Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series- Full Race -Coke Zero Sugar 400

thank you those that are serving now Lord we are 242 years old we are the United States of America and may we always say In God We Trust for us in your name we pray amen here with us tonight to perform our national anthem from Fort Bragg North Carolina please welcome the 82nd Airborne Division's all-american chorus [Music] at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars or the ramparts we watched were so gallantly live stream and [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] backwash oh say does that star-spangled banner [Applause] [Music] Oh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] let's hear it one more time for the 82nd Airborne Division's all-american chorus and overhead the F twenty-twos from techno [Music] continuing a Daytona tradition that dates back to the 1970s please join us in honoring three of America's bravest heroes on this Independence Day weekend each of these individuals was awarded a medal of honor for going above and beyond the call of duty while participating in daring operations against enemy forces please welcome staff sergeant Don Jenkins command sergeant major gary luttrell and Master Sergeant Leroy Petry that is the highest and most prestigious personal military decoration anyone can receive what an honor [Music] there was a beautiful the Sun beat down [Music] our trap [Music] and our singing [Music] [Music] stewey [Music] he's running down the drain you [Music] would come to me down the drain [Music] [Applause] it's Monster Energy Cup Series Coke Zero sugar 400 Daytona Beach Florida Daytona International Speedway before the stories that we're going to be following tonight let's go to pit road we start with Marty Snider hey Rick even though chase Elliott starts on the pole tonight he told me stage 1 is very critical for this race team why he said I've learned over the years that a restrictor plate race II you have to prove your car has speed if you show it has speed team to work with you helped me early in the race and let's help each other late and maybe get to Victory Lane Kelly Kurt Busch has just won restrictor plate race win on his resume but it was a big one the Daytona 500 last year he told me this morning his tank is full of desire to win here again if he does that tonight it'll be his first win of the season a boxes team is anxious to check off they qualify 23rd but expected a car to handle better once they get into the race partner and Erik Jones only has one top ten on restrictor plate race it was here last year and in speaking to his crew chief Chris Gayle he told me look where we are on the points position right now we're only 1/2 the good on the playoff leaderboard we desperately need stage points and we desperately want a win tonight is that opportunity buddy has a tall task at home starting 29th Dave Parker last night the 25 year old Kyle Larson from Elk Grove California did something he never had in his career before he won at Daytona his crew chief told me I love when he races a day before because he always learned something could he have learned enough to win two times in one weekend at Daytona it is possible Steve Letarte if he does it you'll have one of the best views on top of the peacock pit box I will Dave down here in pit stall free you mention what Kyle Larson learned last night what I've learned about covering NASCAR from Daytona for 25 years as it never is short for excitement never disappointing on action look just a race last night a huge accident where we see the 60 of Austin syndrich tumbled down through turn one think back to the Daytona 500 just back in February the accident Austin Dillon going to Victory Lane and Dale jr. I'll never forget race one for me friends see in the booth your last win here at Daytona it was breathtaking not just because your win but because of this accident they told him always full of excitement the shariah Steve that was a real scary moment we couldn't celebrate until we knew Austin was out of the car and man what a night for us y'all it's a night for y'all too big night for you guys up in the booth but you know anytime you win here at Daytona it's special it obviously means a lot to me and my family and to be able to add another win to the win column as a big night I think what's so great about this race is you just never know what's gonna happen until it's over you know you you can come down be leading the race making about the Daytona 500 leading the race on a back straightaway aric amirola didn't win the race somebody else did Austin Dillon knocked him out of the way that's Daytona we talked about the wrecks but also those late race changes of position and that opportunity to take the lead away and get that big win you guys have used the word aggressive and I think another word craziness because that's exactly what we're about to experience and to get there we got to fire the engines so it's time for the command let's go trackside race fans it's time for the most famous words in motorsports here to give the command to start engines please welcome your grand marshal Colonel Gregory Gatson your home I love a great command it gets everybody fired up 40 cars coming to live drivers strapped in 400 miles in front of us from Daytona NASCAR on NBC is front you buy coca-cola the official fan refreshment of NASCAR Chevrolet the most awarded car company four years in a row and by Subway restaurants [Music] oh my god oh my god that is not good Keselowski wins at Daytona instead houses going tonight's starting grid brought to you by Coke Zero sugar up front once again it is all Hendrick Motorsports chase Elliott Alex Bowman they will make up that road chase Elliott is 22 years old Alex Bowman only 25 years old the youth of the sport upfront everybody always talks about Piske Motorsports they're the dominant team at the plate tracks well I think the best guy out of that group is Brad Keselowski start here at Row 2 and Row 3 we got last year's winner at this race Ricky Stenhouse dude big surprise right here Michael McDowell he had a career best finish a fourth here in this race last year in row five we have Austin Dillon this year's Daytona 500 winner starting exit Clint Boyer has to play wins but never here at Daytona starting behind then we have Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney Ryan Blaney ran great here in February got caught up in a late race wreck didn't get the win done started row seven behind them a Spartan true that - I can't believe it but never won a plate race and then look who's next to him Kyle Larson and then in row eight Kyle Busch these two put on a great show last week and start right next to each other again could expect more from these two all right well let's talk with Kyle Larson because he did put on an incredible show a week ago and his matter of fact was able to get back to Victory Lane yesterday in the Xfinity series but style him up on the radio hey Kyle it's guys up in the NBC booth you with us yeah I got hey bud you've been part of two great finishes in the last two races can we expect more of that tonight yeah I hope so Carl thanks Chevy was okay a little bit of drafting practice we did so more comfortable than normal so that was good races always crazy no they're just gonna try and stay trouble and I'm so how do you do that how do you be aggressive and do the things you need to do to win this race and stay out of trouble well I don't I don't really think of the gun ass I've get this out of trouble in this race though I don't know you'll our car drives good helpful they could be aggressive and try and get to the front maintain track position but you know if in our cars are Hansel maybe your ride a little bit and wait till we get to the end of the race but I don't know I haven't I have another good job in this race the bath well they everybody this board knows had talented you are so I'm sure you're gonna get it figured out good luck tonight but yeah thank you alright we see that we're going to be riding along with Kyle Larson but we'll ride along with a few different drivers take us through it guys we see right here we got Bubba Wallace jr. the coca-cola cam got that great head cam helmet cam that's gonna be awesome gonna be some great shots tonight we just talked to Kyle Larson he's got the credit one bank cam on the roof Austin Dillon Daytona 500 winner coca-cola cam here we are riding along the number 17 of Ricky Stenhouse with the third bank Kim happy Harvick number four Jimmy John's came and this is the view everybody wants tonight Jeff yes for sure number nine chase Elliott and the Chevrolet Camp now folks fans were invited to submit a design for the push-pull of war trophy that will go to the driver that wins the most poll awards throughout the season and Tyler Turner from Reynolds Illinois created the winning entry deciding to include a cup in his design after thinking what's a Busch trophy without a cup to drink from I think it's pretty smart we'll see him and his trophy in November at the NASCAR Awards in Vegas when he presents it to the winning driver and chase Elliott with the pull win here from yesterday and now we're seeing the field make their way back to pit road a tradition here at Daytona honoring the military on this fourth of July weekend it's the Stars and Stripes continue to be on our mind the Army Navy Air Force Marines and Coast Guard all represented as everyone on pit road and in the grandstand will rise to honor our military our men and women that wear the uniform proudly every day protecting our freedoms and allowing us to do the things that we love to do like what we're doing right now enjoying on this 4th of July weekend a great race atmosphere so much respects in this sport for our military on a weekly basis we proudly recognize members from all five branches of our nation's military the United States Army United States Marine Corps [Music] United States Navy [Music] United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard [Music] NASCAR coca-cola Daytona International Speedway and the fans would like to thank the women and men of the United States Armed Forces past and present for their service thank you for making the commitment and sacrifice to protect our freedoms we honor each and every one of you 242 years ago the Declaration of Independence was adopted and this great nation took shape throughout that time one constant has remained the steady unwavering strength of the United States Armed Forces tonight we celebrate the freedom and the sacrifices made to maintain a NASCAR salute those who serve and those who continue to serve the United States of America spotlight of course shines a little brighter on 4th of July weekend but it's always appreciated every win in NASCAR [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] from the world center of racing Daytona International Speedway about to get underway with the 18th race of the season and make sure to jump into the fantasy league we have our own fantasy league NASCAR calm NBC Sports fantasy wanna join us we would gladly accept you ten races up tell the playoffs you guys are doing pretty good right yeah we are doing good this race is tough because you'd really got to pay attention cuz you've got your driver in the garage you need to move him out if you want to put him in the starting lineup before the beginning of this last stage so be paying attention to what's going on we line up yeah this is the one that's gonna be the toughest to call because so many guys can get up there and make it a good night so trying to pick those five pick the right fives can we get down I'm trying to figure out when I will have time to move my garage driver out I might be gone for just a moment I'll let you know I'll let you know and again you're playing against us you're playing okay I don't forget about that hey earlier yesterday Todd Lewis at the golf channel came and did a ride around with Denny Hamlin and they talked about seeing the air listen you know I here at Daytona International Speedway Dale Earnhardt used to say that he could see the air he use do you vision that as well what he's basically saying is he can see pockets of air starting to form so you can see two cars up in front of you if they're disturbing the air you you can feel it in your car your car will start to pick up rpm because you're there's less resistance on it you know if you can two cars side by side just think about you know if you follow one tractor-trailer that's that's that's a good amount of air on the highway that like your car starts buffering around if you put two beside each other there's almost no air coming to your car so there's nothing going to your back spoiler and that's the only thing to slows us down is the air touching the back spoiler that's that slows our car we heard Denny Hamlin talking about seeing the air Junior and I I I know I could never see the air and always wondered when you know your dad talked about seeing the air what exactly what he was he referring to yeah he couldn't see it either but he knew where it was and he always he always insisted on wearing an open-face helmet and he said he could feel the pressure in the car change and feel and hear the motor better to be able to understand when he's working that air properly you've seen side draft Kyle Petty right there's a side draft Oh Dale Jarrett right here in the eights rocket see side draft and move away you know he's trying to get away from Dale Jarrett so they don't side draft him back I mean dad what I don't know if dad invented the side draft but he certainly was the best at it well I think you learned fairly well you you guys mentioned 34 wins for your daddy or 17 for you yeah I watched him run a lot of race here win a lot of races here and I wondered we never talked about racing but I wondered how that worked so when I got out here I started trying everything I could and that's what I like about a plate racer today is the guy that's out there moving around trying to learn something even if it doesn't work just trying to make anything happen and I think that's what's so important about the start of this race it's 160 to go but get ready come to the green flag but the things you learn right now are the things you can apply later in the race I want to see who's going to be aggressive there's some drivers out there they're gonna try to right now get the lead and never give it up and race for track position in my opinion in today's for sure to play races is exceptionally important if you get it do everything you can to keep pace cars about to make the hard left turn onto pit road that will leave the field in the hands of chase Elliott Alex Bowman making up Row 1 fans on their feet as the Coke Zero sugar 400 is underway interesting restart not a real real tight restart of course cars going to bunch up and start to draft a little bit as they get more speed chase Elliott got out in the wet lead pretty easy that's real important to get that lead and lead early you want to lead every lap that's where that's the safest place to be Jim as this race progresses we're going to see more aggressive restarts with people trying to hit each other and shove each other they're trying to get that lead you say that's the safest place to be but about right here is where aric almirola was out front with just less than half a lap in the Daytona 500 and he got turned around has the last lap anything goes on the last lap look the different but there's a safe play speed during the entire race is going to be in the front and you want to work all night long to try to stay there and that way you don't have to work to get there later you know if you're leading this race 100 laps to go you're great position you want to be leading it with about 50 laps to go as they start to get down those last several cautions so it's really important to not you know relax and give up track position now you want to keep it all night long make it easy on your pit crew make it easy on your crew chief to know what strategy to use do all that by to stand out from right here you see Austin Dillon and he wants to go up there and just give McDowell just a touch you didn't move it's got to be careful cuz the 17 car of Stenhouse is in front of McDowell hitching to our do shove him in to the 17 and calls a wreck that'll be a lot more aggressive later in the race right now everybody's trying to take care of each other you're obviously trying to take advantage of each other and if you can get a position you get but you don't want to start no crashes this early rewired already back here and junior you mentioned being in the middle of three wide might be the most nervous place on the entire track yeah you need a lot information from your spotter to be able to navigate a situation like that well out of the back of chase Elliott's car I think the most aggressive play trainer sir on the racetrack is right here the two car Brad Keselowski I could promise you if he can get the lead he's gonna be you and everything he can big move by Boeing right here he's got his teammate of Jimmie Johnson chase Elliott with the block now he's got a hope keselowski doesn't get a run cuz Laos keys far enough or anywhere I don't think he'd get down there and block him he committed to that top and thought even if Keselowski did get to the inside he's got two teammates behind him so he's got good loyalty behind him be able to reclaim that position Marty maintain your FN Don interesting what chase Elliott told us he countdown to green he said I feel like early on in the race I have to establish I have speed I want to show other cars that they can work with me and trust me he said I learned that yesterday in the Xfinity Series race they saw we had a fast cart and all of a sudden I have a lot of friends so jr. for a young driver like chase Elliott you agree with them how important is it to show hey I've got some speed work with me that's absolutely true and you want to start doing that this is you unload the race card you go out there practice and you show those guys that you can make the moves and that your car can complete the moves they know by Sunday when this race starts or Saturday night in this example that you are a guy that's gonna have a fast car and it's gonna help them move toward the front so they're gonna be more willing to work with you chase Elliott he's trying to drag that line to the outside look at what he's doing he's entering the corner on the wall and he's staying there not going to the bottom they're hoping to build some momentum on the outside line to make the inside where it doesn't work and right now everybody's going with them as long as they stay single-file it's gonna be hard to get that inside line moving again so chase Elliott is mashing the gas right now with his right foot but on Wednesday when he was jumping into a pool having some fun for the fourth of July he sprained his right ankle how difficult is that for a guy with a sprained right ankle to be mashing the gas right that's a great that's a great question ask because he's gonna be pushing on that gas pedal all night long and push it hard man he's going to be trying to get everything he can out of this car every single lap so he might not be sore or right now that ankle is going to bother him this weekend but he's going to be dealing with that after the race for sure sugar there were times that inside of the car would get so hot that I would actually take my left foot and put on the gas yeah because my Hill is burning on my right foot so