2009 Daytona 500
Race details | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 1 of 36 in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series | ||||||
Date | February 15, 2009 | |||||
Location |
Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. | |||||
Course |
Permanent racing facility 2.5 mi (4.023 km) | |||||
Distance | 152 laps, 380 mi (610 km) | |||||
Scheduled Distance | 200 laps, 500 mi (804.672 km) | |||||
Weather | Temperatures reaching up to 73.9 °F (23.3 °C); wind speeds up to 8.9 miles per hour (14.3 km/h)[1] | |||||
Average speed | 132.816 miles per hour (213.747 km/h) | |||||
Pole position | ||||||
Driver |
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | |||||
Qualifying race winners | ||||||
Duel 1 Winner | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | ||||
Duel 2 Winner | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
Most laps led | ||||||
Driver | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||
Laps | 88 | |||||
Winner | ||||||
No. 17 | Matt Kenseth |
Network | Fox | |||
Announcers |
Nielsen Ratings |
9.2/19 (15.954 million viewers)[2] |
The 2009 Daytona 500, the 51st running of the
This marks the first Daytona 500 without The Petty family and the first without Dale Jarrett since 1990.
Defending champions
For the first time since 1981, the defending race champion driver and the team have been split.
The last time a driver and team split was when Buddy Baker drove for Harry Ranier Racing in winning the 1980 event, but the next year was the driver of Hoss Ellington's No. 1.
Former winners Kevin Harvick (2007), Michael Waltrip (2001, 2003), Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999, 2005), Bill Elliott (1985, 1987), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2006), and Ryan Newman (2008) did race in the event finishing second, seventh, thirteenth, twenty-third, twenty-seventh, thirty-first, and thirty-sixth respectively. Derrike Cope (1990) and Geoff Bodine (1986), also former winners, failed to qualify.
Entry List
- (W) denotes past 500 winner
- (R) denotes rookie driver
No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
---|---|---|---|
00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing |
Chevrolet |
2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Championship Racing |
Dodge |
5 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing |
Ford |
07 | Casey Mears | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Toyota |
08 | Boris Said | Carter/Simo Racing |
Ford |
8 | Aric Almirola | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
09 | Brad Keselowski | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet |
9 | Kasey Kahne | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge |
11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
12 | David Stremme | Penske Championship Racing | Dodge |
14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing |
Chevrolet |
16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
19 | Elliott Sadler | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford |
20 | Joey Logano (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
21 | Bill Elliott (W) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
23 | Mike Skinner | R3 Motorsports | Chevrolet |
24 | Jeff Gordon (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
27 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing |
Toyota |
28 | Travis Kvapil | Yates Racing | Ford |
29 | Kevin Harvick (W) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
34 | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet |
36 | Scott Riggs | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Toyota |
37 | Tony Raines | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge |
39 | Ryan Newman (W) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
41 | Jeremy Mayfield | Mayfield Motorsports |
Toyota |
42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
43 | Reed Sorenson | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge |
44 | A. J. Allmendinger | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge |
46 | Carl Long | Carl Long Racing |
Dodge |
47 | Marcos Ambrose (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota |
48 | Jimmie Johnson (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
51 | Kelly Bires (R) | BlackJack Racing |
Dodge |
55 | Michael Waltrip (W) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
57 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet |
64 | Geoff Bodine (W) | Gunselman Motorsports |
Toyota |
66 | Terry Labonte | Prism Motorsports |
Toyota |
71 | Mike Wallace | TRG Motorsports |
Chevrolet |
73 | Mike Garvey | H&S Motorsports | Dodge |
75 | Derrike Cope (W) | Cope/Keller Racing |
Dodge |
77 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Penske Championship Racing | Dodge |
78 | Regan Smith | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet |
82 | Scott Speed (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota |
83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota |
87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota |
88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
96 | Bobby Labonte | Hall of Fame Racing | Ford |
98 | Paul Menard | Yates Racing | Ford |
99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
Official Entry list |
Qualifying
The Daytona 500 is the only event with a unique qualifying system on the NASCAR circuit. In the primary qualifying, only the front row (the pole position and the second-fastest driver) are locked into the race positions. Since 2005, NASCAR's top 35 owners points standings from the previous season automatically qualify those teams (not the drivers) into the event. The top two teams that are not within the owners' Top 35 automatically qualify in the Gatorade Duels, a pair of 150 miles (240 km) races. This is followed by a combination of last years' owners' points, pole qualifying speed and if needed, a past champions' provisional fills out the field.
