Dinger, Speed Front Row for NASCAR in Phoenix

[David Cole]

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-dinger-time-in-phoenix/

Congrats guys!

http://twitpic.com/1eenml
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David Cole
News Desk Manager
eKartingNews.com
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[Dan Haynes]

i guess scotts shaved head must've done him good!
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Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

[Bob Baldwin jr]

Who are those clowns They look like a couple of HASBEEN karters Front Row very KOOL
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Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out, shouting, "Holy **** what a ride!!!".

[Tom Jensen]

Gotta love it! This is what it's all about right here. I'm sure this is a memory for them to last a lifetime.
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Sex is like pizza. When it's good it's great and when it's bad, it's still pretty good.

[charles hunter]

After his backward march from front row yesterday he should shave off more than the hair on his head.
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swampwater smyth concurs "If you aint first, yer last."

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[Dan Haynes]

Yeah really. i think he went from 2nd to about 25th in about 10 laps. Dinger hung in there and had a good finish though. i think he was in the top 10 at the end. same with Marcus Ambrose. How about Robby Gordon!!! 14th. His best finish on a non-road course in several years.
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Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

[Mike Burris]

Not raining on anyones parade but this was an impound race which means the cars don't get any track time after qualifying and most of the serious Chase contenders work on race setups instead of a qualifying set up. (this is really important at Phoenix this year because the track goes through three distinct changes during the race) That's why many of the top finishers qualified mid pack and vice versa. Another strategy used by some of the under funded teams is do what is called "start and park". They just work on qulifying and if they get in the show park it after a short time to save money.

[Dan Haynes]

Mike, i'm not positive of this but i don't believe this was an impound race, but there was no practice after qualifying. teams were permitted to adjust on the cars but could not get on track to test them.

as for underfunded teams, i don't think scott speed or AJ allmendinger are running with underfunded teams. both teams were locked in to the race based on owners points so qualifying was no more important to them than to anyone else.

i think the biggest advantage they had in qualifying was the fact that they have extensive road race backgrounds. Phoenix requires an easy entry with a tight line. these guys are very good at that. i think where the problem was was that they struggled to maintain this in traffic. with cars packed together, as soon as you get off that line (their comfort zone) they had trouble adapting.

i think (in my opinion) that another issue is that open wheelers aren't as used to or as comfortable running wheel to wheel in the corners. many passes in open wheel are made on the straights (set up in the corners). NASCAR drivers have grown up running side by side through a corner just inches apart. they might run like that for 20 laps. open wheel doesn't work that way.

i has scott speed on my fantast team and was hoping he'd win so i'm not bashing here, just trying to explain what i think happened.
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Blaise Haynes
#3 Arrow X1-CIK
TaG
Cook Racing Engines Parilla Leopard

[Dave Stevens]

Phoenix wasn't an impound race for Cup. It was for K&N but not for Cup.
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