โItโs reprehensible:โ Volusia sheriff reacts to antisemitic messages on Daytona International Speedway
A hate group used a portable projector to display antisemitic messages on the side of the Daytona International Speedway until deputies managed to block the projection, law enforcement officials said.
NASCAR's 'unique' winners already altering playoff landscape
Christopher Bell celebrates at the finish line after winning the NASCAR Cup Series road course auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)HOMESTEAD, Fla. โ NASCARโs postseason landscape has been altered after just two Cup Series races. โThe number of unique winners is really going to change how many cars get in on points, right? Although Bell drives for powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, he was a rookie for that top team and in his second full season in the Cup series. The Cup Series opened on a superspeedway, then raced on a road course, and now heads to an intermediate track. Whether thatโs different markets, different racetracks, it has to be different from year to year.
Ty Gibbs stuns grandfather, wins in first career NASCAR race
It was the very first NASCAR national series race for Ty Gibbs, who jumped two steps from ARCA to Xfinity for his debut. Ty Gibbs is the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history. But as his grandson crossed the finish line, his glasses fogged and he hugged a Joe Gibbs Racing team member. JGR has yet to announce a full 2021 schedule for Ty Gibbs, but his grandfather said the details are decided by Coy Gibbs. They picked the Daytona road course for his debut because Ty Gibbs finished second here in last year's ARCA race.
Michael McDowell beats 100-1 odds for upset Daytona 500 victory
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Michael McDowell was glued to Brad Keselowskiโs bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. Kyle Larson was back after nearly a year in exile for using a racial slur, and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott was going for his first Daytona 500 win. And all the way at the back of the field, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope made what he said would be his final NASCAR start. โI wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad,โ Keselowski said.
The Latest: Keselowski has no regrets about Daytona 500 end
Racers crash during the last lap in the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ The Latest on the Daytona 500 (all times local):12:35 a.m.Brad Keselowski has no regrets about the way he handled the final lap of the Daytona 500. ___12:15 a.m.Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500 after Penske Racing teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski wrecked on the final lap. ___3:25 p.m.Derrike Cope was knocked out after only three laps, an ignominious end for the 62-year-old driver who won the 1990 Daytona 500. ___2 p.m.Bubba Wallaceโs car failed inspection twice for the Daytona 500 and will have to start at the back of the field. AdWallace drives a new entry owned by NBA great Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
Rain washes out NASCAR's final practices for Daytona 500
โI think we proved as an industry last year that track time was a little overrated," said David Wilson, head of Toyota Racing Development. Heavy rain soaked the track early, though, prompting officials to shift gears before the Xfinity Series opener later Saturday. An ARCA series race also was scheduled for the middle of the day. โI'm fine without it,โ said 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch. ..."Obviously, we didnโt want to go to a backup car, but I think weโre still in a really good place for the 500.
Start your spending: Businesses hit by pandemic hope to see big boost during Daytona 500
Even so, officials think this will be the largest in-person sporting event since the start of the pandemic. Hotel rooms usually sell out quickly during race week, giving a huge boost to local mom and pop resorts, like Perryโs Ocean Edge. She said the shop poured several thousand dollars into merchandise to stock up for this weekend, usually their busiest sales weekend of the year. She said customers have told her this week theyโre making a point to visit the smaller shops this year, too. โA lot of the small local businesses in town, weโve provided them some assets for them to put out in their restaurants and bars,โ he said.
Rain at the Daytona 500 doesnโt happen as often as you might think
Drivers and crew members seek shelter under umbrellas as rain falls before the second of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Orlando, FLA. โ With rain expected this race weekend, some might think โit always rains on the Daytona 500.โ But is that truly the case? According to the National Weather Service in Daytona, records show weather impacted the race only three times in the past decade. This will usher in unsettled weather with the chance for off and on rain both Saturday and Sunday. Daytona 500 ForecastThe race is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on Valentineโs Day, Sunday. This weather could mean a few rounds of rain delays throughout the race.
Hendrick hesitant to change Bowman's engine before 500
48 team will ideally use Saturday's final two practice sessions to determine if the engine can make it 500 miles on Sunday. โWe think the engine is OK, but we're undecided just yet,โ said Knaus, who won the NASCAR title seven times as a crew chief. AdHendrick Motorsports suffered another blow when William Byron was involved in a crash in his qualifying race that destroyed his Chevrolet. Hendrick will now have only one car at the front of the Daytona 500 field โ maybe none if Bowman's engine is deemed too risky not to change. The pole-sitter has not closed out a Daytona 500 victory since Dale Jarrett in 2000.
Hiccup for Hendrick Motorsports ahead of Daytona 500
Alex Bowman and William Byron were slated to lead the Daytona 500 field to green but that's in danger following Thursday night's qualifying races. Byron was collected in a crash in the second Duel and it ruined his Chevrolet. AdAustin Cindric and Kaz Grala both earned their first berths into the Daytona 500 by claiming the two available transfer positions in the Duels. He was the leader on the final lap of the second Duel until Dillon crossed to Wallaceโs inside and inched ahead. โWeโve got an incredible race car and I canโt wait for the Daytona 500.โ
Bowman, Byron give Hendrick sweep of Daytona 500 front row
Alex Bowman and William Byron swept the front row Wednesday night in qualifying for the Daytona 500, giving Hendrick its 14th pole and sixth in the last seven years. โHere it really just comes down to who built the fastest race car. Itโs the fourth consecutive year Bowman will start from the front row, but he's got a completely new look this time. Only the front row was set Wednesday, the first time Daytona 500 qualifying has been held at night under a condensed Speedweeks schedule. โMy motto is, โNo more excuses.โโHamlin, who is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Daytona 500s, was 12th.
Kyle Busch streaks past Elliott, Blaney to win Busch Clash
Blaney had chased down Elliott on the road course at Daytona International Speedway to take the lead with two laps remaining in Tuesday night's 35-lap Speedweeks opener. Elliott, winner of NASCAR's last four road course races dating to 2019, didn't let Blaney pull away and set himself up for one final chance at the win. This year's running was the first time on Daytona's road course, a plan announced before the 2020 season began. Elliott won the inaugural Daytona road course race. NASCAR will run the road course again on Feb. 21 in a points-paying event.