This Week in Motorsports: February 10 – 16, 2025

• NCS/NXS/NCTS/ARCA: Daytona International Speedway – Feb. 12-16

PLANO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2025) – The 2025 NASCAR season officially kicks off this weekend at Daytona International Speedway with the three NASCAR national series, plus the ARCA Menards Series, taking on the ‘World Center of Racing.’ The weekend culminates with the 67th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS

GAZOO Racing officially makes full NASCAR debut … The season opening weekend in Daytona officially kicks off Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR)’s tenure in NASCAR with Toyota Motor North America (TMNA)’s motorsports division now competing under the global TGR banner. In this change, Toyota’s NASCAR Cup Series entries will continue to carry the Camry XSE nameplate and its NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Toyota Tundras with the TRD Pro badge, while its Xfinity Series entries continue in GR Supras this season.

Hamlin seeks history this Sunday … Three-time Daytona 500 winner, Denny Hamlin, seeks his fourth victory at the ‘Great American Race’ on Sunday which would make history. Should Hamlin cross the start/finish line first after 500 miles, a fourth Daytona 500 victory would tie him with Cale Yarborough for second in all-time Daytona 500 victories, trailing only Richard Petty who has seven wins. Sunday also marks Hamlin’s 20th Daytona 500 start.

Johnson, Truex must qualify to make Daytona 500 field … Jimmie Johnson is back in the No. 84 Camry XSE with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, seeking to qualify for the Daytona 500 as an open entry once again. The seven-time Cup Series champ aims to make his 22nd Daytona 500, and his third career win in the ‘Great American Race’ to join his 2006 and 2013 victories. Also looking to qualify in an open entry is Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 56 TRICON Garage Camry XSE entry. Truex, who retired from full-time racing after last season, goes for his 21st Daytona 500 appearance and first career win.

Full-time GR Supra lineup for 2025 debuts … Toyota’s full-time 2025 Xfinity Series lineup will debut in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race. For Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), Toyota Development drivers William Sawalich and Taylor Gray will pilot the No. 18 and No. 54 GR Supras this season. Sawalich, the two-time defending ARCA Menards Series East champion, makes his full-time debut in the Xfinity Series after three starts last season and a pole at Phoenix Raceway. Gray, who made 13 starts in 2024 with JGR, also makes his full-time debut. Brandon Jones is back with JGR and Team Toyota, piloting the No. 20 GR Supra this season. Jones last raced a GR Supra in 2022 and has five career victories with JGR and Team Toyota from 2018-2022. For Sam Hunt Racing, Dean Thompson steps into the No. 26 GR Supra in 2025. Thompson, who raced the last two seasons with TRICON Garage in the Truck Series, made two Xfinity Series starts with the team last year and now moves into the full-time role.

Truex returns to the Xfinity Series … Xfinity Series veteran Ryan Truex will also take on this Saturday’s race with Sam Hunt Racing in the No. 24 GR Supra. Truex returns to Daytona International Speedway after his victory in the summer race last August, his third career win.

Bonsignore back in a GR Supra … The first of a nine-race schedule this season, Justin Bonsignore will pilot the No. 19 GR Supra for JGR this weekend in Daytona. The three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion made one start with JGR last season in the Xfinity Series at New Hampshire.

Breidinger, Ruggiero make jump to Trucks … Team Toyota will have some new full-time faces in its Truck Series lineup this season with Toni Breidinger and Gio Ruggiero at TRICON Garage. Breidinger, who has made four previous career Truck Series starts, moves up from the ARCA Menards Series and will pilot the No. 5 Tundra TRD Pro this season. She also makes her second career Trucks start at Daytona International Speedway. Ruggiero, a Toyota Development Driver, also makes the jump from ARCA and will wheel the No. 17 Tundra TRD Pro in 2025. The 18-year-old makes his Truck Series debut on the high banks of Daytona.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Robusto, Sawalich aim for ARCA win to begin 2025 … Toyota Development drivers Sawalich and Isabella Robusto will take on the ARCA Menards Series season opener in Daytona this weekend looking to begin the 2025 racing season with a victory. Sawalich is doing double duty on Saturday piloting the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the 80-lap ARCA race Saturday afternoon, followed by his Xfinity Series duties that evening for JGR. He will also run Friday’s Truck Series race for TRICON Garage in a Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. For Robusto, she makes her debut at Daytona International Speedway in her first full-time season in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 55 Camry for Venturini Motorsports.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

