NASCAR Cup Series

Riviera Hotel & Casino is hosting a series of events as part of NASCAR® March Race Weekend, March 8–11, 2012. The weekend officially begins on Thursday, March 8, with a slot tournament benefiting the Kyle Busch Foundation.

Most years in February, I’m heading down to Daytona Beach for the opening of the NASCAR season. The last few years, I’ve stayed home for any number of reasons, but mostly because it’s inconvenient for me.

Once a year the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series presents the Gatorade Duels, their unique heat race format that will determine the final line up for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Roush Fenway Racing kept its perfect streak alive, once again leading all speeds at Daytona International Speedway as the Sprint Cup Series concluded practice for tomorrow’s Gatorade Duel qualifying races.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET – crashed during NSCS Practice 4 and will go to a back-up car.

When the field comes to the green for Sunday’s Daytona 500 it will be Carl Edwards in the No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion who leads the way.

TONY STEWART, NO. 14 OFFICE DEPOT/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET met with media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed pack racing and tandem racing at Daytona, new crew chief, Steve Addington, how the Budweiser Shootout might compare to the Daytona 500, practice this week, and more.

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed winning his second Daytona 500, drafting styles and working with Tony Stewart.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Daytona International Speedway and discussed tandem versus pack racing, winning the Daytona 500 and other topics.