Daytona International Speedway
Firecracker 400 (Coke Zero 400)
By Richard Tix
Last time NASCAR started a Daytona preview it was to kick off the 2015 season. Kevin Harvick was just coming off his first Sprint Cup Title. Jeff Gordon had a fantastic 2014 season and announced he would be done full time racing after the 2015 season, and everyone hated Brad Keselowski...
Well, Harvick is still hanging tough, Gordon could use some bounce back but will still retire from full time Cup racing, and I think many people are still not BK fans. Some things never change in the NASCAR world.
Last year after this race Aric Almirola was all smiles as a rain shortened race gave him his first career win and also locked him into the 2014 Sprint Cup Chase. This year we head into Daytona with the same feeling, can an underdog win and make his whole season in one 400 mile race?
The Good
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- Jr has the best average finish at Daytona of any active driver (13.1), which is pretty darn good considering how easy it is to get caught up in a wreck here. In his last 7 races here he has 5 top 10's which includes 4 top 5's and the 2014 Daytona 500 win.
- Jimmie Johnson- Kind of similar to Jr, JJ has four top 10's in his last five races at Daytona. JJ's stats include two wins in that time and all of those four were top 5's. The only thing that has got in his way lately was a crash in last years Firecracker 400.
- Casey Mears- I have to give credit where credit is due, and lately Mears has been a top 10 finisher here at Daytona. Is it luck? Sure, but it is for anyone at superspeedways. But, it also take a lot of skill, timing, and awareness to keep a car clean and make your move. Mears has four straight top 10's that proves he can do that.
The Middle
- Clint Bowyer- Bowyer has been borderline "Good" lately here with 3 top 10's in the last 4 races, but over his career it has been a roller coaster. He seems to sit back some and let things happen in front of him before making a move and happens to get mixed results.
The Bad
- Kyle Larson- Can he catch a break at Daytona? This spot is ALL due to bad luck and being in the wrong spot at the wrong time, plus a short sample size. I think Larson can bounce back, but bad luck has him in the "Bad" company for now.
- Sam Hornish Jr- Zero top 10's in 8 tries for Hornish at Daytona. At this years 500 he did manage a 12th place finish after starting 38th, so there might be a bright side.
- AJ Allmendinger- Does AJ find trouble or does it find him at Daytona? The more Daytona starts he has the more I lean towards he finds it. I am a AJ fan, but his 12 starts with only 1 top 5 and 2 top 10's show he has some room to improve here.
Track Stats
- Jimmie Johnson was the first driver since Bobby Allison in 1982 to win both stops at DIS in a single season
- The last Pole win in the Daytona 500 was in 2000 by Dale Jarrett. There have been 4 Pole winners since then in the other stop at DIS (Firecracker)
- Tony Stewart won from 42nd starting position 7/7/12, which is the farthest back anyone has won from (Firecracker)
- However, Matt Kenseth won from 39th in the 2009 500, which is the farthest back anyone has won the Daytona 500
- Of current drivers, Jeff Gordon has the most wins at Daytona with 6 (3 of them the 500). Stewart is second with 4 (None the 500)
- A Toyota only has one win at DIS (Kyle Busch 2008)
- Chevy has won 7 of the last 12. For has won the other 5 of 12
- Trevor Bayne is still the youngest Daytona 500 win (19 years old. 2011 Daytona 500). It is still his only Cup win.
