When Danica Patrick started the Daytona 500 on pole, she made NASCAR history by being the first female to ever sit on the pole for the Daytona 500. However, the real question was whether she could hang up there all race long, or whether she'd fall to the middle of the field, or find trouble.
Ordinary NASCAR fans enjoying the Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon acted heroically when fellow race fans were injured following the last lap crash. No fan expected to be in danger when they entered the Speedway that day but, when disaster struck, fans helped fans to make sure everyone was alright.
For NASCAR, the news is good. Ratings for the Daytona 500 were up 30% this season. That’s good for the sport and better for the bottom line. Final ratings are not out, though. We shall see.
It’s often said that champions know how to deal with adversity, and in the Daytona 500 no driver navigated hardships more admirably than the reigning titleholder.
The ending to the 55th annual running of the Daytona 500 turned out to be pretty exciting. It just took 180 laps to get to that point. We watched a five time champion become a two time Daytona 500 champion and then watched him wreck his car during the post race victory burn out. Oh yeah, Danica was there and her presence loomed larger than usual during Speedweeks.
Daytona International Speedway, the World Center of Racing. It oozes passion and history. No matter how many times you come back, you still get chills when you go through the tunnel or get onto the high banks.
For the second straight year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself the bridesmaid in the biggest race of the year. His frantic charge on the last lap that came up short, ending in a second place finish in the Daytona 500 behind teammate Jimmie Johnson.
We all watched in horror as a multi car crash, on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona, unfolded. We saw Kyle Larson's Chevrolet become airborne and hit the catch fence. We saw debris, including a tire with wheel and suspension parts attached to it, fly into the grandstands.
Spire Motorsports has earned one win and three top five finishes. Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in last year's Rackley Roofing 200 after leading 61 laps.
In 12 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Spire Motorsports has two top-five finishes with a best result of second earned twice by Zane Smith (2024) and Carson Hocevar (2025).
NHRA officials announced today that Mopar and Dodge have been named the title and powered by sponsors of the annual fall race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
When playing his Dean Z custom guitar or Gibson Les Paul Classic, Cody Ware plays with feel. When wheeling his No. 51 Jacob Construction Chevrolet, the 30-year-old racer drives with feel, too.
