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NASCAR Natalie
Turn 4 Transitions
by Natalie Anthony
7/05/2008
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
July 5, 2008 (Saturday) - 6:30 pm (ET) - TNT
Happy 4th of July!!!
Forty is finished
It's a sad at the Franchitti-Judd house. As of Tuesday, July 2, 2008, Dario Franchitti has lost his NASCAR Sprint Cup ride until Chip Ganassi can get a sponsor to flip the bill for the #40 team. Luckily however, Dario does have the opportunity to run in the Nationwide Series if he so desires. With Dario originally on the entry list for the race this weekend at Daytona, that leaves only 45 drivers scheduled to qualify. Good news for the go or go homers, one more spot could possibly be up for grabs.
For all those Earnhardt family fans, Kerry Earnhardt is expected to make an attempt to qualify for the Nationwide Series race at Daytona. Go Kerry!!! The more Earnhardts the merrier.
Front Line Finishers
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 1st
Kyle seems to follow a certain pattern of racing this season. He just wins a lot. Granted last weekend at New Hampshire wasn't his best work, but we can blame Juan Pablo Montoya for that. Kyle's run at Daytona the last two races have resulted in Top 5's.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 3rd
Even though Dale has been with Hendrick some many months now, I can't help from feeling that whether there is camaraderie at Hendrick Motorsports, there is not so much on the race track. Restrictor plate tracks beg for drafting, but I think Dale is going to have to find friends outside the family this weekend. Dale has the respect and the talent to win at Daytona.
Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 6th
Jeff is and will remain for quite some time the driver on the Sprint Cup series active driver roster that maintains the most wins (6). Jeff has suspension problems during the Daytona 500 this season, which placed him 39th. However, with a working stock car this Saturday night, Jeff will, without much effort, steal the win or get another Top 5 to add to his already accomplished 11 out of 30 races.
Kasey Kahne
Gillett Evernham Motorsports - Dodge
Point Standings: 10th
Normally, I wouldn't even think about Kasey performing well on this restrictor plate track, but that is exactly how he has competed for the last two races at Daytona. Kasey needs a good run this weekend because he is 10th in points and only nine more races to the chase for the Cup.
Kurt Busch
Penske Racing - Dodge
Point Standings: 18th
Ryan Newman may be the defending race winner of the Daytona 500, but teammate Kurt Busch is the driver that has had 2 Top 5's in the last two races at the beloved tri-oval. With his momentum from last weekend's win because he played it smart, he is in high gear for this race at DIS.
Last Lap Challengers (The Nostalgic Class)
Terry Labonte
Petty Enterprises - Dodge
Point Standings: 48th
Terry may be a fill in for Kyle Petty while Kyle does his commentating thing, but Terry is the real deal. I am glad to see him come out of retirement to race once again. It may be short lived, but Terry is going to tear it up as far as veteran racers are concerned. Terry has raced Daytona's 2.5 mile track 53 amazing times. Out of all those starts Terry averaged 11 Top 5's and 26 Top 10's. No win to date, but don't give up just yet. I think Terry still has a few Champions provisional to use if he does not qualify on time this Friday.
Sterling Marlin
Phoenix Racing - Chevrolet
Point Standings: 50th
Sterling is another veteran driver that has left a big dent at DIS. I am quite sure he does not have the champion free pass, but if Sterling gets into the show he will do some surprising things. This Saturday marks Sterling's 51st start. He has 12 Top 5's and 21 Top 10's. This man has been around this track quite a few times and still loves it.
Bottom 35 Feeders
Carl Edwards
Roush Fenway Racing - Ford
Point Standings: 4th
Carl did finally get his first Top 5 last July at Daytona, but that was the first one out of six starts. Looks like to me that since it was a hundred laps shorter than the Daytona 500, Carl happened to luck out in position. If Carl does fair well this weekend, than lady luck sure does like Office Depot.
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Point Standings: 7th
Where has all the love for Denny gone? He is getting singled out for commenting on race conditions and people think that he is just plain whining about everything. Denny, take one for the team and stay in the back of the pack and keep your mouth closed for this weekend's party. A lot of drivers are going to be voicing their feelings about just anything and I don't want Denny to be involved. Denny has enough riding on his shoulders just trying to finish this 400 lap race. Four starts and nothing to show for his effort.
Track Stats
Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, FL) - DIS
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
(Sister Restrictor Plate Tracks - Talladega)
Pepsi 400
(July 7, 2007)
Top 10 Results
1. Jamie McMurray
2. Kyle Busch
3. Kurt Busch
4. Carl Edwards
5. Jeff Gordon
6. Greg Biffle
7. Clint Bowyer
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Jimmie Johnson
Daytona 500
(February 17, 2008)
Top 10 Results
1. Ryan Newman
2. Kurt Busch
3. Tony Stewart
4. Kyle Busch
5. Reed Sorenson
6. Elliott Sadler
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Robby Gordon
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
10. Greg Biffle
Reader Board
"Tony Stewart and Hendrick Motorsports; is that a possibility?"
Crystal - Ohio
There has been talk about Tony Stewart's new home and talk of Tony maybe teaming up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to start their own Cup team. All that right now is speculation. Give the rumor mill some time to run its course and you will find out closer to the end of the season what Tony's intentions really are. I really don't think Hendrick Motorsports is in Tony's future though.
Post questions & comments to:
NASCARNATALIEANTHONY@yahoo.com
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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The Facts:
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Diehards Line:
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Diehards Line:
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Diehards Line:
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