Paasch Takes 2021 Daytona 200
N
ineteen-year-old Brandon
Paasch captured the win at
the Daytona 200, March 13, fol-
lowing a breathtaking slipstream
pass on Suzuki's Sean Dylan
Kelly to steal the win at the line.
After running second for most
of the last portion of the race,
Paasch, utilizing the draft, reeled
in leader Kelly and calculated a
perfect slipstream move at the
entrance of the tri-oval as the duo
came to the checkered flag, win-
ning by 0.031 of a second.
Paasch took home the tradi-
tional Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
watch and the Daytona 200 title
during the 80th Annual Bike Week.
"I have been dreaming about
that pass since 2019," said Paas-
ch who finished fifth that year in
the Daytona 200. "For me to see
it coming to fruition, it is kind of
crazy. Somehow, we pulled it off.
I just kept digging and my hope
was to run him down. It was kind
of surreal for me at the end to
cross the line first. It just doesn't
feel real right now. I am at a loss
for words."
Battling an ankle injury, Paasch
edged Kelly and Tyler O'Hara in
the 54-rider field that at times
saw riders running three- and
four-wide. Paasch posted the
best lap of 1:49.752.
Paasch has pledged half of his
winnings to family of fallen rider
Lloyd Bayley, who died during a
motorcycle race at Homestead-
Miami Speedway in late 2020.
Bayley was known as "Ironman" in
ASRA and served as a mentor to
Paasch early in his racing career.
Kelly, who finished runner-up
in the last Daytona 200 held in
2019, was dominant, taking pole
position and leading the most
laps but came up just feet short
at the finish.
"The 200 is never easy and
this one definitely hurt the most,"
said Kelly who was 0.213 sec-
onds short in 2019 to winner Kyle
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