Daytona 500 Preview
By Micah Roberts
NASCAR’s big show gets underway this Sunday as the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 jump-starts the season. It is NASCAR’s biggest race of the season and even though it may sound a bit off from the traditions of other sports where the biggest event is normally reserved for the end of the season, it’s so perfectly perfect. There is no bigger opener in any sport.
We just saw the NFL season end with hundreds of propositions available for that game. This week for the Daytona 500, the books will do the same. There are only two races a season that are treated like Super Bowls by the books, Daytona and Las Vegas.
The handle for those two races are the best all season and because of that volume, the books will offer several props that aren’t normally seen from week to week.
Winning car number, number of Ford’s in the top 10, over-under driver finishes, and head-to-head driver match-ups are just a few of the things that will be available at most places that aren’t for the other 34 races on the season.
The sports books have had odds on this race since the available since last season ended when the NASCAR award ceremonies were in Las Vegas. Kyle Busch was installed as the early 8/1 favorite by the Las Vegas Hilton Super Book, followed by a bunch of drivers getting double-digit odds or higher.
Busch has had the best restrictor-plate car over his last two seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. The Las Vegas native only has two wins in eight attempts, but should have had a few more, including last year's Daytona 500.
The one thing about Daytona is that the favorite rarely wins. Because of the nature of the draft and so many cars being close together as the finish nears, it really is a crapshoot to who will win, unlike many of the other races where the possible winners are narrowed to about seven legitimate candidates.
Kyle Busch is the best on paper, but for this race, it may be wise to look deeper into the pool for other candidates that will fetch the best payouts.
A driver like Jeff Burton at 30/1 offers a nice price with his new and improved Childress car as does his teammate, Kevin Harvick, who won last week's Bud Shootout. Burton has one restrictor-plate win in his career. Harvick is listed at 20/1 and has always excelled in the plate races, winning the Daytona 500 in 2007.
Jamie McMurray has looked good with his new ride driving for Theresa Earnhardt. McMurray has been evolving year after year in the art of the draft and finally won last season in the fall Daytona race. McMurray is listed at 25/1.
After looking for some of those longer shot drivers, we have to go back and look at the back that has their odds in the 12-15 to 1 odds.
Jimmie Johnson is 12/1 to win this race, which are odds a little higher than when he won the 2006 Daytona 500. Tony Stewart has been one of the more complete plate drivers over the last four seasons. He’s won at Daytona three times, but has yet to capture the big one in the season opener. Stewart is listed at 12/1.
Then we have everyone’s favorite, or who used to be, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who is at 12/1 also. Junior has taken a lot of heat for his lack of performance while driving for the best team in NASCAR. He’s had many in his Junior Nation jump ship for a more competitive driver, but that should all change this year.
Come on folks, hop back on the wagon. Junior is ready to roll again after having his entire set of chassis’ set and done the Hendrick way. For the last two seasons Tony Eury, Jr., Junior’s cousin, was his crew chief. Junior brought him over from his old team and Eury, Jr. never got into a rhythm. He tinkered with a good Hendrick set-up and negated the advantage Junior would have had by having just left it alone.
Earnhardt, Jr. now has it altogether with the entire organization backing him up with the best in technology. He shares a garage with teammate Mark Martin and should have cars equally as good as what Martin will have every week.
This week, both Martin and Junior will be good along with their other teammates, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Whenever there is a small change in rules, Hendrick will always be the first ones to capitalize on how to be ahead of everyone else. The hole in the restrictor plate is larger, giving the drivers more throttle response and while it may take the drivers a few laps to get used to it, it’s a good bet that the Hendrick crews already have their plan down to take advantage of it.
TOP 5 Finish Prediction:
1) #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr (12/1)
2) #48 Jimmie Johnson (12/1)
3) #18 Kyle Busch (8/1)
4) #5 Mark Martin (12/1)
5) #24 Jeff Gordon (12/1)
Driver Highlights - Daytona
By VI News
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios Chevrolet)
# One top five, five top 10s
# Average finish of 13.4
# Average Running Position of 16.7, 12th-best
# Driver Rating of 84.6, ninth-best
Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
# One win, six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
# Average finish of 17.8
# Average Running Position of 15.4, ninth-best
# Driver Rating of 83.5, 10th-best
# 38 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
# Series-high 1,987 Green Flag Passes
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.228 mph, sixth-fastest
# 1,004 Laps in the Top 15 (57.0%), 11th-most
# 1,195 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
# Nine top fives, 10 top 10s
# Average finish of 17.2
# Average Running Position of 14.8, sixth-best
# Driver Rating of 92.5, fifth-best
# 37 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.074 mph, 13th-fastest
# 1,148 Laps in the Top 15 (65.2%), sixth-most
# 1,143 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
# One win, four top fives, four top 10s
# Average finish of 18.0
# Average Running Position of 10.9, second-best
# Driver Rating of 101.0, second-best
# Series-high 1,363 Laps in the Top 15 (77.4%)
# 1,181 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy Drink/National Guard Chevrolet)
# Two wins, six top fives, 11 top 10s
# Average finish of 15.6
# Average Running Position of 15.3, eighth-best
# Driver Rating of 87.3, seventh-best
# 49 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.139 mph, eighth-fastest
# 1,096 Laps in the Top 15 (62.2%), seventh-most
# 1,048 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Scotts Turf Builder Ford)
# Three top fives, three top 10s
# Average finish of 19.7
# Average Running Position of 16.3, 10th-best
# Driver Rating of 83.1, 12th-best
# 1,871 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.281 mph, fourth-fastest
# 1,043 Laps in the Top 15 (59.2%), eighth-most
# 1,246 Quality Passes, second-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
# Six wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles
# Average finish of 15.5
# Average Running Position of 12.4, fourth-best
# Driver Rating of 91.9, sixth-best
# 36 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.096 mph, 11th-fastest
# 1,180 Laps in the Top 15 (67.0%), fifth-most
# 1,076 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
# One top five, one top 10
# Average finish of 23.8
# Average Running Position of 17.0, 13th-best
# Driver Rating of 83.2, 11th-best
# 46 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
# One win, six top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
# Average finish of 14.2
# Series-best Average Running Position of 10.4
# Driver Rating of 94.3, fourth-best
# 1,659 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
# Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 185.321 mph
# 1,328 Laps in the Top 15 (75.4%), second-most
# 1,237 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Ford)
# One win, three top fives, nine top 10s
# Average finish of 17.9
# Average Running Position of 13.5, fifth-best
# Driver Rating of 96.1, third-best
# 50 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.300 mph, second-fastest
# 1,279 Laps in the Top 15 (72.6%), third-most
# Series-high 1,267 Quality Passes
Mark Martin (No. 5 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet)
# Nine top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole
# Average finish of 18.1
# Driver Rating of 81.8, 13th-best
# 1,015 Laps in the Top 15 (57.6%), 10th-most
# 992 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
# One win, two top fives, three top 10s
# Average finish of 20.9
# Average Running Position of 16.4, 11th-best
# Driver Rating of 85.9, eighth-best
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
# Three wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
# Average finish of 16.5
# Average Running Position of 11.6, third-best
# Series-best Driver Rating of 108.2
# 51 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
# Average Green Flag Speed of 185.266 mph, fifth-fastest
# 1,279 Laps in the Top 15 (72.6%), third-most
Odds & Ends - Daytona
By VI News
Daytona International Speedway Data
Race #: 1 of 36 (2-14-10)
Track Size: 2.5 miles
Race Length: 500 miles (200 laps)
Banking/Corners: 31 degrees
Banking/Straights: 3 degrees
Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees
Driver Rating at Daytona
Tony Stewart 108.2
Kyle Busch 101.0
Matt Kenseth 96.1
Jimmie Johnson 94.3
Kurt Busch 92.5
Jeff Gordon 91.9
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 87.3
Ryan Newman 85.9
Clint Bowyer 84.6
Jeff Burton 83.5
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2009 races (10 total) at Daytona.
