NASCAR Full Race Replay: 2002 Daytona 500

It is not at all difficult to understand why it means so much to so many people who are not children. The Stossel Daytona 500 event is about you wanting to be part of the wind, you don't have any other feeling. It's going well, do the Daytona, this is tremendous, real, it does as much for the drivers' careers as it does for maintaining two three. NBC Sports is proud to welcome you to the Daytona 500 live from the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, it began in 1959 and today has truly become the Great American Race in early speed weeks, qualifying

race

s of the Daytona 500 took place on Valentine's Day, that's a day you normally expect to see guys trying to get through, well it didn't happen here, at least on the track, today could be the Daytona of Veterans because What we have seen here this week is an experience that overcame enthusiasm.

Dale Jarrett has won the Daytona 500 three times, including two years ago when this

race

was run under very similar aerodynamic rules. Rusty Wallace has never won the Daytona 500 today. makes his 20th start Dale Earnhardt won the 500 in his 20th start a year ago Rusty was third today hopes car number two can be number one let's go with Dave Burns Bill It's been 22 years since a woman ran in the 500 today Daytona's Shauna Robinson makes her first attempt How excited are you to start this race? It's that I deserve it. I deserve to be here. We have worked very hard.

This race team has worked hard. You know, we run sponsored, so we just want to have a long time. The safe rate got 500 miles to do it. I think they will make a good impression. They have a very fast Dodge Intrepid in the field here this afternoon at Daytona International Speedway. Matt Yocum Dave back in 2000, Johnny Benson was three laps behind. to pick up the bakery for the Daytona 500 and then, last July, he came up short again. He has been up and down during Speed ​​Week, but many feel this could be his best chance to win the 500 and for Kenny Schrader for 18 years, it would be one for you to chase. that elusive Daytona 500 victory and the end of a great winless streak of yours and yours, you have a special little souvenir on your uniform, a big and very special day, it could be for you, oh yes, it will be a great day for anyone who wins this, you know?

This has been a really good race for us, we've run second, third, fourth, fifth. I mean, it's just us racing, we've all raced and in the top 10 it's been a good race for us. Eminem's cards have been good all weekend or all week. We'll see what we have. He is trying to break a 339-race winless drought since his last victory against Marty Snider. Well, Matt continues the topic with the veterans. Iceman Terry Labonte could melt many Daytona dreams today by pulling off what many would consider an upset victory second place in this race three times Texas Terry could be a guy to watch I don't think it would be a surprise if the younger brother Bobby will win the race however today everyone has been talking about your teammate Tony Stewart, how is your race car?

Our race cars are really good. I mean, we're very happy with your interstate battery. Pontiac has been driving well all week and dropped a little here and there, so I feel pretty good about that. Joe Gibbs Racing won the Daytona 500 in its second season. nine years ago it was a long time bill to make Coach Gibbs wait for a Super Bowl trophy very good point Marty 43 starters 42 men one woman only a dream comes true today now let's get you to the track and get excited as the pre-race ceremonies continue. Here in Daytona, ladies and gentlemen, would you please rise for the presentation of the colors by the City of Daytona Beach Police Department and remain standing for the invocation of the Reverend Hal Marchman?

Almighty God, we thank you for this beautiful place with all this wonderful crowd and we thank you for the people who make this possible and we pray for the drivers and for everyone involved in this day, Shalom and our men, and now to honor United United with our national anthem. RCA recording artist and Metropolitan Opera star Denise Graves today for the 78th and 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina with Light Lead Major Jack Medicine and now for the most famous words in motorsports, the Grand Marshal of the 44th Daytona 500 sings the festivities on behalf of the marijuana drivers' motor employees.

It's a beautiful sunny day in Daytona. Temperatures near 70 and the start of the Daytona 500 is approaching one, two, three, four, five Jay Leno, this is Bill Weber from NBC Sports, do you have a copy, hey sir, how are you? I look forward to speaking with you, we're on commercial right now. but I'll throw it to you sir when we get back what you say Jay, we're in a commercial right now, when we get back I'll throw it to you and then you'll throw it to Alan in the booth, okay? have a great day, have a great trip up there Alan Wally Benny hello Mikey, I heard you through Lyndsey's Wow, okay bumper NBC Sports welcomes you back to the Daytona 500, we are 43 drivers, we We are preparing to race right now, sitting on pit road very soon.

They'll be following the Pontiac pace car, the official pace car of the Daytona 500, it's the special collector's edition Firebird and there's someone special behind the wheel, the host of The Tonight Show here on NBC, Jay Leno, chin, I know you love your cards, how are they? that seat, hey, 44, driver, 40, cool, out of the way, right? I've got a pace car driver, every black flag will be looking at the mirror, yeah I gotta be looking at Tamara, well enjoy it out there, I know I'm looking forward to it right? I guess I'll give it back to Allen in the booth, okay, there you go, okay, Jay, we're loaded.

Hey, just turn the signal when you turn left on pit road, those guys behind you will be nice. in a hurry with a 75th winner of the Daytona 500 Benny Parsons Wally Dallenbach, nine-time veteran of this race, you know, we've been here for 10 days of preliminaries and pressure on VP moments before the start, what's the mentality of the pilots at this time? the Superbowl stock car race and the ripe light, so I might add, and just like the Super Bowl of football, these drivers had 10 days of distractions one after another, media, radio, television, but right now they're in their office, they're focused on the job at hand to win the Daytona 500 Wally traffic will be heavier here at first, yeah, patience too, that's something NASCAR will talk about, the drivers mean patience and it takes and fact, you will see a lot of guys trying to be careful when positioning, but towards the end of this race, everything will be necessary, absolutely everyone wants to win the biggest prize in the sport there once a year.

This morning, some 170,000 fans packed this huge stadium, all waiting for the start of the Daytona 500, which they will see next in the final start of their long NASCAR Winston Cup career. Dave Marcus took a ceremonial lap to the front of the field. behind the pace car will now return to its starting spot for the Daytona 500 in the 14th position, but why should the official beer of NASCAR be the proud sponsor of the bunt pole award given to the fastest rookie in each race? the Winston Cup? Jimmie Johnson takes first Pole of

2002

and only his fourth Winston Cup start since 1979.

Anheuser-busch has awarded more than seven million dollars as title sponsor of the NASCAR pole awards program and now the Walmart starting grid for the 44th Daytona 500 Johnson and Kevin. Harvick sharing the front row Harvick Last year's Rookie of the Year row number two the two qualifying race winners here on Thursday Jeff Gordon two-time 500 winner and last year's race champion Michael Waltrip on the inside row 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 300 mile race yesterday afternoon won the last two plate races and Tony Stewart won the shootout last Sunday also the IROC race on Friday inside row 4 Kenny Schrader always runs well like he said and Jerry Nadeau was sixth here in July, the first Ford in the field is Ricky Rudd in row number five making his 25th start in the Daytona 500 and Bobby the coach, the 2000 Series champion with him, row six is ​​Terry Labonte never won at Daytona in 46 races Robby Gordon won the final race of last season on the inside of row 7 Sterling Marlin won the 502 years around 94 and 1995 and Dave Markham we saw him a moment ago in his 33rd and final 500 Kurt Busch on the inside of row eight with Petty driver John Andretti towards the three The Wallace brothers in the race share the number nine vote, they are Mike Wallace and Kenny Wallace Kenny driving for Dale Earnhardt entered the tenth row, Ward Burton led a quarter of last year's race, but it ended in a big accident near the finish and Mike Skinner in two.

Daytona 500 winning car inside 11 Dale Jarrett the UPS board has won this 500 three times let's try talking to him Dale, great Benny Parsons, you compared me to other people after all, well DJ, you won this three times , can? We did it today, we have that opportunity, thanks to NASCAR for helping the Fords this week do it, now we just have to do everything right, we probably have to have a perfect day, but that's what we're looking for. get in the right position for those fifty mile lambs, that's what really counts, where's the right position in front or third as we get to that point where we can start counting the record stuff at the end and then try to put this oops board right in front at the end, good luck PDK, dale jarrett, stop.

Oh, number eleven, three drivers will have to go to the back of the group because they are in backup cars, their main machines were damaged in practice in the qualifying races. Too bad to start this race, this is Rusty Wallace, Dave Blaney and Shauna Robinson, if we had the rest of the field, Elliott Sadler and the Wood Brothers car making its 43rd start in the five hundred and forty-four races here. Maine's Ricky Craven starts last in the ten drivers failed to qualify for the 500, most notable among them Hut Stricklin chip in Spencer buckshot Jones three

full

y sponsored teams that will compete for the championship this year heartbreak over not being in the biggest race in the sport, it's almost impossible to compete for the championship after missing the race, Kevin Harvick last year missed the Daytona 500, he didn't drive the car, he finished ninth and last whiskey above Simmons and I think that's the best he got Walt Lab from the start of the Daytona 500 to pit road and Matt.

Yocum, Lenoir veteran Dave Marcus earns his 33rd-place finish in the Daytona 500 finale. Sophomore Kevin Harvick makes his first race here in the great American race. He told me this morning that his biggest concern is getting other drivers to join him due to his lack of experience. In three other plate appearances last season he spoke with Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip. They have reached some kind of agreement, but the agreements are always good and no one writes anything. One good thing about Stewart, they are facing each other right next to each other. among them - Marty Snider well, Matt in Thursday's qualifying races Roush Racing had five engines in that race and they lost due to a failure in three of those engines, so on Friday night they rented an airplane hangar and rebuilt them all your racing engines for today's race.

There are some nervous ones. The people in the Roush chamber today because they didn't practice yesterday to test those race engines are burning today. Marty Dale Earnhardt was great here at Daytona, but one of his good friends has been the best driver in the last ten races here, including the one in July. In the races in which the driver Rusty Wallace obtained an average result of 9.3, he has been very, very good, but Rusty never won this race and hopes that today, in his twentieth attempt, he can reach the Circle of the Victory. Allen, very good Dave, less than half a lap from the green flag at the Daytona 500 perfect weather conditions, yes we saw the Elliott Center, this is Mark Martin, oh he is right now, I'm just thinking about what we can do .

I need to make a good start because these were some laps that are important with new tires, you can do something afterwards. With 2030 left, it will be increasingly difficult to overtake, you are right PP, you will see a lot of guys probably in the middle here for the first 10 or 15 laps, but then after that the tires will wear out a little bit, they won't. I want to be in the middle and Mike Wallace looks like his car is stopped in turn three. It's Wallace who was scheduled to start 17th and the start was cancelled, so he watches his car from the track.

Marty, what are yougoing? Well, they had trouble starting. and at the beginning when they gave the order to start the engines, Benny said it just shut down and won't start right now and I think they'll turn green without Mike Wallace, it must have been a wonderful start. finish line, which means the green flag will be next time, a tow truck was sent to push Mike Wallace back to the pit area, how about those 10 days of being here, two months of preparation crushing his back, are you trying to push it right there? look who seems to have their motor running and Jay Leno got the most laughs for the field.

There's Andy Petree, the team owner of that number 33 car, and you can see him holding his head and thinking what could be going wrong, but me. I see that car running, peepee, so it started with a bang. The question would be executed if they had trouble starting it and it was already over. Well, he'll stay on the track, try to join the back of the field to start and that's probably it. a good place to start because if you're in trouble you don't want to be where Marty was, what they think Allen happened is the primary ignition went out and now they're on the secondary ignition and I'm going to try that. to get his way with Andy Petree as soon as he solves this problem, let's see if we can talk to Andy real quick Andy, any idea what it is, it looks like an ignition switch or something he might have, but he could have hit it with his foot coming ino whatever broke off the end of the switch and then what happens when on the secondary ignition and mixed up with the steering wheel switch the cut off switch was able to turn it on it finally turned it on but they thought it might have been a bit before, but it seems that the main ignition switch has gone bad on Mike Wallace's car.

Part of a dollar and a half, yes, $100,000 race car, they're going to make it to the green this time, so Mike Wallace goes to the back of the field. Last year here at Daytona driving for a different team, he started last in one of these races and had a top ten finish in the lead. Will we see Michael Waltrip leaving the steering wheel back and forth somewhere on that steering wheel? these drivers could hit that will kill the ignition somehow Mike Wallace according to Andy Petree you see there is a radial eye link on the left side like a kill switch and all they have to do is touch that and it turns off the engine and of somehow Andy Petree thinks with Mike Wallace that when trying to start the car it will take 200 laps around the 2 and a half miles, they told the circuit to complete the 500 mile distance this afternoon, the winner will receive at least one point three million of dollars for that. 12 million dollar pot James, the pace car looks like the outside line is the line right now that's going to be the best party, pole winner Jimmie Johnson, back to Fishbach, going in turns, three second cars in a row, defending Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip looking for a way into the lead to tie with Dale Earnhardt Jr. competition if those guys can stay there all day because that combination right there last year Paul Senator Jimmie Johnson got pushed by teammate Jeff Gordon in the inside lane michael waltrip couldn't make a move tony stewart is going to try to get a push from those hundred chevys, so you have to use them for fuel all last season.

We honor the memory of Dale Earnhardt and all of America's other lost heroes with a silent third round. We do it once again today here at the Tony Stewart Daytona 500. pace, the shootout winner finished second in the qualifying race from the base in turn three and a lot of people have been chosen to win this Daytona 500. It only lasted two laps and you can hear the engines right there, there is no gear. That engine, how is it? Matt Maddy Greg Zipadelli asked Tony on the radio if the engine isn't the engine, he says yes, it broke.

Wow, Tony Stewart, one of the dominant cars all week, here comes Michael Waltrip for the lead, gets an outside position in the 29-car party, I'm putting my money on Michael, yeah, that's pretty good, bad guys teammates, an incorporated Dale Earnhardt, finished first and second in the last two consecutive Daytona Winston Cup races, finishing second in the other Oh Junior, the 25 car pulls up behind. He rescued our junior. He broke his neck very, very loose in turn three, well, he was aw

full

y close. There might have even been a little contact. That's Jerry Nadeau, right behind him in the black car, neighbor 25 behind, inside the lane.

Ken Schrader. In the yellow car he moves behind Kevin Harvick as if Waltrip had so much confidence that he felt this could be used for 500 consecutive victories. Let's learn more about Tony Stewart's situation. Matt found in Catholic records if it would have happened inside the engine pretty well. and a team car had one the other day, the team upped our game here with our engine program, but they've been working hard this winter and we'll bounce back. You just know we had a great race car. Eric's Home Depot It's been amazing all weekend, pony spirits have been high, this whole team has been excited to come out here and try to get the rain out of final practice.

Do you feel like this is something that probably would have come up in the final practice session? Yes, but I mean. We were all in the same boat ninety percent ninety week in and week out and you know it's a risk you have to take, but it just came off the dyno. I think it's right and good, they did a lot of pulling and it just wasn't our day. I mean, looking at this year's championship, take a mulligan at the start of that chainsaw for the title. He will finish last in the first race of the year.

