Race 2 Win: NEXTEL Cup Series Race Notes

Nextel Cup Series

Dave Blaney started 40th in the No. 22 Caterpillar Camry and crossed the finish line 23rd.

David Reutimann finished 26th in the No. 00 Burger King Camry after beginning the race 42nd.

Dale Jarrett ended up 27th in the No. 44 UPS Camry after starting 37th.

Brian Vickers finished 29th in the No. 83 Red Bull Camry after starting 36th.

The best finish for a Camry in the season-opener at Daytona was Jarrett's 22nd-place finish. Camry drivers Michael

Waltrip (30th), Blaney (34th) and Reutimann (40th) also raced in the Daytona season-opener.

The best finish by a Camry in NNCS competition was when Vickers finished fifth at Lowe's Motor Speedway (May 27).

The best start for a Camry in NNCS competition was when Blaney started from the pole at New Hampshire International Raceway (June 30).

Camrys have led a total of 124 laps in NNCS competition this season. Vickers has led 84 laps and Blaney has led 35 laps. Jeremy Mayfield (four) and Michael Waltrip (one) have also been in front of the field this year.

23rd, DAVE BLANEY, No. 22 Caterpillar Camry, Bill Davis Racing
How was your race car tonight?
"We were pretty strong tonight. We were able to come up into the top-10 during the long runs. We had a really fast car the whole time. I got in trouble with the No. 38 car (David Gilliland) a little bit and it put us to the back. I still should have gotten back into the top-15, but I made a couple of mistakes and just couldn't get it done. I had a very fast car, but I just didn't get a good finish."

What was the damage done by contact with the No. 38?
"It smashed the side and we had a fender rub with the tire, so we had to come in there at the end."

29th, BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Camry, Team Red Bull
How was your race tonight?
"We got some points, but we could've been better. We got hit by the No. 13 car (Joe Nemechek) late in the race, which put us behind for the last few laps. Our car was decent tonight. If qualifying was finished, we wouldn't have made the race. Tonight, the car raced a little bit better than we were. It was a good handling car, but it wasn't that good. We were struggling to run what we were running. We still have a lot of work to do on the speedway program, but we'll keep at it."

What changes did you make early in the race to improve the car's handling?
"We made some changes early in the race that helped, but nothing that big. We weren't too far off from what we started with. I would've liked to have come out of here with a solid top-15 finish, but unfortunately that didn't happen. We need all the points we can get each week, so I'm a bit disappointed with the finish."

26th, DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Burger King Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

27th, DALE JARRETT, No. 44 UPS Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

DNQ, AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 84 Red Bull Camry, Team Red Bull
DNQ, JEREMY MAYFIELD, No. 36 360 OTC Camry, Bill Davis Racing
DNQ, MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 55 NAPA Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing