♪♪ ♪♪ >>> THIS IS DAYTONA! THE FANS, THE CARS, THE ACTION. THIS IS OUR TENTH SEASON ON FOX. WOW! TEN YEARS! THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR A TEAM TO STAY TOGETHER IN THIS SPORT. IN FACT, THAT'S THE LONGEST I'VE BEEN ON ONE TEAM. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR BEST YET. >> NASCAR, RACING IS BACK! >> BACK TO ITS ROOTS. >> THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE BACK. >> THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE BACK! ♪♪ >> BUMP-DRAFTING IS ON. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WHAT'S THAT LINE? >> BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! ♪♪ >> YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BEATING AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME BANGING. >> OH, YEAH, AN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME BRAWLS. >> I'LL BE WAITING. >> THIS IS KEVIN HARVICK GOING AFTER GREG BIFFLE. >> JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS. >> HE CAN'T BE DOING THAT. I WON'T PUT UP WITH IT. >> RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACING. WHO'S READY? >> ARE YOU READY? >> ARE YOU READY FOR IT? >> I KNOW I'M READY! >> LET'S GO! >> LET'S GO! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: IT'S THE START OF SOMETHING BIG! IT'S A DAY WE CROWN A CHAMPION. IT'S THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. FANS FROM ALL 50 STATES, FROM MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES, GATHERING HERE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. TODAY WE'LL SEE FAMOUS NAMES AND LEGENDS, ATHLETE OF THE YEAR, JIMMIE JOHNSON, GOING FOR A FIFTH STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. CARL EDWARDS, HIS WIFE KATE PREGNANT WITH THEIR FIRST CHILD ANY DAY NOW. KYLE BUSCH WHO BRINGS ATTITUDE. AND DALE EARNHARDT JR., WITH GREAT OPTIMISM. WE WILL SEE HEROES AND HEARTBREAK, AS RACING RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS IN OUR TENTH SEASON IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. TRAVELING ROAD SHOW, TRACKSIDE HERE IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, TO BRING YOU CLOSER TO THE RACES. I AM CHRIS MYERS, OUR DRIVER DARRELL WALTRIP, CREW CHIEF WHO WON A DAYTONA 500, JEFF HAMMOND. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. >> Jeff: THANK YOU. >> Darrell: YOU'RE LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. YOU NEVER KNOW. >> Chris: BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE'LL HAVE ON THE SHOW. WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU THIS EXCITED ABOUT A DAYTONA 500 IN TEN YEARS. WHY? >> Darrell: IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS. THEY'RE HAVING FUN, RACING HARD, NASCAR LAID OFF OF THEM AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN LET OUT OF A CAGE. I LOVE IT. THE RACES ARE CLOSE. THIS WILL BE THE BEST 500 EVER! >> Jeff: I'M GRAD YOU MENTIONED THE CAGE. THIS IS THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. WE HAVE 43 LION-TAMERS OUT THERE TRYING TO TAME THE DAYTONA 500. THE TRACK, ITSELF. IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT, IT WILL EAT YOU. THINK ABOUT TONY STEWART, JEFF GORDON AND JIMMIE JOHNSON. IT WILL BE THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH TODAY. >> Darrell: IT'S THE YEAR OF THE TIGER. >> Chris: IT COULD BE THE YEAR OF THE DRIVER. LET'S CHECK THE QUICK HEADLINES. 51-YEAR-OLD MARK MARTIN, THE OLDEST DRIVER TO WIN A POLE FOR THIS RACE WILL START IN HIS 26th DAYTONA 500. MEANWHILE, HIS HENDRICK TEAMMATE GARAGE PARTNER DALE EARNHARDT JR. STARTING ALONGSIDE ON THE OUTSIDE POLE. A REAL ADVENTURE IN SPEED WEEKS FOR THE FIRST TIME WE COUNTED AT LEAST 15 CRASHES, INCLUDING JUNIOR CLIPPING AND DANICA INVOLVED ALSO IN HER FIRST NATIONWIDE RACE. A GREAT FINISH. SPEAKING OF DRAMATIC FINISHES, KEVIN HARVICK AND THE "BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT." IN THE GATORADE GATORADE DUEL, JIMMIE JOHNSON AND KASEY KAHNE BESTING THE FIELD. HOW ABOUT IT? THE DRIVERS, THEY'RE LOVING IT SO FAR. WHAT WILL THE NEW ADJUSTMENTS, WHO WILL IT BENEFIT THE MOST? >> Darrell: THE AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS. WHO ARE THEY? 43 OF THEM, FOLKS. THESE GUYS DOWN HERE, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE EXCITEMENT, THE GUYS GO OUT THERE AND RUN OVER EACH OTHER AND BUMP-DRAFT A LITTLE BIT. THEY DO IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. THEY DO IT LIKE GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT. THEY KNOW WHEN THE PUSH AND SHOVE AND IT'S PAYING OFF. >> Jeff: IT'S BEEN GOOD. THE WAY IT'S GONE SO FAR, EVERY CREW CHIEF FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA BECAUSE OF CHANGES. >> Chris: THE ADJUSTMENTS, GO OVER DETAILS. DRIVER CHANGES AS YOU WATCH TODAY'S RACE. JAMIE McMURRAY NOW IN THE 1 CAR. MARTIN TRUEX JR. MOVED TO THE 56. THE BIGGEST ADJUSTMENT HAS COME AS FANS SPOKE AND NASCAR LISTENED. RACING MORE IN THE HANDS OF THE DRIVER, THE GLOVES ARE OFF. BACK TO FULL CONTACT AND PLENTY OF ATTITUDE IS OKAY. DRIVERS WILL GET MORE WOW OUT OF THE CAR OF NOW. >> SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S NEW WITH NASCAR? I'M HERE TO TELL YOU. I'VE NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT MY WORDS ANYWAY. >> I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THESE. I CAN'T STAND TO DRIVE THEM. THEY SUCK. >> CREATING BEATING AND BANGING AND PUSHING AND SHOVING. ALL THE STUFF YOU LOVE. >> OFTENTIMES, WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN. IT'S COMING BACK. IT'S RETRO, BABY! >> LIKE THE CARS WE USED TO RUN. OWWWW! >> LOOKING GOOD. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SEE THIS WEEKEND, WHAT'S NEW? BIGGER RESTRICTOR-PLATES. THIS TIME, SIZE MATTERS. >> FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1989, THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE GETS BIGGER. >> YOU MUST KNOW DETAILS. THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE ARE NOW 63, 64th OF AN INCH. WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW IS IT MEANS MORE HORSEPOWER. >> THAT MEANS MORE SPEED. >> ANOTHER RETRO MOVE IS THAT NASCAR IS GOING TO POLICE US DRIVERS LESS. THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS. WE GET TO TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS. >> IF YOU MAKE ME MAD, I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW IT. >> BUT THERE IS ONE CHANGE THAT WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT AT DAYTONA. >> LISTEN TO LARRY Mac WHEN HE SAYS, "PULL THOSE BELTS TIGHT ONE MORE TIME." BUMP-DRAFTING IS BACK. WE'RE PUTTING OUR FOOT DOWN. >> ON THE GAS PEDAL. >> WE WANT TO RACE. >> IF YOU AIN'T RUBBING, YOU AIN'T RACING. >> FULL-CONTACT SPORT. WE WANT THE BOYS TO HAVE AT IT. HAVE FUN, BE AGGRESSIVE AND PUT ON A GOOD SHOW FOR THE FANS. >> Chris: YOU'RE THE ONLY GUY I KNOW WHO CARRIES A RESTRICTOR-PLATE AROUND. MORE HORSEPOWER. >> Jeff: THAT'S RIGHT. THIS BABY SINCE 1989 SINCE YOU AND I WON THE DAYTONA 500, THE BIGGEST PLATE WE'VE HAD. WE TALKED ABOUT IT. SPEEDS ARE UP. THREE MILES AN HOUR, CHRIS. I'LL SLAP THIS MAN IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING NICE. >> Chris: WHY NOT DO IT SOONER? WHY NOT TAKE IT OFF? >> Darrell: SAFETY. SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY. WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT. IT'S LIKE A BASKETBALL GAME, LIKE A REFEREE WHO IS WHISTLE-HAPPY. EVERY TOUCH FOUL HE BLOWS THE WHISTLE. NOW THAT'S OFF THE TABLE. FOLKS, THEY'RE GOING TO LET IT BE! >> Jeff: YOU CAN BUMP AND GRIND NOW, BABY. >> Chris: WITH MORE OF THAT LEADS TO TEMPERS AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LEADS TO. DRIVERS MAD AT EACH OTHER. >> Jeff: FANS LOVE IT! IT'S ABOUT LETTING THE GUYS BE WHAT THEY ARE. >> Chris: 500 MILES, YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR EMOTION UNDER CONTROL. >> Darrell: I BET TIM McGRAW DOES A SONG THAT GOES I MAY BE A BAD BOY, BUT I'M A REAL GOOD MAN. WE HAVE REAL RACING. >> Chris: PIT CREW GO THE EXTRA MILE OVER EVERY MILE. CHECK IN WITH THE FOURSOME BEGINNING WITH DICK BERGGREN. >> Dick: I'LL TALK TO THE DRIVER WHO HAS WON MORE RACES AT DAYTONA THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN TODAY'S DAYTONA 500 -- TONY STEWART. >> WANT A DARK HORSE FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE? HOW ABOUT YOUNG BRAD KESELOWSKI. HE IS UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT HIS HARD-CHARGING STYLE. WE TALK TO HIM. >> MARK MARTIN IS IN NASCAR TO LEAD AT THE 500 MILE AND NOT WIN. I TALK TO HIM. >> Krista: DRIVER 24 IS HUGE FAN OF VALENTINE'S DAY, NOT JUST BECAUSE HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL WIFE. I'LL EXPLAIN WHEN I TALK TO JEFF GORDON. >> Chris: THANKS, KRISTA. THE GANG ALL HERE. HERE IS WHAT IS AROUND THE TURN. WE HOPE YOU STAY WITH US. CHAMP JIMMIE JOHNSON ON THE BIG CHIEF CHAD KNAUS REFLECT ON THEIR FOURTH CHAMPIONSHIP AND HOW THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS AS SWEET AS EVER. TEAMMATE DALE EARNHARDT JR. SAT DOWN WITH JEFF HAMMOND HERE TO TALK ABOUT A NEW DECADE. HOW IT MIGHT MEAN A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR HIM AND JUNIOR NATION. AND YESTERDAY, DANICA PATRICK GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL AT DAYTONA TO FIND OUT HOW SHE FINISHED IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE AND HOW SOON SHE MIGHT RUN IN CUP, WE TALK TO HER. VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION OF GAS 'N' GO. SEE WHO WE HAVE OUR HEARTS SET ON. PLUS, TIM McGRA SUPERSTAR, WILL PERFORM FOR US IN DAYTONA. NASCAR ON FOX, GETTING YOU READY FOR THE 52nd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. GLAD YOU'RE ALONG FOR THE >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET THAT CLOSE TO IT. >> EASY, EASY. >> TOO BAD. >> WHAT CHANNEL IS THIS ON? >> CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THAT PIZZI DID? >> Chris: WE LOOK FORWARD TO PIZZI. WE DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL LAUGH OR CRY BUT YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED. SHOW-STOPPER IN DAYTONA, DANICA PATRICK AFTER A SIXTH PLACE FINISH IN ARCA RACE RUNNING FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR.'S NATIONWIDE TEAM. TOOK A SHOT AT IT YESTERDAY. HOW DID SHE HAND THE HYPE AND WHAT KIND OF DRIVER IS SHE? >> Darrell: WHEN I HEARD SHE WAS COMING TO RACE WITH US, I WAS A SKEPTIC AND I SAID I DON'T BELIEVE IT. BUT AFTER THE ARCA RACE, AFTER SHE RACED IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE, SHE'LL BE A BETTER RACER AS SHE RACES WITH US FOR A WHILE. >> Chris: HER DAY ENDED EARLY AFTER A WRECK, SHE ENDED UP 35th. E DEBUT SHE WAS HOPING FOR. >> MY GOAL WAS TO FINISH. I WAS JUST GETTING THE HG OF IT. THAT'S A BUMMER, YOU KNOW. YOU START TO GET THE HANG OF IT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FALL INTO LINE AND SEE TEN CARS AHEAD OF YOU. UNFORTUNATELY THE BIG TRACKS WHERE YOU'RE RUN SOMETHING CLOSE, NOTHING YOU CAN DO. IF SOMEONE IS SLIDING BY AND SMOKE STARTS AND ANOTHER ONE SPINS, LITERALLY I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF MY WINDOW, I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE WINDOW. YOU BECOME A VICTIM. IT'S UNFORTUNATE TO TRACK UP A GOOD RACECAR IN SOMETHING THAT WASN'T YOUR FAULT. >> Chris: PART OF GoDaddy.COM. PART OF THE CHARITABLE INITIATIVE THIS NASCAR ON FOX, WE ARE HONORING TOM MURTHY FROM SPRINT. WE ASK CAN YOU TO JOINT OUR TEAM SUPPORTING RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES WHO IMPROVE THE BENEFIT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHEN MEDICAL TREATMENTS ARE NOT CLOSE TO HOME. VISIT IS GAME. >> Chris: GLAD YOU'RE PART OF FOX NASCAR SUNDAY. BIG RACE DESERVES A BIG DRAW. TIM McGRAW, GRAMMY AWARD WINNING COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER AND HOLLYWOOD ACTOR, PART OF THE GREAT CROWD HERE FOR THE 52nd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERI. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I LIKE IT ♪ ♪ I LOVE IT ♪ ♪ I WANT MORE OF IT ♪ >> ♪ WHERE THE GREEN GRASS GROWS ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'VE GOT A SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪ SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ IT WAS LABOR DAY WEEKEND ♪ ♪ I WAS 17 ♪ ♪ I BOUGHT SOME GASOLINE ♪ ♪ I DROVE OUT TO THE COUNTY FAIR ♪ ♪ WHEN I SAW HER FOR THE FIRST TIME ♪ ♪ SHE WAS STANDING IN THE PICKET LINE ♪ ♪ IT ALL STARTED RIGHT THEN AND THERE ♪ ♪A DAY I'LL NEVER FORGET ♪ ♪ SHE WAS KILLING ME IN THE MINI SKIRT ♪ ♪ SKIPPING ROCKS BY THE RIVER AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS ♪ ♪ I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT FIRST KISS ♪ ♪ A HEART DON'T FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THAT ♪ ♪ IT WAS FIVE YEARS LATER ON A SOUTHBOUND PLANE ♪ ♪ I WAS HEADING DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS ♪ ♪ TO MEET SOME FRIENDS OF MINE FOR MARDI GRAS ♪ ♪ WHEN I HEARD A VOICE FROM THE PAST COMING FROM A FEW ROWS BACK ♪ ♪ WHEN I LOOKED, I COULDN'T BELIEVE JUST WHAT I SAW ♪ ♪ SHE SAID, 'I BET YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME" ♪ ♪ AND I SAID, "ONLY EVERY OTHER MEMORY" ♪ ♪ I HAD A BARBECUE STAIN ON MY WHITE T-SHIRT ♪ ♪ YOU WERE KILLING ME IN THE MINI SKIRT ♪ ♪ SKIPPING ROCKS ON THE RIVER BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS ♪ ♪ YOU HAD A SUNTAN LINE AND RED LIPSTICK ♪ ♪ I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT ♪ AND A HEART DON'T FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THAT ♪ C'MON! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ LIKE AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH ♪ ♪ TIME CAN MAKE A FEELING FADE ♪ ♪ BUT THE MEMORY OF A FIRST LOVE ♪ ♪ NEVER FADES AWAY ♪ ♪ I HAD A BOOSH CUE STAIN ON MY WHITE T-SHIRT ♪ ♪ SHE WAS KILLING ME IN THAT MINI SKIRT ♪ ♪ SKIPPING ROCKS ON THE RIVER BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS ♪ ♪ SHE HAD A SUN TAN LINE AND RED LIPSTICK ♪ ♪ I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT FIRST KISS ♪ ♪ AND A HEART DON'T FORGET ♪ ♪ NO, A HEART DON'T FORGET ♪ ♪ I SAID A HEART DON'T FORGET SOMETHING LIKE THIS ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ NO, NOT SOMETHING LIKE THAT ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ THERE'S A PLACE I LIKE TO GO ♪ ♪ I CAN HEAR THE COTTON GROW ♪ ♪ THE TRAIN WHISTLE BLOW ♪ ♪ A DOZEN MILES DOWN THE ROAD ♪ ♪ ALL I REALLY HAVE TO DO IS JUST BE STILL ♪ ♪♪ ♪ THERE'S A PLACE I LOVE TO BE ♪ ♪ MOMMA, DADDY, MY SISTER AND ME ♪ ♪ FIRST TIME I EVER SAW THE BEACH BACK TO 1983 ♪ ♪ ALL I REALLY HAVE TO DO IS JUST BE STILL ♪ ♪ WHEN THIS WORLD GETS CRAZY ♪ ♪ AND TRIES TO BREAK ME ♪ ♪ AND I HAD ALL I CAN STAND ♪ ♪ I CAN CLOSE MY EYES ♪ ♪ NO MATTER WHERE I AM ♪ ♪ AND JUST BE STILL ♪ ♪ THERE'S A PLACE THAT I CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WHERE MY BABY'S NEXT TO ME ♪ ♪ CLOSE ENOUGH TO FEEL THE HEAT ♪ ♪ ALL WOUND UP BENEATH THE SHEETS ♪ ♪ AND ALL I HAVE TO DO IS JUST BE STILL ♪ ♪ WHEN THIS WORLD GETS CRAZY ♪ ♪ AND TRIES TO BREAK ME ♪ ♪ AND I'VE HAD ALL I CAN STAND ♪ ♪ I CAN CLOSE MY EYES ♪ ♪ NO MATTER WHERE I AM ♪ ♪ AND JUST BE STILL ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ THERE'S A PLACE I NEED TO GO ♪ ♪ WHERE THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS GLOW ♪ ♪ EVERY PART OF ME IS KNOWN ♪ ♪ THANK GOD I CAN GO THERE ♪ ♪ THANK GOD I CAN GO THERE ♪ ♪ STILL ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ STILL ♪ ♪ STILL ♪ ♪ THANK GOD I CAN GO THERE STILL ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> DAYTONA! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ HANK WILLIAMS SANG IT ♪ ♪ NUMBER THREE DROVE IT ♪ CHUCK BERRY TWANGED♪ ♪ WILL FORTON WROTE IT ♪ ♪ ARETHA FRANKLIN SOLD IT ♪ ♪ DOLLY PARTON GRACED IT♪ ROSA PARKS RODE IT ♪ ♪ SCARLETT "O" CHASED IT ♪ ♪ SMOOTH AS THE HICKORY WIND ♪ ♪ THAT BLOWS FROM MEMPHIS ♪ ♪ DOWN TO APPALACHICOLA ♪ ♪ IT'S HI Y'ALL DID YA EAT WELL ♪ ♪ COME ON IN ♪ ♪ I'M SURE GLAD TO KNOW YA ♪ ♪ DON'T LET THIS OLD GOLD CROSS ♪ ♪ AMAN BROTHERS T-SHIRT THROW YOU ♪ ♪ IT'S MAKING NOISE ♪ ♪ WITH A SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪ HANK AARON SMACKED IT ♪ ♪ MICHAEL JORDAN DUNKED IT ♪ ♪ POCAHONTAS TRACKED IT ♪ ♪ JACK DANIELS DRUNK IT ♪ ♪ TOM PETTY ROCKED IT ♪ ♪ DR. KING PAVED IT ♪ ♪ BEAR BRYANT WON IT ♪ ♪ BILLY GRAHAM SAVED IT ♪ ♪ SMOOTH AS THE HICKORY WIND ♪ ♪ THAT BLOWS FROM MEMPHIS DOWN TO APPALACHICOLA ♪ ♪ IT'S HI Y'ALL, DID Y'ALL EAT WELL ♪ ♪ COME ON IN, I'M SURE GLAD TO KNOW YA ♪ ♪ DON'T LET THIS OLD GOLD CROSS CAN AND THIS CRIMSON TIDE T-SHIRT THROW YA ♪ ♪ IT'S CICADAS MAKING NOISE ♪ ♪ITH THE SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ JESUS IS MY FRIEND ♪ ♪ AMERICA IS MY HOME ♪ ♪ SWEET ICED TEA, DAYTONA BEACH ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT GETS TO ME ♪ ♪ I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ SMOOTH AS THE HICKORY WIND ♪ ♪ THAT BLOWS FROM MEMPHIS DOWN TO APPALACHICOLA ♪ ♪ IT'S HI, Y'ALL, DID YOU EAT WELL ♪ ♪ COME ON IN, CHILD ♪ ♪ I'M SURE GLAD TO KNOW YA ♪ ♪ DON'T LET THIS OLD GOLD CROSS AND THIS CHARLIE DANIELS T-SHIRT THROW YA ♪ ♪ WE'RE JUST BOYS MAKING NOISE ♪ ♪ WITH THE SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ A SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ ♪ I'VE GOT A SOUTHERN VOICE ♪ LET ME HEAR YOUR SOUTHERN VOICE, DAYTONA BEACH! C'MON! ♪♪ ♪♪ WHOO! ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK, COUNTING YOU DOWN TO THE DAYTONA 500. PEOPLE ALL GATHERING HERE. IF YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME, YOU HAVE THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. THERE IS THE WINNING CAR FOR THE DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR, ROLLS RIGHT IN TO DAYTONA USA. MATT KENSETH STARTED 39TH, THE FURTHER BACK TO START AND WIN THE RACE. IT WAS A RAIN-SHORTENED RACE. THANKFULLY, NO RAIN IN TODAY'S FORECAST. THE TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 50s TODAY. IT IS SUNNY, THE COLDEST DAYTONA 500 SINCE THE EARLY '70s. OVER OUR DECADE OF COVERAGE, WE'VE HAD EVERYTHING AT THE RACES, RAIN, SLEET, SNOW, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UP TO SPEED ON ALL THE WEATHER AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE RACING WE'LL WATCH, JOINING US FROM THE FOX STORM SCOUT CENTER, RICK DICKER, MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGIST SOCIETY, THAT'S WHAT HE TELLS US. WELCOME, RICK. GLAD TO HAVE YOU. >> I'M ALSO LARRY McREYNOLDS CERTIFIED, CHRIS. I SPENT THREE WEEKS WITH HIM AND UNDER HIS TRAINING SO I'M GOOD TO GO. >> Chris: THAT MAY NOT BE A GOOD THING BUT HE WILL BE HERE TO HELP YOU. WHATEVER WEATHER YOU TELL US ABOUT, HE WILL BREAK IT DOWN TO HOW IT AFFECTS THE CARS ON THE TRACK. >> SOUNDS GOOD. COOL AIR MASS IN PLACE, YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT THE RAIN IS GONE. WE GOT NEARLY AN INCH OF RAIN ON FRIDAY WHEN THE WEATHER SYSTEM MOVED THROUGH. WE HAD TO WIDEN OUT THE RADAR TO DETECT ANY PRECIPITATION IN ALABAMA, GEORGIA, BUT THE SUNSHINE STATE IS CLEAR. SUNNY SKIES AND CHILLY. TEMPERATURES IN THE RACE ARE ONLY IN THE LOW TO MID-50s. THE AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR IS IN THE LOWER 70s. THE WINDS WON'T BE A PROBLEM EITHER. ON FRIDAY WE HAD A PEAK WIND GUST OF 43 MILES PER HOUR. YESTERDAY, 28 MILES PER HOUR. TODAY, ON ANTICIPATING NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO TEN MILES AN HOUR. WE SAW RAIN IN DAYTONA ON FRIDAY, BUT THE LAST RAINDROPS FELL ON FRIDAY NIGHT. BUT LOOK WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER NASCAR SPEEDWAYS RECEIVED. THAT'S SNOW! ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY, TWO INCHES. FORT WORTH, TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY OVER A FOOT. ALL CLEAR TODAY. BUT FONTANA, MAYBE RAIN LATE IN RACE NEXT WEEK. >> Chris: ANYTIME THERE IS WEATHER, RICK, YOU'LL BE ON TOP OF IT. WELCOME ABOARD. ENJOY THE RACE TODAY. 1979, THE FIRST LIVE FLAG-TO-FLAG DAYTONA 500, GOT GREAT RATINGS. SOME WERE SNOWED IN BUT A GREAT FINISH. >> Darrell: THEY WERE MAKING SNOWMEN ON THE EAST COAST AND WE WERE MUD WRESTLING IN DAYTONA. IT WAS QUITE A DAY. >> Jeff: ALL I KNOW WHEN I WAS DRIVING BACK UP FROM DOWN HERE, ALL YOU COULD HEAR UP AND DOWN THE RADIO, EVERY TIME I STOPPED TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500. JUST LIKE TODAY. >> Chris: WEATHER WON'T BE A FACTOR. TALK ABOUT THE DRIVERS. MARK MARTIN IN HIS 26th DAYTONA 500. YOU HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS OF NASCAR. FIVE TIMES HE HAS BEEN RUNNER-UP FOR CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. HE NEVER WON THIS RACE. THIS MIGHIS TIMO DEFY FATHER TIME. 51 YEARS OF AGE, HE'S ON THE POLE IN HIS GoDaddy.COM CAR, AT HIS AGE IS MORE LIKE GOGRANDDADDY.COM. >> MARK MARTIN PLAYING CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. >> MARK CAN GET THE JOB DONE. HE HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND SMARTS. >> POLE FOR MARK MARTIN. >> GOOD JOB, MARK! >> NO DRIVER IN TODAY'S FIELD HAS MORE EXPERIENCE THAN MARK MARTIN. TODAY MARKS HIS 26th DAYTONA 500. MARK, WITH THE NEW RULES PACKAGE AND WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE PAST WEEK, IS TODAY'S RACE EVEN MORE UNPREDICTABLE? >> IT IS FOR ME. YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE A LOT OF RACING DOWN HERE. THIS HAS BEEN THE HARDEST SPEED WEEKS I'VE EVER SEEN TO GET RID OF A CAR -- YOU KNOW, I CAN WORK SOMEBODY OVER AND GET BY THEM AND THEN THEY ROAR BACK UP BESIDE US. DIRTY UP THE AIR. THE CARS REALLY STICK TOGETHER A LOT. AND I THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, BECAUSE IT'S 500 MILES. ALL DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN. DIFFERENT PIT SEQUENCES. ALL KINDS OF STUFF. CAUTIONS, NO CAUTIONS. YOU GOT TO BE READY TO ADJUST TO WHATEVER COMES ABOUT. >> Matt: GOOD LUCK TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> Matt: MARK MARTIN TRYING TO BE THE FIRST POLE-SITTER IN A DECADE TO WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. CHRIS? >> I STILL DO NOT FEEL -- >> Chris: I MEAN HE'S DEFYING AGE IN TERMS OF BEING IN THE RACE, HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LAST YEAR, AT 51. >> Darrell: TALKING TO HIM THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID SOMETHING THAT BROKE ME UP. HE SAID THAT CAR HAS NO IDEA HOW OLD I AM. >> Chris: THE EXPERIENCE HE HAS IN A RACE LIKE THIS, WHAT IS IT WORTH? >> Jeff: IT'S INVALUABLE. MARK SAID HE KNOWS WHAT THE RACETRACK WILL DO TODAY. HE UNDERSTANDS ALREADY THAT THE NEW PACKAGE IS GOING TO KEEP EVERYBODY AROUND HIM. HE'S GOT TO RACE SMARTER. LET THE TRACK, LET HIS CREW KEEP HIM UP TOWARD THE FRONT. WHEN IT COMES TIME, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. THAT 5 CAR WILL BE BACK. >> Chris: AMONG THE FIELD, THE GUY WITH THE MOST DAYTONA 500 WINS ACTIVE IS JEFF GORDON WITH THREE. HIS WIFE, THEY'RE EXPECTING A SECOND CHILD. BUT WHERE IS JEFF IN THE BIG PICTURE? PART OF THE HENDRICK TEAM. CAN HE WIN TODAY? CAN HE WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP? >> Darrell: I'M NOT SURE, BUT WHEN YOU START HAVING CHILDREN AND START RAISING A FAMILY, PARTICULARLY LATE IN YOUR CAREER LIKE HE IS, IT AFFECTS YOU, IT AFFECTS YOUR ROUTINE. MAYBE AFTER THEY HAVE THE CHILDREN AND THEY GET GROWN UP A LITTLE BIT, TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD HE MAY GET HIS FOCUS BACK ON RACING. I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. YOU PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THE KIDS AND THE FAMILY WHEN YOU'RE AT JEFF GORDON'S AGE AND THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER. >> Jeff: I THINK WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, DARRELL -- AGAIN, YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND UNDERSTAND WITH A YOU'RE SAYING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT MARK MARTIN HIS TEAMMATE, IT GIVES JEFF A BIG WINDOW TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY I STILL WANT TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. REALLY, TO ME IT'S UP TO JEFF GORDON. WHAT DO YOU WANT? YOU HAVE THE TALENT AND THE CAR UNDERNEATH YOU. YOU JUST HAVE TO GET REFOCUSSED AND GO. >> Darrell: I THINK IT'S UP TO INGRID. >> Chris: THAT'S HIS WIFE. SADL EXPECTING A CHILD, JIMMIE JOHNSON EXPECTING THE FIRST CHILD, CARL EDWARDS. SOMETHING IN THE MOTOR OIL. THIS SEASON FOX IS PARTNERING WITH DirecTV FOR NASCAR HEAD-TO-HEAD KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION, BEGINNING WITH THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE IN TEXAS. 32 DRIVERS SEATED IN TOURNAMENT STYLE BRACKETS. FANS GET A CHANCE TO PICK THE WEEKLY WINNER OF EACH HEAD-TO-MADE MATCH-UP AND -- HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UP AND THEN SINGLE ELIMINATION. THEY BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN DARLINGTON ON MAY 8. THE FAN WITH THE MOST ACCURATE SELECTION WILL WIN A 2010 ROUSH MUSTANG, ONLY 103 PRODUCED. PERFECT BRACKET RESULTS IN A CHANCE FOR A FAN TO WIN $1 MILLION. DRIVERS WILL COMPETE ON BEHALF OF THEIR FAVORITE CHARITY, TOTAL OF $500,000 WILL BE AWARDED TO HELP A CAUSE. FOLLOW KEY WEEKLY MATCH-UPS LIVE ON DirecTV WITH NASCAR HOT PASS. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. UPDATES ON OUR SHOW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAD-TO-HEAD KNOCKOUT, VISIT DirecTV.COM/NASCAR. AS WE CONTINUE TO COUNT YOU DOWN TO THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE LIVE FROM DAYTONA, OUR JEFF HAMMOND CHATS WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR., TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM DA ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: WE WELCOME YOU BACK. A LOT OF IT ALL BEGAN RACING ON THE SAND ON THE BEACH IN DAYTONA, AS WE GET READY FOR THE START OF THIS RACE. IN THE LAST EIGHT DAYTONA 500s, WE'VE HAD EIGHT DIFFERENT WINNERS. SO THERE ARE FAVORITES TODAY, FAMILIAR NAMES BUT IT'S WIDE OPEN. THINK ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO TO THIS DATE ON VALENTINE'S DAY, JUNIOR JOHNSON WON THE SECOND RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. HE IS OUR GRAND MARSHAL TODAY. ONE OF 68 DRIVERS IN THE FIELD. THERE WERE SO MANY CARS WRECKED THAT NASCAR HAD TO CANCEL THE NEXT TWO EVENTS. THERE IS THE LAST AMERICAN HERO WITH HIS CAR, SOON TO BE MADE A MOTION PICTURE. MEANWHILE, DALE EARNHARDT JR., HE IS NOW 35 YEARS OLD. HE'S, OF COURSE, WON AT DAYTONA BUT THE CLOSEST HE'S COME TO A CHAMPIONSHIP, 2003 WHEN HE FINISHED THIRD. AND I KNOW HIS FANS ARE CLAMORING EXPECTING GREATNESS. JEFF, YOU TALKED TO HIM. HE HAS A LOT ON HIS MIND. WHERE IS WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP? >> Jeff: HE'S AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. I REALLY BELIEVE HE CAME IN THE INTERVIEW TODAY, THIS TIME, CHRIS, WITH A DIFFERENT LOOK. WE KNOW ABOUT THE BEARD. BUT TO ME HE CAME IN WITH A REFRESHED AND RENEWED ATTITUDE. I WAS VERY MUCH INTRIGUED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAD TO SAY TO ME. >> 2009 WAS NOT THE YEAR I KNOW YOU WANT TO REMEMBER. >> YEAH, IT WASN'T. WE HAD AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS. SO IT HASN'T BEEN. I DON'T HAVE REALLY A DIFFICULT TIME BUYING IN TO WHATEVER RICK WANTS ME TO BUY INTO. >> I'VE WORKED FOR HENDRICK AND I UNDERSTAND HE MADE THE 88 THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. >> RICK'S INTENTIONS ARE TO GIVE US THAT FEELING THAT HE IS OUR NUMBER ONE CHEERLEADER. HE'S GOING TO RIDE SHOTGUN WITH US. THE WAY WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE IT IS THAT IT'S PRESSURE. >> DO YOU PUT MORE PRESSURE ON YOURSELF PROBABLY THAN ANYBODY ELSE EVER COULD? >> I FEEL A LOT OF PRESSURE SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT IT. WHERE DOES IT ALL GO? YOU KNOW? NORMALLY THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE AND YOU HAVE PLENTY OF SHELF SPACE FOR IT. SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE BIT HEAVY. >> DANICA PATRICK, PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT HER MAKING THE TRANSITION OVER HERE? >> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I WAS NERVOUS UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER IN A RACECAR. I MEAN SHE'S A RACECAR DRIVER. AND RACECAR DRIVERS ADAPT. SHE'S COMPETITIVE. WE ALL KNOW THAT. BUT SHE'S REALLY A LOT OF FUN TO WORK WITH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS THAT WAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE SEASON IS OVER WITH, SHE IS WANTING TO COME BACK. >> I GOT TO ASK YOU. I HAVE MEAN HAS DALE JR. STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND A FAMILY? >> YEAH. THE HOUSE IS BIG ENOUGH I GUESS FOR A FAMILY. YOU KNOW, I'M IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE PERSONALLY IN MY LIFE. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, RAISING LIKE A SON OR A DAUGHTER WOULD BE ONE OF THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU COULD HAVE. BUT I THINK THE HURDLE FOR ME ACTUALLY IS THE MARRIAGE PART. WHETHER PEOPLE CAN HANDLE DALE EARNHARDT JR. RAISING A CHILD AND NOT BEING IN A MARRIAGE, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOUGH FOR SOME PEOPLE. IF THERE IS ANY REASON TO DYBODY, I'LL BE MAKING SURE EVERYBODY GETS TO KNOW. >> Chris: I ALWAYS APPRECIATE HOW REFRESHINGLY CANDID HE IS. WE KNOW MARRIAGE COULD BE AN MERRY-GO-ROUND OR ROLLER COASTER. IT'S A THRILL RIDE. WITH HENDRICK, PEOPLE EXPECT HIM TO WIN. THE TIME IS NOW. >> Jeff: YEAH, THE TIME IS NOW. I THINK HE'S READY FOR IT. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET DOWN ON HIM TOO QUICK AND THINK ONE RACE MEANS THIS YEAR IS GOOD OR BAD. GIVE HIM FOUR OR FIVE RACES AND MAKE SURE THEY GET OUT OF THE BOX AND GET GOING. >> Darrell: THE DRIVER IS THE QUARTERBACK. THE TEAM GETS HIS ENERGY FROM THE DRIVER. IF YOU WALK AROUND WITH YOUR HEAD DOWN AND YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE VERY GOOD OR CAN'T DO IT, YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE, THE TEAM FEELS IT. GET YOUR HEAD UP, WALK PROUD, WALK TALL, AND THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM OVER THERE WITH DALE JR. AND HIS TEAM. >> Chris: WE'LL SEE HOW HE LOOKS IN INTRODUCTIONS. WHEN DALE JR. WON HIS ONLY DAYTONA 500 IN 2004, TONY STEWART FINISHED SECOND. THAT'S THE CLOSEST THE TWO-TIME CUP CHAMPION HAS COME TO WINNING THIS RACE. TONY STEWART, HE'S A DRIVER, HE'S AN OWNER AND STARTING FROM THE THIRD ROW, HE IS ONE OF THE FAVORITES TO WIN TODAY. >> STEWART IN THE 14 CAR. LOOK AT THE SMOKE! >> HE MUST HAVE PUT ON EXTRA OLD SPICE TONIGHT. >> NOW HE'S LEARNING HOW TO BE AN OWNER. >> TONY STEWART HAS REASON TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT! >> TONY STEWART IS THE WINNINGEST DRIVER HERE AT DAYTONA, BUT THERE IS ONE VICTORY, ONE TROPHY THAT IS MISSING: THE DAYTONA 500. TONY, YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE CRASHING THAT IS GOING ON HERE, SO FAR LEADING UP TO THE 500. HOW CAN YOU AVOID ALL THAT STUFF IN THE RACE AND COME HOME WITH A BIG TROPHY? >> IT HASN'T BEEN BAD IN THE CUP SERIES, I DON'T THINK. IT'S THE OTHER SERIES THAT THEY'VE HAD THE CRASHES IN. I THINK OUR RULES PACKAGE IS GOOD. I THINK NASCAR HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOSENING THE REINS AND LETTING US ALL DO WHAT THE FANS ASKED TO US DO. SO I THINK WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT TODAY. YOU KNOW, WE GOT A NICE PERFECTLY BLUE SKY DAY HERE AT DAYTONA. A LITTLE COOLER, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS TRACK IS GOING TO HAVE HEAT IN IT TODAY. WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE WORK TO DO TO GET THE CARS WHERE WE WANT THEM. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY. >> Dick: WISH YOU LUCK. GO GET 'EM. >> Krista: NO ONE IN THE FIELD WON THE RACE MORE THAN JEFF GORDON. NOW THAT HE'S HAD A TASTE OF IT, IT COULD MAKE HIM HUNGRIER. DOES IT? DOES IT MAKE IT HUNGRIER THAN SOMEONE WHO HASN'T WON THE RACE? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU HAVEN'T WON IT FOR A WILE AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WIN IT, IT ONLY MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL. THE MORE TIME I SPEND IN THIS SPORT, THE MORE I APPRECIATE DAYS LIKE TODAY. IT'S JUST SUCH AN AMAZING ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR, THE DAYTONA 500. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT. IT ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE A YEAR. WE'VE BEEN WAITING ALL WINTER LONG TO GET HERE AND THE TEAM HASORSO HARD. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET IT ALL GOING. >> Krista: HE'S HOLDING HIS VALENTINE. >> BRAD, YOU WON ON A TRACK JUST LIKE THIS AND YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE ANY OTHER TEAM OR ANY OTHER DRIVER HAPPY. >> WELL, WE HAVE FAST RACECARS AND WE HAVE A STRONG SHOT AT WINNING AGAIN TODAY WITH THE PENSKE DODGE CHARGER, SO I'M EXCITED. IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME WEEK IN DAYTONA. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ACTION. THE NEW RULES THAT NASCAR IMPLEMENTED PLAY IN OUR HANDS WITH THE 12 CAR AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY IN DAYTONA TODAY. >> GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU. >> Chris: TONY STEWART HAD THE CONFIDENT SMILE. >> Darrell: HE DOES. HE REMINDS ME DALE EARNHARDT. IT TOOK DALE 20 YEARS TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. WON THE MOST PRELIMINARY EVENTS OF ANYBODY WHO RACED HERE, 30-ODD. TONY IS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. I HOPE THAT MAYBE TONY WON'T TAKE 20 YEARS TO GET IT DONE. >> Chris: HIM AND JUAN PABLO SMILING, AND KYLE BUSCH. YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THAT WHEN THE RACING STARTS. AS WE CONTINUE, COUNTING YOU DOWN TO THE START OF THE RACE. THE REIGNING CHAMP, JIMMIE JOHNSON WILL TALK ABOUT WINNING MAYBE A FIFTH STRAIGHT TITLE. THE DAYTO >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: LIVE AT DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. NASCAR ON FOX. COUNTING YOU DOWN TO THE START OF THE RACE. WE HAVE COULD CALL THIS CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY. LOOK AT THAT, YOU HAVE SUPER BOWL RINGS, NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIPS. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE JIMMIE JOHNSON. NEVER MIND HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS? HOW ABOUT THE LOWE'S BOYS? >> Darrell: HOW ABOUT THE FOUR RINGS? >> Chris: DYNASTIES IN SPORTS ARE RARE THESE DAYS, DARRELL AND JEFF, BUT NOT IF YOU'RE JIMMIE JOHNSON. TODAY HE BEGINS A MARCH TOWARD UNPRECEDENTED FIFTH STRAIGHT SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. HE'S WON IN THE OLD CAR, NEW CAR, CAR OF TOMORROW, CAR OF TODAY. GIVE HIM YOUR KEYS AND HE'D PROBABLY WIN IN YOUR CAR. ♪♪ >> JIMMIE JOHNSON IS GOING TO BE THE 2006 NASCAR CHAMPION! >> MAGICAL. >> SECOND CUP FINAL. >> DEDICATION. >> THIRD CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP. >> HISTORICAL. >> MAKES HISTORY TONIGHT. >> DRIVE. >> HIS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIP. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE CAN WIN FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IF NOT MORE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WHEN YOU DO SEE THE PATCH THAT SAYS FIRST EVER TO WIN FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS, THAT'S A GREAT THING. >> WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS BACK TO EARNHARDT, PETTY, GORDON, WALTRIP, THE LIST OF THE GREATS WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT IT IN WORDS WHAT IT MEANS TO ME. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> YOU WORK THE FIRST 26 RACES TO GET OURSELVES IN POSITION SO WHEN WE GET TO THE CHASE WE DO HAVE THE PACKAGE THAT WE WANT, WE DO HAVE THE CARS THAT WE WANT. >> SO WHEN THE CHASE STARTS, IT JUST DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO US. >> THE TRACKS ARE GOOD TO US, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS RESPONDED WELL TO PRESSURE. >> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT TRYING TO THROW IN DIFFERENT RACES OR MIX THEM UP TO HURT US AND OUR TEAM AND THE CHASE. >> YOU KNOW, THE TALK ABOUT THE CHASE, IT WARMS ME UP INSIDE AND IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP US FROM WINNING RACES. >> HONESTLY, THAT'S FINE. IF THEY THROW IN A ROAD COURSE IN THERE, THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. THEY THREW IN BRISTOL, THAT'S ACCEPTABLE. >> I HEARD TRACKS MOVING AROUND, DATES CHANGING. WHATEVER IT IS, 48 IS READY FOR IT. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> JIMMIE HAVING A BABY IS A GREAT THING. >> BEING A FATHER IS GOING TO THROW SOMETHING ELSE IN THE EQUATION. >> IS THERE A BIT OF A DISTRACTION? ABSOLUTELY! >> LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE. I HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE. >> ESPECIALLY LOSES SLEEP AT NIGHT. >> ALL I CAN DO IS ANTICIPATE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> PROBABLY GET TIRED OF CHANGING DIAPERS AND FEEDINGS AND ALL THAT STUFF. IT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT ON HIM. >> YOU CAN STILL WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH A NEW FAMILY MEMBER COMING IN THE SCENE. >> A LOT OF BABY TALK. JIMMIE, BEING INTRODUCED IN DAYTONA. WHAT IS HE TELLING YOU AND THE CREW ABOUT THE CAR FOR TODAY? >> Jeff: HE LIKES IT. THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF COMING BACK AND GET THE BACKUP CAR WHERE IT'S BALANCE AND HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH IT. HE WILL BE A FACTOR TODAY. YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR 48. >> Chris: NEVER BEFORE NASCAR DRIVER NAMED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. JIMMIE, FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS, 47 WINS. YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT WE'RE WATCHING MAYBE THE BEST EVER. >> Darrell: I THINK SO. CHAD AND JIMMIE ARE MARRIAGE MADE IN VICTORY CIRCLE. THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE MEANT TO BE. IT'S THE CONFIDENCE. WHEN CHAD KNAUS TELLS JIMMIE JOHNSON TO DO SOMETHING, HE DOESN'T ARGUE. THE FOUR TIRES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE GOT THAT GO IN THE QUALIFYING RACE THE OTHER AFTERNOON, JIMMIE JOHNSON -- CHAD SAID STAY OUT. JIMMIE DIDN'T ARGUE. HE SAID I'LL STAY OUT. >> Chris: WAS HE THAT WAY WHEN YOU WERE HIS CREW CHIEF? >> Jeff: ABSOLUTELY NOT. HE QUESTIONED EVERYTHING. THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T WIN MORE RACES THAN WE DID. >> Darrell: I QUESTION THAT. >> Chris: YOU GOT ALONG LIKE CONAN AND LENO. RICK HENDRICK WE SAW THE RACE TEAM. HE LENT A HELPING HAND SENDING TWO PLANES TO EARTHQUAKE-RAVAGED HAITI TO HELP WITH RELIEF EFFORTS. ROGER PENSKE DONATED $1 MILLION OF TRUCKS TO THE CAUSE. ♪♪ DENNY HAMLIN, A POPULAR VOICE, MAYBE TO UNSEAT JIMMIE JOHNSON FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP, TORE HIS ACL PLAYING BASKETBALL IN THE OFF SEASON. HE IS GOING TO DRIVE A FULL SEASON. THE OSCARS ARE COMING UP. DIGGER, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF HIM IN THIS SHOE BUT MADE SCREEN DEBUT IN DECEMBER, IN "ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS THE SEQUEL" THAT DID WELL AT THE BOX OFFICE. TELL THE STORY ABOUT HENDRICK AND THE WORD -- >> Darrell: A LADY AT THE HOSPITAL NEEDED HELP AND SHE KNEW ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, SHE WAS A RACE FAN. SHE TEXT MR. SMITH, CHRISTIAN SMITH WORKS IN RICK'S OFFICE SO HE GOT THE TEXT. >> Chris: WOW. >> Darrell: RICK RESPONDED SENDING HELP. >> Chris: THE NAME SMITH, THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON. >> Darrell: JUST TEXT MR. SMITH. >> Chris: TIME FOR GAS 'N' GO. >> Jeff: NO. I DON'T THINK SO. >> Chris: NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWER, THEY'VE BEEN LOCKED AWAY IN THE WARDROBE CLOSET. ELTON JOHN AND LADY GAGA. THIS IS FOR YOU, DARRELL. ON THE CLOCK. KEVIN HARVICK, LATE SURGE, LED FOUR LAPS AND WON THE DAYTONA 500. WHY THE LATE SURGE FOR HIM? THE LAST GUY YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR? >> Darrell: THAT'S WHAT HE DOES. THAT'S HIS TRADEMARK. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LAY BACK THERE, STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND BE SNEAKY. THAT'S WHAT HE DOES, SNEAKS UP ON THEM. >> Jeff: REMINDS ME OF DAVID PEARSON. >> Chris: ALL THE CHANGES FOR YOU, RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORT, KASEY KAHNE, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HIM WINNING THE 500 TROPHY TODAY? >> Jeff: I'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY HIS CHANCES. EXCELLENT! THAT'S MY PICK FOR TODAY'S WIN. HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY. >> Chris: HOW GOOD A RACECAR DRIVER -- >> Jeff: HE'S ALSO IN A FORD. >> Chris: THEY DIDN'TP NEED BAIL-OUT MONEY. WOULD HAVE GOOD A RACECAR DRIVER IS DANICA? >> Darrell: SHE IMPRESSED THE HECK OUT OF ME. TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE, HER RACING WITH US, WHEN SHE GOES BACK TO INDY CAR SHE WILL BE A BETTER INDY CAR DRIVER BY VIRTUE OF RACING WITH US. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, ASK DARIO. HE RACED WITH US AND WENT BACK AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE WILL GET BETTER HERE, TOO. >> Chris: SHE TOLD ME NOT IN THE PLANS FOR CUP THIS YEAR, MAYBE NEXT YEAR. JEFF, FOR YOU. HOW IS DENNY HAMLIN'S TORN ACL GOING TO AFFECT HIS DRIVING? >> Jeff: NOT AT ALL. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE OTHER NIGHT. IT'S PAINFUL RIGHT NOW, GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THERAPY. IT DOES NOT AFFECT HIM. AS LONG AS HE'S NOT PLAYING BASKETBALL ANYMORE WITH SOMEBODY LIKE YOU. >> Chris: GOOD MOVE TO THE HOOP. IT HAD TO STOP HIM. WE KID. WHICH BUSCH BROTHER, DARRELL, HAS THE BETTER CHANCE, KYLE, KURT? THEY BOTH RUN WELL HERE, NEITHER ONE HAS A DAYTONA 500 WIN. >> Jeff: CAREFUL HOW YOU ANSWER. >> Darrell: I HAVE TO GO WITH KURT. KURT RUNS SO GOOD ON THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACES. HE'S GOT A NEW CREW CHIEF. STEVE ADDINGTON. I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD COMBINATION. >> Chris: TAKING KURT? >> Darrell: TAKING KURT. >> Jeff: I'M WITH HIM. >> Darrell: HEY! >> Jeff: MARK IT DOWN. HE WILL WIN OUT. >> Darrell: THIS IS GUN. GAS 'N' GO IS WORKING. >> Chris: JAMIE McMURRAY WITH CHIP GANASSI. WHAT EFFECT WILL IT HAVE? >> Jeff: POSITIVE. TAKE A LOOK AT JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WHO DROVE FOR CHIP GANASSI, HE LEFT AND CAME BACK AND HAS BEEN STRONGER THAN BEFORE. JAMIE IS GLAD TO BE HOME. LOOK FOR JAMIE McMURRAY TO HAVE A STELLAR YEAR THIS YEAR WITH CHIP GANASSI. >> Chris: LAST QUESTION FOR EACH OF YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RACE? GIVE ME A WINNER. >> Darrell: 29. HARVICK WILL LAY BACK AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. HE'S MY MAN. DON'T LET ME DOWN, ROOKIE. >> Jeff: HALF OF IT RIGHT. THE 9. THE 9. >> Chris: KASEY KAHNE? >> Jeff: KASEY KAHNE. I LIKE THE FACT, I THINK THE FORDS ARE HANDLING WELL. REMEMBER A YEAR AGO, ROUSH FENWAY AND THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE PROGRAM WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. >> Chris: ALL RIGHT. I'LL TAKE TONY STEWART. YOU GOT TO RUN AND JOIN LARRY, MIKE IN THE BOOTH. >> Darrell: I GOT TO GO. YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME. YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT I'M GOING IN. C'MON, BABY! C'MON! C'MON! >> Jeff: BACK IN A MINUTE. BACK IN A MINUTE. >> Jeff: ALL RIGHT, D.W. QUICK RIDE. >> Darrell: CHECK IT OUT. I GOT THE VAN FROM THE "A-TEAM." ♪♪ >> Jeff: MAN, IT IS THE "A-TEAM" VAN. HOW DID YOU GET IT? >> Darrell: JUST BY PROMOTING THE MOVIE. IT'S IN THEATERS. >> Jeff: I KNOW THAT. IT'S GOT LIAM NIASON. D.W.! >> Darrell: I PITY THE FOOL THAT GETS IN MY WAY! ♪♪ ♪♪S YOU TO THE 52nd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE, THE DAYTONA 500. IT'S LIKE A LEAD-OFF HOME RUN OR OPENING KICKOFF RUN BACK FOR A TOUCHDOWN. WHAT WILL WE GET IN THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR TO START THINGS? HOW ABOUT JUAN PABLO MONTOYA IN HIS FOURTH DAYTONA 500? >> Jeff: YEAH, HE IS STARTING EIGHTH RIGHT NOW. CHRIS, I THINK KE CAN JOIN ANDRETTI AND FOYT AND WIN IF HE GETS IT WORKING THE RIGHT WAY. >> Chris: HEAD TO TRACKSIDE, DRIVERS, FAMILY, FANS, ALL GATHERING FOR TODAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS AS THE ALL-ARMY COLOR GUARD FOR MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., PRESENTS OUR NATION'S COLORS. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS DR. DAVID UTH OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ORLANDO OFFERS TODAY'S INVOCATION. >> WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME. GOD, THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE DAY, FOR THE SUNSHINE. WE PRAY FOR SAFETY FOR THE RACE FANS AND THE RACE TEAMS. ON THIS VALENTINE'S DAY, GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THE DRIVERS, THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THE SEASON THAT LOVE WOULD KEEP THEM STRONG. WE PRAY THE TROOPS KNOW THEY'RE LOVED AND APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US. MOST OF ALL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE. NO ONE LOVES US MORE THAN YOU. YOU GAVE YOUR ONLY SON SO WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND LIFE EVER LASTING. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. >> NOW FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, WELCOME RECORDING ARTIST HARRY CONNICK JR. >> ♪ O SAY, CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Chris: ALWAYS A POWERFUL MOMENT. HARRY CONNICK JR. FROM NEW ORLEANS. HOW ABOUT THOSE SAINTS? MAYBE IT'S A GOOD DAY FOR THE UNDERDOG HERE IN DAYTONA. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VALENTINE'S DAY FOR KISS CAM TO BE IN FOCUS AT A NASCAR RACE. HAPPY ONE TO YOU. LOVE IS IN THE AIR. >> Jeff: STAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. >> Chris: WHAT KIND OF RACING IS IN THE AIR? VERIZON CHECKLIST. >> Jeff: IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF GUYS TO GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT, CHRIS. THE KEY THING WHEN THEY GROP THE GREEN FLAG, TRUST YOUR SPOTTER ON THE GET-GO TO GET YOU IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE. PLUS, YOU NEED SOLID PIT STOPS. THE DRIVERS HAVE TO GET ON PIT ROAD AND DON'T GET CAUGHT SPEEDING, GET IN YOUR BOX. PERFORM FLAWLESSLY. THIRD, NOT THE EAST OF ANY OF THESE, BE MENTALLY TOUGH. 500 MILES. NO ONE HAS HAD TO DRIVE A 500-MILE RACE YET. LISTEN TO WHAT IS GOING ON, KEEP YOURSELF OUT OF TROUBLE AND BE PARROT. >> Chris: NOW WE HAVE A GREAT AGE RANGE IN THE RACE, 43-CAR FIELD. 19-YEAR-OLD JOEY LOGANO, 54-YEAR-OLD BILL ELLIOTT. GUY LIKE LOGANO AFTER HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE LAST YEAR HE SAYS HE'S MORE COMFORTABLE THIS TIME AROUND. >> Jeff: HE DEFINITELY IS. RIGHT NOW, WITH THE GUY LEANING IN THE WINDOW, GREG ZIPADELLI HIS CREW CHIEF MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THE YOUNG GUY. >> Chris: FOUR DRIVERS IN THEIR FIRST EVER DAYTONA 500. LET'S HEAD DOWN TO THE TRACK TO HEAR THOSE WORDS THAT WE LOVE TO HEAR EVERY WEEKEND. >> AND NOW, RACE FANS, IT'S TIME FOR THOSE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS. HERE TO GIVE THE COMMAND, WELCOME OUR GRAND MARSHAL, 1960 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION AND MEMBER OF THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME, JUNIOR JOHNSON! [ CHEERING ] >> GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! [ ENGINES REVVING ] >> Chris: READY TO ROLL. PLEASURE TO BRING IN THE GUYS WHO WILL BE CALLING THE RACE ALL SEASON LONG, THE FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND BEST OF THE BUSINESS, OUR TENTH YEAR WITH THE GANG, NASCAR ON FOX. LARRY McREYNOLDS, DARRELL WALTRIP AND MIKE JOY. WELCOME AGAIN, GUYS. READY TO GO? >> Mike: THANK YOU, CHRIS. LET'S GET TO IT. THE FIRST DAYTONA 500 IN 1959 HAD A PHOTO-FINISH SO CLOSE THAT BILL FRANCE AND TEAM TOOK THREE DAYS TO DECLARE PETTY THE WINNER. ON THURSDAY, TWO QUALIFYING RACES WERE EACH DECIDED IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. ANY CHANCE WE'LL SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT TODAY? >> Darrell: YEAH, WE'LL SEE THE SAME THING TODAY BUT IT WILL TAKE LONGER. WE HAVE TO RUN 500 MILES TODAY. I HAVE NEVER FELT THE ENERGY, I'VE NEVER FELT THE GUYS JUST, EVERYBODY IS SO CONFIDENT AND SO PUMPED UP. STARTING THIS NEW YEAR. I'VE BEEN DOWN HERE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN EVERYBODY WAS GLOOM AND DOOM. EVERYBODY IS KIND OF LIKE THE DAY HERE. BRIGHT, SUN-SHINY AND FUTURE FORCE AND EXCITED TO GET IT STARTED. RACING HAS BEEN SO GOOD, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT GOING. >> Mike: THURSDAY, LATE IN THE RACE, JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS THE LEADER AND HAD A CHANCE TO COME IN AND GET TIRES AND STAYED OUT. EVERYTHING ELSE GOT TIRED BUT THEY COULDN'T BEAT HIM. >> Larry: YEAH, I'M NOT SURE I'D GO TOWN THE FORMAT TODAY. WITH WE HAVE A DIFFERENT RACETRACK. I TALKED TO GUYS IN THE GARAGE AREA AND THE SUN IS BEATING DOWN. ALREADY RIGHT NOW THE TRACK IS 30 DEGREES WARMER THAN IT WAS IN PRACTICE YESTERDAY. AND WE'VE HAD TWO RACES THAT'S BEEN RUN SINCE THE GUYS WAS LOST ON THE TRACK. I THINK WHEN THE GUYS HIT PIT ROAD IT WILL BE FOR A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS AND ALSO YOU WILL WANT FOUR TIRES. HERE IS WHAT I REALLY THINK, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS. I THINK ON THE LAST LAP WE MAY SEE THE BOYS GO BACK TO THE ROOTS. >> Mike: ALL RIGHT. HAVE A LOOK AT THE FedEx UNDERSTANDING THE RACE FOR TODAY. >> WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS THE AVERAGES OF OUR LAST NINE DAYTONA 500s. THE FIRST CAUTION NORMALLY COMES OUT ROUGHLY AT LAP 29. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CAUTIONS AVERAGE OF SEVEN PER RACE. THE LONGEST GREEN FLAG RUN IS 64 LAPS BUT TWICE IN THE NINE RACES IT'S BEEN OVER 100 LAPS. THE GREEN FLAG LAPS TO THE FINISH, AROUND 16 TO 17 LAPS IN 2004 WHEN DALE EARNHARDT JR. WON THE DAYTONA 500, WE RAN THE LAST 120 LAPS UNDER GREEN CAUTION-FREE. >> Mike: 43 OF AMERICA'S BEST DRIVERS HAVE WAITED ALL WINTER TO DROP THE GREEN FLAG ON THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE STARTING LINE-UP FOR THE 52nd ANNUAL DAYTONA 500 -- STARTING OUT BACK IS MICHAEL WALTRIP WHO GOT IN ON HIS QUALIFYING SPEED. AS DID BOBBY LABONTE, JOE NEMECHEK. BILL ELLIOTT, JEFF BURTON THERE, AND THESE ARE DRIVERS WHO RACED THEIR WAY IN. OR HAVE TOP 35 OWNER POINTS FROM 2009. A LOT OF EXPERIENCE DEEP IN THE FIELD. MAX PAPIS IS ONE OF FOUR ROOKIES IN THIS RACE. ALONG WITH MICHAEL McDOWELL ALSO STARTING HIS FIRST 500. YOU'LL SEE DRIVERS THAT WILL GO TO THE REAR. WE'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A MOMENT. DENNY HAMLIN, AND BRAD KESELOWSKI, NOT THE BEST OF FRIENDS. ARE THEY STARTING IN LUCKY ROW 13 TOGETHER? THEY'RE TEMMATES AND BEST FRIENDS, KENSETH AND BIFFLE. JEFF GORDON WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE BACK BEFORE THEY DROP THE GREEN FLAG. REUTIMANN, THE WINNER AT CHARLOTTE LAST YEAR, RYAN NEWMAN PAST CHAMPION OF 500, AND THE AUSSIE, AMBROSE. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, LOGANO. A.J. ALLMENDINGER LATE TO THE GRID FOR ENGINE CHANGE. MARTIN TRUEX JR. AND JAMIE McMURRAY IN DIFFERENT RIDES FOR 2010. ELLIOTT SADLER, REGAN SMITH IS GOING TO RUN THE FULL SEASON. CLINT BOWYER, THE PAST 500 RUNNER-UP KURT BUSCH. KURT'S YOUNGER BROTHER KYLE. WITH JUAN PABLO MONTOYA FROM COLOMBIA. Y STEWART AND KEVIN HARVICK, GOOD FRIENDS, BUT HARVICK HAS WON THE RACE AND STEWART HASN'T. JIMMIE JOHNSON AND KASEY KAHNE, THE GATORADE 150 WINNERS. WINNING THE FRONT ROW BY TIME TRIALS, MARK MARTIN AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> Darrell: LET'S DIAL UP KASEY KAHNE TO SEE HOW HE'S DOING. KASEY KAHNE, D.W. IN FOX SPORTS BOOTH. GOT A COPY? >> I GOT YOU. >> Darrell: I TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE GARAGE AREA AND THEY SAY YOU'RE THE MAN TO BEAT TODAY. HOW DO YOU FEEL? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? >> I FEEL GOOD. I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, A FEW CARS THAT ARE DEFINITELY REALLY GOOD ALL WEEK LONG. I THINK OUR BUDWEISER FORD IS ONE OF THEM. I'VE BEEN ANXIOUS FOR THE DAY. IT'S EXCITING TO BE HERE. WE HAVE A GREAT CROWD. IT WILL BE A PRETTY INTENSE RACE. >> Darrell: YEAH, YOU GOT ENOUGH CLYDESDALES THE FORD ENGINE TO GET 'ER DONE? >> YEAH, THE FORD ENGINE HAS BEEN STRONG, VERY STRONG ALL WEEK. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. IT'S BEEN GOOD AND THE CARS HANDLED AWESOME. IT WILL BE HANDLING TODAY. THERE WILL BE SPREAD OUT TIMES AND WE NEED TO STAY OUT OF ANY ISSUES AND BE THERE AT THE END. THAT'S WHEN YOU GOT TO GO FOR IT. >> Darrell: GOOD LUCK. HAVE A GREAT DAY. THIS BUD'S FOR YOU! >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> TODAY'S RACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY -- >> Mike: THERE IS THE 2011 MUSTANG G.T. WITH THE NEW 5.0 TWIN CAM V-8 AND RICHARD PETTY BEHIND THE WHEEL. AT THE BARRETT AUCTION ON SPEED CHANNEL, COLLECTOR RON PRATT DID $300,000 WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH AND HE'LL OWN THE PACE CAR AFTER TODAY. IT BE FORD TOUGH, AND THE FIRST TIME SINCE RICHARD PETTY HAS BEEN IN A FORD AT DAYTONA SINCE THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN DURING TIME TRIALS FOR 1969. RICHARD HAD JUST WON THE SEASON OPENER AT RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA. DRIVING A FORD TORINO TALLADEGA. THE NEW MUSTANG, BUILT FORD TOUGH. A QUICK SHIFTING HOT ACCELERATOR CAR. I WAS JOKING WITH RICHARD YESTERDAY. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU COME TO PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THERE. >> Mike: GO TO THE ALL-STAR PIT CREW. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: THANK YOU. DALE EARNHARDT JR. WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS NOT TO MAKE NASCAR VERSION OF THE PLAYOFF, THE CHASE. CREW CHIEF McGREW SAYING IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET OUT OF THE BOX STRONG AT THE DAYTONA 500. LAST-SECOND INSTRUCTIONS, LANCE McGREW TOLD DALE JR. "BE CAREFUL GETTING OFF PIT ROAD. IT'S VERY SLICK." DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: KYLE BUSCH LED THE MOST LAPS IN LAST YEAR'S DAYTONA 500 BUT HE DIDN'T WIN IT. THE YEAR BEFORE HE LED THE MOST LAPS IN THE DAYTONA 500, DIDN'T WIN THAT ONE EITHER. MOMENTS AGO, HE TOLD ME HE IS GOING TO PLAY IT VERY COOL THIS YEAR. JUST GOING TO TAKE WHAT THE CAR WILL GIVE HIM AND NOTHING MORE. KYLE BUSCH STARTS SEVENTH. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: DICK, KURT BUSCH HAS SEEN MANY EXCITING MOMENTS AT THE DAYTONA 500 BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S FINISHED SECOND THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. HE THINKS TODAY COULD BE THE BLUE DEUCE'S DAY. WHAT IMPRESSED HIM THE MOST ABOUT HIS RACECAR, IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS NEW TIRES OR OLD TIRES. HE COULD GO ANYWHERE. IT WAS A ROCKETSHIP. HE THINKS IT COULD PLAY IN THE PIT STRATEGY NEAR RACE'S END. KRISTA? >> Krista: CARL EDWARDS HAS TWO REASONS TO BE A BALL OF NERVES RIGHT NOW. HIS WIFE KATE IS DUE TO GIVE BIRTH TO THEIR FIRST CHILD IN FOUR DAYS AND HE'S RACING WITH AN ENGINE THAT HASN'T HAD ANY PRACTICE. HE HOPES BOTH, THE MOTOR AND HIS WIFE, CAN HOLD OUT UNTIL THE END OF THIS RACE. >> Mike: YOU SAW CARL ACKNOWLEDGE THE FLAG MAN, GIVING THE ONE TO GO SIGNAL. THE LIGHT IS OUT ATOP THE SAFETY CAR. >> Darrell: MIKE, DOWN HERE ALREADY THIS WEEK, MARK MARTIN HAS DRIVEN 635 MILES. AND TONY STEWART HAS ALREADY DRIVEN ALMOST 900 MILES, NOT COUNTING TODAY. >> Mike: MARK MARTIN AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. ON THE FRONT ROW. AMPUP88.COM IS NEW SITE, JOIN A LIVE CHAT WITH DALE JR. AT 7:00 P.M. ONLY AT AMPUPTHE88.COM. LARRY, YOU SIT SO LOW IN CARS THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE ANY OF THE FOUR FENDERS. HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE DRIVER TO KEEP FOUR FENDERS INTACT? >> Larry: WE SAW IN THE GATORADE DUEL RACES WHEN YOU KNOCK THE SLIGHTEST BIT IN THE FENDER OR QUARTER PANELS BEHIND THE TIRES IT KILLS THE AERODYNAMICS. YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM AND I AGREE WITH JEFF HAMMOND IN HIS KEYS. NUMBER ONE, TRUST THAT SPOTTER. AND BELIEVE IN THAT SPOTTER. HE'S YOUR SECOND PAIR OF EYES. >> Darrell: IT'S A SIXTH SENSE, MIKE. YOU JUST KNOW WHERE THOSE THINGS ARE. >> Mike: TODAY'S RACE IS 200 LAPS, 500 MILES, THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN PIT ROAD IS 55 MILES PER HOUR. THEY'LL HAVE TO PIT JUST ABOUT EVERY 100 MILES FOR FUEL. SUNOCO RACE GAS AND TIRES. >> Larry: I THINK THEY'LL BE WANTING TIRES WELL BEFORE THAT. YOU SEE TO THE REAR FOR THE BACKUP CARS, THE 24, THE 31, AND MICHAEL WALTRIP, THE 51. THOSE WERE CARS THAT WERE CRASHED IN THE DUEL RACES. TWO ENGINE CHANGES AFTER PRACTICE YESTERDAY. CARL EDWARDS AND A.J. ALLMENDINGER. >> Mike: START OF A NEW SEASON, DARRELL. INSIDE THE 43 CARS, BUTTERFLIES? >> Darrell: YEAH. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE BEEN COMING DOWN HERE. 25 TIMES, THIS IS MARK MARTIN COMING TO TAKE THE GREEN HERE TODAY, YOU STILL GET VERY, VERY NERVOUS AND VERY, VERY TENSE, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE STARTS. >> Larry: D.W., LIKE YOU SAID IN THE PRE-RACE,'VE NEVER BEEN ON A TEAM QUITE LIKE OUR TEAM, OUR TENTH YEAR OF NASCAR ON FOX. WE'RE GOING TO BE FASTER TODAY THAN WE'VE BEEN HERE IN YEARS. BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU, REACH UP THERE AND PULL THOSE BELTS TIGHT ONE MORE TIME! >> Darrell: I JUST WANT TO GET THIS THING STARTED. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH AND DO. HERE THEY COME. BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! [ ENGINES REVVING ] >> Mike: AT LEAST THE OPENING LAPS FOR TEAMMATES ARE WHERE YOU FIND THEM. BUMP-DRAFTING WILL BE PREVALENT DOWN THE BACK STRETCH TODAY. MARK MARTIN HAS JUST GOTTEN A PUNT AND A PUSH INTO THE LEAD. >> Larry: THAT WAS BY HIS TEAMMATE JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 CAR. EVERYBODY WANTS TO LEAD THE FIRST LAP OF THE NEW SEASON. IT WILL BE WORTH FIVE POINTS. WHO WILL LEAD IT? >> Mike: AGELESS MARK MARTIN. IN THE NUMBER FIVE RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET COMES ACROSS THE LINE WITH HIS TEAMMATE JIMMIE JOHNSON. THAT OPENS THE DOOR ON THE BOTTOM FOR KEVIN HARVICK. >> Darrell: WHAT WAS COMMERCIAL THEY DID ABOUT MARTIN? CRAZY OLD MAN? CRAZY OLD MAN IS ON THE GAS! >> Larry: THEY FANNED OUT A LITTLE BIT AT THE START OF THAT THING BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE THEM LONG TO GET BUNCHED BACK UP. >> Darrell: I ALREADY SEE SOMETHING KIND OF ODD AND RATHER INTERESTING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GROUP OF GUYS THAT MAY BE LAYING BACK IN THE OPENING LAPS BECAUSE THE OPENING LAPS WE'VE HAD HERE FOR A WHILE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT WILD AND CRAZY. >> Mike: MARTIN WILL LEAD LAP TWO FROM JIMMIE JOHNSON. KEVIN HARVICK IS THERE, ALONGSIDE DALE JR. RIGHT BEHIND HARVICK, KYLE BUSCH WITH KASEY KAHNE, TONY STEWART AND CLINT BOWYER. >> Larry: LIKE THE OTHER EVENT -- >> Darrell: THE 150-MILERS OR THE BUD SHOOT-OUT, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. A LONG RACE TO RUN. DON'T PUSH THE ISSUE NOW. GIVE AND TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE TO, TO KEEP THE FENDERS ON IT LIKE WE SAID. >> Larry: WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PIT STOPS TO MAKE ON PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: IF IT'S NOT RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. WE'LL HELP YOU AND FIX IT FOR YOU. GIVE YOUR TEAM A CHANCE, GIVE YOUR CREW A CHANCE. >> Mike: MARTIN UP TO THE HIGH SIDE TO HOLD HIS LEAD. >> Darrell: FANS AT HOME, I KNOW EVERY NOW AND THEN WE'LL BE IN THE CAR AND YOU HEAR THE ENGINES. THE THING ABOUT THE ENGINE THAT'S SO DIFFERENT THIS YEAR YOU CAN LET OUT OF THE THROTTLE, NOT HIT THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU AND PICK THE THROTTLE BACK UP AND KEEP GOING. YOU HAVE DON'T LOSE ALL THAT MOMENTUM LIKE WE HAVE IN THE PAST. SEE IF WE CAN HEAR IT IN THE CORNER HERE. WE'RE RIDING WITH KYLE BUSH AND HE NEVER LETS UP. THAT MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT ONE. >> Larry: YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE SPEEDS GOING IN TURN THREE ALL WEEK LONG. YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, HALFWAY DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, WELL OVER 190 MILES PER HOUR IN THREE AND FOUR. >> Mike: FOR THE LEAD, HERE COMES KASEY KAHNE. WINNER OF HIS GATORADE DUEL RACE ON THURSDAY THAT SET THE FIELD FOR THE 500. KASEY KAHNE WILL LEAD THE FOURTH LAP. NO, HE DOESN'T! MARK MARTIN RIGHT BACK BY HIM. >> Larry: MARK GOT THE PUSH ON THE HIGH SIDE BY HIS TEAMMATE DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88. AND DID NOT LET KASEY KAHNE LEAD THAT LAP. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE FOURTH LAP OF THE RACE. FOLKS, 180, 200 LAPS YOU'LL SEE THAT SAME KIND OF RUN TO THE FINISH. >> Mike: THERE WILL COME A POINT WHEN MARTIN WANTS TO FIND OUT HOW HIS NUMBER 5 WORKS BACK IN TRAFFIC. BUT HE'S NOT READY TO GIVE UP THE POINTS JUST YET. >> Darrell: SAFEST PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW IS OUT FRONT. NOTHING IN YOUR WINDSHIELD. >> Mike: STEWART MOVED UP TO FOURTH. AHEAD OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. SECOND CAR ON THE INSIDE ROW. >> Darrell: MIKE, THIS IS WHEN THE CARS ARE AT THEIR VERY, VERY BEST. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ON NEW TIRES, FULL OF FUEL. COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW. THOUGH YOU'RE TWO WIDE. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES IS IN THE PITS WITH THE DEFENDING SPRINT CUP CHAMP. >> Steve: MIKE, CHAD KNAUS, JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CREW CHIEF ON THE 48 ECHOED DARRELL WALTRIP'S COMMENTS THIS MORNING. HE SAID THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY RIDING AROUND ON THE BACK FOR US. WE'RE FASTEST UP FRONT. THEY LED PRACTICE YESTERDAY. RAN JUST 12 LAPS. HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE TOP TEN ALL DAY. >> Larry: YOU KNOW, GUYS, WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT AT TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY. EVERYBODY'S CAR DRIVES GOOD FOR ALL OF THE RACE. BUT THE WAY THIS PLACE IS SO ROUGH, AND THE CARS GET TO HANDLING BACK, I'M NOT SURE RUNNING AT THE BACK IS THAT GOOD OF A STRATEGY. >> Darrell: GOT TO BE IN THE WAY BACK. WAY BACK. WE'VE SEEN GUYS FROM BACK IN THE FIELD GET INTO WRECKS BECAUSE THEY MISS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FRONT OF THEM. >> Mike: GO TO THE LEADER'S PIT, MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: MIKE, MARK MARTIN ECHOED WHAT LARRY Mac JUST SAID. HE FELT LIKE ALL THAT HE'S LEARNED FROM THE DUELS BACK TO THE BUDWEISER SHOOT-OUT LAST WEEKEND, IF YOU GET STUCK IN THE BACK, WHEN YOU DROP TO THE BACK AND RIDE YOU CAN'T DO IT WITH THIS PACKAGE. MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO WORK YOUR WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: THANKS, MATT. FASTEST LAP OF THIS YOUNG RACE SO FAR, AS KURT BUSCH POKES HIS KNOW DOWN LOW IN THE BLUE DEUCE IS THE NUMBER 7, ROBBY GORDON. HE IS UP TO 21st. JOEY LOGANO INSIDE CHALLENGING. THE NUMBER 7 HAS THE QUICKEST LAP OF THE RACE, 46.17. GORDON IS SECOND FASTEST. THEN KESELOWSKI. >> Darrell: I THINK IT'S ABOUT 195 MILES PER HOUR, SOMEWHERE ALONG IN THERE. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE NOW IN THE SECOND -- >> Darrell: WE HAVE A SMOKER DOWN IN TURN ONE, GUYS. >> Mike: SPINS AND GETS COLLECTED. DOWN OFF THE BANKING BETWEEN TURNS ONE AND TWO. REGAN SMITH IS IN IT. BRAD KESELOWSKI AND KESELOWSKI'S TEAMMATE, THE 77 SAM HORNISH ARE ALL INVOLVED. >> Larry: I MEAN JEFF GORDON IN THE 24 JUST SQUEAKED BY. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE WRECKS WE'VE SEEN DOWN HERE HAVE STARTED MID-PACK AND BACK. >> Mike: FIRST CAUTION OF THE DAY. OH, MAX PAPIS FROM COMO, ITALY, HIS FIRST 500. HE'S ON THE APRON. >> Darrell: ANOTHER ONE. >> Mike: SAM HORNISH, INDY CAR STAR. THERE IS GORDON. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS CHEVY. REGAN SMITH, THE YOUNG DRIVER FROM OUTSIDE SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. BORIS SAID HAS HIS CAR TORN UP. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW IF IT LOST AN ENGINE, NOT SURE, A TIRER OR SOMETHING HAPPENED. LOOKED IN TURN ONE AND SMOKE, YOU SEE THE SMOKE. >> Mike: RIGHT BEHIND THE YELLOW CAR IS THE NUMBER 12 OF KESELOWSKI. YOU CAN SEE HIM JUST GET A LITTLE LOOSE RIGHT THERE. GETS UP IN THE WALL, COLLECTS SMITH AND HORNISH. >> Darrell: I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT 12 CAR HAD SOMETHING HAPPEN TO IT. LIKE IT MAY HAVE LOST A RIGHT REAR TIRE OR SOMETHING. THERE WAS REALLY NO REASON FOR IT TO STEP OUT LIKE THAT. >> Larry: SO ROGER PENSKE HAD THREE CARS IN THE RACE AND THAT GETS TWO OF THEM. 12 AND 77. THERE YOU SEE GORDON JUST SQUEAKING BY IN THE 24. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS IS ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD TO START THE RACE AT THE BACK OF THE PACK DUE TO CHANGES. >> A LOT OF SMOKE. SLOW IT DOWN. SLOW IT DOWN. >> Mike: HE GOES TO THE APRON TO RIDE THROUGH THIS. OFF THE 31-DEGREE BANKING. >> Darrell: ONE THING ABOUT A CAR HERE, IT'S GOING TO GO UP THE HILL, IT'S GOING TO GO DOWN THE HILL AND IT JUST MIGHT GO BACK UP THE HILL. YOU HAVE TO MISS IT TWICE IF YOU TRY TO GO LOW. >> Mike: KESELOWSKI AND HORNISH HAVE TAKEN THEIR CARS TO THE GARAGE. SOME OF THE OTHERS HAVE COME TO PIT ROAD FOR REPAIR. LIKE MAX PAPIS. AND WE'RE UNDER THE FIRST CAUTION OF THE DAY IN DAYTONA. EIGHT LAPS IN TO THE 200 THAT WILL MAKE UP TODAY'S RACE. MIKE BLISS ALSO GOT A PIECE OF THAT ONE. >> Darrell: YEAH, HE DID. IT SAW THE 36 CAR LIMP IN THERE, MIKE. HE WAS TORN UP PRETTY GOOD. >> Mike: EIGHT LAPS COMPLETE. A LITTLE EARLY FOR PIT STOPS. >> Larry: FOR THE FRONT-RUNNER S, BUT THERE YOU SEE KASEY KAHNE. HE MAKES THE COMMITMENT IN THE 9 CAR. EVERYONE ELSE FOLLOWS HIM DOWN. MARK MARTIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND MONTOYA STAYED OUT. KRISTA? >> Krista: KASEY KAHNE SAYS THEIR CAR IS LOOSE. DICK? >> Dick: BUSCH TAKES FOUR TIRES AND NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE CHASSIS OF HIS RACECAR. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TEAM GETTING FOUR TIRES. STEVE? >> Steve: FOUR TIRES FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AS WELL, MIKE. HE SAID, "THE MAJORITY OF TIME I WAS ON THE BOTTOM AND COULDN'T GET TO THE TOP." MATT? >> Matt: KURT BUSCH SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE BALANCE. >> Mike: MOST OF THE LEADERS CAME TO PIT ROAD. WE UPDATE THE RUNNING ORDER IN A >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: CAUTION OUT AT TEN LAPS AT DAYTONA, AS YOU WATCH FROM OUR AERIAL COVERAGE PROVIDED TO YOU BY DirecTV. DirecTV, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. >> Mike: MARK MARTIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA DID NOT PIT UNDER THAT CAUTION. KEVIN HARVICK DID NOT PIT. HE DID COME ON PIT ROAD TO HAVE HIS SCORING TRANSPONDER REPLACED BUT THAT WAS A NASCAR OFFICIAL MOVE THAT GAVE HIM HIS POSITION BACK. THERE'S JIMMIE JOHNSON. DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION IN 15th POSITION IN THE 48. WHO STARTED HIS RACING CAREER OFF-ROAD IN A CHEVY TRUCK. THAT'S WHY HE'S EXCITED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO WIN POWERFUL DEPENDABLE CHEVY SILVERADO. GO TO WINJIMMIESSILVERADO.COM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN. YESTERDAY, THE NATIONWIDE RACE AND THE CAMPING WORLD TRUCK RACE, TOTAL OF 79 CARS. 49 OF WHICH, MORE THAN HALF OF THE TWO TOTAL FIELDS CAUGHT UP IN ACCIDENTS. WE'VE NOW HAD THE FIRST ONE. NOW SEE CARL EDWARDS BACK IN THE PITS. KRISTA? >> Krista: THEY HAD TO CLEAN OFF THE GRILL. THE WATER TEMPERATURE WAS GOING WAY UP. THEY JUST CAME IN TO GET DEBRIS OFF THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. >> Darrell: ONE THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT NOT PITTING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, IT'S OKAY RIGHT NOW. WE'VE ONLY RUN EIGHT OR TEN LAPS HERE. BUT IT PUTS ME AT A DISADVANTAGE IF WE GO BACK GREEN AND STAY GREEN FOR A WHILE. THE OTHER GUYS, WE'VE SEEN LAPS ON TIRES MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO COME DOWN WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE, IT'S NO TIME TO BE GAMBLING. I DON'T THINK. >> Larry: THE WEATHER, 54 DEGREES AMBIENT. TRACK TEMPERATURE IS 79 DEGREES. I TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW. THAT'S 30 DEGREES WARMER THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE FINAL PRACTICE YESTERDAY MORNING. THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME NASCAR ON FOX TO HAVE THE DOUBLE-FILE RESTART. MARK MARTIN IS A LEADER. HE GETS A CHOICE, OUTSIDE LINE OR INSIDE LINE? HE PLAYED AROUND A LOT WITH THAT IN THE GATORADE DUEL RACE ON THURSDAY. HE ELECTED TO CHOOSE THE INSIDE LINE. EVERYBODY ELSE, ODD NUMBER OF CARS WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING IS INSIDE. EVEN NUMBERS ON THE OUTSIDE. >> Darrell: MOST OF THE TIME I'M GOING TO LOOK AT MIRROR -- I'M GOING TO SAY WHO WOULD LINE UP BEHIND ME? THAT'S THE LINE I'D WANT TO GET IN. WHO IS THAT BEHIND HIM? TONY STEWART? >> Larry: IT'S MONTOYA IN THE 42. >> Mike: FIRST TIME THAT A FORD MUSTANG EVER PACED THE DAYTONA 500. AND THE FIRST FORD IN FRONT OF THE FIELD IN 40 YEARS. WAS IN A 1970 FORD TORINO THAT LAST FACED THE 500 THROUGH THE BLUE OVAL. HERE WE GO. 12 LAPS COMPLETE THIS TIME BY. GREEN FLAG. MARK MARTIN, DALE JR. RIGHT UP FRONT JUST LIKE WE STARTED. >> Darrell: YOU SEE THE INSIDE LINE, IT'S GETTING A GOOD PUSH THERE. THE MOMENTUM WILL COME BACK AS THEY GET DOWN HERE IN TURN ONE. THE CARS THAT GO HIGH WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF A RUN OFF THE BACK STRAIKZ THAT COULD HELP THEM. NOTHING IS GOING TO HELP YOU IF YOU GET OUT THERE LIKE MARK MARTIN DID. MAN, HE TOOK OFF! >> Mike: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WHO HAS NOT BEEN THE LEAST BIT BASHFUL ABOUT BUMP-DRAFTING ALL WEEK IN DAYTONA PUTS HIS NUMBER 42 OUT FRONT. >> Darrell: THE BUMP-DRAFT IN THESE CARS WORKS WELL. YOU HAVE A FLAT NOSE AGAINST A FLAT REAR BUMP SORE YOU DON'T UPSET THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU BUMP INTO IT. YOU GIVE IT A SHOVE. >> Larry: DALE EARNHARDT JR. JUMPED TO THE INSIDE IN THE 88. KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 JUMPED DOWN THERE AND PUSHES EARNHARDT JR. TO THE LEAD. >> Darrell: I TALKED TO LANCE McGREW, LARRY. HE SAID, "I'M TELLING YOU, D.W." I SAID DO YOU GET HIM FIXED UP? HE WASN'T GOOD IN THE QUALIFIER. HE SAID, "WE'VE GOT HIM RIGHT TODAY, YOU WATCH." >> Mike: 20 YEARS NOW, NASCAR'S MOST POPULAR DRIVER, DALE EARNHARDT JR. LEADS THEM AROUND DAYTONA. MONTOYA GIVES HIM A FOOT OR SO. SEE IF HE COMES DOWN TO PICK UP HARVICK HERE. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT, DALE EARNHARDT JR. TOLD LANCE McGREW, "I DON'T THINK I'D GAIN MUCH BY PITTING. THE CAR IS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW, LITTLE LOOSE." TO DARRELL'S POINT, HE SAID, "IF IT DOESN'T GET ANY LOOSER." >> Darrell: NORMALLY IF YOUR CAR IS DRIVABLE LOOSE, THAT'S OKAY. YOU'RE HAPPY. AND YOU CAN SEE, LOOK, HE'S GOT HIS HANDS -- REMEMBER THE OTHER DAY WE WERE WATCHING AND HE HAD THEM HANDS WAY, WAY DOWN THERE, ALL THE WAY UNDER AND TOUCHING HIS LEG ALMOST. TODAY, WATCH HOW HE DOES HIS RIGHT HAND. A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING WHEN YOU SEE HOW MUCH GRIP HE HAS, BECAUSE HE TAKES THE RIGHT HAND AND SLIDES IT OVER THE TOP OF THE WHEEL. WATCH HIM AS WE GET IN THE CORNER. SO FAR THE CAR LOOKS VERY COMFORTABLE. >> Larry: YOU SAY IT ALL THE TIME, DARRELL. YOU CAN LIVE WITH THE LITTLE BIT OF LOOSE AS LONG AS IT'S PREDICTABLE AND NOT DOING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. >> Darrell: NORMALLY A LITTLE LOOSE CAR WILL TIGHTEN UP. IT BURNS OFF FUEL AND TIRES BUILD UP A LITTLE BIT. I THINK HE'S PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE CAR AT THIS POINT. >> Mike: MARK MARTIN HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. ELLIOTT SADLER IN THE 19 MADE THE MOVE UNDERNEATH. HERE COMES NEWMAN AND KENSETH. AND EVERYBODY! >> Darrell: CLOWNS TO THE LEFT OF ME, JOKERS TO THE RIGHT. HERE I AM. >> Larry: STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITHOUT ANYBODY. >> Darrell: WITHOUT ANYBODY! BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK, BACK. >> Mike: THEN HE'LL FIND A SPOT IN LINE. >> Darrell: THAT'S OKAY. YOU WATCH. THIS WILL BE A GOOD GUY TO WATCH. I'M NOT SURE MARK WILL BE ANY HURRY TO GET BACK UP FRONT. ONCE HE GETS IN THE BACK HE'LL PROBABLY STAY THERE. SEE IF HE WORKS HIS WAY BACK UP TO THE FRONT AND HOW LONG IT TAKES HIM. >> Larry: HE WAS WAITING FOR THE SPOTTER ABOVE US TO SAY CLEAR OUTSIDE OR CLEAR INSIDE. HE JUMPS TO THE OUTSIDE LINE THERE BEHIND ROBBY GORDON AND THE 7. >> Darrell: BIG DALE EARNHARDT USED TO DO THAT. HE'D FALL IN THE BACK AND HE'D SAY HE'S JUNK. DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM. THEN HE'D GO WORK HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. HE WOULD DO IT ALL DAY LONG TIMING HIM TO SEE HOW LONG IT TOOK HIM. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR. LEADS THE DAYTONA 500 WITH JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, WHO HAS WON IN INDY CAR, HE'S WON THE INDY 500, FORMULA 1 AT MONACO, HE'S WON AT INFINEON RACEWAY, THE ROAD COURSE IN THESE SPRINT CUP CARS. HE'S IN THE 42. HERE COMES HARVICK. THE 29. >> Darrell: WHERE IS HAMMOND AT? >> Mike: WHY? >> Darrell: I PICKED HARVICK TO WIN TODAY. OF COURSE, THEY'RE A LONG WAY FROM THE END. HE TOOK THE 9, I TOOK THE 29. WHAT DO THINK NOW, BUD? >> Jeff: IT'S 500 MILES, BABY. JUST REMEMBER, IT'S A LONG, LONG WAY. MY MAN IS BACK THERE MINDING HIS "P"s AND "Q"s. >> Darrell: YEAH, THIS IS NO RACE TO GO BACKWARDS IN. >> Mike: ELLIOTT SADLER. SECOND CAR ON THE INSIDE ROW. CAME WITHIN ONE GREEN FLAG LAP OF WINNING LAST YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. HE COULDN'T HOLD OFF KENSETH. THEN THE RAINS CAME. >> Darrell: I AM A LITTLE BIT WORRIED BECAUSE HARVICK DOESN'T USUALLY SHOW UP NEAR THE FRONT UNTIL ABOUT FIVE TO GO NORMALLY. >> Mike: MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, WHEN YOU TALK TO DIFFERENT DRIVERS THROUGHOUT THE FIELD, THEY WILL ALWAYS POINT OUT A CERTAIN DRIVER THAT REALLY TAUGHT THEM HOW TO DRAFT AND LEARN RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACING. FOR ELLIOTT SADLER IT WAS HIS LONG-TIME TEAMMATE DALE JARRETT. HE SAID, "THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED: PATIENCE. DON'T MAKE ERRATIC MOVES AND UPSET SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WON'T WORK WITH YOU IN THE END. PATIENCE IS THE KEY FOR ME TO SAVE MY STUFF TILL THE END. THAT'S WHY I'VE HAD GOOD RUNS IN RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACING." >> Larry: MATT, I'LL WATCH THE 19 CAR OF ELLIOTT SADLER AND 17 CAR OF MATT KENSETH, THE CAR AND TEAM THAT WON THE RACE A YEAR AGO WITH BILL ELLIOTT AND THE 21. FORD HAS A NEW RACE ENGINE, THE FR-9. THOSE THREE TEAMS THAT ARE ONLY FORD TEAMS RACING THAT ENGINE IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: YEAH, KENSETH SAID -- THEY PUT THE OLD ENGINE IN MY CAR AND DIDN'T RUN AS GOOD AS MY ENGINE SO HE INSISTED ON RUNNING THE NEW ENGINE. THOUGH IT'S QUESTIONABLE AT THIS POINT. THEY RAN IT AT TALLADEGA AND THEY DID WELL WITH IT. >> Mike: 26 CARS IN THE LEAD DRAFT. 40 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. THREE IN THE GARAGE. BRAD KESELOWSKI, REGAN SMITH, AND SAM HORNISH. >> Darrell: THERE YOU COULD HEAR THEY'RE PLAYING WITH THE THROTTLE FOR THIS, TRUEX. >> Larry: YOU KNOW WHAT A LOT OF CREW CHIEFS WERE TELLING ME, DARRELL? WE TALKED ABOUT ROLLING OUT OF THE THROTTLE. A LOT OF TIMES TO ENHANCE THE BUMP DRAFT, THEY STAY WIDE OPEN AND DRAG THE BRAKE A LITTLE BIT. >> Darrell: YES, SIR. >> Mike: OUT FRONT AT 19 LAPS, THE 2000 WINNER OF THE 500, KEVIN HARVICK. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> GET THAT CHECKERED FLAG READY. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> STICK AROUND FOR MORE NASCAR ON F >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY THE "A-TEAM." IN THE NEXT BREAK, STAY TUNED FOR THE WORLD BROADCAST DEBUT OF "A-TEAM" TRAILER IN THEATERS JUNE 11. >> Mike: CAPACITY CROWD AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, NEARLY 200,000 STRONG. WATCHING HARVICK HOLD THE LEAD AT 23 LAPS. HARVICK WAS THE 2007 DAYTONA 500 WINNER IN A THRILLING FINISH WITH MARK MARTIN THAT SAW CLINT BOWYER GOING END-OVER-END ACROSS THE STRIPE. HARVICK HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO VICTORY LANE IN A SPRINT CUP POINTS RACE SINCE FEBRUARY '07. >> Darrell: TWO BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT WINS. FINISHED SECOND LAST, A YEAR AGO. >> Larry: WON THE ALL-STAR RACE IN 2007. >> Mike: THREE CARS IN THE GARAGE FROM THAT CRASH AT LAP NINE. HERE'S DICK BERGGREN. >> Dick: OKAY, BRAD KESELOWSKI STARTING HIS VERY FIRST EVER DAYTONA 500. IN THE GARAGE WITH THE CAR, FED UP ABOUT HIS PIECE. >> IT'S REALLY BAD. TORE THE RIGHT SIDE OFF, AND BROKE THE BRAKE AND MESSED UP THE TOE SO IT DOESN'T DRIVE STRAIGHT. ONE OF THE DEALS YOU COME TO DAYTONA AND SPEND TWO WEEKS WORKING ON THE CAR, MAKING IT THE BEST WE CAN. A TWEAK HERE AND THERE. WE HAD AN AWESOME PENSKE DODGE CHARGER AND DIDN'T GET A CHANCE. BY THE LOOKS OF THE CAR, WE RAN OVER SOMETHING. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES BUT CAUGHT A BAD BREAK. >> Dick: THE CREW IS NOT GIVING UP. WORKING ON THE AUTOMOBILE TO TRY TO GET HIM OUT AGAIN. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH AND KESELOWSKI'S TEAMMATE SAM HORNISH ALSO IN THE GARAGE. >> Darrell: HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF TIRE FAILURES OR TIRE PROBLEMS NECESSARILY, WE SAW IT ON THE 31 CAR AND THE 07, TWO CHILDRESS CARS. OVERALL THE TIRES HAVE BEEN DEPENDABLE HERE. >> Mike: RIDING WITH DENNY HAMLIN. THERE IS JEFF BURTON RIGHT ALONGSIDE. CHECK IN WITH MATT ON THE FIFTH PLACE CAR, MONTOYA. >> Matt: JPM WAS ONE OF FOUR DRIVERS TO STAY OUT AND NOT PIT FOR TIRES. HE REPORTED TO BRIAN PATTIE FIVE LAPS AGO, "JUST SO YOU KNOW WE'RE OUT OF CONTROL OUT HERE ON OLD TIRES." >> Larry: THAT'S WHY WE SAW THEM HIT PIT ROAD ON LAP NINE. AS I POINTED OUT, THIS RACETRACK IS THE SLICKEST IT'S BEEN ALL WEEK LONG TODAY. >> Darrell: THE GUYS THAT STAYED OUT WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT ARE DROPPING LIKE ROCKS. SO, YOU GOT TO GET TIRES RIGHT NOW. THE TRACK MIGHT GET BETTER AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF LATER WHEN IT MEANS SOMETHING. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. I WOULD HAVE COME DOWN -- I COME GET TIRES EVERY CHANCE I GOT. HOW ABOUT IT, BURNSY? >> Steve: THE CREW CHIEF ASKED HOW IS YOUR CAR? ONE ANSWER: LOOSE. >> Darrell: BUT LOOSE IS FAST, BECAUSE HE'S LEADING THIS THING. >> Mike: BEHIND HIM, KURT BUSCH. WHO HAS BEEN THE RUNNER-UP IN THE DAYTONA 500. THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID. PUSHED HIS TEAMMATE RYAN NEWMAN TO VICTORY LANE. LOOK WHO HAS A RUN ON THE OUTSIDE. THEY'RE NOT TEAMMATES, ALTHOUGH STEWART'S TEAM, THE 14, SHARES TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINES WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS BUT IT SEEMS THAT THESE TWO, THE 14 AND THE 88, IF THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO HOOK UP ON THE RACETRACK, THEY'LL RUN NOSE-TO-TAIL. >> Darrell: BEEN PRETTY GOOD DANCING PARTNERS THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS HERE. THEY LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER. THEY KIND OF KNOW EACH OTHER'S STYLE, KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU IS GOING TO DO, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO. >> Mike: TRUST IS IMPORTANT AT 190 MILES PER HOUR. >> Darrell: YOU DON'T WANT A DANCE PARTNER WHO IS STEPPING ON YOUR FEET. THEY SEEM TO HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT. >> Larry: STEWART WON THE NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE HERE YESTERDAY. THAT'S 15 A WINS TOTAL AT THIS SPEEDWAY. EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: LARRY, I SAID IT IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW. TONY STEWART'S CAREER RIGHT NOW AND PARTICULARLY AT DAYTONA IS SO REMINISCENT OF DALE SENIOR. DALE SENIOR WOULD WIN EVERY PRELIMINARY EVENT DOWN HERE AND IT COULD COME SUNDAY AND HE WAS OUT OF LUCK. LIKE HE DRAINED THE LUCK BANK EMPTY. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK, YOUR LEADER AFTER 28 LAPS. >> Mike: "THE A-TEAM" COMES TO BIG SCREEN AND OPENS IN THEATERS JUNE 11. 31 COMPLETE IN THE DAYTONA 500. KEVIN HARVICK, KURT BUSCH, ELLIOTT SADLER, AND NOW BUSCH WANTS THE LEAD. UP IN TURN NUMBER FOUR. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK ABOUT, WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU JUST GAPPED THE CARS BEHIND YOU. MAYBE THAT 2 CAR OF KURT MAY BE GETTING WARM. NEEDS AIR TO THE RADIATOR. >> Mike: BEHIND THEM ELLIOTT SADLER, THIRD. KASEY KAHNE HAS FALLEN BACK TO 12th. >> Krista: A WHILE AGO YOU MENTIONED THE WORD "TRUST." THERE IS ALSO TRUST IN YOUR TEAMMATES. KASEY HAS SLID BACK. WHY? LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAID ON HIS RADIO A FEW LAPS AGO. >> I DON'T KNOW WHY ELLIOTT DIDN'T JUST STAY IN FRONT OF ME, HE WENT UP IN FRONT OF HARVICK. HE COULD BE LEADING THE RACE RIGHT NOW. >> Krista: THAT'S KASEY KAHNE WITH A CONFIDENCE AND A LITTLE BIT OF A SWAGGER ON THE RADIO THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD IN YEARS PAST. HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS A VERY GOOD RACECAR. HE SAID IT'S A LITTLE LOOSE, BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE OTHERS ON THE TRACK RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: THANKS, KRISTA. YOU WILL SEE ELLIOTT SADLER MOVE UP AND PICK UP KEVIN HARVICK INSTEAD OF STAYING WITH HIS TEAMMATE, THE NUMBER 9. >> Darrell: WELL, WHATEVER, WHATEVER ELLIOTT DID, I KIND OF LIKE, BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING SECOND. AND KASEY HAS SLID BACK TO NINTH. SO I THINK ELLIOTT JUST WENT WITH THE BEST, WHAT WORKED BEST FOR HIM. >> Mike: OR COULDN'T HOLD HIS CAR TO THE BOTTOM. WHO KNOWS? >> Darrell: PROBABLY. >> Mike: THAT WHOLE OUTSIDE LANE WENT RIGHT PAST. NO WONDER KASEY IS RAISING CAIN. >> Larry: KEPT HIM AT THE BOTTOM. NOW YOU SEE HIM JUMP UP BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 CAR. >> Darrell: IN ABOUT THREE LAPS, THOSE FIRST THREE CARS HAD A SECOND-AND-A-HALF LEAD ON TONY STEWART AND DALE JR. KURT BUSCH DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE RACING. WHEN HE DID, IT CAUGHT EVERYBODY BACK UP. >> Larry: I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHO IS ALSO DOING MARCHING UP AND RACING IS ELLIOTT SADLER AND KASEY KAHNE'S TEAMMATE A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN THE 43 CAR. A.J. STARTED TELLING CHARLIE BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE CHANGE, LOOKED GOOD THE OTHER DAY IN THE DUEL RACE. HE WORKED HIMSELF TO THE TOP TEN IN 34 LAPS. A.J. HAD ONE TOP-FIVE FINISH LAST YEAR. HE WAS THIRD RIGHT HERE IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: HE DOESN'T HOLD BACK. HE'S ONE OF THOSE KIND OF DRIVERS WHO GETS UP THERE AND SAYS HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? THAT'S WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR. HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT POINTS, PURSE, HE IS JUST THINKING ABOUT GETTING OUT FRONT. >> Mike: A BIG RESPONSIBILITY CARRYING THE KING OF STOCK CAR RACING NUMBERS, RICHARD PETTY'S 43. THAT IS ONE OF THE RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS CAR TEAM THAT SWITCHED TO PETTY THIS YEAR. PETTY ENTERPRISE IS NINE-TIME WINNER OF THE 500. KURT BUSCH PUTS HIS NUMBER 2 IN THE WIND AHEAD OF KEVIN HARVICK AND ELLIOTT SADLER. >> Darrell: I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN KEVIN HARVICK SAYING LOOK, DUDE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN OUT THERE ALL DAY LONG AND LET EVERYBODY CATCH BACK UP, I'LL LET YOU IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T THINK HE WANTED TO. >> Mike: 35 LAPS IN. LET'S GET A LITTLE PREVIEW ON PIT STOPS. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, THREE OF FOUR CARS THAT STAYED OUT UNDER THE LAST CAUTION, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, THE 88 OF DALE JR., AND THE 5 OF POLE-SITTER MARK MARTIN. THEY'RE ABOUT FOUR LAPS AWAY FROM PITTING. THEY'VE ALL DISCUSSED WHAT LAP THEY WANTED TO PIT ON. MONTOYA MAY HAVE A TIRE GOING AWAY. THEY TOLD HIM IF IT STARTS TO VIBRATE TOO BAD, HIT PIT ROAD NO MATTER WHAT. STEVE? >> Steve: KEVIN HARVICK JUST ASKED CREW HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO STAY OUT HERE? I'VE GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE. THEY SAID ABOUT 13 MORE LAPS. >> Mike: YOU MENTIONED A.J. ALLMENDINGER. WHAT HE'S GOTTEN OLDER DRIVING THAT THING? HE WAS 20th WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM. TENTH WHEN YOU MENTIONED HIM. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S UP TO FOURTH PLACE. >> Larry: I MEAN HE HAD A GOOD DRIVING RACECAR IN THE DUEL RACE. QUALIFYING A WEEK AGO, IT WASN'T THAT FAST BY ITSELF. BUT THEY HAVE THE CAR DRIVING GOOD FOR HIM. >> Mike: COME BACK FOR PIT STOPS. 36 LAPS COMPLETE. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS CARS RACED ON THE HARD-PACKED SAND OF DAYTONA BEACH WITH NASCAR GETTING THERE IN 1949. THE ACTION WAS JUST AS HOT ON THE BEACH AS IT'S BEEN ON THIS NEW SPEEDWAY SINCE 1959. DALE JR., JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, AND MARK MARTIN MADE THEIR PIT STOPS UNDER GREEN. >> Larry: UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE 42 AND THE 5 BEING DOWN THERE PITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE, IT KIND OF HELD THEIR PIT STOPS UP. BUT AT DAYTONA AND TALLADEGA WITH THE CARBURETOR RESTRICTOR-PLATE WE SEE HOW MUCH FASTER CARS RUN HOOKED UP IN A LINE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE DANCING PARTNERS WHEN YOU COME TO PIT ROAD. WE GET TO CALIFORNIA NEXT WEEK, YOUR HOPES ARE YOU MAKE A GREEN FLAG STOP WITH NO ONE ON PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: ONE THING I DID NOTICE, EVERYBODY WAS REALLY CAUTIOUS. THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PIT BOXES ARE PROBABLY THE SLICKEST PIT BOXES IN RACING WITH THE OIL AND DIRT AND GRIME THATTED BY UP UP -- THAT BUILD UP IN THE BOXES. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH IS THE LEADER. A.J. ALLMENDINGER THE FORMER OPEN WHEEL RACER IS UP TO SECOND PLACE. KEVIN HARVICK HOLDING THIRD. ELLIOTT SADLER IN A TIGHT DRAFT ON HARVICK. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN A GAP TO KASEY KAHNE IN SIXTH. >> Larry: WHAT WE'LL SEE ALL THE CARS MADE PIT STOPS ON LAP NINE. I'M GOING TO SAY PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT TO NINE LAPS EVERYONE ELSE WILL COME TO PIT ROAD. THAT'S WHEN IT GETS HAIRY ON PIT ROAD WITH A LOT OF CARS ON THERE AT ONE TIME. >> Darrell: SPACING IS PRETTY GOOD FOR THE FRONT GUYS. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF NOT RUN OVER EACH OTHER. THAT'S WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO GET THEM ALL ON AT ONE TIME. >> Mike: OUTSIDE POLE-SITTER DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88. TRYING TO HANG ON TO THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. AND NOT GO ONE LAP DOWN. >> CAREFUL OF THE 2. THERE YOU GO. BANK AND PUSH HIM. 43 RIGHT WITH HIM. BANK AND PUSH HIM. >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON DALE JR.'S PIT STOP. HE SAID THE CAR WAS LOOSE BUT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK IT WAS NEUTRAL, SO THEY MADE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT TO HELP TIGHTEN HIM UP. >> Darrell: ONE CAR I NOTICE IT'S GOOD ON OLD TIRES AND HE PROVED THAT IN THE QUALIFYING RACE IS THE 48 CAR. RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE AT THE END OF THE RUN WHEN EVERYBODY IS GETTING READY TO PIT, THIS CAR IS ONE OF THE FASTER CARS ON THE RACETRACK. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. HE'S RIGHT BEHIND THE THREE CARS HERE, BUT IT LOOK LIKE IT'S GOOD ON A LONG RUN. >> Mike: IF A CAUTIOUS WERE TO COME OUT, NASCAR ALLOWS THE FIRST CAR ONE LAP DOWN TO GET THE FREE PASS AND REJOIN THE LEAD LAP. HERE IS BRAD KESELOWSKI COMING BACK ON TRACK AFTER THE LAP 9 ACCIDENT. >> Larry: YEAH, MONTOYA IS THE FIRST CAR A LAP DOWN. AND WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE RIGHT NOW IS EARNHARDT JR. AND THE 88 STAY IN FRONT OF THE LEADERS. THAT WAY DALE WOULD BE BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. MONTOYA WOULD BE THE FIRST CAR AND GET THAT FREE PASS, SHOULD THE CAUTION COME OUT. BUT THESE BOYS ARE GOING TO BE ON PIT ROAD PRETTY QUICKLY HERE. >> Darrell: AND THAT RIGHT THERE, THE 88 AND THE 2, THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE IN FRESH TIRES AND KIND OF OLDER TIRES. WHEN YOU'VE GOT GOOD TIRES YOU RUN ON THE BOTTOM. WHEN THEY GO AWAY LATER IN THE RUN YOU START RIM RIDING A LITTLE BIT. THE 2 CAR WILL GO HIGH. JUNIOR WILL RUN THE BOTTOM AND GAP THE TWO OFF OF TURN FOUR HERE BECAUSE HE CAN HOLD IT WIDE OPEN AROUND THE BOTTOM, THE SHORTEST DISTANCE. >> Mike: 44 LAPS COMPLETE. 106 MILES OF 500. >> Darrell: A LOT OF TIMES IN A RACE, YOU WILL BE A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT YOUR FUEL MILEAGE OR OTHER THINGS BUT WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE SO MUCH, SO LONG, THE GUYS HAVE RUN SO MANY LAPS AND SO MANY RACES THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW FAR THEY CAN GO. >> Mike: WE WERE IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, WE'D RING THE BELL FOR THE NEW LEADER. DING-DING! A.J. ALLMENDINGER. >> Darrell: I WANT IT! >> Larry: IF HE CAN KEEP THE LEAD AND LEAD THE LAP AT THE START/FINISH LINE, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST LAP HE LED. HE DIDN'T LEAD A LAP LAST YEAR IN 2009. >> GOOD JOB THERE, GUYS. >> Darrell: THERE IS ALWAYS A SURPRISE. EVERY YEAR YOU COME TO DAYTONA, PRETTY PREDICTABLE, YEAH, THIS GUY IS DOING GOOD, THAT GUY IS DOING GOOD BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ONE GUY YOU SAY WHERE DID HE COME FROM? >> Mike: PIT STOPS HAVE BEGUN UNDER GREEN NOW FOR THE CARS THAT STOPPED EARLY IN THE RACE. CLINT BOWYER WILL BE THE FIRST OF THOSE AS HE BRINGS HIS RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CHEVY TO THE PIT LANE. MATT? >> Matt: BOWYER ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS SLIPPING AND SLIDING OUT THERE. LOOK FOR THE CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. YOU SEE THE WRENCH GOING IN THE BACK WINDOW. SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE 33 OF BOWYER. FOUR TIRE CHANGE GOING ON. REMEMBER, HE HAD A ROUGH SPEED WEEKS. NOT ONLY HAVING AN INCIDENT IN HIS TEAMMATE'S CAR BUT ALSO THIS ONE AND HE'S AWAY. >> Mike: HE WILL LOSE A LAP TO THE RACE LEADER A.J. ALLMENDINGER BUT THE WHOLE PACK WILL NEED A PIT STOP VERY SOON. A.J. ALLMENDINGER IS LEADING THE DAYTONA 500. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, A.J. ALLMENDINGER'S UPDATE TO HIS CREW IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS ON THE THURSDAY RACES. BUT STILL A LITTLE TIGHT. HIS CONCERN IS HE'S GETTING HOT, THE RADIATOR. >> Larry: THAT'S BLEW UP THE ENGINE IN PRACTICE YESTERDAY. THEY GOT IT HOT AND HAD TO CHANGE. >> Darrell: IT MAKES IT FAST, TOO. IF YOU TAKE THE GRILL UP, IT WILL BE QUICKER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT THE QUESTION IS: FOR HOW LONG? >> Mike: A.J. FROM LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, OUTSIDE SAN FRANCISCO. WE'RE GOING TO THE WEST COAST NEXT WEEK. 2:00 P.M. EASTERN ON FOX. >> Mike: THERE IS KURT BUSCH RUNNING IN SECOND. HE'S BEEN IN THE TOP FIVE ALMOST THE WHOLE RACE. MATT? >> Matt: AND MIKE, THEY WERE ABOUT THREE LAPS AWAY FROM MAKING THEIR NEXT SCHEDULED PIT STOP. THE GUYS ARE STRETCHING HERE IN THE PITS GETTING READY TO SERVICE THE CAR. THE CREW SAID I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO TELL YOU. IT'S ON THE EDGE OF BEING TIGHT OR TOO FREE. RIGHT NOW, KURT CAN STILL RUN THE BOTTOM OR THE MIDDLE AT WILL. >> Larry: THAT IS ALMOST ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE I BELIEVE I PUT FOUR TIRES ON HER, DON'T DO ANYTHING TO SLOW IT DOWN AND SEE IF IT REPEATS THE NEXT RUN. HE WANTS THE LEAD BACK, THOUGH, BEFORE THE PIT STOP. KURT BUSCH, THE 2 CAR TAKES THE LEAD BACK FROM A.J. ALLMENDINGER. FOR MAKING GREEN FLAG STOPS, I LIKE THE WAY THE TWO CARS ARE RUNNING RIGHT NOW WITH KURT LEADING, BECAUSE AS THEY COME TO PIT ROAD, KURT'S PIT IS ON DOWN PIT ROAD FROM A.J. ALLMENDINGER. >> Mike: MARTIN TRUEX ON PIT ROAD, DAVID REUTIMANN, MARCOS AMBROSE, MAX PAPIS AND MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE PIT LANE. KRISTA? >> Krista: DAVID REUTIMANN TOOK TWO TIRES ON THE LAST STOP, SO YOU SEE THE CREW COMING AROUND TO MAKE FOUR. HE SAID HE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT FREE ON EXIT. BUT GOOD. >> Mike: MICHAEL McDOWELL, WHO YOU SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BOX ON THE RIGHT NOW JUST COMING INTO HIS PIT. ALL OF THOSE DRIVERS PITTING ON LAP 49. >> Larry: THIS PLACE IS TOUGH TO GET ON TO PIT ROAD UNDER GREEN FLAG STOPS. YOU'RE OUT THERE RUNNING 190 MILES PER HOUR. THESE GUYS DON'T RUN THE BIGGEST BRAKE PACKAGE BECAUSE IT'S LESS ROTATION LATE. YOU ARE TRYING TO GET DOWN TO 55 MILES PER HOUR. IN FACT, HERE COMES A GROUP RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: BOBBY LABONTE IS IN. THE BLUE CAR IS TRAVIS KVAPIL. BEHIND THEM JOHN ANDRETTI. ALL OF THESE ARE MID- TO BACK OF THE BACK CARS MAKING STOPS AT LAP 50. ROBERT RICHARDSON IS IN. ELLIOTT KNELT THE WOOD BROTHERS CAR. GLEN WOOD WAVED THE GREEN FLAG FOR THIS RACE. AND JOE NEMECHEK IS IN. >> Darrell: I DON'T LIKE TO KEEP HARPING ABOUT THIS, BUT PEOPLE FORGET THERE WAS A 24-HOUR RACE HERE TWO WEEKS AGO. EVEN THOSE CARS COMING ON PIT ROAD AND CERTAINLY THE PIT BOXES, THE SHAPE THEY'RE IN, THOSE GUYS WERE RACING FOR 24 HOURS. THEY LEFT A LOT OF GRIME AND DIRT BEHIND. >> Mike: HERE COME THE LEADERS. KURT BUSCH, A.J. ALLMENDINGER, JIMMIE JOHNSON, KASEY KAHNE, KEVIN HARVICK, ELLIOTT SADLER AND MORE. KRISTA? >> Krista: KASEY KAHNE SAID HIS CAR IS JUST A LITTLE LOOSE. KENNY FRANCIS SAID YOU WANT THE TRACK BAR DOWN AROUND? HE SAID NO, I'M FINE. THEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND SAID PUT AT IT HALF ROUND TO TIGHTEN UP THE CAR. STEVE? >> Steve: THE 43 GETS TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. THEY'LL MAKE SURE RIGHT NOW THEY SCRAPE THE GRILL. MATT? >> Matt: TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT COMPLETED ON THE 2 OF KURT BUSCH. THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT ON THAT CAR. THE 14 OF STEWART IS GETTING AN AIR PRESSURE CHANGE, ALL ALSO DISCUSSING CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AS WELL. THEY PULLED A PIECE OF TAPE OFF THE NOSE FOR THE 14. HE'S AWAY. >> Larry: THAT WAS A THIRD OF THE FIELD ON PIT ROAD AT LAP 50. >> Darrell: AND VERY ORDERLY I MIGHT SAY. >> Mike: AND THE LEADER HAS BECOME LAST YEAR'S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, JOEY LOGANO. HE IS GOING TO SUR RENDER THE FRONT SPOT TO PIT AS WILL ROBBY GORDON, DENNY HAMLIN AND JEFF BURTON. MIKE BLISS TOP OF YOUR SCREEN COMING IN WITH THEM. DICK? >> Dick: JOEY LOGANO HAS RUN IN THREE DIFFERENT RACES SO FAR THIS SPEED WEEKS AND IN ALL THREE HE HAS FINISHED IN THE SEVENTH POSITION. THE CAR HAS BEEN TIGHT. THAT'S BEEN A CHARACTERISTIC OF EVERYTHING HE HAS LEARNED HERE SO FAR AT DAYTONA IN SPEED WEEKS. TROUBLE ON LOGANO'S CAR. THE HUB IS ON FIRE AS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE WHEEL ON. >> Larry: DARRELL, I THINK THAT WAS DONE AS HE JUMPED ON THOSE BRAKES TRYING TO GET ON PIT ROAD, IT LOOKS LIKE. THE LEFT FRONT AND THE RIGHT FRONT HAD FLAMES. >> Darrell: THE BRAKE PADS SOMETIMES IF YOU GET DEBRIS IN THERE LIKE RUBBER BUILD-UP FROM THE TIRES, IT WILL GET CAUGHT IN THE ROTORS. WHEN YOU HEAT THE BRAKES UP, IT WILL CATCH THEM ON FIRE BUT IT WILL GO RIGHT BACK OUT. >> Mike: WE CYCLE AROUND AFTER GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS AND KURT BUSCH DRIVING FOR ROGER PENSKE IS ONCE AGAIN THE LEADER. RICHARD PETTY'S DRIVER A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN SECOND. AND RICK HENDRICK'S DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THIRD. >> Darrell: HOT, HOT, HOT! >> Mike: HOT TIME IN DAYTONA >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: JUST OVER A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH THE DAYTONA, TEN LEADERS ALREADY. THE RECORD FOR THE RACE IS 18. TIME FOR AN AT&T RACE BREAK, YOUR LEADER IS KURT BUSCH. WHO HAS THREE TIMES BEEN RUNNER UP IN THE DAYTONA 500. AND A GUY WHO WAS GOING TO TAKE A JOB AT A DRUGSTORE TO HELP HIS MOM OUT, WORK IN PHARMACEUTICALS, BUT INSTEAD FOUND INTEREST IN RACING AND MADE HIS WAY. THE GUY BEHIND HIM A.J. ALLMENDINGER IS A GUY WHOSE PARENTS HAD TO MORTGAGE THE FAMILY HOME TO KEEP HIM IN RACING AS A KID. THREE OF THE FOUR PETTY CARS LED. A.J. ALLMENDINGER DID NOT LEAD A RACE LAST YEAR BUT LED THREE ALREADY. AND KURT AHEAD OF A.J. AND MOVING UP IS DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND JIMMIE JOHNSON. WE'RE INSIDE THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, WITH JEFF HAMMOND, CHRIS MYERS KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS. YOU HEARD THE DISCUSSION WITH THE GUYS UPSTAIRS. YOU HAVE TAPE ON YOUR NOSE. >> Larry: THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO START RIGHT NOW, CHRIS. TAPE IS SO IMPORTANT. THE THING IS, FOLKS, WE TALK ABOUT THE CARS RUNNING HOT. BUT ALSO WHEN YOU ADD TAPE TO THE CAR, THIS IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF TAPE. TAKING THIS PIECE OF TAPE OFF TO MAKE THE CAR RUN COOLER COULD EFFECTIVELY CHANGE THE HANDLING OF THE RACECAR DRAMATICALLY, CHRIS. A LOT OF DRIVERS TOLD ME, ESPECIALLY GUYS DRIVING THE FORDS NOTICED AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH OF TAPE COULD MAKE IT FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TWO BRAND NEW FRONT TIRES ON THE CAR. THEY CAN HAVE THAT MUCH MORE GRIP. WHEN YOU HAVE THE HEATING PROBLEMS AND LARRY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THE TRACK POSITION, IF THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THAT DOWNFORCE THEY COULD HAVE A HANDLING PROBLEM FOR THE REST OF THE DAY AND THAT COULD BE A BIG DEAL. THE KEY THING IS IF YOU DON'T KEEP THE ENGINE COOL, YOU WILL BLOW THE ENGINE AND BE BEHIND PIT WALL. >> Chris: WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. JEFF BRINGING THIS UP FROM THE CUT-AWAY CAR BELOW THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. THE FASTEST PIT CREW OF THE YEAR IS BACK. LAST YEAR'S WINNER WAS JEFF GORDON AND THE 24 CREW. WE HAVE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT GORDON TODAY. AT&T AND THE WINNING PIT CREW, $20,000 DONATED TO KYLE PETTY'S VICTORY JUNCTION CAMP. YOU CAN PLAY YOUR PART THIS YEAR. JUST FROM YOUR AT&T PHONE, TEXT THE CAR NUMBER FOR THE PIT CREW YOU THINK IS THE FASTEST AND MOST VALUABLE AT EACH RACE. TEXT 2258. THAT'S 2258. DELIVERED BY AT&T, THE NATION'S FASTEST 3G NETWORK. >> Mike: THREE-CAR BREAK-AWAY. HERE IS THE SECOND PACK, INCLUDING THE TEAMMATES KAHNE AND ELLIOTT SADLER IN THE 19. THAT IS PART OF ABOUT A TEN-CAR, KIND OF LOOSELY PUT TOGETHER DRAFT. GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS BROKEN THE FIELD UP A BIT. >> Darrell: I KNOW YOU FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE TODAY. IT'S GOT TO BE THE WEATHER, BECAUSE THE TRACK IS HOT OR SLICK. WE HAVE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS KIND OF SEPARATION AMONGST THE CARS IN A WEEK. EVERY RACE WE'VE HAD DOWN HERE THEY'VE JUST BEEN LAYING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. TWO, THREE, FOUR WIDE. TODAY YOU'RE ABLE TO GET A COUPLE OF THREE CARS HOOKED UP AND GET AWAY FROM THE OTHER GUYS. I'M SURPRISED. >> Larry: YOU KNOW YOU LOOK AT CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99 CAR, HE HAS WORKED HIS WAY IN THE TOP TEN. OF COURSE, HE WAS ANOTHER CAR LIKE A.J. ALLMENDINGER THAT HAD TO GO TO THE REAR OF THE FIELD. THEY EVEN ON THAT FIRST CAUTION, THEY CAME BACK TO PIT ROAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TAPE. TOP THAT THING OFF WITH FUEL, BUT BOB OSBORNE THE CREW CHIEF KEPT HIM IN SYNC BY PITTING HIM WITH THE OTHER CARS. ANOTHER CAR I'VE BEEN WATCHING THAT FELL BACK AT THE START OF THE RACE IS THE 18 CAR, KYLE BUSCH. NOW HE HAS MADE HIS WAY, DICK, BACK TO THE TOP FIVE. >> Dick: YEAH, KYLE BUSCH IS RUNNING IN THE FOURTH POSITION RIGHT NOW. AND THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THAT RACECAR SINCE THEY GOT HERE. BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THEY'VE GOT IT DIALED IN. HE HAS A LOT OF REAR GRIP AND HE SAYS HE'S AFRAID HE HAS SO MUCH REAR GRIP THAT HE MIGHT HAVE USED IT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER. CALLS IT THE ATLANTIS SYNDROME WHERE THE REAR TIRES SPIN UNINTENTIONALLY AND THEY WIND UP GETTING BURNED OFF. TRYING TO AVOID THAT WHILE HOLDING HIS SPEED. >> Larry: DARRELL, THE TOYOTAS, THEY JUST NOT MADE A LOT OF NOISE DOWN HERE DURING SPEED WEEKS. THEY'VE BEEN OKAY BUT NOT REALLY GOOD COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION. >> Darrell: I'M SURPRISED. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS -- OF COURSE, IT MIGHT HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE WAY THEY'RE HANDLING THAN THE WAY THEY'RE RUNNING. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THEY'VE BEEN THE CARS TO BEAT. THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN THE STEAM OR THE SPEED THIS YEAR. >> Mike: ANOTHER SURPRISE IS YOU HAVE TO GO TO 20th SPOT TO FIND JEFF GORDON, THREE-TIME WINNER OF THE 500. HE HAS THE MOST RESTRICTOR-PLATE WINS OF ANYBODY IN THIS FIELD, WITH 12. BUT HIS BEST PLATE FINISH IN HIS LAST EIGHT RACES IN EITHER DAYTONA OR TALLADEGA IS 13th. ONLY TWO DRIVERS HAVE WON MORE 500s THAN GORDON -- CALE YARBOROUGH WITH FOUR, AND RICHARD PETTY WITH SEVEN. >> Darrell: LARRY, I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED. THE 48 CAR SEEMED TO ALWAYS GET IT FIGURED OUT. BUT THE 24 AND THE 88, THEY SEEM TO STRUGGLE OVER THE LONG RUN. THEY SEEM TO HAVE CARS THAT RUN PRETTY GOOD ON NEW TIRES FOR A FEW LAPS BUT THEY CAN'T RUN LIKE THE 48 DOES ON A LONG RUN. >> Larry: THEY HAVE A TOUGH TIME PUTTING TOGETHER THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE AND THE END. >> Mike: 62 LAPS. KURT BUSCH HAS NEVER WON A RACE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. COULD TODAY BE THE DAY? ♪♪ ♪♪ >> CUT! STAY TUNED FOR MORE N >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: CAUTION IS OUT AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. >> Darrell: TURN FOUR DOWN HERE, THE JOE NEMECHEK CAR. >> Mike: JOE HAS HAD A PRETTY -- >> I'M ALL RIGHT. WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? >> Darrell: SOUNDS LIKE HE'S NOT HAPPY. >> Mike: GOOD QUESTION. >> Mike: THE UNSPONSORED CAR OF JOE NEMECHEK. WELL, THEY HAVE A RESPONSE -- THEY HAVE A SPONSOR THEY PICKED UP YESTERDAY. >> Darrell: THEY PICKED UP THE RACE TODAY. >> Mike: LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 87. OH, BOY. >> Larry: HORNISH, THE 77, DID NOT GET AGAINST HIM. HE GOT LOOSE. HORNISH WENT BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK A FEW LAPS AGO AFTER BEING IN THE GARAGE. >> Darrell: IF YOUR CAR IS LOOSE AND SOMEONE GETS UNDER THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BLOW YOU AROUND ALMOST. I THINK IT'S THAT BIG SHARK FIN POSSIBLY. >> Larry: YOU KNOW, DARRELL, AT THE SPEEDS THE GUYS ARE RUNNING, IF YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT LOOSE, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH. >> Darrell: HE MIGHT HAVE EVEN LOOKED IN THE MIRROR TO SEE WHERE HE WAS AND GOT BEHIND THERE FOR A SECOND. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. >> Mike: SECOND CAUTION OF THE DAY COMES OUT AT ONE-THIRD DISTANCE, LAP 167. KURT BUSCH, THE LEADER. A.J. ALLMENDINGER, SECOND. FOUR-TIME REIGNING SPRINT CUP CHAMP JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THIRD. NEMECHEK ALSO HAD A SHORT DAY YESTERDAY IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE. AND IN BOTH EVENTS HE'S NOT ONLY THE DRIVER, HE'S ALSO THE CAR OWNER. >> Darrell: HE GOT HIS CAR TORN UP YESTERDAY IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE. AND HERE HE IS TODAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SO THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR UNDER-FUNDED TEAM TRYING TO MAKE IT. >> Larry: BUT YOU GET A FEELING LISTENING TO THE RADIO TRANSMISSION, HE FEELS LIKE MAYBE HORNISH GOT INTO HIM A LITTLE BIT. I THINK WHEN HE SEES THE REPLAY HE'LL CERTAINLY SEE IT DIFFERENTLY. >> Mike: THAT CAR GETS CLOSE BEHIND YOU AND THE AIR MOVES AROUND, IT'S LIKE A HAND REACHES OUT AND HELPS YOU SIDEWAYS. >> Darrell: I ALWAYS SAID IF YOU CAN TOUCH ONE OF THESE THINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER, YOU CAN SPIN IT OUT. >> Mike: IT'S EASIER THAN EVER TO FOLLOW YOUR DRIVER'S EVERY MOVE WITH NASCAR RACE VIEW. LIVE IN CAR AUDIO FOR EVERY DRIVER, REAL-TIME STATISTICS AND YOU THE WATCH UP TO THREE DIFFERENT VIRTUAL CAMERA ANGLES. GET STARTED AT NASCAR.COM/RACEVIEW NOW. >> Larry: I KNOW WHERE AIR IS GOING TO BE MOVING AROUND NOW, KRISTA. ON PIT ROAD. >> Krista: YOU KNOW IT, LARRY Mac. KASEY KAHNE SAID THE CHANGE MADE THE BACK END OF HIS CAR BETTER BUT TIGHTENED THE FRONT END UP TOO MUCH. THEY'RE REVERSING THE CHANGE THEY MADE. FIRST IT WAS WEDGE IN. NOW THEY'LL GO WEDGE-OUT. DICK? >> Dick: KYLE BUSCH SLID OVER THE LINE IN FRONT OF HIS PIT BOX. HE HAD TO BACK UP. IT WILL COST YOU DEARLY. HE WAS FOURTH BEFORE THIS ROUND. STEVE? >> Steve: JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN SAYS, "GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. I'M TWITCHY AND LOOSE." A.J. ALLMENDINGER SAYS THE FRONT END IS TURNING BETTER. >> Matt: DELOSSE THE WALL FOR KURT BUSCH BUT THE JACK MAN GOT THE CAR UP ON THE LEFT SIDE. NO CHANGES FOR THE BLUE DEUCE. >> Mike: ALLMENDINGER AND BUSCH COME OUT WHERE THEY STARTED. GAIN FOR KASEY KAHNE. >> Larry: SEE KYLE BUSCH LOST SIX SPOTS. WE'LL SEE WHY. DICK BERGGREN TALKED ABOUT IT. SLIDING THROUGH THE PITS. YOU CAN SEE THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP. JEFF HAMMOND ONE OF HIS KEYS IN THE PRE-RACE, SOLID PIT STOPS. THAT INCLUDES WHAT THE DRIVER DOES. >> Darrell: I'VE SEEN THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN DOWN HERE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PIT BOXES THEMSELVES, THIS IS ALL OIL AND DIRT AND EVERYTHING. I TELL YOU WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE, MIKE, LARRY, IF I KNEW WHAT PIT BOX -- >> Larry: POWER WASHED IT! >> Darrell: I WOULD HAVE WASHED THAT BAD BOY. PUT ME SOME TIDE ON IT AND WASHED HER OUT. LOOK AT THAT! THAT'S SLICK! >> Mike: MATT KENSETH, DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THE DAYTONA 500, POSTED FIRST TO CROSS THE LINE THE LAST >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: ONE TO GO AND WE'LL GO BACK TO GREEN IN THE DAYTONA 500. 69 LAPS COMPLETE. KURT BUSCH IS THE LEADER. HIS YOUNGER BROTHER KYLE BY SLIDING THROUGH HIS PIT LOST ABOUT FOUR SECONDS ON THAT STOP. HERE IT IS FROM HIS ON-BOARD CAMERA. THE TIRES LOCK UP. YOU CANNOT MAKE -- >> PUSH IT BACK, PUSH IT BACK. STOP, STOP, OKAY. >> Mike: YOU HAVE TO GO BACK BEHIND THE WHITE LINE TO MAKE THE PIT STOP OR YOU GET A PENALTY. LET'S SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT IT MEANS BETWEEN THE TWO BUSCH BROTHERS STOPS, INCLUDING PUSHING THE CAR BACK BY THE LINE. ALMOST A FOUR-SECOND DIFFERENCE. KYLE BUSCH CAME IN THE PITS IN FOURTH POSITION. CAME OUT TENTH. >> Darrell: A LITTLE BIT IS SO MUCH. >> Larry: THE COMPETITION IS ABOUT AS TOUGH, IF NOT TOUGHER ON PIT ROAD AS IT IS ON THE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: IF YOU ARE GOING TO MESS UP, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO MESS UP. >> Larry: DO IT EARLY. >> Darrell: GET IT OUT OF THE WAY. >> Mike: PERHAPS ONE DIFFERENCE, ONE REASON THE CARS GET A BIT STRUNG OUT, WARMER THAN IT'S BEEN ALL WEEK. THE SUN HASN'T BEEN OUT MUCH ALL WEEK. AND YOU SHOULD HEAR WHAT THE DRIVERS ARE TALKING ABOUT. LET'S LISTEN. >> I FEEL LIKE I NEED MORE GRIP IN THE FRONT END THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE CORNER. >> IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLING WITH LIFT. IT'S GOT LIFT DRIFTING IN TO US. I GOT NO GRIP. THEY ARE DRIVING AROUND ME. >> Darrell: DRIVERS ARE ALWAYS GRIPING ABOUT THE GRIP. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS. >> Mike: THURSDAY IN THE SECOND QUALIFYING RACE, IT COOLED DOWN THERE. WASN'T ANY SUN. EVERYBODY SAID BOY, THE TRACK HAS GREAT GRIP. >> Darrell: YET MORNING, REMEMBER HOW COLD IT WAS IN THE FINAL PRACTICE? THIS IS THE HOTTEST CONDITION WE'VE HAD. >> Larry: ONE THING THEY LOVE TO DO IS WHAT JEFF HAMMOND SHOWED IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL IS PUT TAPE ON THE NOSE TO GIVE THE FRONT TIRES MORE GRIP BECAUSE AS HOT AS IT IS, YOU CAN'T. YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE AIR FLOWING TO COOL THE WATER IN THE RADIATOR. >> Darrell: SEE SOMEONE TRY IT ON THE BACK BEFORE LONG TO TRY THE SHOCKS. >> Mike: 36 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. BACK UNDER GREEN. BUSCH AND ALLMENDINGER. KASEY KAHNE, KEVIN HARVICK, JIMMIE JOHNSON, MARTIN TRUEX. >> Darrell: THIS IS LIKE A RESET. EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO SEE -- MAYBE NOT LET EVERYONE GET SEPARATED SO MUCH. >> Larry: WE HAVE 36 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP HERE. 70 LAPS INTO IT. >> Mike: ONLY ONE CAR NOW IN THE GARAGE. THAT'S REGAN SMITH. HARVICK WANTS A CHANCE TO LEAD ONCE AGAIN WITH THAT 29. HE'S GOT TO GET PAST BUSCH AND ALLMENDINGER TO DO IT, THOUGH. FOLKS, YOU RESTED THE SURROUND SOUND SYSTEMS ALL WINTER LONG. I SAY IT'S TIME! CRANK IT UP! [ ENGINES ROARING ] >> Mike: AND HERE COMES HARVICK. >> Darrell: A COUPLE OF NEW PLAYERS UP THERE, TOO. YOU HAVE MARTIN TRUEX JR. BEHIND HARVICK IN THE 56 CAR. AND ANOTHER CAR UP THERE. GREG BIFFLE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SURFACED AFTER THE PIT STOPS. IN THE 16. THAT 29 CAR IS STOUT. >> Larry: IT IS STOUT. I THINK THEY LIKE, JUST LIKE THREE YEARS AGO, THEY'VE GOT THE CAR DRIVING GOOD. IT'S GOT GOOD POWER, TOO. >> Mike: WE SAID THIS WEEK THAT WINLESS 500. IT WILL TAKE A DRIVER WILLING TO RISK IT ALL ON THE LAST LAP. AND KEVIN HARVICK HAS PROVEN HE'S THAT KIND OF DRIVER. >> Darrell: IN ORDER TO WIN IT ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD RACE, A PRETTY FAST CAR TO PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO WIN IT. THAT'S WHAT KEVIN SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO DO. >> Mike: ON THE OTHER HAND, A.J. ALLMENDINGER NEVER HAD A STRONG CHANCE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: WHEN YOU HAVE A DRIVER LIKE ALLMENDINGER YOU HAVE TO KEEP HIM CALM. YOU HAVE TO GET HIM TO THE FINISH. >> Mike: ADD TO THE MIX, MARTIN TRUEX JR. DICK? >> Dick: TRUEX STARTED IN THE 14th POSITION, MIKE. RIGHT NOW HE'SOTORED HIS WAY FORWARD TO THE FIFTH SPOT. THE PIT STOPS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. HE'S THRILLED WITH THE WAY THE RACECAR IS RUNNING. THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD RUN FOR A DRIVER WITH A BRAND NEW TEAM. AND A NEW CREW CHIEF. KRISTA? >> Krista: DICK, GREG BIFFLE HAS BEEN VERY STRONG AS OF LATE. ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAVE STUCK WITH THEIR GAME PLAN, HIS CAR STARTED OUT A LITTLE TIGHT. SO THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE WEDGE ADJUSTMENTS ON EACH STOP JUST TO TRY TO LOOSEN IT UP. IT IS WORKING. GREG BIFFLE ALL THE WAY UP IN TO THE TOP TEN. >> Larry: THESE GUYS ARE WALKING A TIGHTROPE; MEANING, THE CREW CHIEFS. YOU DON'T WANT THE CAR PUSHING, NOT TURNING. YOU DON'T WANT TO FREE IT UP. BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO JUMP THE FENCE AND GET IT LOOSE. WE'VE SEEN HOW THE GUYS ARE WHEN THEY'RE LOOSE. >> Mike: A.J. ALLMENDINGER, FORMER CHAMP CAR, OPEN WHEEL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. HARD TO BELIEVE THE WAY HE'S HOLDING THIS PACK THAT IT'S ONLY HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500, AND THAT LAST YEAR'S THIRD PLACE FINISH IN THE 500 IS HIS BEST SPRINT CUP FINISH IN 80 STARTS. >> Darrell: HE LIKES DAYTONA. >> Larry: YOU KNOW TO FOLLOW UP ON DICK'S REPORT A MINUTE AGO TALKING ABOUT MARTIN TRUEX, A NEW TEAM AND NEW CREW CHIEF. THE NEW CREW CHIEF IS PAT TRYSON WHO MOVED OVER FROM PENSKE RACING WITH KURT BUSCH IN THE 2. PAT MADE THE CHASE EVERY YEAR EXCEPT ONE. WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. KURT BUSCH AND MARK MARTIN. I LIKE THE COMBINATION THAT CREATED THERE. >> Darrell: I DO, TOO. GOOD JOB. GOOD CATCH FOR MICHAEL AND THEM TO GET PAT OVER THERE. ONE THING ABOUT ALLMENDINGER, DON'T FORGET IN THE SHOOTOUT -- NO, IN THE 150, HE HAD A FAST CAR. MIGHT HAVE COULD HAVE WON THE 150. HE SLID THROUGH HIS PIT BOX AND REALLY COST HIM. >> Mike: MORE ON THE LEADER, HERE IS STEVE. >> Steve: MIKE, THIS IS ALL PRESSURE FOR A.J. ALLMENDINGER. HE SAID IT'S KIND OF COOL TO LEAD A REAL LAP AT DAYTONA. BY THE WAY, I'M RUNNING WIDE OPEN. THEY SAID, "WE'RE SURE YOU ARE." >> Mike: THE 2003 TOYOTA ATLANTIC ROAD RACE CHAMP. HAD FIVE OPEN-WHEEL WINS IN 2006. CAME TO NASCAR IN 2007. NOW, HE'S LEADING THE BIGGEST RACE OF HIS CAREER FROM KURT BUSCH AND KEVIN HARVICK. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: THAT FIRST DAYTONA 500 ON THE NEWLY-BUILT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY WAS A MIXTURE OF HARD TOPS AND CONVERTIBLES AND INCLUDED A 21-YEAR-OLD WHO WENT ON TO WIN THE RACE SEVEN TIMES -- RICHARD PETTY. CAUTION IS OUT. AT LAP 78. MIKE BLISS SPUN OFF TURN NUMBER TWO. PIT ROAD IS OPEN. KRISTA? >> Krista: A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS. THAT WAS THE ADVICE FROM KENNY FRANCIS TO KASEY KAHNE'S CREW. THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT COMBINATION. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A FEW SMALL CHANGES TO GET THE HANDLING A LITTLE BETTER. KASEY NEEDS HIS CAR A LITTLE FREE. DICK? >> Dick: MARTIN TRUEX IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE CHASSIS OF HIS RACECAR, JUST THE FOUR FRESH TIRES AND FUEL TO IT. IT HAS BEEN RUNNING PERFECTLY. STEVE? >> Steve: A.J. ALLMENDINGER, REAL GOOD, DICK. NO ADJUSTMENT, FOUR TIRES, ALSO FOUR TIRES FOR KEVIN HARVICK WHO IS BETTER AS WELL. >> Matt: THE LAST STOP FOR KURT BUSCH, BUT HE SLIDES TO A STOP AND FUEL-ONLY FOR THE BLUE DEUCE. >> Mike: THAT IS WHY BUSCH IS THE FIRST TO LEAVE PIT ROAD. RYAN NEWMAN, A BIG GAMBLE. NO TIRES. YOU SEE THOSE THAT TOOK TWO. >> Larry: THEY ONLY HAD SEVEN LAPS ON THE TIRES. >> Mike: WE'RE UNDER CAUTION. LOOK UP HERE. COMING IN AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. AND MIKE BLISS. GOES AROUND. >> Darrell: ALL BY HIMSELF. DON'T KNOW IF HE HAD A TIRE PROBLEM OR WHAT. BUT IT JUST SPUN OUT. >> Larry: REMEMBER, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST CAUTION EARLIER BACK ON LAP EIGHT. >> Darrell: REMEMBER, DID THE SAME THING IN PRACTICE. JUST SPUN OUT. >> Mike: THIRD CAUTION FLAG IN THIS YEAR'S DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >> Mike: READY FOR THE RESTART IN THE DAYTONA 500. THE GAME HAS CHANGED. A.J. ALLMENDINGER'S PIT CREW HUNG A LUGNUT ON THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR. TOOK THEM A LONG TIME TO MAKE THEIR PIT STOP. AND MARCOS AMBROSE HAS GONE BEHIND THE WALL TO MAKE REPAIRS ON HIS TOYOTA. GREEN FLAG! >> Larry: NOW KURT BUSCH IN THE 2 CAR CHOSE THE OUTSIDE LINE. MAYBE GOING TO DARRELL'S THEORY, THAT HE FELT LIKE CLINT BOWYER IN THE 33 COULD GIVE HIM A BETTER PUSH POSSIBLY. RIGHT NOW THE BOTTOM LINE WITH GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16 GETTING PUSHED BY KYLE BUSCH, THE 18 IS REVAILING BUT NOW THE 2 AND 33 COMING ON ON THE OUTSIDE. >> Mike: LET'S UPDATE THAT RYAN NEWMAN, NOT ONLY DID HE NOT GET TIRES, DIDN'T GET GAS EITHER. MISSED HIS PIT. HE HAD TO COME BACK IN AND HE'S HAD TO RESTART 31st. YOU SEE THE BLACK NUMBER 39. LOOK TO THE LEFT AND THEN COME RIGHT THROUGH. >> Larry: YOU SEE THE CORNER RIGHT THERE ON HIM. HE HAD TO COME BACK TO PIT ROAD. AND WANTED TO COME BACK AND GET FOUR FRESH TIRES. >> Darrell: WHOA, BUDDY! >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE. >> Darrell: CLINT BOWYER HAD KURT BUSCH JACKED UP COMING THROUGH THE TRI-OVAL JUST THEN. THAT WAS CLOSE! >> Mike: AND GREG BIFFLE, 12th DIFFERENT LEADER OF THIS YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: I LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE RESTARTS. LOOK THERE, WE'VE GOT JEFF GORDON WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BACK FOR MOST OF THE RACE. HERE HE IS, KRISTA, UP IN SIXTH PLACE. >> Krista: THAT'S RIGHT, D.W. STEVE LETARTE SAID ON THE RADIO BEFORE THAT LAST STOP, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO PANIC." THEY GOT BACK THERE BECAUSE THEY HAD A POUR QUALIFYING START. STARTED 21st. TOOK RIGHT-SIDES ONLY AND HE'S BACK UP FRONT. THAT'S WHERE JEFF GORDON IS USED TO BEING AT DAYTONA. >> Darrell: THING ABOUT JEFF GORDON AND MARK MARTIN, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD THEY ARE. THEY KIND OF FOOL YOU SOMETIMES INTO THINKING THEIR CAR ISN'T VERY GOOD. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY SURFACE. >> Larry: KRISTA JUST REPORTED ABOUT JEFF GORDON AND STEVE LETARTE TAKING TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES ONLY. THAT'S WHAT GREG BIFFLE AND ERWIN DID WITH THE 16 CAR ON THE LAST STOP. >> Darrell: THE CAUTION FLAGS AND PIT STOPS CERTAINLY HAVE MIXED UP THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE UP THERE NOW WE HADN'T REALLY SEEN ALL DAY. >> Larry: A GUY HAVING A GOOD RUN, RIGHT UP THERE IN THE TOP TEN IN THE NINTH POSITION, STARTED IN 32nd IS PAUL MENARD AND THE NUMBER 98 FORD. >> Mike: SPRINT BRINGS YOU AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW INSIDE THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. THE BIGGEST MOVER IN THIS RACE SO FAR, UP 32 SPOTS FROM THE STARTING POSITION, NUMBER 24. JEFF GORDON. MORE NASCAR STATS, IN-CAR AUDIO AND LIVE RACE RADIO CHECK OUT NASCAR SPRINT CUP MOBILE AT SPRINTCUP.COM/SPEED. >> Darrell: WE SEE IF LARRY'S OBSERVATION ABOUT THE 24 AND 88 PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO PUT A WHOLE RUN TOGETHER. IF THEY START UP THERE NEAR THE FRONT AND STAY UP THERE DURING THE RUN. >> Larry: YOU SEE DALE EARNHARDT JR., THE 88 CAR, MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN. HE'S WORKING THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW. WITHOUT A LOT OF HELP. SEE A COUPLE CARS JUMPING IN BEHIND HIM. AND JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE 48, HIS TEAM MAY -- HIS TEAMMATE TRYING TO. >> Darrell: NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE. YOUR CAR BOUNCES FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND IT'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. >> Mike: THREE OF THE FOUR HENDRICK CARS LINED UP. NOSE TO TAIL. DALE EARNHARDT JR., 5 OF MARK MARTIN AND YOU'RE RIDING WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. BOBBY LABONTE TO THE LEFT. >> Darrell: I LOVE THESE ENGINES. TURNING ABOUT 8800 RPM, WHICH IS ABOUT 1,000 MORE THAN WHAT WE TURNED DOWN HERE THROUGH THE YEARS. THEY REALLY ARE BARKING WHEN THEY GO DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH LAST YEAR WON THE NATIONWIDE SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. AND MANY THINK THAT THE MATURITY HE GAINED IN THAT TITLE RUN WILL PUT HIM IN TO THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP AND PERHAPS MAKE HIM A THREAT TO WIN IT THIS YEAR. >> Larry: YEAH, I SAID ALL ALONG, I JUST THINK HE GOT RID OF SO MANY DISTRACTIONS. BY WINNING THAT CHAMPIONSHIP, HE JUST RESIGNED WITH JOE GIBBS RACING, CONTRACT EXTENSION AND HE JUST GOT ENGAGED RECENTLY. >> Darrell: HE'S WORKING THAT THING, THOUGH. IT'S NOT HANDLING ALL THAT GREAT. I THINK GET THE TIRES UP THERE RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: BACK IN SEVENTH PLACE, NUMBER 14. OLD SPICE CAR OF TONY STEWART. YESTERDAY'S WINNER IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, STILL WORKING THE BOTTOM IS TONY STEWART IN THE 14. FIGHTING THE SAME CONDITION IN THE DROP OF THE GREEN. THE CAR IS WAY TOO TIGHT, ESPECIALLY ON ENTRY AND EXIT. DARIAN GRUBB CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS AND CONTINUES TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT. WEDGE, TRACK BAR. TWICE THEY PUT TAPE ON THE GRILL BECAUSE ONCE IT BLEW OFF, THE CAR RUNNING TOO COOL. THE LAST STOP, TWO TIRES. >> Larry: BY THE WAY, THE OWNER FROM HIS WIN YESTERDAY IS THE GUY BEHIND HIM IN THE 29 CAR, KEVIN HARVICK. SO LET ME CHECK THAT. THAT DRIVER'S WIFE DELANA HARVICK WAS THE OWN TOER. >> Mike: STEWART'S IN THE TOP TEN, THEN HE'S A THREAT TO WIN IT. RIGHT NOW, HE RUNS FIFTH. THE LEADER GREG BIFFLE, KYLE BUSCH, JEFF GORDON, WITH 87 LAPS COMPLETE. WE'LL BE BACK AFTER THIS LOOK AT "ALICE IN WONDERLAND." >> Mike: TEN LAPS TO HALFWAY IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX, AS YOU ENJOY OUR AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. DirecTV, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. GREG BIFFLE WON THE FOURTH OF JULY RACE HERE IN DAYTONA IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON 2003. HASN'T BEEN BACK TO VICTORY LANE AT THE WORLD CENTER OF RACING SINCE. >> Larry: YEAH, THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACES FOR THE MOST PART HAVE BEEN TOUGH ON GREG BIFFLE. THEY'VE BEEN TOUGH ON ROUSH-FENWAY ACROSS THE BOARD. THEY DID WIN THE LAST RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACE OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR AT TALLADEGA WITH JAMIE McMURRAY, BUT IT'S BEEN HARD ON THAT GROUP. >> Darrell: TELL YOU THAT 16 CAR WAS BAD FAST IN THE QUALIFYING RACE. HE GOT IN LINE AT THE END OF THE RACE AND FELL BACK BUT HE HAD A GOOD FAST CAR AND MIGHT HAVE COULD HAVE WON. >> Larry: I SPOKE OF JAMIE McMURRAY WINNING AT TALLADEGA DRIVING FOR ROUSH-FENWAY. NOW HE'S DRIVING FOR EARNHARDT-GANASSI. HE WAS DRIVING SIDEWAYS THERE OFF TURN FOUR BUT HE MOVED NICELY BACK UP TO THE TOP TEN. HE HAS HAD A LOOSE RACECAR I THINK EVER SINCE THEY UNLOADED IT OUT OF THE TRUCK A WEEK-AND-A-HALF AGO. DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM, THOUGH. >> Darrell: NO. IF IT'S CATCHABLE LOOSE, YOU KNOW, IF THE BACK -- OOH, THAT'S UGLY. [ LAUGHTER ] THAT MAY NOT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN CATCH ONE LIKE THAT. >> Mike: McMURRAY IS NINTH. KASEY KAHNE IN TENTH. 108 LAPS TO GO. THREE CAUTION FLAGS. THE FIRST FOR A SIX-CAR ACCIDENT IN TURN TWO. THEN JOE NEMECHEK'S BOUT IN THE WALL IN TURN THREE. FINALLY, MIKE BLISS COMING OFF TURN NUMBER TWO. THOSE ARE THE THREE CAUTION FLAGS SO FAR. NEMECHEK AND REGAN SMITH ARE OUT OF THE RACE. MARCOS AMBROSE AND BLISS UNDER REPAIR BEHIND THE WALL. >> Darrell: JEFF GORDON JUST JUMPED UP ON THE OUTSIDE. I THINK HE THOUGHT HE HAD A GOOD BIT OF HELP FROM CLINT BOWYER. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT FOR HIM. >> Mike: UH-OH. WELL, ALMOST THREE-WIDE. HARVICK ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE IN HIS NUMBER 29. ELLIOTT SADLER TRIED THE OUTSIDE ON HIM. >> Darrell: GORDON LOOKED TO BE CONTENT RIDING ON THE BOTTOM THERE, ALONG IN THIRD PLACE BUT HE JUMPS TO THE OUTSIDE. SEE IF IT WORKS. GETTING A PRETTY GOOD SHOVE IN TURN THREE. THE 24 CAR IS STARTING TO SHOW SOME MUSCLE, LARRY. >> Larry: IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE WAS SITTING BACK THERE WAITING TO SEE HOW THINGS WERE GOING TO SHAKE OUT. OF COURSE, STEVE LETARTE MADE THE CALL TO GO WITH TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES ON THE LAST CAUTION. >> Darrell: TRYING TO GET THE VIBES TO SEE WHAT THE RACE, HOW EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO DRIVE TODAY. WHOO! >> Larry: KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18 SAYS I BELIEVE BIG DADDY IS COMING. I'M GOING TO GET UP HERE AND GET A PUSH FROM HIM. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK HE SAID EXCUSE ME! >> Mike: SLID UP THE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: HE HAS ONE OF THE BEST SPOTTERS OUT THERE. THEY WORK TOGETHER VERY WELL. JEFF BICKERSON. WHEN HE GOES TO CLEAR UP, HE DOESN'T HESITATE. >> Mike: BYE-BYE BIFFLE. BIFFLE ON THE BOTTOM. SURRENDERS THE LEAD TO KYLE BUSCH. KYLE COULD BECOME THE RACE'S 13th DIFFERENT LEADER. >> Larry: I COULDN'T HELP BUT LISTENING TO THE PRE-RACE WHEN JEFF HAMMOND TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE KEYS BEING TRUST YOUR SPOTTER. KYLE BUSCH AND JEFF DICKERSON IS WHO I THOUGHT ABOUT. >> Darrell: EXACTLY. >> Mike: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK ON THE BOTTOM, A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN THE 43, WAS LEADING THIS RACE, MADE THE PIT STOP. HAD PROBLEMS. CAME OUT TOWARD THE TAIL END AND HE'S FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK IN THE TOP 15. >> Darrell: HE TOLD THE GUYS SETTLE DOWN IN THERE AND I'LL GET IT BACK FOR US. SOMETIME A DRIVER LIKE ALLMENDINGER YOU YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT ANYMORE A SITUATION WHERE HE TRIES TO OVERCOME A MISTAKE IN THE PITS. >> Larry: I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE A SALESMAN AND CONVINCE HIM WE STILL HAVE OVER HALF THIS RACE TO GO AND WE HAVE A GOOD RACECAR. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES IS IN ALLMENDINGER'S PIT. >> Steve: THE OTHER PART TO THAT, A.J. TOLD THE CREW, "C'MON, GUYS, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD IN THE PITS. THIS CAR IS NOT AS GOOD BACK HERE IN THE PACK." >> Larry: I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THE FACT WE DOCUMENTED HOW IT RUNS HOT IN TRAFFIC, AND WHEN HE WAS OUT THERE LEADING YOU ARE GETTING ALL THAT FRESH AIR FLOWING THROUGH THE OPENINGS. IT STANDS A CHANCE I'M SURE OF RUNNING WARM BACK THERE IN TRAFFIC. >> Darrell: I THINK TRAFFIC ALSO IS A PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR DOWN HERE THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE ADDITION OF THE SHARK FIN, BACK THAT RUNS ALONG THE DECK LID. I THINK IT MOVES THE CAR AROUND WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF TURBULENCE AND CARS AROUND IT. THAT THING IS HUGE! IT HELPS THE CAR WHEN IT GETS AROUND BACKWARDS, EVEN ON THE GROUND, BUT I THINK IT'S AFFECTING IT SIDE-BY-SIDE. A LITTLE SIDE-DRAFTING. >> Mike: THINGS LINE UP SINGLE FILE FOR THE MOMENT WITH KYLE BUSCH YOUR LEADER. HE'S THE TOYOTA TOP PERFORMER OF THE RACE. MARTIN TRUEX IN SEVENTH. RUDD IN 14th. BRIAN VICKERS IN 20th. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: TWO LAPS AGO, KYLE BUSCH TOLD HIS CREW THAT THE CAR IS BAD-LOOSE. ON THE LAST PIT STOP THEY PUT TWO FRESH TIRES ON IT, RATHER THAN FOUR. BUSCH WANTS FOUR TIRES THE NEXT TIME AROUND. THAT WILL TIGHTEN IT UP. >> Larry: BUT THAT WAS A GOOD SCIENCE PROJECT. IT'D RATHER COME DOWN PIT ROAD AND AT LEAST GET TWO TIRES AND KEEP THAT THING FULL OF FUEL THAN DO WHAT MAYBE MARK MARTIN, MONTOYA AND DALE JR. DID EARLIER AND STAY OUT. IT GETS YOU OFFSEQUENCE ON YOUR FUEL. >> Mike: HERE COMES JEFF GORDON. THREE-TIME WINNER OF THE 500. HE IS GOING TO BRING CLINT BOWYER WITH HIM. AND GORDON BECOMES THE 14th DIFFERENT LEADER TODAY. >> Darrell: AND THE FANS CAME TO THEIR FEET! >> Larry: THAT HAS CHANGED. IT WASN'T THAT MANY YEARS AGO THEY'D COME TO THEIR FEET SHAKING THEIR FIST. >> Mike: THE OTHER THING IS LOOK WHO HE PASSED FOR LEAD, KYLE BUSCH. >> Larry: IT MAY HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. >> Mike: GOOD POINT. KYLE IS THE MOST POLARIZING DRIVER IN THE SPORT TODAY. FANS LOVE HIM OR LOATHE HIM. NO ONE IS WISHY-WASHY ABOUT KYLE BUSCH. >> Darrell: ANOTHER CAR THAT RESURFACED TO THE FRONT AGAIN AFTER ADJUSTMENTS. THE 9 CAR OF KASEY KAHNE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S WORKING PRETTY GOOD ON THE RUN AS WELL. >> Larry: I BELIEVE I CAN SEE THE LOOSENESS IN THE 18 CAR THAT HE WAS DESCRIBING TO HIS CREW. RIGHT THERE. >> Darrell: THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HURTS HIM. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN TO -- IF THE CAR IS THAT BAD OR NOT REAL GOOD, GIVE IT A CHANCE. DON'T WRECK IT. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON LEADS THE DAYTONA 500, AS WE COME TO THE HALFWAY LAP. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: LIVE AT DAYTONA. >> Chris: CLINT BOWYER, THE 24th LEAD CHANGE AS HE BECOMES THE 15th DIFFERENT LEADER AND JUST PASSED THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE 52nd RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. CHRIS MYERS, JEFF HAMMOND. THE LAST 17 DAYTONA 500s, THE LEADER AT THE HALFWAY POINT HAS FAILED TO WIN THE RACE. >> Jeff: I DON'T LIKE THOSE STATISTICS. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THEM. I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH RIGHT NOW. >> Chris: THE AT&T RACE BREAK AS WE CHECK ON THE MOVEMENT. KEVIN HARVICK MOVING UP TO SECOND BEHIND KYLE BUSCH. JEFF GORDON, GO THROUGH THE GUYS OVER THE FIRST 100 LAPS. >> Jeff: I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH JEFF. WORKING ON THE CAR AND GOT UP TO ON THE FRONT. NOW HE IS CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT. HE'S BEEN BACK FIFTH OR SIX AND NOW IN THIRD PLACE. HE HAS LED THE RACE. DON'T COUNT HIM OUT. >> Chris: CARL EDWARDS STARTED AT THE BACK OF THE PACK, SURVIVED AN EARLIER CAUTION AND GOT THROUGH WRECKAGE. >> Jeff: HE'S BEEN PATIENT AND HAS A SOLID-HANDLING RACECAR. THEY WERE CONFIDENT IN THE GARAGE AREA. HE'S FACING HIMSELF AGAIN. THIS ENGINE SEEMS LIKE IT'S PERFORMING WELL. >> Chris: DALE EARNHARDT JR. STARTED ON THE FRONT ROW AND DIPPING BACK TO 14th. HE'S LED FOUR LAPS IN THE RACE. >> Jeff: HE'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH. THEY'RE FIGHTING THE HANDLING PACKAGE. BUT THE SCHOOL THING I'VE SEEN FIGHT FROM THE 88 CAR. THOUGH HE GETS SHUFFLED BACK BUT YOU SEE HIM BEHIND THE TEAMMATE MARK MARTIN TRYING TO BATTLE HIS WAY BACK UP. >> Chris: SPEAKING OF MARK MARTIN, THE 51, POLE-SITTER. HE SAID GOING IN THE RACE, JEFF, "WE HAVE A GOOD CAR, WE'RE GOING TO SIT BACK AND WAIT TO MAKE OUR MOVE." >> Jeff: THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING. KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT PACK. MARK IS LETTING HIS EXPERIENCE DICTATE TO HIM WHAT IS GOING ON. >> Chris: IT'S WIDE OPEN. AWE THREE GIBBS CARS LED TODAY. THIS IS AN AT&T RACE BREAK. TEXT YOUR OPINION WHO YOU THINK WILL WIN THE PIT CREW OF THE YEAR AWARD. POINTS FOR FASTEST PIT TIME. JEFF HAS HIS SELECTION. WINNING THE RACE, MOST IMPORTANTLY YOUR VOTE WITH JEFF'S, THE AT&T FASTEST PIT CREW OF THE YEAR AWARD DELIVERED BY AT&T, THE NATION'S FASTEST 3G NETWORK. WE REJOIN LARRY, DARRELL, MIKE. >> Mike: FOR THE LEAD, JEFF GORDON GETS UNDER CLINT BOWYER AND COMES BACK TO THE FRONT. GREG BIFFLE IN THIRD. ELLIOTT SADLER IN FOURTH. DURING THE BREAK, DARRELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DALE EARNHARDT JR. HE'S GOT A LOT OF STRAIGHTAWAY SPEED. HE WASN'T THAT COMFORTABLE GETTING IN TO TURN THREE A COUPLE OF LAPS AGO. LAST TIME OFF TURN TWO HE JUST ABOUT HAD TO SHUT THE CAR DOWN. LOST A BUNCH OF SPOTS. >> Darrell: THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HE HAD TO GET UP OFF THE THROTTLE. WHEN HE DID, EVERYBODY DROVE BY HIM. I LOVE THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE. COME OFF TURN TWO OVER THERE AND IT'S LIKE A DRAG CAR GOING OFF THE BACK. THE GUYS GETTING THE DRAFT REALLY PICK UP A LOT OF SPEED, THEY MAKE A LOT OF REALLY CRAZY MOVES GETTING IN TURN THREE. I THINK WHEN THINGS START TO REALLY SHAKE OUT, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL SEE MOST OF THE ACTION RIGHT THERE GETTING IN TURN THREE. HERE COMES JUNIOR, YOU CAN SEE HE HAS THE GREAT SPEED DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY, BUT HE IS HAVING TROUBLE HOLDING THE CAR ON THE BOTTOM. >> Mike: UP FRONT, CLINT BOWYER WHO FINISHED HERE FOURTH HERE LAST YEAR IN THE YELLOW 43. GREG BIFFLE TRYING TO BEAT HIM TO THE LINE AND DOES. >> Larry: BIFFLE IS DOING IT WITHOUT A LOT OF HELP. IT'S QUITE A WAYS BACK THERE TO THE 24 CAR OF JEFF GORDON. >> Darrell: JEFF GORDON'S CAR IS WEIRD TO ME. THE BEST ON THE BOTTOM BUT HE DOESN'T GET ANYBODY DOWN THERE TO WORK WITH HIM. HE TRIED TO MOVE UP AND HE MADE GOOD MOVES UP THERE. I DON'T THINK HIS CAR IS HAPPY UP HIGH. >> Mike: HOW ABOUT GREG BIFFLE, KRISTA? >> Krista: IF FOLKS AT HOME ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO CHEER FOR AND THEY LIKE LOYALTY AND CONSISTENCY, GREG BIFFLE IS THE GUY. GREG ERWIN SPEAKING WITH HIM THIS MORNING, BIFFLE'S CREW CHIEF, HE CEDE THE TEAM, THE GROUP HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR OVER TWO YEARS. THE 3M PIT BULLS, THE OVER-THE-WALL PIT CREW IS BACK, THEY HAVEN'T LOST ANYONE AND GREG ERWIN THINKS THAT WILL GET THEM TO FRONT. THAT'S WHERE BIFFLE IS RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: NO QUESTION. THEY LOST SOME RACES EARLY IN THE YEAR LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF MISTAKES ON PIT ROAD. THE 16 TEAM. >> Darrell: JUNEBUG! HE'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. HE HAS A FAST CAR, BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO NEXT, I DON'T THINK. >> Mike: WATCH THE 88 COME OFF THE CORNER WAY UP NEAR THE WALL. >> Darrell: HERE HE IS RIGHT HERE SIDEWAYS. WHOO! >> Mike: HE HANGS ON IT AND DOES NOT CROSS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE, WHICH SUT OF BOUNDS. STEVE? >> Steve: DALE JR. IS FUNNY ON THE RADIO. HE SAID, "BOYS, IT'S FUN BEING THAT LOOSE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IT'S VERY PRODUCTIVE." [ LAUGHTER ] >> Larry: IT WON'T BE FUN FOR LONG. >> Darrell: NO. THAT MOVE HE MADE OFF TURN FOUR THEN WAS NOT A THING OF BEAUTY. >> Mike: 91 LAPS TO GO. CLINT BOWYER FROM KANSAS LEADS VIRGINIA'S ELLIOTT SADLER IN THE DAYTONA 500. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 1979, CALE YARBOROUGH IN THE 11 TRIED TO SLINGSHOT ALLISON, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK WELL. THEY ENDED UP IN A FIGHT WITH DONNIE'S BROTHER IN THE INFIELD AFTER THE CHECKERED FLAG. RICHARD PETTY LED DARRELL WALTRIP AND A.J. FOYT TO THE FINISH LINE ON THE FIRST DAYTONA 500 ON FLAG-TO-FLAG COVERAGE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. >> Darrell: A PERFECT STORM. WE STARTED TO RACE IN THE RAIN. THE TRACK FINALLY TRIED UP. THAT'S WHY IT WAS SO MUDDY DOWN THERE. IF THE TRACK HADN'T HAVE BEEN MUDDY WHEN CALE GOT OFF THE TRACK, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE IT. THE TRACK WAS WET -- THE GRASS WAS WET AND SHOT HIM BACK IN DONNIE. >> Larry: I TELL YOU WHAT. IT DIDN'T LAST LONG BUT HE GOT UP THERE AND LED HIM A LAP. DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6 CAR. ROUSH-FENNY WAR CAR LED. >> Darrell: THIS IS THE LAST YEAR I'M GOING TO WAIT FOR HIM TO HAVE A BREAK-OUT YEAR. >> Mike: TRYING TO BREAK OUT IN THE LEAD AT THE START/FINISH LINE. HE LEADS THIS LAP FROM CLINT BOWYER, ELLIOTT SADLER, JEFF GORDON AND GREG BIFFLE. LET'S GO DOWN TO THE FORD FUSION 360 AND JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: MIKE, ONE THING YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY LONG HAS BEEN THE SHARK FIN AND HOW IT REALLY AFFECTS THESE CARS WHEN IT'S IN A PACK. ESPECIALLY IF YOU WIND UP GETTING CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. TALK ABOUT IT. BACK IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL THE SHARK FIN, ITSELF. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON THE CAR ALL OF THE PAST YEARS, BUT WHAT NASCAR DID THIS SEASON, THEY DOUBLED THE THICKNESS OF IT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL WIDTH. PLUS, THEY ALSO ADDED ANOTHER PIECE TO THE DECK LID. BY ADDING THIS, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE KEEPING AIR FROM GETTING UP ON THE BACK OF THIS REAR WING THE WAY IT DID A YEAR AGO. A LOT OF THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FACT THE CARS HAVE BEEN LOOSE ENTERING THE CORNER. HAVING TO WORK ON THE HANDLING PACKAGE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GET IN TRAFFIC, AS SMALL AS THESE ARE AND THE AIR WORKS AROUND IT MOVES THE BACK OF THE CAR AROUND, JUST LIKE A ROTOR OF A BOAT. YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED WHEN YOU GET IN A PACK YOU DON'T OPEN YOURSELF UP TO SOMEONE TO USE THE SHARK FIN AGAINST YOU. GUYS, IT WAS PUT ON HERE TO HELP A CAR WHEN IT SPINS AROUND BACKWARDS. IT WAS THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT FOR THAT ALONE. RIGHT NOW IT'S A HANDLING ISSUE. >> Mike: THANK YOU, JEFF. AS THEY WENT IN TURN ONE, 19 OF ELLIOTT SADLER HAD HIS HANDS OFF THE WINDOW AND STAYED ON THE CORNER BUT HAS NOT FALLEN OFF THE PACE. >> Darrell: NOT SURE IF HE HAD A PROBLEM, I GUESS. I THINK WHAT HE IS TRYING TO TELL THE GUYS I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TUCKED UP UNDER THE BACK OF ME. I'M GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND YOU GO BY ME ON THE OUTSIDE. NORMALLY THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE GETTING READY TO PIT. YOU LET EVERYBODY KNOW YOU'RE ABOUT TO PIT. THAT MIGHT BE THE OTHER THING AS WELL. >> Larry: THAT WILL BE HAPPENING PRETTY QUICK HERE NOW. >> Mike: 116 LAPS COMPLETE. 84 TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: JOHN ANDRETTI SLAPPED THE WALL AND PUT US UNDER CAUTION FOR THE FOURTH TIME TODAY. THE PITS HAD NOT BEEN OPEN BUT JIMMIE JOHNSON CAME IN TO TAKE CARE OF FLAT FRONT TIRE AND NOW PIT ROAD IS OPEN. KRISTA? >> Krista: KASEY KAHNE SAYS HIS CAR IS LOOSE BUT FAST. HE JUST HAS TO FIND THE RIGHT LINE. FOUR TIRES AND SUNOCO FUEL FOR KASEY KAHNE IN THE 9. STEVE? >> Steve: NO ADJUSTMENT FOR KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 CAR. HE SAID THIS CAR IS GOOD, IF I GET BY EVERYONE, THIS RACE IS OVER. MATT? >> Matt: CLINT BOWYER, THAT HE MADE A TRACK BAR AND WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. HE SAID THE CAR IS GOOD BUT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE BALANCE AS THE RACE TACH CONTINUES TO CHANGE. HE'S -- RACETRACK CONTINUES TO CHANGE. HE'S AWAY. >> Mike: THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. ADVANTAGE, BOWYER. >> Larry: IT IS. YOU'LL SEE EVERYBODY DID ABOUT THE SAME THING, BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT THERE ON TOP OF WHAT WAS ABOUT TO BE GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS. >> Mike: WATCH FOR THE BEIGE COLOR WINDOW WORLD FOUNDATION CAR OF JOHN ANDRETTI JUST COMING IN TO VIEW. YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE WHERE HE CUT DOWN A TIRE AND POUNDED THE WALL. >> Darrell: ALL OF A SUDDEN, 48 HAD A TIRE ISSUE, JOHN ANDRETTI DID. LONG RUNS WE'VE HAD HERE. IT LOOK LIKE WE MIGHT BE WEARING THE TIRES OUT A LITTLE BIT. >> Larry: IF THEY'RE TIGHT PUSHING THEY WILL WEAR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OUT. >> Mike: A LOT OF ACTIVITY UNDER >> Mike: TRAVIS KVAPIL STAYED ON TRACK TO LEAD A LAP, AS DOES BORIS SAID. 119 LAPS COMPLETE. 81 TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. SOMETIMES YOU'RE LUCKY, AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE SMART. THIS TIME JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS BOTH. THE CAUTION FLAG HAD JUST WAVED FOR JOHN ANDRETTI'S CRASH. WHEN WE HEARD THIS CONVERSATION WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON, HIS SPOTTER AND HIS CREW CHIEF. >> TURN TWO. OUTSIDE. >> RIGHT NOW. COMING TO YOU RIGHT NOW. >> PITS WILL BE CLOSED. PITS WILL BE CLOSED. ARE YOU SURE IT'S FLAT? >> YEAH, GOD, IT'S FLAT. IT'S ALREADY DONE SOME DAMAGE. >> SLOW IT DOWN, MY MAN. GOT A LOT OF TIME. SLOW IT DOWN. >> KNOCK THAT TIRE OFF, AND CHANGE RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. GET A LOOK AT THE DAMAGE HERE. >> Larry: THAT WAS A PERFECT WORLD THERE. HE FEELS THE TIRE GOING DOWN, IN TURN FOUR, NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE OF PIT ROAD. YOU SAW THE CAUTION LIGHT COME ON FOR JOHN ANDRETTI. >> Darrell: PUTTING THE BEAR BOND AND YOU CAN SEE RUBBER MAY HAVE COME OUT BUT I DON'T SEE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO FENDERS. IT WAS ALL UNDERNEATH. >> Larry: MIKE MENTIONED THE PITS WAS CLOSED. HIS PENALTY FOR PITTING BEFORE THE PITS WERE OPEN IS TAIL END OF THE LONGEST LINE. BUT HAD THE CAUTION CANNOT COME OUT FOR JOHN ANDRETTI, THE 48 WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUTION. >> Mike: EVERYBODY MADE THEIR STOPS UNDER THIS THE FOURTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE DAY GECHLT GECHLT -- LET'S GET THE DirecTV HEAD-TO-HEAD PIT. >> THIS IS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OFF THE 48 CAR. DON'T BELIEVE THEY MADE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER CAR, BUT THIS IS THE TIRE THAT CAME OFF. PRIOR TO THIS, THEY HAD A SLOW STOP ON PIT ROAD. >> Dick: A GREAT DAY FOR SECOND GENERATION DRIVER DAVID RAGAN WHO IS NOW IN THE THIRD POSITION WORKING WITH A VIRTUALLY TOTALLY NEW CAREER TO HIM. NEW CAR CHIEF, NEW CREW CHIEF AND NEW GUYS OVER THE WALL. IT'S WORKING PERFECTLY. >> Krista: SPEAKING OF CREW, THAT'S WHO CARL EDWARDS IS THRILLED WITH. THEY STARTED 37th AND UP TO FIFTH. ONE REASON IS THE PIT CREW HAS BEEN STELLAR. THIS WAS A STICKLER, FOCAL POINT IN THE OFF-SEASON TO IMPROVE THE CREW. TWO NEW TIRE CHANGERS AND A NEW JACK MAN. CARL EDWARDS IS HAPPY. >> Matt: IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW, THEY TALKED HOW UNPREDICTABLE THIS RACE WOULD BE. AND HIS CONCERN ABOUT GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BACK. AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WORK HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT HAS HAPPENED. HE'S BEEN FIGHTING A BALANCE ISSUE IN THE FIRST PART OF THE RACE. NOW HE'S FIGHTING REAR GRIP. ALAN GUSTAFSON MADE A WEDGE ADJUSTMENT ON THE LAST STOP BUT NOW HE'S TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT TO HAVE A SHOT TO WIN THEIR SECOND DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THANK YOU, MATT. 121 LAPS COMPLETE. DirecTV HEAD-TO-HEAD KNOCK-OUT IS SOMETHING NEW. WE WILL HAVE DRIVERS RUNNING ONE-ON-ONE AND YOU CAN FORM YOUR BRACKETS AND PICK YOUR DRIVERS THAT YOU THINK WILL ADVANCE IN HEAD 2 HEAD KNOCKOUT THAT COMES TO AHEAD AT DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. YOU WIN A LIMITED EDITION MUSTANG G.T., OR IF YOU GET YOUR WHOLE BRACKET RIGHT YOU MIGHT WIN $1 MILLION. TO GET DirecTV NOW, CALL 1-800-DirecTV. UNDER CAUTION IN DAYTONA. 80 LAPS TO G >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 WITH 78 LAPS TO GO, UNDER BREAK HERE FOR TRACK REPAIR. WHEN YOU PAVE A RACETRACK BEGINNING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE APRON, YOU LAY THE PAVEMENT IN COURSES ABOUT 12 FEET WIDE. THAT CREATES A SEAM RIGHT WHERE THE SAFETY WORKERS ARE STANDING. AND SOME OF THE ASPHALT IN THAT SEAM BETWEEN THE LOWEST AND THE NEXT COURSE HAS COME UP. >> Darrell: WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE RACECARS -- AND WE'VE SEEN IT MORE THIS YEAR THAN ANY OTHER YEAR I CAN REMEMBER -- THE CARS ARE PORPOISING MORE THROUGH THE DIPS. WHEN THEY DO, WHEN THE CAR COMES DOWN, THERE ARE PARTS UNDERNEATH THE RACECAR LIKE A CROSS MEMBER OR HEADERS, OR YOU KNOW, BELL HOUSINGS, ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT CAN HIT THE RACETRACK. APPARENTLY IT'S DUG UP A PIECE OF THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: YOU CAN SEE THE SEAM THERE RIGHT ALONG WHERE THE SAFETY WORKER -- YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST SEAM RIGHT HERE. AND THE SECOND. KASEY KAHNE RIDING AROUND UNDER CAUTION. TALKED TO HIS CREW ABOUT IT. >> YEAH, IT'S A BIG CHUNK. THE TRACK IS GONE RIGHT THERE. >> IS IT IN THE TRACK OR IS IT ON THE APRON? >> YEAH, IT'S RIGHT ON THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PAVING LINE AT THE TOP OF THAT LINE. IT'S ABOUT WHAT? 14 FEET OFF THE WHITE LINE, OR ON TOP THE YELLOW LINE. >> YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE A REAL BAD SPOT. >> YEAH. DEFINITELY. >> Mike: SO THE RACE HAS BEEN RED FLAGGED. THE CARS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN PIT ROAD. THERE IS A NASCAR OFFICIAL STATIONED AT EACH CAR. NO WORK IS ALLOWED TO BE DONE. DRIVERS ARE TO STAY IN THEIR CARS. THE PATCH WORK IS COMPLETED. AND MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN APRIL 2004 AT MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA, WHEN A CHUNK OF CONCRETE CAME UP ENTERING TURN THREE. THEY MADE THE MATCH, TAKES ABOUT TEN OR 12 MINUTES TO SET UP AND THEN WE'RE BACK TO RACING. MEANTIME, CHECK WITH STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: UNDER CAUTION AS THE CARS WERE STILL CIRCLEALING THE RACETRACK, CHAD KNAUS AND JIMMIE JOHNSON TALKED ABOUT THIS MYSTERIOUS FLAT TIRE. IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS RACETRACK. >> JIMMIE, IS THERE ANYTHING MAYBE WITH THE PATCH THAT YOU MAYBE HIT THE PATCH ON THE RACETRACK THAT MAYBE COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE TIRE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? >> MAN, THAT PARTICULAR LAP I DID GO TO THE BOTTOM TO MAKE SURE I WAS DOWN TO PIT TO COME BACK AROUND. I DON'T -- I DIDN'T FEEL IT HIT ANYTHING, THOUGH. THAT'S WHERE I'M CONFUSED. >> Steve: CHAD KNAUS JUST TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AT THE RACE TIRE BEFORE CLIMBING ON TOP THE PIT BOX. BACK TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. >> Chris: THANKS, STEVE BYRNES. LAST TIME THE TRACK WAS PAVED, 1978. AUGUST OF '78. THERE ARE PLANS TO REPAVE THE DAYTONA TRACK AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. COMING UP NEXT YEAR. 122 LAPS. THIS IS EARLIER ACTION WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI. BECAUSE OF A TIRE PROBLEM. WHO KNOWS? IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRACK-RELATED. TWO OF THE THREE PENSKE CARS TAKEN OUT. SIX CARS INVOLVED IN THIS WRECK. CARL EDWARDS, HE MAY NOT QUACK, BUT HE KNOWS HOW TO AVOID A WRECK IN THE AFLAC FORD, SOMEHOW WEAVING HIS WAY THROUGH THAT. AFTER A ROUND OF PIT STOPS, FAN FAVORITE DALE EARNHARDT JR. SAID HE DIDN'T NEED TO PIT BUT GOT OUT IN FRONT AND GOT TO LEAD FOR FOUR LAPS IN THE RACE. THE GUY WHO LED THE MOST LAPS, KURT BUSCH IN HIS PENSKE DODGE LEADING 33 LAPS IN THE RACE. JOE NEMECHEK ONE OF THOSE SINGLE CAR OWNER-DRIVER TEAMS WITH A SPIN-OUT HERE. RIGHT IN FRONT OF SAM HORNISH JR., THE OTHER SINGLE CAR OWNER/DRIVER TEAM. ROBBY GORDON LED A LAP AS WELL. WELCOME TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. GLAD YOU'RE WITH US ON NASCAR ON FOX IN THE DAYTONA 500. TIME-OUT FOR THE TRACK. HOW CAN DRIVERS BENEFIT GIVEN THE SITUATION HERE, 122 LAPS AND 78 TO GO? >> Jeff: THE ONE THING ABOUT IT NOW, THE GUYS STLIT AND THEY CAN TALK BACK AND FORTH TO THE CREW CHIEFS FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. MAYBE FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THE RACECAR. THEY GOT TIME TO PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE THAT MAYBE THE NEXT TIME THEY COME DOWN PIT ROAD THEY WILL MAKE EXACTLY THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT TO GET THE CAR TO THE FRONT TO KEEP IT THERE. >> Chris: HOW MUCH IS THAT IN A DRIVER OR CREW CHIEF'S MIND? WE HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT THE TRACK AS WE GO OVER THE FINAL 78 LAPS. YOU'LL SEE, AS YOU KNOW, THE DRIVING BECOMES MORE INTENSE BECAUSE YOU GET CLOSER TO THE FINISH. >> Jeff: YOU CAN SEE CHAD KNAUS, HE'S THE MAN MAKING DECISIONS ON PIT ROAD. THE COOL THING ABOUT THE PATCH WORK THEY PUT TOGETHER, APOXY WILL SET UP QUICK. THEY CAN FIGURE OUT IF THEY WANT TO STRADDLE IT OR RUN ABOVE IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THEM. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AND I APPLAUD NASCAR MAKING QUICK REPAIR. IT COULD EFFECT THE OUTCOME IF THEY DIDN'T. >> Chris: DALE JR. SAID HE LIKES THE BUMPS. >> Jeff: BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. HE'S RUNNING WELL. THIS IS A GREAT TIME FOR HIM TO SIT THERE AND TALK TO LANCE McGREW AND DISCUSS ALL THE THINGS AND ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY'VE GOT. STILL GOT A LITTLE LESS THAN HALFWAY TO GO, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO GET THE CAR RIGHT. >> Chris: CLINT BOWYER LEADING, FOLLOWED BY KASEY KAHNE, AND CARL EDWARDS. WHAT OF MARK MARTIN AND SOME OF THE GUYS, JEFF GORDON? >> Jeff: STRATEGY IS SAVE UP THE EQUIPMENT UNTIL THE END. LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD, WE HAVE CHEVROLET UP FRONT BUT A LOT OF FORDS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST NOW. LARRY McREYNOLDS AND DARRELL HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FORDS HANDLED WELL IN THE ENTIRE SPEED WEEKS. I'M NOT ONE BIT SURPRISED TO SEE THEM RISE TO THE TOP. >> Chris: IT SHOULD BE DRAMATIC FINISH. TWO OF THE LAST THREE DAYTONA 500s DECIDED BY LAST-LAP PASS. 33 LEAD CHANGES AND 18 LEADERS IN THE RACE. THAT TIES A DAYTONA 500 RECORD. >> Mike: SO THAT MEANS, CHRIS, WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE MOVING BACK AND FORTH. ONE THING WE HAVE NOT SEEN TODAY WE'VE SEEN ALL WEEK LEADING UP TO TODAY, A LOT OF THREE-WIDE RACING. WE SAW MARK MARTIN GET CAUGHT IN THE SUCKER HOLE AND PUSHED TO THE BACK, BUT NOT TOO MUCH THREE WIDE OTHER THAN THAT. >> Darrell: I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE GETTING READY. WE'RE GETTING READY HAVE A SHOOT-OUT. WE HAD 500 MILES SO THE GUYS ARE TRYING PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT NOW. IT'S GETTING READY TO GET INTENSE. THAT THREE-WIDE WILL TURN INTO FOUR-WIDE BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH, I PROMISE. >> Mike: WE HAVE SEEN TWO TIRES AND NO TIRES BUT GENERALLY THEY WANT FOUR TIRES. >> Larry: WE'VE SEEN THEM COME TO PIT ROAD TO GRAB FOUR TIRES. LESS THAN 80 LAPS TO GO, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE CAR IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. I STILL SAID IT, I SAID IT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, I THINK THE BOYS WILL GO BACK TO THE ROOT BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH. IT MAY BE ON THE LAST LAP. >> Darrell: YOU RUN OUT OF PATIENCE. I MEAN THIS LITTLE BREAK HERE IS A GOOD THING FOR THE DRIVERS, BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX A LITTLE BIT AND GET READY FOR THE SECOND HALF IF YOU WILL. BUT YOU RUN OUT OF PATIENCE. PARTICULARLY LATE IN RACE WHEN THE MONEY IS ON THE LINE. >> Mike: A BIT OF A HALFTIME BREAK HERE WITH 78 LAPS TO GO. KASEY KAHNE, TAKES OFF THE HELMET TO COOL OFF. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO FOR EXAMPLE ALONG PIT ROAD. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: JUST TALKING TO LANCE McGREW. LANCE, I HEARD YOUR DRIVER SAY -- NO, I HEARD HIM SAY THE TRACK WAS LOOSE. WHICH WAS FUN, BUT NOT NECESSARILY PRODUCTIVE. CAN YOU MAKE ENOUGH ADJUSTMENTS TO GET TO THE FRONT? >> I THINK SO. OUR TEAMMATE IS STRUGGLING WITH TIGHT RACECARS AND OUR CAR IS FREE. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE. MADE A LITTLE ADJUSTMENT THERE. WITHIN ONE STOP OF GOING THE DISTANCE. OBVIOUSLY. WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THE AMP ENERGY, NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET UP FRONT. >> THANK YOU. MATT? >> Matt: A CAR THAT WAS A ROCKET SHIP EARLY ON WAS THE 2 OF KURT BUSCH. THE LAST RUN HE SAID IT'S THE TIGHTEST OF ALL SPEED WEEKS. IS THAT A PRODUCT OF GAS-ONLY? >> I THINK SO. PLUS, HE SLID THE TIRES HARD COMING IN ON THE GAS 'N' GO THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOWN HERE. WE PUT FUEL-ONLY AND ADMIT IT GOT TIGHT ON US. GOT IT STRAIGHTENED OUT. DID WEDGE AND PUT FOUR GOODYEARS ON HERE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET TO THE FRONT. >> TOP OFF FUEL MILEAGE WISE? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? >> GOOD TO GO ON ONE MORE STOP AND COVER US ON THE GREEN/WHITE CHECKERS AND WE SHOULD BE IN GOOD SHAPE. THE MILLER LITE IS FLYING DOWN HERE THIS WEEK. I'M REAL OPTIMISTIC WE CAN GET BACK TO THE FRONT AND GO FOR THE WIN. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> KRISTA? >> Krista: ANOTHER CAR THAT'S BEEN A PLAYER ALL DAY LONG IS KASEY KAHNE IN THE NUMBER 9. KENNY FRANCIS, CREW CHIEF, KASEY SAID THE CAR IS LOOSE BUT REALLY FAST. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO FROM HERE ON OUT ON THE MACHINE? >> HE'S HAPPY WITH HOW THE BUDWEISER FORD IS HANDLING. A LITTLE FREE. HE LIKES THAT. WE TRIED TO TIGHTEN IT UP EARLIER AND WE WENT BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, SURVIVE TO THE END AND BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. HE SAID EARLIER HE GOT SHUFFLED BACK AND SAID THE CAR IS STILL FAST, BUT A MATTER OF GETTING IN THE RIGHT POLICE AND WORKING YOUR WAY BACK UP. I IMAGINE THAT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE END IT WILL GET MORE INTENSE RACING. FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN GOOD SO FAR. >> Krista: THANKS. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: CREW CHIEF DONNIE WINGO TURNED 50 YESTERDAY. SO FAR HIS DRIVER DAVID RAGAN AND HIS PIT CREW GAVE HIM THE BEST POSSIBLE BIRTHDAY PRESENT. YOU ARE UP TO SECOND SPOT. A LOT OF LAPS TO GO. HOW DO YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS FOR THE REST OF THE EVENT? >> A LONG WAY TO GO. THE CAR HAS BEEN GOOD, THE U.P.S. FORD FUSION. BALANCE HAS BEEN GOOD. WE MADE MINOR CHANGES ALL DAY. IT SEEM LIKE IT GETS FREER AS THE RUN GOES ON SO WE'VE BEEN CREEPING UP ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. RIGHT NOW, THE BALANCE IS GOOD. TRYING TO STAY UP FRONT. >> Dick: THINGS LOOK GOOD FOR HIM SO FAR, MIKE. >> Mike: THANK YOU, DICK. RED FLAG, 78 LAPS TO GO. A BIT OF TRACK REPAIR DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE HEAVY, HEAVY RAINS WE'VE HAD HERE IN FLORIDA OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO. >> Darrell: I'M WATCHING THE GUYS AND THEY'RE SITTING IN THE RACE CARS BUT I'M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE SEAT TECHNOLOGY. THESE ARE CARBON FIBER SEATS. EVERY ONE OF THEM ARE CUSTOM-MADE TO THAT DRIVER. THEY MAKE A MOLD AND THEN THEY BUILD THE SEAT. AND NOT ONLY DOES THAT MAKE THE SEAT THE SAFEST SEATS WE'VE EVER HAD, ALSO MAKES THEM THE MOST COMFORTABLE SEATS WE'VE EVER HAD. THAT'S WHY THE GUYS ARE NOT IN ANY HURRY -- BACK IN THE DAY YOU WANTED TO JUMP OUT AND STRETCH YOUR LEGS AND YOUR BACK. IT NOTICED DAVID RAGAN LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ABOUT TO FALL ASLEEP. EVERY ONE OF THE GUYS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE CHILLED OUT. THERE YOU GO. TAKING A LITTLE NAP. OF COURSE, HE'S BEEN IN TWO OTHER EVENTS HERE YESTERDAY. THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY SERIOUS NAP. POWER NAP. >> Larry: BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE SAFER BARRIERS AND WE TALK ABOUT THE HEAD AND NECK RESTRAINT DEVICES BUT THE SEAT TECHNOLOGY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THE GUYS CAN WALK AWAY FROM SOME OF THE CRASHES LIKE DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAD YESTERDAY, RYAN NEWMAN AT TALLADEGA AND CARL EDWARDS IN THE SPRING TALLADEGA RACE. >> Mike: 78 TO GO HERE. BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED WITH OUR TENTH SEASON OF NASCAR ON FOX. >> YOU ARE WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. >> NO! >> TURNS, NO! >> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ACTION-PACKED RACE. >> IT'S LIVE. IT'S NASCAR ON FOX. >> A LOT OF ACTION HEADED YOUR WAY ON NASCAR ON FOX. A LOT OF PRELIMINARIES TO THE CABLE PARTNER SPEED. THE FIELD SITS WAITING FOR THE APOXY PATCH TO SET UP IN TURNS ONE AND TWO ALONG THE ASPHALT SEAM, FROM THE LOW GROOVE TO THE SECOND GROOVE OF THE RACETRACK. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE TRACK SAFETY WORKERS HAD TO LAY DOWN A PATCH IN A SECOND AREA. AND JUST AS SOON AS THAT CURES AND HARDENS, THEY'LL RELEASE THE CARS BACK OUT ON TRACK UNDER THE YELLOW FLAG ONCE AGAIN. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, THE 5 TEAM STARTED THE DAY ON THE POLE. AND ALAN GUSTAFSON, YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN IT ALL BALANCE WISE. HAVE YOU DIALED THE CAR BACK TO WHERE MARK IS LOOKING FOR? >> I THINK SO. YOU KNOW, ALWAYS HAD A GOOD STARTING SPOT AND WE GOT SHUFFLED TO THE BACK AND THE CAR WAS TIGHT. WE HAD TIME TO WORK ON IT. ALL THE GoDaddy.COM GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE BALANCE CLOSE. WE MAY WORK OUR WAY BACK UP FRONT WITH THE GREEN FLAG RUN. WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THAT. THE CLEAN AIR IS A HUGE DEAL, SO IF WE MOVE OUR WAY FURTHER UP QUESTION GET BETTER AIR AND RACE HARDER. >> CURRENTLY, STEVE BYRNES, THEY'RE IN THE 12th POSITION. >> Steve: WITH GILL MARTIN, KEVIN HARVICK'S CREW CHIEF. GILL, EARLIER, KEVIN SAID, "I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS LOOSE." RECENTLY HE SAID, "IF I GET TO THE FRONT IT'S OVER." THE SHELL PENNZOIL CAR HAS BEEN GOOD. EVER SINCE THE TRACK CAME OUT, IT'S REVERSED ROLES. ALL THE CARS ARE LOOSE. WE HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE FIRST STOP. IT'S COME AROUND. IF WE GET TO THE FRONT, HOPEFULLY WE'LL STAY THERE. >> DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: MARTIN TRUEX HASN'T WON A POINTS PAYING SPRINT CUP RACE SINCE JUNE 2007 BUT IT'S LOOKING WELL FOR HIM TODAY. WITH A NEW TEAM AND NEW CREW CHIEF, PAT TRYSON. I WATCHED YOU IN THE GARAGE AND YOU'VE BEEN SMILES FOR ALL OF SPEED WEEKS. HOW COME? >> EVERYBODY IS HAVING FUN ON THE NAPA CAMRY, WORKING WELL TOGETHER. MARTIN IS DOING AN AWESOME JOB. GIVE US GREAT FEEDBACK. A LONG WAY TO GO. HOPEFULLY WE'LL PULL IT OFF. >> Dick: CHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY, CHEMISTRY. CHRIS MYERS? >> Chris: DR. DIRT THEY CALL HIM, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THEY INVENTED SAND. WITH JEFF HAMMOND. FOUR STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, FORMER DAYTONA 500 WINNER IN PARCH WITH THE DIFFERENT LEADERS WE'VE HAD, 18 TODAY. JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS NOT BEEN ONE OF THEM. >> Jeff: HE'S NOT. HE'S TRYING TO KEEP HIS CAR CLEAN. THE THING IS RIGHT NOW, HE HAD THE TIRE PROBLEM A MOMENT AGO. THEY HAD TO BRING HIM DOWN. HE GOT THE BREAK OF THE RACE SO FAR. COMING DOWN PIT ROAD. THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS GOING FLAT AND STARTING TO TEAR UP THE CAR AS WELL AS IT WOULD HAVE DISINTEGRATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO JEFF BURTON THE OTHER DAY. THEY GOT THIS COMPLETED AND THEY HAD TO COME IN AND CUT SUPPORT FROM THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. THAT WORRIES ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE GUYS REALLY STARTED BEATING AND BANGING YET. THE BUMP-DRAFT WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING ALL DAY LONG. EVERYONE KNOWS YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE NOSE CLEAN UNTIL THE END OF THE RACE. IT WILL HELP YOU MAKE PASSES AND CUT YOUR WAY UP THERE TU TRAFFIC. IF HE GETS UP THERE AND GETS TO BEATING AND BANGING HE DOESN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OTHER GUYS HAVE AND IT COULD HURT HIM IN THE LONG RUN. >> Chris: THE PRACTICES AND SHORTER RACES IN SPEED WEEKS AND THE BUMP-DRAFTING. HESITANCY TO DO IT HERE. YOU THINK AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE FINISH, GUYS WILL TAKE MORE CHANCES. >> Jeff: YOU HAVE. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT STAKE. LIKE DARRELL SAID, THE SHOOT-OUT HAS NOT STARTED, FOLKS BUT TIE THAT TELEVISION DOWN. AND DON'T GO ANYWHERE. BECAUSE THE REMAINDER OF THIS RACE, BUSINESS IS GOING TO PICK UP. >> Chris: LET'S SEE IF MAYBE THE 48 CAR AND YOU HEARD CHAD KNAUS ASK JIMMIE IF IN BETWEEN THE 6 DAVID RAGAN AND KEVIN HARVICK'S CAR DID THE TRACK HAVE ANY EFFECT. JIMMIE JOHNSON SAID HE WASN'T SURE. >> Jeff: AGAIN, HE COMES IN THROUGH THERE. THE CARS ARE SO RIGID. YOU SEE THE CAR BAUBLE. I BELIEVE HE RAN THROUGH THE HOLE AND IT COULD HAVE EASILY DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. YOU HEARD CHAD KNAUS ASK HIM. AGAIN, WATCH THE CAR. YOU SEE WHERE IT'S CIRCLED THERE. WHEN IT COMES THROUGH THAT PART, YOU SEE THE FRONT END DIP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. AGAIN, IF HE DID, HE COULD HAVE EASILY DAMAGED THE OUTSIDE BELT, CREATED THE CAR GOING FLAT, TIRE GOING FLAT. AND THAT'S WHERE THE DAMAGE MAYBE STARTED FROM. HE GOT THE BREAK OF THE RACE IN MY OPINION CATCHING THE CAUTION. ON ACCOUNT OF JOHN ANDRETTI. HAVING HIS PROBLEMS. BUT THE KEY THING IS HE WAS ABLE TO GET ON PIT ROAD AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE THING AND NOT LOSE ANY MORE TIME TO GET THE CAR WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE. >> Chris: UNDER THE RED FLAG, TRYING TO REPAIR THE TRACK. THAT JUST COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. >> Jeff: PART OF RACING. NEVER KNOW. PIECE OF DEBRIS COULD COME OFF ANOTHER RACECAR AS EASY AS THE TRACK COMES UP. YOU NEVER KNOW. THAT'S PART OF WHAT GOES INTO THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES OF A RACECAR DRIVER AS WELL AS CREW CHIEF AND A TEAM. >> Darrell: I'M GOING TO TRY TO RAISE UP DAVID RAGAN HERE, SEE IF HE'S AWAKE. THE OTHER GUYS I TRIED TO REACH ARE ALL ASLEEP. DAVID RAGAN, IT'S D.W. IN THE FOX SPORTS BOOTH, BUDDY. GOT A COPY? >> YEAH. 10-4, GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. >> Darrell: WE NOTICED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DID THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACK. DID IT CREATE, DID YOU SEE THAT? DID YOU SEE ANY DAMAGE TO ANYBODY'S CAR FROM IT? >> NO. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT ALL AND UNTIL CAUTION AND I NOTICED THERE WAS A SMALL CHUNK OUT OF THE TRACK GETTING INTO I GUESS TURN TWO. I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ISSUE, AS FAST AS WE GO OVER IT. I DON'T THINK IT HURT ANYBODY'S CAR. >> Mike: WE'D LIKE TO PICK YOU ON CAMERA. COULD YOU PICK UP THE GLOVE YOU SET OVER THE CAMERA LENS FOR US, PLEASE. [ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH. IT'S GOT A BAD GLARE IN MY EYES SO I SET IT OVER THERE SO IT WOULDN'T BE SO BAD. MAYBE THEY'LL GET US CLEANED OUT, OUT THERE ON THE TRACK AND GET US BACK GOING RACING. >> Darrell: 10-4. IF YOU WANTED TO BE ON TV YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE GLOVE OFF. NOW IT'S OFF. WE CAN LOOK AT YOU AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT ASLEEP LIKE THE OTHER GUYS ARE. THERE WE GO. NOW WE SEE YOU! >> YOU GOT A GOOD -- I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT, ALL THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING ON TV AND I SAID, I'LL GET THAT SUN OUT OF MY EYES FOR A FEW SECONDS. SINCE YOU CAUGHT ME, I GUESS I'LL TAKE IT OFF FOR YOU, D.W. >> Darrell: THANK YOU. HOW IS THE NEW CREW CHIEF WORKING OUT FOR YOU? >> WELL, SO FAR, SO GOOD. WE'VE MADE A FEW PIT STOPS. THE U.P.S. TEAM HAS DONE A NICE JOB AT THE PITS. AND PICKED UP A FEW SPOTS. THE U.P.S. FORD IS HANDLING PRETTY GOOD. STILL A LONG WAYS TO GO IN THIS RACE. WE JUST GOT TO BE PATIENT. AND BE AROUND AT THE END. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT. 10-4, BUDDY. TAKE CARE OF WINGO, HE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. >> 10-4, GUYS. >> Mike: THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT ASPHALT SEAM BETWEEN THE TWO COURSE OF PAVEMENT ON THE 31-DEGREE BANKING. WE'RE TOLD BY NASCAR THAT WITHIN TEN MINUTES OR LESS THEY'LL RELEASE THE CARS BACK ON TRACK. "COP OUT" STARRING BRUCE WILLIS AND TRACY MORGAN IN THEATERS FEBRUARY 26. LET'S GO BACK TO PIT ROAD AND MATT. >> Matt: CATCHING UP WITH SHANE WILSON, CREW CHIEF FOR CLINT BOWYER. A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR YOU GUYS. YOU WORKED OUT THE LOOSE CONDITION. HE'S PLEASED WITH THE CAR NOW? >> IT STARTED OUT TOO FREE TODAY WITH THE SUN. WE FOUGHT TIGHT IN THE 150s. SO PROUD OF EVERYBODY. WE WORKED HARD AND KEPT AFTER IT. WE GOT IT PRETTY GOOD NOW. >> Matt: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT WE HAVE THIS DELAY AND THEY'RE SAYING ANOTHER 10, 15 MINUTES BEFORE WE GO BACK RACING, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE TRACK MAY CHANGE THROUGH THE END OF THE RACE DUE TO THE TIME OF DAY? >> I MEAN IT COULD A LITTLE BIT. I WAS HOPING IT WOULDN'T CHANGE. OBVIOUSLY NOW THAT WE'RE PRETTY GOOD. BUT IT SHOULD COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FOR THE LAST RUN. WE GOT TO TRY TO MAKE THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT. AND KEEP THE SPEED GOOD. >> MIKE? >> Mike: THANKS, MATT. UNDER A RED FLAG FOR TRACK REPAIR HERE. WITH 78 LAPS TO GO. SHOULDN'T TOO LONG BEFORE WE GET BACK UNDER GREEN. >> Darrell: WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET KYLE BUSCH. I HATE TO WAKE HIM UP. KYLE BUSCH, IT'S D.W. IN THE FOX SPORTS BOOTH, BUDDY. GOT A COPY THERE? ARE YOU AWAKE? >> YOU WOKE ME UP. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Darrell: WE WERE WATCHING YOU TAKE A LITTLE CAT NAP THERE, OR I WOULD CALL IT A POWER NAP, I GUESS. HOW IS YOUR CAR? ARE YOU BACK IN 14th SPOT? YOU'VE BEEN UP FRONT ALL DAY. GOT ANYTHING FOR THE GUYS? >> YEAH, WE'RE NOT BAD. FIGHTING A LITTLE BIT OF THE HANDLING STUFF, YOU KNOW, GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S PRETTY GOOD. THEN I GOT TO RUN UP TOP SOMETIMES AND IT GETS REALLY LOOSE UP THERE. WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A GOOD HANDLE ON THESE THINGS. THE CARS ARE DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING I'VE EVER HAD AROUND HERE. YOU KNOW, TRY TO WORK AROUND THAT, AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH TRAFFIC. AND TRYING TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AT THE RIGHT TIME SEEMS TO BE THE BEST SCENARIO. >> Darrell: DID YOU NOTICE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRACK? DID YOU SEE THAT? >> VAGUELY. JUST SAW AT IT LITTLE BIT. A PIECE OF ASPHALT CAME UP, YOU KNOW, SIX INCHES IN CIRCUMFERENCE. ABOUT THREE INCHES DEEP OR SO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO FIX IT. MAYBE SOMEONE RAN TO LOWE'S OR HOME DEPOT TO GET SOMETHING TO FIX IT. >> Darrell: OKAY. HOW ABOUT LAST NIGHT, FIRST RACE AS CAR OR TRUCK OWNER? ARE YOU SURE IT WAS A GOOD IDEA? >> PROBABLY WASN'T A GOOD IDEA AT DAYTONA. BUT THAT'S OUR SEASON. SO WE STARTED IT. GOOD TUNDRA. IT WAS AWESOME. IT WAS A JUST FAST BUT WE GOT TORE UP BEFORE IT GOT STARTED. IF I COULD HAVE MISSED THAT WRECK BY SIX MORE INCHES I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY. WE GOT IN IT. AND A COUPLE MORE CHECKS WRITTEN ON MONDAY. WE'LL BE RARING TO GO AT ATLANTA WITH THE TRUCK STUFF. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO TRY TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. WE'RE CLOSE. WE HAVE A GOOD CAR. DAVE AND I WILL KEEP COMMUNICATING AND TALKING TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT AND GET THE M&Ms CAMRY UP FRONT THERE. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT, MY FRIEND. GOOD LUCK TO YOU. AND HAVE A GOOD FINISH HERE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS, GUYS. >> Mike: GO DOWN WITH KYLE'S CREW CHIEF. DICK? >> Dick: DAVE ROGERS. YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE DRIVER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO GET IT CONSISTENTLY FAST AND THE WAY HE WANTS IT? >> WE GOT BEHIND BECAUSE WE TOOK TWO TIRES. IT FREED US UP AND WE'RE FREE. LOST TRACK POSITION AT THE END. WE TIGHTENED THEM UP A LITTLE BIT. THE CAMRY HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD. IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHERE KYLE WANTS BUT WE'VE BAN COUPLE TENTHS OF AIR PRESSURE HERE AND THERE ALL DAY. WE'RE PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT BUT WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT. >> Dick: DAVE ROGERS HAS A WHEEL MAN THERE AND CAN DO A LOT WITH A CAR THAT'S NOT PERFECT. >> Mike: IF YOU LOOK ABOVE THE FOX I.D. ON DICK'S JACKET, YOU SEE THE RONALD McDONALD HOUSE PIN THAT WE'RE WEARING AS PART OF THE FOX SPORTS SUPPORTS CHARITABLE EXECUTIVE. TOM MURPHY, EXECUTIVE WITH SPRINT, DID A LOT FOR RONALD McDONALD HOUSE, SO WE'RE HONORING HIS MEMORY AND ASK YOU TO JOIN THE TEAM IN SUPPORTING RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES, WHOSE PROGRAMS DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER WHEN MEDICAL TREATMENTS ARE AWAY FROM HOME. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT RMHC.ORG/FOX. HERE IS STEVE. >> Steve: WITH CHAD KNAUS, MIKE. CHAD, HAVE YOU SOLVED THE MYSTERY OF THE TIRE? >> NO, NOT YET. WE PUT NEW ONES ON THERE. HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T DO IT AGAIN. WE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. COULD HAVE BROUGHT A -- GOODYEAR BROUGHT A GOOD TIRE AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER AND THE FIRST RUN OF THE DAY WE SAW A LITTLE CHUNKING ISSUE. AND REALLY HADN'T SEEN ANYTHING SENSE. THEN THE LAST PIT STOP WE GOT A SLOW STOP THAT PUSHED US BACK TO THE BACK OF THE PACK AND JIMMIE HAD TO FIGHT HIS WAY THROUGH. AND THE TIRE CAME APART AGAIN ON US. LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE FIRST TIME. AND THANKFULLY, THE CAUTION CAME OUT BEFORE THAT SO WE WEREN'T CAUGHT UP IN THE ACCIDENT OR DIDN'T HIT THE WALL OR ANYTHING. WE THINK THE CAR IS OKAY. WE HAVE TO GET IT UP TO THE FRONT TO GET CLEAN AIR ON IT. THE CAR IS FAST. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT A COUPLE OF TIMES. LOWE'S CHEVROLET IS RUNNING GREAT. GUYS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB ON PIT ROAD. GET THE BUGS OUT OF IT. DOING FINE. >> Darrell: TRY ANOTHER GUY. DALE JR. DALE JR., ARE YOU AWAKE IN THERE? >> YES, I AM. >> Darrell: I GOT TO TELL YOU, YOU GOT THE FASTEST CAR HERE DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY IN THE THIRD TURN. IF YOU CAN CORRAL THAT THING UP, I BELIEVE YOU CAN GET BACK TO THE FRONT. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> ARE YOU SERIOUS? >> Darrell: WHAT ABOUT IT BEING FAST OR ABOUT YOU GETTING BACK TO THE FRONT? >> I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS TOO FAST. I MEAN I'M SITTING AT 21st OR SOMETHING. IF WE CAN TIGHTEN IT UP, MAN, THAT LAST RUN I WAS SO LOOSE, ALL I COULD GET AROUND THE TRACK WAS THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL ON THE WALL. I DON'T KNOW. I WAS HAVING FUN. BUT WE WEREN'T VERY PRODUCTIVE, SO WE'LL TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. >> Darrell: ROGER, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE NOTICING. YOU WERE FLYING IN THE WHOLE TURN AND IT TOOK THE WHOLE CORNER TO GET OFF OF TURN FOUR AND YOU MADE A COUPLE OF BIG MOVES. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE JUST MESSING AROUND OR IF THE CAR WAS THAT LOOSE. >> YEAH, THE CAR WAS REALLY, REALLY LOOSE. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT A LITTLE BIT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP IT. I AM HAPPY -- I'M HAPPY, WE'RE NOT RUNNING WHERE I WANT TO RUN. WE NEED TO GET UP THERE AND CHALLENGE THE BOYS UP FRONT. I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS HAVE WENT. I'VE HAD GOOD FUN TODAY DRIVING THIS THING. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE BIT AND GET IT HANDLING A LITTLE BIT BETTER. >> Darrell: HAVE ANY FUN YESTERDAY? GOING DOWN THE BACK OVER THERE? >> THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY, I GUESS PEOPLE -- I FLIPPED ONE TIME WHEN I WAS A ROOKIE. I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT FLIPPING OVER IN MY WHOLE CAREER. NEVER BEEN IN A CAR THAT WAS CAPABLE OF DOING IT. I GOT OUT OF THAT THING IN 1998 WHEN I FLIPPED OVER AND I WAS LIKE, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY'VE EVER BEEN THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE. I WAS PROUD -- NOT THAT I FLIPPED OVER, OBVIOUSLY. I WASN'T PROUD OF THAT. BUT I WAS PROUD TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE. AND YESTERDAY I GOT A REFRESHER ON ALL THAT. BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A WHILE. BUT I SPENT ABOUT $650,000. I WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT PART. THE RACE WAS GOOD. UP UNTIL WE GOT UPSIDE DOWN, WE WERE KIND OF RUNNING, WE WEREN'T IN THE RED YESTERDAY IN THE POCKETBOOK, BUT THAT CERTAINLY PUT US THERE. >> Darrell: SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE CAR OWNER. STAND ON THAT THING, MAN. TIGHTEN HER UP AND GET HER UP THE >> WE'RE READY AND WILLING. TRUST ME. WE HAVE BEEN MAKING CRAZY MOVES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE TRACK POSITION WE LOST EARLY. THAT LONG RUN WAS A LOT OF FUN TO SEE WHO HAD ONE WHAT AND HOW CARS WERE HANDLING AND STUFF. OF COURSE, WE GOT PLENTY OF LAST LAPS TO MAKE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT OR TWO, ANOTHER PIT STOP AND SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT. 10-4. HAVE AT IT. >> Mike: DALE JR. HAS BEEN IN A GOOD MOVE THIS WEEKEND. >> Darrell: EVEN AFTER TURNING OVER YESTERDAY AND DANICA HAVING TROUBLE, HE STILL SEEMS CHIPPER TODAY. >> Mike: HE SAID I HOPE IT LOOKED SPECTACULAR, BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITY. HERE IS RADIO ON WHAT HE SAID DURING THIS RED FLAG DELAY FOR TRACK REPAIR. >> I THINK THEY'RE JUST GOING TO PUT A CONE OVER THAT PATCH THEY GOT GOING DOWN THERE. YOU JUST GOT TO DODGE THAT THE REST OF THE DAY. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? [ LAUGHTER ] >> WE CAN DO THAT. >> Darrell: ONLY HIM. >> YOU KNOW HOW MANY BASEBALL UMPIRES THERE ARE IN A BASEBALL GAME? >> MORE THAN ONE. >> FOUR. >> YOU KNOW WHO THE ALL-TIME CAREER HITS LEADER IN BASEBALL? >> PETE ROSE, MAN. >> WHO IS THE ALL-TIME LEADING BASE STEALER? >> REGGIE HENDERSON. >> Larry: I GUESS IT WAS TRIVIA HOUR. >> Mike: WAITING FOR JOE BUCK AND TIM McCARVER TO BREAK IN. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Mike: LET'S TAKE A BREAK. THEY ARE REPAIRING TURNS ONE AND TWO. A SHORT AREA OF ASPHALT HAS COME UP, A LITTLE POTHOLE REPAIR. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: FROM THEN TO NOW, TRADITION CONTINUES AT THE DAYTONA 500. YOU CAN PUT THIS THIS YOUR BOOK. RED FLAG FOR TRACK REPAIR. 78 LAPS TO GO. CLINT BOWYER, THE LEADER, FOLLOWED BY RAGAN. JEFF HAMMOND AND CHRIS MYERS, THE GOING ALL HERE FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL TRACKSIDE. WITH JEFF HAMMOND'S GARAGE AND THE FORD CUT-AWAY CAR DOWN THERE. IT'S AMAZING TO ME, I'M WATCHING THIS. YOU SEE HOW INTENSE, THE GUYS GOING 190 MILES PER HOUR, SPINNING AROUND. YOU GOT KYLE BUSCH DOZING OFF CATCHING A SNOOZE WHEN HE CAN. VERY RELAXED. THEN DALE JR. PROMOTING FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL IN APRIL. >> Jeff: YOU HAVE TO BE MENTALLY TOUGH. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD AND FOCUS HARD IN THE RACECAR, AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT EASE SEWHEN YOU HAVE A BREAK. KURT BUSCH -- >> Chris: HE LED 33 LAPS, THE MOST TODAY. >> Jeff: EVERYONE TAKING A QUICK BREAK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AMONGST THEMSELVES. >> Chris: THERE IS DALE EARNHARDT JR. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONWIDE RACE WHERE HE WAS UPSIDE DOWN. MATT KENSETH WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. MATT WON THE RACE LAST YEAR, RAIN SHORTENED. >> Jeff: DIFFERENT PIT STOP. >> Chris: IN 2007, KEVIN HARVICK WHO LAD 17 LAPS IN TODAY'S RACE, MORE THAN HERE WHEN HE SHOT PAST IN A CAUTION. MARK MARTIN. WATCH THE PILE-UP AND THE WRECK. THE CURRENT LEADER CLINT BOWYER AT THIS POINT FINISHED EIGHTH. HE WAS ON THE LEAD LAP AND HE SAID, "I HAVE BEEN UPSIDE DOWN GOING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, BUT NEVER UPSIDE DOWN AND ON FIRE." >> Jeff: THAT WAS WILD. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE LEADER NOW, CLINT BOWYER? >> Matt: HE LIKE OTHER DRIVERS GOT OUT OF THE RACECAR, STRETCHED. MARK MARTIN GRABBED A PROTEIN BAR. YOU GRABBED A COKE. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THE RACING SO FAR THROUGH THE PACK AND OUT FRONT? >> EXACTLY HOW MY BOSSES DESCRIBE IT ON THE RADIO, THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. CHEERIOS/HAMBUGER HELPER CHEVROLET IS FAST. EXCITED. THE RCR MOTORS ARE STRONG. KEVIN HAS BEEN UP FRONT ALL DAY LONG. WORKING ON HANDLING. TOO LOOSE AND THEN TIGHT AND NOW BACK TO LOOSE AGAIN, BUT FAST. I'M EXCITE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK OUT THERE. IT SAW THE HOLE. KEPT GETTING BLACKER AND BLACKER. I THINK IT WAS GETTING BIGGER. BUT HAVING FUN. >> Matt: WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU YOU LEARNED SO FAR, FAST CARS EARLY ON, GOT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, COULDN'T GET BACK TO THE FRONT. CRUCIAL TO KEEP YOUR CAR UP FRONT FOR BETTER AIR? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE TRACK POSITION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER DOWN HERE. SEEMED LIKE YOU WAS IN A WASHING MACHINE AND YOU WAITED, TIMED YOUR CYCLE BACK AROUND AND HOPEFULLY YOU WERE UP FRONT WHEN THE CHECKER CAME OUT. YOU GOT TO BE UP FRONT. GOT TO KEEP THE CAR IN POSITION. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. >> Matt: THANKS. STEVE? >> Steve: RARE TO HAVE A HALFTIME BREAK AT THE DAYTONA 500. JIMMIE HAVING A POWER BAR AND A DRINK. IT'S BEEN A ROUGH DAY FOR YOU GUYS. A FLAT TIRE, ONE SLOW PIT STOP AS CHAD CHARACTERIZED. DO YOU HAVE TIME TO GET TO THE FRONT? >> I THINK SO. WE HAVE A GREAT RACECAR. THAT'S THE DISAPPOINTING THING. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN TRAFFIC AND GET UP TO THE LEAD GROUP. THE ONE LONG GREEN FLAG RUN WE'VE HAD WE DROVE TO THIRD. THE TWO, THE 43 AND US WERE PULLING AWAY FROM THE BIG PACK. WE KNOW WE HAVE THE SPEED. IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING UP THERE. IT'S WEIRD, BECAUSE I RAN THE BOTTOM IN THE LAST, AND THE CAUTION CAME OUT AND THEN IN THREE AND FOUR AND THE RIGHT FRONT CAME APART. MAYBE I HIT THE HOLE AND DID DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. NOW IT'S FIXED AND HOPEFULLY IT DIDN'T RIP IT OFF THE CAR. WE STILL HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT THIS. >> Steve: ENJOY YOUR SNACK. >> THANK YOU. >> Dick: BRIAN VICKERS HAS BEEN FAST ALL OF SPEED WEEKS. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US FOR THE TAIL END OF THE DAYTONA 500? >> HOPEFULLY A GOOD RUN. THE RED BULL TOYOTA IS RUNNING GOOD ALL WEEKEND, PAST TWO WEEKS. TODAY WE HAD A -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT SOMETHING WENT THROUGH THE NOSE EARLIER IN THE RACE AND CREATED A HOLE BIGGER THAN A BASEBALL. WITH HAD TO REPAIR THAT AND GO TO LAST. THE RACE PLAYED OUT DIFFERENT THAN IN THE PAST YEARS. KIND OF BEEN TWO WIDE FOR A LONG TIME. REALLY HARD TO MAKE UP GROUND. THEN YOU GET SINGLE FILE AND EVERYBODY STARTS RACING AND SLIDES AROUND, WHICH IS FUN. UNLESS YOUR CAR IS HANDLING GOOD, HARD TO MAKE UP GROUND. >> Dick: HE'S SO GOOD AT THIS RACETRACK, CHRIS MYERS. >> Chris: THANK YOU, DICK. AND BRIAN. AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. DirecTV, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. SUNNY AND COOL DAYTONA 500. TEMPERATURE IN THE 50s. THE COOLEST RACE SINCE BACK IN THE EARLY '70s. JEFF, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT GUYS WHO LED THE RACE. MARK MARTIN ON THE POLE. IF YOU TUNED IN LATE. OF COURSE, HE HAD HIS CHANCE LEADING LAPS. KURT BUSCH LED THE MOST LAPS BUT HE'S 30th RIGHT NOW. WE KEEP HEARING GUYS TALKING ABOUT HOW BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE PICKING UP HERE. >> Jeff: IT'S GOT TO. WE'RE PAST THE HALFWAY POINT. YOU TOUCHED ON IT. WE HAVE FIVE GUYS THAT LED THE RACE THAT ARE 22nd OR WORSE. WE GO BACK TO DOUBLE FILE RESTART IN A MOMENT, THESE GUYS UNDERSTAND THEY'VE GOT TO START PUSHING THE ENVELOPE TO GET BACK UP THERE TOWARD THE FRONT. WE KNOW YOU CAN'T RUN FROM BACK THERE AT 30th BACK TO THE LEAD BY SNAPPING YOUR FINGERS. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT YOUR WAY UP THROUGH THERE. THE BAD THING ABOUT IT, NOBODY IS GOING TO PULL OVER AND LET YOU GET UP THROUGH THERE. FOR A GUY LIKE JIMMIE JOHNSON, TIME TO GET THERE AND PUSH AND SHOVE AND BEATING AND BANGING AND RACING DAYTONA STYLE. >> Chris: ALL RIGHT. 33 LEAD CHANGES, 18 LEADERS IN THIS RACE. CARL EDWARDS WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF THOSE. EDWARDS IS STANDING BY. >> Jeff: IS THAT YOUR FAVORITE RIDE? >> Chris: SAFE RIDE. GO MERRY-GO-ROUND. CARL EDWARDS SURVIVED AN EARLY CAUTION. HE STARTED IN THE PACK OF THE PACK. HIS WIFE, KATE, DUE WITH A BABY. WE'RE SAFE TODAY, RIGHT? THAT IS THE LATEST. >> Jeff: GOT A BABY REPORT BEFORE THE START OF THE RACE AND SHE SAID I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT BABY TODAY. MATT, MAYBE YOU CAN CONFIRM THAT. WHAT IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST FROM MISSOURI? >> Matt: WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES. NUMBER ONE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT NUTRITION. YOUR TEAMMATE IS EATING CHEETOS. YOU EAT HEALTHY FOOD. >> I'M HEATING DRIED MANGOS, BUT I'M EATING THAT BECAUSE HE STOLE HALF OF MY SANDWICH. WE'RE TEAMMATES, WE CAN SHARE THINGS LIKE THAT. HOPING THAT JUST TELLING THE GUYS ON THE RADIO, I HOPE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE PAVEMENT DOESN'T MEAN A REPAVING JOB COMING SOON. MAN, THIS IS JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE A BIG DIRT TRACK RIGHT NOW. SO MUCH FUN TO DRIVE HERE. OUR AFLAC FUSION IS GOOD. I DON'T LIKE TALLADEGA BUT I'M ENJOYING THIS. YOU CAN RUN IN A PACK AND THE HANDLING IS IMPORTANT. HI TO KATE AT HOME, HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL THERE. >> Matt: NO UPDATES FROM HOME? >> I HAVEN'T HAD AN UPDATE. P.K. SHOOK HIS HEAD WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT. I HOPE, I HOPE THAT CAN WAIT. JUST HAVING FUN HERE. IT'S THE DAYTONA 500. GOT A GREAT CROWD. THE CARS ARE RUNNING WELL. HOPE THEY GET THE PAVEMENT FIXED. >> I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU BAD NEWS BUT THE SPECULATION IS NEXT YEAR THEY MAY HAVE A REPAVING JOB HERE. >> AS SOON AS I SAW THE HOLE IN THE PAVEMENT, I KNEW THAT. I THINK FOR THE FANS AND THE RACE TEAMS AND COMPETITION, THAT IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING TO TAKE AWAY GRIP WHEN THEY REPAVE IT, IT WOULD BE BEST. HI TO DWIGHT LAXTON AT HOME. HERE IS HOPING WE GET BACK IN THE RACECAR SOON. >> Dick: TO FINISH FIRST TO WIN THE RACE, YOU FIRST HAVE TO FINISH. DAVID REUTIMANN HAS DONE A TRAFK JOB AT THAT. 42 CONSECUTIVE POINT-PAYING RACES YOU'VE BEEN AROUND AT THE END. THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500. WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE CHECKERED? ARE WE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE SLIPPING AND SLIDING AND TESTING THE WALL? >> YEAH, IT'S ALREADY GETTING THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT. HOTTER THAN IT HAS BEEN WHEN WE'VE BEEN DOWN HERE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE GOT A CHANCE TO GET ON TRACK WITH IT AS HOT AND SLICK AS IT IS. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SUN WILL DO. LATER IN THE DAY. ENDING LATER THAN WE PLANNED ON. PROBABLY THE TRACK WILL COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND MAYBE GET GRIP BACK. AS IT IS NOW, A LOT OF GUYS SLIDING AROUND. THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET WILD BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH. >> Dick: A LOT OF WEATHER CHANGES. KRISTA? >> Krista: WILD, THAT'S EXACTLY HOW A.J. ALLMENDINGER LIKES IT. I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT IT WAS LIKE, YOU WERE LEADING THE DAYTONA 500. DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T STILL, BUT WHAT WAS THAT SENSATION LIKE? >> IT WAS REALLY GOOD. I ENJOYED BEING UP HERE AND I HATE BEING BACK HERE NOW. SPOILED LITTLE KID. THE BEST BUY FORD IS SO FAST. WE HAD A HICCUP ON A PIT STOP. IT'S, YOU GET LIKE TENTH ON BACK IT'S WILD. EVERYBODY IS SLIDING. YOU TRY TO GO ONE LANE AND SOMEBODY GOES THAT WAY, YOU GO ANOTHER LANE AND SOMEBODY GOES THAT WAY. EVERYBODY HAS A HANDFUL. WE GOT A FAST RACECAR. ROUSH YATES HORSEPOWER. I JUST WANT TO GET BACK TO LEADING. IF WE GET BACK TO LEADING WE CAN HOLD THEM OFF. TOUGH GETTING BACK UP THERE. >> Krista: THANK YOU, A.J. STEVE? >> Steve: WITH KEVIN HARVICK. AND KEVIN, I GUESS IT'S BEEN AN UP-AND-DOWN DAY FOR YOU. I HEARD YOU EARLIER SAY I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS LOSE AT DAYTONA. THE LAST PIT STOP YOU SAID IF I GET IN FRONT, IT'S OVER, BOYS. >> THE SHELL PENNZOIL CHEVROLET IS REALLY GOOD. HANDLING GOOD NOW. GOT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BY FIVE OF THE ROUSH CARS THERE LINED UP TOGETHER. WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT TCHL GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB KEEPING US UP THERE ALL DAY AND MAKING THE RIGHT CALLS AND DOING THE RIGHT THINGS AND THEY HAVE THE CAR HANDLING GOOD. IT'S FAST. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. DICK? >> Dick: TONY STEWART. WE EXPECTED TO SEE YOU UP FRONT A WHOLE LOT. HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO GET UP THERE? >> GOT TO GET FREED UP. TIGHT RIGHT NOW. CAN'T MAKE THE FRONT STICK TO THE GROUND AND CAN'T MAKE THE FRONT OF THE CAR CUT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN AND STRATEGY OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN IN THE OF CAUTION LAPS WHEN THEY PUT US BACK IN AND GET US GOING. THEY'LL PROBABLY GET US GOING PRETTY QUICK SO WE WON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO WORK ON IT. WE HAVE TO TAKE A SWING AT IT. WE'RE NOT GETTING BETTER AND THE REST OF THE FIELD IS. WE'RE STARTING TO LOSE GROUND ON IT. >> Dick: WISH YOU WELL IN REST OF THE RACE. KRISTA? >> Krista: DICK -- >> CLOSE ENOUGH. >> Chris: YOUR EYEBROWS WENT UP WHEN WE HEARD A.J. ALLMENDINGER WHO LED MORE LAPS TODAY THAN IN 80 CAREER RACES, LED 11 LAPS TODAY. TEN LAPS PREVIOUSLY WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT BEING SPOILED IN THE 43 CAR. >> Jeff: A SPOILED KID. WE HAVE 34 SPOILED KIDS OUT THERE. THEY ALL WANT IT THEIR WAY. SOMEBODY LIKE A.J. TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY UP THERE IN THE 43 CAR. REMEMBER, 43 IS PRETTY SYNONYMOUS WITH WINNING HERE AT DAYTONA, SO DON'T BE SURPRISED THAT THE CAR KNOWS WHAT DIRECTION TO GO IN. ALL GUYS WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT NOW, INCLUDING THE LEADER THERE. HE IS GOING TO TRY TO HOLD THEM OFF. BUT EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM. IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE PLAYGROUND WHEN THEY START FIGHTING OVER THE BALL. >> Chris: ONE OF THE VETERANS ON THE PLAYGROUND IS JEFF BURTON, WHO IS CURRENTLY 13th. LIKED HIS CAR COMING IN. WITH KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: HE'S LIKED HIS CAR IN ALL THE RACES THIS WEEK. IT FEELS LIKE THE BUD SHOOTOUT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TALK TO YOU IN BETWEEN. WE'RE NOT USED TO THIS. HOW IS THE CAR NOW? CAN YOU GET UP FRONT? >> NERVOUS COMING IN THE RACE WITH THE TIRES. WE BROKE A TIRE IN THE 150 AND HURT A TIRE YESTERDAY AT PRACTICE. WE REALLY JUST RODE AROUND AND MADE SURE THE TIRES ARE GOOD. START OF THE LAST RUN, WE SAID ALL RIGHT, LET'S ROLL. WE GOT UP TO, GOT IN WHEN WE CAME IN FOR. THIS I'M OPTIMISTIC. IT WILL GET WILD HERE. HOPING IT WOULD STAY GREEN BECAUSE IT WAS STARTING TO GET LIKE WE NEED THEM, WE NEED THEM STRETCHED OUT TO MAKE UP TIME WITH THE CAT CHEVROLET. IF WE GET THE RIGHT KIND OF RACE, I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING. IF WE GET A LOT OF GREEN, YOU KNOW, FULL GREEN, IT WILL TAKE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CAR TO WIN THE RACE THAN IF YOU GET A LOT OF CAUTION. IF YOU GET A LOT OF CAUTIONS, SOME OF THE CARS THAT AREN'T GOOD ON THE LONG RUN WILL STAND OUT IN THE SHORT RUN. WE TYPICALLY GET A LOT OF CAUTIONS BUT I HOPE IT STAYS GREEN. >> Krista: IT'S WILD BECAUSE YOU HYPED UP ON THE CAFFEINATED COKE. STEVE? >> Steve: THANK YOU. WITH ELLIOTT SADLER WHO ALMOST WON THE RACE A YEAR AGO. LITTLE KNOWN FACT, I THINK YOU HAVE THE RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE TOP TENS HERE. AND LOOKS LIKE YOUR CAR IS ABLE TO GO WHEREVER YOU WANT IT. >> YEAH, THE STANLEY CAR IS REALLY GOOD. THESE GUYS, A LOT OF HARD WORK THIS WINTER SWITCHING EVERYTHING OVER TO FORD. AND MOVING SHOPS AND DOING ALL THESE THINGS. IT'S PAYING OFF HERE TODAY. ALL OF MY TEAMMATES ARE RUNNING GOOD. I'M EXCITED. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING IN THE TOP FIVE OR SIX ALL DAY LONG. TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE END. THE LONGER ON GREEN FLAG RUNS THE BETTER MY CAR IS. >> HOW IS MISS AMANDA? WE KNOW THE BABY IS DUE SOON. >> MISS AMANDA IS PROBABLY AT HOME WATCHING NOW. THE BABY IS DUE MONDAY, EIGHT DAYS FROM TODAY. THAT IS THE BEST VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT I EVER GOT IS NEXT WEEK TO BECOME A DAD. STARTED THAT CHANTER IN MY LIFE AND START A FAMILY. IT WILL BE AMAZING. SHE'S DOING GREAT. SHE'S AT HOME. LOOKING FORWARD FOR THAT DAY TO COME. >> YOU DID COVER VALENTINE'S DAY? >> OF COURSE, I COVERED VALENTINE'S DAY! I LEARN FROM THE BEST! FROM YOU! [ LAUGHTER ] >> MIKE JOY HAD TO HELP ME. GO TO DICK. >> Dick: WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP, WHOSE CAREER AS A DRIVER IS WINDING DOWN, THIS COULD BE HIS LAST DAYTONA 500. TWO-TIME WINNER. WHAT ARE YOUR EMOTIONS WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE IN RACECAR? CAN YOU THINK AT ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST OR WHAT HAPPENED TODAY? OR FOCUS ON FOUR WHEELS AND THE CARS AROUND YOU? >> I WAS FAST WHEN I WON AND IT MAKES ME FRUSTRATED IS WHAT IT IS, DICK, RUNNING 25th OR 30th. YOU CAN'T WIN FROM THERE. THE CAR IS BOUNCING AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET A HANDLE ON IT. FRUSTRATING IS WHAT IT IS. KNOWING THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE. BUT IT'S BEEN FUN TO GET VICTORY LANE AND DAYTONA FOR THE 500s. GREATEST PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR RACECAR DRIVER. >> Dick: YOU'VE BEEN DOING TELEVISION AND WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE RACE. HAVE IT DIFFICULT OR FUN TO BE IN THE ROLE? >> I LOVE IT. I'M A BIG FAN SO I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT I SEE AND HOW FUN IS IT FOR ME. THIS IS A BUMMER FOR TV. I KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING OUT IN CIRCLES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. SO HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO THE LOVES OF MY LIFE. MOMS, DAUGHTERS, SISTERS, SO ON. >> Dick: GOOD FOR YOU. GOOD THING TO DO. >> I LOVE NAPA. >> Dick: MATT? >> Matt: FROM ONE DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION TO ANOTHER. RYAN NEWMAN. YOU WON THIS RACE TWO YEARS AGO. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CAR TODAY SO FAR? >> I THINK EVERYBODY HAS HAD A HANDFUL. WE HAVE FOR SURE. THE U.S. ARMY CHEVROLET HAS BEEN TIGHT. TRYING TO GET IT FREED UP AND WORK WITH WHAT WE HAD TO WORK WITH. WE HAD LONG PIT STOPS, TRYING TO TAKE OUR TIME AND GET IT RIGHT SO AT THE END WE CAN DO A QUICK STOP AND, YOU KNOW, GO FOR THE GOLD. BUT DIDN'T EXPECT A WHOLE TRACK SITUATION DOWN THERE IN ONE AND TWO. I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE KNEW WE HAD ENOUGH TIME. I THINK THE ARMY GUYS OVER TO LET THEM GO FISHING. NICEST DAY WE'VE HAD SINCE BEEN DOWN HERE. >> A BIG POSSE BEHIND YOU. >> TRYING TO REPRESENT THEM. >> ARMY STRONG HERE IN THE 39 PIT. CHRIS? >> Chris: NEVER GO AGAINST THE U.S. ARMY. SEE A LOT OF PIT BOARDS, BUT IS THAT -- IS HE CONCENTRATING ON THE TWO DAYTONA 500s OF THE PAST? >> Jeff: LOOKS LIKE E.T. WITH HAIR. >> Chris: MICHAEL WALTRIP IS STARING AT US SAYING IF I HAD HIM IN MY PIT CREW. I THINK MIKE IS FROM THE PLANET THAT GUY IS FROM. >> Jeff: I HAVE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> Chris: JUST PAST -- >> Jeff: THINK THE SAME THING ABOUT YOU. >> Chris: YES. IN CASE YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, 122 LAPS IN. IT'S BEEN 43, 44 MINUTES. LIKE A HALFTIME. STEVE BYRNES MENTIONED WAITING FOR THE WHO TO COME OUT. >> Jeff: MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING. IT'S NOT DELAYED FOR RAIN. WE'RE DELAYED FOR TRACK REPAIR. WE WILL GET BACK UNDERWAY AND WE WILL FINISH THE 500 TODAY. >> Chris: YES, WE WILL. WE HAVE OUR FIRST DAYTONA 500, OF COURSE, WE BROADCAST ON FOX, DARRELL WAS UP IN THE BOOTH WITH LARRY AND MIKE. MICHAEL WALTRIP, HIS BROTHER, WINS IN A DALE EARNHARDT INCORPORATED CAR. WALTRIP WON, TOO, SINCE. WE'RE GLAD THIS IS THE TENTH YEAR ON NASCAR ON FOX. WE HAVE A GREAT RACE TO GO HERE, BUT LET'S REFLECT BACK ON THE PAST DECADE OF NASCAR ON FOX. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO FOX ON TEN AMAZING YEARS. >> TEN YE >> Chris: THE WILDEST COLLECTION OF TALENT EVER ASSEMBLED TRACKSIDE. SINGERS, DANCERS, COMEDIANS AND A LOT MORE TO SHOW THAT IS ABOUT TO GRAB AMERICA BY THE MUFFLER. "FAST TRACK TO FAME" AND IT'S COMING SOON TO SPEED. WE'RE LIVE HERE AT THE 52nd RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. A 50-MINUTE DELAY AND COUNTING. STILL WORKING ON THE TRACK. THEY WANT TO GET IT JUST RIGHT SO WE CAN CONTINUE AFTER HAVING GONE 122 LAPS. KURT BUSCH HAS LED 33 OF THE LAPS. CLINT BOWYER CURRENTLY OUR LEADER FOLLOWED BY DAVID RAGAN AND KASEY KAHNE. NEXT WEEK, WE'LL HEAD TO CALIFORNIA, 2:00 EASTERN. THE CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY, AND THE AUTO CLUB 500. ♪♪ >> NASCAR ON FOX WELCOMES YOU BACK TO SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> LET'S GET THIS WEST COAST PARTY STARTED. >> TIME TO GO TO CALIFORNIA. >> SUNDAY, NASCAR ON FOX. CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY, THE AUTO CLUB 500. >> Chris: MATT KENSETH WON THE RACE LAST YEAR, WON THE FIRST TWO RACES AND THEN NOT SO GOOD. DICK BERGGREN IS STANDING BY WITH JOEY LOGANO WHO LED A LAP TODAY. >> Dick: HI. JOEY LOGANO NOW IN HIS SECOND FULL YEAR IN SPRINT CUP COMPETITION. NO WAY AROUND IT. YOU CAME HERE TO DAYTONA LAST YEAR AND YOU HIT EVERYTHING THERE WAS AND YOU HAVE GOTTEN SO MUCH BETTER AND DONE IT SO QUICKLY. NOW CONSISTENTLY RUNNING WELL. ALMOST ALWAYS AROUND AT THE END. HOW HAVE YOU LEARNED THOSE IMPORTANT LESSONS? >> THIS EXPERIENCE IS THE BIGGEST THING. SAID IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. LAST YEAR I CAME HERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ROW WAS UP BASICALLY. HELPS TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT IN THE RACECAR. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. FOUGHT IT ALL YEAR, NOT JUST AT DAYTONA BUT EVERYWHERE. DEFINITELY HELPED US WORK TOGETHER BETTER AND PUT TOGETHER HOME DEPOT CAR. WE'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE WITH THE CAR. STARTED OFF FREE AND TRYING TO GET A BALANCE BETWEEN TOO TIGHT ON THE BOTTOM. LAST TIME WE WERE TOO TIGHT ON BOTH ENDS. TRIED TO TAKE OUT WEDGE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND HELP THAT. WE WILL SEE WHEN WE GET OUT THERE, HOPEFULLY IT GETS BETTER. WANT TO SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE IN MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT. THEY HAD A POWER PLANT BLOW UP THERE. IN THE HOMETOWN. THINKING OF EVERYONE UP THERE. >> Dick: GOOD FOR YOU. THANK YOU. >> Krista: THANKS, DICK. JEFF GORDON LOVES VALENTINE'S DAY. WON ON VALENTINE'S DAY IN 1999. YOU SAID ON THE LAST RUN THAT YOUR CAR IS DRIVING WELL. >> I WAS IMPRESSED. STEVE LETARTE PUT TWO TIRES ON AND THAT WAS THE BEST IT DRIVEN ALL DAY LONG. WE GOT GOOD TRACK POSITION AND THEN I MADE A MISTAKE ON THE LAST PIT STOP AND STALLED OUT LEAVE SOMETHING WE LOST A FEW SPOTS. IT HAS BEEN A GOOD DAY. STRANGE RACE. DON'T LIKE THAT WE'RE SITTING ON PIT ROAD. I HAVE SEEN RACETRACKS FALL APART BEFORE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, UNFORTUNATELY. >> Krista: THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE THEY CAME TO US. MARTINSVILLE DEJA VU. >> BUT I DON'T HAVE A BIG HOLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. LAST TIME IT WAS AT MARTINSVILLE WHEN THE PIECE OF CONCRETE WENT THROUGH THE FRONT. SEVERAL YEARS BACK IN THE NATIONWIDE CAR, WE HAD HOLES THAT YOU COULD LOSE YOURSELF IN, PRACTICALLY LOSE A RACECAR. THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST DAYS I'VE SEEN. THEY DIDN'T TRY TO FIX IT THAT DAY. WE JUST HAD TO DRIVE AROUND IT. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET THIS FIXED AND WE'RE 11th RIGHT NOW. TEAMMATE BEHIND ME OR BESIDE ME. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK OUT THIS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET TO THE FRONT. >> Krista: THANK YOU. OPTIMISM IN THE 24 CAMP. CHRIS? >> Chris: FORGET ABOUT MARTINSVILLE IN 2004, LED 180 LAPS. WOUND UP SIXTH. I REMEMBER HE SAID HEY, THE TRACK CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND I WANT MY PLACE BACK. SORRY. MOVE ON. >> Jeff: NASCAR SAID NOT REALLY INCLUDED THE RULES. DEAL WITH IT, JEFF. TODAY, THEY CAUGHT IT AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, REALLY HAPPENED BAD. MAYBE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TIRE BUT I THINK HE WILL RECOVER FROM THAT. >> Chris: HOW ABOUT WHAT HE SAID POSITIONING HERE. TALK ABOUT THINGS HEATING UP A LITTLE BIT, DRAFTING PARTNERS. WHAT ARE YOUOOKING FOR? >> Jeff: EARLY ON YOU COULD GET SHUFFLED OUT. I'LL GO TO THE BACK AND BE WILLING TO COME BACK UP. NOW YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE GROUND. IF YOU GET THERE, YOU HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND HOLD IT AND NOT GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS WHERE THE GUYS WILL GET PUSHY AND SHOVY AND THE REASON WHY WE KNOW BEFORE IT'S SAID AND DONE THERE WILL BE UNHAPPY GUYS THERE. IT'S GOING TO START TO GET DANGEROUS. EVERYBODY WILL START TO GET DESPERATE. >> Chris: SPEAKING OF DESPERATE, GO UP TO THE BOOTH. LARRY, MIKE, DARRELL. MY THOUGHT, LARRY AND DARRELL WITH YOU, DOES SOMEBODY HANDLE IT BETTER WITH EXPERIENCE, CAN SOMEBODY MAKE USE OF THE TIME TO HELP THEM IN THE LAST 78 LAPS? >> Darrell: HONESTLY, I THINK THE DRIVERS ARE HAPPY. THEY GET A BREAK. THEY GET OUT, THEY GET TO TALK AND WALK AROUND, GO TO THE BATHROOM. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SAYING WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GOT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM? WE TAKE A BREAK LIKE THIS. INT'S NOT A BAD THING. THE FOLKS AT HOME MAY NOT AGREE. THEY ARE DOWN THERE WORKING DILIGENTLY. ORDER IN SOME PIZZA. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE MATINEE HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. >> Larry: FROM A CREW CHIEF'S PERSPECTIVE, SOMETIMES YOU CAN OVERTHINK THESE THINGS. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME. WHAT IS MAKING THE PIT STOP UNDER THE CAUTION WITH 82 LAPS TO GO, AS STEVE ADDINGTON ALLUDED TO, THE CREW CHIEF FOR KURT BUSCH, WE ARE DOWN TO A ONE-STOP RACE. WE'RE NOT GETTING MANY OPPORTUNITIES, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADJUST THE CAR. SO IT DEFINITELY CAN HELP YOU FORMULATE A GAME PLAN. >> Mike: GIVE YOU ASPHALT 101. ASPHALT IS NOT A SOLID LIKE CONCRETE. IT'S MADE UP OF AN AGGREGATE, WHICH IS CRUSHED STONE AND A BINDER WHICH IS A PETROLEUM PRODUCT. IT CAN BE PERMEATED BY RAIN. AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. AND IT'S GOTTEN IN THIS SEAM. AND PERHAPS BELOW THE FIRST COURSE OF ASPHALT ON THE RACETRACK. SO THEY'RE TAKING GREAT CARE WITH THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST DURING FROST SEASON WHEN THE HIGHWAY CREWS PUT DOWN COLD PATCH ON THE ASPHALT, IT WILL OFTEN COME UP. IT WILL DIG A BIT OF A HOLE AND THEN A BUMP. WE DON'T WANT TO CREITE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN WHAT WE'VE -- CREATE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD. >> Darrell: THE McCATTUM HAS COME APART. >> Larry: SOMEONE HAS BEEN DOWN THERE POWER WASHING. >> Darrell: I WAS THINKING THAT. WHEN YOU POWER WASH YOU CAN BLOW THE ASPHALT UP. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY DIDN'T ALLOW THEM TO DO IT. IT'S GOING TO BE FINE. THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT FIXED. WHAT I'M GLAD OF IS NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED. I THINK JIMMIE JOHNSON'S TIRE WAS NOT A PRODUCT OF THAT HOLE. I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. WE'LL GET IT FIXED AND GET BACK TO RACING AND WE'LL HAVE US A REAL GOOD SHOOT-OUT IN A LITTLE WHILE. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES IS TAKEN CARE OF. FIND ANOTHER DOZEN ROSES FROM MARCOS AMBROSE SPONSOR AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE OUT AND SEND IT TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. >> Darrell: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY. VALENTINE'S DAY, I MEAN. >> Larry: BLEW THAT. >> Darrell: WAITED TOO LONG. >> Mike: HE'S SAVING HIS ENERGY. >> Chris: WE GOT TO TALK TO A LOT OF DRIVERS AND GET TO KNOW THEM AND GET READY FOR THE SEASON. IF YOU JOINED US LATE, FIRST CAUTION, BRAD KESELOWSKI. A TIRE IS WHAT HE SAID CAUSED IT. SIX CARS TWO OF THE THREE PENSKE CARS TAKEN OUT. CARL EDWARDS DOES A NICE JOB OF GETTING THROUGH THERE. >> Jeff: HE DOES. HE HAD TO START IN THE BACK DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEM AND SLOWS UP AND PITS HIS WAY DOWN TO BOTTOM OF A T APRON AND SAYS THERE IS THE HOLE. GAS IT UP AND DRIVE THROUGH THE DUCK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT. >> Chris: FRONT ROW JOE, JOE NEMECHEK, LOOSE IN THE PACK. SINGLE CAR OWNER TEAM. THAT BROUGHT OUT A CAUTION. MIKE BLISS HAVING PROBLEMS HERE WITH A SPIN-OUT. >> Jeff: SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT OFF OF TURN TWO. HE GETS LOOSE AND COMES AROUND. HAD ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK EARLY ON. HITS THE INSIDE SAFER BARRIER AND HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE AREA. HERE IS A BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE FOUR-TIME CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON WHO HAD A RIGHT FRONT TIRE PROBLEM AND HAD TO CUT THE BRACING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T CREATE MORE OF A PROBLEM LATER IN THE RACE. >> Chris: THAT CAUSED THE DELAY HERE. RED FLAG. CLOSE TO AN HOUR HERE. THEN YOU SEE THE CAR BOUNCES HERE, THIS IS WHY THEY HAD TO STOP AND REPAIR THE TRACK. >> Jeff: THEY SAW THE HOLE AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE NOW. THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME FROM THE PROBLEM FROM THAT HOLE IN THE RACETRACK, BUT DRIVERS ARE STARTING TO SEE IT OPEN UP. AS KASEY KAHNE SAID, IT WAS ABOUT A SIX-INCH CHUNK TO BEGIN WITH AND IT GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER. NOW NASCAR AND TRACK OFFICIALS ARE MAKING REPAIR AND HOPEFULLY WILL GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT TO GO BACK AND TOUCH ON ONE THING, WHAT LARRY McREYNOLDS WAS SAYING. STARTING TO GET COOLER NOW. THE THING ABOUT THIS COOLNESS IS RACETRACK WILL CHANGE. JUST LIKE IT DID IN THE 150 MILES THE OTHER DAY. MAKING THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENT OVER THE FINAL 78 LAPS OF THE RACE IS CRITICAL. IF YOU GO THE WRONG WAY, NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RECOVER. >> Chris: WE TIED RECORD FOR LEADERS IN THE DAYTONA 500. IN 2006, 18 LEADERS. WE HAVE HAD IT TODAY AND LONG WAY TO GO. 78 LAPS. 33 LEAD CHANGES. KURT BUSCH LED THE MOST LAPS. CLINT BOWYER, THE CURRENT LEADER. BRIAN FRANCE, CHAIRMAN OF NASCAR JOINED THE GUYS IN THE BOOTH. >> Mike: THANK YOU. LISA FRANCE KENNEDY ALSO IN THE ROOM WITH US. BRIAN, TRICKY PROBLEM ON YOUR HANDS HERE. NOT JUST A POTHOLE OUT IN THE SURFACE BUT THE WEATHER. THE LAST FEW DAYS AND TODAY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM. >> THAT'S RIGHT, MIKE. COMBINATION OF MOISTURE AND THE COLD TEMPERATURES. THE NORMAL SOLUTIONS YOU NORMALLY USE TO PATCH THE TRACK NOT WORKING. BUT THEY ARE -- WE'RE ACTUALLY TURNING THE CORNER. WE'RE ON THE THIRD DIFFERENT SOLUTION. NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE HAD IT RESOLVED A LOT QUICKER. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE WILL GET IT SOLVED. IN MIDST OF PROBABLY OUR BEST DAYTONA 500 IN A LONG TIME. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL WANT TO GET IT STARTED. >> Mike: YOU HAVE TAKEN THE REINS OFF THE DRIVERS OVER THE WINTER, YOU AND MIKE HELTON AND ALL THE FOLKS AT NASCAR AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM RACE AND LET DRIVERS DETERMINE THE CODE OF CONDUCT ON TRACK. THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT WELL. >> IT IS. THEY'RE MIXING IT UP. WE SAW ALL THE EVENTS, PRELIMINARY EVENTS UP UNTIL NOW AND INCLUDING TODAY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE MORE EXCITED AND ANXIOUS TO GET THIS RESTARTED THAN PROBABLY ANYBODY IN THE ROOM. BUT LOOK, WE'RE ON THIS ISSUE. WE WANT TO GET IT RIGHT, TOO. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE KEY TO, THE KEY TO SAFETY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND WE WILL. IT'S DEFINITELY GOING SLOWER THAN WE WANTED TO, BUT WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING IT SOLVED. >> Darrell: BRIAN, YOU LISTENED TO THE FANS AND YOU LISTENED TO THE FAN COUNCIL. I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR HEARING WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE SAYING, HEARING WHAT THE COMPETITORS WERE SAYING AND REALLY DOING A LOT OF, I THINK, GREAT THINGS HERE FOR THE SPORT; PARTICULARLY, AT DAYTONA AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S GOOD LEADERSHIP. I'M PROUD OF YOU. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'VE GOT A WHOLE GROUP TRYING TO MAKE RACING BETTER. THIS IS A YEAR THAT WE THINK LETTING THE DRIVERS, PARTICULARLY THE DAYTONA AND TALLADEGA, BUT WE'RE MAKING CHANGES WITH THE COURSE OF THE SPOILER COMING BACK AND OTHER VARIOUS THINGS. AND THE IDEA, THIS IS A CONTACT SPORT. WE WANTED TO MIX IT UP. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT. >> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT. >> Larry: BRIAN, WE INTERVIEWED STEVE ADDINGTON A WHILE AGO. HE CAME BACK IN AND TOPPED OFF A FUEL AND THE COMMENT HE MADE IS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT GREEN/WHITE CHECKERS, AS IS PLURAL. THAT IS ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT MADE LAST WEEK. MORE THAN ONE ATTEMPT NOW. >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A FUNCTION, TOO, OF HOW CLOSE IT'S BEEN LATE IN THE RACE. YOU ARE SEEING EVERYBODY CHARGING FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE FRONT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO END IT UNDER GREEN. WE SAW THE PATTERNS WEREN'T GOING OUR WAY. MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT RIGHT AWAY. DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL SOMETIME DURING THE YEAR. DID THAT IN ADVANCE OF THE TWINS. SO THAT MAY HELP US TODAY. GET THIS THING, EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE WHAT WE ALL DO, WHICH IS A CLOSE FINISH UNDER GREEN. >> Mike: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. BRIAN FRANCE, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF NASCAR. TRACK REPAIR CONTINUES DOWN IN TURN ONE AND TWO. WE'RE UNDER THE RED FLAG. 78 LAPS TO GO. IN THE 52nd ANNUAL DAYTONA 500. YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. >> Chris: WE WELCOME OUR ARMED FORCES TURNING IN 175 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES. GLAD YOU'RE WITH US ON NASCAR ON FOX. THE BREAK IN THE DAYTONA 500, THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. WATCHING TODAY'S RACE ON AFM, THE AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK, AND HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING THE BROADCAST. THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHERE THE WEATHER MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT COLD OR THE CONDITIONS, GLAD YOU'RE SITTING WITH US. SOME 78 LAPS TO GO. KASEY KAHNE WHO WAS JEFF HAMMOND'S WIN TO PICK THIS RACE IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW. IN HIS SEVENTH DAYTONA 500, HAS NOT FINISHED IN THE TOP FIVE. RUNNING WELL TODAY AND STANDING BY WITH MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: WHEN YOU LOOK AT KASEY KAHNE'S RACING RESUME, SO MANY YEARS SPENT RUNNING ON A DIRT TRACK. AND YOU DEALT WITH RUTS AND HOLES ON A DIRT TRACK. EVER ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON A PAVED TRACK? >> NOTHING LIKE THIS. HOLES AREN'T BAD WHEN YOU RACE ON DIRT, YOU BOUNCE THROUGH THEM. YOU CAN'T BOUNCE THROUGH THIS PLACE HAVING A HOLE IN IT. HOPEFULLY THEY GET IT FIXED. I DON'T WANT TO RACE TO BE OVER. IT WANT TO KEEP GOING. FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A GOOD SHOT WITH THE BUDWEISER FORD. IT'S BEEN HANDLING GOOD. IN THE MIDDLE OF IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND IF CLINT WINS, IT'S ALL RIGHT. I LIKE CLINT. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HOPEFULLY THEY GET IT RESTARTED. >> WE'LL GET IT RESTARTED AND RACE IT TO THE FINISH RIGHT HERE ON FOX. QUESTION FOR YOU, AS THE TEMPERATURE -- YOU CAN FEEL THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUING TO DROP. HOW WILL THAT CHANGE THE TRACK, IF ANY? >> WELL, WE'VE BEEN ON THE LOOSE SIDE FROM THE START OF THE RACE. I CAN RUN HIGH OR LOW FROM ANYWHERE. IT MAKES MY CAR A LITTLE BETTER AND PUTS IT IN THE TRACK A TOUCH MORE. IF YOU ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE, IF YOU'RE TIGHT, YOU MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE IF IT GETS DARK OR IF WE RACE IN THE NIGHT. I THINK WE'RE SITTING GOOD EITHER WAY. >> ALL RIGHT. HE'S CONFIDENT TRYING TO GET THE KING'S FORD IN VICTORY LANE. STEVE? >> Steve: WELL, MATT, WE HAD MLB ON FOX PROMO, N.F.L. ON FOX BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE EAGLES, McNABB, COB OR VICK. >> I SAY McNABB. HE CAN DO IT. >> Steve: YOU MADE A GOOD COMMENT, I HOPE IT LOOKS GOOD BUT WE'RE HAVING FUN. >> OBVIOUSLY, WHEN OFF GREAT CAR LIKE I DO, IT'S FUN. EVERYONE IS RACING HARD AND SMART AND DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S BEEN FUN TO BE OUT THERE. HOPEFULLY WE GET THE REST OF THIS THING IN. NAPA TOYOTA IS RUNNING AWFULLY GOOD. HAPPY WITH IT. >> Steve: TOP TEN RIGHT NOW. GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO THE FRONT>> WELL, WE HAVE GOT EN THERE A FEW TIMES. THE LONGER THE WEEK WENT ON THE BETTER WE GOT. BECAUSE THE HANDLING IS GOOD. THE TRACK IS GETTING SLICKER AND SLICKER AND SLICKER. I'M AFRAID IF IT GOES TO NIGHTTIME WE WON'T STAY UP THERE. I'M HOPING WE GET IT IN SOON. I LIKE THE SUN, I LIKE WHEN IT'S SLICK. OUR CAR LIKES IT. WE HAVE TO SEE. IT'S BEEN GOOD, AWESOME RACE. WANT TO THANK THE GUYS ON THE TEAM AND THE PIT CREWS HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. A LOT OF FUN TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. KRISTA? >> Krista: THANK YOU, STEVE. SOMEONE NELS THE TOP TEN IS JUAN PABLO MONTOYA IN EIGHTH. IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU HATE TO WAIT FOR ANYTHING. I THINK THIS IS GOING -- EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT BUBBLING UP AGGRESSION. 78-LAP SHOOT-OUT. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE IN WITH? >> WE'LL SEE. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE RACE. TARGET CHEVY HAS BEEN GOOD. TRYING TO RUN SMART. IT WILL BE INTERESTING WHAT HAPPENS. HOW LONG IT TAKES TO FIX THE TRACK. AND I THINK THE TRACK IS GOING TO CHANGE A LOT BECAUSE THE SUN IS GOING TO GO AWAY SOON. >> Krista: YOU'RE FROM COLOMBIA, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAYTONA 500 IS NOT LOST ON YOU. WHAT DOES THE RACE MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO WIN IT? >> IT'S A BIG DEAL. I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT. YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU RACE. IF YOU WIN IT, GREAT. IF NOT, YOU COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND TRY AGAIN. WE HAVE TO TAKE IT AS ANY OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. A BIG DEAL IF YOU WIN IT. BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY BE THINKING ABOUT OH, IT'S THE DAYTONA 500. DEAL WITH IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> Krista: RACER'S MENTALITY. THANK YOU. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: FIRST TIME DENNY HAMLIN CAME HERE WITH A SPRINT CUP CAR WAS THE RACE CALLED THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT AND HE WON IT. WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE? >> BACKWARDS. THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN GOING. NO. TODAY WE'VE BEEN UNDER THE RADAR. RIDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, BIDING OUR TIME. MIKE THINKS I NEED TO START GOING AND I THINK I NEED TO START WAITING, STILL. IT'S TOUGH TO STAY WHAT THE RIGHT STRATEGY IS. AND WHEN THE INTENSITY IS GOING TO PICK UP. I'VE ONLY SEEN THREE WIDE A FEW TIMES. WE KNOW THAT IS GOING TO GET MORE INTENSE THE FURTHER THE RACE GETS ALONG. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, MANAGE YOUR RISK AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT POSITION YOU NEED TO BE IN, AT THE END. >> Dick: PRE-RACE STUFF, BEEN AN AWFUL LOT SAID ABOUT DENNY HAMLIN AND HOW ENTHUSIASTIC YOU ARE ABOUT THE 2010 SEASON. WORKING OUT REGULARLY, REALLY GETTING READY TO GO. IS THIS YOUR BIG BREAK-OUT YEAR? >> I THINK SO. THE THING IS WE'RE EXCITED TO GET TO THE RACETRACK WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF LETTING OFF AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF EVALUATE WHERE THE TEAM IS. YOU KNOW, HERE AT DAYTONA, IT'S -- WE HAD THE MOST TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS RACE, BUT IT'S SUCH A SMALL PART OF OUR SEASON. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT KICKING OFF 2010. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE SOME HIGH EXPECTATIONS. AND NOW WE JUST HAVE TO MANAGE THEM. >> Dick: THANK YOU. WISH YOU WELL IN 2010. TO THE HOTEL. >> Chris: THANK YOU. DENNY HAMLIN, YOU HEAR THE NAME MENTIONED AS SOMEONE TO UNSEAT JIMMIE JOHNSON GOING FOR HIS FIFTH SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. WE'RE IN THE DELAY. YOU TALKED TO DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW AND HELPING DANICA PATRICK IN HER NATIONWIDE RUN. HE HAD ENCOURAGING THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE DRIVER SHE IS AND LET HER GROW IN THE JOB. >> Jeff: I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH TIME HE SPENT WATCHING HER AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS COUSIN, HIS FORMER CREW CHIEF TONY EURY JR. AND HER CREW CHIEF ON THE CAR. AND IMPRESSED WHEN THEY TOOK OFF ON THE TRACK AND SHORT TRACKS THEY GOT HER ON. THEY UNDERSTOOD SHE HAD GREAT FEEDBACK. SHE DOES HAVE A FEEL FOR THE RACECAR. ALL THE THINGS RIGHT HERE BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, HIS ROLE BECAME A JOB JUST LIKE HE DID WITH MARTIN TRUEX, BEING A MENTOR. HE LIKED TALKING TO HER ALSO, SO HE WILL BE INVOLVED COACHING HER WHILE SHE IS ON THE RACETRACK. THESE THINGS PERKED HIS INTEREST BECAUSE HE SEES SOMETHING IN HER. AFTER THIS PAST WEEKEND, DURING THE ARCA RACE AS WELL AS THE NATIONWIDE RACE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT? MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING THERE. >> Chris: HE, OF COURSE, ENCOURAGING AS SHE FINISHED SIX IN THE ARCA RACE AND 35th. WE BRING IN LARRY, DARRELL, MIKE ON THIS. DARRELL, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SHAKE HER HAPPENED AT THE TRACK. IF THAT GRIP IS ANYTHING LIKE IS IT ON THE WHEEL SHE WILL BE ALL RIGHT. >> Darrell: SHE WAS TRYING TO TAKE ME DOWN, I'M PRETTY SURE. >> Chris: A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO DO THAT. >> Darrell: YEAH, TWO OF THEM RIGHT THERE! HERE IS THE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME. WAS THE ARCA RACE WHEN SHE GOT KNOCKED OUT IN THE GRASS IN THE INFIELD, WHEN SHE STARTED WORKING THAT STEERING WHEEL, FIGHTING IT, QUICK AS SHE WAS, GREAT HAND-EYE COORDINATION. WHAT GOT ME, I NEVER HAVE SEEN A DRIVER -- WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INCAR CAMERAS, LET GO OF THE WHEEL. THAT'S TRAINING FROM OPEN WHEEL RACING. BUT MAN, SHE WAS FIGHTING THAT WHEEL. SHE'S QUICK. WATCH HER HANDS. HERE SHE GOES. OFF THE TRACK. IT'S GOING TO COME BACK. SEE RIGHT, THERE SHE LET GO OF THE WHEEL. STRAIGHTENED IT UP. TONY JR. -- SEE HOW SHE'S NOT HOLDING IT SO TIGHT. HAVING THE CAR HAD ITS HEAD. TONY JR. TALKING TO HER, BRAKE, BRAKE, GAS, GAS, CLUTCH, CLUTCH. SHE IMPRESSED ME. THE WHOLE TIME SHE WAS DOWN HERE. >> Mike: THEN YESTERDAY, WELL, DIDN'T FARE SO WELL IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE IN HER NASCAR DEBUT. DANICA GOT CAUGHT UP IN A WRECK THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF "DAYS OF THUNDER." NOTHING BUT SMOKE AHEAD. THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE. THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE SHE MISSED. >> Darrell: THAT IS KIND OF THE, KIND OF THE PHILOSOPHY SHE USED IN THIS ONE. I HAVE WENT STRAIGHT. EVERYBODY MOVED OUT OF MY WAY. DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT TIME. >> Mike: I THINK THE DIFFERENCE, DARRELL, THE WRECKS SHE MISSED APPEARED ON THE BANKING AND THE CARS WERE SWEPT OFF. THE BANKING. THE SHE GOT INTO HAPPENED ON THE SHORT CHUTE, THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THE BIG QUESTION, WHY DOES THIS MATTER? THIS IS THE THIRD BIGGEST STOCK CAR DEBUT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. KYLE PETTY IN '79. CAME DOWN HERE TO RUN ONE OF HIS DAD'S OLD DODGES IN THE ARCA RACE, WON IT. DALE EARNHARDT JR.'S FIRST START IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES, 1996. AND NOW DANICA PATRICK FROM THE IZOD INDY CARS SERIES. AND RACE ON SPEED, THE RATINGS WERE UP 60% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. THAT'S HUGE! >> Darrell: LET ME TELL YOU WHY IT MATTERS THAT SHE WAS HERE. TODAY, OR TOMORROW, MONDAY, YOU CALL UP A SPONSOR. POTENTIAL SPONSOR AND SAY I NEED HELP WITH MY NATIONWIDE CAR. NATIONWIDE, WHAT SERIES IS THAT? WELL, THAT'S THE WON THAT DANICA RACES IN. OH, DANICA, THAT SERIES. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. IT WILL GROW FROM THERE. SHE WILL BE IN CUP ONE OF THE DAYS AND IT WILL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. RISING TIDE. >> Larry: BUT I LIKE THEIR GAME PLAN WITH HER. YOU KNOW, UNLIKE MAYBE WHEN MONTOYA FIRST CAME IN AND OBVIOUSLY HE'S VERY SUCCESSFUL NOW. SAM HORNISH, DARIO FRANCHITTI, WHERE THEY ONE RUN OR TWO RACES AND THREW THEM TO THE DEEP OF THE POOL. THERE YOU GO, RUN A FULL CUP SEASON. DANICA IS NOT BELOW THE RADAR, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT. THEY RAN HER IN ARCA RACE AND RUN HER TEN OR 12 NATIONWIDE SERIES RACES. SHE WILL STILL FOCUS ON HER OPEN WHEEL. I LOVE WHAT DARRELL SAID IN THE PRE-RACE. THIS WILL MAKE HER A BETTER OPEN WHEEL DRIVER. THEY'RE GOING TO LET HER FLY A LITTLE BELOW THE RADAR AND NOT THROW HER AT THE DEEP END TO SEE HOW THINGS GO AND WORK FROM THERE. >> Mike: ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS 90. HI, JEANIE, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING. BEFORE I CAME DOWN, THE ONLY QUESTION SHEED A ABOUT SPEED WEEKS, WHEN DOES DANICA RACE? THERE YOU GO. >> Darrell: I THINK DARIO FRANCHITTI IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, HE CAME AND RACED WITH US. HE DIDN'T, HE -- HE RAN OUT OF SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS AND WENT BACK TO INDY AND WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I THINK DANICA IS GOING TO GAIN A LOT FROM BEING DOWN HERE WITH US. >> Jeff: THE THING IS NOW, CHRIS, GOING OFF WHAT MIKE SAID HIS GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER-IN-LAW, SAYING WHEN IS SHE GOING TO RACE? I WENT OUT BY THE SOUVENIR RIGS. ANYTIME A DRIVER IS BEING SUCCESSFUL, THE FANS FLOCK TO THE SOUVENIR RIGS. THE OTHER DAY, THEY WERE TEN DEEP AT THE DANICA PATRICK RIG. EVERYBODY, ALL THE LITTLE GIRLS, ALL THE LADIES, THEY'RE SUPPORTING HER. THERE -- THAT IS COOL THING ABOUT IT. FANS GRAVITATE TOWARD HER. >> Chris: SHE HAS MONEY AND SPONSORSHIP AND SHE CAN DRIVE. STATISTICALLY MORE WOMEN GRADUATE COLLEGE NOW AND HAVE DEGREES IN OUR COUNTRY AND MORE WOMEN ARE REGISTERED VOTERS. THEY HAVE SOMEONE TO LATCH ON TO. THEY'RE FANS OF NASCAR BUT I CAN BE LIKE HER AND COMPETE LIKE HER, EVEN IF IT'S FANTASY LIKE WE DID IN THE BACKYARD GROWING UP OR DRIVING A CO-CART. >> Jeff: THERE WERE FOUR WOMEN IN THE ARCA RACE THE OTHER NIGHT. BECAUSE OF HER SUCCESS, IT WILL HELP THEM GET MORE SUPPORT. THEY SAY WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN RACE WITH DANICA AND I CAN DO THIS AND THAT. IT WILL HELP EVERYONE MAKE THAT MOVE IN TRANSITION. WE'LL GET MORE FEMALES INVOLVED IN THE RACE. >> Chris: I TALKED TO HER ON WEDNESDAY AND SHE WAS THANKFUL OF THE SUPPORT FROM KEVIN HARVICK AND TONY STEWART WHO OFFERED DEVICE. HER COMMUNICATIONS AND QUESTIONS WITH THE CREW CHIEF AND DRIVER ARE SPOT-ON DURING A RACE. SHE SAID THE PLAN IS TO RUN A DOZEN MORE NATIONWIDE RACES, BUT SHE SAID LOOK, THE CUP THING, DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT NOW I WANT TO FINISH RACES. AND COMPETE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING AN EYE ON DANICA'S SUCCESS AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE NATIONWIDE SERIES. THE RED FLAG FOR TRACK REPAIR HERE AT DAYTONA. GREG BIFFLE IS STANDING BY. >> CHRIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CARS PARKED ON THE GRID. THE FLAVOR AT THE FRONT, HEAVY FORD. FIVE OF THE TOP SIX CARS ARE FORDS. GREG, YOU WERE JOKING THAT FOR ABOUT THE LAST 80 LAPS YOU ARE SITTING IN THE WORST SPOT YOU'VE BEEN. >> YEAH. WE'RE SIXTH RIGHT NOW. THE 3M FORD FUSION CAR DROVE SO GOOD TODAY. HAPPY ABOUT IT. HATS OFF TO THE GROUP. THE FORD ENGINES ARE RUNNING GOOD AND THE FORD CARS ARE HANDLING GOOD. REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT. HOPE WE GET IT BACK GOING AGAIN. LIKE I SAID, THE WORST WE'VE BEEN IN, IN 80 LAPS. RUNNING, DICING IT UP THE FRONT. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. PUTTING ON A GOOD SHOW. I KNOW BUSINESS WILL START TO PICK UP. COOLER OUT HERE AND IT WILL PICK UP SPEED. >> SOME OF THE CARS BEHIND US, WALKING THROUGH THE GUYS YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH? >> AND, YOU KNOW, WE WONDER WHERE THE 14 AND THE 18 ARE. THEY WERE FAST EARLY. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T COUNT OUT A LOT OF GUYS. FAST CARS, STILL. THE 24 SHOWED STRENGTH. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD GUYS. ALL THE GUYS UP FRONT RIGHT HERE. WE'RE ALL ABOUT THE SAME SPEED. >> KRISTA? >> Krista: ONE OF THE CARS UP FRONT TODAY IS THE NUMBER TWO OF KURT BUSCH. WHEN I TALK TO GUYS IN THE GARAGE THEY SAID WATCH OUT FOR THE PENSKE CARS, ESPECIALLY YOU. IT THOSE MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. IS THAT THE TESTAMENT, IS THAT HOW GOOD YOUR CAR IS? >> IT'S BEEN RUNNING STRONG. WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON THE LAST RUN. EARLY IN THE DAY, WE LED LAPS, LED LAPS COMFORTABLY. JUST NOW WITH THE COOLNESS STARTING TO SETTLE IN AND THE TRACK IS GOING TO BE IN THE SHADE, ESPECIALLY IN ONE AND TWO. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PACE HERE AT NIGHT. WE WERE SET UP MORE FOR THE DAYTIME. WHO KNOWS? THE RACE HAS ENDED AT NIGHT AND IT CHANGES HOW EVERYONE CAN BUMP DRAFT AGGRESSIVELY. GET SIDE-BY-SIDE EASIER. WE'LL SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT. THE MILLER LITE DODGE RAN STRONG ALL SPEED WEEKS. RIGHT NOW IT'S IN ONE PIECE. WE GOT 78 LAPS TO GO. WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN SHAKE THIS OUT. >> Krista: PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME THEY LOVE TO KNOW THE PEOPLE STORY AND CHEMISTRY BETWEEN CREW CHIEF AND DRIVER. YOU HAVE A NEW CREW CHIEF AND I LOVE HOW YOU ASKED KYLE YOUR BROTHER FOR HIS PHONE NUMBER AND HE SAID, "FIND IT YOURSELF." >> I KNEW STEVE AND HIS CREDENTIALS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I CALLED J.D. GIBBS BECAUSE I HAD HIS NUMBER WHEN KYLE FIRST STARTED AT GIBBS. SO REALLY WAS UNIQUE HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER. JUST RIGHT AWAY, ADDINGTON BROUGHT A TON TO OUR TEAM. SHOWED THAT SPEED HERE DURING SPEED WEEKS AND JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE RUNNING UP FRONT DOING OUR DEAL, THE ONLY DODGES OUT THERE. WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO OVERCOME. YET, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ALL THAT. LOOKING AT THE BIG PRIZE, TRYING TO GET THE WIN AND MAKE THE CHASE. >> Krista: NOBODY BETTER AT RESTRICTOR-PLATE, ESPECIALLY DAYTONA THAN KURT BUSCH. STEVE? >> Steve: ANOTHER DRIVER WITH A NEW CREW CHIEF IS JAMIE McMURRAY WHO IS RIGHT NOW TENTH. I KNOW YOU'RE FIGHTING A LOOSE RACECAR, BUT AS D.W. SAYS, LOOSE IS FAST. >> THE SHOOT-OUT THE CAR WAS LOOSE. A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING LOOSE AND COMFORTABLE. WE'VE GOTTEN THE CAR TOO LOOSE IN THE 150s. THEY GOT IT BETTER THROUGHOUT THE RACE. IT'S A LOT OF FUN OUT THERE. I WAS TALKING TO JEFF GORDON A LITTLE BIT AGO. A DIFFERENT KIND OF RACING THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST BUT IT'S BEEN FUN FOR US. >> YOU AND I WERE TALKING A MOMENT AGO. YOU'RE DOING A COOL THING TO HELP FOLKS IN HAITI WHO HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED. TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND. >> AFTER I DID THE SHOW ON SPEED CHANNEL, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING NASCAR HAS DONE TO HELP HAITI, CHRISTIE AND I WENT HOME AND WE HAPPEN TO BE DIGGING THROUGH THE ATTIC AND WE FOUND TEN DRIVER UNIFORMS I HAD IN THE PAST EIGHT OR TEN YEARS OF RACING AND WE PUT THEM ON THE NASCAR FOUNDATION WEBSITE. FANS CAN BID ON THE UNIFORMS. I AUTOGRAPHED ALL OF THEM AND WE'LL GIVE ALL THE MONEY TO HAITI. THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY FOR US AS A FAMILY TO GIVE BACK. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET TO BE ON TV EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND AND FANS GET TO SEE YOU, I THINK YOU SHOULD USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH. >> GOOD FOR YOU, JAMIE. HOPE IT WORKS OUT, BUDDY. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: CANVASS THE GARAGE BEFORE THE DAYTONA 500 AND TALK TO THE CREW CHIEF AND DRIVERS AND THEY TELL YOU THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THEY FACE THIS TIME AROUND IS GETTING THROUGH THE BUMPS. THE PAVEMENT HASN'T BEEN DONE OVER FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. THE TURNS ARE ROUGH. ROBBY GORDON WITH ALL OF YOUR OFFROAD EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU DO AS A DRIVER TO GET THROUGH THE BUMPS AT 180 MILES PER HOUR? >> I THINK, OBVIOUSLY, A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US AND A GUY TO MAKE HIS CAR WORK THROUGH THE BUMPS, GOING TO BE THE CAR THAT HANDLES THE BEST. A LOT OF GUYS PLAY WITH THE SHOCKS. WE GET MANDATED SHOCKS AND REAR SPRINGS. IN THE FRONT YOU PLAY WITH THE BUMP STOP AND PACKERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO KEEP YOURSELF OFF THE FRONT VALANCE. THIS TURNED IN A DRIVER'S TRACK. YOU WHEEL THESE THINGS THROUGH THE CORNERS. >> Dick: BUILT YOUR OWN CARS FOR THIS YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM THE CARS YOU MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT FROM SOMEONE ELSE? >> IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE TEAMS COMPETING AT THE HIGHER LEVEL, BUILDING THEIR OWN CHASSIS AND STUFF LIKE THIS. TONY STEWART, LOOK AT HIS PIT AREA, THEY RUN HENDRICK CARS. WE HAVE DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITIP TO GET HENDRICK CARS SO WE CHOSE TO BUILD OUR OWN. WE BUILT OUR OWN OFF-ROAD CARS, BUILT THEM FOR YEARS. GUYS DOING A GOOD JOB. THEY'RE PROBABLY LIGHTER THAN WHAT WE CAN BUY ON THE STREET. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL PERFORM A LITTLE BETTER. FOR ME, AS FAR AS THE RACE GOES, HASN'T BEEN TIME TO GO YET. WE'VE BEEN RIDING ALONG. WE GOT IN THE TOP 12, THE BEST WE'VE BEEN. WE RODE AROUND THERE FOR A WHILE. RIGHT THROUGH THE LAST RUN I WAS REALLY LOOSE. WE HAVE MADE AN ADJUSTMENT WITH BUMP STOP PACKER ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND GOING TO TAKE A ROUND OUT OF THE LEFT REAR. >> Dick: CAN'T TRY ANY HARDER THAN TO BUILD YOUR OWN STUFF. CHRIS? >> Chris: THANK YOU. AN HOUR 20 SO FAR IN THE RED FLAG DELAY ON THE TRACK. KURT BUSCH LED THE MOST LAPS, HIS PENSKE, ROGER PENSKE TEAM. WE SHOWED THE WRECK THAT TOOK TWO TEAMMATES OUT. NOW BACK IN 30th. WITH HIM IS DALE EARNHARDT JR., 22nd. TONY STEWART, 24th. MATT KENSETH, WHO WON LAST YEAR, MICHAEL WALTRIP. TWO-TIME WINNER. WHO DOES HE DANCE WITH? >> Jeff: HIS EXPERIENCE AND HOW HE RUNS THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACE. HE WILL FIND SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH HIM BECAUSE HE DOES A GOOD JOB. LOOK AT TONY STEWART THERE, HOW GOOD HE IS ON THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACETRACKS. WE KNOW THAT, KIND OF LIKE HIS STORY, YOU KNOW, STANDS ON HIS OWN MERIT. IF HE CAN GET HOOKED UP WITH SOMEONE LIKE TONY STEWART WE COULD WORK HIS WAY UP THROUGH THERE. KURT, HE'S KICKED BACK AND RELAXING NOW. MAKING FRIENDS FROM PREVIOUS RACES COULD BENEFIT HIM. THE ONLY TIME A PENSKE CAR WON DOWN HERE, KURT PUSHED RYAN NEWMAN TO THE CHECKERED FLAG THAT DAY. HE MAY GET A RETURN FAVOR FROM HIM. WHO KNOWS. RYAN NEWMAN. >> Chris: KURT BUSCH, THREE-TIME RUNNER UP. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. THAT'S LARRY THE CABLE GUY WITH DICK THE ANNOUNCER GUY. THE PIT REPORTER GUY. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD SO MUCH IN COMMON. LARRY THE CABLE GUY IS -- CABLE IS YOUNGER THAN DICK BERGGREN. >> Jeff: EVERYBODY IS YOUNGER THAN DICK. EVERYBODY LOVES DICK. >> Chris: YOU HAVE TO GET DirecTV. LIVE AT DAYTONA. WE'LL CONTINUE IN A MOMENT. >> Mike: OUT OF THE RED FLAG AT DAYTONA FOR TRACK REPAIR. AND SPRINT BRINGS A LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW INSIDE THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. 18 LEADERS TODAY IN THE DAYTONA 500 WITH 78 LAPS TO GO. THAT TIES THE RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF RACE LEADERS. FOR MORE NASCAR STATS, IN-CAR AUDIO AND LIVE RACE RADIO, GO TO SPRINT.COM/SPEED. THE MAN WHO STARTED ON THE POLE AND WAS THE FIRST OF THE 18 LEADERS IS MARK MARTIN. HE'S WITH MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: WE HAVE A GREAT UPDATE FROM HIS CREW CHIEF ALAN GUSTAFSON EARLIER. GET A DRIVER UPDATE. NUMBER ONE, YOU TOLD ME ON MEDIA DAY YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW WORK-OUT PROGRAM AND NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM. HOW MANY PROTEIN BARS ARE YOU ON NOW? >> I JUST HAD FOUR SINCE THEY RED FLAGGED US. THAT'S BAD I TOLD THEM IF I ATE ANOTHER ONE I'D PROBABLY THROW UP. THAT'S A LONG TIME TO GO WITHOUT EATING. I SHOULD HAVE HAD A MEAL WHEN THEY RED FLAGGED THE THING BUT I COULDN'T GET TO ONE. SO, WE'RE DOING FINE. GoDaddy.COM CHEVY IS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. WE WORKED OUR WAY BACK FROM THE BACK OF THE PACK UP TO I THINK 12th. WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING WHEN WE GET BACK GOING HERE WITH THE SUN GOING DOWN. >> Matt: IRONICALLY YOU SAID ON THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY ON THE PRE-RACE SHOW, THIS RACE EVEN MORE SO THIS YEAR IS UNPREDICTABLE. IS THAT HOW IT'S BEEN FOR YOU? >> IT'S UNPREDICTABLE AND REALLY IS NOW WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED. IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY FINISH UNDER THE LIGHTS HERE OR SOMETHING. WHO KNOWS? >> THANK YOU, MARK. >> Mike: QUICK UPDATE FROM TURNS ONE AND TWO, DUE TO HEAVY RAINS IN FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY WHAT WE HAD FRIDAY THAT WASHED OUT ALL OF THE ON-TRACK ACTIVITY, WATER HAS SEEPED IN A SEAM BETWEEN TWO OF THE COURSES OF ASPHALT, BETWEEN THE LOW GROOVE AND NEXT GROOVE UP. YOU CAN SEE THE TORCHES AT WORK. AS THEY HAVE TAKEN THE PATCH MATERIAL, WHICH USUALLY REFUSED TO CURE, DUE TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE THAT IS STILL IN THE ASPHALT. AND SO NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO HEAT CURE IT. TO GET THAT SETTLE SO THE CARS CAN RUN OVER IT AT 185, 190 MILES PER HOUR. >> Darrell: REMEMBER CALIFORNIA, WHAT THEY FINALLY DID WHEN THERE WAS WATER UNDER THE ASPHALT THEY TOOK A CUTTER. THEY CUT SOME GROOVES. REMEMBER, THEY CUT GROOVES DOWN TO, DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE TRACK TO LET THE WATER HAVE SOMEWHERE TO DRAIN MAYBE? YOU KNOW? JUST MAYBE. I'M JUST SAYING. >> Mike: LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT PATCHED UP. BRIAN FRANCE CAME IN AND TOLD US THEY WILL DEFINITELY GET THIS RACE RESTARTED AND GET IT BACK UNDERWAY. SO, THE GOOD SIDE OF THIS LONG DELAY, WHICH NOW STRETCHES AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF IS WE GET TO TALK TO ALL THE DRIVERS AND CREW CHIEFS AND WE GET TO GO OUTSIDE THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL WITH CHRIS AND JEFF AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND. >> Chris: THANK YOU, MIKE. OUR COVERAGE OF NASCAR ON FOX, TENTH SEASON. JEFF, ALONG THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN ADDING TOYS AND GIMMICKS AN THINGS TO HELP EXPLAIN TERMS, LIKE WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT VALANCE AND WHAT IT MEANS. WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES AND YOU HAVE AN OUTDOOR GARAGE NEXT TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. EXPLAIN WHAT THESE THINGS ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS. THIS LOOKS LIKE ROTISSERIE YOU COOK CHICKEN ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> Jeff: OR A PIG. >> Chris: ARE YOU PUTTING ME IN THERE? >> Jeff: I WOULD DON'T THAT. GIVE YOU A SENATION OF GOING UP AND DOWN. THE COOL THING ABOUT IT, THE JUNK YARD TURNED INTO A TECHNICAL CENTER. HERE WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THE FORD CUT-AWAY CAR, WHICH ALLOWS US TO TAKE A 360-DEGREE LOOK AT EVERYTHING ABOUT A RACECAR. WE CAN SHOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH. WE CAN TALK ABOUT TRUCK ARMS, REAR END HOUSES, REAR END, SHOCKS. IT DOESN'T MATTER, WE CAN SHOW IT TO YOU AND WE CAN GET UP CLOSE AND IDENTIFY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE NEW RACECAR. WE CAN GO INSIDE AND WHAT PROTECTS THE DRIVERS, THE ROLL CAR. THE SEAT, THE OIL LINE, AND WHERE THEY RUN. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. WE CAN GET IN THERE WITH A CAMERA ANGLE AND SHOT TO BEST EXPLAIN IT TO FOLKS AT HOME. >> Chris: WHAT DOES A SPRINT CUP CAR WEIGH THESE DAYS? >> Jeff: 3,500 POUNDS. WE DON'T HAVE THE BODY AND EVERYTHING ON THIS UNIT. AGAIN, WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THE SCHEME, BUT THE COOL THING ABOUT IT WITH THE FOLKS OVER HERE AT ROUSH FENWAY AND FORD, AGAIN -- >> Chris: WE GO TO THE -- >> Jeff: AGAIN, A COMPLETE BODY CAR OVER HERE. THAT WAY IF WE GOT QUESTIONS AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FRONT NOSE, HERE WE GO. THIS IS AN ACTUAL CAR THAT SOMEONE AT ROUSH-FENWAY HAS DRIVEN. THAT'S THE COOL THING ABOUT IT. WE CAN TAKE THE RACECAR AND PUT AN ENGINE IN IT TOMORROW AND RACE IT. >> THIS IS ONE OF OUR IN CAR CAMERAS? >> THAT IS WHAT YOU SEE ON EVERY RACECAR OUT THERE. ALL 43 CARS WILL CARRY AT LEAST A REPLICA. >> Chris: SAME WEIGHT? >> Jeff: OF TO EVERYTHING OF AN INCAR CAMERA. IF YOU'RE NOT CARRYING IT YOU'RE NOT ANOTHER A DISADVANTAGE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. TO WINDSHIELD, THE ROOF FLAPS, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS RACECAR, AGAIN, IS ACTUAL. THE WAY IT WORKS UP AND DOWN. >> Chris: THE ROAR FROM THE CROWD IS NOT FOR THE CUT-AWAY CAR. >> Jeff: OF COURSE IT IS! >> Chris: THE DRIVERS ARE HEADING BACK TO THEIR CARS. YOU HEARD FRANCE TALK ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE SPOILER IN MARCH. PROBABLY AT MARTINSVILLE. IT WILL CHANGE THINGS. >> Jeff: WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND. THIS IS THE REAR WING. THIS IS THE CNR, ROUSH-FENWAY, ROUSH YATES ENGINE DISPLAY. IT HAS ALL THE THINGS AS FAR AS THE DRIVE TRAIN. NOW TALK ABOUT AN ENGINE AND WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT AN ALTERNATOR LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BUSH ROD GOING UP AND DOWN. THIS IS THE ALTERNATOR I'M TELLING YOU ABOUT. THIS IS HERE TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON -- YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT A DISTRIBUTOR DOES, DO YOU? >> Chris: NO. MY BROTHER FIXED THE ONE ON MY CAR. >> Jeff: THIS IS A DISTRIBUTOR. IT GOES AROUND AND FIRES EACH AND EVERY CYLINDER AND MAKES THE SPARK INSIDE HERE. IT MAKES ENGINE RUN. >> Chris: WHAT DOES AN ENGINE COST? DEPENDING $100,000, $150,000, BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY. NOT THE PARTS BUT BY THE TIME YOU PUT THE DRIVE TRAIN TOGETHER YOU'RE IN UPWARDS OF $200,000 IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. >> Chris: I CAN OPERATE THIS. >> Jeff: YOU CAN'T SHIFT GEARS. >> Chris: YOU LOVE THE PIT BOX, YOU HAVE A NATIONWIDE PIT BOX UP HERE. NOT LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A CREW CHIEF. >> Jeff: WE HAVE A NEW SPONSOR WITH NATIONWIDE INSURANCE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOX BOX. THIS IS COMMAND CENTRAL AND WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENS JUST LIKE WITH CHAD KNAUS OR ANY OF THE TEAMS RIGHT HERE. THEY GET UP HERE, WE CAN SIT UP AND WE CAN LITERALLY BE ABOVE THE RACECAR IN THE COURSE OF A CAUTION FLAG AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CREW AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT MAKING MISTAKES. COOL THING, WE HAVE MONITORS. WE HAVE LIKE FIVE MONITORS UP HERE TO ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY WATCH THE RACE, KEEP UP WITH TIMING AND SCORING. WE CAN DO ALL KIND OF SCENARIOS ON DIFFERENT TYPE OF PIT STOPS THAT WILL ALLOW US MAYBE TO BEAT OUR COMPETITION. THIS IS COMMAND CENTRAL. IT'S NOT JUST FOR ONE GUY. IT'S FOR THE ENGINEERS, CAR CHIEF, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORK WITH YOU, CHRIS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF SUPPORT AND THIS KIND OF A THING. THIS IS THE NECESSARY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT NOWADAYS. >> Jeff: JEFF HAMMOND, MAN OF THE PEOPLE. >> Chris: BEFORE WE QUIT, WE HAVE A SERIES OF BRAKES UP HERE, PERFORMANCE. SHORT TRACK BRAKES AND SUPERSPEEDWAY BRAKES. HERE IS ONE THING YOU MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY GO BACK TO, FOLKS. IN A FEW WEEKS YOU'LL SEE A SPOILER SIMILAR TO THIS GOING ON THIS NEW RACECAR WE'RE RACING TODAY AT DAYTONA. UNBOLT THE WING AND REBOLT THE REAR SPOILER ON HERE. THIS IS DESIGNED TO WHERE YOU CAN LITERALLY UNBOLT THE WING AND BOLT THE OTHER SPOILER RIGHT BACK ON. IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE TEMP LATHES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT -- TEMPLATE OR ANYTHING THEY'RE RUNNING. >> Chris: THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND SOMETHING COMES UP, AND WE NEED A CLEAR EXPLANATION, HE WILL HELP YOU AND ME OUT. GO BACK TO HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. >> Jeff: SHOW-AND-TELL IS OVER WITH. TIME TO GO BACK IN THERE. WE STRETCHED OUR LEGS AND GOT FRESH AIR. WE HAVE 78 LAPS THAT WE HAVE TO BE HOLDING OUR BREATH UNTIL THE END OF THE DAYTONA 500, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT, I THINK WHAT 34 GUYS STILL OUT THERE. ALL THE LEAD LAP THAT ARE GOING TO TRY TO WIN THIS RACE. >> Chris: THE SUN IS STILL SHINING SO REJOIN LARRY McREYNOLDS, DARRELL WALTRIP AND MIKE JOY. >> Mike: IN A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED FOUR HOURS AGO, DRIVERS CLIMBING ABOARD THEIR CARS. THE DIFFERENCE IS NOW INSTEAD OF 200, THERE ARE 78 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE, MIKE, THAT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL PATCH. BUT IT'S RIGHT IN THE LOW GROOVE. RIGHT WHERE THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES WOULD RUN. THEY GOT TO FIX IT. I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. CHRIS IS RIGHT. THE SUN IS STILL SHINING. THE RACE STILL HAS 78 LAPS TO GO. WE ARE GOING TO TO HAVE AN EXCITING FINISH TO THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: I WAS INTERESTED IN KEVIN HARVICK'S COMMENT. HARVICK SITS SEVENTH. HIS TEAMMATE CLINT BOWYER IS THE LEADER. BETWEEN THEM, SIT FIVE FORDS. GETTING FROM -- GETTING UP TO CLINT BOWYER FROM WHERE KEVIN HARVICK SITS, HE HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. >> Larry: WE KNOW WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE PIT STOP. RIGHT THERE WITHIN A ONE-STOP RACE. WITH THE SUN GOING DOWN, STARTING TO SEE SHADE IN TURN ONE, HEADED OVER TO TURN TWO. THESE CREW CHIEFS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR GAME PLAN POSSIBLY ON THE ADJUSTMENTS THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE. THE RACETRACK IS GOING TO CHANGE WHEN IT COOLS DOWN. >> Mike: IS IT GOING TO TIGHTEN THE CARS UP AND MAKE THEM EASIER TO DRIVE? >> Darrell: MAKE THEM A LOT BETTER. MAKE THEM FASTER. THEY WILL STICK BETTER NOW. THE HOT SUNSHINE, THE TRACK TEMPERATURE IS ALL GOING TO COME BACK TO THE WAY THE GUYS PRACTICE AND TEST. THAT WILL MAKE THE CARS RUN THREE-WIDE, JUST LIKE WE SAW IN THE 150s AND BUD SHOOT-OUT. LET ME SAY ABOUT THE AERO DYNAMICS. THE FORDS UP, THERE NONE OF THEM QUALIFIED GREAT. TWO WAYS TO COME TO DAYTONA. COME DOWN HERE WITH A CAR WITH DOWNFORCE AND DRIVABILITY TO IT AND RACE GOOD OR YOU CAN COME DOWN HERE WITH A SLICK CAR THAT WILL QUALIFY GOOD. WE MADE THE MISTAKE OF HAVING A SLICK CAR QUALIFYING GOOD AND COULDN'T RACE A LICK. >> Larry: WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT, THE MAN LEADING THE RACE RIGHT NOW CAME DOWN HERE WITH A GOOD, FAST, SLICK CAR AND GOT IT TORE UP AND WENT TO A BACKUP CAR. THAT'S MORE OF A RACECAR. >> Darrell: YES, SIR! >> Mike: SOMETHING NEW AT FoxSports.COM/MSN. LUNCH WITH BENEFITS SHOW. THREE WIDE FEATURING LARRY, DARRELL, JEFF, AS THEY CHAT ABOUT EVERYTHING NASCAR. EVERY FRIDAY 1:00 P.M. EASTERN. ENJOY LUNCH WITH BENEFITS. ONLY AT FoxSports.COM ON MSN. >> Darrell: GUESS WHO THE THREE WOULD BE? [ LAUGHTER ] >> Larry: WE DID OUR FIRST SHOW LAST WEEK AND HAD FUN. >> Darrell: IT WILL BE GREAT. WE JUST CHAT. >> Mike: YOU CAN SEE AS THEY WORK, THERE IS WHERE THE SEAM RUNS THROUGH EACH COURSE OF ASPHALT FROM THE BOTTOM. THE APRON IS ALMOST FAT. THE TRACK IS BANKED 31 DEGREES. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PAVE. AND ENOUGH MOISTURE HAS GOTTEN DOWN IN THAT SEAM BETWEEN THE LAYERS OF ASPHALT TO CAUSE US A PROBLEM HERE. >> Larry: THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THREE AND FOUR IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE SUN IS DOWN ON IT. THEY ARE IN TOTAL SHADE. >> Darrell: IT'S NOT WINDY. THEY HAVE A JET DRIER OFF THE EDGE OF THE TRACK TO BLOW HOT AIR UP ON THE RACETRACK. THEY COULD HAVE GOT HAMMOND DOWN THERE BUT DECIDED IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO GET HIM DOWN THERE. >> Mike: THERE ARE THREE DRIVERS WHO ARE STILL STRAPPING IN THEIR CARS AND AS AS SOON AS AS THEY'RE READY, NASCAR WILL FIRE THE ENGINES AND THE HOUR AND 37-MINUTE RED FLAG PERIOD WILL END. WE'LL GET BACK UNDERWAY AND GET READY TO FINISH OFF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK A SOUL HAS LEFT. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE ROWS OUTSIDE THE RACETRACK AND THE EXITS. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS GOTTEN UP AND LEFT. THEY'RE JUST HANGING IN HERE WAITING TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. >> Mike: CAPACITY CROWD. ONE THING THEY ANTICIPATE IS A FAS CAR RULE CHANGE. WE TOUCHED ON IT WITH BRIAN FRANCE. PREVIOUSLY, NASCAR WOULD MAKE ONE ATTEMPT AT THE END OF THE SCHEDULED DISTANCE TO END THE RACE UNDER GREEN, WHAT WE CALL OVERDRIVE. THE GREEN-WHITE CHECKER FINISH, FIRST TO WAVE THE GREEN, WHITE THE NEXT TIME BY AND CHECKER THE NEXT TIME BY. NOW THEY HAVE REVISED THAT. NASCAR SAID IN ALL THREE OF THE NATIONAL TOURING DIVISIONS INCLUDING SPRINT CUP, THEY WILL MAKE UP TO THREE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE RACE FINISHED UNDER GREEN. THE CONTROLLING FACT WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT THE LEADER HAS TAKEN THE WHITE FLAG UNDER GREEN. IF HE HAS NOT, THEY'LL TRY AGAIN AND THEN THEY'LL TRY AGAIN. THEY WANT THE FANS TO SEE A GREEN FLAG FINISH. THE DRIVERS APPLAUD THE CHANGE. SOME OF THE CREW CHIEF WONDER IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE EXTRA STRATEGIZING BECAUSE THAT COULD BE TEN MORE LAPS COUNTING CAUTION LAPS ON THE CAR. BUT HERE IS THE BEST NEWS. [ CHEERING ] >> Darrell: NOISE! >> Mike: THE JOYFUL NOISE OF THE SPRINT CUP CARS COMING BACK TO LIFE. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, MIKE? THE FANS ARE GOING TO START DEMANDING WE HAVE A HALFTIME. [ LAUGHTER ] REGROUP. I REALLY ENJOYED. THAT I GOT TO TALK TO ALL THE DRIVERS AND SEE WHAT THEY WERE THINKING, GOT SOMETHING TO EAT. READY FOR THE SECOND HALF. >> Mike: IT'S BECOME WARMER THAN WE ANTICIPATED. THE TEMPERATURE JUST ABOUT NUDGED 60 DEGREES TODAY. DOWN TO 52 RIGHT NOW LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. A LIGHT BREEZE. THE TRACK TEMP UP IN THE 70s, LARRY, THAT'S PLUMMETED. >> Larry: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT RIGHT THERE, REMEMBER, WHEN WE STARTED, IT WAS 79 DEGREES. SO THAT MEANS THE TRACK COOLED DOWN 30 DEGREES AND PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT IN TURN ONE AND TWO WHERE IT'S IN THE SHADE. >> Darrell: ONE THING ABOUT THE SUNSHINE, THE DRIVERS WILL HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM OFF TURN FOUR. THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AS THE SUN STARTS TO GO DOWN, THE GRAND STAND WILL SHADE TURN FOUR. OUT OF THE CORNER, IF WE HAVE INCAR SHOTS YOU'LL SEE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELDS. >> Mike: THE SUN STRAIGHT ON THE NOSE OF THE PACE CAR. DRIVERS LIKE DAVID RAGAN WITH A HAND IN THE AIR UNTIL THEY FLIP THE SHIELD DOWN, TO SHIELD THEMSELVESES FROM THE SUN. >> Darrell: FUNNY, WE TALKED TO HIM AND HE PUT THE GLOVE OVER THE CAMERA. TAKE THE GLOVE. HE SAID I DON'T WANT TO, MAN, THE SUN IS IN MY EYES. HE DIDN'T REALIZE HE WOULDN'T GET ON TV IF HE DIDN'T. >> Larry: YOU KNOW WHAT THE FANS ALSO KNOW AND REALIZE, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE RACETRACK OR AT HOME WATCHING IS YOU LOOK AT THE LAST THREE DAYTONA 500s THAT WE'VE DONE AND WE SAW THE HIGHLIGHTS OF ONE FROM 2007 WITH KEVIN HARVICK. THE GUY THAT WON THAT RACE WAS NOT LEADING WITH TWO OR THREE LAPS TO GO. THAT'S HAPPENED FOR THE LAST THREE 500s AND A LOT MORE BEFORE THAT. >> Mike: NO, HE BECAME, THAT DAY HE BECAME MR. WHERE THE HECK DID HE COME FROM? >> Darrell: THERE IS THAT LITTLE SPOT RIGHT THERE, WITH ALL THE LITTLE ARROWS GOING EVERYWHERE, ALL AROUND IT. THAT THAT LITTLE PLACE RIGHT THERE IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN HOLDING US UP. BUT, APPARENTLY THE BOYS THINK THEY GOT IT FIXED UP GOOD ENOUGH TO GO BACK RACING. WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE, MIKE, IS FOR IT TO COME OUT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE -- THAT'S WHY THEY TOOK SO LONG, TOOK THEIR TIME AND MADE SURE THEY HAD IT FIXED. >> Mike: ONE HOUR AND 40-MINUTE RED FLAG FOR TRACK REPAIR DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO. SO THEY WILL TAKE A FEW PACE LAPS. AT SOME POINT LIKELY OPEN PIT ROAD FOR SERVICE. AS NASCAR ON FOX BEGINS ITS TENTH SEASON OF BRINGING NASCAR IN YOUR LIVING ROOMS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON. >> TEN YEARS OF NASCAR ON FOX. >> ALREADY? >> JEFF HAMMOND. >> MAN, YOU GUYS ARE GETTING OLD. >> TEN YEARS AGO, LARRY McREYNOLDS STILL HAD HAIR. >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> THOSE GUYS ARE >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: ONE OF OUR FAVORITE 500s, 1989. >> DRIVER DARRELL WALTRIP! >> I WON THE DAYTONA 500! I WON THE DAYTONA 500! >> DARRELL, HOW LONG -- >> WAIT, WAIT. THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500, ISN'T IT? >> YOU BET IT IS! >> TELL ME IT IS! THANK GOD! >> WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, EVER COMEDIAN, EVEN IN VICTORY LANE. I SAW YOU CLIMB OUT WITH A GLEAM IN YOUR EYE. I LOST CONTROL OF THIS SHOW, HAVEN'T I? >> Darrell: WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU'D BE THERE WITH ME. >> Larry: WE GOT A LOT GOING ON, ON PIT ROAD. MATT KENSETH BROUGHT THE 17 CAR IN THE ATTENTION OF DREW BLICKENSDERF AND THAT CREW. THEY'RE CHANGING THE FRONT SHOCKS OF THE GETTING A REPORT FROM MATT YOCUM UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE 14 CAR THEY'RE PUTTING A PIN UNDERNEATH THE FRONT. YOU HEARD TONY SAY IN THE INTERVIEW HIS CAR WOULD NOT TURN. I THINK THEY'RE ANTICIPATING IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS THE TRACK COOLS DOWN. WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WE ALSO GOT A REPORT DALE EARNHARDT JR., THE 88 GROUP CAME IN AND PULLED A RUBBER OUT OF ONE OF THE SPRINGS SOFTEN THE RATE OF THAT REAR SPRING. >> Darrell: I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY IS ANTICIPATING IS THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE GRIP OUT THERE NOW. THEY WERE TRYING TO FREE THE CARS. THEY DON'T WANT THE CARS LOOSE. NOW, WHEN IT WAS HOT, I THINK NOW THAT THE TRACK IS COOLED DOWN, PICKED UP GRIP AND WE CAN SUCK THE NOSE BACK DOWN AND HAVE BETTER BALANCE RACECAR. >> Mike: MOST OF THE TOP 15 DID NOT STOP. DRIVERS WHO ARE AHEAD OF THE LEADER WHEN THE CAUTION COMES OUT GET A CHANCE TO BE WAVED AROUND THE PACE CAR. AND PICK UP A LAP. BRAD KESELOWSKI, SAM HORNISH TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT. LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS AND CHECK WITH STEVE. >> Steve: JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST HIT PIT ROAD AGAIN, MIKE. FIRST TIME THEY TOOK FOUR TIRES AND ADDED TAPE TO THE GRILL AND CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. RON MALLOT, THE CAR CHIEF TOOK A LOOK. JIMMIE HAS TO START FROM THE REAR OF THE FIELD. >> Jeff: DARRELL AND LARRY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE HALFTIME BREAK, A LOT OF TIMES YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. YOU ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS. WHEN YOU SEE THE 14 PUT THE BELLY PAN UNDER IT AND SEE THE 17 CHANGE THE FRONT SHOCKS, REMEMBER ONE THING, 76 LAPS FROM NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO CROWN THE 500 CHAMPION. IF YOU GO THE WRONG WAY, YOU'LL NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO UNDO WHAT YOU DO. >> Darrell: GOOD THING ABOUT THE BREAK. YOU KNOW, WE GOT A CHANCE -- JIMMIE JOHNSON IS THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS WHOLE DEAL. JUST WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT, HE'S GOT A TIRE AND FRONT END MESSED UP BUT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. BACK IN THE RACE. HE'S A GUY THAT BENEFITTED THE MOST. >> Mike: AFTER AN HOUR AND 40-MINUTE RED FLAG, FOR TRACK REPAIR. WE ARE READY TO GO BACK TO RACING. 