as you said never knew when they were going to call you the car and had to be on the ready. much easier in this way. i always think about mark martin. mark was in bed every night at 9:00 or 9:30. i didn't mind if i didn't have to start all that. you get yourself ready for the start of the race like any other time. >> it is a mindset. i think you talk about the intensity. that switch when you hit that switch to turn that engine over the intensity is ramped up pretty stout and then you go off in the turn and two, three wide you're back to level to make the race happen. >> there's the guys carrying the helmet bags back to pit red. >> one that will not have a problem getting ready is -- >> not after the 5-hour energy. >> we heard a.j. allmendinger say it. tony stewart, tony stewart doesn't like mornings. he likes the night. he could be one to watch, as

well. there you see, look there. cars to get uncovered. >> yes. >> we are going to hopefully be racing very soon. well coming up a little bit more from daytona. we have a lot of activity. that is what we have been waiting the see. some of the colors, the cars uncovered. crew members and drivers being called to their cars. why are we watching this again? i pay for all these channels, so i make myself watch them all. joey, i'll watch anything except this.

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all right, man. let's be ready. it's about to get exciting. >> harvick wins! >> you are going to daytona. >> fourth of july weekend is

always so much fun. >> come on. because we're ready to roll. >> and we are ready to roll. the wait is almost over. great job by the track and nascar to get us ready to go racing. big thank you to the fans who have continued to stick it out. out with us here at home and the stands. the team members that can't wait to go racing and the hardest workers in the group with pit reporters. >> i think we have been working hard and happy to go racing a. driver who understands that the peril of restricter plate racing is clint bowyer. he was upside down and literally on fire here at daytona and knows he must gain points because if he's one point outside of the chase cutoff. he is an excellent restricter plate racers and he knows this might be his best shot. mike? >> you talk about

urgency. pit stalls 22 to 33 hungry drivers, winless so far in the season and need a win to punch the ticket to the chase. among them tony stewart. could be considered a contender tonight. he has 19 total victories here at daytona. with a record like that, you can't count him out regardless of the season he is having. >> my section of pit road is just past the halfway point and i have heavy hitters including xfinity series winner austin dillon. the guys to have my eye on is denny hamlin. number 11. he's won almost every here at daytona except a points paying race. he is among the top six among the last three races here. he will be starting 35th and with that spot in the chase secure, he can take some extra risks. dave? >> kelly, i'll be out covering 11 drivers. six are 2015 winners.

five still need a lot of help to get into the chase. only next piece to his chase puzzle. now he has to run consistently enough to ride to 30th in points if he makes the choice. and he knows that at daytona there is nothing consistent except it's unprediblt kt. christa? >> that is so true. drivers being called to their cars. joey logano waited out a portion in the stands with the fans. there's certainly some folks watching from the stands tonight rooting for joey logano. there you see dale earnhardt jr. talking to nascar's bret bodine and spotters called to the stand a few minutes ago, as well. to get ready to go racing. july fourth weekend is a chance to earn a postseason. wake up. get yourself loose and ready.

racing under the legs is intense. what about at near midnight? these drivers, the you areurgency, the intensity. it's going to be insane. >> some of them like dale said some laid back. watching tv. playing with the kids. relaxing. clint bowyer is jogging around the racetrack and jumped up. it gets intense. >> they will have a clean racetrack to race on. very cool.french mime trick. that's really gonna work. (french music playing) okay, no, no, no. no! stop it. no. ha-ha, what do you think of that? (grumbles) you want me to rub your fingers with my-- rub my fingers? you owe me money for

my rope. ooh-la-la. introducing the buttery, french croissant dog. and don't forget our half-price shakes after 8 pm. (clicks) ♪♪ a lot of people have helped get me here. my sister has always had my back. my buddies sonny and sean... the crew pushing me to be faster. amy reminding me to enjoy the moment. fans of course.

and nationwide -- who i've personally been with for 25 years. it's never been just me out there. nationwide is on your side.

