Stewart, Kenseth Winners in Gatorade Duel 150 Races

Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Continuing a long-standing spectacle unique to the Daytona Speedweeks, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teamed suited up to the only qualifying heat races on the series' schedule. With only the top-two spots for the Daytona 500 secured after Sunday time trial, the filling of 41 remaining positions would be resolved through a pair of 125-mile, 60-lap races. Dividing the Sunday qualifying field in half, pole winner Carl Edwards would lead race 1 for odd-numbered qualifiers while Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle had the top starting spot for race 2.

 

Following the Budweiser Shootout hosted at the Daytona International Speedway the previous Saturday night, a preview for the type of restrictor plate racing indicated drivers would need to reacquaint themselves with multiple-car packs. After spending 2011 experimenting with the two-car tandem drafting, NASCAR teams would be held in tighter quarter racing. Making for a more wide-open race where any driver with momentum could find their way to the front, pack racing also decreases the tolerable margin of error between competitors. The side effect of pack racing was shown at least three times in the 2012 Budweiser Shootout with major, multi-car wrecks. Some observers speculated NASCAR Sprint Cup series teams may have received new regulations in reaction to the sometimes wild racing. Allowing teams to increase the engine water pressure check valve from 25 PSI to 28 PSI, NASCAR made no other changes to the sporting rules heading into the Gatorade Duel 150s.

 

Races mixed with well-established teams and veteran drivers, first time Daytona 500 runners and teams outside of the top-35 needing a strong run simply to make the Great American Race Sunday, there was a total of 49 teams intent to compete at the 2.5-mile oval;s 43-car event this weekend. The last non-points competition to involve NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers ahead of the official start of the 2012 season with the Daytona 500, the Gatorade Duel 150s were staged Thursday as an important event for all drivers.

 

 

Race 1:

Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Daytona 500 pole sitter Carl Edwards led the 25-car field to green Thursday in the first Gatorade Duel 150 event. Edwards' #99 Ford Fusion led the first of 60 laps but was soon overhauled by Tony Stewart's #14 Chevrolet. By lap 5, the Hendrick Motorsports #88 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr stormed to the top spot.

 

Historically regarded as the qualifying race containing the most cautions, the first Gatorade Duel 150 event for 2012 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway delivered on yellow flag expectations. A four-car incident in turn 1 on lap 10 when the #38 Ford of David Gilliland was poked by the #98 machine driven by Michael McDowell. Gilliland's car continued a path up the 31-degree banking collecting the #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya and Paul Menard's #27 Chevrolet. David Gilliland, Juan Pablo Montoya and Paul Menard were out of the race due to significant crash damage.

 

Following the major accident, the first Gatorade Duel 150 stabilized with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin taking the lead of the event at lap 17. Driving the #11 FedEx Toyota, Hamlin led 27 laps of the Duel 150 event.

 

Attempting to make the 2012 Daytona 500, two-time winner of the biggest NASCAR Sprint Cup series race Michael Waltrip was feverish in his efforts to make his 26th career Daytona 500-mile race. Unfortunately, a lap 54 incident ended his plans of making the 2012 race with the #40 Toyota. Leaving pit road after making a needed fuel stop, Waltrip miscalculated his reentry onto the Daytona race track. Combined with the likelihood of debris on the lower track surface, Michael Waltrip lost control of his Toyota race car crashing it into the outer backstretch wall. Following the failure to quality for the Daytona 500 in 2012, Michael Waltrip responded through team media "I just went the wrong way and lost the car. I feel like I let everybody down. I raced my way to the front and then I let them down. It's just really hard. I don't know what to say -- it's just sad.".

 

Setting up a 4-lap rush for the finish, the #14 car of Tony Stewart led the NASCAR Sprint Cup group to the final run to the checkered flag. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton and Marcos Ambrose made the race interesting at the end coming down to the final lap. However, the race would conclude out of turn 2 when the #43 Ford of Aric Almirola made contact with Danica Patrick's #10 Chevrolet. Sent for a fast, violent ride, Patrick flew into the lower retaining wall. Fortunately unhurt, Danica Patrick's first Daytona 500 will have her starting the Stewart-Haas Racing team car deep in the field.

 

Under the protection of the yellow flag, Tony Stewart cruised to the start/finish line for the first Gatorade Duel 150 event with Dale Earnhardt Jr following in second place. Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards rounded out the top-5.

