Home Blog Page 139

Chase Elliott capitalizes late to win Daytona Duel 2; BJ McLeod awarded Daytona 500 berth

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Chase Elliott navigated his way to a thrilling victory in the America 250 Florida Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, February 12.

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, led nine of the 60 scheduled laps in the Daytona Duel 2 where he started in fourth place and spent the entire event battling towards the front. Following a late cycle of green-flag pit stops that commenced with 16 laps remaining, Elliott executed his race-winning pass on Carson Hocevar with eight laps remaining.

From there, Elliott used the draft and push from Hocevar to fend off the latter and the field approaching the frontstretch to return to Victory Lane in a Daytona Duel event for the first time in eight years.

Before the start of the second Duel event, Chase Briscoe, who achieved a front row starting spot for the 2026 Daytona 500, and teammate Denny Hamlin, the latter of whom posted the fourth-fastest qualifying lap during Wednesday’s single-car qualifying session, occupied the front row.

When the green flag waved and the second Duel event commenced, Chase Briscoe, who opted to start from the outside lane, rocketed ahead through the frontstretch before transitioning to the inside lane and passing teammate Denny Hamlin for the lead entering the first two turns. As the field fanned out and raced in two-by-two formation, Briscoe maintained the lead for a full circuit before returning to the frontstretch and leading the first lap.

Both Briscoe and Hamlin managed to slightly break away from a stacked field that had fanned out to three lanes over the next four laps, with Briscoe maintaining a single-file lead over Hamlin. Behind, teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson dueled against one another in front of Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs, the latter of whom are teammates to Briscoe and Hamlin, while Erik Jones was trying to mount a charge from a third drafting lane towards the outside wall that included BJ McLeod. 

Through the first of 10 scheduled laps, Briscoe continued to lead in front of Hamlin. Meanwhile, Elliott, Larson, Jones, Gibbs, Bell, Austin Cidric, McLeod and Michael McDowell were racing in close-quarters competition in the top-10 mark. Behind, Zane Smith, rookie Connor Zilisch, Ty Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Josh Berry, Anthony Alfredo, Todd Gilliland, Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, JJ Yeley and Riley Herbst followed suit, respectively, while Justin Allgaier, who strategically drifted to the rear of the field to preserve his entry, occupied the final spot on the track in 22nd place.

Just past the Lap 15 mark, Briscoe and Hamlin retained the top-two spots, respectively, as both continued to race in front of two-stacked packs, led by Elliott and Larson, while Jones, Gibbs, Bell and Cindric trailed behind. By the time the event reached the Lap 20 mark, all 22 starters were separated by nearly two seconds from one another as Briscoe maintained a steady lead.

Then, before Lap 22, the leader Briscoe went in defensive mode as Hamlin was pinned in a three-wide action with Elliott and Ty Dillon entering the frontstretch. As Elliott tried to mount a charge from the outside lane, being pinned in the middle of a three-wide battle with Ty Dillon and Hamlin stalled Elliott’s progress. As a result, Hamlin retained second place behind Briscoe while Elliott managed to maintain pace as the lead competitor from the outside lane. Elliott would then return to battle teammate Larson for third place before he started to challenge Hamlin for the runner-up spot with drafting help from Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on Lap 23.

At the halfway mark of the Daytona Duel 2, on Lap 30, Briscoe was leading ahead of two-stacked lanes that were led by Hamlin and Elliott, while Ty Dillon, Larson, Stenhouse, Bell, McDowell, Alfredo, and Gibbs followed suit in the top 10, respectively. By then, all 22 starters were separated by more than a second. In addition, Alfredo was in a prime position to claim a Daytona 500 starting berth based on being the highest-running open competitor on the track while his open rivals, McLeod and Yeley, were racing at the tail end of the field.

Two laps later, the second Duel event had its first lead change as Ty Dillon received drafting help from Stenhouse to lead a lap for himself from the outside lane. Not long after, Riley Herbst received a huge push from Yeley to nearly rocket to the front from a third-drafting lane towards the outside wall. Herbst, Dillon and Elliott then engaged in a tight three-wide formation in front of the field through the frontstretch as Briscoe reassumed the lead during the next lap.

With 25 laps remaining, Briscoe was racing with the lead in front of a side-by-side battle that involved Elliott and Ty Dillon while Hamlin and Stenhouse followed suit amid the draft. Larson, McDowell, Alfredo, Bell and Gibbs were scored in the top 10 while Herbst drifted back to 13th. 

Five laps later, Ty Dillon managed to lead another lap for himself over Briscoe after Briscoe had spent a bulk of the event racing in defensive mode through every lane, straightaway, and turn. Dillon was receiving aggressive drafting help from Stenhouse on the outside lane as the former would then muscle ahead of Briscoe exiting the frontstretch with 19 laps remaining. McDowell would then receive a strong push from Alfredo to lead through the backstretch. By the next lap, McDowell was leading ahead of Dillon, Alfredo, Stenhouse, Connor Zilisch and Herbst while Briscoe dropped to seventh.

Then, with 16 laps remaining, green flag pit stops commenced as Briscoe, Elliott, Hamlin, Erik Jones and BJ McLeod peeled off the racetrack to pit, primarily for fuel. Back on the track, Alfredo assumed the lead before he, along with Chevrolet teammates McDowell, Dillon, Stenhouse and Larson, pitted. Amid the latest pit stops, Zilisch assumed the lead before he pitted by himself during the next lap.

With 13 laps remaining, Herbst, who led the previous lap, led nearly the rest of the field that included Reddick, Cindric, Zane Smith, Bell, Hocevar, Gilliland, Berry and Ty Gibbs to pit road under green. At the conclusion of the pit stops, Allgaier, who has yet to pit, was leading by a large margin while Reddick emerged as the highest-running competitor that pitted over the rest of the field.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, the aggressiveness within the lead pack ignited as various competitors bumped and executed aggressive driving amid the draft. The competitor who was in front of the pack was Reddick moments before he was overtaken by Hocevar and Elliott after Reddick had no drafting help. Through the backstretch, multiple competitors that included Hamlin, Elliott and McDowell overtook Reddick as Elliott executed an aggressive move beneath Hocevar to lead the next lap. 

With eight laps remaining, Elliott got underneath Hocevar from the middle lane and exited the frontstretch to assume the lead. By the time the field navigated through the first two turns, Elliott was leading while Cindric, Hamlin and Hocevar all battled for second place in three lanes and in front of three-stacked lanes. Amid repeated challenges from Hamlin and Hocevar from the draft and through both the straightaways and turns, Elliott maintained the lead with five laps remaining. 

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Elliott remained in the lead ahead of Hocevar, Larson, McDowell and Stenhouse as nearly the entire field had migrated towards racing in single-line formation towards the outside wall. Through the first two turns and the backstretch, Hocevar reeled in on Elliott’s rear bumper, but he could not execute any runs with no drafting help forming behind him. With no drafts formulating, Elliott managed to fend off Hocevar and the field to claim the checkered flag.

With the victory, Elliott joins Buddy Baker, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Sterling Marlin, David Pearson, Fireball Roberts and Tony Stewart as three-time winners of The Duel at Daytona. In addition, Elliott recorded his first Daytona Duel victory since 2018, and he recorded the 17th Duel victory for Hendrick Motorsports and the 54th overall for the Chevrolet nameplate.

As added bonuses of winning the second Duel event, Elliott was awarded 10 bonus points and the fourth-place starting spot for this year’s 68th running of the Daytona 500. This upcoming Sunday, Elliott will attempt to become the 44th competitor to win the Daytona 500.

“That was a great way to get the blood pumping, for sure, on a Thursday night,” Elliott said on the frontstretch on FS1. “There was a lot going on. Those last handful, really ever since we came off of pit road after the [pit] cycle, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun. Had some great support there. Carson [Hocevar] did a great job helping me to control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy to Victory Lane tonight. So certainly, I owe him an appreciation for just sticking with it and also pushing me well. It’s really easy to get people out of control. Good night. Looking forward to Sunday.”

