The 2006 Daytona 500

With over a week of practices, qualifying, Truck and Busch Series races, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup is finally getting off to a start with the 48th running of the Daytona 500.

I'm making the most of my Internet connection this afternoon, listening in on TrackPass -- currently listening to MRN Radio -- just passing the time prior to all of the pre-race activites to get over and done with (note: TrackPass has about a 30-second delay, compared to the television signal).

Yesterday during the Busch Series race, Tony Stewart won his 2nd Daytona Busch race. The temps in Daytona were in the low 80's, but now, the weather looks like it's overcast and cooler, with temps dropping to the low 60's. This will give the track more grip, making a speeder racetrack.

Now, let's just hope that "Rocket Man" Ryan Newman can avoid "The Big One," a multi-car pile-up that is quite common during restrictor place races.

I also signed up for Fantasy Racing from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports, joining a group of folks from the Ryan Newman Fan Club, which I am a member of. This will be my first year of doing something like this (since I've been strictly a fantasy football player), so learning the rules and the points system was a little bit of a chore.

Anyways -- here we go. The Star Spangled Banner just was sung. Updates, including the time and lap number, will be posted as the race progresses. All times will be Central Standard Time.

1:30 p.m. -- Actor James Caan gives the signal "Gentleman, start your engines." Was it just me, or did he look drunk?

1:30 p.m. -- #12 car owner Roger Penske gives Newman the good luck, telling him it's windy across the track.

1:31 p.m. -- Newman tell his crew and crew chief Matt Borland that the gauges are normal, everything is fine with the car.

1:34 p.m. -- Jay Leno is driving the pace car, a Chevy Corvette Z06. He currently leads them down pit lane to the track.

• Daytona -- 2.5 mile tri-oval, 31 degree banking in the turns

1:38 p.m. -- Newman informs Borland that there is lots of trash on the track (this can be a problem, as trash can attach itself to the grills in front of the cars, causing them to overheat. Lucky for Newman, he drives a Dodge Charger, which picks up more trash than most).

1:41 p.m. -- Spotter Aron Oakley changes radios due to heavy static. Newman will let him know if anything goes bad (due to Daytona being so big, Newman will have two spotters. NASCAR legend Buddy Baker will most likely to the other one on the backstretch). Don Miller gives Newman the good luck.

1:42 p.m. -- Green-flag is waved off due to trash stuck on #29 Kevin Harvick's roof camera.

1:45 p.m. -- Pace car is off, green-flag waves. Pole-sitter Jeff Burton leads them to Turn 1.

1:46 p.m. -- Burton leads the first lap, #66 Jeff Green loses tire, no caution.

1:49 p.m. -- Newman reaches the bottom lane, next to the yellow line. Burton still in the lead (Lap 6 of 200).

1:50 p.m. -- Extreme nervousness, lots of 3-wide racing. If there was a wreck now, Newman would definitely be caught up in it.

1:53 p.m. -- Crazy UPS commercial. 'Bout time they raced the truck. It's been about a 7-year deal...

1:54 p.m. -- Burton still leads, Newman in 20th (Lap 11 of 200). Newman's water temp: 220 degrees (still ok).

1:58 p.m. -- Newman's water temp: 210 degrees (Lap 15 of 200). Newman's teammate, #2 Kurt Busch, sits in the 6th position.

1:59 p.m. -- Newman reports that his car is starting to tighten up -- yellow flag.

2:00 p.m. -- #1 Martin Truex, Jr. scrapes the wall, bringing out the flag. Pit stops ensue.

2:04 p.m. -- Borland reports that the tires looked good after 17 laps, Newman replies that the track is "definitely grippy."

2:05 p.m. -- Green flag, Lap 20. #88 Dale Jarrett penalized for entering pit road too fast.

2:06 p.m. -- #38 Elliot Sadler in the lead, with #8 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the 2nd spot. Newman in 16th.

2:08 p.m. -- #24 Jeff Gordon takes lead, with teammate #48 Jimmie Johnson pushing behind. Newman listed in 14th (Lap 24).

2:09 p.m. -- #17 Matt Kenseth takes lead (Lap 25).

