In an exclusive interview on FOX NASCAR’s pre-race show prior to Sunday’s Daytona 500, Michael Strahan sat down with basketball legend and 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan, co-owner Denny Hamlin and driver Bubba Wallace.
The quartet of stardom talked about a variety of topics, including Jordan’s NASCAR fandom from a young age, how 23XI Racing formed and the social injustice initiatives that has surrounded Wallace since early 2020.
“I’ve been texting these clowns … I’m excited, I’m nervous even though I’m not getting in the car,” Jordan told Strahan.
When asked by Strahan if he would attend races this year, Jordan said, “If I’m not there physically, you better believe I’ll be there mentally.”
Jordan and Wallace even had a few light-hearted moments during the interview.
“At the end of the day, they are the ones ultimately in control because they’re the ones signing them checks,” Wallace joked.
Jordan replied: “The thing is, we don’t sign checks to losers.”
While Jordan, Hamlin and Wallace appeared loose and ready to tackle the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, all eyes are on the newly formed team as a mixture of star power and expectation of performance leave them with plenty of pressure.
“From the start of this season to the end of the season,” Hamlin said, “I just want to see the arrow going in the right direction.”
The No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota driven by Bubba Wallace will start at the rear of the field after failing pre-race inspection twice before the Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Wallace was set to roll off sixth in the first Cup race for the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin co-owned organization after placing second in the second of two Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona.
As a result of the multiple failures, car chief Greg Emmer has been ejected.
In seven starts at Daytona, Wallace has two top fives, including a fifth-place finish in his most recent run there in August of 2020. His best Cup result came in the 2018 Daytona 500 with Richard Petty Motorsports — a runner-up result in that race to winner Austin Dillon.
All told, 10 cars will start from the back in today’s Daytona 500. In addition to the No. 23, the following cars will move to the back:
Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (qualified: 24th; backup car)
Kaz Grala, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (qualified: 40th; backup car)
Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (qualified: 26th; radiator change)
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet (qualified: 2nd; multiple inspection failures)
Anthony Alfredo, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (qualified: 36th; backup car)
Erik Jones, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet (qualified: 31st; engine change)
Cole Custer, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (qualified: 27th; backup car)
Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (qualified: 30th; backup car)
Ross Chastain, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet (qualified: 34th; backup car)
In a stunning upset at the end of an action-filled, rain-interrupted Daytona 500, Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series victory after charging into the lead during a brutal multi-car wreck in Turn 3 on the final lap.
“I can’t believe it,” McDowell said. “I’ve got to thank God. So many years of just grinding it out, hoping for an opportunity like this. I’ve got to thank (team owner) Bob Jenkins for giving me this opportunity. I’m so thankful.
“What a great way to get a first victory — in the Daytona 500!”
In fact, McDowell, who led only the final lap at 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway, is the eighth driver to get his first Cup win in The Great American Race. His victory is the third for Front Row Motorsports — all coming in the No. 34 Ford with three different drivers: David Ragan at Talladega Superspeedway, Chris Buescher at Pocono Raceway and McDowell at Daytona. And according to Racing Insights, McDowell’s 358 starts before his first win is the second-longest streak to Michael Waltrip’s 463, which also ended with a Daytona 500 victory.
Reigning series champion Chase Elliott finished second after contact between the Team Penske Fords of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano ignited the final wreck, sending the Toyota of Kyle Busch rocketing into the outside wall. When NASCAR illuminated the caution lights, McDowell was in the lead over Elliott by a car length.
“I saw the lights come on (for the caution), and I knew it was over right then,” Elliott said. “We had a fast car. We weren’t as good as I thought we were on Thursday (in the Duel 150-mile qualifying race). I thought we did a really good job of executing today, staying out of trouble.
“That’s not something I’ve done a very good job of here in this race, so I’m glad we could at least finish this race and have something to build on for when we come back and try to do better.”
Austin Dillon ran third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin, who fell short in his attempt to win a record third straight Daytona 500. Hamlin won the first two stages but lost the lead during the final cycle of green-flag pit stops when the small contingent of Toyotas got separated while exiting pit road.
