Daytona 500 in 7 days

[hutch]

Me and two college buddies are going to be in Daytona next weekend for the 50th running of the Daytona 500.  Anyone else?



My 73

[Shakey]

I'll be watching on the couch:

Lap 1 - 25 -     

Lap 25 - 150   

Lap 150 - end      

[Ponch ®]

I didn't know they moved the 500 to a Friday. Damn NASCAR...always trying to buck tradition.

[Charger_Fan]

I'll probably start the day with full intentions of watching at least the last hour or so...but then I'll probably get sidetracked & miss the whole thing. Just like the previous 3 years.
I'd definitely like to be at the track for a race, one of these days (adding that to my bucket list).

[PocketThunder]

What is the reason for 500 miles anyways?  Why not make it 100 or 50 or 1000? 

Ok i'm off to wikepedia now.....

[Ponch ®]

Now that I think about it, I might be driving back from Vegas during the 500  . At least I'll get to listen to it on Sirius...

[PocketThunder]

i didnt see anything about why the distance is set at 500 miles.  but i did see that they shortened the race to save fuel in '74.  I dont remember this ofcourse, back then i was just a shot in the sheets..

"1974: 450 Miles (180 laps) Race scheduled for 450 miles (90% distance) due to energy crisis"

[hutch]

I didn't know they moved the 500 to a Friday. Damn NASCAR...always trying to buck tradition.

The race is sunday.  I have tickets for races that entire weekend and I get into town Friday morning.  Staying on the beach.

[Ponch ®]

i didnt see anything about why the distance is set at 500 miles.   

Because when NASCAR started out, the Indy 500 was the premier race in the country (if not the world). Then some guy built Darlington and decided to try to make the race as long, so the Southern 500 was born. Then Bill France built Daytona, he went to the FIA and got them to officially sanction the race (which meant that it wouldn't schedule any other races anywhere in the world that day), so he set the distance at 500 miles to at least match the Indy and Southern 500. At the time, they also didn't think cars could last more than 500 miles.

[tomdroptop]

I have a Buddy of mine pitting for Norm Bennings pit crew. They will be trying for one of the 7 or so left over positions still avail by qualifying. If they make it he'll be pitting the Daytona 500 Very cool! If not he'll still be there. He is the gas man. Hope he does well!
Have fun there all who are going!   

[chargerboy69]

I will not be there, but I can not wait.

I will have my fat ass on the couch this Saturday night for the Bud Shootout. I always like watching that as well.

Just hope my boy will have a great year.

[tomdroptop]

My wife is all about Ryan also. Great guy I must say. we were in the pits at Pocono & he went out of his way to come over & sign my wifes t-shirt that read " Future #12 Fan inside" with an arrow pointed to her then pregnant belly. He thought it was great & took a few pictures with his wife.   

[chargerboy69]

My wife is all about Ryan also. Great guy I must say. we were in the pits at Pocono & he went out of his way to come over & sign my wifes t-shirt that read " Future #12 Fan inside" with an arrow pointed to her then pregnant belly. He thought it was great & took a few pictures with his wife.   

Great story with you and your wife.


He is a super nice guy. I have met him and his wife at the last three Brickyards. Last year I gave him a 8X10 picture of my Charger, and put my address on the back. I told him next time he is in Indiana and wants to drive a real Charger, to stop in and we could go for a spin. He just laughed. I was even lucky enough to get a tour of his motorhome. Its not to bad for a $900,000 coach.

[TruckDriver]

I will be watching every practice session, qualifying & race, including the ARCA race tomorrow afternoon at 3pm eastern time, The Bud Shoot out, the twin qualifying races Thurday, and all the Nationwide series (old Busch series) including Saturdays race, and truck race next Friday night. Daytona speed weeks is my favorite time of year.


BTW - Last night SPEED channel had a hour show about some of the commercials over the years using Cup drivers. Looks like this year, there starting to do what they do at the super bowl with hi-tech and funny commercials. Toyota is going to have some good ones. There is one where the cars get radio controlled from the stands, and neither the crews or drivers know about it. Tony Stewart is in it.  Looked like its going to be a pretty funny one.

[tomdroptop]

Here is the signed shirt from 2004 Pocono....

[chargerboy69]

Here is the signed shirt from 2004 Pocono....

Very cool. 

[NHCharger]

Three years ago me and my Dad went to Daytona for a few days. Saw the qualifying races, IROC, truck race. Watching the truck race at night at Daytona was one of the coolest things I ever experienced. My only complaint was the food. Only Pepsi products, and four choices of food. Hamburger, cheeseburger, dogburger, greaseburger. And they all tasted the same.

[TruckDriver]

They just had a 8 car crash in practice for the Bud shoot out. Jeff Gorden, Jimmy Johnson, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Clint Boyer and Kenny Schroeder and Bill Elliot. Gorden's and Johnson's are completely totalled out. I believe Newman's car is junk too. The others are fixable. All the drivers are saying these cars are VERY unstable on the track at speed because of the draft they are making, and constantly wanna spin out. They're comparing them to dirt track cars, always sliding. They all agree the races are going to be very interesting right through the 500. It's on for another half hour on Speed.

[TruckDriver]

Tony Stewart, was just going outside of Kurt Busch, and Busch moved up, and got turned into the wall, Steward, went down and hit Denny Hamlin. Then Busch hunted down Steward, started slamming his car off Steward's all the way into the pits.  This is the wildest practice sesion I ever seen so far. Half of the cars have been in accidents already.

[Ponch ®]

All the drivers are saying these cars are VERY unstable on the track at speed because of the draft they are making, and constantly wanna spin out. They're comparing them to dirt track cars, always sliding. They all agree the races are going to be very interesting right through the 500. It's on for another half hour on Speed.

Is this something new tho? They've already tested the hell out of those cars and ran a 500 mile plate race (Talladega). They shouldn't act so surprised.

[Shakey]

All the drivers are saying these cars are VERY unstable on the track at speed because of the draft they are making, and constantly wanna spin out. They're comparing them to dirt track cars, always sliding. They all agree the races are going to be very interesting right through the 500. It's on for another half hour on Speed.

Is this something new tho? They've already tested the hell out of those cars and ran a 500 mile plate race (Talladega). They shouldn't act so surprised.

It's all an act, as if they whine enough NASCAR will change the rules. 

[TruckDriver]

All the drivers are saying these cars are VERY unstable on the track at speed because of the draft they are making, and constantly wanna spin out. They're comparing them to dirt track cars, always sliding. They all agree the races are going to be very interesting right through the 500. It's on for another half hour on Speed.

Is this something new tho? They've already tested the hell out of those cars and ran a 500 mile plate race (Talladega). They shouldn't act so surprised.

They said it is not even close to Talladega because that track has a new smooth surface on it. And the Daytona surface is 50 years old, and very bumpy. Mark Martin said that on this track, these cars aren't producing a lot of downforce. Almost like the cars up to the mid '80s. And he thinks there will be a lot of crashes because, most of the current drivers never drove cars that handle loose like the cars in the '80s did. In fact, a lot weren't born then.

[The70RT]

It looks like it is gonna be a crash fest the way the COT is handling. Especially if there patience runs thin. Looks like Stewart is running tru to form...

[TruckDriver]

It looks like it is gonna be a crash fest the way the COT is handling. Especially if there patience runs thin. Looks like Stewart is running tru to form...

Stewart didn't do anything wrong. Busch started it this time by retaliating for a simple racing accident. Nascar wanted to bring rivalries back to the sport, well, they got a good one going

[General_01]

Busch is such a baby. Tony went low and Busch dove to block him, so Tony took it back up high and Busch then dove high to block him again and ended up catching Tony's nose and turning himself into the wall. What a dumba**! Then he chases Tony down to the apron and pitlane and starts smashing his car into Tony's car. I think Tony was unstrapping and getting ready to get outta his car to kick some Busch butt. Of course Busch drove off because he only uses cars to retaliate with. He is such a baby. I remember when he tried to put Jimmy Spencer in the wall at Michigan,I think. Well Jimmy gave him a black eye after the race for his stunts and this baby filed charges against Spencer. The Busch brothers are a couple of babies as far as I am concerned.