Amid Elliott’s Duel victory, Anthony Alfredo initially achieved his mission of qualifying for the Daytona 500 by being the highest-finishing open competitor in 17th place. During the post-race inspection process, however, Alfredo and his No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet team were disqualified due to NASCAR discovering both a loose transaxle cooling hose and an improper driver cooling hose from the entry. This demoted Alfredo to the tail end of the final running order in 22nd place.

As a result, BJ McLeod, who finished one spot behind Alfredo in 18th place but whose entry passed the post-race inspection process, was awarded a Daytona 500 starting spot for the 2026 season. The late outcome has enabled McLeod and his No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet team to make the Daytona 500 for a sixth time, with McLeod set to make his first appearance in the event since 2023.

Meanwhile, Alfredo joins JJ Yeley, the latter of whom ended up 21st in the final running order, as the two open competitors from the second Duel event who did not qualify for this year’s Daytona 500.

Carson Hocevar finished 0.065 seconds behind Elliott in the runner-up spot on the track. Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Christopher Bell finished in the top five while Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin completed the top 10, respectively. Notably, Chase Briscoe, who led a race-high 38 laps but could not contend for the victory due to having a slow pit service for fuel in the closing laps, ended up in 20th place.

The second Duel event featured 12 lead changes for 10 different leaders, and no cautions. In addition, all but one starter finished on the lead lap.

Results:

1. Chase Elliott, nine laps led
2. Carson Hocevar, one lap led
3. Kyle Larson
4. Michael McDowell, three laps led
5. Christopher Bell
6. Josh Berry
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. Todd Gilliland
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Denny Hamlin
11. Erik Jones
12. Tyler Reddick, one lap led
13. Riley Herbst, one lap led
14. Zane Smith
15. Connor Zilisch, one lap led
16. Ty Dillon, three laps led
17. Austin Cindric
18. BJ McLeod
19. Chase Briscoe, 38 laps led
20. Justin Allgaier, two laps led
21. JJ Yeley, three laps down
22. Anthony Alfredo – Disqualified, one lap led

With the starting lineup for this year’s 68th running of the Daytona 500 officially set, the main event is scheduled to occur this Sunday, February 15, which will also mark the official start of the NASCAR Cup Series’ 78th year of competition. The event’s coverage is slated to occur at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Joey Logano wins Daytona Duel 1 in overtime; Casey Mears rallies for Daytona 500 berth

By
Andrew Kim
-
Daytona Duel 1 -Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Joey Logano won the America 250 Florida Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, February 12, in an overtime shootout.

The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion from Middletown, Connecticut, led twice for 15 of 63 over-scheduled laps. He started in sixth place and spent the majority of the time shuffling with his fellow competitors amid the draft. Logano’s key move to victory occurred with 16 laps remaining, pitting with his fellow Ford teammates. Amid an ensuing caution that followed suit, Logano’s team executed a quick “stop-and-go” pit service for fuel. This enabled Logano to be the first competitor to exit pit road and emerge with the lead.

Through a late-race restart with 11 laps remaining and another caution that flew with five laps remaining amid a multi-car wreck, Logano remained in contention with the lead. During an overtime attempt, Logano received a strong push from teammate Ryan Blaney to maintain the lead. Then, a caution for another multi-car wreck concluded the event. O was a momentous victory for Logano ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500 event.

Before the start of the first Duel event, Kyle Busch, the 2026 Daytona 500 pole winner, and Ryan Preece, who posted the third-fastest qualifying lap during Wednesday’s single-car qualifying session, occupied the front row.

When the green flag waved and the first Duel event commenced, Kyle Busch, who elected to start on the outside lane, gained a slight advantage over Ryan Preece exiting the frontstretch and the first two turns. Busch retained his slight advantage through the backstretch. However, Preece used the inside lane to draw even with Busch through Turns 3 and 4. By the time the field returned to the frontstretch, Preece led the first lap by a small margin over Busch.

Over the next two laps, Preece and Busch continued to duel against one another in front of two-stacked lanes through every turn and straightaway. Before the third lap, Preece, who managed to lead the first three laps, transitioned to the outside lane and moved in front of Busch in the draft through Turns 3 and 4. By the next lap, Corey Heim received a draft from Austin Dillon to move into the lead from the backstretch through Turns 3 and 4 until Dillon drove beneath Heim through the frontstretch to lead the fourth lap.

By the fifth lap, John Hunter Nemechek, who used both the inside lane and a draft from Ryan Blaney to overtake Dillon, was leading. Nemechek retained the lead in front of the field that was beginning to fan out to three drafting lanes. Then, after leading the next lap, Nemechek engaged in a side-by-side battle with Dillon. Both drivers dueled in front of two-stacked lanes until Dillon received a push from Preece through the backstretch to muscle ahead on the eighth lap.

Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Preece, who got underneath Dillon to reassume the lead through Turns 3 and 4, was leading teammates Chris Buescher, Corey LaJoie and Brad Keselowski in a single-file drafting line from the inside lane. Behind, Nemechek was in fifth ahead of top-10 competitors Blaney, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano and William Byron. Noah Gragson, Kyle Busch, Cole Custer, AJ Allmendinger, Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, Casey Mears, Bubba Wallace, Jimmie Johnson, Ross Chastain, Cody Ware, Shane van Gisbergen and Daniel Suarez followed suit, respectively, within the 23-car field.

Five laps later, Preece was leading a seven-car breakaway that primarily consisted of Ford competitors/teammates, among which included Buescher, LaJoie, Keselowski, Blaney and Logano. Mired within the Ford battle was Toyota competitor Nemechek, while Dillon was trying to muscle his Chevrolet back to the front amid the draft and in front of the field in eighth place. As a majority of the field migrated to racing in single-line formation towards the inside lane, Preece continued to lead by Lap 20.

At the halfway mark on Lap 30, Preece maintained the lead of the event and was ahead of his Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammates Buescher, LaJoie and Keselowski, respectively. Busch occupied fifth place. Meanwhile, Blaney, who spent the previous five laps trying to mount a charge from the outside lane with drafting help from teammate Logano, batted Nemechek for sixth place as Chandler Smith, Logano, Wallace, Custer and Heim followed suit. 

With 25 laps remaining, Busch battled dead even with Keselowski in front of two-stacked lanes for fifth place. Busch would then receive a draft from Blaney to slightly muscle ahead during the next lap. This allowed Busch to try and draw even with LaJoie for third place before Keselowski drafted his driver LaJoie back ahead of Busch through the backstretch with 24 laps remaining. As the field started to fan out to three-tight lanes while a bevy of competitors started to stack up and shuffle amid the draft, Preece continued to lead. Preece maintained the top spot ahead of teammates Buescher, LaJoie, Keselowski, Nemechek and Busch in single-line formation while Logano attempted to mount a charge from the outside lane with 20 laps remaining.

Then, with 16 laps remaining, a wave of competitors led by Preece and including teammates Buescher, LaJoie and Keselowski, along with Nemechek, Logano, Blaney, Chandler Smith, Gragson, Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson reduced their speed and peeled off the racetrack while attempting to enter pit road to pit. 

During this process, Mears swerved both to avoid Gragson and reduce his pace. As a result, he clipped Gragson and both spun through the pit road entrance. As Johnson veered hard right to return to the track, both Mears and Gragson proceeded to spin through the frontstretch’s grass. The caution would then be displayed as both Mears and Gragson were trying to muscle their entries out of the grass, though both would manage to continue. 

At the moment of caution, Custer was scored the leader over the rest of the field that had not yet peeled off the racetrack to pit. During the caution period, Custer led a bevy of competitors to pit road, primarily for fuel. Meanwhile, Logano, who managed to exit pit road first ahead of Buescher within the first wave of competitors who entered pit road to pit, assumed the lead.

When the event restarted under green with 11 laps remaining, Logano and Buescher dueled for the lead as they had Blaney and Keselowski, respectively, drafting them through the first two laps. Entering the backstretch, both Logano and Blaney briefly slipped up the track. Despite both keeping their Fords racing straight and continuing to duel with Buescher and Keselowski for the lead, Chandler Smith made a bold three-wide move in between Preece and LaJoie, with Smith battling LaJoie for a Daytona 500 transfer berth. As the field fanned out to three-stacked lanes entering the frontstretch, Buescher barely led the next lap over Logano, Blaney and Keselowski.

