Danica Patrick runs well in Daytona while making history
When Danica Patrick started the Daytona 500 on pole, she made NASCAR history by being the first female to ever sit on the pole for the Daytona 500. However, the real question was whether she could hang up there all race long, or whether she’d fall to the middle of the field, or find trouble.
She answered that question loud and clear on Sunday as she kept herself within the top 10 all race long, running a lot in the top three. She failed to lead the first lap, however she made her way to the front under green flag conditions on lap 90. It allowed her to become the first female to lead the Daytona 500.
“Got off to a nice start,” she said of her day. “Wish I would have led at the very beginning. I thought I was going to. So it was nice to lead later on in the race, just to have done that, to lead laps.”
Another historic note from her leading at Daytona is that she became the 13th driver to lead at both Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona. She led at Indianapolis in 2005 in her rookie year before finishing fourth.
“I’m honored,” she noted. “But, again, these are things that just happen along the way. I’m on the quest to be the best driver, run up front, get to Victory Lane. These things happen and I’m proud, but they’re not the ultimate goal.”
Coming to the white flag lap, she was running third, however ended up eighth in all the shuffle. She said she didn’t learn a lot throughout the day, due to her own fear of nobody working with her.
“I didn’t feel like it was a wise idea to drop low and try to figure out how to pass,” she said. “You were going to probably find yourself much further back. I suppose that’s the only downside to running in that front group all day is that I never got any practice passing, I never tried really anything. The only thing we really did was on those starts, the inside line had a lot of momentum for the first couple of laps. That was the most action that happened until the very end there.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of the drivers who worked with her near the end of the race, working from back end of the top 10 to the top five.
“Danica has done so good all week and her car has been great and she’s pretty tenacious out there, so I didn’t have any problem getting up there and drafting with her,” he said.
For Earnhardt Jr., ditching her at the end and working with Mark Martin, it was all about getting the best finish possible.
“I was just trying to get the best finish I could,” he said. “I wanted to get in the media center to thank my crew and everything. Was just trying to get on the podium.”
The finish for Patrick marks her highest Sprint Cup Series finish and the first top 10 by a female in the big race. While most would be happy finishing in the top 10, she says like any driver, she questions what she could have done in those final laps.
“I would imagine that pretty much anyone would kick themselves and say what could I have, should I have done to give myself that opportunity to win,” she said. “I think that’s what I was feeling today, was uncertainty as to how I was going to accomplish that. There was plenty of time while you were cruising along. I was talking to Tony and my spotter on the radio, What do you see people doing, what’s working, what is not. I was thinking in the car, How am I going to do this? I didn’t know what to do exactly.”
She says in watching Earnhardt Jr.’s run from sixth on the restart to second at the checkered taught her some lessons for the future.
“I think Dale did a nice job and shows what happens when you plan it out, you drop back, get that momentum and you’re able to go to the front,” she said. “I think he taught me something and I’m sure I’ll watch the race and there will be other scenarios out there that I’ll see that can teach me, too.”
Beyond Daytona, there are questions as to how well Patrick will do this season. Other drivers think she’ll have a good season, including Earnhardt Jr.
“She’s going to make a lot of history all year long,” he noted. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch her progress. I think she’s done her best work in the Cup car myself. I think for whatever reason she seems to get a lot more out of that car. Every time I’ve seen her in a pretty hectic situation, she always really remained calm. She’s got a great level head. She’s a racer. She knows what’s coming. She’s smart about her decisions. She knew what to do today as far as track position and not taking risks, like she said.
“I enjoy racing with her. Look forward to more all year long. It’s just going to be a lot of fun having her in the series.”
The goal going forward for Patrick is to finish in the top 20 each week, possibly top 15.
“The only thing we can go off of is at the end of last year and running solid inside that top 20, hopefully get inside that top 15,” she said. “That’s really all I can think right now. That’s all I can think. It might change after five races. It might be better. Who knows. It might be worse. We’re going to kind of pick up where we left off.”
Her next track to tackle is Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. Patrick ran the Sprint Cup Series race last year, finishing 17th for her best Sprint Cup of 2012. She has five Nationwide Series starts in the desert, with her best finish being 10th, which came last fall.
“It was nice to run like we did at the end of the year last year with Texas and especially with Phoenix,” she said. “I feel like it will give us a good baseline idea of how we need to set the car up. But it also is a new car, so we’ll have to adapt to that. Tony (Gibson) and I are still figuring out how we get the most out of me with new tires in a qualifying situation, things like that. We still have a lot of stuff to work on.
“But it was nice to have that race in Phoenix at the end of last year. While it might not be so much about Phoenix, I think it’s about Tony Gibson and everybody that works around him.”
provided by Grand National 2013
Wreck Reiterated that NASCAR Fans Are the Best in Sports
Heroics. Ordinary NASCAR fans enjoying the Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon acted heroically when fellow race fans were injured following the last lap crash. No fan expected to be in danger when they entered the Speedway that day but, when disaster struck, fans helped fans to make sure everyone was alright. In other sporting events, there is little to no evidence that fans have helped each other in the way that some racing fans did following the frightening last lap crash in the Nationwide race. This incident once again proved that NASCAR fans are the best fans in sports.
