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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Driver Chassis Selections For Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

Note: Not every team lists chassis selection in their PR release

Two-car tandems again the fastest way around Daytona
1. Carl Edwards: Coming off fourth consecutive finish of ninth or better; Second-place finish in Daytona 500 was second runner-up finish in 13 starts; Second-best average finish (8.6) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT; Best average finish (7.8) among all drivers that have competed in the last four races on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega); Will return in the same car (chassis No. 677) that he finished sixth with at Talladega Superspeedway.

2. Kevin Harvick: Defending event winner; Victory was second in 20 starts; Engine failure in the Daytona 500 dropped overall average finish to 15.8; Tied for the fourth-best average finish (14.9) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT; Fourth-best average finish (12.5) among all drivers that have competed in the last four races on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega); Will return in the same car (chassis No. 343) that he last finished fifth with at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

3. Jimmie Johnson: Winner of the 2006 Daytona 500; Last of nine top-10s (second) came in this event in 2009; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 628) that he last went to Victory Lane with at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

Busch may have his best chance at winning a plate race
4. Kurt Busch: Coming off 12th top 10 in 21 starts; Has finished in the top 10 in seven of the last eight races; Best average finish (8.0) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 632) that he won his Gatorade Duel and finished fifth in the Daytona 500 with.

5. Kyle Busch: Winner of this event in 2008; Coming off fifth top 10 in 13 starts; Has led the most laps (235) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 296) in the Coke Zero 400.

6. Matt Kenseth: Winner of the 2009 Daytona 500; Has finished eighth or better in four of his last six starts; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 779) in the Coke Zero 400.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr: Last of two wins came in the 2004 Daytona 500; 16.1 average finish in seven starts with Hendrick Motorsports; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 629) that he piloted to a fourth-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

8. Clint Bowyer: Best average finish (13.2) among drivers with multiple starts; Finished 17th in last two starts; Tied for the Fourth-best average finish (14.9) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT; Second-best average finish (9.2) among all drivers that have competed in the last four races on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega); Will return in the same car (chassis No. 294) that he last finished second with at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

9. Jeff Gordon: Last of six wins came in the 2005 Daytona 500; Third-place finish in this event last year was 18th top 10 in 37 starts; Third-best average finish (10.5) among all drivers that have competed in the last four races on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega).

10. Ryan Newman: Has yet to finish inside the top 20 since winning the 2008 Daytona 500; Led 37 laps and finished 22nd in this year's Daytona 500; Will debut a new wind tunnel tested car (chassis No. 664) in the Coke Zero 400.

11. Denny Hamlin: Worst track on the schedule based on 22.9 average finish; Has combined to lead 75 laps in last four starts; Only top 10 (third) in 11 starts came in this event in 2009.

12. Tony Stewart: Three-time winner of the July race; 2009 win was last of 12 top-10s in 25 starts; Third-best average finish (13.1) among all drivers that have competed in all seven races with the COT.

13. Greg Biffle: Winner of the 2003 July race; Last of four top-10s (third) came in the 2010 Daytona 500; Will return in the same car that he finished seventh with at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

14. Mark Martin: Coming off 18th top 10 in 52 starts; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 632) that he posted a 9.0 average finish with in both restrictor-plate races this season.

15. AJ Allmendinger: Led four laps and finished 11th in this year's Daytona 500; 23.5 average finish in six starts; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 722) that he posted a 11.0 average finish with in both restrictor-plate races this season.

We know Bayne won't be in his winning Daytona 500 car
16. Juan Pablo Montoya: Coming off third top 10 (sixth) in nine starts; Has combined to lead 18 laps in last three starts; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 902) that he last finished third with in both races at Talladega Superspeedway races in 2010.

17. Paul Menard: Scored first top 10 in eight starts with a ninth-place finish in this year's Daytona 500; 19.9 average finish; Fifth-best average finish (13.0) among all drivers that have competed in the last four races on restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega); Will return in the same car (chassis No. 338) that he last finished 12th with at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

18. Martin Truex Jr: 20.0 average finish in three starts with Michael Waltrip Racing; Sixth-place finish in the 2010 Daytona 500 is only top 10 in 12 starts; Combined to lead 23 laps in the two restrictor-plate races this season.

19. Kasey Kahne: Finished 25th in his first track start with Team Red Bull in February; Best finish (second) came in this event last year with Richard Petty Motorsports; 18.1 average finish in 15 starts.

20. David Ragan: Led seven laps and finished 14th in this year's Daytona 500; Three top-10s and a 16.8 average finish in nine starts; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 691) that he last finished 20th with in his Gatorade Duel.

- compiled by Jeff Wackerlin, MotorRacingNetwork.com

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