NASCAR Pre-race: FOX - 12:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: FOX, 1:00pm/et

In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds

Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Krista Voda

Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 10:00am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Wednesday, February 17 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
Race Fan TV

This Week - Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio

motorracingnetwork.com

sirius.com

Track Specs:
Track/Race Length: 2.5 mile oval, 200 laps, 500 miles
Tri-oval with 31-degree banking in the turns
18-degree banking in the tri-oval and 6-degree banking on the straightaways
Date track opened: 1959
Banking in turns 1-4: 31 degrees
Banking in tri-oval: 18 degrees
Banking on backstretch: 3 degrees
Banking on the straightaway: 6 degrees
Length of frontstretch: 3,800 feet
Length of backstretch: 3,400 feet
Grandstand Seating: 168,000.
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Pace Car Speed: 70 mph
Pit Road Length: 1,600 feet
Pit Road Width: 50 feet
Opened: 1959

Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Transformers stars Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & director Michael Bay
Command to start engines: Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Michael Bay
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
Invocation: Rev. Dr. L. Ronald Durham, Sr Paster, Greater Friendship Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, FL
National Anthem: Martina McBride
Military Flyover: 6 F-16 Fighting Falcons, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

Websites:
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona 500
Daytona 500 Experience
ISC Motorsports
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide
Facebook - Daytona International Speedway
Twitter - Daytona International Speedway
Daytona 500 Browser Theme

July 2010: see my Daytona Race Info page

February 2010: see my Daytona 500 Race Info page

Goodyear tires at Daytona: The Goodyear tires are a combination of what NASCAR will use at Las Vegas and Talladega. They don't wear as fast, as usually is the case on new surfaces, meaning we'll see a lot more no-tire and two-tire stops in the Daytona 500 than normal. (ESPN.com)(1-21-2011)

Double Yellow Line at Daytona = do not pass: In order to emphasize the yellow-line rule at Daytona International Speedway where passes are not permitted, NASCAR has made the single yellow line into a double-yellow line. The second yellow line was painted on the inside of the existing yellow line.(SceneDaily)(2-8-2009)

Harley J. Earl trophy, who was Earl? If there's one trophy a driver dreams of putting his hands on, it's the Harley J. Earl trophy. Awarded to the winner of the Daytona 500, the Harley J. Earl trophy is one of the most prized possessions in motorsports. Named after Harley J. Earl, a famous General Motors designer and friend of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy rests year round inside The Daytona 500 Experience , "The Official Motorsports Attraction of NASCAR," and bears the name of every Daytona 500 champion.
Each year, the Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy makes a trip outside the attraction to the hallowed grounds of Gatorade Victory Lane at the "World Center of Racing" for a meeting with the Daytona 500 champion.
While the Daytona 500 champion doesn't take home the Harley J. Earl trophy, the winner of the "Great American Race" is awarded a replica Harley J. Earl trophy, which has a black base with a scaled-down replica of the Firebird One that Earl created in 1954 at the peak of his career with General Motors.
For the 50th running of the Daytona 500, the trophy was painted gold. The Harley J. Earl trophy is just one of three trophies awarded on the day of the Daytona 500.
The winning crew chief of the Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Cannonball Baker trophy, which is named after the famous coast-to-coast racer who was elected the first national commissioner of NASCAR in 1948 while the owner of the winning Daytona 500 champion is awarded the Governor's Cup.(DIS PR)
Richard Earl, a former Wall Street broker, makes his living selling Harley Earl-designed cars. " 'Motoramic masterpieces' is how I like to refer to them," he said. He maintains the official Harley Earl Web site, carofthecentury.com, and is working on a biography of his grandfather.(3-24-2009)

For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Daytona International Speedway Track News/Rumors/Links page

Practices:
Saturday, February 12, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, TV-SPEED
Saturday, February 12, 2:00 - 3:45 pm, TV-SPEED
Wednesday, February 16, 10:40 am - 12:00 pm, TV-SPEED
Wednesday, February 16, 1:30 - 2:55 pm, TV-SPEED
Friday, February 18, 11:00 am - 12:00pm/et, TV-SPEED
Friday, February 18, 12:30 - 1:55pm/et, TV-SPEED

Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, February 19, 10:30 am/et, TV-SPEED

Qualifying Draw: Saturday, February 12, 10:00 am/et

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-2, Sunday, February 13 at 1:05 pm/et, TV-FOX, no re-air scheduled;
AND live via radio at MRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500: in what has to be one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history, 20-year old #21-Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on the 2nd green-white-checkered finish. It is Bayne's 1st career NASCAR Sprint Cup win in only his 2nd start [ties a record with Jamie McMurray]. The famed Wood Brothers Racing team won their 5th Daytona 500, 15th overall at Daytona and 98th Sprint Cup race. It is the Wood Brothers first win since Elliott Sadler won for them at Bristol in March of 2001. Bayne is the youngest winner ever of the Daytona 500 at 20 years, 1 day old. The win is Ford's 600th win for the manufacturer. #99-Edwards finished 2nd followed by #34-Gilliland [the best finish ever for Front Row Motorsports], #47-BLabonte, #22-Busch, #42-Montoya, #78-Smith [best career finish], #18-Busch, #27-Menard and #5-Martin [was 3 laps down at one point]. Pole sitter #88-Earnhardt Jr, wrecked late and finished 24th. 2010 Sprint Cup Champ, #48-Jimmie Johnson was involved in 'the big one' on lap 28 and finished 27th after the team made repairs, finishing 19 laps down.
There were a record 74 lead changes among 22 record leaders with a record 16 cautions for 60 laps.
See race results, awards and more on the Daytona Race Results page.
For points standings, see the Drivers Points Standings page and the Owners Points Standings page.(2-20-2011)

Record-Setting Day At The Daytona 500: The 53rd running of the Daytona 500, the first on the brand-new racing surface at Daytona International Speedway, featured a track-record 74 lead changes and 22 leaders. The lead-change record was especially noteworthy, considering the previous mark lasted more than three decades. The prior lead change mark was 60, set in the 1974 Daytona 500.
For the second consecutive year, the record for different leaders fell. In last year's 500, 21 different drivers led. Additionally, there were 16 cautions, a track record. The 60 caution laps tied a record at Daytona. Sunday's Daytona 500 continued a record-breaking Speedweeks trend. Last Saturday night, the Budweiser Shootout featured a record-breaking 28 lead changes.
Records also were broken in each of Thursday's two Gatorade Duel races. The first Duel race had a record 20 lead changes. That mark was immediately broken in the second Duel event, which had 22 lead changes.
Trevor Bayne, who became the youngest Daytona 500 winner (20 years, one day), led the final six laps. He gave the Wood Brothers organization its fifth Daytona 500 win. The Woods' last victory came in 1976 with NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee David Pearson beating Richard Petty in a legendary last-lap battle. Bayne became the seventh driver to earn his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory in the Daytona 500.(NASCAR)(2-20-2011)

Points Note: This was the first race under NASCAR's new points system. Because #21-Trevor Bayne is racing the for the Nationwide Series points championship, he did not earn any Sprint Cup points for the victory. #99-Carl Edwards is now the points leader with 42 points.(Sporting News), the Wood Brothers still get owners points and lead the Owners Points standings.(2-20-2011)

Race Fast Facts - Daytona International Speedway:
Trevor Bayne won the 53rd Annual Daytona 500, his first victory in only his second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner in history (20 years, one day).
This is team owner Wood Brothers' fifth Daytona 500 victory, the last coming in 1976 with David Pearson. It is their 98th series win overall.
Bayne is the seventh driver to earn his first points win in the Daytona 500 (Tiny Lund, 1963; Mario Andretti, 1967; Pete Hamilton, 1970; Derrike Cope, 1990; Sterling Marlin, 1994; Michael Waltrip, 2001).
There were track records in lead changes (74), leaders (22) and cautions (16).
The victory is Ford's 600th win.
Carl Edwards (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 13 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
David Gilliland (third) posted his second top-10 finish in six races at Daytona International Speedway.
Because Bayne has chosen to earn championship points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Carl Edwards now leads the points standings by one point over David Gilliland.(NASCAR Statistics)(2-20-2011)

Daytona Notes-n-Nuggets:
* Trevor Bayne became the youngest winner of the Daytona 500.
* Trevor Bayne is the second-youngest driver (20 years, 1 day) to win a Sprint Cup race -- Joey Logano was 19 years, 1 month, 4 days when he won at New Hampshire in June 2009.
* Trevor Bayne is the second driver to win the Daytona 500 in his first start; Lee Petty won the inaugural event in 1959.
* Trevor Bayne is the seventh driver to get his first Sprint Cup vcitory in the Daytona 500 -- Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994) and Michael Waltrip (2001).
* The past six 500s have been won by first-time 500 victors; Jeff Gordon in 2005 is the most recent repeat winner.
* This was the 98th Cup victory for the Wood Brothers; the team's last win came at Bristol in March 2001 with Elliott Sadler.
* The race set records for leaders (22), lead changes (74), cautions (16) and tied the record for caution laps (60).
* Carl Edwards (second) earned his best Daytona 500 finish in his seventh start.
* David Gilliland (third) picked up his third Cup Series top-five finish in his 151st start.
* Bobby Labonte (fourth) earned his best finish since comign home third at Martinsville in Oct. 2006.
* Regan Smith (seventh) had his career-best finish in his 96th start.
* Paul Menard (ninth) earned his ninth top-10 finish in his 148th start.
* Bill Elliott (12th) had his best finish since also finishing 12th in the 2008 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
* Jimmie Johnson (27th) has finished 27th or worse in the six Daytona 500s since he won in 2006.
* This was the fifth 500 to end under a green-white-checkered finish and the second consecutive 500 in which the race went 208 laps.(Sporting News)(2-20-2011)

Rookie Returns Wood Brothers to Victory Lane After Advice from Hall of Famer: Statement from 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee David Pearson;
2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee David Pearson met Trevor Bayne this morning prior to the start of the Daytona 500. Hours later, Bayne, a 20-year-old rookie, sent the Wood Brothers to Victory Lane in the Great American Race. In 1976, Pearson took the same team to Victory Lane in the Daytona 500. Bayne's famed #21 carried decals honoring David Pearson for his Hall of Fame Induction. Pearson left the track shortly after the race started to drive home to South Carolina
David Pearson: "Yeah, I was listening to it on the radio in the car. That's good. I'm proud of them. I figured they had a chance after seeing that boy race in the 150s (Gatorade Duel). I talked to him (Bayne) this morning. I told him to keep his head straight and not to do anything crazy. I told him to stay relaxed. That's the thing; stay relaxed. I knew he would because he was relaxed in the qualifier. I'm proud of him. I don't understand what has taken them so long to return to Victory Lane. The car has always been capable."(NASCAR)(2-20-2011)

Unofficial Results for the 2011 Daytona 500:
pos, car#-driver, manu, out/if, points
1) #21-Bayne, Ford, ZERO drivers points
2) #99-Edwards, Ford, 42
3) #34-Gilliland, Ford, 41
4) #47-BLabonte, Toyota, 41
5) #22-Busch, Dodge, 39
6) #42-Montoya, Chevy, 39
7) #78-Smith, Chevy, 38
8) #18-Busch, Toyota, 37
9) #27-Menard, Chevy, 36
10) #5-Martin, Chevy, 34
11) #43-Allmendinger, Ford, 34
12) #09-Elliott, Chevy, 32
13) #14-Stewart, Chevy, 31
14) #6-Ragan, Ford, 31
15) #32-TLabonte, Ford, 30
16) #7-Gordon, Dodge, 29
17) #33-Bowyer, Chevy, 28
18) #1-McMurray, Chevy, 27
19) #56-Truex Jr., Chevy, 26
20) #77-Wallace, Toyota, 0
21) #11-Hamlin, Toyota, 24
22) #39-Newman, Chevy, 24 [led most laps]
23) #20-Logano, Toyota, 21
24) #88-Eannhardt Jr., Chevy, accident, 21
25) #4-Kahne, Toyota, 19
26) #36-Blaney, Toyota, 19
27) #48-Johnson, Chevy, 17
28) #24-Gordon, Chevy, 17
29) #2-Keselowski, Dodge, accident, 16
30) #00-Reutimann, Toyota, 14
31) #83-Vickers, Toyota, 13
32) #38-Kvapil, Ford, accident, 0
33) #71-Lally, Chevy, 11
34) #17-Kenseth, Ford, accident, 10
35) #16-Biffle, Ford, accident, 9
36) #31-Burton, Chevy, engine, 9
37) #9-Ambrose, Ford, accident, 7
38) #37-Richardson Jr., Ford, accident, 0
39) #87-Nemechek, Toyota, accident, 0
40) #15-Waltrip, Toyota, accident, 4
41) #92-Keselowski, Dodge, accident, 3
42) #29-Harvick. Chevy, engine, 3
43) #46-Yeley, Chevy, engine, 1 point

Penalty Report - Daytona:
Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
#88, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#6, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#20, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#00, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, backup car
#18, 5, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#87, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#43, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#71, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#5, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#83, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#00, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#48, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#16, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#9, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#24, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#15, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#17, 29, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#7, 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#32, 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#37, 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#09, 31, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#32, 31, Speed-Entering pits, tail end
#16, 48, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 76, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#42, 107, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 108, Front air wrench must be carried back to pit wall side of car/truck, tail end
#00, 108, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 123, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#83, 125, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#48, 125, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#09, 135, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 136, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#42, 142, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#38, 158, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#22, 167, Speed-Entering pits, tail end
#22, 167, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#78, 167, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#83, 181, Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area, pass thru / tail end
#4, 182, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#99, 182, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#78, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#32, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#39, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#33, 197, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#6, 202, Jumping the restart, pass thru / tail end
#39, 204, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#56, 204, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
#77, 205, Jumping the restart, pass thru
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-21-2011)

Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Daytona: (and their finish)
Caution 1: no driver down a lap
Caution 2: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 3: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 4: no driver down a lap on the track
Caution 5: #17-Kenseth, 34th
Caution 6: #5-Martin, 10th
Caution 7: #17-Kenseth (2), 34th
Caution 8: #77-Wallace, 20th
Caution 9: #34-Gilliland, 3rd
Caution 10: #5-Martin (2), 10th
Caution 11: #38-Kvapil, 32nd
Caution 12: none, #38-Kvapil caused the caution
Caution 13: #48-Johnson (-19 laps), 27th
Caution 14: #20-Logano, 23rd
Caution 15: #1-McMurray, 18th
Caution 16: #77-Wallace (2), 20th
(2-20-2011)

Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Daytona (or seemed to)?
none
with NASCAR's rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #46 this week
(only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(2-20-2011)

To the Back - Daytona 500: #88-Earnhardt Jr. (backup); #00-Reutimann (backup); #20-Logano (backup); #6-Ragan (backup)

NASCAR Allows Sprint Cup Series Teams To Open Air Inlets: NASCAR is letting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams open up their air inlet openings some for Daytona 500 - going from a 2 1/2 x 20-inch opening to a 3 x 20-inch opening. With continued warm weather forecast for Sunday, this move gives teams more air to cool their engines.(NASCAR)(2-20-2011)

Pit Stall Selections - Daytona: The selections of pit stalls for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #88-Earnhardt Jr. chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #24-Gordon took pit stall 21, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].
#22-Busch, who starts 3rd took the 20th pit stall, the first stall with an opening in back of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #15-Waltrip, who starts 8th.
To see where the drivers and all the other drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(2-18-2011)

Update on cars: #24-Gordon and #21-Bayne teams are working to fix their Daytona 500 cars damaged in the Gatorade Duel on Thursday. Gordon hopes to practice in the 2nd Friday practice, the #21 team doesn't plan to practice on Friday. As reported many times, #88-Earnhardt Jr. will have to go to thew rear of the field on Sunday before the drop of the green flag for the Daytona 500. He wrecked in Wednesday's practice and since he qualified on the pole last Sunday, he must go to the rear of the field. #00-Reutimann was involved in an accident in Thursday's Gatorade Duel and while he finished the race, the team found enough damage to go to a backup car for the Daytona 500, so Reutimann will join Earnhardt Jr. in the back of the pack. Teams are allowed to change engines after the Gatorade Duel, but before Happy Hour practice on Saturday and no have to lose their starting position.(2-18-2011)

NASCAR Tweaks rules to limit drafting UPDATE plate smaller: NASCAR officials announced two technical changes Sunday evening aimed at preventing the sustained two-car drafts that dominated Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, said the body issued a bulletin to race teams with the following specifications:
" The maximum size for the air inlet for the cooling system will be 2½ inches tall by 20 inches wide.
" The pressure release valve on the water system will be set at 33 pounds per square inch.
The intent is to set up the cars so they can't push each other in two-car tandems for extended runs without overheating. Teams try to line up drafting partners at Daytona and Talladega so they can overcome the limitations of the restrictor plates used to keep speeds down at those two tracks. "That will bring down the temperatures so the teams can't run at 290 or 300 degrees [without overheating] on the extended push of 30 or 40 laps," Pemberton said. "This will put [the water temperature in the engines] back in the 250-degree range." Several drivers, crew chiefs and team executives expected NASCAR to control the pressure relief valve. Jamie McMurray, who finished second to Kurt Busch in the Shootout, said many cars had valves that allowed the temperature up to 300 degrees before boiling over. That allowed the second car in the two-car draft to push longer without overheating -- some for more than a dozen laps -- under Saturday's cooler outdoor temperatures. The weather is expected to be warmer for Thursday's qualifying races and the Daytona 500.(see full story at ESPN.com)(2-13-2011)
UPDATE - NASCAR makes change to restrictor plate: NASCAR announced Wednesday morning that the Sprint Cup teams will now use a 57/64 inch restrictor plate at Daytona for the Gatorade Duel and Daytona 500. The 1/64" plate is smaller then the 29/32nd inch plate that was being used. The change will reduce horsepower 12-13 hp and slow the cars down a bit.(SPEED coverage of rain delayed practice)(2-16-2011)

Race Coverage of the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 20, 2011.
Television (TV): FOX at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:19pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
SPEED, Wednesday, February 23 at 12:00pm/et

NASCAR Revises Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR announced a revision to one of its race procedures, allowing a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The new procedure will be implemented beginning with today's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Gatorade Duel at Daytona and will apply to all three national series. NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and get their input. The announcement was made during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' drivers and crew chiefs meeting Thursday morning. "We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions  the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy." The change amends procedure 9-14C of the 2010 NASCAR rulebook.(NASCAR), see rules and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.(2-11-2010)

Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.(10-11-2009)

Jayski's - 2010 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
(pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

Happy Hour Practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, the fastest, slowest and notes:
#33-Bowyer 200.316
#31-Burton 200.316
#2-Keselowski 199.751
#7-Gordon 199.743
#22-Busch 199.459
#78-Smith 199.442
slowest: #39-Newman 178.877 and #46-Yeley 189.286
37 of 43 drivers practiced.
not practicing: #'s 09,14,24,48,83,92.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-19-2011)

2nd Friday Practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, the top five:
#5-Martin 196.803
#48-Johnson 196.794
#4-Kahne 194.704
#83-Vickers 194.700
#17-Kenseth 193.857
#16-Biffle 193.857
Only 12 drivers practiced.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-18-2011)

1st Friday Practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, the top five, slowest and notes
#31-Burton 196.648
#27-Menard 196.644
#9-Ambrose 195.839
#6-Ragan 195.839
#11-Hamlin 194.999
slowest: #99-Edwards 181.148 & #88-Earnhardt Jr. 191.898
Only 12 drivers practiced.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-18-2011)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Gatorade Duel 150's Race Results

