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There has been so much said over the last couple of weeks about Nascar at Daytona it is hard to believe much more could be said. However, I will say that the BIG event on Sunday afternoon left many fans thinking the end of the race was a relative non-event. (This is usually the way it goes when the end of the event is rained out and the field finishes according to the order they were in when the red flag was thrown.)
Now, don’t get me wrong… I understand why they called the race when they did and why some of the fans didn’t like it. However, it is a fact that some fans felt just the slightest bit cheated by not having a full race to the checkered flag.
You see, I didn’t like rain-outs when I was racing and I don’t like them now either, but they are a fact of life when it comes to racing whether at a small track or a big track. One thing no one can control in an outdoor sport is the weather.
I do understand the frustration of the fans though. This was restrictor-plate racing at its best and at a place that was really showcasing the restrictor-plate for Cup racing in a positive way. I’m sure there will be those that have opposing views to mine, but, I’m one of those that does like restrictor plate racing and I like it at the super speedways of Talledega and Daytona.
I know the drivers have their own thoughts about it (because I once was one at our local small tracks) but as a fan, I like the closeness of racing that it breeds. It really makes it a whole new game. It certainly adds the importance of strategy back into the mix and adds the ability to take advantage of any little thing back into the hands of the drivers.
It has been evident over the last couple of years in particular, hardly anyone shows all of their cards before the last ten laps of the race, especially at Daytona. I’m sure that some of the feelings of disappointment might have been different if the driver a fan wanted to win would have won because of the rain, but the call came when it did and we all have to live with it. (Besides, it was easy to tell that Matt Kenseth was not at all disappointed with the win even with help from weather. In fact, in the after race interview, he appeared quite overwhelmed by it. I didn’t hear anything directly, but, I really don’t think his owner, Jack Roush was bothered by it much either.)
Personally, I thought the race was disappointing in the way it ended, but that’s because I was looking forward to those last 10-15 laps. I wasn’t looking for another big wreck, but I was looking for all of the shuffling that takes place and who would make the right move at the right time and come out on top.
After all of the great racing we saw during Speed Weeks in all of the classes, it only figured that the 500 would be no different. I was expecting the big shootout to be between the likes of Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmy Johnson, Jamie McMurray, Matt Kenseth and maybe even Carl Edwards. These are just the ones I mention … there were others with names that aren’t quite as well known, (but probably will be one day soon.)
Well, be that as it may, the February Nascar race at Daytona is in the record books for now and there is nothing anyone can do to change the outcome; So we won’t spend any more time on it at the moment. It is time to turn our focus to the west coast as Nascar heads for California.
As we leave Daytona behind until the summer time, it is time to reflect on what Speed Weeks was like overall. It is my personal opinion that it was a really “feel good” time in many ways:
- We saw a renewed bounce in the competitive step of Mark Martin and I look for great things to come from his team in the near future.
- Jeff Gordon broke his winless streak by winning one of the Gatorade Duels.
- Tony Stewart made a very strong showing with his brand new team and that will definitely prove to be exciting over the season.
- Daytona was a sell out and that says something even in the face of the present economic downturn.
- The racing was really, really good this year. It was exciting and on the edge, (except for the rain-out)
- Jeremy Mayfield raced his way into the 500 and that makes a statement for the little guys.
- Tommy Baldwin’s team made the race and offered a strong showing even though the team is brand new.
Well, we could go on and on but, pretty much anything that could be said has been said by someone in the last two weeks. I’m looking forward to the next race. Come on back Saturday and we’ll talk about the upcoming race in Fontana, CA right here at … “Just A Fan’s View”…until then,
I’ll see you next time …
Rusty
©February 2009 – all rights reserved
Just A Fan’s View and Rusty Norman