The 2010 DRIVE4COPD 300 was a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held on February 13, 2010, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the first of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. It was the 29th iteration of the event. The race featured the NASCAR debut of IZOD IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick. This would be the last race at Daytona for the Generation 4 cars as the Nationwide Series would debut their Car of Tomorrow cars at the next Daytona race. Kyle Busch won the pole since he was the reigning Series champion from the 2009 season after Qualifying got rained out but it would be Tony Stewart who led the most laps and won the race after starting in 32nd position and it would be his 3rd Nationwide Series opener in a row and his 5th of the last 6 opening races.[2] But the race would be mostly remembered for a flip by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2010 DRIVE4COPD 300
Race details[1]
Map of Speedway
Map of Speedway
Date February 13, 2010 (2010-02-13)
Official name 2010 DRIVE4COPD 300
Location Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida
Course Tri-oval
2.5 mi (4.023 km)
Distance 120 laps, 300 mi (400 km)
Weather Sunny
Average speed 123.683 mph (199.048 km/h)
Attendance 80,000
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time no qualifying
Most laps led
Driver Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc.
Laps 38
Winner
No. 4 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc.
Television in the United States
Network ESPN2
Announcers Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree

Background

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Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races for ARCA, AMA Superbike, IMSA, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi (4.023 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi (5.729 km) sports car course, a 2.950 mi (4.748 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 ft (402.3 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (72.8 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (11.7 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is operated by NASCAR pursuant to a lease with the City of Daytona Beach on the property that runs until 2054.[3] Dale Earnhardt is Daytona International Speedway's all-time winningest driver, with a total of 34 career victories (12- Daytona 500 Qualifying Races) (7- NASCAR Xfinity Series Races) (6- Busch Clash Races) (6- IROC Races) (2- Pepsi 400 July Races) (1- The 1998 Daytona 500).

Entry List

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57 cars originally attempted to qualify for the race but 6 of them withdrew before the race.

  • (R) denotes rookie driver
# Driver Team Make
0 Jeremy Clements JD Motorsports Chevrolet
01 Mike Wallace JD Motorsports Chevrolet
1 James Buescher (R) Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
02 Danny Efland Corrie Stott Racing Chevrolet
04 Brad Teague JD Motorsports Chevrolet
4 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
05 Jeff Green Day Enterprise Racing Chevrolet
5 Bobby Gerhart Bob Schacht Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Danica Patrick (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
09 Scott Riggs RAB Racing Ford
10 Jason Leffler Braun Racing Toyota
11 Brian Scott (R) Braun Racing Toyota
12 Justin Allgaier Penske Racing Dodge
15 Michael Annett Germain Racing Toyota
16 Colin Braun (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 John Wes Townley Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
22 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge
23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet
24 Eric McClure Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
26 Brian Keselowski K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
27 Greg Biffle Baker Curb Racing Ford
28 Kenny Wallace Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet
31 Stanton Barrett Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
32 Brian Vickers Braun Racing Toyota
33 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
34 Tony Raines TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
35 Jason Keller TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
38 Kasey Kahne Braun Racing Toyota
40 Mike Bliss Key Motorsports Chevrolet
41 Chrissy Wallace Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
42 Parker Kligerman Team 42 Racing Dodge
43 Scott Lagasse Jr. Baker Curb Racing Ford
48 Johnny Sauter Blanton Racing Chevrolet
49 Mark Green Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet
52 Donnie Neuenberger Means Motorsports Chevrolet
56 Kevin Lepage Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet
58 Chase Austin Xxxtreme Motorsports Chevrolet
60 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford
61 Josh Wise Specialty Racing Ford
62 Brendan Gaughan Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota
66 Steve Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota
70 Shelby Howard ML Motorsports Chevrolet
73 Derrike Cope Stratus Racing Group Dodge
75 Brett Rowe Herd Racing Dodge
81 Michael McDowell MacDonald Motorsports Dodge
83 Johnny Borneman III Borneman Motorsports Dodge
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet
89 Morgan Shepherd Faith Motorsports Chevrolet
92 Johnny Chapman K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
96 Dennis Setzer K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
97 Jeff Fuller NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
98 Paul Menard Roush Fenway Racing Ford
99 Trevor Bayne Diamond-Waltrip Racing Toyota
Official Entry List

Qualifying

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Kyle Busch won the pole since he was the reigning Series Champion after Qualifying was rained out.