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

DAYTONA 500 RACE PREVIEW

EVENT: DAYTONA 500
DATE: February 16, 2025
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series / Race 1 of 36
TRACK: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida / 2.5-mile Superspeedway

CLUB MINUTES

LEGACIES AT DAYTONA: Many members of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB are NASCAR Hall of Famers and also have impressive records at Daytona. Richard Petty, “The King” has the most DAYTONA 500 victories with seven (1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, and1981) and Dale Inman is undoubtedly the most successful crew chief in the history of NASCAR, with a record eight Cup Series championships and seven DAYTONA 500 victories with Petty. LEGACY MC co-owner Jimmie Johnson has scored two victories in The Great American Race in 2006 and 2013. Competition Advisor Matt Kenseth has two DAYTONA 500 wins in 2009 and 2012. CLUB Ambassador Trevor Bayne won the 2011 DAYTONA 500 at the age of 20 years and one day and is still the youngest driver ever to win the race to date.

NEW LOOK: As a result of a year-long study with branding agency Pivot, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB re-designed its brand marks and added gold design elements to its cars and marketing efforts. See HERE for more information.

WELCOME, KNIGHTHEAD: LEGACY MC announced a new ownership structure on Jan. 27, welcoming Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. The partnership allows Johnson to become the majority co-owner. To read more, visit HERE

2024 DAYTONA RECAP: The CLUB made a strong impression at the 2024 DAYTONA 500, with Nemechek coming home in seventh, marking his first of four top-10 finishes for the season. Just behind him in eighth was Jones, securing one of his two top 10s of the year. Although Johnson finished the race, he crossed the line in 28th.

ANOTHER INMAN HALL OF FAME: Dale Inman was named as an inductee into yet another Hall of Fame. He will be inducted into the 2025 class of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Inman is an inductee in several halls include: The North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame (2000 Golden Wrench Award); NASCAR Hall of Fame (2012); International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2013); and Randleman High School Hall of Fame (2016).

DAYTONA PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: The partner line-up for the DAYTONA 500 is as follows: Dollar Tree will be back on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE; AdventHealth makes its first appearance this year on the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE; and Carvana also makes their debut at the Florida track supporting Johnson on the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE.

NO. 42 NOTES AND QUOTES
NEMECHEK AT DAYTONA: The 27-year-old Nemechek has several starts at the famed Daytona International Speedway during his NASCAR career. As he climbed up through the lower ranks of NASCAR Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, he collectively scored five top 10 finishes and two top-fives. In the NASCAR Cup Series, he has finished seventh and 15th so far at Daytona. He was also fourth in his Daytona Duel qualifier race last year. In 2020, Nemechek finished 11th in both Daytona Cup races as well.

PYE-BARKER ON THE CAR: As it was recently announced, Pye-Barker Fire and Safety will adorn the No. 42 Toyota Camry for 14 races, making its debut this weekend in Daytona with a newly designed white, green and blue paint scheme.

JH x X-GAMES x SUPER CROSS-OVERS: Nemechek has been busy over the last two weekends visiting other major national sports events. In late January, Nemechek traveled to Aspen, Colo., for ESPN’s X Games to take in all the action on the snow. This past weekend, he traveled to Tampa, Fla., for AMA Supercross where he did a jersey/firesuit swap with Motorcross superstar Ken Roczen (LINK) He was also featured on the NBC Peacock broadcast (LINK)

John Hunter Nemechek at AMA Supercross Tampa this past weekend. (Photo credit: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB)
LOCAL TIES: Chris Shuman, rear tire changer on the No. 42, grew up in St. Augustine, Fla., and traveled to Daytona often with his family. Shuman is a second-generation pit crew member, as his dad is Steve Shuman, a former tire carrier for Jimmy Spencer Jr. in the Hooters Pro Cup Series. The Shuman family went on a trip to see the race shops in North Carolina when Chris was a child. One of the race museums they visited had a flyer advertising the Pit Crew University in Mooresville, N.C., where elder Shuman applied and enrolled beginning his pit crew journey there.

