2013 Daytona 500

[Captioning brought to you by FOX Broadcasting] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: OVER 150,000 FANS ARE ON HAND, AS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 65-YEAR HISTORY OF NASCAR SERIES, A WOMAN, DANICA PATRICK, WILL TAKE THE GREEN FLAG FIRST TODAY. THE COMPETITION IS THE BIGGEST AND BEST IN THE SPORT. SERIES CHAMP BRAD KESELOWSKI. POPULAR DRIVER, DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR. >> Announcer: THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGINS. THE JOURNEY TO BECOME RACING'S ULTIMATE CHAMPION STARTS WITH THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR. RIGHT HERE, AT NASCAR'S MOST DECORATED AND HALLOWED ROADS. ITS BEAUTY CAN ALSO BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE FIERCE INTIMIDATION. BUT IF YOU CAN CONQUER THIS MASTERPIECE, YOU WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBERED IN RACING LORE. >> AM I DREAMING RIGHT NOW? >> Announcer: HISTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE LEADING UP TO THIS RACE. WHO WILL MAKE HISTORY TODAY? ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Announcer: IT'S 500 GRUELING MILES. UNSETTLING SPEEDS. INCHS AWAY FROM DISASTER. WHERE ANYONE'S DREAM CAN END AT ANY SECOND. BUT ONE DRIVER WILL PERSEVERE, AND CELEBRATE A MOMENT THAT IS ETCHED IN RACING HISTORY. THIS IS THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THIS IS THE DAYTONA 500. RIGHT NOW ON FOX. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BEHIND YOU! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: FROM THE WORLD CENTER OF RACING, DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, FOX SPORTS PROUDLY PRESENTS THE 55th DAYTONA 500. AMERICA'S FAVORITE SPORT OF SPEED IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT BEGIPS ITS SEASON WITH ITS BIGGEST SIGNATURE EVENT. HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M MIKE JOY, ATOP THE FLAG STAND AT THE START/FINISH LINE OF THE 2.5-MILE SUPERSPEEDWAY. WHERE YESTERDAY, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE 300-MILE NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE, JUST 90 YARDS FROM THE START/FINISH LINE, LEADER REGAN SMITH TAGGED BY BRAD KESELOWSKI, KYLE LARSON UP AND IN TO THE FENCE, WHERE UPHEAPS POST SHEERS HIS CAR IN HALF -- WHERE A FENCE POST SHEERS HIS CAR IN HALF AND DEBRIS ENDS UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FENCE. WORKERS WERE HERE TILL MIDNIGHT REPAIRING THE FENCE POSTS AND CABLING, AND WE'RE READY TO RACE. 14 PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS. TWO OF THEM CRITICALLY INJURED. THE ROAD TO VICTORY LANE AT DAYTONA PAVED WITH GREAT RACING AND SOME LEGENDARY FINISHES. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> IT'S A SPECTACLE AMONG SPECTACLES. >> THE FAMOUS DAYTONA 500. >> TODAY IS THE GREATEST RACING DAY OF THE YEAR. >> AS A RACE FAN AS A KID YOU COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE DAYTONA 500 TO COME ON. >> DAYTONA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG DEAL. >> FROM THE SAND OF DAYTONA BEACH TO THE 2.5-MILE SUPER SPEEDWAY, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S RICHEST TRADITION. >> GETS THINGS KICKED OFF AND GETS PEOPLE EXCITED AROUND THE COUNTRY. ♪♪ >> THE CHECKERED FLAG. THE RACE IS OVER. >> ♪ BE IN MY HEART ♪ >> OUT OF CONTROL! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ BE IN MY HEART ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DON'T MATTER WITHOUT A WIN HERE. IN THIS RACE. >> TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP AND NOT A DAYTONA 500 HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING MISSING THERE. >> Mike: TONY STEWART WILL COME UP SHORT. >> MENTALLY, IT'S EXHAUSTING. >> NOTHING COMES EASY IN THE 500. >> OFF THE WALL. >> TEMPERS OVERFLOWING. >> CHECKERED FLAG IS OUT. >> SLAMMING IN THE WALL! >> TO OVERCOME AND PULL IN VICTORY LANE -- >> DALE EARNHARDT WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500! >> -- THAT IS A LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT. >> I GOT SO EXCITED I PUNCHINGED THE MIRROR OUT OF MY CAR. >> I WON THE DAYTONA 500! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE PRIZE IS THE MOST COVETED TROPHY IN THE SPORT. >> YOU STOP AND LOOK AT THE NAMES ON THAT TROPHY, YOU REALIZE YOU'RE IN ELITE CLASS OF NASCAR RACERS. >> THE GREATEST THING A DRIVER CAN BE CALLED IS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: WIN A NASCAR RACE, YOU HAVE HAD A GOOD YEAR. WIN THE HARLEY EARL TROPHY IN THE 500 AND YOU'VE HAD A GREAT CAREER. TODAY'S RACE FEATURES THE DEBUT OF NASCAR GENERATION 6 RACECAR. A LOOK AT NASCAR THROUGH THE YEARS. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: NASCAR'S FIRST RACERS ARE STRICTLY STOCK CARS. RISING SPEEDS AND SAFETY CONCERNS LEAD NASCAR TO RE-EXAMINE THE DESIGN. NASCAR'S GREATEST GENERATION. THE CARS ON TRACK STILL LOOK THE SAME AS IN THE SHOWROOM. WIN ON SUNDAY, SELL ON MONDAY. BECOMES DETROIT'S BATTLE CRY. SHORTENED WHEEL-BASE CARS BEGIN MOVING AWAY FROM STOCK APPEARANCE FOR AERO-EFFICIENCY. NASCAR MANDATES A RESTRICTOR PLATE TO SLOW TOP SPEEDS. GEN-4 CARS REMOVE ALL THE STOCK FROM STOCK CAR RACING. THESE ARE RACECARS. PURPOSE BUILT FOR HIGH DOWNFORCE AND LOW DRAG. THE CAR OF TOMORROW, IT'S NASCAR'S SAFEST RACECAR EVER. BUT IT'S AERO-MATCHED APERIENCE LEAVES NO DISTINCT MANUFACTURER IDENTITIES, WHICH LEADS US TO GENERATION 6. CHEVYs, FORDS, TOYOTAS. THREE UNIQUE BODY STYLES TO PUT THE STOCK BACK IN STOCK CAR RACING. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> FORD FUSION. >> TOYOTA CAMRY. >> CHEVY S.S. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS IS -- >> THIS IS -- >> THIS IS -- >> THIS IS GENERATION 6. >> THIS IS GENERATION 6. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I THINK EVERYTHING ABOUT THE NEW CAR IS PRETTY COOL. WE HAVE A NEW LOOK GOING THIS YEAR. >> I THINK OF THE GENERATION 6 CAR AND I THINK OF A CAR COMMITTED TO LOOKING LIKE WHAT YOU CAN BUY ON THE STREET. >> IT'S NICE TO HAVE THIS BRAND IDENTITY BACK. >> FINALLY. >> WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOU SEE A FORD FUSION IT IS GOING TO LOOK JUST LIKE THE FORD I DRIVE ON THE RACETRACK. >> I LOOK AT IT AND I SAY THAT'S A CHEVY, THAT'S A FORD, THAT'S A TOYOTA. WE NEED THAT. >> WE'RE BIASED. WE THINK THE CHEVY LOOKS THE BEST. >> NOW THE CARS ARE RECOGNIZABLE, AND THE FANS WILL GET BACK IN THE CHEVY VERSUS FORD RIVALRY. >> WHETHER YOU'RE A FORD FAN OR CHEVY FAN, THESE PEOPLE FOLLOW THESE BRANDS. AND ASSOCIATE THE DRIVERS TO THE BRANDS. >> THERE IS A LOT OF TOYOTA EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE CAR THAT THEY PUT ON THE STREET EVERY SINGLE THEY, NOW THAT THEY GET TO SEE IT OP A RACETRACK. >> THE FANS CAN RELATE TO THE CAR. YOU KNOW, WE WIN A RACE IN THIS THING, AND THE FAN GETS TO DRIVE HOME IN A CAR THAT LOOKS JUST THE SAME. >> THERE IS A LOT OF RIVALRIES OUT THERE AMONG THE FANS AND MANUFACTURERS. I FEEL LIKE WE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. >> I LOVE THESE CARS. WE'RE CAR GUYS. ALL OF US ARE CAR GUYS. >> THIS CAR IS SO MUCH FASTER THAN THE OLD CAR. >> SPEED WITH THE GENERATION 6 CAR IS HIGHER. >> NO DOUBT AT THIS POINT THE GENERATION 6 OF CAR IS FASTER THAN THE T.O.C. CAR. >> IT FEEL LIKE YOU CAN HUSTLE IT MORE, HAS MORE GRIP. >> THEY SHOULDAL SOMETIME THE POTENTIAL. >> THE SPEEDS ARE UP. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE. >> THE CARS WILL HAVE HIGH SPEEDS. HEY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, TO RACE FAST. MIC THE DRIVERS LIKE THE CAR, THE FANS LOVE THE LOOK. TIME TO CHECK IN AT THE IN-FIELD STUDIO, THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. CHRIS MYERS WITH TWO HOT SHOES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE AND WON THAT. >> Chris: THANK YOU. TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 WINNER AND GIVING IT ANOTHER SHOT, MICHAEL WALTRIP IN HIS FIRE SUIT. HE WILL RUSH TO HIS CAR IN A MOMENT. AND HALL-OF-FAMER, THREE-TIME CHAMP DARRELL WALTRIP TALKING ABOUT THE GEN-6 CAR. WE WILL GET TO THAT. YOU WERE TELLING ME YOU THINK THIS WILL BE THE BEST, GREATEST DAYTONA 500 EVER. WHY? >> Darrell: I BELIEVE MORE EYEBALLS WILL WATCH THIS RACE THAN EVER HAVE BEFORE. I'LL TELL YOU WHY. DANICA PATRICK. THAT IS HISTORY. IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF HISTORY TODAY, TUNE IN THE RACE. SHE IS GOING TO TAKE THE GREEN FLAG FROM THE NUMBER ONE SPOT. I GOT MORE TEXTS AND E-MAILS FROM 12, 15-YEAR-OLDS SAYING, "GO, DANICA, GO!" THAT IS WHAT WE'LL SEE. SHE WILL MAKE HISTORY AND FEW TO WATCH. >> Chris: HOW ABOUT DRIVING THE GENERATION 6 CAR? YOU HAVE BEEN IN IT AND WILL BE IN IT IN A MOMENT. >> Michael: THE DRIVERS ATTITUDE IS THIS BABY TICKLES MY FANCY. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE WITH ALL 43 CARS OUT THERE AT ONCE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET. IT WILL INTENSIFY THE ACTION. WE WILL SEE PASSING AND THREE-WIDE RACING. THIS BABY IS FAST AND THE DRIVERS LOVE IT. >> Chris: WE ARE ALL CONCERNED OBVIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, THOSE INVOLVED IN SATURDAY'S ACCIDENT. THE EFFECT ON YOU, DARRELL? >> Darrell: YEAH, WHEN DRIVERS GET HURT. THAT IS OUR PROBLEM. WHEN FANS GET HURT THAT IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM. SAFETY IS A CHAIN. WE'RE ALWAYS PULLING ON IT. YOU NEVER GET COMFORTABLE WITH IT. IT'S A MOVING TARGET SWEPT TO DO SOME RESEARCH HERE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE WALLS SAFER AND FANS SAFER. >> Chris: WILL SATURDAY'S WRECK ALTER ANYTHING YOU OR THE DRIVERS DO ON THE TRACK TODAY? >> Michael: MY HEART HURTS FOR THOSE FOLKS. IT PUT MY HELMET ON AND STRAP IN THE CAR I PUT IT TO THE SIDE. I'M GOING TO RACE MY CAR AS HARD AS I CAN. IF I COME TO CHECKERED FLAG IF IT MEANS MOVE THE GUY OUT OF THE WAY TO GET THE WIN FOR THE DAYTONA 500 THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO. I'LL RACE AS HARD AS I CAN, AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL AS WELL. >> Chris: DRIVING THE 26 CAR FOR AUTHORIZE IN NEWTOWN AND SUPPORT OF THOSE. >> Michael: RACING FOR A COMMUNITY. HOPE TO HEAL AND HAVE A GREAT DAY WATCHING THE DAYTONA 500. THERE IS A VIEWING PARTY IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT, AND WE HOPE WE RAISE MONEY AND MAKE PEOPLE SMILE. >> Chris: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE FROM CONNECTICUT TO REALIZE HOW DEEPLY DIFFICULT THE LOSS OF A CHILD IS. WE ARE MORE CONNECTED THAN WE'LL EVER KNOW. WE'LL TALK WITH YOU GUYS LATER. MORE FROM THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL COMING UP. LET'S HEAD BACK NOW TO THE FLAG STAND AGAIN AND MIKE JOY. >> Mike: THANK YOU, CHRIS. WE HAVE A 2.5-MILE COVERED LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH ANALYSTS AND REPORTERS. WE WELCOME ERIN ANDREWS TO THE DAYTONA 500 COVERAGE. WE'LL PUSH FORWARD WITH CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TODAY. LIKE GYRO CAM. IT STAYS VERTICAL AS THE CARS SLAM UP IN THE 31-DEGREE BANKING. YOU SEE IT. YOU'LL FEEL IT. OUR NEW GEN-6 CAM. FLYING ACROSS AND OVER THE TRIOVAL. HOW FAST DOES IT GO? THAT WAS THE QUESTION ON THE MIND OF NATIONWIDE DRIVER AND EXTREME SPORTS STAR TRAVIS POSTRANA. >> I HEARD NASCAR ON FOX HAS A NEW CAMERA. ♪♪ >> I WANTED TO FIND OUT JUST HOW FAST! GAME ON. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BAH. 35, 50? 75? 95? WE ARE ALMOST KEEPING UP. 110. WE GOT IT! >> THE LEADING LADY IN NOT ONLY NASCAR BUT ALL OF SPORTS GIVES US A PERSPECTIVE ON MAKING HISTORY. WE TRADED STOCK CARS FOR A LIMO. UNCOVER WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING CLINT BOWYER. PLUS, PERFORMANCE FROM THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ZAC BROWN BAND. THE CHAMP IS HERE. ERIN ANDREWS TALKS TO BRAD KESELOWSKI ABOUT HIS PLANS TO DRIVE NASCAR TO A NEW AGE. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ALL THE DRIVERS OF THE FAST HENDRICK FOURSOME. NEXT, RIGHT HERE ON >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW IS SPONSORED BY -- >>> AFTER YESTERDAY'S EVENING INCIDENT AT THE END OF THE NATIONWIDE RACE, MOST EVERYBODY FROM EVERY TEAM HAD CONTACTED SOMEBODY FROM OUR ORGANIZATION TO ASK WHAT YOU COULD DO, ASKED ABOUT THE FANS AND EXPRESSED YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS. THOSE THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RELAYED TO THE FANS AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS. I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THAT IS THE CHARACTER AND THE HEART AND SOUL OF NASCAR, THE WAY DRIVERS AND OWNERS AND THE CREW MEMBERS RESPOND TO THINGS LIKE THAT. >> Mike: ENCOURAGING WORDS TO THE DRIVERS AND TEAMS. LADIES FIRST! NOT JUST CHIVALROUS. TODAY, 42 MEN FOLLOW ONE WOMAN TO GREEN FLAG. A FIRST FOR NASCAR'S PREMIER SERIES. DANICA PATRICK REFLECTS ON HER HISTORIC SPEED WEEK. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ♪ ♪ ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ♪ >> THIS IS GOING TO PUT US ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER. NOT JUST THE SPORTS SECTION. RICHARD PETTY. IT'S ALWAYS COOL TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO DO SOMETHING. BUT TO BE HONEST, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I SET AS A GOAL. FOR ME, I WAS BROUGHT UP TO, YOU KNOW, BE THE FASTEST DRIVER. AND ALWAYS GET THE MOST OUT OF MYSELF. THAT MEANS RECORDS AND FIRSTS, THEN SO BE IT. >> WHOEVER STARTS ON THE POLE HAS A 17% CHANCE OF WINNING. I LIKE THAT. THAT'S OKAY. I'M A ROOKIE, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD DRIVERS OUT THERE. 17% OF WINNING SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD START TO ME. WHEN JEFF'S DAUGHTER ELLA GORDON WANTED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ME, SHE ALWAYS SAID SHE WANTED TO BE A RACECAR DRIVER. IT STOOD THERE, WHAT DO MOM AND DAD THINK OF THAT? I WAS FLATTERED THAT ELLA KNEW MY NAME. SPECIAL MOMENT VICTORY LANE. I THINK OF HER AS ANOTHER DRIVER, NOT A FEMALE DRIVER." BRAD KESELOWSKI. I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I DO. I AM FAR LESS SERIOUS OR INTENSE, I'M VERY GIRLY AWAY FROM THE TRACK. I LOVE SHOPPING AND PEDICURES. IT'S ALWAYS NICE AT THE END OF A LONG DAY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING AND YOU'RE AT THE TRACK TO GO GRAB A SANDWICH AND A BEER. I THINK THAT BALANCES IT ALL OUT. I WAS BROUGHT UP TO BE THE FASTEST DRIVER. NOT THE FASTEST GIRL. DANICA PATRICK. I REALLY ONLY THINK OF MYSELF AS AN ATHLETE AND A COMPETITOR, AS A RACECAR DRIVER. TO BE TOP OF THE CHART AT ANY POINT IN TIME IS WHAT I SET OUT TO DO. IT FEELS GOOD. IT DOESN'T FEEL WEIRD TO ME. GROWING UP RACING GO-KARTS AND I WON PLENTY OF RACES AND I WAS THE ONLY GIRL OUT THERE. I JUST LIKE TO GET BACK TO THAT PLACE AGAIN. >> Mike: EARLY JANUARY, DANICA'S ODDS OF WINNING WERE 500 TO 1. BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, NASCAR'S GREATEST STARS, PETTY, PEARSON, EARNHARDT, BECAME WORKING MAN'S HEROES. THEY HAD TALENT, SWAGGER, AND A QUIET CONFIDENCE. IN THAT GRAND TRADITION, HERE COMES DRIVER NUMBER 15. BEING CLINT BOWYER. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ANYTIME YOU COME FROM NO MONEY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE THROWN IN TO A SITUATION, WHERE YOU ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT? ♪♪ ♪♪ >> COMING FROM KANSAS, AND GROWING UP WITH TOW TRUCKS AND WORKING AT A BODY SHOP, I ASK MYSELF TO THIS DAY: HOW IN THE HELL DID THIS ALL COME TRUE? ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS CAR WAS BUILT FOR ABSOLUTE LAUGHS. I'M IN IT FOR $3,500 AND IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST FUN VEHICLE I HAVE EVER HAD. I'VE BEEN FORMNATE TO FIND A JOB THAT I LOVE TO DO. AND ENJOY EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I OWN A DIRT RACING SHOP. I'M JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> TOO MUCH HORSEPOWER, TOO MUCH BRAKE, TOO MUCH FUN. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> AN OFFICE IS SOMETHING I NEVER HAD AND I ALWAYS WANTED. ONCE I BUILT ONE, I WONDERED WHY THE HELL I EVEN BUILT IT BECAUSE I'M NEVER IN HERE. IT HATE SITTING DOWN. WHERE'S A HAMMER? I'M NOT GOING TO SIT AT HOME ON THE COUCH AND READ A BOOK. IT CAN GET THROUGH ABOUT THE FIRST PAGE AND I'M GOING TO FIND SOME ACTION SOMEWHERE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> HEY, BOY! WANT TO GO GET SOME ICE CREAM? >> LINCOLN IS THE BEST, MAN. GO PUT IT IN THE TRUCK. >> I'M KIND OF THE GUY AFTER A YEAR, THAT'S WHEN CLINT COMES IN. I CAN HANDLE THAT SITUATION. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> WE COULD RIDE FOUR-WHEELERS. IT'S ALMOST AS GOOD, HUH? JUST BECAME I AM A LIMOUSINE, I'M NOT A FULL REDNECK HILLBILLY. I DEFINITELY LIKE CLEANING UP AND GOING TO CITY. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. I'M GOING TO WEAR A HAT ANYWAY. THAT HAT IS GOING BACK ON. >> DOWN ON THE TOWN, BABY! >> IS THAT GOOD? WE DON'T WEAR TIES VERY OFTEN IN KANSAS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHITE SOCKS WITH DRESS SHOES? I WANT FANS TO WATCH THE RACE ON TV AND SAY MAN, THERE IS A GUY I'D LIKE TO HAVE A BEER WITH. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I THINK BEING TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE IS EVERYTHING. I THINK NOT LETTING YOURSELF GET OUT OF BOUNDS. NOT LETTING YOURSELF GO TO AN EVENT AND THINK YOU'RE SOMEBODY YOU'RE NOT. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GET OUT. GET OUT! >> WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS. NOT A TOW TRUCK. >> WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING BRANDS. YOU'VE GOT TO BE OUTSPOKEN. YOU'VE GOT TO SEPARATE THE OTHER GUYS. >> YOU KNOW, CLINT? >> NO. I'M SORRY. >> SOMEHOW, YOU GOT TO FIND YOUR OWN NICHE. BUT DAMN SURE HAVE A GOOD TIME DOING IT. >> FINALLY! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: BOWYER'S IS LAST YEAR RUNNER-UP FOR THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. COMING UP, ERIN ANDREWS GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH DEFENDING CHAMP BRAD KESELOWSKI. AND TEAM HENDRICK SITS DOWN AND OPENS UP WITH CHRIS >> Mike: WELCOME BACK TO DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. SITE OF TODAY'S 55th RUNNING OF DAYTONA 500. LET'S GO TRACKSIDE AND WELCOME ERIN ANDREWS. >> Erin: THANK YOU SO MUCH. BRAD KESELOWSKI MAY BE NASCAR'S REIGNING CHAMP, BUT IT MEANS NOTHING TO HIM AS HE GETS STOT START THE NEW SEASON. HIS MIND SET IS EVERYONE STARTS WITH A CLEAN SLATE. HIS CONFIDENCE HAS HIM FEELING NO PRESSURE TO REPEAT AS CHAMPION. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI LEADING HERE AT KENTUCKY. HE WILL WIN HIS THIRD VICTORY IN 2012. >> BRAD KESELOWSKI LOOKS TO CRUISE TO THE WIN. >> SO FAR, SO GOOD FOR BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> 2012 SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMP. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Erin: YOU ARE NOW CARRYING AROUND HUGE BULLSEYE ON YOUR BACK. YOU COME TO MEDIA DAY. OTHER DRIVERS ARE TALKING ABOUT YOU. HOW HAS THAT BEEN? >> I DON'T EVER FEEL A BULLSEYE. I NEVER HAVE. I DON'T ANTICIPATE I EVER WILL, BECAUSE I ENJOY IT. >> Erin: YEAH. >> IT'S ANOTHER CHANCE FOR ME TO PROVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHAMPION. >> Erin: HOW MUCH DO YOU WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER DRIVERS SAY OR THINK ABOUT YOU? >> I TRY NOT TO. BUT I WOULD BE LYING -- YEAH, I'D BE LYING IF I SAID I DON'T WORRY AT ALL, BECAUSE YOU DO. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU'RE IN A SPORT LIKE RACING, YOUR FATE CAN BE MORE EASILY DICTATED BY SOMEONE ELSE THAN IT CAN BE YOURSELF. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO REALLY KNOW YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL, THE MEASURING STICK FOR THAT IS WHEN OTHER PEOPLE HATE YOU. YOU. THE MOST FLAGERING THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A RACECAR DRIVER IS TO BE BOOED. IF THAT HAPPENS YOU HAVE PISSED OFF EVERY OTHER FAN OUT THERE THAT IS MAD THEIR DRIVER IS NOT WINNING AND YOU BEAT THEM. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Erin: JIMMIE JOHNSON WASN'T BOOING YOU BUT HE DID ADDRESS YOUR MATURITY. HE SAID YOU HAVE THE BEST INTENTION FOR OUR SPORT, FOR THE SPONSOR BUT YOU NEED TO MATURE A LITTLE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> HE WAS TRYING TO PLAY HEAD GAMES WITH ME TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS HIM. I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IF HE IS CRITICIZING ME. >> Erin: HEAD GAMES ARE PART OF IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. HE DOESN'T KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT ISN'T GOING TO WORK. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Erin: WE'RE SO ADAMANT ABOUT BEING DIFFERENT, WHY DO THEY NEED THIS NEW DIFFERENT ATTITUDE? WHY DOES NASCAR NEED THIS? >> WELL, I THINK THAT THE SPORTS WORLD IS CHANGING. I THINK TO BE RELEVANT, AUTHENTICITY IS WHAT FANS CRAVE. IT'S OKAY TO SHOWCASE THAT. >> Erin: IS THIS THE START TO A NEW AGE IN NASCAR? >> IF I HAD MY CHOICE, YES. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SPORT BE FRESH. I DON'T THINK EVERY DRIVER SHOULD BE THE SAME, THE COOKIE CUTTER I LOVE MY SPONSOR. >> WHY DO YOU LIKE TO RUFFLE PEOPLE'S FEATHERS? >> I BREAK THEM OUT OF THE BOX. IT HELPS ME REALIZE WHO IS FAKE AND WHO IS NOT. I'M DOING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE. >> Erin: SO IS THAT WHY YOU HAVE AN I WANT TO BE DIFFERENT PERSONA AND SAY WHAT I FEEL? BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT RELATE TO YOU THAT DON'T WANT TO BE THE SAME COOKIE CUTTER DRIVER? >> I FEEL LIKE I HAVE FALLEN IN THIS PERSONA BECAUSE I WANT TO LEAVE THE SPORT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS WHEN I ENTERED IT. TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. >> Erin: YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW DIFFERENT BRAD WANTS TO BE? AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK WHEN WE WERE SHOOTING OUR SHOTS WITH HIM HE ASKED ONE OF THE PRODUCERS WHAT DO THE OTHER DRIVERS DO? I WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE FROM ALL OF THEM. >> Mike: SOMETIMES DIFFERENT IS BETTER. NOW LET'S MEET A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION AND HIS SPECIAL 7-MONTH-OLD GOOD LUCK CHARM. >> KEVIN HARVICK, THE CLOSER. >> I THINK I PUT LITTLE KEELAN BACK IN THE CAR. TWICE SHE HAS BEEN IN THE CAR, TWICE A WIN. >> HARD TO HANDLE. >> KEVIN HARVICK WINS THE "SPRINT UNLIMITED." >> SO MUCH FOR THE LAME DUCKS, RIGHT? >> MORE TO COME. >> THAT'S RIGHT! >> IT HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR SPEED WEEK FOR KEVIN HARVICK ALREADY WITH TWO WINS. CAN YOU WIN THE DAYTONA 500? >> I DON'T SEE WHY NOT. THE BUDWEISER CHEVROLET HAS BEEN GOOD. A LOT MORE LAPS, A LOT OF UNKNOWN TODAY WITH ALL THE CARS ON THE RACETRACK. JUST GOING TO GO HAMMER DOWN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> TO THIS POINT, KEVIN, THE GOOD LUCK CHARM HAS BEEN THE YOUNG SON KEELAN. YOU PUT HIM IN THE SEAT. DOES HE GO IN THE SEAT BEFORE THE 500? >> YEAH. DEFINITELY GOING. IN HOPEFULLY IT WORKS OUT THE WAY IT HAS THE FIRST TWO DAYS. HE IS UP DRESSED AND WE TIMED THE NAP CORRECTLY SO DRIVER INTROS WENT LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. >> BEST OF LUCK IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> THANK YOU. >> Mike: THANK YOU, STEVE. NEXT UP, TEAM HENDRICK SITS DOWN WITH CHRIS MYERS. GRAMMY WINNING ZAC BROWN BAND PERFORMS AND SPECIAL DRIVER >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW IS SPONSORED BY -- >> THE THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE TOP SELLING ARTISTS TODAY. PERFORMING SONGS OFF THE GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ALBUM "UNCAGED," PLEASE WELCOME THE ZAC BROWN BAND. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ NOT A LULLABY ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ THE SOUTHERN WIND SIGNS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ BABY POWDER BEACH UNDER MY FEET HAS GOT ME ROLLING ♪ ♪ AND THE BREEZE THROUGH THE CRACKLING LEAVES LIKE A DAYTIME CAMPFIRE BURNING ♪ ♪ AND THE SHIP IS OFF TO SEA ♪ ♪ AND THE WAKE IS CHURNING ♪ AS THE SOUTHERN WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLAB ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC PULL YOU IN ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ AND LOSE YOURSELF AGAIN ♪ ♪ AND THE SOUTHERN WIND SING AGAIN A ISLAND LULLALBY ♪ ♪ THERE'S A PLACE THAT LOCAL GOES AND NO UP WITH KNOWS WHERE TO FIND IT ♪ ♪ THE RIVER STAFFS TO FLOW INSIDE THE CLOUDS OF MISTY MOUNTAIN ♪ ♪ THE WATER FROM THE STOP BELOW BECOMES BLUE-GREEN FOUNTAIN ♪ ♪ AND THE SOUTHERN WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC PULL YOU IN ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ LOSE YOURSELF AGAIN ♪ ♪ SOUTHERN WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA, LA ♪ ♪ LA, LA LA, LA, ♪ ♪ LA LA, LA, LA, ♪ ♪ LA LA, LA, LA, ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ YOU CAN FIND ME WHERE THE MUSIC MEETS THE OCEAN ♪ ♪ IF YOU GET THE NOTION ♪ ♪ STOP ON BY AND PLAY A WHILE ♪ ♪ SIMPLE TUNE TO GET YOUR LOVE LIGHT GLOWING ♪ ♪ KEEP YOUR HEART WIDE OPEN ♪ ♪ DISAPPEAR JUST LIKE THE TIDE ♪ ♪ LET IT ROLL ON BY ♪ ♪ JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC PULL YOU IN ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ OH AND LOSE YOURSELF AGAIN ♪ ♪ AS THE SO YOU WERE WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ FEEL THE MUSIC PULL YOU IN ♪ ♪ YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ OH AND LOSE YOURSELF AGAIN ♪ ♪ JUMP RIGHT IN ♪ ♪ LET THE MUSIC PULL YOU IN ♪ ♪ SOUTHERN WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ SOUTHERN WIND SINGS AGAIN AN ISLAND LULLABY ♪ ♪ ISLAND LULLALBY ♪♪ [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ UNCAGED ♪ ♪ GONNA DRIFT TO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN ♪ ♪ GONNA SET MY SPIRIT FREE ♪ ♪ WON'T STOP UNTIL I REACH THE OCEAN ♪ ♪ GONNA BREAK THOSE CHAINS HOLDING ME ♪ ♪ UNCAPABLEED ♪ ♪ GONNA SWIM IN THE COLDEST RIVER ♪ ♪ GONNA DRINK FROM A MOUNTAIN SPRING ♪ ♪ DEFEND THE LAND OF THE GREAT WIDE OPEN ♪ ♪ GONNA LET THE WATER ROLL OVER ME ♪ ♪ UNCAGED ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ OOOOHHHHH ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ OOOOH ♪ ♪ I WANNA SWIM IN THE SUNSHINE ♪ ♪ EVERY DAY FIND A WAY TO FACE MY FEARS ♪ ♪ I WANNA GET IN THE WIND ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ GONNA TAKE EVERY CHANCE I'M GIVEN ♪ ♪ FEEL THE WIND THROUGH THE OPEN PLAINS ♪ ♪ FREEDOM IS A GIFT GET LIVING ♪ ♪ GO CHASE THAT SUNSET HIGHWAY DOWN ♪ ♪ YOU GOT TO GET UNCAGED ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR FOX SPORTS SUPPORT CHARITY FOR 2013. FEEDING AMERICA. JOHN HOPKINS MEDICINE. AND STOP OUT BULLYING. WE'LL RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS ALL YEAR LONG ON THE FOX PLATFORM. GO TO FOXSPORTSSUPPORTS.COM. COMING UP, YOU WILL MEET ALL 43 DRIVERS STARTING THE DAYTONA >> Mike: 42 MEN AND ONE WOMAN ABOUT TO DRIVE OUT TO HISTORY. TO INTRODUCE THEM, JIM MUELLER. >> RACE FANS, MEET THE STARTING LINEUP FOR 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. STARTING 43rd IN THE BURGER KING TOYOTA, TRAVIS KVAPIL. IN ROW 21, IN THE NUMBER 83, BURGER KING TOYOTA DAVID REUTIMANN. AND DRIVING THE NUMBER 36, GOLDEN CORRAL CHEVROLET, J.J. YELEY. IN ROW 20, THE NUMBER 51, PHOENIX CONSTRUCTION CHEVROLET, WITH REGAN SMITH ABOARD. AND THE NUMBER 32, CMJ ENERGY SERVICES BOARD DRIVEN BY TERRY LABONTE. ROW 19 HAS THE 98 DRIVEN BY MICHAEL McDOWELL. AND THE NUMBER 56, NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA, MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR THE DRIVER. >> IN ROW 18, FASTENAL CAR OF CARL EDWARDS AND THE EXPRESS TOYOTA DRIVEN BY DENNY HAMLIN. >> IN ROW 17, THE NUMBER 39, QUICKEN LOANS CHEVROLET, 2008 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, RYAN NEWMAN. AND IN THE NUMBER 21 MOTORCRAFT QUICK LANE TIRE AND AUTO CENTER, THE 2011 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, TREVOR BAYNE. IN ROW 16, THE NUMBER 35 MBS TRANSPORT FORD DRIVEN BY JOSH WISE. THE NUMBER 35, LAVANE FAMILY FORD DRIVEN BY SCOTT SPEED. >> IN ROW 15, IT'S THE NUMBER 7, FLORIDA LOTTERY CHEVROLET, THE DRIVER DAVE BLANEY. AND THE NUMBER 26, SANDYHOOK SCHOOL SUPPORT FUND TOYOTA, TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION MICHAEL WALTRIP. IN ROW 14, THE NUMBER 17, BEST BUY FORD DRIVEN BY RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR. AND THE NUMBER 87, MATTY'S PLACE ROCKS.COM DAB CONSTRUCTORS TOYOTA WITH JOE NEMECHEK ABOARD. IN ROW 13, THE NUMBER 42, SMITHFIELD FORD DRIVEN BY ARIC ALMIROLA. AND DRIVING THE NUMBER 38 LOVE'S TRAVEL STOP FORD, DAVID GILLILAND. ROW NUMBER 12 HAS THE NUMBER 9 STANLEY FORD DRIVEN BY MARCOS AMBROSE. AND THE NUMBER 47, KROGER TOYOTA, WITH BOBBY LABONTE. IN ROW 11, IT'S THE 34 DETAIL DOCTOR FORD DRIVEN BY DAVID RAGAN. DRIVING THE NUMBER 22, SHELL PENNZOIL FORD, JOEY LOGANO. STARTING TENTH AND THE NUMBER ONE McDONALD'S CHEVROLET, THE 2010 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION JAMIE McMURRAY. AND IN THE NUMBER 88, NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET, 2004 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, DALE EARNHARDT JR. STARTING IN ROW NUMBER 9 IN THE 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET, JEFF BURTON. AND IN THE NUMBER 13, GEICO FORD, DRIVER CASEY MEARS. IN ROW 8, THE NUMBER 27 MENARD'S CHEVROLET DRIVEN BY PAUL MENARD. IN THE NUMBER TWO, MILLER LITE FORD, BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> IN ROW NUMBER SEVEN, DRIVING THE NUMBER 55, AARON'S DREAM MACHINE TOYOTA, MARK MARTIN. AND IN THE NUMBER 14, BASS PRO SHOPS/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET, TONY STEWART. ROW SIX HAS THE NUMBER 20-DOLLAR GENERAL TOYOTA, TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, MATT KENSETH. AND DRIVING THE NUMBER 78, FURNITURE ROW RACING CHEVROLET, KURT BUSCH. IN ROW FIVE, DRIVING THE NUMBER 15 FIVE-HOUR ENERGY TOYOTA, CLINT BOWYER. DRIVING THE NUMBER 48 LOWE'S CHEVROLET, THE 2006 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, JIMMIE JOHNSON. IN ROW NUMBER FOUR, DRIVING THE NUMBER 33, HONEY NUT CHEERIOS CHEVROLET, AUSTIN DILLON. IN THE NUMBER 42, TARGET CHEVROLET, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA. IN ROW NUMBER 3, IT'S THE NUMBER 5, FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET, DRIVEN BY KASEY KAHNE. AND THE NUMBER 16, 3M FORD DRIVEN BY GREG BIFFLE. ROW NUMBER TWO, HAS THE 18 M&Ms TOYOTA DRIVEN BY KYLE BUSCH. AND THE NUMBER 29, BUDWEISER CHEVROLET, DRIVEN BY 2007 500 CHAMPION KEVIN HARVICK. IN ROW NUMBER ONE, THE NUMBER 24, DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET, THREE-TIME DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION, JEFF GORDON. AND STARTING ON THE POLE FOR THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500, IN THE NUMBER 10 GoDaddy.COM CHEVROLET, DANICA PATRICK. [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: WELL, THERE IS THE CLASS OF 2013. 13 DAYTONA 500 VICTORIES AMONG THESE 43 DRIVERS. COMING UP, CHRIS MYERS GOES A FEW HOT LAPS WITH THE HENDRICK TEAM. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 PRE-RACE SHOW IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Announcer: NASCAR, INSIDE LINE, PUTS YOU IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE MOST REALISTIC NASCAR GAME EVER. PLUS, THE BEST MOMENTS OF THE 2013 SEASON WILL BE RECREATED AS DOWN LOADABLE EACH WEEK. RELIVE THE MOMENTS OF THE DAYTONA 500. WITH NASCAR THE GAME. INSIDE LINE. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: WELL, NASCAR JUST CALLED, THEYAL WOULD LIKE THEIR FLAG STAND BACK. I'M GOING TO HEAD TO THE BOOTH AND JOIN LARRY McREYNOLDS. CHECK YOU BACK IN AT THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL AND CHRIS MYERS. >> Chris: WE'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU IN A MOMENT. GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT THE NAMES YOU WILL LIKELY HEAR WHEN THEY WAVE THE CHECKERED FLAG AT THE FINISH LINE. THE FOUR DRIVERS OF THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORT TEAM WON COMBINED FIVE DAYTONA 500s AND THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. THEY ARE TOM BRADY OF THE NASCAR. IF THEY DON'T WIN THE TITLE THEY'RE IN THE CONVERSATION. ALL FOUR MADE NASCAR'S PLAYOFFS LAST YEAR. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> GET READY. >> GET IT. GET IT. GET IT. >> GO! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: GREAT TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF HENDRICK AND THE SUPER TEAM OF HENDRICK DRIVERS. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GUYS WHEN IT'S NOT RACING RELATED HOW OFTEN DO YOU HANG OUT, YOU FOUR? [ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS YOUR FIRST QUESTION? >> IT'S ALWAYS YEAH, MAN, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND DO DINNER. AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. >> A LONG TIME AGO WE HAD SIMILAR -- >> LIFESTYLES. IT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. >> I SEE HIM AT BIRTHDAY PARTIES. >> YEAH. THEY HANG OUT. >> THE KID'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. >> YOU ARE NOT DOING THE SAME THING YOU USED TO DO. >> HE IS IN THE MIDDLE. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: IN OTHER SPORTS, YANKEES WITH THE IMAGE, THE MIAMI HEAT PUT TOGETHER AND THEN WON A CHAMPIONSHIP. WOULD YOU AGREE THIS IS THE SUPERTEAM OF NASCAR? >> THERE IS PRESSURE ASSUMED WHEN YOU SIGN THE DOTTED LINE TO WORK HERE. YOU WILL PERFORM AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO. WE DON'T CONSCIOUSLY THINK ABOUT IT AS MUCH AS OTHERS DO. >> WHEN I CAME ON BOARD AND SIGNED HENDRICK, PEOPLE QUESTIONED MY MOVE. THEY HADN'T WON A CHAMPIONSHIP AT THAT POINT. OVER THE YEARS THERE WERE EXPECTATIONS THAT STARTED BUILDING. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: FOUR DRIVERS OF THE CALIBER, DOES IT GIVE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE? >> EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. WHEN I STARTED THE WORD WAS YOU WILL NEVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNING MULTIPLE CARS. YOU KNOW, I HAD ALWAYS LEARNED FROM MY EXPERIENCE AT THE DEALERSHIP SIDE, THE MORE SMART PEOPLE YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE. >> HENDRICK'S TEAM NEXT YEAR WILL INCLUDE JEFF GORDON, JIMMIE JOHNSON AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS THERE ENOUGH ROOM ON THE MARQUEE FOR ALL THREE OF THESE DRIVERS? >> I CAME HERE CURIOUS. I'D SEEN THE THINGS THAT JEFF HAD DONE. AND I TALKED TO JIMMIE SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW COOL I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE FOR RICK. I WANTED TO GO TO THE BEST PLACE. >> BASICALLY, THEY COMPETE AND THEY'RE FRIENDS. THEY WANT TO BEAT EACH OTHER ON THE RACETRACK. I SEE IT SOMETIMES. THEY START BEATING OP EACH OTHER. JUST RACE HARD AND I'LL SAY HEY, REMEMBER THE BIG PICTURE. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. >> WHAT IS AWESOME IS WHAT WAS CREATED HERE AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER, HOW WE SHARE INFORMATION, THE DATABASE AND CREW CHIEF MEETINGS AND THE DRIVERS' MEETINGS IS AMAZING. REALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING. BECAUSE ON SUNDAY WE COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER. >> WE RAN ONE, TWO, THREE IN POINTS A FEW YEARS BACK. ON THE LAST RACE WE KNEW UP WITH OF THEM WOULD WIN IT AND THEY SHARED INFORMATION TO RACE BESIDE EACH OTHER. >> IT DOESN'T ALL MAKE SENSE UNTIL YOU SEE THE BENEFIT IT BRINGS EACH AND EVERY WEEKEND. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, HAVING ALL FOUR TEAMS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND WHAT A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IT IS AND HOW PROUD IT MAKES RICK. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: IS THERE SOMEONE IS MORE COMPETITIVE THAN THE OTHERS OR MAYBE SHOWS IT MORE? >> JEFF PROBABLY SHOWS IT THE MOST. [ LAUGHTER ] >> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO MEAN. I DON'T THINK IT WAS A COMPLIMENT. >> THE FIRST TIME I RACED WITH JEFF AT MARTINSVILLE, LAPPED ME, I'M NOT SURE. >> I LIKE THE WAY THIS IS GOING. >> POINTED LEFT. I WAS LIKE HE IS GOING TO RUN OVER ME? ER TO I -- OR I'M GOING TO LIFT. IT LIFTED. >> THANK YOU. >> WE ALL HAVE IT, WE JUST ALL SHOW IT DIFFERENT WAYS. >> IF YOU PUT A HELMET ON ANY OF US AND WE CHANGE. >> Chris: I HAVE THE GREASE BOARD REAL QUICK. IT WILL GIVE EACH ONE AND ASK YOU, HORSEPOWER AND STAR POWER AT THE HENDRICK HOUSE. IF ALL FOUR OF YOU ARE RACING AND EVERYTHING IS EQUAL, THE CAR, THE TRACK, THE PIT CREW, WHO WINS OUT OF THE FOUR OF YOU? YOU CAN'T PICK YOURSELF. WHATEVER TRACK YOU THINK. >> I THINK THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. I MEAN IT'S HARD TO GO AGAINST FIVE-TIME. >> JIMMIE, SAME THING. >> JUNIOR? >> AND I -- >> Chris: WE DON'T TAKE -- >> LOOK AT THAT. SEE, WHAT IS WHAT THEY MEAN ABOUT THE RESPECT. >> I SAW A BONDING MOMENT BETWEEN THESE TWO. >> HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT. DALE EARNHARDT JR., I ASKED JEFF ABOUT THE BIT FOR TODAY'S RACE AND HE SAID JUNIOR IS THE GUY. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHY? JUNIOR IS THE HEIR-APPARENT TO HIS FATHER'S LEGACY. PEOPLE SAID DALE SENIOR COULD SEE THE AIR. THAT'S WHERE THE EARNHARDT LEGACY STANDS. I THINK JUNIOR ALWAYS WILL BE A FACTOR HERE AT DAYTONA. >> Chris: HENDRICK, THE SUPER TEAM. DO THEY HAVE AN EDGE? YOU SAW THEM TALK ABOUT THE TEAMWORK. THE DRIVERS ARE THE FRONT GUYS BUT DO THEY AN ADVANTAGE WITH THE GENERATION 6 CAR? >> Darrell: A COUPLE OF THINGS. RICK STARTED OFF WITH A BUNCH OF OUTLAWS. HE HAD ME AND GEOFF BODINE AND KENNY SCHRADER AND RICHMAN. RICK REALIZES IT'S EASIER TO MANAGE ALL-STARS WHICH IS WHAT HE HAS NOW. ANYBODY THAT WALKS IN HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND THEY ARE THERE LONG -- KASEY KAHNE DID IT AND JUNIOR DID IT -- THEYSY HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COMPETE AGAINST? THE MOST RESOURCES IN THE SPORT. >> Chris: TIME FOR GAS 'N' GO. WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, DARRELL, MATT KENSETH WON TWO OF THE LAST FOUR DAYTONA 500s. LAST YEAR, BUT A CAREER IN FORD, NOW IN A JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA. HOW DOES IT AFFECT HIS CHANCES TODAY? >> Darrell: I WATCH HIM IN PRACTICE AND 150. HE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE. THE ONLY CAR HE DROVE WAS THE 17 CAR AND ONLY TEAM WAS ROUSH. HE HAS A NEW SPOTTER AND CREW CHIEF AND NEW TEAM. HE HAS TO FIND THE SWEET SPOT. >> Chris: ONLY THREE DRIVERS WOP DAYTONA 500 IN BACK-TO-BACK YEARS SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE. BROTHERS, AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE SUPER BOWL, THEY RACED AGAINST EACH OTHER. WHAT CHALLENGES DO ROOKIES, DANICA PATRICK AND RICKY STENHOUSE FACE SINCE THEY ARE DATING EACH OTHER AND COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER? >> Darrell: I HAVE GIVEN THIS THOUGHT. WHAT DREW THEM TOGETHER IS WHAT WILL DRIVE THEM APART. RACING. THAT IS COMPETITION. I THINK WHEN THEY GET ON THE TRACK AND START TO COMPETE, FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -- REMEMBER, THEY'RE TOTALLY OPPOSITE. ONE DRIVES A CHEVROLET, THE OTHER DRIVERS A FORD. HE IS A LITTLE COUNTRY, SHE A LITTLE ROCK 'N' ROLL. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE RELATIONSHIP WILL WORK OUT BUT RACING WILL BE THE TEST. >> Chris: I HEARD THEM SAY THEY WOULD WRECK THEIR MOTHER TO WIN SO THAT TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. FIVE DRIVERS WON THEIR FIRST NASCAR CUP TITLE IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS. YOU AMONG THEM. HOW DIFFICULT -- WE HEARD FROM BRAD KESELOWSKI EARLIER IN THE SHOW. HOW DIFFICULT FOR HIM ESPECIALLY SINCE HE IS GOING FROM A DODGE TO A FORD TO DEFEND HIS CUP TITLE? >> Darrell: THERE IS SO MUCH PRESSURE TO DEFEND YOUR TITLE. HERE IS THE THING. I CALL THIS A HANGOVER. BY THE TIME YOU GET THROUGH CELEBRATING THE CHAMPIONSHIP IT DISTRACTS YOU GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IN KESELOWSKI'S CASE, THEY CHANGED MANUFACTURERS. >> Chris: REAL QUICK, GEN-6 CAR, WHAT IS IT LIKE? >> Darrell: THE OLD CAR IS LIKE A MULE AND THIS CAR IS LIKE A THOROUGHBRED. >> Chris: YOUR PICK TODAY? >> Darrell: BY BUDDY, BUBBA FROM FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE, SAID BET THE FARM ON THE BIFF. I GO WITH BIFF. >> Chris: GREG BIFFLE. WAYS TO TAKE IN THE RACE, GRAND STAND, INFIELD, TOP OF THE CATCHER AND AT HOME WATCHING ON YOUR TELEVISION. OUR JEFF HAMMOND FOUND ANOTHER VANTAGE POINT WITH THE GRAND MARSHAL WHO IS ALSO THE OZ, GREAT AND POWERFUL. >> Jeff: I'M WITH JAMES FRANCO. THE STAR OF "OZ." YOU ARE THE GUY THAT WILL GET THE SHOW STARTED. ARE YOU READY FOR THAT? A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. >> IT'S ONLY FOUR WORDS. I HEARD WHEN YOU DID IT, IT TOOK A TELEPROMPTER, CUE CARDS AND STEP TAKES. >> Jeff: SO YOU ARE GOING TO START THINKING OF THIS, TOO. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE THE OZ -- >> SEE YOU LATER. >> Jeff: WHOA! OKAY. LOOK, THE DAYTONA 500 IS GETTING READY TO START. BRING ME BACK DOWN. HURRY UP. LOOK, LOOK, QUIT PLAYING. QUIT PLAYING! >> Chris: A LOT HAPPENING AS THE DRIVERS HEAD TO THEIR CARS AND READY TO GO IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. YOU'RE WATCHING THE >>> OFF THEY GO! >> RICH PETTY GOES BACK IN FRONT. IN THE WALL. >> ALLISON BROKE. >> THERE IS A FIGHT BETWEEN CALE YARBOROUGH AND DONNIE ALLYSON. >> 20 YEARS OF TRYING. DALE EARNHARDT WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: ONE OF THE SPECIAL MEMORIES CREATED HERE AS WE GET READY TO START THE 55th RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. SPECTATORS FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES HERE IN ATTENDANCE. YOU JUST HEARD FROM JEFF HAMMOND IN THE HOT AIR BALLOON. YOU WILL HEAR THE DRIVERS TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST REFERRING TO "DRAFTING" QUITE A BIT. LIKE TURBULENT WEIGHT BEHIND A BOAT. LEGEND HAS IT THAT DALE EARNHARDT COULD SEE THE AIR. IT WILL HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WINNER OF TODAY'S RACE. LET'S CHECK IN WITH JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: NASCAR DEVELOPED THE GEN-5, KNOWN AS "CAR OF TOMORROW" THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THE BUMPER, FRONT AND REAR BUMPER ALINE WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA SO WHEN DRIVERS BUMPED IN TO ONE ANOTHER, MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T SPIN EACH OTHER OUT AS QUICK. UP WITH THING CAME OUT OF IT. WHENNER -- ONE THING CAME OUT OF IT. THE DRIVERS FIGURED OUT THEY COULD PUSH ONE ANOTHER, THEY WERE FASTER THAN THE BIG PACK, WELL, IN 2013, NASCAR AND THE MANUFACTURERS CHANGED THE GAME. THREE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, THREE DISTINCTIVE SHAPES, STYLES AND OVERALL LOOKS. THE ONE THING THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS THE FACT YOU DON'T SEE THE FLAT FRONT END. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEY GET TOGETHER AND THEY DON'T ALINE LIKE THEY DID IN 2012. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN RESULTS OF THAT. IN MY OPINION, THAT'S THE REASON WHY PACK RACING ONCE AGAIN IS KING AT DAYTONA. >> Chris: THANKS, JEFF. WE APPRECIATE THAT. FOR THE DRIVERS BY THE WAY, REPRESENTING 23 STATES, SEVEN DRIVERS FROM CALIFORNIA THIS RACE, THE MOST OF ANY ONE STATE. DAYTONA'S VERSION OF THE HOLLYWOOD RED CARPET IS THE GRID WALK. ALL THE SPECIAL EFFECTS YOU SEE TODAY ARE REAL. THERE ARE NO STUNT MEN FOR THE BEST DRIVERS OF THE WORLD. THIS IS REALITY TV GONE WILD. SO LET'S HEAD DOWN THERE LIVE TO THE TRACK AND SAY HI AGAIN TO ERIN ANDREWS. >> Erin: HI, CHRIS. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE FUN IN YOUR WORLD. THIS IS REALITY TV. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PIT ROW. I WILL GIVE YOU UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL VIEW OF WHAT THIS IS LIKE. REALLY 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE SHOW GETS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS WHAT THE DRIVERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH. LOOK AT ALL THE ENTOURAGE. CAN YOU IMAGINE JIM HARBAUGH HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS. THIS IS A TON OF PEOPLE HERE. KEVIN HARVICK, HOW DO YOU CONCENTRATE WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET IN THE CAR TO GO 200 MILES PER HOUR WHEN YOUR OFFICE LOOKS LIKE THIS? >> THIS IS PART OF THE GAME BEFORE YOU GET STARTED. ONCE YOU GET IN THE CAR AND YOU FLIP THE SWITCH AND EVERYTHING CHANGES FROM THERE. RIGHT NOW, OUR SPORT IS ABOUT THE FANS AND SPONSORSTHANT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT GO AROUND. >> I DON'T N.F.L. OR COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES THAT WOULD LOVE THIS MOMENT HERE. LET'S KEEP MOVING HERE. OF COURSE, THERE IS MATT KENSETH. HE WON DAYTONA 500 LAST YEAR. YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE SHOW. HE IS WITH A NEW TEAM, A NEW CAR, NEW SPONSOR. HE SAID THIS WEEK HE FEELS LIKE A NEW KID STARTING SCHOOL HERE. JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CAR IS OVER HERE. I JUST SAW HIM WALK BY A MINUTE AGO. EVERYBODY WAITING AROUND WITH HIM. ONE COOL THING ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500 AS WE HAVE SEEN AND WE HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT HERE, THERE ARE SO MANY CELEBRITIES FROM OUTSIDE THE SPORT. ACTORS, MUSICIANS, ENTREPRENEURS, EVERYBODY WANTING TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER HERE. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD A LITTLE BIT AND GO TO THE PERSON WHO STOLE THE SPOTLIGHT HERE AT THE DAYTONA 500. THAT IS, OF COURSE, DANICA PATRICK, WHO MADE HISTORY EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND IS ON THE VERGE OF MAKING HISTORY. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN TALK TO HER. OF COURSE, 50-CENT HERE. I HAVE TO TALK TO DANICA PATRICK. GOOD TO SEE YOU. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? >> I'M ENJOYING MYSELF. ALL THE FESTIVES. >> Erin: WE'RE GOING TO GO SEE DANICA. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? WEAVE OUR WAY THROUGH HERE. GOT TO FIND HER. CAN WE FIND HER? WE ARE SO LOOKING HERE. I DON'T THINK WE CAN FIND HER. CHRIS, I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT YOU DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A PART OF THIS. THANK GOODNESS 50-CENT IS HERE. WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. >> Chris: THANKS, APPRECIATE IT, ERIN. WE HAVE 50-CENT. HOPING TO GET DANICA'S TWO CENTS BEFORE DANICA PATRICK TAKES OFF FROM THE POLE. THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WITH US FOR NASCAR ON FOX. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AT THIS TIME, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RISE AND REMOVE YOUR HATS, AS THE MAYPORT NAVAL STATION COLOR GUARD PRESENTS OUR NATION'S COLORS. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS REVEREND L. RONALD DURRAM FROM THE GREATER FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY CHURCH OFFERS TODAY'S INVOCATION. >> LET US PRAY. LORD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. GUIDE THE DRIVERS AROUND EACH TURN. SET YOUR ANGELS BEFORE THEM. PROTECT THE RACERS AND THOSE IN THE STAND. GRANT A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO THOSE FANS THAT WERE INJURED ON SATURDAY. AS WE LOOK AT THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE OF THE FLAG, PROTECT OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS FIGHTING TO KEEP AMERICA STRONG. WE PRAISE YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMISE AND YOUR POWER. THROUGH CHRIST, AMEN AND GODSPEED. >> HERE TO PERFORM OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, MEMBER OF THE THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ZAC BROWN BAND, PLEASE WELCOME CLAY COOK. >> ♪ O SAY CAN YOU SEE ♪ ♪ BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED ♪ ♪ AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS ♪ ♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED ♪ ♪ WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE ♪ ♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT ♪ ♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE ♪ ♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪♪ [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Chris: ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION. DANICA PATRICK WAS JUST TEN YEARS OLD WHEN JEFF GORDON RAP IN HIS -- RAN IN HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500. THEY WILL BE SIDE-BY-SIDE ON THE FRONT >> Chris: BACK HERE IN DAYTONA, AND THAT IS KEELAN. YOU SAW HIM EARLIER IN THE PRE-RACE SHOW. SEVEN MONTHS OLD AND THE GOOD LUCK CHARM FOR FATHER KEVIN HARVICK. THERE IS OWNER AND DRIVER TONY STEWART WHO HAS NEVER WON A DAYTONA 500. HE HAS WON EVERYTHING ELSE. TALKING TO DANICA PATRICK, WHO STARTS ON THE POLE MAKING HISTORY. CAN SHE GET TO VICTORY LANE? DANICA IN A CHEVROLET. EARLIER IN SPEEDWEEKS IN DAYTONA, PRESIDENT MARK ROYCE GOING BY JEFF GORDON UNVEILING THE NEW 2014 CHEVROLET S.S. SEDAN. STREETCAR COMPANION TO THE GEN-6 CUP CAR. DRIVERS LIKE WHAT THEY SEE. >> FIRST TIME I SAW IT, IT WAS LIKE WOW! IT LOOKS FANTASTIC. >> THE ONLY DRIVE CAR IN THE MIX. >> THE CAR IS SOMETHING SPECIAL. >> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NOSE OF THE CAR YOU KNOW IT'S A CHEVY DESIGN FOR SURE. >> IT LOOKS LIKE A SEXY, SPORTY CHEVY. >> Chris: CHEVROLET HAS THE MOST WINS OF ANY MANUFACTURER HERE AT THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. IN THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. DRIVERS LOOKING ALMOST LIKE SUPERHEROES AS THEY STRAP IN TO THEIR CARS. JIMMIE JOHNSON, DALE EARNHARDT JR. THERE IS CLINT BOWYER. SECOND IN POINTS LAST YEAR. IF GUY WHO HAS RUN WELL OP RESTRICTOR-PLATE RACES. TONY STEWART IS THE FAVORITE IN LAS VEGAS AT THIS RACE, 8 TO 1. FOLLOWED BY KEVIN HARVICK, DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND JEFF GORDON. DANICA PATRICK LISTED AT 20 TO 1. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALONG FOR COVERAGE OF THE DAYTONA 500. THIS IS NASCAR ON FOX. READY TO HEAD TRACKSIDE FOR OPENING CEREMONIES. >> AND NOW, FOR THE MOST FAMOUS WORDS IN MOTORSPORTS, PLEASE WELCOME YOUR GRAND MARSHAL FROM THE UPCOMING FILM DISNEY'S "OZ: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL," JAMES FRANCO. >> DRIVERS, AND DANICA, START YOUR ENGINES! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Chris: A COMMAND WITH COMMANDER. TEMPERATURE IN THE 70s. THE RAIN CHANCES ARE DIMINISHING. NASCAR'S OPENING DAY AND SUPER BOWL PACKED IN ONE FOUR-THUNDERSHOWER THRILL RIDE. LET'S HEAD UP TO THE -- FOUR-HOUR THRILL RIDE. HEAD UP TO THE VOICES OP FOX IN THE BOOTH, DARRELL WALTRIP, LARRY McREYNOLDS, MIKE JOY. >> Mike: THANK YOU. DARRELL WALTRIP, '89 WINER OF THE RACE. WHAT A CONTRAST ON THE FRONT ROW. SUNOCO ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE LINED UP NEXT TO A FOUR-TIME SERIES CHAMPION. >> Darrell: YEAH, THE WINNINGEST DRIVER IN THE MODERN ERA, JEFF GORDON WITH 87 WINS GOING UP AGAINST DANICA WHO ONLY HAS TEN STARTS. THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE: SHE IS A ROOKIE, IS IT WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW IS WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW GOING TO HELP HER? OR THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GUYS AROUND HER GOING TO HURT HER? I BELIEVE THE GUYS WILL ALL RIGHT. SHE HAS A FAST CAR. >> Mike: LARRY McREYNOLDS WON THIS RACE TWICE FROM PIT ROAD. SECOND ROW ARE TWO OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS IN THE BUSINESS, WHO EACH WON THEIR DAYTONA DUEL RACE ON THURSDAY. >> Larry: THE OTHER THING KYLE BUSCH AND KEVIN HARVICK HAVE IN COMMON, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT WINNING THE DAYTONA 500. THE STORIES WITH THE DRIVERS. KYLE BUSCH, ONLY WON ONE RACE LAST YEAR, MISSED THE CHASE. HE NEVER WON THE DAYTONA 500. KEVIN HARVICK ESSENTIALLY WITH TWO RACES TO GO AT THE END OF LAST YEAR ANNOUNCED HE WAS LEAVING RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING AT THE END OF 2013. HE BACKED THAT UP WINNING THREE OF THE LAST FOUR RACES INCLUDING THE "SPRINT UNLIMITED" AND THE BUDWEISER DUEL ON THURSDAY. TRYING TO BECOME THE FIRST DRIVER IN THE HISTORY TO SWEEP ALL THREE RACES IN SPEEDWEEK. >> Mike: THAT IS JUST THE FRONT TWO ROWS. OF THE 42 DRIVERS ABOUT TO SQUARE OFF IN STOCK CAR RACING BIGGEST EVENT, THE 55th DAYTONA 500 ON >> Mike: WHO WILL WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE? THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR. >> Larry: IT IS A BIG, BIG DEAL. >> Mike: HERE THEY COME. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Darrell: THIS PLACE IS FAST! IT'S INTIMIDATING. >> Mike: WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? >> Darrell: BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S GO RACIN', BOYS! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: READY TO RACE. AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. PACKED HOUSE IN THE FRONT STRETCH GRAND STAND. AS THE 43 DRIVERS ROLL OFF THE STARTING GRID TO BEGIN THE PACE LAPS. WHAT OTHER MAJOR PROFESSIONAL SPORT ALLOWS MEN AND WOMEN TO COMPETE HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR THE SAME PRIZE? DANICA PATRICK LOOKS AHEAD. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE POLE-SITTER FOR THE DAYTONA 500 IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. FOR THE TEAM. MY JOB STARTS OP SUNDAY, RACE DAY, WHEN THE GREEN FLAG DROPS. AND I'VE GOT TO SEE IF I CAN MAINTAIN FOR 500 MILES. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Mike: NASCAR ON FOX PROUDLY PRESENTS THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THE 55th DAYTONA 500. HERE IS A LOOK AT THE GEICO STARTING GRID FOR THE RACE. DANICA PATRICK, FOUR-TIME SERIES CHAMP JEFF GORDON. ROW ONE. KEVIN HARVICK, 13th DRIVER TO WIN UNLIMITED AND THE DUEL. KYLE BUSCH WON DUEL NUMBER TWO IN ROW TWO. GREG BIFFLE WON THE JULY RACE HERE. AND KASEY KAHNE WHO FINISHED SEVEN IN THE RACE TWICE. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, TOP TEN HERE TWO OF THREE YEARS. ROOKIE AUSTIN DILLON. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE 2006 WINNER AND CLINT BOWYER, THE RUNNER UP IN THE STANDINGS LAST YEAR. KURT BUSCH, THREE-TIME RUNNER UP IN THIS RACE AND MATT KENSETH, TWO-TIME WINNER. TONY STEWART, 15th TRY TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. MARK MARTIN TRYING FOR THE 29th TIME. SERIES CHAMP BRAD KESELOWSKI WITH PAUL MENARD, TOP TEN HERE THE LAST TWO YEARS. CASEY MEARS, RUNNER-UP IN 2006. AND JEFF BURTON, THE 2000 JULY WINNER HERE. DALE EARNHARDT JR. -- 2004 RACE WINER. JAMIE McMURRAY WON IT IN 2010. JOEY LOGANO FINISHED NINTH LAST YEAR. NEXT TO DAVID RAGAN WHO WON THE JULY RACE TWO YEARS AGO. BOBBY LABONTE RUNNER UP IN '98. MARCOS AMBROSE, 13th LAST YEAR. DAVID GILLILAND, THIRD IN 2011. AND ARIC ALMIROLA IN THE NUMBER 43, WON THIS RACE SEVEN TIMES. ROOKIE, RICKY STENHOUSE, VETERAN JOE NEMECHEK. HAVE A LOOK BACK THROUGH THE STARTING LINE-UP. THERE IS MICHAEL WALTRIP, TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION NEXT TO DAVE BLANEY. >> Darrell: LET'S TALK TO THE MAN WITH THE HOT HAND. WHAT DO YOU SAY? KEVIN HARVICK, D.W. GOT A COPY? >> YES, SIR, I DO. >> Darrell: HEY, BUDDY, IT LOOKS LIKE DANICA IS GOING TO CHOOSE THE OUTSIDE. THAT IS GOING TO PUT JEFF GORDON OVER THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. GOOD MOVE, BAD MOVE? >> YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE OF AN OPTION WITH THE SIDE DRAFTING STUFF. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK EITHER ONE, WHOEVER IS DOWN HERE, WE WILL PUSH LIKE CRAZY TO TRY TO KEEP THE TRACK POSITION HERE THE BEST WE CAN ALL DAY. >> Darrell: KEVIN, DANICA IS A ROOKIE. DOES THAT CONCERN YOU AT ALL? >> I DON'T THINK SO. SHE HAS DONE ENOUGH RESTART TO THINGS NOW. I THINK SHE WILL DO FINE. JUST TREAT HER JUST LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER GUYS WOULD. YOU WANT TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN ALL DAY. WE'LL JUST RACE HARD AS WE CAN EVERY LAP. >> Darrell: WELL, WE TALK TO YOU UP ON THE WHEEL IN THE SHOT THERE BEFORE THE RACE. I GUESS DAD IS READY TO GO, RIGHT, UP ON THE WHEEL, TOO? >> YEAH. WE'RE READY TO GO. HE HAS BEEN HERE ALL WEEK. SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE GOOD LUCK CHARM, HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE RACE. HOPEFULLY HE HAS ONE MORE IN HIM TODAY. >> Darrell: GET OUT THE BROOM, BUDDY. YOU'RE THE ONLY GUY THAT HAS A SHOT. GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> Mike: HARVICK LOOKING FOR THE CLEAN SWEEP TODAY. TODAY'S RACE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUDWEISER, THE BEER THAT STARTS WITH FULL FLAVOR AND WE UNDERSTAND A CRISP, FAST FINISH. GREAT TIMES ARE WAITING. GRAB SOME BUD. LET'S GET LATE-BREAKING STORIES FROM PIT ROAD BEGINNING WITH STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: THANK YOU, MIKE. DANICA PATRICK STARTS FROM THE POLE POSITION BUT WILL SHE BE CONSERVATIVE? ABSOLUTELY NOT! HER CREW CHIEF TONY GIBSON TOLD ME WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING HER BACK FOR THE PAST FOUR DAYS. I TOLD HER TO TREAT IT JUST LIKE A VIDEO GAME. SHE SAID WE ARE GOING TO RACE WIDE OPEN ALL DAY LONG. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: STEVE, TODAY'S 500 FALL RIGHT IN THE WHEELHOUSE OF OUTSIDE POLE-SITTER, JEFF GORDON. NOW BACK TO AN OLD SCHOOL TYPE RACING WITH THE NEW CAR. THIS IS A THINKING MAN'S GAME. WHERE STRATEGY ON THE RACETRACK COMES OFF. THE ONLY HICCUP THESE TWO WEEKS FOR GORDON, SPEEDING PENALTY IN THE DUEL. THIS MORNING FREE TRIP THROUGH INSPECTION. MEASUREMENT ISSUE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR FOR THEM TO GET THE GREEN LIGHT. BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN FAST ALL WEEK. GORDON TRYING TO JOIN ELITE CLASS OF ONLY TWO OTHER GUYS THAT WON FOUR OR MORE DAYTONA 500s. KRISTA VODA? >> Krista: WELL, IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON I-95 IN THE LAST WEEK-AND-A-HALF, YOU HAVE SEEN THE 99 HAULER OF CARL EDWARDS. IT HAS BEEN TRAVELLING BACK AND FORTH TO CONCORDE, NORTH CAROLINA, DROPPING OFF DAMAGED CARS AND RETURNING NEW ONES. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WRECK FOUR CARS OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH. TOUGH SPEEDWEEK FOR CARL EDWARDS. HE SAID I AM DONE DOING THE RESEARCH FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ONE INTACT AND PUT IT TO VICTORY LANE. HE GOES TO BACK OF THE PACK WITH THE BACKUP CAR AND HE HAS TO DO IT THE HARD WAY. GORDON? >> Jeff: THANKS. MY 37th DAYTONA 500, FOLKS. TODAY I'LL BE REPORTING ALL AROUND THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, RIGHT NOW I'M HERE AT CAMERA TEN. WHEN DANICA PATRICK AND CAR NUMBER 10 LEADS THE FIELD TO GREEN, HISTORY WILL BE MADE FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE AND IT IS ALL GOING TO BE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE ON FOX. >> Mike: THANKS, JEFF. OVERCAST DAY IN DAYTONA BEACH. THE TEMPERATURE GOT UP IN THE HIGH 70s. CLOSE TO 80 YESTERDAY. TODAY, WE MIGHT BREAK 70-DEGREES. ASPHALT AT 79. LIGHT BREEZE. MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. THREAT OF RAIN CONTINUES TO DIMINISH. IT WILL TAKE 200 LAPS TO COVER THE 500 MILES TODAY. PIT ROAD SPEED IS 55 MILES PER HOUR. THEY GO 40 TO 45 LAPS ON TANK OF SUNOCO RACING FUEL. >> Larry: YOU HEARD KRISTA VODA TALK ABOUT CARL EDWARDS. HE AND TREVOR BAYNE HAD ISSUES IN THE BUDWEISER DUEL. BACKUP CARS, THEY ARE GOING TO THE REAR, AS WELL AS RYAN NEWMAN AND REGAN SMITH STARTING FROM THE REAR OF THE FIELD AT THE GREEN FLAG. >> Mike: FOR TENTH TIME IN 500 HISTORY, CHEVROLET WILL PACE THE RACE. THE ALL NEW CHEVROLET S.S. CHEVY'S FIRST REAR DRIVE V-8 PERFORMANCE SEDAN SINCE 1996. THE STREET VERSION OF THE S.S. WILL DEBUT THIS FALL. [ INAUDIBLE ] >> Mike: THAT IS NASCAR RACE DIRECTOR DAVID HOOTS, TO HIS RIGHT JOHN DARBY, THE SPRINT CUP SERIES DIRECTOR. WE WILL HEAR SOME OF THE CALLS FROM THE TOWER AS THIS DAYTONA 500 UNFOLDS. DANICA PATRICK, THE POLE-SITTER HAS LANE CHOICE. SHE HAS CHOSEN THE OUTSIDE LANE. AS THE CHEVY S.S. PACE CAR LIGHTS ABLAZE ON THE FRONT, NOT THE CAUTION LIGHTS, BRINGS THEM DOWN FOR THE START OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> Darrell: THE GREEN FLAG. BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY -- LET'S JUST GO RACING! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: JEFF GORDON GOT A LITTLE SIDE-DRAFT ON PATRICK GOING TO TURN NUMBER ONE. MOVES UP TO THE HIGH SIDE. AND TAKES THE LEAD. THAT IS HARVICK LEADING THE INSIDE LANE FROM FOURTH PLACE. >> Darrell: THAT SHOULD MAKE DANICA FEEL GOOD. HE COULD HAVE STAYED DOWN THERE WITH KEVIN HARVICK BUT HE DROVE OUTSIDE TO PICK UP DANICA FROM THE DRAFT. HERE WE COME. THE FIRST LAP OF THE DAYTONA 500 IS ABOUT TO BE COMPLETE. >> Mike: AS FOR INSIDE THE FRONT ROW. JEFF GORDON, FOUR-TIME SERIES CHAMPION WILL LEAD LAP ONE OF 200 FROM PATRICK, KYLE BUSCH, KASEY KAHNE. >> Larry: I THINK JEFF GORDON KNEW, THOUGH, IF HE WANTED TO LEAD THE FIRST LAP HE WAS GOING HAVE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT HE DID AND SLID UP IN FRONT OF DANICA PATRICK IN THE 10, OVER ONE AND TWO OVER THE TOP SIDE. >> Darrell: FOR ALL THE THINGS OF EXEXPERIENCE, SHE HAS A FAST CAR. WE TALKED TO TREVOR BAYNE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. HE HAD A FAST CAR. PEOPLE WANTED TO WORK WITH HIM, WANTED TO DRAFT WITH HIM. I THINK THAT IS WHERE DANICA IS TODAY. >> Mike: DALE EARNHARDT JR. 18, STUCK MIDPACK WITH TONY STEWART. >> Larry: HE WAS THE FASTEST IN YESTERDAY'S FINAL PRACTICE. >> Darrell: STEVE LETARTE SAID THEY FOUND SPEED IN PRACTICE AND IT SHOWED IN THE PRACTICE SPEED BUT HE IS CAUGHT IN A SUCKER HOLE RIGHT NOW. >> Mike: FIVE-CAR, SINGLE FILE AT THE FRONT CLOUDING AUSTIN DILLON. AND DILLON WILL RUN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES THIS YEAR AND PERHAPS MOVE UP TO SPRINT CUP FULL TIME NEXT SEASON. WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON HISM IN THE NUMBER 33. WHOA! >> Larry: YOU KNOW, CLEARLY IN THE EARLYGOING JUST LIKE WE SAW IN THE BUDWEISER DUELS THE HIGH LINE IS PREVAILING. I SEE KEVIN HARVICK IN THE 29. IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE OTHER DAY IN THE BUDWEISER DUEL, THE DEEPER WE GOT IN THE RACE, HE STARTED TO MAKE THE BOTTOM LINE WORK. >> Darrell: THAT IS WHY DANICA CHOSE THE OUTSIDE FOR THE START. THEY FELT LIKE THAT IS WHERE THE MOMENTUM WAS. THE INSIDE WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE DAY'S OVER. >> Mike: THIS IS JEFF GORDON'S 21st DAYTONA 500. HE HAS 17 OF THE 21 STARTS. >> Darrell: COULD YOU BE IN A HAPPIER PLACE IF YOU WERE DANICA? YOU HAVE JEFF GORDON IN FRONT OF YOU, KYLE BUSCH BEHIND YOU. SHE IS IN THE ROCKING CHAIR BEING PUSHED ALONG. PERFECT SPOT ON HER AT -- SPOT FOR HER AT THIS POINT. >> Mike: HARD TO TELL THIS WEEK IF JEFF GORDON IS THE BEST OF THOSE FOUR HENDRICK CHEVROLETS. A LOT OF FOLKS ARE POINTING TO THE BLUE CAR, THE NUMBER 5 OF KASEY KAHNE AS HAVING HENDRICK'S STRONGEST SHOT TO WIN THE 500. >> Darrell: ON THURSDAY, JEFF GORDON HAD THE CAR TO BEAT. HE HAD A PIT ROAD VIOLATION AND TOOK HIM OUT OF CONTENTION. THAT 24 CAR AND JEFF GORDON, THEY WANT TO REVERSE THE YEAR THEY HAD HERE LAST YEAR. >> Mike: IN THE MIDDLE, DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS SOME HELP. THE YELLOW CAR WITH HIM IS JOEY LOGANO. NEW DRIVER FOR ROGER PENSKE. THAT TEAM SWITCHED TO FORDS. RIGHT BEHIND HIM, NATIONWIDE SERIES CHAMP RICKY STENHOUSE WHO MOVES UP TO THE SPRINT CUP SERIES FOR JACK ROUSH IN A FORD. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE CAR. NOBODY IS GOING ANYWHERE. YOU COULD THROW A BLANKET OVER THE WHOLE FIELD. >> Larry: THEY ARE NOT BASHFUL ABOUT THREE WIDE. IN LAP SIX, 37 DRIVERS SEPARATED BY LESS THAN TWO SECONDS. >> Darrell: LARRY, WE DOCUMENTED THIS YESTERDAY IN PRACTICE. THE GUYS HAVE HAD OVER 35 HOURS OF PRACTICE, TESTING AT THIS RACETRACK. THEY HAVE GOT IT FIGURED OUT. THEY MADE ALL THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CAR. IT'S THE BEST I CAN POSSIBLY BE FOR THIS RACE. >> Mike: HERE COMES HARVICK. ON THE INSIDE. NUMBER 29 WAS SIXTH IN LINE. HE IS NOW BRINGING GREG BIFFLE AND THE REST OF THAT INSIDE LANE UP TO CHALLENGE FOR THE LEAD. >> Larry: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW IN THE GATORADE DUEL. WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16. HE FINISHED SECOND IN THE "SPRINT UNLIMITED" TO KEVIN HARVICK AS WELL AS SECOND IN HIS BUDWEISER DUEL. >> Darrell: THE THING I LIKE ABOUT BIFFLE'S CAR IN THE 16, HE KEEPS COMMENTING ABOUT HOW WELL IT DRIVES AND HOW WELL IT HANDLES. I KNOW THAT IS GOING TO REALLY PAY OFF AS WE GET IN TO THIS RACE. >> Mike: DILLON, BOWYER. 33 AND 15. PART OF THE PACK ON THE OUTSIDE. NEW LEADER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK, MATT KENSETH. TWO-TIME 500 CHAMPION. NOW HE MOVES BACK UP TO THE HIGH GROOVE. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: MIKE, DARRELL'S POINT ABOUT GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16. THE OTHER THING THAT BIFFLE SAID WAS HIS CAR RUNS REALLY GOOD IN TRAFFIC. HE WASN'T EVEN THAT CONCERNED ABOUT HOW FAST THEY RAN BY THEMSELVES. THAT CAR, THAT 16 CAR THERE RUNS IN TRAFFIC! >> Mike: RIGHT BEHIND HIM, JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. FIVE-TIME SERIES CHAMP. HE ALREADY RUN FIVE TIMES AS MANY LAPS AS HE COMPLETED IN LAST YEAR'S 500. JEFF GORDON TO COMPLETE LAP SEVEN. WE WILLED IN ON DANICA PATRICK -- WE LISTENED IN ON DANICA PATRICK DURING PRE-RACE. >> WELL, EVERYONE YOU WORKED YOUR BUTTS OFF ALL MONTH AND ALL WINTER AND THAT'S WHAT PUT ME HERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'LL DO THE BEST JOB I CAN TO DO MY END OF THE DEAL TODAY. BUT ALL IN ALL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. >> Mike: 2005 INDY LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. SIX-TIME MOST POPULAR DRIVER IN INDY CAR. LAST YEAR'S NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES MOST POPULAR DRIVER. COMING AROUND TO COMPLETE EIGHT LAPS, JEFF GORDON HAS LED THEM ALL IN THE DAYTONA 500. AS WE TAKE YOU SIDE-BY-SIDE. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> [ Male Announcer ] MILLIONS OF FANS. ONE FAMILY.</i> <i> IT TAKES TRULY UNLIMITED DATA TO FEED A FAMILY THIS LARGE.</i> [ engines roaring ] Get in. ♪ Coca Cola Racing Family Road Trip ♪ ♪ 99 bottles of Coke on the wall. 99 bottles of Coke. ♪ ♪ (techno music playing) ♪ ♪ (classical music playing) ♪ Got a left... and then another left... and make a left after that one. Yeah! (Woah!) Taught her everything she knows. Are we there yet? How advanced is the new Ford Fusion? Well...it has outstanding performance and handling... ...and it offers a plug-in hybrid that gets a projected 100 MPGe. Of course, there's still one thing it can't do. Introducing the entirely new Ford Fusion. It's an entirely new idea of what a car can be. >> Mike: TEN LAPS COMPLETE. JEFF GORDON'S NUMBER 24 CHEVROLET LEADS THE WAY. HE HAS NOW LED MORE DAYTONA 500s THAN ANY DRIVER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PETTY AND DALE EARNHARDT. DANICA PATRICK STARTED POLE, CHOSE THE OUTSIDE LEAP. ON LAP ONE DROPPED IN TO DRAFT BEHIND JEFF GORDON. THAT IS THE WAY THEY CONTINUE. HOW ABOUT THAT THIRD PLACE TOYOTA OF KYLE BUSCH? HERE IS KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: WELL, MIKE JOY, KYLE BUSCH HAS MOMENTUM COMING IN TO THIS SEASON. HE DIDN'T MAKE THE CHASE AND HE SCORED MORE POINTS IN THE LAST STEP RACES THAN ANYONE BUT THE CHAMP, BRAD KESELOWSKI. HE HAS ALREADY WON A DALLES RACE, QUALIFYING RACE ON THURSDAY AND SAID THEY HAVE BEEN FAST SINCE THEY UNLOADED. I KNOW DARRELL USED THE PHRASE "HUNGRY HOUND." KYLE BUSCH CERTAINLY IS ONE. >> Darrell: HE TEXTED ME LAST NIGHT. I CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS SUCCESS DOWN HERE SO FAR THIS WEEK. HE SAID, "I JUST WANT TO WIN SOME DADGUM RACES!" >> Mike: KASEY KAHNE, AUSTIN DILLON, FOURTH TO FIFTH IN THE LEAD PACK. A NINE-CAR BREAK-AWAY AT THE FRONT. MOST OF THE FIELD HAS SETTLED SINGLE FILE FOR THE MOMENT. DARRELL, AT 195 MILES PER HOUR IN THAT FRONT PACK, HOW WHITE KNUCKLED IS THAT? >> Darrell: THESE ARE THE GREATEST DRIVERS IN THE WORLD. THEY HAVE BEEN ON THIS RACETRACK NOW FOR STEP DAYS SO THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE CAR. THE NEW GEN-6 CAR IS A GREAT RACECAR. DRIVERS LOVE IT. I JUST THINK THEY ARE JUST OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WORKING IT HARD. BUT THEY MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY. >> Mike: THERE IS THE FOX GYRO-CAM. SLAM OFF THE 31-DEGREE BANKING AND BACK ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY FLAT. NOW 17-DEGREES IN THE TRI OVAL. >> Larry: THROUGH THE TRIOVAL, YOU TALK ABOUT IT. THAT IS ONLY 18-DEGREES OF BANKING. IT IS PRETTY MUCH ANOTHER CORPER ALMOST. >> Darrell: IT'S AMAZE -- THERE WE GO. ALMOST FELL OUT OF MY SEAT. THE GYRO-CAM, I LOVE THAT CAMERA. IF YOU COME DAND AN OVERHEAD OF RACETRACK, THE TURN IN THE TRIOVAL IS SHARPER THAN IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS. LIKE YOU SAID, 18-DEGREE OF BANKING. 200 MILES PER HOUR. VERY DIFFICULT AREA OF THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: KEVIN HARVICK STARTED THIRD. AND FINDS HIS WAY UP IN THE TOP THREE TO GAIN POSITION. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: HE IS EIGHTH IN LINE. HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE BOTTOM LANE WORK AND THE MIDDLE GROUP STARTED TO DEVELOP. THEN GUYS STARTED TO PEELING OFF AND DIVING UP TOP. HARVICK DID THE SAME. HE TOLD ME HIS CAR HAS BEEN SO GOOD THROUGH SPEED WEEK. THE ONE BIG CONCERN HE HAD AS SO MANY OTHERS. PIT STOPS. NOT IN YOUR BOX, BUT GETTING ON TO PIT ROAD. WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY GUYS IN PRACTICE, LOCK UP THEIR TIRES WHICH COULD ALSO THROW OFF THE STRATEGY. NO TIRES, TWO TIRES, HAPPY TO GO TO FOUR. >> Mike: THANKS, MATT. ONE CAR, SOMEWHAT OFF THE PACE COMING BY THE START/FINISH, YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE. IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD FOR DAVID GILLILAND IN THE NUMBER 38 FORD. RUPPING ON SEVEN CYLINDERS. NASCAR HAS A MINIMUM PACE THE CARS MUST MAIN TAIN. THEY TOLD GILLILAND TO PICK IT UP OR TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE. >> Darrell: I'M WATCHING DANICA AND SHE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS MAKING ME NERVOUS. RUNNING A LITTLE WEE BIT LOWER AND SHE MAY BE TRYING TO GET AIR TO THE RADIATOR. IF SHE KEEPS DROPPING DOWN IN THE TURN, THAT 18 CAR WILL SHOOT AND FILL THAT GAP. YOU SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN HE DOES. >> Mike: 16 LAPS COMPLETE SO FAR. JEFF GORDON HAS LED THEM ALL. DON'T GO AWAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU SIDE-BY-SIDE IN THIS DAYTONA 500. <i> [ Male Announcer ] THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT NASCAR.</i> <i> THE THUNDER OF THE FLYOVER.</i> <i> THE SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER.</i> <i> METAL GRINDING METAL AT 190 MILES PER HOUR.</i> <i> THE PACK FLYING BY IN A BLUR OF COLORS,</i> <i> LAP AFTER LAP.</i> <i> WE LOVE THIS STUFF AS MUCH AS YOU DO.</i> <i> SO WHEN THE GREEN FLAG DROPS,</i> <i> WE'LL BE RIGHT THERE CHEERING WITH YOU.</i> [ tires screech, cheers and applause ] <i> LOWE'S. PROUD FANS OF NASCAR.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> [ Male Announcer ] TO TAKE IT ALL HEAD-ON...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> CHANNEL THE UNIVERSE...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> SHORTEN THE DISTANCES...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> PUSH BEYOND THE POSSIBLE...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> ROAR PAST CONVENTION...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> SHIFT EVERY COURSE...</i> ♪ ♪ [ hawk cries ] <i> DEFY THE ELEMENTS...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> AND BRING THE WORLD TO ITS KNEES...</i> ♪ ♪ <i> IT TAKES THE NEW 2013 Ram 1500,</i> <i> ENGINEERED TO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH.</i> <i> GUTS. GLORY.</i> <i> Ram.</i> <i> THE NEW Ram 1500 --</i> <i> Motor Trend's 2013 Truck of the Year.</i> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> [ Male Announcer ] AT GOODYEAR, WE MAKE TIRES</i> <i> FOR THE WORLD'S MOST DEMANDING DRIVERS.</i> <i> METICULOUSLY CRAFTED...</i> <i> TO HELP HANDLE 200-MILE-PER-HOUR TURNS.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> ALWAYS EVOLVING...</i> <i> TO FACE THE GRUELING DEMANDS OF NASCAR.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> AND EVERYTHING WE LEARN MAKING TIRES</i> <i> FOR OUR MOST DEMANDING CUSTOMERS...</i> <i> INSPIRES WHAT WE ROLL INTO YOURS.</i> <i> GOODYEAR. THE OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR.</i> >> Mike: 18 LAPS COMPLETE IN THE 55th DAYTONA 500 ON FOX. 17 CARS ON THE FRONT OF THE FIELD. THE GAP FOR THREE FOLLOWERS AND THEN THE REST OF THE PACK. ONE DRIVER, TONY STEWART KEEPS DROPPING OUT OF LINE TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. RACES HARD ON THE INSIDE, BUT WITHOUT ANY HELP. WITHOUT ANY CAR TO DRAFT WITH. HE SIMPLY POPS BACK UP IN LINE WHERE HE STARTED. IN THE NUMBER 14. >> Larry: HE WAS MAKING IT WORK THROUGH THE CORNERS BUT WHERE THEY WERE KILLING HIM WAS ON THE STRAIGHTAWAY WITHOUT ANY HELP. >> Mike: THERE IS A LOOK AT STEWART, 4. AHEAD OF DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND JOEY LOGANO. MICHAEL WALTRIP HAS LOST THE DRAFT, ALONG WITH TREVOR BAYNE. THE WINNER TWO YEARS AGO DRIVING THE WOOD BROTHERS NUMBER 21. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MICHAEL. >> EASY HERE, EASY. C'MON, C'MON, C'MON, C'MON. YOU'RE CLEAR. ALL GOOD. NO CAUTION, NO CAUTION. >> Darrell: THE 21 GOT LOOSE, GOT SIDEWAYS. OF COURSE MICHAEL HAD TO GET OUT OF THE GAS. THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE THIS LEAD GROUP AND YOU LOSE THE DRAFT. YOU ARE IN JEOPARDY NOW OF IN NOT TOO MANY LAPS POSSIBLY GOING A LAP DOWN. >> Mike: THE RICHARD PETTY TRIBUTE HELMET. REMEMBER, BAYNE IS IN A BACKUP CAR. THE PRIMARY CAR WAS DESTROYED IN QUALIFYING RACE. >> Darrell: THAT WAS MY POINT ABOUT DANICA. IF DANICA HAPPENS TO GET OUT OF LINE, OR KYLE BUSCH HAPPENED TO SQUEEZE HER OUT OF LINE, YOU WOULD GO TO THE REAR AND YOU WOULD LOSE THAT DRAFT. YESTERDAY, SHE LOST THE DRAFT IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE AND SHE THOUGHT THE ENGINE BLEW UP. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON, THE LEADER. >> SLIGHT CONCERN IN THE GORDON PIT. JEFF REPORTED THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS UP OVER 240-DEGREES. DEBRIS ON THE GRILL. HE IS LEADING THE PACK, SO HE CAN'T DIVE IF BEHIND SOMEONE TO TRY TO CHANGE THE AIR FLOW AND GET THE DEBRIS TO COME OFF ON ITS OWN. HE TURNED THE ENGINE FAN ON AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THE GAUGE. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT THERE. >> Larry: THERE IS AN INLET THERE, THAT IS WHERE THE AIR GOES THROUGH. THERE IT IS. >> Darrell: OH, MY. >> Larry: YOU CAN SEE IT THERE. THAT IS BLOCKING UP A BIG PORTION OF THE INLET GOING IN THERE TO WHERE THE RADIATOR IS. >> Darrell: YOU ARE GOING TO RUN THIS THING ON MINIMUM SIZE TO GET THE MOST SPEED IT CAN TAKE. PAPER ON THERE IS A PROBLEM. >> Larry: IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS TRYING TO DROP TO BOTTOM TO GET A DRAFT OFF JOE NEMECHEK. MATT, MAYBE HE WILL GET UP THERE CLOSE ENOUGH IT WILL GO AWAY. >> Matt: EXACTLY RIGHT, LARRY Mac. THAT IS WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO. HE TOLD ALAN I HAVE TO GET THE DEBRIS OFF. THE WATER TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO CLIMB. >> Mike: DANICA PATRICK SENSED THAT, SO DID KYLE BUSCH. THEY MOVED TO THE OUTSIDE. GORDON STAYED BEHIND NEMECHEK TOO LONG, HE WOULD LOSE THE LEAD. >> Darrell: THAT AGGRESSIVE 18 CAR, YOU CAN GET THE DEBRIS OFF ALL YOU WANT BUT IF YOU MOVE AROUND MUCH I'M GOING TO GO RIGHT BY BOTH OF YOU. >> Larry: YOU CAN SEE IT DID NOT GET IT OFF. COULDN'T GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO JOE NEMECHEK. WE'RE A GOOD 17 LAP ACEWAY FROM PIT STOP. >> Mike: THE CLOSING SPEED WAS TOO MUCH FOR HIM TO HANG THERE. >> Darrell: THAT ENGINE, TRUST ME, IT WON'T LIVE LONG DOWN HERE IF THAT TEMPERATURE GETS OVER 260-DEGREES. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON LEADS THE DAYTONA 500, AS THEY COMPLETE 23 LAPS. >> I'VE GOT THE LEAD. AND I'M NOT GIVING IT UP. NASCAR RACING ON >> Mike: WE WILL COMPLETE THE 27th LAP OF THIS DAYTONA 500 UNDER THE CAUTION FLAG. METAL DEBRIS IN TURN NUMBER THREE PUTS US UNDER YELLOW FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY. JOE NEMECHEK WILL GET THE FREE PASS. HE WAS ONE LAP DOWN. HE WILL BE ABLE TO PASS THE PACE CAR AND COME BACK AROUND AN RETRIEVE THAT LOST LAP. JEFF GORDON PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF, WINNER OF THE IS FINALE AT HOMESTEAD, MIAMI SPEEDWAY LAST NOVEMBER. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, MIKE, ALMOST LIKE THE DAYTONA LUCK. IF THIS CAUTION HADN'T HAVE COME OUT, I'M THINKING HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PIT AND GET THE DEBRIS OFF THE GRILL. >> Larry: THIS IS A BLESSING FOR HIM. I KNOW HE WAS LOVING OUT THERE LEADING THE RACE. I THINK NOW WITH PRETTY MUCH PIT ROAD OPEN 28 LAPS, EVERYONE WILL PIT FOR FUEL. I THINK WE WILL SEE A LOT OF DRIVERS ELECT TO GO WITH TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES LIKE IN DUELS ON THURSDAY. >> Darrell: MAYBE EVEN NO TIRES. >> Larry: YOU HAVE TO BE THERE LONG ENOUGH TO CHANGE TWO AND FILL UP WITH FUEL. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON PULLED UP BEHIND THE PACE CAR AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. AND THE TURBULENCE OFF THE PACE CAR TOOK THE PAPERS OFF HIS GRILL. >> Larry: GET UP THERE CLOSE ENOUGH AND IT CHANGES THE AIR FLOW AND THE PRESSURE ON THE NOSE OF THE CAR AND YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE IT PULL RIGHT OFF. >> Darrell: PRETTY INTERESTING HOW DELICATELY HE PULLED UP THERE. NOW IF THEY WERE RACING AND IT WAS COMING DOWN TO THE END OF THE DAY, I BET HE WOULDN'T RACE SOMEBODY THAT CLEANLY. >> Mike: >> NOW HIS CREW WILL HAVE TO DO THE WORK. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON HAS LED FROM TURN ONE OF THE OPENING LAP TODAY. LAST YEAR, HE FINISHED 40th IN THE 500 WITH A FAILED ENGINE. HERE THEY COME TO PIT ROAD. >> Krista: KYLE BUSCH TALKED ABOUT A VIBRATION BUT IT'S BECAUSE HE HAD STICKER TIRE, FRESH CARS IN NASCAR. HE SAID A LITTLE SNUG. I ONLY WANT TWO. MEANING TWO TIRES. >> Matt: THE 24 CAR EARLY ON, THE DEBRIS OFF THE GRILL. THEY WILL TOP HIM OFF WITH FUELS. HE IS AWAY. STEVE? >> Steve: DANICA PATRICK SAID THE CAR HAS GOOD CORNER SPEED AND GOOD BALANCE. SHE WASN'T WANT CHANGES. RIGHT-SIDE TIRES FOR HER CAR. YOU SEE KASEY KAHNE IN THE UPPER RIGHT. RIGHT SIDE FOR THE 5 CAR AS WELL. >> Larry: ALL I KNOW WITH THAT MANY DRIVERS OP PIT ROAD IT WAS LIKE PARK AVENUE AT RUSH HOUR. >> Mike: HERE IS THE RACE OFF PIT ROAD. AND KYLE BUSCH RUNS OUT OF ROOM TRYING TO MAINTAIN PIT ROAD SPEED AROUND >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, KEVIN HARVICK TOOK A RIDE ON THE BUDWEISER CLYDESDALE AND DELIVERED SPECIAL PACK OF DAYTONA 500 TICKETS TO MILITARY VETERANS. JASON AND THE RECIPIENTS WERE THE 22-YEAR-OLD FRATERNAL TWINS. WE THANK THEM FOR SERVING THE COUNTRY. BACK UPSTAIRS TO MIKE JOY. >> Mike: REDY FOR THE RESTART. PACE CAR IS IN. JEFF GORDON BRINGS THEM DOWN FOR THE START WITH THE CHEVY TEAMMATE KASEY KAHNE, ALONGSIDE THE WAY THEY CAME OFF PIT ROAD. AUSTIN DILLON, IN THE SECOND ROW WITH KYLE BUSCH. >> Darrell: FIRST TEST FOR DANICA. SHE CAME IN SECOND, CAME TO PIT ROAD RUNNING SECOND. WHAT DID SHE DO? ALL THE CARS ARE UP AROUND HER, SEE HOW SHE HANDLES IT. >> Mike: HERE COMES FIVE-TIME. JIMMIE JOHNSON. FIVE-TIME SERIES CHAMPIAN. 2006 WINER. HE DROPPED HIS NUMBER 48 TO THE INSIDE. IS GOING TO BRING A COUPLE OF FAST CARS WITH HIM. MATT KENSETH, LAST YEAR'S WINER AND DANICA PATRICK ON THE LOW GROOVE TO CHALLENGE GORDON AND KAHNE ON THE HIGH SIDE. CAN JOHNSON WRESTLE THE LEAD FROM HIS TEAMMATE GORDON OUT THE STRIPE? NOT THIS TIME. GORDON BY A CAR LENGTH. OFF IN TURN ONE, A GOOD RUN THERE IN THE 48 WITH KENSETH, PATRICK, BOWYER, MONTOYA. >> Larry: LOOK AT MATT KENSETH IN THE 20 CAR. HE JUMPED OUT FROM BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON. JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 DID THE SAME THING. >> Mike: MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: BEFORE THE CAUTION, JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CHEVROLET WAS RUNNING WARM. HE TURNED THE FAN ON NOT TO SEE IF HE COULD GET THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN FOR THAT PART OF THE RACE BUT TO SEE HOW QUICK IT COOLS DOWN TO KNOW FOR LATER IF HE IS STUCK IN THE PACK. IT'S GOOD. HIS CAR IS A LITTLE FREE UP TOP. >> Mike: JOHNSON FIRST, KENSETH SECOND, WITH A PUSH FROM GORDON. KAHNE. KAHNE GETS AROUND. SLIDES ACROSS THE TRACK. DILLON MISSES HIM. CARNAGE TO TURN NUMBER ONE. MONTOYA, HARVICK. ALL WITH DAMAGE AS THE CAUTION COMES OUT. WELL, KEELAN HARVICK IS NOT DAD'S GOOD LUCK CHARM TODAY. KASEY KAHNE, THE BLUE CHEVROLET NUMBER 5 THE FIRST CAR TO GO SIDEWAYS AND THE SECONDARY CAUGHT UP JUAN PABLO MONTOYA AND KEVIN HARVICK. >> Larry: THE CHAMPION, BRAD KESELOWSKI, A LOT OF DAMAGE. >> Darrell: THE CHAMP HAS A LOT OF DAMAGE. >> Mike: TONY STEWART. CAR OWN ERIC HENDRICK LOOKS ON TO SEE -- CAR OWNER RICK HENDRICK LOOKS ON THE SEE WHICH WILL MAKE IT TO PIT ROAD. ON THE OUTSIDE, NUMBER FIVE. THE BLUE CAR, BEHIND HIM THE YELLOW NUMBER 18. >> Darrell: YEAH, THE 18 GOT DOWN ON THE INSIDE, CAUGHT THE LEFT REAR CORNER OF THE 5 CAR. THAT IS A REAL VULNERABLE SPOT. GAVE HIM A TAP. >> Larry: WHAT A CLOSE CALL FOR JOEY LOGANO IN THE 22. HE WAS ALL THE WAY, WAY DOWN IN THE GRASS AND DODGED IT. >> Darrell: FURTHER DOWN THE TRACK, THEY GOT IN IT AFTERWARDS WHEN PEOPLE WERE SLOWING DOWN. >> Mike: KAHNE SIDEWAYS, ACROSS THE NOSE OF MONTOYA. >> Larry: COMING OUT OF THE TRIOVAL WHERE YOU ARE RUN SOMETHING FAST WITH VERY LITTLE BANKING TO HOLD YOU. >> Mike: SOMEONE GOT IN THE BACK OF KEVIN HARVICK'S 29 SENDING HIM DOWN AND UP IN TO STEWART. LET'S RIDES ALONG IN THE BUDWEISER CHEVY. >> TWO-BY-TWO. >> STAY HIGH, STAY IN IT, STAY IN IT. TURN IN THERE, GUYS. TERRIBLE. HOLD THE BRAKES, HOLD THE BRAKES. LET HER ROLL UP. >> Mike: FROM 195 MILES A HOUR TO JUNK IN ABOUT FOUR SECONDS. >> Larry: JAMIE McMURRAY THE 1 CAR. BOTH EARNHARDT GANASSI DRIVERS INVOLVED. >> Mike: TONY STEWART'S CAR WILL WAIT FOR THE WRECKER. KASEY KAHNE SIDEWAYS OUT OF THE TRIOVAL. BIG >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: UNDER CAUTION FOR SIX-CAR PILEUP. EXITING THE TRIOVAL PAST THE START/FINISH LINE. >> Darrell: WATCH THE 20 CAR, MATT KENSETH 24. CAR OF JEFF GORDON. KASEY KAHNE. A LITTLE BIT OF A BOTTLENECK. I'M NOT SURE IF THE 18 CAR OF KYLE BUSCH SAW SOMETHING OR CAUSED SOMETHING BUT THE 5 CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN LOOKS LIKE IT GETS LOOSE ALL BY ITSELF. CAN'T TELL IF THERE WAS CONTACT OR NOT. >> Mike: CLEANING UP THE CAUTION GO DOWNSTAIRS FOR AT&T RACE BREAK. >> Chris: THANK YOU, MIKE. UPDATING A STORY THAT DEVELOPED YESTERDAY HERE AT THE DAYTONA RACETRACK. FIVE OF THE 12 SPECTATORS WHO WERE INJURIED IN SATURDAY'S NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY HAVE BEEN RELEASED. AND GETTING WORD THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN STABILIZE. REMEMBER IT WAS WHEN KYLE LARSON SLAMMED IN THE CATCH FENCE SEPARATING THE FRONT END OF HIS CAR. DEBRIS GOING IN THE GRAND STAND. THE 13 DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE CASH DID NOT SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY. FIVE OF THE 12, THOSE TAKEN TO THE AREA HOSPITAL, HALIFAX MEDICAL CENTER HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN STABILIZE. ENCOURAGING NEWS SO FAR, CONSIDERING WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY. THIS IS AN AT&T RACE BREAK BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FASTEST NETWORK. AT&T: RETHINK POSSIBLE. >> Mike: JAMIE McMURRAY OUT OF HIS CAR. KEVIN HARVICK AND TONY STEWART. THOSE CARS TOWED BACK TO THE GARAGE AREA. RACETRACK IS CLEANED UP. PACE CAR IS IN. WE'LL RESUME THIS RACE. RESUME AT LAP 36. GREEN FLAG OVER JIMMIE JOHNSON. MATT KENSETH TUCKED UP UNDER HIM. DANICA PATRICK ON THE OUTSIDE NOW WITH JEFF GORDON. >> Darrell: THE OUTSIDE LINE GOT OFF TO A BIT OF A SLOW START. INSIDE LINE WITH THE CARS ON THE BOTTOM THERE, THEY GOT A HEAD OF STEAM RIGHT NOW. WE CAN SEE IF DANICA CAN PULL BACK ON THE OUTSIDE. IT HAS BEEN GOOD FOR THE OUTSIDE LINE. >> Mike: JOHNSON, KENSETH, BOWYER ON THE INSIDE LINE WITH BIFFLE. THEY HEAD OFF TO THE 31-DEGREE BANKING OF TURN THREE. LET'S CRANK IT UP! [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON AND MATT KENSETH, CHEVY AND A TOYOTA HAVE NOW LED THE DAYTONA 500. 38 LAPS COMPLETE. 34 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. LET'S GO TO THE GARAGE AREA. KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: THANK YOU, MIKE. JAMIE McMURRAY OUTSIDE OF HIS RACECAR, HAS NOT SEEN THE INCIDENT YET. WE'LL SHOW YOU A REPLAY OF WHAT HAPPENED. WATCH THIS AND TELL US IN YOUR WORDS WHAT WE'RE SEEING. >> HONESTLY, I WAS SO FAR BEHIND I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEONE SAID THE 5 CAR. IT'S HARD TO SEE ON TV VERSUS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I GOT SLOWED DOWN AND PART OF EVERYBODY BEING THAT CLOSE TOGETHER, THE GUY BEHIND ME DIDN'T. I GOT SPUN AROUND, I WAS OKAY. THE SPLITTER HIT THE GRASS AND RIPPED THE SPLITTER OFF. WE HAVE A TORN-UP CHEVROLET BUT I DIDN'T REALLY HIT ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST THE GLASS. >> Krista: CAN THEY GET YOU FIXED AND GET YOU BACK OUT THERE? >> WELL "FIXED," I GUESS WE CAN GET IT FIXED. WE'LL GET IT BACK OUT AND RUP AROUND. IT'S STILL FRUSTRATING. I GOT PUT IN A BAD POSITION AT THE BEGINNING AND I WENT TO THE BACK. IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A WRECK. MAYBE I RACED TOO CAUTIOUSLY TODAY. I WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO THE END. STILL DIDN'T MAKE IT. >> Krista: THANK YOU, JAMIE. JEFF HAMMOND? >> Jeff: WE CAUGHT UP WITH KEVIN HARVICK, CAME OUT OF THE INFIELD CARE CENTER. ARE YOU OKAY? >> I'M FINE. I SAW THE 5 SPINNING AND BREEZED OFF THE THROTTLE AND SOMEBODY GOT ME FROM THE BACK. GOT TO THE OUTSIDE WALL AND TOOK A COUPLE OF GOOD SHOTS BUT EVERYTHING IS FINE. >> Jeff: LOOK RIGHT HERE. YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED HERE. >> YEAH. THE 55 GOT ME WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE. PART OF THE GAME. WE HAD A GREAT WEEK AND REBOUND NEXT WEEK IN PHOENIX AND GET ON WITH THE SEASON. >> Jeff: THANK YOU, KEVIN. >> Mike: JOINING THEM IN THE GARAGE, JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, CASEY MEARS, TONY STEWART, JOE NEMECHEK. >> Darrell: I BET HE LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO PHOENIX. ONE OF HIS FAVORITE TRACKS. >> Larry: I HAVE BEEN WATCHING CLINT BOWYER IN THE 15 CAR. RUNNER UP IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR DRIVING FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING. CHEAPS TRYING TO PULL THAT GROUP UP TO THE FRONT. IN FACT, HE TOOK THE LEAD JUST FOR A MOMENT. HOW HE STARTING TO LOSE GROUND. >> Darrell: TRYING TO SIDE DRAFT. RUN IT OVER THERE, GET IT ON THE DOOR AND SWING OUT. MAN, THAT BOTTOM, JUST REALLY IS HURTING TODAY. >> Mike: 42 LAPS, 105 MILES. A LOOK AT THE TOYOTA TOP PERFORMERS. MATT KENSETH WHO HAS WON TWO OF THE LAST FOUR 500s IS ON POINT FOR CAR OWNER JOE GIBBS. CLINT BOWYER, FIFTH. KYLE BUSCH FOR GIBBS IN SIXTH. MARK MARTIN FOR MICHAEL WALTRIP IN NINTH. >> Larry: I LOVE THAT PIECE IN THE PRE-RACE ON CLINT BOWYER. HE SAID HE BUILT AN OFFICE. AFTER I BUILT IT, I'M NOT SURE WHY I BUILT IT. I DON'T LIKE TO SPEND TIME IN THE OFFICE. >> Darrell: WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, I CAN SEE WHY. LIVING PROOF OF CHANGING WITH A HELMET. HE IS DIFFERENT GUY. >> Larry: FOCUSED INDIVIDUAL. >> Mike: WITH A STEERING WHEEL OR WRENCH IN HIS HAND. TRIPLE DECKER FROM TURN NUMBER TWO. TREVOR BAYNE ON THE INSIDE. THAT IS MARK MARTIN'S NUMBER 55. MICHAEL McDOWELL. AND HERE COMES ARIC ALMIROLA FOR RICHARD PETTY. YOU WATCH FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> Larry: THE CAUTION ON LAP 26 WAS A BLESSING FOR TREVOR BAYNE, BECAUSE HE HAD ACTUALLY LOST THE DRAFT BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP. WHEN HE HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE THROTTLE. >> Darrell: BUT I SEEN THE 88 IN THE MIDDLE SO MANY TIMES AND IT JUST SENDS HIM RIGHT TO THE REAR. >> Mike: ERIN ANDREWS FINDS A PLACE TO RUN BEHIND SCOTT SPEED ON THE HIGH SIDE. LET'S -- EARNHARDT FINDS A SPOT BEHIND SCOTT SPEED ON THE HIGH SIDE. LET'S GO TO JEFF HAMMOND WITH TONY STEWART. >> Jeff: TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. >> THE 5 CAR TURNED AROUND AND THEN THE 5 CAR TURNED AROUND. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO SO HE TRIED TO GO HIGH AND KEVIN'S CAR ROLLED BACK. IT CLOSED THE DOOR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL. >> Jeff: TAKE A LOOK HERE ON THE IN-CAR. >> TRYING TO GET STOPPED HERE. EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT UNTIL THERE. RUN OUT OF ROOM. IF I DIDN'T TELL YOU I WAS HEARTBROKE AND DISAPPOINTED I'D BE LYING TO YOU. WE HAD A CAR THAT REALLY, REALLY GOOD. A LOT OF TIMES WE WERE DOING IT BY OURSELVES. HAPPY WITH OURSELVES, TRYING SOME THINGS AND TRYING TO PICK THEM OFF ONE AT A TIME AND GET OURSELVES IN THE TOP FIVE THERE. >> Jeff: THANK YOU, TONY. SORRY FOR THE BAD LUCK. >> Krista: JEFF, SOMEBODY ELSE WHO HAD A GOOD CAR WAS KASEY KAHNE. THAT CAR IS IN THE GARAGE AND KASEY IS OUT OF IT TO TALK TO US. YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING BUMPED FROM BEHIND. IS THIS THE NATURE OF THE RACING WITH THE TIGHT PACK AND THE DRAFT? >> IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SIDE DRAFTING. WE WERE RUNNING A LINE. THE FRONT THREE CARS FOR WHATEVER REASON SLOWED UP PRETTY QUICKLY. ON THE BRAKE, I DIDN'T HIT JEFF. I DON'T KNOW. KYLE, TRYING TO GET IT PUSHED FROM BEHIND OR SOMETHING, TOO. IT ALL HAPPENED REALLY FAST. WE SHOT TO THE INFIELD. I HIT THE GRASS AND THAT'S WHEN I TORE CAR APART THE MOST. WE HAD A FAST CHEVY S.S. LAST WEEK BUT DIDN'T END WELL. I WANTED TO RACE. I DON'T WANT TO SIT SINGLE FILE UP BY THE WALL LIKE EVERYBODY WAS DOING. I DIDN'T WANT THAT AT ALL. >> Krista: DISAPPOINTMENT TO START THE SEASON FOR KASEY KAHNE. >> Mike: THANK YOU, KRISTA. LOOKING AT REPLAYS WE DIDN'T SEE OBVIOUS CONTACT BUT HERE IS WHAT KYLE BUSCH HAD TO SAY. >> I WAS LIFTING. I GOT HELD FROM BEHIND BEFORE OR AFTER I HIT HIM, MY BAD. >> Darrell: THAT'S WHAT I SAW. YOU HEARD KASEY KAHNE SAY HE HAD TO GET OFF THE GAS. KYLE BUSCH WAS IN THE BACK OF HIM. ACCORDION EFFECT THAT THIS RACING CREATES. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH LEADS FROM JIMMIE JOHNSON, DANICA PATRICK, JEFF GORDON AND KYLE BUSCH. 46 LAPS COMPLETE. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 50 LAPS COMPLETE. THAT IS 125 OF THE 500 MILES WE'LL RUN TODAY. MATT KENSETH, NEW TEAM. JOE GIBBS RACING. NEW MANUFACTURER FOR KENSETH. TOYOTA. NEW CREW CHIEF AND NEW SPOTTER BUT HE IS OUT FRONT NOW. HE HAS LED 13 LAPS TODAY. INSIDE LOOK WITH UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. JEFF GORDON HAS LED THE MOST LAPS SO FAR. GET UP LIMITED ACCESS WITH THE MOBILE APP AND TRULY UNLIMITED DATA FROM SPRINT. LEARN MORE AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. NOW TO THE MATT KENSETH PIT. >> Krista: YOU MENTIONED A NEW TEAM. NEW CREW MEMBERS OVER THE WALL FOR THE DRIVER. THE GOOD NEWS, MATT KENSETH AS YOU SAID IS LEADING. THE BAD NEWS HE CAME ON THE RADIO A COUPLE LAPS AGO AND SAID HE IS FEELING A SLIGHT VIBRATION. THE TEAM TOLD HIM WE THINK THE 11, TEAMMATE, DENNY HAMLIN HAS THE SAME THING. MATT CAME BACK AND SAID I DISSECTED THE PROBLEM. TO ME IT'S LOOSE WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE. LOOSE OR TIRE. HE FEELS IT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS CAR. >> Darrell: BOY AT 200 MILES PER HOUR IT WON'T TAKE LONG TO KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS. IF IT'S A LOOSE WHEEL, IT WILL GET A LOT WORSE. MATT IS SENSITIVE. HE CAN PICK UP THINGS IN THE RACECAR OTHER DRIVERS DON'T. HE IS IN A WHOLE NEW ENVIRONMENT. JUST TODAY, FINALLY, HE MIGHT HAVE FOUND HIS COMFORT ZONE. >> Mike: WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE, POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE OF A LOOSE LUGNUT? >> Larry: WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET LOOSER AND EVENTUALLY THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL COULD BREAK OUT. WE'RE DEEP IN THE RUN. 27 LAPS, WHICH MEANS HONESTLY, WE'RE ABOUT 4 TO 16 LAPS -- 14 TO 16 LAPS FROM SCHEDULED PIT STOPS. >> Darrell: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SET OUT THERE WITH A LOOSE WHEEL. NOT A DAYTONA. MAYBE PHOENIX OR SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT NOT AT DAYTONA. HE IS SMART ENOUGH AND HE HAS BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH HE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE. >> Mike: 53 LAPS COMPLETE. LET'S GO BACK TO THE CRASH HERE WITH BRAD KESELOWSKI. THE SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPION. COMES ACROSS. AND KESELOWSKI TRIES TO MISS IT. GETS IN TO HARVICK. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: MIKE, YOU SAW TWO PEOPLE OF DAMAGE, ONE TO THE LEFT FRONT AND ONE TO THE RIGHT FRONT. THAT IS WHAT REALLY HURT. HIS NUMBER TWO CAR. IT WAS CAUSING THE SPLITER TO HIT THE RACETRACK SO THEY ADDED THE PACKERS TO THE SHOCKS ON BOTH SIDE TO RAIDS THE FRONT OF IT OFF THE GROUND. HE SAYS EVERY TIME I TRIED TO MAKE A MOVE I'M GOING BACKWARDS. >> YOU CAN SEE THE DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT FRONT. IF HE IS TOUCHED UP BEHIND OTHER DRIVERS THE SPEEDS RIGHT NOW ARE MIRRORING WHAT THE LEAD PACK IS RUNNING. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCATION, THE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR IS NOT BENT OR OUT OF WHACK. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LEVEL LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. THAT IS WHAT THE DRIVER LOOKS FOR IN AN ACCIDENT. AM I HOLDING IT TO THE RIGHT OR HOLDING IT TO THE LEFT? THE WHEEL IS STILL CENTERED SO THAT MEANS THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS PERFECT. >> Mike: SIX CARS ARE IN THE GARAGE AREA. BECAUSE OF CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS, JEFF, SOME TEAMS ARE THRESHING TO GET BACK ON TRACK. >> Jeff: YES, THEY ARE. WE'RE WITH TONY STEWART'S BUNCH AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. THEY HAVE A SPARE NOSE IN HERE. THEY HAVE THE FRONT HALF OF THE SUSPENDERS BACK ON TO MAKE THE CUT AT. IT HAS A RADIATOR MOUNTED INSIDE OF IT. THEY ARE PREPARED TO SLIDE IT ON THERE AND GET IT BACK ON THE RACETRACK TO GET VALUABLE POINTS. I DON'T WANT TO LEAD THE OTHER GUYS WORKING OVER BESIDE IT, THE 29, 5 AND THE 42. THEY ARE ALL TRYING TO AFFECT REPAIRS TO GET THE DRIVERS BACK OUT FOR VALUABLE POINTS. >> Larry: I AM WATCHING THE FRONT GROUP OF DRIVERS AND WE ARE A FOURTH OF THE WAY THROUGH THE DAYTONA 500. I THINK THE QUESTION ON DANICA PATRICK IN THE 10, SHE WAS FAST AT THE TEST, FAST IN PRACTICE. SHE WAS ONLY THE POLE. COULD SHE RACE THE GUYS? STEVE, 125 MILES IN TO IT, HOLDING A PRETTY WHEEL RIGHT NOW. >> Steve: LARRY Mac, I WAS JUST LISTENING TO HER TALK TO CREW CHIEF TONY GIBBSON. SHE IS NOT EVEN PUSHING THE CAR THAT HARD RIGHT NOW. EVERYTHING SHE SAID ABOUT THE CAR IS COMPLY METARY. IT HAS GOOD BALANCE. IT HAS GOOD CORNER SPEED. IN FACT, ON THE PIT STOP SHE SAID HEY, GUYS, IF I'M NOT DOING SOMETHING RIGHT YOU TELL ME. GIBSON SAID, "YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT SO FAR TODAY." >> Darrell: A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WORRY ME. GREEN FLAG PIT STOP. THEY ARE REALLY AGGRESSIVE. TIRES EVERY TIME THEY CAME ON PIT ROAD. CAN'T LOSE A LOT OF TIME UNDER GREEN IF WE END UP THERE. SHE HAS GREAT FEEDBACK. IN MY OPINION, SHE LOOKS AT THIS DAYTONA RACETRACK LIKE IT'S INDY. SHE WAS AWESOME AT INDY EVERY TIME SHE RACED THERE. SHE FEELS THAT COMFORTABLE HERE AT DAYTONA. >> Mike: TWEETS "I'M SO PROUD OF MY GIRL DANICA PATRICK" RIGHT NOW IS RUNNING THIRD. >> THE ACTION IS JUST STARTING TO HEAT UP. STAY >>> THE DAYTONA 500 IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 152 MILES COMPLETE. TODAY'S FORD ECOBOOST TRACK FACTS. FORD WON THE LAST TWO DAYTONA 500s. FIRST TIME THEY WON IT IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS. FORD WON THREE OF THE LAST FOUR DAYTONA 500s. >> Darrell: RIGHT NOW, TEAMMATES DOMINATE THE TOP FIVE. THREE HENDRICK CARS, WITH DANICA PRETTY MUCH A HENDRICK CAR AND THEN KYLE BUSCH IN THE 18 RUNNING FIFTH. TEAMMATES PREVAILING RIGHT NOW. WORKING TOGETHER. >> Mike: LOOK AT THE FRONT FIVE. KENSETH, JOHNSON, GORDON, BUSCH. BETWEEN THEM 195 SPRINT CUP WINS. IN THE MIDST OF THEM DANICA PATRICK WITH JUST TEN SPRINT CUP RACES UNDER HER BELT. MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, LOOKING AHEAD TO PIT STRATEGY, JAY GUINERI FROM DANICA PATRICK'S TEAM CAME TO SPEAK TO ALAN GUSTAFSON TO FIND OUT WHEN THE 24 WOULD HIT PIT ROAD. THEY ARE EXPECTING TO PIT IN EIGHT LAPS. BESIDE LOSING THE LEAD, JEFF GORDON HAD WATER PRESSURE ISSUE TWICE. HE PUSHED WATER IN THIS RUN. >> Darrell: MATT, IT MIGHT BE FROM THE PAPER ON THE GRILL EARLIER. MAYBE HE LOST A LITTLE WATER AND IT'S ASKING THE WATER PRESSURE. >> Larry: YOU SAW THE CREW MEMBER FOR DANICA PATRICK IN THE PIT. HERE AND TALLADEGA YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DANCE PARTNERS TO PIT WITH BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE TRACK RUNNING BY YOURSELF. YOU WILL BE MUCH SLOWER THE WAY THE DRAFT WORKS. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH AND HIS CREW HAVE COMMUNICATED. HE NO LONGER BELIEVES HE HAS A LOOSE WHEEL. SO IT DOES NOT NECESSITATE AN UNPLANNED STOP. HE SAYS THERE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE REAR. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. BUT, DARRELL, HE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE UP THAT LEAD. >> Darrell: NO. LARRY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, IF IT WERE A LOOSE WHEEL IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUALLY GOTTEN WORSE AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TO PIT ROAD BEFORE NOW. A LITTLE VIBRATION, MAYBE TIRE OUT OF THE BALANCE OR MAYBE THE WIND BUTTING THE BUFFE CAR AROUND CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A VIBRATION. >> Mike: KENSETH LEADS IN TOYOTA. JIMMIE JOHNSON SECOND IS THE FIRST CHEVROLET. JOEY LOGANO IN SIXTH IS THE FIRST OF THE NEW FORD FUSIONS. IN THIS DAYTONA 500. 136 LAPS TO GO. STRATEGY BEING DISCUSSED. GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS COMING UP SOON. >> Chris: IF YOU CALL YOURSELF A SPORTS FAN YOU HAVE TO GET DirecTV. CALL WORLD CUP DirecTV. OUR LOOK FROM ABOVE. WE THANK DirecTV NAR ON LAP 68 OF 200 OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. THE FIRST 31 LAPS LED BY JEFF GORDON. EIGHT-DRIVER WRECK TOOK OUT TWO OF THE FAVORITES. TONY STEWART UP WITH OF THOSE TRYING TO WORK HIS CAR BACK IN SHAPE TO GET BACK ON THE TRACK. THREE-TIME CHAMPION BUT 0 FOR 14 IN THIS, HIS 15th DAYTONA 500. MATT KENSETH WORK-TIME DAYTONA WINNER THE LEADER I HEAD OF JIMMIE JOHNSON AND DANICA PATRICK WHO HAS YET TO LEAD A LAP BUT STAYED IN THE TOP TEN ALL AFTERNOON. SHE SLIPPED BACK TO NINTH AFTER THE EARLY CAUTION AND WORKED BACK UP TO THIRD. LET'S REJOIN LARRY, DARRELL, MIKE. >> Mike: THANK YOU. ROOKIE AUSTIN DILLON MAKES A PIT STOP AND BACK OUT AND WILL BE BY HIMSELF. DARRELL, TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING ON PIT ROAD FROM 195 MILES PER HOUR. >> Darrell: WE TALK ABOUT DANICA'S INEXPERIENCE, SHE IS UP THERE WITH VETERAN RACECAR DRIVERS. I'M AFRAID SHE MIGHT GET RUN OVER OR RUN OVER SOMEBODY IF SHE HAS TO PIT COMING OFF TURN FOUR THERE, RUNNING 180 MILES PER HOUR. THAT IS THE CHALLENGE. >> Larry: WE SAW BRAD KESELOWSKI IN THE 2 CAR LOOKING THEM UP. UNDER CAUTION, YOU ARE GOING FROM CAUTION CAR SPEED 70 TO 55. NOW ALMOST 200 TO 55. MAKING A GREEN FLAG STOP. >> Mike: STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: MIKE, THE UPDATE FROM BRAD KESELOWSKI. HE SAYS, "I AM POKING THE NOSE OF THE CAR TO KEEP IT COOL. IT WAS 250-DEGREES. I GOT IT DOWN TO 240. I'M STARTING TO STRUGGLE FOR GRIP, TOO." THE 2 CAR IS LOOSE. >> Mike: JAMIE McMURRAY BACK IN THE RACE. HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH IN LAP 33. >> Larry: GOING TO GET BUSY THIS TIME. >> HERE THEY COME. SOME OF THE LEADERS PEEL OFF TOWARD PIT ROAD. WHEN THEY GET TO THE ORANGE CONE THEY HAVE TO BE DOWN TO 55 MILES PER HOUR. JIMMIE JOHNSON, JEFF GORDON, DANICA PATRICK ARE IN. WITH JOEY LOGANO, GREG BIFFLE, ARIC ALMIROLA, MICHAEL McDOWELL. >> Darrell: SO FAR, SO GOOD. >> Mike: MATT? >> Matt: MIKE, THE HENDRICK TEAMMATES, JOHNSON AND GORDON, HAVE COME TO A STOP. GORDON EXPECTED TO TAKE FOUR TIRES. REMEMBER THE FIRST STOP THEY TOOK TWO. HIS CAR WAS FREE BACK IN THE PACK. SAME FOR 48 OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. STEVE? >> Steve: MATT, IT WILL BE A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE FOR DANICA PATRICK. NO CHANGES OTHERWISE. SHE LIKES THE WAY HER CAR IS HANDLING RIGHT NOW. NO CHANGES FOR THE 10 CAR. FOUR TIRES, SHE IS AWAY. >> Mike: SCOTT SPEED, TREVOR BAYNE, KURT BUSCH ALSO STOPPED ON THIS LAP. MORE TAKERS THIS TIME AROUND. LAP 71. HERE IS MATT KENSETH WITH KYLE BUSCH. >> Krista: WE TALKED ABOUT MATT'S SLIGHT VIBRATION. THE TEAM ALSO SAYING NOT ONLY ARE THEY NEW TO MATT, MATT IS NEW TO THEM. THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING HIM ON THE RADIO IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. ALSO, KYLE BUSCH IN THIS STOP. KYLE BUSCH TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS CAR BEING HOT. THERE YOU SEE KYLE BUSCH MAKING A FOUR-TIRE CHANGE ON THIS STOP. THEY TOOK TWO TIRES ON THE EARLIER PIT STOP. TROUBLE ON THE 18. MATT? >> Matt: THE 15 AND THE 56, CARS AWAY. BOWYER, NO REAL COMPLAINTS. >> Mike: FOUND A GREAT WAY FROM 35th ON THE GRID TO EIGHTH PLACE BEFORE THE PIT STOPS. >> Larry: THAT PIT STOP BY KYLE BUSCH'S CREW, THAT WILL PUT HIM ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THE LEAD DRAFT. BY A LOT. >> Mike: WEES UP PIT ROAD PENALTIES MAY BE COMING. DAVID HOOPS THE RACE DIRECTOR. >> 43 TOO FAST EXITING. SECTION 7 PASS-THROUGH. 43, TOO FAST EXITING. SECTION 7, PASS-THROUGH. >> Mike: ARIC ALMIROLA WAS RUNNING 13. AND TOO FAST IN ONE OF THOSE ELECTRONICALLY TIMED SECTIONS. MEANS HE MUST COME DOWN AND DRIVE DOWN PIT ROAD. THAT IS A PASS-THROUGH AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. WHILE THE RACE CONTINUES AT OVER 190. >> Larry: SECTION 7 IS THE LAST SECTION LEAVING PIT ROAD. ONLY 75 FEET. VERY SHORT. HE WAS TOO FAST THERE. >> Darrell: LARRY, MIKE, ANOTHER CHECK IN DANICA'S SCORECARD, MADE A GREAT PIT STOP RIGHT BACK OUT THERE, PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE SHE CAME IN. >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN. AND MICHAEL WALTRIP THE FRONT OF THE PACK. THEY HAVE YET TO MAKE THEIR SECOND STOP. YOU HAVE A LOOK AT KYLE BUSCH'S PIT STOP. THE >> Mike: NEW LEADER OF THE DAYTONA 500, AS WE CYCLE THROUGH GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS, DENNY HAMLIN. RACING A TOYOTA FOR COACH JOE AND J.D. GIBBS. HE IS OUT IN FRONT OF THE PACK. AND MARTIN TRUEX, FROM 35th TO SECOND. IN HIS MICHAEL WALTRIP TOYOTA. THEN KENSETH, JOHNS, GORDON. >> Larry: YOU TALK ABOUT MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR STARTING 35th. DENNY HAMLIN STARTED IN THE 33rd POSITION. QUITE A MOVE IN THE FIRST 70-SOMETHING LAPS BY THE DRIVERS. THE PIT STOPS TAKE THINGS UP. HOW YOU GET IN AND HOW YOU GET OUT, MAKE UP A LOT OF TIME AND TRACK POSITION. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON FIFTH. GREG BIFFLE. SIX IN HIS FORD. JOEY LOGANO'S FORD IS SEVENTH. DANICA PATRICK, EIGHTH. CHEVY OF DALE EARNHARDT JR. NINTH. CLINT BOWYER STETH. >> THEY IS SEPARATED BY A LITTLE OVER A SECOND-AND-A-HALF RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: I KNOW YOU LOOK AT THIS AND THE CARS ARE SINGLE FILE. YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PULL OUT AND TRY TO PASS. UNLESS YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP YOU. >> Mike: STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, THE UPDATE ON DALE EARNHARDT JR. DALE EARNHARDT JR. HAS HAD A HARD TIME GETTING HIS CAR TO TURN OFF TURN FOUR. ON THE LAST PIT STOP THEY TOOK FOUR PIT STOPS AND TOOK FOUR TIRES AND MADE CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT TO GET IT TO TURN. >> Mike: HE IS NINTH. THAT IS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN 15th. MOST ALL DAY. >> Darrell: THAT CAR HAS NOT BEEN HAPPY. THEY THOUGHT THEY FIXED IT YESTERDAY BUT THEY DON'T HAVE IT. >> Mike: DANICA PATRICK HAS FALLEN BACK JUST A BIT. >> A LITTLE BIT OF A VIBRATION AS I CAME OUT THIS TIME. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE THROTTLE. >> 10-4. IF IT GETS WORSE, KEEP US ABREAST OF IT. >> Larry: THAT IS ALL THE TEAM CAN TELL HER. IF IT GETS WORSE, BRING IT TO US. OTHERWISE, FEEL IT OUT. >> A LITTLE VIBRATION. YOU RIDE IT OUT. THE FIRES WHEN YOU MONKEY WITH THE TIRES, SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THEM OUT OF BALANCE, GET VIBRATION. >> STEVE? >> Steve: WHEN SHE IS HOOKED UP IN DRAFT, SHE KNOWS WHEN TO RUN FULL THROTTLE AND BACK OFF OF THE THROT A LITTLE BIT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. DOING IMPRESSIVE JOB OF GETTING IT GOING FOR HER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> Mike: DANICA SAYS SHE FEELS THE VIBRATION ON THE BOTTOM OF HER RIGHT FOOT WHEN IT'S TO FLOOR. ANOTHER DRIVER WITH A VIBRATION IN THE LAST GREEN FLAG RUN WAS MATT KENSETH. STEVE? >> Krista: I'M IN KEN KEN'S PIT. I CHECKED WITH SHAPIRO AND THEY DON'T THINK IT'S A LOOSE WHEEL. MIKE, DARRELL WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IS THE INNER LINERS ARE AND THEY THINK THAT WAS THE ISSUE. YOU SEE JASON RATLIFF ON THE PIT BOX. AND THE FIRE SPECIALIST CHECKING THE TIRE. THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ISSUE FOR MATT'S CAR. >> Darrell: THE CARS RUN SO SMOOTH IF ANY LITTLE THING IS OFF, LIKE TIRE BEING SLIGHTLY OUT OF BALANCE YOU REALLY FEEL IT. >> Mike: LOOK AT MARTIN TRUEX IN SECOND PLACE. MATT? >> Matt: MARTIN THOUGHT HE HAD A PROBLEM DEVELOPING ON THE 56. AFTER THE PIT STOP THEY TOOK FOUR TIRES AND MADE NO ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE HE LIKED THE BALANCE HE SAID THE CAR HAS A VIBRATION. HE THOUGHT HE HAD A WHEEL LOOSE AND THEY ASKED HAVE THE VIBRATION GOTTEN WORSE? NO. MAYBE JUST A WHEEL WEIGHT. HOLDING STATION WAITING TO SEE. >> Mike: THANK YOU. ONE OF THE FEEL-GOOD STORIES OF THE DAYTONA 500. MICHAEL McDOWELL. DRIVING FOR PHIL PARSONS RACING IN A CAR THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE AT THE SHOP UNTIL EARLY JANUARY. HE IS IN 12th PLACE. CAREER BEST FINISH OF 20th. >> Darrell: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE NEW GEN-6 CAR IS EQUALIZER AND IT GIVES TEAMS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHOWCASE WHAT THEY'VE GOT. NOBODY KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THE CAR YET. >> Mike: 83 LAPS COMPLETE. WE ARE CLOSING IN ON HALFWAY IN THE 55th >> Mike: 85 LAPS. CAUG OUT FOR DEBRIS. WE TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK AND GET UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE NASCAR SERIES WITH TRULY UNLIMITED DATA ON THE PRINT NETWORK. KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS IN THIS DAYTONA 500. YOU CAN GET UP LIMITED DATA FROM SPRINT. LEARN MORE AT SPRINT.COM/SPEED. >> Larry: WOULD NOT BE A BIT SURPRISED TO SEE MAYBE SOME FUEL-ONLY STOPS HERE. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 8 TO 12 LAP SINCE THEY WERE ON PIT ROAD. VOCES YOU ARE A VERY -- >> Krista: YOU ARE A SMART MAN. THAT IS THE PLAN FOR MATT KENSETH. TIRES IS AN ISSUE FOR HIM. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. PROBLEM IN THE 20. MATT? >> Matt: IN THE 56, FUEL-ONLY FOR THE TWO TOYOTAS OF TRUEX AND HAMLIN. STEVE? >> Steve: SAME FOR DANICA PATRICK. FUEL-ONLY. THE TEAM SAYING SHE ONLY HAS 13 LAPS ON THE TIRE. ASKING FOR TRAFFIC COMING DOWN PIT ROAD. A GOOD STOP. >> Darrell: A GREAT POINT IN PRACTICE. HER PIT IS A GREAT PIT STALL. SHE CAN'T GET GOING TO GET TO THE LINE. THE GUYS ARE GOING BY HER AT THE END OF PIT ROAD HERE. >> Mike: THE PROBLEM THAT MATT KENSETH HAD WAS NEWMAN COMING IN HIS PIT AS KENSETH TRIED TO EXIT. >>> 500 SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: PART OF OUR FAMILY IS MICHAEL WALTRIPMENT ANALYST HERE IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. DRIVING THE TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 WINNER IS YOUR LEADER. LAST 87 OF 200 TO GO. QUICK RECAP. HISTORY-MAKING POLE-SITTER DANICA PATRICK SAID ON THE RADIO AT THE START OF THE RACE TO HER CREW, "LET'S HAVE A SMOOTH FLAWLESS DAY. I'LL TRY AND HOLD UP MY END OF THE BARGAIN." SHE HAS HUNG AROUND THE TOP TEN MOST OF THE DAY. JEFF GORDON LED THE FIRST 31 LAPS, WITHIN FOUR OF THE DAYTONA 500 ALL-TIME RECORD HELD BY BILL ELLIOTT. KYLE BUSCH AND KASEY KAHNE GET IN TO IT. EIGHT-DRIVER WRECK THAT TOOK OUT TWO OF THE FAVORITES FOR THIS RACE. TONY STEWART AND KEVIN HARVICK. LOOK AT JOEY LOGANO. SOMEHOW WEAVE HIS WAY THROUGH THAT. WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON LATER IN THE RACE. SO FAR, MATT KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS SO FAR. CHECK IN AT THE SMART BOARD WITH JEFF HAMMOND IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL. >> Jeff: HEY, FOLKS, SHOW YOU, GET THIS TO HALFWAY. ON THE FORD, YOU KNOW, TECH BOARD HERE, WE HAVE TWO FOX CARS. I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS GOING ON. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SIDE DRAFTING ALL WEEK LONG. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN EXPLAIN IT TO YOU TO GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING. THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON. IS THE WAKE OF THE AIR AS IT COMES AROUND THE CAR IN THE LEAD. THIS IS THE WAKE OF THE AIR OF THE CAR TRYING TO PASS THEM. WHAT YOU WILL NOTICE IS THE WAKE COMES IN THROUGH THERE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY COME TOGETHER. IN THE AREA, THEY FIGHT ONE ANOTHER. BOUNCING OFF THE SIDE OF ONE ANOTHER. YOU HAVE THE EXHAUST TRYING TO COME OUT TO HIT THIS. THIS CONFUSES THE AIR BETWEEN CARS AND LATER IN THE RACE THIS WILL COME IN TO PLAY BECAUSE THEY WILL TRY TO MAKE A PASS AND HOPEFULLY WIN THE DAYTONA 500. MIKE? >> Mike: THANK YOU, JEFF. GETTING READY TO RESUME AFTER THE THIRD CAUTION OF THE DAY FOR DEBRIS. THE OUTSIDE LANE, ON POLE, IS A SANDY HOOK RELIEF FUND, SWAN ENERGY RACING CAR OPENED BY DAVIS AND FOUR-TIME SUPER BOWL WINNER BILL ROMANOWSKI AND MICHAEL WALTRIP, TWO-TIME WINNER AT THE WHEEL. DANICA PATRICK IN THE TOP TWO AND WILL LEAD THE OUTSIDE LANE FOR THE RESTART AS WE COMPLETE 89 OF 200 LAPS. WE'RE BACK UNDER GREEN. [ ENGINES ROAR ] PATRICK EDGES AHEAD TO TURN ONE. BOWYER GIVES HER A LITTLE SPACE. WITH HIS TEAMMATE, NUMBER 11, DENNY HAMLIN. NUMBER 20, MATT KENSETH. >> Darrell: I HAVEN'T HEARD CHEERING LIKE THIS AT THIS RACETRACK SINCE DALE JR. TOOK THE LEAD AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL. >> Larry: WE'LL KNOW IN A MILE CAN SHE BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE TO LEAD A LAP IN THE DAYTONA 500? >> Mike: HAMLIN COMING HARD ON THE INSIDE NOW. WITH KENSETH. UNDER GREEN. FANS ON THEIR FEET. SHE HAS DONE IT. DANICA PATRICK LED THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE INDY 500. >> Darrell: THE FANS WERE CHEERING. THAT I MEAN WERE ON THEIR FEET! [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: ALL RIGHT. CHECK THAT BOX. >> Darrell: ANOTHER ONE. >> Mike: EARLIER ON THE FIRST GREEN FLAG STOP, SHE FELL BACK FROM THIRD TO SEVENTH. BUT WE ANALYZED THE TIMES AND IT WAS THROUGH NO FAULT OF HER OWN. >> Larry: HER CREW COMPARED TO ANOTHER LEADER WAS ALMOST TWO SECONDS OFF. ON THE PIT STOP, ITSELF. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW ME, I LIKE TO GET IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THE DRIVERS IS DOING. SHE IS LOOKING BEHIND HER. MIRRORS. SHE IS NOT DRAFTING OR FIGHTING WITH THAT CAR AT ALL. THAT CAR IS DRIVING TO PERFECTION. SHE IS SO COMFORTABLE. SHE CAN LOOK BEHIND HER AND SEE WHERE EVERYONE IS. IN THE CORNER, 31-DEGREES OF BANKING. THAT CAR IS STUCK LIKE GLUE. GREAT JOB THE TEAM HAS DONE AND WHAT A GREAT JOB SHE IS DOING. >> Mike: IN 1977, JANET GUTHRIE LED FIVE LAPS UNDER CAUTION. AND DANICA PATRICK FROM ROSCOE, ILLINOIS, THE FIRST WOMAN DRIVER TO LEAD A LAP UNDER GREEN IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. >> Darrell: LOOK AT THE TEAMMATES ON THE BOTTOM, HOOKING UP AND MAKING THE BOTTOM WORK. IF SHE WILL HANG UP IN THERE, BOWYER WILL GIVE HER A SHOVE AND I BELIEVE SHE CAN HOLD THE LEAD. >> Mike: AT THE STRIPE. IT WILL BE HAMLIN ON THE INSIDE. WITH HELP FROM LAST YEAR'S WINNER FROM MATT KENSETH. HIS NEW TEAMMATE. AT JOE GIBBS RACING. >> Larry: WE KEEP USING THE WORD "TEAMMATE." DANICA PATRICK DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A TEAMMATE OUT THERE. TONY STEWART ONE-HER TEAMMATE IN GARAGE AREA. RYAN NEWMAN WAY AT THE BACK OF THE PACK. HE IS IN THE 28th POSITION. STRUGGLING ALL DAY LONG. OH, BOY! >> Darrell: DON'T DO THAT. THAT IS A LITTLE EDGY. >> Mike: BOBBLE AND WOBBLE THERE. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN CONTACT BETWEEN PATRICK AND BOWYER. >> Darrell: I THINK BOWYER WANTING TO GIVE HER A SHOVE BACK TO THE FRONT. BUT ALMOST SPUN HER OUT. GREAT JOB OF HANGING ON TO THAT THING. >> Mike: PATRICK WILL COMPETE FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR HONORS THIS YEAR. SHE IS NOT A DAYTONA 500 ROOKIE HOWEVER. BOTH SHE AND RICKY STENHOUSE, THE TWO ROOKIE CONTENDERS DID RUN IN LAST YEAR'S RACE. >> Darrell: THAT IS A LITTLE OLD FRIEND OF MINE USED TO SAY I THINK BOWYER WANTED TO RATTLE HER CAGE. >> 11 GOING TO CHECK FLAT UP. SHE IS ON HIM. TWO BY TWO. NOW SHE IS NOT ON HIM. TWO-BY-TWO. >> Larry: ACTUALLY, DARRELL, SHE JUST GOT WIGGLY WITHOUT HELP FROM CLINT BOWYER. >> Darrell: TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY TO GO. MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE INSIDE AND GUARDED BACK TO THE OUTSIDE. THAT UPSET THE CAR. NO QUESTION AS THE RACE GOES ON, COMING UP CLOSE TO 100 LAPS HERE NOW. THE INTENSITY JUST KEEPS ESCALATING, AND GETS HIGHER AND HIGHER. THESE GUYS ARE GETTING LESS AND LESS PATIENT. >> Mike: MEANWHILE, THE INSIDE LINE LED BY JIMMIE JOHNSON AND JEFF BURTON. TRYING TO INCH CLOSER TO THE FRONT AND CHALLENGE MATT KENSETH FOR THE LEAD. SIX LAPS TO HALFWAY. >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: TIME FOR THE AT&T MIDRACE REPORT. CHRIS MYERS HERE. GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING THE 55th RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. DANICA PATRICK ADDED TO THE HISTORY. FIRST FEMALE TO LEAD A LAP IN THE DAYTONA 500. ON LAP 13, KASEY KAHNE AND KYLE BUSCH TRIGGERED EIGHT-CAR RACE AND TONY STEWART AND A KEVIN HARVICK, COUPLE OF FAVORITES WERE TAKEN OUT. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS? >> Darrell: I TOLD EVERYONE LISTENING TO ME DANICA PATRICK COULD WIN THE RACE. I BELIEVE, SHE IS STILL IN THE RACE AND GREAT POSITION AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE RACE, DO NOT COUNT HER OUT. >> D.W., SHE IS TAKING CARE OF THE DETAILS. SHE HAS A FAST CAR BUT SHE COMES OFF PIT ROAD AND TELLS TO GIBBSON, 4500 RPM, IN SECOND GEAR AND I LEAVE ON YOUR CAR. TO WHICH HE SAYS 10-4. >> Steve: MATT KENSETH SHOWED SPEED THE SPEED WEEKS. >> Larry: BUT NOT WITH ROUSH FENWAY, BUT WITH JOE GIBBS RACING. HE 2010 OF THE LAST FOUR 500s AND MAYBE HE COULD GET THE THIRD ONE BY DRIVING FOR JOE GIBBS. >> HE HAS SEEN EVERYTHING TODAY. WATER FRESHED WATER TEMPERATURE ISSUES. DROPPING BACK MID-PACK TO MAKE HIS WAY TO THE FRONT. ALAN GUSTAFSON TOLD HIM I KNOW THE BALANCE IS GOOD BUT KEEP AN EYE ON THE WATER FRESH AND THE TEMPERATURE. THE FINAL LESS THAN 100 LAPS TO GO. MIKE JOY? >> Mike: HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 20 YEARS SINCE THE HALFWAY LEADER WENT TO DAYTONA 500 VICTORY LANE. DAVEY ALLISON WITH CREW CHIEF LARRY McREYNOLDS, CAR OWNER YATES. 1992. >> Chris: BUT THE GENERATION 6 CAR, THEY HOPE IS GOOD FOR THEM IN THE SECOND DAYTONA 500. THEY HAVE YET TO WIN ONE, BUT RUNNING UP WITH-TWO WITH KENSETH AND HAMLIN. SO FAR, TEN DIFFERENT LEADERS AND 15 LEAD CHANGES. KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS. THAT IS YOUR AT&T MID-RACE REPORT. TRACK POSITION BECOMING AS IMPORTANT AS THE LEAD OVER THE SECOND HALF OF THE RACE. WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 105 LAPS COMPLETE. RACE GRAND MARSHAL JAMES FRANCO LOOKING ON. FIFTY-CENT ATOP MARK MARTIN'S PIT BOX. AND MATT KENSETH, YOUR RACE LEADER. FIVE TOYOTAS, THREE CHEVROLETS, TWO FORDS IN THE TOP TEN. AT 105 LAPS, 95 TO GO. THE LAST PIT STOP. WE MENTIONED THAT DANICA PATRICK HAS THE FINAL PIT STALL AT THE END OF PIT ROAD. GREG BIFFLE COMES OUT OF HIS STALL. ONE LANE UP FROM THE BOTTOM. HERE COMES PATRICK. NEARBY TRAFFIC. BIFFLE COMMENTED AFTERWARDS. >> THE CAMERA I GUESS HER CREW CHIEF TOLD EVERYONE TO RUN EVERYBODY OUT THROUGH THE GRASS. IT WILL BE A LONG YEAR IF THEY PLAY LIKE THAT. >> IT'S STRAIGHT AHEAD THAN TO TURN AND GO. >> SHE WILL BE FINE. SHE WILL TAKE CARE OF HERSELF. >> Darrell: THAT IS A SITUATION WHERE IF THEY COULD SEE WHAT WE COULD SEE, THEY MIGHT CHANGE THEIR OPINION. THEY WERE COMING OUT THREE-WIDE. DANICA JUST COMING OUT OF HER PIT BOX, SHE MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD A TIGHTER LINE BUT THEY WERE ALREADY BOTTLED UP THERE. >> Mike: JUST PAST THE EXIT OF PIT ROAD, PIT ROAD CURVES SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THAT WILL THROW THINGS OFF A LITTLE BIT. PATRICK THE POLE-SITTER IS THIRD. SEE HER IN FRONT OF THE FOX GYRO-CAM ON BOARD THE FOURTH PLACE CAR OF CLINT BOWYER. MATT KENSETH AND DENNY HAMLIN. TOYOTA TEAMMATES ARE THE LEADERS. >> Darrell: JUST WATCH THAT CAMERA. THE CAR IS GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. WATCH HOW QUICKLY IT GOES UP IN THAT 31-DEGREE BANKING. IT JUST, THERE IT GOES. ALL AT ONCE. THAT IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. RIDING THROUGH THE CORNER THROUGH THE LEFT OF THE WIND SHIELD. THIS FLATTENS BACK OUT. THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU. >> Mike: THERE IS NO CAMERA OPERATOR IS TILTING THE VIEW. IT'S ON A GYROSCOPE AND IT REMAINS VERTICAL. THE CAR DOES NOT REMAIN HORIZONTAL. CLINT BOWYER HITS 199 MILES PER HOUR IN TURN ONE. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE THE BANKING IN THE TRIOVAL IT'S LESS THAN IT IS IN THE CORNERS HERE. BUT STILL, YOU COME OUT OF THE BANKING IN THE TRI OVAL IN A CAR THAT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT THAT POINT. >> Mike: EARLY CONTENDER, KYLE BUSCH IS BACK IN 20th PLACE. >> Krista: THE REASON ON THE LAST STOP THEY HAD TO COME BACK DOWN AND FIX THE SIDE SKIRT. ON THE EARLIER STOP, THE CAR FELL OFF THE JACK. IT BOWED OUT. THE QUESTION WAS IT THE JACK OR THE CAUSE OF THE JACK SLIPPING? WAS THE SIDE SKIRT BOWED OUT THE START? THEY ARE UP SURE OF THAT. THAT IS WHAT THEY FIXED AND HOW FILE FELL BACK TO 16th RIGHT NOW. >> Darrell: DO YOU RECALL WHAT THEY DID IN PRACTICE YESTERDAY? THEY CAME IN THE PIT BOX, THEY MEASURED THAT JACK STOP. SO THEY EITHER CUTTING IT WAY, WAY TOO CLOSE OR THEY HAD A MISTAKE ON WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE? THEY CHECKED THAT YESTERDAY DURING PRACTICE. >> Mike: DOWN INSIDE. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA BACK IN THE RACE. THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE LAP 33 CRASH. >> Larry: WE ARE WITH MICHAEL WALTRIP. STARTED IN 29th POSITION, IN THE 26 CAR RIGHT NOW. ON THE RESTART HE WAS LEADING THE RACE BECAUSE HE STAYED OUT. THE REASON HE STAYED OUT, HE WAS ONE OF THE LAST DRIVERS TO PIT UNDER THE GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS. BUT, SHOULD WE GO ABOUT ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT LAPS HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE HIS GREEN FLAG STOP. PROBABLY EIGHT LAPS SOONER THAN THE OTHER DRIVER. >> Darrell: I GOT TO SAY THERE IS A VIEWING PARTY GOING UP IN NEWTOWN TODAY THERE. HAS TO BE A BUNCH OF FOLKS WATCHING THE RACE. HELLO TO EVERY ONE OF YOU, THAT ARE JUST HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE RIGHT HERE WATCHING THIS CAR. THAT HAS LED THE RACE. MICHAEL IN THE TOP TEN WITH THE CAR. WHAT A GREAT JOB. >> Mike: THE EMBLEM OF THE TOWN OF NEWTOWN IS ON MICHAEL WALTRIP'S CAR. IF YOU TEXT "NEWTOWN" TO 80888 YOU WILL MAKE A $10 DONATION TO THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RELIEF FUND. DALE EARNHARDT JR., EIGHTH PLACE. FANS YOU CAN WIN THE ALL NEW 2014 CHEVY SILVERADO AND MEET TONY STEWART. GO WINANEWSILVERADO.COM. >> Darrell: THEY MADE JUNIOR'S CAR BETTER THAN IT HAS BE ALL WEEK. HE IS IN THE TOP TEN. HE WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP EARLY. >> Mike: THE NUMBER TWO QUALIFIER AND EARLIER LEADER OF THE DAYTONA 500 IS JEFF GORDON. HE LED 31 LAPS TODAY. BUT NOW HE HAS DROPPED BACK OUT OF THE TOP 20. MATT? >> Matt: THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE. HE SAID THE WATER PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE IS A PROBLEM. ALAN GUSTAFSON TOLD HIM DROP BACK, TRY TO GO TO PREVENT MODE. AND SAVE THE CAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO END WHERE IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE. >> Darrell: THAT STARTED WHEN THEY HAD THE PAPER ON THE GRILL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE. IT GUARANTEE YOU. IT'S GOTTEN WORSE. >> Mik >> Mike: FROM HIGH ABOVE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. 116 LAPS COMPLETE IN THIS YEAR'S 500. 84 TO GO. LOOK AT LLOYD, KENSETH, HAMLIN, PATRICK ARE THE FIRST THREE. TWO TOYOTAS AND A CHEVROLET LEAD THE FAST FREIGHT TRAIN AROUND THE HIGH GROOVE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS TODAY TRYING TO BECOME THE FIRST BACK-TO-BACK WINNER SINCE 1995. >> Darrell: WE ARE COMING UP ON TWO HOURS OF RACING. YOU SIT OUT THERE AND MENTALLY PROCESS INFORMATION. THINGS ABOUT YOUR CAR. THINGS WHERE YOU ARE RUNNING ON THE TRACK. YOU ARE REALLY STARTING NOW TO FAST FORWARD TO THE END OF THE RACE. WHAT DO I DO TO GET IN A WINNING POSITION? WHAT IS THAT WINNING POSITION? >> Mike: RIDING IN THIRD PLACE WITH PATRICK BEHIND HAMLIN AND KENSETH. TWO TEAMMATES. DAVID GILLILAND OFF PACE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RACETRACK. HE HAD TROUBLE EARLY. LOST A PLUG WIRE AND THEY REPLACED IT AND HE GOT BACK ON TRACK. NOW EARLIER, WE HEARD ABOUT THE TROUBLES OF EARLY RACE LEADER AND OUTSIDE POLE-SITTER JEFF GORDON. JEFF HAMMOND HAS MORE. >> Jeff: WE LOOK AT THE AIR GOING THROUGH THE GRILL. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. MATT YOCUM REFERRED TO WHAT THE WATER TEMPERATURE AND WHAT THE WATER PRESSURE WAS. IF YOU GO AROUND THE RACETRACK THIS IS WHERE THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS ON THE CAR. THIS IS WHERE THE WATER PRESSURE IS. IF THE WATER TEMPERATURE GOES UP, IT GOES TO 260. YOU LOSE THE WATER PRESSURE BECAUSE IT'S PUSHING IT OUT. IF YOU LOSE TOO MUCH, YOU PUSH THE WATER OUT. IF YOU LOSE PRESSURE AND IT GOES TO HERE, YOU ARE COOKING THE ENGINE AND A LOT OF TROUBLE. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE AND WIN THE DAYTONA 500 LIKE HE WOULD LIKE TO. LATTER PART OF THE RACE WINDS DOWN, IF HE HAS DONE THIS ENGINE HE WON'T BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN THERE LIKE HE NEEDS TO. WHEN HE NEEDS THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE RACE. >> Larry: IF THEY CAN CATCH A CAUTION, MAYBE THEY CAN RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. A YEAR AGO, MATT KENSETH HAD WATER PRESSURE. WATER TEMPERATURE ISSUES. HE RECTIFYED IT AND THEY WENT TO VICTORY LANE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT. >> Darrell: THEY ARE BANKING ON SOMETHING HAPPENING, DEBRIS CAUTION, SOMETHING ON THE TRACK TO GIVE THEM A OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE CAR. >> Mike: TONY STEWART IS BACK ON TRACK. OF THE EIGHT DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE PILEUP AT LAP 33, ALL BUT KEVIN HARVICK RETURNED TO THE SPEEDWAY. WHICH LEAVES HARVICK ALONE IN THE GARAGE WITH JOE NEMECHEK WHO HAD AN UNRELATED PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR. >> Mike: AERODYNAMICS HAVE BEEN A BIG STORY AT DAYTONA. PARTICULARLY, AIR FLOW OVER THE BRAND NEW CHEVYS, FORD, TOYOTAS. TIME FOR KFC FRESH OFF THE WIRE UPDATE. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: MIKE, EARLIER, WE SAW A LOT OF WISH THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOWS EITHER STARTING TO COME LOOSE OR ACTUALLY BLOWING OUT. NASCAR HAD A TEAM BEEF UP THE BRACKETS AROUND THAT WINDOW. GOOD NEWS FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, HE REPORTED HIS WINDOW ON THE RIGHT SIDE BUFFETED A LITTLE BIT. NO ISSUE AT THE JUNCTURE. AND CHAD KNAUS HAD A DISCUSSION WITH JIMMIE AND I TALKED TO CHAD AND HE SAID AT THIS POINT HE IS NOT CONCERNED. >> Mike: THREE ISSUES WITH DRIVERS AND SIDE WINDOWS OR SIDE NET IN THE RACES THUS FAR, NONE TODAY. THAT IS WHAT IS FRESH OFF THE WIRE. >> Darrell: WHAT ABOUT THE COMBINATION THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS RIGHT THERE? HE HAS ONE DOWN LOW TO GET A GOOD VIEW, THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW OF HIS CAR SO HE DOESN'T SQUEEZE UP IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY. >> Larry: JIMMIE JOHNSON IS PROBABLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WINDOW. MICHAEL WALTRIP IN THE 26, WE TALKED ABOUT HIM. HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO PIT ROAD IN THE NEXT LAP OR TWO. NOW HE IS GETTING THE POINT HE IS UP TO 45 LAPS ON THE HIGH SIDE OF THE FUEL WINDOW. >> Darrell: HE IS SETTING IN THERE AND PROBABLY MILKING THIS THING GOOD, LARRY, IN THE DRAFT WHERE HE IS RIDING. HE CAN STRETCH HER OUT. >> Mike: GREEN FLAG STOPS >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: AERIAL COVERAGE TODAY PROVIDED BY GOODYEAR. EVERYTHING WE LEARN MAKING TIRES THAT FACE THE GRUELING DEMANDS OF NASCAR INSPIRE WAS WE ROLL IN TO YOURS. GOODYEAR, OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR. >> Darrell: DANICA GOT HERSELF IN A BIND. I THINK THEY WERE GETTING READY TO PIT AND SHE WAS SHUFFLED UP ON THE OUTSIDE RIGHT THERE. >> Mike: MICHAEL WALTRIP MADE HIS STOP AND THE INSIDE LEAP LED BY MATT KENSETH IS COMING IN. >> Darrell: UNLESS SHE WASN'T GOING TO PIT WITH EVERYBODY. BUT SHE STILL HAS JIMMIE JOHNSON OUT THERE WITH HER. >> Krista: THE TOYOTAS PITTING TOGETHER. JASON RATCLIFF REMINDING MATT KENSETH THE NUMBER IS 20. HE IS WITH A NEW TEAM. HE SAID THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL IN CLEAN AIR, THAT'S WHERE HE HAS BEEN. MATT? >> Matt: DENNY HAMLIN COMES TO A STOP. THEY ARE GOING TO GO FOUR TIRES ON THIS STOP. THAT WAY, GIVES THEM AN OPTION LATER ON. MEANWHILE, THE 15 OF CLINT BOWYER ALL QUIET ON HIS RADIO. HE HAS BEEN PLEASED WITH HIS CAR. THE TOYOTAS ARE AWAY. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH OF THAT GROUP WILL BE FIRST OFF PIT ROAD. AND PATRICK STILL ON THE HIGH LANE. NO INTENTION OF PITTING THIS TIME. >> Darrell: MIKE, WE HEARD HER SAY SHE HAS BE PEDALING ALONG THERE IN THE DRAFT. SHE THINKS SHE HAS A LOT OF FUEL LEFT. >> Mike: HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY ABOUT KENSETH WHEN KENSETH WAS LEADING THAT BIG PACK. [ NO AUDIO ] SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE IT BUT PATRICK SAID, "KENSETH MUST BE USING MORE FUEL AT THE HEAD OF THE PACK THAN SHE WAS AT PART THROTTLE." SHE BELIEVES SHE CAN GO A COUPLE OF LAPS FURTHER THAN THE MAN WHO WAS THE RACE LEADER WHEN PIT STOPS BEGAN. >> Larry: THAT IS OKAY. IF SHE HAS DANCE PARTNERS THAT COME TO PIT ROAD WITH HER. YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP RUNNING OUT THERE BY YOURSELF, YOU WILL BE TWO SECONDS SLOWER THAN EVERYONE IN THE TRAFT. >> Mike: PAUL MENARD MADE A PIT STOP. COME OUT. HARVICK RETURNS TO THE RACE. >> Darrell: I BELIEVE THIS IS A DECISIVE MOMENT IN THIS RACE FOR THAT 10 CAR. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? >> Larry: I THINK THE GOOD THING, A FEW DRIVERS BEHIND HER, YOU HAVE JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. YOU HAVE DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88. I'M SURE THEY ARE NEWSPAPER KATEING WITH THOSE CREWS, ALL RUNNING -- I'M SURE THEY ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THOSE CREWS, RUNNING THE HENDRICK ENGINE PACKAGE, POSSIBLY COMING TO PIT ROAD TOGETHER. >> Darrell: AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE FUEL MILEAGE INFORMATION. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN STRETCH IT OUT. >> Mike: THE OTHER AGENDA, HER CREW CHIEF, DAYTONA BEACH BORN VETERAN OF THE SERIES SAID WE WANT TO LEAD LAPS TODAY. THEY ARE DOING JUST THAT. >> Darrell: THIS MAY BE THE -- I THINK THEY ARE GETTING READY TO COME, LARRY. YEAH, HERE THEY COME. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO FLASHES BY. GREG BIFFLE COMES ON TO PIT ROAD WITH PATRICK. AND FIVE OTHERS. INCLUDING JIMMIE JOHNSON. ALMIROLA IS IN. NOW ANOTHER HALF DOZEN BEHIND THEM INCLUDING JEFF GORDON. SHE WILL HAVE LOTS OF COMPANY COMING OUT OF PIT ROAD. SENATE >> Matt: WE COULD SEE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES IN THE HENDRICK CAMP. JIMMIE JOHNSON GOING TO MAKE A CHASSIS ADJUSTMENT TO TIGHTEN HIM UP A LITTLE BIT. MEAN WHILE, STEVE, THE 24 IS GOING TWO -- TWO -- >> Larry: I LIKE GORDON'S FOUR TIRES. EVERYONE CAN MAKE IT TO THE END ON ONE MORE STOP. STEVE? >> Steve: GREG BIFFLE SAYS THE CAR IS SMOOTH. DANICA PATRICK, FOUR TIRES. SHE LEAVES WHEN THE JACK DROPS. >> Mike: AT LEAST ONE CAR WORKS PAST HER OFF PIT ROAD. JOEY LOGANO COMES IN NOW. SURRENDERS THE LEAD. FIRST TIME THE # 2-YEAR-OLD FROM MIDDLE TOWNSHIP LED TODAY. AND MARCOS AMBROSE COMING WITH HIM. BOTH CARS ARE IN. SERIES CHAMP BRAD KESELOWSKI IN FRONT OF THEM. >> Darrell: DANICA CAN'T GET GOING. SHE HAS WHEEL SPIN THERE AND IT COST HER, EVERYBODY ELSE IS ON A ROLE WHEN THEY GET TO HER. COST HER A COUPLE OF SPOTS. OVERALL, A GREAT STOP. >> Mike: LEADER IS THE TASMANIAN MARCOS AMBROSE THAT TIME BY IN THE OTHER RICHARD PETTY FORD. TEAMMATE TO ARIC ALMIROLA. PAST CHAMPION OF THE AUSTRALIAN V-8 SUPERCAR SERIES. THERE GOES AMBROSE. GOT A LITTLE CLOSE FOR COMFORT COMING OFF PIT ROAD THIS TIME. >> Darrell: REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT RAMPING UP AND GETTING MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE? EVEN OFF OF PIT ROAD YOU WILL GET MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ANYTHING NOW. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ANYTHING. YOU WILL TAKE A LOT. >> ALL THE WAY OUT. ALL THE WAY OUT. >> Mike: MATT KENSETH IS BACK TO THE LEAD WITH 69 LAPS TO >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Mike: 135 LAPS TO GO. FOX FANTASY AUTO RACING PRESENTED BY FORD STARTS TODAY. PICK YOUR TEAM OF FIVE DRIVERS EACH WEEK AND COMPETE FOR PRIZES ALL SEASON LONG. SIGN UP TODAY AT FoxSports.COM/FANTASY. 65 LAPS TO GO. NASCAR HALL-OF-FAMER DARRELL WALTRIP AND TWO-TIME DAYTONA WINNER LARRY McREYNOLDS. I'M MIKE JOY. MATT KENSETH HAS BEEN IN COMMAND FOR 73 OF 136 LAPS. HIS TOYOTA TEAMMATE DENNY HAMLIN BEHIND. THE WHOLE FRONT FIVE INCLUDING BOWYER, KYLE BUSCH, MARK MARTIN, ALONG WITH SIXTH PLACE MARTIN TRUEX DRIVING THE NEW CAMRY THAT DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE NEW CHEVY S.S. AND GREG BIFFLE IN THE NEW SIXTH GENERATION FORT FUSION. ON PIT STOPS, DANICA PATRICK TO NINTH. JIMMIE JOHNSON, TENTH. THE TEN CARS ARE TRYING TO MOTOR AWAY FROM THE FIELD. >> Darrell: WHAT YOU SIT HERE NOW RAND WRACK YOUR BRAIN AROUND IS HOW DO I GET BY THE GUYS? WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY BE WILLING TO GO TO THE BOTTOM. BUT YOU ARE BACK THERE, DANICA WITH DALE JR. AND JIMMIE JOHNSON. IN THE 48. THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO GET BY THE TOYOTAS, THOUGH. >> Larry: THE TOYOTA DRIVERS, REMEMBER, THEY -- >> Darrell: TROUBLE, TURN ONE. >> Mike: ONE CAR DOWN, SPINNING. TREVOR BAYNE. UP TO THE BALL. COLLECTS ANOTHER. THAT IS CARL EDWARDS. THE FIFTH LEAK EDWARDS IS INVOLVED IN. 34 OF DAVID RAGAN INVOLVED. 