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Stacking Stones
​A Creative Craft Blog

From the mind of Jason Kapcala comes an eclectic journal dedicated to the study of creative writing, rock music, tailgating, and other miscellany. The musings, meditations, contemplations, and ruminations expressed here are my own unless otherwise indicated. Please feel free to share your comments, thoughts, and opinions, but do so respectfully and intelligently.
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Sunday Afternoon Tailgate: The Daytona 500 (Special Edition!)

2/23/2014

2 Comments

 
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If you're familiar with my essay "Bodies in Motion: Daytona U.S.A.," you know that Daytona has held a special place in my heart ever since I went there as a teen and took a memorable 170-mph joy ride around the track. That was a long time ago, but since then, I've tried to set aside a little time each year to catch "The Great American Race," the Daytona 500.

As any race fan will tell you, the Daytona 500 is special. It's also something of a spectacle (the first televised 500 in 1979 ended with a last lap crash and a fist fight in the in-field). This year promises to be no exception. There are plenty of stories swirling around the race--can anyone stop defending champion Jimmie Johnson? How will Danica Patrick fare as she enters her second full season? Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. find his way to victory lane again in a restrictor plate race?  And what can we expect from rookie Austin Dillon as he starts from the pole driving the legendary #3 car?

We'll find out answers to all of these questions in a few hours, but first we need a menu befitting the largest event in motorsports, and I need to make my predictions. . . .


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Pan-Fried Onion Dip

I can't take credit for this recipe, though I've been making it for many years. This unique twist on French Onion Dip comes from Ina Garten, host of the Food Network's Barefoot Contessa, who is also, interestingly, a former White House nuclear policy analyst. I suppose that's fitting because with a pinch of cayenne pepper, this sweet and spicy dip could definitely be called "nuclear."


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Green Flag Broccoli Salad

Not everyone is a broccoli fan, but I can't get enough of this bushy vegetable. I especially like it in a sweet and creamy cole-slaw style dressing. This salad is so good, you'll have a hard time not filling up before the entree hits the table.


  • ½ c. Mayonnaise (reduced fat is fine, if you prefer)
  • 1 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar (pretty much any vinegar works as a substitute)
  • 1-2 TBSP Honey, to taste
  • 4 c. Broccoli Florets, uncooked
  • 6 slices of Bacon, crumbled
  • ½ Red Onion, chopped
  • 1/3 c. Golden Raisins (regular raisins will do as a substitute)
  • Sharp Cheddar, shredded, to taste
  • Sunflower Seeds, to taste
  • Salt and Cracked Black Pepper, to taste


Mix mayo, vinegar, and honey in a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat well. Cover and refrigerate.


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Potatoes Napoleon

I loved this recipe from the Week 17 tailgate so much that I had to make it again. Click the link to view the recipe.


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Drop-of-the-Flag Biscuits


It's not a true southern meal if you don't include biscuits. I'm no baker (when it comes to anything involving dough, you'll find me ricocheting off the fourth-turn wall), but these drop biscuits are so easy they're almost impossible to screw up.


  • 1 (8 oz.) package of Cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 c. Butter or Margarine
  • 1 c. Self-Rising Flour (or 1 c. All-Purpose Flour + 1 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder + 1/4 tsp. Salt)
  • 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 c. good-quality Grated Parmesan


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the dry ingredients, beating at
low speed until just blended.

Spoon dough mixture onto a non-stick baking sheet in small
dollops (10-12 biscuits). Bake for 17-18 minutes or until
golden brown. Serve immediately with butter and honey.


Note: you can keep this dough in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking

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Slow-Cooker Country Ribs

I love country-style ribs. They tend to be meatier and more tender than traditional baby back ribs, and their flavor is second to none. Like all good rib recipes, this one requires you to exercise patience and cook at "pit road speed."  Once it comes time to chow down, however, all bets are off. During today's race, a typical pit stop will take about twelve seconds. That's also about how long these ribs will last once they hit the table. The simple BBQ sauce is perfect for a long bath in the crock pot on those winter afternoons where the grill is still covered in snow.


  • PAM Cooking Spray
  • 1 small Yellow Onion, sliced
  • 1 Green Pepper, chopped
  • 1-2 lbs. boneless Country-style Pork Lion Ribs
  • 2 c. Ketchup
  • 1/2 c. Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/3 c. Packed Brown Sugar
  • 3 TBSP Spicy Brown Mustard
  • 3 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 TBSP Liquid Smoke
  • 1 TBSP Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp. Garlic Salt
  • 1 tsp. Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. Tabasco Sauce


Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Place ribs in crock pot. In a medium bowl, mix all remaining ingredients, and pour them over the ribs.

