DFS NASCAR: Folds of Honor 500 Playbook & Optimal Lineups

“That’s a cool stamp to put down – to say you did that”, Busch said about the Super Bowl champion, adding that he joined Gronk – as well as members of the No. 41 team – at Razzle’s Nightclub in Daytona Beach on Sunday night and didn’t leave until about 3:30 Monday morning. Kevin Harvick won the second stage but also fell victim to the “Big One” on Lap 128 which involved 17 cars.

“It’s just a tremendous credit to Stewart-Haas Racing, winning the Daytona 500 with (Kurt Busch) last week and having all the cars run great”. By the time Busch’s Ford crossed the finish line, every one of those flawless fenders were bent.

Busch’s win Sunday means he’s all but guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. I want to congratulate Kurt on a great victory. “(Crew chief Tony) Gibson managed the five-minute clock.

At his press conference Friday, Busch said the most surreal part of the experience was getting out of his vehicle in Victory Lane and struggled to describe that feeling. “Hopefully this year we can close it out”.

“Daytona’s always about survival”. The nose was clean and the tail was clean.

Speaking on the happening, Elliot said that it is kind of just goes to show you if it’s not your day, it’s not your day. Other short odds to win are Jimmie Johnson (6/1), Kyle Busch (6/1) and Brad Keselowski (15/2). “Usually there’s not a flawless auto anymore”.

With so many intermediate tracks on the schedule, many look for Atlanta to be a barometer of things to come especially with this year’s new rules package.

Kurt Busch has had a insane week. “With guys on old tires, guys on new tires, a lot of veterans were taken out”.

The first two stages are 85 laps apiece, while the final stage will cover 155 laps if the race goes the scheduled 325-lap distance. “They really worked their tails off to get ready”.

The new format didn’t have much impact in the crash-filled Daytona 500.

“Obviously I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t disappointing”, Elliott said.

Race two of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup slate is set for today at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick edged Ryan Newman (188.870 mph), who was fastest in Round 2 and second-fastest in Round 1. “We had to play the cards that we were dealt, and I thought we played them to the best of our ability”. Or just trying to mitigate a decline in interest and television ratings? “I’m definitely disappointed. We all were”.

Elliott grew up about 85 miles north of the track. What if NASCAR moved the fall race from New Hampshire to Las Vegas while changing the fall race at Charlotte to a race using the infield road course at the track? His 42 point total was largely due to him winning Stages 1 and 2 of the race. “We all know it’s going to happen”. Unfortunately, a late caution bunched up the field for an overtime finish and Harvick didn’t get the chance to go for a dramatic win. “I think it is really cool”.

Elliott beat down the door to Victory Lane as a rookie last season but was never quite able to find the key.

If Daytona is any indication, the final standings could be interesting. Despite finishing third in the 500, A.J. Allmendinger is fifth in the rankings. Harvick finished sixth but led a race high 131 of the 330 laps.

With more to come.