Although the 65th running of the Daytona 500 initially waved green through the waning portions of Stage 2, the first major caution of the race collected a number of potential race-winning contenders.
With 12 laps to go in Stage 2 and 82 laps to go in the race, Tyler Reddick got loose in the outside lane following a bump from Kevin Harvick and eventually orbited down into the bottom groove, causing a domino effect. Drivers involved in the ensuing incident included Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Daniel Suárez, with Reddick, Jones and Elliott all officially out of the race following the damage.
“Yeah, it was hard to tell,” Jones said to NASCAR.com following the crash. “It looked like the 45 got turned around, but I couldn’t see how it happened or how it had happened, but regardless, we spun off there on the bottom trying to get around and then got hit, left side hard enough to take out the left rear and just kind of end our day.
“So, it is what it is. We went out, we were racing, we were doing all we could and, you know, we were just in the wrong spot at the wrong time. Wish we could’ve been a little ahead of him.”
Additional drivers to be involved in the incident included Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Harvick.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR is home to the most loyal and passionate fans in all of sports, and now fans are being rewarded for that loyalty. As part of its 75th Diamond Anniversary season, NASCAR has launched NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for simply engaging with the sport they love.
“Our fans are the reason we race week in and week out, so we wanted to show our appreciation by creating this free program that rewards them for doing what they’re already doing – connecting with the sport they love,” said Pete Jung, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “The best part is, the more fans engage, the more rewards they will earn towards things such as merchandise, gift cards and even race tickets.”
There is no cost to join the rewards program. Fans can visit nascar.com/fanrewards, create an account and start earning points toward rewards immediately. For those fans who already have a NASCAR.com account, they can simply opt-in to NASCAR Fan Rewards via their profile page. Once points are earned, fans can redeem them for items such as race tickets, VIP experiences, autographed merchandise and gift cards, or even donate to the NASCAR Foundation.
Some ways to earn points towards rewards include:
Watching Races from Home: Fans can check in on the NASCAR.com (desktop, mobile app or mobile web) leaderboard during any CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Xfinity Series or Cup Series race
Attending NASCAR Races: Fans can check in from the NASCAR Track app
Playing NASCAR Fantasy Live
Participating in Weekly Trivia: Available via the NASCAR Fan Rewards dashboard each week
Purchasing Race Tickets and Camping: Points are earned automatically when fans purchase tickets or camping at any NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Xfinity Series or Cup Series race
Visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Purchasing Merchandise from the NASCAR.com Shop
To help launch the program and generate awareness among fans, NASCAR and Spire Motorsports will collaborate to showcase a special NASCAR Fan Rewards paint scheme on the No. 77 Chevrolet driven by Ty Dillon during the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 5.
For further information on the NASCAR Fan Rewards program and a full list of ways to earn points and rewards, visit nascar.com/fanrewards.
The NASCAR Cup Series hits the track for the first time in 2023 at the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum this Sunday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Tickets begin at $65, and kids 12 and under are $10. Fans can get tickets now by visiting www.nascarclash.com. Then, the regular season gets underway with the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500®, the Great American Race, on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. UNOH Fanzone passes are still available at www.daytona500.com or by calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced today a new Campus Lab Program that will launch in the fall semester at Bethune-Cookman University. This program targets highly motivated students interested in pursuing careers in the fast-paced sports industry and will provide them with hands-on experience through a specialized curriculum.
“The NASCAR Campus Lab Program will provide exposure to the motorsports industry, career readiness guidance and valuable real-world experience for Bethune-Cookman students,” said Caryn Grant, Senior Director of NASCAR Diversity & Inclusion. “We look forward to developing the next generation of sports professionals while strengthening NASCAR’s relationship with this historic university.”
Bethune-Cookman University is located roughly three miles from NASCAR’s Daytona Beach headquarters and Daytona International Speedway. Students accepted to the NASCAR Campus Lab Program will get real-world experience developing a marketing activation while managing a set budget provided by NASCAR, compete in a case study competition, get a behind-the-scenes view of careers throughout the industry, be paired with a mentor from NASCAR’s Black employee resource group and receive resume and interview tips from human resources professionals. Additionally, NASCAR has made a $100,000 donation to the program.
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Upon completion of the program, NASCAR will provide participating students with a scholarship prize, and at least one eligible student will earn a spot in the highly competitive NASCAR Diversity Internship Program for the upcoming summer. NDIP was launched in 2000 and since then more than 500 college students have participated in the industry’s longest-running diversity initiative.
