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Tracking The Trucks: NextEra Energy Resources 250

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*In a Nutshell:* Johnny Sauter waited patiently, spending the first half of the race riding in the back while others took their turn out front. After going 4-for-4 on wrecks at Daytona during his career, he dodged them, scuttled out front on Lap 85 and used teammate Todd Bodine to hold on for his first ever victory at Daytona.

*Who Should Have Won:* *Ty Dillon.* Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 truck was dominant during the first half of the race; in all, Dillon led three times for a race-high 56 laps. But as wrecks popped up during the second half, Dillon lost track position and fell towards the back half of the top 10. Whether others had recognized Dillon’s speed or the sophomore just made some bad moves, he was never able to assert himself up front when it counted down the stretch. Dillon, who finished sixth has to be sitting there this Saturday morning wondering what could have been.

Did You Notice? … Young Guns, V-Day Heartbreakers And NASCAR Quick Hits

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*Did You Notice?…* The influx of young talent entering prime rides in 2013? The Frontstretch Staff “discussed this one”:https://frontstretch.com/tbowles/42294/ in the sixth and final part of our season preview but, instead of answering there I wanted to expand on the topic elsewhere. For me, it’s a copout because I have a hard time cutting down the drivers I’m watching to just one or two…

So, without further ado, here’s who you should put on the radar screen…

2013 Season Preview, Part VI: NASCAR’s Rising Stars

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Today’s Season Preview Topic: The Nationwide and Truck Series have become rich with young talent once again. Give us the one driver from within those two series you’re watching in 2013, and why.

P. Huston Ladner, Senior Writer: Nelson Piquet Jr., in Trucks, and Travis Pastrana in Nationwide. Piquet has started to show that he is a worthwhile talent in oval racing, after spending the past few years converting his abilities from F1. His win last year shows this maturation and the possibility for more. This year, he’ll again be driving the same equipment as the Truck’s reigning champions, James Buescher, and he should be a contender for the title. A foreign-born driver taking the title would be a big splash for the series and might be the kind of factor to help it maintain its existence and grow.

Did You Notice? … Landon’s Loss, Testing Tidbits And The Danger Of NASCAR Stability

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*Did You Notice?…* Those who impressed at Daytona testing weren’t as surprising as some might think? Yes, some eyebrows were raised when Jeff Burton led Friday morning practice at Daytona. Overall, Richard Childress Racing was strong, flashing the best speed out of the Chevy brigade despite winning all of one race last season. But Burton, with new crew chief Luke Lambert shouldn’t surprise anyone. Daytona was the No. 31 team’s strongest track last year; their two top-5 results of 2012 were registered there. In the 500, especially Burton looked like an upset contender, leading 24 laps before getting shuffled back to fifth down the stretch.

Other strong teams have a very familiar ring to it. Take Joe Gibbs Racing, with the combination of Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, and Kyle Busch. Hamlin led 57 laps in last year’s 500, the most of any driver while Busch has totaled 180 in that category over the past five seasons. Add in newcomer Kenseth, the defending race champion and it’s easy to predict they’ll be successful.

Nationwide Series Breakdown: Ford EcoBoost 300

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After a late-race wreck drastically changed the championship picture at Phoenix courtesy of Elliott Sadler’s troubles, the season finale race at Homestead was tame by comparison. Though Sadler started strong and even challenged for the lead during the first run of the race, by event’s end it was business as usual, with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. comfortably ahead of Sadler, who had faded in the final stretches. The result was Stenhouse and the No. 6 team easily scoring their second consecutive Nationwide Series championship, with Sadler holding off teammate Austin Dillon by only one point for second in the standings.

Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2012 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead

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Jeff Gordon was among the drivers who pitted on a quick caution on lap 155. In the end, it resulted in the No. 24 having enough fuel to make it to the finish when Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. had to pit from the front of the field. Gordon ended the night taking the first win for Hendrick Motorsports at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his teammate Jimmie Johnson sat in his car in the garage, having lost the championship due to a faulty rear end.

2012 Truck Series Wrap-Up: Buescher, Dillon, Larson, and Gale

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_Author’s Note: Hey readers! As the 2012 draws to a close, we’re planning for next year. Please click here to send me an email or let me know in the comments below what you’d like to see in Tracking the Trucks that currently isn’t in there. Is there something you don’t like about this format? I want to know that too! I’ll collect your comments throughout the rest of the year and the offseason and debut the new and improved Tracking the Trucks in February for the season opener at Daytona. Thank you for your dedicated readership! –Beth_