Harvick passed Trevor Bayne on lap 37 to take the lead of Duel 1. He led the remaining 23 laps.

Danica Patrick, who will start the 500 from the pole, played it safe and dropped to the back early on to ensure her car would not sustain damage.

Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jimmie Johnson, and Kurt Busch rounded out the top 5 of Duel 1.

The first duel was relatively uneventful until lap 52 when Denny Hamlin appeared to get loose and bumped Carl Edwards.  Edwards was turned into the wall triggering a multi-car accident that damaged the cars of Hamlin, Edwards, Trevor Bayne, and Regan Smith.

Kyle Busch used a fuel-only pit stop at lap 41 to take the lead coming off pit road. He ran most of the remaining laps with teammate Matt Kenseth behind him. But, with two laps to go, Kasey Kahne and Austin Dillon were able to pass Kenseth. They couldn’t mount a charge to pass Busch, though.

Busch said after the race that the original plan was to take two tires, but his crew chief made the call to go fuel-only.

Kahne, Dillon, Clint Bowyer, and Kenseth finished second through fifth, respectively.

Jeff Gordon, who will start the 500 on the front row, led the first 40 laps of Duel 2, before a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road ended his chances of winning the duel.

Martin Truex Jr, who ran in the lead pack for most of Duel 2, was black-flagged for losing a side window. He finished 19th. Mike Bliss also had to make a pit stop to fix his window net, which came down. That cost him a chance at making the Daytona 500. Brian Keselowski was the only other driver who did not qualify for the race.

Busch said after the race, “To beat your arch nemesis, that’s just icing on the cake.  It’s pretty sweet.”  He moved up five positions in standings, to fourth position.  Busch is just nine points behind leader Kevin Harvick, currently tied with Tony Stewart.

I think critics overlook Busch as a championship contender because of his recent erratic behavior and rivalry with Jimmie Johnson; however he has finished in the Top-10 in four of the last five races and has been consistent all season long.  If he can control his temper and keep his head in the game, I believe he will be a top contender for the Sprint Cup title.

Rough Day For Chase Contenders

Tony Stewart told media that Dover would be a tough race for his team, and he predicted it correctly.  Stewart started the race in 28th position and finished the race in 25th, two laps down.  If you look at statistics for Stewart at Dover, he has finished 21st or worse in the past three races, so his struggles at the Monster Mile in this race weren’t a shock.  His bad day cost him the points lead, dropping him to third place in standings.

Luck was not on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s side at Dover.  He started the race in 21st position and looked as if he had a competitive racecar.  Shortly after the first caution of the race, Earnhardt realized on the restart that something wasn’t right with the car.  He was forced to pit with a broken sway bar.  This put him back in 41st position, racing three other drivers for the Lucky Dog.  On the competition caution on Lap 40, Earnhardt received the Lucky Dog and rallied back to 15th position by Lap 190.

Unfortunately, his bad luck didn’t stop there.   Dale Jr was forced to pit on Lap 271 for a loose wheel, putting him two laps down.  This relegated Earnhardt to a 24th place finish, two laps down.  He is now 10th place in standings, 34 points behind the leader.  Does this eliminate Junior for the championship?  I wouldn’t count him out just yet.  He has good statistics at many of the races left in the season, and has plenty of time to make it up. But, it certainly doesn’t bode well for him.

Brad Keselowski and his Penske Racing team struggled throughout the race, leaving them with a 20th place finish.  Just after Lap 250, Keselowski came down pit road after running over debris, forcing the team to replace the power steering belt.  Keselowski eventually fell two laps down behind the leaders, leaving him racing for the Lucky Dog position.

With 48 laps to go, Mike Bliss crashed down the backstretch, bringing out the caution.  Keselowski was in the Lucky Dog position, gaining one of his laps back.  Shortly after that, caution came out again with 40 to go, getting him back on the lead lap.  Keselowski doesn’t have good statistics at Dover, with an average finish of 17th position.  I think the No. 2 team can shake this off and will be back at the top of the standings before we know it.

Points Standings Leaving Dover

With Stewart’s misfortune and Harvick’s Top-10 finish, Harvick is now tied with Carl Edwards for the points lead.  Stewart dropped two spots to third position, tied with Kurt Busch.  Johnson, finishing the race in second position, gained five positions in points to fifth place.  After a rough day for Keselowski, he has fallen three positions to sixth place, 14 points behind the leader.  Matt Kenseth is tied with Keselowski in seventh position.  Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon both dropped positions, leaving them in eighth and ninth position, respectively.  Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ryan Newman, and Denny Hamlin round out the Top 12.

There are just seven races left in the season with many opportunities for the point’s standings to be shaken up once again.  We head to Kansas Speedway next weekend for the Hollywood Casino 400.  Tune into ESPN on Sunday to watch the action unfold.

Bliss said:

It feels good to finalize my plans for the 2011 season by joining the TriStar Motorsports team and to be reunited with Mark [Smith] and Dave [Fuge]. In 2002, Dave and I won the [Camping World] Truck[ Series] championship with Mark’s engines under the hood. All of us have high expectations for the upcoming season with TriStar.

Team owner Mark Smith said:

Adding Mike to our team, along with Eric [McClure], is another step in the right direction. I believe that we have put together a great group of people at TriStar and I only see great things on the horizon. The guys on the team are working hard on building our fleet of new cars for the upcoming season. We are working on finishing up some sponsorship programs with Bliss and we think 2011 will be a huge step in the development of TriStar Motorsports.

Curtis Aldridge, crew chief for Jay Robinson Racing’s no 49 and driver Mark Green, was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through the end of the calendar year for violating Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules) and 20A-2.3A (improperly attached weight) of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rule Book.

Gray Showatler, crew chief for Key Motorsports’ No. 40 and driver Mike Bliss, was fined $5,000 for violating Sections 12-1, 12-4-J and 20A-5.10.1B(3) (venturi height was not dimensionally correct).

The violations on the No. 40 were found during opening day inspection, while the violations on the No. 49 were found during practice on Thursday.

In related news, Key Motorsports is working to field a second car for at least five races this Nationwide Series season. The team is talking to potential drivers and partners and is planning to run the No. 46.

Another caution for a wreck set up a three-lap run to the finish. Ron Fellows took third from Brendan Gaughan. Villeneuve attempted to chase down Edwards. But, Villeneuve had body damage and a tire rub. He began to slip back with a mechanical issue. He finished 25th.

Top 5: Edwards, Fellows, Brendan Gaughan, Brad Keselowski and Owen Kelly.

Brad Coleman, JR Fitzpatrick, Jason Leffler, Steve Wallace, and Trevor Bayne rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Colin Braun (11th), Ron Hornaday (12th), Tayler Malsam (15th), Paul Menard (16th), Kenny Wallace (21st), Jacques Villeneuve (25th), Ricky Stenhouse (26th), and Justin Allgaier (35th).

An eleven-car pileup brought out the red flag on lap 29. The wreck started when Brian Scott got turned in the corner. It looked like Brendan Gaughan got into the back of him. Some cars slowed to avoid hitting him, stacking up the field.

Mike Bliss stopped to avoid hitting Michael McDowell and Alex Kennedy. Kennedy ended up in the kitty litter. Mike Wallace slowed to avoid hitting Bliss, while Tony Raines slowed to avoid hitting Wallace. Robb Brent slammed into Raines, who slammed into Wallace.

Then, Colin Braun made contact with Brent, turning him. Stanton Barrett turned to avoid them and ended up in the kitty litter. Kyle Kelley then hit Braun. The race was red-flagged for cleanup.

On the third and final attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Harvick pushed McMurray ahead of the pack, making it a two-car race for the win. Coming off of Turn 4, Harvick made a move to the inside and beat McMurray in a drag race to the finish line.

Top 5: Harvick, McMurray, Juan Montoya, Denny Hamlin, and Mark Martin.

David Ragan, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, and Mike Bliss rounded out the top 10.

Notables: Carl Edwards (11th), Martin Truex Jr (12th), Dale Earnhardt Jr (13th), David Reutimann (14th), Tony Stewart (16th), Greg Biffle (17th), Kasey Kahne (21st), Jeff Gordon (22nd), Matt Kenseth (28th), Brian Vickers (29th), Jimmie Johnson (31st), Jeff Burton (32nd), Brad Keselowski (34th), Ryan Newman (35th), Joey Logano (36th), and Michael Waltrip (39th).

