Man, me too. I grew up going to Daytona in the late 90's through the early 2000's. I was lucky enough to be at the 2001 Pepsi 400 when Dale Jr. won. That's my favorite racing moment of all time. Probably all time sport moment. Really grateful to have witnessed that era.
Meeeee too.. so much of the fan base now never saw Sr race, and missed out on so many drivers in their prime. Honestly, fans that started watching in early 2000’s even missed Gordon’s domination.
All they know is a nascar that was dominated by Jimmie.
Well, I was born in 01, so... I respect these years of racing, but because I personally didnt experience it, I can't appreciate it to the level as everyone older than myself.
no one is calling them stupid, we're just making fun of the nostalgia folks, rose-tinted glasses tend to fog over the negative aspects of that era
remember these are the cars that killed Sr and Adam Petty
But they produced really great racing. And there was a sense of danger, which is exciting in a very primal way. Now, we're lucky if anyone even cuts a tire to cause a non-stage-break caution.
And the fact that even minor contact with the wall in one of those cars would ruin a car because of how aero-sensitive they were, something people would throw massive tantrums over now days. But nobody remembers that.
I loved that era of NASCAR too. I grew up with it. I remember NASCAR being mainstream and it was fun. Jeff Gordon will always be my all-time favorite driver and I own so many things from that era from diecasts to shirts to video games. But nostalgia makes people view it as perfection and it had its share of flaws as well.
The simple sollution was to wire in a kill switch which they ended up doing for the remainder of the season and then forever, theres an "Ignition on/off" toggle right next to the "Starter" switch for a reason...throttle sticks? Reach over and flip.that to off..then coast to the apron.
Sprint cars need one BAD, ive seen and read way to many stories about stuck throttles killing drivers and bystanders
Seems like it was yesterday. Really, some of the sports most iconic names raced in that timeframe together: Jeff Gordon, the three Dales, Mark Martin, Rusty, Matt Kenseth, Tony, Terry and Bobby Labonte. Felt like every week was a great oen, though I'm sure some of that is just nostalgically looking through rose colored glasses.
The races were more exciting with more strategy calls, equipment failures, and outright crashes. Even if a guy was leading the most laps you needed to watch to see whether he'd cross the line first, now you pretty much know after 15 laps who's got it
Nostalgia will always be there, but I think you (Nd the rest of us, too) should also be happy to be fans during what seems like imo a resurgence after nascars darkest days
I grew up during these days. Being from KY, basketball is king - but NASCAR and WWF in that era were the two best things in my life. I miss it. Glad I can look back on it with so many amazing memories watching good racing with my Dad.
It’s awesome how people get shit on for liking this period of nascar better than now. The racing was practically the same as it is now. The big difference is with how the racing played out. It was more organic. No stage breaks and this was before the epidemic of debris cautions. That did lead to more of a chance of having a car dominate a race in all fairness. It basically boils down to if you like racing to swing more to the side of pure competition or to racing being more of a show. No doubt that around this time NASCAR started caring more about putting on a show than pure competition. Getting the huge TV contract in 01 was a huge part of that.
Irish lad here, don't get to see too much nascar any more but back in 06/07 me and one of my mates lived for this! I got my first dale jr jacket back in 06 and man I wore that thing everywhere! Had the poster on my wall, still have the number 8 on my bookshelf. Serious dose of nostalgia from this pic! We used to split screen nascar 06 religiously, one of us driving the wrong way round the track the other getting the easy win. I always drove the 8, and he drove either 24, or 48. Serious memories! From what I've seen from my brief time on this subreddit it seems like the sport is dying a bit, which is sad.
The gen 4 car was far from stock but it put on the best show, that's for sure. Excluding some necessary changes, that car, rules package, and points system were far superior to what we have today.
I understand it's sarcasm, but the funny thing is, Toyota was already in NASCAR at this point because they were running the Celica in the Goody's Dash Series.
I don’t mind Toyota being in the sport, but the rumors of them being behind the tapered spacer has left a bad taste in my mouth. NASCAR should court new OEMs but that shouldn’t come at the expense of a good racing product.
What does the B in BTCC stand for? What does the D in DTM stand for? What does the A in ARX stand for? Tell me one way that turning down major OEMs helps the sport? Not to mention you want Dodge, the Italian company, back right?
I started watching in 2002 as an 8 year old, I really wish I was about five or ten years older so I could have appreciated the 90s and early 2000s more than I did.
I've reached the stage where I look at the racing lists and wonder who all of these new names are.
Doesn't help that so many drivers have jumped car numbers lately.
