Orbitz 300 - Daytona International Speedway

Harvick Takes Season-Opening Win at Daytona
Kevin Harvick, the reigning NASCAR Busch Series Champion, came from 31st position to win the ORBITZ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This victory was Harvick’s first at Daytona International Speedway, and his 27th career NASCAR Busch Series victory. Dave Blaney in his No. 32 Fan1st.com Toyota grabbed the second spot behind Harvick after battling a mangled race car for most of the race. Blaney was caught in an accident with Jon Wood and David Ragan on lap four of the race. His pit crew patched up the bumper and got him back out before going a lap down, keeping Balney in contention. Carl Edwards in his No. 60 Scott’s Ford had a very strong car most of the race. Edwards and Matt Kenseth went to the front several times as drafting partners. Edwards went on to finish third after Mark Martin pushed him past Clint Bowyer on the final lap. Misfortune had a firm grasp on several drivers when a multi-car accident early in the race collected 12 cars. Kyle Busch was the driver to beat early in the race, but on lap 81 he dropped to the apron on his way to the garage with engine problems. Juan Pablo Montoya didn’t have the debut he wanted when his car was sidelined early with engine problems as well. The race came down to whose car was going to hold up in the end. All the drivers had to hold on because the handling of the cars was changing drastically as the race wound down. Harvick’s car had the right setup in the end. He told his crew as the race was getting close to the finish, “If we get all the way to the front we’re going to be in really good shape.” And he was absolutely correct as others we’re struggling with their cars Harvick was pulling away. He said, “The whole last run, I never had to let off the floor.”

Orbitz 300 Notes

· Race Results · Chevrolet Post-Race Quotes · Toyota Post-Race Quotes · Ford Post-Race Quotes · Rookie Post-Race Quotes · Point Standings · Owner Point Standings · WIX Filters Lap Leader Notes · Starting Lineup · Qualifying Results · Toyota Qualifying Quotes · Ford Qualifying Quotes · Rookie Qualifying Quotes · Final Practice · Practice 2: Rookie Practice · Ford Thursday Quotes · Practice 1 · Ford Wednesday Quotes · Qualifying Order · Entry List · 2007 Speedweeks Schedule · Marcos Ambrose Notes · Sam Hornish Jr. Notes

· Kevin Harvick Notes · Carl Edwards Notes · Clint Bowyer Notes · Greg Biffle Notes · Matt Kenseth Notes · Kyle Busch Notes · Reed Sorenson Notes · Jon Wood Notes · Todd Kluever Notes · Jamie McMurray Notes · Kasey Kahne Notes · Bobby Labonte Notes · Tony Stewart Notes · Mark Martin Notes · Shane Huffman Notes · David Ragan Notes · Steve Wallace Notes · Ward Burton Notes · David Stremme Notes · Casey Mears Notes · Scott Wimmer Notes · Juan Pablo Montoya Notes · Eric McClure Notes

Aric Almirola Wins NASCAR Busch Series Pole at Daytona
Aric Almirola drove to the pole position for Saturday's Orbitz 300 at Daytona International Speedway. This is Almirola's second career NASCAR Busch Series pole - and this time he will get to run the race. Almirola won the top starting spot at Milwaukee last June while qualifying the No. 20 car for Denny Hamlin, who was in California qualifying for the Nextel Cup race. Hamlin jumped in the car on race day, relegating the qualifying effort to having the best pit selection. The 22-year-old Almirola turned in a lap of 48.982 seconds, at an average speed of 183.741 mph, to earn the pole in his tenth Busch Series start. Jason Leffler put his Toyota on the outside pole with a lap of 49.023 seconds, at an average of 183.587 mph. Jon Wood will start Saturday’s race from the third spot, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and John Andretti in fourth and fifth respectively.