NASCAR: Daytona 500

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Earnhardt Jr. Wins Daytona 500 Pole
Hendrick teammate Gordon starts second


By CHRIS JENKINS AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. February 13, 2011 (AP)



Dale Earnhardt Jr.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. after his qualifying run for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

NASCAR is back — and so is Juniormania.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won pole position for the Daytona 500 with a speed of 186.089 mph in qualifying Sunday.

It's a boost for Earnhardt, who is coming off a disappointing 2010 season and has spent Daytona speedweeks facing questions about the 10-year anniversary of his father's death at the track.

Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Jeff Gordon, qualified second.

Having NASCAR's most popular driver lead the field to the green flag next Sunday could provide some traction for a sport looking to pick up sagging television ratings and attendance.

SOURCE

NASCAR Qualifying

Status: Field Set

Last Updated: Sunday, Feb 13, 2011 4:01 pm, EST
Daytona 500

Daytona International Speedway



Leaderboard Data Order Driver (No.) Car Qualifying Speed

1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) Chevrolet 186.089
2 Jeff Gordon (24) Chevrolet 185.966
3 Trevor Bayne (21) Ford 185.445
4 Paul Menard (27) Chevrolet 185.422
5 Clint Bowyer (33) Chevrolet 185.223
6 Jeff Burton (31) Chevrolet 185.071
7 Ryan Newman (39) Chevrolet 185.002
8 Mark Martin (5) Chevrolet 184.991
9 Greg Biffle (16) Ford 184.911
10 Tony Stewart (14) Chevrolet 184.911
11 Kurt Busch (22) Dodge 184.896
12 Juan Pablo Montoya (42) Chevrolet 184.763
13 Marcos Ambrose (9) Ford 184.748
14 Kevin Harvick (29) Chevrolet 184.740
15 Jimmie Johnson (48) Chevrolet 184.687
16 David Ragan (6) Ford 184.612
17 Bill Elliott (09) Chevrolet 184.532
18 Carl Edwards (99) Ford 184.475
19 A J Allmendinger (43) Ford 184.290
20 Travis Kvapil (38) Ford 184.271
21 Joe Nemechek (87) Toyota 184.222
22 Matt Kenseth (17) Ford 184.102
23 David Reutimann (00) Toyota 184.019
24 Brad Keselowski (2) Dodge 184.008
25 Michael Waltrip (115) Toyota 183.966
26 Dave Blaney (36) Chevrolet 183.793
27 Jamie McMurray (1) Chevrolet 183.685
28 Regan Smith (78) Chevrolet 183.681
29 Kasey Kahne (4) Toyota 183.602
30 Kyle Busch (18) Toyota 183.595
31 Bobby Labonte (47) Toyota 183.576
32 Brian Vickers (83) Toyota 183.557
33 Martin Truex Jr. (56) Toyota 183.456
34 Joey Logano (20) Toyota 183.206
35 Todd Bodine (60) Toyota 183.057
36 Kevin Conway (97) Toyota 182.949
37 Casey Mears (13) Toyota 182.867
38 David Gilliland (34) Ford 182.697
39 Steve Wallace (77) Toyota 182.574
40 Michael McDowell (66) Toyota 182.434
41 Robby Gordon (7) Dodge 182.120
42 Terry Labonte (32) Ford 181.492
43 Denny Hamlin (11) DNQ 181.316
44 J.J. Yeley (46) DNQ 180.977
45 Andy Lally (71) DNQ 180.828
46 Derrike Cope (64) DNQ 177.894
47 Brian Keselowski (192) DNQ 177.581
48 Norm Benning (157) Chevrolet -
49 Robert Richardson Jr. (37) Ford -

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Gatorade Duel 1

Last Year Winner Jimmie Johnson

Daytona International Speedway


Race Capsule

* What: Sprint Cup circuit

* Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

* When: Thursday February 17, 2011 2:19 pm EST Speed TV

* Laps: 60

* Track Length: 2.5 miles

* Race Length: 150.00 miles

Gatorade Duel 2

Last Year Winner Kasey Kahne

Daytona International Speedway


Race Capsule

* What: Sprint Cup circuit

* Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

* When: Thursday February 17, 2011 4:00 pm EST Speed TV

* Laps: 60

* Track Length: 2.5 miles

* Race Length: 150.00 miles

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Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes - NSCS Race Advance - Daytona 500



February 15, 2011 , DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - For Immediate Release
Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes
NSCS Race Advance
Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011


THE DODGE BOYS
• Dodge has 207 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

• Dodge’s most recent win came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch led 252 of 400 laps en route to victory in the Coca-Cola 600.

• Dodge claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.

• Dodge teams have posted 47 wins since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.

• Dodge has posted wins each season since it’s return in 2001 including seven wins twice (2002 and 2006).

DODGE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
• Dodge has four Daytona 500 wins (Richard Petty (2), Ward Burton and Ryan Newman).

• Dodge has 15 Sprint Cup wins at Daytona International Speedway.

• Dodge had a 1-2 finish in the 2008 Daytona 500 when Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge) and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) claimed the top two spots in the 50th running of the “Great American Race”. Dodge drivers finished in six of the first eight positions.

• Dodge earned its first Budweiser Shootout win Saturday night when Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch took the checkered flag to claim his first career win in a restrictor plate race.