“We’re extremely excited about the opportunity to expand our long-standing relationship with NASCAR and the Daytona International Speedway said Dr. Lawrence M. Drake, interim president at Bethune-Cookman University. “The NASCAR Campus Lab Program will provide B-CU students with direct access to NASCAR and the world of motorsports through experiential learning, mentoring, and professional support. We believe this kind of exposure will not only help our students further develop the skills and competencies they need to compete in the 21st-century knowledge economy, but will open their minds to an industry that probably wasn’t previously in their consideration set.”
The NASCAR Campus Lab Program is open to sophomores and above at Bethune-Cookman University with a business major, minor, or concentration who have a demonstrated interest in working in the sports industry.
Additional program details and application information will be available to Bethune-Cookman University students through the College of Business and Entrepreneurship beginning February 19. Applications for the fall 2023 cohort will close March 24.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kevin Harvick is a planner. Always has been, he says.
This year’s agenda looks a little different.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series circuit will be Harvick’s final, capping a 23-year career at the sport’s top echelon. Plenty will be routine for the 2014 series champion when he gets to the track. But a lot will be new.
“I always feel like when I start the season, I know what the plan is, and I know what I am trying to accomplish and what I am working toward,” Harvick said. “From the racing side, it is the same. But this year is just a different plan. You go out and execute the plan and start working on the next plan.”
The next step is already public — a transition into the FOX Sports play-by-play booth to serve as an analyst alongside longtime lead Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer, a longtime teammate of Harvick.
Thousands of laps remain before Harvick trades his steering wheel for a microphone, though — coupled with a good bit of reflection.
His recent accomplishments are the most memorable because they are the freshest — 60 career wins, a Cup title and an astounding 790 series starts. His transition to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 with crew chief Rodney Childers immediately proved fruitful, producing the Cup championship in addition to five victories that season. Last year, he became the first driver to win back-to-back races in the Next Gen vehicle.
But forgotten these days are the successes of Kevin Harvick Inc., his former Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams.
Harvick launched the Truck program in 2001 but didn’t take it full-time until 2004, the same season he launched his Xfinity Series operation. In an eight-year span, that team collected 10 Xfinity wins, 43 Truck victories and two series championships. Harvick also scored Xfinity titles in 2001 and 2006, competing mainly for Richard Childress Racing, where he began his illustrious career.
Jonathan Ferrey | ALLSPORT
The relationship with RCR was deeply rooted by 2001, but Harvick’s leap to Cup that year was shrouded in tragedy, tasked with replacing seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt in the renumbered No. 3 Chevrolet to what became the No. 29 car.
Despite the immense pressure and awkward nature of the circumstances, Harvick overcame and achieved his own significant success, highlighted by an Atlanta win in just his third Cup start. What — and how — Harvick has achieved is not lost on longtime competitor and 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski.
“I look at Kevin and think of the opportunity that he had 22 years ago, and I can’t imagine having to go through that set of circumstances and the weight that would come with that and trying to take that forward,” Keselowski said. “And to be able to do that and to overcome that weight and to win races at all three levels and championships as owner [and] driver at all three levels, I can’t think of anyone else that’s done that — at least not in this era to the regard that he’s done it.
“I think that’s a tremendous accomplishment. It’s easy to lose sight of. We get so focused on ‘what have you done last week’ that I think sometimes we lose sight on what people have done over their career and certainly sometimes even over just a few years.”
Through his accomplishments on and off the track, Harvick has garnered respect and admiration from his competitive peers — those who have raced him for two decades and those who are only getting their first tastes of racing the veteran.
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, a rookie in 2002 who returns to Daytona for his first NASCAR appearance since the 2020 season concluded, didn’t always get along with Harvick. He once suggested Childress fire Harvick following a crash in the 2005 duel qualifying race. That dynamic changed over time. Now a team owner himself at Legacy Motor Club, Johnson sees all Harvick has contributed to stock car racing.
“I think Kevin has offered so much in so many ways,” Johnson said. “He’s not only a fierce competitor but is someone who grew up in the sport and grew up in it and cares for it. He’s always taken the time to understand the point he wants to make and is confident in the point that he makes.