Cook on low for about 8 hours until fully cooked and fork-tender.


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Crunchy Peppermint Ice Cream-Brownie Sandwiches

Those who know me can attest to the fact that ice cream is my favorite food of all time. I eat it year round (sometimes more than once a day). In this recipe, I take that sweet ambrosia and use it as the stuffing for homemade ice cream sandwiches. But since we're still in February here, we need to give this dish a bit of seasonal flair. How? By adding peppermint, of course! 


  • 1 package of Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix (or other brownie mix)
  • Water, Vegetable Oil, and Egg (as called for on the package)
  • 1/2 c. miniature Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 c. crushed Peppermint Candy-Cane pieces (chocolate covered or not, according to preference)
  • 1 container high-quality Vanilla Ice Cream
  • 1/2 c. Whipped Chocolate Frosting (or other frosting)


Prepare brownies according to the directions on the package, and let cool completely.

Cut the brownie into small squares, reserving half (you are going to make sandwiches).

Stir the peppermint pieces into the ice cream and spoon over half of the the brownie squares, smoothing the top.

Put the other half of your brownie squares on top, completing your sandwiches. Frost the top of each sandwich and sprinkle with the chocolate chips.

Cover with plastic wrap and freeze sandwiches for at least two hours before serving.



Note: For a non-winter version, you can also substitute the peppermint candy pieces for Heath toffee pieces (chocolate covered or not, according to preference), and the chocolate chips for chopped nuts (ice cream topping).



Drink Recommendations

Beer: Blithering Idiot (Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, PA) (11.1% ABV)

Cocktail: Victory Lane Cooler


I opened this tailgate last September with a growler of Weyerbacher, so it's only fitting that I return to this rich barley-wine brew to close the series down for the season.

For cocktail drinkers, I've also created a refreshing whiskey drink that may be better suited for a spring picnic than a late-winter tailgate, but with the race taking place in sunny Florida, we can all dream of warmer days, right?


  • 4 oz. of your favorite brand of Lemonade (I prefer Simply Lemon)
  • 4 oz. Dole Pineapple Juice
  • 2 oz. Sprite
  • 1 1/2 shots Cherry Bourbon (such as Evan William's Cherry Reserve)
  • Maraschino Cherries, for garnish


Mix well with ice and drink! For those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink, just omit the bourbon.

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Something tells me I should have named this drink "The Intimidator"

PictureBill Elliott setting a Daytona qualifying record of 210.364 mph (2/9/87)
DAYTONA 500 HISTORY: A LEGACY OF SPEED AND THE RISE OF RESTRICTOR PLATES

If you're new to NASCAR and wondering why the cars travel around the larger speedways like Daytona and Talladega in a pack, it's because of a frustrating device called a "restrictor plate," which limits airflow to the engine, reducing power and top speed. Why does NASCAR mandate restrictor plates? The official story is that this device was motivated by a particularly frightening crash during the 1987 Winston 500 at Talladega where Bobby Allison went airborne and took down the catch fencing that separates the fans from the track. However, this story may be more complex than that (as stories often are). Many fans of the sport feel that the decision to limit top speeds actually had less to do with safety concerns and more to do with the superspeedway success of one driver: Bill Elliott.

In 1985, 30-year-old Georgia native Bill Elliott would win his first Daytona 500 starting from the pole, en route to winning what was then known as the "Winston Million" (a challenge issued to any driver who could win three of NASCAR's four most important races in one season: its richest race, fastest race, longest race, and oldest race). Powered by his brother Ernie Elliott's engines, the man known as "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" would go on to win 11 poles and 11 races in '85, including another superspeedway race, the Winston 500 at Talladega, where he pulled off an incredible feat, making up 2 laps under the green flag after having to pit for a broken oil fitting early in the race. Elliott's dominant come-from-behind victory was so improbable, so inconceivable, so unheard of, that, if there weren't television and radio coverage to prove it actually happened, no one today would believe it ever took place. It also rankled NASCAR officials who saw Elliott as "ruining the show" and may have spelled the demise of open racing at NASCAR's biggest tracks.
Following the race, officials began taking a closer look at Elliott and his equipment. They tore his cars apart during post-race inspections to try and prove that he had somehow cheated. He hadn't. New rules were purposely put in place to try and slow him down. They didn't work. Awesome Bill just kept winning.