[chargerboy69]

The Busch brothers are a couple of babies as far as I am concerned.

That may be. . . But they are two of the best drivers out there right now. As much as I do not like Kyle, that kid can drive.

As far as the accident I thought it was Tonys fault. But that is just my opinion. But Kurt should not have done what he did after the accident. He did that last year and got in trouble for it.

[TruckDriver]

The Busch brothers are a couple of babies as far as I am concerned.

That may be. . . But they are two of the best drivers out there right now. As much as I do not like Kyle, that kid can drive.

They ain't THAT good. I can't stand Jeff Gorden, but he is 5 times the driver then either of the Busches together. Neither Pee Wee Herman Busch and his brother have near as much dirt track experiance as Gorden, as that is where he got his career started. In fact, I would put money on it that Dave Blaney and Robby Gorden could out drive the busches in equal cars.

[General_01]

The Busch brothers are a couple of babies as far as I am concerned.

That may be. . . But they are two of the best drivers out there right now. As much as I do not like Kyle, that kid can drive.

They ain't THAT good. I can't stand Jeff Gorden, but he is 5 times the driver then either of the Busches together. Neither Pee Wee Herman Busch and his brother have near as much dirt track experiance as Gorden, as that is where he got his career started. In fact, I would put money on it that Dave Blaney and Robby Gorden could out drive the busches in equal cars.

I will say that Kyle is talented. His problem is that he can't see the forest for the trees. I think that there are a few other drivers out there that could outdrive them in equal cars. Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Robby Gordon, Dave Blaney, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton to name a few.

[chargerboy69]

The Busch brothers are a couple of babies as far as I am concerned.

That may be. . . But they are two of the best drivers out there right now. As much as I do not like Kyle, that kid can drive.

They ain't THAT good. I can't stand Jeff Gorden, but he is 5 times the driver then either of the Busches together. Neither Pee Wee Herman Busch and his brother have near as much dirt track experiance as Gorden, as that is where he got his career started. In fact, I would put money on it that Dave Blaney and Robby Gorden could out drive the busches in equal cars.

I agree Gordon is a better driver than the two Busch brothers.


That is why I said they are two of the best out there. Not they are the two best out there. Blaney and Robby Gordon better than them though? 

[andy74]

ill be there,my 12th one in a row!

[Orange_Crush]

Nope, got something a lot more exciting planned.  NOTHING.

[68RT4ME]

 Will be there, I have seats at the starting edge of turn one, mid level.

[hutch]

Will be there, I have seats at the starting edge of turn one, mid level.

I am on the back strech mid level.  I have never been to a track this large.  Being from Virginia all we have around here is short tracks where you can see the entire race unfold at once.  Going to be hard to see such a small part of the race play out. 

This track is big as shit.

[hutch]

anyone have scanner freqs yet for the nationwide and sprint races?

[Guns N Rotors]

