Depending on which columnist you read on Monday, NASCAR’s season-opening weekend at Daytona was either a smashing success and just what big-time racing needed, or an unmitigated disaster.
As with so many things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, of course. The racing in the Truck and Nationwide series events was good, with both races decided in the final lap. The Cup race … well, not so much. But then, what did we expect?
Although many have said Kyle Busch had the dominant car because he led a race-high 88 laps before getting wrecked in the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-Brian Vickers melee, to me it looked like no one was trying very hard to challenge him.
Part of that was the continuing right-side tire issues associated with the Can of Tuna, sorry, Car of Tomorrow, but for the rest it looked like the plan was for a lazy Sunday drive until the final 50 laps. Then the rain showed up on the radar and suddenly things picked up.
Should NASCAR have waited out the rain rather than call the race early? Yes and no. The Super Bowl doesn’t get called early, right? But then again, considering the down economy and all the talk about cutting costs, NASCAR extending the Daytona 500 into the next day — with all the added costs for NASCAR, the race teams and the fans — wouldn’t make much sense.
Not the beginning NASCAR, or the fans wanted. How many days until racing starts again at Evergreen Speedway?
I started my quest for the Grand Slam of Prognostication by correctly guessing that Todd Bodine would win the Truck race. Last year, it took me about three quarters of the season to complete the Slam, and to make it more difficult this year I’m stepping far outside my comfort zone and adding the NHRA.
On to the picks.
Millions of people around the world will be focused on Los Angeles this Sunday, but not for the Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. No, in a rather unfortunate bit of scheduling, NASCAR’s worst-attended speedway will host a race the same afternoon the Oscars are handed out.
Last year’s Auto Club 500 was completed on the following Monday because of rain, but that isn’t what sticks in my mind. No, the gentle banking and wide track made for some ho-hum racing, especially with the Can of Tuna.
The more exciting races will be held as doubleheader on Saturday. I’ll go with defending champion Johnny Benson to win his first Truck race at Auto Club, and Vancouver, Wash., native Greg Biffle to get his first Nationwide win in 75 series races going back to 2006.
My pick to win Sunday’s Cup race is three-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson won the Fall race at Auto Club and was leading the February race until Carl Edwards passed him with 13 laps to go.
Fans who like their racing fast but straight are a dedicated bunch, and I’m working to understand their passion for drag racing. I’m nowhere close to getting all the names down at this point, so I’m adding the NHRA to my Fearless Predictions to help me figure some of it out.
This weekend’s Lucas Slick Mist NHRA Nationals in Arizona is actually the second event on the NHRA schedule. Doug Kalitta earned the Top Fuel victory two weeks ago at the rain-delayed Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals, Ron Capps won in Funny Car, and Jason Line won Pro Stock at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
For Sunday’s elimination winners I’ll put on my blindfold and pick Antron Brown for Top Fuel, Robert Hight for Funny Car and Jeg Coughlin for Pro Stock.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