• Ward Burton’s win at the 2002 Daytona 500 was Dodge’s first Cup win at Daytona since Richard Petty’s visited victory lane in 1974.

DODGE NEWS AND NOTES
• Kurt Busch has visited victory lane at least once every year since 2002. Only Tony Stewart (12 years) has a longer streak in NASCAR’s premier series.

• Kurt Busch has finished second three times (2003, 2005, and 2008) in 10 Daytona 500 starts.

• Robby Gordon is making his first start in a Dodge since the season finale at Homestead-Miami in 2008. Gordon finished eighth in the 2008 Daytona 500 in a Dodge.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Kurt Busch has 15 top-five and 24 top 10 finishes in restrictor plate races.
• Brad Keselowski gave Dodge its most recent pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last September.

• Dodge is an Official Passenger Car of NASCAR.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Kurt Busch’s 22 Sprint Cup wins ties him for 27th with former series champion Terry Labonte.

• Robby Gordon has eight career top 10s in restrictor plate races.

DODGE MOTORSPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“It will be wild and wide-open racing, that’s for sure. With the new pavement, you can pretty much throw the handling aspect out the window. It’ll be all about raw speed and how well you can run in the two-car draft. You have to still be in that survival mode because there are going to be so many cars going every which way. How guys can manage the two-car draft, it will definitely be the way to win at Daytona.”
Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

FROM THE ENGINEER
“From the day after last year's Daytona 500, everyone knew a repave of the 50-year-old track was due. Although we knew that a fresh surface would mean more speed, few could have imagined the increases we've seen in the early days of Speedweeks. Lap averages above 206 mph in the Bud Shootout were recorded in the two-car drafts. NASCAR announced two rule changes after Sunday’s qualifying in an effort to limit engine cooling. By limiting engine cooling opportunities, drivers won’t be able to draft lap-after-lap in the same formation without the second car overheating. Changing positions takes time and slows speeds. One thing we know for sure is that it's going to be a busy week for NASCAR and the teams as they prepare for Thursday’s Duels and Sunday’s 500-mile race."
Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering

TALKING SHOP WITH PENSKE RACING
“During the "off-season" Penske Racing has worked countless hours in preparation for the Daytona 500. With a new and improved Dodge Charger R/T in the Cup Series and a full season effort with the Dodge Challenger R/T, Penske Racing has rebuilt every car in the fleet. In the month of January, we have tested 18 days on track getting ready for the “Great American Race” and the 2011 season. Everyone at Penske Racing is proud and excited to send 10 of our best cars to support our teams during the Daytona Speedweeks.”
Travis Geisler, Director of Competition, Penske Racing

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FAST FACTS

• The Daytona 500 qualifying record of 210.364 mph was set by Bill Elliott in 1987.

• There have been nine different winners in the last nine Daytona 500s.

• The last five and seven of the last nine Daytona 500s have been won by first-time winners of the “Great American Race”.

• Car No. 22 has won the Daytona 500 twice; a No. 2 has never won the event.

DODGE HISTORICAL DATA

• First Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win: Lee Petty, 2/1/53, West Palm Beach, Fla., 100 miles, .5-mile track.

• Last Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win: Kurt Busch, 05/30/2010, Coca Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 144.966 mph avg. speed.

• First Dodge Daytona 500 Win: Richard Petty, 02/18/1973, 157.205 mph avg. speed.

• Last Dodge Daytona 500 Win: Ryan Newman, 02/17/2008, 152.672 mph avg. speed.

DODGE DRIVER QUOTES
“Our goal is to come back and make it a Daytona sweep by winning the Daytona 500. Our Shell-Pennzoil Dodge team is bubbling with confidence after last weekend. It would definitely be the biggest day of my career if we can pull it off.”
Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

“The opportunity to jump behind the wheel of the ‘Blue Deuce’ is something that is still pretty surreal for me. Only two drivers have ever been lucky enough to drive Mr. Penske’s flagship ride. Rusty Wallace and Kurt Busch are two champion drivers of the highest caliber. There is definitely pressure that comes with following those two guys, but I’m ready to tackle it head on. This is a pressure sport and we, as drivers, put just as much pressure on ourselves as anyone."
Brad Keselowski, No 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T

“We came here to Daytona to win the race. We know that the Penske engines are strong and reliable. Kurt (Busch) won Saturday night in the Shootout and his Dodge really looked strong in the draft. We’ll use practice this week to really shake down our SPEED Energy car and see where we were off in qualifying.”
Robby Gordon, No. 7 SPEED Energy Dodge Charger R/T

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Daytona International Speedway


Daytona International Speedway
Records
Date Series Driver Speed
2/17/80 Sprint Cup Race Buddy Baker 178.00
2/14/10 Sprint Cup Qualifying Mark Martin 191.188
7/4/08 Nationwide Race Denny Hamlin 156.00
2/17/01 Nationwide Qualifying Joe Nemechek 186.966
2/17/06 Camping World Truck Race Mark Martin 147.00
2/13/04 Camping World Truck Qualifying Terry Cook 183.643

Sprint Cup Series
Upcoming Race Feb 17
Gatorade Duel 1& 2

Track Facts

Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Banking/Turns: Tri-Oval
Distance: 2.50 miles
Shape: Tri-Oval

