2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup round 1: 52nd Daytona 500

[Knowlesy]

Just over a week to go until the big race!

First practice has been washed out unfortunately, fabulous start!

http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010...e1_speeds.html

[fieldodreams79]

i blame El Nino, for the poor start.

good to see the Awesome One & the 21 up to 4th in speeds, but they are ALL way off the first shootout practice speeds (5 MPH). what gives?

got the Duels coming up first...can we talk the q'ing races here???

[skells22]

1st things 1st you forgot about Saturday's fight for pole for this Daytona 500 and the weather looking better for NASCAR 2orrow

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by skells22

1st things 1st you forgot about Saturday's fight for pole for this Daytona 500 and the weather looking better for NASCAR 2orrow

you right...got to set the front row first.
never been one to like watching NASCAR q'ing, however....

[MJ_N_09]

I don't think I'll even be a fan of JJ now.....uncalled for.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/head...lin/index.html

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

I don't think I'll even be a fan of JJ now.....uncalled for.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/head...lin/index.html

Jimmie has been hanging out with Jeffy G too long; he's starting to sound like a whinny B as well...

David Reutimann:

I called and apologized to Jimmie about eight times...It was my fault for sure. No questions asked. I did my part in creating the wreck and I tried to do my part in making sure that people knew that wasn't a Sam Hornish mistake. That was a David Reutimann mistake. That (stinks) having to call and apologize to two guys.

guess Jimmie can't remember the phone calls or seen the video everyone else has...

Sam Hornish, Jr.:

But if I'm going to (start a rivalry), I'm going to have to start finishing a lot better to be able to do that.

quote of the (short) year, so far.

[MJ_N_09]

At long last. Here's the entry list.

http://jayski.com/stats/2010/entries/1dis2010entry.htm

the 27, 57, 75, 92 and 97 are last minute entries.

[Knowlesy]

Mark Martin has the pole and Junior will join him on the front row.

[FIRE]

Elliot 4th

In the race he will probably drop down the list very quick.

[fieldodreams79]

Awesome Bill still got it on the plate tracks. locked himself in on SPEED! maybe he and the 21 are going to be OK this year. too early to tell and being at Daytona, can't really gauge it...but it is a good start for sure.
FIRE...probably right, but what a story it would be to a Dawsonville Boy back in victory lane at Daytona.

and good for JR and the other Old Man.
sure they will plan on working together, at the start at least.

[MJ_N_09]

results of pole qualifying. Keep in mind that Only the top 2 positions stay set, as well as the fastest 3 "go or go homers". We have the duels still to go to decide the field.

http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2010/1/data/lineup.html

[gomick]

Mark Martins lap was the quickest pole lap since Dale Jarrett did a 47.098 in 2000

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by gomick

Mark Martins lap was the quickest pole lap since Dale Jarrett did a 47.098 in 2000

They made the restrictor holes larger this year so the cars have more horsepower to use.

Awesome Bill still got it on the plate tracks. locked himself in on SPEED! maybe he and the 21 are going to be OK this year. too early to tell and being at Daytona, can't really gauge it...but it is a good start for sure.

It seems that the Wood Brothers cutting back to a partial schedule and cherry-picking has really helped out their performance over the past year.

Here's the Twin Lineups. Drivers locked into the 500 are plain type. Drivers that were not previously locked in but qualified based on speed if they don't finish in the top two Thursday are in bold italics (Bobby Labonte by virtue of being 4th fastest has pretty much made the champion's provisional meaningless as he doesn't need it). Drivers that need to finish in the top two of each Twin to qualify are in bold.