Track Info
- Surface
- Asphalt
- Length
- 2.5 miles
- Banking
- Turns: 31 degrees
- Tri-Oval: 18 degrees
- Back Straight: 2 degrees
Daytona
International Speedway
|
|||||
Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1959-02
|
2/20/1959
|
38
|
Bob Welborn
|
7
|
'59 Chevrolet
|
1959-03
|
2/22/1959
|
59
|
Lee Petty
|
15
|
'59 Oldsmobile
|
1959-26
|
7/4/1959
|
37
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'59 Pontiac
|
1960-03
|
2/12/1960
|
37
|
Fireball Roberts
|
2
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1960-04
|
2/12/1960
|
40
|
Jack Smith
|
1
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1960-05
|
2/14/1960
|
68
|
Junior Johnson
|
9
|
'59 Chevrolet
|
1960-23
|
7/4/1960
|
37
|
Jack Smith
|
1
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1961-03
|
2/24/1961
|
34
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-04
|
2/24/1961
|
33
|
Joe Weatherly
|
1
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-05
|
2/26/1961
|
58
|
Marvin Panch
|
4
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1961-32
|
7/4/1961
|
30
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-03
|
2/16/1962
|
25
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-04
|
2/16/1962
|
25
|
Joe Weatherly
|
3
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-05
|
2/18/1962
|
48
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-29
|
7/4/1962
|
33
|
Fireball Roberts
|
4
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1963-05
|
2/22/1963
|
31
|
Junior Johnson
|
2
|
'63 Chevrolet
|
1963-06
|
2/22/1963
|
31
|
Johnny Rutherford
|
9
|
'63 Chevrolet
|
1963-07
|
2/24/1963
|
50
|
Tiny Lund
|
12
|
'63 Ford
|
1963-29
|
7/4/1963
|
35
|
Fireball Roberts
|
3
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-06
|
2/21/1964
|
23
|
Junior Johnson
|
2
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-07
|
2/21/1964
|
23
|
Bobby Isaac
|
4
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-08
|
2/23/1964
|
46
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'64 Plymouth
|
1964-35
|
7/4/1964
|
32
|
A.J. Foyt
|
19
|
'64 Dodge
|
1965-02
|
2/12/1965
|
21
|
Darel Dieringer
|
1
|
'64 Mercury
|
1965-03
|
2/12/1965
|
28
|
Junior Johnson
|
1
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-04
|
2/14/1965
|
43
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
4
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-29
|
7/4/1965
|
40
|
A.J. Foyt
|
11
|
'65 Ford
|
1966-03
|
2/25/1966
|
33
|
Paul Goldsmith
|
8
|
'65 Plymouth
|
1966-04
|
2/25/1966
|
33
|
Earl Balmer
|
6
|
'65 Dodge
|
1966-05
|
2/27/1966
|
50
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'66 Plymouth
|
1966-28
|
7/4/1966
|
40
|
Sam McQuagg
|
4
|
'66 Dodge
|
1967-03
|
2/24/1967
|
28
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
3
|
'67 Dodge
|
1967-04
|
2/24/1967
|
28
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
6
|
'67 Ford
|
1967-05
|
2/26/1967
|
50
|
Mario Andretti
|
12
|
'67 Ford
|
1967-28
|
7/4/1967
|
39
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
'67 Ford
|
1968-04
|
2/25/1968
|
50
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'68 Mercury
|
1968-25
|
7/4/1968
|
37
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
'68 Mercury
|
1969-04
|
2/20/1969
|
27
|
David Pearson
|
15
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-05
|
2/20/1969
|
24
|
Bobby Isaac
|
1
|
'69 Dodge
|
1969-06
|
2/23/1969
|
50
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
19
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-28
|
7/4/1969
|
40
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
9
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-02
|
2/19/1970
|
30
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'69 Mercury
|
1970-03
|
2/19/1970
|
31
|
Charlie Glotzbach
|
2
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-04
|
2/22/1970
|
40
|
Pete Hamilton
|
9
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1970-24
|
7/4/1970
|
40
|
Donnie Allison
|
15
|
'69 Ford
|
1971-02
|
2/11/1971
|
33
|
Pete Hamilton
|
2
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1971-03
|
2/11/1971
|
31
|
David Pearson
|
4
|
'69 Mercury
|
1971-04
|
2/14/1971
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1971-27
|
7/4/1971
|
40
|
Bobby Isaac
|
21
|
'71 Dodge
|
1972-02
|
2/20/1972
|
40
|
A.J. Foyt
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1972-17
|
7/4/1972
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-02
|
2/18/1973
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
7
|
'73 Dodge
|
1973-17
|
7/4/1973
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
6
|
'71 Mercury
|
1974-02
|
2/17/1974
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'74 Dodge
|
1974-16
|
7/4/1974
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'73 Mercury
|
1975-02
|
2/16/1975
|
40
|
Benny Parsons
|
32
|
'75 Chevrolet
|
1975-16
|
7/4/1975
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
13
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-02
|
2/15/1976
|
42
|
David Pearson
|
7
|
Mercury
|
1976-16
|
7/4/1976
|
40
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-02
|
2/20/1977
|
42
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-16
|
7/4/1977
|
41
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
Dodge
|
1978-02
|
2/19/1978
|
41
|
Bobby Allison
|
33
|
Ford
|
1978-16
|
7/4/1978
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
Mercury
|
1979-02
|
2/18/1979
|
41
|
Richard Petty
|
13