http://www.jayski.com/links/scanners.htm

00  David Reutiman 457.5375
01  Regan Smith 463.2875
02  Brandon Ash 461.1250
07  Clint Bowyer 469.2375
08  Carl Long ?
09  Sterling Marlin 469.3125
1  Martin Truex Jr. 466.6875
2 Kurt Busch 451.8250
4 MMM - Suspended Operations 468.8500
5 Casey Mears 468.2125
6 David Ragan 460.9500
7 Robby Gordon 469.4500
8 Mark Martin Aric Almirola 464.9500
9 Kasey Kahne 451.8500
10 Patrick Carpentier 462.7650
11 Denny Hamlin 467.4750
12 Ryan Newman 457.7875
15 Paul Menard 464.8750
16 Greg Biffle 468.4500
17 Matt Kenseth 458.4750
18 Kyle Busch 467.4500
19 Elliott Sadler 456.8500
20 Tony Stewart 462.5250
21 Bill Elliott Jon Wood Marcos Ambrose 452.2000
22 Dave Blaney 468.9375
24 Jeff Gordon 467.0625
26 Jamie McMurray 465.9750
27? Kirk Shelmerdine 459.3625
27 Jacques Villeneuve 464.5625
28 Travis Kvapil 466.9500
29 Kevin Harvick 469.0125
31 Jeff Burton 468.5750
33 Scott Wimmer Kirk Shelmerdine 468.2500
34 Front Row Motorsports 469.8750
37 Eric McClure 463.2125
38 David Gilliland 468.5250
40 Dario Franchetti 461.3750
41 Reed Sorenson 458.0000
42 Juan Pablo Montoya 466.1000
43 Bobby Labonte 456.5250
44 Dale Jarrett 463.2125
45 Kyle Petty 461.2250
47 Marcos Ambrose ?
48 Jimmie Johnson 452.2375
49 Ken Schrader 461.4125
50 Stanton Barrett ?
55 Michael Waltrip 452.8125
60 Boris Said 462.2500
66 Scott Riggs 464.6375
70 Jeremy Mayfield 466.5000
77 Sam Hornish 452.6750
78 Joe Nemechck 452.2625
83 Brian Vickers 451.6125
84 AJ Allmendinger 452.0875
87 Kenny Wallace ?
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 462.0625
89 Morgan Shepherd 468.6500
96 J.J. Yeley 461.1625
99 Carl Edwards 466.2750

[The70RT]

Toyota engines are have a problem with the valve train....and so is Hendrix....

[TruckDriver]

Toyota engines are have a problem with the valve train....and so is Hendrix....

I laughed my ass off when the Hendrick cars had to pull their engines. Well, except for the Jr. team.

[hutch]

Toyota engines are have a problem with the valve train....and so is Hendrix....

I laughed my ass off when the Hendrick cars had to pull their engines. Well, except for the Jr. team.

I love it!

Thanks for posting the freqs.  I am driving from virginia at 8 Am today (14th).  I cant wait!!!!

[TruckDriver]

I forgot to add that I heard that Tony Stewardt is on that list too now.

[The70RT]

I forgot to add that I heard that Tony Stewardt is on that list too now.

He fits right in with the Blowotas 

[chargerboy69]

Toyota engines are have a problem with the valve train....and so is Hendrix....

I laughed my ass off when the Hendrick cars had to pull their engines. Well, except for the Jr. team.

Speed just announced all Hendrick cars pulled their engines, including Jr. 

[TruckDriver]

Jr. won the first race


And Kurt Busch will start 43rd in the 500

[chargerboy69]

Jr. won the first race


And Kurt Busch will start 43rd in the 500

I was happy to see Jr. did so well. I am curious how the guy will do with good cars. So far so good.

My boy finished 3rd. Thats alright. . . I guess. 

Kurt is my wifes driver, so she will not be happy.

[The70RT]

Jr. won the first race


And Kurt Busch will start 43rd in the 500

I was happy to see Jr. did so well. I am curious how the guy will do with good cars. So far so good.

My boy finished 3rd. Thats alright. . . I guess. 

Kurt is my wifes driver, so she will not be happy.

Who knows what will happen in the 500 if they didn't figure out the engine woes. Like always starting in the back doesn't have much affect at Daytona. It sounds like tires will be the main issue. Go Mark and Kasey 

[General_01]

Two good things today.

1. Tony Stewart finished second and his car looked strong.

2. Kurt Busch is starting dead last. 

Actually, I just remembered that Dale Jarret made it in too. So that makes three.

