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Russ Bond Motorsport Report: Hello Newman!

Okay, we’ll call this one a tie! You remember last week, right here, yes here, I

Ryan Newman leads Kurt Busch in the closing laps of the Daytona 500 (Photo: Matthew Stockman, Getty Images for NASCAR)

predicted a walk by Toyota at the NASCAR season opener this past weekend. I would have been right except for two things.

First off, Toyota’s Tony Stewart pulled down out of line on the last lap of the Daytona 500 to get a push from teammate Kyle Busch. When he did, the Penske duo of Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch just drove by them for a one-two finish.

Tony, why did you pull down? If you had stayed in the outside lane, one of two Toyotas would have won, and I’d look like a genius.

Still, I am calling it a tie as Toyota won the Nationwide – formerly Busch Series – with Stewart taking the win, and they also swept the top four positions in the Craftsman Truck race with Todd Bodine taking the win.

In the 500, Kyle Busch had it mostly all his own way for the first 98 percent of the race. He could race through the field, hold the lead on his own, and looked like he would walk on the field. Stewart had a dreadful car early, but he got it sorted and made his way to the front for the final slugfest.

Like years past,

Kyle Busch led a race-high 86 laps and finished fourth in his debut for Joe Gibbs Racing (Photo: Matthew Stockman, Getty Images for NASCAR)

it came down to a last lap dash, and predictably the two Toyotas made their way to lead both lines coming down the backstraight for the final time – Stewart high, Busch low.

When Stewart pulled down in front of Busch his fate was sealed. Kurt Busch had backed up off of the rear bumper of Newman, and then he gave him a huge push that sent both of them past the Toyotas on the bottom. They then dove to the bottom and that was that – a Penske one-two.

Penske had never won a restrictor plate race… now they have.

"Just to be part of the 50th running of the Daytona 500 ... 15 years ago I was sitting in the grandstands in the Seagrave Tower," Newman said. "Obviously, [I want to thank] Kurt Busch. Without a doubt, he could have easily gone three-wide and split us through the center and made one heck of a mess going into [Turn] 3.

"But he chose to be a teammate, and that's the most honorable thing that he could be -- and I would have done the same thing for him."

Toyota can hold its head high, and for sure they will be a threat all year after

(Left to right) Roger Penske, Ryan Newman and Roy McCauley answer fan questions during the Champion's Breakfast at the Daytona 500 Experience. (Photo: Daytona International Speedway)

Thursday's engine testing showed what we all knew – the Toyotas had the most power.

"I think everyone is very pleased with the two weeks we had here, and the month of testing," said Lee White, senior vice president of Toyota Racing Development. "Obviously, the Joe Gibbs Racing team was unbelievable here. Had the circumstances worked out a little bit differently at the end there with the yellow flags, I think we had a little better chance at winning the race. We didn't ask for any guarantee that we were going to be able to win the race, we just wanted to be in a position where we could have a shot. I think everyone would agree that we had a shot. I think everyone in our organization is happy that we had a shot."

How strong were the Toyotas Sunday? So strong that when Hendrick driver Jeff Gordon went out with an early suspension problem, he wondered if they could be beat. "I hope my teammates get up there and make something happen against those Toyotas," he said, "because I didn't see anyone who had anything for them."

Next week is California, and no plates, so horsepower will be key, yet again I’ll take a Toyota in victory lane!

Dale Jr Settles in with Hendrick
The other big story at Daytona

Dale Earnhardt Jr has already won two races for Hendrick this year. (Photo: Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR)

was the new ‘boy’ at Hendrick Motorsports – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr, who, after making the switch to Hendrick after a bitter contract dispute with his late father’s company DEI, was looking to impress his new car owner at Daytona – it didn’t take long.

Jr won the Bud Shootout, which, ironically was his sponsor last year. Then he won one of the Gatorade duels, and looked to have a strong car for the 500. Many think that it was the old tires at the end after crossing signals on when to come in that cost Jr the race, but it was Jr who set the record straight after the race (note: a driver telling the truth for a change).

"It wasn't tires -- we had good grip at the end," Earnhardt said. "The track was cooling off, and the car was fine. I got great runs... just made poor choices on what to do with them. That was the difference.

"We started off a little bit tight, and we adjusted on it. [Crew chief] Tony [Eury] Jr. made some good changes that got me great at the end of the race. We had great motors all week and another one [Sunday]. I'm real proud of Hendrick and the effort they gave me because I have had a great time this Speedweeks. I think the year is going to be like that, and I am really going to enjoy it."

Jr is a class act, not hiding behind excuses. His year is off to a banner start, and maybe he will be the one who challenges for the Sprint Cup this year.

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