THE FRONTSTRETCH NEWSLETTER
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 24th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition XIII
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch: Monday
Presented by Frontstretch.com
The Best Seat at the Track, The Best View on the Net!
February 24th, 2014
Volume VIII, Edition XIII
~~~~~~~~~~
What to Watch: Monday
- This morning, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will induct his Daytona 500-winning National Guard Chevrolet into the Velocitorium for the next year, the traditional award for winning the Daytona 500. From there, Earnhardt Jr.'s victory press tour will begin.
Some snippets of his schedule:
11:20 AM - Dan Patrick Show
4:00 PM - RaceHub
5:00 PM - NASCAR America
11:30 PM - The Late Show With David Letterman
- Some teams will spend the day after the season's biggest race testing. It was revealed during FOX's telecast of the Daytona 500 that Furniture Row Racing will be testing today at Nashville Superspeedway.
Today's TV Schedule
Time Telecast Network
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM NASCAR RaceHub FOX Sports 1
5:00 - 5:30 PM NASCAR America NBC Sports Network@
@- NASCAR America's Series Premiere
Sprint Cup Race Recap: Earnhardt Jr. Claims Second Daytona 500 Victory
by Justin Tucker
Ten years is a long time. For Dale Earnhardt, Jr., it felt like an eternity. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver endured many near misses and close calls at the Daytona 500 since his only win in the Great American Race in 2004. Earnhardt had finished second in two of his last three Daytona 500s coming into Sunday's race. He was also riding the tail of a 55-race winless streak, dating back to Michigan in 2012.
However nothing would stop Dale Jr. on Sunday, not even a 6 hour and 22 minute rain delay from capturing his second Daytona 500 win. Earnhardt Jr. led a race-high 54 laps on the evening and used some timely drafting help from teammates Jimmie Johnson and, on the final restart, Jeff Gordon to separate from the pack and secure the victory.
"Winning this race is the greatest feeling that you could feel in this sport besides accepting the trophy for the championship," said a jubilant Earnhardt after pulling into Victory Lane. "We could fight off battle after battle. We got a little help at the end there from Jeff to get away on the restart. This is amazing. I can't believe this is happening. I never take this for granted, man because it doesn't happen twice, let alone once."
Aside from the race itself the big story of the race was the 6 hour and 22 minute red flag, which threatened to move the race to Monday evening (had the race been postponed, FOX Sports' Chris Myers had tweeted that the race would resume at 5:00pm EST). However, Mother Nature would cooperate and would allow the race to be run under different conditions from which they practiced this week. Once the race resumed, the intensity picked up from the changing track conditions. This allowed the pack to race side-by-side and at times 3-wide up to seven rows deep.
Joining Earnhardt Jr. in the top 5 for the 2014 Daytona 500 were: Denny Hamlin who closed out a spectacular Speedweeks in second, Brad Keselowski in third, Jeff Gordon in fourth, and Jimmie Johnson who overcome two wrecks leading up to the 500 in fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 in the Daytona 500 were Matt Kenseth in sixth, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in seventh and Greg Biffle would bring his No. 16 Ford home in eighth. Austin Dillon would come home ninth in his first Cup Series race in the iconic No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing, while Casey Mears would round out the top 10.
A couple of major contenders for the Daytona 500 win would see their hopes dashed early on as Martin Truex, Jr. would blow up just 30 laps into the race, relegating him to a 43rd-place finish in his debut for Furniture Row Racing. Crew chief Todd Berrier was already in Nashville for a test session before the race was even over. Kyle Busch, meanwhile would have a pit road violation just before halfway and would spend much of the race battling back from that mistake. Busch would eventually finish 19th after leading 19 laps.
Danica Patrick would also be bit by bad luck as she was caught up in a multi-car wreck on lap 145. Patrick would lead her second consecutive Daytona 500, but wouldn't have the finish to show for it finishing 40th. Tony Stewart would encounter a frustrating evening as well, with a fuel pickup problem derailing his quest for his first Daytona 500 win. Stewart would finish 35th.
A look at the Daytona 500 by the numbers. There were 42 lead changes among 18 drivers, while seven cautions for 39 laps would slow the race pace to 145.290 MPH.