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
2 60 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford
3 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet
4 33 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
5 21 John Wes Townley Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
7 32 Brian Vickers Braun Racing Toyota
8 38 Kasey Kahne Braun Racing Toyota
9 16 Colin Braun (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
10 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford
11 1 James Buescher (R) Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
12 12 Justin Allgaier Penske Racing Dodge
13 66 Steve Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota
14 43 Scott Lagasse Jr. Baker Curb Racing Ford
15 7 Danica Patrick (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
16 62 Brendan Gaughan Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota
17 99 Trevor Bayne Diamond-Waltrip Racing Toyota
18 15 Michael Annett Germain Racing Toyota
19 28 Kenny Wallace Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet
20 34 Tony Raines TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
21 40 Mike Bliss Key Motorsports Chevrolet
22 10 Jason Leffler Braun Racing Toyota
23 01 Mike Wallace JD Motorsports Chevrolet
24 22 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge
25 81 Michael McDowell MacDonald Motorsports Dodge
26 24 Eric McClure Team Rensi Motorsports Ford
27 23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet
28 26 Brian Keselowski K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
29 61 Josh Wise Specialty Racing Ford
30 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
31 27 Greg Biffle Baker Curb Racing Ford
32 4 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet
33 05 Jeff Green Day Enterprise Racing Chevrolet
34 04 Brad Teague JD Motorsports Chevrolet
35 41 Chrissy Wallace Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
36 02 Danny Efland Corrie Stott Racing Chevrolet
37 11 Brian Scott (R) Braun Racing Toyota
38 48 Johnny Sauter Blanton Racing Chevrolet
39 09 Scott Riggs RAB Racing Ford
40 89 Morgan Shepherd Faith Motorsports Chevrolet
41 31 Stanton Barrett Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
42 5 Bobby Gerhart Bob Schact Motorsports Chevrolet
43 98 Paul Menard Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Failed to Qualify, driver changes, or withdrew
44 0 Jeremy Clements JD Motorsports Chevrolet
45 56 Kevin Lepage Mac Hill Motorsports Chevrolet
46 83 Johnny Borneman III Borneman Motorsports Dodge
47 75 Brett Rowe Herd Racing Dodge
48 73 Derrike Cope Stratus Racing Group Dodge
49 92 Johnny Chapman K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
50 35 Jason Keller TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet
51 70 Shelby Howard ML Motorsports Chevrolet
WD 42 Parker Kligerman Team 42 Racing Dodge
WD 49 Mark Green Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet
WD 52 Donnie Neuenberger Means Motorsports Chevrolet
WD 58 Chase Austin Xxxtreme Motorsports Chevrolet
WD 96 Dennis Setzer K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge
WD 97 Jeff Fuller NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet
Official Starting Grid

Race

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Kyle Busch took the lead at the start of the race. The first caution did not take long as it happened on the first lap off of turn 4 when Chrissy Wallace, daughter of Mike Wallace and making her Nationwide Series debut, crashed after getting loose. Brad Teague also spun in the tri-oval after going through the grass. Kyle Busch led the first lap of the race. The race restarted in lap 6. On the restart, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Kyle Busch off of turn 4. But on lap 7, the second caution flew for the first of three big ones in the race that occurred in turn 2 taking out 8 cars. It started when Trevor Bayne got turned by Mike Bliss and Bayne turned down into Colin Braun and Bayne spun up and pounded the outside wall driver's side first and also collected Bliss, Mike Wallace, Brian Keselowski, Josh Wise, Michael McDowell, and Paul Menard. The race restarted on lap 12 with Kevin Harvick still leading. Soon a six car breakaway occurred from the pack with Harvick leading Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, John Wes Townley, and Kyle Busch. On lap 43, green flag pitstops began as Harvick gave up his lead to Kyle Busch. Busch soon pitted on lap 46 giving the lead to Tony Raines who had Joe Nemechek behind him. On lap 50, Nemechek would pass Raines for the lead. On lap 51, the third caution flew when Mike Wallace spun all by himself in turn 3. Greg Biffle was the new leader and Biffle led the field to the restart on lap 56. On lap 62, Brad Keselowski took the lead. On lap 63, Dale Earnhardt Jr. attempted to take the lead but failed to get in front of Keselowski. Coming out of the tri-oval on the next lap, disaster almost struck as Tony Stewart got hooked in the rear by Kevin Harvick causing Stewart to go sideways but Stewart was able to save it without losing momentum. Eventually on the next lap, Stewart would take the lead from Keselowski.

