NASCAR

The Daytona 500 front row will be set in Wednesday night's qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway. Here's a look at Wednesday's schedule.

“I think come the end of the stages and the end of the race, that dynamic changes. “That’s kind of the philosophy I had when I was a regular. I didn’t care who it was, if they were going forward, I was going to jump in behind them and go.” “If I survive and get through the two stages, there’s really a shot I have to win this race.” The fundamentals of the draft, I think, outweigh the mechanical differences in the vehicle. I guess I should be aware of that.” “You kind of lose sight of who you’re around. But can the owner/driver win in his first race back? More stressful than I intended it to be.” “I didn’t know that was normal. [Alex Bowman](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/auto-racing/nascar/player/48443/alex-bowman) won the pole for the Daytona 500. So the entire lap I made a run, I thought something was potentially wrong with the car.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Wednesday was a banner day for Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman. After announcing a contract extension that will keep him in ...

Daly had to forego his qualifying run because of a mechanical failure he described as “one in a million.” The oil heater in Daly’s No. The RPM range was much different from the last time I was in a car. I’m really looking forward to the Duels, get some more laps, get comfortable and then get to race it on Sunday.” With four career Busch Light Pole Awards to his credit, Bowman will start on the front row in the Daytona 500 for a record sixth consecutive time. Kyle Busch’s final-round qualifying time was disallowed after he dipped below the yellow line between the racing surface and the apron in an attempt to draft off Cindric’s car, which had just completed its lap. “I just can’t say enough about this 23XI team,” Pastrana said. “I’m just so proud of Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, all the guys,” Bowman said. Larson’s consolation for missing out on his second straight Daytona 500 pole was the guaranteed second-place starting position. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet into a front-row start for the “Great American Race” (Sun., 2:30 p.m. Hendrick driver William Byron was third fastest in the final round at 180.727 mph. On Wednesday, Bowman eclipsed Larson in a different way. [Full qualifying results](https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2023/nascar-cup-series/daytona-500/stn/lineup)

Micah Roberts revealed his NASCAR picks for the Daytona 500 2023 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

"He knows how to drive with the superspeedway package very well, and his confidence has grown immensely," Roberts told SportsLine. Roberts is the nation's premier NASCAR betting expert, and his top pick, Elliott, won the YellaWood 500 last October at +1200 odds. One shocker: Roberts is fading Ryan Blaney, even though he is a co-favorite at 10-1. The 2023 Daytona 500 start time is 2:30 p.m. Three-time race winner Denny Hamlin is +1100, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott are +1200, and Kyle Larson and Joey Logano round out the top 2023 Daytona 500 contenders at +1400. will try to build off his exhibition victory when he competes in the 2023 Daytona 500 on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR is set to begin its 75th season this weekend with the 65th edition of its richest and most prestigious race, the Daytona 500.

Alex Bowman's penchant to push his car earned him a spot on the front row of the past five Daytona 500s, and before that a catchy moniker.

Es poco probable que el organismo sancionador haga la transición sin al menos tratar de mantener el sonido palpitante de un motor gutural y el olor penetrante ...

El auto actual de NASCAR vio algunas de las mayores innovaciones en la historia de la serie. El automóvil fue diseñado específicamente para mejorar la seguridad, con cambios que incluyeron carrocerías más altas, más anchas e idénticas, zonas de deformación más grandes y espuma absorbente de impactos incorporada en ambos lados. El sonido de los motores es otro. “No quiero sonar morboso, pero no creo que deba estar libre de riesgos porque esa es una de las atracciones”. Estos autos son ampliamente considerados los más icónicos en la historia de NASCAR. A medida que comenzaron a aparecer pistas más grandes y con peraltes más altos como Daytona en todo el sur, NASCAR comenzó a permitir que los equipos construyeran autos que pudieran manejar los rigores de la pista. Los autos de carrera personalizados ya no se parecían a sus contrapartes de la sala de exposición. Tal vez incluso más para NASCAR, que ha construido un imperio exprimiendo cada bit de potencia de los autos a gasolina desde que comenzó a competir en la arena de Daytona Beach. Se permitió a los equipos reforzar los ejes, los engranajes y las suspensiones mientras las carrocerías permanecían en stock. Había tres reglas: había que quitar el asiento trasero, tapar con cinta los faros y asegurar las puertas. “Pero sé que se habla de un componente híbrido”. Probablemente”, dijo el exjefe de equipo de NASCAR y comentarista de Fox Sports desde hace mucho tiempo, Larry McReynolds.

