Kenseth Wins Bizarre Daytona 500

Poor Matt Kenseth. 

Matt Kenseth wins the Daytona 500.

The Best Buy Ford driver fended off late-race advances from Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Greg Biffle and Denny Hamlin early Tuesday morning to claim his second career Daytona 500 championship. And when it was over, people were talking about everything but him.

Kenseth’s victory -- the kind of understated, workmanlike effort that has characterized his NASCAR career -- came in the aftermath of the most bizarre race in Daytona 500 history. When people look back on Speedweeks 2012, they’ll remember a maddening rainout that delayed the race for the first time in its 54-year history, a horrifying caution-flag crash that immolated a track jet dryer and delayed the race’s finale by more than two hours and… oh yes… Kenseth.

Delayed more than 36 hours by a steady rain that enveloped the entire state of Florida, the Daytona 500 finally took the green flag just after 7 pm ET Monday; under the lights for the first time in the event’s storied history. Unfortunately, NASCAR’s first “Prime Time 500” was forced into infomercial territory by a bizarre incident with 40 laps remaining that stretched the bounds of believability.

Montoya's Third Turn Inferno

Under caution for David Stremme’s blown engine, Juan Pablo Montoya was hustling to catch the tail of the field when a mechanical failure sent his Target Chevrolet careening out of control and into the back of a jet dryer that was blowing debris from the track surface in Turn Three. The impact split the jet dryer’s fuel tank, igniting 200 gallons of jet fuel and sending a mushroom cloud of flame billowing into the night sky. Both Montoya and the driver of the jet dryer scrambled away without injury, but the inferno melted the demolished equipment into the race track, necessitating a two hour, five minute red flag while track crews extinguished the blaze, washed down the racing surface with a mixture of water and household laundry detergent and returned the track to raceable condition. 

“Tide… tough enough to clean Daytona International Speedway and your boxer shorts.” 

"It was bizarre," said Earnhardt, who waited out the delay before coming up a car length short in a bid to end his 1,351-day, 129-race Sprint Cup winless streak. "It was frustrating. Nothing like I've ever seen at a racetrack before."

The checkered flag finally fell at 12:56 am ET; long after most fans had drifted off to sleep; blissfully unaware of the insanity that had erupted around them. "When you think you have seen it all, (racing) finds a way to show you something you never thought you'd see," said Brad Keselowski during the stoppage. "And that's the case today in the Daytona 500."

Photo Credits: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images, Andrew Weber/US Presswire

UPDATE: Weather Improving at Daytona

As of 1:15 PM ET, the rain has stopped here at Daytona International Speedway and patches of blue sky have begun to appear among the clouds. The weather radar says he may still encounter a shower or two, but track dryers are at work, and things are looking much more promising for tonight’s rescheduled running of the Daytona 500, set to take green just after 7 PM.

Daytona 500 Now Set For 7 PM Monday

The 54^th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway start time has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. ET today. Tickets for Sunday’s race will be honored at that time. Additional tickets will also be on sale at the gate or the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.

The National Weather Service forecasts the steady rain that has fallen since yesterday to continue at least into the mid-afternoon hours. Given that, NASCAR and the speedway have elected not to keep a beleaguered – yet determined – group of race fans waiting in the rain all day, with virtually no hope of a race. Better to call off the dogs until 7 PM, before reconvening for another attempt when the forecast is better.

Romney Visits Daytona Pre-Race

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a campaign visit to Daytona International Speedway Sunday, just hours before the annual Daytona 500 and two days removed from an important primary battle in Michigan. 

Vickers and Romney toured Daytona

Surrounded by a protective cadre of Secret Service agents, Romney circulated through the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage as teams prepared for the first race of the 2012 season, shaking hands and posing for photos with team members and fans before addressing a large crowd at the pre-race driver’s meeting. He spoke at length with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing co-owners Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates, and was accompanied for much of his visit by driver Brian Vickers, who is still seeking a ride for the 2012 season.  

“I’m a supporter of his, and I like his policies,” said Vickers, amid rumors that he is lobbying the Romney campaign to back a possible Sprint Cup bid this season. Rival Rick Santorum is sponsoring Tony Raines and the No. 26 Front Row Motorsports Ford in the Daytona 500. Asked if he would be rooting against Raines Sunday, Romney laughed, “I hope all the cars have a good race.”

The Republican frontrunner said his Daytona visit was less a campaign appearance and more “a sign of a guy who loves cars. (Daytona) has always been a place where American cars have shined,” he said. “(There is) a long history from Daytona being connected with Detroit, Detroit cars and the spirit of America.

“I appreciate the spirit of the men and women that are driving today,” said Romney. “This is a chance to look at the determination and great qualities of the human spirit. This is quintessentially American. I love what you’re doing, I’m happy to be here today (and I) wish you all the very best and God bless this great nation of ours.”

