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What won’t NASCAR fans do for each other? Not a lot. 

 

I want to tell you about the experience of one particular NASCAR fan this past weekend.   

 

Last Saturday morning, my brother Randy and his wife, Karen, both NASCAR fans, were traveling from Salt Lake City to St. Kitts with a change of flights in Charlotte. 

 

NASCAR fan Randy Bragg was traveling from Cleveland to Daytona Beach, also with a change of flights in Charlotte.  

 

The three happened to meet as they shared a table grabbing a bite to eat while waiting for their connecting flights. Bragg was decked out in NASCAR/Junior Nation gear and my brother, being his chatty and social self, struck up a conversation with him about NASCAR.   

 

Bragg explained to my brother that his trip to Daytona was admittedly set up to be a bit of a disappointment. You see, Bragg had purchased tickets for the Daytona 500 weekend, but had mistakenly arranged his plane ticket for the wrong weekend. He was still making the trip to Daytona despite the mix-up.     

 

My brother reached out to me from Charlotte and we immediately got the ball rolling to make sure Bragg’s visit would be one that he wouldn’t soon forget.

 

Bragg, a former lineman for Cleveland Public Power with 15 years of service, is disabled after a long fight with astrocytoma — a form of brain cancer. He is a survivor, having withstood 18 different surgeries about a decade ago. He continues to suffer from hydrocephalus and has three shunts that work to drain the water on his brain.

 

When Bragg landed in Daytona, he went straight to the track where my colleague, Meghan Miley, met him with Clash tickets and a Hot Pass. Miley thought he was a family friend of ours and was unaware we’d never even met.

 

While he wasn’t a family friend at the time, he is now.     

 

Bragg made his way to his seat to enjoy the races and when the skies opened up that night, canceling the race, he was unable to find a ride service that would accommodate his motorized chair. His sister called me from Ohio, worried that her brother wasn’t going to be able to find his way to his hotel.    

 

I called Bragg, we set a meeting point, loaded him up and went to find his hotel. He’d started from Cleveland at 5 that morning and was exhausted by the time he checked in. His sister was relieved that he was safe.

 

Bragg texted me at 5 a.m. Sunday, saying he was ready to see some racing. I took his coffee order, stopped for donuts, picked him up and we headed to the track.

 

Bragg had never been to a superspeedway before, so we took an up-close look at the DIS banking before heading to the garage. As we went under the tunnel he asked, "Is that the track above us?"

 

We then grabbed breakfast with the NASCAR officials and had a chance to meet Daytona track president, Chip Wile. Bragg met a host of other industry folks and was absolutely amazed when Richard Childress spent a good deal of time with us that morning.

 

Randy Bragg poses near the No. 21 car of Ryan Blaney.

 

 

After Daytona 500 qualifying was complete, I told Bragg my family was headed to New Smyrna Speedway for the K&N Pro Series East opener — and so off we went with our new friend to take in more racing.

 

Bragg is someone who knows what he wants. On the way back to the hotel last night, he had me go through the drive-in at McDonald’s where he ordered a large coffee with 5 creamers and 3 Equals and an apple pie. It seemed the perfect ending to a perfect day.

 

Bragg had opened up to me as the day went along. His past 10 years have been trying, to say the least. In addition to the health challenges, his mother died last year, his marriage had failed, and he has two sons that he wishes he was more connected to.

 

There’s no telling what can happen when NASCAR Nation comes together. I see a lot of compassion every day in this sport. This is no isolated example — it’s part of who we are. I don’t tell this story to say, "Hey, look at what I did." I share it to show that NASCAR is a little bit different from other sports and that difference is not insignificant.

 

In this case, it boiled down to a handful of NASCAR fans (my brother, sister-in-law, and me) coming together to make sure that a fellow fan was taken care of. 

 

Mission accomplished.

 

Jim Cassidy is Senior Vice President of Racing Operations for NASCAR.

