1.   Earnhardt is Dale Jr., the defending race and series champion.

2.   It also took an assist from the racing fates, who on this day apparently had marked defending race champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the man to beat.

3.   Labonte, the defending race champion, said he might have had more for Gordon if he could have taken on four tires during his last stop.

4.   Lining up next to Gordon, the defending race and season-points champion, will be Jeremy Mayfield.

5.   Recall that he is the two-time defending race champion.

6.   Unlike last year, when Kenseth beat Burton under caution, the defending race champion had to fend off three surging challengers in the final laps.

7.   Wally Dallenbach starts sixth and defending race winner Jeff Gordon was seventh-fastest.

8.   Polesitter Todd Bodine finished last, and defending race champion Rusty Wallace was sixth.

9.   Always a contender at Daytona in his short career is Gordon, the defending race winner and also the defending Winston Cup champion.

10.   But Zanardi, the defending race winner, moved up a position to third.