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Thursday, 9th February 2006

Whereas the Daytona 500 signals the start of the Nextel Cup season, the introduction of the Chase for the Championship means it isn't necessarily the start of the fight for the title, allowing drivers to throw even more caution to the wind than usual in their efforts to win the biggest race of them all.

With nearly 60 teams expected to pitch up to fight for 43 places on the grid, the fight among the small fry for a place on the starting line-up will be fierce. However as Kevin Lepage and the #37 R&J Racing team can attest, a heroic performance can yield lucrative results.

As usual, keeping the car in one piece will be key, as several potential contenders saw their hopes of victory smashed last year in Thursday's qualifying races and several others likewise in the now almost obligatory multi-car pile-up in the closing stages of the race. Patience, timing and luck will all play their usual, major role and while NASCAR's big guns from Roush, Hendrick and Gibbs will start as favourites, the Daytona 500 is certainly one of the most un-certain races of the year.

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