Regan Smith Wins at Daytona in Close Finish
By a narrow margin, with a push from Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith edged Brad Keselowski by 0.013 seconds to win the season-opening Drive4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
Smith’s victory was his first ever at Daytona, his fourth series win, and his second on a plate track. For Hendrick Motorsports, it was their 300th win as a company. The driver of the No. 7 RAGU Chevrolet ended a five race winning streak for Joe Gibbs Racing drivers in NASCAR, dating back to Denny Hamlin’s season finale win at the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, last November. “It still does not feel real,” Smith said. “It’s a very special moment.”
Smith, also reflected, on last year’s accident, which injured several fans. “No one felt worse than me on Sunday morning, but I felt that we learned a lot.”
Trevor Bayne finished in third. Bayne was asked about how different the Daytona 500 will be compared to today’s race. “Lane choice,” said the 2011 Daytona 500 champion. “The lane with the most cars will be the fastest and most guys will choose the bottom lane because it’s the fastest way around the race track.” Bayne also added that the race will be very similar to the Sprint Unlimited and the Budweiser Duel qualifying races.
Brad Keselowski was greeted by Trevor Bayne in the media center with a short, little jab. “Should have chose the top lane there, bud.” Indeed, a very awkward response came from the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Champion, as Keselowski did not seem, at all, amused. When asked on whether he would want to be first or second on the final of the 500, Keselowski stated, “I want to lead every lap.”
With that being said, Dylan Kwasniewski and Kyle Larson led the field to the green flag. However, on the opening frame, Kwasniewski and Larson fell like rocks. Kyle Busch, with a push from Elliott Sadler, on the bottom lane, stormed to the lead.
On lap nine, Harrison Rhodes blew an engine. His teammate, Jason White, spun into the grass to avoid wrecking two-time Daytona 500 champion, Matt Kenseth, who had trouble early. Kenseth nearly hit Scott Lagasse Jr. exiting his pit stall, then made contact with Chad Boat, the son of former Indy Car driver, Billy Boat. Kenseth was never a factor and finished 14th.
Jamie Dick stayed out to claim the lead once the race was back underway. However, Kyle Busch, on lap 15, quickly darted to the outside, leaving Jamie Dick on the inside, and pushing Dale Earnhardt Jr. to the lead.
Jr. led for the next 28 laps, but pitted early for his green-flag stop on lap 42. However, Jr. did not pit with any of the drivers he was drafting with. The only driver that came in with him was Joe Nemechek in the No. 87 car. A slow pit stop proceeded to derail Jr., who also lost Joe Nemechek in the process. After pit stops had cycled through, Jr. was shown in the 20th position.
On lap 70, the safer barrier in turns one and two became dislodged and a caution was thrown. Ty Dillon won the race off pit road, but also was busted for speeding while entering. As a result, Dillon lost the lead, and was sent to the tail-end of the longest line.
Finally, on lap 76, Regan Smith finally got past Kyle Busch, with a bump from Brad Keselowski. Smith dove inside to protect his lead.
NASCAR banned the tandem draft. This means that drivers are not allowed to push, lock on another driver’s bumper for too long, or a penalty will be issued. On lap 86, James Buescher received a penalty, despite replay evidence showing that Buescher was not guilty. Buescher went on to finish 16th.
On lap 99, Ryan Sieg spun, as he came across the nose of Eric McClure, bringing out a caution. McClure was also involved in the next caution, on lap 116. Chad Boat tried to get to the inside of McClure as they entered turn 3, but there was not enough room, causing them both to spin, bringing out a caution, and setting up a green-white-checkered finish. Before the caution had come out, Trevor Bayne had pushed Brad Keselowski to the lead.
Trevor Bayne’s push to Regan Smith was just enough to hold off Brad Keselowski, who was getting a push from Kyle Busch.
Successful First World RX Test For Villeneuve At Lydden
Ryan Briscoe says it worked out perfect in returning to full-time competition
After running a part-time schedule last year in IndyCar, Ryan Briscoe is back behind the wheel full-time as he will battle for the championship in a ride prepared from Chip Ganassi Racing.
