Thursday Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Notebook:
SURVIVING THE HEAT:
It’s no secret that when NASCAR returns to the Daytona Beach shores for their annual July 4th tradition that they’ll have to embrace warmer temperatures. However, so far this weekend at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, it’s been more than warm, more than hot, it’s (been) like scorching hot.
With temperatures climbing into the low 90s, the humidity has elevated the Heat Index to reach well over the 100 degree mark, spiking actually to the 108 degree mark, leaving the teams, drivers and fans all looking for a way to get some relief from the heat.
During the lone NASCAR Nationwide Series practice at the 2.5-mile superspeedway on Thursday, driver Landon Cassill informed his JD Motorsports team through the radio about the conditions inside his No. 01 Flex Seal Chevrolet Camaro. “I cannot explain to you how hot it is in here.”
So, what is everyone doing to beat the heat? Some of the tactics to stay cool are traditional and well, some others are just creative:
Tanner Berryhill, No. 17 NationalCashLenders.com Dodge Charger: “It’s hot, but it’s not a big deal for me. Us racecar drivers are trained for it, I don’t even hardly use a helmet fan or drink water inside the car, but I understand it’s important to stay hydrated, so I’m going to do that.”
James Buescher, No. 99 ToyotaCare Toyota Camry: “During the summer stretch it can get really hot in cars, especially at places like Kentucky Speedway and Daytona. I start to prepare for the upcoming race as soon as the previous race ends. Nutrilite makes some great products like their sport drinks and sport twist tubes. They have some great flavors that allow me to replenish the electrolytes that I lose while racing on those hot days and nights at the track. Preparation is key to have a successful day at the track.”
Ross Chastain, No. 55 Watermelon.Org Chevrolet Camaro: “Eat Watermelon of course!”
Dylan Kwasniewski, No. 31 Rockstar Chevrolet Camaro: “Drinking plenty of water and of course, some Rockstar energy too.”
Elliott Sadler, No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry: “Hell, it’s not really that hot down here. Wait till Indy in August.”
Ryan Truex, No. 83 VooDoo BBQ Toyota Camry: “Drink lots of fluids. It’s not bad when you’re in the car, it’s sitting on pit road and in the garage that gets (really) hot. I have an air conditioning unit, so that helps too.”
John Wes Townley, No. 25 Zaxby’s Toyota Camry: “I’m eating Sushi for lunch and looking for the hottest wings in Daytona for dinner. In actuality, water, water, water and even some pedialyte, grape and strawberry for me.”
When the traditional afternoon Florida storm clouds rolled in, conditions eased, but the forecast stimulates a similar outlook for the remainder of the weekend, keeping a similar “keep cool” plan in effect.
BRIAN SCOTT LEADS ONLY NATIONWIDE SERIES PRACTICE; LODGING IN GOOD SPOT
Richard Childress Racing’s Brian Scott led the only practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in preparation for tomorrow night’s Subway Firecracker 250.
Scott, driver of the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet Camaro posted a lap of 48.6410 seconds at 193.092 miles per hour, nearly a tenth of second ahead of Darrell Wallace Jr. in the No. 20 Share a Coke Toyota Camry.
Despite winless in his NASCAR Nationwide Series career, Scott sits the highest he’s even been in the NASCAR Nationwide Series entering the final restrictor plate race of the season. Currently, the Boise, Idaho native is fifth in the championship standings, 47 points from the points lead held by Elliott Sadler.
This time last season, Scott sat ninth, 55 points out, and the year before, 10th, 199 markers behind the lead. Armed with a good car and the opportunity to potentially capitalize on that championship chase, the 26-year old is still remaining humble about his chances for Friday night, but for the rest of the season too.
“I feel cautiously optimistic about the race,” said Scott, who’s finished a personal-best of sixth last February. “I know we will have good speed and a chance to win, but the chance of being in a wreck is always high.
“The season has been really competitive for us, the only issue we have had is getting good finishes out of the superspeedways and the road course race, but I like the stretch ahead, a lot of good tracks for me and this team, including New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway.”
LESSON LEARNED:
Not that he likes to talk about it, and even when discussing it, Dale Earnhardt Jr. changes his monotone when asked about his decision to layback in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in May.
“It was embarrassing, I hate to talk about it,” Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday. “The way we ran and what I chose to do at the end of that race was uncharacteristic of anybody that’s in the field trying to compete. I just got really frustrated with the way things were working out for us and lost sight of the overall big picture and what you’re out there trying to do and who is there depending on you.”
In a move that he thought would be beneficial, backfired on the sport’s most popular driver and spawned immediately backlash from fans and even critics.
With about 30 laps remaining in the Aaron’s 499, Earnhardt Jr. made a decision on the heels of bad pit strategy to ride at the back of the lead-lap pack, instead of trying to cleverly draft his way towards the front. Even though, the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS led 26 laps in that event, the two-time Daytona 500 champion believed his car didn’t have the capabilities to win the second restrictor plate race of the season.
Earnhardt Jr. finished 26th that day, and while he was content with bring home a car in one piece for his Hendrick Motorsports team to potentially use later on, his action led to a reaction that event Earnhardt Jr. admitted he wasn’t ready for.
“I learned some lessons,” he said. “Never too old to learn them, never too old to be taught a lesson either and I definitely experienced that in Talladega this year,” he said. “I think I got real selfish at Talladega and what the result and how the result affected anyone I never took into account.”
So, if Earnhardt’s looking to prove a point, he knows that there probably isn’t a better place to do it at, other than Daytona (Fla.) International, a place he’s won at three times.
“I really just was out there thinking more about me and what I thought and what I wanted to do and how frustrated I was,” he said. “I forgot that there’s a team behind me depending on me and a lot of fans there to see us race and show up to spend their hard earned money. Definitely was a difficult thing to go through.”
SHORT ON PRACTICE:
Rain forced cancellation of Thursday’s second and final practice for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400.
Winless Cup drivers Jamie McMurray (201.952 mph), Kyle Larson (201.889) and Clint Bowyer (201.839) were the fastest in a rain-delayed first session. Those times could loom large with thunderstorms a possibility for Friday afternoon at Daytona. Qualifying is scheduled for 5:10 p.m ET., but the starting grid would be set by practice times in the event of a rainout.
Brad Keselowski, Gordon, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Greg Biffle also topped 201 mph. Johnson was 42nd among 44 drivers, settling for a best lap of 191.274, ahead of only Michael Waltrip and Terry Labonte. 44 entries are on the ground for 43 starting positions available.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
