By John Schutt-
Monster Energy Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 18.
The results are in and Austin Dillon’s No. 3 car won the crash-filled Monster Energy Daytona 500. Darrel Wallace, Jr. came in second place followed by Denny Hamlin in third, Joey Logano in fourth, and Chris Buescher in fifth.
Each segment had a major wreck in its final laps and there were a total of eight cautions.
Kurt Busch won the first stage and Ryan Blaney, who led 118 laps of the race, won stage two.
In overtime, Kurt Busch was leading with seven laps to go and Blaney took the lead with three laps left and Hamlin took over with two laps remaining before the final big wreck. Out of the wreckage, Dillion came out ahead for the surprise victory over Bubba Wallace. Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliot, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick, Chase Elliot, and others all got DNFs (did not finish) in the premier first Nascar event of 2018. Patrick was in her last NASCAR race.
Winning team owner Richard Childress is Dillon’s grandpa and was the owner of Dale Earnhard No. 3 car which won 20 years ago.
The Can Am Duels were run recently to set the field for the starting position for the 500. Blaney won the first 75-lap race for Penski and Elliot won the second race for Hendrik Motorsorts. Jimmie Johnson crashed in this race which gave him a total of three destroyed cars during Daytona speed weeks!
• Danica Patrick broke up with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., after a five-year relationship, in December 2017. Lately Patrick has been seen on dates with Aaron Rogers, Green Bay Packers’ quarterback. Patrick has a one-race deal to race the Go Daddy No. 7 car in the Daytona 500 for premium Motorsports in the coming weekend.
• Aric Almirola has taken over the seat in Danica Patrick’s old No. 10 car for Stewart Hass Racing.
• Now Johnson is being called grandpa by the other new younger drivers because he is the oldest full time Cup driver at 42. He is more than two times the age of Eric Jones.
• There are new rules with one-half inch higher spoiler, lower rear ends, and only five crew members are allowed over the wall during pit stops.
• Sad news: Long-time NHRA pro stock legend driver Bob Glidden died December 17, 2017, at the age of 73.
• Upcoming event: The Race and Performance Expo will be at the Schaumburg Convention Center February 24-25. The Expo will have show cars, race cars, manufactures, and many car-related items for sale.
