If you're going to be away for the Coke Zero 400, make sure you are home for the finish, because damn it was one helluva finish.

I was out all day, but got to see the last 10 laps and heard most of the rest of the race.  If anyone ever tells you that MRN cannot deliver true racing action, please trust me, they can give you every little bit on the action you need.

Tony Stewart started on the pole, a result of qualifying being rained out.  Tony proved he deserved to be up front, and set out to stay there.  As is typical in Daytona, however, he wouldn't be at the point for all the laps, sharing that position with Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch throughout  the first 70 laps of the race.

The earlest casualty of the race was Mark Martin, who got together with Matt Kenseth, only thirteen laps into the start of the race.  Mark's car would go to the garage on the hook, and while his crew worked feverishly to get him back out, Mark acknowledged that it his move that caused his own crash.  He spoke to the announcers, but after repairs were made to his car, managed to get back out on the track.

The next caution was bad luck charm, Casey Mears, locking horns with David Stremme.  Tony continued his run at the front, coming out first after pit stops, but again, he would swap that top position with a handful of other dominant drivers. 

On lap 77 the first "Big One', predicted by yours truly , struck a number of drivers, involviing 13 driver, including Dale Earnhardt Jr, who was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time.   A number of those involved would managed to work on their cars to the point where they could return to the race, although not in the best position, but still able to compete.

The race would continue, with the occastional caution, and Tony Stewart clearly the car to beat.

With only a handful of laps to go, the caution would fly one last time for debris on the track.  Tony would once again lead them to the green flag, but on the restart, Kyle Busch would get around Tony to take the point, leading to mass chaos in my household.  I'd walked in the door with 6 laps remaining, having heard most of the race on MRN.  The rest of my family were on their feet, screaming at the TV, yelling at Tony to "take him out"!!. 

Tony, being the class act that he is, raced Kyle cleanly, and never touched him, until Kyle blocked him once, then in an attempt to block him again, cut right across his nose.



Tony would win the race he dominated all night long, and Kyle would once again refuse to talk to the media, once he was released from Infield Medical Centre.  

I can only say congrats, Smoke, and we'll see you on the podium in Las Vegas.  Kyle, I get your pain. I wish every driver on the track had the obsession to win that you do.  You were gaining my respect before the guitar incident, now you are starting to gain it again.