My opinions on the 53rd Daytona 500

There is no greater sport than NASCAR.

I teared up as Martina McBride sang the National Anthem and the US Air Force Thunderbirds flew over the Daytona 500. Racing was back, and that is awesome.

As the three two-car packs drafted up to the white flag I looked at my brother (who was screaming about Trevor Bayne being younger than him) and said, “Carl Edwards is going to win the Daytona 500.”

I was wrong.

However, I wasn’t mad with the outcome. More on what 20-year-old Trevor Bayne’s win means for the sport later this week, but for now I offer some quick thoughts on the 53rd edition of the “Great American Race.”

The silent third lap was one hell of a tribute to Dale Earnhardt
When the FOX broadcast went silent on lap three in memory of Dale Earnhardt I got chills. I’m sure many others did too. The shots of fans in the crowd all holding up three fingers in salute to “The Intimidator” was reminiscent of each race in 2001 where fans did the same thing.

You may not have liked Dale Earnhardt but you certainly had to respect what he meant to the sport, and the tribute yesterday was amazing.

Kudos to Mark Martin for coming back from three laps down to finish tenth
When Mark Martin bounced across the turn four grass during the lap 29 accident, it was apparent that his chances to win the Daytona 500 in his 27th chance, were all but zero. Or so many experts may have thought.

Martin got a few free passes and moved back onto the lead lap. He restarted fourth during the final green-white-checkered restart. Pushing Tony Stewart didn’t work and Martin and Smoke fell back. Stewart ended up 13th but Martin came home 10th.

After the race finished the two discussed what happened, but also exchanged comments about being excited for the Wood Brothers to be back in victory lane again. I’d expect nothing less from two of NASCAR’s more experienced drivers.

What was up with Earnhardt-Childress engines?
Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, teammates at Richard Childress Racing both had engine failures in the 500. It was uncharacteristic for the Childress cars, who have an engine alliance with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, to lose motors.

Harvick said there was nothing he could do to change his failure, and Burton, who won the second qualifying race on Thursday, reiterated Harvick’s feelings.

“We’re asking a lot out of the engines here, for sure,” Burton said after exiting the race after 92 laps.

The two-car drafts weren’t as bad as I thought they’d be
Last week, after the Bud Shootout, I voiced my displeasure with the two-car breakaways that dominated the event. I felt it was boring and more like a chess match than real racing.

As it turns out, the two-car breakaways made restarts a lot more like the old-time Daytona. Cars were three, sometimes four-wide as they snaked around the 2.5-mile oval. It looked like the good ol’ days of restrictor plate racing.

So, even though in the end the two-car strategy was what won Trevor Bayne his first Cup race, the racing wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Kind of makes me wish I hadn’t been so hard on it last week.
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As I said earlier, I’ll be expanding my thoughts on Trevor Bayne’s win and what it means for the sport later on this week. I’m currently gathering some comments from fellow NASCAR fans, and they’ll be appearing here before Thursday (as this story doubles as a class assignment).

I hope you’ve enjoyed the pre-Daytona coverage. I’ve enjoyed writing numerous pieces leading up to the big day, and I’ll continue to write NASCAR stories as they come this season. On to Phoenix, where I’m sure I’ll have something to say about Mark Martin, and how I, along with many other fans, will be riding with the 52 year old on Sunday.

Enjoy your holiday, the “Day After the Daytona 500” today.