Jess
RESULTS
Duel 1
1. Dale Jr.
4. Casey
11. Brian
14. Martin
27. Kurt
Duel 2
9. DJ
12. David
13. Michael
As the morning of the Gatorade Duels dawned, some drivers were locked into the Daytona 500 - the top 35 from last year's owner points and the three star cars who qualified on Sunday. No doubt those star car drivers walked through the garage feeling relieved - the Duels were just a simple lineup race and the thing they had to worry about the most was keeping their cars safe. Even if they start last in the 500 it wouldn't really matter. The Duels were just a big, intense practice session that pay well and give the potential for bragging rights.
Michael and David were in a position they haven't been in at MWR yet: they were locked in. Michael was even guaranteed a spot on the front row if he survived the Duel! But their teammate wasn't. Last season Dale could breathe a sigh of relief because he had his Past Champion's Provisional as backup - and he used it - but this year it was only an option if Kurt raced his way in during Duel 1. If he didn't, DJ would have to run the race of his life.
On the other side of the spectrum was Brian. He had no backup, no ounce of being guaranteed unless Joe Nemechek or David finished first or second of the star cars in their Duels, and then he would be the next car in on single-car speeds. But who wants to risk something not going perfectly? He had to race his heart out.
Brian's race quickly turned sour!
On Lap 4 he shot across the backstretch as a result of Boris Said getting overaggressive and sliding up the racetrack, hooking the 83 and sending him for a ride. Thankfully Brian kept control - if spinning out can be called control - and kept the car off the wall. With little to no damage, Brian was at a disadvantage at the rear of the field but on a mission again when the green flew.
A few laps later Dale Jarrett knew exactly what he had to do when he hit the track for his Duel: he had to race his way in. Kurt went backwards in a hurry and headed into the garage with electrical problems - he was out of the race and was forced to use his PCP.
Other than Elliott Sadler's tire problems the first Duel was relatively tame, producing no other accidents. The racing, however, was amazing!
For all the complaints about this new car it drafts incredibly well.
Dale Jr. swept his second Cup event at Daytona by playing with the heads of everyone in the field and letting them duke it out behind him as he and Reed Sorenson pulled away from the 2-wide pack. This is Daytona and he's in a Hendrick car so success is to be expected, but it sure is exciting seeing his face in victory lane again!
Brian Vickers also came out of nowhere and had a thrilling battle with Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek for that special star car spot. He wasn't satisfied with putting his faith in someone else finishing where he needed them to to lock in; he went for it! The only other star car in front of him was Kenny Wallace, and Brian knew when the checkers flew that he would race in the Daytona 500!
As proud as I was of Brian, and as happy as I was for Kenny Wallace, my heart broke into pieces when SPEED interviewed a distraught-looking AJ Allmendinger, who missed the 500 by two spots.
I've been fearing for AJ's job ever since Scott Speed became a staple in Team Red Bull's blog, so I feel that it's especially important that AJ make races and perform this year. He has the talent and the attitude - he really loves NASCAR and wants to make his team proud more than anything, and he tried as hard as he could to race his way in. I know he'll do well this season, but will it be enough? Chin up, AJ.
Duel 2 was the nail-biter! Not only did DJ have to go for it, but the amount of inexperience in this field was astonishing. Everyone was expecting a big wreck.
I got on PitCommand and tuned into David's radio, curious to hear if their communication was as good as it was last year with Frank Kerr. I wasn't let down - Ryan Pemberton is freaking awesome!
He fits right in with the team.
It was very exciting to have an MWR front row and Michael came on David's radio to let him know that he wasn't going to have a fast start and that if David got ahead of him he'd likely let him lead into Turn 1. David very much took this to heart because when the green flag flew David flew as well: right ahead of Michael.
He pretty much knew the second he did it that he was screwed and NASCAR black-flagged him for crossing the line before the leader. He wasn't as upset as I thought he'd be...I guess being locked in lessened the panic! Despite the mistake he made it sure did look cool!