I'd pick it up off the ground and pit my left foot on the throttle and use that you can do that here because you're wide open you can't do that in Charlotte but you can certainly do it here let's take a look at helmet cam here for the bumpy walk Bubba Wallace jr. and see exactly what he's dealing with here an outside line he's trying to move forward saw 204 miles an hour there for a Bubba yeah back in the pack it's a lot tougher to sort of navigate you you got to lift a lot you're getting big runs on guys and sometimes you don't have anywhere to go you kind of boxed in if you goes three wide up the middle is it too early to do that you know you get yourself in a crash and then you're the guy that buddy's gonna blame for starting them look hard you had to lift up right there and let the inside line get a run when you get that big of a lift so something half there fun oh you couldn't see it but jr. that's what the inside line needs they need something like that to happen to slow that momentum down and get the inside roll yeah that's a driver you're there looking far enough ahead to see that happening before it happens you know see those cars four or five rows ahead and start lifting you got to be ready to lift or you getting this information from your spotter you got a great spotter that can give you that information to pay until after they're all stacking up here Kelly for Bubba Wallace in the Daytona 500 they showed they had good speed then and there feeling really optimistic today his crew chief drew Blickensderfer told me they're really happy with the car has really good drivability they said they intentionally took some speed out of the 43 car to help with that drivability they made some long runs of practice Bubba knows exactly what to expect as the tires wear on this car they see this is a big opportunity for this 43 he gained a lot of respect in the Daytona 500 when he had a runner-up finish in the biggest race the sport has to start off the season at Daytona 500 second-place finish as it's dicing up at the front once again here comes Ricky Stenhouse jr. very aggressive and a very good plate racer making the move on the outside Jimmie Johnson was on the outside lane playing with all his teammates playing nice and then he's decided he was going to drive to the bottom and when he did he got that inside line moving and I checked that outside line up and that made chase elliott go to the bottom so the move by Jimmie Johnson changed the entire tempo of what chase Elliott was trying to do now he's back on the bottom of the racetrack you use the word loyalty well teammates go in different ways right now [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] grab a nice cold coke and buckle up you're watching the Coke Zero sugar 400 on NBC and you need to buckle up they have been two and three wide and a good fight for the lead has started up John Deere three wide Gator brings you this moment where drivers were three wide you see Clint Boyer on the inside Logano right in the middle and Jamie McMurray on the high side TJ majors is Joey Logano spotter and DJ majors very familiar with you Dale jr. he was your spotter for many years absolutely you know it's a spotter so abort this racetrack is where they earn their money man are they talking to their drivers all night long trying to help them get around this racetrack and help them navigate the traffic know where the runs are coming from who's pushing who how strong the runs are from behind how to block them big change in the lead here obviously with the gal man he's worked his way up in the second place he was a surprising qualifying so he surprised the race tonight he's now cheer leading the race and before we left we said that the Hendrick chat train went to the bottom of the race track and when it did it created a big line on the outside with all the inner pressure it's out watch his shot McGregor girl gives two out to just shoves him down in front of chase Elliott and that's how he got the lead then once he got the lead he drugged the line to the top right now the lot the top line has been the best line what's once they get lined up single file go the top it seems like they drive away from the bottom it's going to take something like having earlier jr. where two guards got together the bottom of the top guys have to to get that bottom line with the momentum and I'll surprise that with the hint er cars lined up and working together that they weren't able to offend that off or they didn't you know the chase maybe wasn't a little more aggressive to fin up fin that off but they committed wit they're committed to each other only about improve and if they stay there they may be able to get that line going again work their way back up toward the front they're going 200 miles an hour and wiggle their out of Austin Dillon in the 3 a big wiggle Austin running third right now but when they run at 200 miles an hour somebody comes and hits you in the back bumper like that and gives you that extra little burst of speed what's it feel like you just want them to do it on the straightaway you don't want them to do it in the corner or obviously in the tri-oval the cars are very loose and a handful already by themselves in the tri-oval so you don't want anybody pushing you there and it's where they push you Jeff you they want the guys to push you on the right rear quarter panel that's where it's going to be the most comfortable if they get into that left rear quarter panel and hit you it's easily a way to turn a guy around so scary getting on that right rear quarter panel and pushing on that rear bumper because if you ever get this line now you don't the right route of court or you turn on hippo head on into the wall so that's the most effective place but it's kind of scary to do it and as we look back on Michael but now what a great story right now I mean this little team is bringing the fight to all the big guys in the Cup Series and they've got a Roush engine they got round Shella to build this car and he's following around hard Dave it's right Jeff and a small group of people who have help from a big organization like Roush but Roush has been struggling everywhere it put up the restrictor plate racks so when Roush does well here so does front row Motorsports Michael McDowell and David Ragan right now McDowell showing that they've got the same strength that our fr has great see these small teams have a shot that's what Daytona provides Daytona and Talladega let's take a look at this replay here bump draft if you see down the front straightaway through the travel he gets into him that's a decent push I mean that's nothing that upset McDowell you know coming out of the trouble he's trying to hit him as soon as he can so as soon as he gets straight he wants to give him that shove so Dillon did a great job through the trouble of setting it up you know push him as soon as their car settled all through straightaway partner remember his brother won the Daytona 500 earlier this year I asked him you know when you come these Super Speedway races do you enjoy it you look forward to because you know a couple years ago I made a conscious decision to like this kind of racing because you can go either way you can hate it and knock you or you can like it and enjoy it and get great runs and this race last year he delayed the race and that has shot at when he said that gave me so much confidence to come here tonight confidence is key if you're confident behind the wheel of your car you've got to you got to feel good about doing whatever you want to do pretty interesting stuff happened right here Jeff yes Denny Hamlin trying to make some moves on Joey Logano he's getting in and out of line trying to he sees this whole line starting to form up high but he's still look there he goes still trying to make passes and trying to so I'm with his sly cousin I hate to say I was like a slide job man he's trying to get up he's trying to get around on that guy's side draft he get up in front of him before that hole closes and he's trying to he saw these lap cars coming he knew that they were going to be on the outside and I think that's what he was trying to do he was trying to form a line on the inside the risk you know the risk is that he loses all these patients and he's willing to take that risk we seen in him to do this time and time again when the whole field lines up on the top it he's gonna be one of those guys that will try his hardest to form a line on the bottom he doesn't like sitting in line I'm riding around the top of the racetrack all day he's trying to find all there he go he found a hole so he tried something nearly pay a price for it Daytona 500 winner back in 2016 Denny Hamlin has shuffled back a bit trying to be aggressive trying to take some spots away [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] one thing you have to have while you're watching the races nascar mobile it's the official app of NASCAR and puts race coverage and live in car cameras right at your fingertips search in the App Store or you can visit NASCAR com noble you're watching Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Daytona International Speedway and Steve this race a little bit different the length of the stages make it a little bit different for strategy tonight it does Ricky to come back here in February or the first race at Talladega all of these cars would have been required to come to pit road during the first stage for fuel they couldn't run the entire stage in one tank of fuel but here in Daytona the 400-mile race it's a 40 lat first stage I think that is really driving some of the racing you see because these drivers know they're safe to run all the way to the end of stage one if we don't have a yellow I think that is what's driving some of the tempo on the racetrack Marty do you know how hard these pit crew members were crew following ray black jr. on the track right now and he will have Brianna Daniels who will be the first African American tire changer to hit a cup car tonight on this car and also Brianna O'Leary she is also going to be on this crew changing tires had a choc tan to talk to daniels who you saw just a moment ago she was actually a starting point guard for Norfolk State on their basketball team and she told me hey I could have played professional basketball in Europe but I heard about the NASCAR driver diversity combine that was 2016 two and a half years later both of those ladies have worked so hard to get to this moment tonight to pick this car and they will on this first stop of the evening Rick what about that accomplishment for those ladies to get here and compete on this pit road tonight still athletes I asked both of them are you nervous he said nope we're athletes were ready well a lot of pressure on the pit crews here because one little mistake it's difficult to gain track position on the track but you can grab a lot when you're on pit road so a lot of pressure there well it is great go to game positions on the track we've seen that Jamie McMurray is leading this inside line there were about four more cars in this line and make several of them had bailed out cliff Boyer he was in there bailed out there's been several then he popped back down they've been kind of going back and forth go down there then they get scared to go back then there's a hole and they go back down their bottom so everyone's afraid right now junior to make this bottom because it just doesn't seem like it's been able to work well it's it's it's working well enough to stay there and I think two more guys that would you know to believe in it and get down there be a part of it I'm sure maybe there are some guys on that outside line that want to be there they just can't get in that line there's not a knot room obviously for them to pull down in front of somebody but there they're working this bottom and that bottom is going to eventually be something that they'll have to deal with it's going to find its way toward the front and what's going to have what's happening right now the spotters are talking to the drivers better in the outside lane and they're saying the inside lane is building it's getting a little bit better somebody's gonna hang a left and try to lead that inside line who that guy be let's go boarded nine car it takes a lot of guys down there to make you work I mean you got it you got it work together too and there's a lot of things to chat to do with the side draft when you're in the inside line and try continuing kind of struggling to beat that outside line you got a side draft the heck out of that guy in the driver's door pinned him up against the fence and what that will do will it'll hold him in position maybe this man comes up behind him rarely will they be able to push him through and what that does is gives your help an opportunity to come up and help you on the inside so the one should be really 21 car Menard as hard as he can on the straightaway to hold that position until chase can get up there and he'll surprisingly the top five that started this race aren't even running in the top ten right now that's how much positions changed quickly Kelly Rick you guys talk about drivers trying that low lane well Jamie McMurray in the 1 car had been running the hilum but he said I was just getting a really good run so he talked it over with his spotter and said hey do you think it's worth making a run to the bottom and basically said you know what we've got nothing to lose at this stage they feel like they can always make a move back into that high line if they need to remember Jamie McMurray trying to snap a 165 winless streak and this could be just the place to do it Marty they're trying to mix it up but chase le and his team it's a numbers game they're trying to get the feel for how that bottom line is going to work in fact getting too hot told him you can move up if you want chase toes to stay on the bottom line so they're trying to get those numbers Parker to work on the bottom if they can Marty I think I know the problem in speaking to Clint bar who's been between the top line and the bottom line trying to make it work earlier today he joked me he said you know the problem is about getting those lines to work his Dale jr. isn't out there no one knows who to follow anymore but no one's leading the pack on the bottom we need you out there Dale's what he said nice comfort I tell you what I think a lot of drivers are going to start following the 17 he has had some incredible races at these restrictor plate tracks and once again out front here at Daytona Stenhouse jr. has led 19 laps already in his win last year he led only 17 laps of that race [Music] [Music] [Music] six laps remain in stage one of the Monster Energy Cup Series Coke Zero sugar 400 Daytona International Speedway NBC Sports championship season continues world's best golfers vying for the coveted Claret Jug you don't want to miss the open July 19th through 22nd a golf channel an NBC Jordan speith trying to defend his championship get back on track Stevens were closing in on the end of stage one will someone try some strategy and come to pit road before the end of the stage yeah it's a great question Rick we have seen it at Talladega motocross will peel off right here take a left come to pit road with three laps to go the ideas come in get tires and fuel knowing the rest of the field will pit at the end of the stage the concern is lap times here at Daytona three or four seconds faster than Talladega therefore your risk of going a lap down is higher matt says you can't pit but you can have zero issues Jeff a slow pit stop a mistake by the driver and you're losing a lap that's a big risk for anyone in this lead pack yeah it is a big risk but the guy that we've seen been willing to make the risk to try to pick up position so far is that one car Jamie McMurray see Joey Logano he just jumped down in front it's five to go it's time to start making something happen the 21 car he went with him on the Gunder God there's 12 car and look at who's cam he's came all the way down to block Ricky Stenhouse jr. and Michael McDowell both seeing that happen and they came to the bottom of the track we were a single-file and in handle add that look where we are we got a race on our hands there fellas come here these these points are so critical special ease playoff points because nobody's getting any this year cept the big three now big block you're gonna see the gold Ricky Stenhouse jr. is just block block block he's been easy for him it's not gonna be easy anymore I think Michael McDowell is also blocking so Ricky Stenhouse jr. is staying out in front of Michael McDowell but McDowell is doing most of the blocking right now those guys I saved some handling issues off a turn to the 22 car totally gonna had to back off real hard off a turn too late in the run here to this bottle work or where these guys have handling issues on corner exit Elleni is on the left try to get on that bottom Dillon brothers right now running second and third Austin Dillon in second now Michael McDowell has made that top-line move just a bit faster he moves up to third ty Dillon the bottom line stalling a bit and you guys know Ricky Stenhouse jr. wants to win this stage they do not have a single stage win this year zero playoff points so even the one he would get for saying up front here is critical to make the playoffs and I'm seeing these guys off the turn to that bottom prove they're not handling very well down there it's late handling is going to be an issue on long runs tonight a lot of learning going on as we get closer to the end of this stage and Michael McDowell down low it looks like he might lose that in the table crash that was just a mental mistake right there not really paying attention and blocking every single run a guy gets on you heap he was pretty committed he was pretty comfortable that heap these guys were going to take care of him in that top line and he opened up the door of opportunity someone took it that's three one Ryan Blaney said I'm not gonna follow you I can go to the inside and once again they're diving for positions aggressive under two laps to go and how long would it take him to get that position back you know you make that move you open up the door somebody's going to take it you have to defend this entire race Kozlowski trying to make something happen on the bottom but he doesn't have any help Clint boyars back there in the 14 here comes Joey Logano in the 22 I think sent out to you I think he's gonna have to go to the bottom if he doesn't then they can just hang a left they get next to him enough of them make that effort that would probably work if he runs the top here wanted to that's absolutely right one more time around in stage one Ricky said house out front let's see what he does is he gonna stay on the top and go the bottom sure push down down he's gotta run see where he goes a big gap between him in the next car probably going to fizzle out on the back straightaway let's see it dealing they crits run and maybe turns left like you said Jeff and tries to take that lead it's Kyle Busch he gets a little bit of quarter-panel on a 42 side draft and he's going to get help William fire at the inside he's got a great brought up to Austin Dillon he goes high here comes the 18 of Kyle Busch trying to make that High Line work Austin Dillon trying to block it's not going to work this time though Ricky Stenhouse jr. in the 17 out front three wide as they fight for second at the end of stage one Stenhouse jr. winning that stage Kyle Busch what a move he