From the February, 2007 issue of Stock Car Insider

Happy Harvick Smiles on Daytona - SCI February 19th Issue

Next stop on the Nextel Cup Schedule is California Speedway

How do you follow up one of the most exciting finishes to the top race in NASCAR? How about heading to California where story-book endings are crafted? Next week, NASCAR heads to California Speedway. The two-mile D-shaped oval generally favors youth. The 5 best drivers at California are considered the generation X'ers of NASCAR.

Next week expect favorite to win this year's championship, Carl Edwards, to make his bid at California. In just 5 starts at Vegas, Carl has an average starting position of 17th, and an average finish of 4th.

Also expect the following drivers to do well next week:

Jimmie Johnson - Average Finish 8th
Clint Boyer - Average Finish 9th
Jamie McMurray - Average Finish 9th
Denny Hamlin - Average Finish 9th

Next Week's Schedule:

Nextel Cup: @ California Speedway (all times EST)
02/25/07 - 03:00pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Auto Club 500

Busch Series: @ California Speedway
02/24/07 - 07:30pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stater Brothers 300

Craftsman Truck Series: @ California Speedway
02/23/07 - 08:00pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series San Bernardino County 200

See complete 2007 NASCAR Schedule

Happy Harvick Smiles on Daytona!

Being just 1 of 4 drivers to sweep Daytona International Speedway, Kevin Harvick's sweep will be considered one of the most exciting in Daytona's history! Officially, Harvick beat the fan favorite, Mark Martin, by 4 hundredths of a second. The #29 Shell sponsored Chevy of Harvick squeaked, or I should say sucked, by Martin's #01 Army Chevy.

The major reason Harvick was able to pull off the win was when Martin's drafting partner Kyle Busch wrecked himself and most of the field coming out of turn 4. Regardless, Harvick was there to surge on the outside and suck by Martin for the win.

What better way to start the 2007 NASCAR season then to sweep the Busch and Nextel Cup races at NASCAR's most historic track. With only 2 other drivers from last year's Chase for the Championship finishing in the top 10, Kevin already has a sizable points lead over the other major championship contenders. Could Kevin possibly follow up his Busch Series Championship with a Nextel Cup Championship?

Shop for Kevin Harvick NASCAR Gifts

Juan Pablo Montoya Disappoints in NASCAR debut

It's only a matter of time for the rest of the world to discover what the rest of us already know, that NASCAR is second to none when it comes to providing jaw-dropping, heart pounding entertainment! The foreign press was working hard Sunday at the Daytona 500 to send the message. One of the most celebrated sports icons of Europe and South America and former top Formula One driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, got his first start in the Daytona 500.

The most celebrated rookie on the circuit finished 19th after many in front of him crashed on the final lap. Perhaps one of the most important lessons that Pablo learned in the 500 is that NASCAR is about the drivers, not the cars. At certain points during the 500, Pablo was circling the track by himself. It's a very lonely and slow world for a stranded driver in a restrictor plate race.

However, do not be dismayed Montoya fans. Next week's race at California will be completely different. Drafting is not as critical, and the action will be intense. I fully expect Montoya to excel at the speedway type tracks.

Shop for NASCAR Gifts

Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway Recap

The Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway saved the best action for last. Like a perfectly written script to a thriller, the last lap raised the heart rates of everyone who could witness Mark Martin in front going for his first ever win in the Daytona 500. With a world of chaos that included fiery crashed and cars flipped upside down breaking out behind them, Harvick and Martin emerged from the pack for an instant classic battle for the win.

While Kevin Harvick and Mark Martin had a story-book ending to their Daytona 500, other top drivers did not fair so well. In fact, only 2 other drivers who qualified for last year's Chase for the Championship finished inside the top 10. Heavy favorites Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart were taken out of the race long before the checkered flag dropped.

Stewart had a dominate car early and was considered the favorite to win. But misfortune struck when Kurt Busch nudged Stewart on lap 153 and sent Tony into the wall of turn 4 and out of the race.
Johnson's misfortune struck 21 laps later when Johnson lost control of his car exiting turn 2. One important fact to note is that Johnson's streak of 105 consecutive races of being ranked in the top 10 came to an end at Daytona where he finished in 39th place.

Former champion Matt Kenseth was poised to make a push for the win and capture the first Daytona 500 for Jack Roush. However, the wreck on the last lap wiped Kenseth out, and pushed Matt all the way down to a 27th place finish. The top Roush finisher was rookie David Reagan who capitalized on the misfortune of the wrecked cars in front of him to finish in 5th.

Fan favorites Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon ran out of luck at the end of the race as well. Both drivers wrecked on the last lap. However, Gordon had the better luck finishing in 12th place while Earnhardt finished in 32nd.

The top Toyota driver was Dale Jarrett who finished in 23rd. Team owner Michael Waltrip finished in 30th. Other Toyota drivers Dave Blaney and rookie David Reutimann finished 34th and 40th respectively.

See complete 2007 NASCAR Schedule