Truex Jr, Martin Set For Daytona Front Row

Martin Truex, Jr. claims the pole position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500, running 188.001 mph (47.872 seconds). Mark Martin turned in the second fastest speed during qualifying, posting a mark of 187.817 mph (47.919 seconds). Both Truex, Jr. and Martin are locked in for the front row for the Daytona 500. The other 41 spots available will be determined by the finishing order of Thursday’s Gatorade Duels.

Martin Truex Jr and Mark Martin Will Be On The Front Row For The 2009 Daytona 500

Here’s how the top 10 stacked up during Daytona 500 Qualifying today:

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Mark Martin

3. Ryan Newman

4. Juan Pablo Montoya

5. Bill Elliott

6. Jimmie Johnson

7. Aric Almirola

8. Travis Kvapil

9. Jeff Gordon

10. Tony Stewart

Click here for a complete rundown of how all 56 drivers qualified.

 

 

Procedures For Daytona 500 Qualifying

If you are new to NASCAR the qualifying procedures for the Daytona 500 can be very confusing. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Automatic berths

Even before teams unloaded at Daytona International Speedway, 36 drivers were locked into the field for the Great American Race.

The top 35 teams based on the owners standings in 2008 are guaranteed a spot at Daytona (Click here for the full list).

The final driver to earn a berth is the most recent champion not already locked into the field. Should the most recent champion (currently Tony Stewart) lock in via time or the Gatorade Duel qualifying races, the next eligible champion will be able to use the past champions provisional. Whichever driver ends up using the provisional will start the race from the 43rd and final starting position (Click here for the list of eligible past champions).

Step 2: It all starts here

All the fun begins one week before the running of the Daytona 500. On Sunday, every team will run traditional qualifying — one at a time, two laps per car. However, this qualifying session will lock in the front row (positions 1-2) and the rear of the field.

Regardless of who claims the top two spots, keep an eye for those drivers who are in the "Go or Go Home" category (click here for the full list). The three fastest drivers on that list will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after Sunday as they too will have earned a spot in the field.

Step 3: Racing their way in

This is where the schedule deviates from the rest of the season. On the Thursday before the Daytona 500, there will be two 150-mile qualifying races (the Gatorade Duels) to finalize the starting lineup.

Finishing positions in the Gatorade Duels will determine starting positions 3-40 in the Daytona 500. Based on their finish in the first Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the odd-number starting positions. Based on their finish in the second Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the even-number starting positions.

If any of the drivers who were quickest during qualifying make their way into the field, the next fastest driver will take their spot.

Drivers locked into the field by owner points (order based on car number)

David Reutimann, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, David Ragan, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon, Aric Almirola, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, David Stremme, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Elliott Sadler, Joey Logano, Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, John Andretti, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya, Reed Sorenson, Marcos Ambrose, Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Speed, Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard, Carl Edwards

Drivers who can use the past champions provisional (order based on eligibility)

Tony Stewart, Terry Labonte, Bill Elliott

"Go or Go Home" drivers (order based on car number)

Boris Said, Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart*, Bill Elliott*, Mike Skinner, Kirk Shelmerdine, Travis Kvapil, Scott Riggs, Tony Raines, Jeremy Mayfield, AJ Allmendinger, Carl Long, Kelly Bires, Norm Benning, James Hylton, Geoff Bodine, Terry Labonte*, Mike Wallace, Mike Garvey, Derrike Cope, Regan Smith, Joe Nemechek

*Drivers who are eligible to use the past champions provisional.

Follow The Chaos For The 2009 Season

As the 2009 season approaches, I felt like it would be a good time to list some of the new driver/crew chief/team changes. This Silly Season probably represents more changes than any other year I can remember.

So hang on and try to keep up as I list some of the biggest changes thus far for the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season.

