A NASCAR Season Preview

Daytona/Speedweeks Edition

Tonight, NASCAR resumes its long march to crown a champion, this time for the 75th season of competition. Local superfans Maddy! and David got together to talk about the upcoming season, some expectations for Daytona this weekend, and more!

Maddy!: So! NASCAR!! It’s back!

David: Yes!! Finally! I really think we’re getting into what might be the finest month of the year sportswise, as football gives way to NASCAR, college baseball (which also starts this weekend!), March Madness, and pro baseball shortly thereafter. Beautiful.

Maddy!: As it stands right now, Daytona qualifying is tonight.

David: Yup! 42 entries for 40 spots, so two cars have to go home and won’t make the big race.

Maddy!: It matters! The duels matter!

David: At long last, they do. Part of me wishes we had a full field of 43 so no one has to go home, but at the same time… it’s really nice that there’s actual weight to these qualifying races.

Maddy!: I like these drivers, so I don’t want any of them to go home, but if I had to put money on it, I’d have Austin Hill and… 

David: My money’s on Hill and [Conor] Daly. The 50 car only made it in last year because JJ Yeley had mechanical problems, and with the remnants of the Hezeberg team not showing up until Phoenix, I’m not sure I can count on anyone to be slower.

Maddy!: I really want to see Daly in the 500, but I can’t exactly think of anyone I want going home in his place. No fun Biffle times either, since it looks like NY Racing is dead.

David: Yeah, sure seems that way. Gives us Chandler Smith in the 13 for Kaulig, Zane Smith in the 36 for Front Row, Conor Daly and Austin Hill in the aforementioned 50 and 62, Travis Pastrana in the 67 for 23XI, and Jimmie Johnson making a return in the 84 for his team - Legacy.

Maddy!: We all expected to see Travis Pastrana and Jimmie Johnson duke it out in the 2023 Daytona 500.

David: They’ve got JJ marshalling. Hopefully he actually makes the race, else that’s gonna be real awkward. 

Maddy!: I met Pastrana in 2013 down in Phoenix. Don’t know where the photo is, but I’m always gonna root for him. Speaking of rooting interests, who are you pulling for this year?

David: Gotta go with Cody Ware. He’s classic dep underdog fodder. Can’t go wrong with Ryan Blaney nor Bubba Wallace, and if JJ Yeley shows up for that 80 team, he’ll be on my list. 

Maddy!: I’m partial to Tyler Reddick - especially now that he’s with 23XI. I can’t wait to see what he can accomplish with that team given what he managed with Childress. I can’t hate Blaney, Bubba, [Aric] Almirola, or [Christopher] Bell.

Eli: vroom vroom motherfuckers

Maddy!: Eli jumpscare!

David: Speaking truth once again. Thanks, Eli.

Eli: That’s all I had. Please continue.

David: Circling back - anyone you’ve got pegged to make a jump in the standings this year? 

Maddy!: Ryan Preece! He’s gonna shock a lot of people. Tony Stewart got a guy he wanted in one of his cars and I think it’s gonna pay off big time. I’d love to see Harrison Burton make some magic happen at Wood Brothers - they’re so close to that 100th win, and I’d love to see it happen. It’d help Burton go from a “oh right, he exists” driver to more of a factor in the series too.

David: Absolutely agree on Preece. I don’t really see Burton jumping but I hope they can at least win one before too long. Neither of us seem very sold on Noah Gragson or Ty Gibbs.

Maddy!: They’re sure going to exist!

David: I think a more pertinent question for Gibbs is how quickly he’s going to get decked. Seems like he’s got a lot of growing to do yet. 

Maddy!: I think it’s gonna be a 2009 Logano type of year for him. Honestly, I think Gibbs might be on the downswing in general. If Hamlin and Truex don’t have good years, what exactly does the team have?

David: I think it’s a nasty question that could be a real thorn for Coach Gibbs and the entire organization. For a long time, they were the face of Toyota and clearly the best team in the field. Now, I’d say they’re third, and even then, if I’m up-and-coming, I’m not going to a team where I’ll always be second to the owner’s grandson. No thanks. 

Maddy!: Yeah. I think it’s Hendrick as the frontrunner, then Penske, and then Gibbs.

David: Of course, another big note - Kevin Harvick, who took over for the late great Dale Earnhardt, has announced he’ll be hanging up his boots at the end of the year to join the broadcasting team. That’s a big ding for a Stewart-Haas team that doesn’t exactly have a huge pipeline of talent to replace him and potentially Almirola too.

Maddy!: They’ll probably just grab someone from Xfinity. Hard to say who, I don’t know the contenders quite as well.

David: Xfinity is such a shambles of a series. 

Maddy!: If nothing else, silly season is going to be a blast.

David: Oh, absolutely, and that’s such a joy. After a few years that felt pretty stagnant as far as driver movement, getting some spice back into things is a joy.

David: Back to this weekend’s race and the season ahead: final four predictions? Champions?

Maddy!: Logano, Harvick, at least one Hendrick driver, and… I’ll say Ryan Preece. This will definitely hold up.

David: Haha, I like the way you’re thinking. I’m going Harvick, Elliott, Hamlin, and Blaney, and though it pains me to say it, I think the title goes to Chase Elliott. 

Maddy!: Yeah, I think it’s going to wind up being a Hendrick driver. All of them have a good enough shot. If William Byron wins in a Liberty scheme, though, I’m out. I quit.

David: True enough. Fuck Liberty.

Maddy!: As for the 500? Fuck it, Kevin Harvick. If things stay level, he’ll be able to pull a closer move on the field and win it. 

David: Daytona is a stupid race where stupid things happen. I think last year was when Cassill-Ware-Ragan-McLeod basically ran from the back of the grid to the top 10. For that reason, I’m going Todd Gilliland. If things stay calm, this pick looks incredibly dumb, but people generally forget how to drive February Daytona, so I think I’ll be alright. 

Maddy!: If things get chaotic as all hell, give me Ross Chastain. 

David: That’s an excellent pick.

Maddy!: He’s either surviving the chaos or causing it. From a preference perspective, though, I want Reddick or Pastrana. 

David: Circling back to the open drivers: which two are locking in their spots in qualifying, which two are racing into the duels, and who’s going home? 

Maddy!: Jimmie and Pastrana on speed, the Smiths in the duels, and Daly and Hill are heading home. 

David: Yeah, pretty much exactly how I see it. (Editor’s note: We had the speed qualifiers correct, but due to the order that the remaining four landed, our scenarios for the rest playing out are impossible).

Maddy!: I think as long as the Smiths get team support in their duels, they’ll be alright. Hill has skill, but it’s an uphill battle for him.

David: Yeah, I’d concur with all of that. Zane seems to have the best shot with team support particularly. I think the 50 and 62 will wind up the slowest, and while it sucks that they won’t make the race if I’m right, I’d hate to see other guys get bumped for them. Just an overall unfortunate situation. 

Maddy!: Last question: how bad will Fox be at broadcasting?

David: It’s gonna be rough! At least some things never change.

Maddy!: 5 straight days of racing start tonight, and not one threat of rain. 

David: Knock on wood!

Maddy!: For Dale.