2011 Daytona 500

>>> ♪♪ ♪ MAN THE FANS ARE GOING WILD ♪ ♪ THESE DRIVERS CAME TO ROCK ♪ ♪ THEY TRY TO DO IT NASCAR STYLE ♪ ♪ HEY NOW, HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ KEEP THAT PEDAL DOWN ON THE FLOOR ♪ ♪ PUSH IT 'TIL THE CROWD CAN'T TAKE IT NO MORE ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME TO PLAY, GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS ♪ ♪ HEY, THE FLAG CAME DOWN, PUSH THAT LAP AROUND ♪ ♪ WORKED ALL WEEK IT'S TIME TO PLAY, GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS ♪♪ >> Chris: IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT SCENES IN ALL OF SPORTS! IT'S AMERICA'S GREATEST RACE, THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. ONE DRIVER'S DREAM WILL BE REALIZED TODAY. A HIGH HONOR WILL COME WITH HIGH RISK AND HIGH SPEED. THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST MEN BEHIND THE WHEEL. THEY TAKE ON AN ALMOST SUPERHERO LIKE LOOK WITH POWERS THAT FEW CAN MASTER AND WE WILL WATCH THEM TRY AND MASTER THE NEWLY REPAVED TRACK HERE AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. WELCOME TO THE PRERACE SHOW DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE TO TRY AND GET CLOSER TO THE ACTION. ALONG WITH DARRELL WALTRIP, JEFF HAMMOND I'M CHRIS MYERS. AND DARRELL, IT FEELS GREAT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL FOR THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: TALK ABOUT ENERGY! WE GOT ENERGY HERE TODAY, DON'T WE, GANG! THEY GOT HORSEPOWER AND WE HAVE WERE IN. >> WE HAVE A LOT TO SHOW. OF THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT DRIVE, THESE MEN ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE BIGGEST RACE YOU CAN RUN IN. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? >> Darrell: IN THE RACE TODAY YOU CAN EXPECT A LOT OF FAST CARS. SPEEDS WELL OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR. THEY GOT TO FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE AND BE PHYSICALLY FIT AND MENTALLY TOUGH TO DRIVE IN THE VICTORY CIRCLE TODAY. >> Jeff: THESE GUYS ARE GETTING READY TO LOCK UP AND DO SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. THE TANDEM DRAFTING, ALL THE THINGS TODAY TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. >> Chris: THE OPENING KICKOFF AND THE SUPER BOWL ROLLED INTO ONE DAY. SYMPTOM SOME OF THE STORY LINES WE WILL BE WATCHING ALL AFTERNOON. A BUSY SPEED WEEK IN DAYTONA. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WINNING THE POLE BUT THEN CRASHED IN PRACTICE SO HE WILL START NOW FROM BACK OF THE PACK. AND THE NEW LOOK KURT BUSCH 2-2 ON THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT LAST WEEKEND. AND THEN FRIDAY NIGHT TEN YEARS TO THE NIGHT, THE BITTER SWEET DAYTONA 500 WIN, MICHAEL WALTRIP WINS A DAYTONA TRUCK RACE AND YESTERDAY, TONY STEWART EDGING OUT CLINT BOWYER BY 7/1,000 SECOND. LOOKING AT ANOTHER DRAMATIC FINISH TODAY I WOULD SUSPECT. >> Jeff: IT IS. >> Darrell: IT IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME THESE GUYS CAME HERE IN 1959. THE WOW FACTOR. TWO CARS CLOSING ON THE PACK AT 15-20 MILES AN HOUR FASTER. THEY HAVE TO HAVE LIGHTNING FAST REFLEXES TODAY IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET IN VICTORY CIRCLE. >> Jeff: AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. THE GUYS YOU LEAST EXPECT TO WORK TOGETHER HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER. KURT BUSCH AND REGAN SMITH. FOLLOWED BY JEFF BURTON AND CLINT BOWYER WHO WAS TEAMMATES. TODAY, IT IS WHO CAN GET YOU TO THE START FINISH LINE AT THE END OF THE RACE IS WHAT IS GOING ON. >> Chris: AND STILL TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT ON THE NEW SURFACE. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SMOOTHER SURFACE AT SPEEDS OF MAYBE UP TO 200 MILES PER HOUR THINGS COULD GET BUMPY. SINCE '79, THE FIRST TIME THE LEGENDARY TRACK ACTUALLY HAS A NEW PAVEMENT. AND AFTER THE POTHOLES DELAYED THE RACE LAST YEAR THEY TOOK THE FOUR INCHES OF ASPHALT AND TORE IT UP AND USED $20 MILLION AND 50,000-TONS OF NEW ASPHALT. THE REPAVING WAS FINISHED IN DECEMBER AND NOW THE TRACK IS SMOOTH AND READY TO GO. AND LIVE PICTURES TODAY AFTER THEY DID ALL THAT. THAT IS THE WAY IT LOOKS. THE REACTION HAS BEEN TERRIFIC FROM THE DRIVERS SO FAR. EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT IT. EVEN PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TALK LIKE A FISH NAMED FREDDY. THEY TOOK HIM OUT FOR THE RIDE. IT IS FULL ON THE BANKING HERE AT DAYTONA. NOT A DROP WAS SPILLED. THE FISH WAS NOT HARMED IN THE TAKING OF THE VIDEO. WE WANTED TO CHECK IT OUT FIRST HAND SO WE DID IT FOX STYLE. ♪♪ >> THIS IS A SMOOTH TRACK. DO YOU AGREE, SIR? >> I HAVEN'T SPILLED A DROP YET. >> YOU ARE A PRETTY GOOD DRIVER. YOU TALK A LOT BUT KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE ROAD. ♪♪ >> HEY, DRIVER, ISN'T THAT JEFF HAMMOND? SHOULDN'T WE PICK HIM UP? >> WHY WOULD I DO THAT? I'M THE ONE THAT DROPPED HIM OFF THERE. I LOVE IT! ♪♪ >> WE EVENTUALLY PICKED UP HAMMOND AS YOU CAN TELL. PRETTY SMOOTH THERE, DARRELL, AROUND THE TRACK. HOW WILL DRIVERS, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DRAFT WITH ANYBODY. HOW ARE GUYS GOING TO DECIDE WHO THEY CAN COUNT ON? >> Darrell: ONE WORD THAT THE DRIVERS HAVE USED TO EXPLAIN THE RACETRACK. SMOOTH JUST LIKE THE TABLE TOP BUT GRIP. THIS THING HAS MORE GRIP THAN SPIDERMAN! >> Jeff: THE THING IS RIGHT NOW, DARRELL, TOTALLY DIFFERENT, THE WAY THE GUYS ARE COMMUNICATING RIGHT NOW, CHRIS. A LOT ARE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER. TEAMMATES ESPECIALLY. SPECIAL ON THE RADIO AND THEY CAN TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND COACH EACH OTHER AROUND THE RACETRACK. THEY COOL THE ENGINE DOWN AND ONE MOVE AND WHAT IS GOING TO COME UP NEXT. THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL BE WATCHING. >> Chris: SUNNY WARM AND A LIGHT BREEZE. THE WEATHER SHOULDN'T BE A FACTOR. HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE PRERACE SHOW DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. HERE IS WHAT IS AROUND THE TURN AS WE CONTINUE LIVE FROM DAYTONA HAVE AT IT BOYS. WE WILL KNOCK OUT 2010'S HOTTEST FEUDS. SPEAKING OF HOT, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WINNING FIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW IS TOUGH, RIGHT? LET'S ASK SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS. >> NO. >> Chris: HERE WHAT ELSE THE CHAMPS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT JIMMY'S AMAZING RUN AND LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM BRAD PACELY AND DIRKS BENTLEY AND KEVIN HARVICK SPORTING HIS NEW GEAR. AS YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO, NASCAR LOST A LEGEND. WE WILL LOOK BACK AT THE INTIMIDATOR'S FINAL DAY. SEE ALL YOUR HEROS RIGHT HERE AS WE COUNT YOU DOWN TO THE START OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500 PRERACE SHOW DELIVERED BY >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WITH US. YOU'RE PART OF THE CROWD. IT'S THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW. DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. THOSE ARE THE MACHINES THAT THE FACES THAT YOU SAW AT THE START OF THE SHOW, THE DRIVERS WE'LL BE TALKING TO, WILL BE HOPPING IN TO TRY TO WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. OVER 150,000 FANS EXPECTED TODAY. WELL, WITH A SIMPLIFIED POINTS SYSTEM AND ENHANCED CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS IS NO LONGER YOUR GRANDFATHER'S NASCAR. NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE PRIORITY IS ON WINNING AND WINNING RIGHT AWAY. WITH THAT COMES FAME, FORTUNE AND FOX. OUR ENTOURAGE WANTED TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE CHANGES SO WE BORROWED FROM HARVEY LEVIN AND HIS CREW AT TMZ. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? >> C'MON. >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. WHAT DO YOU GOT? THIS IS A NEW SEASON ON FOX. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. >> I GOT GAS. NO, NO, NO. C'MON. NOT THAT KIND. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PIT STOPS, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT LOSING A CATCH CAN GUY? >> I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT? HE'S MY BEST FRIEND. >> IT WILL GET MESSY DOWN THERE. >> WITH ALL THE DRIVERS HAVING BABIES WE HAVE TO PUT CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. >> I DIDN'T GET ANY SLEEP LAST NIGHT AND I HAVE TO CHANGE A DIAPER NOW. >> KASEY KAHNE HAS THE BABY FACE. TO ME, HE LOOKS SO YOUNG THAT FOR HIS LAST BIRTHDAY HE GOT A PONY. >> SPEAKING OF KASEY KAHNE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW RIDE. >> LAST YEAR'S 82 IS THIS YEAR'S 4. >> I JUST HOPE I PULL IN THE RIGHT GARAGE. GET THE CAMERA OUT OF MY FACE. >> BRING ME UP TO SPEED ON PENSKE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE CHANGING OVER THERE. >> CAUGHT UP WITH KURT BUSCH, THE SAME OLD RIDE. >> WHAT IS WITH THE NEW LOOK? CHANGE IN A BLUE DEUCE FOR THE DOUBLE DEUCE. TWO DEUCES ARE BETTER THAN ONE DEUCE. >> WHAT DO YOU HEAR ABOUT HENRY? >> THEY PULLED A BIG SWITCH. DALE JR. GETS STEVE LETARTE AND HIS CREW AND JEFF GORDON GETS ALAN GUSTAFSON. >> WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LOSING GUSTAFSON? >> IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO. I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> MARK MARTIN BACK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER FULL-TIME SEASON. MAYBE HIS LAST AGAIN. >> WHAT? >> I THOUGHT HE WAS RACING. HE IS GOING TO GET OLDER THAN ME. >> WELL, NOW, DICK, NOBODY IS REALLY OLDER THAN YOU. DICK IS SO OLD ON HIS BIRTHDAY ABRAHAM LINCOLN GETS THE DAY OFF. [ LAUGHTER ] >> ENOUGH WITH THE OLD. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW STUFF. LIKE NEW LOVE. WE HAVE KYLE BUSCH ON HIS WEDDING. >> I DIDN'T CRY AT MY WEDDING. I'M NOT A SAP LIKE THAT. >> WHAT ABOUT HAPPY HARVICK? IS HE HAPPY? >> OH, D.W., NEW LOOK. WITH THE KING OF ALL SPONSORS. >> YOU LIKE THE NEW BUDWEISER CAR? IT'S SLICK. >> IT'S ALL BLACK. CAN'T WAIT TO DRIVE IT. >> ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER. HAMMOND, WORK ON THE GAS. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ALL A LITTLE TESTY, BUT NOW EVERYBODY IS IN A GOOD MOOD. AS WE GET READY TO RUN THE RACE. WHAT CHANGE DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT? >> THE ONE THAT HASN'T BEEN TALKED ABOUT MUCH DOWN HERE YET AND IT WON'T BE FOR A WHILE. THE CHANGE OF THE POINT SYSTEM. MATT KENSETH WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2003. UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM. AND NASCAR SAID WE HAVE TO SPICE IT UP A LITTLE BIT, CREATE A CHASE. I'M NOT SO SURE THEY DON'T THINK CHANGING THE POINT SYSTEM UP MIGHT HELP SOMEBODY DETHRONE JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> Jeff: AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. I LIKE THAT THEY HAVE A NEW NOSE ON THE CAR, A NEW LOOK. IT WILL ALSO HELP THE GUYS GO QUICKER AT OTHER RACETRACKS LIKE PHOENIX AND LAS VEGAS COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I THINK THE BALANCE OF THE CAR WILL BE BETTER FOR THE DRIVERS AND THEY WILL LIKE IT MORE. >> Chris: HOW ABOUT A DRIVER THAT MAYBE NEEDS CHANGE IN ATTITUDE OR ONE TO HELP HIM GET TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP? >> Darrell: IF WE TALK ABOUT ATTITUDE WE START TALKING ABOUT KYLE BUSCH. HE GOT MARRIED. I AM THINKING IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY HE DRIVES AND THE WAY HE IS GOING TO LIVE HIS LIFE. THAT WILL BE A CALMING FORCE, I BELIEVE. >> Chris: WE COUNTED UP TO WHAT? ALMOST 11 OR 12 DRIVERS THAT THEIR WIVES HAVE HAD CHILDREN IN THE LAST YEAR OR ARE HAVING CHILDREN. WE'LL HEAR FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR. ALSO KEVIN HARVICK WHO WON THE DAYTONA 500 ONCE BEFORE IN A GOOD POSITION TO WIN AGAIN. HE WILL BE JOINING US. BUT FIRST, LET'S CHECK OUT NASCAR'S BRAND NEW VIDEO GAME. IT'S RIGHT ON TRACK FOR THE 2011 SEASON. ♪♪ Captioning brought to you by Fox Broadcasting >> IT LOOKS GOOD. THROUGH THE MIDDLE. TO THE BOTTOM. >> YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT. >> Chris: WE WELCOME YOU BACK LIVE HERE TO DAYTONA. THESE AERIAL SHOTS COURTESY OF THE GOODYEAR BLIMP. GOODYEAR, THE OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR. AND EVERYTHING WE'VE LEARNED MAKING TIRES FROM ONE OF RACING'S MOST GRUELLING PROVING GROUNDS INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL IN TO YOURS. GOODYEAR, MORE DRIVEN. WELL, TWO OF THE LAST FOUR DAYTONA 500s HAVE BEEN DECIDED BY A DRAMATIC LAST-LAP PASS. AND KEVIN "HAPPY" HARVICK FROM BAKERSVILLE, CALIFORNIA, PULLED IT OFF IN 2007. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE ANOTHER CLOSE CALL AT THE FINISH LINE TODAY AND YOU SEE KEVIN SMILING. >> Darrell: THE OLD BUDDY KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 CAR. >> CRAZY FAST! >> ONE OF THE BEST CLOSERS IN THE BUSINESS. >> HERE THEY COME! HARVICK. IT'S HARVICK! >> Chris: GREAT TO HAVE KEVIN HARVICK JOINING US LIVE IN DAYTONA. HE'S GETTING READY TO JUMP LIVE IN HIS CAR. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. HOW ARE YOU? >> I'M GREAT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> Chris: WE TRIED SPECIAL EFFECTS BUT YOU ARE ACTUALLY STANDING NEXT TO US. SHOULD WE HAVE YOU COME OVER AND JOIN US AT THE SET? >> THAT WOULD BE EASIER, WOULDN'T IT? >> Chris: DARRELL WANTED TO COME OUT HERE -- >> I'LL JUST TAKE THESE OFF. >> Chris: THE FANS LOVE IT. IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE A DRIVER SO CLOSE TO THE START OF THE RACE, BE ABLE TO JOIN US. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> NO PROBLEM. GLAD TO BE HERE. >> Darrell: I HAVE TO ASK YOU QUICKLY IS IT AS WILD AND CRAZY AND INTENSE OUT THERE THIS YEAR ON THE RACETRACK AS IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS? >> IT'S HARDER TO GO STRAIGHT THAN THROUGH THE CORNER WITH THE TWO-CAR DRAFT AND EVERYBODY PUSHING AND SHOVING. YOU HAVE TO PUSH AND SHOVE TO KEEP UP. >> Jeff: WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION? WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF YOU GUYS TALKING BACK AND FORTH. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE SPOTTERS ARE. HOW ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION CAR TO CAR? >> THE SPOTTERS HAVE TO WORK THE HARDEST TODAY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE GUYS IN CONTROL OF WHAT IS COMING AND WHAT IS NOT COMING. WHEN YOU ARE THE SECOND CAR, YOU LITERALLY CAN'T SEE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE 100% COMMITMENT TO HOLDING IT WIDE OPEN AND STAY ON THE GUY'S BUMPER SQUARE. >> Darrell: WHO DECIDED TO PAINT THE CAR BLACK THIS YEAR? >> THAT WAS ALL BUDWEISER. >> Darrell: TRIBUTE TO DALE? >> THEY JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS NECESSARILY A TRIBUTE TO DALE. THE BIGGEST TRIBUTE IS IF WE CAN PUT AN RCR CAR IN VICTORY LANE. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. >> Chris: WE'LL HAVE MORE ON DALE EARNHARDT IN A MOMENT. THIS CLOSE TO THE START OF THE RACE, KEVIN, YOU SEEM SO CALM. DESCRIBE TO THE FANS YOUR EMOTION WHEN YOU GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND YOU HEAR "START YOUR ENGINES" FOR THE DAYTONA 500. >> YOU CAN ATTEST TO THIS. YOU COME IN THE RACE AND THERE IS SO MUCH HYPE AND SO MUCH BUILD-UP. THERE IS NOTHING TO COMING TO THE GREEN FLAG AS A DRIVER. YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANTICIPATION AT ANY OTHER RACE THAN YOU DO HERE. >> Darrell: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A LITTLE PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE. HOW IS YOUR CAR RUNNING? IS IT RUNNING AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS? >> IT IS RUNNING GREAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE GREAT ENGINES WITH THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTENTION TO WIN BOTH RACES AND HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT. HOPEFULLY WE'RE SAVING OUR WIN FOR TODAY. >> Jeff: I HAVE A QUESTION. HAS ANYTHING BEEN A SURPRISE FOR YOU, FROM TESTING IN JANUARY? >> FOR US, WE DIDN'T DO ANY RACE STUFF WHEN WE CAME HERE TO TEST. WE JUST DID ALL THE SINGLE CAR RUNS BECAUSE IT WAS SO CLOSE TO THE RACE AND SO MUCH TIME. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT THEY PUT IN TO BUILD THE CARS SO WE DID SINGLE CAR STUFF UNTIL WE GOT HERE. >> Chris: WE HEAR ABOUT THE STYLE OF RACING AND TWO-DRIVER TANGOS. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO YOU CONNECT WITH? IT WILL CHANGE. >> DOUBLE FILE RESTART PUTS A KINK IN THAT. EVERY TIME YOU COME TO PIT ROAD IF YOU HAVE A SLIGHT PROBLEM YOU WILL GET BEHIND. MYSELF AND MATT KENSETH WORK TOGETHER WELL AND THE TEAMMATES WORK WELL. SOMETIMES YOU ARE STUCK WITH WHOEVER YOU GOT AND YOU PUSH LIKE CRAZY. >> Chris: A LOT LIKE THIS. >> Jeff: A LOT OF DRIVERS, LIKE YOU, ARE YOU REFRESHED AND READY TO GO? YOU DIDN'T RACE YESTERDAY. >> I'VE BEEN READY TO GO ALL WEEK. >> Darrell: ARE YOU HAPPY? >> CALM AND HAPPY. >> Chris: YOU LOOK GOOD IN RED. GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU. >> Chris: GREAT TO HAVE KEVIN HARVICK AND THE BUDWEISER CAR WITH US. FORMER NASCAR CHAMPION KURT BUSCH PULLED IN TO DAYTONA AS A DRIVER WHO NEVER HAD WON HERE. KURT FINISHED SECOND ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT THE DAYTONA 500. BUT TODAY, THE LAS VEGAS NATIVE HOPES HE IS LUCKY AND STAYS ON THE HOT ROLL HE HAS BEEN ON HERE IN DAYTONA. >> NEW CAR NUMBER, NEW PAINT JOB AND A WINNING ATTITUDE. >> KURT BUSCH HAS WON THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT. >> YOU GOT IT, BABY! >> GOING TO BEAT KURT BUSCH. >> TO WIN THE GATORADE DUEL. THIS RACE IS REALLY MAKING A STATEMENT. >> FULL OF MAGICAL MOMENTS FOR KURT BUSCH, WINNING THE SHOOTOUT, THE DUEL AND TRYING FOR THE TRIFECTA, THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. IS THIS GOING TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING 500 EVER? >> I THINK SO. JUST WITH THE TWO-CAR TANDEM AND THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT. WE SAW A LITTLE BIT IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE YESTERDAY. FOR US, WE ARE JUST GOING TO PLAY IT EASY, LET IT SETTLE IN AND LET THE RACE COME TO US WITH THE SHELL PENNZOIL DODGE. >> THREE TIMES YOU FINISHED SECOND IN THE DAYTONA 500. HAVE YOU ALLOWED YOURSELF TO DREAM WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HOIST THE HARLEY J. EARL TROPHY? >> I HAVE. THE YEAR I FINISHED SECOND THE FIRST TIME WAS MICHAEL WALTRIP. SECOND TIME TO JEFF GORDON. THIRD TIME TO RYAN NEWMAN AND I PUSHED HIM TO THAT WIN. I FELT SO CLOSE. I HAVE -- I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A TASTE OF THE VICTORY. BUT TODAY WE HAVE TO SETTLE IN, THE 53rd RUNNING AND THE EMOTION ON A HIGH NOW. >> Chris: TRYING TO TREAT IT LIKE AN ORDINARY DAY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT KURT BUSCH HAS TOUGHNESS AND MENTALITY TO WIN A 500 AND CHALLENGE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND WIN ANOTHER ONE. >> Darrell: ONE THING HE IS TRYING TO DO TODAY IS BE ONE OF THE FEW GUYS -- I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS DONE IT. HE WON THE BUD QUALIFIER AND WON THE SHOOTOUT AND TRYING TO WIN THE 500 TODAY. HE HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM BUT I LIKE HIS POSITION. HE IS OUT THERE IN NO MAN'S LAND. HE CAN PICK ANYBODY HE WANTS TO RACE WITH TODAY. THAT IS AN ADVANTAGE. >> Jeff: YOU SAY THAT, DARRELL, AND I TALKED TO STEVE ADDINGTON THE CREW CHIEF OF THE 22 CAR AND THE DEAL IS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIND DANCE PARTNERS BUT KURT SAYS I'LL WORK WITH WHOEVER WORKS WITH ME. >> Chris: TODAY IS TEAM OWNER PENSKE'S BIRTHDAY SO MAYBE KURT BUSCH WILL GIVE HIM A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR THE 500. YOU WILL HEAR FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR., AND A CELEBRITY WILL BE PERFORMING LIVE HERE IN A MOMENT WITH >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW IS DELIVERED BY -- >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW, FEATURING CMA ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, BRAD PAISLEY. ♪ FULL OF THAT HOT AIR ♪ ♪ I WAS THREE YEARS OLD ♪ ♪ SPLASHING EVERYWHERE ♪ ♪ SO BEGAN MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH WATER ♪ ♪ GOING BACK WITH MY ALL MY FRIENDS ♪ ♪ A BIG OLD ROPE TIED TO THEM ♪ ♪ GOT A BIG WHOOSH IF YOU DON'T JUMP IN ♪ ♪ THE WATER ♪ ♪ WELL, THAT SUMMERTIME ♪ ♪ STARTS BEATING DOWN ♪ ♪ AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ GRAB YOUR SWIMMING TRUNKS ♪ ♪ DRIVE TO IT TURNS BLUE ♪ ♪ DAYTONA BEACH ♪ ♪ ON SPRING BREAK ♪ ♪ 18 GIRLS UP ON STAGE ♪ ♪ WHITE T-SHIRT ♪ ♪ SPRAY WITH WATER ♪ HERE WE GO! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ WHEN THAT SUMMER SUN STARTS TO BEAT YOU DOWN ♪ ♪ AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ♪ ♪ JUST GO AND GRAB SOMEONE ♪ ♪ YOU WANT TO SEE IN A BATHING SUIT ♪ ♪ AND DRIVE UNTIL THE MAP TURNS BLUE ♪ ♪ YOU CAN STAY RIGHT THERE ♪ ♪ WHEN THE DAYLIGHT'S GONE ♪ ♪ PLAY TRUTH OR DARE ♪ ♪ IT WON'T TAKE LONG ♪ ♪ FOR YOU AND HER ♪ ♪ GOT NOTHING ON BUT WATER ♪ ♪ ALL YOU REALLY NEED THIS TIME OF YEAR ♪ ♪ IS A PAIR OF SHADES ♪ ♪ AND ICE COLD BEER ♪ ♪ AND A PLACE TO SIT ♪ ♪ SOMEWHERE NEAR WATER ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> AS A COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER, I AM SO PROUD TO SHARE THE GREATEST FAN BASE IN THE WORLD WITH NASCAR. ♪♪ ♪ YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY THE WORD "CANCER" ♪ ♪ IN A SONG ♪ ♪ AND TELLING FOLKS THAT JESUS IS THE ANSWER ♪ CAN RUB 'EM WRONG ♪ ♪ IT AIN'T HIP TO SING ABOUT TRACTORS, TRUCKS, LITTLE TOWNS ♪ ♪ MAMA ♪ ♪ YEAH, THAT MIGHT BE TRUE ♪ ♪ BUT THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ ♪ AND WE DO ♪ ♪ WELL, DO YOU LIKE TO DRINK A COLD ONE ON THE WEEKEND ♪ ♪ AND GET A LITTLE LOUD ♪ ♪ DO YOU WANNA SAY I'M SORRY OR I LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW ♪ ♪ OR DO YOU WISH SOMEBODY HAD THE NERVE TO TELL THAT STUPID BOSS OF YOURS ♪ ♪ TO SHOVE IT NEXT TIME HE YELLS AT YOU ♪ ♪ WELL, THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ ♪ AND WE DO ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ SO TURN IT ON ♪ ♪ TURN IT UP ♪ ♪ AND SING ALONG ♪ ♪ THIS IS REAL ♪ ♪ THIS IS YOUR LIFE IN A SONG ♪ ♪ YEAH, THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ OH! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ARE YOU HAUNTED BY THE ECHO OF YOUR MOTHER ON THE PHONE ♪ ♪ CRYING AS SHE TELLS YOU THAT YOUR BROTHER IS NOT COMING HOME ♪ ♪ AND IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT STILL HAS PRIDE AND THE MEMORY OF THOSE THAT DIED ♪ ♪ DEFENDING THE OLD RED, WHITE AND BLUE ♪ ♪ THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ ♪ AND WE DO ♪ ♪ SO TURN IT ON ♪ ♪ TURN IT UP ♪ ♪ AND SING ALONG ♪ ♪ THIS IS REAL ♪ ♪ THIS IS YOUR LIFE ♪ ♪ IN A SONG ♪ ♪ JUST LIKE A ROAD THAT TAKES YOU HOME ♪ ♪ YEAH, THIS IS RIGHT WHERE YOU BELONG ♪ ♪ THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ ♪ THIS IS COUNTRY MUSIC ♪ ♪ YOU STOP LOVING HER TODAY ♪ ♪ HELLO, DARLING ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THE USA ♪ ♪ AMARILLO BY MORNING ♪ ♪ STAND BY YOUR MAN ♪ ♪ TAKE ME HOME ♪ ♪ COUNTRY ROAD ♪ ♪ I WALK THE LINE ♪ ♪ COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> GOD BLESS EVERYONE! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'VE GOT SOME BIG NEWS ♪ ♪ THE BANK FINALLY CAME THROUGH ♪ ♪ I HOLD THE KEYS TO A BRAND NEW CHEVROLET ♪ ♪ HAVE YOU BEEN OUTSIDE ♪ ♪ IT SURE IS A NICE NIGHT ♪ ♪ HOW ABOUT A TEST DRIVE DOWN BY THE LAKE ♪ ♪ THERE IS A PLACE I KNOW ABOUT ♪ ♪ THE DIRT ROAD RUNS OUT ♪ ♪ WE COULD TRY OUT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ♪ ♪ C'MON, WHAT DO YOU SAY ♪ ♪ I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET MUD ON THE TIRES ♪ HERE WE GO! ♪ IT'S A GOOD NIGHT TO BE OUT THERE SOAKING UP THE MOONLIGHT ♪ ♪ STAY OUT A LITTLE LATE ♪ ♪ I'VE GOT THE PERFECT PLACE IN MIND ♪ ♪ IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE ♪ ♪ WHEN WE GET THERE ♪ ♪ WE GOT TO GET A LITTLE MUD ON THE TIRES ♪ PLAY THAT FIDDLE MUSIC! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ MOONLIGHT JUST FINE ♪ ♪ CAT FISH ON THE FRONT LINE ♪ ♪ THIS TIME OF YEAR ♪ ♪ WE CAN THROW A BLANKET DOWN ♪ ♪ PRETTY SAND IN THE BACKGROUND ♪ ♪ MORE STARS THAN YOU CAN COUNT ♪ ♪ ON A NIGHT ♪ ♪ TELL YOU WHAT WE NEED TO DO ♪ ♪ GRAB A SLEEPING BAG OR TWO ♪ ♪ BUILD UP A LITTLE CAMPFIRE ♪ ♪ THEN WITH A LITTLE LUCK ♪ ♪ WE MIGHT JUST GET STUCK ♪ ♪ LET'S GET A LITTLE MUD ON THE TIRES ♪ C'MON! ♪ IT'S A GOOD NIGHT ♪ ♪ TO BE OUT THERE SOAKING UP THE MOONLIGHT ♪ ♪ STAKE OUT A LITTLE PIECE OF SHORELINE ♪ ♪ I'VE GOT THE PERFECT PLACE IN MIND ♪ ♪ IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE ♪ ♪ THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE ♪ ♪ YOU'VE GOT TO GET A LITTLE MUD ON THE TIRES ♪ ♪ AND THEN WITH A LITTLE LUCK ♪ ♪ WE MIGHT JUST GET STUCK ♪ ♪ LET'S GET A LITTLE MUD ON THE TIRES ♪ YEAH! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> Chris: BRAD PAISLEY LIVE AT DAYTONA. WE ARE HEADED IN TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. MORE OF THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. A TRIBUTE TO DALE EARNHARDT >> WHEREVER YOU LOOK, THERE HE IS. IT'S ALMOST AS IF HE NEVER LEFT, NEVER DIED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2001 DAYTONA 500. DALE EARNHARDT DROVE NUMBER 3. SO TODAY, TEN YEARS LATER ON THE THIRD LAP, FANS WILL HOLD THREE FINGERS IN THE AIR. AND OUR BROADCAST BOOTH WILL GO SILENT TO HONOR HIS MEMORY. FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS CALLED THE "INTIMIDATOR" IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE EMBRACE HIM AND CONTINUE TO EMBRACE HIM AS NASCAR'S GREAT AMERICAN HERO. TODAY, DAYTONA IS FULL OF SMILES, AND ALSO SORROW. STILL HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO. WE'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY, THE 2001 DAYTONA 500. A DRAMATIC FINISH WAS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. BUT THEN SUDDENLY TIME STOOD STILL. EVERYTHING STOPPED. AND THE MUSIC DIED. >> I GOT IT ALL NOW, DARRELL. I HAVE IT ALL. I'M A LUCKY MAN. I HAVE IT ALL. >> DALE HAD A KNACK FOR DAYTONA THAT NOBODY ELSE HAD. >> WE'LL SEE SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY HADN'T EVER SEEN ON FOX. >> THE 43rd ANNUAL DAYTONA 500. WE'RE GOING RACING! >> THE PLAN SIMPLY WAS ME AND DALE JR. WOULD WORK TOGETHER AND WIN THE RACE. THAT SOUNDS GREAT BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND REALISTIC. >> THIS IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT. COMING AROUND TO THE WHITE FLAG. >> I WAS WINNING THE RACE AND DALE JR. WAS BEHIND ME. >> THEN THERE WAS ACTIVITY AROUND DALE FOR THIRD PLACE. >> BEHIND HIM. TO THE FLAG. >> HE GOT IT. >> YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT, YOU GOT IT! MIKEY! >> DARRELL, IS THIS BETTER THAN WINNING? >> OH, YEAH. IT'S GREAT. I GUESS HE IS ALL RIGHT, ISN'T HE? >> WHEN THEY TOOK THE WINDOW NET DOWN, I KNEW HE WAS IN TROUBLE. >> KENNY WASN'T HIMSELF. HE WAS AS PALE AS HE COULD BE. HE SAID LOOK, I'M NOT A DOCTOR. I'M TELLING YOU IT DON'T LOOK GOOD, IT DON'T LOOK GOOD. AT THAT POINT, MY HEART FELL. >> WHILE EARNHARDT'S DRIVER MICHAEL WALTRIP CELEBRATES, DALE EARNHARDT RIDES IN THE BACK OF AN AMBULANCE TO THE HALIFAX MEDICAL CENTER. >> WHAT WAS BEGINNING TO BE MORE AND MORE ODD IS NO EARNHARDT WAS THERE. >> I'M SURE THEY'RE COMING, RIGHT? ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I JUST TOLD MIKEY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I WAS AWFUL HAPPY FOR HIM AND STUFF BUT I WAS EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT DALE. >> I SAID A LOT OF PRAYERS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. WHOEVER CAME IN, I THINK IT WAS A DOCTOR CAME IN AND SAID, "WE LOST DALE." >> AFTER THE ACCIDENT IN TURN FOUR AT THE END OF THE DAYTONA 500, WE'VE LOST DALE EARNHARDT. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I STARTED WONDERING HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO FEEL AT THAT MOMENT AND I HAVEN'T STOPPED WONDERING SINCE. >> DALE KNEW YOU WON THAT RACE. >> I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO TAKE THE HAND OF THE PERSON BESIDE YOU. OUR HEARTS ARE HURTING. AND IT ALL SEEMS SO UNFAIR. PEOPLE ASK US HOW CAN WE GO OUT AND RACE TODAY? WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT DALE WOULD WANT US TO DO. >> HARVICK. HARVICK BY INCHES! >> WHAT COULD BE MORE FITTING? WHAT COULD BE MORE SPECIAL? >> IT WAS HEALING FOR US ALL. LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO BE. I KNOW HOW PROUD DALE WOULD HAVE BEEN OF EVERY ONE OF US. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW CHRIS, JEFF, NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T COME UP TO ME AND SAY, "WHAT WOULD DALE SAY? WHAT WOULD DALE DO?" THERE IS THAT CONSTANT REMINDER. BEING DOWN HERE THIS WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 18, MICHAEL WINS IN THE 15, IN THE TRUCK RACE. I WAS STANDING AT THE VERY SPOT I WAS STANDING TODAY THE DAY THAT DALE GOT KILLED. EMOTIONAL. KEN SCHRADER, FIRST TO DALE'S CAR TALKING ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. A LOT OF HEALING HAS TAKEN PLACE I THINK THIS WEEK. I THINK WE HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING FOR CLOSURE. HOW DO WE GET PAST THIS? HOW DO WE MOVE ON? I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE TRIBUTES AND THEY'VE BEEN ALL VERY RESPECTFUL TO DALE'S LEGACY, I BELIEVE TODAY MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO START DOWN THAT ROAD TO RECOVERY. >> Jeff: YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU. THE THING IS I WAS WITH DALE WHEN HE DROVE HIS FIRST RACE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS THERE THAT DAY WHEN HE DROVE HIS LAST RACE. YOU KNOW, I LOST A FRIEND. OUR SPORT LOST A RACING HERO. I DON'T THINK I HAVE KNOWN ANY OTHER DRIVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT THAT WAS SO LOVED BY HIS FANS AND BY US. WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT HE WAS UNTIL HE DID DISAPPEAR. >> Chris: HE WAS A BIGGER-THAN-LIFE CHARACTER. AND HAS TOUCHED A LOT OF LIVES AND STILL DOES. IT TOOK NASCAR TO GREAT HEIGHTS. I KNOW PERSONAL ATTENTION FROM BOTH OF YOU OVER THE YEARS, STILL HAS GREAT IMPACT. OUR FRIENDS AT SPEED PUT TOGETHER A FULL LENGTH SPECIAL CALLED "THE DAY." LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE NEXT AIRING OF THAT. "THE DAY: REMEMBERING DALE EARNHARDT." ON EVERY DAY AND EVERY TRACK, DALE EARNHARDT JR. HONORS HIS FATHER IN HIS OWN WAY AND HIS OWN STYLE. HE MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF. TODAY IS THE 400th CAREER START FOR DALE EARNHARDT JR. JUNIOR NATION CHEERS HIM ON. >> THE TIME IS NOW. HE'S READY. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELL, THANK YOU, CHRIS. DALE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, YOU AND YOUR DAD BOTH WON THE EVENT TWO OF 34 MEN WHO WON THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? >> YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS. WHAT WINNING THE RACE FEELS LIKE. AND REALLY WHAT IT MEANS PERSONALLY. IT TAKES THE WHOLE TEAM TO DO IT. IT TAKES A LOT OF PREPARATION. IT STARTS REALLY EARLY IN THE OFF-SEASON. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS PLACE WITH THE WAY THE RACETRACK IS NOW, CAR MEANS EVERYTHING. SO HOPEFULLY I KNOW THE GUYS AT HENDRICK GIVE US GOOD ENGINES. THEY PUT A GOOD BODY ON THE CAR. IT'S JUST AS GOOD AS -- ALMOST AS GOOD AS THE CAR WE SAT ON THE POLE WITH. SO I FEEL CONFIDENT. >> GOOD LUCK GETTING THE SECOND DAYTONA 500 WIN. >> THANK YOU. >> CHRIS? >> Chris: THANK YOU STEVE AND JUNIOR. YOU KNOW, DARRELL, YOU'RE STILL FIGHTING BACK TEARS THINKING ABOUT HIS FATHER. I DON'T KNOW HOW JUNIOR DOES IT. HE SAID EVEN THOUGH TEN YEARS LATER HE WOULD RATH BER ON THE SIDELINE AND LET PEOPLE REFLECT ON THE MEMORY OF HIS FATHER AS HE GETS READY FOR TODAY'S RACE. >> Darrell: YEAH, I THINK HE DIDN'T WANT THIS WEEKEND TO BE ABOUT HIM. CERTAINLY HE WON THE POLE. THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION. BUT TODAY, JUNIOR, LISTEN TO D.W. IT'S ABOUT YOU. >> Chris: YEP. >> Darrell: GO OUT THERE AND DRIVE THE WHEELS OFF THAT RACECAR. YOU ARE STARTING IN THE BACK BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THIS THING. HE AND STEVE LETARTE HAVE GREAT CHEMISTRY. GO GET THE JOB DONE TODAY, JUNIOR. >> Jeff: D.W., ONE THING I WANT TO SAY, WE CAME BACK HERE IN JULY AFTER THE HORRIFIC CRASH IN FEBRUARY. DALE JR., HE WAS ABLE TO SUCK IT UP. GET FOCUSSED AND HE WON THAT RACE. IT KIND OF HELPED HEAL A LOT OF STUFF. IN JULY OF THIS PAST YEAR, 2010, HE CAME DOWN IN A WRANGLER CAR WITH NUMBER 3 ON IT AND HE WON THEN. THIS MAN WHEN HE IS PUSHED IN A CORNER OR JACKED UP AND READY TO GO, HE IS HARD TO BEAT. TODAY, HE COULD BE HARD TO BEAT. >> Chris: HE SHOWED HE COULD MAKE A SPACE IN A MATTER OF TIME. WHERE HE STARTS, HE COULD OVERCOME THAT. BIGGER PICTURE FOR HIM, CHAMPIONSHIP? HE IS 36 YEARS OLD AND MISSED THREE OF THE LAST FOUR CHASES. HE SAID, "I'M SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY WE'VE BEEN PERFORMING." >> Darrell: THEY ARE MAKING CHANGES BUT THIS IS HIS FAVORITE TRACK. THE PLACE HIS DAD LOST HIS LIFE. THIS IS HIS FAVORITE TRACK. >> Chris: THIS NASCAR ON FOX SEASON WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT HOLE IN THE WALL CAMPS FOUNDED BY PAUL NEWMAN. A PLACE AND CAMP WHERE CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS HAVE A GREAT CAMP ADVENTURE FREE OF CHARGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, HELP US AT WWW.HOLEINTHEWALLCAMPS.ORG/FOX. WE'RE COUNTING YOU DOWN TO THE START OF THE DAYTONA 500. THERE HE IS. FIVE-TIME CHAMPION, THE DOMINATOR. CAN HE WIN SIX IN A ROW? >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW IS DELIVERED BY -- >> Chris: JIMMIE JOHNSON STILL THE GUY TO BEAT? >> JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> THE CALIFORNIA KID. >> THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO VICTORY LANE. >> GET THE CHAMPAGNE OUT. >> FIVE-TIME SPRINT CUP CHAMPION. >> Chris: NASCAR'S REIGNING CHAMP BEEN ON A LONG ROAD. GREW UP IN A TAILER PARK, HIS FATHER WORKING FOR TIRE COMPANY AND HE HAS DRIVEN TO THE TOP OF NASCAR, WINNING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND UNPRECEDENTED FIVE STRAIGHT TITLES. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE SO OUTSTANDING IT HAS OTHER CHAMPIONS TALKING. >> REPEAT. REPEAT. REPEAT AFTER ME. >> FIVE-TIMES. >> YOU DID IT. YOU DID IT FIVE TIMES. >> IN A ROW. >> IN A ROW. >> I THINK REPEATING AS CHAMPION IS SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW ATHLETES THAT GET THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> WHEN YOU HAVE WON A WORLD TITLE OR WON IT A FEW TIMES, GUYS ARE GUNNING FOR YOU. ON SOME LEVEL YOU ARE THE GUY TO BEAT. THAT IS THE POSITION TO BE IN. >> IN ORDER TO REPEAT, YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING AFTER YOU, CHALLENGING YOU. IT'S REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO IT NUMEROUS TIMES. >> TRYING TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP ONCE IS HONESTLY HARD. IF YOU COME BACK AND WIN A SECOND OR A THIRD OR FOURTH OR FIFTH OR A SEVENTH, OBVIOUSLY, THE COMPETITION STARTS TO UNDERSTAND YOU BETTER. >> THEY CALL YOU THE "DOMINATOR." >> THE DOMINATOR. >> YOU ARE THE DOMINATOR. >> LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY. IT'S HARD TO WIN FIVE CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ANYTHING. TO BE THE BEST AT YOUR PROFESSION, GOES WITHOUT SAYING, YOU ARE DOMINATING THE SPORT. >> I THINK THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ANYTHING FIVE TIMES IN A ROW IS DOMINATION. >> WHAT HE HAS DONE IS SO UNIQUE AND SO SPECIAL, WE WILL LOOK AT IT 50 YEARS FROM NOW AND GO WOW, THAT GUY WAS SOMETHING. >> GUYS THINK IN THEIR HEAD THEY CAN'T BEAT HIM AFTER WINNING THAT MANY. HE WILL HAVE THIS MENTAL ADVANTAGE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT. ♪♪ >> WINNING REALLY HAS TO HIT HOME FOR YOU AND HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU. >> I THINK PASSION IS SUCH A GOOD FACTOR IN THE SUCCESS OF ANY CHAMPION. >> I'VE BEEN AROUND JIMMIE A BIT. I KNOW HE IS EXTREMELY FOCUSSED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS SMART. WHY NOT SIX? >> I THINK YOU ANSWER YOUR DOUBTERS BY WINNING THE FIRST TIME. >> ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE, GET BETTER AND TRY TO PROVE THEM WRONG. >> THERE ARE QUESTIONS OUT THERE WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN IS A HEALTHY THING. >> GUYS WILL GIVE 100% EVERY SINGLE TIME. >> THE PEOPLE WHO DOUBT YOU, YOU WILL KEEP SHOWING THEM HOW WRONG THEY WERE. >> PEOPLE CRITICIZE YOU. USE THAT. >> HAVING THE MOTIVATION IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND SOMETIMES MAKES A DIFFERENCE. >> IT MOTIVATES THE GREAT ATHLETES. >> THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS FROM THE SPORTING PERSPECTIVE IS THE FINAL SCORE. >> THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY TO JIMMIE IS ENJOY IT. >> I HOPE THAT HE WINS TEN IN A ROW AND HE CAN SIT BACK AND SAY WHOA, THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD. >> YOU'LL PROBABLY SMASH HIM AND WE'LL DO THIS INTERVIEW NEXT TIME SAYING GO FOR SEVEN. >> I HAVE A TON OF RESPECT FOR THIS GUY. I WISH HIM THE BEST. >> FROM A FIVE-TIME TO ANOTHER FIVE-TIME, GOOD LUCK WITH NUMBER SIX. >> YOU TRULY ARE THE GREAT ONE. >> GOOD LUCK WITH SIX. >> I'M SURE IT WILL BE ONE HECK OF A RIDE! >> Chris: WOW! SOME IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE TALKING. JIMMIE WAS LISTENING AND HE IS STANDING BY WITH OUR KRISTA VODA. LET'S JOIN THEM RIGHT NOW FROM THE TRACK. KRISTA? >> Krista: EACH OF THE ATHLETES THE DOMINATOR OF THEIR SPORT. WHEN YOU HEAR THEM SAY THOSE THINGS ABOUT YOU, YOU WERE LISTENING TO IT, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND AND WHAT THE SUPERHERO QUALITY YOU HAVE? >> GIVES ME THE CHILLS. TOUGH TO DO THAT AND GO OUT AND DO MY JOB. I HAVE CAN'T THANK THEM FOR THEIR KIND WORDS AND THE RESPECT THEY HAVE GIVEN ME AND WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND THE RACE TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED. IT'S SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE. WE'RE STILL HUNGRY. WE WANT MORE. WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A TEAM CAPABLE OF WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN THIS YEAR. TODAY IS THE START. WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO OUR JOBS TODAY. THEN, QUALIFY FOR THE CHASE AND GET OUR BEST TEN INSIDE THE CHASE. HUGE HONOR FOR THE GUYS TO SAY THE KIND WORDS. LET'S GO RACING. >> Krista: DOES SUPERMAN HAS A CAPE THIS YEAR? >> THEY THOUGHT WE LOST IT LAST YEAR AND WE FOUND IT. BELIEVE ME, I'M A REALIST. I KNEW WE WERE WEAK LAST YEAR AT SOME POINT BUT YOU CAN'T COUNT US OUT. THE CAPE ISN'T FAR AWAY. >> Krista: OTHER PEOPLE WHO PICKED HIM TO WIN IS DIERKS BENTLEY AND HINES WARD. >> Chris: WOULD HE BE THE CHOICE FOR SIX IN A ROW? >> Darrell: ONE THING THEY SAID THAT I LIKE IS FOCUS. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS FOCUSSED MORE THAN ANY DRIVER I KNOW. IF YOU ASK COMPETITORS THEY SAY HE IS A FOCUSSED INDIVIDUAL. THE ONLY DISTRACTION HE HAS TO GET PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE WHAT HE HAS BEEN DOING. >> Jeff: I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS TO HIM. RIGHT NOW, THAT TEAM IS BELIEVING IN HIM AGAIN. THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL. HE ENCOURAGES AND INSPIRES THEM. THEY FEED OFF OF ONE ANOTHER. THIS CAT RIGHT HERE, HE IS TRULY REMARKABLE WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVING A RACECAR. >> Chris: HE HAS THE Ph.D. FOR SUCCESS, POOR, HUNGRY DESIRE. HE KEEPS THAT WITH HIM. HOW ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500 TODAY WHERE HE IS STARTING FROM, WITH THE RICK HENDRICK RACE TEAM AROUND HIM? >> Darrell: NEVER COUNT THE 48 TEAM OUT. YOU KNOW THAT. WITH CHAD KNAUS ON THE PIT BOX AND JIMMIE'S ABILITY ON THE RACETRACK, HE HAS GREAT TEAMMATES. DON'T, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF 48 ISN'T UP AT THE FRONT WHEN IT COUNTS THE MOST. >> Chris: YEP. HE HAS DALE EARNHARDT JR. HE CAN LEAN ON AS WELL. JEFF GORDON ON THE FRONT ROW. LAST SEASON, DENNY HAMLIN WAS JIMMIE JOHNSON'S MAIN CHALLENGER. HE WON EIGHT RACES BUT FINISHED SECOND FOR THE TITLE. TODAY HE IS HOPING TO SHAKE OFF A ROUGH FEW WEEKS IN DAYTONA. HAMLIN DELIVERED THE DRAMA. FIRST IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT. HE MADE A MOVE THAT COULD HAVE WON THE RACE FOR HIM BUT HE WENT DOWN BELOW THE YELLOW LINE AT THE CHECKERED FLAG SO HE WAS PENALIZED AND MOVED BACK. THEN IN QUALIFYING, TROUBLE AFTER LEAVING PIT ROAD. WILD RIDE THROUGH THE GRASS. IN THE DUELS HE SPUN OUT TO AVOID A CRASH. DICK BERGGREN IS WITH DENNY HAMLIN. >> Dick: WELL, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH WEEK. HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO PUT ALL OF THAT BEHIND YOU? IF SO, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500? >> WE DEFINITELY HAVE. WE HAVE HAD EVERYTHING -- WE HAVE EVEN HAD THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON US DURING PRACTICE. IT HAS BEEN AN ADVENTUROUS WEEK FOR SURE. THINGS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN BETTER. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. FedEx TEAM IS PUMPED THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE A GREAT SHOT AT IT. >> Dick: FIRST TIME HE RACED IN A SPRINT CUP CAR HERE HE WON. GO GET 'EM! >> Chris: HE HASN'T BEEN IN THE TOP 15 IN DAYTONA 500 RACE BUT LOOK AT HIM BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE HE WOULD WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND SNAP THE JIMMIE JOHNSON STREAK. WHAT DO YOU THINK HE LEARNED FROM THAT TO CARRY INTO THIS YEAR? >> Darrell: I THINK IT'S MENTAL TOUGHNESS. THIS TEAM MAKES LITTLE MENTAL MISTAKES. GOING BELOW THE YELLOW LINE IN THE BUD SHOOTOUT, THAT WASN'T NECESSARY. HE COULD HAVE WON THE RACE. THE MISTAKE LEAVING PIT ROAD, DIDN'T HAVE THE WHEEL SNAPPED ON WELL. LAST YEAR AT PHOENIX HE LOST HIS COOL, WENT TO HOMESTEAD AND LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP. MENTAL TOUGHNESS. GET HIM, COACH. >> Jeff: THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW, CHRIS. BEFORE THEY GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SIT HIM DOWN AND SAY WHOA, TIME-OUT. YOU MADE MISTAKES AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT PUT US IN A HOLE. DON'T DIG A HOLE AT DAYTONA AND MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES. THEY HAVE TO TIGHTEN UP. MIKE FORD AND COACH GIBBS THEY HAVE TO GET HIM TURNED AROUND. >> Chris: COACH IS COACH GIBBS. HE HANGS OUT WITH THE MICHAEL JORDAN, FROM THE CHARLOTTE BOBCATS AND GREATNESS. DO YOU THINK THAT WILL RUN OFF? >> Darrell: HE IS IN THE RIGHT CROWD. GIBBS WON A SUPER BOWL AND WE KNOW WHAT MICHAEL JORDAN DID. SOMETIMES IF YOU GET TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS IT CAN HURT YOUR PERFORMANCE. >> Jeff: THE DRIVER HAS TO INITIATE IT. WE CAN TELL HIM ALL WE WANT TO FIX IT, FIX IT, FIX IT. HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THAT. >> Chris: WE WILL SEE HOW HE DOES IT TODAY AND WHO HE WILL BE DANCING WITH. WE BEGIN THE SHOW EVERY WEEK WITH DIERKS BENTLEY SINGING "SIDEWAYS" SO LET'S HEAD TO THE TRACK WHERE FANS ENJOY ANOTHER VERSION OF "SIDEWAYS" BY DIERKS BENTLEY. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ HEY, Y'ALL, IT'S RACING DAY ♪ ♪ LINE UP HERE ♪ ♪ I CAN'T HEAR A THING ♪ ♪ THESE FANS ARE GOING WILD ♪ [ CHEERING ] ♪ THESE DRIVERS CAME TO ROCK ♪ ♪ NO PLACE ELSE BUT FOX ♪ ♪ DO IT NASCAR STYLE ♪ ♪ HEY NOW, HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ DON'T YOU BE GOING SLOW ♪ ♪ KEEP THAT PEDAL DOWN ON THE FLOOR ♪ ♪ LISTEN TO THE CROWD ♪ ♪ CAN'T TAKE NO MORE ♪ ♪ THE FLAG CAME DOWN ♪ ♪ TO THE LAST LAP AROUND ♪ ♪ WORKED ALL WEEK ♪ ♪ IT'S TIME TO PLAY ♪ ♪ GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS ♪ YEAH! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ HEY, NOW, HERE WE GO ♪ ♪ THEY SAY DON'T YOU BE GOING SLOW ♪ ♪ KEEP THE PEDAL DOWN ON FLOOR ♪ ♪ LISTEN TO THE CROWD ♪ ♪ CAN'T TAKE NO MORE ♪ ♪ HEY, THE FLAG CAME DOWN ♪ ♪ LAST LAP AROUND ♪ ♪ WORKED ALL WEEK ♪ ♪ TIME TO PLAY ♪ ♪ GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS ♪ YES! ♪ SIDEWAYS ♪ YEAH! [ APPLAUSE ] >> Chris: THAT'S DIERKS BENTLEY. >> Darrell: IT'S A HIT! >> Jeff: I LOVE IT. >> Chris: TALK ABOUT SIDEWAYS, OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, DRIVERS HAVE GOTTEN SIDEWAYS WITH EACH OTHER. MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND VERBALLY. NOW THE DRIVERS WE'RE WATCHING TODAY THEY ALL GREW UP WANTING TO BE AN ATHLETE, ROCKSTAR, SUPERMAN. IN NASCAR, YOU CAN BE ALL THREE. LIKE IN THE COMIC BOOKS YOU CAN BE A HERO OR A VILLAIN OR YOU CAN TAKE ON A HERO OR A VILLAIN. IT ALL MAKES FOR RIVALRIES, FEUDS AND ENTERTAINMENT. ♪♪ >> DRIVERS WERE TOLD TO HAVE AT IT. AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY ALL TOOK IT TO HEART. NASCAR'S NEW IDEAS FLAMED THE FIRE OF THOSE IN THE SPORT. >> TURNED OVER BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> IT'S NOT COOL TO WRECK SOMEBODY AT 195 MILES PER HOUR. >> IT LOOKS LIKE EDWARDS' TURNOVER IN TALLADEGA WITH THE BUMPER OF KESELOWSKI. >> BRAD KNOWS THE DEAL. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE COME TO RACE. PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. >> DRIVERS DIDN'T GO BACK. ON OR OFF THE TRACK. PUNCHES WERE THROWN. >> JEFF GORDON AND JEFF BURTON -- >> MY GOODNESS. THEY ARE GOING AT IT GUYS. LITERALLY! >> TRASH WAS TALKED. >> SIDE-BY-SIDE BETWEEN KEVIN HARVICK, AND JOEY LOGANO. >> IT'S PROBABLY NOT HIS FAULT. HIS WIFE TELLS HIM WHAT TO DO. PROBABLY NOT HIS FAULT. >> NOTHING WAS OFF-LIMITS, NOT EVEN DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI, DRIVER OF THE PENSKE RACING DODGE, KYLE BUSCH IS AN ASS. >> WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT KESELOWSKI'S PRE-RACE DECLARATION? >> WHO? >> EVEN TEAMMATES DIDN'T HOLD BACK. TEMPERS FLARED ON THE SPORT'S BIGGEST SUPERSTAR. >> THE 48 IS TESTING MY PATIENCE. IT TAKES A LOT TO MAKE ME MAD AND I AM PISSED RIGHT NOW. >> HE PUT HIM IN THE WALL! >> SOMEBODY BETTER KEEP ME AWAY FROM DENNY HAMLIN AFTER THE RACE. SWEAR TO GOD, I'M GOING TO KILL THAT [bleep] >> WILL COOLER HEADS PREVAIL IN 2011? WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? HAVE AT IT, BOYS! >> Chris: AND THEY CERTAINLY WILL. TIME FOR GAS 'N' GO. WE ASK QUESTIONS, THEY HAVE THE ANSWERS. AND THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN KEPT ALL WINTER LONG IN THE WARDROBE CLOSET OF LADY GAGA. ON THE CLOCK. DARRELL, WHICH OF THE FEUDS FROM LAST SEASON WILL CONTINUE THIS SEASON AND MAYBE EVEN TODAY? >> Darrell: HERE IS WHAT I CAN PROMISE YOU. KEVIN HARVICK WILL BE IN A FEUD WITH SOMEBODY. >> Chris: KYLE BUSCH? >> Jeff: KYLE BUSCH IS MY MAN. I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT KID DON'T TAKE NOTHING FROM ANYBODY. >> Chris: JEFF, IT HAS BEEN 65 RACES SINCE JEFF GORDON HAS WON A RACE. WE KNOW HE IS STARTING UP FRONT. CAN HE GET IT DONE AT THE DAYTONA 500 TODAY? YOU'RE THINKING TOO LONG. I SAY THAT IS A -- DID I CONFUSE HIM? YES, NO? >> Darrell: YEAH, HE CAN. I THINK HE CAN. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WILL BUT I THINK HE CAN. >> Chris: I'M SURE KYLE BUSCH WILL WIN RACES THIS YEAR BUT IS THIS THE YEAR HE CONTENDS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP? >> Darrell: HE HAS TO ELIMINATE THE MISTAKES AND GET HIS EMOTIONS UNDER CONTROL. HE GOT MARRIED IN THE OFF-SEASON. THAT IS USUALLY A POSITIVE IN A DRIVER'S LIFE. CALMS THEM DOWN. >> Chris: ONLY TWO WINS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. JEFF, SOMETHING FOR YOU. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE TWO-DRIVER TANGOS AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY. VISUALLY SHOW US HOW IT WILL AFFECT THE RACE. >> Jeff: THE GUYS PERFECTED THE FACT WITH 450HORSEPOWER IF THEY GET NOSE TO TAIL AND THE BACK GUY STARTS PUSHING, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE 900 HORSEPOWER THEN BECAUSE OF THE AERODYNAMICS THE BACK CAR MAKES THEM RUN FASTER. >> Darrell: SYNCHRONIZED RACING. >> Chris: FIRST TIME, 43 CUP CARS ON THIS TRACK GOING AROUND. DARRELL, FOR YOU. BRIAN VICKERS IS BACK AFTER HAVING TO LEAVE RACING WITH SERIOUS HEART PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? WHAT DOES A DRIVER GO THROUGH? >> Darrell: SOMETIMES IF YOU LOSE SOMETHING YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU MISS IT. BEING AWAY FROM THE SPORT MAKES YOU WANT IT THAT MUCH MORE WHEN YOU COME BACK. I THINK HE IS REALLY MOTIVATED TO GET BACK TO VICTORY CIRCLE. >> Chris: JEFF, FOR YOU. A FINAL QUESTION. A LOT OF BUZZ AROUND A KID THAT TURNED 20 YEARS OLD YESTERDAY, TREVOR BAYNE. IS HE THE NEXT BIG THING? WE WILL WATCH HIM IN HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500. >> Jeff: I BELIEVE SO. JEFF GORDON BELIEVES HE CAN GET IT DONE AND WOOD BROTHERS BELIEVE HE CAN GET IT DONE. WATCH HIM. UPCOMING SUPERSTAR. >> Chris: YOU WILL TALK WITH TREVOR BAYNE BEFORE THE RACE. YOU HAVE TO LEAVE TO JOIN MIKE AND LARRY IN THE BOOTH. WE GET YOUR PIZZA HUT PREDICTION. WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST? >> Darrell: THE SPEED AND HOW CLOSE THEY RUN TOGETHER. FACT OF THE CLOSENESS AND HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING. >> Chris: WE'LL BE HERE IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. YOU WANT VARIETY? THE LAST NINE DAYTONA 500s HAVE BEEN WON BY NINE DIFFERENT DRIVERS. GLAD YOU ARE WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW FROM DAYTONA. DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. WE WILL GET YOU CLOSER TO THE START OF THE RACE IN A MOMENT. >> Chris: GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. THE KICKOFF TO OUR SEASON AND THE START OF SOMETHING BIG. THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE GATHERED AROUND AS AMERICA'S ELITE DRIVERS GO 500 MILES HERE AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS AS THE ALL HONOR COLOR GUARD FROM THE MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., PRESENTS OUR NATION'S COLORS. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS THE SENIOR PASTOR OF THE GREATEST FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH OF DAYTONA BEACH REVEREND DURHAM OFFERS THE INVOCATION. >> LET US PRAY. WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE THE DRIVE AROUND THE TURN OF THE TRACKS AND SET YOUR ANGEL BEFORE THEM FOR THOSE WHO RACE AND THOSE IN THE PIT AND ALLOW EACH ONE TO FINISH UNHARMED, AS WE LOOK AT THE RED, WHITE, BLUE OF THE FLAG THAT WAVES. PROTECT OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD AND KEEP AMERICA STRONG. WE PRAISE YOU AND THANK YOU IN THE MAJESTIC NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS, AMEN AND GODSPEED. >> TO PERFORM THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, WELCOME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING COUNTRY SUPERSTAR, REPUBLIC NATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST MARTINA McBRIDE. >> ♪ 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: DRIVERS, FACES OF DETERMINATION WITHOUT FEAR. THE UNCERTAINTY, THE MYSTERY OF IT ALL. THE ANSWERS ARE 5 >> Chris: OUR DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW DELIVERED BY PIZZA HUT. TEMPERATURES IN THE 70s. LITTLE WIND. FOR THE START OF THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500 RACE. JAMIE McMURRAY LAST YEAR'S WINNER A BACKUP CAR TODAY. TIME FOR THE PIZZA HUT RACE PREDICTION. WE ASK OUR EXPERTS THE RACE WINNER AND TRACK EVERY WEEK WHO IS THE BEST. YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AS WELL. START UPSTAIRS WITH THE BOOTH. MIKE JOY. MIKE? >> Mike: THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, BUT I ONLY KNOW OF ONE DRIVER WHO HAS A PIZZA OVEN IN HIS MOTOR COACH AND HE HAS WON EVERYTHING ELSE THERE IS TO WIN AT SPEEDWEEKS. TONY STEWART. >> Larry: I WOKE UP AND ONLY SAW 2 EVERYWHERE. KURT BUSCH IS MY MAN. >> Darrell: I AM PICKING THE 88 AND 15 COMING TO THE LINE TOGETHER. >> Chris: HOW ABOUT YOUR PICK, JEFF? >> Jeff: I GO WITH HAPPY HARVICK. I BELIEVE HIS STYLE OF RACING, HE IS SNEAKY SMART. I LIKE HIS STYLE. >> Chris: AGGRESSIVE AND TOUGH. LOG ON TO FOXSPORTS.COM/PIZZAHUT AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOR DRIVER THAT YOU THINK WILL WIN TODAY AND GET A CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO NEXT YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR UPDATES IN THE RACE TO SEE WHO YOU THE FANS VOTED AS THE PIZZA HUT FAN FAVORITE DRIVER. FATIGUE MAY BE A FACTOR TODAY. AS DRIVERS TAKE ON THE REALIZATION OF A DREAM. LET'S HEAD DOWN FOR THOSE FAMOUS WORDS WE ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR IN RACING, BUT ALWAYS SPECIAL AT THE DAYTONA 500. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME CO-GRAND MARSHALS AND STARS OF THE UPCOMING MOVIE "TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON." JOSH DUHAMEL, ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY AND MICHAEL BAY, AS THEY DELIVER THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS. >> I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS FIGHTING FOR US. AND NOW, GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Chris: JEFF HAMMOND, CHRIS MYERS IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. GUYS THAT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH ANOTHER SEASON OF THE NASCAR ON FOX COVERAGE. AND THE DAYTONA 500. DARRELL WALTRIP, LARRY McREYNOLDS AND MIKE JOY. MIKE, GENTLEMEN, START YOUR TALKING. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Mike: THANK YOU, CHRIS. HELLO, EVERYBODY. THE DAYTONA 500, NASCAR'S BIGGEST RACE AND ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TO WIN. TOOK DALE EARNHARDT 20 TRIES. BUDDY BAKER, 18. D.W., 17 YEARS TO WIN IT. BOBBY ALLISON, DAVID PEARSON, MICHAEL WALTRIP EACH WON IT ON THE 15th TRY. TODAY, DARRELL, YOU SAY THIS COULD BE THE TOUGHEST 500 EVER TO WIN. >> Darrell: I THINK PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY THIS IS BY FAR THE TOUGHEST ONE I'VE SEEN. THE TWO-CAR TANDEM WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING TAKES FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION. THE SPEEDS ARE INCREDIBLE. OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR ALL THE TIME. WE CAN'T MAKE THIS UP. A GREAT WEEK WITH THE TRIBUTE TO DALE EARNHARDT. JUNIOR STARTING ON THE POLE. HE HAS FALL ON THE THE REAR BUT A GOOD WEEK. >> Mike: IT'S FINDING A PARTNER AND KEEPING A PARTNER AND ALL THAT GOES INTO THAT. IT'S TENSE FOR 500 MILES. >> Larry: IT IS. YOU WORK FROM THE START OF THE GREEN FLAG TO HUNT YOUR PARTNER THAT YOU CAN PUSH AND BE PUSHED BY YOU. YOU DO IT THROUGH A BUNCH OF PIT STOPS. YOU WILL DO IT FOR 500 MILES. DARRELL MENTIONED PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. WE WATCH SOME OF THE SAME DRIVERS YESTERDAY FOR 300 MILES. THEY ALMOST HAD TO POUR OUT OF THE RACECARS. >> Mike: WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL WINTER FOR IT. THE GREEN FLAG FOR THE 53rd ANNUAL DAYTONA 500 COMING UP NEXT ON FOX. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: THE CARS ROLL OFF THE GRID IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE FOR 53rd ANNUAL DAYTONA 500. THE SKIES ARE PETTY BLUE. THE FIELD OF 43 BEGINS TO FORM UP DOWN TOWARD TURN NUMBER ONE. A BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT DAY FOR RACING. THIS RACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUDWEISER, THE BEER THAT STARTS WITH FULL FLAVOR AND ENDS WITH A CRISP, FAST FINISH. GREAT TIMES ARE WAITING. GRAB SOME BUDS. CHEVY IS PROUD TO PACE THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE WITH THE 400-HORSEPOWER CAMARO S.S. TRY TO KEEP UP WITH IT, BOYS. THE CAST OF "TRANSFORMERS" GAVE THE COMMAND TO START THE RACE. AS PART OF THE PARADE LAP THERE THREE OF THE "TRANSFORMERS" CARS. NUMBER 48 IS CALLED "WRECKER" AND HAS SIMILAR V-8 TO SPRINT CUP CAR. A LITTLE LESS COMPRESSION. 510 HORSEPOWER. LOOK AT THE ARMOR. JIMMIE DOESN'T HAVE THAT MUCH ON HIS 48. >> Darrell: I'M GLAD. >> Mike: LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE NASCAR ON FOX STARTING LINE-UP FOR THE 500. DALE EARNHARDT JR., TWO-TIME WINNER. JEFF GORDON, THREE-TIME WINNER WON THE FRONT ROW. JEFF BURTON, THE WINNER OF HIS DUEL RACE TO SECURE ROW TWO. CLINT BOWYER, REGAN SMITH, ONE OF THE BEST PUSHERS HERE. MICHAEL WALTRIP TRYING FOR THREE. KEVIN HARVICK, THE 2007 WINNER. KYLE BUSCH, 24 NASCAR WINS LAST YEAR. AND BRAD KESELOWSKI, CINDERELLA, THE GLASS SLIPPER FIT FOR HIM. MARK MARTIN IN HIS 27th 500 WITH DENNY HAMLIN. PAUL MENARD, NEW TO THE RCR TEAM. AND MARTIN TRUEX, AND RYAN NEWMAN AND CARL EDWARDS. JIMMIE JOHNSON. FIVE-TIME. DAVID REUTIMANN. TONY STEWART WON HIS 12th SPEEDWEEKS RACE YESTERDAY WITH GREG BIFFLE. BILL ELLIOTT WITH ROBBY GORDON. BOBBY LABONTE IN A NEW RIDE. YOUNG TREVOR BAYNE CARRYING THE COLORS OF THE WOOD BROTHERS AS WE LOOK THROUGH THE REST OF THE FIELD. TALK TO THE ROOKIE FROM KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE. >> Darrell: TREVOR BAYNE, D.W. IN FOX SPORTS. GOT A COPY? >> YES, I DO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> Darrell: I'M DOING WELL. YOU ARE DRIVING THE FAMOUS 21 CAR. YOU MET DAVID PEARSON WHO WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN THAT CAR. WHAT IS YOUR GAME PLAN FOR TODAY? >> THE SAME THING, AS I SAID. WE'RE ALL HERE TO WIN. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS MY FIRST 500, AND I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. I TELL YOU, MAN, THIS FAST RACECAR HAS DONE ME JUSTICE SO FAR IN THIS SPEEDWEEK. EVERYBODY ON THE WOOD BROTHERS CREW PROVIDED ME AWESOME RACECAR. I THINK IT HAS CAPABILITY OF RUNNING UP FRONT. FINDING THAT BUDDY TO WORK WITH, I THINK WE HAVE BUILT A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS THIS WEEK. AND GOT A LOT OF GOOD SUPPORT, MAN. WE'RE PUMPED ABOUT IT. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT, THERE. GOOD JOB THROUGH THE WEEK HERE. YOU'VE BEEN GOING TO SCHOOL. TODAY IS GRADUATION. HOPE YOU GET THE CERTIFICATE. >> ALL RIGHT, GUYS. APPRECIATE IT. HOPEFULLY WE GET THE FORD MOTORCRAFT UP FRONT FOR YOU. >> Mike: THE 20th DRIVER TO RUN THE 500 FOR THE WOOD BROTHERS. KEEP AN EYE ON THIS MAN WHO TURNED 20 YESTERDAY. HE IS ONE TO WATCH. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: THE NASCAR ON FOX ALL-STAR PIT CREW WITH MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: TODAY, JEFF GORDON CHASING FOURTH VICTORY IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. EACH QUALIFYING EVENT OR SHOOT-OUT RACE IN DAYTONA HAS BEEN DIFFERENT VARIABLES THAT GORDON HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH. HIS DRAFTING BUDDY, TREVOR BAYNE STARTING NEAR THE BACK. HIS TEAMMATE IS STARTING NEAR THE BACK. THE QUESTION MARK EARLY ON: WHO WILL GORDON PAIR UP WITH EARLY? KRISTA VODA? >> Krista: WHEN JAMIE McMURRAY WON THE RACE LAST YEAR HE CRIED AND THEN HE WENT IN THE MEDIA CENTER AND CRIED MORE. HE SAID, "I KNOW A GROWN MAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK DOWN IN A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T WON A RACE IN A WHILE, YOU ARE OVERWHELMED. WHEN YOU REALIZE THE RACE IS THE DAYTONA 500, THE FLOODGATES OPEN." TODAY HE WILL TRY TO NAVIGATE THE FLOODS TWO-BY-TWO WITH TEAMMATE JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: JOEY LOGANO HAS RUN IN THREE PRELIMINARY EVENTS AND CRASHED IN THREE EVENTS. AND VETERAN OBSERVERS SAY THE KID IS READY TO WIN AND WIN BIG THIS YEAR. THAT COULD START HERE AT THE DAYTONA 500 IF HE HE CAN KEEP IT OUT OF THE WALL. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: TONY STEWART WON HERE YESTERDAY BUT HE HAS NEVER WON THE DAYTONA 500. WOULD HE GIVE UP ALL 16 TROPHIES FOR ONE AT THE AMERICAN RACE? LISTEN TO KEVIN HARVICK. KEVIN HARVICK SAYS THIS IS THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR. TIMES TEN. >> IT'S THE DAYTONA 500. YOU ARE JUST ON EDGE WITH YOUR NERVES ALREADY. JUST THE WHOLE SERIES OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> THE FIRST RACE OF THE YEAR BUT IT'S THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR. YOU HAVE THE EARLY IN THE YEAR JITTERS, NERVENESS OF THE DAYTONA 500, HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO WIN. THERE IS A LOT GOING ON, ON THE DAYTONA 500 MORNING. YOU GET THE WORST NIGHT OF SLEEP EVER THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DAYTONA 500. YOU CAN'T HELP IT. YOU HEART POUNDS ALL NIGHT LONG AND YOU CAN'T SLEEP. >> THE ANTICIPATION IS HIGH AND ENTHUSIASM IS HIGH. EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'LL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND EVERYBODY THINKS THEY WILL WIN THE RACE. >> THE EMOTION, THE HYPE, THE PEOPLE, THE COLORS, THE ATMOSPHERE. YOU CAN FIELD IT. IT'S ELECTRIC. >> THE WHOLE FIELD IS AMPED UP AS YOU COME TO THE GREEN. AS A DRIVER, THERE IS NO BIGGER ANTICIPATION THAN COMING TO THE GREEN FLAG AT THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THE START OF A NEW SEASON. AT THIS MOMENT, EVERY ONE OF 43 DRIVERS CAN WIN THE DAYTONA 500. EVERY ONE CAN BE SPRINT CUP CHAMPION. IN A WORLD WHERE MOST SPORTS PLAY THEIR BIGGEST GAME AT THE END OF THE SEASON, NASCAR DOES IT JUST THE OPPOSITE. >> Darrell: IT'S WHEN THE BEST ARE AT THEIR BEST. >> Mike: TODAY, A WHOLE NEW STYLE OF RACING AT DAYTONA. WE'LL GO 200 LAPS, 500 MILES AS WE ALWAYS DO. 55 ON PIT ROAD. FUEL WINDOW IS 42-46 LAPS. FOUR CARS TO THE BACK. >> Larry: THAT IS GOING TO BE HUGE. THE PIT WINDOW. THIS RACETRACK HAS SO MUCH GRIP. TIRES WON'T BE THAT IMPORTANT, BUT THE FUEL WINDOW COULD BE. >> Mike: A FEW THINGS TO NOTE AS WE GET READY TO GO GREEN. BRAND NEW SURFACE AT DAYTONA. HAS LED TO A NEW STYLE OF RACING. THE BUMP AND PUSH STYLE OF DRAFTING SEEN AT TALLADEGA IS NOW POSSIBLE AT DAYTONA. DUE TO THE SMOOTH SURFACE. AS MENTIONED, AFTER 300 MILES YESTERDAY, DRIVERS WERE WORN OUT. IMAGINE DRIVING IN A SNOWSTORM WHERE ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THE TAILLIGHT OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND YOU, BESIDE YOU OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR THE DRIVER PUSHING THE DRIVER IN FRONT. FINALLY, WE WILL REMEMBER DALE EARNHARDT AND HIS LEGACY, WITH SILENCE AT THIRD LAP IN THE 3 HE MADE FAMOUS. >> Darrell: .96 HAS BEEN THE DIFFERENCE FOR ALL THE RACES WON THIS WEEKEND FOR THE WINNER. >> Mike: SET TO GO GREEN. PACE CAR MAKES A LEFT TURN TO PIT ROAD AND TIME TO START ANOTHER SEASON OF NASCAR AND NASCAR ON FOX. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Darrell: BE NICE HERE. BE NICE GUYS. HOLDING. HOLDING. BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: THE CARS WILL PAIR UP AND DRAFT WITH EITHER A TEAMMATE OR A CONVENIENT PARTNER. >> Darrell: LARRY, THE SAME THING WE ARE SEEING TODAY IS WHAT WE SAW WITH THE 24 CAR. REALLY SLOW ON THE GET-GO. DOESN'T SEEM TO GET UP TO SPEED VERY WELL. >> Larry: YEAH, JEFF GORDON IN THE DUEL RACES WITH TREVOR BAYNE PUSHING MOST OF THAT RACE HATED TO SEE RESTARTS. >> Darrell: I THINK JEFF GORDON -- MAYBE HE IS DRIFTING BACK THERE TO FIND TREVOR BAYNE IN THE 21 CAR. >> Mike: IN THE QUALIFYING RACE, BUSCH HAD HELP FROM REGAN SMITH THE WHOLE RACE LONG. HE PUSHED HIM TO VICTORY AND HE HAS PUSHED BUSCH TO LEAD LAP ONE. >> Larry: YOU SEE MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE 15 AND THEN THE 18. A COUPLE TOYOTAS GETTING TO THE HIGH SIDE IN THE BACKSTRETCH. >> Darrell: DON'T LOOK BACK. COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY ARE. MAN, BEHIND THEM, A PACK OF WOLVES. >> Mike: FIVE PAIRS OF CARS HAVE BROKEN AWAY FROM THE PACK WHERE EVERYONE ELSE LOOKS TO FIND A DRAFTING PARTNER. AS THEY COME OFF FOUR AND COMPLETE LAP TWO, NASCAR, NASCAR ON FOX AND DAYTONA PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MAN IN BLACK, DALE EARNHARDT, ON THIS THE THIRD LAP OF THE RACE. [ SILENCE ] >> Mike: THE LEGACY MAY NOT BE THE SEVEN CHAMPIONSHIPS OR ALL THE VICTORIES. BUT THE ADVANCEMENT IN SAFETY IN NASCAR THAT FOLLOWED THAT DARK DAY IN 2001. >> Larry: AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK, A.J. ALLMENDINGER AND THE 43 CAR AND MARK MARTIN IN THE 50, WE SAW THEM WORK TOGETHER A LOT IN PRACTICE. THEY WERE FAST NO MATTER WHICH ONE WAS PUSHING THE OTHER. >> Darrell: THEY WORKED TOGETHER IN PRACTICE, BUT THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THEM UP FRONT FIGHTING FOR THE LEAD. THAT'S THE WAY THIS RACE UNFOLDS ALWAYS. SO MUCH UNEXPECTED. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL RISE TO THE TOP. >> Mike: ALLMENDINGER, 15th AND MARK MARTIN AND THEY LEAD THE DAYTONA 500! OH, KYLE BUSCH! >> BEHIND YOU. >> Mike: GETS DOWN ON THE APRON WITHOUT FURTHER CONTACT. JOSTLING FURTHER BACK. BUT NO OTHER COLLISION. >> Darrell: THAT WAS LUCK. >> Mike: AND ROWDY BUSCH WINNER OF 24 RACES ACROSS NASCAR'S TOP THREE SERIES LAST YEAR, HAS BROUGHT OUT THE FIRST CAUTION OF THE DAY. >> Darrell: SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE, UP ON THE OUTSIDE. GETS A SHOVE FROM MICHAEL THERE IN THE 15 CAR. WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: THE FIRST CAUTION OF THE DAY. PIT ROAD, FAIRLY BUSY PLACE. NOT QUITE HALF THE CARS ELECTED TO MAKE STOPS. >> Darrell: THEY MADE THE PIT ROAD WIDER. I THINK IT WOULD MAKE THINGS SAFER. >> Mike: LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO MICHAEL WALTRIP AND KYLE BUSCH. COMING IN FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN. >> Darrell: REMEMBER THE DRIVERS SAY I CAN'T SEE PAST THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SO MICHAEL REALLY CAN'T SEE. IT LOOKED LIKE KYLE IN THE 18 -- SOMEONE GOT BEHIND THE 5, BUT MICHAEL WASN'T READY FOR HIM TO DO THAT. WE TALK ABOUT HOW THE DRIVER COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER ON THE RADIO. THOSE TWO MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT. >> Mike: LOOK BEHIND THE ACCIDENT, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK. >> Larry: DARRELL, DID IT ALMOST LOOK LIKE HE WANTED TO FIRST GO DOWN THERE AND THEN HAD A SECOND THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND CAME BACK UP? >> Darrell: I THINK HE GOT A TAD LOOSE WHEN HE WAS GOING TO CUT TO THE BOTTOM. IT GOT LOOSE. MICHAEL WAS RIGHT UP ON HIM. >> Mike: MARK MARTIN. >> THREE-WIDE. >> LOOKING BEHIND YOU. LOOKING BEHIND YOU. OUTSIDE. >> Mike: THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE MAJOR DAMAGE TO KYLE BUSCH'S CAR. HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY AFTER THIS. >> I HAD TO GO, THEY WERE THREE-WIDE AND THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO SO IT SPUN ME OUT IN THE CORNER. STUPIDLY INSANE. >> Darrell: "STUPIDLY INSANE." >> Larry: HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ONE YET. >> Krista: KYLE BUSCH GOT ON THE RADIO AND SAID, "TELL MICHAEL HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH REAL ESTATE." THE PLAN IS KYLE BUSCH TO COME DOWN PIT ROAD. HE IS ASKING FOR THE ALIGNMENT ON THE CAR, WANTS TO KNOW IF IT'S TOE IN OR TOE OUT? WHAT IS WRONG? THEY SAID THAT'S WITH A WE HAVE TO CHECK. STEVE? >> Steve: MICHAEL WALTRIP SAID ON THE RADIO, "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. I STAYED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE LIKE HE ASKED ME TO." >> Mike: ALIGNING THE FRONT END ON KYLE BUSCH'S TOYOTA. HERE IS TODAY'S 4-150 ECOBOOST TRACK FACT. IT TOOK SIX MONTHS TO REPAVE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY BEGINNING AFTER THE JULY 4 RACE. THEY USED 50,000 TONS OF ASPHALT. 1.4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF IT. THE FIRST COMPLETE REPAVING SINCE 1979. THE COST, $20 BILLION. SPOTTERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. RADIO FREQUENCY ABOVE. SPOTTERS ON TOP OF THE CONTROL TOWER. RADIO FREQUENCIES WERE EXCHANGED IN THE GARAGE ALL MORNING. SOME DRIVERS CAN TALK TO AS MANY AS 15 DIFFERENT COMPETITORS SELECTING THEM ON THE RADIO. HOWEVER, WE'RE TOLD THE JOE GIBBS TEAM, INCLUDING KYLE BUSCH REFUSED REQUEST FOR THEIR FREQUENCIES FROM OTHER DRIVERS AND SAID IF YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DRIVER, GO THROUGH THEIR SPOTTER UP ON THE ROOF INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TALK TO THEM DIRECTLY. >> Darrell: HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WISE TO HAVE MICHAEL'S RADIO FREQUENCY IN THAT SITUATION THERE. WE ARE COMING TO THE GREEN. BUT QUICKLY, TRAIL-BRAKING. YOU WANT TO RIDE THE BRAKE AND LET THE GUY EASE BACK UP ON YOU. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DIDN'T TIME IT RIGHT. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK ON THE INSIDE OF RACE LEADER A.J. ALLMENDINGER AS THEY RESTART DOUBLE-FILE. HARVICK'S CHEVROLET HAS HELP FROM MATT KENSETH'S FORD. MARK MARTIN STAYS GLUED TO THE BACK BUMPER OF A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN THE 43. >> Larry: IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RESTART, WE ARE SEEING THE SAME TWO-DRIVER TANDEM WE SAW BEFORE THE CAUTION FLAG AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. >> Darrell: I KNOW YOU AT HOME SAY WITH THEM RUNNING THAT CLOSE TOGETHER DOESN'T THE ENGINE GET HOT? THAT HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TO PUSH THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND NOT COOK YOUR ENGINE. SOME DRIVERS HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. >> Mike: FOR THE LEAD. HARVICK. PAST WINNER OF THE 500 AND ONE OF THE BEST CLOSERS IN THE BUSINESS. IN THE CLOSING LAPS YOU WATCH FOR HIM TO COME THROUGH THE FIELD. TRYING TO LEAD A LAP FROM A.J. ALLMENDINGER BUT NOT THIS ONE. THE FORD STAYS OUT FRONT. >> Larry: LOOK AT THE WAD OF CARS. THEY ARE THREE WIDE FOR EIGHT ROWS DEEP. >> Darrell: THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR A POSITION. THEY'RE JUST NOT SURE WHICH ONE. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE EITHER. JUST TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO HELP YOU GET BY ALL THIS IF YOU CAN. >> Mike: YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PARTNER, BECAUSE ONE CAR PUSHING ANOTHER CAN BE SEVERAL MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN ANY SINGLE CAR BY ITSELF. ON THE HIGH SIDE. BIG DADDY. JEFF GORDON. BEGINNING HIS DRIVE FOR FIVE FOR A FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP. BRIAN VICKERS. PUSHING A FORMER TEAMMATE OF GORDON'S. HE IS BACK AFTER A YEAR'S ILLNESS. CLEARED BY DOCTORS TO DRIVE AFTER HEART SURGERY. NO ONE WANTS TO WIN MORE THAN VICKERS. >> Darrell: CHECK THAT, KASEY KAHNE IN THE 4 IS PUSHING JEFF GORDON. >> Mike: HIS CAR IS IDENTICAL THAN BRIAN VICKERS. DIFFERENT NUMBER. KAHNE IN THE 4. NOW, DALE JR. HAD TO START THE RACE FROM THE BACK, BUT HIS 88 IS COMING TO THE FRONT. EIGHTH PLACE AND COMING. >> Darrell: WE HAVE SEEN THESE GUYS. THEY WRECKED IN PRACTICE. WE HAVE A SMOKER UP HERE. SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING BLOWING OUT. WHO IS IT? >> Mike: J.J. YELEY. WHO RACED HIS WAY TO THE 500 WITH A FINE DRIVE IN THURSDAY'S QUALIFYING RACE. DRIFTING TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK. TRAILING SMOKE. CAUTION OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. >> Darrell: HE IS PUTTING OUT OIL. BE CAREFUL RACING BACK TO THE CAUTION. >> Mike: JUNIOR ALMOST GOT TURNED AROUND BY MARTIN TRUEX. >> Darrell: SEE! I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE. THE CAUTION WAS OUT. THEY KEPT RACING. >> THE CAUTION COMES OUT. >> 10-4. NEVER HEARD NASCAR SAY IT, MAN. >> Mike: WATCH THE 88. COMING TO THE CAUTION FLAG. MARTIN TRUEX TUCKED UP UNDERNEATH HIM. >> Darrell: THEY DON'T KNOW THE CAUTION IS OUT. YOU JUST HEARD JUNIOR GET ON THE SPOTTER. THEY THINK MAN THIS IS EASY HERE. >> Larry: THAT LIKED TO HAVE BIG RIGHT THERE. THE IRONY OF THAT, WHEN HE WRECKED IN WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE, IT WAS MARTIN TRUEX IN THE 56 THAT WAS BEHIND HIM AND TURNED HIM SIDEWAYS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE. >> Mike: THE CAUTION FLAG IS A BREAK FOR THE 18. HE DID NOT GET UP TO SPEED ON THE RESTART. KYLE BUSCH. >> Darrell: WATCH THE GUYS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN PRACTICE. THEY RAN UP ON CARS THAT WERE COMING UP TO SPEED. WE SHOULD SAY. JIMMIE JOHNSON DOWN THERE, SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO THE RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. RAN UP ON THEN AND HAD TO CHECK UP, JIMMIE DID. THAT'S HOW JUNIOR ENDED UP IN A BACKUP CAR. SAME WITH MARTIN. JUNIOR REALLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE FINE. >> Mike: AFTER WINNING THE DAYTONA 500 POLE, THAT PRACTICE CRASH PUT DALE JR. IN THIS BACKUP CAR FOR TODAY'S RACE. >> Larry: YOU SAW THE CHEERLEADER STANDING BESIDE HIM AFTER THE WRECK. FOUR HENDRICK DRIVERS WORKING WITH NEW TEAMS AND CREW CHIEFS FOR 2011. THAT WAS STEVE LETARTE WHO USED TO BE THE JEFF GORDON. 11 LAPS COMPLETE. DO YOU PIT? >> Larry: I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF GUYS TAKE ADVANTAGE AND COME TO PIT ROAD FOR FUEL ONLY. YOU ALMOST NEVER PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FUEL IN THE CAR, STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: MATT KENSETH IN THE 17 HITS PIT ROAD. IT WILL BE FUEL-ONLY. JIMMIE JOHNSON WILL STOP RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. MATT? >> Matt: JEFF GORDON SAID THE CAR WAS SCATHING WHEN THEY WENT HIGH AND HE WANTS MORE GRIP. TOP HIM OFF WITH FUEL. >> Krista: KEVIN HARVICK SAID HE WOULD GO WHAT MATT KENSETH DID. MATT IS COMING IN FOR FUEL ONLY. ALMOST A COLLISION AT THE END OF PIT ROAD. KEVIN TAKES FUEL ONLY ALSO. >> Mike: THERE IS THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. FUEL-ONLY FOR ALL OF THE TOP TEN. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: THE SECOND CAUTION OF THE DAY IN THE DAYTONA 500. AS YOU WATCH THE AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. DON'T JUST WATCH TV. DirecTV. DALE JR. AND MARTIN TRUEX GETTING TOGETHER, AS THEY CAME TO THE CAUTION FLAG. AFTER THE CAUTION CAME OUT. WE HEARD THIS. >> A COUPLE CARS COMING ON THE FAR OUTSIDE. HERE WE GO. >> OUTSIDE. TWO OUTSIDE. TWO OUTSIDE. >> GOT TO WATCH THE CAUTION LIGHT. WHEN THE CAUTION COMES OUT. >> 10-4. I NEVER HEARD NASCAR SAY IT, MAN. I CAN'T SEE THE LIGHTS THAT GOOD. >> YEAH. >> Darrell: I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY SPOTTER GET SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. >> Larry: THE ONE THING THE SPOTTERS ARE SCANNING NASCAR AND THEY KNOW WHEN THEY SAY PUT IT OUT, MEANING THE CAUTION IS COMING OUT. >> Darrell: I DIDN'T KNOW THEY RELIED ON THE LIGHTS SO MUCH, AS THEY JUST DID, LIKE YOU SAID, UNLESS NASCAR NEVER GOT THE WORD OUT. BUT EVERYBODY ELSE SLOWED DOWN. >> Mike: WE TALKED ABOUT TREVOR BAYNE MAKING HIS FIRST START FOR THE WOOD BROTHERS, ONLY THE SECOND SPRINT CUP RACE. JUST TURNED 20 YESTERDAY. DICK BERGGREN, HOW IS HE DOING? >> Dick: DOING PRETTY WELL. HE JUST MADE A PIT STOP FOR FUEL. BEFORE THE RACE I WENT TO HIM AND HAD HIM HOLD HIS HANDS STRAIGHT OUT. ASKED IF HE WAS NERVOUS. NOT ONE FINGER TWITCHED. HE IS SOLID AS A ROCK FOR HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: HERE IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY THE OTHER NIGHT ABOUT DRAFTING WITH JEFF GORDON AND HIS QUALIFYING RACE. >> THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. TO HAVE GORDON, A GUY I LOOKED UP TO MY WHOLE LIFE IN MY RACING CAREER. MY FIRST NUMBER WAS 24. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY KNOWS THAT. BECAUSE OF JEFF. TO COME UP WITH THE RACE, I DON'T KNOW WHO MY PARTNER WILL BE OR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I'LL JUST PICK IT UP AND GO TO THE FRONT AGAIN. HEY MAN, I'LL WORK WITH YOU. REALLY? I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS SERIOUS AT FIRST. THEN WE ENDED UP GETTING TOGETHER AND THE WHOLE TIME PUSHED THEM. THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE TO BE WORKING WITH JEFF IN THE FIRST RACE THAT I WAS IN HERE. >> Darrell: WHEN I WAS LISTENING, BEFORE I SPOKE TO HIM ON THE PARADE LAP, I LISTENED TO HE AND HIS TEAM COMMUNICATE. HE PRAYED, SAID A PRAYER FOR HE AND HIS TEAM BEFORE THEY ROLLED OFF. REALLY A QUALITY YOUNG MAN. >> Mike: SCANNING RADIOS, DALE JR. WORRIES HE MIGHT HAVE A TIRE GOING SOFT. >> Darrell: THAT IS A CHANCE YOU TAKE COMING DOWN AND FUELLING ONLY. RUN OVER SOMETHING OR HAVE A SOFT TIRE. >> Larry: THE TOP 15 CARS ON THE RESTART STAYED OUT. THEY PITTED THE FIRST CAUTION ON LAP SIX. >> Mike: SO KESELOWSKI, THE NEW DRIVER OF THE BLUE DEUCE FOR PENSKE LEADS THEM TO THE GREEN FLAG. BOBBY LABONTE IN THE 47. STEVEN WALLACE, ROOKIE IN THE 77. TERRY LABONTE IN THE 32. PAUL MENARD IN 27. TONY STEWART, JAMIE McMURRAY AND DAVE GRUDEN. LET'S CRANK IT UP! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: THREE WIDE AND WORRISOME. THAT'S WHAT RESTARTS ARE AT DAYTONA. >> Darrell: A LOT OF THE GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS, THEY VIEW THE PRELIMINARY EVENTS AS JUST PRACTICE. ON SUNDAY, THE DAYTONA 500, USUALLY THE VETERANS SHOW UP. BOBBY LABONTE, HE IS A VETERAN. >> Larry: GOT CHEVROLETS, THOUGH, GANGING UP THERE ON THE OUTSIDE. PAUL MENARD. REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FOURTH RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAR FOR 2011, GETTING PUSHED BY TONY STEWART IN THE 14 CAR. >> Darrell: LAST YEAR'S WINNER SLIPPING IN THE PICTURE AS WELL. JAMIE McMURRAY IN THE 1 CAR WITH HIS TEAMMATE IN TOW. 42. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20. DALE JR., 88, SLIPPED TO THE INSIDE MOVE UP TO FIFTH AND SIXTH. BEFORE THEY WENT GREEN, MARK MARTIN LOOKED ASIDE TO DALE JR.'S TIRES AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. >> Darrell: PROBABLY HE DROPPED OFF THE TRACK WHEN HE REALIZED THE CAUTION WAS OUT, HE MAY HAVE PICKED UP DIRT AND DEBRIS ON THE TIRES OFF THE APRON. THAT WILL GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF A FLAT TIRE. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON RUNNING DOWN ON THE INSIDE. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, HE APPRECIATED THE HELP FROM THE 4 OF KASEY KAHNE. HE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR HIS NEW BUDDY OF 21, TREVOR BAYNE. UNDER THE CAUTION, GORDON HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNKNOWN VARIABLES SO FAR. >> Mike: DOES IT MEAN WE HAVE TO CALL GORDON "THE SKIPPER"? >> THE 20 WAS LIKE IN THE SHOOT-UP PRACTICE, EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT IT. SQUIRRELY. >> WE'RE NOT HIS PUSHER OR ANYTHING. IT'S ALWAYS EVERY OTHER CAR. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE'RE A PUSHER OR A PULLER. >> Mike: 16 CARS OUT FRONT. EIGHT PAIRS OF TWO. THE FRONT CAR THE PULLER, THE BACK CAR THE PUSHER. THEY HAVE TO STAY IN CONTACT TO MAINTAIN MAXIMUM SPEED. >> Darrell: IT'S REALLY SYNCHRONIZED. YOU HAVE TO WORK ABSOLUTELY IN UNISON WITH THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU. IF HE MOVES, YOU HAVE TO MOVE WITH HIM. THEN YOU HAVE TO STICK THE NOSE OF YOUR CAR OUT TO GET AIR, TOO. A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE WHEELS OF THE CARS THIS TIME. >> Larry: WE MENTIONED DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88, PUSHING THE ORANGE CAR, JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20. BOTH OF THE CARS HAD TO START THE RACE AT THE REAR OF THE FIELD IN BACKUP CARS. >> Mike: THEY NOW RUN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH. >> Darrell: JUNIOR'S BACKUP CAR IS NOT A BAD PIECE. JEFF GORDON DROVE IT LAST YEAR AT TALLADEGA AND FINISHED EIGHTH IN IT. IT'S ALL RIGHT. >> Mike: JAMIE McMURRAY MAKING THE SWAP WITH JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. THAT WAS PRETTY COOL RIGHT THERE. >> Darrell: THAT WAS GREAT! >> Larry: THEY TIMED THAT PERFECT. YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. AS DARRELL MENTIONED YOU CAN ONLY FOLLOW DIRECTLY BEHIND ANOTHER DRIVER. OR THE CAR WILL START TO OVERHEAT. WHAT A SWAP THEY MADE. >> Darrell: THAT WAS A THING OF BEAUTY. >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE WITH CARL EDWARDS NOW. >> Darrell: TEAMMATES, WORKING TOGETHER. SEE THEM WORKING THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT. CARL HAD TO -- BIFFLE HAD TO GET OUT OF THE GAS FOR A SECOND. I HAVE GOT TO BELIEVE, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS, NEVER PUSHED SOMEBODY ALL THE WAY AROUND THE RACETRACK LIKE THIS, ALWAYS ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY. THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST NERVE-WRACKING INTENSE, PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOB A DRIVER COULD EVER HAVE. >> Larry: RUN THAT CAR ON THE OUTSIDE, THE 47 CAR. THAT IS A NEW LOOK AND NEW TEAM FOR BOBBY LABONTE BEING PUSHED BY BRAD KESELOWSKI IN THE 2. >> Mike: PAUL MENARD YOUR LEADER IN THE DAYTONA 500. THIS SUMMER, EARTH GOES DARK FROM DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY, EXECUTIVE INTRODUCER STEVEN SPIELBERG. "TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON," IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE IN 3D JULY 1. >> Mike: THE CAUTION IS OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE DAYTONA 500. KEVIN HARVICK APPEARED TO LOSE AN ENGINE OFF TURN NUMBER TWO AND HIS CAR SLOWED UP. THERE IS HARVICK'S CAR GOING TO THE GARAGE. JEFF GORDON GOT IN THE BACK OF ROBBY GORDON. WE WILL SHOW YOU THAT IN A BIT. FIRST, PIT STOPS. STEVE? >> Steve: TONY STEWART SAID NO HANDLING ISSUES WHATSOEVER. HE IS GOING TO GET FUEL ONLY. MATT? >> Matt: THE 24 OF JEFF GORDON MAKING HIS WAY TO HIS STALL SO ALAN GUSTAFSON CAN MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T DAMAGE TO THE NOSE. THERE IS SLIGHT COSMETIC DAMAGE. THEY HAVE TO FIX THAT. >> Krista: DALE JR. MADE A CALL FOR FUEL-ONLY AND HE SAID HE NEEDS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM IS DOING. >> Mike: THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. FORMER INDY STAR AND FORMULA ONE STAR JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. HERE IS THE DAMAGE TO JEFF GORDON'S CAR. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED IN TURN TWO. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, LARRY, MIKE, I'M ALMOST THINKING -- I KNOW THERE IS SMOKE AND IT'S PROBABLY HARD TO SEE. BUT TREVOR BAYNE IS RIGHT ON HIM. I THINK HE WAS AFRAID TO SLOW DOWN TOO QUICKLY. AFRAID THAT TREVOR MIGHT TURN HIM AROUND. IT WAS COMBINATION OF SMOKE AND SOMEBODY ON HIS BACK BUMPER. >> OOZE OF HIM, OUTSIDE OF HIM. SLOW DOWN. >> WE GOT IN THE BACK OF HIM PRETTY HARD. >> 10-4. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON TRYING TO WIN HIS FOURTH DAYTONA 500. A BIT OF DAMAGE ON THE BUMPER COVER. >> Darrell: WE HAVE SEEN THEM GO THROUGH THE GRASS HOT AND HEAVY AND COME BACK ON THE TRACK AND CONTINUE ON. THE NOSE ON THIS CAR IS A TOUGH SON OF A GUN. >> Larry: IT IS. BUT IS IT THE MOST SENSITIVE PART OF THE RACECAR. ONE THING I DID NOTICE, TREVOR BAYNE IN THE 21 DID CHECK UP IN FRONT OF JEFF GORDON IN THE 24 WHEN HE SAW THAT SMOKE. >> Mike: GORDON GETS REPAIRED AND BACK ON TRACK. PREVIOUS RESTART, KYLE BUSCH HAD TROUBLE GETTING UP TO SPEED AND THEY SAID THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TOE-IN ON HIS CAR, ADJUSTMENT FOR WHICH WAY THE WHEELS ARE POINTING RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER. THEY BROUGHT HIM BACK IN UNDER THE NEXT CAUTION AND GOT HIM SQUARED AWAY. >> Darrell: THAT IS A SICK FEELING THERE, MAN. >> Mike: 2007 WINNER, KEVIN HARVICK. >> Darrell: 20 LAPS IN THE DAYTONA 500 AND YOU ARE GOING HOME. >> Larry: AND HE WON TWO OF THE FOUR CARBURETOR RESTRICTOR-PLATES LAST YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON. THERE IS HIS OWNER RICHARD CHILDRESS THAT OWNS THE FOUR CARS. WE WERE CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY AS HOT AS IT WILL BE TODAY, HOW MUCH OF A TOLL IT WILL TAKE ON THE ENGINES. >> Darrell: WITH THE SPEEDS WE'RE SEEING, RPMs WE'RE SEEING AND THE HEAT, WE'RE ASKING THE ENGINE TO DO A LOT. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK'S DNF DUE TO ENGINE TROUBLE 182 RACES AGO. DICK? >> Dick: YOU NEVER DNF RACES. WHAT HAPPENED? >> ENGINE BROKE OR SOMETHING. WE HAD A 10 OR 15 MORE DEGREE OIL THAN WE HAD BEEN AND I PULLED OUT FROM BEHIND THE 17 AND I FELT LIKE I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I NEEDED TO PULL OUT. THE BOTTOM FELL OUT. HATE IT FOR EVERYBODY ON THE BUDWEISER CHEVROLET. A TOUGH WAY TO START THE YEAR. MAN, LIKE YOU SAY, WE NEVER BLOW MOTORS. EVERYBODY DOES A GREAT JOB. >> Dick: LAST YEAR, KEVIN HARVICK HAD THE BEST RESULTS OF ANYONE AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. OUT ALREADY TODAY. >> Darrell: LIKE HE SAID. NOT A GOOD WAY TO START. GUESS HOW MANY POINTS HE GOT TODAY? RIGHT NOW IF HE IS THE FIRST CAR OUT OF THE RACE. ONE. >> Mike: ONE BY THE NEW POINT SYSTEM. >> Darrell: ONE IS A LONELY NUMBER. >> Mike: HE GETS TO POINTS BECAUSE HE LED A COUPLE LAPS. >> Darrell: THEN TWO IS A LONELY NUMBER. >> Mike: STEVE, HOW ABOUT SMOKE? >> Steve: WHAT THEY NOTICED WHEN TONY STOPPED TO GET FUEL ONLY HE HAD OIL ON THE FRONT OF HIS BUMPER. HE HAS BEEN PUSHING PAUL MENARD. PAUL MENARD, OF COURSE, KEVIN HARVICK'S TEAMMATE. IT BET THE 14 WILL LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT DRAFTING PARTNER. THEY THINK THAT THE 27 MAY HAVE AN ENGINE PROBLEM JUST LIKE HIS TEAMMATE DID. >> Larry: REMEMBER, THAT IS ANOTHER ECR ENGINE. NINE OF THOSE ENGINES STARTED THIS DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: COMING TO GREEN WITH CLINT BOWYER LEADING THE DAYTONA 500. ANOTHER RICHARD CHILDRESS CAR. SMITH BEHIND. ON THE OUTSIDE, KURT BUSCH WITH BRIAN KESELOWSKI. THAT IS BRAD'S OLDER BROTHER OUTSIDE IN THE WHITE CAR, NUMBER 92. THEY CAME HERE WITH ONE CAR, ONE ENGINE AN ONE SET OF TIRES. THEY MADE THE RACE. THEY PICKED UP A SPONSOR. AND PENSKE OFFERED AN ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO NEW TO FIT IN THE CAR AND HE IS IN THE 500. >> Darrell: THE CROWD FROM HOME, SAVE MY FAIR GROUNDS SENT MONEY TO GET THEIR NAME ON BRIAN'S CAR. SAVED A LITTLE HERE AND THERE BUT THAT'S PAYING SOME BILLS FOR HIM RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: JAMIE McMURRAY, A PROUD NEW DAD OF SON CARTER. THE DEFEND 50G 0 CHAMPION HAS -- DEFENDING 500 CHAMPION. WHO IS GOING TO LEAD THIS LAP? BOWYER! >> Darrell: THE 88 CAR, LARRY. HE KEEPS INCHING CLOSER TO THE LEAD. WE WILL KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT WHEN HE TAKES IT. >> Larry: JUNIOR NATION WILL LET US KNOW. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH GOING BACKWARD IN THE HIGH LANE. HERE COMES JEFF BURTON WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI ON THE BOTTOM. THE 31 AND THE 2. >> Larry: YOU REMEMBER, DALE EARNHARDT JR. BY VIRTUE OF STARTING THE RACE AT BACK OF THE FIELD, 27 LAPS WITH THREE CAUTIONS HE HAS WORKED HIS WAY TO THE TOP TWO. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO START IN THE BACK, NOT A BAD PLACE TO HAVE TO DO IT. ALWAYS HAVE A CHANCE TO DRAFT THE WAY TO THE FRONT. THAT IS WHAT HE HAS DONE. >> Mike: NINE DRIVERS LED THIS DAYTONA 500 AS BOWYER HAULS HIM AROUND FOR A SECOND TIME. MONTOYA, McMURRAY AND DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6 AND TREVOR BAYNE IN THE 21 BEHIND THEM FROM THE WOOD BROTHERS. >> Larry: REMEMBER THAT DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6 CAR, THAT IS A BACKUP CAR THAT STARTED AT THE REAR OF THE FIELD AS WELL. >> Mike: RIDING WITH MARK MARTIN. >> Darrell: LOOKS PRETTY EASY, DOESN'T IT? >> Mike: WE KNOW BETTER. >> Darrell: THINK YOU COULD DRIVE A CAR, FOLKS AT HOME, 200 MILES PER HOUR. >> Mike: CLOSER TOGETHER THAN MOST PEOPLE PARK. >> Darrell: 200 MILES PER HOUR WITH SOMEBODY PUSHING -- >> Mike: TROUBLE, TURN THREE. BRIAN KESELOWSKI, DAVID REUTIMANN, MICHAEL WALTRIP, MATT KENSETH AND HALF THE FIELD. >> Larry: I SEE ABOUT THREE OF THE HENDRICK CARS THERE INVOLVED. >> Darrell: MARK MARTIN IS THERE. I SEE HIM. BIFFLE. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS LAYING OVER THERE. THE 24 CAR. LOOKS PRETTY BAD. >> Mike: BRIAN VICKERS LIMPING AROUND. MARK MARTIN IS PART OF IT. GREG BIFFLE GOT A PIECE OF IT. JOE NEMECHEK'S RIGHT FRONT ALL TORN UP. THE 9 OF MARCOS AMBROSE. >> Darrell: SEE IF WE FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. RUNNING CLOSE TOGETHER. >> Mike: WATCH THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. >> Darrell: RIGHT UP HERE. MICHAEL TEAMMATE. >> Mike: REUTIMANN. >> Darrell: REUTIMANN LOOSE. >> Mike: IN FRONT OF KESELOWSKI. NEMECHEK. POW, INTO MICHAEL. >> Darrell: LOOK -- NO, DIDN'T MAKE IT. DIDN'T MAKE IT. >> Larry: BRIAN KESELOWSKI WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WAS INVOLVED. THE WHITE CAR UP AGAINST THE WALL THERE. >> Darrell: MARK MARTIN DOWN HERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON. JEFF GORDON. MY, MY, MY. SEE IF WE CAN SEE ANYTHING -- NOT A LOT TO SEE. MICHAEL GOT IN THE BACK -- AND TONY STEWART DID THE SAME TO MICHAEL IN THE BUD SHOOT-OUT, GOT INTO HIM HARD AND TURNED HIM AROUND. GOT MICHAEL WITH IT. >> Larry: DARRELL, EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO THE APRON BUT THE CARS SLIDING OFF 23 DEGREES OF BANKING, THAT'S WHERE THEY END UP. >> Darrell: AN OLD SAYING HERE, WHAT GOES DOWN MUST COME UP. YOU TRY TO GO AROUND ON THE OUTSIDE IF YOU CAN. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON'S 48 GOT IN THE BACK OF MATT KENSETH TO DUE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. >> Darrell: THE AARON DREAM MACHINE IS DONE. >> Mike: BROZE BREZ BROZE IS GOING TO THE GARAGE FOR REPAIR. MICHAEL WALTRIP'S CAR COMES STREAMING TOWARD THE GARAGE. >> Larry: BRIAN VICKERS IN THE 83 CAR GETS DAMAGE. MARCOS AMBROSE IN THE 9. >> Darrell: THREE HENDRICK CARS, 28, 48, 5, ALL SLAMMING INTO EACH OTHER. >> BACK IT DOWN. BACK IT DOWN. BACK IT DOWN. >> IN FRONT OF YOU. GET DONE IF YOU CAN. GET BACK UP. >> THE 9 CAR SPUN US. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON'S VIEW. >> TAKE IT UP, TAKE IT UP. CHECK UP. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> TWO WIDE IN FRONT OF YOU. IN FRONT OF YOU. IN FRONT OF YOU. >> A WRECK. >> Mike: DICK BERGGREN IS WITH DAVID REUTIMANN. >> Dick: WHOSE FAULT WAS THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW. A PRODUCT OF THIS RACING. MIKE WAS PUSHING ME. I DON'T THINK I -- WHEN I ANTICIPATED THE GUYS MOVING UP IN FRONT OF US AS QUICK AS I DID. NOT MIKE'S FAULT. I DIDN'T GET ON THE RADIO QUICK ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM A HEADS UP. HE'S DOING WHAT HE CAN DO, PUSHING. THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND. IF YOU CAN'T SEE YOU RELY ON THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU TO HELP YOU. I WAS SLOW ON THE DRAW THERE, GIVING THEM A HEADS UP FOR WHAT IS GOING ON IN FRONT OF US. HERE WE ARE. >> Dick: ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT BACK ON THE RACETRACK, DAVID? >> IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE. >> Dick: MIRACLES SOMETIMES HAPPEN IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: GORDON IS IN THE GARAGE. THREE OF THE FOUR RICK HENDRICK CARS, ALL BUT DALE JR. HAVE GONE TO THE GARAGE. TWO OF THE THREE MICHAEL WALTRIP CARS INVOLVED. DEFENDING SERIES CHAMP JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE GARAGE AS WELL. GREG BIFFLE HAS ALSO GONE TO THE GARAGE. YOU CAN MAKE LIGHT REPAIRS ON PIT ROAD BUT IF MAJOR WORK IS NEEDED THE CARS HAVE TO GO BEHIND THE WALL OR BACK TO GARAGE STALL. >> Larry: DARRELL AND THEM TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PRE-RACE. THE NEW POINTS SYSTEM, IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO OVERCOME A BAD FINISH THAN IT DID WITH THE OLD SYSTEM. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO RUN MINIMUM SPEED SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR IN GOOD SHAPE TO RUN MINIMAL SPEED. >> Mike: GRINDING CRASH PUTS US UNDER CAUTION FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN DAYTONA. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS DELIVERED BY -- >> Chris: GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. ACTION-PACKED, 45 MINUTES OF ACTIVITY HERE. THE 15 CARS INVOLVED IN THE LATEST CRASH, INCLUDING SOME OF HEADLINERS IN THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THE FIRST FIVE LAPS, WE HAD FIVE LEAD CHANGES. PIT ROAD IS OPEN. JUNIOR IS IN. KURT BUSCH IS IN. CHECK IN WITH MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: THE GUY THAT HAS TAKEN ALL THE MONEY IN SPEEDWEEK, KURT BUSCH AND THE DOUBLE DEUCE. HE SLIDES TO A STOP. OVER THE LINE. MISTAKE FOR BUSCH. THEY HAVE TO BACK HIM UP AND CONTINUE ON WITH THE STOP. FOUR TIRES IF FOR DOUBLE DEUCE. >> Krista: DALE JR. WAS TOLD BY STEVE LETARTE THINGS GET CON SEVENTIVE AFTER A WRECK LIKE -- CONSERVATIVE AFTER A WRECK LIKE THAT. DALE JR. SAID I SURE HOPE SO. FOUR TIRES. >> Chris: OUR AT&T RACE BREAK, BRINGING YOU THIS UPDATE. TELL US YOUR FAVORITE BY TEXTING THE CAR NUMBER TO THE PIT CREW YOU THINK WILL BE THE FASTEST IN TODAY'S RACE TO 234567. THE AT&T FASTEST PIT CREW AWARD BROUGHT TO YOU BY AT&T. THE NATION'S FASTEST MOBILE BROADBAND NETWORK. CHECK IN WITH STEVE BYRNES WHO IS STANDING BY WITH GORDON. >> Steve: THANK YOU, CHRIS. WILD SCENE. MECHANICS RUNNING FROM ALL PART OF PIT ROAD. I KNOW YOU HAVE ASSESSED ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE RACECAR. DISCUSS THE DAMAGES. >> IT DOESN'T MATTER AT THIS POINT. OUR CHANCES TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 ARE OVER. THAT IS THE DISAPPOINTING PART. THE CHEVROLET WAS REALLY FAST. HOOKED UP WITH TREVOR BAYNE AGAIN AND HAD HELP FROM KASEY KAHNE IN THE BEGINNING. WE WERE HAVING FUN. I TOTALLY GET THE TWO-CAR DRAFTING AND I THINK WE WILL SEE MORE OF IT. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY GUYS ARE DOING THE THREE WIDE, THREE DEEP, RUNNING THE 28. THEY NEED TO LET IT THIN OUT. AS SOON AS IT THINS OUT GO TO IT. THEN IT CAN BE SAFE. HARM FREE. BUT YOU ARE SITTING THERE, RIGHT THERE, SITTING BACK THERE AND RIDING ALONG THIS AND WAITING FOR IT TO THIN OUT. I SHOULD HAVE WAITED FURTHER BACK BUT YOU SEE THEM DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? YOU CAN ONCE THE GUYS IN THE FIRST TWO OR THREE ROWS TLASHG DO IT. ANYWAY, THAT IS DISAPPOINTING. A HECK OF A RACE TO WATCH. I THINK THE FINISH WILL BE UNBELIEVABLE. WE'LL SEE MORE OF WHAT WE JUST SAW. HOT, SLICKER TODAY. THE CARS AREN'T STICKING AS GOOD AS THEY WERE THE OTHER DAY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, THE DAMAGE, IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR US TO GET IT FIXED AND WE'LL GET BACK OUT THERE AND MAKE AS MANY LAPS AS WE CAN. >> THANK YOU. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: THE CREW BROUGHT NEW NOSE, FENDER, HOOD, FRONT GRILL. CAN THEY GET IT BACK IN THE RACE? >> WE WILL GET IT BACK ON AGAIN. TERRIBLE THING. IN THE JEWEL, I LOST THE DROP. DIDN'T HAVE IT AND I WAS WORRIED ABOUT IT THAT I WAS PUSHING FORWARD, TRYING TO BE SAFE. CAUGHT UP IN THE MESS. IT IS WHAT IT IS. THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT HOW THE RACE WILL BE RUN AND DIDN'T END WELL FOR US. >> Dick: THANK YOU. CHRIS? >> Chris: THANK YOU, DICK. AT&T FASTEST PIT CREW OF THE YEAR IS BACK. LAST SEASON, JEFF GORDON WITH THE 24 PIT CREW REPEATED AS WINNER OF THE AWARD. BEHALF OF THE CREW, AT&T DONATED $25,000 TO VICTORY GANG CAMP ORGANIZATION. YOU CAN TEXT WHO YOU THINK WILL WIN TO 234567. SPEAKING OF JEFF GORDON, HE CAME IN WITH A WINLESS STREAK OF 65. UPSETTING DAY FOR HIM, MIKE, AT THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THANK YOU, CHRIS. DOUBLE DAYTONA 500 WINNER MICHAEL WALTRIP GETS IN TEAMMATE DAVID REUTIMANN AND IGNITES 17-CAR PILE-UP. 12 CARS TO THE GARAGE. FIVE DAMAGED CAR STILL ON TRACK. KVAPIL, ALLMENDINGER, MATT KENSETH, MARK MARTIN AND KURT BUSCH. THE FIRST SIX CARS DID NOT PIT UNDER THIS CAUTION. SO JAMIE McMURRAY, LAST YEAR'S 500 WINNER AND HIS TEAMMATE AT EARNHARDT-GANASSI RACING, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, WILL LED THEM DOWN FOR THE GREEN. THEN DAVID RAGAN, PAINE, TREVOR AND LABONTE. THEY DIDN'T PIT. >> Darrell: YOU ARE PROBABLY THE SAFEST IN THE FRONT, THE WAY IT LOOKS, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT JEFF GORDON HAD TO SAY. >> Mike: THAT IS 37 ROBERT RICHARDSON DROPPING DOWN OUT OF LINE. LETS THEM ALL GO. >> Larry: WE ARE HEARING HE HAS TO DROP TO THE BACK OF THE FIELD BECAUSE OF A PIT ROAD SPEEDING PENALTY, ROBERT RICHARDSON IN THE 37 CAR. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT JEFF GORDON SAID, THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE IS THE RACE. SOME OF THE GUYS WHEN THE GREEN FLAG COMES OUT, THEY RACE EVERYBODY. THAT IS WHAT YOU GET PAID TO DO. >> Mike: YOU SAY THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS OUT FRONT. GET THERE. >> Darrell: GET ON UP THERE. >> Mike: WALLACE, A ROOKIE, IN FOURTH PLACE, WITH ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED DRIVERS IN DAYTONA. BOBBY LABONTE. LABONTE IN THE MIDDLE AND PICKS UP WALLACE'S 77 AGAIN. ON THE BOTTOM COMES MENARD AND BOWYER COMING THROUGH. >> Larry: NOT ONLY IS THIS HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500, THIS IS HIS FIRST SPRINT CUP SERIES START PERIOD, STEVEN WALLACE IN THE 77. >> Mike: HIS DAD RUSTY THE 1989 SERIES CHAMPION. JIMMIE JOHNSON'S DRIVE FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IS IN A POTHOLE. STEVE? >> Steve: JIMMIE JOHNSON SITS IN HIS BATTERED RACECAR. 14 MECHANICS WORKING ON THE CAR SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE ONLY PART OF SHEET METAL THAT ISN'T BENT IS THE REAR BUMPER. AND THE DECK LID. HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT OF THE 48 CAR FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE STAYS IN THE RACECAR. >> Mike: SINCE HE WON THE 500 IN 2006, HE HAS NOT FINISHED BETTER THAN 27th. PAUL MENARD BACK TO THE LEAD WITH HELP FROM THE RICHARD CHILDRESS TEAMMATE BOWYER. >> Larry: CLINT BOWYER IN THE 33 CAR, HE HAS BEEN A GREAT PUSHER ALL WEEK LONG OF SPEEDWEEKS, PAUL MENARD IN THE 500 OR THE TEAMMATE JEFF BURTON IN THE 31 IN THE GATORADE DUEL RACE. >> Darrell: MENARD LOOKS LIKE HE FOUND A NEW HOME AND HE WILL LIKE IT WELL. HE WAS WITH RICHARD PET PIT MOTORSPORTS LAST YEAR AND -- RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS AND SLUGGER LABBE HIS CREW CHIEF. >> Mike: FORMER TEAMMATE OF DEI, MARTIN TRUEX AND DALE JR. >> Darrell: IT'S OBVIOUS THEY MADE A DEAL. THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER IN PRACTICE AND THEY WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER. THAT IS CRITICAL NOW. >> Larry: NOT ONLY WERE THEY TEAMMATES, MARTIN TRUEX, NATIONWIDE CHAMPION AND THE OWNER WAS DALE EARNHARDT JR. WHEN THEY DID IT. >> Mike: SOME YEARS AGO THEY SPENT TIME RACING EACH OTHER ON VIDEO GAMES. IN THE GARAGE, STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: MICHAEL WALTRIP WALKING THROUGH THE GARAGE, TWO DAYTONA 500 VICTORIES, BUT NOT TODAY. WHAT HAPPENED? >> I DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION SOON ENOUGH. HE SAID GIVE ME ROOM. I GAVE HIM ROOM THEN AT THE LAST SECOND HE SAID I GOT TO GO LOW, GOT TO GO LOW, THEN WE'RE SIDEWAYS. SAME WITH KYLE, HE DECIDED AT THE LAST SECOND I'M GOING UP THE MIDDLE. WHEN YOU CHANGE DIRECTION PUSHING IN THE CORNER, RECIPE FOR DISASTER. AS A DRIVER, I'M FRUSTRATED, AND AS AN OWNER, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT AS A FAN, THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500 AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO GET ON MY STOOL TO SEE HOW IT WILL END. I HAVE MARTIN TRUEX, ONE MORE BULLET. SEE IF HE CAN GET IT DONE. >> Mike: TRUEX RUNNING IN EIGHTH. I THINK THE SURPRISE OF THE WEEK AS WE WATCH TRUEX AND MONTOYA IS THE BLACK 78 OF REGAN SMITH. THE FORMER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR FROM CATO, NEW YORK, FROM SYRACUSE, DRIVING A CAR PREPARED BY A CREW IN DENVER. NOT DENVER, NORTH CAROLINA, NEAR MOORESVILLE, BUT FROM COLORADO. SMITH HAS SHOWN HE CAN WORK WITH ANYBODY AND KEEP HIS CAR UP FRONT. LAST PIT STOP, THE CAR THAT SMITH PUSHED TO VICTORY ON THURSDAY, KURT BUSCH HAD ISSUES. MATT? >> Matt: IT WAS A CHAIN REACTION OF PROBLEMS. BUSCH SLID THROUGH THE PIT BOX AND BACKED UP AND STOOLED THE CAR. HE REFIRED AND WATCH THE REAR TIRE CHANGER. HE GOES TO WORK AND WHEN BUSCH REFIRES THERE IS A FLASH FIRE. HE BACKS AWAY. HE GOES BACK AROUND LIKE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL HE IS AND GETS THE LUG ON THE RIGHT REAR AND CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE LEFT REAR. TRUE ATHLETES ON PIT ROAD. >> Larry: HE STALLED THE ENGINE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF RAW FUEL IN THE EXHAUST FUEL THAT IGNITED WHEN IT RETIRED. >> Darrell: GOOD THING THE PIPES COME OUT THE RIGHT SIDE. >> Mike: OF THE 12 CARS THAT WENT TO THE GARAGE IN THE LAP 29 CRAS >> Mike: TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW INSIDE THE SPRINT CAR SERIES. CLINT BOWYER HAS THE FASTEST LAP OF THE RACE. JUST OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR. THE BIGGEST MOVER, WHO STARTED OUT BACK? DALE JR. HAS GAINED 30 POSITIONS SINCE THE DROP OF GREEN. FUEL YOUR MIND WITH THE LIVE APPS. ONLY FROM SPRINT AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. >> Darrell: ONE THING WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE WEATHER TODAY. IT WILL BE HOTTER. WE HAVE A GAGGLE GOING ACROSS HERE. IT WILL BE HOTTER. IT WAS GOING TO BE -- THIS TRACK GETS SLICKER. WE TALK ABOUT THE GRIP FOR TEN DAYS BUT TODAY I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE TRACK IS LESS GRIPPY THAN THE LAST SEVERAL OF DAYS. >> Mike: DAVE BLANEY, DRIVING FOR TOMMY BALDWIN. OH, CAR IN THE WALL. FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY. IT'S RICHARDSON, ROBERT RICHARDSON IN THE INSIDE WALL. COMING TOWARD THE START-FINISH LINE. THAT WILL PUT US UNDER CAUTION FOR THE FIFTH TIME. >> Darrell: I THINK THAT IS RIGHT BACK TO WHAT I SAID ABOUT THE TRACK. IT HAS GIVEN UP GRIP THAT GUYS HAVE HAD DOWN HERE WHEN IT'S BEEN AT NIGHT AND BEEN COOL. THIS PLACE GETS SLICK IN THE DAYTIME. >> Mike: SINGLE-CAR CRASH FOR RICHARDSON. MATT KENSETH WILL GET THE FREE PASS. HE GETS BACK ONE OF THE LAPS HE IS DOWN. >> Larry: BUT HE IS LEADING IT RIGHT NOW. DAVE BLANEY IN THE 36 CAR JUST HAD TAKEN THE LEAD. THIS WAS A TEAM AND DRIVER THAT HAD TO WAIT FOR THE SECOND RACE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD MAKE THE DAYTONA 500. THEY CAME HERE WITH NO SPONSOR ON THE RACECAR AND JUST GOT THE SPONSOR DONE LAST NIGHT. >> Mike: HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 37. ROBERT RICHARDSON. >> Darrell: GLAD THEY PUT A SAFER BARRIER ALONG THE INSIDE WALL THERE. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE GET INTO IT. >> Mike: HARD HIT. TRAVIS KVAPIL IS THE CAR BEHIND. THIS IS THE SECOND CAUTION IN A ROW. WATCHING FROM OUR FOX XMO, EXTREME SLOW MOTION CAM, WHERE WE HAD ONE CAR TRYING TO HELP ANOTHER. INSTEAD TAKE THEM OUT OF THE RACE. >> Larry: THAT IS TEAMMATES THERE. ROBERT RICHARDSON AND THE OTHER CAR THAT GOT IN THE BACK OF HIM. >> Darrell: IN BOTH CASES, I THINK A LOT HAS BEEN THE GUY IN THE FRONT GOT OUT OF THE GAS. OR SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT AND THE GUY BEHIND HIM RUNS OVER HIM. >> Mike: IN OTHER SPORTS, STEALING SIGNALS FROM ANOTHER TEAM OR LISTENING TO RADIO COMMUNICATION WOULD RESULT IN A FINE AND INVESTIGATION. BUT HERE, WE HAVE DRIVERS NOT JUST TALKING TO THEIR TEAMMATES ON A SECOND CHANNEL BUT ABLE TO DIAL UP OTHER TEAMS AS WELL. LOOK AT THIS. >> Darrell: THESE ARE ALL FREQUENCIES IN THE RADIO FOR DIFFERENT CARS. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD HERE. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF RADIOS IN THE CAR. IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE NEW STYLE OF RACING WE ARE DOING AT DAYTONA. THIS STYLE OF RACING REMINDS ME OF BACK IN THE DAY. '59 WHEN WE CAME HERE THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID, "WHAT IS THIS CALLED? A DRAFT? WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?" NOW TALKING ABOUT A TWO-CAR DRAFT. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: TREVOR BAYNE IS GOING TO TAKE ON FUEL. THEY HAVE A TIRE ON THE WALL. WHETHER IT GOES ON, WE'LL SEE. MIKE SMITH, THE GAS MAN ONLY MAN LEFT FROM LAST YEAR'S TEAM. MATT? >> Matt: KURT BUSCH PROMISED THIS TIME HE WOULD HIT THE MARK ON THE MONEY. FUEL-ONLY FOR THE 22. KRISTA? >> Krista: THE DEFENDING DAYTONA 500 WINNER FEELS LIKE HIS CAR IS GETTING TIGHT. HE IS NOT UNUSUAL YET BUT WILL MAKE A TRACK BAR ADJUSTMENT. GIVE HIS TEAM A BETTER FEEL. STEVE? >> Steve: GREG BIFFLE OUT OF THE GORRAGE AND BACK TO THE RACETRACK. THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF REPLACING THE RADIATOR IN THE 16 CAR. HE HAS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR OF THE NUMBER 16. >> Mike: THANK YOU, STEVE. BILL ELLIOTT, TWO-TIME WINNER ASSUMES THE LEAD IN THE 500 AS ROBERT RICHARDSON SPINS OFF TRAVIS KVAPIL'S BUMPER TO BRING OUT THE CAUTION. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- ♪♪ ♪♪ >> CHECKERED FLAG. DALE EARNHARDT FINALLY THE CHAMPION OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> HERE THEY COME. CHECKERED FLAG. HARVICK! >> THEY'RE WRECKING EVERYWHERE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: MANY OF THE SPORT'S MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS HAVE HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN THE DAYTONA 500 WHICH TAKES THE GREEN FLAG AT THE QUARTER POLE. 50 LAPS DOWN, 150 TO GO. TERRY LABONTE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2004 LEADS THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: THE LABONTE BOYS HAVING A GOOD DAY. BOBBY WAS UP THERE EARLIER FIGHTING FOR THE LEAD. NOW TERRY BROUGHT THEM TO THE GREEN FLAG. BLANEY IS UP THERE GETTING PUSHED BY THE 22 CAR. >> Larry: KURT BUSCH, BACK OF THE CAR OF DAVE BLANEY. TWO DRIVERS I'M IMPRESSED WITH THAT THEY HAVE NOT FLEXED THE MUSCLES SO FAR. 1 CAR OF McMURRAY AND 42 CAR OF MONTOYA HAVE NOT SHOWN SPEED UP UNTIL TODAY. >> Darrell: I THINK THEY ARE PLAYING A POSSE GAME. >> Mike: AND MENARD PICKED UP KURT BUSCH WHO LEADS THEM ACROSS THE STRIPE. NOW MENARD WITH REGAN SMITH GOING BY TO RETAKE THE LEAD. IF TWO CARS ARE FAR BETTER THAN ONE, WHY NOT THREE? >> Darrell: YOU HEARD. YOU CAN SECOND GUESS, BUT YOU CAN'T THIRD GUESS. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU RUN BEHIND A GUY IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU ANTICIPATE. SECOND GUESSING WHERE HE WILL GO. THE THIRD GUY IS ODD MAN OUT. HE WOULD BE LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. >> Larry: IF YOU WATCH THE DAYTONA 500 A YEAR AGO, YOU DID NOT SEE THIS STYLE OF RACING. WHAT HAS CHANGED? SINCE THEY RESURFACED TALLADEGA A FEW YEARS AGO, TEAMS LEARN ABOUT THIS EVERY TIME WE RACE THERE. WITH THE NEW CIRCUIT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PREPACE, NO BUMPS, NO DIPS. PERFECTLY SMOOTH. A LOT OF GRIP. THEY CAN DO IT WITHOUT UPSETTING ANOTHER CAR. COOLING SYSTEM IN THE CARS ADVANCED SO MUCH. >> Mike: PAUL MENARD YOUR LEADER. HIS CREW CHIEF SLUGGER LABBE WENT TO VICTORY LANE IN THE 500 WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP IN 2003. SPOSIFIER IS BACK FOR 2011. GO TO TOYOTARACING.COM FOR NEW WAYS TO CREATE CUSTOMIZED AND SHARE YOUR DESIGN. THAT IS TERRY LABONTE IN THE 32, YOU SAW ALONGSIDE. FOR LEAD, BOWYER ON THE OUTSIDE WITH HIS CHILDRESS TEAMMATE JEFF BURTON. THREE RICHARD CHILDRESS CHEVYs IN THE TOP FOUR. >> Larry: I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. ALL FOUR OF THE CARS HAVE WHAT WE SPOKE OF EARLIER, ECR ENGINE PACKAGE. THAT IS AN ENGINE COMPANY FORMED THREE YEARS AGO, MERGER BETWEEN DALE EARNHARDT INCORPORATED ENGINE COMPANY AND RICHARD CHILDRESS ENGINE COMPANY. THEY HAVE NINE ENGINES THAT STARTED THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: WHEN DALE EARNHARDT BUILT D.E.I. ONE THING HE FOCUSSED ON WAS AN ENGINE PROGRAM. HE WANTED ENGINE PROGRAM EQUIVALENT TO ROUSH OR HENDRICK, WHOMEVER. WHEN DALE JR. LEFT, CHILDRESS SAID I HAVE PEOPLE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE. IF WE PULL TOGETHER WE COULD HAVE AN AWESOME GROUP. THEY HAVE HAD. >> Mike: THEY LED THE LEAGUE IN HORSEPOWER AND WON THE DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR WITH JAMIE McMURRAY. GOOD NEWS, ROBERT RICHARDSON RELEASED FROM THE CARE CENTER AFTER HIS CRASH TO BRING OUT THE LAST CAUTION. MATT? >> Matt: WE GAVE YOU LOOK AT THE IMPRESSIVE RADIO SET-UP THAT JEFF BURTON AND THE OTHER CARS ARE UTILIZING IN DAYTONA. IN TESTING, TODD BERRIER SAID I NEED A SYSTEM WHERE A DRIVER CAN SLIP FROM CHANNEL TO CHANNEL WITH A GLOVE ON. SO THERE IS AN EXTRA LARGE TOGGLE SWITCH SO THE RCR GUYS CAN TALK. THEN THERE IS A SECOND RADIO. LIKE AN ART PROJECT THAT HIS 10-YEAR-OLD SON HARRISON PUT TOGETHER. ABOVE THE ROLL BAR, COLOR-COORDINATED CHART OF TEAMS ON THE RADIO. STEERING WHEEL, ANOTHER DIAGRAM. THEY HAVE EVERYTHING COVERED RADIO WISE IN THE RCR TEAM. >> Darrell: THE OTHER THING THEY'VE GOT IS A NEW PUSH TO TALK BUTTON. IT TAPES TO THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT ON THE SPOKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. A DRIVER CAN RIDE ON PUSH-TO-TALK BUTTON WITHOUT MOVING HIS HANDS AROUND. WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE RACING, MIKE, YOU KNOW THEY HAD A BIG WRECK. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CARS ARE OUT OF THE RACE, HOW MANY CARS -- YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. YOU ARE JUST DRIVING YOUR CAR IN YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD. YOU ARE GOING TO RACE AS HARD AS IF THERE ARE 100 CARS OUT THERE. >> Mike: I DON'T LIKE THE BACK PACK. TOO MANY CARS, TOO MANY FELLOWS PAIRED UP. LOOK LIKE TROUBLE. >> Larry: ALMOST FOUR-WIDE ENTERING THE TRIOVAL. >> Darrell: AS WE SAY, THAT IS THE EYE OF THE STORM GOING THERE. >> Mike: DARRELL, HOW DOES THIS KIND OF RACING WEAR ON YOU? >> Darrell: IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE GLOVES ON YOU'D SEE WHITE KNUCKLES. THAT IS ALL I CAN TELL YOU. IT PHYSICALLY WEARS YOU OUT. >> Mike: THIS IS BRIAN VICKERS WHO JUST CAME OUT OF THE GARAGE AFTER DAMAGE FROM BIG PILE-UP. HE WON'T MAKE IT BACK AROUND TO THE GARAGE. BIFFLE BACK ON TRACK. JIMMIE JOHNSON CAME OUT OF THE GARAGE, MADE A LAP AND WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE. THE LAST TIME BY, WE SAW A GOOD BIT OF CONTACT IN THE PATH. CAUTION IS OUT FOR BRIAN VICKERS. HIS CAR IS IN HARM'S WAY. STEWART GOT A BITE ON THE LEFT FROM JAMIE MAC. >> Darrell: THEY HAVE SO MANY VOICES IN THEIR HEAD AND SO MUCH GOING ON, WHEN THE CAUTION COMES OUT THEY ARE NOT SLOWING DOWN LIKE NORMAL. CAUTION COMES OUT, BAM, YOU START RUNNING INTO PEOPLE. I WONDER IF THE SPOTTERS HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON THEY CAN'T GET THE MESSAGE OUT. >> Larry: THEY'RE JUST SO BUSY WITH A LOT GOING ON, ON THE RACETRACK AND A LOT GOING ON IN THEIR EARS. >> Darrell: I HEAR VOICES. >> Mike: SORTED OUT AFTER THURSDAY'S RACE, THAT IN SOME CASES, THE SPOTTER FOR THE BACK CAR WOULD SPOT FOR BOTH. A LOT OF THAT CONVERSATION ON THE ROOF ABOUT WHO PAIRS UP WITH WHOM. YOU ARE NOT JUST DRIVING YOUR OWN CAR, ARE YOU? >> Darrell: A SPOTTER TOLD ME NORMALLY I TAKE A BACKUP BATTERY IN CASE I RUN MY INITIAL BATTERY DOWN. ONE SPOTTER SAID HE HAS EIGHT CHARGED READY-TO-GO BATTERIES FOR HIS RADIO. >> Mike: WOW! MARK MARTIN WHO RECEIVED DAMAGE IN LAP 29 CRASH GETS THE FREE PASS. HE IS BACK UP ON THE LEAD LAP. THERE IS A LOOK AT MARK, IN HIS 27TH DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: I AM ALSO TOLD THAT SOME OF THE DRIVERS HAVE A SPARE BATTERY FOR THE RADIO IN THE CAR. >> Mike: LET ME CORRECT. MARK WAS THREE LAPS DOWN. HE GETS ONE BACK. THE LAST FREE PASS WENT TO MATT KENSETH AND THAT DID PUT MATT ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Larry: THE FREE PASS WAS CREATED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE DON'T RACE BACK TO THE CAUTION. SO THE FIRST CAR A LAP DOWN IN THE CASE OF MARK MARTIN, THE FIRST CAR THREE LAPS DOWN. HE GETS ONE OF THE LAPS BACK. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: CLINT BOWYER ASKED THE CREW CHIEF SHANE WILSON DID YOU DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THE CAR LOOSER? SHANE SAID NO, IT'S JUST GETTING HOTTER. FUEL-ONLY. MATT? >> Matt: 31 OF JEFF BURTON, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FUEL ONLY. THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE 31 MACHINE. >> Krista: DALE JR. HOOKING UP WITH KASEY KAHNE. THEY SAY TO DO WHAT HE DOES THEY ONLY NEED A SPLASH. SHOULD BE QUICK STOP. ONE SMALL ADJUSTMENT. FUEL CAN. THERE GOES DALE JR. HE GOT ON THE RADIO AND SAID, "ALL OF OUR BRAINS ARE FRIED RIGHT NOW." >> Mike: I BELIEVE IT. 33 LOST THREE SPOTS, CLINT BOWYER. IT'S NOT JUST GETTING IN THE PITS, HAVING A GOOD STOP AND GETTING OUT, IT'S MANAGING THE TRAFFIC ALL AROUND YOU. >> Larry: IT IS SO QUICK BECAUSE YOU JUST GET A SPLASH OF FUEL. >> Darrell: MAYBE SPOTTERS SHOULD BE TALKING TO THEM ON PIT ROAD, TOO. >> Mike: CAUTION IS OUT ON THE >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 60 LAPS COMPLETE WHEN THEY COME TO STRIPE. JIMMIE JOHNSON BACK ON TRACK. YOU WIN A LEGEND AND MEET ONE, TOO. ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NEW CHEVY CAMARO S.S. AND CHANCE TO MEET JIMMIE. ENTER WINYOURCHEVY.COM NOW. 29 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. AS WE GO BACK TO GREEN. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND JAMIE McMURRAY ON POINT. >> Darrell: LARRY WAS TALKING ABOUT THE FREE PASS. THAT IS ONE THING -- TWO THINGS CHANGED RACING A LOT. FREE PASS, WHICH PUTS ONE CAR BACK ON THE LEAD LAP AND THE WAVE-AROUND RULE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT TODAY BUT WE MAY EXPERIENCE THAT BEFORE THE DAY IS OVER. THAT'S HOW YOU KEEP SO MANY CARS IN CONTENTION. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM FROM REGAN SMITH. THEN BURTON, BOWYER, MENARD, KESELOWSKI. AND DALE JR. UP TOP. WITH KASEY KAHNE. IN THE 4. >> Darrell: DALE JR. DIDN'T -- I WAS LISTENING TO HIM. HE SAID, "I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY ABOUT BEING SHOVED AROUND ALL THE TIME." I THINK I WANT TO EASE OFF A LITTLE BIT. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. >> Mike: WE LISTENED IN ON JAMIE McMURRAY AND MONTOYA TALKING WITH EACH OTHER. >> I'M CHARGING WITH THE CAR. >> KEPT GETTING ON MY OUTSIDE. I KEPT TRYING TO GET UP TO YOUR BUMPER AND I COULDN'T BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM THERE. IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S HARD TO GET LOCKED UP IN THAT DRAFT. IT'S SO CRITICAL TO BE OUT FRONT, YOU KNOW. >> BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE PATIENT, YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT. ONCE WE DO, WE'RE THERE, YOU KNOW? >> I'M WITH YOU. THE CARS ARE REALLY QUICK. >> Mike: PATIENCE PUT THEM TWO-THIRDS OF THE WAY BACK IN THE PACK. BIDING THEIR TIME? >> Darrell: YEAH. HE IS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO WRECK EACH OTHER TRYING TO LOCK UP IN A TWO-CAR DRAFT, BECAUSE WE HAVE FAST CARS. LET'S BE SAFE AND CAREFUL HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE CARS THAT CAN WIN THE RACE. >> Mike: THEY ARE BACK IN 18 AND 19. >> Darrell: MIKE, YOU HEARD JAMIE McMURRAY SAY IT'S REALLY HARD, JUAN. IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET LOCKED IN; PARTICULARLY, WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE YOU GET OUT FRONT, PIECE OF CAKE. MASH, PUSH, HANG ON. >> Mike: AT LEAST ONE CREW CHIEF EXPLAINED IN FRUSTRATION, "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS FLIPPING RADIOS TO TRY TO TALK TO ANY AND EVERYBODY." >> Larry: TONY STEWART IN THE 14, HE HAS FOUND HIM A NEW DANCE PARTNER. 20 CAR WITH JOEY LOGANO. STEWART DROVE THE 20 CAR FOR TEN YEARS WITH JOE GRIBS RACING AND WON TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS. LAST GUY TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP NOT NAMED "JIMMIE." >> Darrell: WE GOT A GAUGE HERE. IT'S HOOKED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. LET'S WATCH JOEY LOGANO AS HE GOES DOWN IN THE CORNER. NOT A LOT OF STEERING INPUT. 17, 18 DEGREES. NOT TURNING THE WHEEL MUCH AT ALL. A LITTLE BLIP. WE GO BACK TO STRAIGHT AHEAD, DEAD CENTER DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. YOU CAN HOLD THE CAR UP IN THE TRACK A TEENY BIT AS IT GOES DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. YOU HAVE LEAN TO GET IN THE CORNER. SEE HERE, THE IMPACT ON THIS END OF THE RACETRACK. 16, 17 DEGREES. LOOK HOW STEADY THAT IS. IN THE PAST, THAT'S JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE GOING THROUGH THE UNDELATION AND BUMPS IN THE RACETRACK. NOW SMOOTH AS SILK. >> Mike: LOGANO RUNS IN SEVENTH WITH TONY STEWART. KURT BUSCH, REGAN SMITH. BUSCH'S WING MAN WHEN HE WON THE THURSDAY GATORADE DUEL. EARNING A SECOND ROW STARTING SPOT IN THE 500. OUR STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR IS SOMETHING NEW FOR NASCAR ON FOX. WITH SOMETHING ELSE NEW. JEFF HAMMOND? >> Jeff: THAT IS RIGHT, MIKE. THIS YEAR, FOX BROKE OUT THE HEAT SEEKER CAM. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FROM TIME TO TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING MORE UNIQUE. THIS TIME WE ARE LOOKING AT BILL ELLIOTT'S CAR WHEN HE COMES IN, THE 09 CAR. LOOK AT THE RIGHT REAR. LOOK IT HOW HOT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE IS WHEN IT COMES OFF. WHEN YOU BRING IT AROUND, IT PASSES THE LEFT REAR AND HOW COOL IT IS. 190, 195 DEGREES ON THE RIGHT REAR. 145 DEGREES ON THE LEFT REAR. IT GIVES YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA HOW MUCH WEAR AND TEAR THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES ARE TAKING COMPARED TO THE LEFT. >> Darrell: PLUS, DON'T FORGET, JEFF -- I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS -- THE TAIL PIPES BOTH RUN OUT THERE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. THEY ARE EVEN THROWING MORE HEAT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. >> Mike: HATS OFF TO GOODYEAR. THE TIRE THEY DEVELOPED FOR JANUARY TESTING AND FOR SPEEDWEEKS IS ONE THAT NOBODY HAS ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT THROUGH SPEED WEEKS. >> Larry: MOST OF THE DEVELOPMENT WAS DONE BEFORE THE RACETRACK WAS FINISHED WITH THE REPAVE. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON, CLINT BOWYER, YOUR LEADERS IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: REGAN SMITH, THE BEST PUSHER IN DAYTONA THIS WEEK, IS THE NEW LEADER IN HIS FURNITURE ROW CHEVY. HE IS THE 14th DIFFERENT DRIVER TO LEAD THE 500. THERE AHEAD OF KURT BUSCH, DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND KASEY KAHNE IN CLOSE FORMATION AND THEN A PRETTY GOOD GAP BACK TO CLINT BOWYER AND JEFF BURTON. >> Darrell: I THINK REGAN SMITH NEEDED A LITTLE AIR. >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: REGAN SMITH IS RACING, ONE OF THE FEW NOT LOCATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. IN FACT, THEY'RE ALL THE WAY OUT IN COLORADO. THEY HAVE A TECHNICAL ALLIANCE WITH RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING, AND THE PIT CREW ARE ALL EMPLOYEES OF TONY STEWART, OF STEWART-HAAS RACING. THEY TRAIN AT STEWART-HAAS RACING. THIS IS THE TRACK THEY WORK FOR. REGAN FORMED ALLIANCE OF HIS OWN OVER THE HOLIDAYS. HE GOT ENGAGED, LARRY MAC. TELL EVERYBODY HOW HE DID IT. >> Larry: HE DID. EVEN AT 27 YEARS OLD, AS HE IS BATTLING FOR THE LEAD WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR., HE STILL WENT TO MEGAN MEHEWS' DAD AND ASKED FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE. >> Mike: SMITH LEADS THIS LAP. BASED ON YOUR VOTE, THE PIZZA HUT FAN FAVORITE TODAY IS -- BIG SURPRISE -- DALE EARNHARDT JR. SEE HOW HE IS DOING. RUNNING IN THIRD. WELL, MAKE IT FOURTH. MAKE THAT FIFTH. DON'T WORRY. HE WILL COME RIGHT BACK. >> Darrell: HE HAS A GOOD PUSHER RIGHT NOW. OH. A LITTLE SWAPPING GOING ON RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: FURTHER BACK AT 17th PLACE, DAVID RAGAN AND TREVOR BAYNE. DURING THE LAST CAUTION, WE HEARD FROM THE 20-YEAR-OLD ROOKIE ABOUT THE STRATEGY HE WANTED TO EMPLOY IN THE NEXT GREEN FLAG RUN. >> SO WHO I WANT PUSHING ME, I'D RATHER PUSH SOMEBODY SO I KNOW I CAN BE CAREFUL. >> THE 99 AND 43 ARE GOING TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHO WOULD RATHER PUSH HERE. >> Darrell: LARRY, WE ARE LOOKING AT A PIECE OF TAPE, OR MAYBE EVEN A PIECE OF RUBBER ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER OF THE 21 CAR. YOU SEE IT THERE. WATCH THE RUBBER, ON THE HOOD PIN. WE ARE RUNNING 195 MILES PER HOUR. WATCH THIS THING. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S GOING FORWARD. HE IS RUNNING 195 MILES PER HOUR. BUT I THINK IT EXPLAINS WHY THE GUY BEHIND IS A GOOD PUSHER. YOU LOSE ALL THE AIR OFF THE NOSE OF THE CAR BEHIND AND YOU PUSH THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU PUSH THE AIR FORWARD AND THE CAR GOES FASTER. >> Larry: THE PRESSURE CHANGES ON THE NOSE DEPENDING ON THE CONFIGURATION YOU ARE BEHIND ANOTHER CAR. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH HAD A CHECK-UP IN TURN THREE. CHILDRESS EXPRESS CAME THROUGH ON TRACK TWO. BOWYER AND BURTON TOGETHER AGAIN. BACK IN THE LEAD. 26th LEAD CHANGE OF THE DAY. THE RECORD, 60. WAS SET BACK IN 1974. >> Darrell: THEY HAVE TO EXCHANGE EVERY NOW AND THEN. THE GUY IN SECOND, PUSHER, HAS TO GET AIR IN THE RADIATOR AFTER SEVERAL LAPS OR HE WILL MELT THE ENGINE DOWN. THE CHANGES OF THE POSITION ARE ORCHESTRATED. THAT'S WHY YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE GUY YOU ARE RUNNING WITH. >> Larry: CLINT BOWYER FINISHED FOURTH IN THE LAST TWO DAYTONA 500s. MIKE, DARRELL, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IN 2003 HE CAUGHT THE EYE OF RICHARD CHILDRESS AT AN ARCA RACE IN NASHVILLE. HE'S FROM KANSAS. HE WAS WORKING ON HIS DIRT CAR AND GOT A PHONE CALL FROM RICHARD CHILDRESS. HE ALMOST DIDN'T TAKE THE CALL BECAUSE HE WAS THOUGHT ONE OF HIS FRIENDS WAS PLAYING A TRICK ON HIM. >> Mike: FROM BODY SHOP WORKER TO THE LEADER OF THE DAYTONA 500. KANSAS >> Mike: THE SEVENTH CAUTION OF DAY, THIS TIME FOR KVAPIL. PIT ROAD IS OPEN. MATT? RIGHT-SIDE TIRES FOR THE 31 OF JEFF BURTON. TOP OFF WITH SUNOCO. >> Krista: THE CALL IS TWO TIRES FOR DALE JR. HE IS FIRED UP ON THE RADIO. >> Dick: KESELOWSKI IS TAKING FOUR TIRES AND HE HAS BEEN FAST ALL DAY. RUN UP FRONT THE ENTIRE RACE. >> Mike: DALE JR., CLINT BOWYER LEADS THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. ALTHOUGH, KYLE BUSCH AND DENNY HAMLIN DID NOT MAKE PIT STOPS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. KVAPIL TURNED RICHARDSON AROUND FOR THE LAST CAUTION, GETS UP OFF THE GROOVE AND KNOCKS THE LONG JOHN AND THE SILVER OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS CAR. >> Larry: HAD THE LOOK THAT A RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS GOING DOWN ON THE POINT. >> Mike: TIME FOR AT&T RACE BREAK. DOWN TO CHRIS. >> Chris: THANK YOU. DALE EARNHARDT JR. HANGING IN THERE. FROM THE BACK OF THE PACK TO THE FRONT. ASKED EARLIER WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE AT THE END OF THE RACE, HE SAID I'LL BE SECOND AND THEN, OF COURSE, CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST. LONG WAY TO GO, BUT JUNIOR HANGING IN THERE. JEFF BURTON IS CURRENTLY THE LEADER. 150,000 FANS GATHERING FOR THE RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. ON LAP THREE, WENT SILENT AS THE FANS REMEMBERED DALE EARNHARDT. FIRST CAUTION, KYLE BUSCH HIT BY MICHAEL WALTRIP. SPUN OUT. HE'S BEEN COMPLAINING ON THE RADIO ABOUT THE STYLE. KEVIN HARVICK HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS. HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT JEFF GORDON WHO RAN IN TO ROBBY GORDON. COMPLAINING ABOUT RECKLESS DRIVING. LAP 29, 15 CARS INVOLVED. MICHAEL WALTRIP WITH DAVID REUTIMANN CREATES THE WRECK. JEFF GORDON AND JIMMIE JOHNSON INVOLVED AND BACK OUT ON THE TRACK BUT HAVING AN EFFECT ON THOSE COMPETING FOR THE DAYTONA 500 CHAMPIONSHIP. WITH JEFF HAMMOND AND CHRIS MYERS IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. PACE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR WITH 27 LEAD CHANGES AND 14 DIFFERENT LEADERS AND ACTIVITY EARLY TAKING DRIVERS OUT OF A CHANCE OF WINNING THE RACE. >> Jeff: WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS GUYS NOT SHOWING PATIENCE. THEY WERE SO AFRAID OF WHAT THEY SAW WITH THE 150 ON THURSDAY, I HAVE TO GO AND FIND A DANCE PARTNER. EVERYBODY IS IN A FRENZY. EVERYBODY SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE WILLING TO SETTLE DOWN AND REALIZE WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. Captioned By Closed Captioning Services, Inc >> Chris: YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO CHATTER. NEXT SUNDAY, NOON PACIFIC, 3:00 EASTERN, FOR SECOND RACE OF THE SEASON. POST-DAYTONA 500. SEE WHO SURVIVES THIS ONE WITH A SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500. FANS, TIME FOR AT&TUP DATE. WE LOOK TO SEE WHICH TEAMS HAVE BEEN FASTEST ON PIT ROAD TODAY. HOW IT COMPARES TO HOW YOU, THE FANS VOTE. >> Jeff: THIS IS SOMETHING TO WATCH ALL YEAR LONG. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEAM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT. >> Chris: DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS THE HENDRICK LONE HOPE OF PULLING THIS OUT. LET'S REJOIN MIKE, LARRY AND DARRELL. >> Mike: KENSETH GETS THE FREPASS. MEGATEAMS OF HENDRICK, CHILDRESS, ROUSH, GIBBS, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN HURT WITH THE CAUTION FLAGS. THREE OF THE TWO-CAR TEAMS ARE UP IN THE FRONT PACK INTACT. BOTH THE GANASSI CARS, MONTOYA AND McMURRAY. BOTH OF THE PENSKE CARS, KESELOWSKI AND BUSCH. BOTH OF THE STEWART-HAAS CARS, TONY STEWART AND RYAN NEWMAN CONTINUE TO RUN UNSCATHED. AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DirecTV. DON'T JUST WATCH TV. DirecTV. AS WE GET SET TO GO GREEN ON LAP 79. DALE EARNHARDT JR. ON POINT. KASEY KAHNE BEHIND HIM. BOWYER AND BURTON ON THE LOW SIDE. BACK UNDER GREEN. >> Darrell: THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING GOOD TOGETHER. CLOSED ON THE FRONT GROUP A COUPLE OF TIMES. DIDN'T GET BY THEM BUT THEY HAVE A SHOT THIS TIME AS THEY DRAG OFF IN TURN ONE. >> Larry: KASEY KAHNE WILL BE DALE EARNHARDT JR.'S TEAMMATE IN 2012 WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. THIS IS A ONE-YEAR STOP OFF AT RED BULL RACING FOR KASEY. >> Mike: THEY HAVE HELP FROM BEHIND WITH McMURRAY AND MONTOYA GIVING THEM AN EXTRA DRAFT. >> Darrell: FOLKS AT HOME, IF YOU DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT OUR SPORT, I THINK MILLIONS OF YOU DO, DALE JR. JUST TOOK THE LEAD. >> Mike: NASCAR'S MOST POPULAR DRIVER YEARS AND YEARS IN A ROW. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] DALE JR. WILL COME ACROSS AND LEAD THE DAYTONA 500 FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY. 28 CARS STILL ON THE LEAD LAP. STILL IN CONTENTION. JUNIOR WON THE POLE. CRASHED IN PRACTICE. SO HE HAD TO GO TO A BACKUP CAR. AND HE STARTED THIS RACE 43rd, LAST. HE NOW LEADS. >> Darrell: FOR A WHILE THERE ON THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE TRACK, IN TALLADEGA, WE CALLED HIM THE PIED PIPER. FOLLOW ME, I'M THE PIED PIPER. EVERYONE HAS. OR DID. GOOD TO SEE HIM BACK UP LEADING A RACE TODAY. I FELT COMFORTABLE THAT HE WOULD LEAD EVENTUALLY. HE HAS A GOOD RACECAR. >> Larry: WE LISTEN TO THE RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE GANASSI DRIVER. MONTOYA, McMURRAY EARLIER. IT JUST TAKES THEM A LITTLE BIT TO GET HOOKED UP IN THE RIGHT WAY ON THE RESTART THERE. YOU CAN SEE THEM ON THE HIGH SIDE FIGHTING FOR THE LEAD. >> Mike: A COUPLE OF CARS WORKING TOGETHER AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD, REGAN SMITH, SPENT TIME ON PIT ROAD UNDER A CAUTION. MATT AND STEVE WILL FILL US IN. >> BUSH IS PUSHING THE 78 OF SMITH. EARLIER IN THE PIT. AND HAD A VIBRATION THINKING IT WAS POSSIBLE BRAKE ISSUE HE EXPERIENCED IN PRACTICE HAD COME BACK. THEY PITTED AND THEY SAW A HUGE HOLE IN THE NOSE. THEY REPAIRED HALF, SENT HIM BACK OUT. AND SCREWED IN A PIECE OF ALUMINUM. COVERED IT WITH A HUGE PIECE OF THE BLACK BARE BOND TAPE. YOU CAN SEE THE ALUMINUM. >> ISSUES FOR SMITH AND THE 78 AS WELL. HE HAD TO COME DOWN PIT ROAD AGAIN. HE HAD A SIDE FLAP FOR OPENING THAT HAD BROKEN. THE TEAM HAD TO TAKE IT DOWN AS WELL. HE LOST A LOT OF POSITIONS. >> Darrell: THERE IS SO MUCH TURBULENCE. THEY FIGURED THE TRANSFER OUT. YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE SOME TIME. MAKE IT MINIMUM AS YOU CAN. LOOK AT DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED. THAT IS JUST FROM CHANGING, SWAPPING POSITIONS FIRST TO SECOND. >> Mike: WHEN YOU MAKE THE SWAP, YOUR TIME FOR THAT LAP GOES UP BY A SECOND-AND-A-HALF. THAT'S AN ETERNITY AT THESE SPEEDS. >> Darrell: SOME OF THE THINGS BREAKING ON THE RACECARS, BODY PART AND STUFF IS HOW MUCH TURBULENCE AND AIR IS BLOWN AROUND THE RACECARS AT OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR. >> Mike: COMING TO THE LINE ARMY STRONG, RYAN NEWMAN. THE PAST WINNER OF THE 500 WITH HELP FROM JOEY LOGANO. NEWMAN OUT FRONT. HE'S THE 16th DIFFERENT LEADER OF RACE. >> Larry: WHAT IS AMAZING, IF YOU GO TO MICHIGAN IN AUGUST, THEY WERE NOSE-TO-NOSE AND FIST-TO-FIST AFTER THE RACE AND THEY ARE HELPING EACH OTHER IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? COOPETITION? >> Darrell: THAT'S ALL IT IS. FIND SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU AND YOU DON'T CARE WHO IT IS. YOU HAVE NO ENEMIES. EVERYBODY IS YOUR FRIEND. KEEP IT THAT WAY UNTIL THE END. ALL BETS ARE OFF TWO TO GO. EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. RIGHT NOW, HELP ME. >> Mike: RACE SOMETHING FAR THIS WEEKEND. WHOEVER HAS LED RIGHT HERE COMING OFF TURN FOUR, NOT THE LEADER AT THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Darrell: I HEARD GUYS SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES. YESTERDAY IN THE BUD SHOOTOUT, I FELT LIKE I WAS A SITTING DUCK. IT SEEMS LIKE THE GUY AT THE START/FINISH LINE IS A SITTING DUCK. >> Mike: ONE FELLOW WHO SAID THAT IS RYAN NEWMAN. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: THE CHASSIS AND HANDLING SEEMS NOT TO BE FACTOR FOR MAJORITY OF DRIVERS BUT IS IT FOR JOEY LOGANO WHO IS RUNNING BEHIND RYAN NEWMAN. THE CAR HAS BEEN UNSTABLE AND LOOSE ALL DAY. BUT HE IS UP FRONT IN SECOND POSITION. >> Darrell: IT'S UNSTABLE. UNCOME FORFEITABLE. DUDE, YOU ARE RUNNING 200 MILES PER HOUR. >> Mike: WHERE ARE HIS TEAMMATES? WE FINISH UP ON KYLE BUSCH AND >> Mike: WIN A LEGEND AND MEET ONE TOO. CHANCE TO WIN CAMARO SS AND MEET JIMMIE JOHNSON. VISIT WINYOURCHEVY.COM NOW. JEFF BURTON, CLINT BOWYER BACK IN FRONT OF THE DAYTONA 500. RYAN NEWMAN COMING BACK TO THE FRONT WITH JOEY LOGANO. MARTIN TRUEX, 56, WITH CARL EDWARDS. KURT BUSCH WITH REGAN SMITH. KASEY KAHNE WITH DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR. LOOK AT THE JOE GIBBS CARS THAT ARE NOT JOEY LOGANO. THEY HAVE BEEN KIND OF IDLING ALONG IN MID-PAC. THE LAST TIME ALONG, WATCH 18 AND 11. BUSCH AND HAMLIN. >> Darrell: KYLE BUSCH'S CAR LOOKS LIKE IT'S UNSTABLE. IT LOOKED LIKE MICHAEL. HE HAS BEEN IN ADVENTURES. >> Larry: THIS LOOKS SLOW I KNOW BUT IT'S IN THE MID-190s AS IT IS GOING ON IN THE CORNER. >> Mike: BACK AT 22nd AND 23rd TRYING TO STAY OUT OF THE FRAY. THIS RACE STILL HAS 111 LAPS TO RUN. >> Krista: DON'T BE ALARMED YET. KYLE BUSCH AND DENNY HAMLIN ARE LAYING BACK TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. KYLE BUSCH IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT HE CAN SOMETIMES BE A HOT-HEAD. SO KEEPING COOL IS A LESSON FOR HIM. AND THAT'S WHAT THE TEAM WORKED ON IN FINAL PRACTICE, WHEN AND WHERE TO PASS THE BATON AND GET THE MOST AIR TO THE CAR. >> Darrell: I THINK IT HAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY. I DON'T THINK HE LIKES TO BE PUSHED. HE IS NOT A GOOD PUSHER. I THINK HE HAS HIMSELF IN A DILEMMA HERE. >> Mike: WE ARE HEARING THAT THE SPOTTER STAND IS LIKE THE TRADING FLOOR ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE WITH THE DEAL MAKING GOING ON, THE RADIO CHATTER IS WILD. SPOTTERS ARE TRYING TO BE MATCH MAKERS AND STILL TRYING TO KEEP THEIR DRIVERS OUT OF HARM'S WAY. >> Larry: THERE YOU SEE RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 39 CAR HOOK UP WITH JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20, TRYING TO GET BY KURT BUSCH AND REGAN SMITH. IT IS AMAZING THAT CUTH KURT AND REGAN SMITH -- KURT BUSCH AND REGAN SMITH. WE GOT A REPORT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND HAD TO COME BACK TO PIT ROAD. THEY HAVE BEEN HOOKED UP TOGETHER THE ENTIRE SPEEDWEEKS. HERE THEY ARE BACK UP THERE LEADING THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: LISTEN, YOU DON'T RACE ANY DIFFERENTLY. WE HAVE CARS OUT OF THE THE RACE. I SAID EARLIER, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT. YOU DON'T RACE DIFFERENTLY IF THE FIELD WAS OUT RACING. YOU ARE JUST RACING YOUR CROWD. >> Mike: AMONG CARS THAT ARE CRASHED, GREG BIFFLE BACK ON TRACK MAKING LAPS, SO THE JEFF GORDON, DAVID REUTIMANN AND BRIAN VICKERS. >> Darrell: PEOPLE SAY AFTER CRASH, MAYBE THEY WILL TAKE IT EASY. THEY DON'T KNOW. >> Mike: LALLY IN THE GARAGE, THE ROOKIE IS OUT OF THE RACE. NEMECHEK, AMBROSE, BRIAN KESELOWSKI, HARVICK WITH ENGINE TROUBLE AND ALSO J.J. YELEY. >> Mike: HAMLIN IN THE 11 CAR DID A 20-LAP PRACTICE RUN, HE TOLD ME THAT BLANEY RUN OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR. DENNY HAMLIN TOLD ME AFTER BEING IN FRONT AND PUSHED FOR 20 LAPS, I WAS MENTALLY DRAINED BY THE ARMS FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE SONTH. >> THAT IS 255. THAT'S WHEN I BAIL OUT. >> THAT IS THE AUTOPSY FROM JEFF BURTON ON HIS ENGINE. HE BECOMES THE SECOND RICHARD CHILDRESS CAR TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. AFTER HIS TEAMMATE KEVIN HARVICK. >> Larry: THERE IS RICHARD CHILDRESS THERE. YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE IS BECOMING A NERVOUS MAN. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW HE IS. >> BAIL THEM OUT. >> I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE OVER 9,000 RPM AT DAYTONA AND THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE LIVING. >> Mike: BURTON IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE WATER TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS A LIGHT BUILT IN, LIKE THE IDIOT LIGHT ON YOUR CAR. BUT IT'S PREDETERMINED. IT'S SET AT A PREDETERMINED POINT. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE DRIVER KNOWS TO GET THE CAR OUT IF CLEAN AIR. BURTON EXPLAINING HE WAS DOING THAT. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO LET GO ANYWAY. >> Darrell: I THINK THE WEATHER WILL CAUSE A LOT OF GUYS OUT TODAY. THERE IS A LOT OF HEAT IN THE ENGINES AND HEAT ON THE TRACK. THE CARS AREN'T HANDLING QUITE AS GOOD AS THEY HAVE ALL WEEK. THE WEATHER IS PLAYING HAVOC FOR SOME OF THE GUYS. >> Larry: LIKE THE KISS OF DEATH FOR THE DAYTONA 500 WAS BEING IN THE CHASE FOR 2010. THEY ALL HAD A PROBLEM ONE TYPE OF ANOTHER. >> Darrell: THEY WILL TEST OUT THE NEW POINT SYSTEM. >> Mike: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS NUDGING 80 DEGREES. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME IN TEN DAYS OF SPEED WEEK THAT HAS HAPPENED. WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK. KURT BUSCH WITH REGAN SMITH. HIS NEW FASTEST FRIEND IN FRONT OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> YOU ARE WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: ONE LAP TO HALFWAY IN THE DAYTONA 500. TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPRINT. CLINT BOWYER HAS THE FASTEST LAP OF THE RACE, 200.5 MILES PER HOUR. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT IS INTERESTING? WE TALKED ABOUT YOU WILL WORK WITH ANYBODY. I DON'T THINK TREVOR BAYNE PROBABLY HAS RUN ANY LAPS BUT ROBBY GORDON AND THEY'RE LEADING THE RACE. >> Mike: FUEL YOUR INNER NASCAR FAN WITH THE LIVE IN-CAR AUDIO ON THE REAL-TIME APPS ONLY FROM SPRINT. AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. ROBBY GORDON HAS BEEN LEADING THE DAYTONA 500 WITH A PUSH FROM BAYNE. HERE THEY ALL COME. >> Larry: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL LAST. HERE COMES REGAN SMITH IN THE 78 AND HIS BUDDY KURT BUSCH IN THE 22. >> Darrell: BUT BAYNE GOT OFF ROBBY GORDON. HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN THE CORNER THREE-WIDE, PUSHING GORDON. FELT LIKE IT MIGHT NOT BE SPACE. THAT IS USING INTENT JENS IN -- INTELLIGENCE IN THE 21 CAR. >> Mike: IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SENSE CHILDRESS TEAM LOST TWO ENGINES IN ONE RACE. >> Dick: BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TODAY. BUT THERE ARE TWO STILL OUT THERE, AND THEY'RE FAST. IS IT GOING TO BE OKAY, DO YOU THINK? >> WE ARE ASKING A LOT OUT OF THE ENGINES HERE FOR SURE. THESE ARE TOUGH SITUATIONS. IF YOU RUN THEM AT ALL YOU HAVE TO RUN THEM AT 240. THAT'S MORE THAN WE SHOULD RUN THEM. THEY ARE OVER THE LIMIT. BUT EVERYBODY BUSTED THEIR BUTT TO COME HERE AND PUT THE BEST FOOT FORWARD. WE RAN WELL ALL WEEK. I'M DISAPPOINTED. I'M DISAPPOINTED. BUT PROUD OF EVERYBODY. >> Dick: HE RAN WELL ENOUGH TO WIN THE QUALIFYING RACE ON THURSDAY. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON OUT OF THE 500 AFTER WINNING THURSDAY. LAST YEAR, JIMMIE JOHNSON WON HISFIT STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. HOW ARE THE 12 CHASERS DOING TODAY? NOT TOO GOOD. BUT FOR CARL EDWARDS AND KURT BUSCH, A LONG HAUL FOR DRIVERS THAT MADE THE CHASE LAST YEAR. >> Larry: THE ORDER THEY FINISH AND JIMMIE JOHNSON WINNING HIS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. >> Mike: JUST PAST HALFWAY. 99 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: EVERYONE IS AWARE OF A NEW POINT SYSTEM. 43 POINTS FOR FIRST, MAXIMUM OF 48 POINTS IF YOU LEAD THE MOST LAPS. >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN, JOEY LOGANO LEADING THE FIELD AROUND. RYAN HAS BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH AND GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN ONE DAYTONA 500. HOW ABOUT TWO? MATT? >> Matt: TWO YEARS AGO NEWMAN WRECKED TWO CARS. AND ON VACATION, THEY SAW A VOODOO STORE. HE SAID I'LL TRY IT OUT. HE BROUGHT A MOJO BAG. CAME BACK, TOLD NEWMAN ABOUT IT AND NEWMAN PUT IT IN THE LEFT HIP POCKETS AND FOR THE NEXT YEAR-AND-A-HALF, EVERY RACE HE HAD THE MOJO BAG IN HIS POCKET. HE WON A RACE AND THREE POLES. THIS YEAR, THOUGH, TRYING TO CHANGE UP THEIR MOJO BY GOING WITH NO MOJO. NO GOOD LUCK ITEMS ON THE 39. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT NASA HELPING DRIVERS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL COMPUTERS BUT NEVER VOODOO. >> Mike: YOU DO THAT VOODOO THAT YOU DO SO WELL. RYAN NEWMAN. JOEY LOGANO. NEWMAN CAME UP THROUGH SPRINT CARS. LOGANO CAME UP THROUGH QUARTER MIDGETS. CAUGHT THE EYE OF MARK MARTIN WHO SAID THAT THIS KID IS THE NEXT BIG THING. HE IS BETTER THAN SLICED BREAD. SLICED BREAD BECAME THE NICKNAME THAT IS ON JOEY LOGANO'S SHOULDERS ALL THE WAY TO THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. >> Larry: MADE HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500 START TWO YEARS AGO. WHAT A DIFFERENCE TWO YEARS MADE FOR THAT YOUNG MAN, JOEY LOGANO. >> Mike: WE HAVE ALL MADE THE PICKS. CHECK IN AND SEE HOW YOUR PIZZA HUT FAN FAVORITE DRIVER IS DOING. DALE EARNHARDT JR. HE IS 14th RIGHT NOW ON THE LEAD LAP, RUNNING 2.8 SECOND OFF THE LEAD. DRAFTING WITH KASEY KAHNE AND THE NUMBER FOUR. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK THEY ARE IN TROUBLE. I THINK IS A PLAN. HE SAID I WANT TO RIDE BACK AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. >> Larry: WE ARE NOW FOUR PAST HALFWAY. 96 TO GO. THIS IS THE LONGEST GREEN FLAG RUN FOR THE RACE. WE ARE 14 TO 16 OR SO LAPS AWAY FROM WHAT WILL BE THE GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS, SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO MAKE SO FAR IN THIS RACE. >> Mike: THAT WILL BE >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: JUAN PABLO MONTOYA HAS SPUN OFF TURN FOUR TO PUT US UNDER CAUTION FOR THE EIGHTH TIME TODAY. HE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND CONTINUED TO PIT ROAD. CAUTION IS OUT. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: S NOT ENOUGH TO GET ON PIT ROAD FAST. THEY TOLD TREVOR BAYNE NOT TO USE THE BRAKES HARD BECAUSE IT LOCKS THE SHOCK ABSORBER TO MAKE IT HARD TO GET THE FRONT TIRE OFF. STEVE? >> Steve: FOUR TIRES FOR RYAN NEWMAN THIS TIME, DICK. GO TO MATT. >> Matt: EVERY SINCE THE DAMAGE OF KURT -- KURT BUSCH'S NOSE, HE HAS LOST THE NOSE. RIGHT SIDE TIRES ONLY. AND TOP OFF FOR FUEL. >> Mike: RIGHT-SIDE TIRES FOR BAYNE AND PAUL MENARD. IT LOOKS LIKE MENARD WILL GET FOUR, AS WILL A.J. ALLMENDINGER. >> Larry: A LONG STOP FOR BAYNE IN THE 21 CAR, FOR JUST GETTING RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. >> Mike: ROBBY GORDON THE FIRST OFF PIT ROAD WITH KURT BUSCH AND RYAN NEWMAN. WATCH THE 42, TARGET CAR. JAMIE McMURRAY BEHIND HIM. MONTOYA GOES AROUND. WHAT A SAVE! AT 200 MILES PER HOUR. HE DRIVES IT ON TO PIT ROAD. AND TO THE CAUTION FLAG. >> Darrell: WORLD CLASS RIGHT THERE. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: WE'RE THREATENING THE RECORD FOR LEAD CHANGES IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Chris: WE HAVE HAD 39 SO FAR. 60 IS THE MARK. 18 LEADERS WITHIN THREE OF THE RECORDS SET HERE. MOMENTS AGO, JAMIE McMURRAY TRYING TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK DAYTONA 500s FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE MID-'90s WHEN STERLING MARLIN DID IT. RAN INTO JUAN PABLO MONTOYA TRYING TO GET AIR. RUNNING HOT. LET'S REJOIN MAR -- LARRY, DARRELL, MIKE. >> Mike: BACK UNDER GREEN. ROBBY GORDON MADE A PIT STOP AND HELD ON TO THE LEAD. HE AND RYAN NEWMAN DRAFTING TOGETHER TRYING TO HANG ON TO IT. KURT BUSCH AND REGAN SMITH, AN ODD COUPLE PAIRING BECAUSE IT'S A DODGE AND CHEVROLET GOT OUT FRONT. >> Larry: THEY HAVE BEEN THIS WAY THROUGHOUT PRACTICE. DID IT IN THE QUALIFYING RACE THURSDAY. HE KNEW THEY HAD A LOT OF PARTNER THERE. >> Darrell: THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE IN EACH OTHER. REGAN IS A GOOD KID. A GOOD PLAYER. >> Mike: WATCH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, 88, 14, FOUND EACH OTHER. STEWART AND DALE JR. TALKING ON THE RADIO ABOUT LINKING UP, HOOKING UP, GETTING TO THE FRONT. WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAN AS WE CRANK IT UP. [ ENGINE ] >> Mike: 87 LAPS TO GO, AS THEY COME TO THE STRIPE. KURT BUSCH LEADER BY A NARROW MARGIN OVER MARTIN TRUEX. TWO-BY-TWO-BY-TWO-BY-TWO. BECAUSE THE NEW SURFACE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY SMOOTH ENOUGH NO BUMPS, SO THAT ONE DRIVER CAN PUSH ANOTHER AND HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF TWO CARS' WORTH OF TORQUE AND HORSE POWER TO MAKE THEM FASTER THAN ANY SINGLE CAR CAN BE BY ITSELF. >> Darrell: THERE IS SO MUCH YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE HANDLING, TRACK FIXED THAT WITH THE SURFACE. DON'T WORRY ABOUT TIRES. GOODYEAR FIXED THAT WITH NEW TIRES. FOUR WIDE ON THE CORNER. >> Mike: BUSCH ON THE BOTTOM. TREVOR BAYNE GIVES BREATHING ROOM. CLINT BOWYER FALLS BACK TO THE LEAD. HE AND BUSCH TRADED BACK AND FORTH HONOR OF LEADING THE MOST LAP. WHOEVER DOES GETS A LAPOINTE TOWARD SPRINT CUP SERIES. >> Darrell: YOU TALK ABOUT THE ECR ENGINES AND THE 33 AND 27 ARE OUT OF THE CHILDRESS STABLE LIKE 29 AND 31 ARE. THEY ARE RUNNING FINE. THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE HAVING, IS -- DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES AT ALL. >> Larry: I'M IMPRESSED WITH TREVOR BAYNE. YOU TALKED TO HIM IN THE PACE LAP AND 21 YEARS OLD AND WHEN THEY GET THREE WIDE HE GIVES BREATHING ROOM TO THOSE IN FRONT OF HIM. >> Darrell: IF HE SEES SOMETHING HE DOESN'T LIKE HE GETS OUT OF THERE. >> Mike: ROBBY GORDON ON THE OUTSIDE WITH JOEY LOGANO. BUSCH, ANOTHER ONE. THIS MAY NOT BE THE MOST PHYSICALLY DEMANDING RACE OF THE YEAR BUT IT'S CERTAINLY THE MOST MENTALLY TAXING. WE ASKED LAST YEAR'S WINNER JAMIE McMURRAY ABOUT THAT. >> MENTALLY DRAINING. THIS WILL BE AS BAD AS IT GETS. IT WILL BE WORSE THIS YEAR, TWICE AS BAD THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT'S TWO CARS HOOKED TOGETHER. YOU ARE NOT ONLY DRIVING BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU DO AND THE OTHER CARS WILL DO. AFTER THE 150, I SLADE DOWN AND I SAID I'M GOING TO SLEEP. SHE SAID YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TODAY. YOU ONLY DID THE 150. I SAID I'M TIRED. MENTALLY DRAINING WHAT WE DID TODAY. SHE GIGGLED AND SAID I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW YOU FEEL SUNDAY. >> Mike: HE SOUNDS TIRED TALKING ABOUT IT. >> Darrell: HE'S TIRED OF ANTICIPATING IT. WE TALK ABOUT THE TIRE AND THE TIRE WEAR. I THINK IT WAS TINY THAT DROVE FOR WOOD BROTHERS HE WON THE DAYTONA 500 ON ONE SET OF TIRES. >> Mike: 1963, THE FIRST OF THE WOOD BROTHERS FOUR VICTORIES AT DAYTONA. CALE YARBOROUGH, PEARSON IN '76 HAD A SIMILARLY PAINTED NUMBER 26 TO VICTORY. AND TREVOR BAYNE WAS GIDDY LAST EVENING WHEN HE GOT TO MEET PEARSON FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> Darrell: I MET HIM 100 TIMES AND I GET GRITTY WHEN I -- I GET GIDDY WHEN I MEET HIM, TOO. GREAT DRIVER. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH, REGAN SMITH, CLINT BOWYER, PAUL MENARD OUT FRONT OF THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >> Mike: GOODYEAR, THE OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR. EVERYTHING WE LEARNED MAKING TIRES FROM ONE OF RACING'S GRUELLING PROVING GROUNDS INSPIRES WITH A WE ROLL INTO YOURS. GOODYEAR, MORE DRIVEN. MARTIN TRUEX, TREVOR BAYNE IN FRONT OF KYLE BUSCH, JOEY LOGANO, MARK MARTIN AND RYAN NEWMAN. WATCH JUNIOR AND TONY STEWART. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THEM AND THEN LISTEN TO JUNIOR'S REACTION. [ LAUGHTER ] >> OH, YEAH! >> YEAH. >> I GOT TO GET SOME MORE AIR HERE. >> NO PRESSURE. CLEAR BY 20 BACK THERE. CLEAR BY 20. >> THESE TWO ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS RACING NOSE-TO-TAIL. STEWART FINISHED SECOND TO DALE JR. IN THE 500 IN 2004. THEY ARE FAVORITE DRAFTING PARTNERS IN THE SATURDAY RACES HERE. >> WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND -- >> ALL RIGHT. >> Darrell: THEY ARE TALKING STRATEGY. GET OFF OF HIM, GET A GOOD RUN AND BLOW BY. THAT'S WHAT THE PLAN WAS. I HEARD JUNIOR SAY ALL RACE LONG I DON'T WANT TO BE UP THERE IN ALL THE FRAY RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO BE BACK HERE WHERE I HAVE A SAFETY ZONE. >> Mike: 16th AND 17th. >> Larry: NAME ME ANOTHER SPORT WHERE YOU COMMUNICATE STRATEGY WITH A GUY YOU ARE TRYING TO BEAT FOR THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR? WE ARE SEEING IT ALL OVER THE RACETRACK ALL DAY LONG. >> Mike: YOU STEAL SIGNS IN BASEBALL YOU GET A PITCH IN THE EAR. >> Darrell: YOU WILL PLAY NICE RIGHT NOW. I WOULDN'T DEPEND ON IT AT THE END OF THE DAY. >> Mike: WE TALKED ABOUT REGAN SMITH WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE LEADER ALL DAY. NOW THE NUMBER 78 IS OUT OF THE LEAD PACK, BACK AT EIGHTH PLACE. STEVE? >> Steve: LARRY JUST TALKED ABOUT -- CAUTION IS OUT. BACK TO YOU. >> Mike: YELLOW FLAG, AS TRAVIS KVAPIL LIMPS ON TO PIT ROAD. BACK TO STEVE. >> Steve: MIKE, YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT REGAN SMITH AND THE 78 AND THAT THEY HAVE AN ENGINE PROGRAM WITH ECR. THEY JUST TOLD REGAN DO NOT RUN PART THROTTLE. REPEAT, NO PART THROTTLE. THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. >> Darrell: WHAT IT DOES, IT LEANS THE ENGINE OUT. IF YOU ARE WIDE OPEN, IT SUCKS FUEL. PART THROTTLE, THE ENGINE WANTS TO DETONATE. IT DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD FLOW OF FUEL GOING INTO IT. IT WILL BURN A PISTON. >> Larry: THE GUY UP THERE PUSHING HE CAN'T ROLL OUT OF THE THROTTLE. THE GUY IF FRONT NEEDS TO DO THE TRAIL BREAKING AND STAY WIDE OPEN ON THE THROTTLE. >> Jeff: DARRELL, DON'T FORGET. WE ARE RACING A NEW FUEL TODAY. THIS IS THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES WE HAVE SEEN ALL DAY LONG. IF YOU GET THE TIMING AND THE PICKSTURE OFF BECAUSE OF THE HEAT TEMPERATURE AND THE ENGINE RUNNING WARMER, IT COULD BE A MIXTURE FOR DISASTER, IS WHAT IT WORKS OUT TO BE. >> Mike: IT'S HOTTER TODAY THAN IT HAS BEEN ALL WEEK. >> Darrell: THIS IS CATCHING SOME OF THE GUYS OUT A LITTLE BIT ON THE ENGINE TUNING. >> Mike: WITH 76 LAPS TO GO, THEY WILL OPEN THE PITS FOR FUEL AND DRIVERS IF NEEDED. THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE MORE PIT STOP IN THE RACE. NEXT SUNDAY ON FOX, THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500. WE GO FROM DAYTONA TO PHOENIX. THE ONE MILE PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN THE DESERT. HERE THEY COME FOR WHAT COULD BE THE NEXT-TO-LAST PIT STOP OF THIS DAYTONA 500. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: D.W. JUST TALKED ABOUT THE INCREASED TEMPERATURE HERE. CLINT BOWYER SAID MAN, PLEASE GIVE ME A COLD WATER. THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO GO FUEL ONLY FOR CLINT BOWYER. DICK? >> Dick: TRUEX WILL PIT AND NOT TAKING TIRES ON THIS ONE, NEXT ONE OR ONE AFTER THAT. THEY ARE RUNNING THIS SET OF TIRES FOR THE DURATION OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: NOT MANY TIRE CHANGES AMONG THE FIRST ONES TO PIT ROAD. JOEY LOGANO IS GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST RIGHT SIDES. KRISTA? >> Krista: THE SAME STRATEGY FOR THE TEAMMATE, KYLE BUSCH. RIGHT SIDE TIRES FOR KYLE. MATT? >> Matt: FOUR TIRES FOR THE 22 OF KURT BUSCH. HE SAID THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE WITH EACH STOP. HE NOTICED THAT THE SCREWS ON THE FRONT BUMPER, THE REPAIR JOB, EATING UP THE REAR BUMPER OF 78 OF SMITH. >> Mike: BRAD KESELOWSKI GOT RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. A.J. ALLMENDINGER GETS FOUR. WE'RE UNDER CAUTION >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY THE -- >>> BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! >> MAN, I'M HAPPY. >> THREE WIDE. THREE WIDE. GET BACK UP, GET BACK UP. >> 9 CAR JUST SPUN. >> BACK SCATTERED LIKE AT THE POLES AROUND HERE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> 74 LAPS TO GO. EIGHT CARS OUT OF THE RACE. 26 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. DAVID GILLILAND GOT THE FREE PASS. THEY ARE CALLING OFF THE RESTART. YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHTS ON ATOP THE CHEVY CAMARO PACE CAR. THEY WILL RUN ONE MORE LAP UNDER THE CAUTION. >> Darrell: THINKING ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION, DRIVERS, SPOTTERS, AND TALKING TO OTHER DRIVERS. DON'T YOU CALL IT SOCIAL MEDIA? ALMOST LIKE TWITTER. >> Mike: UNTIL THE LAST LAP WHEN IT'S ANTI-SOCIAL MEDIA. >> Darrell: MASS MEDIA. >> Larry: WE WATCHED JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND JAMIE McMURRAY, GANASSI CARS WORK TOGETHER ALL DAY LONG. MONTOYA GOT IN TROUBLE ON THE EIGHTH CAUTION ON LAP 107. HE LOST TOUCH WITH THE PACK. WHAT WE WATCHED FOR EIGHT TO TEN LAPS BEFORE THE CAUTION WE JUST HAD THERE OF 123, JAMIE McMURRAY HAD COME TO A STOP ON THE RACETRACK WAITING FOR MONTOYA TO CATCH UP WITH HIM. THEY HAD JUST GOT TOGETHER WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT. >> Mike: JAMIE WAS COASTING AROUND AND KYLE BUSCH WANTED TO PLAY LET'S MAKE A DEAL. >> JAMIE, YOU GOT ME? YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL PUSHING ME. >> 10-4, I'LL BE CAREFUL. >> WE HAVE TO GET THE 42. >> I HAVE TO GET JUAN. WE HAD A DEAL EARLIER, OKAY? >> 10-4. GO AHEAD. >> Mike: YOU SEE THE BLACK ON THE BACK BUMPER OF KYLE BUSCH. THAT IS WHAT THEY CALL THE BARE BOND. EXPLAIN THAT. >> Darrell: IT'S STICKY. HE IS SAYING YOUR BUMPER WILL NOT SLIDE ACROSS MY BACK BUMPER AND WE CAN GET HOOKED UP THERE FOR A SECOND. IT COULD SPIN ME OUT. HE DOESN'T WANT, HE WANTS HIM TO PUSH HIM SQUARE. DON'T BE SLIDING ACROSS THE REAR OF THE CAR. >> Larry: IT'S LIKE LISTENING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. NO WONDER BOB OSBORNE HAS A HEADACHE. >> Darrell: I'M TELLING YOU. >> Mike: INTRODUCING CAR WARRIORS, THE MOST ANTICIPATED SHOW OF THE SEASON. TEAM OF ALL-STAR MECHANICS TAKES ON TEAM OF AVERAGE JOES. YOU HAVE 72 HOURS TO BUILD THE ULTIMATE RIDE. MOST EXCITING NEW SHOW ON TV. IT PREMIERS WEDNESDAY, 9:00 EASTERN, 6:00 PACIFIC ONLY ON SPEED. LOOK FOR THE RESTART THIS TIME. ON THE INSIDE, 56. MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR WITH ROOKIE TREVOR BAYNE ON HIS BUMPER. ON THE OUTSIDE, TEAMMATES, AT RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING. CLINT BOWYER ALONG WITH PAUL MENARD. KYLE BUSCH, RYAN NEWMAN, KASEY KAHNE, CARL EDWARDS, DALE EARNHARDT JR., JOEY LOGANO TO THE TOP TEN. GREEN FLAG. 72 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: I JUST HEARD AND THERE IS CONCERN IN THE CHILDRESS CAMP DON'T GET THE ENGINES HOT. YOU HAVE TO KEEP CHANGING POSITIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE GETTING TOO MUCH HEAT IN THE ENGINE. NO PART THROTTLE. DON'T GET THEM TOO HOT. NURSE THESE THINGS HOME. BEING OUT FRONT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING. >> Mike: ONE STRAW THAT HAS NOT BEEN AFRAID TO STIR THE DRINK IS ORANGE 7 OF ROBBY GORDON. HE HAS NO TEAMMATES IN THE RACE. HE'S IN THE MIDDLE, SWEEPING UP HIGH. THE TEAMMATES ARE WHOEVER HE FINDS AND WHOEVER HE LATCHES ON TO. HE HAS WORKED WITH EVERYBODY TODAY. FIND HIS WAY UP FRONT A COUPLE TIMES. >> Darrell: HE HAS WORKED WITH EVERY MANUFACTURER AND THOUSAND HE IS IN A DODGE. THEY HAVE STEAM IT LOOKS LIKE. >> Larry: HE HAS A PENSKE ENGINE. RIGHT NOW, HE'S PUSHED BY A PENSKE CAR. BRAD KESELOWSKI IN THE 2 CAR. BLUE CAR. >> Darrell: THE GUYS ARE GETTING CRAZY. THEY DON'T WANT THE LEAD PACK TO GET AWAY. CARL EDWARDS ON THE APRON. 22 OF BUSCH ON THE APRON. GETTING A LITTLE RACY, BOYS. >> Mike: GOSH, DARRELL, 71 LAPS TO GO. NOT SEVEN LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO GET UP FRONT. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. THEY ARE COMING THROUGH THE TRI OVAL. IT'S COMING. >> Mike: NOW HE WENT DOWN ON THE YELLOW LINE. WHOA! >> Darrell: HE TURNED PLUM SIDEWAYS THERE. >> THAT WAS THE TEAMMATE, DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6. TEAMMATE SAYS PUTTING YELLOW LINE IS LEGAL. YELLOW LINE BELONGS TO THE COMPETITORS. TO THE LEFT OF THE YELLOW LINE IS OUT OF BOUNDS. CAR, TO THE INSIDE. BOBBY LABONTE. >> Darrell: OFF THE PACE. >> Larry: HE WAS RUNNING IN THE TOP FIVE. I JUST LOOKED AT THE SCORING MONITOR. >> Mike: THE FIRST RACE FOR J.T.D., DOHERTY AND BOBBY LABONTE. GOING TO EASE IT BACK TO PIT ROAD. SO CARL EDWARDS AND DAVID RAGAN ARE DRAFTING ALONG AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. THEY ARE COMING UP TO KENSETH AND BIFFLE. THE OTHER ROUSH TEAMMATES. >> Darrell: CARL SAYS LET ME SHOW YOU HOW THAT FEELS. "BUT I DIDN'T DO IT." >> Mike: BIFFLE IS 16 LAPS DOWN IN CAR NUMBER 16. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN THE WRECK IN LAP 30. CHILDRESS CARS ON THE POINT. TRUEX COMING. TREVOR BAYNE. WE ARE TOLD FROM THE BUMP DRAFTING, THE LEFT REAR CORNER ON MATT KENSETH'S CAR MAY COME LOOSE. KENSETH IS SHOWN ONE LAP DOWN. HANGING OUT IN THE BREEZE. >> Darrell: THAT IS WHAT THE DRIVERS SAY. WE CAN'T SEE ANYTHING BACK HERE. >> Mike: THE WHEEL OPENING IS HANGING OUT. GOT TO SLOW THEM DOWN. >> Larry: RIDING WITH GREG BIFFLE, LIKE A PARACHUTE HANGING OUT THERE. GREG BIFFLE INVOLVED IN A WRECK EARLIER. 16 LAPS DOWN IN A 16 CAR. >> Darrell: THERE IS WOUNDED WARRIORS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, I'M TELLING YOU. GOLLY JEEZ. CARS GOT ALL KIND OF DAMAGE ON THEM. >> Mike: YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO RYAN NEWMAN IN SEVENTH PLACE TO FIND A DRIVER WHO HAS RON THE 500. STEVE? >> Steve: LISTENING TO CLINT BOWYER TALK ABOUT POSITIONING ON THE CREW CHIEF. SHANE WILSON HIS CREW CHIEF ASKED HIM ABOUT HIS TEMPERATURES. HE SAID I'M ABSOLUTELY FINE, 250 DEGREES. >> Larry: DARRELL POINTED OUT, THE 33 CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE RIGHT NOW. HE IS THE GUY OUT THERE GETTING ALL THE CLEAN AIR THROUGH THE NOSE OF THE CAR. >> Darrell: BUT 250 LEADING THIS THING, IMAGINE WHAT HE IS IF HE IS BEHIND LIKE HIS TEAMMATE PAUL MENARD IS? THAT WILL SHOOT THE TEMP WAY UP. >> Mike: THE CHILDRESS CARS LEADING. STRANGE BEDFELLOWS COMING. TONY STEWART WITH HIS FOR >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: THE 2009 WINNER OF THE 500 MATT KENSETH CRASHED HARD IN THE TRI OVAL. HE HAS CMBED OUT OF THE CAR. HE IS OKAY. HE WAS BEING BUMP DRAFTED BY GREG BIFFLE. YOU ARE RIDING WITH BIFFLE. >> CAN'T PICK A LANE. EASY, EASY. >> Darrell: I THINK BIFFLE WAS TRYING TO GO DOWN TO GET BEHIND MATT AND MISTIMED IT A LITTLE BIT. CLIPPED HIM IN THE RIGHT REAR AND SHOT HIM TO THE WALL. AGAIN, SEE THE STYROFOAM BLOCKS, THAT IS THE SAFER BARRIER. THAT IS THE GREATEST THING SINCE INNER LINERS IN TIRES. >> Mike: AGAIN, MATT KENSETH CLIMBED FROM THE CAR AND HE WAS OKAY. LOOKING BACK FROM JOEY LOGANO. A PRETTY VICIOUS HIT. HERE IT IS ON THE FOX XMO CAM. >> Darrell: DID YOU SEE HOW CLOSE HE CAME TO TAKING MONTANA OUT? >> Mike: THE TENTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE DAYTONA 500. HE COMES OUT WITH 64 LAPS TO GO. AND 26 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. WE SAW BOBBY LABONTE SLOW EARLIER. HE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF POTENTIAL TROUBLE. PICKED UP ANOTHER DRAFTING PARTNER. NUMBER 47 CONTINUES ON OKAY. EXPERIENCE THE NEW VIEW OF RACE VIEW AT NASCAR.COM. BRAND NEW AND IMPROVED RACE VIEW. PERFECT COMBINATION TO YOUR TV. FEATURING UPGRADED VIRTUAL VIDEO, NEW CAMERA ANGLES, LIVE IN-CAR AUDIO. CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE AND GET STARTED AT NASCAR.COM/RACEVIEW NOW. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR., DAVID RAGAN RIDING AROUND UNDER CAUTION. TENTH CAUTION OF THE AFTERNOON. MARK MARTIN. JEFF GORDON WAS ALSO IN THE 17 CAR PILE-UP. AND HE IS NOW 35 LAPS DOWN. BIFFLE IS 16 LAPS OFFPACE AND HE GOT IN THE BACK OF THE ROUSH TEAMMATE, MATT KENSETH. >> Darrell: THE GREEN FLAG TELLS THE DRIVER THAT THE PIT ROAD IS NOW OPEN. RED FLAG THEY WAVE IF IT'S NOT OPEN, BUT GREEN ONE LETS THEM KNOW TO COME ON IN. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS THE FIRST TO PIT. HE WILL BRING KURT BUSCH WITH HIM WITH ALLMENDINGER, HAMLIN, KAHNE AND MORE. MATT? >> Matt: THE VIBRATION THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DISAPPEARED AFTER THE LAST STOP WHEN THEY MADE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE. TOPPING IT OFF WITH SUNOCO. >> Krista: NOBODY ELSE COME BEHIND DALE JR. THEY WOULD HAVE PUT ON TIRES BUT INSTEAD IT'S FUEL ONLY. NOW TO THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL WITH CHRIS AND JEFF. >> Chris: TIME FOR AT&T RACE BREAK. THREE TIMES WE HAD 11 CAUTION FLAGS. THAT IS THE MARK. WE ARE ONE AWAY FROM THAT. 19 LEADERS. 56 LEAD CHANGES. CURRENTLY BOWYER IS THE LEADER WITH 53 LAPS TO GO. THE BIG ONE THAT MIKE RETURNED TO LAPS AGO, WHEN MICHAEL WALTRIP WAS GETTING INTO A CAR DRIVEN BY DAVID REUTIMANN. JIMMIE JOHNSON, JEFF GORDON INVOLVED AND TAKEN OUT OF CHANCE OF WINNING THIS. LAP 80, DALE JR. THE HENDRICK CARS IN THE LEAD WITH A CHANCE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. MEANWHILE, THE CHILDRESS CARS DOMINATE LAST YEAR AT THE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACE, KEVIN HARVICK BLOWS AN ENGINE. MOMENTS AGO, 135, WITH A COUPLE OF FORD TEAMMATES, THIS IS BIFFLE AND KENSETH, JEFF HAMMOND, TEAMMATES WHETHER THE CARS ARE RUNNING HOT OR NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH WHO IS USING UP OR DOING WHAT. BUT TOUGH TO STAY IN CONCERT AS THEY TRY TO WIN THIS. >> Jeff: WE SAW GREG BIFFLE 16 LAPS DOWN. MATT KENSETH HAS BEEN HANGING IN THERE ALL DAY LONG AFTER BEING CAUGHT UP IN THE WRECK. IN AND OUT OF THE LEAD LAP. NOW HE IS TOTALLY OUT OF RACE. CRAZY, I GUESS YOU SAY, DAYTONA 500 SO FAR. >> Chris: THEY SAID IT WAS UNPREDICTABLE. CLINT BOWYER, THE LEADER OF THE LAST TWO DAYTONA RACES. HE HAS LED WITH TEN LAPS TO GO AND WOUND UP NOT WINNING THE RACE. LEADER AT THE HALFWAY POINT IN THIS CASE WAS MARTIN TRUEX FAILED TO WIN THE LAST 18 DAYTONA 500s. SO THE UNPREDICTABILITY CONTINUES WITH CHILDRESS CAR OUT FRONT AFTER THE ENGINE PROBLEM. >> YOU GOT ONE, TWO, BECAUSE PAUL MENARD IS THE FOURTH TEAM WITH THE RCR RACING. THEY'RE BOTH RUNNING THE EARNHARDT-CHILDRESS ENGINES AND THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO GAUGES. THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE HARDEST DAYTONA 500 TO WIN BECAUSE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY IT WEARS YOU DOWN. NOW THEY SAY YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR GAUGES MORE SO BESIDES RACING AND KEEPING THIS IN FRONT OF YOU. WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE THE SUPERHERO TODAY, ESPECIALLY FROM RCR, THEY HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE WHEEL. >> Mike: WATCH YOUR GAUGES. >> Chris: WORK THE RADIO AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD GOING 200 MILES PER HOUR. WE HOPE YOU WILL BE WITH US ALL SEASON LONG FOR NASCAR COVERAGE ON FOX. IN PHOENIX NEXT SUNDAY. >> LIKE A HEAT RACE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER TRACK LIKE THIS. >> Chris: LOOK AT PIT ROAD TO SEE WHAT THE PIT CREWS ARE OUT THERE. FASTEST PIT CREW UPDATED ON SEASON ON AT&T. AT&T CUSTOMERS AS SOON AS THE CHECKERED FLAG DROPS, YOU CAN FROM YOUR AT&T PHONE NEXT THE CAR NUMBER OF THE CREW YOU THINK WILL BE FASTEST TO 234567. REPLY OKAY WHEN YOU ARE ASKED. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE UPDATE. THE AT&T FASTEST PIT CREW AWARD BROUGHT TO YOU BY AT&T. THE NATION'S FASTEST MOBILE BROADBAND NETWORK. MIKE, WE HAVE BOTH BUSCH BROTHERS IN THE HUNT AND STAYING CALM FOR THE HUNT OF 53rd GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> Mike: ABSOLUTELY. ADD TO THOSE WHO PITTED UNDER IN T CAUTION, JOEY LOGANO, DAVID RAGAN, DAVE BLANEY, BILL ELLIOTT, MARK MARTIN AND BOBBY LABONTE. THE FIRST 13 CARS IN THE RACE DID NOT PIT UNDER THE CAUTION. MATT KENSETH CHECKED AND RELEASED AT THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. >> Darrell: THE STRAIN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE GUY WHO CAN BE THE SHARPEST AT THE END OF THE RACE, 20 TO GO, GUY THAT IS THINKING CLEAR THAT COULD MAKE GOOD DECISIONS COULD WIN THE RACE. >> Mike: BRAD KESELOWSKI TRYING TO WIN THE RACE. WE LISTENED IN UNDER THE CAUTION. >> ARE YOU ALL SET? >> I'M ALL SET. I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO. >> YOU. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU. >> ENJOYING THE RIDE. >> RIDING AROUND WITH THE TOP DOWN? >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. >> I'D ALMOST RATHER SEE YOUR BROTHER. >> OH, AH. HIS BROTHER BRIAN RACED HIS WAY TO THE 500 AND WAS TAKEN OUT IN THE LATCH 30 CRASH. BUT BRAD IS HAVING A GOOD TIME. >> Darrell: THE POINT OF STAYING SHARP UNTIL THE END IF YOU GET TIRED YOU MAKE BAD DECISIONS. GET TIRED OR THE WRONG LANE. YOU HIT SOMEONE TOO HARD. YOU HAVE TO BE FOCUSSED. >> Larry: I LIKE THE MOVE FOR THE OFF-SEASON. BRAD KESELOWSKI AND DRIVING THE 2 MILLER LIFE CAR BUT BACK WITH THE CREW CHIEF HE WON THE NATIONWIDE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH, PAUL WOLF. THEY JUST REALLY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER AND HAVE GREAT CHEMISTRY. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: CLINT BOWYER THE LEADER WITH THE RACE SPOKE TO TONY STEWART IN THE 14. COMMENTARY WAS BOWYER SAID HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR NOW WITH HIS TEAMMATE, PAUL MENARD IN THE 27. BUT EXPECT THEM TO HOOK UP LATER IN THE RACE. TONY SAID YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW. A LONG WAY TO GO. >> Mike: UP IN THE TOP HALF DOZEN, TREVOR BAYNE, TRYING TO WIN A FIFTH 500 FOR THE WOOD BROTHERS. IN THE ICONIC LOOKING 21. CAPTAIN HAS TWO CARS IN THE HUNT. BUSCH AND KESELOWSKI. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PENSKE. THERE WILL BE 60 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. BOWYER JUMPS OUT IN FRONT OF MENARD. THEY WILL TRY TO HOOK UP AS TEAMMATES. AND DO. >> Darrell: THEY TIMED THAT OUT PERFECTLY. THAT WILL GIVE BOWYER CHANCE TO DROP OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. I HAVE TO GIVE A CALL TO MENARD. RUNNING UP FRONT. HAVING A GREAT DAY. HE MOVED AROUNDMENT PEOPLE SAID CHILDRESS, FOURTH CAR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL WORK. BUT MENARD MADE IT WORK TODAY. >> Mike: FINISHED 13th IN LAST YEAR'S 500. TREVOR BAYNE ON BACK BUMPER OF MARTIN TRUEX. 56 AND 21 BACK TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: I THINK YOU WILL SEE GUYS THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING THIS RACE. EVERYBODY IS, BUT GUYS THAT WILL PUT OUT EXTRA EFFORT. GUYS THAT ARE LAYING BACK. WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT MUCH. LIKE THE 88 CAR, LOOK FOR THEM TO FIND A WAY TO THE FRONT NOW THAT IT'S GETTING NEAR THE END OF THE DAY. >> Larry: HE FOUND A NEW DANCE PARTNER, McMURRAY IN THE 1 CAR. JAMIE CAN'T LOOK UP WITH THE TEAM MYTH MONTOYA AS IT WAS IN THE FIRST PART OF THE RATION. >> Darrell: I THINK MONTOYA'S CAR IS NOT HANDLING GOOD. HE DOESN'T LIKE JAMIE BEHIND HIM AND THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP. >> Mike: THE ROOKIE IS HAVING A GREAT RIDE IN SECOND PLACE. >> Darrell: EVERY TIME I TALK TO HIM -- WE HAD HIM ON THE SHOW YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. YOU HEARD HIM THIS MORNING BEFORE THE RACE STARTED. VERY CONFIDENT. VERY CALM. A GREAT HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS. >> TRUEX, OFF THE CORNER. DICK BERGGREN? >> Darrell: TROUBLE! >> Mike: MONTOYA WITH GREG BIFFLE. AGAIN, MONTOYA MAKES A GREAT SAVE TO COME DOWN PIT ROAD. THE CAUTION FLAG FLIES FOR THE 11th TIME TODAY, AS THEY SLOW DOWN TO PACE CAR SPEED. GO BACK TO DICK BERGGREN WHO IS WITH THE DRIVER TAKEN OUT IN THE LAST INCIDENCE. >> Dick: YOU AND THE BIFF ARE BEST OF FRIENDS. WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN YOU GUYS? >> NOT HIS FAULT. MY FAULT FOR USING BAD JUDGMENT. OUR CAR WAS BEAT UP. GOT A WAVE-AROUND THAT TIME. TWO OF US WERE A LAP DOWN TRYING TO GET THE LUCKY DOG AND RACE UP THROUGH THERE. I HAD NEVER BEEN IN TRAFFIC WITH THE DAMAGE. TRYING TO WORK TO THE BACK. LOGANO TRIED TO BLOCK. AND I HAD TO SLOW UP. GREG COULDN'T SLOW UP IN TIME. BETTER JUDGMENT AROUND THE BACK. AND TAKE MA WE COULD GET. >> Dick: A LOT OF ACTION IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THANK YOU. THIS TIES THE RECORD FOR CAUTION FLAGS IN THE 500 AT 11. TOP OF THE SCREEN. HERE THEY COME. OFF TURN FOUR. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT THE 16 CAR. IT HAS BEEN WRECKED ONCE. NOT HANDLING GREAT. YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT THE GUYS HAVE BEEN COMPLEMENTARY OF EACH OTHER. WASN'T HIS FAULT. JUST RACING. >> Mike: LOOK AT THE YELLOW CAR OF KURT BUSCH DIVE TO THE INSIDE AND ESCAPE DOWN PIT ROAD AS DOES RYAN NEWMAN. >> Larry: SOW MUCH OF THAT HAS TO WITH THE FRESH ASPHALT THAT HAS A TON OF GRIP. >> Mike: FRESH GRASS DOESN'T HAVE MUCH GRIP AT ALL. >> BACK. MONTOYA PUSHING? IN THE GRASS. >> NOTHING COMING AT YOU. HOLD HER DOWN RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: ON OUR FOX XMO CAM. >> Darrell: WE TALKED ABOUT SYNCHRONIZED RACING. THAT'S SYNCHRONIZED SPINNING THERE. >> WAITS ON IT. WAITS ON IT. UNLOCK THE BRAKE TO MAKE THE TURN TO PIT ROAD WHILE BIFFLE IS HEADED FOR THE GRASS. >> LIKE A SNOWPLOW GOING THROUGH THERE. >> YEAH. >> THOSE ARE TOUGH. EATING THAT GRASS. BUT NOT AFFECTING THE NOSE OTHER THAN FROM THE WRECK. THE PART STILL THERE IS NOT EP MOVING. WE'VE SEEN IT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. >> Larry: A TOUGH DAY FOR HALF THE CAMP. LAST CAUTION WAS FOR HIS TEAMMATE 17. MATT KENSETH. >> Mike: OPEN PIT ROAD ONCE MORE. STILL TOO SOON TO GET THEM TO THE FINISH ON THIS PIT STOP. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? >> Steve: 33 WILL CHANGE FOUR TIRES. THIS IS THE LAST TIME THEY TAKE TIRES IN THE RACE. THAT'S THE STRATEGY FOR CLINT BOWYER. >> Mike: NOT EVERYBODY STOPS. TRUEX, TREVOR BAYNE, DALE EARNHARDT JR. STAY OUT. SO DO LOGANO AND BUSCH, KURT BUSCH. >> Larry: THOSE WERE DRIVERS WHO WERE JUST IN ON PIT ROAD FIVE LAPS AGO. KRISTA? >> Krista: THAT IS RIGHT. FIRST THING McMURRAY SAID IS MONTOYA OKAY? HOW IS HIS CAR? THEY SAID JUST FINE. COME GET FOURTIRES. >> Matt: IMPRESSIVE RUN TODAY. HE STALLED THE CAR AND REFIRES IT. THEY DIDN'T PIT THE PREVIOUS TIME AND GAS ONLY BEFORE THAT. GOOD TO GO. >> Mike: 13 DRIVERS STAYED ON TRACK. WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN WATCHING CARS THAT "CARS 2" WILL BE RELEASED. EUROPEAN RACING. WILL CAR TRIP BE BACK? >> Darrell: I THINK SO. >> Mike: YOU HAD FUN DOING THAT. I'M JEALOUS. >> Darrell >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: REDY TO GO GREEN -- READY TO GO GREEN. HARDEST WORKING GUY IN DAYTONA IS MARK MARTIN. IN THE LAP 30 CRASH AND ONE POINT HE WAS THREE LAPS DOWN. HE HAS GOTTEN FREE PASSES AND BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. UP THERE IN EIGHTH PLACE. HIS 27th TRY TO WIN THE 500. CAN HE MAKE IT? >> Darrell: GUESS WHAT HIS MOTIVATION IS. HE HAS NEVER WON IT BEFORE. >> Mike: GREEN FLAG. 60 -- 54 LAPS TO GO. STILL 27 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Darrell: BOY, DALE JR. JUST FORCED TREVOR BAYNE UP OFF THE BOTTOM THERE. HE SAID I'M COMING THROUGH, DUDE. YOU GOT TO MOVE OUT OF MY WAY. >> Larry: FOR A MINUTE HE DIDN'T HAVE A DANCE PARTNER AND THE GIBBS CARS, KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18 AND JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20 JUMPED BEHIND HIM. >> Darrell: THE 21 HAS FALLEN LIKE A ROCK BECAUSE OF THAT. HE LOST HIS MOMENTUM AND HE'S IN THE MIDDLE BEHIND MARTIN TRUEX RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: PLENTY OF TIME. LARRY, ONE MORE PIT STOP? >> Larry: YEAH. WHETHER YOU STOPPED THAT TIME OR NOT, STILL ONE MORE STOP. >> Darrell: DO YOU FEEL IT? DO YOU FEEL IT? THE INTENSITY IS STARTING TO REALLY RAMP UP. >> Mike: THREE WIDE, EIGHT DEEP. HERE THEY COME. >> Larry: MIKE, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT. MARK MARTIN AND THE FIVE CAR PUSHING KURT BUSCH TO THE LEAD. HE WAS IN THAT BIG WRECK THAT WE HAD ON LAP 29. HOW ABOUT KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18? HE WAS THE FIRST CAUTION ON LAP FOUR AND SPUN OUT IN FRONT OF HALF THE FIELD. >> Darrell: MAN, THERE ARE NERVOUS CARS THERE. A LOT OF CARS SHAKING AROUND, MOVING. GETTING LOOSE, GETTING IN THE CORNER. WHOO! >> Mike: EVERYBODY IS POSITIONING AND TRYING TO FIND A DRAFTING PARTNER. >> Darrell: THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PAIR THERE. >> Mike: 88 JUNIOR WITH REGAN SMITH, 78. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT COMBINATION. >> Larry: WE HAVE TWO OF THE ROUSH FENWAYS CARS LEFT IN THE RACE. CARL EDWARDS IN THE 99. STARTING TO LINE UP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: 58 LEAD CHANGES IN THIS DAYTONA 500. TWO SHY OF THE RECORD. DALE EARNHARDT JR. BRINGS THEM ACROSS WITH REGAN SMITH. KYLE BUSCH AND JOEY LOGANO TEAMMATES. >> Darrell: SMITH HAS BEEN A PLAYER EVER SINCE WE GOT HERE. HE HAS BEEN AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK. SITTING IN A WINNING SPOT A COUPLE OF TIMES. HOOKED UP TO THE BACK OF THE 88 CAR, DALE JR. >> Mike: HIS BEST CAREER FINISH, SMITH'S BEST CAREER FINISH WAS 12th THREE TIMES. NOW HE WAS THE FIRST TO CROSS THE LINE IN 2008 AT TALLADEGA. BUT JUDGED TO HAVE PASSED BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. THE WIN WAS TAKEN AWAY. STEWART WENT TO VICTORY LANE. >> Larry: A COUPLE OF DRIVERS THAT RACE AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE SPRINT CARS ARE UP THERE. KASEY KAHNE IN THE 4 AND TONY STEWART IN THE 14. >> Darrell: OVER THE NEXT 15 LAPS OR SO, YOU WILL FIND OUT WHO HAS GOT WHAT. THE GUYS HAVE BEEN RIDING AROUND A LITTLE BIT. MAKING A CHARGE. >> Mike: LOOK AT THE CLOSING RATE. LOOK HOW FAST THE CARS PUSHING EACH OTHER WENT PAST LOGANO AND BUSCH WHEN THEY WERE NOT PUSHING EACH OTHER. >> Larry: WHAT I AM SEEING IS NOW PEOPLE ARE FINDING DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAN WHAT THEY LOOK FOR MOST OF THE RACE. >> Darrell: THAT'S HOW IT LOOKS. BRAD KESELOWSKI IN THERE. HE HAS BOWYER BEHIND HIM. OH, THAT IS EDGY GETTING IN TO TURN THREE. MARK MARTIN. >> Mike: WORKING WITH KURT BUSCH THE 22. OUT FRONT. EARNHARDT AND SMITH. NEED TO TRY TO RUN AWAY FROM THE FIELD. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY. THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST LEAD WE'VE SEEN IN SOME TIME. >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE CHECKED AND RELEASED FROM THE INFIELD CARE CENTER AFTER BRINGING OUT THE CAUTION AT LAP 142. >> Larry: WE TALKED ABOUT THE LEAD CHANGES AND WE STILL HAVE 25% OF THE RACE TO GO. >> Mike: 19 DIFFERENT LEADERS. TWO OFF THE RECORD. 58 LEAD CHANGES. TWO OFF THE RECORD. CHECK BACK AND SEE HOW YOUR PIZZA HUT FAN FAVORITE DRIVER IS DOING. WE DON'T CHECK BACK, WE CHECK FORWARD. DALE EARNHARDT JR. OUT FRONT. >> Larry: DALE EARNHARDT JR. TOLD THE MEDIA -- >> A BEG RUN BEHIND HIM. STAY ON HIS BUMPER. SIDE-BY-SIDE. ON THE OUTSIDE. 233 ON THE BOTTOM. CLEAR. 56-21. BIG RUN ON THE OUTSIDE. MAKE SURE THEY DON'T PULL YOU APART. THERE IS TWO BEHIND HIM. ONE BEHIND HIM. MAKE SURE YOU STAY INTACT. WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO PEOPLE. THREE BEHIND HIM. SIDE-BY-SIDE. GOOD JOB. >> Darrell: SOUNDS LIKE A HORSE RACE. >> Mike: IT SOUNDS LIKE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. CALM VOICE OF THE SPOTTER GIVING YOU ALL THE INFORMATION. WITHOUT ANY OF THE EXCITEMENT. >> Larry: 93 RACES SINCE THE LAST WIN. HE SAID I JUST KNOW WITH THE RIGHT FORMULA AND THE RIGHT CHEMISTRY, COMMUNICATION, WHICH YOU HAVE WITH THE 24 TEAM, I CAN GET BACK TO WHAT I WAS DOING A FEW YEARS AGO AS FAR AS WINNING RACES. >> Mike: AROUND THE OUTSIDE TO THE LEAD COMES RYAN NEWMAN. WITH DENNY HAMLIN'S TOYOTA PUSHING NEWMAN'S CHEVROLET. >> Mike: 47 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. ON FOX. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> HE EVEN WATCHES NASCAR ON FOX. CAUTION FLAG, DALE JR. COULD LOOK OVER TO SEE THE REPLAY ON THE VIDEO SCREEN. >> Darrell: I WOULDN'T BE SO SURE HE DOESN'T HAVE A TV IN THE CAR. >> Mike: HE MIGHT. WONDER IF HE HAS A VIEW OF DIGGER. RYAN NEWMAN, DENNY HAMLIN. OUT FRONT LAST TIME BY. REGAN SMITH, DALE EARNHARDT JR., MARTIN TRUEX. REGAN SMITH NOW HOOKED UP WITH DALE JR. >> Darrell: GET RIGHT HERE BEFORE LONG. I'M TELLING YOU. >> Mike: THREE CHEVIES AND TOYOTA OUT FRONT. THE 2007 WINNER KEVIN HARVICK TWEETED HE IS BACK HOME AFTER FALLING OUT OF THE RACE WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. 42nd PLACE. HE SAYS, "IT SOUNDS LIKE A WILD PLACE." >> Darrell: THE 38 CAR HIT THE WALL. >> Mike: KEVIN IT IS A WILD RACE. IN THE WALL FOR THE THIRD TIME TODAY, TRAVIS KVAPIL. THE CAUTION WAVES FOR THE 12th TIME. >> Larry: MIKE, WHAT THIS CAUTION DOES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE CAR FUEL OF FUEL. THIS PUTS YOU WHERE YOU CAN GET TO THE END. YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHANCE OF THE GREEN-WHITE CHECKERS. >> Darrell: I'D ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT. >> Mike: THE FIRST TIME THAT KVAPIL DID ENOUGH DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE SECOND TWO TIMES. BEEN A TOUGH DAY FOR FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS AS IT HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL TEAMS TODAY. HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS THREE OF THE FOUR CARS TAKEN OUT EARLY. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING TWO ENGINE FAILURES. ROUSH RACING, TWO CARS OUT IN TWO CONSECUTIVE ACCIDENTS. MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING, TWO CARS OUT IN THE SAME WRECK. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS 25 DOWN. JEFF GORDON 30 LAPS OFF THE PACE AND TRYING TO PILE UP AS MANY POINTS AS POSSIBLE. UNDER THE SYSTEM, EACH POSITION GAINED IS ONE POINT. WHEN WE GET TO CRUNCH TIME AT RICHMOND, DECIDE WHICH 12 CARS GET IN THE CHASE, IT COULD BE PIVOTAL. >> Larry: PIT ROAD WAS CLOSED THAT TIME. EVERY LAP THEY RUN NOW WILL PUT JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY COMING TO PIT ROAD TO PUT IN THE FUEL WINDOW TO MAKE IT TO THE END. >> Darrell: GOING TO GIVE ME TIRES OR FINISH ON THESE? >> Larry: YOU GOT WHAT YOU GOT, PARTNER. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT. >> Mike: THE RIGHT FRONT TORN APART. TRAVIS KVAPIL'S CAR. >> Larry: THAT IS SOME COOL SHOTS, THOUGH. WOW! >> Mike: A HUGE CROWD ON HAND FOR THE DAYTONA 500. HERE IS RYAN NEWMAN, GETTING READY. PIT ROAD WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE IS JACK HAGEY, HE IS 84 YEARS OLD. DAYTONA RECORDS FOUND HE WAS THE ONE PERSON TO BOUGHT A TICKET AND ATTENDED EVERY DAYTONA 500. LAST APRIL HE HAD A FALL, HE HADN'T BEEN FEELING WELL IN LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA. BUT THIS WEEK THE DOCTORS CLEARED HIM AND RICHARD CHILDRESS'S RACING DAVID HEART GOT HIM ON ONE OF THE TEAM PLANES TO KEEP THE STREAK INTACT. >> Larry: GOT HIS PICTURE MADE EARLIER WITH RICHARD PETTY, THE KING. >> Mike: HATS OFF TO CHILDRESS AND HIS TEAM. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW RACING DO GOOD THINGS FOR FOLKS, OFTEN UNNOTICED IN AND OUT OF THE SPORT. >> Darrell: A GOOD BREAK FOR THE GUYS. CATCH THEIR BREATH. GET A DRINK. WIPE SWEAT OFF THE BROW. SIT UP IN THE SEAT. TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS UP. >> Larry: THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL BETTER DO. >> Darrell: I THINK THINGS WILL PICK UP. >> Mike: WE HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME COMING TO THE TRACK. LARRY DIE, THIS IS LARRY'S 40th 500. PIT ROAD IS OPEN. HERE THEY COME. >> MIKE, FUEL ONLY FOR NEWMAN. CREW CHIEF GIBBS SAID LEAN ON ME, OLD MAN. FUEL-ONLY FOR 39 OF RYAN NEWMAN. >> Krista: DALE JR. WILL ARC IN TO AVOID DEBRIS ON PIT ROAD. FIVE SECONDS OF FUEL, CREW CHIEF STEVE LETARTE TOLD HIM. SO PUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES. LEFT STAYING ON ALL DAY. MATT? >> Matt: 22 OF KURT BUSCH SAID HE WASN'T FEELING THE MOJO. AND WAS GOING TO WORK WITH MARK MARTIN, SO LOOK FOR HIM TO WORK WITH 78 OF SMITH THE NEXT SEGMENT. >> Mike: I BELIEVE BRAD KESELOWSKI MISSED HIS PIT. >> Darrell: HE COULDN'T GET IN IT. 20 WAS IN AND 21 WAS IN. COULDN'T GET IN HIS PIT BOX. 32 WAS TURNED AROUND IN HIS PIT BOX. THIS PIT ROAD IS WIDER AND BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. >> Mike: HAMLIN IS COMING OUT. TREVOR BAYNE JUST SQUEEZING IN. KESELOWSKI TRYING TO GET TO HIS PIT CAN'T MAKE THE TURN. LOCKED UP THE BRAKE TO MISS HAMLIN. >> Larry: IF YOU HAVE 27 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP AND THEY ONLY STOP FOR THREE OR FOUR SECONDS IT'S HARD TO GET IN. DICK BERGGREN, HOW ABOUT THE 20-YEAR-OLD? >> Dick: TREVOR BAYNE HAD HIS 20th BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY. SIX DRIVERS WON THE FIRST NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACE HERE IN THE DAYTONA 500. THIS KID HAS RUN WELL ENOUGH HE COULD WIN AGAIN. ON THE PIT STOP, FUEL ONLY. FOCUSSED ON GETTING THE TANK FULL SO HE COULD GO TO THE END AND NOT NEED ANOTHER PIT STOP. >> Mike: DICK, ONLY ONE DRIVER IN HISTORY WON HIS FIRST START IN THE DAYTONA 500. LEE PETTY WON THE FIRST DAYTONA 500. >> OH! >> Mike: IT HAD TO BE HIS FIRST START. >> YOU HAD MY WHEELS SPINNING. >> Darrell: LIKE "JEOPARDY" OR SOMETHING. >> Mike: 40 LAPS TO >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: 39 LAPS TO GO. WATCHING A RECORD-SETTING DAY IN THIS THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE, DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. WE HAVE HAD 62 LEAD CHANGES. A DOZEN CAUTIONS. THE SWAP MEET GOING ON, DRIVERS TEAMING UP AND MOVING AROUND, AS HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY A NUMBER OF THINGS, JEFF HAMMOND, HEAT AND COOLING CARS IN THE HEAT-SEEKER CAM POINTS THAT OUT REALLY WELL. >> Larry: IT DOES. WE HAVE A GREAT ILLUSTRATION. 