The First NASCAR Day of Christmas: A Win for the Number Three

Dale Earnhardt Jr's Nationwide Series win in the No. 3 Wrangler car at Daytona was one of the brightest moments of the year.

The buildup to the race was unprecedented and the event itself was fraught with emotional weight and fan expectations.

It could easily have gone very badly.

But in the end, Dale Jr. and his cousin Tony Eury, Jr. reunited once more to bring one of the most recognizable paint schemes, and the famous number in NASCAR history, back to Victory Lane.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime night. And it gave Junior Nation something to cheer about, in what was an otherwise lackluster season.

So as Dale Jr. fans dream of team "Earntarte" and how their driver will have a winning 2011, I wish you all Merry Christmas. 

The best present of all? The Daytona 500 is only fifty-six days away ...

The Boys Are Back in Town

Cup cars hit the new pavement at Daytona for the first time Wednesday.

For the first time since Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero 400 on July 3, race cars were back on track at Daytona International Speedway.

Eighteen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers kicked off the first day of a two-day Goodyear tire test on the new racing surface in advance of the 53rd annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 20.

The test was the first time race cars turned laps on the new asphalt of Daytona, which was repaved for only the second time in its history.

Among the drivers in attendance included:

· Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Mark Martin

· Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch

· Roush Fenway’s Matt Kenseth and David Ragan

· Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton and Paul Menard

·  Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya

· JTG Daugherty Racing’s Bobby Labonte

“It’s amazing the job that they did here,” said Gordon, a three-time Daytona 500 champion. “It’s really smooth. It’s got a lot of grip. I think we learned a tremendous amount by being here. Not only did we get a chance to really see what we’re going to be dealing with here in February for the Daytona 500, but it gets us prepared for the test coming up in January.”

“They smoothed out all the bumps,” said Earnhardt Jr., the 2004 Daytona 500 champion. “The track is real smooth. It’s got a lot of grip. The track reminds me a lot like Talladega was like when they first finished it.

“The racing during the drafting was exciting and I think it is going to be a good show, a more exciting show for the fans because the cars are going to stay real tight on each other throughout entire runs.”

The Goodyear tire test will wrap up Thursday and is open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.

Stewart Helps Out With Daytona Repave

Stewart holds up a core sample of  Daytona International
Speedway's original start/finish line asphalt.

Before heading to Talladega, Tony Stewart stopped by Daytona International Speedway today to help out with the track's repave project.

The driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet toured the track and joined DIS President Joie Chitwood III in painting the start/finish line.

Smoke also took a Camaro for a spin around turns three and four and into the tri-oval, in what may be the first "test" of the new racing surface.

“I got to rip through three and four and it’s not the same race track,” Stewart said.

“This place is going to have a totally new look and a totally new feel to the drivers and teams. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I can promise you that we are going to fill every square inch of this race track with cars now because we’re going to have that flexibility because this surface is going to be in such great shape when they get done with this last layer.”

The repave project is scheduled to be complete by Jan. 1, 2011.

Some NASCAR Sponsors Win Big With "Undercover Boss"

The NASCAR episode of  "Undercover Boss" which aired Sunday on CBS, wasn't just good PR for the sport.

It was also valuable air time for its sponsors.

According to research conducted by Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc., a Michigan-based firm which specializes in measuring sponsorships across all forms of media, 84 brands were monitored during the CBS reality show, accumulating a combined 29 minutes, 57 seconds of clear in-focus exposure time and an overall exposure value of $2.7 million.

Coca-Cola fared the best, due in large part to a segment in the show that depicted NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps operating a concession stand at Daytona International Speedway. Clad in a NASCAR hat and Coca-Cola apron, Phelps’ struggles to deep fry chicken strips and lure customers to the refreshment stand helped the soda brand achieve its primetime success without a race car or driver in sight.

The result?  Some entertaining television, and also more than $400 thousand worth of exposure time for Coca-Cola.

Below are the top 10 brands tracked during "Undercover Boss" - and how much their TV exposure was worth.

Coca-Cola  $437,390
Aaron's  $371,900
Sprint  $171,945
Goodyear $122,485
NAPA $112,600
Gatorade $103,630
Toyota  $97,815
Chevrolet $74,385
Tums $68,780
Eagle (Goodyear) $65,215

Tune in to "Undercover Boss" Sunday for a Different Look at NASCAR

There's a NASCAR doubleheader of sorts on tap for Sunday.

