1. www.star-telegram.com Sunday, February 15, 2009 9C
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DAYTONA 500 2:30 P.M. TODAY TV: KDFW/4
FIVE STORY LINES
PIT STOPS
Many favorites in even field Stewart follows Cup practice crash
with last-lap Nationwide win
By RICK HERRIN rickherrin@star-telegram.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Tony Stewart went from frustrated
Nearly 20 drivers have a legitimate
and pointing fingers Saturday morning to celebrating a victory
chance to win this Daytona 500.
late in the afternoon.
Stewart capped his down-and-up day by winning the Na-
By RICK HERRIN
rickherrin@star-telegram.com tionwide Series Camping World 300 with a wild finish at Dayto-
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — So who is na International Speed-
today’s favorite to win the 51st Dayto- way holding off Kyle
na 500? Take your pick. Busch, Carl Edwards and
Just like the expected crowded re- Clint Bowyer on the final
strictor-plate racing this afternoon, lap.
the field of potential winners is jam- “This was the perfect
packed. Too many favorites and too thing to try to get it out of
even a field. When NASCAR eliminat- my mind and to get me fo-
ed mass testing in the off-season to cused a hundred percent
help cut costs, it also may have leveled on what we can do to try to
the competition at Daytona Interna- win the race tomorrow,”
tional Speedway. Nearly 20 drivers Stewart said.
seem to have contending ability. Stewart’s day started as
“I just think that Daytona and this a mess when he lost both
car, there’s just no way you can pick his Sprint Cup Series cars
anyone to be the favorite,” said Jeff for his new Stewart-Haas
Gordon, a three-time 500 champion. Racing team after a blown
“I think there’s just so many opportu- tire in practice. Team-
nities to pass; there’s opportunities to mate Ryan Newman blew
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/JEFF SINER VIA MCT
Can Mark Martin finally win at Daytona?
move from the back to the front.” a right rear tire and Stew-
art crashed into him from Tony Stewart held off three drivers on
The race is set for a 2:30 p.m. and The ageless driver may have found a late-career revival with Hendrick Motorsports.
behind. Both drivers are the final lap to take the checkered flag.
could be at the mercy of the weather — Martin, 50, will start on the front row with Martin Truex Jr. and has the horsepower
there is a 50 percent chance of rain. now forced to use backup
to find Victory Lane. Martin was heartbroken in 2007 when Kevin Harvick passed ORLANDO SENTINEL VIA MCT/GARY W. GREEN
Interference from Mother Nature cars today, and Newman
and edged him at the finish line. “I think this is the year of opportunity for him to
aside, here are five things to watch in will be in his third car.
do things that he’s never done before,” said teammate Jeff Gordon.
today’s Daytona 500: After the accident, Stewart blasted Goodyear for faulty tires.
“It’s the same stuff that we always talk about every year — the
Jimmie Johnson starts Tony Stewart’s new team Super-hyped Joey Winless drivers look for failures that Goodyear has,” Stewart said. “I think that’s part of
chase for record fourth makes its debut Logano makes his fast start to 2009 their marketing campaign. The more we talk about it, the more
consecutive Daytona 500 debut press they get. I think they forget that it’s supposed to be in a
Saturday flipped Stewart’s new Gordon has lost his way to
championship good way, not a bad way.”
Stewart-Haas Racing team up- Even Jeff Gordon wasn’t Victory Lane and intimidating
Stewart, a longtime critic of Goodyear, said he would not
Johnson has been the dom- side down. Stewart wrecked as hyped as Logano, status. He hasn’t won a points
meet with tire officials to discuss his issues because “I would
inator in recent years, winning into teammate Ryan Newman, NASCAR’s next phenom. race since October 2007, but
rather spend my time productively hanging out with this group
three consecutive Sprint Cup who blew a tire ahead of him in Logano has been on the he did win a Gatorade Duel on
[car owner Rick Hendrick] and going out and winning races.”
championships, tying the se- practice. Newman went to a radar for years and was Thursday. The four-time Cup
Goodyear official Stu Grant said the tire was punctured and
ries record with legend Cale third car for the weekend, and cast as the can’t-miss champion, who will start third,
did not have signs of tread problems.
