No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota (Brian Scott) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

Race Highlights:

* Brian Scott lined up 17th for the start of the Subway Jalapeno 250 on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. Scott missed the majority of the rain-shortened 45 minute practice session on Thursday after he spun avoiding a two-car wreck on his first lap on the track. The team was unsure how stable the car would be in the two-car drafts once the green flag waved for the 100-lap race.

* Scott quickly found his teammate Joey Logano five laps after the start of the 100-lap event. By lap 13, the duo had drafted from the 19th and 20th positions up to eighth and ninth. Unfortunately, Logano spun on lap 26 as he tried to avoid a slow single car in front of him. Scott told crew chief Kevin Kidd the car was a little too loose into the corners so he pitted for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.

* The Shore Lodge Team would now need to look for a new drafting partner, but the pairings were difficult to break up. Although he restarted from the fifth position on lap 30, the lack of drafting help dropped Scott back to 19th when the caution flag waved on lap 33.

* It took another 20 laps, but help was on the way in the name of Kenny Wallace. The NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran and his No. 01 car hooked up with Scott and the No. 11 Toyota and would eventually mix it up with the frontrunners. The pair decided to focus on logging laps and making sure they were there at the end. The pair took turns drafting up front and swapped drafting positions several times throughout the run.

* The caution flag was displayed on lap 79 when Kevin Harvick spun out his teammate Clint Bowyer. Scott, as well as Kenny Wallace, brought their cars down pit road for fuel only to ensure they had enough ethanol to get through a green-white-checker finish. Scott was 12th when the green flag waved on lap 84.

Brian Scott

* Scott remains ninth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. He is 13 points out of eighth place behind Steven Wallace. Scott’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Logano took home the victory for the team on Friday night, while Reed Sorenson remains the leader in the Nationwide Series point standings.

Scott Quote:

“The Shore Lodge Toyota was really good tonight. Kevin (Kidd) and the guys did a great job, especially after we only got a half of a lap of practice. The tough part was finding the right partner. Luckily I found Kenny Wallace and we worked really well together, I appreciated his willingness to work with me. I thought we should have been scored a little better until I watched the replay.”

- Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release

Daytona International Speedway – Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola

Saturday, July 2, 2011

NASCAR on TNT

Countdown to Green delivered by Pizza Hut

Lindsay Czarniak (host), Larry McReynolds (analyst) and Kyle Petty (analyst)

McReynolds on how unpredictable the Coke Zero 400 is: “Every race, fans ask me, ‘who do you like?’ I promise you, there is no way to predict the winner of this race. Honestly, all 43 drivers that take the green flag can pull into victory lane.”

Petty on the difficulty of two-car drafting: “I was absolutely blown away by how hard these guys have to work in the car [while drafting]. The lead car has to work with the car behind you and work the brakes. You can’t see anything and that can’t be stressed enough. It’s blind faith when you pair off.”

No. 29 Kevin Harvick joined the crew on the rig prior to the race

Harvick on his team’s plans as they head towards the Chase: “We’ve already done that [experimenting] and now we’re starting to zero in on the different packages that we have and the different styles of race tracks and starting to fine-tune the things that we need. We are starting to get our cars in line for the Chase, whether we want new ones or current ones or what you want with the stuff that comes out of the wind tunnel. It’s all about preparation and our guys do a good job at that.”

Harvick on his team’s strategy with the two-car draft: “It does take two to tango and we think that we know what we’re going to do today with the guys. Hopefully that will work…it should be a fun night.”

Petty on NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough who was featured in TNT’s Pride of NASCAR series: “He may not physically be here at the race track but that should not be a mark against him. He loves this sport and he loves the people in this sport and the sport should love and embrace him. He’s in the Hall of Fame and he is a phenomenal individual.”

McReynolds on the importance of the spotter when drivers are in a two-car draft: “The biggest communication has to come from the spotter. Every driver has a spotter and when two drivers hook together [in a draft], one spotter takes care of both drivers…it doesn’t matter if they are leading or pushing.”

TNT’s Adam Alexander interviewed No. 21 Trevor Bayne who won the 2011 Daytona 500

Bayne on how his life has changed since winning the Daytona 500 earlier this season: “I had no idea [how much it would change]. It was like a light switch, it wasn’t like a gradual build-up. I went from not winning anything to winning the Daytona 500. The support from the fans and everything has changed overnight.”

Bayne on dealing with his health shortly after winning the Daytona 500: “It was tough but it gave me some perspective. I’ve had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and I’ve gotten to see it from both perspectives. You realize how fortunate you are to be a race car driver.”

**** **** **** ****

TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing: Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola from Daytona International Speedway

Adam Alexander (host), Kyle Petty (analyst), Wally Dallenbach (analyst)

Pit Repeorters: Chris Neville, Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum

TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed No. 21 Trevor Bayne following his early-race crash that knocked him out of the race

Bayne on his early-race crash: “We didn’t really have a plan at the beginning of who we were going to work with. I was kind of dropping back, looking for a partner and I don’t know what happened going into turn-one but sometimes these things get loose when you’re the lead car. We wanted to be out there.”

Dallenbach on how miscommunication might have lead to No. 99 Carl Edwards’ crash: “When you’re the lead car and you’re telling your [draft partner] what you’re going to do, you don’t give them enough time when you react. Carl said, ‘Alright, let’s do this’ and did it and [No. 16 Greg] Biffle got the message too late.”

McReynolds on how total communication between teams is crucial to the success of two-car tandems: [Communication] is the key to this partnership that you develop. It has to happen on pit row as well…if you’re on different agendas, this partnership won’t work.”

Petty on drivers adjusting to the style of racing at Daytona: “[The] Daytona [500 on February 20] was different than Talladega [on April 17] and Talledega is different than this race as far as how the drivers approach the race and how they drive it.”

Petty on the Red Bull team: “A lot has been made over the Red Bull situation over the last few weeks. Those guys are looking for investors and Toyota stepped up and said, ‘these are good tires.’ They just need some financial backing to keep this thing going.”

Dallenbach on drivers boxing each other in: “I think when guys get to the front, they don’t have anywhere to go. When you start boxing things up in front of you, that’s when you get into a problem of running someone into a box. You get into a situation where you can’t check up fast enough behind you and that’s when things happen.”

Dallenbach on the importance of pitting at the same time as your draft partner: “If a guy gets hung up in the pits and your partner leaves ahead of you, he’s going to be waiting for you near the end of pit row. You can’t leave your guy.”

Dallenbach on drivers starting to get anxious late in the race: “The anxious level starts to go up at this point [late] in the race. This is when everyone’s voice starts to show a sense of urgency. You have to start putting yourself in position. The patience starts to wear off…’we’re not going to be working together as much as we have all race long.’”

Dallenbach on how it feels to be in a crash: “When you’re in a wreck in feels like it never ends. When you stop, you’re waiting for someone to hit you.”

**** **** **** ****

TNT NASCAR Summer Series – Post-race remarks

TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed the winner of the Coke Zero 400 No. 6 David Ragan following the race:

Ragan on moving past the restart penalty he received at the Daytona 500 earlier this season that may have cost him a win: “Everyone was talking about it. I just tried to zero-out, take some positives from it and move on.”

No. 17 Matt Kenseth on his teammate No. 6 David Ragan winning the race: “We didn’t give [the win] to [Ragan], we worked the whole night. David was in the right place for the restart, if I would’ve been in that spot, he would’ve pushed me to the win too. That was the plan and we stuck to that plan.”

No. 5 Mark Martin on the late-race, multi-car wreck he was involved in: “The accident that I was in, I lost my partner [No. 24] Jeff [Gordon] and I knew it was going to get crazy. Then on the restart, I thought [No. 20 Joey] Logano and I were going to hook up, he didn’t have a partner and I didn’t either. I must’ve been four inches not ahead of him and I was trying to get in front of him so we could go. I felt him touch me but then…I don’t know what happened…cars were flying everywhere.”

