Daytona 500 Tidbits, History and Notes

Daytona 500 Tidbits

The 2013 edition will be the 55th running of the Daytona 500.
Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.
521 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 309 in more than one.
35 drivers have won a Daytona 500.
Youngest Daytona 500 winner: Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 - 20 years, 0 months, 1 days)
Oldest Daytona 500 winner: Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 - 50 years, 2 months, 11 days)
Nine drivers have won more than one Daytona 500, led by Richard Petty with seven victories.

The nine drivers who have won the Daytona 500 more than once: Richard Petty (seven), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three), Dale Jarrett (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Bill Elliott (two), Matt Kenseth (two), Sterling Marlin (two) and Michael Waltrip (two).

Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes in the Daytona 500 with five; Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Terry Labonte lead all active drivers in Daytona 500 second-place finishes with three.

Dale Earnhardt finished in the top 10 in 16 of his 23 Daytona 500s.

Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty each had 16 top 10s in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-10 finishes with 12; followed by Mark Martin with 11.

Dale Earnhardt had 12 top fives in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver. Terry Labonte leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-five finishes with six; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with five.

Only 12 drivers have an average finish of 10th or better in the Daytona 500, five of those competed in the Daytona 500 only once.

Clint Bowyer has a 12.0 average finish in eight appearances, the best of the active drivers who have competed in more than one Daytona 500.

Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, and Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 champion, are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 in their first appearance.

28 of the 35 drivers who have won, participated in at least two Daytona 500s before visiting Victory Lane.

Dale Earnhardt competed 19 times before winning his only Daytona 500 (1998), the longest span of any of the 35 race winners.

Six drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first Daytona 500 victory: Dale Earnhardt (19), Buddy Baker (18), Darrell Waltrip (16), Bobby Allison (14), Michael Waltrip (14) and Sterling Marlin (12).

The most Daytona 500s all-time without a victory was Dave Marcis (33 races).

Seven drivers posted their career-first victory with a win in the Daytona 500: Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001) and Trevor Bayne (2011).

Three other drivers posted their career-first victory in (point-paying) qualifying races: Johnny Rutherford (1963), Bobby Isaac (1964) and Earl Balmer(1966).

A driver has won back-to-back Daytona 500s three times. Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).

Kevin Harvick’s 0.020-second margin of victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500 is the 12th-closest overall since the advent of electronic timing in 1993, and the closest in a Daytona 500.

27 of the 54 Daytona 500s have been won from a top-five starting position.
Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 from the 39th starting position in 2009, the deepest a race winner has started.

Nine have been won from the pole. The last to do so was Dale Jarrett in 2000.
16 Daytona 500s have been won from the front row.

Five reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following season: Lee Petty (1959), Richard Petty (1973),Cale Yarborough (1977), Jeff Gordon (1999) and Dale Jarrett (2000).

Five drivers have won the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season, Richard Petty has done it four times:Jimmie Johnson (2006), Jeff Gordon (1997), Richard Petty (1964, 1971, 1974, 1979), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Lee Petty (1959).

Danica Patrick on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2013 became the first female in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history to win a Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500 posting a speed of 196.434 mph.
Janet Guthrie previously held the record for top starting position by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, twice starting ninth in 1977. She started ninth at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977.

In 2012, Danica Patrick became the third female driver to compete in a Daytona 500 joining Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson.

History

Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.

Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.

Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.

The track underwent a repave in 2010.

Notebook

There have been 131 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 54 have been 500 miles, 50 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.

Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.

Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959; he led 38 laps and won by 2 feet.

Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
55 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.

Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.

Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with three poles at Daytona.
56 drivers have won at Daytona.

Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.

Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.

The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.

17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in the 2011 Coke Zero 400.

A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.

- NASCAR Statistics

NASCAR This Week on ESPN

NASCAR Nationwide Series Season Opener on ESPN

Live, flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opening 300-mile race from Daytona International Speedway will air on ESPN on Saturday, Feb. 23. NASCAR Countdown begins at noon ET with the green flag at 1:34 p.m. The race telecast is presented by Royal Purple. ESPN2 will air NASCAR Nationwide Series practice on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. and qualifying on Friday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 p.m.

