Pole Day at Daytona and Other Musings--We found a spot to alight in the Daytona Media Center...and will post some comments from qualifying and other auto racing things that happen during the "beard-growing" run for the pole...which is and will be an anti-climax from last night, with an entertaining and interesting Bud Shootout won by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Junior says he always wants to do well here...especially since it is here where his dad died on February 18, 2001. One could not ask for a better starting scenario for the Jr/Hendrick relationship.
John Force qualified 5th for the NHRA season opening Winternationals at the Fairplex at Pomona, California. Antron Brown made a quick transition from the Pro Stock Motorcycle he drove last year...to a fire-breathing, ground pounding Top Fuel dragster...Brown is the number 1 qualifier for today's eliminations. Greg Anderson has the top spot for the Pro Stock ladder.
We'll rejoin with comments later.
12:50 pm
Fifty-three cars have drawn for qualifying...Martin Truex in the Dale Earnhardt, Inc #1 goes first...Jeff Burton in the Richard Childress Racing #31 is 53rd. This will be a test of the DEI/Childress engine combine. Earlier today, Childress, Teresa Earnhardt and Motorsports Authentics honcho Mark Dyer (former NASCAR marketing wunderkind) unveiled another #3 tribute car which will be displayed here...and a replica of which will be sold at a collectibles retailer near you. Childress waxed elequent about the sight of crewmen lining pit road to greet Dale Earnhardt, a/k/a, the "Intimidator" as he won the 1998 Daytona 500...he says (and I'll take that to the bank) nothing like that "reception line" will ever be seen in NASCAR again. Teresa said next to nothing, and did not stay to take questions, nor were any questions allowed during the presser that announced the new replica car. I understand respect for tradition. I also understand that Dale Earnhardt merchandise is among the most popular NASCAR merchandise sold. There ought not to be a new old #3 car every year--the old #3 is the vehicle on which the Intimidator's legend rode, and should continue to ride. It gives the appearance of trying to build upon the legacy of a legend simply for financial reasons, when that legacy is the strongest in modern NASCAR racing, and needs no further embellishment--just ask anyone who sells #3 memorabilia.
We'll be back with the front row after qualifying (and we shave the beard that grows during this qualifying).
3:59 pm
Assuming there are no violations of NASCAR rules found after post qualifying inspection, your front row consists of two time and defending Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson, and two time Daytona 500 winner and last year's bad boy, Michael Waltrip. Johnson circled the 2 1/2 mile speedplant at 187.075 miles an hour. Waltrip wasn't as fast...but 186.734 miles an hour is nothing to look down upon. This locks in the front row for next week's race. What they said will come later.
6:11 pm
There is much to be said for consistency. Jimmie Johnson, in every public utterance, consistently praises his team and its performance. He said crew chief Chad Knaus really pumped him up before his run for the pole (teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr busted off a fast lap at the time...Jimmie went a lot faster). Knaus said the car that won the pole was set up as the test car for a Nashville test. A few phone calls, six hours of labor from 20 crew members back at Hendrick headquarters, and a jaunt down the interstates...and the eventual pole winning car arrived here at the Speedway. Knaus said that the car had fewer than 12 timed runs on it...since it was being built when they tested in January. The data from that test was plugged in...and Johnson's 2nd Daytona pole (14th in 220 career starts) was the result. As for Mr. Waltrip, he was relieved that he starts 2nd (he's in the go or go home crew) and that the questioning, for the most part, dealt with how well the Toyotas ran vs 2007. Other surprises: "Front Row" Furniture Row Joe Nemechek ran 3rd fastest. Four Toyota Camrys are among the top 10...Travis Kvapil (7) and Boris Said (9) are the fastest Ford Fusions. Rookie Patrick Carpentier turned the fastest time for the Dodge Boys.
We'll rejoin you from the Duels at Daytona on Thursday...when we will learn the full starting lineup for the 50th running of the Daytona 500.
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