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William Byron chasing second consecutive Daytona 500 victory in eighth start

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

William Byron’s status as a NASCAR competitor was elevated to the ultimate height as he etched his name in the record books as a first-time Daytona 500 champion a year ago. Now entering the 2025 season as the reigning winner of the Great American Race, a potential feat is on the line for Byron and his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) Chevrolet team. With the driver poised to make his eighth 500 career start, he will also attempt to become the fifth competitor overall to win the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway in back-to-back seasons.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Byron made his Daytona 500 debut in 2018, in his first full season in the Cup Series. After winning the Xfinity Series championship with JR Motorsports, he was assigned to pilot HMS’ iconic No. 24 entry. Starting in 33rd place, Byron finished in 23rd place after he was scored four laps behind the leaders after he was involved in two separate incidents. The first was due to a nine-car accident on the final lap of the first stage period and a single spin after he cut a right-rear tire with 11 laps remaining.

The following season, Byron commenced his sophomore Cup campaign by winning the pole position for the 61st running of the Daytona 500 and his first career pole in NASCAR’s premier series. In doing so, the Charlotte native notched the 700th Cup pole for the Chevrolet nameplate and became the 42nd competitor to claim a pole award for the Great American Race. In addition, he also became the third competitor overall to steer the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet entry to a Daytona 500 pole alongside Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott.

Byron led 44 laps and was racing towards the front in the closing laps when he was involved in an eight-car wreck during a two-lap shootout. He was unable to finish and was relegated to 21st place in the final running order.

Byron’s late accident in 2019 would mark the first of five consecutive DNFs in the Daytona 500 for the driver of the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet team. In 2020, he won the second Duel event that awarded him the fourth-starting spot for the 62nd Daytona 500. But while racing in a draft with his HMS teammates Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made contact with him on Lap 58 sending Byron spinning towards the backstretch’s infield.

He made head-on contact with the inside wall, which relegated him to a finish at the rear of the field in 40th place. Byron finished 26th and 38th, respectively, during his next two Daytona 500 starts when he was eliminated early amid multi-car wrecks. He then sustained a fifth consecutive DNF in the 65th running of the Great American Race in 2023 after he was collected in a 13-car pileup exiting the backstretch.

Then in 2024, Byron struck gold in his seventh attempt at winning the Daytona 500 after he emerged ahead of teammate Alex Bowman at the moment of caution on the final lap after both Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric spun and wrecked through the frontstretch. Byron also narrowly avoided a 23-car pileup with nine laps remaining after he got loose while being bump-drafted by Bowman. He then clipped Brad Keselowski sending Keselowski spinning exiting the backstretch and clipping pole-sitter Joey Logano as the pileup ensued.

With the victory, Byron, who only led the final four laps, became the 43rd competitor overall to win the Great American Race as he recorded the 26th 500 victory for the Chevrolet nameplate. It was also the first for the No. 24 HMS team since Jeff Gordon made the previous accomplishment in 2005. In addition, Byron’s season-opening victory at Daytona International Speedway allowed HMS to tie Petty Enterprises for the most Daytona 500 victories recorded by an organization at nine.

Through seven previous starts in the Daytona 500, Byron has achieved one victory, one pole, 49 laps led and an average finishing result of 26.1. A second victory in 2025 would make the Charlotte native the 13th competitor overall to achieve multiple Daytona 500 victories and he would make HMS the winningest organization of the Daytona 500 at 10. In addition, he would join Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Sterling Marlin and Denny Hamlin as the only competitors to win back-to-back Daytona 500 events.

This week, Byron, who finished in third place in the 2024 driver’s standings, will participate in a single-car qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, and in one of two Duel events on Thursday, February 13, to determine his starting lineup for this year’s Daytona 500. The qualifying session on Wednesday will air at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will air at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 will air this upcoming Sunday, February 16, with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Front Row Motorsports: Daytona NCTS Race Advance (Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith)

By
Official Release
-

Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith

Daytona International Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Advance
Fresh From Florida 250
Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
Event: Race 1 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-miles)
#of Laps: 100
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Layne Riggs Notes

Layne Riggs will make his return to the Daytona International Speedway to start his sophomore season. After a successful rookie season in the No. 38 Ford F-150 which was highlighted with back-to-back wins at the Milwaukee Mile and the Bristol Motor Speedway, as well as Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, Riggs will get behind the wheel of the newly minted No. 34 Ford F-150.

Love’s RV STOP will kick their season off with Riggs this Friday night. Last season, Love’s RV STOP helped fuel Riggs Rookie of the Year campaign, partnering with the driver in multiple races during the 2024 season and even visiting Victory Lane at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

“I’m ready for Daytona this season,” said Riggs. “While I don’t have many laps on the track itself, my experience at Talladega has given me a better feel for superspeedway racing. We got off to a slow start last season, but things started clicking as the year went on. Hopefully, we can carry some momentum from 2024 into 2025 and start strong. If we minimize mistakes and put ourselves in a good position, there’s no reason we can’t win Daytona.”

Road Crew

Driver: Layne Riggs

Crew Chief: Dylan Cappello

Truck Chief: Alex Lacognata

Engineer: Jonathan Coates

Mechanic: Clark Houston

Mechanic: Brandon Selph

Tire / Interior Specialist: Robert Benzenhafer

Spotter: Josh Williams

Transport Driver: John Franceskino

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Blake Hickman

Rear Tire Changer: Steven Chereek

Tire Carrier: Alvin Wilson

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Fueler: Dan Mrak

Chandler Smith’s Notes

Chandler Smith makes his Front Row Motorsports debut this Friday night. Long John Silver’s will partner with Smith in his debut, bringing the fan-favorite blue and yellow “Fish Yeah” scheme to the 100-lap event.

In his debut, Smith will get behind the wheel of the No. 38 Ford F-150. The No. 38 has a rich history at the historic superspeedway, capturing back-to-back wins in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Series event in 2022 and 2023.

Statistically, the Daytona International Speedway has been a good track for Smith, averaging a 10.3 finishing position at the venue.

“I’m excited for this new chapter in my career with Front Row Motorsports,” said Smith. “I have a talented team around me, all who have the same motivation as me. While there may be some growing pains since we’re a new group, I’m confident that things will come together quickly, and we’ll be competing for wins.”

Road Crew

Driver: Chandler Smith

Crew Chief: Jon Leonard

Truck Chief: Ron Schutte

Engineer: Caleb Williams

Mechanic: Bradley Zilich

Mechanic: Alex Campbell

Tire / Interior Specialist: Kyle Clark

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Transport Driver: Mark Hadley

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Garrett Wager

Rear Tire Changer: Jacob Ray

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Fueler: Chris Webb

ABOUT LOVE’S

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with nearly 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 651 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s was founded in 1969 and is on a mission to create treasured moments through high-quality food and bell-ringing service. With restaurants from sea to mouth-watering sea, Long John Silver’s continues building on a belief that the unique seafood experience from the coasts should be accessible to all. Learn more at ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Jimmie Johnson to attempt 22nd Daytona 500 start in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images.