Next week, the Sprint Cup Series heads to the "diamond in the desert," Phoenix International Raceway for The Profit on CNBC 500K. The Green flag is scheduled for 3:15pm EST.
Justin Tucker is a Newsletter Contributor at Frontstretch. To reach Justin, please contact Newsletter Manager Phil Allaway at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.
Chasing the Chase: Earnhardt Jr. Wins, Locks Himself In
by Phil Allaway
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s victory on Sunday night not only gave him his first victory since 2012, first non-Michigan victory since 2006 and first plate victory since 2004, but it also all but locked him into the Chase. Granted, it is possible under the new system to miss the Chase despite winning (two different scenarios allow this "exception" to occur), but barring catastrophe, Earnhardt Jr. is in.
Point Standings (1-16): 1) Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 48, 2) Denny Hamlin -5, 3) Brad Keselowski -6, t-4) Jeff Gordon -8, t-4) Jimmie Johnson -8, 6) Matt Kenseth -10, t-7) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. -11, t-7) Greg Biffle -11, 9) Austin Dillon -12, t-10) Casey Mears -14, t-10) Joey Logano -14, 12) Kevin Harvick -17, 13) Jamie McMurray -18, 14) Bobby Labonte -19, t-15) Reed Sorenson -20, t-15) Carl Edwards -20.
Race Winners: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Daytona)
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84.
Substandard Information From FOX Breeds Race Confusion
Quotes to Remember: Daytona 500
"Man, it feels incredible. You know, I was looking at winning this race in 2004. It's the greatest feeling you can have as a driver in NASCAR at a single event in a single day. Just trying to explain what that feeling is to people, I've been trying to tell people for 10 years what that felt like. It's just hard to put it into words what winning this race really means you. What makes this special is the people you're with when it happens. I have a great relationship with my crew chief, Steve [Letarte]. He's put an amazing team around me that we all really enjoy working together. And Rick [Hendrick]'s here to make all that possible. It just seems like it's too good to be true really." - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., race winner
"I was looking in my mirror trying to get a run on the 88. Yeah, the radios were intermittent a lot. I'd say when we first came back from the rain, I didn't have the radio for about 50 laps or so. I thought that it dried out and we had radio communication for about another 60, 70. Then starting with all those cautions about 12, 15 to go, pretty much went radio silence at that point. I'm in the middle of the pack trying not to cause a big one, trying to hold my line, but yet advance my position to get myself a chance at a victory. It's too hard to do it on your own, honestly... We were fortunate to finish where we were." - Denny Hamlin, finished second
"We struggled there for awhile. We worked our way to the front and got off a little on fuel strategy when that rain came. I knew our Nationwide Fusion was fast but it was such a log jam trying to get back to the front, then we slowly worked our way there and got a few cautions. I really wanted to get to the back bumper of the 2 and get Ford another 500 but all in all, it was a good day for us. We came home seventh and that is a good way to start the year. We just needed a little bit more there at the end. We needed a couple cars behind us to be able to get to the 2’s bumper and we just didn’t quite get it."- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., finished seventh
"Yeah, I think the yellow stripes on the bumper showed a little bit tonight.
