by Darrell Waltrip

Around the track

Follow the action:

• Daytona Cup results
• Updated Cup standings

Watch:

• Video Central

Picture perfect:

• Action from Daytona
• 2010 Hall of Fame nominees

Read all about it:

• Stewart spins Busch for Daytona win
• Mayfield stays away from Daytona

Analysis:

• Spencer: Smoke goes the wrong way
• DW: Let's be clear

Congratulations to him and the entire Bud team. He also has done something that only five others have done and that was winning the All-Star Race and Coke 600 in the same weekend. I was fortunate to be one of those five. We did that in 1985 winning the All Star race on Saturday, winning the 600 on Sunday and then going on to win the championship that year. So there is something to be said about what Kahne has accomplished and the kind of tone it sets for his race team.

That weekend back in '85 really helped propel us to win a close championship against Bill Elliott. So we will see how it works out for Kasey. They sure did look strong and have looked strong ever since Phoenix. Again, congratulations to Kasey, the team, Ray Evernham, George Gillett and that whole crowd on a great job.

I think it all started in the All-Star Race when crew chief Kenny Francis made the call of the weekend when he had Kasey come to pit road but took no tires and got that all-important track position. It was a very impressive call.

Some Nationwide fun

Saturday night we saw some great racing too in the Nationwide event. There were some people that were annoyed with Denny Hamlin. I don't know that we saw everything that went on there. We did see Brad Keselowski's No. 88 machine run up there and lift Denny's rear end off the ground during the caution. That would certainly annoy me if nothing else had taken place. Then when they were side-by-side, they decided to continue the confrontation.

I don't think any of that was all that bad. I don't think the crews getting into a fight after the race and some of Denny's comments were all that necessary though. These young guys have a tendency to spout off before they have a chance to think about what they are saying. It's a lot like me back in the day when I would go home after a race and replay an interview and say "Gosh, I can't believe I said that. I can't believe how stupid I sound. I can't believe how stupid I look." So hopefully some of these guys who are mouthing off after a race will go home and review the situation and handle it better next time. I sure hope so.

Pulling for Tony

Boy I felt bad for Tony Stewart Sunday night. He had the 600 wrapped up and was cruising to victory. His team had done a great job getting him in contention after the sun had gone down. The car had gotten really good. The call they made there at the end was a good one of gas and go. He came out of the pits with a comfortable lead over Kasey Kahne. There was no way Kasey was going to catch him ...

... But then Tony had the tire cut down on him.

I sure felt sorry for him because he hadn't won a race yet this year and is the only Gibbs driver that hasn't.

While we are talking about Tony, I am glad people continue to ask me for my opinion on things because I sure am not afraid to tell you what I think. In Tony's case, if he decides to move forward and take that Haas CNC Racing deal, fans should encourage him to do it. I think there is a pretty good chance of it happening and I think the fans should encourage rather than discourage him.

Tony is a successful businessman and a successful driver. A lot of us tried to do our own deals and failed because we didn't have the right resources and enough money. We didn't have the staying power. But I think in this case with Tony that the Haas deal makes a lot of sense. Tony wants to be in this sport for a long time and I think there is an opportunity for him that will be hard to turn down.

In 1980, when I left DiGard Racing, I had to pay DiGard. It is not unheard of in our sport. I am not sure where Tony is with the Gibbs bunch. I know Coach Gibbs and his son JD quite well. They are reasonable men and I think they will be able to work out whatever Tony wants worked out. If indeed he wants to go take the Haas deal, I think they will be able to work out something amicable for both sides.

They have two cars over at Haas now and I am sure they will have two next year as well. Tony will drive one. Dale Earnhardt Jr. mentioned that he is considering moving his Nationwide team up to Cup next year because of the escalating costs in the Nationwide series. Maybe those two guys will hook up in some fashion. Kesolowski, who already drives for Dale Jr., is a young kid that could fit into a development program for Tony.

