Fansided

2019 Daytona 500: 3 NASCAR facts to know before the race

By Brittany Frederick

DAYTONA, FL - FEBRUARY 10: The car of Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Nationwide Chevrolet Camaro, is pushed onto pit road during Daytona 500 Qualifying on February 10, 2019 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DAYTONA, FL - FEBRUARY 10: The car of Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Nationwide Chevrolet Camaro, is pushed onto pit road during Daytona 500 Qualifying on February 10, 2019 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Daytona 500
DAYTONA, FL – FEBRUARY 10: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet Camaro Ally (48) during qualifying for the 61st annual Daytona 500 on February 10, 2019 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. One thing in Jimmie Johnson’s favor

Speaking of Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR fans will once again be keeping a close eye on Jimmie Johnson at the 2019 Daytona 500. The six-time champion had a very rough road last season and it culminated with the drastic step of separating him from longtime crew chief Chad Knaus (who has moved over to work with pole sitter William Byron).

It’s no secret that things haven’t worked out for the No. 48 the way that Johnson, his team and a whole lot of NASCAR enthusiasts would like them to. That includes his starting position for the Daytona 500; his eighth place finish in the first Gander RV Duel was only good enough for him to start 17th on Sunday, even though in qualifying he had the third fastest car.

Johnson doesn’t seem to have a lot of luck right now, and he may not have a lot of help either, considering he wrecked most of the field in The Clash at Daytona and ended up the winner. But there’s one thing he can hang his helmet on: he’s the only person in the entire 40-car field who’s won this race more than once. The 43-year-old Californian took home the trophy in 2006 and again in 2013.

He’ll be looking to make a big opening statement in 2019, utilizing his best starting position in four years. Since he started second and finished fifth back in 2015, Johnson hasn’t begun the Daytona 500 better than 24th and hasn’t crossed the finish line better than 16th—one place behind where he starts in the 2019 Daytona 500.

Next. Daytona 500 complete TV schedule. dark

The 2019 Daytona 500 takes place Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m. ET. For complete coverage of the 2019 NASCAR season, follow the NASCAR category at FanSided.

Home/NASCAR