"If ain't broke, don't fix it." Phoenix Racing and Kurt Busch have certainly subscribed to that notion with their return to Daytona International Speedway for this weekend's NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300. The winner of the most recent Nationwide Series event at 2.5-mile high-banked track is revisiting the site of that victory, with all the ingredients – driver, team and car -- for another winning recipe.
Busch took the checkered flag in the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona last July, driving a Phoenix Racing-prepared Chevrolet. Saturday, Busch will be back behind the wheel of the same car, with crew chief Nick Harrison once again calling the shots for Busch's No. 1 Chevrolet.
Although very few of the elements of the triumphant feat have changed, one key addition has been made. Guy Roofing joined Phoenix Racing as the sponsor of the No. 1 car at Daytona. The Spartanburg, S.C.-based company is family owned and operated, with a national footprint specializing in storm related roof replacements.
"Everyone at Phoenix Racing is excited to have Guy Roofing
partner with us for Daytona," said Steve Barkdoll, general manager of
Phoenix Racing. "Their offices are literally next door to our race shop,
so we're really looking forward to racing with them at one of NASCAR's most
famous tracks. We always feel optimistic when we race at Daytona and we're
hoping to make Guy Roofing's first weekend at Daytona one to remember."
In addition to Bush's win at Daytona, Phoenix Racing also won at
the track in 1999 with Randy LaJoie. The team has 16 Top-10s, six Top-5 and one
pole at Daytona.
I wasn't able to see N'wide practice, but I saw photos from MRN's Facebook page indicating they're tandem drafting like last year - after the utter competitive ennui of the Cup cars, that N'wide rules package is a huge positive. The Daytona 300 should be the best race of Speedweeks - and yet another indictment of Brian France's Cup rules myopia.
ReplyDelete