Race 10: Talladega Superspeedway (05May17)

[jeromef1]

 
Race Length: 94 Laps (Stage 1 -  25 Laps... Stage 2 - 69 Laps)
Race Name in Game: Geico 500

Pre-Race Invertiew:
1. How did you do last week in Richmond? What was your biggest takeaway from that race?

2. We next head to a restrictor plate track. How do you like this style of racing?

3. We have had several races in which we have had fewer cautions and an overall more enjoyable race experience. What do you think has been the reason for that? Do you see it continuing here at Talladega, where the field is likely going to be bumper to bumper for most of the race?

 

[jeromef1]

Thanks to vWardude for sponsoring this race

 

[AaronWebb85]

Pre Race interview is up!

 

[vWardude]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]J1. How did you do last week in Richmond? What was your biggest takeaway from that race?[/font]
Richmond was a tough track to tame for sure. I had a fast car and what I felt like was enough to take it, my car just wasn't as good on the long run as CJ and Kyles was. Overall I'm happy to walk away with another top 5 finish. The biggest take away for me was the lack of cautions. Many of us went into this race expecting a caution fest but I was happily surprised we had the opposite. Good stuff everyone and let's keep that up.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2. We next head to a restrictor plate track. How do you like this style of racing?[/font]
I was one of those kids that would jump on a nascar game and would mainly race talledega. I've obviously evolved from that but I do love this style of racing. I believe this track on this specific game has more to offer than Daytona. I'm excited to see how this one plays out, hopefully I can get hoot to push me to a win to return the favor from Daytona, I'd gladly push him to another victory as well.

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3. We have had several races in which we have had fewer cautions and an overall more enjoyable race experience. What do you think has been the reason for that? Do you see it continuing here at Talladega, where the field is likely going to be bumper to bumper for most of the race?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I don't see a crazy amount of cautions here, we just need to ease up off the restart. The draft is huge here so backing off a couple car lengths won't kill your race. I can see a lot of bumper to bumper action split up into 2 or 3 packs. My goal is to be in that front pack all night.[/font]

 

[Meattyloaf]

1. I did fairly well running positions 5-7 majority of the race that was till the end when I walked away with a 12th place finish. I took away that I definitely need to prepare for the long long green flag runs and to practice on qualifying times.

2. I love restrictor plate racing. To say that I was pumped for this race is an understatement. I have been waiting on this race since Daytona and it's one that I feel that I could win with how strong I have ran in plate races in the past although I don't have the results to show for it.

3. Honestly I feel that it's the tracks Martinsville and Richmond are both pretty one groove tracks. I also feel that people are giving each other more room and patience. To say that we won't have a couple of cautions at Talladega would be lying. I'm expecting a couple of big ones but I believe other than one to two major wrecks we'll probably see a lot of single car accidents as people get moved around in the draft.

 

[XSYSE]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]1. How did you do last week in Richmond? What was your biggest takeaway from that race?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I did ok, for me it came down to my first good Q spot and a single 10 lap segment when, I was able to hangwith Kyle on 2 tires and was able to put a little distance on 3rd place, some of the prep paid off[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]2. We next head to a restrictor plate track. How do you like this style of racing?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Half of my online wins come here.  Love the racing but this league is competitive so its going to take your best to place well here.  I like that this track offers multiple racing lines and space, not to mention the lanes are marked,  SO HOLD YOUR LINE![/font]

[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]3. We have had several races in which we have had fewer cautions and an overall more enjoyable race experience. What do you think has been the reason for that? Do you see it continuing here at Talladega, where the field is likely going to be bumper to bumper for most of the race?[/font]
[font=Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I think now its getting through the races are long enough that you can be in the back or a lap down and still come back.  Also its been proven for the best of the league, suspensions will happen.  I see wrecks happening at Dega, two lines will be used and a mistake entering the corner will result in a few big spill[/font]

 

[Hootius]

1. How did you do last week in Richmond? What was your biggest takeaway from that race?
Came home in 5th, with a definite Top 5 car. While I would have liked an extra position or 2, it definitely could have been worse so I will not complain. The biggest take away from me is to not have my headphone wire anywhere near my wheel again.

2. We next head to a restrictor plate track. How do you like this style of racing?
Don't care if I have a 3rd place and a Win on restrictor plate tracks, I have never liked this style of racing on a console games. Nascar2003 from Papyrus (the game iRacing is based off of) was the only game where I have had fun in pack racing, because there was an actual high-line and the cars handle tremendously better. This game is just hug the bottom and no passing allowed really and I find it boring, yet stressful for all of the bugginess involved (pit road entrance for example)

3. We have had several races in which we have had fewer cautions and an overall more enjoyable race experience. What do you think has been the reason for that? Do you see it continuing here at Talladega, where the field is likely going to be bumper to bumper for most of the race?
Field size for our 3 short tracks have had the lowest attendance of the season, so that had a role to play. Along with that, is that while the cars are in close proximity to each other, the game allows for more forgiveness on contact at the lower speeds compared to what we have seen at the flat out, intermediate tracks when cars are on the absolute edge. As for Dega, we will probably see a big turn out, so for sure I expect some cautions. But like Daytona, once the field gets a chance to spread out a little, we could have a nice green flag run (which I am hoping for).

