Around The Track: News and Notes From Daytona

David Yeazell by Analyst Written on July 02, 2009
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 15:  David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford races Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Joey Logano, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Things are getting off to a fast start here at Daytona.

First of all, happy birthday to King Richard Petty, 72 years young today. 

Of course the big news, as reported earlier, is that Jeremy Mayfield is being awarded a temporary injunction against NASCAR. 

There are whispers around the garage that Mayfield will be in Daytona this weekend, and might have one or two prospects of being in a car. 

Drivers have been swamped with questions surrounding the ruling, and what their thoughts on the situation are. 

Kasey Kahne said he isn't sure how Jeremy got out of this situation.

"He got into trouble over drugs, and now he's gotten out of it," said Kahne. 

Kahne also said he was tested after his win at Sonoma, and that the procedure seems to be more intense than it was before. 

"Before this situation we were in and out in 10 minutes, now its more complex. We have to initial each step of the process, and it now takes about forty minutes," he said.

Kyle Busch on the other hand didn't think anything was different.

"You piss in a cup, hand it to them and go on," quipped Busch. 

Joey Logano and Carl Edwards said they were not following this situation closely, but were confident that NASCAR would do the right thing. 

Logano is still riding high from his win last week. He said he is very excited about his prospects for the rest of the season. 

Logano said he recieved tons of phone calls congratulating him on his first win, and that all of the calls were very special to him. 

"I have come a long way in a very short amount of time," said Logano. "Every win is special, but this one, my first at the top level of the sport, is very special."

Kyle Busch, the former youngest driver to win at NASCAR's top level, said he was a bit disappointed in the way Logano achieved his first win, but understood. 

"Sure, I wish he had gotten his win the legitimate way, but there will be more chances for him to win a full race before he turns 24, the age I was when I got my first win."

Other hot topics are the recent Hall of Fame nominee's.

The "Young Guns" of NASCAR say they are aware of it, but not really sure what is going on, or how it all works. 

Carl Edwards said he saw Darell Waltrip and David Pearson on NASCAR.com, but was un-aware of what happened or what was going on. 

Kyle Busch was asked if any of the nominee's, or other "old timer's" had influenced him or his career. He said the only person he had even met before he began racing was Jeff Gordon, and he was pretty sure Gordon wasn't eligible yet. 

Kasey Kahne and Budweiser are promoting their national campaign against drunk driving. 

Tow and Go, a program spear-headed by AAA, will be in effect this holiday weekend. 

Any person who feels they have had too much to drink, can call a toll free number, give their location, and a tow truck will come and take their car home for them, and they will be provided a ride also. There is absolutely no charge for this service. 

Members of the local sherriff's office and the Florida Highway Patrol were on hand to educate fans on this service. 

Kahne, Budweiser and AAA are working with NASCAR and other organizations to make this program available at all NASCAR events and other major sporting events around the country, and for major holidays throughout the year. 

Nationwide cars are on the track now, Sprint Cup practice is scheduled for 4 p.m. 

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written on July 02, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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