The Chase has 16 drivers. Carson Hocevar might have 15 enemies.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 27, 2026) – To paraphrase Corey Heim after winning the Brickyard 400, why are we talking about a driver who just finished 19th?

Well, that’s a fair question. Still … the garage can’t help but talk about Carson Hocevar, the polarizing 23-year-old who finished outside the top 15 at New Hampshire yet still garnered the most amount of ink. Or pixels. Or whatever it is that transfers the extended NASCAR podcast universe into your ear drums.

For instance…

Two days ago on Door Bumper Clear, Kyle Larson discussed Hocevar spinning at New Hampshire, saying, “Spinning out before the race? That was 1000% just to get on TV.”

Bubba Wallace warned him earlier this summer that his aggressive approach was “creating a lot of enemies.”

After Hocevar spun him in Atlanta, Ryan Blaney called him an “absolute weapon” and a “moron” over the radio.

And of course, earlier this month, Zane Smith used an appearance on Racin’ With The Boys to offer his own less-than-glowing review, saying Hocevar puts on “an act to get people to buy in” and didn’t hesitate to call him a “bum-[expletive]”.

Though that’s just a sampling of the negative rhetoric, it’s nowhere near unanimous – especially from those on the outside looking in.

At a time when reaching new fans means showing up in places beyond the traditional NASCAR landscape, Hocevar has done just that. From attending the Met Gala and TIME100 Sports Gala to regularly streaming on Twitch and turning the frontstretch of Talladega Superspeedway into his own personal playground, the young star has put himself and NASCAR in front of audiences that may not otherwise cross paths with the sport.

He has also found ways to turn his personality, and even the occasional controversy, into opportunities to engage with fans. When Smith criticized Hocevar earlier this summer, Hocevar responded with a t-shirt swap, inviting fans to bring another driver’s shirt in exchange for one of his own. Fans took him up on the offer, exchanging 77 shirts during the promotion, including newly purchased Smith merchandise.

The approach appears to be working. From January through May, Hocevar saw the largest percentage increase in cross-platform followers among NASCAR Cup Series drivers, growing his audience across Facebook, Instagram and X by 70.6% and adding nearly 200,000 followers.

The interest extends beyond social media. In the 24 hours following Hocevar’s first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega, sales of his Lionel Racing diecast ranked as the highest following any NASCAR race win since NASCAR and Lionel formed their joint venture in 2010. The mark surpassed the 24-hour sales following some of the sport’s biggest victories during that span, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2014 Daytona 500 win.

In addition, his merchandise sales continue to accelerate, making him the No. 1 driver currently in retail sales on the NASCAR Shop website and he’s ranked inside the top five of trackside sales. An impressive achievement considering he was ranked 32nd in trackside sales this time last season.

And, just for the record, there is indeed at least one driver who recognizes that the lightning rod nature of The Hurricane is helpful – one who also proudly wears the ‘love him or hate him’ badge.

“I think Carson’s great for the sport,” said three-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Joey Logano on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. “I think he brings a ton of new fans, different fans. Just the way he is different than the rest of us. The way he speaks, he’s just, he’s younger. Yeah, I don’t know what he’s talking about half the time, I don’t know what these words mean. But people love it and there’s no denying that and that’s great, that’s great for our sport.”

Hocevar was unavailable for comment this week due to other distractions.

Love him or hate him, Carson Hocevar is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore… so catch him and all his enemies this Saturday night, August 29, during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

About NASCAR    

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
DAYTONA PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Coke Zero Sugar 400
DATE: August 29, 2026
Race: NASCAR Cup Series 26 of 36
TRACK: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway | 2.5-Mile Oval

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT DAYTONA: John Hunter Nemechek has seven starts at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned his highest finish at the track of fifth in last year’s DAYTONA 500. Nemechek is also the best average finisher at Daytona among active drivers (13.14). In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, he accumulated six starts at the track during his career, earning three top-10 finishes and a best finish of second in February 2023. Nemechek also has six starts at Daytona in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, earning two top-five finishes with a highest finish of fourth in February 2017.

T-MACK AT DAYTONA: Saturday night’s race will be crew chief Travis Mack’s 13th NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona. His first outing came in February 2018 with Kasey Kahne. After a short gap, Mack was back at Daytona in February 2021 with Daniel Suárez, where the duo competed for six total races between 2021 and 2023, with their highest finish being seventh. He returned in the February 2024 DAYTONA 500 with AJ Allmendinger, where the pair finished sixth. Mack followed that up in August 2024 with Shane Van Gisbergen, who finished 35th. His highest finish came with Nemechek in February 2025 when the duo finished fifth after starting 18th. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Mack has four starts at Daytona with Michael Annett, where the duo took home the race win in their first start together in February 2019 after starting third.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I’m really excited to get back to a superspeedway. Daytona is always a fun one, and we’ve been really good there and led some laps. The new package will definitely bring some uncertainty, but I’m looking forward to a strong run to turn things around after the past few weeks.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“We’ve had really good superspeedway cars. The new package is going to create new opportunities and struggles. Trying to understand what the new package is going to do when we’re racing is very interesting. I don’t think the field is going to know until the drop of the green flag, so we’re going to have to adapt during the race to work on the handling issues and speed of the car. It should make for a good race, handling is going to be a lot more important, which could play into our favor. It’s a good combination of needing downforce and also needing to be trimmed out from drag, so there’s still a lot of work to be done for Daytona.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 ENERGIZER/DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES DAYTONA STATS: Erik Jones has 19 starts at Daytona in the NASCAR Cup Series. In total at Daytona, he’s earned one win, three top-five, and five top-10s at Daytona, including his fifth-place result last August. Jones has an additional seven starts outside of the Cup Series at Daytona – six in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, he earned a best finish of eighth in July 2015. He finished second in his one and only Craftsman Truck Series start in February 2015, finishing just 1.73 seconds behind race winner Tyler Reddick.

WINNING AT DAYTONA: Jones is a winner at Daytona in his career. In the July 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Jones was starting 29th in his fourth Daytona NASCAR Cup Series career start in his second fulltime NASCAR Cup Series season. He led just one lap of the race – the final and most important lap of the race – to score at win in the summer race. He finished .125 seconds ahead of former teammate Martin Truex Jr.

ADVENTHEALTH AT DAYTONA: While the Florida-based AdventHealth will not adorn the hood of Erik Jones’ No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend at Daytona, they will have a massive activation and promotional weekend between a night at the Daytona Tortugas and a school visit in the local community. As the Healthcare partner of Daytona International Speedway, AdventHealth will also be working the care centers located all around the property providing medical services to the NASCAR garage and fans throughout the weekend.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE TORTUGAS: On Thursday, Jones will make a pit stop at the Daytona Tortugas baseball game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Jones and his family will have the opportunity to interact with the players prior to the game before heading to the pre-game autograph session on the concourse. In conjunction with AdventHealth’s involvement with the Daytona Tortugas, Jones will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 6:10 p.m. local time in their game against the St. Lucie Mets.

HELPING THE ADVENTHEALTH COMMUNITY: On Friday prior to the start of on-track activity at Daytona, Jones and AdventHealth will make a pit stop at John A. Crookshank Elementary School in St. Augustine, Fla. During their visit they will hold a special #READwithErik for the students and surprise them with a special gift to continue the mission of igniting a passion for reading in young minds.

ALEXANDER – A DAYTONA WINNER: Justin Alexander is not only a Daytona-winning crew chief but a DAYTONA 500 Champion. The accomplished crew chief was making the calls on top of the box for the No. 3 car of Austin Dillon in February 2018, when he was running second behind Aric Almirola as the race was coming to a close. In the end, Alexander kept his driver on course to cross the finish line in first and earn the crew chief his first DAYTONA 500 victory. In total, he’s been on top of the box for 16 NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona and won twice – the 2018 DAYTONA 500 and the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400.

ERIK JONES QUOTE:
“I always look forward to Daytona. It’s a place where I feel like we always run up front, and we’ve had some really good chances to win recently. I’ve obviously won a couple of races there in the past so I hope we can turn things around. It’s been a bit of a stretch that hasn’t ended how we wanted it to, so we go to Daytona with some really high hopes. The plan is to go there, run up front, and hopefully challenge for a win. It would be a great race to get the final part of the year rolling to try to get the best points finish that we can.”

JUSTIN ALEXANDER QUOTE:
“Daytona is always a race where you have to put yourself in position and execute all the way to the end. With the new aero and engine package this weekend, there are going to be a lot of unknowns in how the cars race together and what that does to the draft, so we’ll have to learn and adapt quickly. We ran well here at this race last year and had a strong car, but we didn’t get the finish we deserved. The goal this time is to build on that performance, be there at the end and go to victory lane.”

CLUB NOTES:
JJ AT DAYTONA: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has 42 Cup Series starts at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. In these starts, Johnson has collected a total of three wins, 13 top-fives, and 17 top-10s as well as 302 laps led at the 2.5-mile oval. His first victory came in the February 2006 Daytona 500 where Johnson started ninth and led 24 laps. He won under caution finishing ahead of Casey Mears. 2013 proved to be a year of success for Johnson at Daytona. In February’s Daytona 500, Johnson started ninth once again and found himself crossing the finish line .129 seconds ahead of runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his second win at Daytona. When the series returned in July, Johnson started eighth and finished .107 seconds ahead of Tony Stewart to win his third race at the superspeedway.

THE KING OF DAYTONA: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Ambassador and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Richard “The King” Petty made 74 Cup Series starts at Daytona throughout his legendary career. Not only does he own the most DAYTONA 500 victories of any driver in the history of NASCAR with seven of his 10 Daytona wins coming in that race (1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1979, and 1981). He was also collected 28 top-fives, 37 top-10s and led 1,287 laps at the 2.5-mile oval in Florida.

KENSETH DAYTONA STATS: 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Competition Advisor Matt Kenseth owns 37 total Cup starts at Daytona International Speedway. He’s earned two victories in the 2009 DAYTONA 500 and the 2012 DAYTONA 500, plus six top-fives and 14 top-10s. When he won his first DAYTONA 500 in February 2009, Kenseth started 39th of 43 cars. He led the final seven laps to secure his victory. Three years later in February 2012, Kenseth started fourth for the Great American Race and led twice for 50 laps to earn a second victory in the iconic race. Throughout his career, he led a total of 383 laps. Kenseth owns an additional 14 starts at Daytona in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series where he won the February 2000 and July 2013 races.

BAYNE SETS A RECORD: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ambassador Trevor Bayne is the youngest person ever to win the DAYTONA 500 at 20 years and one day old. In 2011, Bayne was making just his second career NASCAR Cup Series start in the No. 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing. On the final restart in NASCAR overtime, Bayne was deemed the race leader with Tony Stewart on his outside and Mark Martin and Kurt Busch looming behind him. The newly minted 20-year-old driver held off the entire field on the green-white-checkered finish to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the “Great American Race.”

HONORING CANCER HEROS: This weekend at Daytona, LEGACY MC will join the NASCAR Foundation in honoring cancer heroes. The “Honor a Cancer Hero” program has been around since 2020 and has allowed industry members, fans, and sponsors alike to bid for their chance to nominate a cancer hero whose name would ride above the driver side and passenger side doors. In total, the auction has raised more than $500,000 in total since 2020.

This year, John Hunter Nemechek will once again honor Tom Goddard, a cancer hero and father. Nemechek will also carry seven-year-old Noelle Franklin, who fought Osteosarcoma, on the driver’s side of his No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE.

Erik Jones will honor two names this year on his No. 43 Energizer/Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE. On the driver’s side, Jones will honor Phillip Sceiczina, a two-time cancer survivor from Ormond Beach, Florida. He first overcame prostate cancer in 2023, before a lump on his neck was confirmed to be head and neck cancer. After undergoing two surgeries in 2024 and then completing radiation treatment at AdventHealth in Daytona, he rang the bell as cancer free in November 2024. On the passenger side of his car, Jones will honor Bella Ward. Ward was diagnosed in May 2025 with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), an aggressive form of brain cancer. After battling with the cancer for months, Ward passed away on December 22, 2025 after becoming a shining light to the world, her family, and her friends for her courage and determination.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT:

The Daytona 500 is more than just a race. It is the buildup, the preparation, and everything that leads to Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

CLUB APPEARANCES:
John Hunter Nemechek will visit the trackside merchandise trailer for an autograph session on Friday, August 28 at 3 p.m. local time. On Saturday, August 29, he will visit the Grizzly Stage in the Hard Rock Bet Infield Fan Zone for a Q&A session at 4:15 p.m. local time.

Erik Jones will visit the fan midway for a Q&A session at the AdventHealth Fan Zone Display at 3 p.m. local time on Friday, August 28.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Sunday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC, HBO MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway… The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway this weekend to race under the lights of the 2.5-mile speedway. Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 marks the last race of the regular season for the NASCAR Cup Series. Richard Childress Racing has made an impressive 207 starts at Daytona and counts four Coke Zero Sugar 400 victories among the organization’s impressive seven points-paying Cup Series wins at the track. Austin Dillon was RCR’s most recent Coke Zero Sugar 400 race winner, earning the win in 2022 to clinch a spot in NASCAR’s postseason. Other Coke Zero Sugar 400 race winners include Kevin Harvick (2010) and Dale Earnhardt (1990, 1993). RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Earnhardt – 1998, Harvick – 2007, Dillon – 2018). In addition, RCR has collected 43 top-five and 79 top-10 finishes including 12 poles in Cup Series competition at Daytona.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway… In addition to its NASCAR Cup Series success, RCR has accumulated 11 wins with drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2002, 2010), Harvick (2007), Clint Bowyer (2009), Tony Stewart (2013), Dillon (2015), Austin Hill (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026) and Jesse Love (2025) in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona International Speedway. RCR enters the race as the most recent Daytona race winners in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, having visited Victory Lane with Hill in February.

Tech Talk… RCR and ECR have worked collaboratively with NASCAR in support of several technical changes that will be implemented at Daytona International Speedway this weekend to help enhance on-track competition and passing opportunities in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, including a newly mandated tapered spacer that will reduce engine output from approximately 510 horsepower to 465 horsepower, paired with a rear gear ratio change from 3.64 to 3.45 to better match engine speed and vehicle performance to the revised power level. The package also reduces rear spoiler height from seven inches to four inches, which matches the Cup Series’ current intermediate-track spoiler configuration. The new engine and aerodynamic changes are anticipated to increase single-car qualifying speeds by approximately 3 mph, while pack racing speeds are expected to remain relatively unchanged. The new rules were designed to improve the quality of racing and a driver’s ability to make moves within the pack. Specifically, the package is intended to give drivers a better opportunity to pull out of a drafting line, generate momentum, and complete clean passes for the lead.

Big Power… Building on past successes at superspeedway events, ECR Engines, the premier high-performance combustion engine research, development, and production company located on the RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina, is preparing for this weekend’s race weekend at Daytona International Speedway with an expanded group of racing partners and a continued focus on bringing big power and performance to the track. The company will expand to 11 partner entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and 16 partner entries in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, equating to 27 ECR-powered race cars across the two series.