 

 

Race 2:

Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

 

Under the guidance of 2012 Daytona 500 front row starter Greg Biffle, the second Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying race. Unlike race 1, the second Gatorade Duel 150 event ran without the appearance of a yellow flag. The result in this second race was a more methodical competition where NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers carefully made their moves through the field.

 

With a Roush Fenway Racing Ford leading the event early, race 2 for the Gatorade Duel 150 would show some impressive pace for the Ford Fusions. Between Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth, 50 of the 60 race laps would be led by the Roush Fenway Racing organization. Leading for five laps apiece, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Joey Logano and Kyle Busch would the only vehicles able to compete with the Ford brigade.

 

After having his Sunday qualifying time disallowed when the #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota failed to meet post-qualifying inspection, Clint Bowyer fought hard through the Gatorade Duel 150 round to make up positions. Taking his Michael Waltrip Racing car near the front early in the event, Bowyer's efforts were hindered by engine overheating problems. Costing him a lap in the qualifying race, Clint Bowyer could not obtain a spot better than 15th place.

 

Maintaining a single-file drafting train in the final laps, the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle was the top driver. Coming to the white flag though, Biffle's teammate Matt Kenseth made a run on the #16 car along the outside line of turn 4. Getting a push from Jimmie Johnson, Kenseth rapidly roared up on Greg Biffle resulting with the #16 Ford to veer into the path of the #17 teammate. Attempting to hold off Kenseth, Greg Biffle lost momentum causing Matt Kenseth to pass the #16. On the final lap behind Kenseth's #17 Ford, there was contact between the #78 Chevrolet of Regan Smith and Jimmie Johnson's #48 Chevrolet through the Daytona superstretch. While there was a brush-up between the vehicles, both Chevys raced to the finish.

 

At the finish line, Matt Kenseth pulled off a Gatorade Duel 150 victory over the #78 of Regan Smith. Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler and Greg Biffle finished 3rd through 5th in this second qualifying race.

 

 

Starting Lineup for 2012 Daytona 500

 

1. 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford
2. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
3. 14 Tony Stewart Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
4. 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
5. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
6. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row/CSX Play It Safe Chevrolet
7. 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
8. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet
9. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
10. 33 Elliott Sadler General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet
11. 98 Michael McDowell No.98 KLOVE/Curb Records Ford Ford
12. 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota
13. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
14. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Brown Toyota
15. 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil Dodge
16. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
17. 7 Robby Gordon MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
18. 39 Ryan Newman U.S. ARMY/Quicken Loans Chevrolet
19. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
20. 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
21. 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
22. 55 Mark Martin Aaron's Toyota
23. 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
24. 36 Dave Blaney Ollie's Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
25. 34 David Ragan Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford
26. 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
27. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
28. 51 Kurt Busch Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
29. 10 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
30. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota
31. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
32. 47 Bobby Labonte Kroger Toyota
33. 38 David Gilliland MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford
34. 87 Joe Nemechek AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
35. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
36. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Ford
37. 27 Paul Menard Menards/Peak Chevrolet
38. 93 David Reutimann Burger King Toyota
39. 83 Landon Cassill Burger King Toyota
40. 21 Trevor Bayne Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
41. 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford
42. 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota
43. 32 Terry Labonte C&J Energy Ford

Kurt Busch's Charger Raids NASCAR Victory at 2011 Budweiser Shootout

Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/ Getty Images for NASCAR

With the Daytona 500 still 8 days away, the 2.5 oval called Daytona International Speedway awakes the beachfront Florida town through the roar of stock car engines during the festival called 2011 Daytona Speedweeks. An annual event since 1979, the Budweiser Shootout (originally referred to as the Busch Clash) allows a selected group of drivers and teams from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to compete in a non-points invitational race. Starting as an event rewarding pole winners of the Cup series, the 2011 edition is open to NASCAR Sprint Cup champions, Chase contenders, winners of the Daytona Cup races and series rookie of the year honourees. With the winner taking a more than $200,000 portion of race's purse, the 2011 Budweiser Shootout pay day is quite impressive based on a relatively short of 75-lap distance (187.5 miles).

