By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Drivers have been at Daytona for over a week and they have plenty to say about the race, the lawsuit and their chances for the 2025 season.
Bubba Wallace on winning at Daytona
What does the Daytona 500 mean to you?
“After coming home second a couple times, seeing the stats for how we perform here at Daytona, it’s an incredible race. Something really cool to be a part of. When Baxter came over and crew chief ’ed for me in 2020, I said, ‘Hey man, take 15 minutes to yourself to be a fan of the spectacle that you’re a part of for the 500. And, I told Charles (Denike, crew chief), I said, ‘Take 10 to 15 minutes when you get a break in your schedule to just walk around and see how many people are here and just the environment that you’re in.’ It’s totally different than a Truck race. And, being here in Daytona, it’s a massive facility and they always do a great job putting on a great show here for the fans. It’s cool. We’ve come close too many times but I’ll take second. That pays better than some other spots.”
Alex Bowman on the Pressure at Daytona
QUALIFYING ALL THE WAY THROUGH RACE DAY, IS THERE EXTRA PRESSURE GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE SEASON KNOWING THE PAST SUCCESS THAT RICK HENDRICK AND HIS CARS HAVE HAD HERE?
“I feel like there is extra pressure for the 500 because it’s the Daytona 500. It’s not an internal thing, it’s not from Mr. H or Jeff Gordon or anybody. Obviously, they want to win the race as well, but it’s just the Daytona 500. The magnitude of this race creates pressure more than anything.”
“Its just a huge event and everybody knows what the Daytona 500 is and the amount of people here is insane. Gosh, I can remember there have been Sunday mornings here when we turn into zoo animals and kind of get carted around to our appearances and there have been so many people that we have been late to all our appearances because we can’t physically get to and from places quickly enough just from the amount of people. So, its just a crazy event and its our Super Bowl. We have been close, and maybe we can make it happen this year.”
Martin Truex Jr. is doing a one-off
How important is it to you to win the Daytona 500?
“I think in the grand scheme of things, this is probably the easiest one to do as far as being a driver in a series. You couldn’t do a one-off and go to Richmond or Dover or somewhere and expect to have a chance to win honestly. It’s just not really feasible. With the way it works for the team, and how fast things change, and you’ve got to be on the newest stuff, and you’ve got to have that team chemistry and that notebook going all the time. So, speedway racing is the best opportunity to come out and have a true shot at winning. I think that’s why guys do it, that’s why I wanted to do it and especially because it’s the Daytona 500. It’s such a big race. It’s such a big deal. To have the opportunity to come here with a great team and a great car and have a shot. We have as good a shot to win as anyone to win as long as we get in it. If you’re in it, you can win it. I’ve always said that. One of these days I’m going to be right about it.”
4 Time Indianapolis 500 Winner Helio Castroneves is a rookie at Daytona
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Right. It’s interesting. I don’t know what to expect because this is the first time for everything. Definitely the butterflies in the stomach are flying right now. Information… I trust my guys. I’m seeing a lot of good friends, old friends, from over the years give me some tips. Some give me a hard time, which is okay. I can take it (laughter). Look, this is incredible. This is an amazing opportunity. I believe only two guys in the planet were able to win the Daytona 500 and Indy 500. I know it’s very hard. I know it’s tough, like I said, different style racing that I’m used to. You’ve got to be there. Whatever it is, at the end of the day it could be great. As of right now, I’m taking step by steps so I get every time more familiar and better. Today I’m not even knew how to get out of the garage. Normally with INDYCAR, you just go to the pits and that’s it. Every step has been a learning process.
You’ve been a part of a lot of big races. How are the emotions coming here to the Daytona 500 compare to your first Indy 500?
William Byron on the Safest Place to Run the 500
With this particular car, what is the strategy to survive the draft coming from behind or get the lead being in the draft from behind?
“I live and believe that you are safest out front. We were living proof of that last year in that we got clipped in the rear bumper but it didn’t spin us. There were a lot of cars behind us that got taken out in that final wreck before I spun. I think the safest spot is up front but I can’t figure out how to live up front in the beginning of the stage and end of the stage. At some point you have to be in the pack.”
Byron on being the Defending Champion
Is the drive to win the Daytona 500 the same motivation, same desire now that you already have one?
“Yeah, I do. I have more joy coming down here than I did before. I have more passion and excitement for this race than I did before. I feel like having experienced it the way it was last year really changed my perspective on the race as a whole in a good way, obviously. I feel that’s created some more motivation to get another one. This race, it’s a lifetime achievement. It’s something people reference everywhere you go. It’s something that the first time in my career I’ve had something like that. It makes it cool, it makes it more special, because you can tell people care about the race.”
Roy J. Akers covers NASCAR for www.skyviewsports.net
