Don’t get me wrong; I like Jimmie Johnson, but Dale Earnhardt, Jr just missed out on the win, and Jeff Gordon finished 20th.
This was Johnson’s second Daytona 500 win.
Last year, the five-time champ wrecked on Lap 2 of the Daytona 500. This year, making his 400th career start, Johnson outpaced the entire field and won convincingly, holding off challenges from Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second. Mark Martin came home third.
The 55th Daytona 500 made history days before the green flag flew. Danica Patrick delivered on a measure of the hype surrounding her by becoming the first woman to ever qualify for the pole in a Sprint Cup race. While she couldn’t initially capitalize on her leading position — Jeff Gordon passed her almost immediately — Patrick remained close to the front for most of the day. When she took the lead on Lap 90, she became the first woman ever to lead a lap under green at the Daytona 500. She entered the final lap in third place, and would go on to finish eighth.
An eighth place finish for Danica is nothing to sneeze at. That said, let’s see what she can do on the mile and a half tri-ovals. If she can succeed there, I’ll be more impressed.
This week’s Fantasy Stats are below the fold.