SM Staff

After winning the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. went on a whirlwind media tour that saw him travel across the United States and talk to a variety of people about his win. Earnhardt Jr. said today at Phoenix that every stop of the tour was enjoyable and he enjoyed talking about the win with everyone.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers concluded practice and once again, Dale Earnhardt Jr., found himself at the top of the board. 2014 has provided us with plenty of surprises, as practice also failed to disappoint.

IndyCar veteran Jacques Villeneuve announced earlier this week that he will be back behind the wheel in this year's Indianapolis 500 as part of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' line-up. Villeneuve last raced in the event in 1995.

Welcome to Rookie Watch. This is the weekly column that I will be posting each week, between Tuesday and Thursday, discussing the Sprint Cup Series rookies and how they did the previous weekend. With the rookie list being the biggest since 2002, there will be lots of yellow bumpers to keep an eye on each week as these young drivers continue to learn.

I kept trying to pry my jaw off the floor this entire week after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the Daytona 500, but I decided it was going to remain there for quite some time. Although I really shouldn't be as surprised as I am, since the Hendrick driver has finished second in 2010, 2012, and 2013. It was bound to happen soon.

They say that as much as things continue to change, other things stay the same. That saying will look to play truth in the Camping World Truck Series this year as even while there are some new faces in the mix, the same team will rise to the top to claim the driver's championship.

Growing up in New Mexico isn't the greatest home state when chasing a NASCAR career, however, Jamie Dick is one of the uncommon racers who has advanced through the racing ranks and become a well-know driver despite growing up in a non-racing environment.

When Regan Smith crossed the finish line, he not only scored his first Daytona win - but also brought JR Motorsports home a very special win.

After spending last season with Dragon Racing, Sebastien Bourdais makes the move to KVSH Racing in 2014, and so far, the move has been a great experience.

Brad Keselowski knew his car was "really strong" and considers it the "best car" he's ever had down in Daytona. However, he would come up short in his quest for his first Daytona 500 victory as he finished third behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin.