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Live from Daytona: Daytona 500 Pre-race
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Location: Blogs Running Wide Open |
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| Posted by: Joe VanHoose |
2/19/2007 5:37 PM |
Take a gander as I break down the entire Daytona 500 field, plus give my take on the race's new starting time.
As promised, here is the starting lineup for the 49th annual Daytona 500. But instead of just listing the driver, car and number, I'll give you a reason why each driver in the field can and cannot win the Great American Race. The drivers are listed by their starting position. Enjoy.
1. David Gilliland, 38 M&Ms Ford
Why he can win – He’s on the pole and has a fast car.
Why he can’t win – He’s a Daytona rookie, and rookies never win.
2. Ricky Rudd, 88 Snickers Ford
Why he can win – He’s been the fastest in practice all week.
Why he can’t win – He has an AARP card.
3. Tony Stewart, 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet
Why he can win – He’s won everything else this week.
Why he can’t win – He is his own worst enemy.
4. Kurt Busch, 2 Miller Lite Dodge
Why he can win – Always a factor in restrictor plate races.
Why he can’t win – Not enough drafting partners to get the job done.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 8 Budweiser Chevrolet
Why he can win – He’s won this race before.
Why he can’t win – It would make too many people happy.
6. David Stremme, 40 Coors Light Dodge
Why he can win – Has a lot of teammates to help him.
Why he can’t win – Still too young to pull an upset.
7. Jeff Burton, 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
Why he can win – His car has handled well all week.
Why he can’t win – Good-handling cars aren’t very fast.
8. Kyle Busch, 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet
Why he can win – Is completely fearless in the draft.
Why he can’t win – Being fearless doesn’t make you any friends.
9. Denny Hamlin, 11 FedEx Chevrolet
Why he can win – Coming off an impressive rookie campaign.
Why he can’t win – Two words: sophomore slump.
10. Matt Kenseth, 17 DeWalt Ford
Why he can win – He’s the fastest Roush car.
Why he can’t win – No Roush car has ever won the 500.
11. Clint Bowyer, 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet
Why he can win – He drives for Richard Childress.
Why he can’t win – See David Stremme.
12. J.J. Yeley, 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet
Why he can win – Tony Stewart’s his teammate.
Why he can’t win – He’ll be too busy helping Tony Stewart.
13. Martin Truex Jr., 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Why he can win – He’s Dale Jr.’s protégé.
Why he can’t win – He’s not Dale Jr.
14. Carl Edwards, 99 Office Depot Ford
Why he can win – Can do more with a bad car than anyone.
Why he can’t win – See Kyle Busch.
15. Michael Waltrip, 55 NAPA Toyota
Why he can win – He’s won this race twice before.
Why he can’t win – Cheaters never prosper.
16. Ryan Newman, 12 Alltel Dodge
Why he can win – Was runner up last year.
Why he can’t win – See Carl Edwards.
17. Casey Mears, 25 GMAC Chevrolet
Why he can win – Third last year, now with better equipment.
Why he can’t win – Drivers will see car, think it’s still Brian Vickers, and stay away.
18. Joe Nemechek, 13 CertainTeed Chevrolet
Why he can win – Because somebody has to.
Why he can’t win – The most unlucky driver in NASCAR.
19. Ken Schrader, 21 Little Debbie Ford
Why he can win – Always close to the front at Daytona.
Why he can’t win – See Ricky Rudd.
20. Tony Raines, 96 DLP Chevrolet
Why he can win – He drives for three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman.
Why he can’t win – He’s not playing the Buffalo Bills.
21. Jimmie Johnson, 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
Why he can win – He’s the defending champion.
Why he can’t win – It’s nearly impossible to repeat here.
22. Mike Wallace, 09 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet
Why he can win – A draft racing specialist.
Why he can’t win – Las Vegas won’t let a car sponsored by an outside casino win.
23. Boris Said, 60 SoBe No Fear Ford
Why he can win – His hair is awesome.
Why he can’t win – There are no right turns.
24. Jamie McMurray, 26 Crown Royal Ford
Why he can win – He’s got a great sponsor.
Why he can’t win – He’s a chronic underachiever.
25. Greg Biffle, 16 Ameriquest Ford
Why he can win – He’s won here before.
Why he can’t win – See Matt Kenseth.
26. Mark Martin, 01 U.S. Army Chevrolet
Why he can win – Everyone loves racing with him.
Why he can’t win – Nice guys finish last.
27. Bobby Labonte, 43 Cheerios Dodge
Why he can win – He’s been close several times before.
