NASCAR Cup Series

JR Motorsports announced today the hiring of Mike Bumgarner as crew chief for the No. 5 Great Clips Chevrolet in NASCAR Nationwide Series competition in 2013. The team is currently slated for 27 races with drivers Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet.

You can make changes, but some things remain the same. That can be said as while this is the first time at Daytona for the Generation 6 cars, defending Daytona 500 Champion Matt Kenseth topped the charts on Thursday morning with a speed of 192.757 mph. Kenseth also had the best 10 lap average.

Even with the best laid plans, sometimes you have to call an audible. Fortunately for the defending Rolex 24 At Daytona Champions Michael Shank Racing, the audible is an excellent play as the team has confirmed that NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose will join Michael Shank Racing for the 2013 Rolex 24 At Daytona to drive the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley.

"Everybody is super excited about this race car and what it brings to our sport and the identity that it brings back to the passenger cars you see on the roads. This is my first time I've been in it. I didn't do the Charlotte test so it was fun to get out there and see what it was all about."

DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY.COM CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed the first test session, her expectations for the 2013 season and other topics. Full Transcript:

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion, met with media members between test sessions on day one of Daytona Preseason Thunder testing Thursday. Edwards addressed a myriad of topics including a new season, new car and new crew chief.

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season got started in earnest Thursday morning as 35 brand new race cars hit the track for the first time at Daytona International Speedway. Making his Ford Racing debut on the track was defending series champion Brad Keselowski, piloting the No. 2 Blue Deuce Ford Fusion as Penske Racing made its first official on track appearance since rejoining the Ford stable. Keselowski met with media members after the morning session to discuss the first day back on the track.

It’s a new year and a new car. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers set sail for a three-day test session at Daytona International Speedway January 10-12 in preparation of the 55th annual Daytona 500 scheduled Sunday, February 24.