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to mark Jimmie Johnson’s 23rd year competing in at least one start in the series and third as an owner/driver of his team, Legacy Motor Club. With both the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on his radar for this upcoming season, Johnson’s quest to a milestone 700 starts in NASCAR’s premier series is en route. Before the quest for 700 further develops in late spring this year, he enters this week’s Daytona Speedweeks festivities at Daytona International Speedway with a unique milestone in place. Should Johnson achieve a starting spot for this year’s 67th running of the Daytona 500, it would mark his 22nd career start in the Great America Race.

A native of El Cajon, California, Johnson’s first Daytona 500 start occurred in 2002, where he was driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Hendrick Motorsports (HMS). For the event, he started on pole position, which marked his first pole of his Cup Series career and he became the first rookie competitor to win the pole for the Great American Race since Mike Skinner made the previous accomplishment in 1997. During the main event, Johnson was involved in two late-race incidents, including an 18-car pileup with 50 laps remaining, and settled in 15th place while being the first competitor a lap down. Over his next three Daytona 500 starts, Johnson finished in the top five. Within the span, he finished as high as third in 2003 while he finished fifth in his next two starts.

Then came the 2006 season, where Johnson and the No. 48 HMS Chevrolet team commenced a new year of racing under scrutiny due to crew chief Chad Knaus being suspended for the majority of the Daytona Speedweeks festivities, including the 48th running of the Daytona 500. Knaus was suspended for making illegal modifications to the rear window of Johnson’s car during the pole position qualifying trials. As a result, engineer Darian Grubb replaced the suspended Knaus for the Great American Race. During the 2006 Daytona 500, Johnson proceeded to lead 24 of 203 over-scheduled laps and fended off the field during a two-lap shootout, including late challenges from Ryan Newman and Casey Mears, to win in his fifth start in the season-opening event. With the victory, he became the 30th competitor to win the Great American Race as he also recorded the sixth 500 victory for Hendrick Motorsports and the 19th for the Chevrolet nameplate. The 2006 Daytona 500 win would mark the first of five season victories for Johnson, who would also win the non-points All-Star Race and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before he achieved his first Cup Series championship.

Following his first victory in 2006, Johnson would then endure a difficult stretch over his next six Daytona 500 starts. Despite winning his second Daytona 500 pole in 2008, he averaged a finishing result of 33.5 and finished no higher than 27th twice, both of which occurred in 2008 and 2011. Within the stretch, he did not finish in three Daytona 500s: two in 2007 and 2012 due to accidents and one in 2010 due to a rear axle issue. In addition, he was involved in on-track incidents in all but the 2010 event. Amid the low Daytona 500 results, Johnson rallied to win the overall Cup Series’ championship from 2007 to 2010.

Then in 2013, Johnson rose back to the occasion and notched his second Daytona 500 victory in an event where he led 17 of 200 laps, including the final 10, and fended off a last-lap charge from teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. As a result, the five-time Cup champion became the 10th competitor to win the Great American Race multiple times as he delivered the seventh 500 victory for HMS and the 22nd for the Chevrolet nameplate. He also delivered the first Daytona 500 triumph for his five-time championship-winning crew chief Chad Knaus. Ironically, Johnson, who was making his 12th 500 start, won in his 400th career start in NASCAR’s premier series, where he joined Lee Petty, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dave Marcis and Dale Earnhardt as competitors who have also achieved the similar feat. Similar to the 2006 season, Johnson would proceed to win the 2013 overall championship with Knaus, which marked the sixth of the duo’s illustrious career.

Since winning his second victory in 2013, Johnson would finish in the top nine three times over his next seven Daytona 500 starts. Within the span, he finished as high as fifth twice in back-to-back seasons during 2014 and 2015. Amid the results, he was strapped with three DNFs over his final four Daytona 500 starts as a full-time competitor, including his final one during 2020 campaign. By then, he had achieved his record-tying seventh Cup Series championship in 2016 and was preparing to transition into the NTT IndyCar Series division with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Beginning in 2023, Johnson returned to NASCAR competition, where he purchased an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club (LMC), an organization that had been rebranded from Petty GMS Motorsports and Richard Petty Motorsports. As part of his ownership, Johnson would also compete in select Cup events in the No. 84 LMC Chevrolet entry, which included the Daytona 500. During Johnson’s first qualifying trials in the No. 84 entry, he qualified for the 65th running of the Daytona 500, which marked his 20th entrance into the Great American Race. Despite racing in the top-10 mark in the closing stages, he was involved in an overtime accident and settled in 31st place.

This past season, where LMC changed manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota, Johnson did not guarantee himself a spot for the 66th running of the Daytona 500 based on his qualifying speed, but he managed to overtake veteran J.J. Yeley on the final lap to claim a transfer spot from the first Daytona Duel. During the main event, however, Johnson was involved in a multi-car wreck on the fifth lap and could climb his way no higher than 28th in the final running order.

Through 21 previous starts in the Daytona 500, Johnson has achieved two victories, two poles, seven top-five results, eight top-10 results, 151 laps led and an average-finishing result of 20.6. Currently, he holds the most career starts in the season-opening event among the 45 competitors entered to compete in 2025. In addition to notching a starting berth for the 500 for a 22nd time, a victory in 2025 would move him into a five-way tie for the third-most Daytona 500 victories in history alongside Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and Dale Jarrett. It would also mark the fourth overall victory for the Toyota nameplate in the Great American Race and the first for Legacy Motor Club under its new branded name as Johnson holds major ownership of the organization. As an added bonus, Johnson would become the first competitor to repeat as a Daytona 500 champion since Denny Hamlin made the previous accomplishment in 2020.

Since Johnson is competing in a non-chartered entry, he will have to earn a starting spot for this year’s Daytona 500 either through the Cup Series’ pole qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, or through one of two Daytona Duels on Thursday, February 13, while also outpacing additional non-chartered competitors. The qualifying session on Wednesday will begin airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will begin airing at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled to occur on February 16 with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: DAYTONA 500

By
Official Release
-

Daytona International Speedway
Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025
2.5-Mile Tri-Oval
2:30 PM ET
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (1 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: 17th (Clash at Bowman Gray)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniel
Standings: N/A

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

2024Cup CareerDaytona 
Races3536621
Wins6290
Poles5211
Top 5151190
Top 10181825
Laps Led1,7009,25636
Stage Wins12620
Average Finish12.914.122.0
  • In 2017, Kyle Larson led the field in the DAYTONA 500 at the white flag before running out of fuel on the final lap.
  • Larson won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway in July 2018. The Elk Grove, California, native led a race-high 40 laps en route to victory.
  • The 32-year-old’s best finish on a drafting track in the Cup Series is fourth (twice), most recently at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2024.
  • Larson is tied for second in consecutive DAYTONA 500’s led with four.
  • The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion led all drivers last year in wins (6), top twos (8), stage wins (12), laps led (1,700) and races led (25).
  • Larson has 23 wins since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, most of all drivers in that timeframe by 11.
  • New this season is an additional championship point for posting the fastest lap in a race. Larson had the fastest lap in five of the 36 races in 2024, the most of all drivers.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 29 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: 1st (Clash at Bowman Gray)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: N/A

