In a change from the traditional multi-segment format to qualifying for the curtain-raiser, each car on the 44-strong entry list was permitted to run a single timed lap on the oval to decide the order, with the session also being run at night for the first time. Ricky Stenhouse Jr had set the early benchmark

Alex Bowman claimed a second Daytona 500 pole position in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup season-opener, with team-mate William Byron securing a second Hendrick Motorsports front-row in three years. In a change from the traditional multi-segment format to qualifying for the curtain-raiser, each car on the 44-strong entry list was permitted to run a single

Heading onto the final tour of the 35-lap Speedweeks curtain-raiser building up to the Daytona 500, Blaney had snatched the lead away from Hendrick Motorsports’ Elliott in the infield of the 14-turn course and tried to use his seven-lap fresher tyres to pull away from the reigning Cup champion. However, Blaney locked up and ran

Kyle Busch scored an unlikely victory in the exhibition NASCAR Clash race on the Daytona road course, after last lap contact between leaders Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott. Heading onto the final tour of the 35-lap Speedweeks curtain-raiser building up to the Daytona 500, Blaney had snatched the lead away from Hendrick Motorsports’ Elliott in

Larson was fired from his Chip Ganassi Racing team in April of last year for using a racial slur during the broadcast of an iRacing event and was also indefinitely suspended by NASCAR at the time. He has since been reinstated and found a new ride with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season, staging his

Kyle Larson feels “extremely grateful” to be able to return to NASCAR, admitting he “never really thought I’d get another chance” following his suspension for using a racial slur. Larson was fired from his Chip Ganassi Racing team in April of last year for using a racial slur during the broadcast of an iRacing event

Reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric says he has “compartmentalised” his Daytona 500 programme for Penske, describing his Cup debut as a “separate programme”. Cindric will dovetail a select schedule at Cup level with defending his Xfinity crown in 2021 will drive the #33 Ford Mustang alongside team regulars Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and

Cindric will dovetail a select schedule at Cup level with defending his Xfinity crown in 2021 will drive the #33 Ford Mustang alongside team regulars Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano, before graduating to a full-time drive in 2022 at Penske-affiliated Wood Brothers Racing. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NASCAR has decided

Denny Hamlin has shed light on how he’ll split his workload between racing for Joe Gibbs and be co-owner at the new 23XI Racing squad in the NASCAR Cup Series. Hamlin, a triple Daytona 500 winner who is also seeking a third consecutive win the Cup Series’ showpiece event later this month, will combine driving

Hamlin, a triple Daytona 500 winner who is also seeking a third consecutive win the Cup Series’ showpiece event later this month, will combine driving duties in the #11 Toyota with running a team of his own concern along with NBA legend Michael Jordan. 23XI Racing, which has signed Bubba Wallace to be its sole

Kurt Busch has pinpointed the exhaust system of the Next Gen NASCAR car currently undergoing testing as an area that needs development through its “venting and cooling”. Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, has been one of a number of drivers to test the generation seven car that was slated for introduction into competition this year,

Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, has been one of a number of drivers to test the generation seven car that was slated for introduction into competition this year, before being delayed by a year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Chip Ganassi driver Busch, and Martin Truex Jr, the 2017 title winner, undertook testing at

Ryan Newman says he has no fear on his return to the Daytona 500 because he has no memory of his massive last-lap crash in last year’s NASCAR Cup race. The vicious accident which forced Newman to be extricated from his car and sidelined for three races with a closed head injury has been viewed

The vicious accident which forced Newman to be extricated from his car and sidelined for three races with a closed head injury has been viewed by millions of people from numerous angles. Newman – the one with the best angle of what took place – has no memory of the accident itself which may have

Armando Christian Perez, better known as the international star Pitbull, is co-owner along with Justin Marks of the new Trackhouse Racing team, which will field a full-time entry in the Cup Series this season for driver Daniel Suarez. He also has been named grand marshal of the 2021 Daytona 500, which will kick off the

Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Pitbull sees his new NASCAR team ownership role as a “higher calling” and an opportunity to “bring people together”. Armando Christian Perez, better known as the international star Pitbull, is co-owner along with Justin Marks of the new Trackhouse Racing team, which will field a full-time entry in the Cup

Aside from some small modifications, NASCAR officials confirmed on Monday during a preview of the 2021 season that many of the same virus protocols remain in place from 2020. Much of what will determine NASCAR’s ability to handle fans at event weekends will fall on conditions of local communities where the races take place. One

NASCAR’s 2021 season will begin with many of the same COVID-19 protocols in place as last year with no clear sign when they will change. Aside from some small modifications, NASCAR officials confirmed on Monday during a preview of the 2021 season that many of the same virus protocols remain in place from 2020. Much

Keselowski is renowned as one of the sport’s most successful superspeedway racers, having won six points races at Daytona and Talledega since 2005, but his failure to win the Daytona 500 in 11 attempts is plain to see. “My frustration level is pretty extreme, to be quite honest with you,” said the Team Penske driver.

Brad Keselowski says his frustration level at not being able to win the Daytona 500 is “pretty extreme” after being involved in a spectacular series of wrecks in NASCAR’s biggest race. Keselowski is renowned as one of the sport’s most successful superspeedway racers, having won six points races at Daytona and Talledega since 2005, but

Hamlin has spent the entirety of his NASCAR Cup Series career with JGR, dating back to when he made his debut in 2005 and his relationship with FedEx going even further back. The partnership has allowed Hamlin to win 44 races, including three Daytona 500s in 2016, 2019 and 2020. “The relationship between FedEx and

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin will continue his involvement with the Joe Gibbs Racing team and sponsor FedEx after agreeing a new multi-year deal. Hamlin has spent the entirety of his NASCAR Cup Series career with JGR, dating back to when he made his debut in 2005 and his relationship with FedEx going even

NASCAR Cup champion Joey Logano is looking forward to the series’ first dirt race since 1970 at Bristol, but is trying to keep his season preparation balanced. Among the many changes to the Cup schedule for 2021 are the addition of several more road course events, along with the first dirt track race in more

Among the many changes to the Cup schedule for 2021 are the addition of several more road course events, along with the first dirt track race in more than 50 years as the Bristol Motor Speedway is converted into a dirt course. The NASCAR Cup field last raced on dirt in the 1970 North Carolina

Former NASCAR driver now team co-owner Justin Marks believes delaying NASCAR’s next-generation Cup car until 2022 is a “blessing in disguise” for his new Trackhouse Racing squad. Set to make its Cup Series debut at next month’s Daytona 500 with 2016 Xfinity series champion Daniel Suarez at the wheel, Trackhouse will run the #99 Chevrolet

Set to make its Cup Series debut at next month’s Daytona 500 with 2016 Xfinity series champion Daniel Suarez at the wheel, Trackhouse will run the #99 Chevrolet Camaro machine, having secured a technical partnership with the established Richard Childress Racing outfit. Marks, a former NASCAR and sportscar driver himself, will be co-owner of the

Bristol Motor Speedway is well on its way to bringing dirt track racing back to NASCAR’s Cup Series for the first time in more than 50 years. It’s not the first time the owners of the half-mile, highly-banked concrete oval have covered their track in dirt, but it will likely be the most anticipated. In

It’s not the first time the owners of the half-mile, highly-banked concrete oval have covered their track in dirt, but it will likely be the most anticipated. In the 2000 and 2001 seasons, Bristol used 14,000 truckloads of dirt to cover its concrete surface to host World of Outlaws races. However, the undertaking this time

AJ Allmendinger plans to make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since 2018 next month on the Daytona road course with regular Xfinity Series outfit Kaulig Racing. The 39-year-old, who has been without a Cup ride since his five-year spell with JTG Daugherty Racing concluded at the end of the 2018 season, has scored three

The 39-year-old, who has been without a Cup ride since his five-year spell with JTG Daugherty Racing concluded at the end of the 2018 season, has scored three wins with Kaulig in the second tier of the NASCAR pyramid in the past two years and is contesting the full Xfinity season with the team in