Stewart wins crash-filled Busch race
February 18, 2006Tony Stewart just wanted to have some fun and stop thinking about Sunday's Daytona 500. "This is going to make sleeping tonight a little easier," Stewart said Saturday after wresting the lead from pal Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 13 laps to go, then holding off a series of challenges to win the crash-filled Hershey's Kissables 300 NASCAR Busch Series race.
Stewart wins second consecutive Busch season opener
February 18, 2006
Stewart reluctantly becoming NASCAR's conscience
February 18, 2006Tony Stewart isn't angling to become mayor of the NASCAR garage. If nominated, he will not run. If elected, he will not serve. Stewart knows NASCAR needs a conscience, but he doesn't think such a major responsibility should fall on just one driver - especially him. "I'm not making it a job," he said. "This is not a job." Still, when Stewart saw a serious safety issue developing, he felt it was his duty to speak out to prevent a potential tragedy in Sunday's Daytona 500.
Daytona 500 Viewers Guide
February 18, 2006While Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart may debate whether bump drafting is a necessary evil, Steve Byrnes says there's no question that both drivers have cars that wil handle and contend for the Daytona 500 win.
Confident Gordon skips final Daytona practice
February 18, 2006Wearing jeans, a designer shirt and fancy sunglasses, Jeff Gordon watched the final practice for the Daytona 500 from atop his hauler Saturday. Looking confident and composed, the only thing Gordon and his team had left to do was check out the competition. "We've spent the last three months getting ready for this race. If one more hour makes that much of a difference, then shame on us," said Steve Letarte, crew chief for the No. 24 Chevrolet.
Nextel Cup final practice speeds
February 18, 2006NASCAR NEXTEL Cup SeriesDaytona 500Final Practice (Happy Hour)Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, Fla. Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Saturday, February 18, 2006 @ 11:47 AM Eastern Pos Car # Driver Team Time Speed Lap# #Laps -Fastest -Next 1 21 Ken Schrader Little Debbie/Motorcraft/USAF Ford 46.708 192.686 2 22 2 1 Martin Truex Jr. # Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Chevrolet 46.752 192.505 2 32 -0.044 -0.044 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Chevrolet 46.877 191.992 5 34 -0.169 -0.125 4 66 Jeff Green Best Buy Chevrolet 46.945 191.714 4 29 -0.237 -0.068 5 61 Kevin Lepage AMP Energy Drink Ford 46.948 191.701 4 15 -0.240 -0.003 6 88 Dale Jarrett UPS Ford 46.996 191.506 4 17 -0.288 -0.048 7 14 Sterling Marlin Waste Management Chevrolet 47.001 191.485 4 24 -0.293 -0.005 8 45 Kyle Petty Wells Fargo Dodge 47.027 191.379 4 32 -0.319 -0.026 9 31 Jeff Burton Cingular Wireless Chevrolet 47.087 191.136 5 28 -0.379 -0.060 10 49 Brent Sherman # Serta Dodge 47.101 191.079 4 24 -0.393 -0.014 11 19 Jeremy Mayfield Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 47.136 190.937 6 30 -0.428 -0.035 12 41 Reed Sorenson # Target Dodge 47.145 190.900 2 20 -0.437 -0.009 13 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 47.165 190.819 3 34 -0.457 -0.020 14 11 Denny Hamlin # FedEx Express Chevrolet 47.189 190.722 4 35 -0.481 -0.024 15 16 Greg Biffle National Guard Ford 47.191 190.714 3 41 -0.483 -0.002 16 18 J.J. Yeley # Interstate Batteries Chevrolet 47.201 190.674 2 36 -0.493 -0.010 17 25 Brian Vickers GMAC Chevrolet 47.201 190.674 4 17 -0.493 0.000 18 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 47.202 190.670 3 13 -0.494 -0.001 19 20 Tony Stewart The Home Depot Chevrolet 47.214 190.621 3 43 -0.506 -0.012 20 01 Joe Nemechek U.S. Army Chevrolet 47.254 190.460 5 12 -0.546 -0.040 21 36 Bill Elliott Ginn Clubs & Resorts Chevrolet 47.263 190.424 4 27 -0.555 -0.009 22 6 Mark Martin AAA Ford 47.280 190.355 8 20 -0.572 -0.017 23 07 Clint Bowyer # Jack Daniel's Chevrolet 47.314 190.219 3 10 -0.606 -0.034 24 26 Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Ford 47.377 189.966 2 44 -0.669 -0.063 25 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 47.403 189.861 3 30 -0.695 -0.026 26 12 Ryan Newman Alltel Dodge 47.406 189.849 17 41 -0.698 -0.003 27 38 Elliott Sadler M&M's Ford 47.413 189.821 2 17 -0.705 -0.007 28 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Power Tools Ford 47.420 189.793 3 35 -0.712 -0.007 29 7 Robby Gordon Jim Beam Chevrolet 47.461 189.629 3 15 -0.753 -0.041 30 99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Ford 47.509 189.438 7 32 -0.801 -0.048 31 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Dodge 47.549 189.278 4 36 -0.841 -0.040 32 40 David Stremme # Lonestar Steakhouse Dodge 47.701 188.675 5 17 -0.993 -0.152 33 32 Travis Kvapil Tide Chevrolet 47.727 188.573 7 28 -1.019 -0.026 34 29 Kevin Harvick GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 47.728 188.569 6 6 -1.020 -0.001 35 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge 47.754 188.466 6 37 -1.046 -0.026 36 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Dodge 47.783 188.352 9 26 -1.075 -0.029 37 96 Terry Labonte DLP® HDTV/Tweeter Chevrolet 47.815 188.225 3 23 -1.107 -0.032 38 5 Kyle Busch Kellogg's Chevrolet 47.858 188.056 7 22 -1.150 -0.043 39 42 Casey Mears Texaco/Havoline Dodge 47.880 187.970 4 13 -1.172 -0.022 40 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Apex Electric Chevrolet 48.019 187.426 8 10 -1.311 -0.139 41 09 Mike Wallace Miccosukee Resort Dodge 48.394 185.973 3 7 -1.686 -0.375 42 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet No Time 43 00 Hermie Sadler Aaron's Dream Machine Ford No Time
"Just because you're a great driver doesn't mean you're going to be a great team owner!" - Rob
February 18, 2006Have your say about motorsport on the Five Live message board.
Schumacher 'could start F1 team'
February 18, 2006Michael Schumacher is being tipped to launch an F1 team at the end of the current Championship.
"Which is the best national or club race series?" - TT
February 18, 2006Have your say about motorsport on the Five Live message board.
Martin gets rare Daytona victory
February 18, 2006Mark Martin found rare success at his least favorite track Friday night. Martin won the season-opening Craftsman Truck series race at Daytona International Speedway, picking up his fourth victory at the famed track in 111 races. Driving a partial truck series schedule, Martin took the lead with 13 laps remaining, got a fortuitous caution flag in overtime and cruised into Victory Lane. Sort of.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
February 18, 2006NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race Number 1Unofficial Race Results for the GM FlexFuel 250 - Friday, February 17, 2006Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, Fla. - 2.5 Mile PavedTotal Race Length - 102 Laps - 255.000 Miles Provided by NASCAR Statistical Services - Friday, February 17, 2006 @ 10:59 PM Eastern REVISED Reversed 5th and 6th finish positions; moved No. 60 to 5th, moved No. 99 to 6th. REVISED Fin Str Trk Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Award Status Ti.Led LpsLed 1 1 6 Mark Martin Scotts Ford 102 190 10 $ Running 6 42 2 8 30 Todd Bodine iRacing.com Motorsports Simulation Toyota 102 175 5 $ Running 2 6 3 17 9 Ted Musgrave ASE/Germain Motors Toyota 102 170 5 $ Running 1 6 4 5 5 Mike Skinner Toyota Tundra Toyota 102 165 5 $ Running 6 34 5 7 60 Jack Sprague Con-Way Toyota 102 160 5 $ Running 1 1 6 15 99 Erik Darnell # Roush Racing Ford 102 150 $ Running 7 18 08 Bobby Hamilton Jr. TECH-NET Law Enforcement Torch Run Dodge 102 151 5 $ Running 1 1 8 12 14 Rick Crawford Circle Bar Racing Ford 102 147 5 $ Running 2 8 9 13 17 David Reutimann Darrell Waltrip Motorsports Toyota 102 138 $ Running 10 31 10 Terry Cook Ford PowerStroke Diesel by Int'l Ford 102 134 $ Running 11 29 04 Kevin Hamlin Dodge Hemi Dodge 102 135 5 $ Running 1 1 12 28 4 Timothy Peters Dodge Motorsports Dodge 102 127 $ Running 13 25 85 Dennis Setzer Flex Fuel 85 Silverado Chevrolet 102 124 $ Running 14 6 11 David Starr Red Horse Racing Toyota 102 121 $ Running 15 10 23 Johnny Benson Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota 102 118 $ Running 16 4 20 Jon Wood U.S. Air Force Ford 102 115 $ Running 17 35 1 Robert Richardson # winyourmortgage.com Dodge 102 112 $ Running 18 21 13 Kerry Earnhardt # ThorSport Chevrolet 102 109 $ Running 19 34 8 Chase Montgomery Curry Racing Dodge 102 106 $ Running 20 30 07 Sean Murphy # Garden Fresh Gourmet Salsa & Chips Chevro 102 103 $ Running 21 26 18 Bobby Hamilton Fastenal Dodge 101 100 $ Running 22 19 16 Mike Bliss Xpress Motorsports Chevrolet 101 97 $ Running 23 20 33 Ron Hornaday Jr. Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 101 94 $ Running 24 32 77 Brendan Gaughan Orleans Casino Dodge 101 91 $ Running 25 3 21 Stacy Compton Edy's Ice Cream/State Fair Corn Dogs Ford 100 88 $ Running 26 22 88 Matt Crafton Menards/Energizer Chevrolet 100 85 $ Running 27 24 98 Erin Crocker # Cheerios Betty Crocker Dodge 100 82 $ Running 28 23 15 Kyle Krisiloff # ditech.com/Natl Land Lqdtrs/Krud Kutter C 98 79 $ Accident 29 36 02 Kelly Sutton Team Copaxone Chevrolet 88 76 $ Engine 30 11 47 Kraig Kinser # Centrix Auto Finance Chevrolet 73 73 $ Accident 31 16 59 Mike Wallace Melling Eng. Parts/M-Select/Harris Tru Do 72 70 $ Accident 32 33 75 Aric Almirola # Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet 72 67 $ Accident 33 9 12 Joey Miller # Curb Records Toyota 72 64 $ Accident 34 14 29 Brad Keselowski M-Select by Melling Engine Parts Ford 72 61 $ Accident 35 2 22 Bill Lester Checkers/Rally's Toyota 43 63 5 $ Accident 1 3 36 27 25 Boston Reid # Woodard & Sharp Racing Dodge 41 55 $ Accident Race Comments Before an estimated crowd of 90,000, Mark Martin won the GM FlexFuel 250. Prior to the green flag, the following drivers, under penalty, dropped to the rear of the field for the reasons indicated: #75 Almirola (engine change)#8 Montgomery (unapproved impound adjustment); #08 Hamilton Jr (unapproved impound adjustment); #47 Montgomery (unapproved impound adjustment). Failed to Qualify (6) Chad McCumbee #, #06; Chad Chaffin, #40; J.R. Patton #, #63; Carl Long, #28; Wayne Edwards, #24; Norm Benning, #89. Time of Race 1 hour, 44 minutes, 21 seconds Average Speed 146.622 mph Margin of Victory Under Caution Caution Flags 5 for 17 laps: Laps 27-30 (#12 accident turn 4); 44-47 (#16,22,25,47 accident turn 2); 74-78 (#12,15,29,47,59,75,88 accident turn 3); 98-100 (#17,77 accident turn 4); 102-102 (#15,33 accident frontstretch). Lead Changes 21 among 9 drivers: M. Martin (Pole); M. Skinner 1; M. Martin 2; M. Skinner 3-10; R. Crawford 11-16; M. Martin 17; B. Lester 18-20; M. Skinner 21-22; T. Musgrave 23-28; M. Skinner 29-39; T. Bodine 40; M. Martin 41-44; B. Hamilton Jr. 45; R. Crawford 46-47; M. Skinner 48-55; M. Martin 56-74; K. Hamlin 75; T. Bodine 76-80; M. Martin 81; M. Skinner 82-85; J. Sprague 86; M. Martin 87-102. Top 10 Driver Points (1) M. Martin 190; (2) T. Bodine 175; (3) T. Musgrave 170; (4) M. Skinner 165; (5) J. Sprague 160; (6) B. Hamilton Jr. 151; (7) E. Darnell 150; (8) R. Crawford 147; (9) D. Reutimann 138; (10) K. Hamlin 135. Top 5 Rookie Points Bud Pole Award Mark Martin (178.628 mph) Raybestos Rookie of the Race Select a Driver Checkers/Rally's Double-Drive Thru Challenge Award Select a Driver WIX Filters Lap Leader Award Select a Driver Mobil 1 Oil Command Performance Driver of the Race Select a Driver Sunoco Diamond Performance Award Select a Driver Featherlite Most Improved Driver Award Select a Driver
Kenseth wins wild IROC race at Daytona
February 18, 2006Matt Kenseth started last, avoided two major crashes and held off Martin Truex Jr. on the final lap to win the season-opening IROC series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night. Kenseth quickly worked his way to the front to dominate the race, which was peppered with more aggressive bump drafting and marred by an ugly crash that sent Steve Kinser's car flipping in the air with three laps to go.
PHOTOS
February 18, 2006
Five years later, NASCAR flourishing despite losing biggest star
February 18, 2006With: BC-CAR--NASCAR-Earnhardt-RCR; BC-CAR--NASCAR-Earnhardt-Safety; BC-CAR--NASCAR-Earnhardt Q&A The toughest man to ever climb into a stock car was gone, killed in a violent crash in the final turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500. In the blink of an eye, NASCAR lost more than a just another driver. Dale Earnhardt was a friend, a father, a leader and an icon. It was seemingly too many voids to ever fill. The Intimidator - the face of American racing - was dead, changing the sport forever.