Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8) and Michael Waltrip (15) have won three of the last four Daytona 500s. Credit: AP

By The Numbers: Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway's role as the "World Center of Racing" and the Daytona 500's status as the "Great American Race" are intact.

While 2004's inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup seriously altered many people's perspective on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Sunday's season opener is still the marquee event on the schedule -- if an informal poll of competitors is valid.

A new method of determining starting lineups in 2005 debuted this week at Daytona, but in no manner did it detract from the front row qualifying feat of Bud Pole winner Dale Jarrett or second starter Jimmie Johnson.

The bottom line is that 43 competitors are ready to take on the 2.5-mile high-banked trioval in the latest quest for NASCAR's premier championship.

The following numbers refer to the Daytona 500 unless otherwise noted.

Tony takes itTony Stewart hangs on to win the second race of the Gatorade Duel Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

1 -- The number of career victories in the Gatorade Duel Qualifying Races by 2005 winner Tony Stewart.

1 -- The number of victories by defending champion Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2 -- The number of the six drivers who have competed in all 68 of the current string of restrictor plate races who have not won: Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd.

Winning timeMichael Waltrip edges Dale Jr. to win first race of Gatorade Duel Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

2 -- The number of career victories in the Gatorade Duel Qualifying Races by 2005 winner Michael Waltrip.

3 -- Dale Jarrett's leading number of victories by an active driver, in 1993, 1996 and 2000.

3 -- The number of times since 1980 that the winner has started outside the top 10, most recently by Ward Burton in 2002 (started 19th).

3 -- The number of times the race has been won in consecutive years, by Richard Petty (1973-1974), Cale Yarborough (1983-1984) and Sterling Marlin (1994-1995).

4 -- The number of times since 1980 that the outside pole starter has won, most recently by Dale Jarrett in 1993.

4 -- The number of times the reigning Cup champion has won, most recently by Dale Jarrett in 2000.

4 -- The number of the last eight races that have ended under caution: 2003, 2000, 1998 and 1997.

5 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s streak of consecutive races led.

6 -- Jimmie Johnson's consecutive top-10 finishes, since Lowe's Motor Speedway in October 2004.

6 -- The number of times the race was a driver's first win in the series, most recently by Michael Waltrip in 2001.

7 -- The number of times the winner has gone on to claim the Cup championship, most recently by Jeff Gordon in 1997.

8 -- The number of times in 46 races a qualifying race winner has gone on to win, most recently by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2004.

9 -- The number of times in 46 races the winner has started from the pole position, most recently by Dale Jarrett in 2000.

10 -- The most career top-10 finishes by an active driver, by Sterling Marlin, Ricky Rudd and Ken Schrader.

11 -- The number of the last 15 races won by Chevrolet.

12 -- Wood Brothers Racing's leading number of car owner victories at Daytona.

12 -- Sterling Marlin's leading number of top-five finishes at Daytona by an active driver.

14 -- The number of 92 Daytona Cup races won from the pole position, or 16 percent.

15 -- Rusty Wallace's streak of races running at the finish.

17 -- The number of 46 races won by Chevrolet.

20 -- Mark Martin and Ken Schrader's number of starts without a victory.

22 -- Rusty Wallace's number of starts without a victory.

26 -- The number of races in which the winner has started in the top five positions.

27 -- Ricky Rudd's number of starts without a victory.

29 -- The number of drivers who have won.

31 -- The degree of banking in Daytona's four turns.

33 -- Bobby Allison's starting position in 1978, the furthest back a winner has started.

33 -- The most finishers on the lead lap, in 2003.

39 -- The most cars running at the finish, in 1998.

52 -- Terry Labonte's streak of consecutive Daytona starts, which will end.

56 -- Ricky Rudd's leading number of Daytona starts by an active driver.

172.712 -- Dale Earnhardt's restrictor plate race record average speed, in miles per hour, set in two hours, 53 minutes and 42 seconds in 1998.

589 -- Sterling Marlin's leading number of career laps led in 45 starts at Daytona, best among active drivers.

168,000 -- The announced grandstand seating capacity of Daytona International Speedway.

$17,623,980 -- Posted awards, a series record.