Let's start with one of the biggest headlines of the weekend, being yet another rules infraction on the 48 team. During a pre-practice inspection the team was forced to remove their C-posts (the pieces of sheet metal on either side of the back window that connects the roof to the quarter panel and rear deck lid) due to them being too round and thus not fitting the templates. Hendrick Motorsports flew a new set down along with a fabricator to install the new posts so the car could pass inspection and qualify on Sunday. No penalties have been handed down from NASCAR yet (keyword: yet), but this isn't the first time the 48 and Chad Knaus have gotten into trouble at The Beach. I wouldn't expect anything announced until next Tuesday. Five-Time qualified 12th and will race in the Gatorade Duel #2 on Thursday afternoon, which will be aired live on SPEED starting at 1pm.
This weekend we mourned the loss of a big player in the super-speedway races of 2011, the two-car draft. Okay, so we didn't really mourn, but just go with me on this one. With the array of rules changes from NASCAR during the off-season, we welcomed pack-style racing back with open arms. It was exciting for us fans at least... the crews who have to fix the cars probably not so much. After a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat Budweiser Shootout filled with big wrecks (calling Jeff Gordon) and big saves (holy-crap, Kyle Busch!!), I think NASCAR should be happy with the outcome. Hopefully they don't make any significant changes this week except maybe a bit more rear spoiler to keep from cars being turned too easily, but I don't think they'd even do that.
I thought Sunday's qualifying wasn't anything spectacular, but when is it?. I noticed that the Chevys were overheating a bit on the second lap, which robbed them of much-needed horsepower. The Fords however were a different story. They took six of the top ten spots and a sweep of the front row by Roush-Fenway teammates Greg Biffle and pole-sitter Carl Edwards, who turned a lap at 194.738 mph. It is obvious that Doug Yates had a very busy off-season and it is paying off. They will lead their respective Gatorade Duel races to determine the rest of the 43-car field on Thursday. Don't expect to see either one race much so they can save their cars for Sunday. Don't want to pull a Dale Jr. from last year (sorry Junior Nation)!
I haven't been this excited for a Daytona 500 since my year as Miss Sprint Cup. I am not going to even try to pick a winner, because it is just going to come down to whoever is left with 10 laps to go. I will say that my fantasy pick is Clint Bowyer. He's wicked good on the plate tracks, and remember Jamie McMurray in 2010? Both drivers won at Talladega right before changing teams... I'm just going with my gut on this one.
Choosing just one Checkers and Wreckers to hand out was very tough to do as there was a lot going on this weekend. Here it goes...
Checkers: Kyle Busch- Love him or hate him, the kid has some serious talent. I was impressed with his first save, but when he did it again and missed that big wreck I just about died. He definitely deserved to win the Bud Shootout, and I loved the little jab he gave when he said it was the first race back with M&M's on the car.
Wreckers: Chad Knaus and the 48 team- C'mon guys... You've been on the radar since Knaus' comment in Talladega about cracking up the car if Jimmie won. I understand you have to constantly push the envelope, but from what I understand about the situation this wasn't even too close to call. Apparently that involuntary vacation in 2006 was too far back for Chad to recall. Maybe another one might teach him.
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DAYTONA
BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Brown
Toyota, crashes during the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
International Speedway on February 18, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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