Trevor Bayne, you are not dreaming...

You just one the Superbowl event of NASCAR, the Daytona 500. This was the thing that NASCAR really needed after a disappointing season last year with attendance and in my opinion just the lack of fans not wanting to watch the races due to having the same winners week in and week out. Here we now have a kid, and yes a kid, only 20 years old comes out of nowhere and takes the checkered flag.

As I watched the tandem duo's all day during the race, I had my eye on this kid. I was very impressed with him and also Regan Smith driving the #78. These two were always there being the pushers vice the pushee and they were hooked up with some veterans during the race. Hard to believe that you would want someone with one of those dreaded yellow stripes on their bumpers behind you pushing going close to 200 mph but that wasn't the case with Bayne. Now Smith is not a rookie but he hooked up with Dale Jr who is very selective on his draft partners. It was unfortunate that Smith got caught up in that late wreck but was able to salvage it for a decent finish.

We did hear a lot of talk during speedweeks about Bayne but no one really picked this youngster to win the Grand Daddy of NASCAR events. It is a shame that he is not running a full season and is committed in the Nationwide Series because he gets no points in the Sprint Series but hey at least he got the $1.5 million dollar check. Hats off to Bayne and his entire team and it was so great to see the Wood Brothers in Victory Lane after 10 years since their last win. This kid will be flying high for quite some time and his name is now part of the history books as winning the Daytona 500, he definitely has some company in that department. He may not win another Sprint race this year but he can always say he was the winner of the 2011 Daytona 500.

Congratulations Trevor Bayne!!!

Petty Enterprises Gets A Ringer with AJ Allmendinger

I do recall talking about AJ in my blog during last season as for one of those drivers to watch out for and low and behold, he jumps in the #44 and finishes 3rd in the grand event of Nascar in the Daytona 500.


When AJ was driving for Red Bull Racing, his career was like playing the game of chutes and ladders but unfortunately hitting one too many chutes and eventually got replaced by Mike Skinner late last year. Did this discourage AJ? Not in the least, if anything, it made him strive harder to be a better driver and he showed the doubting Thomas` in the last 5 races when he took over the #10 ride with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. He may not have had the best numbers in the world but for a guy to just jump into a new car with a new team for him and have 4 Top 20 finishes is might impressive.



There was a lot of speculation as to what was going to happen to AJ after the 2008 season but it appeared that AJ would stay with GEM and take over the #19 from Elliott Sadler. Well, we all know the drama that surrounded that incident and Sadler kept his ride but for a moment left AJ hung out to dry. Low and behold here comes the King to save the day after Petty Enterprises merged with GEM and thus gave AJ his own full time ride in the #44 for the entire season. The King was a happy camper having his #44 finish 3rd in the 2009 Daytona 500.



AJ is out to prove himself a Sprint Nascar Series driver and I am expecting to see great things come from him in the years ahead. You might think he has a funny name but at least this kid can get into his pit box and finish the race with a car that was in one piece.



Great Job AJ!!! I, for one, am pulling for you as I did last year! You got the talent!

The King is still on the Throne, well sort of...

This is exciting news to hear that Richard Petty, despite Petty Enterprises will be closing its doors, will still be part of NASCAR. You have to admit, it just would not be the same without seeing the King around. Petty Enterprises have merged with GEM. They will be fielding 4 cars in the 2009 Season which will include the 9, 10, 19, and 43.

Here is the story from Nascar.com. Richard Petty will remain a prominent figure in the garage. However, Petty Enterprises -- a 60-year staple in the Cup Series -- has closed its doors. Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Holdings announced Thursday an agreement in principle to form a new Cup team co-owned by Richard Petty, Petty Holdings and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

One interesting fact to watch for that Nascar.com just learne about is that you may see Elliott Sadler returning to the #19 for the 2009 season. Sounds pretty interesting and will be a continuing saga until everything is ironed out. I do like Elliott Sadler but if this does happen, I do feel bad for A.J. Allmendinger. This kid has the talent and looked to be set up for a full time ride in 2009 with GEM but the legal battle with Sadler may effect this outcome. Lets just hope for the best for everyone.