In 1987, Elliott continued his reign of awesomeness, setting the Daytona 500 qualifying record with a blistering average speed of 210.364 miles per hour (just a hair faster than my trip around the track, FYI), and winning his second 500 days later, cementing his legacy as one of the best drivers on the circuit. A few months after that, Elliott would also break his own track record at Talladega with a qualifying speed of 212.809 miles per hour, following it up with another win on Sunday. In fact, in the 66-year history of the sport, Elliott still holds 9 of NASCAR's top 10 all-time fastest qualifying runs. (Think about that for a second.)

Why was Elliott so fast? There were a lot of theories about his engines and his car setup, but one thing is for sure, Elliott was fearless behind the wheel. You see, back in the 80s, it took a special brand of courage to drive a stock car that fast. Cars weren't the slick aerodynamic marvels they are today. Ford Thunderbirds like the one Elliott drove were basically flying bricks with tiny rear spoilers that laid nearly flat, offering very little in the way of down force or stability. When they spun backwards; they had a nasty tendency to go airborne. Still, Elliott managed to drive his car right to the edge, week in and week out, setting an asphalt-melting pace that was difficult to match.

That is, until 1988.
Following Bobby Allison's wreck in the '87 Talladega 500, NASCAR began looking for ways to limit the speeds at Daytona and Talladega. (They said it was for safety. Others alleged that it was a convenient excuse allowing NASCAR to inject parity into the field.) Whatever the reason, they unveiled the restrictor plate, a device which cuts horsepower by more than 40%. As ESPN writer Ed Hinton puts it:
the rest is a complicated history of pack drafting, massive pileups drivers call "the big one," then tandem drafting, then back to pack drafting . . . of drivers complaining that they don't have enough throttle response to drive away from trouble . . . of white knuckles on every steering wheel in the 43-car field . . . of tension that transcends the drivers' seats to the grandstands to the sofas in the living rooms.
This unpopular little plate is the reason why the cars now travel side-by-side, often three abreast, in a tight (and dangerous) pack throughout superspeedway races, unable to pull out from the draft to pass one another. (Prior to this, the racing at Daytona and Talladega looked pretty much like the racing at any other track, albeit at a much higher rate of speed.)

So which origin story is true? Did NASCAR institute restrictor plates in order to protect the fans and keep insurance premiums down? Or was this the a final step toward curbing the dominance of one driver who couldn't be caught?

The truth is probably a little of both.

Whatever the case, NASCAR got what it wanted. In 1988, the overall speeds went down. And though Bill Elliott would go on to win his first-and-only Cup Championship that year, and though he would remain competitive at superspeedways throughout the remainder of his 37-year career, he would never win another race at Daytona or Talladega.
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Testing indicates that, without restrictor plates, today's stock cars would race at speeds upwards of 230 miles per hour.

Bill Elliott Career Stats
Cup Series'

Championships: 1
(16th all time -- tie)

Wins: 44

(16th all time)

Poles: 55

(8th all time)

Top 5s: 175

(19th all time)

Top 10s: 320

(13th all time)

Starts: 828

(7th all time)

Laps Led: 11,413

(14th all time)


16x Most Popular Driver
One of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
2-time Daytona 500 winner
3-time Southern 500 winner
Winston 500 winner
Brickyard 500 winner
2-time Firecracker 400 winner
All-Star Race winner
Busch Clash winner
First driver to win the Winston Million

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DAYTONA 500 HISTORY: THE RETURN OF THE #3

For many fans, this year's Daytona 500 marks something of a milestone with the #3 being used for the first time since Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in a last lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. A tenacious and hard-nosed competitor, Earnhardt is remembered as a racing legend and one of the greatest drivers of all time, having notched 76 wins and 7 championships.

Of course, you can't talk about Dale Earnhardt without mentioning Daytona in the same breath. Possibly the best superspeedway racer of all time, competitors would sometimes joke that Earnhardt had the supernatural ability to actually "see" the draft around him. However, despite his unparalleled success on plate tracks (including 34 victories at Daytona), Dale Earnhardt had never won the Daytona 500. Not in 19 attempts. Every time he came close, something conspired to snatch victory away--a blown tire on the last lap, mechanical failure, accidents, a trio last lap fender-length losses, bad luck . . . all played their part. And to many, it seemed like "The Intimidator" was snake-bitten when it came to the winning NASCAR's crown jewel. He'd won plenty of Daytona 499s, but something always seemed to come up on the last lap.