Additionally, Matt Schlytter, the jackman on the No. 42 hails from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., approximately 90 miles north of Daytona.

No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB rear tire changer, Chris Shuman in action. (Photo credit: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB)
KNOW WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM: On Tuesday, Feb. 11, driver Nemechek will be participating in the Betty Jane France Memorial High-Speed Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament will be hosted in the Rolex Lounge at Daytona International Speedway benefitting The NASCAR Foundation. For more information contact Colby Gorniewicz.

NEW TO THE 42: There are many fresh faces on the No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team this season. Ryan “Dex” Dextraze will serve as the car chief. Peter Shephard and Josh Horton join returning member Ricky “Carl” Garcia as mechanics. Sydney Prince is the lead engineer and Kyler Mashburn is the secondary engineer, while Hayden Reeves will be the eyes in the sky as Nemechek’s new spotter.

T- MACK AT TRACK Crew chief Travis Mack who is in his first season with LEGACY MC has a winning record at Daytona International Speedway. Mack has two top10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series with Daniel Suarez (2023) and A.J. Allmendinger (2024). He also found victory lane in 2019 with JR. Motorsports driver Michael Annett, as well as two top 10s on the Xfinity Series side

QUOTING NEMECHEK: “I am looking forward to going back to the [DAYTONA] 500; my second year with LEGACY MC and my third 500. A lot of work and preparation has gone in during the off-season. I am looking forward to getting the points races started for the 2025 season and am excited to see what we can put together for the season.”

“At the Clash, showing up and having speed right off the bat in practice was definitely a positive sign, I feel like the whole No. 42 LEGACY MC team is clicking, which it’s a brand new team with only one returning member from last season so I feel like everyone is meshing already and I look forward to continuing those relationships, build and grow them.”

“Studying the 500 is key for us and figuring out strategy – trying to make things jive that we want it to be. Daytona is one place that you would love to qualify on the pole for the 500 or qualifying on the front row and get locked in but starting in the front or starting in the back, it doesn’t really make that big of a difference when the race is 500 miles.”

QUOTING MACK: “Finishing the race for one thing, good communication, a strong car, just overall good weekend. Similar to what we had at the Clash, I know we didn’t make the race, but the team worked really well together, and we showed good speed. While it didn’t work out in the end to make the main race, but just having another weekend like the Clash would mean a lot.”

“A win at the Daytona 500 would meet the goals that we set for ourselves for the entire season in the first race. it would be huge to win for our team, and our organization and lock into the playoffs – it would be pretty impressive.”

NO. 43 NOTES AND QUOTES

JONES AT DAYTONA: Erik Jones has a solid track record at Daytona, with two top five and four top 10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The driver of the coveted No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE has also visited victory lane and earned the checkered flag during the summer Daytona race in 2018, for his first Cup Series victory. He won that race by a mere .125 seconds, passing reigning Cup Series champion, Martin Truex, Jr., on the backstretch of the last lap. In 2020, Jones won his first Busch Light Clash at Daytona International Speedway and had a best finish of third during The Great American Race. This Sunday will be Jones’ ninth start in the DAYTONA 500.

BESHORE AT DAYTONA: Crew chief Ben Beshore who is in his second year at LEGACY MC has three starts as a crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series for the Daytona 500 and has six total starts at Daytona International Speedway. In that time, Beshore has notched three top10 finishes with driver Kyle Busch (twice in 2022) and John Hunter Nemechek (2024). He also has two impressive Xfinity Series finishes as Harrison Burton logged a runner-up finish in 2020, and Nemechek finished second in 2023.

ADVENTHEALTH AT DAYTONA: Florida-based AdventHealth will adorn the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend at Daytona. With various activations around the speedway such as health screenings, sunscreen stations and a partnership with the Infield Medical Center, AdventHealth believes in focusing on the care and well-being of the mind, body and spirit. The new paint scheme was recently unveiled via social media. Click HERE to view.