Beginning with nine laps remaining, Logano, who was being repeatedly challenged by Buescher for the lead, maintained the advantage from the outside lane as he continued to receive drawing help from teammate Blaney. Meanwhile, Chandler Smith navigated his way into third place. Entering the frontstretch with seven laps remaining, however, Smith was being overtaken by Buescher, Dillon, Wallace, Byron, LaJoie and Keselowski, with Keselowski making slight contact with Smith as the latter quickly drifted back with no drafting help. Amid the battles, Dillon rocketed his way alongside Logano from the inside lane and challenged the latter with drafting help from Buescher.

Then, with five laps remaining, the caution returned when Wallace, who managed to overtake Logano and lead entering the backstretch, was bumped and turned sideways by Dillon amid the draft. This caused Wallace to swerve and spin below the backstretch while Buescher collided into Byron and Smith, as the latter trio wrecked towards the outside wall exiting the backstretch. The rest of the field, led by Logan,o scattered to avoid the carnage.

When the event restarted in overtime, Logano gained a slight advantage from the outside lane exiting the frontstretch before Keselowski gained his advantage from the inside lane through the first two turns. With drafting help from LaJoie and Blaney, Keselowski and Logano dueled for the lead through the backstretch and through Turns 3 and 4 while Daniel Suarez and Dillon joined the battle.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Logano was barely in front ahead of teammate Blaney, Keselowski, Dillon, LaJoie, Nemechek and the rest of the field through the frontstretch. As Keselowski tried to mount a charge through the first two turns, Logano muscled back ahead as he was getting drafted and bumped by Blaney, Dillon, Nemechek and AJ Allmendinger through the backstretch. 

Then, as the front-runners started to swerve while bumping against one another, LaJoie, who was racing towards the front, was bumped and sent sideways by Suarez exiting the backstretch after LaJoie ran into the rear of Keselowski. In the process, LaJoie collided with Allmendinger before he snapped back to the right and smacked the outside wall entering Turns 3 and 4. Suarez, who went dead straight into the outside wall after he got hit by LaJoie, was rammed into the rear by Mears as Allmendinger and Chastain spun to the bottom of the track in Turns 3 and 4.

The final-lap carnage was enough for the first Duel event to conclude under caution. At the moment of caution, Logano was ruled ahead of the field and declared the winner. 

With the victory, Logano joins Bill Elliott, Bobby Isaac and Junior Johnson as four-time winners of the Duel, with Logano’s latest Duel victory dating back to 2023. He also secured the ninth Daytona Duel victory for Team Penske and the 34th for the Ford nameplate. 

As added bonuses of winning the first Duel event, Logano was awarded 10 bonus points and the third-place starting spot for this year’s 68th running of the Daytona 500. This upcoming Sunday, Logano will attempt to become the 14th competitor to win the Daytona 500 multiple times.

“[There was] Just a lot of teamwork, all the way through,” Logano said in Victory Lane on FS1. “I think about the No. 22 team, in particular, Nick Hensley, our gasman, did a fantastic job getting us position off of pit road. [Spotter] Coleman Pressley up on the roof, giving me great information. My teammate, Ryan Blaney, being committed and working together. It’s nice when everything works out the way it’s supposed to. I just got a great team around me and a great Ford Mustang. It’s great to see this yellow and red [No. 22] Ford Mustang back in Victory Lane. It’s a great place to start the season here.” 

As Logano celebrated a Duel victory, Casey Mears also emerged victorious. By rallying from his late pit road incident and nursing his wounded car to a seventh-place finish amid the final-lap wreck, Mears emerged as the highest-finishing open competitor in the first Duel event. This meant that he secured a starting spot for the Daytona 500 for himself and his No. 66 Garage 66 team.

With his accomplishment, Mears will officially make his 495th Cup Series career start in this Sunday’s Great American Race. He will also make his 14th career start in the Daytona 500 event, with his latest start dating back to 2019. 

“I had an issue on pit road and I got a run around the outside, and I figured I’d just stay in the gas no matter what happened,” Mears said. “When I saw [LaJoie] spinning and I missed the first guy, I thought, ‘OK, good.’ Then I hit somebody square, and I knew when I hit him flat, it didn’t tear up the car too much and I was gonna be able to get back, but I didn’t know who was in front of me still, whether or not we made it. And then all the [No. 66] guys started going nuts on the radio. I can’t believe we’re here based on our night and the way that it went.”

Chandler Smith and LaJoie, both of whom ended up finishing 16th and 19th, respectively, in the first Duel event, did not qualify for this year’s Daytona 500. 

Behind Logano, teammate Ryan Blaney finished second ahead of Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski and John Hunter Nemechek. Shane van Gisbergen, Daniel Suarez, Mears, Ryan Preece (who led the most laps at 38) and Alex Bowman completed the top 10 in the final running order.

The first Duel event featured nine lead changes for six different leaders, and three cautions for seven laps. In addition, 18 of 23 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results:

1. Joey Logano, 15 laps led

2. Ryan Blaney

3. Austin Dillon, three laps led

4. Brad Keselowski

5. John Hunter Nemechek, three laps led

6. Shane van Gisbergen

7. Daniel Suarez

8. Casey Mears

9. Ryan Preece, 38 laps led

10. Alex Bowman

11. Cole Custer, three laps led

12. Noah Gragson

13. Bubba Wallace

14. Corey Heim

15. Jimmie Johnson

16. Chandler Smith

17. Cody Ware

18. Kyle Busch

19. Corey LaJoie, one lap down

20. AJ Allmendinger, one lap down

21. Ross Chastain, one lap down

22. William Byron – OUT, Accident

23. Chris Buescher – OUT, Accident, one lap led

The America 250 Florida Duel #2 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to follow suit as the event is also being aired on FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – Ford Mustang Dark Horse Finishes 1-2 as Logano Wins First Duel Race

By
Official Release
-

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Duel Race 1 — Daytona International Speedway
Thursday, February 12, 2026

JOEY LOGANO WINS FIRST DUEL RACE AS FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE FINISHES ONE-TWO

  • Joey Logano won the first Duel race on Thursday night in his No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
  • Ryan Blaney finished second to give Ford a one-two finish.
  • Casey Mears clinched a spot in the Daytona 500 by being the highest-finishing Open car in his No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Ford Finishing Results:

1st – Joey Logano
2nd – Ryan Blaney
4th – Brad Keselowski
8th – Casey Mears
9th – Ryan Preece
12th – Noah Gragson
16th – Chandler Smith
19th – Corey LaJoie
23rd – Chris Buescher

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW – WHAT DID YOU LEARN AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR MUSTANG? “We definitely learned a lot. It was great teamwork all the way through. Ryan Blaney was a fantastic teammate there, which is expected. He’s always been that for us and we try to work together the best we can and when we’re able to do that correctly, we can see success together like this. First of all, I’ve got to thank him. Obviously, Nick Hensley, my gas man, that gave us position off of pit road to where we could defend and not have to try to move forward, so he did a great job. And Coleman Pressley up on the roof did a fantastic job with the info. It’’s all the things you work on over the offseason, but it’s awesome when it all comes together and you’re able to actually work out the plan. A lot of times people say there’s a plan and it goes out the window on lap one, but for us we were able to work it all the way to the end.” WHAT IS DAYTONA VICTORY LANE LIKE? “It’s special to bring this Shell/Pennzoil Mustang to Victory Lane no matter where it is, but the World Center of Speed is pretty much as good as it gets. It’s nice tonight, but it’s way better on Sunday, I promise you that.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “Luckily, we were just ahead of the chaos. There were a couple close calls. That one before the green-white-checkered I actually got tagged in the left-rear by the 24, but it was just very minimal and nothing happened. I got control of the race with Joey and myself after the pit stop and that caution happened. Then we were just able to line up and push really well together and maintain control of the race and run it to the end. I’m proud of the effort. Good teamwork tonight with a couple of fast cars and I look forward to going to Sunday. I’m happy the thing is in one piece.” WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A DRIVER TO NOT PUT YOUR TEAMMATE IN A BAD SPOT WITH THE PUSHING? “You never want to get bad pushes. I’ve always tried to take the best care of the guy I’m pushing no matter who it is. As the pusher, you’re responsible for that guy and it got a little squirrely a couple of times. The three-car tandem doesn’t work very good, like when I had the 36 up my bumper. That was when it really kind of got all over the place, and I think there are some things on our cars we can work on. I wasn’t super happy taking a push either, so hopefully we can work on that and figure out how to get that a little bit better, but it’s just nice. You want to put yourself in spots in the Duels with what you’re gonna be in for the 500 like pushing aggressively because you know that’s gonna happen at the end of that race. We were able to do it, but trying to do it safely to where we don’t junk two team cars is important. It was squirrely a couple times, but luckily we came out of it.”

