The most anticipated race of recent memory was able to deliver. The 2010 Daytona 500 will go down as one of the most memorable in recent history.
Jamie McMurray won his first Daytona 500 in his first race back with team owner Chip Ganassi. The racing was close, furious and saw a record number of leaders and leads changes.
The new rules NASCAR instituted for the race seemed to work as drivers were able to bump draft without a flurry of massive accidents, the larger restrictor plates allowed for cars to have enough throttle response to actually race together. Even the much talked about three attempts at a green-white-checkered flag finish got tested, as there were two attempts at a finish.
Most drivers agreed the new rules made for a great race.
“I think it was. I think we felt like we could push and shove more and I think there was more of that today,” said second place finisher Greg Biffle. ”The grip level is about perfect. I mean, the cars slide up the racetrack, you can’t go around this thing wide open like you can Talladega and just stay in line. You’ve got to come off the gas a little bit and get back in the gas. It is rough on the bumps, it is tough on that, but I think the rule package is good.”
The only lowlight of the day were two red flag periods for repairs to a hole that surfaced between turn one and turn two. The hole according to track president Robin Braig was about nine inches by 15 inches by two inches deep. The first attempt at a repair failed due to low temperatures according to Braig. Track workers were finally able to use good old-fashioned Bondo to make the repair.
“NASCAR did the best job they could with it,” said Tony Stewart. “I mean, what can you think about? It is what it is. It’s not something that you plan for, but obviously NASCAR has done a lot of preparation in case something like that happens. They were prepared for it. The hard part is, you have to fix it, and they did a good job of that, especially in a crisis situation.”
After the race Braig said he took full responsibility for the delay.
“As we do for every event, we inspected the track this morning and there were no concerns,” Braid said. “We are always prepared for these types of issues. The delay in the repairs was caused by the unusually cold ambient temperatures.”
Braig pointed out the hole was in a dip in the track and they would evaluate what exactly happened to cause the hole whether it was by pavement failure or the racecars and take whatever steps were necessary to ensure it didn’t happen again.
Aside from that, the race delivered on all other fronts and in fact actually lessened those problems to a degree. There were 21 different leaders, a record for Daytona and 52 lead changes the third most ever at Daytona. And is if to underscore the great race, winner McMurray only led two laps the fewest ever for a Daytona 500 and the sports most popular driver charged through the field finishing second while nearly stealing the win.
Most of the negative talk around the race concerned the lengthy repairs made to the hole in the track. Whether the track did enough to ensure the surface had been inspected well enough prior to the race is a matter for debate. And the negative talk that the delay hurt NASCAR’s attempt to reconnect to fans may have fallen on deaf ears.
I don’t think it will have an effect on it at all,” said second place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” Track surfaces are going to have problems from time to time. It wasn’t a fault of NASCAR, it wasn’t a fault of Daytona. It was probably everybody’s cars beating on the racetrack with trailing arm mounts and tail pipes. That’s going to knock a hole in some asphalt, I don’t care where you’re at.”
In the end, fans saw a memorable race with a surprise winner who is liked by many and some of the best racing in recent memory.
“I had a hell of a time tonight,” added Earnhardt Jr.,” Tonight I just let it all hang out.”
The 2010 Daytona 500 also turned out to be a hell of a race for fans and a great way to kick of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
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