Daytona 500
Live Text
Sort by
Quote
By the way, when we said earlier that Jeff Gordon (who starts fifth) was tipping the Joe Gibbs cars to win, that didn't mean he was ruling himself out:
"I'm really happy with our racecar. I think we snuck in there with a quiet, under the radar, very fast car that's capable of winning this race.
"I like it that way. Let some of those other guys get all the attention and get that target on their back."
"I'm really happy with our racecar. I think we snuck in there with a quiet, under the radar, very fast car that's capable of winning this race.
"I like it that way. Let some of those other guys get all the attention and get that target on their back."
Rain
Rain delays have been a feature of the programme for the past two days, and there's a possibility of more today. It's currently a bit sunny and a bit cloudy.
Not far from the start now. Cars are lined up in the pitlane with drivers ready to go, just the slight matter of an enormous crowd of people swarming around them, and a more anthems etc. to be sung.
Crash
It's already been a pretty wild week. Only nine cars got to the finish of the Unlimited, Parker Kligerman got sent upside down in practice (prompting a verbal tirade about Joey Logano), and that was even before the Duel mess.
Crash
Clint Bowyer had the roughest ride of that shunt, his Waltrip Toyota barrel-rolling through the air.
He was fine, and his in-car camera kept working long enough to produce this...
AUTOSPORT likes the way his eyebrows reacted.
He was fine, and his in-car camera kept working long enough to produce this...
AUTOSPORT likes the way his eyebrows reacted.
Crash
Martin Truex Jr
We said a little earlier that Kenseth's Duel win put him on the front row, which wouldn't usually be the case.
Normally qualifying sets first and second on the grid, with third/fourth backwards decided by the Duel results.
But after a heroic effort to put NASCAR's top underdog squad Furniture Row on the front row, Martin Truex Jr got caught up in the massive last-lap shunt in the second Duel.
That means he has to switch to a back-up car, the penalty for which is having to drop to the tail of the field.
Rest of driver introductions summary: Brian Scott brought offspring with him too, Dale Earnhardt Jr got the loudest cheers like usual, and Austin Dillon wore that huge black stetson that he likes. He had a very decent crowd reception too actually.
Tony Stewart injury watch: he looks a little bit stiff on the catwalk. Not in a worrying way, just like a man who recently smashed a leg pretty badly.
He admitted he's found the six months since his leg-breaking sprint car crash pretty boring, though his team co-owner Gene Haas has enlivened it by doing things like signing Kurt Busch for a fourth car without asking him and announcing plans to enter Formula 1...
He admitted he's found the six months since his leg-breaking sprint car crash pretty boring, though his team co-owner Gene Haas has enlivened it by doing things like signing Kurt Busch for a fourth car without asking him and announcing plans to enter Formula 1...
Both Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson have brought their kids with them for this bit. Johnson's daughter didn't look wildly enthusiastic about the whole experience.
For readers new to NASCAR rituals, that means all 43 drivers stride down an open-air catwalk high-fiving fans.
We start at the back of the field and work forwards. Little volume so far for David Ragan, Parker Kligerman and Michael Waltrip.
We start at the back of the field and work forwards. Little volume so far for David Ragan, Parker Kligerman and Michael Waltrip.
It's driver introduction time!
Kenseth and Hamlin's Duel wins mean they start second and third, while the third JGR car of Kyle Busch is back in 36th.
Quote
Jeff Gordon says his money would be on JGR today...
"If you're going to pick a favourite, I would consider them the favourites. They're very fast."
"If you're going to pick a favourite, I would consider them the favourites. They're very fast."
Denny Hamlin
That's one-lap speed, though. When it comes to racing, all three Cup wins this week have gone to Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas.
Denny Hamlin triumphed in the non-championship Sprint Unlimited and his Duel, with the other Duel topped by Hamlin's team-mate Matt Kenseth.
Inevitably there was some scepticism about Dillon's pole (for the second year in a row, qualifying delivered the ideal polesitter for pre-race news buzz...), but the Childress cars were quick throughout the build-up, showing good pace in both January's test and all the practice sessions leading up to qualifying.
Quote
Reactions to the return of the #3 have generally been positive. Here's what Michael Waltrip thinks:
"When I see the #3 it will just make me smile. It's the right place for it. It's Mr Childress's car and he was Dale's buddy.
"That's a young man in Austin Dillon who respects this sport and appreciates his opportunity.
"I'm looking forward to watching him run that car up to the top of the scoring pylon, and I bet there's a pretty good chance it will be at the top of the scoring pylon this Sunday, which will be kind of fun."
Waltrip won the 500 in which Earnhardt was killed, and was driving for the legend's Dale Earnhardt Inc team at the time.
"When I see the #3 it will just make me smile. It's the right place for it. It's Mr Childress's car and he was Dale's buddy.
"That's a young man in Austin Dillon who respects this sport and appreciates his opportunity.
"I'm looking forward to watching him run that car up to the top of the scoring pylon, and I bet there's a pretty good chance it will be at the top of the scoring pylon this Sunday, which will be kind of fun."
Waltrip won the 500 in which Earnhardt was killed, and was driving for the legend's Dale Earnhardt Inc team at the time.
Austin Dillon
The major story of the season so far involves the #3. It hasn't been used in the Cup series since Dale Earnhardt's death here 13 years ago, but car owner Richard Childress decided it was time to bring it back.
That means his grandson Austin Dillon, who has used #3 throughout his formative career, will keep it for his Cup rookie season - and that season started rather well when he put the car on pole last Sunday.
No, it did all turn out fine. The crowd didn't take up Bryan's exhortations to clap along, but did cheer a bit.
Pre-race ceremonies are as extensive as usual for a major US motorsport event.
Right now the crowd is enjoying a pre-race mini-gig from country music artist Luke Bryan.
The song's about a girl, sounds like she was pretty enthusiastic about him, it was mutual, there were some emotions along the way and it all turned out fine, though this being country there might be a heartbreaking twist in a moment.
Right now the crowd is enjoying a pre-race mini-gig from country music artist Luke Bryan.
The song's about a girl, sounds like she was pretty enthusiastic about him, it was mutual, there were some emotions along the way and it all turned out fine, though this being country there might be a heartbreaking twist in a moment.
As a shortcut to getting up to speed, here's AUTOSPORT's comprehensive season preview - including a guide to all the rule and format changes for 2014 and a driver-by-driver rundown of the top teams:
NASCAR 2014: What's new and who's hot
NASCAR 2014: What's new and who's hot
We have an iconic number back on pole with a rookie at the wheel, we have a host of drivers in new cars after a big winter shake-up, we have plenty of new rules, but one thing that hasn't changed is what's ahead today: 43 cars flat-out for 500 miles in a race that every NASCAR Sprint Cup driver wants to win.
Welcome to AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live's first American racing Sunday night of 2014 - it's the Daytona 500.
By: Matt Beer, Dan Cross
Published:
Lap:
