NASCAR Cup Series

Sunday, Feb. 26 will mark the 59th running of the Daytona 500 but did you know that it has been the season-opener only since 1982? The first “Great American Race” was held in 1959 and won by Lee Petty in his first appearance at the event in his No. 42 Oldsmobile Super 88. He led 38 laps and won by two feet in a photo finish battle with Johnny Beauchamp and Joe Weatherly.

Toyota driver Matt Kenseth was made available to the media at NASCAR Daytona Media Day: Matt Kenseth, No. 20 DEWALT FLEXVOLT Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Is it a big deal there might not be any practice before the Duels? “No (laughter). You want more than that? We had four hours the other day. Just single‑car runs. I guess a little less than half the cars ran on Sunday, too. I don't think it's a big deal, not really.”

When the checkered flag flies on Sunday, that's the conclusion of the journey for arguably NASCAR's ultimate journeyman.

Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media at NASCAR Daytona Media Day: Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota Camry, Furniture Row Racing - What was your reaction when you heard Carl Edwards was leaving NASCAR? “I was completely shocked, yeah. I did not see it coming at all, and I spent quite a bit of time around him last year doing Toyota stuff and everything. I never saw it coming."

JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 CESSNA/MCDONALD’S CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at the annual Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway. Full Transcript: QUESTION REGARDING CARL EDWARDS “Yeah, I was taken back by that only because it happened so late in the winter. He has another year left on his contract. I didn’t watch the press conference, but it didn’t seem like there was a light bulb that went off like oh, that’s the reason why."

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at the annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. Full Transcript: ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING 2017 STARTED? “Absolutely, looking forward to 2017 getting started tomorrow night. It should be a great season."

TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS, met with media at the annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. Full transcript: WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN IT ALL THIS SEASON IN XFINITY? "I've got some good teammates at our RCR group. "

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS AND KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at the annual Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway. Full Transcript:

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 KROGER CLICK LIST CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at the annual Daytona 500 media day at Daytona International Speedway. Full Transcript: WHAT IS IN YOUR HAIR? “It’s Got to Be Glue.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 95 K-LOVE RADIO CHEVROLET SS, met with media at the annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. Full transcript: IS THE SEGMENT FORMAT THE GREAT EQUALIZER FOR YOU BEING A SMALLER TEAM? “Yes, I definitely think so. For whatever reason for the last three or four years, we have put together a string of good finishes.