4:35 PM
JD
Shortly after the cars left in July, the sound of machines began. They tore up the old surface and, with lasers and computers, laid down one of the smoothest surfaces on the circuit. Drivers raved about the smooth track during testing. They said it was like Talladege, "just a lane narrower."
With the change of the surface at Daytona also comes a change in the bumper of the Sprint Cup cars. Gone is the old spitter design with the ugly braces. The new nose was an effort by NASCAR to make the front of the cars more identifiable as "stock," even though we all know the cars are no more stock than I am a race car driver.
So, with all of the changes going into the Daytona 500, what remains the same? Some have questioned whether the annual restrictor plate favorites, such as Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, have the same advantage as in previous races with their knowledge of the track. It had been said that Dale Earnhardt knew where he could pull out of line to pass because the leader would hit a dip or scrub the bottom of their car on a high spot.
If anyone thinks the better plate drivers would be less dominant, think again. Dale Jr. has only 2 Sprint Cup wins at Daytona as compared to 5 at Talladega, the track to which the new surface has been compared. Jeff Gordon is evenly dominant, with 6 wins at both tracks.
Just as when people thought the racing at Darlington would change with its new surface, we should remember that Daytona is still Daytona. It will still take grit to hold the pedal down on the last few laps, breathing only occaisionally. It will still take luck to miss the wrecks. And it will still take a drivers breathe away when they realize what they've done while standing in victory lane.
Posted in: Dale Earnhardt Jr,Daytona,Jeff Gordon,Nascar,Nascar Blog,Sprint Cup
5 comments:
Just a second while I revel in my first racing fix of the season.
Yep. It is still Daytona but a whole lot smoother. What I think about the new track surface is there may well be less wrecks. However, it will still be up to the drivers not to get careless and cause the big one.
It was interesting, to say the least, during the Shootout.
You may want to update your list of "plate aces". Harvick and McMurray have won a lot more Cup plate races than Jeff and Jr have in the last 6 or 7 years. LOL
From the Shootout pictures I've seen and judging by who was responsible for a couple of wrecks, the experienced drivers will have to pay close attention to those less experienced ones. My gosh, those guys are running is 2-3 wide packs at 200 mph and no wriggle room. I'm afraid it may turn into a demolition derby if just one little wrong move is made...
Thanks JD!
Good Point Photogr! The drivers are still in control, just dependant a little more on a pusher now.
Gene Gene Gene... If you go back 7 years Harvick and McMurray both beat Jr.. each have 3 to Jr's 2 wins.. Mr Gordon has 6 from 2004 to 2010 in points paying Cup races. If you throw in Nationwide wins during that period it would be a total of Gordon 6, Jr 5, Harvick 4, and Mac 3. McMurray has been great the past 2 years on plate tracks, no argument, but I think some improvements with ECR engines has contributed to that, along with some luck for a very likeable guy. That said, it is definitely time for Gordon/Jr to return to plate dominance... more Jr I hope....
Dwindy! Hopefully this change of the cooling opening will make the race less strange than the Shootout! I think that having an extra 20 cars will also make a little difference. After this track gets a couple years on it, I think some handling may come back into play. Probably not as much though.
well there you go #88 and #24 on the front row but can they stay there is the question! LOL Sounds like Jr not thrilled with the new style of racing for same reason I am - you cant control your own destiny at all. He likes being the pied piper and slingshotting by on his own.
I dunno about this 500 - with the changes last minute to try to keep them from 2 car drafting I really really hope it doesnt become a bunch of blown up engines that determines the outcome.
The new surface by all accounts is pretty awesome. Looking forward to getting my chunk of the old track on Wed when I get to daytona! woot!
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