NASCAR 2018 Race 1: Daytona 500 Schedule, Starting Order and Picks

[dara]

Schedule (All times Eastern):

Thursday, Feb. 15
11:35 a.m.-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series first practice, FS1
2:25-3:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series second practice, FS1
4:35-5:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FS1
7:00 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 1 (60 laps, 150 miles), FS1
9:00 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 2 (60 laps, 150 miles), FS1

Friday, Feb. 16
12:05-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, FS1
1:05-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Follow live)
2:05-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1
3:05-3:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Follow live)
4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds), FS1
7:30 p.m. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), FS1

Saturday, Feb. 17
9:35 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds), FS1
12:05-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (Follow live)
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series PowerShares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles), FS1

Sunday, Feb. 18
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles), FOX
--

At a glance: (via espn.com)
Track Specifications:
Track/Race Length: 2.5 mile oval, 200 laps, 500 miles
Race segments/stages: Laps 60, 120 and 200 (with overtime possible only at end of race)
Tri-oval with 31-degree banking in the turns
18-degree banking in the tri-oval and 6-degree banking on the straightaways
Date track opened: 1959
Banking in turns 1-4: 31 degrees
Banking in tri-oval: 18 degrees
Banking on backstretch: 3 degrees
Banking on the straightaway: 6 degrees
Length of frontstretch: 3,800 feet
Length of backstretch: 3,400 feet
Grandstand Seating: 101,000 [was 147,000 & 168,000] with 124 suites.
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Pace Car Speed: 70 mph
Pit Road Length: 1,600 feet
Pit Road Width: 50 feet

Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Command to start engines: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Actress Charlize Theron
Honorary Pace Car Driver: TBA
Color Guard: TBA
Invocation: TBA
National Anthem: Navy Band Southeast
Flyover: TBA

[dara]

Starting order: TBD

Alex Bowman won the pole.

After the Duels:

1. Alex Bowman
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Chase Elliott
5. Joey Logano
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Darrell Wallace Jr.
8. Erik Jones
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Kurt Busch
12. Kyle Busch
13. Ryan Newman
14. Austin Dillon
15. David Ragan
16. Paul Menard
17. Daniel Suarez
18. Trevor Bayne
19. Jamie McMurray
20. AJ Allmendinger
21. Chris Buescher
22. Michael McDowell
23. Ty Dillon
24. Martin Truex Jr.
25. Brendan Gaughan
26. Kasey Kahne
27. Jeffrey Earnhardt
28. Danica Patrick
29. Justin Marks
30. DJ Kennington
31. Brad Keselowski
32. Corey LaJoie
33. William Byron
34. Gray Gaulding
35. Jimmie Johnson
36. Matt DiBenedetto
37. Aric Almirola
38. Kyle Larson
39. David Gilliland
40. Mark Thompson

[dara]

Duels info:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758953-daytona-500-2018-starting-order-top-drivers-to-watch-in-the-duels

[crazed 9.6]

Grand Marshal: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Actress Charlize Theron

Love this
Can't wait to see who will be driving the pace car.

[Ryu]

thank you Dara and crazed 2.0 for all hard work and setting up nice contest.kof

[4me2c]

Can't wait til Sunday 2:30 PM EST...! Patricks LAST RACE, gotta put Her in the Top 3...! Just because Bowman has the Pole doesn't mean He will WIN it...! Alot of dif between driving that Track Alone then with Everybody else on there Wanting to WIN...!

Also Hope more People get Interested as the Drivers don't kneel during the National Anthem...! and That, That's

[dara]

Starting order is set...

My Picks (Subject to change):

Denny Hamlin
*Chase Elliott
Joey Logano

[82harley]

Brad Keselowski***
Kyle Busch
Joey Logano

[crazed 9.6]

Jimmie Johnson, Aric Almirola, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson and others will start from the rear of the 40-driver Daytona 500 field after damaging their primary cars beyond repair on Thursday.
Kyle Larson had to use his second back-up car for Friday's practice.
Final practice Saturday.


Some notable winners - Daytona 500
7 wins Richard Petty 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981
4 wins Cale Yarborough 1968, 1977, 1983, 1984
3 wins Bobby Allison 1978, 1982, 1988
3 wins Dale Jarrett 1993, 1996, 2000
3 wins Jeff Gordon 1997, 1999, 2005
2 wins Bill Elliott 1985, 1987
2 wins Sterling Marlin 1994, 1995
2 wins Michael Waltrip 2001, 2003
2 wins Matt Kenseth 2009, 2012
2 wins Jimmie Johnson 2006, 2013
2 wins Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 2004, 2014

Fastest avg lap speed Daytona 500 -- 1980 Buddy Baker @ 177.6 mph
Dale Earnhardt won his only 500 in 1998 with an avg speed @ 172.7 mph

--- Back to Back 500 winners ---
Richard Petty -1973/1974
Cale Yarborough -1983/1984
Sterling Marlin -1994/1995

[4me2c]

Gotta Try : The Past Few Years have been Loaded with Lots of 1st's and Here's Another One...!

In Order 1-2-3...!

1)...Danica Patrick
2)...Kevin Harvick
3)...Kyle Busch

At the End of the Race They will All spread apart and Danica will Take the Checkered Flag...! After All, Gang, Those Men are Gentlemen...! Lol..!

Good Luck to All and Hope For No Accidents(Fatal)...!