AWARD WINNERS FROM DAYTONA AND A LOOK AT THE ROCK By-Bethann Puderbaugh Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! Well as I looked back at this past weeks articles I saw I didn't give share with ya'll my thoughts on the happenings at Daytona. So without further ado, I have some thoughts to share, some awards to give out, and a few tidbits to share about Rockingham. First of all, how did everyone enjoy the happenings of speedweeks? Sure was packed full of excitement wasn't it? Lets start out with the new statue that they unveiled, I must say it sure looks great, and what a fitting tribute to a fallen legend. I can hardly wait to go visit in person later this year. The Bud Shootout was great, and the Twin 125's were action packed what more can you ask for. I must say congratulations to Michael Waltrip, one of my DEI drivers for his win in the 125's. Way to go Mikey! Another congratulations goes out to my man, Dale Jr. for his win in the Busch race. It was great to see that #3 back in Victory Lane at Daytona again, and the celebration that took place in victory lane afterwards with Richard, Teresa and the crew was really something special to see. Now onto my Awards ceremony for the Daytona 500. SUPRISE OF THE RACE: --And the Award goes to: IT'S A TIE! WARD BURTON- He wasn't exactly everyone's pick to win the race, but it was a nice surprise to see him in Victory Lane. Everything just fell his way, then BOOM there you have the biggest win of his career. GEOFFREY BODINE is the also the recipient of the award this year. After the crash that nearly took his life at Daytona two years ago, many had written him off. It was a nice surprise to see him do so well and show everyone that he still has what it takes to get the job done. IDIOT OF THE RACE AWARD: (I mean Idiot in the nicest possible way) Hands down, the award goes to STERLING MARLIN. How funny was that? What was he thinking? You can't work on your car during the red flag, that's a major no-no. I must say that I enjoyed seeing him spin Gordon through the grass though, that was funny (Sorry Gordon Fans). DETERMINATION/ENDURANCE AWARD: DALE EARNHARDT JR and CREW- Well its safe to say that the day didn't go as well as Junior and the crew had hoped, but they made the best of it. Junior was running a close second when something flew from under Michael Waltrip's car cutting the right front tire and tearing up the right front fender. He made it to pit row and the crew did a wonderful job and kept him on the lead lap as well. It was amazing to see him come up through the pack into the top 10 with only 75% of the body on that car. As the laps wore on, he seemed to be doing pretty well until he cut the right rear tire and blew out the brake caliper. Junior ended up taking the car through the grass at 160 MPH with no brakes and a flat tire to avoid problems on pit road, something that the NAPCM thanked him for by naming him Hero Of the Week. After 12 laps in the garage to weld the brake caliper/house, he returned to the track and then got caught up in THE BIG ONE. After the mandatory trip to the infield care center and some time in the garage, he returned to the track again and finished the day 29th. A decent finish for all that that Junior and the crew had been through all day. Sure looks like they are ready for anything, and are prepared for a good run at the Winston Cup Championship. BAD LUCK AWARD: Another TIE! TONY STEWART-The engine went BOOM and Tony's day was pretty much over before it ever got started. Don't count him out though guys, he has got the fire and determination to drive that car right back into the top of the points standings. JIMMY SPENCER: After a bad qualifying run, Jimmy got caught up in a wreck in his qualifying race and didn't make it into the field. How heartbreaking! New team, new sponsor, and he doesn't make it into the Daytona 500. Mr. Excitement will be back though, and look at it this way.. He isn't that far behind Tony Stewart is he? Well, Enough Of that. What should we look for at Rockingham? SHOCKS- You need to have a good shock package so that the tires stick to the track. Which leads me to... TIRE MANAGEMENT. This track eats up tires like Cookie Monster eats his cookies. If they don't have a good handling car, they better fix it quick or the track is going to eat up the tires and the day will be shot. Another thing to watch is the ONE ENGINE RULE. This will be the first race where the teams will have to use the same engine for qualifying, happy hour and race day. It will be interesting to see the strategies the teams use, and see how the engines are going to hold up. Well all, that's about it. Lets hope for a safe and competitive race!! If you want to contact me about this or any other article you can reach me at Bethann@insidethepitbox.com Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! (Editors Note:The views and opinions of our writers are just that, theirs. If you have comments, write to them. We take no responsibility for their articles... Do you blame us?) Article archives Return to the Main Page