Shared Values… Richard Childress Racing is working closely with Campers Inn RV this weekend to host a military reenlistment ceremony, highlighting both company’s shared values and commitment to service members across the nation. Richard Childress, Austin Dillon and Austin Hill will join Campers Inn RV executives and other drivers to reenlist AWOC (NAC/AW) Zachary Haney alongside his commanding officer. Over his 15-year career as an Acoustic Operator, AWOC Haney has served with distinction. In November, he will be moving to Dallas, Texas, where he will serve the next four years at OPNAV Sea Duty Component, Dallas Detachment. The reenlistment ceremony will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. in front of RCR’s Corporate Coach, a 2026 Newmar Dutch Star. Media are invited to cover the ceremony.

Did You Know… Since Austin Hill joined RCR in 2022, the team has won 13 of 27 drafting-track races, including nine of the last 16 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Hill – seven, Jesse Love – two).

Honor a Cancer Hero… This weekend, Richard Childress Racing honors individuals and their families who have struggled with a cancer diagnosis by participating in the seventh annual Honor A Cancer Hero (HACH) program. This signature initiative of The NASCAR Foundation is designed to support the foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children and families in our racing communities by providing support, comfort, and care during some of their most challenging moments. Since its inception in 2020, The Honor A Cancer Hero program has raised nearly $600,000 to support children and families impacted by cancer. As part of the program, each RCR entry racing at Daytona International Speedway this weekend will run the name of a cancer hero above both the driver’s side door and the passenger’s side door of our Chevrolets.

Future Plans… Richard Childress Racing made a series of announcements this week, solidifying the race team’s 2027 driver lineups in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and continuing a long-standing tradition of developing and cultivating NASCAR talent. Beginning in 2027, Austin Hill will join Austin Dillon in the Cup Series full-time, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet. Rising stars Chandler Smith and Carson Brown will join the organization’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program in 2027, with Smith in the No. 21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet and Brown in the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet. Both of RCR’s current O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers will graduate to full-time rides in the Cup Series next season, joining a long list of current and former NASCAR stars who have honed their talent with the 57-year-old race team.

Catch Friday’s Action… The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Winn-Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live on Friday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW and streamed live on the ESPN App for viewers with an ESPN Unlimited subscription plan. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Friday’s qualifying session will be shown on The CW App and on the ESPN App beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

Watch Us on NBC… The Cup Series’ Coke Zero Sugar 400 will be televised live on Saturday, August 29 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Cup Series qualifying on Friday will be broadcast on truTV live at 4 p.m. ET. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway… With 27 previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, Austin Dillon heads to the World Center of Racing with experience on his side. So far in his career, Dillon has acquired two wins, one pole award, four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in the Cup Series at Daytona. The Welcome, North Carolina driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has 10 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the track with one win, seven top-five and seven top-10 finishes. The 36-year-old driver has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Former Pole Winner… Dillon earned his career-first Cup Series pole award with a lap of 196.019 mph (45.914 seconds) in the 2014 edition of the Daytona 500. Dillon also started on the front row for the July 2015 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, was founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris started selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. That was the company’s sole location for the first 13 years, and it has since grown to nearly 200 retail locations throughout North America. Today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Newsweek as “America’s Best Outdoor Retailer” for four consecutive years and “America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”

Deer Season XP®… Winchester Deer Season XP® is the most accurate and lethal bullet for deer hunting. For more than a decade, Deer Season XP® has been the choice of deer hunters looking to fill their tags. Deer hunters everywhere rely on the Extreme Point® bullet’s oversized impact diameter. The larger impact diameter means more impact trauma, better energy transfer, and larger wound cavities for faster knockdown. Learn more here.

Make it 700… This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, Dillon will achieve a career milestone as he makes his 700th career NASCAR national series start. Among his long list of accolades, the seasoned NASCAR veteran is a champion in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013) and Truck Series (2011), a two-time Rookie of the Year (2010 in the Truck Series and 2013 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) and has won 21 races across all three national series. Amid his 13th fulltime season as the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet in the Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, Dillon has won two Crown Jewels (2017 Coca-Cola 600 and 2018 Daytona 500) and has six points paying victories and six pole awards, including the 2014 Daytona 500, to his name. Beyond the track, Dillon has not only taken on an increased leadership role within the race team, but he also leads the Carolina Cowboys as the professional bull riding team’s General Manager. However, in one of his most important roles, Dillon is a devoted husband to his wife Whitney, and father to his two kids, Ace and Blaize.

Gone Finishing with Huk… For the second consecutive season, Dillon will begin his weekend at Daytona International Speedway on the water, again taking to the Atlantic Ocean for a deep-sea fishing trip alongside Huk. Dillon will spend the day with Captain James Markovits, a Florida saltwater guide, award-winning host of Goliath Fishing, and Boca Grande tarpon expert who pursues everything from inshore favorites to offshore gamefish. Dillon will then welcome Captain Markovits to Daytona International Speedway as fans will get a first-hand look at the parallels the two athletes experience in their chosen sports. Fans should stay tuned to RCR and Huk social channels for a multi-part series documenting the weekend, and head to Huk.com to purchase the brand’s new Fall 2026 line, that both Dillon and Captain Markovits will don during their ocean excursion.

Honoring Ilene Robinson and Kristi Couch-Caldwell… This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet will feature the names of Ilene Robinson (driver’s side door) and Kristi Couch-Caldwell (passenger’s side door) as part of the NASCAR Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero program. This signature initiative of The NASCAR Foundation is designed to support the foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children and families in our racing communities by providing support, comfort, and care during some of their most challenging moments. Since its inception in 2020, The Honor A Cancer Hero program has raised nearly $600,000 to support children and families impacted by cancer.

