Daytona Speedweeks hit the road before ... hitting the road
If Daytona Speedweeks end the same way they began, Sunday's finale should be must-see TV.
Nearly two weeks after Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney wrecked coming to the checkers in the Busch Clash, the Cup Series will once again take on Daytona's Road Course Sunday.
This time, however, it'll count.
"Road-racing, I feel like, gives you a little bit of everything," said Elliott, the defending Cup champion and current road-course master in the Cup Series.
The O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 is set for 3 p.m., with Elliott and Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell on the front row. The race will put a bow on a unique Speedweeks that began Feb. 9 and included 10 races over 12 days.
More:Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell to start on front row for NASCAR Cup race on Daytona Road Course
The Clash started it all nearly two weeks ago, and gave fans everything last August's road course race didn't: tight racing, passes for the lead, and, of course, drama.
"Honestly, after watching the Clash — there was a lot of excitement in that race," said Joey Logano. "You’re probably gonna tune in to watch another one at that track.”
More:Here's mud in your eye! Chase Elliott turns Busch Clash into a classic | KEN WILLIS
Speaking of drama, Logano and teammate Brad Keselowski still haven't talked since the final lap of Sunday's Daytona 500.
Par for the course, Logano said, for anyone who's been in a relationship for nearly a decade.
"It's (like) a marriage," he said.
More:Five takeaways: Michael McDowell wins 63rd Daytona 500
Logano led going into Turn 3 on the final lap, but Keselowski made a move for the win, ducking down low to try and pass his teammate. Logano blocked, the two made contact, and, as they say, all hell broke loose.
The end result? A fireball in Turn 3 with plenty of bruised egos.
"I think it’s probably best to cool your jets a little bit before the conversation happens," Logano said, adding that the two will figure it out ahead of Sunday's green flag. "You can’t just roll it up under the rug. It’s just not gonna work. We’re still teammates."
The longtime couple figures to be in the mix Sunday. Logano will roll off 11th. Keselowski will be two rows back in 15th.
Elliott, of course, will be the name to watch — he's won four straight road races, you know — but don't sleep on Martin Truex Jr., either.
More:How long a shot was Michael McDowell last week? Are his odds better this week in Daytona?
Before wrecking late in the Clash, the 2017 Cup champion was the class of the field, running up front most of the night despite starting in the back and having to serve a mid-race penalty.
Truex Jr. finished third in this race last summer and has finished second to Elliott the past two races at Watkins Glen.
The defending champ is more than aware, too.
"I don’t think we were as good as we needed to be last week," Elliott admitted. "I think the No. 19 (Truex Jr.) was going to be the guy in that race. I think we can improve in multiple areas. We can make our car better. We can do better on pit road and I can do better on pit road. And I think I can do better on the track, too.
"Yeah, I don’t think we were at our best by any means.”
NASCAR Cup Series: O'Reilly Auto Parts 253 starting lineup
1. Chase Elliott
2. Michael McDowell
3. Austin Dillon
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Ryan Preece
7. Corey LaJoie
8. Kyle Larson
9. Ross Chastain
10. Bubba Wallace
11. Joey Logano
12. Christopher Bell
13. Cole Custer
14. Kyle Busch
15. Brad Keselowski
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. Kurt Busch
18. Chase Briscoe
19. BJ McLeod
20. Joey Gase
21. Martin Truex Jr.
22. Justin Haley
23. Cody Ware
24. William Byron
25. Josh Bilicki
26. Tyler Reddick
27. Aric Almirola
28. Ryan Blaney
29. Quin Houff
30. Chris Buescher
31. Anthony Alfredo
32. Matt DiBenedetto
33. Ryan Newman
34. AJ Allmendinger
35. Daniel Suarez
36. Alex Bowman
37. Erik Jones
38. Ty Dillon
39. James Davison
40. Timmy Hill