Gatorade Duel at Daytona Fast Facts:
. Kurt Busch won the first Gatorade Duel at Daytona race, his first victory in the Daytona 500 qualifying event. His previous best finish was second (2007).
. Busch also won the Budweiser Shootout, this past Saturday night. No driver has won the Budweiser Shootout, a 500 qualifying race and the Daytona 500 in the same season.
. Bill Elliott (15th) and JJ Yeley (17th) earned the two transfer spots in the first Duel race. It will be Elliott's 29th Daytona 500 start, and Yeley's fourth.
. Jeff Burton won the second Duel race, his first victory in the Daytona 500 qualifying event. His previous best finish was second (2005). He has won one other event at Daytona, in July of 2000.
. There were 22 lead changes in the second Gatorade Duel race, an event record.
. Michael Waltrip (third) and Brian Keselowski (fifth) earned the two transfer spots in the second Duel race. It will be Waltrip's 25th consecutive start in the Daytona 500. It will be Keselowski's first Daytona 500 start.
. Earning a spot in the Daytona 500 via their qualifying time: Travis Kvapil, Joe Nemechek and Dave Blaney. Terry Labonte will earn a spot via the past champion provisional. He won the championship in 1984 and 1996.(NASCAR Statistics)(2-17-2011)

Gatorade Duel 2: #31-Jeff Burton won the Gatorade Duel 2 qualifying race for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. #33-Bowyer finished 2nd. Upset of the races would be #92-Keselowski teaming with his brother #2-Brad and finishing 5th, qualifying for his first ever Daytona 500. #15-Waltrip finished 3rd and raced in. Three drivers made the field by their qualifying speed: #38-Kvapil, #87-Nemechek and #36-Blaney. Missing the Daytona 500 are #13-Mears, #60-Bodine, #64-Cope, #66-McDowell and #97-Conway.
results:
1) #31-Burton
2) #33-Bowyer
3) #15-Waltrip, RACED IN
4) #18-Busch
5) #92-Keselowski, RACED IN
6) #1-McMurray
7) #2-Keselowski
8) #11-Hamlin
9) #56-Truex Jr.
10) #99-Edwards
11) #00-Reutimann
12) #24-Gordon
13) #38-Kvapil, SPD
14) #64-Cope, DNQ
15) #16-Biffle
16) #37-Richardson Jr.
17) #7-Gordon
18) #32-TLabonte. Past Champ prov
19) #21-Bayne
20) #6-Ragan
21) #60-Bodine, accident, DNQ
22) #77-Wallace, accident
23) #20-Logano, accident
24) #13-Mears, 3 laps, engine DNQ
RACED IN = made race via transfer spot (2)
DNQ = did not qualify, will miss race
SPD = makes race on speed
See results on the Gatorade Duel 150's Race Results page.(2-17-2011)

Gatorade Duel 1: #22-Kurt Busch won the Gatorade Duel 1 qualifying race for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, his 2nd win at Daytona after winning the Budweiser Shootout. #78-Smith fininished 2nd. With #09-Elliott making the race via one of the two transfer spots, #15-Waltrip is guaranteed to make the Daytona 500 no matter where he finishes in the 2nd Duel as he had the 4th fastest speed in qualifying. If either #38-Kvapil or #15-Waltrip race into the race via the transfer spot, #36-Blaney could make the race by speed
1) #22-Busch, starts 3rd, moves up to the Daytona 500 pole
2) #78-Smith
3) #29-Harvick
4) #17-Kenseth
5) #4-Kahne
6) #42-Montoya
7) #43-Allmendinger
8) #5-Martin
9) #27-Menard
10) #39-Newman
11) #48-Johnson
12) #14-Stewart
13) #88-Earnhardt Jr. will still start at the rear Daytona 500
14) #83-Vickers
15) #09-Elliott, RACED IN
16) #47-Labonte
17) #46-Yeley, RACED IN
18) #97-Conway, DNQ
19) #87-Nemechek, SPD
20) #36-Blaney, MYB
21) #9-Ambrose
22) #71-Lally, -1
23) #66-McDowell, DNQ
24) #34-Gilliland, 40 laps
RACED IN = made race via transfer spot (2)
DNQ = did not qualify, will miss race
SPD = makes race on speed
MYB = can still make race on speed depending on Duel 2 results
See results on the Gatorade Duel 150's Race Results page.(2-17-2011)

Gatorade Duel 150 Race Starting Lineups

Race Coverage of the Gatorade Duel 150 Qualifying Races at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, February 17, 2011.
TV: SPEED at 2:00pm/et; pre-race show at 1:00pm/et
Radio: MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
Scheduled Race Re-Air: on SPEED, Thursday, February 17 at 9:00pm/et

Pit Stall Selections - Gatorade Duel 150: The selections of pit stalls for the Gatorade Duel 150 Sprint Cup Series Qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway have been made. Pole sitters #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #24-Jeff Gordon each took pit stall 1 in their respective Duel races.
To see where the drivers and all the other drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(2-17-2011)

2nd Wed Practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, the top five, slowest and notes
#4-Kahne 200.067
#20-Logano 200.062
#24-Gordon 198.746
#6-Ragan 198.741
#18-Busch 198.702
slowest: #37-Richardson 190.392 & #92-Keselowski 181.605. Just 32 drivers practiced.
#13-Casey Mears blew an engine early in the session. #88-Earnhardt, Jr. sat out the session while the team prepared his backup car.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-16-2011)

1st Wed Practice: for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, the top five, slowest and notes
#18-Busch 200.254
#16-Biffle 200.249
#88-Earnhardt Jr. (wrecked) 199.526
#48-Johnson 199.517
#42-Montoya 199.411
slowest: #92-Keselowski 179.619 and #97-Conway 185.433
#88-Earnhardt Jr. and #56-Truex Jr. wrecked early in the session, not will have to go to backup cars for the Gatroeade Duel, with the #88 having to go to the rear in both the Duel and Daytona 500. The #56 will only have to go to the rear in the Gatorade Duel as he was not locked in to the 500. Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for the Daytona 500 and he was locked in for a starting position.
The 10:30am//et and 1:30pm/et NASCAR Sprint Cup practices scheduled for Wednesday, Feb 16th were pushed back a few hours by rain at Daytona International Speedway. The cars finally hit the track just before 3:00pm/et.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-16-2011)

Earnhardt Jr. wrecks in practice, goes to backup car: during the rain delayed 1st practice on Wednesday, #48-Johnson and #88-Earnhardt Jr. were drafting in a two car pack, just behind them was another 2 car pack, #56-Truex Jr and #83-Vickers. #48-Johnson lifted as he came up on a slower pack of cars, Earnhardt got into Johnson, who got loose but recovered, Truex had no place to go and got into Earnhardt, sending both the #88 and #56 sliding thru the grass with the #88 hitting the inside SAFER wall, bouncing off and back into Truex. So both are going to backup cars. Since Earnhardt Jr.'s starting spot was locked in, he will have to go to the rear of the field before the start of Gatorade Duel 1 and the Daytona 500. Truex Jr. will start at the rear of the Gatorade Duel but starting where he qualifies with his Gatorade Duel result. Whichever driver starts 3rd in the Daytona 500 [to be determined in the Gatorade Duels] will start first in the Daytona 500.(2-16-2010)

Practices at Daytona delayed by rain: the 10:30am//et and 1:30pm/et NASCAR Sprint Cup practices scheduled for Wednesday, Feb 16th were pushed back a few hours by rain at Daytona International Speedway. The cars finally hit the track just before 3:00pm/et.(2-16-2011)

Earnhardt Jr. wins Daytona 500 pole: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with a lap of 186.089 mph for his first Daytona 500 pole and 10th career pole. Earnhardt Jr. is the 36th driver to win the Daytona 500 pole. #24-Gordon will start 2nd, only he and Earnhardt Jr. have secured their exact starting spot. #21-Bayne was 3rd fastest, followed by #27-Menard, #33-Bowyer, #31-Burton, #39-Newman, #5-Martin, #16-Biffle and #14-Stewart. Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon swept the front row for Hendrick Motorsports, the third time HMS has done it. Earnhardt will start from the pole in the first Gatorade Duel and Gordon will start 1st in the 2nd Gatorade Duel. #09-Elliott (17th), #38-Kvapil (20th) and #87-Nemechek (21st) all earned spots in the race as the three fastest drivers among those required to qualify on speed. #32-Terry Labonte will also start the race since he has a past champions provisional to use unless he races his way into one of the two spots available in the Duel he races. With the exception of the front row, the starting lineup will be set by the Gaterade Duel races on Thursday, swcheduled for Thursday, February 17th at 2:00pm/et on SPEED. See the qualifying results on the Daytona 500 Qualifying page(2-13-2011)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Daytona 500:
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500 with a lap of 48.364 seconds, 186.089 mph.
This is his 10th pole in 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. His last pole came at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March, 2010.
This is his first pole in 23 races at Daytona International Speedway.
This is the third time Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the front row in the Daytona 500 (2003 and 2010).
Jeff Gordon will start second in the Daytona 500, his third front row start in the event. He won the pole in 1999 and started second in 2006.
The last driver to win the Daytona 500 from the pole was Dale Jarrett in 2000.
The last driver to win the Daytona 500 from the second starting position was Dale Jarrett in 1993.(NASCAR Statistics)(2-13-2011)

Coverage of Qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 13, 2010 at 1:10pm/et.
Television (TV): FOX, 1:00pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128, last season thru nascar.com only
Jayski.com: Jayski's Daytona 500 Qualifying Page
Qualifying Re-Air: none

Qualifying Order for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is posted. 49 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #2-Keselowski.
The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #11-Hamlin.
The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #57-Benning with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #92-Keselwoski.
See the full qualifying order on the Daytona 500 Qualifying Page.(2-12-2011)

