Daytona International Speedway Data
Race #: 1 of 36 (2-26-11)
Track Size: 2.5 miles
Race Length: 500 miles (200 laps)
Banking/Corners: 31 degrees
Banking/Straights: 3 degrees
Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (186.089 mph, 48.364 seconds)
2011 race winner: Trevor Bayne (130.326 mph, 2-20-11)
Qualifying record: Bill Elliott (210.364 mph, 42.783 secs., 2-9-87)
Race record: Buddy Baker (177.602 mph, 2-17-80)

Throw back. Old school. Retro. Use whatever moniker you like, and it’d fit this past weekend in NASCAR.
 
First you had the Shootout at Daytona, the annual fan-favorite preseason race at Daytona International Speedway. After an offseason – and more – of testing and fine-tuning, pack racing is back. For the most part, drivers abandoned the two-car tandem for the big packs of old. It made for a wild race, and a sparkling finish. Kyle Busch’s slingshot move on defending series champion Tony Stewart gave him his first Shootout victory. The margin of victory of .013 seconds was the closest in the race’s history.
 
Now fast forward to Sunday morning. As competitors put the finishing touches prior to Coors Light Pole qualifying, a major announcement hit the mailboxes of media everywhere. Next season’s eligibility for the Shootout had been released. Pole winners from 2012 and past winners of the event would be locked in, eligibility rules mirroring those from 1979 to 2008. It was a return to the event’s roots.
 
Shortly after, at 1 p.m., Daytona 500 qualifying began. Carl Edwards, taking advantage of a powerful engine and an opportunistic qualifying draw, laid down a lap of 194.738 mph. It was the fastest Daytona 500 pole winning lap since 1999 – more than a decade ago.
 
Last weekend set the strong foundation for the second and final week of Speedweeks. Up first is the two Gatorade Duel races, a final chance for those not already locked into the Daytona 500 to make the show.
 
On Friday night, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series opens its season at Daytona in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at 7:30 p.m. on SPEED.
 
On Saturday afternoon, the stars of the NASCAR Nationwide Series run their season-opener at Daytona in the DRIVE4COPD 300 at 1:15 p.m. on ESPN.
 
And, of course, the 54th annual Daytona 500 culminates Speedweeks. NASCAR’s biggest race starts at 1 p.m. on FOX.
 
Storylines for all three series follow.
 
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
 
99 Has No Problems On Pole Day
After turning the fastest lap in Daytona 500 pole qualifying since 1999, Carl Edwards will attempt to become the 10th driver to win the Daytona 500 from the pole and first since Dale Jarrett in 2000. Edwards finished second last year in The Great American Race and had a ninth-place finish in 2010.
 
Edwards leads an all-Ford front row, as Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle captured the second spot). A win would be the manufacturer's third Daytona 500 victory in four seasons and the second in four years for Roush Fenway Racing, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this season.
 
Roush Fenway Racing’s next victory – be it in Saturday NASCAR Nationwide race or in the Daytona 500 – would be the team’s 300th in NASCAR national series competition.
 
The first and second starting positions have accounted for the most wins in Daytona 500 history with nine and seven respectively, combining for 30 percent of the victories in the previous 53 events.
 
Bayne Locked In And Loaded For Great American Repeat
With the fastest time among drivers not in the top 35, Trevor Bayne locked himself into the 54th running of the Daytona 500 along with Tony Raines, David Stremme and Terry Labonte, who can use a past champion’s provisional.
 
Bayne, who turned 21 on Sunday, will attempt to join Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and fellow Tennessean Sterling Marlin (1994-95) as the only drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s. A win would extend 2012 NASCAR Hall of Famer Glen Wood's win record at Daytona to 16.
Champ Seeks First 500 Win On His Own
Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has three Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola wins, three Budweiser Shootout crowns, two Gatorade Duel wins and two triumphs in IROC cars. His six DRIVE4COPD 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins (including the last four consecutive victories) is second only to Dale Earnhardt's seven, and Stewart is also tied for second with Bobby Allison on the all-time victory leader list at Daytona with 16 behind Earnhardt, who had 34.
 
