Which Daytona 500 story is best?

It's that time again. Just want some insight from the journalists round here as to which one of these samplings is best…and why….

These are seven stories on the Daytona 500….which of them did the best job of telling the story of the race?


Charlotte Observer: http://www.thatsracin.com/247/story/11102.html

Orlando: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-daytona18a08feb18,0,4147092.story

Atlanta J-C: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2008/02/17/daytona_0218.html

NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/sports/othersports/18nascar.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

W-S Journal: http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354648111&path=!sports&s=1037645509200

AP: http://www.newsobserver.com/798/story/949946.html

Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/autoracing/content/sports/epaper/2008/02/18/a1b_daytona_0218.html

 

I thought the Charlotte Observer story captured the emotion of the moment best, along with telling me the result pretty quickly.

 

NY Times and Charlotte Observer were the best of those.

Any other candidates?

 

Spnited --

As a local bookend to the Charlotte Observer, with no recommendation attached:

http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/newman_17115___article.html/stewart_daytona.html

 

I gotta give the nod to NYT, for the this graf in the Charlotte story is simply torture:

"Like when your father is spotting for you, trying to do his job to help you do yours while both of you know how much what might be about to happen would mean to the both of you."

 

I choked on that one, too, Alma

 

Sorry, JG, not big on the history lesson lede

 

Agreed. Also, the Charlotte story references Newman's No. 2 car, which even I know isn't right.

Before clicking the links I didn't think the NY Times story would be my pick, but it was. Some of the others had ledes that felt a little like they could have been written before the race.

 

I will take Charlotee, though AP was not too bad.

I liked the Orlando photo (someone else had it too), and I did like the Times photo.

 

That's OK, sp. I attached the disclaimer because I hadn't read it yet. It's by one of the other very widely read pressbox venerables on that circuit.

 

The Gaston story isn't bad in the middle. Some pretty good quotes. The one from Dale, Jr. was something I didn't see in other stories.

 

from usa today's nate ryan:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2008-02-17-daytona-500_N.htm