2005 Florida 500

The 2005 Florida 500 is the first race of the season and is best known for Jeff Gorvette winning his 3rd Daytona 500. Kurt Buschtire is 2nd, Dale Earnhardt Jr got 3rd, rookie Lightning McQueen was 4th, and Kevin Shiftright finished 5th.

Darrel Draggered got very sick, so he missed the first 2 races. James Cleanair flipped in practice. During qualifying, Ruby Oaks had a hard crash, and missed the race. Misti Motorkrass, Claude Scruggs, and a few others failed to qualify.

Mack and Lightning McQueen called this race, "The Big Race", because it was Lightning's debut race.

## Transcript

### End of qualifying

Bob Cutlass: So, 2 time Florida 500 Dale Carrett gets the pole, and rookie Lightning McQueen somehow starts 2nd.

Darrell Cartrip: Maybe he can win in his very first race, like Gerald Leadfoot back in 1990.

Chad Knaus: You're starting 2nd. That's still great, right?

Lightning McQueen: I think so. But let's try to win the race.

Chad Knaus: I know.

### Start

Darrell Cartrip: BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY! LET'S GO RACING, BOYS!

(Lightning McQueen battles Dale Carrett for the lead. Suddenly, Michael Cartrip goes between Dale and Lightning)

Bob Cutlass: Didn't take long for things to get 3-wide, did it.

Benny Pitstops: No it did not. Michael Cartrip, the 15 car. He's been smiling about himself all week long, and right now, these guys, 36 races, someone would like to get those 5 bonus points for the Piston Cup here in the first lap, and lead that lap.

(meanwhile, Lightning McQueen speeds slightly away from the others, and going to lead the first lap)

Darrell Cartrip: Jumping out in the middle is how you go from 3rd to, no telling where because, it's hard to get that car around, to that car hold. Feels like you're gonna go somewhere there but early in the race when they're lined up like this, that's probably not the best way.

Bob Cutlass: That's someone was Lightning McQueen, the rookie leads the first lap from Dale Carrett.

Darrell Cartrip: He gets it to run some time, you think "Gosh, I can pass everybody out here," but you just, you know, sleek aerodynamics just bog down on you.

Bob Cutlass: Carrett lines up behind McQueen. Tony Gaswart, number 20 right there.

Darrell Cartrip: Takes about a lap or 2 for these things. They really get up to speed. Takes about 5 or 6 laps or driving really start knowing what he's got what kind of handling package how he's good he's gonna be.

### Lap 25 overtake/Sage VanDerSpin crash

(Michael Cartrip pushes Sage VanDerSpin)

(Sage VanDerSpin passes Chick Hicks and Lightning McQueen)

Sage VanDerSpin: Yes! I'm in the lead! Thanks, Michael! (speeds up)

(Sage VanDerSpin leads lap 25)

Chick Hicks: That 80 car again!? He can't get a win in his career!

Gask-its crew chief: You're doing great. Just keep that lead.

Sage VanDerSpin: I am.

Chick Hicks: He can't keep the lead!

(Chick Hicks goes to the inside and passes Lightning McQueen)

Chick Hicks: You're not winning this, are you!? (does a PIT maneuver on Sage VanDerSpin)

(Sage VanDerSpin screams, spins to the grass, spins up again, and touches Bill Gears, but Bill didn't spin)

(Sage collected Rusty Cornfuel, who bumped into Floyd Mulvihill)

(Sage then collected Slider Petrolski and Murray Clutchburn)

Bob Cutlass: Calamity in turn 4! You see it unfolding, as Sage VanDerSpin and Slider Petrolski, and the number 4, Rusty Cornfuel. Half crashed, I think Cornfuel has got the worst of it, he is already in the garage. Sage VanDerSpin who was in the lead before the crash. There is Floyd Mulvihill who is involved.

Benny Pitstops: I think Chick Hicks must have turned Sage VanDerSpin to the grass. 6, 7, 8 cars involved.

Bob Cutlass: Sage VanDerSpin, who was a rookie last year, had no wins, and only had 1 Top 10 in his career by far. He has no chance to get his first career win here.

