Daytona Nationwide Race 2012: Start Time, Entry List, Schedule and Preview

The prelude to the “Great American Race” features plenty of younger drivers with the skills to become the next Tony Stewart. Winning the Nationwide version of the Daytona 500 can launch careers and create stars.

One driver that doesn’t need any help in the popularity department is Danica Patrick. While all eyes will be on her performance Sunday, the signs of real progress will come at the Nationwide series. As her crew chief Tony Eury Jr. puts it, “The first 10 races are everything for her.” She made some real improvements during the Nationwide Series last year and now the pressure is on to get even better.

Everybody expects Patrick to struggle at the beginning of her NASCAR Sprint Cup career, but Danica needs to show progress on Saturday’s to show she is capable of competing with the cream of the crop.

A win at Daytona on Saturday would certainly help.

Start Time: 12:15 p.m. EST, Saturday, Feb. 25th, ESPN2

Entry List

Landon Cassill	Cedar Rapids, IA	Chevrolet	Phoenix Construction	James Finch
01	Mike Wallace	St. Louis, MO	Chevrolet	G&K Services
2	Elliott Sadler	Emporia, VA	Chevrolet	OneMain Financial
4	Tony Stewart	Rushville, IN	Chevrolet	Oreo / Ritz
5	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Kannapolis, NC	Chevrolet	Hellmann’s
05	David Starr	Houston, TX	Chevrolet	31-W Insulation
6	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Olive Branch, MS	Ford	Blackwell Angus Beef
7	Danica Patrick	Roscoe, IL	Chevrolet	GoDaddy.com
09	Kenny Wallace	St. Louis, MO	Toyota	University of Northwestern Ohio
11	Brian Scott	Boise, ID	Toyota	Shore Lodge
12	Sam Hornish Jr.	Bryan, OH	Dodge	Penske Racing
14	Eric McClure	Chilhowie, VA	Chevrolet	Hefty BlackOut
15	Todd Bodine	Chemung, NY	Toyota	Tire Kingdom / Valvoline
16	Trevor Bayne	Knoxville, TN	Ford	Ford. Drive one.
18	Kyle Busch	Las Vegas, NV	Toyota	Z-Line Designs
19	Mike Bliss	Milwaukie, OR	Chevrolet	TriStar Motorsports
20	Joey Logano	Middletown, CT	Toyota	GameStop
22	Brad Keselowski	Rochester Hills, MI	Dodge	Discount Tire
23	Robert Richardson Jr.	McKinney, TX	Dodge	Wildlife Conservation Society
24	Kevin Lepage	Shelburne, VT	Ford	RaceDaySponsor.com
25	Kelly Bires	Mauston, WI	Ford	RaceDaySponsor.com
27	J.R. Fitzpatrick	Cambridge, Ontario	Ford	Schick Hydro / Energizer Canada
28	Derrike Cope	Spanaway, WA	Chevrolet	ThePrevention Plan.com
30	Jason Leffler	Long Beach, CA	Chevrolet	AccuDoc Solutions
31	Justin Allgaier	Riverton, IL	Chevrolet	Brandt
32	Reed Sorenson	Peachtree City, GA	Chevrolet	Dollar General
33	Clint Bowyer	Emporia, KS	Chevrolet	Rheem Heating, Cooling & Water Heating
38	Kasey Kahne	Enumclaw, WA	Chevrolet	Great Clips
39	Josh Wise	Riverside, CA	Ford	Cajun Industries
40	Scott Wimmer	Wausau, WI	Chevrolet	Key Motorsports
44	Jeff Green	Owensboro, KY	Chevrolet	TriStar Motorsports
51	Jeremy Clements	Spartanburg, SC	Chevrolet	RaceDaySponsor.com
52	Bobby Santos	Franklin, MA	Chevrolet	Target Your Market Promotions
55	Brett Rowe	Barboursville WV	Chevrolet	Imperial Bedding Company
60	Carl Edwards	Columbia, MO	Ford	Fastenal
62	Michael Annett	Des Moines, IA	Toyota	Pilot Flying J Coffee
66	Steve Wallace	Mooresville, NC	Toyota	5-Hour Energy
70	Shelby Howard	Greenwood, IN	Chevrolet	Foretravel Motorcoach
79	Jennifer Jo Cobb	Kansas City, KS	Ford	Rimrock Design
81	Donnie Neuenberger	Brandywine, MD	Dodge	Eagle Convenience Stores
87	Joe Nemechek	Lakeland, FL	Toyota	DAB Constructors
88	Aric Almirola	Tampa, FL	Chevrolet	Grand Touring Vodka
89	Morgan Shepherd	Conover, NC	Chevrolet	Salvation Army
99	Michael Waltrip

Schedule

Thursday: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona (60 laps-150 miles) 2:00 p.m. EST

Friday: NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 Qualifying (Two laps, all positions) 1:05 p.m. EST

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) 7:30 p.m. EST 

Saturday: NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 (120 laps, 300 miles) 12:15 p.m. EST

Sunday: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 (200 laps, 500 miles) 1:00 p.m. EST

Preview

If last year was an omen, then every Nationwide driver is going to be doing everything they can to win on Saturday. Last year’s Nationwide winner at Daytona was Tony Stewart, who went on to win the Sprint Cup series.

Danica won’t be the only female fans will be paying attention to. Nineteen-year-old Johanna Long will be making her Nationwide debut as she plans to race in 21 of the 33 races throughout the season. She will become the youngest women to ever compete on any level of the NASCAR circuits.

Other notable drivers joining the festivities are Dale Earnhardt Jr., Stewart, Kyle Busch, Treveror Bayne and Carl Edwards.