Give a call to Mike Bliss, who posted a top 10 finish in Phoenix Racing’s No. 09 Chevy. That team lost its sponsor before the season started. And, about two weeks ago, the team parted ways with driver Aric Almirola, and put Bliss in the car.

Michael Waltrip deserves credit, as well. Driving for Prism Motorsports, Waltrip made the start in the No. 55 Toyota to commemorate Aaron’s 55th anniversary. He lead some laps, and appeared to have a strong car until he made contact with the wall. Later, he was caught up in a wreck. He finished 39th.

Scott Speed and Travis Kvapil also deserve kudos for finishing 15th and 18th, respectively. They stayed in touch with the lead draft all day and stayed out of trouble.

Also deserving kudos are Regan Smith, Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler, Sam Hornish, Robby Gordon, and AJ Allmendinger. They all lead laps the old-fashioned way, by driving their cars to the lead instead of staying out to lead a lap under caution.

The race saw a record number of race leaders (29) and lead changes (88) with several smaller teams making their way to the front and leading laps. The drivers were racy, early on. But, despite many lead changes, and a lot of three-wide action, the first half of the race was relatively quiet.

On lap 76, Denny Hamlin spun as he tried to pass Michael Waltrip. Hamlin spun through the grass, but didn’t hit anything and was able to continue on.

Less than 10 laps later, Kyle Busch was pushing Johhny Sauter in the tri-oval, causing Sauter to spin. He made contact with Kurt Busch to the inside, then spun back outside into Michael Waltrip. Elliott Sadler dove to the inside to avoid the wreck, but in doing so, made contact with Matt Kenseth. They spun, with Sadler hitting Max Papis and Kenseth hitting Paul Menard. David Stremme was also involved.

Late in the race, Jeff Gordon got a shove from Ryan Newman, and got a run on the inside line. Jimmie Johnson, who was in the middle, dove inside to block, forcing Gordon below to the yellow line. Gordon saved it on the apron, but he lost a lot of positions.

With about five laps to go, Mike Bliss turned Jeff Burton into the wall in the tri-oval. Burton bounced off of the wall twice, before sliding down the track into Jeff Gordon. Bliss made contact with Kasey Kahne, who then hit Scott Speed, sending Speed sliding across the infield grass. Gordon and Burton suffered heavy damage, though Gordon was able to salvage a lead lap finish out of it.

After the race Gordon said:

The 48 [Jimmie Johnson] is testing my patience, I can tell you that. It takes a lot to make me mad and I am pissed right now.

On the first attempt at a green-white-checker finish, several cars were into the wall when Joey Logano turned Ryan Newman in the corner. Newman hit Bobby Labonte and Elliott Sadler. Newman and Sadler shot up to the wall, collecting Logano. Labonte slid down the track into Marcos Ambrose, sending him up the track and into the wall. Labonte also made contact with Sam Hornish. Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, and Brian Vickers had nowhere to go, and all three were collected, too.

On the second green-white-checkered attempt, Greg Biffle slowed — he may have been out of fuel — and started losing positions. Jimmie Johnson attempted to get in front of him before he was clear, and they two made contact. Johnson was unable to save it. He spun and got back into Biffle. The two slid down the backstretch infield, with Johnson hitting the wall. Biffle finished 17th, Johnson finished 31st.

To keep from things getting too confusing with start and parkers and part time drivers, I only included drivers that had a NASCAR.com driver’s page (not just a stats page.) There were 35 drivers, but I decided to include Robby Gordon because he drives full time and doesn’t start and park, despite not having a page. (That’s right, RG doesn’t have a NASCAR.com page. It’s a travesty!)

The draft order was determined by current owner’s points, instead of last year’s mostly because of laziness. Trades were disaollowed for the same reason.

Drivers were awarded points based on their statistics, and then put in order based on those points. This determined the order in which they would be drafted. For more information, see the methodology page.