Yarborough. But Johnson Stewart will use his Bud Shoot- kid. The potential believes it was the momentum
All Stewart’s frustrations were washed away with the impres-
enters the year actually looking out car. showed over the week at and signal to him this season
sive victory in the No. 80 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet.
for respect because Carl Ed- Attempting to win his first Daytona (his first time will be different. Gordon has
Stewart withstood a bump from Busch (fourth place) and
wards is the hot pick to take 500 got a lot tougher, but Stew- on the track). won three times at Daytona.
Carl Edwards (second), who wanted to go outside on the final
the crown. Johnson, who art (using Hendrick motors) is Logano, 18, will start Matt Kenseth, who will
lap but thought it was too risky. Stewart took the lead with six
veered from his clean-cut style showing he has a special start- ninth and drive a famil- start 39th with a backup car, is
laps to go in the 120-lap race.
by growing a beard, started his up team. Stewart’s best Daytona iar car — Stewart’s old another former series champi-
title reign with a victory here 500 finish was second in 2004, No. 20 Home Depot on who went winless last
in 2006. and he has five top-10 finishes Toyota. But Logano season. Kenseth will fight
Who’s hot
In his seven Daytona 500 in his last six starts in the signa- doesn’t have it all fig- against his own 500 history,
starts, Johnson has averaged a ture Sprint Cup race. He’ll also ured out; teammate which includes just two career Kyle Busch Not from a winning standpoint,
13.6 finish, which is the best have something unique in the Kyle Busch took over his top-10 finishes. but from running out front and mastering all
among full-time drivers with pits — legend and mentor A.J. car in practice to help but the final lap at Daytona. While he ran off
more than one 500 start. Foyt offering advice. with the set-up. frustrated after the fourth-place finish in the
RICK HERRIN, 817-390-7760
Nationwide Series race, Busch has been im-
pressive and aggressive for two days at Dayto-
na. He finished second Friday night in the truck
race and will start fourth in the Daytona 500.
Who’s not
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ran as high as second
place in the Nationwide Series race and
seemed like a contender for the final 20 laps.
But Earnhardt faded after taking four tires
and fuel on Lap 111. Earnhardt will start 14th
Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart Joey Logano Jeff Gordon in today’s Daytona 500. Earnhardt has not
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES AP
finished higher than eighth in his last three
500 races.
THE LINEUP
Allison honorary Sorenson fastest
1 Martin Truex Jr., No. 1Chevrolet
Bass Pro
15 Kasey Kahne, No. 9 kid on the
Bud-
29 Sam Hornish Jr.,Indy star
No. 77
starter
weiser Dodge Whiz In Saturday’s final practice before
Shops/Tracker Boats Mobile 1 Dodge
Big triumph for merged Earnhardt- big speedways. without a top-10 in 36 races. Three-time Daytona 500 the Daytona 500, Reed Sorenson
Ganassi team. champion Bobby Allison will was fastest, topping out at
be the honorary starter for 191.575 mph. Matt Kenseth was
16 Carl Edwards, No. 99 Aflac 30 Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Stanley
Ford Preseason favorite to Dodge Second in 2002 Daytona. today’s race. second-fastest, followed by Kurt
Mark Martin, No. 5 Kellogg’s/
2 Carquest Chevrolet Wily veteran dethrone Johnson. This year’s race marks Busch, Juan Pablo Montoya and
might finally get Daytona win. the 30th anniversary of the Greg Biffle.
31 RobbyToyota Career7of being
Gordon, No. Jim
famous fight between Alli- Eleven drivers posted a top
17 Scott Riggs, No. 36 Red Bank Beam
Toyota Raced way into 500 in insignificant. son, his brother Donnie and speed of 190 mph or more. So-
Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Dupont
3 Chevrolet Winless since October 150 Duels. Cale Yarborough in the 1979 renson will start 34th.
2007; won Duel on Thursday. Daytona 500. It was also the
32 Kevin Harvick, No. 29Forced to
Shell/
Briefly
first televised Daytona 500.
Jeremy Mayfield, No. 41 All Pennzoil Chevrolet*
18 s Country singer Keith Urban will
Sport Toyota Earned a victory backup car, but it won Bud Shootout. Richard Petty won the
Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&M’s
4 Toyota Looks for hot start after just getting in race with shoestring race after Yarborough and sing today’s national anthem
Chase fade last season. team. Donnie Allison battled and before the Daytona 500.
