Nascar Blog

Here are some of the videos that have already been uploaded from today’s Gatorade Duel Races at Daytona.

I didn’t get to watch the Duel’s today, watching the replay of the second one right now, but it looks like the racing is better than it has been.

Here is how they finished in the first Duel:
1 - 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s
2 - 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell/Pennzoil
3 - 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s
4 - 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios/Hamburger Helper
5 - 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies
6 - 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops/Tracker
7 - 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Best Buy
8 - 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army
9 - 6 David Ragan Ford UPS
10 - 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont
11 - 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M
12 - 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express
13 - 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac
14 - 55 Michael McDowell Toyota Prism Motorsports
15 - 13 Max Papis Toyota GEICO
16 - 34 John Andretti Ford Window World Cares
17 - 127 Todd Bodine Toyota Kirk Shelmerdine Racing
18 - 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports
19 - 37 Travis Kvapil Ford Extenze
20 - 46 Terry Cook* Dodge Whitney Motorsports
21 - 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
22 - 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
23 - 38 Robert Richardson Jr. Ford Mahindra Tractors
24 - 132 Reed Sorenson Toyota Dollar General
25 - 151 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
26 - 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar
27 - 197 Jeff Fuller Toyota FrontRowJoe.com

Here is how they finished in the second Duel:
1 14 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser
2 11 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot/Old Spice
3 2 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target
4 3 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite
5 19 19 Elliott Sadler Ford Stanley
6 17 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
7 9 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot
8 7 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kroger Floral
9 12 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine
10 18 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull
11 4 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal
12 8 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing
13 15 36 Mike Bliss Chevrolet Wave Energy Drink
14 6 82 Scott Speed Toyota Red Bull
15 13 98 Paul Menard Ford Peak/Menards
16 20 190 Casey Mears Chevrolet Keyed-Up Motorsports
17 10 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com
18 21 49 David Gilliland Toyota Warner Music Nashville/Larry the Cable Guy
19 16 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Monster Energy
20 25 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Asset Protect/Strutmasterspro.com
21 1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy/National Guard
22 22 09 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Phoenix Racing
23 24 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports
24 26 192 Mike Wallace Dodge K-Automotive Motorsports
25 27 157 Norm Benning Chevrolet Norm Benning Racing
26 5 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1
27 23 26 Boris Said Ford Window World Cares

Here are the starting lineups for the twin 125 Gatorade Duel Races, 54 stock cars total, so, 11 of these guys will go home next week.

Gatorade Duel 1:
1 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
2 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army
3 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
4 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s
5 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper
6 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s
7 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont
8 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports
9 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
10 151 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
11 6 David Ragan Ford UPS
12 43 A.J. Allmendinger Ford Best Buy
13 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac
14 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express
15 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil
16 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar
17 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Companies
18 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M
19 132 Reed Sorenson Toyota Dollar General
20 13 Max Papis Toyota GEICO
21 34 John Andretti Ford Window World Cares
22 197 Jeff Fuller Toyota FrontRowJoe.com
23 38 Robert Richardson Jr. Ford Mahindra Tractors
24 37 Travis Kvapil Ford Extenze
25 46 Terry Cook* Dodge Whitney Motorsports
26 55 Michael McDowell Toyota Prism Motorsports
27 127 Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota Kirk Shelmerdine Racing

Gatorade Duel 2:
1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard
2 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target
3 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite
4 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Crown Royal
5 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1
6 82 Scott Speed Toyota Red Bull
7 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Kroger Floral
8 12 Brad Keselowski Dodge Penske Racing
9 20 Joey Logano Toyota The Home Depot
10 71 Bobby Labonte Chevrolet TaxSlayer.com
11 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Old Spice
12 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine
13 98 Paul Menard Ford Peak / Menards
14 9 Kasey Kahne Ford Budweiser
15 36 Mike Bliss Chevrolet Wave Energy Drink
16 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Monster Energy
17 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts
18 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull
19 19 Elliott Sadler Ford Stanley
20 190 Casey Mears Chevrolet Keyed-Up Motorsports
21 49 David Gilliland Toyota Warner Music Nashville / Larry the Cable Guy
22 09 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Phoenix Racing
23 26 Boris Said Ford Window World Cares
24 66 Dave Blaney Toyota Prism Motorsports
25 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Asset Protect/ Strutmasterspro.com
26 192 Mike Wallace Dodge K-Automotive Motorsports
27 157 Norm Benning Chevrolet Norm Benning Racing

Kyle Busch didn’t lead any of the second duel until the very end, when it really counts, and with the help of Denny Hamlin, who got passed by Mark Martin at the end, he stayed there. Mark looked pretty good today, and Brian Vickers did as well, maybe I should’ve picked him for my 12 chase drivers? Nah, too early to start doubting myself now. Jeremy Mayfield is one of the big stories of the day, racing his way into the Daytona 500 and his team that is comprised of people who were laid off in the off season. Congrats guys. Congrats as well to Scott Riggs and A.J. Allmendinger who also raced their way into the 500.