QUOTING JONES: “Daytona’s tough. I feel like now you have to be aggressive the whole race. You have to run the front, you have to be able to control the race, you have to be able to save fuel and be in control of your destiny. The name of the game has been fuel saving and be able to go and put yourself in a situation to go race but have the track position to put yourself upfront or have an opportunity to challenge for a win.”

“I think it’s pretty fun to start the year off with the biggest race. We all look forward to the DAYTONA 500 as drivers. We’re all excited to run it every year. Just to have the opportunity to run in the race and the opportunity to win is a lot of fun.”

QUOTING BESHORE: “Daytona is a balance of drivability and pure straight-line speed. We try to make it drive as good as possible without sacrificing the ride heights that will add drag. We may prioritize more speed for the Duels and then try to make it handle a little better for a 500-mile race on Sunday.”

“When determining when to be aggressive and when to play it safe in the early stages, typically you want to be either all the way at the front or all the way at the back to be safe, but trouble can find you anywhere on the track. I tend to let the driver feel how aggressive everyone is being. If people are banging fenders at Lap five, then we will just to the back, save fuel and ride to save our stuff for the end.”

NO. 84 NOTES AND QUOTES

SEVEN-TIME IS A TWO-TIME: Jimmie Johnson knows how to win at Daytona. He has two wins in the Great American Race (2006 and 2013) as well as a win in the 400-mile summer event (2013). Johnson has a pair of wins in the Clash at Daytona (2005, 2019) and in the Duel races (2010, 2015). In Johnson’s rookie year (2002) he won the pole for the event and finished 15th, sparking a career for the ages. This weekend will be his 22nd attempt at The Great American Race.

JOHNSON AT DAYTONA: Johnson has 40 starts at Daytona throughout his Cup Series career. He has three wins, 12 top-fives, and 16 top 10s, leading 302 laps around the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

JOHNSTON TEAMS UP WITH JOHNSON: Chad Johnston, LEGACY MC’s Manager of Race Engineering will climb the pit box for Johnson this weekend. He is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winning crew chief most recently working for Stewart Haas Racing with driver Ryan Preece. The Cayuga, Ind. native has 22 starts at Daytona with a multitude of drivers and has four top 10 finishes.

PRESSURE COOKER: Johnson is one of nine of the ‘Open” cars vying for four spots to make the field in the 67th running of the DAYTONA 500. Last season, he was in a similar boat and raced his way into the 500 via a nail-biting last-lap effort in the Duel qualifier race. Showing strong throughout the race, unfortunately, Johnson was caught in a wreck during the final laps of the race, finishing 28th.

JOHNSON V. SHAQ: CLUB partner Carvana always pulls out all the stops when it comes to creative car design. For this DAYTONA 500, the Phoenix-based car company and Johnson joined forces with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. Johnson and Shaq engaged in a friendly free throw contest with car design rights on the line. Shaq won, and designed the scheme that will attempt the DAYTONA 500 this weekend. The design was unveiled at Shaq’s Fun House in New Orleans on February 7. LINK

NEVER SETTLE: Johnson and longtime pal Marty Smith from ESPN announced a podcast venture together, called Never Settle. The podcast drops Feb. 12 on Sirius XM Ch 90 and may be downloaded on the Sirius XM app, or wherever fans source podcasts. Click HERE for more information.

QUOTING JOHNSON: “It’s the DAYTONA 500 – anything can happen. We need to dig in hard when we get there so that first practice will be very important before qualifying. Then the game plan is to be smart and careful and make the race. Once we make the race, it’s game on.”

“We have done a great job with the promotion with Shaq – Carvana is such an amazing partner and its been an absolute blast creating this media campaign to unveil the car in New Orleans at Shaq’s Fun House. More work to do (to make the race) but we are ready for the challenge.”

QUOTING JOHNSTON: “We are going to Daytona with the mindset of making the race on time. There are multiple cars we need to worry about, so hopefully we will make it on time on Wednesday during qualifying. That will take off some pressure off for Thursday, as so many things about racing at Daytona are out of your control. The entire shop at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has been working so hard all off-season, I’m really proud of the entire group.”

CLUB APPEARANCES

During this year’s Speedweek at Daytona, the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB will be making several appearances. See below for listings.