2:10 p.m. -- #26 Jamie McMurray into the back of the #20 Tony Stewart coming off Turn 2, but Stewart saves it (Lap 26).

2:11 p.m. -- Stewart in the lead (Lap 28), Newman in 11th.

2:12 p.m. -- Newman's water temp: 215 degrees. "A tick too tight."

2:14 p.m. -- Spotter Buddy Baker: "Good job, good job ... you're working with your teammate..."

2:15 p.m. -- Stewart still in the lead (Lap 33), Newman in 9th.

2:16 p.m. -- Newman: "Definitely too tight." #19 Jeremy Mayfield makes slight contact with another car, left-front tire rub.

2:18 p.m. -- Newman reports that other drivers are tightening up, lifting the throttle in the turns.

2:19 p.m. -- Single file racing, Stewart still in lead (Lap 38), Newman in 8th.

2:21 p.m. -- Newman: "Car getting tighter." Borland: "10-4, 20 laps on tires."

2:23 p.m. -- Newman in 6th, teammate Kurt Busch pushing behind, in 7th.

2:25 p.m. -- Simply beautiful: #12 and #2 working together (Lap 45). Green-flag pit stops approaching.

2:27 p.m. -- Borland: "27 laps on tires, 4 laps 'til pit. 2 car is coming with you."

2:28 p.m. -- Yellow flag. Newman: "Turns 1 and 2 too tight, Turns 3 and 4 pretty good." #24 Jeff Gordon and Stewart make contact with Turn 2 wall.

2:30 p.m. -- Pit stops. Newman: 15.2 seconds -- leads field off pit road! He should get his 5 bonus points for leading a lap (Lap 49). Kenseth 2nd, Kurt Busch 3rd.

2:33 p.m. -- Borland: "27 laps on tires, look really good."

2:34 p.m. -- Green flag, Lap 51. Newman in the lead. Stewart restarted 38th, Gordon 41st.

2:36 p.m. -- Lots of moisture in the air. Spotters commented on it earlier.

2:40 p.m. -- Kenseth passes Newman on outside lane for lead (Lap 58).

2:41 p.m. -- Newman: "I tick on the free side, especially getting in (the turns)."

2:42 p.m. -- Borland: "The 17 (Kenseth) is complaining about being too tight." Newman: "10-4, we're not."

2:45 p.m. -- Turns 1 and 2 cameras loaded with moisture.

2:46 p.m. -- Newman: "A little too tight into 1 and 2."

2:47 p.m. -- Oakley: "Stick with the 2 (Busch) bud, he helps you out." Newman: "I am!"

2:48 p.m. -- Kenseth 1st, Busch 2nd, Newman 3rd (Lap 68).

2:51 p.m. -- A little trash on the grill, Newman's water temp: 205 degrees (Lap 73).

2:53 p.m. -- Borland: "We got to go in on (Lap) 82, Roger (Penske)."

2:54 p.m. -- Crew reports that Kurt Busch will pit also on Lap 82.

2:56 p.m. -- Kenseth may pit on Lap 81. If Kenseth dives in on 81 and Busch follows, Newman is to follow Busch. Borland: "Stick with the 2."

2:57 p.m. -- Yellow flag, crash in Turn 3. #45 Kyle Petty, #66 Jeff Green, #18 J.J. Yeley, #99 Carl Edwards involved (Lap 79).

3:00 p.m. -- Pit road open. Newman will get a four-tire change.

3:03 p.m. -- Borland: "Ryan, tires still look good."

3:05 p.m. -- Newman in 7th after pit stops.

3:07 p.m. -- Green flag waves (Lap 84).

3:08 p.m. -- #29 Kevin Harvick in the lead. Newman says that he has a slight vibration through his car.

3:09 p.m. -- Earnhardt, Jr. in the lead (Lap 86).

3:11 p.m. -- 2-by-2, Newman running the outside lane (Lap 89).

3:12 p.m. -- Yellow flag (Lap 90). Debris on the backstretch. Newman: "Definitely too tight."

3:14 p.m. -- Vibration stays "the same" throughout the run. Pit road is open.

3:15 p.m. -- Busch changes two tires, while Newman will change four.

