2012 Daytona 500 Results: Matt Kenseth Captures 2nd Race; Regan Smith Finishes In 24th Place

It took over three days to complete the 2012 Daytona 500, but we can call Matt Kenseth the winner of the 54th Great American Race. This is his second victory at the Daytona International Speedway, winning it in 2009. But his 2012 victory will probably be the more memorable win. With rain postponing the race from Sunday to a prime time slot on Monday and with double-digit cautions flags and a two-hour delay to repair the track following Juan Pablo Montoya's crash and the subsequent jet fuel-induced fire on Tuesday, Kenseth, the racers and fans may never see such a confluence of events like that at a race ever again.

Denver's Furniture Row racing saw Regan Smith and the No. 78 car start out by maintaining a top-five spot for the first 50 laps, but he wound up finishing in 24th place. Though he was involved in a multi-car wreck with just 14 laps left in the race, Smith was able to have the damaged repaired and be back out on the course to finish the race.

Here are the results for the Daytona 500:

1. Matt Kenseth
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Jeff Burton
6. Paul Menard
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Carl Edwards
9. Joey Logano
10. Mark Martin
11. Clint Bowyer
12. Martin Truex Jr.
13. Marcos Ambrose
14. Bobby Labonte
15. Dave Blaney
16. Tony Stewart
17. Kyle Busch
18. Terry Labonte
19. Tony Raines
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
21. Ryan Newman
22. Landon Cassill
23. David Gilliland
24. Regan Smith
25. Casey Mears
26. David Reutimann
27. Elliott Sadler
28. Joe Nemechek
29. Kasey Kahne
30. Michael McDowell
31. Jamie McMurray
32. Brad Keselowski
33. Aric Almirola
34. AJ Allmendinger
35. Trevor Bayne
36. Juan Pablo Montoya
37. David Stremme
38. Danica Patrick
39. Kurt Busch
40. Jeff Gordon
41. Robby Gordon
42. Jimmie Johnson
43. David Ragan

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Results: Matt Kenseth Captures Memorable, Strange Great American Race

The 2012 Daytona 500 took far longer to finish than many expected, but Matt Kenseth has won the 54th racing of the event. After a postponement on Sunday, Monday's prime time race went into a two hour delay after Juan Pablo Montoya crashed into a jet dryer and caused a jet fire fuel (video). The damage to the track was cleaned with Tide and repaired. It wasn't until 1:00 a.m. ET that Kenseth crossed the finish line and won his second Daytona 500 (2009 winner)

On the final lap, Kenseth beat out Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle and it wasn't even close, as you can see below.

Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith finished in 24th place. Stay tuned for a complete list of finishing order.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Crash Video: Regan Smith Part Of Multi-Car Crash

Regan Smith won't win the Daytona 500 unless another multi-car crash happens, but the one that he was just involved in has forced him off the track. As we see in the video below, Smith is knotted in the middle group of racers when a crash involving Brad Keselowski. Smith's No. 78 car gets tangled up in it and is close to the grass before sliding deep into there. He then makes it back onto the track and heads into the pit.

However, Furniture Row Racing promised that Smith would return and finish the race:

We will pull the hood and right front fender off and finish this race. #DAYTONA500 #NASCARprimetime #PlayItSafe #GoFurnitureRow78

—Furniture RowRacing (@FR78Racing) February 28, 2012

This crash happened with 14 laps to go.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

Daytona 500: Juan Pablo Montoya Crash Sparks Jet Fuel Fire (VIDEO)

The 2012 Daytona 500 is currently in a red flag situation ton Lap 160 following Juan Pablo Montoya crashing into the jet dryer during a caution flag. That caused jet fuel to spark and explode, resulting in a fire that expanded vertically across the track.

Montoya's car dropped down to the grass after it hit the jet dryer. Montoya escaped the car unharmed from the fire. But as we can see above, the jet fuel-induced fire spread rapidly and has potentially damaged the track. If the track is not safe to race on as a result of this, the race will likely be called with 40 laps left to go.

If the race is called, Dave Blaney will be the winner of the 54th Daytona 500. Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith will finish in 20th place.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Update: Regan Smith In 18th Place Halfway Through Race

Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith is in 18th place following Lap 100, the midpoint, of the 2012 Daytona 500. After starting off the race at No. 6 and staying within the top 5 for much of the first 50 laps of the race, Smith had fallen to the back of the pack at times.

There have already been several drivers eliminated due to early crashes. Danica Patrick, though, made it back to the race after she was involved in an accident that began with Jimmie Johnson, who didn't. Johnson was right behind Regan Smith when he spun out of control and caused a multi-car accident.

Jeff Gordon's engine blew toward the final third of the first 100 laps. Terry Labonte spun out of control several laps later, causing another caution on the race.

The current leader after Lap 100 is Martin Truex Jr, followed by Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton. The race is now considered official and can only be shortened, not postponed.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Update: Regan Smith Holding Steady In Top 5 After 45 Laps

Denver-based Regan Smith started sixth in the 2012 Daytona 500, and so far he's been able to hold steady in the top 10, and even led the race briefly. He's also dodged some early accidents. Right at the start of the race, a six-car pileup involving Jimmie Johnson and Danica Patrick, among others, ended a shot at victory for several drivers.

Related: 2012 Daytona 500: Regan Smith Qualifies In 6th

Later on, Ryan Newman suffered what appeared to be a flat tire and spun out, though neither his nor anyone else's car was damaged in the incident.

So as the cars approch the 50-lap mark, Smith is very much in contention and less than a half-second off the leader of the race.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Start Time Moved To 5 P.M. MT

The 2012 Daytona 500 will need to wait several more hours to have the 54th running of the race. The new start time is 5:00 p.m. MT with engines starting at 5:02 p.m. Fox will still have the broadcast, replacing all of its prime time programming with NASCAR.

Rain, once again, forced a move of the start time. Bad weather had settled in around Daytona Beach early on Sunday and forced, at first, a delay. Nearly four hours after the projected start time was not met, the race was moved to Monday at 10:00 a.m. MT. But the rain still lingered in the area. However, the window for a race looks to be clear later in the day, allowing the track enough time to dray and allow for a night race.

Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith will be in starting position No. 6.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500: Start Time Comes At 10 A.M. MT On Monday After Sunday's Rain Postponement

The 2012 Daytona 500 will attempt its 54th running on Monday, one day after rain forced the postponement of the race. Heavy rains passed through Daytona Beach for most of the day. Originally, the race had been delayed to start with early in the morning, but it took nearly four hours from the scheduled start time for the event to be moved to Monday.

The issue with moving the race to Monday is that the weather might just even worse. The chance for rain will be 50 percent or higher starting early in the morning before moving to a near certainty by the time the green flag is dropped. Thunderstorms are expected at that point and will last for several hours.

We might see another delay and see the event moved to the night, when the weather is supposed to be better. It will take at least a couple of hours for the track to dry once a racing window opens. If the race is unable to happen on Monday, plans for another date are not yet certain.

Start Time: 10:01 a.m. MT, Monday, Feb. 26, 2012

Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL.

TV: Fox

Radio: Check Motor Racing Network for local affiliate

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Postponed Until Monday

Unfortunately, the 54th running of the Daytona 500 must wait until Monday. Precipitous rains all day on Sunday have made the track too dangerous to race on and more rain is expected. It will now start at 10:00 a.m. MT on Monday, reports SB Nation's Jeff Gluck.

OFFICIAL: DAYTONA 500 POSTPONED until noon tomorrow. #NASCAR

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 26, 2012

However, the forecast for Monday is even worse with the potential for thunderstorms most of the day. If it can't get in then, Tuesday would appear to be an optimal day since rain is not in the forecast.

Denver's Furniture Row Racing has Regan Smith in the race, and he will start in the sixth spot whenever the race does start.

Sorry everybody, we tried.Believe me when I say this the worst part for us as a sport is that some of you won't be able to watch now.

— Regan Smith (@Regan_Smith_) February 26, 2012

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

Daytona 500 2012 Starting Grid: Regan Smith Starts At No. 6, Waits For Rain To Let Up

The 2012 Daytona 500 is currently delayed due to rainy conditions in Florida, but the racers will be ready to take their places in the starting grid once the weather allows it. It will take two hours for the track to be dried and safe for the drivers to race on. Rain is expected throughout the day, making everyone on edge as to whether the race will actually take place on Sunday.

Denver's Furniture Row Racing will have Regan Smith starting at No. 6. He took that spot due to his performance in Thursday's Gatorade Duels. Carl Edward and Greg Biffle had secured the pole and the outside pole position one week ago when they did the best speed performance during the Dayton 500 Qualifying races.

Smith finished in seventh last year after starting off in fifth. He wound up crashing in the final laps of the race, which Trevor Bayne won. Bayne starts at No. 40.

Here is the starting lineup for the 2012 Daytona 500:

1. Carl Edwards
2. Greg Biffle
3. Tony Stewart
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
6. Regan Smith
7. Marcos Ambrose
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. Jeff Burton
10. Elliott Sadler
11. Michael McDowell
12. Joey Logano
13. Kevin Harvick
14. Kyle Busch
15. AJ Allmendinger
16. Jeff Gordon
17. Robby Gordon
18. Ryan Newman
19. Jamie McMurray
20. Kasey Kahne
21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
22. Mark Martin
23. Brad Keselowski
24. Dave Blaney
25. David Ragan
26. Martin Truex Jr.
27. Aric Almirola
28. Kurt Busch
29. Danica Patrick
30. Clint Bowyer
31. Denny Hamlin
32. Bobby Labonte
33. David Gilliland
34. Joe Nemechek
35. Juan Pablo Montoya
36. Casey Mears
37. Paul Menard
38. David Reutimann
39. Landon Cassill
40. Trevor Bayne
41. Tony Raines
42. David Stremme
43. Terry Labonte

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500: Rain To Delay Race For 'A Few Hours'

Rain in Florida is expected to delay the start of the 2012 Daytona 500 for a few hours, reports SB Nation's Jeff Gluck, the man on the scene down there:

Totally raining. Totally a bummer. At the very least, Daytona 500 will be delayed a few hours. Rain now means it cannot start on time.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 26, 2012

Rain is expected for most of the day with a slight possibility of having a time period at night to run the race. If that is unable to happen, the race could be moved to Monday for the first time in its history. However, the weather is expected to be worse on Monday with thunderstorms expected.

Regan Smith of Furniture Row Racing will start sixth whenever the race begins.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500 Weather: Rain May Delay Start Of Race

Daytona 500 2012: Start Time, TV Schedule And More

The grandest race of NASCAR takes place on Sunday with the 54th running of the Daytona 500. For Denver-based Furniture Row Racing, all hopes lie with Regan Smith. In 2011, Smith finished seventh during the Daytona 500, launching his best season. Smith picked up the first win of his career on the Sprint Cup Series when he took the checkered flag at the Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Smith will start sixth, after winning that spot on Thursday during the Gatorade Duels (full starting grid here). Carl Edwards holds the pole position and Greg Biffle will be on the outside, both winning those spots during the Daytona 500 Qualifying. Last year's winner, Trevor Bayne, will be at the back of the starting lineup at No. 40.

Fox begins its coverage at 10:00 a.m. MT and will start the race around 11:00 a.m. MT, but it will be almost another 30 minutes before John Cena waves the green flag.

Start Time: 11:29 a.m. MT, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2012

Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL.

TV: Fox

Radio: Check Motor Racing Network for local affiliate

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

2012 Daytona 500: Regan Smith Qualifies In 6th

The first row of the 2012 Daytona 500 starting field was determined last Sunday, and Thursday afternoon was the moment of truth for everyone else. The Gatorade Duels -- a pair of 60-lap races -- were held to determine how the rest of the lineup would be ordered.

Related: Open Race Thread: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona | Daytona International Speedway

Colorado-based Front Row Racing's Regan Smith fared well in the second race, as he finished second behind Matt Kenseth. That finish guaranteed not only a spot in the Daytona 500, but a top-10 starting spot to boot. Smith will start sixth on Sunday, in row three alongside Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Tony Stewart won the other Duel of the day.