Beyond The Track… Beyond the driver’s seat, Dillon serves as the general manager of the Carolina Cowboys, a professional bull riding team in the PBR Teams league. Dillon is instrumental in all aspects of the team, from rider contracts to setting the operational budget, and has utilized various aspects of his racing background to help form the identity and structure of his bull riding team. Learn more about the team on their official YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@CarolinaCowboysPBR. Don’t miss the Carolina Cowboys 2026 “Cowboy Days” home stand September 18-20 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Tickets are on sale at PBR.com and Ticketmaster.com.

Dillon Featured Honoree at SMA Healthcare Foundation’s Annual Dinner Celebration and Auction… Dillon was the featured honoree for the SMA Healthcare Foundation’s Annual Dinner Celebration and Auction on Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. Dillon provided a personal look at his life on and off the racetrack by participating in a fireside chat exploring his racing career, family, leadership and the experiences that have shaped him since his last time attending the dinner as an honoree nearly a decade ago in 2017. The SMA Healthcare Foundation’s Annual Dinner Celebration and Auction brought together community leaders, supporters and friends for an evening benefiting the Foundation and its mission to support SMA Healthcare programs and services. This year’s racing-inspired celebration continued the Foundation’s longstanding connection to the motorsports community while raising critical funds to support behavioral healthcare services. To learn more, visit www.smafoundation.com.

Meet Dillon… Fans will have multiple opportunities to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet this weekend in Daytona Beach. On Friday, August 28 beginning at 11 a.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to be on-site at Walmart (1590 Dunlawton Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL) signing autographs and meeting fans on behalf of Coca-Cola. Later that afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at Bass Pro Shops (1880 Checkered Flag Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL) where fans will have their second chance to meet the two-time Daytona International Speedway Cup Series winner and stock up on all their outdoor needs.

Back at the track, Dillon is scheduled to make two trips to RCR’s Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Midway. He will be inside the rig on Friday, August 28 at 3:05 p.m. Local Time, and on Saturday, August 28, starting at 3:20 p.m. Local Time. Be sure to stop by and stock up on all your race day gear needs. For fans unable to travel to the race, visit the official RCR Team Store to purchase Austin Dillon merch: https://store.rcrracing.com.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

You’ve had success at Daytona International Speedway, both in February and in the summer race. What are you looking forward to for this year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400?

“I’m looking forward to getting to Daytona. It’s always an opportunity to try and bring home a trophy. Speedway racing with our ECR Engines is a lot of fun. The night race is usually pretty interesting. It gets wild out there. I thought our last speedway race in Atlanta went well, so hopefully we can capitalize on what we’ve learned.”

How important is teamwork at Daytona International Speedway?

“Teamwork is very important. I’ve got a great teammate in Austin Hill. He’s won a lot of races at Daytona, so I’m looking forward to working with him. Hopefully, we can push our Chevys to the front.”

Do you embrace the chaos of Daytona International Speedway or is it something you can’t stand?

“I definitely try to embrace it, because if you don’t, I feel like you’ll be part of the chaos. You’ve got to get in there and mix it up and try to put yourself in the best position possible. There’s a lot of luck involved in getting through some of those wrecks, but it can be very rewarding when you make it through.”

What’s it like entering Daytona International Speedway?

“Anytime you go through that tunnel, you see the sights and the scenes of Daytona, you kind of get excited, because you know where Victory Lane is located. You just want to get back there and visit it.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen at Daytona International Speedway… Austin Hill has made three career NASCAR Cup Series start at Daytona International Speedway, driving in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of the Coke Zero Sugar 400. His best Cup Series Daytona finish to-date is a 14th-place result after starting 26th in 2023, but he heads into the race with experience in the form of an incredible four Daytona wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and one NASCAR Truck Series win at the track.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen… Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of homemade meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, homemade Chicken Pot Pie and slow-smoked Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 180 restaurants in 28 states. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, X and Instagram.

The Next Chapter… Hill will take the next step in his racing career in 2027, driving the organization’s No. 33 Chevrolet full-time in the Cup Series and continuing RCR’s commitment to promote from within and develop talent within the sport. In his five seasons at RCR, Hill has made the most of his opportunities, establishing himself as one of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ most consistent and accomplished drivers with 16 career wins in the Series. This season, Hill has continued to push himself while balancing a demanding double-duty schedule and shown poise while taking on a tough role for RCR during one of the most trying times in the race team’s history following the tragic passing of Kyle Busch in May.

Honoring Lieutenant Commander Jerry Shoemaker… This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 33 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet will feature the name of Lieutenant Commander Jerry Shoemaker on the driver’s side door as part of the NASCAR Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero program. This signature initiative of The NASCAR Foundation is designed to support the foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children and families in our racing communities by providing support, comfort, and care during some of their most challenging moments. Since its inception in 2020, The Honor A Cancer Hero program has raised nearly $600,000 to support children and families impacted by cancer.

