2017 Daytona 500 Betting Preview: Gibbs & Penske Have Edge

Brad Keselowski won the last race at Daytona in July.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back in action, the Joe Gibbs Toyotas look strong and Team Penske has the restrictor-plate momentum. Those are just some of the top storylines as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its 2017 season Sunday with the 59th running of the Daytona 500.

So drop that green flag and let's get this party started, but first let's explore a few notes that can hopefully help assist before dropping a few bucks at the sports book.

DAYTONA 500 EDGE IS WITH BOOKS

Sure it's been a long off-season and sports books are offering dozens of Super Bowl style props, but don't get carried away and over extend yourself. It's only one race and the edge rests with the book as it does with all restrictor-plate races at Daytona at Talladega because it’s a crap shoot. Almost any of the 40 cars has a chance to win because the plates make them more equal than any of the other types of tracks.

You can look at all the past history of Daytona or Talladega to get a read on what drivers fare well, but the volatility of those tracks make it more possible for a driver you wagered on to get caught up in a massive random wreck. It's less likely to happen on a track like Las Vegas or Phoenix, and you also don't have the quality edge of reading relevant practice times like you would on those tracks.

Practices are usually the final equation to nailing down three of four drivers to win, but at Daytona the practices mean little and qualifying means little. Daytona qualifying is set with single lap times which don't equate to anything on race day and the practices are times captured within the draft which don't fully detail the true measure of individual car speeds like those at Phoenix.

Example: When looking at practice speeds and see someone like Paul Menard with the second fastest lap, you don't know if he's really that fast or if he's the product of being in the draft with Earnhardt Jr. or Kyle Busch.

All that uncertainty in the betting process gives the sports book the edge which is why I usually reduce my wagering bankroll with more emphasis placed on odds to win between five or six drivers and less on the matchups and props. However, while I say that, I often find myself getting caught up in the Daytona 500 hype and extend myself more than intended. It's not smart, but sometimes I like rolling the dice when the odds are stacked against me. It's more about being starved for NASCAR action after hibernating for two months.

REST OR RUST FOR JUNIOR?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has two Daytona 500 wins and is the active leader with 10 restrictor-plate wins over his career which is part of the reason why he's the favorite to win Sunday, where he starts on the front row alongside teammate Chase Elliott.

But as a bettor, you have to wonder how the psyche of Junior will be after missing the final 18 races last season with a concussion and also missing Sunday's Clash. In baseball, when a pitcher comes off the disabled list he's usually a good bet-against. Earnhardt talked to the media about his approach going into the race.

“Of course I’m human, and I’m going to be concerned and worry and (take) precautions, and so forth,” he said. “But to be able to win the qualifying race, and to be able to win the Daytona 500, you’ve got to race with no fear. I know that when I get in the car, I can’t have any concerns. I can’t have any worry or fret, or I’ll drive completely different.

"I know what result I can get driving with no fear, and I know what kind of result I’ll get if I go out there with even a sliver of apprehension. I won’t be able to go out there and win the race. Once you second-guess yourself one time, it snowballs, and it just continues throughout the rest of the race."

William Hill sports books have his ‘over-under’ finish position at 6.5 (OV -135) which is the lowest number in the field.

ISSUES WITH THE CHAMP AND HENDRICK?

Reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson failed to finish the Clash at Daytona for the sixth straight season, which has me a little weary about wagering on the two-time Daytona 500 champ as well as his teammates. On two separate occasions Sunday he spun out and it was at the same spot.

“Just off of Turn 4," Johnson said after the race. "The sun certainly sits on that edge of the track a little bit harder than anywhere else. We will take some notes and learn from those mistakes and apply that to the 500 car.”

Hendrick teammate Earnhardt Jr. was in the broadcast booth calling the race and eluded that both he and teammate Elliott had the same problem with sticking around the turn in last season’s Daytona 500 where he finished 36th and Elliott finished 37th. So the question is whether or not the team can make the appropriate changes.

