The 2016 NASCAR took some practice laps the weekend of Feb. 13-14, but the official start of the left-turn series was this past weekend with the 58th running of the Daytona 500. And what a start it was. A mere 0.010 seconds separated first and second place, and nearly gave the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing and driver Martin Truex Jr. their first win at Daytona.
It was a thrilling race that nearly saw the Mile High City take home perhaps the rarest “double” in sports. Alas, it was not to be – as Denny Hamlin eked out Truex by mere inches to claim NASCAR’s Super Bowl.
Still, it was FRR’s best-ever finish at the famed speedway and the capper on a great weekend for three Front Range teams. Unfortunately, the weekend also had some not-so-positive outcomes for other teams up and down the I-25 corridor.
Here’s a rundown of the “Studs & Duds” from Daytona weekend.
Duds No. 3 – Colorado Avalanche
After grinding their way to a 3-2 win over the worst team in the Western Conference, Edmonton, on Saturday night, Colorado had to travel to Vancouver for a late Sunday night date with the No. 11 Canucks. Calvin Pickard was solid in net against the Oilers, but Semyon Varlamov and the defense were porous against the Canucks, allowing five goals on 29 shots. Colorado didn’t find the net until the final minute of the third period in a disappointing effort.
Studs No. 3 – University of Denver Men’s Hockey
It was a game the Denver Pioneers were supposed to win, but the annual battles with rival Colorado College always take on a different feel, no matter which team is up or down. Add in the historic nature of the “Battle on Blake,” played outdoors at Coors Field in front of a crowd of 35,144. The Pioneers beat the NCHC’s last-place Tigers 4-1, securing a four-game season sweep and guaranteeing home ice advantage for the first round of the NCHC tournament.
Image Credit: University of Denver
Duds No. 2 – Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets stumbled and bumbled their way to two losses over the weekend – a disappointing start to the post-All-Star Game stretch that had some observers (and even players) thinking the team could make a run at the playoffs. That hope was all but dashed with a loss to former head coach George Karl and the Kings on Friday night and an embarrassing home rout at the hands of the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon.
Studs No. 2 – Furniture Row Racing
After crashing their primary car during prelims, the team at Furniture Row Racing had short order to get the backup ready for the biggest race of the season. Similarly, driver Martin Truex Jr. had to overcome some long odds to get to the front of the pack, having started 28th in the field of 44. After 499 miles and roughly 5,279 feet, Truex and the FRR team led the race. But literally in the closing milliseconds of the race, Denny Hamlin eked out a victory. Still, it was the best-ever finish at Daytona for the Denver-based team who appears to be building off last year’s top-four finish in the Race for the Sprint Cup.
Duds No. 1 – University of Colorado Men’s Basketball
Tad Boyle’s Colorado Buffaloes entered last week with a chance to all but lock up an NCAA Tournament berth. With roughly 10:00 remaining against Southern Cal on Wednesday, the Buffs held a 15 point lead that could have handed the Trojans their first home loss on the season and effectively punched CU’s ticket to the big dance. That lead evaporated, just as CU’s chances at the tournament may be doing, as the Buffs lost by five to the Trojans before being trounced by UCLA on Saturday, 77-53. CU went from being a virtual lock to being on the bubble all in the span of four sunny, Southern California days. With upcoming date with conference No. 1 Arizona and No. 3 Utah, things don’t look rosy.
Lady Studs No. 1 – Colorado State Women’s Basketball
Much like the Denver Pioneers hockey team, this was a game the CSU women’s basketball team was supposed to win. But the Border War with Wyoming rarely follows the script, even when one team is clearly the better squad. Such was the case when the 23-1 Lady Rams traveled to Laramie to face the 12-12 Cowgirls. CSU battled to a five-point win that extended their school-best winning streak to 21 games and may finally have them looking at top-25 ranking.