Daytona Pepsi 400:
The traditional halfway point of the season is marked by the NEXTEL Cup drivers return to Daytona to race under the lights on Saturday night. This is the only restrictor plate race under the lights and it is truly a special event.
The Track:
The fast 2.5 mile tri-oval uses restrictor plates to keep the speeds managable but those plates create fertile ground for The Big One. The plates cause aerodynamics to be more important than horsepower which results in big packs of cars running nose to tail and door to door all day long.
Race Distance:
160 laps = 400 miles
The Big Picture:
This is race number 17 of 36. Just 10 races remain before the Top ten drivers are locked in for the final 10 races and the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup.
The current points top ten are: 1. Greg Biffle 2,250. 2. Jimmie Johnson 2,228. 3. Elliott Sadler 2,073. 4. Tony Stewart 2,052. 5. Mark Martin 2,022. 6. Rusty Wallace 2,013. 7. Ryan Newman 1,994. 8. Kurt Busch 1,978. 9. Carl Edwards 1,963. 10. Jamie McMurray 1,923.
Storylines:
This week we'll hear about Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace who are both retiring after this season. Both have had long successful careers yet neither driver has ever won at Daytona. Can one of them make history this weekend?
Also, we welcome NBC this week for the rest of the 2005 season. They have a lot to catch up on so we'll all get reintroduced to the announcers and any new features or technology that they are bringing to NASCAR for 2005.
Media Coverage:
TV: NBC Saturday July 2nd 7:00PM Eastern.
Radio: MRN and XM Satellite
Actual Race: 8:00PM Eastern
Last Year:
In 2004 Jeff Gordon qualified on the pole for the second week in-a-row. The start of the race was delayed for two hours due to rain but they eventually got the entire race in.
Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. lead most of the day but Tony Stewart held the lead late in the race. HE couldn't hold on and Jeff Gordon got by him with just seven laps to go to claim his second win from the pole in a row.
Predictions:
Jeff Gordon won the Daytona 500 here in February and won this race last year. Statistically he'd have to be the favorite but he's only going to by my backup this week.
I'm going with the sentimental favorite, Mark Martin to break through with his first win of the year on his final race at Daytona, a track where he has never won. His team has been working well and landing him consistent top five finishes. He's going to score a win soon, why not now?
