NASCAR: Race Day In Phoenix - [Niedermeyer's Dead Horse]

Today, NASCAR takes it to Phoenix for The Profit 500. NASCAR provides a snapshot of the race HERE.

Key race info:

Race time: Coverage begins at 3:00 EST with the green flag scheduled for 3:15

Distance: 500 km or 312 laps

On the front row: Brad Keselowski, Team Penske, No. 2 Ford (139.384 mph); Joey Logano, Team Penske, No. 22 Ford (139.265 mph)

Daytona 500 follow-up:

[Full disclosure: I had never watched an entire race before last week and I am still SHOCKED at how much I enjoyed it!]

Last week saw the opening of NASCAR's Sprint Cup season with the running of the Daytona 500, and it was one for the record books. Only 45 minutes into the race and with less than 40 laps run, one of those infamous Florida thunderstorms, replete with two tornado warnings, moved in to put a halt to the action. More than six hours later the race was underway again and it was an exciting race indeed. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the checkered flag, his second win at Daytona, following a losing streak of 55 races. It was also memorable in that he won the race with perhaps the most famous number in racing returning to the track, the #3, which had belonged to Dale Jr's father, himself killed in a seemingly casual crash at Daytona in 2001. BUT.... the return of the #3 car wasn't without controversy as rookie Austin Dillon made the race a game of survival out on the track. In total, Dillon was involved in three accidents, two of which he caused himself, taking out several cars. And, after a short stint of leading the pack, Danica Patrick was involved in a 12-car crash which resulted in an all-too-familiar nose into wall, bringing to mind that wretched day in 2001. It was a tremendous relief when she climbed out of that car under her own power. And for the haters out there: There wasn’t a damn thing she could have done to avoid it.

And, also making their debut to great fanfare, the new Air Titan Track Drying System. Just how effective are they? See for yourself. Also making “news” was Jimmy Johnson’s non-win, as those not paying close enough attention failed to notice that, during the rain delay, Fox replayed the 2013 Daytona 500 in its entirety.

Full coverage of the race can be found HERE, but highlights are shown below.

Michael Waltrip provided the colorful pre-race commentary and had this seemingly awkward moment with rapper and Swan Racing partner, rapper 50 Cent.

Now, before you go and get all up in Michael's grill, there is some context for this exchange. It seems that "Fiddy" was engaged in his own awkward moment just last year:

The race was kicked off by either the greatest or the worst version of the National Anthem in recorded history. Personally, I place it just slightly above Roseanne Barr's wretched and disgraceful rendition from in 1990. Decide for yourself:

Worth another look, the Kevin Harvick/Brian Scott rub which resulted in a 12-car crash and sent Danica nose-first into a wall.

And who's a happy boy? Dale Jr., that's who! ICYMI, here's what it looks like to win the Daytona 500, from inside the winning car.

Dale had said that if he won, he'd join Twitter, and he has, where he's picked up more than half a million followers in just one week. This tweet was particularly touching. Follow him here.

Mrs. Jeff Gordon:

Please feel free to send any complaints or commendations to me at Twitter: Nied's Dead Horse

posted by Open Blogger at 02:46 PM

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