Practice 2 for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, the top 5, slowest and notes:
#5-Martin 185.311
#48-John 184.991
#21-Bayne 184.763
#31-Burton 184.763
#27-Menard 184.699
slowest: #92-Keselowski 176.595 & #32-Labonte 180.346
no speed: #57-Benning, #64-Cope
SPEED reported that Benning would not be able to take a qualifying lap on Sunday, but if he practices Wed, he can race in the Duel.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-12-2011)

Practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
if things stay the same, these four drivers would make the race via speed:
#09-Elliott [PC2], was 12th fastest
#36-Blaney 20th
#15-Waltrip, 23rd
#32-TLabonte [PC1], 46th fastest but would use the past champ prov
these drivers would need to race their way into the Daytona 500 via the Gatorade Duel
....but could make it by speed if the first four drivers race their way in to the race:
#38-Kvapil 25th
#13-Mears, 27th
#87-Nemechek, 34th
#60-Bodine, 37th
these drivers would need to race their way into the Daytona 500 via the Gatorade Duel
#97-Conway, 38th
#46-Yeley, 43rd
#66-McDowell, 44th
#92-Brian Keselowski, 47th
#64-Cope, didn't run
#57-Benning, didn't run
[PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

Practice 1 for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, the top 5, slowest and notes:
#5-Martin 184.877
#24-Gordon 184.513
#27-Menard 184.317
#88-Earnhardt Jr. 184.249
#31-Burton 184.230
slowest: #92-Keselowski 176.136 and #64-Cope 177.228
no speed: #57-Benning
notes: #1-McMurray slapped the wall late in the practice after losing a right front tire, will go to a backup car. Just after that incident, a jet dryer caught fire and left fuel on the track, so practice was ended as the track workers cleaned up the track.
See all practice speeds on the Daytona Practice Speeds page.(2-12-2011)

The Entry List for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Not in top 35 of owners points:
#32-Terry Labonte (1996 Champ)(no 2010 attempts)
#09-Bill Elliott (1988 Champ)(39th in 2010 owners pts/36 attempts)
#13-Casey Mears (38/36)
#15-Michael Waltrip (53/1)
#36-Dave Blaney (40/36)
#38-Travis Kvapil (36/36)
#46-J.J. Yeley (42/36)
#57-Norm Benning (63/1)
#60-Todd Bodine (none)
#64-Derrike Cope (46/24)
#66-Michael McDowell (44/36)
#87-Joe Nemechek (41/36)
#92-Brian Keselowski (54/4)
#97-Kevin Conway (56/2)
In the HIGHLY UNLIKELY event that seven practices, qualifying AND the Gatorade Duel are all rained out or cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 32,09,38,13,36,87,46,66
missing the race would be [5]: #'s 64,97,15,57,60
See the full entry list at my Jayski's Daytona 500 Entry List.(2-10-2011)

Daytona 500 Qualifying Procedure

2010 Daytona 500 Race Winner: #1-Jamie McMurray, 137.284mph, started 13th

2010 July Race Winner: #29-Kevin Harvick, 135.719mph, started 1st [rained out]

Track Race Record: Buddy Baker, Feb 1980, 177.602mph

Oldest Race Winner: Bobby Allison, 50 years, 2 months, 11 days, 2/14/1988

Youngest Race Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 27 days, 7/1/1995

2010 Daytona 500 Pole Sitter: #5-Mark Martin, 191.188, finished 12th

2010 July Pole Sitter: none, rained out, set by points, #29-Harvick started 1st, finished 1st

Track Qualifying Record: Bill Elliott, 210.364mph, February 1987

Track Qualifying Record with Restrictor Plate: Ken Schrader, 196.996, February 1989

Oldest Pole Winner: Mark Martin, 51 years, 0 months, 27 days, 2/6/2010

Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon

Four Current Race Tracks the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runs on that #5-Mark Martin has not won a Sprint Cup race at:
Homestead: 0 for 12 with a best finish of 2nd in 11/2005
Daytona: 0 for 50 with a best finish of 2nd in 2/2007
Pocono: 0 for 48 with six finishes of 2nd, last in 8/2004
Indianapolis: 0 for 17 with a best finish of 2nd in 8/1998 and 7/2009
(plus Martin ran five races at Nashville and four races at Riverside and didn't win)(11-21-2010)

Daytona 500 and Championship in same year: only eight times by five drivers has the Daytona 500 and the Sprint Cup Championship been won in the same season:
1959: Lee Petty
1964, 1971, 1974, 1979: Richard Petty
1977: Cale Yarborough
1997: Jeff Gordon
2006: Jimmie Johnson

First Career Sprint Cup win in the Daytona 500: Six drivers have gotten their first career Sprint Cup win in the Daytona 500:
Tiny Lund, 1963 [5 total wins]
Mario Andretti, 1967 [1]
Pete Hamilton, 1970 [4]
Derrike Cope, 1990 [2]
Sterling Marlin, 1994 [10], won the Daytona 500 twice, also in 1995
Michael Waltrip, 2001 [4], won the Daytona 500 twice, also in 2003