But we made it through. It was fun. I had a blast. The car was fast. After we got in the (first) wreck (on Lap 145), I don't know how we didn't hit the wall. Had a little damage, but was just a lot freer after that. Car was still fast, just a little loose. All in all, it was a great start for our season, and hopefully we can carry it."- Austin Dillon, finished ninth
"We had decent speed. I thought the 2 car might have been a little faster, but that was a crazy, crazy race there at the end. It’s funny because you line up behind Brad and he gets a hole and I don’t, and then you see where he goes and where you’re at. We got shuffled all the way to the back and then with 10 to go, we were all the way in the back. We worked our way up some. At least the fans are excited about the finish or the winner at least. But the guys did a great job the last two weeks and gave me some decent cars. We survived it. When you start in the back, like 15th or further back on the last restart, you’re pretty sure you’re gonna get caught up in a crash. We came close enough on that last one when I was sideways, but I was able to save it." - Joey Logano, finished 11th
"We had a great car. Our Love's Travel Stops Ford was fast all week, and it felt great as the race got started. We were just taking it easy, logging laps up toward the front. After the rain delay, we were toward the back and we just wanted to hang out there for a while. But we got caught up in that wreck and it spun me into the grass and I got stuck there, and they had to tow it to the garage to fix it. I'm proud of the guys, though. They worked really hard all Speedweeks and all winter, really, to put a great car on the track. There were a lot of wrecked cars out there today and unfortunately, we were one of them." - David Gilliland, finished 36th
"Yeah, it was just a long day. I got in the wall on lap one, blew the right rear and spun so we had a rough start from the go of it. But we just kind of rode around the whole race there and finally got in the Lucky Dog position so we were racing pretty hard there. I just pulled the middle line and I don’t know if Austin (Dillon) got a little loose, shuffled up the track and got into me and turned us sideways. So it’s been a really long day. I can’t wait to get to Phoenix and try and do better. Been at Daytona a lot and it sucks to end it like this, but we will go to Phoenix and try to rebound and get the momentum built up." - Kyle Larson, finished 38th (Crashed Out)
"I don’t know. I was going to the top with Kurt. We were trying to do something. We were a lap down. We had a mistake in the pits that got us a lap down, but what a shame. This Smithfield Ford was so fast. We had a really good strategy. We were in the top five racing for the lead, came down pit road and had a mistake. That got us a lap down and we were racing the 18 and the 13 for the lucky dog. I couldn’t just ride in line. I needed to make a move to try and get myself in position to be the Lucky Dog. We were in position for quite awhile and got shuffled out. This sucks. We had a really good car, but we’ll rebound. We’ll go to Phoenix and get us a win." - Aric Almirola, finished 39th (Crashed Out)
"I don’t know [if it was my hardest hit ever], it feels like they are all pretty hard [hits] unfortunately. I think more than anything, I am just upset that the GoDaddy car felt really good and it was the best car that I had all SpeedWeeks. It seemed like we could catch whoever and it seemed like we could move around, make lanes and just move around and move forward at the end of the day. I felt like everything was going pretty well, so it’s just upsetting you know. It’s just the culmination of sitting around all day and you know. It’s a bummer, but you know that is the excitement of speedway racing that anything can happen; it was unfortunate that I was on the short end of the accident. But that is the kind of thing that happens and I appreciate everyone sticking around and watching. We will go get them at Phoenix." - Danica Patrick, finished 40th (Crashed Out)
"The car was super-fast today and I went to bed last night thinking that this was my best shot ever to win the Daytona 500 and really felt that way – even today. The car was just so good and we were just riding around and biding our time you know, being patient and trying to get to the end of this thing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. It looks like something knocked the oil pump belt off. Not sure if it was debris off the race track or what. You typically get about two seconds to shut it off once that belt comes off or it will blow up and we just didn’t get enough warning." - Martin Truex, Jr., finished 43rd (Blown Engine)
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Thinkin' Out Loud: Daytona 500 Edition
by Mike Neff
Pace Laps: Daytona Storylines That Won't Go Away
by the Frontstretch Staff
The Big Six: Questions Answered After the Daytona 500
by Amy Henderson
Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain For Rookies After Rocky Daytona
by Aaron Creed
Earnhardt's Explosion Back Into Relevancy ... At NASCAR's Super Bowl
by Tom Bowles
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Kevin Rutherford
-- Fan's View Commentary by S.D. Grady
-- Numbers Game: Daytona 500 by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
With Speedweeks complete, we'll take a look at which drivers are sitting pretty -- and who is just happy to get out of Volusia County.
Racing to the Point by Brett Poirier
Brett is back with another commentary to make you think. This week, Brett talks about how rain just saved this year's Daytona 500.
Voices From The Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager and a Senior Writer for Frontstretch.com. He can be reached via email at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Critic84.
~~~~~~~~~~
Never Fear, The Underdogs Are Here: Pre-Daytona 500 Edition
by Amy Henderson
Are you a fan of a driver from a smaller team? Do you ever see one of these guys on the race results and wonder how he got there? NASCAR's small teams may not get much airtime during the race broadcast, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about. Each week, Amy Henderson takes a peek into how the little guys fared in the race.
