Dale Earnhardt started his pursuit of a record eighth Winston Cup by driving in a 24-hour race a fortnight before the blue riband Daytona 500. The ride in the factory-backed Corvette C5-R, which finished fourth, gave Earnhardt his first opportunity to co-drive with his son Dale Earnhardt Jr, who this year will enter his second

The death of Dale Earnhardt Sr at the 2001 Daytona 500 shocked NASCAR to the core. Days before his accident, in the 15 February 2001 issue of Autosport magazine, ‘The Intimidator’ shared his expectations of challenging for an eighth Cup title with JONATHAN INGRAM Dale Earnhardt started his pursuit of a record eighth Winston Cup

I’m not sure what surprises me more – that it’s 20 years since Dale Earnhardt died or that I have been covering NASCAR racing even longer than that. So much has occurred in NASCAR since I started in April 1998 that it’s often hard to remember many details about any particular race weekend. Sure, I’ll

On the 20th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt Sr’s death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, JIM UTTER reflects on his memories of NASCAR’s darkest weekend I’m not sure what surprises me more – that it’s 20 years since Dale Earnhardt died or that I have been covering NASCAR racing even longer than

Currently in the Cup Series, Toyota is the least represented of the three manufacturers, with just the four Joe Gibbs Racing cars supplemented by the quasi-works single-car outfit of 23XI Racing, co-owned by Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan. For comparison, Chevrolet has 16 full-time drivers using the Camaro, while Ford’s Mustang is driven by

Denny Hamlin believes “a lack of numbers” in NASCAR Cup teams using Toyota machinery played a “big role” in the Daytona 500, potentially costing him a fourth victory. Currently in the Cup Series, Toyota is the least represented of the three manufacturers, with just the four Joe Gibbs Racing cars supplemented by the quasi-works single-car

Front Row Motorsports driver McDowell started 17th in Sunday’s race, avoiding a 16-car pile-up in the early laps, and kept close to his fellow Ford Mustang exponents throughout the race. As the field approached Turn 3 on the 200th and final lap, McDowell tagged the rear bumper of Brad Keselowski’s Penske Ford, who in turn

Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell says he “never lost of hope” of winning in the NASCAR Cup Series for the first time after 18 years and 358 race starts. Front Row Motorsports driver McDowell started 17th in Sunday’s race, avoiding a 16-car pile-up in the early laps, and kept close to his fellow Ford Mustang

On lap 170 of 200, the Ford Mustang runners, including both remaining Penske drivers and the Front Row Motorsports entry of McDowell pitted for the final time to top off the fuel tanks, and managed to use this undercut to leapfrog long-term leader Denny Hamlin. The Joe Gibbs racer, searching for an unprecedented third 500

Michael McDowell scored his first NASCAR Cup Series win in the heavily-delayed Daytona 500, after a fiery final-lap crash eliminated the leading Penske duo of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. On lap 170 of 200, the Ford Mustang runners, including both remaining Penske drivers and the Front Row Motorsports entry of McDowell pitted for the

The team set up by basketball legend Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has debuted in Sunday’s Daytona 500, which hit pause after 15 laps following a 16-car pileup and a rain delay at the Florida superspeedway venue. Wallace, meanwhile, avoided the crash having started from the back after his #23 car failed

23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan says driver Bubba Wallace has the talent to “learn how to win” in the NASCAR Cup Series this year. The team set up by basketball legend Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has debuted in Sunday’s Daytona 500, which hit pause after 15 laps following a 16-car pileup

Jones, who has switched to Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2021 campaign after being dropped by Joe Gibbs Racing, fell foul of the single engine rule. The regulations state that if the engine in the nominated primary car is changed after the qualifying Duel races, the driver must start at the rear of the field

Erik Jones and Martin Truex Jr are the latest NASCAR Cup drivers to be hit with a penalty before the Daytona 500, taking the number of drivers penalised to eight. Jones, who has switched to Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2021 campaign after being dropped by Joe Gibbs Racing, fell foul of the single engine

As automotive companies are increasingly distancing themselves from internal combustion engines in favour of hybrid or fully electric powertrains, NASCAR has found itself in a quandary over its use of V8 engines whilst trying to maintain relevance to potential new OEMs entering the series. Since Dodge withdrew from the Cup Series at the end of

NASCAR president Steve Phelps says he would “surprised” if a new OEM opted to enter the top level of stock car racing without provision for an electric hybrid system. As automotive companies are increasingly distancing themselves from internal combustion engines in favour of hybrid or fully electric powertrains, NASCAR has found itself in a quandary

The 62-year-old, who famously won the Daytona 500 in 1990 after a puncture on the last lap denied Dale Earnhardt a maiden victory in the event, will drive a chartered Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet Camaro for one last entry in the 200-lap race. Since stepping back from a full-time programme in 1999, Cope has made

One-time Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope says the NASCAR Cup regulars will “know I am there” in his final competition appearance on Sunday, 10 years after his last Daytona start. The 62-year-old, who famously won the Daytona 500 in 1990 after a puncture on the last lap denied Dale Earnhardt a maiden victory in the

The 2021 NASCAR Cup season gets underway this weekend, with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin hoping to secure a historic third consecutive victory in the jewel-in-the-crown Daytona 500. A fourth win would put Hamlin, who won the 2016 event before doubling up in 2019 and 2020, level on wins with three-time Cup champion Cale

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have both won seven Formula 1 world championships, but only one man has conquered NASCAR’s Daytona 500 seven times – Richard Petty. Four decades on, TOM HOWARD revisits The King’s record-setting final win in 1981 The 2021 NASCAR Cup season gets underway this weekend, with Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny