This year in celebration of 50 years of the Great American Race, NASCAR and Fox, during pre-race celebrations, honored all of the past winners with banners adorned with their names and images and their cars being run around the track (For those who do not know, the winning car of the Daytona 500 goes into the museum).
During a performance by Brooks and Dunn (A favorite of Dale Earnhardt) the Number 3 car was hand-pushed out in front of the stage. It did not go on the track with the others and it was not driven by anyone. I am struck by the respect of Dale Earnhardt by NASCAR. No one could ever drive that car again and no one ever will.
For me, the Daytona 500 and NASCAR has a very personal and special place in my heart, especially that Number 3 car.
Thank you NASCAR. Good form.
(Race updates in the comments section)
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Daytona 500 Updates
Lap 28, Denny Hamplin leads, Dale Jr looking good (runing 3rd) Junior won the Bud Shootout and is now with Hendrick Motor Sports!
My favorite, Jeff Gordon looking pretty strong as well.
-Lap 32-
Jeff Gorndon now in second and they said there have been 7 lead changes.
-Commercial Break-
My favorite new commercial is the Michael Waltrip NAPA spot where he is signing autographs and a fan comes up with a model that he says he makes look realistic... he present Waltrip with a burnt out car and one that is just pieces of a wrecked care. Waltrip has a great sense of humor about his hot/cold career. I have to respect (And relate to) that way of thinking! Find humor in everything, even if it seems twisted :-)
-Lap 45-
Reports of Dale Jr. having front tire issues... blistering. He is a full second behond the lead pack.
-Lap 50-
Two Toyotas lead the race right now. The booth says the last foreign car manufacturer to even be in the top 15 of the race was an MG back in 1962.
It is weird to see Toyotas in NASCAR still, but in reality, more Toyotas are built in the US than the other makers. Interesting comment isn't it? And Toyota, like Honda, is non-union and some of the highest paying in the industry. Hmmmm
-lap 86-
Mark Martin on the 8 car having trouble (blwon tire)... Karma?
Dale Jr's shifter ball keeps popping off. The solution? Duct tape. You have to love it!
-Lap 103-
Kyle Busch (18) leads with Jeff Gordon (24), Ryan Newman (12), Dale Jr (88) and Kurt Busch (2) following... far behind the leader. He has an impressive amount of real estate between himself and Gordon.
-Lap 108- Lead Change, Kensetj (17)... first time a Ford has led.
Jr getting some extra paint.
-Lap 110-
Biffle now leads. So many lead changes... forget trying to keep up with it here!
-Lap 135-
Kyle Busch leading and now follwoed by Clint Bower (07), Newman (12), Greg Biffle (16 and Dale Jr. (88).
What strikes me is the speed of the race due to the lack of caution flags. Very clean. Some paint has been traded but no one has gotten so loose that they go off the track. Maybe the COT is a good car after all!
-Lap 136-
I am talking to an empty echo chamber :-) Well, I am having fun updating the race... Reminds me of when I was a kid and my friend Pat and I would record radio shows, complete with music (We used my brother's DJ equipment when he was not around). No one could hear us, but we were the greatest radio DJs in the world... well, in our world...
-Lap 143-
Kenny Wallace (87) has been black flagged (kicked out) for not maintaining a min. speed. So, he couldn't keep it up? Good thing he doesn't drive for Viagra! [rimshot]
-Lap 164-
Dale Jr. takes lead under caution... he chose not to go into the pits
-Lap 172-
Dale Jr (88) and Tony Stewart (20) are fighting it out. With Gordon all but out of it (in and out of garage) I have to pull for Jr... Not only because he is with Hendrick, but for sentimental reasons. Go Jr!!!
-Lap 180-
Green flag and Dale Jr. leads it.
Wait, nope, Clint Bower takes it from Jr. But the front four cars are on old tired. Stewart and Biffle went in for some new shoes right before the green flag.
-Lap 183-
Bower (07) pushed by Montoya and goes into the field. Man, these cars do not spin or flip. Amazing. The old design of car would have gone airbourne.
-Lap 189-
Some love taps in the back field... Caution out...
Now 10 laps to go under yellow
With 10 to go Each of the first four spots are filled by one of each manufacturer. Kind of cool
-9 laps to go-
Still under caution
-8 laps to go-
Green, green, green
Burton in the lead....
-7 laps to go-
Dale Jr. is slowly moving up... is there enough time? Will it stay green long enough>
-6 laps to go-
Casey Mears (5) into the wall... Out comes the caution (again).
Looks like Mears tried to block Stewart (20) and got nailed... he jumped in front of the 20 car a little too late so instead of being in front, he got clipped.
-5 laps to go-
Under caution... If still under caution after 200 laps then they will do a green-white-checker run... over-time if you will, for all you NASCAR newbies.
-4 laps to go-
Still under caution, lights off on the 'Vette, so I think we are about to go green next lap
-3 laps to go-
Green, green, green
-3/2 laps to go-
Stewart leads... follwoed by Newman and K. Busch
-2 laps to go-
Will Stewart have to cut his hair? We will know in 2 laps!
-1 lap to go-
White flag.... Stwart leads.... Remember, he won the Nationwide Cup race yesterday.. Busch under him... Two Toyotas!
-Last lap-
RYAN NEWMAN makes his move and wins! Wow, talk about the last moment move...
Race Results(Unofficial)
1. Ryan Newman
2. Kurt Busch
3. TOny Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
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