Not long after the checkered flag drops at Martinsville, another side of the sport will be featured on the CBS hit show "Undercover Boss."

Steve Phelps, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for NASCAR will go undercover with a pit crew, participate in an exhausting training session, and struggle to keep pace working alongside a ground's crew preparing for a race at Daytona International Speedway.

The NASCAR episode of "Undercover Boss" airs Sunday Oct. 24 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Below are a few photos from the show:

Photos courtesy of CBS

That Repave Keeps Rollin' Along

NASCAR driver Jeff Burton tries his hand at driving a Caterpillar grader
at Daytona International Speedway today.

I missed Jeff Burton's appearance at Daytona International Speedway by three days - but he and I can both testify that the repave is rolling along just fine.

I visited the track Sunday and saw the first layer of pavement being laid down firsthand.  Pit road has also been torn up and will be several feet wider by the Daytona 500. 

The first layer of pavement goes down on the high banks Sunday.

While I got to glimpse how the construction equipment actually stays on track's high banks without sliding to the apron (connected via strong cables and a truck on the outside of the wall), Burton was there to drive a Caterpillar grader and bury a time capsule with track president Joie Chitwood.

Some of the items placed in the time capsule were:

· Tickets from 2010 Daytona International Speedway events including the 52nd annual Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, the final race on the old asphalt

· Die-cast cars including Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet that won the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Burton’s No. 31 Caterpillar car

· Newspapers from the Daytona Beach News-Journal including their special Daytona Repave section

· Business card of Lane Construction’s John Rauer, the project manager on the Daytona Repave

· Sprint Blackberry phone

· Press releases, brochures and photos

“It’s really cool to be here,” said Burton, who added he would like to come back to Daytona someday to dig up the time capsule. “The history of this race track and the France family actually building this track with their own hands and (now) seeing it reconstructed, it’s pretty cool."

"This track is going to make racing incredible. What you’re going to see is three wide and two wide all the time. "


The target completion date for the repave is Jan 1, 2011.

Buy a Ticket for the Daytona 500 and Get a Piece of the Track

Daytona International Speedway is offering race fans the exclusive opportunity to purchase a ticket to witness history as well as receive a piece of history at the same time.

Beginning on Monday, Aug. 2 at 9 a.m. through midnight on Aug. 8, fans that purchase tickets for the 53rd annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 20 will automatically receive a portion of Daytona’s original asphalt.

Race fans that have renewed their 2011 DAYTONA 500 tickets or purchased between June 18 and Aug. 1 will also receive this offer, which is limited to one piece of asphalt per account holder.

“Since we began the historic Daytona repave project in early July, race fans have been asking how they can attain a piece of Daytona International Speedway’s asphalt,” Track President Robin Braig said. “This one-time offer will provide two of the most coveted items in motorsports – a piece of Daytona’s legendary asphalt as well as a ticket to the 2011 edition of ‘The Great American Race.’ ”

For only the second time in its history, Daytona International Speedway’s entire 2.5-mile tri-oval is being repaved as well as the skid pads, apron and pit road. Concrete is being used for the pit stalls. All of the existing asphalt is being removed down to the original 52-year-old lime rock base, which will be leveled and then paving will begin.

The repaving project, which is being performed by Lane Construction, began on July 5 and has a targeted date of completion of Jan. 1, 2011.

Race fans can view the progression of the historic repaving project from a section of the Oldfield Grandstands, which will open free to the public. Track tours will also be available through attraction admission to Daytona 500 Experience.

Daytona International Speedway also is posting updates on the project at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/repave and on Twitter and Facebook.

Nationwide Boys (and Girl) Might Steal the Daytona Show

The Coke Zero 400 is shaping up to be all sorts of good. 

Kyle Busch is already causing trouble.  He wrecked his teammate and erstwhile "frenemy" Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Reed Sorenson in the last few laps of Thursday's practice. 

Bobby Labonte will be making his 600th career start and his first appearance as a Cup race Grand Marshal.

And Goodyear has introduced specially designed tires to show NASCAR's support of the U.S. military.

But even with all the fireworks that are sure to explode on the Cup side, Friday's Subway Jalapeno 250 might steal its thunder.

