Daytona Qualifying 2-16-14

Conspiracy.  It’s a big word, filled with all sorts of bad connotations.  Did NASCAR conspire to put Austin Dillon and the return of the #3 car on the pole, just like they did last year with Danica?  Well, like I said, it’s a big word, and therefore it’s unlikely that the brain-trust that runs NASCAR knows what it means.  Then again, his image was already in the NASCAR logo bumper spot before winning the pole.  Hmmm. 

Actually I was happy to see the kid in the cowboy hat with the winning smile take it.  Unlike some Nationwide drivers who have enormous marketability but very little in accomplishments to back that up, Austin actually enters the Cup series with a decent pedigree.  Speaking of Danica, if the kid does well, look for him to unseat her as NASCAR’s darling.  Don’t worry Junior fans.  His place is secure.  You’ll get your, “Where’s Junior?” updates throughout the race, as usual.

I’m fully convinced that Richard Petty’s comments earlier in the week about Danica’s ability to win races, regards of how he really feels about the subject, were essentially a marketing promotion by NASCAR.  One, it reminded the fans that Danica was still driving in the series.  Two, it provided a pointless controversy for the fans and commentators to argue about to promote the race.  I think she’s got the equipment and the talent to back into a couple of race wins, you know, rain delay, fuel mileage, field-clearing wreck type wins.  And if she does win, I guarantee, she’ll make a spectacle and embarrass herself in short order afterward.  That’s the next phase of the Danica Experience, not to spoil it for everyone who wasn’t watching her other racing reality show, the IRL.

Where’s Daryl Waltrip?  He wasn’t doing the qualifying.  I don’t know if he was doing the Sprint Unlimited race.  Did he retire?  Quit?  Get fired?  Eh, who cares?  [Update: He was in emergency surgery.  My apologies and condolences.]  If Phil Parsons is taking his spot in the broadcast crew, he’s going to have to speak up some more.  It might also help to know who he is.  Michael Waltrip is still there unfortunately.  Racing isn’t like baseball.  A great race call isn’t going to make a bad race interesting.

I was kind of hoping for a little more discussion about the myriad of rules changes NASCAR made over the off-season.  I guess there was no point in talking about the new qualifying format, since it didn’t impact this race.  Given how boring the current format is, I guess new F1-style format is okay as I understand it (which I don’t, so little wonder I’m ambivalent).  I doubt anyone will be watching them either way.  There’s a new penalty structure for some infractions, which likely won’t dissuade anyone anyway.  There may be some new rule about wrecked cars going to the garage not being able to re-enter the race.

Then there’s the “Win and you’re in” new points structure.  It’s not much more complicated than that.  Win to get into the Chase, win to move on in the Chase, and then be the top finishing driver in the final race out of the final four.  I really wonder how this is going to work.  I know the fans want to see the drivers go for wins more than points racing.  I do too.  This format seems like too simplistic a reaction.  It will likely be taken advantage of, create a very controversial ending to the final race (perhaps by design), and will be heavily revised next season. 

Back to the qualifying, I would have had the Sprint Unlimited race on Fox and put the qualifying Fox Sports 1.  Given the fan voting format making the Unlimited something of a joke (with a big payday), I could live with missing it though. 

Two quick awards. 

Coolest car, rookie, Alex Bowman’s Dr. Pepper car.

Handsomest driver, again a rookie, Parker Kligerman.  Seriously, the guy looked like he walked out of Central Casting.  Here’s your female market focus NASCAR, and he’s got as many wins in Cup as Danica.   

Let’s go racin’ next weekend.