NASCAR Cup Series

The lead up to Sunday’s Daytona 500 has been filled with both a high-degree of anticipation and even some superstition for Martin Truex Jr., the new driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet.

I’ve often wondered about the first race of the season. It’s called Speedweeks for a reason. Of course, it really lasts only 11 days. I guess they count the 24 Hours of Daytona in that, and that’s alright.

Sunday afternoon most of us waited for one thing and one thing only and it wasn't about winning the pole for the Daytona 500. We waited with bated breath for the one thing fans have argued about for a while, the return of the No. 3.

Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS team will return to Daytona International Speedway (DIS) this weekend for the running of the 56th annual Daytona 500.

The warm Floridian sun illuminated the Daytona International Speedway as cars were on track to complete the only single-car qualifying round of the season. Then there was Jimmie Johnson, once again struggling to get his car through inspection.

Hamlin will make his ninth-career Daytona 500 start on Sunday in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota. In 16 career Daytona points races, Hamlin has lead at least one lap in 11 events, including 33 in last year’s Daytona 500.

Leavine Family Racing's starting spot in the DAYTONA 500 will likely depend on a top-15 finish in the first of Thursday's Budweiser Duel qualifying race. In the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, driver Michael McDowell does not have a guaranteed spot. However, if you ask the team, Leavine Family Racing is not worried.

When the engines fire at Daytona, not only will it mark the start of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, it will kick off the fourth year that NASCAR star Greg Biffle is helping put good dental health for kids on the fast track.

Auto Club Speedway is offering a special ticket package for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 23 that includes a scheduled question and answer session with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet.

"The Daytona 500, obviously, is the biggest Great American race. It is what stock car racers dream about. I am thrilled to death to be making my debut with a company like Shore Lodge and Whitetail with ECR Engines under the hood.