Moment of Strange

The 53rd Annual Daytona 500 is set to get underway this Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR season is about to kick off with the 2011 Daytona 500 this Sunday. Fans eagerly await race day and want to know what the starting lineup looks like. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was supposed to lead the pack but got hit from behind during practice; he had to go to his backup car and got sent to the back! Right now Jeff Gordon will be starting at lead, followed by Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch who both won the Gatorade Duels yesterday.
It’s such a shame that Dale Earnhardt Jr. won’t be leading the starting lineup to this year’s 2011 Daytona 500. The NASCAR driver just can’t seem to get out of his own damn way. With his accident during practice, the freaking rainbow warrior (Jeff Gordon) got a free pass to the first position…boo! Rounding out the top 3 starters at the Daytona 500 are Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch who both won the Gatorade Duels yesterday.

Here is the (Top 10)of the official 2011 Daytona 500 Starting Lineup in order:

Jeff Gordon
Kurt Busch
Jeff Burton
Regan Smith
Clint Bowyer
Kevin Harvick
Michael Waltrip
Matt Kenseth
Kyle Busch
Kasey Kahne

Back at the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt was killed in a final-lap crash at the venerable Florida speedway. Just three years before, Earnhardt, who won seven NASCAR championships, finally ended years of frustration at Daytona with his first and only win there.

This Sunday, his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, and 42 other NASCAR stars will race to the checkered flag in the 53rd version of 'The Great American Race.'

Dale, Jr. won the pole position for this year's Daytona during qualifying runs, but lost it when he crashed during practice on Wednesday. As a result, he'll have to start from the back of the field.

Also, on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson, who's won the past five NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, will begin his quest for a sixth consecutive title. Johnson won the 2006 Daytona 500.