35 OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, JOSH WISE. WE ARE UNDER CAUTION FOR THE FOURTH TIME TODAY. >> Darrell: SOMETHING HAPPENED TO A CAR GOING IN TO TURN ONE AS IF IT -- I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BUT THEY LOST IT GOING TO TURN ONE. >> Larry: YOU SEE AUSTIN DILLON IN THE 33. DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. TREVOR BAYNE WE MENTIONED HIM IN THE 21. TERRY LABONTE IN THE 32 CAR AS WELL. >> Mike: JOSH WISE TORN UP. DAVID RAGAN AND DAVID GILLILAND ,GOODNESS, ALL THREE OF THE FRONT ROW CARS OF JENKINS TAKEN OUT IN THE PILEUP. >> Darrell: LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. I LOOK UP AND -- >> SINGLE FILE. 27 IS THE FIRST CAR OUT OF LINE. >> HOLD IT. NO CAUTION. CAUTION IS OUT. CAUTION IS OUT. CAUTION IS OUT. >> Mike: THERE IS BRAD KESELOWSKI ON THE OUTSIDE OF CARL EDWARDS. REUTIMANN JUST AHEAD. >> Darrell: SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. IT LOOKED UP AND I GUESS IT WAS THE 2 CAR THAT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS DOWN ON THE APRON SIDEWAYS. POSSIBLY. >> Larry: BUT THEY STARTED ACCORDIONING UP IN FRONT OF BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> Darrell: SIMILAR TO THE START OF THE RACE. SOMEBODY SLOWED UP AND IT CAUSED AN ACCORDION EFFECT. >> Larry: RICKY STENHOUSE IN THE 17. HE BASICALLY STOPPED AND HE WENT ON BY. >> Mike: JOEY LOGANO WAS NOT INVOLVED BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON HIS CAR, PIT ROAD AT THE FUEL CELL AREA. THERE IS AUSTIN DILLON. DAVID RAGAN IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BACK. NOR IS HIS TEAMMATE DAVID GILLILAND. >> Darrell: THE 22 CAR LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD A FUEL ISSUE. IN THE TRUNK RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: HIS TEAMMATE, BRAD KESELOWSKI IN PRACTICE THE OTHER DAY HAD FUEL DELIVERY ISSUES. LOOKS SIMILAR. >> Mike: TREVOR BAYNE THE WINNER TWO YEARS AGO. RICKY STENHOUSE, RIGHT-SIDE DAMAGE ON HIS FORD FROM ROUSH-FENWAY RACING. >> Larry: HE DID GET DAMAGE. >> Darrell: A LITTLE BIT. I THINK HE SCRAPED THE WALL. I DON'T THINK IT'S BAD. >> Mike: TWO-TIME CHAMPION TERRY LABONTE AND ROOKIE AUSTIN DILLON ALL INVOLVED. A NIGHTMARE SEASON CONTINUES FOR CARL EDWARDS. THE FIFTH MAJOR CRASH HE HAS BEEN IN, IN 30 DAYS HERE IN DAYTONA. UNDER >>> THE DAYTONA 500 ON FOX IS SPONSORED BY -- >> Chris: TIME FOR AN AT&T RACE BREAK BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATION'S LARGEST 4G NETWORK. RETHINK POSSIBLE. GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING "NASCAR ON FOX" ON THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. WITH 60 LAPS TO GO. DANICA PATRICK, MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST POLE-SITTER FOR THIS RACE. THERE IS HER OWNER/DRIVER TONY STEWART. SHE DID NOT LEAVE EARLY BUT CHECK OUT HOW SHE DID OP PIT STOPS. EARLY SAMPLE CAUTIOUS. BUT THEN IN THIS ONE SHE CAME IN EIGHTH AND CAME OUT SECOND ON LAP 90. SHE LED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND LED A TOTAL OF FIVE LAPS. 23rd FOR THE LAP IN RACE BUT IS IN THE TOP STEP AS WE --TOP TEN AS WE ARE UNDER CAUTION. SERIOUS CONTENDER. MOMENTS AGO, IN THE WRECK, CARL EDWARDS HAD MISERABLE SPEED WEEKS. HIS FOURTH WRECK. HE CALLED THIS THE WORST SPEEDWEEKS EVER FOR HIM. POPULAR FORD DRIVER IN THE 99 CAR CAUGHT UP IN THIS WRECK MOMENTS AGO WHICH INVOLVED NINE DRIVERS, INCLUDING BRAD KESELOWSKI. AUDIO FROM CARL EDWARDS. >> WATCH YOURSELF, WATCH YOURSELF, WATCH YOURSELF. OUTSIDE. >> WE JUST GOT WRECKED. WE JUST GOT WRECKED. >> Chris: EARLYER THE EIGHT-CAR WRECK TOOK OUT TONY STEWART AND KEVIN HARVICK. THEY ARE BACK ON THE TRACK. CARL EDWARDS' car off THE track. AND MATT KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS TODAY. BUT THIS IS WORTH THINKING ABOUT. DRIVERS WHO LED THE MOST LAPS HAVE NOT WON THE LAST NINE DAYTONA 500s. THIS HAS BEEN AN AT&T RACE BREAK. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NATION'S FASTEST LGE NETWORK. AT&T. RETHINK >> Mike: WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FOX SPORTS SUPPORT CHARITY FOR 2013 ARE FEEDING AMERICA, JOHN HOPKINS MEDICINE, AND STOMP OUT BULLYING. WE'LL RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS ALL YEAR LONG ON ALL FOX SPORTS NETWORKS AND PLATFORMS. PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WORK THEY DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. TO LEARN MORE, FOXSPORTSSUPPORTS.COM. HERE IS AN INSIDE LOOK WITH THE FREE NASCAR MOBILE 13 APP. 40-YEAR-OLD MATT KENSETH FROM CAMBRIDGE, WISCONSIN, LED THE MOST LAPS AND HE IS THE LEADER UNDER CAUTION WITH 57 LAPS TO GO IN THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500 ON >> Mike: AERIAL COVERAGE PROVIDED BY GOODYEAR. EVERYTHING WE LEARN TO MAKE TIRES FOR THE GRUELING DEMANDS OF NASCAR INSPIRED TO WHAT WE ROLL IN TO YOURS. GOODYEAR, OFFICIAL TIRE OF NASCAR. WE GO BACK TO GREEN IN ONE LAP. AND CARL EDWARDS IS OUT OF THE RACE WITH KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: HE WAVED US OVER. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE? >> I SHOULD HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUT OF LINE. GOING UP THE FRONT STRAIGHTAWAY AND I WAS LOOKING FOR A HOLE TO GET IN AND SOMEBODY GOT TURNED SIDEWAYS AND I ENDED UP RUNNING IN TO TREVOR. SO FRUSTRATING. THIS HAS NOT BEEN FUN. MY GUYS ARE WORKING HARD AND READY TO GO TO PHOENIX AND DOMINATE. WE'RE NOT BEING HELD DOWN THIS YEAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY CARS WE WRECK HERE. WE ARE FIGHTING TO THE END AND GO TO PHOENIX TO WIN THAT. FRUSTRATING DAY FOR FASTENAL AND NOW TO GO OUT THERE AND CHEER ON ANOTHER FORD TO VICTORY. >> Krista: CARL STAYING IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE TEAM IS WORKING TO TRY TO GET THE 99 BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: THANK YOU. LENGNY CLEAN-UP IN TURN NUMBER ONE. AS EDWARDS INDICATES IT'S DIFFICULT TO PASS OUT THERE. WE HAVE SEEN FREIGHT TRAIN RACING THAT LED DANICA PATRICK TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH HER SPOTTER. >> NOT A GOOD IDEA TO BE LEARNING AND TAKING CHANCES UP HERE IN THE TOP TEN. HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET SHUFFLED BACK. BUT THAT IS WHY I HAVE LITTLE EYES AND EARS OUT THERE SEE IF SOMETHING IS STICKING OR WORKING. FEEL FREE. >> I SURE WILL. >> Darrell: I THINK WHAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO, SHE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE. IN THE TOP TEN, RUNNING UP FRONT ALL DAY LONG AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BACK UP TO THE FRONT BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RISKS OR CHANCES TO DO IT. >> WE KNOW EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO MAKE ONE MORE PIT STOP. >> Mike: AUDIO FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND HIS TEAM. >> HI REALLY AIN'T GOT ANY IDEA WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE AT THE END. GO TO THE BOTTOM GROOVE, I GUESS. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT, IF WE DON'T HAVE A YELLOW LATE. PRETTY SURE, WITH THE WAY IT'S RAN SO PAR WE'LL GET SOMETHING TO TWICE UP THE END THERE. >> Mike: YOU LIKE THE TOP GROOVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE. A LOT OF DRIVERS DID. NOW MAYBE THE BEST LANE IS THE BOTTOM, WHERE MATT KENSETH WILL TAKE THE RESTART FROM. ALONGSIDE TEAMMATE DENNY HAMLIN. GREEN FLAG. WITH 54 LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: THE BOTTOM IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE; PARTICULARLY, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY. IF YOU CROWD THEM A LITTLE BIT. THEY PROBABLY WORE THE TOP OUT AND READY TO TRY THE BOTTOM FOR A WHILE. >> Mike: HERE COMES BOWYER ON THE INSIDE. THAT NUMBER 15. DANICA PATRICK IN THE 10. >> Larry: SHE IS IN THE MIDDLE, SUCKER HOLE GETTING TRUFFLEED BACK. THAT SMOKE WE SAW IS THE SPEEDY-DRI THEY PUT DOWN. >> Darrell: THIS IS THE WORST PLACE DANICA HAS BEEN ALL DAY. >> Mike: SMOKE FROM A BIG CAR ON THE INSIDE. >> Darrell: THAT'S THE SPEEDY-DRI. >> Mike: TURN THREE. >> Larry: IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. WE CAN SEE IT ON THE APRON IN THREE AND FOUR. >> Darrell: ALL THE TIRES ARE ON THE CAR, THEY RAN ALL THE CAUTION LAPS. TREACHEROUS GOING RIGHT HERE. >> Mike: PATRICK LOOKS TO THE INSIDE. AND COMES DOWN BEHIND DALE JR. IN FRONT OF PAUL MENARD. STILL RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THINGS HERE IN 12th PLACE. MATT KENSETH IN FRONT. HIS DAD WAS A GREAT WISCONSIN SHORT TRACKER AND HIS 17-YEAR-OLD SON ROSS HAS A BUDDING CAREER IN LATE MODELS. MATT AND HIS WIFE KATIE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS, YOUNGEST OF WHICH IS 2 YEARS OLD AND HE IS TRYING TO WIN HIS THIRD DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO BREAK THE STRONGHOLD THAT THE TOYOTAS HAVE CLAIMED. THEY ARE ALL RUNNING UP FRONT. TEAMMATES ALL WORKING TOGETHER. HARD TO BEAT. >> Larry: GREG BIFFLE, HE IS THE ONLY NON-TOYOTA IN THE TOP FIVE. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. I WILL MENTION ONE OTHER TOYOTA IN THE TOP TEN. BOBBY LABONTE IN 47 CAR. HE HAS TRACK THE TOP TEN AND IS UP IN THE SEVENTH POSITION. BOBBY, ANOTHER DRIVER NEVER WON THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: THE BOTTOM LANE IS LOOKING LIKE IT HAS SPEED BUMPS IN IT. CLINT BOWYER, WAS RIGHT UP EVEN WITH THE SECOND PLACE CAR. AND NOW, BOWYER FIGHTS HIS WAY TO THE OUTSIDE GROOVE. >> Larry: SOMETHING HAPPENED. TZ KENSETH'S CAR IS SMOKING -- >> Darrell: KENSETH'S CAR IS SMOKING. >> HE'S BACK IN LINE. HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT BLUE SMOKE FROM THE LEFT FRONT. >> Krista: MAKING IT LOOK EASY BUT IT IS NOT EASY. TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER VIBRATION. HE JUST CAME ON THE RADIO BEFORE WE SAW THE SMOKE AND SAID I FEEL IT VIBRATING AGAIN. >> Darrell: YEAH, HE HAS SOME KIND OF WISH SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS BUT THAT CAR WILL HAVE TO COME TO PIT ROAD. >> Larry: A LOT LOOKS LIKE IT IS COMING OUT OF THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. >> Mike: THERE IT IS. KENSETH DROPS TO THE BOTTOM. >> Darrell: EITHER AN OIL LEAK OF SOME KIND OR A WHEEL BEARING OF SOME KIND. >> VIBRATING. EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS GOOD. >> YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE OVER 10 MILES PER HOUR OFF OF THE LEADER DENNY HAMLIN IN THE 11, HIS TEAMMATE. >> Darrell: YEAH, HE IS COMING TO PIT ROAD. >> Mike: HEARTBREAK FOR MATT KENSETH. >> Darrell: WHAT A DOMINANT CAR. TO HAVE SOMETHING GO WRONG. DAYTONA, BUDDY. >> IN THE SHIFTER, SHAKING REAL BAD. TRANSMISSION OR SOMETHING. >> THAT WAS MATT KENSETH'S BIG VIBRATION. ON TOYOTA NUMBER 20. BUT HIS TWO JOE GIBBS TEAMMATES ARE NOW ONE-TWO. DENNY HAMLIN AND KYLE BUSCH WORKED HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT. >> Larry: THEY RAISE THE HOOD AND A LOT OF SMOKE COME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH KENSETH'S CAR. ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WORKED HIS WAY BACK TO THE FRONT, JEFF GORDON IN THE 24 CAR. REMEMBER, HE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OVERHEATING PROBLEMS AND HE IS NOW BACK UP TO THE TOP TEN, TRYING TO CRACK THE TOP FIVE AND SIX. >> Darrell: 50 LAPS AGO YOU GOT TO GO. YOU CAN'T WORRY ABOUT RUN UNTIL IT BLOWS. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. >> Mike: 13 CARS TRYING TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE FIELD. WE'LL HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE PIT STOP. MATT? >> Matt: THE HENDLICH BOW TIES TRYING TO RUN BACK UP FRONT. LOOKING FOR THE STRATEGY LATER IN THE RACE, 20 TO 15 TO GO. HE THINKOUS NEED SEVEN OR EIGHT CARS ON THE BOTTOM TO MAKE HIS CAR WORK WELL THERE. THE TEAMMATE IN FRONT, JIMMIE JOHNSON, CHAD KNAUS THE PREVIOUS STOP PUT FOUR TIRES ON THE CHEVROLET. HE ASKED JIMMIE MOMENTS AGO LOOKING AT THE STRATEGY FOR THE LAST STOP, IF I GIVE YOU FUEL-ONLY WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH THAT? 10-4. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH TO PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: HE JUST STARTED SMOKING. >> Mike: KENSETH'S TEAMMATE IS ON PIT ROAD. KYLE BUSCH WHO HAS NOT LED TODAY. RUN AS HIGH AS SECOND. >> Larry: HIS LOOKS DIFFERENT. COMING OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. >> Darrell: A DIFFERENT SITUATION. TALK ABOUT IT BLOWING UP. MATT KENSETH KNOWS IT'S IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. HE SAID IT WAS SHAKE SOMETHING BAD HE COULDN'T SEE. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE TEAMMATE, KYLE BUSCH. >> Mike: KABOOM GOES BUSCH. THEY WILL PULL THE PIN AND LIFT THE HOOD BUT THE RACE IS PRETTY MUCH DONE. >> Darrell: GIBBS HAS THREE GREAT RACECAR. ONE LOADING, GOES TO THE PIT. 18 UP THERE, GOES TO THE PIT. WHO IS LEADING NOW? >> Mike: THAT WOULD BE THE THIRD GIBBS CAR OF DENNY HAMLIN. FROM MARTIN TRUEX'S TOYOTA, GREG BIFFLE'S FORD AND JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CHEVROLET. >> Mike: KYLE BUSCH OUT OF HIS CAR AND IN THE GARAGE IN A MATTER OF TWO MINUTES. JOE GIBBS HAD THREE OF THE TOYOTAS RUNNING ONE, TWO, THREE, AND SUDDENLY KENSETH ON PIT ROAD WITH A VIBRATION. KYLE BUSCH WITH APPARENT ENGINE FAILURE. LEAVING DENNY HAMLIN ON POINT AND HOW NERVOUS, DARRELL? >> Darrell: NOT ONLY DOES HE WORRY ABOUT THE ENGINE, HE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. HE HAS A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT. >> Mike: MARTIN TRUEX FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT. 203 RACE SINCE THE NEW JERSEY DRIVER WON A SPRINT CUP RACE. BIFFLE IN THIRD. HE HAS HAD THE BEST OF THE FORDS ALL WEEK LONG HERE, THAN JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE PAST 500 CHAMPION IN HIS CHEVROLET AND JEFF GORDON WHO LED THE FIRST LAPS OF THE RACE IN HIS HENDRICK CHEVY. THAT IS TOP FIVE AHEAD OF LABONTE, DANICA PATRICK, REGAN SMITH. 25 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. LET'S CRANK IT UP. [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: 100 MILES AND ONE PIT STOP TO GO IN A RACE WHERE PASSING HAS BEEN AT A PREMIUM. MATT KENSETH LED ALMOST HALF THE RACE. 86 LAPS. HE IS IN THE GARAGE AREA. JEFF HAMMOND? >> Jeff: THANKS, MIKE. RIGHT NOW, YOU WERE TELLING ME IN THE BREAK TO GET READY TO REFIRE THE ENGINE. WHAT DO YOU THINK REALLY HAPPENED AND CAN YOU GET BACK OUT? >> TRANSMISSION, WE'LL GET OFF AGAIN, BUT IF IT'S THE ENGINE WE WON'T. I WANT TO THANK JOE GIBBS, TOYOTA, DOLLAR GENERAL AND HOME DEPOT FOR THE BUYS GETTING TOGETHER TO PUT THE DEAL TOGETHER FOR ME. WE WERE UP WITH OF CARS TO BEAT TODAY. WE'LL BE A FORCE ALL YEAR. A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. >> Jeff: YOU LOOKED UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR TEAMMATE WAS COMING IN THE GARAGE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS CAR? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. OBVIOUSLY WE GOT TO MAKE IT TO THE END OF THE RACING. YOU CAN'T DROP OUT AND WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. BUT I HAVE A GREAT GROUP. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AWESOME JOB ALL WINTER. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO PHOENIX. >> Jeff: WORKING HARD TO FIND OUT IF THEY GET BACK OUT ON THE RACETRACK FOR A FEW POINTS. >> Mike: STRATEGY AT WORK HERE. DARIAN GRUBB IS THE CREW CHIEF FOR DENNY HAMLIN. THE RACE LEADER. BIFFLE'S TEAM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO PIT. >> Larry: WELL, WE ARE 10 TO 12 LAPS FOR MOST OF THE DRIVERS MAKING A GREEN FLAG STOP. >> Mike: 30 LAPS LESS TO GO. >>> STAY IN IT. STAY IN IT. >> KAHNE GETS AROUND. SLIDES ACROSS THE TRACK. >> WE'RE DONE. >> MORE CARNAGE. >> TERRIBLE. >> BIG WRECK IN YOUR MIRROR. >> Mike: TWO BIG PILEUPS AND NOW 87 MILES LEFT TO GO. IN THIS DAYTONA 500. DENNY HAMLIN LEADING MARTIN TRUEX IN TOYOTAS. GREG BIFFLE'S FORD. JIMMIE JOHNSON AND JEFF GORDON IN CHEVROLETS. PIT STOP IN THE OFFING. NOT FAR FROM NOW. MEANWHILE, ONE OF THURSDAY'S BUDWEISER DUEL WINNERS IS IN THE GARAGE WITH JEFF HAMMOND. >> Jeff: THANKS, MIKE. KYLE, DID THEY GIVE YOU INDICATION THAT IT WAS GETTING READY TO CUT LOOSE? >> IT DIDN'T. WE WERE RUNNING ONE, TWO, THREE. MATT IS A SEPARATE ISSUE. BUT I BLEW ANOTHER. SO IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING TO COME DOWN HERE AND HAVE SUCH FAST RACECARS. ALL THE GUYS AT JOE GIBBS RACING BUILT US AND WE WERE RUNNING ONE, TWO, THREE AND DROPPING LIKE FLIES. MOTOR BROKE. IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BREAK. YOU KNOW, PUT US OUT OF THE RACE. IT'S DEVASTATING WHEN YOU RUP ONE, TWO, THREE, AND LOOKING GOOD TO THE TIME PIT STOP TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TOWARD THE END OF THE RACE. HOPEFULLY NOW THE 11 CAN BRING IT HOME. >> Jeff: THANKS A LOT. HE SHARED WITH ME A MOMENT AGO HE REALLY BELIEVE WHOEVER IS LEADING ON THE LAST PIT STOP WILL WIND UP WINNING THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: WELL, PASSING HAS BEEN AT A PREMIUM TODAY. >> Darrell: YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK LARRY. HOW AM I GOING TO GET FROM SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, HOW AM I GOING TO GET UP THERE? NOBODY WANTS TO PULL OUT AND TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING THE DRAFT OR SHUFFLED TO THE BACK? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? ARE WE GOING TO DO SOMETHING MAGIC ON A PIT STOP? HOW AM I GOING TO GET UP THERE? >> Larry: WE ONLY HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE OVER ONE CAN OF FUEL. I THINK DEFINITELY TWO TIRES, MAYBE THAT ONE PLUS CAN OF FUEL. BIGGEST THING, DON'T GET CAUGHT SPEEDING. MY DRIVER HAS TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF GETTING ON AND OFF PIT ROAD IF IT COMES DOWN TO GREEN FLAG STOPS. >> Mike: HAMLIN, TRUEX, BIFFLE, JOHNSON, GORDON ARE THE FRONT FIVE IN THIS ROUGHLY 12-CAR DRAFT. BOBBY LABONTE, MARCOS AMBROSE, CLINT BOWYER, DANICA PATRICK IN NINTH. THE NEXT CHECK BOX FOR THE GREEN CAR OF PATRICK, THE BEST FINISH BY A WOMAN IN THE DAYTONA 500, 11. JANET GUTHRIE 1980. PATRICK IN NINTH WITH REGAN SMITH IN STETH. ARIC ALMIROLA AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. THAT IS THE 12-CAR PACK. >> Larry: >> Darrell: I WATCH THE GUYS, THEY FALL BACK BUT THEY PULL BACK UP. BUT I DON'T SEE ANYBODY WITH THE JUICE TO PULL OUT AND MAKE A PASS. >> Larry: WE ARE FOUR TO SIX LAPS FROM GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS. A COUPLE OF DRIVERS IN THE TOP TEN THAT CAN GO FURTHER THAN OTHER ONES IS MARCOS AMBROSE IN THE 9 AND REGAN SMITH IN THE 51. >> Mike: PIT STOPS ARE COMING BUT YOU WON'T MISS A SECOND. "NASCAR ON FOX" GOES SIDE-BY-SIDE. WE ARE WITH YOU THE REST OF THE WAY. WHAT'S BETTER? DOING TWO THINGS AT ONCE OR JUST ONE? [ All kids ] TWOOOOO! [ Moderator ] YOU SURE? I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE! [ Little boy ] TWO TIMES IS AWESOME. THE THING I CAN DO IS WAVE MY HEAD AND WAVE MY... THAT'S AMAZING. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. LOOK I CAN DO -- HOLD ON -- I'M WATCHING THIS. I'M GETTING DIZZY... <i> [ Male Announcer ] IT'S NOT COMPLICATED.</i> <i> DOING TWO THINGS AT ONCE IS BETTER.</i> <i> AND ONLY AT&T'S NETWORK</i> <i> LETS YOU TALK AND SURF ON YOUR IPHONE 5.</i> ♪ ♪ AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WHENEVER CARL EDWARDS WINS A RACE, HE DOES HIS PATENTED BACKFLIP. YOU READY... ♪ ♪ GET DOWN. I GOT THIS. WHATEVER... OKAY, CARL. THIS IS FOR YOU, RACING-BOY. [ comical crashing/ body thumping/groaning sounds ] <i> [ Male Announcer ] Subway® KEEPS CARL EDWARDS' ENGINE RACING</i> <i> WITH HIS LOW FAT, PROTEIN-POWERED FAVORITE,</i> <i> THE Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki --</i> <i> MADE EXACTLY THE WAY HE SAYS,</i> <i> WITH SPINACH, GREEN PEPPERS AND BLACK OLIVES.</i> [ mockingly ] I'M GOING TO JUMP OFF THE CAR... Nationwide is On Your Side. I've been saying that for years. But why should you believe it ? Well, the Earnhardt family has been trusting Nationwide Insurance for more than 30 years. They've protected the Jarrett family for 40 years. And Nationwide Insurance puts members first, because they don't have shareholders. In fact, they've been protecting the NASCAR family of drivers, teams and fans, for more than 60 years. Just goes to show you, this is a family business. To join the nation, call 877-Nationwide. Nationwide is on your side. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Mike: 28 LAPS TO GO IN THE 55th DAYTONA 500. DENNY HAMLIN IS THE LEADER. CONFIRMED FROM THE GARAGE THAT BOTH OF HIS JOE GIBBS TOYOTA TEAMMATES KEN KEN AND BUSCH OUT OF THE -- KENSETH AND BUSCH OUT OF THE RACE WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. ONE PIT STOP TO GO. TRUEX IS SECOND. BIFFLE'S FORD. AND MARCOS AMBROSE IN A FORD. BOWYER, PATRICK, SMITH. WE'RE JUST A COUPLE OF LAPS AWAY FROM THE STOPS. THE LEADER IN FACT MAY BE IN THIS TIME. >> Darrell: ARE YOU THINKING? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? >> Larry: I AM THINKING ALL THE TOYOTA DRIVERS ARE NERVOUS NOW KNOWING THAT TWO ENGINES LET GO. >> Mike: GREG BIFFLE WAS GOING TO STAY OUT IN THE 3M CAR BUT HE JOINS THE LINE. HERE COMES THE LEAD PACK. BACK THROUGH NINTH PLACE ON TO PIT ROAD. >> Darrell: NO SPEED. NO SPEED. >> Mike: MATT? >> Matt: THE 56 OF MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR, THEY WERE TALKING GAS ONLY. GAS ONLY FOR THE 11 OF HAMLIN. HE NEEDED A TEAR-OFF DUE TO STUFF ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD. HE GOT THE SIGNAL. STEVE? >> Steve: TWO-TIRE STOP ONLY FOR GREG BIFFLE AND GAS. HE'S GONE. >> Mike: GAS-ONLY FOR DANICA PATRICK. SHE WILL NOT BE THE FIRST TO LEAVE PIT ROAD. SHE IS GOING TO COME OUT FIFTH OR SIXTH UNDER GREEN. MAY LOSE ANOTHER SPOT. YOU WATCH FROM HER BUMPER CAM. THE LEADER IS REGAN SMITH. SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AREA. DRIVING FOR JAMES FINCH, SINGLE-CAR TEAM. DALE EARNHARDT JR. INSIDE SMITH AS THEY COME TO PIT ROAD, MARK MARTIN AND OTHERS. >> Krista: MARK MARTIN SAYING HE IS A LITTLE TIGHT BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PIT STOP OF THE DAY IS FUEL-ONLY FOR THE 54-YEAR-OLD MARK MARTIN. >> Mike: 29th TRY TO WIN THE 500. JUNIOR HITS HIS PIT STALL. STEVE? >> Steve: WE EXPECT THEM TO TAKE FOUR TIRES IN THE NUMBER 88 OF DALE EARNHARDT JR. HE HOPE THAT THE TRACK WOULD GET SLICKER BUT IN FACT TWO TIRES. >> Larry: I WAS GOING TO SAY AS MANY DRIVERS DOING FUEL-ONLY OR TWO RIGHT-SIDE TIRES AND TRACK POSITION, FOUR TIRES IS NOT THE WAY TO GO. >> Darrell: NO. I WOULD HAVEN'T DONE IT EITHER. IT WOULD HAVE DONE WHAT THE MAJORITY DID. TAKEN FUEL AND GOT THE HECK OUT OF THERE. >> Mike: THE LEADER, INVOLVED IN A BIG DUST-UP EARLIER, NINE-CAR JAM SESSION IN TURN ONE, SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPION BRAD KESELOWSKI. LOOK WHO HIS DRAFTING PARTNER IS, PENSKE FORD TEAMMATE JOEY LOGANO. MATT? >> Matt: MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR CAME ON THE RADIO AND TOLD HIS TEAM "MY ENGINE IS BLOWING UP." >> Mike: ANOTHER TOYOTA. >> Larry: REMEMBER, MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING, JOE GIBBS RACING GET THEIR ENGINE FROM THE SAME SOURCE. TOYOTA RACING DEVELOPMENT. >> Darrell: THOSE CARS HAVE BEEN -- THEY MAKE A LOT OF POWER. WE CAN SEE THAT. THEY WERE RUNNING TOP SIX AT ONE TIME. >> Mike: FOUR DRIVERS ON THE LEAD LAP HAVE -- >> SOUNDS BAD. >> Mike: HERE COME TWO OF THEM. KESELOWSKI, ALONG WITH LOGANO. TEAMMATES, STENHOUSE STILL OUT THERE. SCOTT SPEED AND MICHAEL WALTRIP. STENHOUSE IS IN. RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR, RUNNING FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ALONG WITH DANICA PATRICK. AND THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. MORE SO THAN JUST COMPETITORS. STEVE? >> Steve: MIKE, FUEL-ONLY FOR THE 17 CAR. BRAD KESELOWSKI. HE IS STRUGGLING WITH THE FRONT END OF THE RACECAR EVER SINCE HE WAS CAUGHT UP IN THE LAST 32 DUST-UP. YOU SEE GAS-ONLY. SUNOCO FUEL FOR THE 17 OF RICKY STENHOUSE. >> Darrell: GUYS, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. BUSINESS IS GETTING READY TO PICK UP. >> Mike: CAUTION. JEFF BURTON AND HIS CAT CHEVY POUNDED THE WALL, LEAVING SCOTT SPEED OUT ON THE RACETRACK. EXCUSE ME, WE ARE STILL GREEN. >> NO CAUTION. NOW ON THE FRONT STRETCH. >> Darrell: I KNEW SOMETHING WOULD GO ON. THEY WERE ALL THREE AND FOUR WIDE. MAN, EARLY FOR THAT. THE CAUTION WAS OUT. >> Mike: PERHAPS THE LEAST FUNDED CAR IN THE FIELD, SCOTT SPEED, DRIVING IN A SECOND SEASON FOR LOVINE FAMILY RACING, FORMER FORMULA 1 DRIVER FROM CALIFORNIA THE LAST DRIVER TO SECURE A RACE YOUR WAY IN SPOT TO THE 500 IN THURSDAY QUALIFYING RACE. >> Darrell: SO REMINISCENT OF LAST YEAR WHEN WE SAT HERE WITH DAVE BLANEY LEADING THE DAYTONA 500 WONDERING IF THE RACE WOULD GET RESTARTED THEN. A LITTLE DIFFERENT SCENARIO. GOOD TO SEE SCOTT SPEED IN THE LEAD. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON, VETERAN, A FRONT RUNNER MUCH OF THE DAY. THERE ARE TWO CARS TOGETHER OFF IN DISTANCE. HERE THEY COME TO THE HEAD END OF PIT ROAD. >> Larry: IT LOOKED LIKE THE RIGHT FRONT WENT DOWN ON IT. OR SOMETHING BROKE ON THE CAR. AS HE WAS TURNING IN THE TRIOVAL. >> Darrell: I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. BUT IT WAS A HARD HIT. IT POUNDED THE WALL. >> Mike: JEFF BURTON RUPPING 19th. VETERAN FROM VIRGINIA. HIS SON HARRISSON DROVE LATE MODELS. THAT IS NOT TURNING AT ALL. >> Larry: WITH 23 LAPS TO GO WE SHOW 24 TO 25 DRIVERS ON THE LEAD LAP. SCOTT SPEED AND MICHAEL WALTRIP ARE IN THE TOP TEN BUT THEY HAVE TO PIT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MAKE IT TO THE END. THEY HAVE NOT PITTED SINCE LAP 141 AND LAP 145. >> Darrell: WE SAW TONY STEWART YESTERDAY, HE WAS 21 Z ON THE RESTART WITH 15 LAPS TO GO. LARRY, WOULD THERE BE ANY VALUE IN COMING DOWN PIT ROAD TO PUT FOUR TIRES ON FOR A GOOD, BEING ABLE TO REALLY HAVE GOOD GRIP AND WORK YOUR WAY BACK UP THERE? OR TOO BIG OF A GAMBLE. >> Larry: BEFORE THIS RACE WEEKEND I'D SAY IT WOULD BE A GREAT MOVE. BUT WITH THAT MANY DRIVERS ON THE LEAD LAP I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP TRACK POSITION. >> Mike: UNDER CAUTION. DOWN TO CHRIS MYERS. >> Chris: WE HAD 13 DIFFERENT LEADERS. THIS IS ON LAP 33. KYLE BUSCH SAID MY BAD ON THE RADIO AND TOOK OUT KASEY KAHNE AND TONY STEWART AND KEVIN HARVICK. STEWART, DRIVER AND MECHANIC GETTING HIS CAR BACK IN IT LATER. AND DANICA PATRICK, TOP TEN MOST OF THE DAY, LEADS FOR THE FIRST TIME. FIVE LAPS LED IN RACE. MICHAEL WALTRIP OWNER/DRIVER/ANALYST, SAYING HE HEARD CHEERS FROM NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT. LAP 138. TREVOR BAYNE GETS IN TO KESELOWSKI. NINE DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THIS WRECK. INCLUDING CARL EDWARDS, WHOSE MISERABLE SPEEDWEEK CONTINUES. AND MATT KENSETH WHO LED THE MOST LAPS IN THE RACE WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS, OUT OF THE RACE AFTER HE LED MUCH OF DAY. MEANWHILE, DANICA PATRICK LOOKING ON AS LOOKS LIKE MARTIN TRUEX'S CAR GETTING WORK ON AS WELL. LET'S GO BACK UPSTAIRS TO MIKE JOY. >> Mike: THANKS, CHRIS. 22 LAPS TO GO. SCOTT SPEED. I'M SURPRISED DID NOT CHOOSE TO PIT ONCE PIT ROAD WAS OPEN. >> Darrell: IF I WERE SCOTT SPEED, I'D AROUND UNTIL THEY GAVE ONE TO GO. >> Larry: HE WILL BE BE AT THE BACK ANYWAY. >> Darrell: RIGHT. >> Mike: LOOKING AHEAD TO SPRINT CUP SERIES RACING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE WILL BE IN THE DESERT. PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SUNDAY FOR THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500. IN TWO WEEKS, LAS VEGAS. COBALT TOOLS 400. SUNDAY, MARCH 17 ON THE HIGH BANKS OF BRISTOL FOR THE FIRST SHORT TRACK RACE OF THE SEASON IN TENNESSEE. FOX SPORTS YOUR HOME FOR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACING. >> Darrell: WE WILL SEE BLAZING SPEED AT ALL THE RACETRACK. >> Mike: WE'LL HAVE THE NEW SIXTH JEP RATION CAR WITH A DOUBLE-SIZE REAR SPOILER WHEN WE GET TO DOWNFORCE TRACKS. THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT. "SPEED LEADS. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, TONY STEWART, KASEY KAHNE, JAMIE McMURRAY. DANIELED CARS FROM EARLIER CRASHES ON TO PIT ROAD. SO HE WILL SURRENDER THE LEAD AT 21 LAPS TO GO TO BRAD KESELOWSKI. >> Mike: 20 LAPS, 50 MILES. GOING TO BE LEFT TO RACE HERE. HAVE A LOOK AT OUR SPRINT 20 TO GO. THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN THE FINAL LAPS OF THIS RACE. THERE IS BRAD KESELOWSKI, YOUR RACE LEADER UNDER THE CAUTION FLAG. DEFENDING SERIES CHAMPION, VOCAL, OUTSPOKEN. 23 LEAD CHANGES IN THIS RACE. DANICA BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN IN HISTORY OF THE SPRINT CUP SERIES TO LEAD A GREEN FLAG LAP EARLIER TODAY. DENNY HAMLIN HAS SPENT 3 # 33 LAPS IN FRONT OF THE FIELD AFTER STARTING 33rd BUT BOTH OF HIS TEAMMATES AND ANOTHER TOYOTA TRUEX IN THE GARAGE RECENTLY WITH ENGINE TROUBLE. DANICA PATRICK, THERE IS A GRAPH OF HER DAY. SHE HAS BEEN IN THE TOP TEN FOR MOST OF THE DAY AND CURRENTLY RUNS IN SEVENTH. STEVE BYRNES? >> Steve: WITH TONY GIBSON, THE CREW CHIEF FOR DANICA PATRICK. YOU VU DONE SO MUCH RIGHT TODAY. WHAT IS THE STRATEGY WITH 20 TO GO? >> I DON'T KNOW. PRAY. IT WILL BE CRAZY RIGHT HERE, I GUESS. YOU KNOW, DANICA HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ALL DAY. PIT CREW HAS DONE AWESOME. THE GoDaddy.COM CHEVY S.S. HAS HAD A LOT OF SPEED IN IT. WE GOT SHUFFLED BACK A LITTLE BIT. MANAGED TO GET HER WAY BACK UP THERE. I HAVE A FEELING RIGHT NOW IT'S GETTING READY TO GET INTERESTING. NERVE-WRACKING. HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME OUT OF THIS DEAL UNSCATHED. SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. IT WILL GET HARRY NOW. >> Steve: GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU. >> Larry: BY THE WAY, I WANT TO ADD WITH THE SPRINT 20 TO GO AND THE LAST EIGHT DAYTONA 500s SEVEN OF EIGHT WE HAD A CAUTION THAT BUNCHED THE FIELD BACK UP WITH LESS THAN FIVE LAPS TO GO WITH ACTUALLY FOUR GREEN-WHITE-CHECKERS. >> Darrell: THE SPOTTERS, CREW CHIEFS ARE ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER. THEY'RE TALKING LET'S MAKE DEAL. >> Mike: YES. >> Darrell: AND THEN IF WITH DO MAKE A DEAL, I HOPE YOU WILL DANCE. >> Mike: NASCAR'S SIXTH GENERATION CAR HAS PROVED HARD TO PASS. HOWEVER, THE FIRST HALF OF THIS RACE BELONGED TO THE CHEVROLETS. JEFF GORDON WAS OUT IN FRONT FOR MUCH OF IT. THE TOYOTAS TOOK COMMANDER, MOSTLY WITH MATT KENSETH NOW. THREE OF THE TOP FIVE CARS ARE THE NEW FORD FUSION. >> Darrell: MIKE, HERE IS WHAT I SEE. SOMEBODY HAS GOT -- THEY GOT TO GET A GROUP TOGETHER ON THE BOTTOM OF RACETRACK. YOU ARE IN THE GOING TO WIN THE RACE RIDING AROUND THE TOP. THE QUESTION BECOMES AM I HERE TO FINISH OR AM I HERE TO WIN? IF YOU ARE SITTING THE RACE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE. SOMEBODY, GROUP OF CARS GOT TO TRY TO GET DOWN ON THE BOTTOM TO GO TO THE FRONT. >> Mike: DO YOU WANT YOUR DRIVER TO WAIT AND MAKE A LAST-LAP PASS OR WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME? >> Larry: TONY STEWART TOLD US A WEEK AGO YOU CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST LAP. THAT IS WHAT WE SAW IN THE BUDWEISER DUEL. I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO IT WELL BEFORE THE FINAL WHITE FLAG LAP. >> Darrell: I AGREE. >> Mike: COMING DOWN TO WHAT COULD BE THE LAST GREEN FLAG OF THE DAY. ON THE FRONT ROW, BRAD KESELOWSKI'S FORD. JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CHEVROLET. ROW TWO, THE FORDS OF BIFFLE, AND AMBROSE. CHEVY AND TOYOTA IN ROW THREE. PATRICK AND HAMLIN. CHEVY, TOYOTA, GORDON AND BOWYER. ALL THESE ARE LEAD LAP CARS. MARK MARTIN'S TOYOTA AND RYAN NEWMAN'S CHEVROLET THERE. >> Darrell: WITH KESELOWSKIEE FORD, IT IS WOUNDED A LITTLE BIT. IT HASN'T BEEN THAT FAST SINCE HE GOT IN A COUPLE OF WRECKS. HE IS RESTARTING ON THE OUTSIDE LINE. THIS IS JIMMIE JOHNSON AND THE INSIDE CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. I'M NOT SURE THAT KESELOWSKI HAS THE SPEED. >> Mike: JOHNSON'S CREW CHIEF CHAD KNAUS LOOKS ON. 25 CARS ON THE LEAD LAP. HERE THEY COME FOR THE GREEN FLAG WITH 19 LAPS TO GO. [ ENGINES ROAR ] >> Mike: THREE WIDE, MID-PACK. KESELOWSKI, WITH THE BUSTED NOSE OF HIS FORD IN THE WIND. CAN HE AND THE OUTSIDE LEAP PREVAIL AS THEY COME AROUND? >> Darrell: HE HAS A LOT OF HELP. GREG BIFFLE IS RIGHT THERE. WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN A LOT ABOUT GREG BIFFLE TODAY BUT WE KNOW HE HAS A GREAT HANDLING RACECAR. >> Larry: GREG BIFFLE IN THE 16 WAS NOT BASHFUL ABOUT PUSHING KESELOWSKI DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. HOW ABOUT OUR THIRD PLACE DRIVER? DANICA PATRICK UP THERE. 18 LAPS TO GO. PROBABLY IN THE TOP FIVE. >> Mike: JEFF GORDON RECOVERING FROM EARLIER OVERHEATING. MARK MARTIN, JIMMIE JOHNSON SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH BIFF. WITH DALE EARNHARDT JR. >> Larry: I THINK IT SHOWS ANYBODY, GET UP THERE? WE KNOW IT'S NOT 100%. WITH THE RIGHT HELP AND GREG BIFFLE PUSHING, HE CAN STAY UP THERE AND I DON'T KNOW. CAN HE HOLD THEM OFF? >> Mike: I DON'T KNOW. BUMPER JAM RIGHT THERE. PATRICK GOT UP AGAINST GREG BIFFLE. JEFF GORDON BACKED OFF LITTLE BIT. >> Darrell: I THINK DANICA IS READY TO GO AND KNOWS IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET BY KESELOWSKI AND BIFFLE IS THE GUY WHO CAN DO IT. HE IS A GOOD TEAM PLAYER AND THAT IS A FORD IN FRONT. >> Mike: FORD, FORD, CHEVY, CHEVY. PATRICK MAKES THE MOVE INSIDE DOES GORDON GO WITH HER? >> Darrell: DEFINITELY. THAT IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE. DANICA AND JEFF GORDON. BUT THEN YOU HAVE GUYS BACK THERE, DALE EARNHARDT JR. IS BACK THERE. SO IS JIMMIE JOHNSON. NAY NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND -- THEY NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND SOON. >> Larry: JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48 TRYING TO PULL THE INSIDE LINE. THEY LOST A LITTLE BIT OF GROUND. I THINK THEY ARE STARTING TO CHIP BACK AWAY BUT NOT AT A FAST PACE. >> Mike: DENNY HAMLIN LED THE SECOND MOST LAPS TODAY HAS HIS NUMBER 11 BEHIND JOHNSSON ON THE INSIDE LINE AHEAD OF ALMIROLA BUT THEY ARE INCHING TOWARD THE FRONT THIS TIME ON THE LOW SIDE. GAIN A CAR LENGTH. ALONGSIDE GORDON. HERE COMES JOHNSON. TO HIS HENDRICK TEAMMATE. HEADED TOWARD DANICA PATRICK'S CHEVY IN THIRD. >> Darrell: THIS IS WHEN YOU KEEP PUTTING IT STRAIGHT AHEAD. DON'T WORRY WHERE THE CARS ON THE INSIDE ARE AS LONG AS YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE THIRD SPOT. >> Mike: 16 LAPS TO GO. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU SIDE-BY-SIDE RIGHT HERE ON FOX. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ <i> [ Male Announcer ] MILLIONS OF FANS. ONE FAMILY.</i> <i> IT TAKES TRULY UNLIMITED DATA TO FEED A FAMILY THIS LARGE.</i> [ engines roaring ] Get in. ♪ Coca Cola Racing Family Road Trip ♪ ♪ 99 bottles of Coke on the wall. 99 bottles of Coke. ♪ ♪ (techno music playing) ♪ ♪ (classical music playing) ♪ Got a left... and then another left... and make a left after that one. Yeah! (Woah!) Taught her everything she knows. Are we there yet? <i> [ Male Announcer ] LET'S PINCH OUR DREAMS.</i> <i> LET'S WAKE THEM UP.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> MAKE THEM REAL.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> LET'S NOT LET ANYTHING HOLD US BACK,</i> <i> NOT EVEN 292,000 POUNDS.</i> <i> LET'S KEEP OUR HEAD IN THE STARS,</i> <i> OUR FEET ON THE GROUND...</i> <i> AND NOTHING WILL BE BEYOND OUR REACH.</i> ♪ ♪ <i> TOYOTA. LET'S GO PLACES.</i> [ Man ] THIS SPICY POPCORN CHICKEN IS SO GREAT. I KNOW. MY SWEET POTATO TOTS ARE SO MUCH FUN, YOU CAN KIND OF PLAY WITH THEM IF YOU WANT. YEAH, EXACTLY. WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOUR MOM SAYS. YOU SHOULD CALL HER AND TELL HER YOU'RE PLAYING WITH YOUR FOOD AND EVERYTHING'S FINE. YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ARE RIGHT! I AM GOING TO CALL HER RIGHT NOW. DO IT. HELLO, MOM? I'M A MAN, AND IF I WANT TO PLAY WITH MY FOOD, THEN I'M GONNA. GOOD FOR YOU. ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE TO GO HOME. I'M GROUNDED. <i> [ Male Announcer ] GET POPPIN'</i> <i> WITH SPICY JUMBO POPCORN CHICKEN</i> <i> AND PERFECTLY POPPABLE SWEET POTATO TOTS.</i> <i> THIS IS HOW YOU SONIC.</i> >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON'S LOWE'S CHEVROLET COME RUNNING UP THE INSIDE AND LED THE LAST LAP BY .06 FROM KESELOWSKI KESS' MILLER LITE FORD >> Darrell: THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. WE KNEW IT GOT TO 10 OR 15 TO GO THIS IS WHAT WE'D SEE. NOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? >> Larry: ARIC ALMIROLA IN THE 43 GOT SHUFFLED TO THE INSIDE. HE WAS GOING TO LOSE A COUPLE OF SPOTS. LOOK AT THEM THREE WIDE BY THREE WIDE BY THREE WIDE. >> Mike: BEHIND THE FRONT SIX. THREE ABREAST. 12 CARS UNDER A BLANKET. BEHIND THE SIX LEADERS. HERE THEY COME WITH 12 LAPS TO GO. CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR 12 LAPS? >> Darrell: MY HEART IS POUNDING NOW. THE GUYS AND GALS ARE PUTTING ON A WHALE OF A SHOW. WHAT A WAY TO END THE DAYTONA 500. >> Mike: EARNHARDT BEHIND PATRICK, FOURTH ON THE HIGH SIDE. NOW HE IS THREE-WIDE WITH JEFF GORDON AND ALMIROLA. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW, YOU ARE IN A BOX. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO? >> Mike: BOWYER SLIPPED UP IN FRONT OF LOGANO AND THAT ACCORDIONED THE MIDDLE LINE. THE 22 OF LOGANO -- >> Darrell: LOOK AT DALE JR. BEHIND DANICA. POTENT COMBINATION. >> Larry: HE HAS TURNED IT UP HERE WITH 11 LAPS TO GO THIS TIME. >> Mike: LOGANO HAD TO LIFT. LOST HYST MOMENTUM AND THAT BACKED -- LOST HIS MOMENTUM AND THAT BACKED HIM UP. NOW KESELOWSKI IS ALONE ON POINT. TWO-BY-TWO FOUR ROWS BEHIND THEM WITH 11 TO GO. >> Darrell: DID YOU THINK THE 2 CAR HAD THAT SPEED IN IT? >> Larry: NOT OUT FRONT. THE FRONT END AS TAPE AND BARE BOND AND EVERYTHING ELSE HOLDING IT TOGETHER. >> Darrell: UNBELIEVABLE. >> Larry: YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU HAVE A DETERMINED INDIVIDUAL BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE RACECAR. >> Darrell: HE WILL WHEEL IT AROUND HERE. WE KNOW THAT. THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN IN A WAR. >> Mike: LAST YEAR, KESELOWSKI WON ROGER PENSKE'S FIRST SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER SOME 30 YEARS OF TRYING. TODAY, HE IS TRYING TO GIVE THE CAPTAIN HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500 VICTORY. TEN LAPS TO GO. 25 MILES LEFT IN THIS DAYTONA 500. >> Larry: IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT BRAD KESELOWSKI IS DRIVING AS MUCH OUT THE BACK WINDOW AS THE WINDSHIELD? >> Darrell: WHEREVER HE SEES THEM GET THE MOVE, GETS THE RUN, THAT'S WHERE HE GOES. HERE GOES JIMMIE JOHNSON. CAN HE GET UP OFF THE CORPER AND HOLD IT DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY? >> Mike: WHILE WE WERE IN COMMERCIAL WE SAW KESELOWSKI CHANGE LANES. >> HE IS ALREADY BEHIND HIM. PUSHING YOU OUT IN FRONT. OFF YOU NOW. OFF OF YOU. >> Larry: LOOK HOW MUCH THE PUSH BY BIFFLE SHOT HIM AHEAD OF JIMMIE JOHNSON IN THE 48. >> Darrell: THAT MAY BE JUST WHAT -- I DON'T KNOW. KESELOWSKI BACK TO THE OUTSIDE. HE KNOWS THAT IS THE FAST LINE. HE PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE IT UP BUT GETTING DOWN THERE LOOKING AT JIMMIE JOHNSON ALONGSIDE AS WELL. HERE COMES JOHNSON. HERE HE COMES. CAN'T QUITE CLEAR HIM. >> Mike: KESELOWSKI HAS THE MOMENTUM ON THE OUTSIDE. CAUTION IS OUT. BIFFLE. CAUTION IS OUT. >> CAUTION IS OUT. UP TOP. THREE WIDE. >> Mike: TURN NUMBER TWO. AND EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO CATCH THEIR BREATH. >> Darrell: ANNOUNCERS ARE HAPPY. CATCH OUR BREATH. DRIVERS ARE HAPPY. CREW CHIEFS ARE SMILING. >> Larry: WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING THE WAY THEY RESET THE FIELD IS BY HOW YOU CROSSED THE LAST SCORING LOOP. DOES IT MAKE A BIG DEAL? SURE IT DOES. IT DETERMINES THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE LINE WHERE YOU RESTART. >> Mike: TERRY LABONTE WILL GET THE FREE PASS ON THIS CAUTION FLAG. WHICH IS THE FIFTH OF THE DAY. NOW AS IF KESELOWSKI DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. >> Darrell: WHOA, PIECE OF ALUMINUM THERE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HURT ANYTHING. YOU KNOW WHAT? LARRY, MIKE, THAT COULD BE OFF OF HIS OWN CAR THE WAY IT LOOKS. >> Larry: CAME OFF SEVERAL MILES AGO. >> Mike: WHAT ABOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON? >> Matt: CHAD KNAUS ASKING FOR BINOCULARS. HE WAS TELLING JIMMIE TO SAVE FUEL. JIMMIE SAID WHATEVER WAS ON THE RACETRACK I PILE DROVE IT ON THE CENTER OF THE GRILL. THEY WILL LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE 48. >> Darrell: I SAW IT BOUNCE OFF KESELOWSKI'S CAR. LIKE A CRUSH PANEL OUT OF A WHEEL WELL. I DON'T THINK IT DID ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. >> SEE IF WE CAN -- >> Mike: JOHNSON, AND THERE IS THE DEBRIS. OH, YEAH. >> Darrell: YOU CAN SEE HOW IT IS SO LIGHT. IT'S JUST A PIECE OF ALUMINUM FROM ONE OF THE CRUSH PANELS. I DON'T THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM. >> Mike: DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT DID ANY DAMAGE. STEVE? >> Steve: BRAD KESELOWSKI JUST TOLD HIS TEAM WHOEVER IS GOING THREE-WIDE BEHIND US IS KILLING OUR LANE. >> Mike: THAT IS INTERESTING. >> Darrell: YEAH. SO TEN TO GO. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? I'LL PASS IT ALONG. I DON'T THINK IT WILL DO ANY GOOD. >> Mike: JOHNSON, KESELOWSKI, HAMLIN, BIFFLE, BOWYER. POLE-SITTER DANICA PATRICK IN SIXTH. LOGANO, EARNHARDT, JEFF GORDON, MARK MARTIN. 25 CARS CAN STILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: YEAH, MIGHT BE RUNING 25th, TOO, RIGHT NOW. >> Larry: HARD PRESSED TO TELL ANY OF THE 25 DRIVERS THEY CAN'T WIN. >>> I'LL DO THE BEST JOB I CAN TO DO MY END OF THE DEAL. >> KEEP HER UP FRONT. MAKE IT FUN. >> I KNOW WHY DANICA WAS ON THE POLE. SHE JUST DROVE RIGHT BY ME. >> GO, GO, GO. STRAIGHT OUT. >> LET'S GO, GUYS. DONE A NICE JOB ALL DAY. THANK YOU. >> Mike: BY STARTING FROM THE POLE AND BY LEADING A GREEN FLAG LAP, DANICA PATRICK HAS ALREADY MADE NASCAR HISTORY TODAY. SHE WILL RESTART SIXTH. WITH SIX LAPS TO GO. THAT IS HER CREW CHIEF TONY GIBSON TALKING TO A MEMBER OF GREG BIFFLE'S TEAM. BIFFLE WILL LINE UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER ON THE OUTSIDE. ROWS TWO AND THREE. BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON. IT'S JOHNSON VERSUS KESELOWSKI ON POINT. THERE ARE JUST SIX LAPS TO GO. >> Darrell: YEAH, THAT OUTSIDE LINE NOW HAS THE HOT RODS IN IT. JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CAR IS FAST. 16 IS RIGHT THERE. I THINK DANICA AND BIFFLE MIGHT THINK THEY CAN DO SOMETHING WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON IF THEY GET THE CHANCE. >> Mike: PACE CAR DIVES IN. CHEVY, FORD FRONT ROW. TOYOTA, FORD, TOYOTA CHEVY. HERE THEY COME. >> Darrell: DANICA IS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE BACK OF BIFFLE. BIFFLE IS UP AGAINST THE BACK OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. HEAD OFF TO TURN ONE. THE RACE IS ON. >> Mike: BUILDING FROM 70 MILES PER HOUR PACE CAR SPEED. UP TO 190 MILES PER HOUR BY THE TIME THEY HIT TURN THREE. AND JOHNSON IS IN COMMAND. >> Darrell: GREG BIFFLE SITTING BEHIND HIS TEAMMATE LAST YEAR, MATT KENSETH, THAT PUSHED HIM TO THE LAST LAP. DALE EARNHARDT JR. SAID BY THE END OF THE RACE AND BIFFLE IS IN A GREAT POSITION. >> Mike: DO YOU STAY IN THE HIGH GROOVE IF YOU ARE UP FRONT? >> Darrell: YOU HAVE GOT TO. YOU CAN'T MOVE RIGHT NOW. THERE IS NO WAY. >> Mike: THREE WIDE. BEHIND THE TOP TEN. JEFF GORDON TRIES TO BUST OUT IN THE MIDDLE AND COME UP TO CHALLENGE. >> Larry: THAT OUTSIDE LINE IS DEFINITELY MOVING. YOU CAN SEE BRAD KESELOWSKI ON THE INSIDE GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER IN THE 2 CAR. >> Darrell: WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAPPEN, BIFFLE AND DANICA PARTICULARLY, IF THESE GUYS ON THE OUTSIDE CLEAR THE INSIDE GUY, GIVES THEM AN OPTION. >> Larry: HOW ABOUT DALE EARNHARDT JR.? IF YOU ARE RIDING WITH HIM, PUSHING DANICA PATRICK DOWN THE BACK STRAIGHTAWAY. >> Mike: PUSHING IS TO OKAY IN THE STRAIGHTAWAY. TROUBLESOME ON N THE CORNERS AT THESE SPEEDS. KESELOWSKI AND HAMLIN ON THE INSIDE WITH LOGANO. TRYING. BUT UNABLE TO CLOSE UP ON THE OUTSIDE LANE. >> Darrell: WE TALKED ABOUT TEAMMATES ALL DAY LONG. JIMMIE JOHNSON. BEHIND HIM IS GREG BIFFLE BUT THEN COMES TWO MORE TEAMMATES IN DANICA PATRICK AND DALE EARNHARDT JR. THAT COULD BE A BIG GAIN. >> Mike: FOUR LAPS TO GO. >> Larry: THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MUCH GREG BIFFLE IN THAT 16 CAR WANTS TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. HE HAS COME CLOSE. HAD A GREAT SPEEDWEEKS AND HERE HE IS IN SECOND PLACE BEHIND JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> Darrell: BUT WITH THIS CAR WE DIDN'T SEE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM PAY OFF. GREG BIFFLE RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET BY JIMMIE JOHNSON TO WIN THE RACE. >> Larry: RIGHT NOW JOHNSON IS NOT RUNNING THE HIGH GROOVE OR THE BOTTOM GROOVE. RUNNING THE MIDDLE OF THE RACETRACK THROUGH THREE AND FOUR. >> Darrell: WOULDN'T YOU? I THINK BIFFLE, DANICA, DALE JR. VERY WELL MIGHT MAKE A MOVE ON JIMMIE JOHNSON HERE BEFORE TOO LONG. >> Mike: SHOULD THE CAUTION FLAG COME OUT BEFORE THE LEADER TAKES THE WHITE FLAG, WE WILL ATTEMPT A GREEN-WHITE-CHECKER FINISH. WE'LL TRY THAT UP TO THREE TIMES IF NECESSARY. ONCE THE LEAD EVERY TAKES THE WHITE FLAG, THE NEXT FLAG, CAUTION, OR CHECKER ENDS THE RACE. >> Darrell: THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH GOING EARLY, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO, BUT IF I DON'T MAKE A PASS OR DON'T GET WHERE I WANT TO GO, I MAY LOSE A LOT OF POSITIONS COMING TO THE CHECKER. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON IS A DAYTONA 500 WINNER, BUT OVER THE LAST SIX 500s, HE HAS FINISHED NO BETTER THAN 27th. LAST YEAR HE COMPLETED ONLY ONE LAP. >> Darrell: MR. LONELY IS LONELY RIGHT NOW AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. >> Larry: I BELIEVE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT HERE IN THE NEXT LITTLE BIT IF THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. >> Mike: RYAN NEWMAN OVER 200 ENTERING THE CORNER. LOOK WHO IS UP THERE IN THE TOP TEN. REGAN SMITH. J.J. YELEY. MICHAEL McDOWELL. DRIVERS WITH SMALL TEAMS CHALLENGING THE POWERHOUSES OF THE SPORT WITH A LAP-AND-A-HALF TO GO. >> Darrell: YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PRAYING FOR? THAT IT FINISHES JUST LIKE THIS. FINISH WHERE I AM. UP FRONT, DIFFERENT STORY. >> Mike: GREAT PAYDAY FOR THOSE TEAMS. >> Darrell: HERE THEY COME, BOYS AND GIRLS. >> Mike: GO NOW OR FINISH SECOND. >> Larry: WE CROSS THE START/FINISH IT'S A RACE. >> Darrell: BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT OVER. IT'S JUST NOW, IT'S JUST NOW ON. >> Larry: DARRELL, KEEP AN EYE ON -- >> Mike: CAR IN THE WALL, HARD. TURN ONE. IT'S ONE -- IT'S 93 OF TRAVIS KVAPIL. NO CAUTION. NASCAR, IF THE TRACK IS CLEAR, THEY WILL LET THEM FINISH. WE ARE STILL GREEN. HERE COMES -- >> Larry: YEAH, MARK MARTIN IS REALLY PUSHING DALE EARNHARDT JR. IN THE 88. >> Mike: JUNIOR TO THE INSIDE OF GREG BIFFLE. THE GREEN FLAG STILL FLIES. MARTIN'S NUMBER 55. KESELOWSKI IN THE 2. BIFFLE BACKING UP. PATRICK BEHIND HIM. FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE DAYTONA 500 GOES TO JIMMIE JOHNSON! FIVE-TIME CHAMPION FROM CALIFORNIA, AND HIS RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET. >> Darrell: HE CAN THANK DALE EARNHARDT JR. FOR THAT. >> YEAH! YEAH! [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: DANICA PATRICK, THE POLE-SITTER, BECOMES THE HIGHEST FINISHING WOMAN IN THE DAYTONA 500. EIGHTH. >> Darrell: THEY WERE COMING FROM EVERY SIDE. I MEAN, FRONT, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT. >> Larry: THAT GROUP IS A HAPPY GROUP. HE IS A HAPPY MAN. NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WON THIS RACE. SINCE HE HAS WON IT IN 2006, HIS AVERAGE FINISH IN THE 500 OUTSIDE THE TOP 30. >> GREAT JOB, MY FRIENDS. GOSH. MAN, THAT'S AWESOME! >> WE GOT YOU, BUDDY. YOU'RE HERE FOR US. >> Darrell: WE CALL HIM "MR. LONELY" BECAUSE ALL THEY DID IN TESTING AND PRACTICE IS RIDE BY THEMSELVES. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON'S CREW CHIEF CHAD KNAUS WILL MAKE HIS FIRST TRIP TO DAYTONA 500 VICTORY LANE. JOHNSON'S LAST WIN CAME WITH KNAUS ON SUSPENSION. TODAY IS JIMMIE JOHNSON'S 400th CAREER SPRINT CUP START. THERE IS CAR OWNER, RICK HENDRICK. I DIDN'T WANT TO USE THE FACT EARLIER, MIGHT GYPTION IT. LOOK AT WHO WON IN THE 400th CAREER START. LEE PETTY. RICHARD PETTY. DAVID PEARSON. DAVE VARGAS. DALE EARNHARDT. AND NOW, JIMMIE JOHNSON. [ CHEERS & APPLAUSE ] >> Mike: LIKE TO GET BODY DAMAGE. >> Mike: 61st CAREER SPRINT CUP SERIES WIN FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. HE BECOMES THE TENTH MULTIPLE WINNER OF THE DAYTONA 500. KICKS OFF HIS 12th CONSECUTIVE SEASON WITH AT LEAST ONE VICTORY. TOP TEN FOR DANICA PATRICK. BEST EVER FINISH OF THE 500 BY A WOMAN. HERE IS THE FIVE-HOUR ENERGY BIG MOVE OF TODAY'S RACE. JIMMIE JOHNSON, HOLDING OFF DALE EARNHARDT JR., WHO FINISHS SECOND FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THE LAST FOUR 500s. >> Darrell: MIKE, AT THE END OF THE RACE, THE LAST FIVE OR SIX LAPS NOT A SOUL IN GRAND STAND WERE SITTING DOWN. ALL ON THEIR FEET SCREAMING AND CHEERING. >> Larry: YES, THEY WERE. >> Mike: MARK MARTIN IN HIS 29th 500 FINISHES THIRD. KESELOWSKI, FOURTH. NEWMAN, FIFTH. SENATE >> Matt: HISTORY-MAKING DAY FOR DANICA PATRICK. TOP TEN FINISH, DANICA. YOU LED LAPS AND YOU WERE SITTING THIRD. GOT READY TO MAKE THE RUN FOR THE FINISH. AT THAT POINT WHAT WAS YOUR GAME PLAN? >> I KEPT THINKING OF THAT THE WHOLE TIME. IT SPENT MOST OF THE RACE RUNNING HALF THROTTLE IN THE LINE. SPENT A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT JUST TOUGH TO TELL. IT KEPT ASKING UP ABOVE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WAS WORKING. YOU NEEDED A HOLE. YOU NEEDED PEOPLE TO HELP YOU OUT. I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HELP HERE TODAY HERE AND THERE. BUT I FELT LIKE IF I, IF I WERE TO DIVE LOW, I HAD A FEELING I WAS GOING TO GET FREIGHT TRAINED. IT'S TOUGH TO TELL. DALE DID A GOOD JOB OF BACKING IT UP, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE GETTING AWAY. IT FELT LIKE IT, TOO, WE WERE FLAT AND NOT LIFTING THE LAPS. SECOND AND THIRD AND SO ON, YOU DO. WE WEREN'T, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE WE WERE PULLING AWAY A LITTLE BIT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A SOLID DAY FOR THE GoDaddy.COM CAR AND THE GoDaddy.COM CREW. THEY DID A NICE JOB IN THE PITS. WE STAYED BASICALLY THIS TOP TEN ALL DAY LONG. SO CAN'T REALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT. NICE, IT WAS NICE. CALM MOST OF THE TIME. IT WAS FUN WHEN IT GOT A LITTLE EXCITED. >> MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, MIKE JOY. EIGHTH IN DAYTONA. >> Mike: JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS BECOME THE TENTH DRIVER TO WIN MULTIPLE DAYTONA 500s. AND GIVES CAR OWNER, RICK HENDRICK HIS SEVENTH VICTORY IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. >> Chris: CHRIS MYERS WELCOMING YOU BACK TO DAYTONA AND THE SPRINT POST-RACE SHOW. RESULTS ARE IN. JIMMIE JOHNSON, DALE EARNHARDT JUNIOR, MARK MARTIN, THE PODIUM FINISH IN THE 55th RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. COUPLE OF CHEVYS, AND MARK MARTIN IN HIS 29th DAYTONA 500 LINES UP THIRD. JUNIOR, HELPING HIS TEAMMATE JIMMIE ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. LAST LAP BACK OF THE PACK WRECK. NO CAUTION THROWN ON THE PART OF NASCAR. IT'S THEIR DISCRETION, FIRING NO SERIOUS DANGER TO ANYONE ON THE TRACK AND LETTING THEM RACE TO THE END IN THE 55th RUNNING OF THE DAYTONA 500. AS JIMMIE JOHNSON WINNING FOR THE SECOND TIME. LED TEN LAPS AND TOTAL OF 17 LAPS AND WAS STEADY ALL DAY. THE FASTEST LAP LATE IN RACE. STEVE BYRNES WITH JIMMIE IN VICTORY LANE. [ CHEERING ] >> Steve: JIMMIE JOHNSON, SECOND TIME YOU WON THE DAYTONA 500 BUT A DROUGHT SINCE 2006. >> IT HAS. YOU KNOW, RACING IS TOUGH, PLATE RACING IS TOUGH FORM OF RACING. LUCK INVOLVED. PACK RACING IS DIFFERENT. YOU CAN'T RIDE AND WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN. YOU HAVE TO RACE ALL DAY LONG AND GET TRACK POSITION. IN THIS RACE, LOWE'S CHEVROLET WAS SO GOOD. CHAD KNAUS AND THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAD ME A FAST CAR AND I COULD STAY UP FRONT ALL DAY LONG. IT HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE FINAL FEW LAPS LEADING THE TRAIN. SO I KNEW HOW FAST THE CAR WAS. BIG CREDIT TO EVERYBODY AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. >> Steve: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAD A SPECIFIC GAME PLAN FROM THE MOMENT YOU UNPACKED IN DAYTONA. >> WE DID. WE WANTED TO GET THE CAR TO THE 500. WE KNEW IT WAS THE BEST CAR FOR US A AND HAPPY TO HAVE IT. SHOUT OUT TO THE FANS AND ALSO WANT TO SEND MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO EVERYBODY YESTERDAY INJURED IN THE GRANDSTAND. GO TO LOWE'S, BUY STUFF. SPRING IS COMING. BUY A CHEVROLET. HAPPY TO WIN THE FIRST GEN-6 CAR, RACE IN THE GEN-6 CAR FOR CHEVROLET. AWESOME DAY. >> Steve: JIMMIE, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THE DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> Steve: LET'S GO TO KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: JIMMIE'S TEAMMATE DALE EARNHARDT JR. DOING EVERYTHING HE COULD TO GET BY JIMMIE AND HE HAD HELP FROM THE GUY. YOU HAD THE RIGHT GUY PUSHING YOU? >> YEAH. ME AND MARK WERE SITTING THERE. I WAS HOPING HE WAS THINKING WHAT I WAS THINKING. I WAS GOING TO WAIT AND BACK UP PRETTY HARD. AND GET A RUN OFF OF TWO TO TRY TO SEE HOW, WHAT WE COULD DO IN THE LAST THREE-QUARTERS OF A LAP. JUST KIND OF RAN OUT OF STEAM OFF OF FOUR. MART DIDN'T GET BACK TO US. I DIDN'T WORK OUT PERFECTLY BUT WE MADE IT, A GOOD MOVE. NOT ENOUGH RACETRACK. HARD TO PASS THE LEADER. JIMMIE DID GOOD THINGS LATE IN THE RACE TO STAY UP FRONT. HAPPY WITH HMS ENGINES. THE GUYS AT THE SHOP DID A GOOD JOB ALL SEASON WORKING HARD TO GET THE CARS READY. A GREAT FINISH FOR US. WE'LL BE STRONG THIS YEAR. EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THE SEASON KICKED OFF WITH SUCH A GOOD FINISH. >> Krista: THANKED MARK FOR THE PUSH AND THANKED THE TEAM FOR THE CAR. MATT YOCUM? >> Matt: YOU ALMOST HAD A CHANCE TO WIN -- YOU ALMOST HAD A SHOT TO WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. LANE CHOICE, THE DECIDING FACTOR, BRAD? >> IT DIDN'T HELP. I NEEDED A PUSH FROM THE 11. THE LEAP GOT STALLED ON THE RESTART. I MIGHT HAVE HAD A SHOT THERE. AT THE HIGH LANE, WE SAW ALL DAY HAD THE SPEED. IT CAUGHT A BREAK EARLIER IN THE RACE ABOUT 30 LAPS BEFORE. WHEN THE YELLOW CAME OUT AFTER WE PITTED WE WERE GOING TO CYCLE OUT FIFTH OR SIXTH AND CYCLED OUT IN THE LEAD. THAT GOT US IN A HIGH LANE. CAUGHT IT FROM JIMMIE. BAD BREAK, AND JIMMIE IS AN INCH IN FRONT OF US. WE HAVE PASSED THEM AND WE WERE GOING TO PASS THEM AND WE DID WHEN THE YELLOW CAME OUT. THAT IS JUST THE BREAKS. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WRECKS WITH THE MILLER LITE FORD. THANKFUL FOR THAT. BUT I WANT TO WIN THE RACE. I DON'T WANT TO JUST FINISH FOURTH OR BE HAPPY NOT WINNING. WASN'T IN THE CARDS TODAY. WE WERE LUCKY. I JUST HAD TO GET THROUGH ALL THAT STUFF. ONE THING ABOUT THE TEAM, WE NEVER GAVE UP TODAY. THAT IS OUR SPIRIT. WE WILL TRY TO KEEP IT TO GO FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR. >> KEEP FIGHTING, ON TO PHOENIX. JEFF HAMMOND? >> Jeff: THANK YOU, MATT. WITH GREG BIFFLE. COMING TO THE WHITE FLAG ONE MORE TIME, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE BACK STRAIGHT? YOU WERE IN THE CAT-BIRD POSITION ONE MORE TIME. >> WE WERE. IT STARTED BACKING UP TO DANICA A LITTLE BIT. THE 48 CAR STARTED TO BACK UP TO ME. THAT WAS AN ISSUE. WE REALLY TRIED TO, REALLY, THE 88 WAY, WAY BACK. HEED A A RUN ON THE BOTTOM. I DIDN'T THINK TO GO AND BLOCK THE 88, I FIGURED I'D GET WRECKED. HE HAD TOO MUCH OF A HEAD OF STEAM. THE BOTTOM HADN'T WORKED THAT WELL ALL DAY. I FIGURED HE WOULD STALL OUT. BUT THEY HAD ENOUGH CARS LINED UP THEY GOT A BIG RUN DOWN THERE. >> Jeff: GOOD STRONG RUN BY GREG BIFFLE. DIDN'T QUITE GET IT DONE TODAY BUT HE IS FAIRLY HAPPY WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT DAYTONA. >> Krista: WELL, SO IS MARK MARTIN, JEFF HAMMOND. IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THE SPORT, YOU WERE PULLING FOR NUMBER 55 ON THE LAST LAP. MARK MARTIN PUSHING DALE EARNHARDT JR. TRYING TO GET BY JIMMIE JOHNSON. DOING EVERYTHING YOU COULD. >> THAT IS THE DAYTONA 500. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO AIRPLANE'S AND TOYOTA AND EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTS THIS EFFORT. CHILDRESS AND I WANTED A SHOT AT IT WITH TWO LAPS TO GO AND WE HAD IT. RIGHT THERE. YOU KNOW, IF THINGS SHUFFLED DIFFERENTLY MAYBE WE COULD HAVE GOT IT. BUT A GREAT EFFORT. WE HAD A REALLY GOOD RUN THERE. COMING OFF BEFORE I HAD A GREAT RUP ON JUNIOR BUT BRAD WAS TOO FAR BEHIND ME TO GIVE ME A SHOVE. WE COULD DON'T ANYTHING WITH IT. INCREDIBLE DAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GUYS LET ME DRIVE THEIR CAR. >> Krista: 54 YEARS OLD AND SO CLOSE. MATT? >> Matt: RYAN NEWMAN CHASING THE SECOND DAYTONA 500 WIN. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FINAL COUPLE OF LAPS? >> NOT AS EVENTFUL AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A YELLOW. CONGRATULATIONS TO JIMMIE AND HIS GUYS. A GREAT FINISH IT LOOKED LIKE FROM MY STANDPOINT. WE MIXED IT UP GOOD. GREAT DAY FOR QUICKEN LOANS. QUICKEN LOANS HAS A BRING IT HOME SWEEPSTAKES. GO ONLINE, GLRACING.COM. ON TOP OF THAT WE HAVE THE BLOOMING ONION. A GREAT DAY. >> CRAZY AS YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE? >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SPONSORS, MAN. IT WAS CRAZY. NO DOUBT. I'M UNDER THE WEATHER. WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF OP PIT ROAD MICHIGAN GUYS DID AN AWESOME JOB TO GET THE CAR IN CONTENTION TO DO WHAT WE DID. BEST POSITION WAS THE LAST LAP IN FIFTH. I CAN'T SAY WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THAT, BUT AFTER OUR DAY WE WILL TAKE THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ON TO PHOENIX, FIFTH PLACE FOR NEWMAN. >> Chris: THANK YOU. THE HISTORIC DAYTONA 500. THERE IS OWNER, RICK HENDRICK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAD A ONE-TWO FINISH IN THE DAYTONA 500. THE 33rd TIME HIS DRIVERS HAVE FINISHED FIRST OR SECOND IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP RACE. JIMMIE JOHNSON, THE FIVE-TIME CHAMPION, NOW A TWO-TIME DAYTONA 500 WINER. BACK IN VICTORY LANE. A LOT MORE COVERAGE FROM DAYTONA, FLORIDA, YOU'RE WATCHING NASCAR ON FOX. >> Chris: GLAD YOU'RE WATCHING THE SPRINT POST-RACE SHOW. WE'RE LIVE, WRAPPING UP THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE HERE IN DAYTONA. DALE EARNHARDT JR. WOUND UP SECOND. IT ASKED HIM ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF JIMMIE JOHNSON PRIOR TO THE RACE. AND HE SAID WE FORGET FIVE STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALL HE HAS DONE, BECAUSE HE IS CURRENTLY DRIVING WITH US, BUT YEARS FROM NOW IT WILL NEVER BE DONE WHAT JIMMIE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO. HE ADDED A DAYTONA 500 TO THAT STRING OF CHAMPIONSHIPS. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, JIMMIE OUT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND HOPES TO GET BACK THERE. YOU CALL YOURSELF A SPORTS FAN. YOU GOT TO GET DirecTV. CALL 1-800-DirecTV. JIMMIE JOHNSON, BY THE WAY, THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE TO WIN THE SPRINT CUP CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT THAT IS A LONG WAY. 266 DAYS FROM NOW HERE IN FLORIDA. THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- BRAD KESELOWSKI, THE RANK CUP CHAMPION POUND UP -- REIGNING CUP CHAMPION WOUND UP FOURTH. GREG BIFFLE, SIXTH. DANICA PATRICK, THE HIGHEST FINISHING FEMALE IN HISTORY OF THE DAYTONA 500 WOUND UP EIGHTH. J.J. YELEY, TENTH. CLINT BOWYER. DENNY HAMLIN WHO LED QUITE A FEW LAPS IN THE RACE. MATT KENSETH LEADING THE MOST LAPS BUT HAVING AN ENGINE PROBLEM IN HIS FIRST RUN IN A JOE GIBBS TOYOTA. AFTER SO MANY YEARS AT FORD. JEFF GORDON STARTED UP FRONT LED THE FIRST 31 LAPS OF THIS RACE. MICHAEL WALTRIP RUNNING FOR THE FOLKS IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT, AND BEYOND, LED SOME LAPS UNDER CAUTION. THE OWNER/DRIVER ABLE LIST WILL BE BACK WITH US IN THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL NEXT WEEKEND. TREVOR BAYNE, FORMER DAYTONA 500 WINER ROUNDING OUT. CARL EDWARDS MISERABLE SPEEDWEEKS ANOTHER WRECK. FOUR DIFFERENT WRECKS FOR HIM. KYLE BUSCH IN A TOYOTA HAVING PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH MATT KENSETH. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA CAUGHT UP IN ONE OF THE THREE WRECKS OF THE RACE. KEVIN HARVICK AND TONY STEWART, TWO OF THE FAVORITES IN THE RACE, TAKEN OUT EARLY IN THE EIGHT CAR WRECK ON LAP 33. LET'S CHECK IN WITH THE WINNING CREW CHIEF OF JIMMIE JOHNSON, WITH STEVE BYRNES. >> Steve: THAT IS CHAD KNAUS. HAVING HIS PICTURE MADE WITH THE HARLEY J. EARL TROPHY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HIS TEAMMATES. WHAT DOES THE DAYTONA 500 WIN MEAN TO A GUY THAT GREW UP RACING OP A SHORT TRACK LIKE YOURSELF? >> THIS IS AN AMAZING THING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I GOT TO SAY HELLO TO THE FANS. THE FANS THAT GOT HURT YESTERDAY, INJURED IN THE NATIONWIDE RACE. WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR FANS AND WE HATE YOU WEREN'T HERE TO EXPERIENCE THIS WITH US TODAY. BUT FROM MY STANDPOINT, JUST BEING ABLE TO COMPETE AND BATTLE FOR THE WIN TODAY WAS EXHILARATING. A LOT OF FUN, TO BE ABLE TO SEE JIMMIE DRIVE THE WAY HE DID. A TON OF FUN. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A GUY FROM ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, AND ROCKFORD SPEEDWAY WOULD MAKE IT UP HERE? >> Steve: YOU DID IT. I ASKED JIMMIE, IT SEEMED LIKE YOU HAD A SPECIFIC GAME PLAN FROM THE MOMENT YOU GOT HERE. TRUE? >> WE DID. EVEN IF THE TEST WE KNEW WHAT WE WANTED TO DO AND WE HAD A BUNCH OF THINGS TO WORK ON FOR SINGLE CAR SPEED. NOT REALLY GET IN DRAFT AND TEAR UP THE RACECAR. JIMMIE DID A GREAT JOB TO FOLLOW THAT PLAN. IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU SEE A DRIVER TRYING TO GET OUT THERE AND DRAFT. JIMMIE IS OUT THERE DOING THAT IT'S TOUGH TO HOLD BACK. HE DID A GREAT JOB. I COULDN'T HAPPIER FOR EVERYBODY AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND LOWE'S AND EVERYBODY THAT HELPS US OUT. >> Steve: CONGRATULATIONS, CHAD. >> THANK YOU, STEVE. >> Mike: IT'S NO COON DENSE THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON JOINS A SELECT GROUP. DAVE MARCUS, FORMER FACTORY DRIVER AND LONG-TIME INDEPENDENT AND FOUR HALL-OF-FAMERS. SEVEN-TIME CHAMP RICHARD PETTY AND DALE EARNHARDT THREE. -TIME CHAMPIONS LEE PETTY AND DAVID PEARSON. AND TODAY, JIMMIE JOHNSON. ALL WINNING IN THEIR 400th CAREER START IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES. DARRELL, WHAT A PERFORMANCE BY JOHNSON AFTER WE SAW HIM RUN SINGLE CAR LAPS ALL WEEK LONG TO FIND A WAY TO DRAFT TO THE FRONT WITH LITTLE DRAFTING PRACTICE. >> Darrell: WE QUESTIONED THEIR STRATEGY. I SAID DUDE, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT YOUR FINISHES LATELY? IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING. BUT I LEARNED THE SAME THING EVERYBODY UP AND DOWN PIT ROAD LEARNED. DON'T QUESTION CHAD KNAUS. >> Michael: ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE TALK ABOUT THE STARS OF THE SPORT. >> Larry: I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE LITTLE GUYS, REGAN SMITH, MICHAEL McDOWELL, J.J. YELEY. THAT IS TEAMS AND DRIVERS, THEY STRUGGLED JUST TO GET HERE EVERY WEEK. THEY STRUCK TO QUALIFY FOR THE RACES. THEY LEAVE HERE SAYING TOP TEN FINISH AND THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR THE DAYTONA 500. >> Darrell: THEY ARE ALSO SAYING CHA-CHING >> Mike: THE TEAM OWNER, FINCH, PARSON AND BALDWIN WILL TAKE A POCKET FULL OF CASH ON TO RACE ON. >> Larry: THAT IS HUGE FOR THEIR SEASON. >> Mike: WHAT A DAYTONA 500. BIG SURPRISE, JIMMIE JOHNSON ENDING UP AS THE WINNER. CHRIS? >> Chris: AND FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY WITH DANICA PATRICK WHICH WE DISCUSSED. GENERATION, GEN-X DRIVER WHO WINS THE FIRST DAYTONA 500 IN A GENERATION 6 CAR. WE TALK ABOUT CHEVYS HAVING GREAT SPEED. KEVIN HARVICK AND TONY STEWART RUN WELL, BUT IN A WRECK EARLIER. THE SPEED WITH CHEVY. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HEND MOTORSPORTS WITH THE FORT DRIVERS ON THEIR TEAM AHEAD OF THE CURVE. DID THEY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE? JIMMIE SHOWED THEY DID. TORTOISE AND THE HARE. STARTED NINTH. THE LOWEST HE WAS WAS 18. THE FASTEST LAP CAME ON 186 OF 200. THAT WAS JUST UNDER 200 MILES PER HOUR. LATE CHARGE TO THE FRONT TO HOLD OFF EVERYBODY ELSE IT SEEMS AS JIMMIE JOHNSON IS YOUR DAYTONA 500 CHAMP. MORE IN A >>> ALL LINEED UP. IT'S YOU AND THE 88. TWO WIDE. YOU JUST WON THE 500. WE WON THE DAYTONA 500! WHOO! YEAH, YEAH! >> Chris: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS CELEBRATION FROM TEAM 48 AND THE 61st CAREER SPRINT CUP WIN. EIGHTH ALL-TIME FOR JIMMIE JOHNSON. WE WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE SPRINT POST-RACE SHOW AS WE CONTINUE LIVE FROM DAYTONA. IF YOU TUNED IN A LITTLE BIT LATER AND WANT WEREN'T HERE FOR ALL THE ACTION, LOOK AT HOW IT ALL BEGAN AND HOW DANICA PATRICK WHO ALREADY MADE HISTORY STARTING ON THE POLE, CONTINUEED TO HANG IN THERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. JEFF GORDON LED THE FIRST 31 LAPS OF THE RACE, WITHIN FOUR OF BILL ELLIOTT'S ALL-TIME RECORD TO START A 500. FIRST WRECK OF THE THEY, KYLE BUSCH GETTING IN KASEY KAHNE. HE APOLOGIZED ON THE RADIO AND SAID, "MY BAD." THOSE CAUGHT UP IN THIS WERE TONY STEWART AND KEVIN HARVICK. JOEY LOGANO SOMEHOW WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH. DANICA PATRICK YOU SEE WAS AHEAD OF THE WRECK, BUT STEWART AND HARVICK KNOCKED OUT OF CONTENTION. THEY DID GET BACK TO THE RACE LATER ON. LAP 90, THE CROWD ON ITS FEET FOR DANICA PATRICK WHO LED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND WOUND UP LEADING FIVE LAPS IN THE RACE. BRAD KESELOWSKI, MAJOR PLAYER IN THE NINE-CAR WRECK WITH TREVOR BAYNE ON LAP 138. WITH THE REIGNING CUP CHAMP, AS CARL EDWARDS WAS TAKEN OUT HUNG IN THERE. MATT KENSETH LED THE MOST LAPS AND BLEW AN ENGINE. THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE RACE. FELL OUT OF CONTENTION. JIMMIE JOHNSON LEADING THE LAST TEN. SEEMED LIKE HE HAD TO FIGHT OFF EVERYBODY. KESELOWSKI, NEWMAN, MARK MARTIN. GETTING HELP FROM DALE EARNHARDT JR. AND IN VICTORY LANE FOR OWNER, RICK HENDRICK. THERE IS RICK HENDRICK STANDING BY. I ASKED THE DRIVERS OF RICK HENDRICK MORE BOSS OR MORE FRIEND? HE SAID HEND HEND IS YOUR FRIEND UNTIL HE NEEDS -- HENDRICK IS YOUR FRIEND UNTIL HE NEEDS TO BE YOUR BOSS. IN VICTORY LANE WITH HIS DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON. >>> A SPECTACLE AMONG SPECTACLES. >> TODAY IS THE GREATEST DAY OF THE YEAR. >> AS A RACE FAN AND KID YOU COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE DAYTONA 500 TO COME ON. >> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A BIG DEAL. >> FROM THE SAND OF THE DAYTONA BEACH TO THE 2.5-MILE SUPER SPEEDWAY. ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S RICHEST TRADITIONS. >> REALLY GET THINGS KICKED OFF AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THE CHECKERED FLAG. THE RACE IS OVER. ♪♪ ♪♪ >> LOCK OUT. OUT OF CONTROL! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIPS DON'T MATTER WITHOUT A WIN HERE. IN THIS RACE. >> TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP AND NOT A DAYTONA 500 HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING MISSING THERE. >> TONY STEWART WILL COME UP SHORT. >> MENTALLY, IT'S EXHAUSTING. NOTHING COMES EASY IN THE 500. >> TEMPERS OVERFLOWING. >> CHECKERED FLAG IS OUT. >> IN THE WALL. >> BUT THE OVERCOME AND PULL IN VICTORY LANE. >> DALE EARNHARDT WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500. >> THAT IS A LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT. >> I GOT SO EXCITED I PUNCHINGED A MIRROR OUT OF MY CAR. >> I WON THE DAYTONA 500! ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS IS THE MOST COVETED TROPHY IN THE SPORT. >> THE GREATEST THING A RACECAR DRIVER CAN BE CALLED IS A "DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION." ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: IF YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO BE IN IT, THE BIGGEST RACE YOU BE PART OF. AND THEN TO WIN IT, JIMMIE JOHNSON FOR THE SECOND TIME WITH HIS CREW. FOR RICK HENDRICK, SEVENTH DAYTONA 500 WIN FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND YOU'VE WATCHING THE SPRINT POST-RACE SHOW LIVE FROM DAYTONA. 55th RUNNING OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. 35 DIFFERENT WINNERS. SPEAKING OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. MATT YOCUM IS WITH ONE OF THE DRIVERS, TEAMMATE OF JIMMIE JOHNSON. >> Matt: CHRIS, JEFF GORDON FINISHED 20th. I DON'T THINK ANY DRIVER IN THE TIME TWO LAPS WORKED HARDER TO GET SOMEONE TO GO WITH HIM. HOW CHALLENGING AND FRUSTRATE WERE THE FINAL TWO? >> THEY WERE PRETTY FRUSTRATING FOR US. WE WERE IN A GREAT POSITION TO START THE RACE. LOST THE TRACK POSITION AND GOT IT BACK. FELT LIKE WE WERE IN A GREAT POSITION TO GET A TOP FIVE IF NOT A WIN. AND BATTLE FOR IT UP THERE. AND DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET WAS AWESOME. THE LAST COUPLE OF RESTARTS, LANE WE WERE IN DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. WE TRIED. WE TRIED UP THE MIDDLE. DOWN THE BOTTOM, THAT TOP LANE JUST SEEMED TO BE THE WAY TO GO. AND YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WE TRY HARD. IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T PAY OFF FOR US. PRETTY FRUSTRATING WAY TO END IT FOR US. KNOW WE WERE BETTER THAN THAT. A LOT BETTER THAN LAST YEAR, SO WE'LL TAKE THIS AND GO ON TO PHOENIX. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW CHEVY S.S. AND GETTING TO A SHORT TRACK OR AT LEAST A ONE-MILE RACETRACK LIKE PHOENIX. >> GORDON ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE POSITIVE. GO TO STEVE WITH THE BOSS. >> Steve: THANK YOU, MATT. YES, SIR. MR. HENDRICK, AS CHRIS MYERS SAID, A SEVENTH DAYTONA 500 VICTORY. >> TELL CHRIS, I'M SURE HE SAW US WEAR THE HATS BACKWARDS. WE WERE -- THIS IS A GREAT DAY. IT'S SO HARD THE FINISH THE RACES. I'M HAPPY FOR LOWE'S AND JIMMIE. DALE HAD A GREAT RUN THERE AT THE END THAT HELPED US. SO IT WAS A GREAT DAY. IT'S A GREAT 500. GREAT WIN FOR THE S.S. FIRST RACE AT THE CHEVROLET POINTS RACE. >> Steve: DO THE WINS KEEP GETTING SWEETER? >> YOU KNOW, YOUR KNEES BUCKLE. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER BEEN THAT NERVOUS, BECAUSE I GUESS EVERY TIME IT'S THE SAME EMOTION. THIS IS SUCH A BIG RACE. SUCH A BIG DEAL. YOU KNOW, IT JUST MEANS SO MUCH TO ME TO WIN THIS THING. I REMEMBER THE FIRST ONE, I REMEMBER EVERY ONE OF THEM. D.W. AND THE SHUFFLE, IT'S JUST REALLY NEAT THAT WE CAN KEEP ON DOING THIS. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WIN A 500, YOU KNOW? IT'S SO SPECIAL. BUT MAN, WHAT A GOOD RACE THERE AT THE END. I'M JUST GLAD WE CAME OUT ON TOP. >> Steve: CONGRATULATIONS, RICK. BACK TO CHRIS MYERS. >> Chris: THANK YOU, STEVE. AND RICK HENDRICK REFERENCING THE HAT BACKWARD, HONORING HIS SON, WHO WAS A FUTURE DRIVER IN NASCAR, KILLED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 2004. ALWAYS WORE HIS HAT BACKWARDS. HIS FATHER WOULD TEASE HIM ABOUT THAT. IN HIS HONOR, WHEN THEY GET TO VICTORY LANE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS THE WHOLE CREW TURNS THE HAT BACKWARDS. I TELLS YOU THAT IT'S SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST ABOUT WINNING RACES FOR RICK HENDRICK. AND ALL OF THOSE AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS. JIMMIE JOHNSON WITH HIS SECOND DAYTONA 500 TITLE. OF COURSE, THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL. THE SPRINT CUP TITLE ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE SEASON. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS LONGSHOT IN A SEASON AND IN A RACE. DARK HORSE, IF YOU WILL. CHECK IN WITH KRISTA VODA. >> Krista: THIS RACE, THE DAYTONA 500 IS ALL ABOUT LIVING OUT AND MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE. MICHAEL McDOWELL HAS SEEN EVERY SIDE OF THIS. BARELY MAKING THE RACE, TRYING TO MAKE THE RACE, FINISHING TOP TEN IN THE DAYTONA 500 TODAY. >> YEAH, IT'S VERY COOL. VERY THANKFUL. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL BLESSED AND I WANT TO THANK JESUS FIRST AND FOREMOST. BECAUSE TO WALK AWAY IN A DAYTONA 500 WITH A TOP TEN IS UNBELIEVABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR A SMALL TEAM LIKE PARSON. WE HAVE WRECKERS ON THE CAR AND WITH A FEW PARTNERS WE WERE ABLE TO DO A LOT. THE ROUSH MOTOR WAS GREAT. THANK THOSE GUYS. THE GUYS BACK AT THE SHOP, THEY WORKED A LOT OF IF-HOUR DAYS TO GET THIS -- A LOT OF 24-HOUR DAYS TO GET THE CAR READY. THIS IS AWESOME. >> Krista: ONE OF THE GREAT STORIES OF THE YEAR'S DAYTONA 500. JEFF? >> Jeff: SPEAKING OF GREAT STORIES I'M WITH TONY GIBSON. I KNOW YOU ARE AN OLDER MAN THAN I AM BUT A GREAT EFFORT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE AT DAYTONA BY THE DRIVER AND CREW DANICA PATRICK. >> IT HAS BEEN AN AWESOME WEEK-AND-A-HALF. WE HAD GREAT SPEED IN THE GoDaddy.COM CHEVY S.S. SINCE WE UNLOADED. SIT ON THE POLE. THAT WAS ALONE WELL PASSED OUR EXPECTATIONS. TO COME OUT AND RUN EXTREMELY STRONG TODAY, LEAD THE LAPS AND RUN UP FRONT ALL DAY LONG. COULDN'T HAVE ENDED BETTER OTHER THAN TO WIN A RACE. WE PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. FIRST TIME OUT AS A GROUP. DANICA DADE FANTASTIC JOB. I THINK I PROBABLY HURT HER A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH THE PIT STALL SELECTION DOWN THERE. THAT PIT STALL IS GOOD UNDER A CAUTION, BUT UNDER GREEN IT HURTS YOU. THOSE GUYS GET ROLLING SPEED AND THAT HURT US A LITTLE BIT. I THINK I PUT HER IN A BAD SPOT A COUPLE OF TIMES BY PICKING THAT SPOT. YOU KNOW, YOU WANT THAT NUMBER ONE PICK DOWN THERE. SO, SHE DID A NICE JOB. THE LAST ONE THERE AT THE END, NOT SLIDING THE TIRES, DOING FUEL ONLY, THOSE ARE THINGS YOU FORGET ABOUT. YOU DON'T REALIZE SHE MAY NOT BE USED TO THAT STUFF. SHE DID GREAT UNDER PRESSURE. I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYBODY ON THE GoDaddy.COM TEAM, I WANT TO THANK HEND HEND HENDRICS FOR THE SPEED. AND AT STEWART-HAAS RACING DID A FANTASTIC JOB. SMOKE GOT WRECKED OUT BUT AT THE END OF THIS HE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH US. PROUD OF EVERYONE AT STEWART-HAAS RACING. WE CAN GO TO PHOENIX ON A HIGH, FIRST TIME OUT, TOP TEN. I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. >> Jeff: CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD LUCK AT PHOENIX. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR READY FOR TALLADEGA, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT SUPER SPEEDWAY RACE. >> Chris: THE NEXT RESTRICTOR-PLATE. THERE IS ONE OF THE MANY FANS -- HOW ARE YOU -- EXCITED TO SEE DANICA PATRICK. THERE ARE CHAMPIONS IN THE 2013. FIRST GUY ON THE GEN-6 CAR CAPTURING THE DAYTONA 500. RAY LEWIS, I WONDER IF RAY WILL DO HIS DANCE THAT HE DID. HE SHOWED THAT TO JIMMIE THERE. HE IS SHAKING HANDS WITH RICK HENDRICK. DANICA PATRICK LIVED UP TO THE HYPE, STARTING ON THE POLE AND FINISHING IN THE TOP TEN. JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS THE HYPE. NOT TALKED ABOUT A LOT. FIVE-TIME CHAMPION, UNDER THE RADAR BECAUSE THE LAST SIX DAYTONA 500s, JIMMIE JOHNSON HAD NOT FINISHED ANYWHERE IN THE TOP 25. PRIOR TO THAT, HE WON HIS FIRST DAYTONA 500. NOW HE WILL TRY TO BUILD ON THIS AND RECAPTURE A CHAMPIONSHIP. THE LAST TWO YEARS HE HAS BEEN ABSENT FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER WINNING FIVE STRAIGHT. THERE IS THE TROPHY. HARVEY J. EARL, THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON IS HOLDING ON TO. AND SHARING WITH HIS CRE ♪♪ ♪♪ >> HARVICK! >> WE GOT ONE CAR. >> KEVIN HARVICK WINS. >> ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TREVOR BAYNE. >> JUAN PABLO MONTOYA CRASHED. HE SLAMMED IN THE JET DRIER. >> JUNIOR TO THE OUTSIDE. MATT KENSETH WINS THE DAYTONA 500. [ CHEERING ] >> I WON THE DAYTONA 500! YEAH, YEAH! ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Chris: YOU CAN ADD JIMMIE JOHNSON TO THE LIST OF NAMES, THE DAYTONA 500 WINNERS ON FOX. WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. OUR SPRINT POST RACE SHOW CONTINUING LIVE FROM DAYTONA, WHERE JIMMIE JOHNSON HAS HIS HANDS ONCE AGAIN THE HARVEY J. EARL TROPHY. TONGUE TIED. THEY USED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DAYTONA MUSEUM HERE. THE FANS WILL WANT TO SEE. NEXT WEEK IS PHOENIX. ONE-MILE TRACK. CARL EDWARDS AFTER A ROUGH SPEEDWEEKS ANXIOUS TO GET GOING IN DESERT. >> DAYTONA IS THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. NEXT WEEK, NASCAR ON FOX IS BACK AGAIN. WE ALL PACKED UP AND HEAD OUT TO THE DESERT. OVER 300 GRUELS MILES UNDER THE SUN, HIGH SPEED, SHARP TURNS. MAYBE A BACKFLIP IF I'M LUCKY. IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER. IT'S ONLY ON FOX. >> Mike: NEXT WEEK WHEN WE GO TO PHOENIX, WE KNOW THAT THE CARS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE REAR SPOILER ON THEM WILL BE BOTH LONGER AND TALLER THAN THE SPOILER THAT IS USED AT DAYTONA. ONE ELSE WILL BE DIFFERENT, LARRY, ABOUT HOW THE GENERATION 6 CAR WILL RACE ON THE SHORTER TRACKS? >> Larry: THEY WILL BE 150 POUNDS LIGHTER AND THAT WILL HELP THE GRIP OF THE RACECAR. THE REAR SPOILER IS SO MUCH MORE DOWNFORCE THAN LAST YEAR'S CAR. YEAH, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE CAR, THE TEAMS, NASCAR, THE MANUFACTURERS. OVER TWO YEARS. SO MUCH HAS BEEN PUT ON THE DOWNFORCE RACETRACKS, LIKE WE GO TO AT PHOENIX. I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE BAD, BAD-FAST. >> Darrell: I'M PRETTY SURE WE ARE SAYING IT'S A NEW TRACK RECORD. WE SAW THAT NINE TIMES LAST YEAR. I GUARANTEE YOU WE WILL SEE IT A LOT MORE THIS YEAR. THIS CAR IS FAST. LIGHTER. IT'S GOT 850-HORSEPOWER. WE MAY EVEN SEE A GOOD FOOT RACE LIKE WE SAW LAST FALL BETWEEN CLINT BOWYER AND JEFF GORDON. WHO KNOWS? BUT THE RACE IS GOING TO BE FURIOUS IN THIS CAR BECAUSE IT'S -- I TALK TO EVERY DRIVER. THEY SAY THEY LOVE THE FEEL OF THIS CAR. THEY LOVE THE WAY THE CAR IS GRIPPING THE RACETRACK. WE'LL SEE A FANTASTIC RACE ON THAT LITTLE MILE RACETRACK. >> Larry: WHEN YOU GIVE THEM THAT MUCH MORE DOWNFORCE, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A PROBLEM RUNNING CIDE-BY-SIDE, DO THEY? >> Darrell: NO. THEY LOVE IT. >> Mike: FIND OUT MORE FROM ONE OF THE SPORT'S TOP CREW CHIEFS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AT PHOENIX. SENATE >> Matt: IT WAS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY AT DAYTONA. SECOND LAST YEAR AND SECOND AGAIN. WE MOVE TO PHOENIX, A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLATFORM. DESCRIBE FOR THE FAN WHAT IS TO EXPECT WITH MUCH MORE DOWNFORCE CAR. >> WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO THEM WE ALL KNEW. PHOENIX IS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. CHANGED THE TIRES SO WE DON'T KNOW THE GRIP LEVEL. NEW KNOBS AND DIALS ON THE CAR DIFFERENT FROM THE OLD CAR. THAT AND THE TIRE CHANGE WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO IS CLOSE. PHOENIX IS HARD TRACK BECAUSE THERE IS NOWHERE TO TEST FOR PHOENIX. SHORT WEEKEND, UNLOAD FRIDAY AND QUALIFY THE SAME DAY. WE'LL SEAL WHO IS CLOSER. >> UNCERTAINTY AND EXCITEM. CHRIS? >> Chris: THANKS, MATT. IT WAS A QUICK DAYTONA 500. IN THE GEN-6 CAR. A NEW RACE RECORD. ACTUALLY CLOSE TO THE RECORD. THE OLD RECORD IN 1980, TWO HOURS 48 MINUTES. TODAY, THREE HOURS AND EIGHT MINUTES. BACK IN 1980 IS WHEN THEY SET THE AVERAGE SPEED RECORD AT >> Chris: NEXT WEEK YOU WILL BE GLUED TO NASCAR ON FOX. NOTE THE START TIME. WE WILL BE IN THE ARIZONA DESERT. WE MENTIONED MOMENTS AGO THAT DRIVERS WITH MAKING UP TO DO IN THE SUBWAY FRESH FIT 500 FROM PHOENIX, ARIZONA. NEXT ON SPEED "VICTORY LANE." FOR MORE ON THIS RACE, DISCUSSION, AFTERMATH AND THE NUMEROUS STORY LINES IN AN HISTORICAL DAYTONA 500. JIMMIE JOHNSON WAS TOUGH ENOUGH WHEN HE HAD TO BE. ROOKIE DANICA PATRICK, FIRST FULL-TIME SEASON IN SPRINT CUP. STARTING OUT THE SEASON, HOW WILL THEY RESPOND NEXT WEEK? WHEN IT'S NOT A RESTRICTOR-PLATE TRACK? TUNE IN TO FIND OUT. FOR DARRELL, LARRY, MIKE, KRISTA, STEVE, JEFF, MATT, THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION CREW, THIS IS BARRY LANDIS PRODUCTION, DIRECTED BY ARTIE KEMPNER. I'M CHRIS MYERS. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF "NASCAR ON FOX." WHERE SPEED IS ALWAYS ENTERTAINING. AND GEN-6 CAR ON DISPLAY WITH DANICA PATRICK AND JIMMIE JOHNSON CELEBRATING FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS IN VICTORY LANE. HAVE A GREAT WEEK. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE. Captioned By Closed Captioning Services, Inc ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I WON THE DAYTONA 500! WHOO! YE

Channel: NascarAllOut

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Id: UdplYaZMXUQ

Length: 237min 20sec (14240 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 08 2021