It's Daytona Daaaaaay, it's Daytona Day. Well, it's actually Daytona Week, but that song deserves a reboot after being so harshly cancelled a couple of seasons in.
Apparently, everyone hated it. Everyone except me so you all can suck it.
I'm starting a "Bring back Daytona Day" campaign. It's basically just me drinking too many Daytona Coronas and grumbling at the TV about how NASCAR knows nothing about proper advertising and its fan base.
By "fanbase," I mean me. Like I said before, you all can suck it.
Out of all the flavors in the world, I'm going to stick with salty, thanks. It's sort of my schtick.
And what's a Daytona Corona you ask? It's redneck sunshine in a can, and if all you got out of that rant was a curiosity about what the hell a Daytona Corona is, then you are my people.
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2022 Daytona 500 Party Tips
Grumbling and saltiness aside, the Daytona 500 is the first race of the NASCAR season and by far the most popular for hardcore and casual fans alike.
It presents a plethora of fun and interesting party ideas, games and bad beat bets. Just ask PJ Walsh about the latter.
Daytona 500 Drink Recipes
It's almost impossible to watch the Daytona 500 without a drink in hand (because it's cars, going in circles, duh) so I've come up with a couple of adult beverages that pair well with any Daytona 500 party.
The Daytona Corona:
This four-step process might seem difficult (it's not), but it's worth the effort (there is none).
They go down quick, and by the time you can say "Ricky wrecked again," you will be ass deep in a buzz that will ultimately lead to bad decisions and an epic hangover filled with shame and regret. Ask me how I know.
Here is a detailed Daytona Corona recipe that must be followed to a tee:
- Get Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Open Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Put lime in Pabst Blue Ribbon
- Regret immediately
And speaking of regret and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who is permanently referred to as "Wrecky Steakhouse" in our home thanks to a devastatingly hilarious smart phone autocorrect from the Action Network's Nick Giffen, you should totally bet him.
Even with his penchant for chaos, I'm taking Ricky to win the Daytona at +3300 (BetMGM) odds.
And I do love me some chaos. Holy crap, do I actually like "Wrecky Steakhouse?"
If you're looking for something more fruity and a little stronger and sweeter, try a Daytona Daydream. This warm weather cocktail will make you feel like you're at Daytona International Speedway, basking in the gloriousness that is warm weather, sleeveless shirts and mullets.
Ah, Daytona at it's finest.
Daytona Daydream:
- 1.5 oz. spiced rum
- 3 oz. grapefruit juice
- 2 oz. coconut cream
- .5 oz. grenadine
Shake what your momma gave you
Oh, and speaking of Giffen (see previous paragraph about some dude named "Wrecky"), I'll be drinking this tropical, liquor-infused cocktail with a side of Ty Dillon.
Giffen loves the value with Dillon as the top finishing Chevy and you can get him at +4000 at WynnBET.
But hurry up, this probably won't last! My drink. I definitely mean my drink.
If you happen to be looking for something a little more traditional, I decided to go with a basic, run-of-the-mill classic vodka dirty martini. It's easy to make and packs quite a punch.
It also blends in seamlessly with kids screaming in the background while you watch your NASCAR bets implode. Again, ask me how I know.
Classic Dirty Martini:
- 3 oz. vodka
- 1.5 oz. olive juice
- splash of vermouth (optional)
- green olives for garnish
I like my martinis extra dirty (wiggles eyebrows like a creeper) and this recipe takes that into account with almost double the normal amount of olive juice.
And if you're wanting a little extra bite to your martini, I recommend blue cheese stuffed olives because … cheese.
And while I'm sipping on this classic martini, I'll be sweating out my favorite bet of the day: Martin Truex Jr. to win +2500 (BetMGM).
Get it? I'm taking MARTIN with my MARTINi? Someone needs to put me out of my misery.
All, [dumb] jokes aside, Truex said he really liked his car during a post-practice interview on Friday and that's good enough for me. I have low standards.
Daytona 500 Party Games
If you're looking for a fun way to get the crowd engaged while sipping on your drinks and watching your bets, there is a great one that I like to play every year.
Not only does it make your Daytona 500 party more fun, but it allows those who aren't hardcore NASCAR fans to get involved in rooting for drivers.
And, its super easy with almost no effort. Just the way I like things.
Decide on a buy-in and have everyone pick two drivers out of a hat and those are the two that they will keep the entire race.
- 25% of the pot goes to the driver with the best finish in Stage 1
- 25% of the pot goes to the driver with the best finish in Stage 2
- 50% of the pot goes to the driver that wins the race
Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.