- Turner Sports, Press Release

Joey Logano in 2011 SUBWAY Jalapeno 250 Victory Lane - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

This was Logano’s 1st series win of the 2011 season, his 9th series career win and his 1st series win at Daytona International Speedway

Following Logano and Leffler to the drop of the checkered flag were Reed Sorenson (who leads Elliott Sadler by 9 points in the standings) finishing third, Kyle Busch fourth and Justin Allgaier finishes in fifth.

Rounding out the top-ten finishers were Michael Annett finishing in sixth, Kenny Wallace seventh, Elliott Sadler eighth, Aric Almirola ninth and Danica Patrick finished in the tenth position.

RACE NOTES:

Average Speed: 136.426 MPH
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 49 Mins, 57 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.040 Seconds
Lead Changes: 36 among 13 drivers
Cautions: 6 for 23 laps
Attendance: 50,000

Unofficial Top-Ten in the Point Standings: 1. Reed Sorenson – 610 (Leader) 2. Elliott Sadler – 601 (-9 Points Behind the Leader) 3. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 579 (-31) 4. Justin Allgaier – 573 (-37) 5. Jason Leffler – 537 (-73) 6. Aric Almirola – 529 (-81) 7. Kenny Wallace – 494 (-116) 8. Steve Wallace – 467 (-143) 9. Brian Scott – 454 (-156) 10. Michael Annett – 446 (-164).

Next Up: The Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, July 7th, with ESPN beginning their (pre-race) coverage at 7:00 PM (EDT).

2011 NNS SUBWAY Jalapeno 250 Race Results

(i) Ineligible for Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie

Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —

The donation is expected to include breads, produce and other food items and will be delivered on Tuesday, July 5 with help from Americrown, the catering and concessions subsidiary of parent company International Speedway Corporation.

“This donation is a great opportunity to help people who are struggling in the Volusia County area and to build momentum for Drive to End Hunger as we take the 24 car around the country this season,” Gordon said. “Six million people over 60 in this country struggle with hunger, but with the help of the sport’s dedicated fans, tracks and partners, we can make a real difference in the communities we visit each week.”

“We are once again pleased to join Drive to End Hunger in helping make a difference for people right here in our community,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood said. “More than 20 percent of Floridians reported not having enough money to buy food in the last year. Particularly in these economic times, we want to do everything we can to support Second Harvest, which is an important resource for people of all ages who are struggling to put food on the table.”

Drive to End Hunger is a national effort that also includes an innovative grant program that will provide more resources to address this problem at the local level; mobilization of NASCAR fans, sponsors, their customers, AARP and AARP Foundation volunteers to address the problem of senior hunger through community service and direct donations to food banks; and research on the causes and the consequences of hunger in older Americans.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.drivetoendhunger.org.

To purchase tickets for the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).

AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. The Foundation is dedicated to serving vulnerable people 50+ by creating solutions that help them secure the essentials and achieve their best life. AARP Foundation focuses on: hunger, housing, income and isolation as our key mission areas. The Foundation envisions: ‘a country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable.’ Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP. For more information about AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarp.org/foundation.

- Daytona International Speedway/AARP Foundation, Press Release

Carl Edwards with a Baseball Autographed by the Entire Team and, Along with SUBWAY Guy Jared Fogle, pose for Photo as Part of Activities Leading Up to Friday Evening’s SUBWAY Jalapeno 250, where the All-Star Team will Serve as Race Grand Marshals. - Photo Credit: SUBWAY

Daytona Beach, Fla., July 1, 2011 –

The squad, which is comprised of 11 and 12-year old boys and girls, presented Edwards with a baseball autographed by the entire team and, along with SUBWAY Guy Jared Fogle, posed for photos as part of activities leading up to the evening’s SUBWAY Jalapeno 250, where the All-Star team was serving as race grand marshals.

The Roush Fenway Racing driver also showcased his autograph baseball that is part of the “SUBWAY Baseball DeSIGNS tour,” a unique charitable travel exhibit of baseballs designed by kids and autographed by celebrities. Each baseball will be auctioned off at the end of the tour in August with all proceeds benefitting the Little League Baseball Urban Initiative.

Celebrities that have autographed baseballs featured in the tour include singer Katy Perry, actors Courtney Cox and Shia LeBeouf, TV and radio personality Ryan Seacrest, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, World Series champion Ryan Howard, and Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Drew Brees and Joe Montana. Fans can see all of the baseball designs at SUBWAYKids.com.

- Catalyst PR for SUBWAY, Press Release

2011 Tony Stewart - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

TONY STEWART, NO. 14 BURGER KING CHEVROLET met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed the two-car draft at Daytona, other drivers blocking and other topics.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WEEKEND’S RACE? “It’s nice. With the rain kind of abbreviating the schedule yesterday, we didn’t get a ton of track time, but we really, honestly hadn’t planned on running a whole lot. We just wanted to run and make sure that we got our heights set and didn’t have any vibrations in the transmission or rear end gear or anything. Basically, just wanted to park the car and get ready to race. You can practice all you want, but you’re just not going to get the conditions that you’re going to have tomorrow night. We just wanted to be safe and not do too much damage to the bumpers considering that’s our lifeline for the day tomorrow night with both the front and rear bumpers. So we just took care of it. We’re excited about it. It’s a race that we’ve had a lot of success at and it’s going to be fun running here again like we had in February under the lights with the Shootout and we know how much fun that was. It should be the same tomorrow.”

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RACE OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY THE NEXT 10 RACES? “With the points – I’m not sure that tomorrow night you’ll even be thinking about it. It’s strictly getting paired up with a partner that you want to run with the whole night. The hard thing is that there’s going to be times that you’re going to get separated from that person and you may pick up a different person. I don’t think that anybody is really going to be worried about the points tomorrow night as much as just trying to put himself in a position to be in the right spot at the end of the race. It’s always been a chess match at the restrictor plate races, but I’m not sure that’s going to factor – the points side I don’t think will factor. I think there’s going to be situations in these last 10 weeks where guys are going to start thinking about it. I honestly don’t think that tomorrow night will be the place where they will worry about it because there’s just too many other variables involved.”

ARE YOU A FAN OF THE TANDEM RACING STYLE? “It doesn’t matter. There’s pros and cons to it, but there were pros and cons to three-wide and 11 rows deep too. The good thing is paired up we actually have a chance to race other cars and you’re not boxed in and stuck in a line trying to figure out if you’re in the right line or not. It kind of is what it is. It’s just different. It’s not better or worse, it’s just different than what we’ve been doing in the past here.”

DO YOU THINK THE DRAFTING WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE 500 AND HAVE YOU WORKED ON IMPROVING THE COOLING IN THE CARS?: “The racing will be identical I believe. Like you said, typically when we used to come here in July, the surface was worn out and handling was a much bigger issue than it was in February. Now with fresh pavement it’s got a lot of grip in it and it’s not gone away since we came here in February. The race will be the same. The cooling – everybody has worked on it. The hard part when we were here in February is NASCAR hadn’t even decided how much opening we were allowed to have. Now the teams have had some time since we went to Talladega even and everybody has worked on being able to cool it to where you can stay behind each other longer. There are some guys that I’m still convinced can start behind a guy and push a guy a whole race if that’s what they choose to do. I’m not sure I want to be that guy that wants to stare at a bumper all day. We can do it I think and that’s a lot of the race teams have done a really good job. We saw it yesterday in practice, we were seeing how long guys could stay out. Knowing it was warmer than it was when we were here in February. I think a lot of teams – I know we made improvements in our organization in the cooling side and I’m sure everybody else has too.”

