First off, I’d be remiss if I didn’t wish my mother a very happy birthday on July 4th. And, as with most year’s my mom’s birthday is accompanied by a NASCAR race. It almost couldn’t get any better, could it? (Well, there is a race on my birthday this year too, so I guess it can!)
The fireworks display may get started early on July 4th in Daytona at the Coke Zero 400. The race, formerly known as the Firecracker 400, marks the official halfway point of the Sprint Cup season.
In the first seventeen races, eleven drivers have visited victory circle, including three first-timers. Every age bracket has been represented too it seems. Last week a 19-year old—Joey Logano—took home his first checkered flag in the Cup Series, and 50-year old Mark Martin has won three times in 2009. But, neither has won at the 2.5 mile track in Florida.
Twenty-five years ago, “The King”, Richard Petty, won his 200th race at Daytona. NASCAR celebrates that and the day that our nation declared itself free from British rule back in 1776 by letting 43 of its best duke it out for 160 laps at high speeds on the high banks near Daytona Beach. Here’s some storylines to keep your eyes on this weekend as the Coke Zero 400 unfolds on Saturday evening.
1. Can Mark Martin win his first race at Daytona?
Although he lives only a few miles from the speedway, he has yet to register a points paying Cup win there. Sure, he’s been close, including the ever so heartbreaking 2007 Daytona 500, (which if you ask the author, he should have won…Thanks NASCAR) but Mark Martin has never finished first at Daytona in a Cup event.
However, Mark feels the 400 is a much more relaxed and fun race. “The 400, in my opinion, is better than the 500, although the 500 is the one you want to win so badly,” he said. “This race really comes down to the actual racing. There’s not as much pressure, and you can actually have fun and enjoy it.”
The fireworks display may get started early on July 4th in Daytona at the Coke Zero 400. The race, formerly known as the Firecracker 400, marks the official halfway point of the Sprint Cup season.
In the first seventeen races, eleven drivers have visited victory circle, including three first-timers. Every age bracket has been represented too it seems. Last week a 19-year old—Joey Logano—took home his first checkered flag in the Cup Series, and 50-year old Mark Martin has won three times in 2009. But, neither has won at the 2.5 mile track in Florida.
Twenty-five years ago, “The King”, Richard Petty, won his 200th race at Daytona. NASCAR celebrates that and the day that our nation declared itself free from British rule back in 1776 by letting 43 of its best duke it out for 160 laps at high speeds on the high banks near Daytona Beach. Here’s some storylines to keep your eyes on this weekend as the Coke Zero 400 unfolds on Saturday evening.
1. Can Mark Martin win his first race at Daytona?
Although he lives only a few miles from the speedway, he has yet to register a points paying Cup win there. Sure, he’s been close, including the ever so heartbreaking 2007 Daytona 500, (which if you ask the author, he should have won…Thanks NASCAR) but Mark Martin has never finished first at Daytona in a Cup event.
However, Mark feels the 400 is a much more relaxed and fun race. “The 400, in my opinion, is better than the 500, although the 500 is the one you want to win so badly,” he said. “This race really comes down to the actual racing. There’s not as much pressure, and you can actually have fun and enjoy it.”
Mark smiles after qualifying in February. He started 2nd in the Daytona 500
Is 2009 the year Mark Martin wins his first race at Daytona? He’s won a Bud Shootout, a truck race and a few IROC events, but never in his 48 Cup Series starts has he got to taste the champagne in victory lane. He sat on the outside pole in February, and led a few laps before the rains came and handed Matt Kenseth the victory.
Rick Hendrick’s cars have had superior success at Daytona, so there’s no better time for the 50-year old to snatch his first win at Daytona.
2. The “Big One” will have serious point implications
The Sprint Cup Series has nine more races to decide the field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Only the top twelve make it and positions eight through fourteen are currently separated by only 71 points.
At Daytona in February a multi-car accident on lap 124 took out numerous contenders including Kyle Busch who had led 88 laps to that point. Currently Kyle sits in eighth in points. A wreck like the one at the 500 would certainly put him in an even more precarious situation than he already is in the series point standings.