Hamlin took the lead in the second stage after a cycle of green-flag pit stops and held it through the fifth caution of the race, which waved when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell cut a left-rear tire and spun into the Chevrolet of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
At that point, Hamlin had led 58 laps, bringing his total of laps led in the Daytona 500 to 434, fifth all time and one ahead of Bobby Allison. Hamlin had led 34 consecutive laps to win Stage 1 after racing resumed Sunday night. He finished with a race-high 98 laps led.
On Lap 14, before a long rain delay, off-center contact from Bell’s Toyota to the rear bumper of Aric Almirola’s Ford sent Almirola spinning near the front of the field, triggering a massive 16-car pile-up that inexorably altered the complexion of the race.
“We were just getting pushed too hard too early,” Almirola said. “It’s a long, long race. Man, we were in a fine position, just sitting there riding around in the top two, three, and the 20 (Bell) just came with a big run and hit me really hard in a bad spot and it turned me to the right and tore up our race car and ended our Daytona 500 way too early.”
Collected in the wreck were: Ryan Newman, making his first Daytona 500 start since the devastating last-lap wreck that put him in the hospital a year ago; Erik Jones, in his first start in a points race for his new team, Richard Petty Motorsports; Daniel Suarez, in his first run with newly formed Trackhouse Racing, a joint venture between Justin Marks and rapper Pitbull; and pole-sitter Alex Bowman, whose No. 48 Chevrolet was wiped out when Almirola shot up the track into the side of his car and rammed it into the wall.
“It looks like the No. 10 (Almirola) kind of got turned sideways there, and I was the guy that got ran into,” Bowman said after an obligatory trip to the infield care center. “Bummer – I hate it for (sponsor) Ally. Obviously, we had a really fast Camaro. The Chevrolets were working good together; hopefully, a Chevy still ends up in Victory Lane.
“Hats off to everybody at Hendrick Motorsports; they built some really fast race cars. Hate that superspeedway racing works out that way sometimes, but that’s just part of the game.”
Also heavily damaged in the melee were the cars of William Byron, Kurt Busch, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray and Matt DiBenedetto. To add insult to injury, nearby lightning strikes delayed the restart of the race and heavy rains followed shortly thereafter.
Five hours and 40 minutes later, after the rain abated and the track dried, engines were re-fired at 9:07 p.m. ET, and the race resumed with 24 cars on the lead lap. The NASCAR Cup Series’ next race is scheduled Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM) at Daytona’s 3.61-mile road-course layout.
Notes: In his first points race for the new 23XI Racing team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, Bubba Wallace ran near the front of the pack throughout the race but lost a lap with an unscheduled pit stop for a vibration on Lap 178 of 200. Wallace was caught up in the last-lap wreck and finished 17th… Kyle Larson ran 10th in his first trip in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet… Austin Cindric’s strong Cup debut ended in the last-lap wreck that claimed three Team Penske cars… Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, Jamie McMurray and Corey LaJoie claimed the sixth through ninth finishing positions, respectively… .
NOTE: The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford of Michael McDowell passed post-race technical inspection early Monday morning after winning the NASCAR Cup Series’ Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. There were no other issues.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season begins Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, the birthplace of speed.
Chase Elliott is the reigning and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion. Denny Hamlin looks to make history as the first driver to ever three-peat in the Daytona 500 — as well as capture that elusive series championship come November. Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suarez are the engines behind 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing Team, which make their team debut alongside Live Fast Motorsports.
Kyle Busch has a new crew chief, and a new outlook. Alex Bowman takes over the historic No. 48 Chevrolet — and he has a new teammate in Kyle Larson, who brings back the No. 5.
Yes, this may be the start of the Best Season Ever as we near the green flag for the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
NASCAR.com has you covered from every conceivable angle. Read our full coverage below to get ready for both today’s Daytona 500 and the 2021 season.
NEW DAY AT DAYTONA
Mike Ehrmann | Getty Images
• Five to watch: From Denny Hamlin’s bid at history to current superstars who have never won The Great American Race, this is what you need to know. | Read more
• Hello, history?: Four drivers in NASCAR history have had a shot at three consecutive Daytona 500 wins. Here are the three who came before Denny Hamlin, and how they fared in their third attempt. | Read more
•May the odds be with you: There’s a familiar face atop the odds board for Sunday’s Daytona 500. Several familiar faces, actually. | Read more
• Back it up: Nearly a quarter of the field will move to a back-up car. Here’s who will, why and how the front row is impacted. | Read more
•Daytona, ranked: What makes a great Daytona 500? We explain — and then rank every race since 1959 in order of greatness. | Read more
•Take the next step: A Daytona 500 win is on the mind of potential breakout superstar Ryan Blaney. That, and so much more. | Read more
• ‘Google of race shops:’ Read more about the vision 23XI team co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin have for their new team. | Read more
• ‘Worldwide’ exposure: Trackhouse Racing Team has a young and hungry team owner and driver alike in Justin Marks and Daniel Suarez — plus a partner in ‘Pitbull.’ | Read more
•Larson is back: Kyle Larson discusses the lessons he has learned since his suspension for using a racial slur last year and his return to the NASCAR Cup Series — with Hendrick Motorsports. | Read more
• Moments in time: It just means more here. These are our favorite moments from the Daytona 500, from Dale Earnhardt to Davey Allison to The Fight. | Read more
• Watercolor wonders: Check out these iconic celebrations of Daytona 500 victories in a new light. |Read more
• A split detailed: Kyle Busch has a new crew chief after two championships with Adam Stevens since 2015. “Rowdy” details the reason behind the surprising split. | Read more
• Friends, but frazzled: The ending to the Busch Clash saw last-lap contact and a wreck between pals Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney. How are they holding up? | Read more
• Back to school: The yearly “class picture” images are all here, with drivers posing with the cars for a scenic shot at Daytona International Speedway. | Read more
2021: THE YEAR AHEAD
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
• Our picks: Will Chase Elliott repeat? The NASCAR.com staff makes its selections for national-series champions, biggest sleeper selection and more. | Read more
• Previews, previews: We break down the drivers, crew chiefs and top story lines for every full-time NASCAR Cup Series team. | Read more
• That’s a bold move: Sure, we’ve given you our championship picks. But what about some unexpected predictions? Look no further. | Read more
• New faces, new places: What’s different in 2021? Lots. Get caught up quickly on the driver movement that happened in the offseason. | Read more
• You’re a winner!: We took on the task of predicting the winner of all 36 NASCAR Cup Series races before the season begins because … why not? | Read more
• On the move: Quick-hit analysis on more than 60 moves in the offseason, for all three national series. | Read more
LET’S GET GAMING
• NASCAR Fantasy Live: Our Fantasy Live game is back, with all new bonus points. | Read more
• Driver tiers, not tears: The key to winning in Fantasy Live? Managing your driver usage. We break down how to do that effectively. | Read more
• Superspeedway sleepers: Who are the under the radar plays to make? What drivers should avoid for this race? | Read more
• Go long: There’s always an underdog in contention late at Daytona International Speedway. We analyze the track history for some of Sunday’s biggest underdogs. | Read more
• Betting preview: Our friends at BetMGM identify three picks to consider before Sunday’s green flag. | Read more
• Off to the (Jackpot)Races: Interested in having a shot at $25,000? The free-to-play Jackpot Races app is your ticket. | Learn more
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Stephen Nasse won the big race, but Derek Griffith will again wear the crown.
Nasse led every lap of the annual Orange Blossom 100 that closed out the week for the Super Late Model division, allowing him to complete a sweep of the 100-lap features for the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model divisions at New Smyrna Speedway on consecutive days.
Griffith, meanwhile, finished ninth to clinch his second-straight Super Late Model championship on the final of nine nights of racing at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday evening.
Griffith wrapped up his second-straight World Series title thanks in large part to three victories in seven races. He’s the first driver to win consecutive Super Late Model championships during the World Series since Pete Orr accomplished the feat from 1992-94.
Pete Hamilton (1974-75), Junior Hanley (1980-81) and Dick Trickle (1984-86) are the only other drivers to win consecutive Super Late Model championships in World Series competition, which dates back to 1968.
In recent years, drivers such as Bubba Pollard, Ty Majeski, Harrison Burton and Nasse have taken home the top honors to add their name to a list that includes Mark Martin, David Rodgers and Tom Pistone. None of them accomplished what Griffith did and successfully defended their crown.
