A Daytona 500 Memory: Elliott Sadler Nearly Wins the 2009 Running of the Great American Race

(Author’s Note: As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (yes, it still pains me to say that, but I will start saying it) kicks off the 2018 season this weekend, I’ve decided to try something fresh and interesting on my website for the new year. My Flashback Friday articles were fun to do, but they were time-consuming and exceptionally long. Because of that, I sought a compromise to keep writing about NASCAR while also limiting my time spent on the articles. After a couple of weeks of consideration, I finally came up with a new idea I’m calling “A Race Weekend Memory.” The basic premise of this weekly feature published on Saturday is to analyze a forgotten moment in the history of the MENCS at a track where the series is racing for the weekend. During MENCS off weekends, expect to hear about the NASCAR Xfinity Series or the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Over the course of the article, I plan to introduce the memory, summarize the events of the specific memory with post-race quotes and analysis, and conclude with a paragraph that describes what that specific driver(s) is/are doing now. For example, this weekend’s article ahead of the Daytona 500 is about the 2009 edition of the Great American Race where Elliott Sadler nearly won the race as rain was in the area, but a late pass cost him a victory in the historic event. We will analyze Sadler’s race leading up to the finish and discuss the late drama as he missed out on the victory. In the conclusion, we will talk about his career path from that day until now as he currently competes in the NXS. I’m hoping to keep this going weekly, so make sure to come back and enjoy a weekly memory from a race track NASCAR is competing that particular weekend!)

In the 59 previous Daytona 500’s, a variety of drivers have visited victory lane at the historic Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR legends like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Jimmie Johnson, and David Pearson have captured victories in the sport’s most prestigious race. 

Superstars of their time like Davey Allison, Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, Ernie Irvan, Junior Johnson, and Fireball Roberts all added their names to the history books by winning the Daytona 500. Racing legends across the world like A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti even claim the title of Daytona 500 champion on their expansive career resumés.  

There is another important group of drivers who have grabbed wins in the Great American Race as well: the underdogs. Underdog stories of defying the odds exist throughout many professional sports. NASCAR is no different. From the sport’s inaugural racing season in 1948 until today, unknown and unprecedented drivers have competed against the superstars and succeeded, especially at Daytona. The list of underdog winners in the 500 include Derrike Cope in 1990, Sterling Marlin in 1994, Ward Burton in 2002, and Trevor Bayne in 2011. 

Cope, Marlin, and Bayne earned their first career wins in the season’s most important and special races. Bayne’s improbable win came in his second series start driving the famous #21 for the Wood Brothers while Cope and Marlin added their 500 wins after long winless droughts to begin their careers. Burton’s 500 victory was his fourth series win for himself and his Bill Davis Racing team, but his surprising win came during a time where Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chevrolet were dominant on superspeedway tracks. All four of those underdog 500 victories have become legendary when talking about the history surrounding the Great American Race.

In 2009, though, a fifth victory nearly emerged for the little guys of the sport. Elliott Sadler, a Virginia driver with ten full-time years of experience in the Cup Series heading into the season, entered Daytona Beach with some confidence and newness in his third year driving the #19 Dodge. During the offseason, Gillett Evernham Motorsports had merged with Richard Petty Motorsports and now Sadler was competing for an owner with seven Daytona 500 victories and seven Cup championships. Also, he now had three teammates to lean on for data and set-ups. 

On lap 145 of the 2009 running of the Great American Race, it appeared the Virginia driver would add his name to the list of 500 winners and add to the Petty legacy as he led with the threat of rain imminent. Since the race was past halfway, substantial rain would end the event and hand the win to the #19 team. However, a lap later, a missed block on Matt Kenseth in turn 1, a spin on the backstretch, and a torrential downpour just a few minutes later ended Sadler’s chance for a Daytona 500 victory and delivered today’s memory of the Great American Race.

Sadler started 30th in the 51st running of the Great American Race. Originally, he qualified in 29th, but a 17th place finish in the second 150-mile qualifying race on Thursday dropped him back one spot for the initial start of the 500-mile main event on Sunday. For the first 100 laps, the Virginia driver battled in the pack and used the draft to move inside the Top 20. When the race crossed the 100-lap mark, drivers started to race more aggressively as rain threatened to end the event before its conclusion. 

