The old cliche when it comes to something new in NASCAR is "expect the unexpected." Oh how true that was on Saturday night.
The brand new racing surface combined with a redesigned nose on the Sprint Cup car and a big hole in the restrictor plate made for one of the fastest, most intense, and exciting races at Daytona we've seen in quite some time.
Speeds at one moment hit over 206 mph, and a two-car draft seemed to work a lot better than a three-car draft. Strategy and trust played more of a factor than ever before in the entire 75-lap event.
And wouldn't you know it, the race ended with a little controversy, but honesty at the same time.
The last-lap pass by Denny Hamlin on Ryan Newman will be discussed all week, as well as the rule that caused the final decision by NASCAR.
The rule is "You cannot advance your position by going below the yellow line." Well, when it comes to the last lap, that rule often gets blurred in the heat of battle, and this was obvious when Hamlin decided to make his move.
Whether this rule gets modified for the final lap of the races at Daytona and Talladega is unknown, but for now, the rule meant that Hamlin lost the race.
The winner on this night was Kurt Busch. It was his first win on a restrictor plate track, and is also just the second victory on a restrictor plate track for car owner Roger Penske. It was 13 years since Penske went to victory lane on a plate track, which was by long-time Penske driver Rusty Wallace in the 1998 Bud Shootout.
What a way to bring in his new sponsor and colors, Shell/Pennzoil. It was the third straight win for the sponsor as Kevin Harvick took them to victory lane the last two years.
As for our writers, no one picked the winner, but let's take a look at where everyone's picks finished.
Misan Ayuka: Jamie McMurray finished second
James Broomhead: Juan Pablo Montoya finished 20th
Kelly Crandall: Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 19th
Summer Dreyer: NO PICK SENT
Billy Fellin: Kevin Harvick finished seventh
Michael Hirshbein: Kyle Busch finished 16th
Christopher Leone: Michael Waltrip finished 15th
Kara Martin: NO PICK SENT
Ryan O'Hara: Kevin Harvick finished seventh
Dustin Parks: Jamie McMurray finished second
Sal Sigala Jr: Tony Stewart finished 11th
Rob Tiongson: Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 19th
NEXT RACE: Now, it's time to really get down to business. Next Sunday officially begins the hunt for the 2011 Sprint Cup championship. The question is once again "Can anyone knock Jimmie Johnson off the championship platform?"
Well, on Feb. 20, that question will begin being answered with the 53rd annual Daytona 500. It will be 43 cars on a brand new surface, and if anything is like what Saturday night showed us, we're going to be in for one incredible afternoon.
Writers, I ask that you send your picks for the race by Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
NOTE-Starting with the Daytona 500, this is how the standings will appear on the page:
Writer (POINTS) Driver and finishing position (WINS EARNED)
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