“We work our butts off. We’re a small team from New Hampshire,” Griffith said. “To come down here and get a couple of race wins and a championship consecutively just means the world.”
Griffith, who hails from Hudson, New Hampshire, noted that he hopes his success the past two years at New Smyrna Speedway has proven just how good he and his small team can be against some of the nation’s top Super Late Model competitors.
“I think that we’re a really good team with the Super Late Model program,” Griffith said. “You look who won tonight, Nasse, and Bubba (Pollard) was in the field. Some of these guys have won the biggest races in the country multiple times.
“Nasse has won everything there is it seems like and so has Bubba, so to race with those guys all week and beat them a couple of times means the world.”
“The 51 car was pretty good tonight,” Nasse said in Victory Lane. “We worked real hard this weekend. We’re still off a little bit. We pulled through and got a lucky starting spot tonight being able to start on the front row. I feel like the key to winning something this week was starting on the front row.”
While the record books will show Nasse led every lap of the Orange Blossom 100 after starting on the pole, Nasse didn’t go unchallenged. Jesse Love, the reigning ARCA Menards Series West champion, hounded Nasse for the majority of the race.
At one point with less than 40 laps left Love managed to get alongside Nasse and the duo ran side-by-side, with Nasse edging Love at the start-finish line to lead the lap. Nasse was able to pull back ahead of Love shortly thereafter and within a few laps was able to pull away and build a comfortable gap.
With no caution flags to help Love close back in, Nasse cruised to his first victory in the Orange Blossom 100.
“I wasn’t really ever confident,” Nasse admitted. “The 21 car (Love) was really good all night. He definitely put some pressure on me and luckily we hit some lap cars and I was able to get a pretty good gap.”
Orange Blossom 100 (100 laps)
1. Stephen Nasse, 2. Jesse Love, 3. Sammy Smith, 4. Brad May, 5. Bubba Pollard, 6. Dan Frederickson, 7. Ryan Moore, 8. Jacob Goede, 9. Derek Griffith, 10. Mason Diaz
11. T.J. Duke, 12. Justin Mondeik, 13. Kelly Moore; 14. Michael Hinde, 15. Kody Swanson, 16. Steve Weaver, 17. Bobby Good, 18. Patrick Thomas, 19. Connor Mosack, 20. Daniel Dye
Stephen Nasse won the Orange Blossom 100 to culminate the week of Super Late Model racing at Florida’s New Smyra Speedway. (Jim Dupont/NASCAR)
The reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion held off Brett Moffitt and Harrison Burton in a two-lap NASCAR Overtime dash to win Saturday’s action-filled Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 at Daytona International Speedway, the season opener.
Cindric, who locked up the Xfinity title by winning in his last outing at Phoenix Raceway in November, picked up his first victory on the 2.5-mile Daytona oval and the ninth of his career in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
“What an awesome race,” said Cindric, who will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). “What a really fast Verizon 5G Ford Mustang. Unbelievable effort by everyone at Team Penske.
“Obviously, coming off a lot of momentum winning that championship last year, but nothing is guaranteed and keep working hard. Congrats to my man, (spotter) Coleman (Pressley) up on the roof. He puts in just as much effort or more as I do. I’m proud of him, and we’ll try to go do it again tomorrow, I guess.”
The runner-up result was a career-best for Moffitt, who previously had one top five in the series, a fifth at Talladega.
“Once the 22 (Cindric) got up front, every time I got within a car-length, I’d just push him farther forward,” said Moffitt, who chased Cindric in overtime time after taking over second place from Burton, the third-place finisher.
Jeb Burton, Harrison’s cousin, ran fourth, despite sustaining minor damage to the nose of his No. 10 Chevrolet in a three-car incident that caused the ninth caution on Lap 114 of a scheduled 120 and set up the overtime.
AJ Allmendinger was fifth, followed by Brandon Brown, Myatt Snider, Brandon Gdovic (first career top 10), Daniel Hemric and Jason White.
