For NASCAR, the news is good. Ratings for the Daytona 500 were up 30% this season. That’s good for the sport and better for the bottom line. Final ratings are not out, though. We shall see.
It’s often said that champions know how to deal with adversity, and in the Daytona 500 no driver navigated hardships more admirably than the reigning titleholder.
The ending to the 55th annual running of the Daytona 500 turned out to be pretty exciting. It just took 180 laps to get to that point. We watched a five time champion become a two time Daytona 500 champion and then watched him wreck his car during the post race victory burn out. Oh yeah, Danica was there and her presence loomed larger than usual during Speedweeks.
Jimmie Johnson has his second Daytona 500, Chad Knaus has his first, and Dale Earnhardt Jr finished second again. Some will remember the race more for Danica Patrick starting at the pole, leading some laps, staying up front all day, and finishing eighth. Still, even more people will remember the weekend at Daytona for what took place the day before at the end of the Nationwide race.
Daytona International Speedway, the World Center of Racing. It oozes passion and history. No matter how many times you come back, you still get chills when you go through the tunnel or get onto the high banks.
And they say there is no such thing as a stupid question. The Daytona 500, a race they all want to win, one victory that keeps your name alive as long as they thunder down the track at Daytona Beach.
For the second straight year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself the bridesmaid in the biggest race of the year. His frantic charge on the last lap that came up short, ending in a second place finish in the Daytona 500 behind teammate Jimmie Johnson.
We all watched in horror as a multi car crash, on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona, unfolded. We saw Kyle Larson's Chevrolet become airborne and hit the catch fence. We saw debris, including a tire with wheel and suspension parts attached to it, fly into the grandstands.
The 21-year-old Garcia from Monroe, Georgia, led 104 of 250-scheduled laps and persevered through a fuel-only pit stop prior to the final stage period to become the 219th competitor to win in the Truck division.
When the checkered flag waved in Thursday night’s ARCA Menards Series East race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Tristan McKee was crowned the 2026 series champion.
The 24-year-old Riggs from Bahama, North Carolina, was awarded the pole position for the 2026 Chase opener at Thunder Valley due to inclement weather canceling qualifying in its final stages.
