Daytona 500

[UNHWildCats]

Bayne wins the Daytona 500 a day after his 20th birthday... Happy Birthday kid.

[UNHWildCats]

this maybe the biggest upset in history of all sports considering the stage in which it was pulled off.

[Grizalltheway]

this maybe the biggest upset in history of all motor-sports considering the stage in which it was pulled off.

Agree.

[Grizo406]

Congrats, TB!

[93henfan]

this maybe the biggest upset in history of all sports considering the stage in which it was pulled off.

Great win, but I think you're being a bit melodramatic. It was shown all week that if you were in the right place at the right time with the right help you could win or be otherwise very successful. Heck, you were the one IIRC that posted about Brian Keslowski's huge come from behind run on Thursday in a run whatcha brung car, with some help from his sponsored brother. Such is the nature of these cars on this particular track and its new flawless surface.

At any rate, this is a great, great win for the Wood Brothers. 35 years since they last won a Daytona 500, the first Daytona 500 I ever attended! Way to go Glen and Leonard. I can remember when those guys were younger than I am now.

I hope they pick up a permanent sponsor after this victory and run the full schedule. This Bayne kid may be the next superstar of the sport. He's certainly carrying the banner for Ford fans now. God, every old timer that used to pull for the Silver Fox in the 21 is pulling out his old Purolator cap right about now.

[ToTheLeft]

Elliot Sadler!

Elliott Sadler no longer races in Sprint Cup. Strictly Nationwide this year.

Probably better for him. He's a good driver and a good guy, hope he can get some better results at that level.

[bluehenbillk]

Great sports story - could be the sport's next great driver.

[ASUMountaineer]

Busch (can't call it Nationwide)

I remember as a kid when it was Grand National (now Sprint) and Late Model (now Natiowide)! Heck, I remember a series called the Baby Grands (edit: I looked it up and it was actually called the dash series - added picture below) that they ran in the 70s. There were like AMC Gremlins and Pintos and **** out there.



I've lost track of how many times they've changed the names of the various series, so I just caved and call them the right thing nowadays.

Nice.

[93henfan]

Footnote: Trevor Bayne is not eligible to be NASCAR's Rookie of the Year, nor could he even compete for the Sprint Cup championship if the Wood brothers picked up a full-time sponsor and decided to run every race. NASCAR, after years of having Sprint Cup drivers drop down and on occasion dominate the Nationwide series, made all drivers "declare" which series they will compete in for points and awards this year. Bayne declared for Nationwide, since the Wood brothers were only running 17 races in Sprint Cup.

That sucks.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Footnote: Trevor Bayne is not eligible to be NASCAR's Rookie of the Year, nor could he even compete for the Sprint Cup championship if the Wood brothers picked up a full-time sponsor and decided to run every race. NASCAR, after years of having Sprint Cup drivers drop down and on occasion dominate the Nationwide series, made all drivers "declare" which series they will compete in for points and awards this year. Bayne declared for Nationwide, since the Wood brothers were only running 17 races in Sprint Cup.

That sucks.

Yep. The world gets better and better as we have more and more rules.

[89Hen]

Footnote: Trevor Bayne is not eligible to be NASCAR's Rookie of the Year, nor could he even compete for the Sprint Cup championship if the Wood brothers picked up a full-time sponsor and decided to run every race. NASCAR, after years of having Sprint Cup drivers drop down and on occasion dominate the Nationwide series, made all drivers "declare" which series they will compete in for points and awards this year. Bayne declared for Nationwide, since the Wood brothers were only running 17 races in Sprint Cup.

That sucks.

That's not what I read. He can still change over the Cup, but he wouldn't get any points for the Daytona win. The win would count toward the wild card entry though.

[93henfan]

That's not what I read. He can still change over the Cup, but he wouldn't get any points for the Daytona win. The win would count toward the wild card entry though.

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/24867

As the article mentions, if the Wood brothers decided to change their mind and run a full schedule, I'm sure NASCAR would be quick to change the rule. If they did, Bayne could still make the Chase with no Daytona points if he finished in top 20 in points at the end of the season and there were no race winners left to fill the final two chase slots. NASCAR is filling the final two slots in the chase this year with otherwise non-chase qualifying race winners.

[89Hen]

NASCAR rules this season made drivers pick just one series to collect points, and Bayne chose the second-tier Nationwide Series. He can change his mind, but he would not be given retroactive points for the Daytona 500.

NASCAR officials said Monday the win would count toward seeding in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, but he would not receive any points for Sunday's race.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cu ... id=6144177

[93henfan]

NASCAR rules this season made drivers pick just one series to collect points, and Bayne chose the second-tier Nationwide Series. He can change his mind, but he would not be given retroactive points for the Daytona 500.