With 15 laps left, contact between the Joe Gibbs Racing cars of Ty Dillon and Daniel Hemric rewrote the story of the race. Dillon moved up the track between cars running in the inside and outside lanes, but when he tried to complete a pass of Hemric, he turned across the nose of Hemric’s No. 18 Toyota and spun, igniting a chain-reaction wreck that eliminated a handful of potential race winners and probable championship contenders.
Destroyed were the JR Motorsports cars of Justin Allgaier and Josh Berry and the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet of Justin Haley, who was trying to win his fourth straight Xfinity Series superspeedway race — an achievement only Dale Earnhardt Jr. had accomplished previously.
“The 18 (Hemric) hit me so hard in the left rear, it drove me up the track,” said Dillon, who is racing in the Xfinity Series after four full seasons at the NASCAR Cup level.
Allgaier saw it differently. “He wrecked the whole field,” Allgaier said. “He had to make a statement… Unfortunately, guys were trying to make moves — veterans who should know better — and making bad decisions.”
On Lap 75, nine circuits after a restart to begin the final stage, the pit window opened, and all hell broke loose off Turn 4 as Cindric slowed at the front of a group of cars headed for pit road. Michael Annett was turned sideways across traffic in a nine-car wreck that wiped out Annett’s No. 1 Chevrolet and the No. 9 of JR Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson, the defending race winner.
The cars of Bayley Currey, Gray Gaulding and Colby Howard also suffered race-ending damage.
“I got wrecked coming to pit road,” Annett said. “I waved them off 10 friggin’ times.”
Stage 1 winner Brandon Jones saw his fortunes change dramatically coming to the checkered flag to end Stage 2. Jones steered his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota up the track to side draft the outside lane, but when he returned to the bottom lane, his attempted block on Myatt Snider’s Chevrolet came too late, and Jones spun across the nose of Snider’s car.
After a wild slide through infield grass soaked by rain earlier in the day, Jones rocketed back onto the track and slammed nose-first into the outside wall. Cody Ware’s Camaro smashed into Jones’ car at high speed, and the spinning Toyota clipped the Chevrolet of Alex Labbe. All three cars were destroyed, and NASCAR red-flagged the race to clear the debris from the track.
Moffitt won the second stage, with Dillon and Cindric second and third behind him.
Only 22 of the 40 cars that started the race were running at the finish of a race that featured nine cautions for a total of 43 laps.
The Xfinity Series’ next race is scheduled Feb. 20 (5 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) on Daytona’s 3.61-mile oval and road-course layout. Cindric won the series’ only other event on the Daytona road course, leading 21 of 52 laps on the circuit last August.
NOTE: The No. 22 Team Penske Ford of Austin Cindric passed post-race technical inspection Saturday night after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300 at the Daytona International Speedway. There were no other issues
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and William Byron, the top qualifiers for Sunday’s Daytona 500, found varying shares of trouble in Thursday’s Duel preliminaries. Despite virtually no practice time on a mostly rainy Saturday, their cars were given positive reviews on the eve of the Great American Race.
Bowman, the pole-starter, slowed with a vibration during Thursday’s opening 150-mile qualifying race. His crew went into diagnosis mode on the No. 48 Chevrolet, and according to a FOX Sports report, Greg Ives indicated that the problem was believed to be an engine misfire.
Ives said that repairs were made without any engine changes or unapproved adjustments, meaning the No. 48 will keep its starting spot and for the green flag in Sunday’s 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).
“In the 150s, we had a vibration issue that we had to investigate,” Ives said. “We initially thought it was an engine issue, but fortunately it wasn’t. The team was able to diagnose and fix it. We didn’t get a whole lot of practice today, but Alex (Bowman) felt everything was fine. We can’t wait for the Ally Camaro to lead the field to green in tomorrow’s Daytona 500.”
For Byron, his involvement in a late-race wreck in Duel 2 prompted the No. 24 team to prepare its reserve Chevrolet, meaning he’ll give up his No. 2 starting spot before the race begins. He’ll be among several drivers dropping to the rear of the field in pace laps, but his backup entry is a proven winner. Bryon drove that car to his first Cup Series victory at Daytona International Speedway in the regular-season finale last August.
