NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona
Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Jeff Gordon: Gordon overcame damage in an early wreck at Daytona and finished 12th, maintaining the points lead. He leads Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 27, as Hendrick drivers occupy the top three spots.
“It was all about survival,” Gordon said, “and I survived. ‘It’s called survival, only the strong can survive.’ And that may be the first and last time a NASCAR driver quotes Grand Master Flash.
“And speaking of NASCAR and rappers, I haven’t seen 50 Cent around lately. That may be because Erin Andrews told him to kiss off.”
2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson was caught in a lap 20 wreck that ended his day with a 42nd-place finish, his worst of the year. He is third in the points standings, 55 out of first.
“What a day for Aric Almirola,” Johnson said. “Richard Petty made the 43 car famous; Almirola made it relevant, at least on Sunday. That makes Aric ‘King’ for a day. And he’ll be in the news consistently for the coming week. So, that makes Aric a loyal subject.”
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Earnhardt finished 14th at Daytona, the top finisher among Hendrick Motorsports cars. He is second in the Sprint Cup points standings, 27 behind Jeff Gordon.
“I was looking for the Daytona sweep,” Earnhardt said. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t a broom in sight—only mops.
“That’s probably one of the wettest weeks of racing at Daytona. The rain affected everything: practice, qualifying, and the race. But it was business as usual for Junior Nation in the Daytona infield—-their alcohol consumption dictates that they’re never dry.”
4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished a lap down in 18th in the Coke Zero 400. Kesekowski’s No. 2 Chevy was one of 25 cars affected by a lap 97 pile-up that forced a red flag.
“I’m not sure who started that mess,” Keselowski said, “but I’d like to punch them. Hopefully, should I open up a can of whoop ass, somebody else will bleed, and not me.”
5. Carl Edwards: Edwards found trouble early at Daytona, becoming one of several cars involved in a lap 20 wreck started when Roush Fenway teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got loose. Edwards eventually finished 37th, 46 laps down.
“Tony Stewart was not happy with Stenhouse,” Edwards said. “He called him an ‘idiot.’ Trust me, you don’t want to be in Tony Stewart’s doghouse. It’s way too crowded in there.”
6. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth took 20th at Daytona in a race won by Aric Almirola’s No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports car. Kenseth, still winless on the year, is fifth in the points standings, 71 out of first.
“What a win for Almirola,” Kenseth said. “It’s always wide open when there’s a restrictor plate race. And when they say ‘anybody’ can win, what they really mean is a ‘nobody’ can win.”
7. Joey Logano: Logano finished 17th in a crash-filled Coke Zero 400 that left only 17 cars on the lead lap. He is now sixth in the points standings, 105 out of first.
“My teammate Brad Keselowski had the cut on his hand glued together,” Logano said. “And I believe it’s made him a better driver, because now he’s even more skilled at operating a ‘stick shift.’
“My car was leaving a trail of debris late in the race. As a result, I was black-flagged. That’s similar to my dad being black-listed.”
8. Kyle Busch: Busch finished 28th after being collected in lap 97’s “Big One,” which involved no less than 25 cars and left Busch’s No. 18 Toyota upside down.
“Jeremy Mayfield would call that a ‘roofie,’” Busch said, “or a ‘downer.’ Luckily, the tow truck was there quickly to turn me over. Mayfield would call that an ‘upper.’
“It was certainly a wild ride, and reminded me of that fateful day in Iredell County, North Carolina back in May of 2011. In that case, it wasn’t the ‘Big One’ that forced me into the grass on the side of the road, but a State Trooper.”
9. Aric Almirola: Almirola captured the rain-shortened Coke Zero 400, placing the No. 43 car in winner’s circle for the first time since 1999. The win came almost 30 years to the day of Richard Petty’s 200th and final NASCAR victory.
“It was a great day for ‘The King,’” Almirola said. “And Prince, too, because we’re gonna party like it’s 1999.
“I won $377,176 in prize money. I think I could win another weather-shortened race, or be a big-time player at the strip club, because with that kind of cash, you can really ‘make it rain.’”
10. Kevin Harvick: Harvick suffered damage in the first of two “Big Ones” in the Coke Zero 400. He eventually finished 39th after completing just 46 laps.
