After a long off season and two weeks of pre-race activities the green flag for the 48th annual Daytona 500 finally fell under cloudy skies. Hermie Sadler and the No. 00 Aaron’s race car started the event from the 41st position, but fell victim to a blown engine sending the team home with a 40th-place finish.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will next see action at the California Speedway on February 26. The race will be covered by FOX at 3:00 p.m. ET.