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Daytona Does Not Disappoint!
By Charlie O. Mallonee February 15, 2010 |
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On Sunday, Jamie McMurray became the 34th person to win a Daytona 500. McMurray also entered the record books for leading the fewest laps for a winner as he led just two laps. However, he led the most important lap … the final lap. The race on Sunday was anything but routine. It took six hours to complete the race. There were two protracted red flag periods due potholes. No, you did not read the previous line wrong. Potholes delayed the race for approximately two hours. The Daytona track during Speed Weeks features six races plus qualifying and practice runs. Couple heavy use with unusually heavy rains and you have the perfect storm for potholes to develop. The potholes developed in turns one and two. Both potholes were located where the drivers run the inside or lower lines. When you are traveling 195 mph, a pothole can blow a tire, damage the suspension or send a car careening into another car. It took two tries and two hours to fix the holes, but the maintenance crews’ stellar efforts returned the track to racing condition. There were 21 different leaders and 52 lead changes on Sunday. That is the third-most lead changes in race history. There were delays, but when the cars were on the track it was exciting side-by-side racing action. After the second red flag period, it appeared the race was Kevin Harvick’s to lose. His car was the fastest car on the track. Late in the race Harvick was caught up in traffic and could not get back into the lead. He finished the race in seventh position. Two late accidents forced the race into “Overdrive” or a green, white, checkered flag finish. The first “Overdrive” period was halted due to an accident. The second “Overdrive” period produced the winner. When the green flag dropped for the second “Overdrive” period, McMurray shot into the lead with some bump-drafting help from Greg Biffle. McMurray did not have to hold off Biffle for the win. It was Dale Earnhardt Jr. who was on his rear-bumper at the finish line. On the final restart, Jr. shot up the middle of the two lines to go from 10th place to P2. At the end, Earnhardt did not have enough to take the lead. Even without the win, Earnhardt has to be happy with the second-place finish to start the 2010 season. After a horrible 2009 season, Earnhardt is off to a fine start in 2010. In the post-race news conference, McMurray expressed his thoughts on winning the race. “It's unbelievable. I can't really put it into words the way it feels. I talked to my wife this morning. She was like, you know, What would it mean to you if you won this race today? I told her it would be like a dream come true. I'm trying to be genuine and as sincere as I can and not sound cliché. As a kid growing up, this is what you dream of, of being able to win the Daytona 500.” For McMurray, it was his fourth victory in 259 NASCAR starts. Three of his four victories have come in restrictor-plate races. Next Sunday the action moves to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California for the Auto Club 500. |
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