Michael Waltrip, please, I'm 19 on his second. Jerry perhaps presides over Robby Gordon fourth and Kevin Harvick presides over him fifth. Matt Kenseth. Yellow number. 17 are really on the move in the first few laps, he started in 40th place that time across the stripe, he was already in the middle of the field up to 19th place after the man, she will see how the four react, especially after get somewhere with their tires and stuff. With the spoiler changed, she sees Ricky Craven, they are at 32, sneaking up to the center trying to get to the outside lane. With the heat being the way it is now, we could see those four loosening up a little bit towards the end of the race. "Wait and see" Craven started last in this race and is ahead of Kenseth, so he is having a great race in the opening laps, and this is the third year in a row that Tony Stewart has had a terrible start to his season seeing to Matt Kenseth. in the 17-car-per-make field, he started 39th that time at the start/finish line, he's 20th.

Oh, Jeremy, no, that image of Jeff Gordon fades. Remember Gordon started third on the inside of row two. He returned to 15th place last time. Get on Jeff Gordon as he follows Kurt Busch, car 97 coming out of Turn 4. Kenny Wallace is on the outside. Jeff Burton in the 99 car highlighted there with the bubble started this race in 33rd place that time at the start/finish line. he was in 15th, another of the first to move from the back of the field and notice all the drivers that stood out are moving up, a cracker that started badly at the back, this may be moving towards the front, another guy that's coming along pretty well, there's Mike.

Skinner starts 20th, is in 8th, Dave Blaney, off the pace. The Hartford Ohio driver, in his first ride with his 77 team, changed courses during the offseason and had trouble on the left nine last time because he was 28th, so ladies make potions in the curves. Almost like an old problem, any practice with the race engines because of happy hour being canceled, so a lot of these guys are worried right now because they put these race engines on the first lap. These engines are on board today with Robby Gordon. car 31 last time was in ninth position and yes, we see car 24.

Jeff Gordon, he and Jimmie Johnson, the pole, should get their race engines running on Tuesday and make them laugh a little just to verify that they were well and after hours happy. It rained on Saturday, that seems like a stroke of genius and if you're not familiar with the term NASCAR happy hour which means returning to final practice before the race, remember that we were talking to Tony Stewart yesterday during the Busch race and I asked him to Tony. got any laps on that race bar, he said no we don't and we're a little worried about that, hey Gabe, you got Tony down there, we got Italian Tony, there's no mistake in that race engine on the that you came in and you already know.

What happened was kind of strange, the part that makes me feel bad is that there are a lot of these guys behind us who have worked all winter to finish this car and their families, their wives, their children or their dads and their husbands are go. Working and working our days to try to get this car to where it was this weekend. Very, very good race car here and you know, it's a tough way to start the year, but I feel worse for the guys, anything is if they poured out their hearts. and souls in making this car, which is, that's the word, a very difficult way for Tony to start, it was a favor, guys, and we used the Super Bowl analogy and Tony Stewart's season started as a quarterback picking up an interception in the first. series I don't know, it's better not to go down, yeah, fourth, make it fit, put Mike Skinner here in the gold car that's being taken out.

Sterling Marlin is below him. Car 97 is Kurt Busch. The young man from Las Vegas moves to sixth place. Jerry Nadeau 2/7. who is Ken Schrader's voice ability for 8 and look how quickly these guys start backing away as soon as they get next to each other Schrader passes now Robby Gordon follows here comes John Andretti Kenny Wallace and looks at Craven in the middle that's not Todd Bodine's job in 66 and Rusty Wallace is going through a middle Miller continues to move forward after starting last, he's in 14th place and Jeff Gordon slides back, he started third, he's moved back to port to our 13th place , the Daytona 500 is underway without caution. so far, but Tony is already out of it The 44 acres of Lake Floyd shine under the Florida sun and the infield of Daytona International Speedway as 41 drivers chase victory in the great American race NBC Sports with live coverage of the 500 Daytona miles 16 laps away in review our minimums, improve errors and snoozers, those get you up at the start, including three for the drivers, Rusty Wallace, we said he would start 37th.

Ashley started about 43rd. Ha moved up to 12th. Kenseth has had a great career so far and Ricky Craven and some of the snoozers drivers are slipping. Behind us, we left that group with an engine problem. Jimmie Johnson, our poleman, we returned to 26th place. No changes in the classification. Michael Waltrip continues to lead with Dale Earnhardt Jr. second and let's go to the pits here's Dave Burns Allen driving the race is a little different here at Daytona this year and a lot more guys are using rear view mirrors to drive now these little things are convex mirrors about 2 or 3 inches. which mount on the window post just to the left of the driver, helps them look behind them, but drivers who don't use them and there are at least a dozen who don't have them on their car today call them blocking mirrors. , they don't have them.

Like them, blocking someone, well, I've blocked someone for sure, but I've never used a mirror and Dave, I think he actually did absolutely right by putting those mirrors there to see when a guy is coming and run when he sees someone. a guy in that mirror approaching very fast, you throw the block in a race like this, you look at the vice president of the group. I totally agree and again, that's what the mirrors are blocking. Nothing else, I can't believe we didn't have it. one in your kart helmet the other night you were blocking the whole way I was in the front too I didn't need it to complete 50 miles of this race cross the start/finish line take the lead of the race Waltrip has led all but the first three event circuits Kevin Harvick set the pace with the racing order at the top of the screen and what we have seen now that on those laps with our new sets of tires is that the Indian racist file has no talent and That I said, I'm really interested to see what happens with the Fords at the moment because without that, yes, it makes their cars a little bit faster, but it takes a little bit of downforce, a lot of downforce, let me try to explain it real quick.

If I'm sitting on a bike and Benny is sitting next to a bike, Benny's bike is going to hit that track a lot better than mine, it has more downforce and that's what we're talking about downforce, I look like the guy, what? is happening? Well, Betty, of 15 cards, as Michael Waltrip continues to lead aOf the main reasons he went to the front, his car was a little hot, the water temperature was starting to rise, so he went to the front to get some clean air, not the turbulence. hot air to try to cool the water down a bit, he says his car is a little loose, just like Thursday's 21 25 qualifiers angry at the start of this race, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson had good starting positions, but once who threw the green flag they had no friends when the field began to advance no one would help the 24 to the 48 who had fallen back in the group Gordon receives a call on the radio I have lost the draft, he said to his calm a few minutes ago the car is tight, I'll have to drive for now and he's waiting for the group to catch him from behind, as for the car he co-owns and our pole-winning rookie Jimmie Johnson is getting a big boost over the radio.

His car is tight too Chad Knaus is told your past will fix it when we pin Dale Junior in trouble turns to my front tire looks like it's definitely fallen apart it's fallen apart caution is out another fallen contender on the road early and Tony Eury senior of the team The boss is telling his team what to do and that tore up that car, it causes so much damage if it has oil lines or brake lines or anything that it's like a big old whip that's tearing everything up Dale Earnhardt jr. radio Michael Waltrip has taken the field back to the warning: you don't have the hood part, the door part, the nose part of the car, probably part of the firewall and what's the suspension underneath, what happened to Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Why should we go down and turn one of the young people? The second car and also the correct pun. Just come on, ghosts, what and I'll tell you, if he's going to go flat, that's the best place on this track to get off. Normally we see the right path. The front tires drop just as you are in the middle of the corner and hit the wall hard. He was very lucky. There, another shot. You see how the car moves. You see Harvick dive inland and Junior wise, they're on board Michael Waltrip. Oh what! was that there is debris on the track and that's probably what cut the right front tire.

Earnhardt's car Matt Benny Michael Waltrip came on the radio and said something fell off my car or I ran over something and something is exactly what Dale Earnhardt jr. ran over, so we would probably need two launches to get our tires properly checked, Dale Jr. party. He thought he ran them or something. Matt, he said he thought he felt something and that's what caused the right front to fall off. This is a great anguish for these boys. He had a race car that reminded him a lot of his father, who had such bad luck in In this race he entered as a favorite so many times, it will end in disappointment, everyone is on pit road, four stops, the first of the day.

Dave and Bobby Labonte are in his car. It was just a loss. They're going to make chassis adjustments and take care of those poor tires for the former Winston. Cup champion here at the Daytona 500, man, they're working on the left side. I'm Michael Walters. With no adjustments to the chassis, they simply removed the piece of tape from the left front of the cars and the left side tires a little twenty-nine. the card just hit Mike Skinner's side Mike was getting into his hole Kevin Harvick at 29 was getting out of his hole and definitely got caught Bobby Labonte was boxed trying to get out of his hole when Shawna Robinson was trying to get to hers Every car that was on the track running was on the lead lap, so we're on the lead lap, everyone can make a pit stop, everyone got down to pit row at the same time and let's be real, this street The pit area does not have capacity for 40 cars at the same time.

One time we'll try to take a look at the right front of Kevin Harvick's car to see how much damage there is. There is some damage that could hurt him, but we're not sure how much damage there is to the nose. of that car, Shaw would restore Roy's order as they exited pit road at one point, some contenders battled teething problems in the Daytona 500. A lot happened at the start of the Daytona 44 500. NBC Sports in Daytona Beach, Florida with the opening race of the

2002

NASCAR Winston Cup season here's what happened to one of the contenders to win Dale Earnhardt Jr. . you see the shadowy piece of debris passing under the car hit the front and you see the thing come out the side of the car almost at the same time the junior's right front tire goes flat here's Dale Earnhardt jr. 'Zv, you just see him moving forward just as he has been doing and there is no time to react.

I don't even know if he actually saw the piece come out from under Michaels' car. The question is, did it come from Michael's car or? Was he on the track right there and then the tire went flat and before you know it, the steering wheel started shaking in your hand and he did the best he could, he just tried to keep it straight, let these guys behind him Will they move? That cloud of smoke that you saw right before the piece of metal came out, so I don't know again if it came from Michael's car or if he was on the track and right now with the damage he has on his car with all this damage. the owner our jr.

They won't win the Daytona 500 but they will try to get the best possible result Marty Benny here's what's left of that tire the inner liner didn't stay up it's pretty damaged over here Dale Earnhardt jr. They are putting in a piece of the right front fender. They had a whole nose that they wanted to put on if necessary. They just cut part of that off and now they're going to replace the right front fender on Dale Junior's car. but in fact they have a chance to win this race it's almost over Kevin Harvick suffered some damage trying to exit the pits yes, I was watching when Kevin was watching Kevin's pit stop and just as he was leaving the pits, Skinner the four cars were trying . to dive into his pit and here's the contact and it did quite a bit of damage right there, you can see on the right front, right in front of the tire aerodynamically it hurts.

Rick Iran has also been to the pits several times for repairs under this precaution. Matt Kenseth off pit road first, green flag back in the air at Daytona Matt Kenseth Ken Schrader into the break second John Andretti third Ryan Newman fourth in Sterling Marlin fifth here's a charge for Schrader's lead with help from John Andretti Kenseth led the 43 car team and here comes car 40 trying to go on the inside, Rodney Gordon with that orange and black 31 in the mix he saw, there was nothing between Ryan Newman's car 12 and Casey Atwood's seven . a space for that car, yes, it was close, but the 25 was right on Robby's tail, probably gave him a nice "yo" so he could make that move, others in that group, Casey's seven, awkward body, The body is up there, Dale Jarrett and Jeff.

Gordon Elaine, the group, we're also on board with Robby Gordon as he tries to approach Ryan Newman for leadership changes. So far today there is some concern about people's ability to catch the leader under these rules. It was a problem a couple of years ago, under a very similar aerodynamic package, the truck that all day Ward Burton rode the tire on that cat car towards the back of the group trying to make some forward moves, how Well you know Schrader leading the Daytona 500 in his 18th start in this one? race, he has run very well all week, the new boss has been quite excited this week and was very excited about his chances.

Kenny was happy with the engine part, everything has been improved a lot and now it has been nice on the outside with a little help from Ryan. Newman tries to take the lead we might have credited him with and is ready to lead that left, but Matt Kenseth is dragged back onto the field. Ken Schrader Fenton Missouri, age 42, check that, age 46, 1991 and John, that Bready was credited with believing in that lamp. It's time for sure, BP with these new rules like they're in the middle here, you don't want to be there, just go to the back, he used to be guys that would stand in the middle and get to the front of the group.

Speaking of Matt Kenseth, they're the one in the middle on the black and gold card, he was the leader on the restart, John Andretti driving the little number 43, of course, Richard won the Daytona 500 seven times, while So much so, there's Dale Jarrett in the middle trying to help Matt Kenseth and help himself move forward Trader led that lap by the way BIOS Jericho makes a three from the inside changing lanes diving under Kenseth Jeff Gordon in blog for him last time by Jeff Porter's back at 16 70 clips on 18 the inside lane didn't work for him I'll tell you how long talking about the middle lane not working until Senator Johnny Benson and Rusty Wallace They gave him a little brown man, don't forget we're still pretty fresh on these tires, so I think we'll be able to get away with it right now to see what happens in 15 laps on these tires.

Todd Bodine in content 66, does the steering wheel get tight? I mean, if you have a guy who won. In a lot of these races you know he's not going to do anything stupid, it's not that bad, but if you have a guy there, tell them what's making you lose, which is put his nose right in your rear bumper and put the back of your car to the side. You want to have someone else behind you it gets very tense and now here's Jeff tackling the middle while he's trying to move forward and why do you keep talking about someone getting behind you?

In many classrooms, coincidentally, we have an illustration. to show you exactly what we're talking about, loose arrow, tell him and this is what you do if I turn the car blue. I'm going to put my nose right behind this red car, it takes the air out of this rear wing and underneath. the front the bumper the sorry car what happens is it causes the rear tires to light up which lowers the doors of the car and makes the car go a little bit sideways as you enter the corner I'm in the blue car and I turn the wheel and pass him, but I have to remember that he can do that to me on the next lap.

Jeff Gordon still got it back last time was xx and it sounds like he was playing off the throttle coming out of turn four, he talked about the test, he said he probably picked up. a little push and use of the flower to prevent push push the term when the car doesn't want to turn turn that wheel as hard as you can sin, but the car has a mind of its own complete, you go straight and I'm the restrictor plate in racing like this, you don't want to let off the accelerator, you'd rather just hit the brake because if you let off the accelerator with these cars, they don't want to accelerate, so you'll see. guys usually speed up if the cars are driven outside, the guy slides down, sugar comes to the lead, the British Marlins second, Jerry Nadeau is third, then the race from fourth on, the 500 Daytona come close on the five card NBC Lee selected the Daytona 500 ken schrader Sterling Marlin Jerry Nadeau Dale Jarrett and John Andretti, but the real story is the eight Dale Earnhardt jr.

He said that his chapter was over, this is incredible, Jr. You've started at the back, now he's in 13th place and you watch as he drives past Robby Gordon in a beat-up race car. Martha, what do they say in the fifth well? Benny, there was no damage to the suspension in the accident, they hit their foot on the front piece. the nose is that bad, we've seen some strange things at the Daytona 500. I think this would maybe be the strangest thing if he manages to somehow make us run after someone with that bodily damage is one thing, but if he came through it would be all the pressure on this, I'm not going to say anything, I'll tell you what's hard to believe, I don't know, I mean, yeah, I hope the tapes are still stuck because they basically have that nose taped there, Earnhardt jr.

