Jeff Burton claimed his third career pole position with the quickest qualifying lap, and led the first 18 laps until the first round of pit stops. Tony Stewart led the next 20 laps from the 28th lap. Matt Kenseth led from laps 58 to 80 until Dale Earnhardt Jr. took it on the 86th. Earnhardt led seven times for a total of 32 laps, more than any other driver. Before the last round of pit stops, Johnson took the lead from teammate Brian Vickers on lap 187. After Greg Biffle lost control of his car on the final lap, he led Newman and Mears to win under caution. During the race, there were 11 cautions and a race-record 32 lead changes by 18 different drivers.
Johnson won his first Daytona 500, his first at either Talladega Superspeedway or Daytona International Speedway, and the 19th of his career. The victory occurred after Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus was suspended for illegal car modifications, for which he was fined $25,000 and suspended until March 22. Johnson won the first of five races of the 2006 season, en route to his first of seven NASCAR Cup Series championships at the season's finish.
Johnson led the Drivers' Championship with 190 points after the season's first race, followed by Mears and Newman with 170 points each. Elliott Sadler and Stewart were fourth and fifth with 165 and 160 points, respectively. Chevrolet led the Manufacturers' Championship with nine points, followed by Dodge with six points and Ford with four points. The race attracted 20 million television viewers, the most watched NASCAR race in terms of average viewership.
NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., who built the Daytona International Speedway, conceived the Daytona 500.[8] The race was first held in 1959, succeeding shorter races held on beaches around Daytona Beach.[9] It has opened the NASCAR season since 1982,[10] and from 1988, was one of four events that require cars to run restrictor plates.[11] The race is often regarded as NASCAR's most prestigious race because it offers the most prize money in American auto racing. Victory is considered equal to winning either the World Series, the Super Bowl or The Masters.[8] It is often called the "Great American Race" or the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing".[9]
NASCAR held numerous test sessions in preparation for the race on January 9–11 (for teams finishing in an odd-number position in the 2005 car owner points standings) and January 16–18, 2006 (for teams finishing in an even-number position in the 2005 car owner points standings).[n 1][14] Every test session began at 9 a.m. EST, stopped for one hour from 12:00 – 1:00pm. EST, and concluded at 5:00pm. EST.[15]Jeff Gordon was fastest in the first session with a speed of 187.029mph (300.994km/h). Bill Elliott paced the second session with a speed of 187.219mph (301.300km/h).[16]Jimmie Johnson led the third session at 186.966mph (300.893km/h) and Gordon the fourth at 188.466mph (303.307km/h).[17]Matt Kenseth and Gordon led sessions five and six with respective speeds of 188.403mph (303.205km/h) and 189.298mph (304.646km/h).[18]Kyle Busch and Sterling Marlin paced sessions seven and eight with speeds of 186.629mph (300.350km/h) and 187.110mph (301.124km/h),[19] while Scott Riggs and Kyle Busch led the ninth and tenth sessions from speeds of 185.345mph (298.284km/h) and 188.119mph (302.748km/h). Dale Jarrett and Kyle Busch led the final two sessions with respective speeds of 189.215mph (304.512km/h) and 190.251mph (306.179km/h).[15]
The event featured 58 entrants from 34 different teams.[20][1] Following a large amount of bump drafting in the Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR implemented two "no zones" at the exit of corners, which series officials and multiple digital cameras would check for drivers attempting to ram their cars into the rear of other vehicles in order to gain an aerodynamic or overtaking advantage.[21] Drivers would face a drive-through penalty or disqualification from the race depending on the severity of the bump.[22] NASCAR's vice-president of competition, Robin Pemberton, stated that bump drafting in turns would no longer be tolerated. He commented, "It crosses over the line when the drivers are in the corner. That is not a good place to bump-draft. A straight line, it's not the best either, but a straight line is far safer than in the corners. There's guys that haven't totally honed the craft of bump drafting."[21]
Before the race on Sunday, there were six practice sessions. The first two were held on February 11 and lasted 120 and 90 minutes, respectively. The following two were held on February 15 after qualifying, and were shortened to 60 minutes. Two days later, another 75-minute practice session was scheduled. The final practice session was held on February 18 and lasted 60 minutes.[1]Kevin Harvick was fastest in the first practice session with a lap of 47.771 seconds, ahead of Gordon, Kyle Petty, Elliott Sadler, Johnson, Jarrett, Elliott, Jeremy Mayfield, Bobby Labonte, and Joe Nemechek.[23] With a time of 47.757 seconds, Sadler led the rain-curtailed second practice session; Gordon was 0.219 seconds slower as he duplicated his first-practice result in second. Elliott improved to third. Jarrett, Johnson, Marlin, Mayfield, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, and Kurt Busch followed in positions four to ten.[24] Kurt Busch hit a large section of cardboard on the back stretch, stopping the session after an hour.[25]
Jeff Burton(pictured in 2007) had the third pole position of his career and his first since 2000.
On February 12, 58 cars ran two qualifying laps for 43 slots in the race.[26] Unlike most races throughout the season, qualifying set the first two positions. The remaining drivers had to qualify through the 2006 Gatorade Duels, in which 37 drivers were assigned mostly based on where they finished. Three remaining drivers were chosen through their qualifying speed, and one prior series champion qualified with a champions' provisional.[27] The weather was cold with a tailwind.[28]Jeff Burton was the 34th driver to set a lap time;[29] he took his first pole position at Daytona International Speedway,[30] his first since the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400, and the third of his career with a time of 47.581 seconds.[31] He was joined on the grid's front row by Gordon who was 0.169 seconds slower.[31] Kenseth was the only driver to not set a time due to a flat left-rear tire to start his lap.[32] After qualifying, Burton said, "We just got lucky. That's the best wind we've had down here in all of testing and everything else. It just played into our hands, and we had a car that could take advantage of it.", and, "Today had nothing to do with me. The only impact that I had on today at all was to be a warm-blooded person that could mash the gas and turn the thing on. I think Michael Waltrip once said a drunk monkey could do it, and I was a drunk monkey, I guess."[28]
Following post-qualifying inspection, Johnson's lap times were deleted due to an illegal rear window template lowered by a track bar adjuster to the right rear of his vehicle, giving Johnson an aerodynamic advantage.[33][34]Terry Labonte's lap times were also invalidated after it was found that his car's carburetor had non-sanctioned modifications.[33] Both Johnson and Labonte were ordered to start from the rear of the field in the Gatorade Duels.[35] NASCAR did not confiscate Johnson's primary car, and his crew corrected the infraction to let it to compete again.[1] NASCAR ejected Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus from the Daytona 500, which was unappealable. Knaus was replaced by Hendrick Motorsports lead engineer Darian Grubb.[35]
Ken Schrader(pictured in 2007) set the fastest practice lap in all six sessions on Saturday afternoon.
Stremme paced the fifth practice session with a 47.038 seconds, 0.001 seconds faster than Robby Gordon in second. Harvick, Green, Elliott, Ken Schrader, McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Earnhardt and Kurt Busch followed in the top ten.[44] In the final practice session, which took place in warm weather and saw drivers limit their running to preserve their cars,[45] Schrader lapped fastest overall at 46.708 seconds; Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt, Green, Lepage, Jarrett, Marlin, Petty, Burton, and Brent Sherman completed the top ten.[46] The session passed without major incident.[46] Bobby Labonte's engine failed late in practice, and his team changed engines.[1] Vickers glanced the turn three wall and resumed without major car damage.[46]
1 Moved to the back of the field for changing engines (#01, 43) and for changing to a back-up car (#14)[2]
Race
At 9:00 a.m., Nemechek's engine compartment caught fire after oil-covered tire rubber in his exhaust header ignited, requiring his team to replace the wiring harness and the aluminum heat shield beside the engine's header.[43] Live television coverage began at 1:30pm EDT in the United States on NBC.[49] Around the start of the race, the weather was overcast and cool;[50] forecasts predicted an air temperature of 65°F (18°C) and cloudy conditions.[49]Ronald Durham, pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, began pre-race ceremonies with an invocation. Hip-hop singer Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas performed the national anthem, and actor James Caan commanded the drivers to start their engines.[51] During the pace laps, Bobby Labonte and Nemechek moved to the rear of the field because they changed their engines. Marlin did the same after going to a back-up car.[2]
Tony Stewart(pictured in 2015) led 20 laps and was later penalized for contact with Matt Kenseth on lap 107.
The race began at 2:45pm.[51] Burton maintained the lead over the field into the first turn.[50] In turn three, Green's left-rear tire went flat;[1] no caution was prompted because the carcass rolled into the infield grass. By lap three, two different packs of cars had formed; 27 cars were in the lead pack, and the rest were five seconds behind. Earnhardt made it three abreast through the tri-oval on the fifth lap; it returned to two abreast into the back straightaway.[50] Harvick moved from 26th to ninth by lap nine, while Petty dropped 17 positions over the same distance.[51] The top three cars established a single file on lap 15, with the next six rows two abreast.[50] Two laps later, the first caution was given;[51] Truex served to avoid Vickers when he lost control of his car exiting turn two. Vickers collided with the right-hand side wall, causing his car's right-side sheet metal to rub against the right rear tire.[1][50] During the caution, the field (including Burton), made pit stops for fuel and tires. Sadler led Earnhardt at the lap 21 restart.[51]
One lap later, Earnhardt went right to unsuccessfully attempt a pass on Sadler without drafting assistance but fell back.[50] Jeff Gordon took the lead on lap 24th, as Sadler fell to fourth.[51] On lap 25, Kenseth overtook Gordon for first,[51] with Earnhardt second and Stewart third.[50] Earnhardt passed Kenseth for the lead two laps later, as Stewart got loose in turn two and slid up towards Kenseth; he regained control of his car. McMurray gave Stewart drafting assistance in passing Earnhardt for first on the 28th lap.[50] Six laps later, Mike Wallace collided with Mayfield, went into Biffle; no caution was issued.[1][50] Mayfield entered pit road for repairs on the lap.[51] He made a second pit stop on lap 38 because a fender cut his right-front tire.[1][50] On lap 40, Stewart remained first, with McMurray second.[51] Mayfield made a third pit stop for sheet metal repairs on the next lap.[1]
On the 48th lap, just after Stewart lost the lead to McMurray,[2] Gordon lost control of his vehicle and collided with Stewart's front. Both drivers were sent into the right-hand wall leaving the second turn and incurred right-side damage.[1][50] The field (including McMurray) made pit stops under caution.[51] McMurray was dropped off his team's jack, causing metal sheet damage, and Edwards had front-end repairs made.[1] As fog fell between turns one and three, restricting visibility, Newman led at the lap 52 restart, followed by Kenseth. Six laps later, Kyle Busch helped Kenseth take the lead from Newman. Kyle Busch lost positions from lap 61, while Kurt Busch moved to third. By the 75th lap, Stewart returned to 13th place.[50] Four laps later, a multi-car collision caused a third caution. Green's car slid upward into J. J. Yeley's path in turn three after colliding with Jarrett, collecting Nemechek. The front of Edwards' car briefly mounted Petty's left-side fender before both drivers slid into the infield grass at turn three.[1][43][50]
Dale Earnhardt Jr.(pictured in 2002) led more laps than any other driver in the Daytona 500 (32).