made to move up to second to end stage one Kyle Larson William Fyren chase Elliott all in the top five boys Manor points do matter and also that got chase Elliott he had fallen pretty far back that got him back up to fifth place William barn did a nice job getting the fourth out of that fundraiser so many times these drivers have said their blood pressure goes up to about 180 well it's coming back down now [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NASCAR on NBC is brought to you by Pizza Hut no one out pizzas the hot Monster Energy unleash the beast and by credit one bank the official credit card of NASCAR [Music] tomorrow the Verizon IndyCar Series on NBCSN will power won the pole and of course will power won the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year how great is it going to be to have the Indy 500 on NBC next year oh we're going that's gonna be my first Indy 500 the never gonna see in person so why don't we just all rent a Motorhome I love it Stevie I can I come he's that tour director me I got a Steve we gonna go down there and have a lot of fun yeah that that is going to be an incredible race and we've got a great one in front of us here right Marty indeed Rick gonna be up a little bit longer stop for Kevin Harvick and his race team if you see inside the car where you run a right side window here in the Cup Series cars the hose is attached to that window for Kevin Harvick's team have come unattached and his feet have gotten very hot inside the race car succeed how critical is it that riding Childers and the team get those hoses reattached here on this pit stop where you see them missing right there on the right side of the car two issues one you mentioned it his feet are gonna get hot the second issue is there are rules to how air can be tricked in you know inserted into the car if you have that duct open it has to go into a hose and it has to end in a certain position so if those hoses are off at the end of the event I think NASCAR will have an issue they don't have any problem if they fall off you trying to correct it but they're gonna have to right now their first opportunity to do so so the field getting ready to come down to pit road for their first stops of the day and we'll go to Dave burns last night's winner today's stage one third place Kyle Larson in the 42 his car was a little bit to the tight side but he said I'd rather be that way than loose they'll make some adjustments as they come down here the big question will be two or four tires looks like they're going to take four Ricky Stenhouse jr. in the 17 stage winner said I'd like to weigh my car drives but I haven't been back in the pack they're gonna leave it the way it is a four-tire stop Kelli Kyle Busch's biggest concern was that he was just a little bit loose getting off the turn so they're gonna make a small chassis adjustment they just asked him a backup so you get out of this tight pin box it was four tires for the 18 Marty and Kelly you see Kevin Harvick seen coming to a stop Rodney Childers has told Kevin it's going to be a little bit of a longer stop and Robert chatter Smith has gone over the wall to kind of get this done the car chief for the 14 and now you're gonna see him go inside that right side window reattach those hoses to make sure that everything is good now the key here Steve obviously they can't go a lap down so they've got to put tape around those ducts make sure those hoses get in correctly and you see the NASCAR official you hear ten feet or the spotter also telling them where the pace car is and where the field is so that's critical information right Steve you got to know where they are so you don't lose that loud yeah you cannot lose a lap this early on the race but it should be a simple fix as long as they take their time what they're doing you see no banner great information from the spotter get it repaired in one shot we'll zip tie they're trying to make sure that's tight race off pit road brought to you by Kroger clicklist Keselowski gaining spots Blaney 12 spots gained on pit road [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] grab a nice cold coke and buckle up you're watching the Coke Zero sugar 400 on NBC and Rutledge would always finds the most fun in the infield Rutledge where are you Rick I am inside the infield on top of a custom six store truck the my buddy Jake here from Leesburg Florida built he's been coming here his whole life but in this truck with his friends for 18 years we're up on the scaffolding on the roof I actually was able to come by here earlier bring my buddy Mike Tirico to show him what a great view it is you got one into the back stretch part ofour but now Mike's got an even better view Mike where are you buddy I've got a great view I'm up here with Steve on top of the pit box this is great great place to start the race and the pit stops we just saw so chief put that hat back up would you learn from the first stage well what I learned is that we wondered if handling was gonna matter you heard Dale and Jeff call out a couple times where cars while and he looked stable maybe to you and I they were calling them out they could see the cars moving around that says in one single 40-lap run the handling went away so that final stage that eighty lap run the crew chiefs are gonna have to make good decisions on when to come to pit road placing hot in the daytime obviously the Sun Goes Down lights come on anything change with a crew chief standpoint as we get into warmth of night race well that's the debate every time you come you argue with your driver oh the sun's gonna fix it don't worry when the sun goes down it's going to be fine and that's really what you're wondering even the start of this race it was still warm you were up here with me it's cooled down quite a bit but Mike I have to pick on you that first lap when they came by your eyes grew we're close to the really big it's awesome there's that you feel that you feel the roar of the engines and you feel it through your body it's so great to watch is there no time required cash that's good Ty's offering all right hey hey guys they're having trouble with a 34 car of Michael McDowell that could have been a race winner today they don't know if they can get fixed what they have going on with the tow it has towed the wrong way they may have adjusted it the opposite way that they wanted to so tough break early we'll see if he can soldier on now or if he needs to come down for another stop how unfortunate for that 34 running so well Keselowski William Byron making up a robo one-handed a ty Dillon Idaho doesn't get up to speed he goes all the way down to the apron he has no fuel pressure in the 13 car just came on the radio lucky it wasn't a wreck right there and it won't accelerate in the middle of the pack like that the pack works their way through one and two as tight Bell are you tried to jump around in the 13 because Lao ski leading the race right now remember he put on two tires Junior you and I wonder a little bit if that's gonna be right for him on a long run see William buying records say he's got a great push by Stenhouse Byron's gonna do in a plate track what's his moves gonna be is he gonna stay in line he's gonna be aggressive first we've seen him in a cup car contending in a plate track I talked to him this morning he said he was gonna be aggressive he said he thought that was a long way to run well as goes in attack he's got great company behind him is Stenhouse chase Elliott those guys are gonna push him hard give me that opportunity I'm wondering spinning erase here last year secured it got a great plate racer leading the pack though it's gonna be hard to break the plane to the pump for that two car because he's gonna move back and forth to try to keep that lead and keep the momentum in his car he's gonna get in front of the line that's moving forward so he can get that shove it keep the speed and rpms up in his car killing guys jamie mcmurray how to make a second trip down pit road in that one car they saw a little bit of oil on the right rear tire they didn't know where it was coming from they bought brought him back down the team is still trying to figure it out asking Jamie to monitor his temps and all everything on the dash inside that cockpit Marty Kelley when we saw the race off pit road we saw that Ryan Blaney was second unfortunately they did not get the 12 car full and because we're running these full stages it has to be completely full of Sunoco fuel so when they came back down they put on left-side tires also back in this pack Kevin Harvick says he has a vibration so a lot of cars we're gonna keep an eye on in the back of the pack rig uncontrolled tire for the 7000 round goes to 21 pull the nard up in the air but he keeps it down on the wheels Paul Menard when he got turned around all four wheels looked as though they had come off the ground as he was sliding sideways a lot of damage to the hood otherwise he's gonna be able put old tires to little damage and left front there tell me how to put on tires would be okay but that damage to the hood there that's gonna be very concerning hard to fix left front fender look at the proof they're talking about what they'll have to do if they want to stay in this race he was running 15 take a look at what happens seeming outside line looks like he gets turned by the 48 of Jimmie Johnson just a little hook there on the left rear quarter panel rains down through the grass we're gonna continue to get more aggressive as we wide into it we're gonna see more accidents more pushing more shoving that's gonna get wild [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] going to work on the 21 paul menard want to take a couple looks now at what just took place in the subway fresh tape we'll talk about the intensity picking up you see Jimmy Johnson behind Paul Menard Jimmy's kind of in the middle of the racetrack and right there you see the contact it's just hard from this view to tell if Paul came down on Hill or Jimmy moved up intended to 21 so he didn't move I don't believe but he didn't give him a lot of room you know Paul was right against the fence and if Paul does move down just a little bit what she did he spins across the nose of 48 so just brace an accident there ingenuity on these guys to put this hood back together is what's oppressing me my crew chief down on the box says they can't cover those holes where the flaps are ripped away ripped out of that hood they're gonna try to put that hood keep that hood back on there look at that hood just flapping the tethers you know safely tethered those tethers keep that hood from going up in the grandstands and getting it to the into the fans and but it's beating the roof to death while I was doing it just killing the splinter why goes through this grass hey Jeff two great things not only the tethers on the hood but how about the roof flat I'm confident to say without those larger roof flaps that this new style car is run over the last few years that car stays airborne because it gets hit in the worst situation those roof flaps deploy the car sets right back on the racetrack that though sometimes you know people don't notice them as much as they should but that save that car blowing upside-down day6 minutes five crew members to repair the best they can and send the car back out but nascar still has to approve it to go back on the racetrack so the team had said we're going to tape it down the best we can see if they'll let us go with that they heard you junior they're not going to cover up those complex they're gonna try to replace them so that that car if it does achieve liftoff for those flaps will help out with that but this is the hard part that's better than average tape trying to hold down a big hood on a very fast race car the disadvantage right here is that they aren't gonna restart with the leaders they're coming to one to go so they're gonna be single-file they're not gonna have I'm sorry they're not coming to one go yeah they are going to go so they're not gonna be able to be in that path it's gonna be hard for them to get up to minimum speed they're actually coming to green here so he's gonna have to get off pit road try to get behind the pack it will be very difficult to do an amazing statistic there are two drivers that have a streak of top ten finishes at Daytona on the restrictor plate tracks and one of them is Paul Menard you know who the other one is a streak of three top tens in a row Allmendinger AJ Allmendinger and Paul Menard are the only two drivers that have top-ten finishes in the last three races let's get back to action we're about to Brad Keselowski William Byron has lasting the two firing in the 24 coming back into the guy code we start zone green flag back in the air and in the background you saw Paul Menard coming off of pit road [Music] the real tight restart here these guys are lined up tight on the bottom and the top hard to tell who's gonna prevail here Jeff see William Byron Lee get out this lead for the first time he's gotten a great shove Kurt Busch he does it's clear they'd be smart enough he do what Keselowski doesn't move back and forth in front of the inside and outside line to try to keep that momentum up in his car well he's stay committed to that top is that tab Boyd's job tap the spotter for the 20 feet are you gonna give him that information he can give him all the information Wallace but the drivers gonna be able to know what to do with it and have the experience you know what to do with it and it's a little hard as a rookie to assert yourself you have to assert yourself and say I'm going to lead this race no matter what and that's what Williams gonna have to do he went to the bottom he got a good shot from the - I thought the 41 was going to get his quarter panel and battling side-by-side but he went down there got a good chef for the two keeps the lead how about riding riding in the middle now just waiting for those caught up in it Denny Hamlin Austin Dillon has damaged Daniel Suarez trying to avoid ty Dillon sliding in a wreck 22 of Joey Logano sitting on the apron a wreck - all the Penske cars right there that the one organization that everybody came here thinking they had the best shot to win all three of their cars wiped out at this accident Ryan Blaney in the 12 sitting there at the grass saw the 2 of Brad Keselowski a lot of damage to the 9 of chase Elliott so many good cars this happened this wreck happened in the front of the field this is what they told us all about take out some contenders and now this really is an opportunity race for somebody sitting out at 16 sitting on that top 16 Denny Hamlin with big damage another fast car a big push we saw out of the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse jr. was it too big of a push let's take a look at the replay let's take a look at the replay from the 9 car first see all the damage to chase Elliott get pretty aggressive here and ricky-ricky was pressure also turn it down the racetrack and that was enough go too far around it was it's just so much happening right there and they were coming up on William so fast then I believe Brad was sort of throttling down a little bit because he he was gonna hit run to the back of the 24 can you see the 24 blocking here to Brett's probably throttling down a little bit Stenhouse coming across the nose so right here the 17 watch 17 when he gets into the rear bumper right there hits him in the right rear and that's what sends him we talked about that earlier that's where you want a bunk draft somebody you want to bump him in the right rear but when you do that and the speeds wrong and it's misaligned and also he's turning left then that literally just shoves the left rear bumper to the inside of the car and it shot shoots a nose straight to the wall we've seen this this generation of car these guys you know the buffers don't line up all that great we don't ever see these guys lock bumpers like they used to or like we see in the Xfinity series so anytime they make a push they got to be careful and that was incredibly there's just so much happening there as you see running up on way you Byron so fast look who gets through the 31 of Ryan Newman the 18 of Kyle Busch but after that everyone fighting to find some type of a clear racetrack the 41 Jimmie Johnson sideways but is there contact he was still in the gas as it came up on the high banks the big one just happening the Monster Energy Cup Series Coke Zero sugar 400 listen into Erik Jones's radio already thinking about points that playoff faraway now listen into the 17 radio as well Ricky Stenhouse jr. his head straight just happened a big deal I'm sure it looks bad but you got you know bug pretty bent his head right man know what this next page you hate to be involved in something like that if you Ricky Stenhouse jr. and I sure you feel like you know you were partly to blame for it but at the same time the race goes on you gotta get your head right as he said and just move on yeah I think Ricky definitely knows he was partly to blame for everything happening here and he had a lot of guys criticizing his activities and driving style in the Daytona 500 earlier this year and I think this was gonna get him talking again probably gonna hear this this week some of the other drivers in this wreck we talked about it coming on there Junior is that this race matters so much to so many that they're going to do things that the otherwise wouldn't do because there's a reward for doing it there's also a risk the risk is this the reward is we've seen Ricky Stenhouse jr. win races on all play tracks and move himself into the playoffs and for that team that's been really their Savior they have not run well the way you're used to Lucy in a round team run so when they come here the pressure is high you have to perform and even you know even with that happening and that you know you got to shake that off maybe this race is just opened up for a lot of guys coming in here trying to steal a win absolutely half the field was involved in that accident 20 cars had some type of damage when this happened fourth of July weekend and there's the fireworks already [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] back here in Daytona after the big one that has just happened Denny Hamlin the first of the drivers caught up in that to be released from the infield care center I know you guys were had a promising day ahead of you what happened I'm not sure but somebody probably wrecked somebody and usually whoever starts that usually don't get doesn't get wrecked but I don't really know the two was sideways in front yeah two got wrecked and so did everybody else so yeah it's unfortunate I mean this is the Coke Zero sugar 400 usually is this type of race but usually happens much later in the night unfortunate for all the cars that got torn up you know it's now it's a total crapshoot with you know it looks like most of the contenders uh you know that battle for these races are taken out but you never know it could be a pretty exciting at the end but unfortunate for FX cares Team Rubicon Camry that we're not gonna be part of it Thank You Denny Dave Brad Keselowski walk from the infield care center you okay and what did you feel hitting you in the back there yeah I'm okay you know Ricky was pushing me and do anything wrong just my fault you know it a really fast Miller Lite Ford and you know Dave I'm just not wrecking enough people I need to wreck more people so they'll stop throwing bad blocks and that's what's happened to me on the plate track