FanHouse EvaBusch

Sports Illustrated polled NASCAR drivers and the results showed that 29% of them think Clint Bowyer's girlfriend is hotter than their own significant other.

Not surprising. Athena Barber, part-time model and former Bassani Babe, is as full of southern charm as she is natural beauty. She never fails to turn heads at the track with her casually sexy style. No doubt even some of the female NASCAR following would admit to having a girl crush on her. More pics and video.

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Robby Gordon also received votes for their women, making it an eclectic group: Eva Busch, the buxom blonde; Krissie Newman, the girl next door; and former Miss Winston Renee White, the ex-Mrs. Derrike Cope.

I am surprised that Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth didn't get any mentions. Chandra Johnson is at times positively stunning ... and drivers openly admit to drooling over Katie Kenseth.

Ironically, Jeff Gordon's "supermodel" wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, doesn't do much for the rest of the field.

Drivers to Junior: Hands off our Daughters
65% of NASCAR drivers polled said they wouldn't let their daughter date Dale Earnhardt Jr.

TGOM to Drivers, Owners, Crew Chiefs, et. al.: Be on guard. NASCAR's most eligible bachelor is in the market to replace his latest female companion, who recently passed her expiration date.

There's been a lot of talk about cosmetic surgery this week as NASCAR returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the first time since the deepening wrinkle in the track, aka "Dale's Dip," was filled.

But there are some other surface improvements that aren't being talked about so much -- those to Boris Said's grill.

The part-time NASCAR driver and road-race ringer, who is a regular feature on ESPN's "NASCAR Now" this season, is sporting a new set of pearly whites.

Check out the before:

$197 million	Amount that the 2006 NASCAR weekend generated for Las Vegas in both gaming and non-gaming revenue
$6,381,100	Amount of the 2007 UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 purse
94,000	# of people in town for the 2006 race weekend, contributing to the most visited month in Las Vegas' 101-year history
3,400 lbs.	Weight of a NASCAR Nextel Cup Car
400.5	# of miles in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400
367	All-time laps led record held by Matt Kenseth
275	# of feet closer pit road has moved to the grandstands
267	# of laps in the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400
188.772 mph	Fastest testing speed posted by Elliott Sadler
174.904 mph	Previous track qualifying record (Kasey Kahne)
130	Estimated # of commercials that will run during the race broadcast
123	Most laps led record held by Matt Kenseth
89	Highest # of fastest laps run (Jimmie Johnson)
54	# of anticipated entries for 43 spots in the field
50 cents	Amount one has to shell out for a date with Kurt Busch's wife
44 years old	Age of the oldest driver to win at LVMS (Sterling Marlin, 2002)
37	# of drivers that have posted a top-10 finish at LVMS
25th	Deepest starting position for race winner (Kenseth, 2005)
20	# of degrees banking in the turns
13 gallons	Fuel cell capacity
10	# of drivers that have competed in each Las Vegas race
9	# of NASCAR Nextel Cup races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since the track opened in 1997
6	# of different winners in the nine races at Las Vegas
5	Highest # of wins posted by a team owner (Jack Roush)
3	# of races won from a starting position inside the top 10
2	# of consecutive UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 Wins for Series Champion and race favorite Jimmie Johnson
1.5 miles	Length of track
0.045 seconds	Jimmie Johnson's margin of victory over Kenseth last year
0	# of races in Vegas from the pole
Immeasurable	The exhilaration of Earnhardt Nation should Dale Jr. happen to finish his first race of the season

Daytona Live Blog: Pre-race | Lap 1-100 | 101-150 | 151-200 | Victory Lane

Race: The 49th Annual Daytona 500
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Stats: 2.5 mile tri-oval superspeedway, restrictor plates required
Capacity: 168,000, SOLD OUT

Tune-In: FOX, 3:15PM ET
Keep up: NASCAR.com Trackpass

Defending Series and Race Champion: Jimmie Johnson
Last driver to win back-to-back 500s: Sterling Marlin (1994-95)
Defending Track Champion: Tony Stewart

Grand Marshal: Nicolas Cage
Pre-race entertainment: Kelly Clarkson
National Anthem: Big & Rich
Pace-car driver: Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken
Green-flag waver: Phil Parsons, brother of the late Benny Parsons

Manufacturer's Notes
Chevrolet Monte Carlo - made in Canada
Dodge Charger - made in Canada
Ford Fusion - made in Mexico
Toyota Camry - made in the USA

Observations

• Nicolas Cage's hat
• When Wendi Venturini asked celebrity guest Eli Manning if he'd been starstruck at all in the garage area, I think she meant NASCAR drivers, not Cal Ripken.
• Marriage and impendng fatherhood have given Jeff Gordon a few more grays
• Kelly Clarkson's hair as been extended since yesterday
• Live music always sounds like crap on TV, particularly when there's unnecessary screaming and the singer's voice is hoarse or otherwise strained
• The drivers' wives and girlfriends on pit road: Kim Burton, Eva Busch, Erica Dewey, Katie Kenseth, Connie Montoya, Michelle Gilliland, Lisa Reutimann, Linda Rudd and Elliott's Sadler's new woman
  
• Noticeably absent: David Stremme's recently estranged girlfriend, Whitney Jacobs; Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s girlfriend, Elizabeth Peschock

Is it snack time yet?
Domino's, the Official Pizza of NASCAR Order Online

Staring lineup

Boogity, boogity, boogity! Let's go racin', boys!