Underdog Selection No. 1: Casey Mears for Germain Racing; started 28th, finished tenth
After inking a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for 2014, Germain Racing has been fast every time out at Daytona, beginning with top-10 speeds during January testing. Mears then posted a 15th-place time in his qualifying run and was strong in his Budweiser Duel -- until the final two laps. It should have been a disaster when the No. 13 ran out of gas in that qualifying race; instead, it was a stroke of luck. Had Mears been running in the front pack, all night long, he'd have been swept up in a multi-car crash heading to the checkers, one that left several teams switching to backups.
Instead, Mears was able to start the Daytona 500 in his primary car — a car which was capable of a top-five run as Mears, who's an outstanding restrictor-plate racer, proved early on. A pit road speeding penalty cost him a lap, just past halfway, but he was able to get the free pass and race back to the front, jostling inside the top 10 with fewer than 20 laps remaining. While Mears never could quite get there, settling for 10th he showed just how much this team's hard work and heartbreak over the past three years is finally paying off.
Underdog Selection No. 2: Landon Cassill for Hillman Racing; started 18th, finished 12th
Landon Cassill is a better driver than most people give him credit for, and he showed just how underrated he is in Daytona. Cassill ran eighth in his qualifying race, charged into the top 10 during the Daytona 500, and finished a solid 12th. That result brings his team a vital infusion of prize money, but it also shows that when the gap is closed, between rich and poor like in plate races a small team can shine -- and this one has potential. Since joining with Circle Sport as a second team midway through last season, the No. 40 (and Circle Sport's No. 33) have shown steady improvement. They're no overnight success; there's not enough money for that. But there are some talented people on the team, and given the right circumstance, Cassill can run with just about anyone. Sponsors are taking notice of that, as the team completed an 18-race deal this weekend with Fuhu, Inc. to boost funding and put this car in contention for better finishes.
Underdog Selection No. 3: Bobby Labonte for HScott Motorsports; started 26th, finished 15th
Harry Scott and James Finch gave Labonte a chance to run a few races in 2014 after the driver lost his seat in the No. 47; Labonte thanked them with a top-15 finish in the season's biggest race. After losing the draft, then a lap early Labonte was able to work back through, earn a free pass and then hang on through a series of late-race wrecks. The Daytona run was perhaps a small slice of redemption for Labonte, who lost his seat at JTG-Daugherty Racing after the 2013 season; his former No. 47 car lost its brakes and ran 26th, six laps off the pace.
Underdog Pick of the Week - Phoenix: AJ Allmendinger for JTG-Daugherty Racing
In this section, I'll give you my pick among the small teams to have a strong run in the upcoming race.
I got off to a good start in Daytona, where my pick, Casey Mears, had the best finish among the small teams with his top-10 run.
This week, teams head to the flat mile in Phoenix, where I'm picking AJ Allmendinger to have the strongest run amongst his peers. He has a pair of top-10 finishes at PIR in nine starts, and a solid 15.7 average finish—more than ten spots better than the next-best driver in this group, Casey Mears. If 'Dinger can meet his average, running 15th or 16th, it would be a great day for his team.
Is your favorite driver among NASCAR's underdogs? Are you frustrated with the lack of coverage they receive during the race broadcasts? Amy has all the small teams covered each and every week in The Big Six. Be sure to check it out to see how your favorites fared!
Never Fear, The Underdogs Are Here: Pre-Daytona 500 Edition
by Amy Henderson
Are you a fan of a driver from a smaller team? Do you ever see one of these guys on the race results and wonder how he got there? NASCAR's small teams may not get much airtime during the race broadcast, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about. Each week, Amy Henderson takes a peek into how the little guys fared in the race.
Underdog Selection No. 1: Casey Mears for Germain Racing; started 28th, finished tenth
After inking a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing for 2014, Germain Racing has been fast every time out at Daytona, beginning with top-10 speeds during January testing. Mears then posted a 15th-place time in his qualifying run and was strong in his Budweiser Duel -- until the final two laps. It should have been a disaster when the No. 13 ran out of gas in that qualifying race; instead, it was a stroke of luck. Had Mears been running in the front pack, all night long, he'd have been swept up in a multi-car crash heading to the checkers, one that left several teams switching to backups.
