Three of the final Daytona 500s have been gained by drivers who didn’t win one other race through the yr, and people virtually all the time ended in calamity. Some criticize the fashionable 500 wins on account of a randomized lottery, however is that basically a good declare?
The ‘Massive One’ has solely gotten larger and extra widespread on this modern-day and age, however I nonetheless cannot deliver myself to name it a lottery as some do. Sure, luck performs a big 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 individual luck a whole lot of the time.
There are nonetheless the anticipated contenders who’re skillful at this type of racing and are all the time close to the entrance. We all know names like Denny Hamlin, Logano, and Brad Keselowski will discover their method to the lead in the identical method we knew to count on Earnhardt, Jarrett, and Gordon again within the day. The issue is, as we speak’s prime drivers do not all the time see the top of the race.
That is the place the thought of it being extra of lottery than a race is taking maintain. The probabilities of a race-ending ‘Massive One’ crash are a lot greater than they as soon as have been, because of the tightly packed fields, thus opening the door for long-shots to take the trophy. The bold driver who led essentially the most laps, crashed his method to a DNF within the final two 500s. In distinction, the typical 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 trip 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 choice, and whereas sure, misfortune can strike within the strangest of the way, that is simply a part of racing. Dale Earnhardt did every part proper in 1990, however a last-lap tire failure robbed him of victory. It is not as spectacular as being taken out in a 23-car pileup like many contenders have been final yr, however it’s nonetheless plain outdated dangerous luck.
Throughout the 2024 Daytona 500, Ross Chastain was operating close to the again of the lead pack late within the race when he out of the blue appeared within the lead after the ultimate set of stops. Deciding to ‘trip,’ resulted in saving extra gasoline which allowed for a faster cease. William Byron gained as a result of he threw a calculated block and Chastain made a wildly daring transfer up the center in a raffle 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 doubtless be the defending winner of the five hundred for 2025. (Therefore additionally why I believe NASCAR ought to be attempting 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 attempting to make a three-wide go for the lead within the 2024 Daytona 500.
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
We are able to debate all day in regards to the outdated 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 properly. The wrecks are larger and the winners could be extra ‘random’ than previously. But in addition vital 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 have been shock winners, however they’re also referred to as above-average pack racers. They knew what they have been doing and positioned themselves completely for the top of the race. So sure, it is not the identical 500 your father watched, however it’s nonetheless a high-speed chess match the place talent and luck play equal roles.
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