 

• Mark Martin left a part time schedule, driving the #01 U.S. Army Chevrolet, to run full time again for Hendrick Motorsports. Martin will be steering the #5 Kellogg's/Car Quest Chevrolet with Alan Gustafson being the crew chief.
• Casey Mears left that Hendricks Motorsports #5 to drive for Richard Childress Racing. Mears will be driving the #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet with Gil Martin serving as crew chief.
• Clint Bowyer, the previous driver of the #07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet, will move over to Richard Childress Racing's fourth team the #33 General Mills/BB&T Chevrolet with crew chief Shane Wilson.
• Ryan Newman left the #12 Alltel Dodge of Penske South Racing to drive the #39 U.S. Army Chevrolet of Stewart Haas Racing with crew chief Tony Gibson.
• Tony Stewart left Joe Gibbs Racing to become half owner of Stewart Haas Racing and pilot the #14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet with new crew chief Darian Grubb.
• David Stremme was hired by Penske South Racing to drive the #12 Alltel Dodge with crew chief Roy McCauley.
• Rookie Joey Logano was promoted to the Sprint Cup Series by Joe Gibbs Racing. He will steer the #20 Home Depot Toyota with crew chief Greg Zipadelli.
• John Andretti was hired to drive the #34 Window World Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. This team is from an alliance between Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The crew chief will be Scott Eggleston.
• Rookie Scott Speed has moved into the #82 Red Bull Racing Toyota vacated by A.J. Allmendinger. The crew chief will be Jimmy Elledge.
• A.J. Allmendinger has signed to drive the new #44 Valvoline Dodge with Richard Petty Motorsports (now a part of Gillett Evernham Motorsports) for 2009. As of this post, Allmendinger is set for eight races this season, but the team is working on getting more races.
• Reed Sorenson will be piloting the #43 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge in 2009 with crew chief Mike Shiplett. Their will be five primary sponsors for the team in 2009, most notably the U.S. Air Force.
• Former Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte will be driving the #96 Academy Sports and Outdoors Ford for Hall of Fame Racing with crew chief Todd Parrott.
• JTG Daugherty Racing will add a Sprint Cup Series car to their team in 2009. They have primarily fielded cars in the Nationwide Series. The new Sprint Cup car will be the #47 Little Debbie Snacks Toyota driven by rookie Marcos Ambrose. Frank Kerr will be the crew chief.
• Paul Menard has left DEI, after the merger with Ganassi, to join Yates Racing. Menard will drive the #98 Menard's Ford. The crew chief will be Larry Carter.

There have been some notable team mergers during the off season as well.

• Richard Petty Motorsports has merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. It will be referred to as Richard Petty Motorsports.
• Dale Earnhardt Inc. has merged with Ganassi Racing to form Earnhardt Ganassi Racing or EGR.
• Yates Racing has formed an alliance with Hall of Fame Racing. It will be called Yates Racing.

Boy! This stuff can get confusing. It is no wonder they call it the Silly Season. The team mergers can get real confusing, because different people call the new team a different name. It all depends on who you talk to.

It can get mind-boggling the first couple races trying to figure out which driver is driving what. Hopefully this list will help to clear it up a bit.

The Top 20 Drivers of 2009 Part 2

Welcome to Day 2 of The Top 20 Drivers of 2009. This installment will cover who I think will finish 17th, 16th, and 15th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2009.These next three drivers should be interesting to watch during the upcoming season, so here we go!

#17 Brian Vickers

Brian Vickers was born on October 24, 1983 in Thomasville, NC. Vickers started racing go-karts at eight years-old and lived around racing the whole time growing up. Vickers’ father, Charlie, was an instrumental player in racing around the state of North Carolina.

Vickers had some impressive runs in 2008, considering how new the team was. Vickers had 36 starts, 1 pole, 0 wins, 3 Top 5s, 6 Top 10s, an average start of 22.0, and an average finish of 21.0, finishing 19th in points with 3,580.

Vickers will be back with Team Red Bull driving the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry

#16 Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch was born on August 4, 1978 in Las Vegas, NV. Like many other drivers, Busch started racing go-karts at an early age. It was the Dwarf Car Series that got Busch recognized as a very talented racer. In 2000, Jack Roush hired him to drive a Craftsman Truck Ford, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Four years later, Busch clinched the 2004 Sprint Cup Championship.

In 2008, Busch had 36 starts, 0 poles, 1 win, 5 Top 5s, 10 Top 10s, an average start of 20.0, an average finish of 22.0, and finishing 18th in points with 3,635.

He will probably run a tad better in 2009. Just as in 2008, Busch will struggle on the intermediate tracks. Busch is able to shine the most on short tracks, road courses, and the superspeedways.

Busch will again be driving the “Blue Deuce” , the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger for Penske South Racing in 2009.

