Due to the heavy rain on Sunday, the 2024 Daytona 500 race has been moved to Monday afternoon. The 2012 rendition was the first time the race was contested on a Monday.
Nine drivers on this year’s starting grid competed in that Monday’s race including both drivers on the front row: Joey Logano (1853) and Michael McDowell (1735). While racing on a Monday should be no different than that on a Sunday. Still, one could imagine drivers who experienced a lengthy delay in starting an anticipated historical race would have an edge over those living through this delay for the first time.
The other seven drivers who drove in the 2012 race in order of this year’s starting positions are:
- Denny Hamlin (1974)
- Jimmie Johnson (1356)
- Martin Truex Jr (1843)
- AJ Allmendinger (1566)
- David Ragan (1783)
- Kyle Busch (1635)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr (1599)
Of these nine drivers, Denny Hamlin had the best 2012 finish in fourth. Denny Hamlin also won the Mondaytona 500 on February 17, 2020.
The first four finishers of the 2020 race are in tomorrow’s grid. After Hamlin, Ryan Blaney (2100), Chris Buescher (1928) and David Ragan completed the top four.
Other 2020 Mondaytona participants include Corey Lajoie, Kyle Larson, John H. Nemechek, Austin Dillon, Justin Haley, Michael McDowell, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Preece, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, and William Byron.
On Monday, 14 of the 40 will be making their first Mondaytona 500 start.
(sps – 2024-02-18)