In the category of a long time coming, the Nationwide Series is going back to the future as the newest evolution of the "pony cars" take to the track.  The new Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger will be long-awaited eye candy for those fans who have long lamented the lack of brand identity on race day.

And although Danica Patrick isn't on the entry list, another lady is - Jennifer Jo Cobb. Cobb, who has a number of ARCA, Truck and Nationwide starts to her credit, will drive the No. 27 Ford for owner Mike Curb.

Then there's the most photographed car in recent memory - the No. 3 Wrangler Chevy with Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel.  A throwback to one of his father's most famous paint schemes, the car is the result of a three-way partnership between JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Teresa Earnhardt.

Not surprisingly, fan response to this collaboration has been unreal. 

Michael Smith at the Sports Business Journal reports, "Wrangler No. 3 merchandise has accounted for eight of the NASCAR.com Superstore’s top 10 best-selling items and it has led all other driver categories in sales. Within 36 hours of the announcement, Superstore sold out of its second-highest-priced item, a special die-cast car that came in a limited edition of 333, priced at $89.99."

And Friday night under those Daytona lights, the famous No. 3 Wrangler car will receive a worthy salute.  Richard Childress Racing is requesting that all fans in attendance stand to their feet at the start of lap three and hold up three fingers for the entire lap.

Now how's the Cup race gonna top that?

NASCAR Drivers Campaign for Fan Votes

It's an election year again - a time when campaign ads are broadcast more often than reruns of "Law & Order".

And this week, even your favorite NASCAR drivers are getting in on the beg-for-votes action.

It's all part of the Coke Zero Fan 400, a race-within-a-race that allows fans to help their favorite Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers win by “liking” them on CokeZero.com. As drivers accumulate “votes” online they move up in the race standings.  Fans who vote for the winning driver will earn a chance to receive a free 20-ounce Coke Zero to celebrate the win. In addition, Coke Zero will donate $10,000 to the NASCAR Foundation on behalf of the winner of the online race.

Each member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family competing in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on Saturday also will participate in the Fan 400. Fans can begin voting for their favorite drivers on CokeZero.com today. Voting ends following the finish of the Coke Zero 400.

Check out Jeff Burton's campaign ad below. Some guys will promise anything for a vote ...

Stewart Takes 48,000 Fans Along For The Ride

More than 48 thousand fans will be riding along with Tony Stewart at the Coke Zero 400.

The “BK® Sign & Race” promotion, which launched May 20, provided fans with the opportunity to submit their personal signatures to be incorporated into the BK® logo on the hood of Stewart’s No. 14 Chevy via http://www.bksignandrace.com/.

More than 25,000 signatures were submitted within the first 48 hours of the site launch and due to the overwhelming response, capacity was added to accommodate more signatures.

Stewart's “fandorsed” No. 14 Burger King® Chevy can be seen during this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Coke Zero 400 race at Daytona International Speedway.  Smoke is the defending race champion.

Plus, from June 28 through July 7, an authentic No. 14 Burger King® car hood, autographed by Stewart and complete with the fan-endorsed Burger King® logo will be available for bids via an eBay auction page accessible through www.BKSignandRace.com.

All proceeds will support Burger King Corp’s Have It Your Way® Foundation.

Things Heat Up at Daytona

Hot laps and smokin' tires won't be the only things heating up Daytona International Speedway in July.

During the Coke Zero 400, the track wiill host the  the inaugural KCBS (Kansas City Barbeque Society)-sanctioned Daytona PITmasters Florida State BBQ Championship on Saturday, July 3.

Daytona PITmasters will feature more than 50 of the top BBQ competitors in America displaying their finest skills for a share of a $30,000 purse. The winner will represent Florida at the USA and World BBQ Championship.

Race fans will be able to sample barbecue at the competition area outside of the Frontstretch between the Sprint Tower and Turn 1 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday after the first round of judging. Sampling will continue until 4:30 p.m. No grandstand ticket is needed to attend the Daytona PITmasters.

In addition to traditional BBQ categories, the event will host a “BBQ Alley” for backyard grillers who want to learn more about smokers and the difference between barbecuing and backyard grilling.