Daytona 500 Tidbits:
* The 2011 edition will be the 53rd running of the Daytona 500.
* Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.
* 514 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 304 in more than one.
* 34 drivers have won a Daytona 500.
* 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).
* Fred Lorenzen posted a top-10 finish in eight of his nine Daytona 500s, the best percentage of drivers who have competed in more than two Daytona 500s.
* 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 12 drivers have an average finish of 10th or better in the Daytona 500, five of those competed in the Daytona 500 only once.
* Clint Bowyer has an 11.2 average finish in five appearances, the best of the active drivers who have competed in more than one Daytona 500.
* Other than Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, no driver has ever won in his first appearance.
* 28 of the 34 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 34 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 (26) 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) and Michael Waltrip (2001).
* 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 10th-closest overall since the advent of electronic timing in 1993, and the closest in a Daytona 500.
* 26 of the 52 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.
* 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 race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under lights ever since.
* There have been 127 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 52 have been 500 miles, 48 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.
* 52 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 14 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.
* There have been 165 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Florida.
* 161 drivers in NASCAR's three national series have their home state recorded as Florida.
* There have been nine race winners whose hometown is Florida in NASCAR's three national series.(NASCAR)(2-26-2011)

The numbers for the Daytona 500:
2  number of times Richard Petty drove a Dodge to victory in the Daytona 500 among his seven wins (1973 and 1974)
3  number of Daytona 500s run without a caution (1959, 1961, and 1962)
3  number of consecutive Daytona 500s extended beyond the scheduled distance (2005 2007)
4  number of Daytona 500s shortened due to rain (1965, 1966, 2003 and 2009)
7  fewest lead changes for a Daytona 500 (1964 and 1965)
11  number of jet dryers available for the Daytona 500 and Speedweeks 2011
11  most cautions for a Daytona 500 (three times  1968, 2005 and 2006)
21  most different leaders for a Daytona 500 (2010)
32  most consecutive Daytona 500 starts (Dave Marcis, 1968-1999)
52  number of lead changes among 21 drivers at last year's Daytona 500
60  most lead changes in the previous 52 Daytona 500s (1974)
68  most starters for the Daytona 500 (1960)
120  minutes, the minimum amount of time it takes to dry the 2.5-mile track after a significant rainfall
184  most laps led by race winner of the "The Great American Race" (Richard Petty, 1964, 200-lap event)
265  total number of cautions in the 36 Sprint Cup races in 2010; 305 in 2009
39  consecutive Sprint Cup races led by Bobby Allison (9/6/71  10/22/72)(Darnell Communications)(2-19-2011)

For more track records, past starting spots that have won and more on Jayski's Daytona International Speedway Track News/Stats/Links page

Chassis selections for Daytona:
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the #1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boat team were forced to switch to their back-up car, as they will now bring chassis #1009 to Daytona International Speedway this weekend. This is the chassis McMurray finished 36th with at Talladega in Oct 2010.
#2-Brad Keselowski: The #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-635 during Sunday's Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). This is a brand-new chassis to the #2 team.
#6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-691 Last ran Talladega  finished 21st; Backup: RK-723 is brand new chassis. Bob Hook, a UPS tractor-trailer driver from New Jersey, will deliver the green flag for Sunday's Daytona 500. The 33-year UPS employee has 31 years of safe driving and was inducted into UPS's Circle of Honor program when he achieved 25 years of accident-free driving.
#17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-713 is a brand new chassis. This weekend at Daytona, Kenseth will pilot the #17 Crown Royal Black Ford Fusion.
#27-Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 338 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This #27 Peak/Menards Chevy is a brand new addition to the RCR fleet, and saw its first laps on the track during preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 343 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This brand new racer was built in-house by the #29 team and will make its first competitive laps during this weekend's prestigious 500-mile event.
#31-Jeff Burton will pilot Chassis No. 331 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new #31 racer that will be put through its first competitive paces in this weekend's season opener.
#33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot chassis No. 336 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this year's Daytona 500. This is a brand new #33 Chevrolet Impala that will turn its first laps on the track at Daytona.
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team are bringing chassis #1101 to Daytona International Speedway this weekend. This is a brand new chassis.
#48-Jimmie Johnson: will pilot brand new chassis No. 628 in Sunday's season-opening Sprint Cup Series race. Johnson last drove backup chassis No. 482 at Talladega in 2009, finishing sixth.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: After the primary chassis was damage during Wednesday's practice, the #88 team just unloaded Chassis 88-576. Jeff Gordon last raced this chassis at Talladega in October to an eighth-place finish. The Budweiser Shootout car will now be the backup. Previously a band-new chassis, it's currently back at Hendrick Motorsports in the paint booth about to make its way back to Daytona. Chassis 88-576 has been refurbished to meet the nose and other 2011 requirements but hadn't been tested this season.
#99-Carl Edwards: The #99 Aflac team will be unloading chassis RK-712 which is a new chassis.
(from team PR's/sites if reported)(2-19-2011)