CASEY MEARS, No. 66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I told the guys on the radio, I said, ‘you just never know what Daytona is, right?’ I mean, it’s all the way until the last lap. You never know what’s going to happen. And, thankfully, right there, Jimmy didn’t have to push. I mean, he could have just got out of the mess and not be in the wreck, and he pushed me there with a good enough run to get around the outside. When they all wrecked, I got around everybody but the 99, and fortunately, I hit him so square that the car didn’t get too tore up. I was able to get it back. So, just super happy. I can’t believe we made it. It is just absolutely amazing.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU FEEL? “Pretty good. I feel like I can run the whole 500, so that’s the win. The loss here is that we didn’t win the Duel. We had four really good cars and, for whatever reason, it just got all mixed up there at the end and a bunch of them got tore up. I hate that for everybody at RFK. I’m not sure if I finished fourth or fifth. I was in front of the 42 for a long time there and the yellow was not coming out. I guess we’ll see when it actually came out, but I guess it was a reasonable day for the 6 team and I wish we got more for the other cars.” YOUR FORDS WERE SO FAST AND PREECE LED 38 LAPS? “Yeah, Ryan had a great race. I don’t know what happened to him at the end, but we did a lot of things well today, just didn’t finish it off.” DO YOU FEEL GOOD TO GO? ANY ISSUES WITH THE LEG? “Really good. The race car feels good.” WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO FINALLY WIN THIS RACE? “It’s the last crown jewel that I don’t have. I can taste it. We just have to bring it home.”

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 36 Quick Tie/Matheus Lumber Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I kept saying if it’s in the Lord’s Will to be in the 500, we’re gonna be in. If not, then we’re not. I’m just gonna try to make sure that I don’t put so much pressure on myself, enjoy it and make sure to set a culture for our 36 group. Don’t put too much pressure on everybody. Let’s just go out there and go do our jobs. I’m just very grateful for Jerry Freeze, Bob Jenkins, Matheus Lumber, Quick Tie products. Our Ford Mustang Dark Horse was really good tonight, it just wasn’t in the cards. We were in the right place, but maybe not the right time I guess.” WHAT ABOUT THOSE FINAL FEW LAPS WHEN YOU WERE NEXT TO THE 99 FOR THAT SPOT? “Honestly, our Penske alliance teammates did a phenomenal job. Thank you to Joey and Blaney for helping as much as you can and staying loyal trying to help get the 36 car in. They had every opportunity to go to the bottom and they kept dragging that top lane trying to get me clear. Once we did, we went down. I had the odds against me. I had two RFK cars right behind me once that happened. Brad started to juke me out and I knew what was coming. I went to block it and I felt like he was below the yellow line. I kind of held my ground, but he never lifted and I was like, ‘Man, it’s big picture right here. Do I keep him below and probably wreck us, or do I just give him the lane and live to fight another day.’ That’s what we chose to do and, honestly, it prevailed. We ended up passing the 99 and those guys again, it was just very unfortunate circumstances there at the end.” WHAT DID YOU SEE IN THE WRECK WITH THE 23? “It started with the 23. I don’t know if it was a bad push from whoever was behind the 23 or what, but I just saw the 23 start getting squirrely. He caught it, but once he caught it someone else, I think it was maybe the 17, jacked him back up and that was it. It just came right up in front of me and there was nowhere to go. I hate it, but, nevertheless, I’m super proud of everyone at Front Row Motorsports for the effort we put into this deal. Hopefully, we can do more this year. I honestly had a blast and I know my partners had a blast doing this deal. The 36 group had a great showing as well, so hopefully we can do a few more of these this year and maybe get the fourth FRM car in one of these races.”

COREY LAJOIE, No. 99 Trimble Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I’m just doing all you can do. I didn’t have great momentum off turn two there. I knew the line was gonna come to me, and it came to me right at the same time I picked up the 6 [car] and he hooked me. So… worst case scenario. We had it all there in front of us, and something out of our control takes it away, but that’s life, man. Keep on digging, keep your chin down, and keep taking one step at a time.”

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Daytona Duel 1 Post-Race Report – 02.12.26

By
Official Release
-

NEMECHEK FINISHES FOURTH IN DAYTONA DUEL
Four Toyota’s finish in top 15 in First Qualifying Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2026) – John Hunter Nemechek earned a top five result with a fourth-place finish in Thursday night’s Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Fellow Toyota drivers Bubba Wallace (13th), Corey Heim (14th) and Jimmie Johnson (15th) all finished in the top 15 in the 63-lap qualifying race around the 2.5-mile Florida superspeedway.

Heim qualified into the Daytona 500 on time during Wednesday night’s Cup Series qualifying session to give Toyota 11 Camrys competing in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Daytona International Speedway
Duel 1 – 150 miles, 60 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Joey Logano*
2nd, Ryan Blaney*
3rd, Austin Dillon*
4th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
5th, Brad Keselowski*
13th, BUBBA WALLACE
14th, COREY HEIM
15th, JIMMIE JOHNSON

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Finishing Position: 4th

Top five to start the year, and the car is clean. How was the Duel?
“Yeah, I’m just going to say this. I went on a ride with the Thunderbirds today and I felt like this race was way more nerve-wracking than flying with the Thunderbirds, I can tell you that – and we pulled nine and a half g’s, like four times today. Great group effort. Travis (Mack, crew chief) and everyone brought a great Camry down here. We qualified better than we ever have. We raced well in the Duels. A couple of really close calls for us, but we were able to make it through and I think we start top-10 on Sunday, so excited to have a good starting spot. Excited to try to build on our finishes here in Daytona, and see what kind of race that we can put together on Sunday. Just proud to have Dollar Tree, Pye-Barker all of our partners behind us. It’s a great day.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Race Predictions – Daytona 500

By
Logan Allen
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Coming off a wild one at Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cookout Clash. NASCAR is looking to start the season strong with the 68th running of the Daytona 500. With storybook endings to wild heartbreaks, this is a new chapter for everyone.

A little later than I did for the Cookout Clash, the predictions will come after the initial qualifying and right before the Daytona Heat races.

Prediction Time

#10 – Austin Cindric | Here is a name that isn’t super common to see on super speedways, though he knows how to run a clean race. A bigger track with a bigger field will lead to Cindric’s advantage. Being dangerous can be a good thing during the Daytona 500.

#9 – Brad Keselowski | What a pull, a veteran driver that knows how to handle his race car. Positioning will be so important in the Great American Race. The big one is almost destined to happen, but when will it be? Only three things in life are certain: taxes, death, and Brad knowing how to position himself during carnage.

#8 – Denny Hamlin | A top spot among a lot of early predictions. Previous Daytona 500 winner and has shown a lot of pop at Daytona previously. Though it’s time to see a new face emerge. Could it be Denny? Absolutely!

#7 – Tyler Reddick | A smart Superspeedway driver. Something that he has proved over and over again. One thing that could either help or hurt him is his aggression on the track.