“He’s looked through the ownership lens, as we all know, and certainly the driver lens. He’s been with multiple organizations and different leaders. He’s a very well-rounded, intelligent driver/businessman. I have a ton of respect for what’s accomplished inside and out of the car.”
On the other end of the spectrum is Austin Cindric, the defending Daytona 500 champion and Cup Series sophomore who recently had his fair share of Harvick interactions at the exhibition Clash at The Coliseum on Feb. 5.
“My most recent encounter with Kevin was at the Coliseum, and I got dumped twice in one heat race,” Cindric recalled. “But past that, it’s been fun to get to know him. I would categorize him as a polarizing figure just because I feel like he speaks his mind, and I feel like that does a lot for the industry.
“I have gotten an ass-chewing from Kevin at COTA last year, and that was an interesting experience, but I feel like understanding where he sits and where his career is at … I think it’ll be fun to see how he races this year. By that, I mean I don’t think he’s gonna care about anyone else all year, and I think the Coliseum was a good gauge of that.”
Harvick admitted there’s probably some truth to that, courtesy of some advice from another friend and former competitor.
“Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. summed it up for me by saying it was my ‘NFG’ tour. I said, ‘you’re right,’” Harvick laughed. “If we have to settle scores, we will settle them immediately. We aren’t waiting until next week. If it rolls, we are settling them.”
Chase Elliott, the five-time defending Most Popular Driver, had his own heated encounter with Harvick at Bristol Motor Speedway during a playoff race in 2021. While that memory lingers, it doesn’t cloud what Harvick has meant to Elliott, the 2020 Cup champion.
“I feel like there’s been a lot of mutual respect,” said Elliott, who begins his eighth full-time season this year. “Our disagreement there at Bristol is probably always going to stand out. But it goes much deeper than that.
“Kevin has been a great ally of mine early in my career. I’ve referenced that, the questions here lately. I’m very appreciative of that, him being able to lend a hand there early in my career. I appreciate his time and willingness to help me learn and help get me and steer me in a good direction going into some of those tracks for the first time in my rookie year of Xfinity.”
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Another once-fiery rivalry that has cooled considerably is Harvick’s with Kyle Busch. The duo traded plenty of barbs (and paint) over the years — including a Darlington conflict in 2011 that saw Busch punt Harvick’s empty car into the wall post-race.
These days? The two are good enough friends to have shared a rental-car ride on Wednesday, conjuring memories of a NASCAR film classic.
“It’s kind of weird, right?” Busch quipped. “Almost the ‘Days of Thunder’ where we should have got our own rental cars. Would have been a Ford versus Chevy. That would have been funny. But yeah, him having Keelan, me having Brexton and us having other things outside of just the race track and different things in life, like you mentioned about focusing on and what it’ll teach you has certainly meant a lot to the both of us and how we can relate and work with one another.”
Harvick has established himself as a leader inside the NASCAR garage, an authoritative voice as the series’ most experienced driver. He didn’t always want to accept that role, though.
Feeling as though his opinions hadn’t been considered, Harvick began shying away from significant involvement within the paddock and with the sport’s leadership. That changed over the past year as Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman incurred concussions from crashes during the 2022 season.
Araya Doheny | Getty Images
“It really lit a fire to me to make sure that you didn’t leave them hanging before you left, and you tried to establish something that was better for them before we left,” Harvick said. “For all of us, it has been eye-opening to have to establish relationships and talk to each other in the same room because it just hasn’t been that way in 15 years.
“When Dale [Earnhardt Sr.] and all those guys were coming up through the years, those guys all traveled together and were really good friends. And it has kind of evolved away from all of that with the way that today’s industry works. For us to have to sit in rooms and talk to each other and learn more about each and get to know each other, I feel like I have gotten to know more of the guys over the last year-and-a-half than I have in the last 10 years.”
Harvick’s accomplishments and contributions to NASCAR have solidified an outstanding legacy, one which will surely be enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame once eligible to be voted in. KHI still reigns strong, now as KHI Management, a sports service and celebrity-marketing agency that represents athletes from racing to mixed martial arts. Current NASCAR competitors repped by the brand include Ryan Preece, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Harrison Burton.
“I think there are a lot of people in this sport who are successful in one piece of the environment,” Keselowski said. “But to be successful in multiple pieces of the environment is that much more challenging, so to be able to have that legacy is one that I’m sure Kevin is proud of. And as the industry reflects back over the course of the year, I hope it takes the time to remember as well.”
