DRIVEFORCOPD 300 - DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Nationwide Series Race #1 of 34 for the 2011 season
Next Race - Phoenix
Stewart wins at Daytona: #4-Tony Stewart won the DRIVEFORCOPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, beating #33-Clint Bowyer to the finish line by .007 seconds. It is the third closest finish in the history of the series and the closest ever at Daytona. It was Stewart's 4th Nationwide Series win in a row. #1-Landon Cassill finished third followed by #5-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #32-Reeed Sorenson, #30-Jason Leffler, #18-Kyle Busch, #6-Ricky Stenhouse, #99-Michael Waltrip, and #16-Trevor Bayne. There were 5 cautions for 23 laps and 35 lead changes among 8 leaders. The announced attendance was 82,000. Complete results are posted on the Daytona race results page. (2-19-2011)
Daytona Race Fast Facts:
Tony Stewart(i) won the 30th Annual DRIVE4COPD 300, his 10th victory in 91 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2011.
This is his sixth victory and eighth top-10 finish in 11 races at Daytona International Speedway.
Clint Bowyer(i) (second) posted his 10th top-10 finish in 12 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2011.
Landon Cassill (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Daytona International Speedway.
Landon Cassill leads the point standings by 2 points over Reed Sorenson.
This event was the third closest finish in NASCAR Nationwide Series history and the closest in series history at Daytona International Speedway since introduction of electronic scoring.
This event tied the previous race records (1984, 1986) of 35 passes for the lead.
(NASCAR Statistics)(2-19-2011)
Driver standings following Daytona:
1) #1-Landon Cassill 41
2) #32-Reed Sorenson 39
3) #30-Jason Leffler 38
4) #6- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 36
5) #16-Trevor Bayne 35
6) #19-Mike Bliss 31
7) #7-Danica Patrick 31
8) #87-Joe Nemechek 29
9) #51-Jeremy Clements 28
10) #52-Bobby Santos 27
Complete standings are posted on the driver standings page.
(2-19-2011)
Owner Standings following Daytona are posted. The top 30 from 2010 will remain locked in at Phoenix.(2-19-2011)
Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Daytona and their finish
Caution 1: none, no one on track a lap or more down
Caution 2: #12-Hornish,
Caution 3: #19-Bliss,
Caution 4: #30-Leffler,
Caution 5: #38-Kahne,
(NASCAR PR)(2-19-2011)
Bowyer on pole at Daytona: #33-Clint Bowyer won the Coors Light Pole for the DRIVEFORCOPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 180.821mph. #1-Landon Cassill will start second. The rest of the top 10: #5-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #7-Danica Patrick, #31-Justin Allgaier, #20-Joey Logano, #16-Trevor Bayne, #18-Kyle Busch, #60-Carl Edwards, and #6-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Did Not Qualify: #55-Brett Rowe and #79-Jennifer Jo Cobb. The starting lineup is posted on the Daytona starting lineup page.(2-18-2011)
Daytona Qualifying Notes:
Clint Bowyer(i) won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 30th Annual DRIVE4COPD 300 with a lap of
49.773 seconds, 180.821 mph.
This is his ninth pole in 170 NASCAR Nationwide Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2011.
This is his second pole in 12 races at Daytona International Speedway.
Landon Cassill (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2011 and his first in one races at Daytona
International Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.(i) (third) posted his 11th top-10 start at Daytona International Speedway. It is his
first in one races this season.(NASCAR)(2-18-2011)
Allgaier fastest in Happy Hour: #30-Justin Allgaier was quickest during the final practice session at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 194.805mph. He was followed by: #30-Jason Leffler, #7-Danica Patrick, #4-Tony Stewart, #87-Joe Nemechek, #33-Clint Bowyer, #32-Reed Sorenson, #38-Kasey Kahne, #11-Brian Scott, and #20-Joey Logano. Practice got underway about 30 minutes late after NASCAR had to make repairs to the SAFER barrier following Bobby Santos' wreck in the morning session. The only caution was for debris. Complete results are posted on the Daytona practice results page.(2-17-2011)
Bayne fastest in first Thursday practice: #16-Trevor Bayne was the fastest during the first Thursday practice session at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 198.627mph. He was followed by: #6-Ricky Stenhouse, #31-Justin Allgaier, #30-Jason Leffler, #18-Kyle Busch, #99-Michael Waltrip, #5-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #70-Shelby Howard, #88-Aric Almirola, and #12-Sam Hornish. #52-Bobby Santos wrecked during practice and will need a backup. The team does not have one, but it working with JR Motorsports to possibly gets one of their extra cars. Complete results are posted on the Daytona practice results page.(2-17-2011)
Stewart fastest in second practice:#4-Tony Stewart was quickest during the second Wednesday practice session at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 202.238mph. He was followed by: #22-Brad Keselowski, #88-Aric Almirola, #5-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #60-Carl Edwards, #38-Kasey Kahne, #18- Kyle Busch, #66-Steve Wallace, #62-Michael Annett, and #20-Joey Logano. #11-Brian Scott spun on the frontstretch after contact from #20-Logano. Both teams will repair their cars. Complete results are posted on the Daytona practice results page.(2-16-2011)
Almirola fastest in opening practice: #88-Aric Alminola was the fastest in the opening practice session for the DRIVEFORCOPD 300. His top speed was 200.303mph. #4-Tony Stewart was second at 200.236. The rest of the top 10: #20-Joey Logano, #60-Carl Edwards, #6-Ricky Stenhouse, #5-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #01-Mike Wallace, #99-Michael Waltrip, #70-Shelby Howard, and #2-Elliott Sadler. The caution flag flew three times, once for a 10 minute rain delay and separate incidents by #52-Bobby Santos and #81-Donnie Neuenberger stopped on track. Brendan Gaughan practiced the #15 for Todd Bodine, who is concentrating on his Cup ride. Complete results are posted on the Daytona practice results page.(2-16-2011)
Entry List:There are 44 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday's season opening DRIVEFORCOPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
(1-14-2011)
UPDATE: The #41 team for Rick Ware has been added to the list. Patrick Sheltra will be the driver.(2-15-2011)
See the complete list on the Daytona entry list page.
