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Something of note:
I was preparing for racing today by watching condensed versions of the 2001 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Pepsi 400 last night. Both Daytona races, both won by DEI cars.
So remember the controversy with Dale Jr. and that some drivers were really suspicious of his car at the July race? After watching both of those back to back, I'm just going to point out something - I can honestly say that it's a bunch of bull. It can be put to rest now, because seeing the two races side by side, it's actually kind of surprising, especially with the COT now, how easy it is to see that the cars were just great that day.
1. The cars (all of them, not just DEI) didn't have to run as close together back then for the draft. They could run by themselves better. Now, if you get out of the draft, you're done. Then, a lone car could hold it's own for a bit. (Actually, think of Junior's last race with DEI at Talladega - he totally broke out and Jimmie and Brian did somewhat as well.) Whereas now, the cars are very, very close, back then they weren't.
2. DEI ruled the plate tracks. Not just Junior, but Mikey as well. They took the two Daytona races as one-two. More than just looking at how Junior blazed through the pack in a lap and a half on the last restart, look at how Mikey blazed through the pack to get to Junior. Both cars were amazing. But more importantly, they were just *starting* to own the plate tracks. I don't think other drivers really had a grasp of how good his car was compared to others.
3. There was talk that Junior was making moves by himself that he shouldn't have been able to make. No, he made moves that played off other people, but he wasn't by himself. He'd dive in front of other cars in foolhardy moves, but that can be attributed to daring of youth and a car he felt was great enough to stick.
4. The outside line never could get a run on Mikey and Junior in the 500. Senior was blocking the inside line, because that was where the run was coming from. Look at the 400 and you'll see that the outside line never really challenged Junior until the absolute very end when Bobby got up there. But he lost momentum as well. A lot of moves Junior made were getting below guys or shuffling them to the top line. He was using the better line. He didn't get in the bad line and advance.
I was preparing for racing today by watching condensed versions of the 2001 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Pepsi 400 last night. Both Daytona races, both won by DEI cars.
So remember the controversy with Dale Jr. and that some drivers were really suspicious of his car at the July race? After watching both of those back to back, I'm just going to point out something - I can honestly say that it's a bunch of bull. It can be put to rest now, because seeing the two races side by side, it's actually kind of surprising, especially with the COT now, how easy it is to see that the cars were just great that day.
1. The cars (all of them, not just DEI) didn't have to run as close together back then for the draft. They could run by themselves better. Now, if you get out of the draft, you're done. Then, a lone car could hold it's own for a bit. (Actually, think of Junior's last race with DEI at Talladega - he totally broke out and Jimmie and Brian did somewhat as well.) Whereas now, the cars are very, very close, back then they weren't.
2. DEI ruled the plate tracks. Not just Junior, but Mikey as well. They took the two Daytona races as one-two. More than just looking at how Junior blazed through the pack in a lap and a half on the last restart, look at how Mikey blazed through the pack to get to Junior. Both cars were amazing. But more importantly, they were just *starting* to own the plate tracks. I don't think other drivers really had a grasp of how good his car was compared to others.
3. There was talk that Junior was making moves by himself that he shouldn't have been able to make. No, he made moves that played off other people, but he wasn't by himself. He'd dive in front of other cars in foolhardy moves, but that can be attributed to daring of youth and a car he felt was great enough to stick.
4. The outside line never could get a run on Mikey and Junior in the 500. Senior was blocking the inside line, because that was where the run was coming from. Look at the 400 and you'll see that the outside line never really challenged Junior until the absolute very end when Bobby got up there. But he lost momentum as well. A lot of moves Junior made were getting below guys or shuffling them to the top line. He was using the better line. He didn't get in the bad line and advance.
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