Starting with a 25-lap opening segment, the Hendrick Motorsports #88 Chevrolet Impala of Dale Earnhardt Jr led the field to green after drawing the 2011 Budweiser Shootout pole position. Without leading the first lap, Earnhardt Jr was quickly overhauled by Tony Stewart's #14 Chevrolet. The combination of the new Daytona International Speedway pavement and the small revisions to this year's Sprint Cup stock car began to shape up a very unique style of racing. Instead of competitors merged in larger drafting lines, the strategy for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout was for drivers to pair up in tractor-trailer style racing. Availing an increase in the number of passing opportunities, 12 lead changes through the first 25-lap segment saw Dale Earnahrdt Jr, Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton madly dicing for the early lead. Despite of higher race speeds of the NASCAR Sprint Cup cars (averaging 196.587 miles per hours in the one segment), the first 25 laps were incident-free.

Photo Credit: John Harrelson/ Getty Images for NASCAR

After a 10-minute intermission, the enthusiasm for the Budweiser Shootout's second 50-lap segment was fueled through by the first segment's competition. Without even tire issues being presented after the cars appeared on pit road for pit stops, drivers raved on the new surface and the brand of Sprint Cup racing that has been created. However, while the first 25 laps flew like clockwork, the mood of the Budweiser Shootout's second stage would show change early.

On lap 29 of 75, the Daytona superstretch would play host to the end of the rather tranquil stock car dance with a 6-car wreck. Started when Dale Earnhardt Jr lifted after pushing the #18 Toyota of Kyle Busch, Earnhardt's car entered into a close pack with the #78 Chevrolet of Regan Smith and Carl Edwards' #99 Ford. Gaining a momentum advantage on the superstretch, Edwards prepared to slide between Smith and Earnhardt. Not only was the passing space very limited for the #99 Ford, the spot naturally closed up. As Carl Edwards continued to move forward, he made contact with Earnhardt Jr who then caught Regan Smith in the cross reaction crash. The #20 Toyota of Joey Logano, Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Chevrolet and the #97 Toyota of Kevin Conway also suffered race-ending damage.

While the two-car dances appeared to be playing big benefits through both segments of the Budweiser Shootout, two cautions in the second segment showed how this technique can go wrong. On lap 37, the #5 Chevrolet of Mark Martin and the #18 Toyota of Kyle Busch were grouped together but Martin pushed Busch hard through turn 1 spinning around the Toyota. Making damaging contact with each other and the Daytona wall, both cars were forced to retire. A similar accident also occurred 12 laps after in turn 4 with Michael Waltrip's #15 Toyota coming on the worst end of bump-drafting from Tony Stewart.      

After leading for a race-leading 12 lap continuous stint, Ryan Newman's #39 Chevrolet was out front receiving a valuable push from the #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin. Challenging the pairing was a second tractor-trailer group containing the #22 Dodge of Kurt Busch and 2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray driving the #1 Chevrolet.

On the final lap, Kurt Busch attempted to close alongside the Newman/Hamlin pack on the outside through the superstretch but ran out of momentum allowing for what appeared to be just two more corners for the #39 of Ryan Newman to sail to victory. Coming down the final race stretch from the fourth corner, Newman's victory would be foiled not by the #22 or #1 cars but by his drafting partner the #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin. Using slingshot acceleration, Hamlin's Toyota dived low on Newman's Chevrolet passing coming to the checkered flag. By breaking the drafting partnership, both the #39 as well as #11 cars were vulnerable to the paired by vehicles of Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray. At the line, Denny Hamlin's #11 Toyota crossed ahead of a fast-charging Kurt Busch but it was evident Hamlin advanced his position by dropping below the yellow line (a no-no for NASCAR superspeedway racing). Admitting that he had to drop below the yellow line or risk running into Ryan Newman, Hamlin's foul allowed the #22 Penske Racing Dodge of Kurt Busch to be recognized as the 2011 Budweiser Shootout winner. Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle rounded out the Daytona race's top-5 unofficially kicking off the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Photo Credit: Nick Laham/ Getty Images

The only Dodge Charger in the 2011 edition of the Daytona International Speedway event, the #22 won in its first outing with the newly-acquired Shell/Pennzoil sponsorship. With Kurt Busch triumphing at the end, 28 lead changes among 9 drivers made this one of the most competitive Budweiser Shootout races on record.