76 LAPS TO GO. CLINT BOWYER, DAVID RAGAN, KASEY KAHNE, CARL EDWARDS. BOWYER HAS ELECTED THE INSIDE LANE ON THIS RESTART. THERE ARE 34 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Darrell: I FEEL LIKE SAYING BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY, ONE MORE TIME. BUT I GUESS I WON'T! >> Larry: BUT YOU BETTER REACH UP THERE AND PULL YOUR BELTS TIGHT ONE MORE TIME. >> Darrell: GOT THAT RIGHT, BROTHER. >> Mike: PACE CAR IS IN. THIS CROWD ENJOYED A BIG HALFTIME BREAK AND NOW WE'LL HAVE 75 LAPS TO RACE IN THE DAYTONA 500. CLINT BOWYER LEADS THEM ACROSS THE LINE. WE'RE RACING AGAIN! [ ENGINES ROARING ] >> Larry: HE GOT A GOOD PUSH FROM KASEY KAHNE, THE 9 CAR, BUT DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6 GOT A GOOD PUSH FROM HIS TEAMMATE CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99 ON THE HIGH SIDE. >> Darrell: DEAD EVEN RIGHT THERE, AS THEY GO TO TURN ONE. NEITHER LINE GOT ANY MOVE. LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING OVER THE PATCH. SO FAR, SO GOOD. >> Mike: LOOKING AT CLINT BOWYER. HERE COMES HARVICK. GIVEN THE PUSH AND SHOVE TO ELLIOTT SADLER IN TO TURN THREE. >> Larry: ALL THE BOYS NEEDED WAS A LITTLE TIME-OUT. >> Darrell: YOU JUST WAIT. THIS IS GOING TO GET REAL SERIOUS. THEY'LL BE THREE-WIDE AND IT WILL BE HEAVY DUTY RACING GOING ON FROM HERE ON OUT. >> Mike: CLINT BOWYER IN HIS FIFTH DAYTONA 500. HE'S YOUR RACE LEADER. HAD TWO TOP-TEN FINISHES IN HIS FIRST FOUR 500s. WON A NATIONWIDE RACE HERE LAST JULY. LOOKING FOR HIS THIRD SPRINT CUP SERIES CAREER VICTORY. >> Larry: YOU SAW HIGHLIGHTS WHERE A COUPLE OF THREE YEARS AGO HE WENT ACROSS THE START/FINISH LINE ON HIS ROOF. >> Darrell: I'M NOT SURE IF A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A HOLE IN A TRACK LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'D BE ABLE TO FIX IT OR NOT. >> Mike: ELLIOTT SADLER WITH KASEY KAHNE. EARLIER IN THE RACE, KAHNE WAS COMPLAINING SADLER LEFT HIM HIGH AND DRY. NOW IT'S SADLER HELPING OUT HIS ROUSH -- RATHER, HIS RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS TEAMMATE. >> Darrell: LURKING EVER SO PRESENTLY IN THIRD PLACE. KEVIN HARVICK. >> Larry: YOU CAN SEE THE SPEEDS ARE HIGHER NOW THAT THE TRACK HAS COOLED DOWN. 193 GOING OFF IN TURN ONE. >> Darrell: WATCH THEM GO DOWN THE BACK. I NOTICE ONE THING, LARRY. WE HAVE A TAD OF A HEAD WIND DOWN THE BACK TODAY. THAT WILL HURT THE SPEEDS A LITTLE BIT. LOOK AT KASEY, LOOK AT HIS EYES. HE'S WORRIED ABOUT ONE THING. NOT WHERE HE'S GOING. NOT EVEN LOOKING WHERE HE'S GOING. LOOKING BEHIND HIM. WHO IS GOING TO MAKE A MOVE OR JUMP OUT? WHICH WAY DO I NEED TO GO? >> STILL ONE BACK IN THE MIDDLE. ONE BACK IN THE MIDDLE. >> Darrell: WATCH THE GLARE OFF TURN FOUR. RIGHT THERE. JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT. >> Mike: KASEY IS ONE OF THE FEW DRIVERS WE SAW WITH A CLEAR FACE SHIELD. SO HE HAS NO PROTECTION FROM THE SUN. >> Darrell: MAYBE HE WAS ANTICIPATING A LATE FINISH. >> Larry: THERE IS YOUR THREE WIDE, D.W. BRIAN VICKERS IN THE 83. HE'S NOT WHERE HE WANTS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE. >> Darrell: NO, BUT THERE WILL BE MORE OF THE THREE-WIDE STUFF BECAUSE THE GUYS ARE GOING TO EXPERIMENT A LITTLE BIT AND FIND OUT HEY, I CAN HANG IN THERE NOW. >> Larry: WE HAVE GUYS IN THE BACK OF THE PACK LIKE MATT KENSETH WHO CHANGED SHOCKS AND LIKE JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. THEY JUST RAN THEIR FASTEST LAP OF THIS RACE. BRIAN VICKERS JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR HIS SPOTTER TO SAY CLEAR HIGH OR CLEAR LOW. >> Darrell: IT'S A LOT MORE -- IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE. YOU'RE PUSHED TO THE SIDE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. >> MIDDLE. 88 FEELING IS IT. 82 IS FEELING IT. TO THE MIDDLE. >> Darrell: YOU ARE KIND OF STUCK THERE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? >> Mike: MATT KENSETH JUST RAN THE FASTEST LAP OF THE DAY. 195.2 MILES PER HOUR. >> Larry: I THINK VICKERS FEELS THAT HOLE. >> Darrell: MAN! GOOD THING THERE WASN'T MORE PAINT ON THE BACK OF THE 00. >> Larry: KASEY KAHNE IN THE 9 IS NOW BACK UP BEHIND CLINT BOWYER IN THE 33. BOWYER IS WANTING THE LEAD BACK. >> Darrell: THE CHILDRESS CARS ARE STRONG TODAY. ALL THREE OF THEM! >> Mike: IN THE 29, HARVICK DID JUST WHAT HE SAID WOULD BE DIFFICULT. FIGHT HIS WAY THROUGH THOSE HALF DOZEN OR SO FORDS AND GET UP TO WHERE HE CAN EITHER HELP OR CHALLENGE HIS TEAMMATE BOWYER IN THE 33. KRISTA HAS MORE ON KASEY KAHNE. >> Krista: YEAH, MIKE, DRIVERS CHOOSE GOING WITH DRIVERS THAT THEY THINK WILL BE THERE AT THE FINISH. KASEY TOLD ME EARLIER TODAY THAT DOWN HERE AT SPEED WEEKS HE FEELS LIKE MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUSHING THAN IN THE PAST SIX PREVIOUS YEARS HE'S BEEN HERE COMBINED. THE FORD MOTOR. THEY KNOW HE HAS THE STRENGTH. HE SAID I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE A FAVORITE, BUT WE HAVE A SHOT, THE BEST SHOT I'VE EVER HAD HERE. >> Larry: SPEAKING OF SHOTS, THE 6 CAR JUST GAVE THE 9 A SHOT GETTING OFF IN TURN THREE. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT JUST LUNGED HIM OFF IN THE CORNER. >> Darrell: KASEY SAYS IT'S FUN TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE PEOPLE LINE UP BEHIND YOU INSTEAD OF BEING THE OTHER WAY AROUND. HE'S HAPPY WITH HIS CAR AND HOW IT'S RUNNING. >> Mike: KAHNE WITHIN ON THURSDAY IN HIS GATORADE DUEL RACE. STRONG CAR ALL WEEK. PREVIOUSLY, HIS BEST EFFORTS RESULTED IN TWO SEVENTH PLACE FINISHES IN THE 500. MAYBE TODAY HE'LL BE THE PIED PIPER. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW THE CARS THAT KASEY AND ELLIOTT ARE DRIVING AND ALLMENDINGER, THOSE ARE THE CARS THEY HAD. THEY JUST CHANGE THE FACE AND PUT FORD MOTOR IN IT AND TOOK OFF RACING THE SAME CAR THEY BASICALLY ENDED THE YEAR WITH. >> Mike: THE TRIGGER FINGER ITCHY ON THE VOLUME CONTROL? WHAT DO YOU SAY? >> Larry: LET'S CRANK IT UP! [ ENGINES ROAR ] [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE DAYTONA 500. CLINT BOWYER DRIVING A CHEVY FOR RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING, BATTLING ELLIOTT SADLER IN THE 19. DRIVING A FORD FOR RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS. >> Darrell: AND MIKE, FOLKS AT HOME, IF YOU DON'T THINK WEATHER AND TRACK TEMPERATURE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HOW THESE GUYS RACE AND HOW THE CARS HANDLE, WE DIDN'T SEE THE KIND OF RACING WHEN THE SUN WAS OUT AND IT WAS 80 -- THE TRACK TEMPERATURE WAS 80 DEGREES. NOW THAT IT'S COOLED DOWN, THESE GUY CAN GO WHERE THEY WANT TO AND DO IT PRETTY CONFIDENTLY. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK GIVES SADLER THE BUMP AND RUN IN TURN NUMBER THREE. >> Larry: WATCH 33 AND KASEY KAHNE COME BACK ON THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER MOVE IN TURN THREE, THAT'S A WINNING MOVE. >> Larry: AMAZING TO SEE THE RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS DODGE OF KASEY KAHNE PUSHING THE RICHARD CHILDRESS CAR ON THE INSIDE, AND THE CHILDRESS CAR PUTTING THE RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS FORD. >> Darrell: AT THIS POINT YOU PUSH WHOEVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU. >> Larry: AS LONG AS THEY PUSH YOU TO FRONT, DOESN'T MATTER. >> Darrell: KEEP PUSHING. >> Mike: THE BEST PART IS THE 200,000 FANS THAT ARE HERE AND THOSE WATCHING AT HOME, NO SINGLE CAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO BREAK AWAY, MUCH LESS ESTABLISH A SINGLE FILE LEAD. >> Darrell: THIS IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN DOWN HERE FOR THE LAST WEEK. THE WAY THE GUYS HAVE JUST BUNCHED UP LIKE THIS AND STAYED TOGETHER. AND THREE WIDE RACING A LOT. THAT'S HARD TO DO HERE AT DAYTONA. ONE THING THEY LEARNED, MIKE, WITH THE BIGGER RESTRICTOR PLATE, WE WERE HAVING MORE OF AN ISSUE WITH CLOSING RATES WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE. GUYS WERE RUNNING IN THE BACK OF EACH OTHER AND WRECKING EACH OTHER BUT THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THE CAR CANS CLOSE MUCH QUICKER THAN WHAT THEY HAD IN THE PAST. NOW THEY WORK TOGETHER VERY, VERY WELL. >> Mike: WHOA! >> Darrell: WHOA, ELLIOTT. MAN, HE GOT SIDEWAYS THERE. >> Larry: I THINK HE MAY HAVE HAD HELP ON GETTING SIDEWAYS THERE IN THE 49 CAR. >> PATIENCE. >> Darrell: I THINK HE JUST WENT -- >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK STARTED THAT BUMP DRAFT BEFORE THEY WERE IN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. SADLER HAD TO LIFT. HE LOST HIS MOMENTUM AND NOW HE FINDS A PLACE IN LINE OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK HE WAS BUMPED. WHEN YOU COME OFF THE TWO LOW, THE CAR WANTS TO PUSH OUT. I THINK THE BACK SWUNG AROUND. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. >> Larry: HE ALMOST FELL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE TOP 15. HE'S BACK TO 14th. FINALLY FOUND A HOLE IN FRONT OF MARK MARTIN, THE 5 CAR. >> Mike: LOOK AT THE 43, RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF YOUR PICTURE. A.J. ALLMENDINGER HAD A LUGNUT PROBLEM ON A PIT STOP EARLY. THE DINGER FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK UP IN TOP TEN. BUT A ROADBLOCK IN FRONT OF HIM. TWO-BY-TWO-BY-TWO-BY-TWO, NOWHERE TO GO TO GET TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: THE NAPA CAR, MARTIN TRUEX JR. HAS BEEN LURKING AROUND THE FRONT, LARRY, THE LAST LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE BREAK WE HAD. HERE HE IS IN THE THIRD SPOT. THAT CAR LOOKS STRONG. >> Larry: SOMEBODY WE HAVE NOT TALKED TO A LOT TODAY AND HERE IS THE CAR YOU TALKED ABOUT, MARTIN TRUEX IN THIRD. THE OTHER RICHARD CHILDRESS CAR WORKED HIS WAY IN THE TOP TEN. JEFF BURTON IN THE 31. >> Darrell: BURTON -- EVERY PRACTICE WE HAD, BURTON WAS AT THE TOP OF THE SHEET. BUT THEY HAD A TIRE ISSUE IN THEIR QUALIFYING RACE AND I DON'T KNOW, I HOPE THEY GOT IT FIXED. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK WHO HAS WON THE DAYTONA 500 HAS FOUGHT HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. 62 LAPS TO GO! >> Mike: 59 LAPS TO GO. KEVIN HARVICK, MARTIN TRUEX, CLINT BOWYER. YOUR OLD SPICE MAN UP ARE THE BIGGEST MOVERS. JEFF GORDON UP 32 FROM WHERE HE STARTED. CARL EDWARDS, 31 SPOTS. OLD SPICE BODY WASH. SMELL LIKE A MAN, MAN. 58 LAPS TO GO. AND AT LEAST ONE MORE PIT STOP. >> Darrell: TROUBLE ON THE BACKSTRETCH. >> Larry: ALLMENDINGER. IN THE 43. CAUTION IS OUT. >> Mike: HE STAYS OFF THE WALL! NICE SAVE. WILD SLIDE BY A.J. ALLMENDINGER. >> Darrell: I THINK WE'LL SEE HIM POSSIBLY GET A LITTLE PUSH. >> LEADERS IN THE THREE. >> Mike: A LITTLE BURNED GASOLINE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. NO BIG DEAL. >> Darrell: IT WON'T HURT ANYTHING. LOOK AT THE TIRES, SITTING ON THE GROUND. >> Larry: THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE NOT ONLY IS HE STUCK, THERE HE PROBABLY HAS FLAT TIRES ON THAT THING FROM WHERE HE SLID ACROSS THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: AS WE SAID, HEAVY RAINS IN FLORIDA OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. FRIDAY WAS A COMPLETE WASH-OUT HERE. WITH THE HIGH WATER TABLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, NOT A LOT OF PLACES FOR THE STANDING WATER TO GO. THE GRASS THERE IS PRETTY SOFT IN A LOT OF AREAS. ALLMENDINGER WAS RUNNING SIXTH. SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 43. >> Darrell: COMING OFF OF TURN TWO BACK THERE. I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT -- YEAH, HE JUST GETS SUCKED AROUND. THAT'S ALL THAT HAPPENS TO HIM. GETTING BEHIND ON THE STEERING RIGHT THERE. WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH THIS -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BIG SHARK FIN OR NOT. BUT WHEN A CAR GETS TO YOUR OUTSIDE LIKE THAT, ALMOST LIKE IT HAS A MAGNET. ALMOST A VACUUM CLEANER AND IT SUCKS YOU AROUND. >> Mike: SEE HERE IF HE PUTS A LEFT DOWN ON THE APRON. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK SO. NOT BAD ANYWAY. >> Larry: THE MINUTE THE 24 GOT TO THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, IT STARTED SUCKING IT AROUND. >> Darrell: YEAH. GETS HIM LOOSE AND HE STARTS JUKING THE WHEEL AND YOU GET BEHIND. >> Larry: A CLOSE CALL ON THE 18. HOW MANY OF THOSE HAS HE HAD THIS WEEK? HE'S HAD A BUNCH. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW. I LOVE IT. WISH THAT WHOLE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY WAS PAVED LIKE THAT RIGHT THERE. THE GRASS BACK THERE WILL CATCH YOU. SEE THE CAR GOT LOOSE. WHEN YOU SAY IT GOT DOWN ON HIS -- IT GOT LOOSE AND DIPPED DOWN. MAN, LOOK AT KYLE. ALLMENDINGER IS DOING ALL HE CAN. GET OFF TO A BREAK RIGHT HEREñ >> Krista: KENNY FRANCIS SAID MAKE SURE YOU'RE LOOSENED UP. IT'S BAN WHILE SINCE THEY STOPPED. >> Dick: FOUR TIRE STOP AND NO ADJUSTMENTS. >> THEY'LL ADD AIR TO LEFT REAR TIRE. >> TRACK BAR AND WEDGE FOR CLINT BOWYER TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE RACETRACK AS THE TEMPERATURES GO DOWN. FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. HESITATION AND HE'S AWAY! >> Mike: ELLIOTT SADLER GAINS TEN SPOTS. DAVID RAGAN GOT BLOCKED IN HIS PIT AND COULDN'T GET OUT. >> Larry: YOU SEE ELLIOTT SADLER, THE 19 CAR TOOK TWO TIRES ONLY. TWO RIGHT SIDES. >> Mike: 43, A.J. ALLMENDINGER FROM KYLE BUSCH'S CAR, GOES FOR A WILD RIDE. >> Mike: 55 LAPS TO GO. NUMBER 19, ELLIOTT SADLER IS THE LEADER. JEFF GORDON ELECTED THE FIRST PIT STALL. IN FRONT OF HIM, TRAVIS KVAPIL. GORDON HAS TO WHEEL IT AND DEAL IT TO GET OUT OF THE PIT. HERE IS CLINT BOWYER. >> Larry: REALLY GOT BOTTLED UP DOWN HERE NEAR THE EXIT OF PIT ROAD. YOU SEE HOW MUCH CARL EDWARDS HAD TO JUMP ON THE BINDERS TO THOUGHT THAT HE MAY HAVE GOTTEN IN THE BACK OF THE 33 A LITTLE BIT. >> Mike: BOWYER WILL RESTART SIXTH. EDWARDS SEVENTH. JEFF GORDON IS FIFTH. SECOND MARTIN TRUEX, AND THIRD IS KEVIN HARVICK, FOURTH KASEY KAHNE. 55 LAPS TO GO. THERE WILL BE ONE MORE PIT STOP BUT HERE WE GO, BACK UNDER GREEN. >> Larry: SATURDAY SAD HAS TAKEN THE OUTSIDE LINE AND PUTS KASEY KAHNE IN THE 9 ON THE OUTSIDE LINE. >> Darrell: THOSE CARS IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HOOKED UP SINCE THE START OF THE RACE. KASEY WAS UPSET WITH ELLIOTT BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T WORK WITH HIM EARLY IN THE DAY. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK TRYING TO PUSH HIS WAY TO AN OPENING TO GET IN FRONT OF MARTIN TRUEX. >> Darrell: I'M NOT SURE YOU'LL GET BY MARTIN TRUEX ALL THAT EASY. I'VE BEEN WATCHING IF CAR AND IT'S GOTTEN BETTER AND BETTER. >> Mike: YELLOW LINE. ABOVE THE YELLOW LINE. >> Larry: AS LONG AS HARVICK DID WHAT HE DID THERE, DID NOT ADVANCE HIS POSITION. THAT IS OUT OF BOUNDS. IF YOU ADVANCE YOUR POSITION IT WILL BRING YOU TO PIT ROAD FOR A PASS-THROUGH. >> Darrell: GREAT RUN BUT NOWHERE TO GO. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE YELLOW LINE RULE. THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY WENT TO THE BOTTOM AND GO THROUGH THE THIRD TURN. >> Larry: RUN OUT OF RACETRACK WHEN WE GOT THERE. >> Darrell: RUN OUT OF WRECKERS, TOO. >> Mike: 54 LAPS TO GO. WE GO CALIFORNIA DREAMING NEXT SUNDAY WITH NASCAR ON FOX. HERE IN DAYTONA, ELLIOTT SADLER WHO CAME WITHIN ONE GREEN FLAG LAP OF WINNING LAST YEAR'S 500 BEFORE THE RAIN CAME. AND MARTIN TRUEX IF HIS FIRST RIDE FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING IN THE TOYOTA. LOOK AT HARVICK GIVE TRUEX THE BUMP IN TURN THREE THAT PROPELS HIM IN FRONT OF THE FIELD. >> Darrell: THAT'S WHAT HE AND BOWYER WERE TRYING TO DO LAST TIME DOWN THROUGH THE WAY. RAN OUT OF ROOM. 9 CAR, WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM? >> Larry: HE WAS KICKED UP TO THE HIGH SIDE WITH NO PLACE TO GO AND WORKS HIS WAY BACK IN LINE BEHIND BRIAN VICKERS IN THE 83. >> Darrell: THE TRUEX FAMILY SHOULD BE STANDING UP AND CHEERING. NUMBER 56, NUMBER THAT MARTIN'S DAD RUN, FAMILY NUMBER. THAT'S WHY THEY SWAPPED, TOOK THE 55 AND GAVE HIM 56. CARRY ON A TRADITION, BABY. >> Mike: YEAH. BARNEY TRUEX IS MARTIN'S UNCLE. THIS IS MARTIN SENIOR WHO RACED UP IN THE NASCAR NORTH SERIES, BUSCH NORTH SERIES AND WON AT LAUDEN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND ELSEWHERE. MARTIN TRUEX DRIVING MICHAEL WALTRIP'S CAR TRYING TO KEEP IT IN FRONT OF ELLIOTT SADLER. >> Darrell: I WONDERED ABOUT THE COMBINATION OF PAT TRYSON AND MARTIN TRUEX JR., AND WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER. I THINK MY QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED. >> Mike: RECORD 52 DAYTONA 500s AND WE'VE NEVER HAD AS MANY DRIVERS LEAD THE RACE AS WE HAVE TODAY. >> Larry: WE STILL HAVE 25% OF THE RACE TO GO. >> Mike: THROUGH THE LONG SHADOWS OF TURN ONE, THE WEST END OF THE SPEEDWAY. DOWN THE BACK STRETCH AND HEADED FOR 31-DEGREE BANKING ON THE OCEAN SIDE OF THE TRACK, TURN THREE. >> Darrell: JUST WATCH THE CARS HOW THEY PICK UP SO MUCH SPEED DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT BIGGER RESTRICTOR-PLATE. THEY CAN REALLY, REALLY FLY DOWN THE BACK. >> Mike: TODAY, AS THURSDAY AND LAST SATURDAY NIGHT, THE 29 OF KEVIN HARVICK APPEARS TO HAVE THE MOST SPEED THAT HE IS ABLE TO CARRY AND KEEP IN TO TURN NUMBER THREE FROM THE BACKSTRETCH. >> Darrell: I THINK BOWYER, HIS TEAMMATE IS HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING UP WITH HIM. THAT KEVIN'S CAR HANDLES A LITTLE BIT BETTER. RIGHT AROUND THE BOTTOM. SEE HOW HE GAPS THE 33 CAR? >> Larry: ELLIOTT SADLER, THE 19, WHEN WE SAT UP IN THE COMMERCIAL BREAK AND QUESTIONED WHETHER TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES THE WAY TO GO? I THINK HE'S HAD HIS HANDS FULL WITH THE RACECAR AND I THINK HE REALLY HAS HIS HANDS FULL NOW. AGAINST ALL THESE CARS WITH FOUR FRESH TIRES. >> Mike: JUNIOR SHOVING THE 16 OF GREG BIFFLE. YOU SEE HOW HE LET OFF JUST BEFORE THEY GOT TO TURN THREE IN THE CORNER. >> Darrell: I THINK THAT WAS ABOUT 16 HANDSFUL THERE. >> Larry: IT LOOKED LIKE -- IT'S HARD TO DO WITH THE CARS BECAUSE THE BUMPERS MATCH, BUT THE 16 WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND FOR A MINUTE. >> Mike: THREE WIDE. >> Darrell: STAYED STRAIGHT. THAT'S THE MAIN THING. THE GUYS FINALLY REALIZED THE TRACK HAS THE GRIP BACK IN LIKE WE'VE SEEN IT ALL WEEK. THEY'RE GOING AFTER IT NOW. I KNEW THEY WOULD. >> Larry: I THINK SOMEONE ELSE REALIZED SOMETHING. 11 CAR. LOOK. ELLIOTT SADLER IS ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE 19. CAN'T FIND A PLACE TO GET NOW. >> Darrell: HE WILL GET WRECKED IF HE DOESN'T GET OUT OF THE WAY HERE. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE AND 17 OF MATT KENSETH ALMOST GOT TAKEN OUT IN THAT CORNER. >> Darrell: THERE IS NOT MUCH SUBSTITUTE HERE. HORSEPOWER, MAYBE. YOU SEE ELLIOTT? HE'S WAVING AND FLAGGING, GET AWAY FROM ME, LEAVE ME ALONE. >> Mike: MATT? >> Matt: ALREADY DROPPED OUT OF THE LEAD AND SAID IT WAS WAY TOO LOOSE. GOT BACK BUT THE CAR IS STILL WAY TOO LOUSE. HANGING ON, THE 19. >> Larry: WHEN YOU CHANGE JUST RIGHT-SIDE TIRES, SOMETIMES IT TIGHTENS THE CAR UP BUT SOMETIMES IT MAKES IT EVEN LOOSER. >> Mike: 48 LAPS TO GO, LARRY. HOW MANY MORE LAPS DO THEY HAVE TO RUN BEFORE THEY CAN MAKE THAT STOP UNDER GREEN THAT THEY NEED AND STILL MAKE IT TO THE FINISH WITHOUT STOPPING AGAIN? >> Larry: NORMALLY I'D SAY LAP 160 WITH 40 TO GO. BUT THINK BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH STEVE ADDINGTON. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE THREE ATTEMPTS AT GREEN/WHITE CHECKER SO YOU HAVE TO GET TO 164 TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. >> Darrell: I'M THINKING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE THREE ATTEMPTS AT GREEN/WHITE CHECKER. >> Larry: SOMEONE ELSE WE TALKED TO IN THE RED FLAG, LOOKS LIKE DENNY HAMLIN, THE 11 CAR, HIM AND HIS CREW CHIEF MIKE FORD CONCLUDED, BOYS, IT'S TIME TO GO. LOOK AT HIM ON THE HIGH SIDE BEHIND HIS TEAMMATE OF KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18. >> Mike: MONTOYA KICKED UPSTAIRS. >> Darrell: LOOKS LIKE THE 56 CAR DOESN'T HANDLE SO GOOD IF TRAFFIC. THAT'S WOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE. >> Mike: HARVICK SAID GET ME OUT FRONT AND I'M GONE. WE'LL SEE. BYE-BYE. TAKE A QUICK BREAK FROM DAYTONA AND GET A LOOK AT "SHUTTER ISLAND." A SUSPENSE THRILLER BROUGHT TO LIGHT THROUGH THE EYES OF THE VISIONARY DIRECTOR MARTIN >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 43 LAPS TO GO. IT'S BEEN 107 RACES SINCE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA'S, KEVIN HARVICK HAS BEEN IN VICTORY LANE IN A SPRINT CUP POINT RACE. THAT WAS THE DAYTONA 500 WHEN HE DROVE TO VICTORY HERE BEATING MARK MARTIN IN A WILD FINISH. HARVICK IS IN FRONT. MONTOYA IN SECOND. THE 42. GREG BIFFLE. CLINT BOWYER. CARL EDWARDS. >> Larry: ALL I KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT THE TOP EIGHT TO TEN RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT WE HAVE GUYS UP THERE THAT ARE WINLESS IN 2009 THAT WOULD LOVE TO START THE 2010 SEASON OFF WITH A WIN. >> Darrell: WHAT MAKES HARVICK SO GOOD, IT REMINDS ME OF DALE JR. WHEN HE WAS DOMINANT DOWN HERE. HE CAN RUN THE TURN. HE'S QUICKER THROUGH THE CORNER THAN THE GUYS BEHIND HIM. HE CAN GET JUST ENOUGH GAP ON THEM, THEY CAN BARELY CATCH UP TO HIM WHEN HE GETS DOWN HERE TO THE END OF THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Mike: EARNHARDT AND KYLE BUSCH ARE BACK IN PLAY, RUNNING EIGHTH AND NINTH. CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99, WINLESS LAST YEAR. HE'S SIXTH. OR SEVENTH, RATHER. WAS THAT CONTACT BETWEEN THE 6 OF RAGAN AND 48 OF JIMMIE JOHNSON? >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE 48. DON'T SEE TIRE SMOKE BUT I DON'T SEE ANY LETTERS ON THE TIRE EITHER. >> Larry: DO NEED TO MAKE NOTE THAT A.J. ALLMENDINGER THE 43 CAR, A CAR THAT LED THIS RACE BROUGHT OUT ONE OF THE LAST CAUTIONS. >> CAUTION. DON'T KNOW WHY. CAUTION. >> Mike: THE YELLOW IS OUT. WE BELIEVE THIS MAY BE AGAIN FOR THE ASPHALT BETWEEN TURN ONE AND TWO. ADJACENT TO OR THE SAME AREA WHERE THE PATCH WAS PUT DOWN BEFORE. KEVIN HARVICK LEADING, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, SECOND. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT THE RUNDOWN AND AWAIT FURTHER WORD. YOU'RE WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >>> TODAY'S AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. >> Mike: NASCAR OFFICIALS AND TRACK WORKERS ARE GOING TO TAKE A RIDE OUT TO TURNS ONE AND TWO AND HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ASPHALT OUT THERE. WE'LL SHOW YOU VIDEO WHEN WE COME BACK. YOU'RE WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500. THIS IS NASCAR ON FOX. >> Mike: 39 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. NEXT SUNDAY, NASCAR ON FOX MOVES TO FONTANA, CALIFORNIA. MATT KENSETH IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THE AUTO CLUB 500 PRESENTED BY NAPA AUTO PARTS. NEXT SUNDAY, 2:00 P.M. EASTERN. 11:00 PACIFIC IN HIGH DEFINITION. RIGHT HERE ON FOX. FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY, THE FIELD HAS BEEN BROUGHT DOWN PIT ROAD, STOPPED BEHIND THE FORD MUSTANG G.T. PACE CAR. NASCAR OFFICIAL AT EACH CAR AND THEY'VE GONE OUT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF TURN ONE AND TWO. AS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE A PATCH IN ASPHALT, IT'S THE ADJACENT ASPHALT THAT GOES FIRST. YOU SEE THE SEAM BEGINNING TO BREAK UP. AND ONCE IT DOES, WHAT SURROUNDS THAT PATCH IS GOING TO WORK ITS WAY APART. ALL THAT AGGREGATE COMES DOWN THE BANKING AND JUST RAISES HAVOC. NOW WE'RE TOLD BY NASCAR THAT DURING THE 36 LAPS OF RACING THAT WE'VE JUST HAD, THEY'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FOLKS ON THE GROUNDS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ASPHALT AND JUST IN CASE THIS SITUATION DID RECUR. THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PATCHING MATERIAL THAT THEY ARE GOING TO USE. SOMETHING THEY HOPE IS DURABLE ENOUGH TO HOLD UP TO THE 39 LAPS THAT WE HAVE LEFT TO RUN. >> Darrell: I APPLAUD THESE GUYS. NASCAR GUYS. THEY'RE WATCHING OUT FOR THE DRIVERS. WHEN THIS THING GETS TOO BAD, IF IT COMES APART LIKE THAT, THEY STOP THE RACE, TRY TO FIX IT. YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT. WE HAVE DON'T WANT TO GET ANYBODY CUTTING DOWN A TIRE AND HAVING A BAD ACCIDENT. >> Mike: SO ONCE AGAIN, DRIVERS ARE OUT OF THEIR CARS TO WATCH AROUND. KEVIN HARVICK IS YOUR LEADER. WITH 39 LAPS TO GO. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA TRYING TO WIN HIS FIRST NASCAR OVAL RACE. CLINT BOWYER IN THE 33. THERE IS HARVICK. HAPPY HARVICK, THEY'VE CALLED HIM. AND HE CERTAINLY HAS A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE RIGHT NOW AS HE IS THE LEADER. BUT WE EXPECT THIS RACE, THE TRACK TO BE REPAIRED AND THE RACE TO RESTART AS THE DRIVERS TALK IT OVER. >> Darrell: JEFF GORDON IS EXPLAINING TO DALE JR. ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAN, I CAME THAT CLOSE TO WRECKING. AND THE CAR IS PORPOISING. THAT'S ONE THING I NOTICED HE WAS SAYING AND IT GETS LOOSE ON HIM. HE CAME THAT CLOSE TO WRECKING. THE DRIVERS, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, WATCH THEIR HANDS. THEY EXPLAIN IT. CARL ON THE OTHER HAND. PRETTY CONTENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mike: IN EIGHTH PLACE, CARL EDWARDS. >> Larry: LAST FEW LAPS, JEFF GORDON AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAVE BEEN RUNNING NOSE TO TAIL WITH EACH OTHER. WHATEVER THEY'RE DESCRIBING, THEY WERE DESCRIBING IT, SEEING IT FOR THEMSELVES. >> Darrell: MARK IS SAYING I'M GOOD ON ONE END OF THE TRACK. I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM ON THE OTHER. BURTON SAYS I'M ABOUT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. JUNIOR IS GOING TO JOIN IN WITH SOME OF HIS -- HE'S PROBABLY GOT A GOOD THEORY. >> Larry: MAYBE DOING MORE TRIVIA WITH THEM. >> Darrell: MIGHT BE. BASEBALL STUFF. SAME THING. MARK SAYS TALK ALL YOU WANT. I'M GOING. >> Mike: CHRIS AND JEFF? >> Chris: AMAZING HOW THE COMPETITORS SIT AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. SO FAR, THE TRACK IS WINNING AT DAYTONA. SECOND RED FLAG, PATIENCE TESTED. FIRST CAUTION CAME OUT SEEMS LIKE DAYS AGO. TIRE PROBLEM FOR BRAD KESELOWSKI. SIX CARS INVOLVED IN THIS EARLY WRECK. WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF FIVE CAUTIONS IN THE RACE. DALE EARNHARDT JR. WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE LEAD. HE ACTUALLY LED FOR FOUR LAPS. THIS WAS EARLY. KURT BUSCH LED SOME 33 LAPS. THREE TIMES HE FINISHED SECOND AT THE DAYTONA 500. JIMMIE JOHNSON, GOING FOR A FIFTH STRAIGHT NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, STARTING IN MARCH HAS BEEN AS HIGH AS SECOND. WE HAD FIRST DELAY IN ASPHALT IN TURN ONE AND TWO, THE TRACK REPAIR TOOK AN HOUR AND 41 MINUTES. ONCE WE GOT BACK TO RACING, MIKE EXPLAINED MOMENTS AGO THE TRACK HAD PROBLEMS, CAUSING A RED FLAG PRIOR TO THAT. A.J. ALLMENDINGER WHO LED 11 LAPS IN THIS RACE AND WAS A TOP FIVE FINISHER LAST YEAR IN THE 500 HAVING PROBLEMS, SPINNING OUT. WE HAVE HAD 19 LEADERS, A RECORD FOR THE DAYTONA 500. 18, THE PREVIOUS RECORD IN 2006. LAST YEAR, WE HAD ONLY NINE LEAD CHANGES. WE'VE ALREADY HAD 44 LEAD CHANGES, SO THE RACING BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE DRIVERS. LET'S CHECK IN WITH ONE DRIVER STANDING BY WITH OUR STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: THAT WOULD BE THE RACE LEADER KEVIN HARVICK. KEVIN, DESCRIBE FOR THE FANS AT HOME, HOW BIG IS THE HOLE AND HOW BAD OF A SITUATION IS IT? >> THE HOLE IS PROBABLY ABOUT THAT BIG. THE PROBLEM IS IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES SO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THERE AND HIT IT WRONG, THE JACK POST AND EVERYTHING HITS. THE 33 SPLITTER BROKE OFF. EVERYBODY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON THE SHELL PENNZOIL CHEVY. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THE 39 LAPS IN. >> Steve: I'M SURE IT WON'T BREAK YOUR HEART TO FINISH THIS RACE. >> I WANT TO FINISH THE RACE. EVERYBODY MAY GO SOUR BUT I'D LOVE TO FINISH IT. >> Steve: THE FANS WOULD TOO. THANK YOU, KEVIN. MATT? >> Matt: CATCHING UP WITH GIBBS TEAMMATES, KYLE BUSCH AND DENNY HAMLIN. YOU TWO WERE DESCRIBING FOR EACH OTHER HE WAS HITTING THE HOLE. >> I HAVE DIDN'T KNOW IT. HE SAYS I WAS. >> I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS OR NOT. HE WAS BEHIND ME ON THE TOP. BUT THE HOLE IS GETTING -- THIS IS A BAD PREDICAMENT TO BE IN, ALL OF US, NASCAR AND EVERYBODY. UNFORTUNATE FOR THE FANS. THEY WANT TO SEE A GREAT RACE. IT'S BEEN A GREAT RACE ALL DAY. BUT THIS ISN'T ANY FUN HAVING TO WAIT AROUND AND TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS DEAL. BUT WE'LL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. >> Matt: YOU CAN SEE IT COME APART EVERY LAP? >> IT STAYED REALLY GOOD FOR 15, 18 LAPS, THEN YOU COULD SEE A CHUNK FLYING OFF SOME OF THE LEADER CARS. THE 29 AND THE 33, THE GUYS RUNNING THE BOTTOM, YOU KIND OF SEE LITTLE PIECES GOING. FIVE LAPS AGO, I SAW IT. I SAW IT START TO DEVELOP. AND THEN FIVE LAPS LATER, BACK TO THE SAME OLD HOLE AGAIN. WE GOT, WHAT WAS IT? 78 TO GO, NOW THERE'S 40 TO GO SO WE HAVE 38 LAPS ON IT OR WHATEVER. WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY DO. >> Matt: MIKE FORD MADE A BIG SWING ON YOUR CAR, TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT, YOU'VE COME TO LIFE. >> THAT'S JUST DENNY HAMLIN. THAT IS DENNY HAMLIN! >> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. NO, TO BE HONEST. THE CAR IS NOT THAT MUCH BETTER. I JUST TAKEN, YOU KNOW, BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE. MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW -- IT'S TOUGH TO SAY WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE, AT THE RIGHT TIME. I TALKED TO DICK ABOUT THIS EARLIER. AND I DON'T KNOW. ALL I KNOW IS THE FURTHER FORWARD I GO, MAYBE THE LESS CHANCE I'LL GET IN THE WRECK IF IT DOES HAPPEN. YEAH, OUR CAR IS NOT BAD. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE PAST. >> Matt: YOU DO A LOT FOR THE FANS. LAST NIGHT ON YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT YOU WERE GIVING AWAY TICKETS TO THE DAYTONA 500 WITH TRIVIA QUESTIONS. >> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT A WEEKLY DEAL. I'LL START DOING IT ON THURSDAY, THAT WAY PEOPLE FROM FAR AWAY CAN FLY IN. BUT GAVE AWAY FOUR TICKETS FOR THE DAYTONA 500. AND HAD SOME TRIVIA QUESTIONS, ANSWER TO ONE WAS MAITAI AND THE OTHER WAS GERALD WALLACE. I ENJOY DOING IT. FUN TO SEE REACTION OF THE FANS AND EVERYONE GETTING GOOGLE READY AT 10:00 WHEN THE TRIVIA STARTS. >> GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE RACE. KRISTA? >> Krista: MATT, DOWN WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. JIMMIE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TRACK AND THE RACECAR. HOW IS IT? HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE BOTTOM? WHAT DID YOU SEE? >> I REALLY DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL THE CAUTION CAME OUT. THEN I DROVE BY AND I COULD SEE THE HOLE AGAIN. MY CAR IS CRASHING ON THE GROUND REALLY HARD. THE SWELLS ARE SO BIG, THE MOUNT AND JACK IS SMASHING ON THE GROUND AND PULLING THE ASPHALT OUT. GOT US ON THE FIRST ONE, GOT A FLAT FROM THAT, BUT THIS ONE DIDN'T SEEM TO HURT US. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET IT FIXED A FINISH UNDER GREEN. >> Krista: I CAME DOWN HERE AND TALKING TO YOUR TEAMMATE DALE JR. AND JEFF GORDON. ARE YOU THROWING YOUR HANDS UP AND CAN IT LAST FOR 39 LAPS? >> THAT'S IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS. GUYS BACK HERE, I'M NOT IN THE TOP TEN. WE HAVE WANT TO SEE A LONG GREEN FLAG RUN TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK OUR WAY TO THE FRONT. WITH THE COOLER TEMPERATURES TAN SHORT RUNS, THEY'RE STALLING OUT. WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT WE COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE, SITTING THERE TWO-BY-TWO. WE NEED A LONG RUN. I KNOW MY LOWE'S IMPALA CAN GO TO THE FRONT IF WE GET LAPS ON THE TIRE. >> Krista: WE SAW ONE DRIVER WHO IS HAPPY, A BIG SMILE REGARDLESS. >> HARVICK WALKS BY AND I ASKED IF HE FELT LIKE HE SHOULD CALL IT? HE SMILED BIGGER. ONE GUY WANTS IT OVER. >> SEE WHO DICK CAUGHT UP WITH. >> Dick: TALKING TO DAVID RAGAN WHO HAS TAKEN A CHANCE FOR PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH, BANANA AND SOFT DRINK AS WELL. >> COCA-COLA AND PB&J. BUT WITHOUT JELLY. THEY GYPED ME ON THE JELLY. I WANT TO FINISH THIS THING. U.P.S. FORD IS FAST. WE BOXED IN THE LAST PIT STOP AND LOST A FEW SPOTS AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE OUR WAY BACK UP, ALMOST TO THE FRONT. IT CAN SEE IT AT LEAST. YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH TO GET GOING AND GET BACK IN THE RHYTHM. THEN WE STOPPED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. APPRECIATE THE FANS HANGING OUT AND STAYING TUNED IN. THE U.P.S. FORD IS FAST. READY FOR THE FINAL FEW LAPS. >> Dick: NEVER WON A SPRINT CUP RACE. SIX PEOPLE WON THEIR FIRST SPRINT CUP RACE IN THE DAYTONA 500. CAN YOU SMELL IT COMING FOR DAVID RAGAN? >> ABSOLUTELY! WE CAN WIN. WE'VE GOT A TEAM AND A CAR THAT CAN WIN. IT'S A MATTER OF BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. WE NEED TO GET UP THERE TO TOP FIVE OR TOP TEN FOR THE LAST 10 OR 15 LAPS. WE'VE SHOWN WE'RE BETTER ON THE LONGER RUNS. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THE PATCH FOR GOOD THIS TIME. GO RACING. OR LEAVE IT BROKE DOWN OR WHATEVER AND WE'LL RACE AROUND IT. >> Dick: CAN YOU DO THAT? >> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT RIGHT NOW. AS WE CROSS OVER IT, IT'S CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU WERE TO CUT A TIRE DOWN, THAT WOULDN'T LOOK GOOD. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET IT FIXED UP OR PUT A CONE OVER IT OR SOMETHING, SAY JUST DON'T KNOCK DOWN THE CONE. GO RACING. >> Dick: FINISH YOUR PB&J, BUT ONLY "P." >> Steve: CARL EDWARDS AND ROBBY GORDON CHATTING. KEVIN HARVICK I THINK EXPRESSED IT THE BEST. WE WANT TO GO TO THE END. HE SAID I WANT TO WIN IT, 500 MILES. A TOUGH SITUATION FOR NASCAR. >> IT IS. NOBODY WANTS IT TO HAPPEN. JUST TALKING TO ROBBY GORDON. IN THE DESERT TRUCK THEY GO AROUND ROCKS AND CACTUS. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, THE HOLE IS NOT MOVING. WE ALL KNOW IT'S THERE. WISH WE COULD RACE AND DRIVE AROUND IT. I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH PIECES COMING UP AND COMING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, A WINDSHIELD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT REALLY, THAT'S NOT THE HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD TO MISS OUT THERE. THEY GOT IT PATCHED UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH IT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES. IT'S UNFORTUNATE. HOPEFULLY WE'LL FINISH UNDER THE GREEN. IT'S THE DAYTONA 500. I MEAN WHOEVER WINS IT, THAT'S HOW THEY WANT TO WIN IT AND WHAT THE FANS WANT TO SEE. >> A GREAT RACE SO FAR. THANK YOU, CARL. BACK TO THE HOTEL. >> Chris: IT HAS BEEN AN ENTERTAINING RACE. YOU HAVE TO FINISH THE RACE. WE SAID THE TRACK IS WINNING AGAINST THE DRIVERS, YOUR SPLITTER GETTING BEAT UP. >> Jeff: I TOLD YOU EARLIER AS FAR AS THE PRE-RACE IS CONCERNED. DAYTONA IS A LION. IF YOU DON'T TAME IT, IT WILL TAKE A BITE OUT OF YOU. THAT'S WHAT IT HAS DONE TO THE CHEERIOS CAR, THE FRONT SPLITTER. THEY NEED TO FIX IT OR THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO DRIVE THAT WAY. >> Chris: IT'S DINNER TIME IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. JEFF HAMMOND, CHRIS MYERS. THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US. NASCAR ON FOX, 52nd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. MAYBE GET THE SHAMWOW GUY TO SMOOTH OVER THE SPOT AND LET THEM RACE. THEY'RE GOING TO FINISH, RIGHT? >> Jeff: I THINK THEY'LL FINISH. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON THE RACE. I KNOW DRIVERS WON'T GIVE UP ON NASCAR. TOUGHEST THING TO STOP AND START AND START AND STOP. BUT THERE IS A GUY RIGHT THERE TALKING TO KYLE BUSCH, RICHARD CHILDRESS, OWNER OF THE GUY OUT FRONT. HE WANTS TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 FOR THE THIRD TIME. HE WANTS TO WIN IT RACING JUST LIKE HIS DRIVER. >> Chris: WE ONLY HAVE 15 MINUTES OF DAYLIGHT LET -- >> Jeff: BUT WE HAVE LIGHTS! >> Chris: BUT IT WOULD EFFECT THINGS. HARVICK LED THE MOST LAPS. IN HIS PREVIOUS EIGHT DAYTONA 500s, HE ONLY LED 15 TOTAL LAPS. THERE IS KEVIN AND OF COURSE HE HAS A DAYTONA 500 VICTORY. YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION. YOU WATCHED COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE IN THE FIRST RED FLAG, THE BREAK. HOW CERTAIN DRIVERS ADJUSTED AND MANEUVERED. >> Jeff: I WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT MARK MARTIN WOULD MAKE A MARCH TO THE FRONT. HE STILL HUNG BACK IN 22nd. IT ALSO SEE TONY STEWART AND MATT KENSETH WHO MADE BIG CHANGES TO THE RACECAR, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE WAY UP THROUGH THERE. I WONDER MAYBE IF AGAIN, IS THE BREAK GOING TO GIVE SOMEONE LIKE TONY AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE LAST ADJUSTMENT. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MAKING A BIG SWING. CAN THEY GET IT FINE TUNED IN THERE TO MAKE IT WORK? >> Chris: YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW HOW A PIT CREW IS IMPORTANT HELPING ASSISTING A TEAM. ANYBODY JUMPING OUT SO FAR, BECAUSE YOU CAN VOTE FOR THE FASTEST PIT CREW. TEXT YOUR SELECTION TO 2258, DELIVERED BY AT&T. THE NATION'S FASTEST 3G NETWORK. >> Jeff: YOU TAKE A LOOK RIGHT NOW, THE LEADER KEVIN HARVICK, NUMBER 29 PIT CREW, THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING FLAWLESSLY ALL DAY LONG AND GAVE SOLID PIT STOPS. NOT ALWAYS THE FASTEST BUT KEEPING HIM UP TOWARD THE FRONT SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO RACE A LOT OF RACECARS. KASEY KAHNE'S GUYING DOING THE SAME THING. SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S GUY ON THE 42 HAVE BEEN SMART ALSO. >> Chris: LAST YEAR WAS A RAIN-SHORTENED DAYTONA 500. HERE IT'S JUST BEEN INTERRUPTED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THE TRACK. AND RAIN FROM LAST YEAR. WE HAD THE LEAD CHANGES, WE HAD DIFFERENT LEADERS, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE KIND OF WRECKS OR CASHES WE HAD LEADING UP TO THIS RACE THROUGH SPEED WEEKS. BUT, OF COURSE, OVER THE LAST FEW LAPS THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY GOES FOR. >> Jeff: WE'RE NOT DONE YET, BUDDY. I HATE TO TELL YOU, THE DAYTONA 500 IS A FEW LAPS AWAY AND THINGS ARE GOING TO GET READY TO BE PUSHING AND SHOVING TIME. WE'VE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS THAT GOT REAL, REAL CLOSE. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE 17 GROUP. I THINK THEY'RE GETTING READY TO MAKE MAJOR CHANGES, DRILLS UP ON PIT WALL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S LOOKING DIFFERENT. THE MAIN GOAL OF ALL THE CREWS UP AND DOWN PIT ROAD, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS IS GET TO VICTORY LANE RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. BEEN THERE ONE TIME. I LIKE IT OVER THERE. >> Chris: CONGRATULATIONS AS A CREW CHIEF. KEVIN HARVICK TRYING TO BREAK THE STREAK OF EIGHT WINNERS IN THE LAST DAYTONA 500s HAVING WON IN 2007. HERE IS THE SUMMARY SO FAR. 161 THROUGH THE 200 LAPS. THE DAYTONA 500 FELT LIKE 500 HOURS FOR SOME. BUT THE 200,000 PEOPLE, NOBODY HAS LEFT AND THEY'VE SEEN EXCITING RACING. NOT TOO MANY CAUTIONS. THE RECORD NUMBER OF LEADERS. AND PART OF THAT, ELLIOTT SADLER WHO HAS BEEN A RUNNER-UP HERE BEFORE AND HAS COMPETED. JOIN ELLIOTT SADLER, HE IS STANDING BY WITH DICK BERGGREN. >> Dick: YOU WERE UP FRONT AND DICING FOR LEAD BUT THEN YOU SLID BACK. SHE LOOSE? >> GOT LOOSE. TAPE ON THE FRONT GRILL AND CREATED DOWNFORCE THAT MADE THE CAR SO LOOSE WE COULDN'T HANG ON. THEN IT OVERHEATED. NOT GOING TO RUN LONG WITH IT OVERHEATING LIKE THAT. SO WE DROP TO THE BACK TRYING TO GET FRESH AIR TO GET TO THE NEXT CAUTION. WE GOT TO COME IN NOW, PUT WATER TO IT. MAKE SURE THE GRILL IS GOOD AND CLEAN AND GO FOR IT AT THE END. THIS RACE IS FAR FROM OVER. A LOT OF STUFF IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE LAST 39 LAPS. >> Dick: ALMOST WON THE DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR. JUST GOT PASSED AT THE TAIL END AND THEN THE RAIN CAME. BUT YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO RUN UP FRONT HERE. WHY IS THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW. I LEARNED A LOT FROM DALE JARRETT HERE, AND HE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THE RACETRACK AND WHERE YOUR CAR NEEDS TO BE GOOD TO MAKE PASSES. WE HAD A DREAM RACE GOING FOR THE FIRST 130, 40 LAPS UNTIL THE STUFF GOT ON THE GRILL. WE RUN IN THE TOP FIVE, TOP TEN ALL DAY LONG. WE'RE IN A HOLE RIGHT NOW. STANLEY TEAM IS GOING TO DIG OUT OF IT. WE GOT A FEW THINGS TO FIX AND PREPARE. WE'RE NOT OUT OF IT. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. IT'S GOING TO GET WILD AND TWO AND THREE-WIDE. I THINK STILL THE BEST IS YET TO COME FOR THE DAYTONA >> Dick: YOU GOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANOTHER PIT STOP. GO TO MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: CATCHING UP WITH JEFF BURTON, DRIVER OF THE 31. THE CONDITIONS ARE, THE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING DOWN, THE HTS COME ON. YOU PREFER THIS OR PREFER TO HAVE IT WARMER WITH THE SUN OUT AND SLICK? >> BASED ON THAT RUN, WE WENT THE WRONG WAY. I THINK SLICK WAS BETTER. BUT WE JUST HADN'T, YOU KNOW, WE GOT UP TO 12th OR SO. AND THE 48 AND THE 6 PILED UP TOGETHER OFF OF TWO. THAT BACKED US UP. A FEW LAPS BEFORE THAT, JUNIOR HIT THAT HOLE. I MEAN HE SLOWED DOWN TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. YOU KNOW, SO WE WERE ON THE BOTTOM OF THAT, AND LOST A LOT OF SPOTS. THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. CONDITIONS ARE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO MAKE DO IT WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO. >> YOU WON AT DARLINGTON AND THE JULY RACE. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO WIN THIS RACE? >> THIS IS A HUGE RACE. THIS IS THE HISTORY OF OUR SPORT RIGHT HERE. THE HERITAGE OF OUR SPORT RIGHT HERE. THIS IS IT. I'VE RUN A LOT OF THESE AND NEVER WON ONE. TWO THINGS I WANT TO GET DONE IS WIN THIS RACE AND WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. IT WORKED HARD TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. WE'RE HERE IT'S TIME TO MAKE IT -- IT'S HARD TO DO IT FROM WHERE WE ARE. HARD TO PASS TO DOUBLE UP, NOWHERE TO GO. BUT WE'LL GET ONE LONG RUN. THAT'S OUR BEST SHOT. >> THANK YOU, JEFF. KRISTA? >> Krista: WELL, MATT, DAVID REUTIMANN KNOWS ALL ABOUT WAITING IT OUT FOR A RACE DECISION. THAT HAPPENED IN THE COKE 600, HIS FIRST CAREER SPRINT CUP WIN. YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING THEORY. ALL THE DIRT TRACK RACERS SHOULD HAVE AN ADVANTAGE RIGHT NOW. WHY IS THAT? >> ANYTIME YOU RACE DIRT TRACK, IF THERE IS A HOLE YOU DRIVE AROUND IT. THAT'S THAT THEORY. OF COURSE, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING 180 MILES PER HOUR THERE. DIRT TRACK. WE HAVE A GOOD AARON'S DREAM MACHINE. IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR EVERYBODY THAT, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH RAIN AS WE HAD AND THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND STUFF, SOMETIMES STUFF LIKE THAT HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T RUN THERE. IF IT WAS IN A DIFFERENT SPOT IN THE RACETRACK, PROBABLY WOULDN'T A BIG DEAL. RIGHT WHERE THE RIGHT-SIDE TIRES IF YOU'RE RUNNING ON THE RACETRACK AND RUN THROUGH THERE. RUNNING ON TOP OF THE THE RACETRACK ANYWAY, SO IT DOESN'T AFFECT US TOO BAD. IF YOU RUN ON THE BOTTOM, I IMAGINE IT'S HAIRY. >> Krista: GOOD REASON TO STAY UP TOP. THANK YOU, DAVID. TO CHRIS. >> Chris: DAVID REUTIMANN, HIS FOURTH DAYTONA 500. CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE TRACK BETWEEN TURNS ONE AND. TWO TRYING SOMETHING MIKE JOY EXPLAINED AFTER THE FIRST TIME AROUND THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY THINK WILL DO THE JOB TO COMPLETE THE LAST 39 LAPS. >> Jeff: IT LOOKED TO ME, A QUICK LOOK AT IT. IT LOOKED MORE LIKE AN APOXY MIX RATHER THAN ASPHALT THEY TRIED TO PUT BACK IN EARLIER. >> Chris: KEVIN HARVICK THE LEADER, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND CLINT BOWYER. YOU'RE WATCHING DAYTONA 500 COVERAGE LIVE FROM DAYTONA. >>> GREEN. >> GREEN. >> GREEN FLAG. >> STOP. STOP. STOP. >> THIS IS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. >> IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR. >> THE CORNER, COME DOWN A LITTLE NICE AND EASY. PICK IT UP. CALM. YOU'RE STILL GOOD. >> THAT WAS NICE AND EASY. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: 19 LEADERS, 44 LEAD CHANGES FIVE CAUTIONS. THE TWO RED FLAGS, AS THE SUN IS SETTING ON DAYTONA BEACH. WE HAVE 39 LAPS TO GO. FOR KEVIN HARVICK, THAT COULD BE A LONG WAIT. BECAUSE ONLY EIGHT DRIVERS HAVE WON MORE THAN ONE DAYTONA 500. HE'S TRYING TO GO IN THE HISTORY BOOKS AND MAKE IT NUMBER NINE. >> Jeff: WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS KEVIN HARVICK AND CLINT BOWYER CONCERNED, RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING IS DEFINITELY STEPPING UP THE PROGRAM SINCE LAST YEAR. THE COOL THING MAY BE THE LAST TIME THEY WON A DAYTONA 500, THEY WERE A THREE-TEAM ORGANIZATION. THIS YEAR, THEY'RE A THREE-TEAM ORGANIZATION. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO PAY DIVIDENDS. >> Chris: LET'S BRING IN LARRY, DARRELL, MIKE FROM THE BOOTH AND GET THEIR THOUGHTS AS WE PREPARE THE TRACK AND AWAIT THE FINAL MOMENTS OF RACE. >> Mike: JUST UNDER 40 LAPS TO GO AND PROBABLY BE 35 A WHEN WE GET BACK TO GREEN. THAT WOULD BE A FUEL RUN AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PAVEMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING NO ONE COULD ANTICIPATE AS THE CONDITION OF THE ASPHALT AFTER THE TORRENTIAL RAINS AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE SEAMS AND THE VARIOUS COURSES OF PAVEMENT. THOSE OF YOU THAT LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND WITHSTAND FROST HEAVES OF WINTER KNOW WHEN IT STARTS TO BREAK UP, IT KEEP DOING THAT, UNLESS DRASTIC MEASURES ARE TAKEN. THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET US A RACEABLE SURFACE AND GET US THROUGH THE REST OF THIS EVENT. >> Darrell: WHAT I'M PROUD OF, I'M PROUD OF MY DRIVER BUDDIES. WE HAVE INTERVIEWED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM, ALMOST ALL OF THEM AND NOBODY SAID WE NEED TO CALL THIS AND GET OUT OF IT. EVERY ONE OF THE GUYS WANT TO FINISH THE RACE. THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500. WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE WITH THE RACE, WITH LAPS TO BE RUN. I APPLAUD THE GUYS DOWN THERE IN THE PITS, THE DRIVERS. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HANG IN HERE AND GET THE TRACK FIXED. LET'S FINISH IT UP GREEN AND GIVE THE FANS WHAT THEY CAME TO SEE. IF WE GET TO DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH, I PROMISE. >> Mike: LARRY, WHEN THEY DROP THE GREEN FLAG NOT KNOWING HOW FAR WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN, THIS COULD BE KATIE, BAR THE DOOR. >> Larry: I THINK ONCE WE GET BACK GOING -- AND WE WILL GET BACK GOING. THEY'LL OPEN PIT ROAD, AND FOR THE MOST PART EVERYONE WILL HIT PIT ROAD AND GET FOUR TIRES AND FILL IT UP WITH SUNOCO RACE FUEL. SO EVEN IF WE HAVE THE THREE ATTEMPTS AT THE GREEN/WHITE CHECKERED, BUT THE CREW CHIEFS KNOW -- THIS IS IN THEIR MIND NOW -- THIS COULD BE THEIR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT. TRACK KEEPS COOLING DOWN. >> Mike: REPAIRS CONTINUE IN TURN ONE AND TWO. CARS ARE STOPPED ALONG PIT ROAD. THE DRIVERS ARE OUT. GO DOWNSTAIRS AND GET COMMENTS. >> Dick: WITH MARTIN TRUEX. YOU HAVE RUN UP FRONT ALL DAY LONG. ARE YOU GOING TO WIN THIS RACE? >> WE'RE GOING TO DRY. CAN'T PROMISE YOU GIG. NAPA TOYOTA HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD. WE HAD A STRANGE WEEK HERE. WE CAME HERE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF SPEED. AS THE WEEK HAS GONE ON AND HANDLING HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUE FOR GUYS, OUR CAR SEEMS TO KEEP GETTING BETTER. WE'RE UP FRONT BECAUSE OUR CAR HANDLES GOOD. NOT THE FASTEST THING OUT THERE, BUT WE CAN HANG ON TO ANYTHING OUT THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, STAY ON THE BOTTOM OR THE TOP OR ALONG THE SAME LINE. BEEN A LOT OF FUN. THE RACE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY EXCITING AND A LOT OF FUN TO RACE IN. GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OUT HERE. EVERYBODY IS KEEPING THEIR HEAD SCREWED ON. IT'S BEEN FUN AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THE REST OF IT IN AND HAVE A SHOT TO GET THE NAPA TOYOTA IN VICTORY LANE. >> Dick: I'VE BEEN AROUND THE SPORT IN A LONG TIME AND EVERYTHING I HEARD OR REA THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR DRIVER AND CREW CHIEF TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND TEAM TO GEL. YOU'RE WITH A BRAND NEW TEAM AND RUNNING UP FRONT IN OF ALL THINGS THE DAYTONA 500. HOW COME? >> THEY'VE GIVEN ME A GREAT CAR. PAT DOES A GREAT JOB AND ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM SO FAR. THROUGH THE OFF-SEASON TESTING AND TALKING ABOUT RACECARS AND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, WE HAVE CLICKED AND HIT IT OFF. HE HAS A GREAT PERSONALITY AND HE'S EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. I CAN PRETTY MUCH GET ALONG WITH ANYBODY. HE BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE WITH HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS SUCCESS. WE'VE HAD A REAL LAID BACK FUN WEEK. THINGS HAVE GONE WELL FOR US. YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO HIM AND THE GUYS AND PIT CREW. THE GUYS ON PIT ROAD HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM. IT'S FUN TO DRIVE THE TOYOTA. HOPEFULLY LIKE I SAY WE CAN STICK AROUND AND HANG AROUND UP FRONT UNTIL TWO OR THREE TO GO AND HOPEFULLY BE IN THE RIGHT SPOT TO MAKE A MOVE. >> Dick: CHECKER IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY. >> Krista: DALE JR. AND I ARE DOWN HERE FREEZING TALKING ABOUT HOW COLD IT IS. I KNOW HE WANTS TO GET IT GOING. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE TEAMED UP WITH YOUR TEAMMATE JEFF GORDON. CAN YOU TAKE YOUR CARS TO THE FRONT? >> PROBABLY HAVE TO GET THERE SEPARATELY, BUT THE WAY THE CARS ARE HANDLING, THERE IS REALLY NO WORKING WITH ANYBODY. YOU JUST TRY TO MAKE THE MOVES YOU CAN MAKE TO GET YOU TO THE FRONT. WE WERE MOVING FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, THE LAST COUPLE OF RUNS. FEEL LIKE WE MADE THE CAR A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE RACE STARTED HERE AND GET THIS THING FINISHED. >> Krista: A LOT OF FOLKS AT HOME WATCHING US ARE ALL SNOWED IN, UP IN THE D.C. AREA WITH THE REDSKINS, IN LIKE THREE FEET OF SNOW. ONE THING THEY CAN DO, THEY CAN GET AMPED UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE A NEW WEBSITE OUT. AMPED UP WEB SITE. >> AMPUPTHE88.COM. NEW WEBSITE AMP STARTED. WE'RE DOING A LIVE CHAT, I HAVEN'T DONE ONE OF THOSE IN A LONG, LONG TIME. NEXT WEDNESDAY. IT SHOULD BE FUN. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES. TRYING TO GET THE AMP ENERGY, NATIONAL GUARD CAR UP FRONT. WE MADE A COME OF CHANGES AND STILL NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE EXACTLY TO GET UP THERE. AN CHALLENGE FOR THE WIN. >> Krista: NOT A LOT OF RACING, ONLY 39 LAPS TO FIND IT. IT WILL BE FUN WHEN IT GETS GOING GREEN. STEVE? >> Steve: HANGING OUT WITH KASEY KAHNE, JUST TALKING TO HIS CREW CHIEF KENNY FRANCIS. DARRELL WALTRIP MENTIONED IT. EVERY DRIVER SAID WE WANT TO RACE TO THE END AND GO 500 MILES. >> I DO. I HAVE -- I JUST DON'T WANT THE 500 TO END RIGHT NOW. THE -- EVERYTHING, IT'S BEEN A GREAT RACE. IT'S BEEN EXCITING. A LOT OF ACTION. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE TRACK FIXED AND RUN THE LAST 40 LAPS. PLUS, I FELL BACK A LITTLE BIT. I NEED TO WORK MY WAY BACK UP THERE. >> Steve: I IMAGINE IT'S FUN HORSEPOWER YOU HAVE UNDER THE HOOD. LOOKS STEAMY. >> FEELS GREAT. THE BUDWEISER FORD, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN REALLY QUICK ALL WEEK. I HUNG JEFF OUT, SO HE HUNG ME OUT NEXT TIME HE GOT TO ME. I THINK NOW WE'RE EVEN AND MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. WE'LL SEE. >> Steve: GOOD LUCK, KASEY. MATT? >> Matt: LAST TIME WE CAUGHT UP WITH CLINT BOWYER, HE WAS LEADING THE FIELD. THEN YOU HIT THE HOLE. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE IN THE RACECAR? >> IT WAS BIG. IT WAS WHAT YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO. I DON'T THINK IT HURTS THAT BAD. BROKE THE SPLITTER. A LITTLE BIT TOO TIGHT THERE UNDER KEVIN WHEN I WAS TRYING TO RUN THE BOTTOM. I TRIED TO MOVE UP AND HE GOT UNDERNEATH ME. IF WE GET BACK OUT, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR HIM. >> Matt: YOU HAD E-TICKET RIDES THROUGHOUT YOUR CAR. YOUR MOM -- LIKE WHEN YOU DON'T WANT IT TO RAIN YOU BRING OUT UMBRELLA. YOUR MOM PULLED A TROPHY YOU HAD IN YOURROPHY CASE 1984, YATES ROLLOVER AWARD WITH THE CAR UPSIDE DOWN. WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THAT? >> IT'S SOMETHING I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK GREEN! I THINK THAT WAS MY SECOND RE EVER. FIGURED OUT WHAT NOT TO DO REALLY QUICK. AND YOU KNOW I CAME DOWN HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, A FEW YEARS BACK AND DID THE SAME THING. YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO GET ME WITH THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS. YOU FINALLY DID. >> Matt: I WORKED IT IN. YOU WRECKED AND ROLLED IT OVER, THE NEXT WEEK YOU WENT TO SIGN IT AND THEY PRESENTED IT TO YOU. >> EMBARRASSING, HUH? ONLY THING I GOT. IN KANSAS, WHEN YOU RACE IN KANSAS, THAT'S A BIG TROPHY. >> Matt: VERY SPECIAL TROPHY. GOOD LUCK IN THE FINAL -- BY THE WAY, CHECK IT OUT. THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR. >> THAT'S THE TROPHY WE'RE HERE FOR. >> Matt: THE HARLEY J. EARL TROPHY. HOIST IT LATER ON. >> Chris: IN NOVEMBER OF 2003, CLINT BOWYER GOT A CALL FROM RICHARD CHILDRESS WHILE CLINT WAS WORKING IN A BODY SHOP IN EMBORIA, CAMPUS AND CHILDRESS OFFERED HIM A SHOT AT RACING. HE THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. HE SAID ARE YOU KIDDING? THOUGHT IT WASN'T FOR REAL AND ALMOST HUNG UP ON HIM. IT'S LIKE WE HIRE JEFF HAMMOND. WE CALL AND SAY YOU'RE HAVING A TV JOB. YOU'RE KIDDING! >> Jeff: I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE WHEN I HAD TO WORK WITH YOU. >> Chris: ONE FOR THE CREW CHIEF GUY. WE HAVE TO UPDATE A FEW THINGS HERE. WE HEARD KASEY KAHNE TALK ABOUT A DRAFTING PARTNER. ONCE WE GET BACK TO RACING, FASCINATED BY THAT. YOU HAVE A TEAMMATE BUT WHAT IF THE TEAMMATES ISN'T THERE. WHO MAKES A DEAL? CREW CHIEF, DOES THE DRIVER HAVE INPUT ONCE YOU'RE OUT THERE? >> Jeff: A LOT OF TIMES YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, TONY STEWART AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. ON DIFFERENT TEAMS BUT THEY RACE TOGETHER, THEY TRUST ONE ANOTHER. A LOT OF TIMES YOU LOOK WHO CAN YOU GO WITH THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WILL NOT HANG YOU OUT TO DRY AND HELP YOU AND YOU HELP THEM -- >> Chris: HAVE TO BE AT FAST AS YOU? >> Jeff: NO, BUT THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH YOU AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND RIGHT TIME. YOU WANT A DANCE PARTNER WHEN YOU WANT THAT. YOU DON'T WANT ONE THAT A STEPS ON YOUR TOES. WE SAW KASEY TALK ABOUT HE AND ELLIOTT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP HIM AND HE DIDN'T. LEFT HIM TO DRY. THEN HE DID THE SAME THING SO THEY'RE EVEN KNOW AND CLEAN THE SLATE. IF HE CAN GET TO ME WE'LL WORK TOGETHER. >> Chris: WE'LL WATCH DANCING PARTNERS, "DANCING WITH THE CAR." HALF AN HOUR IN THIS RED FLAG. HOUR AND 41-MINUTE DELAY EARLIER BUT WE PLAN TO FINISH UP THE FINAL 39 LAPS AT DAYTONA IN A BIT. >> Chris: HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING NASCAR ON FOX. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WATCHING. WE'RE UNDER A RED FLAG. SO 161 LAPS THROUGH. KEVIN HARVICK IS YOUR LEADER. THIS SEASON, FOX IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH DirecTV FOR HEAD 2 HEAD KNOCKOUT COMPETITION. THIS IS LIKE -- THINK OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, BUT WITH DRIVERS IN NASCAR, BEGINNING WITH THE SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE AT TEXAS. 32 DRIVERS SEATED IN THE TOURNAMENT. THEN FANS GET A CHANCE EACH WEEK TO PICK WINNERS AND HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCH-UPS AND SINGLE ELIMINATION UNTIL IT'S NARROWED DOWN TO THE FASTEST FOUR, LIKE THE FINAL FOUR, WHO BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE HEAD 2 HEAD KNOCKOUT CHAMPIONSHIP AT DARLINGTON MAY 8. THE FAN WITH THE MOST ACCURATE PICKS WILL WIN A 2010 ROUSH G.T. MUSTANG. >> Jeff: CAN I PLAY? >> Chris: YOU CAN PLAY. IF IT'S A PERFECT BRACKET, IT RESULTS IN A FAN A CHANCE TO WIN $1 MILLION. DRIVERS COMPETE ON BEHALF OF THEIR FAVORITE CHARITY. NASCAR TAKES CARE OF OTHER FOLKS. SO YOU HAVE A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THEY CAN PUT TOWARD GREAT CAUSE OR CERTAIN CHARITY BASED ON THE WEEKLY MATCH-UPS. SO YOU CAN GO ON DirecTV WITH NASCAR HOT PASS TO FOLLOW THIS OR CALL 1-800-DirecTV TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAD 2 HEAD KNOCKOUT. GO TO DirecTV.COM/NASCAR. STARTS AT TEXAS. WE ARE GIVING YOU A WARNING. YOU'RE GOOD ABOUT THE TRACKS THEY RUN OVER, JEFF, A LITTLE DIFFERENT. YOU CAN'T SAY I'LL TAKE JEFF GORDON EVERY WEEK OR JIMMIE JOHNSON EVERY WEEK. >> Jeff: I LIKE THE FORMAT AND I LIKE THAT IT PUTS YOU IN A POSITION WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COME PET AGAINST SOMEBODY IN A HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION. COW GOT MULTIPLE CHOICES. NOT LIKE ONE DRIVER YOU'VE GOT TO PICK. SO I LIKE THIS FORMAT. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING. WE ALL LIKE FORM OF FANTASY RACING AND THAT'S WHAT IT TURNS OUT TO BE. A LOT OF US IN THE FOX BROADCAST GROUP. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE WE HAD THE MEETING IN LAS VEGAS. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> Chris: JOHNSON McDANIELS, BRONCOS HEAD COACH, HE CAME BY, AND JOE TORRE, NASCAR IN THE YANKEES ARE GLAD TO BE A PART OF IT. DRIVERS ARE BEING CALLED TO THEIR CAR. THERE IS THE LEADER, KEVIN HARVICK. IN HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500. RIGHT BEHIND HIM IS JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. >> Jeff: YEP. STRETCHING OUT THERE. I HAVE UNDERSTAND HE HAS WORK TO DO LEFT. WE'VE GOT 39 LAPS TO GO. AND ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON, CHRIS, WATCH PIT ROAD. HERE IS WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES WHEN WE COME DOWN PIT ROAD. HERE IS THE REPAIR WORK DONE. THEY EXPANDED THE AREA THEY WERE WORKING IN. TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THIS THING BREAKING UP OVER THE FINAL 39 LAPS OF THE RACE. THAT PATCH DRYING, PIT STOPS COMING UP. NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT. IT'S A CHALLENGE. THE WEATHER HAS GOTTEN COLDER AND THEY'RE TIGHT AND GOT TO GET STRETCHED OUT. THIS IS A CRITICAL PIT STOP FOR THE DRIVERS AND THE TEAMS. >> Chris: WE MENTIONED KEVIN HARVICK LED THE MOST LAPS TODAY. LEADER OF THE MOST LAPS FAILED TO WIN THE LAST SIX DAYTONA 500s. TONY STEWART HOPES TO COME FROM THE BACK. THE LAST THREE WINNERS OF THIS RACE ACTUALLY LED LESS THAN TEN LAPS. THERE IS A REASON TO STAY TUNED DESPITE WHO IS IN FRONT. DARRELL WALTRIP REMINDED PEOPLE THE DRIVERS WE TALK TO -- AND WE APPRECIATED THEIR TIME THROUGH THIS AND THE FANS FOR HANGING AROUND. THERE WASN'T ONE OF THEM WHO SAID WE DON'T WANT TO COMPLETE THIS THING. WE'LL DRIVE AROUND THAT OR OVER THE POTHOLE, WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO COMPLETE THE RACE. >> Jeff: WHERE ELSE CAN YOU DO AND TALK TO ATHLETE AT HALFTIME, BOWLES OF THEIR SPORT AND GET THE INFORMATION, THE FEEDBACK WE'VE BEEN GETTING THIS AFTERNOON? AGAIN, THEY'VE BEEN SO PLEASANT. GREG BIFFLE RIGHT THERE, JOGGING BACK TO HIS CAR. HE TOOK A BREAK, MAYBE WENT TO THE HAULER OR SOMETHING. TO ME, THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND WILLINGNESS TO TALK TO US AS FAR AS OPENING UP AND LETTING US KNOW WHAT THEY'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A BIG RACE. THIS IS THE BIGGEST RACE FOR EVERYBODY THIS YEAR. IT'S THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, MAN. >> Chris: SETS THE TONE. NEXT WEEK, CALIFORNIA, THEN LAS VEGAS. IF YOU TUNE IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, IF THIS REPETITIVE, BEAR WITH US. WE HAD DAYTONA 500 RECORD OF 19 DIFFERENT LEADERS. DESPITE DELAYS WE HAD 44 LEAD CHANGES. SIX CAUTIONS. WE TALKED ABOUT JUST FOUR DRIVERS THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF THE RACE. AND DURING SPEED WEEKS WE COUNTED AS MANY AS 15 CRASHES. WE HAD A COUPLE TODAY. PROBABLY HAVE A FEW MORE BEFORE WE DECIDE WHO THE WINNER IS TONIGHT. >> Jeff: LARRY SAYS TO REACH UP THERE AND PULL THE BELTS TIGHT. IARIARIARY SAYS GRAB THE GLOVES AND PULL THEM OVER YOUR ELBOWS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK IF YOU WANT TO WIN THIS DAYTONA 500. >> Chris: 54-YEAR-OLD BILL ELLIOTT AND A GUY GOING FOR FIVE STRAIGHT SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS. HE HAS HAD EASIER TIME WINNING FOUR CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS THAN DAYTONA 500. ONE FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> Jeff: RIGHT. FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON AND THE 48 TEAM, A TRUE DRIVE FOR FIVE THIS YEAR. YOU HATE TO TALK POINTS THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON. ANYTIME YOU COME OUT OF THE BOX AND SLAP YOUR COMPETITION BACK TO THE BENCH, BASICALLY SAY GUYS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR BY WINNING THE DAYTONA 500. A GREAT STATEMENT TO BE MADE THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON. >> Chris: HE HAS TEAMMATES, JEFF GORDON, MARK MARTIN, DALE EARNHARDT JR. YOU WONDER WHEN A GUY WINS THAT MUCH IN ANY OTHER SPORT DYNASTY, USUALLY PEOPLE TEAM UP AGAINST HIM. >> Jeff: I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE TEAMMATES GANG UP ON HIM TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM. THAT WOULD BE OKAY. RICK HENDRICK HAS A GREAT STABLE OF DRIVERS AND HE'D BE AS HAPPY IF DALE JR. WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AS MARK MARTIN OR JEFF GORDON. I THINK JIMMIE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT JIMMIE IS KIND OF -- I THINK HE'S A LITTLE BIT ON THE POSSESSIVE SIDE. DOESN'T WANT TO LET IT LOOSE. >> Chris: MARK MARTIN, 51-YEAR-OLD, THE OLDEST POLE-SITTER. HIM AND DICK BERGGREN WILL GET THE BLUE PLATE SPECIAL IF THEY GRAB DINNER. THAT WOULD BE THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL FOR THEM I GUESS. MARK MARTIN HAS LED IN THIS RACE, KIND OF FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIM. HE IS THE GUY SUFFERED HEARTBREAK WHEN KEVIN HARVICK SHOT THROUGH. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT DAYTONA 500 IN 2007. THIS IS HIS 26th TRY AT THIS RACE. AGAIN, FIVE TIMES HE'S BEEN A RUNNER MUP THE OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP. >> Jeff: MARK HAD A COUPLE HEARTBREAKS. LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP TO JIMMIE JOHNSON LAST YEAR. NOW THE POLE WINNER FOR THE TWO WEEKS AT DAYTONA AND HE WOULD LIKE TO CAP IT OFF WITH A DAYTONA 500 WIN. I DON'T THINK HE'S -- I THINK HE IS A LONG WAY FROM GIVING UP. HE'S STILL MIRED BACK IN THE FIELD BUT WE GOT A PIT STOP HERE. HE HAS EXPERIENCE AND HORSE POWER TO GET IT DONE. >> Chris: KYLE BUSCH, HUSTLES TO HIS CAR. CONGRATS TO HIM. SHE SAID YES, AND HE HOPES TO SAY YES TO THE VICTORY IN THE DAYTONA 500. A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM THE ENGINES CRANKING UP >> Chris: WELCOME BACK. THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US. THE GANG IS ALL HERE, AT THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. YOU GET A LOOK FROM ABOVE, THE CARS, THE ENGINES ARE GETTING READY TO BE CRANKED UP. THE SECOND RED FLAG HERE. WHAT HAS MIKE GOT THERE? HOLDING -- >> Mike: THE LOCAL PAPER, CHRIS. THE HEADLINE HERE, ABOVE THE FOLD. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THIS. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Darrell: HERE IS WHAT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVE HAD BREAKFAST IN HERE, HAD LUNCH IN HERE AND I'VE HAD DINNER IN HERE. >> Larry: I WAS AFRAID THAT WAS THE MONDAY MORNING PAPER. >> Mike: NO. NOT SO MUCH. WE HAVE A LARGER ASPHALT PATCH. I HAVE WONDER IS IT WORTH TELLING THE DRIVERS YOU DRIVE THROUGH THIS, WE CAN RACE A WHILE. IF YOU DRIVE AROUND IT WE CAN RACE TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Darrell: TONY STEWART WHEN THEY RACE IT EL DORA, THEY RUN OVER THE POTHOLES. BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING 190 MILES PER HOUR EITHER. >> Mike: FINAL CHECKS OVER OF THE EPOXY PATCH OVER LOOSE ASPHALT DUE TO TORRENTIAL RAINS. >> Darrell: IS IT DONE YET? >> Mike: HERE IN FLORIDA. I THINK IT'S COOKED. >> Darrell: THAT'S ALL WE NEED TO KNOW. RUN THE TRUCK THROUGH IT ONE TIME AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> Mike:NO DON'T DO THAT. READY TO RACE. WE HAVE 39 LAPS TO GO. EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU MAKE YOUR PIT STOP AND IT COULD BE GO FOR BROKE RIGHT HERE. >> Larry: ONE THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THE TWO RED FLAGS. SHUTTING THE ENGINES DOWN. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE WEATHER HERE. IT KEEPS GETTING COLDER AND COLDER AND COLDER. OF COURSE, THAT PUTS THE ENGINES IN LEANER AND LEANER CONDITION. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE 40 ENGINE BUILDERS THAT WILL BE NAIL-BITING THE LAST 30, 40 LAPS. >> Darrell: WHAT WORRIES ME IS SOME GUYS ARE SITTING THERE FIGURING OUT HOW TO BEAT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE, SITTING DOWN THERE. TOO MUCH TIME TO THINK. >> Larry: NO QUESTION. >> Darrell: YOU WANT -- EVERYTHING HAPPENS SPON STAINOUSLY. WHEN THE RACE -- SPONTANEOUSLY AND WHEN THE RACE IS STOP, TOO MUCH TIME TO THINK ABOUT STRATEGY. >> Mike: 50/50. AMBIENT AND TRACK TEMPERATURE IS 50 DEGREES. THAT'S ABOUT THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WE RAN FINAL PRACTICE. >> Larry: CLOSE TO IT. >> Darrell: YEAH. IT MAKES FOR GREAT RACING. IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THE DEAL DOWN HERE AND IF THE PATCH WILL HOLD UP FOR US FOR 38 LAPS WE'LL SEE SOME OF THE BEST RACING WE'VE SEEN ALL WEEK. >> Mike: SAY THE PATCH HOLDS FOR 38 LAPS, YOU HAVE OVER 30 CARS THAT WILL BE IN THE LEAD PACK. WE'RE USED TO SEEING FIVE OR SIX CARS RACE FOR THE DAYTONA 500 WIN. HOW DO YOU GET 30 CARS IN A SPOT WHERE ONLY TWO ARE GOING TO FIT ON THE LAST LAP? >> Darrell: SIMPLE. YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T GET THEM -- THEY DON'T FIT. >> Larry: I WOULD SAY THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE, YOU SAW THE YELLOW FLAG OUT. THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE LAST TIME WE'LL SEE YELLOW FLAG AS WE CLOSE IN ON THE END OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: I THINK NOT. >> Mike: 33 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. 39 LAPS TO GO. WHEN THEY COME AROUND, IF PIT ROAD OPENS THEY'LL MAKE WHAT THEY HOPE WILL BE THE FINAL PIT STOP OF THE DAY AND EVENING. >> Darrell: THE PIT CREW -- THAT IS ANOTHER THING I'M SURPRISED HAMMOND HASN'T BROUGHT THIS UP. THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN SITTING DOWN THERE GETTING COLD AND STIFF. YOU KNOW, THE CREWS HAVE GOT TO COME TO LIGHT UP AND COME TO THE OCCASION HERE, TOO. BECAUSE THIS IS A CRITICAL PIT STOP. >> Mike: THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED THAT 13-SECOND PIT STOP, BECAUSE TRACK POSITION NOW IS PARAMOUNT. >> Darrell: IF YOU FALL BACK IN THE PITS YOU'RE PROBABLY DONE. >> Larry: YOU NEED A FAST STOP, BUT A MISTAKE-FREE PIT STOP. >> Mike: THEY PRACTICE ALL YEAR ROUND IN ALL KIND OF WEATHER. SOME TEAMS FIVE DAYS A WEEK. IF THEY'RE NOT ON THE ROAD THEY RUN THE PIT CREW PRACTICE. GETS ARE JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND GETTING READY TO GO. LIKE PUT ME IN, COACH. >> Larry: THE GUYS ARE ABSOLUTELY LIKE ATHLETES. WE CONTINUE TO SEE, TONY STEWART PRETTY MUCH LEFT HIS POSITION ON PIT ROAD STRAIGHT IN HIS PIT BOX. THEY'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS ON THE REAR, POSSIBLY SPRING RUBBERS, MAYBE ADJUSTING THE REAR SHOCKS. AS JEFF HAMMOND POINTED OUT EARLIER, THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS UNDER THE NOSE OF THE CAR. >> Darrell: WITH ALL THE TIME TO SIT AROUND AND TALK ABOUT IT, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING. BACK THERE CLOSING UP THE REAR SHOCKS PROBABLY TRYING TO GET IT WHERE THEY CAN DRIVE IT. >> Mike: AS THE DRIVERS BUCKL IN FOR THE FINAL RUN, BUCKLE UP FOR FANTASY RACING ACTION AND TAKE CHECKERED FLAG EVERY WEEK. BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STAYING WITHIN A SALARY CAP. CHOOSE FIVE DRIVERS BEFORE THE FLAG DROPS AND CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS. AUTO RACING CHALLENGE AT FoxSports.COM KEYWORD "AUTO." >> Larry: YOU KNOW, SHANE WILSON AND CLINT BOWYER, THEY'RE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BOX. WE'VE GOT 33 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 35 LAPS TO GO. AND I CHALLENGE CLINT THAT I BELIEVE A BIG BITE OUT OF THE SPLITTER WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE THE WAY THE CAR DRIVES BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP A TRACK POSITION TO REPAIR IT. >> Darrell: YOU CAN'T. RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO FIX THAT. YOU GOT WHAT YOU GOT. YOU KNOW, STAY BEHIND SOMEBODY. THEN WHEN THE TIME COMES, PASS THEM. IF YOU CAN. >> Larry: IT WON'T BE NEAR AS BAD FOLLOWING SOMEONE WHEN YOU GET OUT IN CLEAN AIR. >> Darrell: IT'S NOT A GREAT BIG PIECE OUT THERE. >> Mike: THREE CARS IN THE TOP TEN NOW THAT WERE NOT IN THE TOP TEN AT THE LAST RED FLAG. KYLE BUSCH, HIS TEAMMATE DENNY HAMLIN AND BRIAN VICKERS. ONE THING THE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO DURING THIS RED FLAG PERIOD IS CHANGE FROM THE DARK SHIELDS TO CLEAR SHIELDS FOR NIGHT RACING. YOU GET A GOOD LOOK AT THE EYES OF CARL EDWARDS. FOCUSSED, READY TO RACE. >> Larry: PIT ROAD WAS CLOSED THAT TIME. THEY HAVE NOT OPENED IT BACK UP. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO. >> Darrell: YOU GOT TO ADMIRE THESE GUYS, THOUGH. HERE THEY ARE, THEY HAVE BEEN OUT HERE SINCE 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON. AND THEY STILL WANT TO RACE. THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY LOVE WHAT THEY DO. >> Mike: THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL WINTER LONG JUST TO DO THIS, JUST AS YOU HAVE AT HOME TO SEE IT. READY TO ROCK. DENNY HAMLIN. >> Larry: YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE EVERYBODY. THE DRIVERS, THE TEAMS, THE FANS, NASCAR, THE TRACK. YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE A THUMBS UP TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED. >> Mike: NOW THAT SAFETY TRUCK IS THERE GUIDING THE CARS OUT AND AROUND THE PATCH, GIVING IT AS MUCH TIME TO CURE AS POSSIBLE. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING, RIGHT? [ LAUGHTER ] LEAVE IT THERE. [ LAUGHTER ] PARK IT OVER THE PATCH AND GO AROUND IT. >> Mike: LEAVE THE TRUCK THERE? >> Darrell: LEAVE THE TRUCK THERE. >> Mike: FORGET THE CONE. >> Larry: THE FIRST TIME HE GIGGLED I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS THINKING. >> Darrell: THE ONLY WAY THEY WON'T RUN OVER IT, I PROMISE YOU. >> Mike: MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, INTERESTING CONVERSATION BETWEEN JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WHO RUNS IN SECOND AND HIS CREW CHIEF BRIAN PATTIE DISCUSSING WHETHER TO GO TWO OR FOUR TIRES. JUAN SIMPLY SAID WHATEVER CALL YOU MAKE, BRIAN, I'M WITH YOU. WE WIN TOGETHER AND WE LOSE TOGETHER. I'D JUST RATHER WIN TOGETHER. THEN HE STARTED LAUGHING AND SAID SERIOUSLY, YOU MAKE THE CALL WHEN WE COME DOWN PIT ROAD, TWO OR FOUR. THAT'S WHAT TEAMS ARE DOING, WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PLAY THE CARDS, POSSIBLE CALLED AUDIBLE WHETHER TO GO TWO TIRES OF TRACK POSITION OR FOUR AND GO DISTANCE. >> Darrell: BAD DECISION TO TAKE TWO. YOU TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE YOU NEED TO GO. IF YOU PUT TWO TIRES ON THERE, YOU WILL LOSE HANDLING OF THE CAR. WHEN IT COMES TIME TO RUN IT TO THE BOTTOM OR CUT TO THE TOP OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO, YOU WON'T HAVE THE TRACTION BECAUSE YOU TOOK TWO TIRES. >> Larry: WE HAVE 13 LAPS ON THE TIRES ON THE CAR. AS WE MADE NOTE, YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET 35 MORE LAPS. I THINK AT THE END IT WILL JUST, IT WILL BITE THESE GUYS. >> Mike: LET ME ASK. HOW FAR BACK IN THE RUNNING ORDER DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO THINK OF GAMBLING OR TAKING TWO TIRES FOR TRACK POSITION? >> Larry: WITH 33, 34 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP, YEAH. I MEAN I LOOK BACK THERE AND YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE RYAN NEWMAN, PAUL MENARD, ROBBY GORDON, BOBBY LABONTE, ELLIOTT SADLER EVEN, MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE. >> Mike: 25th OR SO ON BACK. >> Larry: POSSIBLY. >> Darrell: WE CAN ALWAYS THINK ABOUT OUR FRIEND THE 48 CAR IN HIS QUALIFYING RACE. MAYBE THEY DON'T TAKE ANY. I'M ALMOST OF THE OPINION I'D RATHER JUST KEEP THE ONES I GOT. IF I LIKE THE SET ON THE CAR NOW, PUT FUEL IN IT AND LET ME GO. >> Mike: I TELL YOU WHO IS A GAMBLER AND FOR THE LONG TIME HAD THE FASTEST LAP OF THE RACE, ROBBY GORDON. IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME THAT WHAT EVERY OTHER TEAM DOES HE DOES THE OPPOSITE TO GET TRACK POSITION. >> Larry: WE'VE SEEN RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 39 CAR WON THE RACE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. HE GAMBLED EARLIER AND TOOK TWO TIRES, SO AT LEAST HE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. >> Darrell: WHAT YOU'RE HEARING US SAY IS WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR CAR, DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. JUST ROLL THE DICE. >> Mike: I WILL HAVE ANSWERS IN ONE LAP. PIT ROAD WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME BY. SEE WHO THE GAMBLERS ARE. PRETTY SAFE BET THAT THE TOP SAY 15 CARS WILL LIKELY GET FOUR TIRES TO TRY TO KEEP AT THE FRONT AND WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: IF YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR SOMETHING, CAR NOT HANDLING RIGHT, NOT RUNNING RIGHT, A CAR THAT CANNOT WIN THE RACE ON SPEED. THEN YOU MIGHT GAMBLE. IF YOU HAVE A CAR LIKE KEVIN HARVICK AND THE GUYS LEADING THE RACE ALL DAY YOU TAKE FOUR TIRES BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT A DISADVANTAGE. >> Larry: YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE RACE BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TAKE FOUR TIRES. >> Darrell: THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS. SO NOW I WONDER WHAT IF NOBODY TAKES FOUR TIRES? >> Mike: DON'T WORRY. THE WHEELAN SAFETY LIGHTS HAVE GONE GREEN AT THE FRONT END OF PIT ROAD. 36 LAPS TO GO WHEN THEY COME BY. KEVIN HARVICK LEADS THEM TOWARD PIT ROAD. EVERYBODY SHOULD COME IN. WHAT WILL THEY DO? KRISTA? >> Krista: WHEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR, IT'S COLD, YOU MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. THAT'S WHAT GREG BIFFLE IS DOING TO HIS CAR. HE SAID IT'S COLD OUT, WE HAVE TO FREE IT UP BUT JUST A TOUCH. SLIGHT AIR PRESSURE, THAT'S THE CALL FOR BIFFLE. >> Dick: MARTIN TRUEX'S CREWS SAY THEY'LL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. NOT GOING TO ADJUST THE RACECAR AT ALL. FOUR TIRES. STEVE? >> Steve: NO DOUBT ABOUT THE 29'S STRATEGY. FOUR TIRES FOR KEVIN HARVICK. MATT? >> Matt: IT'S GOING TO BE A TWO-TIRE CHANGE FOR THE 33 OF CLINT BOWYER. CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. MIKE, WHO IS GOING TO WIN IT OFF PIT ROAD? >> Mike: IT'S GREG BIFFLE, THE FIRST CAR OFF PIT ROAD, GAINING THREE POSITIONS. >> Darrell: KEVIN HARVICK MADE A GOOD STOP, BUT HE COULDN'T GET GOING. SMOKING THE TIRES TRYING TO GET ROLLING. >> Larry: YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, JEFF GORDON IN THE 24, AND DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6, THE BIG WINNERS. RIGHT THERE, THE TOP FIVE CARS WENT WITH TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. >> Darrell: YEAH, GORDON DID. >> Mike: THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. BIFFLE FIRST. BOWYER SECOND. CARL EDWARDS. >> Darrell: SEE HOW THE GUYS ARE SPINNING, SPINNING, SPINNING, CAN'T GET GOING. HARVICK WAS WORSE THAN THAT. >> Mike: WAS THAT CLOSE! >> Darrell: IT'S ALWAYS CLOSE. >> Mike: BIFFLE HAD A FOOT DOWN. WASN'T GOING TO LIFT. THAT'S THE KIND OF ATTITUDE YOU NEED RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. WORK ON MATT KENSETH'S CAR. >> Larry: THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON BOTH ENDS OF THE RACECAR THE ENTIRE RACE. HAD THE HOOD UP ONE TIME, UNDERNEATH THE BACK. >> Darrell: THE 14 AND THE 17 HAVE BEEN WORKING ON I DON'T KNOW TRY TO GET THE CARS TO HANDLE, I GUESS. >> Mike: ONE TEAM THAT REALLY ROLLED THE DICE IS SCOTT SPEED. LAST YEAR'S ROOKIE DID NOT PIT. WITH THE REST OF THE CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. HE'S STILL OUT THERE. THE 38 OF ROBERT RICHARDSON ALSO DID NOT COME DOWN PIT ROAD. HE'S ALSO A LEAD LAP CAR. >> Darrell: THINK BACK TO QUALIFYING RACES. MAX PAPIS STAYED OUT WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. MAX'S CAR WASN'T GOOD. HE DIDN'T TAKE ANY TIRES. AND HE BACKED UP THE WHOLE OUTSIDE LINE. AND ALMOST CAUSED A HUGE CRASH. THAT IS THE GAMBLE. >> Mike: CORRECT ON RICHARDSON. HE CAME DOWN BEFORE THE PITS OPENED AND GOT HIS SERVICE. WHILE THE PITS WERE STILL CLOSED. HE'LL HAVE TO START AT THE TAIL END OF THE LINE. >> Larry: JIMMY ELLEDGE, THE CREW CHIEF ON SCOTT SPEED AND THE 82 CAR, THEY WERE LAST ON PIT ROAD AT LAP 144 UNDER THE FIFTH CAUTION. 56 LAPS TO GO. EVEN WITH CAUTIONS, THAT'S ASKING A LOT RIGHT THERE. EVIDENTLY HE'S BANKING ON MORE CAUTIONS. >> Darrell: WELL, LARRY, THE BOTTOM LINE IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY -- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING. SOMEBODY MID-PACK AND ON BACK, WHAT THE HECK? MAYBE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CAUTIONS. MAYBE THEY WON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO PASS ME. >> Larry: YEAH. EXACTLY. >> Darrell: WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GET AGGRESSIVE. WE KNOW THE GUYS ARE GOING TO START PUSHING AND SHOVING. WHEN THEY DO, THERE COULD BE SEVERAL CAUTIONS AT THE END OF THE RACE HERE. >> Mike: TONY STEWART ALSO PITTED BEFORE PIT ROAD WAS OFFICIALLY OPEN. WE SAW THE WORK GOING ON, ON STEWART'S CAR. SO HE WILL START TAIL END. WHEN WE GO BACK TO GREEN. 35 LAPS TO GO RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: I KNOW WHY KEVIN HARVICK HAS NOT BEEN BOTHERED BY THAT PATCH. WHEN YOU WATCH HIS CAR GO THROUGH THE CORNER, HE'S ALMOST DOWN ON THE YELLOW LINES, WHICH WOULD PUT THE PATCH JUST TO HIS OUTSIDE. IT'S THE GUY GO IN THERE TO SHOVE UP A LITTLE BIT ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE PATCH. I DON'T THINK IT'S BOTHERING HARVICK THAT MUCH. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH BACK ON PIT ROAD, ALONG WITH JOEY LOGANO. WORKING ON THE SPLITTER ON THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. >> Larry: ISSUE ON LOGANO'S CAR. HIS RIGHT FRONT TIRE OUTSIDE THE PIT BOX AND THE NASCAR OFFICIALS, SEE THE MAN RIGHT THERE, HE WAS RIGHT THERE IMMEDIATELY POINTING TO THE CREW THAT YOU'RE OUTSIDE THE BOX. >> Darrell: WHY DOES HIS -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE SECOND TIME I THINK WE HAVE SEEN HIS BRAKES ON FIRE. >> Larry: WHERE YOU SEE THE FIRE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THE BRAKE CALIBER IS. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE PADS ITSELF. >> Darrell: OR THEY'RE CATCHING THE DUCTS, MAYBE DUCTS FOR THE BRAKES. BUT I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ANY OR NOT. >> Mike: IT WILL BLOW OUT. >> Darrell: IT WILL GO RIGHT OUT. >> Larry: WHEN HE GETS ROLLING, IT GOES OUT ON ITS OWN. >> Darrell: GO RIGHT OUT IF YOU GET GOING. >> Mike: SO SCOTT SPEED WHO HAS NOT BEEN ON PIT ROAD SINCE LAP 144 OR SO. LARRY, HE HAS REALLY ROLLED THE DICE. >> Darrell: MM-HMM. >> BECAUSE WON'T HE HAVE TO MAKE ONE MORE STOP IF THIS RACE GOES THE DISTANCE? >> Larry: YEAH, BECAUSE THAT'S 56 LAPS TO GO. I'M GOING TO CHECK THIS, BECAUSE THE SCORING MONITOR IS TELLING US SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE'RE GOING TO CHECK ON THAT. WE HAVE A MONITOR THAT TELLS US EACH LAP THAT THE LAP, THAT THE CAR MADE THE LAST PIT STOP. I GOT A FEELING WE MAY HAVE A SCORING MONITOR GLITCH. >> Darrell: I THINK SO. HE HAD TO GET FUEL SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? >> Larry: I COULDN'T IMAGINE BEING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW -- >> Darrell: NO. >> Mike: READY TO GO BACK TO GREEN. IT WILL BE 33 LAPS TO GO WHEN THEY COME BACK. >> Larry: YEAH, OUR SCORING MONITOR IS WRONG ON THAT. THE LAST TIME HE WAS THERE WAS ABOUT LIKE WE WERE TALKING, WAS ABOUT 56, 57 LAPS TO GO. >> Mike: THAT IS TOO FAR TO MAKE IT ON ONE TANK. SCOTT SPEED'S TEAM IS BETTING THIS RACE WILL NOT RUN TO CONCLUSION WITHOUT AT LEAST ANOTHER CAUTION WHERE THEY CAN GET FUEL. >> Darrell: I KNOW THAT IED TO HIM THIS MANY, MANY TIMES. THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE SOMETIMES YOU LIKE TO BE. NOBODY CAN MAKE IT. >> Larry: YOU INTERVIEWED A MAN IN 1989 THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT. >> Darrell: NOBODY CAN MAKE 55 LAPS. IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE. CAN'T BE DONE. >> Mike: THAT WAS 1989. >> Darrell: NEVER SAY "NEVER." I THINK THE QUESTION FOR HIM IS FUEL, AS JUST THE PURE SPEED IF HE CAN STAY UP THERE. >> Mike: WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT. AND THEY HAVE WAVED OFF THE RESTART, BECAUSE A PIECE OF DEBRIS HAS COME OFF ONE OF THE RACECARS. ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Darrell: THIS SHOT RIGHT HERE IS WHAT MY BRAIN FEELS LIKE RIGHT NOW. [ LAUGHTER ] I'M GOING TO SEE THOSE PICTURES ALL NIGHT LONG. >> Mike: SO SCOTT SPEED WHO WAS 20th BEFORE PIT STOPS IS THE RACE LEADER. >> Larry: EVERY ONE OF THE CAUTION LAPS HELPS JIMMY ELLEDGE AN SCOTT SPEED. IT'S A 2-TO-1 RATIO AT 2 1/2-MILE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ONE. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH PEELING OFF AND HEADING TOWARD THE GARAGE. EXCUSE ME, MICHAEL WALTRIP PEELING OFF AND HEADING DOWN PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: REGAN SMITH HAD DAMAGE EARLY. I THINK THEY REPAIRED THE CAR AND HE'S BACK OUT THERE GOING AROUND. >> Mike: YEAH, HE'S 118 LAPS DOWN, BUT STILL RUNNING. THAT WAS MICHAEL COMING TO THE PITS. >> Darrell: MIGHT AS WELL FIX THE CAR, WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL AFTERNOON. GOT TIME TO REPAIR IT AND GET IT BACK IN THE RACE. >> Larry: HE WAS IN THE FIRST CAUTION. BACK ON LAP EIGHT. SPLASH AND GO. IF YOU'RE IN THE BACK, NO HARM IN DOING THAT. YOU COULD HAVE AS MANY AS THREE TRIES AT A GREEN/WHITE CHECKER THE IF NEEDED. >> Darrell: MICHAEL MOVED UP BEFORE THE LAST CAUTION FLAG. HE WAS STARTING TO MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT. HE'S BEEN UP AROUND THE 20s AND HE GOT IN THE TEENS WHEN THE LAST CAUTION CAME OUT. >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED IS THE LEADER, AND GREG BIFFLE, AND CLINT BOWYER. THE REST OF THE TOP TEN ARE JEFF GORDON, MARTIN TRUEX, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, HARVICK AND KYLE BUSCH. >> Larry: YOU HAVE THE THREE ROUSH-FENWAY CARS LINED UP IN THE OUTSIDE LINE. EDWARDS AND RAGAN. >> Darrell: WE HAVE TO WATCH KEVIN HARVICK NOW. HE HAS TO GET TO THE FRONT BUT NOT TEAR HIS CAR UP DOING IT OR CAUSE A WRECK DOING IT. HE'S BACK THERE A LITTLE BIT. HE'S GOT THE BEST CAR AND HE NEEDS TO TAKE HIS TIME. THE ONLY THING THE GUYS ARE WORRIED ABOUT IS THE PATCH GOING TO HOLD UP FOR REST OF THE RACE? >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED LEADING. AS THEY GO THROUGH TURN ONE AND TWO, CAN HE HOLD PACE WITH GREG BIFFLE OR STACK UP THE BOTTOM GROOVE? >> Darrell: THE OTHER THING ON THE 82 CAR, WILL IT TAKE OFF? EVEN AT DAYTONA WITH THE GEARS AND EVERYTHING, HE CAN SPIN THE TIRES. IF HE DOES, HE'S IN TROUBLE. >> Mike: THE GREEN WITH 32 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Larry: THE REASON I MENTION ABOUT THE TIRES, I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM CLEAN THEM OFF. >> Darrell: YOU PICK UP DEBRIS RIDING AROUND SLOW LIKE WE'VE BEEN DOING. >> Mike: COMING TO THE GREEN FLAG. FANS TO THEIR FEET. WILL IT BE THE FINAL RESTART OF THE NIGHT? GREEN FLAG. >> Darrell: GOOD START! A GOOD CLEAN START BY SPEED. NICE JOB. >> Mike: BUILDING 25 MORE MILES PER HOUR ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Larry: LOOK AT THE HIGH LINE. THE THREE ROUSH-FENWAY CARS WITH MARTIN TRUEX IN THE 56, THE FOURTH CAR IN LINE. >> Darrell: I REALLY THINK THAT PROBABLY SCOTT SPEED'S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO STAY UP THERE. >> Mike: SO FAR, SO GOOD. >> Darrell: SCOTT HAS SPEED. I'M NOT SURE THE CAR HAS SPEED. >> Larry: THERE YOU GO. >> Mike: BIFFLE TRIES TO EDGE AHEAD AS WE'RE AT FULL SPEED. COMING AROUND 31 TO GO. >> Darrell: BOY, THE ENGINES RIGHT NOW, MIKE, AND THE CARS THAT ARE, WITH AS COLD AS THE TEMPERATURES HAVE GOTTEN, THEY'RE MAKING HORSEPOWER. LOOK AT THE CARS BOTTOM OUT. THAT'S WHERE THE HOLE IS. THEY BOTTOM OUT AND DIG THE TRACK UP. I SEE HARVICK. OH, I SAW HARVICK BACK THERE GETTING A LITTLE BIT SQUIRRELY. HERE COMES HIS TEAMMATE BOWYER ON THE INSIDE. >> Larry: WHOA, DENNY HAMLIN. >> Darrell: WHOA, DENNY! OH! >> Larry: THEY'VE ALMOST ROOTED HARVICK UP OUT OF THAT LINE. REUTIMANN IN THE 00 JUMPS IN BEHIND HARVICK. LOOK AT THEM, THREE-WIDE COMING THROUGH THE TRI-OVAL. >> Mike: MONTOYA GOT LOOSE. AND THE 11. HAMLIN. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. HE HAS BRIAN VICKERS BEHIND HIM. HE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. OUTSIDE LINE ON THE MOVE. >> Darrell: THAT'S WHERE HARVICK RIGHT THERE WAS A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING YOUR COOL. DON'T PANIC. STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: MIKE, KEVIN HARVICK'S SPOTTER BILLY O'DAY SAID WAY TO HOLD YOUR LINE. DON'T LET THE 11 TAKE ANYTHING FROM YOU. >> Larry: YOU SAW BIFFLE UP T 194 MILES PER HOUR THAT TIME OFF TURN THREE WITH A LITTLE SHOVE. >> Darrell: WE'RE THREE OR FOUR MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN WE WERE THIS AFTERNOON. >> Mike: HAMLIN IS STILL IN THE MIDDLE. THREE-WIDE FROM THERE ON BACK. THERE ARE STILL 20-PLUS CARS THAT CAN WIN THE DAYTONA 500 WITH 30 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: I LIKE THIS. THIS IS LIKE A HEAT RACE, MAN! >> Larry: YOU CAN HEAR HAMLIN. HE GOT OUT OF THE THROTTLE RIGHT THERE JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE HE HAD SUCH A RUN UP ON KURT BUSCH IN THE 2 CAR. >> Darrell: HE HAS NOWHERE TO GO. STUCK! I'M NOT GOING TO SING MY SONG AGAIN EITHER. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE ON THE INSIDE BY HIMSELF. BOBBY LABONTE SLICES DOWN, AND VICKERS AND KYLE BUSCH. >> Larry: BUSCH PUT A BLOCK ON VICKERS IN THAT 83. >> Darrell: VICKERS HAD A HECK OF A RUN. NOW HAVE LOOK AT THE 11 CAR. HAMLIN UP ON THE HIGH SIDE. >> Mike: THAT'S HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME, ISN'T IT? >> Darrell: I CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE MIDDLE. LET ME TRY THE OUTSIDE. LARRY, I MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG ABOUT THE 82 CAR. HE'S HOLDS HIS OWN. DOING PRETTY GOOD. >> Larry: NOT MOVING OFF THE BOTTOM BUT YOU ALWAYS SAID THAT YELLOW LINE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. >> Darrell: YOUR BEST FRIEND. IF YOU HAVE A CAR TO HANG DOWN THERE, HANG IT! THE HARD PART ABOUT RUNNING THE BOTTOM, ESPECIALLY OFF TURN TWO, THE CAR WANTS TO GET TO PUSHING WITH YOU. THAT'S WHEN YOU GET IN TROUBLE. >> Larry: YEAH, AS LONG AS HE HUGS THE YELLOW LINE LIKE YOU SEE HIM DOING THERE. AND AS LONG AS IT'S TWO-BY-TWO, IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE GROUP BEHIND HIM TO GET BY HIM. >> Darrell: COMING OFF TWO IS THE TOUGH PART WHEN YOU RUN OFF THE BOTTOM. THINK BACK TO ALLMENDINGER. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. HE WAS DOWN ON THE BOTTOM, THE CAR PUSHED A LITTLE BIT. GOT TO WIGGLING AND HE SPUN IT. >> Mike: DALE JR. IN THE MIDDLE WITH MONTOYA. TRYING TO MAKE SOME RACING ROOM. BUT BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT. AND KASEY KAHNE FINDS HIMSELF BACK IN 21st NOW. TRIED THE MIDDLE. >> Darrell: OH, MAN! >> Mike: RIGHT IN HIS TEAMMATE! >> Larry: YOU COULD JUST SEE THE BACK OF THAT CAR BEING SUCKED AROUND. HE WAS HAVING TO CORRECT IT EACH WAY. >> Darrell: THAT WAS A BIG HIT. HE HAS A LOT OF DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. THAT KILLED THESE CARS. >> Mike: 26 LAPS TO GO AT THE STRIPE. AND SCOTT SPEED HANGING TOUGH WITH GREG BIFFLE FOR THE LEAD. >> Darrell: THE 9 CAR HAS A GOOD BIT OF DAMAGE. I THINK HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET SOME BODY RUB, GET TIRE SMOKE HERE. >> Larry: NOW WE SEE HARVICK STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. HE MADE A THIRD ROW IN THE MIDDLE WITH HOPES THAT McMURRAY WOULD GO WITH HIM IN THE 1 CAR. >> Darrell: WHAT KEVIN'S GOT TO DO, HE NEEDS SOMETHING TO HAPPEN HERE FOR HIM. BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE'S GOT THE FASTEST CAR, BUT THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO AND THIS IS NOT THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE GOING NOW. >> Mike: EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS IT. THEY STREAM ON BY HIM EXCEPT FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> Darrell: WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE. WE SAW THAT WITH THE 11 CAR. HE HAD TO GO TO THE BACK AND REGROUP, WORK HIS WAY BACK UP. >> Larry: I TELL YOU WHAT, WE BETTER KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE 18 CAR OF KYLE BUSCH. HE IS A MAN ON A MISSION. WE'RE RIDING WITH HIM RIGHT HERE. HE CRACKED THE TOP TEN. >> Darrell: YESTERDAY IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE, LARRY, HE SLAMMED THE WALL EARLY IN THE RACE. THEY PATCHED THE CAR UP AND HE WAS GOING FOR THE WIN. SPUN OUT ON THE LAST LAP, GOING IN THE THIRD TURN. BUT HE WILL HANG IT OUT. WE KNOW THAT. >> Mike: SO FAR IN THE OUTSIDE LANE, THOSE ROUSH FORDS HAVE NOT BROKEN FORMATION. BIFFLE, EDWARDS, RAGAN. WHILE THE INSIDE LANE, THERE'S BEEN ALL KINDS OF WHEELING AND DEALING. KRISTA? >> Krista: THIS IS THE PART OF THE RACE CARL EDWARDS HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. SAYS FORGET ABOUT THE CHESS GAME. IT'S A POKER GAME TO HIM. YOU HAVE TO WEIGH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. YOU HAVE TO THINK FURTHER AHEAD AT THIS RACETRACK THAN ANY OTHER TRACK IN NASCAR. >> Darrell: YOU REALLY DO. WHAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT THE MOVE ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY WHEN YOU GO IN THE FIRST TURN. WHERE AM I GOING TO BE WHEN I COME OUT ON TO THE BACK? >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED LEADS THIS RACE WITH A CONTRARY STRATEGY TO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE FIELD. HE DID NOT STOP. WHEN THE REST OF THE LEADERS CAME IN. BUT LARRY, WITH TEN OR SO LAPS TO GO, HE MIGHT HAVE TO STOP. >> Larry: YEAH. YOU KNOW, WE RAN 13 CAUTIONS SINCE HE BASICALLY MADE HIS PIT STOP. SO THAT HAS BOUGHT HIM ANOTHER SIX LAPS. BUT THAT IS STILL, IT'S JUST WELL OUTSIDE THE WINDOW OF WHAT ANYBODY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD RUN ON FUEL. WE JUST HAVE TO SEE. >> Darrell: WHAT THEY WERE DEPENDING ON WERE CAUTIONS, MAYBE, BEFORE THE RACE WAS OVER WITH. RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, EVERYBODY IS DRIVING PRETTY SANITARY, REALLY. THEY'RE A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE BUT NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING DUMB. >> Mike: THE ROUSH-FENWAY TRIO HAS BEEN BROKEN UP. DAVID RAGAN IN THE NUMBER 6 GOT CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. SOMEBODY GOT UNDERNEATH HIM. BACK IN THE 11th SPOT. >> Darrell: BECAUSE OF THE COOLER TEMPERATURES, THE CAR'S HANDLING IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ON THE CARS LIKE WE SAW IT DO EARLIER IN THE DAY. THEY'LL STAY HOOKED UP BETTER AND A LOT LONGER. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS GIVES GREG BIFFLE A BUMP TO PUSH HIM AHEAD OF SCOTT SPEED IN TURN THREE. >> Darrell: PASSING GEAR. >> Larry: YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT DID TO THE MILES PER HOUR. IT SHOT IT UP THREE OR FOUR MILES PER HOUR. >> Darrell: THESE GUYS ARE ALL OVER THE RACETRACK. RIGHT UP NEXT TO THE WALL. RIGHT DOWN ON THE APRON. >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED ANOTHER OPEN WHEEL DRIVER COMING TO NASCAR AFTER A STINT IN FORMULA 1. >> Darrell: AND YOU WONDER WHY NOBODY LEFT. AND YOU WONDER WHY PEOPLE AT HOME ARE PROBABLY STILL WATCHING. IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION WE'RE SEEING RIGHT HERE. WHOA, LOOK OUT THERE, JUNEBUG! I THINK THAT'S ROBBY GORDON WASHED UP THE HILL WITH HIM AND HAD TO GET OUT OF THE THROTTLE. >> Larry: THAT JUST KILLED THE MOMENTUM ON THE 7 CAR AS WELL. >> Darrell: BOY, KEVIN HARVICK HAS FOUND HIMSELF IN BACK -- HE CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO GO WITH HIM. >> IF YOU SEE THE 00, A QUICK HOLE. FILL THAT, COMING UP ON THE SIDE HERE. >> Darrell: GREAT JOB BY THE SPOTTER. JUST KEEPS HIM SO INFORMED. >> Mike: 21 LAPS TO GO. >> Larry: KRISTA WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS THIS IS PART OF THE RACE THAT CARL EDWARDS HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT. WHEN I LOOK AT THE GUYS IN THE TOP FIVE, THIS IS THE PART OF THE RACE THEY'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THEIR ENTIRE RACING CAREER, WINNING AT DAYTONA. >> Mike: HERE COMES BOWYER TO THE INSIDE OF CARL EDWARDS. EDWARDS HANGING TOUGH AS GREG BIFFLE'S WINGMAN. >> Darrell: THE 24 CAR, HE'S CREEPING TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: 20 LAPS TO GO IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> Mike: 18 LAPS TO GO. SPRINT BRINGS YOU AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. 46.09. FASTEST LAP OF THE DAY. MATT KENSETH SET IT. FOR MORE INCAR AUDIO AND LIVE RACE RADIO, CHECK OUT NASCAR SPRINT CUP MOBILE AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. >> Darrell: 46.09, THAT'S 195, ISN'T IT? >> Larry: IF NOT MORE. WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, 45 FLAT IS 200 MILES PER HOUR. THAT'S COOKING ON ALONG RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED, OF MANTICA, CALIFORNIA, FINDS HIMSELF AFTER ONE SEASON IN NASCAR IN THE LEAD OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: HE IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE ME AND LARRY LOOK LIKE WE DON'T KNOW. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE DID. THE LONGER HE GOES, THE WORSE HIS CAR WILL PROBABLY GET ON TIRES. >> Mike: 47 LEAD CHANGES TODAY. THAT IS THE MOST IN ANY DAYTONA 500 IN THE LAST 30 YEARS. >> Darrell: IT'S BEEN A WHALE OF A RACE. UNFORTUNATE FOR THE INTERRUPTIONS, BUT WHEN WE'RE RACING, WE'RE DOING SERIOUS RACING. >> Larry: THE LEAD CHANGES ARE ONLY MONITORED AT THE START/FINISH. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> Darrell: WHOA! HE HAS A TIRE DOWN. HE HAS A TIRE DOWN. HE WAS TRYING TO GET ON PIT ROAD, HE COULDN'T GET IT WHOAED UP. >> Mike: HE HANGS ON TO IT. >> IT'S BROKE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A FLAT OR WHAT. >> Darrell: YOU GOT A FLAT, DUDE. >> Larry: YEAH. THE WAY IT LOOKS RIGHT THERE. HE'S GOT TO GET AROUND 2 1/2 MILES TO GET BACK TO PIT ROAD. >> Mike: THAT IS BIG. 16 LAPS TO GO. JOHNSON WILL NOT WIN THE DAYTONA 500. THE FIELD HEADS FOR TURN THREE. >> Larry: WE STAY GREEN. I BELIEVE THEY WOULD KICK SCOTT SPEED IN THE MIDDLE NOW. HE HAS HIS HANDS FULL THERE. >> Darrell: WHOEVER HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT FRONT HAS BEEN ABLE TO STAY THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WHEN YOU GET BACK IN TRAFFIC, THAT'S WHERE THE FOUR TIRES WOULD HAVE BEEN A HELP. >> Mike: THE ROUSH-FENWAY TWOSOME, DARRELL, HAS BEEN BROKEN UP. GREG BIFFLE NO LONGER HAS CARL EDWARDS AS HIS WINGMAN. HE HAS CLINT BOWYER RIGHT UP HIS BUMPER. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, JUST LISTENING TO JIMMIE JOHNSON ON THE RADIO. I DON'T KNOW IF HE HIT THAT HOLE BUT HE SAID THAT HOLE IS BACK AND IT'S HUGE. AND IT'S A REAR TIRE THAT HAS GONE FLAT ON THE 48. >> Darrell: THAT HOLE WOULD BE HUGE TO HIM, STEVE. BECAUSE HE HAS A PROBLEM. >> Mike: EDWARDS LINES UP BOWYER. BOWYER GOES FOR THE LEAD. CLINT BOWYER TO THE INSIDE. >> Larry: I MEAN THAT WAS A PRETTY MUCH A POWER MOVE RIGHT THERE. THERE YOU GO. >> DENNY HAMLIN UP TO FOURTH. TRUEX, FIFTH. JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Darrell: MIKE, THERE YOU GO! >> Larry: MIKE DILLON, CLINT'S SPOTTER. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED KURT BUSCH IN THE 2 CAR. EVER SINCE THE GUYS KIND OF GOT OFF-SEQUENCE ABOUT MID-RACE, THEY HAVE NOT EVEN BEEN IN THE PICTURE. HERE HE COMES FIGHTING TO GET BACK IN THE TOP FIVE. >> Darrell: THAT 16 CAR, HE WAS FAST IN HIS QUALIFYING RACE A. HE JUST HAPPENED TO GET MESSED UP ON THE RESTART. BUT HE'S SHOWING RIGHT NOW HE'S GOT A CAR THAT'S GOT THE POTENTIAL HERE TO WIN THIS THING. >> Mike: SO NOW THAT BIFFLE AND EDWARDS ARE HOOKED UP TOGETHER, CAN THE TWO FORDS SLIP PAST BOWYER'S CHEVROLET? >> Larry: DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11, WITH AND WITHOUT HELP, HE KEEPS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE RACETRACK, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER, ESPECIALLY IN TURN THREE AND FOUR. >> Darrell: REMEMBER, HE WAS HUNG IN THE MIDDLE AND HE WENT WAY, WAY BACK AND SQUEEZED IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY BACK IN THERE, IN 15th PLACE. HE GOT UP ON THE HIGH SIDE. HE'S BEEN MOTORING BACK TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: THAT HAS BEEN TOUGH TO DO. KEVIN HARVICK HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RACE BACK IN THE TOP TEN. SAME FOR KYLE BUSCH, DALE EARNHARDT JR., KASEY KAHNE. NOWHERE TO GO. >> Darrell: THE EQUALIZER IS GOING TO BE THE LAST FEW LAPS. SOME OF THE CARS ARE REALLY GOOD ON FRESH TIRES. SOME OF THE CARS RUN GOOD FOR A WHILE. I THINK A BIG DEAL WILL BE HERE WITH EIGHT OR TEN LAPS TO GO. THE CARS THAT HANDLE THE BEST WILL BE BACK IN THE FRONT. >> Mike: A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK-AWAY NOW FOR BOWYER AND BIFFLE. KURT BUSCH IS THE NEW THIRD-PLACE CAR. >> Darrell: HERE COMES JAMIE McMURRAY. TALKING ABOUT SIDE-DRAFTING. >> Mike: THE NUMBER 1, McMURRAY, DOWN ON THE INSIDE. HARVICK LOOKING TO GO ANYWHERE THEY'LL LET HIM. HARVICK IN THE 29. >> Darrell: HARVICK IS BAD, BAD FAST. WE KNOW THAT. HE'S JUST LOOKING FOR OPENINGS. >> Larry: NOW THEY'LL TRAP CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99 CAR IN THE MIDDLE. HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF HELP. MONTOYA JUMPS UP BEHIND HIM AND EDWARDS IS ABLE TO SQUEEZE IN BEHIND THE 29. >> Mike: HARVICK MADE A SIMILAR MOVE THE NATIONWIDE RACE YESTERDAY, DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM AND PULLING IN THE SLINGSHOT. HERE HE GOES AGAIN. DRAFTING OFF McMURRAY AND GETS THE SIDE DRAFT. >> Darrell: HE'S CRAZY FAST. >> Larry: BUT HE IS ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF FOUR FRESH TIRES, HE CAN MANEUVER THE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: HE'S JUMPING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. HE'S COMING, BABY. >> Mike: 11 LAPS TO GO, DEFENDING SPRINT CUP CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS GONE TO THE GARAGE. IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS HE'S FINISHED NO BETTER HERE THAN 27TH. >> Darrell: REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID TWO LAPS AGO? HARVICK COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE, HE'S TRAPPED BACK OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN? >> Mike: THAT WAS THEN. >> Darrell: LOOK WHERE HE IS NOW. >> Larry: HE'S IN THE TOP FIVE NOW. >> Mike: MR. WHERE THE HECK DID HE COME FROM? KEVIN HARVICK BUSTED HIS WAY TO THE TOP FIVE. DON'T COUNT HIM OUT. >> Darrell: IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SURPRISE TODAY IF HE GETS UP THERE. HE'S JUST BEEN THAT GOOD. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS MEANWHILE IN THE 99 HAS BEEN SHUFFLED BACK OUTSIDE THE TOP TEN. >> Larry: SPEAKING OF SHUFFLED, SCOTT SPEED HAS BEEN SHUFFLED BACK TO 29th POSITION AFTER THAT HAPPENED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR LAPS AGO. >> Darrell: REMEMBER WE SAW ELLIOTT SADLER PULL THAT SAME THING. UP IN THE FRONT, THEY DIDN'T GET TIRES. >> Mike: TEN LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: ♪ I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT ♪ ♪ ONE MORE TIME ♪ >> Mike: A SEVEN-CAR BREAK-AWAY AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. BOWYER, BIFFLE, BUSCH, HAMLIN, HARVICK, TRUEX, McMURRAY. >> Darrell: THE GUYS THAT AMAZE ME HERE, AND KURT BUSCH IS ONE OF THEM, WHEN HE'S -- HE'S AT THE END OF THE RACE, YOU FIND HIM NEAR THE TOP THREE OR FOUR. HARVICK IS THE OTHER ONE. TRUEX. WHAT A GREAT RUN FOR TRUEX YOU TRUEX IN THE 56 CAR. >> Mike: HERE IS DALE JR., TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE TOP 15 BEHIND CARL EDWARDS. >> Larry: WHOA. >> Darrell: WHAT WAS THAT? THAT WAS CRAZY. >> Larry: McMURRAY IN THE 1 DAR JUMP BEHIND MARTIN TRUEX IN THE 56 TRYING TO MAKE THE POWER MOVE PAST DENNY HAMLIN AND KEVIN HARVICK. >> Mike: FROM DENNY HAMLIN, GETTING A PUSH FROM KEVIN HARVICK. HAMLIN UP THE HILL A LITTLE BIT. >> Darrell: HAMLIN'S CAR IS NOT HANDMING -- HANDLING ALL THAT GREAT. >> Mike: THE SEVEN CAR BREAK AWAY IS NO MORE. HERE COMES KYLE BUSCH AND JEFF GORDON IN THE 24. >> Larry: IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP 15, WE SPOKE EARLIER ONLY EIGHT DRIVERS WON THE RACE MORE THAN ONE TIME. WE ONLY HAVE TWO DRIVERS IN THE TOP 15 THAT'S WON THIS 500. HARVICK AND JEFF GORDON. >> Mike: DOWN TO THE GARAGE, DICK BERGGREN. >> Dick: JIMMIE JOHNSON, WHAT BROKE? >> SOMETHING IN THE REAR END. NOT SURE IF THE LOCKER, THE AXLE, SOMETHING. I HAVE ONE TIRE THAT'S DRIVING. QUITE A HANDFUL HOLDING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, BUT UNFORTUNATE. WE HAD ISSUES THROUGH THE DAY AND I THINK THE POTHOLE CAUGHT US EARLY AND DAMAGED THE TIRE. WE STILL HAD A GREAT RACECAR AND WAS IN THE THICK OF IT AND HAD A SHOT TO WIN THIS THING. >> Dick: NOT HAD GOOD DAYTONA 500s SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW BUT WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP ANYWAY. >> Mike: JOHNSON WILL FINISH 34th TODAY. HAS THREE CARS EDGE IN FRONT OF THE FIELD. ONE CHEVY, ONE FORD, ONE DODGE. >> Larry: WE HAVE ALL FOUR MAKES REPRESENTED IN THE TOP FOUR RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: WE'LL HAVE TWO TEAMMATES HERE BEFORE LONG. >> Mike: NOBODY BREAKS AWAY VERY FAR OR VERY LONG. >> THE FIRST FIVE CARS IN YOUR TRACKS. >> Darrell: YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE GUYS RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT RIGHT NOW. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO JUMP OUT OF LINE, GO TO THE OUTSIDE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. OTHERWISE, YOU'RE STUCK. >> Mike: SEVEN LAPS TO GO. FELLOW WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT IS RIGHT THERE. KEVIN HARVICK. THAT'S HOW HE WON THE DAYTONA 500. CAME FROM DEEP IN THE FIELD WITH TWO LAPS TO GO. ON THE LAST LAP MADE HIS MOVE. >> Larry: TRYING TO ROUT KURT BUSCH OFF THE BOTTOM. >> Darrell: BIG WRECK! >> Mike: THREE CARS AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. RYAN NEWMAN IS IN IT. THROUGH THE GRASS GOES THE 37. EXCUSE ME. TRAVIS KVAPIL. NEWMAN'S CAR DESTROYED. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE ARMY OF NONE RIGHT THERE. NONE LEFT. >> Mike: THERE IS TRAVIS KVAPIL. LOOKS LIKE HE'LL GET BACK TO PIT ROAD WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF DAMAGE. >> Darrell: I THINK THEY JUST GET A LITTLE BIT WADDED UP BACK IN THERE. A HARD LICK. >> Larry: THAT WAS A HARD LICK WITH THE 39. >> Darrell: WITH THE 39 CAR. >> Mike: SOMEBODY TURNED ELLIOTT SADLER -- >> Larry: ELLIOTT SADLER GOT LOOSE. >> Darrell: HE GOT LOOSE AND HERE THEY ALL COME AND PILE IN. >> Mike: THE 19 OF ELLIOTT SADLER. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THAT 39 CAR. THOSE SPLITTERS. THEY'RE LIKE SNOWPLOWS. >> Mike: WOW! BILL ELLIOTT JUST MISSED KVAPIL. >> Darrell: WHAT A MESS. >> Mike: TOP OF YOUR SCREEN. >> Larry: YOU SEE SADLER. HE GETS LOOSE AS NEWMAN IS GOING BY. HE CLIPS NEWMAN IN THE RIGHT REAR AND TURNS HIM STRAIGHT IN THE FENCE. >> Larry: I KNOW RYAN NEWMAN WON THIS RACE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND WE ARE GETTING REPORT NEWMAN IS OUT OF THE CAR, EVERYBODY IS OUT OF CARS. OTHER THAN THE ONE DAYTONA 500, RESTRICTOR-PLATE IS NOT GOOD FOR RYAN NEWMAN. >> Darrell: I STILL HAVE VISIONS OF HIM STRIPPING OVER A COUPLE YEARS AGO. TALLADEGA FLIPPING OVER. >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN IN THE BACK SUIT, MAKING THE WALK TO THE AMBULANCE FOR THE MANDATORY RIDE TO THE CARE CENTER. >> Darrell: LARRY, I KNOW WE'RE AT DAYTONA, NOT TALLADEGA. BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE RACECARS LOOK LIKE THEY WANT TO GET UP IN THE AIR. >> Larry: I THINK, YOU KNOW, JEFF HAMMOND TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER. YOU KNOW, THE EXTENSION OF THAT SHARK FIN DOWN THE BACK WINDOW AND MAKING THE ONE ON THE WINDOW TALLER, IT INCREASED THE LIFTOFF SPEED BY 8 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. >> Darrell: OH, ME. NOW WHAT? >> Mike: THE SEVENTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE DAY. A BIT OF DEBRIS THERE. >> Darrell: THINK WE WILL GET INSIDE THE GREEN/WHITE CHECKERED WINDOW? >> Mike: IT'S POSSIBLE. IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO REMOVE RYAN NEWMAN'S CAR. THE 37 OF KVAPIL WAS ABLE TO MAKE A PIT STOP AND CONTINUE. HE IS STILL, I BELIEVE, ON THE LEAD LAP. DOUBLE CHECK THAT. >> Larry: WE WILL SEE TAKERS HERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE 25 LAPS ON THE TIRES. IT'S ALMOST LIKE KURT BUSCH CAME AND EVERYONE FROM ABOUT 12th OR 13th BACK CAME. KRISTA? >> Krista: JEFF GORDON, THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DID NOT DO. THEY'RE COMING IN FOR TWO TIRES. MATT? >> Matt: KRISTA, THAT'S EXACTLY THE SAME PLAN FOR KURT BUSCH AND THE 2. REMEMBER, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES HE HAS FINISHED SECOND IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THEY'RE GOING FOUR TIRES ON THE BLUE DEUCE. >> Larry: I FELT LIKE WITH 25 LAPS ON SOME TIRES, MAYBE A LITTLE SURPRISED AT THE 2 CAR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS THAN FIVE LAPS TO GO. ONLY ABOUT THREE LAPS TO GO. I WASN'T SURPRISED ALL THE GUYS AT THE BACK CAME. >> Darrell: HERE IS THE BEAUTIFUL THING RIGHT NOW FOR THE 33 AND THE 29. IF BOWYER TAKES THE OUTSIDE LINE, ON THE RESTART, KEVIN WILL LINE UP RIGHT BEHIND HIM. THE TWO TEAMMATES WILL HAVE THE 16 AND THE 56 TO THEIR INSIDE. >> Mike: IT LOOK LIKE A.J. ALLMENDINGER IS THE FREE PASSER CAR. THIS CAUTION WAS A BLESSING FOR SCOTT SPEED. WE HAD FEARED THAT SPEED MIGHT RUN OUT OF FUEL BEFORE THE CHECKERED FLAG. HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE HIS STOP AND COME BACK OUT. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, JUST LISTENING TO KEVIN HARVICK ON THE RADIO, HE SAID, "I CANNOT RUN THE TOP. I'M GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM AS QUICK AS I CAN." >> Mike: WE'LL SEE IF THAT IS A WINNING STRATEGY FOR THE FOURTH PLACE CAR. >> Darrell: THEN THAT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY WILL DO, BECAUSE IF HE CAN'T RUN THE TOP, AND HERE HE HAS TO RESTART FOURTH, DOES BOWYER WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND HELP HIM? OR DOES HE WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH SOMEONE ELSE? >> Mike: NOBODY IS BETTER AT EXCUSE ME, PARDON ME, I'M COMING IN THIS LINE, THAN KEVIN HARVICK. >> Darrell: PRETTY GOOD. HE HAS A FAST CAR. WE'LL SEE WHAT HE DOES. I THINK THE TEAMMATES WILL WORK TOGETHER. >> Larry: THE TOP 12 CARS. WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 30-SOMETHING CARS, 31, 32 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. THE TOP 12 CARS STAYED OUT, SO THAT'S GOOD FRIENDS FOR CLINT BOWYER AND THE GROUP AT THE FRONT. >> Darrell: JUST TO DEFEND YOU AND I TALKING ABOUT SCOTT SPEED, HE STAYED UP THERE VERY WELL UNTIL HE GOT TO ROLLING BACK THROUGH THE FIELD. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS BACK IN 29th SPOT. SO WHEN WE SAY, WHEN WE MAKE CALLS, WE MAKE THEM LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURES SOMETIMES, NOT JUST A SHORT RUN. >> Larry: WE DON'T SAY THERE ARE BAD CALLS. WE SAY THIS COULD BE THE CONSEQUENCES. >> Darrell: YES. >> Mike: THE DirecTV BLIMP HAS LOOK AT THE LEADERS OF THE DAT0 WITH FOUR TO GO. >> Darrell: ONE TO GO. >> Mike: AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. JEFF? >> Jeff: GUYS, ONE THING THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE SOME OF THE STRATEGY WOULD BE ULE AS FAR AS HOW MANY MULTIPLE GREEN/WHITE CHECKER WE COULD GET INTO. FRESHER TIRES IF WE GET MULTIPLE RESTARTS WILL BENEFIT THE GUYS THAT CAME TO PIT ROAD. A YEAR AGO WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DOUBLE-FILE RESTART SHOOT-OUT STYLE, A LOT OF THE GUYS WERE A LOT FURTHER BACK THAN WHAT YOU SEE NOW. >> Darrell: I THINK WE'RE SEEING WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN. 33 AND 29 ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. LET'S SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. >> DYLAN, WE HAVE TO BLOCK BOTH LINES AS BEST WE CAN. WE HAVE THE FASTEST CAR HERE. >> 10-4. >> Mike: THAT'S CLINT BOWYER TO HIS SPOTTER MIKE DYLAN. MATT? >> Matt: RIGHT UP UNTIL THEY GOT THE ONE TO GO, BOWYER WAS DEBATING WHICH LINE TO RESTART IN. AND BASICALLY HE SAYS LOOK, RICHARD CHILDRESS TOLD HIM, AS SOON AS HARVICK CAN GET TO THE BOTTOM, HE IS GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM SO YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR MOVE AS SOON AS YOU CAN TO THE BOTTOM AS WELL. >> Mike: ON THE OUTSIDE, CHEVROLETS, GREG BIFFLE'S FORD ON THE INSIDE. >> Darrell: I THINK IT WILL WORK OUT JUST FINE. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS BOWYER IS GOING TO GET THE GOOD RESTART AND HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROBABLY MOVE TO EITHER SIDE, WHICHEVER WAY HE WANTS TO GO. THE THING THAT IS GOING TO HELP THE 29 CAR IS KURT BUSCH -- OR KYLE BUSCH RIGHT BEHIND THE 29 IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET HIM GOOD PUSH, I THINK. >> Mike: RIDING WITH MARTIN TRUEX, WHO TOLD HIS TEAM HE HAS A VIBRATION. THIS WILL NOT BE A GREEN/WHITE CHECKER RESTART. WE'LL RESTART WITH THREE LAPS TO GO. NASCAR'S CONTROLLING RULE, IF THE LEADER TAKES THE WHITE BLOCK UNDER GREEN, THAT'S THE RACE. WHATEVER HAPPENS AFTER THAT ENDS THE RACE. CAUTION OR CHECKER. DEBRIS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO. >> Darrell: I JUST MIGHT SAY THINKING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A GREEN/WHITE CHECKERED MAYBE MORE THAN ONCE IS PRETTY OPTIMISTIC. WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE END OF THE RACE. >> Mike: SO THEY PUT OFF ONE TO GO ONCE MORE. SO IT WILL BE A TWO-LAP SHOOT-OUT. >> Darrell: PAT TRYSON IS A LITTLE WORRIED BECAUSE TRUEX IS CALLING IN SAYING I GOT A VIBRATION. THAT COULD BE A TIRE. >> Larry: BUT I SAW A LITTLE BUMP OF THE FIST LIKE YES! THAT MEANS ONE LESS LAP WE HAVE TO RUN HERE. >> Darrell: RIGHT. >> Mike: BORIS SAID AND TRAVIS KVAPIL PIT. THAT MAY BE THE DEBRIS RIGHT THERE THAT NASCAR -- NO, THAT'S JUST A PIECE OF TAPE THERE. >> Darrell: I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY DOWN IN THREE AND FOUR. I THINK I SAW SOMETHING LAYING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: ONE PIECE HIGH, ONE LOW. THERE IS A LOOK AT IT. >> Darrell: SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT UP BEFORE THE CARS GET BACK AROUND HERE. >> Mike: THAT LOOKED LIKE -- YEAH, IT WAS A WING END PLATE. >> Larry: TRAVIS KVAPIL HAD BEEN BLACK FLAGGED BECAUSE HE WAS MISSING ONE THE END PLATES OFF THE WING AND I THINK WE JUST FOUND IT. >> Mike: THE VICE TIGHTENS. TWO LAPS TO GO. AND THERE ARE STILL 32 CARS WITHIN SIGHT OF THE LEADER WITH A CHANCE TO WIN THE 500. >> Darrell: BEEN WAITING ALL DAY LONG FOR THIS, FOR THE FINAL FEW LAPS OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: BEEN WAITING ALL WINTER LONG. >> Darrell: YEAH. >> Larry: I SEE THE THIRD RICHARD CHILDRESS CAR THERE, THE FOURTH CAR IN LINE ON THE OUTSIDE, JEFF BURTON IN THE 31. THEN YOU HAVE TEAMMATES SIDE-BY-SIDE IN ROW THREE, KYLE BUSCH AND DENNY HAMLIN IN THE TOYOTAS. >> Darrell: THAT'S THE BEST BURTON HAS BEEN ALL DAY. HE'S BEEN BACK IN THE 15th SPOT MOST ALL DAY. HERE HE IS NOW LATE IN THE RACE WITH A SHOT. WE KNOW THE CARS ARE, ALL THE CHILDRESS CARS ARE FAST. HAMLIN'S CAR IS NOT HANDLING REAL GOOD. IT'S KIND OF EVIL. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT GOING ON THE OUTSIDE OF HIM. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON TRYING TO JOIN HIS BROTHER WARD AS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. NOW, THE STATISTICS DO NOT FAVOR CLINT BOWYER. HE LED LAP 100 THE HALFWAY LAP. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE HALFWAY LAP LEADER WON THE 500. >> Darrell: WHATEVER BOWYER DOES, I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL BE SPECTACULAR. WHATEVER IT IS! I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE. >> Mike: REMEMBER HARVICK IN THE 29 SAYS HE NEEDS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM. BIFFLE IN THE 16 WILL TRY TO EKE OUT A LEAD. HE CANNOT BEAT BOWYER TO THE GREEN FLAG. CLINT BOWYER IS THE LEADER. TWO LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: HERE WE GO! >> Mike: GREEN FLAG! >> Darrell: ALL ON THE LINE, BOYS. >> Larry: HARVICK GOT A DECENT RESTART. >> Darrell: HARVICK WANTS SO BADLY TO CLEAR THE 16 CAR AND DROP TO THE BOTTOM. THAT WOULD BE WHAT WOULD WORK FOR HIM. >> STILL THERE. YOU'RE CLEAR. YOU'RE CLEAR. YOU'RE CLEAR! >> Darrell: I SEE THE 33 HAS THE OPTION. DO I STAY IN THE HIGH LINE? DO I STAY IN THE LOW LINE? HE CAN WORK BOTH SIDES OF THE DEAL AND GO WITH THE CAR THAT'S COMING THE FASTEST. >> Larry: THEY JUMP BACK UP IN FRONT OF HIS TEAMMATE. HERE COMES THAT INSIDE LINE. >> Darrell: BOY, THAT WAS A TEAM PLAYER RIGHT THERE. TO JUMP OUT THERE AND HELP HARVICK LIKE THAT. >> Mike: HE IS GOING TO HAVE ABOUT ONE MORE CHANCE. THAT'S GREG BIFFLE TAKING THE LEAD. BILL ELLIOTT GETS PILED UP IN TURN NUMBER FOUR. WITH I BELIEVE, JOEY LOGANO. >> Larry: THE CAUTION IS OUT. THE LEADER HAS NOT TAKEN THE WHITE FLAG, SO WE WILL GO INTO OVERTIME. >> Darrell: IMAGINE THAT. >> Mike: THERE WERE THREE CARS INVOLVED UP THERE IN TURN FOUR. ELLIOTT AND LOGANO. COULDN'T SEE THE THIRD CAR THROUGH THE SMOKE. LET'S SEE IT AS IT WILL COME IN, DARRELL, FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO JOEY LOGANO AND BILL ELLIOTT. >> Darrell: A LOT OF CARS IN HERE. A WHOLE GAGGLE OF THEM. BILL LOOKS LIKE -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE BILL HAD A FLAT TIRE. HE JUST WASHED UP THE HILL INTO LOGANO. HERE COMES BORIS SAID WHO HAS BEEN RIDING AROUND AT THE BACK STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE ALL DAY, UNTIL THE LAST LAP. >> Larry: DEFINITELY, ELLIOTT'S CAR THE 21. LOOKED LIKE DRIFT ALMOST. >> Darrell: SEE HOW IT TAKES OFF BACK THERE? IT LOOK LIKE HE'S GOT A TIRE DOWN TO ME. >> Mike: THE 1985, AND '87 DAYTONA 500 WINNER IN THE 21, BILL ELLIOTT. >> Darrell: JOEY LOGANO IS JUST A VICTIM OF BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE. OH, YEAH. I THOUGHT I COULD SEE THE RIGHT FRONT A LITTLE SOFT ON BILL'S CAR. I'M NOT SURE. >> Larry: I THINK JOEY COULD SEE IT HAPPENING, BECAUSE YOU COULD HEAR HIM START TO GET OUT OF THE THROTTLE, BUT TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. >> Mike: HERE IS THE REACTION FROM GREG BIFFLE'S PIT. NOT WHAT THEY WANTED. >> Larry: WELL, AGAIN, WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN IS BIFFLE COME UNDER THE FLAG STAND. TAKEN THE WHITE FLAG. THEN IT WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RACE. >> Darrell: OH, ME. I'M GOING TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL HEART ATTACK. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Mike: SO THE WOOD BROTHERS ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET BILL ELLIOTT OUT THERE TO FINISH THE RACE. RUNNING A PARTIAL SCHEDULE THIS SEASON. THEY CONCENTRATED EVERYTHING ON THIS RACE. TIME TRIAL IN THE TOP FIVE. >> Darrell: YEP. >> Mike: NOW HAVE A BENT-UP RACECAR. BUT THEY WILL FINISH THE RACE ALONG WITH JOEY LOGANO. >> Darrell: SEE WHY -- >> Mike: ON BEHALF OF RACE FANS EVERYWHERE, OUR THANKS TO THE NASCAR ON FOX CREW AND THE NASCAR AND ALL THE HEARTY FANS HERE. THOSE UP ON THE ROOF, CAMERA MEN, IN THE PITS, TECHNICAL STAFF, THEIR DAY BEGAN AT 6:30 THIS MORNING TO TRY TO BRING YOU THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. AS WE GO INTO THE EVENING, TRYING TO BRING YOU A GREEN FLAG FINISH. >> Darrell: YEAH, WE STARTED OUT THIS MORNING IN OVERCOATS, GOT INTO OUR SHORTS AT 1:00 WHEN THE RACE STARTED, BACK TO THE OVERCOATS. >> Mike: FROM OVERCOATS TO OVERDRIVE. >> Darrell: I THINK IT'S BEEN WORTH IT, THOUGH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS HAVE PUT ON A GREAT SHOW TODAY. SURE, IT'S BEEN INTERRUPTED A TIME OR TWO. WHAT I -- LOOK AT ALL THESE PEOPLE. I HAVE NOT -- I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE EXITS. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYBODY LEAVING. >> Mike: THEY MIGHT BE LINED UP IN THE AISLE TOWARD THE EXIT BUT NOT LEAVING UNTIL THE FLAG FALLS. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE PEOPLE IN THE SUITES NEXT TO US. THEY'RE ALL IN THEIR SEATS. SOME OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN SITTING DOWN. >> Mike: WE'LL TRY IT AGAIN. TWO LAPS TO GO UNDER NASCAR RULE, GREEN FLAG, THEN WHITE FLAG, THEN THE CHECKER. IF THE RACE LEADER TAKES THE WHITE FLAG WHILE THE GREEN IS OUT, WHATEVER FLAG FLIES NEXT ENDS THE RACE. CHECKERS OR WRECKERS. >> I'D SAY THERE IS A LOT OF ATTITUDE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE ATTITUDE. >> Mike: NINE DAYTONA 500s OUT OF 51 HAVE BEEN DECIDED BY A LAST LAP PASS. >> Darrell: I THINK ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS. ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE. KEVIN HARVICK OR RYAN NEWMAN OR MATT KENSETH. THE LAST THREE YEARS PRETTY MUCH COME OUT OF NOWHERE. >> Mike: THIS TIME BOWYER AND HARVICK START SIDE-BY-SIDE AND THE 56 OF MARTIN TRUEX ALONGSIDE LE FOR THE RESTART. DICK? >> Dick: HE ASKED HIS CREW IF HE'S OKAY ON FUEL. THE CREW CHIEF TRYSON SAID, "RIGHT NOW YOU ARE." >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: A DEAL HAS BEEN CUT. O'DAY, KEVIN HARVICK SPOTTER WENT TO BARNWELL, SPOTTER ON THE 1. HARVICK IS GOING TO TRY TO GET HELP FROM JAMIE McMURRAY FROM BEHIND. >> Mike: DELAY ARE NOT TEAMMATES -- THEY ARE NOT TEAMMATES BUT THEIR ENGINES COME OUT OF THE SAME SHOP. >> Larry: IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DEAL. WITH THE WAY THE CARS DRIVE AND BOUNCE AROUND. YOU DO THE DEAL-MAKING YOU WANT BUT A PACK OF CARS, 30 ON THE LEAD BACK. 20 OR 25 OF THEM BELIEVE I CAN WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: WELL, ONE OF THE MOST UNSELFISH THINGS I THINK I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE WAS CLINT BOWYER GOING DOWN THE BACK, HAD HIS CHOICE OF LANES. BIFFLE COMING HARD ON THE INSIDE. BOWYER JUMPED TO THE OUTSIDE TO PICK UP HIS TEAMMATE KEVIN HARVICK. THAT IS A TEAMMATE. >> Mike: FORD ON THE POINT. FORD WENT TO VICTORY LANE LAST YEAR, MATT KENSETH. TOYOTA ON THE OUTSIDE. TOYOTA NEVER WON THE DAYTONA 500. AS WE'RE IN OVERDRIVE. GREEN, WHITE, WE HOPE CHECKER. >> Darrell: I DON'T BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THE 16 CAR IS IN THE CAT-BIRD SEAT. IT WILL BE HARD FOR SOMEBODY TO GET AROUND HIM UNLESS HARVICK, BOWYER, MAYBE McMURRAY. YOU KNOW McMURRAY IS ALMOST LIKE A TEAMMATE TO THOSE GUYS. HE'S GOT THE EARNHARDT-CHILDRESS ENGINES UNDER THE HOOD. THEY'LL TRY TO WORK TOGETHER. THEY'LL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET BY THE 16. >> Mike: IF BIFFLE CAN HANG THE BOTTOM, STAY NEAR THE YELLOW LINE. AND IF SOMEBODY WILL COME UP BEHIND TO HELP DRAFT WITH HIM, HE CAN WIN THE DAYTONA 500. HE'S GOT A LOT OF FELLOWS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. >> Darrell: I'M SURE PAT TRYSON IS DOWN THIS SAYING WAIT A MINUTE, FELLOWS. I DIDN'T JUST LUCK IN THIS POSITION. I'VE BEEN HERE ALL AFTERNOON. DON'T COUNT ME OUT EITHER. >> Larry: EXACTLY. HE IS ONE OF THE CARS THAT CHANGED FOUR TIRES THE LAST TIME THEY WERE ON PIT ROAD. BACK ON LAP 164. >> Mike: BEHIND TRUEX, THE NEXT TOYOTA IS DENNY HAMLIN. NUMBER 11. RIGHT NOW IS IN THE WRONG LANE TO HELP TRUEX. HE'S ON THE INSIDE WITH KYLE BUSCH BEHIND HIM. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK IT'S MANUFACTURERS AS MUCH AS TEAMMATE. ONLY THING BIFFLE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT IS THE TEAMMATE. >> BIFFLE'S LAST WIN WAS 2008. DOVER, DELAWARE. PACE CAR IS IN. GREEN FLAG. GREEN-WHITE CHECKER. HERE WE GO. >> Larry: HARVICK PUSHED WHEN HE TOOK THE GREEN FLAG. >> Darrell: HARVICK ALL UP BEHIND HIM. >> Mike: HARVICK TRYING FOR THE BOTTOM. MADE IT! >> Larry: HE TRIED TO PUT THE BLOCK ON HIM, BUT HARVICK WAS THERE! >> Mike: THAT IS WHAT HE WANTED. WHAM, BAM, HERE WE GO. >> Larry: HERE WE GO, BOYS. THAT'S WHY HARVICK HAD TO GET TO THE BOTTOM. LOOK AT McMURRAY IN THE 1, JUMP TO THE BOTTOM. >> Darrell: GOT ANOTHER WRECK. DADGUM. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE. >> Larry: CAUTION IS OUT. SO, WE'LL TRY THIS AGAIN. >> Mike: THE 9, AND ROBERT RICHARDSON IN THE 38. >> Darrell: I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE VISIONARY WAS WHO SAID WE BETTER TRY THIS THREE TIMES, BECAUSE ONCE AIN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH. IF THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO STAY HERE ALL DAY AND WAIT ON A FINISH, THEY DESERVE A GREEN FLAG FINISH. >> Larry: EVERYBODY DESERVES IT. >> Mike: HERE IS THE RESTART. WATCH MR. HARVICK. PARDON ME, EXCUSE ME, COMING THROUGH, OUT OF MY WAY. >> Darrell: MUSCLE, MAN. LIKE HE SAID, "I GOT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM. I'M NOT GOOD AT THE TOP." WE SAW IT ON THE LAST RESTART. HE SQUEEZES IN FRONT OF BIFFLE. TRUEX SAYS NO, NO, NO YOU CAN'T GO THERE. THAT WAS NOT A GOOD MOVE. >> Mike: TRUEX CAME DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM AND GOT SQUIRRELLED UP AND TOOK HIS MOMENTUM. HERE COMES McMURRAY AN EVERYBODY ELSE. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE GUYING WEARING HIM OUT BECAUSE HE LOST MOMENTUM. >> Larry: THE DOOR WAS OPEN WIDE ENOUGH FOR 1 CAR TO JUMP BACK IN. >> Mike: MIDDLE OF THE SCREEN. 9 OF KASEY KAHNE. >> Darrell: JEFF GORDON GOT BOTTLENECKED IN THERE. HE GAVE KASEY KAHNE AND THE 9 CAR IN A BUMP. SHOT HIM, MARK MARTIN IN THE 5 AND REBOUNDED FROM THERE. >> Larry: NOW BECAUSE OF THIS OVERDRIVE, THIS GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERED ANOTHER ATTEMPT, WE'RE TOLD THAT MARTIN TRUEX IS BEING TOLD TO SAVE FUEL. >> Darrell: OKAY. I'M SITTING UP HERE IN THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? >> Larry: UNDER CAUTION. >> Mike: THE WAY THAT ACCORDIONED, MARK MARTIN IN THE 5 GOT HARD ON THE BRAKES. WHEN KASEY KAHNE HIT HIM, SQUIRRELLED HIM UP. JEFF GORDON GOT IN THE BACK. >> Darrell: HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED. JEFF GORDON BUMPED THE 9 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER, SHOT HIM UP TO MARK MARTIN. WHEN HE UNCOILED OFF OF MARK, HE GOT HIT. YOU WILL SEE JEFF GORDON, I BELIEVE, COME UP HERE, BUMP THE 9. SHOOT HIM IN THE 5. BOOM! RIGHT THERE. THAT SHOOTS HIM IN MARK. WHEN IT DID, IT JUST GOT HIM OUT OF CONTROL. >> Mike: BECAUSE WHEN HE CAME OFF MARK MARTIN, THE SECOND CONTACT FROM GORDON, KAHNE WASN'T POINTING STRAIGHT ANYMORE. >> Darrell: NO, NO, NO. AGREED. >> Larry: THAT WAS RIGHT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CORNER WHEN HE DID THAT. >> Darrell: YEAH, NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE BUMP-DRAFTING, I MIGHT SAY. >> Mike: FROM TRUEX, AND MAKES A MOVE. TRUEX TRIED TO MAKE A BLOCK AND COULDN'T DO IT. >> Darrell: YOU SEE HOW SQUIRRELY EVERYBODY IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT. I THINK IT WAS JEFF GORDON WHO GAVE -- WHO WAS IT A SHOT AT THE LAST LAP OF THE -- >> Larry: THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT. >> Mike: BIFFLE. >> Larry: I HAVE TO SAY, THIS I'VE GOT TO SAY THIS. BACK AT TALLADEGA, JEFF GORDON WAS THE ONE THAT WENT TO NASCAR AND SAID YOU'VE GOT TO STOP THE BUMP-DRAFTING. >> Darrell: IN THE CORNERS PARTICULARLY. >> Larry: I KNOW WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE CHECKERED FLAG FOR THE DAYTONA 500, BUT HE IS THE VERY ONE THAT DID THAT. >> Mike: IN THIS CASE, JEFF GORDON NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN THE BACK OF KASEY KAHNE IF THE WHOLE FIELD HADN'T STACKED UP IN FRONT OF KASEY. >> Larry: GOOD CHANCE, BUT DARRELL IS RIGHT. WE SAW HIM DO IT IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT AND WE SAW IT AGAIN. >> Darrell: CAN'T BUMP-DRAFT IN THE CORNERS. NOT SAYING HE WAS TRYING TO BUMP-DRAFT BUT HE GAVE THE 9 A SHOT. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK HAS THE LEAD. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT, KEVIN'S SPOTTER BILLY O'DAY, WE MENTIONED HIM SEVERAL TIMES SAID, "KEVIN, THAT WAS A HELL OF A MOVE GOING IN TURN ONE. I COULDN'T HELP YOU THERE." KEVIN SAID, "THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500. I WAS GOING LEFT." >> Mike: THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY ON SPEED. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A DRIVER WHO IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN THE 500. KEVIN HARVICK IS THAT KIND OF DRIVER. >> Darrell: HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF WHATEVER IT TAKES RIGHT HERE. YOU GET INTO THE 56, GET HIM A LITTLE SQUIRRELY. DROP DOWN IN FRONT OF THE 16. 56, MARTIN TRUEX SAYS NOT TODAY, BUDDY. KEVIN HARVICK SAYS OH, YEAH, NOT TODAY. >> Mike: TONIGHT. >> Darrell: IT'S MY DAY. >> Larry: TELL YOU, BIFFLE WAS PRETTY DARN SIDEWAYS IN THE 16 CAR. >> Mike: BIFFLE CAME UP AND ALMOST TOOK TONY STEWART WITH HIM. >> Darrell: HE DID. >> Mike: I MEAN KASEY KAHNE WENT UP. >> Larry: BUT I DO AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, MIKE. IT LOOKED LIKE THE BUMP-DRAFT THERE, EVEN THAT REPLAY WAS PART OF THE ACCORDION DEAL. >> Darrell: IT IS THE END OF THE RACE. >> Larry: IT'S THE END OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: EXACTLY. >> Mike: ONE LAP TO GREEN. AND NOW, WE -- >> Darrell: WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT JEFF GORDON DID ANYTHING WRONG. WE'RE JUST SAYING. WE'RE JUST SAYING. >> Larry: THAT'S WHAT THE NEW SAYING IS. >> Mike: NOW, IS KEVIN HARVICK RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS TO BE? OR IS HE IN TROUBLE? >> Darrell: HMM, HE'S GOT THE 99 BEHIND HIM. HADN'T SEEN A LOT OF SPEED OUT OF THAT 99 TODAY. EARLY MAYBE, BUT NOT LATELY. JUST HAVE TO SEE. >> Mike: THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM IF JAMIE McMURRAY AND BIFFLE HOOK UP, BECAUSE HARVICK IS GOING TO NEED SOME HELP. >> Darrell: I THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THOUGH, I BELIEVE HARVICK'S CAR IS SO GOOD ON THE BOTTOM HE'LL GET A NICE RESTART. WHEN THEY START DOWN THE BACK, HE'LL GO INSIDE, OUTSIDE, KIND OF WORK WHICHEVER WAYS THE CARS ARE COMING FROM. HE'S GOING TO BE HARD TO PASS. >> Larry: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THOUGH. THAT CAT THERE IN THE OUTSIDE, IN THE 1 CAR, HE HAS BEEN WILLING THAT 1 CAR EVERY SINCE THEY UNLOADED A WEEK-AND-A-HALF AGO. WON THE LAST RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACE AT TALLADEGA AND WON A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN THE JULY RACE AND I'D SAY HE WANTS TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 PRETTY BAD. JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Darrell: GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW, MARTIN TRUEX IS SITTING THERE IN SIXTH PLACE. THAT IS HIS OLD CAR RIGHT THERE. I KNOW AS A DRIVER, YOU LOOK UP THERE AND YOU SAY MAN, THAT'S MY OLD CAR. I HAVE TO GET AROUND HIM SOME WAY. >> Larry: MIKE, YOU POINTED IT OUT. EARNHARDT-CHILDRESS ENGINE SIDE-BY-SIDE ON THE FRONT ROW. >> Mike: 2007 HERE, KEVIN HARVICK BEAT MARK MARTIN TO THE FLAG BY JUST THAT MUCH, AS CARS WERE CRASHING AND FLIPPING BEHIND HIM. HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE. THREE YEARS AGO ON THE FINAL LAP. THAT'S MARK MARTIN IN THE 01. HARVICK IN THE 29. WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM. HERE THEY COME OFF TURN FOUR. >> Darrell: IF THEY HAD FROZEN THE FIELD RIGHT THERE, KEVIN STILL WOULD HAVE WON, BECAUSE HE WAS AHEAD OF MARK WHEN THEER CARS STARTED TO SPIN. BUT NOW THEY RUN ON DOWN HERE, FINISH THE RACE. LOOKS LIKE "DAYS OF THUNDER." >> Mike: THAT'S CLINT BOWYER UPSIDE DOWN ACROSS THE LINE. THAT RACE IN 2007 IS THE LAST TIME CLINT BOWYER HAS BEEN -- OR KEVIN HARVICK HAS BEEN TO VICTORY LANE IN A SPRINT CUP POINTS RACE. >> Darrell: MAN HAS HAD A HECK OF A WEEK DOWN HERE, I CAN TELL YOU, WITH THE NATIONWIDE CAR. TONY WINNING YESTERDAY. STEWART WINNING THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT. >> Mike: AGAIN, WE'LL TRY IT IN OVERDRIVE. GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. THIS TIME, HARVICK AND McMURRAY IN FRONT OF TEAMMATES EDWARDS, BIFFLE. THEN BURTON, TRUEX, MONTOYA AND BOWYER. GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. HERE WE GO. GREEN FLAG! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Larry: LOOKS LIKE A DEAD HEAT. IT LOOKS LIKE KEVIN GOT A -- >> Darrell: THE 29 GOT A JUMP ON THE ONE CAR. THERE IS DAD-TO-BE, CARL EDWARDS, RIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE 29 PUSHING AS HARD AS HE CAN. HERE WE GO UP THE BACK. TWO-BY-TWO EXCEPT THE CAT OUT FRONT. >> Larry: LOOK AT THE RUN. McMURRAY DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, BUMPED FROM GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16 CAR. BIFFLE IS ALL OVER THE BACK OF IT. EDWARDS IN THE MIDDLE. >> Mike: HARVICK. >> Darrell: IF I WAS HARVICK I WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE OUTSIDE, THE FAST LINE. >> Larry: HERE COMES TRUEX FIGHTING HIS WAY BACK ON THE OUTSIDE IN THE 56. NOT A LOT OF HELP OUT THERE. >> Mike: THREE WIDE. HERE COMES DALE JR. PUSHING CLINT BOWYER. >> Darrell: WHERE DID JUNEBUG COME FROM? >> Mike: THIS WILL BE THE WHITE FLAG. JAMIE McMURRAY IS IN FRONT TO TRY TO WIN THE 500. THIS WILL BE THE LAST LAP! >> Darrell: WHATEVER HAPPENS NOW, HAPPENS, FOLKS. THEY COULD ALL WAD UP DOWN HERE AND NOBODY WILL LEAD OUT THE SECOND TURN A WINNER. >> Mike: JUNIOR ON THE BOTTOM WITH BOWYER. BIFFLE. AHEAD. TRUEX. >> Larry: TRYING TO GET UP THERE AND HELP McMURRAY BUT BOWYER IS BEHIND BIFFLE IN THE 16. BOWYER TO THE OUTSIDE. >> Darrell: LOOK AT JUNIOR! C'MON, JUNIOR! C'MON! >> Mike: CAN THEY MAKE IT TO THE FLAG? >> Darrell: NO WAY. THEY'LL NEVER GET THROUGH THIS THIRD TURN. >> Mike: JUNIOR SQUIRRELLED UP THERE. >> Darrell: PERFECT. FLYING THROUGH THERE. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR. UNBELIEVABLY CAUGHT JAMIE McMURRAY, AS THEY COME TO TURN FOUR. >> Larry: HE'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGH SIDE, THOUGH. McMURRAY GUARDING THAT LINE. >> Mike: AT THE BACK, NEVER MIND. GREEN FLAG STILL OUT. CHECKERED FLAG IN THE AIR. THE 52nd DAYTONA 500. JAMIE McMURRAY! >> Darrell: YES! YES! JAMIE, BABY! WHOO! >> Mike: HOOK, LINE AN SINKER. >> Darrell: YES, SIR! REALLY FAST! >> Larry: HOW ABOUT THAT? JAMIE McMURRAY, TERESA EARNHARDT, CHIP GANASSI, FELIX SABATES, WINNING THE DAYTONA 500. >> OH, MY GOSH! >> Mike: THE CARS THAT CRASHED -- >> THAT WAS SO AWESOME! >> Mike: THE CARS THAT CRASHED AT THE BACK WERE ROBBY GORDON, I BELIEVE, AND JEFF GORDON. >> Darrell: JEFF GOT LOOSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PACK. >> Larry: YOU KNOW WHAT? WE SAID IT MANY TIMES, WHEN YOU WIN THE DAYTONA 500, IT DOESN'T STAY WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR SEASON, OR THE REST OF YOUR CAREER. STAYS WITH YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. >> Darrell: THIS CAT HAS BECOME A PRETTY GOOD RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACER. JAMIE IS A GUY, EVERYBODY LIKES JAMIE. A GOOD KID. >> Mike: WHEN ROUSH-FENWAY RACING HAD TO DOWNSIZE DUE TO NASCAR RULES FROM FIVE TEAMS TO FOUR, IT WAS McMURRAY LEFT ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. HE HOOKED UP WITH EARNHARDT-GANASSI RACING AND CHIP GANASSI'S FIRST DAYTONA 500 TRIUMPH AS WELL, AS THE YOUNG DRIVER FROM JOPLIN, MISSOURI, JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Darrell: TIP YOUR HAT TO DALE JR. HE HAS NOT EVEN BEEN NEAR THE LEAD. >> Larry: TENTH TO SECOND IN LESS THAN TWO LAPS. >> Darrell: HE LOOKED LIKE DADDY COMING THROUGH THERE. NICE JOB. NICE JOB! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WHOA IT UP. BURN HER DOWN RIGHT THERE! >> Mike: JAMIE MAC BECOMES THE 34th DRIVER TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. IT'S HIS FOURTH SPRINT CUP VICTORY. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Larry: HE IS IN THE MUD NOW! >> Darrell: CHOKED HER DOWN. YES! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THERE IS NO FEELING LIKE ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING LIKE HE JUST DID. >> Larry: HONESTLY, VERY CLOSE TO THE SEASON BEING OVER LAST YEAR. I DON'T THINK JAMIE McMURRAY KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO BE DOING. I'M NOT SURE THE TEAM KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DOING. >> Mike: RIGHT ON BOTH COUNTS, LARRY. HE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH ROUSH-FENWAY. SOME CAR OWNERS THOUGHT MAY BE DAMAGED GOODS. GUESS WHAT? JAMIE MAC WINS THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: I THINK MORE LIKE GOODY, GOODY. OH, LOOK AT THAT! >> Mike: THERE IS THE RUN TO THE FLAG. DALE EARNHARDT JR. FROM TENTH TO SECOND IN A LAP. GOT UP BEHIND McMURRAY. >> Darrell: I GOT, I GOT, I GOT TO TELL YOU. LOOK BACK THERE AND LOOK AT THE 00. >> Larry: FINISHED FIFTH. >> Darrell: DAVID REUTIMANN. I JUST NOTICED THAT ON THE SCORING MONITOR. >> Larry: BUT IT'S LIKE WHEN THEY BOTTLED UP ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY, IT GAVE JAMIE ENOUGH ROOM OUT FRONT TO WIN THE RACE ON THE FINISH LINE. HERE IS WHERE THEY WERE BOTTLED UP HALFWAY DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Darrell: I REALLY THOUGHT THAT KEVIN HARVICK WOULD WATCH AND SEE WHICH LINE WAS COMING AND THE OUTSIDE WAS AND HE'D DRIVE UP THERE AND BLOCK IT. >> Larry: THEY WERE TRYING THEIR BEST. >> Darrell: YEAH. THIS IS JEFF GORDON. >> Larry: ROBBY GORDON INVOLVED. >> Darrell: NEW CAR, GOT IN THE WALL. >> Mike: BOBBY LABONTE. >> Larry: THIS WAS AT THE BACK OF THE PACK, ATTABOY TO NASCAR FOR LETTING THEM RACE BACK. >> Darrell: YEAH, MAN. >> Larry: THE DAYTONA 500! >> Darrell: SAYING HIS PRAYERS RIGHT THERE, BOYS. >> Mike: WE'LL BE BACK TO DAYTONA AFTER THIS. >>> YOU GOT IT, MAN! WE WON! >> GREAT JOB, GUYS. >> I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST WON THE DAYTONA 500! >> Mike: SIX HOURS AND TEN MINUTES AFTER THE DROP OF THE FIRST GREEN FLAG OF THE DAY, JAMIE McMURRAY HAS JUST CAPTURED THE FLAG IN THE GREATEST DAY OF HIS RACING LIFE! [ CHEERING ] DOWN TO VICTORY LANE AND MATT YOCUM. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Matt: [ CHEERING ] >> UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE! UNBELIEVABLE! IT WAS AWESOME. IT WAS AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Matt: EVERY KID GROWING UP DREAMS OF WINNING THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. DOES REALITY TONIGHT MATCH THAT DREAM? >> I TOLD MY WIFE TODAY I WAS LIKE, SHE'S LIKE IF YOU WIN TONIGHT -- I'M GOING TO CRY. IT'S UNREAL. IT'S -- I THOUGHT IF I MADE IT WITHOUT SEEING MY DAD AND MY WIFE I'D BE OKAY. BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE REALLY. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. IT'S JUST, IT'S A DREAM. IT REALLY IS. YOU KNOW, TO BE WHERE I WAS LAST YEAR, AND FOR JOHNNY MORRIS AND CHIP AND FELIX, BASS PRO SHOP TO TAKE A CHANCE ON ME AND LET ME COME BACK, IT MEANS A LOT. I JUST -- WHAT A WAY TO COME BACK. AND CHRISTIE, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, AND MY DAD'S HERE. JUST VERY EMOTIONAL. BUT AFTER WE WON TALLADEGA, WE WENT TO McDONALD'S. SO I THINK TONIGHT WE'LL HAVE A BIG MAC. >> Matt: YOU GO BACK TO THAT FINAL LAP. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE JOCKEYING AROUND. WALK US THROUGH YOUR MOVES TO VICTORY. >> WELL, BIFFLE WILL HELP ME OUT. I SPUN THE TIRES ON THE RESTART. IT'S JUST A GAMBLE ON WHICH LINE TO GET THE BIGGEST RUN. GREG GAVE ME AN UNBELIEVABLE PUSH ON THE BACKSTRETCH. AND THEN WHEN I SAW THE 88 BEHIND ME, I THOUGHT OH, NO. I'M LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S HAD A GOOD CAR. I JUST, YOU KNOW, EARNHARDT AT DAYTONA, I MEAN THEY WIN ALL THE TIME IT SEEMS LIKE. SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT CERTAINLY THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS, TOO, THAT STUCK AROUND. THAT WAS TOUGH HAVING TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. BUT THEY STUCK WITH US. COOL TO HEAR THE APPLAUSE. GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND SPRINT FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. I WENT TO ONE OF THEIR PARTIES THE OTHER NIGHT. DAN HESTON IS A GREAT GUY. IT MEANS A LOT. NOT ONLY SPRINT, BUT EVERYBODY THAT IS A PART OF OUR SPORT, WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS. WE COULDN'T BE HERE TO PUT THE SHOW ON WITHOUT THE SPONSORS. I'M GOING TO GET WITH MY TEAM. >> Matt: CONGRATULATIONS. JAMIE McMURRAY, THE BIGGEST WIN OF HIS RACING CAREER. >> Mike: 34 DIFFERENT DRIVERS WON THE DAYTONA 500. PROBABLY NOT SINCE PETE HAMILTON IN 1970, HAS THERE BEEN A FIRST-TIME WINNER OF THIS RACE THAT HAS APPRECIATED IT MORE THAN JAMIE MAC. >> Darrell: IT'S OKAY TO CRY IN RACING. TRUST ME, I KNOW. AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL TO THAT KID. AS BIG AS ANYTHING THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN TO HIM. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, MAN, CRYING IN VICTORY LANE. THAT'S HOW BIG IT IS, AND HOW EMOTIONAL IT IS. >> Chris: THERE IS NOT A DRY UPP HERE EITHER. >> Darrell: I WAS WITH HIM. >> Larry: HE DIDN'T NEED TO SAY A WORD. HIS FEELINGS SAID IT ALL. WHAT A WAY TO CAP OFF SPEED WEEKS. WE'VE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR A WEEK-AND-A-HALF. YEAH, WE HAD TRYING WEATHER. BUT WE SAID IT WHEN WE ROLLED IN HERE 10 OR 11 DAYS AGO, UNPREDICTABLE. THAT'S AS UNPREDICTABLE AS YOU CAN GET IT. NOW, THE LAST NINE DAYTONA 500s, NINE DIFFERENT WINNERS. >> Darrell: THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. UNPREDICTABLE. >> Larry: IT'S BECAUSE WE SAY SO. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Darrell: WHAT A GREAT DAY! ALL DAY! AND NIGHT. >> Mike: WHAT A FANTASTIC FINISH. AND JAMIE McMURRAY WINS THE 500 WITH A BUSH FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR. HOW DID HE GET TO SECOND PLACE? >> Dick: JUNIOR, TENTH TO SECOND IN ONE LAP. DO YOU BELIEVE IT? >> I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED TO COME THAT CLOSE AND NOT WIN IT. BUT, I TELL YOU, WE DID THE RIGHT THING BY COMING DOWN AND GET TWO TIRES. AMP ENERGY, NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET WAS GOOD ALL DAY. JUST WORKING ON HANDLING ISSUES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE GOT THEM FIXED OR NOT. WHEN IT GETS COLD, EVERYBODY'S CAR HANDLES GOOD. THANK THE TEAM FOR WORKING HARD. ENGINE SHOP DID AN AWESOME JOB. THE CAR WORKED REALLY GOOD. I'M HAPPY FOR JAMIE. AND HIS CREW CHIEF BONO WHO HELPED ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. THAT'S A GOOD GROUP OF GUYS OVER THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST GET, I KNOW YOU RUN SECOND AND WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TONIGHT. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO COME THAT CLOSE AND NOT WIN IT. AND I'M HAPPY FOR THEM. THEY HAD A GOOD CAR ALL WEEK. WE DID GOOD. GET POINTS TONIGHT FOR US, EVEN THOUGH IT'S TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A GOOD RUN. >> Dick: CONGRATULATIONS. SOLID RACE TONIGHT. WELL DONE. >> Krista: GREG BIFFLE CAME ON THE RADIO AFTER THE RACE AND APOLOGIZED TO THE CREW AND SAID, "I TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD." >> I DID. I TELL YOU WHAT. I'M SO PROUD OF THE GUYS AND THE GUYS AT THE SHOP, THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. THEY BUILT SUCH GOOD CARS THAT WORKED ALL WINTER. HOPEFULLY CALIFORNIA IS AS GOOD AS THIS WAS. I MADE A MISTAKE. JUST A LACK OF EXPERIENCE PROBABLY. GOING IN TURN ONE I SHOULD HAVE PUSHED McMURRAY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE THE PASS THEN WHEN I HAD THE BIG RUN AND TRY AND MAKE THE PASS, COME TO THE STRIPE, OR DOWN THE BACK. INSTEAD OF DOWN THE FRONT. YOU KNOW, THIRD PLACE ISN'T ALL THAT BAD. BUT I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR JAMIE. IT PUSHED HIM TO THE WIN DOWN THE BACKSTRETCH AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT. >> Krista: GREAT. >> Chris: CHECK OUT FINAL RESULTS UNOFFICIAL HERE. BY THE WAY, FOR JAMIE McMURRAY, THE FEWEST LAPS EVER LED BY A DAYTONA 500 WINNER, JUST TWO LAPS, BUT GOOD ENOUGH. AND REALLY, IT WAS THE DAYTONA 520. THE LONGEST RACE OFFICIALLY IN DAYTONA 500 HISTORY. NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE TWO RED FLAGS AND THE TIME DELAY, BUT WITH THE SECOND GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER IT WAS 520 MILES. AS WE LOOK AT THE WAY THE ORDER FINISHED OUT. WHAT A COMEBACK STORY, UNCERTAIN ABOUT HIS RIDE TO A RIDE THAT WON HIM THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE. HE CAME FROM NOWHERE, JUST SHOWS YOU LONGSHOTS, IN FACT, IN VEGAS THIS WEEK I THINK HE WAS 30-1 ON THE BETTING BOARD FOR JAMIE McMURRAY WHO PULLS IN VICTORY LANE AND BEATS THE FIELD AND THE TRACK, SURVIVING A MARATHON DAY/NIGHT DOUBLE-HEADER IN DAYTONA. >> Jeff: IT ESTABLISHES JAMIE McMURRAY AS ONE OF THE TOP RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. HE DID WIN AT TALLADEGA, THE FINAL RACE THERE AND ABLE TO WIN HERE TODAY. GREAT EFFORT AND GREAT MOVES AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND RIGHT TIME. ONE THING, WE SEE CHIP GANASSI, ONE OF THE OWNERS WHO HAS NOW WON INDY 500, 24-HOUR RACE AND DAYTONA 500. IMPRESSIVE THERE BY THE OWNER. >> Chris: EARNHARDT-GANASSI RACING CHEVROLET TEAM GIVING JAMIE McMURRAY THIS OPPORTUNITY. HIS WIFE CHRISTIE SHARING -- JAMIE WAS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM IN THE 119-POUND CLASS. HE GAVE IT UP AFTER HIS JUNIOR YEAR. HE GOT SICK OF WORKING OUT. HE FOUND HIS PASSION IN DRIVING. HE WON HIS FIRST GO-KART TITLE AT THE AGE OF TEN. THEN HE WENT ON TO WIN THREE MORE THE FOLLOWING FEW SEASONS. IN 1991, HE WAS A WORLD GO-KARTING CHAMPION, BUT THIS IS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM. >> Jeff: THIS IS A DREAM. HE'S NOW KIND OF LIKE CAPTURED IT. >> Chris: CHECK IN WITH KRISTA VODA WITH CLINT BOWYER. >> Krista: WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS CLINT BOWYER DID NOT WIN THE DAYTONA 500. THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU WERE NOT UPSIDE DOWN AND ON FIRE AND YOU HAD A CHANCE. >> YEAH. WE DID HAVE A CHANCE. I REALLY DIDN'T NEED THAT CAUTION, THE SECOND TO LAST CAUTION WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE SINGLE FILE. I THINK WE HAD THE CAR TO BEAT. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANYBODY WHO WAS GOING TO CONTEST FOR THAT. CHEERIOS/HAMBURGER HELPER, THANK EVERYONE ON BOARD. AWESOME DAYTONA 500. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT PATCHING THAT TRACK. WE'LL GET IT FIXED. I DON'T WANT THEM TO REPAVE THIS PLACE. THAT'S WHY WE LOVE THIS PLACE AND WHY IT PUTS ON A HELL OF A SHOW FOR THE FANS. IF WE HAVE TO WAIT A BIT TO PATCH HER UP, LET'S DO IT. >> Chris: ONE OF THE HEART-BREAK STORIES, CLINT BOWYER, ALONG WITH GREG BIFFLE AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. WHO WOUND UP SECOND. BUT THE NUMBER ONE CAR, HE'S THE NUMBER ONE MAN IN DAYTONA TONIGHT. MORE COVERAGE LIVE FROM DAYTONA IN A MOMENT. ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS PROVIDED BY -- >> Chris: JAMIE McMURRAY STILL CELEBRATING, HIGH DRAMA AT THE END. ONLY LED TWO LAPS AT A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. GREG BIFFLE, YOU HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT HOW HE, MAYBE HIS INEXPERIENCE, THOUGHT HE HAD IT WON. KEVIN HARVICK, CLINT BOWYER, IN THE MIX. THEN THERE WAS A WRECK IN THE 21 CAR, THAT'S BILL ELLIOTT. WE HAD THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST DRIVERS, 19-YEAR-OLD JOEY LOGANO, 54-YEAR-OLD ELLIOTT INVOLVED. SO THE FIRST GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERED. JEFF GORDON CAUSES A WRECK HERE. AS YOU SEE KEVIN HARVICK TRYING TO WIN A SECOND DAYTONA 500. DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN A RESTART ON THE SECOND GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER, AS KASEY KAHNE IS INVOLVED IN THE WRECK. SOMEHOW, JEFF HAMMOND, HE MADE IT FROM TENTH TO SECOND, WINDING UP TO TRY TO STOP JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Jeff: HE HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE THERE BUT HE GOT A GOOD SHOT THERE WITH THE 00 OF DAVID REUTIMANN. RIGHT THERE AT THE START-FINISH LINE HE WAS COMING ON STRONG AND MAKING JAMIE McMURRAY SWEAT. >> Chris: IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, AFTER A LOT OF HOURS AND A LOT OF RACING, WE MENTIONED 520 LAPS, 21 LEADERS DAYTONA 500 RECORD, AND 52 LEAD CHANGES, THE KIND OF RACING WE TALKED ABOUT THAT NASCAR WANTED THE GLOVES OFF, BUMP-DRAFT, GO FORWARD. IT'S ABOUT WINNING NOT JUST BEING IN THE TOP FIVE. JAMIE McMURRAY SHOWED HE COULD DO IT. >> Jeff: THIS IS THE RACING YOU CAN EXPECT ALL SEASON LONG. NASCAR LET THE GUYS DO WHAT THEY DO BEST. RACE. I MEAN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE IS DEFINITELY WAS NOT A BUST TODAY. IF YOU DIDN'T ENJOY THAT, FOLKS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ENJOY RACING AS FAR AS NASCAR IS CONCERNED FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. >> Chris: DALE EARNHARDT JR. PUTTING PRESSURE ON AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO CALIFORNIA, LAS VEGAS, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DEAL. RESTRICTOR-PLATE, TALK ABOUT THE GLOVES BEING OFF. RESTRICTOR-PLATES ARE OFF. >> Jeff: BUT YOU STILL GOT GUYS THAT ARE HUNGRY. TODAY IS THE KIND OF THING, THE KIND OF FINISH THAT DALE EARNHARDT JR. NEEDED TO GET HIM MOTIVATED. BIFFLE, A LOT OF THE DRIVERS, HARVICK REALLY FELT LIKE THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY WITH ONE OR TWO LAPS TO GO. THIS IS THE THING THAT MOTIVATES THE DRIVERS AND THE TEAMS AND MAKES THEM WANT TO GO TO THE SHOPS. THEY'LL BE BACK IN THERE MONDAY MORNING GETTING READY TO GO TO CALIFORNIA AND BASICALLY AGAIN KEEP THE GLOVES OFF, BARE KNUCKLE GET IT DONE. >> Chris: NINE DIFFERENT WINNER IN THE LAST NINE YEARS. WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THIS SPORT OR THIS EVENT THAT A GUY LIKE JAMIE McMURRAY, AS HE ADMITTED -- THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE TEARS -- HE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WOULD BE WORKING AGAIN OR BE WITH A RACE TEAM THIS YEAR. >> Jeff: YOU NEVER KNOW. YOU HAVE TO SEIZE EVERY MOMENT AND OPPORTUNITY. YOU HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT RIGHT THERE, CHIP GANASSI READY TO POP CORK ON THE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE. HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT. HE HAS BEEN TO VICTORY LANE MANY TIMES. HE'S THINKING SEE GUYS, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING AT AN OWNER. HE BROUGHT JUAN PABLO MONTOYA BACK. MADE A SUCCESSFUL DRIVER OUT OF HIM IN NASCAR. NOW HE DID IT AGAIN WITH JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Chris: NEXT SUNDAY, NASCAR ON FOX WILL MOVE TO FONTANA, CALIFORNIA. MATT KENSETH WILL TRY AND DEFEND HIS TITLE. HE WON THE RAIN-SHORTENED DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR AND WON IN CALIFORNIA TO TAKE HOME THE CHECKERED FLAG FOR THE SECOND TIME THERE. AND COVERAGE OF AUTO CLUB 500 FROM THE WEST COAST IS NEXT SUNDAY. NOTE THE START TIME OF 2:00 EASTERN, 11:00 PACIFIC IN HIGH DEFINITION ON FOX. WELL, MARK MARTIN, THE POLE-SITTER WOUND UP 12th. KEVIN HARVICK LED THE MOST LAPS FINISHED SEVENTH OVERALL. WE SAW EXCITING RACING FROM START TO FINISH. THEY HUNG IN THERE, DESPITE THE TWO RED FLAGS AND DELAYS. >> Jeff: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, CHRIS, YOU SAID IT. HOW MANY DIFFERENT LEADERS DID WE HAVE? >> Chris: 21. >> Jeff: BASICALLY, HALF THE FIELD LED THIS RACE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. I'M TELLING YOU, IT WAS EXCITING FROM START TO FINISH. >> Chris: THE TRACK DID NOT WIN AT THE END OF THE LINE. IT WAS JAMIE McMURRAY. BUCKLE UP, THINGS COULD GET BUMPY. EXCITED IN THIS OUR TENTH SEASON FOR NASCAR ON FOX. ANTICIPATING MORE RACES LIKE WE SAW TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US. AND THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF NASCAR ON FOX. FOR DARRELL, LARRY, MIKE, KRISTA, MATT, DICK, AND STEVE, JEFF HAMMOND AND OUR ENTIRE PRODUCTION CREW, ENJOY PRESIDENT'S DAY. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY IN CALIFORNIA.
