NASCAR Cup Series Tag

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Joey Logano grabbed the lead on the final lap of the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel 150-mile qualifying race Thursday at Daytona International Speedway and held on for the win, but a wreck at the halfway point dashed Daniel Suarez’s prospects of competing in his first Daytona 500 with his new team Gaunt Brothers Racing. In the second Duel, William Byron made a late charge to edge Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for the victory by .117 seconds and will startRead 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 Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The tragic and untimely passing of Kobe Bryant and eight other people (Gianna Bryant, John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and Ara Zobayan) last month were among the subjects brought up in Wednesday’s Daytona 500 Media Day. Topics ranged from how the five-time NBA champion impacted their lives to their viewpoint on aviation. The most notable of the drivers was Ryan Blaney, who met and spoke to Bryant back in 2018. Blaney said that “The Black Mamba”Read 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 Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Heading into tomorrow’s Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona International Speedway, we already know that Justin Haley and Brendan Gaughan are locked in for the 62nd Daytona 500 after being the fastest open cars in last Sunday’s time trials. However, the biggest angle are those five guys on the outside looking in as only two spots are left. The immense pressure of racing among themselves to be the top guy in their respective Duel races is there but each their own story. InRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Days removed from the indescribable Busch Clash last Sunday, there were three drivers who were in the center of attention during Daytona 500 Media Day Wednesday and it happened to be three of the most polarizing drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series. What started the overall madness for the 88-lap crash fest occurred on Lap 66 when a little block by Joey Logano to defend his race lead went haywire as Kyle Busch made a slight tap on Logano in Turn 3.Read 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