Nationwide Series Camping World 300 - Feb. 14th

NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World 300
Daytona International Speedway
300 miles (120 laps)

2009 Pole Winner: Kevin Harvick
2009 Race Winner: Tony Stewart

Tony Stewart gets the job done at Daytona – again! He won Saturday’s season opening Nationwide Series race in his first outing for Hendrick Motorsports. Stewart held off a late race charge by both Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards for his 4th season opening win at Daytona. He won this race last year and in ’05 and ’06.

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

There were 18 lead changes among 11 drivers. Clint Bowyer led 4 times for 33 laps, the most in the race. Stewart led for 23 laps including the final 6. There were 6 cautions for 23 laps.

1. Tony Stewart
2. Carl Edwards
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Kyle Busch
5. Greg Biffle
6. Brian Vickers
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
8. David Ragan
9. Jason Keller
10. Matt Kenseth

On Track - Saturday Feb. 14th

Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman wrecked during Happy Hour practice early Saturday afternoon. Newman blew a tire that sent him into the wall. Stewart was following close by and couldn’t avoid the collision.

Both cars suffered major damage forcing both drivers into back-up cars. They both will have to start in the back of the field for the Daytona 500.



Chris Graythen/Getty Images

New team owner Stewart didn’t blame Newman, but turned his attention back to Goodyear who he has blasted publicly before. “If it was because two guys wrecked and it was a driver’s mistake, that’s one thing” Stewart said after the crash. “But a manufacturer that has the sole deal here, they don’t have any competition and they can’t give us something to keep us from having problems like this. So I don’t know. I’m just amazed at how much everybody kisses their butts right now.” There were numerous tire issues during both Gatorade Duels. Goodyear recalled eight sets of right-rear tires following the race that didn’t meet the company’s standards.

Sprint Cup Series Final Practice Speed Chart:

1. Reed Sorenson
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Kurt Busch
4. Juan Pablo Montoya
5. Greg Biffle
6. David Ragan
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr
8. Joey Logano
9. Jeff Gordon
10. Brian Vickers
    

Camping World Truck Series - Friday Feb. 13th

NASCAR Camping World Truck SeriesNextEra Energy Resources 250
Daytona International Speedway
250 Miles (100 laps)

Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Todd Bodine became the 1st repeat winner in 10 years of truck series history at the Daytona International Speedway Friday night as he held off Kyle Busch for the win! It is Bodine’s 16th career win and 4th consecutive superspeedway win. There were 15 lead changes among 12 drivers. Bodine led twice for the race high 25 laps. There were 6 caution flags for 29 laps.


1. Todd Bodine
2. Kyle Busch
3. Terry Cook
4. J.R. Fitzpatrick
5. Ron Hornaday Jr.
6. Tim Peters
7. Mike Skinner
8. Matt Crafton
9. Colin Braun
10. Taylor Malsam

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

On Track - Friday Feb. 13th

Jeff Gordon was the 6th fastest during practice Friday afternoon. Kyle Busch ran some laps in his teammate Joey Logano’s #20 ride rather than running practice laps in his own car.

1. Jamie McMurray
2. Robby Gordon
3. Paul Menard
4. AJ Allmendinger
5. Greg Biffle

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Kevin Harvick won the pole for Saturday’s Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona.

Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Kevin will be piloting his own #33 for Kevin Harvick Inc.
This is his 18th pole in the series and 2nd at Daytona.

Matt Kenseth qualified 2nd followed by Clint Bowyer.

TV Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 1 pm.

2008 Pole Winner: Tony Stewart
2008 Race Winner: Tony Stewart

On Track - Thursday Feb. 12th

Colin Braun won the pole for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Thursday night. The Camping World Truck Series will officially kick off their 10th year anniversary at Daytona on Friday night.

2008 Pole Winner: Erik Darnell
2008 Race Winner: Todd Bodine

Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

There have been 9 different winners in the 9 races there.

Gatorade Duel Races - Thursday Feb. 12th

Jeff Gordon won the first Gatorade Duel Race Thursday afternoon. He’ll start on the 2nd row for the Daytona 500.

Gordon held off Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the win.

Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

Kyle Busch won the second duel race and earned a starting position right beside Gordon on the 2nd row.

With a push from his teammate Denny Hamlin on the final lap, Busch passed Mark Martin for the win. Martin was dominant throughout the race.

4 spots were up for grabs not having otherwise qualified on Sunday and were filled by Jeremy Mayfield, Scott Riggs, Regan Smith and A.J. Allmendinger. Terry Labonte will use the past champion's provisional to make it into the race.

The 43 car field is now set for the 51st Annual Daytona 500.
TV coverage begins at 2pm on FOX.

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Changes for '09 - Restarts

NASCAR will now use single file line-ups for restarts with 20 laps to go in all 3 of the national series this year. Previously, single file restarts were reserved for the last 10 laps in a race.

Daytona 500 Qualifying Rules

Because qualifying for the Daytona 500 is different than any other race, I didn't think it would hurt to list this.

Here's a recap of the Daytona 500 Qualifying Procedure from NASCAR:

Qualifying
• One round of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series timed qualifying will be held. Each team may run two laps with the fast lap setting the qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers set starting positions one and two and are the only guaranteed positions, filling the front row for the Daytona 500.
• The Gatorade Duels, the 150-mile qualifying races, will determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Gatorade Duel Assignment
• The eligible highest ranked 35 in 2008 car owner points will be assigned to Gatorade Duel races based on their standing in the 2008 final car owner points. Odd-numbered owner points will compete in the first Gatorade Duel; even numbered owners will compete in the second. The only exception is that the fastest qualifier will start on the pole in the first Gatorade Duel and the second fastest will start on the pole in the second, regardless of 2008 car owner point standings.
• Owners who failed to finish in the top 35 of the 2008 car owner points will be assigned to a Gatorade Duel based on qualifying times – the highest qualifying owner to the first Duel; the next to the second and alternating through the remaining entries. Starting positions for the Gatorade Duels are based on qualifying times.

