Many Debuts in Sprint Unlimited

The green flag is about to unofficially drop on the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the first since 1991 that will be completely Jeff Gordon-free (on the track, anyway, as Gordon will be calling races for Fox this year). But in Logano’s mind, running 200 miles per hour in a Saturday night exhibition is no more risky than, say, walking through the garage or pumping iron or riding dune buggies or crossing a street.

“I think all those feelings and all those experiences and things I’ve learned will only contribute to success, not failure”, said Vickers, who has received clearance to race from his doctors and from NASCAR. Vickers will also be eligible to replace Stewart in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited non-points race.

The Joe Gibbs Racing star led final practice for the Sprint Unlimited.

The race is a chance for teams to shake off any cobwebs from the offseason and ready for the February 21 season-opening Daytona 500.

Vickers’ moment is preceded by Tony Stewart’s misery.

Veteran driver Brian Vickers will drive Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet racecar at this month’s Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson was eliminated in a single-car crash along the backstretch with 31 laps to go; A.J. Allmendinger, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne crashed after Jamie McMurray ran into Kahne on Lap 57. Patrick’s much hyped foray into NASCAR has been mostly a dud so far.

“Around this time previous year, the owners group invited us to be a part of their discussions”, Wood Brothers Racing business director Jon Wood said. But this format would eliminate three weeks by taking second dates away from Texas, Phoenix and Charlotte.

He was able to run only two races before blood clots returned, and the need for blood thinners sidelined him the rest of the year. “For me, it is one day at a time, doing what I do”. But despite the disappointment in an early exit – he finished 24th in the 25-car field – Vickers said he enjoyed the taste of Cup competition and feels better about what to expect come Thursday’s Can-Am Duels, which set the Daytona 500 starting field. However, remember how he started off last season? The race continues until a valid attempt. Busch broke his right leg and left foot when his vehicle slammed into a concrete wall during the Xfinity Series race at Daytona. In 28 career Daytona races, he has a mere 7 Top 10 finishes.

Two flirtations with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and the continuing strength of the Team Penske organization over the past two years have only intensified Joey Logano’s desire to win a first title in the series. He drove in two races past year. However, Truex’s other Daytona numbers aren’t so pretty. “Just the wrong place at the wrong time”. Vickers stepped out of his No. 55 Toyota ride with Michael Waltrip Racing in March because of his problems.

Enjoy the races every body!