In 13 previous starts, Stewart has three top-five finishes, including a runner-up run in 2004.
 
Danica Makes Highly Anticipated Debut
When the green flag flies on FOX at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Danica Patrick will become the third woman to start the Daytona 500, following Janet Guthrie (1977, 1980) and Shawna Robinson (2002). She'll also attempt to join last year's race winner Trevor Bayne as the eighth driver to win her first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in the 500. The club consists of Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001) and Bayne (2011).
 
Of the two women who have raced before her in the Daytona 500, neither has a top-10 finish with Guthrie coming home 12th in 1977 and 11th in 1980 and Robinson finishing 24th in 2002.
 
Not Old, But Experienced: Martin Looks To Make History
In his 28th Daytona 500 and 25th consecutive Great American Race, Mark Martin is back in his quest to win his first Daytona 500. Turning 53 on January 9, Martin would not only break NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's record as the oldest driver to win the 500, but become the oldest winner in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. The current oldest winner is Harry Gant at 52 years, seven months and six days.
 
It's the fifth anniversary of his loss at the line to Kevin Harvick as Martin begins a new chapter in his career with Michael Waltrip Racing. A win for Martin would break Dale Earnhardt's record of 20 races before his first win in the Daytona 500.
 
Junior Gaining Steam Heading Into 500
Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of a 129-race wins drought, has the feel of someone who appears on the verge of a breakthrough.
 
Before getting caught up in an accident in Saturday night’s Shootout, Earnhardt led 12 laps, bringing the fans to their feet with each one.
 
On Sunday, Earnhardt narrowly missed sitting on the front row of the Daytona 500 for the second consecutive year, turning the third fastest lap in qualifying.
 
A win in the Daytona 500 would be Earnhardt’s second, joining his trophy from 2004.
 
This Time, It IS Go Or Go Home
Thursday’s Gatorade Duel at Daytona races mean everything to a select 10 drivers.
 
Those who have yet to secure a spot in the Daytona 500: Kenny Wallace, Dave Blaney, Michael Waltrip, Michael McDowell, Joe Nemechek, Bill Elliott, Mike Wallace, Robert Richardson Jr., JJ Yeley and Robby Gordon.
 
They’ll need to race their way in on Thursday. The top two “non-35 drivers” in each Gatorade Duel make Sunday’s Daytona 500.
 
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES
 
Encore, Encore!
If you were enamored with the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season, there’s no reason not to carry that same sentiment into Daytona, the opening race of the 2012 campaign.
 
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the reigning series champion, returns to defend his title. NASCAR’s media corps thinks he’ll do just that, predicting him to repeat, according to a preseason poll on NASCARMedia.com.
 
But in scanning the list of driver championship contenders in 2012, it may be a good thing that his favorite status is on paper. This season already has the feel of an explosive title chase, where each race, every point, will be scrutinized.
 
Danica Patrick, Elliott Sadler, Sam Hornish Jr., Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Brian Scott, Michael Annett, Kenny Wallace … all have the same goal in mind as the reigning champ.
A Daytona victory on Saturday is huge. But some of the aforementioned names are shooting for a bigger prize – the same one that Bayne stunned the sports world in winning last year – Sunday’s Daytona 500.
 
Bayne, Stenhouse, Patrick, Sadler and Kenny Wallace are among eight 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series driver championship contenders who have entered the “Great American Race.” In addition, Joe Nemechek, Mike Wallace and Robert Richardson Jr. are also entered.
 
What’s in a Number?
NASCAR fans are number-oriented, especially when it comes to two particular numbers with historic backgrounds.
 
Ask the most avid member of the NASCAR fan base, and they’ll likely point out that the No. 3 and the No. 43 are dripping with history.
 