Questions, Please… Following this week’s announcement that Hill will join RCR’s Cup Series program fulltime in 2027, he is scheduled to be available to the media at Daytona International Speedway’s Infield Media Center on Friday at 1 p.m. Local Time.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, August 29 at 3:50 p.m. Local Time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Midway at Daytona International Speedway. Stop by to meet Hill and purchase new gear.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What are the expectations of the new superspeedway package at Daytona International Speedway this weekend?

“Honestly, no one really knows at this point. Folks think that the drafting effects should be similar to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series car. If that is the case, then I feel very good about it. But will it actually end up that way? We aren’t sure because the Cup car is so much different with the diffuser and the way that the air flows. The O’Reilly car has the bubble effect, but we’ve never had that with the Cup car. The purpose of these changes is to make it have a bubble effect. Based on all the data that NASCAR has shown us, it should be closer to the O’Reilly car. Having a bubble creates better opportunities for guys who are not up front to be able to pull out of line and make something happen. You can position yourself with the air, get a run, pull out of line, and not stall out as easy. You should still have the momentum to move forward which is what the Cup car has been missing in the few races I’ve done so far. That should be a positive for our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet.”

How important is teamwork at Daytona International Speedway?

“Teamwork is really important at these speedway races, so I’m looking forward to working with my teammate Austin Dillon. We’ll be working together and trying to do everything we can to be up front in the end. I think as long as we can do the things that we know how to do on the superspeedways, we’re going to have a really good shot at it, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

It’s a monumental task running double-duty every single weekend. Talk about some of those challenges, and what it’s like to go from one car to another every weekend?

“The way the NASCAR Cup Series car and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series cars run is a lot different. When I’m driving an O’Reilly car, I’m driving off the front end, utilizing the front downforce and the front splitter while also using the right-rear to create downforce in the car. In the Cup car, you don’t have the right-rear quarter panel to lean on, instead you’re driving off the right-rear tire and when you slide that tire you’ve got to be ready to catch it. I’m used to driving a loose racecar and sliding the right-rear tire, and you just cannot do that in the Cup cars, so I have to change my driving style between the two series.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway… Jesse Love has made five career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Daytona International Speedway. In his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at the World Center of Racing in February 2024, the Menlo Park, California native earned his first career pole position, led the most laps (34), and captured his first career stage win. Fast-forward to last February 2025 and Love led 30 laps en route to earning his first victory at the Florida speedway. Outside of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the 21-year-old has one career ARCA Menards Series start at Daytona International Speedway, where the young driver started from the second position, faced motor issues, and finished in seventh-place.

Did You Know… Love was the third youngest pole winner in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history at Daytona International Speedway and just the 14th driver to claim the first starting position in their series debut.

Drafting Tracks Success… In 16 career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drafting track races, Love has tallied eight poles, 11 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 9.6. Love has also led a combined total of 494 laps in those races.

Get to the Points… Love is currently fourth in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship point standings, 299 points behind leader Justin Allgaier and 61 points behind second-place Carson Kvapil.

Honoring Fallen Officers… For Friday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, Whelen Engineering and RCR have teamed up with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) for the fifth consecutive season to honor fallen law enforcement officers. A special paint scheme was created for the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet featuring the names of 363 officers killed in the line of duty. These names were added to the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 2026. To learn more about the organization, visit NLEOMF.org.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund… Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all the 24,775 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company’s mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, and we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

Honoring Michele Broadley and Curtis Lloyd… This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet will feature the names of Michele Broadley (driver’s side door) and Curtis Lloyd (passenger’s side door) as part of the NASCAR Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero program. This signature initiative of The NASCAR Foundation is designed to support the foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children and families in our racing communities by providing support, comfort, and care during some of their most challenging moments. Since its inception in 2020, The Honor A Cancer Hero program has raised nearly $600,000 to support children and families impacted by cancer.

Meet Love … On Friday, August 28 at 5 p.m. Local Time, Love is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Midway at Daytona International Speedway. Stop by to meet Love and purchase new No. 2 gear.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What are your thoughts ahead of this weekend’s regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway?

“I am excited to go to Daytona to try and finish the regular season strong and get some points and makeup ground in the standings. It’s been a rough end to the regular season, a lot of things out of my control, but I am trying to control all I can going into Daytona, putting us in the best possible position to race for a championship.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway… Austin Hill has competed in 10 career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Daytona International Speedway, earning four victories – a resounding 40% of his starts. The Winston, Georgia native has started on the first or second row for the last seven events at the World Center of Racing. Hill also has six NASCAR Truck Series starts, securing the checkered flag in 2019.

Defending Winner… In February, Hill dominated the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series opener, sweeping both stages and leading a race-high 78 laps en route to capturing his fourth career season-opening win at the World Center of Racing. Looking to complete a season sweep at Daytona International Speedway, Hill will try to become the first driver to accomplish the feat since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won both races there in 2003.

Drafting Track Dominance… Hill is the all-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drafting track leader in wins (11), stage wins (18) and laps led (932). The veteran racer is the only O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver to win on all three drafting tracks.

Get to the Points… Hill is seventh in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship standings and locked into the Chase leading into this weekend’s regular season finale.