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet

2024Cup CareerDaytona
Races3632218
Wins1190
Poles0123
Top 5111043
Top 10191715
Laps Led4315,526172
Stage Wins2382
Average Finish11.712.921.3
  • Chase Elliott kicked off 2025 with a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, leading 171 of 200 laps. It was his first Clash victory.
  • While Elliott doesn’t have a DAYTONA 500 win under his belt yet, he’s come close to visiting victory lane before in the prestigious event, finishing runner-up to Michael McDowell in 2021 and running out of gas as the leader on lap 198 of 200 in 2017.
  • The Dawsonville, Georgia, native is the youngest DAYTONA 500 pole winner, earning the top qualifying position in 2016 at 20 years, 2 months and 17 days. He followed that up with a second pole award the next year.
  • Elliott has three wins on drafting tracks, capturing the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway in 2019 and 2022 as well as Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2022.
  • The 29-year-old driver has a chance to join his father in winning the Clash and the DAYTONA 500 in the same year with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott emerging victorious in both races in 1987.
  • Ormond Beach, Florida, native Alan Gustafson is tied with Leonard Wood and Waddell Wilson for the most DAYTONA 500 poles for a crew chief with four.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 27 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: 18th (Clash at Bowman Gray)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: N/A

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet

2024Cup CareerDaytona
Races3625214
Wins3132
Poles1131
Top 513543
Top 10211044
Laps Led3572,978100
Stage Wins2230
Average Finish12.915.223.1
  • In an event postponed to Monday in 2024, William Byron captured his first DAYTONA 500 win, becoming the fifth-youngest winner of the Great American Race at 26 years, 2 months and 21 days.
  • With the victory, Byron joined five other NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won the prestigious race for Hendrick Motorsports – Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, and Geoff Bodine. He’s the only active driver for the organization with a DAYTONA 500 win.
  • Last year’s DAYTONA 500 victory was his second at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. He previously won at Daytona in August 2020, his first career Cup Series win. In total, Byron has two wins, one pole, three top-five finishes and four top 10s with 100 laps led at Daytona.
  • In 34 starts on drafting tracks, Byron has four wins – tied for fourth with those who have multiple wins on that style of track.
  • Two of those victories came in the last 10 drafting races making the 27-year-old driver the only repeat winner. In those same 10 starts, Byron has eight top-10 finishes which leads all drivers.
  • Rudy Fugle returns for his fifth year with the No. 24 team. Fugle and Byron have 140 Cup Series starts together making them the fourth-most-tenured driver and crew chief pairing.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
 Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: 19th (Clash at Bowman Gray)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: N/A

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

2024Cup CareerDaytona
Races3632517
Wins180
Poles153
Top 58402
Top 1017966
Laps Led671,36842
Stage Wins170
Average Finish14.819.415.2
  • Alex Bowman returns to race for the No. 48 Ally Racing team for the fifth consecutive year, marking his eighth season with Hendrick Motorsports and his 11th year in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Blake Harris enters his third year as the team’s crew chief. Under Harris’ leadership, Bowman has one victory (Chicago Street Course, 2024), 12 top fives, 27 top 10s and three poles. The win at Chicago secured the team’s spot in the NASCAR Playoffs, the first for Harris as crew chief.
  • Bowman has earned three DAYTONA 500 poles (2018, 2021 and 2023), and is one away from tying the all-time record currently held by Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough and Bill Elliott, (four). Bowman started on the front row for the Great American Race a record six consecutive times from 2018-2023.
  • His best finish on a drafting track is second (twice), both times to teammates (William Byron in the 2024 DAYTONA 500, Chase Elliott at Talladega in April 2019).
  • The 2025 season marks the fifth year Ally and Bowman have teamed up to try to #SaveThemAll, donating $4,800 each week to benefit both Best Friends and a partner animal shelter in each race market. If Bowman wins, Ally will up their portion of the donation to $10,000. Since 2021, Ally and Bowman have helped raise over $725,000 and hope to reach $1 million by 2026. This weekend their donation will go to Halifax Humane Society in Daytona Beach, Florida.
  • Ally and HENDRICKCARS.COM are teaming up to give fans the chance to win prizes with this year’s “Open Road Sweepstakes.” Fans can win VIP experiences at various races throughout the season and one lucky winner will hit the road in a Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss with an Airstream camper. Fans can stop by the Ally Fan Zone to enter the sweepstakes in-person and check out the camper. Fans can also enter at ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar.

Hendrick Motorsports

DaytonaAll-TimeDAYTONA 500
Races821,38041
Wins16**312*9**
Poles23*253*16*
Top 563*1,277*32*
Top 10112*2,184*53*
Laps Led2,308*82,272*1,344
Stage Wins31152


*Most all time
**Tied for most all time

  • Hendrick Motorsports enters 2025 with at least one points-paying NASCAR Cup Series win in each of the last 39 seasons. It’s the longest streak by any team in the sport’s history.
  • The 14-time Cup Series champions come into the 2025 DAYTONA 500 tied with Petty Enterprises for the all-time lead in Great American Race victories with nine.
  • After William Byron’s performance in 2024, Hendrick Motorsports became the only organization to win the DAYTONA 500 in five different decades (1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s). Last year’s victory also gave the organization its fourth 1-2 finish in the event, the most all time.
  • With 16 DAYTONA 500 pole awards, Hendrick Motorsports has 10 more than any other team in history. It has earned eight of the last 10 pole positions for the race.
  • A record six different drivers have won the DAYTONA 500 for Hendrick Motorsports.
  • Byron’s victory in 2024 gave Hendrick Motorsports 33 victories on drafting tracks, 12 more than any other organization.
  • Hendrick Motorsports has led 3,360 miles in the DAYTONA 500, enough to drive from Key West, Florida, to Alaska.

QUOTABLE
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on racing on superspeedways and Daytona: “(Crew chief) Cliff (Daniels) and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM crew have always given me fast cars at Daytona and the superspeedways. We’ve run up front and battled for the win but seem to be caught up in something. We utilize good strategy with great pit stops to be in contention. We just need to see the checkered flag.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on trying to win the DAYTONA 500: “I think any driver wants to win all the big races on the schedule and Daytona’s one of them and probably one of the hardest ones to win just because it’s the one that you have the least amount of control over. And I think that it has eluded some greats over the years because of that, and I think it’s just such a unique thing and it’s really hard to explain to people. Just it being such a massive race, but a lot of people can win. I think for me it’s just kind of included in the bunch of crown jewel events on our schedule that I would love to have all of them, at least have a couple of them before I get done. Just to say you won those races would be really, really special, I think when you look back on it.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on returning to the DAYTONA 500 after winning last year: “I’m excited to get back to Daytona (International Speedway). It took a while for last year’s win to really sink in, but I think it’ll definitely set in this week especially when we get the car back. It’s cool to know that we’re in a position this week to go back-to-back which only a few drivers have done. Hopefully we can kick the season off in that way.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on trying to win the DAYTONA 500: “It’d be super cool, obviously, to win. The (DAYTONA) 500 is really special and important. So, hopefully we can make it happen. It’s a tough race to win. We’ve, been close now a couple times, so, the last two years we’ve been really good there in the race and excited to get back there.”