At lap 110, Sadler had moved into 12th spot with green flag pit stops near after tire problems plagued several drivers early in the event. Jeff Gordon kicked off green flag pit stops on lap 114 as he reported to his team that one of his tires was tearing apart. Over the next four laps, Brian Vickers, Juan Pablo Montoya, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Speed, and Jimmie Johnson pitted for fresh tires as their teams feared a potential tire issue. All six drivers went a lap down as the field remained on track, waiting for their own pit stops.

On lap 119, Sadler and his teammate, Reed Sorenson, hit pit road for their stops as a fortunate break benefitted them. Exiting turn 4 as the two RPM drivers pitted, David Stremme blew a right rear tire and littered debris all over the speedway. He maintained control of his Dodge as the #19 team and #43 team thrashed to change four tires. Stremme maneuvered onto pit road as the fifth caution of the race waved and the two drivers on pit road concluded their stops. Because they were on pit lane prior to the caution flag waving, Sadler and Sorenson could complete their stops and they returned to the track on the lead lap.

As the rest of the field pitted, the Virginia driver inherited the lead and lined up on the restart with a few lapped cars on his inside. Plus, Vickers and Montoya restarted in front of him since they had pitted prior to the caution and were on the tail end of the lead lap. The lap 124 restart was intense for Sadler as he raced with lapped cars, drivers fighting to stay on the lead lap, and fast cars fighting to return to the front. 

The mix of competitors led to a crash on the backstretch as Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned Brian Vickers up the track right in front of the field. As Vickers spun up the track towards the outside wall, Sadler sat right in his path. Fortunately, the #19 snuck by as the #83 of Vickers clipped Robby Gordon and caused more drivers to pile in. When the dust from the backstretch grass settled, a total of 10 cars were involved with varying levels of damage. 

Thanks to his near miss, Sadler emerged the leader with Sorenson in second and Matt Kenseth in third. When the race restarted on lap 133 after the big crash, the #19 maintained the lead as the pack of drivers powered around the 2.5-mile speedway, looking for a hole to make a move. After four laps out front with no challengers, Sadler faced some pressure from Kenseth in turn 3 on lap 137 and the two began to race side by side. Their door to door battle ended on the backstretch a lap later when the seventh caution waved for a stack-up incident between Paul Menard and Jeff Burton. 

For what would be the final time, the field lined up for the restart and Sadler took his spot at the front of the line. During the yellow flag laps, Sadler and his crew chief, Kevin Buskirk, discussed the weather and how radars reported rain right above the speedway. The Virginia driver was frustrated it wasn’t raining yet, but Buskirk reassured him that he could handle the restart. 

When the green flag waved, Sadler jumped out to the lead with Kenseth riding in the draft behind him. For three laps, he blocked all of the #17’s advances as the potential for rain continued to increase. On lap 146, though, he made an incorrect blocking move. Sadler assumed the field would follow him in the outside line and he moved towards the wall as he powered towards turn 1. 

Kenseth, with help from Kevin Harvick, shot down into the inside line and passed the #19 in turn 1 for the lead. The loss of momentum for Sadler caused him to drop on the backstretch as the field passed him. The shuffle of positions and momentum caused Aric Almirola to shoot across Kasey Kahne’s nose and into the infield grass. The eighth caution waved with the #17 leading and Sadler still in fifth after his miscue.

Fortunately, with the rain still holding out, the #19 still had 50 laps to try and take the win. Yet, the precipitation finally came during the yellow flag. As the field circulated around the 2.5-mile track, rain began to pelt Daytona Beach and delay the restart. Finally, after completing 152 laps, NASCAR brought the field down pit road to see if the rain would subside and the event could continue. After about 20 minutes of rain, NASCAR officials decided to end the race prematurely instead of waiting out the weather. The call after 380 miles of racing handed the victory to Matt Kenseth while Sadler finished in fifth spot. 

As the #17 team celebrated in victory lane, the driver he passed on the final green flag lap was devastated in the media center talking to reporters. “We had a chance to win it—just made one mistake off of Turn 4,” Sadler said. “If I would have made a better and smarter move, I’d be in Victory Lane right now—I really wanted it.” 

The Virginia native’s disappointment was obvious in his post-race quotes. Losing the Daytona 500 like that was devastating, but he had 35 races left in the season to compete for victories and try to win in hopes of avenging his failure in the Great American Race.