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES FROM THE JULY DAYTONA RACE 10 YEARS AGO WHEN DALE EARNHARDT JR WON? “It was pretty emotional. That was the biggest thing you remember was just how emotional it was for everybody. I think we all looked at it and it was hard that weekend for Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. to be here that weekend even. It was the first time that we all were back and for him to go out and win that race, it wasn’t a way to put a period on the chapter, but it was a way for him – it was a way for him to look at it and say that life’s going to go on now and that’s it’s okay. You never can replace losing a parent and a mentor like that. When he won that race, it was just a way – I think to a certain degree, a way of saying that it was going to be okay.”

WHERE DO YOU FEEL THE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH RACE FANS? “I think our autograph sessions are the most comfortable because that’s probably where we get to spend time with them when we’re not at the race track. It’s not that you don’t appreciate the time at the track with them, but you’re always – there’s something always in the back of your mind that you’re worried about trying to get the car a tenth of a second faster or the fact that your car is loose or tight and you’re trying to figure it out in your head what you have to do to make that better. When we’re doing autograph sessions or meet and greets where we get to do Q&As with them and answer their questions – that’s kind of the fun part. You’re not worrying about the race car, you’re not worrying about anything at the track and just worrying about what they have on their mind. You get some fun interaction with them at that point and they know you’re not worrying about the race car, you know you’re not and it’s fun because you can coax them into asking questions that a lot of times they are real reserved. I like getting people to ask questions that they’ve always wanted to know, but just never had the courage to ask it and I can normally draw one of the two of those out at a Q&A or an autograph session. It’s fun to hear what they’ve got to say.”

HAVE YOU SPOKE WITH BRIAN VICKERS AND HAVE ANY OTHER DRIVERS SPOKE WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR POSITION ON BLOCKING? “Of course Bob (Pockrass, SceneDaily.com) – I knew you would be the one asking this question today. Honestly, I did talk to (Brian) Vickers yesterday. We had our drivers meeting that NASCAR asked us all to participate in yesterday and he was one of the first people I saw and we were laughing about it and talking about it. He told me that he wasn’t blocking. I just explained to him that of all people I didn’t want it to be you either. I told him that I had drawn a line in the sand with the guys that were doing it. It’s kind of like – we didn’t even agree to disagree situation because he explained his side and I understood his side and he understood my side. I’ve talked to other drivers too and I didn’t anticipate to get the kind of support that I’m getting with some of these guys. It’s not the whole field saying that by any means – I haven’t talked to everybody. I did talk to two or three different guys yesterday and the two or three guys that I spoke to mentioned and agreed that it’s a problem that’s getting worse, not better. Honestly, whether they agree or disagree – I don’t care. I’ve drawn my line in the sand and the next guy that blocks me, he is going to also suffer the same fate. It doesn’t matter who it is. That’s what it’s going to be.”

ARE YOU CONCERNED BECAUSE YOU FINISHING 30^th LAST WEEK? “No, I’ll make sure when I do it next time that the guy doesn’t have the opportunity to come back and wreck me.”

DO YOU FEEL THIS COULD IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE THE CHASE? “It might. It very well might. I’m going to stay the course on it. I’m just to the point where I’m fed up with some of the ways some of these guys are racing each other. If we miss the Chase because of it then so be it and that’s not what the team is going to want to hear. That’s not what our sponsors are going to want to hear, but so be it. It is what it is and there’s 42 guys out there and they know how I race and they know what I expect and I don’t race them that way and I don’t block guys and I’m not going to block guys. If they block me then they will suffer the consequences of it.”

WILL YOU DRAFT WITH DAVID GILLILAND IN TOMORROW NIGHT’S RACE? “We did yesterday. That was the only guy I ran with yesterday in practice and that’s our plan for tomorrow night too. It’s kind of odd. The Hendrick cars and the Childress cars are all working together and Ryan (Newman) and I have found two guys that we like working with. We spoke about it last night because Ryan and I sat down for about an hour last night in his motor home and it’s almost uncomfortable because you’re scared to make a mistake with your teammate being in front of you or behind you and getting each other in a bad spot where if something happens, it’s happened to both of you, not just one of you. I think it’s my approach to how to run the race is different than his and he’s found a guy with Denny (Hamlin) like I’ve found with David (Gilliland) and like I found in the past with Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. when I had Bobby Labonte as a teammate. It’s not anybody’s way of doing it is right or wrong, it’s just if you find that person that you’re comfortable with and that matches what you’re thought process is of how you want to run the race then it seems to work that much better.”

IS BLOCKING MORE LIKELY AT DAYTONA?: “It’s a different animal here. We’re not going to wipe out half the field because they’re blocking here and actually you don’t really see a lot of blocking with the two-car deal than you did with the single car stuff in the past. I’m mindful that this is a different animal this week than what we had last week and what we’re going to have next week at Kentucky for sure.”

WERE YOU SURPRISED OTHER DRIVERS AGREED WITH YOU? “I wasn’t. I wasn’t the least bit surprised. Everybody knows the problem is that if you have one person that is taking advantage of a situation then it forces everybody else to do the same thing or else you’ve put yourself behind and you’re going to get taken advantage of more. You don’t have that mutual give and take and that’s what more guys are taking more than they’re giving these days. It always used to be self-policed that was handled in the past – the drivers have always controlled it. The guys are having a harder time doing that when NASCAR’s getting involved in the conversations. The problem is and what I see and this may be different than NASCAR’s view on it, but what happens is the drivers used to be able to handle it amongst each other and then NASCAR said you can’t do this and you can’t do that. You can’t go talk about it in a parking lot somewhere, you’re still going to get fined. When you do that, there’s no way for the driver to actually settle it and get it out whether they agree to disagree – they can’t even get that opportunity. What it does it festers so much between one side or the other that it just continues the cycle until NASCAR had to get involved. Then it still doesn’t get resolved really. I just think guys have to – you have to have somebody that’s going to draw the line in the sand somewhere and say this is what we expect. I don’t care if they want to race each other that way, that’s fine. They can race everybody else in the field that way. I don’t race guys that way and I’m not going to race the way they want to just because they think it should be different now. When I came in here I thought I was going to change how things worked too and Dale (Earnhardt) Sr. taught me how to do it, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, my teammate Bobby Labonte taught me and had to grab me and shake me beside a trailer one day and say, ‘Listen, you have to understand.’ Nothing like that happens in this day and age. It’s all so glamorized when two people do something on the race track and it’s made to be such a soap opera that the whole point of why it happened in the first place isn’t getting resolved because of it.”

ARE YOU TAKING MORE OF A ROLE AS A LEADER IN THE GARAGE? “It’s not so much that as much as it’s just when you’ve just finally had enough of something and you learn to choose your battles. You choose to fight the fights that are worth fighting and finally you just get to a point where you’ve had enough of something. On this particular topic with blocking and guys blocking each other on the race track – I’m to that point. Maybe I’m the only one that’s gotten to that point, but I’m not the only one that’s talking about it.”

DO YOU EXPECT MORE AGGRESSIVENESS ON THE TRACK AND MORE CREATIVITY IN THE RACE CARS AS THE CHASE APPROACHES RICHMOND?“How long have we been doing the Chase here? Three, four, five or six years. It’s always been that way. It’s not going to be different this year than it has any other year. Guys that are trying to get in are going to be working hard to get in. Those that are on the edge of possibly getting bumped out are still going to be working hard to stay in. You still aren’t going to win the race and you still aren’t going to make the Chase if your cars wadded up in a ball sitting against the fence because you did something stupid. You’re going to race the race the same way. As far as the crew guys go, if you’re willing to take a chance and lose points because you did something you were not supposed to do, that’s always been the debate with crew chiefs and organizations in the past. Again, that won’t change either. I don’t think you’re going to see guys – obviously Clint Bowyer had the situation last year that cost him a chance at the championship right off the bat. I think NASCAR does the same thing. NASCAR draws the line in the sand and says, ‘Listen, this is what’s acceptable and this is what’s not.’ When guys see what the penalties are like that it makes them think twice about what their next move is.”

