The Daytona 500 at a renovated Daytona Int’l Speedway “played out in warm sunshine, with a packed house and a big, varied array of VIP guests -- they came from Hollywood, athletics, the military and, in the case of [former astronaut] BUZZ ALDRIN, from the moon” (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/22). FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE singer BRIAN KELLEY performed, actor GERARD BUTLER served as grand marshal, WWE's JOHN CENA was the honorary pace car driver and Baseball HOFer-elect KEN GRIFFEY JR. served as the honorary starter at yesterday’s race. Other celebs in attendance were actors JUSTIN BARTHA, JASON BIGGS and Basketball HOFer ARTIS GILMORE (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/22). Dolphins DT NDAMUKONG SUH “walked the pits” prior to the race (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/22). Also appearing at the race were Jaguars QB BLAKE BORTLES, OT LUKE JOECKEL, UFC fighter ROBBIE LAWLER, singer WYCLEF JEAN, actor CUBA GOODING JR., Nationals RF BRYCE HARPER and Cardinals 1B MATT ADAMS (THE DAILY).
DEDICATED PERFORMANCE: Daytona 500 winner DENNY HAMLIN said of Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. GIBBS, who is dealing with brain-function issues and celebrated his 47th birthday yesterday, “He's the guy who took a chance on me. This is the biggest win of my life. He's not at every race. But to have him here with me today, that's just how it was supposed to be, wasn't it?” ESPN.com’s Ryan McGee wrote any questions about Gibbs’ condition from “anyone outside the NASCAR community were always politely deflected.” They still are, “in one part to respect and protect a beloved man, but also because tests and treatments are ongoing, with some hits and some misses” (ESPN.com, 2/21).
SHE'S STILL GOT IT: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wrote “all you need to know” about DANICA PATRICK is that “any other winless also-ran driver would have been out of luck and off the circuit” following the departure of a primary sponsor like GoDaddy. But Patrick “had a new primary sponsor -- Nature’s Bakery -- almost immediately.” Bianchi: “Why? Because Danica sells. Win or lose.” If she could “become a factor on the track,” she would become the “biggest superstar in sports.” Bianchi: “Just look at how huge RONDA ROUSEY became and she was competing in a niche sport against other women.” If Patrick “were winning against the big boys, she would elevate NASCAR like TIGER WOODS once elevated golf” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/21).
NAMES: DANIEL SUAREZ, the ’15 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year, was honored on Friday with NASCAR’s Ignition Award, given annually to a minority or female NASCAR national series driver who "demonstrates leadership both on and off the race track while helping to foster diversity in the sport" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 2/21)....NASCAR’s “next big thing might be” four-foot, four-inch Camping World Truck Series driver RICO ABREU. Abreu said, “I’m uniquely different and it’s great.” Abreu was “born with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder of bone growth that results in abnormally short stature.” His success “as much as his size has made him a fan favorite and a popular personality in the garage” (AP, 2/19).