Qualifying• One round of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series timed qualifying will be held. Each team may run two laps with the fast lap setting the qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers set starting positions one and two and are the only guaranteed positions, filling the front row for the Daytona 500. • The Gatorade Duels, the 150-mile qualifying races, will determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.
Gatorade Duel Assignment • The eligible highest ranked 35 in 2008 car owner points will be assigned to Gatorade Duel races based on their standing in the 2008 final car owner points. Odd-numbered owner points will compete in the first Gatorade Duel; even-numbered owners will compete in the second. The only exception is that the fastest qualifier will start on the pole in the first Gatorade Duel and the second-fastest will start on the pole in the second, regardless of 2008 car owner point standings. • Owners who failed to finish in the top 35 of the 2008 car owner points will be assigned to a Gatorade Duel based on qualifying times – the highest qualifying owner to the first Duel; the next to the second and alternating through the remaining entries. Starting positions for the Gatorade Duels are based on qualifying times.
Daytona 500 Lineup • Finishing positions in the Gatorade Duels will determine starting positions in the Daytona 500 once the two fastest qualifiers will start on the front row of the Daytona 500 based on their qualifying times, regardless of their finish in the Duels. Based on their finish in the first Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the odd-number starting positions. Based on their finish in the second Duel, the eligible highest ranked 35 in car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up in the even-number starting positions. • The remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying times beginning with the next available position. • The composition of the front row will reduce the above numbers. If there are top-35 teams on the front row, the number of guaranteed starters is reduced accordingly. If there are no top-35 teams on the front row, the number of cars that get in based on time is reduced accordingly. • The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion as long as the past champion competed in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position is not used by a past champion, it will be assigned to the next highest qualifying time.
Recap The bottom line – for the 2009 Daytona 500 – is that the top-two qualifiers are in. The remaining top-35 guaranteed starters are in. Four drivers will make the field based on their performance in the duels and the remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying times or being a past champion.
Race summary
Pre-Race
Country singer Keith Urban performed a concert on the infield singing "Days Go By", "Sweet Thing", and "Better Life". Urban tossed his guitar pick into the crowd at the end of his performance. The first episode of the miniseries "The Adventures of Digger and Friends" premiered during the FOX pre-race coverage; Keith Urban's "Little Digger," the theme song to "The Adventures of Digger and Friends," also premiered. However, from there on, Digger would draw much opposition, including sites, forums, and blogs warning FOX about his use.
The Grand Marshal was the
Race
During the drivers' meeting, NASCAR announced there would be a competition caution on lap 25 because of overnight rain. Despite threatening weather, the race started at 3:30 pm, with the green flag at 3:41 pm, waved by three-time champion
Green flag pit stops began on lap 113 when Gordon over tire wear concerns, and his crew changed tires on lap 113, with the rest of the field on lap 119. David Stremme blew a tire on pit road as soon as his teammates Reed Sorenson and Elliott Sadler exited. Sadler wound up in 2nd and Sorenson in 3rd while the entire field had to pit one lap later. Earnhardt Jr. mistakingly made his second pit stop in Lap 121 by completing his pit stop with his right front tire over the outside boundary line of his pit box, resulting in a one-lap penalty.
On lap 124, the race for the beneficiary resulted in
On lap 146, Matt Kenseth took the lead from Sadler a lap after the action resumed. Almirola was then spun by Kasey Kahne after Almirola made contact with Sam Hornish Jr. on the backstretch. At this time, rain began to fall on the track under the yellow. On lap 152, the cars came into pit road under the red flag. Some drivers exited their cars while others, including Kenseth, remained in theirs. During the red flag period, asked what happened with Brian Vickers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, "I got a run on him and he (Vickers) saw me coming. I had a big old run on him and I went to the inside. I didn't try to make any late move and make some kind of surprise or anything. I just kind of ease on over and he went to block me and hit me in the fender sending us both off, sent me down into the grass and I tried to recover my car. I got back into him coming back into the racetrack." When asked what happened was accidental, Earnhardt Jr. was unrepentant and said, "Yeah, it was accidental. I didn't want to wreck the field." Later that week, Earnhardt Jr. gave a public apology for the incident and decided that he should have thought before he made his move that obviously would have crashed Vickers.