[miller]

I happy that kenny wallace made it in, ultimate underdog


i just wish Said could be in it too, and Elliott

[hemi68charger]

I hope the Daytona IROC 500 is good.......... I mean, everyone of the cars are the same except the driver and drivetrain... Bodies, suspension, wing..... all the same........... Guess I'm too old and remember the "good ole days"........ Hopefully there will be some more made..........  It was bad enough to have restrictor racing to bunch everyone up, but now the aero aspect of the race is the same..........   Again, it's IROC...

[TruckDriver]

Okay, I'll admit this, but I like to see crashes, door to door racing, bumping and banging and lots of it in races. Basically, what short track amature races are. Without them, it is just cars going in boring circles. It would be like watching Football where they are not aloud to touch each other. Let me clarify, I do not want to see anyone get hurt or killed! But I even told me son already, I can see this being to boringest year ever in NASCAR cup because these cars tend to be more stable. I said that if it turns out I am right, I'll never watch Cup races. I'll strictly watch the trucks and the Nation Wide series from now on.

[69_500]

Ah don't worry if the new IROC version of Nascar continues the Busch series (I don't care if they change the name its always going to be Bush, just like its the Winston Cup not the Sprint/nextel) cars will change to the same body design. Give it another year and the lower series will all be running the same crappy CAR OF TOMORROW design as well.

[Ghoste]

I just hope Ricky Bobby beats that French guy.

[moparstuart]

I just hope Ricky Bobby beats that French guy.

or at least doesnt kiss him again

[TruckDriver]

Anyone watching the truck race right now? Holy Demolition derby 3 cautions, 1 red flag, 13 trucks destroyed! All in 25 laps or so.

[General_01]

Kyle Busch lost!!! Yeahhh! He screwed himself when he left Johnny Benson out to dry. Johnny wasn't going to push him by Todd Bodine after that. I was pulling for Johnny to win. Maybe next year.

[Shakey]

Anyone watching the truck race right now? Holy Demolition derby 3 cautions, 1 red flag, 13 trucks destroyed! All in 25 laps or so.

The truck race is usually the best race of the weekend however I dozed off after the firey wreck and didn't wake up until 2:30 AM.

[69charger2002]

wow they just showed a 71-72 roadrunner, 69 daytona looked like, and a 71-72 charger ALL mopar going around the track.. anyone else catch that during the gay michael mcdonald song?
trav

[General_01]

I saw them during Brooks and Dunn. Very cool!

[Charger Steve]

Are you guys talking about the Dale Earnhardt Jr. 500 race that is on right now? I just turned my t.v. off  at lap 50 after hearing the announcers mention "Jr."s name for the 200th. time. Nascar is not an "American" race anymore. In addition to the Toyotas out there lets get some Nissans and all the other Jap owned companies that are taking over this country in this race. I'd rather be on my computer and visiting Mopar sites than watching Nascar anymore. I feel better now after getting that off my chest!

[Charger Steve]

Are you guys talking about the Dale Earnhardt Jr. 500 race that is on right now? I just turned my t.v. off at lap 50 after hearing the announcers mention "Jr."s name for the 200th. time. Nascar is not an "American" race anymore. In addition to the Toyotas out there lets get some Nissans and all the other Jap owned companies that are taking over this country in this race. I'd rather be on my computer and visiting Mopar sites than watching Nascar anymore. I feel better now after getting that off my chest!

[The70RT]

HELL YEAH.......................

[71ChallengeHer]

6 Dodges in the top 8. 

[73chgrSE]

I'm glad they beat Toyota. Go Dodge!

[TruckDriver]

Helloooooo Newman! 

[pettyfan43]

Beat the Toyotas and took 6 out of the top 8!!!!!!!!


GO NEWMAN!!!!!!

[chargerboy69]

Heck yea. . . That is my boy Ryan.

F -in- A Ryan. Way to go to win the Daytona 500. 

The wife and I were sitting there screaming the entire last lap.  What a great race. Ryan and his wife Krissie are some of the nicest people you could meet. I am happy for both of them. Great job Ryan. 

