As the 65th annual Daytona 500 draws ever closer, the anticipation has built to a fever pitch. Here are four main storylines to keep you focused that our Frontstretch experts at the track are watching leading into this event.
Daytona Theme: Drivers With Nothing to Lose
Plenty of storylines this week have surrounded people making a part-time effort for this 500. There’s Travis Pastrana, armed with top-tier equipment at 23XI Racing. Conor Daly caught a lucky break to be an NTT IndyCar Series crossover in the Great American Race.
And Jimmie Johnson (more on him in a minute) returns to the sport after retiring a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
It’s a group with nothing to lose inside a pack expected to be superglued together all day. Expect a lot of aggression along with a retiring Kevin Harvick competing in his final Daytona 500. Even Zane Smith, part of the first ever Cup-Xfinity-Craftsman Truck series reigning champion trio to be in this field, might have something to say about this outcome with the way Front Row Motorsports has performed.
My pick to win, Duel winner Aric Almirola, even feels like he’s on borrowed time after rescinding his retirement in the middle of last season. A lot of hunger combined with parity should lead to a highly competitive 500. – Tom Bowles
New Digs, Newfound Success For Kyle Busch?
Kyle Busch has gone from the candy man at M&M’s to a man carrying the load as a leader with Richard Childress Racing. It’s his first season driving RCR’s No. 8 after 15 years running for Joe Gibbs Racing.
While Busch has won two championships, the Daytona 500 has always eluded Busch (0-for-17). It still feels like something’s missing on his resume; ex-teammate Denny Hamlin said in a press conference this week he would not trade one Daytona 500 trophy for a championship.
With Busch leaving Toyota, President David Wilson still seemed a little bothered during a press conference by the topic of losing such a marquee driver. So it’s clear people still think the 37-year-old can compete at the highest level.
Can Busch put what happened in Thursday’s (Feb. 16) Duel behind him, in a backup car after Daniel Suarez spun him out while leading? Busch is the new man in black with Richard Childress Racing some 25 years after Dale Earnhardt broke through and won his first Great American Race. Will the Daytona tides turn for Busch…
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