Otherwise, without further adieu, here it is, your 2010 NASCAR Draft: 

#1 Pick	Jimmie Johnson  New Team: Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 36  Pros: Winning the last four Championships, and earning several victories on the way, Johnson has to be considered the best, most dominant driver in NASCAR right now. He manages to overcome adversity behind the wheel and posts good finishes when other teams would falter. He is comfortable on camera, and gains a lot of sponsor exposure through wins. He’s sure to lure a big time sponsor. Cons: Johnson doesn’t really have any cons. Some fans view him as bland and corporate. Others dislike him because he wins a lot.
#2 Pick	Jeff Gordon New Team: Robby Gordon Motorsports No. 7  Pros: One of NASCAR’s most well-known drivers with a proven ability to win races, championships. He can run up front week in and week out and is a threat to win any time. He knows how to make the Chase, and lead laps. At his age, he is still marketable and would have the sponsors lining up to sign with him.  Cons: While still posting respectable results, his stats have fallen off lately. He’s still strong, but not as dominant as he used to be. He has trouble closing the deal with the race is on the line. Victory lane eludes him. It takes a lot to get him angry, but when he does, he can get overly aggressive and cost himself a win. He’s also been bothered by back issues.
#3 Pick	Carl Edwards New Team: Front Row Motorsports No. 37 Pros: Edwards is a proven winner. He’s got the drive, ambition, focus, and work ethic to be a threat to win week in and week out. His personality and look make him appealing to sponsors and an asset on camera. He is well spoken and is at ease dealing with the media. Cons: Edwards can be very aggressive inside and outside of the race car. This could harm a sponsor’s image. He’s known to retaliate during races, which is not only unsafe, but can damage race cars. Of late, he has been very inconsistent.
#4 Pick	Kyle Busch New Team: Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Pros: Busch has the talent and skills to compete for wins, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. He finds a way to finish races and can quietly find his way to the front. He is comfortable in front of a camera and can be a good spokesman for a company. He’s not the most likeable driver but on track performance more than makes up for that. Cons: He lets his emotions get the best of him at times. He doesn’t always deal with frustration or adversity well, which makes him seem immature and unprofessional. He also embraces the role of the villain, which could put off some sponsors. He has yet to be considered a legitimate threat for a championship.
#5 Pick	Tony Stewart New Team: TRG Motorsports No. 71 Pros: Stewart is a championship driver who has proven he can run up front and win. He’s also proven he can make the Chase and be competitive. He may not be the first name you think of when you think of championship drivers, but he shouldn’t be overlooked. He has the ability, skills, and talents to be a consistent threat. He’s comfortable in front of a camera and is marketable. Cons: He has a temper that can get him into trouble. He’s also vocal in his criticisms which might make some sponsors hesitate for a moment. He also has little tolerance for the media, and can get some negative attention. Some accuse him of not trying his hardest at times because he is temperamental.
#6 Pick	Matt Kenseth New Team: Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Pros: Kenseth is a championship driver who knows how to make the Chase, win races. He’s consistent and usually keeps himself out of trouble. He is a quiet, reserved driver, but he can still attract sponsors. Cons: Kenseth hasn’t been as strong as he was a few years ago. He’s qualifies near the back, and has had trouble finding his way to the front of late. His reserved personality could turn off some potential sponsors.
#7 Pick	Greg Biffle New Team: Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 Pros: Biffle is a veteran driver with the skill and talent to keep the car consistently near the front of the pack. He knows how to make the Chase, and can keep the car near the top of the points’ standings. He’s at ease with the media and is serviceable during commercial spots. He’s not the most charismatic or marketable driver, but he still serves sponsors well. Cons: He’s not considered a threat to win week in and week out. When he’s off, he’s way off. He’s also not a favorite to win the championship.
#8 Pick	Denny Hamlin New Team: Penske Championship Racing No. 77 Pros: Hamlin is a talented driver who has proven he has what it takes to win races. He is consistent. He’s a young, marketable driver with the on camera skills and personality to take a sponsor far. Driving with a torn ACL and after surgery, he’s proven he is tough and will not miss much seat time due to injury. Cons: His emotions are his biggest obstacle. He can be a little aggressive on the track and damage his race car. He also has trouble closing out the season. His temper can get him into feuds with other drivers, which could lead to fan backlash. That could scare a sponsor. He also has two injured knees which could affect him in longer term.
