POLL: Where would you like the see the Jaguars play during stadium renovations?
As Jaguars president Mark Lamping and other members of the teamโs administration hold โHuddle Up Jaxโ meetings to discuss the renovations to TIAA Bank Field, we want to hear from you about where you would like to see the Jaguars play during these renovations.
Commentary: Reality check in a race car is the perfect way to start Speedweeks
The big question many people ask and have asked when it comes to NASCAR is just how much skill does it take to actually drive one of those things? Drivers arenโt really athletes. How athletic can a racer be when their car is doing 99% of the work. Itโs just left turns and staying on the gas, right?
Pre-sale tickets for Welcome to Rockville available
Pre-sale tickets for Welcome to Rockville are on sale. In an email, the concert promoters say general admission or VIP weekend passes are on sale for as low as $20. If you deferred your 2020 pass to 2021, you will have first dibs to purchase camping before the public on sale. All Early Bird pass purchasers will also have the opportunity to add camping to their passes before they are made available to the public. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased here.
NASCAR's 'unique' winners already altering playoff landscape
Christopher Bell celebrates at the finish line after winning the NASCAR Cup Series road course auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)HOMESTEAD, Fla. โ NASCARโs postseason landscape has been altered after just two Cup Series races. โThe number of unique winners is really going to change how many cars get in on points, right? Although Bell drives for powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, he was a rookie for that top team and in his second full season in the Cup series. The Cup Series opened on a superspeedway, then raced on a road course, and now heads to an intermediate track. Whether thatโs different markets, different racetracks, it has to be different from year to year.
Ty Gibbs stuns grandfather, wins in first career NASCAR race
It was the very first NASCAR national series race for Ty Gibbs, who jumped two steps from ARCA to Xfinity for his debut. Ty Gibbs is the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history. But as his grandson crossed the finish line, his glasses fogged and he hugged a Joe Gibbs Racing team member. JGR has yet to announce a full 2021 schedule for Ty Gibbs, but his grandfather said the details are decided by Coy Gibbs. They picked the Daytona road course for his debut because Ty Gibbs finished second here in last year's ARCA race.
McDowell beats 100-1 odds for upset Daytona 500 victory
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Michael McDowell was glued to Brad Keselowski's bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. Kyle Larson was back after nearly a year in exile for using a racial slur, and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott was going for his first Daytona 500 win. And all the way at the back of the field, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope made what he said would be his final NASCAR start. โI wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad,โ Keselowski said.
Michael McDowell wins rain-delayed Daytona 500 after last-lap wreck
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Michael McDowell, driver of the #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series 63rd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2021 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500 after Penske Racing teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski wrecked on the final lap. McDowell was running third when Keselowski got a huge run on Logano. Keselowski tried to pass Logano on the low side, but Logano tried to block him and ended up crashing both of them. Hamlin was trying to become the first in NASCAR history to win three consecutive Daytona 500s.
The Latest: Keselowski has no regrets about Daytona 500 end
Racers crash during the last lap in the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ The Latest on the Daytona 500 (all times local):12:35 a.m.Brad Keselowski has no regrets about the way he handled the final lap of the Daytona 500. ___12:15 a.m.Michael McDowell won the Daytona 500 after Penske Racing teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski wrecked on the final lap. ___3:25 p.m.Derrike Cope was knocked out after only three laps, an ignominious end for the 62-year-old driver who won the 1990 Daytona 500. ___2 p.m.Bubba Wallaceโs car failed inspection twice for the Daytona 500 and will have to start at the back of the field. AdWallace drives a new entry owned by NBA great Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.
Rain washes out NASCAR's final practices for Daytona 500
โI think we proved as an industry last year that track time was a little overrated," said David Wilson, head of Toyota Racing Development. Heavy rain soaked the track early, though, prompting officials to shift gears before the Xfinity Series opener later Saturday. An ARCA series race also was scheduled for the middle of the day. โI'm fine without it,โ said 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch. ..."Obviously, we didnโt want to go to a backup car, but I think weโre still in a really good place for the 500.
Party in a pandemic: NASCAR fans power through at Daytona
Bubba Wallace makes a pit stop during the second of two qualifying auto races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Wallace finished in second place. They came to soak in the Daytona 500 atmosphere, or whatever they found among the campers killing time with games of cornhole and flip cup. AdMark Minadeo of Boca Raton was attending his ninth Daytona 500 and bought a motorhome for Speedweeks. The mood is in stark contrast to last year when NASCAR fans were revved for then-President Donald Trumpโs visit. The majority had never been to a NASCAR race.
