Fan: Why the Daytona 500 is the perfect first race of the NASCAR season

If there was ever any question which race should be the first race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season it was answered way back in 1979 when Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough brawled on the grass of The Daytona International Speedway in the first flag to flag nationally televised NASCAR race.

For fans who followed years before that the question was answered when Richard Petty and David Pearson bumped and banged fenders out of turn four before wrecking 50 yards from the checkered flag of the Daytona 500.

If anyone needed more proof, they got it in1989 when Darrell Waltrip did the "Icky Shuffle" to celebrate his first Daytona 500 win after 17 years of trying. Again, the question was answered in 1990 when Dale Earnhardt blew a tire out on the last lap after dominating the race to lose out on another Daytona 500 win.

The question was answered again in 1998 when 'The Intimidator' finally won his first Daytona 500 in his twentieth try.

Daytona is about firsts, and it's perfect as the first race of the season. It's the first race for new driver and team combinations. It's the first race for new sponsors and new colors. It's the first race for new rivalries and renewing careers.

There is no bigger stage in the stock car world and no better way to launch a season.

Some have compared the Daytona 500 to the Super bowl or World Series , but it is more like an All -Star game. It's a chance for teams and drivers to shine in the biggest spotlight in racing. Unlike baseball or football, the Daytona 500 doesn't define the champion, but it sets the tone for the season. Teams, cars & drivers prepare for months with only this one race in mind.

Jimmie Johnson finished 35^th in 2010, but fought back through the season to win a championship. 2010 brings a new point system that could work against the five time champion's mid-summer slump. Can Johnson afford another bad finish in the season opener? Daytona will tell the story better than any other track could.

No other tracks can lay it on the line and do it on as big a stage for the fans. The February classic has run for 53 seasons as the premiere event and it would be out of place if NASCAR saw fit to rearrange their schedule.

Sources
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History.aspx
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History/DAYTONA-500-Winners.aspx
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/News/DAYTONA-500-History/DAYTONA-500-Records.aspx
www.nascarmedia.com

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