Top 10 Daytona 500's

[CBright7831 0]

10. 1960: Junior Achievement

09. 1963: Tiny Lunds big save

08. 1959: Lee Petty wins first 500

07. 2004: Dale Jr. Wins It

06. 1990: Earnhardt loses to Cope

05. 1988: February Fathers Day

04. 1981: Pettty pulls a fast one

03. 1998: Earnhardt Ends Streak

02. 1976: Pearson vs. Petty

01. 1979: Allison/Yarborough fight

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/3387042?GT1=6115

[2GOLD 0]

Sadly, Michael's winning won't be remembered for the good thing.

 

Which is a damn shame cause Michael Waltrip had waited forever for that win, only for it to have the biggest cloud in NASCAR history block out his sunshine.

[Guest sek69]

"I WON THE DAYTONA 500!"

 

Say what you will about ol' DW, but his reaction to finally winning the 500 not only was one of the more perfect displays of the pure childlike joy of sports, it also was the moment that turned him from grumpy over-the-hill ex champ to beloved NASCAR figure.

[2GOLD 0]

"I WON THE DAYTONA 500!"

 

Say what you will about ol' DW, but his reaction to finally winning the 500 not only was one of the more perfect displays of the pure childlike joy of sports, it also was the moment that turned him from grumpy over-the-hill ex champ to beloved NASCAR figure.

 

The Waltrip shuffle is quite possibly the greatest dance in the history of NASCAR or any sport.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Pretty close to what ESPN had. 1976 was #1 in their rankings.

 

The race this week. I gotta go with Jimmy Johson. Depite the wreck, he doesn't lose his spot on the front row and he's been the best driver this week.

 

1.Johnson

2.Earnhardt

3.Gordon

4.Waltrip

5.Sadler

[CBright7831 0]

Sadly, Michael's winning won't be remembered for the good thing.

 

Which is a damn shame cause Michael Waltrip had waited forever for that win, only for it to have the biggest cloud in NASCAR history block out his sunshine.

I feel bad for Sterling Marlin, since he's considered by many to be "the man who killed Dale Earnhardt."

[Art Sandusky 0]

I watch the races every week, but only really root for Fords and Tony Stewart specifically since he's the most inflammatory.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I have to go with Dale Earnhardt Jr., he won it last year without Michael Waltrip most of the race and this year he has additional help in Martin Truex Jr.. As for Truex Jr., I think he has the makings of being a major player in NASCAR in the future.

[Guest Dale Earnhardt]

Sadly, Michael's winning won't be remembered for the good thing.

 

Which is a damn shame cause Michael Waltrip had waited forever for that win, only for it to have the biggest cloud in NASCAR history block out his sunshine.

I feel bad for Sterling Marlin, since he's considered by many to be "the man who killed Dale Earnhardt."

And the man who just a year later, cost himself the 500 by getting out and fixing his fender. There's no denying that Sterling made contact but it was a racing accident and hardly anyone (that matters) puts blame on Sterling for the accident. They are expecting 200,000 people at the race tomorrow. NASCAR does attract the largest crowds of any sport. Usually drawing 100,000 + almost weekly.

 

 

Dale Earnhardt's journey to win the Daytona 500 was extraordinary. He had everything happen to him, he even hit a seagull. My favorite Daytona 500 moment has to be the 1997 Daytona 500's shining moment. Dale Earnhardt's car flips over and Dale gets out. Dale takes a look at his car as the crowd goes wild. Dale hops into the wrecked car and finishes the race after his tumble. Just the intensity in Dale Earnhardt's expression. You could tell that he wanted it badly and would win it the next year. Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin are going through a similar situation. Only difference is that, neither man will be back. Kevin Harvick may have destroyed Martin and Wallace's chances during the Duels when he tried bump-drafting in the corner. Both men will have to go an inferior backup car and move to the back of the pack. I am pullling for Rusty Wallace to finally win the Daytona 500 in what should be a dramatic race.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

For being such a important and legendary race, similar to the superbowl not all of them live up to the billing.