SHERRY STRONG CLINIC OPENING: On Friday, Feb. 14 at 9:30 am AdventHealth will be unveiling the Sherry Strong Integrative Wellness Center at the AdventHealth Daytona Beach Cancer Institute. The new holistic sanctuary, made possible by a groundbreaking partnership with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, will address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and environmental needs of cancer patients – regardless of their ability to pay. Johnson, Jones, and Nemechek will be in attendance at the grand opening. For media opportunities contact CLUB PR.

JOHN HUNTER APPEARANCES: On race day, Nemechek will be signing autographs for fans at the NASCAR Merchandise Hauler. he will head over to the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Fan Zone for an exclusive Q&A session at 10:30 a.m.

ERIK APPEARANCE: On race day, Jones will be participating in a NASCAR Q&A session located at the Grizzly Stage/Infield Fan Zone at 10:40 a.m. This appearance is open to the public.

JONES BOOK VENDING MACHINE DONATION: For the second year, AdventHealth and the Erik Jones Foundation (EJF) have teamed up to create a book vending machine for a local elementary school. One pillar of the EJF is child literacy and encouraging reading in youth. Jones will make an appearance Friday morning at the school for a Q&A session and to promote a few of his favorite books available to kids in the vending machine. This marks the sixth vending machine the EJF has donated in the last three years. This appearance is not open to the public, but for media inquiries please contact Lauren Belk.

JIMMIE APPEARANCES: Prior to the Duel qualifier races on Feb. 13, Johnson will participate in a live broadcast for fans on SIRIUS XM at 4:30 p.m. ET in the Infield Fan Zone. He will also make an appearance on Saturday, Feb. 15 for a Q&A at the AdventHealth midway fan activation at 1:30 p.m. ET.

HOW TO WATCH
QUALIFYING: On Wednesday, Feb. 12, qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series will air on Fox Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

DUELS: On Thursday, Feb. 13, coverage of the Duel qualifier races at Daytona will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, Motor Racing Network, and SIRIUS XM NASCAR Ch. 90.

DAYTONA 500: On Sunday, Feb. 16, coverage of the 67th Running of the DAYTONA 500 will be broadcast on FOX, Motor Racing Network, and SIRIUS XM NASCAR Ch. 90 at 2:30 p.m. ET

NASCAR DRIVER CAM: This year streaming service MAX will offer the “NASCAR Driver Cam” experience offering fans the ultimate all-access pass to every driver for every race throughout the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. In-car cameras for LEGACY MC drivers in Daytona include the No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE of Jones.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson. 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 Gazoo 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.

Josh Berry and Miles Stanley, the new driver and crew chief for the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, have lots of history behind them as they race this week at Daytona International Speedway, the track where the team has found the most success in its 75 years in NASCAR.

The Woods have run 138 points-paying Cup Series races on the 2.5-mile track, more than at any other venue, and have won there 16 times, tops among tracks on the circuit. Five of those wins came in the Daytona 500, the Great American Race, with 10 more coming in the 400-miler later in the year and one in a points-paying qualifier in 1970. The most recent Daytona win came last August in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with Harrison Burton driving.

Now, as the team kicks off its 2025 regular season and its 75 Anniversary celebration, Berry and Stanley, who had a strong showing in the non-points Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium two weeks ago, have been busy preparing for the sport’s showcase event.

“Daytona is its own animal,” Berry said. “It’s a unique place. It’s the biggest race of the year for us, one that the entire industry circles as a bucket-list win.”

It’s also the first points-paying event of the season, and it comes at a track known for multi-car crashes that can put a team in the garage early and with only a handful of points to show for weeks of preparation.

“You want to start the season strong from a points perspective and avoid putting yourself in a hole by wrecking out early,” Berry said. “There’s a lot to think about, and for me, this will be my second Daytona 500. I’m with a new team and working with a different spotter than last year, but one I’ve had experience with before. A big focus has been strengthening communication between myself, Miles (Stanley), Jason (Jarrett, the spotter) and the entire team.”

The trio is well aware of their team’s legacy at Daytona, and that will be on their minds when they take to the track this week.

“The Wood Brothers have an incredible history at Daytona, and I’m excited for the opportunity to chase another Daytona 500 win for the No. 21 during the team’s 75th anniversary season,” Berry said.

