The inbox always enjoys a mini onslaught after a Daytona race week.
The past week or so delivered the usual storylines, which vary enough from year to year to keep us interested.
Many of the usual suspects checked in afterward, along with some new keyboarders. A handful of the emails included enough of the King’s English, as opposed to Sailor Sam’s, to be used here and serve as a small recap.
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‘Trouble in Turn 1!’ So what?
An ongoing controversy is ongoing because it crops up from time to time and, frankly, has yet to be given a universal response. Turns out, not all wrecks are created equal.
HEY, WILLIE!
I’m hoping that what we saw at Daytona will be the norm for the season — NASCAR not throwing a caution when it wasn’t needed, even at the end of the race when they have always loved to bunch up the field.
Kudos to them.
I don’t know if it would change the Daytona trend of racing to save fuel, but I’d like them to do away with cautions at the stage breaks. Award the points to the top 10 but just keep on racing.
TOM THE FORD DUDE
HEY, TFD!
Yes and yes, agree and agree. If it takes an extra second or two to determine if a caution is necessary, so be it. If the yellow had been triggered when the first Lap 200 crash ignited, Ricky Stenhouse would have a second Daytona 500 trophy.
It wasn’t and he’s not, and no offense to Ricky (he has a history of not tolerating offenses, you know), but it was best to keep racing because it was safe to do so.
This modern “to throw it or not” dilemma had its first major debate back in 2007, when Kevin Harvick beat Mark Martin to the stripe by inches (or was it an inch?) as the Big One erupted behind them coming off Turn 4.
If the caution lights had come on, Martin would’ve been the winner because he was ahead by a bumper. And as some of us argued back then, if they’d done that, we would’ve forever wondered who would’ve won that drag race to the checkers.
And because they didn’t, we didn’t have to wonder.
As for cautions at stage breaks, a compromise seems best. Throw your yellow flag at the stage end, but for the love of Mike, streamline the process. Do you really need five caution laps at Daytona, a dozen at Martinsville? I know they have their reasons, but they’ve adjusted their reasoning before.
I’ve filled up my gas tank and belly at Buc-ee’s in less time than a NASCAR stage break. And also enjoyed the Disney World of restrooms, for that matter.
How local muck became Daytona International Speedway
I occasionally like to remind longtime locals and especially newcomers about the Speedway’s birth and how it wasn’t a slam dunk by any stretch. It also provides the opportunity to throw some appreciated to the memory of Charlie Moneypenny, among the most overlooked men in modern speedway racing.
HEY, WILLIE!
Thanks for that article on the origin of the Daytona Speedway. I had never heard the background of the speedway development and everything that Bill France risked to get it done.
TOM
HEY, TOM!
In response to that walk through Daytona history, I also got an email from Bob Lloyd, detailing the mid-20th century maneuvering Big Bill needed from Bob’s grandfather, Sax Lloyd, a local mover and shaker in those days.
It involved connections on the Florida Security Commission, a phone call, and a collective change of mind. It was one of several dominoes that could’ve remained upright and scuttled the whole process, thereby making Daytona Beach famous for little more than tides and T-shirts (just as your curmudgeon neighbor would like it).
A NASCAR fan explains why he’s moved to F1
You read that right. Hey, it happens.
A column last week detailed NASCAR’s new marketing approach, which includes a two-minute season trailer starring Scott Eastwood and several stars, along with Kyle Larson’s wife, Katelyn, who has impressed everyone with her ability to shotgun a Busch Light.
Well, almost everyone.
HEY, WILLIE!
Nothing like opening my morning newspaper (paper and ink if you please), to a photo of a driver’s wife huffing a beer. That’s NASCAR?
I once was a loyal fan of Jeff Gordon, but I moved to Formula One. Not because I prefer champagne to beer but, well, it’s a hell of a lot more exciting!
F1 is faster, global, the drivers are more agile, the cars are uber cool and loud — isn’t that what race fans care about? Even Cadillac is joining F1 this year (hope the car runs as awesome as it looks).
NASCAR coverage should focus on the cars and drivers, in that order, and not on the sponsors. That would get my attention.
TERRY
HEY, TERRY!
You converted to F1? I believe you’re the target audience for NASCAR’s new “Signature Experiences” they’re rolling out at select tracks this year. The press release fills out the entire bingo card of new-age verbiage.
Platform. Curated hospitality. Immersive. High-touch experiences. Concierge-level service. Sense of place. Touchpoint.
With the possible exception of touchpoint (depending on definition), I’m fine with the roof of the Cup garage, as well as the modern media buffet, with its unmistakable recent upgrades and, to borrow another buzzword, perfect price-point.
And once again, no offense, but the recent Formula One craze will eventually run its course, so to speak.
— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona 500, NASCAR reviews: Yellows, history and Kyle Larson’s wife
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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