2024 NASCAR

[220]

Fantastic start to the Xfinity race, 8 laps done before the first caution and Larson and SVG have swapped the lead almost every lap so far.
2 of the best racers in the world going at it and fighting clean makes great viewing.

[220]

Another dominant display by SVG and another win.
A bit like last years cup race he found himself back around 20th after the last pit stops with more cars to pass than laps left in the race. Cautions reduced the laps available he had to make passes even more. Last restart was with 3 to go and he restarted in 3rd, was into the lead in a lap and drove away for the win.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I know we have some Hailie Deegan fans on here but sorry to say, she has parted ways with her race team.

I might have voiced my opinion at the time and maybe I didn't, but it was a mistake to bump her up to Xfinity.

Wonder if she'll try to recapture a truck ride?

Read more here:

https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-xs/new ... /10633173/

[cooperhawk]

What happened to SVG in Sunday's race? I missed that part. (Honey doo's).

[Rifletom]

Who is SVG?

[Vaquero]

Who is SVG?

Tom, he's a Supercar driver from Aus. that's been driving part time NASCAR, mostly road courses.
Name is Shane Van Gisbergen.

RP

[Rifletom]

Ok, thanks Randy. New racer that seems to be really good.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

He slid on the wet surface and crashed out early in the race.

[JEBar]

looks like my girl Hailie Deegan has lost her Xfinity ride .... she's had an abysmal season, in last place of all series regular drivers, and hasn't shown any significant progress

[220]

He slid on the wet surface and crashed out early in the race.

Actually drove from 5th to 1st early and then lead the remainder of and won the first stage, dropped to 4th after pitting then got canonballed by an out of control Chase Briscoe that put him into the wall and ripped the right hand front out of the car.
No mistake at all from SVG, Briscoe's accident started a few hundred yards before the corner and 10 or 20 car lengths behind SVG, Briscoe was a total passenger from the moment he started to aquaplane, certainly wasn't deliberate or even an attempted over take he just totally lost control and even though the contact was light it was enough to put SVG into the wall in the wet conditions.

Shame as SVG looked on track to go back to back, like he said in the post race even driving to the lead in the first stage he was driving well within himself and leaving a big safety margin to stay out of trouble then got taken out by someone else mistake.

[220]

Who is SVG?

The down under equivalent of Kyle Larson, very fast driver in anything he sits in and like Lason one of the most naturally gifted drivers in the world.
Short version of his Nascar career is he made a one off start at Chicago last year and won the race in absolute dominant style becoming the first driver to win on debut in over 60 years.
Led to him walking away from supercars in Aus and racing fulltime in the Xfinity series this year looking for a cup ride next year.
Has been acceptable on ovals so far not great or brilliant but looks to be learning fast, absolutely dominant on road and street courses, won for the 3rd time this season on Saturday in Chicago to jump to the lead of the Xfinity playoff standings with the most wins and most playoff points.
12months after sitting in a Nascar for the very first time and starting his first race as an unknown 1000:1 outsider he lined up for Chicago a second time with about 20 starts to his name a 4 time race winner, Xfinity playoff leader defending race winner and 2:1 favorite to win the race.

If you can find a replay of the first 20 laps from Saturdays Xfinity Chicago race and watch it. His battle with Larson is about as good as motor sport gets

[220]

looks like my girl Hailie Deegan has lost her Xfinity ride .... she's had an abysmal season, in last place of all series regular drivers, and hasn't shown any significant progress

Think it is the lack of progress that has ended it, like I said in an earlier post I think she has actually qualified on ovals better on average than SVG.
Difference is SVG has managed to turn his 30th place oval starts into top 15 finishes more often than not. Getting more comfortable with the car and track and often showing similar pace to the leaders by the end of the race.
Hallie just seems to languish around where she starts not going forward not falling back just circulating until she or someone she is racing with makes a mistake.
She undoubtably has some talent, I think it might be car setup issues, dont know if she struggles to let them know what she is feeling in the car and what changes she needs. Almost as if she just drives what she is given hits the ceiling as far as speed she can get from the setup and then nothing changes.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

He slid on the wet surface and crashed out early in the race.

