Cheerios Qualifying Report - Daytona Duel 150's

Wells Fargo Dodge
Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
Duel 150 Qualifying Race #1
February 15, 2007; Daytona, Florida
2.5-mile, Daytona International Raceway

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Tony Stewart, Chevrolet
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet
3. Jeff Burton, Chevrolet
4. David Gilliland, Ford
5. Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet
22. Bobby Labonte, #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
24. Kyle Petty, #45 Wells Fargo Dodge

OVERVIEW:

The starting lineup for the 49th annual Daytona 500 was not completed until the finishing of Thursday afternoon’s Duel 150 qualifying races. The 61 teams who attempted to qualify for Sunday’s field were split into two 60-lap races. Only David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd were sure of their starting positions for Sunday. They will make up the front row after this past Sunday’s qualifying session. The rest of the 43-car starting field was molded after the duel races. The top-35 teams in 2006 owner points were locked, but that left 18 drivers attempting to fill the remaining field. Only two drivers from each race actually ‘raced’ themselves into the Daytona 500. It’s a formula that can take weeks for anyone to master.

The dust settled and Tony Stewart won the first Duel 150 and Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag in the second race. Gordon’s car was later found to be too low in the right-rear quarter panel. Gordon still wins the race, but will start 42nd in Sunday’s race. A total of 18 drivers will not start on Sunday including the entire new Red Bull Toyota team.

Bobby Labonte and the #43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team will start 27th in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Labonte and the team were never able to fall into a rhythm on Thursday. Their race complexity changed early (lap 10) when Jeremy Mayfield’s car bounced off Labonte right front quarterpanel. A caution was displayed for Mayfield. The ‘Helping Hands’ crew took the time to make sure that the Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge was not severely damaged. Labonte restarted in the back where many drivers were dicing for a qualifying position. Labonte had to make split-second decisions on more than one occasion to avoid additional wrecks. The team also had to make minor repairs to the car on pit road. Labonte had to be careful moving back to the front, but ended the day 22nd. He will be making his 15th Daytona 500 start. Labonte’s best finish is second in 1998.

“We knocked the tow out in the first accident,” said Labonte. “We had to fix that. The car was OK after that, but we were in the pack where guys were running for a qualifying position. You get up there and dice with them. You figure there will be a wreck and there was. We just never got a roll going today. It’s disappointing, but we’ll prepare this Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge for Sunday.”

Kyle Petty and the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge team have a 29th starting position for Sunday’s Daytona 500. Petty finished 24th in the first Duel qualifying race on Thursday. Petty and the team were taking the time to learn as much as possible for Sunday’s race. Goodyear has a new tire compound for the Daytona 500, and all the teams are looking to master its in-and-outs. Petty feels confident that Thursday was a success as he heads into Sunday. Petty will make his 26th Daytona 500 start. He has a best finish of sixth in 1992.

“We learned a lot today,” said Petty. “Our chassis was pretty good. We stayed on the same set of tires for 30-40 laps today to see what might happen. We wanted to take a look at that. The Wells Fargo Dodge drove well, I’m pleased with it. The guys have a better idea about the tires. There are two races before Sunday and that’s a lot of rubber on the track. It won’t an issue then, but you have to pay attention to it a little.”