(replay)

Darrell Cartrip: I'm sure Chick Hicks turned him on the inside. Looks like Chick wants the lead.

Benny Pitstops: Sage then went to the grass, and then hits Bill Gears. Luckily, Bill didn't spin. Then when Sage collected Rusty Cornfuel, who later bumps into Floyd Mulvihill, Sage spins around more and collected Slider and Murray.

### The Big one

Chick Hicks: Let's show the rookie how better I am! (ready to turn Lightning McQueen)

Chad Knaus: The 86 car is gonna wreck you! Speed up.

Lightning McQueen: Alright! (speeds away)

(Chick Hicks failed to wreck Lightning McQueen, and made contact with Lightning's brother Joel)

(Joel McQueen makes contact with Winford Bradford Rutherford, then makes contact with Chick)

(Chick then clips Rusty Wallace, bumps into Aiken Axler, and collects Haul Inngas, who got into the right rear of Gerald Leadfoot, who luckily didn't spin.)

(Chick turns Brush Curber, while Haul Inngas gets turned by Murray Clutchburn, and flipped over 4 times)

(Brush then got into the left rear of Lee Revkins who luckily didn't spin around)

(Brush then hit the outside wall, and collected Chuck Armstrong, and then Lee Revkins)

Bob Cutlass: Curber slides up in front of traffic!

Darrell Cartrip: Cars upside-down, cars everywhere!

Bob Cutlass: Turn 4 is calamity corner once again! The field is frozen. Jeff Gorvette came across with Gaswart and McQueen side-by-side, but there are a half a dozen cars littered between turn 3 and the start/finish line. Last year's third place finisher, Haul Inngas; the 56, Brush Curber; and the 28 of Aiken Axler.

Darrell Cartrip: One of these cars was just standing up on its limits, spinning around like a waterspout.

Bob Cutlass: Chick Hicks. Davey Apex had a lost engine prior to this. He coasts onto pit road. Brush Curber, damaged, looking like Thursday's car.

(replay)

Bob Cutlass: Here's how it unfolded between turns 3 and 4.

Benny Pitstops: I think something happened to Chick Hicks who triggered all of this.

Darrell Cartrip: I believe it's Curber. No no what, that's the 79 car.

Benny Pitstops: Haul Inngas.

Darrell Cartrip: Look at him, just spinning around, and got up on his nose, and come back down on his wheels. Looks like Chick Hicks might have tried to wreck another car, but ended up wrecking himself.

(3 replays later)

Bob Cutlass: It happens right behind the lead pack, they're 3 wide. And there's Chick.

Darrell Cartrip: Oh, he's trying to wreck the rookie, Lightning McQueen who is between Kurt Busch and Dale Jr. Chick tried to wreck McQueen going into 3. Comes down and gets into the side of Lightning's old brother Joel, goes up the hill, then clips Rusty. And here comes the rest of the pack.

Benny Pitstops: Talked about Rusty Wallace just getting by Winford Bradford Rutherford, and the 64 just barley got by on the bottom.

Darrell Cartrip: 92 car, he gets more damaged. Look at those cars. Look at the fire coming from the 63.

(on board with Murray Clutchburn replay)

Sputter Stop crew chief: 3 wide. Stay low, stay low.

Bob Cutlass: That's Murray Clutchburn you're riding with.

Darrell Cartrip: Let me tell you, his crew chief tries to let Murray stay low.

### Finish

Bob Cutlass: Jeff Gorvette is gonna win his 3rd Florida 500! Kurt Busch, Dale Jr, and rookie Lightning McQueen completes a dream week with a 4th place finish!

Chad Knaus: Not bad, McQueen! You're in 4th place!

Lightning McQueen: Thanks. I hope I'll win next race.

## Leading laps

### Total of laps lead

Tony Gaswart: 107

Lightning McQueen: 60

Jeff Gorvette: 29

Chick Hicks: 5

Dale Earnhardt Jr: 2

Sage VanDerSpin: 1

## Results

1. Jeff Gorvette
2. Kurt Busch
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr
4. Lightning McQueen
5. Kevin Shiftright
6. Joel McQueen
7. Tony Gaswart
8. Rest are TBA