Happy Daytona Day! It’s a lovely day in Daytona, breezy, but mild with temperatures expected to be in the mid-70s. Rookie Chase Elliott will lead the field to the green flag. Congrats to Chase on winning yesterday’s Xfinity race, beating Joey Logano to the green flag.
Caution is out on lap 19 for a spin by Chase Elliott and Regan Smith. Carl Edwards got some of that as Chase came down across his front end. Chase said he got loose and spun out. He’s out of the in-field care center and okay.
I’ve tried to view the race on foxsportsgo – nothing. I get logged in and see only a black screen with a Fox Sports Go frame. BOOOOO!!!!!
Caution is out on lap 37 as Brian Vickers went for a spin. Carl Edwards and Trevor Bayne got a piece of that.
Caution on lap 92 of 200 for a wreck that includes Chris Buescher (34), and Matt DiBenedetto (93). They’re both of of the cars and standing under their own power.
Matti Di has been treated and released from the in-field care center. He said he had the wind knocked out of him. He totally blamed himself for the wreck saying he went in with a head of steam, got loose and lost it. Congrats to Matt DiBenedetto for making the Daytona 500.
Caution is out on lap 119 of 200 for debris. Greg Biffle lost a right rear tire that did quite a bit of damage to his car, resulting in the debris caution.
Jeff Gordon seems to be doing a nice job in the booth today. Mike Joy and DW are always good, and Jeff is a welcome addition to the team. Now, if we could get rid of Larry McReynolds and Michael Waltrip permanently. A girl can wish/hope. By the way, much to my delight Andy Petree has been on the set with Wally Dallenbach and John Roberts this weekend. It has been fantastic to have a knowledgeable crew chief on for a change. It would be wonderful to see him during the race broadcast. I’m just saying.
Goodyear is apparently saying that tire on the 16 let loose due to it being on the wrong side of the car. That’s an amazing error by the 16 team of Greg Biffle.
Caution is out on lap 170 of 200 for a crash by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Restarting with 28 to go. Kenseth leads the field to the green flag.
Caution is out on lap 184 of 200 for a spin by Danica Patrick. Patrick tried to block Biffle and spun out. As she came across his front Biffle spun also.
12 to go on the restart. Kenseth leads them to the line again.
Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr ran it to the line and they’re saying it was Hamlin. On the super-slo-mo it was Hamlin. Looks like Truex Jr lost it in the last second/foot to the Start-Finish line.
Harvick in the 4 pushed Denny forward. Denny caught up with and passed Kenseth who tried to block him and ended up getting loose, allowing Hamlin and Truex Jr to get past him and battle head-to-head.
Denny Hamlin and his new crew chief, Mike “Wheels” Wheeler wins their first Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin wins in the eleven car on his eleventh attempt two months after his ACL surgery.
Martin Truex Jr finishes second in his new Furniture Row Toyota.
In NASCAR news this week:
- NASCAR Updates Behavioral Policies.
- McDowell, Richardson Make The ‘500’.
- Elliott Wins at Daytona.
- Bell Released from Hospital after Truck Crash.
- John Cena stumped by Daytona 500 interview whiff.