so you know everyone that's watching all of them drivers out there throw another bad block coming on he's gonna drive three and recce so look out until they all write the words of Brad Keselowski Kelly yeah the 41 in Kurt Busch really just innocent bystanders there how disappointing given the speed you were showing in the 41 I got a giggle I mean I thought I was in a safe spot running in the top three and that's where the danger zone is it's like 3 to 12 everybody's dicey through there and so strong place the wrong time the 17 them to looked like they got together but I just got a giggle like there's no safe spot I mean I thought we were gonna get strung out and try to get to the handling portion of the of the run and we just got clipped wrong place wrong fits a helpless feeling getting clipped in front of the field like that but it it toward a drive shaft out so there's no way we can repair any bummer night for the Monster Energy Ford but will come back again next week just the nature of this racing Dave Joey Logano's here what did you see or feel and try to get through with but like the longest crash ever I feel like I was in the middle of the whole thing and it just looks like there's some hard aggressive pushing up front and cars trying to get to the lead and once one cars set sideways in front of the whole field you can't stop when you're going 200 very quick and then there's no gap in between all the cars on a restart like that and we just got torn up in it so part of it you know it's just this Daytona super speedway racing sometimes you get through it and you can win sometimes you crash and it's just part of the game you got to have that mindset when it starts for some reason but unfortunately we were on the bad 50% of it this time hopefully we're on a good 50% when we go back to Talladega in the playoffs and try get another one over there Joey usually does this type of racing very well he's out early tonight guys unfortunate you heard one drivers say well you got to laugh how about Brad Keselowski being very vocal as we ride along with Bubba Wallace see what a driver's perspective is life [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well still on the yellow here at Daytona what does that mean fantasy live adjustments we're still in the middle of stage two we just had the big accident now's the time go to your garage see if any of your drivers were in the accident chances are there was someone in that accident make a change get someone else in your line I'm trying to save those fantasy points all right here's Joey Meyer spotter for the two fine line between managing and blocking if anyone asks one works the other one doesn't we just heard Brad Keselowski say I'm gonna wreck guys if they block me in a pour away what does that even mean how can you block somebody wrong well you know they had such a huge run on William you know and he moves down in front and the two has to lift so much that he makes a get spun around on the front of the home another 17 car I mean it wasn't a great very clean push from the 17 but it's hard to say whether that was a really more aggressive blocks I've seen blocks that are just really aggressive and to me I didn't initially think what that is thread blaming William Byron for that Brad thinks the block is aggressive that's Brad Saint William Bryan he turned down in front of me I had to live Senna he said what Stenhouse is Fox announced got in the back of me and we talked about William rod leading as a rookie yeah he had to insert himself that's what you have to do you cannot go out here and just not block and let people go maybe the block was too aggressive according to Brad it was too aggressive but it's why you know I mean when I made it comment I said you know sin House was partially to blame because I've been in these wrecks before and you know what sometimes looks like someone just intentionally wrecked someone isn't always like see the cars involved in the Rackers we've already heard from quite a few of them that came out of the infield care center pace car hard left turn and the field now approaching the Geico restart zone 18 laps to go and stage 2 [Music] they ringside drafted hard as you can try to hold that 24 there as long as he could but you get the help before Kyle Busch's able to come up to there and push William clear Michael McDowell in the 34 making the hot line making it three wide trying to move up to the front think about the psyche of William Byron now right has he gotten the message hey people thought you were blocking too hard will he continue this suck and Rick stayed outside - yes that freaks the house bill right now is he still dealing with that guilt over being involved or being part that and he has he killed sometimes you have to act like you give you're guilty and move on granted harness what you got to do it looks aggressive but man it is so important you got a side grass so close if you're on that inside line push the outside line up gets the fence hold him right there until that help comes from Newman maybe he's moving up the track he's running standouts running the center of the corner trying to get a little bit of side draft off the 18 working it all the time every opportunity you get and while they're doing that William Byron is he watching this deciding okay which line do I jump in front of getting a lot of information from the spot he's a nice of course he's looking in the mirror really I bet he's looking in the mirror 90% of the lap you know with peripheral vision he's driving out the front looking in the mirror and watching and seeing listen it to the spotter and usually using them in the mirror visually to sort of understand what the spotter is saying which lines are making runs spotters probably telling even the 20 car got a great run there to the 18 it's gonna give a teeny shove and things like that so white right here down the back straightaway great information see that's kinda fishy stay on the bottom 18 they're not organized on the outside they're getting organized get up there Julie eighteens oldest quarter-panel he's gonna side draft him right here three or four Oh sideways 18 heart into the wall around goes to 24 as well William Byron sliding all the way to the inside wall jamie mcmurray caught up as well Kyle Larson avoiding the 18 he went way down under bakery guys I'm afraid to say it but I think Stenhouse was involved in this one as well I didn't - can't wait to see the replay so we can really dissect how this all started I did not see these guys having an accident right there Denny Hamlin before this race started yesterday he said he expected to see a rec fest well didn't handling you were right as Denny's probably sitting in his bus right now watching this race I mean this is crazy we're not yummy we're not the very charismatic winner from a week ago at Chicagoland Speedway Kyle Busch walking away from his destroyed 18 he hit the wall hard he comes over to talk with William Byron is checking on him [Music] like every fan of sitting he gets into the corner kind of late Tina comes trying to get down there side draft and is not following the 24 not following his line exactly he's also trying to side draft so Ricky's Travis a draft 1818 s coming down the side draft of 24 just a couple bad decisions they're trying to see you you got to be aggressive on the side draft and that's what happens sometimes when there's three or four guys trying to do the same thing so what the seven teams trying to do right there is he's trying to get as close to the left rear quarter panel the 18 to slow him down and he gets into him you know he came up the racetrack so aggressively almost wondered if he got tighter something like me you know he can see that the 18 is old is right next to William barn he's the 18 can't go any lower watch watch what happens right here so see how close the 18 and the 24 are right here 18 these Apple go any lower the 17th up the racetrack and gets into the 8th it just makes me wonder if brickies did a shooter didn't lose the front of the car and get up the racetrack and get into the side of him in trying to side draft and you close to somebody if your car gets tight and it moves two feet now you're into the left rear quarter panel and causing a wreck we saw these guys have balance issues on the bottom groove it could have cost the front a little bit a little side draft and maybe did overestimate how much front grip he had Ricky Stenhouse jr. gets through Ryan Newman butcher Jimmie Johnson and Erik Jones all getting through the mayhem [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NASCAR on NBC is brought to you by Toyota let's go places credit one bank the credit card perfect for everyday purchases and by coca-cola the official fan refreshment of NASCAR let's listen in to Ricky Stenhouse Jr's radio once again alright so you heard him say how light it was so what really sure if he hit him but let's go onboard and pay attention to the tape on the steering wheel so see he's turning the wheel turning the wheel to the left gets close to the 18 turns it further to the left as soon as he makes contact did he's back to the right to save in his car but that leads him to believe that he'd got tight just before he got to the 18 yeah you can see him add a little more input to it just as he's getting to the 18 car losing the front grip getting tight we heard guys talking about balance all weekend there's gonna be an issue we saw guys tonight having issues on the bottom groove and he got up in there and under overestimated the front grip when he went he was in the worst position you could be in for front grip being behind the 24 and in the door the 18 there let's go back to the peacock pit box and Mike Tirico the evil tarp bike I mean we talked earlier at the 40 laps and it was a calm race this is anything but a calm race now and now now we see more than half the field breath now you've got to wonder one who's in a position to finish this thing off and we've got a long way to go we're not even halfway and second you're looking at the points the overall season points because a lot of guys can change the whole specter of the back half of this season with what happens to the next hours yeah I mean these Speedway races are about nutrition they always are but the difference is if you're still on the race track with damage every yellow you need to be coming on pit road continually to fix your racecar because those points as you mention they mount up very quickly we still have a stage it's going to award more points here at the end of stage two and what really is shocking me is other than Martin Truex Jr I don't see another race winner from 2018 still early in the field so you start thinking about maybe a new winner that will shift the point Specter even more a couple of big three involved in this so Stenhouse obviously he's been right in the middle of all this as a crew chief anything you can say to him message him to keep him going forward not backward I think at this point when he's in the race car it's very simple it is hey look ahead we have to win this race we're gonna talk about the rest when it's over but right now it's task at hand so it's good Mike hey thanks for joining us great view great race there's a lot have you here speak rebel can we watch the resume see notice that you loosen the tie but you still have the time Mike that's uh that's a step in the right direction it's half committed he's half committed Stenhouse jr. and Ryan Newman they're making up throw one as field approaches the Geico restart zone once again 11 laps to go in stage 2 good run for Newman on the inside now some help on that outside line steep descent is going to be a lot of cars but you don't normally see up front that 37 to Chris Buescher on the bottom their third or fourth at Joey GaSe neck double zero yellow car Ryan Newman running side by side with Stenhouse jr. down the backstretch down those last hundred organized waiting on one of them to organize and start dead chef going looks like the outside lines pretty tight like their work now and boban but it was in that accident earlier into contact with a door of walls Parsons cars like they repaired that damage and he's still up there in the battle but sure out competitive his cars gonna be the rest of the night not surprised to see Michael McDowell up front we saw him there at the beginning of the race so he's upset inside the top three but you've got butcher Bowman Kasey Kahne Joey GaSe and Brendan Gaughan all in the top ten right now yeah but even behind Ville you got Trevor Bayne a Daytona 500 winner from several years ago Kennington you had time time killer we saw yet trouble earlier he's back in the game so the door is open we talked about at the Starling race like somebody's gonna have a chance to take advantage and I think the names that now have a chance have changed we were talking about Denny Hamlin who had won duration and we're talking about somebody that maybe has never won a race in their career outside the infield care center with Kyle Busch he made it through the first one you got turned in the second one was what was your take on that wreck I don't know just you know disappointing to get crashed out by the same guy that calls the first crash but you know our our Interstate Batteries Camry showed some good speed we showed some good patience there in that first stage we were able to come home second at least grab some points there but and I don't know you just you always come to Daytona waiting to crash and trying to figure out when and where and just hope that you can walk away from it so that's really frustrating and disappointing to have to race these races like that just on the fence on the on the line of when are you gonna wreck you know but we go on we go next week I guess Thank You Kyle Dave Kelly William Byron was the leader and William you drivers have pretty much taught us the lead is the safest place to be what happened there yeah just the 17 car just kind of I guess hooked 18 into me seemed like he was being really aggressive and the second time we've kind of been on the wrong end of something with him so unfortunate for us but we had a good race going we needed to really have a really good day the points position we're in but we're all just part of speedway racing I guess but just hate to be on that side of it but at least we let some laps so that was good Rick he was doing everything he was supposed to do yeah interesting coming out of Kyle Busch he said you just want to be able to walk away well he was involved in an accident where he couldn't walk away he broke his leg and ankle in an Xfinity Series race here that same year he went on to win the championship see this bond lines just disappeared pretty much is everybody's sort of committed to the top closing Halon finishes the stage this is right around the time where it got busy last time with this many cars out of the race I'm not sure exactly what kind of battle we're gonna have develop for all these stage points well these guys that are getting you know these stage points for the first time four in a rare moment during the season be settling for their position the interesting to see if any of them pull out does it open the door for a driver like we saw just now Jimmie Johnson it's amazing that you have to say that but there's a lot of experience there as far as winning at this racetrack let's take a look at Jimmie Johnson it's something I saw in this replay from the first Rick how good this guy is so let's watch him as he tries to navigate get through this going out on the flat going too fast turn sideways straight sit out in the back here he goes on around the corner tracking yet don't be a little more cuz he's give me Johnson that's the kind of driver he is what an amazing saved by him to say he's really and he's still in this race and if he wins tonight look back this is a pretty incredible moment dodging the boom we've been seeing that for years at a Jimmy Johnson normally it's car control to go to Victory Lane and win championships but even on a down year I think that just proves Dale's Wow Jimmie Johnson he's engaged he is not happy about the performance this year but he's trying to spit it to a positive light lead this race team and you have to look at him as you mentioned Rick surprising to look at Daytona being a great opportunity or maybe his only opportunity but he has to start thinking that as the field dwindles live to go in stage two Stenhouse jr. still out front McDowell running second all these guys right here you talk about Jimmy Johnson getting confident cuz the field standout all these guys right here got a smile on their face I'm like win this race tonight so Jimmy along with everybody in this little pack they look at this as a you know hey you know the competition's down I can take all these guys so should be pretty interesting to see who pulls us out I gotta say that Jimmy's got to be one of the favorites with with the speed they've had this weekend but silly buds race dim house still up there to leave what's gonna be so difficult though Junior the way that you're gonna have to race now it's it's completely changed but you were learning which of car would do and what it couldn't do when there were 40 cars on the racetrack well there's what 12 cars this lead pack so you're not gonna get the runs the way you were getting them before they're not gonna stall lanes out the way they stall them out before it's gonna take a completely different approach to get a stage win or get get the win for this race see Jimmy Johnson make a hard turn to the left hey Jeff we keep talking about Jimmy Johnson how about his teammate Dale your old car the 88 running third this has to be the biggest opportunity for Alex Bowman I know he has a little damage but I don't think that's gonna hurt this cars fetal up he's easily running in the third position this is it this is green light for that young man to get his first win absolutely the field stand down that's great opportunity for him to have an amazing finish our opportunity to win even he had a great car here in February and actually ran really well with the car until he was taken out in a late wreck wreck didn't get a lot of help in the draft because nobody really knew what kind of plate racer he was and whether to you know you gotta trust these guys if you don't know what a guy's gonna do or if he's gonna make the right move and I'm not gonna try to help him that much and maybe he's gained a little bit of respect of his peers over the last six months we got a little bit low line development as we're coming down to the end of this stage Trevor Bayne think about Trevor Bayne you know he's kind of shot remember he got kicked out of his seat he won the Daytona 500 on top of the world and a few years later he gets kicked out says man you're not getting a dime we need to try something different now he has a shot to put himself in position to win this race and only outside of him one of your teammates KCK and another guy that tried to reprove and rebrand himself he wasn't Hendrick Motorsports didn't work out he got moved along now he's got a shot wanna listen in to the 34 radio michael mcdowell they jump down and they get to you he's not he's gonna jump down so stay with him right now Steve parked all the spotter there for Michael McDowell heard him say you know how he is he'll jump down there and block if they go down so he wants to figure out do you stay with the 17 or do you try to make a pass he's gonna stay right there where he's at he's gonna try to get through this race