For more information about the Daytona PITmasters Florida Barbeque Championship, visit http://www.smokeonthewaterbbq.com/ and for tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Hootie in the House at Daytona

I know his name is Darius Rucker, but he'll always be Hootie to me.

And Hootie seems to have the inside track when it comes to NASCAR. Fresh off what attendees say was a burn-the-house-down performance at the Jimmie Jam event in Charlotte this weekend, Daytona International Speedway announced today that Rucker will perform the National Anthem and a pre-race concert before the 52nd annual Coke Zero 400 on July 3.

Fans who purchase the Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race Pit Pass along with a race ticket for the Coke Zero 400 will be able to view the 60-minute Rucker concert and also driver introductions from the grass tri-oval.

It will be Rucker’s third appearance at Daytona. He performed at the “World Center of Racing” as the leader/singer of the Grammy-winning group “Hootie and the Blowfish” at the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert and returned for a solo appearance at the 2002 mid-summer classic.

Rucker kicked off his solo career in country music in 2008 with the platinum selling album “Learn To Love,” which produced No. 1 hit singles “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” “Alright” and the Top 5 “History In The Making.” A native of Charleston, S.C., Rucker garnered the Country Music Association’s Best New Artist Award in 2009.

A special ticket package has been designed around Rucker and includes a Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola race ticket, a Sprint FANZONE/Pre-Race Pit Pass and VIP area access to Rucker’s performance. This package starts at $110.

For tickets to the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

Tony Stewart Wants Your Autograph

When Tony Stewart takes the track at the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona, his car will be covered with the signatures of his fans.

Yours could be one of them.

The "BK Sign and Drive" promotion kicked off today. And it takes the fan car concept to a whole new level. Instead of merely getting your name on a race car (which is cool enough), this promotion gets your actual signature incorporated into the paint scheme. Just check out BKsignandrace.com or click the image below.

Another fun part of this promotion is that once you sign your name, you can zoom in on the BURGER KING® logo to see how your signatures will look on the car. You can also share a BK® Sign & Race image with your friends via Facebook, Twitter and e-mail.

And just one more thing, after the race in Daytona, fans will have the chance to take home a piece of history. Beginning June 28 through July 7, an authentic No. 14 BURGER KING® car hood, complete with the fan-endorsed BURGER KING® logo, will be available via an online auction through BKSignandRace.com. All proceeds of the auction will support Burger King Corp.’s HAVE IT YOUR WAY® Foundation, the charitable arm of the BURGER KING® brand, which is committed to providing philanthropic support in communities around the globe.

So log on and sign away!

New Nationwide Cars Look Good, But How Do They Handle?

Two days of testing at Daytona International Speedway came to an end today.  A slew of Nationwide drivers were trying out the series' new "car of tomorrow" which makes its racing debut in the Subway Jalapeno 250 on July 2.

The verdict is in - the new Mustangs and Challengers look sweet. But they (Camry and Impala included) drive kinda crazy.

Per Carl Edwards, "If we can get the cars tuned a little better, if we can spend the rest of today getting the balance better and then maybe that test day or that practice day on Wednesday before we come and work on the cars a little more, hopefully they'll be a little bit more predictable."

“But right now it's wild. Brendan Gaughan and I were talking, it's like the 2003 Truck race when it was my first one, and they're just a handful. So it's going to be pretty exciting," Edwards said.

Diamond Waltrip Racing's Trevor Bayne had the same take, "I heard all the drivers in the garage, even Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, saying things are loose, so I'm like, ‘All right, they must be pretty loose’ and I got out there and saw for myself, and they are sideways."

Fastest in the Wednesday afternoon drafting session was Reed Sorenson in the No. 32 Toyota at a speed of 187.817 mph. Rounding out the top five were Kevin Harvick (186.928), Mike Wallace (186.170), Bayne (186.035) and Kyle Busch (186.027).

Photo info: Paul Menard and Justin Allgaier test the new Nationwide Car of Tomorrow at Daytona International Speedway, couresty of Daytona International Speedway.

Friday Night Mash Up

Brad Keselowski goes two for two

Keselowski may stick in your craw, but at the end of the day Bad Brad gets it done.

Judging from the sound bytes of his peers and the on-track retaliation of Carl Edwards, Keselowski doesn't have too many BFFs in the garage.  And there's also a core group of NASAR fans who don't appreciate his checkers or wreckers style. 

