Location
1801 W. International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Track Details
Completed : 1959
Distance : 2.5 miles
Shape : Tri-oval
Banking : 31° turns
3° straights
Frontstretch : 3,800 feet
Backstretch : 3,000 feet
Seating : 168,000
2007 Race Results
Nextel Cup Series
Daytona 500 :: Kevin Harvick - 02/18/07
Pepsi 400 :: Jamie McMurray - 07/07/07
Daytona International Speedway opened in 1959, but the history of auto racing at Daytona goes back much farther than that.
In 1936, the precursor to today's Daytona 500 was born on a course that went down 1.5 miles of highway, then turned and came the same distance back up the beach.
William H.G. France, a mechanic and racer who'd moved south from Washington, D.C., eventually took over the job of running the beach races on the second of two courses used for those events. In 1947, he presided over a meeting at Daytona's Streamline Hotel where NASCAR was born.
A decade later, France began working on his showplace.
"Big Bill" France was building it, and he insisted on 31-degree banking in the corners. That's as steep as he could make the turns and still keep the machines putting down the asphalt from tipping over.
When drivers gathered for the first Daytona 500, it was an eye-popping experience. Drivers were more accustomed to half-mile dirt tracks and saw the 1.366-mile paved track at Darlington as vast. A trip around Daytona International Speedway was 2.5 miles -- nearly twice that.
Bob Welborn ran 140.121 mph to win the pole for the first Daytona 500, and Lee Petty won in a photo finish over Johnny Beauchamp.
It was at Daytona International Speedway where Junior Johnson discovered that if he tucked his car right behind another one, he could go faster than he could run by himself. And drafting became a part of the sport.
It was also at Daytona where Cale Yarborough topped 200 mph on his first qualifying lap in 1983 and then, as he went even faster on a second lap, his car took off and flew, turning upside down before crashing.
Bill Elliott set the Daytona track record in 1987, running 210.364 mph, just before restrictor plates were introduced to the sport.
The Daytona 500, considered NASCAR's biggest event, has hosted some of NASCAR's greatest moments -- and maybe its greatest tragedy.
Many considered the 1976 Daytona 500 as the greatest race of all time.
Richard Petty won seven Daytona 500s on his way to becoming "The King," but lost in '76 to rival David Pearson after they wrecked coming to the finish line and Pearson puttered across the stripe bumping his car along with his ignition.
In 1998, in his 20th try, seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500. Sadly, three years later, Earnhardt died in a Turn 4 crash in the 2001 running. It was a moment that changed the sport forever.
In addition to the Daytona 500, the track hosts the Pepsi 400 each July along with the Rolex 24, America's premier endurance race, and annual motorcycle races that are the centerpiece of Daytona's Bike Week.
Daytona International Speedway renovated its infield before the 2005 Daytona 500 to add a "Fan Zone" that allows fans to buy tickets giving them one of the best up-close views of a NASCAR garage and other special amenities.
Hello everybody,
As most of you know, this is my favorite time of the year. We are about a week away from start away of the 2008 season and the 50th running of the Daytona 500. I am really looking forward to this race, which will make the start of my eighth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. I will also have an opportunity to defend both my Camping World 300 and Daytona 500 titles in the same week.
Since I began my racing career I can only think of a handful of events that meant as much to me as winning the Daytona 500. Growing up a big race fan I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of winning the 500 until I actually went through it myself. It has made my life a lot busier over the past 12 months, which isn’t a bad thing what-so-ever!
All of the memories of that win came back to me a few weeks ago when I revisited the track for preseason testing and that really got me about what the 2008 season has in store for me and the 29 team.
I’d like to take a second and thank all of my teams - both at KHI and RCR - for all of their hard work and dedication during this off season. These guys work so hard and it has showed so far during testing. Having a great crew makes every driver’s job a lot easier and I appreciate all of their efforts.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank my fans for all their support of KHI and RCR. You guys are awesome and I hope I can thank you by putting my No. 33 Camping World and No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolets back in Victory Lane back for the 50th Running of The Great American Race!
