Duel At Daytona: A Race Within A Race

Duel At Daytona: A Race Within A Race

Here are the guarantees for Sunday’s Daytona 500: Danica Patrick starting position will be No. 1 and Jeff Gordon starting position will be No. 2. That’s it.
A few other drivers, thanks to either their results in Sunday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying or 2012 owner points – or, in the case of Kurt Busch, his 2004 championship – know they’re in the show. They just don’t know where they’ll start. Yet.
That’s where Thursday’s Duel at Daytona comes in.
The top 15 finishers in each Duel – not including Patrick or Gordon – will fill spots 3-32 in the starting lineup. The top 15 from the first Duel will make up the inside row; the top 15 from the second Duel will fill the outside row.
Spots 33-36 will go to those drivers not already locked-in who earned the top four speeds during Sunday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying.
Spots 37-42 will go to the top six cars in 2012 owner points that are not already locked in. The 43rd position goes to the most recent past champion. If there is no eligible past champion, it reverts back to 2012 owner points.
For Mike Bliss and Brian Keselowski, the Duel at Daytona is vital. Because of their owner points and qualifying results (speeds were 44th and 45th, respectively), the only way they can make the Daytona 500 is via their Duel races. Keselowski is in the first Duel; Bliss is in the second.
Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth won last year’s two Duel races.

Johnson’s Milestone Start Could Rekindle Hendrick’s 500 Fortunes

Sunday’s Daytona 500 marks the 400th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start for Jimmie Johnson.
Perhaps that milestone celebration will change his luck – and that of Hendrick Motorsports.
Since winning back-to-back Daytona 500s in 2005-06, HMS has seen its fortunes sag in "The Great American Race."
Johnson hasn’t finished higher than 27th since his 2006 victory. His average finish, post-"500" victory, is 33.5. A year ago, the five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion hit rock-bottom: 40th after a second-lap accident.
It’s early but so far the calendar’s turn hasn’t seemed to help. Both Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, were collected in a first-segment crash in last weekend’s Sprint Unlimited.
Johnson, however, remains optimistic, especially with the performance of the No. 48 Gen-6 Chevrolet SS.
"I was encouraged by the speed of my car and the way the cars raced on the track," he said of his brief drive in the Sprint Unlimited. "I’m looking forward to the Daytona 500." Johnson has reached his milestone with the same sponsor throughout – Lowe’s. In NASCAR history, only Johnson and teammate Gordon (DuPont) have had the same sponsor for each of their first 400 starts.
Gordon’s Daytona 500 performances since his most recent victory in 2005 mirror that of Johnson. In seven subsequent starts, the four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion counts a single top 10 and four finishes of 26th or worse, including 40th in 2012.
The organization’s bright spot is Dale Earnhardt Jr., second twice as an HMS driver, including last year’s runner-up finish to Kenseth.
Kasey Kahne will make his second Daytona 500 start as a Hendrick team member – and 325th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – hoping to improve on last year’s 29th-place performance. Kahne’s best in the season opener is seventh in 2007-08.

Waltrip’s Newtown Salute Highlights Bevy Of Former 500 Winners

Michael Waltrip, two-time Daytona 500 champion (2001, ’03), is part of a stout list of nine former winners of "The Great American Race" who are entered in the 55th running this Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX.
Last week, NASCAR, Swan Racing and Waltrip announced that the No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota will instead garner the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota. Honoring the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School, fans are encouraged to make $10 donations by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.
Among the other Daytona 500 winners in the field: Matt Kenseth (2009, ’12), Trevor Bayne (2011), Jamie McMurray (2010), Ryan Newman (2008), Kevin Harvick (2007), Jimmie Johnson (2006), Jeff Gordon (1997, ’99, 2005), and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004).

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Etc.

Milestone Watch: A trio of drivers, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth, will each be looking for their 25th series win in this weekend’s Daytona 500. … A win in the 2013 Daytona 500 by any of the Toyota drivers would give the manufacturer its 50th series win as it begins its seventh season in the series. … Jimmie Johnson will make his 400th series start in the Daytona 500, while Kenseth will pilot the No. 20 in its 950th series start. … Reigning NSCS champion Brad Keselowski could capture his 25th career top-five finish and Jamie McMurray could pocket his 100th top-10 finish this weekend. … Grammy-award winning musicians Zac Brown Band will perform during the Daytona 500 pre-race show on Sunday, Feb. 24. Shortly thereafter, they will be joined by recording artist Clay Cook to sing the National Anthem. … Actor and star of the upcoming Oz the Great and Powerful James Franco will serve as the Grand Marshal. … Other musical guests appearing on Sunday in various locations around the speedway include Justin Moore, Chelsea Bain and Greg Bates. … Kyle Busch will pull triple-duty this weekend by driving in all three national series races.