Three of the final Daytona 500s have been received by drivers who didn’t win one other race through the 12 months, and people virtually at all times ended in calamity. Some criticize the fashionable 500 wins on account of a randomized lottery, however is that actually a good declare?
The ‘Large One’ has solely gotten larger and extra frequent on this modern-day and age, however I nonetheless cannot convey myself to name it a lottery as some do. Sure, luck performs a major position within the present period of the Daytona 500 and the drafting package deal is not supreme, however like Joey Logano usually says, you can also make your personal luck quite a lot of the time.
There are nonetheless the anticipated contenders who’re skillful at this fashion of racing and are at all times close to the entrance. We all know names like Denny Hamlin, Logano, and Brad Keselowski will discover their strategy to the lead in the identical approach we knew to anticipate Earnhardt, Jarrett, and Gordon again within the day. The issue is, in the present day’s prime drivers do not at all times see the tip of the race.
That is the place the thought of it being extra of lottery than a race is taking maintain. The possibilities of a race-ending ‘Large One’ crash are a lot larger than they as soon as had been, because of the tightly packed fields, thus opening the door for long-shots to take the trophy. The bold driver who led probably the most laps, crashed his strategy to a DNF within the final two 500s. In distinction, the common variety of laps led by the eventual winner (within the final 4 races) is simply 9.
Whereas all that’s true, these drivers know the character of those races and take calculated dangers all through the occasion from which line they need to go in, what gap they need to fill, and what go is value it. Some even select to journey within the again and wait out the storm whereas others are dicing three-wide for the lead from inexperienced to the checkered flag. It is all a threat versus reward resolution, and whereas sure, misfortune can strike within the strangest of how, that is simply a part of racing. Dale Earnhardt did all the pieces proper in 1990, however a last-lap tire failure robbed him of victory. It isn’t as spectacular as being taken out in a 23-car pileup like many contenders had been final 12 months, nevertheless it’s nonetheless plain previous dangerous luck.
In the course of the 2024 Daytona 500, Ross Chastain was operating close to the again of the lead pack late within the race when he instantly appeared within the lead after the ultimate set of stops. Deciding to ‘journey,’ resulted in saving extra gasoline which allowed for a faster cease. William Byron received as a result of he threw a calculated block and Chastain made a wildly daring transfer up the center in of venture that didn’t repay. It ended his shot and finally, the race, however that was a call he selected to make. The one true luck in all of this was the timing of the warning. If NASCAR had waited one other second or two to push the button, Alex Bowman would seemingly be the defending winner of the five hundred for 2025. (Therefore additionally why I feel NASCAR ought to be making an attempt tougher to let these drivers race again to the road on the ultimate lap except it is really unavoidable.)
Ross Chastain spins on the white flag after making an attempt to make a three-wide go for the lead within the 2024 Daytona 500.
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos
We are able to debate all day in regards to the previous 500 being the higher model of this race and I would not disagree. I like watching movies of these drivers wheeling their automobiles round this bumpy 2.5-mile superspeedway, sawing on the wheel. However three-wide, ten rows deep is fairly enjoyable to observe as effectively. The wrecks are larger and the winners might be extra ‘random’ than previously. But in addition essential to recollect is that these winners weren’t pulled out of a hat. They nonetheless managed to navigate 200 laps round Daytona, avoiding many pitfalls whereas placing themselves able to win on the finish. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2023 and Michael McDowell in 2021 had been shock winners, however they’re often known as above-average pack racers. They knew what they had been doing and positioned themselves completely for the tip of the race. So sure, it is not the identical 500 your father watched, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a high-speed chess match the place ability and luck play equal roles.
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