Instead, Mears was able to start the Daytona 500 in his primary car — a car which was capable of a top-five run as Mears, who's an outstanding restrictor-plate racer, proved early on. A pit road speeding penalty cost him a lap, just past halfway, but he was able to get the free pass and race back to the front, jostling inside the top 10 with fewer than 20 laps remaining. While Mears never could quite get there, settling for 10th he showed just how much this team's hard work and heartbreak over the past three years is finally paying off.
Underdog Selection No. 2: Landon Cassill for Hillman Racing; started 18th, finished 12th
Landon Cassill is a better driver than most people give him credit for, and he showed just how underrated he is in Daytona. Cassill ran eighth in his qualifying race, charged into the top 10 during the Daytona 500, and finished a solid 12th. That result brings his team a vital infusion of prize money, but it also shows that when the gap is closed, between rich and poor like in plate races a small team can shine -- and this one has potential. Since joining with Circle Sport as a second team midway through last season, the No. 40 (and Circle Sport's No. 33) have shown steady improvement. They're no overnight success; there's not enough money for that. But there are some talented people on the team, and given the right circumstance, Cassill can run with just about anyone. Sponsors are taking notice of that, as the team completed an 18-race deal this weekend with Fuhu, Inc. to boost funding and put this car in contention for better finishes.
Underdog Selection No. 3: Bobby Labonte for HScott Motorsports; started 26th, finished 15th
Harry Scott and James Finch gave Labonte a chance to run a few races in 2014 after the driver lost his seat in the No. 47; Labonte thanked them with a top-15 finish in the season's biggest race. After losing the draft, then a lap early Labonte was able to work back through, earn a free pass and then hang on through a series of late-race wrecks. The Daytona run was perhaps a small slice of redemption for Labonte, who lost his seat at JTG-Daugherty Racing after the 2013 season; his former No. 47 car lost its brakes and ran 26th, six laps off the pace.
Underdog Pick of the Week - Phoenix: AJ Allmendinger for JTG-Daugherty Racing
In this section, I'll give you my pick among the small teams to have a strong run in the upcoming race.
I got off to a good start in Daytona, where my pick, Casey Mears, had the best finish among the small teams with his top-10 run.
This week, teams head to the flat mile in Phoenix, where I'm picking AJ Allmendinger to have the strongest run amongst his peers. He has a pair of top-10 finishes at PIR in nine starts, and a solid 15.7 average finish—more than ten spots better than the next-best driver in this group, Casey Mears. If 'Dinger can meet his average, running 15th or 16th, it would be a great day for his team.
Is your favorite driver among NASCAR's underdogs? Are you frustrated with the lack of coverage they receive during the race broadcasts? Amy has all the small teams covered each and every week in The Big Six. Be sure to check it out to see how your favorites fared!
Amy Henderson is a Co-Managing Editor and a Senior Writer at Frontstretch. She can be reached via e-mail at amy.henderson@frontstretch.com.
~~~~~~~~~~
Letter of the Race: Sunday's Daytona 500 was brought to you by the letter "S," for Stomach Churning. Technically, this term could apply to any restrictor plate race these days. However, Sunday's Daytona 500 was by far the most competitive race of Speedweeks. There were segments of the race where drivers were racing three-wide for laps on end. Also, the wild moves employed by drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle took my breath away. - Phil Allaway
~~~~~~~~~~
Sidebar Stories: Speedweeks Week 2
by Phil Allaway
Letter of the Race: Sunday's Daytona 500 was brought to you by the letter "S," for Stomach Churning. Technically, this term could apply to any restrictor plate race these days. However, Sunday's Daytona 500 was by far the most competitive race of Speedweeks. There were segments of the race where drivers were racing three-wide for laps on end. Also, the wild moves employed by drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle took my breath away. - Phil Allaway
~~~~~~~~~~
Sidebar Stories: Speedweeks Week 2
by Phil Allaway
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Keeps To His Word, Tweets For The First Time
In an interview conducted by Michael Waltrip that aired on FOX Sports 1's NASCAR RaceDay Sunday, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. suggested that he might start tweeting if he won the Daytona 500. After the victory, Waltrip stated that he would remind Earnhardt Jr. of his promise.
