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Where did THEY come from? 9th-Place Daytona Cinderella Stories
By Steve Luvender | Published: June 26, 2017 10
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When it comes to restrictor-plate racing, the results are often unpredictable --leaving most statistical categories meaningless. However, we’ve uncovered one intriguing trend that’s reached tradition-level status: an unexpected underdog finishing in exactly ninth-place at Daytona.
Uncanny, yes -- but at Daytona, anything’s possible.
2017 Daytona 500: Matt DiBenedetto
MattDi Deb Dibu DiBenedetto ran a quietly impressive race in this year’s 'Great American Race,' scoring Go Fas Racing’s maiden top 10 finish.
When it comes to restrictor-plate racing, the results are often unpredictable --leaving most statistical categories meaningless. However, we’ve uncovered one intriguing trend that’s reached tradition-level status: an unexpected underdog finishing in exactly ninth-place at Daytona.
Uncanny, yes -- but at Daytona, anything’s possible.
2017 Daytona 500: Matt DiBenedetto
Matt
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2016 Coke Zero 400: Clint Bowyer
While Clint Bowyer hasn’t been considered an underdog for much of his career, his challenging 2016 season with HScott Motorsports put him in backmarker territory. His ninth-place finish in the 2016 Coke Zero 400 was just one of three top 10s all season.
While Clint Bowyer hasn’t been considered an underdog for much of his career, his challenging 2016 season with HScott Motorsports put him in backmarker territory. His ninth-place finish in the 2016 Coke Zero 400 was just one of three top 10s all season.
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2013 Daytona 500: Michael McDowell
In the 2013 Daytona 500, Michael McDowell notched his first career top-10 finish, placing, of course, in ninth, piloting the Mike Curb-owned No. 98 Ford.
In the 2013 Daytona 500, Michael McDowell notched his first career top-10 finish, placing, of course, in ninth, piloting the Mike Curb-owned No. 98 Ford.
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2012 Coke Zero 400: Michael Waltrip
“Michael Waltrip? But he’s a two-time Daytona 500 winner!” That may be true, but Waltrip retired from full-time driving following the 2009 season, only making a few select appearances thenceforth. The veteran brought home a ninth-place finish driving the No. 55 Toyota he owned in the 2012 Coke Zero 400-- in one of his just four starts he made that year.
“Michael Waltrip? But he’s a two-time Daytona 500 winner!” That may be true, but Waltrip retired from full-time driving following the 2009 season, only making a few select appearances thenceforth. The veteran brought home a ninth-place finish driving the No. 55 Toyota he owned in the 2012 Coke Zero 400-- in one of his just four starts he made that year.
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2011 Daytona 500: Paul Menard
Paul Menard moved to Richard Childress Racing for the 2011 season. Still winless at the time, Menard hadn’t experienced much success in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series -- but he brought home a ninth-place finish in his first outing with RCR (and, of course, went on to score his first victory that season in the Brickyard 400).
Paul Menard moved to Richard Childress Racing for the 2011 season. Still winless at the time, Menard hadn’t experienced much success in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series -- but he brought home a ninth-place finish in his first outing with RCR (and, of course, went on to score his first victory that season in the Brickyard 400).
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2010 Coke Zero 400: Mike Bliss
In an underdog matchup for the ages, journeyman driver Mike Bliss stepped into TRG Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet for one race -- the tumultuous 2010 Coke Zero 400 -- and, of course, survived to bring home a ninth-place finish.
In an underdog matchup for the ages, journeyman driver Mike Bliss stepped into TRG Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet for one race -- the tumultuous 2010 Coke Zero 400 -- and, of course, survived to bring home a ninth-place finish.
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2009 Daytona 500: Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson started his 2009 season with a ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500 driving for a struggling Richard Petty Motorsports. This P9 was the only top-10 finish for the team all year -- though, now the No. 43 group has rebounded remarkably at restrictor-plate tracks, most recently with Aric Almirola’s fourth-place finish in the 2017 Daytona 500.
Reed Sorenson started his 2009 season with a ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500 driving for a struggling Richard Petty Motorsports. This P9 was the only top-10 finish for the team all year -- though, now the No. 43 group has rebounded remarkably at restrictor-plate tracks, most recently with Aric Almirola’s fourth-place finish in the 2017 Daytona 500.
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2005 Daytona 500: Kevin Lepage
A true definition of a Cinderella story, Kevin Lepage arrived at Daytona in 2005 with upstart R&J Racing, qualified into the 'Great American Race,' picked up a sponsor in Patrón Tequila, and earned a ninth-place finish. Surely, the Patrón was flowing for the No. 37 team that evening.
A true definition of a Cinderella story, Kevin Lepage arrived at Daytona in 2005 with upstart R&J Racing, qualified into the 'Great American Race,' picked up a sponsor in Patrón Tequila, and earned a ninth-place finish. Surely, the Patrón was flowing for the No. 37 team that evening.
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2003 Daytona 500: Mike Wallace
Making a lone start to begin the 2003 season, restrictor-plate ace Mike Wallace brought James Finch’s Dodge home in ninth-place in the 45th running of the Daytona 500.
Making a lone start to begin the 2003 season, restrictor-plate ace Mike Wallace brought James Finch’s Dodge home in ninth-place in the 45th running of the Daytona 500.
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2001 Pepsi 400: Brett Bodine
Overshadowed by the greatest racing story of the generation -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip’s 1-2 finish in their first return to Daytona after the 2001 Daytona 500 -- now-pace car driver Brett Bodine earned a ninth-place finish in the 2001 Pepsi 400, driving a Ford he owned.
Overshadowed by the greatest racing story of the generation -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip’s 1-2 finish in their first return to Daytona after the 2001 Daytona 500 -- now-pace car driver Brett Bodine earned a ninth-place finish in the 2001 Pepsi 400, driving a Ford he owned.