#9 Pick	Jeff Burton New Team: JTG Daugherty Racing No. 47 Pros: Burton is an articulate, wise driver with a lot of experience behind the wheel. He is respected in the garage area and can contend for wins. He’s not aggressive and knows how to take care of a race car. He has loads of experience in front of a camera and is a respectable spokesman for any company. Cons: Burton’s recent on track results have not been as consistent as we’re used to. He quietly runs in the top 15, but isn’t always a contender to win races. He missed the Chase last year and could easily miss it this year. His age could also be less attractive to sponsors with a younger target audience.
#10 Pick	Kevin Harvick New Team: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 19 Pros: Harvick has the ability to win races, make the Chase, and keep the car up front. He’s not always a threat to win race, and hasn’t been of late, but he finds a way to post top 10 and top 15 finishes. He has decent on camera abilities and can serve a sponsor well through commercials. His personality makes him likeable to some fans. Cons: He has been known to be aggressive on and off the track, which may keep some sponsors away. He has also been inconsistent and is going through a winless drought. He has potential, but there’s a lot of uncertainty that comes with him.
#11 Pick	Mark Martin Team: Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 Pros: Martin is a veteran driver that is well-respected in the garage area. He’s been driving race cars for a long time, so he can offer more to a race team than just driving skills. He has intangibles that few drivers have, and he can mentor younger drivers. He also keeps his cars clean and almost always brings them home in one piece. His age may turn off some sponsors, but most will want to take advantage of his large following and his marketability. Cons: Martin has been around NASCAR for quite some time, but a championship eludes him, leading some to classify him as not being able to win one. Martin is a respectful driver, which may allow some of the younger, more aggressive drivers to take advantage of him.
#12 Pick	Dale Earnhardt Jr Team: Penske Championship Racing No. 12 Pros: NASCAR’s most popular and well-known driver. He is very laid back, which allows fans to feel connected to him. Thus, he’s a sponsor’s dream regardless of his on track performance. He’s at ease on camera and can and will move product. He has talent behind the wheel and at certain tracks can be a consistent threat to win. Cons: He has been inconsistent at best recently. He can at times be overly aggressive on the track, and he can become so frustrated that he is unable to help the team improve the car. Given his famous last name and huge following, he brings with him high expectations and high pressure. Some have questioned his focus, desire.
#13 Pick	Kurt Busch Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing No. 42 Pros: Busch is a championship driver who can contend for wins and Chase berths. He knows how to drive and can get a car to the front. He is a little rough around the edges at times but is an adequate acquisition for a sponsor. Cons: Busch has a bit of an attitude problem and may be hard to get along with. He lets his emotions get the best of him at times. He has trouble staying calm in an ill-handling car and can hurt a team’s ability to recover. He’s a little awkward on camera and isn’t as marketable as some other drivers.
#14 Pick	Kasey Kahne Team: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Pros: Kahne is a proven winner with the abilities to contend for wins and Chase berths. He has the talent to keep the car up front week in and week out. He’s also a sponsor’s dream, being young, attractive, and highly marketable. He’s comfortable in front of a camera and is sure to have sponsors lining up to sign with him. Cons: Kahne is not yet a legitimate contender to win a championship. He’s got the talent and the skills, but he hasn’t yet proven he can consistently run up front or turn a bad day into a good day.
#15 Pick	Ryan Newman Team: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Pros: A solid driver with a proven history of winning and qualifying well. He has also proven he can make the Chase. He’s got enough charisma and a personality to attract sponsors. Cons: He’s not the most consistent driver, and there are some races where he struggles mightily and never cracks the top 15. His performance over the last few years has left a lot to be desired, making him a risky pick.
#16 Pick	Clint Bowyer Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing No. 1 Pros: Decent driver who can quietly run in the top 15 and keep his car out of trouble. He manages to finish races, and had only one DNF in 2009. He is generally an even-keeled, quiet racer. He is at ease with the media and has little trouble in front of a camera. He’s a safe, reliable driver. Cons: His run-of-the-mill personality doesn’t make him stand out much, which could keep sponsors from noticing him. He doesn’t tear up the track for victories, either. And while he may not tear up race cars, he won’t win very many races on talent alone.
#17 Pick	Juan Montoya Team: Red Bull Racing No. 82 Pros: Montoya is a talented race car driver who is getting better behind the wheel of a stock car. He is a legitimate threat to win at every road course on the circuit and is steadily becoming more of a threat to win on oval tracks. He has the ability to attract new fans and sponsors to the sport. He is decent on camera. Cons: Montoya is a hot-tempered driver who lets anger cloud his judgment at times. He has been known to be overly aggressive in the car, which rubs other drivers and fans the wrong way. He is also still unproven. He needs to be more consistent before he can be mentioned with the top tier drivers.