Actually drove from 5th to 1st early and then lead the remainder of and won the first stage, dropped to 4th after pitting then got canonballed by an out of control Chase Briscoe that put him into the wall and ripped the right hand front out of the car.
No mistake at all from SVG, Briscoe's accident started a few hundred yards before the corner and 10 or 20 car lengths behind SVG, Briscoe was a total passenger from the moment he started to aquaplane, certainly wasn't deliberate or even an attempted over take he just totally lost control and even though the contact was light it was enough to put SVG into the wall in the wet conditions.

I actually got him mixed up with Kyle Larson. Although SVG crashed out finishing last, it was Larson that went sliding straight into the tire barriers finishing 35th, next to last.

[220]

I actually got him mixed up with Kyle Larson. Although SVG crashed out finishing last, it was Larson that went sliding straight into the tire barriers finishing 35th, next to last.

A bit of trivia for you last years race winner finished last this year and the last place finisher from last year won the race.
First time I think it has ever happened.

[220]

I am going to put this out there and say I think SVG is a genuine championship contender.
No doubt most will think I am mad but hear me out I am sure you all thought I was mad when I said a top 5 on debut last year at Chicago was likely and a race win a real possibility.

He will go into the playoffs near the top for playoff points, I dont expect him to be leading but with another regular season road course still to come and possibly a regular season top 10 points finish he will be well placed. Who knows with him locked in the playoffs regular season points are fairly irrelevant and I wouldnt rule out Kaulig starting to prioritize picking up a few stage wins on ovals and adding to his playoff tally.

We have a road course in the playoffs before the first cut and he would be the favorite to win it, even without a win he will be well placed and pick up enough points on the preceding 2 ovals to more than likely make it through. The way the season has gone I think he is more likely to make it into the final 8 than not.

Making it out of the 8 will be the biggest hurdle for him, he has been making steady progress on the ovals often running similar lap times to the leaders by the end of races but just not having track position. If he can pickup where he has finished when we get back to tracks for the second time this season he should be a top 5 or top 10 runner. Couple that with the fact he really has had a clean season only 2 DNFs and one of those a mechanical he will be accumulating points even if not contending for wins. Martinsville is the last race before the final cut and he ran 11th there earlier in the season so may well be in contention.

If he makes it to the 4 it really is a lottery, a few things in his favor, he did finish 6th at Phenix in the regular season, he is a racer as he showed again last week going door to door with Larson, he wont be intimidated or pushed around. He is used to delivering under pressure, has gone into all the road courses this year as a favorite and delivered every time. A couple of race wins have slipped away but not as a result of him making mistakes and he is used to fighting for championships.

I have said it a couple of time but he is only a rookie with regard's to competing in Nascar, when it comes to actual racing experience, fighting for wins, fighting for championships he has more experience than almost anyone else in the field and I think that will play in his fover come playoff time.

[220]

P4 at Indy for SVG on pure pace, was running top 10 last week at Pocono before being taken out.
1st oval win is looking closer and closer and certainly looking like a real championship contender come play offs

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

Austin Dillon Wins !!

In a thriller of a finish.

Now earned his way into the Chase.

[fortyshooter]

BS...most crap way to win a race I ever seen. Payback will be hell.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

Maybe so. But it was the old time last lap bump and run. I'm sure he didn't mean to wreck him, just move him out of the way. But let's weigh the situation. He was just about to cruise to an easy victory when the caution flag waved with 2 laps to go, Logano and Hamlin are both in the Chase and Dillion had no chance without a win. Would I had done it? Not sure. But I can sure see his position on it.

[Vaquero]

Maybe so. But it was the old time last lap bump and run. I'm sure he didn't mean to wreck him, just move him out of the way. But let's weigh the situation. He was just about to cruise to an easy victory when the caution flag waved with 2 laps to go, Logano and Hamlin are both in the Chase and Dillion had no chance without a win. Would I had done it? Not sure. But I can sure see his position on it.

I didn't see it,as I no longer watch it, but sounds like a classic movie by the old #3
He once moved Terry Labonte like that at Bristol and later said in his interview that he was just trying to move him outa the way.

RP