Daytona 2011 - Year of the Underdog
By Matthew Dillner
Underdog: a participant in a fight, conflict, or game who is not expected to win
Daytona Speedweeks 2011 was the tale of the Underdog. The goofy, unlikely hero that emerged unexpectedly to save the day. The surprise victor who left many, when the dust settled, to say, who?
The first appearance of famed red "U" cape came during the Duels, or what I still affectionately call "The Twins." Late in the second qualifying race, Brad Keselowski pushed brother Brian to the front of the pack. There he was, Brian Keselowski, the ultimate underdog in the race, storming through the field. His #92 car wasn't a factor all week in Daytona. But with help from his brother, he became the feel good story of the week. The older brother, who raced in the shadows of his younger siblings recent fame, had finished 5th and qualified for the Great American Race.
More Underdogs...
As I walked the grid during NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, there were a lot of drivers that could be considered Underdogs. I happened upon Clay Rogers, who seemed unusually nervous. I've known and watched Clay Rogers around race tracks for years. He was once a Nationwide Series young gun. In 2001, he split the driving duties with Matt Kenseth in Robbie Reiser's #17. Most agree, Clay had been given a chance in NASCAR's big-three series at too young an age. It didn't pan out back then for Clay. So what did he do? No, he didn't fall into obscurity. Clay Rogers became one of the most accomplished Short Track racers of the decade. With Four Pro-Cup Series championships and numerous Short Track wins, including the 2006 Snowball Derby to his credit, it was obvious Rogers was more than a steering wheel holder. In recent years, Clay did have some short stints back in the Truck Series, but none had staying power. So on qualifying night he told me, "I'm nervous. I have to make it in the show." Not only did Clay make it in the show, a late-race push by Kyle Busch landed him a third-place finish in the NextEra Energy 250. With the top-two finishers, Michael Waltrip and Elliott Sadler, both declared points eligible in other series, the man who was nervous about just making the show is now the series' points leader. How about that?
Fast forward to Nationwide Saturday. Young Landon Cassill has always been at the tip of everyone's mouth when talking about young talent. He was plucked by Hendrick Motorsports a few years ago into their development program. For a year, he basically sat on the shelf competitively. For the most part he tested cars within the Hendrick organization. When he returned to the seat of a racecar, he showed his talents becoming the 2008 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year. After that feat, Landon was without a home. Cassill has bounced around since and spent much of 2010 doing start-n-parks in the Sprint Cup Series. At Daytona, Cassill finished third to Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer in the Drive4COPD 300. Again, with the top-two finishers declared in the Cup Series, Landon Cassill is your Nationwide Series points leader. Here is the catch... Landon enters Phoenix without a seat. Yes, the points leader doesn't even have a full-time ride.
The Daytona 500 showcased the most un-likely hero of the weekend. A 20-year old kid from Knoxville, TN who once had a Jeff Gordon lunchbox was greeted in victory lane by his childhood hero. Who would have thought Trevor Bayne, in only his second career Sprint Cup start would taste a victory so sweet. The Daytona 500 is a race that some spend their entire career chasing, and Bayne got it on his first try.
Not only was it a great individual story, the young man brought one of NASCAR's original teams, The Wood Brothers, back to glory. As a good friend of mine, Steve Bullard pointed out, The Wood Brothers are a team that does not fly on private jets. They are team that appreciates the grease on their hands as much as an old cigarette lighter that David Pearson may have left in a car. Well said Steve.
Bayne is the feel good story of the year and we are only one race into a very long and grueling schedule.
With all the cameras flashing, people cheering and blur of media frenzy, Bayne remained humble and focused on what got him to where he is. When asked about what he'd do with his large winners' sum, rather than a typical answer of buying something of material nature, he immediately noted he would help orphans through Back2Back ministries in Mexico. Bayne recently spent time with former Motor Racing Outreach Chaplain Lonnie Clouse at that ministry. Those children had a profound effect on him. Orphans, who in many ways, are underdogs the same.
The Underdog story of the 2011 edition of Speedweeks doesn't end with Bayne. With the feel good story of a 20-year old victor, another long-shot had an amazing Sunday. David Gilliland gave Carl Edwards a push that nearly won him the race on the final lap. The last lap charge by the duo gave Gilliland and the Front Row Motorsports #34 team a third place finish in the Daytona 500. Witnesses said that the California native was holding back tears when he hugged his wife after climbing from his car. It wasn't until the noise of the cars and confusion of the confetti had cleared, before some, including myself, had realized his great Underdog performance.
Much of the media focus for Speedweeks had been about the ten-year anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt. The great Earnhardt, a driver listed among the legends of the sport, was once too an underdog. So how fitting is it that "three" of the five Underdogs that stood out during Speedweeks finished in the "third" position? For all of you numbers crunchers and superstitious folks, have fun with that one.
Whoever was looking over Daytona this year, Earnhardt, or a creator of the universe, they were definitely a fan of "The Underdog."
