Average Starting Position of Daytona Winners: 7.5
All Late Model Sportsman(1959-1981) and Busch Series(1982-2006) Winners at Daytona: 28 Drivers, 52 races
Dale Earnhardt - 7 Darrell Waltrip – 5* Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 4 Bill Dennis – 3
Randy LaJoie - 3 LeeRoy Yarbrough - 3 Geoffrey Bodine - 2 Jack Ingram – 2
Tiny Lund - 2 Joe Nemechek - 2 Tony Stewart - 2 17 Drivers -1
*Only driver to win in LM Sportsman (2) and Busch Series (3) at Daytona.
Winning Daytona Car Makes in the NASCAR Busch Series, Since 1982:
CHEVY - 19 PONTIAC - 7 FORD - 2 BUICK – 1
Winning Car Makes, All 52 races, 1959 - 2006:
FORD - 13 CHEVY - 23 PONTIAC - 8
MERCURY - 3 DODGE - 2 STUDEBAKER - 1
PLYMOUTH - 1 BUICK – 1
Top Finishers in the 2006 February Daytona Race: Two started in the top 10.
POS DRIVER START MAKE LAPS LED
1st Tony Stewart 16 C 13
2nd Burney Lamar 21 C -
3rd Clint Bowyer 3 C 2
4th Jon Wood 34 F -
5th Kevin Harvick 17 C -
6th Jason Leffler 24 C -
7th Todd Kluever 19 F -
8th J.J. Yeley 1 F 13
9th Reed Sorenson 13 D -
10th Mark Green 41 D -
Pole Winner J.J. Yeley finished eighth.
Leader of the Most Laps: Dale Earnhardt Jr., 48 laps (17th)
Last Place: Aaron Fike, 28 laps, accident
Last Driver on Lead Lap: Regan Smith, 26th
Most Positions Improved: Jon Wood, +30, 34th to 4th
Most Positions Lost: Aaron Fike, -41, 2nd to 43rd
DNFs: 9 (accident - 8, engine - 1)
Top Finishers in the 2005 July Daytona Race: Four started in the top 10.
POS DRIVER START MAKE LAPS LED
1st Martin Truex Jr. 6 C 68
2nd Kevin Harvick 1 C 2
3rd Greg Biffle 25 F 1
4th Kenny Wallace 36 F 5
5th Clint Bowyer 5 C 6
6th Paul Menard 2 C 11
7th Joe Nemechek 24 C -
8th Mike Wallace 20 D -
9th Jason Leffler 18 C -
10th Tony Raines 13 C -
Pole Winner Kevin Harvick finished second.
Leader of the Most Laps: Martin Truex Jr., 68 laps
Last Place: Kerry Earnhardt, 32 laps, transmission
Last Driver on Lead Lap: Kertus Davis, 21st
Most Positions Improved: +32 Kenny Wallace, 36th to 4th
Most Positions Lost: -39, J.J. Yeley, 3rd to 42nd
DNFs: 15 (accident - 10, other - 5)
Only one engine DNF the last two Daytona.
Starting Position of Daytona Winners (Since 1982):
Last year’s July Winner started sixth.
Start Feb Races July Races
Pole - 0 2002 - 1
2nd - 6 2003 - 1
Front Row - 6 - 24% 2004 - 16
3rd - 5th - 8 fifth - four times 2005 - 6
Top Five - 14 – 58%
6th - 10th - 6
Top 10 - 20 – 83%
11th - 20th - 4
21st + - 1
25
Three winners in the first 25 NBS Daytona races started outside the top 10. Three of
the last four winners have started outside the top 10.