2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Budweiser Shootout
Race Results

Pos #  | Car # | Driver  | Sponsor | Car Make

1. 22 Kurt Busch Shell / Pennzoil Dodge
2. 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
3. 39 Ryan Newman Wix Filters Chevrolet
4. 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
5. 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford
6. 24 Jeff Gordon Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
7. 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser Chevrolet
8. 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
9. 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
10. 47 Bobby Labonte Reese Towpower / Highland Toyota
11. 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevrolet
12. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
13. 17 Matt Kenseth Crown Royal Black Ford
14. 64 Derrike Cope Sta-Bil Toyota
15. 15 Michael Waltrip NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
16. 18 Kyle Busch M&M's Toyota
17. 5 Mark Martin GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
18. 20 Joey Logano Home Depot Toyota
19. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevrolet
20. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
21. 99 Carl Edwards Scotts ez Seed Ford
22. 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
23. 97 Kevin Conway Extenze Toyota
24. 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota

Jamie McMurray Wins 2010 Daytona 500

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR


With almost two weeks of preparation occuring during Daytona Speedweeks, the prized 500 mile season opening race at Daytona International Speedway was set to under clear blue skies of a cool Florida Sunday afternoon. The 52nd running of the Daytona 500 was started by Grand Marshall Junior Johnson, 1960 Daytona 500 winner and multiple time championship car owner in the Cup series. Having won his 1960 Daytona 500 race in a Chevrolet, Junior Johnson command went to the Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolets of Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr leading the 43-car starting field.


Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR


Unlike the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races that proceeded the most anticipated Sprint Cup season opener, the first 2 laps of the race went without a yellow flag. However, even the traditionally more experienced drivers of NASCAR's big league series couldn't go 10 laps around the 2.5 mile before casualties mounted. Working lap 8, Brad Keselowski #12 Penske Racing Dodge lost control of through turn 4 colliding with the outside wall and collecting Max Papis, Mike Bliss, Regan Smith, and Keselowski's Penske Racing teammate Sam Hornish Jr. While these cars were able to complete more laps, the #13 Toyota of Max Papis would retire soon with engine failure and Mike Bliss fell out after a later single car crash.

While there were some multi-car accidents, the 2010 restrictor plate season opener did not involve any occurrences which could classify as 'the big one'. With a considerable amount of contenders remaining near the end of the 500 mile distance, at least 20 teams were able to post a charge for the lead including the #82 of Scott Speed, who gambled on staying out when the rest of the field made pit stops. In total, there was an amazing 52 lead changes between 21 drivers through the race with Harvick having led the most.

With the race starting under NASCAR's revised initiative to start races earlier in 2010, two red flags during the second half of the Daytona 500 actually led to the event finishing around the same time as the 2008 Daytona 500. Not because of wrecks, these red flags were both addressing a large hole that developed in the race surface through turn 2. John Andretti, driving the #34 Ford, was claimed as a victim of his torn up racetrack ending his 2010 race. Along with Andretti, the hole also cut down a right front tire on four-time defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson's #48 Chevrolet. Johnson's damage was repairable as his car was tended by the Hendrick Motorsport team. The first red flag within the 4th caution took 1 hour and 40 minutes as the crews of Daytona International Speedway worked hard to refurbish the area of race track. Regrettably, the racing action of the large NASCAR Sprint Cup field wore heavily on the asphalt patch as the surface began to break away after just 30 laps. A second red flag period to fill the hole with an epoxy patch saw the field remain still for an additional 40 minutes. Fortunately, this latest fix held through the duration of the 500 mile event.


Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR


With last year's Daytona 500 ending short of the full distance due to rainfall, many fans were frustrated with the speed which NASCAR called the race. Declaring the lead car Matt Kenseth the winner less than 30 minutes into the race stoppage, the rain showers actually began to let up. Mentioning the 2009 race, the 2010 edition of the Daytona 500 featured a much improved commitment to NASCAR fans by the stock car sanctioning body. In fact, NASCAR announced earlier this week another rule change to the green-white checkered procedure which expanded restart attempts from 1 to 3 tries per race. As the end of the 2010 Daytona 500 approached, this rule received its first trial run.

As the race neared its completed distance, caution #7 occurred on lap 194 when Occasional Elliott Sadler, who led 9 laps in the race, slid out of turn 2 downwards towards the #39 Chevrolet of Ryan Newman. The #37 Ford of Travis Kvapil was also collected the late accident but continued running. Restarting just before the 2 laps to go mark, the field was brought back under yellow when the #20 Toyota of Joey Logano, the #21 Wood Brothers Ford of Bill Elliott, and the #26 driven by Boris Said were wrecked in turn 3. This caution bred the first green-white-checker finishing attempt with Greg Biffle, who just skated by the #33 of Clint Bowyer just prior to the caution flag flying.