[General_01]

It was a good race. Penske finally got himself a Daytona 500 victory. The Hendrick cars sure didn't have a good 500.

[mikesbbody]

good job ryan  its been a long time  and congrats to the other dodges 

[tomdroptop]

Go Ryan!!!! agreed 100% we did the same thing all screaming here at the house & what a finish!
Boring 90% then came the last laps & everyone woke up!

[69_500]

Glad to see that a Dodge pulled out the victory, but still can't stand the new "Car of Tomorrow"/IROC bodies that they run. Its NO LONGER Stock car racing, I don't care what they claim.

[chargerboy69]

Just saw a interview with Ryan. Dodge's own Bob Nardelli came through the garage before the race and told every Dodge Team that any Dodge driver that wins the Daytona 500 gets $1,000,000 from Dodge.

Ryan just made $2,000,000 tonight. Not bad.

[The70RT]

Just saw a interview with Ryan. Dodge's own Bob Nardelli came through the garage before the race and told every Dodge Team that any Dodge driver that wins the Daytona 500 gets $1,000,000 from Dodge.

Ryan just made $2,000,000 tonight. Not bad.

Wow....I was wondering after the race if they had any incentives thrown there way.........cool

[chargerboy69]

Found this on Jayski.

Good to see Penske signed contract extensions with Dodge. 

Dodge re-ups with Penske and Ganassi: Dodge executives have taken team owners Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi out of the Toyota equation by signing new contracts with the two. That keeps Dodge with a four-team lineup, including Petty Enterprises and Gillett-Evernham. When Toyota first announced its NASCAR plans, there was considerable speculation that both Penske and Ganassi would eventually switch.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-18-2008)


This is for the extra million paid by Dodge.

An extra million for Newman and the team: Teammates #12-Ryan Newman and #2-Kurt Busch gave Dodge its first ever 1-2 sweep in NASCAR's premier event, the Daytona 500, winning the 50th running of the "Great American Race" Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. The Dodge Charger domination didn't stop there. Six of the first eight positions were filled by Dodge drivers. Reed Sorenson finished fourth, Elliott Sadler fifth, Kasey Kahne sixth and Robby Gordon seventh. Chrysler Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli met with Dodge team owners earlier Sunday and announced there would be a $1 million bonus for a Dodge victory. During a meeting with several members of the motorsports press later in the day, he predicted a Dodge victory. It was Newman's first Daytona 500 victory and snapped an 81-race winless streak. He led four times for eight laps in the #12 Alltel Dodge Charger, but the most important was the final circuit. The win was also the first Daytona 500 victory for car owner Roger Penske, the most successful owner in open wheel history with 14 Indianapolis 500 victories. It was the first Daytona 500 win by a Dodge driver since Ward Burton visited victory lane in 2002. Newman collected $1,506,045 for the win plus the $1 million bonus from Dodge. Newman's Dodge Charger will be inducted into the Daytona 500 Experience Monday where it will remain on display for one year. Following the induction ceremonies, Newman departs for New York for a media tour and then on to Las Angeles on Tuesday afternoon for more appearances.(Dodge Motorsports PR)(2-18-2008) Comment here

[71ChallengeHer]

 

[chargerboy69]

Cool picture. I will swipe that one.

[Guns N Rotors]

Is that a "Daytona wing" on the back of that beautiful '08 Charger? 

[BigBlackDodge]

I think the prize was 1.4 mil or so for the win...........then add a million more from Dodge. Nice pay day for Ryan!



BBD

[pettyfan43]

Newman on Letterman tonight!

[70charginglizard]

Congrad Ryan.

Was a very good day for Nascar.

All the same ol same ol's had problems and our dodge teams did very well.

Bought damn time.

Hopefully this year will bring more races like this.

Well see. If not I will have to stop watching again like the end of last year.

[moparstuart]

Is that a "Daytona wing" on the back of that beautiful '08 Charger? 

took them almost 40 years to bring the wing back !!!