Pappas: Pitchers and Catchers Report

George Christian Pappas, ESPN Radio

Monday was one of my favorite days of the calendar year, as the first full day of pitchers and catchers were in the books. For the next month and a half, I’ll chronicle spring action with a daily report from a different camp. Since I’m writing from the Sunshine State, I’ll start the rotation with the Grapefruit League.

The Pappas Report

Gainesville Raceway gets a new name

Tori Petry, ESPN Radio

The quarter-mile dragstrip located on the outer edges of Gainesville has been known as Gainesville Raceway ever since its establishment in 1969. But on Thursday, the NHRA announced that new sponsorship has now dubbed the it "Auto Plus Raceway."

Motorsports Flash

Roush Fenway sweeps the front row of the Daytona 500

Tori Petry, ESPN Radio

In Daytona 500 Qualifying on Sunday, 2011 Sprint Cup Runner-up Carl Edwards won the pole position in the #99 Fastenal Ford. His Roush Fenway teammate #16 Greg Biffle came in just behind him to clinch the outside pole position. Edwards posted the top lap speed of 194.738, and it is his first pole win for the 500.

Motorsports Flash

Bud Shootout

Tori Petry, ESPN Radio

25 cars started the race. Only 10 crossed the finish line. The flames were high and the crashes frequent as pack racing made a comeback on the restrictor-plates at Daytona. In fact, only three drivers escaped the wreckage of the Bud Shootout untouched. But it was not the ones who survived the carnage unscathed that were the standouts in NASCAR’s all-star race. It was the one whose two wreck recoveries kept him in the race - and ultimately put him in Victory Lane.

Kyle Busch’s expert maneuvering of the #18 M&M’s Toyota had even NASCAR fans who hate the rowdy Joe Gibbs Racing driver going wild in the stands. He first steered the car back on track after almost spinning out not once, but twice coming out of Turn 2. Then, after a multicar pile-up near the finish, Busch again proved himself a wheel master as he recovered to take over defending Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart for the win in a photo finish. The finish was the closest in Bud Shootout history at a .013 second margin of victory. The race was no doubt packed with on-your-feet, nail-biting action. In other words, it was exactly what NASCAR was shooting for.

Motorsports Flash

Pappas: Pitchers and Catchers Report

Gainesville Raceway gets a new name

Roush Fenway sweeps the front row of the Daytona 500

Bud Shootout

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