About Chevrolet: Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

- Team Chevy, Press Release

Kevin Harvick, Inc., takes the top-four NNS starting positions at Daytona.

2011 Kevin Harvick - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

This was Harvick’s 1st series pole of the 2011 season, his 23rd series career pole and his third series pole at Daytona International Speedway.

Fellow Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) teammates Tony Stewart (181.375 mph) Elliott Sadler (180.748) and Clint Bowyer (180.382) will start second, third and fourth respectively, while Trevor Bayne (180.281) will start in the fifth position.

Rounding out the top-ten starting positions will be Jamie McMurray (180.198) starting sixth, Danica Patrick (180.108) seventh, Carl Edwards (180.004) eighth, Reed Sorenson (179.863) ninth and Justin Allgaier (179.734) starts from tenth.

Failing to make the starting lineup was the #46 driven by Chase Miller.

Tonight’s SUBWAY Jalapeno 250 is scheduled to get underway a little after 7:30 PM (EDT).

2011 NNS SUBWAY Jalapeno 250 Starting Lineup

(i) Ineligible for Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie

Joey Logano - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR

In that final session, it was Joey Logano, with a lap speed of 196.164 mph, showing the fastest way around the superspeedway for Friday evening’s SUBWAY Jalapeno 250.

Second on the speed chart and with a lap speed of 196.155 mph, was Brad Keselowski, followed by Reed Sorenson (195.793) who was third fastest, Jason Leffler (195.788) fourth fastest and Elliott Sadler (194.662) was the fifth fastest.

Rounding out the top-ten fastest during “Happy Hour” were Clint Bowyer (194.662) who was sixth fastest, Trevor Bayne (194.510) seventh, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (194.506) eighth, Tony Stewart (194.456) ninth and Kevin Harvick (194.456) was tenth fastest.

Next up for the teams will be qualifying on Friday afternoon at 2:10 PM (EDT) to determine the starting lineup up for that evening’s race (which is scheduled to get underway a little after 7:30 PM -EDT).

2011 NNS SUBWAY Jalapeno 250 Final Practice Session Speeds

(i) Ineligible for Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie
* Required to Qualify on Time

Kurt Busch celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on June 26, 2011 - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

KURT BUSCH (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T)

YOU GOT YOUR FIRST ROAD COURSE WIN LAST WEEK AT INFINEON, NOW ON TO DAYTONA: “It was a great win for our Shell/Pennzoil Dodge. To be able to bring it home at a road course was event that much sweeter. Neat stuff all the way around with winning. It helps us with padding or creating that insurance policy, so to speak, in making the Chase this year. To get a win over the years and keep adding to that was great. But just the overall team perspective, to win, it’s just great to know that we know that we’re doing the right things on the race car to make it fast. To be able to execute with a perfect plan last week, I think the only two cars to do the two-stop strategy were the Penske cars. It was awesome that we had that fuel mileage and the speed to carry it through and do that.

“Coming into the Coke Zero 400, it’s a great sponsor of ours with Coca-Cola on the team and we want to try and get a check mark off the list which is to win a restrictor-plate, points-paying race. It’s the same car we ran here at Daytona in February. It was a top-five finishing car. We had a great Speedweeks. Not much has changed with the rules package or throughout the garage area as far as the competition side. So, we’re hoping that we’ll have that strong car like we did back here in February and put our Dodge up front and see what we can do in that two-car draft to bring it on home first this time.”

Audio: 2011 NSCS Coke Zero 400 Pre-Race Press Conference with Driver Kurt Busch

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON DRIVERS SELF-POLICING WHAT HAPPENS ON THE TRACK? “Road course racing gets tougher every year at Sonoma. At Watkins Glen, we see the packs give a little more appreciation for one another on double-file restarts and not roughing each other up. It seems like at Sonoma it gets rougher and tougher each year. To be up front and stay out of the mayhem, that was a goal of ours. I learned over the years that I could be running fourth or fifth and you’re in a vulnerable spot for someone to take a shot at you. Does it carry over to the next week? It’s always there. Drivers never forget. It seems like each year that you go to those restrictor-plate races that you have your friends that you’re going to draft with and then you have those guys that you’ve had some run-ins with that you don’t necessarily want to draft with. But what ends up happening in this two-car draft scenario is wherever you come out on pit road after a pit stop and if you haven’t teamed-up with someone, you might end up drafting with someone that might be on that list that you don’t like, but you have to do the best that you can do to win. You got to put your differences aside for the short term.”

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE TWO-CAR DRAFT? “It’s necessary right now. To win, you have to have speed in that two-car draft. Anytime that you can tell a driver that he’s going to be four-seconds faster a lap and he’s got a shot at winning, then he has to do that. And so that’s what everybody is doing – this two-car draft. I’m for it. It’s what it takes to win right now. As this track gets older, as Talladega gets older and as we maybe see rules changes come about, we won’t see the two-car draft as prominent. But right now, it is and it’s what it takes to win.”

CAN YOU TELL US WHO PATRICIA DRISCOLL IS AND HAS YOUR PERFORMANCE AT ALL BEEN AFFECTED BY ANYTHING IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE THIS YEAR? “There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes. Obviously, when you win people want to take you down and that’s happened this week. I’ve got some notes and things that I’ve put together and all I really want to say about that is that drivers sometimes have a beef with certain media members or different ones of the print or broadcast media. Things are reported, generally speaking. The majority of our journalists are hard working, responsible individuals who like us, are trying to do their jobs the best way that they can. I appreciate that. I also appreciate the fact, until now, the media has been extremely professional in respect to my personal situation with Eva and I. And, although all those in the NASCAR community have been aware, for some time now, that we’re no longer together and that we are legally separated…why do we go through this process? It’s been tough. The upcoming weeks, we’ll work toward formally terminating our marriage. We do so with the most respect for one another and we’ll always be friends. With that, I’m happy to answer any other questions about the racing side of it. It’s just the personal side is just that.

“There are things going on at the personal level. There are things personal with the team that’s been well documented. Like I’ve said, performance on the track is always the best antidote for putting all that aside. I think the way that we’ve handled the situation of this sport; we’re really good at respecting one another. I’m happy that I’m an athlete in a sport that really cares about writing about our sport versus writing about our personal lives. The other sports get into the professionals lives in a very personal way and I’m glad that I’m in the NASCAR world to work with you guys and to respect that as well. It’s tough. We’re an entity, but I’m still a person.”

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM BEFORE THE SEASON, WAS IT WAS GOING TO TAKE ONE WIN TO GET INTO THE CHASE; ONLY ONE DRIVER HAS ONE WIN IN SPOTS 11-20. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THAT? “I think over the years we’ve seen guys get into the Chase without wins and that’s what this wild card was meant to do, that the 11th and 12th place group of cars have been running consistent, but we want to see the winner’s in there. We want to put a bonus together for the guys that win. Right now, we’re supporting that No. 2 car as much as we can. We want to see (Brad) Keselowski in that wild card group because he’s got a win, but right now he’s 12 points on the outside looking in. It’s an insurance package to have that one win and right now, we’re ahead of a lot of guys. Even if we start to struggle in points with overall finishes, we still have that one win to boost us ahead of quite a few guys that don’t have those wins.”

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE WILD CARD BIRTH WITH ONE WIN? “At this point, yes. But the problem is that there is 10 weeks to go and there are 10 opportunities for guys to get that one win. Kevin (Harvick) with his three wins has a great opportunity – he can cruise on easy street. If guys still add up those wins and he doesn’t have those points buffer, it can get interesting pretty quick. Ten weeks to go with one win, we feel pretty solid.”

