Post by labontefanboy on Nov 11, 2013 21:36:58 GMT -5
Race 1-Daytona 500 from Daytona International Speedway
The 49th annual Daytona 500 took place this afternoon from the world center of racing, the famed Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 42 car field saw Japanese car manufacturer Toyota for the first time in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition, while reigning rookie of the year champion Clint Bowyer led the field to the green flag in the final 500 for the soon to be obsolete "COY" vehicles.
The first 30 laps saw a great deal of action all throughout the field, as only one driver lost the lead draft. 15 different paced the field, including David Stremme, who led Toyota's historic first lap by pacing the 20th circuit. Joe Nemechek, rookie Jon Wood, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Busch showed early prowess by leading multiple laps in front of the roaring field.
The famed Big One once again bit the field early. On lap 31, Jeff Gordon and Mike Bliss hooked fenders exiting turn 4, triggering an 18 car melee that sidelined 8 drivers including Gordon, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Matt Kenseth.
The next segment of the race was a very long and clean one. The only incident took place on pit road, when David Stremme rear ended Terry Labonte on lap 68. No caution waved, as Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Bobby Labonte, and Ryan Newman dominated the segment. David Ragan, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Wood, Bowyer, and Brian Vickers also led, but the race appeared to be coming down to Busch, Biffle, Labonte and Newman. Those four drivers separated themselves from the pack until Busch's engine blew on lap 177. Reports of oil on the track came out, but NASCAR hesitated to throw the caution until lap 182 after the last round of pit stops had cycled through.
The final restart of the race came with 12 cars on the lead lap for a 15 lap shootout. Bobby Labonte led the first 3 laps until being overtaken by Mears. The next 11 laps saw Mears fiercely defend his lead by using lapped traffic of Derrike Cope and Jeff Burton as picks. Vickers, Kyle Busch, and Greg Biffle all made furious charges in the last couple laps, but all ultimately fell short as Casey Mears earned his first career victory in the 2007 edition of the Great American Race!
Results:
The 49th annual Daytona 500 took place this afternoon from the world center of racing, the famed Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 42 car field saw Japanese car manufacturer Toyota for the first time in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition, while reigning rookie of the year champion Clint Bowyer led the field to the green flag in the final 500 for the soon to be obsolete "COY" vehicles.
The first 30 laps saw a great deal of action all throughout the field, as only one driver lost the lead draft. 15 different paced the field, including David Stremme, who led Toyota's historic first lap by pacing the 20th circuit. Joe Nemechek, rookie Jon Wood, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, and Kyle Busch showed early prowess by leading multiple laps in front of the roaring field.
The famed Big One once again bit the field early. On lap 31, Jeff Gordon and Mike Bliss hooked fenders exiting turn 4, triggering an 18 car melee that sidelined 8 drivers including Gordon, fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, and Matt Kenseth.
The next segment of the race was a very long and clean one. The only incident took place on pit road, when David Stremme rear ended Terry Labonte on lap 68. No caution waved, as Kurt Busch, Greg Biffle, Bobby Labonte, and Ryan Newman dominated the segment. David Ragan, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Wood, Bowyer, and Brian Vickers also led, but the race appeared to be coming down to Busch, Biffle, Labonte and Newman. Those four drivers separated themselves from the pack until Busch's engine blew on lap 177. Reports of oil on the track came out, but NASCAR hesitated to throw the caution until lap 182 after the last round of pit stops had cycled through.
The final restart of the race came with 12 cars on the lead lap for a 15 lap shootout. Bobby Labonte led the first 3 laps until being overtaken by Mears. The next 11 laps saw Mears fiercely defend his lead by using lapped traffic of Derrike Cope and Jeff Burton as picks. Vickers, Kyle Busch, and Greg Biffle all made furious charges in the last couple laps, but all ultimately fell short as Casey Mears earned his first career victory in the 2007 edition of the Great American Race!
Results:
