It’s On! Daytona 500 ~~~ Open Thread Update: Montoya Runs Into Safety Truck, Racetrack on Fire:(Video Added)

posted at 7:38 pm on February 27, 2012 by

Two cautions already, but it’s finally started.  Should be a great race.

In the last 11 500s, only four times has a driver beginning inside the Top 10 triumphed.

Here are the drivers most likely to continue this odd trend on Monday in the 2012 running (odds via Sportsbet Sportsbook):

5. Kurt Busch – 28th (22-to-1)

Kurt Busch is long removed from his Sprint Cup Series championship back in 2004. He still managed to finish 11th last year and can’t be underestimated in this event.

4. Kasey Kahne – 20th (18-to-1)

Kasey Kahne finds himself back where he started. The 31-year-old driver debuted in the Daytona 500 back in 2004. After a somewhat uneventful 2011 season, winning the sport’s greatest race would be an effective way to erase the memories of Kahne’s past disappointments.

3. Jeff Gordon – 16th (14-to-1)  Update: OUT—blown engine

Jeff Gordon’s kind of a big deal in Daytona Beach. He has won the event three times in his illustrious career, and it wouldn’t shock a soul if he ended the day in Victory Lane yet again.

2. Kevin Harvick – 13th (11.5-to-1)

Kevin Harvick doesn’t have Gordon’s Daytona resume, but he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle either. He won the race back in 2007 and coming off a strong 2011 campaign, he’s looking to start this season off with a bang.

1.  Kyle Busch – 14th (11-to-1)

The second Busch on this list is the most likely driver outside the top 10 to walk away victorious. He won the Budweiser Shootout, so he’s off to a great start in 2012.

Update: Safety Truck Fire — video at the link.  Heat on track could end the race.

Update:  Second video link of fire.  (200 gallons of jet fuel—not going out)

Juan Pablo Montoya broke new ground in the 51st Daytona 500, losing control of his car and slamming into the back of an emergency truck full of 200 gallons of jet fuel. The truck immediately exploded, creating a huge fireball and setting the track on fire for minutes until a cadre of emergency crews were able to put it out. The condition of the track is still in doubt and with the race past the halfway point, it could become official with Dave Blaney leading.

Hopefully, the track is not too damaged to keep this race “alive”.  Stand by.

Update:  It looks like the track’s not damaged and they may start this race soon……rumored: a weather pattern is moving in.  Forty Laps to Go!

WE HAVE A WINNER!  Congrats to Matt Kenseth for getting his Ford to the front at the right time—at the finish line.  (video interview here)  Here’s the list of the top ten finishers:

1.Matt Kenseth, Ford 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet 3. Greg Biffle, Ford 4. Denny Hamlin, Toyota 5. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet 6. Paul Menard, Chevrolet 7. Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet 8. Carl Edwards, Ford 9. Joey Logano, Toyota 10. Mark Martin, Toyota

Next stop:  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix Phoenix International Raceway, Sunday, March 4th, 3 pm (ET), Noon Pacific.

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Trackback URL

Comments

Wow, where is everyone? Watching the race?

I think NASCAR needs an open thread every Race day. OK peeps, come on in.

Big one, lap 2.

karenhasfreedom on February 27, 2012 at 7:52 PM

Just got home and missed the “big one” Karen….how many cars went out?

Rovin on February 27, 2012 at 7:54 PM

One Waltrip in the booth is bad enough. Two are unbearable.

Mark1971 on February 27, 2012 at 8:14 PM

I hear ya Mark…..

Rovin on February 27, 2012 at 8:17 PM

I’m not personally watching, but I still feel a strong connection to the sport since my friends own all of those teams.

Mr. Prodigy on February 27, 2012 at 9:06 PM

Damned hicks.

MadisonConservative on February 27, 2012 at 9:38 PM

One more set of pit stops and one of these ‘damned hicks’ can cash in for a million plus.

Rovin on February 27, 2012 at 9:44 PM

Thanks for the vid link – I’m listening to the radio broadcast online, and I couldn’t find a visual. Guess I won’t be hearing the end of the race – it’s bedtime here…..

momodoom on February 27, 2012 at 10:11 PM

I think Juan Pablo Montoya has now officially hit everything there is to hit on a race track. I could be wrong though, he hasn’t hit a Pace Car yet.

cebj25 on February 27, 2012 at 10:27 PM

Juan Pablo Montoya broke new ground in the 51st Daytona 500, losing control of his car and slamming into the back of an emergency truck full of 200 gallons of jet fuel.

Ah, the F-1 failure manages to set a new low in NASCAR.

19 days until Australia.

rukiddingme on February 27, 2012 at 11:21 PM

Only real race fans are still watching this. The others will only wonder what they missed. This could be the best forty laps in Nascar history.

Rovin on February 27, 2012 at 11:40 PM

Too bad Patrick got spun out early. Had she been able to hang around, she could have placed. That said, she’ll get some points. She showed some skill in getting out of that pileup with JJ and the 33 car.

victor82 on February 28, 2012 at 12:04 AM

I consider the evening a smashing success. Jimmie Johnson was wiped out on the 2nd lap, done for the night. He leaves the race with just 2 points toward the championship. Whoot!!!

karenhasfreedom on February 28, 2012 at 4:37 AM

Um, why would a safety truck have 200 gallons of jet fuel?

rbj on February 28, 2012 at 9:06 AM

Um, why would a safety truck have 200 gallons of jet fuel?

rbj on February 28, 2012 at 9:06 AM

Actually rbj, I believe it’s kerosene, (but they call it jet fuel). The truck is designed to blow a hot stream of air to dry the surface of the track. It’s the first time anyone’s ever ran into one of these machines, but as several have twittered, “Montoya’s hit just about everything else on the track, why not the safety truck?”

Rovin on February 28, 2012 at 9:17 AM

Actually, a pretty blah race. Especially after the Shootout, Truck & Nationwide races. The middle and outside grooves never came into play making for single line racing and no passing.

jb34461 on February 28, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Who can remember to watch the Daytona 500 on Monday night?

J.E. Dyer on February 28, 2012 at 1:18 PM

Who can remember to watch the Daytona 500 on Monday night?

J.E. Dyer on February 28, 2012 at 1:18 PM

Er, maybe those like myself who tuned in on Sunday only to be disappointed by the rain?

Difficultas_Est_Imperium on February 29, 2012 at 8:05 AM