The leaders (including Kenseth) made pit stops under caution.[51] Kurt Busch and Travis Kvapil both staggered their pit stops, leading one lap before their stops.[2] Racing resumed on lap 85 with Kenseth leading and Harvick in second.[50] That lap, as the field spread out in turns one and two,[50] Harvick passed Kenseth for the lead.[51] Earnhardt turned left and exploited Nemechek's slower car to pass Harvick for first on lap 86. Four laps later, Kenseth received drafting assistance from Kurt Busch to recover first place from Harvick on the outside.[50] A fourth caution was prompted when a spring rubber was located on track during lap 91.[1][51] The leaders (including Kenseth) made pit stops during the caution. Earnhardt led at the lap 96 restart. Entering turn three on the lap, Kenseth overtook Johnson for second. On the 104th lap, Martin used Stewart's drafting to pass Earnhardt on the outside for the lead.[50]
The fifth caution was waved on lap 107.[51] Stewart went left and hit the front of Kenseth's car into turn three. This sent Kenseth into the infield grass and backward onto the track in turn three, where he hit no other cars before glancing the wall.[43][50] The field (including Martin) entered pit road during the caution. Earnhardt took the lead after all cars made their pit stops.[51] Meanwhile, Stewart was sent to the end of the longest line for "aggressive driving."[43] As Stewart and Kenseth exited pit road, Kenseth went to the outside into turn one and collided with Stewart's right-hand quarter. NASCAR ordered Kenseth to serve a drive-through penalty.[50] The race resumed on lap 112, with Earnhardt leading a lap before Biffle overtook him. Kenseth disputed his penalty and remained on track until the 114th lap.[51] Earnhardt retook the lead for two laps, before Kyle Busch led laps 116 and 120 until Johnson passed him on lap 121.[2] On lap 124, Robby Gordon's right-front tire failed in turn three, and he hit the wall, triggering the sixth caution.[50]
The field (including Johnson) entered pit road under caution. Elliott led the field on lap 126 before his pit stop.[51] Stewart drove over his pit stall jack, and was ordered to drop to the end of the nearest longest line.[1] Martin led at the lap 129 restart, followed by Johnson. That lap, Johnson unsuccessfully tried to pass Martin on the outside. Martin pulled away with drafting aid from Earnhardt, and the top six had formed a single line by lap 132. Earnhardt reclaimed the lead ten laps later, and Vickers passed teammate Johnson on the outside on lap 143.[50] Vickers took the lead on the next lap.[51] Lap 155 saw the seventh caution; debris was located in the frontstretch groove.[1] All of the leaders including Vickers made pit stops under caution. Johnson went onto the grass to avoid hitting Newman.[51] Earnhardt led Vickers and Newman at the lap 160 restart. Newman passed Earnhardt on the outside for the lead four laps later, which Earnhardt retook momentarily.[50] Kurt Busch moved to second on lap 167.[51]
Jimmie Johnson(pictured in 2007) led 24 laps and took his first Daytona 500 victory and the 19th of his career.
Kahne helped Earnhardt move to second on lap 171. Kvapil's right front tire burst five laps later, sending him into the turn three right-hand wall and prompting the eighth caution. During the caution, all cars including Newman entered pit road.[50] Vickers led at the lap 181 restart with no new tires on his car.[2][51] Every driver, except for Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch, turned onto the inside.[50] Just as Johnson overtook his teammate Vickers on the outside in turn two for the lead with Newman's help,[52][53] the ninth caution was waved on the 187th lap. McMurray collided with Kurt Busch's left-rear on the backstretch, sending Busch into a barrier. Marlin and Jeff Gordon were collected, and debris struck Stewart's car. Johnson maintained the lead at the lap 190 restart.[1][50] Newman bump drafted Vickers for two laps, before passing him for second, and attempted to challenge Johnson. Casey Mears then overtook Vickers for third.[52]
Johnson led the next seven laps before an accident brought out the tenth caution flag.[51] Burton slid up the backstretch and hit McMurray, leading Burton to collide with the wall.[1] Burton collided with Bobby Labonte's right side, causing both cars to strike the wall, and Labonte collected Hamlin.[50] During the caution, one of Newman's mechanics pleaded with representatives from Mears' and Sadler's teams to help Newman on the outside for the restart. Both declined because of the chance to win the race.[52] The race restarted on the 202nd lap for a green–white–checker finish extending it to 203 laps,[54] with Johnson leading Newman and Mears. The trio drew clear from the field. Strong runs from Sadler and Earnhardt closed them up to the top three.[50]
Earnhardt attempted to gain positions by turning right on the final lap, but fell back.[50] Then, Newman attempted to pass Johnson on the outside; Mears remained with Johnson instead of drafting Newman.[55] Biffle spun and hit the turn four wall, causing the eleventh (and final) caution.[1] The field was frozen in place, with the finish order determined by where the drivers were when the caution began.[56] This gave Johnson his maiden Daytona 500 victory, his first at either Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway, and the 19th of his career.[57] Mears, Newman, Sadler, Stewart, Bowyer, Vickers, Earnhardt, Schrader, and Jarrett completed the top ten finishers.[2] There were 11 cautions and 32 lead changes among a record-setting 18 different drivers during the race. Earnhardt led the most laps of any racer (32). Johnson led four times totaling 24 laps.[2]
Post-race
"The racer in me wanted to push and be aggressive out there. And there were so many times I just told myself to stop. Don't get caught up in this. I really did a lot of talking to myself. And ultimately I hope that I learned something today that will help me win a championship. In my eyes, I wonder if I've been trying too hard and this team's been trying too hard. If we just sit down and be calm and relaxed, do our job 100 percent, that we will accomplish what we want to."
Jimmie Johnson, on winning the 48th Daytona 500.[55]
Johnson appeared in Victory Lane to celebrate his first Daytona 500 victory in front of a crowd of 200,000 spectators; the win earned him $1,505,124.[2] He believed his team would win without Knaus and dedicated it to his detractors, saying,[56] "I just have so much pride in my team with the circumstances that we've faced this week. Chad made a mistake and we're dealing with the consequences that come with that. But I think this shows how hard we work to be successful, and nobody can deny the fact that we worked out butts off and won the sport's biggest race."[53] Mears said he was happy to be second, the fifth top-five finish of his career, "These races are so hard to get good finishes in [because] so many people can affect the outcome. Obviously we would have liked to have won [because] it would have forced Chip and Felix [Sabates, team co-owner] to put me in the Indy 500, which would have been a lot of fun. At the end of the day, it was a good finish for us, we had an excellent day and I couldn't be happier – unless we won."[58] Third-placed Newman told Mears after the race, "You cost me a million dollars".[55] He said he was proud to attempt a pass for the win, "I told the guys over the radio afterward, if I had that run and didn't take it, I would have had a hard time sleeping tonight – probably for the next 10 or 15 years, maybe – you never know."[58]
Regarding whether Johnson would be allowed to keep the victory, Johnson was declared the winner several hours later after his car passed post-race inspection.[54] Newman noted three of Johnson's previous wins came under scrutiny from NASCAR, adding, "This could still be the first opportunity for NASCAR to pull away a victory if the thing is illegal, I think a lot of Jimmie Johnson and his talent ... but I'm pretty sure that three of his past four wins have had conflict with the cars being illegal. It's not necessarily good for the sport."[52] Johnson responded by criticizing Newman's crew chief Matt Borland and said that he would defend himself and Hendrick Motorsports against personal criticism.[55] Mears believed Johnson earned the victory, "In my mind, the fact that they got caught earlier in the week took away every doubt in my mind that they'd actually do anything to cheat in this race."[52] Hendrick Motorsports founder and owner Rick Hendrick declared Knaus' ejection from the race as unimportant, commenting, "We've been through inspection I don't know how many times. NASCAR did what they did, and we came back and ran two races. That was history."[54]
Two days after the race, NASCAR announced penalties for Hendrick Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing. Hendrick Motorsport's penalties for "actions detrimental to stock car racing", and for making an unapproved template modification to Johnson's rear window, included a $25,000 fine for Knaus, who was suspended from NASCAR until March 22, 2006. Knaus was also placed on probation until December 31, 2006; Johnson did not incur a points penalty.[59] The team did not appeal the penalties and Grubb continued in Knaus' role until the Golden Corral 500.[60] Hall of Fame Racing's penalties were for "actions detrimental to stock car racing", and for having a non-compliant carburetor in accordance to the 2006 NASCAR Rule Book. Crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000, and Terry Labonte and team owner Bill Saunders were penalized 25 points in the Drivers' and Owners' Championships.[59] Hall of Fame Racing and its partner Joe Gibbs Racing announced they would appeal their penalties.[60] The appeal was heard before a three-member National Stock Car Racing Commission on March 7 at NASCAR's Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. The penalties were upheld.[61] Hall of Fame Racing decided not to appeal further to Charles D. Strang, the NASCAR National Commissioner.[62]
Kenseth said Stewart purposefully eliminated him from contention on lap 107. He was disenchanted with him, and urged NASCAR to address bump drafting, "There's no two ways about it. He was mad because earlier in the race when I passed him he got loose, which I didn't think I did anything wrong."[63] Stewart argued Kenseth caused the crash, "I guess Matt didn't think anything when he got me sideways over in (Turn) 2, either. He should have thought about that first. He got back what he started in the first place. I got penalized for that."[63] McMurray commented on his accident with Kurt Busch on lap 187, "I need to apologize to Kurt. I got into him, that was 100 percent my fault and I feel really bad because he had a car capable of winning and I kind of screwed that up for him."[64] Earnhardt, who led the most laps of any driver with 32, said he was pleased to finish ninth, "We had a great race car, built by all the technology and resources at DEI. … We came down here and ran great. That's what we wanted to do. I'm real proud of everybody back at the shop and all my guys down here that have been working on this car all week. It's been a long week."[65]
Johnson led the Drivers' Championship with 185 points after the season's first race, with Mears and Newman tied for second with 170 points. The top ten were completed by Sadler, Stewart, Earnhardt, Vickers, Bowyer, Schrader, and Jarrett.[66] Johnson won his first of five races of the 2006 season and took his first of seven NASCAR Cup Series championships at the season's end.[67]Chevrolet led the Manufacturers' Championship with nine points, Dodge was in second with six points, and Ford followed in third with four points.[68] The race attracted 37 million television viewers;[4] it took 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 26 seconds to complete; because it ended under caution, no margin of victory was recorded.[2]
Race results
Race results
Pos
Grid
Car
Driver
Team
Manufacturer
Laps
Points
1
9
48
Jimmie Johnson
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
1851
2
14
42
Casey Mears
Chip Ganassi Racing
Dodge
203
170
3
18
12
Ryan Newman
Penske Racing South
Dodge
203
1701
4
3
38
Elliott Sadler
Robert Yates Racing
Ford
203
1651
5
15
20
Tony Stewart
Joe Gibbs Racing
Chevrolet
203
1601
6
37
07
Clint Bowyer
Richard Childress Racing
Chevrolet
203
150
7
35
25
Brian Vickers
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
1511
8
7
8
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc,
Chevrolet
203
1522
9
23
21
Ken Schrader
Wood Brothers Racing
Ford
203
138
10
25
88
Dale Jarrett
Robert Yates Racing
Ford
203
134
11
27
9
Kasey Kahne
Evernham Motorsports
Dodge
203
130
12
10
6
Mark Martin
Roush Racing
Ford
203
1321
13
20
7
Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
124
14
28
29
Kevin Harvick
Richard Childress Racing
Chevrolet
203
1261
15
11
17
Matt Kenseth
Roush Racing
Ford
203
1231
16
19
1
Martin Truex Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Chevrolet
203
115
17
43
96
Terry Labonte
Hall of Fame Racing
Chevrolet
203
873
18
30
55
Michael Waltrip
Waltrip-Jasper Racing
Dodge
203
109
19
33
36
Bill Elliott
MB2 Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
1111
20
42
27
Kirk Shelmerdine
Kirk Shelmerdine Racing
Chevrolet
203
103
21
29
49
Brent Sherman
BAM Racing
Dodge
203
100
22
34
22
Dave Blaney
Bill Davis Racing
Dodge
203
97
23
4
5
Kyle Busch
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
991
24
24
09
Mike Wallace
Phoenix Racing
Dodge
203
91
25
31
61
Kevin Lepage
Peak Fitness Racing
Ford
203
931
26
2
24
Jeff Gordon
Hendrick Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
901
27
40
32
Travis Kvapil
PPI Motorsports
Chevrolet
203
871
28
32
40
David Stremme
Chip Ganassi Racing
Dodge
203
79
29
22
41
Reed Sorenson
Chip Ganassi Racing
Dodge
203
76
30
17
11
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
Chevrolet
203
73
31
16
16
Greg Biffle
Roush Racing
Ford
203
751
32
1
31
Jeff Burton
Richard Childress Racing
Chevrolet
202
721
33
38
01
Joe Nemechek
MB2 Motorsports
Chevrolet
200
64
34
39
14
Sterling Marlin
MB2 Motorsports
Chevrolet
200
61
35
8
43
Bobby Labonte
Petty Enterprises
Dodge
197
58
36
26
19
Jeremy Mayfield
Evernham Motorsports
Dodge
197
55
37
6
26
Jamie McMurray
Roush Racing
Ford
196
571
38
13
2
Kurt Busch
Penske Racing South
Dodge
187
541
39
12
45
Kyle Petty
Petty Enterprises
Dodge
173
46
40
41
00
Hermie Sadler
MBA Racing
Ford
169
43
41
36
18
J. J. Yeley
Joe Gibbs Racing
Chevrolet
157
40
42
21
66
Jeff Green
Haas CNC Racing
Chevrolet
156
37
43
5
99
Carl Edwards
Roush Racing
Ford
78
34
1 Includes five bonus points for leading a lap
2 Includes ten bonus points for leading the most laps
The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 57th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 34th modern-era Cup series. The season began on Saturday, February 12. The ten-race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400.
The 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 58th season of professional Stock car racing in the United States and the 35th modern-era NASCAR Cup series season. It was started at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 12 with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on Monday, November 20, with the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Chase for the Nextel Cup began with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 17, at New Hampshire International Speedway. This was the last full-time season with the Gen 4 car.
The 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series was the 56th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 33rd modern-era Cup series season. The season began on Saturday, February 7, and ended on Sunday, November 21. Kurt Busch, who drove a Ford for Roush Racing, was the Nextel Cup champion. It would be the last time until 2012 that the championship would be won by someone other than Tony Stewart or Jimmie Johnson.
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 55th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 32nd modern-era Cup Series season. The season began on February 8 at the Daytona International Speedway with the Budweiser Shootout and ended on November 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 400. Despite only winning one race throughout the whole season, Matt Kenseth, driving the No.17 Ford for Roush Racing, was strongly consistent following the lone win, and was crowned the Winston Cup champion. His only win came in the third race of the 36 race season. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins and 264 points over second-place finisher Dodge, who had nine wins and 203 points. Ford finished the year third with seven wins and 200 points, and Pontiac finished fourth with one win and 125 points.
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 54th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 31st modern-era Cup Series season. It began on February 10, 2002, at Daytona International Speedway, and ended on November 17, 2002, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, was declared as the Winston Cup champion. Bill Elliott won the 2002 NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award. He would win it for the 16th and final time in his career. He withdrew from the ballot after receiving the award. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events and gaining 245 points over second-place finisher Chevrolet, who had 10 wins and 211 points.
The 2007 Coca-Cola 600 was the 12th stock car race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the event's 48th iteration. It was held on May 27, 2007, with 175,000 spectators in attendance, in Concord, North Carolina at Lowe's Motor Speedway, an intermediate track that holds NASCAR races. Casey Mears of the Hendrick Motorsports team won the 400-lap race after starting 16th. Joe Gibbs Racing's J. J. Yeley finished second and Kyle Petty of Petty Enterprises took third.
The 2009 Daytona 500, the 51st running of the event, was held on February 15, 2009, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida as the first points-paying race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and the last 500 of the 2000s decade. The race was won by Matt Kenseth, making a car numbered 17 winning the race for the first time in 20 years since Darrell Waltrip's win back in 1989 and the first Daytona 500 win for Roush Fenway Racing. The race was called off with 48 laps to go after a severe rainstorm that had been lingering throughout the area hit the track.
The 2009 Budweiser Shootout was the first exhibition stock car race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The 31st annual running of the Budweiser Shootout, it was held on February 7, 2009, in Daytona Beach, Florida, at Daytona International Speedway, before a crowd of 80,000 people. Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick won the 78-lap race, after he started from the next-to-last 27th position. Roush Fenway Racing's Jamie McMurray finished in second, and Stewart-Haas Racing's Tony Stewart was third.
The Big One is a phrase describing any crash usually involving five or more cars in NASCAR, ARCA, and IndyCar racing. It is most commonly used at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, although occasionally seen at other tracks as well, such as Dover Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International.
The 2003 Aaron's 499 was held on April 6, 2003, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It was the eighth race of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. Jeremy Mayfield was the polesitter.
The 2009 Aaron's 499 was the ninth race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. With a distance of 500.8 miles (806.0 km), it was held on April 26, 2009 at the 2.66 miles (4.28 km) Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. Fox Sports broadcast the race starting at 1 PM EDT, with MRN and Sirius XM Radio carrying the radio broadcast over the air and on satellite respectively. The race had nine cautions, 25 different leaders, and 57 lead changes, the most lead changes of the season up until that point.
The 2010 Aaron's 499 was the 9th race of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, and the first of two Sprint Cup races held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It started at 1 p.m. EDT on April 25, 2010. The race was televised on Fox and was also broadcast on MRN Radio at 12 p.m. After Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman previous crash, officials decided that they would change from the rear wing to the rear spoiler which debuted in the 2010 Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500. The race, which was extended by 12 laps, shattered numerous NASCAR records: it marked the first time under the modified green-white-checkered finish rules that a race had gone to the maximum three attempts allowed. There were eight caution flags, a record-setting 29 different leaders and a record-setting 88 lead changes. Kevin Harvick of Richard Childress Racing won the race, his first win of the season and his first since the 2007 Daytona 500, while the Earnhardt-Ganassi teammates of Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya finished second and third.
The 2011 Gatorade Duels were a pair of stock car races held on February 17, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The 62 and 60-lap races, held before a crowd of 80,000 people, were the qualifying events for the 2011 Daytona 500, the premier event of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The first race was won by Kurt Busch for the Penske Racing team. Regan Smith finished second, and Kevin Harvick came in third. Afterward, the second race was won by Jeff Burton. Clint Bowyer followed in the second position, ahead of third-placed Michael Waltrip.
The 2012 Daytona 500 was the first stock car race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The 54th iteration of the event, it was held between February 27 and 28, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, before a crowd of 140,000. Matt Kenseth driving for Roush Fenway Racing took the 202-lap race for his first win of the season and his second Daytona 500 victory. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second and Greg Biffle was third.
The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the 65th season of NASCAR professional stock car racing in the United States and the 42nd modern-era Cup season. The season began on February 16, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway, with the Sprint Unlimited, followed by the Daytona 500 on February 24. The season ended with the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17.
The 2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on October 7, 2012 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, United States. Contested over 188 laps on the 2.66-mile (4.3 km) asphalt tri-oval, it was the thirtieth race of the 2012 Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the fourth race in the ten-race Chase for the Sprint Cup, which ends the season.
The 2006 UAW-Ford 500 was a stock car race that took place on October 8, 2006. The 38th annual running of the event, it was held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, before 160,000 spectators; the 188-lap race was the 30th in the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the fourth in the ten-race, season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup. Brian Vickers of Hendrick Motorsports won the race; Kasey Kahne finished second, and Kurt Busch came in third.
The 2006 Subway 500 was the 32nd stock car race of the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the sixth in the ten-race Chase for the Nextel Cup. It was held on October 22, 2006, before a crowd of 65,000, at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, a short track that holds NASCAR races. Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson won the 500‑lap race starting from the ninth position; Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing finished second, and Petty Enterprises' Bobby Labonte was third.
The 2006 Banquet 400 was the twenty-ninth stock car race of the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the third in the ten-race season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup. It was held on October 1, 2006 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas before a crowd of 125,000. The 267-lap race was won by Tony Stewart of the Joe Gibbs Racing team who started from twenty-first position. Casey Mears finished second and Mark Martin came in third.
The 2005 UAW-Ford 500 was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race that took place on October 2, 2005 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It was the 29th race of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the third in the ten-race, season-ending Chase for the Nextel Cup. Dale Jarrett of Robert Yates Racing would win the race.
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