Denny Hamlin becoming a three-time Daytona 500 winner, a Presidential visit, a one-day rain delay and a frightening accident involving Ryan Newman (update: Newman Released from Hospital) understandably generated the most attention from the 2020 edition of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. But before NASCAR heads west from “The World Center of Racing,” there are a number of other stories worthy of the spotlight:
SKILL MATTERS
It’s a common cliché every time Daytona and Talladega rolls around on the schedule when people insist “anybody” can win in superspeedway racing. While there’s a kernel of truth in that contention the reality is skill and talent supersede luck. Sure there’s an element of luck involved as well and it’s true a multi-car (or truck) crash can take out anyone. However, drivers with a knack for understanding the nature of drafting, blocking and all the components of today’s superspeedway are the most successful. Case in point Hamlin, who has won three of the last five Daytona 500s and proved the point again in his Monday victory.
FRESH FACES
There is enough unpredictability in the superspeedway recipe that does provide opportunities for underdogs to have good finishes if infrequent visits to Victory Lane. There were plenty of those stories in the 500, including David Ragan, who retired as a full-time driver at the end of last year only to make a one-off start for Rick Ware Racing and finish fourth. Brendan Gaughan will make only three more NASCAR Cup Series starts this year before hanging up his helmet and showed his superspeedway racing prowess with a seventh-place run on Monday. Corey LaJoie was involved in the violent Newman accident but was still able to register a very solid eighth-place finish for GoFas Racing.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
When there are nine cautions for 39 laps and several multi-car accidents, including a mammoth crash that swept up 19, disappointment struck many high-profile drivers and teams. Team Penske running mates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, who found themselves in the middle of controversy pretty much all week long, again had an on-track incident that won’t help the already tense relationship between the two. Chase Elliott led 23 laps and had a strong car only to find himself involved in a series of accidents. Ditto for his Hendrick teammate William Byron, who turned a lot of heads this Speedweeks, but saw his 500 end with an early incident and a last-place finish.
KYLE BUSCH STILL SEARCHING
The reigning Cup Series champion will have to continue his quest for a first Daytona 500 win in 2021 after Busch was eliminated from contention by an engine issue. Busch is now 0 for 15 in the 500 and is starting to become a similar story to the late Dale Earnhardt, who had won everything there was to win in the sport except the Daytona 500 until he was finally able to do so in his 20th attempt in 1998. The years of going winless in “The Great American race” are starting to pileup for Busch.
See Also: Power Rankings after Daytona
GANDER TRUCK, XFINITY SERIES EXCITEMENT
The lead-in races to the Daytona 500 provided a great appetizer to the main course. Friday night’s Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series opener ended with one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory. Grant Enfinger and Jordan Anderson literally bounced off one another to the checkered flag before the ThorSport Racing driver was declared the winner. Saturday’s Xfinity Series season debut came to a crescendo with Noah Gragson claiming his first career win and bringing Dale Earnhardt Jr. back to Victory Lane for a seventh time as an owner.
The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Motor Racing Network.