Most Cup Wins (since 1975)

* Bobby Allison: 6
* Jeff Gordon: 6


Sprint Cup
Date Race Name Pole Winner Race Winner Make Purse
2/14/10 Daytona 500 Mark Martin Jamie McMurray Chevrolet $18,549,893

7/3/10 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Chevrolet $6,147,546

2/15/09 Daytona 500 Martin Truex Jr. Matt Kenseth Ford $18,865,586

7/4/09 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Tony Stewart Tony Stewart Chevrolet $6,332,752

2/17/08 Daytona 500 Jimmie Johnson Ryan Newman Dodge $18,689,238

7/5/08 Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola Paul Menard Kyle Busch Toyota $6,284,969

2/18/07 Daytona 500 David Gilliland Kevin Harvick Chevrolet $18,391,423

7/7/07 Pepsi 400 Jeff Gordon Jamie McMurray Ford $6,202,439

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Junior penalized for winning Daytona 500 pole

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – So here’s the situation: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the pole for the Daytona 500 but will start dead last because he’s had to go to a backup car after a crash in practice on Wednesday. Meanwhile – Martin Truex Jr., involved in that same crash with Earnhardt – could start as high as third in the 500.


If this doesn’t make sense, it’s because, well, it doesn’t. But such is life living within the NASCAR rulebook. Per Section 9-6-I: “Once qualifying has begun (whether completed or not) or the starting field has been determined, if a backup car is used, the car must start the Race at the rear of the field.”

It’s a good rule – on most race weekends. Just not this one.

To recognize why, it’s imperative to understand the qualifying process for the Daytona 500, which is as confusing as an Ozzy Osbourne soliloquy. Qualifying is held every year on the Sunday before the Daytona 500, but only for the front row. The rest of the field is set the following Thursday in the Gatorade Duels.

This year, Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon locked themselves in by finishing 1-2 in qualifying.

Fast-forward to Wednesday, when Earnhardt and Truex wrecked, forcing both to go to backup cars. Both will start at the rear of the field in their respective Gatorade Duels, as they should. But here’s where the breakdown begins: Because he hasn’t officially “qualified,” Truex’s starting spot in the Daytona 500 will be determined by where he finishes in his Duel. Regardless of where Junior finishes, he’ll start last.

In essence, Earnhardt is being penalized for winning the pole.

This is why Junior was nervous prior to Wednesday’s practice; he knew nothing good could come of it, only bad, and his worst fears were borne out. Now he has no recourse – not even the ability to race his way back up toward the front row. For him, Thursday’s Duel is nothing more than a practice session. Is this what fans are paying to see?

Had he not won the pole on Sunday, he’d be better off today.

SOURCE

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NASCAR Results

Status: Final

Last Updated: Thursday, Feb 17, 2011 6:44 pm, EST
Gatorade Duel 1

Daytona International Speedway



Leaderboard Data Order Driver (No.) Car Pts/Bonus Laps Laps Led Winnings Lap Progress
1 Kurt Busch (22) Dodge 0/0 62 7 $56,726 Chart
2 Regan Smith (78) Chevrolet 0/0 62 3 $41,713 Chart
3 Kevin Harvick (29) Chevrolet 0/0 62 20 $36,713 Chart
4 Matt Kenseth (17) Ford 0/0 62 13 $31,713 Chart
5 Kasey Kahne (4) Toyota 0/0 62 8 $29,713 Chart
6 Juan Pablo Montoya (42) Chevrolet 0/0 62 1 $27,313 Chart
7 A J Allmendinger (43) Ford 0/0 62 0 $26,213 Chart
8 Mark Martin (5) Chevrolet 0/0 62 3 $25,213 Chart
9 Paul Menard (27) Chevrolet 0/0 62 5 $25,188 Chart
10 Ryan Newman (39) Chevrolet 0/0 62 0 $25,163 Chart
11 Jimmie Johnson (48) Chevrolet 0/0 62 0 $25,138 Chart
12 Tony Stewart (14) Chevrolet 0/0 62 2 $25,113 Chart
13 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) Chevrolet 0/0 62 0 $25,088 Chart
14 Brian Vickers (83) Toyota 0/0 62 0 $25,063 Chart
15 Bill Elliott (09) Chevrolet 0/0 62 0 $25,038 Chart
16 Bobby Labonte (47) Toyota 0/0 62 0 $25,013 Chart
17 J.J. Yeley (46) Chevrolet 0/0 62 0 $24,988 Chart
18 Kevin Conway (97) Toyota 0/0 62 0 $24,938 Chart
19 Joe Nemechek (87) Toyota 0/0 62 0 $24,913 Chart
20 Dave Blaney (36) Chevrolet 0/0 61 0 $24,888 Chart
21 Marcos Ambrose (9) Ford 0/0 61 0 $24,838 Chart
22 Andy Lally (71) Chevrolet 0/0 60 0 $24,813 Chart
23 Michael McDowell (66) Toyota 0/0 53 0 $24,763 Chart
24 David Gilliland (34) Ford 0/0 40 0 $24,738 Chart

