I'm Back!!!!

Hello everyone guess what? I'm baaaaacck!! I know its been a while since my last blog and I apologize for that. I haven't had much access to a computer so its been hard to post without a computer. Also we have had some life changes as far as moving to our apartment and other issues. But we have worked though all of that and here I am. I will try to update everyone as much as I can. And I hope I still have some followers. Thanks for sticking with me. And speaking of updates, man what an interesting 2016 season. We now have a 7-time champion in Jimmie Johnson. I still can't believe it for sure. We had the closest Daytona 500 finish in history between Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. Hamlin was the winner after having a strong car all week. We also had Carl Edwards stepping away from the sport. More on that on another blog. And yes I will post about that. We also had Dale Jr set out the last part of the season due to a concussion. And we had the first ever foreign born NASCAR champion in Daniel Suarez who won the 2016 Xfinity Series title. Johnny Sauter won the Camping World Truck Series title.  But as we begin 2017, we have A LOT of changes. Including a new series sponsor in Monster Energy, new rules to the races being broke up into 3 stages. But after all the changes, I still have the same passion and excitement for the upcoming racing season. So let's preview the upcoming season and recap the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona.

So as usual, the Clash (formerly known as The Sprint Unlimited, Budweiser Shootout) begins the new season. With a familiar name and a short format, you can surely feel a nostalgic feel when it comes to this years race. Add the rain postponing it to Sunday morning and it really brings back memories as the race used to be run in the day. The race is 75 laps which is broken down into 2 segments. The first is 25 laps with a caution at the end and the 2nd is 50 laps to end the race. No points on the line as this is an exhibition race.












As the race was 17 laps in, Jimmie Johnson got loose off of turn 4 and got into Kurt Busch. The Hendrick Motorsports teams have struggled with their cars pushing up off of turn 4, getting loose and spinning out. It has been reported as an aero loose that the teams haven't been able to figure out. Dale Jr. and Chase Elliott who replaced Jeff Gordon last year after Gordon retired after the 2015 season, both crashed in last years 500 with the same issue. Kurt was uninjured and was out of the race.

The restart after the Kurt Busch crash came with a couple laps to go before the caution at lap 25. There was some great racing all day and it was exciting. A couple drivers hit pit road right before the caution to get some tires and fuel before the pits were closed. Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez (the driver replacing  Carl Edwards in the #19 car), Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr, and Alex Bowman (taking over for Dale Jr since Bowman got the pole for the fall Phoenix race).

Into the 2nd segment, the races 3rd caution was once again caused by Jimmie Johnson who spun off the same corner with the same aero push/loose issue that the Hendrick cars have had. This time he didn't have anyone inside to catch him and he spun and hit the inside wall as shown above. Johnson was ok but with NASCAR's new no damaged cars on track rules this year, he was out of the race. He was also ok and uninjured. He also was required to go to the infield care center which is now required even if the driver can drive his or her car back to the garage. There is also a new rule where drivers are to be checked for concussions after Dale Jr's issue last year.

The finish was great! Joey Logano won after Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski got together on the

last lap in Turn 1. The Penske Fords and the Joe Gibbs Toyotas looked to be the class of the field.

After the Clash, it was time to set the field for the 59th running for The Great American Race. At the end of the day, Chase Elliott won the pole for the 2nd year in a row with the returning Dale Jr. starting alongside on the front row. The rest of the field will be determined in the Can-Am Duels at Daytona. The first race will determine the inside row and the second race will determine the outside row.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed my new blog. I will try to update it as much as I can. Can't wait for the new season and I hope everyone has a great 2017!