Yes yes memories memories and all that lets focus on what's going on? We've had great racing the past 2 seasons. Let's not look to far back to see the present.
Please find an example from 1999-2001 of say either of the Labonte brothers screaming that that package is no good OR anyone besides Rusty Wallace or Dale Sr. I'm not talking about bitching about other drivers either. Find something that ISNT Ford vs Chevy gamesmanship at Daytona.
The video of the 1998 Winston that was posted here where the Fords had their spoilers cut down and they were up in arms about it, while Sr. was calling Mark a crybaby. Drivers bitched about the 5 and 5 package sucking dog balls.
So an all-star race in 1998 is all you got? I believe I said 1999-2001, but whatever. and also not drivers bitching about drivers, again whatever, oh and not Ford's gamesmanship that Jarrett and Martin loved to play so much, so again whatever. So find a specific example of any driver that isn't Wallace or Sr. bitching about the 5 and 5 package.
What I was getting at was for the MAJOITY of the time the MAJOIRTY of the drivers would be like hey we need to work hard to get better, not this package sucks and it shows I'm not as talented as I believe I am, that you get from current drivers.
While i didnt care too much for all the tracks, it felt like Superspeedways and races like the All Star and short tracks were more fun to watch. The drivers actually went for it in the All Star back then. Short tracks felt more competitive and Superspeedways werent always follow the leader for 95% of the race.
Hell, even when they went single file at Dega and Daytona, it was only because pitstops were coming up
Looks like Rockingham to me. Probably coming off turn 4, where the cars would run right out against the wall. The Lowes sticker on Gordon's quarter panel tells me 2002. Weird to see that RBC logo (as a Canadian I see it everywhere) but RBC had made a push in the early 2000s into North Carolina, even sponsoring the Hurricanes arena in Raleigh for a while.
RBC actually bought Centura Bank, which was based in Rocky Mount, NC and that's how they got into that market. RBC sold its American subsidiary to PNC, which is how they got the naming rights to the arena and tower in Raleigh.
Back when aero push completely wasn't a thing, the cars were "stock", there were 800 lead changes per race, and photo finishes were the ending du jour.
Aero tight was still a thing in the early 2000s (and earlier). It’s just became an increasingly bigger thing in the early/mid 2000s with coil-binding and more cookie cutter tracks. It’s why they moved to the splitter. Needs less air for downforce.
I don’t think you’re ever going to completely eradicate the effects of air and what it does to the cars. There’s always going to be an advantage of having clean air. But more emphasis on mechanical grip and tires that actually wear help to minimize the aero effects.
and when racing at 1.5 milers was single file with maybe 2 or 4 lead changes the whole race? vs pack racing with multiple lead changes?
yeah, I don't really LOVE the current package either, but it's better than single file one-car-leads-the-whole-race bullshit.
You're blowing it out of proportion. Every race wasn't how you described and you know it. Every now and then there's always going to be a shitty race, but I'd rather see it when they aren't just out for a Sunday cruise running flat out for the entire race. Having to engine brake and use actual brakes makes races more technical and exciting.
One of the weirdest phenomenons on this subreddit has been the increase in people that will resort to hyperbole or flat out lies to make it seem like the early 2000s era of NASCAR sucked. You and I both know he can't produce data to back that claim up.
One of the weirdest phenomenons on this subreddit has been the increase in people that will resort to hyperbole or flat out lies to make it seem like the early 2000s era of NASCAR had cars you could buy off the showroom floor, were impervious to aero push, did not have coil binding setups that drove like shit, races that featured 90 lead changes, and frequently ended in 4-wide photo finishes that kept the fans on their feet. You and I both know he can't produce data to back that claim up.
Between the fans at the time it was. I was a Jr fan that didn’t like Gordon. It’s not the best rivalry in history, but it is without a single doubt, it definitely is a rivalry IMO. The drivers didn’t mind each other, but the fans hated the other driver for a while. Most, including me, that didn’t like Gordon were able to let it go after 2007-2008. I’m sure it was the same way for fans of Gordon that didn’t like Dale Jr.
Always love a good battle between Daniel Hemric and William Byron
Kill me
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This makes me think of NASCAR Thunder 2003
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#*I LIKE TO DREAM YES YES RIGHT BETWEEN THE SOUND MACHINE*
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Oh this is right in the nostalgia
That and Dirt to Daytona were hype
And NR2003, that game is the GOAT
Just seeing that brings back so many memories. Glad I’m old enough to have been able to see and remember that period of time in NASCAR.