#6 – Joey Logano | Another strong contender, but at this point, who’s not? Another active driver with a Daytona 500 under his belt. A very frequent super speedway contender. Lastly, a great driver who can position himself well in a draft.

Top Five

#5 – Chase Elliott | A prediction that I held high during the Cookout Clash. A result that didn’t end up well for him. Though the season restarts for the Daytona 500. As well as his mindset, he’s hungry for another win. This is a chance to prove to everyone that Bowman Gray was a fluke and that he can still contend. Being able to survive wrecks will help him, as will pushing all the way to the end.

#4 – Bubba Wallace | Overlooked but not forgotten. A definite push into the top 5, but what are the odds of winning? As for Bubba, it sits around a 21-1 odds, not 0%. So anything is possible. His top 10 finishes at super speedways are why I have him here.

#3 – Kyle Busch | To the top three we go, with Busch, anything is possible. Not afraid to dump someone for the lead, but also not ignorant of doing it without having to face repercussions. Long-time contender in the Daytona 500. Although his technical odds are fairly low, he has looked good as of late and won’t be surprised to see him finish in victory lane.

#2 – William Byron | Back-to-back Daytona 500 winner. How could I not put him at the top spot? Well, the likelihood of a back-to-back winner is extremely low, but to do it a third time is almost impossible. I still expect Byron to be very solid. A podium spot is looking like a possibility.

#1 – Ryan Blaney | With there being a large amount of pack racing, Blaney will be right where he wants to be. Being able to put his drafting skills with his strong finishes gives him a great chance of finding his way to the front.

Photo by Mike Biskupski for SpeedwayMedia.com.

What a wild Top-10 that we have here. A lot of names that are common, but there are some bold predictions as well. Similar to Bowman Gray, it’s a dog fight start to finish. The Heat Races could make or break your Daytona 500 run. Only one way to find out: to go hard and survive till the end.

The Daytona 500 will be on Sunday, February 15th. 2:30 PM ET from the inner coast of Daytona Beach, Florida.

TV coverage will be on FOX and FOX Deportes, with radio on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

CHEVROLET NCS AT DAYTONA: Hendrick Motorsports Transcript

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Rick Hendrick, Jeffrey “JB” Brown, Kyle Larson and Cliff Daniels met with the media following the announcement of the long-term contract extension for the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson; majority sponsor HENDRICKCARS.COM; and crew chief, Cliff Daniels.

Media Availability Quotes:

You said in the press release this decision was a no-brainer. What made your decision so clear?

Jeffrey J.B. Brown, President of Hendrick Automotive Group: “Good afternoon, everyone, so great to have so many people here that are fans of racing and we are so excited for the start of the season and Daytona being here. Back to the quote you heard in the press release. First, I am going to start with – Reigning NASCAR Champions. And so, what that does to our brand, to the traffic that we get to our sites on a daily basis, you couldn’t have two better representatives than Kyle (Larson) and Cliff (Daniels). And so, as we explored during the last several months with Mr. Hendrick about continuing this partnership, again, it was really a no-brainer. You know, for our organization last year, we sold 213,760 cars. And while you can’t necessarily attribute that to the direct numbers to what Kyle and Cliff do on a weekly basis, we see over 1 million visitors to HENDRICKCARS.COM every single month. And you see the surge in that traffic after a win and certainly after a championship like these guys delivered. So, when we come back and think about what it does for the brand, it’s just an incredible representation. Just for a moment more, I just say what more fantastic leaders they are. It really galvanizes the Hendrick Automotive Group when we get our partnership and our partners at Hendrick Motorsports coming together. I think back to a leadership summit that we had in January, where Cliff, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews came and spoke. And that partnership of bringing our organizations together is just fantastic. So, for us again, we feel very fortunate and grateful that Mr. Hendrick allows us to deploy capital in this manner and these guys are simply the best.”

Mr. Hendrick, as you think about the # 5 team, what do Kyle, Cliff, and that group represent as the kind of people that it takes to win championships?

Rick Hendrick: “When I think about both of these guys, I think about excellence and that is the part that rings true for me. I have watched Cliff in a leadership position, and everybody knows Kyle’s talent on the track. Just the way he builds his team, the way he leads his people, and they are there to win every week. And that is what, if you are on a car, sponsoring a car, or you own a car, you want to go out and have an opportunity to win. With these guys, we know every time we show up to the racetrack we can win.”

For a fan-building perspective, how big is it to have 35 of 38 races to have that distinctive scheme in an era where everyone is switching sponsors every single week?

Rick Hendrick: “Well, we have had a lot of people as you can imagine want to sponsor that car and I go to J.B. and to Brian and I say, ‘we can replace you’ and (they say) ‘no, it works too well for us’. The consistency when we tie the advertising together and see that we are getting 3-4 times the return on the investment and the fans see the same paint scheme and the same car every week with no confusion. So, I think I really like it and these guys probably want to change the paint scheme sometimes, but I love the paint scheme. I just think when you see Kyle Larson, you see him in that car, with that uniform and I think that makes a big difference.”

Kyle Larson: “Just echoing what he said, I think for me, I love having that brand identity of me being attached to the blue HENDRICKCARS.COM 5 car. It’s hard to kind of relate a driver to a brand I feel like anymore, but when you look at us and our team, there is that connection and identity. I love it and I feel a part of the family with that too, so hopefully we can continue on and on forever.”

For Rick and Kyle, was this a straightforward, simplistic negotiation considering that the team feels like such a good fit for everybody?

Rick Hendrick: “Well, it was expensive. (laughter) No, I wanted these guys in place, and I didn’t want to race against them, and they are part of the family and the fabric of Hendrick Automotive and Hendrick Motorsports. And when you are that involved, and I look at Jeff Gordon standing over here, or Jimmie Johnson. I remember Jeff and I had a lifetime deal, and I know what he meant to our company, and I know what he still means to our company as Vice Chairman. I think Kyle….I wanted to make sure that we were going to have a long, long future together. I would have gone more than that if he wanted to, and I think with these two guys, I want them to retire with me. I wanted to get something on paper so it would take all the questions away. So, for the next five or six years, we could put that in a drawer. We are going to race to win championships and win races.”

Cliff, it’s rare for a crew chief to have a part in an announcement like this and even more rare to have a multi-year deal like this. What does it mean for you to be part of all of this?

Cliff Daniels: “First, thanks for the question. And like J.B. said, thanks to everyone for being here and it’s great to be back in Daytona. Kyle has mentioned it, and Mr. Hendrick has mentioned it, the honor that we have to be a part of the Hendrick family, the brand of HENDRICKCARS.COM, Hendrick Automotive Group and what we do at Hendrick Motorsports, for me, it’s really special and just an honor. Very humbling to be part of such a great group of people that strive for excellence for the brand that we put in dealerships and the brand that we put on the racetrack. To be the leader of the group that is at the racetrack, for me, it’s a lot of fun and to know that J.B., Mr. Hendrick, Kyle and myself, we all have belief in what we are building with the 5 team. Its inspiring and fun to be a part of and certainly happy to keep it going now and into the future.”

Rick Hendrick: “I want to say one thing about Cliff too. He had his guys reading books and we have Hendrick University. And we have management by strengths and how we evaluate how you work with each other. He took his whole organization, and I think most everybody in motorsports has gone now. But the integration of the two and the leadership that Cliff has shown in standing up in front of 100 dealers, and actually teaching, is impressive. I have never seen a crew chief with that talent, drive and enthusiasm. So, we are very lucky to have him not only on the racetrack, not in motorsports, but what he has done as a spokesman on the automobile side.”

Cliff, we have seen occasions where very talented drivers and very talented crew chief combinations just don’t work for whatever reason. What is it about you guys that has really made this click?

Cliff Daniels: “I think it starts with the bedrock of trust. And really, Kyle is so talented behind the wheel, and he is so dedicated and passionate to racing. We see it that he races 90-somthing times a year between Cup and dirt and all the series that he does – that I know his dedication to be excellent and to be great. I think in our relationship together, he has learned that I always want to make myself better, our team better and the journey that we are walking evolve every year. Every year you may have accomplishments, but those are in the rear-view mirror, and the rear-view mirror is small for a reason. You have to look out the windshield. So I think our common pursuit of racing and being really good at it, brings us together and we trust that we are going to do our job, and do it right.”

