NASCAR Barometer: Saturday Night Showdown

Engines finally fired in anger Saturday night for NASCAR's Sprint unlimited at Daytona International Speedway, the season's traditional exhibition that kicks off the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. The offseason is behind us, the cold lonely work in the team shops is over and it's time to put that work on the track against the rest of the field.

NASCAR altered eligibility rules for the race late in 2014, granting entries to Chase for the Championship teams from the prior season, past winners and the remaining top finishers in points from the prior year. That change let some teams into a race they traditionally sit out, but caught out one of the 2014 success stories.

The night marked was a great success for Joe Gibbs Racing. Matt Kenseth powered his way into the lead early, and held off most challenges to come home in the lead. It also marked the debut of Carl Edwards in his new ride, but wasn't as sweet for Denny Hamlin or Kyle Busch, who were both involved in contact. However, the power of the JGR Toyotas must be a bit worrying for some of the field because once Kenseth was out front, he was nearly impossible to pass. Other drivers learned some valuable areas they need improve before next weekend, too. So, let's get 2015 under way.

UPGRADE

Matt Kenseth - The Joe Gibbs Racing teammates appeared to have the speed necessary to pass and stay out front at Daytona, and Kenseth, who led 21 laps, led their charge. Not many could challenge Martin Truex Jr. in the lead, but Kenseth was the one able to make the move, sometimes seemingly even able to make passes on his own. The performance is a good omen for the veteran driver who went winless in 2014 but was one of the top Chase contenders nearly all season. Gibbs and Kenseth have gotten 2015 off on a winning roll, and fantasy owners should be confident in selecting Kenseth, or any of the Gibbs teammates this weekend.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Earnhardt started outside of the top 20 in Saturday night's field only to rocket his way forward into the top-five runners before 10 laps were complete. The reigning Daytona 500 champion held station there throughout the race's early stages but seemed unable to work his way forward again in the late stages of the race. The No. 88 was stuck in a quagmire toward the back of the remaining pack for the final two restarts, and never forced his way forward, souring his chances for the win. If the team can make Jr.'s car handle well enough to move forward throughout an entire distance next weekend, the competition should be worried. Earnhardt remains the master of restrictor-plate track racing.

Joey Logano - One of the more impressive drivers from the 2014 season continued his march to stardom Saturday night. Logano was one of the leaders pushing at the front of the field through much of the Sprint Unlimited distance. He finished fourth in last year's edition of the race before going on to finish 11th in the Daytona 500 and claiming a berth in the season-ending Chase. This year he might have challenged Kenseth in the closing laps had he gotten around the wounded Kevin Harvick earlier. The Penske Racing teammates both appear to have cars that are fast and handle well on Daytona's high banks, which puts them in strong contention for a win next weekend.

Martin Truex Jr. - Before Saturday's Sprint Unlimited was even halfway complete Truex had led more laps than he had the entire 2014 season. The Furniture Row Racing driver looked competitive at Daytona last season but wasn't able to convert that potential into success when the regular season kicked off. Hopefully, this year's early promise won't cause a repeat of the trouble the team endured last year. Truex was only really challenged by Kenseth on Saturday, who got in front and held off the No. 78 until the finish, and that says a lot for Thursday's qualifying and Sunday's race. Has the team fixed the problems that made 2014 difficult? Truex should be more comfortable having been with the team a year, and now it is time to add a win.

DOWNGRADE

Brad Keselowski - Keselowski became the first driver to suffer contact in Saturday's race. The Penske Racing driver was touched by Kyle Larson, which sent the No. 2 car spinning and into the wall. Keselowski certainly came off the worst in the incident, effectively ending his evening. He had never finished the Sprint Unlimited lower than the fourth position, but was Saturday night's first DNF. Keselowski finished last year's Daytona 500 in third position, and used that as a springboard to make a run deep into the Chase. This year could be much of the same for the No. 2 team, though Keselowski needs to make sure he has remained in championship contention by the time the series moves to Miami this fall.

Kyle Busch - Although he finished third in last year's Sprint Unlimited, Busch was put behind the mark early in 2015. The No. 18 was hanging around the back of the pack as the laps clicked off early Saturday night, but when Keselowski was spun that plan backfired on Busch. The No. 18 was forced to the infield to avoid contact, which damaged his car for the remainder of the race. That damage was sealed when he was collected in the second wreck of the race. Busch could be tipped to be Joe Gibbs Racing's top driver for 2015, but will face a stiff challenge from newcomer Carl Edwards. How well will Busch be able to handle that pressure?

Jamie McMurray - McMurray was the first driver to run afoul of NASCAR's new pit road monitoring team. The No. 1's crew was too fast over the wall on the first round of pit stops under caution. That meant McMurray was forced to start at the rear of the field for the first restart. McMurray finished sixth in the Unlimited last season, and may have been the fastest driver not to win a points race in 2014. Though he rebounded quickly to the front of the field, the race's next caution damaged his hopes significantly. McMurray was one of many drivers to be caught in accidents, and the No. 1 was out of the running after just 45 laps. Still, McMurray and teammate Kyle Larson have the equipment to race up front next Sunday.

Paul Menard - Menard's night started strongly, leading early but dropping back into the pack shortly thereafter. The veteran driver complained about a vibration early as other competitors started to make more moves forward. Running in the middle of the pack at Daytona can be a dangerous proposition, and Menard fell afoul of that when McMurray lost control past the halfway point. Menard was caught in the contact, and was collected by a number of cars running behind him at the time. His car was damaged beyond repair, and Menard failed to finish the night. The No. 27 led a number of laps in last year's Daytona 500 and extended his usual early season good form much deeper into the schedule than before, but this early trouble is a hurdle to overcome before the 2015 season gets rolling.

A.J. Allmendinger - Sure, Allmendinger didn't even take to the track Saturday night, but that is exactly why fantasy players may wish to apply the binders on him next week. A team that is eligible to enter but doesn't have enough sponsorship to race, points or not, is a disappointment. Allmendinger made his way into the Chase last season by winning at Watkins Glen International, but less than a year later the team opted to sit out the Sprint Unlimited to preserve their budget. The race could have earned them a nice paycheck. The risk may have been too much when compared to the reward, but what better way to advertise? NASCAR's tinkering with eligibility certainly played a big part, but Allmendinger's absence represents a loss of track time.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Casey Mears - Mears heads into 2015 for another season with Germain Racing, the team he joined in 2010. Mears didn't take part in last season's Unlimited, but that lack of participation didn't appear to hurt him Saturday. In 2014 the team's best finishes came on superspeedways, finishing 10th in the Daytona 500, third there in July, and 10th in Talladega's October race with Mears behind the wheel. With finishes like that it shouldn't have come as a surprise to see the Californian claim fourth in Saturday's Sprint Unlimited. The No. 13 kept its nose clean all night, avoiding the crashes, and sticking their car solidly into the top five for the finish. Mears could be a valuable fantasy option deep in the roster for next weekend's marquee event.