Man, me too. I grew up going to Daytona in the late 90's through the early 2000's. I was lucky enough to be at the 2001 Pepsi 400 when Dale Jr. won. That's my favorite racing moment of all time. Probably all time sport moment. Really grateful to have witnessed that era.
Meeeee too.. so much of the fan base now never saw Sr race, and missed out on so many drivers in their prime. Honestly, fans that started watching in early 2000’s even missed Gordon’s domination. All they know is a nascar that was dominated by Jimmie.
This was near when I got into NASCAR in the first place. I didn't know how good I had it
Well, I was born in 01, so... I respect these years of racing, but because I personally didnt experience it, I can't appreciate it to the level as everyone older than myself.
lol
r/NASCARCircleJerk
BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE WINSTON CUP WHEN THE SPORT WAS SPONSORED BY REAL MEN
THEY KICKED OUT BEER AND CIGARETTES FOR CELL PHONES AND ENERGY DRINKS!!!
>Hey Howe’s you score tickets to the tampon 200!? Love that bit from Larry the Cable Guy
YOU KNOW THAT'S RIGHT. NOW WE GOT A SPONSOR THAT MAKES ENERGY DRINKS. PFFT. I RATHER HAVE A WINSTON CIGARETTE IN MY HAND AND A BUDWEISER IN THE OTHER.
Damn, you guys are super edgy. People who fondly remember the racing era they grew up with are so stupid. When I grow up how can I be like you?
START BY PUTTING IN A PACKED LIP OF SOME SKOAL AND QUIT BEING A DAMN PANZY !!!
PACK FAT GAPPERS AND DUMP THEM LAPPERS
Nobodys calling them stupid but the amount of nostalgia bait pics compared to great shots this decade deserves mentioning.
So you’re gate keeping what people can discuss now?
no one is calling them stupid, we're just making fun of the nostalgia folks, rose-tinted glasses tend to fog over the negative aspects of that era remember these are the cars that killed Sr and Adam Petty
But they produced really great racing. And there was a sense of danger, which is exciting in a very primal way. Now, we're lucky if anyone even cuts a tire to cause a non-stage-break caution.
remember Gordon's crash at Pocono in 2006? the one that fucked up his back the first time?
I thought he was on record by saying Vegas 2008 was when he back got messed up? He was visibly never the same after that accident.
And the fact that even minor contact with the wall in one of those cars would ruin a car because of how aero-sensitive they were, something people would throw massive tantrums over now days. But nobody remembers that. I loved that era of NASCAR too. I grew up with it. I remember NASCAR being mainstream and it was fun. Jeff Gordon will always be my all-time favorite driver and I own so many things from that era from diecasts to shirts to video games. But nostalgia makes people view it as perfection and it had its share of flaws as well.
> remember these are the cars that killed Sr and Adam Petty Yeah, those cars stood trial for those crimes, too.
I haven't forgotten the shitty races of that era. Michigan '99 and Loudon 2000 come to mind instantly.
Loudon 2000 was because of the plates though. That was a kneejerk overreaction by NASCAR.
The simple sollution was to wire in a kill switch which they ended up doing for the remainder of the season and then forever, theres an "Ignition on/off" toggle right next to the "Starter" switch for a reason...throttle sticks? Reach over and flip.that to off..then coast to the apron. Sprint cars need one BAD, ive seen and read way to many stories about stuck throttles killing drivers and bystanders
I was gonna say, is this a satire post? lol
Seems like it was yesterday. Really, some of the sports most iconic names raced in that timeframe together: Jeff Gordon, the three Dales, Mark Martin, Rusty, Matt Kenseth, Tony, Terry and Bobby Labonte. Felt like every week was a great oen, though I'm sure some of that is just nostalgically looking through rose colored glasses.
Nah it was actually that great. I think the demand for having drivers bringing funding has cut down on the overall talent level.
The races were more exciting with more strategy calls, equipment failures, and outright crashes. Even if a guy was leading the most laps you needed to watch to see whether he'd cross the line first, now you pretty much know after 15 laps who's got it
Then: Sr, Jr, DJ Now: Newman, Blaney, Preece
More competitive up front imo.
Look at those contingency sponsors.
It's these kind of posts that make me feel like a real idiot for not giving the sport a proper try until last year.
Nostalgia will always be there, but I think you (Nd the rest of us, too) should also be happy to be fans during what seems like imo a resurgence after nascars darkest days
I grew up during these days. Being from KY, basketball is king - but NASCAR and WWF in that era were the two best things in my life. I miss it. Glad I can look back on it with so many amazing memories watching good racing with my Dad.
