Under The Radar …

Under The Radar … For An All-Time Great, Anyway

He’s the defending champion of NASCAR’s biggest race. Last year’s victory was his second in the Daytona 500. And he’s coming off his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. One more and he ties the record for most all time, with inaugural NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

Yet, Jimmie Johnson somehow comes into Daytona a bit under the radar. Buzz has surrounded Austin Dillon and Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick and an all-world rookie class.

The low-key high-performance Johnson’s likely fine with that. An early-race wreck in the Sprint Unlimited will undoubtedly do little to deter Johnson on his march towards #Se7en.

Johnson last year added his name – again – to an illustrious list of drivers who have won multiple Daytona 500s. Ten drivers have no done it, including NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (seven wins), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three) and Dale Jarrett (three). Come Sunday, Johnson hopes to join an even more exclusive group. Only three drivers have won back-to-back Daytona 500s: Petty (1973-74), Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).

And if he does, he’ll be one step closer to making the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the 11th consecutive time. This year, the top 15 winners are guaranteed a spot in the Chase. A win in the season-opening race will all but guarantee a berth into NASCAR’s playoffs.

 

Hamlin’s 2014 Rebound Has Begun  

Last season was Denny Hamlin’s toughest since his rookie year in 2006. That’s a statement Hamlin readily admits – and a quick gander at the stat sheets offers all the proof anyone needs.

But that was last year. It’s a brand new season, and it’s off to a blazing start.

A quick rundown of Hamlin’s 2013: After missing four races in the first quarter of the season due to a back injury, Hamlin struggled to finish inside the top 10, posting a career low eight top-10 finishes. He missed the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time in his career. But, the clear highlight came in the season finale, winning at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Hamlin called the win a confidence booster for his team; confidence they used to start off 2014 with a win in Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

As focus shifts to the Daytona 500, history shows Hamlin has a strong chance to continue building moment for a rebound in 2014. Joe Gibbs Racing has always been a strong contender in the Daytona 500. The organization’s first win came in the Daytona 500 with Jarrett in 1993. Even though this was the team’s only win in The Great American Race, JGR has recorded 20 top-10 finishes in points paying races at Daytona International Speedway.

In 2013, JGR cars led 119/200 laps in the Daytona 500, 33 of which were led by Hamlin, whose career best finish of fourth came in 2012.

 

Eight Sunoco Rookies Will Battle For Daytona 500 Glory

The 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year eight-driver class is the largest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie crop in 20 years (matching the total of the 1994 class that included names such as Jeff Burton, Mike Wallace and Joe Nemechek).

It’s large. And large on talent.

The average age of this year’s rookie class is only 23 years old, however this is a class with experience beyond their years. These contenders join the Sprint Cup Series ranks with a combined five NASCAR championships and 20 NASCAR wins across the NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

Three Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders will be supported by winning Sprint Cup Series organizations. … Austin Dillon will be the first Rookie of the Year contender to drive for Richard Childress Racing since Kevin Harvick, who posted two wins as a rookie en route to winning the Rookie of the Year title. Kyle Larson will drive for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, a team that won the Daytona 500 in 2010, and a Rookie of the Year title with Juan Pablo Montoya. Justin Allgaier will drive for HScott Motorsports (Formerly Phoenix Racing). HScott Motorsports last won with Brad Keselowski at Talladega in 2009 and has six top-10 finishes at superspeedways in the past 10 years.

 

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Etc.

On Sunday, Austin Dillon created a tidal wave of news, putting the iconic No. 3 car on the Coors Light Pole. The No. 3 car last raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2001, and hadn’t been on the track in the series since Dale Earnhardt’s fatal wreck on the final lap of that year’s Daytona 500. In winning the pole, Dillon became the fourth driver to win the pole for the Daytona 500 while driving the No. 3 car, joining Buddy Baker (1969), Ricky Rudd (1983) and Dale Earnhardt (1996). …  The pack is back – big time. Tight quarters led to a bevy of mishaps during Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway – only eight cars were running at the finish, the fewest since seven in 1981. … If Morgan Shepherd makes the field for the Daytona 500, he’ll be the oldest starter in the race’s history at 72 years, 4 months and 11 days. The previous oldest Daytona 500 starter was Dave Marcis in 2002 (60 years, 11 months, 16 days).