Read More Here.....Top-5 Finish Prediction

Austin Dillon has 8.5 average finish in past six Daytona races

Austin Dillon is 30/1 to win Daytona 500.

This Week’s Dow Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway … In seven Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon has acquired one top-five and five top-10 finishes. The Welcome, North Carolina, driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has eight starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with one win, six top-five and six top-10 finishes. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Pole Winner … Dillon earned his career-first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole award with a lap of 196.019 mph (45.914 seconds) in the 2014 edition of the Daytona 500. It marked the fourth time the No. 3 has won the pole for the Daytona 500, and its 67th Cup Series pole, overall. Dillon also started on the front row for the July 2015 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.

Dow Delivers Solutions at the Intersection of Science and Markets … Working closely with their customers, Dow delivers products and solutions that create value and competitive advantage while positively impacting the world we live in. Collectively, Dow’s efforts have lasting results, creating higher performance for their customers and reshaping the world around us to build a better future for everyone.

Meet Dillon … Dillon is scheduled to greet race fans at the NASCAR Trackside Superstore on Thursday, February 23 at 2:30 p.m. EST. The Trackside Superstore footprint is located outside Daytona International Speedway’s center injector. Dillon is also scheduled to participate in a Q&A at the Team Chevy stage on Thursday, February 23 from 3-3:15 p.m. EST.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Your car owner has two Daytona 500 trophies. What is it going to take for you to get him lucky number three?
“Just being smart, keeping ourselves in a good position the entire race. Speed is going to be key when we get there and working with our teammates. We’ve got to be smart about how we work with our teammates to keep ourselves up front.”

In the past, each manufacturer used to really work together in the draft. Do you think that is still the case? Or do the cars really draft with anyone, despite their manufacturer?
“I see that there are different guys that I can link up to. I don’t know what rhyme or reason to it anymore. I do notice bumps when you are around certain guys. We will try and figure that out on practice day and also in the Duels you will be able to figure out some guys that you want to be around in the race for the 500.”

- Richard Childress Racing

Matt Kenseth looking for third Daytona 500 win

Matt Kenseth is 12/1 to win Daytona 500.

Matt Kenseth / No. DEWALT FLEXVOLT™ Toyota Preview
DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway

No. 20 DEWALT FLEXVOLT™ Toyota News and Notes:

TWO-TIME LOOKING FOR THREE: Two-time DAYTONA 500 Champion, Matt Kenseth returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway as one of only 11 drivers in NASCAR history who have won this prestigious race more than once. Kenseth will look to return to victory lane at the historic track in the sport’s most esteemed race for the third time in his career. Kenseth’s two DAYTONA 500 wins came in 2009 and 2012; could 2017 be his chance at a three-peat?

JOE GIBBS RACING AT DAYTONA: Joe Gibbs Racing has 115 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona earning a total of five wins, 27 top-five, and 39 top-ten finishes. The organization also has led for a total of 1,498 laps, has an average start of 15.5 and an average finish of 19.3 at the 2.5-mile historic high-banked track. JGR’s Denny Hamlin is the defending race winner of the 2016 DAYTONA 500.

KENSETH BY THE NUMBERS: In 17 DAYTONA 500 starts on the high banks of Daytona, Kenseth has completed 2,938 of 3,290 laps (89.3 percent). Kenseth has earned two wins, two top-five, and six top-ten finishes throughout his DAYTONA 500 career.

RACE INFO: The Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile) begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 26th. The race will be broadcast live on FOX, Sirius XM Channel 90 and MRN Radio.

 

Kenseth’s Career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Stats:

Starts	Wins	Top 5	Top 10	Poles	Laps Led	Avg. Start	Avg. Finish
614	38	171	309	18	11,330	17.3	14.1

From the Cockpit:
Matt Kenseth: “The Daytona 500 is the biggest stock car race in the world, and it’s just a really big way that we kick off our season every year. As a kid growing up, I remember always watching the 500 on TV, and when I was able to make my first start in the race, that was one of the moments in my career that I’ll never forget. Everyone wants so badly to win a Daytona 500 and I have been fortunate in my career to have won two of them. Winning it for a third time would be amazing and there’s no better way to start off your season than the momentum you get from winning a Daytona 500. I’m curious to see how our DEWALT Camry handles in the race conditions of the Duel on Thursday, but I know that our team always works hard to put together the best car and race strategy that we can every week. I’m looking forward to officially getting our 2017 season started this week.”

