DAYTONA, Fla. — The Daytona 500 is scheduled to run today, and for the drivers, the challenge will be getting their minds focused for the race and off the accident a day earlier.
It is not an easy thing to do, former driver Kyle Petty told Speed television.“It’s tough to find a place for it. It’s tough to go on, to go back to the racetrack and be a competitor,” he said.Petty’s son Adam died in a 2000 practice accident at New Hampshire. He also lost an uncle in a pit road accident in 1975.Petty, who was also racing at the time of his son’s death, said it is important for the drivers to find support after an accident, but that they have “something in their DNA” that lets them get back to racing.“You live with it every day, but you think about the things that go on in the racetrack. You think about the fans,” he said. “They idolize you. They cheer for you.“Each individual will deal with it in their own way. It’s something they will carry with them. They were part of that accident, and they hurt some fans — it’s not their fault, it’s not the drivers’ fault, it’s not the racetrack’s fault. But it’s something they will have to live with.”Keselowski meetingBrad Keselowski was called to a meeting with top NASCAR officials on Friday, the same day he said in a USA Today story that the series is sometimes at odds with the tracks, teams and drivers. In the article, Keselowski discussed a number of issues facing NASCAR.Keselowski tweeted later that it was encouraging to see series officials sharing his passion about making the sport as good as it can be.NASCAR told USA Today that the meeting was not a direct result of the article, but it was good timing.Patrick problemDanica Patrick’s week finally hit a snag Saturday. Engine trouble knocked her out after just 32 laps of the 120-lap Nationwide Series race.“We were having an awesome day,” she said in a television interview. “Felt really, really fun out there. My motivation was to go out there and win today. ... Bummer. Lots of people excited about this one, but we got the big one tomorrow.”Stenhouse cautionsRicky Stenhouse Jr. is in the No. 17 vacated by Matt Kenseth. It was fast last year for Kenseth, who won the Daytona 500 in it in 2012, but that doesn’t mean it will be fast for Stenhouse.He has a whole new team.“People don’t realize it is a different crew chief, team and over-the-wall guys,” Stenhouse said. “I think we have accomplished a lot in NASCAR in the Nationwide series, and to think that is going to translate right over to the Sprint Cup Series the first year is a little difficult. I think we are capable of doing that, though, and that is the plan.”Stenhouse won the last two Nationwide Series championships.He ran the Daytona 500 last year, starting 21st and finishing 20th.Carlos Mendez 817-390-7407 Twitter: @calexmendez
