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Austin Dillon started on the pole. It was his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole as he came to the series with the number 3 on the side of his door. The first race of the 2014 season went green as Dillon was able to fight off the pack and lead the first lap of the race. He wouldn't hold it long as Denny Hamlin took it away on lap 2. Just as the race had started, a rookie would make a mistake. On lap 3, Kyle Larson, a challenger for rookie of the year in the series this year, hit the wall in turns 3 and 4. He was able to make it to pit road with some damage and he would lose a lap due to pitting under green. Early on after Larson's problem, the front of the field began to run single file while the field was split into a few different packs. Hamlin continued to hold the lead until Kurt Busch, a new driver for Stewart-Haas Racing, was able to take it away on lap 11. A few short laps later, a veteran driver would have trouble. On lap 18, Greg Biffle hit the wall exiting turn 4. He was able to make it back around and head down pit road with some damage, but he would return to the track after only losing a good many spots. Shortly after Biffle made it back on track, the first caution of the race waved on lap 22.
Kyle Larson, who had earlier problems, had problems in turn 2. He lost a right rear tire and his car began to slide. It slid through the turn before spinning in the grass in turn 2. He was able to get back going, but he lost a lot of time once again. Greg Biffle received the lucky dog. The caution brought the first stops of the race and the season for the Cup Series. Marcos Ambrose took fuel only while the rest of the lead lap drivers took two tires. Kurt Busch came out first, but the stops would not be without some early trouble. Matt Kenseth did not see his pit box until he was right next to it and he made a quick move to slide into it. Slamming on brakes caused his car to lock up and it went into a slide. Kenseth slid backwards and right into his box, but he was facing the wrong way. His team still pitted the car and they put on four tires, but Kenseth lost a lot of time. The field lined up on track after the stops and the race went back green. On the restart, Paul Menard was able to take the lead from Kurt Busch. Menard began to run away just a little bit before Denny Hamlin took the lead back on lap 31. Hamlin and teammate, Kyle Busch, began to battle for the lead just as the second caution of the race waved on lap 32. Martin Truex Jr. lost an engine on track on the backstretch and fluid from his engine was spotted on the racing surface. The engine problem would end Truex's day. Kyle Larson received the lucky dog. During the caution, another set of stops occurred. Marcos Ambrose, Matt Kenseth, and drivers behind them came down pit road while the leaders stayed out. The problem on track was quickly cleaned up, but another problem came to the track during the caution.
As the field made its way around the two and a half mile track, rain began to drizzle on track. It began to pick up and NASCAR was forced to wave the red flag. All the cars pulled down pit road and the covers were put on. Rain began to fall pretty hard and Daytona was given a tornado warning shortly after the red flag was waved. We all waited for what seemed like days and eventually the rain began to stay away. FOX came back on with coverage at eight o'clock and just after eight thirty on Sunday night, cars were back on track after a six and a half hour delay. Austin Dillon, Kevin Harvick, and many others came down pit road after the field was able to get back going. Kyle Busch brought the field to the green and the race went back under way to the excitement of every single fan. Busch held the lead on the restart, but the racing was immediately action packed after the race went back green. In a couple laps, the field was running three wide for several rows around the track. A few laps after the race went back green, Busch began to battle hard with Kasey Kahne for the lead as the field raged behind them. Busch continued to hold on after the battle as Denny Hamlin began to battle with his teammate for the lead. On lap 50, Hamlin was able to overtake Busch for the lead. Kahne and Hamlin then began to battle as Busch fell back just a bit. Hamlin eventually took the lead outright as Kyle Busch charged back and took the lead on lap 56. Busch then received fierce battling from Brad Keselowski. Keselowski propelled to the front just as Paul Menard made his way back to the front to take the lead on lap 60. The field began to ride around two wide for the time being as pit stops approached.
It wouldn't take long for pit stops to come as the first drivers hit the pit road under green on lap 72. It is easy to say these stops affected some drivers' races for the bad. Kasey Kahne hit pit lane and came out after his stop was finished. As he hit the end of pit road, his car began to slide and he spun on the damp exit of pit road. Kahne was able to right his car and return to the track, but he had lost tons of time. Shortly after Kahne's problems, Kyle Busch had his own problems. He pulled his air gun out of the pit box and was given a pass through penalty by NASCAR. Busch did not make his pass through in a timely manner for NASCAR and his penalty was upgraded to a stop and go penalty. Busch made his way down as he lost tons of time making a penalty stop under green. Aric Almirola had the same issue and he was forced to make the same pass through as Busch was supposed to do. This ended the problems for the stops as the rest went cleanly. It took a good many laps to complete all the stops due to the amount of different pit cycles, but Paul Menard returned to the lead after the stops cycled through. Menard held the lead for a good many more laps before Jimmie Johnson was able to take the lead on lap 107. Johnson held the lead from the raging pack behind him as the second round of green flag pit stops began shortly after on lap 116. These stops would prove to be filled with even more mistakes and penalties.
