What a difference a year makes. Move the calendar back one year in the life of NASCAR. After the most boring Daytona 500 in recent memory and an equally boring Phoenix race, much criticism was aimed at NASCAR, drivers and the new Generation-6 car.
Fast forward to today and the first two races have been everything NASCAR had hoped for to rebound from 2013. From the new qualifying rules to the adjustment to the cars, and especially the new Chase points rules which places a premium on winning races, they’ve all contributed to a much more exciting on-track product. Add several new exciting young drivers into the mix and I think we have all the makings of a great NASCAR season.
On a day which arguably featured the best national anthem in NASCAR history, which was performed on the trumpet by Jesse McGuire, and possibly the greatest fly by in the history of flyovers, NASCAR fans were treated to a very entertaining race.
Kevin Harvick was the best car all day and got the well-deserved victory. Harvick, racing for a new team this season, was the best car on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My guess is he’d be the best car on any day as long as the cars remained in Phoenix. Harvick has that place figured out.
Running in just his second race for Stewart-Haas, Harvick told FOX after the race “This solidifies so many thing, so many decisions. I’ve got to thank all the guys at Stewart-Haas. What a car.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished second followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Jeff Gordon. Jimmie Johnson finished sixth.
Like Daytona the week before, we saw on-track strategy and pit and fuel strategy, all designed to attain a victory. Barely a word was spoken all day about racing for points. Everyone was racing for the win.
Under NASCAR’s new Championship rules, one victory just about assures your place in the Chase. Dale Earnhardt Jr., having won the Daytona 500, has all but locked up a place in the Chase. He raced Sunday in Phoenix like a man who wanted a second victory. He wasn’t running for 2nd or points, and thanks to NASCAR’s new point system he’ll be doing that all season long.
Now along with Junior, Harvick too will be running for broke. There is next to no purpose in collecting top five finishes any longer. He’ll be using all of the tools in his team’s book to capture more victories. The premium NASCAR has placed on winning has led to more exciting races early in 2014. Let’s hope the more exciting races will also lead to an increase in attendance at the tracks. Empty seats have been commonplace at most venues during the last few seasons. Giving the fans a more exciting product should result in fannies in the seats. Having stars such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick fighting for a championship can’t hurt much either.
On to Las Vegas we go. My picks:
1) Carl Edwards
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kyle Busch
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