 

[Meattyloaf]

Q:6
Would've probably been on the front row with BJ but I slammed his rear on the back stretch and killed my fast lap, but still got 6th with it.

R:11
Should've finished top 5, but I guess that's plate racing. Honestly though I was proud of my performance I ran in the top 3-5 most of the race. Unfortunately I also didn't get any stage points because I went to make a move to get around P1 and P2 and got hung out to dry by the Toyotas. I then tried forcing myself back in line but I got CJ by a pixel and got knocked up the track and out of line before falling back to 10th at the end of the stage. The last restart I got knocked out of line and spun as a result. I was mad at first and let it be known, but I regained myself and have managed to laugh off that last incident. I would've loved a top 5 or a chance to have made a move for the win but overall I'm content with my performance just wish I had the result to prove it. Anyways I'm really proud on how well the league did with running the draft and holding a line. We didn't match the logo for the race hardly at all.

 

[vWardude]

Q:4th
Qualifying was a little tough trying to follow behind the wiggles lol but on the last lap I lead the pack with Kyle behind me and got a top 5 spot with that.

R:2nd
I wanted to take this win bad but I was also content with another top 3 finish. Towards the end of the race I made a few moves to take the lead and held it for about 10-15 laps. When the final caution came out, everyone has to pit to take a splash as we would have been short by a lap or two and I exited the pits 4th. I had nudged my way under 3rd but he wasn't content to give up his line that he lost and I saw deja vu of last seasons dega race where I got wrecked in the finals laps. 2nd and 3rd eventually slipped up and I capitalized where I tucked in behind zeke and he held the bottom perfectly. I tried to make a few moves and I debated hitting the outside line but I was too concerned about getting left to dry.

 

[Hootius]

No need for a race recap, so I want to address the issue that popped up last night; Obviously this has to do with Pats, but I want to address this with the league as a whole.

I spend my free time to do what I can to help with league. This whole reviewing cautions deal, I did that without being asked by anyone just because I wanted to bring solid issues up to Aaron and Jobes so we could help make the league perform at it's best. I think in the past that I have made it pretty clear that this is for just cautions. We made a novel of a post to cover how to handle driver disputes that don't lead to a caution.

We put that system in place because flat out, I am not watching every lap of every race to babysit. Want to guess how many situation or videos have been submitted to be reviewed?? ZERO! So don't question my integrity or make a stink when absolutely no one cares enough to take the steps that were laid out, so we can handle unfair situations. One time an issue has been brought to us: CJ had an issue with the timer clock costing him spots at Vegas. He brought it up, showed us a video, and we made it right and gave him the spots he deserved. It is that easy. However there is nothing I can, nor will go out of my way to do, if you don't bring the issues up to us.

I do this because I love racing and fair competition. I have 3 kids at home, so I refuse to do this as a 2nd babysitting job. On a personal note, I have never decided to take a reviewing/points action against any because most of the crap I see I just chalk up to racing deals. Granite I think this league has too many aggressive drivers that would rather shove their nose in instead of establishing proper overtake to make a pass, so I adjust how I race certain people to make up for that to make sure I don't get punted or have my nose taken off. I've had issues with my own teammates, and they have had issues with me. It's racing. I don't give 2 s**ts about what car manufacturer you drive or what your team name is, so you better believe that I am going to be upset if anyone throws my name there out like just because you got your panties in a wad.

I am not perfect, but I feel like I have done what I can to try establish myself as one of the cleaner racers in the league, and that is something I take pride in. With all of that being said, this has been 3 better races in a row after a string of embarrassments. The leadership will continue to do what we can to keep that streak going. If you want something addressed, we will take the time to address it and make it as right as possible, but it is up to all of us as drivers to take that first step as it is laid out in the rules, and not just rely on the leadership to wave a magic wand and cover every little thing that happens. Sorry for the novel, but I have said my peace. For the sake of the website, do not reply to this post. If you have any issues, privately message me either here or on PSN and we can discuss it like adults.

 

[XSYSE]

Q: 12  Just couldnt get it going...

R: 3  Had a good run would have liked to see both lines running but there was not enough help.  Good tires on the last run made my race tried to get War to go high but he was smart cause I would have hung him out so guys like me and Zeke could fight for a win....Fun Stuff