Thursday, February 23, 2012

First Daytona Qualifying Race Started Fast, Fizzled, and Ended With a Bang


Mike Shaner
February 22, 2012

Daytona Beach Florida- The first of two Daytona 500 qualifying races today started fast and ended with a bang. Carl Edwards started from the pole and lead the first lap before being over taken by Tony Stewart on the next. The two exchanged places again on Lap four. On Lap five the crowd erupted as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Powered his Chevy into the lead. Halfway through lap six the crowd was whipped into frenzy as Trevor Bayne and Dale Jr. Swapped the lead down the back Stretch. 
  
On Lap 9 Michael McDowell got into the left rear quarter panel of David Gilliland turning him into Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya bringing out the first of two caution flags. Brad Keslowski was also swept up in the aftermath. 

  
Denny Hamlin, who did not pit acquired the lead at this point and kept it until lap 44 when he pitted for gas and surrendered the lead back to Tony Stewart, who held on to win. Michael Waltrip gave the next real excitement when he spun on lap 52. 
Danica Patrick had a solid day, running near the top 10 until her brutal last lap crash regulated her to 16th place and ended the event with a bang. The race was brutish and besides a few glimmers of electricity, somewhat boring. There were 4 lead changes in the first 9 laps and then nothing for the final 51. Dale Jr. was second followed by Marcus Ambrose, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Burton. Denny Hamlin, who led the most laps finished 9th.

No comments:

Post a Comment