Cliff, what does this sort of extension do for you as a leader of this group that as long as you achieve what you aim to achieve together, that this can be a longstanding place of stability within the garage?

Cliff Daniels: “I would honestly go back to how Mr. Hendrick leads the companies. We are two years removed from celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports and this year is the 50th anniversary of the Hendrick Automotive Group and when Mr. Hendrick and I were on the phone talking about that, he just celebrated his 53rd wedding anniversary. Mr. Hendrick is the true leader of bringing people together, establishing great relationships, and keeping them for a long time. And so what that does for us is just empower us to continue his legacy and the excellence of that. You know, we bring in new team members, and we teach them to do great things, but he has known how to do great things for a long time. And that is what Mr. Hendrick has established in business and family and racing, so for us, we get to continue that. What an honor and what an opportunity.”

Kyle, what have you seen from Cliff not only as how he leads you as a driver, but in how he leads the guys that work on that 5 car?

Kyle Larson: “Yeah, it’s a lot of I feel like the same. He holds everybody to a high level and like I have said before he is always evolving himself, but he is evolving us as individuals working with him. So, like Rick had mentioned, the book studies, the different things we did together as a team. Last year flag football, paintball – which I wasn’t there for, other events, go cart events, team bonding, sort of things that just unite us. I think it is important and helps us all work better together. I appreciate the work and the effort that he puts into not only building fast race cars, but I think all the other bits and pieces that it takes to be successful. I think that is why we have had the success we have had in a relatively short amount of time.”

For Kyle, is there any reason you wouldn’t sign a lifetime contract if one appeared on your table and for Cliff is there any reason that would make you want to leave Hendrick Motorsports?

Kyle Larson: “For me, I don’t need the contract to know that I will hopefully be there for the rest of my life. I don’t ever foresee a reason for me to want to entertain being a part of another group. I know what I have at Hendrick Motorsports and I know what I have with a great leader with Rick, J.B., Cliff and everybody else – the Jeffs, Chad, you could go on and on. So, maybe a lifetime contract will be the next one. But I am not too worried about it. I am pretty confident in where I am at and don’t have any plans to think about going anywhere else.”

Cliff Daniels: “Yeah and honestly a really similar answer for me. Very grateful for Mr. Hendrick, J.B. and everybody that helped put this together. And then we have Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, Chad, and a whole leadership staff at Hendrick Motorsports. We are trying to be excellent on the racetrack now, but we are also looking into the future of people, talent, and resources of what its going to take. Its really exciting to be a part of and to have a small piece of being able to build that in ways that they have included me in the conversation and looking ahead to the future for all the reasons that I just mentioned. Its inspiring and I am certainly happy to be a part of it and hope to be a big part of it for a long time.”

Kyle, what is the benefit for you to have a five-year deal as opposed to a three-year deal?

Kyle Larson: “I don’t get too wrapped up in the duration or all of that, I really just….its nice to know that I will be here for at least five years and hopefully more. And that is kind of it. I just get to work on trying to win more races and win more championships in the time that I am there. So, yeah, grateful and I feel like it’s a very long-term contract compared to what you see these days. So, I am very happy with all of that and yeah, I think that gets me close to 40 and then we will see after that.”

For J.B., what makes you happy to have these guys represent HENDRICKCARS.COM every week?

J.B. Brown: “On top of being a great driver and a great crew chief, they are great leaders and they are great people. And you heard both of the guys mention the family atmosphere and the trust that is inside our organizations, that is so critically important for us. So, these guys just represent the best of the best of the Hendrick family and of the Hendrick enterprise overall. So, for us we are just thrilled. And back to the leadership comments that we made, when Cliff and Jeff and Jeff and Chad came to our leadership summit, the power of what they talked about – even the perseverance. It’s back to their focus on this constant excellence. But you think back to the last two or three laps of the championship that they delivered, and what these guys went through, and what those lessons of perseverance and thriving under pressure, what that can bring back to the entire Hendrick organization is very, very powerful. So, again, just great representatives and we are just thrilled to have them for a long, long time.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway: General Tire 200 Practice Notes and Results

By
Official Release
-
  • As the organization did in the January Pre-Race Practice, Nitro Motorsports swept the top six positions in the running order in practice for the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Former Talladega Superspeedway winner Jake Finch (No. 15 Phoenix Toyota) led the way over 2024 Daytona winner Gus Dean (No. 25 CAB Installers / IMPACT Toyota), Thomas Annuniata (No. 70 JBL Toyota), Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Mobil 1 Toyota), Wesley Slimp (No. 90 Road Ready Foundation Toyota), and Jake Bollman (No. 20 SynerFuse Toyota). Finch’s fast lap was 48.878 seconds / 184.132 miles per hour.
  • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Daniel Dye (No. 24 Champion Container Ford) was the fastest non-Nitro Motorsports car in the 55-minute session. Dye timed in at 49.110 seconds / 183.262 miles per hour.
  • KLAS Motorsports teammates Glen Reen (No. 07 New Wave Bath Ford) and Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 Dak’s Markets Chevrolet) were eighth and ninth respectively. Reen’s lap was 49.121 seconds / 183.221 miles per hour; Jankowiak timed in at 49.143 seconds / 183.139 miles per hour.
  • Jason Kitzmiller (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) was tenth with a quick lap of 49.159 seconds / 183.079 miles per hour. Jack Wood (No. 28 Road Ranger Chevrolet) turned in the exact same lap time driving for Pinnacle Racing Group, the reigning ARCA Menards Series championship team and the defending winners at Daytona. The team won last year with Brenden “Butterbean” Queen driving.
  • Other notables include Timothy “Mini” Tyrell (No. 17 RAM Trucks Chevrolet) in 12th, Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 1st Auto Group Toyota) in 13th, Garett Mitchell (No. 30 Kenetik Ford) in 16th, Taylor Reimer (No. 77 BuzzBallz Chevrolet) in 27th, and former Daytona pole sitter Willie Mullins (No. 3 CorvetteParts.net Ford) in 31st.
  • Caleb Costner (No. 93 Piedmont Outfitters Toyota) stalled exiting pit road to bring out the only caution period of the 55-minute session.
  • The 40-car starting field for the General Tire 200 will be determined in Friday’s Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Qualifying. Drivers will be sent out in groups of eight cars – one group will be made up of eight cars – for four minutes, which should be enough for three timed laps. Each driver’s fasted lap will be the lap of record. The top 32 drivers will lock in on speed, with four provisionals reserved based on 2025 owner points and four positions reserved for eligible Golden A teams.
  • The ARCA Menards Series returns to Daytona International Speedway in February for the 63rd Annual Daytona ARCA 200. On-track activity starts with practice on Thursday, February 12, with the starting field determined in qualifying on Friday, February 13. The Daytona ARCA 200 is set for noon on Saturday, February 14 and will be televised live on FOX. The race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and can be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Live timing & scoring data for all on-track activities can be found at ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization to sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Gus Dean Carries Momentum into Daytona ARCA Season Opener with Nitro Motorsports

By
Official Release
-

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: In his last two trips to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, three-time ARCA Menards Series winner Gus Dean has left the World Center of Racing on top.

Now, ahead of his ARCA Menards Series return in Saturday afternoon’s General Tire 200, the Bluffton, South Carolina native rides a wave of momentum at a track that, prior to the 2024 season, had long been his arch nemesis.

Dean will make his first ARCA Menards Series start since the middle of the 2024 season at Michigan International Speedway this weekend, marking his debut with Nitro Motorsports as part of a limited schedule for the organization in 2026.

Touted as one of the discipline’s premier superspeedway racers, Dean aims to continue refining his craft and leave the 2.5-mile oval with his second consecutive checkered flag at the World Center of Racing.

Dean returned to the Daytona International Speedway last month, pacing a five-car contingent of Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camrys around the historic 2.5-mile oval and posting the fastest lap during preseason testing.

