What the Orbitz 300 Taught Us
In days gone past Busch Series events held in conjunction with a Cup event weren’t very useful for predicting the outcome of Sunday’s event. That hasn’t been the case the last few years as the amount of BuschWhackers has increased.
The 2007 season should see less Cup regulars dropping down in class this year however, Daytona being the largest stage NASCAR has the Orbitz 300 had a full complement of Whackers. There are things that may point to Sundays final outcome as well as the Busch season.
Topping the list is Kevin Harvick. Although the reigning Champ won’t defend his Busch crown in 2007 he served notice any event he enters the #21 is a threat to capture the gold.
Once he took the lead on lap 79 he was never headed and cruised to his first Busch superspeedway win.
“The car was great today,” Harvick said. “And I told them. I said, if we get all the way to the front, we’re going to be in really good shape. The whole last run, I never had to let off the floor.”
The second lesson learned, and of a personal nature, the Half-Vast Staff™ Staff of Full Throttle may be riding the wrong horse in selecting Busch the Elder to win Sunday. Selecting a Dodge is going against the grain to start because Chevy’s have dominated at Daytona. Couple that with Kyle Busch’s performance Saturday, in a Hendrick’s Chevy, maybe a Busch, Busch finish will be the result Sunday.
Kyle dominated until mechanical ills sidelined him on lap 62.
With all the world’s attention centered on Michael “Top Gun” Waltrip and by association Toyota this week the true strength of the Toyota effort may have been on display in the 300. Bill Davis Racing’s Dave Blaney started the 300 in the 11th hole, ran strong all day keeping his Toyota in front pack and followed Harvick across the line to finish second.
Blaney’s Cup teammate Jeremy Mayfield didn’t qual for the 500 but had the 15th quickest time in qualifying then was a victim of a squeeze between the between the #43 and #30 cars during the first Gatorade 150. That ruined any chance to make the 500 field but he was fast when on the track and in one piece.
Bill Davis Racing may be Toyota’s showcase in NEXTEL Cup, “Top Gun” Waltrip may have the name recognition but may continue to be a sideshow attraction if improved performance doesn’t follow the Daytona debacle.
The race put on display Juan “Don’t Call Me Pablo” Montoya’s Achilles Heel. He has the talent and experience on ovals via his Indy car days what he lacks is a team that can be, and stay competitive. Ganassi has always been competitive speed wise but keeping the car from breaking is a recurring problem. If Montoya can finish a few races he can win one or two before the year is finished.
With Cup regulars filling the first 12 spots in the finishing order Marcos Ambrose’s 16th place finish was impressive and in effect placed him 4th in the order minus the whackers. His nearest finishing rookie competition was Kyle Krisiloff who placed 27th. His name wasn’t rolling off the lips of the race announcers (and wasn’t it great to hear Dr. Jerry Punch again!) but he did what he had to do, ride around gain experience and finish and he heads to Fontana the rookie points leader.
The final lesson learned I’ll note is, “yes Virginia, Daytona can be a fuel mileage track.” There were only three cautions for 13 laps, with the biggest incident of the day coming early when a multi-car wreck took out David Ragan, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne.
The last 20 laps the announcers peppered your ears with reports of who would, or would not have enough fuel to make it to the end.
As it turned out everyone made it. But who’d a thunk it could ever happen? At DAYTONA!
Wonder if the 43 starters on Sunday took note? Hah… that’s too much to ask, I figure the first Big One will happen around lap 25 with 6 cars taken out and another 4 damaged.
NASCAR, Busch Series, Orbitz 300, Sports, Kevin Harvick, Daytona, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle
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