Well...we are mere HOURS away from the start of the 2010 Gatorade Duels in Daytona! For all practical purposes, today's twin 150's will be qualifying for all but Mark Martin and Dale Jr., who have already locked in the front row for the start of Sunday's Daytona 500. The rest of the drivers will be jockeying for the best starting position based on how they finish in today's races.
There have already been quite a few wrecks during practices this week and last, forcing several drivers into back-up cars for the Bud Shootout (Kevin Harvick WON his 2nd consecutive Bud Shootout in a back-up car last Saturday night) and the Gatorade Duels. Some notable drivers in back-ups for today's races include Jimmy Johnson, David Reutimann, and Clint Bowyer.
I'm so excited about the next several days. We've got the Duel's this afternoon (2pm on SPEED), the Truck race tomorrow evening (8pm on SPEED), the Nationwide race on Saturday afternoon (1:30pm on ESPN2) and then the Daytona 500 on Sunday (1:15pm on FOX.) Is that an AWESOME long weekend of racing or WHAT?? Oh, and did I mention that Danica is racing in th Nationwide race on Saturday? (as if you didn't already know that...)
Who are you picking to win the Daytona 500 on Sunday? I've always been a Kasey Kahne fan, and based on how he looked in his new Ford Fusion during the Bud Shootout last Saturday, he's definitely my pick for Sunday afternoon. He didn't qualify well on Saturday, so hopefully he can do well in the Duels (he's in the 2nd race) and get a decent starting spot for Sunday. After that it's all about handling and keeping that Roush-Yates horsepower on the ground. It'll be exciting to watch. I can't WAIT!
So...go out, buy some of your favorite frosty beverages, pop some popcorn, kick back and enjoy a bunch of good racing this weekend. I know that's what I'll be doing!