3:17 p.m. -- Newman listed in 14th, Busch in 4th. Lots of drivers just took 2 tires and/or gas.

3:18 p.m. -- That new Gillette Young Guns commercial will never get old.

3:19 p.m. -- Debris in the backstretch, green flag called off.

3:21 p.m. -- Green flag, with Earnhardt, Jr. in the lead (Lap 95).

3:25 p.m. -- Half-way mark of the Daytona 500 (Lap 101).

3:28 p.m. -- #6 Mark Martin to the lead (on one helluva run through the tri-oval, Lap 105).

3:30 p.m. -- Newman: "200 (temp), they're going to crash."

3:31 p.m. -- Kenseth in the wall, Newman escapes. Yellow flag. Newman: "Check the valence."

3:32 p.m. -- Tony Stewart? Just a little aggressive? Pit road is open.

3:36 p.m. -- NASCAR penalizing Stewart for aggressive driving. Newman will restart 18th.

3:37 p.m. -- Green flag waved off.

3:39 p.m. -- Kenseth gives Stewart a shot as the cars come off pit road ... Kenseth receives the Black Flag (pit stop). Green flag waves.

3:40 p.m. -- Earnhardt, Jr. in the lead (Lap 111).

3:41 p.m. -- Frustration from Kenseth continues as he questions NASCAR why he's getting the Black Flag.

3:42 p.m. -- Kenseth serves his pass-through penalty (55 mph).

3:43 p.m. -- #5 Kyle Busch in the lead (Lap 116).

3:46 p.m. -- Newman: "Aero-tight, 210." (Lap 119)

3:49 p.m. -- #48 Jimmie Johnson in the lead (Lap 123).

3:50 p.m. -- Yellow flag (Lap 124). #7 Robby Gordon hits wall and loses tire. Newman: "Got really tight..."

3:51 p.m. -- Pit road open. Newman will again change four tires.

3:53 p.m. -- Borland: "I'm sorry, Ryan, I thought the #66 was going to pit but he just drove through pit road." Newman: "That's why his rear bumper says, 'Best Buy.'"

3:56 p.m -- Newman listed in 11th. Stewart penalized again for running over equipment in pit road.

3:58 p.m. -- Green flag. Martin in the lead (Lap 128).

4:03 p.m. -- 2-by-2 racing, Martin still in the lead. Newman in 11th (Lap 134). Newman: "Aero-tight in 1 and 2."

4:09 p.m. -- Earnhardt, Jr. regains the lead. Newman still in 11th (Lap 141).

4:11 p.m. -- #25 Brian Vickers in the lead. Newman is 7th (Lap 144).

4:12 p.m. -- Newman: "Tight, 205."

4:14 p.m. -- Buddy Baker: "Thatta boy!" Newman: "195, too tight." Newman's in 4th. (Lap 148)

4:16 p.m. -- Newman: "200, a tick on the tight side."

4:17 p.m. -- Borland: "Ryan, we're in our pit window, and we'll pit in about 9 laps." (Lap 152) Penske: "160, Matt. 160."

4:18 p.m. -- Busch makes contact with Johnson, falls below yellow line. No penalty as Busch regains his old position.

4:19 p.m. -- Yellow flag for debris.

4:20 p.m. -- Newman: "NASCAR should get the 48 (Johnson) on aggressive driving but it sucks: they won't do anything about it because his crew chief isn't here."

4:21 p.m. -- Buddy Baker expresses his frustration towards Jimmie Johnson due to his driving and cutting drivers off, as Johnson did some damage to Kurt Busch's car.

4:22 p.m. -- Pit road is open.

4:23 p.m. -- A clogged pit exit ... Johnson and Vickers seem to pin Newman in a sandwich, but Newman sends Johnson out in the grass. Contact between Newman and Vickers? Apparently not... Newman: "The 48 needed some of his own medicine."

4:24 p.m. -- Borland: "Tires look real good, Ryan."

4:26 p.m. -- Newman: "Take a look at the right-rear tire." Spotters say that it's good, maybe just Newman's imagination. Oakley: "I'll ask the 48 to check it out."

4:27 p.m. -- Reply back from the 48 is that the tire looks alright.

4:28 p.m. -- Green flag, Newman's in 3rd (Lap 160).

4:30 p.m. -- Earnhardt, Jr. in the lead, Newman in 2nd (Lap 161).

4:31 p.m. -- GOOOOOOOOO NEWMANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!

4:32 p.m. -- Newman leads Lap 163.

4:33 p.m. -- My hands are sweatin' ... heart's a beatin' ... good Lord!

4:35 p.m. -- Penske teammates 1 and 2, baby! (Lap 167)

4:38 p.m. -- Tensions are rising ... Busch doing an excellent job of blocking (Lap 171).

4:40 p.m. -- Baker: "Everybody's happy -- all in line, all in line..."

4:42 p.m. -- #32 Travis Kvapil scrapes wall and almost wrecks, yellow flag waves.

4:43 p.m. -- LaFonda? Pit call move...

4:44 p.m. -- Pit road open. Newman will take a four-tire change. Contact with #21 Ken Schrader?! Newman: "No, didn't touch him."

4:46 p.m. -- Heart attack on my part. Borland: "Tires look great, Ryan."

4:47 p.m. -- Good on fuel until the end of the race.

4:48 p.m. -- Newman listed in 3rd after pit stops. Vickers and #14 Sterling Marlin listed 1st and 2nd, respectfully.

4:50 p.m. -- Green flag (Lap 180).

4:51 p.m. -- No help for Newman, as he is shuffled back to 7th.

4:52 p.m. -- Penalty for Earnhardt, Jr.? NASCAR says he's clean.

4:55 p.m. -- Newman! Hell of a run through Turns 1 and 2, moves up in position (Lap 185).

4:56 p.m. -- Newman to 4th. Busch in the wall! Almost a multi-car wreck, McMurray gets into Busch and sends him into wall. The rear of the #2 car is totalled.

4:57 p.m. -- Newman listed as 3rd during the yellow flag.

4:58 p.m. -- Busch in the pits. Why isn't the #26 posted, the Miller Lite team asks. Other teams continue to pit due to damage. Newman making friends with other teams.

5:00 p.m. -- Current running: #48 Johnson 1st, #25 Vickers 2nd, #12 Newman 3rd.

5:02 p.m. -- Word from the #2 car is that they are done for the day.

5:03 p.m. -- Green flag (Lap 190, 10 to go).

5:04 p.m. -- I can hardly stand it... No change of position.

5:05 p.m. -- Harvick gets into Stewart, but Stewart safe.

5:06 p.m. -- Newman asks for lap count (Lap 194). Black Flag for #5 Kyle Busch.

5:07 p.m. -- Newman to 2nd. Johnson still leads.

5:08 p.m. -- WRECK -- McMurray spins with heavy damage. We may have a green-white-checkered finish. #43 Bobby Labonte, #31 Jeff Burton, #11 Denny Hamlin involved.

5:09 p.m. -- Newman: "Tires are good." Borland: "Ryan, this will probably be a green-white-checkered." Newman: "Yep."

5:10 p.m. -- Spotters have been talking to other teams. #38 Elliot Sadler likes the top, #42 Casey Mears likes the bottom. Oakley: "The 38 will not follow the 48 for whatever reason."

5:13 p.m. -- Reports from the #8 and the #38 is that they are both tight. Watch them to run high on the track.

5:15 p.m. -- Currently praying.

5:17 p.m. -- Green flag. Johnson in the lead.

5:18 p.m. -- Damn you, Mears! Yellow flag waves due to crash. Jimmie Johnson wins the Daytona 500.

5:23 p.m. -- NBC interviews Newman, unofficially listed as 2nd, best finish at Daytona.

Notes:

• NBC interviews Casey Mears and he says that he had to stay his position to prevent from getting "freight trained" from Elliot Sadler. Okay...
• With Newman, the restrictor plate tracks have been his nemesis for year, now finished 2nd and will be 2nd in points when the cars roll into Fontana for the next race.
• I'm happy for the finish, but in selfish fashion, I wish Ryan would have gotten the win. I just hoped that Casey Mears would have followed Ryan -- that would have sealed up the win.