As the heap of Sprint Cup cars exited turn 2, Robert Richardson in the #38 as well as Kasey Kahne's #9 Ford were the casaulties in a caution that also involved Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. Yet to take the white flag, the #29 Chevrolet belonging to Kevin Harvick took the lead with the #1 Chevrolet of Jamie McMurray sneaking by Biffle for the front row position on the 2nd green-white checker attempt.

On what proved to be the final restart, Greg Biffle's Ford pushed the #1 of McMurray around Harvick as the #29 Chevrolet found few drivers willing to draft with the Richard Childress Racing car. As the #1 car stormed to a small gap over the field on the backstretch, a hard-charging #88 Amp Chevrolet was making a powerful end of the race run. Starting a distant 10th on the restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr began to shove Clint Bowyer's #33 car up front gaining several positions through the tight draft. Through the final lap with the top-3 consisting of McMurray, Biffle and the underrated #56 of Martin Truex, Earnhardt was running 5th through the backstretch before he threaded his #88 car between Greg Biffle and Bowyer. With only Jamie McMurray left in front of him, the #1 Chevrolet was just too strong for the Hendrick-owned #88 car. As McMurray headed on to the checkered flag, the agression deeper in the field led to one last crash as Gordon was tapped by Denny Hamlin's #11 Toyota sending the two-time Daytona 500 winner into the turn 3 wall. With nowhere to go, the #7 of Robby Gordon would also received considerable damage.

With drivers in the final incident uninjured, Jamie McMurray was able to celebrate a very popular victory in his Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing Chevrolet on the frontstretch before motoring to Daytona's winner circle. Caught up in the win as well as the fact that too many people had him written off after being forced out of Roush/Fenway Racing, Jamie McMurray could barely hold his composure from the shear thrill of standing in victory lane.


Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR


This victory, worth over 1.5 million of a $10,549,893 purse, came in Jamie McMurray's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race driving a Chevrolet. Behind 2nd place Dale Earnhardt Jr, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, and David Reutimann rounded out the top 5 in that order.


NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 February 14th, 2010 Finishing Order

1) 1 Jamie McMurray         Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet
2) 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. AMP Energy / National Guard Chevrolet
3) 16 Greg Biffle         3M Ford 
4) 33 Clint Bowyer         Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet
5) 00 David Reutimann         Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota
6) 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
7) 29 Kevin Harvick         Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet 
8) 17 Matt Kenseth         Crown Royal Ford
9) 99 Carl Edwards         Aflac Ford
10) 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevrolet
11) 31 Jeff Burton         Caterpillar Chevrolet
12) 5 Mark Martin         GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
13) 98 Paul Menard         Peak / Menards Ford
14) 18 Kyle Busch         M&M's Toyota
15) 83 Brian Vickers         Red Bull Toyota
16) 6 David Ragan         UPS Ford
17) 11 Denny Hamlin         FedEx Express Toyota
18) 51 Michael Waltrip         NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
19) 82 Scott Speed         Red Bull Toyota
20) 20 Joey Logano         Home Depot Toyota
21) 71 Bobby Labonte         TaxSlayer.com Chevrolet
22) 14 Tony Stewart         Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet
23) 2 Kurt Busch         Miller Lite Dodge 
24) 19 Elliott Sadler         Stanley Ford
25) 26 Boris Said         Window World Cares Ford
26) 24 Jeff Gordon         Dupont Chevrolet 
27) 21 Bill Elliott         Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
28) 7 Robby Gordon         Monster Energy Toyota
29) 37 Travis Kvapil         Extenze Ford 
30) 9 Kasey Kahne         Budweiser Ford 
31) 38 Robert Richardson Mahindra USA Tractors Ford
32) 43 A J Allmendinger Best Buy Ford 
33) 55 Michael McDowell PRISM Motorsports Toyota
34) 39 Ryan Newman     US Army Chevrolet
35) 48 Jimmie Johnson     Lowe's Chevrolet
36) 12 Brad Keselowski     Penske Dodge 
37) 77 Sam Hornish Jr.     Mobil 1 Dodge
38) 34 John Andretti     Window World Cares Ford
39) 78 Regan Smith     Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
40) 13 Max Papis     GEICO Toyota
41) 47 Marcos Ambrose     Kroger Floral Toyota
42) 36 Mike Bliss     Wave Energy Drink Chevrolet
43) 87 Joe Nemechek     NEMCO Motorsports Toyota

Bobby Gerhart wins Daytona ARCA race; Danica Patrick finishes 6th in debut

An annual event for Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway since 1964, the 200 mile race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by REMAX and Menards has been known to be a race fostering greats in NASCAR talent.