Tenth right now behind Jeff Gordon and that time, as we listen to Jeff Gordon's car coming out of turn four, we don't hear that as we ease off the throttle, we make our unique wireless pit call to find out some updates on the drivers after the last series of pits. the stops start with Bill Weber, okay Allen, let's start with the impressive Ken Schrader, who is not only strong on the track, but also boring new company with a fourteen point nine and five second pit stop, now he is a crusher with four new tires, no chassis adjustment, the car no. very fast lap times great race for Ken Schrader in 44th place bill matt kenseth started in 40th position and worked his way through the field then pitted in 14th place and changed just two tires on the right side to fix a condition tight and made up a little more time, he was the leader on the restart, now he's back in 8th place and his Ford is running pretty well, maybe it's Marty's three quarter five inch spoiler they've had, like the impressive careeryoung Ryan Newman, started 23rd, made his way through the field entered pits 12th in fourth place, he's running about sixth right now he's in the middle of it to open up at the back the car was a little tight they had two pounds of pressure in the right rear tire which should loosen the car the way it wants, has a very fast car today - Matt Marty early misfortune for outside pole winner Kevin Harvick after contact up here on Mike Skinner's 4 car , had to make three more visits for Kevin Hamlin his crew chief and his new treads are working properly on the damaged right front fender, we spoke to Kevin to see Kevin, how is that fender now as the car has bolts , as it was before the service cars were strong a week, we simply chose our holes. a little please and coming out of the pits was half my fault I guess I was trying to get it out I didn't realize the power four would go down there you know I'm on the way to go we should be fine these cars have a lot aerodynamic sense.

If you restarted in a 30-6 position, you are slowly making your way back to the front. Nice job repairing the right front of that fender and look it doesn't look like it has any damage so I'll have to see if this affects it at all Hey hey buddy you know this is validation for all of us who fix cars with tape adhesive. Yeah, I once put a hole in the crankcase of my '57 Buick and pulled over to the side of the road and then. I recorded the still so I was 2 years old and it would still have oil, so I think it will go all the way.

It's real to you out there. It's a real emotion, very exciting. I was able to go down a month ago and do some laps. a hundred laps and that was really exciting, so you know, just going 55 or 60 is a little disappointing, but it was one of the greatest feeling moments alone, something we all talked about during the last commercial, it could be related with Dale Earnhardt. jr. problem on the track we are noticing a lot of stuff, papers and things flying around, just amazed, there is a lot of paper and I saw a couple of those plastic water bottles on the track, which surprised me.

I figured they just passed by and swept all that stuff away Johnny Benson tries to make a move on Mark Martin for 17th place have a great day here thanks guys we'll see you a little later Jay Leno was NBC's host here at the 500 Daytona Ken Schrader is the leader, we simply are After 100 miles of the 44th Daytona 500, you're watching NASCAR on NBC Dale Earnhardt jr. I wasn't making the kind of progress I was making before that quick climb through the countryside stopped and I was backing off maybe because I said there's definitely no downforce on that car like we talked about before it's a day before the tire blew up. .

You can get away with it a little bit when you're on new tires, that's where it can hurt a little when it comes to that on lap 21, if you're just joining us, a piece of debris came loose or came out from under the driver's car. Michael Waltrip when Dale Jr. led them. ran second jr. He ran over it with the right front tire and went to the pits to repair all the damage. See Dale Earnhardt Jr. very, very high, go inside, see what kind of miles per hour you could be getting. Go ahead, BP had to slow down.

There the car picked up that push down the frontstretch 186 as he approached backup Matt Kenseth 187 188. 189 miles per hour with a beat up race card, but I think you're right, it does have a push because I could hear him pull the throttle and Carlo right on the wall at the red dot on the right side of the screen. shows you where on the track the driver we're following is, come on, Matt Kenseth said, come on, junior, hit me, hit me, let's push me, that eight car is going to run in a straight line, isn't it when it gets to the In a corner like that, you had to back off the accelerator given in the corner.

The PCs slide through that hole Dale Earnhardt Jr. losing another spot, well actually, Jarret was into it, so he just stood in front of them and they held positions, checked on the family of Coca-Cola drivers and saw where they were running within the total of 500, right after of 100 miles dispersed in the middle of the field. Of them, Michael Waltrip was the leader in the first part of the race, he led 50 miles of this, he is now back in 24th place, Stewart exited the race with engine failure in the laps and Tony said that his teammate team, Bobby Labonte, had exactly the same problem in testing.

I think in eight laps something happened to his car something that burned out the engine Bobby Labonte is having a tough day right now of course I remember earlier his teammate Tony Stewart had engine problems and now Montclair is turning to an engine builder for Joe Bobby radioed in just a little while ago he had a slight vibration and he slowed down even more, but it seems to be gone, it seems to be gone, it seems to be gone, he got in trouble here on pit road because Shauna he blocked it. Robinson, who had lost his pinkie, so it's been a long day so far for Bobby Labonte, Marty, well, Dave, let me show you the progress on Dale Earnhardt jr. pit they're rebuilding an entire front end and a right front fender here what they're going to do next time they come down to the pits is they're going to take us to bolt guns and attach this to the race car with rivets and screws, but that tape won't last long , the whole team is here, they've rebuilt their piece, it goes pretty far back, almost to where the pole would be on a race car or where the front on the front door is a pretty big piece.

They're going to try to put him in a junior car. They say it's in the top 20 without a front fender. Imagine what you can do if you won. It has been impressive. That is certainly very, very impressive. I take my hat off to Jr. and the entire Dale Jr. team. running 10th right now, that's Warburton right behind him, he's 11th in front, he can still Schrader, there's a gap between 1st and 10th, he's got a Pontiac or dodges the Chevrolet and a Ford in the top four places, maybe not for long, Ryan Newman. and Rusty Wallace, Penske's teammates teaming up in their Fords outside, the blue and white cars.

Sterling Mullen and the 40 car moved forward and found those guys, so they decided to go with Sterling, try to outrun the 25 privateers they do and stuff. It looks like they may happen to Jeff Gordon crawling under the pictures of the ladies, so while they fight for the second knowledge, Schrader continues to hold the Daytona 500, you are watching NASCAR leads the Daytona 500 over Jerry Nadeau and Sterling Marlin Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace UPS delivery today Schrader has been out front longer than anyone Matt Kenseth leading four laps mostly under caution after the only yellow of the day so far Bill Weber Paul Allen Ken Schrader continues to lead the parade around Daytona International Speedway and a characteristic of the traitor who loved half trapped in a racing car, so normally very talkative, today not a good car, quiet driver, just a little tight.

I don't think there's much of a human traitor right now because Bill has a chance to win the Daytona 500, it's all business inside that 36. car, you know, we've talked about new and old school drivers. Ken Schrader knows that many people don't believe he can make it at 46 years old. He feels very capable of winning every time he gets in the race car. And he would like nothing more than to prove that to the world by winning this race because of his jovial career, people outside the race car don't think they are taken seriously, which also helps the car here, this gives it a little more charge aerodynamics. the front opening is a big plus if you can get your way, the less you touch the nose of the car the basically the faster it will go, talking about old school 45 year old Rusty Wallace running in 5th now on his 20th try in Daytona. 500 says that this year he would like it to be his turn to win it.

I think I deserve it. I think the team deserves it and I think you know Dale wants it almost twenty times before he gets it in his entire life. I feel that we are a worthy candidate and there is no doubt about it Rusty Wallace has been the bait, he has been on his sheet at Daytona, he has been on his roof at Talladega, they burned him and Betty have a lot of confidence down here. Now, in the two pits that I just talked to, Billy will burn his crew chief, new crew chief this year, and he told me that they anticipated the track would be a little loose today, so they left it too much and kept it practically.

The same way it was and the car is getting better and better, it's working with Ryan Newman, the rookie, to try to crawl to the front and stay out front and it's working well so far, just after the 150 mile mark of the Harvick Daytona 500. has recovered from some early damage and is also running in the top ten Ken Schrader leads the forty-fourth running of the Daytona 500 leading a draft of seven Carly Schrader Jerry Nadeau Sterling Marlin Ryan Newman Rusty Wallace Kevin Harvick and the Labonte corps now rounding out that thin group not just a moment ago we heard that the body was worried about his car.

Dave thinks he seems to be doing a lot better now that he's running a lot better, in fact the vibration is gone, he's a little tight coming out of the turn into the Jimmy made his whole pinky tell him that maybe he just got in a little bit of air. dirty, maybe he felt like his car was really out of place, they don't think it's what they think they might have, but it's not the same problem he and teammate Tony Stewart. I'm back in front You know these guys keep talking about Pushed You're tired of whatever Once again we have an illustration to show you exactly what we're talking about Let's get in our race cars We get off at the corner where the Green Line is the preferred line now comes in and look what the drivers go through, he turns the wheel and looks how much everyone turns it, but the car doesn't turn, you see when it comes out of the corner, we're going to drift down the race track, that's a bit of a stretch, but that's what we're talking about, tight, I don't know if that's an exaggeration, they're not close to BP, that's right, so when you say tight, you're not just talking about what it's like when it's time to pick up dinner. check exactly that his wallet is closed, loud beep for you, yes, all the time, EP, we have a chat, Jerry, my pillow, the night, the team car drives for Ray Evernham this year, live, on our pole -sitter, jimmie johnson, they are back in seventh position, matt kenseth 17. black and gold car at the end of the track he was leading when we came back on the restart which was on lap 27 he is falling in the field 28th place in this moment see Jeff Green and Pao Petty in the forty-five cube car that goes by Jeff Green What about the 48 car bill?

What happens to a pole winner? Call most of the kids here today have been in or out of school. This twenty-six year old boy goes to school today. He has learned some lessons on the track when it comes to driving. of the race car still a little tight I talked to Chad Canal he said it was tight and then they tried to loosen it a little it was tight and getting tighter so now they will try to loosen the 48 car when Rookie Jimmie Johnson pits at a 15. I feel that those peaks are going to be important.

You know, it looks like these pit lane boxes are huge, but when you have 40 cars coming at the same time and you're dodging the guys changing tires and stuff like that, these pits are tight and you have to be very careful going in, especially to not to hit a tire or a rental car and we say the caution flag and all these guys made a pit stop. I see a bunch of cars in the pits on the green flag at the same time, let's also go down to the pits and Matt Yocum, if there is any, just to add more.

I went to the wallet and was commenting on pit road at the beginning of the race tonight, he sent a car, the guys slid. Right across his pit and what was number 70 17, who had the first option to move, moved there if Tony was still there and gave him bad news for team 20. Luckily, there was no car there, but anything can happen down here in that well. The road is a dangerous place, there's no doubt about it and nothing gets these cars down to the slow speed you need for pit lane speed. It's very, very difficult, these cars are hard to slow down from 190 miles per hour and there won't be any fewer pit stops coming soon. so let's take a break, we'll be back for pit lane visits.

Ken Schrader drives to the Daytona 500. The 44th Daytona 500 was run on a glorious Florida afternoon before more than 170,000 fans were talking about pit road being a dangerous place. the safety innovations NASCAR has made since the end of last season require everyone who goes over the wall on pit road to wear a helmet, the fire suit, that's a great idea, see the Goodrich crew and this is why this was at Homestead last year. Ward Burton beginscoming out of the pits, makes contact with Casey Atwood and passes Ricky Rudd, then hits three guys and Adrian, all three look at John Bryan Bobby Burrell, but luckily all three are back in the track pit on that 28th. car this week we have helmets on for the green flag pit stops, everyone was last on pit road under yellow on lap 23, about 55 laps on fuel, so we should see the leaders come into the Next four or five laps in the white car, there is the Canal.

Robinson, the leaders just passed her, she lapped Stacy Compton and in this traffic she was going through, the body probably took advantage, she just moved up to fourth place in the round, Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace the last Maybe, how about that, but they hung it? behind Stacy Compton in car 14, mentioned Mike Wallace was in the pits a while ago, they changed the battery in car 33 and he came back out but he is five laps behind leader Mike Skinner running on seven cylinders, he is now two laps behind . Down in 40th, he looks to Ken Schrader to pick next time his car is a little loose when he's out front.

I spoke with the rookie or with his team leader. I told him the longer he rides those tires, they're going to loosen up a little bit. There goes, no, when he was in traffic, he was great. Ken Schrader should pick the next time he gets here he will have a big advantage. He should have buried some traffic on pit road, let's see who's following them and we see him waving to give them a ride. Do it and that is a sign. I'll make a pit stop next time. Bye bye. Will they follow you? How is a car tuned for that?

If you are in front, you are loose and if you are Catholic, it is tight. What are you doing? New total to stay in front and no one is coming with him. His teammate Johnny Benson will come after him. Schrader has to slow down. Where that orange cone is at the top left is where the pit road speed limit begins. They have to be. at 55 by then Dave Johnny Benson's car has been tight all day and is still tight, they are going to do a chassis tune up to try to fix that condition, four tires for Benson to Bill, now this will be a four tire stop in fuel and they We're going to make a slight air pressure adjustment to account for him being in front.

Remember it's a little loose, that means the back of the car once you get away from it in the corners, the tire comes back out. Can he get a draft? his partner Johnny Benson is with him now Jerry Nadeau the black car on the left is the lowest leader Robinson is in the white car on the right one lap down but Sterling Marlin she is passing the leaders with pumping help Sterling Marlin and Marlin takes the lead here comes Ryan Newman Rusty Wallace in the pits Dave came in but it was too soon Ryan could run about five laps more than Rusty with fuel.

He had no choice but to go in and see if anyone could come in with him. He is alone. Pit road will not have Editorial partner, when he comes back out four tires full of fuel wedge adjustment, he still had the nose tighter than they wanted, boy, that's going to be tough for us, especially if this group does it catches when he's alone, they'll just overlook him now. It is important to Schrader and Wallace that the race stays green until everyone else has made their pit stop. If the yellow flag comes out, now they will be trapped behind, now the group is coming and they are running and they are running fast and they see.

Rusty Wallace and here comes Kenny Schrader, the yellow car, they can race together and they stayed through all of this. The merchants ran much faster than breakfast. Rusty and the package done and on eBay, where Twitter will be fine, but I still don't know about Rusty. not to mention John Andretti Terry the body Jimmy Johnson Jeff Green making green flag pit stops as they watch the leaders and here comes Jerry Nadeau car number 25 he's on the inside I've never decided to go with them they do and here comes Jeff in that picture we now went to a new rustic country and I am impressed with Shana Robinson in that 49 car that we saw the leaders pass by.

I put a lap down, guess what Jiri passed them Jeremy Mayfield Casey Atwood, we're on pit road right now, so is Geoffrey Bodine Marty. Jeremy Mayfield is him and they've been battling a guy problem for most of the day guys they haven't been that good we thought they'd take the fender out on the left front a bit and change four tires for the Dodge team skaars They sneak into the picture of where she came from and she has to stay in front of these guys. BP Kasich starts yellow, she'll be a lap down, so Shana looks like she's out of gas in the 49-car rookie team. a costly mistake that will surely cost a few laps, but now that everyone else, these cars should see that and start making it to the pits soon, she will make it, even if he calls it and will stay out, or make it to the pit lane, there come on.

