Well after two crazy practice sessions that sent five teams to backup cars and the blind draw for qualifying spots, it was time to kick off the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with the always exciting Budweiser Shootout. One of the teams that was forced to a backup was Kevin Harvick's, but Harvick was not the one who wreck his primary car. Kevin was back in North Carolina until Saturday night, sick with flu like symptoms. Teammate Clint Bowyer is the one who totaled Harvick's #29 Chevy. In the second practice, Harvick's other teammate Jeff Burton parked his #31 Chevy to make a few laps and shake down the backup #29. Harvick surfaced in Daytona the next day and, thanks to crew chief Gil Martin's lucky draw, started second on the outside of Carl Edwards.
The first twenty five lap segment of the race was fairly uneventful and was ended when Michael Waltrip's #51 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota was spun off the front end of Joey Logano exiting turn two. The teams then got ten minutes to debrief with their crews about what to adjust to make their cars drive better and handle good enough to win. At the start of the final fifty lap segment Carl Edwards led the field to the start again. This segment had a little more action and it didn't take long to get started. Kurt Busch got clipped by Mark Martin, sending the "Blue Deuce" through the infield grass. This was a single car wreck, but it was still spectacular because when the #2 cars splitter dug into the grass, the air under the car forced the hood to fly up and block Busch's vision causing him to hit the outside wall head on. This was Busch's second wrecked car in as many days. Other than Mark Martin's car all of a sudden stalling, not much else happened until eight to go.
That is when Michael Waltrip's #51 NAPA car was hooked from behind and put in the wall by Ryan Newman's #39 car. Mikey is on his farewell tour and as of now, the Daytona 500 and the Bud Shootout are the only races on his schedule. That was the last thing Mikey needed. This wreck was followed by a green white checkered finish and Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne running first and second respectively. It turns out that "The Biff"should have pitted instead of staying out because going into turn three, he lost a right rear tire and wrecked several cars. Its still hard to tell if that is what happened or if Biffle's #16 car was hit from behind by Jeff Gordon's#24. Both drivers say it was a flat tire. This froze the field and even though the race was supposed to end under green, the cars rode under caution for a lap and a half and Harvick was declared the winner under yellow flag conditions.
That is why NASCAR is considering having multiple attempts at a green white checkered finish to ensure we fans see a green flag finish every week. They may even implement it as soon as the Gatorade Duel 150s tomorrow afternoon at 2pm on SPEED. The Duels provide some of the best racing of the year and will either make or break several drivers seasons. I'll tell you right now that Michael Waltrip is going to be in the Daytona 500. Because of his qualifying time, if any of the cars that timed in on speed in qualifying last Saturday race their way in, Mikey gets in on his speed. But he won't need it. I firmly believe that the #51 NAPA Camry and its MWR crew will be in Daytona's victory lane tomorrow afternoon. If anyone can win in a restrictor plate race, especially when the pressure is on, its Michael Waltrip. He is in a really great position to be able to go out with a bang on Sunday afternoon in the Great American Race. Good luck Mikey!!! Give 'em hell brotha!!!"
