Joey Logano Wins The Daytona 500

Joey Logano won his first Daytona 500 on Sunday. He became the second youngest driver ever to win the Great American Race, at 24 years of age. Trevor Bayne was the youngest, when he won the 2011 race at only 20 years old.

While the race ended under caution, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the driver known as “Sliced Bread”, in a reference to him being the best thing since sliced bread. As complimentary as the meaning of the name, I’m not sure I’d want any nickname with bread in it.

Logano led 31 laps, and finished just ahead of the 2014 Sprint Cup Champion Kevin Harvick. Defending Daytona 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 3rd.

In what is supposed to be his final Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon was dominant early, leading more laps than anyone with 87, before being involved in a crash, and finishing in 33rd position.

While 6 of the Top 9 cars were Chevrolets, Logano won in a Ford. The other 2 in the aforementioned Top 9 were Toyotas. The Chevys were strong all week, but couldn’t get past that one Ford at the end of the 500.

Other notable drivers in the field were 6-time Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, who finished in 5th place, just behind Denny Hamlin, and Tony Stewart, who finished in 42nd place, after an early crash. Danica Patrick, once again the only woman in the field, finished in her familiar position in the 20s, in 21st place.

As the leaders headed down the back straightaway, there was a crash involving 8 cars, so the checkered flag came out with the caution flag, which signified the end of the race, and no more passing was allowed. Logano was leading when the crash occurred, so he remained in front to win the race.

This was Logano’s 9th win of his career on the Nascar Sprint Cup circuit, and the 2nd Daytona 500 win for car owner Roger Penske. Penske also has 15 Indianapolis 500 wins as car owner. Logano is already in his 7th year on the Sprint Cup Circuit at 24.

Nascar has now started, as always, with their biggest race of the year, reversing the manner of every other sport that I know of, which finishes their season with their championship game or series. Yes, they end the season with the Chase, which has been changed frequently, but their “Super Bowl” is over now, after the first weekend, with 9 months of racing to go. I just think that’s a little strange.

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