Competitors will be racing for the largest purse in the history of the NASCAR Busch Series when the green flag falls on the Feb. 14 Hersheys Kisses 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Up for grabs will be a total of $2,197,278, nearly $200,000 more than the 2003 payout for Daytonas season opener. The 2003 purse of $2,000,387 was the first to reach the $2 million plateau for the NASCAR Busch Series. Depending on eligibility for various contingency awards, the winner of the 2004 Hersheys Kisses 300 stands to win as much as $102,110. Two drivers to date Jeff Gordon in the 1992 fall race at Lowes Motor Speedway ($113,844) and Jeff Green at the 2001 Kansas Speedway event ($100,020) have won more than $100,000 in a single NASCAR Busch Series event. By comparison, Jack Ingram totaled $122,100 over the course of his entire 1982 championship season, the first year of what is now the NASCAR Busch Series.
Fifty-four cars on entry list The NASCAR Busch Series garage was near capacity when the teams checked in Wednesday. Fifty-four cars are entered, up four from the 50 that entered last years event at Daytona. Only 43 cars will make the starting grid.
A new aero package in place for Daytona, including a roof strip thats a half-inch tall in the middle and two inches on the sides; a 1-inch wicker bill on the spoiler; a spoiler angle thats been increased to 70 degrees; and a spoiler width thats been increased to 59 inches. The restrictor plate has also been increased by 1/32nd of an inch, to 15/16ths.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has won the last three NASCAR Busch Series races at Daytona. He led all 100 laps in the last race at the 2.5-mile facility, last seasons Winn-Dixie 250 Presented By PepsiCo. in July
The July 2002 win at Daytona by #87-Joe Nemechek was the first NASCAR Busch Series race won from the pole at the track. Earnhardt Jr. accomplished the feat in July 2003. Nemecheks four Busch Poles at Daytona are the most of any driver, and came in consecutive races 2001, both 2002 races and the February 2003 event. Kenny Wallace and David Green both scored the first Busch Pole Awards of the NASCAR Busch Series careers at Daytona, Wallace in February 1989 and Green two years later. Johnny Sauter recorded two top-10 finishes last year at Daytona, a ninth in February and a fifth in July.
#4-Mike Wallace recorded his best finish of 2003 in last years season opener at Daytona, by coming home fourth.
Chevrolet has won 14 of the last 17 NASCAR Busch Series races at Daytona.
Chad Little was the first NASCAR Busch Series regular to win at Daytona when he accomplished the feat in 1995. He started from the worst position of any winner in the history of the division 42nd. Little was the first, and to date, only, Ford driver to win a NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona. Randy LaJoie is the only other NASCAR Busch Series regular to visit Daytonas victory lane. LaJoie won in 1997, 1999 and 2001.
Fast Facts
What: Hersheys Kisses 300 (Race 1 of 34 in the NASCAR Busch Series).
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
When: 12:30pm/et, Saturday, Feb. 14.
Track layout: 2.5-mile oval.
Race length: 120 laps/300 miles.
Posted awards: $2,197,278
TV: NBC, 12:30pm/et
Radio: MRN, XM Satellite.
2003 winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2003 polesitter: Joe Nemechek.
Pre-race schedule (all times local): ThursdayPractice, 9:30-10:50 a.m., 11:15 a.m.-noon, 4-5:25 p.m. FridayQualifying, 10:15 a.m.; Practice, 2-2:45 p.m.; Final Practice, 3:45-4:30 p.m.(NASCAR PR)(2-12-2004)
