Daytona Twin 125: News of note, schedule

NEWS & NOTES

* The Canadian version of TV Guide magazine will feature its first-ever NASCAR cover on Saturday. This collectible issue, which hits newsstands Monday, is geared toward the huge contingent of NASCAR fans throughout Canada.

"NASCAR is the No. 1-rated motorsport in Canada," said TV Guide Editor Jamie Hubbard, "and interest is climbing dramatically every season. Now that the Daytona 500 and other NASCAR races are also being broadcast on TORONTO 1 and the A-Channels, those numbers will only rise."

NASCAR International sees this as a pinnacle for Canadian racing enthusiasts.

"Coverage of the 2004 NASCAR Season in TV Guide is really a milestone for NASCAR and stock car racing in Canada," said Robbie Weiss, NASCAR Director, International. "NASCAR has established itself as part of the Canadian sports culture and is truly becoming a global phenomenon. Today, we are proud to see our fans and media partners following and enjoying NASCAR racing in more than 100 countries around the world."

The Canadian version of TV Guide reaches 3.6 million readers on a weekly basis.

* Brake Parts Inc., manufacturer of Raybestos, the world's leading brand of brake components, has reached an agreement with NASCAR to extend sponsorship of the Raybestos Rookie of the Year program through 2010 in NASCAR's three national series: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

QUOTE TO NOTE

"I never dreamed I would even win one Daytona 500, let alone three." -- Dale Jarrett (No. 88 UPS Ford), who won last Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Daytona 500's qualifying races used to be 100-milers. Bob Welborn and Shorty Rollins won the first set of "twins" in 1959. ... From 1960-62, Fireball Roberts was a twin winner. Roberts was the first qualifying-race winner to go on to win the 500, that occurring in 1962. ... The races became 125-milers in 1969, won by David Pearson and Bobby Isaac. ... Dale Earnhardt won a record 12 125-milers, including 10 consecutive from 1990-99.

FAST FACTS

What: Gatorade 125s (Two 125-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500).
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
When: Thursday, 1 p.m. ET.

TV: TNT, Noon ET.
Radio: MRN/XM Satellite.

Posted awards: $1.25 million.

Race lengths: 50 laps/125 miles.
Track layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval.

Daytona 500 qualifying process: Pole-day qualifying locks in the 500's front row and establishes the starting grids for the 125s. The 125s set positions 3-30 for the 500. Positions 31-38 are based on original qualifying speeds. Positions 39-43 are provisionals, per the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series rule book.

-nascar-