(Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Race No. 18 of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series schedule brought the world’s 43 best drivers back to where it all began six months ago: Daytona, the epicenter of stockcar racing.
Nine races to go before the Chase to the Cup Championship, and 25 years after “The King” Richard Petty’s historic 200th career victory, nothing less than fireworks would be accepted from the fans in attendance for the Coke Zero 400.
Rain on Friday rained out qualifying, so points leader Tony Stewart started on pole for the third time this season.
Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish, Jr. started in the back thanks to a wreck during Thursday night’s practice. The No. 00 of David Reutimann also went to the back because of an engine change.
Three lead changes occurred in the first four laps; second place starter Jeff Gordon led the first lap, Stewart the second, and Denny Hamlin, who started sixth, took the lead on lap four. Gordon would fall back to 26th after losing the lead.
Mark Martin brought out the first caution when, on lap 13, he slid across the nose of former teammate Matt Kenseth's No. 17 DeWalt Ford. Juan Pablo Montoya also received minimal damage.
It wouldn't be the last time former teammates got together.
The first pit stops of the day saw the No. 14 Burger King crew put their driver back into the lead. They would have phenomenal pit stops throughout the event.
With Stewart remaining in the lead, the second yellow flag of the day came out when David Stremme and Casey Mears got together.
After the leaders hit pit road, Stewart maintained the lead over former teammate Hamlin, Kenseth, Robby Gordon, and Richard Petty Motorsports' Elliot Sadler. However, a lap after they took the green, Hamlin passed Stewart for the lead. He would lead a total of 62 laps but would be passed by Stewart on lap 38 when he became the lone car in the outside lane.
Debris from Hornish, Jr., who cut a right rear tire, brought out the third caution. Ryan Newman stayed out to lead a lap, but it was Kenseth who would lead them to the green on lap 62.
Going back to the outside, Hamlin would retake the lead thanks to drafting help from Kyle Busch, who was followed by Stewart. Kenseth fell back to seventh during the 15-lap run.
Daytona's infamous "Big One" struck on lap 75 when David Stremme again found himself crashing into the wall. Thirteen cars (Stremme, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Reed Sorenson, David Reutimann, Clint Bowyer, David Gilliland, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Brian Vickers, Ryan Newman, and Jamie McMurray) were involved in the incident.
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