I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Kevin Harvick
BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT RESULTS
1 7 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet National Guard / AMP Energy PE 70 Running
2 10 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot PE 70 Running
3 18 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's PE 70 Running
4 22 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont PE 70 Running
5 6 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target PE 70 Running
6 16 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet CARQUEST / Kellogg's PE 70 Running
7 19 22 Dave Blaney Toyota CAT Dealers PE 70 Running
8 2 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army PE 70 Running
9 12 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express PE 70 Running
10 8 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser PE 70 Running
11 3 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS PE 70 Running
12 20 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot PE 70 Running
13 15 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS PE 70 Running
14 21 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's PE 70 Running
15 13 49 Ken Schrader Dodge Qtrax.com PE 70 Running
16 11 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV PE 70 Running
17 23 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL My Circle PE 70 Running
18 1 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite PE 70 Running
19 5 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditReport.com PE 48 Accident
20 17 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M PE 48 Accident
21 9 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker PE 47 Accident
22 4 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal Cask No. 16 PE 24 Accident
23 14 21 Bill Elliott Ford U.S. Air Force PE 15 Accident
GATORADE DUALS RESULTS
RACE 1
1 5 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet AMP Energy / National Guard PE 60 Running
2 18 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target PE 60 Running
3 9 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL PE 60 Running
4 3 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet Kellogg's / CARQUEST PE 60 Running
5 15 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot PE 60 Running
6 23 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker PE 60 Running
7 19 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Texaco / Havoline PE 60 Running
8 11 187 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row
/ DenverMattress.com PE 60 Running
9 20 77 Sam Hornish Jr. * Dodge Mobil 1 PE 60 Running
10 16 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet PEAK / Menards PE 60 Running
11 6 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull PE 60 Running
12 2 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing PE 60 Running
13 7 84 A.J. Allmendinger Toyota Red Bull PE 60 Running
14 17 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker PE 60 Running
15 8 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet State Water Heaters PE 60 Running
16 22 21 Bill Elliott Ford Little Debbie PE 60 Running
17 10 01 Regan Smith * Chevrolet Principal Financial Group PE 60 Running
18 21 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's PE 60 Running
19 4 160 Boris Said Ford 7-Eleven Slurpee / No Fear PE 60 Running
20 12 70 Jeremy Mayfield Chevrolet Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon PE 60 Running
21 25 109 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming PE 60 Running
22 14 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy PE 60 Running
23 1 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's PE 60 Running
24 26 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV PE 59 Running
25 24 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo PE 59 Running
26 13 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite PE 9 Out of Race
27 27 08 Carl Long Dodge MILLSTAR Tools / Rhino's Energy Drink PE 59 Penalty
RACE 2
1 5 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express PE 64 Running
2 8 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot PE 64 Running
3 6 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont PE 64 Running
4 18 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser PE 64 Running
5 12 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army PE 64 Running
6 9 6 David Ragan Ford AAA PE 64 Running
7 21 29 KEVIN HARVICK Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil PE 64 Running
8 15 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M PE 64 Running
9 14 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS PE 64 Running
10 25 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Makoto PE 64 Running
11 20 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's PE 64 Running
12 2 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine PE 64 Running
13 1 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS PE 64 Running
14 17 7 Robby Gordon Dodge Jim Beam PE 64 Running
15 10 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT PE 64 Running
16 4 28 Travis Kvapil Ford K&N Filters PE 64 Running
17 13 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditRep
ort.com PE 64 Running
18 22 49 Ken Schrader Dodge HealthLife.com PE 64 Running
19 7 10 Patrick Carpentier * Dodge Valvoline PE 57 Off Track
20 19 137 Eric McClure Chevrolet Hefty PE 43 Out of Race
21 3 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar PE 24 Out of Race
22 24 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility PE 16 Off Track
23 11 27 Jacques Villeneuve * Toyota Bill Davis Racing PE 14 Out of Race
24 16 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal Cask No. 16 PE 14 Out of Race
25 23 40 Dario Franchitti* Dodge Dodge Journey PE 14 Out of Race
26 26 150 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet NOS Energy Drink / SKI / SBM PE 14 Out of Race
DAYTONA 500 LINE UP
1 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 187.075 48.109 Leader
2 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS 186.734 48.197 -0.088
3 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet AMP Energy / National Guard - - -
4 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express - - -
5 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target - - -
6 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot - - -
7 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL - - -
8 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont - - -
9 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet Kellogg's / CARQUEST - - -
10 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser - - -
11 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot - - -
12 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army - - -
13 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker - - -
14 6 David Ragan Ford AAA - - -
15 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Texaco / Havoline - - -
16 29 KEVIN HARVICK Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil - - -
17 187 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row
/ DenverMattress.com - - -
18 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M - - -
19 77 Sam Hornish Jr.* Dodge Mobil 1 - - -
20 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS - - -
21 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet PEAK / Menards - - -
22 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Makoto - - -
23 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull - - -
24 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's - - -
25 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker - - -
26 7 Robby Gordon Dodge Jim Beam - - -
27 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet State Water Heaters - - -
28 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT - - -
29 01 Regan Smith* Chevrolet Principal Financial Group - - -
30 28 Travis Kvapil Ford K&N Filters - - -
31 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's - - -
32 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditRep
ort.com - - -
33 70 Jeremy Mayfield Chevrolet Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon - - -
34 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar - - -
35 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy - - -
36 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility - - -
37 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV - - -
38 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal Cask No. 16 - - -
39 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo - - -
40 40 Dario Franchitti* Dodge Dodge Journey - - -
41 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing - - -
42 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine - - -
43 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite Champion's Provisional
A SPECIAL CONGRADULATIONS TO DALE JARRETT FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE 50TH RUNNING DAYTONA 500!!! A SOLEMN FARE THEE WELL...FOR YOUR RETIREMENT AFTER 4 POINTS RACES, THE BUD SHOOT OUT AND THE ALL STAR...
