The Budweiser Shootout was run last night, signaling the official beginning to the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. I thought it was an extremely exciting race to watch, and you know that NASCAR is loving it. Anytime the Top 4 finishers include Earnhardt, Stewart, Johnson, and Gordon, NASCAR will be smiling.
After watching the race, what have we learned? Well, I know it’s extremely early in the season and a real, points paying race hasn’t been run yet, but here are some conclusions I’ve drawn:
1. Hendrick Motorsports looks stout.
- I know, I know. Right now you’re thinking to yourself, “Thanks for the news flash PJ. Did you hurt yourself coming up with that one?” But bear with me. Hendrick put 4 cars in the Top 6, including the winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Remember, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were in back-up cars after wrecking in practice, and both of those cars were fast. Get used to Hendrick cars winning races and finishing in the Top 5.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the favorite to win the Daytona 500.
- Jr. dominated the Bud Shootout and has to be considered the favorite for the 500. I know that we still have qualifying races to see how good the 500 cars will be, but you know that Jr. has an even better car he is saving for the 500.
3. Toyota will provide us with multiple Fantasy sleepers for the Daytona 500
- Dave Blaney, Michael Waltrip and Dale Jarrett all look like guys that we can look at to save some starts from the studs. I’d love to be able to run Blaney in the B List and Dale Jarrett in the C List for the 500. Qualifying won’t be set until Thursday for the 500, but winning at Yahoo Fantasy Nascar is all about hitting home runs with sleepers.