msrpk.com blog

"Soggy Harley J Earl"

An mid morning shower sprinkled upon this trophy as it was hauled into the Infield Media Center for photos and presentations before the start of the 51st Daytona 500. As a reminder, the Daytona International Speedway does have lights, and you may be assured that NASCAR will pull out all the stops to get the race in today--even though it may end at midnight or later. Here's what they are facing: Local weather forecasts call for a 60 percent chance of showers today. That's not so bad if it's a sprinkle. If something more than that falls, the ServiceMaster Clean track crew will go to work to dry the track and do so for at least 2 hours and 15 minutes, as they circle the 2 1/2 mile trioval.

The US Army crew and the Office Depot/Old Spice crew of Stewart-Haas Racing are taking advantage of each minute...we just saw the Army car enter the "room of doom", a/k/a NASCAR Inspection room. Team co-owner Tony Stewart was taken out when Ryan Newman had a right rear tire explode in final practice yesterday morning. Stewart was, as you might expect, less than pleased with the official tire sponsor, Goodyear. Stu Grant, Goodyear's racing boss, had his engineers look at what was left of the tire, and said that a hole in the tire caused the explosion and subsequent crash. Mr. Stewart was not impressed, even though he won the Nationwide Series race (on Goodyears) yesterday.

Kevin "Bono" Manion likely enjoys the focus being placed on Stewart and Newman (who'll go to backup cars and start from the rear of the 43 car grid when the green flag flies) so his driver, pole sitter Martin Truex, Jr, can prepare for the race, whenever it runs.

We'll update definitely with a winner's snapshot, either in the Media Center or in Victory Lane. When, depends on the weather.