Daytona
February 18, 2008

Craftsman Truck Series – Chevy Silverado 250: From the looks of Friday nights race the truck series is picking up right where it left off at in 2007. There was plenty of hard fast racing, with lots of bumping and rubbing. If you paid any attention to the truck races last year than you already know who to watch in 2008. Todd Bodine let the most laps and beat out Kyle Busch and Johnny Benson in a last lap charge. It was another awesome three wide finish. This is Bodine’s first truck win at Daytona, congratulations to him and Germain Racing on another great run for the #30 Toyota. The one truck that everyone expected to be at the front challenging was the 99 Ford of Eric Darnell. Darnell led 45 laps and had one of the fastest trucks all-night before being taken out in a crash about lap 87 while trying to pit. Jack Roush had three trucks entered in the race and all three where taken out in wrecks. Every race at Daytona has its big one and tonight’s one came on lap 19 when Kyle Busch hit Mike Skinners Toyota causing a multi-car wreck taking out several possible race contenders. Skinner in his #5 Bill Davis Toyota was definitely one of the favorites to win tonight. Busch’s #51 Toyota spun clear of the wreck and went on to finish second.

Nationwide Series – Camping World 300: Congratulations to Tony and Joe Gibbs Racing on winning the from the pole position. The Toyotas of Stewart and Busch pretty much dominated the race leading almost 93 of the 120 total laps of the race. The end of the race was of course the most exciting with Tony passing Brian Vickers for the lead and his teammate pushing him to the lead. There was an exciting three battle for the second on lap 118 with Kyle, Jr. and Brian Vickers. This was a good battle between three fast cars. The big one came with less than 10 to go when Brad Keselowski got into Steve Wallace causing him to spin and collecting seven other cars in the process. This set up a six lap shoot out that had a great finish. If the racing in the Nationwide Series is this good all year I look forward to watching the races. Even with Joe Gibbs Toyota leading most this race I don’t expect that to happen ever week. The competition in the top 10 was pretty intense. I expect to see Hendrick and Jack Roush win their share of races in this series. One thing I do want to do is welcome Dale Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports. In his first Nationwide race with the team he gets fined and his Crew Chief gets suspend for the next 6 races. Does this sound familiar?

Sprint Cup-Daytona 600. This race had the biggest upset in recent history. Congratulations to Ryan Newman and Penske Racing for stealing the and grabbing what should have been Tony Stewarts first Daytona 500 win and Toyotas first cup win. I am glad to see someone different cross the finish line. The second part of the story is even better. Where was the Hendrick Chevy domination that everyone was rambling about all week? All the press was talking about was how Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was going to own Daytona. Toyota and Joe Gibbs did everything but actually win the race. Between the three Gibbs Toyotas they lead 134 laps with Kyle Busch leading the most laps (86 laps). The Hendrick dynasty only lead 18 between with Dale Jr. leading the more that his teammates with 12 laps led. When it came to team work the only teammate I say that even attempted to help Dale Jr. was Casey Mears. The little bit the Gordon was around Jr. he made little or no effort to work with him. Casey may have fact been the best finishing HMS car if he had not tried to block Tony Stewart on about lap 194. If you looking for Hendrick Chevy to dominate the season then you maybe if for a big surprise. Dodge was not a huge topic before The 500 but with 6 of top 10 finishing cars being Dodge and 2 Toyotas and only 1 each of Chevrolet and Ford this maybe a better season than we had thought. The racing at Daytona was not as bad as I had thought it would be. It was typical restrictor plate racing. The restarts and the last 30 laps or so are always exciting and this weekend proved no different. I am curious to see how things shape up in California this weekend. This is always a good race with high speeds and no restrictor plate.

Send any replies and comments to alf@nascarfansforever.com Thank you.

Good Luck in California

Good Racing and God Bless
Alf

nn

Posted by Alfracer, Feb 21 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTP-wAYCh4E

Posted by Cancelled user, Feb 18 2008

i thought it was the funniest commercial i have saw in years and it surely beat a superbowl commercial and has to be the best nascar has ever done

Posted by 2gosmoke0, Feb 18 2008

I feel so bad for Casey. He was running so well and then couldn't clear moving up on the high side. Make no mistake, I am a true blue Dale, Jr fan first, but I sometimes think Casey is underestimated as a driver because of the other three teammates. I think he is very talented and has so much potential.

It would have been nice to see him with a top ten finish.

Posted by Jillie, Feb 18 2008

While I sit here and read some of these threads, I just wonder about the audacity of some people. The same people that are b***hing about Jr and his crew and how he lost the race, are the same people that were on here talking about how good he was running and how he was the favorite to win, and blah, blah, blah. Either you are a Jr fan or you aren't. Quit riding the fence. He admitted that they made some bad decisions toward the end, he was just as disappointed as the rest of Jr Nation. But for all you 'haters' I believe that he was one of the very few who started AND finished the race in the top ten.

Just my opinion!!!

Posted by Cancelled user, Feb 18 2008

first of all i am glad the new season is underway. was good to see some track action after a long cold winter. after getting a few hours sleep here are my impressions of the race

I thought going in that it was Juniors race to lose and lose it he did, when it comes down to crunch time the crew chief needes to take charge, missing the pit stop and staying out on new tires cost him the race, Tony Eury needed to tell the spotters to shut up and make the calls, Jr had a good race but it should have been better

the first 450 miles were boring with very little racing going on, if it were't for the two mystery yellows a good portion of the field would have been a lap down, it reminded me of races 30 years ago with a few cars dominating.....nascar needs to take a long hard look at the way this race unfolded

the last 20 laps were exciting to be sure but there were far too many yellows and the race never did develop a rythem, they are lucky that there wasn't a huge crash with that many cars jammed up together

just my opinions

Posted by Toejam, Feb 18 2008

Seemed to me that Brooks & Dunn, Trisha & the last 20 laps where the only exciting parts of Daytona.

180 laps single file. Maybe one person racing 42 other cars pushing. That might not be entirely accurate, but that's the way it seemed to me. BORING.

Posted by das3cr, Feb 18 2008

Were going to Disney World



Almost looks like Ryan's back wheels were off the ground!!! This was not "bump drafting"!!

This was hang on and steer while I push you past that 20 car!!

Congratulations to Rocketman Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Penske Racing, and Dodge!!
Almost makes me want to go out and buy a Dodge.....Almost!

Posted by daytonabob, Feb 18 2008

So what did you think about that night owls?





A great start to the 2008 season as Kurt Busch pushes Teammate Ryan Newman to Victory!

Posted by daytonabob, Feb 18 2008

could someone tell me if the rule that you are not allowed to make contact such as bumping on the last lap of the race exist anymore if so then it would seem that nascar needs to look at the last lap

Posted by 2gosmoke0, Feb 17 2008