By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown@PitOutsideBox
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DAYTONA, Fla. The points paying season of the three NASCAR Series kicked off this weekend with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Next Era Energy 250, the NASCAR XFINITY Series Beef It’s What’s for Dinner 300 and the 65th running of the great American race the Daytona 500.
The NCTS had more than its share of rain delays and when the race was called early (due to rain) it was Zane Smith finding himself in Victory Lane.
The NXS didn’t have any delays for rain, but it did have a finish that everyone is still talking about. On the final lap Justin Allgaier blocked new teammate Sam Mayer – putting Mayer on his lid – bringing out the caution.
As the caution flag came out it was a three-way guess who the winner was. With Allgaier, Austin Hill and John Hunter Nemechek all parked by start/finish waiting for NASCAR to make the call.
After several minutes it was Hill declared the winner, NASCAR had to not only go back and look at scoring loops and videos at point of caution, it went back to still frames and Hill was ahead by what appeared inches – thus giving him the win.
The running of the 65th Daytona 500 had Alex Bowman and teammate Kyle Larson making up the front row.
The first segment was a calm one with no cautions and when the stage was complete it was Brad Keselowski winning Stage No. 1.
Stage No. 2 wasn’t as calm, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones were in a “mini big one” bringing out the caution. Reddick, Elliott, Gibbs, and Jones would have their Daytona 500 end early, while Gibbs and Suarez were able to continue.
With six to go in the second segment the race was back green, Joey Logano had his Penzoil Ford out front but Ross Chastain was having nothing of it and took the lead from Logano winning Stage No. 2.
In the final stage it was Aric Almirola looking like he was going to be the victor, but Chris Buescher decided the race wasn’t over yet and went to the front.
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing was strong with Buescher and Keselowski one/two when final round of green flag pit stops started. No sooner were the stops complete when the caution was back in the air.
This time it was Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Preece, Michael McDowell, Gibbs, Chase Briscoe and Jimmie Johnson all suffering damage.
None of these drivers were able to return and Harvick’s final Daytona 500 wasn’t a “happy” one.
The green was back in the air with 13 laps to go and Harrison Burton would hold the lead briefly until Logano took it – got shuffled back and AJ Allmendinger was out front.
The RFK Racing team wasn’t finish being in front as Keselowski was back on point taking it from the No. 16. Kyle Busch who had been silently running strong all day got his new ride with Richard Childress Racing to the front taking the lead from the No. 6.
With three laps to go, Suarez brought out the caution – putting the race in a green, white, checker a.k.a. NASCAR Overtime.
Busch and teammate Austin Dillion tied up the inside and outside lane for the restart but their plan was foiled as Dillion got shuffled back leaving a hole. This allowed Ricky Stenhouse Jr to take advantage and it resulted in the No. 47 passing the No. 8 taking the lead.
Dillion would spin in the middle of the pack bringing out another caution and setting the race up for NASCAR OT number two.
At the drop of the green flag Stenhouse would get way out front, normally a terrible thing to do on a superspeedway it worked in his favor when another wreck happened after he took the white flag – thus ending the race under caution and handing the win to Stenhouse making him the champion in the 65th running of The Great American Race.
NASCAR travels to the West Coast next weekend for the start of the West Coast Swing at Auto Club Speedway and their final race under the two mile configuration.
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