Why he can’t win – Car might not be good enough.
28. Kasey Kahne, 9 Dodge Dealers UAW Dodge
Why he can win – Middle-aged women adore him and can cheer louder than anyone.
Why he can’t win – Hears all the middle-aged women, gets distracted by the nagging.
29. Kyle Petty, 45 Wells Fargo Dodge
Why he can win – His dad won the race seven times.
Why he can’t win – See Bobby Labonte.
30. Elliot Sadler, 19 Dodge Dealers UAW Dodge
Why he can win – He’s won at Daytona before.
Why he can’t win – New team = No chance.
31. Jeff Green, 66 Best Buy Chevrolet
Why he can win – No apparent reason.
Why he can’t win – Because no one would care if he did.
32. Scott Riggs, 10 Valvoline Dodge
Why he can win – He was very strong at the end of last year.
Why he can’t win – He doesn’t meet the height requirement.
33. Reed Sorenson, 41 Target Dodge
Why he can win – He’s from Star-Banner reporter Lashonda Stinson’s hometown.
Why he can’t win – See Clint Bowyer.
34. Kevin Harvick, 29 Shell Chevrolet
Why he can win – The car knows the way.
Why he can’t win – Dale Earnhardt is not driving it.
35. David Ragan, 6 AAA Ford
Why he can win – He’s in good equipment.
Why he can’t win – One word: rookie.
36. Juan Pablo Montoya, 42 Texaco Dodge
Why he can win – He’s the only driver in the field with a Formula One win.
Why he can’t win – This isn’t the Gran Prix of Monaco.
37. Dave Blaney, 22 Caterpillar Toyota
Why he can win – See Kevin Harvick.
Why he can’t win – This is not a dirt track.
38. Sterling Marlin, 14 Waste Management Chevrolet
Why he can win – See Michael Waltrip.
Why he can’t win – This is not 1995.
39. Robby Gordon, 7 Jim Beam Ford
Why he can win – He deserves a break.
Why he can’t win – He won’t get it.
40. David Reutimann, 00 Dominos Toyota
Why he can win – He’s our hometown hero.
Why he can’t win – This isn’t Ocala Speedway.
41. Johnny Sauter, 70 Yellow Transportation Chevrolet
Why he can win – He misses the 42-car pileup on first lap.
Why he can’t win – Because even if there were a 42-car pileup, a damaged car would still pass him and lap him.
42. Jeff Gordon, 24 Dupont Chevrolet
Why he can win – He won his Gatorade Duel on Thursday.
Why he can’t win – See Michael Waltrip.
43. Dale Jarrett, 44 UPS Toyota
Why he can win – He’s won this race three times before.
Why he can’t win – He’s driving for Michael Waltrip, and cheaters never prosper.
If you’re tuning into Fox right now expecting to see the Daytona 500, I’ve got a little information you should know.
It’s 1:30 p.m. The race doesn’t start for another two hours. Keep waiting.
The drivers get the command to fire engines at 3:18 p.m. today, nearly three hours later than the race’s traditional starting time. Right now, when the drivers should be working lap 60 in the Great American Race, they are sitting down to the beginning of the drivers’ meeting.
So why the change? One word: ratings.
A few years ago, NASCAR thought moving back the start of the circuit’s biggest race would allow more television viewers on the West Coast to watch the race at a more convenient hour, at least for them. It’s a standard growing pain of all big-time professional sport events.
But has it worked? Not really.
The top 20 television markets for NASCAR are all in either the eastern or central time zone. Moving the start of the race back has not led to a huge increase in viewers for the race. In fact, the three most-watched 500s all started around 1 p.m.
But what’s done is done, and it’s not going to change back. Instead of fans being treated by fast cars, they get to watch a three-hour pre-race show. Trust me, it’s not that great, and I’m pretty sure it’s the exact same show as last year.
Once again, the theme is “Nextel’s Tribute to America.” I love America, but I would guess that all these folks here today aren’t here to see Kelly Clarkson sing for ten minutes. They’re here for the race, and the 100 thousand people already in the stands would like nothing more than to hear the roar of engines two hours early.
They deserve that. And so do all of the big NASCAR markets right here in the Southeast and Midwest. Is that an East Coast bias? You bet it is.
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Re: Live from Daytona: Daytona 500 Pre-race |
By Mom on
2/18/2007 12:29 PM |
| gutsy...laughed myself off the chair! |
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Re: Live from Daytona: Daytona 500 Pre-race |
By C $$ on
2/18/2007 3:41 PM |
| good stuff joey |
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