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — William Sawalich won the Super Late Model battle in the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway, but Casey Roderick won the war.
Despite having to watch Sawalich take his second World Series of Asphalt win of the week after dealing with brake issues for most of the night, Roderick still managed to salvage a sixth-place finish in Saturday’s Orange Blossom 100, earning him a title in his first attempt at the prestigious event.
The frustration of his brake issue was at the forefront of Roderick’s mind immediately after race, but he did come away with a sense of pride knowing he will always be remembered as a World Series of Asphalt champion.
“I feel good, but I’m disappointed in our finish,” Roderick said. “A brake line or something came loose on the right rear. It just went to the floor, so I did the best I could to get in the corner, but I’m proud of these guys. They did an awesome job all week, but it sucks we didn’t have anything to show for it tonight.”
From the moment they arrived at New Smyrna for the World Series of Asphalt, the cars Anthony Campi supplied to Roderick and Katie Hettinger proved to be two of the fastest at the facility.
William Byron matched Roderick’s win total by winning on Monday and taking the Clyde Hart Memorial 100 the following night, while Sawalich bookended the Super Late Model division with trips to Victory Lane.
A blown engine for Sawalich in the Clyde Hart Memorial 100 hindered him from making a significant run at Roderick for a World Series of Asphalt title, but he was more than satisfied to celebrate another win with the organization.
“I can’t thank the Donnie Wilson crew enough for giving me a great car,” Sawalich said. “I’m super happy for all of them, and there’s no better way to cap off [the week] with [another win].”
Sawalich had to earn his victory by going up against one of the best Super Late Model drivers in Bubba Pollard.
After Pollard took the lead on a restart, Sawalich patiently bided his time behind the veteran until he made his move with just over 10 laps remaining. Once he cleared Pollard, Sawalich drove away from the field to add another win to his growing resume.
“That was a game of patience,” Sawalich said about his battle with Pollard. “I had to analyze what my car had versus what [Pollard’s] had. I capitalized on his weakness and got him with my strong points.”
(Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)
With the World Series of Asphalt now complete, Sawalich is turning his attention toward his ARCA commitments, where he is scheduled to run 20 races across the three divisions.
For Roderick, the World Series of Asphalt gave him and Campi a perfect game plan for the rest of their 2023 season. He is confident the brake issues that hindered them on Saturday will be rectified and that they will continue to build off the momentum from their World Series of Asphalt title.
“I knew coming into [this week] we had a shot [at the World Series of Asphalt],” Roderick said. “We were strong in every race and had a chance to win. We’ve just got to keep digging and go into these other races by doing the same thing we did this week.”
Gabe Sommers wrapped up his World Series of Asphalt season by placing third in the Orange Blossom 100. Defending New Smyrna track champion Brad May was fourth, while Connor Mosack, who had finished second in the ARCA Daytona 200 a few hours earlier, rounded out the top five.
The Super Late Models shared the track with five other divisions on Saturday. Below are the other key takeaways from the final night of the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna.
Bill Burba took home the checkered flag in the Florida Modified finale, allowing him to overtake Cody Stickler for the championship, who was eliminated on Lap 5 after sustaining contact in a battle with Wayne Parker for the lead.
Parker ended up finishing in second in Saturday’s feature, where he was followed by Tim Moore, Shain Held and Michael Mark.
Brennon Pletcher was victorious in the lone Pro Trucks feature of the World Series of Asphalt. Taylor Watson placed second with Richard Griffis, Kenneth Canales and Becca Monopoli completing the top-five finishers.
For the Mod Mini feature, Sean Bass put together a commanding performance that saw him beat Dylan Reynolds by 4.3 seconds. David Russell, John DeGeorge and Rex Christianson rounded out the top five.
Paul Koci won the 50-lap Super Stock race over Rich Clouser, Blake Clouser, Doug Samion and Bobby Holley.
Noah Partlow formally put a bow on the 2023 World Series of Asphalt with a win in the Bomber B feature, which he took over Frank Button, Chuck Rush, Rick Gaither and Daniel Bromley.
For the first time ever, I am attending the Daytona 500!
I’m dating myself here, but I have attended a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway — the Pepsi 400 way back in 2002.
Daytona 500 odds have been widely available for several months, so I have a handful of NASCAR picks that I’ve already made. However, I’ll be away from my computer for a chunk of the weekend while traveling to the race.
