Daytona Speedweeks...unlike any in years past

I think all of us as fans were expecting some changes in NASCAR.  We knew the EFI engines were coming.  In testing, NASCAR tweaked with the cars to try and bring back pack racing.  They ended up lowering the spoilers and giving the cars/trucks bigger plates.  This combination has been seen in Indy Car in the past to make the drivers have to finesse and drive the cars again.  Early on, the drivers kept trying to do the 2 car tandem draft.  It showed early that the cars weren't as stable, and there were a few wrecks.  I figured they would figure it out and not do it until the very end and on the straightaways only.  Boy was I wrong.  The Budweiser Shootout was a wreckfest, but it ended in exciting fashion, with Kyle Busch timing the pass on Tony Stewart just right to slingshot around for the win.  This finish gave me some hope for some great racing.  Sadly, this wouldn't be the case.  The Camping World Truck Series was an absolute wreckfest.  Eventual winner John King even got into then leader Johnny Sauter.  John is a rookie, so it wasn't a big surprise.  Even the veterans were struggling with drafting..  King went on to win after 3 green white checkered attempts all saw yellows for accidents.  The Nationwide race Saturday also turned into a rolling demo derby.  Lots of cars ended up scrapped in that one.  Winner James Buescher was 11th coming off of turn 4 when the leaders wrecked, and he passed all of the slow and wrecked machines to capture one of the most bizarre wins I have ever seen.  The Daytona 500 last night was a spectacle, and I don't mean that in the good way.  For a while, it seemed like it would be fairly tame.  A few wrecks, always happens.  Then towards the end, the drivers got nuts, and lots of cars ended up wrecked...again.  This doesn't include the most bizarre accident I have EVER seen in all of my years watching NASCAR.  Cale Yarbrough has hit a fire truck in the past, but what happened to Juan Pablo Montoya will be something we remember forever. Seeing his car break and hit a jet dryer that ends up exploding into flames and dumping 200 gallons of fuel onto the Daytona International Speedway pavement, it's just unbelievable.  Thankfully Juan and the driver of the vehicle were okay. It will be one of those incidents that is brought up in the future and no one believes you until you show them the footage.  Also, how about Brad Keselowski using Twitter to interact during the red flag?  I actually find this cool.  Kind of funny that he had the phone in the car with him.  Definitely a sign of the times.  As for the last 40 laps.  Did Tony Stewart have a patton tank?  He got into 2 incidents that would most times damage a car, yet he came out no worse for wear.  Incredible.  Lots of other torn up cars in that final 100 miles.  The finish was one that had a LOT of people talking.  Should Biffle have protected his teammate and let him win, or should he try and pull out with Junior.  Biffle said he couldn't get a good enough run.  I don't buy it.  I'd have at LEAST liked to have seen Biffle work with Junior and make that VERY LAST effort.  I don't think he didn't try to win.  I just don't think he tried his hardest.  In the end, Matt Kenseth won his 2nd Daytona 500.  It wasn't a fluke as he had a great car the entire time in Daytona.  We will be talking about this 500 for many years to come...that is for sure.  I look forward to seeing this new package go to the other tracks this year.  I really think it will work well.  Congratulations to Matt and team on the win.  Let's just say it's good to have racing (NHRA, NASCAR) back in action again.  This season should be fun in all forms or racing.  Until next time friends...enjoy the action on the track/strip!!