The countdown to The Great American Race, otherwise known as the Daytona 500, is winding down. Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5 mile trioval is to NASCAR what old Yankee Stadium was to baseball, and at the end of the NASCAR season there are two things you remember; who won the Sprint Cup and who won the Daytona 500.
2009 Daytona 500 Winner Matt Kenseth
Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway
Sun, Feb. 14 @1:00 PM ET – FOX
No other sport incorporates technology as much as motorsports, no other sports rewards attention to detail as much as motorsports, no other league begins its season with its most prestigious event like NASCAR, and no other sport puts a person’s life at risk like racing does; these are the reasons we love NASCAR.
The Field
Hendrick Motorsports teammates’ Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. secured the front row for the 2010 Daytona 500 in last Saturday’s qualifying; which sets the stage for Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying races to determine the starting positions of the remaining top 35 drivers from last season’s standings.
Jr with his 2009 ride.
Daytona 500 Rules Changes
The 2009 season suffered from an increase in cautions, coupled with a lower average speed and fewer lead changes. NASCAR’s first attempt to re-infuse excitement into the brand will be tested at the 2010 Daytona 500 where restrictions on bump-drafting will be lifted and horsepower will be increased with the introduction of the largest restrictor plate since 1989.
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The Gatorade Duels
Much like how the Regional Finals of the NCAA tournament are usually more exciting than the actual Final Four so are the twin 150-mile races that determine the final qualifiers and set the starting positions.
Thursday’s Gatorade 150-Mile Duels Starting Grids
Duel 1 – 2:00 PM ET on Speed TV
1 Mark Martin 5 Chevrolet
2 Ryan Newman 39 Chevrolet
3 Bill Elliott 21 Ford
4 Jimmie Johnson 48 Chevrolet
5 Clint Bowyer 33 Chevrolet
6 Kyle Busch 18 Toyota
7 Jeff Gordon 24 Chevrolet
8 Joe Nemechek 87 Toyota
9 Jamie McMurray 1 Chevrolet
10 Michael Waltrip 51 Toyota
11 David Ragan 6 Ford
12 AJ Allmendinger 43 Ford
13 Carl Edwards 99 Ford
14 Denny Hamlin 11 Toyota
15 Kevin Harvick 29 Chevrolet
16 Jeff Burton 31 Chevrolet
17 Regan Smith 78 Chevrolet
18 Greg Biffle 16 Ford
19 Reed Sorenson 32 Toyota
20 Max Papis 13 Toyota
21 John Andretti 34 Ford
22 Jeff Fuller 97 Toyota
23 Robert Richardson 38 Ford
24 Travis Kvapil 37 Ford
25 Terry Cook 46 Dodge
26 Michael McDowell 55 Toyota
27 Kirk Shelmerdine 27 Toyota
Duel 2 – 4:00 PM ET on Speed TV
1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 88 Chevrolet
2 Juan Pablo Montoya 42 Chevrolet
3 Kurt Busch 2 Dodge
4 Matt Kenseth 17 Ford
5 Sam Hornish Jr. 77 Dodge
6 Scott Speed 82 Toyota
7 Marcos Ambrose 47 Toyota
8 Brad Keselowski 12 Dodge
9 Joey Logano 20 Toyota
10 Bobby Labonte 71 Chevrolet
11 Tony Stewart 14 Chevrolet
12 David Reutimann 00 Toyota
13 Paul Menard 98 Ford
14 Kasey Kahne 9 Ford
15 Mike Bliss 36 Chevrolet
16 Robby Gordon 7 Toyota
17 Martin Truex Jr. 56 Toyota
18 Brian Vickers 83 Toyota
19 Elliott Sadler 19 Ford
20 Casey Mears 90 Chevrolet
21 David Gilliland 49 Toyota
22 Aric Almirola 09 Chevrolet
23 Boris Said 26 Ford
24 Dave Blaney 66 Toyota
25 Derrike Cope 75 Dodge
26 Mike Wallace 92 Dodge
27 Norm Benning 57 Chevrolet
Daytona 500 Prediction
I gotta sneaky feeling that Dale Earnhardt Junior is going to have a big year and it starts Sunday at the Daytona 500.
NICE Write Up on this FANTASTIC time for all Race Fans, I cannot wait!