Welcome back to the Nascar Season, which officially started with the kick off of Speed Week on Sunday, February 12. The Budweiser Shoot Out was rained out on the 11th and moved to the 12th. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge battled it out for the top two starting positions on Sunday. Only the top two qualifiers will have the guaranteed starting position. All others will race on Thursday the 16th, to determine their starting position for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 19.
Daytona International Speedway is the home of “The Great American Race.” Starting on the pole was number 31, Jeff Burton, in the Chevrolet Cingular Wireless car, followed by number 24, Jeff Gordon, in the Chevrolet DuPont car.
Burton qualified with an impressive 189.151 mph, and Gordon qualifed at 188.877 mph. Both Chevrolets and “Jeffs” claimed victory on the first day of qualifying.
Number 88 in the famous UPS car, Dale Jarrett, followed close behind Gordon with a qualifying time just .027 mph shy of Gordon’s qualifying time. Chevrolet appeared to dominate the beginning of Speed Week with 14 of the top 20 drivers racing a Chevrolet.
The Budweiser Shoot Out, consisting of previous pole winners of last season and previous Budweiser Shoot Out winners, ended with number 11, Rookie Denny Hamlin in Victory Lane and the Budweiser number 8, Dale Earnhardt Jr., following close behind with a second place finish.
Junior battled it out for second with Tony Stewart. Stewart had concerns with bump-drafting. Once again Chevrolet dominated the race with 10 of the 21 racers driving Chevies.
The Daytona 500, always the first race of the season, holds many memories, both good and bad. The first Daytona 500 was held on February 22, 1959, making this year’s race the 48th Annual. This February 18 is the fifth anniversary of the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Earnhardt still holds the record for the most times completing all 500 miles, finishing 14 races in the Daytona 500.
Richard Petty holds the record for the most victories at the Daytona 500, in 1964, ’66, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’79, and ’81. He is tied with both Cale Yarborough and Sterling Marlin for the most consecutive victories with two.
Chevrolet dominates history with the most manufacturer wins.