Race 05: Auto Club Speedway (24Mar17)

[jeromef1]

 

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Race Length: 100 Laps (Stage 1- 25 Laps... Stage 2 - 75 Laps)
Race Name in Game: Auto Club 400


1. So Phoenix was a bit of a cluster with the new format, but Auto Club is a completely different track to say the least. What kind of race are you expecting with the bigger field on a bigger track? and how is your confidence level a few days out before we take the green?

2. Since our schedule is now matching up with the actual Cup schedule for the next month, who is your early favorite going into Sunday at Auto Club? And how do you like the chance for the driver of the car you sport in this season.

3. (Have some fun with this, no mean spirited answers!) Since we all got a chuckle (or went into a rage) and got to see Shrub throw a really awful looking punch at Logano, who do you wanna take a swing at in the league?

 

[XSYSE]

"Bass Pro Shops 200" has been sponsored

 

[jeromef1]

"Bass Pro Shops 200"  has been sponsored

 
Thanks a lot for your support

 

[AaronWebb85]

Pre-race interview up!

 

[Hootius]

1. So Phoenix was a bit of a cluster with the new format, but Auto Club is a completely different track to say the least. What kind of race are you expecting with the bigger field on a bigger track? and how is your confidence level a few days out before we take the green?
I am actually looking forward to seeing what the league can pull off this week. It's not a flat out track and it's super wide; the draft helps but does not guarantee a pass; so if we fan out a few laps after a restart, I can see some solid green flag runs going. Also the apron is not super tough here, so hopefully we don't see any cautions come from green flag pit stops. As of now, I don't feel like my single lap speed is top notch, but I have some confidence for the race itself.

2. Since our schedule is now matching up with the actual Cup schedule for the next month, who is your early favorite going into Sunday at Auto Club? And how do you like the chance for the driver of the car you sport in this season.
I'd love to see Larson get one early this year. He has been on it so far this year. Kurt has been solid at Auto Club over the past 4 years, but he has been underwhelming since Daytona. I hope he can rebound and those two can have a 1/2 finish. As for the #24 car, he might have a shot if he can learn how to restart without losing 117 positions every time (only a slight exaggeration lol)

3. (Have some fun with this, no mean spirited answers!) Since we all got a chuckle (or went into a rage) and got to see Shrub throw a really awful looking punch at Logano, who do you wanna take a swing at in the league?
Well, punching Jacob is child abuse and I'd rather give Brian a big brother style backhand instead of a closed fist.... so I am going to pick Aaron. I have probably a good 8" of reach and I can just stick and jab without worrying about him landing a counter haymaker lol

 

[AaronWebb85]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1. So Phoenix was a bit of a cluster with the new format, but Auto Club is a completely different track to say the least. What kind of race are you expecting with the bigger field on a bigger track? and how is your confidence level a few days out before we take the green?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I expect many more long green runs here as it's a wider track. It is a lot tougher than it appears though, I see the pack spreading out a decent amount. I have not shown much speed in practice, so I'm not expecting a lot from this race, top 10 would be a good result.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2. Since our schedule is now matching up with the actual Cup schedule for the next month, who is your early favorite going into Sunday at Auto Club? And how do you like the chance for the driver of the car you sport in this season.[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I think Kyle will bounce back after nearly missing out on a win last week. Kasey sucks. [/font]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3. (Have some fun with this, no mean spirited answers!) Since we all got a chuckle (or went into a rage) and got to see Shrub throw a really awful looking punch at Logano, who do you wanna take a swing at in the league?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I guess I'd have to say cj... He and I seem to get tangled up a lot. Not always his fault, though in the moment I tend to blame him. I could see some post race rage pointed in his direction [/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]p.s. Hootius would never try to make this ugly mug look worse by smashing his fist into it. Let's face it, it can only get better looking from here.[/font]

 

[Meattyloaf]

1. So Phoenix was a bit of a cluster with the new format, but Auto Club is a completely different track to say the least. What kind of race are you expecting with the bigger field on a bigger track? and how is your confidence level a few days out before we take the green?

