NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR does it right, my friends. Begin the season with an exhibition game, featuring all-stars, rookies, even old timers would do. You don't start your day with the main meal, but breakfast sure hits the spot.

Last season, Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) had a dream year as they won their first championship with team co-owner Tony Stewart in a tie-breaker over Carl Edwards.

No. 40 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Michael Waltrip expects to make his 26th consecutive appearance in Sunday’s 54th running of the Daytona 500. But it won’t be an easy task for the two-time Daytona 500 champion.

Carl Edwards on racing at Daytona International Speedway: “We were really close to getting the victory at last year’s Daytona 500. I hope we have the same shot to win it on the last lap this year and if we do I won’t hold back. "

Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team return to Daytona International Speedway (DIS) this week for the 54th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday.

Before 5-hour ENERGY Toyota driver Clint Bowyer makes his seventh appearance in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, he’ll run in the second of the two 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday that sets the 43-car starting grid.

When Regan Smith was repeatedly told after last year’s Daytona 500 that he and his Denver, Colo.-based Furniture Row Racing team were no longer running under the radar, it was taken as a reassuring compliment.