NASCAR Speed Freaks: What did the Daytona 500 tell us, if anything?

Any Daytona 500 takeaways that might indicate how the season will play out?

KEN’S CALL: Good Lord, no, that never happens. William Byron is officially in the 2024 playoffs, but unlike the past three Daytona winners, that’s no headline. This won’t be his only win of the year.

RYAN’S RAMBLE: Probably not, but for the sake of argument, how about this? Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports are about to take a big step forward this year.

William Byron in Daytona’s Victory Lane.

How’s Ryan Blaney’s championship defense going?

KEN’S CALL: Well, we started measuring it in G-forces following his violent crash in the Thursday qualifying race. Then he got pummeled by his violently jerky steering wheel in Monday night’s crash. He was glad to get on I-95 North. Just kidding, he caught a flight.

RYAN’S RAMBLE: Had plenty of speed, even in a backup car. So did his teammates Joey Logano and Austin Cindric. And Team Penske is 2 for 2 in championship races in the Gen-7 car. Until someone can beat them there, he’s gotta feel OK. After the gravity sickness wears off anyway.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR Speed Freaks: Reactions to a belated Daytona 500