NASCAR's next 75 years almost certainly will include at least a partially electric vehicle turning laps at Daytona International Speedway.

And that could ultimately go the way of doors, splitters and wings. "I don’t mean to sound morbid, but I don’t think it needs to be risk free because that’s one of the attractions.” The first cars debuted in 1948 and were nearly identical to those on the street. NASCAR’S current car saw some of the biggest innovations in series history. The car was specifically designed to improve safety, with changes that included taller, wider and identical bodies, larger crumple zones and impact-absorbing foam built into both sides. “The electrification of the cars has to be on the horizon. Maybe even longer for NASCAR, which has built an empire on squeezing every bit of horsepower from gas-powered cars since it started racing on the Daytona Beach sand. It grabs you, and that’s part of what our fans come to hear, come to see, the sights and smells and sounds. “That would be a way to ease into it. “I think we’ll be very, very careful about eliminating that sound. “We might see the day that we might go to a hybrid and use the electrical power for pace laps or pit stops,” Martin said. “Do I see us racing EVs down the road?

The unranked list will be unveiled this spring and culminate with an in-person celebration of the esteemed group during the Goodyear 400 race weekend at ...

Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area? As a result of the selection process for the 75 Greatest Drivers, NASCAR also will shift the voting timeline for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024. “From the incredible races to the unforgettable moments to our larger-than-life stars, there is so much to celebrate during this 75th Anniversary season,” said Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. A blue-ribbon committee comprised of former drivers, team owners, industry personnel, NASCAR executives and current and former media members will determine the 75 Greatest Drivers.

Joey Logano's 2022 NASCAR Cup Seriese title was aided by two Asheville natives. Now the group is seeking a Daytona 500 win to start 2023.

Pressley started off as a driver, winning the UARA Stars Late Model Series Championship in 2010, and made 12 Xfinity series starts before making the transition to spotter in 2015. And me, I was sitting behind the wall for five minutes taking it in, not trying to rush anything.” He cruised to his fourth win of the year and his second No matter what sport you’re in, you want to be a champion, you want to be the best at it.” He slowly picked off Briscoe and Blaney and made his way to the front. Two Asheville natives were on his pit crew who helped keep Logano out front most of the race and are back for more in 2023, which kicks off at Sunday's Daytona 500.

The countdown continues as the Daytona Beach News-Journal attempts to list the top 75 Cup Series racers of all time, with the Daytona 500 on tap.

During his two title years, he combined for 24 wins and 77 top-10s in 88 starts. Also: His championships came during an eight-year stretch when he finished fifth or better. In 1987, he helped usher in the restrictor-plate era by qualifying at 210+ at Daytona and 212+ at Talladega. Also: Moved from the family team to Harry Melling’s organization in the early-’80s and within a few years became a cultural phenomenon: "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville." Also: At 93, White is the oldest living NASCAR Hall of Famer. Won a pair of Southern 500s and four times at North Wilkesboro. He had 24 top-10s in each of those seasons. Came out of semi-retirement in 2009 to win five races at age 50. Also: Had wins in 14 seasons, and multiple wins in 10. Best stretch began his sophomore season in 2002, when he won 14 races and his championship over a four-year run. Years active: 2000-2022 As NASCAR's 75th Cup Series season points to its Sunday kickoff with the Daytona 500, News-Journal motorsports writers Ken Willis and Ryan Pritt have compiled a list of the Cup Series all-time best 75 drivers.