#18 Pick	Martin Truex Jr Team: Red Bull Racing No. 83 Pros: A two-time Nationwide Series champion, Truex has proven he can win in stock cars. He’s young driver with some upside. He’s comfortable on camera and is marketable. He may not be the most charismatic, or recognizable driver, but his personality should be enough to keep any sponsor happy. Cons: On occasion, Truex has a solid, top 10 or top 5 run, but most of the time he runs mid-pack. He runs quietly around the track, which doesn’t gain him a lot of TV time. He does have a lot of upside, but after four seasons, some think he should be farther along.
#19 Pick	Jamie McMurray Team: Richard Petty Motorsports No. 98 Pros: McMurray is one of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR. He’s got the talent and skills to contend for wins. He’s young, good looking, likeable, and marketable. He’s got a charm and charisma that makes him appealing to sponsors. He’s got a lot of potential and upside. Cons: He hasn’t proven he can consistently run in the top 10, yet. While he can keep the car in the top 20 in points, he hasn’t proven he can be a Chase contender yet. He also has a lot of quiet days on track, which keeps the car from gaining TV time.
#20 Pick	Brian Vickers Team: Michael Waltrip Racing No. 56 Pros: Vickers is a decent driver who has proven he can get around the track quickly. He won six poles in 2009. He’s a young driver that seems comfortable in front of a camera and would serve a sponsor well. He also has the ability to save fuel when required.He also has a Nationwide Series championship to his credit. Cons: Can be overly aggressive at times and put himself in precarious positions in a race car. He’s not afraid to mix it up with other drivers, but run ins with Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Kyle Busch could hurt his image with fans. That could lower his value in terms of sponsorship. He’s also still figuring things out in the race car and learning how to tell the crew what the car is doing.
#21 Pick	Joey Logano Team: Stewart Haas Racing No. 39 Pros: Logano has arguably the most upside of any young driver in NASCAR. He’s won in just about everything he’s driven and has the tools to have a successful NASCAR career. The general consensus is that it’s only a matter of time before he is consistently contending for wins and championships. Despite being young, he is very mature and can serve any sponsor well. He’s humble. Cons: He is relatively inexperienced, and is still learning the tracks on the circuit. He is inconsistent. He runs up front one week and runs near the back the next. He also needs to learn how to get to the front; he doesn’t lead very many laps.
#22 Pick	David Reutimann Team: Roush Fenway Racing No. 99 Pros: Reutimann is a decent driver who has proven that he can run with the leaders. He manages to stay out of self-inflicted trouble. When he doesn’t get caught up in someone else’s wreck or have a mechanical problem, he brings home decent finishes. He’s likeable and his goofiness makes him marketable to the right sponsor. He’s also charming on camera. Cons: While he has the ability to post top 15 finishes, he doesn’t contend for wins very often. Despite the fact that it isn’t always his fault, he still manages to find a way to wreck race cars. At 40, he may not have much upside.
#23 Pick	Brad Keselowski Team: Richard Childress Racing No. 33 Pros: Hot, young driver with proven talent, determination, and skill. He’s aggressive enough to do what takes to win, and he’s proven that. His young age makes him attractive to sponsors because he’s very marketable. Cons: His on track aggression can be perceived by veteran drivers as a lack of respect, which could result in wreck race cars. He doesn’t have a lot of experience at all of the tracks on the circuit, so team owners will need to be patient as he learns.
#24 Pick	David Ragan Team: Stewart Haas Racing No. 14 Pros: Ragan is a young driver with a lot of upside. He may not be the most well-known driver, but he has a quiet charm that could make him appealing to sponsors. Cons: He had a strong season in 2008, but faltered in 2009. He runs mid-pack and gains little TV coverage, which may not be acceptable for some sponsors. He’s a little stiff on camera, but that should improve with time. He needs to produce results.
#25 Pick	Marcos Ambrose Team: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Pros:Ambrose is a road course expert who is a treat to win every time the series visits a road course. He’s also turning into a decent short track racer and is getting better as he gets more comfortable on ovals. He has a likeable disposition which should attract some sponsors. Cons: He has recently been struggling and has had some issues with being a too aggressive at times. He has rubbed some drivers the wrong way and could have lost a little respect in the garage area. Also, he’s been inconsistent week to week, which makes him a risky pick.