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Michael was a huge contender and really impressed me. He led a lot of laps several times and it was very obvious his car was good and he was enjoying how good it was. He came on David's radio to chat a few times as well, which made me happy because the more communication between teammates the better.
Meanwhile, as the NAPA Camry was having a grand old time up front, David was all by his lonesome about half a lap down. At first I was afraid he'd get lapped, but these new cars seem to do a fine job holding their own on RP tracks. When the expected open-wheeler wreck occurred only a handful over a dozen laps into the race, he wasn't even close to being caught by the pack.
Jacques Villeneuve hit some bumps in Turn 4 and lost it all by himself, collecting Jamie McMurray, Stanton Barrett and Dario Franchitti. It was very unfortunate and a sign that Villeneuve may not be ready for Cup. How can he be?
He has very little experience, and didn't bring along the sponsor BDR thought he was, so there's not even enough funding. Juan Pablo Montoya was a very lucky find for Ganassi, but these team owners can't expect every open-wheeler to be a Montoya and show success without being familiar with stock cars. I pity Villeneuve in that respect. I feel that he's grasping for straws by coming to NASCAR since he hasn't had much success in F1 in ten years.
But anyway, David was now back in the action with a car that was actually a good car (wow!). DJ was right there with him after chilling for the first chunk of the race and both of them got to wait around a bit more after Dave Blaney oiled down the track, causing a red flag to wave. David was getting anxious to get to the front and so was I...I really didn't think they'd have enough time.
Michael came on David's radio again and told him he would be coming back to get them with about 20 to go, or maybe sooner. The latter would turn out to be what came to pass, for Jeff Gordon had a "girly restart" (Michael's words, not mine!), so it made Michael mad and he dropped all the way to the back. He tucked in behind Dale and the three MWR Camrys became a power train to the front.
I swear, it was the most amazing bit of teamwork I've ever seen.
It's easy for two cars to hook up and follow each other, but three of them? And that quickly? In ten laps they were right up in the front! 
Maybe it was the giddiness of this MWR fan who's been waiting a year to see something like this, or maybe it was the fact that those team paint schemes look so gnarly nose-to-tail, or maybe it was just that Michael and David were giving up their own finishes to help a teammate make his last Daytona 500...but watching them and thinking, They're going to do it they're going to do it! is something that I'll never forget.
With only a few laps to go the race was red-flagged again because of poor Patrick Carpentier's tire exploding. Patrick seems like such a good guy with a lot of spirit so it made me unhappy to know he would miss the 500.
Before the restart waved, drivers other than his teammates expressed their willingness to help DJ keep his position, which at the moment would be good enough to lock himself in. That was so cool!
In a sport where sometimes it's cut-throat and every man for himself, it's a relief to hear that kind of thing.
Michael laid back for the restart, which appeared to mess things up a little for DJ, who all of a sudden lost his MWR insurance policy. David was also having a hard time seeing because of all the quickie-dry film covering his windshield (for some reason this quickie-dry was more like baby powder than sand and it stuck to the windshields like paste!), so it looked like he nearly ran into the back of the 55. John Andretti blasted by both of them in a staggering burst of speed, passing David for the second star car spot and almost getting by DJ as well.
But that didn't matter! Because for the second year in a row, MWR had all three cars in the Daytona 500! No PCP! No jet fuel! Just 100% pure nose to the dirt speed and teamwork!!
David used the term "awesome" to describe how his car drove. Wow. Have I ever heard him use such a positive word in the same sentence with "this car" during a Cup race? Maybe at Talladega last season before the engine failed!
Denny Hamlin won, giving Toyota its first Cup win of any sort, which was cool. But that points win is still up in the air, and I think MWR can do it. I don't expect miracles this season because perfection isn't guaranteed, but it looks so much better already.
Bring it 2008!!