The NASCAR Cup Series begins the season as it always does, with the Daytona 500 in Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.

Austin Hill*, No. Kyle Busch, No. Austin Cindric, No. Chase Briscoe, No. Kyle Larson, No. Ty Dillon, No. Austin Dillon, No. CT Thursday, FS1), single-car qualifying speeds and 2022 owner points Ty Gibbs, No. Those are the only two locked lineup positions; the rest will be set on Thursday night. Kyle Larson will start on the outside pole. Johnson and Pastrana are locked into the race now and can fall back on their qualifying times should they not race in on Thursday.

The Streamline Hotel, which opened in 1941, is widely recognized as the birthplace of NASCAR because it hosted meetings between drivers and officials during ...

“The hotel was in bad disarray for so long. France, the son of NASCAR chairman Jim France, gave him exclusive access to NASCAR memorabilia that now adorn the walls of the lobby, the restaurant and the rooftop bar. And being so close to the France family, it was out of respect also. “I was raised by NASCAR and all kinds of racing. It’s a gathering spot — maybe even a tourist attraction — for anyone wanting a glimpse of what those olden days of racing on the beach must have looked and felt like. “I couldn’t help but do that and think of myself as them and what that place must have looked like then.

Former Nascar driver Clint Bowyer is settled into his new life as a Nascar on Fox analyst. Ahead of the Daytona 500, Bowyer has his eyes on several stories ...

It’s been a while, but he is ready for the challenge. The tradition of Daytona goes that far and the roots are there, and that’s the fan base I believe I talk to.” “This is the track with all of the exposure and all eyes are on the participants,” Bowyer said on Wednesday. Bowyer’s longest tenured teammate Kevin Harvick, who raced alongside Bowyer at both Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, announced that 2023 will be his final year in the Nascar Cup Series. “I love my new job and I love being in the booth with Mike. Bowyer pulled into the immaculate facility looking for storylines as Nascar on Fox’s lead analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Mike Joy.

NASCAR's 75th season is about to begin. Joe Gibbs Racing has a younger look and how did Kyle Busch get a 3½- year sentence to a Mexican prison?

It does not appear as if the move is swaddled in nepotism as Ty is incredibly talented despite the fact he has the baby face of a 20-year-old who is just learning to shave. “Working through the 2022 season, I knew I wanted to come back in NASCAR and still moonlight in Indy cars,” Johnson told The Times. Retirements in NASCAR tend to have the same feel as those of professional boxers. Busch said he has a concealed carry permit in the U.S. The goal was to make it more about the skill of the driver instead of the money behind the R&D of the teams. Busch is being replaced by Ty Gibbs, the grandson of the owner. The underdog can come in here and win.” “We had a meeting with one of our race teams, who some people consider to be back of the [starting] grid,” Phelps said. The cars are precision crafted and tested and cost a quarter-million to more than a half-million dollars. It won’t take long before the constant mention of the 75th season will start to sound like an old LP with a scratch in it. Some even drove their race cars to the track in the beginning. Steve Phelps, NASCAR president, offered evidence to NBC Sports, which broadcasts the second half of the schedule after NFL Sundays.

Will Jimmie Johnson turn back the clock at Daytona? Will there be another first-time winner? Will a Cup champion add the missing piece to a legacy?

](https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/02/05/nascar-johnson-jones-gragson-pleased-with-direction-of-legacy-motor-club/69853830007/)The Daytona 500 will be one of a handful of starts Johnson plans to make this year. For starters, should Johnson crash, he will have to help foot the bill this time around. The goal is to win either way. “We fired off last year, goal was to win the championship. 84 car after buying into the company in the offseason. The goal doesn’t change because you’re defending a championship. Maybe we should bring in Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni for this one. [How to watch Cup Series races in 2023](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/01/31/nascar-cup-schedule-2023-dates-times-tv-streaming/11129699002/) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. [To join NASCAR on Fox TV booth in 2024 following his final Cup season](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/02/05/kevin-harvick-join-fox-nascar-tv-booth-2024/11194441002/) [Daytona 500 signals green flag for NASCAR's 75th season](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/02/15/daytona-500-nascar-starts-75th-anniversary-season-with-speedweek/11256829002/) [a capacity crowd will be on hand ](https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/02/13/nascar-65th-daytona-500-a-complete-sellout-speedweek-tickets-remain/69897183007/)for the eighth straight time and currently (fingers crossed), the forecast looks perfect.

