DAYTONA 500 is the start of the NASCAR season.  After months away from the sport, many of us turned on our televisions to hear the roar of the engines.  But before the pedal was put to the metal; we were entertained by Keith Urban (the current husband of Nicole Kidman).  Urban joins a long list of star-studded names who have performed in the Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show; such as Brooks & Dunn, Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, LeAnn Rimes and Mariah Carey.

Was NASCAR trying to keep the program “all in the family”?  It is said several hours before the race, Tom Cruise (the previous husband of Nicole Kidman) made laps in a green and yellow replica of the car he drove in the 1990 film ”Days of Thunder”.  Cruise also drove the pace car to the green flag and later sat atop Jeff Gordon's pit box.

There were many celebrities on site, but one family that was greatly missed was the Petty’s.  There was not a Petty  on the track. 

Who won?  Matt Kenseth, whose previous best finish in the Daytona 500 was ninth in 2004,  He won a rain-shortened race, as he was leading the race when a caution flag came out on lap 146 of the 200-lap race.

If you are considering a race car theme for this year’s meeting, check out the following names:
Dale Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Ray Everham, Joe Nemechek, Brian France, Terry Labonte ... 

For more NASCAR names, call 800-677-3324 or check out www.speakinc.com.