Daytona

Round 9 Set for DAYTONA Supercross Champion Tomac & Anderson, Who’s Ready for 1st Daytona Win

Published

3 years ago

March 4, 2022

Jason Anderson makes a jump during a practice run of the 2022 DAYTONA Supercross course at the Daytona International Speedway Friday, March 4, 2022. Photo: Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Daytona International Speedway // Just like two heavyweights in the ring, Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson have had an all-out battle for supremacy thus far during the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season. Round nine continues Saturday evening with the race of the year – DAYTONA Supercross – with spectacular weather expected.

In the season’s first eight races, Tomac, who is gunning for a record sixth DAYTONA Supercross, has three wins in the first eight events while Anderson, the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross Champion, also has three triumphs. It’s been a back-and-forth tussle resulting in a close 6-point lead in the standings for Tomac, but Anderson won’t wave the white flag this weekend just because Tomac has multiple wins at Daytona.

“Yeah, this is his stomping grounds now,” said the 29-year-old Anderson from Edgewood, New Mexico. “The battle has been a good one. I hope to come here and battle him hard. I hope he is at his best and I am at my best. The way I come into it as ‘may the best man win.’ I am going to try and stop him,” from winning his record sixth.

Anderson was one of more than 20 riders in the 450SX class, in addition to a host of 250SX riders. It was their first time on the Ricky Carmichael-designed course, and although he is winless at Daytona, Anderson is excited about Saturday’s 52^nd edition of the DAYTONA Supercross.

“It’s a new design and it’s tighter than what we are used to,” said Anderson. “It’s going to be rough and sandy. The jumps are steep and you have the dirt working against you…you are trying to hit those triples that are 60 to 80 foot and then trying to avoid the bumps and not get out of control. I hope to be the first to go through the sand part of the track so I don’t get sprayed in the face.

“I have struggled to get a win here, but I am so hoping to add a win here to my list of achievements.”

DAYTONA Supercross kicks off the 81^st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy. The 52^nd running of the event features the most demanding course of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season – and the only AMA Supercross event in the state of Florida in 2022.

Fans still have the chance to get their tickets to witness the history-making effort of Tomac. Advanced general admission frontstretch seating for DAYTONA Supercross is just $45.00. Kids 6-12 are $15 and ages 5 and under are free in general admission areas. The midway opens at 9 am Saturday, with venue gates opening at 12 Noon.

Trackside Access, which allows fans to view the race while standing on the frontstretch of the 2.5-mile tri-oval, is available for an additional $20 and gets fans closer to the action that anywhere else on the Supercross circuit; kids 5 and under are free. Access to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross pits is free during the day for all ticket holders. The infield UNOH Fanzone opens at 10 am. All ticket and parking options can be found at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

The tradition-rich Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy will also feature the DAYTONA 200, set for Saturday, March 12. Tickets are also on sale now for the DAYTONA 200. A host of Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy camping packages to take in both event weekends are available where families can make Daytona their home for a week.

In addition, fans and visitors can enjoy the Bike Week Motorcycle Marketplace at Daytona International Speedway available. The area’s largest motorcycle marketplace will feature the nation’s top motorcycle parts, apparel vendors and much more.

Monster will also be bringing the action with a week full of excitement with autograph sessions, demonstrations and two FREE concerts – Face To Face on Wednesday (March 9) and Steel Panther on Friday (March 11). Both concerts, which will be held in Lot 4 outside the Turn 4 tunnel entrance, are brought to you by Monster Energy. Please note: Event and appearance schedule subject to change. For detailed information on all events, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest speedway news

Auto Racing

Chris Buescher Wins, Bubba Wallace Clinches Playoffs at Daytona’s Coke Zero 400

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Rafael Crisostomo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – Chris Buescher has won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and Bubba Wallace has secured the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This will be Wallace’s first time racing for a championship.

Chris Buescher in Victory Lane after the Coke Zero 400. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Wallace had entered the race in 16th place, but a victory from a driver below the cut line could have knocked him out of the playoffs. An early accident took out several drivers including Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and several others. A spectacular crash late in the race by Ryan Preece had him flipping at least ten times over the grass. Fortunately, he was able to exit the vehicle.

Bubba Wallace clinches Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The sixteen drivers in the Playoffs include the points leaders William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Bubba Wallace.

NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race takes place next weekend at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd. Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Auto Racing

Last Chance For NASCAR Playoffs at Coke Zero 400 in Daytona

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – NASCAR fans are already packing the Daytona International Speedway as the regular season comes to its finale Saturday, August 26, with the Coke Zero 400. While fifteen drivers have already secured a spot in the playoffs, the 16th is still up for grabs based on the race results.

Fans at Daytona International Speedway. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The fifteen drivers who are already guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd include the current points leaders Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell. The top two drivers, Truex and Hamlin, will compete Saturday night to win the Regular Season Championship. There are seventeen drivers who are competing at the Coke Zero 400 for that final spot in the postseason. Bubba Wallace is currently in 16th place, and could clinch with 24 points. Ty Gibbs and Daniel Suárez could clinch with enough points to pass Wallace or with a victory. AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe and Ty Dillon need to win on Saturday night to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Bubba Wallace competes for a spot in the Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joey Logano is the reigning champ after winning in Phoenix last season.

