Lap-by-Lap: Daytona (cont'd)

Lap 40 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon inherits the lead as Dave Blaney makes his stop.

Lap 39 -- LEAD CHANGE: Dave Blaney takes the lead as Denny Hamlin pulls in for four tires and a chassis adjustment. Joe Nemechek is back on pit road with a tire rub and engine problems. The crew goes under the hood.

Lap 38 -- Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. all make pit stops as the majority of leaders come in. Tony Stewart gets four tires, as does Jimmie Johnson.

Lap 37 -- Michael Waltrip, Robbie Gordon, Kenny Wallace, David Gilliland and Dario Franchitti all pit. Jeff Burton pits as well, but he misses his pit stall. He backs up and makes his stop.

Lap 36 -- Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards all lead a large group down pit road. Edwards said his car is slightly tight and he's being conservative early in the race.

Lap 34 -- Sam Hornish Jr. hits pit road. He thought he had a vibration but is pitting slightly early to make sure his car is OK. John Andretti, Joe Nemechek and Casey Mears all pit.

Lap 25 -- Kurt Busch has told his crew he has a vibration and to be ready in case something's wrong.

Lap 20 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin makes his line work and motors past leader Jeff Gordon for the top spot.

Lap 20 -- Juniors are on the move: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has moved into second position; Sam Hornish Jr. is in fourth.

Lap 18 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson move to the inside of Denny Hamlin. Gordon makes it stick to take the point.

Lap 15 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon team up to pass Tony Stewart, giving Hamlin the lead in the 10-car lead pack.

Lap 14 -- The cars have spread out and are no longer running in the two-wide, nose-to-tail pack.

Lap 10 -- Kevin Harvick: "This is absolutely amazing. We run all week, we haul ass. They drop the green and our car won't run."

Lap 8 -- Michael Waltrip has dropped back to 20th position after leading early.

Lap 7 -- Kevin Harvick is off the pace and has radioed to his crew that something is wrong with his engine. He thinks it may blow up soon.

Lap 6 -- LEAD CHANGE: Tony Stewart rides the draft and moves by teammate Denny Hamlin for the lead. He and Hamlin run nose-to-tail.

Lap 4 -- LEAD CHANGE: Denny Hamlin moves around Jimmie Johnson to take command as the rest of the field is two-wide.

Lap 3 -- LEAD CHANGE: Jimmie Johnson takes his turn to the outside with help from Denny Hamlin to take the lead.

Lap 1 -- Michael Waltrip pulls to the outside with help from Denny Hamlin to lead the first lap.

3:41 p.m. -- Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip lead the grid to the green flag for the 50th Daytona 500.

3:35 p.m. -- Joe Nemechek will give up his 41st starting position to drop to the back due to missing driver introductions.

3:33 p.m. -- Grand marshal Junior Johnson pulls the pace car onto the racetrack to lead the cars onto the surface.

3:30 p.m. -- Former winners of the Daytona 500 give the season's first command: "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

3:26 p.m. -- Trisha Yearwood performs the national anthem.

3:25 p.m. -- Pastor Bobby Welch of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach delivers the invocation.

2 p.m. -- The FOX pre-race coverage of the 50th Daytona 500 is under way.

1 p.m. -- It's sunny and nearly 80 degrees at Daytona International Speedway as drivers are less than three hours away from the green flag for the 50th Daytona 500. Green is set for 3:40 p.m. ET.

WEEKEND HEADLINES
• With a little luck, Harvick ready to defend 500 title
• Andretti humbled, excited about starting Daytona 500
• Yarborough about much more than a moment in '79
• Petty surprises in final 500 practice; Edwards fastest
• RCR undergoes change in hopes of surpassing HMS
• In 1959, first Daytona 500 changed city, sport forever
• Villeneuve out of No. 27 Cup car for foreseeable future
• At Daytona, Earnhardts share a winning history
• A lap around Daytona can be quite a bumpy ride
• NASCAR follows trend of increased bling for champs
• Toyota's outlook much more promising this year
• 10 to watch at Daytona