WITH THE WIN NOW, IS THERE LESS PRESSURE ON YOUR TEAM? WILL YOU DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT? “There’s a little less pressure, but we’re not going to do anything different to change the game. We still want to win. We want to compete for wins and most importantly, that’s done with competitive cars that are leading laps. It’s been cool the last five weeks to lead the most laps at two events. That definitely gives us the confidence that we’re heading in the right direction. We know that there are still certain areas that we can improve and make ourselves even that much more of a threat once the Chase begins.”

WHAT WAS THE SPARK THAT TURNED AROUND THE RECENT PERFORMANCE AT PENSKE? “We asked everybody at the roundtable discussion this Tuesday, which was a very positive meeting, from where our meetings were, on what is that one thing. None of us could come up with one thing. It was little bits here and there and everywhere. Even Walt Czarnecki was in the meeting personally and we had some of the other executive who were there to slap high-fives for a great win and a good momentum run right now. There’s just not one thing that we can point at that has helped us improve. It’s been a wide range of things.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NEW ASPHALT AT DAYTONA VERSUS THE OLD SURFACE? “Last year, it was very interesting with the old surface and still being so focused on handling and making sure that you could keep your car wide open throughout the entire race track. The big bump between turns 1 and 2 was still and issue. It was that old school ‘who can slide it the best’ and this time around, we have that grip in the asphalt still.

“It’s still fresh. We’ll be able to hold it wide open quite easily. We’ll be connected in that two-car draft. Just coming in today and just working on radios and to have radio communications with other teams has been the big thing instead of sitting there worrying about your setup and what you’re going to bolt on you car for that handling package. Right now, it’s just about raw speed, very different from just 12 months ago.”

IS THERE A TRACK ON THE CIRCUIT THAT HAS FRUSTRATED YOU AS MUCH AS DAYTONA? “This place has been good for speed and opportunities to win and yet, I’ve still been the bridesmaid three times in the Daytona 500. I haven’t had quite the success in the 400 here. I’m looking forward to it. There’s a track named Martinsville in Virginia that I just struggle at. I just can’t find the one niche there. I won there years and years ago, but since then, it’s just been a struggle trying to find the right amount of turn versus grip. I’d say Martinsville is my toughest track.”

- Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports, Press Release

2011 Kevin Harvick All Smiles - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 29 BUDWEISER FOLDS OF HONOR CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed the two-car draft at Daytona, his special paint scheme here this weekend, sponsorship and other topics.

TALK ABOUT THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE BUDWEISER CHEVROLET YOU WILL BE DRIVING HERE AT DAYTONA: “It is great to have a sponsor that is so in to supporting our military and we have the Folds of Honor on the back of the car this week which is a foundation driving to draw awareness and trying to raise some money. The fans got to chose the car paint scheme that we are racing this weekend. It is very patriotic. I like the way it looks. It is red, white and blue with some stars all over it. It is a cool car and it is cool to have a sponsor like Budweiser that supports everything.

“This race track is obviously a big part of our sport and the things that we do. We’ve been fortunate to win some races here. This is one of those races where you have to keep your car rolling and be around at the end. The way that it has become now, you have to have partners. You have to be in the right place at the right time. We didn’t have much of a chance to race in the Daytona 500; we had an engine failure there. Excited to come back and looking forward to the weekend.”

Audio: 2011 NSCS Coke Zero 400 Pre-Race Press Conference with driver Kevin Harvick

CAN YOU ASSESS YOUR TEAM’S CHANCES WITH FOUR CARS IN THE NATIONWIDE SERIES RACE HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AND SECONDLY, ONLY FIVE GUYS IN THE 52 YEAR HISTORY OF THE 400 HAVE WON CONSECUTIVELY, WHAT MAKES THIS RACE SO HARD TO WIN? “To your first question on the Nationwide stuff, really the reason for entering the cars is the way the races is now. We probably only needed to enter one. We could have just let (Tony) Stewart handle the whole process and he could probably handle it by himself with the success he has had in the cars here at Daytona. We’ll put the four cars together and see where they fall in the end. These races are just hard to win because there’s just so many things happening. It’s kind of the great equalizer. Anybody can win from any given spot at any particular time. You just have to try and put yourself in the right position to A. be around at the end and, B. be in position to capitalize at the end of the race on the last lap because that’s when it all happens. It is just all about trying to put yourself in the right spot. Sometimes you can’t even get there. But you do the best you can to try and do that.”

WHERE DO YOU STAND WITH THE TANDEM-RACING SCENARIO-THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN OR IT IS WHAT IT IS? “It is what it is for me. I honestly think if the track would have been paved 15 years ago… Everybody just figured it out and I think if everybody would have figured it out 15 years ago, you could have done it with the cars then. It is just a matter of one guy figuring it out and it has just kind of stuck. Now that there is new asphalt, you can do whatever you want because the grip is really high. As a driver you race whatever gives you the best opportunity to win the race and if you don’t do that, you aren’t even to come close. That’s what gives us the best opportunity and that’s what we’ll do.”

DO YOU PREFER THE BIG CLUSTERS OF CARS WE SAW A FEW YEARS AGO? “I’m not really going to prefer one way or another. For me as a driver, it is just all about whatever is the fastest way.”

YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A REPUTATION OF PULLING OUR WINS AT THE LAST MINUTE, ARE YOU JUST IN THE RIGHT PLACE IN THE RIGHT TIME? “We have always been better at the end of the races than we have been at the beginning. Over the last little bit it has been more dramatic than it needs to be, for sure. Hey, whatever we’ve got to do, if it is leading one lap, or a half of a lap or a quarter of a lap, as long as we are winning, that is the main thing.”

KYLE BUSCH CAME UP AND SHOOK YOU HAND LAST WEEK AFTER INFINEON, IS THAT ALL OVER WITH AND YOU GUYS ARE GOOD TO GO? “I wouldn’t call it good to go on that. I mean we raced together for a lap and a half. I was as confused about all that as everybody else.”

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON BLOCKING AND ALSO BLOCKING HERE AT DAYTONA? “Oh yes, you have to block here for sure. The hardest thing about the road race stuff is you have to race with a different style. As everybody has seen over the last several years, those races are rough and have become probably the most exciting races on the schedule because they are so rough. You have to take chances and sometimes you can put a block on. As the blocker, you know that after you have put a couple of them on, if you put one on every once in a while, if you make a mistake to try to keep your position, but when you do it lap after lap, it tends to frustrate people. The road race guys are the worst about it. They will do it lap after lap and you usually just have to run over them to get by them. If it is a lap after lap thing, it gets on your nerves pretty fast.”

ARE YOU GOING TO BLOCK HERE? “Oh, you are going to block here. You have to. It all depends on where you are in the race. How many laps are left.”

DO YOU FIND WITH THIS STYLE OF RACING HERE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE YOU WOULDN’T BE ANYWHERE ELSE? “Absolutely. As a team as a whole with RCR, we have to try to put our team first. But when you wind up with people having accidents or just problems in general or bad pit stops, or whatever the case may be. You wind up with some odd partners. This weekend you just expect it. You know that you are going to have to work with people you don’t want to or you wouldn’t even necessarily even think about cooperating with on a normal race track. But on this particular weekend you work with whoever, whenever and you do what you have to do. First and foremost, you put your team first and you try to take those four cars and make that work.”

