2012 Daytona 500

>>> IT IS A UNIQUE AND EXCITING NIGHT. THE FIRST PRIME TIME DAYTONA 500 IS ABOUT TO START. IT AS HISTORIC RACE. IMAGINE MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT 200 MILES PER HOUR. DRIVERS LIKE DEFENDING NASCAR CHAMPION TONY STEWART AND LAST YEAR'S DAYTONA 500 WINNER TREVOR BAYNE. THE STARS ARE READY TO START THE SEASON AND MAKING H HER DAYTONA CUP DEBUT ALONGSIDE OF DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IS DANICA PATRICK LET'S HEAD TRACKSIDE FOR THE COMMAND. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME YOUR GRAND MARSHALLS, LEONARD, EDDIE, JORDAN AND JOHN WOOD REPRESENTING THREE GENERATIONS OF THE FAMOUS WOOD BROTHERS RACE FAMILY. THEY ARE HERE TO DELIVER THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS. >> LADY AND GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES! [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SOUND WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR IT. WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE 54th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE HERE FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL I'M JOHN ROBERTS IN FOR CHRIS MEYERS. ALONGSIDE OF MICHAEL WALTRIP. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOU WIN IT, WINNING THE DAYTONA 500 IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PRIZES IN ALL OF MOTORSPORTS. AND MICHAEL WALTRIP, YOU HAVE TWO OF THOSE DAYTONA 500 TROPHIES. >> Mike: I LOVE WHAT THE TROPHIES REPRESENT. THE BEST CARS. THE DRIVERS FOCUSED. AND WHEN YOU ARE THE FIRST ONE UNDER THE CHECKERED FLAG AS DALE, JR. SAID YESTERDAY IT'S AWESOME. YOU FOREVER HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN NASCAR H HISTORY. >> John: AND THIS COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST AWESOME DAYTONA 500'S EVER. LET'S SEND IT UP TO THE BROADCAST BOOGITY. GUYS, TAKE IT AWAY. >> John: HI, EVERYBODY. THIS 5th RUNNING IS BOUND TO BE NASCAR'S BIGGEST NIGHT EVER. IT HAS BEEN A BIG WEEK OF RACING AND OF WRECKING. DARRELL WALTRIP THE '89 WINNER AND ONE OF NASCAR'S NEWEST HALL OF FAMER. WHY DOES EVERYBODY EXPECT A COMBINATION OF GREAT RACING AND WRECK FEST TONIGHT? >> BECAUSE TO A DRIVER THE DAYTONA 500 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE WE RUN. YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO HOME AND SAY I DIDN'T GIVE IT ALL -- I DIDN'T GIVE IT MY ALL. YOU WILL PUT IT IN THE WALL, ROLL IT OVER, CATCH IF ON FIRE, WRECK YOUR TEAMMATE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. COMES DOWN TO ONE THING. CHECKERS OR WRECKERS. ALL OR NOTHING. >> Mike: WE HAVE NOT HAD A REPEAT WINNER IN TEN YEARS. WHY HAS THIS BECOME ONE OF NASCAR'S TOUGHEST RACES TO WIN? >> Larry: SO MANY DECISIONS TO BE MADE AND IF YOU MAKE ONE WRONG DECISION IT COULD TAKE YOU OUT OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE RACE. A DECISION BY THE DRIVERS RACING OVER 200 MILES PER HOUR. THE SPOTTER. THE CREW CHIEF 80 THE PIT CREW MAKING A DOZEN STOPS. HARD TO BELIEVE, 200 LAPS. 500 MILES. I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE WHO WINS PROBABLY WILL BE THE RIGHT DRIVER WHO MAKES THE RIGHT DECISION THROUGH THE LAST SET OF CORNERS. >> 200 LAPS. 500 MILES LIVE ON FOX. TONIGHT'S RACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUDWEISER. GREAT TIMES ARE WAITING, GRAB SOME BUDS. LET'S GET DOWN TO PIT ROAD TORE LAKE BREAKING STORIES. STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN 2004. JUST TALKED WITH THE GUYS ON THE CREW HERE AND THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A VERY FAST RACE CAR. CREW CHIEF SAID HE EXPECTS THE FIELD TO BROKE OUT INTO PACKS OF EIGHT AND TEN CARS. DALE EARNHARDT, JR.'S JOB IS VERY SPECIFIC. STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND MAINTAIN TEMPERATURES IN THAT ENGINE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT. TOUGH JOB. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: A NEW CHAPTER ON THE RACING RESUME OF DANICA PATRICK. ROLLS OFF 29th. A VETERAN SPOTTER. HE TOLD ME THAT THE ADVISE HE GAVE H HER TONIGHT, BE A HILL MORE AGGRESSIVE AT THE START. TRY TO MAKE UP ROOM ON THE RACETRACK SO SHE IS NOT STUCK IN THE BACK AND THEN BASICALLY, LEARN, LEARN AND LEARN SOME MORE. THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT TONIGHT. GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE STOCK CAR. KRISTA. >> Krista: TREVOR BAYNE WON THE DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR. A SECRET NO MORE. TREVOR DRIVES INTO THE RACE WITH FANS, FAITH AND A FAST FORD. HE WILL LEAN ON ALL THREE WHEN TRIES TO CATCH LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE AGAIN TONIGHT. >> Dick: JEFF GORDON BEGAN WITH A VICIOUS CRASH, BARREL ROLLED DOWN THE SPEEDWAY BUT WAS UNINJURED AND TONIGHT A BRAND NEW CAR. HE SEES NO REASON WHATSOEVER WHY HE SHOULDN'T WIN HIS FOURTH DAYTONA 500 CHAMPIONSHIP. AND HE IS ONE OF THE BEST WHO HAS EVER RACED THIS EVENT, MIKE JOY? >> Mike: THANK YOU, DICK. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT DOWN THERE, EVERYBODY. IT WILL BE A BUSY ONE. HERE IS THE GEICO STARTING GRID FOR THE 54th ANNUAL DAYTONA 500. ALL FOUR FRONT ROW, JACK ROUSH WITH CARL EDWARDS THE POLE SITTER AND GREG BIFFLE. AND ROW NUMBER TWO THE SERIES CHAMPION TONY STEWART AND MATT KENSETH, THE 200-9500 WINNER. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. THE 2004 WINNER WITH 13 TOTAL DAYTONA VICTORIES AND WATCH OUT FOR REGAN SMITH. HE COULD SURPRISE TONIGHT. LET'S GET ON THE RADIO I SMOKE, IT'S D.W., GOT A COPY? >> [RADIO]: YEAH, BUD. >> Darrell: THIS YEAR YOU GUYS CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER, COMMUNICATE FROM ONE DRIVER TO ANOTHER. IS THAT -- IS THAT A BIG PROBLEM? >> [RADIO]: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM BUT IT IS A LUXURY THAT WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE THIS YEAR. IT WAS NICE WHEN YOU WERE THAT CAR THAT WAS PUSHING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHEN HAD TO CHECK UP OR HAD TO CHANGE LANES. IT MAKES ALL THE STUFF GOING ON IN FRONT OF YOU A LITTLE MORE IMPORTANT. THERE IS A REASON ALL THESE GUYS GOT TO THIS LEVEL BECAUSE THEY MAKE GOOD DECISIONS MOST OF THE TIME. WE CAN LISTEN TO OUR SPOTTERS AND THEY CAN STILL MOST OF THE TIME PRETTY MUCH 80% GUARANTEE HE CAN CALL WHAT THAT GUY IS GOING TO DO IN FRONT OF US AND WHAT THE SCENARIO IS. >> Darrell: WITH THAT IN MIND, YOUR BUDDY THERE FROM FRONT OF YOU. YOU CAN'T TALK TO HIM BUT I CAN. WANT ME TO TELL HIM ANYTHING FOR YOU? >> [RADIO]: WE BOTH KNOW WE GOT 500 MILES HERE SO AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT AND LEAD RIGHT AWAY, MY PLAN IS NOT TO PUSH RIGHT OFF THE BAT. I KNOW THE GUYS BESIDE US ARE HERE. THE RISK VERSUS REWARD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE THIS EARLY IN THE DAY. >> Darrell: HAVE A GOOD NATE AND GOOD LUCK. >> Mike: TONY STEWART STARTS BEHIND CARL EDWARDS. AN INTERESTING TWIST IN HOW THE 2011 FINISHED WITH STEWART AND EDWARDS IN THE 99 TYING FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. THE TIE BROKEN BY TONY'S FIVE VICTORIES IN THE LAST TEN RACES. THE CHASE FOR THE CUP, CARL EDWARDS HAD ONE WIN AND WOUND UP SECOND ON THE TIEBREAKER. >> Darrell: SEE IF WE CAN TALK TO CARL. CARL, IT'S D.W. IN THE FOX SPORTS BOOGITY. BOOTH. GOT A COPY? CARL, IT'S D.W. GOT A COPY? HE'S BUSY WAVING RIGHT NOW. HE IS DISTRACTED. >> Mike: SALUTING THE FAN AND THE CROWD HERE IS HUGE. FOR A RAIN DAY, NORMALLY 50% OF THE CROWD WOULD COME BACK ON A MONDAY BUT DAYTONA IS AN APPOINTMENT EVENT. THESE FOLKS HAVE A LOT OF MONEY INVESTED IN TRAVEL AND TICKETS AND NOW IN RAIN GEAR AND THEY HAVE FILLED THE GRANDSTAND. HEALTHY CROWD ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY AND THE INFIELD IS PACKED. >> Darrell: SEE IF WE CAN GET HIM ONE MORE TIME A. CARL, IT'S D.W., GOT A COPY? >> [RADIO]: GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. >> Darrell: THE FORDS HAVE LOOKED GOOD THE WHOLE SPEEDWEEKS. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TONIGHT? >> THE SAME PLAN WE HAD FOR THE LAST RACE THERE IN HOMESTEAD. GO OUT AND TRY TO LEAD EVERY LAP. TRY TO WIN THIS THING. WE GOT THE BEST PIT CREW. WE GOT A FAST RACE CAR. GO OUT THERE AND HAVE SOME FUN AND HOPEFULLY GET THE WIN. >> Darrell: YOU GOT YOU BUDDY BEHIND YOU. ARE Y'ALL GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TONIGHT OR IS IT FINISH OFF WHAT YOU ENDED UP WITH LAST YEAR? >> NECK NO I'M -- HECK NO I'M NOT WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIM. I'M JUST KIDDING. WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET TO THE END AND THEN RACE JUST AS HARD AS WE RACE ANYBODY ELSE. THE BIGGEST THING IS TO GO OUT AND TRY TO WIN THIS 500. WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM THAT WE ARE NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT TAKING RISKS TONIGHT. GOING TO TRY TO GO FOR THE WIN AND THEN GO TO PHOENIX. >> Darrell: START THE SEASON OFF RIGHT, BUDDY, GET YOU A WIN TONIGHT AND THAT WILL MAKE THE WHOLE YEAR A LOT BETTER. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, BUD. >> [RADIO]: THANKS A LOT. HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD TIME. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS 8th START IN THE 500. TRYING TO LEAD HIS FIRST LAP IN THE DAYTONA 500 RACE. LARRY McREYNOLDS WITH TONIGHT'S GOOD YEAR KEYS TO SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE. >> Larry: 500 MILES. KEEP YOUR COOL. THAT MEANS YOUR TEMPER AND IF THE CAR STARTS OVERHEATING YOU HAVE TO GET A LITTLE AIR TO THE NOSE. STAY ON MY GOOD SIDE, PUSH ME ALL YOU WANT BUT DO NOT PUSH ME IN THE RIGHT-REAR OR ACTUALLY IN THE LEFT-REAR, D.W., YOU MIGHT SPIN ME OUT. WHAT ABOUT THE THIRD ONE? >> Darrell: IT IS THE LAST LAP AND IT IS ALL ABOUT ME. YOU WILL HEAR THE CREW CHIEFS SAY WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN DO, ALL UP TO YOU NOW. THAT IS WHAT A DRIVER WANTS TO HEAR. THEY LOVE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. ITS' ALL ABOUT ME. >> Mike: OUR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING CREW CHIEF JEFF HAMMOND A NEW ROLE THIS YEAR. HE WILL TAKE YOU PLACES YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN AND YOU CAN'T GO. WHERE ARE YOU, JEFF? >> Jeff: UP HERE ON THE STARTER'S STAND. YOU CAN GO BESIDE ME AND YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY FROM THE FANS. BACK IN FULL FORCE. THE CREWS ARE ALREADY UP ON THE WALL. GETTING READY, HAVING STARTING FIELD COME BY ME. ONE MORE LAP AND WE WILL LAUNCH 43 ROCKET SHIPS. GOING FOR ONE THING AND ONE THING ONLY. GETTING BACK TO THE START/FINISH LINE AND 200 LAPS. MAY BE DETERMINED AS LITTLE BY AN INCH OR TWO. THE EXCITEMENT UNBELIEVABLE. THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE RACE CAR BUT I WOULD LIKE TO STAY HERE AND WATCH THE REST OF THE RACE BECAUSE THIS IS A COOL PLACE TO BE RIGHT NOW. A FEW MORE MINUTES WE WILL DROP THE GREEN ON THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO STAY THERE, TOO, BUT YOU HAVE WORK TO TO TONIGHT. TAKE US SOME FUN PLACES. DRIVERS TALKED TO US ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE WITH PACK RACING UP STEAD OF THE TWO DRIVER TANDEM WE SAW HERE LAST YEAR. >> I MEAN I THINK IT IS BACK TO BIG PACK RACING AND DAYTONA WE HAVEN'T RACED IN A BIG PACK SINCE THEY REPAVED THE RACETRACK. >> PACK RUNS SO FAST IT IS HARD TO TANDEM UP BECAUSE THE CARS GET SO HOT SO FAST AND CATCH BACK UP. PROBABLY HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND TRY AND KEEP OURSELVES POSITIONED TOWARDS THE FRONT. >> I'M A BIG FAN OF THE PACK RACING. I DO BETTER AT IT THAN THE TANDEM AND I THINK IT IS BETTER FOR THE FANS' PERSPECTIVE, WATCHING THE RACE. SEEMS TO BE MORE EXCITING. >> YOU GOT TO LEARN WHAT IT TAKES FOR YOUR CAR TO WIN. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS MAKE MISTAKES. THE STRATEGY IS TO LEARN AND THEN APPLY. >> READY TO RACE IN DAYTONA FOR 500 MILES THESE DRIVERS WILL BE TAKING YOU FOR A RIDE TONIGHT. AROUND THIS 2.5-MILE SUPERSPEEDWAY AT SPEEDS OF NEARLY 200 MILES AN HOUR. VIEWS FROM INSIDE THE CAR, UP ON THE ROOF LIKE YOU SEE HERE, AND EVEN OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. TOYOTA PROUD TO SHOWCASE THE REINVENTED 2012 CAMRY AS OFFICIAL PACE CAR OF THE 500. AVAILABLE IN MODELS UP TO 268-HORSEPOWER OR 43 MILES PER GALLON. THE 2012 CAMRY IS READY, ARE YOU? 200 LAPS. 500 MILES PER NIGHT. >> Larry: FUEL WINDOW 44 TO 48 LAPS. >> Darrell: DON'T FORGET THE HALFWAY MONEY. >> Mike: $200,000. >> Darrell: YES, SIR. >> Mike: AND THESE DRIVERS TROUBLE EARLY IN THE WEEK. WENT TO BACKUP CARS. TEMPERATURE COOLING TO 69 DEGREES. PARTLY CLOUDY. RAIN, RAY STAY AWAY AS WE ARE ARE READY TO START THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE IN MONDAY PRIME TIME EVEN FOX. >> Darrell: GOING TO BE A WILD ONE. WE WILL SEE SOME SPARKS TONIGHT. BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY! LET'S GO RAISING, BOYS. LET'S GO RACING, BOYS! LET'S GO RACING, BOYS! >> Mike: JAMIE MCMURRAY DOWN BELOW THE YELLOW LINE. >> Larry: I THINK HE PUT HIS TEAMMATE. >> Darrell: THEY WERE HOOKED UP. >> Mike: TALK ABOUT TEAMMATES THAT HOOKED UP. GREG BIFFLE AND HIS ROUSH FENWAY FORD TEAMMATE MATT KENSETH AND CARL EDWARDS. SLAMS TO THE OUTSIDE! IT'S FIVE TIME CHAMPION -- HE COLLECTS DANICA PATRICK AND THE 34 OF DAVID REGAN. >> Darrell: TREVOR BAYNE THE 21 CAR. YOU SEE HIM INVOLVED. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH IS INVOLVED. >> Darrell: I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT JIMMIE. TOOK A HARD LICK IN THE DOOR. THERE IS THE HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF KURT BUSCH. HE HAS DAMAGE. >> Mike: ONE LAP AND IT IS CALAMITY. >> Mike: BUSCH WILL MAKE IT BACK AROUND TO THE PITS. >> Larry: BOTH THE RIDE WINNERS FROM THE DAYTONA RACES LAST YEAR. TREVOR BAYNE WON THE 500 AND DAVID REGAN WON THE JULY RACE. >> Darrell: WHEN YOU SEE THE REPLAY AND WHAT DANICA DID YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT. >> Mike: KEEP AN EYE ON JIMMIE JOHNSON TALKED UP UNDERNEATH THE 78 OF REGAN SMITH. >> Darrell: OOH. A LITTLE TAP ON THE BACK END. I BELIEVE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ELLIOTT SADLER THE 33. RIGHT HERE IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS DANICA. GETS SOME DAMAGE. WATCH HER GO DOWN. WATCH HER RIGHT HERE. RIGHT BETWEEN THOSE TWO CARS. >> Mike: FIRST CAUTION OF THE NIGHT, LAP TWO. HERE IS ANOTHER LOOK. LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE LANE AND THE BLEW CAR SECOND IN LINE. >> Darrell: JIMMIE GETS A LITTLE LOOSE AND OVERCORRECTS AND INTO THE FENCE IT GOES. AND THEN HE GETS A REALLY HARD LICK RIGHT HERE. THAT IS THE ONE THAT WORRIED ME. GOT THAT RIGHT IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. >> Larry: DARRELL, WHAT WAS ONE OF THE GOOD YEAR KEYS? DON'T PUSH ME IN THE LEFT-REAR. THIS CAN BE TREACHEROUS. >> Mike: FROM THE BLIMP WATCH FOR THE GREEN CAR AS DANICA PATRICK COMES INTO FRAME FROM THE TOP OF YOUR SCREEN. >> Darrell: SEE RIGHT HERE. RIGHT THERE. JIMMIE GETTING READY TO GET A HARD LICK. HERE IS DANICA RIGHT THERE. SOME DAMAGE OFF OF JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CAR THERE. THIS IS THE WILDIST THING I HAVE SEEN. THESE GUYS ARE ALL WRECKING AND SHE GOES RIGHT IN BETWEEN THEM. >> Mike: A BIG CHAIN REACTION CASH AS JOHNSON'S CAR CLOGS THE RACETRACK. AND THE 34, DAVID REGAN. CAR TO THE OUTSIDE. CAR TO THE INSIDE. NO WHERE TO GO. WE WILL RIDE WITH DANICA PATRICK. >> [RADIO]: LOOKING INSIDE. TWO WIDE. CHECK UP. GO LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW, LOW. >> Mike: AND NOW WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> [RADIO]: INSIDE. ALL THE DRIVERS INVOLVED HAVE EITHER CLIMBED OUT OF THEIR CARS OR DRIVEN BACK TO THE PITS. THEY ARE OKAY. WHAT A HARD HIT. >> Darrell: THESE GUYS, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF WRECKS IN STOCK CARS OR RACE CARS. THEY HAVE ALL TAKEN A LESSON FROM DANICA PATRICK. THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR HANDS OFF THE WHEEL AND HE IS HURT. HE TOOK A HARD LICK. HE HAS GOT THE WIND KNOCKED OUT OF HIM, I'M SURE. >> Mike: AND THAT WRAPAROUND HEAD REST HELPS TO CONTAIN MOVEMENT AS DOES THE HANS DEVICE. THE HEAD AND NECK SUPPORT. AND THESE ARE THE CARS INVOLVED. SINCE WINNING THE 500 IN 2006, JIMMIE JOHNSON'S AVERAGE FINISH IN THE RACE HAS BEEN IN THE MID 30s. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY SPRINT. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. FOUR LAPS COMPLETE. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION AT DAYTONA. AERIAL COVERAGE BY GOOD YEAR. EVERYTHING WE LEARNED MAKING TIRES FOR THE PROVING GROUNDS OF NASCAR INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL INTO YOURS. GOOD YEAR. MORE DRIVEN. FIVE-TIME NASCAR CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON TOOK A HIT INTO THE WALL AND THEN A HARD HIT FROM DAVID RAGAN AS CARS PILED IN INCLUDING DANICA PATRICK. MATT YOCUM IN HER GARAGE. >> Matt: DISAPPOINTING START TO THE DAYTONA 500. A LOT OF COSMETIC DAMAGE. RIGHT FROM THE PIT WALL COULD SEE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON THE LEFT-REAR. POSSIBLY TRUCK ARM BROKEN. THEY WERE GOING TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE BACK IN THE GARAGE. GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF LAPS. KRISTA? >> Krista: IF TREVOR BAYNE IS GOING TO DEFEND HIS DAYTONA 500 WEN HE HAS TO DO IT THE HARD WAY. SERIOUS DAMAGE ON THE FRONT END OF THEIR FORD MACHINE. THE LEFT-REAR ARE IS WHERE THE TEAM WAS SERIOUSLY WORKING ON PIT ROAD. THEY HAVE THE HAMMER OUT BANGING THE SHEET METAL AWAY FROM THE TIRE TO AVOID A TIRE RUB. IT WILL BE A LONG NIGHT FOR TREVOR BAYNE. >> Mike: NASCAR HAS SEVEN MECHANISMS BY WHICH DRIVERS LAPS DOWN CAN GET LAPS BACK AS KEVIN HARVICK COMES OUT OF THE PITS. ONE DRIVER GETS A FREE PASS AND COMES ALL THE WAY AROUND. OTHER CARS CAN STAY OUT ON CAUTION FLAGS AND REGAIN A LAP PROVIDED THEY DO NOT PIT. IT IS CALLED THE WAVE AROUND AND WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN WE SEE IT. >> Darrell: LET'S RIDE WITH JIMMIE. ON THE INSIDE, HE GOT CLIPPED ON THE INSIDE. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE, THAT IS A HECK OF AN IMPACT. >> ELLIOTT SADLER, DRIVER OF THE 33 PASSED ALONG HIS APOLOGIES. HE WAS THE DRIVER WHO GOT INTO THE BACK OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. THAT IS HOW THAT GOT STARTED. >> Larry: AMAZING HOW TIGHT THEY ARE RACING HERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON STARTED 8 >> Mike: GETTING READY TO RESTART THE DAYTONA 500. HERE IS STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: JIMMIE JOHNSON JUST OUT OF THE CARE CENTER. TWO HARD IMPACTS. GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPLAY. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED? >> I'M GOOD. THE LAST HIT WHEN I HIT THE DOOR WAS PRETTY HARD BUT WE ARE JUST ALL TRYING TO MAKE OUR LANE WORK AND A LOT OF ENERGY IN THE LANE. I WAS KIND OF PUSHING THE 78 A LITTLE BIT. I COULD FEEL SOME HELP FROM BEHIND AND JUST TURNED ME AROUND AND SENT ME HE DOWN THE INSIDE LANE AND BACK DOWN THE OUTSIDE LANE. WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK I KNEW SOMEONE WAS GOING TO COME ALONG. DAVID RAGAN HAD NO WHERE TO GO. GOT DRILLED BY HIM PRETTY HARD. BUMMED TO START THE SEASON THIS WAY. FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO GETTING THE CAR READY FOR TONIGHT. PRETTY BUMMED. >> Steve: GLAD YOU ARE OKAY, JIMMIE. >> THANK YOU. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON OUT OF THE RACE ON LAP TWO. DAVID RAGAN ALSO RELEASED FROM THE CARE CENTER. FIVE CARS IN THE GARAGE. PITSTOPS BY GORDON, HARVICK AND PAUL MENARD DURING THE CAUTION. >> Darrell: IT HAS BEEN PREACHED IN THEIR HEADS FOR TEN DAYS YOU CANNOT PUSH ON THE LEFT YEAR. ELLIOTT SADLER. >> Larry: NOT ONLY HAS IT BEEN RATHERRED WE HAD ABOUT 20 SCAMS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK. >> Mike: HERE COMES THE WHOLE FIELD TWO BY TWO THROUGH TURN NUMBER FOUR AROUND TO COMPLETE LAP 8. >> Larry: THIS IS PACK RACING. YOU ARE JUST A PART OF IT. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS YOU CAN'T AVOID 2. >> Darrell: YOU GOT TO PRAY A LOT THAT NOTHING HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE DOUBLED UP LIKE THIS. >> Mike: DURING THE CAUTION FLAG OUTSPOKEN WORDS. KYLE BUSCH. >> [RADIO]: SERIOUSLY, ARE WE ALL KIDDING OURSELVES? WE JUST SAT AROUND FOR 36 HOURS AND WE WRECK ON LAP ONE. >> Darrell: I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS SAYING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, DALE, JR. HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION WITH HIS SPOTTER. HE SAID TELL THE 33 I DON'T WANT A PUSH AND I WANT HIM TO BE SURE AND KNOW IT. >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE, CARL EDWARDS FRONT OF THE FIELD. THE BACK CAR ON THE OUTSIDE IS REGAN SMITH WHO HAS RUN WELL, HERE AT DAYTONA AND WON LAST YEAR, HIS FIRST RACE THAT AT DARLINGTON. BACK DOWN TO STEVE. >> Steve: DAVID RAGAN RELEASED FROM THE CARE CENTER. A VIOLENT IMPACT WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON. YOU ARE OKAY? >> YEAH, I'M FINE. IT WAS A HARD HIT. I SAW THE 48 SPINNING. MY SPOTTER WAS TELLING ME TO GET LOW, GET LOW, SLOW DOWN. I COULDN'T SLOW DOWN AND GET LOW ENOUGH AND I'M STANDING HERE READY TO SEE THE REPLAY TO SEE WHAT KIND OF BONE HEAD WOULD DO A MOVE LIKE THAT THIS EARLY IN THE DAYTONA 500. VERY DISAPPOINTING. OUR TEAM WORKED SO HARD AND WE HAD A GOOD RACE CAR AND WE WERE CONTENT WITH GET TOGETHER FINISH AND IT IS A SHAME TO BE TALKING TO YOU THIS EARLY. >> Steve: THANK YOU, DAVID. >> Mike: HERE COMES REGAN SMITH WHO MOVED IN THE OFF SEASON TO DENVER, COLORADO WITH HIS NEW BRIDE TO BE CLOSE TO HIS RACE TEAM. THE ONLY TEAM BASED OUTSIDE THE THAT P. ROWEA AND THEROUX CAR CAR IS TRYING TO FORCE ITS WAY TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: AFTER DARLINGTON AND THE WAY THAT CAR HAS RUN LAST YEAR, NOT A FAVORITE BUT CERTAINLY IN THERE. >> Larry: HE WAS IN THE POSITION TO WIN IN 500 LAST YEAR PROBABLY WITH 10 OR 12 LAPS TO GO AND GOT CAUGHT UP IN A LATE RACE ACCIDENT. >> Mike: JUST MOVED TO DENVER BUT NO STRANGE TO SNOW. GREW UP OUTSIDE SYRACUSE. LOOKING AT MARCUS AMBROSE. WON HIS FIRST RACE LAST YEAR AS DID SMITH. WINNER AT WATKINS GLEN. >> Darrell: THE CAMERA MOUNTED ON THE DOOR, ALONG SIDE THE 9 THERE OF MARCUS AMBROSE. YOU CAN SEE HOW FAR DOWN IN THE TRACK THE CARS SUNK. SO MANY G-FORCE IN THE TURN. LOOK AT THE SIDE OF THE CAR IN THE TURN AND WHEN IT COMES UP ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY YOU WILL SEE THAT GAP OPEN BACK UP. AND WHEN IT OPENS UP LIKE THAT THE DRIVERS SAY THAT IS WHEN THE CAR IS VULNERABLE TO GETTING PUSHED. GETS REAL LIGHT AND HARD TO DRIVE. >> Mike: FORD BACK TO THE FRONT. GREG BIFFLE LEADING CARL EDWARDS IN BLUE AND A WHITE AND MATT KENSETH IN BLUE AND YELLOW. THOSE ARE JACK ROUSH'S FAST FORDS THAT EVERYONE FEELS WILL BE CONTENDERS HERE TONIGHT. >> Darrell: I HOPE GREG BIFFLE LEARNED THE LESSON IN THE QUALIFYING RACE. HAD THE FASTEST CAR AND ON THE LAST LAP TRIED TO BLOCK HIS TEAMMATE WHO WENT ON TO WIN THE RACE AND HE ENDED UP FINISHING FIFTH. AS HARD AS IT IS YOU GOT TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY. CAN'T BE DEFENSIVE ALL DAY LONG. >> Larry: YOU'RE RIGHT, THE THREE ROUSH FENWAY DRIVERS HAVE BEEN FAST ALL WEEK AND THIS IS ROUSH FENWAY'S 25th YEAR. >> Mike: BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. ONE CAR AROUND SIDEWAYS. IT'S RYAN NEWMAN. >> Darrell: I HAVEN'T SEEN THE REPLAY BUT I BET SOMEBODY BUMPED HIM IN THE LEFT-REAR. >> Mike: NEWMAN IS A PAST WINNER OF THE 500. >> Darrell: HERE HE IS. NOBODY BUMPED HIM. LOOKS LIKE HE JUST LOST IT. MAYBE HAD A TIRE ISSUE. I THINK HE HAS A TIRE DOWN LARRY THE WAY THAT THING IS SPARKING AND EVERYTHING. I THINK HE HAS A TIRE DOWN. >> Larry: LOOKS LIKE THE RIGHT-REAR. >> Mike: A SECOND CAUTION OF THE NIGHT. >> Darrell: AND YOU CAN SEE THE RIGHT-REAR TIRE. >> Mike: THE CARS HAVE SAFETY INNER LINERS INSIDE THE TIRES SO THEY DON'T GO FLAT TO THE RIM WHICH IS A GOOD THING AT 200 MILES AN HOUR. >> Darrell: THE GOOD THING IS THE BACK PAVEMENT DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Mike: HERE IS KASEY KAHNE'S VIEW JUST AHEAD OF HIM ON THE INSIDE. >> [RADIO]: GET OUTSIDE. GET OUTSIDE. YOU'RE CLEAR. ALL YEAR. >> Mike: MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: A GREAT CALL. RYAN NEWMAN, NOT SURE WHICH BUT I HAD A TIRE GOING DOWN. GREAT SAVE. >> Larry: I WOULD SAY WITH THE CAUTION BEING OUT HERE WE WILL BE 14 LAPS. I THINK PIT ROAD WILL BE BUSY. WE MAY SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STRATEGIES BUT I THINK WE WILL DEFINITELY SEE THEM ON PIT ROAD. >> Mike: THAT IS TREVOR BAYNE THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THE 500 IN THE GARAGE WITH HIS WOOD BROTHER TEAM AND DANICA PATRICK. SHE REMAINS IN THAT CAR ENTERED BY TOMMY BALDWIN RACING. >> Darrell: HER THIRD WRECK OF THE WEEKEND. A WRECK IN THE QUALIFYING RACE, NOT OF HER OWN MAKING. A VICIOUS HIT OVER OFF OF TURN TWO THAT SHE WRECKED YESTERDAY IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE AND NOW WE GOT PROBLEMS TONIGHT. >> Mike: COMING AROUND UNDER CAUTION TO COMPLETE LAP 14 AND IT IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE CARS WILL COME TO PIT ROAD. STEVE? >> Steve: REGAN SMITH SAYING HE IS SURPRISED WITH THE HANDLING OF HIS 78 CHEVY. FUEL ONLY FOR REGAN SMITH. >> Krista: TIME FOR THE LINE TO GO TO WORK. THE OVER THE WALL CREW FOR GREG BIFFLE ALL NEW THIS YEAR. MATT? >> Matt: ONE CAN OF FUEL AND NO TIRES FOR 31. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: HE FINISHED LAST YEAR SECOND IN LAST YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. THE GOAL TODAY STOP FINISHING SECOND AND WIN THIS THING. >> Mike: EDWARDS DOES WIN THE RACE OF PROSECUTOR. HARDLY ANY ONE TOOK TIRES. >> Larry: A HUGE ROAD BLOCK FOR DRIVERS TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT O OF THEIR PITS. >> Mike: SECOND CAUTION FLAG OF THE DAY. A SINGLE CAR SPIN, RYAN NEWMAN. >> Mike: WELCOME BACK TO DAYTONA. THAT IS A.J. ALLMENDINGER'S PENSKE DODGE BEING PUSHED BACK TO THE GARAGE AREA. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED. RYAN NEWMAN IS LEAVING HIS PIT AS YOU WATCH FROM KYLE BUSCH. THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL IS NOT TIGHTENED. NEW MAPP PULLS AWAY. THE WHEEL COMES OFF. A.J. ALLMENDINGER IS COMING IN. P.O.W., RIGHT IN THE BACK OF NEWMAN. AND THAT HAS DAMAGED ALLMENDINGER'S CAR. HE HAS GONE TO THE COURAGE. -- TO THE GARAGE. >> Darrell: GOOD GRIEF. DANGER EVERYWHERE. >> Mike: COMING IN TO COMPLETE LAP 16. PACE CAR IS IN. PAUL MENARD, DENNY HAMLIN WITH THIS KFC RESTART. COME TASTE WHY FRESH IS BETTER. MENARD AND HAMLIN DID NOT PIT UNDER THIS CAUTION FLAG. MENARD HAS BEEN IN EARLIER ON THE FIRST CAUTION. AND PAUL MENARD FROM WISCONSIN WHO ALSO GOT HIS FIRST WIN LAST YEAR AT THE BRICKYARD, GETTING A PUSH FROM THE 99 OF CARL EDWARDS. >> Larry: PAUL MENARD ONE OF THE DRIVERS HAD TO START AT THE REAR OF THE FIELD BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE BACKUP CAR FROM THURSDAY GATORADE DUEL RACE. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH THIRD. HAMLIN LOGANO THIRD AND FOURTH. BURTON, KENSETH AND AMBROSE. HAMLIN TO THE OUTSIDE AND TO THE LEAD. >> Darrell: THREE WIDE TO THE START/FINISH LINE AND HAMLIN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CARL EDWARDS PULLING OUT BEHIND MENARD AND GOT THE NICE DRAFT. >> Larry: GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH NO HELP. JUST SEE HIM DRIFTING BACKWARDS. >> Darrell: HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET BY MENARD BUT DIDN'T GET ANY HELP. >> Mike: 195-MILE AN HOUR BUMPER CARS. HAMLIN DOWN TO THE BOTTOM PICKS UP MENARD AS HIS DRAFTING PARTNER. >> Darrell: THE 78 CAR OF ALL OF THE RACES WE HAD DOWN HERE THIS WEEKEND THE 78 HAS ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT AT THE FRONT, EVERY RACE WE HAVE SEEN. >> Mike: FORDS IN THE OUTSIDE LANE. THE HIGH GROOVE. BIFFLE IN THE 16. KENSETH THE 17. AND KYLE BUSCH COMING UP THE OUTSIDE IN THE NUMBER 18 TOYOTA. STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: WITH TREVOR BAYNE A A LOT OF WORK GOING ON THE RACE CAR. TWO QUESTIONS, TREVOR, WHAT HAPPENED AND CAN YOU GET BACK IN THE RACE? >> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. DEVASTATING FOR THE TEAM, MAN. WE SAT HERE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WAITING TO RACE AND SOMETHING HAPPENS ON LAP ONE. I COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. GOT LOW AND GOT SLOWED DOWN AND AT THE LAST SECOND I THINK IT WAS THE 34 CAR HIT US IN THE RIGHT-SIDE DOOR AND SENT US INTO THE GRASS. THE ONLY WE TOUCHED WAS THE GRASS. I GUESS IT WAS SO WET IT RIPPED APART THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I HATE THE WAY WE ARE SITTING HERE IN THE GARAGE. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET IT BACK OUT THERE. PUT US IN THE GARAGE FOR A LONG TIME. >> Steve: WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPLAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY THEY GOT SO ANSY OR WHO GOT THE TURNED SIDEWAYS. YOU THINK THAT EVERYBODY IS IFING TO BE PATIENT AFTER YOU WAIT FOR THAT LONG. GOING TO BE CALM. COMING OFF OF TURN FOUR I SAID I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND I WILL HANG BACK HERE AND STAY OUT O OF TROUBLE AND AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE MIKE THEY SAID THEY ARE WRECKING AND I GOT OUT OF THE WAY THE BEST I COULD. THIS IS TOUGH BUT WE'LL BE BACK. STINKS WE HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR TO TRY TO GET ANOTHER 500. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS KNOCKED ALL THE WAY BACK TO 11th PLACE. A LAP AGO HE WAS UP BATTLING FOR THE LEAD. LOOKING AT JEFF GORDON THE RED CAR AND BRAD KEZELOWSKI IN THE BLEW CAR. >> Darrell: HE WAS UP THERE BATTLING FOR THE LEAD WITH MENARD. WHEN TRIED TO MAKE THE PASS ON MENARD HE GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE AND THEN YOU GET REALLY FRUSTRATED AS A DRIVER TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO GET BACK IN LINE AND THAT IS WHEN SOMETIMES YOU GET IN TROUBLE. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN AND HIS TEAMMATE JOEY LOGANO OUR TOYOTA TOP PERFORMERS AT LAP 20 RUNNING FIRST AND FOURTH. IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK TO BE RUNNING SINGLE FILE BECAUSE DARRELL IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT ANYBODY CAN GET AWAY FROM THE PACK. >> Darrell: IT DOESN'T. NORMALLY AFTER 15-20 LAPS THE TIRES GET WARMER AND LOSE A LITTLE GRIP AND START TO SEPARATE A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS SO CALM AND THE TRACK IS GREEN, A LOT OF GRIP, WE MAY NOT SEE THAT TONIGHT. >> Larry: OF THE FOUR TOYOTA DRIVERS YOU JUST SHOWED, ONLY ONE STARTED INSIDE THE TOP 20 AND THAT WAS JOEY LOGANO WHO STARTED 12th. LOOK AT DENNY HAMLIN THERE LEADING THIS RACE. YOU THINK ABOUT HIS LAST TWO SEASONS. 2010 A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER, WON 8 RACES. LAST YEAR NEVER A FACTOR, WON ONE. HAD THE CHAMPIONSHIP CREW CHIEF OF TONY STEWART DARIEN WITH HIM THIS YEAR. >> Mike: HAMLIN LEADS THE INSIDE LANE. PAUL MENARD, REGAN SMITH, JOEY LOGANO, JEFF BURTON AND MARCOS AMBROSE ON THE OUTSIDE. GREG BIFFLE WITH HIS TEAMMATE MAT KENSETH TRYING TO MAKE SOME NOISE. >> Darrell: AFTER AWHILE YOU GIVE UP ON THE OUTSIDE LINE AND SAY I GOT TO GET DOWN IN LINE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE AND RIDE AWHILE AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I SEE SHAPING UP RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: EARNHARDT IS THE 5th CHEVROLET IN THE RACE. 13th OVERALL RIGHT NOW. JEFF GORDON HIS HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAMMATE JUST IN FRONT OF HIM. TONY STEWART RIGHT BEHIND EARNHARDT. THREE CHEVROLETS TRAILING THE TWO FORDS ON THE OUTSIDE. BACK DOWN TO THE GARAGE AREA. JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: MIKE, RIGHT NOW YOU SEE BEHIND US IS THE CAR OF DANICA PATRICK. THEY ARE WORKING INTENSELY TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING REPAIRED. THEY HAVE TORN THE ENTIRE REAR END OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. TRUCK ARMS DAMAGE. REAR END HOUSING TORE UP. A LOT OF SHEET METAL DAMAGE. GOT TO GET ALL THE STUFF REPLACED AND SET IT BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND AND REALIGN. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET HER BACK OUT THERE TO GET HER MORE EXPERIENCE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO TRY TO GET AS MANY POINTS AS POSSIBLE FOR THE CAR. >> Larry: IT AS SOLID AXLE THAT GOES ACROSS THE ENTIRE CAR. HAS THE LEFT-REAR AND RIGHT REAR AND ALSO WHERE THE GEAR IS AND IT IS HOOKED TO THE CAR WITH A LEFT AND RIGHT TRAILING ARM. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORD RACE TECH CAR. THIS WHOLE APPARATUS HERE, THAT IS THE REAR END HOUSING AND THESE ARE THE TRAILING ARMS THAT HOLD IT UNDER THE CAR SO THEY HAVE GOT TO UNBOLT THE TRAILING ARMS, UNBOLT THE REAR END HOUSING. WHAT YOU ALSO SEE, THAT IS WHAT HAS THE GEAR IN IT. THEY WILL PROBABLY EVEN HAVE TO PUT A GEAR IN THE REAR END HOUSING. A PRETTY EXTENSIVE REPAIR. >> Mike: FEVERISHLY WORK CONTINUES IN THE GARAGE AS WE CROSS THROUGH 25 LAPS. DENNY HAMLIN FROM CHESTERFIELD, VIRGINIA, LATE MODEL STOCK CAR DRIVER, TAPPED BY JOE GIBBS TO FILL AN EMPTY SEAT. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. H HIS BEST DAYTONA 500 500 FINISH SO FAR, 17. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY BUDWEISER. GREAT TIMES ARE WAITING. GRAB SOME BUDS. 30 LAPS COMPLETE IN DAYTONA. CATCH THE SEASON PREMIER OF OCTANE ACADEMY TONIGHT ON FUEL TV. CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE TIME IN OUR AREA. WATCH AND LEARN. FORD CARS HAVE WON TWO OF THE LAST THREE DAYTONA 500S. THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE ROUSH FENWAY RACING HAS SWEPT THE 500 FRONT ROW. THE LAST TEN 500S HAD TEN DIFFERENT WINNERS. AND THIS RACE SO FAR HAS HAD FOUR DIFFERENT LEADERS. FIVE LEAD CHANGES. DENNY HAMLIN DRIVING THE TOYOTA FOR ARE COACH JOE GIBBS LEADS THE PACK FROM PAUL MENARD, REGAN SMITH, JOEY LOGANO AND JEFF BURTON. MARCUS AMBROSE SIXTH. AND LITTLE CHANGED FROM THE FRONT PACK ON THE INSIDE. DEFENDING SERIES CHAMP TONY STEWART CAR NUMBER 14 IN HIS 14th DAYTONA 500 IS RUNNING 14th. >> [RADIO]: THE SAME THING AS HE IS DOING. TELL HIM NOT TO PANIC IF I GET INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF HIM. >> Mike: FOR MANY A RACE AT DAYTONA TONY STEWART AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IS A BEEN DRAFTING TOGETHER AND TANDEMMING TOGETHER. >> Darrell: RIGHT NOW YOU ARE NOT TAKING ANY RISKS AND THAT IS WHAT WAS SO UPSETTING ABOUT THE LAP. DON'T TAKE ANY RISKS RIGHT NOW. A LONG WAY TO GO HERE. LET'S WORK TOGETHER, NOT AGAINST EACH OTHER. >> Larry: DARRELL WHEN TALKED TO TONY TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE RULE CHANGE OVER THE WINTER FROM LAST YEAR WHERE A DRIVER CAN'T TALK TO ANOTHER DRIVER. LAST YEAR, TONY STEWART WOULD HAVE TOLD DALE EARNHARDT, JR. ON HIS OWN. NOW, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SPOTTERS ABOVE THE GRANDSTAND. >> Darrell: THERE IS TWO STRATEGIES OR HAS BEEN IN THE PASS FOR RUNNING A RESTRICTER PLATE. GET UP HERE IN THE PACK AND RACE HARD. THE OTHER IS FALL NOT BACK. PICK UP THREE OR FOUR GUYS THAT YOU LIKE TO RUN WITH AND LAY BACK. REMEMBER AT THE START OF THE RACE WE SAW JAMIE McMURRAY DROP TO THE INSIDE. HE PICKED UP HIS TEAMMATE JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. THEY ARE IN THE SAFETY ZONE RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: THAT GROUP OF CARS IS 6 TO 7 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEADER. LED BY NUMBER 29 A PAST DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, KEVIN HARVICK. MONTOYA. DAVID GILL AND TONY RAINES RIGHT THERE. AND YOU SEE THE GAP FROM THEM TO THE LEAD PACK. DENNY HAMLIN STILL THE ENGINEER OF THE FAST FREIGHT TRAIN. >> Darrell: THAT IS ABOUT THE RIGHT DISTANCE TO BE BACK IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. THEY CAN GET STOPPED OR SLOWED DOWN BEFORE THEY GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. THEY ARE PLAYING IT SAFE RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: DARRELL WHAT I NOTICE SINCE THOSE DRIVERS GOT IN A SINGLE FILE BECAUSE THE DRIVERS UP IN THE BIG PACK ARE STARTING TO MIX IT UP AS FAR AS TWO LINES. THEIR LAP TIMES ARE MIRROR HING THE LEADERS. >> Mike: THERE IS THE NEW REAR END FOR DANICA PATRICK'S CAR. AND YOU SEE SOME HELP FROM THE ARMY TEAM. RYAN NEWMAN'S TEAM, TEAMMATE DANICA PATRICK A TONY STEWART. STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO. >> Darrell: AS WE WATCH THE OUTSIDE LINE, THEY GET A LITTLE RUN AND THINK OKAY, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT THIS TIME AND THEN THE INSIDE LINE PULLS BACK AHEAD AGAIN. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET MUCH FURTHER UP THAN WHAT YOU SEE THEM RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: DARRELL, RIDING IN A PACK. CLOSER TOGETHER THAN MOST PEOPLE PARK BUT DOING 195 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS NO SUNDAY DRIVE. >> Darrell: AND REALLY AND TRULY YOU ARE AT THE MERCY OF EVERYBODY AROUND YOU. IF THE GUY IN FRONT OF YOU HAS TO LIFT A LITTLE BIT FOR A CAR IN FRONT OF HIM IT IS AN ACCORDION EFFECT. THAT IS THE THING ABOUT PACK RACING YOU ARE VULNERABLE THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PACK. >> Larry: THE TOP 25 DRIVERS RIGHT NOW SEPARATED BY LESS THAN 20 SECONDS, AS YOU SAID, MIKE, OVER 195 MILES PER HOUR. >> Mike: MICHAEL WALTRIP HAS WON THE RACE TWICE. THE LAST REPEAT WINNER OF THE 500. WE HAD DIFFERENT WINNERS ALL THESE LAST TEN YEARS. MICHAEL, HOW TENSE IS THIS KIND OF FACING RIGHT NOW AS TREVOR BAYNE RETURN IS TO THE RACETRACK? >> Mike: SO HARD TO SIT THERE AND BE PATIENT. WE SAW A MISTAKE. I KNOW ELLIOTT'S HEART AND HE IS HURTING FOR WHAT HE CAUSED. YOU WANT TO GO BUT THEN EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND YOU OVERDO IT. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST CRASH. NOW, BEING PATIENT AND RIDING IN LINE AND NOT PUSHING ON ONE ANOTHER. BUT ALSO LEARNING. SEEING WHAT THEIR TEMPERATURES WILL DO. THAT IS AN ISSUE. SEEING HOW CLOSE THEY CAN GET TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM AND NOT OVERHEAT THEIR ENGINE. A LOT GOING ON IN A DRIVE ITER'S HEAD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET HIMSELF READY TO RACE FOR THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Darrell: MICHAEL, IF YOU WERE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, WOULD YOU WANT TO BE ON THE INSIDE LINE OR UP ON THE OUTSIDE LINE. IS THERE A SAFER PLACE TO BE ONE THAN THE OTHER? >> Mike: I THINK WITH THAT PACK HERE IT IS CALM. DARRELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE TWO LINES. HOW MY CAR WILL PULL UP OR NOT DEPENDING ON WHICH LINE I'M IN. THEY ARE GOING TO SCORE RIGHT NOW. DENNY HAMLIN IS THE HEAD OF THE CLASS AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY WORRIES AT ALL. BIFFLE IS UP ON THE OUTSIDE BUT CAN'T MAKE ANY GROUND. ABLE TO HANG BY BOWYER BUT THAT IS AS FAR AS HE CAN MAKE IT. HE KNOWS IF THE CAR BEHIND HIM CAN GIVE THEM A PUSH THEY COULD GO. JEFF GORDON ISN'T READY TO PUSH YET. DOESN'T WANT TO POSSIBLY CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM. >> Darrell: RIGHT NOW YOU ARE HOPING THERE ARE NO WRECKS IN THE PACK. >> Mike: AND THINK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, A FLAT TIRE, SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE YOU WILL WIPE OUT 10 OR 12 CARS. >> Mike: WE WIPED OUT A FEW ALREADY. WE WILL COME UP ON THE GARAGE REPORT WHEN WE COME BACK. THIS SUMMER G.I. JOE RETURNS. WHEN MOST OF THE JOES ARE ELIMINATED THE TEAM CALLS IN AN OLD FRIEND. G.I. JOE RETALIATION IN >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY TOYOTA. BY AT&T, THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK, AT&T, RETHINK POSSIBLE. BY GOOD YEAR, THE OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR. AND BY GI JOE RETALIATION IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE JUNE 29. >> THE DAYTONA 500 HAS A NEW LEADER IN THE RACE. PACE HAS PICKED UP. GET CLOSER TO YOUR FAVORITE DRIVERS' PERFORMANCE THROUGH EVERY TURN AND PITSTOP THROUGH THE NEW RACE 360 AVAILABLE NOW ONLY AT NASCAR.COM. JEFF BURTON THE VETERAN FROM SOUTH BOSTON, VIRGINIA. DRIVING A CHEVY FOR RICHARD CHILDRESS, HE AND GREG BIFFLE GOT TOGETHER ON THE OUTSIDE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY KNOWS THE 16 CAR OF GREG BIFFLE IS BAD FAST. WON BOTH PRACTICES. QUALIFIED ON THE FRONT ROW. WHEN BURTON SAW HIM COMING HE SAID MAN THIS IS THE GUY I WANT TO GO WITH. JUMPED OUT THERE AND WENT WITH HIM AND TOOK HIM RIGHT TO THE LEAD. >> Mike: HERE WE SEE THE TWO DRIVER TANDEM IN THE OUTSIDE LANE RACING AGAINST THE PACK AND IT IS QUICKER THAN THE PACK BUT THEY CAN ONLY DO THAT KIND OF RACING HERE FOR SO LONG WITH THE NEW RULES PACKAGE. >> Darrell: ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE ALSO EXPERIMENTING WITH RIGHT NOW LIKE WE SEE WHO CAN I GET BEHIND AND PUSH THAT WE CAN MAKE TIME ON THE OUTSIDE. YOU GET THE RIGHT PARTNER BIFFLE AND BURTON DID IT. OT JEFF GORDON SITTING BACK THERE. >> Mike: 44 OF 200 LAPS COMPLETE. TWO CAUTION FLAGSARILY. A FIVE CAR WRECK SENT JIMMIE JOHNSON, DANICA PATRICK, TREVOR BAYNE. A SECOND CRASH ABOUT RYAN NEWMAN PUT US UNDER THE SECOND CAUTION FLAG. FIVE DIFFERENT LEADERS. SIX LEAD CHANGES. HAMLIN LED 24 OF THEM. NOW, JEFF BURTON TO THE FRONT. RAIN NOSE-TO-TAIL, ONE PUSHING THE OTHER BUT CAN'T DO THAT FOR LONG. >> Larry: BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE CHANGES NASCAR MADE WITH THE COOLING YOU CAN ONLY DO IT FOR A LAP OR SO AND THEN YOU HAVE GAGES THAT WILL FLASH AT YOU ALMOST LIKE AN IDIOT LIGHT IN THE PASSENGER CAR. YOU KNOW THEN YOU HAVE TO GET AIR TO THE RADIATOR. >> Darrell: WHEN JEFF GORDON IN THE 24 WERE CLOSING DOWN ON THE 11 CAR REALLY FAST. ANYBODY ELSE MAY HAVE GONE UP AND BAMMED INTO HIM AND TRIED TO PUSH HIM BUT JEFF GORDON IN THE LINE ON THE OUTSIDE WITH DALE, JR. AND TONY STEWART EASED OFF THE GAS AND A LITTLE TRAIL BRAKING AND FELL RIGHT IN BEHIND HIM. >> Mike: TO JEFF BURTON WHOSE OLDER BROTHER WARD WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN 2002, BURTON'S BEST 500 FINISH, >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY COCA-COLA. THE POLAR BEARS INVITE YOU TO OPEN A LITTLE HAPPINESS THIS RACING SEASON. TIME FOR THE AT&T RACE BREAK. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK. RETHINK POSSIBLE. AT THE QUARTER MARK, JEFF BURTON FROM SOUTH BOSTON, VIRGINIA IS LEADING THE WAY. TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SO FAR. THE RECAP SHOWS US EARLY IN THE RACE AS JIMMIE JOHNSON GOES INTO THE OUTSIDE RETAINING WALL ON JUST LAP TWO AFTER A BUMP FROM ELLIOTT SADLER THAT TOOK AWAY SEVERAL OTHER CONTENDING CARS INCLUDING THAT OF DANICA PATRICK AND ALSO THE TWO CARS THAT WON THE LAST TWO RACES. DRIVERS, RATHER, TREVOR BAYNE AND DAVID REGAN. THEN WATCH RYAN NEWMAN A FORMER 500 WINNER HIMSELF A TIRE GOES DOWN ON THE RACETRACK AND ONE COMES OFF IN THE PITT. A.J. ALLMENDINGER IN THE BACK OF HIM AND CAUSED MELE ON PIT ROAD AND THEY CONTINUE TO WORK LIVE ON DANICA PATRICK'S CAR. THE IDEA IS TO GET HER BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK AND GET AS MUCH EXPERIENCE FOR HER AS POSSIBLE. THEY HAS TO STAY UP TO SPEED. AND MICHAEL WALTRIP, WHO DO YOU LIKE AT THE QUARTER WAY MARK OF THE 500? >> Michael: I LOVE THE MOVE BURTON MADE. HE PULLED UP AND BIFFLE PUSHED HIM TO THE FRONT AND HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE. I LOVE DENNY HAMLIN'S ATTITUDE. I TALKED TO THEM THE OTHER DAY AND HE SAID I'M GOING FOR IT EVERY LAP. I WANT TO LEAD. HE TRIED TO DO THE SAME THING BURTON DID WITHOUT AS MUCH SUCCESS. BUT THAT ATTITUDE COULD PAY OFF FOR HIM IF THINGS GET TIGHT AT THE END. >> Mike: SEE HOW THE TOP FOUR STARTERS ARE DOING. ALL OVER THE FIELD BUT RIGHT NOW GREG BIFFLE IS THE FASTEST OF THE FOUR TO SIGN UP AND PLAY AT&T'S FASTEST DRIVER CHALLENGE NEXT WEEK BY TEXTING FAST TO 34763. YOU COULD HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN 4 Gs JUST BY PLAYING. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK. AT&T, RETHINK POSSIBLE. NOW, BACK TO MIKE JOY. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN, PAUL MENARD ON PIT ROAD. STEVE. >> Steve: DENNY HAMLIN A LITTLE FREE WHEN EXITS THE CORNER WITH SOMEBODY BEHIND HIM. BE GIVE HIM FOUR TIRES. HANDLING BECOMING AN ISSUE. PAUL MENARD, TWO TIRES AND FUEL. >> Mike: THEY LEAVE THE PITS WHILE WORK CONTINUES ON STREMME'S CAR. CASTLE ALSO IN THE PIT LANE AS GREEN FLAG STOPS BEGIN HERE AT LAP 53. >> Darrell: SOMETHING THE CREW CHIEFS HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH AS THE TRACK RUBBERS BACK UP FROM ALL THE RAIN. IF IT RUBBERS BACK UP THE CARS WILL CHANGE QUITE A BIT. GOT TO MAKE CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRACK. >> Mike: HOW ABOUT THE LEADER, MATT? >> Matt: THE FORMER JULY LEADER HERE AT DAYTONA. JEFF BURTON'S 31 MACHINE WAS TIGHT IN THE EARLY GOING. WORKING WITH THE ROUSH FENWAY TEAMMATE GREG BIFFLE ON THE RACETRACK. THEY SHOULD PIT TOGETHER IN ABOUT THREE LAPS, MIKE, TAKING ON FOUR TIRES. >> Larry: YOU SEE HOW MUCH FASTER TWO DRIVERS OR MORE ARE RUNNING TOGETHER THAT THEY ARE. THAT IS ONE REASON YOU WANT TO PARTNER WHEN YOU COME TO PIT ROAD TO MAKE A PITSTOP WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE PIT ROAD. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON'S CREW CHIEF WON THE 500 WITH MATT KENSETH IN 2009. THREE MORE TAKERS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK. CLINT BOWYER. LEADS A GROUP ON TO PIT ROAD THAT INCLUDES MICHAEL MCDOWELL AND BOBBY LABONTE. KRISTA? >> Krista: CLINT BOWYER IS IN. SAID SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY THE TEAM HAS GELLED. FOUR TILES AND FUEL FOR CLINT BOWYER IN THE 15 MACHINE. >> Darrell: AS THEY GET READY TO PEEL OFF THE PIT. SO EASY TO RUN OVER A GUY UNLESS HE GETS THE HAND SIGNAL THE SPOTTERS TELL EACH OTHER WHEN THEY WILL PIT. SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE REAL ISSUES GETTING ON PIT ROAD. >> Mike: BURTON BRINGS THEM AROUND ONE MORE TIME. HE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN AT NASCAR'S OTHER FASTEST TRACK, TALLADEGA, ALABAMA, LAST OCTOBER. HIS THEN TEAMMATE CLINT BOWYER, THOUGH, PASSED HIM ON THE LAST LAP FOR THE VICTORY. NOW, HERE IS KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29. JAMIE MCMURRAY AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. >> Steve: KEVIN HARVICK REPORTED A SMALL VALUE VIE BREAK. SOMETHING THEY ARE COVING AN EYE ON. >> DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: HE HAS RUN WITH HIS TEAMMATE. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. THE PLAN FOR GOT CARS TO HOOK UP, RUN TOGETHER AND DON'T DAMAGE ANYTHING. >> Mike: TERRY LABONTE, JOE NEMECHECK AND DAVID GILLILAND ALSO MAKING PITSTOPS. >> Larry: IMPORTANT TO PIT TOGETHER AS THEY DID. THAT WAS THE DRIVERS RUNNING 6 OR 7 SECONDS BEHIND THE LEAD PACK. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE BACK PACK. >> John: WE STAY UNDER GREEN AS JOEY LOGANO, MARTIN TRUEX, MARK MARTIN, KYLE BUSCH AND OTHERS COME TO PIT ROAD. STEVE? >> Steve: MARTIN TRUEX, JR. IN. GOOD NEWS FOR HIM, MIKE. NO HANDLING, NO OVERHEATING ISSUES. FUELED AND FOUR TIRES. DICK? >> Dick: JOEY LOGANO HAS RUN IN THE TOP FIVE VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE RACE. HIS CAR NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT. >> Matt: AN AIR PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE 18 OF KYLE BUSCH. LEFT SIDE CLEAN. THE CAR VERY IMPRESSIVE. FELT LIKE AN EARLY GOING IN THE RACE. >> Mike: DAVID REUTIMANN AND RICKY STENHOUSE ALSO STOPPED. HERE COME MOST OF THE LEADERS LED BY JEFF BURTON, REGAN SMITH. KEZELOWSKI, KENSETH IN. STEVE? >> Steve: REGAN SMITH ON PIT ROAD. RIGHT-SIDE TIRES. KRISTA? >> Krista: STEVE, GREG BIFFLE WAS WORRIED ABOUT GETTING HOT BUT TOLD HIS TEAM NO, IT'S OKAY. FOUR TIRES. MATT? >> Matt: THE CREW GOING TO WORK ON THE LEFT SIDE. NO CHASSIS ADJUSTMENTS FOR BURTON. SOLID STOP SO FAR. HIS TEAMMATE BIFFLE IS AWAY AS WELL. SAME TIME. >> Mike: ELLIOTT SADLER ALSO STOPPED. >> Darrell: WE HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT HEATING PROBLEMS. THE COOL AIR OF THE EVENING RUNNING AT NIGHT HELPED KEEP THE ENGINES COOLER THAN THE QUALIFYING RACES. >> Larry: WE ARE ABOUT 20 DEGREES COOLER. >> Mike: A BIG LOCKUP FOR DAVE BLANEY IN THE YELLOW NUMBER 36. JEFF GORDON, BLANEY. KASEY KAHNE AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. PITTING. DICK? >> Dick: JEFF GORDON HAS SAID THAT HE HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS RACE WIDE OPEN AND CAN'T MAKE FORWARD PROGRESS. THE NUMBER 24 CAR A BRAND NEW CAR SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE THE SPEED THAT THIS THREE-TIME CHAMPION IS LOOKING FOR. >> Mike: THERE IS ONLY ONE CAR THAT HAS NOT STOPPED. THE 14 ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN OF TONY STEWART WHO I'M HEARING MISSED PIT ROAD THE LAST TIME BY. >> Larry: AN ISSUE FOR TONY STEWART. BLOCKED ACCIDENTALLY BY THE 18 OF KYLE BUSCH. HE HAD PLANNED TO PIT THE LAP BEFORE. HE HA IS IT LOCKED DOWN TO 55 MILES AN HOUR. HE WAS GOING TO PIT WITH THE 24. CONNOT GET THE CAR DOWN TO THE BOTTOM IN TIME AND GET DOWN ON THE BRAKES. STEWART IS NOW IN NOW, MIKE. GOING TO MAKE AN AIR PRESSURE CHANGE AND ALSO A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. JEFF PATERSON HAS THE FIRST CAN OF FUEL IN. THE SECOND CAN OF FUEL IN. SOLID STOP. >> Mike: FOUR TIRES FOR THE 15. AND STEWART IS AWAY BUT LEAVES PIT ROAD BY HIMSELF AND NO SINGLE CAR IS AS FAST AS THE PACK DRAFTING ALONG. TONY STEWART HAS GOT SOME WORK TO DO. DANICA PATRICK'S CAR CLOSE TO RETURNING TO THE RACETRACK. 60 LAPS COMPLETE IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET. DARE TO COMPARE YOUR CAR TO A CHEVY TODAY. BY KFC. COME IN TODAY AND TASTE WHY FRESH IS BETTER. BY AMERICAN ETHANOL. AMERICAN GROWN, AMERICAN MADE, POWERING NASCAR. AND BY AARON'S. CREDIT IS HARD, AARON'S IS EASY. WELCOME BACK TO THE DAYTONA 500 WHERE WE ARE UNDER CAUTION FOR THE THIRD TIME TONIGHT. DEBRIS IN TURN NUMBER TWO CAUSES THE YELLOW FLAG TO BE WAVED. WE HAD CYCLED THROUGH PITSTOPS. JEFF BURTON REASSUMED THE LEAD AND THAT DEBRIS HAS NOW SLID DOWN OFF THE RACING SURFACE. BURTON LEADING. GREG BIFFLE AND LANDON CASTLE GETS THE FIRST FREE PASS OF THE NIGHT. WAS THE FIRST CAR ONE LAP DOWN. SO HE WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND THE PACE CAR AND PICK UP THE TAIL END OF THE LEAD LAP. HE IS OUR AARON'S LUCKY DOG. >> Darrell: LARRY, HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT HALFWAY, BUDDY? GOT TO BEON OUR MIND. 200 GRAND COMING AT HALFWAY. IS IS THIS GOING TO PLAY INTO ANYBODY'S HANDS RIGHT THERE? >> Larry: UNTIL THE CAUTION CAME A LOT OF THE DRIVERS THAT PITTED EARLY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PIT BEFORE THE HALFWAY. A LOT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO PAST THE HALFWAY BEFORE THEY HAD TO PIT. >> Mike: THERE ARE FIVE OTHER CARS ON TRACK A LAP OR MORE DOWN WHO WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A LAP BACK HERE. WE WILL EXPLAIN IN A MINUTE. ENTER NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WEN THE CAMARO SYNERGY AND A TALLADEGA RACE WEEKEND PACKAGE PLUS MEET TONY STEWART. VISIT WIN CAMARO SYNERGY.COM RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: I THINK SOME OF THE DRIVERS, WE HAVE BEEN TEN LAPS IS SINCE THEY PITTED. I THINK THEY HAVE AT LEAST GOT TO GET FUEL. >> John: DANICA PATRICK ONLY THE THIRD WOMAN TO START THE DAYTONA 500. JANET GUTHRIE HAD TWO TOP 15 FINISHES. RAN THE GREAT RACE. AS DID SHAWNA ROBINSON. PITSTOP. STEVE? >> Steve: DENNY HAMLIN IN IN THE 11. FUEL ONLY. THE SAME FOR DALE EARNHARDT, JR. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. SAYING HIS CAR IS HANDLING VERY WELL. DESCRIBED IT AS NEUTRAL. REGAN SMITH IN AS WELL. >> Mike: A LOT OF GAS AND GO STOPS HERE. TONY STEWART. MATT KENSETH COMING INTO THE FIRST PIT SAL. >> Darrell: OOPS. WANT GO OVER THE LINE RIGHT THERE. GOT TO BO GOLDMAN SACHS. SEE THE INSPECTOR TELLING HIM -- GOT TO GO BACK. >> LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE OVERHEATING THERE THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY FORD. PROUD SPONSOR OF NASCAR. >> [RADIO]: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT BUT IT IS QUITE A BIT OF PAY AT HALFWAY. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT BUT I THINK THEY WILL GET STUPID AT HALFWAY. >> Mike: $200,000 IS THE MIDWAY PAY DAY FOR THE DRIVER THAT LEADS THE HALFWAY LAP. IS COMING. 33 LAPS FROM NOW AS WE GO BACK TO GREEN. JEFF BURTON'S CHEVROLET ON THE OUTSIDE OF GREG BIFFLE'S FORD. >> Larry: AND WITH THE CAUTION I TRULY BELIEVE IF WE GO CAUTION FREE TO THE HALFWAY LAP 100 EVERY DRIVER OUT THERE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON FUEL. THE ONLY ONE I QUESTION IS CLINT BOWYER IN THE 15 WHO PITTED BACK IN LAP 55. >> Darrell: THE CREW CHIEFS ARE STARTING TO REMIND THE DRIVER. THE HALFWAY. THAT IS $200,000. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY. A LOT OF RACES DON'T EVEN PAY THAT MUCH TO WIN. >> Mike: MARCUS AMBROSE WITH BIFFLE. KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18 BEHIND HIM. CLINT BOWYER, JOEY LOGANO. THREE TOYOTAS LINED UP ON THE INSIDE LANE BEHIND THE FRONT TWO FORDS. >> Larry: AND MARCUS AMBROSE IN THE 9 HAS IT BEEN STRONG THE ENTIRE SPEEDWEEKS. TOP FIVE IN THE GATORADE DUEL RACE. >> Darrell: THAT CAR OF MATT KENSETH WHEN CAME INTO THE PITS HE WAS HAVING SOME SORT OF ISSUE. HERE THEY ARE CIRCULATING WATER THROUGH THE THING ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE GUYS HAVE A WATER HOSE PUTTING WATER IN THE CAR TRYING TO COOL IT BACK DOWN. >> Larry: IT AS FRESH RIDE SYSTEM. AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, STEVE, LOOKED LIKE THEY TRIED TO GET THE WATER BACK OUT AND GET THE SYSTEM BACK FULL. >> Steve: MATT KENSETH SAID HE SAID IT IS LIKE THE WATER SYSTEM WON'T PRE SURIZE. THE WATER TEMPERATURES ARE FLUCTUATING WILDLY FOR HIM. JUST ANOTHER ISSUE. HAVING RADIO PROBLEMS AS WELL. >> Darrell: THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN PASSENGER CAR. THE WATER TEMPERATURE WON'T FLUCTUATE AT ALL IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WATER IN IT. GOT TO GET WATER BACK IN IT BECAUSE THE GAGES CAN'T WORK WITHOUT WATER. >> Mike: KENSETH STILL ON THE LEAD LAP BUT NOT WITH THE LEAD PACK. JOE NEMECHEK HAS TAKEN HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE. MICHAEL McCOW BELL MAKES AN UNSCHEDULED PITSTOP BUT UP FRONT THE PACK STILL RAGES AND IT IS 28 CARS DEEP. >> Darrell: PROBABLY THE BIGGEST SUR PLEASE OF THE EVENING FOR ME, MIKE HAS BEEN HOW BUNK BUNCHED UP THE CARS HAVE STAYED. ANTICIPATED THINGS GETTING STRETCHED OUT MORE THAN THEY HAVE. TRACK CONDITIONS PERFECT. COOL NIGHT. A LOT OF GRIP. EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO HANG TOGETHER. >> Mike: DANICA PATRICK CAUGHT UP IN THE LAP TWO CRASH HAD THIS TO SAY TO HER TEAM AS SHE HEADED BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK. >> [RADIO]: THANK YOU ALL FOR WORKING SO HARD. >> WHAT IS THAT? >> [RADIO]: THANKS FOR WORKING SO HARD TO GET ME BACK OUT. >> STEERING WHEEL MIGHT BE OFF A LITTLE BIT. >> [RADIO]: I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF SOMETHING FEELS REALLY WEIRD. >> Mike: SHE IS 62 LAPS DOWN BUT OUT THERE GETTING VALUABLE TRACK TIME. SHE WILL RUN 10 OF THE SPRINT CUP RACES THIS YEAR. >> Darrell: SHE HAD SO MUCH CONFIDENCE COMING INTO DAYTONA. THIS HAS BEEN H HER BEST RACETRACK IN THE NATIONWIDE CAR OR IN THE CUP CAR. REALLY SOME WHERE AS SHE HAD MARKED AS A GOOD PLACE TO GET A GREAT FINISH. >> Larry: IF SHE IS RUNNING LIMITED SCHEDULE THE QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THEY PUT HER BACK OUT THERE IF SHE IS THAT MANY LAPS DOWN. THEY WANT HER TO GET SEAT TIME. THE 10 CAR IS RUNNING THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE. THE DRIVER IN IT AT PHOENIX DAVID REUTIMANN IN THE 9 CAR HE HAS CRACKED THE TOP TEN. >> Mike: THREE RIDE RACING MID PACK. GOING TANDEM WITH THE 56 OF MARTIN TRUEX I. >> Darrell: HAMLIN SO SMART. GOT OFF OF TRUEX GOING INTO THE CORNER BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PUSH THE GUY IN THE CORNER. HE IS HUNGRY, MAN. >> Mike: AND TRUEX IS INCHING HIS WAY TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE INSIDE LINE LED BY GREG BIFFLE. >> Darrell: AND THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE IN THE OFF SEASON TO THE COOLING SYSTEM YOU CAN PUSH FOR MAYBE A LAP OR TWO. YOU JUST CAN'T PUSH FOR 10 OR 15 OR ALL DAY. >> Mike: 28 LAPS TO HALFWAY. AND THAT RING THE BELL LAP FOR THE $200,000 MIDWAY PAYDAY BONUS. BACK IN THE DAY, MICHAEL WALTRIP WE USED TO HAVE A HALFWAY BONUS. IT WASN'T AS MUCH MONEY. I RECALL A DAY WHEN YOU AND KEN SCHROEDER WENT AT IT TO GET THE EXTRA MONEY. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. MLB ON FOX RETURNS. APRIL 7. 73 LAPS COMPLETE. THE FORDS OF GREG BIFFLE AND AUSSIE MARCUS AMBROSE LEAD THE TOYOTAS OF KYLE >> Mike: LET'S TAKE AN A INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPRINT. JEFF BURTON AND DENNY HAMLIN EACH LED 24 LAPS. MOST OF ALL DRIVERS IN THE 77 LAPS SO FAR. AND THE BIGGEST MOVER IN THE RACE, DAVID REUTIMANN HAS GAINED 21 SPOTS DRIVING A CAR FOR A TEAM THAT WAS JUST PUT TOGETHER IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS FROM THE BONES OF THE FORMER RED BULL ORGANIZATION. NEW LEADERS MARTIN TRUEX. WORKED UP THE OUTSIDE. DENNY HAMLIN, GREG BIFFLE, MARCOS AMBROSE, JEFF GORDON. >> Darrell: JEFF GORDON ALL INTERESTING TO ME, LARRY. IN THE BUD SHOOTOUT HE SAID HIS CAR WOULDN'T RUN. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT SHOCKS. A LITTLE BIT AGO HE SAID I GOT NO SPEED. THE CAR WON'T GO. HOW DO YOU GET UP THAT CLOSE TO THE FRONT? >> Larry: HE IS LOOKING FOR MORE SPEED. I THINK HE HAS GOOD SPEED, HE IS JUST LOOKING FOR MORE. LOOKING AT MARTIN TRUEX, JR. IN THE 56 CAR. I KNOW HE HAS 22 LAPS TO THE HALFWAY MONEY, $200,000. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. LED THE HALFWAY LAP A YEAR AGO. LESS PAY DAY, ONLY $50,000, LAST YEAR'S 2011. >> Mike: 79 LAPS COMPETE. TRUEX THE LEADER. HIS CLOSEST TEAMMATE CLINT BOWYER THE 5 HOUR ENERGY TOYOTA IN 7th. WITHIN SIGHT OF THE LEAD. FOUR CARS BACK ON THE INSIDE LANE. THAT IS JEFF GORDON. THE 24. AND THE 55 IS ANOTHER NEW TEAMMATE AT MWR. >> Darrell: I WOULD SAY MARTIN IS LURKING. JUST KIND OF LURKS AROUND AND WON'T HEAR A WHOLE LOT ABOUT HIM FOR AWHILE. >> Larry: 53-YEAR-OLD MARK MARTIN. HIS 30th YEAR IN SPRINT CUP. WE KNOW HOW CLOSE HE CAME IN 2007 TO WINNING THE 500. BARELY BEAT BACK TO THE LINE BY KEVIN HARVICK. >> Darrell: HE HAD IT AND LOST IT. HAD IT AND A LOT OF IT. LOST IT. >> Mike: 53 YEARS OLD AND IN BETTER PERSONAL SHAPE, PHYSICAL SHAPE THAN MOST 33-YEAR-OLDS. BRAD KEZELOWSKI IN THE BLUE DEUCE IN 12th PLACE THE LEADING DODGE CHARGER IN THE RACE AS WE ARE 20 LAPS TO HALFWAY. WE SAW JEFF GORDON WAVE OUT THE WINDOW. >> Mike: FIRE ON JEFF GORDON'S CHEVROLET! >> Darrell: ENGINE BLEW ALL TO PIECES. >> [RADIO]: JUST BLEW UP, GUYS ALL DONE. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON HAS BROUGHT OUT THE FOURTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE NIGHT AT LAP 81. I SAW THAT HAND OUT THE WINDOW, DARRELL TO SIGNAL THE DRIVERS BEHIND. >> [RADIO]: THE WATER PRESSURE GAGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I DON'T KNOW. I NEVER WENT RED ON ANY OF MY GAGES. YOU KNOW, SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT CAME FROM. >> Darrell: THE SECOND GUY WE HEARD TALK ABOUT MAYBE THE GAGE IS NOT WORKING NIGHT. WHEN A CAR SITS OVERNIGHT SOMETIMES THEY GET MOISTURE IN THE GAGES AND IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND THE GAGES MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED JEFF NOT TO REALIZE HE HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. >> Mike: PULLS TO THE OUTSIDE AND SIGNALS. MARK MARTIN GETS AWAY FROM RIGHT BEHIND HIM. GOOD THING. >> Darrell: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS GOING FOR THEIR 200th WIN THIS WEEKEND. JEFF GORDON IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER IT. JIMMIE JOHNSON IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER IT. >> Mike: THAT LEAVES DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AND KASEY KAHNE FOR THE HENDRICK TEAM. >> Larry: MARK MARTIN IN THE 55 FOR A MOMENT WAS GOING FOLLOW HIM. HE THOUGHT GORDON WAS MOVING UP AND THEN REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON AS HE SAW JEFF WAVING THE HAND OUT OF THE WINDOW. >> Darrell: WHILE SEE ARE SPEAKING TO RICK HENDRICK, THE FOX TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR THE FOX TEAM THIS WEEK. EVERYBODY REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR HANDOUT AND IT WAS GREAT. >> Mike: TONY RAINES WILL RECEIVE THE FREE PASS ON THIS THE FOURTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE NIGHT AS GORDON POSTS AROUND TO THE GARAGE AREA. >> Larry: THE BIG QUESTION WITH THE HALFWAY MONEY CHANGE STRATEGY AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE. EVERYONE IS GOING TO MAKE A PITSTOP. I THINK WE HE MAY SEE GUYS DOING SOMETHING TO GET OFF PIT ROAD IN A HURRY. >> Steve: EXACTLY RIGHT. FUEL ONLY FOR MARTIN TRUEX, JR. THE LEADER. CREW CHIEF CHAD JOHNSON SAYING DON'T SLIDE. KRISTA? >> Krista: THAT IS THE SAME REQUEST FOR GREG BIFFLE. DON'T SLIDE YOUR TIRES. ALSO DRIVER WANTS THE CAR FREED UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. MATT? >> Matt: STILL DEBATE ON WHAT TO DO FOR KYLE BUSCH. THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE RIGHT-SIDE TIRES ONLY. DEBATING WHETHER FUEL ONLY OR TIRES. THEY WENT TIRES. >> Dick: JOEY LOGANO ALSO TOLD NOT TO SLIDE HIS TIRES. NEW VOICES IN HIS EAR. NEW CREW CHIEF AND NEW SPOTTER ARE AND HAS RUN VERY WELL IN THIS RACE SO FAR. >> Mike: THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD WON BY GREG BIFFLE AND MARCOS AMBROSE AND MARTIN TRUEX DROPS TWO SPOTS. THERE IS POLE SITTER CARL EDWARDS. >> Mike: TONIGHT'S AERIAL COVERAGE BY GOOD YEAR. EVERYTHING WE HAVE LEARNED MAKING TIRES FOR THE PROVING GROUNDS OF NASCAR INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL INTO YOURS. GOOD YEAR. MORE DRIVEN. UNDER CAUTION AT DAYTONA. PAUL MENARD HEADS FOR PIT ROAD. TERRY LABONTE STAYS OUT. HE IS THE LEADER OF THE RACE. FROM GREG BIFFLE AND MARCOS AMBROSE. BACK TO GREEN IN A LAP OR SO. MARCH 9 THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER PREMIERS ONLY ON FX. 32 CONTEND ITERS FACE OFF IN A SPECIAL TWO HOUR PREMIER EVENT. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER NOW LIVE BEGINNING MARCH 9 AT 9:00 P.M. ONLY ON FX. MENARD AND KEVIN HARVICK, RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING TEAMMATES. PITTED HERE ALONG WITH DAVID GILLILAND'S FORD. LIGHT IS OUT ATOP THE SAFETY CAR. WE ARE READY TO GO BACK TO GREEN. NOW, YOU CAN JOIN THE DEW CREW ON FACEBOOK. JOIN BY MARCH 30 AND ENTER FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN DALE'S FIRE SUIT HE IS WEARING RIGHT THERE IN THAT SHOT IN THE DAYTONA 500. GET THE DEW CREW APP NOW ONLY ON FACEBOOK. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THOSE GLOVES. THOSE THINGS ARE FRIGHTENING LOOKING. YOU KNOW WHY THEY ARE THAT WAY? WHEN GETS THAT HAND UP, BUDDY, YOU WILL SEE THAT AND NOTICE THAT. >> Mike: 15 LAPS TO HALFWAY. JEFF GORDON, THREE-TIME CHAMPION OF THE 500 IN THE GARAGE, OUT OF THE RACE. ENGINE TROUBLE. >> Darrell: I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT JEFF THINGS IT IS SOMETHING IN THE GAGE PACKAGE. HIS WATER PRESSURE OR WATER TEMPERATURE DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE INDICATION HE NEEDED TO SAVE THE ENGINE. >> Larry: HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAS ABOUT 8 ENGINES IN THIS DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN 54 YEARS AN IMPORT NAME PLATE PACES THE FIELD. PORSCHE, 1971. TOYOTA IN 2012. THE CAMRY ABOUT TO MAKE THE SHARP LEFT TURN. THE SILVER CAR OF TERRY LABONTE AND WHITE CAR OF GREG BIFFLE. GET YOUR HAND ON THE VOLUME KNOB BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO CRANK IT UP FOR YOU! [CARS REVVING] [Cars revving] >> Mike: 13 LAPS TO HALFWAY. GREG BIFFLE THE LEADER. RIGHT BEHIND HIM, TERRY LABONTE. 30 DAYTONA 500 STARTS BEHIND ONLY DAVE MARCOS AND RICHARD PETTY, TRYING TO WIN IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> Darrell: AND MIKE, A LOT OF GUYS DOWNPLAY THE HALFWAY MONEY. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE BIG PRIZE. WE WILL FIND OUT HOW MUCH TRUTH THERE WAS IN THE STATEMENTS. THESE GUYS ARE GETTING READY TO TURN THE WICK UP WITH TEN LAPS TO GO TO GET THE MONEY. >> Mike: ON THE OUTSIDE THE DRAFTING TANDEM THAT WORKED SO WELL BEFORE I THERE HE HE GOES. >> Mike: AROUND GOES LABONTE OFF THE BUMPER OF MARCOS AMBROSE AND CAUTION IS OUT. >> Darrell: HE IS GOING TO SAVE IT. >> Larry: GOT HIM RIGHT IN THE LEFT-REAR CORNER THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. >> Mike: AND THE RAINS THAT HAVE PLAGUED DAYTONA BEACH FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE CAPTURED THE FRANK STODDARD CAR DRIVEN BY TERRY LABONTE. HIS FORD CAN'T GET OUT OF THE MUD. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE MARCOS AMBROSE RIGHT DOWN THERE ON THE BUMPER OF TERRY LABONTE NUMBER 32. GETS DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE. >> Mike: FORTUNATELY THAT RUNOFFOFF AREA IS PAVEED AND LABONTE. LOOK AT THE CAR CONTROL AS HE TRIES TO KEEP THAT THING AWAY FROM THE WALL. AND ENDS UP IN THE GRASS. >> Darrell: THERE IS A NUMBER OF THINGS DONE TO THE CARS THAT HAVE REALLY HELPED THEM. THE BIG FIN ACROSS THE DECK LID REALLY HELPS. ALL THIS AREA BEING PAVEED, THAT IS VERY HELPFUL IN SAVING THE CAR AND THE DRIVER. >> Mike: BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, WONDERING IF FRANK STODDARD HAD POSITIONED LABONTE AT THE FRONT AFTER PITSTOPS TO GO FOR ARE THE HALFWAY CASH. >> [RADIO]: WE HAVE ABOUT 15 TO GO TO THE HALFWAY. >> [RADIO]: A GOOD WAY TO GET WRECKED, PROBABLY. >> Darrell: THAT WAS PRETTY SMART. HE CALLED THAT ONE. >> Larry: DARRELL, HE HAD BEEN OUT THERE ABOUT 20 LAPS ON HIS TIRES. HE DID NOT EVEN PIT THAT LAST TIME. >> Mike: CARS STAY OUT AND DO NOT PIT EVEN THOUGH PIT ROAD IS OPEN. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: JEFF GORDON DOWN IN THE GARAGE, MIKE. JEFF, I SAW YOU DEBRIEFING WITH SOME OF THE KEY ENGINE PERSONNEL AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. HAVE YOU DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE? >> WELL, ULTIMATELY BROKE A CRANK BUT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED THAT. PRETTY STRANGE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH RELIABILITY TESTING THAT IF WE HAD SEEN SOME HIGH TEMPS OR HIGH WATER PRESSURE I WOULD HAVE KIND OF EXPECTED SOME OF THIS TO HAPPEN. BUT I WAS ACTUALLY SEEING SURPRISINGLY LOW TEMPS AND LOW PROHE SURE. SO I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SOMETHING WAS OFF THERE. BUT BOY, IT IS A SHAME. OUR CHEVROLET WAS REALLY STRONG. JUST BIDING OUR TIME AND BEING PATIENT AND WORKING WITH GUYS AND EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WE COULD GET UP TO THE FRONT. WE WEREN'T EVEN REALLY TRYING AT THAT TIME. YOU ARE RACING OUT THERE BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE A BIG MOVE TO GET TO THE LEAD YOU DO HAVE TO PUSH AND THEN YOU DO TAKE A RISK OF GETTING THE TEMPS UP. A GREAT PITSTOP THERE AND JUST GOT TO THANK DRIVE DOWN HUNGER FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. THANK YOU PEPSI MAX AND CHEVROLET AND ALL OF THE SPONSORS. NOT THE WAY WE WANTED TO START THE SEASON OR THE DAYTONA 500. WE WILL GO ON TO PHOENIX. >> Steve: WE'LL SEE YOU THERE, THANKS. >> Mike: THANK YOU, STEVE. ELLOT SADLER A LONG STAY ON PIT ROAD. THERE IS THE FRONT OF MARCOS AMBROSE CAR. A LITTLE CONTACT. >> Darrell: LABONTE STAYED OUT. HE WAS ON OLDER TIRES AND IF YOU ARE COMING OFF THE CORNER AND HAVE TO SQUEEZE OFF THE THROTTLE A LITTLE BIT THE GUY BEHIND YOU CAN EASILY MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU. >> Larry: DURING THE LAST COMMERCIAL BREAK DICK BERGGREN TOLD ME HE WAS FIGHTING FUEL ISSUES. >> Mike: BACK OF THE SCREEN, THE 9 OF AMBROSE. >> Darrell: I'M NOT -- I MEAN I KNOW THAT THE 9 HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE 32 BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IS WHAT STARTED THE 2 AROUND. THE 32 AROUND. >> Mike: SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN FIND. LABONTE IS BACK RIGHT THERE. THAT IS NOT DAMAGE. I MEAN THAT LOOKS LIKE A TIRE RUB OR SOMETHING ON AMBROSE CAR. THAT WAS NOT FROM THE SILVER CAR OF LABONTE. >> Darrell: I THINK THAT HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS GOING BY LABONTE POSSIBLY I DON'T KNOW. JUST FROM THE SHOT WE SAW THERE THERE SEEMED TO BE A GAP BETWEEN HE AND TERRY LABONTE. >> Mike: TEN LAPS TO HALFWAY. THE RESTART GREEN NEXT TIME BY. IF THE HALFWAY LAP IS RUN UNDER GREEN, $200,000. IF WE HAPPEN TO BE UNDER CAUTION THEN THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE GREEN FLAG LAP AFTER HALFWAY WILL DETERMINE THE WINNER OF THAT $200,000 BONUS. OCTANE ACADEMY IS ON FUEL TV. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE TIME IN YOUR AREA. >> Darrell: THIS IS GOING TO TURN INTO A LITTLE TEN LAP HEAT RACE WITH A $200,000 PRIZE AT THE END OF THE RAISE. >> Larry: NOT MANY HEAT RACES PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY, DOES IT? >> Darrell: NO! >> Mike: IN 1990 WHEN COPE WON THE 500, HE IS AND HIS TEAM DIDN'T BANK FOR WINNING THE RACE. >> Darrell: THIS IS A BIG, BIG BONUS. >> Mike: GETTING SET FOR IT THE RESTART. BIFFLE AND AMBROSE, ALL NASCAR RESTARTS IN THEIR TOP THREE NATIONAL SERIES ARE DOUBLE FILE. THE LEADER GETS HIS CHOICE OF INSIDE OR OUTSIDE LANE. AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE LINES UP IN FASHION. SECOND PLACE CAR ON THE FRONT ROW AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE INSIDE OUTSIDE, INSIDE OUTSIDE IN ORDER. >> Darrell: IS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE OR IS $200,000 AT STAKE HERE IN A LAP OR TWO, FIVE, TEN, WHATEVER IT IS IS, THE 18 CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IS IN THE PICTURE. >> Larry: I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT IS THE DRIVER I WANT TO WATCH. KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18. >> Mike: WHEN THEY TAKE THE GREEN IT WILL BE NINE LAPS TO THE $200,000 MIDWAY PAYDAY AT THE DAYTONA 500. 32 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP FOR THIS RESTART. HERE WE GO! TRYING TO COME UP THE MIDDLE KASEY KAHNE IN THE NUMBER 5 TRYING TO FORCE THE ISSUE RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER. >> Larry: HE IS GETTING HELP FROM HIS TEAMMATE DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE 88 CAR. >> Mike: AND JUNIOR LEAVES KAHNE. HE IS STILL COMING. HE HAS MATT KENSETH. BUT RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOILER AND PULLS UP TO MARCOS AMBROSE. >> Larry: HOW ABOUT MATT KENSETH IN THE 17. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO THAT HE WAS ON PIT ROAD WITH THEM PUTTING WATER IN HIS RACE CAR. >> Darrell: HOW ABOUT DALE, JR. JUST LIKE HIS DADDY. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE LITTLE SPRINT THINGS HERE FOR A LOT OF MONEY HE GETS IN THE HUNT. >> Mike: KENSETH NOW 17 THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE. JUNIOR ON THE OUTSIDE. RIDING WITH DALE, JR. THERE GOES KEZELOWSKI IN THE DEUCE. AND ALMIROLA. AND IT IS LIKE DALE, JR. THREW THE ANCHOR OUT. >> Darrell: KYLE BUSCH DID THAT. YOU MAKE THE WRONG MOVE SOMEBODY IS THERE TO CLOSE THE HOLE UP AND LEAVE YOU HANGING. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON ON THE BOTTOM WITH MARK MARTIN IN THE 55. STEWART 14 IN THE MIDDLE WITH BOWYER THE 15. HERE THEY COME. 7 LAPS TO HALFWAY. 200 MILES AN HOUR. $200,000. 7 LAPS FROM NOW. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY DODGE. VISIT YOUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER TODAY. BY PIZZA HUT. ORDER THE NEW $10 DINNER BOX TODAY. BY DIRECTV. IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A SPORTS FAN YOU HAVE TO GET DIRECTV. AND BY VERIZON 4GLTE. AMERICA'S FASTEST 4G NETWORK. THREE LAPS TO HALFWAY IN THE DAYTONA 500 WHERE THE MIDWAY PAYDAY IS $200,000 AWAITS. WILL IT BE A DRIVER FROM THE FRONT OF THE PACK WHO IS IN CONTENTION TO WIN THE RACE OR ARE WILL TWO DRIVERS HOOK NEXTEL CUP TANDEM TO TRY TO GET TO THE FRONT AND THE STEAL THE MONEY JUST ABOUT SIX MILES FROM RACING RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: IF YOU ARE NOT LEADING THE RACE THE CAR IN FRONT ALL YOU SEE IS $200,000 FLASHING ON THE BACK OF THE CAR. CAN I GET AROUND HIM, THAT IS THE QUESTION? >> Mike: MARK MARTIN PEEKS OUT OF LINE IN THE 55. TWO LAPS TO HALFWAY. BIFFLE IN COMMAND. >> Larry: MARK MARTIN I THINK IN THE 55 WOULD LOVE TO GET UP THERE AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH MARTIN TRUEX, JR. IN THE 56 HIS TEAMMATE. AND CLINT BOWYER IN THE 15, ANOTHER TEAMMATE. >> Darrell: THEY HAVE ALL SEEN THE RACING DOWN HERE FROM THE FOURTH TURN TO THE START/FINISH LINE IS WHERE MOST OF THE PASSES HAVE BEEN MADE. I GOT TO BELIEVE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THAT COME TO GET THE MONEY LAP. >> Mike: SECOND, MARTIN TRUEX, JR. HASN'T WON IN AWHILE. HE HAS A TOYOTA, DENNY HAMLIN RIGHT BEHIND HIS. >> Darrell: AND IN THE QUALIFYING RACE GREG BIFFLE IS RIGHT WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO GET THE WHITE FAG. HE MADE AN' VASIVE MOVE AND GOT CAUGHT. >> Mike: ONE HAPPEN TO HALFWAY AND $200,000 ONLY FOR THE RACE LEADER. >> Darrell: GOING TO LOOK LIKE A CUBBY OF QUAILS WHEN THEY COME ON TURN FOUR. >> Mike: WILL ANY ONE CHALLENGE BIFFLE FOR THE BONUS? >> Darrell: THEY ARE GETTING ALL LINED UP HERE. GETTING READY. MAY HAVE MADE THE MOVE A LITTLE QUICK. ABLE TO GET BACK IN THERE. BURTON IN THE 31. I THOUGHT HE MOVED TOO QUICK. >> Mike: HERE THEY COME. TRUEX. HAMLIN. WILL THEY SPLIT THE BONUS BECAUSE DENNY HAMLIN MOVED TRUEX TO THE FRONT. 50 FEET. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. LEADS THE HALFWAY LAP OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: TIMED IT PERFECTLY. >> Larry: DEFINITELY GOT HELP FROM HAMLIN IN THE 11. >> Darrell: HE WILL PROBABLY SPLIT IT WITH DENNY BEING THE KIND HE IS. >> Larry: JUST MADE $150,000 MORE THAN HE DID A YEAR AGO. >> Darrell: AND HE WILL FALL BACK IN THE PACK SOME WHERE AND RIDE AWHILE. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN DROPPED BEHIND TONY STEWART IN THE 14. AS YOU RIDE WITH KASEY KAHNE. 100 LAPS DOWN. 100 LAPS TO GO. THE OTHER NEWS ABOUT THAT HALFWAY LAP IS THAT WE WON'T COME BACK TOMORROW. ONCE NASCAR COMPLETES MORE THAN 50% OF THE ADVERTISED RACE DISTANCE THE RACE WILL BE OFFICIAL TONIGHT. TONY STEWART CHALLENGES FOR THE LEAD AS WE GO DOWN TO JOHN ROBERTS FOR THE AT&T MID RACE REPORT. >> John: MARTIN TRUEX, JR. WON THE MIDWAY PAYDAY BUT WINNING THE DAYTONA 500 WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT. ALLISON IS THE LAST DRIVER TO LEAD HALFWAY AND WIN THE 500 AND THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO IN 1992. TIME FOR THE AT&T MID RACE REPORT AND NOW GOING TO SPIN IT FORWARD AND SEE WHO OUR EXPERTS LIKE FOR THE REST OF THE RACE. START OUT WITH DARRELL WALTRIP. >> Darrell: I THINK THE SMOKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE TO WIN THE WHOLE THING. ALMOST TOOK THE LEAD. I LIKE HIS STRATEGY. MY MAN IS DOING JUST WHAT HE NEEDS TO BE DOING. I'M STICKING WITH SMOKE. >> THERE ISN'T ANY ONE ON THE GAS OUT THERE LIKE DENNY HAMLIN. HE PUSHED MARTIN TRUEX TO THE HALFWAY BONUS. SHOVED TONY STEWART ALL THE WAY TO THE LEAD. I LIKE DENNY HAMLIN'S ATTITUDE AND I THINK HE WINS THE RACE. >> MICHAEL AS FAR AS STRATEGY, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF AGENDAS. I THINK IF THEY WILL BE RACING HARD NEAR THE END, MAKE SURE YOUR DRIVER HAS SOME GOOD FRESH TIRES. >> THE DEBUT FOR DANICA PATRICK SPRINT CUP NOT WHAT SHE HOPED FOR. GREG LOOKING AT THE OVERALL BIGGER PICTURE. ABLE TO REPAIR H HER RACE CAR. OUT ON THE RACETRACK NOW TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE OTHER DRIVERS AND GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE UNTIL SHE GETS BACK INTO HER NEXT SPRINT CUP RACE IN DARLINGTON. >> Mike: 13 TIMES IN 53 DAYTONA 500S THE HALFWAY LAP LEADER HAS GONE ON TO WIN THE RACE. BUT AS IS J.R. POINTED OUT NOT IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. I LIKE THE ROUSH FENWAY FORDS AND PARTICULARLY MATT KENSETH. HAMLIN OUT FRONT WHERE HE HAS LED THE SECOND MOST LAPS TONIGHT. SECOND TO GREG BIFFLE. THEY ARE AMONG THE CONTENDERS TO WIN THE 2012 RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE ON FOX. >> Mike: AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DIRECTV. CALL 1-800-DIRECTV. 107 LAPS COMPLETE. 93 TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. DENNY HAMLIN AND MARTIN TRUEX RUN ONE, TWO. BURTON IS FOURTH. HERE IS WHAT TRUEX HAD TO SAY AFTER TAKING THE $200,000 PAY DAY. >> [RADIO]: GOING TO GET THE HALFWAY. YOU GOT THE HALFWAY. CLEAR ALL AROUND. >> GO GET THE OTHER HALF NOW. THANKS FOR THE PUSH. THANKS FOR THE PUSH. >> [RADIO]: LET'S GET AFTER THESE GUYS. GOT 100 MORE. >> Mike: 100 LAPS TO GO. 92 NOW REMAIN. OF ALL THE DRIVERS THAT HAVE TRIED THE TANDEM RACING TRUEX AND HAMLIN SO FAR TONIGHT HAVE BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AT IT. >> Darrell: THE FRUSTRATING THING WE SAW WITH TONY STEWART AND HAVE SEEN IT WITH THE 31 CAR, WOULD GET UP THERE BUT TO YOU MAKE THE WRONG MOVE YOU GO STRAIGHT TO THE BACK AND HAVE TO WORK YOUR WAY BACK UP THROUGH THERE AGAIN. >> Mike: OUR POLE SITTER HAS NOT MADE A LOT OF NOISE LATELY. CARL EDWARDS IS BACK IN 21st PLACE. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: HE HAD BEEN RUNNING FURTHER UP IN THE PACK BUT HE HAS BEEN HAVING FUEL PRESSURE ISSUES INJURIES THE ENGINE IS RUNNING ALL RIGHT BUT THE FUEL PRESSURE IS GOING UP AND DOWN IN THE CAR AND FUEL PRESSURE LIGHT IS PERIODICAL FLASHING. THE ENGINES DON'T RUN WELL IF THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD FUEL PRESSURE. >> Larry: FOR THE FIRST TIME NASCAR IS RUNNING ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION. WE HEARD ELLIOTT SADLER HAVING THE FUEL PRESSURE ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH I THINK WE HAVE IT WELL PERFECTED WE ARE STILL SEEING ISSUES ALONG THE WAY. >> Darrell: WE ONLY HAD SHORT RACES. THIS IS A 500-MILE RACES A IF YOU HAVE FEARS YOU WILL SEE IT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE RACE BECAUSE THIS IS THE LONGEST WE HAVE RUN WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM. >> Mike: HAMLIN, TRUEX, BIFFLE, BURTON AND BOWYER THE TOP FIVE. THREE TOYOTAS, A FORD AND A CHEVROLET. THE FIRST DODGE IN THE RACE IS KEZELOWSKI IN 9th. THIS THE LEAD PACK, 25 CARS. WITH 32 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP WITH 90 TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY LOWES. LOWES. NEVER STOP IMPROVING. DENNY HAMLIN LEADING WITH 114 LAPS COMPLETE OF 200 IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. GET IN ON THE ACTION WITH FOX FANTASY RACING PRESENTED BY FARMER'S INSURANCE. PICK YOUR TEAM OF FIVE DRIVERS, EACH RAISE BEFORE THE GREEN FLAG DROPS. SIGN UP TODAY AT FOXSPORTS.COM/FANTASY. KASEY KAHNE 7th PLACE IN HIS NEW HENRIK MOTORSPORTS RIDE FOR FARMER'S. >> Darrell: QUIETLY RIDING ALONG THERE. HAVEN'T HEARD A WHOLE LOT OUT OF KASEY YET. I SAY YET. >> Mike: UP AT THE TOP LANE, RIGHT-SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN THE ORANGE CAR OF JOEY LOGANO HAS BEEN PUSHING THE DEUCE OF BRAD KEZELOWSKI AND THEY GOT UP WITHIN FOUR CARS OF THE LEAD. GOT NO FURTHER AND STARTED TO DRIFT BACK JUST A BIT. >> Larry: THAT IS A COUPLE OF DRIVERS, BRAD KEZELOWSKI IN THE 2 AND JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20 THAT SPEND TIMES VISITING TROOPS IN CUBA FOR FOUR DAYS. >> Mike: AS THE CARS RACE AROUND THE TRACK FOR AT NEARLY 200 MILES AN HOUR NASCAR HAS A MINIMUM SPEED THAT EACH CAR MUST MAINTAIN AND THEY HAVE ADVISED CLINT BOWYER -- EXCUSE ME, ELLIOTT SADLER HE NEEDS TO PICK UP THE PACE IN NUMBER 33 AND MAINTAIN PACE OR BRING HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE. >> Darrell: SPEAKING OF CLINT BOWYER LET'S GO TO PIT ROAD. >> Krista: ONE OF THE STORY LINES IS WHETHER THE CARS WOULD OVERHEAT. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DRIVERS COMPLAINING ABOUT OVERHEATING UNTIL NOW. CLINT BOWYER ON LAP 104 TOLD HIS TEAM MY CAR IS GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER. FIVE LAPS LATER I CAN'T KEEP IT COOL AND ONE LAP AGO, YOU GUYS I CANNOT KEEP THIS THING COOL AT ALL. >> Larry: MICHAEL WALTRIP, HE RAN IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT GATORADE DUEL. HE HAS TIME IN A RACE CAR THIS WEEK. HIM AND I HAD A CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY. IT IS MANAGEABLE. WATCH YOUR GAGE AND YOUR LIGHTS BUT GOT TO STICK THAT THING OUT THERE AND BREATHE IT BUT IF YOU LET IT GO TOO FAR YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER. >> Michael: HE LAID BACK AND WHEN GETS A CHANCE HE POPS THE NOSE OUT TO THE RIGHT TO GET FRESH AIR INTO THE ENGINE. THAT IS A HUGE CONCERN. BACK CLOSE TO THE FRONT RUNNING WITH A GAP IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE CAN'T KEEP HIS ENGINE COOL. HOW IS HE GOING TO GO WIN THE RACE AT THE END? >> Larry: AND THIS YEAR A SMALLER CAPACITY RADIATOR. NOW, IF YOU LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF WATER THAT EQUATES TO A WHOLE LOT OF WATER AND YOU GET HOT A LOT QUICKER. HE MAY HAVE GOT IN TROUBLE AND CAN'T GET OUT. >> Mike: TO DISCOURAGE LENGTHY BUMP DRAFTING IN TANDEM NASCAR MINIMIZED THE SIZE OF THE OPENING IN THE BUMPER FOR THE RADIATOR TO GET ANY COOL AIR. IF YOU ARE UP AGAINST THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU YOU ARE NOT GETTING COOL AIR AT ALL. >> Darrell: SHORT EVENTS THE LAST FEW DAYS. 500 MILES HER. HALFWAY A LOT OF THINGS START HANDLING. ENGINES START OVERHEATING, THE CAR STARTS HANDLING POORLY. HALFWAY IS A BIG DEAL. >> Mike: TONY STEWART WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BLACK PIECE OF TAPE, THAT IS ALL THE GAP YOU GET TO GET AIR IN THERE TO THE RADIATOR. >> TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE ISSUE. MADE BIG IMPROVEMENTS ON THE 14 CAR. THE CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT HELPED TIGHTEN THE CAR UP LIKE STEWART WANTED. SAYS IT IS THE BEST IT HAS BEEN ALL NIGHT. THE OTHER ADJUSTMENT. A HIGH TECH TOOL. SPRAYED ANTIFOG ON IT AND ON A PITSTOP USED IT ON THE INSIDE OF THE WIND SHIELD. IT WAS FOGGING UP. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE HIGH TECH TOOL GO TO MY TWITTER PAGE FOR MORE. >> Larry: SO MUCH HUMIDITY IN THE AIR EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T HAD RAIN SINCE ABOUT 4:00 THIS AFTERNOON. A LOT OF HUMIDITY. >> Mike: THE OUTSIDE LANE NOW 8 DEEP AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE NOISE AND MOVE UP AND CHALLENGE THE INSIDE LANE DOMINATED BY DENNY >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY DIET MOUNTAIN DEW. YEAH, IT IT TASTES THAT GOOD. 76 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. LET'S TAKE IT INSIDE LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPRINT. DENNY HAMLIN THE RACE LEADER. LED THE MOST LAPS TONIGHT. 47. MORE THAN HE HAS LED IN HIS SIX PRIOR 500s TOTAL. HE IS ALSO THE BIGGEST MOVER IN THE RACE. 28 SPOTS AHEAD OF WHERE HE STARTED. GET UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES WITH LIVE AUDIO AND REAL TIME STATS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SPRINT CUP MOBILE APP ON YOUR ANDROID POWERED DEVICE. ONLY ON THE SPRINT NETWORK THE ONLY NATIONAL CARRIER WITH TRULY UNLIMITED DATA. LEARN MORE AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. >> Darrell: MIKE BE YOU SAID HERE IF YOU ARE DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 CAR AND THINKING AM I REALLY THIS GOOD OR AM I A SITTING DUCK. YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW. THERE IS SUCH AN UNCERTAINTY. JUST NEVER HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE THE CAR TO HOLD THESE GUYS OFF, PARTICULARLY AS A COUPLE OF THEM GET OUTSIDE OF YOU AND START PUSHING EACH OTHER. >> Larry: MIKE, WE ARE REAL CLOSE TO GREEN FLAG PITSTOPS. IT WILL BE THEN A ONE STOP RACE TO GET TO THE END. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE OTHER THING IF YOU ARE IN THE PACK YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS IT THAT I GOT HOOKED UP WITH THAT WE RAN THE BEST LAPS WITH. WHERE IS HE AND CAN WE GET HOOKED UPnd DO IT AGAIN. YOU ARE AT THE POINT IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW, WHERE YOU ARE REALLY FAST FORWARDING A LOT TO THE NEXT PITSTOP AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AT THE END OF THE RACE. >> Mike: IN THE LAST 11 YEARS ONLY ONE TIME HAS THE DRIVER WHO LED THE MOST LAPS WON THE 500. THAT WAS MICHAEL WALTRIP IN '03. BOWYER. LOOK AT THAT ENGINE HAS FINALLY GIVEN UP. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS GOT TROUBLE. I THINK HE DOES OR ELSE -- YEAH, HE IS DEFINITELY SLOWING. >> Mike: CAN HE MAKE IT TO PIT ROAD. >> Larry: NOT NOW. >> Darrell: THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTERROUS. >> Mike: THERE ARE VARIOUS PLACES HE CAN PULL OFF THE TRACK WITHOUT BRINGING OUT A CAUTION BUT THEY WOULD NOT GET HIM BACK TO PIT ROAD. SO CLINT BOWYER FROM KANSAS LIMPS AROUND THE TRACK AND I BELIEVE HE IS OUT OF GAS. KRISTA? >> Krista: THAT IS WHAT HE CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID. THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD THE OVERHEATING ISSUE EARLIER. THAT IS THE LEAST OF THE CONCERNS NOW. HE CAME ON AND SAID GUYS, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN, WE ARE OUT OF FUEL. >> Darrell: IN THE LAST SIX RACES HERE, MIKE HE HAS THE BEST AVERAGE FINISH OF 12.2. A BIG BLOW TO THAT TEAM. >> Larry: HE LAST PITTED ON LAP 82 WHICH IS THE SAME LAP THAT EDWARDS PITTED. WE ARE SEEING THEM COME TO PIT ROAD. >> Mike: THE CAUTION IS OUT FOR CLINT BOWYER. IT WILL BE THE SIXTH CAUTION FLAG OF THE NIGHT. >> Larry: JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20 WENT ON THROUGH THE PITS. TONY STEWART IS GOING TO COMPLETE HIS PITSTOP. HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS AND STAY ON THE LEAD LAP AND MORE THAN LIKELY GET THE LEAD WHEN ALL OF THE OTHER DRIVERS COME TO PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: THE CARS ARE SLOWED DOWN THE BACK GOING INTO THREE. TONY'S WORK IS DONE. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO PIT. LARRY, YOU ARE RIGHT HE WILL ASSUME THE LEAD WHEN EVERYBODY PITS. >> Larry: JOEY LOGANO AND HIS TEAM PANICKED RIGHT THERE. THEY SHOULD HAVE WENT AHEAD AND MADE THEIR PITSTOP. >> Mike: SIXTH CAUTION FLAG. THERE IS CLINT BOWYER AS THE PACE CAR GETS SET TO COME OUT AND PICK UP THE FIELD AND THE PUSH TRUCK WILL HAVE TO COME TO BOWYER'S AID. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO GIVE BOWYER CREDIT. HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO GET ON PIT ROAD. BUT TWO RACE CARS COMING AT HIM AT ABOUT 200 MILES AN HOUR AND COULDN'T DO IT. >> Larry: HERE IS WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING. PIT ROAD IS CLOSED. JEFF BURTON IS ON PIT ROAD. I GET A FEELING HE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT OUT OF FUEL. MATT? >> Matt: THE CAR COUGHED A COUPLE OF TIMES. THEY WILL HIT PIT ROAD AND TAKE THE PENALTY AND NOW HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE ON THE 31 MACHINE. >> Darrell: WITH THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION THEY HAVE TWO PUMPS IN THE TANK AND A PUMP IN THE CENTER. SO WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF FUEL, YOU ARE OUT OF FUEL. >> Mike: FIRST TIME FOR ELECTRONIC ENGINE MANAGEMENT INCLUDING ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION IN NASCAR AND FOR MANY OF THE CARS THE FIRST TIME WITH ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK OF THOSE, THERE ARE PARAMETERS IN THE COMPUTER THAT CAN SENSE LIE OIL PRESSURE, SECURITY THE ENGINE DOWN SO THAT AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP LIKE A CONVENTIONAL ONE MIGHT KEEP PUMPING IF A CAR HAD CRASHED OUR ENGINE HAD BLOWN. NOT ANY MORE. IT WON'T HAPPEN. >> Darrell: ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE DONE GOING TO FUEL INJECTION AND ALL THAT GOES WITH IT. MADE THE CARS EVEN BETTER AND SAFER. >> Mike: ELLIOTT SADLER COMPLETED HIS STOP. RYAN NEWMAN GETS THE FREE PASS. THAT WILL PUT 28 CARS BACK ON THE LEAD LAP WHEN WE GET READY TO RESTART. 71 LAPS TO GO. CARS RUNNING DOWN ON THE FLAT TO ENSURE THEY GET THAT FUEL PICKED UP IN THE FUEL CELL AND GET IT TO THE ENGINE SO THEY CAN MAKE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO PIT ROAD. SOME OF THE CARS MAY HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE ON FUEL. >> Larry: THE WAY THE LIFT PUMPS ARE IN THE FUEL CELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE. >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: MARTIN TRUEX, JR.'S CREW CHIEF TOLD HIM TO CUT THE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CONCERNED WITH RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. THE 56 PLANS ON TAKING FOUR TIRES. DENNY HAMLIN THE SAME. KRISTA? >> Krista: AS GREG BIFFLE ROLES IN. TWO TIRES ON O THE LAST STOP. THE PLAN HERE TO PACK IT THROUGH AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE. THE CREW COMING AROUND TO TAKE FOUR TIRES ON THE STOP FOR GREG BIFFLE. >> Matt: ARIC ALMIROLA IS IN. ADJUSTMENT ON THE 43 AND HE IS AWAY. >> Mike: WHO WINS THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD? LOOKS LIKE REGAN SMITH. A COLLISION IN THE PIT LANE. >> Darrell: THE 33 COULDN'T FIND HIS PIT BOX AND HE WAS WANDERING AROUND IN PIT ROAD AND CAUSED A BOTTLE NECK RIGHT THERE. >> Larry: WE HAD 28 OR 29 DRIVERS ON PIT ROAD AT ONE TIME. >> Mike: CATO NEW YORK'S REGAN SMITH PUTS HIMSELF IN POSITION OUT FRONT. >> Mike: UNDER CAUTION AT DAYTONA WITH 69 LAPS TO GO. LET'S GO DOWN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FARMER'S AND JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: ALL DURING THE RACE I HAVE BEEN LISTENING AND WASHING WHAT IS GOING ON. HERE IN THE LATTER PART OF THE RACE WHAT I LEARNED IS YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR DANCE PARTNER AND GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO RACE WITH. ARE THE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT AND WE WILL CHECK UP IN A MINUTE ARE THE SPOTTERS. THEY GOT TO START WORKING EXTRA HARD TO GET YOU BACK UP THERE TOWARD THE FRONT. ONE OF THE GUYS RIDING IN THE BACK, THE 29 CAR OF KEVIN HARVICK. WATCH HIM AND HIS SPOTTER WORK TO GET THE 29 TOGETHER LATE IN THE RACE. >> Mike: 68 TO GO THIS TIME BAY WHEN THEY TAKE THE GREEN FLAG FOR THE RESTART. KEVIN HARVICK JEFF MENTIONED IS IN 13th. TWO CARS TOOK THE WAVE AROUND AND DID NOT STOP ON THE CAUTION. LANDON CACCILLED AND DAVID REUTIMANN. MARK MARTIN AND TONY STEWART UP THERE GETTING THE GREEN FLAG. THEN WITH REGAN SMITH AND THE REST OF THE PACK DOUBLE WIDE. 48 --S ON THE LEAD LAP WITH 48 WITH 68 TO GO. AGELESS MARK MARTIN LEADS THE DAYTONA 500. A DRIVER THAT RETIRED SIX YEARS AGO AND THEN FOUND NEW LIFE. HE HAS BEEN WITH TWO DIFFERENT TEAMS SINCE. AND WILL RUN A PARTIAL SCHEDULE THIS YEAR. THAT NUMBER 55. SURRENDERING THE LEAD TO BIFFLE AND HAMLIN. >> Darrell: MARK BRINGS SO MUCH ENERGY TO A TEAM. HE IS A SMART GUY AND KNOWS A RACE CARIN SIDE AND OUT. HE JUST COMES IN AND HE WILL ENERGIZE THE TEAM. >> Larry: AND DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 LAID ON THE BUMPER OF BIFFLE AND PUSHED HIM INTO THE LEAD. >> Darrell: I THINK BIFFLE IS THE GUY THAT IS REALLY I WON'T SAY CONFUSED BUT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE AT THE RIGHT TIME. WE SAW IT AT THE HALFWAY MARK AND SAW IT THE OTHER DAY IN HIS QUALIFYING RACE. HE HAS A CAR THAT CAN WIN THIS THING IF HE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO WORK WITH HIM AND PLAY IT COOL. >> Mike: AND THREE CARS IN THE MIX DESERVE MIX. WE TALKED ABOUT REGAN SMITH IN THE BLACK CHEVROLET, NUMBER 78. SIDE-BY-SIDE BEHIND HIM THE 9 AND 43. THE TWO FORDS OF RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS. MARCOS AMBROSE FROM AUSTRALIA AND IN PETTY BLUE AND WHITE THE KINGS NUMBER 43 AND THE NEW DRIVER FROM TAMPA, FLORIDA, ARIC ALMIROLA. >> Darrell: I WANT TO GIVE A CALL TO THE DRIVER IN THE 13 CAR, MIKE, CASEY MEARS. A DRIVER THAT MISSED THE DAYTONA 500 A YEAR AGO. THEY COME HERE AND MADE A MAKE CHANGE OVER THE OFF SEASON. QUALIFIED UP FRONT. AND NOW HE IS UP HERE RUNNING UP FRONT. >> Darrell: LARRY, CASEY MEARS IS A GOOD DRIVER. HE BOOTIE BARKER WERE BESIDE THEMSELVES BY THE RACES THEY HAD DOWN HERE. QUALIFYING WELL AND RACING WELL. >> Mike: MEARS TRYING TO HANG ON TO A TOP 15 SPOT ON THE OUTSIDE. HARD TO DO. >> Darrell: IF SOMEBODY LOOKS AT THE 13 CAR OF CASEY MEARS THEY SAY MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO RUN WITH HIM. ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A BIGGER NAME IN THE OTHER LINE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. >> Mike: UNDERSTOOD. BUT IF THE CAR HAS SPEED HE CAN BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND. >> Darrell: TREVOR BAYNE LAST YEAR PROVED THAT. TREVOR'S CAR WAS FAST AND PEOPLE WANTED TO WORK WITH HIM. GOT TO PROVE YOU GOT SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD TO GET UP THERE AND LEAD THIS THING. >> Mike: DALE, JR. 18th. DANICA PATRICK. MANY LAPS DOWN. STILL LOGGING LAPS. >> Larry: THE 10 CAR WAITING FOR THE PACK TO CATCH UP TO HER. SHE COULDN'T CATCH UP TO THE PACK BEFORE THE RESTART. SAID IT IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO FUN RIGHT NOW BUT SHE IS LEARNING AND WILL TRY TO LEARN MORE WHEN THE PACK GETS HER. >> Mike: CAR IS PRETTY BEAT UP BUT HAS A NEW REAR END. >> Darrell: THAT LOOKS ALMOST AS BAD AS KYLE BUSCH'S CAR ARE WHEN WON THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT THE OTHER NIGHT. >> Mike: HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF KYLE TONIGHT. YOU SEE HIM THERE IN THE PICTURE. THERE IS JUNIOR. THERE IS KASEY KAHNE. RIDE KAHNE. KYLE AHEAD ON THE INSIDE JUST AHEAD OF THE 99 OF EDWARDS. HASN'T COME ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT, DARRELL BUT WE HAVE SEEN HIM MAKE MOVES TO GAIN POSITION INSIDE AND OUT. >> Darrell: I THINK THEY HAVE TO MIX IT UP MORE FOR HIM TO BE A PLAYER. HE IS NOT GOOD AT RIDING ALONG IN LINE. HE LIKES TO MIX IT UP, MAKE MOVES. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH JUST KIND OF WORKING IN THE TOP 10 IN HIS NUMBER 18. 63 LAPS TO GO IN THE FIRST EVER MONDAY DAYTONA 500 IN HISTORY. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY AT&T. THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK. AT&T, RETHINK POSSIBLE. AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE AT&T RACE BREAK BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK. RETHINK POSSIBLE. A RACE RECAP. DENNY HAMLIN CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ON HIS CAREER BEST LAPS LED AS HE HAS NOW LED 54 LAPS AND THAT IS ALL THAT HE HAS LED IN ALL OF HIS DAYTONA 500'S COMBINED. WE HAD TEN LEADERS. SIX CAUTIONS FOR 21 LAPS BEHIND THE WALL SOME BIG NAMES. JEFF GORDON AND JIMMIE JOHNSON ALONG WITH DAVID RAGAN AND ROBBY GORDON. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED ON LAP TWO. >> Michael: DANICA SPUN AROUND. JIMMIE JOHNSON TAKES A BIG HIT. LUCKILY HE IS OKAY. THESE GUYS WERE ANTSY AND WANTED TO RACE AND GOT OUT OF CONTROL EARLY. >> John: LAP NUMBER TWO JEFF GORDON BLEW UP. HE IS BEHIND THE WALL. A FOUR TIME CHAMPION AND THREE-TIME WINNER OF THIS RACE. FOR MORE LET'S GO TO THE BIG BOARD AND JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: ALL NIGHT LONG ABOUT FUEL, RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND LOW FUEL PRESSURE. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK HERE AT THE FUEL CELL LOOKS LIKE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING EVERY YEAR HERE IN NASCAR. YOU CAN SEE DIFFERENT PUMPS INSIDE HERE. HERE ARE THE LIFT PUMPS LOCATED IN THE CORNER THAT FEED UP TO WHAT THEY CALL THE SWIRL PUMP. THIS IS WHERE THE MAIN FUEL PUMP COMES IN AND WHERE THE MAIN PRESSURE IS MADE TO MAKE THE INJECTORS WORK PROPERLY AND THAT MEANS IT NEEDS TO BE 70 TO 75-POUNDS PUSHED UP THROUGH AND TO THE INJECTORS. A LOT OF THESE GUYS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT. SO FAR RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. A LITTLE SURPRISE BUT THE CARS HAVE AT LEAST REFIRED J.R. A LOT OF CONCERN ON PIT ROAD WITH WHAT IS GOING ON. >> John: SEE HOW THE TOP FOUR STARTERS ARE DOING. BE SURE TO SIGN UP TO PLAY AT&T FASTEST DRIVER CHALLENGE BY TEXTING FAST TO 34763 OR VISITING AT&T FASTEST DRIVER.COM. YOU COULD WIN 4 Gs. AT&T RETHINK POSSIBLE. >> Mike: THANKS, JOHN. NEW LEADER, JOEY LOGANO WHO ALSO DRIVES A TOYOTA FOR COACH JOE GIBBS. TAKING THE LEAD FROM HIS TEAMMATE DENNY HAMLIN. ONE CONNECTICUT NATIVE TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER. DICK BERGGREN? >> Dick: JOEY LOGANO THOUGHT THAT ALL MAY HAVE BEEN LOST ON THE ROUND OF PITSTOPS WHERE HE RAN THROUGH THE PITS UNDER THE CAUTION FLAG, CAME OUT DEEP IN THE 20s WHEN THE GREEN FLAG LIT. BUT HE HAS SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY WORKED HIS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE PACK. THIS IS THE BEST DAYTONA 500 THIS 21-YEAR-OLD DRIVER HAS EVER RUN. >> Darrell: I FEEL SOMETHING BREWING, GUYS. GETTING A LITTLE TENSE. GETTING A LITTLE WADDED UP HERE. I FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING READY TO BREAK LOOSE. >> Larry: RIGHT NOW THE TWO JOE GIBBS DRIVERS JOEY LOGANO IN THE 20 AND DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 THE INSIDE AND A COUPLE OF THE ROUSH FENWAY BOYS UP TOP. KENSETH IN THE 17 AND BIFFLE IN THE 15. >> Darrell: JUST LIKE A TORNADO SWIRLING AROUND AND IF YOU ARE IN THE EYE YOU COULD GET IN BIG TROUBLE. I JUST FEEL IT. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO HAS RACED SINCE HIS TEENAGE YEARS. THE FORDS ON THE OUTSIDE TO TR TO OVERHAUL HIM. AT ONE TIME, MARK MARTIN CALLED OUT LOGANO AS THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD TO COME TO BIG LEAGUE STOCK CAR RACING. HE HAS ONE VICTORY IN HIS SHORT CAREER. >> Darrell: WHAT WAS FUNNY THE OTHER DAY LOGANO TOLD HIS CREW CHIEF I NEED FRIENDS OUT HERE. HE SAID GET A DOG IF HE NEEDS A FRIEND. BY GOLLY, HE DID. >> Larry: I'M WATCHING THE EYE YOUR STORM, D.W. >> Darrell: IT'S BREWING, BABY. >> Larry: JEFF HAMMOND TALKED ABOUT KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 HANGING AT THE BACK OF THE PACK. WITH 54 LAPS TO GO. THERE HE IS PULL TOGETHER INSIDE TRYING TO MOVE TO THIRD. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CREW CHIEFS HAVE TOLD THE DRIVERS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING UP, I WOULDS. I'M TELLING YOU, THERE IS SOMETHING UP. >> Mike: HERE IS WHAT THEY TOLD THEM, DARRELL. THERE COULD BE WEATHER ON THE WAY. SCHEDULED FOR 200 LAPS. THERE ARE 53 TO GO AND THEY ARE RACING LIKE IT IS THE LAST TEN LAPS. >> Darrell: I SAID THE 88 CAR IS LAYING IN THE WEEDS. HE IS COMING TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: JOEY'S NEW BEST FRIEND IS A BULL DOG NAMED ILA. HE NEEDS TO FIND A FRIEND OUT THERE IF HE IS GOI >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY CHEVROLET AND THEIR ARE AWARD-WINNING CARS, TRUCKS AND CROSSOVERS. ENTER NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE CAMARO SYNERGY AND A TALLADEGA RACE WEEKEND PACKAGE. VISIT NOW TO ENTER. MATT KENSETH HAS FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. THE CAM BRIDGE, WISCONSIN DRIVER IS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. A CHAMPION IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. HE WANTS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE HARLEY EARL TROPHY HERE TONIGHT. >> Darrell: WON HIS QUALIFYING RACE AND SAW HIM ON PIT ROAD. LOOKED LIKE OLD FAITHFUL A LITTLE WHILE AGO BUT COMING THROUGH FOR HIM NOW. >> Mike: BEHIND KENSETH IS DALE EARNHARDT, JR. OF THE TOP HALF DOZEN, THREE FORMER ARE DAYTONA 500 WINNERS AND ANOTHER TRYING TO JOIN THEM, THE NUMBER 1 OF JAMIE McMURRAY WHO WORKED UP TO SECOND ON THE OUTSIDE LINE OF JOEY LOGANO. >> Darrell: LOOK AT GUYS WHO WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN HARDLY ABOUT CALLED THEIR NUMBER HARDLY ANY UP UNTIL NOW. CASEY MEARS UP THERE AND BRAD KEZELOWSKI AND NOW MCMURRAY. AND MR. WHERE DID HE COME FROM, THE 29 CAR. ALL STARTING TO FIND THE FRONT. >> Larry: KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 AND McMURRAY THE MAJORITY OF THE RACE IN THE BACK OF THE FIELD. >> Mike: 27 LAPS TO GO AND LARRY, AT LEAST ONE MORE PITSTOP. >> Larry: I WAS JUST LOOKING. EVERY DRIVER CAN MAKE IT ON ONE MORE PITSTOP, MIKE, AND THOSE PITSTOPS SHOULD BE COMING IN THE NEXT 10-12 LAPS AND THAT WILL GET YOU TO THE END. >> Darrell: THE FASTEST LAP TONIGHT A 44.53 EARLY IN THE RACE AND RIGHT NOW RUNNING AT ABOUT A 45.20. THE PACE I THINK HAS REALLY PICKED UP A LITTLE BIT HERE IN THE LATTER PART OF THE RACE. >> Larry: YOU'RE RIGHT, DARRELL, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR FAST LAPS THEY CAME SOME WHERE AFTER ABOUT LAP 140 TO O NOW. SO DEFINITELY THE INTENSITY IS PICKING UP. >> Darrell: AS A DRIVER AND I THINK AS A FAN I THINK I CAN FEEL THIS THAT THE HEART RATE IS STARTING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT. >> Mike: CURRENT RACE PACE LAPPING AT 198 MILES PER HOUR IN THIS BIG HUGE PACK, 30 CARS DEEP. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE AN UPDATE ON DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11. AT FIRST HE SAID MY CAR IS GETTING LOOSE AND THEN PANICKED THE TEAM WHEN SAID I THINK I HAVE A TIRE GOING DOWN. THE TEAM JUMPED UP ON THE WALL. NOW, HE IS SAYING THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS DARTY AND HITTING THE SPLITTER. >> Darrell: AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE IF YOU PICK UP THE SPEED THE CAR WILL TRAVEL A LITTLE MORE AND THE NOSE COULD START HITTING THE TRACK. >> Mike: 46 LAPS LEFT IN THE SCHEDULED DISTANCE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE MORE PITSTOP IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY SPRINT. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. BY FARMER'S. WE ARE INSURANCE. WE ARE FARMER'S. BY SUBWAY. FEBRUARY BE IS ALMOST OVER SO HURRY IN BECAUSE ANY REGULAR FOOT LONG IS A $5-FOOT LONG. AND BY FORD, PROUD SPONSOR OF NASCAR. 43 LAPS TO GO IN DAYTONA. DAVID STREMME FROM SOUTH BEND, INDIANA AND THE LITTLE TEAM THAT COULD MAKE THE 500. SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD BREAKS AND HE SLIDES UP UNDER THE RACETRACK. >> [RADIO]: WHERE WAS HE GOING? >> AND THAT TEAM TOTALS 8 PEOPLE AND THREE SHOP DOGS. THEY MADE THE DAYTONA 500 AND NOW STREMME HAS COASTED TO THE GARAGE. PIT ROAD IS OPEN. STEVE? >> Steve: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE 88 IS GOING TO TAKE RIGHT-SIDE TIRES AS IS MATT KENSETH IN. >> Krista: GREG BIFFLE IS HOPING THIS IS THE MONEY STOP. ON THE RIGHT-SIDE COMING AROUND. TWO TIRES AND PACK IT FULL OF FUEL. >> JOEY LOGANO ON HIS PITSTOP WAS TOLD GO WHEN THE JACK DROPS. JACKMAN JASON TATE WAS WASHING THE GASMAN AND WHEN NODS THAT MEANS THE TANK IS FULL. THIS WAS ALL ABOUT GETTING AS MUCH FUEL IN THE CAR AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY GET. >> Darrell: SAW A NUMBER OF GUYS TAKE FOUR TIRES. A LOT TOOK TWO. TONY STEWART AND THE 18 CAR OF KYLE BUSCH AND THE 5 CAR OF KASEY KAHNE TOOK FOUR. THAT COULD BE A BIG FACTOR. >> Mike: CASEY MEARS LED THEM OFF PIT ROAD. UNDER CAUTION FOR DAVID STREMME. THE 7th CAUTION FLAG TONIGHT. >> BACK TO DOWN. >> LOW, LOW, LOW. >> SLAMMED TO THE OUTSIDE FIVE TIME CHAMPION. >> BIG TIME. ALMOST DONE IN THE 8th. HE COLLECTS DANICA PATRICK. >> Darrell: I'M WORRIED ABOUT JIMMIE. HE TOOK A HARD LICK RIGHT IN THE DOOR. >> Mike: ALL THAT HAPPENED ON LAP TWO AND NOW UNDER CAUTION JUAN PABLO MONTOYA HAS CRASHED AND GONE AFLAME. >> Darrell: HOLY COW. WHAT HAPPENED? >> Larry: WE JUST GOT A REPORT THAT HE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A BAD VIBRATION IN EVERY GEAR. >> Darrell: HE JUST SLAMMED INTO THE JE DRYER. I THINK HE SLAMMED INTO THE JET DRYER. >> Mike: THEY ARE TRYING TO CLEAR DEBRIS OFF THE RACETRACK AND THE CAR BREAKS. WON'T STEER AND HE SLIDES UP THE TRACK AND INTO THE BACK OF THAT SURPLUS HELICOPTER JET ENGINE ON A TRAILER USED TO TRY THE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: MIKE I SAW SPARKS COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AS IF IT HADED A TIRE DOWN OR SOMETHING. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE. OH, MY GOSH! >> Mike: AND ALL THAT SPILLED JET FUEL FOUND SOMETHING HOT TO IGNITE IT. SAFETY WORKERS QUICKLY ON THE SCENE. AND THIS IS A BIZARRE TWIST TO THIS DAYTONA 500. DOWN IN TURN NUMBER THREE. >> Darrell: WELL, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS. THAT FUEL IS JUST RUNNING RIGHT DOWN -- THAT THING IS FULL OF FUEL. THEY KEEP THEM FULL ALL THE TIME. I JUST WONDER WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO TO THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: HERE COMES THE FIRE CREW. THE RED TRUCK BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. THEY HAVE TO GET THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT FIRE COULD DAMAGE THE RACING SURFACE. >> Darrell: THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING. FUEL THAT IS ON FIRE. IT CAN EAT THAT ASPHALT RIGHT UP. >> Mike: IT IS COMMON PLACE FOR TRACK SAFETY, RESCUE, TRACK DRYING VEHICLES TO CIRCULATE THE TRACK UNDER A CAUTION FLAG, DRIVERS MUST MAINTAIN REASONABLE SPEED WHILE CATCHING UP TO THE PACK AND AVOID THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES. THEY ARE BRIGHTLY LIT AND THAT IS EASY TO DO WHEN YOU CAN BE UNDER CONTROL OF YOUR RACE CAR. >> Darrell: I WONDER IF HE DIDN'T KNOW THE SAFETY TRUCK WAS UP THERE. THEY CALLED HIM ON THE RADIO AND SAID WATCH THE SAFETY TRUCK AND THE CAR DARTED HARD RIGHT. SOMETHING HAD TO HAPPEN. >> Mike: I SAW SPARKS UNDERNEATH. THE CAR BROKE AND I DON'T BELIEVE HE HAD STEERING CONTROL WHEN THE CAR WENT UP THE TRACK. >> Darrell: WHEN YOU SEE THE SPARKS COME OUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAD A FLAT TIRE OR SOMETHING HAPPENED TO IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY GALLONS OF JET FUEL THAT THING HOLDS BUT I GUARANTEE IT HAS SEVERAL PROBABLY A HUNDRED. >> Mike: TRACK PERSONNEL EXITED THAT CLEANUP TRUCK VERY QUICKLY AFTER THE COLLISION. AND WALKED AWAY. >> Darrell: THAT HAS GOT TO BE EATING THE TRACK UP. I JUST WONDER WHAT IT IS GOING TO DO TO IT, LARRY. >> Larry: THAT IS -- THAT FIRE HAS BEEN BURNING FOR ARE QUITE AWHILE NOW. >> Mike: AND LET'S REITERATE JUAN PABLO MONTOYA CLIMBED FROM HIS CAR AND WALKED QUICKLY AWAY. THE CAR DESTROYED. HE IS ALL RIGHT. AND TRYING TO GET WHAT IS NOW A JET FUEL FIRE UNDER CONTROL BLAZING IN TURN NUMBER THREE. >> Larry: DARRELL, I KEEP GOING BACK. WE JUST HAD GOTTEN A REPORT THEY WERE TELLING ME IN MY EAR THAT MONTOYA HAD A BAD VIBRATION IN EVERY GEAR HE WAS PUTTING IT IN SO SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR. >> Mike: THE RACE HAS BEEN RED FLAGGED. THE CARS HAVE BEEN STOPPED WELL AWAY FROM THE TURN THREE SCENE. RED FLAGGED ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 200-GALLONS OF JET FUEL MEET A SPARK. OR SOMETHING VERY HOT AFTER A COLLISION LIKE THAT. >> Darrell: THAT THING JUST BURST INTO FLAME. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. >> Mike: STILL TRYING TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. >> Darrell: AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY MAYBE THEY COULD DRIVE IT DOWN OFF THE TRACK BUT IF YOU LOOK, THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS CAVED IN. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN EVEN GET IN THE VEHICLE IF YOU WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRY IT. >> Mike: WE JUST HAD PITSTOPS. EVERYONE FROM FIFTH PLACE ON BACK HAS STOPPED. DAVE BLANEY DID NOT PIT UNDER THE CAUTION ALONG WITH CASSILL, RAINES AND GILLILAND. THEY ARE THE RACE LEADERS AS WE ARE UNDER THE RED FLAG. BLANEY DRIVING FOR THE TOM BALDWIN, JR. TEAM. CASSILL WITH A BRAND NEW RIDE AND RAINES WHO JUST GOT A RIDE A FEW WEEKS AGO INTO THE DAYTONA 500 WITH TEAMMATE GILLILAND AT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS. THEY ARE IS RACE LEADERS UNDER THE RED FLAG FOR A BIZARRE INCIDENT ENTERING TURN NUMBER THREE. WHEN INDY 500 AND MANACO GRAND PRIX WINNER JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WENT DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY SOMETHING ON THE CAR BROKE FROM THE SPARKS UNDERNEATH, LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND SLID UP INTO THE TRAILER THAT HELD THE JET HELICOPTER ENGINE WHICH WAS BLOWING DEBRIS OFF THE RACETRACK WHILE WE WERE UNDER CAUTION. >> Larry: AS FAR AS THE DRIVERS THAT PITTED, MATT KENSETH WHO HAD BEEN LEADING WON THE BATTLE OFF PIT ROAD -- >> Darrell: LOOK AT MONTOYA'S CAR! >> Mike: MORE FIRE TRUCKS GOING TO THE SCENE. THAT IS THE FRONT OF THE RACE CAR. IT HIT THE TRAILER WHICH WENT UP IN THE AIR AND THE RACE CAR PRETTY MUCH SUB MARINED UNDERNEATH IT. >> Darrell: THE MOST BIZARRE THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. >> Mike: WATCH MONTOYA'S CAR ON THE REPLAY AS WE TRY TO DISCERN WHAT MAY HAVE BROKEN. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. >> Darrell: SEE HIM COMING. JET DRYER IS UP HIGH. HE SEES THE SAFETY TRUCK FLASHING ITS LIGHTS. SPARKS FLY. AND AROUND HE GOES. >> Mike: HERE IS A DIFFERENT ANGLE. SEE THE SAFETY TRUCKS UP TOP. >> Darrell: WOW. I MEAN IT JUST EXPLODED. WHEN IT HIT IT, IT JUST EXPLODED. >> Larry: AND HE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED TRYING TO CATCH BACK UP WITH THE FIELD. >> Darrell: TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE BACK OF THE FIELD. >> Mike: MONTOYA CLIMBS AWAY AND THE DRIVER OF THE SAFETY TRUCK WAS HELPED FROM HIS VEHICLE. WALKED DOWN THE BANKING AND AWAY. WE HAVE SOME AUDIO FROM JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. >> [RADIO]: SOMETHING IS MASSIVELY BROKEN. WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR SOMETHING. IF I TRY TO ACCELERATE IT JUST STARTS VIBRATING OUT OF CONTROL. EVERY GEAR. LOOK AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. >> [RADIO]: AHEAD THE SAFETY TRUCK. YOU ALL RIGHT. YOU ALL RIGHT? TRY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. MIGHT BE ON FIRE. >> [RADIO]: HE'S OUT OF THE CAR. >> Mike: LET'S GO BACK TO MONTOYA'S PIT PRIOR TO THIS AND A LOT OF WORK GOING ON UNDER THE CAR, LARRY. >> Larry: HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE VIBRATION IN EVERY GEAR. THEY WERE TRYING TO LOOK AND SEE IF THEY HAD A REAR END PROBLEM OR SOMETHING. THAT IS THE REASON THE CREW MEMBER IS SITTING THERE TRYING TO ROTATE THE TIRE BACK AND FORTH AND LOOKING UNDERNEATH IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AREA. >> Mike: AND THEN HE PULLED OFF PIT ROAD AND TRIED TO GAIN SPEED DOWN THE BACK STRETCH AND CATCH UP TO THE PACK UNDER THE CAUTION FLAG. >> Darrell: LOOK AT HOW HOT THAT WAS. AND THAT IS -- I GUARANTEE THAT IS WHERE HE SLAMMED INTO IT. >> Mike: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, EVERYONE IS ALL RIGHT. THAT TRUCK WAS UP AGAINST THE SAFER BARRIER WHICH IS STEEL BUT IS BACKED BY FOAM BLOCKS WHICH HAVE DOUBTLESS TAKE AND HIT FROM THE HEAT OF THAT FIRE. AND THE BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS WHAT KIND OF SHAPE IS THE RACING SURFACE IN? THAT WAS A FLAME AFTER THIS STRANGE CRASH DOWN AT TURN NUMBER THREE. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE FUEL STILL RUNNING OUT OF THAT TANK. IT IS 2 H HUNDRED GALLONS THIS THERE. STILL RUNNING DOWN THE HILL. >> Mike: WHILE THEY CLEAN THIS UP IN TURN THREE AND THE CARS ARE STOPPED ON THE BACKSTRETCH UNDER THE REGULAR FLAG, LET'S GO DOWN TO JOHN ROBERTS AND RE.AEL WALTRIP FOR A RACE >> John: BACK IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING ON A RACETRACK. >> Michael: CAN'T IMAGINE THAT COINCIDENTALLY THE CAR WOULD BREAK BY THE JET DRYERS. SUCH A SAD SCENE. GLAD TO SEE THE SAFETY WORKER GOT AWAY AND JUAN WALKED AWAY AS WELL. TRAGEDY. >> John: TAKE YOU BACK TO EARLIER IN THE RACE WHEN THINGS GOT HEATED EARLY ON THE RACETRACK AS WELL. MIKEY, HERE ELLOT SADLER GETS IN THE BACK OF JIMMIE JOHNSON AND BEHIND HIM COLLECTED A LOT OF CARS. THE FORD REALLY GOT BAD DAMAGE. >> Michael: WE WEREN'T EVEN WARMED UP YET. SITTING AROUND A DAY WAITING TO RACE AND THERE A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE PUSH THERE FROM ELLIOTT TO JIMMIE JOHNSON AND WINDS UP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. >> John: LOOK AT THE AGGRESSIVE DRIVING BY DENNY HAMLIN. YOU SAID YOU LIKED THE WAY HE IS PUSHING IT. >> Michael: HE IS NOT AFRAID TO PUSH. THE ONLY GUY THAT WE HAVE SEEN TAKE CHANCE AFTER CHANCE. WANTS TO BE IN THE FRONT. >> John: HE HAS A NEW CREW CHIEF WHO HAS WON ONE OF THESE WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON BEFORE. MORE BAD NEWS FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AS JEFF GORDON'S GAR BLOWS UP. >> Michael: WATCH THIS IMPACT, JOHN. >> John: UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE THAT THE SAFETY VEHICLES ARE OUT ON THE RACETRACK. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA HAS SOMETHING BREAK IN THE CAR. HE LOSES CONTROL. AND A HUGE FIRE BREAKS OUT AFTERWARDS. VERY SCARY INCIDENT. BUT GLAD TO SAY THAT JUAN PABLO IS OKAY AND WE HOPE THE DRIVER OF THE SAFETY TRUCK IS OH DAY. HE WAS HELPED OUT OF THAT THING. LOOK AT THE DAMAGE ON JUAN PABLO'S CAR. >> Michael: UNDER CAUTION. TRYING TO GET CAUGHT BACK UP TO THE PACK. FINALLY BROKE AND SENT HIM OUT OF CONTROL. LOOK AT LEADER BOARD. >> John: DAVE BLANEY, RAINES, GILLILAND. NOW, HERE IS THE DILEMMA. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS HAS DONE TO THE RACETRACK. THERE WAS A LOT OF HEAT ON THE RACETRACK. A BRAND NEW SURFACE. VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER SURFACE. SOME $10 MILLION WENT INTO THIS THING TO RE-- ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE RACING SURFACE AND THAT COULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE. >> Michael: THE TRACK COULD BE TORE UP AND THAT IS BIG BECAUSE THERE COULD BE RAIN COMING, TOO. IF I'M TOMMY BALDWIN AND DAVE BLANEY AND THOSE GUYS I'M THINKING I'M SITTING ONLY SOMETHING BIG HERE, BABY. >> John: CAME DOWN AND HAD TO RACE INTO THE 500. DAVE BLANEY DID EXACTLY THAT. WE ARE THE RED DOT AND THIS IS CENTRAL, FLORIDA SO RAIN DOES TEND BREAK UP AND MOVE AROUND. WE DODGED RAINDROPS ALL NIGHT LONG. >> Michael: LOOKED LIKE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A RAIN SHOWER HIT US BUT DISSIPATED CLOSER TO THE DAYTONA AREA. HOPEFULLY GET THE TRACK FIXED UP AND BACK TO RACING. LIKE DARRELL SAID THE STORM IS BREWING, NOT THE WEATHER. THESE GUYS ON THE RACETRACK ARE STARTING TO PUSH IT HARD AND THEY WILL TAKE SO MANY CHANCES IN THE LAST LAPS OF THE RACE IT WILL BE FUN TO WATCH. >> John: A LOT OF HUNGRY DRIVERS OUT THERE. FOR MORE BACK UP TO THE BOO IT TH WITH MIKE JOY. MIKE? >> Mike: BLANEY IS A CONTRARY. IN 2002 IN THE 500 HE SHORT PITTED WARD BURTON. STOPPED BEFORE HE NEEDED FUEL AND TIRES. WHEN THE CHECKER THE FLAG WAVED THERE WAS HIS DRIVER IN VICTORY LANE. CAN HE AND RYAN PEMBER AND DAVE BLANEY DO IT AGAIN? >> Darrell: THIS PLACE IS NOTORIOUS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEVER WON A RACE WIN A RACE. WE HAD TWO ALREADY AND HERE WE ARE WITH FOUR GUYS AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD THAT HAVE NEVER WON A RACE. WE MAY BE SETTING UP FOR SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL HERE TONIGHT. >> Mike: AND BLANEY IS A WINNER. A WORLD OF OUTLOUS CHAMPION AND WHEN CALLED ON TO RACE THAT WAY INTO THE 500 HE GOT IT DONE AND NOW FINDS HIMSELF IN THE LEAD. >> Larry: THE FOUR DRIVERS HOPE THE GREEN BLOB GETS BEGGAR AND BIGGER. FOUR DRIVERS I'M WATCHING. THREE OF THEM WON THE 500 IN THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. MATT KENSETH STRONG THE ENTIRE SPEEDWEEKS. KEVIN HARVICK OUR 2007 WINNER MAKING A LITTLE NOISE. MCMURRAY UP THERE NOW. THERE IS ALWAYS DALE EARNHARDT, JR. I DON'T THINK HE HAS SHOWN HIS COMPLETE HAND JUST YET. >> Mike: A LOOK AT THE LEADERBOARD WITH DAVE BLANEY OUT FRONT. LOOKING AT DALE EARNHARDT, JR. LANDON CASSILL, TONY RAINES, DAVID GILLILAND. THE DRIVERS WHO DID NOT PIT UNDER THE LAST CAUTION AND THEN MATT KENSETH TRYING TO BREAK THE 0 FOR 129 WINLESS STRING. CASEY MEARS WE SPOKE OF. NICE TO SEE THE MEARS GANG UP NEAR THE FRONT. KEVIN HARVICK INCHING HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. WELL, 40 LAPS TO GO. HE MAY GET THERE. JAIME McMURRAY A PAST WINNER OF THIS RACE AND GREG BIFFLE WHO HAS BEEN FAST ALL WEEK LONG. JOEY LOGANO HAS BEEN IN POSITION TO BE OUT FRONT. JEFF BURTON LED A BUNCH OF LAPS. MARK MARTIN TRYING TO WIN IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. BRAD KEZELOWSKI HE HAS WON ON RESTRICTER PLATE TRACKS. PAUL YOU MENARD. DENNY HAMLIN LED THE MOST LAPS. MARTIN TRUE YOU EX-IS $200,000 RICHER. RYAN NEWMAN HAS OVERCOME TROUBLE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF REGAN SMITH. >> Larry: THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY CAN GET TO THE FRONT AND RUN UP FRONT. >> Mike: 29 DRIVERS ON THE LEAD LAP AND STILL IN A POSITION TO CHALLENGE FOR THE DAYTONA 500. NOW, MONTOYA IS OUT. SEVERAL CARS HAD TROUBLE TONIGHT AND ARE LAPS DOWN. SOME LIKE JOE NEMECHEK HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE, BACK IN THE RACE. ALSO MICHAEL MCDOWELL. AND THERE IS THE REMAINS OF JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S CHEVROLET. EVERYBODY OKAY AND, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS COMMON PLACE FOR THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO BE ON TRACK DURING A CAUTION FLAG. THEY RUN THE WAILING SAFETY LIGHTS. THE DRIVERS HAVE NO TROUBLE AVOIDING THEM WHEN THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF THEIR CAR AND CLEARLY AT THAT TIME MONTOYA'S CAR HAD BROKEN AND HE WAS A PASSENGER AS IT SLID UP AND INTO THE TRAILER CARRYING THE JET ENGINE USED TO BLOW THE TRACK. NOW, BOTH MONTOYA AND THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK ARE BEING CHECKED OUT IN THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. WE DID SEE BOTH WALK AWAY. THE TRUCK DRIVER WITH ASSISTANCE. AND MONTOYA WALKED TO THE AMBULANCE AND TOOK THE MANDATORY RIDE FOR A CHECKUP. >> Darrell: THE NEW SURFACES PUT ON THE RACETRACKS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THEY ARE A LOT DIFFERENT MIX THAN WHAT WE WERE ACCUSTOMED TO BACK IN THE DAY. A LOT MORE POLYMERS AND A LOT MORE DIFFERENT STUFF IN THEM OTHER THAN SAND AND ROCKED A ALL THAT STUFF. >> Mike: THE ONLY SIMILAR INCIDENT WAS AT THE DETROIT GRAND PRIX. MARIO ANDRETTI CAME AROUND A BLIND CORNER AND NOSED INTO THE BACK OF THE SAFETY TRUCK DOING CLEANUP WORK AND ENDED UP OUT OF THE RACE. BUT CERTAINLY NOTHING LIKE THIS. RED FLAG WITH 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. AND THEY ARE STILL CLEANING UP FROM THAT BIZARRE ACCIDENT IN TURN NUMBER THREE. WE'LL BE BACK TO DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY LIVE ON FOX. >> Mike: DAYTONA 500 AERIAL COVERAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY DIRECTV. ONLY DIRECTV DEDICATED DRIVER CHANNELS SO YOU NEVER MISS A SECOND OF YOUR DRIVER'S RACE. CALL 1-800-DIRECTV. UNDER THE RED FLAG STILL AT DAYTONA. THE BANKING 31 DEGREES STEEP AND YOU SEE THE BIG FORK LIFT LOADING TYPE MACHINE THAT IS GOING TO ABOUT HE USED TO REMOVE THE SAFETY TRUCK FROM THE TURN THREE BANKING. THE REASON BEING THE TIRES ARE FLAT FROM THE FIRE. THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE RACE SURFACE BY REMOVING THAT VEHICLE TRYING TO DRIVE IT DOWN THE BANKING. WE ARE UNDER THE RED FLAG. FOUR CARS THAT DID NOT PIT ARE AT THE FRONT OF THE DAYTONA 500 INCLUDING THE LEADER THE CAR OWNED BY THE MAN WHO IS UP ON THE SPOTTER'S STAND WITH JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: I'M UP HERE WITH TOMMY BALDWIN. THE 36 CAR LEADING THE RACE RIGHT NOW. YOU WERE TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE. CURRENTLY THEY ARE ARE TRYING TO LIFT THE TRUCK UP RATHER THAN DIG IT INTO THE ASPHALT BECAUSE BOTH TIRES ARE BURNED OFF OF IT. GET IT OFF THE RACETRACK. WHAT IS YOUR DRYER SAYING YOU ARE IN A GOOD POSITION RIGHT NOW. >> THANK GOODNESS JUAN IS OKAY AND THE SAFETY WORKERS ARE ALL RIGHT. HOPE WE GET THE RACE BACK GOING. IT HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG WEEK. A A LOT OF ISSUES. A LOT OF WRECKS. LOOT OF STUFF. I JUST TOLD ROGER PENSKE. I SAID WE LOST A LOT OF RACES BUT SURE DIDN'T WIN ONE EVER LIKE THIS. THE 36 CHEVROLET, BARGAIN OUTLET HAS BEEN AWESOME ALL DAY. JUST HANGING OUT AND TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. DECIDED TO STAY OUT AND TRY TO LEAD A LAP FOR A POINT AND STAY OUT UNTIL ONE TO GO AND THEN COME IN AND TOP OFF SO WE ARE GOOD FOR GREEN/WHITE CHECKERS AND UNFORTUNATELY SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH JUAN'S CAR THERE IN TURN THREE. WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> Jeff: DO YOU FEEL LIKE IF IT DOES GO BACK GREEN YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO COME BACK DOWN ABOUT PIT ROAD. COULD YOU PUT YOURSELF INTO POSITION TO WIN THIS THING? >> I THINK WE CAN. WE HAVE BEEN STRONG ALL WEEK LONG. TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. A LITTLE RACE TEAM HERE AND TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND HOPEFULLY GET A GOOD FINISH AT THE END OF THE DAY. >> Jeff: TRYING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT. TO WIN IT YOU GOT TO BE AROUND THE AT THE END. >> Mike: RECALL ON THE RICHMOND RACEWAY. KALE YARBOROUGH SPUN INTO THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE FIRE TRUCK. DIDN'T DO ANY DAMAGE BUT I WAS IN THE TRACK OFFICE WHEN THE POLICE OFFICER CAME TO FILE THE REPORT AND HE ASKED KENNETH CAMPBELL WHAT IS THE LICENSE NUMBER OF THAT VEHICLE? KENNETH LOOKED AROUND AT THE REST OF US IN THE ROOM AND SAID 11. NO CHARGES WERE FILED. DOWN THE BANKING GINGERLY. TRYING NOT TO DRAG AND DO TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE SURFACE. THAT IS THE TRAILER AND NOT THE TRUCK THAT IS DIGGING IN A LITTLE BIT THERE. NASCAR HAS OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE. YOU SEE THEM IN THE WHITE AND BLACK OUTFITS THAT WILL ANALYZE AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO THE SURFACE. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM THE CARE CENTER. THE DRIVER OF THE TRACK DRYING TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HALIFAX MEDICAL CENTER FOR FURTHER OBSERVATION. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD A POTHOLE IN THE RACING SURFACE IN TURN TWO WHICH BROUGHT THE RACE UNDER THE CAUTION AND LED TO THIS RECENT REPAVING. AND THEY FINALLY FIXED THE POTHOLE IN THE TRACK WITH BONDO, PLASTIC BODY FILLER AND HELD UP TO THE FINISH OF THE DAYTONA 500. SO THE TRUCK IS OFF THE TRACK. THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SURFACE. TRY TO GET THAT SPILLED FUEL FIXED UP AS TOMMY BALDWIN AND OTHERS LOOK ON FROM THE STARTER'S STAND. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: JOEY MEYERS, BRAD KEZELOWSKI'S PILOT AND SPOTTER AND HE HAS BEEN TELLING BRAD WHAT IS TAKING PLACE WITH THE ACCIDENT. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME PROBABLY IN DAYTONA 500 HISTORY BRAD WHO HAS HIS iPHONE INSIDE HIS RACE CAR. A LOT OF DRIVERS HAD SPECIAL COMPARTMENTS BUILT. HE HAD HIS PHONE INSIDE THE CAR. TWEETED A PICTURE. FIRST TIME EVER, PRIME TIME DAYTONA 500. FIRST TIME PICTURE TWEETED DURING THE RACE. >> Darrell: MIKE, BACK TO TOMMY BALDWIN. YOU TALKED ABOUT DAVE BLANEY AND HE IN THE 36 CAR HAVING TO RACE THEIR WAY INTO THE DAYTONA 500. THE WHOLE OPERATION, WHAT A FEEL GOOD STORY. TOMMY BALDWIN ELECTED TO BECOME AN OWNER BACK IN 2009. AND FOUGHT AND CLAWED BUT WOULD NOT GIVE UP. MISSED RACES AND EVEN DID A LOT OF THE START AND PARK ROUTINES BUT IT PAID OFF. HE GOT A SPONSORSHIP LAST YEAR AND NOW HE DID THAT AIATION WITH STEWART HAAS AND DANICA PATRICK. HERE HE IS LEADING THE DAYTONA 500. KNOWING HE HAS TO DO ANOTHER PITSTOP IF HE GOES BACK RACING. >> Mike: BEGAN ON THE TOUGH BULL RINGS OF LONG ISLAND. >> Darrell: WHEN YOU HANG AROUND WITH GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN. >> Mike: THERE IS A LOOK AT THE DEBRIS ON THE RACING SURFACE. AND A NASCAR OFFICIAL TAKING A LOOK AT THE ASPHALT. AND HOPEFULLY NO DAMAGE FROM THE HEAT AND LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE SCRAPE OR TWO THERE FROM DRAGGING THAT TRAILER DOWN OFF THE BANKING. NOW, THEY HAVE TO GET THE JET FUEL DRIED UP AND GET US IN CONDITION HERE TO RACE. >> Darrell: I PRETTY MUCH, GUYS, I HAVE SEEN IT ALL NOW. THIS IS THE MOST BIZARRE THING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN. >> Larry: MIKE, YOU'RE RIGHT. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS JUST GETTING THAT JET FUEL CLEANED UP. >> Mike: 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. A LOT OF SPEEDY DRY AT WORK RIGHT THERE. AND BY THE WAY, SUNDAY WE HEAD OUT WEST. READY TO RACE IN THE DESERT. >> Darrell: WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER TRACK LIKE THIS. >> Larry: HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT. >> Mike: HERE COMES STEWART. >> Darrell: YOU GOT TO BE AWARE OF THIS RACETRACK. BRING IT ON, BOYS! BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY! LET'S GO RACING IN THE DESERT, BOYS! ♪♪ >> Mike: THAT IS THIS SUNDAY, NASCAR ON FOX. NASCAR HAS ALTERED THE TRACK OPENING SCHEDULE AT PHOENIX FOR THE SPRINT CUP CARS DUE TO THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 500 TO MONDAY EVENING BUT HAS NOT CHANGED THE ON TRACK ACTIVITY SCHEDULE OUT THERE IN PHOENIX. WELL, WE HAVE SEEN FIRE AND WE HAVE SEEN RAIN. NOT IN THAT ORDER. WE STILL HAVE 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: IT IS AMAZING. IT IS JUST AMAZING THAT JUAN WASN'T HURT AND THAT THAT DRIVER IN THE TRUCK -- I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THAT THING. YOU SAW THE DENT IN THE DOOR TO THAT HAD TO SHAKE HIM UP, LET ALONE THE FIRE. >> Larry: AND I DON'T THINK AGAIN WE MENTIONED JUAN MONTOYA WAS RUNNING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN HIT THAT TRUCK. >> Mike: PACE CAR SPEED IS 70 MILES AN HOUR BUT UNDER CAUTION TO CATCH UP THE TRACK YOU ARE ALLOWED TO EXCEED THAT. EVERYONE WAS DOING JUST WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO UNTIL MONTOYA'S CAR BROKE AT SPEED. WE ARE UNDER THE RED FLAG IN THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. >> Mike: THE RED FLAG REMAINS DISPLAYED IN THE DAYTONA 500 AS THAT BURNED UP SAFETY VEHICLE BROUGHT DOWN OFF THE TURN THREE BANKING BUT STILL MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE RACETRACK AND WE GET SPILLED FLUIDS CLEANED UP. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AS JUAN PABLO MONTOYA IS OUT OF THE CARE CENTER AND WITH STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: THANKS, MIKE. JUAN, WE HEARD YOU SAY IN YOUR RADIO TRANSMISSION THAT YOU FELT THE VIBRATION. WHAT IN THE HECK HAPPENED? >> I LEFT THE PITS AND FELT A REALLY WEIRD VIBRATION AND. I CAME BACK IN AND CHECKED THE REAR END AND SAID IT WAS OKAY AND I GOT INTO THE BACK STRAIGHT AND WE WERE ARE GOING FOURTH GEAR BUT WASN'T GOING THAT FAST. EVERY TIME I GOT ON THE GAS I COULD FEEL THE REAR SQUEEZING. WHEN I WAS TELLING THE SPOTTER TO HAVE A LOOK HOW THE REAR WAS MOVING THE CAR JUST TURNED RIGHT. >> Steve: YOU TALKED TO THE GENTLEMAN IN THE JET DRYER. HE WAS IN THE AMBULANCE WITH YOU ALSO, RIGHT? >> HE WAS OKAY. LOOKS PRETTY SCARED, PUT IT THAT WAY. >> Steve: GLAD YOU ARE ALL RIGHT. >> IT WAS TOUGH. RUNNING A SMART RACE AND EVERYBODY DID A GOOD JOB TODAY ANDLET MOVE ON TO PHOENIX. >> Steve: THANK YOU, JUAN. >> Mike: EVERYONE WAS DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. MONTOYA WAS DOWN AGAINST THE YELLOW LINE ON THE APRON. A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SAFETY TRUCK NEAR THE WALL AND A VERY COMMONPLACE OCCURRENCE DURING THESE YELLOW FLAGS. BUT THEN MONTOYA'S CAR BROKE, SLID UP THE TRACK AND INTO THE SAFETY VEHICLE. >> Darrell: OVER IN THE THIRD TURN. THE SPOTTERS ARE RIGHT ABOVE US. THEY HAVE A GREAT VIEW. I KNOW THAT JUAN KNEW THE SAFETY TRUCKS WERE THERE. THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF SOMETHING HADN'T HAPPENED TO THE RACE CAR. WE SAW THE CAR MAKE AN ABRUPT RIGHT-HAND TURN. YOU CAN SEE THE DRIVERS OUT. DALE, JR. THERE IS TALKING TO MATT KENSETH I THINK IT IS. THE GUYS ARE ALL KIND OF -- >> Mike: HOW ABOUT THIS? PASSED A NEW RULE THAT YOU CAN'T TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVERS DURING THE RACE FROM YOUR CAR RADIO. I GUESS YOU GOT TO GET OUT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION. >> Darrell: THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. I GUESS THERE IS NO RULE AGAINST THAT. I'M SURE THEY ARE LIKE US. WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED! >> Mike: AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? KRISTA. IN. >> Krista: OF COURSE, DAVE BLANEY WONDERING THAT SAME THING. HOW IS THIS FOR HOW OUR WORLD HAS CHANGED. DAVE BLANEY NOT ON TWITTER. THE TEAM JOKING HE NEEDS TO GET ON IT. MIGHT NEED TO GET ON IT IT AFTER THIS RACE. NOW, TRENDING WORLDWIDE. DAVE BLANEY THE FIFTH HIGHEST TWITTER TOPIC AS WE SPEAK. PBR RACING IS ON TWITTER. DAVE BLANEY IS NOT. >> Mike: THANKS, KRISTA. NOW, BEFORE THE CAUTION CAME OUT, DAVE BLANEY AND HIS TEAM HAD TO MAKE A DECISION. PIT OR STAY OUT. HERE IS THEIR RADIO TRAFFIC. >> [RADIO]: STAY OUT HERE. LET'S WAIT UNTIL ONE TO GO AND SEE HOW MANY COME IN TO SAVE TIME AND THAT WAY THE CAR BEHIND US DON'T LEAD A LAP FOR A POINT. >> [RADIO]: IF WE GOT DAMAGE WE GOT MORE TIME TO FIX IT IF WE COME. YOU LOOKED AT IT. IT WASN'T SERIOUS. >> [RADIO]: YOU SPARKED UNDER CAUTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AS OF RIGHT NOW IT SHOULD BE GOOD. >> Mike: DAVE BLANEY AND HIS CREW CHIEF RYAN PEMBERTON. >> Larry: AND ONE THING THAT LED TO THE DECISION ALSO WAS THE FACT THAT WATCHING THE WEATHER RADAR FEEL LIKE WE WILL BE OKAY WEATHER WISE BUT CERTAINLY THERE WAS SOME WEATHER IN THE AREA. >> CLINT BOWYER AND MATT KENSETH AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. STRETCHING THEIR LEGS AND LOOKING OVER EACH OTHER'S CARS. RARE BREAK IN THE DAYTONA 500. 40 LAPS TO GO TONIGHT. >> Mike: LOTS OF SPEEDY DRY UP IN TURN NUMBER THREE TO CLEAN UP SPILLED JET FUEL. GASOLINE, OIL AND COOLANT. TWO YEARS AGO AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPEEDWAY SOME OLD PAVEMENT STARTED TO BREAK UP. THEY TRIED PATCHING THE HOLE. THESE CARS DUG IT RIGHT BACK UP. THEY WENT TO HOT PATCH ASPHALT. EVER TAPPED IT IN. SAME THING. SO THEY WENT TO AUTO BODY FILLER. THE SAME KIND OF PLASTIC FILLER THAT WOULD BE USED TO FIX A DENT IN YOUR FENDER AND IT HELD UP LONG ENOUGH TO FINISH THE DAYTONA 500. SO THE CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS ONCE THEY SWEEP UP THAT SPEEDY DRY WHAT WILL THE RACE SURFACE BE LIKE AND WILL IT BE CONDUCIVE TO CARS GOING INTO TURN THREE AT 200 MILES AN HOUR? >> Darrell: I CAME OUT HERE ONE NIGHT AND HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION. A CAR HIT THE WALL AND FLUID RAN DOWN THE TRACK AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WERE WASHING IT DOWN WITH? TIDE. MIXING UP TIDE AND WASHING THE TRACK OFF. SAID IT WOULD NEUTRALIZE SOME OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE. >> Mike: JOE NEMECHEK IMPORTING ADVICE THERE TO DANICA PATRICK, AND STENHOUSE. KASEY KAHNE AND JAMIE McMURRAY. >> Darrell: I'M SURE THEY ARE PROBABLY AS CONFUSED AS YOU CAN BE. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A REPLAY OR NOAH HAPPENED. HEARING ABOUT IT I'M SURE. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS HAS A MAJOR CONCERN. WE LISTENED IN. >> [RADIO]: I WOULD LIKE A SNAP CRACKER OR SOMETHING OVER HERE. I WAS THINKING OF IT. OR A SUB SANDWICH OR MAYBE CHEEZ-ITS. THOSE WOULD BE THE BEST. >> [RADIO]: I LIKE CHEEZ-ITS. >> Mike: THAT IS SO BOB, HIS CREW CHIEF. >> Larry: THE BIGGEST THING CARL WAS DOING RIGHT THERE IS JUST MESSING WITH THE CREW CHIEF. >> Darrell: ATHLETES EAT A LOT OF LITTLE SMALL MEALS AND IT HAS BEEN AWHILE SINCE CARL HAS EATEN. >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE TALKING WITH MATT KENSETH. SEE IF THE TWO FORD DRIVERS HOOK UP HERE ARE IN THE FINAL 40 LAPS. ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT LITTLE POCKETS OF CONVERSATION THERE. KEVIN HARVICK STAYING IN HIS CAR. >> Larry: ARE YOU KNOW, DARRELL, AND MIKE YOU MADE A GOOD POINT AWHILE AGO WE KNOW BASED FROM LAST YEAR THE RULE CHANGE THAT A DRIVER CANNOT TALK TO ANOTHER DRIVE ARE BY WAY OF THE RADIO BUT WE HAVE 160 LAPS OF DATA AND YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS LIKE I JUST SAW YOU JEFF BURTON AND KEVIN HARVICK TEAMMATES TALKING THAT THEY CERTAINLY ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME THINGS TOWARD THE END OF THE RACE. >> Darrell: THIS THIS IS A GREAT. YOU STOP AND GET OUT AND CAN STRATEGIZE A LITTLE BIT RIGHT HERE. I HAVE BEEN COULDING THIS AND YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THAT AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IF WE TRY SOMETHING. IT COULD REALLY WORK OUT. >> Mike: I GOT A QUESTION. WHERE DID THEY ALL GET THE BALL CAPS. >> Darrell: THEY CARRY THEM IN THEIR CAR. >> Larry: THEY CARRY BALL CAPS, CELL PHONES. CARL JUST DOESN'T HAVE ANY SNACKS WITH HIM. >> Mike: HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HERE UNDER CAUTION COMING OUT OF THE PITS, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA THINKING THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM. DOWN AGAINST THE YELLOW LINE. THE TRACK TRUCKS ARE WORKING THE TOP OF THE SURFACE BLOWING OFF DEBRIS. MONTOYA'S CAR BREAKS AND SLIDES UP INTO THE TRAILER, CARRYING THAT JET ENGINE AND ITS TANK OF JET FUEL. >> Darrell: IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING ON JUAN'S CAR PROBABLY THE TRANSMISSION OR SOMETHING JUST LOCKED UP IN THIS THAT CAR AND IT CAUSED IT TO TAKE A HARD RIGHT AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW THAT SAFETY TRUCK WOULD BE RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE CAR IN DISBELIEF AND THE DRIVER OF THE SAFETY TRUCK WAS HELPED DOWN THE BANKING AND THEN SOMETHING HOT CAUGHT ALL THAT SPILLED FUEL ON FIRE. >> Larry: WE MADE THE NOTE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 200-GALLONS OF JET FUEL. >> Mike: JEFF HAMMOND? >> Jeff: MIKE, WE ALL KNOW A FEW MOMENTS AGO WE WERE LOOKING AT TOMMY BALDWIN AND A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING ROGER PENSKE WALKED OVER AND WERE LAUGHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HEY, HAVE YOU GOT ANOTHER CAR FOR TALLADEGA BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF HE WINS TONIGHT HIS CAR WOULD GO IN DAYTONA USA AND THEY WOULD KEEP IT FOR A YEAR. TOMMY SAYS NO WAY, DUDE, I NEED PARTS OFF THAT CAR JUST TO GET TO PHOENIX NEXT WEEKEND. NOT A LOT OF PARTS AND PIECES GOING AROUND AS FAR AS THE NEW EFI IS CONCERNED AND TOMMY BALDWIN IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT. >> Darrell: HE IS LIKE A MAN OUT ON AN ISLAND. ROGER PENSKE AND ALL OF THEM ARE THERE CHATTING AND TOMMY, WHAT IS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND RIGHT NOW? >> Mike: THE THIRD MAN ON THE RIGHT THERE IS THE CAPTAIN ROGER PENSKE WHO JUST TURNED 75 AND HAS THE ENERGY OF A 35-YEAR-OLD AND HIS PASSION EVER SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER HAS BEEN RACING. HE WAS A CHAMPION DRIVER HIMSELF. MADE THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IN THE EARLY 1960s. PEOPLE SAY. THERE IS FOLKS THAT WANT TO RUN HIM FOR HYPOLIT CAL OFFICE. TOO BUSY ON WEEKENDS HAVING FUN WITH HIS INDY CARS AND HIS STOCK CAR TEAM. >> Darrell: IF I WERE AN OWNER OR EVEN SOMETIMES I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT CREW CHIEFS NEED TO BE UP HIGH WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE TRACK. AND ROGER IS A GREAT SPOTTER AND GREAT CHEER LEADER FOR HIS TEAMS. A GREAT OVERVIEW. SEE THE CAR CAR ON THE TRACK AND IN THE PITS. A GREAT VANTAGE POINT FOR SOMEONE LIKE ROGER TO BE UP THERE CALLING THE RACE. >> Mike: AS IN FOOTBALL. SOME OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS WANT TO BE AT FIELD LEVEL AND SOME WANT TO BE WAY UP HIGH. IN FACT, ROGER AND HIS COMPANY BUILT SOME OF THED SPEEDWAYS THAT NASCAR RACES ON TODAY. >> Larry: ROGER DOESN'T HAVE THE TASK OF SPOTTING. KIND OF UP THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, AS YOU SAID, DARRELL FROM A VIEW THAT YOU WOULDN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE. >> Darrell: HE IS THE CAPTAIN. HE CAN BE WHEREEVER HE WANTS TO BE. >> Mike: THERE HE IS WITH TOM LOGANO, JOEY'S DAD AND OTHER FOLKS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LAST 40 HIGH PRESSURE LAPS OF THE DAYTONA 500 ONCE WE GET BACK UNDERWAY. BRAD KEZELOWSKI IS TWEETING AGAIN! CAN'T TWEET AND DRIVE. PLEASE DON'T TWEET AND DRIVE. ESPECIALLY NOT AT 195 MILES AN HOUR. >> Mike: RED FLAG OUT IN THE DAYTONA 500 AND LIKE ANY TRAFFIC JAM, PEOPLE GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND WALK DOWN TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON. AND WHY THEIR TRAFFIC IS STOPPED. AT TURN THREE, THEY CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP THE TURN THREE BANKING WHERE JUAN PABLO MONTOYA IMPACTED A SAFETY TRUCK AFTER HIS CAR BROKE AND PUT US UNDER THE RED FLAG WITH 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. THERE IS THE FUN POLICE. NASCAR OFFICIAL BUSTER TELLING THE DRIVERS COME ON BACK TO YOUR CARS. WE WILL GO DOWN TO JOHN ROBERTS AND MICHAEL WALTRIP. >> John: THANKS A LOT. THINK THEY COULD GET A RIDE AROUND THE RACETRACK WITH AS MUCH INFLUENCE AS THEY HAVE. BACK IN 2011 DANICA PATRICK WAS THE MOST SEARCHED FOR SPORTS FIGURE ON YAHOO AND THERE WERE A LOT OF EYES ON HER AS SHE MADE HER SPRINT CUP DEBUT. A HECK OF A WEEK STARTING BACK WITH THE DUEL RACES. RUNNING WELL TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE PACK AT DUEL NUMBER ONE AND THAT HAPPENED. >> Michael: SHE HAD BEEN COMPETITIVE ALL RACE LONG. CARS GOT TOGETHER AND KNOCKED HER OUT OF THE WAY. A PUSH INTO THE CORNER THE NATIONWIDE RACE. ON THE SECOND LAP OF THE DAYTONA 500 THE WHOLE WORLD CRASHES IN FRONT OF HER. COULDN'T HAVE GONE ANY WORSE FOR HER BUT SHE HAS TO KEEP HER HEAD UP. SHE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING WRONG. NONE OF THE ACCIDENTS WERE HER FAULT. STAY FOCUSED AND GET READY TO GO AGAIN. >> John: EVEN THOUGH DANICA ISN'T RUNNING FOR POINTS THE CAR IS RUNNING FOR POINTS AND THE IDEA WAS TO GET THE CAR FIXED AND GET IT BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK TO DANICA CAN GET AS MUCH EXPERIENCE AS SHE CAN AND THE TEAM COULD PICK UP POINTS SO IT WASN'T ALL IN VAIN. >> Michael: SHE IS LEARNING EVERY TIME SHE IS OUT THERE. ABLE TO MIX IT UP AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DRAFT DOES AND WHERE TO MOVE AROUND AND HOW TO MAKE MOVES. A COUPLE OF THINGS. GETTING POINTS WHICH THEY REALLY NEED BUT SHE IS GETTING LAP WHICH SHE LOVES AND DESPERATELY LEAVES. >> John: ALTHOUGH THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN AT THE RACETRACK WITH THE SAFETY TRUCKS CATCHING ON FIRE. THE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE WITH THE RED FLAG. GET OUT OF THE RHYTHM AND THE RACE CAR. WHAT DO YOU YOU SEE HAPPEN AING ONCE WE GO TO GREEN? >> Michael: IS THAT TRACK GRAVEL. IS THIS RACE OVER? ARE WE GOING TO KEEP GOING. YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE DELAY AND LAP TWO WE HAVE A CRASH. NOW, INTENSE RIGHT UP ON THE EDGE AND THREE WIDE AND GOING FOR THE CHECKER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRACK IS MESSED UP. IF THEY DO GO BACK GREEN FLAG RACING IT WILL BE WILD I CAN PROMISE YOU. >> John: MIKE JOY, $20 MILLION WENT INTO PAVING THIS THING. I HOPE THE DAMAGE ISN'T TOO BAD. WE WILL FIND OUT IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS. >> Mike: WE SAW THE OFFICIALS DOWN THERE ON THE SCENE HELPING TO COORDINATE THE TRACK CLEANUP. LARRY HAS BEEN DOWN TO TALK WITH THE NASCAR OFFICIALS IN THE CONTROL TOWER. WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT? >> Larry: THE FIRST THING THEY HAVE TO DO IS GET IT CLEANED OFF BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER SO THE RACETRACK AND TO DARRELL'S POINT BELIEVE IT OR NOT THEY WILL USE SOAP DETERGENT TO CLEAN IT. ALMOST GETS LIKE ICE WHEN YOU HAVE DIESEL FUEL. THAT IS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, CLEAN IT AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL IF THERE IS IN I TRUE DAMAGE THERE. >> Darrell: THEY WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE STUDY AFTER THE POTHOLE WHAT DO WE DO IF THAT COMES UP AGAIN AND BEFORE THEY PAVEED THE TRACK AND AFTER THEY PAVEED THE TRACK THEY SAID HOW YOU DO YOU REPAIR THIS THING FOR ARE EXACTLY SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. THEY GOT A GOOD IDEA WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ANALYZE THE SITUATION AND MAKE THE RIGHT CALL AND HOPEFULLY GET BACK TO RACING. >> Mike: WE WILL GET AN UPDATE TO NASCAR SHORTLY. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF FIRE IS THAT MOST OF THE FLAME, MOST OF WHAT YOU YOU SEE BURNING IS NOT THE LIQUID FUEL BUT THE FUEL VAPOR WHICH HOPEFULLY ABOVE THE ASPHALT HOPEFULLY HAS NOT DONE ANY REAL DAMAGE TO THE RACING SURFACE. >> Darrell: LOOKS FOOD FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FROM HERE. CERTAINLY NOT ALL BUCKLED UP OR CRUMBLED UP OR YOU DON'T SEE ANY REAL GOUGES IN IT OR ANYTHING. THAT IS ENCOURAGING. >> Mike: A 48 MINUTE DELAY AND A COMBINATION OF WHAT WE BELIEVE WAS OFF ROAD DIESEL FUEL FOR THE TRUCK AND JET FUEL FOR THE DRYER DOWN THERE IN TURN NUMBER THREE. IT WAS. >> Darrell: LOOK AT HOW INTENSE THAT IS. >> Mike: 200-GALLON TANK FOR THE JET DRYER PLUS AN EXTRA LARGE TANK FOR THE TRUCK ITSELF BECAUSE DURING A 500-MILE RACE THEY CAN'T TAKE THE TIME TO GO AND REFUEL. >> Darrell: I THINK THAT IS THE BIG THING, THE TRUCK DIDN'T EXPLODE. THE DIESEL FUEL RUNNING DOWN THE TRACK AND BURNING OFF BUT THE GREAT THING WAS THE TRUCK DIDN'T EXPLODE. YOU GOT TO LOOK FOR THE SILVER LININGS IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AND THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK GOT OUT OKAY. WE DIDN'T -- IT WASN'T ANY -- JUAN IS OKAY. IF WE CAN GET THE TRACK REPAIRED WE WILL GET BACK TO RACING HERE BEFORE LONG AND SO HOPEFULLY GET THIS BEHIND US AND MOVE ON. >> Mike: THAT IS THE HOPE OF EVERYBODY WHICH IS TO FINISH THE RACE UNDER GREEN WITH 40 LAPS REMAINING IN THE DAYTONA 500. MARCH 9 THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER PREMIERS LIVE ONLY ON FX. MAKING ITS DEBUT AT ITS NEW HOME. 32 CONTENDERS FACE OFF IN A SPECIAL TWO HOUR PREMIER EVENT. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER. NOW, LIVE STARTING MARCH 9, 9:00 P.M. ONLY ON FX. 29 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP WITH 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. WE CONTINUE TO THE CHECKERED FLAG WITH COMMERCIALS SIDE BY SIDE AS WE HOPEFULLY SOON WILL RACE. >> Mike: WELCOME BACK TO FOX SPORTS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE DAYTONA 500. RED FLAG FOR AN ACCIDENT UP IN TURN NUMBER THREE AND A LITTLE THROWBACK ACTION AND BOY, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HEARTY RACE FANS WHO BRAVED THE RAIN YESTERDAY ALL DAY LONG TRYING TO GET THE RACE UNDERWAY. TODAY NASCAR MADE THE DECISION NOT TO KEEP THE FANS ALL DAY HERE IN THE RAIN BUT MOVED THE RACE TO 7:00 P.M. TONIGHT. AND NOW A NEW USE FOR ARE LAUNDRY DETERGENT. >> Darrell: BACK IN THE DAY NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, THAT COULD HAVE GOT THEM ALL THAT THEY WANTED. >> Mike: THEY SPONSORED YOU WHEN YOU WON THE 500. >> Darrell: THAT'S RIGHT. >> Mike: A LITTLE WATER AND A LITTLE DETERGENT. >> Larry: GARDEN SPREADER. >> Mike: WHATEVER IT TAKES. >> Darrell: LIKE I SAID, I KNOW THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT TO BE SURE THAT IF ANYTHING LIKE THIS SHOULD EVER ARISE HAD A PLAN OF ACTION. I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO IF WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY DAMAGE IN THE ASPHALT THAT THEY CAN'T RACE ON. >> Larry: DO YOU THINK DAVE BLANEY EVER HAD SO MANY FRIENDS? ALL GATHERED AT HIS CAR. >> Darrell: SAYING BAD LUCK. BLANEY IS SAYING WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. >> Mike: SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO DALE, JR. WE WILL POINT HIM OUT IN A BIT. A BIG CROWD AROUND HIS CAR. OKAY. THERE IS BLANEY RIGHT THERE. >> Larry: THIS IS OUR 12 YEAR OF NASCAR ON FOX AND AS WE LOOK AT DAVE BLANEY LEADING THE DAYTONA 500 I THINK BACK TO ABOUT OUR THIRD OR FOURTH RACE OF THE FIRST YEAR IN 2001 ABSOLUTELY HAD THEM BEAT AT ATLANTA AND THE WHEEL RAN OFF AFTER A PITSTOP. >> Darrell: PICKED A FINE TIME TO LEAVE ME LOOSE WHEEL THAT DAY. >> Mike: THEY ARE WATERING DOWN THE FUEL SPILL AND THEN WILL ADD MANY SO OF THE DETERGENT TO IT TO TRY TO SCREEN SWEEP IT AWAY. IF YOU LEAVE THE FUEL THERE YOU HAVE A SLIPPERY SURFACE FOR THE CARS ENTERING THAT BANKING AT HIGH SPEED. >> Darrell: YEAH. >> Mike: CAN'T DO THAT. >> Larry: BACK TO DAVE BLANEY GOING BACK TO THE 500 A YEAR AGO, HE WAS ACTUALLY IN A POSITION LATE IN THE RACE, I'M TALKING LESS THAN 15 LAPS TO GO, TO POSSIBLY WIN THIS THING A YEAR AGO AND GOT SPUN OUT DOWN THERE IN TURN THREE AND FOUR. >> Darrell: THINK ABOUT TALLADEGA. HE WAS RIGHT THERE AND, AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE THOUGHT THAT DAY PROBABLY SEWED UP HIM GETTING A BIG SPONSOR FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND KEPT THAT TEAM IN BUSINESS. YEAH, THAT TEAM IS -- THEY HAVE SHOWN A LOT OF SPEED ON THE RESTRICTER PLATE TRACKS. >> Mike: A BIT OF SCRUB A DUB DUB TO TRY TO GET THE TRACK BACK TO RACABLE CONDITION HERE AT DAYTONA. WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN! NEVER BEFORE HAD THE DAYTONA 500 BEEN RAINED OUT. UNTIL THIS YEAR. 53 STRAIGHT YEARS. >> Darrell: MIKE YOU SAID WE HAVE SEEN FIRE AND RAIN. WE HAVE SEEN A ALL IN ONE WEEKEND DOWN HERE. >> Mike: BEEN TOO MUCH OF EITHER. >> Darrell: IT HAS BEEN CRAZY. YOU KNOW, WATCHING THESE GUYS WITH THE BROOMS, THAT IS HOW WE USED TO CLEAN THE RACETRACK. WE DIDN'T HAVE JET DRYERS OR BLOWERS OR ANYTHING ELSE. GUYS RUN UP WITH STAY-DRI AND WE WOULD WITH RACE RIGHT BACK THROUGH IT. >> Mike: AS THEY SWEEP THE TRACK AND TRY TO WORK THAT DETERGENT IN TO GET RID OF THE LAST TRACES OF THE JET FUEL AND THE DIESEL, THE ASPHALT IS NOT COMING UP. IT DOES NOT APPEAR AS IF THE ASPHALT WAS IS SOFTENED OR WEAKENED IN THAT FIRE. AND THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE GOOD NEWS. DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK WHERE IT IS NOT BANKED 31 DEGREES THEY CAN RUN THE SWEEPERS AND TRY TO PICK SOME OF THAT UP. SO CLEANUP CONTINUES UNDER THIS RED FLAG THAT APPROACHES AN HOUR. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S INCIDENT WITH THE SAFETY TRUCK UP THERE IN THE CORNER. WE ARE JOINED BY NASCAR PRESIDENT MIKE HELTON UP HERE IN THE BOOTH. WHAT REALLY MUST BE JUST ONE OF THE STRANGEST DAYS IN THIS SPORT'S HISTORY. WE HAVE -- WE HAD THE RAINOUT. WE GOT TO WHERE WE COULD RUN THE RACE AT 7:00 AND NOW A VERY STRANGE INCIDENT WHICH REALLY WAS NOBODY'S FAULT. EVERYONE WAS DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. MIKE, GIVE US A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THE CLEANUP AND THE CONCERNS THAT ARE GOING ON AT THIS POINT? >> OBVIOUSLY AS YOU WATCH THIS UNFOLD AS YOU WATCHED IT THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE CONDITION OF THE ASPHALT UNDERNEATH THE FLAMES, UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. AFTER WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER OF THE RACE CAR AND THE DRIVER OF THE JET DRYER WERE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. SO IT IS A FUNCTION OF THAT BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE NEXT 40 LAPS AND HOLD UP AND THE INTEGRITY OF IT BE GOOD ENOUGH AND SAFE ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVERS TO GO THE LAST 40 LAPS. DURING THE CLEANUP IT TOOK AWHILE TO GET THAT DONE OBVIOUSLY AND AFTER THE ASSESSMENT OF IT WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS CLEANING THE SURFACE, AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT ANYTHING HAS TO BE DONE TO THE SURFACE. THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO HOLD UP SO HOPEFULLY IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES WE WILL BE BACK TO RACING. >> Mike: YOU DON'T ANTICIPATE HAVING TO DO ANY PATCHING AS WE SAW HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR A COMPLETELY UNRELATED CAUSE? >> THERE IS A COUPLE OF GOUGES BUT IF THERE IS NOT A COMPLETE CYCLE THROUGH THE GOUGE WE KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE THAT THAT IS OKAY AS LONG AS IT IS NOT DANGEROUS TO THE TIRES AND THERE IS NOTHING EVIDENCED OF THAT. SO THERE IS SOME HOT SPOTS ON THE WALL WHERE WE CAN REPLACE THE FOAM. WE HAVE EXPERIENCE DOING THAT. THEY ARE BACK THERE WASHING AND CLEANING TO GET THE JET FUEL AND THE DIESEL FUEL FROM THE VEHICLE CLEANED OFF THE TRACK SO IT WON'T BE SLICK, WON'T DAMAGE THE TRACK ANY MORE DURING THE EVENING AND BY THE WAY WOULDN'T BE A HAZARD IN CASE A SPARK OR SOMETHING GOT ON IT TO IGNITE IT OVER AGAIN. >> Darrell: MIKE, I KNOW WHEN WE HAD THE POTHOLE DOWN HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THE NEW SURFACE WAS PUT DOWN I KNOW Y'ALL WENT TO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH FOR EXACTLY SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THE POTHOLE SITUATION ARISE AGAIN AND I KNOW YOU HAVE DONE STUDY AND RESEARCH WITH THE ASPHALT. LOOKS LIKE THESE GUYS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. >> AND WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN'T REACT FAST ENOUGH AND WE ARE ALL STANDING BACK UP HERE HOLLERING AND SCREAMING HURRY, HURRY, HURRY. WHEN YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS AND NOBODY REALLY KNEW HOW IT WAS GOING TO UNFOLD BUT YOU WE ALL WATCHED IT UNFOLD AND VERY PROUD OF THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CREW AND JOEY AND HIS STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT PUT THE SURFACE DOWN AND REALIZED THAT THE NEXT STEP WAS TO MAINTAIN IT AND KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE. ABOUT THE TIME YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THIS. >> Darrell: NO KIDDING. >> I. >> Darrell: I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. >> I THINK WE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS RACE FINISHED AND THIS IS WITHIN REASON AND WE THINK WE CAN DO THAT WIN REASON. WE WAITED THIS LONG. ANOTHER 30 MINUTES IS WORTH TRYING TO FINISH THE 40 LAPS. >> Darrell: LOOKS LIKE THAT IS A HIGH PRESSURED HOSE. I WOULD THINK IF ANYTHING WAS GOING TO POP UP OR COME LOOSE THE HIGH PRESSURED HOSE WOULD PROBABLY DO IT. >> SERVING TWO PURPOSES. A BIT OF EXPERIMENT BUT ALSO CLEANING, TOO. HOPEFULLY YOU ARE RIGHT AND BILL IS A SMART GUY. HE HAS WORKED ON PHOENIX. HE HAS WORKED TALLADEGA. HE HAS WORKED HERE IN DAYTONA PUTTING ASPHALT DOWN SO HE HAS LEARNED FROM SOME PRETTY SMART GUYS FROM THE PAST, BOB HARRINGTON FROM MICHIGAN THAT PUT A RACETRACK TOGETHER THE NIGHT BEFORE WE HAD A RACE THE NEXT DAY. >> Darrell: NO KIDDING. >> A BIZARRE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE ARE ANXIOUS TO GO BACK AND FINISH THESE 40 LAPS BECAUSE WE WAITED AND WE ARE ARE HOPEFULLY GET THOSE IN. >> Larry: MIKE, WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD, OUR WEATHERMAN IS COOPERATING. I LOOK BACK AT THE FOUR PLATE RACES LAST YEAR INCLUDING RIGHT HERE A YEAR AGO AND WE HAD THE TWO DRIVER TANDEM EVERY SINGLE RACE. THE FANS SPOKE, YOU GUYS LISTENED. I KNOW WE GOT 40 TO GO BUT THE FUN IS BACK WITH THE BIG PACK IT LOOKS LIKE. >> IT DOES. AND ALL DURING SPEEDWEEKS PRACTICE AND THE SHOOTOUT AND THE DUELS ALL UNFOLDED WE WERE KIND OF ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND I THINK IN TALKING WITH THE DRIVERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT EVERYBODY PUT INTO PLACE, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, THE TESTING IN JANUARY. >> Larry: THE WAY THE TEAMS WORKED WITH YOU GUYS. >> ABSOLUTELY. IT WAS A COMPLEMENT TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY. WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY YESTERDAY TO BE CELEBRATING AT THIS TIME THE CHAMPION FOR A FEW HOURS. WE HAVE 40 TO GO. THE LAST FOUR OUT TO GET REAL ENTERTAINING. I THINK THERE WILL PROBABLY BE TANDEM RACING AT THE END. FOR THE MOST PART, WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE PERFORMANCE. >> Darrell: I KNOW ON MY BEHALF AND I HAVE BEEN IN THIS SPORT A LONG TIME. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT BUT YOU GUYS WORKING WITH THE TEAMS AND EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE. NOBODY PULLING AGAINST YOU. EVERYBODY WAS WORKING TOGETHER AND IT PRODUCED GREAT RACING. >> YEAH. >> Darrell: AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS SURPRISED. I THOUGHT THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO JUMP SHIP, YOU KNOW, AND SAY I HATE THE SPOILER, I HATE THE AERO PACKAGE. EVEN WHEN THEY TURNED OVER OR WHEN THEY WERE CRASHING OR WHATEVER, MAN, WE ARE HAVING FUN, ALL HAVING FUN. >> IT AS PACKAGE AND THEY ARE RACE CAR DRIVERS AND WANT TO BE RACE CAR DRIVERS AND GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. >> THANKS VERY MUCH, MIKE HELTON, NASCAR PRESIDENT. THERE IS DAVE BLANEY THE RACE CAR LEADER. MATT YOCUM IS THERE. >> Matt: ALL THE DRIVERS CONGREGATED UP WITH THE NUMBER 36. FIRST, DAVE, WHAT A CALL BY YOUR TEAM. >> REALLY I THINK WE WERE PLANNING ON MAKING BIG CHANGES TO THE CAR, THE RIGHT-FRONT IS BUSTED UP A LITTLE BIT. SO WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO TAKE TIME TO DO THAT AND PROBABLY START AT THE BACK OF THE PACK ANYWAY SO LIKE WE WILL LEAD A LAP AND LOOK WHERE WE ARE SITTING. >> Matt: IF WE GET THE RACE BACK GOING DO WHICH NASCAR INTENDS TO, DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE DAMAGE IS TOO SIGNIFICANT TO BE COMPETITIVE AT THE FRONT? >> NO, IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE LAP 50. IT DOESN'T HANDLE AS GOOD. IT IS NOT KILLING US, WE ARE STILL IN THE RACE WITH IT. YEAH, WE'LL BE FINE. >> Matt: AS WE LOOK AT DAVE'S DAMAGE UP IN THE FRONT OF THE RACE CAR, REMEMBER BACK WHEN DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AT TALLADEGA A FEW YEARS AGO THEY PITTED THE CAR 13 TIMES AND HAD DAMAGE WHICH WAS SIMILAR TO THAT. FOLLOW ALONG DOWN THE LINE. THE MASTER TWITTER PERSON BACK ON THE BACKSTRETCH. WHAT WAS THE LATEST THING, WERE YOU ABLE TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE BEFORE NASCAR MADE YOU TO SEE WHAT THE RACE CAR LOOK LIKE? >> I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COOL PICTURES ON MY PHONE. NOBODY ELSE HAS A PHONE. THEY SHOULD GET ONE TO SEE WHAT IT GOING ON. THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ME. IT HAS BEEN A BLAST. >> Matt: HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING AS BIZARRE HAS WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN? >> ONE THING ABOUT RACING WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN IT ALL IT FINDS A WAY TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN AND THAT IS THE CASE HERE IN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Matt: HOW COULD WOULD YOU RATE THE DRAFTING. IT HAS BEEN A CRAZY NIGHT? >> IT HAS BEEN CRAZY AND I THINK IT WILL BE CRAZIER WHAT HAVE WE GOT, 38, 40 LAPS LEFT. THIS WILL GET CRAZIER. >> Matt: DOES IT DO ANYTHING TO HAVE A STOP LIKE THIS AND YOU GET OUT AND YOUR ROUTINE IS UPSET? >> THERE IS A LITTLE BIT THERE. WE HAD SOME TIME AND HAVE BEEN HERE ALL WEEK. RIGHT NOW, THIS IS LIKE THE DAYTONA THAT NEVER ENDS FOR MOST OF US AND WE ARE READY TO FINISH IT UP. SO THAT JUST PUTS EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON YOU TO WIN IT. THE LONGER YOU ARE HERE THE MORE THE PRESSURE ACCUMULATES ON YOU. I THINK THAT IS GOOD AND BAD. HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. >> Matt: THANKS. STEVE? >> Steve: MY CREW CAME OUT HERE AS SOON AS WE GOT DONE TALKING TO JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. PRETTY AMAZING EFFORT OUT HERE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. PALLET AFTER PALLET OF THE OIL ABSOM END OR WHAT WE CALL SPEEDY-DRI PUT ON THE RACETRACK. 10 AND 12 DIFFERENT TRACK WORKERS WITH PUSH BROOMS. AFTER THIS WENT DOWN A DIFFERENT WHITE ABSOMMENT MATERIAL WAS PUT DOWN BEFORE THEY STARTED THE PRESSURIZED HOSE AND WHEN WE GOT HERE THE SMELL OF JET FUEL WAS PUNGENT AND THICK IN THE AIR. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN'T SMELL THAT JET FUEL SMELL AT ALL SO THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF PROGRESS OUT HERE. >> Mike: THANK YOU, STEVE. WE ARE IN THE RINSE CYCLE NOW. SORRY, THERE IS NOTHING FUNNILY UP WHAT HAPPENED IN TURN NUMBER THREANCE JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S CAR H HIT A SAFETY VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE JET DRYER TRUCK HAS BEEN TREATED AND RELEASED AND HE IS OKAY. LET'S GO BACK OUT TO DRIVER ALLEY THERE IN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY AND MATT. >> Matt: AND CATCHING EVEN MORE DRIVERS. I JUST TOLD PASSED ON YOUR. THAT THE JET DRYER DRIVER WAS CHECKED OUT AND RELEASED. SO DALE EARNHARDT, JR., UNIQUE SITUATION. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE OTHER DRIVE HES ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MOVES SO FAR DURING THE RACE AND THE TYPE OF RACING YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCED SO FAR. KIND OF FUN AND DIFFERENT. >> WE AIN'T TALKED RACING MUCH. GLAD TO HEAR EVERYBODY IS OKAY. LOOKED LIKE A NASTY DEAL OVER THERE AND JUST GLAD IT WASN'T ANY MORE SERIOUS THAN IT WAS. YES, JUST ALL TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT RACING BACK HERE. >> Matt: WHAT KIND OF RACES HAVE YOU HAD? >> NONE FOR THE TELEVISION. >> Matt: THOSE ARE THE BEST. >> THOSE ARE THE BEST. WE FOUND OUR WAY TOWARD THE FRONT THERE BEFORE THE CAUTION AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN GOOD POSITION FOR THE REST OF THE RACE. NEED TO HOLD THE TRACK POSITION TO HAVE A SHOT AT IT. >> Matt: MOVE ALONG TO JAMIE McMURRAY. YOU ARE USING YOUR HANDS AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR CAR ON THE RACETRACK. YOU WON THIS RACE TWO YEARS AGO. WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU SIT RIGHT NOW WITH A LITTLE LESS THAN 40 LAPS TO GO? >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE 42 CAR HIT THE JET DRYER THAT IS WHAT I WAS USING MY HANDS FOR. OUR CAR ARE IS GOOD. I LEFT THE PITS TOO EARLY RIGHT THERE AND SO WE HAD TO COME BACK IN AND TOP OFF SO WE WILL BE LAST ON LEAD LAP BUT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME LEFT. IT WILL BE EXCITING AND I DON'T THINK THE WRECKS ARE OVER YET IF WE GO BACK RACING. >> Matt: DO YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THE DAYTONA 500 HAD STOPPAGE SIMILAR TO THIS? >> I ASKED IF THEY WERE ASKING FOR BONDO IN THE GARAGE AREA. I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OMEN. >> Matt: MIKE? >> Mike: THANK YOU, MATT. HERE IS WHY WE WERE UNDER THE RED FLAG. WORKING THE 7th CAUTION OF THE NIGHT FOR DAVID STREMME'S BLOWN ENGINE. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA DOWN THE BACK STRETCH, SOMETHING BROKE AND HE SLID UP INTO A SAFETY VEHICLE THAT WAS CARRYING 200-GALLONS OF JET FUEL TO RUN THE TRACK FLOOR AND DIESEL FUEL IN THE TRUCK. MONTOYA LIMPED AWAY. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS HELPED FROM HIS VEHICLE. HE IS OKAY. BUT THE RACETRACK SUSTAINED A BIT OF DAMAGE FROM THAT FIRE AND THEY ARE GETTING THE RESIDUE OF THE DIESEL FUEL AND THE JET FUEL CLEANED OFF THE RACETRACK SO WE CAN GO BACK RACING. DAVE BLANEY IS THE RACE LEADER. 29 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP AND IN POSITION TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE 500 AS WE WORK THE RED FLAG AND THIS 7th CAUTION FLAG OF THE NIGHT. FIVE TIME CHAMPION JIMMIE JOHNSON TAKEN OUT IN A CRASH ON LAP TWO WITH DAVID RAGAN. ROBBY GORDON OUT OF THE RACE. JEFF GORDON THREE TIME WINERY BLOWN ENGINE. DANICA PATRICK AND TREVOR BAYNE, MANY LAPS DOWN AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN THAT EARLY INCIDENT. AS WE WAIT FOR TRACK CLEANUP TO BE COMPLETED IN TURN NUMBER THREE AND GET THESE DR BACK IN THEIR CARS TO TRY AND WIN THE DAYTONA 500 TONIGHT ON FOX. ♪♪ >> Mike: AN EXCITING AND TUMULTOUS SPEEDWEEKS SO FAR. AERIAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO GROW YOU BY HE DIRECTV. DEDICATED DRIVER CHANNELS SO YOU WILL NEVER MISS A SECOND OF YOUR DRIVER'S RACE. CALL 1-800-DIRECTV. AS CLEANUP CONTINUES AN UPDATE FROM NASCAR ON THE DRIVER OF THE SAFETY VEHICLE IMPACTED BY MONTOYA'S CAR, DWAYNE BARNES WHO IS A STAFF MEMBER OF MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. THE UPDATE IS THAT HAT HALIFAX HOSPITAL RESTING COMFORTABLY AND BEING OBSERVED. >> Larry: ONE THING WE TALKED TO MIKE HELTON ABOUT OFF OF CAMERA. HE SAID THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT LETTING THE DRIVERS OUT OF THE CAR AND HE SAID THAT IS SOMETHING THEY ALLOWED THE DRIVERS. WELL, OVER AN HOUR RED FLAG AND PEOPLE RELATING IT TO THE 2002 WHEN STERLING MARLIN GOT OUT OF HIS CAR UNDER A BRIEF REDDING THERE. THE DIFFERENCE, STERLING PULLED ON THE FENDER. YOU CANNOT WORK ON YOUR CAR. THAT IS THE REASON ELLIOTT SADLER'S CAR IS SITTING ON PIT ROAD WITH NO ONE WORKING ON IT. >> Mike: GO BACK TO THE BACK STRETCH. MATT YOCUM. >> Matt: CATCHING UP WITH ROUSH FENWAY TEAMMATES STARTING FIRST WITH MATT KENSETH. ISSUES EARLIER. EVERYTHING GOOD TO GO NOW? >> I HOPE SO. SOMETHING IN THE WATER SYSTEM WAS STUCK AND KEPT PUMPING WORE OUT UNTIL I ABOUT RAN IT OUT OF WATER AND HAD TO PIT AND PETTY AND ELLIOTT ABOUT FIXED. OUR BEST BUY FORD IS PRETTY FAST. GREG PROBABLY HAS THE STRONGEST CAR HERE TONIGHT. OUR CAR IS FAST. IT WILL GET CRAZY AT THE END. I DON'T KNOW IF IT MATTERS WHO HAS THE FASTEST CAR. HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP IT IN POSITION. >> Matt: WHAT IMPRESSES YOU MOST ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM YOUR CAR? >> HARDER THAN IT LOOKS TO COME FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT. HAVE TO HAVE GUYS PUSH YOU AND GET THE RIGHT RUNS. A LITTLE DIFFICULT. KIND OF LIKE WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ON THURSDAY. IMPORTANT TO BE UP IN THE FRONT AND HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AT LEAST UNTIL YOU GET OFF TURN FOUR. >> YOU HAD A MAJOR ISSUE. TELLING YOUR TEAM YOU WERE HOPING FOR FROSTED FLAKES OR CHEEZ-ITS. >> I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT FOR ALL OF US. >> MATT ORDERED FOOD BUT NASCAR DIDN'T BRING IT YET. WE ARE JUST OBVIOUSLY EXCITED TO GET THIS THING FIXED AND GO FINISH THIS RACE. WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD FUSION. MAYBE NOT AS GOOD AS GREG AND MATT'S CARS BUT MATT IS WHENNING WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. >> OUR CAR IS VERY GOOD. A FUEL ISSUE AT ONE POINT. >> IT IS CALLED FOCUS. >> I THINK MATT WAS MESSING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM EARLIER OR SOMETHING. ONCE WE GOT THAT WORKED OUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE GOOD. GOING TO BE GOOD. >> Matt: WHEN YOU TRY TO DESCRIBE THE ACTION ON THE RACETRACK FROM THE FANS AT HOME FROM YOUR COCKPIT, WHAT -- IT IS CALLED ELECTRONICS, MATT. WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT FOR THE FAN AT HOME OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING? COMPARED TO YEARS PAST? >> RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE -- THE CARS GET LINED UP IN TWO ROWS. HARD TO MOVE BACK UP TO THE FRONT. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS CHOOSE MY TIME TO GO UP THERE AND CHARGE THE FRONT AND THE LAPS ARE WINDING DOWN SO WE WILL DO IT HERE PRETTY SOON. LOOKS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE IT KIND OF -- THE ROAD GETS BLOCKED. CAN'T JUST CHARGE UP THERE. NOT LIKE YOU CAN GET WITH ONE GUY AND RUN UP ON THE OUTSIDE AND PASS EVERYBODY. TAKING LONGER TO GO TO THE FRONT. >> Matt: SEEMED LIKE DURING THE DUEL AND EVEN IN PRACTICE A LOT OF GUYS WERE SAYING THAT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET A GOOD RUN. THE TOP LINE WAS THE PREFERRED LINE. SEEMS LIKE THE REVERSE TONIGHT SOMETIMES. >> IT DOES. FOR SOME REASON THE TOP CAN GET A RUN SOMETIMES. I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL TO GET A RUN IN THE TOP. I WATCHED DENNY AND SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS THEY WEREN'T EVEN HOOKED UP AND THEY GOT THE LINE TO GO AND WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE LEAD. SO I DON'T KNOW IF OUR CAR IS A LITTLE DRAGGY OR SOMETHING WHEN IT GET THERE'S BUT IT PUSHES GOOD AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE BOTTOM AND THE CAR IS HANDLING GOOD. THOSE ARE THREE ATTRIBUTES YOU NEED TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 AND I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT. >> Matt: A GREAT CALL IN 2003 WHEN YOU WON THE JULY RACE HERE ON FUEL MILEAGE. LOOKING AT THE RACE TONIGHT COUNTING IT DOWN AS FAR AS HOW MANY LAPS OUT WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR MOVE TO HEAD TOWARD THE FRONT, GOING TO TELL YOUR SPOTTER TO COUNT YOU DOWN AND WHAT LAP WOULD THAT BE? >> MY PLAN FOR TONIGHT HAS BEEN TO STAY AS CLOSE TO THE FRONT AS I CAN. MATT TOLD ME WE ARE GOOD ON FUEL RIGHT NOW. NOT PLANNING ON MAKING ANY MORE PITSTOPS FOR THE RACE. WE WILL GO TO THE END FROM HERE. >> Matt: GOOD LUCK. MIKE? >> Mike: YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ADHESIVE USED ON THE BUMPERS OF CARS TO HOLD THEM TOGETHER DURING THE RACES. THIS IS A PRODUCT MUST BE ITS COUSIN CALLED STREET BOND. A VERY, VERY FAST SETTING KIND OF SEALER OR FILLER. AND IT BETTER SET FAST AND HERE IS WHY. YOU SEE THE RED DOT AS DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY AND WHILE MOST OF THE BIG STORM CELLS HAVE BROKEN UP THE GREEN MEANIES THERE ARE ADVANCING ON OUR RED DO THE. >> Darrell: ERASE THAT ONE, WILL YOU? GET IT OUT OF THERE. >> Mike: SINCE EVERYONE WANTED TO SEE THE PICTURES FROM THE BLACK STRAIGHTAWAY BRAD KEZELOWSKI HAS NOW PICKED UP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TWITTER FOLLOWERS SINCE THE RED FLAG CAME OUT. >> Larry: DAVE BLANEY HAD HIS PHONE I'M SURE BRAD COULD SET HIM UP ON TWITTER DURING THIS RED FLAG. >> Mike: 55,000 SINCE THE RED FLAG WANTED TO SEE THE PICTURES. THERE ARE SOME TOTAL MENTIONS THIS WEEKEND. TWITTER DRIVER BUSENITZ. BUZZ. FOLLOW US AT NASCAR ON FOX ON TWITTER OR FOLLOW US ON TONIGHT'S TELECAST INDIVIDUALLY. >> Darrell: SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE THE LAST WEEK I WENT OVER 100,000 FOLLOWERS AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHO MY TWITTER HAS LIT UP SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE. >> Mike: SPEAKING OF LIT UP, A COUPLE OF DROPS COMING DOWN AS WE GO SIDE BY SIDE, HOPEFUL OF GETTING THE DAYTONA 500 RESTARTED AND SOON. >> Mike: THE MAN IN THE YELLOW FIRE SUIT IS DAVE BLANEY. THE LEADER OF THE DAYTONA 500 HAVING RACED HIS WAY INTO THE 500 BY FINISHING 12 IN HIS DUEL RACE. FINISHED THIRD IN NASCAR SPRINT CUP THREE TIMES. MOST RECENTLY AT TALLADEGA LAST OCTOBER. BACK DRIVING FOR BILL DAVIS. NEARLY WON A CUP RACE AT ATLANTA. HAD SOME PROBLEMS, DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE FLAG. WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR CHAMPION. HIS SON RACES. HE HAS A GREAT OUTLOOK. HE GOT INTO THE TOP 35 IN OWNER POINTS LAST SEASON BUT HIS OWNER SNATCHED THE GOLDEN TICKET AND APPLIED IT TO A DIFFERENT TEAM AND SAID DAVE YOU WILL HAVE TO RACE YOUR WAY INTO THE 500 AGAIN. HE DID AND HE NOW HAS THE LEAD. EVERYBODY IS HAVING A LITTLE FUN WITH BRAD KEZELOWSKI'S SPRINT PHONE. >> Darrell: RIGHT NOW, BLANEY HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS. WE HAD A SHOT OF TOMMY BALDWIN UP ON THE SPOTTER'S STAND AND REMINDED ME OF THE SONG ALL BY MYSELF. OVER ON AN ISLAND ALL BY HIMSELF. AND OF COURSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS JEALOUS BECAUSE THIS MAN MIGHT PICK UP A MILLION AND A HALF BUCKS HERE IF THIS DOESN'T GO BACK TO GREEN. >> Larry: WE PROMOTED THE FACT TO TO START THE DAYTONA 500 IT AS QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS BUT YOU IF YOU CAN WIN THE RACE THE NUMBERS ARE ENDLESS. PUTS YOU INTO THE SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE IN MAY. OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS TO WIN AND KEEPS GOING ON AND ON. >> Mike: MARTIN TRUEX, JR. ALREADY BANKED $200,000 FOR THE MIDWAY PAYDAY. >> Darrell: AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE REALLY MAD AT TOMMY BALDWIN FOR MAKING THE DEAL WITH STUART HAAS FOR DANICA AND TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM DAVE BLANEY. I BET THEY ARE NOT ALL THAT MAD RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: LET'S GET TO DAVE BLANEY'S PIT KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN DAVE BLANEY AND WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND KNOWING THAT MOTHER NATURE COULD BE YOUR BEST FRIEND TONIGHT? >> LOOKING AT MOTHER NATURE. NASCAR IS DOING A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE TRACK CLEANED UP. JUST THAT CHANCE. WATCHING ALL THE DRIVERS BACK THERE PLAY WITH THEIR PHONES AND THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT THEY ARE DOING BACK THERE. AMAZING, THEY DRIVE 200-MILE AN HOUR AND HAVE RACE CARS AND LOVE ALL THE GREAT THINGS AND THEIR PHONES ARE SOME OF THEIR BIGGEST TOYS. WE'LL SEE HERE. POTENTIALLY SOME RAIN. WE STILL GOT A GOOD RACE CARE CAR. WE HAD TO OVERCOME A FEW THINGS AND HAD TO MAKE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS. IF WE GET BACK ON I THINK WE CAN HAVE A SOLID FINISH. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT EITHER WAY BUT A LITTLE RAIN WOULDN'T HURT. >> Krista: YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE WEATHER ALONG WITH YOUR RACE CAR ALL NIGHT. DIDN'T KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE TO WATCH A JET DRYER AS WELL. >> AFTER YOU DO THIS STUFF LONG ENOUGH YOU THINK WHAT IS NEXT OR SEE SOME OF THE DARNDEST THINGS. THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY WILL REMEMBER THAT DAY WHEN THAT HAPPENED ON THE BACKSTRETCH. THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THANK GOODNESS EVERYBODY IS SAFE AND I THINK THEY WILL GET THE TRACK. HOPEFULLY DIDN'T HURT THE TRACK. YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST GIVE IT OUR BEST HERE AND IF WE GET BACK GOING THERE IS STILL MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARE US. >> Krista: AND WITH THAT WEATHER, TOO, HOW CLOSELY ARE YOU MONITORING AND WHAT ARE YOU TELLING DAVE ABOUT WHAT IS POTENTIALLY COMING? >> RIGHT NOW IF I WANTED TO TALK TO DAVE LOOKS LIKE I WOULD HAVE TO CALL JUNIOR ON HIS PHONE OR KEZELOWSKI. >> Krista: DAVE IS NOT CARRYING HIS. >> I DON'T THINK DAVE IS TWEETING. HE IS NOT ON FACEBOOK. I DON'T THINK HE IS DOING ANY OF THAT STUFF BACK THERE. OBVIOUSLY A FEW GUYS ARE SO THAT IS PROBABLY HOW WE HAVE TO GET AHOLD OF HIM RIGHT NOW. PROBABLY ANOTHER 35-45 MINUTES AND IF THE RAIN DOESN'T GET US FIRST. >> Krista: AND RYAN TALKED TO DAVE IN THE CAR AND ASKED H HIM YOU DON'T HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT, RIGHT AND DAVE SAID THAT IS A BIG 10-4, DO I NOT. THERE IS A DAVE BLANEY ON TWITTER. IT IS NOT THIS DAVE BLANEY. HE MAY NEED TO GET A TWITTER ACCOUNT AFTER THIS. RIGHT NOW HE IS IN THE SEAT, MIKE. >> Mike: NOT ONLY BLANEY WHO IS A JOURNEY VETERAN DRIVER BY LANDON CASSILL PRETTY MUCH UNHERALDED. DRIVING FOR A TEAM THAT WAS JUST PUT TOGETHER THREE WEEKS GUY. TONY RAINES DIDN'T HAVE A RIDE FOR THE 500 A MONTH AGO AND HE IS IN THIRD. AND DAVID GILLILAND RUNNING FOURTH AFTER A SURPRISE THIRD PLACE FINISH IN THIS RACE ONE YEAR AGO, MATT? >> Matt: AT THE END OF 2011 LANDON CASSILL WAS GOING TO DRIVE FOR ONE TEAM. THIS ORGANIZATION CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY. DO YOU BELIEVE HOW STOUT THEY HAVE BEEN EARLY ON? >> PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT BK RACING MADE IT TO DAYTONA. PUT A GOOD TEAM TOGETHER FOR THE RACE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION WE ARE IN. IT WOULD BE A VERY HUMBLE WAY TO MAKE MY FIRST DAYTONA FINISH WITH MY FIRST DAYTONA START. SO AGAIN HUMBLING BUT I'M HONORED TO BE HERE IN THIS RACE AND DRIVING FOR BK RACING AND TO BE A SPRINT CUP SERIES DRIVER. >> AND DOUG TOLD ME HE AS WE WERE WALKING OUT HE WAS LIKE MAN, THE EXTRA DAY IS KILLING US BECAUSE THE TEAM HAS COME TOGETHER IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> IT IS AMAZING WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ALREADY AND IT IS COOL TO SEE THE PLANS THIS HE HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN PLACE BECAUSE OF THE DELAY AND BEING HERE ONE MORE DAY. THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK HOME AND WORK ON THE CARS FOR PHOENIX. THE GUYS ARE WORKING HARD ON THE CARS IN STATESVILLE. I HOPE WE CAN GET TO PHOENIX WITH GOOD RACE CARS AND GET THROUGH DAYTONA WITH THE CAR IN ONE PIECE WHETHER WE FINISH IT NOW OR LATER. >> Dick: HAD A CHANCE TO SIT BACK AND DIGEST WHAT IS TAKING PLACE. A.B. OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN AHEAD OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO TO GET YOUR CAR ARE IN POSITION TO WIN THIS EVENT? >> I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING. I DON'T THINK THE DRIVERS HAVE REALLY CRANKED IT UP YET. WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING A LOT OF TWO BY TWO AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN THREE WIDE YET SO THEY WILL BE GETTING THREE WIDE THE LAST FEW LAPS AND I THINK THERE WILL BE A WRECK AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND PUT OUR OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO SUCK THROUGH THE MIDDLE THERE AFTER A SECOND RESTART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE CAR IS IN ONE PIECE SO FAR AND THAT IS HUGE. HAVING FUN HERE. THIS IS COOL TO HANG OUT WITH THESE GUYS AND BRAD BROUGHT HIS PHONE FOR SOME ODD REASON BUT TRIPLED OR DOUBLED HIS TWITTER FOLLOWERS. IMPRESSIVE. GOOD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND REALLY GOT TO THANK THE FANS THAT HUNG AROUND THROUGH THE WEATHER AND STAYED AN EXTRA DAY AND A HALF PRETTY MUCH TO WATCH THE DAYTONA 500. IT IS REALLY AN HONOR TO BE RACING FOR THESE FANS. >> Matt: CINDERELLA STORY FOR THE TRUCK SERIES RACE AND NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE. SOME GUYS HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING THROUGHOUT THE RACE TRYING DIFFERENT MOVES, HAVE YOU? >> I HAVE TOWARDS THE BACK TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN PROTECT MYSELF AND SUCK UP THROUGH THE FIELD AND GET INTO THE PACK WHEN I'M READY TO MAKE AN AGGRESSIVE MOVE. JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT IN THE PACK WHEN SOMEBODY MADE A MISTAKE. FEEL LIKE I CAN GET UP INTO A POSITION TO STRIKE AND HOPEFULLY WE GET TO FINISH THE RACE. IF WE DON'T THE CINDERELLA STORY IS HUMBLING TO BE IN THIS POSITION AND BE HERE. I WANT TO RACE AND MAKE 200 LAPS HERE. >> Matt: SO MANY GREAT STORIES IN THE 54 H. RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: CASSILL AND HIS TEAMMATE DAVID REUTIMANN TOOK A WAVE AROUND ON THE LAST CAUTION FLAG. DID NOT PIT. WAITED OUT THE CAUTION. WAVED AROUND THE PACE CAR ARE TO GET BACK ON THE LEAD LAP AND NOW CASSILL FINDS HIMSELF IN SECOND PLACE. >> Darrell: THE TWITTER THING HAS GONE NUTS. BRAD KEZELOWSKI'S TWITTER ACCOUNT HAS CRASHED. I GOT A TWITTER, THEY ARE HAVING A 500 PARTY AND ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF DIP. SAYS CAN YOU GET THIS THING GOING AGAIN, DAD. >> Mike: RICKY STENHOUSE WITH THE BIG 6 ON HIS BACK. TALKING WITH DANICA PATRICK AS CLEANUP CONTINUES. AND THEY TRY TO GET THE TRACK BACK IN RACABLE CONDITION TO RUN THE FINAL 40 LAPS OF THE 500. AND LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY SEND THE BLOWER THERE'S AND SEND THE DRIVERS BACK TO THEIR CARS. A HUGE ROAR FROM THE GRANDSTAND HERE THAT REMAINS THREE-QUARTERS FULL. THESE FANS HAVE SEEN RAIN AND NOW FIRE AND PUT UP WITH A DAY AND A HALF OF DELAYS. THEY DON'T WANT TO BE DENIED BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE LAST LAPS OF THIS RACE AS THESE DRIVERS HAVE TOLD YOU ARE GOING TO BE ELECT FEEING. >> Darrell: THE FANS ARELIKE MARATHON RUNNERS. I'M GOING TO FINISH THIS RACE EVEN IF I HAVE TO WALK ACROSS THE LINE. >> Larry: I THINK THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS THAT SMALL CELL THAT WAS APPROACHING DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, I THINK IT BROKE UP SO WE SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO HERE. >> Mike: THEY DO RUN A 24 HOUR RACE HERE IN DAYTONA. THIS IS MORE LIKE THE 36 HOURS OF DAYTONA. AND YOU SEE THAT CELL IS PRETTY MUCH FALLING APART. BROUGHT A LITTLE BIT OF A SPRINKLE BUT BEHIND IT PRETTY CLEAR SKIES. WE'LL HOPE FOR NO MORE OF THE POP-UP SHOWERS AND GET THE FINAL 00 MILES OF OF THE DAYTONA 500 IN THE BOOKS TONIGHT. >> Darrell: I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY. IN 1963 THE FIRST TEN LAPS OF THIS RACE WERE RUN UNDER A CAUTION DUE TO RAIN. 65 OF OF IT WAS RAIN SHORTENED 1 ABOUT 3 LAPS. 66 SHORTENED 198 LAPS. '79 SHORTENED DUE TO RAIN. '92, LAPS 84 AND 89 RUN UNDER CAUTION DUE TO RAIN. 95 RED FLAG ON LAP 7 DUE TO RAIN. RED FLAG LASTED AN HOUR AND 44 MINUTES. 2003 TWO RED FLAGS FOR RAIN. LAP THREE AND ANOTHER ONE AT 109 AT 272.5. IN 2009 THE RAIN WAS -- RACE SHORTENED 152 LOW PRESSURES. 380 MILES. AND IN 2012 THE RACE WAS POSTPONED FOR A DAY AS WE WELL KNOW. >> Mike: NASCAR HAS CALLED THE DRIVERS BACK TO THEIR CARS, DARRELL AND THEY ARE GOING TO RUN A CAR POOL SERVICE FROM PIT ROAD TAKE ONE CREWMAN FROM EACH TEAM AROUND TO THE BACK STRETCH TO HELP EACH DRIVER GET STRAPPED IN AND GET THEIR RADIO EQUIPMENT HOOKED UP AND ANY DRIVER COOLING AIDS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS AT THE READY TO GO AND THEN CARS SHOULD ROLL WITH 40 LAPS TO GO IN THE DAYTONA 500. WE'LL TAKE A SIDE-BY-SIDE BREAK FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> Mike: WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE TO THE 54th RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THE FIRST TIME IN PRIME TIME ON A MONDAY NIGHT AND THE BUS IS SHUTTLING CREW MEMBERS OUT TO HELP DRIVERS GET BEHIND THE WHEELS OF THEIR CARS ONCE AGAIN AND FOR US TO RUN THE FINAL 40 LAPS OF THE RACE AS THE CREWS CONTINUE TO WORK. MIKEY, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN TROUBLES ON RACETRACKS BEFORE. SEEMS LIKE THEY WERE UP ON TOP OF THIS AND HAVE THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY AND FIRST AND FOREMOST THE RACETRACK WILL BE SAFE FOR THE DRIVERS. >> Michael: THE ONLY THING I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WHEN THEY BLOW THE JET DRYERS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LAST 100 MILES. CAN'T HARDLY STAND IT. WOUND UP IN GREAT POSITION TO SEE THE MOST AMAZING FINISH EVER. >> John: TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST 400 MILES OF THE RACE. SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO AS IT STARTED. ELLIOTT SADLER QUICK TAP TO JIMMIE JOHNSON AND HE IS IN THE WALL. >> Michael: GOT HIT AND TURNED INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL. WATCH WHAT DANICA GOES THROUGH. TRYING TO SQUEAK THROUGH SIDEWAYS AND TAKES A HIT RIGHT THERE AND TORE UP THE REAR END OF HER CAR AND PUT HER IN THE GARAGE. >> John: LOOK AT THE WAY DENNY HAMLIN WAS CHARGING TO THE LEAD. HOOKED UP WITH MARTIN TRUEX, JR. AND GOT THE LEAD HIMSELF. >> Michael: HE IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE SEEN HIM PUSH, BUMP DRAFT. ONLY PLACE HE HAS BEEN HAPPY IS WHEN IS OUT FRONT. >> John: FOUR TIME CHAMPION JEFF GORDON BLOWS UP. >> Michael: HE PUT EVERYTHING IN THE RACE AND WHEN IT WENT BAD FOR JEFF WE THOUGHT THAT IS A SHANE. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO IT JUAN. TRANSMISSION. SOMETHING BROKE AND SPUN HIM INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL. EXCUSE ME, INTO THE TRUCK. LOOK AT THAT CAR. IT'S TORE ALL TO PIECES. OBVIOUSLY BIG FIRE THERE. WHAT IS GREAT, THOUGH, IS BOTH JUAN AND THE GUY DRIVING THE TRUCK WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY. >> John: THAT IS THE ROAD GOOD NEWS. EVEN BETTER NEWS FOR THE RACE FANS THAT BRAVED THIS FOR SO MANY HOURS NOW WE WILL GO BACK GREEN FLAG RACING SHORTLY. AGAIN, AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING IN THIS SPORT, MIKE. SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. >> Michael: THANKS FOR HANGING AROUND. TALK ABOUT PUSHING AND BUMP DRAFTING AND THREE WIDE. YOU WILL SEE IF ALL. THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500. BRING EVERYTHING YOU GOT AND YOU THROW IT ON THE TABLE AND YOU ARE NOT HAPPY UNLESS YOU WALK AWAY WITH THE TROPHY. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE EMOTIONS DAVE BLANEY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. THE TRACK IS MESSED UP. NO, THEY FIXED IT. IT'S GOING TO RAIN, NO, IT QUIT. >> John: THE HARVEY J. EARL TROPHY IS ONE OF THE MOST COULD VETTED IN ALL OF MOTORSPORTS. DAVE BLANEY IS MAKING HITS 398th CAREER START IF HE CAN STAY UP FRONT AND HOLD ON THAT TROPHY WILL BE HIS. THAT WILL BE A TOUGH ORDER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT DRIVERS WHO ALL WANT TO WIN THAT THING. >> Michael: A BEAUTIFUL TROPHY AND LOOKS GOOD ON YOUR MANTLE, TOO. >> John: YOU GOT TWO OF THEM. I HOPE YOU HAVE A BIG MANTLE. >> Michael: I LOVE LOOKING AT THEM. >> John: AND THE $1.5 MILLION INVOLVED IN IT. THE CREW MEMBERS BACK ON THE BUS. THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE DRIVERS BACK INTO IT AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING IN RACING. >> Michael: HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. SAID WE WILL GIVE YOU A RIDE TO THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY AND MAKE SURE THE HAN'S DEVICES ARE HOOKED UP AND THE RADIOS ARE HOOKED UP. I PREDICT THEY WILL NEED THE HAN'S DEVICES IN THE LAST 100 MILES BECAUSE IT WILL BE VERY INTENSE. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SCRAPING AND SHOVING. >> John: AND PEOPLE ON THE CREWS THESE DAYS THAT ARE CALLED INTERIOR SPECIALISTS AND THOSE ARE NO DOUBT THE GUYS THAT WENT OUT THERE TO HELP THE DRIVERS GET BACK IN. TREVOR BAYNE DID IT LAST YEAR. THERE ARE MANY DRIVERS, WELL, MANY, WHAT, SIX, SEVEN THAT MADE THE FIRST WIN THE DAYTONA 500 THEIR FIRST WIN. TREVOR BAYNE WAS, OF COURSE, THE GUY THAT HAD THE SIN REAL WILL SLIPPER ON. >> Michael: THOUGHT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER. THAT TROPHY IS HEAVY BY THE WAY. 2003 A DOMINANT CAR. THE RAINS CAME HALFWAY. WINNING THE RACE AT HALFWAY IS TOUGH. WE SAW A GREAT EXAMPLE OF IT HERE. DAVE BLANEY WAS GOING TO STEAL THE VICTOR I HAVE. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE BEST CAR. THAT DAY IN 2003 WE HAD THE BEST CAR AND HAPPENED TO BE IN THE FRONT WHEN THEY SAID OKAY IT IS OVER. HOW ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO WIN A RACE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL END. >> John: AND THE RAIN CAME AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME. THIS WEEKEND FRIDAY NIGHT AN UNSUSPECTED WINNER. A SURPRISE SATURDAY AS BELL. WELL. COULD WE SEE ANOTHER SURPRISE? >> Michael: NO ONE HAS WON THE RACE TWICE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AND YOU HAVE GUYS THAT HAVE NEVER WON IT RIGHT UP THERE BATTLING FOR THE WIN. IT WILL BE REALLY INTENSE. THAT IS THE MAIN THING. IF THE PATCH WORKS AND WE ARE ABLE TO DRY THE TRACK THE NEXT 100 MILES ARE GOING TO BE SOME OF THE IT TOUGHEST DRIVE YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE. THAT IS ROBERT PEMBERTON. HE IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET THIS BABY FIRED BACK OFF. >> John: FOR NASCAR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE IN TIKRIT OF THE RACING SURFACE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND THE DRIVER OF THE SAFETY TRUCK ARE OKAY. NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE SAFETY TRUCK DRIVER WAS DOING WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO AND JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO AND THE RACE CAR GOT AWAY FROM HIM. >> Michael: HE WAS RUNNING THE LINE HE SHOULD HAVE RUN. THE THING JUST BROKE AND SPUN HIM OUT OF CONTROL INTO THE TRUCK. >> John: HERE ON FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL RETURNS SEPTEMBER 1. TUNE IN TO ALL THE ACTION AS FOX HAS YOU COVERED. PREMIERS SEPTEMBER 1, FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL. AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD RIGHT NOW YOU TO 40 MORE LAPS OF WHITE KNUCKLE RACING HERE ARE IN DAYTONA. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS TODAY, TOMORROW, WHATEVER DAY IT HAPPENS THAT TROPHY IS ONE OF THE MOST COVETED IN ALL OF MOTORSPORTS AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH IT. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT WHITE KNUCKLE RAISING. A GREAT WAY TO DESCRIBE IT BECAUSE THESE GUYS WILL BE ON THE EDGE AND PUSH AND BE ALL ABOUT THE NEXT 40 LAPS TO SEE WHO GETS THE BIGGEST TROPHY IN AMERICAN. >> John: THE PHRASE WAS COIN IN THE NFL AND THEY SAID THE PACK IS BACK. HERE AT DAYTONA THE PACK IS BACK, ONCE AGAIN. FROM WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE FANS, MIKE. THEY LOVE THE PACK RACING BETTER THAN THE TANDEM RACING WE HAVE SEEN LAST TIME AROUND. >> Michael: DENNY HAMLIN HAS BEEN FAST AND GREG BIFFLE GOTTEN TO THE FRONT. MATT KENSETH WAS ON WITH AN ENGINE THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BLOWN UP AND THEY GET IT FIXED AND NOW HAS FOUND HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. THEY HAVE CARS FAST ENOUGH TO WIN THE THING AND HAVEN'T BEEN FAST ENOUGH TO GET TO THE FRONT YET. THEY WILL GET THERE NOW. >> John: THE RAIN CELLS HAVE BROKEN UP. THE PATCH IS DRYING ON THE RACETRACK AND DRIVERS BACK THIS THEIR CARS. 40 TO GO HERE AT DAYTONA. STAY WITH US, EVERYONE. IT'S GOING TO BE A WILD FINISH. ♪ HEY NOW, HERE WE TO, RACE DAY, DON'T YOU BE GOING SLOW, KEEP THAT PEDAL DOWN ON THE FLOOR, PUSH IT TIL THE CROWD CAN'T TAKE NO MORE ♪ ♪ BEEN HERE SINCE THE FLAG CAME DOWN WORKED ALL WEEK IT'S TIME TO PLAY, GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS ♪♪ >> John: 40 LAPS. 100 MILES TO RACE HERE IN DAYTONA. THE 54 H. ANNUAL 500. SUNDAY, PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY. JEFF GORDON GOT HIS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON THERE LAST YEAR. AMERICA'S BEST DRIVES IN THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT ONLY ON FOX. >> Larry: A BRAND NEW RACETRACK OUT THERE. >> Darrell: FIXD THAT PLACE UP. I SAW THE FALL RACE. LOOKED IMPRESSIVE. >> Mike: THE STREET BOND APPLIED TO THE TURN THREE BANKING IS DRYING NICELY AND PRETTY CLOSE TO BE ABLE TO GO. THE DRIVER CAN PRETTY WELL GET HIS OWN SAFETY GEAR ON BUT THE WINDOW NET NEEDS TO BE LAPPED UP TIGHTLY SO AIR GOES PAST IT INSTEAD OF FROM THE COCKPIT. AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE FROM THE OUTSIDE. >> Darrell: I HAVE SEEN FEW PUT THAT IN CAN MUTT THAT IN THEMSELVES. USUALLY TAKES A CREW MEMBER. THESE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE CARS FOR AWHILE OVER THERE AND THEY ARE REENERGIZED. IS THAT A GOOD THING? >> Mike: YES. LET'S GET UPDATES FROM PIT ROAD. KRISTA? >> Krista: MIKE, DAVE BLANEY'S TEAM HAS BEEN THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING TONIGHT. SPLITTER DAMAGE EARLIER. THE BAD NEWS WHEN THE RACE GETS RESTARTED BLANEY WILL HAVE TO COME IN TO PIT FOR HIS SCHEDULED STOP. MAKING A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT AND PUTTING ON TIRES. THEY STAYED OUT TO LEAD THE LAP WHEN ALL OF THE CHAOS ENSUED. STEVE? >> Steve: AND UP AND DOWN NIGHT FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. JUNIOR HAS SAID VERY LITTLE THROUGHOUT THE RACE. THE ONLY RADIO CHATTER HAS PRIMARILY BEEN HIS SPOTTER T.J. MAJORS. KASEY KAHNE THE OTHER HENDRICK CAR, THE NUMBER 5 CAR. HE IS 23rd RIGHT NOW. FOR RICK HENDRICK HIS MONEY RIGHT NOW IS ON DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IS EXTREMELY FAST. MATT? >> Matt: TONY STEWART SET THE TONE FOR THE NIGHT. TOLD HIS TEAM IT WOULD BE A LONG NIGHT. HE SAID WE WILL TAKE IT LAP BY LAP. SEGMENT BY SEGMENT. THAT IS WHAT HE HAS DONE. HE MISSED THE $200,000 HALFWAY BONUS BY A LAP AND A HALF. HAS DONE A LOT OF EXPERIMENTING JUST RIDING FOR THE FINAL SEGMENT. THE CREW CHIEF TOLD ME WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE FINISH. DICK? >> Dick: CARL EDWARDS STARTED ON THE POLE AND THEN FOUND HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A THREE WIDE DEAL, DRIFTED TOWARD THE BACK AND HAS RUN THERE FOR MUCH OF THE RACE. I TALKED TO HIS CREW CHIEF BOB OSBORNE AND SUGGESTED HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN SANDBAGGING AND OSBORNE JUST SMALLED AND LOOKED AT ME AND SAID TIME TO GO. HE HAS TO GO FROM THE BACK OF THE LEAD LAP CARS BECAUSE THE TEAROFF WAS TORN OFF THE WIND SHIELD. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE CAR UNDER A RED FLAG. THAT IS A VIOLATION. HE GOES TO THE BACK. CARL EDWARDS HAS TO PASS EVERYBODY TO WIN THIS THING. HE HAS 40 LAPS TO DO IT, THOUGH. >> Mike: SEEMS TO BE PLENTY OF TIME. DARRELL, AS WE GET DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME ONCE WE RESTART AND AS THE LAPS WIND DOWN THE CONCERN ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE SAW IN THE SATURDAY RACE IS CLOSING SPEED. WHEN TWO DRIVERS HOOK NEXTEL CUP TANDEM IF THEY ARE CLOSING AT A FAST RATE AND THE TRACK CLOGS UP IN FRONT OF THEM AS SOMEBODY MOVES RIGHT THAT CAN PRODUCE CALAMITY. >> Darrell: AND HERE IS THE PROBLEM. FOR THE MOST PART TONIGHT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT. WE HAVEN'T SEEN A LOT OF TWO CAR TANDEMS. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE 10-MILE AN HOUR CLOSING SPEED. YOU ARE USED TO LOOKING IN THE MIRROR AND SEEING THE GUY COMING HIMSELF AND ABLE TO BLOCK HIM AND SLOW THE PROGRESS DOWN. YOU TRY THAT LATE IN THE RACE AND YOU WILL BE OUT OF HERE AND YOU WILL CAUSE A HUGE WRECK. >> Mike: WHAT EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE IS HOW LONG CAN YOU PUSH ANOTHER CAR TO THE FRONT BEFORE YOUR CAR OVERHEATS AND IS SELF-DESTRUCTS. >> Larry: THE GATORADE DUEL RACE ON THURSDAY. MATT KENSETH WON THE RACE. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 PUSHED HIM FOR TWO LAPS. WHEN THE FLAGMAN IN THE FLAG STAND HOLDS UP HIS HAND AND INDICATES FIVE TO DO, SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE DRIVERS DON'T CARE WHAT THE WATER TEMPERATURE GAGE IS OR HOW THE CAR IS DRIVING OR WHO CAN OR CAN'T TALK TO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THE STORIES WELL TOLD THROUGHOUT SPEEDWEEKS AND THAT IS WHY THE GRANDSTAND NEARLY FULL AS THE FANS AWAIT THE FINAL 40 LAPS. OCTANE ACADEMY ONLY ON FUELTV. CHECK FOR THE TIME IN YOUR AREA. WATCH AND LEARN. WELL, IN 21 MINUTES WE CAN WISH KEVIN AND DELANA HARVICK HAPPEN ANY ANNIVERSARY. >> Darrell: SEE IF WE CAN TALK TO THE $200,000 WINNER. MARTIN TRUEX, IT'S D.W., YOU GOT A COPY? >> [RADIO]: , MAN, HOW WILL YOU DOING? >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT THERE, MONEY BAGS. YOU WERE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE HALFWAY MONEY. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR THE FINISH? >> GOT GET BACK UP THERE TOWARDS THE FRONT. WE TIMED THAT PERFECTLY. A LOT OF HELP FROM DENNY AND THAT WAS PRETTY COOL TO WORK THAT OUT. WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TRACK POSITION TO OVERCOME RIGHT NOW. SOME TIRES THERE AND SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO TO THE LAP. 40 LAPS IS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THERE. >> Darrell: ABLE TO GET OUT DURING THE RED FLAG AND WORK SOME DEALS WITH SOME GUYS TO GET YOURSELF BACK TO THE FRONT? >> WE ALL BEEN OUT HERE TALKING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME, YOU KNOW. I TALKED TO DENNY QUITE A BIT AND TOLD HIM I WOULD GIVE HIM THAT 200 GRAND IF HE PUSHED ME TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. WE HAVE A GREAT NAPA TOYOTA. GUYS BUILT ME A FAST HOT ROD AND HOPE WE REQUEST GET TO THE END OF THIS THING AND HAVE A SHOT AT IT. >> Darrell: RIGHT NOW YOU GOT MORE MONEY IN THE BANK THAN ANYBODY OUT THERE. GOOD LUCK. FINISH IT OFF. >> THEY CAN KEEP THE MONEY. I JUST WANT THE TROPHY. >> Darrell: ROGER ON THE TROPHY. GOOD LUCK, MAN. >> Mike: MARTIN TRUEX, JR. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE SENTIMENT. I NEVER MET A RACE DRIVER WHO SUITED UP CLIMBED INTO THE CAR AND ASKED HOW MUCH DOES THIS PAY? >> Darrell: I HAVE. EITHER. IN ALL HONESTY, MICHAEL SAID IT. THOSE TROPHIES SETTING ON YOUR MANTLE AT HOME, THAT BIG DAYTONA 500 TROPHY, I MEAN YOU WILL SLEEP WITH THAT THING IF YOU COULD WALK OUT OF HERE WITH IT TONIGHT. AND NOT JUST TONIGHT EITHER. FOR AWHILE. >> Mike: CREWMEN BACK BEHIND PIT WALL. BRIEFLY NASCAR VP OF COMPETITION CONFERRING WITH THE OFFICIALS. THE FIREBIRD XP IT 2* 1. THE 1953 STYLING DREAM CAR THAT TOURED THE COUNTRY IN AUTO SHOWS. THEY WERE FRIENDS AND EARL DONATED THE TROPHY TO BE PRESENTED IN PERPETUITY TO THE WINNER OF THE DAYTONA 500. NOW, WE ARE TOLD WE HEARD THE STORY ON CARL EDWARDS. WE HAVE ARE TOLD ALSO THAT KYLE BUSCH WILL GO TO THE BACK FOR PULLING A CLEAR TEAR OFF OFF THE WIND SHIELD SO THAT HIS VISION WOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED ONCE WE GOT THE RACE UNDERWAY. >> Darrell: WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF GOING TO THE BACK IS NO BIG DEAL. I SAID IS BEFORE, I WOULD RATHER BE COMING THAN GOING. WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BACK IT IS LIKE A BIG OLD VACUUM CLEANER GOT AHOLD OF YOUR CAR AND SUCKING YOU TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A FAST RACE CAR. >> Mike: THEY HAVE THE FRONT BLOWER OPERATING RIGHT NOW. TRYING TO MOVE SOME OF THAT. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, I'M STILL JUST A LITTLE BIT WORRIED ABOUT THE DARK AREA RIGHT HERE. I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO -- I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO RUN -- I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO HIT THAT AT 200 MILES AN HOUR. LOOKS LIKE THEY NEED TO DRY THAT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE. MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WITH THE JET DRYER. >> Mike: THERE IS WHERE THE STREET BOND WAS PUT DOWN AND YOU SEE DARKENING ON THE WALL. THAT IS WHERE THAT JET DRYER THAT WAS HIT BY MONTOYA'S CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE REST OF WHAT IS CLEANED UP THERE WAS THE SPILL OF BOTH JET FUEL AND OFF ROAD DIESEL FOR RUNNING THAT TRUCK. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY GOT THINGS PRETTY WELL IN HAND. >> Darrell: I THINK THE BAD NEWS IS IF THERE IS ANY, WE ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO HOLD OR NOT UNTIL THE RACE CARS RUN ACROSS IT. THAT IS THE WHOLE DEAL. I MEAN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW IF IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD UP OR NOT UNTIL THEY RUN THE CARS OVER IT. >> Mike: LOOKS LIKE WE WILL FIND OUT SHORTLY. DRIVERS IN THEIR CARS AND AT THE READY. STILL QUITE A NUMBER OF EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE. 100 MILES LEFT TO RACE IN DAYTONA TONIGHT AND THAT AREA IS RIGHT UP INTO THE BANKING IN TURN NUMBER THREE JUST ABOUT WHEN IT GETS TO ITS FULL TILT OF 31 DEGREES AND SO THE CARS WILL COME THROUGH THEIR, SUSPENSIONS WILL COMPRESS AND A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE MAXIMUM GRIP TO HOLD ON TO THE RACE CAR. >> Larry: RIGHT WHERE YOU START TO TURN OFF TURN THREE AND FOUR AND LOOKS TO ME OTHER THAN DRYING UP THE WET SPOT WHICH IS WHAT THE JET DRYER IS DOING RIGHT NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK RACING HERE DIRECTLY. >> Darrell: SEE IF WE CAN TALK TO THE CLOSER. KEVIN HARVICK. IT'S D. W., YOU GOT A COPY? >> Mike: CHECK THE ALTERNATE FREQUENCY HERE. >> Darrell: AND KEVIN HARVICK. D.W. GOT A COPY, BUDDY? >> GOT YOU, MAN. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT, ABOUT TIME FOR YOU TO START SHOWING WHAT YOU GOT. GOT A LITTLE UNDER 100 MILES TO GO. GOT ANYTHING FOR THEM? >> GOT TO. I THINK WE WILL BE ABOUT FOURTH HERE ON THE RESTART SO IT IS ALL ABOUT POSITIONING YOURSELF SO WHEN THE FIASCO STARTS WE ARE IN THE FRONT OF IT AND CAN TIME IT RIGHT. GOT IN A LITTLE ARGUMENT WITH THE THE ORANGE CONE EARLIER AND HAD TO FIX THE TAPE AND KIND OF TOOK CARE OF THE MOTOR FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE RACE BUT EVERYTHING HAS GONE WELL. >> Darrell: THAT ORANGE CONE IS ANNOYING. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SAYING ABOUT THE TRACK? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING TO YOU GUYS THERE ABOUT THE TRACK? >> THE GUYS IN THE PACE CAR SEEM TO THINK THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FINE SO THEY SAID THEY HAD A LITTLE BASICALLY A LITTLE BATCH PLANT THAT THEY COULD FIX SPOTS LIKE THAT AFTER THE DEAL WE HAD WITH THE HOLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO SO IF WE GOT IN THE SITUATION AGAIN THEY COULD FIX IT BUT THEY EXPECT IT TO BE GOOD. >> Darrell: ALL RIGHT, I KNOW THAT YOU AND DELANA ARE EXPECTING. CONGRATULATIONS AND IF WE WAIT 15 MORE MINUTES WE CAN WISH YOU HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. HAPPY 11th ANNIVERSARY MY FRIEND. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. >> Darrell: GO UP THERE AND GET SOME NEW SHOES FOR THAT BABY. >> NEED TO. ANYTHING WE CAN GET WOULD DEFINITELY HELP. SHOULD BE A FUN LAST 40 LAPS HERE. >> Larry: HE AND DELANA WERE MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS JUST RIGHT AFTER HE STARTED DRIVEING THAT 29 CAR FOR RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING BACK IN 2001. >> Mike: AND HARVICK WON THE DAYTONA 500 IN 2007. THE 2010 WINNER BUSY ON HIS IN CAR RAIDED YES. WE LISTENED IN ON JAMIE MACK. >> [RADIO]: WHAT WERE THE GUYS SAYING THERE ALL HUD HUDDLED UP? >> TALKING ABOUT TWITTER. >> [RADIO]: THAT IS WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME THAT BRAD PICKED UP 110,000 FOLLOWERS IN 45 MINUTES. >> Mike: FUNNY HOW THE STORIES GET A LITTLE EXAGGERATED BUT THAT IS OKAY. I GUESS TWITTER IS THE MODERN VERSION OF THE OLD GAME TELEPHONE OF YOU TELL SOMEBODY AROUND THE CIRCLE AND BY THE TIME THE STORY GETS BACK TO YOU IT AS LITTLE DIFFERENT. >> Darrell: JAIME, IT'S D.W., GOT A COPY, BUDDY? >> I DO. >> Darrell: WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY ALL HUDDLED UP OVER THERE. >> [RADIO]: INITIALLY WE WERE ASKING BRAD WHY HE HAD THE PHONE IN HIS CAR. NO ONE COULD FIGURE THAT OUT AND TALKING ABOUT THE RACE AND WHETHER IT WAS GOING TO RAIN OR NOT AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WRECKED ON THE FIRST LAP AND WE FIGURED THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS ALREADY AT HOME AND IN BED. >> Darrell: WHAT DO -- WHAT IS EVERYBODY'S FEELINGS ABOUT THE RACETRACK? ANY BIG CONCERNS OR IS EVERYBODY CONTENT? >> [RADIO]: THEY WOULDN'T LET US WALK DOWN THERE AND LOOK AT IT. INITIALLY LOOKED TO ME LIKE IT HAD A GOUGE IN IT BUT THEY SAID THAT WAS JUST RUBBER BUILD UP FROM THE TIRES MELLING OFF THE JET DRYERS. ACTED LIKE THE TRACK WAS GOING TO BE FINE AND DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A BIG CONCERN WITH IT. >> Darrell: YOU CAN HAVE BEEN AROUND THE FRONT ALL NIGHT LONG. CAN YOU STAY UP THERE IN THE FRONT? >> WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO GET GAS. O LAPS IS A LONG TIME AND I THINK IT WILL GET CRAZY FROM HERE ON OUT. JUST TRY TO MISS THE ONE OR TWO WRECKS WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE AND I THINK OUR CHEVY IS GOING TO BE GOOD. LOOKS GOOD. >> Darrell: WELL, YOU HAVE DONE IT BEFORE SO GOOD LUCK. GO ON UP THERE AND GET THE BIG ONE. >> 10-4. I APPRECIATE IT. >> Mike: WE SAW LAST YEAR ON FOX WHEN WENT AND VISITED HIS HOMETOWN OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI, THAT HAD BEEN RAVAGED BY A TORNADO AND JAMIE DID WHAT HE COULD TO H HELP WITH TORNADO RELIEF THERE AND THE WHOLE NASCAR COMMUNITY HAS QUITE A HISTORY OF GIVING BACK. MOST OF THE DRIVERS HAVE PERSONAL FOUNDATIONS. THERE IS THE NASCAR FOUNDATION AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY HEARING ABOUT THE GOOD DEEDS AND GOOD WORK BEING DONE BY THE DRIVERS USING THEIR FAME AND CELEBRITY IN ORDER TO HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. >> Larry: YOU LOOK AT JAMIE McMURRAY, THOUGH, AND THINK BACK TO 2010 WHEN WON THE DAYTONA 500. HE WON THREE BIG RACES THAT YEAR. THE 500 HERE. THE BRICKYARD AT INDY. THE FALL CHARLOTTE RACE. CAME CLOSE TO MAKING THE CHASE. AND THEN LAST YEAR JUST DISASTERROUS 2011. DIDN'T EVEN FINISH IN THE TOP 25 IN POINTS. THE ONLY WAY HE GOT IN THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT WAS BY VISIT VIRTUE OF BEING A PAST WINNER. >> Darrell: AND I HEARD CHIP GANASSI DOING AN INTERVIEW AND HE SAID MOST OF THE CAR OWNERS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HIM RIGHT NOW. HE REALIZED AFTER A GREAT 2010, HE WON INDY AND EVERYTHING AND THEN A DISASTERROUS 2011 HE WENT TO WORK AND HIRED NEW PEOPLE AND SAID GOT A COUPLE FROM HENDRICK AND ROUSH AND CHILDRESS AND A COUPLE OVER HERE AND HAD TO REDO HIS ORGANIZATION. JAMIE HAS BEEN RUNNING WELL DOWN HERE AND SEE HOW HE CAN CLOSE OUT HERE. >> Mike: IN 9th AND WILL HAVE TO MAKE ONE MORE STOP. WE TALKED ABOUT DRIVERS OFF SEASONS. JEFF GORDON VISITED HOSPITALS IN AFRICA WHERE HIS FOUNDATION HAS DONATED $1.5 MILLION TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD CANCER. TREVOR BAYNE WENT TO MEXICO WITH CARL EDWARDS TO WORK WITH ORPHANS AS PART OF BACK-TO-BACK MINISTRIES AND BAYNE WENT ON A HUMANITARIAN TRIP TO KENYA. NOT JUST NATIONWIDE BUT WORLDWIDE SOME OF THE GOOD WORKS BEING DONE BY THE NASCAR DRIVERS AND TEAM OWNERS. >> Darrell: I THINK I HEARD MANY A DRIVER SAY WHAT IS PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE PART OF THE SPORT AND BECAUSE OF WHO GOOD THE SPORT HAS BEEN TO SO MANY OF US IT MEANS A LOT TO SHARE AND GIVE BACK AND HELP PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AND CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY'S LIVES. THE GUYS HAVE FOUNDATIONS AND DO CHARITABLE WORK. SPONSORS INVOLVED. I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED AND PROUD OF MY DRIVER FRATERNITY. THEY DO A GREAT JOB. >> Mike: LOOKS WE ARE CLOSE TO COMPLETION. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE CARS FIRED UP AND >> Mike: CLOSEST TO THE SCREEN DAYTONA REGIONAL AIRPORT. THE BACK STRETCH AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS NEAR THE STOP OF THE SCREEN IS HIGH ABOVE WHERE WE SIT NEXT TO THE CONTROL TOWER. MOVING IN IT TO OUR THIRD DAY OF COVERAGE OF THE DAYTONA 500 BECAUSE THIS OF. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA'S CAR UNDER CAUTION SLIDES UP INTO ONE OF THE JET DRYERS. WHICH GOES UP IN A FIREBALL. MONTOYA WALKS AWAY. THE SAFE ITTY TRUCK DRIVER IS HELPED FROM HIS VEHICLE AND IS RESTING COMFORTABLY BUT THE FIRE BLAZED OUT OF CONTROL. FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. AND IT HAS TAKEN QUITE A BIT OF CLEANUP AND BONDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ASPHALT SURFACE IS RACABLE FOR THE LAST 100 MILES OF THIS 500. >> Darrell: WHEN I LOOKED AT MONTOYA COMING DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY ON THE SECOND LOOK HE WAS GOING PRETTY FAST. >> Mike: HE WAS. MARTIN TRUEX BANKED THE MIDWAY PAYDAY, $200,000. SEVEN CAUTION FLAGS. ONE RED FLAG, THE ONE WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW. STILL 29 DRIVERS HOPEFUL OF WINNING THIS RACE AND ANOTHER 8 OR SO THAT ARE MULTIPLE LAPS DOWN AND TRYING TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH. >> Larry: WE ANTICIPATE THE TOP FOUR DRIVERS WILL BE MAKING A PITSTOP, DAVE BLANEY, LANDON CASSILL, TONY RAINES AND DAVID GILLILAND. THEY HAVE TO COME TO PIT ROAD HERE SHORTLY. >> Mike: KURT BUSCH HAD A TOUGH WEEK. RELEASED AT THE END OF LAST SEASON BY ROGER PENSKE FOR OUTBURSTS. DETERMINED TO FINISH THE RACE DESPITE THE TROUBLES THEY HAVE HAD TONIGHT. >> [RADIO]: STAYED OUT HERE THIS LONG AND WE HAVE ENDURED. THE CAR BLOWING UP. CIRCLED AROUND THE TRACK MEANINGLESS FOR THREE POINTS. WE ARE NOT GET BE -- WE ARE FINISHING IT. >> Mike: THERE YOU GO. >> Darrell: I LIKE THAT ATTITUDE. >> Larry: THAT IS A BIG DEAL, THOUGH, IS TO KEEP A GOOSE EGG IN THE DNF COLUMN THROUGHOUT A SEASON. TRY TO BE RUNNING AT THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Mike: ENGINES FIRED ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. SPOTTERS BACK UP ON THEIR PERCH UP ON THE ROOF INCLUDING TOMMY BALDWIN WHO OWNS THE LEAD CAR DRIVEN BY DAVE BLANEY. LET'S GO DOWN TO PIT ROAD. STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: MIKE, DALE EARNHARDT, JR.'S CREW CHIEF AND 40 LAPS TO GO. I HEARD DALE SAY POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THE RACE CAR TONIGHT. PRETTY HAPPY. SEEMS LIKE WITH THE SPEED IN THE CAR, IS IT GOING TO HANDLE WELL ENOUGH FOR THE FINAL 40 LAPS? >> I DON'T THINK HANDLING WITH BE AN ISSUE. STRONG ALL WEEK LONG. THE HENDRICK ENGINES AND EVERYBODY BACK THERE MADE A HECK OF A BODY. RAN WELL. CAME UP A LITTLE SHORT AND HOPE WE GO AROUND FOR ALL 40 LAPS AND PUT A GREAT SHOW ON FOR THE FANS. >> Steve: COULD BE WIN NUMBER 200 FOR HENDRICK AS WELL. >> DESERVES 200 AND DALE DESERVES TO GET BACK TO VICTORY LANE. THE WHOLE TEAM DOES. HOPE WE GET THERE TODAY. >> Steve: GOOD LUCK >> Mike: NOW, BACK UNDER THE YELLOW FLAG AS THE CARS ROLL BACK ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GREEN IS GONE SO THAT MEANS NO RAIN FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THIS EVENT. ABSENT A POP-UP SHOWER OR SOMETHING. >> Darrell: SO TOMMY BALD WITHIN WIN, THEY GOT THE TRACK FIXED. TAKE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION. RAIN GONE. TAKE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION. I GUESS WE MIGHT AS WELL PIT. >> Mike: THE PITS WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME BY. OUT OF THE RACE, DAVID RAGAN AND JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE LAP TWO CRASH. ROBBY GORDON OUT OF THE EVENT EARLY. JEFF GORDON BLOWN ENGINE. ELLIOTT SADLER, COULDN'T MAINTAIN MINIMUM SPEED AFTER HIS CAR WAS DAMAGED. DAVID STREMME'S CAR BLEW UP AND JUAN MONTOYA'S CAR CRASHED INTO THE SAFETY CAR AFTER THE CAR BROKE AND HE COULDN'T STEER IT. LAPS DOWN, CLINT BOWYER, MINUS TWO. JOE NEMECHEK SEVEN LAPS DOWN. MICHAEL MCDOWELL 13. A.J. ALLMENDINGER, TREVOR BAYNE AND DANICA PATRICK FURTHER BACK BUT STILL RUNNING. >> Darrell: HOW FAR COULD BLANEY COULD IF HE DIDN'T PIT NOW. >> Larry: HE COULD PROBABLY GO ABOUT 14 TO 16 LAPS BUT KRISTA I GET A FEELING THEY WILL BE ON PIT ROAD QUICK HERE. >> Krista: I LOVE YOUR MATH SKILL IS. RYAN SAID 15 LAPS IS THE MOST THEY CAN GO. THEY WANTED DAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PATCH ON TRACK TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T BUMPY. RADIOED AND SAID DAVE HOW DOES IT FEEL. HE SAID NOT REALLY BUMPY SO I WE ARE OKAY. PLANNING TO GO TO PIT ROAD WITH ONE TO GO BEFORE WE GO GREEN. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW. A MILLION AND A HALVED. I GOT 15 LAPS AND THE TRACK IS A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE. I ROLLED THE DICE THIS FAR I THINK I'M GOING TO STAY OUT HERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> Larry: WHAT DID STEVEEE TELL YOU IN 1989 WE HAVE 16 RACES WE KNOW HOW TO NOT WIN IT, HOW ABOUT WE FIND A WAY TO WIN IT. >> Darrell: WITH THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE CONDITION OF THE TRACK AND I COULD RUN A LITTLE FURTHER EVEN IF IT MEANT I HAD TO PIT UNDER THE GREEN AND ALL THE DRIVERS ARE SAYING WE THINK IT WILL GET WILD AND CRAZY. KEEP THE CAR UP FRONT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WORTH A GAMBLE. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE AND STENHOUSE BOTH PITTED. TICK 12:00. IT IS MIDNIGHT. IT IS TUESDAY AND WE HAVE 100 MILES TO GO IN DAYTONA. MCDOWELL LAPS DOWN IN THE MIKE CUSH CAR. >> Darrell: AFTER MIDNIGHT WE'RE GOING TO LET IT ALL HANG OUT. >> Mike: I LIKE THE WAY YOU ARE THINKING. >> Larry: CASSILL IN THE 83 CAR. HE PITTED SIX LAPS EARLIER THAN DAVE BLANEY AND TONY RAINES AND DAVID GILLILAND. HE DOESN'T HAVE MANY LAPS AT ALL IN HIS TANK OF FUEL. >> Mike: DARRELL, QUITE A DICE ROLL. IF ANY OF THE FOUR DRIVERS STAY ON THE TRACK WE ARE BETTING WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO MANY LAPS THROUGH THE PATCH IN TURN FULL NUMBER THREE AND THE RACE WOULD BE STOPPED WITH THEM UP FRONT. AND IF THEY ARE WRONG AND ABLE TO RACE TO CONCLUSION THEIR CHANCES OF WINNING THE DAYTONA 500 ARE DASHED? >> Darrell: A GAMBLER'S CALL. I AM TELLING YOU IF I WAS IN ANY OF THOSE FOUR CALLS I WOULD ROLL THE DICE. >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. SAID IT IS NOT RACABLE. STEVE LETARTE SAYING I'M GOING TO RAISE THAT TO NASCAR. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IS NOT ENTIRELY CONFIDENT WITH THE TRACK'S CONDITION. >> Darrell: THERE IS REASONABLE DOUBT AND THAT IS WHY I'M SAYING IF I'M SITTING UP THERE IN THE LEAD RIGHT NOW AND I GOT A LITTLE FUEL LEFT IN THE TANK. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> Mike: WE'LL TAKE A SIDE-BY-SIDE BREAK FROM DAYTONA AS THEY GET READY TO GO BACK TO RACING. >> Mike: FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THE DAYTONA 500 IS RUN ON MONDAY AND WILL FINISH TUESDAY. >> Darrell: IT IS A RECORD WEEKEND ALL I CAN SAY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. >> Mike: 37 LAPS TO GO. THE FOUR DRIVERS IN THE FIRST FOUR POSITIONS HAVE NOT MADE FINAL STOP FOR FUEL AND THEY WILL GAMBLE UNTIL THE OFFICIALS GIVE THE ONE TO GO SIGNAL AND STAY OUT. SO NASCAR'S CHECKING IN WITH THE TEAMS AND THE DRIVERS. AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE TRACK AND HOW CLOSE WE ARE GOING BACK TO RACING. HERE IS LANDON CASSILL. >> [RADIO]: DID IT FEEL ROUGH WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THERE? >> FELT LIKE A SANDOVAL PIT. >> DO ALL YOU CAN TO KEEP FUEL ON THE PICKUP. >> Larry: THAT IS DOUG RICHARD H HIS CREW CHIEF. LANDON CASSILL HAS NOT BEEN TO PIT ROAD SINCE LAP 124. JEFF HAMMOND DID THE PIECE THERE ABOUT THE PUMPS AND FUEL CELL. OLD HABITS HARD TO BREAK. YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT CAN'T HURT. DOESN'T HURT. >> Darrell: THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEIR PRIME, LARRY. WANT TO KEEP THE PUMPS PRIMED UP. >> Mike: SIGNALING TWO LAP 20*S GREEN. HERE IS WHAT KEVIN HARVICK HAS TO SAY ABOUT TRACK CONDITION. >> [RADIO]: I DON'T EVEN SEE A PATCH. I JUST SEE A BUNCH OF WHITE LIKE SPEEDY-DRI. JUST PASSED IT. >> Darrell: THE SAME OLD THING. IF YOU ASK THE DRIVERS IN THE FRONT IS IT RAINING THEY WILL SAY IT IS POURING DOWN. THE GUYS MID PACK TO THE REAR WILL SAY IT HASN'T RAINED ALL AFTERNOON. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS HOW IT GOES. TERRY LABONTE TO THE PITS AS DOES TREVOR BAYNE. PULL THE TEAR OFF THE WIND SHIELD TO GIVE HIM A CLEAR VIEW. A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT IN THE RIGHT-REAR. AND BAYNE THOUGH HE IS 38 LAPS DOWN ALSO H HIS GOAL TO FINISH THIS DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: THAT IS A BIG DEAL. IS THIS THE 13 CAR HERE? CASEY MEARS IS ON THE APRON HERE, LARRY AND LOOKS LIKE HE MAY HAVE STRETCHED IT A WEE BIT TOO FAR. >> Larry: I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AND SEE. HE WAS LAST ON PIT ROAD AT LAP 158. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A FUEL ISSUE. >> Darrell: NO WAY. >> Larry: CASEY HAS RUN UP NEAR THE FRONT A GOOD PORTION OF TONIGHT'S RACE. >> Mike: SAFETY TRUCK GOING TO HIS AID AND PUSH HIM THE REMAINING TWO MILES BACK AROUND TO THE PITS. >> Darrell: WHAT A SHAME, LARRY. THIS TEAM RUNNING SO WELL ALL NIGHT LONG. RUN UP FRONT AND QUALIFIED UP FRONT AND JUST KIND OF PLAYED IT IT SAFE IN THE GATORADE DUEL RACE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE RACE CAR AND HE HAS RUN UP TO THE TOP FIVE, TOP TEN QUITE A BIT. >> Mike: SEE IF THEY GET ONE TO GO OR WAVE IT OFF TO GET MEARS CAR BACK AROUND TO PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: ONE TO GO IN THE AIR. THE SIGNAL FOR ONE TO GO. SEE IF THEY STICK WITH THAT. >> Mike: THE DREAMS OF THE FRONT FOUR MAY BE DASHED RIGHT HERE. CAN'T GO THE DISTANCE WITHOUT FUEL. BLANEY, CASSILL, RAINES AND GILLILAND COME IN TO TOP OFF THE TANK. KRISTA? >> Krista: THE SOUND OF HEART BREAK IN THE 36 DAVE BLANEY SAID IT FELT GRAVELLY THE LAST TIME BY. SAID TELL THEM THE TRACK IS NOT READY TO GO. THEY GAVE ONE TO GO AND HE SAID WE HAVE TO COME IN. FOUR TIRES THE CALL AND A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT. THEY WERE HOPING THE RACE WOULD NOT GET UNDERWAY SO THEY COULD STAY IN THE LEAD AND WIN THE DAYTONA 500. DICK? >> Dick: CARL EDWARDS IS ON PIT ROAD AND HE MIGHT AS WELL. HE WILL BE AT THE BACK OF THE LEAD LAP ANY HOW. ADDITIONAL FUEL IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE A GREEN/WHITE CHECKER WOULD GIVE HIM AN ADVANTAGE. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH SAME STORY. TOPPED OFF. PULLED THE TEAR OFF. READY TO GO IN THE BACK. >> Larry: HEREING THAT CASEY MEARS HAVING FUEL PRESSURE ISSUES. THAT IS ABOUT THE SECOND OR THIRD DRIVER WE HEARD THAT FROM TONIGHT. >> Mike: UP FRONT, MATT KENSETH AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. BOTH DAYTONAMPIONS OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: BOY, LARRY, I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO BE THE FIRST GUY TO HIT THAT PATCH OR NOT. >> Larry: ONE WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO HIT IT PROBABLY MATT KENSETH OR DALE EARNHARDT, JR. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK AND GREG BIFFLE. TWO FORDS OUTSIDE. JOEY LOGANO'S TOYOTA AND JEFF BURTON'S CHEVROLET. WHEN THEY TAKE THE GREEN FLAG IT WILL BE 34 LAPS TO GO. DENNY HAMLIN UP THERE AND SO IS PAUL MENARD. WEATHER GOOD. TRACK IS CLEAR. MEARS GOT A PUSH TO PIT ROAD. SO THEY WILL COME OFF TURN FOUR AND ADDRESS THE START/FINISH LINE. AND HERE WE GO. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M A LITTLE UPTIGHT ABOUT THIS. FIRST TWO DRIVERS BATTLE EACH OTHER FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN 2000, DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AND MATT KENSETH. KENSETH ENDED UP WINNING THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR THAT YEAR. >> Mike: SOME DRIVERS HANGING WAY BACK ON THE RESTART AS THEY COME TO THE GREEN FLAG. 34 TO GO. GREEN! KENSETH. BIFFLE PULL A CAR LENGTH ON JUNIOR AND HARVICK. >> Darrell: TWO FAST TOWARDS ON THE OUTSIDE LANE AND DALE, JR. HAS A FAST CAR ON THE BOTTOM WITH HARVICK PUSHING. I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE TWO REALLY FAST CARS THAT HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT HANGING ON TO THE LEAD WITH BIFFLE AND KENSETH UP THERE IN 16 AND 17. >> Mike: DOUBLE WIDE ON TURN TWO. >> Darrell: BOY, YOU GOT TO WONDER, YOU GOT TO WORRY. YOU GOT TO THINK. >> Mike: 190 MILES AN HOUR OFF INTO TURN THREE THROUGH THE SPEEDY-DRI CLEANLY. >> Darrell: NEVER EVEN BOBBLED. >> Mike: 8 CARS ON THE BOTTOM LEADING A DOZEN DOUBLE FILE AND THEN THREE WIDE WITH CASSILL IN THE MIDDLE. >> Darrell: I THINK RIGHT NOW, MIKE, YOU YOU REALLY GOT TO WORK HARD. IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE LEAD HERE WITH THE FIRST FOUR OR FIVE CARS YOU GOT TO WORK HARD TO GET YOURSELF UP THERE IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE ANY SHOT AT ALL OF WINNING THIS THING. >> Mike: BIFFLE HAD TO PEEK OUTSIDE OF KENSETH TO GET CLEAN AIR INTO THE OPENING FOR THE RADIATOR. >> Larry: DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 HAS BEEN FAST ALL NIGHT LONG. GATHERING A LITTLE GRIP ON THE TOP SIDE WITH BURTON IN THE 31 AND KEZELOWSKI IN THE 2. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY PAVEED THIS TRACK WITH BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF IT FOR MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING. >> Mike: FIVE CARS ON THE INSIDE. LOGANO IN THE ORANGE CAR CAME UP ALMOST INTO HIS TEAMMATE DENNY HAMLIN. ALMOST SIDE SWIPED HIM DARRELL FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THE ONLY WAY THE OUTSIDE LINE IS GOING GET TO THE BUNCH IS THEY HAVE TO HOOK UP IN TANDEM AND PUSH, I SEEN HIM OUT THERE AND HE COULD PUSH WHEN HAD BIFFLE IN FRONT OF HIM. I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS ANYBODY OUT FRONT RIGHT NOW THAT CAN GO WITH HIM SOME CARS ON THE BACK. CARL EDWARDS AND A COUPLE OF GUYS COMING THROUGH THE PACK THAT MAY HOOK UP HERE IN A SECOND AND MAKE A MOVE. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH WON HIS GATORADE DUEL RACE ON THURSDAY. HE DID IT WITH A GREAT PASS OF HIS TEAMMATE GREG BIFFLE AND NOW THE BIFF IS RIGHT ON KENSETH'S BUMPER BUT THE TWO FORDS ARE UNABLE TO PULL AWAY. >> Larry: DARRELL IS RIGHT, DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11 PULLING THE GROUP ON THE SECOND LANE THERE. THEY ARE NOT MAKING ANY GROUND. NOT LOSING GROUND BUT NOT MAKING ANY GROUND. >> Darrell: AND WE KNOW THAT HAMLIN GOING QUICK AND BURTON RIGHT BEHIND HIM IN THE 31 IS, TOO. IF ANYBODY CAN DO IT. AND THEN THE TWO KEZELOWSKIS. PRETTY GOOD CARS RIGHT THERE THAT MAYBE COULD MAKE PROGRESS UP THE OUTSIDE. HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. YOU ARE LIKE A YO-YO ON THE OUTSIDE. GO UP AND THEN YOU GO BACK A LITTLE BIT AND THEN YOU GO UP. CAN YOU GET UP THERE. >> Mike: 30 LAPS TO GO. THEYVILLE TO BUDDY UP TO MAKE IT TO THE FRONT ON THE OUTSIDE AS WE >> Mike: 28 LAPS TO GO IN DAYTONA. LAST LAP SPEED 200 MILES PER HOUR. AND MATT KENSETH LEADS HIS TEAMMATE GREG BIFFLE IN FORDS. THE CHEVY OF EARNHARDT. THE TOYOTAS OF HAMLIN AND LOGANO AND BURTON, KEZELOWSKI AND MENARD IN THE TOP TEN. >> Larry: TONY STEWART UP ON THE HIGH SIDE THERE. CAN'T FIND A PLACE TO GET BACK DOWN IN. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE WHOLE PROBLEM. TRY TO MAKE ANY SORT OF A MOVE AND SOMEBODY FILLS YOUR SPOT AND YOU HAVE NO WHERE TO GO EXCEPT TO THE BACK AND REGROUP AND GET BACK UP THERE. >> Mike: GOT A LITTLE HELP FROM RICKY STENHOUSE IN THE 6. >> Darrell: HOPING SOMEBODY WILL SAY THAT IS TONY STEWART I WILL GO WITH HIM BUT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY. >> Mike: RIDING WITH REGAN SMITH. A CONTENDER EARLY AND TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY BACK UP FROM 13th POSITION. AND BURTON AND HAMLIN HAVE HOOKED UP. HERE THEY COME TO THE FRONT. >> Darrell: THAT IS A GOOD TANDEM. BUT BURTON FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER JUST LOST A BUNCH OF GROUND RIGHT THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE GOT LOOSE OR WHAT HAPPENED BUT HE FELL OFF THE BACK OF THE 11 CAR OF HAMLIN ALL AT ONCE. >> Larry: LIKE HE PUSHES HAMLIN FOR A LITTLE BIT AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE STARTS TO RUN HOT OR WHAT AND THEN HAS TO GET OFF REAL QUICK. >> Darrell: GIVES HIM A SHOVE AND ALMOST UP THERE AND A GOOD HEAD OF STEAM AND THEN HAS TO FALL OUT OF LINE. >> Mike: AND HE MOVES HAMLIN UP EVEN WITH THE FOURTH FOURTH PLACE CAR. >> Darrell: SQUEEZING BY THE BLACK CAR. >> Jeff: JOE NEMECHEK IN THE 87 CAR. >> Larry: JOE NEMECHEK IN THE 87 CAR. >> Mike: 25 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: I'M GLAD. MAKING ME NERVOUS. >> Mike: HAMLIN HAS WORKED UP ALONGSIDE KEVIN HARVICK WHO IS FOURTH. >> Larry: KEEPS CHIPPING AWAY AT IT LITTLE BY LITTLE. >> Mike: EVERYBODY MOVING AROUND TRYING TO GET A LITTLE CLEAN AIR IN THAT RADIATOR AND KEEP THOSE ENGINES COOL. >> Darrell: THAT IS THE PROBLEM IF YOU ARE DOWN THERE IN THAT BOTTOM LINE YOU GOT TO GET AIR TO THE ENGINE SOONER OR LATER. ONE THING ABOUT HAMLIN AND THEM ON THE OUTSIDE. HAMLIN HAS CLEAN AIR SO HIS CAR IS NOT GOING TO GET HOT. >> John: HAMLIN REMAINS -- >> Mike: HAMLIN REMAINS SIDE BY SIDE WITH HARVICK. >> Larry: CATCH THE WHITE CAR OF CASEY MEARS. CLINT BOWYER IN THE 15 AS WELL JUST LEFT PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: SOMETIMES THAT LAP CAR WILL MESS UP THE FORMATION LIKE YOU SEE HERE AND MOVE THE FRONT PACK AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE THE OUTSIDE LINE A LITTLE BETTER SHOT. >> Mike: MOVING AROUND THE LAPPED CAR. >> Darrell: HOLD THE WHEEL HERE. >> Mike: AND THEN THEY WILL RE-FORM. >> Darrell: HAMLIN COULD DROP IN LINE RIGHT THERE AND HE DID. HE GOT IN IT FRONT -- OH, THIS IS A CAR OFF IN THE GRASS. MORE CARS OFF IN THE GRASS. >> Mike: THREE CARS SLIDING. MARCOS AMBROSE IS ONE. >> Larry: CASEY MEARS THE 13 THAT THEY JUST LAPPED. >> Mike: CAUTION. >> Darrell: THE LAPPED CARS ARE SO HARD TO GET AROUND WHEN YOU ARE COMING UP AROUND THEM 20 MILES AN HOUR FAST EVER THAN THE LAP CAR IS GOING. >> Mike: AND THERE IS MEARS AND AMBROSE GETS AWAY AFTER THE BIG SPIN. FORTUNATE, DARRELL, THAT FOUR CAR -- THAT MORE CARS WEREN'T INVOLVED. >> Darrell: LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF THEM BUT THEY ALL GOT THEM STRAIGHTENED OUT. >> Mike: LET'S HAVE A LOOK. CASEY MEARS AND WATCH THE BLUE CAR THE 43 OF ARIC ALMIROLA AS THIS GETS STARTED. >> Darrell: TIGHT HEADING DOWN IN THE CORNER. CASEY IS GETTING LAPPED. >> Mike: STENHOUSE IN FRONT OF ALMIROLA. >> Larry: ALMIROLA, I'M IT WILLING YOU, HE BARELY GOT AFTERH THERE HALFTIME THAT THAT HAPPENED. >> Eddie: I THINK THE 9 CAR OF MARCOS AMBROSE HAS QUITE A BIT OF BODY DAMAGE. LOOK AT ALMIROLA RIGHT THERE. NICE SAVE. >> Larry: WATCH THIS RIGHT HERE, THOUGH, WOW. >> Mike: TWO OF THE CARS THE 9 AND 43 ARE TEAMMATES OF RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS, AMBROSE AND ALMIROLA. STENHOUSE WAS TRYING TO MOVE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE MIDDLE AND THAT HOLE JUST WASN'T OPEN. >> Darrell: DON'T GET DOWN ON THE APRON VERY OFTEN AND GET IT STRAIGHTENED UP AND KEEP ON GOING. >> Mike: THE CAUTION WAVES WITH 22 LAPS TO GO. STENHOUSE IN THE NUMBER 6. THERE IS THE FIRST CONTACT WITH THE 43. >> Darrell: I THINK THE 13 WAS JUST FORCING THE 43. HAD NO WHERE ARE TO GO AND THE 6 WAS ON THE OUTSIDE THERE AND THEY DID MAKE CONTACT. >> Mike: CLINT BOWYER GETS THE FREE PASS. WATCH RICKYY STENHOUSE. >> Darrell: IT IS MORE LIKE THE 43 SEEMED TO ME LIKE MAY HAVE GONE UP A LITTLE BIT AS MUCH AS STENHOUSE TRIED TO GET DOWN. I THINK IT WAS GETTING TIGHT RIGHT THERE AS THEY WENT BY THE SLOW CAR OF MEARS. >> Larry: DARRELL WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLY IN THE SHOW. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST TREACHEROUS PLACES IN THE RACETRACK. >> Darrell: YOU ARE RUNNING 200-MILE AN HOUR THROUGH HERE. THE CAR GETS LIGHT AND LOOSE AS YOU COME THROUGH HERE. >> Mike: MEARS AND AMBROSE PITTED. LET'S GET MICHAEL WALTRIP'S TAKE ON THAT. >> Michael: LOOKED LIKE WHAT WE SEE A LOT OF TIMES HERE AT DAYTONA. ANY TIME YOU ARE LAPPING A CAR PEOPLE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. LOOKED LIKE THE 43 CAR OF ALMIROLA MOVED UP AND CLIPPED THE OTHER CAR AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. CASEY MEARS WAS DOING EVERYTHING HE SHOULD. YOU ARE COMING INTO A TOUGH TURN LIKE YOU SAID, DARRELL AND HE MOVED UP A LITTLE TOO FAR AND CAUSED THAT ACCIDENT. >> Darrell: THERE IS SOME FIRE UNDER THE 9 CAR HERE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS -- SOMETHING IS DRAGGING ON THE FRONT OF IT AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE UP UNDER THE HOOD OF THAT CAR. >> Mike: KRISTA? >> Krista: THEY ARE TALKING TO MAR COSWORTH RIGHT NOW SAYING WATCH YOUR GAGES. IT WAS RIGHT-FRONT DAMAGE THAT HE SUFFERED IN THE INCIDENT THERE. THEY ARE SAYING WATCH THERE IS A SPLITTER DRAGGING A BIT RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: AMBROSE HAS BEEN SOLID ALL WEEK BUT WITH 21 LAPS TO GO THINGS COULD BE TOUGH FOR THE LIKEABLE AUSSIE. >> Mike: READY FOR THE RESTART. 20 LAPS TO GO. 27 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. MARCOS AMBROSE STILL RUNNING BUT DOWN A LAP AFTER THE SLIDE COMING OUT THAT PUT US UNDER THIS THE 8th 'CUSE FLAG OF THE NIGHT. >> Darrell: IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD YOU HAVE TO DO IT ON THE RESTARTS AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES RIGHT HERE WHEN IT IS GOING TO GET DESPERATE AND YOU START FORCING IN TRYING TO GET DOWN IN LINE OR MAKE A PASS HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> Mike: TEAMMATES TOGETHER NO LONGER. KENSETH AND BIFFLE ON THE FRONT ROW IN FORDS. EARNHARDT AND HARVICK IN THE SECOND ROW IN CHEVROLETS. AND WE PACK UP SUNDAY AND HEAD FOR PHOENIX TO DUEL IN THE DESERT ON FOX. >> Larry: I GET A FEELING DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE 88 IS GOING TO STAY CLUED TO THE 17 OF MATT KENSETH. WE ARE GETTING A REPORT THAT MATT KENSETH CAN HEAR HIS CREW AND HIS SPOTTER BUT THEY CAN'T HEAR MATT WHICH HONESTLY WITH 19 TO GO AND NO MORE PITSTOPS THAT IS THE BEST OF THE TWO EVILS. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN LED THE MOST LAPS TONIGHT. KENSETH THIRD ON THE LIST BEHIND HAMLIN AND BIFFLE WHO STARTS RIGHT ALONGSIDE HIM. THEY HAVE TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK ON THE SAFETY CAR. WE WERE SET FOR THE RESTART. THEY ARE GOING TO ADD ONE LAP AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK TO GREEN FOR THE FINAL 18. >> Mike: READY TO RESTART. THE EXTRA LAP WAS TO REPOSITION JOEY LOGANO FROM 7 BACK TO 18th FOR NOT MAINTAINING RACE CAR SPEED. LINED UP BEHIND THE NUMBER 1. >> Darrell: THAT IS A BIG HIT. >> John: CHEVY AND DODGE IN ROW THREE. TWO TOYOTAS ROW FOUR. TWO CHEVIES ROW FIVE. WHO WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500. 18 LAPS FROM THE CHECKERED FLAG. GREEN FLAG! >> Darrell: KENSETH MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE GETTING THE FORD OUT ON THE RESTART. THE ODD LINE IS GOING HAVE A GOOD HIT OF STEAM BUT HE STAYS IN FRONT OF GREG BIFFLE LIKE GREG BIFFLE DID HIM IN THE QUALIFYING RACE. >> Larry: HE SAW THE LINE COMING AND JUMPED UP THERE IN THE LAST SECOND. NOW, GETTING A SHOT FROM BIFFLE. >> Darrell: THOSE ARE THE TWO BEST CARS, THE 16 AND 17. JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER THEY CAN HANG TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. >> Mike: THEY WERE 6 MILES AN HOUR FASTER THAN THE PACK GOING INTO THE CORNER AS KENSETH MOVED UP AND FOUND HIS TEAMMATE GREG BIFFLE. BIFFLE NOW KENSETH'S WINGMAN. DALE, JR. PUSHING BIFFLE RIGHT UP TO KENSETHS IN BUMPER. >> Darrell: A HEAD OF STEAM COMING DOWN HERE. DALE, JR. WAS GOING TO TRY TO PUSH GREG BIFFLE TO THE LEAD BUT HE WOULD HAVE NOTHING OF IT. >> Mike: THE ALLIANCES ARE FORMING. >> Darrell: I THINK DALE, JR. HAS TO RETHINK HIS STRATEGY. TWO FORDS IN FRONT OF HIM. A TOYOTA BEHIND HIM. IN NO MAN'S LAND RIGHT NOW BY HIMSELF. >> Larry: WHAT I HAVE BEEN SEEING WITH KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29 WE ARE RIDING WITH AND BURTON IN THE 21 JUST LIKE EARLIER ARE BURTON CANNOT PUSH FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. >> Darrell: I'M NOT SURE WHY HE CAN'T STAY HOOKED UP. IT HAS GOT TO BE HEAT. >> Mike: THREE OF THE RICHARD CHILDRESS CHEVYs RIGHT TOGETHER. HARVICK, MENARD AND BURTON. 27. 29 AND 31. >> Darrell: THOSE FOUR CARS DOWN THE BOTTOM, THE 17, 16, 88 AND THE 11 THOSE ARE FOUR CARS THAT HAVE SHOWN A LOT OF SPEED ALL THROUGH THIS RACE. >> Mike: YOU SEE THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE AT THE INSIDE OF THE RACING SURFACE. YOU CANNOT GO BELOW THAT LINE AND ADVANCE YOUR POSITION OR THERE WILL BE PENALTIES. SO RIGHT NOW FOR THOSE FRONT THE YELLOW LINE IS THEIR BEST FRIEND. >> Larry: RYAN NEWMAN IN THE 39 CAR. HE WAS THE SECOND CAUTION OF THE RACE WAY BACK ON LAP 12 WHEN HAD THE FLAT RIGHT REAR AND HERE HE IS BACK IN THE TOP TEN. >> Darrell: GET THE LUCKY DOG OR A COUPLE OF BREAKS AND THE YOU ARE RIGHT BACK IN IT. INTERESTING TO SEE IF THESE FOUR GUYS HERE AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD WILL STAY HOOKED UP LIKE THIS TO THE END AND NOT GIVE ANYBODY A CHANCE TO GET UP THERE AND CHALLENGE THEM. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK LEADING THE OUTSIDE LANE. A DAYTONA CHAMPION. HE NEEDS A PUSH FROM JEFF BURTON IF HE IS GOING TO CHALLENGE. >> Darrell: HE IS A GOOD PUSHER FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO PUSH VERY LONG. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SPEED OUT OF THE 29 CAR. HAS BEEN UP THERE BUT NOT ABLE TO STAY UP THERE REAL WELL. >> Mike: HERE IS THE PUSH AND HARVICK THE 2007 WINNER INCHES PAST PAUL MENARD TRYING TO GET EVEN WITH FIRST PLACE DENNY HAMLIN NOW. >> Darrell: COULDN'T GET A BETTER PUSH. THE 31 IS ALL OVER HIM AND A TWO CAR TANDEM GOING ON. HARD TO CLOSE UP ON THE FRONT PACK. >> Larry: IT WENT RIGHT AT 200 MILES PER HOUR WHEN LEANED ON HARVICK IN THE 29. >> Darrell: MAYBE DOWN THE BACK GET A HEAD OF STEAM UP AND GET A SIDE DRAFT MAYBE. >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN, 39 WITH PAUL MENARD. >> Darrell: SOMETIMES ON THE OUTSIDE THEY ARE GETTING INTO TURN THREE CAN PICK UP A LITTLE ROOM AND MAKE UP A LITTLE TIME BUT THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED TO ME LIKE THEY MIGHT EVEN BE FALLING BACK A TAD. >> Mike: 13 LAPS TO GO. OOH, TROUBLE. BIG, BIG TROUBLE. MISSED PACK. SLIDING AND SPINNING INTO THE INFIELD. MCMURRAY. AND SLIDING UP THE RACETRACK, ONE CAR AND IT COASTS TO THE BOTTOM. THAT IS ARIC ALMIROLA. REGAN SMITH WAS IN IT AND KASEY KAHNE THE LEFT SIDE OF H HIS CAR TORN UP AND WE ARE BACK UNDER CAUTION. >> Darrell: OH. >> Mike: NINTH TIME AT LAP 188. >> Darrell: ALMIROLA, THE 1 CAR OF McMURRAY IS THE ONE I SAW. HE WAS SPINNING AROUND LIKE A TOP. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS HAS DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. OUR POLE SITTER. >> Darrell: ABOUT MID PAK, McMURRAY RIGHT BACK HERE. HE IS THE FIRST GUY I SAW GO AROUND. A LITTLE WOBBLE. GOT A LITTLE WOBBLE. >> Larry: I BELIEVE HE BLEW A LEFT-REAR TIRE. STARTED WIGGLING AROUND AND WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP YOU CAN SEE THE LEFT-REAR TIRE IS COMPLETELY TORN APART. I THINK HE HAD A LEFT-FRONT TIRE AND GOT AWAY FROM HIM, WOBBLING THROUGH AND FINALLY WENT AROUND WITH HIM. >> Larry: ANOTHER DRIVER INVOLVED, BRAD KEZELOWSKI RIGHT THERE. I BOND FERNANDO ALONSO BRAD TWITTERED THERE -- I WONDER IF BRAD TWITTERED THAT. KEZELOWSKI IN THE 2 DROVE UNDERNEATH KASEY KAHNE IN THE 5. JUST NO WHERE TO GO. >> Darrell: WATCH TONY STEWART THERE. WORKED HIS WAY RIGHT BACK. KEZELOWSKI MISSED THAT WRECK BY INCHES. >> Mike: ALMIROLA CAME UP THE TRACK RIGHT IN FRONT OF DAVE BLANEY WHO MISSED HIM. WATCH THE ORANGE AND BLACK BE NUMBER 1. >> Darrell: RIGHT HERE. THIS PROGRAM REALTIME CAPTIONED BY SANDRA SMITH.S WOBBLING WOBBLING RIGHT HERE AND THEN GOES AROUND AND LOOKS LIKE A TOP. I SAW THE ORANGE SPINNING AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND. >> Mike: STEWART DID GET DAMAGE IF IN THE FIRST PART OF THE CRASH, DARRELL. >> Darrell: YES, HE DID. >> Mike: AND FROM KASEYY CANE. >> Darrell: KEZELOWSKI ALMOST WENT OVER. >> [RADIO]: WE GOT, LET'S SEE. WHERE ARE WE AT? >> Mike: AND WE WILL RIDE WITH REGAN SMITH. >> [RADIO]: 43 STILL OUTSIDE. RIGHT THERE. YOU SEE IT. >> Darrell: I DON'T THINK HE CAN SEE ANYTHING. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS OUR POLE SITTER. >> Larry: HE ALMOST MADE IT THROUGH. GOT DAMAGE RIGHT THERE THROUGH THE END OF IT. >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE. >> Larry: DARRELL, HE DID THE SAME THING WITH HIS HANDS THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON DID IN THE WRECK ON LAP ONE. >> Darrell: WE HAD IN CAR CAMERAS IN THE CARS YEARS AND UP UNTIL RECENTLY HAVE I SEEN THEM TUCK THEIR HANDS OUT OF HARM'S WAY LIKE THAT. THEY LEARNED A LOT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. >> John: KASEY KAHNE A LONG TIME OPEN WHEELER. OWNS A SPRINT CAR TEAM. AND A DEFENSIVE POSTURE. A LEARNED RESPONSE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS AND WITH THE NEW DUAL PATH ONBOARD CAMERAS WE CAN GIVE YOU TWO VIEWS FROM THE IN-CAR. HERE IS WHAT JAMIE MAC HAD TO SAY? >> [RADIO]: I THINK MAYBE -- >> Larry: WELL, YOU YOU THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE MONTOYA HIT THE JET DRYER HE WAS COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS RACE CAR AND YOU CAN SEE HIM WIGGLING DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. JAMIE JUST SAID MAYBE THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY CAR. >> Mike: BOTH THE CHIP CARS OUT OF THE RACE. THERE IS ALMIROLA THE DRIVER FOR RICHARD PETTY. RAN A STRONG 500. HE WILL BE OUT OF THE RACE WITH 11 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW IF THIS CHANGES ANYTHING OR NOT. IT COULD WHEN WE HAVE A RESTART HERE WITH KENSETH AND BIFFLE UP THERE ON THE FRONT ROW. DALE, JR. GETS BEHIND KENSETH AGAIN. THAT IS A PRETTY STOUT PAIR RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: REGAN SMITH ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT DAMAGE AND IT LOOKS LIKE SO, TOO, WILL CARL EDWARDS. NOT SO THE 43. >> Darrell: SEVERAL GUYS SLIPPED IN THE PICTURE HERE, MIKE. MARK MARTIN UP TO 8th. HE HAS BEEN RIDING AROUND BACK THERE ALL THE RACE LONG. HE HAS GOT A TEAMMATE UP THERE IN MARTIN TRUEX. GOOD TEAMMATE COMBINATIONS RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: RICKY STENHOUSE, JR. ONE OF THE ROUSH FENWAY DRIVERS MADE HIS WAY UP TO 12th IN THE 6 CAR. >> Mike: ON THE INSIDE, McMURRAY LOSES CONTROL. AND IT'S ON. >> [RADIO]: THEY'RE GOING WRECK. NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT JUST GOT TO USE YOUR HEAD, BE SMART AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> Mike: THAT WAS BEFORE THE MOST RECENT ACCIDENT, THE 9th CAUTION OF THE DAY. >> Darrell: EVERY TIME I CAN RECALL SAYING TO MYSELF I WOULD HEAR A WEE VOICE INSIDE OF ME SAY THEY GOING TO WRECK AND EVERY TIME I DIDN'T REACT TO WHAT I WAS THINKING I ENDED UP REGRETTING IT. THERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF YOU KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO WRECK, WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU CAN'T STOP. GOT TO KEEP GOING. >> Mike: INTERESTINGLY, DARRELL, ABOUT 8 CARS HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT ONE TO TWO SECONDS BEHIND THE LEAD PACK. PERHAPS ANTICIPATING THAT VERY THING. >> Darrell: I THINK WE SEE IT. THE SPOTTERS SAW IT. THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. THEY ARE GOING TO WRECK. >> Mike: SEVEN DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THAT PILEUP. JAMIE McMURRAY, BRAD KEZELOWSKI, KASEY KAHNE. AS YOU LOOK AT MATT KENSETH WHO HAS LED 38 LAPS TONIGHT. HE BEAT GREG BIFFLE ON THE FINAL LAP THURSDAY. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT IN THESE CLOSING LAPS? 129 RACES IS SINCE DALE, JR. HAS BEEN TO VICTORY LANE. >> Darrell: GOING TO BE A DRAG RACE. KENSETH AND BIFFLE ON THE FRONT ROW, EARNHARDT, JR. AND HAMLIN BEHIND HIM. BURTON IS GOOD. THOSE SIX CARS, GOING TO BE A DRAG RACE. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON TRYING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. HE HAS WON SECOND HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES. PAUL MENARD THE BIG WIN AT THE BRICKYARD LAST YEAR. MARK MARTIN. THREE DECADES OF TRYING TO WIN THIS RACE. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT AGO, CLINT BOWYER WAS TWO LAPS DOWN AND NOW BACK ON THE LEAD LAP IN 22nd SPOT. HE MADE UP A COUPLE OF LAPS HERE IN THE LAST LITTLE BIT. >> Larry: RYAN NEWMAN GOT FREE PASS TWO TIMES IN THE RACE. >> Darrell: TWO TIME CHAMP TERRY LABONTE HANGING AROUND. >> John: >> Mike: IN THE CLOSING LAPS OF THE BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT KYLE BUSCH TOOK A WRECKED CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE FRONT AND WON. RICKY STENHOUSE. DIDN'T HAVE A CUP RIDE FOR THIS SEASON. JACK ROUSH HAD A GOLDEN TICKET FOR THE NUMBER SIX. A GUARANTEED START IN THE FIRST SIX RACES. ASKED STENHOUSE TO DRIVE. >> Darrell: AND MY OLD BUDDY, DAVID REUTIMANN. GOOD TO SEE HIM. KEPT OUT OF TROUBLE. SITTING THERE IN 14th PLACE AND HERE IS MY MAN. >> Mike: SERIES CHAMPION TONY STEWART 15th LARRY McREYNOLDS WON 17 RACES AT DAYTONA BUT NEVER THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: DAVID GILLILAND. THIRD LAST YEAR. TRYING TO PROVE THAT WAS NO FLUKE. >> Darrell: WHEN I WAS 17 AND TRYING TO WIN MY 17th I SAID MAYBE I'M GOING TO FINISH 17. RIGHT NOW SMOKE IS RUNNING 14th. HE IS 14 ON HIS 14th TRY. >> Mike: THE ONLY NUMBER I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, DARRELL, IS 200. THAT IS THE LAP NUMBER I WANT TO SEE UP ON THE SCOREBOARD. >> Darrell: BABY. >> Mike: NINE TO GO. >> Larry: MAKING REPAIRS TO CARL EDWARDS CAR. STILL ON THE LEAD LAP. WE HAVE 23 DRIVERS ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Mike: AFTER GILLILAND AT 16th POSITION, TONY RAINES RUNNING 17th IN THE THIRD CAR FOR FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, WE SAW RICK HENRIK DOWN THERE A LITTLE BIT AGO, MIKE AROUND I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT 3:00 THIS AFTERNOON AND HE WAS THIS CHARLOTTE. HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE WEATHER. I SAID I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO RAIN, BOSS, I THINK YOU BETTER COME DOWN. I WANT TO THANK HIM OR THE HELPING HAND HE GAVE US HERE ON THE FOX TEAM THIS WEEK. WE APPRECIATE THAT, RICK. >> Mike: ALL OF THESE ARE LEAD LAP CARS. JAMIE McMURRAY AND BRAD KEZELOWSKI CHECKED AND RELEASED FROM THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. FOUR DRIVERS WITH LENGTHY WINLESS STREAKS ARE ALL RUNNING IN THE TOP TEN AS WE LOOK BACK AT THE REST OF THE LEAD LAP CARS. LABONTE TWO TIME CHAMP. CLINT BOWYER BACK ON THE LEAD LAP. >> Darrell: ANY OTHER BIZARRE THING HAPPEN IN 8 MORE LAPS? >> Mike: LOOK AT THE GRANDSTAND, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE ALL HERE. >> Darrell: 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND STILL ALL HANGING AROUND HERE WANTING TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. >> Mike: KRISTA? >> Krista: AS BRAD KEZELOWSKI WALKED OUT OF THE CARE CENTER I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS OKAY AND THE ONLY REASON WE WILL JOKE ABOUT THIS, WHAT TOOK MORE DAMAGE YOUR CAR OR YOUR PHONE? >> THE CAR BY FAR. DISAPPOINTING. WE FOUGHT HARD ALL RACE LONG TO BE TOWARDS THE FRONT AND HAD TO COME IN AND PIT UNDER THE LAST YELLOW AND GOT TOWARDS THE BACK AND WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND YOU ARE BACK THERE YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT. THAT IS DAYTONA AND THAT IS HOW THIS RACING IS. HAS BEEN A LONG FEW YOU WEEKS IN DAYTONA AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO PHOENIX AND I THINK WE HAVE GOOD CARS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. A GOOD ONE TONIGHT AND I'M PROUD OF EVERYONE AT PENSKE RACING BEFORE THAT. BEFORE I GO I WANT TO SAY TO ALL THE FANS WATCHING I KNOW IT IS LATE AT NIGHT. THE RAIN DELAYS AND FIRE DELAYS BUT YOU GUYS ARE STILL HERE AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> Krista: THANKS, BRAD. >> Mike: FOG CLOSING IN. 8 LAPS TO GO. BIFFLE HASN'T BEEN TO VICTORY LANE IN THE LAST 43 STARTS. IT HAS BEEN 113 FOR JEFF BURTON. 81 RACES FOR MARK MARTIN. 167 FOR MARTIN TRUEX. MATT KENSETH. >> [RADIO]: FRUSTRATED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK TO US BUT WE WORKED THROUGH IT THE WHOLE RACE AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH IT. I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE OUT THE RIGHT-SIDE. DO WHAT YOU DO, BUDDY. WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN. LET'S BRING IT HOME, HERE. >> Mike: THAT IS KENSETH'S SPOTTER AS THE GREEN FLAG WAVES. 7 LAPS TO GO. JUNIOR PUSHING KENSETH DOWN TOWARD TURN ONE. >> Darrell: THAT 16 CAR, THOUGH, HE IS STOUT. THAT IS A FAST CAR. AND HE HAS GOT A FAST CAR PUSHING HIM. WE SAW HAMLIN PUSH TO THE LEAD EARLIER IN THE RACE. >> Mike: FOUR CARS TRYING TO SETTLE AMONG THEMSELVES. KENSETH TO PICK UP HIS TEAMMATE BIFFLE. AND DOES. >> Larry: NOW, THEY WILL GO TO THE BOTTOM. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. IN THE 88 WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FALL BACK IN FOURTH SPOT. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING GET KICKED WAY OUT OF LINE. >> Darrell: THAT IS TEAM WORK. THAT IS WHAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IN THE 150. KENSETH REALLY HELPED BIFFLE OUT BY PULLING OUT AND GETTING HIM AND PULLING HIM UP THERE BEHIND HIM. NOW, SHOULD BE ABLE TO SETTLE IT PROBABLY BETWEEN THEMSELVES. >> Mike: SIX LAPS TO GO. ON THE OUTSIDE LANE, TEAMMATES MARK MARTIN AND HIS NEW TEAMMATE MARTIN TRUEX. TWO TOYOTAS GOING TO TRY TO PUSH TO THE FRONT. A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET THERE. >> Larry: AND DARRELL, UNLESS THE OUTSIDE LINE GETS TO MOVING MAT KENSETH HIS BEST FRIEND RIGHT NOW IS THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE. >> Darrell: I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD SAY OKAY LET'S RIGHT RIGHT HERE AND HOLD WHAT WE GOT. DON'T ANYBODY PANIC BECAUSE IT WILL BE A DRAG RACE OFF TURN FOUR. THAT IS WHERE THE RACES HAVE BEEN WON EVERY TIME DOWN HERE THIS WEEK. YOU CAN TELL KENSETH KNOWS THAT THE YELLOW LINE IS HIS FRIEND, MAN AND PROTECTING THAT BOTTOM. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO RIGHT NOW. MAKE THEM GO BY ON THE OUTSIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO PASS YOU. >> Mike: FIVE LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: HERE IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, LARRY. BIFFLE HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION AM I GOING TO STAY BEHIND MY TEAMMATE OR LET THE 11 PUSH ME RIGHT PAST HIM. THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT BIFFLE HAS TO SIT THERE AND ASK ASK HIMSELF. >> Larry: PROBABLY THE QUESTION MATT KENSETH IS ASKING HIMSELF ABOUT GREG BIFFLE. >> Darrell: I HAVE TO BELIEVE HE IS SKEPTICAL BASED ON WAY THEY RACED IN THE QUALIFYING RACE. >> Mike: AND DENNY HAMLIN IN THIRD IN THE NUMBER 11 HAS NO FRIENDS. TWO FORDS, HAMLIN'S TOYOTA BY ITSELF AND TWO CHEVROLETS BEHIND. EARNHARDT AND BURTON. FOUR CHEVYs. AND 14 TONY STEWART. >> Darrell: AND RYAN NEWMAN. TONY GOING AROUND. ANOTHER WRECK. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH HARD SLIDE THROUGH THE GRASS. NO CONTACT. AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN CARS INVOLVED IN THIS ONE. DAVE BLANEY DRIVES AWAY. THAT IS KYLE BUSCH. CAUTION FLAG NUMBER TEN WITH FOUR LAPS TO GO. LANDON CASSILL -- EXCUSE ME, DAVID REUTIMANN. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, TONY GOT AROUND BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE GOT A LOT OF DAMAGE OR NOT. I SEE A LOT OF BODY DAMAGE AND TIRES GOT THE SIDE RUBBED OFF OF THEM BUT THE CAR DIDN'T LOOK THAT BAD ONES HE GOT IT STRAIGHTENED OUT. >> Mike: CHECK WITH MATT? >> Matt: TOLD TEAM I PRETTY MUCH THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED TIRES BUT I GOT IT. >> Mike: STEVE ADDINGTON STEWART'S NEW CREW CHIEF FOR 2012. >> Darrell: I SEE HIM ALL OF A SUDDEN HE GETS A LITTLE PUSH FROM BEHIND. MAYBE FROM JOEY LOGANO. >> Mike: HE AND STENHOUSE GO AROUND. NEWMAN AND BUSH. >> Larry: AND NEWMAN AND B BUSCH WAS IN FRONT OF TONY A LITTLE BIT WHEN THAT STARTED HAPPENING. >> Darrell: HAVE TO TAKE A COUPLE MORE LOOKS AT THAT. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH WENT FOR A LONG WILD RIDE WITH BLANEY INVOLVED. >> Darrell: 39 UP HERE. RIGHT, RIGHT THERE. STENHOUSE GOT INTO THE SIDE -- STENHOUSE IN THE 6 GOT INTO TONY. >> Mike: I'M NOT SURE, THOUGH, THAT DAVID GILLILAND DIDN'T GET INTO THE BACK OF STENHOUSE AND PUSH HIM INTO TONY. >> Darrell: COULD HAVE. WE HAVE TO LOOK AGAIN. >> Larry: THE SECOND OR THIRD WRECK ON THE EXIT WHERE ARE IT STARTS NARROWING UP RIGHT THERE. >> Darrell: CARS FREE AND LOOSE. RUNNING 200-MILE AN HOUR UP THERE HARD TO HANG ON SOMETIME. >> Larry: SAW THERE WHERE KYLE BUSCH THE 18 JUMPED DOWN IN FRONT OF RICKY STENHOUSE IN THE 6. >> Darrell: I KNOW HE HIT TONY. NOT SURE IF HE GOT FORCED INTO HIM. HERE IS SMOKE RIGHT DOWN HERE. >> Mike: THERE IS STENHOUSE WITH GILLILAND BEHIND HIM. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT, THE 20 CAR AND 6 CAR MAKE A LITTLE CONTACT. >> Mike: YOU'RE RIGHT. >> Darrell: AND I'M NOT SURE THAT DIDN'T MOVE THE 6 CAR UP, STENHOUSE UP JUST ENOUGH THAT HE GOT INTO THE LEFT-REAR OF TONY STEWART. >> Mike: SO LET'S REGROUP HERE. JOEY LOGANO AND RICKY STENHOUSE MADE CONTACT. STENHOUSE MOVES UP INTO TONY STEWART. >> [RADIO]: COMING INSIDE HERE. THERE YOU GO. OUTSIDE. STAY DOWN. DOWN LOW IF YOU CAN. KEEP COMING ACROSS. GOT RUN HERE IF YOU CAN. LEADERS IN TWO. >> Darrell: I BELIEVE THE 20 -- COME NO THE SIDE OF TONY. THAT IS WHAT IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPEN AD. >> Mike: MICHAEL, HOW DO YOU SEE IT? >> Michael: STENHOUSE CAME AND HAD A GOOD RUN. MOVED UP A LITTLE BIT AND CREATED CONTACT WITH THE 20. I DON'T THINK JOEY LOGANO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. I THINK RICKY HAD A BIG RUN AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. >> Mike: AND THERE AGAIN, DARRELL, WE TALK ABOUT CLOSING SPEED. RICKY STENHOUSE HAD A BIG RUN COMING UP THROUGH THE PACK. RAN OUT OF PLACE TO GO. >> Darrell: AND YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD. UP THROUGH THE PACK AND WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF CARS LIKE THAT EVEN IF YOU TRY TO SLOW DOWN YOU CAN'T. SO YOU MAKE CASUAL CONTACT WHICH CREATES CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. >> Larry: HERE IS WHAT SETS US UP WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE RACING. THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A GREEN/WHITE CHECKER AND PUTS KENSETH ON THE 17 ON THE INSIDE OR WHEREEVER HE CHOOSES ON BIFFLE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HIM IN THE 16. >> Mike: LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THE 5-HOUR ENERGY MOVE OF THE RACE. THIS LONG DAYTONA 500. THE MONTOYA CRASH WITH THE SAFETY TRUCK UNDER CAUTION AND THE TREE HE MENADS JOB -- TREMENDOUS JOB DONE BY NASCAR AND SPEEDWAY SAFETY OFFICIALS TO GET THE FIRE OUT, ENSURE THAT NO REAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RACING SURFACE AND GET IT BACK INTO RACABLE CONDITION SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS FINISHED. >> Darrell: THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING, GUYS. WITH KENSETH AND BIFFLE ON THE FRONT ROW AND HAMLIN AND EARNHARDT BEHIND HIM. WE SAW ON THE LAST RESTART HOW KENSETH WENT UP AND GOT HIS TEAMMATE AND PULLED HIM DOWN IN BEHIND HIM. LOOKED LIKE KENSETHS IT CAR IS QUICK ON THE RESTART. DALE, JR. LAGS BACK A LITTLE ON THE RESTART. THE RESTART IS GOING TO BE THE KEY. >> JAMIE McMURRAY BACK IN THE RACE. DANICA PATRICK IN HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500. 38 LAPS DOWN. BUT DETERMINED TO FINISH. >> Larry: MICHAEL YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE RACE CAR EARLIER IN THE WEEK. THERE IS TWO TO GO. IS THIS WHERE YOU BLOCK OUT THE GAGES AS FAR AS HOW YOU HOT YOU MIGHT BE RUNNING IF YOU START PUSHING ANOTHER DRIVER? >> Michael: FINALLY LARRY WE ARE THERE. WE KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT TWO LAPS. THEY WILL GET SO AGGRESSIVE WITH THE PUSHING WE WILL HAVE TO DO ANOTHER GREEN WHITE CHECKERED. TIME TO FORGET ABOUT THE GAMES AND PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND HANG ON. >> Mike: REVIEW THE RULES AS WE COME TO LAP 200. THE SCHEDULED DISTANCE. NASCAR GOES INTO THE GREEN/WHITE CHECKERED MODE. THEY WAVE THE GREEN FLAG WHEN THE FIELD COMES AROUND. SHOULD THEY COMPLETE THAT NEXT LAP UNDER GREEN AND THE LEADER TAKE THE WHITE FLAG UNDER THE GREEN FLAG NEXT FLAG ENDS THE RACE. IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT BACK AROUND TO THE WHITE FLAG WE WILL TRY ANOTHER GREEN/WHITE CHECKER UP TO A MAXIMUM OF THREE ATTEMPTS. THIS IS THE 6th TIME WE HAVE HAD GREEN/WHITE CHECKERED IN THE LAST 7 DAYTONA 500s THAT HAVE RUN THE FULL DISTANCE. >> Larry: WE TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER ARE IN THE SHOW. LAST TEN 500s, TEN DIFFERENT WINNERS. A COUPLE ARE THERE. MATT KENSETH AND DALE EARNHARDT, JR. >> Darrell: I DO THINK IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO US THIS WEEKEND THAT WE WOULD GO INTO OVERTIME. >> Mike: STILL 22 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP AS WE GET SET TO SETTLE IT IN THE 37 HOURS OF THE DAYTONA 500 SINCE WE FIRST GOT READY TO RACE YESTERDAY. >> Darrell: I THINK KENSETH IS IN THE SEE THE JUST DEPENDS ON THE PUSHERS. DEPENDS ON WHETHER DALE EARNHARDT CAN PUSH GREG BIFFLE OR NOT. >> Mike: FORDS AT THE FRONT. AND BIFFLE GETS ABOUT A HALF A CAR LENGTH AWAY FROM DENNY HAMLIN AND MOVES UP TO PICK UP HIS FORD TEAMMATE, GREG BIFFLE. >> Darrell: THAT IS A TEAMMATE RIGHT THERE, BUDDY. I MEAN HE JUMPED OUT THERE AND GOT HIM. >> Mike: DALE, JR. HAD NO HELP BUT LOGS ON THE BACK OF BIFFLE. SECOND AND THIRD. >> Larry: I DON'T THINK IT WILL DO DALE, JR. ANY GOOD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK BIFFLE IS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. IF HE IS A TEAM PLAYER LIKE KENSETH HAS BEEN HE WILL SIT RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: A LAP AND A HALF TO FIND OUT. >> Darrell: IT IF THEY COME OFF OF IT TURN FOUR AND DALE, JR. IS STILL PUSHING HIM. >> Larry: A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY. LOOKING FOR THE WHITE FLAG THIS TIME. ONCE WE GET INTO THIS LAP ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN FRONT OF ONE OR TWO. >> Mike: THREE CAR BREAKAWAY. JUNIOR TUCKED UP UNDER THE BUMPER OF BIFFLE. KENSETH LEADS THE TURN ONE. FINAL LAP. >> Larry: NO ONE TO PUSH HIM. >> Darrell: THE TWO CARS IN FRONT OF HIM IF HE GETS BACK TOO FAR. GOING TO HAPPEN, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN PRETTY QUICK. >> Larry: WE HAVE SEEN WHERE THE TIMING OF WHERE YOU DO IT IS SO CRITICAL. >> Darrell: THOSE TWO CARS THE 16 AND THE 88 SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET BY KENSETH IF BIFFLE ELECT TAKE THE CHANCE. >> Mike: OFF THE FINAL CORNER. MATT KENSETH TRYING TO WIN IT. HERE COMES JUNIOR TO THE OUTSIDE. SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH KENSETH. MATT KENSETH WINS THE DAYTONA 500! >> Darrell: I TIP MY HAT. >> [RADIO]: DID IT AGAIN. >> [RADIO]: THANK YOU, JIMMIE. >> Mike: 2009. >> Darrell: I TIP MY HAT TO GREG BIFFLE, THOUGH. HE COULD HAVE JUMPED OUT OF LINE BUT HONORED HIS TEAMMATE. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH THE FIRST DRIVER TO REPET AS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION SINCE JEFF GORDON IN 2005. HE GETS HIS 22nd CAREER WIN. >> Darrell: REMEMBER HOW HE WON THE RACE, ELLIOTT SADLER WAS LEADING THE RACE AND GO DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY AND KENSETH JUST GETS THE LEAD AND STARTS RAINING AND THE RACE ENDS SHORT. >> Larry: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. DID BEAT GREG BIFFLE BACK TO THE LINE TO FINISH SECOND IN THE 88 LINE. BIFFLE ENDED UP FINISHING THIRD. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN IS FOURTH AND JEFF BURTON FIFTH. PAUL BE MENARD AND KEVIN HARVICK. JOEY LOGANO AND MARK MARTIN ARE THE TOP TEN. >> Darrell: GREAT JOB BY MARK MARTIN TO GET A TOP TEN FINISH. DRIVE FOR MICHAEL. GOOD JOB, BUDDY. >> Mike: AND DAVE BLANEY WINDS UP IN THE TOP 15 FOR TOMMY BALDWIN. >> Darrell: A GOOD DAY FOR THAT TEAM. >> Larry: LAST TIME WE WERE HERE IN JULY, MATT KENSETH PUSHED HIS TEAMMATE DAVID RAGAN TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Mike: AND MATT KENSETH GETS TO PLAY CAPTURE THE FLAG HERE IN DAYTONA. >> Darrell: NIECE GUYS ARE THIRD FOURTH AND FIFTH -- WELL, BIFFLE DOESN'T HAVE A NEW CREW CHIEF BUT HAMLIN AND BURTON DO. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. WHO HAS FINISHED SECOND SIX TIMES SINCE HE LAST WENT TO VICTORY LANE IN THE SPRINT CUP SERIES. HE AND GREG BIFFLE SHARE A WORD AFTER THIS WILD FINAL LAP. >> Darrell: THAT RIGHT THERE WAS WHEN BIFFLE STARTED TO GO WITH DALE, JR. AND THOUGHT BETTER OF IT. >> Larry: PRETTY GREAT WAY FOR JACK ROUSH TO START OFF HIS 25 Ath YEAR IN SPRINT CUP. >> Darrell: GOOD SIGN FOR DALE, JR., TOO. GETS A NICE SECOND FINISH IN THE OLD DIET DEW CAR. >> Mike: CARL EDWARDS COMING ACROSS THE LINE EVEN WITH JOEY LOGANO AND JUST AHEAD BY 6 INCHES. NICE MOVE BY CARL. >> Mike: NASCAR REVIEWD THAT AND RULED THAT EDWARDS 99 WAS FORCED TO GO TO THE YELLOW LINE SO NO PENALTY ON EDWARDS. >> Darrell: THERE IS OLD FAITHFUL. CAME THROUGH. OKAY NOW. >> Mike: SEEING THE WAY MATT KENSETH WON ON THURSDAY THAT MADE HIM MY PICK FOR A LAST LAP DASH TONIGHT AND HE DIDN'T DISAPPOINT ANY OF HIS FANS THIS EVENING. >> Darrell: I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED ON THURSDAY WAS WHEN GREG BIFFLE BAILED ON HIM AND TRIED TO BLOCK HIM AND I THINK THEY PROBABLY HAD A HEART TO HEART AFTER THAT QUALIFYING RACE AND THAT IS ONE REASON WHY BIFFLE HUNG WITH HIM THE WAY HE DID. >> Larry: BEFORE MATT KENSETH TURNED 16 YEARS OLD HE TOLD HIS DAD ROY SAID LET'S BUY A RACE CAR AND YOU DRIVE IT AND I WILL WORK ON IT AND WHEN I TURN 16 I WANT TO DRIVE IT. >> Mike: PLENTY TO CELEBRATE. >> Larry: THAT IS NOT HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500 WIN. HE WON IT IN 1988 WITH BOBBY ALLISON. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: DALE EARNHARDT, JR. JUST OUT OF THE CAR. GREAT WAY TO START THE 2012 SEASON. TELL US ABOUT THE END OF THE RACE? >> I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WON. I TOLD GREG THAT I WOULD PUSH HIM ON THE LAST RESTART AND I PUSHED HIM AND I THOUGHT HE WAS WAITING. LOOKED LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A MOVE ON THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY BUT NOTHING MATERIALIZED AND THEN WE CAME OFF FOUR AND AND AND AND WAITED FOR THE LAST MINUTE AND WAS HAPPENING SO I PULLED OUT AND WENT AROUND HIM. MATT HAD A STRONG CAR. THE ROUSH GUYS WERE REALLY QUICK ALL WEEK. I WAS PROUD OF THE HORSEPOWER WE HAD IN OUR HENDRICK CAR. IT WAS GREAT AND WE HAD GREAT SPEED ALL WEEK DOWN HERE. O OUR CAR PERFORMED WELL ALL WEEK. THE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB ON THE BODY. THANK EVERYBODY IN THE SHOP AND THE GUYS THAT PAINTED THIS CAR. LOOKS GOOD EVERY TIME IT COMES DOWN HERE. CRAFTSMANSHIP IS AMAZE. STEVE DID A GOOD JOB CALLING A GOOD RACE. UNFORTUNATE WITH HAPPENED IN TURN THREE AND I'M GLAD EVERYTHING IS OKAY. THE FANS STUCK AROUND AND THAT IS WHY NASCAR FANS ARE BEST AND HOPEFULLY THEY ENJOYED IT. >> Steve: SEE YOU IN PHOENIX. GREAT RUN FOR DALE, JR. DOWN TO THE DEAN OF NASCAR PIT ROAD REPORTERS. DICK BERGGREN IN VICTORY LANE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Dick: MATT KENSETH EARLIER IN THE RACE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SPEWING WATER DID YOU THINK YOU HAD ANY CHANCE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> NOT REALLY. WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS HAVE, A LITTLE FUEL PROBLEM. LOST THE TACAOMETER AND LOST THE RADIOS. WHAT A GREAT RACE. I NEED TO THANK GREG BIFFLE. A GREAT JOB. WE BOTH HAT FAST ROCKETS. ENDED UP WHO WAS IN FRONT AT END AND ALSO THANK SPRINT, BEST BUY, ZEST, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, VALVOLINE AND GATORADE. I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT. CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE STANDING HERE TWICE IN ONE WEEK. >> Dick: A MATTER OF FRIENDSHIP, TEAMMATE OR TWO GUYS DRIVING FORDS. >> A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING BUT A COMBINATION OF WHAT WAS GOING TO GIVE US THE BEST FINISH. WHEN PUSHED ME AND WE COULD GET CLEAR THE BAR CAR BEHIND ME WE COULD BE GOING FAST BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE OTHER END. A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THIS STUFF WAS AAHSOME ALL WEEKEND. >> Dick: IS THERE A HAPPIER MAN IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW THAN YOU? >> THERE MIGHT BE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS. >> Dick: CONGRATULATIONS. SECOND DAYTONA 500. MAT? >> Matt: JUNIOR PUSHING YOU. WHAT HAPPENED? >> THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. I DON'T WHAT WHAT HAPPEN THERE. HE WAS AGAINST ME FOR TWO FULL LAPS AND I COULDN'T PULL UP ON THE 17. LIKE THE 17 HAD MORE MOTOR AT THE END. LIKE HE FLOORED IT AND WE COULDN'T CATCH HIM. I THINK I WAS SHOVING HIM OUT AND TRIED TO MAKE A MOVE MAYBE ON THE BACK TO MOVE UP. WE NEEDED A RUN AND I NEEDED A GAP BETWEEN US AND THE 17 AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT GAP. MAYBE NEEDED TO DRAG THE BRAKE AND TRY AND PUSH THE 88 BACK AND SLOW HIM DOWN SO WE COULD GET A RUN AT IT. BUT I JUST THOUGHT JUNIOR WOULD PUSH ME UP TO THE BACK BUMPER AND I WOULD SIDE DRAFT AND IT WOULD BE ME AND JUNIOR AT THE LINE. IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE. I LEARNED A LITTLE BIT AND I THINK JUNIOR IS SHOCKED THAT THE CAR DIDN'T PUSH UP. FORD FUSION AND THESE GUYS AND DOUG GATES, I'M SO HAPPY FOR STARTING TH [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: WELCOME BACK TO THE DAYTONA 500 POST RACE SHOW ON FOX BE PRESENTED BY SPRINT. MATT KENSETH HOISTS THE TROPHY. MATT AND KATIE CELEBRATE. WHAT A WONDERFUL MOMENT. FOR OUR FOX TECHNICAL CREW IT HAS ALREADY BEEN A 19 HOUR DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. IT HAS BEEN WORTH IT. WHAT A WILD, WILD 500 MILES OF EXCITEMENT. >> Michael: I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. NEVER RAINED OUT. RAINED OUT. GOING RUN IT MONDAY AND THEN START AT NOON AND THEN START AT 7:00 AND WE THOUGHT IT WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY BECAUSE IT MIGHT RAIN AGAIN AND THEN MONTOYA CRASHES INTO ONE OF THE JET DRYERS AND THE HUGE FIRE AND IS THE TRACK GOING TO BE A OKAY. ABLE TO FIX IT AND GET BACK RACING? AND THEN TO HAVE THE GREAT FINISH WE HAD. THE TWO FORDS HAVE BEEN FAST THE WHOLE TIME DOWN HERE AND MATT KENSETH PULLED IT OFF IN CAR NUMBER 17. I KIND OF LIKE THAT. >> Larry: I THINK WE SAW SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED AT SPEED WEEKS IF YOU WERE GOING TO WIN THE 500 YOU PROBABLY HAD TO BEAT ONE OF THE ROUSH FENWAY DRIVERS. LED 93 LAPS ALMOST HALF OF RACE. AS I SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW WE TRULY DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THEY CAME OFF TURN FOUR AND HAD THE DRAG RACE BACK TO THE CHECKERED FLAG. >> Mike: THE 36 HOURS OF DAYTONA IS IN THE BOOKS. AND WE ARE READY TO GO TO PHOENIX. LET'S GO DOWN TO KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE WAY DANICA PATRICK WOULD HAVE SCRIPTED HER SPRINT CUP SERIES DEBUT BUT CHAMPIONS LIKE JIMMIE JOHNSON AND JEFF GORDON FARED SIMILAR FATE. WHEN YOU DO HOME WHAT DO YOU TAKE WITH YOU? PROGRESSION? >> ANY LAP THAT I TURN IS PROGRESSION. THEY WERE WORKING HARD TO GET ME BACK ON THE TRACK. WAS THERE MUCH TO GAIN AS FAR AS POSITION WISE? NO. BUT WHAT THERE WAS TO GAIN WAS FOR ME TO GET THE EXPERIENCE OF RUNNING OUT THERE. I RAN IN PACKS FOR AWHILE. THE CAR FELT -- IT IS A LITTLE BENT UP SO HONESTLY IT DIDN'T FEEL PERFECT BUT AS IT GOT LATER AND LATER IN THE RACE I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY A PART. I DIDN'T WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO IT OR BREAK AND SHOOT ACROSS THE TRACK. AND THEN WITH THE END THERE I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO GET THE FIRST GREEN WHITE CHECKERED IN. IT WAS PERPLEXING IN MY MIND. GET UP THERE BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN AND NOTHING TO LOSE. HONESTLY I THINK THAT I PICKED UP A LOT OF GOOD TIPS AND I JUST WISH THAT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE COULD HAVE BEEN A NICE SINGLE FILE LINE LIKE IT WAS WHEN I GOT BACK OUT THERE BUT IT WASN'T. THAT IS MY LESSON TO LEARN MAYBE IS THAT WE ARE RIGHT OFF THE LAST LITTLE BIT IF YOU ARE NOT RIGHT UP FRONT. UNFORTUNATELY, GOT ANOTHER CRASHED GO DADDY CAR BUT JUST LIKE THE LAST TIME IT DID FINISH THE RACE BUT JUST IN THE DARN 38th POSITION. >> Krista: LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN DARLINGTON. >> John: LOOK AT THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. INTERESTING ABOUT MATT KENSETH. LED THE FIRST LAP ON LAP 146. WHEN WON IN 2009 LED HIS FIRST LAP ON 146. DENNY HAMLIN LED THE MOST LAPS AND PAUL MENARD HIS BEST DAYTONA 500 FINISH. >> Michael: KYLE BUSCH COULDN'T BATTLE TO THE FRONT. TERRY LABONTE GRABS THE TOP TEN FINISH AND RICKY STENHOUSE MIXED IT UP LATE. FINISHES 20th. >> John: ANYBODY FROM 15 ON BACK HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOME KIND OF MELE ON THE RACETRACK. REGAN SMITH WAS UP FRONT MOST OF THE TIME BUT FINISHED UP THERE. TREVOR BAYNE IN 35th. >> Michael: DANICA, THEY SAID WE WILL SEE YOU IN DARLINGTON. SHE PROBABLY THOUGHT THIS PLACE IS TOUGH ENOUGH. I GOT TO GO TO DARLINGTON NEXT. >> John: TWO WINS IN THE LAST FOUR DAYTONA 500S FOR MATT KENSETH. THE CAT IN THE HAT, JACK ROUSH WAS WITH HIM FOR THE WHOLE RIDE. WE GOT TO TAKE A BREAK. WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE. STAY WIT >> John: PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS PROVIDED BY: AERIAL COVERAGE BY GOOD YEAR, EVERYTHING WE LEARNED MAKING TIRES FOR THE PROVING GROUNDS OF NASCAR INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL INTO YOURS. GOOD YEAR, MORE DRIVEN. AND BACK IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. JOHN ROBERTS ALONGSIDE OF MICHAEL WALTRIP. I WOULD BOY, WHAT A CHILD COUPLE OF DAYS. SUPPOSED TO START THIS THING WAY BACK ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. FINISHING ON A TUESDAY, MICHAEL. WHAT A START TO THE SEASON. >> Michael: YOU SAW MATT KENSETH ELATED WITH HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500 TROPHY. DALE EARNHARDT, JR. AND GREG BIFFLE SEEMED HAPPY. TOMORROW THEY ARE GOING TO HURT. THAT CLOSE TO WINNING THE GREATEST EVENT AND COME UP SHORT. THEY WILL TURN FOX NEWS IN THE MORNING AND THERE IS MATT KENSETH AND THEY WILL THINK WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE AND HOW COULD I DO SOMETHING TO BE SITTING WHERE MATT IS RIGHT NOW? >> John: WHAT WOULD YOU CALLED US IF WE SAID JUAN PABLO MONTOYA WOULD HIT A JET DRYER. >> Michael: DARRELL SAID IT BEST I WANT TO PAVE MY DRIVE BASE WITH THAT STUFF. I DON'T HAVE A DRIVEWAY BUT IF I DID I WOULD WANT TO USE THAT STUFF. THEY PUT IT OUT AND AWAY WE WENT RACING. >> John: WOW IS ALL WE REALLY CAN SAY. COMING UP NEXT IS YOUR LATE LOCAL NEWS EXCEPT ON THE WEST COAST. SUNDAY THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 COMING YOUR WAY FROM PHOENIX. AND THEN, OF COURSE, NEXT ON SPEED WE HAVE THE RACE HUB THAT WILL WRAP UP THE ENTIRE DAY. THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 COMING YOUR WAY FROM PHOENIX. RACE HUB COMING UP NEXT ON SPEED. AND ALSO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATION MATT KENSETH AND GREG BIFFLE AND ROUSH FENWAY RACING ONCE AGAIN FOR A HUGE WIN IN THIS 54th DAYTONA 500. IT SHOWED US JUST A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING THAT RACING HAD TO OFFER AND WHAT A WAY TO START THE 2012 SEASON. SO LONG O, EVERYBODY. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEKEND IN PHOENIX! CAPTIONED BY CLOSED CAPTIONING SERVICES, INC. >> [RADIO]: ARE YOU KIDDING ME! >> JUAN PABLO MONTOYA HAS CRASHED AND GONE AFLAME. >> I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH WINS THE DAYTONA 500!

Channel: NascarAllOut

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Id: gcxIRSGk6cQ

Length: 302min 49sec (18169 seconds)

Published: Tue Jan 28 2020