Following the Daytona 500, Sadler spent the rest of the 2009 season competing with his #19 RPM team where he finished 26th in the points after earning five Top 10’s. In 2010, he returned to the same organization and a dismal year, which included a massive crash at Pocono, resulted in a 27th place points finish. He was released from the #19 team following the conclusion of the season and he needed a new ride. Cup Series offers didn’t arise for the Virginia driver, but a new opportunity emerged for the three-time series winner for the 2011 season. 

Kevin Harvick Incorporated, a team owned by Harvick and his wife, signed him to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Over the past seven seasons since his return to the NXS, Sadler has competed for organizations like KHI in 2011, Richard Childress Racing in 2012, Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013 and 2014, Roush Fenway Racing in 2015, and JR Motorsports since the 2016 season. 

In those seven years of competition, the Virginia native captured eight wins, 73 Top 5’s, 164 Top 10’s, 11 poles, and four second place finishes in the series points standings. 2018 marks his eighth consecutive season in the NXS and his third with JR Motorsports driving the #1 Chevrolet Camaro with OneMain Financial as the primary sponsor.

The entire #1 team hopes to deliver Sadler’s first NXS championship this season after a frustrating conclusion to his 2017 title chase at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Their 2018 championship pursuit begins today in the season opening event for the series at Daytona and Sadler will need to outlast the chaos to secure a promising beginning to the campaign. 

In addition to his recent tenure in the NXS, Sadler has made two starts in the Daytona 500 since he left full-time Cup competition. In 2012, he competed in the #33 for Richard Childress Racing and finished 27th. Last year, driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing, he led five laps and came home in 20th. Still, neither one of those performances matched the history he nearly achieved in the 2009 running of the Great American Race. And his failure on February 15, 2009, still remains a regretful moment in his career. 

Prior to the 2012 Daytona 500 on the NASCAR Media Tour, Sadler told reporters that he “relive[s] the 2009 Daytona 500 almost every day.” The Daytona 500 is more than just a race. A 500 victory is a historic achievement that turns average and unknown drivers into historic and legendary figures in the sport. But losing the Great American Race, just as Elliott Sadler did in 2009 when he lost the lead and it began to rain a few minutes later, haunts a driver’s memory and becomes a historic moment for all the wrong reasons. 

(More Stats Down Below!)

Cautions: 8 for 35 Laps

Lead Changes: 9

Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Matt Kenseth
2nd: Kevin Harvick
3rd: A.J. Allmendinger
4th: Clint Bowyer
5th: Elliott Sadler

Notables Not in Top 5:
7th: Michael Waltrip
8th: Tony Stewart
10th: Kurt Busch
11th: Martin Truex Jr.
13th: Jeff Gordon
16th: Mark Martin
18th: Carl Edwards
20th: Greg Biffle
21st: Regan Smith
23rd: Bill Elliott
24th: Terry Labonte
26th: Denny Hamlin
27th: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
28th: Jeff Burton
29th: Kasey Kahne
31st: Jimmie Johnson
36th: Ryan Newman
41st: Kyle Busch
43rd: Joey Logano




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
racing-reference.info/race/2009_Daytona_500/W
-First Quote:
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Articles/2009/02/Kenseth-Wins-Daytona-500.aspx
-Second Quote:
www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2012/01/28/esadler-daytona-500-rcr-no-33.html?eref=/drivers/dps/esadler&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
-Image:
www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/photo/main-gallery/matt-kenseth-roush-fenway-racing-ford-and-elliott-sadler-richard-petty-motorsports-dodge/
-Video of Finish:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ba6wsL5HCg
-Full Race:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVWnlPUKvmM&t=11699s

Grant Enfinger Dominates at Daytona For His First Win at the Sacred Track

       After leading the most laps in the annual ARCA race at Daytona, Grant Enfinger was able to cross the line first and take his third win in the ARCA Racing Series. Enfinger has been a regular in the ARCA Racing Series for many years, but he only received the chance to start a full season one time in 2011. Last year, he took his first two victories in the series, but he still wasn't running full time even though he was extremely successful. This year held the same part time chance, but he went out at Daytona and took the win, which could give a full run in the series once again. Even though Enfinger led the most laps, he had to battle two future stars: Dylan Kwasniewski and Chase Elliott. Both drivers started near the front and looked to win each and every lap on the track. Both fell back late in the event,  but they battled hard to take their first victories at the sacred track in Daytona, Florida. There were also a good many ARCA championship contenders for this year looking to start the year off great. Frank Kimmel, John Wes Townley, Tom Hessert, Mason Mitchell, and others looked to make huge gains as the season started. Plus, you throw in a huge amount of drivers who have never before been on the Daytona surface and you have yourself a very action packed race on the high banks of Daytona. This was definitely the case on this Saturday afternoon and action definitely picked up.