#15 Martin Truex, Jr.

Martin Truex, Jr. was born on June 29, 1980 in Mayetta, NJ. Truex also got his start in go-karts, but found great success in the Modified ranks, then winning the 2000 Rookie of the Year in the Busch North Series.The New Jersey native made his Sprint Cup debut in the 2004 Bass Pro Shops 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and also won the Busch Series Championship the same year.

Truex, Jr. had an up and down season in 2008 making 36 starts, 0 poles, 0 wins, 3 Top 5s, 11 Top 10s, an average start of 17.0, an average finish of 18.0, and ending 15th in points with 3,839.

Truex, Jr. will continue his ride with the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2009.

That is what I think will be the finishing order in points for #17 through #15 for the 2009 season. I will present #14 through #12 tomorrow.

Garage Insider

I will be starting a new section for NASCAR Notebook called Garage Insider. Garage Insider will be chocked full of the latest news in NASCAR. I will post happenings on Garage Insider a couple times a week, perhaps more once the season starts. If you need a NASCAR news fix, then Garage Insider is the place to check out!

Cup Champ Has Surgery On Finger

Three time and reigning Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson, had surgery on his left middle finger on Saturday to repair a tendon and nerves. Johnson cut his finger above the knuckle with a kitchen knife while trying to puncture a hole in his fire suit for a cooling tube. He did this while preparing to compete in the Rolex 24 Sports Car Race.


Hendricks Motorsports Driver Jimmie Johnson

The injury will not keep Johnson from participating in the season's first NASCAR Sprint Cup event, the Budweiser Shootout, February 7th at Daytona International Speedway.

Andretti To Drive For Earnhardt Ganassi

John Andretti is expected to join Earnhardt Ganassi Racing as the fourth driver for Daytona and beyond. A deal is in the works that would partner Front Row Motorsports owner Bob Jenkins and Andretti with EGR. The car's number and sponsor should be announced later this week.

Labonte Has New Ride For Daytona

Two-time Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte will attempt to qualify for the 2009 Daytona 500 in a Toyota fielded by Prism Motorsports, co-owned by former NASCAR driver Phil Parsons and Randy Humphrey.

Humphrey said the new team plans to run the full 2009 schedule, with Dave Blaney taking over the driver's seat after Daytona.

The team has formed a technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing and purchase engines from Joey Harrington. Bill Henderson, crew chief from Hall of Fame Racing last year, will be the crew chief.

McDowell To Drive Part Time in Nationwide Series

Michael McDowell will drive part time in the Nationwide Series for Daugherty/JTG Racing in the number 47 Toyota. McDowell was let go from Michael Waltrip Racing last year after falling out of the Top 35 in owner points after failing to qualify for the Camping World RV 400 at Kansas.

Veteran crew chief Gene Snead will command the team, which will have ICP and Tom's Snack as sponsors.

Nemechek To Field Own Team At Daytona

Veteran driver Joe Nemechek will revive the NEMCO Motorsports number 87 team for both Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series at Daytona. Long-time crew chief Phillippe Lopez will oversee the team. Nemecheck will run Toyotas in the Cup Series and a combination of Toyotas and Chevrolets in the Nationwide Series. He is still working on gaining sponsorship.

Roush Fenway Pushing NASCAR ON 4-car Limit

Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith wants NASCAR to reconsider its four-car per team limit. NASCAR President Mike Helton is dead set on keeping the limit in place. "As a matter of fact, it's probably stronger than it's ever been, and the right thing to do", Helton has said.

Roush Fenway Racing can run five teams this year for the final time before it has to reduce to the NASCAR limit in 2010.

NASCAR Hall of Fame News

NASCAR announced its new Hall of Fame, scheduled to open next year in downtown Charlotte, N.C., will have five inductees a year.A 20-member nominating committee will determine the list of no more than 25 candidates. That committee will then join 27 other former drivers, owners, crew chiefs, media members and other officials. A 48th ballot will represent the results of a nationwide fan ballot.To be eligible, former drivers must have competed 10 years in NASCAR and be retired for at least three years. Non-drivers must have worked at least 10 years in the industry.The first induction is scheduled for May 2010 when NASCAR comes to the Charlotte area for the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600.


That is it for the Garage Insider for now. Check back later to catch more interesting tidbits from around the NASCAR scene!