Toyota Riding With False Hope?
As I look at the top practice drafting speeds so far this “pre-season” for Daytona, I can’t help but notice that the Toyota teams have five drivers in the top 15 fastest laps. Then, I look at the names … Kyle Busch (2nd), Denny Hamlin (3rd), Tony Stewart (10th), Michael Waltrip (11th), and Dave Blaney (14th). I’ve got to be honest with you … I’m just not really sure what to make of this quite yet.
On one hand, you have to take into account that we’re just barely past the mid-way point in January, and we still have a few weeks to go before we get to the Daytona 500. A lot can happen between now and then. I remember a year or two ago hearing about how Ricky Craven was turning in the fastest laps all through January, and then I don’t even think he wound up with a seat in the big show. You also have to take into account the fact that these five guys have always been respectable runners at Daytona … but, still … it just doesn’t seem right. I mean, we’re talking about drafting speeds here, so as good as these drivers are, a lot of this type of testing is all in the car. Did the boys over there at Toyota seriously get some things figured out in the offseason? Has JGR already made that big of a difference to the Toyota engine departments?
As much as I wish it were true for Stewart’s sake, I’ve gotta raise the bs flag here. The fact of the matter is that these hotrods are going to have to be able to stay the course through the qualifying run, the Gatorade Duels, and then five-hundred miles of racing, and I just don’t see these Toyota rides being able to hold it together through all of that in week 1 of the 9-month NASCAR season. By the time that checkered flag waives, the Toyota teams should feel fortunate if they have three guys finish inside the top 20.
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