Pocky's Paddock
A NASCAR BLOG BY Bob Pockrass
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Analyzing the duels
Feb
14
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Today is one of the most dramatic days in racing with qualifying for the Daytona 500.
There are 35 drivers who are in thanks to last year’s owner points. The top two finishers not among those 35 in each of the two 150-mile events today get in the field, and then the top three guys in qualifying speed from Sunday get in. The last spot is for a past champion or another driver on speed.
That means that Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek and David Reutimann are in because their speeds from Sunday are fast enough to fall back on if they don’t race their way into the 500. Kurt Busch can always fall back on a past champions provisional.
In the first race today – which seems to be the most stacked and tougher of the two – Bill Elliott either has to race his way in or hope Busch races his way in and then Dale Jarrett races his way in during the second race – something that isn’t all that likely. Busch doesn’t need to race his way in but will have the help of Penske teammates Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish in the race if he wants it.
Elliott doesn’t have a huge Ford contingent in his race with Carl Edwards the only real strong Ford. Well there’s one other strong Ford, but that is Boris Said, who needs to race his way in or hope that Waltrip, Nemechek, or Reutimann race their way in. So Said would be better off pushing one of those guys, if necessary, than Elliott.
Both Red Bull drivers, AJ Allemendinger and Brian Vickers, are in the first heat with Vickers the only driver with a chance to use his speed from Sunday as a backup. Those guys will be pushing each other as well.
Don’t count out Sterling Marlin in that first heat – he could race his way in if his Hendrick engine doesn’t break. Kenny Wallace and Carl Long are the longshots in that first one.
In the second heat, Jarrett will know if he has to race his way in depending on Busch’s finish in the first heat. If Jarrett needs to race
his way in, at least he has the help of teammates Waltrip and Reutimann.
Jacques Villeneuve likely will need to race his way in unless the stars align for him to get in on his speed. He will have the help of teammate Dave Blaney and possibly the Waltrip contingent.
Patrick Carpentier, who has a decent chance of using his speed as a fall-back, has Gillett Evernham teammate Kasey Kahne and sorta teammate Robby Gordon to help him.
Stanton Barrett was 10th in final practice Wednesday but even with Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies power has to be considered a long shot, along with Eric McClure, Ken Schrader and John Andretti.
There are 35 drivers who are in thanks to last year’s owner points. The top two finishers not among those 35 in each of the two 150-mile events today get in the field, and then the top three guys in qualifying speed from Sunday get in. The last spot is for a past champion or another driver on speed.
That means that Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek and David Reutimann are in because their speeds from Sunday are fast enough to fall back on if they don’t race their way into the 500. Kurt Busch can always fall back on a past champions provisional.
In the first race today – which seems to be the most stacked and tougher of the two – Bill Elliott either has to race his way in or hope Busch races his way in and then Dale Jarrett races his way in during the second race – something that isn’t all that likely. Busch doesn’t need to race his way in but will have the help of Penske teammates Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish in the race if he wants it.
Elliott doesn’t have a huge Ford contingent in his race with Carl Edwards the only real strong Ford. Well there’s one other strong Ford, but that is Boris Said, who needs to race his way in or hope that Waltrip, Nemechek, or Reutimann race their way in. So Said would be better off pushing one of those guys, if necessary, than Elliott.
Both Red Bull drivers, AJ Allemendinger and Brian Vickers, are in the first heat with Vickers the only driver with a chance to use his speed from Sunday as a backup. Those guys will be pushing each other as well.
Don’t count out Sterling Marlin in that first heat – he could race his way in if his Hendrick engine doesn’t break. Kenny Wallace and Carl Long are the longshots in that first one.
In the second heat, Jarrett will know if he has to race his way in depending on Busch’s finish in the first heat. If Jarrett needs to race
his way in, at least he has the help of teammates Waltrip and Reutimann.
Jacques Villeneuve likely will need to race his way in unless the stars align for him to get in on his speed. He will have the help of teammate Dave Blaney and possibly the Waltrip contingent.
Patrick Carpentier, who has a decent chance of using his speed as a fall-back, has Gillett Evernham teammate Kasey Kahne and sorta teammate Robby Gordon to help him.
Stanton Barrett was 10th in final practice Wednesday but even with Earnhardt Childress Racing Technologies power has to be considered a long shot, along with Eric McClure, Ken Schrader and John Andretti.
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