Also this week, ESPN2 will preview the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in a special program airing Friday, Feb. 22, at 2 a.m. A NASCAR Nationwide Series season preview program will air Thursday, Feb. 21, at 2:30 a.m. All NASCAR programming on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available on computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox via WatchESPN, accessible to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

Daytona Race Telecast Announcers:
Booth: Announcer Allen Bestwick; analysts Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree.
Pit reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch.
NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe (host); Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham, Brad Daugherty (analysts).


NASCAR Now at Daytona
ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program NASCAR Now will have four programs originating from Daytona International Speedway surrounding the Daytona 500, including a one-hour Daytona 500 preview show airing at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. The Great American Race also will be reviewed at midnight on Monday, Feb. 25 (late Sunday night). Host Allen Bestwick will be joined for the Feb. 24-25 shows by analysts Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Ray Evernham with reporters Mike Massaro and Marty Smith. The week’s schedule: 

Date   Time                Show                 Host                   Network
Tue., Feb. 19  12:30 a.m. NASCAR Now Marty Reid       ESPN2 
Wed., Feb. 20  12:30 a.m. NASCAR Now Marty Reid       ESPN2
Thu., Feb. 21   2 a.m.         NASCAR Now Marty Reid       ESPN2
Fri.,   Feb. 22   1:30 a.m. NASCAR Now Nicole Briscoe       ESPN2
Sat.,  Feb. 23   1:30 a.m. NASCAR Now Nicole Briscoe       ESPN2
Sun.,  Feb. 24    9 a.m.         NASCAR Now Allen Bestwick      ESPN2
Mon., Feb. 25   Midnight NASCAR Now Allen Bestwick      ESPN2

NASCAR, Swan Racing And Michael Waltrip Partner To Pay Tribute to Newtown, Conn., Community

Using the biggest race of the year as a backdrop, NASCAR, Swan Racing and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip announced today a special tribute to raise awareness and contributions for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Following a private meeting with town officials, community leaders, first responders and victims’ families last week in Newtown, Conn., NASCAR, Swan Racing and Waltrip announced that the No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota will instead garner the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota. Waltrip’s ride for the Daytona 500 (Sunday, Feb. 24 1 p.m. ET on FOX) will honor the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and prominently feature a call-to-action decal encouraging the NASCAR community to make $10 donations by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.

The Sandy Hook School Support Fund, established jointly by United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank, supports the healing process for the broader Newtown community including children, teachers, first responders, families, residents, mental health professionals, counselors and others, following the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December. One hundred percent of the funds raised for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund go to meet the needs of the Newtown community.

“Americans everywhere are heartbroken about the tragedy in Newtown and Swan Racing is proud to join NASCAR and the United Way of Western Connecticut to help the community move forward,” said Swan Racing owner Brandon Davis.

In addition to piloting the No. 26 Newtown car in the Great American Race, Waltrip confirmed today that all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries will run the “text NEWTOWN to 80888” decal for the Daytona 500.

“Driving the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota is like nothing I have ever been part of in my NASCAR career,” Waltrip said. “It will be an emotional week knowing that we have the potential to do so much good for the Newtown community. I’m racing for a reason.”

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France also announced today that he and his wife Amy would personally kick off the NASCAR industry support with a $50,000 donation that will be matched by The NASCAR Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving communities.

“Being in Newtown last week and delivering a moment of happiness to that community was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” said France. “Looking out at a room of smiling faces amidst the aftermath of a horrible tragedy was very powerful. It hit me that the NASCAR industry and our passionate fan base have an unbelievable opportunity to rally around this cause and make a huge difference for a community in need. I am excited to witness firsthand the NASCAR community’s embrace and support of the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.”

The Sandy Hook School Support Fund recently announced in cooperation with the Newtown Rotary Club Foundation that funds are available to help with the immediate financial and mental health needs for people impacted by the tragic events of Dec. 14.