have a shot good win final lap of stage two and now they're trying to go too wide ty Dillon in the 13 thinks otherwise he gets back in line Trevor Bayne still trying something in the six let's go guys move around make something happen will anyone try to get by Ricky Stenhouse jr. as they work their way through three and four coming to the green white checkered flag to end stage two and it looks as though it's going to be Ricky Stenhouse jr. sweeping the first two stages before tonight roush-fenway has never won a stage and now already - you saw the difference between the end of the first stage and the end of the second stage how much more aggressive that first stage in was and jr. I just that's just less cars less opportunity it's just so much harder with this view cars on the racetrack I think Ricky to save some face he's going to win these two stages and the race well we mentioned at the top of the show aggressive and crazy that pretty much sums up Ricky Stenhouse jr. right now he has been aggressive and crazy out there on the racetrack [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] pitstops just finishing up at Daytona International Speedway second place in that stage Michael McDowell his best stage finish of the year no adjustments to the car four Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel Becky Stenhouse jr. they take a long time on pit road to massage that right front fender and try to make it perfect for the remainder of the race Kelly we also saw the 88 there of Alex Bowman he's on the splitter a little bit taking off they didn't want to waste any time on pit road fixing damage for Goodyear tires Sunoco fuel for Alex a very long pit stop for the 17 Rick I'm shocked I love what the 17 right here is doing there are only 10 12 15 cars that are in this race we just saw the Ricky Stenhouse jr. in the 17 basically dominate that stage finished no one could pull out yet Brian Pattie is taking the time to make his car better I'm a little shocked I thought these other crew cheers race is only half over stop massage their cars obviously none of them had the speed to make a run on the 17 jr. don't you think if you were in there you'd be yelling at me hey let's take the time now this car could be better yeah probably want to do all the you know work on the car I could early and not have to worry about it later in the race but you know it's a tough decision to make let's talk to the 17 hey Ricky its burden you got time to talk yeah man it's been crazy out there tell us what's going on crazy barley dude we open the - we're gonna have a run on the 24 - the inside and to had to check up really late into three there than the other one I just tried to saw draft the 18 at the wrong place got sucked in to up and turned them around so it's it's crazy here it's you know try to get it no playoffs you know gain a point trying to put ourselves in that position for when so we got a really fast fit third forward hey we throw up all our other four teammates that was uh did go as planned so we're got to do it with the teammates that we got left out here but we appreciate you taking some time good luck the rest of evening almost too somber driver interview there even though he won the first two stages [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] gladiator freight train wrecking ball he's been everything tonight's on the racetrack Ricky Stenhouse jr. but he has won two stages and he's got the possibility as he mentioned to make it into the playoffs he's one of the best cars if not maybe the best car that's still out on the racetrack right now right Rick things are heating up online as well social media Zac the world I know said I don't know how many friends were gonna have was just said on Ricky Stenhouse jr. radio that's an easy question to answer plus the Wood Brothers throw-in shade Stenhouse gonna win this race tonight one way or another things are just hot on the track now here Rick social media to buddy everyone letting them know everybody on social media has an opinion they'll give it Wood Brothers Racing social media it's pretty awesome they have some funny stuff on there all the time great follow they are how about the 21 Paul Menard we saw that car get up and all four off the ground all four wheels off the ground the 88 of Alex Bowman comes back onto pit road it looks like they'll do a little massaging maybe a little more fuel before he goes back out who's gonna take advantage it's out there the opportunity to make your year is right now we've saved those big teams and drivers get knocked out boost don't step up I mean now it's your chance it's a weird ballots of cars up there if we're balanced the cars up there those guys that are willing to take that chance and there's guys are just trying to survive the night so it's hard to tell he's gonna it's gonna be the most aggressive you're to play all standards right now yeah the points definitely are gonna shake up a little bit Stenhouse jr. he's outside the top 16 yeah coming oh he's and this has you know this show a tide Dillon is leader so it shows him in as winning a race because he's leading the race so you know you go back here look at Erik Jones and Stenhouse and Eliot Coleman I mean it's all tight Dave Rick how about Truex the first big one he missed because he had an uncontrolled tire penalty and was in the back and was guided through it the second time they had decided to lay back and missed the second big one they've just been discussing it about this run and here's a radio so lay back twice and made it staying up in it for now I've never won he's never wanted a restrictor plate track he has a but you can pick take more risk now there's less cars there's less risk of losing so many spots so you can be more aggressive now to pull out by yourself ty Dillon and Clint Bowyer's making up row one now does it come back into the trial Stage three underwater and right away we saw the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse jr. jump out of line and it's hard to believe that Clint Boyer that 14 called the bottle was that nose damaged it's hard to believe that's what you're gonna want to lead a line you would think that he's gonna be better following somebody come on through there pretty good got a great run down the back straightaway he's got three decent Hills behind a good tight clean Hill Parker guys just under this caution Cliff Burton came across radio and said I cannot mean I'd have to follow we have too much damage we're way too slow and then they took the track position it looks pretty good to me with all that damage well we'll see if he can stay there the key is who's behind him you know a few cars behind you aren't real fast and you might can stay up there but if you wants those quality of cars if you get really quick cars behind you it's much more difficult he's got Kasey Kahne in the 95 behind him right now and then Michael McDowell who we've continued to say over and over is maybe outperforming what everyone thought he was going to be able to do in the 34 currently running third again we've seen him at the top three a lot already tonight he's a top 5 finish here in this race last year so and he's got two top fives in a row just tracks over we're on the radio the 78 of Martin Truex Jr they said well maybe you know just kind of feel it out see how it goes and then drop to the back if you have to well there's no drop in the back right now he's trying to get into the top five for what's that outside lines not working as well and he stayed he started that inside line he's just taken advantage of it and as it's moving forward it was the only winner from this year that had a car that could win the race and here clip Boyer's proving me wrong leading with all that damage I see one guy that might save the night and that's the six car Trevor Bayne he's making some moves he ain't gonna sit here and ride and McDowell McDowell moves to the outside of KCK tries to get that outside line working and Clint Boyer moves up to block down to the bottom of the racetrack goes McDowell trying to take the lead away not help he's got great help from Trevor Bayne Trevor is going to move around he's going to try to make something happen he started all that back in turn 1 or entering turn one all that began and whole run was organized there Michael McDowell leading at Daytona remember Mike michael mcdowell that car he's driving roush-fenway built that car prepared it's got a round body big the 95 we're going I really could not do it Casey came with a big run and he blocks the 95 so Michael McDowell stays in front of the momentum up to third now Martin Truex Jr [Music] [Music] right now you guys are separate in the field right now back to him there you go protect the bottom predict the bottom but the first two are in line but they all got pretty tiny back there so we just gotta be careful the voice you're hearing how Steve barked on the spotter move you up in front of him let him put just for a while until 95 warrants back he's won ahead of the 7770 but I've still got the run 95 still with you [Music] get that run from him get that boys from him then you go back down once you feel it with you now you're clear clear at first fiber single here [Music] that's great information from the spotter so he solved the spotter saw that outside line forward he let his driver know when to move up when it was okay to move up and knock through a crazy block it was a good early move to that timeline I can prepare for it really smart smart information interesting to see if Stenhouse is going to be as loyal to McDowell as McDowell is to him earlier in the race I think that's what makes it's very difficult is that we noticed announcer he wants to lead and we've seen how aggressive he is so running this top opens the door to just turn left to have Kevin Harvick who I don't know where he came from I thought he was done they have him go with you and make a run Marty you got something on Kevin look at the free the damage not that bad and he said something interesting to Rodney Childress he said with less cars in the race handling is gonna be less of an issue think speed so Steve you are bagging for a crew chief to come down pit road and adjust on their car Rodney Childers did that Kevin Harvick said I still think we have the speed to win this race yeah Marty I love that call I mean that those are the types of decisions that prove why the four and Rodney Childers of Kevin Harvick that combination wins so many races they are just continuing to work on their race car remember there's still 65 laps to go there's at least another pit stop that may or may not come under green flag conditions we see how quickly both the 4 and the 17 recovered I think these crew chiefs have to change their mindset it does not a 40 car field it's a much smaller field with still a lot of racing like you and I looked at each other when we saw the four car like where'd he come from well this is why we were wondering this is the first wreck as we ride along with Kevin Harvick look at this damage I mean that's heats the wall hard gets run into off the banking damages the splitter listen to the car I mean it's damaged and here he is run to third with a chance to win the race hey junior as I look at this front pack is there an advantage to those two Hendrick cars having a teammate does a teammate become more important in a smaller group yeah I think so I mean those guys are talking all week leading up to this race about how they can work together and how they can be stronger helping each other so you know if you're wanting to make a move you've got a teammate that's going to be able to be loyal to go with you stage one winner Ricky Stenhouse jr. stage two winner Ricky Stenhouse jr. the final stage kenny win the Monster Energy Cup Series rates from Daytona only 60 laps remaining Monster Energy Cup Series Coke Zero sugar 400 there's pretty good lineup right there an impressive racing out on the track Michael McDowell in front of Ricky Stenhouse jr. Kevin Harvick Alex Bowman Jimmie Johnson in the top five all in line when will someone blink when will someone make the move and decide it's time for us to get out of line and challenge for the lead but also get out of line to come to pit road see Trevor Bayne trying to make a move if you laughs ago and now look he's all the way the back of that line Jeff so that's the risk I mean if you pull out of there and try to make a run going to the back as we see aric almirola falling to the tail into this line one person that's not gonna be making the charge back here way in the back Martin Truex Jr in the 78 car he has made the decision he didn't want any part of this he wants to stay away from it he thinks they're gonna wreck again he just is afraid they're gonna wreck again he's gonna try to stay out of trouble the danger in this is what if he has a problem here he is he just back it up he said I'm out I mean he is way off but he's gotten far enough back where I'd be terrified I was gonna lose address and you lose a draft and have a little bit of a slow pit stop then you could next thing you know you could be a lap down so this line is all single-file I'm afraid they're just gonna drive away from him he's giving them too much room well Jeff we got to take a look at the Toyota driver update Truex 19th DJ Kennedy JJ Yeley Erik Jones the concern I have for Martin Truex while 19th sounds pretty good you just showed how far behind the pack he is well he is now basically out of the draft I mean he is running slower than the single-file cars around the racetrack so if he continues to lose time will he actually lose a lap I mean it seems like maybe he's just barely in tow but one little bobble and he's going to be a big trouble he's feel that way but he's running some really fast laps he's actually running down this lead pack and he's running low at the corner you see back there running low at the corner run in a shorter distance so you think he's fine you think he's still getting that draft looking at the board here he ran a 46 19 to the leader straight at 2:46 7 so he's got the draft and he's cutting distance running that bottom proving the corner break spark that time by it was 46 flat for him fastest lap of anybody he can modulate that I'm sorry go ahead yeah they were telling him that he was catching I couldn't tell if they were sarcastic or not because they've had such bad luck here but there you go he is up to that back of the pack again if he had lost that drag completely he would've easily went a lap down that would have been a terrible terrible situation for that team but drives right back up in there he's got the speed okay you know we didn't have to put a graphic in to prove jr. was right car and he said hey man I don't think we got enough speed well he just basically run the pack down by himself so now so now the decision is with pit stops potentially come and see if that's true how long it is before they're gonna pit but you know when you start to see pit stops come and you want to work yourself up to pack a little bit you don't want to be in the back in case you have a bad pit stop so now if Truex is starting to try to work yourself forward to give himself a little bit of cushion if they have a slow stop FAT FAT sale you see what ass dude missed arrest these guys Marty hey Rick Jeff just mentioned a moment ago we are quickly approaching what could be green flag stops and maybe the last stops of the day now earlier today all the four teams got together all 13 teams and they made a plan on what lap they were going to stop in this stage they were going to all stop together but not communicated on the radio because anyone people to jump on to their strategies to see it's a different ballgame now because there's so few cars in this race how does that strategy now change because the boards can't really I think you just have to understand now it's all about getting clean on and off pit road I'm not sure there's any strategy to try to trick someone but with fifty five laps to go I expect these guys to still run five or six more laps to get in their fuel window and then it's just on and off clean see we see Truex on the inside line what he needs is everybody to get in that line with him and he's moving forward look at the broad teams getting his driving to the front by himself look at jimmie johnson jump down in there try to get in front of that he won't saw that action and now Martin Truex Jr after being almost four seconds behind the pack is right in the mix up front at Daytona [Music] you saw it we heard it here at Daytona the 48 of Jimmie Johnson has moved all the way to the front of the field and the roar of the crowd here was almost as if an Earnhardt had taken the lead at Daytona has his trials and tribulations made him a fan favorite or fans cheering for Jimmie Johnson to reach his former glory he left early he's led two laps all season Jimmie Johnson seven times we did it two laps we could see the fans going nuts when he took the lead they loved it and now Jimmie Johnson's gonna have to fight off that 17 once again he is upfront and challenging and what a run for the 78 of Martin Truex Jr on his own he moved himself up into the top five and now he's fighting to get up and leave Dave Rick a few trophies for Jimmie Johnson here at Daytona but the usual procedure was to stay in the garage for most of practice so that he didn't get in any practice wrecks with that race car well the other day he ran as many practice laps as many of the other cars and got a feel for what his car needed then went up in qualified third Jimmy's had a great car all week and has a chance to head back to Victory Lane of Daytona let's take a look and see how Jimmy Johnson gets the lead he gets a great Bush more tricks Jeter down the back straightaway I don't know if he thought he's gonna make a move here but he does because the quarter panel is 17 to get that side draft Martin can't get up there to help me my bad Bart wanted to go anybody could fit in that hole so Jimmy's got Michael McDowell now to try to get him pushed through there they worked a few corners made it happen 48 out front at Daytona he's won here on this racetrack three times but it's been a long time since we have seen Jimmy Johnson in victory lane this is the longest he has gone without a win in his career I found it chase Elliott and my buddy in the 21 car we're gonna be battling for the most polished driver award this year but we may have another guy I met at battled with Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson could Jimmy John's Jimmy with the buzz papa driver popular drive guys crazy about my going down saying I was gonna take it to seven times Curtis lastly hilarium big push from staff strong for the 34 big talent he's blocking may they race and finally Martin Truex drugged that whole inside line he he just started coming when everybody saw him coming they all started feeling the inside line up and now we have a race Jimmy Johnson dives to the bottom of the racetrack trying to take the lead back away side drafts the 34 and Jimmy Johnson back out front for him to be able to rebound that quickly from losing the lead and to take it over again it really shows me the strength of that car that's building that confidence inside Jimmy Johnson all right crew chief Steve Letarte at what time are we starting to think that we'll see them come to pit road Rick I really think about 40 to go is when I think they could probably come to pit road for tires they can make it now on fuel but as we keep continue to mention with a smaller field