NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES 2/17/16

NASCAR Programming 

·         “18 Rising Presented by Toyota” Kyle Busch special – Feb. 20, 2 p.m. ET on NBC

·         FOX DAYTONA 500 Kickoff Celebration hosted by Jeff Gordon – Feb. 20, 9 p.m. ET on FOX

·         Darrell Wallace Jr. on “Playlist” – March 5 on Fuse

·         Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Party Down South” – March 10 on CMT

·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. on “Treehouse Masters” – March 11 on Animal Planet

·         Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Wahlburgers” – March 16 on A&E

·         Chase Elliott on “Ridiculousness” – March 17th on MTV

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Logano(ther) One: No. 22 Ford Driver Looks To Capture Second Straight Daytona 500 Victory

With a visit to Victory Lane in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (1 p.m. on FOX), Joey Logano would become only the fourth driver to win The Great American Race in consecutive seasons. The three drivers who have taken the checkered flag in the Daytona 500 two years in a row are Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).

Logano catalyzed the momentum from his Daytona 500 triumph into a career season in 2015. The No. 22 Ford driver led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a career-best six wins and six poles. His 28 top 10s tied Kevin Harvick for the series lead, while his 22 top fives were the second most in the NSCS.

 

Busch Begins Title Defense At Daytona

Last season, Kyle Busch captured that elusive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. The defending champ also boasts victories in the Brickyard 400 and Southern 500.

The next marquee accolade Busch wants to ink on his resume – Daytona 500 winner.

Busch owns the series’ highest driver rating at Daytona International Speedway (94.4), but only has a summer 2008 victory to show for it. He owns two runner-up finishes at Daytona, but they were both in the summer.

Rowdy’s best Daytona 500 finish is a fourth-place showing from 2008. He placed 19th in his last Daytona 500 run in 2014 (he missed last year’s edition after sustaining injuries in a crash during last year’s Daytona NASCAR XFINITY Series race).

In 21 starts at DIS, Busch claims one win, five top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 19.0.

Only five drivers have ever followed a championship with a Daytona 500 win – Lee Petty (1958 championship, 1959 Daytona 500); Richard Petty (1972 championship; 1973 Daytona 500); Cale Yarborough (1976 championship, 1977 Daytona 500); Jeff Gordon (1998 championship, 1999 Daytona 500); and Dale Jarrett (1999 championship, 2000 Daytona 500). All are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, except for Gordon who is essentially a first-ballot lock.

Dale-tona: Earnhardt Goes For Third Daytona 500 Title/Second Consecutive Daytona Victory

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will attempt to join elite company when he goes for his third Daytona 500 victory in Sunday’s 58th running of The Great American Race. Only five drivers are part of the club with three or more Daytona 500 wins: Richard Petty (seven), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three), Dale Jarrett (three) and Jeff Gordon (three).

The 13-time most popular driver has finished third or better in the last four Daytona 500s. His four Daytona 500 runner-ups are the most among active drivers.

Earnhardt won the summer race at Daytona last year from the pole and will attempt to become the ninth driver to capture consecutive checkered flags at Daytona. Cale Yarborough, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Allison have each won consecutive races at Daytona twice.

Business Is Boomin’ For Young Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott showed no signs of feeling any pressure from replacing Jeff Gordon in Sunday’s Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying. At 20 years, two months, 17 days, the new No. 24 Chevrolet driver turned a lap at 196.314 MPH in the final round of qualifying to become the youngest winner of the Coors Light ’21 Means 21 Pole’ Award.

Elliott will be the third Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate in the last four years to lead the field to start the Daytona 500. The others were Danica Patrick (2013) and Austin Dillon (2014). Elliott’s No. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS machine sported the same chassis Jeff Gordon used when he won the Coors Light Pole Award at Daytona last season.

Previous Daytona Champions Who Can Win Again At The Birthplace Of Speed

Nine drivers on Sunday’s entry list have won the Daytona 500 previously: Joey Logano (2015), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004, ’14), Jimmie Johnson (2006, ’13), Matt Kenseth (2009, ’12), Trevor Bayne (2011), Jamie McMurray (2010), Ryan Newman (2008), Kevin Harvick (2007) and Michael Waltrip (2001, ’13).

Earnhardt leads all active drivers with four Daytona 500 runner ups.

Among active full-time drivers, Tony Stewart (17), Kurt Busch (14) and Greg Biffle (13) have made the most Daytona 500 starts without a win.

Season Indicator: How The Daytona 500 Winner Fares Overall

Last year’s Daytona 500 winner, Joey Logano, turned the momentum from his season-opening triumph into a career-best season. He led the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with six wins and six poles, while his 28 top 10s ranked tied for first in the series. The 25-year-old Ford driver ended up finishing sixth in series points.

Five drivers have won the Daytona 500 and the NSCS championship in the same season (a total of nine times): Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2013), Jeff Gordon (1997), Richard Petty (1964, 1971, 1974, 1979), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Lee Petty (1959).

During the Chase era (2004 – present) Daytona 500 winners have logged an average points finish of only 8.5: Logano (2015, sixth in final points), Earnhardt (2014, eighth; 2004, fifth), Johnson (2013, first; 2006, first), Kenseth (2012, seventh; 2009, 14th), Trevor Bayne (2011, ineligible for points) Jamie McMurray (2010, 14), Ryan Newman (2008, 17) Kevin Harvick (2007, 10), Jeff Gordon (2005, 11).

 

Rookie Rumble: Four Full-Time Drivers Prepare To Duke It Out For Sunoco Rookie of the Year

The last Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate to win a race was Joey Logano in 2009.

Some of the members in this year’s rookie class – one of the most promising in recent history – looks like it can buck the recent losing trend:

Chase Elliott (20 years old, No. 24 Chevrolet) – The 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion owns five NASCAR national series wins. An alumnus of the NASCAR Next program he finished runner-up in his sophomore XFINITY Series season. Elliott has made five career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts with a best start and finish of 16th at Richmond-1 last season. After winning the Coors Light ’21 Means 21’ Pole Award on Sunday, Elliott will lead the field to green in the Daytona 500.

Ryan Blaney (22 years old, No. 21 Ford) – Blaney has helped Team Penske’s No. 22 team win the last three NASCAR XFINITY Series owner’s championships. The NASCAR next alumnus has eight national series wins to his credit and finished runner-up in the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings. Blaney has made 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts with a high finish of fourth at Talladega-1 last year.

Chris Buescher (23 years old, No. 34 Ford) – Buescher knocked off Elliott to win the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series title. The 2012 ARCA champion has three national series wins. He made six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts last season, posting a high finish of 20th at Auto Club.

Brian Scott (28 years old, No. 9 Ford) – Scott has registered five top-10 championship finishes the last five years in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. He boasts two national series wins and won the Coors Light Pole Award in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series spring race at Talladega in 2014. Scott has made 17 NSCS starts. His best finish was a 13th-place showing at Las Vegas in 2015.

How To Qualify For The Daytona 500 Now

-          Thirty-six Charter teams will be assigned a starting position

-          Four Open teams are eligible for starting positions

o    The highest finishing Open team in each Can-Am Duel race earns a starting position

o    The final two starting positions are awarded to Open teams based on Coors Light Pole Qualifying if not already a top finisher in a Duel race

-          Qualifying sets the front row for the Daytona 500 and the starting lineup for the Can-Am Duel fields, with the number of Charter team and Open team cars split evenly throughout both races

-          If the second Can-Am Duel race is cancelled due to weather, the highest finishing Open team from the first race earns a starting position, with the other three Open teams determined by qualifying

-          If both Can-Am Duel races are cancelled due to weather, qualifying determines all four Open teams

* Non-charter drivers Ryan Blaney (No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford) and Matt DiBenedetto (No. 93 BK Racing Toyota) guaranteed themselves spots in the Daytona 500 via their performances in last Sunday’s Coors Light Pole Qualifying.

Can-Am Duels Set For Thursday Night

On Thursday night (7 p.m. on FS1), NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will compete in the Can-Am Duels to set the rest of the field for the Daytona 500.

Sunday’s qualifying set the front row, with Chase Elliott on the pole and Matt Kenseth starting second, but the Can-Am Duels will lock in spots three through 40 for the Daytona 500.

(See the above note on qualifying for the Daytona 500).

The first duel consists of the even numbered qualifiers, while the second duel consists of the odd numbered qualifiers. The order of finishers in each duel (minus Elliott and Kenseth) will set the odd and even positions for the Daytona 500.

Last season’s Duel races were won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. Dale Earnhardt won his Duel race a record 12 times, double the total of Cale Yarborough (6) who is second on the all-time list. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads active drivers with 4 Can-Am Duel victories.

Click here for the starting lineup in the first Can-Am Duel.

Click here for the starting lineup in the second Can-Am Duel.