From the Pit Box:
Jason Ratcliff: “The process that we gear up to the Daytona 500 is so unique, but the best gauge of what we have in our DEWALT Camry will be the Duel races on Thursday since they provide us with an opportunity to learn what we have for first time leading into the 500 in a race condition. We’re constantly trying something new whenever we come to Daytona because our No. 20 team has been so close the last few years to closing the deal, but I feel that we’ve always been in contention. Daytona is just one of those places where no matter how much you put into the preparation and race strategy, so many things are out of your control and you’re at the mercy of everyone around you. The Daytona 500 is a race that everyone works so hard to win because of the history associated with it, and we’re going to give it everything we have to get the best shot at it. I think the one takeaway from The Clash race was that it seemed to me that with the plates, it seemed like in that race it was more difficult for the drivers to make moves based on the lower horsepower, but we’ll see what happens in the Duel.”

About DEWALT:
DEWALT is a leading manufacturer of industrial corded and cordless power tools, power tool accessories, and hand tools in categories that include Woodworking, Drilling & Fastening, Concrete & Metal Power Tools, as well as Cutting, Abrasive, and IMPACT READY® Impact Driver Power Tool Accessories. Hand Tool categories include Measuring & Layout, Knives & Blades, Mechanics Tools, and Storage Solutions.

With seven manufacturing locations in the USA, DEWALT remains committed to domestic manufacturing and produced over 90 million individual units of Power Tools, Hand Tools, and Accessories in the United States with global materials in 2016 alone. Visit the website to learn more about DEWALT tools Made in the USA with global materials.

DEWALT tools can be found nationally and internationally, wherever tools are sold. With more than 1,000 factory-owned and authorized locations, DEWALT has one of the most extensive service and repair networks in North America. For more information, visit www.dewalt.com or follow DEWALT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

- Joe Gibbs Racing

Brendan Gaughan qualifies for Daytona 500, looking to show off big engine

Brendan Gaughan helps out on busy days at fathers casino when not racing.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest race of the year kicks off the 2017 season on Sunday with the 59th running of the Daytona 500. Of the 40 drivers starting, three of them hail from Las Vegas. Who said NASCAR was only a southern thing?

We all know about former Cup champions Kyle and Kurt Busch being from Las Vegas, but the surprise Vegas entry this year is Brendan Gaughan, who locked himself into a spot during Sunday’s Daytona 500 qualifying driving the No. 75 Chevrolet for car owner Mark Beard. It’s the same car Michael McDowell drove to a 15th-place finish in last year’s Daytona 500.

Gaughan, a regular and two-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will have a fast ECR engine and will be using his usual Richard Childress pit crew. Beard Oil is listed as the primary sponsor, but the team is still looking for more sponsorship, which immediately lends the thought that we might see the South Point logo on the hood like he has on his Xfinity Series RCR Chevy. It is an easy thought to have since his father, Michael Gaughan, owns the South Point.

Brendan, the grandson of Las Vegas gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan, will be making his second 500 start. The first time was in 2004 when he drove the entire season in the No. 77 Ford for a subsidiary of Team Penske. He finished 19th in that race, but later that season on the other restrictor-plate races at Talladega he finished 13th and fourth. Last season in the Xfinity Series he was fifth at Daytona. He’s quite comfortable at going almost 200 mph with side-by-side racing for the entire race and he understands the draft well.

“The only reason I said yes to driving the car was because of the plate racing phenomenon where anything can happen and also because of the huge motor – that motor was a big factor,” Gaughan said Monday morning while taking his family to Disney World. “I’m looking to show everyone (the other drivers) on Thursday during the Twins how big of a motor the No. 75 has.”

Gaughan is definitely going to need some help from the other drivers trusting to follow him during Sunday’s race so he’s going to try and make a few friends in Thursday’s Can-Am Duels where he starts 17th in the first race.

“We’ll push some people (in the draft), and some of them will push me and others will hang me out to dry – it’s going to happen, but they need to know how big of a motor we have and that the 75 can help them out on Sunday,” Gaughan said.

William Hill sportsbooks have Gaughan listed at 250-to-1 odds to win, which is definitely worth a small wager, and I say that only because of the type of racing restriction-plates produce. If this were a race at Las Vegas, I’d say spend the $5 on a beer instead. But the volatile nature of both Daytona and Talladega allows for long shots to surprise the field. Anything really can happen when all the cars are relatively equal.

A rookie named Trevor Bayne won his only career race in the 2011 Daytona 500 and paid out at 100-1. A part-time driver named Brad Keselowski driving an underfunded team won at Talladega in 2009, and in 2013 Front Row Motorsports – with a small budget – won its first race ever behind David Ragan at Talladega and teammate David Gilliland finished second.

When asked about his chances Sunday, Gaughan didn’t hesitate.

“We’re in it to win it,” he said. “We’re not racing for points or just a good finish. It’s the only race for us and we’ve got nothing to lose so winning is really the only objective.”

Crazier things have happened in NASCAR, and I’ll definitely be rooting for him on Sunday, as will his special guests. Gaughan said his father and Brent Musburger will both be watching the race atop his pitbox.

Read More Here...Gaming Today

Daytona International Speedway Track Facts: 2017 Daytona 500

The 59th running of the Daytona 500 happens Sunday. 

Daytona 500 Tidbits

·        The 2017 edition will be the 59th running of the Daytona 500.

·        Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.

Starts

·        536 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 321 in more than one.

·        Dave Marcis leads the series all-time in Daytona 500 starts with 33; followed by NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (32) and Terry Labonte (32).

·        Michael Waltrip leads all active MENCS drivers in Daytona 500 starts with 29; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (17) and Matt Kenseth (17).

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with more than one start in the Daytona 500 in average starting position (5.89).

·        12 different manufacturers have made at least one start in the Daytona 500: Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Toyota, Plymouth, Mercury, Chrysler, American Motors Company and Studebaker

Poles

·        40 different drivers have won a Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500; led by Bill Elliott, Cale Yarborough and Buddy Baker with four each.

·        Only nine drivers have posted more than one Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500; Jimmie Johnson (two) is the only active driver with more than one Daytona 500 pole.

·        Chase Elliott became the youngest Daytona 500 pole winner at the age of 20 years, 2 months, 17 days with his pole last season.

·        Hendrick Motorsports has won 10 Daytona 500 poles, the series most: Ken Schrader (1988, 1989, 1990), Jeff Gordon (1999, 2015), Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2008), Mark Martin (2010), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2011) and Chase Elliott (2016).

·        Seven different manufacturers have won the pole for the Daytona 500, led by Chevrolet with 24; followed by Ford (12), Pontiac (eight), Mercury (five), Dodge (four), Oldsmobile (three), Plymouth (two).

Wins

·        37 different drivers have won a Daytona 500.

·        Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959; he led 38 laps and won by 2 feet.

·        Youngest Daytona 500 winner: Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 - 20 years, 0 months, 1 days)

·        Oldest Daytona 500 winner: Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 - 50 years, 2 months, 11 days)

·        Nine different manufacturers have won the Daytona 500, led by Chevrolet with 23 victories; followed by Ford (14), Dodge (four), Plymouth (four), Buick (three), Mercury (three), Oldsmobile (three), Pontiac (three) and Toyota (ninth). 

·        Seven drivers posted their career-first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory with a win in the Daytona 500. 

