Wow. Dammit. I don’t know what to say. I am ecstatic we finished second, but I’ve wanted to win that race since I was a kid. I really want that ring.
I think that covers pretty much everything I have been able to say for the last 2 hours or so. Since the 500 ended. The one that we almost won.
I don’t have a title for this. Or a body really. I don’t really have anything else to say. We almost won the Daytona 500.
It’s been such a long week. Long couple of months really. Been so much work getting switched to Toyota’s, aligning with JGR. I spent almost 3 weeks of the 8 week off season in North Carolina at JGR, working on the pit box, meeting people and establishing relationships.
And then this week started so badly. Didn’t run great in the Unlimited and then crashed. Were unable to make a qualifying run due to a technical thing. Then ran ok in the qualifying race before getting wrecked on the last lap. Started from the back today, and that’s a terrifying place to start a race at Daytona.
But the plan worked. On Friday, we discovered that our car and the 4 JGR cars were very fast when we were all lined up. And we managed to find each other pretty early in the race, and were able to get out front and control it. We were hoping to head down the back stretch on the last lap in 2nd, and then see what could happen. And it almost worked. I can’t believe how close it was to working. We had him covered for most of the time from Turn 4 to the start finish, he just had the part that mattered. Rubbish.
But I am ecstatic we finished second, it’s a great start to the season, and a great way to build the relationship with our new team mates.
Dammit.
PS – does anybody read this?
Plutoe Engineering 
You bet. Read this whenever you post. Love reading it actually. Uncle Peters birthday today so we were up on the roof entertaining and missed the race. DAM. Would have loved to watch it. So please keep blogging. Love you Aunt Trudy
I would check the camera lense at the finish line I think it is slightly off of centre and thus curves the finish line to favour the car closest to the top of the track. Always good to start a rumour.
Great start to the season Ryan! Super excited for you and your team. And yes, we will be reading, so keep writing!
Always try to follow the races via tv and always read your posts! Keep up the good work!
Sorry above comment was me!…forgot to sign in
Yes Ryan, read your account of that very exciting race. Congratulations! Sharon told me there was a lot of cheering in the basement that day. I hadn’t realized the importance of team work and the hard last minute struggle between cars that were allies till the final stretch. You write very well too.