Daytona 500 Winners

Bill Sullivan — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:05:51 +0000

NASCAR is the only sport that starts the season with its biggest event. The tradition-rich Daytona 500 is the NASCAR Super Bowl, drawing the year’s highest TV ratings and some of the most boisterous crowds.

That puts considerable pressure on drivers and teams to hit the track running with the fastest cars, nimblest crews and most competitive drivers. Seasons can be made or broken before the circuit leaves Florida.

Who has been most ready to break from the gate early?

Here are your last 10 Daytona 500 champions, with average speed, money won, and car type:

2009 — Matt Kenseth (Race shortened to 152 laps by rain)

2008 — Ryan Newman, 152.762 mph, $1,506,040 (Dodge)

2007 — Kevin Harvick, 149.336 mph, $1,510,469 (Chevrolet)

2006 — Jimmie Johnson, 142.667 mph, $1,505,124 (Chevrolet)

2005 — Jeff Gordon, 135.173 mph, $1,497,154 (Chevrolet)

2004 — Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 156.345 mph, $1,495,070 (Chevrolet)

2003 – Michael Waltrip, 161,783 mph, $1,331,185 (Chevrolet)

2002 — Ward Burton, 142.971 mph, $1,409,017 (Dodge)

2001 — Michael Waltrip, 161.783 mph, $1,331,185 (Chevrolet)

2000 — Dale Jarrett, 155.669 mph, $1,277,975 (Ford)

Source: Daytonainternationalspeedway.com

Final 2008 Sprint Cup standings

Bill Sullivan — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:28:39 +0000

Jimmie Johnson won a third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2008, joining Cale Yarborough as the only two drivers to accomplish the feat.

Here are the final Sprint Cup standings:

1. Jimmie Johnson: 6,684 points

2. Carl Edwards: 69 back

3. Greg Biffle: -217

4. Kevin Harvick: -276

5. Clint Bowyer: -303

6. Jeff Burton: -349

7. Jeff Gordon: -368

8. Denny Hamlin: -470

9. Tony Stewart: -482

10. Kyle Busch: -498

11. Matt Kenseth: -500

12. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: -557

GetListy » Kevin Harvick

Daytona 500 Winners

Final 2008 Sprint Cup standings