"One thing I can tell you for sure, is that there will be a whole lot of people in Sandy Hook and Newtown rooting for Michael and the No 26 car," said Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead. "It will be something positive to rally around, and there will be smiles on faces that haven't smiled in quite a while."

The NASCAR community can contribute to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund by texting NEWTOWN to 80888. For fans without short-code texting plans with their wireless carriers, there are two additional opportunities to donate. Donations can also be made online at newtown.uwwesternct.org or by mail to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown, CT, 06470

- NASCAR Media Release

Motorcraft Ford Fusion To Sport New Look, Old Colors At Daytona

The 2013 edition of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway has a throwback feel as the Generation-6 cars that will make their competitive debut this week, once again closely resemble those found in dealer showrooms, bringing back the old “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” approach to Motorsports Marketing.

NASCAR’s qualifying rules have been changed back to an earlier format, one that puts more emphasis on performance during qualifying rather than rewarding teams for past performances.

It’s a perfect environment for the Wood Brothers and Motorcraft/Quick Lane to roll out their 2013 Ford Fusion. This Fusion, while carrying the shapes and style of the street-legal Fusions, is decked out in the same colors as the 1963 Ford Galaxie that Tiny Lund drove to victory in the Daytona 500 for the Woods on Feb. 24, 1963, 50 years ago to the day from this year’s 500.

The Rangoon Red-and-Corinthian White paint scheme is part of the effort of the current generation of Wood racers to honor the team’s long-time chief mechanic and crew chief Leonard Wood, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last week.

“It’s a real honor to be able to do something like this for our uncle,” said Eddie Wood, one of the co-owners of the team.

Wood also is anxious to get back on the track with a Ford Fusion that, like the ’63 Ford Galaxie back in the day, has the kind of appeal that sends race fans to the local dealership after their favorite race car wins in NASCAR.

“I’ve have at least a dozen people come up to me recently and say they went out and bought a 1963 Galaxie after Tiny Lund won the Daytona 500,” Wood said, adding that a true-to-life replica of Lund’s winning Ford will be on display in the Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks.

The real emphasis for the Woods and their current driver Trevor Bayne will be in the garage and on the track as they compete in the 55th running of the Daytona 500.

Even after 63 years of NASCAR racing and a Hall of Fame induction, Leonard Wood, who still works with the team, is looking out his windshield instead of his rear-view mirror as he heads to Speedweeks, where his team has five wins in NASCAR’s showcase race.

During his Hall of Fame induction, he talked about how happy he was to see his nephews, Eddie and Len, and his niece Kim, along with crew chief Donnie Wingo, win the 2011 Daytona 500. He also laid out his hopes for this year.

“I want to see them do it again this year,” he said.

He believes they’ve got the driver to do it in a new car and with a new style of racing, now that the two-car tandem that Bayne used so skillfully in 2011 appears to have become a thing of the past with the change to the 2013 cars.

“He seems to me he’s matured enough that I think he’s got what it takes to win the Daytona 500,” Wood said.

- Wood Brothers Racing Release

NASCAR Unveils “Air Titan” Track-Drying Technology

Click on the picture to Enlarge

Less than eight months ago, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France tasked the  team at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., with developing a means to shorten the delay caused by rain.


The reasons for the initiative were many, but at the top of the list: Fans, whether in the grandstands or watching on television, should not have to wait long before racing resumes following a downpour.

NASCAR announced today Phase 1 of France’s vision, introducing the Air Titan track drying system that will debut during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. This innovative technology, steeped in science and created by the NASCAR R&D Center, will reduce track drying time, improve the racing product and enhance the fan experience – starting this week and including The Sprint Unlimited on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Click to Enlarge

“In a short amount of time, our talented team at the NASCAR R&D Center imagined, designed and built the Air Titan, an innovative device that will dramatically improve the race-viewing experience for our fans,” France said of the initiative’s first phase. “With its far-reaching potential and impact, we believe the Air Titan is a big win for the motorsports industry, and eventually will enhance many surface cleaning and drying industries as well.”

