Daytona 500 Speedweeks News - Information

Jeff Gordon wins the Daytona 500..Jeff Gordon grabbed the lead from Dale Earnhardt Jr., then held off Kurt Busch and Earnhardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500 Sunday. One of the wildest finishes in the 47-year history of NASCAR 's biggest race saw four lead changes in the last nine laps. Earnhardt came from as far back as 30th to grab a late lead, only to watch four-time series champion Gordon pass him seconds before a caution flag waved with three laps to go.  Results and Jeff Gordon Gear! Jeff Gordon Driver Page and Jeff Gordon Past News Rumors

Event: Daytona 500

Race: Sunday, February 20, 2005 in Daytona, FL

TV: FOX 2:00pm/et

Pre Race: FOX 1:00 pm/et

Track Profile: Daytona International Speedway Track Page

FOX televises highest rated Daytona 500: FOX's 10.9 ties the highest rating ever recorded for a NASCAR race, matching the rating set for the 2002 Daytona 500 on NBC, and is up +3% vs. last year's race on NBC (10.6/24). Yesterday's 18.7 million viewers makes it the second most-watched NASCAR race ever (18.8 for the 2002 Daytona 500), the most-watched ever on FOX, and +5% better than a year ago (17.8 million). Nielsen estimates that 35.3 million Americans watched all or part of yesterday's race, another best for FOX.The 2005 Daytona 500 caps the biggest twelve month viewership period in FOX Sports' 11-year history. In the calendar year beginning with last year's NASCAR Nextel Cup race in Rockingham and ending with the 2005 Daytona 500, FOX totaled just under 1.3 billion viewers, the network's largest total ever for any twelve month period. In addition to regular season coverage of NASCAR, MLB and the NFL, the last 12 months saw FOX Sports broadcast the MLB All-Star Game, postseason and World Series, the NFL postseason, including the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl XXXIX, plus yesterday's Daytona 500. (FoxSports) Note: Expect the numbers to increase over 11.0 as the small market numbers come in by Thursday for final rating.  NASCAR traditionally does very well in small markets.

Speeding Patrol Nabs 11 in 500: NASCAR stepped up its policing of speed traps on pit road. The first 11 offenders were busted during pit stops on Lap 60 and included Jimmie Johnson, defending champ Kurt Busch, Casey Mears, Sterling Marlin, Elliott Sadler, Mark Martin, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Travis Kvapil and Ken Schrader. Repeat offenders included Jeremy Mayfield and Dave Blaney. The drive-through penalty — merely a pass through the pits at the regulation speed — is a costly one: Drivers lose nearly a half lap of track position.

Earnhardt Jr., Johnson and Gordon Heavily Favored for the 500: There is currently a three way tie for the 'favorite', heading into Nascar's first race of the year this Sunday at Daytona. According to Sportsbook.com, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmy Johnson are all at 9/2 odds to win the 47th annual Daytona 500.  "Daytona is the mecca of the American auto racing world. It's the biggest race of the year for NASCAR, and it's the biggest race for Sportsbook.com," says Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. "We've got Gordon, Junior and Johnson all in contention and we expect to see a lot more action on the race before Sunday afternoon."  Jimmie Johnson, coming off a win this past Saturday night will share the front row with Dale Jarrett, who takes the pole for this Sunday's race. (Yahoo!)

Daytona 500 Could be Biggest Ever: Fox drops the green flag at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, and the bet here is that its broadcast will top NBC's 10.6 national rating for last year's race. The 2004 Daytona 500 was seen by 33.5 million viewers, the second-highest TV rating since live broadcasts of the race began in 1979. Such impressive numbers reinforce NASCAR's emergence as one of the nation's Big Four sports. The last time a hockey game drew similar ratings in the States was Canada's victory over the U.S. in the Olympic gold-medal game at Salt Lake City in 2002. That game drew a 10.7 national rating on NBC, making it the highest-rated hockey game on American television since the 1980 Lake Placid Games. (CNNSI)

Mickey and Disney Kicks off Season: Mickey and his friends will help NASCAR kick-off the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20, 2005 at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. "Race Across America" is this year's theme, as Disney Consumer Products -- for the second year in a row -- will create a comprehensive racing-themed merchandising program to be showcased at several upcoming NASCAR events. Merchandise ranging from apparel to die-cast replica cars will feature Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Big Bad Wolf, and the merchandise will be sold at special Disney-themed stores throughout NASCAR events.  "After witnessing the frenzy over Disney merchandise at last year's Daytona 500, we knew we wanted to share the Disney magic across multiple NASCAR events this year," said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products Worldwide. "We developed merchandise that not only showcased Disney's wonderful characters, but also truly connected with racing fans."  (BusinessWire)