4 CAR PUSHED BY THE 20 CAR OF JOEY LOGANO. AS THEY COME THROUGH THE PACK, WE NOTICE QUICK AS WE STOP RIGHT HERE, IF YOU LOOK ON THE FRONT OF THE 4 CAR, ORANGE AREA INDICATES IT'S COOLER THAN THE BACK PART OF JOEY LOGANO, ALL WHITE. THE CAR OUT FRONT IS COOLER THAN THE CAR IN THE REAR. ANYTIME YOU ARE BEHIND LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE NO HAIR WITH THE FRONT GRILL. THAT'S WHERE SOME GUYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINES BECAUSE OF THAT. >> Chris: RIGHT NOW, RYAN NEWMAN WHO WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN 2008 IS OUT IN FRONT. HE SAID IN 2009 AT TALLADEGA, HIS NECK GOT OUT OF WHACK. IN THE DAYTONA 500 WRECK, THE FOLLOWING TIME, HE SAID HE GOT BACK IN TO PLACE. HE HAS CRASHED FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACES BUT TRYING TO HANG ON HERE. DENNY HAMLIN BEHIND HIM. MIKE, IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW, WE TALKED ABOUT HAMLIN NEEDING MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO WIN A BIG RACE LIKE THIS ONE. >> Mike: HE HAS HAD A TOUGH WEEK. HE HAS HAD A COUPLE OF CRASHES AND SPINS. NOW ALL THAT IS ON DENNY HAMLIN'S MIND IS THE HARLEY J. EARL TROPHY TO THE WINNER OF THE 500. THREE TOYOTAS AND A DODGE AMONG SEVEN CHEVROLETS IN THE TOP TEN, AS WE GET READY TO RESTART. 37 LAPS TO GO. THEY HAVE ENOUGH FUEL AND TIRES TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH. DO THEY HAVE THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO STAND IN VICTORY LANE TO PICK UP ONE OF THE MOST COVETED PRIZES IN STOCK CAR RACING? >> Darrell: HAMLIN'S CAR HAS THE SPEED. WE KNOW. THAT HE IS IN A GREAT POSITION RIGHT NOW. LET'S SEE IF HE CAN STAY THERE. >> Mike: DALE JR. BEHIND RYAN NEWMAN. THEY BOTH KNOW THE WAY TO VICTORY LANE IN THE 500. GREEN FLAG. 37 LAPS TO GO. >> Larry: DARRELL, YOU TALKED ABOUT A CAUTION AND LET THEM CATCH THEIR BREATH. I GOT REPORTS THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DEAL-MAKING GOING ON IN THE CAUTION AS WELL. >> Darrell: GREAT TIME TO SET SOMETHING UP, HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THINK ABOUT IT. THERE ARE PEOPLE SAYING WILL YOU RUN WITH ME? I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T RUN WITH YOU ALL DAY. NOW IS WHEN YOU GOT TO GO. >> Mike: JAMIE McMURRAY UP THE MIDDLE WITH MARK MARTIN. >> Darrell: MARK IN TOW. >> Mike: LEFT REGAN SMITH IN THE 78 OUT TO DRY. >> Darrell: MARK IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOT UNTIL YOU GET TO THE END OF THE RACE. THEN YOU FIND OUT BY SURPRISE. >> Mike: 36 LAPS TO GO. LET'S CRANK IT UP. [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN OUT IN FRONT WITH RYAN NEWMAN. PARTS OF THIS RACE ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE ALL THE TIME. IN THE CAUTION, CARL EDWARDS ASKED THE 18, KYLE BUSCH, TO DRAFT WITH HIM. BUSCH POLITELY DECLINED BECAUSE TREVOR BAYNE HAD ASKED HIM FIRST. [ LAUGHTER ] LIKE A PROM DANCE. >> Darrell: WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME? I CAN'T. I CAME WITH HIM. SORRY. IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO. WE KNOW THAT. >> Mike: NOW LET'S TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AND LISTEN AT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPRINT. HTEVO 4G. TREVOR BAYNE. >> Darrell: TROUBLE. TURN THREE! >> Mike: IN TO THE WALL GOES KESELOWSKI. >> Darrell: THEY WERE THREE WIDE GOING IN THERE. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THERE IS TROUBLE IN TURN THREE, AND SURE ENOUGH. >> Mike: THERE IS MORE. ANOTHER CAR INVOLVED -- >> Darrell: IS THAT REGAN SMITH? >> Mike: IT'S REGAN SMITH. >> Darrell: I THOUGHT IT WAS. DID HE HIT ANYTHING? IT LOOKS CLEAN. >> Mike: I DON'T THINK SO. JUST GOT TURNED AROUND. >> Darrell: SLOWED UP AND GOT TURNED AROUND. >> Mike: SO CAUTION IS OUT AGAIN. RECORD NUMBER OF CAUTIONS. THIS IS NUMBER 13. >> Darrell: THEY WERE GETTING WADDED UP GOING INTO THREE OVER THERE. THEY WERE THREE WIDE. OH, LOOK AT BRAD'S CAR. IT'S KILLED. YOU CAN SEE IN HERE THERE IS A BIG WAD OF CARS. >> Mike: ROBBY GORDON. >> Darrell: ROBBY GOT IN THE BACK OF BRAD. YOU JUST CAN'T SAY WHAT HAPPENED. YOU DON'T KNOW IF BRAD HAD TO LIFT, OR WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES. WOW! >> Mike: THAT SENT SMITH TO THE INFIELD. >> Larry: HE GOT DOWN THERE AND HIT JOEY LOGANO ON THE 20 AND GOT ON THE SIDE OF REGAN SMITH IN THE 78. >> Darrell: THAT IS A HARD LICK ON THE 20, TOO, LARRY. ROBBY GETS A LITTLE CONTACT. >> Mike: OH, TONY! A BIG MISS RIGHT THERE. LOOK AT MONTOYA. >> Darrell: ONCE AGAIN, SLIPS BY. >> Mike: HE COME DOWN THE TRACK. >> Darrell: HE COMES DOWN THE HILL, IS WHEN HE GETS IN THE SIDE OF THE 20 CAR. RIGHT THERE. >> Larry: LOOK AT STEVEN WALLACE IN THE 77. WHAT A JOB! >> Mike: HE MISSED ONE. >> Larry: WHAT A JOB BY HIM. >> Darrell: YEA! >> STAY LOW, STAY LOW, STAY LOW. GET ON THE APRON. APRON. AH! >> Darrell: THAT SOUNDED PRETTY HARD. >> Mike: TONY STEWART HAD A SPLIT SECOND, NOT EVEN TIME TO DECIDE. JUST TIME TO REACT. AND HE MISSED YOU IT. WE'RE UNDER CAUTION IN DAYTONA. >> Mike: LET'S GO BACK TO THE LAST CAUTION PERIOD WHERE SPRINT LISTENED IN ON CARL EDWARDS AND TREVOR BAYNE. >> YOU GOT ME, TREVOR? >> YEAH, WHO IS THIS? >> CARL. >> HEY, BUD. >> WANT ME TO PUSH YOU? >> BETTER AS A PUSHER. I'D RATHER GET LINED UP. THIS THING IS SO FAST THAT LEAVES EVERYBODY BEHIND ME. IF YOU WANT TO, WE CAN DO IT AND EITHER WAY, MAN. >> THAT'S FINE. PUSH ON SIX AND I'LL FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT. >> Mike: MAKE SURE TO LOG ON TO SPRINT.COM/SPEED. STARTING ON RACE DAY AFTER MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME TO VOTE FOR WHICH DRIVER YOU WANT TO GO IN-CAR WITH IN THE RACE. GET LIVE IN-CAR AUDIO AND REAL-TIME STATS ON THE HTC EVO 4G ONLY FROM SPRINT AND SPRINT.COM/SPEED. >> Darrell: I TOLD YOU BAYNE WAS POLITE. >> Mike: OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR IS GOODYEAR. EVERYTHING WE LEARN INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL INTO YOURS. GOODYEAR PROVIDING AERIAL COVERAGE. LOOK AT THE HUGE CROWD OF DAYTONA WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN 30 LAPS FROM NOW AS WE GO BACK TO GREEN. >> Mike: NONE OF FIRST 16 DRIVERS STOPPED UNDER THE CAUTION FLAG. HERE COMES JUNIOR. >> Larry: HE DID THAT WITHOUT A PUSH. >> Darrell: WITHOUT ANY HELP. MAN, DID HE SHOOT THE GAP! WHOO! >> Mike: BOY, THAT IS A SHOW OF STRENGTH. HE ASK THE PIED PIPER ONCE AGAIN. >> Darrell: TAKE THE LEAD IS LIKE THE N.F.L. NOT FOR LONG. >> Larry: HE BACKED UP A BUNCH IN TURN THREE AND GOT BACK TO THE REAR BUMPER OF MUR -- JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Mike: A BIG SCRUM GOING TO THREE. BOWYER WISELY BACKED OUT OF IT. THEY FREIGHT TRAIN JUNIOR ON BOTH SIDES. >> Darrell: THE MIDDLE WORKED. GETTING UP TO SPEED. NOT SO HOT ONCE THEY GOT GOING. >> Larry: WHOA, KYLE BUSCH. >> Mike: HE HANGS ON TO IT. >> Darrell: OH, MY GOSH. HE WAS A GONER, MAN! >> Larry: IT'S HARD TO PUSH KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18. I HAVE DON'T KNOW IF HE KEEPS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL OR WHAT. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK THE CAR IS HANDLING THAT GREAT. >> Mike: LOOK AT THE BACK BUMPER AND REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID. THE BARE BOND, WHEN SOMEONE GETS ACROSS THE BUMPER, IT STICKS. >> Darrell: THERE IS SOMETHING GOING WRONG WHEN THEY ARE PUSHING HIM AND THAT COULD BE IT. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO HEADS TO PIT ROAD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 ON FOX NEXT SUNDAY. DIFFERENT KIND OF RACING ON THE ONE MILE IN THE DESERT. >> Mike: TONY STEWART IN FOURTH PLACE BEHIND MENARD. >> ABOUT READY TO JUMP OUT. >> SAVE FUEL AND COOL YOUR HEART RATE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. GET A DRINK OF WATER. >> Darrell: TONY STEWART IS A TOUGH GUY. WE KNOW THAT. WHEN TONY STEWART SAYS THAT HE IS WHITE KNUCKLING IT AROUND HERE AN HIS HEART IS ABOUT TO JUMP OUT, THAT TELLS YOU HOW SCARY AND HOW BRAVE THE GUYS ARE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING. >> Mike: TONY STEWART HAS 12 WINS IN SPEEDWEEKS COUNTING YESTERDAY 300-MILER. HE HAS WON EVERYTHING BUT THE DAYTONA 500. GOT 27 LAPS TO CHANGE THAT. HERE COMES EVERYBODY'S BEST FRIEND REGAN SMITH AGAIN. >> Darrell: HERE HE IS FIGHTING HIS WAY BACK. THAT CAR IS BAD FAST! >> Mike: YOU HEARD THE STRATEGY. HOOKING BACK UP WITH TREVOR BAYNE IN THE 21. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH TRYING TO GIVE BOWYER AN ASSIST. >> Darrell: KYLE'S CAR EVEN FOLLOWING SOMEBODY IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. LOOK AT HIS HANDS. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD GET THAT -- LOOK AT THAT. HE LOTE GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. >> Mike: KILLED HIM FROM WRECKING. >> Larry: BUT TO FOLLOW UP, EVERYBODY ELSE'S REAR BUMPER IS SOLID. WITH THE DAMAGE HIS MOVES A LOT AND GETS SQUIRRELY. >> Mike: THAT STUFF ON THE BACK BUMPER IS LIKE VELCRO. CLINT BOWYER GOT UP AGAINST IT. YOU SEE HOW MUCH RUBBED AGAINST BOWYER. NOT GOOD. >> Larry: DALE JR. FOUND A NEW FRIEND, DAVE BLANEY IN THE TOP TEN. WE ARE RIDING WITH DALE JR. NOW IN THE 88. >> Mike: BLANEY IS GOING TO COST THE SPONSOR A LOT OF MONEY. IF HE FINISHES IN THE TOP TEN THE KIDS EAT FRESH. HE'S SEVEN! NEW DRIVER FROM GEORGIA IS OUT IN FRONT. WITH TREVOR BAYNE. PUSHING. HERE COME BUSCH AND SMITH AGAIN. >> Darrell: THEY DECIDED THEY CAN GO GOOD. >> Larry: I THINK ANY DRIVER CAN GO FAST WITH TREVOR BAYNE PUSHING HIM. >> Darrell: YOU HEARD HIM TELL CARL THAT. >> Mike: 36 BLANEY, THE SLOWEST SPEED CAR TO MAKE IT IN THE 500, HE HAS DALE EARNHARDT JR. AS HIS WINGMAN. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE THE GUYS, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT DRIVING GOOD OR HANDLING GOOD, THEY STAY IN THERE NO MATTER WHAT. YOU CAN'T BACK OFF NOW. >> Larry: 25 TO GO. >> Mike: THREE WIDE OFF TURN TWO. BUSCH FOUND HIS CALLING. TO BE THE PUSHER. THIS TIME FOR CLINT BOWYER. >> Larry: LOOK AT RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 39 CAR. GOING TO RUN OUT OF REAL ESTATE. PUSHED BY HAMLIN. >> Darrell: THAT IS GOOD XHUVENCATION. >> Mike: JUNIOR LOOKING FOR A NEW PARTNER OR DOES HE HAVE THE SWITCH WITH BLANEY TO MOVE UP FRONT? 56. STEWART. TRUEX WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BECAUSE HE ARRESTS THE SPEED COMING DOWN PIT ROAD. NASCAR WILL NOT PENALIZE LIMB. FOR TAKING EVASSIVE ACTION. >> Darrell: HE HAD THE SAME EXAMPLE WITH DALE JR. THEY WEREN'T SO LUCKY. >> Mike: WATCH SIDE OF THE SCREEN. >> Darrell: I THOUGHT HE HAD IT SAVED AND WAS GOING TO GET BACK UP THE TRACK BUT AFRAID TO TRY IT. >> Mike: HE WILL BE A STRAIGHTAWAY OR MORE BEHIND BUT HE IS STILL ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Larry: HE WILL BE LOSING 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR PER LAP TO THE PACK UP THERE. >> Mike: CLINT BOWYER AND KYLE BUSCH, CHEVY AND TOYOTA LEAD THE DAYTONA 500. #>> Mike: WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. WATCH KASEY KAHNE. CARL EDWARDS KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. HE GOT OFF KAHNE AND HE WENT UP AND IN THE WALL. >> Darrell: IT LOOKS LIKE KAHNE HAD A TIRE GO DOWN. HE EASED UP THE HILL AND SMACKED THE WALL. RIGHT FRONT. >> Mike: COMING BACK BEFORE THE PITS ARE OPEN. NOBODY NEEDS FUEL OR TIRES. BUT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MULTIPLE GREEN-WHITE CHECKERS. IF YOU ARE IN THE BACK HALF OF THE LEAD LAP. DO YOU WANT TO TOP OFF? >> Larry: MIKE, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY CAUTIONS, AND SINCE MOST OF THE GUYS PITTED WITH 40 TO GO. CAUTIONS TO GREEN IS A 2-TO-1 RATIO. I THINK THEY SAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH FUEL, EVEN IF WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS. >> Darrell: I KNOW YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS, BUT THIS IS A TIME THAT NEW TIRES WILL SLOW YOU DOWN. THE LONGER YOU RUN THE TIRES, WEAR DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND THE FASTER THEY GO. THEY DON'T LOSE GRIP, THEY GET FASTER. >> Mike: 18 LAPS TO GO. AS WE WORK A RECORD 14th CAUTION OF THE DAYTONA 500. EVERY SPRINT CUP RACE THIS WEEK HAD RECORD LEAD CHANGES FROM THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT TO GATORADE DUEL TO 500. 69 LEAD CHANGES TODAY. EVERYBODY TAKE A DEEP BREATH. WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN BRING YOU COMMERCIAL FREE TO >>> FOX FANTASY AUTO IS BACK AT FOXSPORTS.COM. PICK THE FIVE STARTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AND COMPETE WITH GROUPS OR OTHER RACING FANS. ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? GO TO FOXSPORTS.COM/FANTASY. NOW CARL EDWARDS BACKED OFF OF THE 4 OF KASEY KAHNE. PERHAPS HE HAD THAT FLAT GOING DOWN IN TURN NUMBER THREE. >> Darrell: YEAH, HE WAS SLOW GETTING IN THE CORNER. THEN THE 4 JUST HAPPENED TO WRECK IN FRONT OF HIM. I THINK I SEE WHY NOW. >> Mike: WE'RE TOLD THAT CARL RAN OVER THE BRAKE ROTOR THAT CAME OFF KASEY KAHNE'S CAR. THAT IS HOW HE GOT THAT FLAT. >> Larry: I THINK YOU SEE IT THERE ON THE FOX HEAT SEEKER. OR YOU CAN SEE THE FLAP HERE. ALL NICE AND HOT. THE WHEEL WAS FLAT. >> Mike: I SEE THE LIGHTS OUT ON THE PACE CAR. WE'LL SET THIS WITH 24 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. EDWARDS IS THE LAST OF THOSE. RYAN NEWMAN AT THE FRONT CHOOSES THE OUTSIDE LANE. DENNY HAMLIN IS SECOND. DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6. TREVOR BAYNE, ROOKIE IN THE 21, TRYING TO GIVE THE WOOD BROTHERS THEIR FIRST TOP TEN FINISH SINCE AUGUST OF 2008 AT WATKINS-GLEN. >> Darrell: YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THE TV TO THE TABLE, FOLKS. IT'S GETTING READY TO GET WILD AND CRAZY. >> Mike: WORTHY OF NOTE. A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN PETTY 33. ON THE LEAD LAP. DAVE BLANEY IS 12th. STEVEN WALLACE, 16th IN HIS FIRST 500. DAVID GILLILAND FOR FRONT ROW IS 17. THEY ARE ALL ON THE LEAD LAP. THEY ARE ALL TRYING TO WIN THE 500. GREEN FLAG. WITH 15 TO GO. >> Darrell: ALL ABOUT TIMING NOW. TIME IT OUT FRONT COMING TO GET THE WHITE. COMING TO GET THE CHECKERED. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS YOU WANT TO FIND A TANGO, YOU WANT TO FIND A PARTNER. YOU GOT TO LAY BACK, LAY BACK AND GET THE BIG SPEED ON THE LAST LAP GO BY EVERYBODY AND WIN THE SUCKER. >> Mike: NEWMAN. WITH THE 11 OF HAMLIN, LAST YEAR'S SERIES RUNNER UP. AND NEWMAN'S BOSS, TONY STEWART, CO-OWNER OF STEWART-HAAS RACING WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88. >> Larry: THOSE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN DANCE PARTNERS FOR A LONG TIME, A NUMBER OF YEARS. STEWART AND EARNHARDT JUNIOR. >> Darrell: I THINK THERE IS MAGIC RIGHT THERE IN STEWART AND EARNHARDT IF THEY'VE GOT THE SPEED. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH WITH REGAN SMITH. THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER SO WELL, ALL THROUGH THIS SPEEDWEEKS. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF KURT BUSCH AUDIO FOR YOU. >> COMING UP, TRYING TO STICK TOGETHER. THIS IS ALL WE GOT. >> 10-4. JUST HAD THE CONVERSATION. HE WANTS TO BE THE PUSHER. HE WANTS YOU TO LEAD THE WAY THROUGH THERE. >> I NEED TO PUSH AT SOME POINT, TO MAINTAIN THE PACE TO GET US UP IN THERE. THEN HE CAN PUSH AGAIN. >> OKAY. 10-4. >> Mike: REMEMBER IN '07, KURT BUSCH PUSHED HIS THEN TEAMMATE RYAN NEWMAN TO WIN THE 500. >> Darrell: WE SAW IN THE 150s, PUSH HIM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. THEY KNOW HOW TO WORK TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE FAST CARS. >> THREE TIMES BUSCH HAS BEEN THE RUNNER-UP IN THE 500. >> Larry: KURT BUSCH CAN BE THE FIRST DRIVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPEEDWAY TO WIN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT, GATORADE DUEL AND 500 IN THE SAME SPEEDWEEK. >> Mike: STEVEN WALLACE HAS HAD A GREAT RACE UP UNTIL NOW. ON PIT ROAD WITH 13 TO GO. >> Darrell: I THINK HE HAS A RIGHT FRONT TIRE CUT DOWN IT LOOKS LIKE. >> Mike: NEWMAN, HAMLIN. CHEVY, TOYOTA. ON THE OUTSIDE, BOWYER, BUSCH, CHEVY, TOYOTA. TWO FORDS, 6 AND 21 FOR RAGAN AND BAYNE. WHAT WILL BE THE WINNING COMBINATION? 13 LAPS FROM NOW? >> Darrell: THEY ARE WONDERING THE SAME THING. THEY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE SO QUICKLY, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MAKE A CHANGE AND GO WITH THE BEST SHOT. >> Mike: ON THE INSIDE, STEWART AND EARNHARDT, TWO CHEVROLETS. THE 14 AND THE 88. [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Darrell: LISTEN TO THAT ENGINE. IT'S SINGING AT 900 RPM AT 200 MILES PER HOUR-PLUS. >> Larry: IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 39 AND HAMLIN IN THE 11, 11 TO GO, THE YELLOW LINE, THEY WON'T MOVE OFF OF IT. THEY WILL STAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: ALL THREE OF THE PIZZA HUT PICKS ARE IN THE TOP HALF DOZEN. >> Darrell: WE HAVE SEEN IT AND I HEARD IT FROM EVERYBODY THAT HAS BEEN LEADING ON THE LAST LAP COMING TO THE CHECKER. I FELT LIKE A SITTING DUCK. THE QUESTION IS CAN YOU GET THAT DUCK LINED UP? >> Mike: A WEEK AGO SATURDAY NIGHT, RYAN NEWMAN WAS IN THAT POSITION IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOT-OUT. HE WAS OUT FRONT. HE DID NOT WIN IT. HAMLIN WENT UNDER HIM. BUT BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. KURT BUSCH WENT AROUND THE OUTSIDE AND GOT THE WIN. >> Darrell: I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE IS WHO CAN STAY BEHIND WHO THE LONGEST. DO THEY HAVE TO STEP OUT? DALE EARNHARDT JR., TRYING TO GET AIR TO THE RADIATOR. IF IT STARTS BLOWING WATER OUT, YOU JUST LET IT BLOW WATER OUT. THIS IS FOR ALL THE MARBLES HERE. >> Larry: I SAY WITH TEN TO GO, BLOCK THE WATER TEMPERATURE GAUGE -- >> Darrell: FORGET THE GAUGES. RUN IT UNTIL IT BLOWS. >> Mike: RECORD-SETTING DAYTONA 500 IN A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE SEEN THE LAST LEAD CHANGE. 69 SO FAR. NINE TIMES THE 500 HAS BEEN DECIDED BY A LAST-LAP PASS. >> Darrell: NORMALLY A DRIVER WOULD BE SAYING LEAVE ME ALONE, DON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE, I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE. YOU CAN'T DO IT TODAY. THAT SPOTTER HAS TO STAY IN YOUR EAR. >> Larry: CLINT BOWYER IN THE 33. KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18. THEY KEEP TRYING TO LOOK TO THE OUTSIDE. THEY KEEP TESTING THE WATERS OUT THERE. >> Mike: WITH TEN LAPS TO GO, LOOK AT THE CAR OF STEWART. HE AND EARNHARDT DRIFTED BACK, OR ARE THE FRONT FOUR MOVING AWAY FROM THEM? >> Darrell: I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TIMING. THAT'S WHAT I SAID ABOUT HAVING A HEAD OF STEAM COMING TO GET THE CHECKERED FLAG. IF YOU TIME IT RIGHT, BLOW BY THE GUYS, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THIS THING. >> NO PRESSURE WITH HIM. TWO LANES BACK. >> Mike: 14 AND 88 SPOTTERS. >> Darrell: I THINK THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, THAT WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE SPOTTERS ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE WATCHING HERE AND TELLING THEIR DRIVERS. >> Mike: LAPPED CAR JAMIE McMURRAY. SEVEN CYLINDERS FOR McMURRAY. CONTINUING TO LOG LAPS. EIGHT LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: PLUS ONE THING WE HAVEN'T SEEN, VERY LITTLE BLOCKING. AT THE END OF THIS RACE, IF YOU WIN THE 500, YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE BLOCKING. >> Larry: BETTER BELIEVE IT. >> Mike: EIGHT CARS PACKED TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN. >> Darrell: THE GUYS RIGHT NOW ARE TRYING TO SET EVERYTHING UP. THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHERE DO I WANT TO GO AND WHAT DO I WANT TO DO. >> Mike: WE LISTENED TO DENNY HAMLIN. >> GET THE 18 A PUSH. DON'T PASS. >> YEAH. I'M STAYING IN LINE. >> Mike: HAMLIN LOST TOUCH WITH NEWMAN THERE FOR A BIT. LOOK HOW QUICKLY THE OUTSIDE COLUMN MOVED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. BOWYER AND BUSCH TO THE FRONT. >> Larry: LOOK AT SMITH TO THE 78. KURT BUSCH IN THE 22. A LAP AGO, THEY ALMOST LOST TOUCH WITH THE TOP EIGHT. THEY ARE THERE ON THE HIGH SIDE. >> Mike: THEY WERE MAKING THE EXCHANGE, WHICH PUSH SMITH IN FRONT OF BUSCH. 78, 22. NOW, STEWART AND EARNHARDT FALLEN BACK TO SEVENTH AND EIGHTH. >> Darrell: I THINK IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN ARE THEY GOING TO START BLOWING WATER OUT OF THEM? THEY HAVE TO GET HOT IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE EXCHANGE. >> Mike: NOW IT'S A TEN-CAR JAM SESSION. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, KURT BUSCH, HE BACK TIME HOW MANY LAPS WERE LEFT, THREE LAPS AGO. HE TOLD THE SPOTTER OSBORNE, "WE HAVE TO MAKE EXCHANGE NOW." THEN THEY WENT TO THE BACK AND NOW WORKING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: STEWART AND BUSCH MADE A LITTLE CONTACT THERE. STEWART AND EARNHARDT HAD A HEAD OF STEAM AND ALMOST RAN OUT OF RACETRACK. >> Larry: THAT COST THEM GROUND BECAUSE THEY HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE THROTTLE, TONY STEWART DID. >> Darrell: IT HURT THEM. >> Mike: HERE COMES EVERYBODY. >> Larry: THE NEW PLAYERS, BOBBY LABONTE IN THE 47. ROBBY GORDON IN THE 7. THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK. >> Darrell: THIS IS ANYBODY'S RACE AT THIS POINT. >> Mike: NOW THERE ARE 12. SIX PAIRS OF CARS. ONE OF WHOM, 5-1/2 LAPS IS GOING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: HERE COMES TREVOR BAYNE. HE AND DAVID RAGAN ARE HOOKED UP AROUND THE BOTTOM. I LIKE THE BOTTOM. >> Larry: I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN DO ANY MORE SWAPPING. YOU BETTER STAY WHERE YOU'RE AT UNTIL YOU GET TO TURN FOUR COMING TO THE CHECKER. >> Darrell: YEAH. >> Mike: CATCHING THAT GROUP, DAVID RAGAN AND TREVOR BAYNE, JUST LAID DOWN THE FASTEST LAP OF THIS DAYTONA 500. 44.66 SECONDS. >> Darrell: NOW THE SUN HAS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, COOLED OFF A LITTLE BIT. ABSOLUTELY MAX SPEED NOW. NOBODY IS HOLDING BACK NOW. >> Mike: HERE THEY COME AGAIN. BAYNE IN THE 21. REGAN IN THE 6. >> Larry: LOOK AT THE RUN, THE 11 AND THE 39, HAMLIN AND NEWMAN ARE GETTING ON THE HIGH SIDE. BAYNE GOES TO THE HIGH SIDE. >> Darrell: TREVOR BAYNE HAS A GOOD SENSE WHERE THE GUY IN FRONT OF HIM WILL GO. WHAT A GREAT PUSHER HE IS. THREE WIDE RIGHT HERE AT THE LINE. CAN THEY MAKE IT? >> Mike: FOUR LAPS TO GO. >> Larry: THE 33 OF BOWYER, THE 18 OF KYLE BUSCH ARE BLOCKED. THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE THREE WIDE IN FRONT OF HIM. >> Mike: SIX TIMES A DRIVER SCORED HIS FIRST -- OH! SMITH GETS TURNED IN FRONT OF BOWYER. NEWMAN AND HAMLIN. >> KEEP COMING. CAUTION IS OUT. >> Darrell: THAT IS BECAUSE SMITH GOT A GAP BETWEEN HE AND BUSCH. AND BUSCH SLAMMED INTO HIM. >> Larry: YOU CAN SEE THAT STARTING TO HAPPEN. >> Darrell: YEAH. THAT'S -- WHEN THEY WENT IN TURN ONE, I THINK CAN THEY MAKE IT? >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN'S ATTEMPT TO WIN HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500 MAY BE THWARTED RIGHT HERE. REGAN SMITH'S CAR LOOKS REMARKABLY INTACT. >> Darrell: THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN BAD SHAPE. >> Mike: HERE IT IS. FROM THE BLIMP. WATCH THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. 78, 22. >> Darrell: WATCH THE GAP THAT THE 78 GETS OFF THE CORNER HERE NOW. KURT BUSCH SAYS HE IS GETTING -- SEE, HE IS GETTING A PUSH FROM TONY. HE SLAMS, HE DIDN'T GET HOOKED UP SMOOTH. HE SLAMS IN THE BACK OF THE 78. THAT TURNED HIM IN THE OUTSIDE WALL. >> Mike: DAVE BLANEY SCOOTS THROUGH. >> Darrell: HAMLIN WAS ON THE BRAKES LOCKING UP. HE HAS TO COME TO PIT ROAD. HE HAS FLAT-SPOTTED TIRES. THAT WAS FROM A LITTLE GAP. KURT BUSCH GOT BEHIND TONY STEWART. SLAMMED UP IN THE BACK OF 78, AND TURNED HIM IN THE OUTSIDE WALL. >> Mike: LEFT FRONT DAMAGE ON HAMLIN. THE NOSE GONE ON BOWYER'S GAR. LEFT FRONT DAMAGE TO NEWMAN. RIGHT SIDE DAMAGE TO SMITH. THERE YOU SEE IT. >> Darrell: IT WAS ALMOST GUARANTEED, LARRY. I DIDN'T SEE HOW THEY CAN KEEP PUSHING IT LIKE THAT, THE WAY THEY WERE. THREE WIDE THIS LATE IN THE DAY. >> Larry: THAT IS TWO CARS THAT LED THE MOST LAPS IN THE DAYTONA 500. RYAN NEWMAN AND CLINT BOWYER. >> Darrell: REGAN SMITH. WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY HE HAD HAD UP TILL THAT. >> Larry: WONDERFUL WEEK. >> Darrell: YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, TOO HARD OF A HIT. EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY, THE CARS ARE HARDER TO CONTROL DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY THAN THEY ARE IN THE CORNER WITH THE BANKING. >> Mike: NEWMAN AND BOWYER HAVE MADE PIT STOPS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE. HAMLIN HAS A FLAT TIRE. HE WILL PIT THIS SIDE. >> Darrell: HE FLATTENED THE TIRE GOING DOWN THE BACK. MAN! >> Mike: REGAN SMITH TURNED IN FRONT OF BOWYER AND NEWMAN. NOWHERE TO GO. >> Darrell: KYLE BUSCH HAS DAMAGE AS WELL. LEFT FRONT FENDER. >> Mike: LET'S RIDE THROUGH THIS WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> PASS. GET TO THEM. COME ON OVER. COME ON LOW. C'MON, C'MON, C'MON. >> Darrell: GREAT JOB, MAN. GREAT! >> Mike: THERE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO DENNY HAMLIN'S LEFT FRONT. >> Mike: THE PACE CAR PICKS UP THE ROUSH-FENWAY CAR AND THEN THE WOOD BROTHERS CAR OF TREVOR BAYNE. >> Larry: BUSCH BROTHERS. THIRD AND FOURTH. >> Mike: TONY STEWART. DALE EARNHARDT JR. BOBBY LABONTE. MARK MARTIN. DAVID GILLILAND ARE THE TOP TEN. >> Darrell: CAN TREVOR BAYNE WIN THIS RACE, LARRY, MIKE? >> Larry: I WOULDN'T RULE HIM OUT. >> Darrell: HE HAS BEEN GOOD THIS WEEK. NOT A SCRATCH ON HIM. >> Mike: HE WAS DRAFTING IN PRACTICE YESTERDAY WITH JOEY LOGANO, CAR NUMBER 20. WE WERE JOKING. THEIR COMBINED AGES DIDN'T ADD UP TO THE COMBINED CAR NUMBERS. IT'S ONLY HIS SECOND SPRINT CUP SERIES START. HE MIGHT BE IN IT TO WIN IT. MATT? >> Matt: A FEW MOMENTS AGO, KURT BUSCH CLIPPED OVER TO KYLE BUSCH'S CHANNEL, SAY 18, IT'S 22. DO YOU WANT TO WORK TOGETHER? KYLE SAID, "AIN'T THAT A SHAME. ABSOLUTELY, HECK YEAH, WE'LL WORK TOGETHER." HE SAID, "WHEN IT'S OVER I'LL BUY YOU ICE CREAM." >> Krista: WHAT A SHAME, MATT. DALE EARNHARDT JR. CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID, "IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING DOWN," REFERRING TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. STEVE LETARTE THROWS HIS HAND ON THE PIT BOX. YOU CAN FEEL THE DISAPPOINTMENT, LIKE WEARING IT ON A BLANKET IN YOUR SHOULDER. BECAUSE THEY WERE TASTING VICTORY. DALE JR. SAID HE CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF LETTING DOWN THE TEAM ON HIS SHOULDERS. DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. THEY ARE COMING IN TO SEE IF IT'S GOING FLAT. DALE JR. SAID IT WAS THE LEFT REAR. TEAM IS LOOKING AT IT. POINTING. YES, INDEED, IT WAS FLAT. >> Mike: THANKS, KRISTA. THEY'LL HAVE A SHOT AT IT. WE WILL COMPLETE 200 LAPS THIS TIME AROUND. THAT IS THE SCHEDULED DISTANCE. NASCAR RULES PROVIDE FOR UP TO THREE ATTEMPTS AT A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER FINISH. TWO OVERTIME LAPS IF YOU WILL TO TRY TO FINISH THE DAYTONA 500 UNDER GREEN. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT HE CAN GO AWAY FROM HERE WITH? I WAS COMPETITIVE. I HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Larry: I WOULDN'T RULE HIM OUT JUST YET. >> Mike: CHRIS? >> Chris: WELL, IT'S RAGAN, TREVOR BAYNE, PAIR OF FORDS, BUSCH BROTHERS. JEFF HAMMOND, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? >> Jeff: I THINK WE WILL SEE RAGAN TRY TO WORK WITH TREVOR BAYNE. BAYNE CAN PUSH SOMEBODY TO VICTORY LANE. BUT THE IMPORTANT PART RIGHT NOW IS WHETHER OR NOT TONY STEWART, HOW HE IS PARTNERED UP. HE COULD UPSET THE APPLE CART RIGHT QUICK. >> Chris: THE RESTARTS HAS GIVEN TREVOR BAYNE A PROBLEM. HE SHAVES ONCE A WEEK AND FAVORITE SHOW IS "RUG RATS." CAN HE CELEBRATE THE DAYTONA 500? WE WILL FIND OUT. >> Mike: FIND OUT SOON. DAVID RAGAN IS LEADING THE RACE. JACK ROUSH, HIS CAR OWNER HAS ONLY WON THE 500 ONCE. THAT WAS WITH MATT KENSETH. THE WOOD BROTHERS, TREVOR BAYNE, WON IT FOUR TIMES. IN '63, CALE YARBOROUGH, A.J. FOYT AND PEARSON IN A GREAT LAST-LAP SLIDING FINISH WITH RICHARD PETTY. TREVOR BAYNE. >> YOU GOT ME TREVOR? >> YES, SIR. >> THE BIGGEST KEY IS GOING TO BE GETTING HOOKED UP WHENEVER YOU CAN. THEY HAVE A RUN AND YOU CAN GET BACK AROUND THE QUICK AS YOU CAN HOOK UP THE BETTER YOU CAN BE. >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND WE GOT SOMETHING FIGURED OUT. SOMETHING ELSE IS REALLY COOL. GET AS MANY SPOTS AS WE CAN, IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS BUT EITHER WAY, THIS IS AWESOME. THANK YOU, GUYS. >> Mike: TREVOR BAYNE DOES NOT HAVE A DEAL TO RUN THE FULL SEASON. HE IS GOING TO RUN PART SEASON FOR WOOD BROTHERS. IN FACT, HE CHECKED OFF ON HIS LICENSE APPLICATION HE WANTS HIS POINTS TO GO IN THE UNDERCARD. THE TRIPLE-A SERIES THAT RUNS HERE ON SATURDAY, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE A FULL SEASON RIDE TO RUN FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN THE CUP SERIES. TODAY COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING. WE'RE GOING TO GO GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. WHAT DOES KYLE BUSCH THINK ABOUT THAT? >> I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU ALL THROUGH SPEEDWEEKS. I SAID IT DON'T MATTER HOW LONG YOU CAN PUSH, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Mike: HE IS NOT THE FIRST ONE. >> DOESN'T IT GET CRAZY? >> Mike: I'M NOT SURE IT'S DONE GETTING CRAZY. >> Darrell: NO. THAT CAR IS A MESS. THAT IS NOT THE FIRST GUY I HEARD SAY THAT, EITHER, THAT IT WOULD BE A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. >> Mike: WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IS BLOOD THICKER THAN WATER? BECAUSE KURT AND KYLE BUSCH HAS A CHANCE TO TEAM UP WHEN WE GET THE RESTART. WE GO DOUBLE FILE FOR THE RESTART. WE HAVE UP TO THREE ATTEMPTS FOR GREEN FLAG, WHITE FLAG, CHECKERED FLAG. IF THEY TAKE THE WHITE FLAG UNDER GREEN, THE NEXT FLAG THEY SEE WILL END THE RACE. >> Darrell: WE SAW IT WILL GET WILD. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A SHORT TRACK SOMEWHERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500. YOU HAVE TWO KIDS UP HERE RIGHT NOW. I WOULD PICK EITHER ONE OF THEM. ONE KID MIGHT WIN THE RACE. >> Larry: TO BE HONEST, THIS IS FALLING IN THE NORM. WE ALWAYS HAVE SURPRISES IN THE DAYTONA 500. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WOULD DAVID RAGAN STAY WITH ROUSH-FENWAY PAST THIS YEAR? UNTIL D.W. TALKED TO TREVOR BAYNE ON THE PACE LAPS, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS. >> Mike: DAVID RAGAN NEVER WON A SPRINT CUP RACE. AND TREVOR BAYNE ONLY RACED IN ONE SPRINT CUP RACE. NOW THEY ARE IN POSITION MAYBE TO WIN THIS DAYTONA 500. WE LISTENED IN ON RAGAN. >> IF YOU SEE HE JUMP THE FIRST INCH, YOU SEE ME, GIVE ME A SPLIT SECOND, THEN YOU GO, I'LL HAVE MOMENTUM AND WE'LL BE FINE. >> Mike: NOW THAT'S ALL FINE FOR THE RESTART, DARRELL. BUT THE CAR IN FRONT IS THAT AN ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE WHEN THEY COME AROUND? >> Darrell: I HAVE SEEN THIS WORK REALLY WELL FOR OTHER GUYS. IF THE TWO YOUNG KIDS CAN PULL IT OFF. HESITATE A LITTLE. LIKE HE SAID, FOR TREVOR. LET ME GET IN FRONT OF YOU AND THEN WE ARE ON OUR WAY. TH H TIME IT. IT HAS TO BE PERFECTLY TIMED. >> Mike: KRISTA? >> Krista: ARE THE DAYTONA GREMLINS OUT? KYLE BUSCH SAID HIS RIGHT FRONT TIRE FEELS SOFT. WHEN HE CAME BY ON THE CAUTION LAP THE CREW SAID, "IT LOOKS GOOD FROM HERE." >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BUT HIS LEFT FRONT FENDER IS MESSED UP. I KNOW THAT. [ LAUGHTER ] >> Mike: BOBBY LABONTE IS UP THERE AMONGST THE CAGEY VETERANS. THEY WILL WAVE GREEN, AND THEN WE'LL SEE THE WHITE AND HOPEFULLY THE CHECKERED FLAG TO FINISH THE DAYTONA 500. LAST YEAR, WE TOOK TWO TRIES AT THE GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER GOING EIGHT EXTRA LAPS TO FINISH OFF THE 500. >> Darrell: WHEN I LOOK UP HERE AND THERE IS KURT BUSCH SITTING THERE IN THIRD, TRYING TO GO FOR ALL THREE, HAVE A TRIFECTA. BUT THE GUY THAT IS THE BEST IN THIS SITUATION IS RUNNING FOURTH. IN THE 14 CAR. WATCH HIM. >> Mike: THE YOUNGEST WINNER OF THE 500 EVER WAS JEFF GORDON AT AGE 25. OLDER THAN EITHER DAVID RAGAN OR TREVOR BAYNE RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: PRETTY EXCITING HERE, GANG. >> Mike: GOING FOR GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. THERE ARE THE SPEEDS OF THE LEADERS. AS THEY COME DOWN BEHIND THE PACE CAR. PERHAPS FOR THE FINAL TIME. TWO LAPS TO GLORY. GREEN FLAG! >> Darrell: GOOD HESITATION. NOW IF THEY CAN GET HOOKED UP AND PUSH. >> Mike: TONY TIMED IT A LITTLE BETTER. BUT CAN BOBBY LABONTE GET UP THERE TO HELP TONY STEWART OR IS HE A MAN ALONE? >> Darrell: HE IS IN NO MAN'S LAND. I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN HANG OUT IS THERE. >> Larry: LOOK AT THE BUSCH BROTHERS. KURT BUSCH IN THE 22 AND KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18, WORKING THE HIGH SIDE. >> Darrell: OH, WE HAVE A CAR AROUND. GOT A CAR AROUND. >> Mike: ROBBY GORDON. SAVES IT! >> Darrell: BUT THE 6 IS BEING BLACK FLAGGED, PASSING BEFORE THE START/FINISH LINE. >> Mike: CAR IN THE WALL. NEWMAN. OH, NO! JUNIOR! TRUEX AND JUNIOR. >> Darrell: OH, NO. TRUEX. >> Larry: CAUTION IS OUT. >> Darrell: DADGUM. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR., MARTIN TRUEX TIED UP IN THAT ONE WITH RYAN NEWMAN. THE CAUTION IS OUT WITH TWO TO GO. HERE IS -- >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE RESTART. BECAUSE THIS IS CRUCIAL. >> Mike: WATCH THE 6 OF DAVID RAGAN. HE IS THE LEADER. RIGHT THERE ON THE OUTSIDE. HE MUST MAINTAIN LANE POSITION TO THE START/FINISH LINE. FOR THIS TO BE A LEGAL START. WHEN HE CHANGES LANES, HE HAS VIOLATED NASCAR PROCEDURE. HE WILL GET A BLACK FLAG. >> Darrell: THEY TIMED IT PERFECTLY. THEY JUST WENT TOO SOON. THEY NEEDED TO WAIT A FEW MORE SECONDS. THEN BACK IN HERE, IT JUST GETS WADDED UP. >> Larry: TONY STEWART WAS A SITTING DUCK RIGHT THERE WITH NO HELP. >> Darrell: YEAH, HE GETS IN RIGHT HERE WHICH IS GOOD. BUT HERE COMES ROBBY GORDON WITH A HEAD OF STEAM. AND TONY WAS THE HOLE THAT ROBBY WAS GOING TO TRY TO GO IN. ALMOST SAVES IT. SAVES IT. SAVES IT. >> Mike: SO GORDON IS DOWN AND OFF THE RACETRACK. WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THEM? A.J. ALLMENDINGER GOT IN TO RYAN NEWMAN WHO GOT INTO THE WALL, WHO COLLECTED TRUEX. CAME ACROSS AND JUNIOR SPUN. >> Larry: LIKE SOME DRIVERS WERE CHECKING UP. SOME WERE NOT. >> A LITTLE PRESSURE THERE. ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO GO. >> FAIR ENOUGH. >> GO HIGH. GO HIGH. >> C'MON, C'MON, C'MON. NO CAUTION. NO CAUTION. C'MON. >> C'MON, C'MON, C'MON. THERE YOU GO. HOLD THE BRAKES. >> ALL RIGHT, GUYS. >> Mike: IT LOOKED LIKE NOT ALLMENDINGER BUT SOMEONE TO NEWMAN'S RIGHT. >> Darrell: NEWMAN BOUNCED OFF THE WALL AND GOT JUNIOR AS HE WAS TRYING TO GO BY. I THINK WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THEY SAW THE 7 COMING BACK UP ON THE RACETRACK. THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE ROOM. AND THERE WASN'T ANY ROOM. THEN JUNIOR JUST GOT OUT THERE, GOT TURNED. >> Mike: NOW KYLE BUSCH HAS COME TO PIT ROAD. SO HAS CLINT BOWYER. SO HAS RYAN NEWMAN. A LOT OF DAMAGE TO NEWMAN'S CAR. >> Larry: NOW DAVID RAGAN IN THE 6 THERE, YOU SEE THE CREW CHIEF DREW BLICKENSDERF WHO WAS IGNORING THE BLACK FLAG. THE LAST TIME BY, THEY GAVE HIM THE BLACK FLAG WITH THE WHITE CROSS, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN KEEP GOING, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SCORE YOU. BUT WE ARE HEARING HE WILL COME TO PIT ROAD THIS TIME. >> Darrell: THEY USUALLY GIVE YOU THREE LAPS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO EVEN DO THAT THESE DAYS. THAT WAS IN THE DAYS THEY COULDN'T COMMUNICATE. THEY USUALLY GIVE YOU THREE LAPS TO RESPOND. >> Mike: IT'S THE LEADER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING THE FIELD DOWN AT SPEED AND START THE RACE ON THE FLAG, TO SIGNAL FROM THE STARTER. NASCAR RULES YOU MUST MAINTAIN LANE POSITION UNTIL YOU CROSS THE START/FINISH LINE. REGAN SIMPLY CHANGED LANES TOO SOON. NOW ROBBY GORDON FIGURED IN THIS, BECAUSE THE ORANGE CAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. HE GOT UP AGAINST STEWART AFTER A LITTLE PUSH FROM GILLILAND. MAKES A NICE SAVE DOWN HERE. AND THEN TRIES TO COME BACK UP ON TRACK. >> Larry: BUT THE CAR CONTROL, ROBBY GORDON IN THE 7, ON THE APRON THROUGH TURN TWO. UNBELIEVABLE. >> Darrell: REGAN SMITH WAS TRYING TO MOVE OVER A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE ROBBY ROOM TO GET BACK ON THE RACETRACK. WHEN HE DID, HE GOT INTO RYAN. >> Mike: ROBBY COMES UP. MOVES A LITTLE -- WOW! A HARD HIT FOR RYAN NEWMAN. AND FOR DALE JR. >> Darrell: YEAH, THERE IS NO SAFER BARRIER DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. IT STARTS RIGHT THERE WHERE JUNIOR JUST HIT. A PRETTY TOUGH LICK. >> Mike: A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR NASCAR ON FOX CAMERAMEN AND REPLAY TECHNICIANS. THEY HAVE HAD A BUSY DAY TODAY WITH 16 CAUTION FLAGS. NOW, DAVID RAGAN NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE CALL. BUT PRETTY CUT AND DRY, DARRELL. >> Darrell: YEAH, IT'S NOT EVEN AN INTERPRETATION. >> WAS OUTSIDE OF YOU. IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT. >> Darrell: THAT IS JUST SO SAD. >> WHENEVER YOU COME OUT, DON'T SPEED OFF PIT ROAD. DO NOT. >> Mike: TREVOR BAYNE BECOMES THE LEADER OF THE DAYTONA 500. POSSIBLY COULD BECOME THE YOUNGEST DRIVER EVER TO WIN IT. AND ONLY THE SECOND DRIVER TO EVER WIN IN HIS SECOND SPRINT CUP SERIES START. SOMETHING JAMIE McMURRAY DID AT CHARLOTTE. >> Darrell: WELL, A LOT OF THE GUYS UP HERE NEVER WON THE DAYTONA 500. THE 14, HIS BEST FRIEND RIGHT NOW IS THAT 5 CAR. >> Mike: DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: TREVOR BAYNE IS BEING TOLD TO SAVE FUEL. THEY ARE ON THE EDGE WITH FUEL. I HAVE TALKED TO MIKE SMITH, THE GAS MAN, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE WOOD BROTHERS FOR 21 YEARS. HE SAID HE GOT ALL THE FUEL IN THE CAR. BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO GET TREVOR BAYNE TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, THE LAST TIME THEY PITTED, THEY COULD MAKE IT REST OF THE WAY. WE SAID YEAH, THEY CAN. THERE WAS A CAUTIOUS. PLENTY SAFE. BUT NOW WE ARE GOING TO FIVE LAPS HERE NOW, SIX LAPS. >> Mike: THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND ATTEMPT TO GO GREEN, THEN WHITE, THEN CHECKERED. >> Darrell: GOT TO MAKE IT AROUND AND TAKE THE WHITE FLAG. ONCE THE WHITE FLAG WAVES IF THE ANYTHING HAPPENS, IT'S A RACE. >> Larry: TELL YOU WHAT, THAT IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE UP THERE AROUND TREVOR BAYNE RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: WELL, THERE ARE TWO GUYS RIGHT THERE ON THE OUTSIDE LINE. MARK MARTIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE DAYTONA 500 OPPORTUNITIES HE'S GOT LEFT. TONY STEWART NEVER WON THE 500. MARK NEVER WON THE 500. OF COURSE WE KNOW TREVOR BAYNE COULD WIN HIS FIRST 500 IN HIS FIRST 500 ATTEMPT. >> READY. READY. >> Mike: TONY STEWART WON THE POLE FOR THE INDY 500, AND WON THE IRL CHAMPIONSHIP. TWICE THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. HE'S WON EVERYTHING BUT DAYTONA. >> STILL WITH YOU. STILL WITH YOU. >> Mike: COMING THROUGH THE MIDDLE, KURT BUSCH. NOW DOWN TO THE INSIDE. >> Larry: BOBBY LABONTE GAVE TREVOR BAYNE A HECK OF A PUSH. NOW ALL THEY CAN DO IS HUG THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK AND PROTECT. >> Darrell: THE 22, THOUGH, COMING IN WITH A HEAD OF STEAM. JUAN PABLO RIGHT ON HIM. I DON'T KNOW IF TONY AND MARK HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET BACK UP THERE OR NOT. I DON'T THINK THEY DO. >> Mike: DALE JR. CHECKED AND RELEASED FROM THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. THEY WILL FACE THE WHITE FLAG WHEN THEY COME AROUND TO DECIDE THE 53rd DAYTONA 500. ROOKIE TREVOR BAYNE IN HIS SECOND SPRINT CUP START. WILL TAKE THE WHITE FLAG WITH BOBBY LABONTE. HERE COMES KURT BUSCH AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. CARL EDWARDS IN FIFTH. >> Larry: WE KNOW KURT BUSCH AND MONTOYA WILL MAKE A MOVE. D.W., WHEN WILL THEY MAKE IT? >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK THEY MAKE IT UNTIL TURN FOUR. WE HEAR I'M A SITTING DUCK WHEN I'M LEADING THE THING, SO IT MAKES THE 21 A SITTING DUCK RIGHT NOW. 21 WON THE BUD SHOOTOUT FROM THAT POSITION. >> Mike: AND TRYING TO SORT IT. >> Darrell: WHERE DID THE 34 COME FROM? >> Mike: TRYING TO SPOIL THE PARTY. >> Larry: SPOIL THE PARTY FOR BUSCH AND MONTOYA. HERE THEY COME. >> Mike: FORMER POLE-SITTER IN THE 500. EDWARDS UNDERNEATH. NOW HE PUSHES TREVOR BAYNE. >> Darrell: CINDERELLA WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500! >> Mike: UNBELIEVABLE! >> Darrell: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREVOR BAYNE. 20 YEARS OLD. >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME! YOU ARE THE MAN, BUDDY. EVERYBODY IS COMING INSIDE TO CONGRATULATE YOU IN HERE. >> Mike: DOWN ON PIT ROAD WHERE HE STOOD IN '76 WHEN PEARSON WON IT. THERE IS LEONARD. WITH GLEN. THEY ARE THE WOOD BROTHERS. OH, MY GOODNESS. THE FIRST WIN IN TEN YEARS FOR WHAT IS NOW A PART-TIME TEAM OUT OF STEWART, VIRGINIA, AND CONCORDE, NORTH CAROLINA. THE WOOD BROTHERS RETURN TO VICTORY LANE AT DAYTONA WITH 20-YEAR-OLD TREVOR BAYNE. >> Larry: THAT IS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE RIGHT THERE, BUDDY. EVEN AT 20 YEARS OLD. >> Darrell: WHAT A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR SPORT. 20-YEAR-OLD KID. WELL-SPOKEN. DONNIE WINGO, I LOVE DONNIE WINGO. HE IS AN OLD SCHOOLER. >> IT'S ALL YOU RIGHT HERE. IT'S ALL YOU! >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> THIS IS ALL YOU. BE YOURSELF. DO YOUR THING RIGHT HERE. >> YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Darrell: MIKE, HE'S SAYING, "I THINK THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT." >> Mike: HE STOPS FOR THE FLAG. AT START/FINISH. >> Mike: REMEMBER, HE GOT TIED UP IN A WRECK. >> TREVOR, YOU'RE THE MAN! >> Mike: ON THURSDAY. THEY HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE 500 AND NOT GO TO A BACKUP. RED, WHITE, GOLD NUMBERS LOOK JUST LIKE THE MERCURY THAT PEARSON DROVE IN 1976 AFTER A COLLISION WITH PETTY IN TURN FOUR. >> Darrell: THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! THIS IS FAIRY TALE STUFF! IT'S LIKE ONCE UPON A TIME. >> THE LAST SLIP-ON FIT. >> Darrell: IT DID, MAN. IT DID! >> WATCH THE SPOILER. >> Darrell: "WATCH THE SPOILER." YEAH, RIGHT! [ CHEERING ] >> Mike: IT IS THE FIFTH DAYTONA 500 WIN AND THE 98th CAREER WIN FOR WOOD BROTHERS, AS TREVOR BAYNE BECOMES THE SECOND YOUNGEST WINNER SPRINT CUP HISTORY. >> GOOD JOB, MAN. [ CHEERING ] >> Mike: NOW THEY WILL POINT HIM TO VICTORY LANE. OH, BY THE WAY, CARL EDWARDS FINISHED SECOND. DAVID GILLILAND, THIRD. BOBBY LABONTE, FOURTH. KURT BUSCH ROUNDED OUT THE TOP FIVE. TREVOR BAYNE BECOMES THE 35th DIFFERENT DRIVER TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. $10. >> I HEARD IT SAID THAT YOU CAN LEAVE CAMP, BUT CAMP NEVER REALLY LEAVES YOU. >>> PROMOTIONM CONSIDERATIONS PROVIDED BY -- >>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO GO! >> Chris: DAYTONA 500 WINNER, TREVOR BAYNE. AGE 20. IN HIS SECOND RACE EVER AT THE CUP LEVEL. HE WILL FIND HIS WAY TO VICTORY LANE. AS WE WELCOME YOU LIVE ON FOX TO THE SPRINT POST-RACE SHOW FROM THE DAYTONA 500. HIS HERO JEFF GORDON, AND RECORD-SETTING DAY AT THE DAYTONA 500. TREVOR, THE HERO. LET'S GO DOWN LIVE TO VICTORY LANE. [ APPLAUSE ] >> Krista: EVERY YOUNG KID WHO HAS EVER STEPPED IN A RACECAR HAS DREAMT OF THIS MOMENT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE A KID YOURSELF? JUST 20 YEARS OLD YESTERDAY. I'M GOING TO SAY SOME WORDS TO YOU. YOU ARE A DAYTONA 500 WINNER. HAS IT SUNK IN? >> NO! I KEEP THINKING I'M DREAMING. I REALLY DO. MAN, WE SAID A PRAYER BEFORE. WE PRAY A LOT AND WE EXPECT A LOT OF THINGS BUT IT SHOWS HOW POWERFUL GOD IS. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR JOBS THAT THE GUYS DID ON THE CAR. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. OUR FIRST 500. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? TO WIN OUR FIRST ONE. OUR SECOND EVER CUP RACE. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. I HAVE CAN'T THANK THE GUYS THAT WORKED WITH ME ALL DAY ENOUGH. THEY WERE TEN, 15 DIFFERENT DRIVERS THAT PUSHED US. CARL HELPED US GET ACROSS THE LINE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH DAVID AT ONE POINT. BUT WOW! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. THESE GUYS, FORD MOTORCRAFT, THE WOOD BROTHERS. HOW COOL IS IT TO SEE WOOD BROTHERS BACK IN VICTORY LANE? WE HAVE LEONARD HERE. HE IS THE MAN. AND YOU KNOW, I JUST -- IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. THANKS TO SPRINT AND EVERYBODY FOR THE SERIES. THANKS TO THE FANS OUT HERE. I MEAN, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A RACETRACK WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE HERE. TO WIN ON THIS KIND OF PLATFORM IS INCREDIBLE. >> Krista: WE HEARD YOU SAY, "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO GO." WHEN YOU PULLED IN, WE HAD TO TELL YOU, NO, WAIT, STAY IN THE CAR. AND TELL YOU TO PUT IT IN GEAR SO YOU DIDN'T ROLL IT RIGHT OUT. >> CRAZY TO GET MY FIRST CUP WIN BEFORE A NATIONWIDE WIN. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET TO VICTORY LANE. BUT WE'LL FIND OUR WAY BACK HOPEFULLY. THIS IS INCREDIBLE. >> Krista: I BELIEVE THE KING IS HERE AS WELL TO CONGRATULATE YOU. AS IS THE WOOD BROTHERS. >> ARE YOU KIDDING? >> Krista: AN EMOTIONAL WIN. MOST 20-YEAR-OLDS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH COLLEGE CLASS TO GO TO. TREVOR BAYNE JUST ADDED HIS NAME TO THE MOST ELITE LIST IN MOTORSPORTS HISTORY. STEVE? >> Steve: WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR., I SAID YOU HAD A FAST RACECAR. HE SAID WHAT ABOUT THE DRIVER? ALL RIGHT. GIVE THE DRIVER CREDIT. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE FINISH YOU WANTED BUT ARE YOU ENCOURAGED BY HOW YOU RAN? >> WE RUN GOOD. I WAS HAPPY HOW FAST WE GOT UP THROUGH THERE AT THE START OF THE RACE. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE WOOD BROTHERS AND THE WHOLE TEAM WITH AN AWESOME JOB AND DID A GOOD JOB. PROUD OF THEM. BUT WE RUN, WE RUN GOOD AND HAD, YOU KNOW, HAD AS MUCH FUN AS WE COULD UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES THERE. CRAZY AT THE END. WHERE I WRECKED, FUNNY STUFF ON THE BOTTOM DOWN THERE. WE JUST GOT HIT IN THE QUARTER PANELS, GET BY A WRECK. AND WE MAY CAUSED A FEW TODAY. I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS WILD. I WANT TO THANK ALL MY GUYS ON MY TEAM. WORKED HARD. ENGINES AND THE BODY MEN THAT WORKED HARD TO GET US DOWN HERE AND MAKE US RUN AS GOOD AS WE DID. A SHAME WE COULDN'T GET A GOOD FINISH FOR THEM. >> SEE YOU AT PHOENIX. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: IT SEEMS CARL EDWARDS LISTENED IN ON TREVOR BAYNE'S EXCITEMENT IN VICTORY LANE. YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST WIN. YOU ALMOST GOT YOUR FIRST 500. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE LAST ONE? >> I NEED TO SEE A REPLAY. I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO AFLAC AND SCOTT, FORD, THAT'S FORD'S 600th WIN. TREVOR BAYNE, GUYS, IS A GOOD GUY. HE IS A COOL GUY. IT'S NOT WORTH IT LISTENING TO HIM HOW EXCITED IT, IS BUT IT'S NEAT TO HEAR HIM HOW EXCITED HE IS. AND THE FANS ARE GREAT HERE. I NEED TO SEE A REPLAY. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE GILLILAND AND I HAD ENOUGH STEAM WE COULD GO TO THE OUTSIDE OF TREVOR AND GET HIM, BUT I DIDN'T. TREVOR'S CAR WAS FAST. THAT'S A WILD DAYTONA 500, GUYS. >> Matt: GREAT WAY TO START THE YEAR FOR CARL EDWARDS. SECOND HERE IN DAYTONA. DICK? >> Dick: DAVID RAGAN ALMOST WON THE DAYTONA 500. TELL US ABOUT THE HEART-BREAK. >> IT WILL TAKE US A LONG TIME TO GET OVER THIS ONE, DICK. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO UPS AND EVERYONE FOR OUR SUPPORT FOR THE 2011 SEASON. BUT YOU KNOW, WE FIRED IN THE BOX AND I GUESS NASCAR, IN THEIR JUDGMENT, I MOVED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LANE TOO EARLY. I FELT LIKE I HADN'T COMMITTED THE WHOLE WAY. AS I SEE ON THE REPLAY HERE, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR I'M DOWN THERE, BUT MY LEFT SIDE TIRES AREN'T ON THE YELLOW LINE. I NEED TO GO OVER AND HAVE A TALK WITH MIKE AND THE GUYS WHO CAN EXPLAIN WHAT I DID WRONG. IT WILL BE A HARD LESSON TO LEARN. BUT, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO TREVOR, HE WAS MY PUSHING BUDDY ALL DAY. IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN UP THERE. OUR UPS TEAM IS STRONG. IT LOOKS LIKE THE FORD TEAMS ARE BACK ON TOP. >> Dick: DAVID RAGAN CAME SO CLOSE, MIKE. >> Mike: THAT HE DID. BUT TO SEE GLEN AND LEONARD WOOD IN VICTORY LANE WHERE THEY LAST STOOD IN 1976, TREVOR BAYNE BRINGS THEM ACROSS TO BECOME THE SEVENTH DRIVER TO SCORE HIS FIRST SPRINT CUP WIN IN THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE SEASON. THE DAYTONA 500. WHAT A DAY. ALL OF THE BUMP-DRAFTING AND THE TEAMING AND TWO-TIMING AND TANGOING. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO A FELLOW WHO DIDN'T HAVE ANY BAD HABITS TO UNLEARN. >> Darrell: I WANT TO SHOW YOU, I WANT TO SHOW YOU MY BIO SHEET ON TREVOR BAYNE. [ LAUGHTER ] IT'S BLANK. BUT NOT AFTER TODAY. I THINK JEFF GORDON, JEFF GORDON RECOGNIZED SOMETHING IN THIS KID ON THURSDAY. HE WORKED WITH HIM. AND WHEN JEFF GORDON SAYS YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO RUN WITH ME, YOU'RE ALSO GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. THE WOOD BROTHERS, WHO DOESN'T LOVE THE WOOD BROTHERS, LARRY? THEY'RE IN VICTORY CIRCLE. >> Larry: YOU WON'T HEAR ANYBODY DENY, NOT EVEN CARL EDWARDS DENY, WHO FINISHED SECOND, WOOD BROTHERS AND TREVOR BAYNE WINNING THE RACE, THIS GOES TO SHOW THERE ARE SO MANY YOUNG KIDS OUT THERE THAT GROW UP THROUGH RACING. THEY JUST DREAM OF GOING TO DAYTONA. NOW TREVOR BAYNE, IT WILL BE WITH HIM THE REST OF HIS LIFE, IS A DAYTONA 500 WINNER. >> Mike: WONDERFUL DAY FOR HE AND THE WOOD BROTHERS. GREAT FINISH FOR DAVID GILLILAND, ROOKIE STEVEN WALLACE FINISHES ON THE LEAD LAP. WOW! AND DAVID PEARSON WHO TREVOR BAYNE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR STUDIO LAST NIGHT ON SPEED. DAVID GOING IN THE HALL OF FAME. THAT WAS THE WOOD BROTHERS LAST DAYTONA 500 WIN. YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, WHAT A DAY. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THAT CAR. IT'S FLAWLESS. IT DOESN'T HAVE A SCRATCH ON IT. >> Mike: KURT, GREAT WAY TO START THE SEASON WITH THE 53rd DAYTONA 500. NOW ON TO PHOENIX. >> Chris: WE FOUND A CHALLENGER TO JIMMIE JOHNSON FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. WE DON'T WANT TO RUSH HIM YET. BUT REALLY THE DAYTONA 520. SECOND OVERTIME. FIFTH TIME IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE GONE TO A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER. WHERE DO GUYS LIKE TREVOR BAYNE COME FROM? >> Jeff: WELL, WE'RE CLOSE TO THE MAGICAL KINGDOM. IT DOES PROVE THAT DREAMS COME TRUE AROUND HERE. IT REALLY IS. SOMETHING MAGICAL. THIS KID SHOWED MUSCLE. SHOWED COMPOSURE. ALL WEEKEND LONG. ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DUEL 150 WHEN HE AND JEFF GORDON GOT TOGETHER. EXCLUSIVELY AND HAD A GOOD FINISH. EVEN AS THEY CRASHED ON THE FINAL LAP. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE CAR WITH THE HELP OF ROUSH-FENWAY. THEY WORKED ON THE CAR. HARD WORK AND PATIENCE PAY OFF. >> Chris: GUTS FROM TREVOR BAYNE. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE RISKY ON FUEL AT THE END, SECOND OVERTIME. AND BEFORE, FINISHES ONE, TWO, THREE, OF THE 53rd RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. GO BACK DOWN TO THE TRACK AND MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: DAYTONA 500, THE LAST LAP, KURT BUSCH FROM TURN TWO TO THE FINISH, WHAT COULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? >> I NEEDED TO BE ON THE BOTTOM. I WAS TRYING TO PROTECT THE MIDDLE. SPOTTER WAS LIKE WATCH OUT, HERE THEY COME. IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ME AND MONTOYA COULD GET ENOUGH STEAM BUILT UP AS FAR AS THE RUN. I WAS IN A PERFECT POSITION. MONTOYA WAS PUSHING AND I WAS RUNNING THIRD. I MADE A MISTAKE. I NEEDED TO BE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. IT'S TOUGH. WE CAME THIS WAY AND CAME UP SHY. ALL IN ALL, POINTS TODAY WE'LL TAKE IT. TO HAVE A RUN AT HISTORY IS SPECIAL. WE TRIED TO BLOCK IT OUT ALL DAY. WE HAD TO FIGHT THROUGH ADVERSITY. FOR SHELL AND PENNZOIL AND DODGE, GREAT WAY TO START OFF. TRIPLE-A, THE GUYS ARE GREAT. COCA-COLA, GREAT TO HAVE THEM ON THE PROGRAM. EVERYBODY THAT IS ON BOARD. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE YEAR. IT'S AMAZING. THE SEASON IS GOING TO START NOW. WE GOT DAYTONA OVER WITH. HAPPY WITH THE FIFTH. ALL IN ALL, TO MAKE A MISTAKE ON THE LAST LAP, I WILL BE THE ONE WITH THE SOUR FEELING IN MY STOMACH. >> WHAT A SPEEDWEEK FOR KURT BUSCH. FIRST, FIRST, AND A FIFTH. >> Dick: WELL, YOU HAD AN EVENTFUL DAY. >> DIDN'T START OUT SO WELL BUT ENDED UP ALL RIGHT. M&M CAMRY TOOK A BEATING TODAY. EVERYBODY'S CAR DID. SO PROUD OF THE GUYS. THEY KEPT DIGGING ALL DAY. WE SPENT THE MOST TIME ON PIT ROAD TODAY BUT GO OUT OF HERE WITH A GOOD EIGHTH PLACE FINISH. WE CAN SMILE ABOUT THAT. WITH AS MUCH ROUGH HANDLING AND WRECKS AND BLOWN MOTORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON TODAY THAT MADE IT CRAZY AND WILD FOR EVERYBODY UP IN THE STANDS AND ON TV WITH FOX, IT WAS GOOD RACE FOR US. WE CAN'T COMPLAIN. I'D LIKE TO HAVE GOTTEN WITH MY BROTHER AT THE END AND HELP PUSH HIM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD A TIRE RUB AND CAME DOWN AND FIX IT TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN WE ALREADY HAD. THANKS TO JOE GIBBS RACING AND THE GUYS FROM M&M AND TOYOTA. >> Dick: KYLE BUSCH MADE A LOUT OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND FINISHED EIGHTH TODAY. >> Krista: EVERY PARENT WANTS THEIR CHILD TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS, WHETHER THEY PUT THEM IN BASKETBALL OR SINGING OR MOTORSPORTS. YOUR SON, STEPHANIE, JUST ACHIEVED THE ULTIMATE DREAM. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU? >> I CAN'T EVEN PUT INTO WORDS WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM. HE HAS WORKED SO HARD SINCE HE WAS LITTLE. YOU KNOW, TO GET HERE AND IN THE STANDS WITH 15 TO GO I KEPT THINKING JUST LET HIM FINISH THE RACE. LET HIM FINISH THE RACE. I NEVER DREAMED HE WOULD BE HERE. >> Krista: WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU WHEN HE CAME TO VICTORY LANE? >> I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO TALK TO HIM YET BECAUSE IT'S GOING CRAZY. I HAVEN'T -- HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND HUGGED ME. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TALK. >> Krista: COULD YOU SEE IN HIS EYES WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM? >> YEAH. IT'S UNREAL. HE HAD A BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREVOR. >> Krista: THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT WE COULD THINK OF. CHRIS? >> Chris: THANK YOU. ON RECORD-SETTING DAY AT DAYTONA. THE YOUNGEST DAYTONA 500 WINNER, ECLIPSING JEFF GORDON WHO HELPED HIM THIS WEEK. CALLED HIM HIS IDOL. LEAD CHANGES WERE 74. RECORD HERE. THE CAUTIONS, 16, MADE IT THE SECOND SLOWEST DAYTONA 500 EVER. BUT DON'T TELL IT TO TREVOR BAYNE. IT'S NUMBER ONE IN HIS HEART. WHAT A STORY. I THINK IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU COME FROM ANYWHERE, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE. BEST OF THE BEST OF THE BIGGEST RACE AND HE MADE IT HAPPEN. >> WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PRE-RACE. THIS KID WILL WIND UP BEING A SUPERSTAR. TODAY HE CLIMBED THE LADDER TO THE TOP, ON THE GET-GO. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO WON THE FIRST SPRINT CUP WIN HERE IN DAYTONA. TINY LUNG, MARIO ANDRETTI, PETE HAMILTON, MICHAEL WALTRIP, INCREDIBLE LIST. SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE HERE, I MEAN THEY OWE SO MUCH TO THIS ONE TRACK AND WHAT THIS EVENT DOES FOR THEIR CAREER. >> Chris: THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. COMING UP ON FOX, PROGRAMMING YOU WILL ENJOY. AND THEN WE HAVE NEXT SUNDAY IN PHOENIX, NOON PACIFIC, 3:00 EASTERN. LAST YEAR, THE RACE, WHEN RYAN NEWMAN OVERTOOK JEFF GORDON ON THE ONE-MILE TRACK ON THE DESERT. WE HOPE YOU TUNE IN FOR THAT. SEE IF TREVOR CAN HANG WITH THE BIG BOYS EARLY. JEFF GORDON, JIMMIE JOHNSON, TAKEN OUT ON LAP 29 IN THE 15-CAR WRECK. YOU SAW DALE EARNHARDT JR. FIGHTING TILL THE END WITH TONY STEWART. WE HAVE MORE POST RACE COVERAGE LIVE FROM DAYTONA. CHECK OUT VICTORY LANE ON SPEED AND ENJOY THE PROGRAMMING AS WE CONTINUE ON FOX. TREVOR BAYNE, TALK ABOUT NOT JUST IN RACING, YOU CAN ETCH HIS NAME UP THERE WITH THE GREAT IN SPORTS. YOUNGEST QUARTERBACK TO WIN SUPER BOWL, BEN ROETHLISBERGER. YOUNGEST GOLFER TO WIN TITLE, TIGER WOODS. YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN DAYTONA 500 IS 20-YEAR-OLD TREVOR BAYNE. DAYTONA REPAVED AND REENERGIZED ON A DAY WHEN 43 OF THE BEST DRIVERS IN THE WORLD CAME TOGETHER WITH ONE GOAL. THAT MAN IN A SECOND OVERTIME. TREVOR BAYNE SURVIVING TO WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. FOR OUR ENTIRE GANG, THANKS FOR WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. Captioned By Closed Captioning Services, Inc ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! ♪♪ ♪♪

Channel: NascarAllOut

Views: 74,565

Rating: 4.9466667 out of 5

Keywords:

Id: iHGbOIcJOxw

Length: 271min 6sec (16266 seconds)

Published: Sun Jan 26 2020

Reddit Comments

[u/AmeriKat1776]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TREVOR BAYNE

[u/Garrett4Real]

Darrell Waltrip and fucking up the play by play coming to the line, name a better combo

[u/lemthethird]

what a weird race that was. Outside of 2013, nearly every Daytona 500 of the 2010s was pretty damn good

[u/pinned_throttle]

Trevor Bayne winning the 500 was really one of the greatest moments in the modern Cup era. what a day.

[u/[deleted]]

Regan Smith and David Ragan dominated the late stages of that race. Too bad they didn’t win

[u/BRSM24]

It still blows my mind that they went from full backstretch grandstands to tearing them out in 5 years.