NASCAR Cup Series

As teams make final preparations to start the 2013 race season, NASCAR announced today the lineup of 2013 Contingency Program sponsors for all three national series.

Stenhouse on the Daytona 500: “I’m ready to get back racing. The Daytona 500 race is important for our No. 17 team because it gives you momentum at the start of the season. The No. 17 Best Buy Ford was fast in qualifying and practice, but we need a tad more speed in the draft. The Duels will let us know how our Ford will handle in the draft. I hope we can roll Matt’s Best Buy Ford out of the Daytona USA and roll ours in.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - How is your Camry handling in Daytona? "Really well. We honestly were very optimistic about our chances to win the Unlimited and of course that was cut short with the first wreck that we were in. All Speedweeks, I've been very happy with our speed -- everything about it."

Edwards will make his ninth start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24th. Last year Edwards swept the pole in the famed event, moving on to an eighth-place finish. He finished second in the race in 2011; pushing fellow RFR teammate Trevor Bayne to the victory.

The neon yellow stripe on the back of Travis Pastrana’s No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang may blend in with the bright paint scheme that adorns the car, but little else about the action sports star blends in. The 6-foot-2 athlete brings a fresh perspective to NASCAR for his first full-time season with Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS).

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Have you had less drafting time in practice? "I think the schedules have been about the same to give us an opportunity to draft. For me, I've got less, but most of that was self-induced.

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET SS, following engine failure during practice for the Budweiser Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races: WHAT HAPPENED? "We broke a motor, it's as simple as that. They'll figure out what happen. I'm sure there is some logical explanation as to what happened, but, we'll just put a new one in and start at the back of the Qualifier tomorrow, and race up through there."

Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber announced today that Auramist, Inc. has signed on as a promotional partner, joining PIR’s family of brands. Auramist offers consumers and businesses a range of uniquely dry misting fans that are designed to enhance people’s comfort, safety and productivity.

Michael Waltrip Racing announced today it has hired professional CrossFit competitor Christmas Abbott as a full-time pit crewmember for its NASCAR Sprint Cup operation.

Ford Racing drivers Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards went to the garage early during today’s first practice session. Keselowski had a fuel system issue that required repair while Edwards was involved in an accident with Ryan Newman.