The first practice session at Daytona is set for Wednesday morning at 10:05. Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 follows at 8:15 p.m. The first of two 150-mile Duel qualifying races that set the majority of the starting line-up for the 500 is scheduled to get the green flag at 7 p.m. on Thursday, with the second starting at approximately 8:45 p.m. The second practice session of the week is planned for Friday at 5:35 p.m., and the final, Happy Hour session is set for Saturday at 3:05 p.m.

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled to get the green flag on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 65 and 130 of the 200-lap race. Fox Sports 1 will carry the TV coverage of the first two practice sessions, pole qualifying and the qualifying Duels. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast Saturday’s final practice, with coverage switching to FOX for the Daytona 500.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 100 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

• In 22 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (DIS), Spire Motorsports has logged one win, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NCS victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley earned the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at DIS on July 7, 2019. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the NCS with Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
• The Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX Sunday, Feb. 16, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The first of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NCS schedule will be streamed live on Amazon and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. FOX NASCAR Raceday will take the green flag at 12:30 p.m. EST.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
• Haley secured his first Cup Series win in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He picked up both his and the team’s first win – an upset of practically unprecedented proportions – behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet.
• In total, the 25-year-old has nine NASCAR Cup Series starts under his belt at Daytona, tallying one win, one top five and two top 10s.
• Haley will pull double duty on the weekend and wheel the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevy Silverado in the Fresh from Florida 250 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race Friday night. He started 12th in the 2018 event where he went on to lead nine laps and finish second. That race marks his only CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at the World Center of Racing.
• In 10 appearances in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the World Center of Racing, Haley collected wins in back-to-back in the summers of 2020 and 2021. In July of 2019, he fell 0.109 seconds short of a three-peat, losing the closely-contested battle at the finish line. He’s tallied six top 10s to accompany his three top five-finishes in Xfinity Series competition at the historic venue.
• Chili’s is a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). Chili’s is known for its big mouth burgers, Chicken Crispers®, full-on sizzling fajitas and hand-shaken margaritas. Chili’s takes its food seriously – but not themselves – because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Chili’s passion is making everyone feel special, and every day, ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across almost 1,600 restaurants in 27 countries and two territories. And Chili’s cares. Chili’s hosts local Give Back Events to support kids, education and hunger and has raised more than $100 million benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through generous Guest donations. Find more information about Chili’s at chilis.com, follow on Twitter or Instagram, like them on Facebook or join Chili’s on TikTok.
• Chili’s iconic chili-pepper logo will adorn the hood of the No. 7 for the Daytona 500. Race fans can meet Haley and teammate Carson Hocevar at Chili’s in Ormond Beach Friday, Feb. 14 from noon – 1 p.m.
• Last September, Haley made his return to Spire Motorsports after beginning the 2024 season with Rick Ware Racing. The three-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner participated in the final seven events of the year aboard the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet, earning a season-best finish of seventh at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
• The Winamac, Ind., native is a veteran of 144 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 103 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
• In total, Haley has made 41 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, with the bulk of races coming during the 2021 season behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 machine. He made his first Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway on his 18th birthday.

Justin Haley Quote
How do you feel about your chances in the Daytona 500?
“Kicking off the season in Daytona is truly one of the highlights of the year. I have complete confidence the No. 7 team will bring a fast Chili’s Chevrolet to Daytona, and, if everything goes according to plan, we’ll do our best to position ourselves to race for the win. I am eager to work with my teammates, Carson (Hocevar) and Michael (McDowell), and hopefully we can start off the season with a strong run in Daytona.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Rodney Childers

• Crew chief Rodney Childers comes to Spire Motorsports after spending the past 11 seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing, leading the organization’s No. 4 team. The first 10 of those campaigns were with 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.
• Childers has called 38 races at Daytona International Speedway, including eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Childers-prepared cars have led 132 laps at DIS.
• The veteran crew chief has participated in 676 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned 34 poles, 40 wins, 178 top-five and 298 top-10 finishes. He also earned 2014 championship honors with former driver Kevin Harvick.
• Childers’ 40 wins at NASCAR’s premier level are second-most amongst all active crew chiefs in the Cup Series garage.