Finally, in 1998, during his 500th career start, with a lucky penny from Make-A-Wish child Wessa Miller glued to his dash, Earnhardt broke the jinx, powering his #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory. What I'll always remember about that race is the aggressive move Dale Sr. made to put himself in position to win, coming straight up the middle of the pack. I'd never seen that done before, didn't even think it possible, and I've never seen it since. He wanted victory bad, and when he finally took the lead, there was no wrestling it away from him.

NASCAR's top driver had finally won it's top event after almost 20 years of trying. And more than anything, he seemed relieved.

What happened next was particularly memorable, with all of the crew members lining up on pit road to congratulate Earnhardt on his way to Victory Lane.

Tragically, Dale Earnhardt Sr. would lose his life at the track he loved three years later on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. It was a loss that shook the sport to its core, coming to be known as Black Sunday. Even if you weren't an Earnhardt fan (I wasn't), it affected you. It was like seeing Michael Jordan collapse on the court. And in the aftermath of Earnhardt's death, several safety improvements were implemented to protect drivers, including the required use of head and neck restraints and the building of "soft walls."

Since Black Sunday, no one has used the number 3 in Cup competition, and though it's not official NASCAR policy, it is generally believed that the car owners have been working under an unspoken gentleman's agreement to effectively retire the number. This year, Earnhardt's longtime car owner and friend Richard Childress has decided to bring the number out of retirement with his grandson, Austin Dillon, piloting the car made famous by The Intimidator. Reaction to this decision is mixed, as expected--some fans are, understandably upset, while other folks (including driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.)  have embraced the move.

For his part, Austin Dillon has gotten off to a good start. In his first qualifying session as a full-time Sprint Cup driver, Dillon has won the pole, and so he'll be sitting in the front row come when the green flag drops. Whatever your take on the decision, it will be nostalgic to see that familiar #3 leading the field to green once again in the Daytona 500.


(Incidentally, the #3 replica was also the car I took my ride-along in.)

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Austin Dillon Career Stats
Sprint Cup Series

Championships: 0

Wins: 0


Poles: 1


Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Starts: 13

Laps Led: 0



NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion (2013)
Camping World Truck Series Champion (2011)


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Dale Earnhardt Career Stats
Cup Series'

Championships: 7
(1st all time -- tie)

Wins: 76

(7th all time)

Poles: 22

(31st all time -- tie)

Top 5s: 281

(5th all time)

Top 10s: 428

(4th all time)

Starts: 676

(18th all time)

Laps Led: 26,684

(4th all time)


1x Most Popular Driver
1979 Rookie of the Year

One of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee (2010)

Daytona 500 winner
3-time Coca-Cola 600 winner
3-time Southern 500 winner
3-time winner of the Talladega spring race
2-time Firecracker 400 winner
3-time All-Star Race winner
6-time Busch Clash winner

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TRADING PAINT: DANICA PATRICK

Unsurprisingly, things are heating up around driver Danica Patrick at this year's Daytona Speedweeks. It seems like every year, through no fault of her own, Patrick finds herself caught up in the debate over her legitimacy as a driver. She's a woman in a man's sport. An intruder. A hero. A gold mine. And, in many ways, the best thing to happen to NASCAR in a long time. That said, many people resent the amount of attention she gets when she hasn't yet proven herself as a competitor.

The latest controversy started with a comment made by NASCAR's all-time winning driver/champion, "The King" Richard Petty. When asked in an interview if Danica could win, Petty quipped, "Sure, if the other 42 drivers don't show up." He went on to add that the attention Patrick was receiving was largely because she was a woman driver competing in a predominantly male sport. Not because she was an accomplished driver. "Good PR for all of us," he acknowledged, but it was clear that Petty did not approve of the hype. 

Of course, some folks were quick to label The King a sexist (an allegation he denies) or, at the very least, a grouchy old man. Others were quick to defend him, deriding Patrick as a glamour model in a car.

For her part, Patrick has tried to stay above it all, saying only that folks are entitled to their opinion, and that the negative attention spurs her on. That seems to be her MO, and it's commendable. Say what you want about Danica, but she handles criticism better than anyone with her wry and charismatic personality.

Adding fire to the flames, however, is Patrick's car owner and teammate, Tony Stewart. Never one to be mild-mannered or soft-spoken (they call him "Smoke" for a reason), Stewart suggested that Petty was being . . . well . . . petty, and that Patrick and Petty should race one-on-one. If Danica wins, she should take the checkered flag and "cram it up his ass," says Stewart.