33 Davidplace at DaytonaUPS2007.
Ragan, No. 6 Ford
s Clint Bowyer earned his seventh
Fifth in crashed entering Turn 3 and
never reached the check- top-10 finish in nine races at
5 Tony Stewart, No.Chevrolet*
14 Office
19 Paul Menard, Ford98 Menards/
No.
Finished ered flag. The wreck turned Daytona.
Depot/Old Spice Quaker State
34 Reed Sorenson, No.Fifth in
43
s Michael McDowell was the
Saturday wreck forces him to his Bud 22nd in his first Daytona 500 last year. into a fist fight, and Bobby
McDonald’s Dodge
Shootout car. Daytona 500 last year. Allison jumped into the highest-finishing rookie (14th) in
action. the Nationwide race.
AJ Allmendinger, No. 44
20 Valvoline Dodge Cried when he
6 Brian Vickers, No. 83 Red Bull 35 Greg Biffle, No.Chase. Ford
16 3M
Toyota Former Nationwide qualified. Finished third in
‘‘ He’s going be onebecausegreatestall
of the
champion has one Cup win.
Jamie McMurray, No. 26
36 Ryan Newman, No. 39year’s
U.S.
21 owners in the sport that’s
Crown Royal Ford Fastest in Army Chevrolet* Last
7 Jimmie Johnson, for record
No. 48 Lowe’s
he wants to do and thinks about. That
Chevrolet Aiming practice on Friday. winner forced to third car after two
fourth consecutive series title. wrecks.
kind of dedication will get him to
22 Clint Bowyer, No. 33 Cheer- where he needs to be.”
Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 ios/Hamburger Helper Chev-
37 John Andretti, No. 34
8 Target Chevrolet Time for him rolet Fifth in the Chase last year. Window World Chevrolet
Car owner Rick Hendrick, on new owner Tony Stewart
to prove something — anything. Usually buried in back of field.
Marcos Ambrose, No. 47 Little
23 Debbie Toyota Will be snacking
9 Joey Logano, No. 20 Home 38 Scott Speed, No. 82 Redone
Bull
Depot Toyota Hyped rookie in the back of field. Toyota* Rookie drove in NASCAR | NATIONWIDE- CAMPING WORLD 300
makes first Daytona 500 start. ARCA race at Daytona. RESULTS
24 David Stremme, No. 12 in
Penske Dodge Competed
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx
39 Matt Kenseth,last yearDewalt
No. 17
10 (37) David Green, Toyota, 119, 32.1, 73, $44,605; 31. (38)
Saturday’s results at Daytona Beach, Fla.
Tony Raines, Chevrolet, accident, 116, 58.3, 70, $44,155;
Note: Start position in parentheses
Express Toyota Looked good one Cup race last year. Ford* Winless and 32. (43) Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, accident, 116, 51.6,
1. (5) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 120 laps, 127.6 rating,
67, $44,080; 33. (4) Jason Leffler, Toyota, 115, 60.7, 64,
190 points, $89,893; 2. (10) Carl Edwards, Ford, 120,
in Duel until car got loose. starts season with backup car. $44,030; 34. (29) Robert Richardson Jr., Chevrolet, 115,
102.5, 175, $84,700; 3. (3) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 120,
33.1, 61, $43,980; 35. (18) Michael Annett, Toyota, 113,
Casey Mears, No. 07 Jack
25 127, 175, $76,500; 4. (13) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 120, 122,
