November 17th - November 21st, 2008
Thursday: _Editor's Note: This column has been postponed due to technical issues for Matt McLaughlin._ NASCAR's testing ban for 2009 has race teams and fans up in arms. Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off and puts the ban under the microscope, dissecting the pros and cons of cutting costs in this way.
Friday: Jimmie Johnson has officially joined NASCAR's elite in the history books; but how will his chapter be written? Amy Henderson gives her take on Johnson's place in history in Holding a Pretty Wheel.
- This week on the Frontstretch!
Looking to see when and where your favorite columns (and columnists) pop up every week? Click here to find out all the details! - Advertise With Us!
Want your products and services to be a part of one of the fastest growing racing website on the net? Get all your questions answered about advertising here. - Write for Us
Think you have what it takes to write for the Frontstretch? Follow this link for more information on how you can become a weekly columnist for the site! - Driver Diary Schedule
Want to know when your favorite drivers are telling their latest stories to the Frontstretch? Check out the schedule link to figure out when David Reutimann, David Starr, Rick Crawford, and Kenny Wallace are stopping by.
|
| Subscribe to The Frontstretch Newsletter |
| Visit this group |
The Nextel Cup Series heads to the World Center of Racing this weekend for NASCAR’s Superbowl at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500 is the first race of the 2007 Nextel Cup season and will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 18th at 2 pm ET on Fox, with radio coverage by MRN affiliates nationwide. Competitors will make 200 circuits for 500 miles around the 2.5-mile superspedway in their quest for the checkered flag.
Records and Facts
Bill Elliott holds the record for the fastest lap at Daytona International Speedway, posting a qualifying lap with a speed of 210.364 mph to win the pole for the 1987 running of the Daytona 500. Elliott is tied with Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker for the record for the most poles at DIS with four. Jeff Burton was the pole sitter for last year's event.
Richard Petty holds the record for most Daytona 500 victories with seven wins. (1964, ’66, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’79, and ’81) Jimmie Johnson won last year's event.
Buddy Baker holds the fastest race record time at Daytona. He attained the record of 2 hours, 48 minutes, 22 seconds with an average speed of 177.602 mph on February 17, 1980 in the Daytona 500.
Bobby Allison is the oldest driver to grace Daytona's victory lane. He was 50 years, 2 months, 11 days old when he won the Daytona 500 on February 14, 1988. The youngest winner at Daytona is Jeff Gordon. Gordon was 25 years, 6 months, 12 days old when he won the Daytona 500 on February 16, 1997.
The closest margin of victory at DIS came in 1959 when Lee Petty defeated Johnny Beauchamp by 2 feet on February 22nd in the Daytona 500. The greatest margin of victory came in 1973 when Richard Petty defeated Bobby Isaac by 2 laps on February 18th in the Daytona 500.
The 1974 Daytona 500 is on the record for having the most lead changes in a Cup event at DIS when participants exchanged the top spot 60 times. The 2006 Daytona 500 is on record for having the most different leaders at 18. The 1972 Daytona 500 has the record for the least lead changes (3) in a Cup race at DIS, with only Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and race winner A.J. Foyt taking turns at the front of the field.
More incentive to win
The total purse for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is $18,391,423, a $355,788 increase from last year.
Race Festivities
Grand Marshal (Gives the command to start engines): Actor Nicolas Cage
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Former Nextel Cup and Busch Series driver and Craftsman Truck Series analyst Phil Parsons
National Anthem: The multi-platinum genre bending country music duo Big & Rich
Pace Car Driver: Hall of Fame baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr.
Quotable
"I couldn't be happier with my crew. I really like all of the guys around me and we're all really focused on the racecar and motivated to go out and win another of these (Daytona 500s). It's a race we all look forward to for months and months, and I'll be glad to get in the racecar and let it all hang out.” – !!Dale Earnhardt, Jr.!!
"You couldn't ask for more as a rookie coming to Daytona for your first time. It's a pleasure to be a part of it and I'm really looking forward to Sunday and the Daytona 500." – !!David Gilliland after winning the pole for the Daytona 500!!
"You're still going to need to have a good car, and you still have to make the right decisions, make the right moves late in the race and have the right people with you. The only way you are going to do all that is to have the right car." – !!Kasey Kahne!!
Still looking for that fantasy league to join this season? Think YOU have what it takes to beat the experts at Frontstretch? Click here to sign up NOW for the Frontstretch Game of Tomorrow. Frontstretch’s NEW Fantasy Game administered by our own Fantasy Racing experts Cami Starr and Mike Neff. Hurry up…the game starts this week!
Still haven’t joined the Frontstretch Forums? Here’s a peek at what you’re
missing this week:
How does Jimmie Johnson compare to Cale Yarborough?
Ten things we hated about the 2008 season
Ten things we loved about the 2008 season
Make sure to join us during the offseason as we follow any news and stories that come out.
Click here to join the forums and tell us what you think. Don’t miss out on a chance to share your opinion with a growing community of fans just like you!
©2000 - 2008 Kim DeHaven and Frontstetch.com. Thanks for visiting the Frontstretch!
