DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With a fast lap of 194.738 mph – the fastest qualifying lap at Daytona in over a decade – Carl Edwards put the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford on the pole for the 54th annual Daytona 500 during Sunday’s Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Kroger.
Edwards’ time was the fastest since 1999 when Jeff Gordon took the pole for the Daytona 500 at 195.067 mph and Dale Jarrett took the Coke Zero 400 pole at 194.860 mph.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Edwards said. “This is very special. It’s not a driving accomplishment, this is a team accomplishment. There’s a lot of pride in this for everyone. I’m excited to have all the guys back at the shop this week know they sent the best racecars down to Daytona.” (more…)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2012) – For the second straight day a Roush Fenway Ford set the pace at Daytona International Speedway, with Greg Biffle leading both of Saturday’s practice sessions for next week’s Daytona 500. Biffle’s fastest lap of 193.395 mph was the fastest of the day. In addition, Carl Edwards was seventh fastest in the second practice, with Matt Kenseth and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. turning the 13th and 14th fastest times in the session. RFR’s Trevor Bayne was second fastest in the second practice session and fourth in the first session in the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Ford.
“I feel really good,” said Biffle of the day’s performance. “It’s a testament to how hard these guys have worked…Matt (Puccia) and all these guys on the team who work at the track and the shop. They’ve worked really hard on these cars and the motors have been awesome.” (more…)
Five-Time Champion Barely Edges Edwards, Gordon, Stewart
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2012) – Undoubtedly, Jimmie Johnson would like to forget that the 2011 season ever happened. Apparently, voters in NASCARMedia.com’s annual preseason poll already have.
Members of NASCARMedia.com picked Johnson to reign supreme once again – despite a career-low sixth-place finish in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points.
Johnson received 147 votes in the annual preseason poll, just two more than Carl Edwards, who finished second in last season’s championship points. Rounding out the top 12: defending champion Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.
Voting among the top four was especially close, as Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Gordon were separated by only seven votes. Stewart trailed Johnson by three votes. (more…)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2012) —– Martin Truex Jr. will lead the 25-car field to the green flag in the 34th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Truex secured the top starting position through the random selection process that took place Friday night at the SPEED Stage.
The starting lineup was determined at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party during which the participating drivers selected a Budweiser bottle featuring a number behind the Budweiser label. The number serves as the driver’s starting position. (more…)