At 6:49 pm. EST, sixteen minutes after the start of the red flag, NASCAR officials decided to call the race declaring Kenseth as the winner. "It's going to be really wet out here because I'm crying like a baby," said Kenseth moments after the race was called. "I tell you what, after last year, winning a race means a lot to me," Kenseth later said who was winless in 2008.[6] Harvick, winner of the Bud Shootout, was second. Richard Petty Motorsports drivers A. J. Allmendinger (#44), Sadler (#19), and Reed Sorenson (#43) finished 3rd, 5th, and 9th respectively. Michael Waltrip had the best finishing Toyota in the 7th. Stewart was 8th in his first race as a driver and team owner. Truex Jr. finished 11th, J. Gordon (Gatorade Duel No. 1 winner) finished 13th, Marcos Ambrose (in his first 500 starts) finished 17th, Johnson (the defending Series champion) finished 31st, Speed (the high-finishing rookie) finished 35th, Ryan Newman (the defending 500 winners) finished 36th, Ky. Busch (who led the most laps at 88 and won Gatorade Duel #2) finished 41st because of him being involved in the lap 124 multi-car crash, and Logano (also in his first Daytona 500 start also) finished 43rd.
Starting lineup
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing |
Chevrolet | |||||||||
2 | 5 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |||||||||
3 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |||||||||
4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
5 | 14* | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing |
Chevrolet | |||||||||
6 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | |||||||||
7 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |||||||||
8 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
9 | 20 | Joey Logano (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
10 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
11 | 8 | Aric Almirola | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
12 | 96 | Bobby Labonte | Hall of Fame Racing | Ford | |||||||||
13 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Penske Championship Racing |
Dodge | |||||||||
14 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (W) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |||||||||
15 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge | |||||||||
16 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |||||||||
17 | 36 | Scott Riggs | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
18 | 41 | Jeremy Mayfield | Mayfield Motorsports |
Toyota | |||||||||
19 | 98 | Paul Menard | Yates Racing | Ford | |||||||||
20 | 44 | A. J. Allmendinger | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge | |||||||||
21 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Roush Fenway Racing |
Ford | |||||||||
22 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
23 | 47 | Marcos Ambrose (R) | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
24 | 12 | David Stremme | Penske Championship Racing | Dodge | |||||||||
25 | 07 | Casey Mears | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
26 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
27 | 55 | Michael Waltrip (W) | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
28 | 00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | |||||||||
29 | 77* | Sam Hornish Jr. | Penske Championship Racing | Dodge | |||||||||
30 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge | |||||||||
31 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Robby Gordon Motorsports | Toyota | |||||||||
32 | 29* | Kevin Harvick (W) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
33 | 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |||||||||
34 | 43 | Reed Sorenson | Richard Petty Motorsports | Dodge | |||||||||
35 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |||||||||
36 | 39* | Ryan Newman (W) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
37 | 34* | John Andretti | Front Row Motorsports | Chevrolet | |||||||||
38 | 82* | Scott Speed (R) | Red Bull Racing Team | Toyota | |||||||||
39 | 17* | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |||||||||
40 | 21 | Bill Elliott (W) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | |||||||||
41 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Yates Racing | Ford | |||||||||
42 | 78 | Regan Smith | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | |||||||||
43 | 66 | Terry Labonte | Prism Motorsports |
Toyota | |||||||||
Did not qualify | |||||||||||||
87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota | ||||||||||
08 | Boris Said | Carter/Simo Racing |
Ford | ||||||||||
09 | Brad Keselowski | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | ||||||||||
27 | Kirk Shelmerdine | Kirk Shelmerdine Racing |
Toyota | ||||||||||
71 | Mike Wallace | TRG Motorsports |
Chevrolet | ||||||||||
37 | Tony Raines | Front Row Motorsports | Dodge | ||||||||||
73 | Mike Garvey | H&S Motorsports | Dodge | ||||||||||
75 | Derrike Cope (W) | Cope/Keller Racing |
Dodge | ||||||||||
23 | Mike Skinner | R3 Motorsports | Chevrolet | ||||||||||
51 | Kelly Bires (R) | BlackJack Racing |
Dodge | ||||||||||
46 | Carl Long | Carl Long Racing |
Dodge | ||||||||||
64 | Geoffrey Bodine (W) |
Gunselman Motorsports |
Toyota | ||||||||||
57 | Norm Benning | Norm Benning Racing | Chevrolet | ||||||||||
WD | 60 | James Hylton | E&M Motorsports |
Dodge |
* – NASCAR rules state that if a car, engine, or transmission change is made by the team, that car starts the race in the back of the field. For the Daytona 500, the rule applies to a car if a crash takes place in the Gatorade Duel or in the Friday or Saturday practice. An engine or transmission change is permitted after the Gatorade Duel, so the engine and transmission used in Friday practice must be used in Saturday practice and the race. The penalty for an engine or transmission change applies only if a second engine change is made after the Gatorade Duel once Friday practice begins.
