Jimmie Johnson was able to win his second Daytona 500. He was able to hold off a late charge from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin to capture the win. In total, he led seventeen laps. It seemed like a dominating performance, but he had to work hard to get to where he was.
Danica Patrick started on the pole for the 55th running of the Daytona 500. It was the first time in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that a woman had ever sat on the pole. The cars took the green flag and Jeff Gordon moved down in front of Danica in turn 1 to grab the early lead. After this, the drivers quickly began to run single file. The action was halted for the first caution of the race on lap 27. Debris was spotted in turn 3. Joe Nemechek received the lucky dog. The race went back green and the first major wreck of the race occurred.
The second caution of the race occurred on lap 32. Coming out of the trioval, Kasey Kahne had to check up because the drivers in front of him began to slow down. Kyle Busch did not check up and spun Kasey. Juan Pablo Montoya plowed into Kahne and drivers like Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, and Brad Keselowski got involved as well. Just like that, a few of the contenders in the race had been eliminated. David Gilliland received the lucky dog. The race went back green and the drivers continued until the first round of green flag pit stops began of the day on lap 70. After this, the third caution of the day came out on lap 85. Once again, debris was spotted in turn 3. J.J. Yeley received the lucky dog. The race went back green and one of the historic events of the day happened.
On lap 90, Danica Patrick was able to lead the lap. It was the first time in the history of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series that a woman was able to lead a green flag in any race. She led a little bit longer, before being passed. The race continued on until the second round of green flag pit stops began on lap 126. The stops ended and the race continued on until the second big wreck of the day.
The fourth caution of the day occurred on lap 137. David Reutimann had to check up because drivers slowed down in front of him. Brad Keselowski got loose trying to avoid him and the pack behind him began to accordion. David Gilliland, David Ragan, Terry Labonte, Josh Wise, Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got involved. During the caution, Joey Logano had to pit for what appeared to be fuel problems. No drivers received the lucky dog. The race went back green and contenders began to drop like flies.
On lap 149, Matt Kenseth, who led the most laps and was leading at the time, began to puff smoke out of the left front wheel. He immediately went to pit road and the crew learned that it was a problem with the drivetrain and he was out of the race. On lap 154 his teammate, Kyle Busch, began to puff smoke out of the exhaust pipes. It immediately turned out to be a blown engine and he was out of the race. Just like that, two of the three Joe Gibbs Toyota's were out of the race. The third and final round of green flag pit stops began on lap 173. The fifth caution of the day came out on lap 177. Jeff Burton blew a tire in the trioval and slammed into the wall very hard. Joey Logano, who had returned to the race after fuel problems, received the lucky dog. The race went back green and the final caution of the race came out on lap 191. Debris was spotted, and hit, in turn 2. The drivers pulled their belts tight and got ready for a mad dash to the finish.
At the green flag, Jimmie Johnson quickly took the lead. No drivers were able to make moves until the last lap of the race. As the cars entered turn 1 of the last lap, Travis Kvapil got loose and hit the wall. He was able to save it and the caution was not waved. Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. hooked up and made the move. They came close to passing Jimmie, but he blocked and held onto the win. With that, the 55th running of the Great American Race was won by NASCAR's most prolific driver in the recent decade, Jimmie Johnson.
To be honest, the race wasn't the greatest I've ever watched. It was a race that had its moments, but did not live up to its potential. The thing that will probably live on from this Daytona 500 was the job that Danica Patrick did. She won the pole, ran well all day, led a few laps, kept her nose cleaned, and came out with a great top 10 finish. Another thing was the great job done by the small teams. Michael McDowell, Regan Smith, and J.J. Yeley were able to walk away with top 10 finishes. In all, the end result was better than the race, but I don't mind. What matters is that the 2013 NASCAR season is on and we will have a fight on our hands.
(More Stats Down Below!)
Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 27- Debris was spotted in turn 3.
2nd Caution: Lap 32- Kyle Busch spun Kasey Kahne coming out of the trioval. Juan Pablo Montoya plowed in and drivers like Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, and Brad Keselowski got involved.
3rd Caution: Lap 85- Debris was spotted in turn 3.
4th Caution: Lap 137- Brad Keselowski got loose trying to avoid David Reutimann. The field got stacked up and drivers like David Gilliland, David Ragan, Terry Labonte, Josh Wise, Carl Edwards, Trevor Bayne, Austin Dillon, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got involved.
5th Caution: Lap 177- Jeff Burton blew a tire in the trioval and slammed the wall hard.
6th Caution: Lap 191- Debris was spotted in turn 2.
Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: Joe Nemechek
2nd Caution: David Gilliland
3rd Caution: J.J. Yeley
4th Caution: None
5th Caution: Joey Logano
6th Caution: Terry Labonte
Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Jimmie Johnson
2nd: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3rd: Mark Martin
4th: Brad Keselowski
5th: Ryan Newman
Notables Not in Top 5:
8th: Danica Patrick
14th: Denny Hamlin
20th: Jeff Gordon
33rd: Carl Edwards
34th: Kyle Busch
36th: Kasey Kahne
41st: Tony Stewart
42nd: Kevin Harvick
Credits:
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-live.html
http://racing-reference.info/race/2013_Daytona_500/W
-Photo:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130224170414-jimmie-johnson-3-single-image-cut.jpg
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