Busch had to sit out the final 30 laps of the rain-shortened 500 because he got caught up in a wreck--a big wreck
But, it’s not just Busch that has to watch out for trouble this weekend. Mark Martin (mentioned above) also has to make sure he avoids the wrecks that normally contain him at restrictor plate tracks. At Talladega in April he finished last after getting caught up in a wreck between teammate Jeff Gordon and former teammate Matt Kenseth on lap seven.
Like I said in April, it’s not if, it’s a matter of when the “Big One” rears its ugly head, and now it’s also a matter of who gets caught up in it.
3. Will Brad Keselowski back up his win at Talladega with a strong performance at Daytona, or will his win at Talladega (still) be considered a ‘lucky’ win?
Everyone remembers the wild finish at Talladega which sent Carl Edwards flipping into the catch-fence, seven folks to the hospital and a twenty-five year old brazen child to victory lane. But, will Brad Keselowski be able to back up his win at Talladega with continued success at restrictor plate tracks, and win at Daytona?
Chances are slim given the odds, but if Keselowski can perform well on Saturday evening and keep his nose out of trouble, then maybe fans can finally give him some credit for his first career victory a few months back. He’s back in the #09 car owned by James Finch, so anything is possible. And, given the nature of Daytona, his chances are as good as anyone’s to bring home the checkers on Saturday evening. That is, of course, if qualifying isn’t wiped out by rain.
4. TNT alters coverage and Kyle Petty gives the command to fire engines
On the 25th anniversary of his father’s 200th victory, Kyle Petty will give the command to fire engines. Often referred to as the “most famous words in motorsports” or, as I like to call them, “the last four words of the national anthem,” the command, “Gentlemen Start Your Engines” is the one phrase that signals the start of each NASCAR event. And who better to give that command than a former driver himself?
"The King"-Richard Petty-looks on at last year's Coke Zero 400Also, TNT has announced that play-by-play announcer Bill Weber is out for the final two races of the TNT “Summer Series.” He will be replaced by Ralph Sheheen, who stood in for Weber on Sunday at Loudon. TNT has not discussed why Weber won’t be returning to the booth, but has stated that, “As this is a private issue, it’s the policy of the company not to discuss personal matters involving our employees.”
Fair enough. A lot of people have commented on how they loved Sheheen and have hated Weber. I guess I’ll just live with being in the minority. I liked the way Weber gave you the action on the track. His flawless transitions into commercials and explanations of why TNT had to cut away gave him great credibility in my mind.
I can’t wait to hear from him next June. Until then, I guess we’ll all deal with Sheheen (who doesn’t do a bad job, he just isn’t quite Bill Weber—who, by the way, learned from Benny Parsons, one of the best ever).
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Well, rain seems to dominate the weekend weather report in Daytona, but it is Florida in the summertime, so there’s about a 110% chance that rain will fall sometime during the day. Hopefully fans at the track (including at least two fellow Markaholics) and at home will get their money worth—a full 400 miles.
Happy 4th, and don’t forget to enjoy the holiday by watching TNT tomorrow evening. It’s the best case scenario for a holiday—racing and fireworks!
Fair enough. A lot of people have commented on how they loved Sheheen and have hated Weber. I guess I’ll just live with being in the minority. I liked the way Weber gave you the action on the track. His flawless transitions into commercials and explanations of why TNT had to cut away gave him great credibility in my mind.
I can’t wait to hear from him next June. Until then, I guess we’ll all deal with Sheheen (who doesn’t do a bad job, he just isn’t quite Bill Weber—who, by the way, learned from Benny Parsons, one of the best ever).
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Well, rain seems to dominate the weekend weather report in Daytona, but it is Florida in the summertime, so there’s about a 110% chance that rain will fall sometime during the day. Hopefully fans at the track (including at least two fellow Markaholics) and at home will get their money worth—a full 400 miles.
Happy 4th, and don’t forget to enjoy the holiday by watching TNT tomorrow evening. It’s the best case scenario for a holiday—racing and fireworks!
**23 days until the green flag drops at Indianapolis. I'm currently in a holding pattern on the media passes. If I get media passes they will be for the TV station I'm interning at--WCPO Ch 9 in Cincinnati. I'll be up there shooting some video and possibly getting interviews with drivers on (for now) Saturday and possibly Sunday. I'll be sure to let everyone know what the final plans are within the next three weeks. Until then, enjoy your weekend, and enjoy your NASCAR!
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