Daytona 200 2012 - # 9 Lives On!

18 year old Elena Myers a SuperSport race winner!

Daytona 2012 went a long way toward erasing memories of the great Daytona disaster of 2011 (major tire failure, lengthly delays, questionable rule enforcment). NASCAR wishes they could have a race week-end like this. Near perfect weather, virtually incident free racing, a comeback for the legendary Triumph marquee and a major race victory for a charming teen age girl.

THE 200: With sunny skies and the temperature in the 70s Joey Pascarella rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 to the winners circle just a split second ahead of runner up Jason Disalvo aboard a Triumph Daytona 675. The #9 Triumph was a tribute to recently deceased Triumph racer Gary Nixon. Nixon took the checkerer flag on a Triumph at Daytona in 1967.

#9 Disalvo honors Nixon

Elena Myers was shuffeled to back to 6th place in the highly competitive 1st Super Sport race on Friday. However, the fast California teen ager was not to be denied in race #2 to become the first woman to win a major motor sports race at Daytona.

Pat Moony has stellar privateer performance.

Another highlight was privater Pat Mooney's performance on the Buell 1125R. Pat qualified 41st, then used all the skill of the seasoned veteran to move up through the field to finish 27th.

Beach racer Billy "Ace" Myers fires '60 BSA Gold Star at the Monument

It all started with Ed Kretz and his Indian on the beach in 1937. In keeping with the tradition of the "beach racers" I began my Daytona 2012 on the beach. I had lunch courtsey of Dick Klamfoth at the Monument which recognizes the past winners. Dick won 3 times on the grueling beach/road course, earning him the title of "King of The Beach".

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Daytona 2012 on Webshots: http://sports.webshots.com/album/582510236LmaBtO