“It’s been fast every time it’s been on track, and I think it will be again when we get to the race tomorrow,” said Byron, who also placed fourth with the same car last fall at Talladega Superspeedway. “We were still able to learn a lot in the Duel race on what we need for a setup and what we need security-wise with the handling. While we took a risk running up front during the Duel, those laps led only helped us learn more. Obviously we didn’t want to go to a backup car, but I think we’re still in a really good place for the 500. We’ll definitely be good to go.”
Said Ryan “Rudy” Fugle, in his first year at No. 24 crew chief: “It’s not an ideal situation but it’s part of superspeedway racing. We were able to use Thursday’s race as more of a practice session and get a really good feel for what we need for Sunday. Everything we learned can be applied to the backup car, and at a track like Daytona, where you start isn’t a deal-breaker. We just need to execute everything on Sunday to put ourselves in a position to be there in the end when it matters.”
How many times have you heard that phrase in context of NASCAR predictions? It seems like especially in sports social-media circles, it’s a common utterance.
But there’s one problem: there’s no accountability to back it up. Those words are meaningless without proof.
That’s why, for the pastthreeseasons, I’ve prompted denizens of Twitter to call their shots before cars hit the track — you know, to get those claims in writing. I’m doing the same in 2021.
Last year, despite the dawn of These Uncertain Times, one person correctly predicted at the beginning of the season that Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin would be the four who battled it out at Phoenix. And, not only did @MarkRH guess the four finalists, he picked them in the correct finishing order. Color me impressed.
Already, we’ve got quite a few pre-season picks rolling into the ol’ Mentions.
Some predictions are reasonable. Drivers you’d expect to run well and fight their way through the playoffs.
Chase Elliot
Kevin Harvick
Joey Logano
Martin Truex Jr
We’ll revisit everybody’s picks in November when we know the Championship 4 — then the fun part begins. That’s when we find out if anybody’s right, or, my personal favorite, if anybody (who actually tried, unlike the jokesters above) laid an egg and missed all four. That’ll memorialize you forever in the Wall of Shame.
So, before the green flag flies in the Daytona 500 Sunday, tweet those predictions. Put it in digital stone nine months ahead of time.
Just don’t forget to pay close attention to last year’s prophetic picker, @MarkRH. You’re probably in luck if you’re a Harvick, Larson, Kyle Busch or Keselowski fan.
No way I get this correct two straight years, but here it goes:
Final practice for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), which was originally scheduled for Noon ET, has been canceled due to inclement weather for the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR officials made the call to cancel shortly after 11 a.m. ET as heavy rain continues to fall around the 2.5-mile Daytona Beach, Florida superspeedway.
NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying has also been canceled ahead of Saturday’s Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 season opener (5 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The next on-track action scheduled is the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 by General Tire at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and MRN, followed by the Xfinity Series race later Saturday afternoon. Stay here for the latest schedule and weather updates.
DAYTONA 500 SECOND PRACTICE
Only 27 NASCAR Cup Series drivers were able to lay down a lap before rain put a quick end to Saturday morning’s second practice session for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Brad Keselowski was able to tick off the fastest lap before the red flag was displayed. The No. 2 Team Penske Ford team was forced to roll out a backup car following a crash in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel race on Thursday night, which means he’ll start at the rear of the field on Sunday.
Daytona 500 polesitter Alex Bowman didn’t get a full lap in, but he was able to get his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on the track as they continue to diagnose an issue. Bowman hit pit road halfway through the first Duel race as crew members looked under the hood after Bowman reported the car had lost some power. After returning to the track, Bowman reported the engine had come back to full power, but also complained of a vibration. So far, the No. 48 team has not elected to go to a backup car.
On the other hand, Daytona 500 front-row starter William Byron and the No. 24 team were forced to break out the backup car after crashing in Thursday night’s second Duel race. Byron was unable to turn a lap in the Saturday morning session.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The Richie Evans Memorial 100 at New Smyrna Speedway is becoming Matt Hirschman’s personal playground.
Hirschman closed out the Tour-Type Modified portion of the 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Friday with his fifth victory — and third straight — in the annual 100-lap event that honors the NASCAR Hall of Famer and Modified legend.