52.8, 58, $43,830; 36. (42) Donnie Neuenberger, Chev-
165, $64,625; 5. (6) Greg Biffle, Ford, 120, 99, 160,
Daniel’s Chevrolet Bounced
11 Aric Almirola, No. 8 18 career
Guitar
40 Bill Elliott, No. 21start in 500.
Motorcraft rolet, 110, 26.8, 55, $43,755; 37. (39) Brandon Whitt,
$59,405; 6. (27) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 120, 109.4, 155,
Ford, 102, 31.5, 52, $43,690; 38. (26) Kertus Davis, Chev-
$57,930; 7. (24) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 120, 91.9,
Hero Chevrolet Has from Hendrick for ageless Martin. Ford Making 27th rolet, 95, 32.4, 49, $43,630; 39. (20) Morgan Shepherd,
146, $54,255; 8. (9) David Ragan, Ford, 120, 94.7, 142,
Chevrolet, 92, 52.5, 46, $43,580; 40. (32) Justin Allgaier,
$51,180; 9. (12) Jason Keller, Ford, 120, 89.6, 143,
Cup races and one top-10. Dodge, accident, 82, 54, 43, $43,530; 41. (23) Kenny Hen-
$53,230; 10. (2) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 120, 100.6, 139,
drick, Dodge, accident, 80, 51.6, 40, $43,480; 42. (17)
$49,730; 11. (1) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 120, 106, 135,
26 Jeff Burton, No. 31third in
Caterpillar
41 Travis Kvapil, No.buffets for
28 Golden Steve Wallace, Chevrolet, accident, 71, 65.8, 37,
$47,880; 12. (21) David Reutimann, Toyota, 120, 90.5,
$43,480; 43. (19) Scott Lagasse Jr., Toyota, accident, 71,
Chevrolet Finished Corral Ford Steak
Bobby Labonte, No. 96
12 127, $47,505; 13. (14) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 120,
56.6, 34, $43,358.
76.6, 124, $47,430; 14. (41) Michael McDowell, Toyota,
Ask.com Ford Corpus Christi 2007 Daytona 500. everyone if he wins. 120, 78.9, 121, $46,730; 15. (35) Brendan Gaughan, Race statistics
Chevrolet, 120, 77.8, 118, $47,780; 16. (34) Kenny Wal- Average speed of race winner: 138.479 mph. Time of
native has never won 500. lace, Chevrolet, 120, 49.4, 120, $46,530; 17. (16) D.J. race: 2 hours, 9 minutes, 59 seconds. Margin of victory:
Kennington, Dodge, 120, 64.7, 112, $45,880; 18. (31)
27 Michael Waltrip, No. 55 NAPA 42 Regan Smith, No. 78Last
Furni- 0.68 seconds. Caution flags: 6 for 23 laps. Lead changes:
Mark Green, Chevrolet, 120, 62.6, 109, $46,055; 19. (28) 18 among 11 drivers. Lap leaders: K.Harvick 1; M.Ken-
Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 120, 55.1, 106, $45,630; 20. (8)
Auto Parts Toyota Two-time
Kurt Busch, No. 2 Miller Lite ture Row Chevrolet
13 seth 2-16; C.Bowyer 17-20; T.Stewart 21; C.Bowyer
Joey Logano, Toyota, 120, 94.7, 103, $46,355; 21. (33) 22-28; K.Harvick 29-31; T.Stewart 32-34; G.Biffle 35-36;
Dodge Three-time runner-up Daytona winner (2001, 2003) year’s rookie of the year. John Wes Townley, Ford, 120, 47.5, 100, $45,380; 22. T.Stewart 37-48; K.Busch 49-52; C.Bowyer 53-57;
(15) Brad Keselowski, Chevrolet, 120, 96, 102, $45,255; K.Busch 58-67; Bra.Keselowski 68-73; K.Wallace 74-75;
at Daytona. 23. (7) Danny O’Quinn Jr., Chevrolet, 120, 46.1, 94, J.Keller 76-78; C.Bowyer 79-95; B.Vickers 96-105; C.Ed-
$45,480; 24. (11) Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 120, 84, 91, wards 106-113; T.Stewart 114-120.
28 David Reutimann, No. 00 43 Terry Labonte, No. 66 Texas $44,955; 25. (22) Brian Keselowski, Dodge, 120, 55.6, 88,
Point standings
$44,980.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Aaron’s Dream Machine Window World Toyota
14 1. T. Stewart, 190; 2. C. Edwards, 175; 3. C. Bowyer, 175;
26. (36) Eric McClure, Ford, 120, 46.8, 85, $44,705; 27.
4. K. Busch, 165; 5. G. Biffle, 160; 6. B. Vickers, 155; 7. D.
(40) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 120, 53.7, 82, $44,605; 28.
AMP Energy Chevrolet Been Toyota Needs to steer clear of New- Terry is Last Place Labonte. Earnhardt Jr., 146; 8. J. Keller, 143; 9. D. Ragan, 142; 10.
(25) Mike Bliss, Chevrolet, 120, 68.2, 79, $44,530; 29.
M. Kenseth, 139.
cranky lately; will it show on track? man, whom he wrecked in Duels. (30) Mike Harmon, Chevrolet, 120, 35.7, 76, $44,430; 30.
*Will start race at the rear of the field because of backup car