There are some guys out there who are free agents at the end of the year. Ryan Newman and Martin Truex are. There are also a couple others that are on people's radar screens right now. So there are lots of opportunities if Tony decides to go that direction.

The reason I think we should be encouraging Tony is that for a racer, the only thing he wants to do is race. If more drivers owned their own teams, the sport would be healthier. Now that's not to take anything away from my dear friend Rick Hendrick or Richard Childress or from any of the top-tier teams. But a driver will always be in the sport. If the economy goes bad and things get rough, a driver is going to continue to race his car because that's what he wants to do and that's what he loves to do. He's not a guy that's going to look at a profit and loss statement and since he isn't making any money will leave the sport.

Drivers just don't operate that way. So for the health of the sport, the future of the sport and the security of the sport, when someone like Tony Stewart says he wants to own his own team, well let's get behind him and support him. Let's encourage him because it's a good thing for our sport. I hope more guys will consider it, like Kevin Harvick. My brother, despite his struggles over the last two years, if he can continue to keep it together it is just a good secure place for the sport to be.

About that Kentucky deal

As most folks know, I have been involved with the Kentucky Speedway deal from the first time they stuck a shovel in the ground. I had the honor and privilege of working alongside Jerry Carroll in the development and building of the track. It's been a real labor of love for a lot of people to be able to hold NASCAR Craftsman and Nationwide races there. The vision always was there would one day be a Cup race at Kentucky.

I told Jerry as we were building it, we had to build like we were going to host a Cup race. Parking, garages, suites — you name it — everything was built with one thing in mind and that was some day to have a Cup race.

And let me just explain something to you one more time. The lawsuit Kentucky filed against NASCAR has nothing to do with them giving Kentucky a Cup date. It had everything to do with no process to go through to be eligible for a date. There are just no criteria in place. That's what frustrated the folks in Kentucky because there wasn't an approval process in place to be considered for a Cup date. That's where the lawsuit stemmed from.

And let me say this, it would be unprecedented if Bruton Smith bought that race track and he wanted to move one of his dates from one of his other tracks to Kentucky and NASCAR not go along with it. They themselves have done that. I know for a fact that they have told the folks at Kentucky Speedway that if they wanted a Cup date to go buy another track and move one there or partner up with another track and move one there.

I believe that if the lawsuit can be resolved and if everyone can come to a mutual agreement that you could in fact see a Sprint Cup date at Kentucky. I for one will be right there singing "My Old Kentucky Home" and what a great day it will be for my state.

Finally, as I mentioned last week, it was a shock to see Humpy Wheeler step down so abruptly. He has done a great job at Lowe's Motor Speedway and has been a great friend. He has done a lot for the sport, for the fans and for the competitors. There has been no greater ambassador of our sport than Humpy Wheeler. His input, his efforts and everything he has tried to accomplish at the speedway has rubbed off on others throughout the sport. He has pushed it to a new level. He will be missed at Lowe's Motor Speedway. But like ol' Digger, I think you will see him pop his head up somewhere.

Oh, by the way

I want to make something perfectly clear. I am a huge Kyle Busch fan. I am a fan because of the way the man drives. I am a fan because the way the man pours his heart and soul into every lap he runs. It doesn't matter what series he is in or whether its practice, qualifying or in the race, I just really appreciate the effort he puts forth.

Here's something else I want you to understand. I don't care what manufacturer he is driving for. He could be driving the great Hudson Hornet, it wouldn't make any difference. I am a fan of him and what he does on the race track.

I am equally as big of a fan of Carl Edwards. I have said it over and over again, if I were to start a team, Carl would be my man. I am a huge fan of Dale Jr.'s. I love the guy. I have known him for so long that I feel like he is part of my family almost. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Tony — I am fans of all of them.

I just want you to know that when I am doing a race, I am not pulling for one over the other. I am just appreciating what kind of effort these guys are putting out every week. These guys will tell you, in this new car when you can run up front and win a race, you have put forth an effort. I just want to show appreciation and gratitude to all the guys that I can for what they do week in and week out.