The Bluegreen Vacations Duels will set the lineup from third to 40th for the season opener. Both races will consist of 60 laps, 150 miles with lineups that were ...

The highest finishing Open team in each Duel race will earn a spot in the Daytona 500. The winners of the duels will receive 10 points, the second-place finishers get nine points and so on to the 10th-place finishers who will get one point. The two fastest open teams in single-car qualifying will automatically lock into the Daytona 500 without needing to race their way through the Duels. The rest of the race lineup will be determined by Thursday evening’s Duels. The top 20 in owners points from the previous season will hold the last 20 spots to go in the Wednesday evening session that is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. Unique to the “Great American Race” is the qualifying format that includes single-car qualifying and the Bluegreen Vacations Duels that will set the 40-car starting lineup.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Vintage racecars crowded into the parking lot of the Streamline Hotel for a “legends party” Wednesday, and hundreds of fans got ...

“The hotel was in bad disarray for so long. And being so close to the France family, it was out of respect also. France, the son of NASCAR chairman Jim France, gave him exclusive access to NASCAR memorabilia that now adorn the walls of the lobby, the restaurant and the rooftop bar. “I was raised by NASCAR and all kinds of racing. It’s a gathering spot — maybe even a tourist attraction — for anyone wanting a glimpse of what those olden days of racing on the beach must have looked and felt like. “I couldn’t help but do that and think of myself as them and what that place must have looked like then.

Kyle Busch is at Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick is in his final season and NASCAR is putting on a street race in Chicago.

Cup drivers opened Daytona 500 week Wednesday night with single-car qualifying. The lineup for most of the 500 grid will be established by finishing positions ...

We want to go there and be a big part of the story and contend to win.” That meant that Daly — who had no laps in a Cup car — needed to finish ahead of Travis Pastrana and Austin Hill in their qualifying race to nab the last spot for an unchartered car in the Daytona 500. “You want to position yourself in the best spot, and you don’t want to penalize your teammate ever. “It’s definitely a unique style of racing and one that I haven’t quite figured out yet,” he said. “I wouldn’t say anything is off the table,” Marks said in response to a question from NBC Sports. He is getting a little later start, but he has a different perspective on things that he may have had at an earlier age and in his career the first time by. Among the Cup rule changes this season was allowing the choose rule to be in place at superspeedway races. “I was like racing is the thing that I always wanted to do. It took nearly that long to put together funding and find the right team in Rette Jones Racing to make this move. “When he was born, I felt like I was nothing, as lame as that sounds,” Muniz said. Muniz was geared toward a racing career as a second act in his life until a crash in 2009 left him with a broken back and other injuries that took time to heal. The second race will follow a few minutes after the conclusion of the first.

CONCORD, N.C. — With a few flicks of the wrist that operate the four color-coded levers on the back of the tow truck, the race car that's sitting on its ...