>> the track is complete. the drivers climbing into their cars getting ready to get underway with 160 laps 400 miles of racing daytona international speedway. it's been almost three hours

since the green flag was supposed to drop. drivers like dale earnhardt, jr., who was just in the pace car going around the track to figure out if the track was dry enough if he felt comfortable going around the wheel, he obviously does if he's about to climb in that car -- climb in behind the wheel of that car. so jeff gordon, all smiles. but a lot of drivers getting ready for a great race. and always when we come to this racetrack, it has a different heir about it. >> there's no question. so much history. so much heritage. this is the birthplace of speed. this is where it all started with nascar. not only that it was one of the most exciting and sometimes only daring is the only way you and i describe it. these drivers are going something that we don't doer every single week. so they had to wait. and then it's worth it because you know it's getting ready to happen. there's a lot of nerve.

i know they're ready to get going. >> it's only 48 hours. i guess imagine what they were thinking about. they're excited. they're ready to strap in. >> five-hour energy. if you took it right before the scheduled start of this race. but we're about to get underway. danica patrick will be climbing into her number 10. about to get underway. it's great to see these drivers by their cars. i really have to applaud the fans here. daytona arising, 50,000 seats available and it doesn't look like anybody's left. it's passed 11:00 now in the daytona beach area. the fans sfienlly lyfinally ready and piling up. >> all the track-drying efforts.

all of these fans these 50,000 fans that are here they deserve a chance to see these race cars. >> steve, do you worry about your cars sf? they've been sitting out here a little over four hours waiting to be uncovered? >> this is an inbound race. nascar has controlled the cars since yesterday. the crew chief, you keep trying to work on it keep trying to find speed. and now, a little over a day now, these crew chiefs have been looking at notes and they haven't been able to work on their car. the crew chief, you hate to have your hands tied. and that's what these rain delays do. they've already got a win on the season. david ranken will get behind the dreemt machine. i saw joey lagano up in the grand stand.

i'm sure he's happy to be behind his car and about ready to client in and get some racing on the way. >> we talked last week about how long they work and great to come here in february. it was a huge accomplishmented for him as it would be any driver to generate a tremendous amount of accomplishmenteds. >> he continues to take pictures and sign autographs. earlier, when it was raining, he was up in the grand stands just outside of turn number four. come towards the trioval. he's ready to get the victory lane standing here with harvick. >> there's two guys here they both know how to get it done here. tony has done a ton of races here.

there's been a time in his career where he needs to win. this has been an opportunity tonight for him to make it happen. that's a lot of racing. tonight may be the most important. they need something good to happen for them. and if they do win a race they're eligible for the chase on a season where they haven't had much success. >> tony stewart has made to come. back in 2005 the race started just after 11:00. very similar to the way this race is about to unfold, starting after 11:00. it was 1:42 in the morning when tony stewart did this climbed up on the fence of the grand stand and celebrated. we gave him a ladder to get up to the flag stand. a very good idea.

jimmy mcmurray has had success with is this racetrack. he's been to victory lanes before. he's focused. he's ready to fire. >> whenever you come to a speedway race he used to come up with the conversation. he won a race. dale jr., and i he always seems to be up front controlling this field. you're not trying to control this car. it seems funny to me that in the same day, you continue to row tat. i think of deny hamlin. think of mcmurray. it's what the circumstances always find a way to move in front of the speedway races. >> jeff gordon. watch him getting ready to climb in blind the wheel of his car. >> i know we talked to him earlier, he mentioned his home track there to race. coming back today toe that this has to have a flood of emotions.

