Before the Daytona 500 started, when the media was interviewing Jimmie Johnson and had asked him the question “How has winning the Daytona 500 last year changed your life”? I looked at my wife and told her that what it does more than anything else is change the way a driver is introduced for the rest of his life. (Think Derrike Cope or Ward Burton).
NASCAR is an incredible sport. I have been a fan for over 30 yrs. For me, no other sport can match the excitement. I have had the fortune of attending several races since 1977 and look forward to attending many more. I have met Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Coo Coo Marlin and many others. Jeered The Intimidator, and cried the day he died. I was a Rusty Wallace fan from his days of being a rookie until the 2005 “Last Call” tour. (It just burns my ass to see Kurt Busch in the Blue Duce now.) Since then, I proudly fly Kevin Harvick’s colors.
Yea, I have it pretty bad.
Sundays Daytona 500 was an awesome race. Great outcome. I would be saying that even if my driver did not win. But there is still controversy over NASCAR officials not throwing the yellow flag and allowing Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick to race out the last stretch of track. But NASCAR was screwed either way. If they would have thrown the caution, the bitch would just go the other way. Mark stated immediately after the race that he was “waiting for the yellow.” Martin is a great driver and has accomplished a lot in his racing career. (See best driver to never win a title.) But Sunday, Mark; you got beat. It’s a plate race at Daytona and that is just how it goes. Think about how many great drivers never won a Daytona 500 or how long it took some other drivers to win it once. Rusty never did. Dale Earnhardt Sr won only once after 20 attempts. If Martin lifted in anticipation of a caution flag then he deserved to lose. DW said it and Mark even himself said it: They were wrecking behind Martin and Harvick. There was nothing but pavement between them and the checkered flag; where races are supposed to end.
Let the nay-sayers say nay and the whiners whine. NASCAR was right in letting their sport’s signature race end with the checkers flying. Besides, this Sunday they race at Fontana and there will be new controversy for sure. But only for a week.
Ladies and gentlemen, 2007 Daytona 500 winner, Kevin Harvick…

.02 seconds separation… wow!
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