Race results
Pos | Car No. | Driver | Make | Laps | Led | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Ford | 152 | 7 | Running |
2 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (W) | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
3 | 44 | A. J. Allmendinger | Dodge | 152 | 0 | Running |
4 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
5 | 19 | Elliott Sadler | Dodge | 152 | 24 | Running |
6 | 6 | David Ragan | Ford | 152 | 0 | Running |
7 | 55 | Michael Waltrip (W) | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
8 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Chevrolet | 152 | 15 | Running |
9 | 43 | Reed Sorenson | Dodge | 152 | 0 | Running |
10 | 2 | Kurt Busch | Dodge | 152 | 0 | Running |
11 | 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | 152 | 1 | Running |
12 | 00 | David Reutimann | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
13 | 24 | Jeff Gordon (W) | Chevrolet | 152 | 14 | Running |
14 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
15 | 07 | Casey Mears | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
16 | 5 | Mark Martin | Chevrolet | 152 | 1 | Running |
17 | 47 | Marcos Ambrose (R) | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
18 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Ford | 152 | 0 | Running |
19 | 34 | John Andretti | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Ford | 152 | 0 | Running |
21 | 78 | Regan Smith | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
22 | 96 | Bobby Labonte | Ford | 152 | 1 | Running |
23 | 21 | Bill Elliott (W) | Ford | 152 | 0 | Running |
24 | 66 | Terry Labonte | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
25 | 36 | Scott Riggs | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
26 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota | 152 | 0 | Running |
27 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (W) | Chevrolet | 152 | 1 | Running |
28 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
29 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Dodge | 152 | 0 | Running |
30 | 8 | Aric Almirola (R) | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
31 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson (W) | Chevrolet | 152 | 0 | Running |
32 | 77 | Sam Hornish Jr. | Dodge | 151 | 0 | Running |
33 | 12 | David Stremme | Dodge | 151 | 0 | Running |
34 | 7 | Robby Gordon | Dodge | 151 | 0 | Running |
35 | 82 | Scott Speed (R) | Toyota | 151 | 0 | Running |
36 | 39 | Ryan Newman (W) | Chevrolet | 150 | 0 | Running |
37 | 26 | Jamie McMurray | Ford | 139 | 0 | Running |
38 | 98 | Paul Menard | Ford | 138 | 0 | Accident |
39 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Toyota | 126 | 0 | Accident |
40 | 41 | Jeremy Mayfield | Toyota | 126 | 0 | Running |
41 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Toyota | 123 | 88 | Accident |
42 | 28 | Travis Kvapil | Ford | 90 | 0 | Running |
43 | 20 | Joey Logano (R) | Toyota | 79 | 0 | Accident |
References
- ^ "Weather information for the 2009 Daytona 500". The News Tribune. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (February 24, 2009). "NASCAR Daytona 500 TV Ratings". Zap2it. Archived from the original on January 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "Florida governor Crist named Grand Marshal for Daytona 500". Yahoo!. January 26, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ "Tom Cruise to drive Daytona 500 pace car". SceneDaily.com. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ "2010 Camaro to pace Daytona 500 field". Birmingham News. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
- ^ "Rain brings Daytona 500 to a halt with Matt Kenseth out front". AP. February 16, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
External links