Cup

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer This time one year ago, Austin Dillon finished in seventh in the Coke-Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway after getting airborne and slamming into the catch fencing as the field came to the checkered flag. Dillon’s car was torn in half, flopped back onto the racetrack, where it was then hit by a spinning Brad Keselowski. Multiple pit crews including Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s and Casey Mears’ immediately ran out to check on the driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chervolet SS. Fast forwardRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona was an unusually mellow restrictor plate race, until it wasn’t. On lap 89, all hell broke loose when Jamie McMurray received a tap from Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet. McMurray broke loose and spun into an entire field of drivers going 200-miles-per-hour. In all, 19 drivers couldn’t avoid piling into what turned out to be ‘the big one.’ The big one in Daytona. #CokeZero400 https://t.co/L9ke8AOcEZ — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 3, 2016 Among those involved were several driversRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Contributor When the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega, there is always a chance that a driver might get caught up in a crash that ends their night prematurely and for the 2016 Sprint Cup Series rookie class, that is exactly what happened in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Throughout the first 89 laps of the race, three of the four rookies (Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Chris Buescher) had made their way through the field intoRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor If you would have told me at the beginning of the season, that Trevor Bayne would be the breakout driver of the year, I would have called your bluff. However 17 races into the 2016 season, Bayne is turning heads as he continues to bust out great finishes. That trend continued in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Bayne, who has had decent qualifying runs all season long, had another one this week when he nabbed the 13th-place starting spot for this race. BayneRead More

By David Westergreen, Fan Column The first NASCAR race I ever watched was the 2001 Daytona 500. While it is a race well remembered for its last lap, what is often forgotten is the 49 lead changes among 14 drivers and underdog winner. Performances by Ward Burton and Sterling Marlin bringing Dodge back to the forefront for the first time since 1979 at Daytona are lost to the memories of Dale Earnhardt. This was my first experience as a fan. I did not see any one of Dale’s 76 winsRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Greg Biffle came out of nowhere. Winless since 2013 and without a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole since the fall Charlotte race in 2012, the driver of the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford scorched Daytona International Speedway on Friday to claim the top starting spot for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 (at 7:45 p.m. ET on NBC). In the second and final round of knockout qualifying, Biffle toured the 2.5-mile restrictor-plate track in 46.643 seconds (192.955 mph) to wrestleRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor Ultimately, it means very little, but with a lap of 199.349 mph Brian Scott paced Friday morning’s final practice session for the Coke Zero 400 on Saturday night. Scott, who drives for Richard Petty Motorsports, has had a lackluster rookie season, so perhaps leading the speed charts in the drafting session can provide a confidence boost that will lead to results on the track. Scott enters this weekend 30th in the championship standings, and he has yet to record a top-10 finish through 16 starts.Read More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor With less than 10 minutes remaining in final practice for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Kyle Busch had a severe impact. The right rear tire on Busch’s No. 18 Toyota blew causing him to veer right, head on into the wall. The hit was into a SAFER barrier, but it did catastrophic damage to the car. Luckily Busch walked away unscathed. NASCAR Tweeted footage of the accident: Here’s why we’re under red. #CokeZero400 pic.twitter.com/nFF9wNLMHN — NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 1, 2016 Busch, who wonRead More

By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor One of the key cogs in Richard Childress Racing’s flying aces pit crew of the 1980s, David Smith has passed away. The race team announced the somber news Thursday via Twitter. Thoughts & prayers are with the family of our longtime RCR team member David Smith. Rest in Peace champ. pic.twitter.com/6EinNxvECl — RCR (@RCRracing) July 1, 2016 Smith was a longtime jackman of the pit crew, but he also served as the crew chief for the legendary Dale Earnhardt during the 1996 season. In thatRead More