Pit Road Week 1: Daytona

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week One

By Richard Tix

Wow! My first reaction to the Daytona 500 to kick off the 2014 season. If you missed the race, thanks for coming to NASCAR Behind the Wall to check out a quick review with Power Rankings, but you missed one heck of a race. I would try and find it anywhere to watch the replay!

The 500 started like any other 500. We had a very good anthem sung by Aloe Blacc and a very energized "start your engines" call. Then the racing started. The Cup drivers stayed two wide to start, but then those damn rain clouds came in. We waited, and waited, and waited until they finally got us going in Prime Time.

When the race came back on fans who waited sure got what they waited for. As Gordon said, "it was like a switch flipped in peoples heads and everyone started driving like it was the last 5 laps with 150 laps to go." It was great action the whole way through.

Coming down the stretch we started seeing guys getting loose and caution flags flying (We also got to see a lot of commercials, in fact 10 in the last 65 laps. Thanks Fox). guys like Kahne, Truex, Bowyer, and Stewart never had a chance to make a mark because each had there own problems. But fans still had some heavy hitters up front.

Coming into the last lap Dale Earnhardt Jr was leading (I was a little outraged that some of Jr Nation were trying a rain dance earlier because he was leading, the same ones upset that rain had postponed the race). Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, and Brad Keselowski all up front trying to make there bid at the 500. But Jr came across to win his second Daytona 500 (first since 2004). This was sure to be one of the most exciting finishes of the season (and a Jr win like this is way more satisfying then calling it on rain, am I right Jr Nation?).

2014 Kicked off with a bang at Daytona. Next week we head to Phoenix for the first time in the year. Check out the full race results here. Next is the weekly Pit Road (or Power Rankings). This week it will get very messed up with many drivers having bad luck or getting involved in a wreck. After Phoenix it should even back out.

Week 1 Preview: Daytona

Previous Power Rankings

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 1

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-8)- Well its a big jump up from 8th so soak it in Jr Nation. This might be the momentum that gets him and Letarte going int Letartes last season as his Crew Chief. Either way, its a great way for Jr to start 2014. Great weekend after one of his cars (Regan Smith) won in Nationwide and then Jr caps it off with the 500. He had a strong car all weekend.
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-2)-Kenseth finished 6th but he made his way up front towards the end of the race putting himself in reach but just not close enough. Overall he had a good weekend though.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- Hamlin started the week off winning the Unlimited and then his Duel. He was quiet on Sunday until the end when he charged up front. Reports are that DH lost radio communication for the last 150 laps so his 2nd place finish is pretty impressive.
4. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- 5th place finish and JJ falls? Well the early season Power Rankings are tough. JJ had a good showing in the 500 and finally stayed out of trouble. 
5. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- Kyle finished 19th, but he doesnt drop too far after he had a strong run all day Sunday. He led 19 laps and a last lap crash dropped him back farther then he would have finished if it started green.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-10)- Another big mover, BK's #2 was strong all weekend. He just couldn't get enough push on the outside line after Jr's good jump on the last restart to get around Dale. BK finished 3rd in the 500 and hopes this starts his turnaround in 2014.
7. Jeff Gordon (LW-11)- In the post race interview it seemed like Gordon had a lot of fun on Sunday. Gordon ended up 4th himself, but seemed to be even happier for Jr after the race.
8. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- Another guy who had a pretty good car, stayed up front most the day, but just didn't finish like he should of because of the last lap crash. 13th is better then how Harvicks 2013 season started so there is that.
9. Joey Logano (LW-9)- Not moving after finishing 11th, well the Rankings are tough what can I say. In no way does this take away from his finish though, he had a good day and will start his 2014 season out on a good note.
10. Kurt Busch (LW-7)- This was Daytona, so this happened to a lot of guys, but Kurt actually had a pretty good day. He did get clipped in a wreck that had his right rear quarter flapping in the wind for some closing laps and then he was also involved in the last lap wreck shoving him down to 21st.
11. Greg Biffle (LW- NR)- Considering Ford seemed a bit behind last year to start the season it was a pretty strong showing. Biffle was one of those Ford drivers who helped them look better to start this season. Biffle finished 8th but had a good run up front towards the end of the race.
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-NR)- Last guy in, Stenhouse gets the nod here. He just hung around and ended up finishing 7th. Unfortunately, if he had more there he could have finished better while pushing BK around on the last lap. In his last 12 races he has 4 top 10's.

Dropped Out: Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer

Just Missed: Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon

Honorary Mention: Reed Sorenson, Landon Cassill, and Casey Mears

As promised, here are some fans on Twitter that let me know before the Daytona 500 who would win!

ThisSportz Power Rankings if you need another view! Check'em out!

Onto Week 2 of the NASCAR Season! NASCAR heads to Phoenix to get the season going full steam. Check back for the Week 2 Preview: Phoenix later this week! As always, contact me on Twitter to talk NASCAR and let me know who you go this weekend!