A WILD FINISH AT DAYTONA 500 RACE~Kevin Harvick wins over Mark Martin

Photo Finish at the Daytona 500. A wild race !

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SEE THE FINISH OF THIS RACE..
http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2007/02/18/cup_finallaps_harvick.nascar/frameset.exclude.html?MostPopular

The Great American Race~wild photo finish

An amazing race
A hard-charging Kevin Harvick nosed out Mark Martin at the finish line Sunday to win the Daytona 500 in a green-white-checkered finish that included a multiple-car crash on the last lap.

The last few laps of the race....

Harvick edges Martin for Daytona 500 title
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick nosed out Mark Martin in a frantic wreck-filled finish to win Sunday's Daytona 500.

Martin, making his 23rd attempt at a 500 win, seemed to have victory in hand when a hard-charging Harvick barreled along the outside of Martin to earn his second victory at Daytona International Speedway in two nights. Harvick won Saturday's Busch race -- his first ever victory at Daytona.

As Harvick pushed into the lead, Kyle Busch wiggled behind them and bumped into Matt Kenseth to start a melee. Harvick and Martin raced side by side, waiting for NASCAR to call for a caution. When it finally came, Harvick was barely ahead.

"My go-kart experience over the winter paid off, because I didn't let off the floor and we just kept hitting things and the wall and bouncing off everything,'' Harvick said. "But man, this is the Daytona 500. Can you believe it?''

It took several moments for NASCAR to declare a winner, finally giving it to Harvick and spoiling what would have been the biggest victory of 48-year-old Martin's career.

"I didn't ask for a win in the Daytona 500, I asked for a chance,'' Martin said. "I let it slip away, slip through my fingers, and I'm fine with that.''

It was just the finish NASCAR needed to put racing back in the spotlight after a cheating scandal nearly ruined the Great American Race.

Five teams were busted for breaking the rules during Speedweeks -- including two-time winner Michael Waltrip, who broke the NASCAR code by tampering with his fuel before qualifying.

It put the sport in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and NASCAR had to ratchet up its penalty process to prevent its premier event from turning into a joke.

Finishes like this one might fix everything.

Martin led 26 laps and was out front when a five-car accident brought racing to a standstill with five laps to go. It made for an agonizing 11 minutes, 39 seconds for Martin, who could do nothing but sit idly in his car trying to plot his strategy during the stoppage.

When racing resumed with two laps to go, Martin seemingly needed only to hold off Kyle Busch in a sprint to the finish. He weaved high and then low to block Busch's attempts, which may have distracted him from Harvick.

Running in his own high line, Harvick charged hard on the outside and was side-by-side with Martin when Busch triggered the accident. Neither driver let up as they charged ahead waiting for NASCAR to call it.

Cars race through the tri-oval at the start of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.



Lap-by-Lap: Daytona 500 END OF RACE.
By NASCAR.COM
February 18, 2007
07:15 PM EST

Lap 203 -- CHECKERED FLAG: Kevin Harvick wins the Daytona 500 by .02 seconds ahead of Mark Martin.

Lap 202 -- Kevin Harvick pulls on the outside of Mark Martin as the two go side-by-side to the checkered flag.

Lap 202 -- Kyle Busch gets onto the apron, gets turned and a huge crash that leaves Clint Bowyer on its roof in the infield. David Gilliland and Jeff Gordon are involved, as well as several others.

Lap 202 -- WHITE FLAG: Mark Martin continues to lead the top four single-file.

Lap 201 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin leads the field to green.
1. Mark Martin
2. Kyle Busch
3. Greg Biffle
4. David Gilliland
5. Elliott Sadler

Lap 198 -- YELLOW FLAG: The red flag has been lifted, and cars are rolling again in preparation for a green-white-checkered finish.

Lap 198 -- RED FLAG: The race has been halted to clean up the wreckage, as all cars are parked on the backstretch.

Lap 196 -- CAUTION FLAG: Jamie McMurray slaps the wall after getting loose off Turn 2. The accordion effect collect Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ricky Rudd in the accident. Martin Truex Jr. also has damage.

Lap 195 -- Jeff Burton gets loose and drops through the pack after making his way to third. Matt Kenseth also gets loose.

Lap 194 -- Kyle Busch gets Mark Martin loose, but Martin maintains the lead.

Lap 192 -- Kyle Busch moves into third to create a bottom lane and bust the single-file group.

Lap 191 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin gets the race going again.
1. Mark Martin
2. Greg Biffle
3. Matt Kenseth
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Elliott Sadler

Lap 186 -- YELLOW FLAG: Reed Sorenson makes contact with Carl Edwards, sending several cars scurrying. Dave Blaney gets forced down pit road although he has a flat tire, heads into Turn 1 at full speed and slams Ken Schrader.

Lap 184 -- Mark Martin leads two former teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth.

Lap 180 -- GREEN FLAG: Mark Martin leads the field to green.
1. Mark Martin
2. Carl Edwards
3. Reed Sorenson
4. Johnny Sauter
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS OF THE DAYTONA 500..

1 34 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil 190/5 202 Running
2 26 01 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army 175/5 202 Running
3 7 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Cingular Wireless 165/0 202 Running
4 22 109 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts 160/0 202 Running
5 35 6 David Ragan * Ford AAA 155/0 202 Running
6 30 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 150/0 202 Running
7 28 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW 146/0 202 Running
8 1 38 David Gilliland Ford M&M's 147/5 202 Running
9 18 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet CertainTeed 138/0 202 Running
10 6 40 David Stremme Dodge Coors Light 134/0 202 Running
11 12 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet Interstate Batteries 130/0 202 Running
12 42 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont 127/0 202 Running
13 33 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target 124/0 202 Running
14 39 7 Robby Gordon Ford Jim Beam 121/0 202 Running
15 41 70 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Yellow Trans. 118/0 202 Running
16 38 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Waste Management 115/0 202 Running
17 23 160 Boris Said Ford SOBE - No Fear 112/0 202 Running
18 11 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 109/0 202 Running
19 36 42 Juan Montoya * Dodge Texaco / Havoline 106/0 202 Running
20 27 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker 103/0 202 Running
21 17 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet National Guard / GMAC 100/0 202 Running
22 14 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot 97/0 202 Running
23 43 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS 94/0 202 Running
24 8 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Kellogg's / CARQUEST 96/5 202 Running
25 25 16 Greg Biffle Ford Ameriquest 88/0 202 Running
26 2 88 Ricky Rudd Ford Snickers 85/0 202 Running
27 10 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT 87/5 202 Running
28 9 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet FedEx Express 79/0 201 Running
29 13 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker 81/5 201 Out of Race
30 15 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts 73/0 200 Running
31 24 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal 70/0 196 Out of Race
32 5 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser 67/0 196 Out of Race
33 20 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet DLP HDTV 64/0 195 Running
34 37 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar 61/0 187 Running
35 19 21 Ken Schrader Ford Little Debbie 58/0 186 Out of Race
36 31 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet Blue Ox 55/0 181 Running
37 32 10 Scott Riggs Dodge Valvoline / Stanley Tools 52/0 179 Running
38 16 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL 54/5 176 Out of Race
39 21 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's 46/0 174 Out of Race
40 40 00 David Reutimann * Toyota Domino's Pizza 43/0 174 Out of Race
41 4 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite 50/10 166 Out of Race
42 29 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo 37/0 160 Running
43 3 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot 39/5 153 Out of Race

The Great American RACE~Daytona International Speedway~DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA~NASCAR~FEBRUARY 18, 2007, 2:00 PM, EST.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2007 ~2:00 P.M. ON FOX NETWORK~ DONT MISS IT !

~ THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE ~
















Daytona 500 Front Row Belongs to Robert Yates Racing

Friday, 02/16/07

New-look NASCAR wants to lap its critics
Car of Tomorrow, foreign-born driver among '07 changes

Buckle up, race fans, for a season that promises to be like nothing ever seen before.