I am expecting a lot of more of open track. I don't expect a lot of people to be on top of each other, but who knows. I doubt we will have as many cautions as we had last week. My confidence level is about the same it has been since we started the West Coast Swing. I am not a fan of those tracks in the game, real life its a different story. I feel good about Auto Club though, the bigger tracks have a tendency to fit my driving style better on this game. Hopefully, it will end like the other two with me getting a top 10 if not stealing a top 5 or better.

2. Since our schedule is now matching up with the actual Cup schedule for the next month, who is your early favorite going into Sunday at Auto Club? And how do you like the chance for the driver of the car you sport in this season.

No doubt it has to be Kyle Larson or Chase Ellitot. Both of them are performing really well and honestly Larson should have 4 wins at this point of the season. Now getting to driver of the car I am sporting. I don't know if Paul Menard will get a top 10, but who guessed his teammate winning Pheonix last weekend.

3. (Have some fun with this, no mean spirited answers!) Since we all got a chuckle (or went into a rage) and got to see Shrub throw a really awful looking punch at Logano, who do you wanna take a swing at in the league?

Honestly, I have no idea. I'll have to get back to you during post-race interviews.

 

[XSYSE]

1. So Phoenix was a bit of a cluster with the new format, but Auto Club is a completely different track to say the least. What kind of race are you expecting with the bigger field on a bigger track? and how is your confidence level a few days out before we take the green?

I expect fewer cautions, but still should see some good action as there is plenty of room to attack here.  I'm not finding the speed here, but it sounds like few are.  On the positive side, I've picked up Project Cars and have noticed that racing both I am getting a better feel for the car in nascar and have bettered my times at every track I've tried.  Could mean better racing coming from the 14 team.


2. Since our schedule is now matching up with the actual Cup schedule for the next month, who is your early favorite going into Sunday at Auto Club? And how do you like the chance for the driver of the car you sport in this season.

I think I'll take Bowyer here.  The team is strong and I think he's going to have a shot here, even though he's probably not in the top 5 of most peoples minds.


3. (Have some fun with this, no mean spirited answers!) Since we all got a chuckle (or went into a rage) and got to see Shrub throw a really awful looking punch at Logano, who do you wanna take a swing at in the league?

I think at this point everyone is getting it together, and hopefully any incidents are racing deals.  Once upon a time though (Atlanta) the #16  "Bubba" managed to take out 3 of 4 of our team in seperate incidents, I was...thrilled.  So yeah there would have been some infield "slobber knockers" helmet throwing,. Could have sent out an invite to like, COD---WWE or UFC2 to settle it.  It's all good though had nothing but clean racing with the #16 last race. 

 

[Hootius]

Qualify 7th   Finished 6th

Forget about my race recap. I am just going to address the league as a whole. I was stressed out after that Phoenix race, and took a little time to back up  and not overreact. I can't do that with what we saw last night guys. Straight up, it was an embarrassment. Making out the accident report for last night and re-watching the streams are showing me that we have a straight up lack of common sense and racing smarts going on. Once again, we have people making their cars loose beyond their control and forcing situations that in no way needed to be forced. 22 cautions guy.... 22!!!! on one of the easiest and widest tracks in the game. 50% of the race was spent under caution. And for this one, we can not blame the roster expansion. Some of the bigger offenders from last night were Main Race regulars, which is the same as Phoenix to be quite honest. The leadership has already handed out 1 suspension, and there are separate talks about to go on with at least half a dozen other drivers too. Seriously guys, I encourage you  to go back and look at either your own streams or someone else's and look at your driving. Listening to party chats, there are guys who refuse to accept any blame when it is clearly theirs. We need to have a better understanding as individuals as to what is causing these situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpFhnCB8YuQ

 

[Meattyloaf]

Q: 13
I felt that I could've had a better position but I just couldn't find my line or speed that I had in practice.

R: 19
I had the speed, I had the car and I came damn near close to winning the first stage. Unfortunately that would be the highlight of my night as my luck went down hill on lap 25. I got lose out of 2 cost my self stage points. Then a few laps later I take a pit and the game freezes. It was bound to happen at some point just wish it wasn't at a race I had a good chance of getting a decent finish at. Plus I feel Karma bit me in the ass because as soon as I said that I can typically handle lose cars with the wheel. I get lose in 2.