So who wins in this scenario?

Sadly, no one.

Petty may be a sexist (I don't know the man, so I can't say). Or he may just be frank to the point of insult. But after reading his comments in the context of his Q & A session, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. I think he seems frustrated by the nonstop media frenzy that follows Patrick wherever she goes, but not dismissive of her right as a woman to drive in the series. He was probably weary of talking about a driver that isn't even his driver (for what was probably the the hundred-millionth time), and so he made a joke. And then when he was pressed about it, he stuck to his guns because, in the end, (if a bit hyperbolic) it's honestly what Petty believes: Danica Patrick has not proven herself to be a particularly competitive driver. And, though she's popular, in a sport where wins come few and far between, the odds of her winning are low.

On those points, Petty is correct.

That said, there's a fine line between accuracy and appropriateness, and in the end, Petty shouldn't have said what he said. He doesn't gain anything from publicly tearing down a young driver. Danica Patrick may not have won anything yet, but neither had Adam Petty (The King's grandson), when he was tapped to become a full-time driver for the 2001 season. (Adam Petty, sadly, never got to compete full-time in NASCAR's top circuit; he was killed in a practice crash in 2000 after his throttle stuck at New Hampshire International Speedway.) Danica's resume is more impressive than Adam Petty's was at the time, and I'm sure that if/when detractors said, "Oh, that Adam Petty, the only reason he's here is because he's The King's grandson. If his name were Adam Smith, no one would know who he was," Richard Petty would have thought it unfair. You need to give young drivers a chance to compete. And you can't hold them all to the standard of Denny Hamlin or Kyle Busch. Not every driver figures it out during his or her first season.

Furthermore, like many, Petty may be tired of talking about Danica Patrick, but that comes with being NASCAR royalty. People want your opinion on the hottest stories, even when those stories involve a controversial woman driver. Especially when the stories involve a controversial woman driver. And when you're the king, you have to respond like a king, 24/7.

Tony Stewart was also wrong. Richard Petty has won 200 races in his career. 95 more than the next closest driver. And though Stewart may dismiss some of that dominance as a product of a less competitive time, Richard Petty is, without a question, the best racer to ever compete in NASCAR and one of its most respected ambassadors. It's a fact that's unanimous. (I've yet to read or hear anyone list a driver ahead of the King.) He deserves more respect than Stewart is giving him. It's not fair to attack the King's victories because of his era, any more than it's fair to attack Danica's place behind the wheel.

The notion that the two should race is kind of silly. And, even though Petty has accepted the challenge, it's unlikely that the race will happen outside of some charity event. Petty is 76-years-old, and it's been two decades (more like three, if we're being honest) since he raced competitively. Beating him would prove nothing. And, if the unlikely happens and he wins? Well, Danica will have been dragged into a challenge that wasn't hers in the first place, and the Danica-haters will only have more ammo.

Winning a race. Racking up some top 10 finishes. Making the Chase for the Championship. Those are the accomplishments that matter. And they're the goals that Danica Patrick needs to focus on if she wants to prove herself as a racer. She can start this Sunday with a solid showing in NASCAR's most important event. Do I think Danica Patrick will win the Daytona 500? No, especially not after the engine in her primary car blew in Friday's practice. Do I think Danica Patrick could win the Daytona 500. Absolutely. If history has shown us anything, it's that any driver can win on any given day. Especially in a restrictor plate race. (After all, Derrike Cope won the 1990 Daytona 500 after Earnhardt cut down a tire on the last lap. So if that can happen, pretty much anything can happen.) Either way, a decent finish would go a long way to silencing Patrick's critics.

Until then, the jury's still out.

There's no question that Patrick has skill and talent--she wouldn't be driving in NASCAR's top series if she didn't. But time will tell whether she turns into a true challenger (the way Dale Earnhardt Jr. did) or whether she remains a "journeywoman" driver. One who, at best, maybe wins a race here and there but basically just fills out the field each week, like so many male drivers before her. Another Derrike Cope.

For now, many drivers, such as Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, and Kevin Harvick, seem to genuinely respect Danica and even sympathize with some of the unique challenges she faces. Said Junior:
"You can't call out (Petty) because he's 'The King' and he's such a patriarch and icon in the sport and has tons of wisdom and insight and done a lot for this sport. But at the same time, she deals with more criticism than anyone who has ever raced in the sport. It seems like she goes by a different set of rules because of her gender, and that's unfortunate. . . . It seems like she's always having to answer to something like that and it's a pain in her butt and frankly, it's got to get old."

