DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The feel-good stories that Nascar hoped would dominate headlines during its season-opening week, from Jeff Gordon’s last Daytona 500 to the $400 million makeover of Daytona International Speedway, instead had been overshadowed by the ugly suspension of Kurt Busch and a gruesome injury to Kyle Busch on Saturday that cast a pall over the 500, the organization’s showcase event.

But on a sunny Sunday afternoon, Nascar saw the focus return to racing. And amid the domination of Hendrick cars early to the three-wide, nail-biting, breathless finish at 200 miles an hour, Nascar finally had the best story of the week: Joey Logano.

Logano, a driver who was once dumped by Joe Gibbs Racing, found a home at Team Penske and nearly took home the Sprint Cup championship last year, completed his rise by winning his first Daytona 500 and securing his berth in the Cup playoff at the end of the year.

–

Danica Patrick, in the last year of her contract with her primary sponsor GoDaddy and needing to show improvement in her third full season in the Cup, finished 21st after racing cleanly throughout the day.

Go to Home Page »