Drivers	Seasons
Tiny Lund	1963
Mario Andretti	1967
Pete Hamilton	1970
Derrike Cope	1990
Sterling Marlin	1994
Michael Waltrip	2001
Trevor Bayne	2011

·        Three other drivers posted their career-first victory in (points-paying) qualifying races: Johnny Rutherford (1963), Bobby Isaac (1964) and Earl Balmer (1966).

·        Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, and Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 champion, are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 in their first appearance.

·        11 drivers have won more than one Daytona 500, led by Richard Petty with seven victories.

The 11 Drivers With Multiple Daytona 500 Wins
No. of Wins	Drivers	Seasons
7	Richard Petty	1964	1966	1971	1973	1974	1979	1981
4	Cale Yarborough	1968	1977	1983	1984
3	Bobby Allison	1978	1982	1988
3	Dale Jarrett	1993	1996	2000
3	Jeff Gordon	1997	1999	2005
2	Bill Elliott	1985	1987
2	Sterling Marlin	1994	1995
2	Michael Waltrip	2001	2003
2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2004	2014
2	Jimmie Johnson	2006	2013
2	Matt Kenseth	2009	2012

·        A driver has won back-to-back Daytona 500s three times. Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).

·        Active Daytona 500 winners and the number of MENCS starts in their careers when they won: 

No. of Wins	Drivers	Seasons	Career Start
2	Michael Waltrip	2001	463
		2003	535
2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2004	148
		2014	506
2	Jimmie Johnson	2006	148
		2013	400
2	Matt Kenseth	2009	329
		2012	437
1	Kevin Harvick	2007	215
1	Ryan Newman	2008	225
1	Jamie McMurray	2010	259
1	Trevor Bayne	2011	2
1	Joey Logano	2015	220
1	Denny Hamlin	2016	363

·        The Daytona 500 has been won from the pole position nine times; Bill Elliott (1985, 1987) and Cale Yarborough (1968, 1984) are the only two drivers to accomplish the feat more than once. Dale Jarrett was the most recent driver to win from the pole in 2000.

Season	Driver
1962	Fireball Roberts
1966	Richard Petty
1968	Cale Yarborough
1980	Buddy Baker
1984	Cale Yarborough
1985	Bill Elliott
1987	Bill Elliott
1999	Jeff Gordon
2000	Dale Jarrett

·        The pole position is the most proficient starting position in the Daytona 500 field, producing more winners (nine) than any other position; followed by second-place (seven wins) and fourth-place (seven wins).

·        16 of the 58 Daytona 500s (27.6%) have been won from the front row; nine from the pole position and seven from the second-place position.

·        28 of the 58 Daytona 500s (48.3%) have been won from a top five starting position.

·        42 of the 58 Daytona 500s (72.4%) have been won from a top 10 starting position

·        Five of the 58 Daytona 500s (.08%) have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·        Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 from the 39th starting position in 2009, the deepest a race winner has started.

·        Five reigning Monster Energy Cup Series champions have gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following season: Lee Petty (1959), Richard Petty (1973), Cale Yarborough (1977), Jeff Gordon (1999) and Dale Jarrett (2000).

Five Drivers Have Won the Daytona 500 and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship In The Same Season
Drivers	Seasons
Richard Petty	1964	1971	1974	1979
Jimmie Johnson	2006	2013
Lee Petty	1959
Cale Yarborough	1977
Jeff Gordon	1997

·        A driver has swept both the Daytona 500 and the July race only five times at Daytona International Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2013), Bobby Allison (1982), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969), Cale Yarborough (1968) and Fireball Roberts (1962).

·        Seven drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first Daytona 500 victory: Dale Earnhardt (19), Buddy Baker (18), Darrell Waltrip (16), Bobby Allison (14), Michael Waltrip (14) and Sterling Marlin (12) and Denny Hamlin (11).

·        The driver with the all-time most Daytona 500 starts without a victory is Dave Marcis with 33 races; Kurt Busch (15) and Kasey Kahne (13) lead all active drivers with the most Daytona 500 starts without a Daytona 500 win.  

