The last race weekend on the old asphalt offered again all the excitement that the fans expect from Daytona.
On Friday we were off to the Nationwide race, which offered two special features: the first appearance of the new Nationwide Car of Tomorrow and the last of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a car with the # 3, in blue and yellow Wrangler design, that his father left before he moved to the even more famous black Goodwrench.
The sporting value of the race is a little doubtful but it was junior still refused to lead on lap 3, as the fans stretch in memory of Dale Sr. three fingers to the sky, but in the closing laps, give it him, and gave up serious attacks, Brad Keselowski, who had had a chance to win, put back in favor of the Sentimental Favorite, and there was much joy and many tears.
As for the new car, it became evident during the race that the cars are fairly loose, so to override, and thus difficult to control, but most of the drivers is quite able to cope with it. There were no major accidents, it is not here. The development department of NASCAR seems to have done a good job: the new car is to drive demanding (but not in a negative way as the Cup COT to be early days) and it provides the security features of its big brother does, yet a lot better .
On Sunday, it seemed only to be no race because it was raining and the first Daytona Wettervorsage always spoke of further showers. The remained of the fortune and it could eventually go far after three German clock time on the trip.
Except for a Competition Caution on lap 15 was attempted first, reeling off laps: the drivers were cautious to the point that NASCAR gave up excess debris Cautions, so they used other times like when the field moves too far apart. It went pretty well too gay, even in the longer green phases. Although not close down permanently in the package, but neither exclusively single-file. Thus, the record was to sponsor for the Daytona summer race here screwed up from 15 to 18 drivers. Surprisingly strong it seemed Sam Hornish Jr. (14 laps) and Elliott Sadler (11 laps). Also co-favorite Kyle Busch spent 23 laps in the lead, until he finally in the 103rd Circulation with Juan Pablo Montoya came together - by the aerodynamic effect of moving next to him # 42 Busch could not worn tires on the car stop them easy to steer to the right, which turned him into the wall Montoya accidentally.
Caught many other favorites are finally on lap 148 in the seemingly inevitable Big One: Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. at the end of the back straight clashed behind it was gelupft and the chain reaction involved all 19 vehicles, for Burton, Busch and Hornish argued at the time to rank third Burton Busch and Hornish came here even unscathed, as well as some other front-runner, for example, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
And so did the Childress drivers Harvick, Burton and Bowyer, who also played a role throughout the race front, left after the departure of many competitors. And just had the particular advantage of being able to work together against the third lone Gordon and Kahne. And so one and a half rounds of Bowyer bumpte Harvick before the regular deadline to Jeff Gordon over the top.
But then Sam Hornish Jr. overdid it and broke the last of the evening, Caution, the deeply disappointed with this Elliott Sadler, he tore into trouble by sending him hard into the wall.
And although Gordon and Kahne in the Green-white-checkered finish thanks to the two-lane restarts the forced together by breaking rather than a row-starting Childress phalanx (spectacularly Gordon außenrum), they could do nothing against Kevin Harvick, the so-followed only by canoe, then Gordon and the entire race with all its thirteenth inconspicuous Junior Sprint Cup victory (and the second at Daytona after the spectacular 500 of 2007) to import. His last three race victories are now all restrictor plate victories. Außerdme he still leads the championship.
Kahne took second place urgently, the gap to the chase pitches, he was able to reduce to around 150 points. Whether that is still aufholbar but in the few remaining race is open to doubt. The second place but after being involved in a accident racing towards the middle and then stops for repairs a great success.
Jeff Gordon was thanks to the many failures of the Cup competition on rank 2 pre-rinsed, Dale Jr. is now in the chase pitches again, he moved from 13th place in front of 11, has 46 points ahead of the 13th Mark Martin, who was involved in the Big One helped the # 48 crew in the pits from his burning vehicle.
[Note: A little shorter than usual today. Kristian has no time and so kindly stepped Stefan! DD]
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I love NASCAR! I accidentally landed here on this blog and I am an animal, that there is such a blog with good information is now available in German! :-)