NASCAR Results

Status: Final

Last Updated: Thursday, Feb 17, 2011 6:44 pm, EST
Gatorade Duel 2

Daytona International Speedway



Leaderboard Data Order Driver (No.) Car Pts/Bonus Laps Laps Led Winnings Lap Progress
1 Jeff Burton (31) Chevrolet 0/0 60 17 $56,726 Chart
2 Clint Bowyer (33) Chevrolet 0/0 60 10 $41,713 Chart
3 Michael Waltrip (115) Toyota 0/0 60 0 $36,713 Chart
4 Kyle Busch (18) Toyota 0/0 60 4 $31,713 Chart
5 Brian Keselowski (192) Dodge 0/0 60 0 $29,713 Chart
6 Jamie McMurray (1) Chevrolet 0/0 60 0 $27,313 Chart
7 Brad Keselowski (2) Dodge 0/0 60 0 $26,213 Chart
8 Denny Hamlin (11) Toyota 0/0 60 0 $25,213 Chart
9 Martin Truex Jr. (56) Toyota 0/0 60 2 $25,188 Chart
10 Carl Edwards (99) Ford 0/0 60 16 $25,163 Chart
11 David Reutimann (00) Toyota 0/0 60 0 $25,138 Chart
12 Jeff Gordon (24) Chevrolet 0/0 60 10 $25,113 Chart
13 Travis Kvapil (38) Ford 0/0 60 0 $25,088 Chart
14 Derrike Cope (64) Toyota 0/0 60 1 $25,063 Chart
15 Greg Biffle (16) Ford 0/0 60 0 $25,038 Chart
16 Robert Richardson Jr. (37) Ford 0/0 60 0 $25,013 Chart
17 Robby Gordon (7) Dodge 0/0 60 0 $24,988 Chart
18 Terry Labonte (32) Ford 0/0 60 0 $24,938 Chart
19 Trevor Bayne (21) Ford 0/0 59 0 $24,913 Chart
20 David Ragan (6) Ford 0/0 59 0 $24,888 Chart
21 Todd Bodine (60) Toyota 0/0 54 0 $24,838 Chart
22 Steve Wallace (77) Toyota 0/0 54 0 $24,813 Chart
23 Joey Logano (20) Toyota 0/0 15 0 $24,763 Chart
24 Casey Mears (13) Toyota 0/0 2 0 $24,738 Chart

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NASCAR Qualifying

Status: Live

Last Updated: Thursday, Feb 17, 2011
Daytona 500



Daytona International Speedway


Leaderboard Data Order Driver (No.) Car Qualifying Speed
1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) Chevrolet 186.089 (Moved to Rear)
2 Jeff Gordon (24) Chevrolet 185.966
3 Kurt Busch (22) Dodge 184.896
4 Jeff Burton (31) Chevrolet 185.071
5 Regan Smith (78) Chevrolet 183.681
6 Clint Bowyer (33) Chevrolet 185.223
7 Kevin Harvick (29) Chevrolet 184.740
8 Michael Waltrip (115) Toyota 183.966
9 Matt Kenseth (17) Ford 184.102
10 Kyle Busch (18) Toyota 183.595
11 Kasey Kahne (4) Toyota 183.602
12 Brian Keselowski (192) Dodge 177.581
13 Juan Pablo Montoya (42) Chevrolet 184.763
14 Jamie McMurray (1) Chevrolet 183.685
15 A J Allmendinger (43) Ford 184.290
16 Brad Keselowski (2) Dodge 184.008
17 Mark Martin (5) Chevrolet 184.991
18 Denny Hamlin (11) Toyota 181.316
19 Paul Menard (27) Chevrolet 185.422
20 Martin Truex Jr. (56) Toyota 183.456
21 Ryan Newman (39) Chevrolet 185.002
22 Carl Edwards (99) Ford 184.475
23 Jimmie Johnson (48) Chevrolet 184.687
24 David Reutimann (00) Toyota 184.019
25 Tony Stewart (14) Chevrolet 184.911
26 Greg Biffle (16) Ford 184.911
27 Brian Vickers (83) Toyota 183.557
28 Robert Richardson Jr. (37) Ford 181.466
29 Bill Elliott (09) Chevrolet 184.532
30 Robby Gordon (7) Dodge 182.120
31 Bobby Labonte (47) Toyota 183.576
32 Trevor Bayne (21) Ford 185.445
33 J.J. Yeley (46) Chevrolet 180.977
34 David Ragan (6) Ford 184.612
35 Marcos Ambrose (9) Ford 184.748
36 Steve Wallace (77) Toyota 182.574
37 Andy Lally (71) Chevrolet 180.828
38 Joey Logano (20) Toyota 183.206
39 David Gilliland (34) Ford 182.697
40 Travis Kvapil (38) Ford 184.271
41 Joe Nemechek (87) Toyota 184.222
42 Dave Blaney (36) Chevrolet 183.793
43 Terry Labonte (32) Ford 181.492
44 Derrike Cope (64) DNQ 177.894
45 Kevin Conway (97) DNQ 182.949
46 Todd Bodine (60) DNQ 183.057
47 Michael McDowell (66) DNQ 182.434
48 Casey Mears (13) DNQ 182.867

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Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes - Gatorade Duel #1 - Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. , Feb 17, 2011 - KURT BUSCH (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T) Race Winner


YOU’RE TWO FOR TWO THIS WEEK IN DAYTONA. TALK ABOUT THIS VICTORY AND WHAT IT TOOK TO GET THE WIN? “This is sweet. It was just an overall team effort to get this victory. To have Shell/Pennzoil on board and start this strong with the double-deuce Dodge, I’m beside myself. The teamwork that it takes at the shop and the teamwork that it takes on the race track, this new draft is something different. I think it’s pretty special how Daytona can be repaved after 30 years and you see something completely different, yet it’s still the same old Daytona. You have to have a partner. The slingshot is there. Regan Smith, awesome competitor. He’s been strong on these restrictor plate tracks and he was a great teammate today.”

