Asterisk Mark Report – Daytona (Summer 2023)

Ryan Blaney – Ryan Blaney had a rocket last summer at Daytona but his race wasn’t incident free, and he finished an asterisk mark 36th. On lap 95 while leading, Ty Gibbs had contact with Blaney which sent the #12 hard into the wall, ending his race. Prior to his demise, Blaney led 4 laps. If his race would’ve been incident free, I have no doubt Blaney was primed to be a contender to win.

Ty Gibbs – Ty Gibbs had a strong showing last summer at Daytona but finished an asterisk mark 35th. In the race, Gibbs finished 4th in Stage #1 but then during the final lap of Stage #2, Gibbs got a bad bump from Bell that sent the #54 into the #12, marking the end of his race. Based on how he performed prior to his demise, I would say Gibbs was a top ten contender.

Denny Hamlin – Last summer under the lights, Denny Hamlin had a hot rod but finished an asterisk mark 26th. In the race, Hamlin started 19th, led 12 laps, finished 8th in Stage #1, got caught speeding in Stage #2 during green flag pit stops which dropped him off the lead lap and then during the last lap of Stage #2, Hamlin was damaged in the “Big One” which largely led to his 26th.

Chase Briscoe – Last summer at Daytona, Chase Briscoe looked to be one of the best, but he finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Briscoe started on the pole, led the most laps (67), earned the 7th best Driver Rating, was the leader before the final green flag pit cycle which shuffled him back but then late in the race on lap 156 while running in the teens, he crashed in the “Ryan Preece High-Light Crash”, which marked the end of his race.