#26 Pick	Sam Hornish Jr Team: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Pros: He is a talented race car driver who has experienced success in other forms of racing. He has proven he can qualify near the front from the time to time. He’s relatively young and has some marketability. Cons: He has had trouble finishing races and keeping his race car in one piece. A lot of drivers criticize his abilities leading one to speculate that he is not the most respected driver in the garage area.
#27 Pick	Paul Menard Team: Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Pros: Brings with him a dedicated sponsor that will provide funding for a full time Cup ride. Cons: Despite the occasional top 15 finish, Menard doesn’t usually run with the leaders, instead finding himself running and finishing in the 20s. Being that far back in the pack, he is susceptible to being involved in costly wrecks. Fans view him as an entitled racer because his father’s company sponsors him.
#28 Pick	Bobby Labonte Team: Penske Championship Racing No. 2 Pros: Labonte is a respected driver both on and off the track. He is an experienced driver with a proven ability to win races. He doesn’t get himself in trouble and he finds a way to bring race cars home in one piece. He’s also a past champion, which could mean a guaranteed starting spot. Cons: Labonte’s statistics have declined in recent years, which could affect his ability to lure sponsors. While being a good ambassador for any sponsor, his age doesn’t give him the appeal of some of the younger drivers.
#29 Pick	AJ Allmendinger Team: Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Pros: Allmendinger is a talented driver who has shown, at times, that he can drive a stock car. He has improved his average finish every year since 2008. He’s also a well-spoken individual who has enough charisma to attract fans, and please sponsors. Cons: Allmendinger has never been with a program long enough to show that he’s anything more than a mid-pack driver. His DUI arrest in 2009 may keep some sponsors away.
#30 Pick	Elliott Sadler Team: Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Pros: Sadler’s personality is his strong suit. His charisma, charm and personality can make him very appealing to potential sponsors. He’s generally liked by fans and has proven he can win. Cons: His on track performance of late is nothing better than mid-pack, which could hamper his ability to get sponsors. He is underperforming and is not a serious threat to crack to top 15 consistently. Running in the back has made him susceptible to being caught up in wrecks. He has also been known to cause wrecks.
#31 Pick	Scott Speed Team: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Pros: Speed has proven that he can qualify for races, and while he runs in the back, he has proven that he can keep a car in the top 35 in points. He has a unique personality and is connected to his fans. With the right sponsor, he can be marketable. Cons: Speed lacks the consistency and results to be considered a serious competitor. He does have upside, but some teams may not have the patience to allow him to develop.
#32 Pick	Travis Kvapil Team: Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Pros: Kvapil has proven he can be competitive at times, and can keep a car out of trouble, despite spending most of his time in the back. Cons: He hasn’t spent a lot of time running up front, which could lead to mistakes in the event that he is running up the front or contending for a win. He is relatively unknown, so sponsors will not be banging down the door to sign with him.
#33 Pick	Robby Gordon Team: Richard Childress Racing No. 29 Pros: Gordon is a decent road course racer with proven success at those tracks. He also has a lot of experience racing on NASCAR tracks. He’s got a small but loyal fan base.  Cons: Despite the occasional top 15 run, Gordon hangs out at the back of the pack. He’s got a bit of a temper that can get him into trouble. He also races Baja, which will lead some owners to question his focus and commitment to stock cars.
#34 Pick	Regan Smith Team: Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Pros: Decent driver who does what’s expected of him. He won’t content for wins or run up front, but he can qualify for races and bring the car home in one piece. Has proven that if in a position to win, he will do whatever he can to win. He also won rookie of the year. Cons: Smith doesn’t have much experience running with the leaders, which makes him susceptible to mistakes. He hasn’t had to deal with much pressure, so in a pressure situation teams can’t be confident in what they have. Because sponsors don’t know him, it might be hard for him to land one.
#35 Pick	Mike Bliss Team: Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Pros: Bliss is a journeyman driver with lots of experience behind the wheel. High profile sponsors won’t be banging down the door for Bliss, but smaller sponsors could do a lot worse than Bliss. Cons: Back of the pack driver who has been relegated to start and park of late. Lacks the consistency and results to make a case for a full time Cup ride. Is a quiet, relatively unknown driver despite a long history in the sport. Lacks charisma and marketability.
#36 Pick	Kevin Conway Team: Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Pros: Conway is an inexperienced driver who stays out of the way and out of trouble. While he runs at the back every week, he brings the car home in one piece. Cons: He is unproven and unknown. Sponsors will be weary to sign on with a rookie driver with so little experience.

