Daytona 500 Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer 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: 29 Years in Cup: Seven Career Wins: Two Austin Dillon’s 2019 campaign can be described as ambivalent. On one side, his playoff streak of three consecutive snapped as he struggled finding consistency on race days as shown with a dip on his average finish from 17.5 in 2018 to 19.5. Add insult to injury, he failed toRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor The list of drivers and teams with their sights set on making it into the field for the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 continues to grow. On Friday, two more drivers announced their intentions to compete in the Great American Race. First came the announcement from David Ragan, who retired from full-time racing in the NASCAR Cup Series last year. The 34-year old native of Unadilla, Georgia will pilot the No. 36 Ford Mustang in the Great American Race, with sponsorship from Select BlindsRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer NASCAR’s workhorse Ross Chastain will reunite with Chip Ganassi Racing for two NASCAR Cup Series races, beginning in the 62nd Daytona 500. Like last year with Jamie McMurray, Ganassi will be preparing Chastain’s No. 77 AdventHealth Chevrolet, but it’ll technically be listed under the Spire Motorsports banner. Spire are the most recent race winning team at the “World Center of Racing” when Justin Haley won last July’s rain shortened race. Thursday’s announcement was part of a major unveil by primary sponsor AdventHealth, taking place at DaytonaRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Juan Pablo Montoya is arguably the top-five, maybe top-three greatest drivers of the last 30 years. This isn’t a damn joke. I’m serious when I say this tremendous compliment. I’ve said it over the past half decade that he is a legend in the world of motorsports and quite frankly one of the best versatile drivers that doesn’t get the respect he deserves. After he and Team Penske co-driver Dane Cameron won their first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the DPi category Saturday at the MotulRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Like many racing fans across the country, I saw the NASCAR documentary Blink of an Eye, which is based on the 2011 autobiography about Michael Waltrip, at my movie theater which is literally a two-minute walk from home. After the roller coaster ride about Waltrip’s career leading up to the ill fated 2001 Daytona 500 and the aftermath of Dale Earnhardt’s death, I hate to be that guy, but the Paul Taulieb film had several production flaws. Let’s begin with audio. It started with the tragicRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – “It’s the most emotional and the biggest win I’ve ever had in my life, in anything,” Joe Gibbs said after the 61st running of the Daytona 500. Less than a month after the loss of J.D Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing came into the 2019 season with a motto: “Do It for J.D.” And they executed that almost to perfection Sunday, with Denny Hamlin capturing his second victory in the Great American Race, followed by Kyle Busch and Erik Jones securing a podiumRead More

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 Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Busch’s 14th attempt to capture the Harley J. Earl Trophy will have to wait another year after going from leading in the closing stages to finishing second in Sunday’s Daytona 500, leading 34 of 207 laps. On Lap 199, Hamlin ended Busch’s time out in front just as the field was wrecking behind him in Turn 3, collecting seven cars. The plan for Hamlin was to race and staying out, which Busch followed suit. Two restarts later, it was about to goRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –  Shattered dreams and a wad of junked cars surrounded the garage area after an 21-car crash on Lap 191 brought out the first of two red flags during Sunday’s 61st Daytona 500. Heading into Turn 3, Matt DiBenedetto, who led a race-high 49 laps, was running in fourth when contact by Paul Menard caused a wicked ripple effect that went from a fierce and clean race, to an absolute barn burner. As cars tried to avoid the mess, some weren’t as fortunateRead 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