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-17
|
7/4/1979
|
41
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Mercury
|
1980-02
|
2/17/1980
|
42
|
Buddy Baker
|
1
|
Oldsmobile
|
1980-17
|
7/4/1980
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
14
|
Mercury
|
1981-02
|
2/15/1981
|
42
|
Richard Petty
|
8
|
Buick
|
1981-17
|
7/4/1981
|
42
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-01
|
2/14/1982
|
42
|
Bobby Allison
|
7
|
Buick
|
1982-16
|
7/4/1982
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
9
|
Buick
|
1983-01
|
2/20/1983
|
42
|
Cale Yarborough
|
8
|
Pontiac
|
1983-16
|
7/4/1983
|
40
|
Buddy Baker
|
8
|
Ford
|
1984-01
|
2/19/1984
|
42
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-16
|
7/4/1984
|
42
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
Pontiac
|
1985-01
|
2/17/1985
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1985-15
|
7/4/1985
|
41
|
Greg Sacks
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-01
|
2/16/1986
|
42
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-15
|
7/4/1986
|
42
|
Tim Richmond
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-01
|
2/15/1987
|
42
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1987-15
|
7/4/1987
|
41
|
Bobby Allison
|
11
|
Buick
|
1988-01
|
2/14/1988
|
42
|
Bobby Allison
|
3
|
Buick
|
1988-15
|
7/2/1988
|
42
|
Bill Elliott
|
38
|
Ford
|
1989-01
|
2/19/1989
|
42
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-15
|
7/1/1989
|
40
|
Davey Allison
|
8
|
Ford
|
1990-01
|
2/18/1990
|
42
|
Derrike Cope
|
12
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-15
|
7/7/1990
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-01
|
2/17/1991
|
42
|
Ernie Irvan
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-15
|
7/6/1991
|
41
|
Bill Elliott
|
10
|
Ford
|
1992-01
|
2/16/1992
|
42
|
Davey Allison
|
6
|
Ford
|
1992-15
|
7/4/1992
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-01
|
2/14/1993
|
41
|
Dale Jarrett
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-15
|
7/3/1993
|
41
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-01
|
2/20/1994
|
42
|
Sterling Marlin
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-15
|
7/2/1994
|
43
|
Jimmy Spencer
|
3
|
Ford
|
1995-01
|
2/19/1995
|
42
|
Sterling Marlin
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-15
|
7/1/1995
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-01
|
2/18/1996
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
7
|
Ford
|
1996-15
|
7/6/1996
|
42
|
Sterling Marlin
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-01
|
2/16/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-16
|
7/5/1997
|
42
|
John Andretti
|
3
|
Ford
|
1998-01
|
2/15/1998
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-30
|
10/17/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-01
|
2/14/1999
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-17
|
7/3/1999
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
12
|
Ford
|
2000-01
|
2/20/2000
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
1
|
Ford
|
2000-17
|
7/1/2000
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
9
|
Ford
|
2001-01
|
2/18/2001
|
43
|
Michael Waltrip
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-17
|
7/7/2001
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-01
|
2/17/2002
|
43
|
Ward Burton
|
19
|
Dodge
|
2002-17
|
7/6/2002
|
43
|
Michael Waltrip
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-01
|
2/16/2003
|
43
|
Michael Waltrip
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-17
|
7/5/2003
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
30
|
Ford
|
2004-01
|
2/15/2004
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-17
|
7/3/2004
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-01
|
2/20/2005
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
15
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-17
|
7/2/2005
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-01
|
2/19/2006
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-17
|
7/1/2006
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-01
|
2/18/2007
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
34
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-18
|
7/7/2007
|
43
|
Jamie McMurray
|
15
|
Ford
|
2008-01
|
2/17/2008
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
7
|
Dodge
|
2008-18
|
7/5/2008
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
9
|
Toyota
|
2009-01
|
2/15/2009
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
39
|
Ford
|
2009-18
|
7/4/2009
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-01
|
2/14/2010
|
43
|
Jamie McMurray
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-18
|
7/3/2010
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-01
|
2/20/2011
|
43
|
Trevor Bayne
|
32
|
Ford
|
2011-17
|
7/2/2011
|
43
|
David Ragan
|
5
|
Ford
|
2012-01
|
2/27/2012
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
4
|
Ford
|
2012-18
|
7/7/2012
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
42
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-01
|
2/24/2013
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-18
|
7/6/2013
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-01
|
2/23/2014
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-18
|
7/6/2014
|
43
|
Aric Almirola
|
15
|
Ford
|
2015-01
|
2/22/2015
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
5
|
Ford
|
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