The long season, well it might have been just three months, of our winter discontent has come to a close. The engines are running, our hopes and dreams have been renewed, and NASCAR keeps trying its damndest to drive us to watching something else. Still, they have yet to turn it into basketball or soccer, so I continue to tune in.
Good to see the slant 3 back on the pole at Daytona. Some are not fond of Austin Dillon taking the sedan out for a ride, but even though I know where such folks are coming from, they are dead wrong. Dale Earnhardt did not want the number retired and his son did not want to carry the number. Earnhardt made it iconic, his best friend paid for its upkeep every year since his loss, and finally after 13 years Richard Childress turns it over to his grandson and keeps it in the family. As for Dillon himself, at 23 he already has a truck and junior circuit championship under his belt. NASCAR does not retire numbers, and I believe the time is right, with the right guy behind the wheel.
Dillon will start next Sunday on point, with new Furniture Row driver Martin Truex Jr right beside him. Under the hood was another Earnhardt-Childress engine. Funny, just seven minutes down I-95 from the Speedway is Furniture Row’s Daytona store. You would almost think they put the place there on purpose.
On Thursday, the rest of the boys and girl make their run for the other 41 spots in the Daytona 500. Last year’s pole sitter, Danica Patrick, was 25th in Sunday’s qualifying. She does not have a secure spot as of yet, though a dozen do.
The two front row cars are locked in, along with the next four best qualifiers. That would include Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, and Brad Keselowski. The best six from 2013 also get a free pass. So, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Jeff Gordon are in. Finally, the latest former champion not in yet is included, and that would be Tony Stewart.
The first to qualify are the pole sitters, followed by those who finish among the Top 15 in each race on Thursday, then the top four best qualifiers not yet in, followed by the six best from 2013 still on the outside, seven if there is not still a former champion needing a freebie. Six will go home early. Danica Patrick is not a sure thing, but the odds are in her favor.
Looking at qualifying and owner’s points from last season, I would expect Dave Blaney, Alex Bowman, Joe Nemechek, Michael McDowell, Josh Wise, and Morgan Shepherd to be those slated to get the bad news. Something tells me I might be wrong about somebody from that group.
As we go in, I still wonder if NASCAR is about to strip its champion of any relevance in its quest to keep folks watching right to the bitter end. I wonder if those fans upset by the return of the No. 3 will be even more upset after Homestead. I wonder how long SPEED will continue running its race positions by blocking out the right side of the screen instead of its usual crawl, out of the way, across the top. Lord help us if FOX decides to follow their lead or we will wind up just watching 2/3 of the action that remains visible on the left hand of the screen. I wonder if one of the rookies not named Austin or Kyle will be able to make an impact while driving for teams not considered top tier, at least for the moment.
Saturday night introduced us to what NASCAR’s championship game..er..race might eventually look like. Reduce the field to just the contenders, then let ‘er rip. They did manage to rip half of the field out of the event before they were done, with Denny Hamlin emerging as the night’s survivor. It was a nice selection of hors d’oeuvres to go with Thursday’s appetizers, to be followed by Sunday’s main course.
You always hurt the one you love, or so Ricky Stenhouse Jr demonstrated. Nice way to treat your valentine, buddy.
I hear that Richard Petty has received some backlash regarding his recent comments where he stated that Danica would win a race provided everyone else stayed home. Why? Does anyone actually disagree with his comments?
There are those who continue to criticize the Waltrips’ work in the broadcast booth. It is as if they have never even heard of Rusty Wallace or Brad Daugherty.
That was a nice looking pace car leading the way at the Sprint Unlimited last Saturday. Does fire come as part of the basic package or is it optional?
On Sunday, it does not matter how a champion will be declared in the fall. It does not matter if they have 10, 12, 13, 16 or 43 drivers making the Chase. All that matters is that we celebrate the 56th running of the Daytona 500. Enjoy your week, as I certainly will.
well I believe nascar scripted the #3 to win, I believe #14 was allowed to work the front end of his car 3 years ago, to win, and I believe #48 team has been allowed to cheat and get a hand slap , that is why JJ has won 6 championships, If I could sponsor some one, I don’t think I would.I am not alone, Last year #10 won the pole, this year the pole went to #3, Kyle Bush predicted it, WE are not fools and can see what they are doing. Stands are not full, even if tickets are way discounted, and Viewers are low on TV too, I don’t watch a whole race like I used to, neither does my about 12 Friends or MY Brother! Integrity is important , allowing cheating , and allowing cons like M. Waltrip, and DW was a real cheater but they brag about how many wins , They gotta get real, I will watch some, but if there is some thing else on, I will change channels, and I am grateful for mute, and on screen display, NAPA did what they felt was right, I agree, My bro, worked for them for 35 years, MW has screwed the pooch! it is sad, Thanks for listening, I am not alone, My FB is full of the same comments, some worse, God Bless!