        Dylan Kwasniewski started on the pole. It was his second career ARCA Racing Series pole in only his second career start. The first ARCA race of the season went green and Kwasniewski was able to lead the first lap of the event. The front of the field calmed down early with Kwasniewski running the low line in front of several drivers, but the back of the field was battling side by side the entire time around the track. The first mistake of the afternoon occurred on lap 6 and it was not made by a rookie at Daytona. Bobby Gerhart, the eight time winner of the annual ARCA race at Daytona, made slight contact with the outside wall in turn 1. Gerhart was able to drive away, but the right side of his car was damaged and smoking slightly. He stayed on track for the moment, but he lost a good many spots. Gerhart would get his chance to come to pit road soon after his mistake as the first caution of the race waved on lap 13. Unfortunately for most of the field, the damage from this massive wreck couldn't be fixed.

        Coming out of turn 4, Buster Graham went around because his car had been struggling with a tight condition. Graham went up the track and into traffic. The field stacked up behind him and cars began to spin and crash all over the track. Justin Allison, Will Kimmel, Justin Boston, Benny Gordon, Kody Weisner, Sean Corr, Mark Thompson, Jeb Burton, Mario Gosselin, Tom Buzze, Scotty Hubler, Cole Powell, Terry Jones, and Bobby Grewohl all spun and crashed through the Daytona grass and into both of the walls. A few drivers were able to drive away with minimal damage, but most of the drivers stayed stopped on the frontstretch grass. It was a massive pile-up and a good many favorites were out early in the event. None of the drivers received the lucky dog. The caution resulted in the only pit stops for the teams during the event. Most of the leaders took fuel only with Chase Elliott making his way out first ahead of Dylan Kwasniewski, who had lead the entire race up to the caution. Maryeve Dufault and Thomas Praytor decided to stay on track for the time being. It would be interesting to see how this move worked for these two drivers.

        The race went back green and Thomas Praytor immediately dropped to the back of the field due to a transmission problem. Maryeve Dufault held her ground, but Dylan Kwasniewski quickly took the lead away. The race only went a few short laps before the second caution waved on lap 25. Matt Kurzejewski and Leilani Munter had problems on the race track in turn 2. The two made contact and both slammed the outside wall hard. Munter was able to drive away with huge damage, but Kurzejewski's car sat stopped with heavier damage in the turn 2 grass. None of the drivers decided to come down pit road and the field lined up for a brand new double file restart in the ARCA Racing Series. The race went back green and Dylan Kwasniewski was able to hold onto the lead. He wouldn't hold it long as a legitimate race contender began to make his way to the front.

        On lap 32, Grant Enfinger was able to take the lead for the first time on the day. He looked to run away from the field, but Kwasniewski stayed patient and passed him back on lap 39. Enfinger stayed at bay for the moment, but he once again passed Kwasniewski for the lead on lap 44. Enfinger led a few more laps before Kwasniewski took his place on point on lap 50. Enfinger came back on lap 52 and Kwasniewski began to lose the front field as he was pushed into the outside line. This gave Enfinger the lead, but the field was battling hard behind him looking to make a pass. It looked like the race would go green the rest of the way, but the field would catch a break as the third and final caution waved on lap 68. Kody Weisner went sideways in turn 1 and rode up the track. He slammed the outside wall and slid down the track. He rolled to a stop in the grass with more damage on his car, but he did drive away. Ed Pompa received the lucky dog, but his race would end during the caution. While running at full speed to catch the lead pack, he lost an engine in turn 4 and spun to a stop in turn 1 just on the edge of the grass. His race was over and no driver was added to the lead lap field. This caused the caution to last a bit longer and only seven laps would remain to crown a winner in the first race of the 2014 ARCA season.