Robby Gordon Kyle Petty and Ricky Craven exit the pits as Jerry Nadeau Jeff Gordon Ryan Newman and many others enter Harvick is in Ward Burton Michael Waltrip Ricky Rudd StacyCompton Kenny Wallace and let's go to Bill Weber and Jerry Nadeau is in the pits. He worked with the 24 that his teammate Jeff Gordon put together to make sure they each had a partner. Nadeau is delighted with the performance of his car. Jeff Gordon is in the pits. The road is a little tight but they don't do a chassis adjustment. Both cars consume four times more fuel. They want to make similar stops.

Come out together and try to bring Hendrick Motorsports to the front of the field. The party is tight when he is there. behind other cars, Bill, but he's free when he's out, he races these guys and they'll beat all those guys on pit road. Dave Marcus, if he ran out of fuel, I think so and could get a warning. Shawna Robinson has done it. Back to pit road, but we'll keep an eye on Dave Marcus, here's Dale Earnhardt jr. and Marty and Alan won't put the front nose on, people who were under green flag conditions, said it has very, very bad thrust, they're going to change four tires, they're also going to do a shim adjustment, they really wanted to put that piece of the nose on because that will make the car better aerodynamically, they are going to put as much tape as they work together on what is already on the right front of the race car in hopes that it will hold and when they get a warning. we go back to the right time to make sure it decreases.

Some leaders who have not been detained are now entering. Dave Shawna Robinson has already removed the car that they were putting fuel in to prime the carburetor. She tried to get him out. They will do it. push it while Bobby Labonte is in his car, it was a little loose, they're going to take a pound of air pressure out of the left rear tire that they're switching to and try to send it back out of here, the two right-side tires are on the two left sides and they are being put on now if the body has gone crazy.

Sterling Marlin is in, as is Dale Jarrett's 88, they made a chassis adjustment on the 40 that he's been struggling with all day. He goes to turn the car, the car continues. I want to go straight and service 88 did too. The caution is for Dave Marcus to start car 24. There are a couple of cars that haven't made pit stops yet, but most of the ones that were on the lead lap will be fine and those two. The cars that haven't pitted on '97 and '99 aren't in good shape because you know they're almost out of fuel when the safety car picks them up, if they get close to the edge the fuel will leak out of the truck. and they could run out of gas at the caution flag Jeff Burton is the leader, he and Kurt Busch haven't made those pit stops yet and now the interesting part is choosing the right leader with the safety car and gathering the field to find out where everyone is on the right lap, it's always one of those things when you put out a yellow flag in the middle of a green flag stop.

There you see the Kenny Schrader safety car and all those guys who had made their pit stops slowed down because the evaluator thought he was. the leader, but the pace at which the leaders got straightest was in turn three waiting for the safety car to catch up, so they have to go all the way around and catch the safety car Schrader and the others do it. It'll be a minute before they have a chance to come back, but after we've stopped below the green, we should only see a couple of guys. I go Rody, unless Dale Jr. decides to come in and put that nose piece on his car, yeah now is the time to do it, they have plenty of time to do it so I think you're right, we'll see how it happens and you saw all four cars fall. on the race track apron it looks like it was out of fuel, I saw it wide on the car from one side to the other, you see the 97 on the 31 degree bank, the fuel is leaking out of the truck, but it looks like these guys are going to be ok, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Mike Skinner and Skinner have run out of gas, we see him get out of the car back and forth trying to splash and get gas into the truck, they come to pit road, let's see how many of the others who just stopped below the green come here.

Plus, Ken Schrader returns with Matt Allen. Kurt Busch is on duty and Therma is going to work on the front. His car is tuned. You can see the team member doing a chassis adjustment. They also made an air pressure adjustment on the right rear tire. a four tire change for Busch to Marty Jeff Burton is here, his car is extremely tight but he was pretty fast today, it took a long time on the right rear because they are putting rubber on it the right way, which should loosen it up without embargo. the penetrator was here just fuel Jeff Gordon is back on pit road jool just the 43 on pit road just fuel a lot of guys looking at different options here some guys stopping for fuel some guys the rest of the way the guys who had stopped early as Schrader and company were worried about not being able to refuel Marty and Dale Earnhardt jr. putting on the fender we talked about, this is a very tedious process, they are also using riveters and screw guns, they are putting it on and trying to secure it as best they can so it stays on for the rest of the run they have done is very uneven , they believe they will be even better with this more important permanent solution and this is incredible.

They have a couple of minutes because it takes that long to make a quick lap around this two and a half mile behemoth. track we are under caution for the Daytona 500, the second caution for the Daytona 500 gives this massive crowd a chance to stretch their legs and chat with each other during the rare quiet moment, listen to Dale Earnhardt jr . telling his team hey pass the safety cars we gotta get back on the track we'll be back in a minute NASCAR on NBC with a 44th Daytona 500 about to return under the green flag 35 cars on the lead lap Bobby Labonte now is the leader did not return to the pits towards the yellow Mark Martin is second Sterling Marlin Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler complete the first five cars inside the leader is Ricky Craven was trapped a lap down by that yellow flag flag on board with the board Elliott Sadler's engine approaches the rear bumper I'm Dale Jarrett trying to push Jarrett to the front trying for the lead here comes Mark Martin and Sterling Marlin make it 3-1 and Bobby the link is where he doesn't want to be in the middle, the leader last time will have to beat right now and there's nothing you can do about it when you're in that situation, those lines are moving towards you, you might be in line. saying okay at a faster pace, suddenly these guys start splitting up here behind you and put you in the middle, well Ashley it was night, that time Marla needs Jared, he's up, the second Elliott Sadler, the third dog sport, and Mark Martin and Matt Kenseth.

Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman, Ricky Rudd, they all drive Fords, so apparently the awesome shrinking spoiler has done its job, it's made for their big markets. His car caused that last yellow flag when it stopped on the track. Stacy's captain AJ Foyt's cars push behind the wall and Stacy Compton enters. the number 14 car broke gear when making its pit stop when it released the clutch to return to the track the rear gear bill that happened three times in last year's Daytona 500 might be something to think about when these guys start doing well We stopped in the pits to try to get a track position late and Dave Marcus' car was just reported out of the race, we hope to follow up and hear from him as his career as a driver for the NASCAR Winston Cup is now one of the changes today, I think more than we expected until now 14 michael waltrip last year in the Daytona 500 trying to come back and see sighs Jeremy Mayfield, that's 11 12 K running for Elliott Sadler , beingdragged back a bit by Matt Kenseth to third place Rusty Wallace in that Off the lane, the two cars later saw the par 70 there, almost got stuck in the middle, but used that locking mirror we were talking about, BP , and he put up a blog about that Ricky, but he was right there and saw Rick, he was having a run and turned the car to the left on the block Ricky Mark Martin looking ahead at Kevin Harvick remember Harvick had the right front fender repaired after some road damage see Michael Waltrip that's Mike Wallace the 33 cars Allen toe changed him batter in that car and He's about five laps down.

It's been a strange day here at Daytona, but this one may take the cake. Jeff Burton said he felt something rolling on the floor of his race car. This was part of the time I was stepping on the accelerator. The time I was under the brake part of the time it was under his foot, they had to lower the window netting, make two stops to find out what it was, it was a roll of duct tape now up to Dale Earnhardt Jr. He says they have another nose on the car, about 50 pop rivets on about 20 screws, a lot of bloody fingers down here, but Tony Eury Jr.

They told me that now they will have a better chance of winning this race, jr. They asked me if I have two noses on the car Tony Jr. I said yes, we have two noses, maybe well Marty, it's been an incredible day for Ricky Rudd and his team during the first round of flag pit stops. caution. Rudd was bleeding on pit road and had a tire with the left front end of that front air dam. significant damage hit it, they had to hammer it again, then put a sheet of metal under it and put duct tape on the front, the rut worked its way back to the front.

I just talked to Mike McSwain, his crew chief, they said the cars were fine. You have a chance, let's go further down pit road today to talk to your team, there's a little button on your steering wheel that you press, they called you, keying in the microphone, there's a microphone inside your helmet, then you talk to your team, Well, Rusty has been doing it. that, but the microphone has been hung open, it stays open and is very rusty, suddenly they can't even talk to the car anymore, they can't communicate with it now, they don't think it's a problem between their main radio and their backup radio , they believe. the switch on this is faulty they hope they can do something about it they get a long warning we have two radios in the cars and the door something happened during a yellow light we can change the radio but if its in that wiring harness in the LBP stereo.

That can't be anything they can do now, Rusty can talk to the real one if the microphone is on, he can talk to the crew, but unfortunately they can't talk to him and tell him when to pit, ask him what the cars are. doing and as Bill Weber said earlier, this last series of pit stops set us up on pit road for the rest of the race and that could be a big problem for Wallace's chances of winning. Jr Flying didn't hit anything, but it has no brakes. He said Wow, no wonder he was flying across the grass.

Caution is out of the wreckage of Dale Earnhardt Jr. scar between turn four and the entrance to pit road the cars are going to pass by there right now I see it there on the left it should be the drivers on the right left the other one on the right I knew what I was thinking from the driver's perspective driver there is debris and we can see that we saw with Dylan, our junior, before, what a small piece of debris can do. Look at it, it's just like he knows the right rear is flat, he decides to go down to the pits and said, wow, I don't have brakes. on eights you don't hit the grass at high speed and you don't go sideways and on top of that I don't think that's what he was saying, what a job, although it goes down the grass, all cooperation at about 150 miles an hour, probably second best place for the rear tire to blow out, at least you can keep the car straight if that happened in the corner, I would have asked for even more than what he asked for on that difficult day for Dale jr. lap 21 I cut the right front tire running in second who did all the work preparing all that front bodywork and now it's the actual moment they slowed down and you see I'm coming down to the pits in first gear and listening to the 55 miles. per hour let's listen to this pit stop and the problem here, Benny, is that you know they have a lot of damage, they're going to have to rebuild the right rear quarter panel here and what they're probably going to have to do is take it.

Back in the garage, that's where the crash cart is. They're out of parts here in the pit stall. They're as far from the garage as you can get because they're in pit number one here on pit road and the garage is about a half mile away, so they have a lot of damage to fix. This will take a long time. I think they no longer have a chance of winning the race that Dave Rusty Wallace has. got four tires, removed a tear from the window, but that requires an extra person. NASCAR said not until lap 100. Bill Jerry Nadeau is on pit road.

They will put tires on the right side. They will jump out of the fuel. There was a major discussion between several teams. We stop if the guy who passed first decided to stay out and the others came in, it's a big game of cat and mouse as they make their way around Jimmie Johnson in pit row with Benson behind them. I feel thanks to those who stayed. race track Sterling Marlin Ricky Rudd Mark Martin Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth It looks like everyone else has gone down to the pits, so we're following Marlin's strategy and the ruts by staying on the track here when we return to the Daytona 500 on NBC.

It's been a tough day for Daytona 500 favorite Tony Stewart due to early engine failure Dale Earnhardt Jr. cutting a tire on 21 while he was running second, the first of two problems he had today, this was a moment ago on pit road. NASCAR wouldn't let Dale be in our junior car on the track until they showed the official that he had brakes. he backs up, hits the brakes, okay we have brakes, okay, go ahead, that officer was getting out of the car and now junior junior is behind the wall, he goes to the garage area, that's so small, that hot little attitude there , I'm not. go to the garage never follow up and also look to talk to market date soon two four four drivers didn't fit under this warning Sterling Marlin Ricky Rudd Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon I said Matt Kenseth didn't fit before he left the street first pits, let's check in the garage the sentimental favorite today was Dave mark Dave first Did your problems start with overheating? problem yeah when the race started you know we were up front packing up the car was great it drives well it would keep the pace and when I looked at the temp gauge coming down the back it was immediately reading 250 degrees and you can't I do that, I mean, these Shiva Lei motors are tough, but you can't sit for 250 and 260 degrees wrong, so I told the guys I was getting hot and I'd be an hour late to pack up a little bit and I thought maybe that would improve.

A little air in the nose and cooling it or removing the paper didn't happen either, so we continued trying to hold on. I kept pumping the accelerator pump hoping that the fuel sprayed there, including the tops of the pistons, would come off when that precaution arrived, it was a great opportunity for us, I went in, took off the paper, came back out, it fell out , something was wrong, I think we started sewing wrong, but we couldn't get the speed back, thanks for the memories. Dave Dave Marcus, his wonderful racing career is over, he's going down. of 805 Sterling Marlin is the leader next time, bye, he may be halfway through this race.

Brett Burdine sees some damage to the front left side of his car, in fact he might have hit the wall with the front of the car, there might be some. a little damage left for a quarter panel to get a

replay

, see if anyone messed up with it. Cravens is trying to get his lap back here, that 32nd car at the time he's trying to beat Sterling. However, there is no one behind him to help him and Sterling is not giving him a break, which he is not obliged to do. I don't think the fourth yellow flag of the race just accelerated again on the restart and this happened in the corner, it looks like Kenny Wallace gets behind him.

You know, Betty, I saw some smoke from Brett's car before Kenny hit him first, would that be a turning point? Leslie, maybe that was the cause. We will continue in a moment. Now we are under caution again at the Daytona 500 just after the half. point of the Daytona 500 and under caution for the fourth time after Bret Bo Ryan was hit and spun in turn two, Matt Yocum and Alan here at Dale Earnhardt jr. In the garage area used every Speed ​​Week, you can see that the Budweiser team is hard at work preparing the suspension for the Chevrolet Bud.

In fact, junior even took out some tools, was hugging them, hit the fender and then drove off and dropped some off. Other guys get down there like Tony Eury Jr. but it was obviously a big disappointment for this team, they felt like they had a great chance to win this event. Many people chose car 8 to win the Junior. You can see the background talking to Jeff Clark, the engine tutor, he can still put a Smile evilly at this: Marty Matt, it's been a tough day for Jeff Burton on the track and in the pits, Jack's man Brian Perry ran over the car with his foot, it's fine, I talked to him and he said it hurt a lot. be broken, they're not quite sure they brought it into the spotlight of the painting, hey, Marty, what was that?