A few laps after the first car hit the pits, Kasey Kahne hit pit road with Michael Annett trailing behind him. Annett locked up his brakes trying to slow down and he began to slide through the entrance of pit road. Kahne caught a glance of Annett spinning in his window and he sped up to avoid. Kahne avoided and Annett spun harmlessly to a stop. Both performed their routine stops and returned to the Daytona high banks. Unfortunately for Kahne, things would take a turn. NASCAR hit him with a speeding penalty on pit road because of the moment when he had to speed up to avoid Annett. Kahne, who had already had some terrible misfortune in the race, was infuriated along with his crew. NASCAR did not take away the penalty and Kahne was forced to come down for a pass through penalty. Also during the stops, Clint Bowyer lost a motor and was forced to retire while Tony Stewart began to encounter a fuel problem and he was forced to head to the garage for significant fuel tank repairs. After the stops cycled through, Dale Earnhardt Jr. powered to the lead for the first time in the race. On lap 143, Carl Edwards took the lead away from Earnhardt, but he would not hold it long as Earnhardt took it back on lap 144. The race would only go another lap before the third caution of the race waved on lap 145 and the first big one of the day occurred.
Brian Scott broke loose between Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola exiting turn 4. Scott went up the track and put Almirola in the wall. Almirola came down and clipped Austin Dillon, which caused cars to pile in. Danica Patrick, Michael Waltrip, David Gilliland, Paul Menard, Justin Allgaier, Josh Wise, and others piled in to the wreck. Some slid through the muddy frontstretch grass while others piled hard into the frontstretch wall. Some drivers managed to drive away with some damage while others sat stopped with heavy damage. All drivers were okay, but some destroyed race cars sat in the Daytona garage. Kyle Busch received the lucky dog. The caution resulted in the first stoppage since the rain delay and the field took advantage. All drivers came down pit road with some having varying strategies. Greg Biffle, Reed Sorenson, and others took fuel only while the rest of the lead lap drivers took two tires. It would be interesting to see how these stops worked for the field, especially considering rain was fast approaching on the radar.
The race went back green and Greg Biffle began to battle hard with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead. Biffle took the lead for a short time before Earnhardt took it back. The two switched the spot once again before Earnhardt eventually took it away for the moment on lap 159. The field was raging behind them and it looked pretty action packed before the fourth caution of the race waved on lap 162. Austin Dillon went up the track in turn 3 and made contact with Kyle Larson. Larson went around and the field could not avoid him. Drivers like Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, Michael Annett, Brian Vickers, and Ryan Newman piled into the wreck. Most of them drove away with some damage, but Kyle Larson sat stopped on track with more damage. Casey Mears received the lucky dog. During the caution, a few drivers came down pit road, but the leaders stayed on track. With all the caution laps, the leaders were hoping to save fuel to make it the rest of the way, but it would be a definite battle.
The race went back green and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to hold onto the lead. Earnhardt quickly encountered a battle for the top position with Greg Biffle. On lap 175, Carl Edwards joined the battle for the top spot with his teammate, Biffle, and Earnhardt. The lead began to switch back and forth between the three drivers before Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to take it away outright on lap 183. Just as Earnhardt took the lead back, the fifth caution of the race waved on lap 183. Trevor Bayne broke loose exiting turn 2 underneath Kurt Busch. He went down the track and pointed straight towards the outside wall after turning the wheel. He went up track and slammed the outside wall hard. He rolled down track and to a stop without anyone else hitting him, but his night and chances for a second 500 were over. Bobby Labonte received the lucky dog. None of the leaders decided to come down pit road with questions of fuel still lingering. The race went back green with about twelve laps to go and Earnhardt was able to jump out ahead of the pack. The field began to rage behind him knowing the race was nearing a close. Earnhardt was continuing to hold off the field, but a caution almost waved.