Duel 1
1. Dale Jr.
4. Casey
11. Brian
14. Martin
27. Kurt
Duel 2
9. DJ
12. David
13. Michael
As the morning of the Gatorade Duels dawned, some drivers were locked into the Daytona 500 - the top 35 from last year's owner points and the three star cars who qualified on Sunday. No doubt those star car drivers walked through the garage feeling relieved - the Duels were just a simple lineup race and the thing they had to worry about the most was keeping their cars safe. Even if they start last in the 500 it wouldn't really matter. The Duels were just a big, intense practice session that pay well and give the potential for bragging rights.
Michael and David were in a position they haven't been in at MWR yet: they were locked in. Michael was even guaranteed a spot on the front row if he survived the Duel! But their teammate wasn't. Last season Dale could breathe a sigh of relief because he had his Past Champion's Provisional as backup - and he used it - but this year it was only an option if Kurt raced his way in during Duel 1. If he didn't, DJ would have to run the race of his life.
On the other side of the spectrum was Brian. He had no backup, no ounce of being guaranteed unless Joe Nemechek or David finished first or second of the star cars in their Duels, and then he would be the next car in on single-car speeds. But who wants to risk something not going perfectly? He had to race his heart out.
Brian's race quickly turned sour!
On Lap 4 he shot across the backstretch as a result of Boris Said getting overaggressive and sliding up the racetrack, hooking the 83 and sending him for a ride. Thankfully Brian kept control - if spinning out can be called control - and kept the car off the wall. With little to no damage, Brian was at a disadvantage at the rear of the field but on a mission again when the green flew.A few laps later Dale Jarrett knew exactly what he had to do when he hit the track for his Duel: he had to race his way in. Kurt went backwards in a hurry and headed into the garage with electrical problems - he was out of the race and was forced to use his PCP.
Other than Elliott Sadler's tire problems the first Duel was relatively tame, producing no other accidents. The racing, however, was amazing!
For all the complaints about this new car it drafts incredibly well.Dale Jr. swept his second Cup event at Daytona by playing with the heads of everyone in the field and letting them duke it out behind him as he and Reed Sorenson pulled away from the 2-wide pack. This is Daytona and he's in a Hendrick car so success is to be expected, but it sure is exciting seeing his face in victory lane again!
Brian Vickers also came out of nowhere and had a thrilling battle with Kenny Wallace and Joe Nemechek for that special star car spot. He wasn't satisfied with putting his faith in someone else finishing where he needed them to to lock in; he went for it! The only other star car in front of him was Kenny Wallace, and Brian knew when the checkers flew that he would race in the Daytona 500!
As proud as I was of Brian, and as happy as I was for Kenny Wallace, my heart broke into pieces when SPEED interviewed a distraught-looking AJ Allmendinger, who missed the 500 by two spots.
I've been fearing for AJ's job ever since Scott Speed became a staple in Team Red Bull's blog, so I feel that it's especially important that AJ make races and perform this year. He has the talent and the attitude - he really loves NASCAR and wants to make his team proud more than anything, and he tried as hard as he could to race his way in. I know he'll do well this season, but will it be enough? Chin up, AJ.Duel 2 was the nail-biter! Not only did DJ have to go for it, but the amount of inexperience in this field was astonishing. Everyone was expecting a big wreck.
I got on PitCommand and tuned into David's radio, curious to hear if their communication was as good as it was last year with Frank Kerr. I wasn't let down - Ryan Pemberton is freaking awesome!
He fits right in with the team.It was very exciting to have an MWR front row and Michael came on David's radio to let him know that he wasn't going to have a fast start and that if David got ahead of him he'd likely let him lead into Turn 1. David very much took this to heart because when the green flag flew David flew as well: right ahead of Michael.
