The Chaotic Daytona truly lived up to its reputation! This track is famous for its mix of victories, heartbreaks, and unexpected twists. And this past weekend’s Coke Zero 400 race showcased it all. Daytona is a place where legendary tales unfold, most notably the tragic event in February 2001 when NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt lost his life in a crash here.
Fast forward to the present, and a new chapter has been written as young Harrison Burton clinched his first Cup Series victory at Daytona. He achieved this remarkable feat while fending off the formidable Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion with an impressive 62 wins under his belt. While it’s tough to see Busch miss out on a potential playoff spot, Burton’s triumph over a seasoned driver adds an exhilarating twist to the narrative. However, Burton’s victory didn’t come without its share of chaos. Multiple wrecks took out many frontrunners, including a visibly frustrated Joey Logano, whose race ended prematurely.
Logano shared his thoughts on the mayhem he encountered at Daytona.
In an unexpected turn, the race began smoothly, thanks to favorable weather conditions. Stage One unfolded without any incidents, with Josh Berry taking the win. But as the cars made their way to the pit lane, a fiery incident involving Daniel Suarez’s #99 car marked the end of his race. Fortunately, Suarez emerged unscathed. Just when it seemed the calm had returned, a sudden crash on Lap 60 sent shockwaves through the field. What’s next?
Ross Chastain, Noah Gragson, and John Hunter Nemechek found themselves at the center of the first incident, sparking a massive multi-car pileup. The ensuing chaos resulted in a chain reaction of collisions, notably one involving Noah Gragson and Corey LaJoie.
Among those affected by the wreck were Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott, both vying for the regular series championship, who were forced to retire from the race.
Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson initially felt fortunate to steer clear of the chaos, but their luck soon ran out as they too exited the race. With just nine laps left, the night witnessed its first significant crash, which included Michael McDowell and several other competitors.
The trouble began when a driver made a miscalculation while racing three-wide through a corner. McDowell, who was leading, lost control of his vehicle and spun out. Joey Logano, unable to dodge the incident, collided with McDowell, sending him airborne before he miraculously landed on all fours, avoiding a rollover. In total, 14 cars were caught up in the wreck, including Justin Haley, Larson, and Reddick. Logano expressed his disappointment at not finishing the race but still found the event thrilling, remarking, “I haven’t seen a great replay yet.”
In a post-race interview, he remarked, “I’m guessing he got pushed into the corner and just came right across in front of me, and there was nothing I could do.” Joey Logano clearly dislikes enduring the chaos that comes with aggressive racing and feels a shift is necessary. He emphasized, “I don’t have the answer. It’s part of racing; the pushes and shoves are so extreme, and the cars are so low and rigid that they become uncontrollable when we start bumping each other. Give and take is crucial at the end of the race, but it often turns into a disaster. We really need to improve how the cars handle under pressure. If we don’t take action, we’ll keep seeing crashes. But if that’s what NASCAR wants, then they’ve got it.” Yet, like many fans, Logano understands the nature of speedways, stating, “I’m not sure what we’re aiming for in speedway racing. It’s entertaining.” Additionally, regarding the next-gen cars, although NASCAR implemented some modifications to prevent flips, Logano confirmed that these changes have not been effective. According to Logano, nothing improved after his crash. Meanwhile, Burton managed to steer clear of the chaos and celebrated his victory. However, before Burton and Busch engaged in their thrilling duel, Josh Berry was in the lead. The #4 Ford flipped on the backstretch with just two laps to go, landing on its roof and colliding with the retaining wall. The numerous flips and wrecks have raised concerns about what measures are being taken by the authorities to address these issues. Well, they did attempt something…
NASCAR has introduced a new safety enhancement for all Cup cars aimed at minimizing the chances of blow-over incidents. A ‘shark fin’ has been installed on the right side of the vehicle, designed to help slow the car down and prevent it from becoming airborne. Prior to the race, John Probst, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief development officer, mentioned that this modification would raise the speed threshold required for the cars to take off by an additional 15% to 20%. However, the recent crash serves as clear evidence that this initiative did not succeed. Joey Logano echoed this sentiment, stating, “It didn’t change anything” when asked about the impact of the new feature. Overall, the race was thrilling and has notably reshaped the playoff standings, leaving only three spots available in the top 16 after Burton’s victory.
Will we see a new champion emerge in the upcoming Darlington race? Who do you predict will take the win at Darlington?
