The qualifying format for the Daytona 500 is unique, confusing and a source of tremendous pressure for the drivers who have to race their way into NASCAR’s biggest event.
The process gets under way Sunday with all 61 entries taking to the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway oval to post a qualifying speed that might or might not help them earn a spot in the 43-car field for the Feb. 18 race.
“I know that Sunday’s qualifying probably won’t mean much for us,” Kyle Petty said.
NASCARNASCAR’s season starts with a Toyota on the pole as three-time Budweiser Shootout winner Dale Jarrett leads the field to green. Get live results, lap-by-lap updates and more as you watch the race LIVE on FOX.
NASCARHistory will have to wait.
Pole-winner Eric Crocker’s bid to become the first woman to win an ARCA event and a race at Daytona International Speedway came up far short Saturday while Bobby Gerhart drove off with his fifth victory in the season-opening race.
Crocker, who drives for NASCAR Nextel Cup team owner Ray Evernham, stayed with the leaders until about 25 laps remained in the 80-lap event.
NASCARIf everything goes according to Robert Yates’ plan, his NASCAR team will rebound from a gut-wrenching season and he will retire at the end of this year, handing the team over to son Doug.
This is Yates’ 40th year in racing, and at age 63 he figures that’s just about enough - especially after last season, when he says he was so stressed out that he felt at times like he literally was going to die.
NASCARJames Hylton certainly drives faster than most 72-year-olds, but he’ll have to go a lot faster to make the Daytona 500.
Hylton, attempting an epic comeback in NASCAR’s premier series, completed five qualifying practice laps Saturday at Daytona International Speedway and was considerably slower than the other competitors.
Hylton’s top lap averaged 179.347 mph - nearly 2 mph slower than anyone else in the 61-car field and more than 6 mph off Ricky Rudd’s fast lap of the day.
NASCARRicky Rudd posted the fastest times in both practice sessions at Daytona on Saturday. However, Lee Spencer said it was teammate and quasi-rookie David Gilliland who helped make it a big day for Robert Yates Racing.
NASCARRicky Rudd and David Gilliland were fastest in the first Daytona 500 qualifying practice on Saturday morning. Watch the second practice on SPEED now and get LIVE updates here plus blog with other fans in our new FOX Trax.
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