Martin Truex Jr. to attempt 21st Daytona 500 start in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is the event in which Martin Truex Jr. will attempt to stretch his consecutive streak of competing in at least one NASCAR Cup Series event to 22 consecutive seasons. Despite retiring as a full-time Cup competitor following the 2024 season’s conclusion, he will strive for another opportunity to achieve his first elusive victory in the Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway. Should Truex earn a starting spot for this year’s season-opening event, it would mark his 21st consecutive start in the Daytona 500.

A native of Mayetta, New Jersey, Truex achieved his first starting spot for the 47th Daytona 500 in 2005, where he was driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Monte Carlo entry for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI). Three days prior to the event, he finished in fourth place in the second of two Daytona Duel events and was one of two competitors, including Kevin Lepage, to secure starting spots for the season-opening event in entries that were not guaranteed spots for the event due to not being above the top-35 cutline in owner’s standings from the previous season. Despite starting in 10th place for the main event, Truex ended up in 34th place in his first 500 event due to retiring late amid an engine failure.

The following season, Truex, who was coming off his second consecutive Xfinity Series championship and had been promoted to a full-time Cup ride in DEI’s No. 1 Chevrolet entry, finished 16th in his second Daytona 500 start. Beginning in 2007 through 2015, the New Jersey native accumulated two top-10 runs in the Great American Race and finish as high as sixth, which occurred in 2010 and in his first start driving the No. 56 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. Amid the on-track results, Truex notched his first and only Daytona 500 pole to date in 2009. During the 2009 event, which was shortened due to rain, he led the opening lap and ended up in 11th place.

Then came the 2016 Daytona 500, where Truex was entering his third season driving the No. 78 entry for Furniture Row Racing (FRR). By then, FRR had switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota and had formed a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. After being involved in two last-lap accidents throughout Daytona Speedweeks, from the Clash to the first Duel event, Truex was racing in second place behind Matt Kenseth on the final lap of the 58th running of the Daytona 500. By then, both were racing in a draft that included Toyota teammates Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards. As Hamlin broke away from the draft involving his Toyota teammates to gain a strong drafting push from Kevin Harvick to move closer to the lead, Kenseth steered to the right to block Hamlin. This allowed Truex to muscle ahead on the inside lane while Hamlin pulled a bold crossover move to get Kenseth loose and shove him out of the draft, all while remaining dead even with Truex entering the frontstretch. Then as both Truex and Hamlin dueled for the lead, the former held a slight advantage entering the tri-oval until the latter side-drafted Truex and managed to muscle ahead to win by 0.010 seconds, which marks the closest-recorded finish in the history of the Daytona 500. Amid the disappointment of missing his first Daytona 500 victory by a nose, Truex achieved his first top-five result in the Great American Race.

Following his near-miss opportunity to win in 2016, Truex had a second opportunity to win his first Daytona 500 in 2017, where he assumed the lead from the pole-sitter Chase Elliott with three laps remaining amid a late fuel-mileage battle to the victory. Truex, however, would be overtaken by Kyle Larson for the lead during the following lap and he would slowly run out of fuel over the final two laps, which shuffled him back to 13th place in the final running order. Amid a second near-miss opportunity to claim his first Daytona 500 title, Truex would proceed to record a career-high eight victories and win his first Cup Series championship.

After finishing 18th during the 60th Daytona 500 in 2018, which marked his last driving for the Furniture Row organization as the team ceased operations at the season’s conclusion, Truex would spend the following six seasons, including 2024, driving the No. 19 Toyota entry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Throughout the six-year span, his best Daytona 500 result was in 2022, where he finished 13th. Nonetheless, he managed to finish 15th during his recent two starts in 2023 and 2024. The previous two seasons would also mark his final two as a full-time competitor as Truex retired from full-time competition.

Despite retiring from full-time competition, Truex was revealed to have joined forces with TRICON Garage, a Craftsman Truck Series race-winning team, to bid for a starting spot for this year’s 67th running of the Great American Race towards the middle of January. Should Truex achieve a starting spot for the main event, TRICON Garage would also achieve its first berth to an event in NASCAR’s premier series. A victory by Truex would also make TRICON the 28th organization overall to achieve a Daytona 500 victory.

Through 20 previous starts in the Daytona 500, Truex has achieved one pole, one top-five result, three top-10 results, 74 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.5. Currently, he holds the second-most starts in the Daytona 500 at 20 among a list of 45 competitors entered to bid for starting spots for the 2025 season-opening event. Amid his attempt to make his 21st consecutive start in this year’s 500-mile opener, a victory would also make Truex the 44th competitor overall to win the Great American Race. It would also mark the fourth Daytona 500 victory for the Toyota nameplate and make Truex the first New Jersey native to win the event.

Since Truex is competing in a non-chartered entry with TRICON, he will have to earn a starting spot for this year’s Daytona 500 either through the Cup Series’ single-car pole qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, or through one of two Daytona Duels on Thursday, February 13, while also outpacing additional non-chartered competitors. The qualifying session on Wednesday will begin airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will begin airing at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled to occur on February 16 with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

The Science Behind Automotive Paints: What Makes a Car Shine?

By
SM
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A shiny, perfect car finish isn’t just a sign of good upkeep. It’s proof that automobile paints have serious science behind them. Each gleaming sheen is due to smart chemical blends, careful engineering, and spot-on application methods—all working together for a sturdy shine.

It starts with the base coat and then moves up to the clear one on top; each layer makes cars look great while defending against weather and other harsh conditions. When they understand what goes into auto paintwork, those who own vehicles will truly prize their glossy glow.

The Role of Base Coats and Pigments

The base coat gives cars their color. Yet, there’s more science to it than just looks! The paint gets its distinct shade from pigments—fine particles that either absorb or reflect light.

These bits remain suspended in a sticky resin mix, helping them spread evenly over the vehicle’s surface. Some of these initial layers have metallic specks or pearly extras, creating depth and a shiny effect by reflecting light at varying angles.

Without this important first layer done right, even top-notch buffing tricks won’t give car lovers that deep, sparkly finish they’re after.

The Importance of Clear Coats in Shine and Protection

The glow of a car isn’t all about the color. It’s also due to the clear coat! This transparent layer enhances brightness and delivers an even, slick surface atop the base coat.

It does more than just add shine; it shields paint from sun rays, oxidation, grime, and slight scratches. Quality clear coats have UV blockers built in to prevent sunlight from fading those beautiful pigments underneath—ensuring longer-lasting radiance.

Also worth noting—its smoothness helps light bounce off evenly, giving well-cared-for cars their eye-catching gleam under harsh daylight.

The Impact of Paint Chemistry on Durability

The chemistry behind automotive paint significantly affects how well it maintains its shine over time, making car paint protection nz a smart choice for preserving that glossy finish.

Today’s car paints rely on high-tech polymers. They stick better, bend without breaking, and resist weather damage. More people are using water-based paints these days due to eco-friendly regulations. These types of colors use special ingredients that last longer while creating fewer pollutants. These chemicals ensure the coat adheres well to a vehicle’s exterior, preventing it from flaking or chipping off easily.

If there isn’t enough binder or the solvent balance is incorrect in the mixing process, then be cautious. The beautiful, shiny finish could fade quickly, leaving a drab and uneven appearance.