So we needed to shore up the fact that we need to train over and over and over and over again. Wearing blue fire suits, the team practiced procedures for if a car is pinned against a wall and the driver requires medical treatment, what to do if one driver confronts another while that second driver is being treated, and how to walk on the banking, which can be tricky upon exiting a safety vehicle. For the next hour-plus, a NASCAR official called out various scenarios over the radio: multiple crashed cars in the tri-oval; a car stopped up against the Turn 4 wall; a disabled car in the middle of pit road; drivers fighting in the infield. We’re going to be as prepared as we possibly can knowing that something unknown is going to happen.” The team then went back to CMS to look over the scene of the crash. As the other equipment from the track gets there, it clutters up the scene and it makes it tough for the wrecker to get in, which sort of happened in Charlotte.” “We as a collective group did a lot of training around rolling that car over, making sure those processes were in place,” Phillips said. “We thought we had a pretty good plan, but then once you get to it in the heat of the moment, there were a couple of minor things we had to adapt to,” said Terry Kibler, NASCAR’s manager of track services. — With a few flicks of the wrist that operate the four color-coded levers on the back of the tow truck, the race car that’s sitting on its roof begins to rotate over so that it gently can be placed upright back on its wheels. We changed the way that we towed race cars for the Next Gen. 17 Ford flipped four and a half times through the infield before coming to a rest on its roof. It’s a precise sequence that requires the perfect amount of finesse by the operator, otherwise the car could slam back down on the ground, possibly injuring the occupant.

Cup drivers opened Daytona 500 week Wednesday night with single-car qualifying. The lineup for most of the 500 grid will be established by finishing positions ...

On Saturday, Mike Boylan of Mike's Weather Page will debut a race car fittingly named the “hurricane awareness machine.”

More than that, though, Boylan said he has found there is an overlap in NASCAR lovers and weather lovers. “It kind of goes back to this car thing, you know, my love of NASCAR,” Boylan said. Over the years, as social media has grown and Boylan has taken to storm chasing, he has become more engaged with those that follow him. NASCAR and weather go hand in hand. “It just makes sense to have a car in Florida and have a little bit of hurricane flair on it,” Mike Boylan, 49, of Mike’s Weather Page, said. Since he was a child, Boylan has had a love of cars. However, Boylan is not a meteorologist, and he doesn’t claim to be. “I got tired of looking all over the internet for spaghetti models and forecasts and satellite imagery,” Boylan said. Boylan, Tampa Bay’s very own local weather celebrity, said the goal of the race car is to raise awareness about the danger of hurricanes, especially in the South. Bayley Currey will be the racer behind the wheel of the car’s entry on Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity series called the Beef. Mike’s Weather Page has 1.3 million likes on Facebook and nearly 200,000 followers between Instagram and Twitter. 4 car will be wrapped in blues and blacks, with a swirling hurricane engulfing its sides.

SportsLine simulated the NASCAR Daytona 500 2023 10000 times and locked in surprising auto racing picks.

Check out the latest 2023 NASCAR at Daytona odds below, then So who wins the Daytona 500 2023? 24 Chevrolet proved it had some elite races in it last year, so Byron is a driver to back in your 2023 Daytona 500 best bets. And a massive shocker: Larson, one of the top favorites at 12-1, stumbles and barely cracks the top five. He's never finished higher than third in any NASCAR event at this iconic track. Caesars Sportsbook lists Hamlin as the 10-1 favorite in the 2023 Daytona 500 odds. Superspeedway racing, however, is known for its chaotic nature, and 17 NASCAR at Daytona 2023 drivers are listed at 25-1 or lower. The Daytona 500 2023 is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There was a lot to like about Byron's 2022 campaign, as he finished sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings on the strength of two wins and five top-five performances. McClure's model is off to a red-hot start this season, already nailing Martin Truex Jr.'s win at the Clash at the Coliseum, returning 20-1. The 2023 Daytona 500 brings another chance for Denny Hamlin to chase down history at the Great American Race. All told, the model has nailed a whopping eight winners since 2021.

There's no putting it lightly. The Daytona 500 is the biggest race annually on the NASCAR calendar. What the Super Bowl is to the NFL and what the World Cup ...

NASCAR at Daytona 2023 doubles as the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series season, with Joey Logano looking to defend his championship, while Austin Cindric is ...