With ten laps to go, Kurt Busch went around exiting turn 4. He spun through the muddy frontstretch grass, but he managed to fie his engine back up and drive away through the pits as Earnhardt continued to lead the huge pack around the Daytona high banks. Unfortunately for Junior, the sixth caution of the race waved just a few laps later on lap 194. Austin Dillon made slight contact with Ryan Newman entering turn 3 after Newman slowed down slightly. Newman went down the track and came back up. Some drivers had nowhere to go. Brian Scott, Justin Allgaier, Terry Labonte, Parker Kligerman, and Cole Whitt all piled into the wreck. Some drove away with damage, but others sat stopped with heavy damage and their chances to win the race destroyed. Marcos Ambrose received the lucky dog. The lead lap drivers continued to stay on track as the fuel questions remained. The wreck was finally cleaned up and the field rode out of turn 4 to take the green flag with two laps remaining. It would be a fierce battle and only one driver would stand on top.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the green for the final time as the field raged behind him looking for a hole. Earnhardt was able to take the lead as the field immediately fanned out. The track was clean for Junior heading into turn 3 and he made it out of turn 4 heading to the white flag. He took it with drivers like Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski trailing behind him. He made it into one and out of turn 2 still holding the lead and the caution still not out. Earnhardt could see the checkered flag coming out of turn 4, but most of the field wouldn't make it. Kevin Harvick went up on Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray in turn 4. The three hit the wall and a few drivers piled in. Carl Edwards and Reed Sorenson couldn't avoid as the field began to cross the line. Junior had held off the charge of some key contenders behind him and he was able to take the checkered flag first. The wrecked drivers went sliding through the grass and some slide along the wall. All the drivers were okay, but they couldn't cross the Daytona finish line with a clean race car. Junior was able to start his celebration and it was sure to be a popular one for the fans.
It has been a very long past few years for Junior as he made the move to Hendrick Motorsports. He has only won three races with Rick Hendrick in the last five years, but that really doesn't matter. His continued ability to run up at the front even at tracks that don't naturally come to him has kept him in the Chase field year after year. This year seems to be different for Junior. He already has a win and he really doesn't have to worry about the Chase, which now means he can go out and race like he has wanted to for years. In fact, had this Chase system been used last year, Earnhardt would have walked away with his first Cup title. Don't be surprised if we end Homestead this year talking about Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. Of course, Daytona always leaves some underdogs with great finishes. Reed Sorenson, who is driving for Tommy Baldwin's small team, wrecked coming to the line, but he still walked away with a top 20 finish. Casey Mears, Landon Cassill, and Bobby Labonte also walked away with great finishes for their teams and they looked good to start the season. The race also held good finishes for some great and championship contending drivers. Earnhardt, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and others had good finishes to start their seasons off well. Others like Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart have work to do when the series heads to Phoenix next week for a Sunday afternoon battle in the desert. It will definitely be a heated battle next week for sure. Will Carl Edwards repeat after his win at the track last year, will Dale Earnhardt Jr. repeat to start the season, will some drivers who finished at the back at Daytona be able to turn their season around, or will a driver who finished good at Daytona continue the momentum? We will have to wait until next Sunday to find out.
(More Stats Down Below!)
Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 22- Kyle Larson spun around in turn 2 due to a blown tire.
2nd Caution: Lap 32- Fluid from Martin Truex Jr.'s blown engine was spotted on track and the rain began to fall.
3rd Caution: Lap 145- Brian Scott got loose between Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola in turn 4 and put Almirola in the wall. Danica Patrick, Michael Waltrip, David Gilliland, Paul Menard, Justin Allgaier, Josh Wise, and others piled in to the wreck.
4th Caution: Lap 162- Austin Dillon went up the track in turn 3 and made contact with Kyle Larson, which caused Larson to go around. Drivers like Kasey Kahne, Marcos Ambrose, Michael Annett, Brian Vickers, and Ryan Newman piled into the wreck.
5th Caution: Lap 183- Trevor Bayne broke loose in turn 2 and slammed the outside wall hard.
6th Caution: Lap 194- Austin Dillon made contact with Ryan Newman in turn 3 and Newman went around on track. Brian Scott, Justin Allgaier, Terry Labonte, Parker Kligerman, and Cole Whitt all piled into the wreck.
7th Caution: Lap 200- Kevin Harvick went up on Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray in turn 4. The three slammed the outside wall and Carl Edwards and Reed Sorenson piled into the wreck on the frontstretch.
Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: Greg Biffle
2nd Caution: Kyle Larson
3rd Caution: Kyle Busch
4th Caution: Casey Mears
5th Caution: Bobby Labonte
6th Caution: Marcos Ambrose
7th Caution: None
Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2nd: Denny Hamlin
3rd: Brad Keselowski
4th: Jeff Gordon
5th: Jimmie Johnson
Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Matt Kenseth
9th: Austin Dillon
13th: Kevin Harvick
19th: Kyle Busch
21st: Kurt Busch
31st: Kasey Kahne
35th: Tony Stewart
40th: Danica Patrick
42nd: Clint Bowyer
Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/leaderboard/leaderboard-live.html
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/lapbylap/view-all-laps.html?intid=lapbylap_lapbylapleaderboard_08292013
http://racing-reference.info/race/2014_Daytona_500/W
-Image:
http://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2014/0223/dm_140223_Daytona_500_Highlight/dm_140223_Daytona_500_Highlight.jpg
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