How Specialized Additives Enhance Shine

Car paint is more than just color and clear coats. It’s got special ingredients that optimize shine and performance. They help the paint spread smoothly on a car’s surface and dry faster for an even coat.

Polyvinyl alcohol resins sometimes come in handy to improve coating uniformity, ensuring a glossy finish. Some other additives prevent streaks by maintaining the consistency of the whole mixing process so as not to introduce irregularities into the mixture.

These carefully considered factors work together to give your ride a shiny look, loved dearly by automobile admirers everywhere.

Conclusion

The brilliance of automotive paint doesn’t just come from buffing and waxing—it’s a science affair! Each layer, from the base coat to the clear one on top, plays a role in preserving shine and protection. 

The secret lies within modern car paints that use cutting-edge polymers and special added ingredients, allowing vehicles to maintain their off-the-lot look for extended periods.

Kyle Busch to make 20th Daytona 500 start in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Coming off his most difficult racing season to date, Kyle Busch enters the 2025 NASCAR season striving for redemption in the forms of both return to Victory Lane and the Playoffs that would enable him to contend for a third Cup Series championship. As a new season looms from officially commencing at Daytona International Speedway, the 2025 campaign also presents another opportunity for Busch to claim the lone prestigious event that is missing from his trophy case and has eluded him for nearly two decades: the Daytona 500.

With Busch primed for a first victory in the season-opening event, he will pursue his goal while achieving a significant milestone start in the event. By competing in this year’s 67th running of the 500, the driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet will make his 20th start in the Great American Race.

A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Busch’s first Daytona 500 start occurred in 2005, the year where he campaigned in the Cup Series on a full-time basis. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet entry for Hendrick Motorsports, he started 19th and finished 38th after he was involved in a five-car wreck just past the Lap 25 mark. He improved his result to 23rd place during the 48th Daytona 500 in 2006.

The following three seasons each presented opportunities for Busch to achieve his first Daytona 500 victory. In 2007, Busch, who was initially racing behind Mark Martin in second place before he got overtaken by Kevin Harvick through the backstretch, was battling Matt Kenseth for third place when they both got sideways entering the frontstretch and were involved in an accident that dropped Busch to 24th place in the final running order. The following season, Busch, who was piloting the No. 18 Toyota entry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), led a race-high 86 laps and finished in fourth place. Then in 2009, he led a race-high 88 laps until he was involved in a multi-car accident on the backstretch with 72 laps remaining and ended up in 41st place.

From 2010 to 2014, Busch started as high as fourth place, which occurred in 2013, and finished as high as eighth, which occurred in 2011 in a year where he rallied from spinning amid contact with Michael Waltrip on the fourth lap and pitting prior to the final two-lap shootout. Busch was then absent from competing in the 2015 Daytona 500 due to being diagnosed with a compound fracture in his lower right leg and a small fracture in his left foot. The injuries were due to Busch being involved in a late vicious accident during the Xfinity Series’ season-opening event at Daytona, where he hit the inside concrete wall head-on that was equipped with no SAFER barriers and required medical assistance as he was then transported to Halifax Medical Center for further evaluation. Despite the injuries, Busch would recover to return to competition in May and proceed to claim his first Cup Series championship.

Entering the 2016 Cup Series season as the reigning driver’s champion, Busch kickstarted his title defense season by winning the second Duel event. He then finished in third place during the 58th Daytona 500 behind JGR teammate Denny Hamlin and Toyota teammate Martin Truex Jr. The following season, he led 18 laps and won the first stage period before a flat-rear tire during the second stage period sent Busch sideways and wrecked against the Turn 3 outside wall along with Toyota teammates Erik Jones and Matt Kenseth, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ty Dillon also being involved. Relegated to a 38th-place finish during the 2017 season, Busch then settled in 25th place during the 60th Daytona 500 after he blew a tire, spun, was hit by DJ Kennington and finished seven laps behind the leaders.

In 2019, Busch achieved his career-best result in the Daytona 500 by finishing in second place behind teammate Denny Hamlin despite leading 37 laps and being part of a historic 1-2-3 finish for JGR that also included Erik Jones. The following season, he led 14 laps and was in contention for the victory until he got shoved out of the draft by Joey Logano with 19 laps remaining. Not long after, his engine expired and he retired in 34th place. After being involved in a vicious final-lap accident that strapped him with a 14th-place finish during the 2021 Daytona 500, he rallied from being involved in an early multi-car wreck in 2022 by finishing in sixth place, the latter of which would mark his final 500 start with JGR.

Beginning in 2023, Busch transitioned to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet entry. Despite scraping the wall in the early stages of the 65th Daytona 500, he received a draft from teammate Austin Dillon to overtake the drafting duo of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher to assume the lead with four laps remaining. He then retained the lead over the next two laps before a late caution for Daniel Suarez spinning sent the event into overtime. After losing teammate Dillon to a 13-car wreck during the first overtime attempt, Busch was then involved in a nine-car wreck on the final lap during the second and final overtime attempt as he ended up in 19th place. He has since recorded a 12th-place result during his latest Daytona 500 start in 2024.

Through 19 previous starts in the Daytona 500, Busch has recorded three top-five results, five top-10 results, 342 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.7. A victory in 2025 would make Busch the 44th competitor overall to win the Great American Race, a list that includes his older brother Kurt, and he would deliver the first Daytona 500 victory for RCR since teammate Austin Dillon made the last accomplishment in 2018. A Daytona 500 victory would also allow Busch to achieve a Grand Slam in NASCAR’s crown-jewel events as he previously won the Southern 500, Brickyard 400 and Coca-Cola 600.

Ironically, Busch, who enters the 2025 Daytona 500 making his 20th attempt to win the event, will strive to become the first competitor to win the Great American Race in a 20th attempt since the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt made the last accomplishment in 1998.

This week, Busch, who finished in 20th place in the 2024 driver’s standings, will participate in a single-car qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, and in one of two Duel events on Thursday, February 13, to determine his starting lineup for this year’s Daytona 500. The qualifying session on Wednesday will begin airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will begin airing at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, February 16, with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Interstate Batteries® Launches National TV Ad Ahead of Daytona 500

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Cup Series Driver Christopher Bells Helps Introduce ‘Mr. Dependable’

DALLAS (Feb. 11, 2025) – Interstate Batteries, a leading battery brand in the United States, has launched a new national television campaign in lockstep with the 67th running of the Daytona 500 this Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

For Interstate Batteries, the Daytona 500 is an enormous stage, as the company was on board for Joe Gibbs Racing’s 1993 Daytona 500 victory. It was the first win for the pairing and, today, the Interstate Batteries/Joe Gibbs Racing combination is the longest tenured team partnership in all of NASCAR, further bolstering Interstate Batteries’ status of being “Outrageously Dependable.”

In 2025, Interstate Batteries is bringing this mantra to life by introducing Mr. Dependable, who embodies the essence of Interstate Batteries through a larger-than-life, comedic brand character. Whether you’re stuck in traffic or facing life’s everyday challenges, Mr. Dependable will be there for you, just like Interstate Batteries.

