Matt Kenseth wins the rain-shortened Daytona 500, opening round of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup.
It was also team owner Jack Roush's first victory at the Daytona 500 in 20 years.
It definitely was not the Daytona 500 race we expected. As we were describing the race live on French TV (RDS), we knew that the rain would fall before the end of the event. Actually, we were lucky to go as far as we went.
With a little luck, we probably could have gone further... Still, we knew that at half-point (when the race is considered official), teams would coax their drivers to hit it. The surprise was to see how far it went. We all expected the race to stop around the 120th lap...it went up to the 152nd.
The other surprise was to see the crash involving Dale Jr. (Chevy No 88) with Brian Vickers (Camry No 82) on lap 134 involving close to ten good cars! Though Junior claimed it was only a racing accident, many observers thought the opposite.
NASCAR was very quick last night to slap a five-lap penalty to Jason Keller for his involvement in a major crash. Dale Jr. did not get such blame. For many people, Dale Jr. should have gotten a similar penalty (though it was considered pretty heavy)! This controversy is far from being over!
Matt Kenseth (Ford No 17) started the race from the very end, the 43rd spot, to win the Daytona 500. He really established a record here. What's more, he won by really leading only one race lap before the yellow, then the red flag was thrown because of the rain. It was not a hasty decision since the rain did not let go. For fans, winning a race that was rain shortened is as disappointing as a yellow flag finish.
Yet, the finishing order was very interesting. Following Kenseth was Kevin Harvick (Chevy No 29) who helped him get up front, A.J. Allmendinger (Dodge No 44) who probably was a real eye-opener, Clint Bowyer (Chevy No 33) and Elliott Sadler (Dodge No 19) who was leading one lap to the "end" before being passed by Kenseth and his "gang".
Oh well, the only consolation is that the Daytona 500 has not been the real representation of the Sprint Cup season to come for the last few seasons...But yet, could it be that Kenseth finally turn out to be the 2009 NASCAR champ...?
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
It was also team owner Jack Roush's first victory at the Daytona 500 in 20 years.
It definitely was not the Daytona 500 race we expected. As we were describing the race live on French TV (RDS), we knew that the rain would fall before the end of the event. Actually, we were lucky to go as far as we went.
With a little luck, we probably could have gone further... Still, we knew that at half-point (when the race is considered official), teams would coax their drivers to hit it. The surprise was to see how far it went. We all expected the race to stop around the 120th lap...it went up to the 152nd.
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| Dale Earnhardt Jr. is forced to serve a one-lap penalty for pitting outside of the pit box during a stop on Lap 120. Earnhardt was involved in an incident three laps later while trying to stay in position for the beneficiary, given to the first car one lap down. (Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) |
The other surprise was to see the crash involving Dale Jr. (Chevy No 88) with Brian Vickers (Camry No 82) on lap 134 involving close to ten good cars! Though Junior claimed it was only a racing accident, many observers thought the opposite.
NASCAR was very quick last night to slap a five-lap penalty to Jason Keller for his involvement in a major crash. Dale Jr. did not get such blame. For many people, Dale Jr. should have gotten a similar penalty (though it was considered pretty heavy)! This controversy is far from being over!
 |
| The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing crew works on the car after Kyle Busch was caught up in an accident on Lap 124. (Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) |
Matt Kenseth (Ford No 17) started the race from the very end, the 43rd spot, to win the Daytona 500. He really established a record here. What's more, he won by really leading only one race lap before the yellow, then the red flag was thrown because of the rain. It was not a hasty decision since the rain did not let go. For fans, winning a race that was rain shortened is as disappointing as a yellow flag finish.
Yet, the finishing order was very interesting. Following Kenseth was Kevin Harvick (Chevy No 29) who helped him get up front, A.J. Allmendinger (Dodge No 44) who probably was a real eye-opener, Clint Bowyer (Chevy No 33) and Elliott Sadler (Dodge No 19) who was leading one lap to the "end" before being passed by Kenseth and his "gang".
Oh well, the only consolation is that the Daytona 500 has not been the real representation of the Sprint Cup season to come for the last few seasons...But yet, could it be that Kenseth finally turn out to be the 2009 NASCAR champ...?
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images