Sure enough for race fans, Waltrip came through. Early this morning, Earnhardt Jr. sent his very first tweet. It is comprised of a selfie of himself with the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane with the quote "Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter. How is everyone doin?," along with the hashtag "2xDaytona500Champ." Since then, he's also tweeted a picture of his car being put into the Velocitorium (the former Daytona USA/Daytona 500 Experience) this morning.
Sure enough for race fans, Waltrip came through. Early this morning, Earnhardt Jr. sent his very first tweet. It is comprised of a selfie of himself with the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane with the quote "Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter. How is everyone doin?," along with the hashtag "2xDaytona500Champ." Since then, he's also tweeted a picture of his car being put into the Velocitorium (the former Daytona USA/Daytona 500 Experience) this morning.
Earnhardt Jr. technically didn't join Twitter last night (@DaleJr). The truth is that he's had a Twitter account for at least a couple of years that was procured by his management. He just had to get the password in order to tweet. It has already been officially verified by Twitter.
Stewart's Return Hampered by Fuel System Issues
Tony Stewart was hoping for an exquisite return to Sprint Cup points racing on Sunday. However, his Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet developed a hesitation on corner exit shortly before halfway. In addition, Stewart's fuel gauge was "jumping all around."
Eventually, Stewart pitted and the crew opened the trunk to see what was wrong. While there, Stewart shut the car off to recycle the ECU and switched batteries. The diagnosis cost Stewart the better part of two laps, but ultimately turned out to be only a temporary fix. A second attempt to rectify the issue cost Smoke 11 more laps in the pits with no success.
After the second failed fix, Stewart went behind the wall to have the fuel cell, and all the electronic pieces within replaced. Stewart then returned to the race and eventually finished 35th, 26 laps down.
After the second failed fix, Stewart went behind the wall to have the fuel cell, and all the electronic pieces within replaced. Stewart then returned to the race and eventually finished 35th, 26 laps down.
Substandard Information From FOX Breeds Race Confusion
Yes, this story sounds a little weird, but it's true. After a couple of hours of rain delay interviews, FOX cut to coverage of the 2013 Daytona 500. However, they did not do the best job at informing people of that fact, simply putting up a small scroll sitting on the bottom of the screen. As a result, a number of fans took to Twitter to comment on last year's race, thinking that it was this year's.
Twitter exploded during the rain delay with people cheering on Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick and others, apparently under the belief that the coverage they were watching was live. TV personalities were even criticized for not referring to drivers in their correct rides (they were correct at the time) while major news outlets, including FOX News itself congratulated Johnson upon the "conclusion" of the event. FOX News had to respond with an apology this morning correcting themselves while congratulating Sunday'a real 500 winner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Quotes to Remember: Daytona 500
compiled by Phil Allaway
"Man, it feels incredible. You know, I was looking at winning this race in 2004. It's the greatest feeling you can have as a driver in NASCAR at a single event in a single day. Just trying to explain what that feeling is to people, I've been trying to tell people for 10 years what that felt like. It's just hard to put it into words what winning this race really means you. What makes this special is the people you're with when it happens. I have a great relationship with my crew chief, Steve [Letarte]. He's put an amazing team around me that we all really enjoy working together. And Rick [Hendrick]'s here to make all that possible. It just seems like it's too good to be true really." - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., race winner
"I was looking in my mirror trying to get a run on the 88. Yeah, the radios were intermittent a lot. I'd say when we first came back from the rain, I didn't have the radio for about 50 laps or so. I thought that it dried out and we had radio communication for about another 60, 70. Then starting with all those cautions about 12, 15 to go, pretty much went radio silence at that point. I'm in the middle of the pack trying not to cause a big one, trying to hold my line, but yet advance my position to get myself a chance at a victory. It's too hard to do it on your own, honestly... We were fortunate to finish where we were." - Denny Hamlin, finished second
"We struggled there for awhile. We worked our way to the front and got off a little on fuel strategy when that rain came. I knew our Nationwide Fusion was fast but it was such a log jam trying to get back to the front, then we slowly worked our way there and got a few cautions. I really wanted to get to the back bumper of the 2 and get Ford another 500 but all in all, it was a good day for us. We came home seventh and that is a good way to start the year. We just needed a little bit more there at the end. We needed a couple cars behind us to be able to get to the 2’s bumper and we just didn’t quite get it."- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., finished seventh
"Yeah, I think the yellow stripes on the bumper showed a little bit tonight.
