For Dale Jarrett and the #44 Team, Daytona 500 qualifying is a game of hurry up and wait.
Jarrett, a three time Daytona 500 winner, is hoping to compete in the 50th running of the prestigious race, slated to be his final appearance before leaving full-time competition in mid-March. Since Jarrett did not finish in the top-35 in point standings in 2007, the former champion will most likely need to race his way into the field in Thursday's qualifying races, the Gatorade Duels, to compete.
In his first year at Michael Waltrip Racing, Jarrett was forced to use a past champion's provisional to qualify for the Daytona 500. This year Jarrett does not have the same guarantee as 2004 Sprint Cup Champion Kurt Busch is the first driver eligible to use the provisional position. Busch relinquished his 2007 points to new teammate Sam Hornish, to assure the rookie driver a starting position in the first five events of the season.
Jarrett clocked a fast lap time of 48.558 seconds at 185.345 mph to post the 21st quick time of the qualifying session. Windy weather conditions placed Jarrett at a disadvantage as a strong head wind down Daytona's long back stretch proved costly on the stop watch.
"It's pretty amazing that all of these cars are only separated by hundredths of a second," Jarrett said after the qualifying session. "The wind really didn't help us out any today but we'll just have to work on the car and get it race ready. We'll look forward to trying to race our way in on Thursday."
To qualify, Jarrett will need to either earn one of the two transfer spots available in his Duel race. Simply, he will need to be one of the top-two drivers to cross the finish line who is outside the top-35 in points and has yet to qualify for the race on speed. The other option is for Busch to transfer in during his Duel event allowing Jarrett to pick-up the championship provisional.
For the remaining drivers at Michael Waltrip Racing, qualifying proved to be an enjoyable experience on Sunday as Jarrett's teammates, Waltrip and David Reutimann, are locked into the starting line-up for the Daytona 500. Waltrip will start from the outside pole for the 50th running while Reutimann is in based on his speed but will determine his starting spot in Thursday's Duel race.
Joining Waltrip on the front row for the Daytona 500 is reigning Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson who will start from the pole position after posting a fast lap time of 48.109 seconds.
The racing action continues at Daytona International Speedway as the anticipation builds leading to the 50th running of the Daytona 500. The Sprint Cup Series competitors return to the track on Wednesday for the final practice sessions prior to the running of the Gatorade Duels. Jarrett and the #44 Team are scheduled to participate in the second of the two Duel events based on the team's finish in the owner point standings last season.
Television coverage of the Gatorade Duels is scheduled to broadcast live on the Speed Channel on Thursday, February 14th. The green flag of the first Duel will fall at 2 p.m. EST with the second race following. Radio coverage will be broadcast by the Motor Racing Network (MRN).
