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This weekend is the Daytona 500!!!
Predicting what will happen at Daytona is always tough. Most of the cars are fairly equal, so it comes down to who can draft with who, block and navigate traffic the best. Well, there also is the fact of when to make that final move to grab NASCAR’s most sought after race.
So here is how I see it this weekend. The duel qualifying races are first and Thursday night at 7pm.
I like the duel one winner as Matt Kenseth. And I will take Denny Hamlin in the second duel.
Jimmie Johnson is the obvious favorite, especially after winning his sixth championship. Johnson also won this event one year ago. Matt Kenseth is a solid pick and Denny Hamlin has shown well so far in speed weeks.
I do feel like this race, especially at the end will be pretty entertaining considering how interesting the shootout was last weekend. As for the 500 winner On Sunday, I will take Dale Earnhardt Jr. out of pure gut feeling and total guess work here.
Petty’s on Danica: I don’t know if I have ever said this or not, but here it goes. So, Richard Petty was the sports hero I looked up to in life. When I had surgery at a young age, I was able to meet “The King of NASCAR” and from then on I was hooked on the kindness and realness of him.
Recently and even for over the past couple of years, Kyle and Richard Petty have stepped on some toes when it comes to the topic of Danica Patrick.
However, I have to say that it is time for both of them to let go of the past and step into the new generation. I understand that Danica Patrick is a publicity show NASCAR overwhelmingly welcomes. Just because she is a woman though, doesn’t mean she can’t be successful at racing
She is a racer. The money and publicity is all good, but she is mainly racing in NASCAR because the opportunity was there and the safety standards are way better. That’s why Danica is not racing Indy Cars! Danica has only experienced one full year of Cup and the learning curve is gigantic. Danica shouldn’t be the biggest worry in NASCAR. The real worry is whether or not the NASCAR product is better in 2014.
Basketball playoffs: East Rutherford boys and girls will host Monday (Feb 24). Thomas Jefferson’s boys will be at Cool Springs Gym on Monday. R-S Central boys and Thomas Jefferson girls will be on the road Monday. First round is Monday, second round on Wednesday and Friday will be the third round. Check Rutherford Weekly’s facebook page as I will post an update when brackets come out this coming Saturday (Feb. 22) and then throughout next week.
Like many of you as well I am truly shocked and I do leave the column this week with a heavy heart. Robynn Spence was a friend of mine as she was to many of you. We are all saddened by her sudden passing on Sunday. I knew her not only as our Clerk of Court, but through her support of East Rutherford High School Athletics.
During the 2011 basketball season and along the way to the Cavaliers 2A state title is where I really got to know Robynn. I still have a few pictures from that postseason showing how passionate she was about that team and that is how I wish to remember her. My thoughts are undoubtedly with the Spence family and friends. I dedicate this column in her memory.
