Lots going on today at Daytona. There was a little surprising quality, the ARCA race with Danica Patrick and the shootout.
The quality of the Daytona 500 is something special indeed. Yesterday, only the first row of the grid was extended, the remaining positions can be found only on Thursday. The stand with Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Hendrick pilots on the two poles is not surprising. Although Hendrick last year, never very good at the restrictor plate race looked like, they are apparently still the measure of all things. All four Hendrick teams are in the top ten, plus Ryan Newman in second place Only Tony Stewart is far back in 21st place. But - for the race I have another team in mind.
RCR is set up in Daytona generally not bad, but what you could see the shootout yesterday, has impressed me yet. Kevin Harvick remained at almost the entire time in front of the field, he led at times to be able to defend at the end with sheer power his lead. However, yesterday was also once again how important it is for the CoT, the "fresh air" at the top. If you have no right to the car is much smoother and better. If splitter and rear wing in "dirty air" come, it is difficult to draw the front man gone. The old Slingshot trick works only if the field is underway in at least three in a row. Tony Stewart has shown yesterday in an impressive manner.
Whether this will change with the new rear spoiler? Probably not, because the cars lose with the new spoiler on the rear axle to drive. Unless the NASCAR also revised the mote that is so far not well planned. Now you also have to say, the Daytona is because of the massive bumps, which are getting worse every year, is difficult. The bottom line simply works better, and as long as you stick to the yellow line, can suck the competition still on the rear fenders firmly - without proper bump from the rear exit of the curve there is nothing. Only the pushing has just become too difficult because of the waves. Jeff Gordon would be in the final round of the top line, in which case, Greg Biffle, Turn 3 entrance a little more momentum, but Biffle's car shifted to a bump and said goodbye to the wall.
Overall it was a okayes Shootout. Nothing special, but certainly with a lot of action and surprisingly few rounds of single-file. Of all the drivers I noticed especially Jamie McMurray, who has indeed taken this year the # 1 Truex Jr.. He drove well with the victory, and had his team-mate Montoya good handle on who was at any time at the top. That's why I also RCR for the Daytona 500 so high on the list. In the first segment Montoya lost for some reason the connection to the large package and gymnastics around with almost a straight line distance behind the field. But - somehow he managed to go back without a drafting partner ran to what says something about the power of RCR / EGR.
Between the quality and the shootout there was the ARCA race, especially so given that so much attention, because Danica Patrick was at the start and made her debut in the stock car. The race was pretty torn up, there were very violent departures, which started all but unscathed. Patrick delivered a more than remarkable achievement. The long remained in the Top Ten, until they figured out rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. with one another rattled. Dananach they fell far behind, but again managed to work up to sixth place before. They showed some nice moves and daring overtaking maneuvers.
Sure - NASCAR's Danica Patrick important. How much could be seen already at the speed of transmission. They had not only directed a camera more or less permanently to Patrick, but she had in mind during the entire race. Where was Patrick you always knew who was in second place was seldom mentioned. The adulation of the Speed / Fox commentators were particularly Darrell Waltrip quickly on my nerves. Especially with DW - we must not forget that the family he Earnhardt, particularly to junior, has a close relationship that he is a big fan of Tony Eury Jr.. Patrick is sitting in a car from JR Motorsports and has a crew chief Eury Jr. just the already had a strange aftertaste.
Waltrip took it and left that Patrick after the incident with Piquet Jr. where she embossed the front wings, suddenly out of nowhere in front again. She had half a lap behind, but they just took as apparent. Sure - JR Motorsports would have pretty much had the best car in the field, but that was bad fast. In the usual redneck forums to bicker now and then, if the ARCA was a little more generous with the engine of the lady. That would be nothing unusual, after all, the ARCA benefited from the good results of the lady.
But still - even if they had a few more horsepower under the hood - you must still difficult on the track at Daytona until times get this far. After all, she has not even put the car into the wall, what, and I mean completely without irony, not everyone gets out. How great their potential is to be seen but only if she competes in the Nationwide. Firstly, drivers and teams are there any other caliber, on the other hand there is also something else moved. However, it has not yet decided whether they want to compete next Saturday.
In the "Patrick-Mania", the debut of Nelson Piquet Jr. has gone down. The also did a great job, was temporarily in 5th place after the crash and fell back with a round of Danica Patrick. But the speed was there. I'm looking forward very much like to develop his career in the ARCA.
The Speedweek will continue on Wednesday with further training sessions, Thursday Gatorade Duels follow, starting Friday, the race will go.
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