AR1 Head-to-Head: Daytona 500

Question

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Just like his Daddy, he knows how to turn a lap here. His performance in last night’s Duels shows he’s capable of winning from anywhere in the field.

The clear superiority of Hendrick and Gibbs, particularly Hendrick. In an era where the cars are so restricted, those two teams seem far superior to the others.

Reed Sorenson. Despite being a back-marker team, they rallied after a crash in qualifying with NO BACK UP CAR, came back on Thursday and qualified for the 500. Great job by this team.

Certainly, Mike Wallace has never played the PR game quite like his more outgoing brothers. But I’ve always believed he was a better driver than given credit for, so it was nice to see him race his way in.

No. In essence, qualifying for Daytona is the closest thing NASCAR has to what you see on a Saturday night at your local short track, where they run heat races and B-mains and C-mains to determine the lineup in the big race. Plus, the Duels have been a tradition at Daytona since the first ever race here.

Well said. I will second your point that the Twins 125s err…Duel 150s are unique to the Daytona 500. The Duels should absolutely not be eliminated.

F. Group qualifying at Daytona (and Talladega) is not only a mess, it’s dangerous. What we’re seeing is NASCAR basically giving up any hope of getting more people in the stands and instead is kowtowing to what TV audiences want. It’s been NASCAR’s hope that group qualifying will add some exciting TV time, but at Daytona there’s a real chance of one of their superstars getting seriously hurt all to improve TV ratings.

Honestly, I found it more comical than anything else. Watching drivers pull onto the grass, fake rev their engines, drive in reverse on pit road, and the like, had the proverbial monkey/football situation written all over it. Yes, NASCAR has to do something better than foot to the floor single lap qualifying. But the clown show we saw Sunday isn’t the answer. You were too kind. F-

1. Chevy
2. Toyota
3. Ford

A Jeff Gordon win in his final 500 would be the sentimental favorite, but personally, I’d love to see a first-time Daytona winner.

A few years ago I’d have said a Danica win. But I feel as though that ship has sailed. A Jeff Gordon win would be #1 with a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. win second.

A 200-lap, 200 mph parade lap. Say what you will about tandem drafting, but at least it led to some excitement on the track. Cars not being able to pass has been a problem the last few years here.

Barring the catastrophic (i.e. a worse version of the Kyle Larson thing a few years back), a Jimmie Johnson or Matt Kenseth winning would be big-time air out of the sails of what has been a pretty good Speedweek for NASCAR

WAY before. If I was a betting man (and I am), I’d say look for the first big wreck around lap 30, just before the first round of pit stops.

Although I would be happy to take you up on the post-30 laps wager, I’m still going with before 150. The pack being as compressed as ever means someone will run out of patience prior to lap 150.

Carl Edwards. We’ve seen what a change in venue can do for a driver, just look at Edwards new (old) teammate, Matt Kenseth. Edwards has been on the cusp of a championship since 2005, and a new team might be just what he needs to finally put himself over the top.

Clint Bowyer hasn’t won since 2012, and since the Richmond 2013 debacle has just plain not been not very good. Both Bowyer and Michael Waltrip Racing need a good season in 2015. Another driver I’m watching is Kyle Larson in year two, as I think the pressure for him to start winning will be felt.

Tony Stewart. The guy has been kicked around since last August and still has a black cloud hanging over him (the Kurt Busch situation hasn’t helped either). Smoke could use some good news.

This is kind of odd to say about someone who is only 29 and has 141 NASCAR wins. But without a championship or Daytona 500 win so far, Kyle Busch could use a signature victory to validate his impressive resume.

Kyle Larson. I’m one of many surprised he hasn’t won yet. He’s been good on restrictor plate tracks before and if he can stay out of trouble, I expect him to be near the front at the end.

Michael Waltrip running the race is nice for the simple fact we only have to listen to one Waltrip during the TV broadcast. But whatever one thinks of Mikey personally, he gets around Daytona quite well.

Plate racing is the closest thing to a level playing field NASCAR has – it’s a crapshoot and just about anyone who in the right place at the right time can win. But it will be hard to beat those Hendrick Chevrolets.

I think it’s gonna come down to Hendrick v. Gibbs, and more specifically Earnhardt v. Kenseth. And I’ll give the slight edge to Dale, Jr.