Twin 1:

1. #5 - Mark Martin - Hendrick
2. #39 - Ryan Newman - Stewart Haas
3. #21 - Bill Elliott - Wood Brothers
4. #48 - Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick
5. #33 - Clint Bowyer - Childress
6. #18 - Kyle Busch - Joe Gibbs
7. #24 - Jeff Gordon - Hendrick
8. #87 - Joe Nemechek - Nemco
9. #1 - Jamie McMurray - Earnhardt Ganassi
10. #51 - Michael Waltrip - Michael Waltrip
11. #6 - David Ragan - Roush
12. #43 - A.J. Allmendinger - Richard Petty
13. #99 - Carl Edwards - Roush
14. #11 - Denny Hamlin - Joe Gibbs
15. #29 - Kevin Harvick - Childress
16. #31 - Jeff Burton - Childress
17. #78 - Regan Smith - Furniture Row
18. #16 - Greg Biffle - Roush
19. #32 - Reed Sorenson - Braun
20. #13 - Max Papis - Germain
21. #34 - John Andretti - Front Row
22. #97 - Jeff Fuller - Nemco
23. #38 - Robert Richardson - Front Row
24. #37 - Travis Kvapil - Front Row
25. #46 - Terry Cook - Dusty Whitney
26. #55 - Michael McDowell - Prism
27. #27 - Kirk Shelmerdine - Kirk Shelmerdine

Twin 2:

1. #88 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Hendrick
2. #42 - Juan Pablo Montoya - Earnhardt Ganassi
3. #2 - Kurt Busch - Penske
4. #17 - Matt Kenseth - Roush
5. #77 - Sam Hornish - Penske
6. #82 - Scott Speed - Red Bull
7. #47 - Marcos Ambrose - JTG Daugherty
8. #12 - Brad Keselowski - Penske
9. #20 - Joey Logano - Joe Gibbs
10. #71 - Bobby Labonte - The Racers Group
11. #14 - Tony Stewart - Stewart Haas
12. #00 - David Reutimann - Michael Waltrip
13. #98 - Paul Menard - Richard Petty
14. #9 - Kasey Kahne - Richard Petty
15. #36 - Mike Bliss - Tommy Baldwin
16. #7 - Robby Gordon - Robby Gordon
17. #56 - Martin Truex - Michael Waltrip
18. #83 - Brian Vickers - Red Bull
19. #19 - Elliott Sadler - Richard Petty
20. #90 - Casey Mears - Keyed Up
21. #49 - David Gilliland - BAM
22. #09 - Aric Almirola - Phoenix
23. #26 - Boris Said - Latitude 43
24. #66 - Dave Blaney - Prism
25. #75 - Derrike Cope - Derrike Cope
26. #92 - Mike Wallace - K-Motorsports
27. #57 - Norm Benning - Norm Benning

If some of Elliott, Labonte, Speed, or Nemechek finish in the top two of the bolded drivers in their Twins, the following drivers will qualify for the Daytona 500 field based on qualifying speed in the following order:

1. Michael Waltrip
2. Mike Bliss
3. Reed Sorenson
4. Casey Mears

[gomick]

When are the twin races?

[Dutton]

Thursday 11th.

No. 1 ----> 2pm ET
No.2 -----> 4pm ET

Those times are Speed's broadcast times according to NASCAR.com, but I doubt the start of the first duel can be all that long after 2pm.

[rustyfan]

Various incidents during practice today have forced several drivers, Jimmie Johnson included, to backup cars for the Gatorade Duels.

[FIRE]

Start of Dual 1 in 30 minutes?

[courageous]

Justin fired up & ready - they are counting down for duel #1.

Still don't exactly understand what drivers have to do to qualify, but that's what I love about Daytona.

Fingers crossed for mad Max.

[rustyfan]

Blah, just found out the coverage of the Duels, for whatever reason, has been cancelled.

Justin it is.

[courageous]

DRIVERS START YOUR ENGINES!

Boogity etc...

[Senninha24]

would you guys know by any chance if the 500 will be broadcasted by that Justin channel (from the Rolex, streaming the Duels right now)? It's given me great coverage and I want to watch the whole season, but streams are the only way for me (in PL) so if anyone has streaming info please shed some light.

[Knowlesy]

nascarfansforever channel on Justin is always good.

[Knowlesy]

I am beginning to remember what it was that was the downside to the season starting.

DW is back in the booth.

I hate him with the fire of a thousand suns!

[Knowlesy]

Jeff Burton: 2010 = 2009.

[rustyfan]

First caution - #31 Burton in the wall with a blown tire.