Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
By Richard Tix
Every year Miami-Homestead passes and it feels like NASCAR is so far away; the offseason feels like it drags on. When in reality NASCAR has one of the shortest offseason's in major sports. When you add in the Media tour, Hall of Fame Induction, and Speedweek's it actually is a very short time for offseason filler.
For the past couple months NBTW has worked on helping all the fans get through the offseason. Driver reviews, driver previews, Media Tour coverage, sponsor updates, the latest news, and 2016 Paint Scheme releases have been at the forefront. But finally, we can get back to racing.
Starting the year off at Daytona is a huge highlight of the NASCAR season. Nothing beats starting the year off with a win at the biggest race of the season (other then winning the last if you're still in the Chase). Even without looking it is easy for most NASCAR fans to start rattling on the last dozen Daytona 500 winners, that's how well it stick's when you win.
So, who will lock themselves into the 2016 Chase race one? Who will be remembered forever as the 2016 Daytona 500 winner?
Starting the year off at Daytona is a huge highlight of the NASCAR season. Nothing beats starting the year off with a win at the biggest race of the season (other then winning the last if you're still in the Chase). Even without looking it is easy for most NASCAR fans to start rattling on the last dozen Daytona 500 winners, that's how well it stick's when you win.
So, who will lock themselves into the 2016 Chase race one? Who will be remembered forever as the 2016 Daytona 500 winner?
**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**
The Good
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- In the last five Daytona races, no driver has five straight top 10's, however five drivers have four top 10's in the last five including Junior. Dale also has two wins in those five races including the 2014 Daytona 500.
- Jimmie Johnson- At a track that has so many moments for mistakes, JJ has strayed from those very mistakes lately. In his last five races he has four top 10's and all four have been top 5's. He also had a win in that same time span (2013 Firecracker 400.
- Denny Hamlin- The only driver of those five that have four top 10's in the last five races to have four straight is Denny Hamlin. He hasn't won at Daytona but his last four have come to finishes of 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 2nd. His early career was rough here, but he has seemed to figure it out and he might be a dark horse to win.
The Middle
- Clint Bowyer- Bowyer is actually one of the more underrated superspeedway drivers. YOu tend to forget about him during the race and then when you look back you see another top 10 finish. He also has four top 10's in his last five like the drivers above but only one of those was a top 5. Look for another strong run on Sunday.
The Bad
Weekend Articles:
- Martin Truex Jr- I actually HATE doing this category at superspeedways. A lot of it is a roll of the dice anyways and bad luck plays a huge part. Truex has either been in a crash or had engine troubles in four of his last nine Daytona attempts. However, even when on the track he hasn't had much luck lately. 8, 15, 24, 17, and 12 were his results in the other five races.
- Brad Keselowski- Talk about bad luck, here is another case. I have seen BK run a ton up front at Daytona, but unlike Dega, he always seems to find trouble. His last three have produced finishes of 29th, 41st, and 18th. Add in finishes of 3rd and 21st to round out his last five Daytona attempts.
- Kyle Larson- Its early in his career, and its another case of bad luck, but how else do you describe his first four starts at Daytona. Crash finish of 38th, 36th, crash finish of 34th, and crash finish of 39th. He could hang out in back all race, stay away from trouble, and still finish a career best.
About the Track
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 5 Pole winners since then in the other stop at DIS (Firecracker 400) including 2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr
- Tony Stewart won from 42nd starting position 7/7/12, which is the farthest back anyone has won from (Firecracker 400)
- 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) and no Daytona 500 wins
- Chevy has won 8 of the last 13. Ford has won the other 5 of 13
- Trevor Bayne is still the youngest Daytona 500 win (19 years old. 2011 Daytona 500). It is still his only Cup win.
- Surface
- Asphalt
- Length
- 2.5 miles
- Banking
- Turns: 31 degrees
- Tri-Oval: 18 degrees
- Back Straight: 2 degrees
Daytona
International Speedway
|
|||
Race
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1959-02
|
Bob Welborn
|
7
|
'59 Chevrolet
|
1959-03
|
Lee Petty
|
15
|
'59 Oldsmobile
|
1959-26
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'59 Pontiac
|
1960-03
|
Fireball Roberts
|
2
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1960-04
|
Jack Smith
|
1
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1960-05
|
Junior Johnson
|
9
|
'59 Chevrolet
|
1960-23
|
Jack Smith
|
1
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1961-03
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-04
|
Joe Weatherly
|
1
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1961-05
|
Marvin Panch
|
4
|
'60 Pontiac
|
1961-32
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'61 Pontiac
|
1962-03
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-04
|
Joe Weatherly
|
3
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-05
|
Fireball Roberts
|
1
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1962-29
|
Fireball Roberts
|
4
|
'62 Pontiac
|
1963-05
|
Junior Johnson
|
2
|
'63 Chevrolet
|
1963-06
|
Johnny Rutherford
|
9
|
'63 Chevrolet
|
1963-07
|
Tiny Lund
|
12
|
'63 Ford
|
1963-29
|
Fireball Roberts
|
3
|
'63 Ford
|
1964-06
|
Junior Johnson
|
2
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-07
|
Bobby Isaac
|
4
|
'64 Dodge
|
1964-08
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'64 Plymouth
|
1964-35
|
A.J. Foyt
|
19
|
'64 Dodge
|
1965-02
|
Darel Dieringer
|
1
|
'64 Mercury
|
1965-03
|
Junior Johnson
|
1
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-04
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
4
|
'65 Ford
|
1965-29
|
A.J. Foyt
|
11
|
'65 Ford
|
1966-03
|
Paul Goldsmith
|
8
|
'65 Plymouth
|
1966-04
|
Earl Balmer
|
6
|
'65 Dodge
|
1966-05
|
Richard Petty
|
1
|
'66 Plymouth
|
1966-28
|
Sam McQuagg
|
4
|
'66 Dodge
|
1967-03
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
3
|
'67 Dodge
|
1967-04
|
Fred Lorenzen
|
6
|
'67 Ford
|
1967-05
|
Mario Andretti
|
12
|
'67 Ford
|
1967-28
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
'67 Ford
|
1968-04
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'68 Mercury
|
1968-25
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
'68 Mercury
|
1969-04
|
David Pearson
|
15
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-05
|
Bobby Isaac
|
1
|
'69 Dodge
|
1969-06
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
19
|
'69 Ford
|
1969-28
|
LeeRoy Yarbrough
|
9
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-02
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
'69 Mercury
|
1970-03
|
Charlie Glotzbach
|
2
|
'69 Dodge
|
1970-04
|
Pete Hamilton
|
9
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1970-24
|
Donnie Allison
|
15
|
'69 Ford
|
1971-02
|
Pete Hamilton
|
2
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1971-03
|
David Pearson
|
4
|
'69 Mercury
|
1971-04
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1971-27
|
Bobby Isaac
|
21
|
'71 Dodge
|
1972-02
|
A.J. Foyt
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1972-17
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-02
|
Richard Petty
|
7
|
'73 Dodge
|
1973-17
|
David Pearson
|
6
|
'71 Mercury
|
1974-02
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'74 Dodge
|
1974-16
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'73 Mercury
|
1975-02
|
Benny Parsons
|
32
|
'75 Chevrolet
|
1975-16
|
Richard Petty
|
13
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-02
|
David Pearson
|
7
|
Mercury
|
1976-16
|
Cale Yarborough
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-02
|
Cale Yarborough
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-16
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
Dodge
|
1978-02
|
Bobby Allison
|
33
|
Ford
|
1978-16
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
Mercury
|
1979-02
|
Richard Petty
|
13
|
Oldsmobile
|
1979-17
|
Neil Bonnett
|
2
|
Mercury
|
1980-02
|
Buddy Baker
|
1
|
Oldsmobile
|
1980-17
|
Bobby Allison
|
14
|
Mercury
|
1981-02
|
Richard Petty
|
8
|
Buick
|
1981-17
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Buick
|
1982-01
|
Bobby Allison
|
7
|
Buick
|
1982-16
|
Bobby Allison
|
9
|
Buick
|
1983-01
|
Cale Yarborough
|
8
|
Pontiac
|
1983-16
|
Buddy Baker
|
8
|
Ford
|
1984-01
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1984-16
|
Richard Petty
|
6
|
Pontiac
|
1985-01
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1985-15
|
Greg Sacks
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-01
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-15
|
Tim Richmond
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-01
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1987-15
|
Bobby Allison
|
11
|
Buick
|
1988-01
|
Bobby Allison
|
3
|
Buick
|
1988-15
|
Bill Elliott
|
38
|
Ford
|
1989-01
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-15
|
Davey Allison
|
8
|
Ford
|
1990-01
|
Derrike Cope
|
12
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-15
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-01
|
Ernie Irvan
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-15
|
Bill Elliott
|
10
|
Ford
|
1992-01
|
Davey Allison
|
6
|
Ford
|
1992-15
|
Ernie Irvan
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-01
|
Dale Jarrett
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-15
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-01
|
Sterling Marlin
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1994-15
|
Jimmy Spencer
|
3
|
Ford
|
1995-01
|
Sterling Marlin
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1995-15
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-01
|
Dale Jarrett
|
7
|
Ford
|
1996-15
|
Sterling Marlin
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-01
|
Jeff Gordon
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-16
|
John Andretti
|
3
|
Ford
|
1998-01
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-30
|
Jeff Gordon
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-01
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-17
|
Dale Jarrett
|
12
|
Ford
|
2000-01
|
Dale Jarrett
|
1
|
Ford
|
2000-17
|
Jeff Burton
|
9
|
Ford
|
2001-01
|
Michael Waltrip
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-17
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-01
|
Ward Burton
|
19
|
Dodge
|
2002-17
|
Michael Waltrip
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-01
|
Michael Waltrip
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-17
|
Greg Biffle
|
30
|
Ford
|
2004-01
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-17
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-01
|
Jeff Gordon
|
15
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-17
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-01
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-17
|
Tony Stewart
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-01
|
Kevin Harvick
|
34
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-18
|
Jamie McMurray
|
15
|
Ford
|
2008-01
|
Ryan Newman
|
7
|
Dodge
|
2008-18
|
Kyle Busch
|
9
|
Toyota
|
2009-01
|
Matt Kenseth
|
39
|
Ford
|
2009-18
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-01
|
Jamie McMurray
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-18
|
Kevin Harvick
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-01
|
Trevor Bayne
|
32
|
Ford
|
2011-17
|
David Ragan
|
5
|
Ford
|
2012-01
|
Matt Kenseth
|
4
|
Ford
|
2012-18
|
Tony Stewart
|
42
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-01
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-18
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-01
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
9
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-18
|
Aric Almirola
|
15
|
Ford
|
2015-01
|
Joey Logano
|
5
|
Ford
|
2015-17
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
Weekend Articles:
- Speedweek Schedule
- Preseason Power Rankings
- Entry List
- Qualifying Results
- Can-Am Duel Starting Order
- Daytona Driver Stats
- Can-Am to Sponsor Duel at Daytona
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