But say what you will about ol' Brad. During the past two weeks Keselowski has shown he can win without causing the big one.

Tonight, what looked like a major screwup on live TV ended up giving Team Brad the win. When Paul Menard caused a caution with six laps to go, the No. 22 took four tires, giving up the first place spot. Meanwhile, the lurker Kyle Busch stayed out and gained P1, causing even the ESPN broadcasters to predict a Kyle Busch victory.

And that's what's so great about NASCAR. The probable doesn't always happen.  And even the most logical of predictions don't always come true.

Keselowski ended up scrambling for the win, passing Kyle Busch and a few other contenders with seeming ease. And after last week's Talladega victory, he's positioned to vie for his first Nationwide championship.

Maybe it's good to be Bad Brad after all ...

What's next - the plague?

Mother Nature seems to be toying with NASCAR this season.  It all began with pre-season snowfall at Daytona International Speedway.  There was rain at Martinsville. Rain at Texas. Tornadoes near Talladega.  And today's news?  An earthquake at Richmond no less.

Troublesome conditions seem to follow the NASCAR circuit like the National Enquirer follows Dale Jr. 

Makes you wonder what's next for Darlington - a plague of locusts?

Speaking of Dale Jr.

Thanks to the folks at DEI for forwarding the below pix of yesterday's big announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 3 Wrangler Chevy at Daytona in July.

Today, Junior talked to the press at Richmond International Raceway about how he feels about driving the car ... and whether or not there's any truth to the National Enquirer's story about his (ahem) alleged indiscretion.

Regarding the No. 3 car:

"At first, I was uncomfortable about it initially but the more I kind of see everybody together and the car itself and stuff like that, the more I get excited about it and the more I am happy about doing it. I wouldn’t want to do anything to upset anybody, the fans or anything like that. I feel like I do a good job of staying within the guidelines of respect and taste regarding my Father and what he accomplished and his fans and all that stuff.”

And about that Enquirer article accusing Junior of breaking up a marriage?

“We’ve been in there (the National Enquirer) a lot. I don’t know why we keep popping up in there. I guess we are relevant in some realm. You learn a lot of new stuff about yourself that you never knew before.”

“There is no truth to that particular story or any of the other ones for that matter if we want to set the record straight.”

“The Enquirer is pretty creative. I have to hand it to them.”

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Dale Jr's No. 3 Wrangler Tribute - Smartest Business Move of the Year

Today's announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet at Daytona this summer may have been the worst-kept secret in all of NASCAR.

But the lack of shock value at the car's unveiling didn't seem to matter to the tried-and-true Earnhardt fans watching the live webcast streamed by DEI this afternoon.

If online chatter is any barometer, Earnhardt  fans and Junior Nation alike were thrilled to the gills about Dale the younger driving his father's famous number (and the old-school paint scheme) on the Daytona asphalt. Many watching the web cast commented they had already pre-ordered the diecast, t-shirts and other merchandise that will be available as part of the special car's promotion.

It's just such fan reaction that will make this unexpected collaboration between the oft-maligned Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Jr. and Richard Childress go down as racing's smartest business move in 2010.

Let's face it. Ticket sales are down. Merchandise sales stink. Fans have less income and are highly particular about how they spend it. In this economy, you have to offer spectacular product to make big bucks.

And with the Daytona race coming on the heels of Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, nobody could argue that the No. 3 Wrangler tribute, and all that when into making it happen, is pretty darn spectacular.

Per the offical Daytona International Speedway press release -

The legendary No. 3 car with Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind the wheel will be returning to the historic high banks of Daytona International Speedway in the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Friday, July 2.

"The No. 3 car has always been a favorite among our race fans here at Daytona,” said Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig. “Having Dale Earnhardt Jr. competing at the ‘World Center of Racing’ with the storied No. 3 will be an exciting moment that all race fans will want to witness in person.”

Tickets for the race are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Photo: The Earnhardts and Richard Childress pose with the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet which Dale Jr. will drive this July at Daytona, from @MikeDavis88 via Twitter.

Headed to Bristol? There's an App for That

The folks who published Liz Allison's latest book - "The Ultimate NASCAR Insider's Track Guide" - have developed a few new iPhone apps designed to help fans make the most of their race experience.