·        Drivers who have won the Daytona 500 in more than one car manufacturer:

Driver – Manufacturer (Number of wins in that manufacturer)

o   Richard Petty – Plymouth (3), Dodge (2), Oldsmobile (1) and Buick (1)

o   Cale Yarborough – Chevrolet (2), Mercury (1) and Pontiac (1)

o   Bobby Allison – Buick (2) and Ford (1)

o   Dale Jarrett – Ford (2) and Chevrolet (1)

·        Drivers who have won The Clash and the Daytona 500 in the same season:

Driver – (Year)

o   Bobby Allison (1982)

o   Bill Elliott (1987)

o   Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)

o   Jeff Gordon (1997)

o   Denny Hamlin (2016)

·        Car Numbers that have produced three or more Daytona 500 victories:

Car Number – Drivers – (Years)

o   No. 43 – Richard Petty (1964, ’66, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’79, ‘81)

o   No. 21 – Tiny Lund (1963), Cale Yarborough (1968), A.J. Foyt (1972), David Pearson (1976) and Trevor Bayne (2011)

o   No. 28 – Fred Lorenzen (1965), Buddy Baker (1980), Cale Yarborough (1983 and 1984) and Davey Allison (1992)

o   No. 4 – Ernie Irvan (1991), Sterling Marlin (1994 and 1995)

o   No. 15 – Bobby Allison (1978), Michael Waltrip (2001 and 2003)

o   No. 17 – Darrell Waltrip (1989), Matt Kenseth (2009 and 2012)

o   No. 88 – Bobby Allison (1982), Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014)

o   No. 24 – Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999 and 2005)

o   No. 11 – Mario Andretti (1967), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Denny Hamlin (2016)

Additional Finishing Positions

·        Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes in the Daytona 500 with five; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with four (Earnhardt Jr. is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for second most all-time with four).

·        Dale Earnhardt had 12 top fives in his 23 Daytona 500 starts, more than any other driver. 

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-five finishes with eight (Earnhardt Jr. is tied with Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison and Buddy Baker for fifth most-all-time).

·        Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty each posted a series leading 16 top 10s in the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 top-10 finishes with 10.

·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in average finishing position in the Daytona 500 with a 13.5 (17 appearances)

Female Competitors

·        Danica Patrick on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2013 became the first female in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history to win a Coors Light pole for the Daytona 500 posting a speed of 196.434 mph.

·        Janet Guthrie previously held the record for top starting position by a female NASCAR premier series driver, starting ninth twice in 1977 - at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977.

·        In 2012, Danica Patrick became the third female driver to compete in a Daytona 500 joining Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson. Below are the previous female driver performances in the Daytona 500.

Race	Season	Driver	Start	Finish
Daytona 500	1977	Janet Guthrie	39	12
Daytona 500	1980	Janet Guthrie	18	11
Daytona 500	2002	Shawna Robinson	36	24
Daytona 500	2012	Danica Patrick	29	38
Daytona 500	2013	Danica Patrick	1	8
Daytona 500	2014	Danica Patrick	27	40
Daytona 500	2015	Danica Patrick	20	21
Daytona 500	2016	Danica Patrick	16	35

Track / Daytona 500 Specific Stats

·        Denny Hamlin’s 0.001-second margin of victory over Martin Truex Jr. in the 2016 Daytona 500 is the closest Daytona 500 finish and tied with Atlanta (3/12/2000) and Phoenix (3/13/2016) as the seventh closest MOV since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993. 

·        Kevin Harvick’s 0.020-second margin of victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500 is the 12th-closest overall since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, and the second closest in Daytona 500 history.

·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty has led the most laps in a single Daytona 500; leading 184 laps in the 1964 Daytona 500.

·        Among active drivers, Denny Hamlin has led the most laps in a single Daytona 500, when he led 95 laps on his way to victory last season.  

·        Jamie McMurray has led the fewest laps in a Daytona 500 and won - in 2010, McMurray only led two laps on his way to winning the Daytona 500.

·        2011 Daytona 500 had the most all-time lead changes with 74; which is 14 more than the race with second-most lead changes the 1974 Daytona 500 with 60 lead changes.

