Stewart focused on winning first Daytona 500 (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt are two notable drivers who won the Daytona 500 way past their figurative due dates. Three-time champion Darrell Waltrip won the Great American Race in his seventeenth try. Seven-time champion Earnhardt won the big prize in his twentieth attempt. Prior to their victories, many fans and critics wondered if the two legends would ever claim the Daytona 500 trophy; and if their careers ended without the prestigious victory, how it would affect their legacies.
In the minds of most competent fans and analysts, Earnhardt and Waltrip would have been legends even if they had never conquered the February classic. The same will be the case for Tony Stewart and Mark Martin. Two-time champion Stewart owns fourteen wins on the 2.5-mile facility; however, in eleven starts, Stewart has yet to conquer the Daytona 500.
Broadly acknowledged as one of the sport’s premier restrictor plate drivers, the lack of victories is not due to poor performances. He started on the outside pole in rookie season in 1999. He was competitive in 2001 before he was involved in the multi-car wreck in which he landed on his former teammate Bobby Labonte’s hood. In 2002, he blew an engine early in the race, and then wrecked out by Kurt Busch while leading in 2007. He has led the most laps in three Daytona 500’s (2004, 2005, and 2007). He was leading on the final lap in 2008 before his current teammate Ryan Newman bypassed on the backstretch.
Similar to the two decades of disappointments of Earnhardt and Waltrip, Stewart cannot seem to shake the proverbial monkey off his back. The 2010 Daytona 500 will be his twelfth endeavor. While his number of near-misses pales in comparison to Earnhardt, Waltrip, and even fellow competitor Mark Martin, the frustration level fosters with each passing year.
Like Stewart, Martin has endured years of Daytona 500 foiling. Martin appeared in his first Daytona 500 in 1982. Since then, he has only missed the 1984, 1985, and 1987 Daytona 500 events. However, he is still searching for the elusive accolade.
Martin has his share of near-misses. In 1997, he led the most laps, but his nice-guy persona may have cost him. During the races mid-stages, he was the typical gentleman, as he slowed down enough to allow Jeff Gordon back on the lead lap. Back then, there was no lucky dog rule. You had to rely on the generosity of your fellow competitors. Gordon, along with his two teammates Terry Labonte and Ricky Craven charged to the front, and passed Martin. Gordon captured his first of three Daytona 500 triumphs.
In 2000, Martin assumed his Ford comrade Dale Jarrett would push him past Johnny Benson for the victory. Instead, Jarrett took the ‘every guy for himself’ approach in the races closing stages, earning his third trophy. Of course, most fans remember the photo finish three years ago when Martin was on the losing end of an exhilarating dash to the line, as Kevin Harvick narrowly edged him out.
Martin will attempt to win his first Daytona 500 in his 26th try.
Martin earned the pole for the 52nd running of the Daytona, and Stewart will sit sixth on the starting grid after finishing runner-up in the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race by mere inches. Clearly, they are two of the favorites to grace victory lane on Sunday. Nevertheless, after reviewing their history in the Daytona 500, it is difficult for any pessimist to believe that they will finally breakthrough.
Stewart said in an interview that he would be satisfied with just one Daytona 500 victory.
“This is the biggest race of our series. Like I told somebody, I am not greedy. I don’t have to win it four or five times but I just want to get lucky enough to win it once,” he said.
This could be the year for Stewart or Martin. If it is, it will be a popular victory throughout the NASCAR community.
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