there's no reason to risk it and pit so early but I really think in about six more laps whoa pit window open did you see the 17s it wiggle right there yeah big wiggle out of Ricky Stenhouse jr. crew chief Rodney Childers said it's much of an issue it looks like but you can still get out of shape certainly gaining grip as we get later on into the night and the temperatures cool down the track temp cools down but still the handful for something drivers well that's enough cars now in a competitive battle where handling is gonna matter I mean you look at how many they're too wide so I think handling is gonna matter we saw sit out sure you're on the trial well the things little big time so yeah it's not done we get a long ride on four tires it could really play in later in this race yeah the long runs I like to be in that outside line we saw earlier that bottom having trouble with handling late in the run old tires so that you're gonna try to get from that outside line late some guys on the bottom on that right where you get on their right or a quarter panel easy pickets Johnson's very aggressive trying to get underneath mcgavock doubts on the back talk to me a little bit of contact but now got up the track and it's one of those certain places you just have to be you know you don't block that gonna fly by if you lift they're gonna run into the back of you I've really surprised by the speed Al's car he's consistently stayed up front tonight been able to lead won't be surprised if he gets a good shove and gets back up there to battle for the lead again Jimmy Johnson trying to take HMS to his 250th win for that organization it's been a big week for Jimmy Johnson and his youngest daughter Lydia because mom and Genevieve were out of the country so it was dad and Lydia that were hanging out together in New York they went to many of the great sites and enjoyed a little daddy-daughter time it's like this pack is breaking up really surprised about how that bottles top you got guys come to pit road diving on pit road got Merola but the pack is sort of dissipated right there now we got a single-car file a single-file line there the guys are thinking about hitting your sin trying to get to the bottom everybody's trying to organize himself to the bottom of the racetrack to be able to get the pit road safely do you you just mentioned the speed in that 34 car let's not forget earlier in this race they were on pit road tightening a tie rod adjusting the tow this is the car that has not had the smoothest race now you have different manufacturers nose-to-tail here Ford's Chevrolet's will they come at the same time Martin trucks jr. which group does he jump in with everybody comes that time I saw them all jump to the bottom of the racetrack and turn three and I thought here they come but they keep on moving so bug amirola hit pit road a little while ago he's warning these cars the pit as soon as again there he is right there so much pressure now on the pit crews because if you have to come to pit road green flag you cannot make a mistake you cannot lose this group that you come to pit road with I gotta believe they're coming well Jeff I have the advantage being down here off pit road to pit stalls to my right is the four pit pit stall of this for a guy right here the 4 of Kevin Harvick well they're warming up right you see the tire changes moving their arms around jack man stretching out that tells me you've been with nothing over the radio they can only be a couple laps away from coming to pit road it's all position themselves they're protecting the bottom of the racetrack that's why the lines move to the bottom they're staying on that yellow line so they can't get shoved out and get on the outside and then not be able to hit pit road when they want to look at that information many laps before that they're gonna pit you know they're ready for the car they're come talking about it now the drivers to get that information with about five laps hey we're gonna pit about five laps find a way to the bottom so that's why we saw them all try to figure out how to get to the bottom proved to get pit road and it's hard getting on pit road here we see a lot of wrecks getting on pit road let's see if everybody can get on pit road clean dirt pitting this time correct the Fords move out Chevrolet's Gaylord adder looks like Martin Truex Jr is going to join the Chevrolet Brigade as they come to pit road Dave the 48 of Jimmie Johnson comes in they've had an adventure tonight as well earlier they had average that was low they've changed the battery twice in addition to tires and fuel Sunoco fuel and new tires for Jimmie Johnson the 78 of Martin Truex Jr as well at pit road that's a two-tire stop killing Alex Bowman also when they told him not to slide the Tigers at 600 the two-tire stop for the 88 Kelly see Kasey Kahne on pit road they told him to wait until they got it full of Sunoco fuel it was just right side tires for Kasey Kahne all those other cars that stayed out Rick they'll come this lap including Kevin Harvick and as quickly as you say that Ford's continue to fly by in front of us and they slowed down so think about this they were running 45 50 60 s now the pack is dissipated and they went a 46 22 so let's see how they blend when they pit let's see how they line up in the back there now have slowed down because the packs gotten smaller yes are you assuming that they're losing time so when they come out they're gonna have a harder time maybe maintaining the draft that lead pack that's why I always like to short or a short pit here so that I didn't put myself in this situation the only advantage of this is now you have a fewer cars so it's a little easier to get on pit road you seem like you can carry a little more speed to pit road and there's a little bit less risk I understand that strategy about getting on and off pit road but they are losing a quite a bit of time on the racetrack I think if that other group can get organized this is going to be a track position swap and these four that have stayed on the racetrack are gonna give up they're not gonna lose the lead draft but I don't believe they'll there's any way they could end up being the front four cars when this cycles through we're in a 45 50 that lap so you're thinking they're just losing a little bit of track position but they'll be able to maintain that lead pack draft Steve well but the other group has to get organized you know it's hard to tell her timing and scoring as you go through a cycle but you would imagine that Baker pack of cars should run more efficient laps as long as they can stay in line the advantage of this team has right here they have the 17 probably one of the fastest cars in Daytona leading their four-car pack what it looks like you're gonna see them all come to pit road on this lap look at only four cars though they're all able to carry more speed to the speed lines due to speed point and give themselves the most advantage chef's these will be two-tire stops as well so they don't spend more time on hit row than they need to don't slide them that was the rule there worked for Michael McDowell Ricky Stenhouse jr. on pit road as well he did not slide his tires they were able to change to he's gone a great stop but they've got to come out together that's the other thing and Rick in the last stage break Kevin Harvick took four tires they told him to wait on Rodney Childers to tell him to go and don't slide the tires like everybody else who's right-side tires for Kevin Harvick we'll see where these four Fords will shake out with the rest of the field they're bearing down on them quick Rick 48 78 20 Jimmie Johnson Martin Truex Jr Erik Jones leading that other pack in Rick what's really gonna hurt is the leaders are coming single file which i think means they're gonna go by them even quicker isn't it fail yeah I mean it's gonna be hard up it's gonna be hard for these guys to hang onto this tractor go by pretty fast and it's it's also creating a lot of turbulence for this draft of cars and you can see oh-ho a lot of sparks flying the 42 goes around it Alexis 17 Larson around and got Ricky Stenhouse jr. as he was going on the 48 also we mentioned you can't make a mistake the 48 was going to have the come to pit road because they pit it outside the box steve is out a big break for them that the caution comes out made sometimes you just have to be lucky this is a big big save for the 48 as you mentioned that penalty was going to hurt them now he'll be able to serve that penalty under yellow which would be a little bit better it's still gonna cost of a lap but doing it under green they hold you you lose a lap you don't really lose a lap in the draft we here Chad arguing we'll see I've tried that a lot though never seems to work in my favor so we'll see if nascar sees something different but the camera system picked up on the 48 so they're going to lose a lap but they'll be able to line up with the wins the group but let's see here let's take a look at this penalty on the 48 so basically right here the 40 it's right against the front line the 48 oh that's the issue so you cannot service the car services anything tighten lug nuts or put fuel in the car the nose of the 48 crosses the front pit line with the fuel cans still plugged in black and white that is without a doubt servicing the car and then the crash on the backstretch Kyle Larson some sparks right there see that tire yeah he had a problem he just bought all by himself I saw sparks flying from the car Robert Cochran apart I don't think Ryan Newman made contact it's just he has a problem I retired around he goes to now suddenly to do decisions though guys decisions remember the 17th would he have been at the back of that pack would he have even been in that position if they would have hit it earlier with the other leaders so this the sixth caution to slow the pace here at Daytona as we go NASCAR non-stop [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] action like we're seeing tonight is exactly what you need when you want to come to the racetrack so make sure to get tickets go to nascar.com slash tickets to watch some of this action in person maybe you can be the one standing up cheering on Jimmie Johnson as he goes to the front of the pack now Jeff let's take a look at the Toyota Camry on track car and there's something different about it than virtually every other car on the track what is it well most weeks you look we look at the Toyota on track card and we explain something that's really cool about the race car today it's quite simple it's not wrecked yes everything straight paint looks good it might be the only car on the racetrack or in the facility that does not have damage it has been a crazy night on the racetrack and that car looks good is prepared for some incidents so Martin Truex Jr is scored up front at Daytona and he's never won at a restrictor plate track take a look at the 4 of Kevin Harvick who's behind this any reason for any watching watching Monty Malinois he's gonna go to open they're easy now don't slide don't slide just one game watch your backside or tail piece the 42 car goes down pit road to get that taken off morning hey Rick you know it's amazing what you can catch on the front nose of a race car isn't it this entire rear bumper cover as you guys just saw from Kyle Larson's car all the work that's calling into this Steve and here it is sitting for these guys it was on the 4 car of Kevin Harvick as we just saw it's a pretty big piece and I think I'm gonna give this to Mike for a souvenir for his first trip to Daytona for the for the Coke Zero 400 what do you think there yeah bring it on down to you tariqa so that's an interesting way to collect the souvenirs have another racecar bring it in it'll go in the overhead overhead on the way back all right jimmie johnson deal you were talking about what does he need the rest of the way here so basically because they put it outside the box it's a one-lap penalty the caution saved him or it would have lost a lap and the draft now he'll be in the draft but a lap down he needs a yellow I think you can easily compete to be the first car one lap down which puts in position for the wave-around or the free pass but he has to have a yellow he'll never make it up under green and we talked about tricks what he did its decision to get out of the mix then come to the front with a strong car is he the strongest car the guys near the front we've talked all weekend how this was not gonna be the weekend of the big 3 and here he is Martin Truex Jr great decision to not be in the pack but with that accident collecting the 17 I think the 78 has to be the favorite at this point as he goes for a fourth win here this season wild race wild finish coming up love it oh yeah 33 to go there's no telling what can happen one listen to the 48 radio [Music] [Applause] and that was Chad Knaus talking with driver Jimmie Johnson as mate carp making it to the pit road once again Martin Truex Jr and the 95 of Kasey Kahne up front will help from Austin Dillon in the 3 behind Martin Truex Jr you talked about last week out restarts are an art solve Austin Dillon timing that just right to be able to help our tricks jr. get clear there the waves out the windows 3.x and insurance will wait on the throttle in Austin Dillon gas it up and then Trix will gas it up as soon as he feels that contact line it up on that outside or get tight little wiggle there out of the 95 of Kasey Kahne very tight up against the wall this is picking up man we're three wide never Rose deep under 32 laps to go Joey gates driving it up in there push it right in front of him DJ Kennington right now is running second at Daytona Falls back to third eighth Austin Dillon moves in front of him but how about that name you saw those cars go below the yellow line that's okay you go oh you lied if you're not advancing your position so there'll be no penalty for that there bottled up on the bottom and a lot of moving around a lot of damage to the 3 of Austin Dillon he's had a little hard time being the lead card so you seem dropping like a rock and it's struck out this it's that line and these guys are broke away PACS starting to separate itself six cars trying to leave the rest of the group and you look at the career wins for the top ten right now trucks junior kasey kahne and newman with double digits but everybody else one or two wins and quite a few with none could they get their first career win here just imagine what Bubba Wallace would be like he finished second and was so emotional because he wanted to make his parents proud and he said boy that was the greatest feeling finishing second in the Daytona 500 what if he wins at Daytona tonight here we are riding along with him I think Oh Cole ahem helmet cam great shot here he's just wide open in the throttle I had to lift it all not getting any real major runs on the car in front of him the tracks actually been repaved just recently but it's starting to get some pumps in the corner see those bumps in the helmet cam as he's dealing with that going through the corner and to make sure that those bumps don't upset the bounce of the car going single-file like this you're not gonna have really any issues with handling this is a good scenario to be in they're not gonna feel a lot of balance issues here the RPMs go up he's getting a little shove they're gonna the stock he's decided to stay in line and push the 47 and check out this mirror right here this is what he's looking at he's looking out through that mirror out of the rear window he's gonna be spending a tremendous amount of time looking right there indeed jr. absolutely it's got to make sure those guys don't get on that quarter panel and side drafting me like they're trying to do look at the outside you could see it on the side yeah beer right there he's got company on the outside with Chris Buescher are you spotting so we talked a lot about spotters but that mirror works as well it's not all about the spotter sometimes you got to respond and react before the driver get football the spiral can tell you Chris Buescher of prosper Texas trying to go her up and of the take a 96 DJ Kennington can he straighten it out before he gets inside wall he does they'll stay green if he stays going the right direction and came back up to speed we mentioned he was up running in top he's from Ontario Canada DJ Kennington doesn't run a full schedule normally but an opportunity here at Daytona he doesn't get going and so the caution will come out he did a good job there he's driving that thing all the way through to slide seventh caution of the night and this one no sheetmetal was torn up now well strict play traces junior smaller gets to go the more intense these restarts are going to become it's unbelievably intensity how it picks up aric almirola is going to get the free pass which will move Jimmie Johnson up a spot but he's still a lap down so aric almirola gets the free pass that'll put 21 cars on the lead lap DJ Kennington around bringing out the seventh caution as we go NASCAR non-stop [Music] [Music] just 25 laps to go in the Monster Energy Cup Series Coke Zero sugar 400 well Monday on NBC new generation of young inches will face off with the greatest ninja veterans in a battle for the ages American Ninja Warrior all new that's Monday on NBC the 10 of aric almirola again we mentioned received the free pass and thought they were gonna come to pit road pit road was still closed and so he has to make sure he doesn't go inside that orange square he does it he comes back out on the racetrack safely but it was a close call then close they thought they were going to come to pit road it was closed but not only was a close call cuz he Mama's committed but he almost runs into the car let's come back on the track don't pit no pit let's listen in to the sidon gets chaotic doesn't yeah that was Joe Evans now Steve moments ago we heard Chad Knaus complaining about what took place with the 48 can you explain this yeah Rick we talked about the chaos at Daytona well we saw that 48 in his pit box the fueler engaging as that car rolled forward and crossed the front line that is black and white in the rules a penalty you're not allowed to service the car outside the pit box Chad alluded that this is a new rule he didn't know anything about it unfortunately for Chad this is something that was cleaned up over the offseason too you see right here the fueler at the back of the car is absolutely plugged in the 48 of Jimmie Johnson does multiple feet over the line that is not even a questionable call last year there was some question about some details that cleaned it up you could do nothing to that race car outside the box are clear penalty for the 48 so look Rick you showed career wins how about this this is RINs this season 2x with three Harvick with five everybody else with the big goose egg this is not just exciting for the guys on the racetrack but this builds a ton of pressure to the guys that of night have already ended if one of these guys win maybe Wallace or Newman butcher Bowman it will change the whole playoff picture let's go back to the road and Marty hey Rick you think after watching that graphic right there there's some drivers who are desperate for a win including Kasey Kahne I talked to his car on our Bob Levine earlier today he said man it's been a miserable season this is a team that let their crew chief who started the season Travis Matt go a few weeks ago and John Leonard now in his third race as the crew chief what if they could win tonight Kelly that would be a party how about the party it would be if the 43 of Richard Petty Motorsports and Bubba Wallace ended up in victory lane they talked about it over dinner on Thursday and just how much fun it would be watch for Bubba to make a move to his front his crew chief drew Blickensderfer told me that's what he likes about Bubba at these tracks he's aggressive not afraid to make moves others might be Parker okay how about if the Dillon brothers could sweep here at Daytona for the year ty Dillon running 10th place remember he had an issue he dropped this side on the restart fill all the way back to the tail end of this lap and now his fought his way back after cycling the power switch on that card has been running fine since Dave there's Michael McDowell front end of the 34 repaired and also side of the 34 repaired the driver had never led a lap here in Monster Energy Cup Series racing here he's done it tonight and has strength for the end of the 34 he's led the second most laps of anyone Ricky Stenhouse jr. led 51 Michael McDowell has led 20 laps at Daytona tonight Martin Truex Jr he's never won at a restrictor plate race track has three wins already the season wants to make it four Kasey Kahne on the outside back to racing at Daytona another great restart for Truex it gives Bubba the signal to go and Bubba gets a pretty good show and so much damage on the right side of the 43 of Bubba Wallace but still running up in the top three good title topside bottom is tight - so tricks gonna stay down there get the help from that here comes the top here comes the topside tricks ey gonna block that he's side by side for the lead he's actually lose the lead Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne after running it Hendrick Motorsports for so many years loses his job there goes to the 95 team and now Kasey Kahne leading the field at Daytona now you don't think Casey Kane's gonna block that I can promise you the even Hendrick Motorsports going to drive in this team he wants to prove to the world that he can still drive a race car you gonna see some aggressive blocking from Kasey game a week ago we mentioned how the 31 of Brian Newman was probably the hardest car on the racetrack to pass what about blocking you how hard is he to block tricks loss leaves got land somewhere around eight right back to the bottom though the car making a move there look at uh here comes Harvick to the inside corner handle the four it's got some help now it's bowing back there he's gonna clear gonna put now he's gonna let him back the outside he's gonna need some help if he wants to get by Kasey Kahne a lot of people have come to the bottom right here they saw Truex jump to the bottom now he's got some help Ryan Newman runs his run to the bottom by his tight energy came on that bottom lane again there's three [Music] by half he's by two idiot falling off by three walk back for idiot with a run the babies go down to rock America beer [Music] what a run by Alex Bowman in the 88 moved up to second looked like he had a run for the 95 wasn't able to make the pass now Harvick back behind the 95 of Kasey Kahne 19 laps to go at Daytona this is pick it up again as though they got to make the moves now they got to try to put themselves up front look at Martin Truex he's worked himself back up into third position I think right now he may have the fastest car on the racetrack that's who Harvard Walt's pushing him we heard Doug Campbell the spotter for Kasey Kahne mentioned 78 on the outside know how well he didn't need any help the last time he made his way up into the top five he did it on his own kasey kahne out front he's number one at a restrictor plate track what a move by the 88 fill of Alex Bowman as we go NASCAR non-stop [Music] you saw everything in NASCAR non-stop incredible action and so much carnage on these cars so many cars beat up and banged up kasey kahne out front they've separated Kahne Harvick Truex Jr Bolin Boyer Newman those guys all trying to pull away from the other pack listen in to Martin Truex Jr radio and the intensity of what he wants he's trying to get that information from his spotter to let him know what blades are coming because he wants to get up and get in front of that lane and block that lane and get momentum and speed from it earlier in the race just actually a few laps ago they didn't do a good they didn't do they didn't communicate well and Martin gets fired up we're on non-stop we saw the action back in the pack we saw the 17 car smoking the left rear tire here's why big sigh gentlemen Tim and just ran into him yeah no way to say it I mean this contact and that's got the leather smoke and I hope he can go the rest of the race without blowing out the damage looks like it's clearance itself now no more smoke but best damage the tire too much bigger there's three distinct packs now and are we in a situation where can the second pack reel in that first Packer is Kasey Kahne Harvick Truex Jr Ballman Boyer Newman Erik Jones Busch are those are those cars going to decide the winner of this race it looks like that first pack someone that's splitting out in the laps those guys are on the bottom see they're not running the top if they moved to the top which I think would be a mistake that would let this pack catch them so the case Cait needs to know that this is a smaller group less guys to defend off for this win stale the bottom eight cars have separated themselves created their own pack running nose to tail right at the bottom of the racetrack so you made a great point you make them move too early then you drag everybody back to you drag that back caution there Ricky Stenhouse jr. around the tire finally goes down now Congrats York on that the notes coming [Music] top Minard races down pit road because he want to bring her life away under the problems this is great for Jimmy Johnson he was the car that was scored one lap down the highest scored one lap down far and so he still drives straight to pit road he's gonna go through the grass and come to pit road rather than going all the way around the racetracks yeah I don't think you get around the racetrack without a left rear tire on it [Music] take a look here obviously we talked about it he's got the Watford tires going down he does it car apart look at all that Chris panels winner of stage one winner of stage two we called him a gladiator earlier see all those flames down below on the left side of him that's all just a tire blow it apart taking out metal aluminum everything is down there eighth caution and now under 10 laps to go at Daytona Kasey Kahne can he finish it out he's in front [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] amazing two weeks already as NBC comes back to cover the races for the Monster Energy Cup Series well it's gonna continue next week night race at Kentucky next Saturday night 7:30 Eastern go downstairs here talk to my crew chief Steve Letarte nine laps to go I don't care if I come down pit road I can drive this thing to the front how come you didn't bring me that pit road to make me better man I think even with a small pack like this you don't want to give up track position you got to keep it towards the front this is really the most frustrating time for a crew chief you get inside about 20 laps ago to restrictor-plate track and we truly become fans as well we're coaching our driver on trying to cheerlead him in the spotter but as far as duties in the race mine ended about 15 or 20 laps ago now I'm just a fan very true well I always win the next big decision is what Lane is kasey kahne gonna pick so he's the leader of the race he's gonna be out of pick his lane and I think when he's got to decide is two things number one who does he think it's gonna push him the best and number two which Lane is going to be better at the bottom of the top and this could be a tough decision yeah in case you came and we've seen these drivers they'll signal to the driver behind them when to go all right if your outside lane everybody can see you right everybody see you signalling when you're going to draw look so if you're on the inside line you're hiding that from whoever is on the outside line so so far tonight that inside light is prevailed and he can signal to the guy behind him get that push nobody else an outside line sees it they get the jump that's what I do and what makes it so frustrating is you know the option the leader or anyone on the front row has to take the lead can be back in Row 2 row 3 row forth so many times we've seen you know the push it's not the front row not even the front two cars it can be all the way back as we see the 40 of the Jimmie Johnson Rick you mentioned it he came down had a penalty rode it around finally got his lap back Dave now he's on pit road getting four tires and Steve I mentioned the two battery changes earlier it was an amperage thing that Jimmy was reporting and you see he gets a chassis adjustment there as well they just wanted to be safe the first time it was kind of low the second time it was not as low but Chad Knaus made the decision to say we need to keep that thing running regardless so they've changed the battery twice now they get the free pass Jimmy Johnson is back in the game yeah so I've seen an electrical issue for Jimmy Johnson well you have to ask yourself Dave you know if it gets low enough on volts they can start to hurt the power and that's the last thing that's 48 need trying to come back through the field Marty they're gonna have to have all the power available at Chevrolet we'll see we always talk about the driver but what about the owner Bob Levine is a home builder from Texas with a passion for racing eight years ago he started this race team out of his own money and has funded it from his own money for years 165 races later they still have yet to get to Victory Lane imagine what he's going through right now I asked a moment ago you a little nervous he said what do you think so jr. you've been in this position before you're sitting here trying to get that first ever win as an organization a lot of nerves going on this 95 pin absolutely I mean this is why they start this team to go to Victory Lane and they've been struggling to find Victory Lane for years there's very low budget team they started this team to make a positive impact in the sport and their community I mean these are great people it could be an incredibly important night for them to go to Victory Lane and this is why they hired Kasey Kahne when he became available they wanted a big-name driver and they got Kasey Kahne guys it's been an incredible night all right let's catch everyone up on what's happened well start out Ricky sit out jr. he's been in the heat of the battle all night good and bad one stage one one stage two - Viva Ricky Stenhouse jr. not all of us been good though jr. that's right we're gonna see the first accident Stenhouse gets in the back of the 2 car when you fire throw in a block Stenhouse turns with it kind of goes across the back the bump of the two turns them around a little bit this is like an accident where stead houses get a little crazy with the side drafting gets into the back of this side of the 18 car Martin Truex Jr he decided hey I'm done with this too much craziness I don't want to be in the middle of this but then it became time to go get that trophy and he just drove his car in the front and drugged that entire bottom line with me great drive back to the front by Park to that year I tell you what guys the one thing we didn't see was the wild ride that the 17 and 42 had also because when the 42 went spinning around the 17 didn't really suffer a lot of damage they did a good job preparing this car and giving him a shot until the left rear tire blew up all right so Casey Kay's made his choice he's decided he's gonna go to the top he's got Martin Truex behind him I'm sorry he's got outs bone behind him with a little bit of damage Martin Truex Jr is on a bottom lane Martin's car pretty much unscathed maybe the only one that the Toyota car the only one doesn't have damage I don't know about this big but as a driver you got to take your best choice and you just got to stick with it go with the guy you're just gonna push you the best yeah I just worry that he's showing his hand literally like when he gives a single which I expect most drivers will when he gets a single to boban behind him he's basically giving a single to Kevin Harvick as well hey guys listen you talked about all the guys that need a win how about the big three lined up again two of them on the inside row can they get another win Kasey Kahne the control car in the 95 and they're all coming up to speed together nose to tail the top 14 cars gonna do it for Casey [Music] kevin harvick on the bottom kasey kahne up high under six laps to go down the backstretch they go again Harvick's still there he's got momentum Sam ba is going to sign draft a quarter of the 95 inevitably the 95 is hanging tight on the right rear quarter here of Harvick on quarter exit but tricks gonna push him through here I believe he needs Bowman to get behind him the 95 does true Harvick to the lead five to go and now Harvick will try to block whichever line has momentum sure lack says clear the pack as well strong Martin Truex Junior's car was earlier I couldn't believe that close tricks got to his bumper right there he falls back a little bit look at that run the 14 had pushing the 78 to race ain't gonna take it he's just gonna shove before a little bit farther forward I wonder if he didn't take it because of his teammate there's a teammate to the four cars behind him right into the wall this time aric almirola caught up the double 0 Joey GaSe in the 34 who had a great run tonight gets caught up in at Michael McDowell no Jimmie Johnson as well the 48 of Jimmie Johnson just got back on the lead lap not a lot of damage to the 48 though and a wheel rolling down the racetrack that thing still has the hub and everything in it broke off from the axle we try see the smoke on the right front of the 48 you see that's where the wheel was on Eric's car Ali Rolla he ripped it off of the housing must have been heavy contact in that Michael McDowell tried to climb out of the 34 feel bad for Michael me we are still going Michael McDowell had such a good night going led some of this and now the flames from under the hood what a great night Michael McDowell had up until that point they knew they were here I can promise you that he had a shot win this race showed he could run up front put the fire out under the 34 they'll have to clean up these cars from the grass which could take some time I'd be surprised if they don't red flag this race see I gotta keep clipping off leaving his hand back and forth like I think he's hurt but sometimes you know you hold that wheel and you see just stretch your hand out a little bit here they are three wide four wide and four wide is hooked yeah just not enough this track it's just not wide enough before a wide in Talladega you can make it work it's a little bit wider but this racetrack is just not as wide as Talladega no look at it double 0 is already hood turn down the corner case he's just trying to gather it up know where from those guys to go Jimmie Johnson's like I've seen this before a heavy impact was my McDowell sandwich angry Eric in the wall cheers that the wheel comes off and then you see the 48 sliding down in the grass the wheel actually comes back and hits the 10 and rolls over the top of it and then keeps going down the racetrack that's what hurts look at this yeah see the wheel comes back runs over the top of the 10 and keeps going those hurt well you're the outside car and the cars just drive you into the wall those are the ones that talk to me just knock the breath out of you it just hurts I mean it's just those are painful wrecks remember aric almirola broke his back at Kansas when he was involved in a big accident we saw him climb out of the 10 again the ninth caution at Daytona only three to go here [Music] [Music] [Music] cleanup continuing and it looks like we'll go overtime again at Daytona we have seen a few over times at this racetrack we've seen some incredible battles that have taken place on the racetrack tonight as well well before with this caution came out we saw Martin Truex Jr with a big run look at Clint Boyer he gets to the 78 that air pushes the 78 back out now Martin Truex has a huge run but he doesn't take it he doesn't pull up beside the four car he just runs into the back of the floor to move him forward it's an interesting decision watch what happens you see Kevin Harvick sighs he's like what's he gonna do looks clear will that be the decision Martin regrets that was a shot maybe but he's got clip Boyer behind him so cliffs not going to help him go past Clint's teammate so that's the tough situation of articles in now the situation on the restart Harvick I'm sure is gonna want Boyer behind him pushing him because those teammates will work together Marty Rick tonight it's the nine lives of Kevin Harvick let's see the wreck early on Rodney then yet the bumper cover and everything and here you are with overtime about the start and you're in the lead are you as surprised as anyone well that's just how things work at these Speedway races you don't ever know what's gonna happen you just gotta keep fighting all weekend long but you know everybody in super house race and build us a great car I felt like the car still just as fast as it was that to begin the race and Doug Yates is texting me every two seconds trying to try to tell us what to do here so we'd really like to get a restrictor plate win you know as a 14 we've been fast at all while before haven't been able to get one so we're gonna try like hell how do you do things differently on this restart maybe because I know that's been a topic Doug's been texting you about well I don't know I mean you just gotta you just gotta get after it and try to make something happen a semi eight car has been fast I think everybody knows that but we've got our teammate behind us to push and hopefully had to work out Kevin Harvick Kelly has been all over this field tonight but right now he's in the lead but he'll be lined up next to the 78 of Martin Truex Jr Cole Pearn is the crew chief you guys are staring down your first ever restrictor plate race win what would you like to see out of Martin in this overtime hopefully we can just get a good clean start I mean our car seems to have really good speed to feel pretty good about it so who knows I mean it's a you know almost so much miss getting up speed one lane stays together better so how have you guys managed to survive this long we've seen you drop back then you had the speed to catch right back up what's the night been like yeah we've you know wanted to stay out of trouble all night and we managed to do that and you know here we're sitting have a shot which is pretty unfamiliar for us so who knows we'll take whatever we can get here all right we're looking forward to it Rick it's been amazing it's so now you see them line up two by two and Kevin Harvick has chosen the inside line which means his teammate will be right behind him with Clint Boyer let's listen into the four radio no confidence right I love that I made my decision right now did I think about it it was a great interview Rodney Childers talking about Doug Yates calling him texting him telling him what to do gates racing Robert Yates his dad man this is it plate racing they love it and they they just have a passion for it and you know Doug Yates wants to win this race plate race he means so much to that company in that they alright Jeff jr. take a look at this top three well they account for 10 wins already this season the rest of the top 10 haven't won yet they talk about Erik Jones he snuck up in there and had a quiet but effective afternoon bang man you know he's trying to prove himself having lost some races this year kasey kahne we talked about him he gave up that inside line and maybe chose wrongly on that restart can he rebound and maybe get his team to victory lane tonight yeah Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports drivers he ty Dillon on the bottom of the racetrack may be trying to keep fuel to the to the fuel injection he's had his fuel issues yeah we've been out there oh dear it's over time presented by credit one bank Harvick Truex up through the gears everybody's pushing that sideline looking a little better right now but we got to go down to the turn here and the shorter distance on the bottom they're diving together though the Truex has got the help hey Rick Joe look at her job doing such a great job pushing marked Rex jr. in the lead and they come apart but rinse is clear when women get no help there's nobody on the bottom to help Harvick now the 95 is pushing Erik Jones now he clears Hari rice comes up in the 95 try to move up toward the front as well he's going to push the 20 the 78 of Martin Truex Jr out front coming out of turn four once they get the white flag the next flag will call up the 14 around boyar into the wall the caution comes out just before they get to the start/finish line some big impacts Bayne caught up as his go-to riders Brendan Gaughan also in this [Music] the 48 of Jimmie Johnson trevor bayne a lot of damage to Jimmy Johnson's car Ross Chastain major damage to the 15 overtime rules you have to get back to take the white flag for it to be a complete race otherwise they'll try again this time the caution came out just before Martin Truex Jr got to the finish line and we see Jimmie Johnson climbing out of the window so they will try overtime one more time you see Trevor Bayne he's won at this racetrack before as you mentioned trying to prove himself again Clint Boyer got sideways in the tri-oval hit the wall hard let's take a look at the replay get an idea how this all started there you see Clint Boyer and Bubba Wallace Clint's on the inside but it's got a little Thai rub there but he's shoving and he just turns pushing so hard he Clinton's moving around on the front bumper and it hooked him into the wall that's just real aggressive bump-drafting here's from the 43 route cam just turning sidewalk they're hooking bad it's just really aggressive pushing really aggressive bump drafting which is what's gonna happen at the end of these races yeah they got misaligned when they got misaligned here's Kevin Harvick [Music] two cars turn your front of Kevin Harmon good to see Clint Boyer able to run it's a big impact they quit hit really hard he sure did Harvick acknowledging the crowd as well two teammates are gonna talk about it teammates two great friends right there figure out how that started and how that happened you know they're talking about it normally they would take a ride in the ambulance back to the infield care center they didn't want to wait around for that they decided they would take the walk themselves and we're gonna have another overtime still up front Truex Jr and Eric Jones now they won't have teammates to help them because they'll be on the front road together watch another replay of this and junior you're you're right is that time at a race you're gonna push and right there you see bubbles pushing the 14 and the 14 move to the left and when he did now he's pushing him on the extreme right rear of the bumper and just like the wreck we saw earlier in the race it just turns the car directly head on into the wall and you know when you're pushing somebody how are you pushing them is so important you have to have everybody everybody has got to be lined up and the most effective way is on that right rear but if you get misaligned just a touch boom that's what happens it just Yanks it to the right ever painting with a bigot to remember these cars going over a hundred eighty miles an hour hard impact into the wall yeah guys just you've mentioned this is how it starts the 14 gets turned big impact but look at Jimmy Johnson come in he's at the top of the screen he hits the wall then he's into Clint Boyer and he starts to turn left he's got to basically come right at me we talked about the pit box being in the center of the action when this is another shot for the 48 at this point he's just along for the ride but you see wow why NASCAR doesn't use these last three pit stalls anymore this is basically pit stall - I'm one pit stall to his left on the NBC pit box so you see I mean you see how close it is you see now how NASCAR makes the decision what pit stalls are no longer used for pit crews and people may be wondering why Jimmie Johnson wasn't on the brakes well he was but when cars get damaged that valley of Rick's rips things apart and the brakes don't work anymore there's times you just don't have any brakes whatsoever and you see fluid down that was on the racetrack as well so if Jimmie Johnson even was trying to get on the brakes there was probably fluid down on the track in front of him let's get a replay here with roof of Ricky Stenhouse Ascari's slow and down a lot of debris this cars sliding everywhere nowhere for him to go can't get the car slowed down that you're off very fast so that's one thing gonna get you in plus you talked about the fluids and debris on the racetrack you lock up the front tires and drives you right into that wreck check this out right here these guys knew what they were doing look what that says seconds of records on the back of the record they knew what was coming did they Jr he's working a knife haven't got to the checkers yes but we will 10th caution now a red flag as the field what's left of it parked on the backstretch [Music] energy cup series coke zero sugar 400 from a Daytona International Speedway want to listen into a little radio from the 78 and the 20 team exciting I see that we always make it so they're complimenting Erik Jones there as far as pushing the 78 getting him out front and how close they were to getting that white flag oh that white flag means Martin Chuzzlewit everybody didn't make it so now he has a tough choice to make because he doesn't have Erik Jones behind him now the guy that he did such a great job he's gonna have to take a pick he's got Chris Buescher was a guy he could pick I don't know I don't know what his pick will be or Kasey Kahne usually this is how it works so if if you're the leader and you're gonna hand signal the car behind you you signal for him to throttle up not you and so when he throttles up that is a an assured bump draft that's gonna happen and as soon as you went you you wave for him to throttle then you throttle like a split say later that that guarantees you'll lock bumpers and then he can shove you out and delete and so to wait to give that signal I want to be on the inside and not show you know not show my hand to the guys if I'm in the outside line and you brought the control car does that first which right now that's smart trucks tractor whichever Lane he choose so I go to the inside and you also have to have the discipline if he's not locked onto your bumper you got to drag that brake you gotta move away from you it's so hard lift off the gas I don't even care if it's probably what I'm supposed to be doing it's hard to live that's what's gonna help you all right crew chief be cockpit box what's it going last start listen I'm gonna pick the bottom just because I think the bottom is the place to be I think the cars on the bottom are forced to stay there through one and two they can't jump out of line the guys on the outside row third fourth fifth and position they can bail up they can move up a lane on the bottom I think the push stays more consistent all the way to the exit ooh now you get off turn two it's game on I'm not sure what happens down the backstretch but if you can just get the first mile of this track underway think you have the best chance to win it okay so the crew chief says get that first pile underway well we saw them get almost two and a half miles completed before the chaos took place in the trial I'm not saying that outside line can't do it he's seen it happen but if you get a good start get a good push into turn one and then you have the shorter distance it just seems like the better option to go with Matt DiBenedetto Chris Buescher running fifth and fourth two names you don't normally see up there remember when I said Allmendinger was one of the two drivers that has three consecutive top-10 finishes at restrictor plate tracks well guess what he's in the top six that's right back in eighth place DJ Kenta seen him spinning down the back straightaway the other thing that we've seen on these restarts the cars that are in the third lane can influence as well so you know we're talking about say the 37 pushing the 20 but also the 47 being able to push the 37 that's so important and they're teammates so if the 47 can do a good job of pushing to 37 then that makes the 20 get pushed as well so what I'm looking at right now is a 32 car how can he push compared to the 47 there were three rows back but it will influence how this restart happens see the Benedetto has trouble yes he has damage on his car so I don't think that Lane is going to be able to push as well as the 47 yeah they come off a turn twos in the leaders are still satisfied the outside then becomes probably the more competitive lane yellow lights come back on the pace car meaning they'll go around one more time if the outside is organized off of turn two and they're still side by side with the leader they definitely have a momentum in the opportunity to clear down the back straightaway so if Truex can get clear he's gonna if t-rex is gonna get the lead it's gonna have to be clear not exit to turn to I am some listen I've been paying attention down here you had me on the bottom now you have me on the top you guys have had great arguments but you've had great arguments for both lanes I'm confused now where I think I want to be I don't like the top I'm just saying that it if you don't clear the top in 1 & 2 they're gonna be a handful down the back straightaway because they'll organize hey Steve just throwing one thing out at you the last time Martin Truex Jr was on pit road was lap 120 that's been 45 laps no fuel issues right I mean we wouldn't have any issues with running out of fuel well you know they're only about five laps away in theory how far they could go but see us have 21 of those laps weren't too yellow he probably has basically a half a tank of gas left there's just so many under yellow so I don't think that's a concern now it's gonna be all about what the two drivers up there have said the crew chiefs are out of it everyone's out of it now it's about who gets up the gears and who has the most help yeah I think that's the key see but that's why I'm you know the last restart Kevin Harvick picked his teammate and picked the line he warded but his teammate couldn't push him Boyer was not with him in the outside lane they're all they were all hooked up together and they went by him because it was a more organized push and I'm just looking at the 32 car DiBenedetto he just looks like it's damage to me the front of the car looks damaged the 47 car looks clean in the front so I just think that that outside lane may have better pushers I like the racetrack on the bottom but I like the lane on the outside Jeff yesterday we saw the pass come from the second row coming out of turn four with this fewer cars does that dynamic change oh I think it changes I think it changes a great deal because when you get to the fourth or fifth row you have cars that are destroyed don't have fingers on some of them well the fans know that it's about to get crazy again because they have all come to their feet one more time it'll be two laps over time for the second time coming up again March Rex jr. on the inside his teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing Erik Jones will be on the outside [Music] Eric Jones is still tight he's still there on the quarter panel but there's a big gap between him and Chris Buescher and directs it's gotta clear into the lead easily no help whatsoever for Erik Jones in the back of that restart Martin Truex Jr well out in front now all he has to do is block but here comes Casey Kahne to the high side trader wants to take the lead away as they go down the backstretch great move now Kenny clearing Jets are you trying to slowing down outside line got it outside lads coming boo to the outside Erik Jones is going to go by Kasey Kahne Erik Jones metrics jr. site by side for the lead how's that laughs Lynch more organized only two cars really down on the inside coming back to the white flag if they get it the race is official two and a half miles to go a Daytona with only two cars down there tricks gonna sag grass so but she's not going to get a lot of help from Kasey Kahne his outside lane 47 push him to 37 that's gonna get him to the 20 possibly here it comes here comes outside lead to the 20 down the backstretch they go Erik Jones in the 20 he's a close he got a big push from the 37 of butcher here comes the 78 once again Jones this number one in the Monster Energy cutleries easily blocked the 78 of Martin Truex Jr has never won on a restrictor plate track coming to the tri-oval for the final time Erik Jones is what a Daytona came up and just gave a shot pushed he passed Martin Truex Jr career to find a night for that kid his first win and date told him and how emotional Erik Jones has to be his first ever Cup Series win his dad's not with him he lost his dad two years ago to get to race Erik Jones's dad sold his Corvette his prized possession so that Erik Jones could race well Erik Jones after making it to the Cup Series bought that Corvette back and now he gets to celebrate at Daytona the biggest racetrack NASCAR goes to install a smile on Joe Gibbs face Joe has been very public and saying how bad he felt for Erik Jones because they've been running good and things just hadn't worked out and he kept saying man he's doing a good job not getting the finishes so tonight was a night with avoided trouble did what he needed to do at the end it got the this moment presented by Sunoco fueling victories all season long and fueling the biggest victory Erik Jones's life [Music] the crowd here on this fourth of July weekend you were able to see some incredible racing the Xfinity series last night and now Erik Jones getting his first career win in the Monster Energy Cup Series teammates with Martin Truex junior last year we wondered what this move to Joe Gibbs Racing was going to do for Erik expect a big thing for him this year and realizing his potential with Isis [Applause] let's go to Rutledge wood Rick it is all smiles for mayor Jones down here picking up his first Cup Series win at Daytona Eric how do you feel buddy you did it congratulations [Music] race boys and girls what is that was something else man I thought I thought we were out of it and then all of a sudden we're right back in it and take the Lee he done ran away but Wow an awesome race by Toyota come on here and my first Cup win my first win at Daytona my first Super Speedway win what an awesome day man it's uh I'm out of breath too much smoke in the car from that burnout I can barely breathe though an awesome finish Erik the years of hard work you came down you got that checkered flag all these fans on their feet what do you want to say to them thank you thank you so much I it was a lot of hard work to be here man I was thinking about I sing about my mom and dad right after the checker my mom stayed home from this one she's gonna have mix my first Cup win so hi mom and my dad man he would have been so proud of the work we did to get here it's just uh just an awesome same force congratulations buddy thank you I Terry Jones your first time winner tonight Rick [Applause] said he was out of breath but he's able to run to get the checkered flags the 22 year old from Byron Michigan Erik Jones wins on the biggest stage at Daytona [Music] very jolly I think it's I think it's we're here with you and post-race coverage will continue coming up next on NBCSN as the journey to the most coveted ground in all of daytona beach victory lane and jr. talked about this I mean this is a drive that this young man will remember the rest of his life that's right I mean he's went in on what I've told you earlier today NASCAR's biggest stage this is this this racetrack is sort of the foundation of our sport and he gets to drive into very very hallowed grounds you know and he knows this you know he's a he's such a racer and such a purist at heart he knows how important and how big this is for him such a it is a little bit of a long drive so you get that anticipation as you pull in there get a great picture link you make it turn right there you get to see that crew these guys start showing their emotion excitement happiness for you and he's the real deal that is the best place to pull into after a race Barker guys were down here in victory lane Erik Jones is gonna pull get out of the car here Daytona bunch of Gatorade confetti the emotion of the first way Eric I know how bad you've wanted this first witness tell me what it means you they be at Daytona and get it and be locked in the playoffs in first time your career oh man what a day what a day I didn't think we were gonna have a shot to win it they're about halfway and got ourselves back into contention the guys did a great job getting this thing fixed up and getting there by Toyota comm camera into Victory Lane I mean I've never been that good on super speedways and never really thought this was our shot to win but we get here tonight it's pretty awesome man it's a it's a first win and it there's not much it's felt better than this one what emotion Rick you don't even care about confetti on your face more live coverage from Daytona coming up next on NBCSN with the post-race show coming up next on NBC you're late local news except on the west coast more first-time winners than any other race track at Daytona and it happens for that young man Erik Jones wins at Daytona this copyrighted telecast may not be reproduced retransmitted or used in any form without the authorized written consent of NASCAR broadcasting NASCAR would like to thank all of our fans for your support and we hope you enjoyed today's broadcast you

Channel: NASCAR

Views: 753,686

Keywords: NASCAR, motorsports, racing, stock car, crash, mencs, daytona, kyle busch, chase elliott, jimmie johnson, kevin harvick, denny hamlin, kyle larson, ryan blaney, joey logano, brad keselowski, martin truex jr, erik jones, bubba wallace

Id: ZwCRfPoV5qw

Length: 236min 32sec (14192 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 10 2018

Reddit Comments

[u/smokefan4000]

The difference is speed. Obviously the package wasn't the same so the cars weren't going as fast, but another main thing is the point in the race where the crash occurred. Newman was about to win the Daytona 500 so he had to have been flooring the hell out of his car. Bowyer was trying to make a pass for 5th or 6th

[u/[deleted]]

The problem with Newman's wreck was the upside down collision with his window. Not the initial crash.