Earnhardt notches fastest lap in final Daytona 500 practice

Every vehicle enthusiast is well aware of the fact that the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season begins today, Sunday, Feb. 21, with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Busch has placed a special emphasis on this Daytona 500, though, because he missed the race a year ago.

All of the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas are very, very fast.

He was more hopeful of a comeback from broken bones than a championship.

Cassill gave it a shot on the final lap, didn’t get help and came home 23rd behind victor Denny Hamlin. He climbed into a waiting SUV that sped off, squealing its tires.

But the clear consensus in the garage is that this Daytona 500 has become Earnhardt’s to lose. “I have to pick my battles but I’ve got experience so I know when and what’s best for our team”. Earnhardt Jr. was the heavy favorite coming into the race and early on, it looked like he was going to be the guy to beat in Florida. He tweeted a photo Friday night with his fiance having a blast at a private party hosted by Jeff Gordon.

On paper, a 23rd-place finish doesn’t jump off the page as an outstanding result in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. At one point, Cassill even came over the radio and said, “I think we have the best handling vehicle out here”. “It’s definitely not a bad thing”.

Despite six victories (and possibly because of three did-not-finishes), two-time champ Matt Crafton finished third last season behind the more consistent Jones and Tyler Reddick.

Over the course of ten days in Daytona, the teams have sorted themselves out between who is fast and who isn’t.

“Oh you should have seen me, I was dancing out in that hay field now”, said Richardson. “I think this is going to be a great season”. “In addition to being a race victor, I feel that his input and leadership qualities will benefit the team on many levels”. “He did that last season, and he had a really good season”.

But for Richardson, who had more than 100 congratulatory text messages, just earning a ride in the No. 26 Toyota was a victory.

Vickers was picked to drive for Stewart at Daytona after Stewart’s injury.

Kurt congratulated Kyle on joining him to the Cup Club, but the brothers, who are not super close, did little celebrating together.

“I was so nervous all week to get through this qualifier [without wrecking the car]”, the 41-year-old Earnhardt said after Thursday’s win. So I’m proud of Chase. “We were freeing the auto up real, real big”. He has a good vehicle and is a good driver at this stuff.

Said Scott: “He’s great for me as a driver with all of his experience and the things he’s been through”. “I had a bunch of different thoughts going through my head”.

And who doesn’t want one of those right?

“Just racing my tractor around the hay fields, that’s about all I been doing”, said Richardson. It knocked me back outside the top 20. We can go to the track and be like ‘Greg, it’s loose. Once I realized his momentum stopped, I tried to get away from him to keep the draft from pulling me back anymore.