multiple winner in the daytona 500. he's won just about everything he's been in down here. at some point in his career to come back in when he straps in it will be his last in the stox car. and it's got to be a little emotional to him. he's got that smile and that grin. i know he's trying to get back to his office and get back to work. >> i think he's one of the drivers that use this as an opportunity. we've seen drivers all of the time, they run very well here. i think that's also true with danica. she's possible lid going to pull an upset tonight. >> she has finish ed finished eight

at this racetrack. austin dillen he won in 2008. >> it bodes well for you. >> i think it does. there's a back-up car with none of the traffic yet. it's a great racetrack. i know it's going to be a fast car. so we'll see what we can do with it tonight. >> so many unknowns does that concern you? squl i'm . >> i'm a little bit concerned, but it's a long race. make adjustments and see more up front. >> hop in the car. all the drivers are getting there, rick. >> yeah, it was 9:23 when the

rains left and the ttans fired um and started to dry the track. at 1 is1:05 they were told to load into those cars. we're about to get the engines fired up. >> i'm ready. >> i think we all have. >> >> daytona is such a spectrum as it is. but to see 43 cars at 200 miles an hour i remember back in '98, when they put lights in this track, it was just a crazy idea. here we are today, i think we take it officer granted. what a beautiful perspective when these guys grow up. >> absolutely. a little rain delay recap from daytona. there are 20 of them here on site. and jeff pryors.

we had 23 interviews and three burdens on air. and two drivers did take shots. >> i sfelt bad about two. but two out of 23 i feel a little nervous about that. bad percentage that's going my wile. dale jr., he didn't use all the leverage that he had. but it's all in fun. >> there's not many versions we put on the air, but there's going to be a lot more driver that is give me a hard time. >> and that is the great sight. drivers strapping in. >> at this moment when you know that you're about to go 400 miles at a racetrack that you know is unpredictable. are is there buter flies? is it nervous energy that you

have? >> number one, you're dwlad toglad to get the race in. >> yes, i think you are nervous. i think waiting made me just a touch more nervous. listen, i was afraid to say it. i was more nervous in daytona than i ever went. when i am strapped into this if you're smart, you look at the odds, there's a good chance you're going to be in a wreck. you have to know that when you put your held met on, when you're getting strapped in. you can't tell me that that's not different than every other one. >> there's so many distractions. there's a lot of people on the grid. a lot of people want to say hello to the drivers. those are all backed intentions. when the driver finally straps to the race car, i always try to stick my head in, some last hfd minute instructions. it's not as much as what i said as how i deliver.

here, all of ethis is behind us. just try to calm the moment and let's go to work. >> recess the driver. get us focused on the task at hand. >> when i walk away from that conversation, i felt to a different mood. my car to the pit boss. >> and i love that as a driver. i love my crew chief to come just before the race. i'm trap astrapped in. and i loef my crew chief to look in there, eye-to-eye just say something simple to me. just little things. now, we're on the same page. we work together we're on the same page. we've been joking around, rain delay, whatever. now it's time to go get it done. we're going to do it together. we're going to be talking, we're going to be communicating. >> nascar has told the teams and

drivers we're about four minutes away from firing the engines. as they continue to strap up and get ready, we'll take a quick break and be right back fwror the command here at daytona. ♪ ♪ i used to be a subway meatball guy but now i love sweet onion chicken teriyaki, too. >>ah, that's always been my favorite... i like red onions on mine. >>yeah put extra onions on mine >>no onions for me, boys... too strong for my tastes... i'm a green pepper man. showoff... carl edwards is training hard on his new team joe gibbs racing. fueled by his favorite the subway sweet onion chicken teriyaki with premium cut all white meat chicken strips, made the way carl likes -

with fresh spinach and black olives. >>i always thought you were a meatball. what do you mean by that, carl? ♪♪ a lot of people have helped get me here. my sister has always had my back. my buddies sonny and sean... the crew pushing me to be faster. amy reminding me to enjoy the moment. fans of course. and nationwide -- who i've personally been with for 25 years. it's never been just me out there. nationwide is on your side.

mplts . and, tonight we will be commercial-free for the racing. brought to you by our partners at smithfield food. 43 miles of commercial-free coverage here on nbc. the drivers are strapped into the cars, getting ready for the command. team members finding last minute for these drivers. as you mentioned, the crew chiefs chatting with them now, up on their pit box. getting ready to go 160 laps 400 miles as we're closingeing on 11:30. >> announcer: and now, for the

most famous words in motor sports, please welcome your grand marshal, mike o'brien. >> drivers, start your engines.

