How exactly do you follow up the Daytona 500, especially considering how the day ended? A first-time winner not just in the Sprint Cup Series, but in NASCAR, took the checkered flag in the biggest race of the season.
Not only that, it was a record day for cautions, leaders, lead changes, and how young the driver was.
Now, the season takes shape when NASCAR headed out west to the desert, and found themselves a duel worth watching.
The day started with the focus on Trevor Bayne, as his whirlwind of a week finally concluded, and now he could focus on driving. But alas, the heroics finally ended as he crashed out in practice and then during the race. It's unfortunate because he brought NASCAR back into the limelight in the most unexpected way.
But, when the day ended, it was Bayne's childhood hero taking all the glory. It was Bayne's drafting partner for a majority of Speedweeks that took the checkered flag.
That driver was Jeff Gordon.
It was 66 races ago, at Texas in April of 2009, when Jeff Gordon last saw victory. That afternoon, he gave his then-associate sponsor National Guard it's only points-paying victory.
Today, he took the checkered flag and welcomed his new primary sponsor, Drive To End Hunger, to victory lane. Gordon did so in the best way possible, by leading the most laps and outright winning. That No. 24 car was great all afternoon, even after a scrape against the wall.
It also shows that the team swap from the off-season that saw Gordon get Mark Martin's old team, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets Gordon's crew, and Martin then getting the No. 88 crew, wasn't just for one particular team.
This victory gives a lot of confidence to him and his entire team going forward. Look for this team to make a lot of noise as the season progresses.
Today's victory also meant well for one of our writers. We must give congratulations to Ryan O'Hara as he is the first writer to earn bonus points for the Chase. He was the lone writer to correctly guess the winner, which says a lot due to the new points structure.
In fact, many writers did well this week. All but four writers finished 11th or better, which now gives us a clear leader. Here's a look at how our writers now stack up after the Subway Fresh Fit 500:
Kelly Crandall (82) Jimmie Johnson finished third (0)
Misan Ayuka (72) Kevin Harvick finished fourth (0)
Ryan O'Hara (65) Jeff Gordon WON (1)
Sal Sigala Jr. (65) Denny Hamlin finished 11th (0)
Billy Fellin (57) Carl Edwards finished 28th (0)
Dustin Parks (51) Denny Hamlin finished 11th (0)
Michael Hirshbein (46) Kyle Busch finished second (0)
Christopher Leone (43) Denny Hamlin finished 11th (0)
Summer Dreyer (41) Carl Edwards finished 28th (0)
Kara Martin (38) Carl Edwards finished 28th (0)
Rob Tiongson (38) Carl Edwards finished 28th (0)
James Broomhead (37) Denny Hamlin finished 11th (0)
NEXT RACE: Another trip out west awaits NASCAR next week, but this one doesn't involve tumbleweeds and cactus plants. Instead, it involves neon lights, roulette wheels, craps tables, and a little bit of lady luck.
Ah yes, it's time to do a little bit of gambling as up next on the schedule is the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Call up the showgirls, but more importantly get out the championship belt as the winner next week will get one of the more unique trophies in the sport.
Writers, get your picks in by Thursday, March 3, at 9 p.m. for the Kobalt Tools 500. Note the extended deadline for you west-coast writers.
Written by:
