Beyond their wildest expectations, veteran drivers Scott Riggs and Jeremy Mayfield used superspeedway Toyota Camrys that were built a year-and-a-half ago and managed to shine in both Gatorade duels to finally make the cut for the Daytona 500.
Incredibly enough, none of the crewmen on either team is even getting paid.
Mayfield, who started his own team, was briefly in tears on pit road after getting out of his No. 41 Camry and he could only praise the remarkable work done by his crew.
"Twenty-three days ago, we didn't even have a race team. I'm pretty emotional right now, because this is why I came back. It's pretty awesome. We've got 12 or 15 guys that are on the payroll - but I really haven't even paid 'em - not until we get back from Daytona," he said. Running the Daytona 500 pays well. Last year, Kenny Wallace finished 43rd and last, but earned $256,735...
Riggs was most thankful after the finish he scored with the same chassis that Dave Blaney qualified second and finished third with at the 2007 Talladega event.
"I don't know what to say - I'm just elated," said Riggs, who was jobless last month. "It feels like a win for us, considering all we've been through. These guys - they all came together at the last minute."
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
Incredibly enough, none of the crewmen on either team is even getting paid.
Mayfield, who started his own team, was briefly in tears on pit road after getting out of his No. 41 Camry and he could only praise the remarkable work done by his crew.
"Twenty-three days ago, we didn't even have a race team. I'm pretty emotional right now, because this is why I came back. It's pretty awesome. We've got 12 or 15 guys that are on the payroll - but I really haven't even paid 'em - not until we get back from Daytona," he said. Running the Daytona 500 pays well. Last year, Kenny Wallace finished 43rd and last, but earned $256,735...
Riggs was most thankful after the finish he scored with the same chassis that Dave Blaney qualified second and finished third with at the 2007 Talladega event.
"I don't know what to say - I'm just elated," said Riggs, who was jobless last month. "It feels like a win for us, considering all we've been through. These guys - they all came together at the last minute."
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images