Martin Makes History, Danica’s Daytona Debut Dazzles, and Harvick Doubles
Monday, February 8th, 2010By: Drew Hierwarter
Okay, it was “only” ARCA, and it was “only” 80 laps but by any measure Danica Patrick’s first ever stock car race was a success. She avoided the ARCA trademark wrecks, got knocked around some and wasn’t intimidated by it, and saved her car from being trashed against the wall after Nelson Piquett spun her off the track.
She re-started the race as the last car on the lead lap with less than 20 laps to go, passed four cars on the first green flag lap, and ended her night in sixth.
Now the team is talking about the possibility of her running in the Nationwide race next Saturday at Daytona. The original plan was for her to make her debut in that series two weeks from now in
Tony Eury, Senior even stayed back at the shop in North Carolina to make sure her Daytona car was ready just in case. It looks like he can load it on the truck and head south. Tony Eury, Junior, Danica’s crew chief is all for it.
“I would like to see her do it,” Eury said. “She did great. I couldn’t have asked for too much more. I was impressed.”
She’ll need to be impressive. The talent pool in the Nationwide series is much deeper than in ARCA. And except for the Indy 500, the Nationwide races are longer than what she’s used to.
* * *
Mark Martin is not only the oldest pole position winner in the history of the Daytona 500, but he is also the fastest since 1999. Thanks to four larger holes in the restrictor plate, and some aerodynamic changes to the cars, speeds are up. Martin’s pole speed of 191.188 mph was faster than every previous pole winner until you get to Joe Nemecheck’s 194.860 mph set back in the “old days” before the turn of the century.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Martin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. share the front row for next week’s “Great American Race”. Everybody else will have to race for their starting positions in two heat races on Thursday afternoon.
* * *
Kevin Harvick was so sick that he couldn’t take part in the practice sessions for the Bud Shootout. Clint Boyer and Jeff Burton took turns helping to set-up Harvick’s car. He recovered enough by Saturday to go out with no laps in the car and win the non-points sprint for big money for the second year in a row. And while that’s always a good way to start the season it’s no guarantee of success. After last year’s win in the Shootout, the team went winless the rest of they year, missed the Chase, and finished 19th in points.