About Global Industrial… Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC) is a leading distributor of high-quality, industrial-strength equipment and supplies, serving organizations of all sizes across a wide range of industries. With more than 75 years of experience, customers rely on Global Industrial for its broad portfolio of national and private brands, trusted service, and focus on value. We help customers keep their operations running by delivering the right products when they need them, because We Can Supply That™. Visit Globalindustrial.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Supporting Veterans and First Responders Through K9s For Warriors… Global Industrial Company and RCR will highlight the K9s For Warriors’ Station Dog Program and its work supporting Veterans and first responders this weekend through a number of activations. Hill is scheduled to visit the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety to meet Hunter, the department’s Station Dog and Emotional Support Animal on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s race weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Hunter joined the department through K9s For Warriors in 2021 and provides companionship and comfort to first responders, while also participating in community events and visits to a local elementary school. The partnership also extends to the racetrack, with the K9s For Warriors logo featured on the No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, bringing the organization’s mission to NASCAR fans and the broader racing community.

Honoring Michele Broadley and Tim “Hodgie” Hodge, Sr… This weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet will feature the names of Michelle Broadley (driver’s side door) and Tim “Hodgie” Hodge, Sr. (passenger’s side door) as part of the NASCAR Foundation’s Honor A Cancer Hero program. This signature initiative of The NASCAR Foundation is designed to support the foundation’s mission of improving the lives of children and families in our racing communities by providing support, comfort, and care during some of their most challenging moments. Since its inception in 2020, The Honor A Cancer Hero program has raised nearly $600,000 to support children and families impacted by cancer.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

What is your mindset heading into Daytona International Speedway?

“Obviously, Daytona is Daytona. I feel good about it, but you just never know how those races are going to unfold. I would say, for us we just have to go try to maximize points and see if we can get ahead of one or two more guys who are ahead of us and be ready for the Chase.”

Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, Aug. 29
2.5-Mile Tri-Oval
7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (Race 26 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 34 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Race: 5th (New Hampshire)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 7th

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet  

• At New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend, Kyle Larson secured a fifth-place finish, his ninth top-five result of the season and his second consecutive top 10.
• Larson and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team scored 48 points at New Hampshire, clinching a spot in The Chase with the opportunity to defend their 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship. The team sits seventh in the points standings, 19 markers behind sixth and 30 behind fifth.
• According to Racing Insights, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew ranks first overall in 2026.
• The Elk Grove, California, native has four top-five finishes on drafting tracks with three coming in his last 11 such races.
• Larson has the fourth-most laps led on drafting tracks in 2026 with 59. He ranks third among all drivers in laps led this season with 657.
• Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team will pay tribute to two individuals as part of The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program at Daytona International Speedway. Michele Broadley, who passed away in 2016, will be honored with her name over the driver’s side window, while David Weinrach will be honored on the passenger side. Both names will replace Larson’s name on the car for this Saturday night’s race.  

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 30 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last Race: 25th (New Hampshire)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 8th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet  

• This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway. Chase Elliott heads into the final race before The Chase already locked in.
• This season on drafting tracks, Elliott’s average finish of eighth is third best.
• The 30-year-old has the best average finish (13.63) on drafting tracks in the Next Gen era among Cup drivers with more than five starts. He’s tied for the second-most wins (three) in that span (Talladega Superspeedway 2022 and Atlanta Motor Speedway 2022 and 2025).
• Elliott has four top-five finishes and five top 10s in the last eight drafting races.
• In February, Elliott won the second Duel at Daytona race and was leading on the final lap of the DAYTONA 500 before finishing fourth.
• In the Next Gen era, Elliott is tied for the second-most top-10 finishes at Daytona (four). His best finish at the track is second (August 2020 and February 2021).
• This weekend as part of The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program, Elliott’s name will be replaced on both the driver and passenger side of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. Being honored on the driver side is Michele Broadley, who sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2016. On the passenger side, Bill Roberts, who is a cancer survivor, will replace Elliott’s name.  

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 28 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Race: 30th (New Hampshire)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 12th

No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet  

• Following last week’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, William Byron secured his place in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase. This is the eighth consecutive season that he will compete for a championship.
• In 44 Cup Series starts on drafting tracks, Byron has five wins (three at Daytona International Speedway, two at Atlanta Motor Speedway), tied for fourth most among active drivers. His four such victories in the Next Gen era are the most.
• Hendrick Motorsports has 17 wins at Daytona and the Charlotte, North Carolina, native accounts for three of those, tied for second most in the team’s history.
• Byron’s three wins at Daytona are tied for his most at a single track (Martinsville Speedway). One of those victories came on August 29, 2020, marking his first career Cup win. Saturday’s race will be run six years to the day of that event.
• For Saturday’s race, at Daytona, the No. 24 will don two special names on board in conjunction with The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program. On the driver side door is Adam Brookhart, a diehard Byron fan who was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer but remains a center point for his family. On the passenger side door is Stephanie Kearns, who is also a huge fan of Byron and who has courageously battled stage four breast cancer twice, but remains determined in her fight.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 33 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Race: 15th (New Hampshire)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 30th

