Green-White-Checkers

Daytona, Danica and a Blogger's Thoughts

By Ryan Frisco

It's here.  It's finally here!  Sunday afternoon marks the Daytona 500.  It marks the start to a 36 week season that has NASCAR drivers traveling all over the country, from California to New Hampshire, from Texas to Michigan, on a quest for one thing; the Sprint Cup Championship.  As for me, I know where I'll be;  on my dad's couch, down in the man cave, tuned in to a 52 inch HD TV.  Bring it on!

Photo Cred www.aol.sportingnews.com

So we've been through seven days of Speedweeks.  Three practice sessions, three races and a qualifying session.  If you haven't been tuned into any sports stations, any major news website or even your local news, let me fill you in on the top news story this week.  Danica Patrick, that's right, Danica Patrick will be starting on the pole for the Great American Race.  It almost seems too good to be true!  The perfect storyline!  

Danica has proven she has a fast car.  She had the fastest time in the opening practice session, and that carried over into qualifying, where she torched the competition.  Her finish in her Duel race wasn't great, 17th, but honestly at that point, she already had the pole locked up.  Why would she drive hard and risk damaging her car before the big race?  I'm excited to see what happens.  This is one of the few tracks where truly anyone has a chance to win, even on the last lap.  Could we see the first female race winner this Sunday in the Daytona 500? There's at least a shot.

Photo Cred www.boston.com

While Danica is fast and starting on the pole, there is another driver who has established himself as a clear favorite for the 500.  Kevin Harvick.  He dominated the Sprint Unlimited Saturday night.  He dominated the end of his Duel race.  When he gets to the lead, no one can pass him.  They call him the Closer for a reason.  If he isn't caught up in an accident, I expect Harvick to be in the hunt in the race's closing laps.

Photo Cred www.flickr.com

Other notable names who have been fast this weekend are Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch.  Jeff finished second in qualifying and will be starting on the front row.  He also came very close to winning his Duel race, finishing runner up.  Rowdy (Kyle Busch) won his Duel race, and proved last season he has the wheels to drive to Victory Lane at Daytona.  These are the four drivers starting in the first two rows.  A lot of speed, a lot of limelight and a lot of attitude amongst that group.

So, on to the Blogger's thoughts.  I tend to take the underdogs when it comes to these things.  I've always been a fan of the Blue Deuce, driven by champion Brad Keselowski now, but I don't think he has what it takes to win this race this year.  I'm high on the Kasey Kahne wagon this year, and he's my favorite to win the Cup, but not the 500.  Trevor Bayne has one Daytona 500 Victory already, and has led the most laps this week, but I'm not choosing him either.  No, I've got someone else in mind.

Photo Cred www.michaelwaltripracing.com

Clint Bowyer.  I've seen Clint grow and mature over the last five years, and last season spoke volumes to the world.  No one put Bowyer anywhere near the championship talk all season.  At the end, there he was, runner up in a race he was never in.  His track record at restrictor plate races is impressive, and he's driving for one of the best restrictor plate racers of his time in Michael Waltrip.  The potential is there.  I think this is the year Clint Bowyer goes from average to contender in the world's eyes.

Do you smell that?  Yeah, that's the sweet smell of gas, burning rubber and firesuits.  Ray Lewis, get ready to drop that green flag.  We're going racing!!