Td.Run CS Forum
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22.11.2019 12:51
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Our experts weigh in on four of the biggest questions in NASCAR.Turn 1: What did you think of the new Bristol?Ricky Craven, ESPN NASCAR analyst: The New Bristol was a success. Each event was entertaining, each race had drama, and the facility appeared well attended on Saturday night before the rain began. It also appears that this magic Racing Glue will add value at other tracks, perhaps New Hampshire, Phoenix, or any flat race track that needs help establishing a legitimate second groove.John Oreovicz, ESPN.com: Some of the drivers seem to think that putting down resin on the inside line helped the racing. But this kind of managed competition goes against my purist instincts and it shows how far NASCAR (and other sanctioning bodies) will sometimes go to create the perception of a better show. I suppose the Bristol precedent could open up additional opportunities for the future. Why not wet down the corners in the Brickyard 400 to spice things up? Or build a chicane on the Long Pond straight at Pocono if that will possibly help things? The moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for from a resurfaced track.Bob Pockrass, ESPN.com: Liked it, and it certainly is something to build on. Two grooves make for good racing. Pure Bristol fans might prefer a faster lower groove where drivers would need to do more a bump-and-run, but this marked a good first step. The key: Dont make changes until they get some idea on how the cars should race there with the proposed 2017 package that reduces downforce and sideforce.Marty Smith, ESPN.com: Just fantastic. The awesomeness of a legitimate bottom groove at Bristol lived in a remote nostalgic corner of my mind. I wondered if wed ever see it again. And suddenly, boom! It was back! And gracious was it awesome. It also sold about 30,000 tickets to the race next spring. Attendance this spring was downright depressing, and in that market -- especially with the Battle at Bristol added to the 2016 schedule -- folks had to choose wisely where to spend their ancillary dollars. The spring race lost out. Even despite the rain, the return of the bottom groove harkened some old school chrome bumper lovin. Hallelujah.Turn 2: Chris Buescher has had some impressive runs. Could he do something in the Chase?Craven: The fact Chris and his small underfunded team won, and will likely make the Chase is amazing enough. All sports enthusiasts live for the underdog story, its so easy to become engaged with. But I cant see this group getting beyond the second round, at best. Not this year.?Oreovicz: It would certainly be a cool story, but I dont see it happening. Stringing together a series of top-10s might advance a driver into the second round, but youve got to run in the top five and contend for wins to make it to Homestead. Bueschers competitiveness is on an upward arc, but I dont see him reaching the Elite Eight or Final Four this year.Pockrass: Doubtful. He might get out of the first round if other drivers have problems, but getting to the final eight requires more consistency than what this team has shown.Smith: Really talented young driver -- doing a lot with a little. Hell be out of the Chase after Round 1. Haves and have-nots, man.Turn 3: Jeff Gordon is out in the No. 88 this week due to a prior commitment. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. has to miss the rest of the season, whats the best plan for a replacement driver?Craven: Perhaps a consortium of drivers from JR Motorsports along with William Byron. This would help bridge the gap until more clarity exists for Dale Jr.s future, but this wont go a long way in helping the team. Gordon, even at 45, is the greatest choice for the team. He is dependable, predictable, and very wise. Gordon mentoring Hendricks (JR Motorsports) young drivers would be extremely valuable. If Gordon would be willing to do it is another story.Oreovicz: Tough one. Its probably time to end the Gordon experiment; hes already run more races than originally expected and it doesnt look like theres a miracle win in the making. Unless Gordon is toying with a semi-regular comeback, he should probably get back to the business of being retired. Alex Bowman isnt a bad choice, and Hendrick also has the opportunity to try out other young drivers the team might have an eye on in terms of developing for the future. Too bad William Byron isnt quite ready to make his Cup debut ...Pockrass: Bowmans performance at New Hampshire shows he deserves at least a few more chances in the car. If it is the rest of the season, putting Elliott Sadler in for Talladega wouldnt be a bad idea.Smith: Probably Gordon, though its clear hes only participating now because Rick Hendrick needs him, not because hes especially having the time of his life. I thought maybe Carlton Banks would be a good choice. He won that Toyota Celebrity Race. Or Jamie Little. She can wheel. McDreamy is available. All kidding aside, I just want Dale Jr. healthy and happy and fulfilled.Turn 4: Which team and driver gives the Toyota camp a run for their money in the Chase?Craven: Kevin Harvick, With Brad K a close second.Oreovicz: Another tough one, because I see four drivers in two teams as the strongest non-Toyota championship contenders: The Penske duo of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, and Harvick and Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas. Busch is a risky pick; he could win five races and the title, or he could drop out in the first round. That leaves Harvick as the more logical SHR choice, and he should be there at the end if the No. 4 team performs like they did at Bristol. It would certainly be amazing if the Penske Racing 50th anniversary celebration ended with a championship at Homestead, and I like Keselowski as the man most capable of making it happen against very formidable opposition from Toyota.Pockrass: Stewart-Haas Racings Harvick appears as the main challenger. No other driver than him and those in the Toyota camp have led more than six percent of the laps this year. Keselowski and Logano? Maybe if NASCAR used the 2017 rules package in the Chase, but its not.Smith: Kevin Harvick.? Fake Vans Website . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Fake Vans 2020 .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. https://www.vansfake.com/ .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Fake Vans From China . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Fake Vans . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. MANCHESTER, England -- There was pure elation at Yaya Toures goal-scoring return to action for Manchester City over the weekend.As he was leaving the field after scoring both of Citys goals in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, he was given a warm hug by coach Pep Guardiola. As he walked into the dressing room, he was given a standing ovation by his teammates.Among the fans spilling onto the playing surface amid the celebrations after Toures 83rd-minute winning goal was a man who was holding a young girl with his right arm and punching the air with his left.These joyous moments have been a long time coming for Toure.A player who will go down in the history books as one of Citys greatest players, Toure has been virtually ostracized since Guardiola took charge in the offseason. The main reason for that was Toures agent, Dimitri Seluk, who Guardiola clearly dislikes because of Seluks open criticism toward him.But it also had something to do with Toure himself, with Guardiola regarding Toure as too bulky and not fit enough to perform the type of hard-working pressing game that the Spanish coach wants from his players.It was a lean-looking Toure who took to the field against Palace on Saturday for only his second appearance of the season, and first since a virtually meaningless Champions League playoff match on Aug. 24. It was one of the most surprising selections of the season.Somewhat surprisingly, Toure played the full 90 minutes, despite his lack of recent game time, and proved to be the match-winner once again for City.Just like old times.His weight is perfect now, Guardiola said, and theres no doubt about his quality.Guardiola spoke in glowing terms about a player he sold when at Barcelona and then has overlooked in his short time at City, saying Toure is now a real part of the team and can help us achieve our targets.Theres even a chance Toure could be part of Citys squad for the knockout stage of the Champions League, should the club advance. Toure wasnt included in the squad for the group stage, so will lose hhis place when City plays Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday.dddddddddddd.If we are able to qualify in the Champions League, I will sit with my staff and we will decide who are the best players to help us to achieve what we want in the Champions League, Guardiola said.Ive spoken many times in the last month with Yaya because he was my player with Barcelona, I know him very well. I know how he is as a player. As a player, there is no doubt. If there was a doubt, he would not be here. He is another guy to compete with our midfield players.Toure, however, is unlikely to regain the untouchable status he had under Roberto Mancini and -- for most of his three-year reign -- Manuel Pellegrini.He is 33 years old and no longer the dynamic midfielder who powered City to significant victories and trophies since joining from Barcelona in 2010. His latest contract expires at the end of the season.Also, he has so much competition in midfield these days, with Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan ahead of him in the pecking order as central midfielders and both David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in front of him as attacking midfielders.Guardiola also has Fabian Delph, who is currently injured, and Fernando as other midfield options, as well as talented youngster Aleix Garcia.But Toure remains a great option for Guardiola to have. This weekend, for example, Guardiola turned to Toure after giving Gundogan and Silva a rest as they played twice for their countries in the international break.As backups go, there are worse options.I knew, Toure said, that one day my manager would need me.And his teammates are delighted that one of Citys greatest ever players is back. Toures departure from Etihad Stadium might not be so ugly, after all.It has not been easy for him in the past few weeks, City right back Bacary Sagna said. He kept working really hard in training, stayed professional, and that was his just reward. ' ' ' |
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