The ad that launched this week is called “Traffic Jam,” and it includes an appearance by perennial NASCAR Cup Series championship contender Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. Watch Mr. Dependable in action in “Traffic Jam” by visiting Interstate Batteries’ YouTube page.

The Sasha Group developed the ad campaign. Production was handled by Eva Nosidam Productions and DiamondView, and it was directed by former Saturday Night Live editors Sean and Ryan McIlraith. The campaign is currently live on social media, online video and OTT, where the ads can be seen on such platforms as Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Warner Bros. Discovery, Tubi, and more.

About Interstate Batteries:

For more than 70 years, Interstate Batteries® has powered people down roads, trails and waterways and businesses to succeed. Best known for its starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, this product has been under car hoods since 1952, each one backed by the company’s service, quality and value. Interstate All Battery Center® provides portable power in both retail and commercial markets. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is an industry leader in recycling efforts, as well as a global leader in safe lead handling practices. Guided by a set of common values, the company’s purpose is to glorify God and enrich lives while delivering the most trustworthy source of power to the world. For more information, visit www.InterstateBatteries.com.

Denny Hamlin to make 20th Daytona 500 start in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Denny Hamlin will officially commence his 20th consecutive season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor this upcoming Sunday, February 16, at Daytona International Speedway with an opportunity to achieve a fourth triumph in the Great American Race: the Daytona 500. Prior to pursuing another victory, he will first check off a milestone start of his own for the event. By taking the green flag in this year’s 67th running of the Daytona 500, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota Camry XSE entry will make his 20th consecutive start in NASCAR’s season-opening event.

A native of Chesterfield, Virginia, Hamlin made his first Daytona 500 career start in 2006, the year in which he competed as a full-time Cup Series competitor for the first time. Driving the No. 11 Chevrolet entry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), he started 17th and finished 30th after he was involved in a three-car incident with four laps remaining. He would then finish 28th during his second Daytona 500 start in 2007 after he was involved in a five-car accident with 27 laps remaining.

When JGR switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota for the 2008 Cup Series season, Hamlin achieved a Daytona Duel victory that enabled him to line up in fourth place for the 50th Daytona 500. Despite leading 32 laps, he sustained damage to his No. 11 Toyota amid two late-race incidents and fell back to 17th place. The following season, he led 85 of 152-shortened laps and was in contention for the victory until he was involved in a 10-car backstretch pileup with 77 laps remaining.

After finishing 17th and 21st during his next two Daytona 500 starts in 2010 and 2011, Hamlin notched his first top-five result in the Great American Race by finishing in fourth place in 2012. The result occurred after he had led a race-high 57 laps. Etching a 14th-place run in 2013, Hamlin nearly pulled off a historic Daytona Speedweeks triple sweep as he commenced the festivities by winning the Clash exhibition event and the second Duel event. While trying to add a first Daytona 500 victory to complete the sweep, he settled in second place behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. despite leading 16 of 200-scheduled laps.

Then after finishing in fourth place during the 2015 Daytona 500, Hamlin notched his first victory in his 11th attempt at the Great American Race in 2016. During the event, Hamlin, who was racing in a draft with his JGR teammates Matt Keneth, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards along with Toyota teammate Martin Truex Jr., was racing in fourth place when he broke away from the draft and transitioned to the outside lane to receive a strong drafting help from Kevin Harvick. The draft enabled Hamlin to muscle towards the front, starting from the backstretch to Turn 3 as he gained a run on the leader Kenseth. When Kenseth tried to block Hamlin, the latter pulled a crossover move beneath the former and got him loose, which caused Kenseth to lose the draft as Hamlin was then left to duel with Truex for both the lead and victory. Entering the tri-oval, Hamlin managed to side-draft Truex to muscle ahead and beat him by 0.010 seconds. With the victory, Hamlin, who led a race-high 95 of 200-scheduled laps, became the 37th competitor to win the Great American Race as he delivered the first 500 victory for JGR since Dale Jarrett made the previous accomplishment in 1995. As an added bonus, the Virginian achieved the first 500 victory for the Toyota nameplate and he won in his first event with his new full-time crew chief Mike Wheeler. To date, Hamlin’s margin of victory over Truex remains the closest-recorded finish in the history of the Daytona 500.

Three years later, Hamlin fended off teammate Kyle Busch and Joey Logano amid an overtime shootout to score his second Daytona 500 career victory in an event where he led 30 of 207 over-scheduled laps. As a result, Hamlin, who led a historic 1-2-3 finish for JGR with teammate Erik Jones finishing third, became the 12th competitor overall to achieve multiple victories in the Great American Race as he etched the third 500 victory for JGR and the second for Toyota. Ironically, Hamlin’s victory occurred in an event where he snapped a 47-race winless drought after going winless for the first time in 2018 and in his first event with his new full-time crew chief Chris Gabehart. Amid the celebrations, Hamlin dedicated the victory to J.D. Gibbs, co-owner of JGR, who died a month earlier due to complications amid a degenerative neurological disease battle.

Another year later, Hamlin, who led a race-high 79 laps and lost the lead to Ryan Newman and Ryan Blaney on the final lap amid an overtime shootout, was racing in third place entering the tri-oval when Blaney bumped and sent Newman for a harrowing rollover accident. After barely dodging Newman’s car, Hamlin then managed to squeeze ahead of Blaney and edged him by a nose to win his second consecutive Daytona 500 event and third overall. With the victory, Hamlin became the sixth competitor overall to reach three victories in the Great American Race and he joined Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and Sterling Marlin as the only competitors to do so in back-to-back seasons. Overall, Hamlin’s margin of victory over Blaney was 0.014 seconds, which marks the second-closest finish in the history of the Daytona 500.

Compared to his two previous seasons, Hamlin fell short in becoming the first competitor to win three consecutive Daytona 500 events in 2021 despite settling in fifth place and leading a race-high 98 laps. Since then, his best result in the 500 over his latest three starts (2022-24) is 17th, which occurred in 2023 despite the driver being involved in a final-lap multi-car pileup.

Through 19 previous starts in the Daytona 500, Hamlin has achieved three victories, eight top-five results, 490 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.9. Currently, he holds the most Daytona 500 victories among active competitors entered for this year’s 67th running of the Great American Race with three. A fourth victory in 2025 would tie him with the late NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for the second-most 500 victories and leave him three shy of Richard Petty’s record number of 500 victories at seven. In addition, Hamlin would tie Joe Gibbs Racing with Wood Brothers Racing for the second-most victories in the Great American Race at five and he would record the fourth victory of the event for the Toyota nameplate.