Rodney Childers Quote
What will it take to finally close the deal and win a race at Daytona after coming so close so many times?
“Daytona and winning at a superspeedway have turned into my nemeses. We have been leading with a couple laps to go it seems like 15 times and haven’t been able to bring it home. Hoping this year is the year and we can end the night in victory lane.”

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Go Bowling Chevrolet ZL1 in the 57th edition of the Daytona 500.
• After claiming victory in the 2021 Daytona 500, McDowell looks to become the 12th driver to earn multiple victories in the Great American Race. A second triumph in stock car racing’s most prestigious event would put him in elite company with racing royalty including Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Cale Yarborough.
• The 40-year-old driver will pull double duty on the weekend, competing in Friday evening’s Fresh from Florida 250 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race. McDowell will pilot the No. 07 Go Bowling Chevrolet Silverado with crew chief Allen Hart atop the box. He will be making his third-career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start and first since a series/career-best 14th-place finish with ThorSport Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2009.
• GoBowling.com is the destination for bowling consumers and enthusiasts seeking news and information about one of America’s favorite pastimes and the nation’s number one participatory sport. Consumers visit GoBowling.com every day to find bowling centers in their communities, learn new tips and techniques to improve their game, and to access bowling promotions available at more than 1,700+ family-friendly bowling centers across the country.
• Go Bowling joins Spire Motorsports as the primary partner on board McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1 and his No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado for a combined 750 miles on NASCAR’s opening weekend at Daytona. Go Bowling will return to the primary position for the August 10 Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
• In 27 attempts at Daytona International Speedway, McDowell has earned one win, three top-five, and eight top-10 finishes. He earned a front row starting spot in last year’s 500-mile contest and a start from the pole position in the 2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400.
• McDowell has experience beyond the oval configuration at Daytona International Speedway, holding six attempts in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. McDowell owns one top-five and four top-10 finishes at one of the world’s toughest endurance races. He has led 69 total laps with an average start of 10.1 and an average overall finish of 13.8. He also boasts a pair of top-10 finishes in both occasions in which the NASCAR Cup Series visited the Daytona road course in 2020-21.
• McDowell and crew chief Travis Peterson earned five pole positions at the six events contested at drafting tracks during the 2024 season. Additionally, McDowell led the field to the green flag at World Wide Technology Raceway (Ill.) in June, giving the team six total Busch Light Pole Awards on the season – the most of any team last season.
• Across his first five qualifying attempts during the 2024 season, McDowell held an average starting position of 6.2, which included two front-row starting positions, second at Daytona and a pole position at Atlanta. McDowell’s lowest starting position in his first five races last season was a 12th-place qualifying effort at Las Vegas.
• McDowell marked his 500th career start at Martinsville Speedway last fall, a milestone he celebrated at the site of his first Cup Series start in 2008. Now 40-years-old and a father of five, McDowell is set to complete his 17th season competing in NASCAR’s premier division. To date, he has 501 Cup Series career starts on his resume.

Michael McDowell Quotes
What makes the Daytona 500 so special?
“Daytona is tough. It’s hard to get to the end of a 500-mile race, and with this NextGen car, you have to be aggressive and keep track position, which means you have to fight hard to get up there and stay up there. But it’s all calculated risk. You’re trying to put yourself in the best position you can, but you’re also feeling the energy in the pack and seeing where you think something’s going to come from. It’s a balance of when to take that risk and when not to, when to back out and when to keep going. There’s less opportunities now to get out of the pack and recharge. So, you know who you’re around and when you’re around other cars it is really important. The fuel mileage and pit cycle stuff is super important now, too. Those factors change the intensity of the race at different points, and you have to adapt to that intensity when it picks up. There’s a lot of moving dynamics that have changed over the years.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

• Crew chief Travis Peterson joins Spire Motorsports after spending the past two seasons at Front Row Motorsports. He made the move alongside driver, Michael McDowell.
• The 33-year-old helped McDowell to an outside front row starting spot in the Great American Race one year ago, and to a pole position in the series’ last stop at Daytona last August. The duo also earned pole awards in both the series’ stops at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2024.
• Peterson contributed to several victories during his tenure at RFK Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports, highlighted by clinching the NASCAR Xfinity Series title in 2014 and racking up three Cup Series wins with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the No. 88 team in 2015.
• Peterson is a mechanical engineering graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The West Bend, Wis., native earned his degree in 2012.