Daytona 500 Lineup
• Finishing positions in the Gatorade Duels will determine starting positions in the Daytona 500 once the two fastest qualifiers will start on the front row of the Daytona 500 based on their qualifying times, regardless of their finish in the Duels. Based on their finish in the first Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the odd-number starting positions. Based on their finish in the second Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the even-number starting positions.
• The remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying times beginning with the next available position.
• The composition of the front row will reduce the above numbers. If there are top-35 teams on the front row, the number of guaranteed starters is reduced accordingly. If there are no top-35 teams on the front row, the number of cars that get in based on time are reduced accordingly.
• The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion as long as the past champion competed in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position is not used by a past champion, it will be assigned to the next highest qualifying time.

Recap
The bottom line – for the 2009 Daytona 500 - is that the top-two qualifiers are in. The remaining top-35 guaranteed starters are in. Four drivers will make the field based on their performance in the duels and the remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying times or being a past champion.

Daytona 500 Qualifying - Feb. 8th

It's the Martin & Martin show.

Martin Truex Jr won the pole for the Daytona 500. Mark Martin qualified 2nd.

56 drivers attempted to qualify for the Great American Race. The top 35 drivers are guaranteed a starting position based on 2008 owner points. The 4 fastest drivers outside the top 35 are locked in:
Bill Elliott, Travis Kvapil, Tony Stewart & Terry Labonte (past series champion provisional).

Daytona 500 pole sitter Martin Truex Jr. (right)
and outside pole sitter Mark Martin (left)
celebrate their front row starting positions.
(Photo Credit: Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)

What we know:
Martin Truex Jr and Mark Martin will start from the front row for the Daytona 500 while the rest of the starting positions will be determined by the finishing positions from The Gatorade Duel races. The three fastest drivers outside the top 35 that do not race their way in by their finish in the Duels will make the field by reverting back to their qualifying times.

The duel races are scheduled for this Thursday beginning at 2 (SPEED CHANNEL)

2009 Budweiser Shootout - Feb. 7th

Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, FL

78 laps (195 Miles)

Polesitter: Paul Menard
Winner: Kevin Harvick

Harvick celebrates with his team in Victory Lane

(Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Kevin Harvick wins the '09 Budweiser Shootout! Harvick only led 1 lap, but it was the 1 that mattered the most. With a push from Hamlin on the restart to the green, white, checkered finish, Harvick went from 4th to 1st to pass Jamie McMurray for the lead. Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Clint Bowyer wrecked behind him bringing out the final caution of the night that froze the field and ended the race.

Harvick started 23rd and spent much of the race in the back trying to avoid the wrecks and at one point, even lost the draft. This is Harvick's 1st Budweiser Shootout win in 5 races.

Jamie McMurray finished 2nd. Tony Stewart finished 3rd in his debut as owner-driver. Jeff Gordon and A.J. Allmendinger round out the top 5.

Polesitter Paul Menard wrecked during final practice for the shootout. His team was able to get

There were a record number of lead changes, cautions and drivers starting the event.

Count 23 lead changes among 14 drivers. Dale Jr lead the most laps with 24. He was involved in a late race accident and finished 18th.

There 8 cautions for 23 laps. 6 cautions was the previous record.

28 drivers started the race but only 13 completed all 78 laps.


Unofficial Race Results for the Budweiser Shootout
Finishing order/starting position/driver
1 27 Kevin Harvick #29 Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet
2 15 Jamie McMurray #26 Crown Royal Ford
3 6 Tony Stewart #14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet
4 28 Jeff Gordon #24 DuPont Chevrolet
5 18 A J Allmendinger #44 Valvoline Dodge
6 14 Kasey Kahne #9 Budweiser Dodge
7 11 Carl Edwards #99 Aflac Ford
8 25 Matt Kenseth #17 DEWALT Ford
9 12 Kurt Busch #2 Miller Lite Dodge
10 10 Kyle Busch #18 M&M's Toyota
11 7 Brian Vickers #83 Red Bull Toyota
12 1 Paul Menard #98 Menards/Quaker State Ford
13 5 Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Express Toyota
14 21 Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe's Chevrolet
15 24 Casey Mears #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet
16 20 David Stremme #12 Penske Dodge
17 26 Greg Biffle #16 3M Ford
18 9 Dale Earnhardt #88 Jr National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
19 8 Bobby Labonte #96 Ask.com Ford
20 22 David Reutimann #00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
21 2 Elliott Sadler #19 Stanley Dodge
22 17 Michael Waltrip #55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
23 3 Reed Sorenson #43 McDonald's Dodge
24 23 Jeff Burton #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet
25 4 Scott Speed # #82 Red Bull Toyota
26 16 David Ragan #6 UPS Ford
27 13 Robby Gordon #7 Jim Beam Dodge
28 19 Joey Logano # #20 Home Depot Toyota


"I don't think the old car would have stood up. We hit the wall pretty good there in the beginning of the race. It tore the left front fender off, split it at the seam there, with 25 laps to go. We were able to get that fixed. This car, you know, it's tough. I think we hit the wall a couple times. I hit the 16 as he wrecked. It was an eventful night. We never gave up, though." - Kevin Harvick, post race inspection

(Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)