DAYTONA 500

If you missed it, you missed a pretty neat race, rain-shortened though it was. NASCAR unveiled its v.2009 app, and it was pretty good considering the economic contraction the sport went through in the off season.

Matt Kennseth won the race after Dale Jr. — no matter what he said — who was a lap down, punted Vickers, who spun to the wall and took out most of the cars that had dominated the race, including Rowdy Busch, who was the cream of the crop most of the day, Jamie McMurray, who had a really good day up til then, and a few others.

Dale Jr and Vickers were a lap down at the time and racing for the Lucky Dog, but wiping out the contenders was a f--k-up by the 88 driver.

Stewart finished eighth with his new team/car (teammate Ryan Newman had problems all day); the new wunderkind from Connecticut,18-year old Joey Logano, became the youngest starter at Daytona, but took a hard ride into the infield wall when a car checked up and he got clipped in the rear; my boy Juan Pablo (who, apparently, has angered the NASCAR gods, 'cause they didn't talk about him all day) finished 14th; A.J. Almendinger finished with a spectacularly good third (he'd run up front most of the day); and former F-1 driver Scott Speed, in his rookie drive, finished 35th.

Kennseth's win gave owner Jack Roush (and Kennseth, who hadn't won all last year) their first-ever win at the 500.

For a complete list of finishers, etc., go HERE.

Junior had a bad day (he blew two pit stops by himself), and should be fined for smacking Vickers, but I doubt that'll happen. Other than that really rookie move by the 88, it was some good racing most of the way.

Fox unveiled a cartoon critter marketing-to-kids schtick with its complete family ... I could have definitely done without that.

[UPDATE, 22 February:After practice at Fontana yesterday, Dale Jr., took full responsibility for the pit mishaps and wrecking the cream of the field. He'd taken a lot of heat from all sides during the week and — as he always seems to do — did the right thing, illustrating why he is a fan favorite.]