He pretty much knew the second he did it that he was screwed and NASCAR black-flagged him for crossing the line before the leader. He wasn't as upset as I thought he'd be...I guess being locked in lessened the panic! Despite the mistake he made it sure did look cool! (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Michael was a huge contender and really impressed me. He led a lot of laps several times and it was very obvious his car was good and he was enjoying how good it was. He came on David's radio to chat a few times as well, which made me happy because the more communication between teammates the better.
Meanwhile, as the NAPA Camry was having a grand old time up front, David was all by his lonesome about half a lap down. At first I was afraid he'd get lapped, but these new cars seem to do a fine job holding their own on RP tracks. When the expected open-wheeler wreck occurred only a handful over a dozen laps into the race, he wasn't even close to being caught by the pack.
Jacques Villeneuve hit some bumps in Turn 4 and lost it all by himself, collecting Jamie McMurray, Stanton Barrett and Dario Franchitti. It was very unfortunate and a sign that Villeneuve may not be ready for Cup. How can he be?
He has very little experience, and didn't bring along the sponsor BDR thought he was, so there's not even enough funding. Juan Pablo Montoya was a very lucky find for Ganassi, but these team owners can't expect every open-wheeler to be a Montoya and show success without being familiar with stock cars. I pity Villeneuve in that respect. I feel that he's grasping for straws by coming to NASCAR since he hasn't had much success in F1 in ten years.But anyway, David was now back in the action with a car that was actually a good car (wow!). DJ was right there with him after chilling for the first chunk of the race and both of them got to wait around a bit more after Dave Blaney oiled down the track, causing a red flag to wave. David was getting anxious to get to the front and so was I...I really didn't think they'd have enough time.
Michael came on David's radio again and told him he would be coming back to get them with about 20 to go, or maybe sooner. The latter would turn out to be what came to pass, for Jeff Gordon had a "girly restart" (Michael's words, not mine!
), so it made Michael mad and he dropped all the way to the back. He tucked in behind Dale and the three MWR Camrys became a power train to the front.I swear, it was the most amazing bit of teamwork I've ever seen.
It's easy for two cars to hook up and follow each other, but three of them? And that quickly? In ten laps they were right up in the front! Maybe it was the giddiness of this MWR fan who's been waiting a year to see something like this, or maybe it was the fact that those team paint schemes look so gnarly nose-to-tail, or maybe it was just that Michael and David were giving up their own finishes to help a teammate make his last Daytona 500...but watching them and thinking, They're going to do it they're going to do it! is something that I'll never forget.With only a few laps to go the race was red-flagged again because of poor Patrick Carpentier's tire exploding. Patrick seems like such a good guy with a lot of spirit so it made me unhappy to know he would miss the 500.
Before the restart waved, drivers other than his teammates expressed their willingness to help DJ keep his position, which at the moment would be good enough to lock himself in. That was so cool!
In a sport where sometimes it's cut-throat and every man for himself, it's a relief to hear that kind of thing.Michael laid back for the restart, which appeared to mess things up a little for DJ, who all of a sudden lost his MWR insurance policy. David was also having a hard time seeing because of all the quickie-dry film covering his windshield (for some reason this quickie-dry was more like baby powder than sand and it stuck to the windshields like paste!), so it looked like he nearly ran into the back of the 55. John Andretti blasted by both of them in a staggering burst of speed, passing David for the second star car spot and almost getting by DJ as well.
But that didn't matter! Because for the second year in a row, MWR had all three cars in the Daytona 500! No PCP! No jet fuel! Just 100% pure nose to the dirt speed and teamwork!!
David used the term "awesome" to describe how his car drove. Wow. Have I ever heard him use such a positive word in the same sentence with "this car" during a Cup race? Maybe at Talladega last season before the engine failed!
Denny Hamlin won, giving Toyota its first Cup win of any sort, which was cool. But that points win is still up in the air, and I think MWR can do it. I don't expect miracles this season because perfection isn't guaranteed, but it looks so much better already.
Bring it 2008!!
