Post by RaceFanX on Feb 14, 2010 1:53:48 GMT -5
(Cue's Delta Force theme ala the old Indy 500 intros)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXELfd3jaWA
(plays music, starts speaking a Paul Page-esque voice)
Daytona.
One simple word but one iconic legend. The time has come once again for the world's best stock car racers to unite for the beginning of another NASCAR season with the series' biggest event, the Daytona 500.
For fans the world over it just isn't February without Speedweeks at Daytona, a tradition since the track's 1959 constuction. In that year's first 500 the finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp was so close it took NASCAR three days to find Petty the winner. He became the first of several legends forged at the track.
1976 for instance saw a duel of legends as David Pearson engaged Richard Petty in a last lap shootout that saw both crash off the final turn. Pearson kept his car in gear with the front of his Mercury smashed limped it across the line to win.
1989 saw Darrell Waltrip use a gas milage gamble to outlast his opposition and finally win the Great American Race in his 17th attempt.
But for every driver who has been able to take the Gatorade shower in victory lane there have been several who have not. Mark Martin first ran the race in 1982 but victory has always denied the wily veteran. In 2007 he came just inches short of what could have been his biggest win and it appeared Martin would never get his name on the race's famed trophy. But 2009 saw a resurgence in Mark that saw the 50-year-old fan favorite win five races. Today he'll start from the pole with one of his best chances ever to finally take the top spot.
Or perhaps today will belong to Tony Stewart. The champion of both NASCAR and Indy cars has had several great ones in the 500 only to see victory slip away. He had one of the best cars in 2001 only to take a wild flight down the backstretch. In 2007 he was again dominate only to crash out while leading and finish last. But perhaps Stewart's luck is changing. Yesterday he survived a wild 300-mile Nationwide series race to take the victory and was also in victory lane for the Cup series last visit in July. Now driving a car he owns will Stewart finally break through?
Maybe the winner will have an international flavor. In 1967, racing legend Mario Andretti became the only non-American born driver to win the 500. Today three drivers will try to replicate that feat as Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Australian Marcos Ambrose and Italian "Mad Max" Papis all vie for the crown.
Or maybe the winner will be a former 500 champion. Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and defending winner Matt Kenseth are all back and looking for a return trip to victory lane.
Conquering Daytona is not easy. In yesterday's Nationwide series race Indy car star Danica Patrick saw her NASCAR debut end in the tri-oval's outside wall and a slide through the grass. Earnhardt Jr meanwhile saw a strong top-5 run literally turned upside down when he flipped on the backstretch.
Excitement has built for this year's event for its differences from last year's. Enforced rules of on-track conduct: GONE! NASCAR has returned to a hands off policy and letting the drivers police themselves. The day-into-night format of the last few years is also put out to pasture as the race returns to its traditional 1 p.m. EST start and afternoon format.
Whoever of the 43 drivers is able to take the checkered flag the prize will remain the same: Over $1 million dollars in prize money and spot forever in NASCAR lore. The time for talk is over. Let's go racin' boys!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXELfd3jaWA
(plays music, starts speaking a Paul Page-esque voice)
Daytona.
One simple word but one iconic legend. The time has come once again for the world's best stock car racers to unite for the beginning of another NASCAR season with the series' biggest event, the Daytona 500.
For fans the world over it just isn't February without Speedweeks at Daytona, a tradition since the track's 1959 constuction. In that year's first 500 the finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp was so close it took NASCAR three days to find Petty the winner. He became the first of several legends forged at the track.
1976 for instance saw a duel of legends as David Pearson engaged Richard Petty in a last lap shootout that saw both crash off the final turn. Pearson kept his car in gear with the front of his Mercury smashed limped it across the line to win.
1989 saw Darrell Waltrip use a gas milage gamble to outlast his opposition and finally win the Great American Race in his 17th attempt.
But for every driver who has been able to take the Gatorade shower in victory lane there have been several who have not. Mark Martin first ran the race in 1982 but victory has always denied the wily veteran. In 2007 he came just inches short of what could have been his biggest win and it appeared Martin would never get his name on the race's famed trophy. But 2009 saw a resurgence in Mark that saw the 50-year-old fan favorite win five races. Today he'll start from the pole with one of his best chances ever to finally take the top spot.
Or perhaps today will belong to Tony Stewart. The champion of both NASCAR and Indy cars has had several great ones in the 500 only to see victory slip away. He had one of the best cars in 2001 only to take a wild flight down the backstretch. In 2007 he was again dominate only to crash out while leading and finish last. But perhaps Stewart's luck is changing. Yesterday he survived a wild 300-mile Nationwide series race to take the victory and was also in victory lane for the Cup series last visit in July. Now driving a car he owns will Stewart finally break through?
Maybe the winner will have an international flavor. In 1967, racing legend Mario Andretti became the only non-American born driver to win the 500. Today three drivers will try to replicate that feat as Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Australian Marcos Ambrose and Italian "Mad Max" Papis all vie for the crown.
Or maybe the winner will be a former 500 champion. Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and defending winner Matt Kenseth are all back and looking for a return trip to victory lane.
Conquering Daytona is not easy. In yesterday's Nationwide series race Indy car star Danica Patrick saw her NASCAR debut end in the tri-oval's outside wall and a slide through the grass. Earnhardt Jr meanwhile saw a strong top-5 run literally turned upside down when he flipped on the backstretch.
Excitement has built for this year's event for its differences from last year's. Enforced rules of on-track conduct: GONE! NASCAR has returned to a hands off policy and letting the drivers police themselves. The day-into-night format of the last few years is also put out to pasture as the race returns to its traditional 1 p.m. EST start and afternoon format.
Whoever of the 43 drivers is able to take the checkered flag the prize will remain the same: Over $1 million dollars in prize money and spot forever in NASCAR lore. The time for talk is over. Let's go racin' boys!