As a result, I decided to tap a handful of fellow NASCAR bettors to provide their top Daytona 500 picks for Sunday’s race (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM) to make sure I’m not missing out on any of the top value bets for the “Great American Race.”
So with a little help from my friends, I’ve detailed the latest Daytona 500 odds and NASCAR picks with value heading into this afternoon’s race.
Christi Walsh is already on my favorite bet for the Daytona 500, which she details below, so I am highlighting my second-favorite wager instead to avoid repetition.
The Action Network’s Nick Giffen and I have been all over Almirola since odds opened through Thursday night’s Duel races, so this pick may seem a bit redundant. But for those now starting or finishing up their Daytona 500 betting cards, there’s still plenty of value in this number.
Almirola has a knack for superspeedway racing, including wins at Daytona and Talladega in the Cup and Xfinity Series.
In addition, Almirola finished fifth in this race one year ago, which is significant since it was also run in NASCAR’s Next Gen car.
But what makes me most bullish on Almirola is how his car performed en route to a victory in Thursday night’s second Duel race.
At the very low-risk, high-upside price of 33-1, we’re getting an experienced and successful superspeedway racer who appears to have one of the best cars for today’s Daytona 500.
Nick Giffen: Top Toyota — Christopher Bell (+550 at bet365)
Seven Toyota drivers are entered in this year’s Daytona 500. Two of those drivers are rookies making their Daytona 500 debuts.
If every Toyota had equal odds, they’d all be listed at +600, but Bell rates higher than both Travis Pastrana and Ty Gibbs.
My model also rates him better than Martin Truex Jr. and Tyler Reddick. That makes sense given Reddick’s performance in his Duel race, and Truex’s lack of solid superspeedway results over a large sample size.
Bell nearly won his Duel qualifying race over Joey Logano, even without getting much help from his Toyota teammates.
I have Bell’s fair odds at about +475, so +550 at bet365 is one of the better values of any bet still out there per my model. I’d bet this down to +500 and feel good about it.
Stephen Young: Cody Ware Lead Lap Finish (+225 at BetRivers)
It wouldn’t be Daytona if I didn’t have a fun bet that I liked a lot.
In 12 career superspeedway races, Ware has three lead-lap finishes. With that said, he’s been running at the end in 10 of those 12 races.
Half the battle at Daytona is running at the end of the race. If his team can clean up on pit road, Ware should avoid issues while running toward the back. He had a 28.1 average running position on superspeedways last season.
At the end of the day, I like looking for long-shot bets for the 500, and I think this has a good chance of hitting if there are a lot of other issues. There have been at least seven cautions in eight of the last 10 Daytona races.
Christi Walsh: Ryan Blaney to Win (+1200 at FanDuel)
It’s no secret that I absolutely adore betting Blaney, and across the four Cup Series races run in the Next Gen car last season at Daytona and Talladega, YRB posted the best average finish while leading the most laps.
Additionally, three of Blaney’s seven career Cup Series wins have come at Talladega and Daytona.
There’s a valid reason for the price tag, but he’s worth it.
Jim Sannes: Winning Manufacturer — Ford (+150 at DraftKings)
When I look at outright values in my model, almost all of them (excluding Bell at +3000) are Fords.
So, rather than picking one, let’s just lump them all together and bet Ford at +150. DraftKings still has a “winning manufacturer” bet available at those odds. The implied odds there are 40%, and I’ve got Fords winning 41.9% of the time.
We saw their strength on Thursday, and we’ve seen it consistently at superspeedways in the past. I’m fine betting guys like Kevin Harvick (+2500) and Austin Cindric (+2700) individually if you want longer odds.
However, this is the best way to bet them in my eyes.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted about the queasy feeling he had as Saturday evening’s NASCAR Xfinity Series opener headed into its final stage. Three of his four cars had spent time leading on Daytona International Speedway’s high banks, and the lot of them were squarely in the top five and in contention for victory as the laps ticked away.
The nausea turned out to be a fairly accurate predictor of the bedlam that ended Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300.
The JR Motorsports quartet of Josh Berry, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Brandon Jones all sat lined up second through fifth in that order in the closing laps behind Austin Hill’s No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, but none could mount a united charge to overtake it — each with results that varied on the disappointment scale and with questions about the timing of their late-race bid for the win.
