daytona day 2: Build momentum.

The weekend started with adversity, but Marcello has proven that it doesn't faze him. Day one saw him miss first practice with a freak situation of the oil filter housing braking. Track time in session two helped him adapt to a new track to him. Going into day two he had some momentum developing going into qualifying. With the large teams planning out strategy, Saito motorsports and Marcello had to find a game plan to stick with quick drivers for drafting.

Qualifying went better than expected considering the day before he was in position thirty after the second session. He was able to get into a decent group to run with, but some were running like individuals at times. This caused some momentum killing moments. When pack running is so vital here at Daytona the moment a driver pulls out of line the momentum dies.

The checkered flag came out right after a main group crossed the start finish, so they had one more flying lap. Marcello was sitting in eleventh until that last group came around for the checkered. This dropped him to fifteenth, but the team still felt solid with that. During his last two laps, there was a slight puff of smoke noticed. After further inspection, the team saw that the differential needed to be changed. For the next four hours the team busted out a differential and pump change which had its moments with the pump. Saito Motorsports came through and the team made the swap and the grid and was ready to roll.

With a forty-five-car field anxiety over the "big one" is always there, but the drivers' showed patients and some solid driving to get into the grove. Marcello settled into the top pack of sixteen cars and showed how adaptable he is in moments. Quick drivers like Tyler Gonzalez and Jeremy Fletcher had issues with contact and fell back. Taking what he was given finding draft partners helped keep him in contact as he was able to make the top ten and finished eighth.

The day also finished on a high note as Marcello has the third fastest time of the weekend and will be starting third in race two. The momentum is building and going into the second race he and his spotter have developed a solid communication. The Saito motorsports AMPD Novels Mazda could end the weekend on a high note this morning, but with forty-five-cars we also know anything is possible.