        Grant Enfinger chose the inside line on the final restart with Frank Kimmel behind him and Chase Elliott above him. The race went green and Elliott looked to jump in front of Enfinger. Kimmel pushed Enfinger and Enfinger was able to hold onto the lead. This pass cost Elliott as the outside line began to fall backwards. He fell extremely far back as Enfinger and Kimmel remained first and second, respectively. The field began to battle hard as the laps clicked by. Soon, only two long Daytona laps remained for the ARCA field. Enfinger stayed consistent, but the ten time ARCA champion Kimmel was searching behind him. The field took the white flag and the drivers began to look for a way around Enfinger. A few drivers went to the outside on the backstretch, but no one had made a huge charge for the win. Enfinger came out of turn 4 with the lead and he would hold it as he crossed the finish line for his first checkered flag at Daytona. It was a very rewarding victory for Enfinger and it could allow him to run the entire season.

        Sponsorship woes have been rampant in auto racing for a good many years now. Teams with a lot of sponsorship money tend to run up front at all times while teams with little money struggle to finish. Grant Enfinger's team with owner Howard Bixman knows what it it like without a ton of sponsorship money. They haven't run a full season with Enfinger as the driver, but this Daytona win could change things. One win at Daytona could open doors for sponsors from every direction. We could very well see Grant Enfinger run the entire ARCA campaign for the first time since 2011. Plus, he looks good enough to win his first championship. Others, like Frank Kimmel and John Wes Townley, know their teams will run the full season and they hope to continue Daytona success and possibly stand on top of the ARCA mountain at the end of the season. Each of these ARCA regulars battled hard with guys who wanted to race at Daytona for the first times in their lives and others who are off to bigger things this year. That is the beauty of the ARCA Racing Series. All types of drivers can battle on all types of tracks. The same will be the case after the series takes a month off and heads to Mobile, Alabama for the annual race at the track. Will Grant Enfinger win back to back races at Mobile, will Frank Kimmel win the second race of the year as he looks to repeat as champion, or will another driver break through in the ARCA championship battle? We will have to wait a month before we found this out and more.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 13- Buster Graham went around in turn 4 due to a tight condition. Justin Allison, Will Kimmel, Justin Boston, Benny Gordon, Kody Weisner, Sean Corr, Mark Thompson, Jeb Burton, Mario Gosselin, Tom Buzze, Scotty Hubler, Cole Powell, Terry Jones, and Bobby Grewohl piled into the wreck.

2nd Caution: Lap 25- Matt Kurzejewski and Leilani Munter made contact with each other and the outside wall in turn 2.

3rd Caution: Lap 68- Kody Weisner hit the wall in turn 1 and spun down the track into the grass. 

Lucky Dogs:
1st Caution: None
2nd Caution: Unknown
3rd Caution: Ed Pompa

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Grant Enfinger
2nd: Frank Kimmel
3rd: Clay Campbell
4th: Tom Hessert 
5th: Tyler Reddick

Notables Not in Top 5:
6th: Bobby Gerhart
9th: Chase Elliott
11th: John Wes Townley
14th: Dylan Kwasniewski
29th: Jeb Burton
36th: Justin Allison
40th: Justin Boston




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Special Thanks to a certain full race uploader. I won't add any links because I don't want his races to be taken down.
-Statistics:
http://racing-reference.info/race/2014_Lucas_Oil_200_Presented_by_MAVTV/A
-Image:

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/e7063694e7dcc12e92267c60fb818707974c557f/c%3D0-20-3300-2501%26r%3Dx404%26c%3D534x401/local/-/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2014/02/15//1392508082000-AP-ARCA-Daytona-Auto-Racing.jpg

Denny Hamlin Starts Off 2014 Strong With a Thrilling Sprint Unlimited Win

        After leading at the finish of the first two segments of the 2014 Sprint Unlimited, Denny Hamlin was able to take his lead back near the end of the third segment and cruise to victory in the opening event of the NASCAR season: the Sprint Unlimited. Hamlin's 2013 was much publicized as the worst of his NASCAR career. A back injury in the Auto Club race last season left him out of his car for a couple of weeks. Once he returned, he wasn't the same Denny Hamlin and he struggled throughout the year. Hamlin finally began to turn his luck around in the Chase and a rewarding win in the finale at Homestead put him on the right track heading into this year. The race itself was filled with a good many crazy moments and huge wrecks. A huge wreck erupted in the second segment, which left half of the field out of the race. Jimmie Johnson also had trouble at the end of the first segment and ended his night. Plus, the pace car caught on fire at one point during the event. Yes, the pace car caught on fire and Juan Pablo Montoya was nowhere to be found. All kidding aside, the incident did not result in any injuries, but it was still very scary. All in all, this was one of the better Sprint Unlimited races in recent memory.