But we made it through. It was fun. I had a blast. The car was fast. After we got in the (first) wreck (on Lap 145), I don't know how we didn't hit the wall. Had a little damage, but was just a lot freer after that. Car was still fast, just a little loose. All in all, it was a great start for our season, and hopefully we can carry it."- Austin Dillon, finished ninth
"We had decent speed. I thought the 2 car might have been a little faster, but that was a crazy, crazy race there at the end. It’s funny because you line up behind Brad and he gets a hole and I don’t, and then you see where he goes and where you’re at. We got shuffled all the way to the back and then with 10 to go, we were all the way in the back. We worked our way up some. At least the fans are excited about the finish or the winner at least. But the guys did a great job the last two weeks and gave me some decent cars. We survived it. When you start in the back, like 15th or further back on the last restart, you’re pretty sure you’re gonna get caught up in a crash. We came close enough on that last one when I was sideways, but I was able to save it." - Joey Logano, finished 11th
"We had a great car. Our Love's Travel Stops Ford was fast all week, and it felt great as the race got started. We were just taking it easy, logging laps up toward the front. After the rain delay, we were toward the back and we just wanted to hang out there for a while. But we got caught up in that wreck and it spun me into the grass and I got stuck there, and they had to tow it to the garage to fix it. I'm proud of the guys, though. They worked really hard all Speedweeks and all winter, really, to put a great car on the track. There were a lot of wrecked cars out there today and unfortunately, we were one of them." - David Gilliland, finished 36th
"Yeah, it was just a long day. I got in the wall on lap one, blew the right rear and spun so we had a rough start from the go of it. But we just kind of rode around the whole race there and finally got in the Lucky Dog position so we were racing pretty hard there. I just pulled the middle line and I don’t know if Austin (Dillon) got a little loose, shuffled up the track and got into me and turned us sideways. So it’s been a really long day. I can’t wait to get to Phoenix and try and do better. Been at Daytona a lot and it sucks to end it like this, but we will go to Phoenix and try to rebound and get the momentum built up." - Kyle Larson, finished 38th (Crashed Out)
"I don’t know. I was going to the top with Kurt. We were trying to do something. We were a lap down. We had a mistake in the pits that got us a lap down, but what a shame. This Smithfield Ford was so fast. We had a really good strategy. We were in the top five racing for the lead, came down pit road and had a mistake. That got us a lap down and we were racing the 18 and the 13 for the lucky dog. I couldn’t just ride in line. I needed to make a move to try and get myself in position to be the Lucky Dog. We were in position for quite awhile and got shuffled out. This sucks. We had a really good car, but we’ll rebound. We’ll go to Phoenix and get us a win." - Aric Almirola, finished 39th (Crashed Out)
"I don’t know [if it was my hardest hit ever], it feels like they are all pretty hard [hits] unfortunately. I think more than anything, I am just upset that the GoDaddy car felt really good and it was the best car that I had all SpeedWeeks. It seemed like we could catch whoever and it seemed like we could move around, make lanes and just move around and move forward at the end of the day. I felt like everything was going pretty well, so it’s just upsetting you know. It’s just the culmination of sitting around all day and you know. It’s a bummer, but you know that is the excitement of speedway racing that anything can happen; it was unfortunate that I was on the short end of the accident. But that is the kind of thing that happens and I appreciate everyone sticking around and watching. We will go get them at Phoenix." - Danica Patrick, finished 40th (Crashed Out)
"The car was super-fast today and I went to bed last night thinking that this was my best shot ever to win the Daytona 500 and really felt that way – even today. The car was just so good and we were just riding around and biding our time you know, being patient and trying to get to the end of this thing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. It looks like something knocked the oil pump belt off. Not sure if it was debris off the race track or what. You typically get about two seconds to shut it off once that belt comes off or it will blow up and we just didn’t get enough warning." - Martin Truex, Jr., finished 43rd (Blown Engine)
~~~~~~~~~~
ADVERTISEMENT
Are you looking to advertise your website, product or brand? A good way to get your name out there is via direct advertising here in the Frontstretch Newsletter! Interested parties can contact us at tony.lumbis@frontstretch.com for details.
