Christopher took the Checkered flag on Daytona’s road course to close out a perfect weekend.
The NASCAR Cup Series stayed put at Daytona for the second race of the season. They would venture inside the track this time around as turns were plenty both left and right. It was Christopher Bell who took the checkered flag for his first Cup win in a car sweep weekend for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Early Domination by Elliott
Race start has to go down as one of the most amazing things in the 2021 motorsports season. 33 cars took the green flag in what looked like an F1 start on steroids. We found trouble as early as in lap two. Kyle Busch had all sorts of bumps and pushes at the straight. Daytona 500 winner, Michael McDowell lost a tire a lap later to bring on the first caution of the evening. You know who wasn’t in trouble? Chase Elliott. Why? you ask. Because he was right at the front and he was running away with it. NASCAR’s newest “Ringer” kept his distance, going as fast as three full seconds ahead of the rest.
Brakes were glowing red once again as the road course proved tough on stopping power, just like it did on the clash a week ago. Stage one ended after 16 laps and of course, the 2020 Cup Series Champion got the Playoff point. Stage two, however, wouldn’t be as kind to the Napa #9 driver.
A Toss-Up
“Usually you go through Daytona and then your season starts. Now, with the road course right after it, it’s just another toss-up.” Those were the words of Bubba Wallace, they sure were true for Elliott. The Hendrick Motorsports Camaro had trouble on the pitlane and dropped from the lead to 14th.
It was up to Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano to win the stage. Hamlin managed to pull away at the end getting his third stage win of the young season. Part-timer, A.J. Allmendinger climbed his way into the top 10 after starting 35th. Christopher Bell, on the other hand, would make his climb to the top shortly.
There’s Nothing like the First Time
The field reshuffled off the pits with Bell taking the lead. It took Elliott almost no time to get it back, Once again, Toyota was outnumbered, but not outpowered as the Japanese maker had 3 out of their 5 cars in the top five. Few, but feisty. Nine laps later, rain made its presence felt again, sort of. It indeed rained and cars had rain tires ready to go. They didn’t have to use them though as rain seemed more like a directed missile rather than water as drops fell only in a couple of corners. It was “Only a light sprinkle” according to the #9 car radio. Drivers hit the pits, for slicks, not wets. From that point on, things went South for the Napa Chevrolet.
Elliott went on full lawnmower mode a few laps later and dropped a few spots, ending most, if not all of his chances for a win. There were a few questionable calls by race officials in the road to the finish. For instance, Martin Truex Jr, spun off the track but no caution was shown. The same can be said after Chase Briscoe drove almost an entire lap with his hood right up in his face. After all was set and done, Christopher Bell had won the race. There was not much drama to it as he ran away with the win after getting past Joey Logano. His win puts a golden cap on a superb weekend.
It was Quite the Weekend, Right Coach?
As mentioned before, Joe Gibbs had a weekend to remember. The former football coach’s grandson stunned him a day before as Ty Gibbs got his first-ever win, in his first-ever start. The Monster Energy Toyota Supra took to victory lane on the Xfinity Series only to be followed by the Rheem Joe Gibbs Racing Camry at the Cup. Quite the weekend for good old Coach Gibbs.
What’s Next?
NASCAR will head East for Miami as Homestead Miami is set to host the third weekend of the year.
Missed last week’s race? Check it out HERE