Qualifying/Race Data
2009 pole winner: Martin Truex Jr. (188.001 mph, 47.872 seconds)
2009 race winner: Matt Kenseth (132.816 mph, 2-17-08)
Qualifying record: Bill Elliott (210.364 mph, 42.783 secs., 2-9-87)
Race record: Buddy Baker (177.602 mph, 2-17-80)
Estimated Pit Window: 36-38 laps depending on fuel mileage
NASCAR Heats Up
By Bodog
Daytona Weekend starts Thursday and ends Sunday!
What if pro football held the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season instead of at the end? You’d have something like NASCAR. Their season starts with their most visible event, the world-famous Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
It’s the first points event of the 2010 Sprint Cup season and the start for gamblers to bet on NASCAR. And what everyone wants to know this year is whether Jimmie Johnson can be stopped from winning his fifth consecutive championship.
It looks like the gremlins have already gotten to him. J.J. crashed during practice and will have to run the Daytona 500 in a back-up car. Get used to it: NASCAR has eased up its rules on bump drafting, the fine art of hitting the car in front of you in order to stay in its slipstream and conserve momentum. This tactic will no longer be policed on the superspeedways at Dayton and Talladega, according to officials. These relaxed rules led to a series of crashes during practice for last week’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, which was won by Kevin Harvick.
All this chaos will make Sunday’s race more exciting, and yet more challenging for handicappers. Johnson’s status on the Sprint Cup futures market is unchanged; he remains the favorite to complete his run for a fifth consecutive title. But Johnson is only pegged at 10-1 (Bet $100 to win $1,000) for Daytona, which may already be generous given his problems Wednesday. Mark Martin is also at 10-1; ahead of them on the NASCAR odds list are Dale Earnhardt Jr. at 8-1 and Jeff Gordon at 9-1. The common thread? All four drivers work for Hendrick Motorpsorts, arguably the best team in auto racing.
Johnson has other disadvantages besides the back-up car when it comes to Daytona. Martin has the pole and Earnhardt is next to him on the front row; those two positions are locked in, but Johnson and the rest of the field have to fight for the other 41 spots during Thursday’s Gatorade Duels. And anyone running in a back-up car will have to start the Duels from the rear of the grid. As we go to press, five drivers will be in their back-ups: Johnson, Joey Logano (28-1), Clint Bowyer (32-1), David Reutimann (40-1) and Mike Bliss (Field, 22-1). By the way, the pole-sitter at Daytona has won 24 of 125 Cup events, most recently Tony Stewart at last year’s Coke Zero 400 (formerly the Pepsi 400).
Stewart aka "Smoke" has three victories under his belt at Daytona in 22 races and is the co-favorite to win his first Daytona 500 at 15-2 (Bet $100 to win $750). Kyle Busch is the other co-favorite; he’s been to Daytona 10 times and taken the checkered flag once, after he made the move from Hendrick to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. Stewart’s win last year was also with his new team, of which he happens to be part-owner: Stewart Haas Racing. When betting NASCAR, it’s imperative to look at the past performance of the team and car in question as much than the man behind the wheel.
It’s also very important to consider the track itself. The Daytona 500 features restrictor plates, the devices NASCAR uses to limit engine power when the drivers are racing on the superspeedways – so they don’t accumulate too much speed going down those long straightaways. Earnhardt and Gordon both have reputations for handling these restrictor-plate events; Dale Earnhardt Sr. was known as “Mr. Restrictor Plate” before his untimely death at the 2001 Daytona 500.
Junior has two wins in 20 appearances at Daytona. Gordon has six victories in 34 attempts. Johnson has only the 2006 Daytona 500 to show for his 16 races there, while Martin has yet to win after 49 tries.
NASCAR Trading Paint: Daytona 500 Picks
By The Grand Rapids Press
Welcome back to another season of Trading Paint, a weekly entry where a statewide panel of four auto racing "experts" will make picks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup races. This week: Sunday's Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
The rules:
1. A panelist can only pick a driver five times total for the season.
2. Standings will be calculated each week, with panelists awarded the actual points their drivers earned.
Be sure to give us your picks in the comments section below and vote on who you think will win this week's race.
Jeff Bleiler -- Jackson Citizen Patriot
* 2010 champion: Jeff Gordon -- It would be hard to argue with Jimmie Johnson, especially considering that even in a backup car, he was better than the rest of the drivers in his Duel. He's won the last four championships and appears poised to make it five. He has the equipment, but can he really avoid the pitfalls and capitalize on all the luck (again) that's needed to win another title? I'm saying no, and that his teammate Gordon does.
* 2010 disappointment: Carl Edwards -- He has the talent to win championships, no doubt. But he took a step back last year. The slide continues in 2010.
Daytona 500 picks:
* Winner: Tony Stewart -- He's solid at Daytona, with three victories, but none in the 500. Junior managed to win the big one, and Smoke will this weekend.
* Don't be surprised if ... The winner of the 500 plays little role in the championship. Just ask Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
Steve Kaminski -- The Grand Rapids Press
The prediction I’m most confident about is the one I’m making about how this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup season will be the best one in a number of years. Judging by the close finishes in Thursday’s Duals, I say we’re off to a great start.
* 2010 champion: Jeff Gordon -- The drive for five is complete. But no, it’s not Jimmie Johnson who wins his fifth title. Gordon earns his fifth championship and first since 2001.
* 2010 disappointment: Juan Montoya -- He'll fail to match the success he enjoyed last year and will not make the Chase.
Daytona 500 picks:
* Winner: Kevin Harvick -- Harvick wins his first Cup race since capturing the 2007 Daytona 500.
* No chance: Tony Stewart -- Stewart is 0-for-11 in Daytona 500 starts.
