#29-Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway for his 1st ever Daytona 500 win on the 6 year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death. It was the 2nd Daytona 500 win for car owner Richard Childress, who won in 1998 with Earnhardt. Harvick is the 31st driver to win the Daytona 500 in 49 races and it was his 11th career win. Harvick won $1,510,469. With a green-white-checker finished after a wreck on lap 196. Martin was leading when the green-white-checker flew and was holding off the field until #5-Busch got loose and caused a large wreck at the very end. NASCAR chose not to throw a caution and let Martin and Harvick race to the start-finish line, with Harvick nipping Martin by 2/100ths of a second. Martin held onto 2nd followed by #31-Burton, #09-Wallace, #6-Ragan [the highest finishing rookie], #19-Sadler, #9-Kahne, #38-Gilliland [pole sitter], #13-Nemechek and #24-Gordon.. Harvick had also won the Busch race Saturday, becoming the 4th driver to win both races [Bobby Allison 1988, Darrell Waltrip 1989, Dale Earnhardt Jr 2004]. #2-Kurt Busch led the most laps with 95, but while running 2nd, got into a wreck with then leader #20-Tony Stewart, ending both of their days. #07-Clint Bowyer had a wild ride on the final lap wreck, crossing the s/f line on his roof, the car turned back over, caught fire and Bowyer got out ok. There were 7 cautions for 25 laps [and approx a 15 minute red flag during the 6th and final caution] and 9 drivers lead the race with 13 lead changes. For race results see my Daytona Race Results page For points standings see my Drivers/Owners Points Standings page after Daytona page.(2-18-2007)
