NASCAR is back at Daytona in its fresh new wrapping paper called the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Speedweeks, the best racing week of the year kicked off over this past weekend with the renamed Clash (postponed by rain and moved to Sunday afternoon), a lengthy practice shakedown session on Saturday, and single-car qualifying on Sunday. And even though there is a new entitlement sponsor two things remained the same: the Penske and Gibbs cars are very fast and very good and should have a say in who goes to victory lane.
Joey Logano picked up the win in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona after final-lap contact took out his teammate Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin.
Feelings weren’t hurt that bad because the race is purely an exhibition, but because of the move to the afternoon the race did simulate weather and track conditions for this Sunday’s 59th Great American Race. Those conditions pointed to five strong cars and potential winners of the 500:
Defending champion Denny Hamlin
Logano
Keselowski
Kyle Busch
Matt Kenseth
And you can also throw in rookie Daniel Suarez, the defending Xfinity Series champion who is driving the JGR Toyota vacated by Carl Edwards’ retirement. Suarez looked fast in the Clash and the weekend practices and did not seem overwhelmed by restrictor plate racing.
Logano, the 2015 Daytona 500 winner, won the 75-lap Clash by sneaking by Keselowski and Hamlin on the high side when Hamlin attempted to cut off Brad coming off
turn one.
“He (Brad Keselowski) had help from the 22 (Team Penske teammate Logano). I was in a bad spot there,” said Hamlin.
“He was just coming so much faster than what I was. There’s not much that I could have done to defend.”
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Elliott won his second straight 500 pole and was more than disappointed with his effort last year when he crashed on lap 19 of 200. He is another driver determined to get a better result and back up the huge expectations that rest on his shoulders being the son of a former Cup champion.
“It was my first stab at a full-time Cup effort and it seemed like there was a lot going on,” Elliott said after finishing 37th last year. “Going through the motions with all the folks that are here, whether they’re sponsors or people that NASCAR invited. Working through all those obligations, there’s a lot that goes with it.
“But then the race comes around and you get in the car. Then you flip on the switch and get out on the track.”
The cars are back on the track Thursday night for the Can-Am Duel Qualifying Races. Stay tuned throughout the week for more coverage.
Speed For Thought 