Daytona Pole Winners Since 1982 (20 drivers):
Joe Nemechek has won five Daytona
poles (2001, both 2002, 2003, Feb., 2004, Feb.); Michael Waltrip won the pole three times (1992,
1994, 1995); Ken Schrader won twice (1993, 1999). One time Pole Winners (18) - Mike Porter,
Sam Ard, L. D. Ottinger, Rusty Wallace, Larry Pearson, Tommy Houston, Mike Swaim,
Kenny Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, David Green, Jeff Purvis, Elliott Sadler, Mike McLaughlin,
Hut Stricklin, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Mike Bliss, Kevin Harvick, and J.J. Yeley.
Daytona Pole Winners prior to the Busch Series, 1959 - 1981: 23 Races
Donnie Allison- 3
Fireball Roberts – 2
Jack Ingram – 2
Frank Secrist - 2
Fourteen drivers – 1 each
Wins From the Pole at Daytona: Six times in 52 races, only two since inception of the
NASCAR Busch Series in 1982 (both in July).
Year Driver
2003 (July) Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2002 (July) Joe Nemechek
1975 Jack Ingram
1972 Bill Dennis
1969 LeeRoy Yarbrough
1968 Bunkie Blackburn
BUSCH SERIES PERFORMANCE LEADERS AT DAYTONA
WINS TOP FIVES TOP 10s
1. Dale Earnhardt - 7 1. Geoffrey Bodine - 8 1. Darrell Waltrip - 9
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 4 Dale Earnhardt - 8 2. Geoffrey Bodine - 8
3. Darrell Waltrip - 3 3. Darrell Waltrip - 7 Dale Earnhardt - 8
Randy LaJoie - 3 Kevin Harvick - 7 Kenny Wallace - 8
5. Geoffrey Bodine - 2 5. Matt Kenseth - 6 5. Kevin Harvick - 7
Joe Nemechek - 2 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 5 Matt Kenseth - 7
Tony Stewart - 2 Michael Waltrip - 5 Michael Waltrip - 7
Joe Nemechek - 7
RACES LED POLES LAPS LED
1. Dale Earnhardt - 11 1. Joe Nemechek - 5 1. Dale Earnhardt - 454
2. Michael Waltrip - 9 2. Michael Waltrip - 3 2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 371
3. Geoffrey Bodine - 8 3. Ken Schrader - 2 3. Joe Nemechek - 204
Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 8 4. Randy LaJoie - 150
5. Geoffrey Bodine – 139
RACES AVG FINISH (# Races)*
1. Michael Waltrip - 21 1. Geoffrey Bodine - 2.6 (8)
2. Joe Nemechek - 19 2. Matt Kenseth - 3.4 (7)
3. Jason Keller - 16 3. Kevin Harvick - 3.8 (8)
4. Mike McLaughlin - 15 4. Darrell Waltrip - 8.2 (11)
Dale Jarrett - 15 5. Jamie McMurray - 8.5 (6)
David Green - 15 6. Martin Truex Jr. - 9.0 (4)
Kenny Wallace - 15 7. Chad Little - 9.2 (5)
8. Tommy Houston - 14
Randy LaJoie - 14
Steve Grissom - 14
* Four or more races.
Miscellaneous Daytona Statistics: 1982-2006
1. Most Cars Starting a Race: 2/96 - 46 cars
2. Most DNFs in a Race: 2/88 - 23
3. Fewest DNFs in a Race: 7/03, 2/05- seven cars
4. Most Laps Led by the Winner: 2/98 - Joe Nemechek - 105 laps
5. Most Laps Led by a Non-Winner: 2/01 - Jeff Purvis - 65 laps (finished 28th)
6. Fewest Laps Led by the Winner: 7/04 - one - Mike Wallace
7. Years Top Five All Same Make: 2/00 - Chevrolet
8. Driver With Most DNFs: Michael Waltrip - 11 times
9. Most Starts in Top Five: Joe Nemechek - 10 times*
10. Average Lead Changes per Race: 15.3
11. Average Leaders Per Race: 7.59
12. Average Cautions Per Race: 5.17
NBS Restrictor Plate Standouts - Last 25 (Talladega and Daytona)
Poles: J. Nemechek - 10 to J.J. Yeley – 2 (both 2006)
Wins: J. Nemechek, D. Earnhardt Jr., M. Truex Jr. - 4 each
Martin Truex Jr. has won three of the last four NBS plate races, four in the last seven
(three at Talladega, one Daytona). DEI has won eight of the last 11 restrictor plate
races: D. Earnhardt Jr. – 4; M Truex Jr. - 4
Milestones at Daytona:
First NASCAR Busch Series Start- last five years if not still active:
Driver Date Finish
John Andretti 2/98 13th
Dave Blaney 2/98 35th
Chad Blount 2/03 11th
A.J. Fike 2/05 30th
Larry Foyt 2/01 18th
Ryan Hemphill 2/05 36th
Dale Jarrett 2/82 10th - The First Busch Series Race
Michel Jourdain Jr. 2/05 25th
Todd Kluever 2/06 7th
Chase Montgomery 2/03 10th
Danny O’Quinn 2/06 18th
Tony Raines 2/99 28th
Scott Riggs 2/02 6th
Tony Stewart 2/96 21st
Paul Tracy 2/06 24th
Jimmy Vasser 2/03 28th
First NASCAR Busch Series Pole – all-time. Seven
Driver Date
David Green 2/91
Elliott Sadler 2/97
Mike Swaim 2/88
Martin Truex Jr. 2/04
Kenny Wallace 2/89
Rusty Wallace 2/85 (his first Busch Series race)
J.J. Yeley 2/06
First NASCAR Busch Series Top Ten -selected drivers
Driver Date Finish
Geoffrey Bodine 2/82 - 5th
Carl Edwards 2/05 - 10th
Kevin Harvick 2/00 - 5th
Shane Hmiel 2/02 - 5th
Todd Kluever 2/06 - 7th
Burney Lamar 2/06 - 2nd
Mark Martin 2/87 - 6th
Chase Montgomery 2/03 - 10th
Joe Nemechek 2/90 - 8th
Steve Park 2/97 - 7th
Scott Riggs 2/02 - 6th
Jay Sauter 2/00 - 4th
Tim Sauter 2/01 - 10th
Kenny Wallace 2/89 - 10th
First NASCAR Busch Series Win:
Driver Date Start
Dale Earnhardt 2/82 (Series first race)
Chad Little 2/96 (42nd)
Tony Stewart 2/05 (14th)
Birthdays:
Jorge Goeters - 36, 6/26
Steve Grissom - 43, 6/26
Kevin Lepage - 44, 6/26
Mike Skinner - 49, 6/28
Martin Truex Jr. - 26, 6/29
Jeff Burton - 39, 6/29
Richard Petty - 69, 7/2
Sterling Marlin - 49, 6/30
Johnny Benson - 43, 6/27
Busch Series and Nextel Sweeps at Daytona: three times by three drivers
Bobby Allison (2/13/88 & 2/14/88)
Darrell Waltrip (2/18/89 & 2/19/89)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2/15/04 & 2/16/04)
LeeRoy Yarbrough won the LMS race and Daytona 500 in 1969.
Best Daytona Performers in 2005:
Two Top Fives at Daytona in 2005: Two Drivers total
Driver February Finish July Finish
Kevin Harvick 2nd 2nd
Martin Truex Jr. 4th 1st
Two Top 10s at Daytona in 2005: Three Drivers total
Driver February Finish July Finish
Greg Biffle 8th 3rd
Best Daytona Performers last two, 7/05 and 2/06:
Two Top Fives: Two Drivers
Driver 7/05 Finish 2/06 Finish
Kevin Harvick 2nd 5th
Clint Bowyer 5th 3rd
Two Top 10s at Daytona in 2005: Three Drivers
Driver 7/05 Finish 2/06 Finish
Jason Leffler 9th 6th
Best 2005 Busch Series Finish was at Daytona: selected drivers
Driver Finish (date)
Mike Bliss 33rd (07/05)
Derrike Cope 16th (02/05)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3rd (02/05)
Donnie Neuenberger 38th (02/05)
Shawna Robinson 27th (02/05)
Daytona Fast Fact:
Tony Stewart’s win this February was his second consecutive February
Daytona victory, his only NBS victories.