“It’s like everything I wanted after I didn’t get a full-time ride last year has sort of come true now,” Briscoe comments on returning full-time this year. “It’s really the perfect scenario. Last year we sort of got to a point around this time where I was like, Full-time ride is not looking good, but that’s all right, we’ll focus on doing something for the Indy 500, I’ll keep my racing up by doing the sports cars.
“I didn’t think I would do as many IndyCar races as I ended up doing. The end goal was I want to get back to IndyCar and have a full-time ride in 2014. I thought my best way of doing that was to do the sports cars last year, then work hard from that point on on being here now.”
As we sit five weeks from the season, Briscoe is one of the many drivers that has been busy testing and for him with being on a new team, he says that anytime with the crew is important.
“We’ve put together a new team to run the fourth car at Ganassi. Got a few familiar faces there, but a lot of new guys as well,” Briscoe comments. “For Eric Cowdin, who is my engineer this year, we worked together for a few years at Penske. We’re both new, getting back integrated into Chip Ganassi Racing. A bit to learn for both of us. A few new mechanics and stuff.
“The testing has been great, getting everybody working together, trying to get into a bit of a flow as we get closer to the first race. We’re testing one more time at Barber before the first race. Really there’s not a whole lot of track time. ”
As he continues to prepare for the year, there’s also the added factor ofgetting to know his teammates – one of those being Tony Kanaan, who also joins CGR this year.
“He’s definitely a fun character to have around. He’s always a lot of fun. He’s aggressive. He’s definitely got a unique driving style that I’ve picked up on the last couple tests, which is interesting to look at and learn from as well,” Briscoe comments. “I’m looking forward to working with him. How he’s going to fit in? He has his own style, so I think he’ll fit in the way he always does. I think he’ll be good.”
Briscoe will also be working closely with 2013 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon as Chip Ganassi Racing looks for their second straight championship.
“I think he’s just solid, man, like a rock. Even-keeled. He just gets the job done,” Briscoe says. “Definitely having the continuity he’s had through highs and lows, he’s just been there the whole time. When he’s had those bad days, he doesn’t say bad things about the team. He just gets down to work and works really hard behind the scenes without publicizing it so much. I think that’s what he’s good at.
“He’s a phenomenal driver. He’s fast, he’s consistent. He’s just the same every year. You can always count on him going for a championship again.”
Right now the focus is being ready for the opening races for the season for Briscoe. However, the season will quickly approach May, which marks an important mark with the Indianapolis 500, and now the addition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event as well.
“I think it’s going to be good ’cause I like the fact that we’re extending the month of May,” Briscoe comments. “I think it’s going to be an exciting way to open up the month of May with a big event. Something new for a lot of fans that will be there that maybe just go to the Indy 500 every year, haven’t seen what we actually do most of the time throughout the year, which is road course racing.
“I think being able to showcase our diversity as a series on one venue, in one place, I think that’s going to be great for the series and great for a lot of the fans as well.”
Briscoe helped with getting the date on the schedule as he did the testing for the series back in November, driving a couple variations of the circuit, including going both ways down the straight.
“I think it’s going to be great,” he adds. “It’s going to be a quick turnaround from race day to opening day for the oval the next day. It will be a refocus like you’re going to a new place because your mindset changes completely.
I’m hoping it’s a success. I think it’s a great idea. I’m hoping the fans really take to it.”
While his focus is on IndyCar, there’s a question that always come up with Chip Ganassi having a NASCAR team – would Briscoe try out stock cars and possibly run the Daytona 500?
“I’ve never really put any effort into talking to anyone about doing that, so not really,” Briscoe says. “I don’t have any experience driving stock cars. I think it’s a cool idea, but it takes a lot of effort from the team’s standpoint as well to make that happen. They probably look more towards guys that have won those races to begin with if someone’s going to do it.”
