2016 Daytona 500

[bigdc48]

The NASCAR Sprint Cup series season kicks off for the Great American Race, the 58th edition of the Daytona 500.

Joey Logano won last year's event for the first time.

Rookie Chase Elliott will start on the pole as he will drive the famed #24 for the now-retired Jeff Gordon, who will be on the booth for FOX.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won Duel Race #1, which was non-eventful. Defending series champion Kyle Busch won Duel #2, in which a total of 5 cars, including Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth, who would have started 2nd next to Elliott, will have to go to backup cars after a crash late in the race.

Starting Grid:http://www.jayski.com/stats/2016/pdfs/01dis2016lineup.pdf

[day500champ1]

I don't have my hopes up for the racing is this race.

The Duels had 3 lead changes (not do to pit stops) combining both races. Add that to how the last 3 races of this type have gone and you can see why I say that.

[Pyrozooka0]

I don't have my hopes up for the racing is this race.  

The Duels had 3 lead changes (not do to pit stops) combining both races.  Add that to how the last 3 races of this type have gone and you can see why I say that.

On the other hand, the Unlimited was really good. I'd say this could go either way.

[PYLrulz]

I don't have my hopes up for the racing is this race.  

The Duels had 3 lead changes (not do to pit stops) combining both races.  Add that to how the last 3 races of this type have gone and you can see why I say that.

Then again, have the duels been any good lately? When only 2 or so cars each race are really just running around trying to get into the field, and the kind of racing at Daytona is such that it really doesn't matter where you start, are you going to blow your wad trying to run as hard as you can in a 150 mile race?

[navycook75]

I don't have my hopes up for the racing is this race.  

The Duels had 3 lead changes (not do to pit stops) combining both races.  Add that to how the last 3 races of this type have gone and you can see why I say that.

The Duels hardly have any lead changes.

[Memoriesallbutdone]

Welp, Chase Elliott will likely be out, bad start for his rookie campaign.

[Pyrozooka0]

Epic finish. HOLY FUCKING SHIT

[RetrogradeRenegade]

Everything was great about that finish... I just can't be excited about Hamlin... not when Truex was so close. Oh well, at least he had the best car and didn't luck into it.

[Memoriesallbutdone]

REGAN SMITH 8TH!!!!!!!!!!

[Pyrozooka0]

REGAN SMITH 8TH!!!!!!!!!!

While deploying the water slick

[PackerMan71]

So from what I heard, the outside line didn't work all day until the last lap.

Okay then. :/

[Pyrozooka0]

So from what I heard, the outside line didn't work all day until the last lap.

Okay then. :/

Denny Hamlin a wizard confirmed.

[Cynon]

Brilliant display of team tactics by JGR. They held all the trump cards and played them to perfection on the last lap.

Boring as hell race though -- which I'm not disappointed with, I expected as much. Expectations met, can't be mad.

[PackerMan71]

Brilliant display of team tactics by JGR. They held all the trump cards and played them to perfection on the last lap.

Boring as hell race though -- which I'm not disappointed with, I expected as much. Expectations met, can't be mad.

I only caught bits and pieces of it, but yeah, pretty much what you said, the parts I did watch were boring as hell.

[Pyrozooka0]

Brilliant display of team tactics by JGR. They held all the trump cards and played them to perfection on the last lap.

Boring as hell race though -- which I'm not disappointed with, I expected as much. Expectations met, can't be mad.

I fail to see how almost wrecking your teammate is team tactics.

[bigdc48]

Disappointed that Truex didn't win. Congrats Hamlin....I guess.

All in all, the race wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either, IMO. 5.0/10.

[Cynon]

Brilliant display of team tactics by JGR. They held all the trump cards and played them to perfection on the last lap.

Boring as hell race though -- which I'm not disappointed with, I expected as much. Expectations met, can't be mad.

I fail to see how almost wrecking your teammate is team tactics.

They had it set up so that one of the JGR cars or the 78 was going to win -- get to the front and ride in line was part of the game plan. It's kind of like what used to happen with GM vs. Ford 20 years ago or what Roush's guys used to do. It gets you race wins. Since it's the first ... err... "points" race of the year, I don't think Gibbs cares which of his cars wins -- as long as one of them does!

[gone-sovereign]

Dennis Hamlin wins. I can live with that.

Call me easily impressed, but I thought that was a good 500. Just happy they finished under green without junking it up, and the fact that it was a finish worth remembering.

[navycook75]

Finish was good, Hamlin though -_-

At least racing season is back.

[JMac525]

Decent race with a fantastic finish. I was cheering for Truex definitely, but at least with Hamlin winning a new face wins the 500.

[Alta]

Ok race with hell of a finish. I wanted to see Truex get it though.

[Jason Hamilton]

The race really got interesting after Dale Jr wrecked, it seemed like everyone was more urgent after that caution. Was hoping Truex would get the win, but it wasn't to be. Surprised Carl Edwards was still quick despite having a damaged car.

[SpeedDemon37]

That's the second Truex this weekend to lose a race in the final two seconds.

I actually thought that the race was pretty entertaining. Dominated by the TRD cars, sure, but it was fairly tame, close, and of course the finish was thrilling! It was unpredictable, and clean (mostly), something that we haven't seen in quite some time. For me personally, that tops 2007 as the best finish to the 500 that I've ever watched (since 2003).

I actually turned the TV on to go to my recording right as they were showing Hamlin doing victory burnouts, but luckily for me the smoke was so thick that it completely obscured his car. That saved me from what would have been a very disappointing spoiler.

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