Again, and the car got hit by his foot, talking about some poor guys with a broken foot, talking about a bad day on pit road, hey. By the way, we asked Dale Earnhardt jr. to come on camera and talk to us Matt Yocum says Dale Earnhardt jr. refused said he wasn't talking right now I think the court was I'm not talking now Napa field summary since we're right halfway through the Daytona 500 we got a pretty good race ten different leaders 14 lead changes Michael Waltrip led much of the race At the beginning, Ken Schrader led a fairly significant portion Sterling Marlin Matt Kenseth Kevin Harvick Jerry Nadeau Bobby Labonte Jeff Burton Kurt Busch and John Andretti others who took two drivers out of the race Tony Stewart, one of the first favorites, he left only two laps with an engine failure Dave Marcus left a few moments ago Sterling Marlin is the leader his second Mark Martin third Jeff Gordon fourth and then Matt Kenseth in fifth followed by Kurt Busch Ryan Newman Robby Gordon Ward Burton and Todd Bodine are in the top ten to get back on the restart lap, the cars to the inside Ricky Cravens Shawna Robinson Robert Pressley the bubbles over the lead lap cars as we get back to racing Preben has trouble accelerating his car and below NASCAR leaves those gathered outside past that start/finish line first Traven started 43rd in the race and had worked his way into the top 15 in the opening laps, but then got stuck a lap down as soon as he stopped a flag, the yellow flag came out right at the end of the queue.

He was unable to get back in front of the leader before the safety car took the field. Dodge Ford Ford Chevrolet in the top 4. First Pontiac. He has his back to the body. Back in 11th place. People are trying to dodge. He drives back there to get run over. I turned two sweets understanding what is happening with Ricky, run while I sit in his hole, they say follow the 40 and that was the plan, they talked about it with the two teams during the yellow flag, they wanted the 28 to stay behind of the 40 and Then try to separate yourself from the rest, Riki runs when they reach speed only to sit on Sterling's bumper and she will follow them and try to separate from the group behind them.

Wasn't it like that? Dale Jarrett was speaking. I'm not sure how their cars would lead the pack, they think the AC has enough to lead the pack and I was thinking three Fords led today but only one when it wasn't in that green flag pit stop exchange and that . it was Matt Kenseth green conditions but not why corona hurts at the back of the club track Rusty Wallace is Robert Pressley lap down in 35th place Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth how about Matt Yocum, one of those salad mats down here in the garage Junior, what have they fixed?

Tony Eury Jr. Tamachi, what was all the damage today? I don't know what caused that, I mean, we don't really have anything that's not normal, but then the second time he went across the grass, something broke in the back and I think it was the right thing to do. The rear tire flowed that time for some strange reason and the first one we cut something that, I don't know, they removed the brake caliper from the housing, it got some kind of strange rule where, against where you don't have brakes, you can. It didn't work well, the car had brakes,I was trying to show the officer but he's a bit stubborn anyway but we'll go back down and get normal points and continue on to Rockingham, hopefully we'll have a better time at Rockingham.

Last year, well, they just bled the brakes and he's getting ready to back the eighth car out of the garage, the reality Matt Dale Earnhardt jr. right now six laps down it's seven now junior has a better time at Rockingham than last year five around the fourth or fifth lap he hit the turn three wall and Rockingham last year Michael Waltrip tries to fight his way back through the traffic. a bunch earlier, Michael in 10th place, ninth, won by pushing Rusty Wallace beyond the gap from Robby Gordon with leader Sterling Marlin for Michael Waltrip, well, we know one thing for sure it won't be a third consecutive Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt jr. one to finish at Daytona and we saw Michael go down and rev R up to 100 million miles per hour going down in turn one and look how fast Kevin Harvick in the 29 car goes down to 180 off the pole trying to push Michael Waltrip -addressed Kevin Harvick Ward Burton in the time of 22 todd baugh in '66 those guys on the highway don't want to be there because they have a lap car in front of them they would like to help me get around that sooner, especially because As soon as they could, they could because they feel that News Elliott Sadler hit my mom's car, didn't get out of turn two well and saw that he lost momentum in the turn and those guys passing by on the outside Dale Earnhardt jr.

A couple of minutes ago he came back from the garage and spoke on the radio with his team and said: Hey guys, he's alive again, let's get back to it, look at this, he was in a hurry. I think his patience ran out today. Do you think he's okay? He comes in wanting to win. The race was so bad and like everyone else, the 43 wanted to win and when something like that happens they get very frustrated. Good race for Michael Waltrip to the inside of Ryan Newman, second place, there Matt Kenseth trying to push Jeff Gordon back. freight train there 6:17 and 97 3 of Jack Roush's cars running together no one lined up that car 24 Jeff Gordon that's no friend in that little deal this is the second time this has happened we started third but couldn't find any friends in the start of the race and that's when he and Johnson fell back, same thing happened again, guys against that wall in turn two, good day for the round so far 4/5 and 24.

Sterling Marlin couples the times a winner of the Daytona 500 did it back Consecutive years 1994 and 95 in 113 of 200 laps, you're watching a ton of 500 on NBC, the 44th Daytona 500 comes live on NBC from Daytona International Speedway approaching 300 miles in the great American career on NBC Sports. .com, you can check out a special subsection that covers in-depth today's race in the new NASCAR season. The bp mailbag is there, it has the hottest topic surrounding today's race and Wally has also been organizing a small wedding. I heard that yes, it's good. Lots of help let us see how they edited you uh that's on NBC sports.com and if you want to watch the

replay

of the Daytona 500 tomorrow at noon on TNT these guys in Singapore are so desperate to get away from the pack. that group and you've got three guys at the head of this field of some of the best beamers out there and Superspeedway, I mean the excellent Ricky Rudd Mark Martin, these guys usually don't make any mistakes and they'll just stay in line.

You're just trying to get away from that group Michael Waltrip tries to get back to the front the defending 500 winner showing in seventh that car 15 is Michael to lift they're not too bad this is pretty good Sean the At the Busch race yesterday, later that same day, a boy, that son, got there by the hands of the immigrants, BP and it was very difficult to see outside of those cars, the problem with this shot, all those cars in front of you, that's what's wrong with this shot . Michael Waltrip will see nothing but the blue sky and the black track and nothing in front of him at this moment Michael Waltrip is in seventh position, the t's have been rising steadily since the restart and again the field begins to arrange itself in single file as we put a few laps with this set of tires, you know, we have seen all day that it is very difficult to overtake the leader.

This Robinson kid was in front of these cars, the pace dropped two or three miles an hour to 181 182 and they still could. It doesn't happen and many think that one reason is because the negative air pressure in the carburetor, you see that the air rises through the car and the Carroll is open where the air enters for the carburetor, but if you get behind the car that air flow comes from another car and the lady. Mitchell: You lose positive air pressure coming in, it goes negative and a lot of horsepower is stolen from you and we haven't seen many passes for the lead, certainly not in the closing laps of this week's racing we'll see some. . today and I think Shawna Robinson thinks the bad guy is the most telling of all and I think we see that at 125 they're going to have to make a plan and gang up on the leader long before just one or two laps before the end they're going to having to do it five or six because it takes a long time to line things up and try to make that pass, they are ganging up on Ricky Rudd at the moment, they have pushed him from second place further back. in the top ten, everything happens behind Sterling Marlin, the leader of the 44th Daytona 500, the next time he crosses the start/finish line will be 300 miles away, the Daytona 500 continues at Daytona International Speedway with Sterling Marlin out front just after the 300. miles Allen Bestwick Wally Dallenbach Benny Parsons here with NBC's first live broadcast of the 500 it's been a pretty exciting race so far BP yes it has been and you see we all got the memo from the great American race blue, white and red very good, very good, well, you I have seen, I think there is more competition, more changes that we expected coming into the race, yes, we did.

I mean, I talked about patience at the beginning, which I think we've seen, a lot of patience has been courtesy later, so to speak, if it's maintained. so towards the end of the race it's going to be a big finish, you have to be that leading group that overtakes the six, seven or eight cars if you want to have a chance to win the leading small group and just Just a moment ago, Dilmer Up Junior , the eighth car was back on the track right in front of Michael Waltrip and it looked like those guys would race to the front, but Junior managed to get by the 17 cars that Kenseth Michael couldn't see.

We're still there side by side, although Michael has the Jeff Gordon lead that looks like they're going to be able to manage, yeah, but look, you see car eight, car eight is still moving hello and I know he's trying to follow him. track, but that won't happen Michael, if you stay ahead of Michael so Michael can resume his draft journey to the third position, we'll take him around the field, get some updates on the teams races and their strategy from here to the end. Marlins crew chief, Marlin trying to get another victory in the Daytona 500, but now with the fuel conservation race, he is also saving the car knowing that there is a lot of racing left in this Daytona 500 today and that meant that Mark Martin is running very well, in fact he was left out at the last opportunity to pit I checked with his crew chief and then Leslie told him why you were left out everything is fine, you can do it in one more stop without comment just one wry smile from Ben Leslie they are doing very well Matt Dave I spoke to the Slugger Labbe MichaelWaltrip's crew chief first said they had an eagle eye tire but he says the car was loosened Michael says the car is very good he felt very comfortable with his number 15 car today ma'am last round of pit stops Matt Kenseth Marquardt came his teammate I came in and they changed just two tires on the right side.

They thought they had fixed the car a little. On Matt's last date, he wasn't bad at all. Matt, back to you and about the 97 guys in the car. I spoke with Sean Parker, Kurt Busch's cheapest car. It says here that Nick is very, very excited about this '97 car, he's getting very anxious, veteran crew chief Jimmy tuned him up, had to calm him down, took two tires at the last stop, no adjustments, well, Matt , everything is going well so far for Jeff Gordon. In fact, it's basically the kind of grace you'd expect to see from a seasoned veteran making his way over to him and making the move.

Then I spoke to his crew chief Robbie Loomis and he said everything is fine, hoping to make it one more stop, that's the story about the 24 behind him Ricky Rudd who was in second place at school and has now moved around 24 rookie is trying to get back to the front 88 slowing down let's go back up bill Dale Jarrett looked like he had lost around 15 Points on the homestretch crossed the start/finish line on the last lap up at 11 right now he's I came back on the 24th. I guess the car got loose and someone got in front of me.

The whole attitude was that she missed the accelerator probably and when that happens she has the last lap speed around 179, all this you took off the accelerator a little bit and it just kills her car with so much force to accelerate back to the speed Matt Kenseth tries with Michael Waltrip for third place and it looks like Michaels got that outside position, who's going to help who's got help ricky rudd behind Kenseth Rusty Wallace behind Waltrip third place moves back a few points in that last exchange watch as Ricky Rudd crouches badly in the middle of simply wanted to radio, has he lost control?

I've lost the drive big time, it's the second time it's happened to him in a few more blocks, he radioed the car, he just cut the track, that's why he stayed behind Sterling Marlin, he got the field started again, Gordon , but now he says he's lost the drive again Kevin Harvick sliding around Matt Kenseth and has help with Jeff Gordon right behind him Rusty Wallace on the outside between the two and Jeff pushes him does his best to get a good party coordinating to the clear Rusty Wallace it's not a good job the guy up here told Kurt Busch that someone was outside of him, he didn't go out there pinning him down, he gets upset about 20 laps from what would be the last stops for kids if the race stays under the green flag in less than 30 of 200 complete laps Sterling Marlin leads tonight NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics continues you will see the presentation of that disputed gold medal in Figure Skating 2 Celaya and Pelletier which is part of the coverage NBC's Winter Olympics should be a big moment tonight at 7:00 ET Sterling mom continues to lead the Daytona 500 close to her first race was in 1976 she didn't get her first win which was a 500 Daytona said that by far the most important thing that happened to him in his racing career was winning the Daytona 500 in second-generation driver from Columbia Tennessee, his father CooCoo Marlin, a Winston Cup competitor for many years. , now his son Steadman began to rise through the NASCAR ranks.

Now you see this for the first time here. I guarantee you these guys are. everyone greeting each other lots of hand signals in a restrictor plate race here it is here there's one I'm here mr. Johnson says he's fine, that means staying in line. He's telling the guy behind them in front of a barrage to just stay in line and wow, wow, if he raises his right hand and waves from left to right, that means something big is happening in front of them. and it's not good if you raise your hand and, like in a stopping motion, your right hand tells the guy behind you, hey, pay attention, something is happening in front, just relax for a minute and there's another stopping motion. the hand that I can't.

I really explain it, but we've seen it a lot on the highways. I think we get immunity for the rich. Anyone will pay attention or look like Johnson making a hand signal. Bobby finally doesn't dodge crazy. Ford Chevrolet had a big loser in these last few laps sliding. In that inside lane we talked about the awesome shrinking spoiler in our pre-race show, the adjustments NASCAR made to try to make the Fords more competitive this week, though hey, again, if they line up in the right spot here about four or five turns. To go, you see, you want to go because I think everyone will stick together.

Airport led today, but most of the time it was up to me through a green flag pit stop exchange or right after a caution flag pit stop and they got it. off pit road we haven't seen a ford under the green come out and take the lead like Mark Martin passing or the Marlins Dodge here we should now be about ten laps away from the final pit stops Bill Weber on pit road ten laps or so until we see what could be some pretty critical stops eh it should be pretty interesting to see what happens down here obviously some guys will trypress it because you don't want to be left with nothing at the back of This next stop, Allen, but it's about ten laps away, like you said, it's also going to be how you set up your car for the end of this race, because that's when there will be more critical problems.

Mike Skinner Shawna Robinson in turn two, yellow flag is out. Oh, that'll make it interesting, won't it? Yeah, oh man, oh man, that completely changes things. Fits into the Daytona 500 caution as Sterling Marlin returns the field to the caution. Okay, that's 138, 62 to go, stop with 61 to go. yeah, the caution shouldn't be too long, everyone moved away from the corner to see Jack Roush's cars, Jack Roush's cars could be in very good shape because car 99 and 97 were the last cars to pit before our pit reporters. I'm sure I can figure out how many laps they ran. Take a look at what happened to put us under caution in turn two.

Looks like I just caught Lucia and Mike Skinner with it again and the problem with these cars on a track like this. If you put the cars very close to each other going over the bank, the car at the bottom gets the air and the spoiler looks right there, she was very close to the four cars. What happens when you're so close to the fender defender? There is no air. in your spoiler, if you're at the bottom and you turn it, unfortunately she took Mike with her, but again both cars drove away and they're back on pit road, we see the work being done to the Shauna Robinson Dodge , look at the right front tire.

It went flat when you hit the brakes and stop these tires from rolling, they are like sandpaper that makes a hole through the tire in the air, there is a lot of asphalt where they live, we have seen that it is difficult to pass through the lead today who leaves first from pit road at these crucial stops Dave marks Martin's car a little tight he slid past his marks they have to push him back this will cost them time they will be right in his fuel window if they fill him with fuel The fuel is a little tight, they will also do a chock and tire pressure adjustment, man, there are no adjustments on Sterling's 40 car, the leader, they feel that Andy Gray tells me that he will be three to four laps of fuel and he is below. left Jeff Gordon just took off had to dodge the 26 it was four tires with no adjustment he was just some kind of tick but they didn't want to reproduce anymore he was tied on those last four tires that went through a lot of cars in the pits today Sterling Marlin won the race from pit lane Burns Rusty Wallace came in and got locked in the pits, they had to push his car back, that cost time, it was a little tight, they adjusted for that, but again it was a costly waste of time. in the pit lane trying to avoid another car The Sterling Marlins team maintained service entered the pit lane first left the pit the first question is: do they have enough fuel to make it to the finish line if we don't get another caution flag with 60 laps to go finale of the Daytona 500?

