NEWS BITES: Is a new feature of The Final Lap designed for you to get some quick NASCAR News, and go about your life faster.

Who Will Lead The Field To Green In “The Great American Race”?

Daytona 500 Pole Day will be held Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, and the stakes are big. When qualifying is done, the front row for the Daytona 500 will be locked in. The fastest two qualifiers on Sunday will occupy the front row for the season-opener. The remaining positions will be decided Thursday, Feb. 17 in the Gatorade Duel at Daytona.

Budweiser Shootout at Daytona Opens 2011 Season
The annual preseason Budweiser Shootout at Daytona is set for this Saturday, and it could be the largest in the event’s history. A total of 30 drivers are eligible to compete, which would best the previous high of 28, set in 2009. Criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons:
· The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
· Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
· Past Budweiser Shootout champions
· Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola champions
· NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year drivers from 2001-2010

Hot Topic: Daytona Repave Could Lead To Historic Show
NASCAR will run this year’s races at Daytona International Speedway on a brand new pavement, only the second repave in the track’s history, and first since 1978. The first of those races will take place Saturday night – the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

A three-day, series-wide test last month – and another Goodyear tire test in December – gave drivers a first-look at the new surface. The reviews rolled in quickly. Here’s one, from Carl Edwards: “It is just going to be wild. The track is so smooth and has so much grip that there is no telling what people will try. The last lap is going to be insane.”

A number of other drivers echoed that opinion, making this Budweiser Shootout – and the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 that follows a week later – one of the most anticipated in history.

MORE: DAYTONA 500 / GATORADE DUEL QUALIFYING

Lesson Learned – Johnson The Safe Bet For 2011

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2011) – No long shots, no dark horses. All limbs remained unoccupied.

The NASCAR media corps played it safe in the annual preseason poll, picking five-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson to win his sixth title – and come one short of Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most all-time.
But here’s the thing: Past polls suggest that the press often goes for the long shot. Last year was the first time the media picked Johnson in any of his championship seasons.

Clearly, the voters – 125 in all – learned their lesson.

Said Johnson, “Finally! Although I guess they picked me last year. I just hope they are right again.”

Rounding out the top 10: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer.

During its stop in January’s Charlotte Media Tour, NASCAR announced that the 11th and 12th positions in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup would go to the two drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they were in the top 20 in points.
The media’s picks for those two spots: Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth. McMurray would have earned a “wild card” nod last year if the new rule were in place.

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Media ‘Pick’ Sadler To Unify Title

For the first time, all drivers must pick the national series in which they will receive driver championship points. Elliott Sadler picked the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

In the preseason media poll, the press picked him.

Sadler, who returns to full-time NASCAR Nationwide competition for the first time since 1998, will also unify the title – so predicts the press.

The media were also asked to choose the top 10 in owner points, and the choice was Sadler’s No. 2 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet. If that comes true, the driver and owner titles would be unified for the first time since 2009.

Though double-duty drivers cannot earn driver points in the NASCAR Nationwide Series if they pick another series, their car still earns owner points.
“It is an honor to be voted as the preseason favorite by the NASCAR media to win the championship,” Sadler said. “To me, that says that even people who are not at the Kevin Harvick Inc. shop day in and day out recognize that we have a great team, solid leadership and dedicated team owners who make things happen and are willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

Said team owner Kevin Harvick, “[Sadler] knows how to win and we expect to go out and be competitive. I think anything less than the No. 2 team competing for the NASCAR Nationwide championship will be a disappointment.”
Rounding out the top 10 in the NASCAR Nationwide driver poll: Aric Almirola, Justin Allgaier, Trevor Bayne, Reed Sorenson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jason Leffler, Steve Wallace, Brian Scott and Michael Annett.

Positions 2-thru-10 in the owner poll: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge, No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford and No. 31 Turner Motorsports Chevrolet.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Bodine To Nab First Ever Repeat

Todd Bodine’s dominant championship run in 2010 encouraged the media to predict an unprecedented repeat in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Last year, Bodine became the third driver to win multiple championships. In 2011, the press thinks he’ll become the first driver in the 16-year history of the series to win consecutive titles.

