The celebrities of the NASCAR Cup Sequence will as soon as extra descend on the birthplace of NASCAR for the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday. Since 1959, the “Nice American Race” has supplied followers with thrill after thrill. Listed below are 5 storylines to observe throughout Speedweeks.
1. Twenty years of attempting, Half 2?
On Feb. 15, 1998, Mike Pleasure known as Dale Earnhardt to victory within the Daytona 500 by uttering some of the iconic traces in NASCAR historical past: “Twenty years of attempting, 20 years of frustration! Dale Earnhardt will come to the warning flag to win the Daytona 500!”
Virtually 27 years to the day of Earnhardt’s long-awaited Daytona triumph, Kyle Busch — who like Earnhardt, will drive for Richard Childress Racing — will search for his first Daytona 500 win in his twentieth begin. Busch has been shut a number of occasions earlier than. In 2023, Busch led on the 500-mile mark, however misplaced in time beyond regulation to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Busch hasn’t gained in 57 races and is coming off of the worst season of his profession in 2024, so ought to be greater than motivated. He has nearly each trophy a NASCAR driver might need displayed in his trophy case, however a Harley J. Earl trophy would full the gathering and be one of many crowning achievements in his Corridor of Fame profession.
2. Qualifying, Duel races to be excessive stakes
Forty-five drivers will try to make the 40-car subject (or 41, relying on Helio Castroneves’ qualifying/Duel outcomes). That is probably the most quantity of vehicles that can have tried to race their means into the Daytona 500 since 2015, the ultimate yr of the 43-car subject.
The listing of drivers attempting to race their means in is star-studded, as 2017 Cup Sequence champion Martin Truex Jr. will try to win his first Daytona 500 with TRICON Storage, whereas seven-time champion and two-time Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson will try his first of two Cup Sequence races in 2025. 4-time Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves is assured a spot within the race by way of the open-exemption provisional.
Essentially the most high-profile open automotive can be pushed by defending Xfinity Sequence champion Justin Allgaier. Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey will adorn the hood of the No. 40 Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. If Allgaier makes the race, it is going to be the primary ever Cup Sequence begin for Jr. Motorsports.
Different drivers attempting to race their means into the sector embrace Corey LaJoie (No. 01, Rick Ware Racing), J.J. Yeley (No. 44, N.Y. Racing), Anthony Alfredo (No. 62, Beard Motorsports), Chandler Smith (No. 66, MBM Motorsports/Storage 66) and B.J. McLeod (No. 78, Stay Quick Motorsports).
3. Underdogs look to make a splash
Because the restrictor plates bunched up the sector at Daytona and Talladega, the nice equalizer of the draft has given underdogs the chance to grab Daytona glory. Trevor Bayne (2011), Michael McDowell (2021) and Stenhouse (2023) all took benefit of pack racing to snag a Daytona 500 victory. This yr, search for drivers resembling Erik Jones and Todd Gilliland to cleared the path for the little guys.
4. Can Blaney lastly break by means of?
Ryan Blaney has solely made 10 Daytona 500 begins, however he is been near victory a number of occasions already. In 2017, Blaney watched as many contenders ran out of fuel late within the race. The one driver forward of him that had sufficient gasoline? Race winner Kurt Busch, who held Blaney to a runner-up end in his third 500 begin. In 2020, Blaney narrowly misplaced to Denny Hamlin in a photograph end as Ryan Newman flew by means of the air. In 2022, Blaney was run up the monitor on the race’s last lap by teammate and race winner Austin Cindric. The 2023 champion has grow to be certainly one of NASCAR’s elite, and he might add to his resume by lastly capturing a Harley J. Earl trophy.
5. Veterans look to set the tone
Whereas many followers decry fashionable speedway racing as too random, the perfect of the perfect often discover their option to the entrance. Loads of veterans wish to begin 2025 off on the precise foot by profitable the “Nice American Race.'”
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin is seeking to win his first race with crew chief Chris Gayle, whereas defending Cup Sequence champion and 2015 Daytona 500 champion Joey Logano appears to roll his momentum over to a brand new season. Different vets seeking to make their mark in Daytona embrace the aforementioned Busch, 2012 Cup Sequence champion Brad Keselowski and 2021 Cup Sequence champion Kyle Larson.
–Samuel Stubbs, Area Stage Media