Good job guys get your man and clean up at Daytona on the field coming to the go signal and I'm surprised no one comes to fill up the gas tank. I don't know if that will make any difference, I don't know. the two laps under the flank of the cars will make some difference in making some of the guys at the back of the field think it's Terry Labonte Jerry Nadeau Joe Nemechek Jeff Ryder coming in to finish off the gas leaders are out Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch's Roush cars ran 61 laps on one tank of fuel before.

Bill Allen, the guys in the back have nothing to lose, as you know, coming in, but here's the deal up front, it's very difficult to pass a lot of these guys. They are willing to risk that there will be another warning or that we will make it or that everyone won't. Some of the Fords seem to think they can do it. Some of the Chevy and county laws are not very sure. Matt Bill, that's the exact same case here in episode 29 with Kevin Harvick. I talked to Kevin Hamlin, the crew chief. I told him: "You're going to go in, get gas and go." He says he would hate to give up the track position. we just have to wait and see what everyone else does, you know, Roush cars historically get the best gas mileage, so they're doing pretty well right now and the only thing that's going to hurt them is if there's another caution flag, because if there's another caution flag, they don't have to stop and put on four new tires because that's a lot, the cars are much better with the newer tires on the car they won, they sanded their pits, well I'm with Bill.

Wilburn, he's Rusty Wallace's crew chief. Now it seems to me that you have been doing about 50 laps on fuel, but you have to do 59. Now, why didn't you complete the fuel consumption? It has become a bit. a little better as the day goes on, we've tried to free up the car a little bit, I think we'll be fine, that's a word from Bill, the way he's got his helmet and fire suit on, he's still going up the wall changing tires for rusty the key word there is destiny just after 300 150 miles Kevin Harvick the second Jeff Gordon his third the fourth of Kurt Busch Elliott Sadler is the fifth sir the top ten is good another Rusty Wallace Michael Watson Ricky Rudd and now Sterling has the laboratory Robert Pressley's car between him, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon, that's going to make the difference, that vitamin everyone lines up and goes 30 to 50 miles eleven different leaders 16 lead changes today the fifth yellow flag of the afternoon here, but here's the agreement with Alan before the yellow flag came out, a lot of guys were looking to do 55 laps, so he did a random poll down here, you really wanted to be within that 55 lap window to make sure you could achieve it.

In fact, I asked the pussies, did you stop? With 55 to go, can you make it? I've got a lot yeah I'm pretty sure I think and now they had to stop before some of these guys went down to the checkers if it stays green yeah yeah that's the big bet if that's the bet. that there are a lot of problems that you are betting on that he won't stay green until the end watch the race Kevin Harvick has has a great we have from Jeff Gordon he goes Robby Loomis Jeff Gordon's crew chief looks to plot his strategy two-time winner in third place and you don't stand a chance when you're in a lap.

I mean basically these guys, you don't exist in their turn down. trader.com sponsors our career movement, we have seen the career movement, yes, I don't think so, I hope, I think it is yet to come. I think it's still to come. The best move we've seen so far, the 40 move, but we think the best is yet to come, it's usually like that in the Daytona 500 Kevin Harvick started second and returned to the field. Matt went back up to the second now and is on the move, but the biggest concern on this 29 Pat Allen Laurence and Kevin Hamlin in Florida of the computer then walked away, came back and looked at it again.

He walked away because he still didn't have the answer they wanted. How much do you think a tenth of a gallon would cost you today? How much do you think 1:10 per gallon would be worth? It might cost you a million dollars three at least three-quarters of a million dollars the winner's share of today's race 1.3 million dollars, but these drivers are not thinking about 1.3 million dollars, they are thinking about winning the Daytona 500 or on conservative fuel, it's hard to preserve some, I mean, rust in this CUDA. You have to keep your foot on the ground and start pressing the accelerator to save fuel.

About 40 guys will pass you. Elliott Sadler returns to fifth place. He did an excellent job today. The Wood Brothers car started 41st. Dave and July last July. Allen, so car 21 is running very, very well. I talked to Pat Trice and his crew chief, they're a one-car team. I said well, who do you think will work with you? because that told me they needed it. He says we hope the boys. who build our engines, those are the Roush cars and they've been running very well, and we also talked about Elliott Sadler finishing third at Pepsi, you know, the acronym is kind of surprising when he came to the checkered flag, he said as he entered the turn three.

He got a rush of adrenaline knowing he was going to finish third at Daytona, he started shaking, just shake it, don't do it in turn three and shook until the checkered flag. Boy, if this place can do it with you, Bill Elliott. I talked a lot about him, six spots for that nine-car, two-time Daytona 500 built with solid wood, solid racing and a 14.5-second pit stop last time he came in 12th and moved to the front with the help of that pit stop was a little tight. adjustment, but the thing here is that the power nine may have a half-turn less fuel, which will hurt going up to the 3/4 mark for the 44th Daytona 500.

Sterling Marlin is out front looking for a third victory in the great American race at Daytona. A massive accident at the waters bend claimed at least 15 cars and sped towards the front of the field. the massacre spread in the corner Matt Kenseth Johnny Benson Ricky rod was in it oh look at that Kenny Wallace John Andretti Casey Atwood is that Jeff Gordon can't see I don't think so I think Jeff Gordon I think Kevin Harvick turned I think Jeff Gordon could have passed under the. I'm not sure if Kenny Wallace's car is on fire, but he quickly gets out of the car.

Todd Bo Ryan's car, just visible to the left of the screen is what made it. through which scene would a scam come out good news, look at his car Oh, at the tracks where they used the restricted engine package Daytona and Talladega all the drivers talk about the big one Harvick is out of his car, they talked about the big one the accident that wipes out a lot of cars just happened 3/4 of the way through the race Jerry Nadeau damaged in he just came back down a pit road there is Bobby Hamilton sees Hans' device being removed from his neck and holding the collar one of two approved and required by NASCAR and that's the second car Hamilton has wrecked this week Bobby Hamilton tells Fargo hey guys of course on fire how about we go put out the sixth yellow flag of the 500 and it was a big one, let's look at what happened now, Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick's car made contact in turn one and there we were talking about throwing the block and that seems to be what happened and the first four or five cars pass and then around the 7th or 8th come out of Bethan where the 43rd and qualified car was the next part to crash and after that there is no place for anyone to go to the right, the track just completely blocks, take another look . them now, that's a little later, but I see Harvick slide up, he caught it, he went up Burt and he went through that Wow and all those gars on the inside and then everything closed and Jeremy Mayfield from the list of those involved in car 19, let's go. take another look here Jeff falls Kevin Harvick is going to put the block is placed on top of Jeff Jeff just didn't give in or if you try if you try to get out he didn't get out in time one of the and I'm not the same as what happened in the qualifying race between Tony Stewart.

Schrader was also trapped. Schrader got a part, though he just watch this and listen, since you're part of the big guy aboard the Jeff Gordon. we get a good look at him, he goes down, he tries to get inside Harvick, Harvick comes out to block, they make contact, ricky rudd, let's get on board with him, this all plays out right in front of Ricky, as Harvick starts to come back through the clue. just running past Ricky following I see smokey slow down Oh bill Weber okay Jeff Gordon is on pit road he missed pit road last time he didn't think it would be open when they told him it was going to be open he was already past the entrance Robby Loomis said: I want you to come in this time, we are going to leave around 15, but I want to remove those tires from there and check the right front, there is no damage to the right front, they are going to change the tires, he said it.

He was struggling with the 97 when Harvick went down, there was nowhere to go and that's what created the accident. So far, 11 cars are on my list of those that were in the accident, so I probably won't include a couple that were damaged and continued away. you know, like someone said, you know, they changed the rules trying to make it safer again. Hopefully everyone is okay, but we still have the big one and all that. Many drivers have said that cars don't cause the ring, their drivers caused the big accidents by making contact absolutely well PPI talked about that before, you know cars are safer, you're right, it's the head and seat restraint systems. neck, we have much safer race cars as far as drivers are concerned, but guys make mistakes that are made in crashes like that, that's what we were talking about give and take, there was too much taking there.

Ken Schrader took his car to the garage. You see the remains of Richard Petty's Dodge that John Andretti drove Bobby Hamilton Chevy and thecleaning continues. Dale Earnhardt Jr. involved in his third incident of the day, was caught in the middle of the large accident that occurred in turns one and two, the cleanup continues in turn one after the 116 large cars, an accident and the inside of the Turn one at Daytona looks like a junkyard, it all started when 24 Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, the May 29 10 seeded RV, is hit from behind by Jeff Gordon when he comes down to block Jeff, they make contact, he crosses the track and then Wonka is pretty and suddenly the race track is blocked off there's no place for anyone to go except to the ring and that's where they go and we talked earlier about the little mirrors the guys were putting on the roll bar on the side left of the car and blocking and how that applies to these rules in this type of racing and you have to do it, I mean that's what you have to do, you have to use those mirrors here, we have Robby Gordon, Geoffrey Bodine in the grass, Ryan Newman slid over there too and that's a spot. what a racing driver doesn't want to go was on the grass, but if they were careful about doing it, let's add a number 17 car to the one that Mike Walt just saw in that view, there are 217 cars in that accident, fortunately all the drivers came out of their cars and they are all good with 46 laps to go in the Daytona 500 under caution at the 44th Daytona 500 after a 17-car crash in turns one and two, here's what Jeff Gordon said after it was over, whether you got it, I mean, we talked about it. blocking and that's exactly what Marty Scott went through when Ricky Rudd had a very good view in the first place Ricky, what was your point of view?

What did you see happening in front of you and how much blockage is there? I couldn't really tell what that morning we were up front there and had gone into that last pit stop. I had a little communication problem, I couldn't find a pitch like I needed so we went back, there were like ten of us and I couldn't see what happened that someone had turned sideways, hit the fans, they went back down, I drove to the bottom trying to dodge him and he hit me on the right rear panel, turned me headfirst into the fence and it was pretty much over after that, I really couldn't. tell what happened, it's pretty wild out there, pretty typical restrictor plate kicking up a lot of blocks and going on, oh yeah, too much.

Dave Burns has Kenny Wallace and Kenny Wallace came out of the frame and said are you okay, yeah, I'm okay, you know? First of all, just one thing, Pennzoil knows, but I guess everyone wants to know what the hell happened. Yes please, he had a big accident and you know it's Daytona and Talladega. You know, the same thing happened fifty laps ago last year. We were all going for it. I'm shooting three wide. I guess Harvick and Gordon got together. Did you see the fire in your car? Oh, yeah, I mean, you know I was going down hoping I couldn't catch Harvick, but I crashed and I was bursting into flames.

Tell my wife it was a fairy accident, it's a bad deal, I know, but what are you doing, don't you calm down, she laughs and he says, the first big accident she has ever had in her life. I'm not happy that he's trying to cheer me up, but I think the only injury I had was to my helmet just pulling the plug, there are more famous drivers behind me, some of them recover and that will be Kevin Harvick walking here in just a second, thanks Kenny, we're glad he's okay and We'll have Harvick when we get back, Allen, okay, Dave got the contenders' standings, so considerably because of that accident, there are now only 18 cars on the lead lap here at Daytona , we've caught up with Kevin Harvick, who was ahead of Gordon when it all started and it looked like Kevin was trying to hold his position.

Which happened well, I mean, there were 50 laps left in the Daytona 500 and everyone was trying to fight for everything they had gotten and I thought there was enough room and I should have done it. I just went down and caught the nose of Gordon's car, but after that day all hell broke loose, you hit the wall hard going backwards, are you okay? Yeah I'm fine, that was the least of the leaks, I think there were four or five more after that, so you know I hate this for this Goodwrench team. I mean, we had a chance to win the Daytona 500 and you know we got a lot of crap, what would you do next time?

Same thing, did you get a clear call for your spotter to come down, no, I mean, obviously, I don't know if it was all happening that fast, but it wasn't clear, there was nothing, it just, you know, it was just back and forth. and there were many things. happened, so I looked in the mirror and thought there was enough room and he couldn't hit me too far, almost on the edge, it's just racially closed at the end, your dad Jets, well, right now I want to pinch his neck, okay? ? By watching the tape, you will get a definitive answer when you see the Allen Green tape with one hundred miles to go when they reach the start/finish line.

Now we have a black Ricky Craven car between Sterling Marlin and Kurt Busch. and Busch trying to do it and I think Elliot is off the 21:9 car bill only. I think all those guys are going to go with me and leave Kraven behind him. Six of the leaders did not stop at that precaution. Sterling Mary Kate Bush Elliott Sadler Bill Elliott Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin didn't pit the other day in that woods. These guys felt like they couldn't afford to give up that track position. We've seen it all day. It is very difficult to pass some leaders who throw mud.

It feels like that. these caution flags give them enough fuel to finish the race Elliott Sadler trying to get a push from Bill Elliott in third and not many guys have gone past drilling today many cars involved in that big accident here is the list which is the first part of the list There are more Bobby Labonte doing repairs behind the wall. 18 cars now damaged on that record. Michael Waltrip trying to come back. He's in fifth place, fourth, so Michaels starts to rumble again. I haven't seen him at the front in a long time without competing.

Anyway, for this, look at Jeff Greene, they're in the number 30 car in seventh position, I haven't seen him in two months, baby, here he is, we only have a chance to win the Daytona 500. Here comes Michael inside Robert Pressley. Michael read from the turn. four until lap 23 hasn't had the sense of approach, it's not there yet either, but it certainly looks like it's rolling to the right Elliott Sadler to block the lap, cars mixed up there now the cream in the corners Elliott passes Ricky Craven for always out. Kurt Busch with a look under Sterling Marlin, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas, he's going to lead that 500 tone down the line, yeah, right, right, right, then he just says while talking about Kurt Busch and then there's no patience as we speak.

There's a guy who has a nice race car and you can see in the last two laps he kept looking down and Elliott Sadler was with him. Matt Yocum, well, if you remember, after the season finale in Hampshire, he was the biggest shock of the offseason. was owner Jack Roush decided to sell the teams in the six in '97 better than Jimmy Finnick came to become Kurt Busch's crew chief told me his most important agenda for this year in the first penis pain on that huge day 31 in the college guys he got into last year, he's also trying to keep him as a father, although Mark Martin didn't want this car that wasn't finished when Jimmy was going on 97, so Jimmy brought it with him and says it has some things there.

He was trying it this year, it's new and they hope to make that debut and they want to take it to Victory Lane. Remember this 97 team never wanted to go to Grace. We talked at the top of our pre-race broadcast. show and a couple more times during the day youth versus experience innovating the night of the 7th and his second start in the 500 Elliott Sadler in the 21st in his third shibi his poor in the defending 500 winner Michael Waltrip is working on him Waltrip coil and Weavin got his nose out and what he talked about at the beginning of the show about give and take and they would give and take early right now there's no giveaway it's tight these guys are trying to get everything they can because they have to be in the book to be in position to win this race you have to be that cop five four or five cars when it comes to the end of this race that's where everyone is trying to be right now born in the middle three- wide open trying to back to the front Jeff Burton there with his 99 car here comes Mark Martin in the six Robby Gordon the black and orange car almost tight in 4d Dale Jarrett three times he's moving late now this I think this is where the experienced guys hook up guys like Jeff Gordon and Jarrett Mark Martin are used to racing each other.