"In fact, last year he had the worst closer rate (-10.3 in the final 10% of races) in NASCAR on superspeedways." They all return at least 25-1, so anyone who backs these drivers could hit it big. The last eight times Logano has stepped foot onto Daytona International Speedway, he's held a lead at some point in all eight races. Before scouring the 2023 Daytona 500 starting lineup, be sure to ET, the green flag for the 2023 Daytona 500 will drop, with 40 drivers competing in one of the most prestigious events in auto racing. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are the favorites in the 2023 Daytona 500 odds at 10-1.

SportsLine simulated each NASCAR Duel at Daytona 2023 10000 times and locked in surprising auto racing picks.

Check out the latest 2023 NASCAR at Daytona odds below, then So who wins the Daytona Duels 2023? But even if he were to go after the points available for Thursday's Twin 150s, Larson's track record at Daytona is less than stellar. He's only cracked the top five once in nine career starts in the Daytona Duels. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is already locked into a front-row spot after qualifying second on Wednesday night, so there won't be a lot of incentive for him to race hard on Thursday. Denny Hamlin is the 17-2 favorite according to the 2023 Duel at Daytona odds and will hope for a strong finish to set up a fourth Daytona 500 victory on Sunday. Now, Haley is back in the Kaulig equipment that helped him earn three top-five finishes last season and will try to put his Daytona experience to good use. ET, while the second race will determine the outside row of the 2023 Daytona 500 starting lineup, with the green flag set to drop at 9 p.m. McClure's model is off to a red-hot start this season, already nailing Martin Truex Jr.'s win at the Clash at the Coliseum, returning 20-1. Haley made waves as a 20-year-old when he came from out of nowhere in his third career NASCAR Cup Series start to win the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400. The first race will determine the inside row and will begin at 7 p.m. Now, the rest of the drivers hoping to qualify for Sunday's Great American Race will battle for their starting position in the 2023 Bluegreen Vacations Duels on Thursday.

Micah Roberts revealed his NASCAR picks for the Daytona 500 2023 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

But Truex, who was runner-up in "The Great American Race" in 2016, got this year off to a good start by capturing the checkered flag in the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum earlier this month. Roberts is the nation's premier NASCAR betting expert, and his top pick, Elliott, won the YellaWood 500 last October at +1200 odds. One shocker: Roberts is fading Ryan Blaney, even though he is a co-favorite at 10-1. Three-time race winner Hamlin is +1100, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott are +1200 and Kyle Larson and Joey Logano round out the top 2023 Daytona 500 contenders at +1400. The 2023 Daytona 500 start time is 2:30 p.m. Cindric, who went on to become the Rookie of the Year, is looking to join Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84), Sterling Marlin (1994-95) and Denny Hamlin (2019-20) as the only back-to-back winners of the Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson is competing in the Daytona 500 as both a driver and owner after a two-year absence from NASCAR. Here's why he decided to come back.

Also, in what likely is not a coincidence, it is also the number of lifetime wins he will have with one more victory. “I’m going to have to remind my spotter to remind me [where to stop.]” He no longer has an auto dealership in the area and has moved his charity event to Charlotte. But we are still very active giving back to the school area in which I grew up.” “I do know myself and the selfish world I live in. “I’ve been restructuring our workforce to bring in people I know,” Johnson said. “I do know myself and the selfish world I live in,” Johnson said. Because he was classified as a “non-chartered” car he had to qualify to make the field. And a lot of work inside the walls of the building, the marketing, public relations, sales and, of course, competition. He won his first Cup Series race that year in his 13th start at [Auto Club Speedway in Fontana](https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-02-25/auto-club-speedway-renovation), the closest track to where he grew up in El Cajon. … The grind of having 19 years in Cup racing took its toll and I just wanted to drive other cars and try other things. This year, he even plans to drive in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With seven NASCAR Cup Championships using three different championship formats in 11 seasons, a case can be made for Johnson as Greatest of All Time.

