PODCAST: Hard Left Turn with Brandon Reed and Katie B. (2-12-18)

Speedweeks from Daytona International Speedway are upon us with the first race of the 2018 season set for Sunday: The Daytona 500.

In this week's edition of the Hard Left Turn podcast, Around the Track editor Brandon Reed and Game On's Katie B. discuss this year's pole sitter for the 500 (and the possible conspiracy theory therein), the Advance Auto Parts Clash and whether or not - with just 40 cards entered into Sunday's race - Thursday's field-setting Duels are necessary.

Beginning of show: Brad Keselowski started from the bottom of the pack to win Sunday's Clash. Does Keselowski's worst-to-first finish indicate that Team Penske is a force to be reckoned with in Daytona?

Two-minute mark: Jimmie Johnson failed to finish Sunday's Clash because of a crash with a lap to go, how did it play out?

Four-minute mark: Is the fix in in NASCAR? There are some convenient coincidences when it comes to pole sitters for the Daytona 500 (we're just sayin'...)

• Discussion of Alex Bowman winning the pole
• What's NASCAR latest PR ploy?

10:30-minute mark: Only 40 cars have entered a 40-car field, is there really a point to Thursday's Duels?

• What's the virtue of starting in the front of the field versus the back of the field for the Daytona 500 specifically?

14:40-minue mark: The Camaro is the new ride for the Chevy teams, a discussion of its debut

17-minute mark: Who looks strong going into Thursday's field-setting races?

19:15-minute mark: Should there be cause for concern regarding interest in the sport as a whole with only 40 cars entered into the Daytona 500 as of Tuesday?

28-minute mark: Why people need to learn the definitions of words and not get their feelings hurt when headlines DO apply to their favorite driver

NASCAR Live is broadcast every Tuesday night at 7 on AM550 and FM102.9 WDUN and beginning Saturday with the PowerShares QQQ 300 (starting at 2 p.m.), WDUN will house each XFinity and Monster Cup race. MRN coverage of the PowerShares QQQ300 will be on AM550 and FM102.9, and Sunday's 60th running of the Daytona 500 will begin with coverage at 1:30 on AM550 and FM102.9 WDUN. All content is also streaming online at AccessWDUN.com.

For up-to-the-minute motorsports information, follow @WDUNRacing on Twitter and log on to the Around the Track page for complete coverage.

Stay in the know regarding what Katie B. is doing for Game On by following her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski (2), Ryan Blaney (12), and Joey Logano (22) lead the field during Sunday's Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway.

Jimmie Johnson stands in the garage during Saturday's practice at Daytona International Speedway.

Alex Bowman won the pole for Sunday's Daytona 500 to open the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Jamie McMurray (1), Jimmie Johnson (48) and Martin Truex, Jr. (78) race during Sunday's Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/2/636491/podcast-hard-left-turn-with-brandon-reed-and-katie-b-2-12-18