2008 SPRINT CUP RACE 1: Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made alot of noise during the 2008 Speedweeks, winning the Bud Shootout and claiming a Gatorade Duel win. Junior fans had high hopes that Dale could pull off the trifecta and win the Daytona 500, well it didn't quite happen, in fact he did get a Top 10 but he was the ONLY Hendrick Motorsports car to get one. Jimmie Johnson had claimed the pole in the 500 qualifying but got wrecked late in the race.

It was Penske and Dodge that came to the forefront by race end. Tony Stewart led the field to the final lap but made a mistake at half a lap to go to get in line with his teammate Kyle Busch. That opened the door for Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch to get a run on the top side of the track. Kurt pushed his teammate Newman out front and Newman never looked back and took the checkers. Penske got a 1-2 finish and not only that, there were six Dodges that finished in the Top 8.

The Top 10:
1. #12 Ryan Newman (Dodge)
2. #2 Kurt Busch (Dodge)
3. #20 Tony Stewart (Toyota)
4. #18 Kyle Busch (Toyota)
5. #41 Reed Sorenson (Dodge)
6. #19 Elliott Sadler (Dodge)
7. #9 Kasey Kahne (Dodge)
8. #7 Robby Gordon (Dodge)
9. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Chevrolet)
10. #16 Greg Biffle (Ford)

Newman hadn't won since 2005.