This year, both will be in the NASCAR Nationwide Series on a full-time basis.
 
The RCR No. 3, made famous by Dale Earnhardt, hasn’t been on the track n a full-time capacity in the NASCAR Nationwide Series since 2000 when Ron Hornaday Jr. drove the No. 3 Chevrolet for Childress. The No. 43 Petty Enterprises Ford has never been a full-time participant in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
 
Starting at Daytona, Austin Dillon – the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion – will bring the No. 3 Chevrolet back. The grandson of Childress – and the one who talked RC into bringing the iconic number with him to his rookie NASCAR Nationwide Series season – is a serious contender for the series championship in addition to aiming for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.
 
Michael Annett has the distinction of bringing the No. 43 Mustang into the series for the first time on a full-time basis. Annett finished a career-best ninth in the driver standings last year.
 
NNS ETC: In addition to Stenhouse, 10 other former NASCAR Nationwide Series champions are entered in this year’s Daytona 500 field. … Nine double-duty drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series along with one from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are entered in Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300. Heading that list is three-time and defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, who has won the last four NASCAR Nationwide Series season openers. Also entered is two-time series champion and current team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who dominated this event for three successive years from 2004-04. Stewart will sport the same sponsor – Oreo/Ritz – that Earnhardt took to Victory Lane in his last Daytona win in 2004. … Dillon and Whitt will be joined by three other Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates at Daytona – Jason Bowles, Joey Gase and Johanna Long. Timmy Hill, the 2011 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, will run at Daytona but soon after will make the jump to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series where he’ll attempt to lock up consecutive rookie of the year awards. Blake Koch, runner-up to Hill in the 2011 rookie race and now his teammate at Rick Ware Racing, will be the lone full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series car for the organization in 2012.

 
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
 
Hornaday, Chevrolet Still Winless At Daytona
Four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. has a series-leading 51 wins. Not one of them has come at the season-opener at Daytona.
 
Here’s a stat that should provide a silver lining for Hornaday: a Daytona winner has never gone on to win the series championship. Still, it’s a race the veteran very much wants to win.
 
If Hornaday were to win Friday night he would end a second winless drought. Like Hornaday, Chevrolet has also gone winless at Daytona.
 
Sauter Tabbed As Championship Favorite
Johnny Sauter – who won the season ending race at Homestead - came within six points of being the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion in 2011.
 
NASCAR’s media corps thinks he will do just that in 2012, naming him the preseason favorite followed by Ty Dillon, Ron Hornaday Jr., Matt Crafton and James Buescher.
 
Sauter’s ThorSport Racing is the longest continuously competing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, but is still searching for the elusive championship title.
 
Veterans Bank On Experience Paying Off At Daytona
The truck series entry list for Daytona is full of many young and eager names. However, it’s the group of veterans who hope to use their experience overshadow the newcomers:
•           Brad Keselowski, who needs a NCWTS victory to complete a sweep of all three national series
•           Ward Burton, the 2002 Daytona 500 winner, will compete with his son Jeb, a rookie contender
•           David Reutimann, a former series rookie of the year
•           Travis Kvapil, who won the series championship in 2003
•           Todd Bodine, a two-time series champion and Daytona winner
•           Mike Skinner, 1997 Daytona 500 pole winner and former series champion

At Daytona International Speedway

History
•Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
•The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.
•Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
·         Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.
Notebook
•There have been 129 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 53 have been 500 miles, 49 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
•Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
•Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
•Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959.
•Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
•53 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
•Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
•Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with five poles at Daytona.
•54 drivers have won at Daytona.
•Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
•Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
•The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
•17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in last year’s Coke Zero 400.
•A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.

 
Daytona 500 Tidbits
•The 2012 edition will be the 54th running of the Daytona 500.
•Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.
•518 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 306 in more than one.
•35 drivers have won a Daytona 500.
•Youngest Daytona 500 winner: Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 - 20 years, 0 months, 1 days)
•Oldest Daytona 500 winner: Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 - 50 years, 2 months, 11 days)
•Eight drivers have won more than one Daytona 500, led by Richard Petty with seven victories.
•The eight drivers who have won the Daytona 500 more than once: Richard Petty (seven), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three), Dale Jarrett (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Bill Elliott (two), Sterling Marlin (two) and Michael Waltrip (two).
•Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes in the Daytona 500 with five; Kurt Busch leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 second-place finishes with three.
•Dale Earnhardt finished in the top 10 in 16 of his 23 Daytona 500s.
•Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty each had 16 top 10s in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
•Dale Earnhardt had 12 top fives in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
•Only 13 drivers have an average finish of 10th or better in the Daytona 500, six of those competed in the Daytona 500 only once.
•Clint Bowyer has a 12.2 average finish in six appearances, the best of the active drivers who have competed in more than one Daytona 500.
•Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, and Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 champion, are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 in their first appearance.
•28 of the 35 drivers who have won, participated in at least two Daytona 500s before visiting Victory Lane.
•Dale Earnhardt competed 19 times before winning his only Daytona 500 (1998), the longest span of any of the 35 race winners.
•Six drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first Daytona 500 victory: Dale Earnhardt (19), Buddy Baker (18), Darrell Waltrip (16), Bobby Allison (14), Michael Waltrip (14) and Sterling Marlin 12).
•The most Daytona 500s all-time without a victory was Dave Marcis (33 races).
•Mark Martin (27) leads active drivers without a victory.
•Six drivers posted their career-first victory with a win in the Daytona 500: Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001) and Trevor Bayne (2011).
•Three other drivers posted their career-first victory in (point-paying) qualifying races: Johnny Rutherford (1963), Bobby Isaac (1964) and Earl Balmer (1966).
•A driver has won back-to-back Daytona 500s three times. Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95)
• Kevin Harvick’s 0.020-second margin of victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500 is the 12th-closest overall since the advent of electronic timing in 1993, and the closest in a Daytona 500.
•26 of the 53 Daytona 500s have been won from a top-five starting position.
•Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 from the 39th starting position in 2009, the deepest a race winner has started.
•Nine have been won from the pole. The last to do so was Dale Jarrett in 2000.
•16 Daytona 500s have been won from the front row.
•Danica Patrick will become the third female driver to compete in a Daytona 500 joining Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson.
Race Season Driver  Start Finish
Daytona 500 1977 Janet Guthrie 39 12
Daytona 500 1980 Janet Guthrie 18 11
Daytona 500 2002 Shawna Robinson 36 24

Driver Rating at Daytona
Kyle Busch                   98.7     
Tony Stewart                 98.2
Kurt Busch                    96.0
Jeff Gordon                  89.4
Matt Kenseth                 89.0
Jimmie Johnson            87.5
Dale Earnhardt Jr.         87.1
Clint Bowyer                  87.0
Landon Cassill             86.9
Kevin Harvick                86.3
Jeff Burton                   83.8
Carl Edwards                83.2
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (13 total) at Daytona.

 
•Driver Ratings for Winners – Pre-Race Daytona 500 Driver Ratings heading into 2012 for past Daytona 500 winners (past 6 years)
Driver – Year – Driver Rating
?Trevor Bayne – 2011 – 68.9
?Jamie McMurray – 2010 – 80.2
?Matt Kenseth – 2009 – 89.0
?Ryan Newman – 2008 – 82.9
?Kevin Harvick – 2007 – 86.3
?Jimmie Johnson – 2006 – 87.5
 
•Drivers who have won the Daytona 500 in more than one car manufacturer:
Driver – Manufacturer (Number of wins in that manufacturer)
?Richard Petty – Plymouth (3), Dodge (2), Oldsmobile (1) and Buick (1)
?Cale Yarborough – Chevrolet (2), Mercury (1) and Pontiac (1)
?Bobby Allison – Buick (2) and Ford (1)
?Dale Jarrett – Ford (2) and Chevrolet (1)
 
•Drivers who have won the Shootout at Daytona and the Daytona 500 in the same season:
Driver – (Year)
?Bobby Allison (1982)
?Bill Elliott (1987)
?Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)
?Jeff Gordon (1997)
 

DRIVER STATS
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)
     ·         Two top fives, six top 10s
     ·         Average finish of 15.1
     ·         Average Running Position of 15.7, ninth-best
     ·         Driver Rating of 87.0, eighth-best
     ·         2,550 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.792 mph, seventh-fastest
 
Jeff Burton (No. 31 CAT Chevrolet)
     ·         One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
     ·         Average finish of 17.8
     ·         Average Running Position of 16.2, 10th-best
     ·         Driver Rating of 83.8, 11th-best
     ·         54 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
     ·         2,927 Green Flag Passes, second-most
     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.946 mph, second-fastest
     ·         1,350 Laps in the Top 15 (53.7%), 10th-most
     ·         1,722 Quality Passes, fifth-most
 
Kurt Busch (No. 51 Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet)
     ·         10 top fives, 12 top 10s
     ·         Average finish of 16.3
     ·         Average Running Position of 13.7, fourth-best
     ·         Driver Rating of 96.0, third-best
     ·         56 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
     ·         2,719 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.867 mph, third-fastest
     ·         1,693 Laps in the Top 15 (67.3%), second-most
     ·         Series-high 1,927 Quality Passes

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet)
·         10 top fives, 12 top 10s
·         Average finish of 16.3
·         Average Running Position of 13.7, fourth-best
·         Driver Rating of 96.0, third-best
·         56 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
·         2,719 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.867 mph, third-fastest
·         1,693 Laps in the Top 15 (67.3%), second-most
·         Series-high 1,927 Quality Passes
 
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
·         One win, five top fives, six top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.6
·         Series-best Average Running Position of 12.3
·         Series-best Driver Rating of 98.7
·         66 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
·         2,507 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.817 mph, sixth-fastest
·         Series-high 1,821 Laps in the Top 15 (72.4%)
·         1,918 Quality Passes, second-most
 
Landon Cassill (No. 83 Burger King Toyota)
·         Average finish of 26.0
·         Average Running Position of 14.4, sixth-best
·         Driver Rating of 86.9, ninth-best
·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 187.060 mph
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 15.0
·         Average Running Position of 15.3, eighth-best
·         Driver Rating of 87.1, seventh-best
·         64 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
·         2,563 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.784 mph, ninth-fastest
·         1,501 Laps in the Top 15 (59.7%), fifth-most
·         1,657 Quality Passes, eighth-most
 
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
·         Four top fives, six top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.9
·         Average Running Position of 17.0, 13th-best
·         Driver Rating of 83.2, 12th-best
·         53 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
·         2,785 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
·         1,450 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), eighth-most
·         1,918 Quality Passes, second-most
 
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
·         Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
·         Average finish of 15.5
·         Average Running Position of 14.3, fifth-best
·         Driver Rating of 89.4, fourth-best
·         1,479 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), seventh-most
·         1,521 Quality Passes, 12th-most
 
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 15.4
·         Driver Rating of 86.3, 10th-best
·         67 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
·         2,732 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.791 mph, eighth-fastest
·         1,316 Laps in the Top 15 (52.3%), 12th-most
·         1,526 Quality Passes, 11th-most
 
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
·         One win, six top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 17.0
·         Average Running Position of 13.0, second-best
·         Driver Rating of 87.5, sixth-best
·         2,469 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
·         1,612 Laps in the Top 15 (64.1%), fourth-most
·         1,680 Quality Passes, seventh-most
 
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Best Buy Ford)
·         One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
·         Average finish of 17.4
·         Average Running Position of 15.3, seventh-best
·         Driver Rating of 89.0, fifth-best
·         Series-high 68 Fastest Laps Run
·         2,415 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
·         1,497 Laps in the Top 15 (59.5%), sixth-most
·         1,608 Quality Passes, ninth-most
 
