Author Archives: jasonschultz18

Wreck Reiterated that NASCAR Fans Are the Best in Sports

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Fans at Daytona International Speedway for Daytona 500, Feb 24, 2013 Photo - Getty Images

Fans at Daytona International Speedway for Daytona 500, Feb 24, 2013
Photo – Getty Images

Heroic

Ordinary NASCAR fans enjoying the Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon acted heroically when fellow race fans were injured following the last lap crash. No fan expected to be in danger when they entered the Speedway that day but, when disaster struck, fans helped fans to make sure everyone was alright.

In other sporting events, there is little to no evidence that fans have helped each other in the way that some racing fans did following the frightening last lap crash in the Nationwide race. This incident once again proved that NASCAR fans are the best fans in sports. Continue reading →

Johnson Wins His Second Daytona 500

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Jimmie Johnson driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 24 2013 Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 24 2013
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

A late race surge helped Jimmie Johnson remain in the front of the pack and allowed Johnson to hold off his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr for the Daytona 500 win. This is Johnson’s second Daytona 500 win; he won the 500 for the first time in 2006. A very strung out raced featured lots of great racing and Johnson played the game perfectly to hold up his second Daytona 500 trophy.

Johnson did not get to the front early but, he got there at the end which is all that mattered. Johnson’s teammate Jeff Gordon led the race on lap one and Gordon stayed out front for much of the first portion of the race. The first caution of the race came out on lap 26 for debris on the backstretch. Gordon held the lead after the pit stops under the caution but, Jimmie Johnson got his first glance at the lead on lap 32. Johnson’s lead was brief since the second yellow-flag came out one lap after he took the lead. Continue reading →

Smoke Wins As Last Lap Disaster Strikes

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Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013 Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, poses in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

In the most eventful season opener in NASCAR Nationwide Series history, Tony Stewart won the race while the rest of the field wrecked including Kyle Larson who flew into the catch fence and destroyed his car. Among all that carnage, 28 fans in total were injured due to Larson’s car flying into the catch fence and scattering debris everywhere. The race was going normally until this last lap incident occurred and this race will forever be remembered as one of the scariest in NASCAR history.

As all of our thoughts and prayers are with the injured race fans along with their families and friends, I will try to recap the Drive4COPD 300 as best as I can.

With the two-car tandem in full-play for the Nationwide Series, many lead changes occurred throughout the race. The first one was on lap four when Kyle Busch got around pole-sitter Trevor Bayne. Not long after that, Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick exchanged the lead a few more times. The first caution of the day came out when Scott Lagasse Jr. got hit from behind by Bayne and Lagasse spun through the grass on the turn one end of the tri-oval. Continue reading →

Redemption Strikes for Sauter at Daytona

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Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013 Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Johnny Sauter, driver of the #98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 22, 2013
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

A 360 degree turn-around occurred for Johnny Sauter at Daytona Friday night. Last year, Sauter was leading during after a restart and he was involved in a wreck. This year, Sauter pulled into victory lane after the race ended under caution due to a wreck. What a difference a year makes. Sauter celebrated in victory lane while many drivers will shake their heads and wonder what they could have, would have and should have done.

The Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona started out pretty dicey when drivers attempted to make early moves. Luckily for the drivers, none of those early moves resulted in a wreck. Justin Lofton led the race early before being passed by Ty Dillon on lap seven. The first caution didn’t come out until the one-fourth mark of the race when debris was spotted on the track. The next caution came just after halfway and it was the big one. Continue reading →

Daytona 500 Preview

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The final restart at 2012 Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth in the lead. Photo - Getty Images

The final restart at 2012 Daytona 500 with Matt Kenseth in the lead.
Photo – Getty Images

It has been over three months since Brad Keselowski was crowned champion during the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami.

Come Sunday, the wait for Sprint Cup cars to begin their next season will come to an end. The 2013 season has arrived. The Daytona 500 is always the biggest race of the year but, this year, with the Gen 6 cars, it is likely the most anticipated Daytona 500 ever. The Gen 6 cars will be out on the track for their first real test on Sunday and all of the team’s off-season work will be shown. Daytona is here. Continue reading →