The stars of the Nascar Cup series will once again go down to the birthplace for NASCAR for the 67th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday. Since 1959, “Great American Race” has given fans with excitement after excitement. Here are five stories to follow under Speedweeks.
1. Twenty years of trial, part 2?
On February 15, 1998, Mike Joy Dale called Earnhardt to victory in the Daytona 500 by pronouncing one of the most iconic lines in NASCAR history: “Twenty years of trials, 20 years of frustration! Dale Earnhardt comes to the caution flag to Vintontona 500!”
Nearly 27 years to the day of Earnhardt’s long-awaited Daytona Triumph, Kyle Busch, as Earnhardt, will run for Richard Childress Racing-Leketa after his first Daytona 500 victory in its 20th start. Busch has been close several times before. In 2023, Busch led at the 500 mile brand, but lost overtime to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Busch has not won in 57 races and comes from the worst season in his career 2024, so it should be more than motivated. He has almost every trophy that a Nascar driver may want to appear in his trophy case, but a Harley J. Earl Trophy would complete the collection and be one of the crowning performance in his Hall of Fame career.
2. QUALIFICATION, DUELL CHECKING TO BE HIGH APPLIES
Forty-five drivers will try to make the 40 car field (or 41, depending on Helio Castroneve’s qualification/duel results). It is the most amount of cars that have tried to compete in the Daytona 500 since 2015, the last year for the 43-car field.
The list of drivers trying to compete in is star -studded, then the 2017 Cup Series Champion Martin Truex Jr. will try to win its first daytona 500 with Tricon Garage, while seven-o’clock champions and two-time Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson will try his first of two Cup series race in 2025. Four-time Indianapolis 500 winners Castronevese is guaranteed a place in the race via the open exception.
The most profiled open car will be driven by defending the Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier. Chris Stapleton’s traveler whiskey will adorn the hood at No. 40 Chevrolet owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. If Allgaier does the race, it will be the first cup series ever for Jr. Motorsports.
Other drivers trying to compete in the field include Corey Lajoie (no. 01, Rick Ware Racing), JJ Yeley (no. 44, new racing), Anthony Alfredo (no. 62, Beard Motorsports), Chandler Smith (No 66, MBM Motorsports /Garage 66) and BJ McLeod (No. 78, Live Fast Motorsports).
3. Under dogs look to make a splash
Since the restrictions gathered the field at Daytona and Talladega, the large equalizer of the draft has given the sub -dogs the opportunity to seize Daytona Glory. Trevor Bayne (2011), Michael McDowell (2021) and Stenhouse (2023) took advantage of all pack racing to hold a victory in Daytona 500. This year you are looking for drivers like Erik Jones and Todd Gilliland to lead the way for the little guys.
4. Can Blaney finally break through?
Ryan Blaney has only made 10 daytona 500 starts, but he has been close to victory several times already. In 2017, Blaney saw so many challengers out of gasoline late in the race. The only driver in front of him who had enough fuel? Race winner Kurt Busch, who held Blaney to a runner in his third 500 start. By 2020, Blaney lost to Denny Hamlin in a photo finish when Ryan Newman flew through the air. In 2022, Blaney was driven up the track on the last lap of the race by teammate and flea winner Austin Cindric. The 2023 master has become one of Nascar’s elite, and he was able to add his resume by finally catching a Harley J. Earl Trophy.
5. Veterans look to set the tone
While many fans deserve modern speedway -racing as for randomly, the best of the best usually finds out. Lots of veterans want to start in 2025 on the right foot by winning “Great American Race.”
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin looks to win his first race with crew manager Chris Gayle, while defending Cup Series Champion and 2015 Daytona 500 champion Joey Logano looks to roll his speed into a new season. Other veterinarians who want to make their mark in Daytona include the said Busch, 2012 Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski and the 2021 Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson.
-Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media