 

Personally speaking 2001 was perhaps the most enjoyable race of the last 10 daytona's however marred by the tragic conclusion.

 

The most amazing thing about the 500 is the fact; it's basically wide open in the sense, almost anyone can be a realistic contender factoring in your luck in avoiding the "big one" or getting a good draft partner or the chips simply falling in your favor.

 

The whole season really has a completely WIDE OPEN field of contenders. Which makes this such an attractive sport for the novices, Its not like other sports. Here you can "pick" a driver for any various reason and can't really select a winner, as that last year's champion Kurt Busch may easily struggle as Tony Stewart did in his 2003 season defending his title.

 

Or someone out the blue can come and shake things up; such as Mark Martin whom was written off last year and shocked many by coming once again dangerously close to winning it all.

 

The Daytona 500 in just a few hours from now figures to be a very open race in the sense anyone really has a chance. Should be a dramatic series with various already interesting stories brewing.

 

You have the DEI cars#1(truex Jr), #8(Dale Jr) and #15(Waltrip) #99(Kenny Wallce in a DEI Engine in Waltrip's car) once again challenging anyone to come to their level. You have the new Dodges and of course the annual rule changes and modifications that all the teams will have to adapt too.

 

The final Daytona 500 for Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, and perhaps even for Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, Kyle Petty and Terry Labonte (Elliott and Labonte already running limited races, Rudd calling out to quit if he's not competitive anymore and Petty's long rumored to retire and officially run the business/announce). So you have 3 former nascar champions likely calling it a end for the daytona 500, along with three of the most popular names on the circuit today and none of those have a Daytona 500 to their credit save for Elliott.

 

You got the new sponsers/driver changes that most fans will be using 1/2 the race to familiarize themselfs with.

 

It should be an fun race and hopefully drama will be in order.

[Gert T 0]

I still got Tony Stewart winning tomorrow, but it would be sweet if Martin came back from 32nd to win the race.

 

Will tomorrow's race be the 3rd in three days to win on a yellow flag?

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

If we're doing "picks", I'm going with a "dark horse" and saying Bobby Labonte.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I have a feeling that if either Mark Martin or Rusty Wallace are in a position to win late in the race, it'll be sort of like the 2001 Pepsi 400 with Dale Earnhardt Jr. People will sort of hold back to let them have their moment. I'm really questioning how competitive Mark Martin will be, I just feel uncomfortable with him fixing his primary car instead of going to a backup. As for the race itself it should be very good, especially if you get all of the big teams up there working together. How about three wide up front with DEI, Richard Childress, and Hendrick right until the finish.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

RCR is hardly a top three caliber team. DEI, Hendrick, Roush would be the "pecking" order.

 

It would be wonderfully dramatic to see someone like Martin Treux Jr in front at the end with 3 to go with Wallace in 4th and Martin in 3rd with Dale Jarrett riding 2nd because it'd be the two retiring vets fighting for the daytona behind the winningest active daytona 500 winner and some young hotshot punk kid in Truex junior followed by Nascar's "elite" of Junior, Gordon, Johnson, Stewart, Busch and Kenseth.

 

There's alot of interesting "dream" sceaniros but i honestly dont think we'll see Rusty or Martin win.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

IDK, RCR did a pretty good job of making DEI their bitch in the final laps of the Busch Series race yesterday.

[Guest Dale Earnhardt]

IDK, RCR did a pretty good job of making DEI their bitch in the final laps of the Busch Series race yesterday.

RCR suffered greatly after Dale's death and even now, their only competitive car is the car that Dale used to drive. The #31 was never up there and the #30 (now #07) was so far off. The #31 may have a chance this year with Jeff Burton behind the wheel.

 

 

DEI has proven that they have competitive cars this week already. Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. all have great starting spots. I'd look for DEI to occupy the top 3 positions at some point. The Roush/Yates Horsepower may also prove to be a factor with Dale Jarrett starting on pole for the Daytona 500.

