Download Podcast - 173 - Las Vegas Test source: @ASManessFirst Off Give credit to Jeff Gluck for periscoping the practice Reddit hated it Everyone on twitter hated People in my feed And everyone commenting on the Writers threads The writers were objective or hated it Gluck did not carry NASCAR’s water Matt Weaver was very tough on NASCAR Cale B Lang...wasn’t there, but she was very optimistic…. But that’s her personality...I would not consider her a synochopant…. she just loves nascar Utter just reported the facts, it was pretty objective, but he did manage to misspell the name of head nascar official Jim Probst throughout the article Credit to A.S. Manness for pointing that out...he’s worth a follow….he’s the data scientist that RCR hired a couple years ago and gets credit for their two wins in 2017 - phoenix and the coke 600 Maybe the coke 600 fuel mileage gamble...maybe i give them credit….but that’s more of other teams being sheep and pitting with the rest of the field THe phoenix race was not data. Newman stayed out at the end and jumped to the lead. He then blocked Kyle Larson, and February 2017 Larson was not a guy that would put shrek in the wall He will now. And I hope Manness’ data tells him that Regardless of my inceduality about his data…..Manness released some single lap run data from the vegas test...you should check it out Kyle Busch hated the package and he should His whole career, he has been in superior equipment. On an occasion, his xfinity 18 car is not the best….and guess what happens...he doesn’t win Busch wants us to believe that this removes all driver skill I get that….I completely understand that on throttle and off throttle time in the turns in major component of racing But is that Kyle’s only strength? We’ve heard this before...the drivers that have been blessed with great equipment always complain when the equipment is changed They always say that it hurts drivers skill The variable that is being changed is not SKILL…...it’s the equipment If skill is the true measure….then an equipment change should not matter...busch still has more skill….or at least we have been led to believe that…..but as i pointed out….when his truck or xfinity ride is just good, and not great…..or his pit crew is not perfect….he does not win An argument that could be made ...that the only skill that matters is on-off throttle time in the corners…..but to reduce racing to one single skill is not a good look There are a lot of ways to look at this….I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind But a pragmatic approach is probably the most beneficial Xfinity cars are faster So what The cup series is not defined as the hardest cars to drive series….or the experts only division Danica Patrick raced in cup for years….because she had a sponsor and a brand There are plenty of other pay-to-play drivers...and start and parkers throughout the years You are lying to yourself ... if you think CUP is the pinnacle of racing It’s the most popular...that’s all….popular does not mean it’s the best form of racing….comic book movies are popular... Does that mean they’re good movies….. no….. Unfortunately the film industry has disintegrated…..and nothing good is ever made….so actually the comic book movies are the best by default….. NASCAR may be suffering from a similar circumstance David Ragan made a good point….if hard to drive cars were the measure of excellence….then legend cars should be the number one auto sport in america Here’s the deal The short tracks havent been changed...they’re fine What has changed….are the terrible intermediate tracks We all know the 1.5 mile races are terrible If you have forgotten watch one YouTUbe They are lap turning single groove races The only way that you enjoyed one of those races last year was dependent on your fantasy team If you played the right driver….then you like the race If you did not….you turned it off NASCAR is only messing with the intermediate tracks We all know they are a disaster...these stupid thi