Nearly a month later, Dean remains upbeat about his return to Daytona, aiming to deliver Nitro Motorsports its most significant victory yet in ARCA Menards Series competition.

“Daytona has definitely become one of my favorite places to race,” said Dean.

“For a long time, it felt like this place owed us one, but the last couple of trips have shown what we’re capable of when everything comes together.

“Nitro Motorsports brought a lot of speed to the test, and I’m confident we’ll unload with something we can contend with on Saturday. If we execute, manage the draft and put ourselves in position late, I like our chances.”

Paired with new crew chief Shane Wilson, Dean said the chemistry between driver and veteran leader was almost immediate.

With Wilson’s proven track record on superspeedway-style tracks, Dean believes the partnership provides all the right ingredients to secure his fourth career victory in the ARCA Menards Series.

“Shane has won a lot of races at this level and has been part of some major superspeedway programs,” Dean said.

“From the first conversation, we were on the same page about what I need in the car and how these races tend to play out. Daytona is all about preparation and putting yourself in position at the end, and I feel like with Shane on top of the box, we have the experience and leadership to make the right calls when it matters most.”

With 50 cars expected for the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway, the avid Mud Truck winner understands the level of competition will mirror — if not exceed — what he faced in 2024.

Still, with every race comes an opportunity to learn, adapt and make a positive statement on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Dean is hungry.

Hungry to return to Victory Lane, prove his recent success at Daytona is no fluke and cement his place as one of the premier superspeedway racers in the ARCA Menards Series garage.

“Daytona means a lot to me and my family,” Dean said. “We’ve poured so much into this sport over the years, and to have the opportunity to win at a place like this — it’s special.

“The history here, the atmosphere, everything about it raises the stakes. I’d love nothing more than to give Nick Tucker and everyone at Nitro Motorsports a milestone win. They’ve worked incredibly hard to build this program, and being able to put them in Victory Lane at Daytona would mean just as much to me as it would to them.”

Ahead of his 71st career start in the ARCA Menards Series, Dean’s No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota will carry support from CAB Installers, Impact Racing and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members.

The partnership adds additional meaning to Dean’s return to Daytona, as the team looks to honor those who have sacrificed while competing on one of the sport’s grandest stages.

“It’s an honor to represent CAB Installers, Impact Racing and Folds of Honor this weekend,” Dean said.

“Anytime you can race for something bigger than yourself, especially at a place like Daytona, it adds even more motivation to get the job done.”

In 70 career ARCA Menards Series starts, Dean has earned two poles, three victories, 22 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes entering his ninth series start at Daytona International Speedway.

For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@GusDean) and X | Twitter (@GusDean).

For more information on Nitro Motorsports, please contact Nick Tucker via email HERE or visit them online at RaceNitro.com.

The General Tire 200 (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thursday, February 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. ET. General Tire group pole qualifying is set for Friday, February 13, at 1:30 p.m. ET. The race is scheduled to take the green flag the following afternoon, shortly after 12:00 p.m. ET. The start of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be televised live on FOX for the second consecutive year, with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 providing radio coverage. ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the day’s festivities.

About Nitro Motorsports:

Nitro Motorsports is a multi-platform professional racing organization competing in Club and National-level karting, the ARCA Menards Series, the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli and Toyota GR Cup North America.

With a proven foundation in driver development and technical excellence, Nitro Motorsports provides one of the most complete talent pipelines in North American motorsports.

Top 5 Display Cases: The Best Way to Display Autographed NASCAR Cards at Home

By
SM
-

You finally scored that Dale Jr. on-card signature, but a shoebox won’t stop ink that can fade 100 times faster in direct sun. So how do we balance wow-factor and preservation?

We stress-tested today’s most talked-about frames, cabinets, and travel cases, then ranked the five that solved distinct collector pains—UV protection, lockable security, road-show portability, and budget-friendly hero stands.

Ready? Let’s mount those cards like the trophies they are.

How we picked the five winners

We approached display cases the way a crew chief studies a setup sheet: measure everything, then tune for performance.

First, we built a scorecard that weighted five essentials: protection, presentation, capacity, price, and extras such as locks or modular panels. Each case faced a 100-point test, and UV shielding claimed the largest share because faded ink is a deal-breaker. The framework mirrors the point system AllClash used in its 2025 head-to-head roundup, so our numbers rest on proven ground.

Next, we gathered the ten most discussed products from hobby stores, Amazon charts, and forum threads. Specs told only half the story, so we compared lab claims with owner reviews to see whether a lock stays aligned after a year or if foam stops slabs from rattling.

Finally, we matched each case to a clear scenario: one-card hero piece, road-show workhorse, gallery-wall stunner, and more. The five ahead aren’t just the top scorers; they solve five distinct collector challenges.

5. BCW Acrylic Card Stand: best for a single grail on a shoestring

Picture one autograph that means the world to you, maybe Jeff Gordon’s rookie ink or a fresh pit-lane signature from Chase Elliott. That lone trophy deserves a stage, yet you would rather spend hobby cash on the next pack, not on furniture.

Enter the clear, two-piece BCW Acrylic Card Stand. Pop the plates apart, slip a sleeved card between their polished faces, snap them shut, then rest the block on its tiny easel. Setup takes ten seconds and zero tools, so even a first-time collector feels like a pro.

BCW Acrylic Card Stand
BCW Acrylic Card Stand displaying a single autographed NASCAR card

Because the block is acrylic, it filters a fair slice of UV while showing off edges with jewel-case clarity. Keep it out of direct sunlight and you gain years of display time without worrying about fade. Owner reviews on AllClash praise the stand’s smooth edges and tight tolerances, noting no wobble and no unwanted gaps.

Cost, speed, and shine make this stand the hobby’s simplest upgrade. It turns any desk, shelf, or bookcase into a mini Hall of Fame and frees your grail from storage boxes. For collectors testing the waters, or veterans who want a rotating “card of the week,” few options offer more value per dollar.

4. POIUNA aluminum showcase: best portable case for card shows

Card shows move fast. You hustle from table to table, trade, buy, sell, then hit the road again. Your autographs need a pit box that travels just as well.

The POIUNA aluminum briefcase fills that role. Closed, it is a silver shell with keyed latches and reinforced corners. Open, it lies flat so rows of graded slabs sit under a clear lid, instantly turning the case into a countertop display. Collectors load roughly twenty-five PSA slabs, or close to a hundred raw cards in top-loaders, without a single rattle because foam channels grip each piece.

Security matters in a crowded hall, and twin locks discourage grab-and-go theft. The acrylic window blocks most UV, so ink stays crisp under harsh convention lighting. At about eight pounds loaded, you can carry it all day, then slide it under a hotel bed like a slimline safe.

Back home, many owners leave the case propped open on a shelf. It doubles as a dust-proof display drawer that shows off prized cards while keeping curious fingers out. If you need show-floor polish paired with road-worthy protection, this briefcase checks every box.

3. Niubee 8-card frame: best wall display for small, growing collections

Wall space is limited, yet a blank spot above the desk can turn into a mini gallery in minutes. That is where Niubee’s clear-acrylic frame shines. It cradles eight graded slabs in two tidy rows of four, protected by a magnetic door that lifts with a fingertip when you want to rotate cards.

Niubee 8-card frame
Niubee 8-card acrylic wall frame displaying graded NASCAR cards

The frame weighs less than a hardcover book, so standard drywall anchors keep it level. Its all-clear build seems to disappear, letting border colors and foil parallels pop without distraction. Because the acrylic panel filters most UV, autographs stay bold when you hang the frame away from direct sun.

Collectors praise Niubee for flexibility. Start with a handful of signatures, then mount another frame beside the first as the collection grows. The wall looks intentional, almost gallery curated, without the cost or heft of a full-size cabinet.

Stock can run low, so order when you spot it. At roughly fifty dollars, it offers a modular display that grows with your fandom and keeps your top eight cards in daily view.