Far from satisfied
Harvick burns to build on last year's Daytona 500 win
Friday February 8, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick admitted that he sometimes watches the end of an NFL game on FOX just so he can see his thrilling side-by-side victory over Mark Martin in last year's Daytona 500 during the signoff montage.
There it is, right as the announcer bellows, "You're watching FOX Sports, home of Super Bowl XLII, the Daytona 500, Major League Baseball and the World Series!"
"It still gives me chills," Harvick admitted. "If you don't get chills from that, you need to watch a different sport. It makes you want to go out and win it again."
As NASCAR prepares for the 50th Daytona 500, Harvick's finish is a moment frozen in the history of this race.
With Martin in the lead, Harvick was able to drive side-by-side off the fourth turn in a last attempt to steal the victory. With just a few hundred feet to the finish line, Harvick nudged his Chevrolet across the line just a few inches ahead of Martin's as the cars racing behind them were involved in a massive crash.
A huge photo of that finish hangs from the outside of the Sprint Tower grandstand at Daytona International Speedway, a reminder of one of the greatest finishes in NASCAR's biggest race.
"The way that we won it is just cool in itself," Harvick said. "It's really cool to be able to experience that without having to experience it by somebody else telling me. I had led the race up until 20 laps to go and ended up in a 20-car pileup, so I've been on both sides of it. The way we won the race was pretty spectacular at the end with crashes. And we came from 30th with 20 laps to go. It was spectacular, but it was like racing your go-kart in the backyard."
Harvick adds, "It doesn't matter what you do, it's about figuring a way to get ahead of the other guy."
The fantastic finish also denied Martin his greatest moment in racing: something that one year later is not lost on Harvick.
"You have to feel sorry for Mark," he said. "Mark Martin is one of the greatest drivers to ever come through our sport. He doesn't have the Daytona 500 and the championship, and to be that guy to take it away from him, you might have a soft heart, but the competitor in you always overrides your heart It's all about winning."
That will and determination sets Harvick apart from other drivers. That same drive also keeps him from thinking that last year was a success just because he won NASCAR's biggest race, but didn't do well in "The Chase for the Championship."
"After we won Daytona, my wife said, `Well, no matter what happens this year, you won the Daytona 500," Harvick said. "I never could actually make myself come to that. It's just the competitor in me. Yes, I had won the Daytona 500, but that doesn't make up for not doing well at other tracks.
"As we went on through the year and everybody wanted to talk about the Daytona 500, you understand what a big deal it was. Dale Earnhardt tried to win the race for 20 years, You understand why it was such a big deal to Dale because it's a race that makes NASCAR what it is. I'm just glad I understand why."
Although Harvick has never won the Sprint Cup title, he has already taken NASCAR's two biggest races, the other being the AllState 400 at the Brickyard. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and Harvick are the only drivers to win both.
Harvick may actually have more in common with the late Earnhardt than taking over the same ride at Richard Childress Racing. Although Earnhardt was an American original and completely irreplaceable, Harvick shares some characteristics. He isn't afraid to say what is on his mind no matter how it affects him or others. If he has an issue with someone, he is going to be direct in his response and not worry about the repercussions. Earnhardt was "The Intimidator" but Harvick carries an intimidating presence himself.
