Daily NASCAR

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Daytona Int’l Speedway, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As Jamie McMurray sat behind the microphone in his Daytona 500 victory press conference, hands clinched around his face, head bowed, tears rolling down his eyes, too emotional to speak — the enormity of his accomplishment set in. For him and for us.

The hundred or so journalists typing away on deadline suddenly became quiet, almost reverently watching McMurray in the several minutes it took for him to regain his composure and continue taking questions.

He was so honestly and deeply wrapped up in the moment. His moment.

It was a nice reminder of what it means to feel such genuine happiness. And for the 33-year old Missouri native McMurray, there was also a bit of relief and a healthy dose of redemption.

“To be honest, I was thinking, ‘you need to stop crying and answer the questions … but you know, the harder you try, the worse it gets,” McMurray explained Tuesday with a laugh.

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Tracks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 had one heckuva finish — Jamie McMurray holding off NASCAR’s favorite son Dale Earnhardt Jr. in double overtime; team owner Chip Ganassi joining Roger Penske as the only two men to field Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 winning cars; a record number of race leaders; and a near-record number of lead changes.

It was everything NASCAR could ask of its season-opener at Daytona International Speedway … except for a pesky pothole located between turns 1 and 2 that stands to cast a shadow on the spotlight the 33-year-old McMurray deserves to own all his own.

So often we hear of race car drivers battling the track. Perhaps not so literally.

NASCAR’s biggest race of the year was halted for two and a half hours for two lengthy repairs to the track surface — a super gaffe in the sanctioning body’s self-proclaimed Super Bowl.

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Daytona Int’l Speedway, NASCAR Tracks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 had one heckuva finish — Jamie McMurray holding off NASCAR’s favorite son Dale Earnhardt Jr. in double overtime; team owner Chip Ganassi joining Roger Penske as the only two men to field Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 winning cars; a record number of race leaders; and a near-record number of lead changes.

It was everything NASCAR could ask of its season-opener at Daytona International Speedway…. except for a pesky pothole located between turns 1 and 2 that stands to cast a shadow on the spotlight the 33-year-old McMurray deserves to own all his own.

So often we hear of race car drivers battling the track. Perhaps not so literally.

NASCAR’s biggest race of the year was halted for two and a half hours for two lengthy repairs to the track surface — a super gaffe in the sanctioning body’s self-proclaimed Super Bowl.

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Daytona Int’l Speedway, Sprint Cup, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Clint Bowyer predicted that a nearly two-hour red flag period in the middle of the Daytona 500 was merely the calm before the storm.

He wasn’t kidding.

When the racing finally resumed for good Jamie McMurray, 33, of Joplin, Mo., held off a last lap charge by Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the Daytona 500 in double overtime — a race that may be remembered as much for a pothole between turns 1 and 2 as the exciting finish.

For the fans who patiently endured more than two hours of total red flag race stoppage at Daytona International Speedway while officials twice repaired a pot hole in the track, the ending was a prime reward. It was the first test of NASCAR’s new policy of green-white-checkered finishes, allowing for up to three overtime periods.

McMurray led only the final two laps in the No. 1 Bass Pro Shop Chevrolet — the fewest number of laps led by a Daytona 500 winner in the 52-year history of the race. And his team co-owner Chip Ganassi now joins Roger Penske as owners with wins in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.

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by Holly Cain

Filed under: Daytona Int’l Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona 500 has been stopped for a second time while workers inspect and repair another pothole in the racing line of Daytona International Speedway.

With 39 laps to go in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season opener, the field — led by Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle — was parked on pit road. NASCAR had already stopped the race for an hour and 42 minutes on Lap 123 while repairs were being made to a small six-inch hole in the track surface located between turns one and two of the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

Driver Robby Gordon first reported the patch was coming up with about 50 laps to go, telling his crew on the radio, “There’s going to be a big wreck, I’m telling you.”

NASCAR sent workers out to try another patch as the sun started setting in Daytona Beach and hundreds of fans started exiting the grandstands.

“With the combination of moisture and cold temperatures, the normal solutions you normally use to patch the track are not working, but we’re turning the corner and we’re on our third different solution now,” NASCAR Chairman Brian France said during the initial red flag period.

“The good news is we will get it solved. We’re in the midst of probably one of the best Daytona 500s in many years. We want to get it right. The key is safety,” he said.

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