8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s Godwin Kelly & Ken Willis have covered NASCAR for nearly 60 years combined. NASCAR THIS WEEK [email protected] [email protected]

SPEED FREAKS QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE A few questions we had to ask ourselves Compelling questions ... and maybe a few actual answers starts up front for DAYTONA the 500: can he be there at the 16-second pit stops? end? THREE THINGS WE LEARNED GODSPEAK: The slipping and Sure, back in your dad’s day, sliding 500? Sorry, I don’t think they couldn’t get in and out in it will happen. Maybe next year. 16 seconds unless they only KEN’S CALL: Gotta say no. It’s took two tires. But in modern a lot of laps in a lot of traffic NASCAR, 16 seconds would with a lot that can go wrong for feel like a wait at the DMV. But a guy not accustomed to being cutting pit crews from six to there. five members has lengthened the stops and given the teams Does the Clash win make Kesel- plenty to study and test as owski a favorite? they look to shave time in the GODSPEAK: Yes, just based on pits. the fact his Daytona confidence level is through the roof right Is this a good thing? now. KEN’S CALL: He’s always among Yes! Frankly, four guys would the favorites at Daytona. Now be even better. Do I hear that he’s broken his Speed- three? Anything that adds weeks winless skid, even more to the human element and so. invokes new strategy (which celebrates his long-awaited victory after winning the Clash. all others will copy, of course) [NASCAR GETTY IMAGES/ROBERT LABERGE] has to be a good thing. 2017 CUP Frankly, if you really want STANDINGS 1. Keselowski’s win 2. Ride height 3. Pole for Bowman to sell tickets and draw TV The ride height rule for Cup Alex Bowman, who took the viewers, run a race where the 1. Martin Truex Jr. 5040 Brad Keselowski had a Day- Series races at Daytona wheel of the No. 88 Chevy drivers have to do their own 2. 5035 tona win on his resume (2016 International Speedway was once held by pit work by themselves. Call it 3. 5033 Coke Zero 400) but had never eliminated, which gave the Jr., earned Daytona 500 pole the 400. 4. Brad Keselowski 5030 won any event during Speed- stock cars more , but a honors, but put the brakes 5. 2377 weeks. His victory in the touch more instability in the on two Hendrick Motors- 6. 2353 Advance Auto Parts Clash handling department. The ports streaks. The No. 24 car FEUD OF THE WEEK 7. 2344 Sunday was a big relief for cars were wiggling, but not had won the 500 pole three 8. 2320 the 34-year-old driver. “You out of control. “Not as much straight years, and Chase VS. KYLE 9. 2305 need one to break through,” as I thought it was going to Elliott nabbed it in 2016 and LARSON: Larson tried to push 10. Jimmie Johnson 2260 he said with a sense of relief be when I went to sleep last ’17. At least the pole stayed Johnson on the last lap of the 11. 2224 in his voice. night,” driver in the Hendrick family. Daytona Clash and turned the 11. Jamie McMurray 2224 said. seven-time Cup Series cham- 13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2222 pion around in Turn 3. 14. 2217 — Godwin Kelly, [email protected] 15. 2198 GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: John- 16. Ryan Newman 2196 son and Larson rode the same 17. Joey Logano 930 ambulance to the care center. 18. 871 “I hit him pretty solid and just 19. 863 turned him into the wall,” 20. Daniel Suarez 777 THREE THINGS TO WATCH Larson said. “I hate that.”

