The racing season kicks off Sunday with the Daytona 500. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Well folks, it’s finally here. After three long months of anticipation and changes a plenty, the stars of the Monster Energy Cup Series take to the high banks of Daytona for the great American race, the Daytona 500. Aside from the final race of the season at Homestead, this is arguably the most important race of the season. If you ask any NASCAR driver out there he or she will tell you that this is the hardest track to win at on the schedule. The track is an unforgiving 2.5 mile oval with the possibility of trouble lurking in all four corners and the possibility of “the big one” is always prevalent. Last year, there were four incidents that involved at least five cars. In some cases avoiding the big wrecks is the key to getting a good finish or possibly winning the race itself. For example, last year part time driver Brendan Gaugahn started in thirty-ninth of forty cars but he was able to lurk in the shadows for most of the race and in return he went on to a solid 11th place finish. While missing the wrecks is a big part of success in races like this, it is also important to note that if a driver is involved in a wreck, by no means are they out of contention. Last year’s winner Kurt Busch was involved in one of the many multi-car accidents last year but the team was somehow able to repair the car and get him to victory lane. Another factor that could come into play is team strategy during the three stages. More than likely we will see teammates pit at the same time to avoid one car losing the draft. Look for the Joe Gibbs and Furniture Row teams to be the first to pit. My predictions for the race go as follows: my winner of the race is Brad Keselowski. With a win in the clash last Sunday, automatically he becomes the favorite to win this Sunday. Not only has he been fast this weekend but when it comes to restrictor plate tracks he has been the “Pied Piper” so to speak. Over his career, Keselowski has accumulated a combined seven victories at Talladega and Daytona (Including last weekend’s non points race). If there is anyone that knows how to work the draft effectively, it has been him. While he had his fair share of bad luck in the past, the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford has always been close to the front. I think that this will be the race that he finally breaks through and gets his first Daytona 500 victory with his teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano in tow. Another driver to look out for is Daniel Suarez. The second-year driver was sixth in first practice plus he has shown enormous amounts of promise during his rookie season last year. Even though he has struggled at Daytona in both of his starts in the Cup Series, I think with a year under his belt and a better understanding of the Cup Car, he should fare much better this year. My dark horse pick to win is Aric Almirola. He is driving for a new team in 2018 with Stewart-Haas and while he has struggled in the past he is at the race track where he got his very first win in 2014. Not only is he good at Daytona, he was also second fastest in first practice so he definitely has speed. This Daytona 500 will have one of the best finishes of all time and I think this year we are primed to see an “upset” of sorts. I believe that Almirola can be the “underdog” and pull it off. It’s looking to be a great season and 2018 and I can’t wait to see how the Daytona 500 plays out.
(All stats and information used in this article is brought to you by the good folks at driver
averages.com and Racing-Refrence.com the best website for all NASCAR stats).
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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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