All posts by David Morgan

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – As the 40-car field for Sunday’s 62nd running of the Daytona 500 rolls toward the green flag this afternoon, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will have the best view of anyone as he starts the race from the pole position. The Olive Branch, Mississippi native may be in a new home with JTG-Daugherty Racing in 2020, but he is no stranger to success on the restrictor plate tracks, having won at both Daytona and Talladega in 2017. With that past success in his backRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – On Sunday, Denny Hamlin will be going for his second-straight Daytona 500 victory and third in the last five years, but the driver of the No. 11 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing wasn’t always a favorite on the superspeedways. It took Hamlin getting schooled by restrictor plate masters like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart to turn him from an also-ran at Daytona and Talladega to becoming a perennial favorite at those types of tracks. “People think of us a lot ofRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After coming within inches of scoring his first career win in the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Series, one would expect Jordan Anderson to be disappointed to have come so close only to have to settle for a runner-up finish instead. But it was exactly the opposite for the Forest Acres, South Carolina native after he climbed from his No. 3 Chevrolet following a photo finish Friday night at Daytona International Speedway. “You don’t get the opportunity to go for the winRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When the 62nd annual Daytona 500 takes the green flag on Sunday, the 40-car field will be without Daniel Suarez and Gaunt Brothers Racing. The No. 96 team, looking to run their first full-time season with Suarez as their driver, failed to post a fast enough lap during qualifying last Sunday, leaving the team with their work cut out for them as they would have to race their way in during the first of Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona. “WeRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – Even for a driver used to pushing the 200-mph barrier on the track, Bubba Wallace’s ride to work on Thursday afternoon was one of a kind. With a sponsor like the United States Air Force, Wallace has had the opportunity to experience some extraordinary activities and this time around it came in the form of a 10,000 foot skydive out of the back of a C-17 Globemaster into the infield of Daytona International Speedway. Amid gusty winds and sunny skies, Wallace floatedRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Throughout the years, the “Dale and Dale Show” between Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jarrett had several episodes, but the first one back in 1993 may have been the best as the two future NASCAR Hall of Famers battled it out in the season opening Daytona 500. Earnhardt was still looking for his first win in the Great American Race, while Jarrett was entering his second season with upstart Joe Gibbs Racing as the team was still searching for their first win. By the time the checkeredRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jimmie Johnson may be stepping away from full-time racing in the Cup Series at the end of the 2020 season, but one thing is for sure, the impact that the seven-time champion has had on the sport will live on long after he has taken his final checkered flag. As drivers circulated through Daytona 500 Media Day on Wednesday, many were asked about their favorite Jimmie Johnson memory and by the time all was said and done, it was clear that JohnsonRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Heading into the 2020 season, change is in the air throughout the NASCAR Cup Series garage. Team Penske in particular underwent a major shift over the offseason, with the organization moving crew chiefs around among its three teams. Ryan Blaney, the newest member of the Team Penske trio, inherits Todd Gordon as his crew chief for 2020 as both he and the No. 12 team look to take a leap forward. Since earning his first Cup Series win in 2017, the 26-yearRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Editor’s note: Motorsports Tribune will be previewing the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season for the full-time drivers in the series leading into February’s running of the Daytona 500. Age: 39 Years in Cup: 15 Career Wins: 26 Biggest Accomplishment: 2017 Cup Series champion, Two-time Xfinity Series champion (2004, 2005) Nearly equaling his win total from his 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship season, Martin Truex, Jr. and crew chief Cole Pearn were a force to be reckoned with last season, racking up seven wins in their first season in-house atRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Editor’s note: Motorsports Tribune will be previewing the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season for the full-time drivers in the series leading into February’s running of the Daytona 500. Age: 39 Years in Cup: 16 Career Wins: 37 For the third time in his career, Denny Hamlin made it to the championship finale with a shot at the NASCAR Cup Series title, but like each time before, ultimately fell short at the end and had to watch as another driver hoisted the championship trophy. However, this time around wasRead More