Countdown to the 50th Daytona 500

[kat2220]

We are counting down the days to the 50th Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008. Each day we will highlight a number that corresponds to the countdown number.

Dec. 4, 2007

75 -- Neil Bonnett's car number in 1988. The No. 75 has been to Victory Lane six times, four times with Bonnett. After finishing fourth at Daytona to begin the '88 season, Bonnett won the next two races, Richmond and Darlington. The No. 75 hasn't been in Victory Lane since. It also was the last of Bonnett's 18 Cup victories.

The others to win in the No. 75: Jim Paschal (1956) and Fireball Roberts (1961).

 

[kat2220]

We are counting down the days to the 50th Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2008. Each day we will highlight a number that corresponds to the countdown number.

Dec. 5, 2007

• 74 -- The No. 74 car has come up empty in 459 Grand National/Cup starts. The best finish of a driver in the No. 74 was Elmo Langley's third place in the Pickens 200 at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., in 1966.

The 459 starts is not a record for futility -- five car numbers have more starts without a win, including the leader, which is coming up soon.