 No. 48 Ally Chevrolet  

• Alex Bowman’s best career finish on a drafting track is second on two occasions where he finished runner-up to a teammate both times (2024 DAYTONA 500 won by William Byron, 2019 at Talladega Superspeedway won by Chase Elliott). Bowman’s two runner-up finishes are the most among active drivers without a win at this style of track.
• In the Next Gen era, Bowman has an average finish of 16.56 in nine starts at Daytona International Speedway, ranking sixth best. With four top-10 finishes, he is also in a six-way tie for second most since 2022.
• At Daytona, Bowman has earned three pole awards, all of them for the DAYTONA 500.
• In the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Bowman has secured his best finish of third in two events, the first of which came at Talladega.
• This weekend, the Ally 48 team will be honoring Jennifer Quattrocchi on the driver side name rail as part of The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program. Quattrocchi, one of foundation’s own, courageously battled her disease while working full-time with the foundation until her peaceful passing in July 2025. As Quattrocchi’s favorite driver, Bowman will honor her legacy of kindness and passion at Daytona.  

17 COREY DAY
Age: 20 (November 28, 2005)
Hometown: Clovis, California
Last Race: 36th (Iowa)
Crew Chief: Adam Wall
Standings: 5th

• The NASCAR O’Reilly Series returns Friday, Aug. 28, at Daytona International Speedway, after a two-week break. Corey Day enters the final race before The Chase with his postseason spot secured. He sits fifth in the NOAPS points standings.
• In four career starts at superspeedways, Day has recorded an average starting position of 7.8 and earned his first NOAPS victory at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this season.
• Friday will mark Day’s second NOAPS start at the World Center of Racing. Day qualified sixth in his series debut at Daytona in February.
• During the most recent NOAPS off week, the Clovis, California, native returned to dirt-track competition, competing in three High Limit Racing Series events. Day captured back-to-back victories at Thunderbowl Raceway and Placerville Speedway, marking his second consecutive year earning wins at both tracks.
• As part of The NASCAR Foundation’s Honor a Cancer Hero program, Day’s name will be replaced on the driver’s side of the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet to honor Rick Schaffer, an avid NASCAR fan who passed away in 2022.  

Hendrick Motorsports  

2026	All-Time	Daytona
Races	24	1,442	85
Wins	2	322*	17*
Poles	0	259*	23*
Top 5	22	1,344*	65*
Top 10	38	2,298*	117*
Laps Led	1,117	86,484*	2,348*
Stage Wins	10	147	4

*Most
**Tied for most

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway this weekend. Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations in wins (17), poles (23), top fives (65), top 10s (117) and laps led (2,348) at the World Center of Racing.
The Hendrick Motorsports engine department enters the weekend with 577 victories across all three national NASCAR touring series, including 18 of 23 events in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series this season.
Hendrick Motorsports remains the Cup Series’ all-time standard bearer in wins (322), poles (259), top-five finishes (1,344), top 10s (2,298), laps led (86,484) and championships (15).  

 QUOTABLE
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on building on momentum: “Hopefully, we can continue to build on these last two weeks. Obviously, we still have a lot of room to grow before we’re consistently leading laps and challenging for wins, but it’s good to have solid finishes the last two weeks. We just need to continue to work hard. Eventually, it’ll turn around, and to win, you have to be consistent.”

“I feel like everybody has been operating at a really high level. Everybody is just as motivated, probably more so than ever, to work hard and get back to where we want to be. That’s been really nice to see. Not just specifically the No. 5 team, but all of Hendrick Motorsports has been pulling in the same direction, and that’s awesome to see.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on the new rules package at Daytona International Speedway: “I think there’s going to be a ton of guessing kind of going into the weekend from a setup perspective and car configuration, all those things. Honestly, I think it’s going to be really entertaining. I’m sure you’re going to have people complaining about not having a practice. But I think when you look at the grand scheme of all of it, I think it’ll be really fun to watch because you’re probably going to have people coming down pit road on those first couple cautions or first couple pit stops and just – I’m talking changing everything you can change. Hopefully that’s not the case for us, but I could see it. We just don’t know. It’s a total shot in the dark on what we’re doing and kind of where our head space is, but I’m looking forward to it.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on bouncing back at Daytona International Speedway: “Last weekend is a mix of emotions. We definitely had the speed we needed at a track that’s been difficult for us, but the execution was off. Thankfully it happened before The Chase starts but we just need to work on minimizing mistakes. Daytona [International Speedway] will mark a good reset though. We obviously know how to get it done there but the new aero package brings an unknown element that everyone will have to deal with. I’m curious to see how it plays out.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on returning to Daytona International Speedway: “Daytona [International Speedway] is a place we typically run well at; it’s just so unpredictable. With this being the cutoff race, it increases the chance for things to get crazy. Our focus is minimizing mistakes, staying out of trouble and being there at the end to have a shot.”

Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet, on returning to Daytona International Speedway: “I’m looking forward to getting back to Daytona [International Speedway]. I feel like my superspeedway knowledge has grown a lot since we were there earlier in the year and I feel like I’ll be able to approach the weekend differently than I did in February, which will be a good thing. We’ve had a rough summer unfortunately, it hasn’t gone how we wanted it to go, but there’s no reason that we can’t turn stuff around come The Chase. So, this will be a good final weekend to iron out all the little details that we may be missing or need to put more emphasis on. I’m glad that there’s only one superspeedway in The Chase [Talladega Superspeedway], and I’m definitely glad it’s the one we won at.”