~~~~~~~~~~
TODAY ON THE FRONTSTRETCH:
Thinkin' Out Loud: Daytona 500 Edition
by Mike Neff
Pace Laps: Daytona Storylines That Won't Go Away
by the Frontstretch Staff
The Big Six: Questions Answered After the Daytona 500
by Amy Henderson
Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain For Rookies After Rocky Daytona
by Aaron Creed
Earnhardt's Explosion Back Into Relevancy ... At NASCAR's Super Bowl
by Tom Bowles
~~~~~~~~~~~
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1989, Bobby Hamilton made his Winston Cup debut at Phoenix International Raceway. Under what circumstances did he make that debut?
Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Friday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, NASCAR basically told Delma Cowart to not come back after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500. What happened to cause NASCAR to issue that edict?
A: Cowart and his Masters Inn Ford were quite a bit off the pace from the rest of the field. Within 15 laps, he was about to be lapped by the leaders. Cowart stuck to the inside, allowing the leaders to pass on the outside. However, Cowart got loose and went up the track exiting Turn 4, tapping Geoff Bodine in the process. Both drivers spun, Bodine harmlessly into the tri-oval grass, while Cowart hit the inside wall. The crash can be seen here.
FRONTSTRETCH TRIVIA:
Q: In 1989, Bobby Hamilton made his Winston Cup debut at Phoenix International Raceway. Under what circumstances did he make that debut?
Check back Tuesday for the answer, here in the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Friday's Answer:
Q: In 1997, NASCAR basically told Delma Cowart to not come back after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500. What happened to cause NASCAR to issue that edict?
A: Cowart and his Masters Inn Ford were quite a bit off the pace from the rest of the field. Within 15 laps, he was about to be lapped by the leaders. Cowart stuck to the inside, allowing the leaders to pass on the outside. However, Cowart got loose and went up the track exiting Turn 4, tapping Geoff Bodine in the process. Both drivers spun, Bodine harmlessly into the tri-oval grass, while Cowart hit the inside wall. The crash can be seen here.
Bodine, who was third prior to the incident, continued and finished the race in 13th. Meanwhile, Cowart was out on the spot.
Frontstretch Trivia Guarantee: Take the shirt off our backs! If we've provided an incorrect answer to the Frontstretch Trivia question, be the first to email the corrected trivia answer to trivia@frontstretch.com and we'll send you a Frontstretch T-Shirt ... FREE!
Coming Tuesday in the Frontstretch Newsletter:
-- Top News by Kevin Rutherford
-- Fan's View Commentary by S.D. Grady
-- Numbers Game: Daytona 500 by Tom Bowles
-- Links to your favorite Frontstretch articles, and more!
Tomorrow on the Frontstretch:
Going By The Numbers by Tom Bowles & Kevin Rutherford
This past weekend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. took the Daytona 500 to launch his 2014 championship bid. But will he overcome the demons that have accompanied Daytona 500 winners of past years? Tom and Kevin argue whether Earnhardt will be a title contender.
Couch Potato Tuesday by Phil Allaway
This past weekend, the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series were all in action at Daytona International Speedway for their season openers. Were the telecasts of these events "up to snuff?" Find out in this week's TV Critique.
With Speedweeks complete, we'll take a look at which drivers are sitting pretty -- and who is just happy to get out of Volusia County.
Racing to the Point by Brett Poirier
Brett is back with another commentary to make you think. This week, Brett talks about how rain just saved this year's Daytona 500.
Voices From The Heartland by Jeff Meyer
Jeff's back with another interesting opinion piece.
-----------------------------
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2014 Frontstretch.com
Talk back to the Frontstretch Newsletter!
Got something to say about an article you've seen in the newsletter? It's as easy as replying directly to this message or sending an email to editors@frontstretch.com. We'll take the best comments and publish them here!
©2014 Frontstretch.com
--
Feel free to forward this newsletter if you have any friends who loves
NASCAR and great NASCAR commentary. They can subscribe to the Frontstetch by visiting http://www.frontstretch.com/notice/9557/.
If you want to stop your Frontstretch Newsletter subscription, we're sorry
to see you go. Just send an email to
TheFrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com from the address that you
recieve the Frontstretch Newsletter.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Frontstretch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to thefrontstretch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
No comments:
Post a Comment