·        The 1964 Daytona 500 won by Richard Petty had the fewest lead changes with a mere six on record.

·        2011 Daytona 500 had the most all-time leaders with 22.

·        2011 Daytona 500 had the most all-time Cautions with 16.

·        1968 and 2011 Daytona 500s had the most all-time Caution Laps with 60 laps each.

·        The Daytona 500 has finished under NASCAR Overtime conditions seven times: 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

·        Due to the overtime rules in NASCAR, the longest Daytona 500 ever run was the 2010 and 2011 Daytona 500 races – both went 208 laps/520 miles – eight laps and 20 miles more than the scheduled distance.

·        The largest field to compete in the Daytona 500 was 68 cars in the 1960 race.

Statistical Look At Daytona International Speedway

History

·        Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.

·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.

·        Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.

·        Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been scheduled for under the lights ever since.

·        The track underwent a repave in 2010.

·        2016 marked the next phase in the existence of Daytona International Speedway as the DAYTONA Rising project was completed, ushering in the first ‘motorsports stadium,’ a 400-million-dollar project.

Notebook

·        There have been 139 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 58 have been 500 miles, 54 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.

·        Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona in a Pontiac with a speed of 140.121 mph.

·        Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

·        Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.

·        59 drivers have posted poles at Daytona – including Chase Elliott the 2016 Daytona 500 pole winner; one of six active drivers that won their first career pole at Daytona – Austin Dillon (2014), Danica Patrick (2013), Paul Menard (2008), Kevin Harvick (2002), Jimmie Johnson (2002).

·        Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.

·        Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with two poles at Daytona.

·        60 different drivers have won at Daytona International Speedway; led by Richard Petty with 10 points-paying victories at Daytona.

·        The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other organization.

·        18 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 2015 July race.

NASCAR in Florida

·        There have been 365 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks held in the state of Florida.

Track Name	City	MENCS	NXS	NCWTS	Total Races
Daytona International Speedway	Daytona Beach	139	50	17	266
Homestead-Miami Speedway	Homestead	18	22	21	67
Daytona Beach & Road Course	Daytona Beach	10	0	0	10
Palm Beach Speedway	W. Palm Beach	7	0	0	7
Speedway Park	Jacksonville	6	0	0	6
Volusia County Speedway	Barberville	0	4	0	4
Walt Disney World Speedway	Orlando	0	0	2	2
Five Flags Speedway	Pensacola	1	0	0	1
Golden Gate Speedway	Tampa	1	0	0	1
Titusville-Cocoa Speedway	Titusville	1	0	0	1
Totals		183	76	40	365

·        178 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series have their home state recorded as Florida.

·        There have been 11 race winners with their home state recorded as Florida in NASCAR’s three national series:

Driver	MENCS	NXS	NCWTS
Fireball Roberts	33	0	0
LeeRoy Yarbrough	14	0	0
Marshall Teague	7	0	0
Joe Nemechek	4	16	0
Bobby Johns	2	0	0
David Reutimann	2	1	1
Aric Almirola	1	2	2
Shorty Rollins	1	0	0
Joey Coulter	0	0	1
Rick Wilson	0	2	0
Ben Kennedy	0	0	1
Total	64	21	5

Pre-Race Loop Data Category Leaders At Daytona International Speedway

Loop Data Categories Active Series Leaders Stat Driver Rating Kyle Busch 95.9 Average Running Position Kyle Busch 12.8 Percentage of Laps In The Top 15 Kyle Busch 69.7% Laps Led Denny Hamlin 369 Fastest Laps Run Kevin Harvick 104 Quality Passes Jamie McMurray 3,739 Green Flag Passes Jamie McMurray 5,886 Closers Michael Waltrip 5.3 Avg. Spots Gained Fastest On Restarts Dale Earnhardt Jr. 177.282 MPH Average Speed Early In A Run Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 192.196 MPH Average Speed Late In A Run Ty Dillon 191.049 MPH

