Photos: Friday at Daytona International Speedway

on July 6, 2012July 6, 2012

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Victory Lane Kurt Busch

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Finish Kurt Busch Ricky Stenhouse Jr Michael Annett Austin Dillon

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Donuts Kurt Busch

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Checkered Flag Kurt Busch Ricky Stenhouse Jr Michael Annett Austin Dillon

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Big One

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Mike Wallace

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Start

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying Tony Stewart

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Matt Kenseth

2012 Daytona July NSCS qualifying Matt Kenseth climbs out of car

2012 Daytona July NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying Danica Patrick

2012 Daytona July NNS qualifying Ricky Stenhouse Pole

2012 Daytona July NNS qualifying Ricky Stenhouse Jr

2012 Daytona July NNS qualifying Austin Dillon

2012 Daytona July Brian France press conference

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)

Tie-Breaker Adds Wild To ‘Wild Card’ Battle

on July 6, 2012July 5, 2012

Kyle Busch, 12th in NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, holds the No. 1 “wild card” position but after that it couldn’t be closer among three contenders for the final entry into the post season. Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano each have a victory and have scored an equal number of points – 463. Were the second “card” to be awarded today it would go to Kahne. Why? Because the NASCAR Rule Book breaks ties by comparing drivers’ best finishes: If wins are equal, then seconds, thirds etc. come into play. That’s how Tony Stewart edged Carl Edwards for last year’s title. Kahne’s second-place finish at Kentucky Speedway serves as the current tie-breaker to Newman’s (third) and Logano’s (eighth) next best performances.

Edwards, who won the Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole in February, could render the deadlock moot by winning Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola. Edwards currently is 11th in the standings working on a victory drought of 50 races.

Matt Kenseth – No Daytona Sweep For You!

on July 5, 2012July 5, 2012

Kenseth Bids For Sweep That Hasn’t Happened In 30 Years

This week’s Coke Zero 400 will be two-time and defending Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth’s last as a driver for Roush Fenway Racing. It has been 30 years since the same driver won both Daytona races in the same season – further proof that conditions make February and July events completely different propositions. Bobby Allison was the last of four drivers to accomplish the sweep in 1982 at the wheel of a DiGard Racing Buick.

Tony Stewart, whose 32nd-place finish at Kentucky (ignition issues) dropped the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion to ninth in current points standings, is the most successful recent winner of the Coke Zero 400. Stewart won the race in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

David Ragan won last year’s race in a Roush Fenway Racing Ford but will compete Saturday night for Front Row Motorsports.

The Final Lap Weekly #209 – AJ Allmendinger / Daytona NASCAR Preview

on July 5, 2012July 7, 2012

SHOW #209 – Guest: AJ Allmendinger – We also recap the action from Kentucky, salute Richard Petty’s 75th birthday, discuss Denny’s contract, plus our Fantasy picks, Poll Position Question, and Daytona Preview. Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie.
(47:38 mins)