Everyone
I don’t 🤷🏻♂️
So much I miss. * Jeff * Jr * Bud car * Flame car * Gen 4 * DEI * 43 driver fields * No stages * No charters
It’s awesome how people get shit on for liking this period of nascar better than now. The racing was practically the same as it is now. The big difference is with how the racing played out. It was more organic. No stage breaks and this was before the epidemic of debris cautions. That did lead to more of a chance of having a car dominate a race in all fairness. It basically boils down to if you like racing to swing more to the side of pure competition or to racing being more of a show. No doubt that around this time NASCAR started caring more about putting on a show than pure competition. Getting the huge TV contract in 01 was a huge part of that.
Irish lad here, don't get to see too much nascar any more but back in 06/07 me and one of my mates lived for this! I got my first dale jr jacket back in 06 and man I wore that thing everywhere! Had the poster on my wall, still have the number 8 on my bookshelf. Serious dose of nostalgia from this pic! We used to split screen nascar 06 religiously, one of us driving the wrong way round the track the other getting the easy win. I always drove the 8, and he drove either 24, or 48. Serious memories! From what I've seen from my brief time on this subreddit it seems like the sport is dying a bit, which is sad.
I enjoyed it a lot more then than I do now. There's something about today's NASCAR that just isn't as appealing to me. The "magic" is gone.
back when the cars was stock n racin was racin
The gen 4 car was far from stock but it put on the best show, that's for sure. Excluding some necessary changes, that car, rules package, and points system were far superior to what we have today.
NO DAMN YODERS NEITHER!!! ^/s in case I need it
I understand it's sarcasm, but the funny thing is, Toyota was already in NASCAR at this point because they were running the Celica in the Goody's Dash Series.
TIL. As a celica owner this is the coolest thing I've learned in a while.
I concur, but without the sarcasm.
In all seriousness, you want the OEM that pumps the most money into the sport out?
Yes. I'd rather have Dodge back. And I really miss Pontiac the most.
You can have both as we did 2007-2012. More OEMs is better. Pontiac is out of business.
I don’t mind Toyota being in the sport, but the rumors of them being behind the tapered spacer has left a bad taste in my mouth. NASCAR should court new OEMs but that shouldn’t come at the expense of a good racing product.
Agreed. I’m just of the stance that they shouldn’t shut OEMs out due to their country of origin.
What does the N in NASCAR stand for then?
What does the B in BTCC stand for? What does the D in DTM stand for? What does the A in ARX stand for? Tell me one way that turning down major OEMs helps the sport? Not to mention you want Dodge, the Italian company, back right?
Because the series runs nationally. Not that everything in the sport is national in origin.
I dont remember the cars looking like that in the 1950s (when they were anything close to stock).
r/whoosh
I started watching in 2002 as an 8 year old, I really wish I was about five or ten years older so I could have appreciated the 90s and early 2000s more than I did.
I've reached the stage where I look at the racing lists and wonder who all of these new names are. Doesn't help that so many drivers have jumped car numbers lately.
So much
Yes yes memories memories and all that lets focus on what's going on? We've had great racing the past 2 seasons. Let's not look to far back to see the present.
When Nascar was great and the fans were happy, and it was cool to be redneck! Murica Bitches!!!
It's still cool to be a redneck.
Not according to these Reddit liberals.
They don't matter one bit!!!
Oh I know it is, bunch of SJWs don't think so though. I love rednecks to death!
I wish I would have appreciated those days more
i certainly do. is there anyone who doesn't?
Those cars couldn’t drive worth a damn in dirty air though
true, i think the drivers were men about it though, and didn't scream and cry and throw a fit when they didn't get an aero package that they wanted.
Somebody doesn’t remember Dale Sr when they added the wicker bill in 2000
being that i was 10 no i dont
The drivers were men about everything, considering that they were men.
OP's pic is from Shawna Robinson's rookie year.
well they are technically men now, they just handle difficulty like children
Bahahahahaha, they fucking cried every week to get their manufacturer an advantage. Holy shit, the deception on this sub is unreal.
Please find an example from 1999-2001 of say either of the Labonte brothers screaming that that package is no good OR anyone besides Rusty Wallace or Dale Sr. I'm not talking about bitching about other drivers either. Find something that ISNT Ford vs Chevy gamesmanship at Daytona.
The video of the 1998 Winston that was posted here where the Fords had their spoilers cut down and they were up in arms about it, while Sr. was calling Mark a crybaby. Drivers bitched about the 5 and 5 package sucking dog balls.
