All posts by David Morgan

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When the checkered flag was finally in sight Sunday night, Michael McDowell was fed up with the lack of respect his Ford teammates were showing him throughout the Daytona 500 and he had one goal in mind: win the whole damn thing. And he nearly pulled it off, bringing home a top-five finish for himself and Front Row Motorsports – McDowell’s first top-five since Daytona in the summer of 2017. Restarting fourth on the second attempt at an overtime finish, McDowell lostRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Sunday’s Daytona 500 will mark the final start of Jamie McMurray’s NASCAR career, dating back to 2002, when he filled in for Sterling Marlin in the final six races of the season. Though it’s likely the final time he’ll climb behind the wheel, McMurray notes that he won’t have any overwhelming emotions about the day, due in part to having a farewell of sorts at last year’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “This is super different than Homestead was, knowing that itRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – What a difference a year makes. The 2018 edition of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener was a barn burner all the way to the end, lasting through five overtime periods and culminating with a photo finish between JR Motorsports teammates Tyler Reddick and Elliott Sadler. Not to mention there had never been a closer finish in series history – EVER. On Saturday afternoon, we got a race on the opposite side of the spectrum that featured single file racing pretty muchRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Aric Almirola came agonizingly close to winning the Daytona 500 last season, falling a mile short after getting spun from the lead by Austin Dillon in Turn 3 on the final lap. A year later, the thought of redeeming himself with a trip to Victory Lane is in the forefront of his mind heading into Sunday’s running of the Great American Race. “For me, last year being a mile away from winning the Daytona 500, that stands out for me,” Almirola said.Read More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – ThorSport Racing came to Daytona locked and loaded with five bullets aimed toward a victory in the season opener. By the time all was said and done, they were left with just two, as Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton both delivered top-five finishes on the night. Surviving a marathon crashfest that featured 11 cautions and stretched the race into two overtime periods, Enfinger and Crafton, both of whom had never won at Daytona, seemed to be in the catbird seat to finallyRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Restrictor plate success has come naturally to Brad Keselowski throughout his career, but when it comes to the Daytona 500, there seems to be a ceiling that he just can’t break through, falling short time and again. When asked about his thoughts on trying to win the season opening spectacle, the Team Penske drive didn’t mince words on the rollercoaster the Great American Race can be. “This track is frustrating as hell,” Keselowski said. “There is no way around it. It isRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The start of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is officially here and with it comes the biggest race of the season, the Daytona 500. For 61 years, drivers have been making the pilgrimage to the Daytona high banks to win the sport’s most prestigious race and write themselves into the record book as Daytona 500 champion. Many have attempted it, but only a select few have been able to hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy in victory lane at theRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – During Daytona 500 Media Day on Wednesday, Brendan Gaughan noted that he was having the most fun he’s had in his NASCAR career driving part-time for Beard Motorsports. A day later, Gaughan is set to have even more fun with the No. 62 team after racing his way into a starting spot in Sunday’s race with a 15th place finish in Thursday’s Gander RV Duels at Daytona. Though the end result was transferring into the Daytona 500, Gaughan said he was asRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Watching Speedweeks from home a year ago, Parker Kligerman said he never thought he’d be back in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car, let alone starting Sunday’s Daytona 500 again. Now, the 28-year old has a date with the Great American Race after racing his way into the field with his finish in the first of the two 60-lap Gander RV Duel qualifying events, marking his second start in the race and first since 2014. “Here’s the crazy thing, a yearRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip found success at tracks of all shapes and sizes throughout his illustrious career, but one race eluded him for years on end – the Daytona 500. Coming into the 1989 running of the Great American Race, Waltrip was entering his third season with Hendrick Motorsports and had found moderate success, winning three races in the two seasons prior with the organization. Still, a marquee win at Daytona was missing from his resume and it would takeRead More