* Don’t be surprised if ... Brad Keselowski pulls out the win. He did win the restrictor plate race at Talladega last year.
Mike Pryson -- Jackson Citizen Patriot
* 2010 champion: Jimmie Johnson -- This guy and his team have proven to be Tiger Woods, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Lakers all rolled into one ... minus the tabloid fodder. There's nothing on the radar to lead anyone to believe that Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports won't win again.
* 2010 disappointment: Danica Patrick -- OK, so she's not likely to run a Sprint Cup race until at least 2011. Still, there will be more eyes on her exploits in the Nationwide Series than there will be on any Cup driver this side of Jimmie Johnson. Does anyone really think she's going to win more in stock cars than she did in open wheel?
Daytona 500 picks:
* Winner: Jimmie Johnson -- The public will be pulling for another feel-good story from Mark "O-for-49-at-Daytona" Martin or a comeback from Dale Earnhardt Jr., but it will be Super Vanilla in Victory Lane when the smoke clears.
* No chance: Dale Earnhardt Jr -- Sure, he had a nice qualifying run and he might even lead the first lap. His last few years, however, have been one disappoint after another. He may be NASCAR's favorite son, but how many more chances is he going to get with NASCAR's top team?
* Don't be surprised if ... NASCAR's new edict encouraging bump drafting and good old-fashioned rivalry leads to crash-filled Daytona 500. If that happens, then go ahead and pull a name out of a hat. You're likely see about 18 finishers and a fifth consecutive first-time Daytona 500 winner in Victory Lane.
Troy Ruel -- Muskegon Chronicle
Hmmm ... I’m starting to feel a little like Michael Waltrip. Except, I’ve never won anything. I thought the Trading Paint panel would ban me after last year’s performance, but I believe they enjoyed looking down on someone else. Well, NASCAR loosened the restrictions this year, so it’s fair game out there. Look for Team Ruel to rebound.
* 2010 champion: Jeff Gordon -- The most intriguing race this year will be Jimmie Johnson's pursuit of a fifth consecutive championship, while Hendrick Motorsports teammate Gordon also has four (his last came in 2001). No driver is as consistent as Gordon with a series-best 25 top-10 finishes, including eight during the The Chase.
* 2010 disappointment: Roush Racing -- The five Roush-Fenway drivers combined for three wins, one pole and 997 laps led a year ago. Three drivers (Johnson,Hamlin and Kyle Busch) led more than that. Good thing RCR struggled last year, or more pressure would’ve been put on the Roush stable.
Daytona 500 picks:
* Winner: Tony Stewart -- Few drivers have enjoyed as much Daytona success as "Smoke." Stewart has been to Victory Lane 14 times since 2001 at the famed superspeedway, however, never in the season-opening Great American Race. If he can avoid trouble Sunday, Stewart will be in the mix.
* No chance: Carl Edwards -- Edwards led 42 of the first 43 laps in week’s Budweiser Shootout, but he hasn’t been heard from since. Not a surprise, considering he hasn’t led a lap in five tries at the Daytona 500, with an average finish of 23rd.
* Don’t be surprised if ... There are more references to Danica Patrick than lead changes in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Danica has the marketing appeal and NASCAR will exploit that to drive up ratings for the Nationwide Series. Officials ought to be more concerned with the racing, which I believe will turn into a game of follow-the-leader with the usual suspects (Stewart, Harvick and the Busch brothers) waiting until the final laps to get going.
Fantasy Racing Insider: Daytona 500
Mike Ravesi
Welcome one and all to Fantasy Racing Insider. This week we’ll take a look at the drivers everyone knows does well at the Daytona 500, and also some that have great success yet fly under the radar in fantasy leagues. We’ll also look at a few big names you DON’T want on your team this week and answer a question from one of our loyal readers. So without further ado, here’s the lineup you’ll want for this Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Studs:
Everyone knows you want to have Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick on your Daytona 500 team. Harvick, coming off of a Bud Shootout victory last Saturday night, has four top 5 finishes in the last seven 500s, including a thrilling drag race to beat Mark Martin and win the race back in 2007. Last year Harvick also won the Shootout and went on to finish the 500 in second. Stewart, has also won Bud Shootouts and Duel races, but no Daytona 500s despite a fairly impressive record in this race. In 12 careers starts, he has compiled six top 20s and five top eight finishes. His career average finish in the Great American Race is 17th, and if you throw out a blown engine on lap three in 2002 it jumps to 14th.
Who Will Carry You:
Much has been made of how close Elliott Sadler came to winning the Daytona 500 last year, and based on his record in the Great American Race he just may challenge for the win again.
Elliott Sadler – Sadler has compiled one of the most impressive records of any driver in the Daytona 500. In ten career 500s, Sadler has posted nine top 25s and has finished in the top seven five of the last six years (his other finish during that impressive run was an 11th.) The only time Sadler didn’t finish in the top 25 was his first 500 where he finished 38th, while his best run was in 2002 where he finished second to Ward Burton. The last four Daytona 500 winners were all first time winners, and Sadler may make it five in a row.
David Ragan – Ragan has a new crew chief, brought in to breathe some new life into a career that took a major stumble in 2009. Donnie Wingo is now calling the shots for Ragan, and there’s no place like Daytona to get the partnership off to a great start. In six career starts at DIS, Ragan has finished worse than 13th only once and has a pair of top fives on his resume. His career average finish at the track is 14th, and David can be had in most leagues for little or nothing based on his 2009 season. Grab him now before his value shoots through the roof.
Robby Gordon – Robby Gordon at the Daytona 500 with nothing to lose. Now there’s a scary thought. Robby at the moment does not expect to run every race and refuses to start and park, which we the fans applaud. So with no worrying about the top 35 rule, Robby will be racing for wins, not points. In 11 career 500s Robby has posted eight finishes of 18th or better and has shown to be an excellent restrictor plate racer when he can stay out of the big one. A word of warning for fantasy racers who pick Robby up for Daytona; keep an eye on his schedule to make sure he’s running in any future races that he’s on your team for.
Who Will Bury You:
Kyle Busch – With the exception of a fourth place run in 2008, Kyle does not have a great Daytona 500 resume. His next best finish is 24th and his career average is 26th. Let him post another mid 20 finish and his league value will drop, allowing you to pick him up cheaper in a week.
Jimmie Johnson – Since winning the event in 2006 Johnson has posted finishes of 31st, 27th, and 39th. Not exactly on much of a roll to start the seasons. If you are in a league that allots points for driver values, do the same with Johnson as Busch, wait a week and pick him up after Daytona.
This Week’s Question:
In a few fantasy games, with no trades, picking a driver who misses a race dooms the player. I have tracked this group closely in this preseason and would like you to rank these drivers in preseason ranking. Much depends on making first five races and with all the car number swapping, mergers, etc., a bloody scene occurs. What insight can you offer into drivers and teams that have been swept into the merger market?
