Autostock
Tony Stewart started from the pole and led 151 of 160 laps to win the 2005 Pepsi 400.By the Numbers: Daytona
Taking stock of the superspeedway's summer event
type size: + -
Of the 50 drivers who are in the books as having won a race at Daytona International Speedway, only three who have won there multiple times have not won the Daytona 500.
That number dwindles to one if you discount the Qualifier races, which pre-dates the Modern Era as statistical truths.
Tony Stewart has won the past two Pepsi 400s, accounting for his only victories at Daytona in 17 career starts. But since 2004 no driver has been as good there as has Stewart, who with a victory Saturday can join David Pearson (1972-74) as the only drivers in track history to win three consecutive July races.
Stewart has led 508 laps in the past seven races at Daytona. That's 11 more laps than Jeff Gordon has led in 29 career starts there. Only two current drivers -- Bill Elliott (614) and Sterling Marlin (589) -- have led more laps at Daytona than has Stewart (515).
From 2004 to 2006, Stewart recorded six consecutive top-10 finishes, his only non-top-five during that span a seventh place in the 2005 Daytona 500. His streak ended in this year's Daytona 500 when a crash with Kurt Busch resulted in a last-place finish.
Before we move on to this year's Pepsi 400 let's look back at the Daytona 500, won by Kevin Harvick in 0.020 seconds, the closest finish in race history since the advent of electronic scoring (1993).
2007 Daytona 500
2Place of finish for Mark Martin, his best in 44 career starts at Daytona.
2Drivers to finish in the top 10 in their first appearance at Daytona: David Ragan (6); David Gilliland (8).
7Place of finish for Kasey Kahne, his only top-10 in seven career starts at Daytona and his only top-10 of the season.
29Running position with 20 laps to go for Kevin Harvick.
95Race-high laps led by Kurt Busch, who finished 41st after an incident with Tony Stewart.
And now, without further delay, the Firecracker now Pepsi 400:
Interesting Fact
200Career victories for Richard Petty. The King won a track-high 10 races at Daytona but only three in July. His victory in the 1984 Firecracker 400 was the last of his career.
Fun Fact
2Kings who will be on hand for the 2007 Daytona 500: Richard Petty and Kevin James. James, who starred on the long-running sitcom "The King of Queens," will serve as grand marshal of the Pepsi 400.
All the Facts
2Times before this year the Pepsi 400 was held on July 7, won by Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2001).
2Drivers whose only career victories was in the July race at Daytona: Sam McQuagg (1966); Greg Sacks (1985).
2Place of finish in the 2006 Pepsi 400 for Kyle Busch, the only time in five career starts at Daytona he has finished better than 23rd. He has a 29.0 average finish in his four other starts.
4Drivers to win the Daytona 500 and the July race in the same season: Fireball Roberts (1962); Cale Yarborough (1968); LeeRoy Yarbrough (1969); Bobby Allison (1982).
4Drivers currently in the top 12 in points who have won a July race at Daytona: 1. Jeff Gordon 3 (1995, 1998, 2004); 5. Jeff Burton 1 (2000); 6. Tony Stewart 2 (2005, 2006); 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 (2001). Note: Wildfires pushed the 1998 race to October.
4Place of finish in the 2006 Pepsi 400 for Boris Said, his only Cup top-10 on an oval.
5Victories by David Pearson at Daytona in July, more than any other driver.
5Back-to-back winners in the July race at Daytona: Fireball Roberts (1962-63); A.J. Foyt (1964-65); Cale Yarborough (1967-68); David Pearson (1972-74); Tony Stewart (2005-06).
5Place of finish in the 2006 Pepsi 400 for Matt Kenseth, his only top-five in 15 career starts at Daytona.
6July races at Daytona won from the pole: Fireball Roberts (1959); Jack Smith (1960); David Pearson (1974); Cale Yarborough (1981); Jeff Gordon (2004); Tony Stewart (2005). There have been 23 pole winners in all at Daytona.