With the mandated Car of Tomorrow, changes to the Chase for the championship, Toyota's arrival, ESPN's return and the introduction of former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya, 2007 will prove this isn't your Daddy's NASCAR.





Indeed, this season will be a pivotal one for NASCAR, which looks to rebound after a mediocre 2006 that saw television ratings slip and made many wonder if the sport had reached its plateau.

But NASCAR Chairman Brian France hasn't strayed from his belief that all is well in his family-owned business.

"We're in a very strong position," he insisted. "We are still the No. 2 sport on television. Promoters continue to enjoy great ticket sales throughout the year, and I know 2007, with all of the things that are going on, will make for an exciting season."

Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500 will mark the first time a Japanese automaker will take the green flag in NASCAR's top series as Toyota's expected to have at least a handful of its Camrys in the field. Seven different drivers, including two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip and 1999 Cup champion Dale Jarrett, will race Camrys this season.

The inclusion of a foreign maker in a decidedly American sport has rankled many longtime fans, who Jarrett believes are closed-minded.

"I'm as American as the next person and I pay my taxes just like everybody else and I love this country," Jarrett said. "Toyota is a big part of the United States economy. They're going to put a lot of dollars in the sport, in promoting our sport, and that's going to be good for our sport as a whole."

The race also will include Montoya, a native of Colombia who will be the only nonwhite driver in NASCAR's top series this season. A former CART champion, Indianapolis 500 winner and popular F1 driver, Montoya is starting what is expected to be a bumpy transition from open-wheel dominance to stock-car struggles.

An aggressive and outspoken driver, he also has proved to be a quick study, leading many to predict he'll visit Victory Lane at least once this season. Montoya just wants to take it one race at a time.

"This is a learning process for me, and there's no rush for me to be perfect," Montoya said. "But I am also not here for fun. This is serious business, and I plan on winning races."

Montoya is expected to bring new fans to NASCAR, and they'll have no problem finding him as he'll be featured heavily on satellite radio and television.

NASCAR is ramping up its exposure through Sirius Satellite Radio, which has an entire NASCAR channel that will provide flag-to-flag coverage on race day, and by welcoming back ESPN after a long hiatus.

ESPN was one of NASCAR's original broadcast partners, but the network was frozen out of coverage in the 2001 television package that awarded the TV rights to Fox and NBC.

But the sports network is back with a vengeance, promising to devote hours upon hours of air time and a nightly NASCAR Now news program.

"A lot has changed at ESPN since we did our last race in 2000," said John Skipper, vice president of content. "We no longer think of the races as a three-hour event. We think of the races as an opportunity for us to establish ESPN as the 24-7 home of the NASCAR fan."

The network also will be home to the Busch Series, promising NASCAR's junior varsity the first stable programming schedule in its history.

All that coverage should make it easy to decide whether NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow helps or hinders the sport.

The futuristic vehicle, designed and developed by NASCAR, will be phased into competition this season with 16 races, beginning with the March event at Bristol.

Intended to improve racing, cut costs and bolster safety, the CoT has drawn a wide difference in opinion around the garage. And many believe the team that adapts the fastest will be the Nextel Cup champion — the car will be used in five of 10 Chase races.

"I think it's really going to come down to who has the best feel for that car," said two-time champion Tony Stewart, a vocal critic. "It's a crapshoot, I think, and we're all going to have to wait and see who has their stuff together on the Car of Tomorrow."

It also comes down to winning, as NASCAR puts an emphasis on finishing first through tweaks to the Chase format.

NASCAR always has been an exercise in consistency, with most drivers content to settle for a top 10 finish. But France hopes to change that by awarding five more points for victories this year.

Those wins also will be good for bonuses when the Chase begins — for every victory scored during the "regular-season," a driver will get a 10-point cushion to be used in seeding the playoff field.

It's all a lot to ingest, but France is confident fans will adapt.

"We're very careful with our fan base and loyalties, and we're not going to squander that away," he said.

"We're going to make changes that we think they'll like, and that enhance competition on the track first and foremost. That's where it starts for us."


RACE LINEUP
Daytona 500
Daytona International Speedway
February 18, 2007 Race 1 of 36

POS CAR DRIVER MAKE SPONSOR SPEED TIME BEHIND
1 38 David Gilliland Ford M&M's 186.320 48.304 Leader
2 88 Ricky Rudd Ford Snickers 185.609 48.489 -0.185
3 20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot - - -
4 2 Kurt Busch Dodge Miller Lite - - -
5 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser - - -
6 40 David Stremme Dodge Coors Light - - -
7 31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet Cingular Wireless - - -
8 5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Kellogg's / CARQUEST - - -
9 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet FedEx Express - - -
10 17 Matt Kenseth Ford DEWALT - - -
11 07 Clint Bowyer Chevrolet Jack Daniel's - - -
12 18 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet Interstate Batteries - - -
13 1 Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops / Tracker - - -
14 99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot - - -
15 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota NAPA Auto Parts - - -
16 12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL - - -
17 25 Casey Mears Chevrolet National Guard / GMAC - - -
18 13 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet CertainTeed - - -
19 21 Ken Schrader Ford Little Debbie - - -
20 96 Tony Raines Chevrolet DLP HDTV - - -
21 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's - - -
22 109 Mike Wallace Chevrolet Miccosukee Gaming & Resorts - - -
23 160 Boris Said Ford SOBE - No Fear - - -
24 26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal - - -
25 16 Greg Biffle Ford Ameriquest - - -
26 01 Mark Martin Chevrolet U.S. Army - - -
27 43 Bobby Labonte Dodge Cheerios / Betty Crocker - - -
28 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW - - -
29 45 Kyle Petty Dodge Wells Fargo - - -
30 19 Elliott Sadler Dodge Dodge Dealers / UAW - - -
31 66 Jeff Green Chevrolet Best Buy - - -
32 10 Scott Riggs Dodge Valvoline / Stanley Tools - - -
33 41 Reed Sorenson Dodge Target - - -
34 29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Shell / Pennzoil - - -
35 6 David Ragan* Ford AAA - - -
36 42 Juan Montoya* Dodge Texaco / Havoline - - -
37 22 Dave Blaney Toyota Caterpillar - - -
38 14 Sterling Marlin Chevrolet Waste Management - - -
39 7 Robby Gordon Ford Jim Beam - - -
40 00 David Reutimann* Toyota Domino's Pizza - - -
41 70 Johnny Sauter Chevrolet Yellow Trans. - - -
42 24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont - - -
43 44 Dale Jarrett Toyota UPS Champion's Provisional

Did Not Qualify
44 36 Jeremy Mayfield Toyota 360 OTC - - -
45 23 Mike Skinner Toyota Bill Davis Racing - - -
46 139 Regan Smith Chevrolet Ginn Resorts - - -
47 4 Ward Burton Chevrolet State Water Heaters - - -
48 15 Paul Menard* Chevrolet PEAK / Menards - - -
49 84 A.J. Allmendinger* Toyota Red Bull - - -
50 34 Kevin Lepage Dodge Detoxify Brand / Makoto Sauces - - -
51 37 Bill Elliott Dodge Huddle House - - -
52 83 Brian Vickers Toyota Red Bull - - -
53 78 Kenny Wallace Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing - - -
54 171 Frank Kimmel Ford Fast Track Driving School - - -
55 49 Mike Bliss Dodge BAM Racing - - -
56 104 Eric McClure Chevrolet Hefty - - -
57 130 Stanton Barrett Chevrolet Bad Boy Power Drink - - -
58 27 Kirk Shelmerdine Chevrolet Lilly Trucking of Virginia - - -
59 172 Brandon Whitt* Chevrolet Dutch Quality Stone - - -
60 74 Derrike Cope Dodge Royal Admin. - - -
61 158 James Hylton Chevrolet Retirement Living TV