The smoke has settled over Speed Weeks at Daytona
International Speedway and there was smoke. Speed Weeks 2013 was filled with
wrecks, starting with testing; then The Inaugural Battle at the Beach which had
controversial finishes in each. The biggest wreck came Saturday coming to the
checked flag when Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski tangled when Smith went to
block. This caused the big one coming to the line it also sent rookie Kyle
Larson air born slamming nose first into the catch fence. The fence did its job
correctly by keeping Larson’s car out of the grandstands yet debris went flying
into the stand injuring fans. Tony Sterwart was the one who made it through the
wreck to take yet another victory in the Nationwide series at Daytona. The 500
also had a last lap wreck in which Nascar made the correct call by not throwing
the caution since no cars were in danger if they ran to the checkered in which
Jimmie Johnson held off a last lap charge from Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to
end a six year 20th or worse 500 drought.
Although
the 500 was not the race most were probably expecting most of the race was
spent in a straight line lacking the action that the past few years have
supplied. The small spoilers and longer bumpers lead to the end of tandem
drafting. We can most likely expect a rules change by the time we get to
Talladega. The Nationwide series has it down tandem drafting to pack racing
there speedway package works so hopefully we will see a pack for the cup cars
like that. One thing is for sure the season will sure be interesting off to Phoenix.
-Stephen Appell
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