“That’s a pretty big honor considering no one’s ever done it before,” Bodine said. “I think they’re right. We haven’t lost anybody; there’s no reason we can’t do it again. But the series will be stronger than it has ever been in its history, so it’s not going to be a cake walk.”

Bodine won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in 2006.

Rounding out the top 10 in the media poll: Ron Hornaday Jr., Austin Dillon, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, Travis Kvapil, James Buescher, Brendan Gaughan, Timothy Peters and Mike Skinner.

Speedweeks Opener Features Stellar Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2011) – With a strong lineup that features former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, last year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, a host of former outstanding rookies, along with a collection of previous winners at the sport’s most storied race track, NASCAR announced Friday the list of eligible competitors for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

LISTEN: THE FINAL LAP BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT PREVIEW SHOW

The 33rd annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 12 with green flag set for 8:10 p.m. FOX and MRN will broadcast live nationally. It marks the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event held on the track’s newly repaved surface. Criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons:

· The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
· Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
· Past Budweiser Shootout champions
· Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola champions
· NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year drivers from 2001-2010

“When you take a look at the field for this year’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, it’s loaded with all-star caliber drivers,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “From former series champions and Chase drivers, to the past 10 rookie of the year performers, to drivers who have had success at Daytona, we believe the fans are in store for a terrific and highly competitive event on a brand new racing surface.”

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors – was first held in 1979, originally known as the Busch Clash. Kevin Harvick has won the last two events.

Tickets for all 2011 Speedweeks events are now available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout include:

2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers
Jimmie Johnson
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Carl Edwards
Matt Kenseth
Greg Biffle
Tony Stewart
Kyle Busch
Jeff Gordon
Clint Bowyer
Kurt Busch
Jeff Burton

Others (criteria in parentheses)
John Andretti (Coke Zero 400)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Kevin Conway (Series rookie of the year)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Bill Elliott (Series champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Kasey Kahne (Series rookie of the year)
Bobby Labonte (Series champion)
Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout)
Joey Logano (Series rookie of the year)
Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Mark Martin (Budweiser Shootout)
Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Series rookie of the year)
Juan Pablo Montoya (Series rookie of the year)
Ryan Newman (Daytona 500, Series rookie of the year)
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)
Regan Smith (Series rookie of the year)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

OFFICIAL ENTRY LIST

1 1 Jamie McMurray Teresa Earnhardt Kevin Manion 11 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops-Tracker Boats
2 4 Kasey Kahne Dietrich Mateschitz Kenny Francis 11 Toyota Red Bull
3 5 Mark Martin Mary Hendrick Lance McGrew 11 Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
4 11 Denny Hamlin J D Gibbs Michael Ford 11 Toyota FedEx Express
5 14 Tony Stewart Margaret Haas Darian Grubb 11 Chevrolet Mobil 1
6 115 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Bobby Kennedy 11 Toyota NAPA
7 16 Greg Biffle Jack Roush Greg Erwin 11 Ford 3M
8 17 Matt Kenseth John Henry Jimmy Fennig 11 Ford CROWN ROYAL BLACK
9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Dave Rogers 11 Toyota M&M’s
10 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Greg Zipadelli 11 Toyota Home Depot
11 22 Kurt Busch Walter Czarnecki Steve Addington 11 Dodge Shell Pennzoil
12 24 Jeff Gordon Rick Hendrick Alan Gustafson 11 Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger
13 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Gil Martin 10 Chevrolet Budweiser
14 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Todd Berrier 10 Chevrolet Caterpillar
15 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Shane Wilson 10 Chevrolet Cheerios-Hamburger Helper
16 39 Ryan Newman Tony Stewart Tony Gibson 11 Chevrolet Wix Filters
17 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Brian Pattie 11 Chevrolet Target
18 47 Bobby Labonte Tad Geschickter Frank Kerr 11 Toyota Reese-Highland
19 48 Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Chad Knaus 11 Chevrolet Lowe’s-Kobalt Tools
20 64 Derrike Cope Larry Gunselman Dave Fuge Jr 10 Toyota TBA
21 78 Regan Smith Barney Visser Pete Rondeau 11 Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing
22 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Rick Hendrick Steve Letarte 11 Chevrolet National Guard-AMP Energy
23 97 Kevin Conway Andrea Nemechek Scott Eggleston 11 Toyota Extenze
24 99 Carl Edwards Jack Roush Bob Osborne 11 Ford Scotts EZ Seed

NEWS BITES: Is a new feature of The Final Lap designed for you to get some quick NASCAR News, and go about your life faster.

Danica Patrick’s 2011 NASCAR Schedule was announced and she will be racing in 12 events this year, including the first 4 on the Nationwide Series schedule and another 4 new tracks she’ll be racing at. Look for Patrick to drive the #7 car at Daytona, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Bristol, Chicago, Daytona, Montreal, Richmond, and Kansas. Then she’ll finish of the season in the last 3 races at Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Michael Annett was charged with DWI, texting while driving, and resisting police last weekend in Moorsville North Carolina, and this is similar to his excuse the last time this happened 7 months ago. He posted a $3000 bond, and will appear in court on March 18th. Annett said “I am deeply remorseful for my actions and my extreme lack of judgment. I let down my team, my sponsors, my fans and my family; I sincerely apologize to everyone that I hurt. This was truly a life-changing moment for me. Despite all of the negativity that will undoubtedly arise from it, I’m going to strive to use this incident as the impetus to make a lot of positive changes in my life.” Michael drives for Rusty Wallace Racing

Phoenix International Raceway is getting a racing surface later this year. They will begin after their race weekend in a couple of weeks, and be ready for their events in November. Besides the new surface, among the track changes are a wider front stretch from 52-62 feet, concrete pit stalls, push the dog leg out 95 feet, and add banking in the turns. All of these features should bring even better side-by-side racing and faster speeds.

Phoenix International Raceway president Bryan R. Sperber has announced details related to the NASCAR facility’s first major track paving project since 1990. Construction will begin in March with the removal of the facility’s current racing surface and the subsequent installation of a new surface to go with a series of changes designed to promote side-by-side racing. While maintaining the integrity of PIR’s oval — including the 1-mile distance — the slight configuration changes will produce a racier track with average speeds that are expected to increase 2 to 3 mph. The project is slated to conclude in September.

“When the time to repave PIR approached due to the life expectancy of our current racing surface, we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to make a good thing even better for our fans,” Sperber said. “Our goal for this project was to not radically change a track that’s celebrated by fans and drivers alike, but to utilize new technology to ensure great moments in the next chapter of racing history at PIR.”

Order race tickets
Aside from the installation of a new, four-layer asphalt and aggregate surface, PIR will make the following adjustments:

* Widen the front stretch from 52 to 62 feet

* Reconfigure pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls

* Push the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet

* Tighten the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet

* Implement variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4

Project leader Bill Braniff, senior director of construction for North American Testing Corporation (NATC) — a subsidiary of PIR’s parent company, International Speedway Corp. — said the conclusion to tweak PIR’s layout came after spending hundreds of man hours on computer simulations. PIR’s pavement project will be the seventh of its kind for Braniff, including last summer’s high-profile repave at Daytona International Speedway.

“We’re very confident that we’ll have multi-groove racing at Phoenix from Day 1 because of the variable banking that will be implemented,” Braniff said. “All of the changes — including the adjustment of the dog-leg — will be put in place in order to present additional opportunities for drivers to race side-by-side.”

The project will include the removal of 684,000 square feet of asphalt from the current surface, followed by the installation of a new surface that will include 7,000 cubic yards of concrete, 600,000 pounds of metal reinforcement, 70,000 cubic yards of import fill and 23,000 tons of new asphalt.

To commemorate the past 20 years of NASCAR competition on Phoenix International Raceway’s current surface, fans may vote for their favorite moment at PIR from 1990-2010 at PhoenixRaceway.com/moments. The top fan moment will be announced during the upcoming Subway Fresh Fit 500 race weekend and acknowledged during pre-race ceremonies.

Upon demolition, genuine pieces of PIR’s current racing surface will be made available to fans for purchase. Visit PhoenixRaceway.com/repave starting in March for details.