“Haas Automation became an official sponsor of Ferrari’s Formula 1 through the 2015 season,” Harvick said. “Gene Haas is an astute business man, and the timing of this deal is perfect. Before forming a partnership with Ferrari’s ‘Prancing Horse,’ he got into business with Tony Stewart’s ‘Ranting Donkey.’”
The Final Word – Rains delayed and shortened the race, but there were still fireworks at Daytona
Holy crap, what was that? If nothing else, the Firecracker 400 in Daytona sure was not predictable. A few yards short of a competition caution, many of the favorites were removed or seriously hampered when all hell broke loose. Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart got involved in a non-romantic triangle that involved some of the circuit’s best. Just past the half-way mark, they took care of a bunch of others with an even bigger demo derby. Greg Biffle caught up to Kasey Kahne, who in turn kissed Joey Logano, which commenced a wrecking orgy. In the end, half of the field was gone and those running up front were folks we usually expect to see running near the back.
Aric Almirola was not favored to return the iconic 43 that Richard Petty won his 200th win the Independence Day weekend thirty years ago, but he did. The rains that delayed the action for a day, and delayed it again early on Sunday, returned to finally put a wash to the proceedings prior to the three-quarter mark. The man in front was the 30-year old Tampa, Florida native, recording his first Cup victory in 125 starts. That goes with his single Nationwide win from 2007 and his two truck series triumphs back in 2010. Better yet, that car is all but entered into the Chase, with eight races to run before they settle on the 16 championship contenders.
Brian Vickers is not in a Chase place, yet finished second. Ditto for Casey Mears, in fourth. Danica Patrick and Marcos Ambrose had Top Ten days. Michael McDowell , who is not even in the Top 30 in points, was seventh on Sunday with Alex Bowman finishing 13th. Even part-timer Terry Labonte, the former two-time champ, was 11th. For some, it was worth the wait to run this thing.
For others, not so much, as barely half the field managed a hundred laps. Our list of likely Chasers who wound up in scrap metal included Jimmie Johnson (42nd), Kevin Harvick (39th), Carl Edwards (37th), Kyle Busch (28th), and Ryan Newman (24th). It is too early yet to get all tight ended about the chances of Kahne, Biffle, and Kyle Larson after they all finished outside the Top 25, but they could have done without this Daytona experience. On the other hand, Stewart and Jamie McMurray might be puckering up a little as both dropped points they could ill afford to lose. It has become even more likely than ever that without a win they will be running the final ten just for fun.
Almirola is the 11th driver to win this season, so as long as no more than five more drivers win their first of the season over the course of the next eight, he and the others will be in the Chase. Matt Kenseth is 90 points to the good in the Top 16, so he is secure as they sit right now. Newman also is strong, but things start to get tight after that. Still, anyone in the Top 20 can still dream of making it in on points, but the next dozen will need a win to even hope of making it.
Next Sunday it is New Hampshire. Sadly, that marks the final race broadcast on TNT before the ESPN gong show returns to test our love of the televised version of the sport. Adam, Wally, and Kyle, thanks for showing us how the job should be done.
Loudon could be the place where some winless drivers can show us how it should be done. Newman and Stewart each have three wins there. Clint Bowyer has a couple, and Biffle, Kenseth, Vickers, and Kahne also know where to find Victory Lane. Now, as long as other former New Hampshire winners, such as Johnson, Gordon, Harvick, Logano, Denny Hamlin, or one of the Busch brothers do not get greedy…
SWEET SIXTEEN
1 – Jimmie Johnson – 3 WINS – 596 POINTS
2 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 2 – 624
3 – Brad Keselowski – 2 – 586
4 – Joey Logano – 2 – 546
5 – Carl Edwards – 2 – 543
6 – Kevin Harvick – 2 – 514
7 – Jeff Gordon – 1 – 651
8 – Kyle Busch – 1 – 524
9 – Denny Hamlin – 1 – 493
10 – Aric Almirola – 1 – 452
11 – Kurt Busch – 1 – 422
12 – Matt Kenseth – 0 – 580
13 – Ryan Newman – 0 – 534
14 – Paul Menard – 0 – 516
15 – Clint Bowyer – 0 – 509
16 – Austin Dillon – 0 – 494
CONTENDERS & PRETENDERS
17 – Greg Biffle – 0 – 490
18 – Brian Vickers – 0 – 484
19 – Kyle Larson – 0 – 482
20 – Kasey Kahne – 0 – 482
21 – Marcos Ambrose – 0 – 472
22 – Tony Stewart – 0 – 465
23 – Jamie McMurray – 0 – 447
24 – Casey Mears – 0 – 438
25 – A.J. Allmendinger – 0 – 414
26 – Martin Truex, Jr. – 0 – 414
27 – Danica Patrick – 0 – 358
28 – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – 0 – 342
29 – Justin Allgaier – 0 – 319
30 – Michael Annett – 0 – 299
31 – David Gilliland – 0 – 256
32 – Cole Whitt – 0 – 254
The No. 43 in Victory Lane – Tradition on a Non-Traditional Day
Mother Nature didn’t smile on Daytona International Speedway this weekend, but we did get to see two races, even if the Sprint Cup Race was only a 280- mile event. Though this writer is not a fan of restrictor plate racing, I’ve come to expect the carnage here and at Talladega, and grown to accept it. I do not think that is a good thing. Neither is the weather a good thing for fans, tracks, and participants. I cannot criticize NASCAR for what they did once the race was scheduled. I do have some thoughts on the matter, but that’s another column for another time.
