NASCAR saw a rise in overnight television ratings for both Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway and Sunday’s Daytona 500 qualifying over 2007 figures. Fox’s broadcast of the shootout earned an overnight rating of 4.5 and an 8 market share from Nielsen Media Research, Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Daily reported.

Darrell Waltrip, five-time winner of the Gatorade Duel At Daytona and 1989 Daytona 500 champion, will serve as the Honorary Starter for the 50th annual Gatorade Duel At Daytona on Thursday, Feb. 14 at historic Daytona International Speedway.

Who Could Get In Via the Gatorade Duels
Qualifying Time
Boris Said (No. 60 Ford): Fastest of non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways — if he finishes first or second among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek or David Reutimann finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners’ points.

Patrick [...]

In case you missed it, here is video of Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart getting into it during practice:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=CBYhUuu-Vvk[/youtube]

Goodyear Tire and NASCAR officials confirmed there was tire blistering during Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout, but assured competitors the problem is correctable.
“We saw some signs, up and down pit road, of excessive heat on the right front and right rear (tires) and some blistering,” Goodyear’s Rick Heinrich said Sunday before Daytona 500 qualifying at Daytona [...]

NASCAR announced early Sunday evening that the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, which was too low in initial inspection Saturday following the Budweiser Shootout, had passed inspection following further evaluation Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

Gerald Kulwicki, the father of 1992 NASCAR Cup champion Alan Kulwicki, passed away Saturday night in Charlotte. He was 78. Mr. Kulwicki lived part of the year in Charlotte in a home originally owned by his late son, while also residing in his native Wisconsin.

Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt were guests today of Daytona International Speedway (DIS) to recognize the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s historic win in the 1998 Daytona 500. A 2008 race car with the famous #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus paint scheme was unveiled and will be on display throughout Speed Weeks in the DIS [...]

The 1988 Daytona 500 was special. Everyone knew that immediately, upon the race’s completion. What no one knew, was how the race’s legend and luster would grow over time, because of unfortunate circumstances down the road.
Bobby Allison and Davey Allison finished 1-2 that day. Father and son, racing to the stripe, separated by 24 years [...]

Dale Earnhardt Jr crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. was shocked upon returning from the Sprint Cup test session at California Speedway to see Joey Arnold, one of his car setup specialists, working feverishly in the shop on one of the #88 cars. Arnold’s 5-year-old son, Cayden, had died just days beforehand.
“I said ‘Joey, what are [...]