>> engines are fired and ready to go. i think everybody in the grand stands are excited, we're excited. >> feel the roar of the crowd, the enjiens fired, the cars about to roll on to the racetrack. the anticipation it took about three hours longer than what everyone was expecteding. but the anticipation building for the green flag in this one. >> yeah the anticipation is the toughest part. i mean, you work -- it's not just here. they've been working on these cars for weeks, if not months. speedway racing is the one chance a year where the car really seems to dominate.

the shots take this personal, the head shots take this very personal. it's a tremendous amount of work to put these 43 cars on the grid. >> we got rained out yesterday, so this is the first time these cars have been on the racetrack and drivers have been buckled in these cars. so it's been going on longer than a day, this started yesterday. >> a little over half way through a fuel run, we're expecteding the fuel one to be around 45 to 48 laps. they won't be able to add fuel prior to that competition. if they do decide to come onto pit road. >> that's one thing we have to keep in mind. this started later than we thought. handling is going to be -- handling will be less accuracy than you eve ever seen even if

it just a few hour earlier. >> the radio just made a comment about the fans. >> i'd like to say thank you to all of these amazing fans that hung out with us here tonight. good to see you here tonight. it's pretty darn full. looks good. you guys are in for a good show tonight. >> that might have been one of the roars. a lot of fans will be able to have scanners and listen in to their favorite drivers or all of the drivers, so they'll listen in to crew chief, driver and spotter. that was nice to acknowledge the fans directly. what a great turn out it is for this race. and the fact that they're still here, it's just at 11:30 now, the bottom of the hour as we're getting ready to see the green flag, the cars rolling off of pit road right now. >> brett kezelowski having some radio issues.

he won't lose his spot, though. >> no at this point, basically, the most important thing is find what the issue is and repair the issue. but you see this at times. when you have these rain delays the rain can get down inside the radio. >> let's take a look at tonight's starting grid. >> outside row 6, jimmy johnson, three times 800 winner. >> kite busch won this race.

top-ten finishes in the last four races are here. starting 17th also a daytona 500 winner back in 2008. >> matt kenzeth also a daytona 500 winner. and this guy, jeff gordon rolls off 23rd in his final start of daytona. greg biffel. >> two team mates starting next to each other. we talk about sleepers at the beginning of show. tone any stewart won this race four times. >> that guy, 17. a good chance of winners. >> speaking of winners, our defending winner will roll off 36.

>> this race finished 19th. we had the opportunity to chat with a driver tonight, that being carl edwards. why don't we tune him in and see if we can talk to the driver of the 19th. >> how are you doing? >> i'm doing great, jeff how are you doing? >> we're doing great up here. you start in the middle of the pack. >> that's going to make it harder because the strategy is to go to the front and start in the middle anything can happen. really proud of my guys to get us through a great subway camry. to get it done that's good. so hopefully, we can put on a show here tonight and have a little bit of fun. >> every race in daytona is always different. what do you see is the biggest challenge of winning tonight's race. >> considering how late it is

and how much is going on today, i think it will be a race of miss takes. i think guys will be -- not just in the cars but on pit road. it's been a long day for everyone. there might be some mistakes. just stay focused, avoid the wreck and have a little bit of luck. >> how does the track condition look right now with all of the rain. >> it looks pretty good. those air tights are a good job. there's just a little bit of moisture up right by the fence a little by. really, it looks good. >> with the track being cooler because of the rain, ist's later at night, do you think it's going to be an issue? >> i think because of how late we're starting you know everybody is probably -- i think we'll have long replay runs. and i think the handling might come into the play. if we were going to race tomorrow it would be a completely different race.