After earning his 200th career Cup win on July 4, 1984 (two days after his 47th birthday), Petty went winless in his final eight seasons in the Cup Series. Still, that didn’t lessen the millions of people who considered Petty the GOAT of his era, much like Johnson is the GOAT of his era. He’d also win 10 races in 2007, to go along with his eight wins in 2004 and seven wins in the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. I know the seven (championships) he’s talked about a lot, but that five in a row thing doesn't get talked about enough, in my opinion. And I was going to mention the five in a row. It was Jeff Gordon who played arguably the biggest impact in Johnson’s career. His last win was at Dover in spring 2017. I know the format was different, but it makes it a little more possible to do. Johnson, who earned 83 career Cup wins, stopped racing in NASCAR after the 2020 season and moved on to a two-year stint in IndyCar. But in modern-day NASCAR, the Greatest of All Time is unquestionably Jimmie Johnson, whose era stretched from 2001-2020. 17) will also run a part-time Cup Series schedule of between four and six races. His era was, in my opinion, much more difficult.

Jimmie Johnson has retired twice since 2020, once from NASCAR and again in September from racing altogether. Those plans have fallen by the wayside, ...

Johnson's last win in a Cup Series race came in June of 2017. 84 car in the Daytona 500, due in part to his case for an 84th win. In a press release, he called the opportunity "the perfect fit," and it includes more than just the Daytona 500. He won the Daytona 500 in 2006 and 2013. It won't be simple for Johnson, who is competing in a group of six drivers for the four remaining qualification spots in Sunday's race. The deal allows him to take on a leadership role while still doing what he's done so well for the last two decades.

Joey Logano earned a dramatic victory in Duel 1 at Daytona before Duel 2 will set the field for Sunday's Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX).

[At-track photos](https://www.nascar.com/gallery/at-track-photos-2023-daytona-speedweeks/) [Daytona 500 lineup set](https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/02/15/setting-the-2023-daytona-500-lineup-projecting-lineups-for-duel-races/) Among the open entrants, Zane Smith finished highest in eighth — good enough to secure his place in Sunday’s race, driving the No. Bell darted to the outside of Logano but fell short by just 0.018 seconds at the finish, for one of the closest Duel races in recent memory. Seven of the top 10 finishers raced under the Blue Oval banner, including Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, who finished third. A handful of cars were collected in the incident, including open-car hopeful Austin Hill, who was vying for a race bid and needed a solid finish.

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano wasted no time finding his way back to Victory Lane, winning his Daytona 500 qualifying race.

[PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/how-nascar-had-to-learn-a-harsh-lesson-ahead-of-its-next-gen-arrival/8224413/) [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/six-keys-nascar-cup-season/8253280/) [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/how-penskes-rookie-sensation-opened-nascars-new-era-in-style/8371980/) [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/the-early-benefits-and-challenges-of-nascars-next-gen-car/8403592/) [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupBristol ](/nascar-cup/news/the-ex-f1-driver-taking-on-nascar-with-a-new-team/9867565/) I've got to stick with him.' I knew (Bell) would make the run to the outside, and I probably wasn't going to be able to defend that, and just waited for (Blaney) to push me through there. Ty Gibbs was penalized for speeding and had to serve a pass-through on pit road. [NAS NASCAR Cup ](/nascar-cup/news/almirola-duel-2-win-conor-daly-busch-crash/10433208/) [NAS NASCAR Cup ](/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-starting-grid-lineup-nascar-cup/10433189/) This is not where you want to be.' I was hoping they started racing back there, which they did, which ended up kind of working out for me. "Just a great job by the Shell-Pennzoil team. 20 Toyota was able to pull out of line without help and nearly powered pass Logano all on his own before settling for second.

Travis Pastrana and Jimmie Johnson clinched their starting spots in Wednesday's qualifying. Rest of the Daytona 500 field is settled tonight.

