Daytona 500 Memories 2000-2009

Well here we are in the pre-season before the 52nd running of "The Great American Race" the Daytona 500 which will be live from Daytona International Speedway Sunday February 14, 2010 on Fox. Nascar had alot of great memories from the 500 in the past decade heres a look back at the "500" a stock car drivers dream to win.

• The 2000 Daytona 500 was criticized both by media, fans and others for being uncompetetive, but you can look at that through everyones views. Johnny Benson was the "underdog" to say in this 500 until 4 laps to go he was passed by Polesitter Dale Jarrett to win the Daytona 500 for his third time and eventually to win the 2000 Nascar Championship i give this 500 a 5 out of 10.
• The 2001 Daytona was differ'ent this race had alot of lead changes and was exciting, then on lap 173 a 18 car crash eliminated half the field and Tony Stewart went flying upside down on the back stretch. The final laps were winding down and DEI Cars of Micheal Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr were first and second and the legend himself Dale Earhardt was third holding off a hard charging pack which included Sterling Marlin, Rusty Wallace and Ken Schrader then on the white flag lap the final lap Dale Earnhardt crashed in turn 4 and sadly passed away. Micheal Waltrip went on to win his first Daytona 500 in what i thought was a great underdog win for Micheal and was glad to see him close the deal at Daytona. Sadly this was the worst day in Nascar as the sport lost a legend who will never be replaced.
• The 2002 Daytona 500 was a thrilling race with then rookie Jimmie Johnson won the pole for "The Great American Race" Tony Stewart i believe blew up in the early laps and was out, Sterling Marlin and Jeff Gordon were in a battle and made contact that caused Gordon to crash and collect other cars. The caution came out and if everyone remembers Sterling got out of his car on the back stretch and tryed to pull the right front fender out and that was a bad decision on the restart marlin was black flagged to the rear and the lead went to Virginia's Ward Burton who held off Elliott Sadler and Geoff Bodine to win his first Daytona 500. This had to be one of my all time favorite daytona 500 races everyone loved to see Ward win the 500.
• The 2003 Daytona 500 started off good and with all the recent rain Ryan Newman flipped on the front stretch grass and then rain came and Micheal Waltrip won his second Daytona 500 in two years and Micheal never really got to celebrate in 2001 with the events of the race that day but 2003 was his time again in victory lane again at Daytona.
• In 2004 the Daytona 500 Dale Earnhardt Jr got passed Tony Stewart to win his first Daytona 500 in a great race that day, not a close finish but none to less a memoriable day for the Earnhardts at Daytona.
• The 2005 Daytona was a competitive race with Jeff Gordon taking the lead in the final laps and holding off Kurt Busch to win his third Daytona 500 in a wild green white checker finish.
• The 2006 Daytona 500 also ended in a green white checker finish when Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 for the first time and went on to what we know now to be 4 straight Nascar Championship very impressive.
• In 2007 the Daytona 500 was the first time Toyota was in the Daytona 500. Tony Stewart lead alot of that days race until he and Kurt Busch crashed in late race. Mark Martin led 26 laps and on the final lap he was passed at the start finish line by Kevin Harvick in a thrilling finish to the 500.
• The 2008 Daytona 500 once again proved to be a upset this was the 50th running of the 500. The first 150 laps went caution free, then in the closing laps Tony Stewart passed Jeff Burton to take the lead and hope to win his first 500 but once again on the final lap Kurt Busch gave Ryan Newman a great push to victory so he could win his first Daytona 500 in another thrilling finish.
• The 2009 Daytona ended early due to rain with 48 laps to go, and this time it was Matt Kenseth who was the 2003 Champion who won his first Daytona 500.

              The Daytona 500 is proven to be a thriller always and you never know who will win or what may happen so im sure 2010 will be no differ'ent. Speedweeks at Daytona is always my favorite time of the year and we should be in for some great racing once again, who will be the 2010 Daytona 500 champion, who will put there name on the Harley J Earl Daytona 500 and be a racing immortal and champion of the Great American Race? Tune in Sunday February 14 on fox to find out.