HOW DO YOU THINK TREVOR BAYNE IS FEELING WALKING BACK INTO DAYTONA? “It’s got to be pretty special, well, I know it is. I think with everything that he has been through this year, I think just getting in the car every week is pretty exciting for him and just being around the race track and being around all the people he likes being around. His friends, his family and everybody at the race track pretty much becomes your family. So, when you can just be around the people that you like being around, sometimes that is more important than winning any dumb race. It is really more about living an everyday life than it is winning a race. He’s winning the big race.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE TANDEM DRAFTING AND DO YOU SEE A TIME WHEN IT GOES AWAY? “I really think if you think you way back, you can think way back and you can remember at Talladega before the race track was paved, and I remember this conversation on the radio about Jeff Gordon just screaming and yelling on the radio with Dale, Jr. (Earnhardt) hitting him and pushing him through the corners. That is really where it all started was Dale, Jr. pushing people all the way around the race track and that was before the track was even paved at Talladega. I just remember that day and going home and watching the race and Jeff Gordon just raising hell about Dale, Jr. pushing him through the corners. Ever since that time, everybody saw that and it has evolved into what it is today. Then they paved the race tracks and it became easy. I don’t remember what year that was, but, it was several years ago before the race track was paved.”

IS THERE LESS BLOCKING HERE WITH THE CARS TWO-BY-TWO AND CARS ARE A LITTLE MORE SPREAD OUT, DOES IT LESSEN THE CHANCE OF ANGER ISSUES ON THE TRACK? “It just depends, you just have to judge on how fast that group is coming up. The blocking just becomes one of those deals if you feel like you made a mistake and you need to guard the position because you’ve already passed the cars behind you, or whatever the case may be, you know you are going to get passed and you know there is going to be some blocks. If you can break that two-car tandem up, it is going to benefit you to keep going. It is all circumstances as to how much you block and there is going to be blocking.”

IS IT BECAUSE YOU DO SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO SUPPORT YOUR SPONSORS THE REASON YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE SPONSORS FOR YOUR TEAMS AT KHI WHEN OTHERS ARE SEEMINGLY HAVING A TOUGH TIME? “We work had it and we think outside the box. When you have a sponsor, you have to take care of them and treat them like they belong. They have to have fun and they have to do the things at the race track that work for them as a sponsorship. We take a lot of chances on certain things and try to bring new people into the sport. Sometimes it’s successful, sometimes it’s not. But we work hard and we’re always on the look-out to try to do something different. If you try to do it the same old way, you are going to wind up with the same old result and it’s not very good right now. You just have to think outside the box.”

WOULD YOU RATHER BE THE CAR IN FRONT OR CAR IN BACK? “To be honest with you, I would rather be the pusher. It’s just easier. It is less work. You can just hold it on the floor and keep your car cool. In the front, it is one of those things where you have to pay a lot of attention as to cars coming up the side of you and keeping the guy attached to you from behind. The front car has to do more work in my opinion.”

WERE YOU IN THE NASCAR BRIEFING THIS MORNING ABOUT THE FANS, THE MEDIA, ETC., WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN NASCAR? “We’ve been a part of the same meetings. I think that everybody has the same goal in mind and it is no different than anything else. Things change. Perspective of younger audiences change. Everybody wants that 18 to 34 demographic. You want to keep the current fans and the old school fans happy too. It is a fine balance. It is hard to juggle all the pieces and figure out how it works.

There is just a lot of things that have changed and there is no way, just like I talked about the sponsorship thing a second ago, there is no way that as a sport that we can have the same strategy that we have had for 50-60 years. It is just not going to work. They are doing a lot of work to try and make it better and that is really all you can ask for is to have everybody be pulling the same direction and if everyone is understanding it and is on the same page, it is a lot easier to pull in the same direction. They have been very open as to what they want to do. If it doesn’t work, it’s not from a lack of effort.”

CAN YOU TELL IN THE CAR WHO YOU ARE SPEAKING TO ON THE RADIO IN YOUR CAR HERE? ARE THERE ANY LIGHTS ON THE DASH? “There shouldn’t be any lights, but there is a sticker with a knob that points to the car that your radio channel is on, that is pretty common. But, I don’t put it in my car, it is too confusing. Anything past five is hard for me because I can only take one hand off the wheel at a time.”

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH ONE TO GO? “You would like to be the second car for sure. It is no different. You can pull out and drive right by them if you pull out at the right time. But the problem is, there is usually somebody right beside you and at that point you are stuck. If you pull out to pass the guy in front of you, the guys on the outside are going to drive right by you. If it’s like how Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip were in the truck race and you are out by yourself, they guy in front is a sitting duck unless you just drive him into the fence. Which is a good option (LAUGHS).”

About Chevrolet: Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

- Team Chevy, Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

ROAD AMERICA REWIND: Michael Annett was the highest finishing Camry driver in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., posting a seventh-place result in the 200-mile event on the four-mile road course. Annett survived three green-white-checkered flag finishes to earn his second top-10 finish in the last three NNS races. Michael McDowell finished 12th in the JGR No. 18 Camry after starting from the pole. The 26- year-old, Phoenix-native led 30 (of 57) laps in the race, but was involved in an incident on the second green-white-checkered flag attempt that sent his Camry spinning through the grass and forcing him to the 18th position for the final restart. Brian Scott paced the field once for five laps and finished 16th following contact on the first green-white-checkered flag attempt.

500 FLASHBACK: The NSCS and NNS will return to the recently repaved Daytona International Speedway this weekend. In February’s season-opening Daytona 500, several Toyota Camry drivers ran at the front of the field throughout the 208-lap race at the 2.5-mile Florida tri-oval. When the checkered flag waved, it was two Toyota drivers, Bobby Labonte (fourth) and Busch (eighth), who managed to come home with top-10 finishes in a race that ended with multiple attempts at green-white- checkered flag finishes. Labonte started 31st in his inaugural race for JTG-Daugherty Racing and managed to avoid multiple accidents to record his first top-five in a Toyota.

FLORIDIAN FRANCIS: Kenny Francis, crew chief for the Red Bull Racing Team No. 4 Camry driven by Kasey Kahne, hails from Jacksonville, Fla., and attended the University of Florida. Francis began racing go-karts at the age of eight in the Jacksonville-area and went on to compete in Late Model stock cars locally while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Florida. He eventually began working under the hood in NASCAR in 1996, and has been a crew chief since 2002. This year marks the sixth season Francis has been paired as Kahne’s crew chief. Together, they have combined for 10 wins, and were also victorious in a 2010 qualifying race at Daytona.

NOTES, QUOTES & NUMBERS

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS):

Since the start of the 2011 season, Toyota drivers have combined for three victories, 16 top-five results, 35 top-10 finishes and have led 1,546 laps … After 16 races, Kyle Busch is fifth in the NSCS point standings and Denny Hamlin ranks 11th … Martin Truex Jr. (18th) and Kasey Kahne (19th) are also in the top-20 in points … Truex has earned four top-10 finishes in the last seven races … Busch won the July 2008 NSCS race at Daytona International Speedway … Camry driver David Reutimann hails from Zephyrhills, Fla. … Reutimann’s spotter and cousin, Shawn Reutimann, currently resides in Zephyrhills … David’s father Buzzie Reutimann, 70, competes at Tampa’s East Bay Raceway in open-wheel Modifieds and has recorded two feature wins in 2011, including last weekend.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How exciting is racing at Daytona International Speedway? “I think it’s an exciting race for everyone. Even the teams that maybe run mediocre at times, Daytona is always their chance to win a race because it puts everyone on such a level playing field no matter what you got under you — you’re capable of winning. I think that part of it is exciting. Now that they’ve repaved it, it almost seems like we’re racing at a different race track. So, for me the Daytona that I won on is the old Daytona and we don’t even run on that anymore. It feels like a total different race track, so it’s hard for me to bring back memories when I feel like I’m racing somewhere else.”

BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Kingsford Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing

Are you looking forward to returning to Daytona after a fourth-place result in February? “The Daytona 500 was awesome for us. We had a pretty good week. We ran the Shootout and went from the Shootout not knowing how to draft to almost winning the thing at the end. So, we made the biggest gain of everybody throughout the weekend, and really happy that we’re going back there. I don’t think that the track has lost a lot of grip. The repave was 100 percent grip and I’m sure from February to now it’s probably not lost a lot. I think we’ll see the two-car drafting like we’ve seen before. Just would like to get back down there and have a little bit of redemption of what we missed out on last time.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Do you like racing at Daytona? “I always look forward to going to Daytona. I enjoy plate racing. I enjoy Daytona. Since I’ve been in the NAPA Toyota we’ve had a shot to win the 500 both years. We ran really well, especially last year, but even this year. We got in that late race wreck this year and it was disappointing. But, I always look forward to going there. It’s a bit of a wild card, but if you can make it to the end, it’s always fun.”

Will the track lose grip for the July race? “I don’t think it’s going to be any different than what we saw in February. The track is so new it has so much grip. We could’ve ran 40 miles an hour faster than we did in February and still not have to let off. It should have plenty of grip still and I assume for a couple of years it will be like that. The racing will be just like in February, but it will be under the lights. It will look cooler.”

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team

Do you think the racing at Daytona in July will change from years past? “The old surface was slick year round, but it was really hot and slick in July, and I think it made for a great race. I think the July race — I am curious to see any surface, even the new ones in an environment like Daytona, the heat, the sand, it’s going to wear quicker than most places. But, I can’t imagine it’s going to change that much from February to now. It’s going to be hotter for the drivers. The tires are going to have less grip, but not enough at a place like Daytona that it’s going to matter. We’re still going to be wide open. I’m sure the bump drafting is still going to be there, but maybe a little bit more of a handful.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS):

Since the start of the 2011 season, Toyota drivers have combined for six wins, 18 top- five results, 39 top-10 finishes and have led 1,159 laps … Kenny Wallace (seventh) is the top Toyota driver in the NNS point standings … Steve Wallace (eighth), Brian Scott (ninth), Michael Annett (1 0th) and Joe Nemechek (15th) are also in the top-15 in the standings … Camry drivers have earned two victories in NNS races at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) … Tony Stewart won in a Camry in Feb. 2008 and Denny Hamlin crossed the finish line first at DIS in July 2008.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Did you notice a difference between the NSCS and NNS cars on Daytona’s new surface? “The biggest difference I’ve seen is the way the bumpers are. The Nationwide cars are a lot rounder than the Cup cars, so it seems like it’s a little easier to get guys out of shape with the Nationwide car. Overall, there’s a drag difference between the two cars, the horsepower difference between the two cars you feel and other than that the technique and the drivability is relatively the same.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Are you hoping to finally get a win at a restrictor-plate track in the Nationwide Series? “I saw the stat that I’ve pushed four different winners to victory lane between Daytona and Talladega over the last couple of years and that is crazy. It is good, because that means we’ve always had a fast car and been able to stay out of trouble and be up at the front at the end of the race, but it sucks to always finish second. I think it’s about time to get the No. 20 up front and let someone push me for the win. It is all about putting yourself in the right position with just a handful of laps left in the race. If you can do that, you can win these races.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS):

Since the start of the 2011 season, Tundra drivers have registered six wins, 14 top-five results, 27 top-10 finishes and have led 642 laps … Timothy Peters (sixth), Brendan Gaughan (10th), Max Papis (11th), Todd Bodine (13th), Justin Lofton (18th), Miguel Paludo (19th) and David Starr (20th) are currently in the top-20 in the point standings … Justin Lofton parted ways with Germain Racing and returned to Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) and will drive the No. 46 Tundra at Kentucky Speedway … Lofton won the ARCA Racing Series championship in 2009 with ESR … The NCWTS has one more weekend off before returning to action July 7 at Kentucky Speedway.

JUSTIN LOFTON, No. 46 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota Tundra, Eddie Sharp Racing

Are you looking forward to returning to Eddie Sharp Racing? “I am really excited about returning to ESR (Eddie Sharp Racing). It feels like we’re going back home. I had so much success with Eddie (Sharp), and we have a great relationship beyond an owner-driver working relationship. When you run the Truck Series, it is so competitive. You can’t be off with the setups or communication. One little thing can throw everything off. Working with Eddie eliminates all of that.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –

Fisher will give the starting command, “Gentlemen start your engines,” in Saturday’s 160-lap, 400-mile race. He’ll also be introduced at the driver’s meeting, participate in the driver introductions and ride in one of the Grand Marshal cars during the pace laps prior to the green flag.

Fisher just completed his first season as head coach at Florida State with a 10-4 record. Fisher led the Seminoles to their first 10-win season since 2003, a victory over in-state rival Florida, an appearance in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and a victory in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

Between 2007-09, Fisher served as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Seminoles. Prior to joining Florida State, Fisher served as offensive coordinator at Louisiana State between 2000-06 and helped lead the Tigers to the National Championship in 2003. Fisher has also served as an assistant at Samford, Auburn and Cincinnati.

The Coke Zero brand selected Coach Fisher for this honor, as Florida State will be one of many prominent schools featured in the brand’s fall program around college football rivalries.

“I’m extremely honored and excited,” Fisher said. “I’ve been a huge NASCAR fan my entire life. Being able to go to Daytona, where it all started in racing, is a very special privilege and something I’m really looking forward to. I consider this a great honor and I want to thank Coca-Cola for allowing me to represent Florida State.”

Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, a graduate of the University of Florida, politely declined comment.

For tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

-Daytona International Speedway, Press Release

Team: No. 60 Subway Ford Mustang

Crew Chief: Mike Beam

Chassis: RK-678 – last ran in Talladega – Finished 17th.

Races Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Led Money

Cumulative 6 0 2 2 0 19 $174,715

QUOTES

Carl Edwards on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“Daytona is such a different race now with the new surface. It is all about pure speed and partnering up with someone. It is big weekend for Subway. It would be great to get the No. 60 Subway Ford in victory lane of the Subway Jalapeno 250. I will be doing everything I can to win this race.”

Crew chief Mike Beam on racing at Daytona International Speedway:

“I always enjoy racing under the lights at Daytona. As with all superspeedway races, you got make sure you don’t get caught up in the big one. We are bringing the same car that we brought here in February. Hopefully you will see this Subway Mustang in victory lane on Saturday night.”

FAST FACTS

- Edwards will be piloting the No. 60 Subway Ford Mustang this weekend.

- So far in 2011, Edwards has four wins, nine top-fives, and 11 top-10s.

- Edwards’ captured his 33rd career NASCAR Nationwide win at Michigan International Speedway.

- Edwards has captured four Coors Light pole awards so far in the 2011 Nationwide Series season.

- Roush Fenway Racing Press Release

Dodge Motorsports

· Dodge has nine Sprint Cup wins at Daytona International Speedway (four in the Daytona 500 and five in the Coke Zero 400).

· Dodge’s Kurt Busch earned victories at the season opening Bud Shootout and Gatorade Duel at Daytona earlier this season. Busch is seeking his first Sprint Cup point’s win on a restrictor plate track. He has three runner-up finishes in 21 starts at Daytona.

· Dodge has earned nine poles at Daytona. Five of the nine have been during the July event.

DODGE NEWS AND NOTES

· Dodge won its second Sprint Cup Series race of the season last weekend at Infineon Raceway and the second Cup Series win in the last four races.

· Dodge’s Kurt Busch is the only Sprint Cup Series driver who has been in the top-10 in the driver point standings all season (16 races).

THE DODGE BOYS

· Dodge has 209 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories.

· Dodge’s most recent win came last weekend at Infineon Raceway. Kurt Busch led 76 of the 110 laps en route to victory in the Save Mart 350. The victory was the second for Dodge in 2011.

· Dodge teams have posted 49 victories since the manufacturer’s return to NASCAR’s premier series in 2001 after being out of the sport since 1977.

· Dodge has posted wins each season since its return in 2001 including seven wins twice (2002 and 2006).

