Autoblog

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[Spoiler Alert] The run up to the Daytona 500 this past week was monopolized with news of Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the fast Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing. In the end, however, neither camp could pull out a win in Daytona. The checkered flag went to Ryan Newman of Penske Racing, who owes his first win at Daytona and the end to an 81-race-long draught to teammate Kyle Busch. We'll forego the theatrics of the first 499 miles and skip right to the last lap, which began with Tony Stewart in the lead. Stewart on the inside, however, couldn't stop Newman who slipped his Dodge in front of Busch's car on the outside as the latter emerged from a draft. The two cars flew by Stewart, and for his unselfish act, Busch earned a second place finish. Stewart, however, called his 3rd place performance "one of the most disappointing moments of my racing career." Ouch.

The win was also the first Daytona victory for team Penske Racing, which, despite winning the Indy 500 a record 14 times, had never crossed the finish line first in Daytona. And what about the other drivers who everyone expected to finish fast? Jeff Gordon had suspension trouble and dropped out on lap 186. Denny Hamlin, who gave Toyota its first ever NASCAR win earlier this week, finished 17th, while Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won both the Bud Shootout and his Gatorade Duel qualifying race, finished 9th.

As for which automaker has the most reason to celebrate after Daytona, the answer is Dodge, whose cars nabbed six of the top ten finishes, including first and second. Toyota, meanwhile, grabbed 3rd and 4th thanks to Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, respectively. Earnhardt Jr.'s 9th place finish gave Chevy one spot in the top ten, while Greg Biffle drove his Blue Oval car to a 10th place finish.


[Source: NASCAR, Photos - Getty Images]

Remember when Joe Gibbs Racing dropped Chevy for Toyota last September? Not only did Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin trade in their bow tie stickers for an adhesive Camry grille, but Toyota gained some serious driving talent. The move has paid off quickly for Toyota, which just scored its first NASCAR win thanks to Denny Hamlin, who won the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race in Daytona yesterday thanks to his teammate Tony Stewart, who finished in Second Place. Stewart was able to both give Hamlin push and hold off a charging Jeff Gordon to give Hamlin the win. It's not a points race, but with Hamlin taking the checkered flag and Stewart the No. 2 spot, it means there'll be three Toyotas in the first three rows of the Daytona 500 this weekend.

In other NASCAR news, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued his comeback by winning the first Gatorade Duel qualifying race yesterday. Add that to his victory in the Bud Shootout earlier this week, and it's clear that Junior has regained an edge he lost during his many year driving for DEI. Jaqcues Villeneuve, meanwhile, who made his NASCAR debut in trucks late last year, crashed his Toyota during the second Gatorade Duel yesterday and took out three other cars. You know what they say, rubbin's racing!

[Source: Autosport via Winding Road, Photo by Nick Laham/Getty]

Regardless of whether or not you're a NASCAR fan, there's no denying that the motorsport is starting off its 2008 season in the best possible way. Early festivities for the season opener Daytona 500 began this past weekend and resulted in Jimmie Johnson, last season's champion, taking the pole position. Next to him on the grid will be a somewhat redeemed Michael Waltrip, who was embroiled in a scandal at last year's Daytona 500 that resulted in the largest ever fine handed down from NASCAR at the time.

That would probably be enough for a great kick off to the season, but the newly minted NASCAR Sprint Cup is swimming in merchandise sales after Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Bud Shootout on Saturday in his first race as a member of Hendrick Motorsports. Driving his new No. 88 Chevy, Earnhardt Jr. came out swinging in this exhibition that nets no points for the winner, but is a good omen for winning the 500 next weekend.

[Source: ESPN, Photo by John Harrelson/Getty]

The 49th running of the Daytona 500 has just finished and the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season is underway. For those who have TiVo'd the Great American Race and don't know who won yet, we've put the results after the jump.

UPDATE 1: Pics of the finish and this year's winner added after the jump!

Six years ago today, Dale Earnhardt died in a 150-mph crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500. To commemorate the date (and the release of "Dale: The Movie"), General Motors has dedicated "The Power of 3" Web site to the memory of Dale Earnhardt.

Visitors to the site can submit their memories of the Intimidator as well as find out when the movie will be coming to their town.

Read the full press release from GM after the jump.

For those who haven't heard, NASCAR's season-opening Daytona 500 race this weekend has been marred by controversy from the rookie Toyota camp. On Sunday, Michael Waltrip had his No. 55 Toyota confiscated by NASCAR officials after inspectors found an odorless, Vaseline-like substance in the car's engine. Later in the week, NASCAR handed down punishment to Michael Waltrip Racing, which included the ejection of team vice president of competition Bobby Kennedy and Crew Chief David Hyder from the garage at Daytona. Hyder was also fined $100,000, the largest fine ever handed down by NASCAR. Waltrip himself was penalized with a loss of 100 drivers points and his qualifying time from pole day on Feb. 11th was thrown out. Elizabeth Waltrip, Michael's wife and the official owner of his car, was also docked 100 owners points.

Thanks for the tip, John!

[Source: ESPN.com]

Joining a list of artists that includes LeAnn Rimes, Sheryl Crow, Jewel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lenny Kravitz, Grammy winner and former American Idol queen Kelly Clarkson has signed a deal to form the biggest-ever partnership between NASCAR and a musical artist. Vegas oddsmakers have not yet announced the Over/Under for Kelly appearances on The NASCAR Channel SPEED TV this season, but you can pencil us right in for the "over" because it is the lock of the year.

You'll also be shocked...shocked to learn that Kelly says she's a big NASCAR fan and looks forward to hanging out with the whole ever-lovin' NASCAR community. NASCAR (obviously) feels that this relationship will develop into something big. Welcome to the NASCAR/Kelly mutual admiration society.

Her NASCAR debut will be as the headliner in the "Tribute to America" concert that'll air prior to next month's season-opening Daytona 500. During the show, NASCAR will shoot a TV commercial that spotlights Kelly as she sings a new song off her upcoming CD. Finally, she'll be the official spokesperson for the fourth annual NASCAR Day this May, during which the organization raises money for charitable causes.

[Source: Yahoo News]

Six-time Winston/Nextel Cup winner Richard Childress is sitting in the driver's seat of an enterprise not often associated with NASCAR: a vineyard. Childress and business partner Greg Johns own Childress Vineyards, 65 acres of wine country in Lexington, North Carolina, just a stone's throw from his racing headquarters in Welcome.

While most don't normally peg the NASCAR crowd as bouquet-sniffing pedants, Childress says that NASCAR's demographics are changing, and that a younger, more affluent audience is beginning to tune in. Perhaps that explains the new Daytona 500 fragrance.

Either way, Childress joins fellow motorsports oenophiles like Mario Andretti in the vintner's circle.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Marketing is an amazing thing these days... this is right up there with Tony Stewart's sweaty towel.

Elizabeth Arden announced last week in Daytona Beach that the company would make a new fragrance called 'Daytona 500.' The fragrance maker describes the scent as opening "with top notes of yuzu, bergamot and mandarin. Heart notes include tarragon, sage, maté and a watery accord, while the base comprises nutmeg, cardamom, amber and sandalwood." We're not exactly sure what all of that smells like, but if it isn't burning rubber and cheap beer, well...

The packaging is interesting in and of itself -- the top is shaped like a wheel wrapped in a thin rubber tire.

 [Source: Luxist]