WHEN THE LAST CAUTION CAME OUT, WAS THERE ANY THOGUHT OF TEAMMING UP WITH ANYBODY ELSE? “There’s so many thought going through your mind. What are the two front row guys going to do? Who’s been teamed up all day? Who’s been there trying to get to their buddy? There are so many different scenarios, it’s almost like a roulette table spinning and you wait to see if the marble land on your number. And today was our day.”

HOW ABOUT THE WATER TEMPERATURE SITUATION AND THE TWO CAR SWAP? “It’s tough. It’s going to continue to get warmer as the week progresses. NASCAR tried to mandate how long we could stay behind another car. My car was hot many times and I was trying to protect it. It’s going to be a whole different game when we have to come out here and do this for 500 miles because the mental fatigue is tough. You have to know where your teammate is going to be and what you have to do to win this bad boy. Hey, two for two so far, we want that big one next weekend.”

BUSCH: “It's the double deuce power right now. Great ride through these Speedweeks, being in the right place at the right time. To be in those positions, you have to have a good drafting partner. I had that with Regan Smith today, had it with (Jamie) McMurray on Saturday night. You can't be in those positions if you don't build a great race car. My guys have put together an awesome Dodge for me. The cars we brought down here, all of them have great strength to them. The engine department knows they're going to bring us even more for Sunday's race. So I'm really excited. Again, I can't get too far ahead of myself because this is Daytona and this place can jump up and bite you pretty quick. But we are going to ride this wave. We've made the right decisions so far with all of our adjustments on our car, adapting to the rule changes with restrictor plate sizes, grill opening sizes. This is a new era at Daytona in my mind. Right now, I feel like I don't know anything about the draft. I'm trying to latch myself onto somebody to learn with. I've had a great teammate with Brad Keselowski in testing to do that with. We're going to keep going. It's bright, it's yellow, it's fast.”

STEVE ADDINGTON: “It's been awesome. I think that goes back to what went on over the winter, this group of guys that come to the racetrack every week. They're a great support group. They work really hard. They do anything that I ask out of them without any bickering or anything else. They just get in there, keep their heads down and dig. That's the kind of group of guys that you need to go to the racetrack with every week. Really proud of them. They've been doing an awesome job with making changes, like Kurt said, in grill openings and stuff like that. They've took it to the next step and did some extra things that I asked out of them. No complaining, so I'm really proud of that group of guys.”

Steve, can you talk about at the end or overall in the race how you worked with the spotter and how important that was? Kurt, there was a time where you thought you were going with Kenseth, then back. How did all that play out? How much of a role did the spotter play in all that?

STEVE ADDINGTON: “I stay in contact with the spotter the whole time. I've got guys scanning and listening. They give me feedback to give to the spotter from what other guys are seeing trying to help me make decisions. Chris Osborne is doing one hell of a job every week. He did it every week last year. He just stepped up to the plate here with all that's going on down here this week. Hats off to him.”

BUSCH: “Chris Osborne, our spotter, deserves quite a bit of credit to how he's adapted to this as well, with his communication with other spotters. The way you think you have alliances, you've watched guys work together throughout the race; it's not necessarily a chess game, because chess takes too long. You have to react in thousandths of a second, split second decisions. We had a general idea of what was going to happen on that final restart. It's almost like you see everybody get their deck of cards, like you're playing Texas Hold 'em. You're looking around to see who is betting with who, who is going to hang around and wait to see the flop. Has a lot to do with split second decisions, if you're in or out with a certain group.”

Kurt, in 2008 you manned up, did the teammate thing, got on Newman's bumper and pushed him to victory. You've been somebody who is always fiery, competitive. You never complained when you took second for the team. Do you feel the fact that two guys who have pushed you and sacrificed themselves for your benefit was kind of this whole thing coming full circle this time?

KURT BUSCH: “Yeah, absolutely. I mean, when you do good onto others, you hope good comes back to you. Just with the way the draft is, one race can't define how you're going to work with somebody. It happens over time. I would get frustrated, like 2002, 2003, it was only my second or third year out on the circuit. I thought I knew enough to kind of hang out and ride. Shoot, I finished second in the Daytona 500 back in 2003. Nobody ever wanted to latch on and to be that drafting partner. So over the years, friendships develop, rapport develops with other drivers. To be a pusher as many times as I've been, hopefully this time around we can be a pushee. Things do cycle back around. You can't expect it, though. You hope it does with the goodness and kindness in your heart.”

Kurt, all these years you've been coming down here, you weren't able to win a restrictor plate. You changed sponsors. Now you're two for two. Is it almost like that new driver's suit is a Superman uniform for you?

