Dale JR. Wins 2nd DAYTONA 500

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES

UPDATE II: 2/27/2014

Dale JR's win at DAYTONA almost automatically locks JR and the 88 team into the Championship hunt with the new Chase format rules. JR also recently joined the Twitter Multiverse, and after the win, he reached 500k followers by doing nothing at all.

UPDATE I: 2/24/2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla---After the race completed only 39 laps after rain (and TORNADO warnings) surrounded DAYTONA International Speedway, the race contunued at 8:52 P.M. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said on his radio after winning the race: "This is better than the first one!"

After ending a 55 race winless streak that continued since 2012 after his win at Michigan, Dale Jr. won his second DAYTONA 500. JR. and his crew chief Steve Letarte won their second race together since the Michigan race in 2012.

"Winning this race is the greatest feeling you can feel in this sport from obviously accepting the championship trophy" said Earnhardt after a decade passed since his first DAYTONA 500 victory.

Read More Here: Boston Globe

Busch Beats Peterson To Checkered Flag To Win DAYTONA Season Opener

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Last night, Timothy Peterson had the lead entering the tri-oval at DAYTONA International Speedway. Kyle Busch, driving the No. 51 Toyota was riding in second. 

Busch made a slingshot move to the outside, yet Peters tried to block. Busch passed Peters on the outside lane to narrowly win the NextEra Energy Resources 250, the Truck Series season opener.

Rain delayed the beginning of the race, as the new "Air Titan" drying system went into effect to dry the track. There was a competition caution on lap 20, and eventually, a wreck occurred that involved drivers like Parker Kligerman, Ross Chastain, Jon Wes Townley, and others.

Matt Crafton's hunt for his second Camping World Truck Series championship in a row started last night. It is definately not late at all to count anyone out of this 2014 championship hunt.

Terror Erupts In Budweiser Duels

By Joey Gucciardo

DAYTONA BEACH, FL--- Update I: Matt Kenseth won the first Budweiser Duel, but Denny Hamlin won the second duel with horrifying mayhem behind him.

Jimmie Johnson ran out of fuel exiting Turn 4, and took Jamie McMurray out with him. Others were involved, such as Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, who did a 360 degree rotation, and landed right-side-up, Jeff Gordon, and others.

Austin Dillon will start 1st in the DAYTONA 500 on Saturday, but if Martin Truex Jr.'s team can not salvage his race car, then he will start at the rear of the field along with Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, who blew an engine, Danica Patrick, who also blew an engine, as well as Kevin Harvick, possibly even David Ragan.

REMEMBER FANS:

Suarez wins during insane day at DAYTONA: K&N East, and Sprint Cup

By Joey Gucciardo

Daniel Suarez (6), and Austin Hill (22)
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

DAYTONA Beach, FL--- Daniel Suarez has won the K&N Series East opener at DAYTONA International Speedway.

Suarez led the final 119 laps around the shortened DAYTONA track on the back-straightaway while the safety crews were fixing the catch-fence after Parker Kligerman went into the fence during Sprint Cup practice for the Budweiser Duels. The video is on the left part of your screen. Kligerman went into the catch-fence, then landed upside-down.

Brian Vickers aso wrecked on his own during Sprint Cup practice. he wrecked his No. 55 Toyota after slamming the outside wall HARD entering Turn 4.

Goodyear announced that they will switch the tires that the three Premier NASCAR series, NSCS, NNS, and NCTWS will switch from Goodyear "Wrangler" Tires to Goodyear "Eagle" Tires.
[:MORE INFO ON GOODYEAR TIRE SWITCH:] ---> CLICK HERE

Goodyear switches from Wrangler to Eagle Tires

By Joey Gucciardo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla--- Goodyear has just released a statement that for the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and Sprint Cup Series, the series' will run on Goodyear Eagle Tires instead of Goodyear Wrangler Tires.

Goodyear's Greg Stucker said “We’ve found more of our customers who buy tires for their street trucks are now buying Eagles."

So, instead of using Wrangler Tires, the three premier NASCAR series' will use Eagle Tires.

500 Qualifying: Dillon on Pole, Johnson Penalized

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Austin Dillon shocks the NASCAR world again. He was fastest in Pre-Season Thunder testing in January, and is a Rookie-of-the-Year Candidate for the 2014 season, fighting for the award with Kyle Larson, Ryan Truex, etc.

Dillon: Fastest In PRE-Season Thunder

Dale Jr. went first, but couldn't hold the pole. Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart, etc. had to start in the back of the field because of blown engines.

Our reigning champion, however, had some bad luck.

Jimmie Johnson, 6-Time Champion, his las championship coming in 2013, failed qualifying inspection because the width of his car was 1/10,000 too wide. The issue was fixed, but Johnson qualified 14th, putting him in the Gatorade Duels.

NASCAR: Changes Penalty System

Last year, Danica Patrick started on the pole position for the DAYTONA 500, and Jeff Gordon started second. Danica finished 8th in the race, but Jimmie Johnson came out on top.

Can Autsin Dillon get it done at DAYTONA, or will Jimmie Johnson get it done for the second year in a row to earn his third DAYTONA 500 victory? Or, can someone else win it?

Denny Hamlin Wins 2014 Sprint Unlimited

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Denny Hamlin has just won his second Sprint Unlimited, his first coming in 2006

 when he was just a rookie.

Denny is making a huge comeback, with his win at Homestead-Miami this past November, and now, the Sprint Unlimited.

It was a wreck-filled Sprint Unlimited. On the first lap, Terry Labonte pulls into the garage, he decided to use the car that he raced for the DAYTONA 500. 

On the last lap of the first segment, Jimmie Johnson wrecks, and was done for the night. 

Then, on lap 38 of Segment Two, Matt Kenseth got loose, and takes all four Stewart-HAAS Racing cars with him, except Danica Patrick. 

She literally escaped the wreck, until Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (her boyfriend) hits her on the driver side of the car. Jeff Gordon, and Carl Edwards were also involved in the wreck.

Denny Hamlin led the end of the second segment. While we were under caution waiting for the third segment to start, the Pace Car catches FIRE! It was surreal! It had to have been the full moon. Then, with ten laps to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marcos Ambrose wreck, bringing out the final caution. Hamlin won the race with a charging Brad Keselowski from behind.

[:RELATED:]

More info on Denny's 

win at Homestead-

Miami Speedway

CLICK HERE

Feb 15  -  Daytona International Speedway  -  75 laps  -  188 miles 

2014   Sprint Unlimited  -  Sprint Cup Series

Leaderboard - Final (According to Google)		Points	Avg. mph
1	Denny Hamlin #11 - Toyota	0	143.16
2	Brad Keselowski #2 - Ford	0	-
3	Kyle Busch #18 - Toyota	0	-
4	Joey Logano #22 - Ford	0	-
5	Kevin Harvick #4 - Chevrolet	0	-
6	Jamie McMurray #1 - Chevrolet	0	-
7	Marcos Ambrose #9 - Ford	0	-
8	Ryan Newman #31 - Chevrolet	0	-
9	Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 - Chevrolet	0	-
10	Matt Kenseth #20 - Toyota	0	-
11	Tony Stewart #14 - Chevrolet	0	-
12	Jeff Gordon #24 - Chevrolet	0	-
13	Carl Edwards #99 - Ford	0	-
14	Kurt Busch #41 - Chevrolet	0	-
15	Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 - Ford	0	-
16	Danica Patrick #10 - Chevrolet	0	-
17	Jimmie Johnson #48 - Chevrolet	0	-
18	Terry Labonte #32 - Ford	0	-

Denny Hamlin Wins 2014 Sprint Unlimited

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Denny Hamlin has just won his second Sprint Unlimited, his first coming in 2006
 when he was just a rookie.

Denny is making a huge comeback, with his win at Homestead-Miami this past November, and now, the Sprint Unlimited.

It was a wreck-filled Sprint Unlimited. On the first lap, Terry Labonte pulls into the garage, he decided to use the car that he raced for the DAYTONA 500. 

On the last lap of the first segment, Jimmie Johnson wrecks, and was done for the night. 

Then, on lap 38 of Segment Two, Matt Kenseth got loose, and takes all four Stewart-HAAS Racing cars with him, except Danica Patrick. 

She literally escaped the wreck, until Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (her boyfriend) hits her on the driver side of the car. Jeff Gordon, and Carl Edwards were also involved in the wreck.

Denny Hamlin led the end of the second segment. While we were under caution waiting for the third segment to start, the Pace Car catches FIRE! It was surreal! It had to have been the full moon. Then, with ten laps to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marcos Ambrose wreck, bringing out the final caution. Hamlin won the race with a charging Brad Keselowski from behind.

[:RELATED:]

More info on Denny's 

win at Homestead-

Miami Speedway

CLICK HERE

Feb 15  -  Daytona International Speedway  -  75 laps  -  188 miles 
2014   Sprint Unlimited  -  Sprint Cup Series

Leaderboard - Final (According to Google)		Points	Avg. mph
1	Denny Hamlin #11 - Toyota	0	143.16
2	Brad Keselowski #2 - Ford	0	-
3	Kyle Busch #18 - Toyota	0	-
4	Joey Logano #22 - Ford	0	-
5	Kevin Harvick #4 - Chevrolet	0	-
6	Jamie McMurray #1 - Chevrolet	0	-
7	Marcos Ambrose #9 - Ford	0	-
8	Ryan Newman #31 - Chevrolet	0	-
9	Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 - Chevrolet	0	-
10	Matt Kenseth #20 - Toyota	0	-
11	Tony Stewart #14 - Chevrolet	0	-
12	Jeff Gordon #24 - Chevrolet	0	-
13	Carl Edwards #99 - Ford	0	-
14	Kurt Busch #41 - Chevrolet	0	-
15	Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 - Ford	0	-
16	Danica Patrick #10 - Chevrolet	0	-
17	Jimmie Johnson #48 - Chevrolet	0	-
18	Terry Labonte #32 - Ford	0	-

Mark Martin to Coach Danica Patrick in 2014

By Joey Gucciardo, Ultimate Staff Member

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    After 882 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts since 1982' Mark Martin will now run a whole season without driving a stock car. But, he is going to benefit a rookie advance in THEIR career.

     Martin will coach Danica Patrick, as she enters her soft more year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving for Stewart-HAAS Racing. Martin drove for S&H after Tony Stewart broke his leg in a Sprint Car accident in Iowa in August. Martin took the helm of Stewart's No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, eventually, Austin Dillon took the helm.

     “I don't like the word 'coach' because I don't feel she needs one,” Mark Martin said before the 2013 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

     However, if Tony Stewart isn't fully healed by the day of the DAYTONA 500, February 23rd, 2014, then Martin may substitute for Stewart.

Quoting AutoWeek USA:

"In truth, Patrick needs plenty of help. She occasionally was competitive in the Nationwide Series, where she finished 10th in points in 2012. [On the other hand, only 13 teams ran the full schedule]. Her rookie Cup season has been mediocre at best, with 21 finishes in the 20s and 10 more in the 30s in 36 starts."

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131118/nascar01/131119816#ixzz2t3DvvP7Q 
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