CUP: McMurray Wins Wild Daytona 500

Sprint Cup

CUP: McMurray Wins Wild Daytona 500

Jamie McMurray gave Chip Ganassi his first Daytona 500 victory...

Tom Jensen | Posted February 14, 2010 Daytona Beach, FL

Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

NASCAR officials look on as workers repair damage to the track at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

What started out as one of the best Daytona Speedweeks in history ended on a bizarre note Sunday, as a hole in the asphalt track surface in Turn 2 of Daytona International Speedway forced two lengthy red-flag delays in the Daytona 500. And that badly disrupted what otherwise was a day of great racing.

RESULTS: Daytona 500

Jamie McMurray was the race winner, but the big story was two red-flag periods that took up nearly 2 ½ hours in the race, as track officials worked feverishly to repair a small hole in the racing line in Turn 2. The hole, caused by heavy rains and unseasonably cold weather in Central Florida, was a major distraction.

The race ended following two attempts at a green-white-checkered finish, as McMurray's Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevrolet Impala SS held off an inspired charge from Dale Earnhardt Jr., who went from 10th to second in the final lap in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. Completing the top five were Greg Biffle's Roush Fenway Racing Ford, Clint Bowyer in a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and David Reutimann's Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.

Mark Martin started from the pole, flanked by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The first caution came on Lap 9, after Brad Keselowski's Penske Dodge blew a right-rear tire and spun out in Turn 2, collecting teammate Sam Hornish Jr., as well as Regan Smith, Max Papis, Boris Said, Bill Elliott and Mike Bliss. “It's really disappointing,” said Keselowski. “All you can ask for is the opportunity to compete, and we didn't get that.”

Kevin Harvick, who won this race three years ago as well as the Budweiser Shootout eight days earlier, took the lead on Lap 18. Four laps later, Elliott Sadler got his first lead on the race, taking the point for only a lap until Harvick went back around him.

Kurt Busch, the only one of the three Penske Dodges left in contention, took the lead on Lap 35, as AJ Allmendinger charged from the rear of the field to move all the way to third behind Harvick.

Allmendinger led for the first time on Lap 45, holding it for three laps before Busch reclaimed first place.

The second caution flew when Joe Nemechek crashed in Turn 4 on Lap 65, assisted by a bump from Hornish. By this point, the field was pretty well spread out, so Nemechek did not snare any of his competitors.

The race restarted on Lap 71, with Allmendinger taking the top spot.

Just seven laps later, Bliss spun on the backstretch, bringing out caution No. 3. And once again, the leaders all pitted. Under yellow, Allmendinger took four tires, but most of the others just two.

Jeff Gordon got his first lead on Lap 98, with Clint Bowyer moving up to second. But at halfway, the order was Bowyer, Gordon, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle, Harvick, Sadler and Kasey Kahne.

John Andretti crashed in Turn 2 on Lap 117, just as Jimmie Johnson pitted with a damaged right-front fender from a flat tire.

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Tom Jensen

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