WINNERS & LOSERS: Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray shine, Mark Martin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggle in Budweiser Shootout
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It might have been only 75 laps, and there might not have been any points on the line, but Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout was a litmus test of sorts for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series teams. A look at who passed and who failed:
WINNERS
Kevin Harvick: His first extended stay behind the wheel and the Richard Childress driver rediscovers what it feels like to win a race. Maybe he should call in sick more often.
Kasey Kahne: The Richard Petty Motorsports driver didn’t lead a lap, but he proved that the switch to Ford hasn’t dulled his competitive fire. Did anyone expect a second-place finish for the team out of the gate?
Carl Edwards: Sure, the Roush Fenway Racing driver finished 17th after getting caught up in a crash on the final lap. But Edwards led twice for 42 laps and showed signs that last year’s winless streak might have been a fluke, indeed.
Jamie McMurray: Got to give a call to this guy, too. He changes teams, moving over to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, and reminds us that he isn’t a bad plate racer after all with a third-place run.
Tony Stewart: The owner/driver only led twice for five laps, but it seemed like he was up front for most of the night. Apparently, team didn’t let any grass grow under its feet during off-season.
LOSERS
Greg Biffle: The Roush Fenway Racing driver looked plenty smart when he stayed out to inherit the lead during a late caution. But it all went for naught when he wound up in the Turn 3 wall.
Mark Martin: Hours after winning the pole for the Daytona 500, Martin had his hands full in traffic. His contact with Kurt Busch sent the Penske Racing driver sliding across the grass along the frontstretch. Not the start the veteran expected.
Kurt Busch: Speaking of the Penske Racing driver, Busch was involved in two incidents, eventually finishing 23rd in the 24-car field. “It’s not fun,” Busch said after leaving the infield care center. “I’m making more laps in the ambulance than I am in the car.”
Jeff Burton: Made a few nice runs up through traffic, but 12th in a 24-car field won’t cut it. Team can’t afford a slow start.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The Junior Nation might have been still swooning after Junior’s No. 2 qualifying effort for the 500, but the Shootout looked eerily familiar. Eleventh-place finish left a lot of folks scratching their heads.
COOL DOWN LAP
What they said:
“Well, we’re [going] to put this one in the woods, I think. It’s not very good. It’s an old car, I guess. [Crew chief] Lance [McGrew] said this would be the last time we would race it.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (11th).
“They said that bump-drafting is OK now, so that’s what it’s going to take to win the race. [Biffle] was thanking me for the push and I was trying to push him up there to win the race or finish right there behind him anyway.” – Jeff Gordon (6th).
“I got screwed right before the last caution, running top-five … one of those deals, but it is OK.” – Juan Pablo Montoya (10th)
“It was out of control. We all just kept it in control. Everybody did a real good job.” – Kyle Busch (4th)
“Somebody turned the 51 and, boom! There he was right in front of me. It happened that quick.” – John Andretti (22nd)
“I saw Biffle get real sideways, but I had a lot of fun. We led a bunch of laps and it’s just too bad it ended that way.” – Carl Edwards (17th)
