2010 Subway Jalapeño 250

The 2010 Subway Jalapeño 250 powered by Coca-Cola was a NASCAR Nationwide Series race held on July 2, 2010, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 17th race of the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series. It was the 9th running of the event. The race was also the first for the new Nationwide COT (Car of Tomorrow) Cars at a Superspeedway. Brad Keselowski won the pole but it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. who led the most laps and took home an emotional victory as he drove the #3 Wrangler Jeans Chevrolet throwback scheme to victory lane and was the first Earnhardt to drive the #3 to victory lane since his father in 2000. Jr. later would say he would never run the #3 in his career ever again.

Background
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races for ARCA, AMA Superbike, IMSA, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi sports car course, a 2.950 mi motorcycle course, and a 1320 ft karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180 acre infield includes the 29 acre Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is operated by NASCAR pursuant to a lease with the City of Daytona Beach on the property that runs until 2054. Dale Earnhardt is Daytona International Speedway's all-time winningest driver, with a total of 34 career victories (12- Daytona 500 Qualifying Races) (7- NASCAR Xfinity Series Races) (6- Busch Clash Races) (6- IROC Races) (2- Pepsi 400 July Races) (1- The 1998 Daytona 500).

Entry List

 * (R) denotes rookie driver

Qualifying
Brad Keselowski won the pole with a time of 49.172 and a speed of 183.031. Penske Racing dominated the first two rows with Keselowski's teammates Parker Kligerman and Justin Allgaier starting in 2nd and 4th.

* – Made the field via owners points.

** – Jennifer Jo Cobb, Reed Sorenson, Kevin Lepage, and Trevor Bayne all had to start at the rear of the field. Sorenson and Lepage had adjustments during impound, Cobb had a transmission change, and Bayne missed the drivers meeting.

Race
Pole sitter Brad Keselowski led the first lap of the race. On lap 3, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead from Keselowski while the moment of silence was going on to honor Dale Earnhardt but Keselowski immeadeatly took it back off of turn 4. On lap 6, Earnhardt Jr. tried again but failed to do so. The first caution flew on lap 7 when Jennifer Jo Cobb and Johnny Chapman crashed in turn 4. The race would restart on lap 12. On the restart, Kevin Harvick took the lead from Keselowski. On lap 14, Carl Edwards took the lead with a push from Clint Bowyer. On lap 16, Clint Bowyer took the lead. On lap 27, Keselowski took the lead from Bowyer. On lap 32, Brad Keselowski went to pit giving the lead to Kyle Busch. While that was happening, the second caution flew when Michael Annett spun after he got loose coming out of turn 4. Kyle Busch won the race off of pit road and led the field to the restart on lap 36. On lap 41, Joey Logano took the lead but Clint Bowyer would take it on the next lap. On lap 48, Kyle Busch took the lead. On lap 50, Justin Allgaier took the lead.

Final laps
With 41 laps to go, Paul Menard hit the wall in turn 2 but no caution was thrown. With 40 laps to go, Kyle Busch took the lead. With 31 to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead. On the same lap, the third caution flew for debris. The race would restart with 26 laps to go. With 19 laps to go, Justin Allgaier's rear bumper flew up after what appears to be because Brad Keselowski bumped him too hard down the backstretch. Allgaier almost spun in turns 1 and 2 with 18 to go due to the rear bumper issue. Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued to lead as he had a small pack of 3 other cars behind him in Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano ready to pounce at some point. But with 5 laps to go, Paul Menard's left front tire exploded and laid debris on the racetrack which brought out the 4th and final caution of the race. The caution would set up a green-white-checkered finish. During the caution, some drivers pitted including Kyle Busch while others didn't including Dale Earnhardt Jr. On the restart, Earnhardt Jr. took the lead from Kevin Harvick on the restart with a big push by Joey Logano. During the final lap, Brendan Gaughan got into the wall but no caution was thrown. On the last lap, Earnhardt Jr. held off the pack including some attempted passes from Joey Logano that Jr. blocked and Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the #3 Wrangler Jeans throwback Chevrolet to victory lane at Daytona. The victory was a very emotional moment for everyone who was a part of the team and for the Earnhardt fans even having Earnhardt Jr's crew chief Tony Eury Jr. tearing up during his interview after the win. Everyone in the crowd was holding up three fingers in honor of Earnhardt Sr. after Earnhardt Jr. took the win and saluting the crowd. During his interview, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that he plans to not run the #3 ever again in his career which would be the case as he never ran the #3 scheme ever again for the rest of his career after this win. Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top 5 while Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Brian Ickler, and Steve Arpin rounded out the top 10.