The combined margin of victory was 0.02 of a second (Johnson won by .005 and Kahne won by .014.) The two Duel finishes were reminscient of Kevin Harvick’s close victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500, and they’re exactly what NASCAR needs and wants to prove that racing can still be exciting.

By virtue of winning their respective duels, Johnson will start third and Kahne will start fourth in Sunday’s Daytona 500. That gives Hendrick Motorsports the first three starting positions in the race. Mark Martin took the pole in qualifying and Dale Earnhardt Jr took the outside pole.

Michael Waltrip, who needed to race his way in during the first Duel, ended up spinning and crashing into the inside wall, ending his chances of racing his way in. Michael McDowell, Max Papis, and Todd Bodine raced hard for the first two transfer spots.

Coming out of the final corner, McDowell had the first transfer spot locked up, while Papis and Bodine battled for the second one. Bodine, who was put in Kirk Shelmerdine’s No. 27 at the last minute, ended up hitting the wall, killing his momentum and allowing Papis to drive away from him. A very, very humble and happy Papis cried after racing his way into the Daytona 500.

In the second Duel, Waltrip still had an outside chance to make the race: if Scott Speed or Bobby Labonte raced their way in by finishing in one of the top two tranfer spots, Waltrip would be in the race based on his qualifying time.

Waltrip watched Duel 2 in the studio, while Bobby Labonte, Mike Bliss, Casey Mears, and Scott Speed battled for the transfer spots. Every pass, or near miss, must have been amplified 100 times for Waltrip, who at times looked like his heart was about to jump out of his mouth.

In the closing laps, Mike Bliss, in a back-up car, had the first transfer spot locked up. But Mears, Speed, and Labonte were battling for the second spot. Mears appeared to have it, but Paul Menard checked up in front of him, killing his momentum, allowing Speed to pass him and earn the final spot.

Waltrip cheered Speed as he crossed the finish line. He, then, breathed a sigh of relief, and the tears started flowing. Waltrip will make his 24th consecutive start in the Daytona 500.

Jeff Gordon will go to a back-up car after getting caught up in a wreck with Waltrip and Regan Smith. Gordon went on to finish 10th in his Duel, but will start at the rear of the field on Sunday.

If the Duels were any indication, Sunday’s 500 is shaping up to be on heck of a race. The Duels featured great racing, lots of passing, and a lot of two- and three-wide racing, which makes for a much better race for fans than a game of follow the leader.

Once the smoke cleared, the following go-or-go-homers made the show: Bliss, McDowell, Speed, Papis, Bill Elliott, Joe Nemechek, Labonte, and Waltrip. The drivers who did not qualify are Reed Sorenson, Mears, David Gilliland, Jeff Fuller, Aric Almirola, Terry Cook, Dave Blaney, Derrick Cope, Todd Bodine, Mike Wallace, and Norm Benning.