Here is how they finished:
1 8 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M’s PE 60 Running
2 1 5 Mark Martin Chevrolet Kellogg’s / Carquest PE 60 Running
3 18 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull PE 60 Running
4 3 42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet Target PE 60 Running
5 13 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express PE 60 Running
6 5 96 Bobby Labonte Ford Ask.com PE 60 Running
7 6 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Amp Energy / National Guard PE 60 Running
8 14 99 Carl Edwards Ford Aflac PE 60 Running
9 21 41 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota All Sport PE 60 Running
10 19 44 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Valvoline PE 60 Running
11 12 33 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Cheerios / Hamburger Helper PE 60 Running
12 20 12 David Stremme Dodge Penske Racing PE 60 Running
13 22 171 Mike Wallace Chevrolet TRG Motorsports PE 60 Running
14 17 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Caterpillar PE 60 Running
15 10 00 David Reutimann Toyota Aaron’s Dream Machine PE 60 Running
16 7 78 Regan Smith Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing PE 60 Running
17 16 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Stanley PE 60 Running
18 24 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil PE 60 Running
19 4 28 Travis Kvapil Ford Golden Corral PE 60 Running
20 26 51 Kelly Bires Dodge FABgrills / KrugerFarms.com PE 60 Running
21 15 43 Reed Sorenson Dodge McDonald’s PE 60 Running
22 25 175 Derrike Cope Dodge Blu Frog Energy Drink PE 58 Running
23 28 157 Norm Benning Chevrolet D3 Outdoor PE 55 Running
24 2 39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet U.S. Army PE 47 Running
25 9 82 Scott Speed Toyota Red Bull PE 44 In Pit
26 23 73 Mike Garvey Dodge Jani-King PE 27 In Pit
28 11 08 Boris Said Ford U.S. Chrome / Scotts Bonus S Max PE 13 In Pit

The first Gatorade Duel race is over and Jeff Gordon is back in victory lane again, even though it’s not a points race, it sure does put a good start to the 2009 Sprint Cup season. It looked like Tony Stewart might be able to beat him, but, in the end, his help wasn’t close enough to give him a push around Gordon. Speaking of Stewart, they looked pretty good working together, I was wondering when that would end, I figured the last five laps would be a good start to ending the cooperation and that’s about when Tony first passed Jeff, I believe it was with four laps to go.

Joey Logano looked pretty good for an 18 year old punk behind the wheel of a Sprint Cup car, pushing Jeff Gordon around Tony for the last pass for the lead. We’ll see how he does in the 500 and the rest of the season soon enough.

Here is how they finished the first duel:
1 5 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont PE 60 Running
2 6 14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet Office Depot / Old Spice PE 60 Running
3 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe’s PE 60 Running
4 10 20 Joey Logano * Toyota The Home Depot PE 60 Running
5 4 8 Aric Almirola Chevrolet Guitar Hero PE 60 Running
6 22 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite PE 60 Running
7 19 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Budweiser PE 60 Running
8 15 36 Scott Riggs Toyota Tommy Baldwin Racing PE 60 Running
9 7 98 Paul Menard Ford Quaker State / Menards PE 60 Running
10 12 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal PE 60 Running
11 9 187 Joe Nemechek Toyota NEMCO Motorsports PE 60 Running
12 18 09 Brad Keselowski Chevrolet Miccosukee Resort & Gaming PE 60 Running
13 14 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota Little Debbie PE 60 Running
14 21 07 Casey Mears Chevrolet Jack Daniel’s PE 60 Running
15 16 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA PE 60 Running
16 23 77 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge Mobil 1 PE 60 Running
17 28 146 Carl Long Dodge Romeo Guest Construction PE 60 Running
18 25 37 Tony Raines Dodge Long John Silver’s PE 60 Running
19 26 66 Terry Labonte Toyota Window World PE 60 Running
20 24 127 Kirk Shelmerdine Toyota Kirk Shelmerdine Racing PE 60 Running
21 1 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker PE 60 Running
22 20 7 Robby Gordon Toyota Jim Beam PE 60 In Pit
23 13 6 David Ragan Ford UPS PE 60 Running
24 8 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M PE 58 In Pit
25 17 34 John Andretti Chevrolet Window World PE 53 In Pit
26 11 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Dewalt PE 52 In Pit
27 2 21 Bill Elliott Ford Motorcraft PE 25 In Pit
28 27 123 Mike Skinner Chevrolet Mahindra Tractors PE 23 Running

Martin Truex Jr. has the pole for the 2009 Daytona 500 with a speed of 188.001 mph, and Mark Martin claimed second with a speed of 187.817 mph, they also start in the top spot in both of the Gatorade Duel races, Truex in race #1 and Martin in race #2.. The top two spots are the only ones that are guaranteed right now, they use the results of the Gatorade races to determine the rest of the starting order, the top two finishes in each Duel race outside the top 35 in 2008 owners’ points make the race, as well as the next three fastest qualifiers not already locked in.

Pretty complicated, and there has been some debate on how complicated and hard it is on the teams to qualify for Daytona the way that it is now. They should qualify normally for the most part, and use the Gatorade races to determine the top two starters for the race, they would still have the same amount of warm-up races, the Duel races and the Bud Shootout but would make it a lot easier on the drivers I bet. But what do I know.

Here is how they will start for the two Gatorade races.
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