"A lot of guys today say pretty much what they think their sponsors want them to say," Harvick said. "I think I've held true to who I am, where I came from, and what I believe. Whether that's right or wrong, sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong. I don't know if you want to call it a throwback or what you want to call it. I think of myself as just a normal, laidback person, but I'm not scared of a challenge. Challenges are what motivate me. I love challenges. I love to have my back against the wall. I'm not always going to be right, but eventually I'm going to knock that wall down. There hasn't been anything we haven't been able to accomplish in my racing career.
"Until they tell me I can't drive any more, I'm not going to quit trying."
When Harvick was asked if sees some of Earnhardt's qualities in his character, he admitted, "I didn't really know him that well, but that's who my dad and I rooted for when we watched racing on the weekends. My dad always liked him because [Earnhardt] liked to tell it how it was and was blue-collar, rough and tumble. Sometimes we ate hot dogs because we couldn't afford to go to the store and buy spaghetti."
So here is Harvick, from humble beginnings in Bakersfield, CA. now one of NASCAR's biggest stars. And as NASCAR celebrates the 50th running of its biggest race, he is in select company as all living former winners of the Daytona 500 will be honored leading up to the start of the race.
"We have already had one of those gatherings and it's a pretty impressive room," Harvick said. "You see A.J. Foyt and Dale Jarrett, all the different guys that have won the Daytona 500. It's just really, really neat to just kind of listen to their stories and watch, then mingle and really just take it all in. It's neat to be a part of that."
Even a man who exudes self-confidence as Harvick can admit to being humbled in the same room as the racing legends that have won the Daytona 500. But that doesn't mean he's satisfied. Far from it.
RESULTS OF THE DAYTONA 500 RYAN NEWMAN #12 ALTELL
1 7 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL 190/5 200 Running
2 43 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 175/5 200 Running
3 6 20 Tony Stewart Toyota The Home Depot 170/5 200 Running
4 24 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's 170/10 200 Running
5 5 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target 160/5 200 Running
6 35 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Best Buy 150/0 200 Running
7 10 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser 151/5 200 Running
8 26 7 Robby Gordon Dodge Jim Beam 142/0 200 Running
9 3 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet AMP Energy / National Guard 143/5 200 Running
10 18 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M 139/5 200 Running
11 13 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker 130/0 200 Running
12 23 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull 127/0 200 Running
13 36 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet AT&T Mobility 129/5 200 Running
14 16 29 KEVIN HARVICK Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 121/0 200 Running
15 19 77 Sam Hornish Jr. * Dodge Mobil 1 118/0 200 Running
16 20 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS 115/0 200 Running
17 4 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express 117/5 200 Running
18 42 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 109/0 200 Running
19 11 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 106/0 200 Running
20 25 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker 103/0 200 Running
21 27 66 Scott Riggs Chevrolet State Water Heaters 100/0 200 Running
22 21 15 Paul Menard Chevrolet PEAK / Menards 97/0 200 Running
23 33 70 Jeremy Mayfield Chevrolet Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon 94/0 200 Running
24 31 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 96/5 200 Running
25 37 96 J.J. Yeley Toyota DLP HDTV 88/0 200 Running
26 38 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal Cask No. 16 85/0 200 Running
27 1 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 87/5 200 Running
28 32 38 David Gilliland Ford FreeCreditRep
ort.com 79/0 200 Running
29 2 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA AUTO PARTS 81/5 200 Running
30 30 28 Travis Kvapil Ford K&N Filters 73/0 200 Running
31 12 8 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army 70/0 200 Running
32 15 42 Juan Montoya Dodge Texaco / Havoline 67/0 200 Running
33 40 40 Dario Franchitti* Dodge Dodge Journey 64/0 199 Running
34 39 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo 61/0 197 Running
