Monitor: Daytona Worldwide SpeedwayLocation: Daytona Seaside, Florida Monitor size: 2.5 milesWhen: Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ETWhere to tune in: FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR RadioRace purse: $30,331,250 Race distance: 200 laps | 500 miles Phases: 65 | 130 | 200Defending winner: Beginning lineup:
Status on the road within the “Nice American Race”
Chase Elliott is aware of the burden that comes with profitable the Daytona 500. The son of two-time Daytona 500 champion Invoice Elliott has seen firsthand that the “Nice American Race” is, maybe, essentially the most particular occasion on the whole NASCAR calendar.
Nonetheless in the hunt for his personal Harley J. Earl Trophy after 9 prior makes an attempt, he additionally is aware of what wait comes with profitable the Daytona 500 — and that will probably be definitely worth the wait if he ever lands in Victory Lane.
“It means an important alternative to submit your title within the historical past books of the game,” Elliott mentioned Wednesday, with a transparent view of that trophy forward of him throughout Daytona 500 Media Day.
MORE: |
The Daytona 500 simply means extra.
Forty-one drivers could have that very same alternative Sunday afternoon when the inexperienced flag flies for the 67th annual working of the “Nice American Race” (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). A handful — like Elliott, Todd Gilliland and Ryan Blaney — have a good deeper appreciation for his or her probability at glory after watching their fathers pursue it themselves.
David Gilliland was the polesitter for the 2007 Daytona 500. Dave Blaney almost scored the victory in 2012 after a prolonged pink flag. As we speak, their sons have their eyes set on a win that would finally change their lives.
“Personally, this race means essentially the most by far of something,” Todd Gilliland mentioned. “I feel it’s the largest race in the entire world. I do suppose a variety of that comes from rising up across the race monitor. And I feel certainly one of my earliest reminiscences is my dad being on the pole in that 2007 Daytona 500. Simply feeling the vitality, being down on pit street at such a younger age, I feel made me (notice) that’s a sense I wish to really feel in the future. After which as soon as I ran my first Daytona 500, it was wonderful. It was every thing I’ve hoped for. So simply to have the ability to come again, it’s actually exhausting. There’s a lot stress, a lot anticipation.”
Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Collection champion, felt that very same rush rising up earlier than working his first 500 in 2015. Ten years later and now married, Blaney desires nothing greater than to stroll out of the two.5-mile mecca of motorsports as a distinct sort of champion.
“I feel it might simply imply rather a lot to me personally to have my household right here as a result of Dad spent so a few years attempting to win it,” Ryan Blaney mentioned. “And I’ve spent so a few years (attempting), so having that each one come full circle I feel can be fairly huge.”
Different previous champions of the game have been looking for their Daytona 500 glory even longer. Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champ, is 0-for-19 within the “Nice American Race.”
“Two years in the past, we led mile-marker 500, however sadly, we had been coming to the yellow (flag),” Busch mentioned. “Been proper there. Been shut. Completed second, completed third, completed fourth, all the highest 5 spots. There’s positively some angst over attempting to win this one.”
The reduction, glory and immortality that comes with hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy makes the wait price it for individuals who lastly win.
From atop the pit field …
What do crew chiefs have in focus to win Sunday’s race?
Simplistic because it sounds, to win the race, one should have sufficient gasoline to get to the checkered flag. However it’s the driving force who spends the least time on pit street who could have the very best alternative to win the Daytona 500.
To take action, drivers might want to burn gasoline effectively whereas racing two- and three-wide within the pack at 190 mph. Race within the throes of the pack, and the turbulent air of the draft will assist the driving force’s capacity to preserve Sunoco gasoline. However the deeper they’re mired within the discipline, the harder it’s to work again to the entrance of the sector.
Billy Scott, crew chief of Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota at 23XI Racing, defined that maximizing the pit cycle by spending the least period of time refueling would be the key to profitable.
“That’s the toughest half is discovering the stability,” Scott instructed NASCAR.com Saturday. “You wish to save gasoline, definitely, and all people’s doing it to some stage. However you additionally don’t wish to get to this point again that you simply come off pit street behind all people. It’s a tricky stability. The drivers have a giant half in that, perfecting their capacity to reserve it. Lots of it, although, simply comes right down to execution on the cycle.”
Circumstances additionally demand efficient relationships between the driving force, crew chief and spotter to make sure the driving force is abreast of how a lot gasoline she or he can afford to make use of.
“Communication is the important thing at these races proper now,” No. 8 crew chief Randall Burnett instructed NASCAR.com Friday. “So the driving force is aware of the place he’s at relative to different guys, the quantity of gasoline financial savings, getting on and off pit street and executing a clear race.”
Historical past tells us…
Don’t panic in case your driver doesn’t lead early. In keeping with Racing Insights, the eventual winner of the Daytona 500 didn’t lead for the primary time till Lap 157 or later in seven of the final eight runnings of the “Nice American Race.” 4 of the final eight winners didn’t lead for the primary time till Lap 200 or later.
He might not be the favourite to win, however be careful for …
ERIK JONES. He gave the impression to be the winner of the second Duel at Daytona on Thursday evening … till video confirmed the warning got here out simply earlier than Jones’ No. 43 Toyota obtained to the beginning/end line on the ultimate lap, inches behind Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford. Jones has received at Daytona earlier than — albeit within the 400-mile summer time race again in 2018. He’s additionally carrying the quantity Richard Petty made well-known, partially, by profitable seven Daytona 500s. After a robust exhibiting from the Toyotas on Thursday, maybe Jones can restore glory to the No. 43 over again within the “Nice American Race” on Sunday.
Pace reads
Our greatest items of the Speedweeks — get coated for race day from all angles.
• Racing Insights: Full ending order projections for Sunday’s “Nice American Race” | • JRM to make Cup debut: Earnhardts savor second as Allgaier races into Daytona 500 | • Attempt, strive once more: Brad Keselowski zones in on ‘final crown jewel’ in Daytona 500 | • Now boarding: Daytona Seaside Worldwide Airport sparks NASCAR season every year | • Constructed by palms: Sculptor John Lajba on the intricate particulars of Daytona’s Earnhardt, France household statues | • NASCAR Classics: Revisit thrillers from previous Daytona 500s | • Paint Scheme Preview: New schemes aplenty forward of recent season |