With the ultimate goal of reducing track-drying time by up to 80%, the NASCAR R&D team took an advanced scientific approach during the production of the Air Titan™. Using compressed air, the Air Titan™ efficiently and reliably pushes water off of the racing surface and onto the apron where vacuum trucks will remove the remainder of the moisture. Jet dryers will follow each Air Titan™, drying any excess water that remains on the racing surface.

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As part of the Air Titan’s testing process, NASCAR enlisted the expertise of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) in Auburn, Ala., International Speedway Corporation’s track construction group, Racing Surface Technologies and QualPro Inc. Additionally, Elgin Sweeper Company, Sullair and Ring Power CAT also provided equipment during the testing, and will be part of the track-drying process at Daytona during Speedweeks.

For the immediate future, jet dryers and vacuum trucks will continue to be used during track-drying efforts. Over time, the innovations of the Air Titan™ will lessen the carbon footprint of track drying, decreasing both emissions and noise pollution. The next evolution in the innovative technology will be to optimize the power source.

- NASCAR Media Release

NASCAR - Sprint Unlimited Numbers

By the Numbers: The Sprint Unlimited

.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history

.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history

.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history

1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in The Sprint Unlimited races they won

2 – The starting position that has produced the most Sprint Unlimited wins (five).

2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts

5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)

6 – Number of Sprint Unlimited wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader

7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for The Sprint Unlimited (1981)

11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)

14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979

19 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in The Sprint Unlimited, leads all manufacturers

20 – Most consecutive starts in The Sprint Unlimited by Mark Martin (1989-2008)

27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history

28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979

44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event

47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Sprint Unlimited

124.095 mph – The slowest average speed of the race for The Sprint Unlimited was last season’s event won by Kyle Busch.

197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for The Sprint Unlimited was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.

- Nascar Statistics

NASCAR Sprint Unlimited Notes

The Sprint Unlimited Notes
The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009,  19 are scheduled to compete in this year’s event.

 The drivers with the most Sprint Unlimited appearances:
 Bill Elliott (23)
 Mark Martin (23)
 Rusty Wallace (19)
 Ken Schrader (19)
 Jeff Gordon (19)

 Mark Martin had appeared in the most consecutive Sprint Unlimited races, competing in 20 consecutive events from 1989-2008. With his start in this year’s race, Jeff Gordon, who currently has 19 consecutive starts in the event, will tie that mark.

 There have been eight multiple winners in The Sprint Unlimited:
 Tony Stewart has won three (2001, 2002 and 2007).
 Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
 Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.

 Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008) and Kevin Harvick (2009-2010).

 Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back races. No driver has ever won three consecutive Sprint Unlimited races.

Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Sprint Unlimited in which they competed.

Only five times in the 32-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500:
Bobby Allison (1982)
Bill Elliott (1987)
Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)
Jeff Gordon (1997)

There have been three winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987) and Ken Schrader (1989).

Two drivers have swept The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2012: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)

One driver has swept The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2012: Bobby Allison (1982).

Seven drivers have won The Sprint Unlimited (1979-2012) and the same season’s championship. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times – four times:
Tony Stewart (2002)
Jeff Gordon (1997)
Dale Earnhardt (1993)
Dale Earnhardt (1991)
Dale Earnhardt (1986)
Darrell Waltrip (1981)
Dale Earnhardt (1980)

Four drivers have won consecutive Sprint Unlimited races (1979-2012). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.
Kevin Harvick (2009-10)
Tony Stewart (2000-01)
Ken Schrader (1990-91)
Neil Bonnett (1983-84)

The Sprint Unlimited Manufacturer Recap
Manufacturer Victories Last Victory - Driver

Chevrolet 19 2010 – Kevin Harvick

Ford 7 2004 – Dale Jarrett

Buick 2 1982 – Bobby Allison

Oldsmobile 2 1980 – Dale Earnhardt

Pontiac 2 2002 – Tony Stewart

Dodge 1 2011 – Kurt Busch

Toyota 1 2012 – Kyle Busch

- NASCAR Statistics