2. DisplayGifts Pro UV cabinet: best one-stop wall vault for big collections

Some collectors track full driver rosters, year-by-year champions, even every Daytona 500 winner. A spread that wide needs a permanent, high-capacity home, heavier than a plastic frame yet sleeker than a gun safe.

DisplayGifts meets that need with a furniture-grade cabinet that holds thirty-six graded slabs on six felt-lined shelves. Close the acrylic door and two cam locks click shut, placing your cards behind 98 percent UV filtration and a dust-tight seal. Review aggregators note the “museum look without the custom-frame bill,” praising solid hinges and velvet backing that makes chrome refractors glow.

DisplayGifts Pro UV cabinet
DisplayGifts Pro UV cabinet

The cabinet arrives fully assembled. Two screws secure a built-in cleat, then gravity does the rest. At roughly fifteen pounds loaded, it feels substantial yet still sits closer to the wall than many framed canvases. Install a second cabinet beside the first and the display reads as a single gallery, perfect for a hallway or bonus room fan cave.

The price hovers around one-sixty, and you may want a friend to help lift it, but the cost per card beats most smaller frames. For Hall of Fame-sized collections, this cabinet turns raw volume into a statement piece.

1. Vaulted Display Vault Air: best overall mix of style and safeguard

Great collections deserve wall space that feels intentional, almost gallery clean. Vaulted’s Display Vault Air delivers that look while ending two common worries: UV damage and card slippage, thanks to a UV-rated magnetic window and Friction Fit™ foam documented on www.VaultedCollection.com.

Vaulted Display Vault Air
Vaulted Display Vault Air official product page screenshot

The frame weighs less than two pounds and uses a carbon-textured composite for a modern finish. An ultra-clear acrylic window blocks nearly all ultraviolet light, so autographs stay vivid through many seasons of sunshine. Behind the pane, ten precision-cut foam slots grip PSA, BGS, or CGC slabs tight; knock the frame, and the cards stay put.

Installation takes longer to fetch the stud finder than to hang the unit. Drive two screws through the backplate, lift off the window, press slabs into the foam, snap the cover on, and you are done. The frame sits just over an inch off the wall, so it reads more like a premium poster than a bulky case.

Collectors praise the expansion concept: start with one frame for your top ten grails, then tile two or more as the collection grows. The cost per slot runs higher than budget plastic, yet each slot carries museum-grade protection and showroom impact. For most readers, that blend of looks, defense, and ease places Display Vault Air at the top of the podium.

Display and preservation tips for autograph cards

Display and preservation tips for autograph cards

Sunlight is autograph enemy number one. Even premium UV acrylic slows but does not stop chemical fade, so mount frames where direct sun never lands. A north-facing wall or a spot behind blinds keeps ink vibrant for years.

Air comes next. A sealed case blocks dust, yet humidity still sneaks in. Slip a silica packet behind the door or inside a briefcase to hold relative humidity near 40–50 percent. If your display lives in a basement, a room-size dehumidifier will pay for itself during the first sticky August.

Keep cleaning simple. Skip ammonia sprays that can fog acrylic; instead mist a microfiber cloth with plain water and wipe in straight lines. Spend five seconds per panel each month to stop fingerprints from turning into hairline scratches.

Handle cards like lab samples. When you rotate displays, grip slabs by the edges or pull on cotton gloves. Finger oils etch chrome finishes over time, and a careless slip can chip a corner for good.

Follow these four habits, and every case in this guide delivers full value from day one through many race seasons.

Conclusion

From single-card stands to furniture-grade wall vaults, these five display solutions let collectors protect prized NASCAR autographs while putting them on full, envy-inducing view. Choose the case that fits your collection today, then expand with confidence knowing each option balances preservation and presentation.

TopLiner and Adam Andretti Set for Dual-Series Charge in NASCAR Craftsman Trucks and Trans Am Series

By
Official Release
-

Taylor Gray will pilot the No. 1 TopLiner™ TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra in the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway

Atlanta, GEORGIA – February 12, 2026 – TopLiner™ the innovative and high-performance Georgia based truck bedliner pioneers enter the 2026 motorsport season with a double-duty assignment for Burtin Racing flagship driver Adam Andretti. The announcement comes as TopLiner™ continues to grow in distribution and brand awareness and that’s sure to inspire fans and drive interest in TopLiner™ state-of-the-art products.

To kick things off this weekend will be Taylor Gray to pilot the No. 1 TopLiner™ TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra in the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2026, further strengthening the TopLiner™ presence in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The race will be televised on FS1 at 7:30pm ET.

In the iconic road race series, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli TA Class, where Adam Andretti finished second overall in 2025, TopLiner™ and Burtin Racing are approaching the championship with momentum, ambition, and the clear objective to contend for race wins every weekend and mount a serious challenge with debuting the newest Burtin Racing chassis and a second TA car. Meanwhile, in association with TRICON Garage, TopLiner™ and Adam Andretti will compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in a multiple-event program with TopLiner™ as the primary presenting partner.

“Last year showed what we’re capable of,” said Andretti. “The speed is there, the preparation is there, and the belief is there. This year, we’re focused on consistency, execution, and putting ourselves in position to fight for the championship from the very first green flag.”

For the opening weekend of 2026 at Sebring International Raceway, Burtin Racing is expanded to a two-car Trans Am operation and joining Andretti for the season-opening weekend at Sebring will be internationally accomplished sportscar driver Martin Ragginger. Ragginger, who will pilot the No. 7 TopLiner™ Chevrolet Camaro, is a previous Trans Am winner whose presence on the grid underscores the team’s commitment to maximizing results from the very first event of the season.

In 2025, Burtin Racing helped launch the highly successful TopLiner™ Top Driver Challenge, a grassroots initiative that brought hundreds of aspiring racers into the spotlight. The inaugural winner will be welcomed to Sebring in 2026 for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with the team, reinforcing Burtin Racing’s commitment to growing the sport and inspiring future talent. Look out for an expanded TopLiner™ Top Driver Challenge for 2026!

Double Duty: Trans Am and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Andretti’s 2026 season will also feature an ambitious crossover schedule as he competes not only for the Trans Am title but also makes select appearances in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the No. 5 TopLiner™ TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra TRD.

Atlanta (EchoPark Speedway) – February 21
St. Petersburg Street Course – February 28
Watkins Glen – May 8
Naval Base Coronado (San Diego) – June 19

Notably, the Sebring Trans Am season opener will see Andretti pulling double-duty as he makes a high-speed dash between Sebring International Raceway and St. Petersburg for his Truck Series commitment the same weekend!

The partnership with TRICON Garage, widely recognized as one of the strongest and most competitive teams in the NASCAR Truck Series paddock, provides Andretti with top-tier equipment and race-winning capability in every appearance.

“I am beyond blessed to be able to make my first ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta for TopLiner™ and Tricon Garage,” said Andretti. “I want to thank everyone involved for making this such a special debut. The combination of the Andretti legacy, the brilliance of the TopLiner™ spray-in bed liner product, and Tricon Garage’s winning track record should make this a can’t-miss race for fans of ours worldwide.”

With engines ready to fire, a championship in sight, and activity spanning both Trans Am and NASCAR competition, TopLiner™ heads into the new season ready to turn potential into podiums and ambition into achievement.

“Our goal is simple,” Burtin added. “Be competitive every weekend, represent our partners with pride, and give fans something to cheer about. We believe 2026 can be a defining year for TopLiner™ and our partners.”

The 2026 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli marks its 60th anniversary with comprehensive live coverage on SPEED SPORT 1 as the new television home. Action includes live, free streaming on RacingAmerica.TV and the Racing America/Trans Am YouTube channels.

About TopLiner™

TopLiner™ spray-on bedliners are formulated for unmatched strength and precision. Each spray-on coat forms a permanent shield against dents, scratches, rust, and harsh weather. The textured finish adds grip and stability for cargo safety, while the custom application adapts to any surface from truck beds to ATVs, trailers, and boats. With a range of finishes and colors, Top Liner protects your investment and keeps it looking sharp, mile after mile. Learn more at www.topliner.com

1...138139140...6,649Page 139 of 6,649