Daytona 500

Latest Stories

Michael McDowell looks up at speeds during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Michael McDowell finally wins first NASCAR Cup Series pole in Atlanta in 467th career start

By Charles Odum - Associated Press

Joey Logano (22) and Austin Cindric, top left, lead the field to start the first of two Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Toyota takes high hopes into Daytona 500 but weather may affect ‘The Great American Race’

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

Jimmie Johnson takes part in an interview during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jimmie Johnson struggled in his first year as NASCAR team owner. Can he make Legacy a winner?

By DAN GELSTON - Associated Press

Jimmie Johnson get ready to go out on the track during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Johnson provides early Daytona thrills in NASCAR comeback

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

Denny Hamlin takes part in an interview during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Hamlin, fellow Toyota drivers skip last Daytona 500 practice

By Mark Long - Associated Press

Austin Cindric celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 20, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. As Kevin Harvick prepares to depart, the stage is open to be seized by Noah Gragson, watermelon farmer Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, the only Mexican-born winner in NASCAR history. There’s also Cindric, a Team Penske fixture who won last year’s Daytona 500 as a rookie on Roger Penske’s 85th birthday, or Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver competing at NASCAR’s top level. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Daytona 500 champion Cindric serves on jury for murder trial

By Dan Gelston - Associated Press

Cody Ware, left, and A J Allmendinger talk on pit road before the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., left, and Denny Hamlin talks on pit road before the first of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Denny Hamlin seeks historic 3rd straight Daytona 500 victory

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2019 file photo, the No. 3 car of the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr., driven by Richard Childress, takes a lap before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. NASCAR's return to racing next shifts to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, with a new rules package altered after Ryan Newman's frightful crash in the season-opening Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

NASCAR has new rules, new feuds and more fans at Talladega

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Sunday's race was postponed because of rain. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Hamlin and Newman contrast risk and reward at Daytona 500

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

Denny Hamlin (11) squeezes between Ryan Newman (6) and Ryan Blaney (12) along the front stretch to win the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Denny Hamlin wins Daytona 500 in photo finish

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

In this Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019 photo, car owner Joe Gibbs walks down pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, , in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

The Latest: Denny Hamlin wins 2nd Daytona 500 in 4 years

Associated Press

Denny Hamlin (11) celebrates after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Denny Hamlin cruises to 2nd Daytona 500 victory in 4 years

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

Drivers take the green flag on the start of the first of two qualifying races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

New-look Daytona 500 has a certain throwback feel

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

Drivers sit on pit road while in a rain delay during the NASCAR Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Place your bets: NASCAR pushes its chips on sports gambling

By DAN GELSTON - Associated Press

Austin Dillon celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Austin Dillon takes No. 3 back to victory lane at Daytona

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press

Austin Dillon (3) celebrates on the track after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Austin Dillon drives No. 3 back to victory in Daytona 500

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

Alex Bowman climbs out of this car after qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Alex Bowman puts No. 88 on the pole at Daytona

By Jenna Fryer - Associated Press

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2015, file photo, Baylor helmets on shown the field after an NCAA college football game in Waco, Texas. The NCAA is conducting an “ongoing, pending investigation” into Baylor University in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that led to the firing of football coach Art Briles and the departure of the school president, the school’s lawyers confirmed in a federal court filing. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Column: Dale Jr. farewell tour begins, but it isn’t goodbye

By JENNA FRYER - Associated Press