Race Re-cap: Dodge ‘n’ Daytona
(A special edition of bump-drafts specially prepared for letsgoracingfans.com)
Let’s have a show of hands: How many people though Ryan Newman would win the Daytona 500? Other than you two #12 fans in the back…not many. O.K., how many thought that Dodge would place 6 cars in the top 10? No? Good news, doubters, you have plenty of company.
Including me.
Speed week did not lack for story lines. There was all the talk about Rick Hendrick’s new driver- the monstrously popular Dale Earnhardt Jr. His success in the Bud Shootout and the first Gatorade Duel fanned the flames, and also sparked further speculation about how his new found success would fly alongside the prolific Jeff Gordon and defending champion Jimmie Johnson.
There was also much discussion of a brewing manufacturer face-off: the Chevys of Hendrick versus the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs. Going into today’s action- Dodge looked stuck in second gear compared to the performances of Junior, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin- not mention the success of Toyota in the Craftsman Truck Series, thanks to Todd Bodine and even the qualifying efforts of Toyota driver Michael Waltrip- taking the outside pole.
For 199 laps, it sure looked like Toyota would get its first Cup victory. For the better part of the last few seasons, we’ve been expecting to see Johnson or Gordon forcing the issue at the end. Johnson’s wreck and Gordon’s mechanical failures dispensed of that story line and also played a part in Dale Jr. not finding the help he would need to contend at the end. HMS driver Casey Mears looked to poised to play, but a wreck near the end further lessened Junior’s prospects of finding a friendly bump at the finish.
As a matter of fact, the race was downright boring for a while. Kyle Busch looked like he OWNED Daytona. When he wasn’t leading the pack, his Gibbs teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin took a few turns blazing the Florida air. Hamlin’s efforts were frustrated by a copule of mid-race get-togethers- so it looked like it was Stewart and Busch’s race to lose. Yeah, the 30 plus lead changes made it somewhat interesting, but really, it looked like a Gibbs driver would get the champaign shower in victory lane.
Somebody forget to tell that to Penske Racing pals Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman.
In the final dash, Busch and Stewart failed to connect and out of nowhere, Newman and the elder Busch rocketed past the dynamic Gibbs duo to propel the Purdue University graduate to his first victory since New Hampshire in September, 2005. Career victory number 13 for Newman is no doubt his biggest, on NASCAR’s biggest stage in the golden anniversary race at Daytona.
Also noteworthy is the presence of Dodge in the top 10. Joining Newman and Busch at the top the likes of Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson, and Robby Gordon (he just switched 3 weeks ago). Dodge drivers Bobby Labonte (#11) and Penske rookie Sam Hornish Jr. (#15) also represented their manufacturer well.
How surreal is it that help for Newman comes from a guy who started 43rd? No matter what you think of one of NASCAR’s bad boys, you have to give him props for getting there.
So, I begin the 2008 season with a slice of humble pie. My pick finished 3rd, and with that, Toyota was unable to surpass their previous race best of 3rd set by Dave Blaney at Talladega.
Today, we once again learn why races aren’t won on paper. We are also reminded of the value of teamwork. Regardless of who your guy is, you have to be happy for Newman. Not liking him is like not liking that nice kid down the street woh always says “Hi” back. Anything can happen. thanks to today’s result we are reminded why this sport if great. No matter what the body of the race is like, you can count on a wild and crazy finish at Daytona. Anything can happen.
And it often does.