Hamlin Wins Sprint Unlimited

Denny Hamlin led 39 of 79 laps, including the last 16, on his way to winning the Sprint Unlimited last Saturday.

Hamlin’s visit to Victory Lane marked his third Sprint Unlimited win (2006, ’14, ’16). He ranks tied with three other drivers (Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart) for second all-time in Sprint Unlimited wins behind Dale Earnhardt (6 victories).

The Sprint Unlimited victor has gone on to win the Daytona 500 five times – Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996, 2000), Jeff Gordon (1997).

NASCAR Overtime Rules

For all three NASCAR national series, a race may be concluded with overtime, consisting of a new procedure for a green-white-checkered flag finish featuring an “overtime line.” The location of the overtime line will vary by track.

After taking the green on the overtime restart, if the leader then passes the overtime line on the first lap under green before a caution comes out (a “clean restart”), it will be considered a valid green-white-checkered attempt. However, if a caution comes out before the leader passes the overtime line on the first lap under green, it will not be considered a valid attempt, and a subsequent attempt will be made.  If necessary, multiple subsequent attempts will be made until a valid attempt occurs.

Once a valid attempt is achieved (clean restart), it will become the only attempt at a green-white-checkered finish.  If a caution comes out at any time during the valid green-white-checkered attempt, the field will be frozen and the checkered/yellow or checkered/red displayed to cars at the finish line.

Vickers Back In Action

After missing nearly the entire 2015 season due health issues, Brian Vickers is back behind the wheel as the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet for the Daytona 500.

Vickers raced twice last season for Michael Waltrip Racing at Las Vegas and Phoenix, finishing 15th and 41st respectively.

In 318 career starts, he has posted three wins, 29 tops fives, 77 top 10s and 12 poles.

Vickers best Daytona 500 finish was a seventh-place showing in 2006.

DAYTONA Rising

Sunday’s Daytona 500 marks the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the re-imagined Daytona International Speedway after the $400-million capital project transformed the facility into the world’s first motorsports stadium.

The project produced five expanded and redesigned fan entrances called “injectors,” 60 new trackside suites, three new concourse levels for fans that will span the frontstretch, 11 social areas throughout the frontstretch that are the size of football fields and filled with video screens, 17 elevators and 40 escalators.

Daytona Rising gives the area an economic boost by providing 6,300 new jobs, $300 million in labor income and more than $85 million in tax revenue.

There are now double the number of restrooms and three times the total of concession/merchandise points of sale, making the fan experience more convenient. Race enthusiasts can also enjoy premium viewing on the new hospitality level that transitions the hospitality experience from the old temporary chalet model to a permanent climate controlled high-end experience within Daytona International Speedway.

Click here for an infographic on Daytona Rising

Daytona Or Hollywood? Celebrities Abound At Daytona 500

A number of celebrities are scheduled to participate in Sunday’s Daytona 500 festivities.

Country mainstay Florida Georgia Line will perform the pre-race concert.

“London is Fallen” star Gerard Butler will deliver the most famous words in motorsports as the Daytona 500 grand marshal.

WWE Superstar/actor John Cena will serve as the honorary pace car driver.

The honorary starter is newly elected Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

Gordon Joins FOX NASCAR Broadcast Booth

Even more expertise is being added to the FOX NASCAR broadcast booth in 2016.

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon will analyze every NSCS race from Daytona through Sonoma, joining the FOX broadcast team of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds that begins its 16th season together.

“How many other drivers have done SNL and gone through makeup to be a taxi cab driver to freak somebody out in a Pepsi commercial?,” said Eric Shanks, president, COO and producer of FOX Sports. “Everything about (Gordon’s) brand and the way it fits well with what these guys have created, I think it’s going to be very special.”

‘18 Rising Presented by Toyota’ Showcases Kyle Busch’s Championship Run

Saturday at 2 p.m. ET NBC revisits the amazing comeback story of 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch. The one-hour special, 18 Rising Presented by Toyota, chronicles Busch’s inconceivable year.  The journey began with a hard crash and broken bones in Daytona, followed by a tough recovery that spanned 11 regular-season races, then finished with a dominating march to Miami that climaxed with a Sprint Cup championship.

The special brings viewers behind the scenes with Busch during the off-season, showcasing tender moments at home with his wife Samantha and young son Brexton. Cameras also follow Busch and race team owner Joe Gibbs to the Toyota factory in Georgetown, KY, where they visit with workers, share stories and offer photos with the Sprint Cup trophy.