KURT BUSCH: “It was here at Daytona. It was Harvick's past success. The way Shell Pennzoil people are excited about Daytona, it's neat to be able to deliver for them right away. To have this double deuce in Victory Lane again, new car number, new sponsor, there's a new look around our program, and we're going to ride this wave while it's in our sails. It's neat to have the group of guys we have. It's the same program. Just could never figure out why the Miller Lite Dodge couldn't pull into Victory Lane here, but they were a great sponsor, as well.”

Q. It sounds like you're saying the new drafting system is learn as you go and you do everything on the fly? And, do you like it?

KURT BUSCH: “Yeah, there's so many things I've learned each and every drafting session, whether it's the practice or the race Saturday night and today's Thursday race. I'll get back with Addington, my guys, they'll analyze what they saw as well, what other teams are doing, specific types of moves. You just try to bank as much information as you can in your mind to know what to do when.


“You're kind of flying by the seat of your pants 'cause you haven't put those ideas into an actual experience just yet. Today, we went through quite a few more. But there's still more to learn. I hope Sunday can be our day. It's a matter of leaning on your teammate that I have in Brad Keselowski, leaning on my crew guys, and Roger Penske. I'm having dinner with him tonight. He'll come off the spotter's tower and have a whole bunch of insight from there.”

Q. Every Speedweeks we have someone who asserts themselves. Is that you now? Are you the favorite for the Daytona 500 now?

KURT BUSCH: “Yeah, I would say we're hard pressed not to be the favorite. We've got the pectin target here. The Shell/Pennzoil is out front right now. The guys are going to be gunning for you. We have the pole, the starting position, we won our Duel today. I don't like to be a favorite, I like to be an underdog. When you're tabbed or dubbed the favorite, you try to block the outside emotions what the day is going to be on Sunday and focus on what's important. I'm going to lean on Steve and my guys to keep me in check and get me through these 500 miles. I didn't mean to confuse everyone, the Shell logo is called a pectin, p e c t i n [pecten] (Laughter).”

Q. NASCAR has always been a fan friendly sport. Do you expect your fans to get used to the idea that someone they do not like in the past is helping you in this particular system?

KURT BUSCH: “You know, there's been quite a few lessons I've learned with being the villain or being the guy that everybody loved to hate. Our fans are the most vocal fans in all of sports. They're a great group. They're very loyal. They love the sponsors they see on these cars. We hope they support those, the manufacturers that are involved as well. You go through cycles with fans on having your good days or having your bad moments. Sometimes, it takes longer to get over those bad moments. Then there's those good days where you drive to Victory Lane and get to celebrate and to be able to be born again, so to speak. This has been a great Speedweeks for me. It's not over. We have a big race on Sunday. The fact of driving a new car with a new car number, it just feels like it's a whole fresh opportunity to start over with something new.”

Kurt, I just wanted you to address the added bonus of correct me if I'm mistaken, but you get to slide into that prime starting position because Junior goes back, you'll slide up and take the green as the pole sitter. Can you talk about the advantage that presents you?

KURT BUSCH: “It's just going to be one of those moments in time that I'll remember for a long while, to lead the field to green. You know, it was somewhat by default. So was Saturday's win with Hamlin going below the double yellow. These are the rules. I'll make sure I massage my right calf so when I go full throttle, it doesn't cramp up, because I'll have Regan Smith behind me pushing up and hopefully settle into this Daytona 500 early on once all the emotions get in check.”

Steve, can you give me the breaking point of these engines? How hot can you go before the relief valve gives up?

STEVE ADDINGTON: “We went up to probably 270 yesterday by accident. We had a gauge go bad. We didn't lose any water. Our guys have our engine spec, what they want to see us run, not go over. That was a little bit too warm than what they wanted to see. I don't know what the breaking point is. I heard Steve tell Dale Jr. to run it up to 290 yesterday right before he wrecked. He was pushing water. I was scratching my head on that one. I don't know what the breaking point is. I'm afraid that some of these guys are going to find out. But I don't know. You don't want to see it up around 290, 300, that's for sure.”

When you came down here and tested last month, Kurt, you mentioned that you and Brad, all you worked on was this two car tandem thing. At the time you were doing that, was it we think this is what is going to happen in Speedweeks or were you sure it was? Looking back now, how smart does this make you look?

KURT BUSCH: “We're not all the way through Sunday yet. What I'm excited about is I haven't even teamed up with Brad yet in a race. Did we think this was going to be an important factor? Yes. Did we think it was going to be as strong as it is right now and as potent? “No. But we thought this was going to be an interesting part of what the new draft was going to be about and how can we learn as much as we can in this short amount of time. Brad and I spent a lot of time to work with one another and to have Addington and Paul Wolfe get together with ideas. We felt if this is track time, we need to be out here plugging away, and so far it's paid off.”

STEVE ADDINGTON: “The good part about them spending that afternoon doing that, we learned a lot about brakes, brake packages. Nothing like we ever ran here before or any Speedway race I ever ran. We just stepped up our brake packages because you have to stay in contact with the guy behind you and use brakes now. It's kind of crazy. We learned stuff like that.”

Steve, the idea of blowing engines on Sunday, how big a factor do you think that's going to be? Kurt, how much more strategy wise does it add worrying about engine temperature?