NASCAR officials said Monday the win would count toward seeding in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, but he would not receive any points for Sunday's race.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cu ... id=6144177

Right.

[UNHWildCats]

It has a potential to be a little more complicated to as Bayne is under contract to RouschFenway and is on loan to Wood Bros for the limited Sprint Cup schedule... so its not a matter of just saying he will run more races... RouschFenway would have to approve it.

[93henfan]

It has a potential to be a little more complicated to as Bayne is under contract to RouschFenway and is on loan to Wood Bros for the limited Sprint Cup schedule... so its not a matter of just saying he will run more races... RouschFenway would have to approve it.

They would. The Cat in the Hat is pretty friendly with the Wood's and I'm sure he'd want to do what's best for Ford.

The bigger question remains, will the Wood brothers now ramp up to a full schedule based on one superspeedway win? Let's face it: superspeedway results are often a crapshoot. We'll find out what the kid is really made of on the tracks not called Daytona or Talladega.

[UNHWildCats]

It has a potential to be a little more complicated to as Bayne is under contract to RouschFenway and is on loan to Wood Bros for the limited Sprint Cup schedule... so its not a matter of just saying he will run more races... RouschFenway would have to approve it.

They would. The Cat in the Hat is pretty friendly with the Wood's and I'm sure he'd want to do what's best for Ford.

The bigger question remains, will the Wood brothers now ramp up to a full schedule based on one superspeedway win? Let's face it: superspeedway results are often a crapshoot. We'll find out what the kid is really made of on the tracks not called Daytona or Talladega.

they really need to...worst case he isnt a star in the making... best case he runs great all year, they get more sponsorship and show drivers with a good driver they can still compete... certainly would help them land a quality driver going forward.

[93henfan]

They would. The Cat in the Hat is pretty friendly with the Wood's and I'm sure he'd want to do what's best for Ford.

The bigger question remains, will the Wood brothers now ramp up to a full schedule based on one superspeedway win? Let's face it: superspeedway results are often a crapshoot. We'll find out what the kid is really made of on the tracks not called Daytona or Talladega.

they really need to...worst case he isnt a star in the making... best case he runs great all year, they get more sponsorship and show drivers with a good driver they can still compete... certainly would help them land a quality driver going forward.

This is a real case where the economy may hurt. It's no secret that sponsorship dollars are way down for NASCAR. Ten years ago, some company would have inked the 21 car for a year-long deal by midnight on Sunday.

[UNHWildCats]

they really need to...worst case he isnt a star in the making... best case he runs great all year, they get more sponsorship and show drivers with a good driver they can still compete... certainly would help them land a quality driver going forward.

This is a real case where the economy may hurt. It's no secret that sponsorship dollars are way down for NASCAR. Ten years ago, some company would have inked the 21 car for a year-long deal by midnight on Sunday.

The problem is they really havnt had a marketable driver in some time. They had Ricky Rudd for a bit in the early part of the 2000s, but other than that they havent had a marketable driver, especially a young one in some time... If they can find a young marketable successful driver they wont have problems sponsoring the car for full seasons.

[93henfan]

Ricky Rudd? WTF? He'd been around since the 70s. Nice guy, but he never struck me as "marketable".

Dale Jr. is clearly the most marketable driver with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch not far behind. Last I checked, Jr. is rolling in something like $35M/year. I think that was a couple of years ago. Not sure what he makes now.

And of course, Dale Sr. was the most marketable driver NASCAR ever did and ever will have. Richard Petty carried the mantle up through the early 80s, but Sr. brought the sport to its heights up until his death. It's been downhill since.

[UNHWildCats]

Ricky Rudd? WTF? He'd been around since the 70s. Nice guy, but he never struck me as "marketable".

Dale Jr. is clearly the most marketable driver with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch not far behind. Last I checked, Jr. is rolling in something like $35M/year. I think that was a couple of years ago. Not sure what he makes now.

And of course, Dale Sr. was the most marketable driver NASCAR ever did and ever will have. Richard Petty carried the mantle up through the early 80s, but Sr. brought the sport to its heights up until his death. It's been downhill since.

the names u mention are the elite of marketable... but even people like Rudd were marketable even late in his career. In 1999, 2000 when he was driving the Tide car we had huge cutouts of him and stuff at Ames... Sure he was no Gordon or Earnhardt, but he was marketable.

