Can one of the ‘Big 3’ take Daytona 500?
Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. are favorites for kickoff race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Big 3 dominated the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series a year ago, but Kevin Harvick is the only one of the trio to win NASCAR’s most prestigious and chaotic race.
Kyle Busch and Marin Truex Jr., who along with Harvick combined to win 20 races in 2018, each will seek that first Daytona 500 trophy on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox) at Daytona International Speedway. Whether either breaks through to take the checkered flag on the 2.5-mile oval is among one of the top storylines entering the official start of the 2019 NASCAR season.
The feel-good story: Truex won the 2017 Cup title and finished second in the standings to Team Penske’s Joey Logano at the 2018 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His former team, Furniture Row Racing, shut down after the season, and Truex moved — along with his crew chief Cole Pearn — to Joe Gibbs Racing.
Truex’s 14 starts at the Daytona 500 are the most among active Cup drivers without a victory, although he got close — extremely close — in 2016. Denny Hamlin edged Truex at the finish line by 0.001 second, the closest margin of victory in Daytona 500 history.
“It’s frustrating,” Truex said this week. “I guess it can be frustrating, but anything that big is not easy to get. It’s just the way it is.
“You look at Dale Earnhardt, it took him 20 (years). He won the most races at Daytona of anyone ever and he hadn’t won the Daytona 500, that just shows how hard it is to win. I don’t think that’s changed over the years.”
Knaus after Johnson: Chad Knaus was atop the pit box — at least when he wasn’t suspended — guiding Jimmie Johnson for the last 17 seasons and the tandem won seven Cup titles and two Daytona 500 victories.
Knaus shifted within the Hendrick Motorsports organization to take over
the crew chief duties for second-year driver William Byron, who claimed the pole for Sunday’s race.
Knaus’ first Daytona 500 pole came in 2002 in Johnson’s first season as a full-time Cup driver.
“I think he’s got a lot of potential,” Knaus said of Byron. “His dedication and drive and desire to go out there and be one of the best drivers in the sport is evident, and I think his ability is pretty obvious just with what he’s accomplished in the past.”
The ‘old’ guard seek first wins: Kyle Busch, like Kurt Busch, has a Cup Series title, but unlike his older brother who won the “Great American Race” two years ago, Kyle Busch has never won the Daytona 500.
Although Kyle Busch won the summer race at Daytona in 2008, he has had some hard luck in February, with three did not finishes (DNFs) in 17 prior Daytona 500 starts.
Kyle Busch told reporters this week that winning the Daytona 500 is “the top item” on his bucket list.
“I would certainly like to knock that off a lot sooner than later, but hopefully, eventually,” Busch said.
Clint Bowyer is slated to make his 14th Daytona 500 start and hasn’t finished higher than fourth.
“It is hard to figure out the inevitable and that is the big wreck,” Bowyer said. “That is what draws a crowd and makes this race exciting, but it is also what makes it extremely hard to win. Somebody has to be looking out for you and the stars have to line up for you to win this race.”