 

 

Any predictions on what lap the "big one" will fall on and who will be involved?

[JustJoe2k5 0]

I'll say that the "big one" will either happen on the second to last lap or the last lap, since that seems to be when wrecks want to happen this weekend. I also wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have a big wreck at all since the Busch series didn't have one yesterday, and Nextel Cup drivers are far more talented so they may stay out of trouble. I just want to see a clean win for once this weekend, Truck series had a wreck that ruined the finish and yesterday's race had a wreck that ruined the finish, I just want to see them race to the finish. As far as RCR, yesterday Kevin Harvick and whoever drives the #2 were up front all race long and Tony Stewart was driving a car owned by Kevin Harvick which you have to know was running on RCR power. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. were hooked up in the front of the pack, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart just hooked up and drove right by them. I have a feeling they'll carry some of that experience over to today's race. What I want to see is if it comes down to Dale Earnhardt Jr. versus Kevin Harvick with Tony Stewart in third, who does he go with.

[Guest Dale Earnhardt]

I'll say that the "big one" will either happen on the second to last lap or the last lap, since that seems to be when wrecks want to happen this weekend. I also wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have a big wreck at all since the Busch series didn't have one yesterday, and Nextel Cup drivers are far more talented so they may stay out of trouble. I just want to see a clean win for once this weekend, Truck series had a wreck that ruined the finish and yesterday's race had a wreck that ruined the finish, I just want to see them race to the finish.

Well, there was a "big one" on Thursday in the Gatorade Duel. So, you never know.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

The only problem is that the announcers are so on edge about there being a big wreck, that every little spin that happens they are yelling "here it is, this is the big one". They have also changed what counts as the "big one", to me the big wreck should involve like 20+ cars not seven or eight with three or four more having minor damage.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I dont believe we will witness a true BIG ONE today. We will see a few baby big ones. I predict 2-3 4/5 car pileups.

 

 

Fox and Nascar better hope a repeat of 2002 doesn't happen where most of the big names are taken out by the big one or car problems and were left with a uncharismatic Sterling Marlin, very dull Ward Burton, still relatively unknown Elliot Sadler and the old grumpy Geoff Bodine running the top 4 at the end.

 

Last year was a wet dream for Nascar with two of it's biggest stars running one and two.

[Alro 0]

and Petty's long rumored to retire and officially run the business/announce).

Kyle Petty should have retired years ago so the soiling of the Petty name could have stopped.

[CBright7831 0]

Sadly, Michael's winning won't be remembered for the good thing.

 

Which is a damn shame cause Michael Waltrip had waited forever for that win, only for it to have the biggest cloud in NASCAR history block out his sunshine.

I feel bad for Sterling Marlin, since he's considered by many to be "the man who killed Dale Earnhardt."

And the man who just a year later, cost himself the 500 by getting out and fixing his fender. There's no denying that Sterling made contact but it was a racing accident and hardly anyone (that matters) puts blame on Sterling for the accident. They are expecting 200,000 people at the race tomorrow. NASCAR does attract the largest crowds of any sport. Usually drawing 100,000 + almost weekly.

 

 

Dale Earnhardt's journey to win the Daytona 500 was extraordinary. He had everything happen to him, he even hit a seagull. My favorite Daytona 500 moment has to be the 1997 Daytona 500's shining moment. Dale Earnhardt's car flips over and Dale gets out. Dale takes a look at his car as the crowd goes wild. Dale hops into the wrecked car and finishes the race after his tumble. Just the intensity in Dale Earnhardt's expression. You could tell that he wanted it badly and would win it the next year. Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin are going through a similar situation. Only difference is that, neither man will be back. Kevin Harvick may have destroyed Martin and Wallace's chances during the Duels when he tried bump-drafting in the corner. Both men will have to go an inferior backup car and move to the back of the pack. I am pullling for Rusty Wallace to finally win the Daytona 500 in what should be a dramatic race.

I agree. I've never held any bad will toward Sterling Marlin. I remember reading Marlin was reciving lots of death threats after Eanrhardt's death. People don't realize that like every other sport, the drivers put their life on the line when they start those engines.

 

And yes, I remember the Earnhardt vs. seagull incident. I thought surely he was going to win that race, then he, Davey Allison, and Kyle Petty all wrecked, and I cried.

[CBright7831 0]

Oh and Earnhardt's Top 10 List in 1998 was gold.

 

The Late Show w/ David Letterman's Top Ten List for 2/16/98

 

Top ten reasons it took me, Dale Earnhardt, 20 years to win the Daytona 500. As presented by 1998 Daytona 500 Winner, Dale Earnhardt.

 

10. It took me 19 years to realize I had the emergency brake on.

 

 

9. Finally rotated and balanced my mustache.

 

 

8. Quit training with the Canadian snowboarding team.

 

 

7. Stopped letting my 300-pound cousin Ricky ride shotgun.

 

 

6. New strategy: pretend I'm Dave driving home on the Merritt Parkway.

 

 

5. Who cares that it took me 20 years -- at least my name isn't Dick Trickle.

 

 

4. Just figured out that if you mash the gas pedal all the way down, the car takes off like a son-of-a-bitch.

 

 

3. My new pit crew -- The Spice Girls.

 

 

2. This year whenever I passed somebody I gave them the finger.

 

 

1. My secret to success: one can of motor oil in my engine, one can of motor oil in my pants!

[Vasarian_Brandy 0]

Oh and Earnhardt's Top 10 List in 1998 was gold.

 

The Late Show w/ David Letterman's Top Ten List for 2/16/98

 

Top ten reasons it took me, Dale Earnhardt, 20 years to win the Daytona 500. As presented by 1998 Daytona 500 Winner, Dale Earnhardt.

 

10. It took me 19 years to realize I had the emergency brake on.

 

 

9. Finally rotated and balanced my mustache.

 

 

8. Quit training with the Canadian snowboarding team.

 

 

7. Stopped letting my 300-pound cousin Ricky ride shotgun.

 

 

6. New strategy: pretend I'm Dave driving home on the Merritt Parkway.

 

 

5. Who cares that it took me 20 years -- at least my name isn't Dick Trickle.

 

 

4. Just figured out that if you mash the gas pedal all the way down, the car takes off like a son-of-a-bitch.

 

 

3. My new pit crew -- The Spice Girls.

 

 

2. This year whenever I passed somebody I gave them the finger.

 

 

1. My secret to success: one can of motor oil in my engine, one can of motor oil in my pants!

That... is freakin' golden!

 

To me, people always seemed to portray Big E as... Well... Pardon my 'French', but as an asshole off the track... I think remembering little things like that Top 10 list will just serve to elevate E's status as a NASCAR icon that much more.

 

Oh, and the death threats to Sterling was so Bush League... There's a big difference between being passionate about a sport, or a driver... And being just down-right "not right in the head". I mean... Do you think Emerson Fittipaldi got death threats when he bumped and spun Al Unser Jr. with a handful of laps to go in a past Indy 500? Or was it the other way around... I don't remember, but... Point being, isn't it bad enough that Sterling has that on his own conscience without people 'reminding' him of what he did?

 

Anyway... Yeah, I'm done now.

[Guest sek69]

and Petty's long rumored to retire and officially run the business/announce).

Kyle Petty should have retired years ago so the soiling of the Petty name could have stopped.

Wasn't Kyle Petty about to retire when his son was killed? I know the car Kyle drives now (#45) was Adam's.

 

Despite the Petty cars having a good day at Daytona (finishing 16th and 17th) it is pretty sad to see the team with the legacy of Lee and Richard Petty finishing with the Kirk Shelmerdines of the world every week.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Wonder how good Adam Petty could of been?