QuestionSince Ryan Newman switched from Penske to Stewart-Haas in 2009, why did he get an automatic into the 500 and Tony Stewart did not.
AnswerThe field at Daytona is being set like this:
#1-Martin Truex Jr. [from New Jersey] won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500 with a lap of 188.001mph for his 1st career Daytona 500 pole and 2nd pole of his career. #5-Mark Martin was 2nd fastest and has a set starting spot for the race, the outside pole. All other starting positions will be determined following the Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying races. The rest of the top five for qualifying were #39-Ryan Newman, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #21-Bill Elliott. #21-Elliott, #28-Kvapil and #14-Stewart are the three go-or-go-homers [not in the top-35 of end of season owners points] who are guaranteed of making the race via speed. #66-Terry Labonte os now guaranteed to make the race, at least thru the past champions provisional since Stewart and Elliott are in via speed. Four other drivers can get in via their speed IF the four already in [Elliott, Kvapil, Stewart, Labonte] race in via the Gatorade Duels [top 2 in each get in]: #78-Smith, #87-Nemechek, #08-Said and #36-Riggs.
So it is the top 2 are in, followed by spots 3-39 [33 from the top 35 and 4 from the Duels], then spots 40, 41 and 42 from the next fastest cars, then then the most recent past champion in 43rd. If not needed, then the fastest driver not already in, would get the spot.
So, by that, Ryan Newman will get in due to his speed and some of the most convoluted rules ever seen. Don't look at me, I didn't do it.
Oh, and the #39 Haas car finished in 30th last year. Points go with the owner/car, not the driver.
