Handling will be key at Daytona
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Go back to the Daytona 500, and six of the top eight finishers were Dodges. But if you go back to the qualifying results from the Daytona 500, the Dodges were nowhere to be found. They didn't have that brute speed, but they worked hard on making their cars handle good. That's a big reason why they had such a great finish.
It seems like everywhere we go nowadays, we hear about track position, fuel only, two tires only. I'm not saying we won't see that Saturday night, but as much as handling will be at a premium, I think we will see a lot of tires being changed. This place is just so slick in the summertime.
These crew chiefs are facing a very huge challenge on trying to get their cars dialed in for this race. NASCAR has you in a pretty tight box of rules. Aero-wise, you kind of have what you have. Rear suspension is fairly locked in. They pretty much dictate the rear springs you run, plus they issue the rear springs.
So all you really only have to work with is the front springs and the front sway bar. And what makes it even more unusual is that this is an impound race. That adds to the challenge because these guys only get two practices on Thursday — all they do is qualify on Friday and then race on Saturday night.
So naturally, the folks to expect upfront in qualifying will be the go-or-go home group because they are going to have to trim it out for qualifying just to make the race. Still, I think it will be the cream rising to the top.
When I look back to the Daytona 500, which is the first race with the new car there, I think the Gibbs bunch will be tough as well as the Penske group. Actually, I think a lot of the Dodges will be tough down there. I am not sure about the Fords. I don't think they have been able to flex their muscles with this car, the gear rule, and restrictor plate rule.
| Speed Mail Larry McReynolds |
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You can count on Hendrick Motorsports being tough. It will be the usual cast of characters when it's all said and done, but just look at last Sunday at Loudon. You never say never. Obviously, anytime you are in Florida in the summer, the weather is a potential threat. That potential is there, but I'm not sure you ever go into that race with that thought in mind unless you get past Lap 80 and start seeing weather issues on the radar, which is exactly what happened last Sunday at Loudon.
It is always neat to go to Daytona in July. It always seems to be a lot more laid-back type atmosphere than when we are there in February. Don't get me wrong, the teams and drivers are focused. This race pays just as many points as it does in February. Daytona in July can tend to give us a surprise winner.
Once again, we are one race from the halfway point, and who would ever believe that we would be saying that Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth were sitting here still winless in 2008? I'm just not sure any of us saw that coming. p>
FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.
"How to Become a Winning Crew Chief" is on bookstore shelves, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.
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