STEVE ADDINGTON: “Honestly, I say that, but I think everybody in that garage area is a smart group of people. All 43 drivers and crew chiefs will be in communication. You're going to have to back out of it, pay attention to your water temps and back out of the situations. You have to be there at the end to finish this deal. Trying to take the lead at lap 100, burning the car up, it's not worth it. I hope that everybody pays attention and we have a good race with all 43 cars running at the end.”

KURT BUSCH: “The management of being the second car pushing, you have to keep track of the guy in front of you, you have to absorb if he's coming up on a pack, stay with him, not give him too hard of a push in a sense. At the same time, you have to keep peaking that grill out to keep it cool if you want to stay attached. There's a lot that goes on. It's tough. Right now, I think the key element to all of Speedweeks thus far is the fact we had a Shootout with 24 cars and we had the Duels today with 23 cars apiece. We're going to throw 43 out there on Sunday and it's going to be a different game again.”

Your move up the middle was tough. The guy leading is being pushed like a cannonball; the guy behind you is running blindly. There's no room if somebody moves up. Do you have to be confident out there that you're going to hit the hole?

KURT BUSCH: “That's the risk involved. You have to keep track of the guy behind you if you're the lead car. You can't make any erratic movements with the steering wheel. You can't second guess yourself. The moment you second guess yourself, turn the wheel the other way, when you zig, the other guy is going to zag, and you're going to get in trouble. We've seen a lot of guys getting spun in this two car deal.”

Steve, from a technical standpoint, why are we seeing this? Is it a pavement thing? Is it an aerodynamics thing? A combination?

STEVE ADDINGTON: “You look at it, it started at Talladega when it got repaved. You saw Denny (Hamlin), guys like that, started this back then when they repaved Talladega. I think the race track is so smooth, the guys can stay hooked up together. There's a ton of grip out there. There's no way this would have happened on the old track with the asphalt the way it was. The repave has brought that to Daytona, just like we were doing at Talladega.”

Steve, how much of a thrash is it when NASCAR middle of the week tells you you're going to run restrictor plates and smaller front end openings, change this, change that? How much effort and expense and stomach churning goes into that?

STEVE ADDINGTON: “It's the same for everyone. You call back to the shop, talk to the guys. You have fabricators working their tails off getting stuff together. You have engine guys putting them back on the dynos, different scenarios, getting them back down here, letting us know what adjustments we need to make on the car for plate changes. Timing and jetting in the engines for plate size. To put a price on it, I wouldn't want to do that. I'm not into that. I just want Roger to give me what I need to go racing and win races. I don't ask him about the budget. But, no, a lot of people back at the shop support that and send parts and pieces down here to make it easier on us.”

[rickaren]

Friends-And-Family Plan Put Big Bro Into The 500

Rick Minter | Senior Writer
Friday, 18 February 2011

Big brother Brian Keselowski gets pushed into the Daytona 500 field by little brother Brad Keselowski. (Photo courtesy of Penske Racing)

Daytona Beach, Fla. – After all the lead changes, two-car drafts, possible rules changes and everything else that went on at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, the coolest story turned out to be one of brotherly love; or at least brotherly drafting.

Brad Keselowski pushed his older brother Brian to a fifth-place finish in the second Gatorade 150-mile qualifying duel and got his unheralded brother a coveted starting spot for the Daytona 500.

That means Brian Keselowski, whose best previous NASCAR finish was a 10th at Memphis in a Nationwide Series race back in ’07, will make his Sprint Cup debut in NASCAR’s biggest race.

Keselowski, who drove a plain-white No. 92 Dodge and wore a plain black firesuit, was overcome with emotion at what he accomplished after starting dead last in the second Gatorade Duel.

He thanked Ernie Elliott for help with his engine, and pointed out that his car started out as a 2006 Dodge, built by Ray Evernham’s race team.

It came at a fire-sale price, in a package deal that included four other cars and an assortment of parts.

“I think it’s the eighth one they ever built,” Keselowski said. “Bought a package of four really old cars originally thinking we were going to make them Nationwide cars.



“At the start of last year, I moved down south. If we’re going to go COT racing, Nationwide, we got to be here.

“As bad as last year went for us, we had to do something different. We never got a chance to cut them up and make Nationwide. For a little bit of money, I can cut the nose, do the Daytona test.”

So that’s the direction he took, after a 2010 Nationwide effort in which he failed to qualify for five races and finished an average of 34.4 in the ones he did make.

The 500 car was put together mostly by Brian Keselowski and his father Bob, with some last-minute assistance from Uncle Ron Keselowski and a couple of volunteers who came to Daytona and bought their own licenses.

Brian Keselowski, like the likeable underdog types in any profession, said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s always been a family operation for us,” he said. “It continues to be that way. While I’d like to have a little bit of extra help so I don’t have to do the better part of it myself, I don’t know if I’d want to have it any other way.

“I love working on race cars. It’s what I grew up doing. I started as a kid. I never drove a race car ‘til I was 18, I always worked on them. I have a good knowledge of my cars inside and out of what they are. It can only get better from here. It’s great. I’m so excited about it.”