When overtime came, the list of JRM hopefuls had been trimmed to two who each seemed to have an edge against Hill — Allgaier, who led at the white flag, and Mayer, who avoided his teammate’s block and zipped by on the high side through Turns 1 and 2. The two nearly touched but a tight squeeze with Hill turned Mayer’s No. 1 Camaro into the outside wall, where it made contact and flipped, throwing sparks as it skidded on the backstretch asphalt. He was checked at the infield care center and unhurt, just missing out on his first Xfinity Series victory.
“That really sucks. I mean, I’m more emotionally drained because I was so close yet again,” Mayer told NASCAR.com after returning to the garage area with a 27th-place finish, last among the JRM drivers. “It’s just like, you can taste it, you can see it, you can feel it, and then all of a sudden, you’re feeling something completely different that ain’t that good. But I mean, our team, I’m super proud of everything that we put together today. I mean, we’re hauling the mail, we were able to control the race for a little bit and experience that.”
Allgaier wound up keeping his car straight after his closely contested battle with Mayer, placing third behind Hill and runner-up John Hunter Nemechek. As he took the white flag, Allgaier built out a lead of several car lengths that was quickly erased by Mayer and Hill in front of the more aero-efficient pack. “I knew that if I lifted, I was gonna get swallowed up,” Allgaier said, “and I just didn’t think that was the right choice.”
The choice that Allgaier made with just two laps left in regulation helped turned the outcome. His No. 7 team told him over the radio communications to be ready, preparing him for the move that would break up the single-file group. When Mayer appeared to feint low, Allgaier dove to the bottom lane to set JRM’s attack in motion.
“I really thought it was a little late to be honest with you, which is kind of funny,” said Allgaier, who led 36 laps, second only to Hill’s race-best 39. “You know, (Mayer) felt like it was a little early; I felt like it was a little late. I thought we made the right move, just then you’re worried about running out of fuel and all the other scenarios.”
Said Mayer: “I think it was probably one lap early, but I think the cars, the way we’re set up here, I think it’s what you have to do almost in certain situations. Because once you get the lead, it’s easy to control it once you get up there. You’ve just got to get there first. So I think that’s why he did what he did and why everyone did what they did. But I mean, it’s Daytona. All hell’s gonna break loose anyway. No matter what you do, something’s gonna go wrong, and sometimes you’re on the short end of the stick like we were tonight.”
Behind them, the jostling continued and contact between Berry and Jones sent the latter’s No. 9 Chevrolet out of line and spinning into the backstretch grass. He drove away from the off-course excursion and finished 14th, on the lead lap.
“Josh did all he could do to try to win the race, right,” Jones told NASCAR.com in the Xfinity garage. “He wanted to make the move to try to get that train started. And here I was late, I was slow, whatever it was, just to make that block and he can’t lift, I don’t think at that point, you know what I mean? If he lifts, it’s gonna stack his deal up, and at that point, I’m committed. I’ve got to try to take it and hope for the best. And it’s something I’ve just got to work on a little bit probably in the future, is just really getting aggressive with making the move like that.
“But it’s just tough, right? You run around all day, and wait and wait on when the plan is going to happen, and when we’re all going to make our move to go. And really, it’s kind of coming a little late for me. I was thinking in my head, eight to go-ish and that’s when we need to start thinking about making this move. And then we get down to five (laps left) and it’s something that never really happened. And so it got down to where it was gonna be pretty late, you’re gonna have one shot at it.”
Berry continued after his contact with Jones, but those same concerns that Allgaier voiced about running out of gas struck his No. 8 Chevy, which sputtered dry under yellow on the first extra lap.
“I think Brandon was sort of late on that block obviously. The last thing I want to do is spin out one of my teammates, but I felt like I was plenty far up on him that I don’t feel like I did anything wrong,” Berry said after finishing 26th.
None of their four efforts were enough to dislodge Hill’s solo march.
“I feel like, everyone has a different opinion, but I felt like we were better with our strength in numbers trying to beat the 21,” Berry said. “He thought otherwise.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After Sam Mayer spun on the roof of his Chevrolet on the backstretch at Daytona International Speedway, trailing a shower of sparks, Austin Hill, Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek sat in their cars and waited.
And after what must have seemed to be an eternity to the drivers, NASCAR reviewed video of the final lap of overtime and declared Hill the winner of his second straight season opener at the World Center of Racing in front of the largest crowd to witness an Xfinity Series race at Daytona since the $400-million renovation of the facility in 2016.
