Danica Returns To Daytona; Four Drivers Set For Dash 4 Cash
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Last year’s Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola produced two unforgettable moments in the history of Daytona International Speedway – the debut of the new NASCAR Nationwide Series car and the victory of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the legendary blue and yellow No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet made famous by his father Dale Earnhardt.
This Friday night’s 100-lap, 250-mile race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the “World Center of Racing” once again features plenty of intriguing story lines that will capture racing headlines as well as the attention of the thousands of race fans in attendance.
The Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola will be the first race of the year for the four-race “Dash 4 Cash” bonus program. Introduced in 2009 by Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR, “Dash 4 Cash,” rewards the highest-finishing eligible driver a $100,000 bonus in addition to the race purse.
The top four drivers in the series points standings heading into Daytona are eligible – points leader Reed Sorenson (Turner Motorsports), Elliott Sadler (Kevin Harvick Inc.), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Roush Fenway) and Justin Allgaier (Turner Motorsports).
Danica Patrick, who for the second straight year is running a part-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, will make her first summer visit to Daytona International Speedway. The open-wheel star will be behind the wheel of the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.
Patrick has three previous stock car starts at Daytona. In the February NASCAR Nationwide Series season openers, Patrick finished 35th in 2010 and 14th in 2011, having led a lap in that exciting race. In her stock car debut in the 2010 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA event, she finished sixth.
Ricky Carmichael, the 15-time AMA Pro Racing Supercross champion and a winner of a record five Daytona Supercross By Honda events, will make his first NASCAR Nationwide Series start on the high banks driving for Turner Motorsports. In three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Daytona, Carmichael, known in the motorcycle world as the G.O.A.T., or Greatest Of All-Time, has finished 24th, 29th and eighth earlier this year.
A strong field of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors will be in the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola field including Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne.
Friday night’s 100-lap, 250-mile race for the NASCAR Nationwide Series is the 10th running of the summer race at the “World Center of Racing.” Prior to 2002, the NASCAR Nationwide Series only made one stop at Daytona International Speedway during Speedweeks in February
Special youth pricing is also available for the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
· Kids 12 and under are free in the general admission sections
· Sprint/Petty/Earnhardt/Roberts and Weatherly Towers tickets are only $10 for 12 and under through June 30
· Half-off junior prices for ages 13-17 through June 30 Throughout the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, kids 12 and under are free in the Sprint FANZONE.
To purchase tickets for the Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola, call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway).
