Roadracing talent means little in Nascar.

[Fiorentina 1]

When you see guys like Michael Waltrip, Bobby Hamilton & Todd Bodine qualify up front at Watkins Glen and then see road racers like Austin Cameron, Justin Bell, and Shane Lewis not qualify, you realize that experience in a Winton Cup car counts a lot more then Road Racing skills.

[Joe Fan]

You may have a point with Michael but Hamilton and Bodine are pretty decent road racers. I remember Hamilton doing well at Sears Point (one of the toughest circuits) in the recent past and any of the Bodines are tough at The Glen because that is their home track. Also remember that Michael's brother Darrell was a very good road racer too, especially in his prime. Maybe Darrell has taught little brother a few tricks.

[Joe Fan]

Hey, Tom Hubert and Joe Varde (Joe Who?) made it in less than ideal equipment, so what your beef?

[Fiorentina 1]

Originally posted by Joe Fan
Hey, Tom Hubert and Joe Varde (Joe Who?) made it in less than ideal equipment, so what your beef?

They barely made it! The only reason they qualified is because there wasn't more entries! Even Jerry Nadaue is towards the back. Only guys who have miles in those cars do well. Like Ron Fellows. If he didn't do miles of testing, he's be with Joe Verde.....

[Jack Man]

It's the funniest thing you will ever see. Turn 1 of the first practice. Fiorentina is right though it's in car experience that counts. Imagine if Fellows or Said had 3 or 4 full seasons.

[muggle not]

No question that with good equipment and a few more WC races, Fellows and Said would be a force to be reckoned with. Said has the greatest respect for WC drivers and I look for him to make a good showing today (unless he demolishes the car with his all-out driving style )

[Lars]

Originally posted by Fiorentina 1


They barely made it! The only reason they qualified is because there wasn't more entries! Even Jerry Nadaue is towards the back. Only guys who have miles in those cars do well. Like Ron Fellows. If he didn't do miles of testing, he's be with Joe Verde.....

There wasn't more entries??? There was 47 entries for this race. (4 drivers DNQ including Jimmy Spencer & Kenny Wallace). At times this season, they've had to bring in drivers to fill the field. The road racers seemed to do well in happy hour too. Scott Pruett was 2nd, Boris Said was 8th, Robbie Gordon was 4th & PJ Jones was 15th in AJ's car.


I can't totally dis-agree with your point either. Matt was fastest in Happy Hour and qualified 8th...& he is strictly an oval racer too. Maybe the lessons from Skip Barber paid off??? LOL.

[Lars]

My bad...Kenny Wallace is in today's race.

[Lee Janotta]

Y'know, I can't wait to see Christian Fittipaldi in NASCAR next year. Win or lose, it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun to see a Brazilian, an ex-Formula 1 driver racing in this series.

I do think quite a bit of this has to do with how hard the crew'll work for an arrive & driver ringer. Scott Pruett's crew worked harder for him than they have all season, and he put that car in the thick of the fight all race. Mind you, I've always thought Pruett was a little overly conservative as a driver, I think a more aggressive racer could have won in that car.

[rustyfan]

Keep in mind that drivers like Austin Cameron, Shane Lewis etc didn't exactly have the best of equipment, and if your car isn't up to it, no roadracing-skills in the world will get you into the show. Simple as that.