The cars came out of turn four as they approached the finish line. As they exited that corner, none of the fans in the lower section of the grandstands just before the start finish line thought they would be in harm’s way just seconds later. Well, when the wreck unfolded, Kyle Larson’s No.32 machine flew into the catch fence and parts of his car and the catch fence flew into the grandstands. Just like that, a calm scene turned into chaos. Fans were put in positions that they never thought they would ever be put into. Heroes then emerged from the chaotic scene.
I personally didn’t talk to anyone at the scene of the incident but, through the incredible reporting of the media at the track that day, I am able to reiterate what I heard through the excellent reporting done by the media. SPEED’s coverage of the incident was incredible as they told every story that needed to be told regarding the situation. An interview conducted by SPEED with race fans that were right in the middle of the debris filled grandstand as injured fans called for help, struck me personally. That interview told the story of a couple of the heroic fans that day.
The woman (whose name I won’t release even though SPEED did) had witnessed the wreck and then saw injured fans all around her. She first jumped down a row to assist a man who had been hit by a chunk of metal that had flown into the stands and had hit the man’s head. The woman applied pressure to the man’s head with a rag to attempt to stop the bleeding. When medics arrived, the man was taken to a hospital but, the woman’s heroic actions just may have saved that man’s life. Disaster struck and an ordinary race fan acted swiftly to assist an injured fan. An act of heroism in a split second saved a life and it showed how much of a community NASCAR is.
The woman in the interview was with another man who was with her at the race and he too, acted heroically to help an injured couple. The chunk of metal had hit the man that the woman (who I discussed above) was helping and then it had flown up and hit another couple a few rows up. The man a few rows above, who was with his wife, had been stricken first with the metal and then it hit his wife in the stomach. The man who was with the woman (who I talked about in the paragraph above) jumped up a few rows to assist the injured couple. The man applied pressure to the wound on the injured woman and that could have saved her life. A simple act of heroism saved this woman’s life and it was just one fan helping another. It is truly remarkable what these fans did in a time of crisis.
There are likely little to no other examples of fans helping fans the way these fans did when disaster struck at a sporting event. What these ordinary fans did when the race went bad and fans were in need of help, is truly amazing. Fans helping fans in a time of need is just what any NASCAR fan would do in any given situation. This is what makes NASCAR fans the best in sports. Disaster struck, fans acted heroically and lives were saved in just a matter of minutes. This is what the NASCAR community is all about. NASCAR truly does have the best fans in all of sports.
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona
Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.
1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson won his second Daytona 500, leading the final ten laps and holding off a late charge from Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
“It was a historic day at Daytona,” Johnson said, “especially for women. Danica Patrick pocketed $357,464 in prize money, while Erin Andrews lost 50 Cents.
“It’s great to win my second Daytona 500, and first for Chad Knaus. As you may recall, Chad was suspended for my first 500 in 2006, but he was with me there in spirit, and in my rear window.”
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Earnhardt’s last-lap charge gave him his second consecutive Daytona 500 runner-up finish, and third in four years, as Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson took the win.
“I was a day late and a dollar short,” Earnhardt said, “as opposed to a certain rapper, who was a half-dollar short.
“Finishing second at Daytona, followed by a disappointing result in the Chase, has been the story of my career. It’s a case of ‘so close, yet so far away.’”
3. Brad Keselowski: NASCAR’s defending champion overcame early damage after being collected in an early crash and battle back to finish fourth in the Daytona 500. Keselowski led 13 laps on the day, and trails Jimmie Johnson by six points.
“As you may have heard,” Keselowski said, “I was called to speak to NASCAR brass about some comments I made critical of NASCAR. I was politely told to keep my foot on the pedal and out of my mouth.”
4. Greg Biffle: Biffle qualified fifth and finished sixth at Daytona, the top finisher among the Roush Fenway Racing trio, as Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. finished 12th and Carl Edwards finished 33rd.
“Stenhouse is dating the hottest driver in NASCAR,” Biffle said, “while Edwards is the coldest driver in NASCAR.”
5. Regan Smith: Smith, in the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet, finished a strong seventh in the Daytona 500, leading one lap.
“50 Cent says ‘He doesn’t see black people,’” Smith said. “If memory serves me, there once was a wrapper named ‘6 Cents’ who also didn’t see black people, but did see dead people.
“As the driver of the car once piloted by Kurt Busch, I’m proud to say that Phoenix Racing no longer sees crazy people.”
6. Mark Martin: Martin finished third in the Daytona 500, moving up with a late charge while pushing Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to a second-place finish.
“I’m now 0-29 at Daytona,” Martin said, “so finishing third is nothing special. It’s like ‘kissing a sister,’ and I want to do that about as much as Erin Andrews wants to kiss a ‘brother.’
“My man 50 Cent said he didn’t see any black people at Daytona. I say, Look, Fitty, it’s Sunday at Daytona. There’s only one ‘race.’”
