Second Duel Goes to Kyle Busch

BudDuelThumbKyle Busch brought home the victory in the second Budweiser Duel Thursday afternoon at Daytona after holding the lead for most of the second half of the race. Busch made it to the lead after the round of green-flag pit-stops concluded and he held the lead until the checkered flag flew. The race didn’t feature any cautions and it had very little action but, the No.18 team was happy with the outcome. Continue reading

Harvick Scores His Second Speedweeks Victory

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 21, 2013   Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 21, 2013
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Another dominant performance was put on by Kevin Harvick Thursday afternoon in the Budweiser Duel when he crossed the finish line first to score his second victory during Speedweeks. Harvick won last Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited and now he has won the first Budweiser Duel. Harvick stayed up front for much of the second part of the race and once again, he proved that staying up front at Daytona with these new cars can result in victory.

Danica Patrick was on the pole for the race but, she played it cool by not being in the middle of everything and risking her pole-winning car. Patrick was passed for the lead on the first lap by Trevor Bayne and she never returned to the front. The first half of the race went by quickly and caution-free but, the second half was a little more exciting. Continue reading

Drive4COPD 300 Preview

Joey Logano, driver of the #20 GameStop Toyota, and Trevor Bayne, driver of the #60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, spin in front of Elliott Sadler, driver of the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, and Tony Stewart, driver of the #33 Oreo/Ritz Chevrolet, as James Buescher, driver of the #30 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet, drives by to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 25, 2012  Photo - John Harrelson/Getty Images

NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 25, 2012
Photo – John Harrelson/Getty Images

Every time the Nationwide Series rolls into Daytona, the drivers always put on a show. In the past few seasons, we’ve witnessed some of the greatest races and finishes at Daytona. Come Saturday, the drivers will be ready to battle it out on track in an attempt to get to victory lane in the opening race of the 2013 Nationwide Series season. Cup drivers in the field will look to take home the victory but, the Nationwide Series regulars will look to protect their turf and come home with the victory. Continue reading

NextEra Energy Resources 250 Preview

John King, driver of the #7 Red Horse Racing Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb  23, 2012  Photo - Chris Graythen/Getty Images

John King, driver of the #7 Red Horse Racing Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 23, 2012
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The Trucks will be back in action this Friday at the Daytona International Speedway when they hit the high banks for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Many new and young faces are entered in the race and they will look to start their season off on a high note. A few returning drivers will also be back and looking to build on their 2012 performance. The Truck race this Friday is sure to be a wild one and it will be a great kick-off to the Truck Series season.

The NextEra Energy Resources 250 will go green on Friday February 22, 2013 at 7:30 PM EST. The race will feature 100 laps and 250 miles. Each lap will surely count this Friday because to be there at the end, you’ll need to remain in the pack on every lap. The weather forecast for Friday night looks mostly cloudy with a high of 82 F and a low of 62 F with a 10% chance of rain. The race will be broadcasted on SPEED and on the radio on MRN. This will be the first race of the 2013 season and everyone will look to get a head start on the chase for the championship.

The 2012 NextEra Energy Resources 250 featured some wild racing including multiple big wrecks and a lot of torn up trucks. John King won the race becoming the first of nine first time winners in the 2012 Truck Series season. King will be in Friday night’s race and he will be competing in the No.33 truck for Eddie Sharp Racing. Likely the most memorable moment from the 2012 race was when Joey Coulter’s truck got air-borne and slid against the catch fence before coming to a rest on the ground. Coulter will look to avoid doing that this season and attempt to end up in victory lane.

Many drivers have been entered in this race but, some won’t be competing for the full season. The Daytona Truck race is always a special one and therefore, it attracts a lot of racers. Notable drivers competing in this race that won’t be running for the championship this season include Tim George Jr. in the No.5 truck, Justin Lofton in the No.6 truck, Todd Bodine in the No.13 truck, Ryan Truex in the No.30 truck, Rick Crawford in the No.50 truck and Kyle Busch in the No.51 truck. Those drivers will look to upset the Truck regulars and take home the hardware. Another note worthy fact about the race is that this will be Darrell Wallace Jr.’s first race in a truck. He will be competing in the No.54 truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports. The field for Friday’s race is definitely a stacked one and all those drivers should put on a great show.

In my opinion, anyone will be able to win the race. With the drafting process that goes on at Daytona, anyone could get the right push and make it to the front when the checkered flag is in sight. Picking a driver that really hasn’t been super strong may not be a bad pick. Anyone will be able to win this race. The first Truck race of the season always happens to be the wildest one and Friday night’s race shouldn’t disappoint. Continue reading

The Daytona Spark

Drivers begin the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 16, 2013  Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Drivers begin the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway on Feb 16, 2013
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Every year, when February rolls around, one thought crosses your mind. Daytona.

Your reaction? Ecstatic.

Daytona in February means that the NASCAR season is about to get rolling and that NASCAR will be entering the hallowed grounds of the Daytona International Speedway. That feeling you feel when you hear the roar of the engines on the high banks of Daytona either on your television or in person is what many will describe as the Daytona spark. Continue reading