Rudd has been the most marketable guy they have had in atleast 20 years... basically in the time when marketing a driver has been such a huge part of the sport, they havent had anyone... having success for a full season will show they can compete and could help them land a marketable driver... thats why I think its important they run this kid as much as they can this year... if he is for real... he will greatly help Wood Bros Racing.

[93henfan]

Rudd has been the most marketable guy they have had in atleast 20 years...

I guess I just don't understand your definition of marketable. I can think of at least 10 guys I'd put ahead of Ricky Rudd since 1991 (last 20 years). Off the top of my head:

Earnhardt Sr.
Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Darrell Waltrip
Kyle Busch
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott
Rusty Wallace
Davey Allison
Mark Martin

I'm not saying Rudd was some sort of shithead. He was a nice guy, but he never really registered high in marketability. I followed him pretty intently for about thirty years and he was never really close to being a marketer's dream. The guys I listed above all had better crowd reactions during driver introductions and longer lines at their souvenir trailers over the decades I've followed the sport. That's how I define marketability.

[UNHWildCats]

Rudd has been the most marketable guy they have had in atleast 20 years...

I guess I just don't understand your definition of marketable. I can think of at least 10 guys I'd put ahead of Ricky Rudd since 1991 (last 20 years). Off the top of my head:

Earnhardt Sr.
Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Darrell Waltrip
Kyle Busch
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott
Rusty Wallace
Davey Allison
Mark Martin

I'm not saying Rudd was some sort of shithead. He was a nice guy, but he never really registered high in marketability. I followed him pretty intently for about thirty years and he was never really close to being a marketer's dream. The guys I listed above all had better crowd reactions during driver introductions and longer lines at their souvenir trailers over the decades I've followed the sport. That's how I define marketability.

And which of the drivers you have listed have driven for Wood Bros Racing in the past 20 years.... yes Elliot has driven for them a bit since 2007, but he isnt the marketable driver, or successful driver he once was.

What Im saying is Rudd has been the only real marketable driver Wood Bros has had in the past 20 years... Not comparing Rudd to the marketability of Gordon or Earhnhardt or anything, just saying he is the best marketed driver they have had....

[UNHWildCats]

Rudd has been the most marketable guy they have had in atleast 20 years...

I guess I just don't understand your definition of marketable. I can think of at least 10 guys I'd put ahead of Ricky Rudd since 1991 (last 20 years). Off the top of my head:

Earnhardt Sr.
Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Darrell Waltrip
Kyle Busch
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott
Rusty Wallace
Davey Allison
Mark Martin

I'm not saying Rudd was some sort of shithead. He was a nice guy, but he never really registered high in marketability. I followed him pretty intently for about thirty years and he was never really close to being a marketer's dream. The guys I listed above all had better crowd reactions during driver introductions and longer lines at their souvenir trailers over the decades I've followed the sport. That's how I define marketability.

And as for marketability, I am referring to the marketabilty for sponsors... using the drivers name and image to make money... not for which driver sells the most merchandise at a race.

[93henfan]

I guess I just don't understand your definition of marketable. I can think of at least 10 guys I'd put ahead of Ricky Rudd since 1991 (last 20 years). Off the top of my head:

Earnhardt Sr.
Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Jimmie Johnson
Darrell Waltrip
Kyle Busch
Tony Stewart
Bill Elliott
Rusty Wallace
Davey Allison
Mark Martin

I'm not saying Rudd was some sort of shithead. He was a nice guy, but he never really registered high in marketability. I followed him pretty intently for about thirty years and he was never really close to being a marketer's dream. The guys I listed above all had better crowd reactions during driver introductions and longer lines at their souvenir trailers over the decades I've followed the sport. That's how I define marketability.

And which of the drivers you have listed have driven for Wood Bros Racing in the past 20 years.... yes Elliot has driven for them a bit since 2007, but he isnt the marketable driver, or successful driver he once was.

What Im saying is Rudd has been the only real marketable driver Wood Bros has had in the past 20 years... Not comparing Rudd to the marketability of Gordon or Earhnhardt or anything, just saying he is the best marketed driver they have had....

Well, you didn't make it clear you were only talking Wood brothers, and if that's the case, Bill Elliott was far more marketable than Ricky Rudd. He won NASCAR's most popular driver award so many years in a row that he finally told them to stop putting his name up for consideration. The only year anyone beat him when he was up for the competition was Sr. the year he died. Awesome Bill from Dawsonville carried the Ford banner for over 15 years and still holds the NASCAR speed record, pre-restrictor of course.

And as for marketability, I am referring to the marketabilty for sponsors... using the drivers name and image to make money... not for which driver sells the most merchandise at a race.

They're one and the same IMHO.