Daytona 500 Time Trials
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Daytona 500 Time Trials
Date: Feb. 13, 2011
Event: 53rd Daytona 500 Time Trials (Round 1 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Pole Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr., of Hendrick Motorsports (48.364 seconds at 186.089 mph)
SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (7th, 48.648 seconds at 185.002 mph)
Tony Stewart (10th, 48.672 seconds at 184.911 mph)
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala, led the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent in time trials for the 53rd annual Daytona 500 by qualifying a strong seventh for the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Newman turned a lap of 48.648 seconds at 185.002 mph on the 2.5-mile oval.
“I’m just proud of all the guys who work on this U.S. Army Chevrolet,” said Newman, who won the 50th running of the Daytona 500 in 2008. “We’ve come down here the last two years and been a pole contender, and we came close again today. I think we have a good racecar with some good speed. Everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing has done a good job. I just want to do everything we can to gain all the knowledge we can to give ourselves the best shot to get the U.S. Army Chevrolet in victory lane.”
Stewart, Newman’s teammate and the co-owner of SHR along with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas – the largest CNC machine tool builder in the western world – qualified 10th in his No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala. Stewart turned a lap of 48.672 seconds at 184.911 mph.
“We had a good run with our Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy and Ryan and his U.S. Army Chevy,” said Stewart, who has 15 career victories at Daytona in Sprint Cup, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the defunct IROC Series. “We’re really proud of everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing. It’s a good way to start the year. We’re in a good spot.
“The biggest thing that we have to do as a driver is shift three times once we leave pit road. The rest of the time it’s just trying to hold the wheel smooth and everybody that qualified today is more than capable of doing that. It’s a crew chief showcase today and to see what teams have done over the winter. Looking at the board, I’m really proud of everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing and what they’ve done to our Chevys.”
Locking up their starting spots for the Daytona 500 were Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Gordon, who qualified 1-2. Earnhardt notched his first career Daytona 500 pole, his first pole at Daytona and his 10th Sprint Cup pole with a time of 48.364 seconds at 186.089 mph. Gordon missed the top spot by .032 of a second as he turned a lap in 48.396 seconds at 185.966 mph.
Forty-eight drivers made a qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500.
While Saturday’s time trials locked in the front row, the next 40 positions will be determined via Thursday’s Gatorade Duel – twin 150-mile heat races that set the majority of the 43-car Daytona 500 field. Odd numbered teams in 2010 owner points will run the first race, while even numbered teams in 2010 owner points will compete in the second race. The top-35 teams in 2010 owner points are assured of advancing into the Daytona 500, as are the highest finishing teams in the 150-mile heat races not otherwise qualified, and the three fastest teams from time trials not otherwise qualified. If needed, the 43rd position will go to the most recent series champion not otherwise qualified.
Newman will start third in the first Gatorade Duel race, and Stewart will join him in that race from the fifth starting spot. Both drivers are guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500 no matter their respective finishes in the Gatorade Duel, as each finished among the top-15 in 2010 owner points.
As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet swept the front row via Hendrick Motorsports teammates Earnhardt and Gordon. Ford was next best at the hands of rookie Trevor Bayne (48.532 seconds at 185.445 mph). Carrying the flag for Dodge was 11th-quick Kurt Busch (48.676 seconds at 184.896 mph), winner of Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout. Toyota completed the manufacturer lineup with Joe Nemechek posting the 21st-fastest time (48.854 seconds at 184.222 mph).
The Gatorade Duel gets underway at 2 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 17 with live coverage on SPEED. The green flag waves for the Daytona 500 at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 20, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at noon.
-SHR-