From dining and shopping to lodging and tips for getting driver autographs, each app covers a lot of ground at the tracks of Bristol, Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Fontana. The home screen features an outline of the track layout - click on a car to get to listings of restaurants, hotels, and area attractions. There is a how-to for ticket purchasing, tips on what you can [and can’t] bring in to the grandstands, instructions for using a garage area access pass, and more.

The app also includes a section on what to do in case of an emergency, whether it’s you or your four-legged friend. All phone numbers will automatically dial when clicked for any establishment listed [iPhone only].

There's a separate app for each track listed above - and each one can be downloaded for 99 cents each.

Will the Real Kyle Busch Please Stand Up?

Either Kyle Busch is a master a cultivating a bad boy image, or he's trying his darndest to win over more NASCAR fans in 2010.

Because it's become pretty clear since Daytona that Rowdy has been making it a point to be, well, super nice.

During pre-race festivities at the Bud Shootout, I noticed that Busch went out of his way to sign autographs for fans, even though he had just been heartily booed at driver introductions.

And then Busch joined Twitter. And instead of unleashing a torrent of smack (which I was expecting, nay hoping, to see) he starts by responding to fans' inquiries with utmost politeness, sharing his feelings about his engagement to Samantha Sarcinella and chatting with his buddy Scott Speed.

So here's my question.

Was Busch merely fooling his detractors all along by playing up his villainesque persona, or are witnessing a concerted effort by Joe Gibbs Racing's public relations arm to improve his rowdy-round-the-edges image?  The crew at JGR hinted it may be a least partly orchestrated, when they asked, via Twitter, what folks thought of Busch now that they could read his Tweets.

However, the beau geste came on Sunday, in a genius move which did much to endear Busch to the greater NASCAR nation. Busch tweeted before the Fontana race that he would give away the sunglasses he wore during his previous evening's Nationwide win to the person who could find the glasses first.

And the Joe Gibbs Racing folks were quick to point out that this generous, fan-friendly giveway was all Kyle's idea.

Guess we'll have to wait a few races to find out if this Kyle Busch is for real ... or not.

Photo: Kyle Busch signs autographs for fans before the Bud Shootout earlier this month

Sights and Sounds from Daytona

The Daytona 500 was one long race day. But when fans weren't waiting around for pothole repair, there was plenty to see and do. Below are some of my favorite photos and videos from Daytona 500 weekend. Enjoy!

Sign-waving fans line the Speed TV stage before the race.






Kyle Petty autographs Home Depot hard hats before the Raceday broadcast.



Kenny Wallace gets race fans pumped up for the 500.


Ryan Newman's No. 39 car on the starting grid.




Jeff Gordon chats with folks in the garage area before the race.






Clint Bowyer hanging out pre-race.





Mark Martin's pole-winning No. 5 Godaddy.com Chevy in the garage.

Joey Logano's No. 20 rolls through.




Dale Earnhardt Jr's second-place No. 88




What to do during pothole repair? Take pix of the Daytona sunset.






It's iPhone quality, but here's a couple minutes of Dale Jr's interview on the Chevy Stage before the race.

Junior Nation - the Real Winner at Daytona

Dale Earnhardt Jr. came in second at the Daytona 500. But you'd never know it

His breath-holding, hard-charging finish was more than a shot in the arm for Junior Nation. It led to a fever-pitched revival that made his fans yell for joy, hug each other in the stands and grin from ear-to-ear long after the race was over.

As Junior crossed the finish line, fans in the superstretch grandstand were hollering and waving their hats in excitement. Then, as the No. 88 came 'round the track after the finish, folks rushed to the fence to applaud their approbation. The true Nation diehards even stayed in their seats 'til Junior's post-race interview played on the Jumbotron.

Can you imagine what would've happened if Junior had actually won? The place might have imploded.

And on the long trek back to the car, the comments you overheard weren't about race winner Jamie McMurray. It was all Junior.

"I told ya he could drive!"

"Did you see that car comin' to the front? All he needed was one more lap."

"Man alive, it was good to see the 88 running good."

You get the picture.

It looks like, at least for this race, Dale Jr. has put last year's misery behind him. And, more importantly, he's given the Nation a big fat reason to hope.

Which is why there were actually two winners at Daytona on Sunday.

McMurray was just one of them.