* Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. It was his first start with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The last driver to win in his first start with a new team was Michael Waltrip in the 2001 Daytona 500.
* McMurray became the 34th winner of the “Great American Race.” It was his first victory in eight starts in the 500. He is the ninth Daytona 500 winner in the past nine races. It was his fourth Cup victory in his 259th start. Three of his four victories were on restrictor-plate tracks. It was his second series victory at Daytona in 15 starts — his last Daytona win came in July 2007.
* McMurray’s last Cup victory was at Talladega in November 2009.
* McMurray’s previous best 500 finish was 26th in 2008.
* McMurray led once for the final two laps, the fewest laps led by a Daytona 500 winner (previous record was four laps by Benny Parsons in 1975 and Kevin Harvick in 2007).
* Harvick (seventh) led the most laps in the race, leading seven times for 41 laps.
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. (second ) posted his first top-10 finish in the past 13 races. It was his best finish since a runner-up finish at Talladega in April 2009.
* Greg Biffle (third ) posted his best Daytona finish since a win at Daytona in July 2003.
* Clint Bowyer (fourth ) posted his third top-10 in five Daytona 500s. He also finished fourth in this race in 2009.
* David Reutimann (fifth ) posted his first top-10 in four Daytona 500s.
* Pole-winner Mark Martin finished 12th.
* Chevrolet scored its 21st Daytona 500 victory. Ford has 11 Daytona 500 victories, Dodge has four and Toyota has never won the 500.
* No rookie contenders were in the 500.
* There were four first-time starters in the Daytona 500: Robert Richardson (31st), Michael McDowell (33rd), Brad Keselowski (36th) and Max Papis (40th).
* Defending series champion Jimmie Johnson finished 35th.
* The top 10 consisted of five Chevrolets, three Fords and two Toyotas.
* The 21 different leaders were a record for the 500.
* It was the fourth green-white-checkered in the 500.
(Racing Resources at ESPN)(2-16-2010)