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SHOP: Cars 3 NASCAR-related merchandise


RELATED: Drivers thrilled to be a part of Cars 3


DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. — Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” is teaming up with NASCAR this year as crowd favorite Lightning McQueen prepares to return to the big screen June 16. Plans for the joint effort were shared by “Cars 3” director Brian Fee, Cristela Alonzo — the voice of the film’s elite trainer Cruz Ramirez — and NASCAR’s vice president of entertainment marketing and content development, Zane Stoddard, today at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida as fans gear up for the DAYTONA 500 (Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on FOX). Owen Wilson, the voice of Lightning McQueen, will serve as grand marshal for the 59th annual “Great American Race.”

NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suárez and Bubba Wallace will join NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty as voices in the upcoming film.

“‘Cars 3’ very much pays homage to stock car racing and its rich history,” Fee said. “Our story leans into the drama, emotion and excitement NASCAR fans find at every race.”

“We’re excited to take part in delivering the ‘Cars 3’ experience to our current and next generation of fans, at-track, in school, online and across the country,” Stoddard added. “In addition to all the engaging NASCAR ‘Cars 3’ elements industry-wide, we think our fans will really enjoy the roles of several young drivers in the film.”

According to Lylle Breier, senior vice president worldwide marketing partnerships and special events for the Walt Disney Studios, the movie inspired an expanded program with NASCAR.

“This collaboration marks the biggest between the ‘Cars’ franchise and NASCAR,” Breier said. “We’re looking forward to a fun and exciting season-long program with a host of activities.”

FAST FORWARD

Kicking off at the DAYTONA 500 with the premiere of a new on-air promo, the NASCAR-“Cars 3” collaboration continues throughout the entire race season.

*     The joint effort will include a variety of marketing initiatives, including digital and social cross promotional activities and sweepstakes.

*     Throughout the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, races will feature a “Cars 3” at-track presence via a wide array of promotions.

*     A co-branded merchandise program with Fanatics — the first of its kind for NASCAR and the “Cars” franchise — will also kick off at the DAYTONA 500 featuring the first film-related product available for fans to purchase. Product will be available at the Fanatics Trackside Superstore continuing at race tracks throughout the season, as well as online at the NASCAR.com Superstore.

*      NASCAR Acceleration Nation, the sport’s youth program, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be featured throughout the duration of a “Cars 3” nationwide tour.

*      Later this year, NASCAR and Disney will release NASCAR Acceleration Nation and “Cars 3” co-branded in-classroom learning materials for elementary school students.

THE VOICES OF NASCAR
The announcement included the introduction of NASCAR greats — from rookie drivers and legends to the voices behind the sport — tapped by Pixar Animation Studios to voice characters in the film.

*      CHASE ELLIOTT, 21, was named 2016’s Sunoco Rookie of the Year after finishing last season 10th in the driver standings. Elliott, who pilots the No. 24 car previously driven by four-time champion Jeff Gordon, lends his voice to second-generation Piston Cup racer CHASE RACELOTT in “Cars 3.” Racelott’s blend of skills, track smarts and top-of-the-line technology make this rookie a real contender.

*      RYAN BLANEY, a 23-year-old, third-generation racer, pilots the No. 21 Ford in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series. He voices third-generation racer RYAN “INSIDE” LANEY in “Cars 3.” Known for his racing passion and ability to have fun on the track, Laney races with talent, speed and precision.

*      DANIEL SUÁREZ, who just turned 25, pilots the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion can be heard in the film voicing DANNY SWERVEZ, a next-gen racer who’s ascending the Piston-Cup ladder against all odds. A mid-season replacement, Swervez is a quick learner who pushes himself to the limit.

*      BUBBA WALLACE, 23, won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in 2013, becoming the first African-American to win in one of the top three touring divisions since Wendell Scott in 1963. In “Cars 3,” Wallace voices next-gen stock car racer BUBBA WHEELHOUSE, a fast and tenacious young racer who knows how to win.

*      DARRELL WALTRIP, the NASCAR Hall of Fame racer-turned-NASCAR on FOX color analyst lends his voice to DARRELL CARTRIP. Cartrip, a veteran Piston-Cup announcer also heard in “Cars” and “Cars 2,” may think he’s seen it all — but this new season might still have a surprise or two in store.

*      SHANNON SPAKE, NASCAR on FOX correspondent and college football and basketball reporter for FOX Sports, voices on-the-track reporter SHANNON SPOKES in the film. Spokes weaves her way into the middle of the action for in-the-moment interviews, and she’s not afraid to ask racers the tough questions.

*      HOWARD AUGUSTINE “HUMPY” WHEELER JR., the legendary NASCAR promoter and former president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, lends his voice to iconic Dinoco team owner TEX DINOCO in “Cars 3.” Tex, who met Lightning McQueen in “Cars,” would love nothing more than to see No. 95 decked out in Dinoco blue.

*      JEFF GORDON, four-time NASCAR champion, current NASCAR on FOX analyst, and story consultant for “Cars 3,” lends his voice to JEFF GORVETTE. Gorvette, whose number of top-10 finishes remains unmatched, may have hung up his racing tires — but his heart remains on the track. His ability to succeed at all levels turned hoods wherever he raced.

*      RICHARD “THE KING” PETTY, team owner and champion NASCAR driver with 200 wins, returns to the role of STRIP “THE KING” WEATHERS. From his humble beginnings on the Piston-Cup circuit to the glitzy sponsorship and media attention, the champion racer now serves as crew chief for his nephew, Cal Weathers.

*   KYLE PETTY, retired NASCAR driver and current NASCAR commentator on NBC, helps bring CAL WEATHERS to life in “Cars 3.” Weathers grew up around the track watching his uncle, Strip “The King” Weathers, tear it up. The veteran racer finds himself taking a step back to make room for the next generation on the track.

*      MIKE JOY is FOX Sports’ lead NASCAR announcer who will call his 38th DAYTONA 500 this Sunday. He lends his iconic voice to on-the-spot radio talk show host MIKE JOYRIDE in the movie. Joyride stays one step ahead in the racing news game by keeping a keen eye on where the racing season is headed.

*      RAY EVERNHAM, winner of three NASCAR championships as crew chief for Jeff Gordon and current consultant to Hendrick Motorsports, lends his voice to RAY REVERHAM, Jackson Storm’s crew chief, and an expert at training in the cutting edge technology and tactics being used by the next-gen racers. Evernham also serves as a story consultant for filmmakers.

LIFE-SIZED CHARACTERS

NASCAR fans can picture themselves with Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez — or at least life-sized cars designed to look like the big-screen characters. The Cruz Ramirez lookalike premiered in Daytona on Thursday, alongside No. 95 — the Lightning McQueen car made its debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January. Comedian and actress Cristela Alonzo got to hang with her character lookalike at the event.

“I am excited to be here as race fans get to see these two life-sized characters together for the first time,” Alonzo said.

The Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez lookalike cars are slated to make appearances at select races throughout the season as part of a “Cars 3” nationwide tour. Joining them on the tour will be a lookalike of Lightning McQueen’s on-track rival, Jackson Storm.

GOING GRAND

As previously announced, Owen Wilson, the voice of Lightning McQueen, will serve as grand marshal of the DAYTONA 500 this Sunday, Feb. 26. Wilson has provided the voice of the red car in all of the “Cars” films.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that No. 95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage! Directed by Brian Fee (storyboard artist “Cars,” “Cars 2”) and produced by Kevin Reher (“A Bug’s Life,” “La Luna” short), “Cars 3” cruises into theaters on June 16.

 

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SHOP: Cars 3 NASCAR-related merchandise

RELATED: Cars 3 gears up for season-long ride with NASCAR

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Even though Daniel Suarez enjoys a degree of celebrity status as a driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, he couldn’t help but be a little starstruck, himself, Thursday morning.


“You guys have no idea how happy I am to be side-by-side with this car right now,” Suarez said, standing alongside a life-sized model of Lightning McQueen, the animated star of Disney-Pixar’s “Cars” franchise, in the media center at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Suarez is one of a dozen figures in the NASCAR industry getting the Hollywood treatment in the third installment of the automotive feature film franchise. While several familiar voices — including those of stock-car legends Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon and Richard Petty — will return to the big screen for “Cars 3,” the film’s storyline will feature a new crop of drivers vying for the fictional Piston Cup.