Ryan Newman (No. 39 WIX Filters Chevrolet)
·         One win, two top fives, three top 10s
·         Average finish of 22.0
·         Average Running Position of 16.6, 11th-best
·         Driver Rating of 82.9, 13th-best
·         2,709 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
·         1,371 Laps in the Top 15 (54.5%), ninth-most
·         1,560 Quality Passes, 10th-most
 
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 16.7
·         Average Running Position of 13.6, third-best
·         Driver Rating of 98.2, second-best
·         66 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.835 mph, fifth-fastest
·         1,617 Laps in the Top 15 (64.3%), third-most

SOURCE:  NASCAR MEDIA

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones will serve as Honorary Race Official for the 54th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Daytona International Speedway (FOX, 1 p.m. ET).

As Honorary Race Official, Jones will be introduced at the driver’s meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies and ride in one of the honorary race official cars ahead of the 43-car field for the 200-lap, 500-mile historic race.

“Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is a huge star in mixed martial arts,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “We are excited to welcome him to the ‘World Center of Racing’ and have him be a part of the pre-race ceremonies for NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious race.”

“I am thrilled to be able to serve as Honorary Race Official at this year's Daytona 500, NASCAR's premier event,” Jones said. “Like the UFC, NASCAR has a passionate and knowledgeable fan base, and I am honored that I will get to share this experience with them."

Jones’ holds a career record of 15-1, which is comprised of eight knockouts and five submissions. He was named “Most Dangerous Man” at the 2011 Spike Guys’ Choice Awards and “2011 Fighter of the Year” at the World MMA Awards.

In December 2011, the Endicott, N.Y. native capped off what many have hailed as the greatest year in MMA history with a submission against Lyoto

Earlier in the year, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 23 after he won all four of his fights and earned the Light Heavyweight title. With two more defeats of former champions later in 2011, Jones became the first fighter in UFC history to defeat three former champions in one year.

Jones entered the UFC in August 2008 after only four months of competing in professional fights.

 Currently, Jones trains in Albuquerque, N.M. under legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson. On April 21 in Atlanta, Jones will take on his former champion training partner, “Suga” Rashad Evans, in one of the most anticipated UFC fights of the year.

Tickets for Speedweeks 2012 events, including the 54th annual Daytona 500, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling             1-800-PITSHOP.

If you are unable to attend in person, be sure to tune in to the Daytona 500 on FOX on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway). In addition, fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR and #DAYTONA500. - dis pr

photo credit:  us presswire

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- In one breath, Robby Gordon is bemoaning the fact he couldn't quit NASCAR even if he wanted to. He has money tied up in a race shop and airplanes, with crew members depending on him for their livelihood.

Minutes later, though, Gordon is talking with boundless optimism about the potential of Speed Energy, a brand of energy drink that he's trying to market on his own.

 And does he have a deal for you.

"Race team's for sale," Gordon said. "It's been up for sale. Really, what I'd like to do, I think the smartest thing for us to do as we're talking candidly here, would be to bring in investors that have more opportunity to [attract] big sponsor relations.

"Obviously, I can drive it, we can run it, but between doing that and operating Speed, we need people that have more relations than I have."

The 43-year-old Gordon has been an owner/driver in NASCAR since 2005, and the former Indy driver has had his moments -- including a second-place finish at Infineon Raceway in 2010.

But there are challenges, too.

Does he make money in NASCAR?

"Right now? No," Gordon said. "We haven't made money in NASCAR in a long time."

Would he consider getting out?

"I've got a 100,000-square-foot building," Gordon said. "Unfortunately, I've got airplanes that I can't even afford to use today that are sitting there, I'm still paying insurance on them, I'm still paying payments. The race shop, it's not paid for, obviously I'm paying rent on it. So I'm stuck. Plain and simple."

Gordon later reconsidered his use of the word "stuck," saying he would prefer to stay in NASCAR on a limited schedule and take on investors.

"The reality is, I don't want to be all the way out," Gordon said. "I would like to run about 15 stock car races a year. That would be my goal."

That would allow him to continue pursuing his diverse racing interests outside of NASCAR -- and continue to build Speed Energy, which he insists is on its way to becoming a marketing success that can grow to take on the likes of industry titans such as Red Bull. - AP

photo credit:  getty images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The owner of Hendrick Motorsports disputes NASCAR's claim that Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 car was illegal and plans to appeal any penalty the governing body issues.

NASCAR on Friday confiscated the C-posts -- pillars that come down from the roof to the quarter panel -- from Johnson's car during the initial inspection process. Officials said the pieces were so obviously altered to create an aerodynamic advantage that they could be seen by the naked eye.

Sprint Cup series director John Darby said it was a major offense and could result in a suspension for crew chief Chad Knaus and others involved.

HMS owner Rick Hendrick said before Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout that the car is the same one that Johnson ran in all four restrictor plate races last season, including the Daytona 500, and the roof had not been altered.

He added that the car went to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for inspection and was returned without any notification of being outside the lines.

"That car, we've run it four times,'' Hendrick said. "It was built for this place and they never touched the roof, and it's been to the Tech Center after they won Talladega (in the spring). All that's been done is paint it, so I don't get it.''

Hendrick acknowledged that this is the same car Knaus was caught on film prior to the October Talladega race telling Johnson to damage the rear end if he won. Johnson's car was taken back to the R&D center after that race and the remaining races in 2011.

Asked if this was in response to that incident, for which Knaus received a reprimand from NASCAR, Hendrick said, "Maybe you can put it together.

"I don't understand," Hendrick continued. "They know the serial numbers of the cars. Our guys swear they have not touched the roof on the car."

Hendrick said he plans to meet with NASCAR to discuss the matter. NASCAR said a decision on penalties wouldn't come until after the February 26 Daytona 500.

"When you take it to the Tech Center, you would think they could see it if they have a problem," he said.

Knaus' only comment on the issue was, "They found some things they didn't like and they asked us to remove them.''

The No. 48 team has replaced the C-posts, practiced it on Saturday and plans to use the car to qualify for the 500 on Sunday.

This is not the first time Knaus and the No. 48 team have faced sanctions before the "Great American Race." In 2006, Knaus was suspended for four races and fined $25,000 when NASCAR discovered a device that pushed the rear window out more than three-quarters of an inch to create a competitive advantage.

Knaus sat out the 500 and Johnson won with Darian Grubb as his interim crew chief. He has been penalized by NASCAR eight other times, two before he arrived at HMS.

Knaus' last penalty came in 2007 when he was suspended for six races after NASCAR claimed the front fender was outside the tolerances at Infineon Raceway.

"You know, I don't like it if we find some flagrant problem," Hendrick said. "I don't like it when someone says I just don't like the looks of it and never put the plate down on it."

NASCAR officials said the issue was discovered before it went through inspection, and was confirmed in inspection. Hendrick disputed that after talking to Knaus and his team, saying NASCAR never used the claw used to measure if a car is in specification. - by david newton - www.espn.com

When is Kyle Busch going to accept his 'real' nickname?

"WildThing"

Following Busch's hair raising win Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR's annual kick-off event the Bud Shootout, twitter nation was blowing up with tweets praising Busch's driving skills.

Fans of Busch, haters of Busch, and non NASCAR fans who just happened to catch the race on TV, were all chiming in regarding the amazing saves Busch pulled off throughout the 75-lap exhibition race. Whether they loved Busch or hated Busch, they all seemed to agree - "WildThing" can drive!

Not only does twitter world agree Busch is a helluva wheelman, they also agree his nickname is "WildThing". Nearly every tweet I read regarding Busch Saturday night, referred to the 26-year old Joe Gibbs Racing star as "WildThing".

