Beccas Pace Lap

Daytona International Speedway -- 02/15/09

Author: Becca Gladden

Published: Friday Feb 13 2009 2:49pm

Becca's Pace Lap: Daytona 500*

• Front Row: Martin Truex Jr. (P1), Mark Martin (P2)

• Highest Starting Rookie: Joey Logano - starts 9th

• To the Rear: Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Speed, John Andretti

• Missed the Cut:
Joe Nemechek
Boris Said
Brad Keselowski
Kirk Shelmerdine
Mike Wallace
Tony Raines
Mike Garvey
Derrike Cope
Mike Skinner
Kelly Bires
Carl Long
Geoff Bodine
Norm Benning

• Pit Stall Selection:
Martin Truex Jr. (P1) selected pit stall No. 1
Mark Martin (P2) selected pit stall No. 21, the next pit stall with an opening in front of it
Jeff Gordon (P3) selected pit stall No. 20, the first pit stall with an opening behind it
Kyle Busch (P4) selected pit stall No. 2

• Weather Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 40% rain and thunderstorms, 68°F, west winds 8-14 mph

• Race Notes:

Last year's race winner: Ryan Newman (then with Penske Motorsports, now with Stewart-Haas Racing)

Last Cup race winner at Daytona: Kyle Busch won the Coke Zero 400 in July

This is the 51st running of the Daytona 500

Terry Labonte made the field with the Past Champion's Provisional; Tony Stewart, the most recent past champion, qualified on time

Jimmie Johnson was the last driver to win the Daytona 500 and the Cup championship in the same year (2006)

This will be the first race utilizing NASCAR's new restart rule, which calls for single-file restarts with 20 laps to go. The previous rule was single-file restarts with 10 to go.

It is also the first race utilizing a double yellow line at Daytona, to remind drivers that they may not improve their running position by passing below the yellow line(s). Previously, the no-passing line was a single yellow line; an additional line was painted inside the existing yellow line.

• Quote of the Week: `It means so much to the whole Richard Petty Motorsports organization, getting in the Daytona 500. The Valvoline Dodge - it wasn’t what we wanted. We were struggling. I honestly have to thank my teammates Elliott (Sadler) and Reed (Sorenson), and Stanley and McDonald's for halfway ruining their race to come back and save me. We were struggling really badly … I haven’t slept well for about a week and half now. This year, I felt like I deserved to be in this race. I earned my way in.` - AJ Allmendinger, Richard Petty Motorsports No. 44, who qualified 20th for his first Daytona 500.

• Current oddsmakers' favorite: Kyle Busch +450

• Long shots to watch:

Carl Edwards +1500

Kurt Busch +2000

Jamie McMurray +2500

Clint Bowyer +3000

Martin Truex Jr. +3000

* All information current at press time

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User	Comment
MysteryMan	There have been a lot of wrecks and a lot of engine failures this year so far. not sure its the most ever, I really never thought to keep up with it. What is surprising is the number of Toyota vehicles that are failing. Toyota used to make the best racing engine in the business in my opinion and now look at them.
2nd Place	It looks that way, but many times its not the driver`s fault. he has an entire team he depends on to make sure his car is solid and as we have seen a lot of the vehicles are falling apart this year so far, more than in any year I can remember
Elgar	Is anyone else wondering why so many never made the cut? I don`t get it sometimes it just looks like people talk a good game, get to where they need to be then just fall to pieces.
Cal	Was I the only one that figured Wallace would have been a little better there in the rankings or what? I actually had some money and lost it for the 2nd time with this one, not sure to cut the strings or what.
spinout	I wonder why Carl Edwards is given such lousy odds? I know he`s reaching the end of his career but the man is a great driver and he`s not out of Nascar yet.
Cheryl Simmons	Kyle Bush is my man this year...I hope. lol His odds have went down drastically since the beginning of the season and interestingly enough, Carl Edwards`s odds have went way up. Nascar threw a wrench in the game this year, that is for sure!
the_champ	At least the weather`s not that bad. Joey Logano is making his way to the top and he earned the credit for being the highest starting rookie on that event.
FunDriv3	Wow, Allmendinger got the Quote of the Week recognition. He felt inspired even though he has been badly criticized by the NASCAR fans. From his quote, sounds like he’s going to race to the finish line to earn more recognition