The 2012 Daytona 500 gets underway at 11:00 a.m. MT on Sunday, Feb. 26.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more racing coverage, head over to NASCAR Ranting And Raving. For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying Results: Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle Take Top Spots; Regan Smith Finishes In 39th

Regan Smith must wait until the Gatorade Duels later in the week to determine where he will start in the Daytona 500. He finished 39th overall in Sunday's Daytona 500 Qualifying event. Recall, this speed trial only determines the winners of the pole and the outside pole position, which went to Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle taking those spots, respectively.

This event also provided three drivers who were not qualified for the event to make the field. Those three players are: Trevor Bayne, Tony Raines and David Stremme. Terry Labonte also clinched a spot under the former champion provision.

The Gatorade Duels will take place on Feb. 23.

Here is the complete order of finish:

1. Carl Edwards
2. Greg Biffle
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4. Marcos Ambrose
5. Casey Mears
6. Jeff Gordon
7. Martin Truex Jr.
8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
9. Trevor Bayne * (clinched berth in Daytona 500)
10. Tony Stewart
11. Mark Martin
12. Jimmie Johnson
13. AJ Allmendinger
14. Paul Menard
15. David Ragan
16. Matt Kenseth
17. Ryan Newman
18. AJ Allmendinger
19. Brad Keselowski
20. Kevin Harvick
21. Joey Logano
22. Clint Bowyer
23. Jeff Burton
24. Juan Pablo Montoya
25. Kasey Kahne
26. Tony Raines * (clinched berth in Daytona 500)
27. David Stremme * (clinched berth in Daytona 500)
28. Kyle Busch
29. Jamie McMurray
30. Danica Patrick
31. Kenny Wallace
32. Terry Labonte * (guaranteed spot via past champion's provisional)
33. Dave Blaney
34. Kurt Busch
35. Elliott Sadler
36. Michael Waltrip
37. Joe Nemechek
38. Denny Hamlin
39. Regan Smith
40. Michael McDowell
41. Landon Cassill
42. David Gilliland
43. Bobby Labonte
44. Bill Elliott
45. Mike Wallace
46. David Reutimann
47. Robert Richardson Jr.
48. Robby Gordon
49. JJ Yeley

For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying: Regan Smith Among Last Qualified Racers On Sunday

The 2012 Daytona 500 Qualifying event begins at 11:00 a.m. MT and Denver-based Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith will be the 29th racer to take part in the event. What this event actually determines is the pole position and the outside pole position for the Daytona 500 next Sunday. The top 35 racers (see below) are all qualified for the race while the 13 after them are vying for three guaranteed spots. For the rest of the qualified field, starting position will be determined by Thursday's Gatorade Duels. Those non-qualified racers will wait for the Duels, as well, for a chance to make it into the race.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole in 2011 and Jeff Gordon took the No. 2 spot. Regan Smith finished in 28th place, but he started in fifth place with his performance in the Gatorade Duels.

Here is the order for the 35 qualified drivers:

1. Paul Menard
2. Jamie McMurray
3. Kurt Busch
4. Casey Mears
5. Carl Edwards
6. Joey Logano
7. Denny Hamlin
8. Ryan Newman
9. Greg Biffle
10. Marcos Ambrose
11. Tony Stewart
12. Danica Patrick
13. Brad Keselowski
14. Aric Almirola
15. Bobby Labonte
16. Jeff Gordon
17. Jeff Burton
18. Kevin Harvick
19. Juan Pablo Montoya
20. AJ Allmendinger
21. Elliott Sadler
22. Kyle Busch
23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
24. Jimmie Johnson
25. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
26. Landon Cassill
27. Martin Truex Jr.
28. Matt Kenseth
29. Regan Smith
30. Mark Martin
31. Kasey Kahne
32. Clint Bowyer
33. David Reutimann
34. David Ragan
35. David Gilliland

And here are those that can pick up one of three spots based on speed:

For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.

Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying: Start Time, TV Schedule And More

Furniture Row Racing's Regan Smith will take part in the Daytona 500 Qualifying on Sunday afternoon.