But, Busch refers to himself as "Rowdy", a nickname he stole from the Tom Cruise movie "Days Of Thunder". Doesn't Busch know you cannot give yourself a nickname? Nickname's need to be given to you, you don't give yourself a nickname - it just doesn't work. For those of you about to type me a nasty e-mail, the nickname Captain Thunder was given to me by Sirius/XM Sportstalk host Scottie Ferrall @ScottFerrall on twitter. So, save your e-mails for Busch.

"Rowdy" was a name for another driver from another time, in a make believe movie. No one calls Kyle Busch "Rowdy" - except Busch himself.

Come on Kyle, embrace "WildThing", it's who you are. You have been "WildThing" since the day you drove on to the truck series scene in 2001. Don't run from the moniker, use it, market it, embrace it - learn to love it.

The saves Busch made in Saturday night's Bud Shootout where spectacular. The way he made the sports defending champion his bitch on the final lap was stunning.

But, none of it was Rowdy. Wild yes, Rowdy, ah no. - Captain Thunder - www.CaptainThunderRacing.com

GATORADE DUEL #1 STARTING LINEUP

POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND
1    99 Carl Edwards Ford Fastenal - - -
2    88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard  - - -
3    9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Stanley - - -
4    6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford Ford EcoBoost  - - -
5    21 Trevor Bayne Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center  - - -
6    14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Mobil 1  - - -
7    43 Aric Almirola Ford Smithfield "Helping Hungry Homes"  - - -
8    27 Paul Menard Chevrolet Peak / Menards  - - -
9    34 David Ragan Ford Scorpion Truck Bed Liners  - - -
10  22 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Shell / Pennzoil  - - -
11  2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Miller Lite  - - -
12  29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Budweiser - - -
13  31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar - - -
14  42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target - - -
15  30 David Stremme Toyota Inception Motorsports  - - -
16  1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats  - - -
17  10 Danica Patrick  Chevrolet GoDaddy.com - - -
18  32 Terry Labonte Ford C&J Energy  - - -
19  140 Michael Waltrip Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine  - - -
20  11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express  - - -
21  98 Michael McDowell Ford K-Love / Curb Records  - - -
22  83 Landon Cassill Toyota Burger King  - - -
23  38 David Gilliland Ford MHP Power Pak Pudding  - - -
24  37 Mike Wallace Ford Poynt.com - - -
25  7 Robby Gordon Dodge Mapei / Menards / Speed Energy 

GATORADE DUEL #2 STARTING LINEUP

POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND
1    16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M - - -
2    13 Casey Mears Ford GEICO - - -
3    24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger  - - -
4    56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts  - - -
5    55 Mark Martin Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine  - - -
6    48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's - - -
7    17 Matt Kenseth Ford Best Buy  - - -
8    39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army / Quicken Loans  - - -
9    20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot  - - -
10   5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet Farmers Insurance  - - -
11   26 Tony Raines Ford Front Row Motorsports  - - -
12   18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's Brown  - - -
13   109 Kenny Wallace Toyota American Ethanol  - - -
14   36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet Ollie's Bargain Outlet  - - -
15   51 Kurt Busch Chevrolet HendrickCars.com - - -
16   33 Elliott Sadler Chevrolet General Mills / Kroger  - - -
17   87 Joe Nemechek Toyota AMFMEnergy.com / Pellet & Wood Stoves - - -
18   78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row / CSX "Play it Safe"  - - -
19   47 Bobby Labonte Toyota Kroger - - -
20   97 Bill Elliott Toyota AMFMEnergy.com / Pellet & Wood Stoves - - -
21   93 David Reutimann Toyota Burger King  - - -
22   23 Robert Richardson Jr. Toyota North Texas Pipe  - - -
23   249 J.J. Yeley Toyota America Israel Racing  - - -
24   15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 5-hour Energy  -