       Denny Hamlin started on the pole. The fans voted to set the starting line-up based on final practice speeds for the exhibition event. Hamlin was fastest and, thus, he started on point. The fans also voted for the segment format for the seventy five lap event. They decided to run a thirty lap first segment, a twenty five lap second segment, and a twenty lap dash for the third segment. All this would culminate in a great race and a lone winner. The drivers lined up side by side for the first time of the year and Hamlin took the green flag. He roared around the track and made it back to the flag to lead the first lap. On lap 2, Jamie McMurray sped past Hamlin and took his first lead on the night. The field then moved to the outside lane and ran single file for a few select laps. On lap 11, Kyle Busch moved out of the outside line and took the lead from McMurray. Shortly after that, a line began to form on the inside with Kevin Harvick leading it. The inside line pushed Harvick to the lead on lap 17. The outside and inside lines began to battle hard with the lead switching just about every lap as the first segment neared a close. Denny Hamlin took the lead outright on lap 24 with only six laps remaining. The laps clicked down and Hamlin held the lead as the field made its way down the backstretch looking for the end of the segment. One driver would not make it to the end of the first segment and his night would end in disaster.

        Coming out of turn 4 to take the segment ending caution flag, Jimmie Johnson broke loose behind Denny Hamlin. Johnson's car went straight down the track as the field raced behind him. He worked hard to corral his car as the inside wall neared. Johnson slowed down significantly, but he made huge contact with the inside wall. He slid up the race track and came to a stop on the frontstretch grass. He had received heavy damage and he wouldn't return to the race. The wreck resulted in the first caution of the race on lap 29 and the subsequent end to the first segment of the event. Jamie McMurray, who had an overheating problem throughout the first segment, was able to get back on the lead lap. The end of the segment also brought a little bit of strategy with the first pit stops of the race. Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, and Danica Patrick took fuel only with Kevin Harvick taking two tires and the rest of the drivers taking four tires. It would be interesting to see how this strategy played out for all of these drivers.

        The race went back green and Jeff Gordon was able to hold onto the lead after his pit stop strategy call. He wouldn't hold the lead long as Brad Keselowski used his strategy to move to the point on lap 32. On lap 35, Denny Hamlin made it back to the lead just before the second caution of the race waved on lap 36. Matt Kenseth went down on Joey Logano in the trioval. Kenseth went around and back up the track into Tony Stewart. Stewart went up the track towards the wall with Jeff Gordon on his bumper. The two piled hard into Carl Edwards just Kurt Busch piled into Gordon. Danica Patrick went around on the apron of the track just as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. slammed into Kurt Busch's back bumper. Stewart, Gordon, and Busch sat wedged against each other just as Stenhouse drove away. Stenhouse wouldn't make it far as he piled into Danica Patrick due to a blocked windshield. Every single driver involved was left with huge amounts of damage and none would return. Luckily, everybody climbed out of their cars after the very vicious wreck. The wreck resulted in a red flag, but all the teams were able to work on their cars. The wreck was cleaned up and the race went back green with Denny Hamlin hanging onto the lead. He wouldn't hold the lead too long as Joey Logano passed him on lap 44. Hamlin quickly surged back and took the lead on lap 46. Hamlin held onto the lead until the third caution of the race waved on lap 55. The caution waved to signal the end of the second segment. The fans decided to order the field to start the third segment based on where they came out after a mandatory two tire pit stop before the start of the segment. It would be interesting to see if the stops decided the race winner.