The action begins Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Daytona

Paasch Makes Another Last-Second, Daring Pass to Win His Second Straight DAYTONA 200

Published

3 years ago

March 12, 2022

FNN SPORTS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Source: Daytona International Speedway // TOBC Racing’s Brandon Paasch executed his DAYTONA 200 plan to perfection Saturday, loitering around at the back of a four-rider pack until the time was right to pull the trigger on his Triumph Speed Triple RS.

Brandon Paasch (center), raises his first place Daytona 200 trophy as second place rider Cameron Petersen (left) and third place rider Sheridan Morais also celebrate in Ruoff Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway Saturday, March 12, 2022. Photo: Rafael Crisostomo/Florida National News.

As it turns out, the 20-year-old had just the right amount of ammo at his disposal. He exited the Le Mans chicane in fourth place, went down low on the banking, and started making moves until delivering the final dagger with a double-draft pass on Cameron Petersen and Sheridan Morais at the finish to win his second successive DAYTONA 200 – this one by just .007 of a second.

Brandon Paasch showcases his prizes for winning the 2022 Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday, March 12, 2022. Photo: Rafael Crisostomo/Florida National News.

Paasch had spent his afternoon at Daytona International Speedway lurking at the back of the lead group – no matter how many riders it consisted of. But when it came down to his final pit stop, the only way he was going to be in a position to battle for victory was to take on just fuel and not tires.

The New Jerseyan got in and out of the pits quickly and found himself just behind the duo of SYNTAINICS Racing’s Morais and Squid Hunter’s Josh Hayes, the pair smartly squabbling over second and all the while pulling themselves to the back of Petersen, the South African alone and helpless as he watched his four-second lead evaporate all too quickly. Suddenly, it was a four-rider race to the finish and the man at the back was the man at the front when he needed to be. At the finish.

Paasch beat Attack Performance Yamaha’s Petersen by the .007 margin with Morais third, another .057 behind, with Hayes fourth and .126 of a second from victory.

Fifth place went to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante, some 46 seconds behind Paasch, but well clear of four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick on the second TOBC Racing Triumph.

TSE Racing’s Harry Truelove, who races in the British Superbike Series, was just a tick behind Eslick at the finish and some eight seconds ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Geoff May. Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin rounded out the top 10.

Pole-sitter Herrin was in the lead group when he ran out of fuel on his way to the first pit stop, coasting to pit lane and losing gobs of time in the process; and 2021 MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne, who qualified third-fastest, lasted only a few laps in the 200 before pulling out due to back pain from his crash in the morning warm-up session.

Paasch averaged 113.162 mph in winning the race and he also set the fastest lap of the race, a 1:49.959, en route to snagging his second Rolex watch.

Paasch, who gave Yamaha its 27^th victory in the 2021 Daytona 200, brought Triumph its fourth victory in the 200 and the first since Eslick won on a TOBC Triumph in 2014.

The race was red-flagged on the seventh lap when Jose Lloreda crashed exiting the chicane, leaving debris on the racetrack.

DAYTONA 200 Top-10 Finishers

Brandon Paasch (Triumph)
Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
Sheridan Morais (Yamaha)
Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
Danny Eslick (Triumph)
Harry Truelove (Yamaha)
Geoff May (Suzuki)
Hayden Gillim (Suzuki)
Josh Herrin (Ducati)

Mission King Of The Baggers
It seems that no matter what kind of motorcycle you race at Daytona International Speedway, strategy and timing are so important on the run to the checkered flag.

In Saturday’s Mission King Of The Baggers race two, Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams made a perfect pass, at the perfect time, to take the victory. The Mission Foods/S&S Cycle Indian Challenger racer has competed on all kinds of motorcycles, and in road races all over the world (including Daytona nearly 20 years ago), and he put his experience and racecraft to good use when he rocketed past Roland Sands Design Indian rider Bobby Fong, who was in the lead on the final lap. With the finish line in sight, McWilliams’ teammate Tyler O’Hara also drafted past Fong to take second place, relegating Fong to third. It was an all-Indian podium in the Harley-Davidson versus Indian Big Twin racing series.

Twins Cup
The final event of the day was in Twins Cup, and their second race of the weekend was, once again, action-packed. Fluid on the track caused multiple riders to crash on the opening lap, and the race was red-flagged and restarted with a five-lap sprint to the checkers. Eight riders were at the front and in it to win as the laps wound down. At the checkered flag, Cycle Tech Yamaha rider Hayden Schultz got the win, which was the first of his MotoAmerica career. Veloce Racing Aprilia’s Jody Barry finished second, just .241 of a second behind Schultz, and Italian expatriate Tommaso Marcon, .256 of a second behind Barry, rounded out the podium in third in a wild-card ride for Robem Engineering Aprilia.