Travis Peterson Quotes
Talk about the difference between strategy and calculated risk at a track like Daytona.
“From my seat, it’s all about strategy and that risk comes down to both Michael and his spotter. We worry about strategy and trying to stay close to the front and in the lead with enough fuel to go from the final pit stop and from there it’s in the hands of those two. The reality is the Speedway game has changed a lot. We have to do a lot of fuel saving and different strategy things to try to execute track position, but in the end, it comes down to a lot of luck and having the right push at the right time.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

• Carson Hocevar will pilot the No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet ZL1 in the 67th running of the Daytona 500. The Portage, Michigan native will make his second start in the Great American Race after making his rookie debut in 2024.
• Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. The family-owned and -operated organization has been a regular on the Cup Series tour since 2019.
• Hocevar and representatives from Zeigler Auto Group will host Dawson Noaeill, an 18-year-old from Battle Creek, Mich., living with a rare heart condition, along with his family, at the Great American Race. Noaeill was on hand at Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo, Mich., in December when Zeigler Automotive announced a partnership extension with Spire Motorsports. Noaeill, an avid outdoorsman, was gifted a sports utility vehicle at the event and invited to attend the season-opening race where his name will appear on the driver-side name rail in place of Hocevar’s.
• In 2024, Hocevar started 20th in the first Duel at Daytona qualifying race and drove to a fourth-place finish that positioned him ninth on the grid for the Daytona 500. He was running 10th on Lap 6 when two cars to his outside made contact and collected the No. 77, ending Hocevar’s race.
• The 22-year-old returned to Daytona in August for his second Cup Series start on the 2.5-mile superspeedway to earn a solid 11th-place finish.
• In five superspeedway starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, Hocevar has three top-20 finishes.
• Hocevar owns three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Daytona resulting in two top 10s and a best finish of fifth in 2021.
• Race fans can meet Hocevar and teammate Justin Haley at Chili’s in Ormond Beach Friday, Feb. 14 from Noon – 1 p.m.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
Though your first Daytona 500 experience was cut short, is there anything you can take away from last year to help with your preparation for next week?
“The biggest thing that I walked away with is confirmation that superspeedway racing is unpredictable and a lot of times what happens on track is the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Going through qualifying and the Duel was good. Knowing what going through all of that is like will take a lot of pressure off of me. It’ll be like any other time we show up to the track and getting back into that routine will be nice. I feel kinda lucky that I have two teammates that are really good on the drafting tracks and we’ve had a lot of conversations about how we approach the races next week. We’ve worked really hard in the offseason to make sure we show up ready to compete this year and Daytona is the first step in making that happen.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

• Luke Lambert will be atop the pit box as crew chief for Hocevar for a second full season. In 2024, the pair earned one top-five and six top-10 finishes. Their best result was a third-place effort at Watkins Glen in September.
• Lambert has collected 411 starts as crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series with a total of 28 top fives and 92 top-10 finishes, highlighted by a win with Ryan Newman at Phoenix in 2017.
• In 22 Cup Series events at Daytona, the veteran crew chief owns a pair of top-five finishes with Chris Buescher (3rd, February 2020) and Ryan Newman (5th, July 2017), and six top 10s.
• The Mount Airy, N.C., native has called 22 races at Daytona resulting in two top fives and six top 10s.

Luke Lambert Quotes
No other sport starts their season with the biggest event like NASCAR. What is it like for the No. 77 team to begin the season with the biggest race of the year?
“It’s always exciting. This time of year builds a lot of anticipation for all of us. Everybody looks forward to going down to Daytona and seeing where we all stack up. At the same time, it’s a unique track compared to a lot of the other race tracks on the schedule. So, although it is the most important race of the year from a lot of perspectives, there are other things going on within every organization to prepare for those other style of tracks that make up the bulk of our schedule. It’s important for us not to fixate on the Daytona 500 and miss what’s coming ahead.”

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.