T Minus 99

It’s crunch time folks! Well not quite yet, but there’s only 99 days left until the season kickoff at Daytona. A clock on the wall of the race shop serves as a daily reminder…tick, tick, ticking down the days. Daytona itself is a two-week adventure. Saturday night’s Bud Shootout is an event so elite that only pole winners from the previous year are invited to race. Vickers sat on the pole at Texas earning a VIP invite into the race. Score for the 83 crew! Sunday’s Bud Pole Qualifying gives teams their first shot for the Daytona 500. Those that miss the grid get a second and final chance to qualify in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel. Competition will be fierce - sixty-some cars are expected to turn up, meaning dozens of Daytona hopefuls will be sent home.