Owners Points Transfers: There were several points transfers in the offseason, mostly by organization. Those swaps that included locked-in cars:
Kevin Harvick Inc.'s Elliott Sadler, whose #2 car has the points from the KHI #33 car (Kevin Harvick, other drivers).
Joe Gibbs Racing's Brian Scott, whose#11 car has the points from the JGR #20 (Logano, other drivers).
Roush Fenway Racing's Trevor Bayne, whose #16 car has the points from the Roush Fenway #98 (Paul Menard).
Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr., whose No. 6 car has the points from the Roush Fenway #16 (Colin Braun, others).
Go Green Racing's Josh Wise, whose #39 car has the points from the Roush Fenway Racing #6 car (Stenhouse, others).
Turner Motorsports' Justin Allgaier, whose #31 car has the points from the Braun Racing #10 car (various drivers).
Turner Motorsports' Jason Leffler, whose #30 car (Kasey Kahne is in the #38 this week) has the points from the Braun Racing #11 car (Scott).
Faith Motorsports' Morgan Shepherd, whose #89 car has the points from the #21 car last year that was part of a partnership between Shepherd and Richard Childress Racing.
TriStar Motorsports' Eric McClure, whose #14 car has the points from the #34 TriStar car (Tony Raines).
TriStar Motorsports' Mike Bliss, whose #19 car has the points from the #35 TriStar car (Jason Keller).
(Scene Daily)(2-15-2011)
Nationwide Series Opener on ESPN2: Marty Reid will be the lead announcer for the Daytona race telecast, joined in the booth for analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage. Prior to the 1:15 p.m. ET race telecast, Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the revamped ESPN pit studio at noon, with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. ESPN2 also airs live coverage of NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying on Friday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m., as well as NASCAR Nationwide Series practice coverage on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. (ESPN)
New Car, New Pavement, New Pick-A-Series Formats
The new year brings the new car running the full schedule, the new pavement at Daytona and the new standings format for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Here’s what to watch for, as the season launches:
Dominating Daytona : Stewart Chasing The Intimidator
Tony Stewart has won five of the last six NASCAR Nationwide Series season-openers at Daytona International Speedway, including the last three. On Saturday, Stewart looks to make it four in a row as he chases the Daytona record of five straight, held by Dale Earnhardt (1990-94). Some things to watch in regards to Stewart:
Two-Time Series Champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. Returns
The last time Dale Earnhardt Jr. strapped into a NASCAR Nationwide car at Daytona, he won – famously. Three’s were wild that day. Driving the iconic blue-and-gold No. 3 Wrangler car made famous by his father, Earnhardt started third and led 33 laps.
Earnhardt Jr. has made 19 series starts at Daytona posting six wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s and a pole. The Loop Data favors Earnhardt. He ranks sixth in Driver Rating (106.1), third in percentage of Laps Led (16.5%), and 10th in Average Running Position (10.4).
This weekend, he will be joined by seven other full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers pulling double duty including Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and series champions Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski (No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge).
Second Season: Patrick Ready For Daytona
Small steps are steps nonetheless. Danica Patrick (No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet) took those last year, her first foray into the world of NASCAR. There were many bumps along her 13-start 2010, but momentum is on her side as she returns to Daytona, site of her NASCAR debut. Patrick posted her best finish last season (19th) in the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
As announced last October, Patrick will compete in the first four series races – Daytona, Phoenix International Raceway (Feb. 26), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 5) and Bristol Motor Speedway (March 19).
She will then turn her focus to IndyCar for a short while, returning to the NASCAR at Chicagoland Speedway (June 4), Daytona (July 1), Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Aug. 20), Richmond International Speedway (Sept. 9), and Kansas Speedway (Oct. 8), Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 5), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 12) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 19).
“I have a much different perspective heading into this season,” Patrick said. “I know a little more of what to expect, and I’m not as out of my element.”
Last season, Patrick started 15th at Daytona and finished 35th after being caught in an accident on Lap 69.
Also, Jennifer Jo Cobb will be attempting to make history by being the first female to qualify and race in both the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races during Speedweeks at Daytona.
