Wow what a wild, wacky Daytona 500. While many people mistook the Great American Race as a demolition derby, the exciting finish was a fitting end to such a unpredictable race. Many favorites like Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick found themselves in one of the three "Big Ones", while lesser known teams and drivers such as Matt DiBenedetto, Brendan Gaughan and Cole Whitt all had serviceable finishes for their fledgling programs, but none of this should be the main storyline. That should belong to Kurt Busch and his path to redemption.
If you were to google Kurt Busch, you would know what I'm talking about. It seems as if the elder Busch has cleaned up his act. Ten years ago I would have been disgusted at seeing him hoist the Harley Earle Trophy, but when the Number 41 car edged Ryan Blaney to the checkered flag, I couldn't help but feel happy for him.
Kurt Busch is no longer just a defending champion who let his own demons force him out of rides with Jack Roush and Roger Penske. He is no longer the hotheaded young gun that many viewed as a punk. When people think of Kurt Busch hopefully they no longer think of his multiple suspensions; like in 2005 for Suspicion of OWI; 2012 for verbally threatening to assault a reporter or in 2015 when NASCAR suspended for three races after a bizarre domestic violence claim by his ex girlfriend.
Prior to Sunday, Kurt Busch had led 182 laps in his combined 15 Daytona 500 starts, there had been many races in which Busch probably had the best car, but couldn't get it done. Busch wasn't the best car on Sunday, he only led one lap, but it was the one that counted. One that Busch will never forget.
OTHER THOUGHTS
I) I personally like the stage format, it adds excitement to parts of the race that would usually be boring. It definitely changes strategy and it puts incentive in to being consistent. If you were to finish 10th in every segment from Atlanta up until the playoff race at Richmond. That would be 50 "playoff points". I look for it to definitely impact the playoffs
II) Calm down NASCAR fans, The high number of wrecks and low number cars that finished were not because of the new rules, They were because it's Daytona. The same thing happens at Talladega almost every year. I'd be willing to bet that everything will be just fine at Atlanta next week.
III) I found both the Truck and Xfinity races to be exciting even if they were also full of crashes. That's what happens you get a bunch of young inexperienced drivers at Daytona.
IV) How about the performances by the young guys? Niether Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson or Chase Elliott had more than three Daytona 500's under their belt prior to yesterday, but all of them were oh so close to winning the whole enchilada. I think the future of NASCAR is in very good hands.
V) Toyota struggled more than I thought they would. Guess we will see if that parlays in to the rest of the year, or maybe it was just Daytona. Only time will tell.
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