The February 2006 race had the most cautions and most caution laps of any
Daytona NBS race.
NASCAR Busch Series 2006 Pole Winners: nine
Driver Number Race** Career NBS Poles
Aric Almirola 1 *Milwaukee 1
Kyle Busch 1 Atlanta 7
Carl Edwards 1 California 5
Denny Hamlin 4 *Texas, Nashville 1, Darl., Kent. 4
Matt Kenseth 2 Las Vegas, Lowe’s 10
Todd Kluever 1 *Nashville 2 1
Jason Leffler 2 Phoenix, Richmond 6
Boris Said 1 Mexico 2
J.J. Yeley 2 *Daytona, Talladega 2
*First NASCAR Busch Series Pole
**No Time Trials at Bristol and Dover due to weather.
NASCAR Busch Series 2006 Race Winners: 12
Driver Number Race Career NBS Wins
Greg Biffle 1 California 18
Jeff Burton 2 Atlanta, Dover 22
Kurt Busch 1 *Texas 1 (1st NBS start)
Kyle Busch 1 Bristol 1 7
Carl Edwards 2 Lowe’s, Nashville 2 7
David Gilliland 1 *Kentucky 1
Denny Hamlin 2 *Mexico, Darlington 2
Kevin Harvick 3 Nashville 1, Phoenix, Richmond 20
Kasey Kahne 1 Las Vegas 4
Paul Menard 1 *Milwaukee 1
Tony Stewart 1 Daytona 2
Martin Truex Jr. 1 Talladega 13
*First NASCAR Busch Series victory.
Most Top Fives in 2006: Kevin Harvick - nine
Most Top 10s in 2006: Kevin Harvick - 14
Most Races Led in 2006: Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvivk – 10 each
2006 Busch Series Points Race:
1st place Kevin Harvick finished 19th at Milwaukee, his worst finish of 2006. He was
sixth at Kentucky, third at Nashville and 13th at Dover. Dover ended a streak of
consecutive top 10s at eight. He was seventh at Darlington and won his third race of
2006 at Richmond, the 20th of his NBS career, matching Dale Earnhardt Jr. He has nine
top fives and 14 top 10s. Average 2006 finish, 5.9 vs. 8.3 (10 races) in 2005. In eight
Daytona NBS races, he has seven top fives and eight top 10s. He won the pole for last
year’s July race, finishing second, and was fifth this February.
2nd place (-344) Denny Hamlin finished second at Milwaukee and gained a position in
the standings. It was his third consecutive top five finish. He won his fourth pole (the
most of any driver in 2006) and finished third at Kentucky. He also gained a position in
the standings. Hamlin was fourth at Nashville and seventh at Dover. He finished 29th at
Lowe’s. Hamlin won his second Busch Series race at Darlington. He has two wins
(Mexico and Darlington), four poles, seven top fives and 12 top 10s. Average 2006
finish, 12.4 vs. 15.1 in 2005. Hamlin has not cracked the top 10 in three NBS Daytona
races. He finished 14th last July and this February at Daytona.
3rd place (-378) Carl Edwards finished 21st at Milwaukee, his second consecutive finish
outside the top 10, and lost a position in the standings. He was 36th at Kentucky, ending
a streak of consecutive top 10s at eight. Kentucky was his third finish worse than 35th in
2006. Edwards won his second race of 2006 at Nashville (seventh career victory), and he
finished second at Dover. Edwards won his first race of 2006 at Lowe’s and gained two
positions in the standings. He was eighth at Darlington. He has one pole, two wins, eight
top fives, and 12 top 10s in 2006. Average 2006 finish, 12.9 vs. 11.0 (16 races) in 2005.
In three Daytona NBS races, he has one top 10, 10th 2005, and two finishes worse than
30th, including a 39th place finish this February.
4th place (-408) Clint Bowyer finished 18th at Milwaukee, his second consecutive finish
outside the top10. He was 12th at Kentucky and lost a position in the standings. Bowyer
finished second at Nashville, fourth at Dover, and 36th at Lowe’s. It is his only finish
worse than 21st in 2006. He was 17th at Darlington. Bowyer has five top fives and
seven top 10s. Average 2006 finish, 12.4 vs. 11.3 in 2005. He has finished in the top
five the last two Daytona NBS races, fifth (7/05) and third (2/06).
5th place (-452) J.J. Yeley finished third at Milwaukee and gained a position in the
standings. He was second at Kentucky, 16th at Nashville, ninth at Dover, and third at
Lowe’s. He has six top fives and 11 top 10s. Average 2006 finish, 13.2 vs. 22.0 in 2005.
In three NBS races at Daytona he has one top 10, eighth (2/06). Yeley was 42nd
(overheating) in last year’s July NBS Daytona.
Races in the Top 10:
Third place Carl Edwards is 34 points behind second place Denny Hamlin.
Fourth place Clint Bowyer is 64 points behind second place. Each position, third
thru eighth, is within 80 or less points behind the next driver in front.
Another First Time Winner
Paul Menard’s Milwaukee win in his 85th NBS race marks the fifth time in the Series that
two drivers recorded their first win in successive races. While David Gilliland’s
Kentucky win was a stunning upset, Menard’s victory had long been anticipated due to
his strong performance over the last year. Menard finished fifth at Kentucky in 2005, his
first Busch Series top five finish; it was the beginning of a year-long streak of mainly top
10 finishes for Menard. After Kentucky, he scored 14 top 10s in the last 19 races of 2005,
including his NBS top finish of second place at Richmond up to that point. He had eight
top 10s in the first 16 races of this season, best among the non-Cup regulars. Over the last
37 races, Paul Menard has registered 24 top 10 results, an impressive 65%
Performers - Last Six Races: Darlington - Milwaukee
Points Top 10 Season
Rank Driver Last Six Wins Finishes Rank
1st D. Hamlin 922 1 5 2
2nd J.J. Yeley -21 0 5 5
3rd C. Edwards -70 2 4 3
4th K. Harvick -74 0 4 1
5th P. Menard -166 1 3 6
6th C. Bowyer -169 0 2 4
20th place Stacy Compton is 11th the last six
11th place Jason Leffler is 18th the last six
12th place Jon Wood is 23rd the last six
Busch Series Milestones:
- Milwaukee was the 750th race in the Series, since 1982.
- Paul Menard’s win at Milwaukee was the first of his NBS career in his 85th start.
- Tim Sauter made the 100th of his NBS career at Milwaukee, finishing 27th.
- Jason Leffler made the 100th of his NBS career at Milwaukee, finishing fourth.
- Clint Bowyer’s next start will be the 70th of his NBS career.
- J.J. Yeley’s next start will be the 70th of his NBS career.
- Randy LaJoie’s next start will be the 350th of his NBS career.
- Jason Keller’s next start will be the 400th of his NBS career.
- Martin Truex Jr. is within $25,000 of $6 million career NBS winnings.
Current Busch Series Consecutives:
Category Driver Streak
Races Competed In Ashton Lewis Jr. 167 (started at Pikes Peak, 7/01)
Top Five Finish Denny Hamlin three (started at Nashville)
Top 10 Finish Denny Hamlin four (started at Dover)
Running at Finish Kenny Wallace 42 (started at Darlington 1 ’05)
Finish in Lead Lap Kevin Harvick 20 (started at Texas 2 ’05)
2006 Season Statistics:
