PARTNERS NOT ALLOWED IN DUELS

By Chad Dare, Commercial-News (Danville, IL)
February 23, 2012

DAYTONA, Fla. — A year ago when Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500, the key was finding the right dancing partner.

Things have changed.

In the past year, NASCAR made numerous changes to the cars from lowering the rear spoiler to closing the openings on the front grill and a few others. Those moves were made by NASCAR in an effort to get the cars away from their two-by-two racing style and into a pack.

If Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout is any indication than today’s Gatorade Duels, which determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500, should be a pair of highly contested battles featuring multiple cars with an opportunity to win.

“This is a lot more fun than the two-car stuff was,” said Tony Stewart, the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. “I still like the open motor races better where we can literally control our own destiny, but this is, by far, a lot better than what we had with the two-car stuff.

“You felt a lot more eager to be engaged in the race this way than in the two-car deal. I’m really, really appreciative to the work that NASCAR has done in the off-season and the test session, and even after the test with the changes that they made to make it better for us out there.”

The only two spots secured for Sunday’s Daytona 500 are the top two after Sunday’s qualifying. Roush Fenway teammates Carl Edwards (194.738 mph) and Greg Biffle (194.087) locked up the pole and the outside pole spots, while the rest of the 43-car field will be set after today’s Gatorade Duels.

Edwards, who will start from the pole in the first duel, is another driver who favors the changes by NASCAR.

“To me, the less stable they could be the better, because it would separate the cars a little bit and make it a race,” he said. “But, that’s now what people want to see. They want to see that pack.

“What NASCAR has done, and I give them credit, they’ve done a really good job of making the cars just stable enough that everyone can stay together in a pack. But, they’re not stable enough to really partner up well and push one another.”

According to Stewart and Kyle Busch, the two-car tandem still works for short periods like a green-white-checkered finish, and Busch, who won the Budweiser Shootout, said the key is keeping the water temperatures in check.

“There are going to be some moments where you’re pushing and trying to see what your car can do and whatnot,” Busch said. “Not only do you have worry about your water temperatures in check, but you have to worry about the front and back bumpers on your car and the sides on your car. You have to be there at the end.

“When it comes down to the last 50 miles, 25 miles, 10 miles, it’s going to get hectic.”

NASCAR made another technical change on Wednesday morning after teams experienced some overheating engines in various drafting formations in the past week.

The racing organization told the teams they would be given three more pounds on the engines’ pressure release valves, from 25 to 28 pounds per square inch. NASCAR will continue to monitor engine water temperatures and might make additional adjustments after Thursday’s Duel races.

“That’s just a good thing for us (because) it increased the boiling temp about 5 degrees, basically,” said Doug Yates, the head of Roush Yates Engines. “That’s always a concern because when you do run hot, you want that protection and that limit to be a little bit higher.”

Today’s action, which can be seen on Speed, will start at 1 p.m.

Casey Mears, who drives the Geico Ford and is represented by Danville’s Doug Barnette, will start the second Duel race from the outside pole position.

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