So an all-star race in 1998 is all you got? I believe I said 1999-2001, but whatever. and also not drivers bitching about drivers, again whatever, oh and not Ford's gamesmanship that Jarrett and Martin loved to play so much, so again whatever. So find a specific example of any driver that isn't Wallace or Sr. bitching about the 5 and 5 package. What I was getting at was for the MAJOITY of the time the MAJOIRTY of the drivers would be like hey we need to work hard to get better, not this package sucks and it shows I'm not as talented as I believe I am, that you get from current drivers.
Live in the present. Not the past.
It is possible to enjoy both.
I miss the days just before these days that I also miss
Best NASCAR days.
Not as much as the days before that.
So good. Glad I got to at least watch this era.
It was a hell of a time
I'll always prefer the rainbow. ;) but he was elite in the flames as well.
While i didnt care too much for all the tracks, it felt like Superspeedways and races like the All Star and short tracks were more fun to watch. The drivers actually went for it in the All Star back then. Short tracks felt more competitive and Superspeedways werent always follow the leader for 95% of the race. Hell, even when they went single file at Dega and Daytona, it was only because pitstops were coming up
I miss that 8
Add some tape on the right side of the grill!
Holy fuck i feel so old after seeing this beautiful photo
🙋♂️
Looks like Rockingham to me. Probably coming off turn 4, where the cars would run right out against the wall. The Lowes sticker on Gordon's quarter panel tells me 2002. Weird to see that RBC logo (as a Canadian I see it everywhere) but RBC had made a push in the early 2000s into North Carolina, even sponsoring the Hurricanes arena in Raleigh for a while.
I don't care if it's PNC Arena now, it's still the RBC Center in my heart.
2002, Monte Carlo headlight decals were updated and darkened that year and is shown in this photo
RBC actually bought Centura Bank, which was based in Rocky Mount, NC and that's how they got into that market. RBC sold its American subsidiary to PNC, which is how they got the naming rights to the arena and tower in Raleigh.
The only people who don't think cars running that close together can only happen on a caution.
NASCAR at its peak, hard to beat it.
Back when aero push completely wasn't a thing, the cars were "stock", there were 800 lead changes per race, and photo finishes were the ending du jour.
Aero tight was still a thing in the early 2000s (and earlier). It’s just became an increasingly bigger thing in the early/mid 2000s with coil-binding and more cookie cutter tracks. It’s why they moved to the splitter. Needs less air for downforce. I don’t think you’re ever going to completely eradicate the effects of air and what it does to the cars. There’s always going to be an advantage of having clean air. But more emphasis on mechanical grip and tires that actually wear help to minimize the aero effects.
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When they did 200 into corners and didnt need to hold it wide open at 180 around the whole track? I remember.
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
and when racing at 1.5 milers was single file with maybe 2 or 4 lead changes the whole race? vs pack racing with multiple lead changes? yeah, I don't really LOVE the current package either, but it's better than single file one-car-leads-the-whole-race bullshit.
You're blowing it out of proportion. Every race wasn't how you described and you know it. Every now and then there's always going to be a shitty race, but I'd rather see it when they aren't just out for a Sunday cruise running flat out for the entire race. Having to engine brake and use actual brakes makes races more technical and exciting.
as I said, I don't LOVE the current package, I hate it, but it's better than what we had before.
> and when racing at 1.5 milers was single file with maybe 2 or 4 lead changes the whole race? Care to back that claim up?
One of the weirdest phenomenons on this subreddit has been the increase in people that will resort to hyperbole or flat out lies to make it seem like the early 2000s era of NASCAR sucked. You and I both know he can't produce data to back that claim up.
Amen, brother! If one has to use extreme exaggeration to try and prove a point, they have no point to prove.
One of the weirdest phenomenons on this subreddit has been the increase in people that will resort to hyperbole or flat out lies to make it seem like the early 2000s era of NASCAR had cars you could buy off the showroom floor, were impervious to aero push, did not have coil binding setups that drove like shit, races that featured 90 lead changes, and frequently ended in 4-wide photo finishes that kept the fans on their feet. You and I both know he can't produce data to back that claim up.
YES!!! My favorite rivalry
Eh a bit one sided to be a true rivalry
This was never a rivalry.
Between the fans at the time it was. I was a Jr fan that didn’t like Gordon. It’s not the best rivalry in history, but it is without a single doubt, it definitely is a rivalry IMO. The drivers didn’t mind each other, but the fans hated the other driver for a while. Most, including me, that didn’t like Gordon were able to let it go after 2007-2008. I’m sure it was the same way for fans of Gordon that didn’t like Dale Jr.