        Ryan Newman decided to take four tires while the rest of the drivers left in the race took only the required two tires. Denny Hamlin made it out first and he was in the lead as nine drivers took the green flag for the final segment. Jamie McMurray was able to take the lead from Hamlin as the race went back green. The nine drivers began to race hard as Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead on lap 57. Earnhardt held the lead just as the fourth caution of the event waved on lap 60. Kyle Busch tried to cut down the track in front of Brad Keselowski in turn 4, but the two made contact. Busch went down the track and spun around. He managed to maneuver his car enough to save it and only receive damage when he plowed through the grass. Busch would make it back on track to continue the event. None of the drivers came to pit road and the race was able to get back underway with Dale Earnhardt Jr. leading the field. Joey Logano was able to quickly take away the lead as the small field began to battle looking for the win. The battling became very heated and the fifth and final caution of the race waved on lap 65. Marcos Ambrose bumped Dale Earnhardt Jr. entering turn 1. Earnhardt went up the track and slammed into Ambrose. Both piled hard into the outside wall, but each drove away. Earnhardt was not too happy with Ambrose as they bumped on the backstretch. Earnhardt's damage was too heavy to return, but Ambrose would make his way back on track. None of the drivers came to pit road for tires and the line-up stayed the same. This left the race with only five laps to decide who would take home the first trophy of 2014. 

         The race went back green and Joey Logano was able to hold onto the lead. The eight cars left on track began to battle extremely hard coming down the stretch. A blanket could be thrown on top of all eight just as Brad Keselowski took the lead on lap 72. Cars began to shuffle from back to front and run three wide just as the race went to three laps to go. Keselowski hoped to stay in front, but Denny Hamlin was coming. He made his way to the lead with only two laps remaining. He began to cruise away from the field and took the white flag with a huge mass of roaring cars behind him. He made it smoothly through turns 1 and 2 with only Brad Keselowski pulling in closer to him. He passed through turns 3 and 4 with the lead and no one in position to pass him. Hamlin sailed through the trioval and took the first checkered flag of the 2014 NASCAR season. Hamlin was thrilled with winning a race to start off the season and he hopes to keep the momentum going throughout the year.

        Only in NASCAR racing can you see an exhibition race filled with as much excitement and crazy moments as the actual events during the year. Wrecks, crazy racing, and a great finish are not off limits at Daytona even in an exhibition race like this one. This race holds a good bit more status this year than maybe in years past. The Duel races that set the field for the Daytona 500 will be held at night with pretty much the exact same characteristics as this Saturday night fight. All of the nineteen drivers involved will be starting in the Daytona 500 and will be battling hard much like they did in this very race. It just goes to show that when NASCAR holds an exhibition event, it means just as much as a points paying race. This race was also a big boost to the confidence of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin needed this momentum boost to get his 2014 started off with a bang to make sure a repeat of 2013 doesn't happen. Stewart needed this race that didn't mean anything in the end to jump back in a racecar for the first time since breaking his leg in a terrible sprint car crash last August. These two drivers amazing runs in this race could make them legitimate contenders in retribution years. Plus, the rest of the top tier drivers look good as they always do. It will definitely be an interesting time when the annual Daytona 500 goes green next Sunday. Will Denny Hamlin be able to repeat at Daytona, will another notable driver take victory, will Austin Dillon defy all odds and take a win in the famous number three, or will an underdog driver take an extremely memorable Daytona 500 win? This race was just a taste of all those things and we will have these questions answered in just one lone week.
(More Stats Down Below!)




Cautions:
1st Caution: Lap 29- Jimmie Johnson got loose exiting turn 4 and slammed the inside wall.

2nd Caution: Lap 36- Matt Kenseth went down on Joey Logano in the trioval and went around on track. Kenseth went up the track and collected Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Danica Patrick along the frontstretch.

3rd Caution: Lap 55- End of the second segment of the exhibition event.

4th Caution: Lap 60- Kyle Busch spun around in turn 4 after contact with Brad Keselowski.

5th Caution: Lap 65- Marcos Ambrose bumped Dale Earnhardt Jr. entering turn 1 and the two made contact with the outside wall.

Top 5 Finishers:
1st: Denny Hamlin
2nd: Brad Keselowski
3rd: Kyle Busch
4th: Joey Logano
5th: Kevin Harvick

Notables Not in Top 5:
9th: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10th: Matt Kenseth
11th: Tony Stewart
12th: Jeff Gordon
14th: Kurt Busch
16th: Danica Patrick
17th: Jimmie Johnson




Credits:
-My Own Notes
-Statistics:
http://racing-reference.info/race/2014-01/X
-Image:
http://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2014/0215/dm_140215_nscs_sprint_highlight/dm_140215_nscs_sprint_highlight.jpg