35 28 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT 63/5 194 Running
36 29 01 Regan Smith * Chevrolet Principal Financial Group 55/0 194 Running
37 9 5 Casey Mears Chevrolet Kellogg's / CARQUEST 52/0 194 Off Track
38 34 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 54/5 189 Off Track
39 8 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 51/5 186 Off Track
40 22 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Makoto 43/0 184 Running
41 41 78 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing 40/0 171 Running
42 14 6 David Ragan Ford AAA 37/0 161 Out of Race
43 17 187 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row
/ DenverMattress.com 34/0 141 Out of Race
POINTS AFTER DAYTONA 500
1 -- Ryan Newman 190 Leader 1 0 1 1 1
2 -- Kurt Busch 175 -15 1 0 0 1 1
3 -- Tony Stewart 170 -20 1 0 0 1 1
4 -- Kyle Busch 170 -20 1 0 0 1 1
5 -- Reed Sorenson 160 -30 1 0 0 1 1
6 -- Kasey Kahne 151 -39 1 0 0 0 1
7 -- Elliott Sadler 150 -40 1 0 0 0 1
8 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. 143 -47 1 0 0 0 1
9 -- Robby Gordon 142 -48 1 0 0 0 1
10 -- Greg Biffle 139 -51 1 0 0 0 1
11 -- Bobby Labonte 130 -60 1 0 0 0 0
12 -- Jeff Burton 129 -61 1 0 0 0 0
13 -- Brian Vickers 127 -63 1 0 0 0 0
14 -- Kevin Harvick 121 -69 1 0 0 0 0
15 -- Sam Hornish Jr.* 118 -72 1 0 0 0 0
16 -- Denny Hamlin 117 -73 1 0 0 0 0
17 -- Dale Jarrett 115 -75 1 0 0 0 0
18 -- David Reutimann 109 -81 1 0 0 0 0
19 -- Carl Edwards 106 -84 1 0 0 0 0
20 -- Martin Truex Jr. 103 -87 1 0 0 0 0
21 -- Scott Riggs 100 -90 1 0 0 0 0
22 -- Paul Menard 97 -93 1 0 0 0 0
23 -- Clint Bowyer 96 -94 1 0 0 0 0
24 -- Jeremy Mayfield 94 -96 1 0 0 0 0
25 -- J.J. Yeley 88 -102 1 0 0 0 0
26 -- Jimmie Johnson 87 -103 1 1 0 0 0
27 -- Jamie McMurray 85 -105 1 0 0 0 0
28 -- Michael Waltrip 81 -109 1 0 0 0 0
29 -- David Gilliland 79 -111 1 0 0 0 0
30 -- Travis Kvapil 73 -117 1 0 0 0 0
31 -- Mark Martin 70 -120 1 0 0 0 0
32 -- Juan Montoya 67 -123 1 0 0 0 0
33 -- Dario Franchitti* 64 -126 1 0 0 0 0
34 -- Matt Kenseth 63 -127 1 0 0 0 0
35 -- Kyle Petty 61 -129 1 0 0 0 0
36 -- Regan Smith* 55 -135 1 0 0 0 0
37 -- Dave Blaney 54 -136 1 0 0 0 0
38 -- Casey Mears 52 -138 1 0 0 0 0
39 -- Jeff Gordon 51 -139 1 0 0 0 0
40 -- John Andretti 43 -147 1 0 0 0 0
41 -- Joe Nemechek 40 -150 1 0 0 0 0
42 -- David Ragan 37 -153 1 0 0 0 0
43 -- Kenny Wallace 34 -156 1 0 0 0 0
Well, I was hoping that Kevin would win the 500 and have back to back wins but with the stiff competition out there...well it would of been something if he had...It was sad to see a lot of good drivers have troubles right off of the bat....not being a Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon fan...well, in a way it was sad to watch them have troubles but in the same sense...it was nice to NOT see a Hendrick car in the winner's circle and yes, that includes Dale Jr. No, I have no problems with Dale Jr...but to be honest...the media certainly gave out the vibes that Dale Jr was going to be a sure win and that just makes me hope that it doesn't happen...EVEN IF IT IS MY DRIVER that the media and pre shows do it to...I am not at all a Ryan Newman fan but how nice it was that he broke his losing streak and that he was a different face and a NEW face in the 500 winner circle...and hats off and kudos to Penske for getting his first Daytona win...it is nice to see the team work that I saw this weekend between the Sprint and Nationwide races...SO they say Hendrick cheats???? No...I think one thing that ANY team could learn fron HMS is team work NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR TEAM MATE(S). HMMMM...just a curiosity note...if Jimmie J. felt the way most fans do about him towards Jr...including myself...I doubt we would seen him assisting Dale jr this weekend to one of his wins... We saw that with BOTH Penske and with the most unlikely team mates of Kyle Busch pushing Tony Stewart to a win during the Nationwide race on Saturday. THAT made me feel GREAT!!! As a competitor in pool and running my own team...I ESPECIALLY like to see that kind of team work because as I tell my team mates...when we win, we ALL win...when we lose we ALL lose....I know towards the end of the race it becomes an individual effort to win but if you know you don't have the car to win...then why not assist a team mate that does??? KUDOS TO YOU, KYLE & KURT BUSCH and no that doesn't mean I like you!!! Well, on to California and I am excited this season is off to an EXCITING start. Please comment on the race..I, unlike most people, want to hear ALL views...~Tami-Lyn~
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