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Home , 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, Busch Clash, Chris Buescher, Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona 500

NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, Febuary 12, 2020

SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

A few questions we Compelling questions ... and had to ask ourselves maybe a few actual answers Time to rethink the Clash First-weekend takeaways? or just let ‘er rip? THREE THINGS TO WATCH GODSPEAK: Clash rhymes Two come to mind. First, if I’m ever with crash, and the two in line behind at Publix have gone hand in hand checkout and get waved over to a free for 42 years. Daniel Suarez cashier, I’m gonna think twice about skipped the Clash and he going around, especially if I have eggs looks like a genius now. in the cart. Second, has KEN’S CALL: Would come to stock-car racing’s next level bumper cars be an obvious with a certain plan, and unlike Joey, her concession to the modern plan is to avoid mayhem when possible. ways of this race? Nope, So far, at least. there’s no answer, and at this point, the carnage is Will both situations last? part of the charm, right? With Joey, yes, he’s long made it known Can Ricky Stenhouse Jr. he doesn’t like giving up a position, go wire to wire from the even at Daytona speeds. He’s pushing pole? 30 and might be very set in his ways, GODSPEAK: The last guy which is fine — we like the occasional who won the Daytona chaos. With Hailie, her stated desire to 500 from the pole was “play nice,” at least in the early going, in 2000. It can suggests someone at Ford might’ve happen, but don‘t count on officially offered that advice. But she’ll it, and heavens, don’t bet give us another reason to watch ARCA on it. races this year. KEN’S CALL: Doubtful, has his game face on for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series. He plans to retire after since it’s rather rare. But this . [AP/NICK WASS] Ken Willis, [email protected] even if he does, trust me, it won‘t be as orderly as 1. Johnson watch 2. Two weekends bucking the retirement it would appear in the trend that has sent the CUP STANDINGS record books. A short time after running Daytona and Charlotte likes of and the 2019 season finale at Motor Speedway are the to the lockers Final standings from the 2019 NASCAR Homestead- Speed- only tracks with back- in recent years. He let it Cup Series G O DW I N ’ S way, seven-time NASCAR to-back NASCAR racing slip that he extended his 1. 5040 PICKS FOR THE champion Jimmie Johnson, weekends. The Daytona contract with Stewart-Haas 2. Martin Truex Jr. 5035 DAYTONA 500 44, said the 2020 season 500 is this Sunday and the Racing when discussing a 3. 5033 would be his last as a full- first weekend does offer a possible move to television. 4. 5027 WINNER: time race driver. Johnson few clues about what could “For me, that will keep me 5. Joey Logano 2380 REST OF TOP 5: Chase has been getting plenty happen in the 500. For in the car for a few more 6. 2339 Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle of attention at Daytona instance, Chevy seems to years as we go through 6. 2339 Larson, Matt DiBenedetto International Speedway, have an engine advantage, 2023 and then we will see 8. Brad Keselowski 2318 FIRST ONE OUT: Ryan where he will likely make while the Fords hold up where we are at,” he said. 9. 2290 Preece his final Daytona 500 start better in draft conditions. “That timing works well for 10. 2275 DARK HORSE: Tyler on Sunday. Nervous? me.” 11. William Byron 2274 Reddick Nah. Johnson ran a half- 3. Happy Harvick 12. 2257 DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: marathon this past Sunday Godwin Kelly, godwin. 13. 2237 Keselowski collects his before racing. Kevin Harvick, 44, is [email protected] 14. 2234 third NASCAR major and 15. Ryan Newman 2219 puts a big smile on Roger 16. 2194 Penske’s face. 17. Daniel Suarez 846 18. Jimmie Johnson 835 19. 777 BY THE NUMBERS DAYTONA 20. 729 18: Drivers who started the WHAT’S ON TAP 6: Cars that finished the THREE THINGS WE LEARNED (All times Eastern) Busch Clash 2: Career Daytona wins by 1. Crash-happy CUP SERIES: 150-mile Duel qualifying Erik Jones races 13: Overtime laps needed The Busch Clash at Daytona SITE: Daytona International Speedway to complete Busch Clash International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval) 1: Laps led by Erik Jones had so many multi-car SCHEDULE: Thursday, race ( in the Busch Clash crashes, only six cars from 1, 7 p.m.) the 18-car starting field were around for the check- CUP SERIES: Daytona 500 M O T O R M O U T H S ered flag. “That was one of SITE: Daytona International Speedway PODCAST the wildest things I’ve ever SCHEDULE: Sunday, race (Fox, 2:30 p.m.) been in racing,” said car We have ignition and owner . “That may : NASCAR Racing Experience 300 liftoff. The Pod aims for never happen again.” This big pileup happened at the start-finish line during the SITE: Daytona International Speedway higher orbit. Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway. [N-J/DAVID TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice (Fox 2. One for two TUCKER] Sports 1, 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.). Saturday, Tune in online at qualifying (, 11 a.m.), race www.news-journalonline. Erik Jones doesn’t need to race I’ve ever been in, let at JTG-Daugherty Racing. (Fox Sports 1, 2:30 p.m.) com/daytonamotormouths lead a lot of laps to alone won.” He shocked the NASCAR Daytona wins. He won the Nation when he took the GANDER RV & OUTDOORS TRUCK 2018 3. Junior’s pole No. 47 to Daytona SERIES: NextEra 250 by leading the last lap. He 500 pole honors after being SITE: Daytona International Speedway repeated that one-lap per- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was clocked at 194.582 mph. TV SCHEDULE: Thursday, practice (Fox formance to win the Busch cut by Roush Fenway Sports 2, 1 p.m.; Fox Sports 1, 5:30 p.m.). Clash. “It was a strange Racing after the 2019 Godwin Kelly, godwin. Friday, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.), race,” Jones said. “Craziest season and found a ride [email protected] race (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.)

2 0 2 0 C U P S E R I E S April 5: Bristol June 21: Chicagoland Sept. 6: Darlington SCHEDULE AND WINNERS April 19: Richmond June 27: Pocono Sept. 12: Richmond Feb. 9: Clash at Daytona (Erik Jones) April 26: Talladega June 28: Pocono Sept. 19: Bristol Feb. 16: Daytona 500 May 3: Dover July 5: Sept. 27: Feb. 23: Las Vegas May 9: Martinsville July 11: Oct. 4: Talladega March 1: Fontana May 16: All-Star Race at Charlotte July 19: Oct. 11: Charlotte March 8: Phoenix May 24: Charlotte Aug. 9: Oct. 18: March 15: May 31: Kansas Aug. 16: Watkins Glen Oct. 25: March 22: Homestead-Miami June 7: Michigan Aug. 23: Dover Nov. 1: Martinsville March 29: Texas June 14: Sonoma Aug. 29: Daytona Nov. 8: Phoenix

KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

KYLE BUSCH KEVIN MARTIN CHASE ERIK JONES BRAD JOEY DENNY RYAN JIMMIE Give opening HARVICK TRUEX JR. ELLIOTT Coach’s KESELOWSKI LOGANO HAMLIN BLANEY JOHNSON nod to the New contract Will roar into Bringing no reassurance Surely wants Favorite One miss- Finally ready Wishful champ says he’s still his 40s it momentum should push to contend Cartwright: ing piece in to take the thinking? hungry seems from ’19 him for Cup again Dan Blocker trophy case next step? We’ll see 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10