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Daytona’s high banks are legendary as history is worn into them along with memories that last a lifetime. Twice a year when NASCAR rolls in, more skid marks are added, indicating the wildness occurring in the race. More of the crazy Daytona racing that fans adore is returning on Saturday night. The July race is always special and year after year, the excitement is still prevalent. Could more history be engraved this weekend? Anything could happen, so everyone will be watching. It’ll be fast, wild, and hot, because it’s Daytona.
The Coke Zero 400 is set to go green on Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 7:49 PM EST. There’ll be 160 hold-your-breath laps that make up all 400 miles. As of now, the forecast calls for some isolated thunder storms during race time, but sometimes, Florida’s weather can be as wild as the cars on the track. The television broadcast of the race is on TNT or fans can listen to the radio version on MRN.
When the Sprint Cup Series was on the track last July – then Roush-Fenway teammates – Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle dominated the race, but they were unable to seal the deal. The field started to stack-up as they zoomed through turn four and Biffle and Kenseth lost all momentum, forcing them to back-up which put Biffle in the center of a wreck. Tony Stewart managed to win the race with no drafting partner for much of the last lap. This race is one of Stewart’s best and he has won it on many occasions. He’s the safe pick for the weekend, but really, this race could go to anyone as Talladega demonstrated earlier this year.
No one would have thought to consider David Ragan in the May Talladega race before he won. That race reiterated that anyone can win at the restrictor plate tracks. With the Gen6 car, that fact is ever so true once again. It doesn’t matter if a driver starts last, is mid-pack on the last restart, or doesn’t have the best car, if a driver finds drafting help, they’ll have a shot at the win. Expecting the unexpected is the key for this weekend since anything can occur over 400 miles of racing.
A late spin in last weekend’s Kentucky race may have cost Jimmie Johnson a lot of ground in the standings. However, he recovered nicely to maintain a 38-point advantage over Carl Edwards. Daytona is one track where the standings always take a shake-up after the race, but only a big mistake by Johnson would jeopardize his lead this week. Besides being a point nightmare track, it can be a great one for gaining a win for the wild card hunt. The ten drivers now eligible for the wild card are hoping to grab an easy win that will put them in a decent place to possibly take home one of the wild card spots.
In February, NASCAR rolled into Daytona for the Gen6 car’s debut, this time around; the car has seen half-a-season and the action will likely pick-up. A single file parade was seen in the 500, but with the experience they now have with NASCAR’s newest car, don’t be surprised to see a pack roaring around the track. Pack racing is unpredictable and it will be anyone’s race to win on Saturday night. There’s nothing better than Daytona racing on the Fourth of July weekend, so pull those belts tight, and prepare for a fireworks show when the cars hit the track.
Next Race– Camping World RV Sales 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, NH