Rain Postpones Daytona 500

For the first time in its 54-year history, the Daytona 500 was postponed by rain today at Daytona International Speedway. The race has been rescheduled for Monday at noon, ET. All tickets for Sunday’s race will be honored Monday, with additional seats on sale at the gate or the Daytona International Speedway ticket office.

The race will air on FOX Sports, Motor Racing Network radio affiliates and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio, beginning at noon.

It was a damp day at Daytona.

Roush Fenway Racing driver Greg Biffle, who will start on the outside pole tomorrow alongside teammate Carl Edwards, took the postponement in stride, saying, “I guess I’m going to have to win the first Monday Daytona 500. I was optimistic that this weather was going to get out of here and we would get this thing going, but I’ll just have to save my energy for tomorrow.

“I’m just excited,” said the 3M Ford driver. “I’m still on the front row.  Hopefully, the weather is better tomorrow.  I know a lot of race fans are disappointed, but we just hope they tune in tomorrow.  It’ll be a great race.”

Shell/Pennzoil Dodge driver AJ Allmendinger said the delay was frustrating, adding, “Obviously, you want to go race.” He said he does not expect any major changes in the race track due to rain, saying, “Obviously it’ll be a little bit cooler, so that’s going to (create) a little bit more grip on the racetrack. When it was hot out, it actually slickened up a little bit (and) handling became an issue.  I don’t think the track is going to be very different.  All it did was wash off all the oil dry from all the wrecks from the last two days.”

Biffle said the excitement of starting on the outside pole will make for another sleepless night tonight. “It’s more frustrating knowing that we have a good car. We’re starting on the front row of the Daytona 500 and I feel like we can win this race. To put it on hold makes it tough for a driver because there’s all kinds of adrenaline, and then you have to try to sleep tonight. This is a tough situation and something that we don’t ever wish (for), but it can always happen.  It can snow.  It can rain.  It can freeze.  Anything can happen, but we’ll just have to hurry up and wait.

“I have a good feeling we’ll have enough window tomorrow to get it in.”

Santorum To Sponsor Front Row Motorsports

Politicians long ago identified the value of so-called “Soccer Moms.” Now, at least one candidate for President is reaching out to the NASCAR fan.

The Rick Santorum for President campaign will sponsor Front Row Motorsports' No. 26 Ford Fusion in tomorrow’s 54^th running of the Daytona 500, attempting to reach potential voters among the millions of fans tuning in to the Great American Race. Veteran driver Tony Raines will be behind the wheel of the No. 26 Ford after qualifying on speed for the starting field last Sunday.

Santorum bids for NASCAR fans

The Republican candidate's campaign messaging will be on the hood and quarter panels of Raines' Ford Fusion for Sunday's season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The former U.S. Senator looks to draw more attention to his "Made-in-the-USA" platform as he heads into the February 28 Michigan primary election.

"NASCAR and the Daytona 500 are about as American as you can get and it's great to have my campaign represented by one of these incredible machines," said Santorum. "The race weekend is a wonderful tradition that we're excited to be a part of as we spread our message. I like how Tony Raines turned some heads last weekend with his qualifying run and we'd like to keep turning heads, too. I think we're both looking for a win in the end."

With the Santorum campaign coming aboard the No. 26 Ford, Front Row Motorsports will have three sponsored entries in Sunday's Daytona 500.

"We're glad to partner with the Santorum campaign," said team owner Bob Jenkins. "We know there will be millions of eyes on these cars on Sunday and we know we can help get their message out. It's a pretty tight battle for the Republican nomination right now, and the former Senator is right in the thick of it. We hope we're in the thick of it come Sunday out on the racetrack, too."

Stremme Inks Daytona Sponsor

After time-trailing their way into the Daytona 500 field last week, David Stremme and Inception Motorsports now have a new partner. JEGS.com announced today that it will sponsor Stremme's #30 Toyota in the “Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway. 

Stremme flies the JEG'S colors

The sponsorship is an extension of Stremme's relationship with JEGS through Cody Coughlin, grandson of JEGS founder Jeg Coughlin, Sr. The younger Coughlin is currently racing Late Model Stock Cars, and Stremme is helping the youngster race his way up the short-track ladder. 

"I like Cody," said Stremme. "I met his mom, Di, and dad John at the Snowball Derby and we hit it off. Cody is very well-rounded, and he's got great teachers in Gary St. Amant and Butch VanDoorn. Gary helped me a lot in my career, and we've already seen what Butch can do with Cody during this year's Speedweeks with a couple of poles and some top-five finishes at the 46th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. I'm trying to help Cody in any way I can." 

Stremme made it in the Daytona 500 field in last Sunday's qualifying, turning a lap at 191.963 mph. He'll start the race from the 42nd position, flying JEGS.com colors. 

"We have a really good shot at running well," Stremme said. "We're kind of underdogs in a way, but we were able to out-qualify some really big teams. We had to have a different agenda leading up to the 500 than other teams. But Sunday, I think we'll be able to show how hard my team has worked and hopefully get a really good result to start the season."