BRO RATINGS: DAYTONA EDITION

BRO RATINGS: DAYTONA EDITION

Uncle Clark’s:

1. Kurt Busch (#22 – Dodge): Wow, Clark. The guy that won the Budweiser Shootout; the same guy that didn’t even get an HONORABRO mention in your first BRO RATINGS is now at the top of your list? Groundbreaking. I have to admit: I missed this one.

What Kurt was able to do is incredible. He took the only Dodge in the field to the summit of a huge Benjamin pile. He wrote the next chapter on the politics of racing at Daytona; working with drivers from every garage in the draft and negotiating the final turn with Jamie MacMurry. What we thought was PR spin was as honest as the Bible – Dodge’s consolidation of resources really has produced a competitive race program. Their engineers could handle the record-setting pace of the Shootout. Other programs like Red Bull Racing were left wondering if the 22-team could spare any parts.

Now with the Daytona 500, Kurt Busch has his teammate Brad Keselowski (#2 – Dodge) back in the mix. Brad’s teeth are jacked, but his driving is quality. In the last practice Brad and Kurt posted the best average speed of drivers who completed 10-consecutive laps. Brad is the same guy that posted the fastest time back in testing. Kurt was pushing him the whole way.

2. Joey Logano (#20 – Toyota): Ol’ “light-in-his-loafers” didn’t exactly have both oars in the water during the Shootout, but most of that was outside of his control. He posts ridiculous numbers, as proof with his 200.062 MPH practice speed yesterday, which was second to only Kasey Kahne (#4 – Toyota). Problem for Kasey is their engineering department only has a Leatherman where as Logano and the Gibbs team posts up in the corner of an Ace Hardware. Joe Gibbs had all they needed for their race setups after testing a couple weeks back. They’re using practice to try aggressive setups and yesterday’s finish proved their program is ready for Sunday. Logano, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin – all Joe Gibbs teammates – finished in the top-10.

3. Denny Hamlin (#11 – Toyota): First of all, Denny…you’re an idiot. Your ignorance at the Budweiser Shootout cost you 160-grand in straight cash.  If you would have waited until the end of the corner you would have had a choice of either the high side or low side to get around Ryan Newman (#39 – Chevy). Worse yet, you would have had the side draft to make it easy. Haven’t you seen Talladega Nights? It’s the standard Sling-Shot move. Shit works. Instead you go out of bounds. Out. Of. Bounds. Remember Denny: Shake it before you bake it. You’re still in the BRO RANKINGS because I bet you won’t make that mistake twice.

4. Jamie McMurray (#1 – Chevy): For some reason BRONAMETH writer Corey Rose doesn’t like this guy. But the BRO shows up. Last year he won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400, which are two of the three pillars of the Sprint Cup circuit. He finished second in the next two biggest races, the Southern 500 at Darlington and Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also proved to be a smart player by pushing rival Kurt Busch to the finish at the Budweiser Shootout last Saturday. Denny Hamlin should be taking notes. Jamie is a skilled driver at this track and has plenty of friends in the garage. I wonder if Kurt will pay it forward.

5. Kyle Busch (#18 – Toyota): Take a look at the video C-Rose is talking about (down the page). No further explanation is necessary. His practice speeds are strong. His testing numbers are promising. His reputation is pure Kyle Busch. He will be around the front, as long as Mark Martin (#5 – Should be Retired) doesn’t spin him out – again.

Honorabros:

Brad Keselowski (#2 – Dodge) – He is fast as an individual and redneck fast when he hooks up with his teammate Kurt Busch. Brad will be around the front on the final lap, but the lack of respect in the garage will have him put in the wall before the finish.

Kasey Kahne (#4 – Toyota) – Your boy. His numbers are solid – great top-end, solid average speed. As BRONAMETH SPORTS predicted, his downfall is in the engineering. Pick it up Red Bull. If he and teammate Brian Vickers (#83 – Toyota) can get together things will get interesting.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Either Tony Stewart or Ryan Newman could make it rain. We saw some solid indicators in the Shootout.

Corey Rose’s:

1. Jamie MacMurray: the dude is always fast on plate tracks, he won the 500 last year, and came damn close Saturday night to taking home a mil plus. Questionable mannerisms aside, this guy knows how to push from behind…wait a second.

2. Kurt Busch: it may seem bass ackwards to put the winner on Saturday night behind the runner-up but hear me out. While he has the best average finish at Daytona of 5.25 since NASCAR went to the car of tomorrow, there’s one glaring weakness I see. Kurt and his teammate, Brad Keselowski, are the only Dodge’s in the field. While manufacturers’ and teammates’ alliances didn’t seem to matter much at the Shootout, I’d expect that to change when there 43 cars on track instead of 24 and we go to points racing instead of straight cash.

3. Kevin Harvick: no matter who he worked with on Saturday, he was at the front of the pack until the end. I wouldn’t expect that to be the case on Sunday. He’ll be around at the end. Those Childress cars are just too good especially if they can find each other on the track. Plus, that black Bud car looks badaaaaaaassss.

4. Jeff Burton: ditto the above except for the Bud car part.

5. Kyle Busch: he had a rough go of it after that strange spin with Martin, but damn was he fast. All three of the Gibbs cars were fast but my money is on this guy. He’s the ballsiest of the 3 Gibbs boys and he’s matured enough that this may be his year.  Plus, he deserves mention alone for that well timed worst to first restart he pulled off in the Shootout restart. If you didn’t see it, check the video below. He’s the car that comes out of nowhere if you couldn’t figure it out. See what I’m talking about? Balls and brains.

Honorabros:

1. Denny Hamlin, Joe Logano, and Clint Boyer all deserve mention because their cars were great Saturday night, they’ve showed speed in testing, and their teammates are in the power rankings above. At Daytona, having a fast teammate can be more important than being fast yourself.

2. Everybody but Junior. Here’s why: the dude could not find success if it bit him on the ass, and until he does, he ain’t getting ranked. Yes, he was fast Saturday but he ended up behind the wall. Yes, he won the pole yesterday but who had the pole at last year’s Daytona 500? Exactly. It doesn’t mean squat. Junior Nation is citing his past Daytona and Talladega success but chew on this. Since the car of tomorrow was introduced, Dale’s average finish at Daytona is 20.75. Maybe he’ll be out by lap 3 so he can witness the tribute to his father, a true ‘Merican race hero. Plus, his Hendrick teammates didn’t make a whole lot of noise on Saturday night either. Again, thank you Jesus.