Final laps

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On lap 68, the second big one struck coming into the tri-oval taking out 12 cars. It started when Josh Wise got turned by Colin Braun coming out of turn 4 and Wise turned down into Jason Leffler and the two went spinning collecting Braun, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Danica Patrick, Brian Scott, John Wes Townley, Robert Richardson Jr. Stanton Barrett, Scott Lagasse Jr., Johnny Sauter, and Joe Nemechek. Carl Edwards won the race off of pit road and he led the field to the restart with 42 laps to go on lap 79. On the restart, Kyle Busch took the lead from Edwards. But on the next lap, Edwards would take the lead back. With 38 laps to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead from Edwards. With 37 to go, the 5th caution would fly for debris on the backstretch. The race restarted with 32 to go. With 31 to go, Stewart took the lead from Earnhardt Jr. With 29 to go, the biggest crash of the day occurred on the backstretch which would be the third and final big one of the race taking out 13 cars. It started when Carl Edwards went up and appeared to try to get behind Keselowski but ended up misjudging and making contact with Keselowski that ended up causing a chain reaction wreck turning Keselowski down into Dale Earnhardt Jr. and clipped Junior at the right angle that the grip on the pavement sent his car upside down. Earnhardt also clipped Kevin Harvick sending Harvick spinning through the infield grass. Earnhardt's car stayed upside down for about 5 seconds while getting hit by multiple cars in the process before another car hit him to flip him back on all four wheels and came to a rest on the inside wall right side up. Earnhardt's car was destroyed but thankfully, Junior walked out under his own power uninjured. During the wreck, Brendan Gaughan finished wrecking and tried to nurse his car to pit road. As he was about to start his car again, he got hit from behind by Joe Nemechek that lifted Gaughan's rear of the car off the ground. The cars involved were Mike Wallace, Jeff Green, Scott Riggs, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Tony Raines, Carl Edwards, Brendan Gaughan, Joe Nemechek, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.[4] The race was red flagged for about 15 minutes to clean up the mess. Steve Wallace was the new race leader and he led the field back to green with 25 laps to go. But on the restart, Tony Stewart would pass Wallace for the lead down the backstretch. With 24 to go, the 7th and final caution flew for debris in turn 3. The race restarted with 20 laps to go. On the final lap, a crash occurred in turns 3 and 4 between Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski but no caution flew. Stewart was able to hold off the pack in the last 20 laps to pick up the win. This would be Stewart's third Nationwide Series opener in a row and his fifth in the last six years. Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Justin Allgaier, and Brian Vickers rounded out the top 5 while Paul Menard, Joey Logano, James Buescher, Kasey Kahne, and Steve Wallace rounded out the top 10.[5]

Race results

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Pos Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Run Laps Led Status Points
1 4 Tony Stewart Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 38 running 195
2 60 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 120 5 running 175
3 33 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet 120 37 running 170
4 12 Justin Allgaier Penske Racing Dodge 120 0 running 160
5 32 Brian Vickers Braun Racing Toyota 120 0 running 155
6 98 Paul Menard Roush Fenway Racing Ford 120 0 running 150
7 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 120 0 running 146
8 1 James Buescher (R) Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 120 0 running 142
9 38 Kasey Kahne Braun Racing Toyota 120 0 running 138
10 66 Steve Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota 120 3 running 139
11 26 Brian Keselowski K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge 120 0 running 130
12 15 Michael Annett Germain Racing Toyota 120 0 running 127
13 22 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 120 3 running 129
14 34 Tony Raines TriStar Motorsports Chevrolet 120 3 running 126
15 09 Scott Riggs RAB Racing Ford 120 0 running 118
16 28 Kenny Wallace Jay Robinson Racing Chevrolet 120 0 running 115
17 24 Eric McClure Team Rensi Motorsports Ford 120 1 running 117
18 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 120 10 running 114
19 11 Brian Scott (R) Braun Racing Toyota 120 0 running 106
20 5 Bobby Gerhart Bob Schacht Motorsports Chevrolet 120 0 running 103
21 02 Danny Efland Corrie Stott Racing Chevrolet 120 0 running 100
22 89 Morgan Shepherd Faith Motorsports Chevrolet 118 0 running 97
23 21 John Wes Townley Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 118 0 running 94
24 81 Michael McDowell MacDonald Motorsports Dodge 113 0 running 91
25 23 Robert Richardson Jr. R3 Motorsports Chevrolet 106 0 running 88
26 27 Greg Biffle Baker Curb Racing Ford 97 9 crash 90
27 05 Jeff Green Day Enterprise Racing Chevrolet 92 0 crash 82
28 01 Mike Wallace JD Motorsports Chevrolet 92 1 crash 84
29 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. JR Motorsports Chevrolet 91 7 crash 81
30 62 Brendan Gaughan Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota 91 0 crash 73
31 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet 91 3 crash 75
32 43 Scott Lagasse Jr. Baker Curb Racing Ford 90 0 running 67
33 10 Jason Leffler Braun Racing Toyota 76 0 crash 64
34 16 Colin Braun (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 71 0 crash 61
35 7 Danica Patrick (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 69 0 crash 58
36 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (R) Roush Fenway Racing Ford 68 0 crash 55
37 31 Stanton Barrett Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 67 0 crash 52
38 48 Johnny Sauter Blanton Motorsports Chevrolet 67 0 crash 49
39 61 Josh Wise Specialty Racing Ford 65 0 crash 46
40 40 Mike Bliss Key Motorsports Chevrolet 7 0 crash 43
41 99 Trevor Bayne Diamond-Waltrip Racing Toyota 6 0 crash 40
42 04 Brad Teague JD Motorsports Chevrolet 2 0 crash 37
43 41 Chrissy Wallace Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 0 0 crash 34
Official race results

References

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  1. ^ "2010 DRIVE4COPD 300". Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "Tony Stewart Wins Nationwide Race At Daytona". Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  3. ^ Lane, Mark (5 August 2018). "Little-known special district leases land under the Daytona International Speedway". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Earnhardt involved in scary Daytona crash". Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "NASCAR: For the fifth time in six years, Tony Stewart wins Nationwide opener". Retrieved February 13, 2010.


Previous race:
2009 Ford 300
NASCAR Nationwide Series
2010 season
Next race:
2010 Stater Brothers 300