NASCAR: Daytona joyous for Roush, Petty teams

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Every NASCAR race has its winners and losers, but Sunday’s Daytona 500 went to the extreme in each direction. Here’s a closer look at who came out ahead and who would rather take a mulligan:

WINNERS

1. Jack Roush. The Cat in the Hat has accomplished nearly everything in racing a team owner could ask for, but until Sunday he could not claim a Daytona 500 victory.

“I had to wait over 20 years for this,” Roush said, beaming, at the postrace press conference. “I was thinking about all the bad things that could happen. I’ve gotten so conditioned to being frustrated with this race, that it’s going to take a while for it to sink in. I’m going to be black and blue for the next few days pinching myself to make sure it’s real.”

2. Matt Kenseth. What a way to end a losing streak, and he did it in his typical unremarkable fashion. Though he may have benefited from the weather-shortened race and the fact that several stronger cars had wrecked out, his career now includes a Cup championship and a Daytona 500 win.

3. Richard Petty Motorsports. You want Cinderella? You nearly got him in Elliott Sadler, who led until the race’s final green-flag lap. However, despite the fact Kenseth passed him and he fell to fifth, the day was a remarkable success for Sadler and the new-look RPM team, which also had AJ Allmendinger third and Reed Sorenson ninth.

If just one of these three drivers — guys who were not wanted by the teams where they finished the 2008 season — had finished in the top 10, it would have been considered a good day for this hybrid team. There are still major issues to resolve with this outfit, which is put together with the remains of at least three former teams, but what a start.

“I’m very proud of the boys,” Petty said.” They ran hard and smart all day long. This is one heck of a way to start the season. This is how we want Richard Petty Motorsports to start. I think (majority owner) George (Gillett Jr.) and I have something good here. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited for the next couple races.”

LOSERS

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. His image, maturity level and driving ability took a major national hit Sunday with his on-track shoving incident with Brian Vickers. The problem with Earnhardt’s involvement was that he let his frustration over what had been a self-induced miserable race get to him when Vickers tried to block a pass attempt. The resulting wreck, which Junior escaped without damage, likely cost Kyle Busch the race.

That incident, on top of Earnhardt twice being responsible for pit-road problems that cost him valuable track position, make Sunday’s race one to forget for the Junior Nation.

2. Hendrick Motorsports. The New York Yankees of NASCAR had a miserable 500. In addition to Earnhardt’s antics, Jimmie Johnson was never heard from, once proclaiming to crew chief Chad Knaus that his car was junk. He finished 31st.

Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin, who were among the pre-race favorites, may have had a shot at getting to the front, but a late strategic-call gamble cost them. Despite the fact bad weather was in the area, the two pitted for tires and never got the chance to use the new rubber. With the group at the front at the time, did the team really need to take the chance?

3. Kyle Busch. Some would say his 41st-place finish can’t be considered poor because he was so dominant early and fell out only because of someone else’s problems. True, but listening to Busch after the race, one got the feeling that the volatile driver’s frustration level is already at the boiling point. How long before he completely loses it?