9Drivers whose only victory at Daytona was in the July race: Sam McQuagg (1966); Donnie Allison (1970); Neil Bonnett (1979); Greg Sacks (1985); Tim Richmond (1986); Jimmy Spencer (1994); John Andretti (1997); Jeff Burton (2000); Greg Biffle (2003).
9.7Average place of finish for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in seven July races at Daytona. Junior has a 12.8 average finish in 15 career starts at Daytona.
29Years the Daytona summer race was held annually on July 4 (1959-1987). Since 1988, the race has fallen on July 4 just once (1992).
38Starting position for Bill Elliott in the 1988 July race at Daytona, the deepest in the grid of any winner there.
250Distance, in miles, of the first four Firecracker races. Each race since has been 400 miles.
Also
| POPULAR ALERTS | ||||
|
Daytona
Firecracker / Pepsi 400 winners
| Year | Driver | Year | Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Fireball Roberts | 1983 | Buddy Baker |
| 1960 | Jack Smith | 1984 | Richard Petty |
| 1961 | David Pearson | 1985 | Greg Sacks |
| 1962 | Fireball Roberts | 1986 | Tim Richmond |
| 1963 | Fireball Roberts | 1987 | Bobby Allison |
| 1964 | A.J. Foyt | 1988 | Bill Elliott |
| 1965 | A.J. Foyt | 1989 | Davey Allison |
| 1966 | Sam McQuagg | 1990 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1967 | Cale Yarborough | 1991 | Bill Elliott |
| 1968 | Cale Yarborough | 1992 | Ernie Irvan |
| 1969 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | 1993 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1970 | Donnie Allison | 1994 | Jimmy Spencer |
| 1971 | Bobby Isaac | 1995 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1972 | David Pearson | 1996 | Sterling Marlin |
| 1973 | David Pearson | 1997 | John Andretti |
| 1974 | David Pearson | 1998 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1975 | Richard Petty | 1999 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1976 | Cale Yarborough | 2000 | Jeff Burton |
| 1977 | Richard Petty | 2001 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 1978 | David Pearson | 2002 | Michael Waltrip |
| 1979 | Neil Bonnett | 2003 | Greg Biffle |
| 1980 | Bobby Allison | 2004 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1981 | Cale Yarborough | 2005 | Tony Stewart |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison | 2006 | Tony Stewart |
• Daytona: Shop Talk | Track Page
2007 Daytona 500 results
| Pos. | Driver | Make |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kevin Harvick | Chevrolet |
| 2. | Mark Martin | Chevrolet |
| 3. | Jeff Burton | Chevrolet |
| 4. | Mike Wallace | Chevrolet |
| 5. | David Ragan | Ford |
| 6. | Elliott Sadler | Dodge |
| 7. | Kasey Kahne | Dodge |
| 8. | David Gilliland | Ford |
| 9. | Joe Nemechek | Chevrolet |
| 10. | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet |
Most Popular
Headlines
Videos
News
- Hendrick indicates deal in the works to secure Knaus
- Chance meeting provides Edwards insight into 2010
- Hendrick turning attention to getting Junior on track
Features
- Life often on hold as Knaus remains devoted to No. 48
- Putting a wrap on 2009 with the top 12 drivers
- Busch, Hornaday honored as 2009 series champions
Opinions
- End of the season? But it's just starting to get good
- Robby gets Jeff's goat post-turkey day 2001
- Hard work, determination finally pays off for Jenkins
NASCAR on TNT
Remaining Broadcast Schedule
| Date | Track | Time |
|---|---|---|
| July 7 | Daytona | 6:30 p.m. ET |
| July 15 | Chicago | 2:30 p.m. ET |
Remember To Check Out
|
All External sites will open in a new browser window. NASCAR.COM does not endorse external sites. |
|
© 2001-2009 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
|
Turner Entertainment Digital Network NASCAR.COM is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network. |
