four (!) cars in the race, but Denny Hamlin currently has the fastest time.

6:35: Cars on track! Also, it took six minutes for my first update to save. K.R.E.A.M.

6:28 PM: I didn't watch Practice #1; all I know is that Dale Jr. was fastest. Usually practice doesn't mean much, but one possible starting order for the Sprint Unlimited is practice speed, so it's important this time.


DISCUSSION (1)


Kinja'd!!! camaroboy68ss > For Sweden
02/14/2014 at 18:33

Kinja'd!!!0

I'm excited to watch the rookie battle between Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson. I'm also glad to see the. #3 back on the track. Hopefully Dale Jr sees victory lane this year.