DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Kevin Harvick, suffering from flu-like symptoms all week, got just what the doctor ordered in a victory in the Budweiser Shootout, a special non-points exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.
Earlier, 51-year-old Mark Martin became the oldest pole winner for the Daytona 500 with a qualifying run of 191.188 mph in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. He edged teammate and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who ran 190.913.
Harvick, driving a Chevrolet, won the Shootout for the second year in a row, taking the checkered and yellow flags at the end of the two-segment, 75-lap race after a Turn 3 crash on the next-to-last lap ended competition. Jeff Gordon triggered the wreck when he hit Greg Biffle from behind, spinning Biffle in front of the oncoming pack.
Biffle and Kasey Kahne stayed out rather than pitting for new tires after a late caution flag. The strategy paid off for Kahne, who finished 2nd in a Ford. Jamie McMurray was 3rd in a Chevy. Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five in Toyotas.
In 500 time trials, Earnhardt, who had paced the field in practice in his Chevrolet with a best lap of 188.679, put himself at the top of the list when he went out as the sixth driver to attempt to qualify.
Six drivers later, Martin — second in practice at 188.616 — bumped Earnhardt off the pole. His run was never challenged, and the two drivers will start side by side on the front row Sunday.
First, they and other competitors will take part in Thursday's pair of 150-mile qualifying races. Martin will start on the pole of the first race, followed by the odd-number qualified entrants, and Earnhardt will lead off even-number qualifiers in the second.
The front-row starters' positions are locked in as long as they do not have to make changes that would cause them to forfeit the positions prior to the start of Sunday's race. The remainder of the 43-car lineup will be determined by the 150 results, with the top 35 from last year's car owner points standing guaranteed a spot.
Inside Line says: New rules allowing larger carburetor restrictor plates and giving the drivers self-policing status for most on-track decisions resulted in an entertaining Shootout. The Gatorade Duels will provide the next test of the new formula on Thursday. — David Green, Correspondent
Add A Comment »