7. Danica Patrick: Patrick started on the pole at Daytona and became the first female driver to lead a lap in the iconic NASCAR event. She eventually finished eighth, by far her best Sprint Cup finish.
“The No. 10 GoDaddy.Com Chevrolet not only had horsepower,” Patrick said, “it had girl power.
“Kudos to Erin Andrews for rejecting the advances of 50 Cent. What kind of man complains about the lack of black people, then goes in for a kiss on the girl in the white ‘wrapper?’
“I guess I silenced most of my critics with my performance, but not all of them. There are some creeps still monitoring the GoDaddy.com website who wish I’d show more of myself.”
8. Ryan Newman: With Tony Stewart knocked out early, Newman led the charge for Stewart-Haas Racing, leading three laps and finishing fifth at Daytona.
“I hate it for Tony,” Newman said. “His run of bad luck continued in the 500. Tony can’t catch a break, unlike the Daytona catchfence, which catches brakes, tires, and engines. You’ve got to hand it to NASCAR fans for coming to the race on Sunday despite what happened on Saturday. Those fans have a commendable ‘debris de corps.’”
9. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished 11th in the Daytona 500, one of only two Toyotas in the top 11.
“Judging by what happened early in the race,” Bowyer said, “Jimmie Johnson was not the Hendrick driver I expected to win the race. After the race, I felt like I was back at Phoenix when I kept asking, ‘Where’s Jeff Gordon?’
“I’m just pleased my Toyota engine didn’t blow up like those of the Joe Gibbs Racing cars. Those JGR engines are like milk—that expiration date will sneak up on you.”
10. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.: Stenhouse, in the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford, finished 12th at Daytona after starting 28th, joining teammate Greg Biffle in the top 12.
“It looks like Danica Patrick and I have taken our driving to another level,” Stenhouse said. “It remains to be seen whether our relationship will follow. I sure hope so. Until then, though, Danica and I will collectively be known as ‘Hot And Bothered.’
“I hold a unique position among NASCAR drivers. I’m the only driver who can say he’s dating a ‘fellow’ driver and still retain his manhood.”
Not Much Has Changed, Even if the Car Has
For NASCAR, the news is good. Ratings for the Daytona 500 were up 30% this season. That’s good for the sport and better for the bottom line. Final ratings are not out, though. We shall see. Regardless, even someone I respect so much, Buddy Baker, said it was not a great race. And it wasn’t. I’ve often said that a bad race is a lot better than a day a work or an NFL game or a no-hitter against your favorite team. That still stands.
After the excitement of the new car, the Gen 6 car, not much changed. The action, instead of being the “two-car tango,” became the freight train, once only seen at Martinsville and other less banked tracks. Very little passing was seen, mainly because taking a chance at moving to the inside line was instant death. There’s a lot to learn about this new car, and it will be at other tracks during the season. It’s time to be patient.
But, back on the subject of the race, I found it horribly boring. Sure, there are the pure racing fans like me, who just love the sport, but truth is, not much is different despite the new car. Chevrolet still rules, Hendrick Motorsports or Richard Childress Racing cars won everything at Daytona in a car that isn’t even available for sale until fall. The best Fords were far back and the best Toyotas, with the notable exception of Mark Martin either blew up or were not effective enough to finish. Even though the Joe Gibbs organization pointed this season toward a championship, engine and car problems led to a bad day. Same with Roush Fenway. Greg Biffle was there all day, only to be shuffled back by the combo of Dale Jr., and Mark Martin. The final determination is that Hendrick rules, as it has been for as long as I can remember. Many will point to Martin’s third place finish or Keselowski’s fourth, but neither were really a factor. Kenseth led the most laps, but wasn’t around at the end, but this is Daytona. It really doesn’t matter because the rest of the season is all that matters.
The lesson here is money rules. Hendrick has the money and the resources and everyone is trying to catch up. That’s been the rule for a long time and that isn’t a recipe for success, but it doesn’t hurt. But, it doesn’t hurt, either. Joe Gibbs and Roush Fenway are well financed for sure, but there is no doubt where the money is. Any team that can reject finances because the sponsor “doesn’t fit,” is doing well and in no need of help. Few have this liberty.
I think we’ll see a more balanced racing at Phoenix and Las Vegas. This car was made for the intermediate tracks. I expect the Chevys to dominate, as they always do and always will for the foreseeable future, but someone may sneak in and win.
As for the horrific accident on Saturday, I had to delete what I had typed Saturday night. I remember David Poole’s tirade after the Carl Edwards accident in 2009. Restrictor plate racing is the Great Satan. Many fans love it because it is exciting and keeps things close, but is not racing. I laughed at Greg Biffle when he said that he could have blocked in the 500, but it would have been the same result as in the Nationwide race on Saturday. The human condition intervenes here. That says a lot. I don’t think it’s the track as much as the competitors. Regan Smith wasn’t willing to take second place, just like Brad Keselowski wasn’t willing to in 2009. Both ended in near disaster. Can you change not? No. And so it goes. That’s racing.
