Pre-race news

Michael Waltrip Racing held a press conference on Tuesday July 7, with the announcements being that driver/owner Michael Waltrip will run a limited schedule in 2010, with one of those races being the 52nd Daytona 500, and replacing him as the third full-time driver will be Martin Truex Jr., who will leave Earnhardt Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2009 season, stepping down from the #1 Chevrolet Impala SS to drive the #56 Toyota Camry.

Qualifying

Brian Vickers won his 5th pole of the season with rookie Scott Speed taking 2nd position, marking the first time both Red Bull teammates started a NASCAR race on the front row.

Race recap

Mark Martin dominated the race, leading 4 times for 195 laps, but would be passed by Jimmie Johnson on the third to last restart. The race would then have some wild final laps, as Martin went to the lead with 15 laps left after a pass on Brian Vickers when he and Denny Hamlin touched. Jeff Gordon was the highest car with fresh tires, making up six spots in only two laps, but would finish 2nd as Mark Martin pulled away from the rest of the field restarting on the outside lane and would go on to win his 4th race of the season. By finishing 1st and 2nd in both races sponsored by LifeLock this season, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon win the Musgrave family (no relation to Ted Musgrave) $1,000,000.

Results