I think they'll start fighting each other, each other, and give the other guys a lineup. Oh the bump goes up and hits the back of the thirty cars you have if you want to do that when the cars are going in a straight line you can't afford it look at this racing dog patience went out the window it can't happen a lot of things in the past Dale Jarrett clearly 2/ 3 Kurt Busch rolls up to try to break the draft on Michael Waltrip Michael with Jarrett's push I think the curtains are ready to move because I think wherever Michael goes, Gail Jarrett will go with the bushes that are They are installing, you said it.

A minute ago, Wally, the older guys are going to work together, with many years of experience at this track, lining up behind Kurt Busch in his second Daytona 500 and you know Jeff Gordon is going to go where Michael goes. Dale Jarrett says that He wants to pass on that Kurt Busch car and he also wants to keep the Chevy, that's something they've been talking about on the radio. Gordon definitely wants the Chevys to try to hook up Michael Waltrip in a Chevy. Gordon and then behind them Jeff looks like Michaels preparing Kurt Busch here comes Elliott Sadler going to push Jeff Gordon Dale Jarrett being dragged back and Jared Samantha how did this happen that wasn't part of the equation Mark Martin running fifth his mark here he comes Sterling Marlin, he's trying to get Jarrett to push him from Jeff Green Spots for that multiple PP, but just like you say it's hard to pass, I thought he had his nose under the 97 car and he couldn't make it.

Rusty Wallace squeezing a rusty Robby Gordon. Be careful now we fell on him when he bought one out of curve one that was Jeff Gordon's radio said they are racing with luggage the last position on the track of life is everything it may be the last lap that can get to the front now Kurt Busch won't be stopped at that caution Michael Waltrip has newer tires, a big difference. I always say that tires make a difference. Students, as warm as they are today, are all your friends who will make the biggest difference in this deal you withdraw if they follow the big traffic. getting stuck in turn four looks like you can go from second to third if the lead is so hard to come by mine Michael is trying everything he can here comes Jericho contacts Jeff Green climbs almost crashes into the wall on the homestretch that it's a stupid place to qualify in the middle of a good threat saved by Jeff Green Jimmy Johnson, the pole winner still on the team's leading lap 12 Geoffrey boat in the 0-9 car just behind Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson gets loose o what Johnson hits Jeff Green him on the grass, I think he dropped a tire there, if he didn't, he keeps him away from the rising wall, the left rear tire warns and since the critical decision in the hands of The team leaders disappear, no one is going to give in.

Track position now no one, a few cars back not on the lead lap trying to make their way to the start/finish line we're going under the yellow flag once again here for Jimmy Moore so I thought it was the air, yeah, because to the Flap of the left rear tires, yes, you can look here. I was looking from here, right there at the bottom. You see his car starting to go a little sideways, it was losing the left rear tire and right around here it really went, that's probably where I fell. down on the interior trim and it's Jeff Green that does a tremendous job saving that car, yeah.

Oh Johnson climbs in and turns Jeff Green's car to the side and somehow Jeff Green keeps it under control. Nice save by Jeff, it was his second save on a right turn, yeah, on board with Jimmie Johnson and Louis' car, listen, wait buddy, don't tell them to say that Jeff Green is the best racing driver in the world. world to save that thing that didn't appear in front of them could have done it. I just saw our race move, two of them from Jeff Green should have crashed twice, okay, will anyone come, beep. He says no.

Wally says no. Riley Waltrip. Michael Waltrip. The second place car enters. Wow, Elliott Sadler comes in. Most of the cars entered. Marty, well, Michael Waltrip was tight, so they wanted four tires. SluggerLabbe, his crew chief said: I think four tires will win the race. I was also going to put some duct tape on the grid because it's only running 200, okay at the race track this is a gamble because a lot of cars were left out burned Elliott Sadler's 21 car came in had problems when part of the bail is on the front of the car the air hose caught when turning and broke it went through and finally got here, but Elliott wanted tires, they didn't change the cars.

Matt Dave Dale Jarrett has already arrived for duty and is already returning to the racetrack. He felt like tightening his grip when getting off, he said his car was very loose. feels like making a wedge adjustment at 88 pounds Kurt Busch sat out Jeff Gordon sat out Sterling Marlin and Ryan Newman sat out others pitted under yellow flag here's our race recap pepsi what's happened so far now imitates ona 500 in just two laps one of the favorites to win Tony Stewart broken engine day finished and then loses the right front tire returns to the track is involved in an accident later this is Brett Bodine lap 101 right on the spot midway through the race getting tagged and spun gets away with it, good and then Shawna Robinson at 49 and Mike Skinner make contact in turn two.

The great story of the day. Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon tangle racing for second place when it's over, eight team cars are involved in the melee in turn one. All pilots are fine, but it started because of the lockdown. Harvick attempted to defend his territory in Gordon. They both wanted the same place. Track cleanup continues here at Daytona. We'll get back to the start of the bath in a minute. Back at Daytona there will be 24 laps left to reach the green with Kurt Busch, the 23-year-old from Las Vegas leading a 500 pitch on just his second attempt, the first four on the track in that left lane did not stop their tires Jeff Gordon and Sterling Marlin of the Tulip remembered now that Jeff Corn is leaning back, he's trying to get him a lead in the second turn with a push from Sterling Marlin, oh, and Jared off of Robert Pressley, you got the rear wheels off the sideline so as you mentioned. she will be making some contact here Jeff was born trying to pass Craven he has to push him Sterling Marlin Kurt Busch to block Gordon is going to be dragged by Marlin no that was a back bar up craven jeff burton sticks his nose in and meanwhile the leader Jeff Gordon goes to lead, the veterans stick together, knock Kurt Busch out of first place Gordon takes the point Robert Pressley sticking his nose under Craven and wisely backed off, then in turn one there was no room Kurt Busch lost the second place he has in a battle right now with Ryan there with the third to push the sacred shot to get here, he between Mark Martin and slides up and makes Burton 2/4.

I've been hearing a lot about Warren all day, I started 19th, he's been running in the middle of the pack for a long time. of the event I missed the representative who is helping now in the 125 mile qualifying race that Jeff Gordon was in on Thursday, no one could pass him, he has a lot of the first three quarters of this race fighting on the course, now it will be enough, Mark . Martin, your last card, that five-car breakaway never won here at Daytona, the clock started in 39th place today, good race for sixth place, there's Elliott Sadler 21 ninety-seven Michael Waltrip and 15 pinned back to This traffic was second before entering. to pit road and Kurt Busch is a dejected puppy right now Michael of average ability in the dry force doctor waited that's my place comes Rusty Wallace inside there are fifty miles to go in the forty-fourth race of the 500 Miles from Daytona the great American race 13:12 ladder millions of dollars at stake oh my goodness Robby Gordon had a great race and tried to drive on the inside of Rusty Wallace wisely once again backed on board with Robby Gordon finally Michael squeezed a block there - he got frustrated on those couple of laps, he's got a good car stuck in the middle, you need to get to that high or low line and he wants to do 20 laps, it's not a lot of time to catch up to that leading group, just tune in, it's been a very exciting race time so far 18 lead changes between 11 drivers the caution flag has flown on seven different occasions the big story was a multipolar accident involving 18 different drivers at the 3/4 mark of this event trying to win the 500 for the third time Sterling Marlin right behind him in a 40 car, oh, trying to win the great American race for the third time, if they're going to catch that League group, ep neiderhoff, spread out side by side and That's exactly what those top five cars want to see in their mirrors.

All the guys are trying to get in position, get in position, they get further away from the leader. Some of the crew chiefs on the circle bars, here's crew chief Robby Loomis, leader Chuck Port and his car has been tight all day. You are out. Oh, just a great draft. Did you learn enough in the qualifying race to help you in this situation? Robby has done a great job all day putting him in charge. They are defending the Winston Cup champions. They would like to start in 2002. with a Daytona 500 win for Matt Yocum, just McCall's excellent Marlins, you didn't get new tires, how bad is that going to hurt or will you use your car better over time?

Yes, of course, pretty good at the moment, so you know. We're good at fuel economy so we wanted to stay out and hopefully gain some track position? You know, catching seats, it's pretty difficult right now and you know, we want to establish that right now and try to stay the course. like dogs, they've been good all day in Lima with their first £500 marlin, their third Marty Matt, how much will young Ryan Newman experience me, trying to squeal in the category Matt, he's already there? Can he pass two more cards? Inexperience behind the wheel, but on the radio, experience is Baker. an observer along with his car's owner, Roger Penske, today Burns has wisely been Mark Martin's new crew chief has been studying his monitor like a chess board, okay, give him two tires on the right side, does he have any movement can I do?

I don't know, I'm sure he has something up his sleeve, what is it, I wouldn't have a clue that Taurus has done it, they're all united, well, they're going to watch and all they can do is wait, the only thing that's done him said in the last laps on the radio which lap is Alan Warburton also in the top five, fourth, Davis' racing dogs compete to win this race on several occasions, but bad luck has befallen him near the finish each time , what's happening today and do we try it with more sound? to move it forward Mark Martin is trying to follow that 22 car and Warburg in the move gets a pusher car goes next to Ryan Newman man third place the mark the car goes up the hill it looks like it came to the bend and the car came loose or something had to go fishing gives Newman a chance to slide in front of the mark in that outside lane he's interacting I hope tomorrow he made the bet to hit pit road under that last yellow flag it was michael waltrip this isn't going to cochran here he is at number 13.

I'll tell you what Allen is if you look at Tommy Baldwin Jr. Down here, each one driving the width of the car. Ward very animated at the top of the pit box. I asked him about 60 laps ago when he was running in the middle of the pack. Are you all K because you heard stop? He is for this race. He says we all, yes, we learned our lesson last time. The human left 53 laps, we crashed going fourth, so we knew we had to save our things until the end. Look at Jeffrey Bowtie in the o.9 car, the 1986 500 victory, whose career many thought ended in a brutal crash here at Daytona.

In 2000 he only had five races this season and he will ride in his car and has shown that he can still do the job. This car is owned by James. Pension after the Budweiser Shootout, they dyno-tested the chassis along the cars and James said. Hey, what if I put in my phone and the nine series car had more power than any other? Here comes Mike Electric trying to get back at it. He is trying everything he can to make the move out of him. He now he will have the opportunity to win this race again. Rusty Wallace drives.

Inside Kurt Busch's 97 he has a great race, that's Michael Waltrip. Sorry, Michael Water, Napa sounds more like life in America. Sorry Leslie, defending the 500 winner, trying to recover. I have a lot of work to do, no. There is plenty of time to do it. The lead group Richard Childress 31 is starting to stretch out. Dale Jarrett is pushing the accelerator as hard as he can right now, six cars in a row tend to leave and come back like I said before, VP. What do you think they're going to have to start trying to make news here with at least four to go?

No? Oh yeah, you can't wait until the last lap because Jeff Gordon is going to make that chevy coupon very, very wise and the last time Jeff Gordon ran a speed action faster than the poll speed he won the pole position was forty-and eight point four three seconds now look, you've got the guys making deals Sterling Marlin, I'm sure he's trying to figure out what Warburton wants to do if Ward Burton is going to go with the sterling if he retires, make the move on Jeff Gordon right now, who is going to go through some T's, is talking to other eccentrics since the bottles are talking to other observers and the drivers are talking to the observers and saying Hello, Gloria, this observer from that twenty-two part, Warburton, see if he will go with me if I get the warning.

Gordon has 10 on the last lap, here comes Jeff Gordon back to the yellow flag to start and we'll have a restart inside the final. 10 laps what Jeff Gordon didn't want to see remember that in 2000 Johnny Benson was leading this race that no one could get through the caution flag he came out with about 8 laps to go and Jarrett passed him with four or five laps to go to win the races. Daytona 500. Jeff Gordon said Robby Gordon, why did you have to crash and increase the cost? Jeff and Robbie, of course, are not related, they say that in the New Hampshire race last year, they were fighting with the fenders at the end of the last race of 2001 now.

Nobody, nobody, nobody will come the last time. It seems like you remember what I talked about earlier, when cars get too close to each other on the banking, it causes a car at the bottom to come loose and I think that's what happened to Robby Gordon. He got up there next to Rusty Wallace. there wasn't enough air in the back of that car to push it on the race track it lost downforce and Luke look at this, he's going into the corner Rusty Wallace is out of experience look oh and with your eyes closed now you're okay, the bush is falling down The 97 pit road car is on I guess they decided with four tires that they are going to need four tires to try to get to the front Matt and they are going to take four new ones.

The tires are reminiscent of a Pepsi 400 in the mid eighties , Alan Bobby Allison made the same move at the end of the race ten laps ago, different new tires came and he won that thing and Jimmy Finnick, who won this event with Bobby Allison, remembers that they had nothing to do. lose now, we'll find out where it restarts and prepare for what should be a dramatic finish, they told 500, we're back on NBC, NATO - 500, the great American race has come down to what will be a frenetic six-lap final sprint . to the checkered flag, Jeff Gordon leads Sterling Marlin by one second, both two-time Daytona 500 winners, but they have a hungry group behind him that he's never wanted before, Ward Burton and Elliott Sadler in third and fourth place, then with more experience, the winner of 86, Geoff.

Bodine in fifth and three-time 500 champion Dale Jarrett in sixth, and this restart will be the whole deal here. Jeff Gordon must be careful that Sterling Marlin does not back up and pass him on the green backstretch. flag green flag if they don't catch my Jeff Gordon before the next one comes no, they won't pass, fix it inside Gordon is on the grass, they are competing for the lead at the head of the group, there you go, Stirling has damage he must have pressed a button on the outside is helping him a little here's Geoffrey Bodine testing the 40 car caution flag already outside this could be the race to the finish you'll see Robin here I'm sure you'll make it Back to the line, this It's this guy, he's six cars in running toward the caution flag to dodge.

I think what happened was that his model fell to get under it. Jim set the block and drove past a great Marlins car and that's the fun part. about the race he hasn't finished his talk about the event that they are going to stop the field restart the race and try to solve it like Bonnie, there is a lot of damage in the nose of that car and with Sterling he can last a couple of laps under the green and I think That's where Jeff Gordon ran into theThey will work on the card, take out the defender, change four tires and agree with those decisions, it does not matter in any way if they penalize you for going below the yellow line or work on the car.

I mean, you'll get penalized for one of those, so I don't know what the difference is. It's fair enough. I mean, what is it? I'll have it done in the long line, the longest line twice, they can't do that, I mean, then it's fair enough, the penalty here is the situation, the green flag is in the air, look at the green flag waving now, the Sterling Marlins trying to pass. it clearly has the left side below the yellow line Jeff Gordon comes down to try to block it okay now the yellow is waving here but not yet now it's okay now the yellow flag starts flying the record you know the accident happened a long time ago I looked at that photo but I couldn't see the flag.