A consummate superspeedway racer, Hill led a race-high 38 laps in Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300 and was narrowly ahead of surging John Hunter Nemechek when the sanctioning body called the caution for Mayer’s spectacular accident on Lap 125—five circuits beyond the scheduled distance.
“As soon as the caution lights came on, I thought I had it, but it was so close,” Hill said. “To get back-to-back here at Daytona, it’s really special. That’s three wins for me now, two in the Xfinity, one in the truck here. We came from the back two different times.
“I hope everyone enjoyed it. It was such a blast. I had so much fun. We won at Daytona! Let’s go!”
Here is the photo NASCAR competition officials used to determine the winner. The tower utilizes frame-by-frame video that syncs the time of caution with the time stamp of the video. This is the frame at the time of the final caution of the race.
Hill’s first thought, however, was for Mayer. Contact between Hill’s No. 21 Camaro and Mayer’s No. 1 Chevrolet sent Mayer spinning and then flipping upside down until his car hit the infield grass and landed upright. Mayer was treated and released from the infield care center.
“When I saw the 1 (Mayer) and the 7 (Allgaier) get together, I just went to go squeeze them, and the 1 came down, he started getting loose, and then you can’t lift—it’s last lap,” Hill said. “I hope Sam is OK, man. That was a heck of a flip there.”
Allgaier, who was credited with a third-place finish, had another close call in the race that has eluded him.
“I’ve been short my whole life, so I guess it’s just fitting,” quipped the 5-foot-6-inch driver. “But really proud of everybody at JR Motorsports. Our Chevy Camaros tonight were absolutely blazing fast.
“Obviously, I’m glad Sam is OK. He had a heck of a run there at the end.”
Rookie Parker Retzlaff finished a career-best fourth, followed by Myatt Snider. Riley Herbst, Joe Graf Jr., Ryan Sieg, Cole Custer and Justin Haley completed the top 10.
Hill won the first stage, but only through Allgaier’s benevolence. On the final lap of the stage, Hill steered down the track to block Allgaier’s Chevrolet. Allgaier backed out of the throttle to give Hill room, as the rear bumper of Hill’s Camaro slid uncomfortably close to the nose of Allgaier’s car.
“If I don’t lift, I wreck the whole field,” Allgaier said on his radio. “It’s stupid racing.”
“Justin really cut me a break,” Hill acknowledged. “I really appreciate that from him.”
Allgaier must have gotten some karmic benefit from his magnanimity. When Parker Kligerman turned Sheldon Creed’s Chevrolet while bump-drafting near the entrance to Turn 1 on Lap 40, Allgaier’s Chevrolet spun sideways onto the apron behind the initial wreck.
After a tape job to the left rear of his car, Allgaier returned to the track, started at the rear of the field and quickly charged back into the lead on Lap 54. Allgaier went on to win the second stage, with Mayer close behind him.
“To go to the back and have that spin and just battle our way through, it’s crazy how fast our car was tonight and how good we were in traffic,” Allgaier said.
Unfortunately for the veteran driver, speed, maneuverability and good karma could carry him only so far.
The Xfinity Series will return to action at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 25 (5 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Note: Inspection in the Xfinity Series garage is complete with no issues, confirming the No. 21 entry of Austin Hill as the race winner.
Winning the Daytona 500 is special, no matter the case. But Sunday’s star-studded field, including seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and motorsports superstar Travis Pastrana, has this race tabbed to be one of the all-time greats. If you’re a points-paying regular, winning the opening race of the season sets the tone for a potential championship run and has you less worried about even making the playoffs; for open entrants and other part-time racers, winning this race will certainly be the highlight of their entire year. Capturing the Harley J. Earl Trophy changes how you are seen, a forever champion in the sport’s most iconic race. Being the 65th “Great American Race” winner in the sport’s 75th anniversary season is just that much sweeter.
