Once again the Daytona 500 proved staying out of trouble, making the right adjustments and pit calls, being in the right place at the end of the race, and taking advantage of a questionable red flag call by NASCAR can win the biggest race of the year for you. Congratulations to Joey Logano on checking off all those things on his to-do list and becoming the latest Daytona 500 champion. And perhaps most importantly, Logano is now locked into the 2015 Chase for the Championship unless there are more than 16 winners and the rest of his season is a complete disaster. Neither is likely.
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Of course, Logano had two fewer contenders for the win to deal with, as both Busch brothers were on the sidelines; Kurt suspended with domestic violence legal issues and Kyle in the hospital after surgery for his right leg, injured in Thursday’s Duel 2 race. According to team owner Joe Gibbs, Busch was resting comfortably at Halifax Medical Center and already talking about getting back in the car. Surgery on minor injuries to his left foot has been delayed for the time being.
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This weekend it’s Atlanta, a track with speeds nearly as high but without the dreaded restrictor plate and the desperation. In Thursday’s test there, two cars lapped at more than 190 miles per hour; Ganassi Racing’s Jamie McMurray clicked off a lap at 191.549 while teammate Kyle Larson clocked a 190.195. Of the top 16 cars in the first session, 10 were Chevrolets and six Toyotas, with Clint Bowyer leading the Toyota ranks in fourth place. Joey Logano had the fastest Ford in 17th. In session two, 11 of the top 16 were Chevys, including the top six, Greg Biffle was the lone Ford in the group in 12th, and the Gibbs Toyotas of Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, and Denny Hamlin topped the Toyota ranks at seventh, ninth, and 10th respectively.
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Atlanta is also the track where Jeff Gordon made his Cup debut in 1992, so he has some motivation to do well there. In fact, there probably isn’t a track on the schedule that doesn’t have some special significance for the four-time champion, and some motivating factor to make his last full-time season a success.
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In other racing news, Formula One conducted its first test sessions last week with mixed results. McLaren had teething problems with their new Honda power unit, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton withdrew from the first day due to illness, and Fernando Alonso suffered a concussion in a crash that appeared to be caused partially by windy conditions. The second and final test session at Barcelona before the season begins is underway right now, scheduled to end Sunday. It should be an interesting season, with Sebastian Vettel moving to Ferrari teamed with Alonso, and several other driver moves and newcomers.
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We may see a new/old face in the cockpit when the IndyCar series kicks off the 2015 season at St. Petersburg, Fla. Simona de Silvestro, who left the series for Formula One last season, is in negotiations with Andretti Autosport to drive its fourth (or possibly fifth) car on a part-time basis. Simona’s F1 opportunity fell victim to financial difficulties and the folding of two of the lesser-funded teams, but she was popular and highly thought of in IndyCar. Hence the likelihood of her return, provided sponsorship comes through.
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Locally, the meeting for those wishing to volunteer at Fernley 95A Speedway will take place at the track at 2 p.m. today. It’s a great way to get involved with racing if you’re already a fan. It’s how I got started more years ago than I care to recall, but it’s been a rewarding experience. Email fernley95aspeedway@outllook.com if you’re interested in volunteering this year.