One of the best things in life is the feeling you get when you pull up to Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.
For the past three seasons, I’ve been fortunate enough to continue a tradition by attending the season-opening races at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona is the mecca of motorsports. Marveled in history, this renowned facility will leave you in awe every time.
Whether you’re a first time visitor or it’s your tenth trip to the legendary superspeedway, the feeling is the same. A place like no other, you know you’re about to witness something special at Daytona International Speedway the minute you arrive. And boy did we ever during the start of the 2014 NASCAR season.
Kyle Busch got the season underway Friday with a thrilling victory over Timothy Peters in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. The 0.016 second margin of victory was the closest finish in truck series history at Daytona International Speedway.
Next up was the DRIVE4COPD300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, one that was bittersweet for series driver Regan Smith.
Oh what a difference a year makes
A year ago, Regan Smith was in prime position to win the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
Poised, leading the field out of Turn 4 and seeing the checkered flag in the air, Smith was destined for victory. But like the unpredictability of restrictor-plate racing, things quickly changed when Smith attempted a block on Brad Keselowski and triggered a multi-car crash that ruined his chance at winning.
Debris from the crash caused injuries to spectators and it cast a somber mood over the race. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but it was a day that we will never forget – a race that Smith doesn’t want to remember.
For drivers, the best way to put something behind you is to go out and win.
What does it take to win at Daytona? Is it chance? Luck? Whatever it is, it was riding with Regan Smith in his return to the same track, a year later.
Smith captured his first win at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD300, beating Brad Keselowski to the checkered flag by 0.013 — the second-closest finish at the historic 2.5 mile superspeedway.
“It still doesn’t feel real. It’s a very special moment,” said Smith after the victory.
“You know, last year was a tough pill to swallow. There were a lot of circumstances around it. You know, nobody felt worse than me on Sunday morning and Saturday night. We were fortunate that all turned out well with all the fans and everything.”
And, all turned out well for Smith and his No. 7 JR Motorsports team in the season-opener at Daytona.
The Great American Race
Considered to be the “Super Bowl of Motorsports”, the Daytona 500 is the sport’s premier race. A test of strength, endurance and fortitude, winning the Daytona 500 places you in the record books with many of the legends of NASCAR.
Rain in the forecast could not discourage more than 140,000 fans from filling the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway. We were in store for something special, and it would not disappoint.
Country superstar, Luke Bryan, got things going with a pre-race concert that had the track rocking. Who knew that when he sung “My Kind of Night” he would be talking about the finish? Not long after Bryan’s concert, the grandstands came to life and fans roared in support of their favorite/least favorite drivers during introductions.
Austin Dillon was ready to lead the field to the green flag in the return of the historic No. 3 car (first time in Cup since Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death in 2001). The 55th running of the Daytona 500 was set to begin.
All that was left were those four famous words – PLEASE DON’T START RAINING!
Practice makes perfect
In 2012, I attended my first Daytona 500.
It was a huge weekend and one I’ll never forget: Danica Patrick made history by becoming the first female to start on the pole at Daytona, it was my birthday and rain would ultimately postpone the race until the following day.
After a long rain delay, fans thought the race was finally about to get started. As soon as drivers were getting ready to suit up again, another storm came through and it ultimately postponed the race until Monday, a first in Daytona 500 history.
Once the rain cleared, and the smoke had settled from Juan Pablo Montoya’s jet-dryer crash, Matt Kenseth claimed his second Daytona 500 victory on that Monday night.
Rain in the 2014 Daytona 500 forecast was nothing. Fans had plenty of experience waiting it out
Something special happened in this year’s Daytona 500, and I’m glad I was there to witness it.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the 56th Running of the Daytona 500
The No. 3 car led the field to the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. and the 2014 Daytona 500 was underway.
Rain would red-flag the race on lap 38. It was déjà vu all over again.
A packed house quickly turned into a scramble for cover as heavy rain and a tornado watch was in effect for the Daytona Beach area. Just when you thought the rain had stopped, more came.
Luckily, the final storm passed and there was a big gap on the radar. Air Titan did its job and got the track dry in record time.
After more than a six-hour delay for rain, drivers were finally called back to their cars. Cold, wet and itching for action, fans returned to the track and witnessed one of the best Daytona 500s to date.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. added to his legacy by capturing his second Harley Earl trophy. A late race caution set up a dramatic finish, with Earnhardt edging Denny Hamlin for the win. It was a wild race and one that saw a record number of green flag lead changes. One I’m glad to have been there to witness.
“Man, it feels incredible. You know, I was looking at winning this race in 2004. It’s the greatest feeling you can have as a driver in NASCAR at a single event in a single day. Just trying to explain what that feeling is to people, I’ve been trying to tell people for 10 years what that felt like,” said Earnhardt in his post-race press conference.
Since his win, Earnhardt Jr.. has shared the joy of winning the Daytona 500 with millions of people from coast-to-coast.
He has toured numerous media facilities across the country, placed his winning car in the Daytona Museum and he joined Twitter – interacting with his legion of fans.
This year’s trip to Daytona International Speedway is one I’ll never forget. There’s no way to describe Daytona other than a very magical place.
“It’s just hard to put it into words what winning this race really means you.”
Daytona International Speedway is a special place. One that continues to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Follow Dontae on Twitter: @Dontae_Allen