I don't see where that's a problem anyway, but it doesn't matter, it's clear that the penalty down the stretch for working on the car under the red was very clear. very obviously and they penalized him for that and that's enough of a penalty, but once again his big mistake getting out of his car, going over the right front fender, he's grazing the tire, he grabs the criminal who's trying to get him away from the tire Why do not you do it. you want to stop, that's a violation under NASCAR rules, you can't do anything to your vehicle in red flag conditions, what if Jeff Gordon got robbed in this deal?

No, I mean they made contact on the track and you I heard Gordon say that he has forcefulness, he took out and blocked, so he has to go to the end of the line. The Marlins have to go to the back of the line and Ward Burton will find himself leading the Daytona 500 when we turn green with about three laps to go Martinsville, after the Daytona 500 on NBC, it's the NBA with the defending champion Lakers, the chasing Portland Trail Blazers, our Daytona coverage here on NBC and then tonight at 7:00 ET, our Winter Olympics coverage. The games continue from Salt Lake City, including the presentation of the gold medalist, the Canadian figure skating pair who were involved in the whole judging controversy earlier this week.

I would just like to say one more thing. Sterling would probably have to come anyway because that fender was rubbing that tire hard, there was no way that thing was going to take another four laps. I agree that he probably had to go in and you say that was enough of a penalty. I mean, he can't win the Daytona 500 now, that's the biggest penalty. All I'm going to tell you is that after what's happened in the last hour or so, I'm not going to make that statement with you BP. Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if someone who's still on the track ends up winning this, I mean, look. to all the people who have been on the road all day they started on lap 2 tony stewart one of the favorites to win due to engine failure Dale Earnhardt jr. cut the tire on lap 23, another favorite to win, he left, it will be about three or four laps, sorry, well, I'm still waiting while they clear the track before raising the red flag, looks like they're almost done. some of the jet blowers at the track take all the dried oil and bits of metal and stuff like that into the Speedway and actually just got the word out to start the cars, start the engines at the track.

Back immediately we have four guys in the top seven right now that haven't won the Daytona 500 Ward Burton Elliott Sadler Mark Martin Ryan Newman and experienced guys Geoffrey Bodine Dale Jarrett Bill Elliott have the Daytona 500 trophy la red flag is down yellow flag now Come back now, you can work on your race car, but did you hear when we heard the restart a moment ago and Jeff Gordon was speeding up trying to speed up his car. Did you hear the big drop in rpm when shifting from second to third? Gear, look, that's a problem with the transmissions at Daytona.

You have to have such a low first gear to get out of the pits, then second gear becomes too much, you can't get the ratios close enough and you always have a big crash. The change in rpm between one of the gears in your case was between second and third and you lost all that momentum when you went into third gear, so now you are moving towards the front leg and will receive the go signal. when they get to the start/finish line and it would be a three lap race to see who wins the Daytona 500 14 cars on the lead lap EBP, there you go, if you do it right you'll let the right ones leave the house For That's Right, David Pearson was leading and turned right four laps to finish Derrike. 1990 Dale Earnhardt led for about a mile with a cut tire.

Colt achieved victory. I'll tell you who can turn around and be the absolute story of this. On the day Geoffrey Bodine will run second after the Sterling Marlin penalty, let's listen to his team Johnny Allen is his crew chief and Johnny, you know, Betty Parsons said before that you guys had one of the strongest engines after the bench test of tests of the day that Kim Jeffery that way there are no deals just discussions and uh, we hope to go well here, damn, we have a turn to get the Go Green and we'll see what we have left.

Indian Mitsuki cars are working again. Remember that yesterday Johnny was working on it. he carves Jimmy Spencer and failed at the end of the routine and the car's owner, James Finch, returned to his boat, he loves it if they win, he won't be in victory lane. James you might want to get back to the party well Dave what an interesting day and if he wins the race Jeffrey Budyonny has a pass Tommy Baldwin's driver Ward Burton what a crazy day war can be keep it up front, a lot of Fords behind your Dodge, yes, I was saying to Lord Down, you know, but I'm very proud. "Everyone just dodged the catapillar in the shop, they did an amazing job, they put this car where it is now and you know Ford had a lot of runs up front today, you know they had a good break with NASCAR, but hopefully we." We're going to come out on top, you know, very excited right now and each man for himself now Hey guys, do you think we've seen a lot of crashes in the first 195 laughs?

Look at these last ones, it will be three laps to decide that a ton of 500 Ward Burton leads Geoffrey Bodine, his second is Elliott Sadler, third, Dale Jarrett, fourth and Ryan Newman is fifth. You'll also have in the mix, excuse me, Mark Martinez with Ryan Newman is sixth and you'll have Jeff Gordon and Sterling Marlin back at 11th and 12th. This is what Jeff Gordon said right after the accident. How it was mom's fault. You know, we're getting to the green, look how far from the safety car Ward Burton is hanging and look in the distance Elliott Sadler, he's hanging behind Jeffery's boat.

I'm all trying to time it right to get that run, not on the pass, it looks like they caught up, but the blocking continues in the group and look, someone has a great young man from Indiana in the number 12 car and this is exactly what Ward Berkeley left those ports to be next door. side and it's working perfectly for him Johnny Benson in car number 10, responds to Father Neumann, not in the photo, but watch out BP, when this group catches them, here comes Dale Jarrett. The sound has moved on that second spot right on the rear bumper dash, but The first two never won the 500.

The second two won four times between them. There are two laps left to reach the start/finish line. Marlin has taken the path. Jeff Gordon is back for me. He verifies that it is Craven Gordon who caught the group. also Ward Burton has his car revving now I think he's going to be fine I think you're right VP these guys are not close enough and lined up enough to make a move on Ward Burton, traffic is mixing and crawling behind him with injector charge in the shadows still as South Boston Virginia is Ward Burton comes to the line everyone is to blame, well Elliott Sadler in the 21st the Wood Brothers camel left to try to chase Warburton to the checkered flag Elliott Sadler was shaken patient third in the Pepsi for that alone Imagine what that young man is going through now about the second place in the Daytona 500, he was about to pass out, I tell you that eight, twice is his previous best result in the Bill Davis 500 , you just won the great American race, what has been your biggest thrill in the race and you said, winning the Southern Indoor 500 in South Carolina, the old fashioned way, my family was there.

I guarantee you it will change. Aren't you kidding? This is 1974 with Richard Petty Ward Burton never led all day until the final. laps when he took the lead from Sterling Marlin Matt hit Tommy's coils and the cat guys go crazy here you move down south and 1996 sacrificed everything in an old Cadillac but there's no job and now look, they told a winner out of 500 Does this reality match that dream? Tommy, you told me you dreamed about this wind, oh man, I'm telling you this is for my little son who's at home in Island, there's a problem without me being around for a few years and I hope he's proud of me today, you know , you know everyone, a caterpillar. on the Dodge, I want to thank everyone, call the PDR guys, man, we won the Daytona 500.

No one said the cat boys are going to celebrate tonight. Bill David is the owner of the Arkansas team. What he expected, like Bill Davis, Gail Davis, the nicest people in the garage area. he will have a Daytona 500 trophy on his mantle. I spoke before. Burton earlier this week said he had spent a lot of time this winter crisscrossing the United States on fundraising trips. Wildlife Foundation spokesperson, among other things, said I'm ready to go. racing I think I can win the Daytona 500, you've done it, vice president, what's that ride like? There are no words to describe it, in fact, Ward Burton right now probably has to endure this laughter these extra four or five minutes just to have some kind of control over the emotions of him on the farm would come out congratulating Ward Burton.

This is a very, very emotional moment. Ward, the older of the two Burton brothers on the Winston Cup circuit, started this race in 19th place and like I said a minute ago never left it all day. Until those last laps good old Sterling Marlin went to the pits Ward Burton took the lead and held it until the checkered flag there's Bill Davis a nice handsome man dad our boy bill it's okay Ward I think he probably you can reach victory. lane and talk to these people now Elliott Sadler finished second Jeff bodean third Kurt Busch fourth Michael Waltrip overcame that last change to finish fifth Jeff Gordon finished ninth Sterling Marlin and Dale Jarrett didn't finish the last lap finished 14th, you see those NASCAR officials They are going to check the rear spoiler on the back of the Dodge Caterpillar.

They have a minimum height requirement or an angle that's supposed to be about 55 degrees and obviously it's already passed, let's go to Marty Snider, okay Jeff, first of all, let's start talking about contact. there on the track with you and Sterling, you said on the radio that it was your fault, you have time to think about it under the red flag and your thoughts never, yeah. I mean, getting spun was my fault because he got so far behind that I didn't think he was supposed to be able to do it, but he did it and he had me, you know, he restarted it, he had me and I moved in front of him to block him, I did and he got me some.

I push but he's still inside me and yeah I just tried to block him and all I had to do was keep my wheel straight and spin me but you know I probably should have given up once he got next to me and I still had a battle in the shot, I was able to win what you know, I had to see that last yellow flag in a perfect position and it was a wild and crazy race, I tell you I went from back to front, from front to back, it was secret I'm grateful to be back home ninth.

Oh, we did it with DuPont Chevrolet. I want to thank DuPont Pepsi Quaker State Fritos GMAC. You know, it was a big effort for us today and you know it wasn't what we wanted. It was a very disappointing night for a man. who had a very good career, Matt, can you even begin to describe your side of the controversy? No, I mean, it's the Daytona 500 to try to win the thing and, chill, try to get a race in jail and he says he has a line crossed. hitch to the left and lifted his fourth panel into it, you know that's his deal, he'll try to block it, fires in his shoes, I bought two and we just hooked the other hooks and pointed them towards the face, and I went ahead and took my Finger in the tire , so we'll try to get it out and, but NASCAR didn't like it, my clever ass, did you ask?

I mean, you know they're questioning you, you're playing with the phone, well, a Saint Owen Hart, no. Richmond once, so claim the windshield office. I thought okay, how about later, all five in the ham, Warburton will havename on the Harley junior trophy, is the winner of the Daytona 500, something very few drivers who compete in NASCAR Winston Cup races ever get to experience? and he's going to make that dream come true right now, his wife Tabitha enters the winner's circle. He had her second child during the winter on December 10. He's slowly he's taking his time because he wants to do this right, savor the moment, savor the moment, not a child or just. savoring the moment will probably regain his composure a bit and I imagine he's doing exactly what you guys were talking about, taking his time to compose himself thinking about this moment, the winner of the Daytona 500 putting on his cap, he has to adjust that of course , it will be a You won't need to see it come out, no matter where you're looking, you'll be able to hear it come out and here's the 2002, it's right in the middle, around all those red shirts that a lot of Dodge people. and his forever family will now present Ward Burton as Daytona 500 champion.

Congratulations, the Dodgers support Caterpillar support. How about that Elliott Sadler? I'll push them to a third place finish in the Firecracker 400 or the Pepsi 400 and he'll run. just flawlessly there at the end, a Virginian to another pavilion, tell me about the ladies final reset, stressful. I didn't look at the flag. I wasn't going to stop when I saw the other guys back away. I said I can't believe it, you know very well what happens here is that it was fear, luck, we had some luck today. 29 cars turned there, we almost made it, but, proud of my team, great race, you walked very slowly to the green flag on that restart because you were aware of what had happened previously.

I'll do what Jeff oh, now you know, veteran, he knows what we're doing. He just didn't want me to reach high speed. I'm not sure if we're going to win it or not. I knew we were going to have a great opportunity at Ward. You have fought so hard to reach this port. At this point in your career, there were a few times when this team was You're not even going to have sponsorship now, you have strong sponsorship, a new manufacturer behind you and a victory in the Daytona 500 makes your dream come true. reality today. Well, one of them is that this is the first year that Bill Davis races haven't had to. make a big change of some kind to catch up with the big boy so we're ready to shake them all.

I don't know what was going to happen today, but it's a great way to start. I feel great about everything, congratulations, you're the Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton, even I get a hug, congratulations, they talked about Chevy being fast and Ford being in the spotlight all week, but In the Daytona 500 you could say that dodging was the spoiler. Allen, yes, you can bill dodge and get a spoiler rule change early. During the week, in addition to the Fords, Ward Burton made maximum use of them. He is the champion in the 2002 Daytona 500. As we look at the final results, Ryan Newman returns to seventh place.

Geoffrey Bona, how about that third place and Jeff Gordon? Sterling Marlin crashed together finished eighth, ninth together Michael Waltrip finished fifth after last year's win. You see only 14 cars finished on the lead lap Dale Jarrett got credit as the last of those Terry Labonte, one of them involved in that last accident. with about five laps to go, Mike Wallace, seven laps down, we'll finish 23rd. Great day of racing for Guinea Shredder, Dale Earnhardt jr. So many problems during the climb up to 29th and the wear and tear was unusually high today Matt Kenseth, the first car out, finishes in 33rd place.

I guess the wear and tear was caused by the Christ pig on the ground that would cause some of that Tony Stewart , one of the pre-race favorites on lap number two twelve different leaders twenty lead changes the last when Ward Burton took first place more post-race interviews when we return to the NBA on NBC after our Daytona coverage , the Lakers and the pioneers come first the glow of what was an incredible great American career Dave burns Elliott Sadler you finished third here last July and you were shocked come to the line what were you doing this time to finish second?

It was a little quieter, but I'll tell you. You have all week to come here and take a cold sip of Marty's coke to refresh yourself. A good day for a man who almost lost his life here two years ago. Geoffrey Bodine was a kid who came back today. funds still playing with those kids today the car was obviously good yeah, I had a great car and it doesn't matter who you are, how good you are, you can't do what I did without a good car, good team and James Smith gave me a great car and I want to thank the Miccosukee Ending Gaming tribe for sponsoring us.

They are going to do more races with them and what a great day. I mean, it got a little difficult at the end. We're all trying to make deals and trying to figure out how to outdo the guy in front of us, but I banged my nose a little bit in that last accident and that slowed us down, but coming back, yeah, you know, I think the people who had me They ruled it out, but they shouldn't have. I am back. Geoffrey Bodine, 52, finishes third. Matt Yocum, 3,500 winner, Michael Waltrip. Daytona and came fifth and that's all the description you need when Kevin crashed that was WOW man I just don't write to him.

I knew what to do and I just hoped it was out of the way when I got there. NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet was a part of history all week, man that's all you can ask, that's all you can ask, the NASCAR team would cut the spoiler off the other guys, we'd work a little harder and then I would cut it a little more. and we just worked harder, I mean, they cut it again. The price should have said something after that because it seemed like we were outmatched at the end. There probably should have been Michael Waltrip finishing fifth at Daytona.

Allen again. A look at the top ten as a victory. the celebration continues rewards burton elliott sadler and virginia's burton sweep the top two places don't forget that the 2002 Winter Olympics continue tonight at 7:00 a.m. ET/PT on NBC and tomorrow at noon ET and from the Pacific on TNT the repeat presentation of the Daytona 500, the NBA on NBC is next what a great day, what a great race, fantastic, they won, it was exciting to be here and watch and talk about the Daytona 500 BP, let's go fishing for a few months, good to see you in July, fans.