1. One and only GODWIN’S PICKS WHAT’S ON TAP FOR DAYTONA The Daytona 500 will represent ’s CUP SERIES: Can-Am Duel WINNER: Chase Elliott last start in the NASCAR Daytona 500 REST OF TOP 5: Brad Kesel- Cup Series. After that, she SITE: Daytona International owski, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin will attempt to make the Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval) Harvick, Ryan Blaney 500 field in TV SCHEDULE: Thursday, FIRST ONE OUT: William Byron May, then she is out. The Can-Am Duel, ( 1, DARK HORSE: Alex Bowman 35-year-old driver said she 7 p.m.). Friday, practice (Fox DON’T BE SURPRISED IF: Elliott got all the emotions out in Sports 1, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.). came within a lap or two of win- November. “When I think Saturday, practice (Fox Sports ning last year’s 500, so this time next Sunday comes, I’m sure 1, noon). Sunday, Daytona 500 he wins with a strong run. I’ll be a lot more retrospec- Danica Patrick will make her last NASCAR Cup Series start (Fox, coverage begins at 11 tive or introspective and in the Daytona 500 driving this No. 7 a.m.; green flag, 3 p.m.) emotional about the finality . [NASCAR GETTY IMAGES] M O T O R M O U T H S of it and, you know, just have : PowerShares QQQ a little bit more perspective. "Our pit crew also got to a bit of drama out of the 300 But right now, I’m fine. I’m complete a few four-tire pit qualifiers, but SITE: Daytona International We ponder a time when “Day- good.” stops with the new said it was a good thing. “I Speedway tona Day” actually makes its rules,” driver Ryan Newman just think it's a changing TV SCHEDULE: Friday, practice way onto calendars. 2. Pit stops said. “They too learned a few of the times,” said Penske, (, noon and 2 things in race conditions.” who owns the cars that p.m.). Saturday, qualifying Tune in online at Pit stops are going to finished first and second in (Fox Sports 1, 9:30 a.m.), race www.news-journalonline.com/ look much different than 3. 40 cars the Clash. Penske went on (Fox Sports 1, 2:30 p.m.) daytonamotormouths in recent seasons after to say it's a byproduct of NASCAR trimmed the over- For the first time in a long the charter system and a TRUCKS: the-wall-crew from six to time, no drivers will be sent good thing if it keeps major NextEra 250 five people. The fastest stop home after the Can-Am Duel sponsors from missing the SITE: Daytona International recorded during the Clash qualifying races on Thurs- biggest race. Speedway was 16.9 seconds. That day. Why? Because there TV SCHEDULE: Friday, qualify- would have been grounds for are only 40 cars entered in — Godwin Kelly, godwin. ing (Fox Sports 1, 4:30 p.m.), pit-crew termination in 2017. the 40-car field. It will take [email protected] race (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.)

2018 SCHEDULE AND WINNERS May 6: AAA 400 at Dover Aug. 18: Night Race at Bristol May 12: Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Sept. 2: at Darlington Feb. 11: Clash at Daytona (Brad Keselowski) May 19: All Star Race at Charlotte Sept. 9: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Feb. 15: Can-Am Duel at Daytona May 27: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Sept. 16: 400 Feb. 18: Daytona 500 June 3: Pocono 400 Sept. 22: at Richmond Feb. 25: Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta June 10: FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Sept. 30: Bank of America 500(k) at Charlotte road March 4: Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas June 24: /Save Mart 350 at Sonoma course March 11: Camping World 500(k) at Phoenix July 1: Chicago 400 at Chicagoland Oct. 7: Delaware 400 at Dover March 18: at Fontana July 7: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Oct. 14: Alabama 500 at Talladega March 25: STP 500 at Martinsville July 14: 400 at Oct. 21: at Kansas April 8: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at July 22: 301 Oct. 28: First Data 500 at Martinsville April 15: Food City 500 at Bristol July 29: 400 at Pocono Nov. 4: April 21: at Richmond Aug. 5: 355 at the Glen, at Watkins Glen Nov. 11: Can-Am 500(k) at Phoenix April 29: Geico 500 at Talladega Aug. 12: Pure Michigan 400 Nov. 18: Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead

KEN WILLIS’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

MARTIN BRAD KYLE LARSON JIMMIE KYLE BUSCH KEVIN DENNY CHASE RYAN ALEX TRUEX JR. KESELOWSKI Hoping to JOHNSON Grumpy Gus HARVICK HAMLIN ELLIOTT BLANEY BOWMAN Can’t dethrone Has yet to build on Slips into elder ready to roll Always a Will finish fifth When will he Big things Polite nod to the champ just lose in 2018 impressive statesman role big factor at in the 500 pop the cork? expected guy who starts yet 2017 Daytona To fi nd a store nearest you and subscribe for emailyear offers, up front visit www.countryfairstores.com 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10