American Iraqi War Soldiers part of pre-race:  When driver John Andretti traveled to the Middle East for seven days in December, he met and spent time with sailors from a number of different U.S. Navy vessels.  Now, they are returning the favor. Over 50 crew and their families from the U.S.S. Hue-City will take part in holding American flags during pre-race ceremonies Sunday in the Daytona 500. Their attendance was arranged by Andretti through Daytona International Speedway and with the cooperation of Victory Brand, whose VB brand sponsors Andretti's #14 VB/APlus At Sunoco Ford. "I think it's great that these guys and their families will be with us Sunday," Andretti said. "They have given so much to us, I'm glad we can celebrate their return." (Thatsracin)

Daytona Grandstands Sold-out, Infield still available: Grandstand seats for the 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20 at historic Daytona International Speedway are sold out, Speedway officials announced today. While the grandstand seats have been sold, fans can still purchase infield tickets for "The Great American Race" - the kickoff to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. "We're happy to announce that the Daytona 500 is sold out," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "The fans, those in attendance and the millions more watching on FOX or listening on MRN Radio Network, continue to validate the Daytona 500 as the premier motorsports event in the world." The Daytona 500, which boasts a purse of more than $17 million, is the biggest, richest and most prestigious race in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.

Daytona 500 Purse Reaches 17 Million:  The 47th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious event of the year, will carry the biggest purse in the history of stock car racing at more than $17 million.  The post awards for the "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 20 will be $17,623,980, an increase of nearly $2 million. The posted awards for the 2004 Daytona 500, which was won by Dale Earnhardt Jr., was $15,972,313.  The winner of this year's Daytona 500 will collect a minimum of $1,430,030. The second, third, fourth and fifth-place finishers in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum of $1,029,425, $736,625, $584,750 and $456,875 respectively.  Even the last-place finisher in the Daytona 500 will be rewarded with a minimum of $219,931. (DIS PR)

Daytona Grand Marshall:  Matthew McConaughey was selected the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500. The actor will give the command "Drivers, start your engines" at the Feb. 20 race in Florida, NASCAR announced Monday.  "I'm honored and excited to be the Grand Marshal of this year's race," McConaughey said in a statement. "There is nothing more American than NASCAR and the Daytona 500.  McConaughey, who has starred in films including "Dazed and Confused" and "The Wedding Planner," will star in the upcoming thriller "Sahara."  (Fox Sports)

The New 6th Generation Corvette Paces Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion, unveiled the all-new 2005 Corvette that will pace the 47th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season opener during the national broadcast of Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning.  Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc., revealed the Corvette coupe that will pace the 43-car field in "The Great American Race" on Sunday, Feb. 20 - NASCAR's richest, biggest and most prestigious event at historic Daytona International Speedway.  "The all-new 2005 Corvette brings more power, more precision and more passion to drivers than any Corvette in history making it a natural fit to pace this historic race," said Brent Dewar, Chevrolet general manger. (DIS PR)

Ashton Kutcher Daytona 500 Starter: Ashton Kutcher, the popular star of FOX's "That '70s Show" and the star of the upcoming feature film "Guess Who" will serve as Honorary Starter for the 47th annual Daytona 500 (February 20, Fox, 1 p.m.), NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race. As Honorary Starter, Kutcher will wave the green flag to start the 43 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers in the 200-lap, 500-mile race. "We're excited to have Ashton Kutcher here to start the Daytona 500 and the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season," Speedway President Robin Braig said. "Attracting a star of Ashton's caliber proves once again the Daytona 500 is one of the premier sports events in the world."  Kutcher will co-star with actor/comedian Bernie Mac in Columbia Pictures and Regency Enterprises' "Guess Who," which will be released March 25 of this year. In the movie, in an effort to impress his prospective father-in-law Percy Jones (Mac), Simon Green (Kutcher), who has already secretly proposed to Jones' daughter, boasts of his (nonexistent) past as a NASCAR driver. Simon's repeated attempts to make a good impression are futile as Percy rebuffs him at every turn and makes it his mission to undermine his daughter's new relationship. The film also stars Zoë Saldaña and Judith Scott.  President George W. Bush and Academy Award-winning actor Ben Affleck served as the Co-Grand Marshals and the President gave the starting command, "Drivers, start your engines," for the 2004 Daytona 500.  Tickets for Speedweeks 2005 and the 47th annual Daytona 500, which will be televised live by FOX Sports, are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. (Daytona International Speedway PR)