“I started my career over 20 years ago at Evergreen Speedway in Pennsylvania. I never knew if I’d win one race,” said Hirschman, who also claimed his third World Series Tour-Type Modified championship with the victory. “To come down here to Florida and win the biggest race here, named after Richie Evans, is just quite a career. I’m thankful for everyone who has helped get me here.”
The victory also gave Hirschman the week-long Tour-Type Modified Division title for the second straight year and third in the last four.
Most of the race was dominated by pole sitter Craig Lutz. But when Lutz retired from the race with 24 laps left with a mechanical problem, that handed the lead to Hirschman. However, it wasn’t a cruise to the checkered flag for the Pennsylvania driver as he had Wednesday’s John Blewett III Memorial 76 winner Ryan Preece hot on his heels.
Preece, who has won the Richie Evans Memorial three times (2015-16 and 2018) trailed Hirschman over the final laps. However, a caution flag with two laps left gave Preece another shot at Hirschman.
During the ensuing restart Preece got the jump on Hirschman and pulled his No. 6 into the lead. With the white flag in sight for Preece, the caution would wave yet again as a crash in Turn 2 slowed the action before a lap could be completed.
On the ensuing restart, Hirschman wouldn’t let Preece get the jump on him a second time as he launched into the lead and was uncontested during the final two laps.
His fifth victory in the Richie Evans Memorial 100 ties the late Ted Christopher for the most victories in the annual event.
“We’ve had a lot of success here over the last few years. They’re all memorable, these Evans 100 wins,” said Hirschman, who won the race in 2010 and 2017 before taking it the last three years. “Last night, it’s nice to win, but it’s hard for me to celebrate it because to me there is a bigger prize ahead. Tonight we got it.”
Jon McKennedy was able to work his way up to second during the two-lap dash to the checkers, followed by Anthony Nocella, Preece and Eric Goodale.
Richie Evans Memorial 100 (100 laps)
1. Matt Hirschman, 2. Jon McKennedy, 3. Anthony Nocella, 4. Ryan Preece, 5. Eric Goodale, 6. Eddie McCarthy, 7. Ronnie Williams, 8. Chuck Hossfeld, 9. J.R. Bertuccio, 10. Dave Sapienza
11. Zane Zeiner, 12. Jeremy Gerstner, 13. Bobby Measmer Jr., 14. Brian Robie, 15. Timmy Catalano, 16. Matt Galko, 17. Stephen Kopcik, 18. Chris Finocchario, 19. Tom Martino Jr., 20. Danny Knoll Jr.
21. Tyler Rypkema, 22. Craig Lutz, 23. Tommy Catalano, 24. Patrick Emerling, 25. Chris Jensen, 26. Jimmy Blewett, 27. Tyler Catalano, 28. Ron Silk, 29. Amy Catalano, 30. Andy Seuss
31. Bobby Jones, 32. Paul Hartwig Jr., 33. Jonathan Laureigh, 34. Jim Gavek
Nasse Is Classy & Swanson Is A Champion
Stephen Nasse got a late start this year at New Smyrna, but he appear to be peaking at just the right time.
Nasse drove his No. 51 Jett Motorsports entry to victory in Friday’s 100-lap pro late model finale after overtaking Jett Noland in the final 10 laps. It was the culmination of a race-long battle between the duo that saw both men take turns at the front of the field.
“I knew he was going to make it tough on me,” Nasse said of Noland. “He knew he had one coming from me too, running me up the track like that. I know Jett real well. Thankfully we came out of there with no wrecked race cars and that’s what’s most important.”
While Nasse celebrated the victory, USAC star Kody Swanson got to celebrate his first championship in a stock car after claiming the World Series Pro Late Model championship following an eighth-place finish.
Swanson entered the race needing to finish ninth or better to claim the championship no matter what his closest challenger, Connor Jones, did. However, Jones was eliminated from the race in a late incident, all but clinching the title for Swanson despite a spin by Swanson a few laps later.
“It sure means a lot,” Swanson said of the championship. “God has blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life from my family from the very beginning to my wife and kids and this team. For them to take a chance on me, bringing me down here to one of the toughest places and toughest weeks to run late models and to come down here to try and learn.
“So to come away with the success we did and the championship is wonderful.”
5x USAC Champ adds a Pro Late Model 🏆 to his resume.