Even though Chevrolet has the pole-winning speed, it is Ford and Toyota that usually rise to the occasion in the Daytona 500 — at least, in recent memory. In the last eight Daytona 500 races, Ford (four) and Toyota (three) have combined to win seven times, while Austin Dillon collected the only win for the bowties in 2018. Denny Hamlin is the only repeat winner in the last 11 races, winning the Harley J. Earl Trophy an incredible three times. Though Chevrolet has flashed the dominant speed, they have rarely put together a complete race in recent memory and will certainly be looking to buck this trend Sunday with Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson starting on the front row. (Stats courtesy of Racing Insights)
Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are the betting co-favorites to win, but watch out for…
Austin Cindric. In his limited Cup Series experience, making his full-season debut in 2022, Team Penske’s rising star has been incredibly consistent in some of the most difficult situations stock car racing has to offer. Since finishing 15th in his first Daytona 500 (2021), Cindric hasn’t finished outside of the top three at Daytona, dating back to his Daytona 500 win and including Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 where he finished runner-up. Some may call it lucky, but the No. 2 wheelman seems to have something figured out and is driving for a Team Penske organization that always shows up for superspeedway races. If Cindric can park his Mustang in Victory Lane again Sunday, he will enter the rare air of back-to-back Daytona 500 winners and one of few who have won the crown jewel more than once.
Familiar favorites ⭐️
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
• Paint Scheme Preview: Dashing colors and schemes for Daytona | Pick a favorite • Power Rankings: Austin Dillon off to quick start in RCR’s new era | Last week’s driver rankings • Betting odds: See the favorites, long shots for Sunday’s race | Top bets, underdog picks • Fantasy Fastlane: After Duel win, is Joey Logano a lock for your lineup? | Fantasy tips, sleepers • At-track photos: Capturing the best scenes from Daytona Speedweeks | Scroll through them
• Stacking Pennies: Kyle Larson talks Indy 500 ambitions, Cup season and more | Listen to the podcast
• On the Move: Changes to know before the 2023 season | Catch up on the details
💎 NASCAR 75: Check out exclusive NASCAR content throughout the anniversary season | Learn more, explore
Hot off the press 📰
Key stories and breaking news from the week leading up to the race.
• Bigger restart zone: New change for 2023 could increase gamesmanship | Read more • NASCAR Exclusive: How will the choose rule affect the Daytona 500? | Watch the breakdown • NASCAR 75: 75 greatest drivers to be named as part of anniversary celebration | Read more • Kevin Harvick: ‘If we have scores to settle, we will settle them immediately’ | Read more • Garage 56: Race livery for Le Mans unveiled at Daytona | Read more
• Elton Sawyer: Feature story on one of the leaders at R&D | Read more
• Ross Chastain: Trackhouse Racing, Chastain reach new contract | Read more
• More contract extensions: Alex Bowman, Ally | Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse
• New faces, new places: Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick among changes | Read more
• Official Partner: Powerball becomes Official Partner of NASCAR | Read more
Get in on the action 💰
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy and Fan Rewards.
• Fan Rewards: New in 2023, get rewarded for your participation! | Learn more • Betting insight: Las Vegas sportsbook takes sharp action on Denny Hamlin | Read full analysis • Fantasy Live: A new season of NASCAR Fantasy Live will begin with the Daytona 500 |Tips for 2023 • NASCAR BetCenter: Don’t miss your chance to make picks each week | Visit the BetCenter
• Going all the way: 2023 Cup Series championship odds | See them here
Dreaming of Daytona 💫
Relevant history, recent race winners and more from NASCAR’s most iconic track.
Five hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Alex Bowman has three Daytona 500 poles in seven starts, making him one of seven three-time pole winners in this race. • The last time a defending Cup Series champion won the Daytona 500 was Dale Jarrett in 2000. • Ford and Toyota have combined to win seven of the last eight Daytona 500s. • Kyle Busch leads all drivers in laps led among drivers that are winless in the Daytona 500 with 324. • Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell finished top-10 in the last two Daytona 500s, the longest active streak.
A notable quote from one star of the sport heading into Sunday’s race.
• “My first race in the Next Gen car is done, and we finished 14th in the Duel. Wish that we finished a little bit better, but we got a ton of great reps for the No. 84 Carvana Chevy team. I have new over-the-wall guys, a new spotter, new crew chief, a new team – to have this behind us is really good, and I think it was a really successful day. I wish that our strategy was a bit better for the cars we were running with, but we have 500 miles on Sunday to figure that out.” — Jimmie Johnson, driver and co-owner of the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
As we’ve inched closer to the start of the 2023 season, NASCAR.com has taken a tour through the garage and previewed the upcoming campaign for all the NASCAR Cup Series teams.
Find out what’s new with each organization, plus get a team outlook and analysis on each driver — as well as their championship odds, provided by BetMGM — before Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio).