Among drivers attempting to qualify for both the Daytona 500 and Friday’s NextEra Energy 250, Corey Lajoie turned in the best lap, finishing ninth on the board with a time of 48.3. And not to jinx things, but so far we're looking good through Sunday's 65th running of the Daytona 500 — mid-80s Friday, mid-60s Saturday, mid-70s Sunday. 43 car, was the only driver to not turn in a lap. And practically no chance of showers. Driving the Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, Rajah Caruth registered the best time in the afternoon truck practice, coming home with a lap of 47.76. He ran out in front of Harvick and Blaney as the laps winded down. Blaney, Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five. [150-mile qualifying races](https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/nascar/2023/02/15/nascars-thursday-duels-set-daytona-500-lineup-2-teams-will-go-home/69903165007/) at Daytona International Speedway. Also bowing out in the wreck was the No. He turned a lap averaging 182.212 mph in his No. "I did have my hands full," Almirola said of the second qualifier, which featured plenty of 2-by-2 action. Those two series qualify Friday and race Saturday at Daytona.

NASCAR champion Joey Logano won the first qualifying race for the Daytona 500, his third victory in the event that sets the field for “The Great American ...

The front row was set in Wednesday night's time trials, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson sweeping the two spots. Zane Smith in a Ford for Front Row Motorsports earned one of the open positions in the Daytona 500 with an eighth-place finish. I learned a lot, a lot, a lot, now I get what these guys talk about, when you run on a Sunday you gain a lot of experience. Ty Gibbs, the reigning Xfinity Series champ, is a rookie for Joe Gibbs Racing. I had a lot of fun right there. Smith warmed up for the effort with a win last month at Daytona International Speedway in a sports car race and will race in Friday night's Truck Series season opener.

Aric Almirola escaped a near-wreck on the last lap and held off Austin Cindric to win Thursday night's second Daytona 500 qualifying race.

[PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/six-keys-nascar-cup-season/8253280/) [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/how-penskes-rookie-sensation-opened-nascars-new-era-in-style/8371980/) The race returned to green on Lap 47 with Larson out front followed by Almirola and Keselowski. [PrimePrimeNASCAR CupDaytona 500 ](/nascar-cup/news/the-early-benefits-and-challenges-of-nascars-next-gen-car/8403592/) 8 Chevrolet into the wall which collected several others. On Lap 41, Suarez got into the back of Busch and sent his No. At the halfway mark, Busch continued to lead followed by Suarez and Larson. The race returned to green on Lap 11 with Almirola out front, followed by Larson, Cindric and Daly took the final transfer spot despite finishing 17th and two laps down. 50 Chevrolet for The Money Team. "We kind of went for it in qualifying and put the speed in the car, sacrificed some handling, and as you could see tonight it was a handful, but, man, this is so cool," Almirola said. We're going to keep focused on that one.

Zane Smith and Conor Daly got the last two starting spots for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Following Thursday night's 150-mile Duel qualifying races, the 40-car field is set for the 65th Daytona 500, which will kick off the 75th season for the ...

Ty Dillon, Chevrolet Kyle Busch, Chevrolet Austin Dillon, Chevrolet Ross Chastain, Chevrolet Chase Elliott, Chevrolet Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

Joey Logano and Aric Almirola won their respective Duels, while Kyle Busch was involved in a crash with Daniel Suarez on Thursday.

[Jimmie Johnson, Travis Pastrana qualify for Daytona 500](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/jimmie-johnson-travis-pastrana-qualify-for-daytona-500) [Can Kyle Busch break RCR's title drought? [Zane Smith](https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/zane-smith-driver) and [Conor Daly](https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/conor-daly-driver), who raced their way into the Daytona 500. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including the past 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. I squeezed a little too much [on the throttle] before we got to the [speed] line. "The 62 [of Hill] was already spinning when I hit the 62," Pastrana said. "We can't ever deny a lucky situation," Daly said. "But I guess he wasn't. "I don't see the sense in it. "You never want that to happen," Suarez said. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App) at Daytona International Speedway. "I can't tell you what I'm going to do," Logano said with a laugh. He didn't try to block