Johnny Sauter Asserts Plate-Track Dominance with Daytona Win

Johnny Sauter, the driver of the #21 Allegiant Airlines Chevrolet, celebrates with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a race that produced seven cautions for 35 laps and left 21 trucks running at the finish, Johnny Sauter held off Justin Haley by .098 seconds at Daytona International Speedway to win Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250, the season-opener for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Continue reading

The 1979 Daytona 500—Donnie Allison’s side of the story

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A few days after the 1979 Daytona 500, Donnie Allison’s wife Pat called him to the phone.

“Hello?” Allison said.

He didn’t recognize the voice on the other end of the line, and the caller didn’t identify himself, saying simply, “They have a film that shows the wreck. Make ‘em show it to you.”

“Who is this?” Allison insisted.

“They have a film that shows the wreck,” the voice repeated. “Make ‘em show it to you.”

Click. The line went dead. Continue reading

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is Ready to Shakes Things up in the Daytona 500

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. simply wanted to make something happen.

But the driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford was shocked at how quickly the rear end of William Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet snapped around when Stenhouse poked the nose of his Fusion to the inside Byron’s car in the first 150-mile qualifying race in Thursday night’s Can-Am Duel.

The Hendrick Motorsports rookie was a victim of aerodynamics, and when Stenhouse took the air off his car, Byron nosed into the outside wall, forcing him to a backup car for Sunday’s Daytona 500. He’ll join teammate and seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, a casualty of an earlier incident in the same race, at the rear of the field for the Great American Race. Continue reading

No-Show for the Showman in Thursday’s First Duel

Alex Bowman, the driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2018, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

If Alex Bowman wants to shed a nickname he doesn’t particularly like—“Bowman the Showman”—he took a good first step in Thursday night’s first Can-Am Duel 150-mile qualifying race. Continue reading

Optimism Abounds for Chevrolet Owners and the Debut of the Camaro ZL1

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It was billed as a preseason Chevrolet news conference to discuss the manufacturer’s expectations and excitement for the 2018 season, but it also had a distinct vibe – as much like a NASCAR Hall of Fame meet and greet as a launch for Chevy’s new race car. And positive on all accounts. Continue reading