[simple simon]

There are 61 entries for the 43 spots in the Daytona 500, meaning that 18 drivers are going to be watching the big race from somewhere other than the cockpit of their race car – perhaps on TV or from a luxury suite.

Among the drivers who will have to race their way in are five former race winners, including two-time winners Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Sterling Marlin, along with Derrike Cope and Ward Burton.

Also among the drivers needing to qualify are Boris Said, who won the pole and finished fourth in last July’s Pepsi 400 here, and veteran Joe Nemechek.

“That’s pretty impressive, that many good teams coming out here to race,” Blaney said. “And it’s a shame some of them don’t get to race on Sunday.”

Kyle Petty, who finished 32nd in the 2006 points – meaning he has a free pass into the race – joked, “They need to change it to the top 43 in points.”

That's Racin' | 02/09/2007 | Lengthy Daytona entry list means 18 NASCAR teams will be on the outside looking in

[simple simon]

im suprised there is enough sponsor money out there to get 63 drivers there to have a chance to make the race

and they say the economy is doing bad

[BringBackWilkesboro]

I hope Hylton makes it in. It'll be a start and park, but I'd love to see him on the track. I think just making this race will be a success.

[simple simon]

why would it be start and park ?

cant afford to wreck the car ?

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by simple simon

why would it be start and park ?

cant afford to wreck the car ?

That's a part of it. But the man is '72. It'll be like Morgan Shepard used to do (still does?). He is smart enough to realise he is no longer competetive so he just runs a few laps, maybe somebody will drop out and he'll get some cash.

[LSC9901]

It amazes me to no end why anyone would sponsor Cope. He just doesn't have much hope of even placing well. His fame came at a race that Dale Sr. should have won. He certainly has more than his share of DNF's. With 60 other drivers looking for a spot his chances seem pretty slim at best.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

That's a part of it. But the man is '72. It'll be like Morgan Shepard used to do (still does?). He is smart enough to realise he is no longer competetive so he just runs a few laps, maybe somebody will drop out and he'll get some cash.

sorry now i remember i saw that guy on ESPN i think it was

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Correction. I meant James Hylton. And speaking of sponsorship, it's appropriate that Retirement Living TV should sponsor him.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

It'll be like Morgan Shepard used to do (still does?).

In 2006, Shepherd brought on several Christian investors and sponsor Dutch Quality Stone, renaming the team Victory Motorsports. But after failing to qualify in every race he attempted, he sold the team to his partners. He runs part-time in the #0 for Davis in the Busch Series, his best finish 40th at Nashville Superspeedway. In July 2006, Shepherd and Christian businessman Dana Tomes of West Virginia formed Faith Motorsports with Shepherd driving. He made his first race of the year at the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, where he finished 43rd. The following week, he qualified for the Sylvania 300 and finished 42nd.
Morgan Shepherd - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

i can find most anything with Google

i always liked Morgan though.....he came up to Maine and raced in the Oxford 250 several times

[LSC9901]

I don't see a 72 year old who couldn't qualify for a race in 1995 at age 60, qualifying for this race. Technology has advanced in that 12 year period and his response time has undoubtedly decreased.


JAMES HYLTON

James Hylton was one of thirteen children who grew up on a farm and from a poor family. Hylton became obsessed with racing and he had no plans, no funds and no backing in racing. All of his experience was on farm equipment.
Hylton became a master at preparing cars, which would prove an invaluable skill during his driving career. From 1959-63, he prepared chassis for Rex White, helping White to the 1960 Grand National title. In 1964-65, Hylton served as crew chief for Ned Jarrett, and Jarrett won the series title in '65.
Hylton's heart was set on racing and he got his chance in 1964, making three starts in Ned Jarrett's back-up car. The 30 year old driver burst on the scene in 1966, grabbing 20 top-'5s in 41 starts. He finished second in points behind David Pearson and was the hands-down choice as Rookie of the Year. That was a remarkable season considering he ran the whole season with one car and one engine, he never crashed or blew an engine during that whole season.
Hylton's consistency in the point standing between 1966 and 1975 was surprised by only Petty, during "The Kings" prime. Petty had an average finish of 2.2 during the same period, which included five of his seven Winston Cup titles. Hylton averaged 4.0 easily topping such superstars as David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison.
So why isn't James Hylton's name know more these days? Simple, he didn't get enough wins. In 601 starts during his career he could manage only two wins, Richmond in 1970 and Talladega in 1972.
"If I'd gotten some help, I feel like I could have run with anybody," he says. "If I'd had some financial backing-a sponsor-where we could have hired people to let me concentrate on racing, I feel I could have driven with anybody. I'm not too happy with NASCAR for not supporting the (independent drivers). Not only me, there were a dozen independent drivers who could have been winners if they'd had some financial help.
"I know it wasn't NASCAR's responsibility to see that everybody's got the best of the best. But I know there were opportunities there, that with a little bit of coaching from NASCAR, they could have shoved a little sponsorship our way, but they never did," Hylton said. Hylton is still bitter about the decades old events. " I have a little resentment there, because I feel like I was left out, not because of a lack of ability or a lack of working myself to death," Hylton said. " It was all a financial deal."
Hylton couldn't change the fact that he was going up against teams with better funding and equipment. After finishing third in the 1975 points race, his career went into a steady decline. Yet he hung around long enough to make 601 starts, 11th on the all-time list.
Hylton's last full season as a driver was 1981. He ran a limited schedule in the years after that, and just weeks short of his 60th birthday he attempted to qualify for the 1995 Brickyard 400.

[tbalt]

I hope 6 of the cars that don't make it have Toyota written on them.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by tbalt

I hope 6 of the cars that don't make it have Toyota written on them.

.... and may the first one be owned and driven by the village idiot !!!

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

.... and may the first one be owned and driven by the village idiot !!!

Not sure which car that would be but I have a guess, 36?

[Mike24]

I will laugh if Toyota only has like 2 drivers make the 500. That's a great way to enter the sport. But I doubt that.

61 drivers...... that's unreal. I can smell NASCAR expanding the field from 43 drivers to...... who knows.

[tbalt]

Thats right I forgot two Toyota cars will be in for sure. the 44 and 22