It’s always awesome to see the No. 43 in Victory Lane, even though it took 15 years to see it there. Aric Almirola has been hinting at a win for two years and he finally got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win and a ticket for the Chase. Petty’s organizations have won races, most notably Marcos Ambrose’s victories at Watkins Glen in 2011 and 2012, but they were both in the No.9 car out of the Petty stables. Kasey Kahne also won a Daytona qualifying race in 2011 in the No.9, but that’s not the same as having the 43 in victory lane. I hesitate to say it, but even though Petty had more wins, more was made of the No. 3 returning to action than the win of the No.43. Why is that? Maybe it is because Petty hasn’t had much success lately or the glory days were more than 40 years ago, but I don’t know.
Regardless, the race finally was run and although 120 miles shorter than planned, but that was because of the nasty weather. When I first started following the sport, the Firecracker 400 was a race run on July 4th and mostly at 10:00 or 11:00 AM. The track used the sales line, “come to the race in the cool morning and enjoy the beach in the afternoon.” Of course, things have changed. Now, many more people come to the event, and the beach is not so much a destination as it used to be back in prior decades. Still, the fact remains that having a race in July at night in a tropical climate is a crapshoot. Daytona President Joie Chitwood III called it bad luck. Rain also delayed February’s Daytona 500.
Tradition is very sacred to NASCAR fans, especially the older ones who actually have the money to spend on a race. I hear a lot of talk about how they took away the Labor Day Southern 500, the second Darlington race, Rockingham, the first Atlanta race, North Wilkesboro, and replaced them with venues that do not offer better racing. Rumblings today seem to indicate that the traditional July 4th date is just another nail in the coffin of NASCAR fans that have problems with high ticket prices, outrageous motel costs, and what they consider races that are not very competitive.
Now rumors are circulating around Daytona that Darlington may become the second race on the schedule in 2015, which would be in the midst of winter. It could be just another rumor, but it also could be another nail in the coffin. I guess the line of thinking is if that doesn’t kill it, nothing will. Having scraped snow off the bleachers at Rockingham in February and Rockingham being only a few miles to the north, I fear the worst. Hopefully, the Darlington rumor is just that—a rumor.
For now, the celebration must be in order for Richard Petty Motorsports and Aric Almirola. Since Petty spun off his relationship with George Gillette and formed one with Ford, he has now won three races in four years. As he is always saying, that’s not enough, but it is better than many others in the same time period. He now has a car and driver close to being locked into the Chase and an organization that gets better every year since 2011. It was a fitting birthday present for Petty who turned 77 earlier this week, but he didn’t get to see the victory in person.
Petty had been at the track with his two daughters on Saturday, but left early on Sunday morning to head home. It was ironic he was watching the race on television and “reading the funny papers,” according to his teleconference done by phone in the media center.
So, a NASCAR tradition has been revived with the No. 43 appearing in Victory Lane. I know NASCAR has nothing to do with who wins the races, but on a day when tradition seemed to be shoved to the back burner, tradition was front and center. The fans roared and Petty smiled that big smile he is famous for. We just couldn’t see it.
