Johnson comes out on top at Daytona

(via Nascar.com)

All week long, NASCAR analysts and fans alike talked about so many different "favorites" to win the Daytona 500. Danica Patrick, Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart,  and many more names were talked about the ones who would likely win at Daytona.

Hardly anyone thought of what NASCAR analysts call "Ole Five Time", Jimmie Johnson.

As the 500 unfolded, there were several different leaders that looked stout enough to bring home the big trophy. There was Matt Kenseth, who led 86 of the 200 laps, Denny Hamlin who led 33 laps, and Jeff Gordon who led the first 31 laps.

But it was Jimmie Johnson who took the lead at Lap 191 of 200, and never gave up that lead.

With Johnson's second 500 win, he'll look to string another good run together at Phoenix to give himself a bigger cushion in the championship points.

History happens at Daytona Qualifying

(via autoweek.com)

On Sunday afternoon, Danica Patrick made NASCAR history, not only for being the first woman to claim the pole position in NASCAR's top circuit, but claim the pole position at NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500.

(via wikipedia.org/budweiser_duel)

She and Jeff Gordon will be on the front row when the Daytona 500 begins. But, what's interesting is that Daytona's version of qualifying is totally different compared to qualifying at any other race. Daytona is different in that when they "qualify" the drivers are really just trying to grab the top 2 positions. The rest of the positions are figured out by the finish a driver has at the  two smaller races that Daytona has called the Budweiser Duels.

These duels are held on Thursday and the order of the drivers starting positions of the Duels are determined by how the drivers qualified on Sunday. In the first race, all of the drivers who qualified in an odd number will be in Duel 1. For example, Dale Earnhardt Jr qualified 11th on Sunday and will start 6th in Duel 1. All while, those who qualified with an even number will be in Duel 2. Such as Kasey Kahne who qualified 6th on Sunday will start 3rd in Duel 2.

It will be interesting Thursday to see who will race their way into a better starting spot or not, and who will just be driving to see what their equipment can do with other cars actually on the track with them.

Although on Sunday, when it all counts, who will it be? Will Earnhardt Jr continue to show that he's a contender at Daytona? Will Gordon be able to use his front row position to win his fourth Daytona 500? Will Jimmie Johnson be able to bring home a second 500 trophy?  Or will Kahne show in his second year under the Hendrick stable that he can win the big one?

Or yet, could it be someone not on Hendrick's team. Either way, it going to be a good one, all the way to the last lap.

(via tireball.com)

Great Expectations for Team Hendrick

On January 23rd, the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour stopped by Hendrick Motorsports and saw four very confident drivers address the media.

Between the four drivers, their owner, Rick Hendrick was seated in the middle. Last year, Hendrick proclaimed at the beginning of the year that all four of his drivers would qualify for NASCAR's playoffs, the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

But this year, he wants the team to strive for more. “As a whole, we’re more confident this year and we feel we have a shot to win this year. We’re as prepared as we’ve ever been,” Hendrick said. “(Last year), we fumbled the ball in the closing minutes of the game. We want to get back to the Super Bowl.” (via Nascar.com)

This is a great accomplishment for any race team, it's very hard to have each of the drivers on a team make the Chase. It'll be very interesting to see if not only all of Hendrick's drivers can not only make the Chase but to see if one of these could possibly bring home the trophy.

If the past can predict, it would be Jimmie Johnson to likely bring home the hardware. Johnson has not only won five titles but they won them in a row from 2006 to 2010.

The next in line would likely be Jeff Gordon. Gordon is a four time series champion winning in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001. Although it's been more than decade since Gordon's won the title, he will be on an even slate with the new Gen6 car.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, who was in the mix for the Cup last year will also be a threat. He was found in the top five in the standings throughout the regular season until he finished outside the top 20 in three of the 10 races for the Cup.

Lastly, there's Kasey Kahne. In Kahne's first year under Hendrick's stable, Kahne finished in the top five in the standings. “I don't think we were far off,” Kahne said. “But if we can keep that same drive and same competitiveness that we've had, hopefully we can get right back in that same situation and make a strong run at a championship this season.” (via Nascar.com)

Nevertheless, this could be an even better year for the Hendrick boys, and to Rick Hendrick, that'll meet his expectations.