Keselowski admitted that he’s been somewhat jealous of his younger brother’s success. After all, it was supposed to have been the older son who got the first racing opportunity. But when it was Brian’s time, the family couldn’t afford it. Then when Brian did get a chance to race in Nationwide, he wound up not being eligible to race at Daytona. Brad got the ride, and the rest of his story, as they say, is history.

“If the roles could have been reversed, there’s a possibility I could be in the same position (Brad) is in now,” Brian said. “There’s no guarantees. I would have liked the chance.”

But he didn’t get it. Of course, Brad might not have made it either. One never knows.

“What if it wouldn’t have worked?” Brian said. “We’d both be sitting home. It could go either way.

“We made our first Daytona 500. I guess it’s not a bad thing.”

SOURCE

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Dodge Motorsports Notes & Quotes - Kurt Busch Open Interview - Daytona 500
February 18, 2011 , DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - KURT BUSCH (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T)

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU’RE FEELING HEADING INTO THE DAYTONA 500? “We’re just trying to stick with our game plan. We still want to push forward; this Daytona 500 is what we came here for. The tokens that we have with the Shootout and the Gatorade are nice, but we’re here after the big ultimate prize. We’re just sticking with our game plan of going out there today and shake down the car to get the (Daytona) 500 motor up to temperature…transmission, gears, rear axle…just to make sure things were singing smoothly. And then we found that the brakes were rubbing a bit, so we had to take the brakes apart and just re-evaluate that tomorrow when we get back out on track and just take advantage of the time that we have. Today, if we hadn’t gone out, we would have found that problem tomorrow. We would have been in a big panic and Sunday morning would have been real iffy if we would have gotten the problem fixed. I’m glad things happen today and we got the bugs worked out. The week just seemed to be going too smooth. You know that something was going to jump up and bit us. So we got that scienced out. Teammates like (Brad) Keselowski out there… a guy like Ryan Newman and I have a great rapport. Right now there’s just communication going on between all the spotters, crew chiefs and all the drivers with how you can hook-up and stay hooked-up.”

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE DREADED “FAVORITE” ROLE FOR SUNDAY? “I’m not worried about it. It’s just nice to get back out and practice today, get back into the swing of things and try to keep it as normal as possible. The normal part will be exciting when we fire up the engines and see Dale Jr. drop to the back and we’ll be leading the field to start the 53rd running of the ‘Great American Race’. I’ve got to put all those emotions aside and get into the groove of the 500-mile race. We’ll do that during Lap 1. I hope that Regan Smith and are tied-up together like we need to be and we lead Lap 1. We’ll just settle in after that.”

IF YOU’RE SECOND GOING INTO THE LAST LAP THIS TIME, DO YOU STAY THERE? “Absolutely not. I think that everybody knows that if you’re the guy that’s pushing, you’re in the catbird seat. If you’re separated from the guys behind you, that’s the position to be in. You really want to be pushing. I really expect a green-white-checkered to happen and we’ll see how it all plays out. You’ve got your buddy that you’ve been with all day long. When you get to the end of the race, you never know who’s going to tie up, but everybody wants their best shot at victory and there’s no guarantee of anybody staying behind you. If Newman’s pushing me and I’m leading and he’s second coming off of Turn 4, I’ve got to expect that’s he’s going to pass me and win his second-career Daytona 500. It’s just the product of how this two-car draft is.”

ARE ALL THE CARS IN 500 TRIM OR ARE YOU AWARE THAT NASCAR MAY BE LOOKING AT SPEEDS AND MORE CHANGES MAY COME, SO NOBODY IS SHOWING WHAT THEY HAVE FOR THE 500? “Everybody is set for 500 miles. It’s not sprint racing any more. On the other token, it’s just that you haven’t seen the two-car drafts in quantity. Nobody is really teamed-up, had the lead group ahead and chased them down; that’s when you see the big numbers. Just the lack of quantity of cars is going to keep the speed down.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE GOODYEAR HAS MADE THE PERFECT TIRE FOR YOU GUYS? “They have to be commended for the job that they’ve done finding a tire that allows the cars to have the grip as well as maintain that free wheel-type movement. We tried a set of tires during a tire test that actually just locked down the inside lane. It was like it didn’t let the cars free-wheel enough, so you saw everybody in the high lane drafting like we see at Talladega. All of us in the garage area were like, ‘No, no, no. We can’t have that.’ So Rick Campbell, the guys at Goodyear, Stu (Grant) and the gang, yes, they deserve all the accolades for bringing such a great tire. It’s just unique that we really don’t have to change it all that often. It’s so good; we don’t have to change it. It’s a weird feeling to have. Once we settle into next week’s race in Phoenix, that track is really old, it chews up tires. You change tires quite often. Then you’ll settle into the regular season…Vegas, Bristol, Martinsville and so on.”

DID YOU WATCH YESTERDAY’S SECOND DUEL RACE? WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS? “You always see one Duel more exciting than another. It’s tough to duplicate even though you’re calling it a “duel”. You’re splitting up all the top teams in points from the order they finish in the previous year. I watched the race and definitely was very tuned into who was drafting with who; how they were doing it; who was switching more often than actually trying to breath the radiator. There’s all types of scenarios. I just can’t wait for the race to start, to get settled in and make it the best run of our life on Sunday with our Shell/Pennzoil Dodge.”