All Times EST
NASCAR
SPRINT CUP
DAYTONA 500
Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.
Schedule: Wednesday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 4-5:30 p.m., 6:30-8 p.m.); Thursday, Budweiser Duels, 7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, 6-10:30 p.m.); Friday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 2:30-4 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 10-11:30 a.m.); Sunday, race, 1 p.m. (Fox, noon-5 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Jimmie Johnson raced to his second Daytona 500 victory en route to his sixth season title. Danica Patrick faded from third to eighth on the final lap, still the highest finish by a woman in the history of the race. She became the first female driver to lead laps in the event after becoming the first woman to start from the pole in NASCAR’s top series.
Last week: Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited exhibition race, making a late charge through the decimated field. Only eight cars were running at the end.
Fast facts: Austin Dillon won the pole Sunday, driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for grandfather Richard Childress. The No. 3 hadn’t been used at NASCAR’s top level since Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident in the 2001 race. Dillon had a lap at 196.019 mph. Martin Truex Jr. was second at 195.852. The rest of the positions will be set Thursday in the Budweiser Duels. … Johnson also won the July race at the track for the first season sweep since Bobby Allison in 1982. … Tony Stewart was caught up in an early wreck in the Sprint Unlimited in his first race since breaking his right leg in an August sprint car crash. … Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch are in their first season at Stewart-Haas Racing.
Next race: The Profit on CNBC 500, March 2, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Online: https://www.nascar.com
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NATIONWIDE
DRIVE4COPD 300
Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.
Schedule: Thursday, practice (Fox Sports 1, noon-1:30 p.m., 3-4:30 p.m.); Friday, qualifying (ESPN2, 1-2:30 p.m.); Saturday, race, 1:15 p.m. (ESPN, noon-4 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 300 miles, 120 laps.
Last year: Tony Stewart won the race marred by a last-lap accident that injured more than 30 fans. Kyle Larson hit the cars in front of him and went airborne into the fence, hurling a tire and large pieces of debris into the stands.
Fast facts: Sprint Cup drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski and Danica Patrick are in the field. … Kenseth won the July race at the track. … Ty Dillon is taking brother Austin’s spot in grandfather Richard Childress’ No. 3 Chevrolet. Ty Dillon was second in the Truck standings last year. Austin Dillon has moved up to the Cup series after winning the Nationwide title last year. … James Buescher, the 2012 winner, also is moving up from the Truck series to run the full schedule in the No. 99 RAB Racing Toyota.
Next race: Blue Jeans Go Green 200, March 1, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
Online: https://www.nascar.com
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CAMPING WORLD TRUCK
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250
Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.
Schedule: Wednesday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 2:30-4 p.m.); Thursday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 1:30-3 p.m., 4:30-6 p.m.); Friday, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, 4-5:30 p.m.), race, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, 6:30-10 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 250 miles, 100 laps.
Last year: Johnny Sauter won, taking advantage of a last-lap crash that brought out a caution and prevented Kyle Busch from making a move on the leader.
Fast facts: Sauter also won last year at Talladega to become the first driver since Todd Bodine in 2008 to swept the races on the sister tracks. … Matt Crafton won the series championship last year. … Ben Kennedy will become the first member of the France family - the owner of NASCAR and the track - to compete in a national series race at the facility. Kennedy is the son of Lesa France Kennedy and great-grandson of track founder Bill France Sr. Kennedy is driving this season for Turner Scott Motorsports.
Next race: Kroger 250, March 29, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va.
Online: https://www.nascar.com
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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS
Site: Chandler, Ariz.
Schedule: Friday-Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, Sunday, 2-3:30 a.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 8-11 p.m.).
Track: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Last year: Tony Schumacher beat Morgan Lucas in the tire-smoking Top Fuel final. Ron Capps topped the Funny Car field, and Erica Enders-Stevens won in Pro Stock.
Last event: John Force won the season-opening Winternationals on Feb. 9 in Pomona, Calif., beating Matt Hagan in the Funny Car final with a record time of 3.965 seconds at 323.58 mph. Khalid alBalooshi won in Top Fuel, and Jason Line topped the Pro Stock field.
Fast facts: The 64-year-old Force won his record 16th season title last year and has a record 139 event victories. He also set the Funny Car speed record at Pomona at 324.12 mph. … The track has a new concrete launch pad. … The 2010 event was marred by the death of a fan struck by a tire that flew off a crashing car.
Next event: NHRA Gatornationals, March 13-16, Auto Plus Raceway At Gainesville, Gainesville, Fla.
Online: https://www.nhra.com
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OTHER RACES
WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Late Model and Super DirtCar: DIRTcar Nationals, Thursday-Saturday, Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla. Online: https://www.worldofoutlaws.com
U.S. AUTO RACING CLUB: Sprint Car: Winter Dirt Games, Thursday-Saturday, Bubba Raceway Park, Ocala, Fla. Online: https://www.usacracing.com
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