DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A.J. Allmendinger watched highlights of the Budweiser Shootout while waiting for his Daytona 500 qualifying run Sunday and couldn’t believe he avoided all those wrecks.
With a turn here, a near miss there and a little luck all around Daytona International Speedway, Allmendinger finished fifth in the exhibition race that kicked off the 2009 season Saturday night.
It was a strong, perhaps surprising start for the former open-wheel star who is scheduled to drive the first eight races in the No. 44 Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports. It also may have helped his chances of adding sponsorship and getting a shot at making more events this season.
“I want to run the whole year,” Allmendinger said. “If we do something that makes people want to be part of this team, that would be great.”
Hylton heads home.
James Hylton’s quest to become the oldest driver to start the Daytona 500 will have to wait at least another year.
Hylton’s No. 60 Dodge never got on the track during practice, failing to meet NASCAR’s mandatory speed minimum and sending the 74-year-old driver home early for the third consecutive season.
“I feel like I have been snakebit,” Hylton said. “The crew changed the starter and battery and more or less rebuilt the carburetor. The motor ran fine when we unloaded off the hauler. It’s just disappointing when something like this happens.”
Hylton has competed in 15 Daytona 500 events and earned a career-best third-place finish in 1967.