 

That’s where Suarez, along with Ryan Blaney, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Daytona 500 pole winner Chase Elliott enter stage left. The four young drivers will get their own animated roles, transforming into Danny Swervez, Ryan “Inside” Laney, Bubba Wheelhouse and Chase Racelott for the film, which opens June 16.

 

“It’s amazing. I’m a huge fan of ‘Cars’ movies in general,” Suarez said. “When I was living in Mexico with my parents, it was natural to watch those movies and have all different kind of little cars, pillows, remote controls — I’m a big fan of it, and now to be a part of it, it’s a big deal for me.”

 

Trailers for the movie have been out for weeks, but Thursday’s announcement officially launched a collaboration between the Disney-Pixar team and the NASCAR industry. Actor Owen Wilson, who is the starring voice of McQueen in all three Cars movies, will help kick off the tie-in as the grand marshal of Sunday’s Daytona 500 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).

 

The initiative goes beyond merely lending voices to the sequel, but stretches to at-track appearances, merchandise and co-branded learning materials for elementary school students through the NASCAR Acceleration Nation youth program. But the movie’s story arc also draws parallels from NASCAR’s current trend, of a growing youth movement that’s making its mark in its regional and national series.

 

“It’s kind of just replicating what’s happening out on the track in real life,” Wallace said. “It’s just really cool to be a part of ‘Cars 3.’ What’s special is I have my little nephew who’s 3. He’s still understanding everything, but I think right around the corner he’s going to be ready to watch ‘Cars.’ So I’ve got to sit him down and watch ‘Cars’ 1 and ‘Cars 2’ with him to get him hooked on it, and then bring him to the race track so he can start representing some Bubba Wheelhouse merchandise.

 

“But it’s really cool to be a part of this younger generation coming up in the movie, just like in real time.”

 

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — FedEx announced a contract extension with 2016 Daytona 500 winner, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin on Thursday from Daytona International Speedway.

While the terms of the new contract weren’t disclosed, Hamlin smiled and allowed, "I’ll be much grayer" before I will need another extension.

"FedEx has been synonymous with the Number 11 car and Denny Hamlin for many years and together we have enjoyed great successes on and off the race track," said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior vice president, FedEx Integrated and Marketing Communications.

The company has backed Hamlin since the beginning of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, which now includes 29 race wins — including last year’s Daytona 500. He has made NASCAR’s playoffs in 10 of his 11 full-time seasons on the circuit.

"It’s great," Hamlin said of the extension. "Obviously we’ve had a great relationship over 12 years … to do this with one team and one sponsor is very rare and hard to do. To have a company like FedEx stick behind you … I’m definitely blessed and wake up every day thanking my lucky stars."

In addition to backing Hamlin’s team, FedEx introduced a new program called, "Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares," which means a $111 donation to the non-profit Safe Kids Worldwide for every lap Hamlin leads this season. The company will donate $11,000 for each of Hamlin’s race victories and $111,000 should his team win the 2017 Cup championship.

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Throughout the season, NASCAR takes you behind the scenes of the sport with first-person accounts from drivers and industry insiders. This exclusive content brings fans closer to race day than ever before.  
 
To add NASCAR on Snapchat, click here or search for "NASCAR" in the app when adding accounts by username.
 
And don’t miss NASCAR’s latest Live Story on Snapchat this weekend as we take you inside race day at Daytona International Speedway.
 
The Live Story will feature videos and photos submitted by drivers, teams and fans from in and around the track, showcasing behind-the-scenes access with your favorite stars along with the best of what fans experience around the track. Here’s your chance to experience a day in the life at one of NASCAR’s most exciting races, even if you can’t make it to the track.
 
If you’re making the trip to Daytona, be sure share your race day Snaps into the Daytona 500 Live Story.

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RELATED: Duel 1 results | Duel 2 results

A strong restart with eight laps to go — and a push from fellow Chevrolet driver Jamie McMurray — gave Daytona 500 polesitter Chase Elliott the power he needed to maintain the lead and take the checkered flag in Thursday’s Can-Am Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway.

Elliott, the youngest Daytona 500 polesitter, also became the youngest Duel winner in the race’s history — the previous record holder was Jeff Gordon. Elliott will start on the pole in Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the second straight year.

RELATED: Detailed results from Duel 1 | Projected Daytona lineup


"We just kind of set out and wanted to race, not ride around," Elliott said after climbing out of his car in Victory Lane. "I think sometimes you ride around and you don’t know what your car is like and if it’s going to be the way you want it for Sunday. And you can also get yourself in trouble. We took chances and it worked out, so I’m excited for Sunday."

McMurray gave Chevrolet a 1-2 finish with a runner-up result in his No. 1 Chip Ganassi ride, while Kevin Harvick finished third in the Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Brad Keselowski‘s No. 2 Team Penske Ford and Matt Kenseth‘s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota rounded out the top five.


Keselowski displayed his familiar restrictor-plate power, leading a race-high 28 laps.

"We had a good night," Keselowski said. "We knew the 24 car (of Elliott) was going to be strong. It just didn’t shake out like I hoped it would in some of those pivotal moments, but that’s part of it. … We’re going to work on some things that make that possible."
 
Duel 1 race determined the inside row for Sunday’s Daytona 5000 with Elliott locked into the top starting position, followed by McMurray (third), Harvick (fifth), etc. behind him.

The top 10 finishers received championship points, so race winner Elliott earned 10 points for the season, second-place McMurray nabbed nine, all the way to 10th-place Cole Whitt earning one point. The same system also applied to Duel 2.

Corey LaJoie claimed a spot in the "Great American Race," as he was the highest finisher (18th) among the three Open teams in the race. Brendan Gaughan had previously earned a spot by being the fastest Open car during Sunday’s qualifying session. 


Reed Sorenson seemed poised to earn a spot in the Daytona 500 as the highest Open team, but contact from LaJoie with 12 laps to go caused his No. 55 Toyota to spin and it was quickly towed off track. Paul Menard (20th) and Kyle Busch (13th) were also affected in the wreck. 


Joey Logano (ninth) experienced problems early in the 60-lap race: He fell back in the pack and was forced to pit for a loose wheel that was causing a vibration in the first 20 laps.

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The field is set! Heading into Thursday’s Can-Am Duels at Daytona, we already knew the front row for the Daytona 500 — Chase Elliott is on the pole, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start second when the green flag drops Feb. 26 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

We also knew Elliott Sadler and Brendan Gaughan had clinched spots in the field because in Daytona 500 single-car qualifying, they posted the two fastest times among the six Open, or non-Charter teams. That’s good for a spot in the field. And both drivers had to fall back on those times with Corey Lajoie and DJ Kennington racing their way into the Daytona 500.

 

As a reminder, the 36 Charter teams are locked into the Daytona 500, and every other points race.

 

Duel 1 results set the inside row of the Daytona 500. Duel 2 set the outside row.

* Denotes Open team

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RELATED: Duel 1 results | Duel 2 results | Projected lineup | More on the race

Denny Hamlin used a push from Austin Dillon and momentum on the outside lane to pass race leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the victory in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with two laps to go in Thursday’s Can-Am Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

The reigning Daytona 500 winner, Hamlin has also won a Duel race twice in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career.

"We definitely had a strong car but so much of that race was single file and so it was really tough to show what we could do in the pack once we got two- and three-wide, but it looked like our car could make some really good moves and got a great push from the 3 (Dillon) there at the end," Hamlin said. "It looked like our cars worked really, really well together there so we’ll keep that in mind when I need somebody to draft with in the 500."

Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch finished second and third, respectively, while AJ Allmendinger nabbed a fourth-place result in his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet. Austin Dillon completed the top five in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy.

Earnhardt Jr., who led Duel 2 to green to start the 60-lap event, led a race-high 53 laps around the superspeedway but finished sixth.

"I don’t know what I could have done differently to defend that," Earnhardt said after the race. "Once I heard the No. 3 (Dillon) was clear on the outside, I knew they was going to have a big run. Denny (Hamlin) is so smart and he knows what he’s doing out there. He’s one of the better plate racers out there. Any which way I would have went, he was going to go the other way and probably get by me. I was hoping Austin might push us a little bit since he drives a Chevy; but I don’t know if I would have done it any different than he did, either. Congratulations to Denny."

 
The Can-Am Duel 2 race set the outside row for Sunday’s Daytona 500, with Earnhardt Jr. retaining his outside pole position from Sunday’s qualifying session. Duel 2 winner Hamlin will start fourth, runner up Clint Bowyer will roll off the grid sixth, etc.

Just as Duel 1, the top-10 finishers received championship points: Race winner Hamlin earned 10 points, second-place Bowyer received nine, continuing down through 10th-place. Fourth-place finisher Allmendinger did not receive any points as he failed post-race inspection.

Ryan Blaney (20th) was contending for the lead with 15 laps to go and running in the top three when his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford was clipped by Jimmie Johnson (13th), who got loose from David Ragan‘s (11th) No. 38 ride. Ragan and Blaney also had some contact. Blaney took a trip down pit road under green for repairs. One lap later, Johnson scraped the wall, triggered the caution and brought the No. 48 Chevrolet down pit road for five-minute repairs, per NASCAR’s new damage rule.

DJ Kennington was the highest-running Open car in 15th-place and thus earned a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Elliott Sadler received a spot due to speed in Sunday’s qualifying session. Timmy Hill did not make the field.

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RELATED: Projected lineup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Corey LaJoie and DJ Kennington clinched berths in their first Daytona 500, both racing their way into the field in Thursday night’s qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.

LaJoie, 25, will make just his third start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s race (Feb. 26, 2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Kennington, a 39-year-old Canadian veteran, also showed his emotions after qualifying for the “Great American Race,” just his second start in NASCAR’s big leagues.



LaJoie finished 18th in the first of two Can-Am Duel races, emerging as one of the four drivers for non-chartered teams not already qualified for the 500. Kennington was 15th in the nightcap, taking the final transfer spot by half a car-length.

Brendan Gaughan and Elliott Sadler, both full-time NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers with one-off Daytona 500 rides, previously clinched berths in Sunday’s Coors Light Pole Qualifying as the two fastest drivers for non-chartered teams. Reed Sorenson and Timmy Hill failed to make the 40-car field.

LaJoie, son of two-time XFINITY champion Randy LaJoie, hasn’t made a NASCAR premier series start since 2014 and has just 20 national series appearances in his career. He indicated that his journey back to the Monster Energy Cup stage came with plenty of lobbying, including a ringing vote of confidence from seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson.

“That’s amazing,” LaJoie said. “And it’s not even just my family tonight, it’s every person that’s helped me get to this moment. It’s huge. It’s been a hard road and I’ve still got a long way to go, but it starts Sunday.”

LaJoie, in his first start for BK Racing’s No. 83 team, nudged Sorenson’s No. 55 Toyota out of position to clinch a starting spot after contact in the 49th of 60 laps in Duel 1. Sorenson’s Premium Motorsports entry collected Paul Menard’s No. 27 before slamming into the inside retaining wall, knocking him from the race.

“It looks like he turned us, just like I thought,” Sorenson said. “I guess he felt like he did what he had to do to make the race, so I hope he’s proud of that part of it.”

RELATED: Sorenson reacts to wreck, contact from LaJoie

Said LaJoie: “I’m sure he wasn’t happy. I wouldn’t be happy either, but he’s going to be drinking margaritas on the beach on Sunday and I’m going to be racing in the Daytona 500. That’s just the way it is. I’m sure he’s not going to give me any breaks the next time we race, either. It’s just part of it. I do feel bad and it probably looked intentional, but it certainly wasn’t.”