Daytona 500 All-Time Winners

Season	Daytona 500 Winners
2016	Denny Hamlin
2015	Joey Logano
2014	Dale Earnhardt Jr
2013	Jimmie Johnson
2012	Matt Kenseth
2011	Trevor Bayne
2010	Jamie McMurray
2009	Matt Kenseth
2008	Ryan Newman
2007	Kevin Harvick
2006	Jimmie Johnson
2005	Jeff Gordon
2004	Dale Earnhardt Jr
2003	Michael Waltrip
2002	Ward Burton
2001	Michael Waltrip
2000	Dale Jarrett
1999	Jeff Gordon
1998	Dale Earnhardt
1997	Jeff Gordon
1996	Dale Jarrett
1995	Sterling Marlin
1994	Sterling Marlin
1993	Dale Jarrett
1992	Davey Allison
1991	Ernie Irvan
1990	Derrike Cope
1989	Darrell Waltrip
1988	Bobby Allison
1987	Bill Elliott
1986	Geoff Bodine
1985	Bill Elliott
1984	Cale Yarborough
1983	Cale Yarborough
1982	Bobby Allison
1981	Richard Petty
1980	Buddy Baker
1979	Richard Petty
1978	Bobby Allison
1977	Cale Yarborough
1976	David Pearson
1975	Benny Parsons
1974	Richard Petty
1973	Richard Petty
1972	A.J. Foyt
1971	Richard Petty
1970	Pete Hamilton
1969	LeeRoy Yarbrough
1968	Cale Yarborough
1967	Mario Andretti
1966	Richard Petty
1965	Fred Lorenzen
1964	Richard Petty
1963	Tiny Lund
1962	Fireball Roberts
1961	Marvin Panch
1960	Junior Johnson
1959	Lee Petty

 

Daytona International Speedway

Qualifying / Race Data

2017 pole winner:

Chase Elliott, Chevrolet SS

(192.872 mph, 46.663 seconds)

2016 pole winner:

Chase Elliott, Chevrolet SS

(196.314 mph, 45.845 seconds)

2016 race winner:

Joey Logano, Ford Fusion

(161.939 mph, 2-22-15)

Qualifying record:

Bill Elliott, Ford Thunderbird

(210.364 mph, 42.783 secs. 2-9-87)

Race record:

Buddy Baker, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

(177.602 mph, 2-17-80)

Daytona 500 Qualifying Fast Facts

Ø  Chase Elliott becomes the fifth driver in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series history to win consecutive Daytona 500 poles joining Fireball Roberts, Buddy Baker, Bill Elliott, and Ken Schrader.

Ø  Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Chase Elliott, posted his third consecutive Daytona 500 pole (Jeff Gordon, 2015; Chase Elliott, 2016-2017) tying the record Ernie Elliott set in 1985-1987.

Ø  Chase and Bill Elliott are the fourth father-son duo to win the Daytona 500 pole joining Richard and Kyle Petty, Bobby and Davey Allison and Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.; the Elliott's are the first father-son duo to win consecutive Daytona 500 poles.

Daytona International Speedway Data

Race #: 1 of 36 (2-26-17)

Track Size: 2.5 miles

Banking/Corners: 31 degrees

Banking/Straights: 3 degrees

Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees

Total Race Length: 500 miles (200 laps)

Stage 1 Length: 150 miles (60 laps)

Stage 2 Length: 150 miles (60 laps)

Final Stage Length: 200 miles (80 laps)

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Daytona

Kyle Busch                   95.9     

Dale Earnhardt Jr.         94.1

Denny Hamlin               91.0

Kurt Busch                    89.9

Matt Kenseth                88.5

Jimmie Johnson            88.2

Joey Logano                 87.4

Kasey Kahne                82.1

Kevin Harvick               81.8

Jamie McMurray           80.2

Note: Driver Ratings are compiled from 2005-2016 races (23 total) at Daytona (active drivers only). 

Note: Loop Data is compiled from 2005-2016 races (23 total) at Daytona (active drivers only).

- NASCAR