As preparations started for the 2010 ARCA Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 race on Saturday morning, the focus for the event was placed heavily on a single stock car rookie. Of course, that rookie was IndyCar star Danica Patrick making her first ever competitive stock car outing at Daytona International Speedway. At last, the build up and media hype of Patrick's entrance in stock car racing could end, being replaced instead with hard race results.

Starting with NASCAR prospect James Buescher starting on pole with a #51 Toyota, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 was guaranteed not to be a caution-free event. At lap 8, former ARCA champion Bill Baird lost control of his #52 Chevrolet sliding in turn 2 collecting an unsuspecting Steve Blackburn. As two cars tangled, several cars went past the duo at full speed collecting 10 cars overall.

During the first caution, the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart made several pit stops to address the car's performance in drafting. Gerhart's car was topped up on fuel. As the race progressed, this move proved itself as a defining factor in the race's final laps.

With the inexperience of the various drivers likely contributing to the involvement of 8 of those vehicles, this was far from the end of the stock car carnage. On the restart on lap 18, Dakoda Armstrong running near the near, suffered a flat tire and tried to slow down. Unfortunately, his position in front the field's fastest cars did not give the #22 Dodge a chance to pull out the track. Trying to maintain the pace to not collect the drivers behind him, he spun in front of Jon Wes Towney and Danica Patrick. While Towney and Patrick were able to zip by, the #81 Toyota of Craig Goess was not so lucky pounding into the #22 Dodge.

On lap 27, the #29 car driven by Jesse Smith cut a tire sending the vehicle into the turn 4 SAFER wall. Smith's incident would indirectly spark one of the more scariest accidents of the day when the #48 Dodge of Jill George slowed down in avoidance to Smith's damaged vehicle. Slipping low onto the apron, George's #48 car violently flipped onto its side and launched heavily into the outside wall of turn 4. Stripping the front of her #48 stock car, driver Jill George thankfully walked away from the totaled race car.

By mid-point of the Daytona ARCA race, the Lucas Oil Stick Mist 200 bred the normally high number of cautions produced by a fair share of wrecked race cars. In all, 14 ARCA stock cars would not go on to finish the event.

Within the last 25 laps the #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet of Bobby Gerhart, the same car which early in the race spent extended time on pit road, was leading the #66 of Mark Thompson as well as the reduced pack of contenders.

Danica Patrick got loose in the draft and slid to the back of the lead draft pack position of 11th place. In only a handful of laps to go, Patrick and Nelson Piquet Jr were 2 of the 3 drivers involved in a three-wide battle out of turn 4. Running along the lower line, Piquet's Toyota chopped down on Patrick's #7 Chevy tapping her car. Sent spinning through the frontstretch, Patrick demonstrated some masterful driving recovering from loss of control.

With a record 6 female drivers starting in the ARCA Daytona opener, some of them were parked into the early stages of the event, including Milka Duno and Leilani Munter. Patrick wasn't the only woman demonstrating front-runner prowess. Ali Owens, driving a #15 Chevrolet sponsored by ElectrifyingCareers.com, was running a strong third place as the fight for positions heated up in the late laps.

The final caution was brought out when Barry Fitzgerald #06 veers left off of turn 2. The turbulence on the side of the #06 was enough to send the Ford over onto its roof sliding down the infield along Daytona's Superstretch. The last caution, Fitzgerald's car would not be the last victim of the 200 mile race. After a charging Patrick Seltra shuffled Ali Owens to the back with a fine exercise of restrictor plate racing, Owen's was behind a slower car when his engine blew with 3 laps to go. Owens spun in avoidance put an end to what could have been a solid lead lap finish.

At the end, the #5 Chevrolet of Gerhart holds off the #66 of Thompson to win his 6th 200-mile ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway.

Driving towards the checkered flag in a side-by-side, fender-rubbing match with Ricky Carmichael, Danica Patrick completed her stock car debut with a formidable 6th place finish in the JR Motorsports Godaddy.com car.