I assume by no trades you mean your team is locked once you pick them and therefore the No. 7 car is the first one out. As of tonight, Robby doesn’t plan on running a full schedule. I would also not touch the Nos. 36, 37, 38, 46, or 66. Chances are these teams are all going to run more start and park, especially now that the race purses have been cut. So, with the teams you have left I would put the No. 78 first. Regan Smith finishes races and has shown he can win. I still believe he should have been the winner at Talladega two years ago. Next I would put the No. 34 car. The team is locked into the top 35 for the first five races, they beat the No. 82 team last year and Travis Kvapil is a bit of a step up from John Andretti in my opinion.
Next I would go with the No. 71. The team was able to get sponsorship for every race Labonte ran last year and had some good showings, plus his past champion’s provisional will get the car into the field. Next I would take the No. 82. Of the cars outside the top 35, this is the best team and is going to make every race unless Speed wrecks in qualifying. Finally, I would go with the No. 98. Menard has not proved much as a driver and raced his way out of the top 35 last year in the first five races. The only good thing about signing him is there’s no money issues and the team will run a full race every week.
Hope this helps you out a bit, and good luck with your league!
Driver Handicaps: Daytona
RacingOne.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - This weekend the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series opens the 2010 season at Daytona Int'l Speedway with Sunday's Daytona 500. To help you make your fantasy racing picks, Motor Racing Network brings you our weekly detailed look at some of the field for the 200-lap event.
Who's HOT at Daytona
• Jeff Gordon leads all drivers with six wins.
• Kurt Busch has the best average finish (5.2) with the COT.
• Tony Stewart leads all drivers with 632 laps led.
• Kyle Busch has led the most laps (206) with the COT.
• Carl Edwards has a 10.8 average finish with the COT.
• Defending Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth has finished eighth or better in his last three starts.
• 2007 Daytona winner Kevin Harvick is coming off his second Budweiser Shootout win and a second-place finish in the Duel.
Keep an Eye on at Daytona
• Earnhardt-Ganassi teammates of Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray looked good in the Duel.
• Marcos Ambrose has an 11.5 average finish in two Daytona starts.
• Richard Petty Motorsports had a strong outing n the Duel with Kasey Kahne winning the second race, AJ Allmendinger running up front until a pit road mistake, and Elliott Sadler in fifth.
• Brad Keselowski, David Ragan and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the only drivers with career average finishes of 15.0 or better on restrictor-plate tracks.
• Jimmie Johnson, who won his Duel in a back-up car, has the fourth-best driver rating at Daytona.
• Denny Hamlin has led 101 laps with the COT at Daytona.
• Greg Biffle posted an average finish of 12.3 in the four restrictor-plate races in 2009.
• Mark Martin led 28 laps in his pole-winning Daytona 500 car in the Duel.
2009 Track Performers
Matt Kenseth (Daytona), Brad Keselowski (Talladega), Tony Stewart (Daytona) and Jamie McMurray (Talladega) were the four winners in 2009 on restrictor-plate tracks. Elliott Sadler, who finished fifth in the 2009 Daytona 500, led all drivers with an average finish of 10.8 in the four races. Brad Keselowski (11.0), David Ragan (12.0), Greg Biffle (12.3) and Matt Kenseth (12.5) rounded out the top five in average finish. Kyle Busch led the most laps in the 2009 plate season with 135. Jeff Gordon leads all drivers on the all-time restrictor-plate win list with 12.
Motor Racing Network Staff Picks
Jeff Wackerlin: Kyle Busch
Pete Pistone: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Rachael West: Elliott Sadler
Top 30 Driver Notes - Ordered by last year's final points
(All stats/notes are in regards to Daytona Int'l Speedway unless noted
1. Jimmie Johnson: Winner of the 2006 Daytona 500; Coming off sixth top five with a second-place finish last July; Leads all drivers with an average running position of 10.4 in the last 10 races; 52 of his 59 career track laps led have come in the 500; Has the fourth best driver rating at 94.3.
2. Mark Martin: Will make 50th points-paying Sprint Cup start at Daytona; Daytona is his worst track on the schedule based on his 18.1 average finish; Finished 16th in his 500 debut with Hendrick Motorsports in 2009; Nearly won the 500 when he crossed the finish line by .020 seconds behind race winner Kevin Harvick in 2007; Has finished in the top 10 nine times in 25 Daytona 500 attempts; Will debut a new chassis (No. 560) on Sunday.
3. Jeff Gordon: Six-time winner with three wins coming in the Daytona 500; Has posted an average finish of 27.5 in his last four starts; Last top 10 in the 500 came in 2007 when he finished 10th; Sixth-best driver rating in the past 10 races; Overall has led 572 laps and has posted an average finish of 15.5.
4. Kurt Busch: Has the best average finish in the last five races at 4.8; Has finished second three times in the 500; Fifth best driver rating at 92.5; Led 95 laps in the 2007 Daytona 500 up until contact with Tony Stewart; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 632) in Sunday's 500.
5. Denny Hamlin: Winner of the 2006 Budweiser Shootout; Led 32 laps in the 2008 Daytona 500 and 63 in last year's Coke Zero 400; Third-place finish last July is only top 10 in eight starts; Posted a fifth-place finish in last weekend's Shootout; Has been one of the fastest drivers in the closing 25% of laps over the past 10 races; 11th-best driver rating in the past 10 races.
6. Tony Stewart: Has a 4.5 average finish in last two races; His last of three wins in the July race came last year; His 108.2 driver rating ranks No. 1 among all drivers in the past 10 races; Leads all drivers with 516 laps led in the past 10 races.
7. Greg Biffle: Winner of the 2003 July race; Best Daytona 500 finish came in 2008 in 10th; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 673); The Daytona 500 car is similar to the car that ran well in the Shootout up until an accident at the end of the race; 23rd-best driver rating in the past 10 races.
8. Juan Pablo Montoya: Coming off first top 10 with a ninth-place finish last July; Has run up front in previous restrictor-plate races, most notably Talladega; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 902) in the Daytona 500.
9. Ryan Newman: Winner of the 2008 Daytona 500; Posted a 28.0 average finish at Daytona with Stewart-Haas Racing; Overall has three top 10s and an average finish of 20.9 in 16 starts; Eighth-best driver rating in the past 10 races.
10. Kasey Kahne: Will make first Sprint Cup points start in a Ford; Won his Gatorade Duel and finished second in last weekend's Budweiser Shootout; Best finish is seventh, which he accomplished three times in 12 starts; Has only led five laps.
11. Carl Edwards: Led a race high 42 laps in last weekend's Budweiser Shootout; His three top 10s in 10 starts have all come in the July race; Best Daytona 500 finish is 12th (2005); Will debut a new car (chassis No. 677) on Sunday; 12th-best driver rating in the past 10 races.
12. Brian Vickers: Will make sixth Daytona 500 start; Equaled his best Daytona finish (seventh) last July; Has posted a 19.6 average finish in five starts with Team Red Bull.
13. Kyle Busch: Winner of the 2008 July race; Has posted an average finish of 15.0 in four starts with Joe Gibbs Racing; Best Daytona 500 finish (fourth) with JGR came in 2008; Has combined to lead 230 laps in his last six starts; Second-best driver rating in the past 10 races.
14. Matt Kenseth: Defending Daytona 500 winner; Has finished eighth or better in five of his last seven starts; Overall has led 69 laps and has posted an average finish of 17.9 in 20 starts; Third-best driver rating in the past 10 races
15. Clint Bowyer: Has the best average finish (13.4) among drivers with three or more starts; Best finish (fourth) came in last year's Daytona 500; Finish was one of five top 10s in eight starts; Ninth-best driver rating in the past 10 races; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 294) on Sunday.
16. David Reutimann: Best finish in six starts came in the 2009 Daytona 500 in 12th; Overall has a 25.5 average finish; Has yet to lead a lap; Will be making 100th start in a Sprint Cup points race.
17. Jeff Burton: Only top 10 in 10 starts with Richard Childress Racing came in the 2007 Daytona 500 in third; Won the 2000 July race with Roush Racing; Win was one of seven top 10s with Roush; 10th-best driver rating in the past 10 races; Will drive the same car (chassis No. 240) that served as the back-up car for all four restrictor plate races last season.
18. Marcos Ambrose: Leads all drivers with an 11.5 average finish; Best finish came in last year's July race in sixth; Has a 15.2 average finish in four career restrictor-plate starts.
19. Kevin Harvick: Winner of the 2007 Daytona 500 and last two Budweiser Shootouts; Finished second in last year's Daytona 500 for sixth top 10 in 17 starts; 14th-best driver rating in the past 10 races; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 295) that spent the off-season being tested in the wind tunnel.
20. Joey Logano: Finished 43rd in last year's Daytona 500 after a crash took him out of contention; Lowered finishing average to 31.0 with a 19th-place finish last July; Will race his Budweiser Shootout car (chassis No. 245) after crashing the Daytona 500 primary in Wednesday's practice session.
21. Casey Mears: Failed to qualify.
22. Jamie McMurray: Finished third in return with Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in last weekend's Budweiser Shootout; Two of his three career wins have come on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona, July 2007; Talladega, 2009); Will debut a new car (chassis No. 1001) in the Daytona 500.
23. Martin Truex Jr: Will make debut with Michael Waltrip Racing; Best finish came in last year's Daytona 500 when he came home 11th after starting from the pole; Has only led one lap in the past five starts.
24. AJ Allmendinger: Finished third in only start in Daytona 500 in 2009; Two other starts in the July race (42nd and 17th); Will race a new car (chassis No. 682) on Sunday.
25. Dale Earnhardt Jr: Winner of the 2004 Daytona 500; Has three top-five and five top-10s in 10 Daytona 500 appearances; Has led 141 laps in the Daytona 500; 2001 July race win is one of seven points-paying wins at Daytona (2 Cup, 5 Nationwide); Seventh-best driver rating in last 10 races; Will start second on Sunday in a brand new car (chassis No. 563).
26. Elliott Sadler: Daytona is his best oval on the schedule based on his 17.0 average finish; 7.5 average finish in his last two starts; 19th-best driver rating in last 10 races; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 283) on Sunday.
27. David Ragan: Has posted an 8.0 average finish in last three starts; Finished fifth in first Daytona start (Daytona 500) in 2007; 17th-best driver rating in the past 10 races; Will race the same car (chassis No. 649) that finished 17th at Talladega last fall.
28. Sam Hornish Jr: Best finish (15th) came in the 2008 Daytona 500; Has a 31.0 average finish in last three starts.
29. Reed Sorenson: Failed to qualify.
30. Bobby Labonte: Making first track start with TRG; Finished 10th in first restrictor-plate start with the team at Talladega last October; Best finish is a pair of runner-ups in 1998 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Brad Keselowski: Finished 18th in first start last July; 11.0 average finish in three restrictor-plate starts; First career Cup win came at Talladega Superspeedway; Ran well in his Gatorade Duel before a pit road commitment line violation; Will be driving a new car (chassis No. 633) in the Daytona 500.
A glance at drivers in Sunday's Daytona 500
No. 00 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: David Reutimann
BORN: March 2, 1970
HOMETOWN: Zephyrhills, Fla.
CREW CHIEF: Rodney Childers
NOTES: Reutimann won his first career Sprint Cup race at Charlotte and two poles last season, flirting with qualification for the Chase. Finished 16th in points. With team owner Michael Waltrip stepping back from full-time racing, Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr. will take over as the team's top guns.
No. 1 Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
DRIVER: Jamie McMurray
BORN: June 3, 1976
HOMETOWN: Joplin, Mo.
CREW CHIEF: Kevin ``Bono'' Manion
NOTES: McMurray won at Talladega last year but missed the Chase and finished a disappointing 22nd in series points in his final year at Roush Fenway Racing. Returned to Earnhardt Ganassi in the offseason and has looked strong in Daytona Speedweeks with his new team.
No. 2 Dodge, Penske Racing
DRIVER: Kurt Busch
BORN: Aug. 4, 1978
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
CREW CHIEF: Steve Addington
NOTES: The 2004 Cup champion rebounded from a disappointing 2008, made the Chase and finished fourth last season. Won at Atlanta and Texas. After Pat Tryson left to join Martin Truex Jr. at Michael Waltrip Racing, Busch will be paired with Addington - who was fired as crew chief for Busch's younger brother, Kyle, at Joe Gibbs Racing last season.
No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Mark Martin
BORN: Jan. 9, 1959
HOMETOWN: Batesville, Ark.
CREW CHIEF: Alan Gustafson
NOTES: At 51 years old, Martin is back for another run at the Cup championship that has eluded him during his storied career. Won five races and finished second in series points last year, the fifth runner-up finish of his career. Kicked off Speedweeks by winning Daytona 500 pole.
No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: David Ragan
BORN: Dec. 24, 1985
HOMETOWN: Unadilla, Ga.
CREW CHIEF: Donnie Wingo.
NOTES: After an impressive 2008, Ragan took a step backward last season, finishing 27th in series points. The team moved crew chief Jimmy Fennig to a research and development role and paired Ragan with Jamie McMurray's former crew chief, Donnie Wingo.
No. 7 Toyota, Robby Gordon Motorsports
DRIVER: Robby Gordon
BORN: Jan. 2, 1969
HOMETOWN: Orange, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Iain Watt
NOTES: Gordon enters his sixth season as an owner/driver. Finished third at Charlotte last season, his first top-five finish since 2007, but finished 34th in series points. Team recently announced alliance with BAM Racing.
No. 9 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Kasey Kahne
BORN: April 10, 1980
HOMETOWN: Enumclaw, Wash.
CREW CHIEF: Kenny Francis
NOTES: Kahne won two races for the second year in a row and made the Chase for the first time since 2006. But he struggled from there, finishing 32nd or worse three times in the final 10 races to finish 10th in series points. Team still sorting through fallout from multiple mergers and switch to Fords, but Kahne has driving ability to contend.
No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
BORN: Nov. 18, 1980
HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Va.
CREW CHIEF: Mike Ford
NOTES: Hamlin won four races, made the Chase last season and finished fifth in series points. Tore his left anterior cruciate ligament playing basketball in January but has said he will postpone surgery until after the season. Expected to contend - if the injury doesn't slow him down.
No. 12 Dodge, Penske Racing
DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
BORN: Feb. 12, 1984
HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, Mich.
CREW CHIEF: Jay Guy
NOTES: Aggressive, up-and-coming driver ran a partial Cup schedule last season, winning at Talladega in just his fifth career start. Running feud with Denny Hamlin spiced up final months of Nationwide series season and could carry over to Cup.
No. 13 Toyota, Germain Racing
DRIVER: Max Papis
BORN: Oct. 3, 1969
HOMETOWN: Como, Italy
CREW CHIEF: Robert ``Bootie'' Barker
NOTES: After success in the truck series, Germain ran a partial Cup schedule last season with Papis, including an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen. After making the Daytona 500 field, Papis - a former open-wheel and sports car racer - insisted he doesn't want to be known as a road course specialist any more. Instead, he wants to be called, ``Mad Max, the NASCAR racer.''
No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Tony Stewart
BORN: May 20, 1971
HOMETOWN: Columbus, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Darian Grubb
NOTES: The two-time series champion flirted last season with becoming the first driver/owner to win the Cup title since Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Still looking for his first Daytona 500 victory in his 12th try.
No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Greg Biffle
BORN: Dec. 23, 1969
HOMETOWN: Vancouver, Wash.
CREW CHIEF: Greg Erwin
NOTES: Biffle was winless last season but still made the Chase, finishing seventh in the final standings. Won the 2003 July race at Daytona, but has never finished higher than 10th in the Daytona 500.
No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
BORN: March 10, 1972
HOMETOWN: Cambridge, Wis.
CREW CHIEF: Drew Blickensderfer
NOTES: Kenseth opened the season with his first Daytona 500 victory, followed by a win at California the next week. Season began to slide in Week 3, and he missed the Chase for the first time since its 2004 inception.
No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Kyle Busch
BORN: May 2, 1985
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas
CREW CHIEF: Dave Rogers
NOTES: Busch was hit-or-miss last season, winning four races but missing the Chase. His crew chief was fired before the season ended, so Busch goes into this year juggling both a change atop the pit box and his new role as owner of his own Truck Series team.
No. 19 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Elliott Sadler
BORN: April 30, 1975
HOMETOWN: Emporia, Va.
CREW CHIEF: Wally Rogers
NOTES: Sadler nearly won the Daytona 500 - he was out front briefly before the race ended early because of rain - but it was just one of five top-10 finishes all season. He wound up 26th in the final standings.
No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
DRIVER: Joey Logano
BORN: May 24, 1990
HOMETOWN: Middletown, Conn.
CREW CHIEF: Greg Zipadelli
NOTES: Logano made huge strides during last year's rookie season, rebounding from a slow start to win his first career Cup race at New Hampshire in June. He finished 20th in the points, and should improve upon that this year.
No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
DRIVER: Bill Elliott
BORN: Oct. 8, 1955
HOMETOWN: Dawsonville, Ga.
CREW CHIEF: David Hyder
NOTES: The two-time Daytona 500 winner is making his 28th start in the race, and has a good motor. He's scaled back considerably over the past several years, and ran just 12 races last season.
No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
BORN: Aug. 4, 1971
HOMETOWN: Pittsboro, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Steve Letarte
NOTES: The four-time series champion begins yet another quest for the fifth Cup title that has eluded him since 2002. He's a three-time Daytona 500 winner, but will be racing in a backup car Sunday.
No. 26 Ford, Latitude 43 Motorsports
DRIVER: Boris Said
BORN: Sept. 18, 1962
HOMETOWN: New York
CREW CHIEF: Frankie Stoddard
NOTES: A new team that is getting cars and engines from Roush Fenway Racing, Said has only a five-race schedule lined up. It will be his third Daytona 500 start, and his best finish was 14th in 2007.
No. 29 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
BORN: Dec. 8, 1975
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Gil Martin
NOTES: Harvick has not won a points race since his 2007 Daytona 500 victory, but has won the past two exhibition Budweiser Shootouts that open Speedweeks. Finished second to Jimmie Johnson in Thursday's first qualifying race.
No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Jeff Burton
BORN: June 29, 1967
HOMETOWN: South Boston, Va.
CREW CHIEF: Todd Berrier
NOTES: Burton had to go to a backup car for the Daytona 500 after crashing in his qualifying race. Went winless last season as all of RCR fell off the pace, but is a key part of the rebuilding effort.
No. 33 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
DRIVER: Clint Bowyer
BORN: May 30, 1979
HOMETOWN: Emporia, Kan.
CREW CHIEF: Shane Wilson
NOTES: Bowyer failed to win a race in 2009 for the second time in four seasons, missed the Chase for the first time in three years and finished 15th in points. Will start in a backup car after hitting the wall in practice Wednesday.
No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing
DRIVER: John Andretti
BORN: March 12, 1963
HOMETOWN: Indianapolis
CREW CHIEF: Steve Lane.
NOTES: Andretti finished 35th in owner points last season and secured a starting spot in the Daytona 500 and the next four races in 2010. He's looking for his first top-10 finish since 2003.
No. 36 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing
DRIVER: Mike Bliss
BORN: April 5, 1965
HOMETOWN: Milwaukie, Ore.
CREW CHIEF: Kevin Buskirk
NOTES: Bliss joined fledgling Tommy Baldwin Racing with hopes of running a full schedule in 2010. He finished fifth in points in the Nationwide Series last year. His 13 Cup starts in 2009 were mostly start-and-park endeavors for owner James Finch.
No. 37 Ford, Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing
DRIVER: Travis Kvapil
BORN: March 1, 1976
HOMETOWN: Janesville, Wis.
CREW CHIEF: Peter Sospenzo
NOTES: The former truck series champion has been reunited with owner Robert Yates. Together, they finished 23rd in points in 2008.
No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports with Yates Racing
DRIVER: Robert Richardson
BORN: April 4, 1982
HOMETOWN: McKinney, Texas
CREW CHIEF: Randy Seals
NOTES: Richardson finished a surprising 18th at Talladega in his Sprint Cup debut last season. Is racing full time in the Nationwide Series, but will make several starts in the Cup series.