This week, Hamlin, who finished in eighth place in the 2024 driver’s standings, will participate in a single-car qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, and in one of two Duel events on Thursday, February 13, to determine his starting lineup for this year’s Daytona 500. The qualifying session on Wednesday will begin airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will begin airing at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, February 16, with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Spire Motorsports Fresh From Florida 250 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In five NASCAR CRAFSMAN Truck Series starts at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Spire Motorsports has collected one top-five, two top-15 and three top-20 finishes. Rajah Caruth, driver of the team’s No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado, finished third in the 2024 season opener. The Mooresville, N.C., organization fields the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The No. 07 and 7 entries will see a rotating roster of all-star caliber drivers throughout the season, while Caruth and Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Andres Perez de Lara pilot the No. 71 and 77, respectively, for the full slate of races.
  • The Fresh from Florida 250 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, Feb. 14 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 2025 season-opening race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 07 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 07 Go Bowling Chevrolet Silverado in Friday evening’s Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • The Arizona-native has two previous CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts to his credit. His most recent start came in 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he earned a career/series-best 14th-place finish with ThorSport Racing.
  • The 2021 Daytona 500 champion will pull double duty this weekend, driving the No. 71 Go Bowling Chevrolet ZL1 in the 57th running of the Daytona 500, his 13th attempt at “The Great American Race.”
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  • 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 Cup Series events at the “World Center of Racing,” 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.
  • The Go Bowling colors will wrap Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-051. The truck was most recently on track last February at Daytona with Chase Purdy behind the wheel. The appearance will mark the chassis’ fifth at Daytona after earning pole position with Christian Eckes in the 2019 season opener.

Michael McDowell Quotes
You have been outspoken about wanting a win in all three series, how can you pick up your first truck win at Daytona?
“Even though I’ve been doing this a long time, I’ve only done two CRAFTSMAN Truck series races and those were both very last minute, kind of thrown together. I’m looking forward to having a proper opportunity to go do it at a high level and in some great Chevy Silverados. The goal is always the same, to win. But to be a driver that has won in all three national series is a goal of mine and something that is important to me. I’ll have a few shots at it this year, so hopefully we can get it done, and no better place to do it than Daytona. If not, there’s great opportunities throughout the season and I’m looking forward to the challenge of learning. Like I said, I don’t have a lot of time in a truck so I’m really looking forward to being a part of what Spire Motorsports has going on and I’m grateful to Go Bowling for the opportunity.”

Atop the No. 07 Box – Crew Chief Allen Hart

  • Allen Hart will call the shots for the No. 07 team, an entry that will see a rotating roster of drivers throughout the 2025 campaign.
  • As an engineer, Hart helped Nick Sanchez to victory in last year’s season opener at Daytona. Sanchez, a Florida native, led a race-high 26 circuits and tallied the fourth-highest average running position in the field (9.08).
  • Hart claimed his first victory at “World Center of Racing” in 2014 as a lead engineer for Regan Smith in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition. During his time at JR Motorsports, he worked closely with crew chief Greg Ives.
  • Prior to arriving at Spire Motorsports, Hart spent two seasons calling the shots for Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 26 entry. Before Sam Hunt Racing he was a lead race engineer with JR Motorsports’ No. 7 team for eight seasons.
  • Hart is a mechanical engineering graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, earning his degree in 2005. While studying at SVSU, he contributed to the school’s Formula SAE program.

Allen Hart Quote
How will it be working with Michael McDowell this weekend given his success on drafting tracks?
“I’m excited to work with Michael this weekend. He is a really nice guy and have worked well together so far. His resume speaks for itself at that place. We have a good group and I think we have as good a shot as anyone on Friday night.”

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

  • Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • The Winamac, Ind., native made his only CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at the “World Center of Racing” in the 2018 event. He started 12th and went on to lead nine laps en route to a runner-up finish.
  • Haley will also compete in Sunday’s Daytona 500 – his fifth start in the Great American Race – where he will drive Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chili’s ‘Ride the ‘Dente’ Chevrolet ZL1.
  • 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 newly formed organization’s first win 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, where he’s tallied one win, one top five and two top 10s.
  • In 10 appearances in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at the World Center of Racing, Haley has tallied six top 10s to accompany his three top five-finishes at the historic venue. Haley collected back-to-back wins (2020-2021) in the division’s annual summer visit to DIS. He missed the threepeat by a scant 0.109 seconds when he crossed the finish line second at the 2019 contest.
  • Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indiana. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
  • Haley has collected four NASCAR Xfinity Series checkered flags and three NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins, making him one of just 41 drivers in history to have earned wins across all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series.
  • 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.
  • Haley will race Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-040 Friday night. Last season at Daytona, Corey LaJoie started third in the truck and was running in fifth until a last-lap incident ended his night half-a-lap from the finish. The chassis saw action most recently at Talladega last October with Connor Zilisch behind the wheel.

Justin Haley Quotes
What are your thoughts heading into Friday night?
“I’m super excited to get back in the truck. It has been a few years. I’ve always run well at the superspeedways. We were super close to the win in 2018, and I’m looking forward to getting some redemption. I enjoy this kind of racing and it will be fun to try and find the front with Rajah (Caruth), Andres (Perez de Lara) and Michael (McDowell).”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Brian Pattie

  • Brian Pattie returns to the top of the No. 7 pit box, an entry that will see a plethora of all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2025 season.
  • He is quite familiar with Victory Lane at the “World Center of Racing,” helping Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to victory in the 2017 Coke Zero 400.
  • Pattie has called two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Daytona International Speedway. In last season’s appearance at Daytona Beach, Corey LaJoie started third and was running in the fifth position until a last-lap incident ended his night half a lap from the finish. LaJoie recorded the race’s highest average running position (7.83), third-most quality passes (101), fourth-most green flag passes (129) and ran more laps in the top 15 than anyone in the field (86 of 101).
  • Pattie guided Joe Nemechek to three consecutive pole awards (Feb. 2001 – July 2002) in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, capped off with a dominant victory in the 2002 July event, leading 78 of the 100 contested laps.
  • In his first season at Spire Motorsports in 2024, Pattie led the No. 7 team to two victories across the first seven events of the season, both with Kyle Busch (Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway). The duo also won twice across five races in 2023 with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
  • Pattie is a 24-year veteran of the sport, 14 of which came in the NASCAR Cup Series. As a crew chief, he has earned six wins in Cup Series competition and 11 in the Xfinity Series.

Brian Pattie Quote
Your team picked up a pair of wins and a berth in the owner’s playoffs last season. What is the goal for this year?
“I think the obvious goal is claiming an owner’s championship. When you have multiple drivers in and out of the seat, especially with the caliber of guys we have been fortunate to have in the No. 7, your mindset each weekend is to win. We showed a lot of speed across our four Silverados last year, and we look to replicate that all season long.”

