NASCAR Cup Series

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (2.5-MILE OVAL) LOCATION: DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA EVENT: NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES (RACE 1 OF 36) TUNE IN: 1 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, FEB. 21 (FOX/MRN/SIRIUSXM) No....

Sometimes you earn by doing, sometimes you earn by succeeding. In NASCAR, perseverance seems to trump performance as it announced the Charter teams heading into 2016 and beyond. It has everything to do with how tenacious a team has been in at least attempting to run, and absolutely nothing to do with their success, be it yesterday, today, or even at some future date.

"The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading..." and I need to unload my thoughts on the idea of a relegation-esque system for the charters.

The Sprint Unlimited has been run in one form or another since 1979 and will continue on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. All of the Ford drivers competing in the event – Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – are looking for their first win in the event. Here’s a look back at some Ford highlights:

Biffle has competed nine times in the Sprint Unlimited, earning three top-five and four top-10 finishes.

Despite the damage to his Fastenal Ford that was obtained in a 14 car pile-up on lap 45 in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was working his way up through the field before cutting a tire sending him into the outside wall resulting in a 16th-place finish.

Daytona Success: Hamlin heads into Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited exhibition race as a two-time winner of the 75-lap season-opener, winning as a rookie in 2006 and dominating the field in 2014. In 10 Sprint Unlimited starts, Hamlin has recorded four top-five finishes and has led 47 laps. He finished 19th one year ago after an accident on Lap 45. This year’s event will consist of two segments; a 50-lap opener followed by a 25-lap dash to the checkered flag.

When driver Ryan Blaney sees the green flag at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 21, he’ll be beginning his first full season on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit and Wood Brothers Racing will be kicking off its first full season of competition since 2009.

Warner Robins, Georgia native and Miss America 2016 – Betty Cantrell – will attend the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 28 and present a special performance of “Georgia on my Mind” prior to the start of the race.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will now have a "franchise" system that goes into effect this weekend. It's a change from the independent contractor model that had been in place since the sports inception.