No. 39 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
DRIVER: Ryan Newman
BORN: Dec. 8, 1977
HOMETOWN: South Bend, Ind.
CREW CHIEF: Tony Gibson
NOTES: Newman made the Chase and finished ninth in points in his first season with new Stewart-Haas team. His lone victory since 2005 came at the 2008 Daytona 500.
No. 42 Chevrolet, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing
DRIVER: Juan Pablo Montoya
BORN: Sept. 20, 1975
HOMETOWN: Bogota, Colombia
CREW CHIEF: Brian Pattie
NOTES: Montoya had a breakout year in his third season in NASCAR. He made the Chase and finished eighth in points. Still looking for his first victory on an oval track.
No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: AJ Allmendinger
BORN: Dec. 16, 1981
HOMETOWN: Los Gatos, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Mike Shiplett
NOTES: Allmendinger was third in last year's Daytona 500, a strong showing for team owner Richard Petty, but didn't have another top-five finish and ended up 24th in points.
No. 47 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: Marcos Ambrose
BORN: Sept. 1, 1976
HOMETOWN: Launceston, Australia
CREW CHIEF: Frank Kerr
NOTES: The laid-back Australian finished 18th in his first full season in the Cup series. Had seven top-10 finishes in 2009, including strong runs at two road courses, a superspeedway and a short track.
No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
BORN: Sept. 17, 1975
HOMETOWN: El Cajon, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Chad Knaus
NOTES: How about a five-peat? Johnson made history in 2009 by becoming the first driver to win four consecutive championships. Now, he's facing impending fatherhood and more attention than ever. He also is the preseason pick to win the title.
No. 51 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: Michael Waltrip
BORN: April 30, 1963
HOMETOWN: Owensboro, Ky.
CREW CHIEF: Bobby Kennedy
NOTES: Waltrip eked out a starting spot in what could be his last Daytona 500, the race that has provided him with so many highs and lows during his 26-year career. The two-time Daytona 500 winner, though, is looking for better results after spinning four times during Speedweeks.
No. 55 Toyota, Prism Motorsports
DRIVER: Michael McDowell.
BORN: Dec. 21, 1984
HOMETOWN: Glendale, Ariz.
CREW CHIEF: Zachary McGowan
NOTES: Still searching for enough sponsorship money to race the full season. Also looking to do more than be known for a horrific crash at Texas in 2008. He hit the wall and barrel-rolled his car down the track. McDowell wasn't injured, but the clip became a YouTube sensation.
No. 56 Toyota, Michael Waltrip Racing
DRIVER: Martin Truex Jr.
BORN: June 29, 1980
HOMETOWN: Mayetta, N.J.
CREW CHIEF: Pat Tryson
NOTES: Truex Jr. moved from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to Michael Waltrip Racing, hoping for a fresh start after winning just once in four full seasons. Had just one top-five finish last season.
No. 71 Chevrolet, TRG Motorsports
DRIVER: Bobby Labonte
BORN: May 8, 1964
HOMETOWN: Corpus Christi, Texas
CREW CHIEF: Doug Randolph
NOTES: Labonte joined TRG late last season, and team owner Kevin Buckler has committed to running the entire season even though they don't have full sponsorship. The 2000 Cup series champion enters another season looking for his first victory since 2003.
No. 77 Dodge, Penske Racing
DRIVER: Sam Hornish Jr.
BORN: July 2, 1979
HOMETOWN: Defiance, Ohio
CREW CHIEF: Travis Geisler
NOTES: The former Indy 500 winner and three-time IndyCar Series champion showed improvement in his second Cup season, posting two top-five finishes, but still finished 28th in points thanks to eight DNFs. Has struggled in Speedweeks, starting with admitting he owed four-time champ Jimmie Johnson an apology for wrecking him late in last year's Chase.
No. 78 Chevrolet, Furniture Row Racing
DRIVER: Regan Smith
BORN: Sept. 23, 1983
HOMETOWN: Cato, N.Y.
CREW CHIEF: Ryan Coniam
NOTES: Smith is a decent place racer who nearly won the 2008 Talladega fall race, but his pass of winner Tony Stewart was ruled illegal by NASCAR because he drove below the yellow, out-of-bounds line. Also finished a season-best 12th at Daytona last year.
No. 82 Toyota, Red Bull Racing
DRIVER: Scott Speed
BORN: Jan. 24, 1983
HOMETOWN: Manteca, Calif.
CREW CHIEF: Jimmy Elledge
NOTES: Speed had a rough first season in a high-profile ride, finishing 35th in points. His late pass in one of Thursday's qualifying races helped fellow Toyota driver Michael Waltrip make the Daytona 500.
No. 83 Toyota, Red Bull Racing
DRIVER: Brian Vickers
BORN: Oct. 24, 1983
HOMETOWN: Thomasville, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Ryan Pemberton
NOTES: Vickers made more strides in his third season with Red Bull, moving from 19th to 12th in points and qualifying for the Chase. Picked up his second career Cup win on fuel strategy at Michigan in August.
No. 87 Toyota, NEMCO Motorsports
DRIVER: Joe Nemechek
BORN: Sept. 26, 1963
HOMETOWN: Lakeland, Fla.
CREW CHIEF: Philippe Lopez
NOTES: The veteran driver begins his second season driving for himself. He made 30 races in 2009, but had 27 DNFs because he mostly used the start-and-park philosophy. Earned a Daytona 500 starting spot during time trials.
No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
BORN: Oct. 10, 1974
HOMETOWN: Kannapolis, N.C.
CREW CHIEF: Lance McGrew NOTES: NASCAR's most popular driver enters a critical season at Hendrick Motorsports. He was a career-low 25th in points and failed to win a race for the second time in 10 years. His crew chief and cousin, Tony Eury Jr., was fired midway through the season, and team owner Rick Hendrick vowed to get the lagging team turned around.
No. 98 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
DRIVER: Paul Menard
BORN: Aug. 21, 1980
HOMETOWN: Eau Claire, Wis.
CREW CHIEF: Richard ``Slugger'' Labbe
NOTES: Menard joined Richard Petty Motorsports after the team announced a merger with Yates Racing. Spent most of his career driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Had his highest points finish (26th) in 2008 and his only top-five finish at Talladega's fall race.
No. 99 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
DRIVER: Carl Edwards
BORN: Aug. 15, 1979
HOMETOWN: Columbia, Mo.
CREW CHIEF: Bob Osborne
NOTES: Edwards was winless in 2009 after winning a series-high nine races in 2008. Made the Chase and finished 11th in points, far off many preseason predictions that had him winning the championship. Is awaiting the birth of his first child.
NASCAR Betting Preview and Picks
By Greg Engle
NASCAR awakens from its brief winter hibernation Sunday with the running of its opening and biggest race of 2010, the 52nd annual Daytona 500.
Racing at Daytona is fast, furious and wild. With cars running near 200 miles per hour in huge packs, one tiny misstep, one error in judgment or a bit of plain ole bad luck, can spoil an entire day.
Trying to pick a winner can be a tough call, but there are always a few consistent drivers who rise to the top.
Favorites
Jimmie Johnson (+1000): Johnson wrecked his car in practice Wednesday. The team sent the damaged machine back to North Carolina and pulled out the back-up Chevy. In Thursday's first Duel Qualifying race, Johnson was forced to start at the back of the field. He worked his way through the pack to win by .005 seconds - the second closest finish in Duel history since NASCAR began electronic timing and scoring in 1993. From the rear of the field, in a backup car? Not only is Johnson a fan favorite for Sunday, he is also a betting favorite.
Kevin Harvick (+1200): The man Johnson edged out in Thursday's first Duel is Richard Childress Racing's best hope of returning to the winner's circle at Daytona. Kevin Harvick is a former Daytona 500 winner, won last Saturday’s Bud Shootout and has been strong in the practice sessions this week.
"This gives you a little swagger in our step," Harvick said after winning last Saturday night. "This gives everybody the confidence, knowing we've done it (winning) a lot and we can still do it a lot more."
Tony Stewart (+700): Stewart has won at Daytona. But those wins have come in races other then the “big one”. In Thursday's second Duel Qualifying race, Stewart hung around the back of the field until the closing laps before powering his way to the front and narrowly losing to Kasey Kahne. That run to second place, however, showed Stewart has the muscle to win it all Sunday.
Long shots
Kyle Busch (+800): The Wild Child has a history of bad luck at Daytona. But if he can keep the gremlins away he could win it all.
Clint Bowyer (+2500): He can never be counted out. He's another Richard Childress Racing driver who has looked strong all week and if he keeps his nose clean, could be a definite contender.
Regan Smith (+5000): He nearly stole victory from Tony Stewart at Talladega a few years ago and could be a thief again.
Head-to-head matchups
Brad Keselowski vs. Denny Hamlin: These guys have a history of confrontation on the track. NASCAR called both on the carpet after they tangled with each other on two separate occasions last season. In fact, during practice at Daytona this week they exchanged fenders. However, Sunday the nod will go to Keselowski. He won at Talladega last year in less then top-notch equipment and looked strong in the duel race he competed in Thursday.
Juan Pablo Montoya vs. Jamie McMurray: They are as different as night and day. But they are teammates this season with McMurray returning to the team he started with. While Montoya has seemingly been on the cusp of his first oval track win, McMurrary has won at Daytona and has looked strong all week. Look for Montoya to be congratulating McMurray for finishing ahead of him when it's over.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Mark Martin: These two have been trying to work together in order to improve Earnhardt's woes. While their front row starting positions look good on paper, Earnhardt still hasn't exorcised the demons that haunted him last season. And while Martin has never had a superspeedway record to boast of, he will finish in front of his teammate
Daytona 500 - Practice Notes
By Micah Roberts
Coming into the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign, one of the major stories involved the re-evolution of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and how he should rebound. With the exception of qualifying on the front row for Sunday’s Daytona 500, all of his other performances at Daytona have been mediocre at best.
The actual real racing hasn’t happened yet, so there still may be hope, but based on his lackluster 21st place finish in the Gatorade Duel and his last three poor practice times indicate that he is closer to finishing Sunday’s race in the bottom half of the field rather than the top half.
Hendrick Motorsports has poured every resource possible into the No. 88 team, including new Chassis’, better communication with fellow garage-mates of the No. 5 team, and stability to begin the season with crew chief Steve Latarte.
In Wednesday’s practice sessions, the driver’s first real chance to race their Daytona 500 cars in the draft with each other, Junior couldn’t even crack the top-30 in speed. During Thursday’s Gatorade Duel Junior finished 21st and accused Brian Vickers of bumping into to him, damaging his car, causing him to take his uncompetitive car to the garage.
In Saturday’s final practice session, things got a little better, but not much. Junior ran 45 laps and ended with the 21st best time which he captured on lap 18.
The correlation between Mark Martin and Earnhardt Jr., and sharing garages, is pretty apparent because their cars have looked similar throughout Daytona speed weeks. In the first practice session while in qualifying trim, Junior was fastest with Martin right behind him in second.
During qualifying Martin took the pole with Junior right behind him putting the two cars on the front row. Martin was slightly better in the drafting practices, but he too fell out of his Gatorade Duel with a 21st place finish.
It may not happen for Earnhardt Jr. this week, but if in fact his stable of cars are similar to Martin’s this season it could be good news on all the down force tracks and the flat mid-range tracks of Phoenix, New Hampshire, and Richmond, places that Martin excelled at last season.
As for the rest of the field, the most impressive drivers over the last week of practice and the Gatorade Duels have been Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth who have a great combination of horsepower and handling working at the highest level for their cars.
Busch has been one of the best restrictor plate drivers over the last few seasons, and probably should have won the last two Daytona 500’s, not to mention last years July race from Daytona. During practice, no one has been more consistently good than Busch who has come in with a second fastest times twice and sixth in Saturday’s session.
Kenseth comes in with the swagger of being the defending Daytona 500 Champion and has the look of a driver who could become the first to go back to back at Daytona since Sterling Marlin in 1995. His new RF9 Ford engine has made a good restrictor plate car even better according to speeds in practice where he hasn’t been slower than sixth in any of the last three important sessions, including fastest on Wednesday.
Jimmie Johnson hasn’t wowed anyone in practice, but used his crew and a good car to get a Gatorade Duel win Thursday. The car they’re using, a back-up, is their Bud Shootout car and the one that finished 2nd at Daytona last July. Johnson’s car feels good because he took a few laps on Saturday and parked it early, a sign that they are ready for Sunday.
The Childress drivers cam out strong in the final session Saturday claiming the top speeds of the day led by Jeff Burton’s top speed of 195.194 mph in the middle of his 60 laps run, which were the most of the day. Kevin Harvick has been as steady as they come in restrictor plate races and finished with the 2nd best time of the day behind his teammate. The Daytona 500 has been Harvick’s place to shine, more so than any other race. He was 2nd last season, won in 2007, and has two other 4th place finishes since 2003.
A driver similar to Harvick in regards to consistency in the Daytona 500 is Elliott Sadler. Since 2004, Sadler has finished 7th, 11th, 4th, 6th, 6th, and 5th last year. That is pretty strong stuff, especially for a driver that hasn’t had the best equipment. This year he’ll be in a Ford again and will be one of three racing the new RF9 Ford engine.
Based on the entire week of practice and events leading up to the Daytona 500, while mixing in some past restrictor plate history, I have come up with my top drivers to win this week. Good luck, and enjoy the race.
1) Kyle Busch
2) Matt Kenseth
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Tony Stewart
5) Jimmie Johnson