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Rajah Caruth will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday evening’s Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Caruth has made two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearances at the “World Center of Racing,” highlighted by a third-place finish in the 2024 event.
  • The 2024 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Most Popular Driver has collected two top fives, three top 10s, and four top 15s in six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events on drafting tracks.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 thousand new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • The Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University graduate owns one ARCA Menards Series appearance at the high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, an 11th-place performance in 2022. He made his second and final ARCA start on a superspeedway later that year, crossing the finish line sixth at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • The 2024 season marked a career year for Caruth. He tallied one win, a pair of Cometic Gasket Pole Awards and five top-five finishes, all of which were the first of his young career. The 12 top-10 finishes on the season tripled Caruth’s total of four in 2023, while his average starting position of 10.7 was four positions higher than 2023 and his 11.6 average finish was an impressive seven positions higher.
  • Caruth and the No. 71 team qualified for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs in 2024, the first such appearance for the Washington, D.C. native. Despite reaching the Round of 8, a mechanical malady stalled his championship bid in the season’s penultimate event at Martinsville Speedway.
  • With his first career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win and pole position last season, Caruth became the third African-American driver, to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.
  • Caruth will be behind the wheel of Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-064. The truck visited Victory Lane in the 2024 season opener with Nick Sanchez, and earned the pole position at Daytona with Riley Herbst (2020) and Nick Sanchez (2023). The chassis was last on track at Talladega Superspeedway in October.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
You finished third at Daytona last season. What do you need to do in order to finish two spots better?
“I have a pretty similar mentality to last year. You want to contend for a win at Daytona and Atlanta, but you have to be there at the end to finish the race, and therefore earn points. If you aren’t careful, you can go into Las Vegas 80 points outside of the playoffs. I am preparing as much as I can with Eddie (D’Hondt), my spotter, and ironing out all the little things, all of which I do any given week. We will keep the aggression level tempered, so we don’t eliminate ourselves from a chance at a top five by a dumb mistake. Stage wins and the fastest lap are big deals, but they aren’t worth getting into a big points hole.”

Your team swapped crew chiefs over the offseason. What will it be like working with a crew chief with as much experience as Bono (Kevin Manion)?
“Bono was with me for my first four truck races in 2022 with Spire in the No. 7, so working together is definitely familiar. I can already tell by our interactions at the simulator, walking around the shop and at the Rockingham test that we are on the same page. I have definitely grown a lot since we last worked together, both on and off the track. My engineer Aaron (Volf) is staying with me, so we can continue to build the bond we built last year. At the end of the day, it is business as usual and we know the task at hand.”

What are your goals this season?
“Make it to Phoenix. I think that’s what is most important. It is hard to set goals for race wins, laps lead and other stats like that. A lot of the time, that is out of your control. If we execute as we should and end up in Phoenix with a shot at the championship, the numbers will take care of themselves.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion

  • Veteran crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion will call the shots for Rajah Caruth and the No. 71 team in 2025.
  • Last season, Manion led Nick Sanchez to victory after rolling off sixth in the season opening Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway. The win marked Sanchez’s first in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
  • Manion has one Daytona 500 win on his resume, coming in the 52nd edition of the event with Jamie McMurray at Earnhardt Chip Ganassi Racing.
  • The Boylston, Mass., native owns a trio or Xfinity Series triumphs at the “World Center of Racing,” all of which came in his time with Chance 2 Motorsports. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2004, February; 2006, July), and Martin Truex, Jr. (2005, July) piloted the No. 8 Chevrolet to victory lane.

Kevin “Bono” Manion Quote

What is it about the end of a superspeedway race for someone like Rajah who has to know what position to be in, the correct moves to make and who to draft with to capitalize.

“Setting yourself up for the finish is the most important thing. With Justin (Haley) and Michael (McDowell) serving as teammates for us this weekend, it adds to the strong help we will have. They are both accredited drafters with a lot of experience and success on the sport’s biggest stage. I think the Spire Chevrolet Silverados will be tough to beat with those two and Andres (Perez de Lara) by our side.”

Andres Perez de Lara – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Andres Perez de Lara will pilot the No. 77 Telcel Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in the Fresh from Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Perez de Lara captured the 2024 ARCA Menards Series Championship. He became the first Mexican-born champion in the ARCA’s 72 year history. Perez de Lara secured 10 top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, in addition to a pair of General Tire pole awards en route to the 2024 title.
  • The 19-year-old has one previous appearance at Daytona, collecting a 12th-place finish despite sustaining damage in a late-race incident in the 2024 ARCA event.
  • Telcel is Mexico’s leading telecommunications company, providing nationwide coverage, cutting-edge mobile connectivity, and high-speed internet services to millions of users. With over 30 years of experience, Telcel continues to innovate in digital communication, offering solutions that keep people connected anytime, anywhere.
  • Beyond technology, Telcel is committed to supporting excellence in sports, particularly in motorsports. As a proud and long time sponsor of Pérez de Lara, Telcel fuels the passion for speed, precision and performance, driving success both on and off the track. Telcel will be a season-long associate with Perez de Lara and the No. 77 team.
  • In four ARCA starts on Superspeedways, Perez De Lara has picked up one top five and two top 10s. He boasts a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (2023) and a 6.3 average starting position.
  • Perez de Lara will chase Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. The talented teenager made his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut with Spire Motorsports in June at World Wide Technology Raceway. After qualifying his No. 7 Silverado 16th, Perez de Lara secured a top-10 finish in his first appearance, via a ninth-place result.
  • The 2024 ARCA champion juggled his full-time duties while competing full time in the NASCAR Mexico Series. In 2023, he earned the Rookie of the Year award while finishing fourth in the division’s points and reaching the series’ version of the NASCAR playoffs. He returned one year later to secure his first checkered flag in the series, visiting victory lane at Ovalo Aguascalientes Mexico.
  • The blue and white Telcel colors will wrap Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-027. Rajah Caruth secured back-to-back top fives in the truck’s last two starts with a third-place finish at Daytona in February and a fourth-place finish at Talladega last October.

Andres Perez de Lara Quotes
How does it feel to make your first Truck Series start at Daytona?
“Daytona is such a great place to start the season, knowing what it means to race there and the history involved is really special. It is a great place to get the season started. It will be a difficult and complicated race, but our team knows what we are capable of. We just have to go out there and be smart knowing we are racing a full season.”

With your limited experience on Superspeedways, what is your game plan for this weekend?
“It is going to be a different weekend for sure. I don’t have much drafting experience in general, but especially not in a truck. With only one practice session, we will have to make the most of it. I’ll have to be smart throughout the race so I don’t put myself in bad spots. It’s key to be patient and take what the race gives you until you are reaching the end.”

How does it feel to have Telcel on your truck for Daytona?
“Having support from Mexican sponsors means so much to me. They have supported me since I started. The No. 77 Telcel Silverado looks nice and we are going to do our best to get the blue and white Telcel colors to the front.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Chad Walter

  • Crew chief Chad Walter will be atop the box for Andres Perez de Lara and the No. 77 team in 2025.
  • In the 2024 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season opener at Daytona, Walter called Rajah Caruth to a third-place finish.
  • In Xfinity Series competition on the Daytona Beach high banks, the 53-year-old owns three top fives with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (3rd, 2008 Feb.; 3rd, 2008 July) and Justin Allgaier (4th, 2010 Feb.).
  • Walter, a veteran race engineer of 20-plus years, picked up a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2001 & 2003) while on the crew for Michael Waltrip during his time at Dale Earnhardt Inc.
  • Walter guided Caruth to his first CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory on March 1, 2024 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • The Albion, N.Y., native earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Cornell University College of Engineering. During his studies, he played defensive end for the Big Red football team.

Chad Walter Quote
How does it feel working with rookie driver Andres Perez de Lara?
“Spire has once again hit a home run in finding the right driver to fill the seat. Not only is he fast and talented, but he has the right personality and work ethic to carry the Spire name. I enjoy the opportunity to work with young drivers and help them find the next step in their career. A lot of the learning curve is simple communication and conveying what Andres needs to go faster. I am looking forward to working on that process. Rookie of the Year is certainly the goal for the season.”

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.

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