Pouring on the gas, searching for drafting partners around the 2.5 mile track-there’s only one thing on every drivers mind: the checkered flag! No other race of the year generates as much excitement as the season-opening Daytona 500 and drivers egos are on the line.
All 43 drivers hold their breath entering each turn, knowing that it’s only a matter of time before the ‘big one’ happens. Somewhat of a Daytona tradition, the ‘big one’ managed to skirt around the Great American Race.
After one of the most electrifying Daytona 500s to date - one that saw 42 lead changes and 16 different leaders – not to mention a new car. At Daytona, however, appearances can be deceiving. Within the first ten laps on Sunday, the worst-case scenario looked like it would play out. After a rocky start, 43 talented drivers in NASCAR did what they do best; they worked through a difficult situation, driving to the best of their ability and more or less kept their cars in one piece. There were still a few isolated incidents; fighting ill-handling race cars and tire blistering posed the biggest problems of the day. After a weekend racing with the COT for the first time at Daytona, drivers left relatively unscathed; no major crashes, no drivers injured, and no caution due to a Robby Gordon incident-now that’s a real surprise!
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