SHR Daytona 500 Time Trials
STEWART-HAAS RACING
Daytona 500 Time Trials
Date: Feb. 8, 2009
Event: Daytona 500 Time Trials (Round 1 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Pole Winner: Martin Truex Jr., of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (47.872 seconds at 188.001 mph)
SHR Lineup: Ryan Newman (3rd, 47.929 seconds at 187.778 mph) Tony Stewart (10th, 48.042 seconds at 187.336 mph)
Making its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut, Stewart-Haas Racing placed both of its cars in the top-10 during Daytona 500 time trials Sunday afternoon at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala SS, qualified third to lead the two-car Stewart-Haas Racing contingent in time trials for the 51st annual Daytona 500. Newman turned a lap of 47.929 seconds at 187.778 mph on the 2.5-mile oval.
“It was a good effort for everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Newman, who is the reigning winner of the Daytona 500. “We came off the truck fast. We were fifth yesterday in practice and we beat a couple of guys today that we didn’t beat yesterday. Really proud of the effort these guys are putting in on the U.S. Army Chevrolet. Tony Gibson (crew chief, No. 39), Tony Stewart and all the people back at the shop have put a lot of hard work in during the off-season to make this happen. We’re trying to represent a million soldiers and make them proud. This is a good start.”
Stewart, Newman’s teammate and the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing with Haas Automation, qualified 10th in his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS. Stewart turned a lap of 48.042 seconds at 187.336 mph.
“To see two Stewart-Haas cars in the top-10 with Ryan and myself – I couldn’t be more proud,” said Stewart, who has 12 career victories at Daytona in Sprint Cup, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the defunct IROC Series. “Really happy for all my guys on the Office Depot/Old Spice team and on the U.S. Army team with Ryan. Just proud of Bobby Hutchens (director of competition), Tony Gibson, Darian Grubb (crew chief, No. 14) and all the guys on these crews. They have just done an unbelievable job in such a short amount of time.”
Locking up their starting spots for the Daytona 500 were Martin Truex Jr., and Mark Martin. Truex notched his first career Daytona 500 pole and his second in Sprint Cup with a time of 47.872 seconds at 188.001 mph. Martin missed the top spot by .047 of a second as he turned a lap in 47.919 seconds at 187.817 mph. Fifty-six drivers made a qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500.
While Sunday’s time trials locked in the front row, the remaining 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 2008 owner points will run the first race, while even numbered teams in 2008 owner points will compete in the second race. The top-35 teams in 2008 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.
Stewart will start sixth in the first Gatorade Duel race. Newman will start second in the second Gatorade Duel race. Thanks to their strong qualifying runs, both drivers are guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500, no matter their respective finishes in the Gatorade Duel.
As far as manufacturers went, Chevrolet took the top spot via the pole-winning run made by Truex. Ford was next best at the hands of fifth-quick Bill Elliott (47.939 seconds at 187.739 mph). Carrying the flag for Toyota was 15th-quick Kyle Busch (48.155 seconds at 186.896 mph). Dodge completed the manufacturer lineup with Reed Sorenson posting the 28th-quickest time (48.369 seconds at 186.070 mph).
The Gatorade Duel gets underway at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12 with live coverage on SPEED. The green flag waves for the Daytona 500 at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, with live coverage provided by FOX.