· Dodge claimed two Sprint Cup victories in 2010.

· A Dodge has started from the pole in four of the last five Sprint Cup races – Brad Keselowski (Charlotte) and Kurt Busch (Kansas, Pocono and Michigan).

DID YOU KNOW?

· Dodge’s Kurt Busch has finished in the top 10 in eight of the last 10 Sprint Cup races at Daytona and has the fifth- best average finish (13.8) in the last six Sprint Cup races at the 2.5-mile track. In 42-career Sprint Cup restrictor-plate races, he has 16 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes.

· Dodge’s Brad Keselowski earned his first Sprint Cup Series win at a restrictor-plate track (Talladega – 2009).

· The 2011 Daytona 500 produced a record number of leaders (22) and lead changes (74). It also produced a record number of cautions (16).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

· Kurt Busch has led 274 laps in the last four Sprint Cup races: (Kansas (152), Pocono (37), Michigan (9) and Infineon (76). In the first 12 races, he led 123 laps with a best finish of fourth (Charlotte). He’s finished outside the top 10 only once in the last five races (Michigan – 11th).

FROM THE ENGINEER

“The Daytona 500 in February was fast, the Amp Energy 500 in April at Talladega was faster. Who knows how fast this restrictor plate race will be. The rules package in effect for Sprint Cup restrictor plate tracks this season is geared for faster races than we’ve seen in more than 10 years. That may not have been the original intent but it’s certainly been the result. Teams will be very busy this week trying to find grip on a typically slick, Daytona in July, track to keep up with somebody in the garage that’s found the speed we saw at both restrictor plate tracks this spring.”
Howard Comstock, Dodge Motorsports Engineering

ODDS AND ENDS

· Dodge’s Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch have each earned a Sprint Cup pole and race win this season.

· Brad Keselowski is one of three drivers outside the top-12 in the driver point standings with a win.

· Kurt Busch has a current streak of 10 consecutive years with a race win – the second longest active streak behind Tony Stewart (12 years).

· Kurt Busch has gained five positions in the Sprint Cup driver standings in the last five races.

· Since 2005, Busch has the fourth-best driver rating at Daytona (96.4).

2011 SPRINT CUP SERIES SEASON BEST

· Kurt Busch Start: 1st (Kansas, Pocono & Michigan)
Finish: 1st (Infineon)

· Brad Keselowski Start: 1st (Charlotte)
Finish: 1st (Kansas)

· Robby Gordon Start: 30th (Daytona)
Finish: 16th (Daytona)

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY BEST

· Kurt Busch Start: 3rd (2011)
Finish: 2nd (2003, 2005 & 2008)

· Brad Keselowski Start: 16th (2011)
Finish: 24th (2009)

· Robby Gordon Start: 3rd (2003)
Finish; 6th (2003 & 2008)

ON TWO-CAR DRAFTING AT DAYTONA

“We’ll see how the track has matured since the repave and what the grip level will be like. It’s going to be hot and slick because it’s July in Florida. We’ll see if we can still hook up in that two-car draft. The grip level was extremely high in February. I anticipate the grip to be good this time around. If so, you’ll see two-car drafting just like we had in February.”
Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

DODGE MOTORSPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“With the Speedweeks that we had in February, we’re excited to head back to Daytona because Kurt is such a great plate racer. We won the (Gatorade) 125. We won the (Budweiser) Shootout. We want to get Kurt a restrictor-plate point’s win. The restrictor-plate engines at Penske are awesome. The guys are working really hard on the cars. I feel good about it. I feel like we can go win. Our testing is paying dividends and everyone on this Shell/Pennzoil Dodge team is working their butt off. We just need to keep the momentum going and go get us a win at Daytona.”
Steve Addington, crew chief, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

DODGE QUOTES

“We certainly want to finally win us one of these things (restrictor-plate race), that’s for sure. But, we still have to keep focus on this season and what it’s going to take to move forward in the effort to make the Chase this year. We need to win races because that will be so important come September. At the same time, we have to stay consistent in posting the top-five finishes and top-10s. The bottom line is that we have to go after those race wins as hard as we can, but still exercise conservatism, if you want to call it that. Unlike the guys back there in 15th to 20th in the points who can gamble on fuel mileage and roll the dice out there in every race, we have to look at it as the big goal of completing all the laps and getting the best possible finish we can in every race.”
Kurt Busch, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T

“Our Miller Lite Dodge was really fast at Daytona in February. We’re bringing really fast cars to the race track and we feel that we have a shot to win every week.”
Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T

- Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports, Press Release

Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola
Wednesday, June 29TH

4:00 PM             NNS HAULERS ENTER

Thursday, June 30TH

6:30 AM             NNS REGISTRATION OPENS
7:00 AM             NSCS HAULERS ENTER
7:00 AM             NNS GARAGE OPENS
8:00 AM             NSCS REGISTRATION OPENS
8:30 AM             NSCS GARAGE OPENS
1:00 PM             TRACK SERVICES MEETING (DRIVERS
                    MEETING ROOM)
1:00 PM             NNS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS & RANDOM DRAWING
2:30 PM 3:50 PM     NNS PRACTICE
3:00 PM             NSCS ROOKIE & SPOTTER MEETINGS & RANDOM DRAWING
3:30 PM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT **
4:00 PM 5:20 PM     NSCS PRACTICE
5:30 PM 6:25 PM     NNS FINAL PRACTICE
6:00 PM             NSCS & NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES
6:35 PM 8:00 PM     NSCS FINAL PRACTICE
8:30 PM             NNS GARAGE CLOSES
9:00 PM             NSCS GARAGE CLOSES

Friday, July 1ST

8:00 AM             NNS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS
9:00 AM             NSCS GARAGE & REGISTRATION OPENS
12:40 PM            TRACK SERVICES MEETING (DRIVERS MEETING ROOM)
2:10 PM             NNS QUALIFYING (TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS)
3:40 PM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT **
4:00 PM 6:00 PM     NNS Minor’s Admitted to the Garage Area*
4:00 PM             NNS DRIVER/CREW CHIEF MEETING (DRIVERS MEETING ROOM)
4:10 PM             NSCS QUALIFYING (TWO LAPS, ALL POSITIONS) IMPOUND
4:30 PM 5:30 PM     NNS Autograph Session
5:30 PM             TRACK SERVICES MEETING – PIT ROAD
6:30 PM             NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES
7:00 PM             NNS DRIVER INTRODUCTION-SECURITY –CLEAR PIT ROAD
7:30 PM             NSCS GARAGE CLOSES
7:30 PM             NNS RACE (100 LAPS, 250 MILES)
8:00 PM             NNS REGISTRATION CLOSES

Saturday, July 2ND

10:00 AM 11:00 AM   TV EXHIBITION RUN
11:00 AM 12:45 PM   NASCAR Pace Car Rides
11:00 AM 12:45 PM   Daytona International Speedway Pace Car Rides
1:00 PM             NSCS REGISTRATION OPENS
1:00 PM             NSCS ACCESS TO HAULERS
3:00 PM             NSCS GARAGE OPENS
3:00 PM 6:00 PM     NSCS Minor’s Admitted to the Garage Area*
4:00 PM             TRACK SERVICES MEETING (DRIVERS MEETING ROOM)
5:30 PM             NSCS DRIVER/CREW CHIEF MEETING (DRIVERS MEETING ROOM)
6:30 PM             NSCS ** HOT PASS IN EFFECT ** UNTIL ONE HOUR AFTER RACE
7:00 PM             NSCS DRIVERS INTRODUCTION-SECURITY –CLEAR PIT ROAD
7:30 PM             NSCS RACE (160 LAPS, 400 MILES)
8:00 PM             NSCS REGISTRATION CLOSES
                    *With Proper Credentials

ALL TIMES ARE LISTED IN EASTERN
TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE