Date: July 6, 2014
Event: Coke Zero 400 (Round 18 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Winner: Aric Almirola of Richard Petty Motorsports in a rain-shortened race (Ford)
SHR Finish:
Kurt Busch (Started 40th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 112 of 112 laps)
Danica Patrick (Started 29th, Finished 8th / Running, completed 112 of 112 laps)
Kevin Harvick (Started 13th, Finished 39th / Running, completed 46 of 112 laps)
Tony Stewart (Started 12th, Finished 40th / Running, completed 45 of 112 laps)
SHR Points:
Kevin Harvick (11th with 514 points, 137 out of first)
Tony Stewart (20th with 465 points, 186 out of first)
Kurt Busch (24th with 422 points, 229 out of first)
Danica Patrick (27th with 358 points, 293 out of first)
Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet SS, led the four-car Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) contingent Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway by finishing third in the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
The race was delayed one day due to rain and then ended after 112 of the scheduled 160 laps due to more moisture.
Busch started 40th but led three times for a race-high 36 laps to score his fourth top-five this season and his 11th top-five in 28 career Sprint Cup starts at Daytona. It was also his 104th top-five in 489 career Sprint Cup starts.
Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Florida Lottery/GoDaddy Chevrolet SS for SHR, started 29th and finished eighth for her second top-10 this season. It was Patrick’s 64th career Sprint Cup start and her fifth at Daytona.
Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS for SHR, started 13th but was caught up in an accident on lap 21 and finished 39th.
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Ducks Unlimited Chevrolet SS for SHR, started 12th and was caught up in the same accident as Harvick and finished 40th.
Aric Almirola won the Coke Zero 400 to score his first career Sprint Cup victory.
Brian Vickers finished behind Almirola in the runner-up spot, while Busch, Casey Mears and Austin Dillon rounded out the top-five. Denny Hamlin, Michael McDowell, Patrick, Clint Bowyer and Marcos Ambrose comprised the remainder of the top-10.
There were six caution periods for 29 laps, with two drivers failing to finish the rained-shortened race.
With round 18 of 36 complete, Harvick leads the SHR contingent in the championship point standings. He is 11th with 514 points, 137 behind series leader Jeff Gordon. Stewart is 20th with 465 points, 186 out of first. Busch is 24th with 422 points, 229 out of first. Patrick is 27th with 358 points, 293 out of first.
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule is the Camping World RV Sales 301 on Sunday, July 13 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The race starts at 1 p.m. EDT, with live coverage provided by TNT beginning with its prerace show at noon.