It may get old, but it hasn't kept fans from flocking to the track to see Patrick race, or from lining up to get autographs. Like The King, she remains one of the most popular and recognizable faces in the sport. So don't expect "Danica Fever" to break anytime soon.
Danica Patrick Career Stats
Sprint Cup Series

Championships: 0

Wins: 0

Poles: 1

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 1

Starts: 46

Laps Led: 5



IZOD IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year (2005)

Richard Petty Career Stats
Cup Series'

Championships: 7 (1st all-time -- tie)

Wins: 200 (1st all-time)

Poles: 123 (1st all-time)

Top 5s: 555 (1st all-time)

Top 10s: 712 (1st all-time)

Starts: 1184 (1st all-time)

Laps Led: 51,379 (1st all-time)


8x Most Popular Driver
1959 Rookie of the Year
Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee
7-time Daytona 500 winner
2-time World 600 winner
Southern 500 winner
3-time Firecracker 400 winner
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992)
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For an intelligent take on the situation, check out Ed Hinton's article at ESPN.com.

CHECKERED FLAG CONTENDERS

Finally, we're down to the predictions. If you've ever watched a restrictor-plate race before, then you know that trying to pick a winner ahead of time is a real crapshoot. Often, the Daytona 500 is a race of attrition and the winner is the driver who manages make it through all 200 laps without getting caught up in "the big one." That said, I have to choose someone, so let's take a look at a few of the contenders. . . .


The Returning Champ: Jimmie Johnson -- It's getting hard to pick against Jimmie Johnson anymore. For the past twelve years, he's been a dominant force, only finishing the season outside of the top 5 in points once. He's won the 500 twice (including last year's event), and should be one of the favorites for this year's race, as well.


The Restrictor Plate Favorite: Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Seven of Junior's nineteen wins have come at restrictor-plate tracks, including a win in the 2004 Daytona 500. He's also finished in the Top-5 twenty times (most recently in last year's race). A fan favorite from a legendary racing pedigree, it's about time for Dale Jr. to find his way back to victory lane after a winless 2013 season, and Daytona would be the perfect track for that.


The Darkhorse: Austin Dillon -- Dillon has been ripping it up so far, earning the pole in his first Sprint Cup start as a full-time driver with an average speed of 196.019 miles per hour. Will he still lead after 200 laps? Possibly--it's not unheard of for a rookie to win this race (Trevor Bayne did it in 2011), and nine drivers have won from the pole position (though it hasn't happened in 14 years). I haven't seen enough of the kid to pick him as a favorite, but if there's one team that knows how to win at Daytona, it's Richard Childress Racing. With Childress (controversially) bringing the #3 out of retirement, this has all the makings of a Hollywood ending where Dillon drives the #3 back to victory lane. When it comes to professional sports, these perfect storylines come true more often than you'd think probable. And so, Austin Dillon could be an upset pick.



The Rest of the Pack: Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. -- Any of these guys could win. Kenseth and Hamlin looked especially strong in the twin Budweiser Duels, so expect them to be stout on Sunday.


VICTORY LANE PREDICTION:


Winner! -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
(Hendrick Motorsports)

With his Crew Chief Steve Letarte retiring at the end of the season the entire team is going to be hungry for that elusive championship this season. It all starts with a win in the 56th annual Daytona 500.


Runner Up -- Carl Edwards
(Roush Fenway Racing)

I like Edwards a lot and it was difficult not choosing him, but I think he plays the part of bridesmaid again in this year's 500.


Third Place -- Jimmie Johnson
(Hendrick Motorsports)

Maybe it's just that I'm sick of seeing Jimmie Johnson's smug mug in victory lane, or maybe it's just that winning back-to-back 500's is tough, but I don't see him taking home the trophy this year. Now, the championship? That could be another story.
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All recipes listed above come from my own imagination unless otherwise indicated. If you try one of these recipes in your own kitchen, leave a comment below and tell me how it goes. And, of course, share your modifications, enhancements, improvements, etc.

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2 Comments
Car Industry Car Travel Autocars link
5/2/2015 07:22:10 pm

Thank you, your website adds to my knowledge, and this is very petrified me

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Kap link
5/3/2015 03:44:48 am

You're welcome! Thanks for reading!

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