Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tag

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 Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Modern day superspeedway racing has gained the stigma of being a crap shoot style of competition and a trend fans have grown to be accustomed of watching, particularly the past two Daytona 500s. Whether it’s the addition of stage racing or drivers being impatient, everyone has an opinion regarding the matter, but one thing is certain. Sunday’s Daytona 500 is the final race of the old package, but the concern of becoming victims of being collected in the big one still loomsRead 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. – 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 Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Straight-line speed in qualifying is one thing. Speed and drivability in the draft is something quite different, as the Ford camp proved decisively in Thursday night’s Gander RV Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway. Kevin Harvick led the last 44 laps on Thursday night to win the first Duel and secure the third starting spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion JoeyRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It was a Valentine’s Day heartbreak for Ryan Truex and the entire Tommy Baldwin Racing No. 71 Chevrolet team, as they failed to beat Parker Kligerman in the first Gander RV Duel Race Thursday, which would’ve been Truex’s first Daytona 500, and was one of two cars that failed to make the race. “I mentally prepared to not make it, just so the letdown wasn’t so big,” Truex on how handling missing the show. “I’ve missed this race before, so I know howRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s quite the journey both Richard Childress Racing drivers Daniel Hemric and reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick has had. From both running Brad Keselowski Racing’s No. 19 Ford F-150 in the Gander Outdoor Truck Series at some point to now making their Daytona 500 debuts Sunday. Each have their own tale on how they’re approaching this race, but their goal are the same. That is going out to join a slim list of rookies that have won the biggest raceRead More