Hendrick hesitant to change Bowman's engine before 500
48 team will ideally use Saturday's final two practice sessions to determine if the engine can make it 500 miles on Sunday. โWe think the engine is OK, but we're undecided just yet,โ said Knaus, who won the NASCAR title seven times as a crew chief. AdHendrick Motorsports suffered another blow when William Byron was involved in a crash in his qualifying race that destroyed his Chevrolet. Hendrick will now have only one car at the front of the Daytona 500 field โ maybe none if Bowman's engine is deemed too risky not to change. The pole-sitter has not closed out a Daytona 500 victory since Dale Jarrett in 2000.
A Daytona 500 unlike any other: the Great American Race during the pandemic
Attendance at Sundayโs Daytona 500 will be limited. So the preparation for this event versus Daytona 500. Remarkably, the organization that the folks at Daytona have leaned on the most during race preparations is just down the street. โTo win one Daytona 500 is so hard. It would be incredible for him to win three consecutive Daytona five 500s on Sunday night.โ
Hiccup for Hendrick Motorsports ahead of Daytona 500
Alex Bowman and William Byron were slated to lead the Daytona 500 field to green but that's in danger following Thursday night's qualifying races. Byron was collected in a crash in the second Duel and it ruined his Chevrolet. AdAustin Cindric and Kaz Grala both earned their first berths into the Daytona 500 by claiming the two available transfer positions in the Duels. He was the leader on the final lap of the second Duel until Dillon crossed to Wallaceโs inside and inched ahead. โWeโve got an incredible race car and I canโt wait for the Daytona 500.โ
Bowman, Byron give Hendrick sweep of Daytona 500 front row
Alex Bowman and William Byron swept the front row Wednesday night in qualifying for the Daytona 500, giving Hendrick its 14th pole and sixth in the last seven years. โHere it really just comes down to who built the fastest race car. Itโs the fourth consecutive year Bowman will start from the front row, but he's got a completely new look this time. Only the front row was set Wednesday, the first time Daytona 500 qualifying has been held at night under a condensed Speedweeks schedule. โMy motto is, โNo more excuses.โโHamlin, who is trying to become the first driver to win three consecutive Daytona 500s, was 12th.
Kyle Busch streaks past Elliott, Blaney to win Busch Clash
Blaney had chased down Elliott on the road course at Daytona International Speedway to take the lead with two laps remaining in Tuesday night's 35-lap Speedweeks opener. Elliott, winner of NASCAR's last four road course races dating to 2019, didn't let Blaney pull away and set himself up for one final chance at the win. It cost Elliott his momentum and Busch sailed by for the surprise victory. AdThis year's running was the first time on Daytona's road course, a plan announced before the 2020 season began. Elliott won the inaugural Daytona road course race.
Wayne Taylor Racing wins record-tying 3rd consecutive Rolex
Wayne Taylor replaced his entire lineup for the move to Acura and hired Albuquerque, as well as his oldest son, Ricky Taylor, Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi. It was WTR's fourth Rolex win in five years and fifth overall, one behind Ganassi's record six victories. Albuquerque won in 2018 driving a Cadillac and Ricky Taylor won in a Cadillac for his father's team in 2017. โWe decided we wanted somebody as fresh as possible in the car,โ Ricky Taylor said. โHe was so hungry for this, especially with the whole story of leaving Wayne Taylor.
Wayne Taylor Racing wins record-tying 3rd consecutive Rolex
Wayne Taylor left General Motors after 28 years at the end of last season to become a factory Acura program. "We won it with Ricky, and Jordan won the GT class with Corvette, and then the Wayne Taylor Racing program won it overall. Albuquerque won in 2018 driving a Cadillac; Ricky Taylor won in a Cadillac for his father's team in 2017. AdWhen Taylor switched to Acura, he released van der Zande, who was grabbed by Ganassi as the team returned to sports car racing after a one-year hiatus. โLooked like we had the race won right there.
NASCAR to hold pre-race Daytona 500 concert with Luke Combs
NASCAR will attempt some normalcy at the season-opening Daytona 500 with a live pre-race concert featuring country music star Luke Combs. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ NASCAR will attempt some normalcy at the season-opening Daytona 500 with a live pre-race concert โ the first big performance at a track during the pandemic โ featuring country music star Luke Combs. Born in Charlotte but raised in Asheville, Combs made NASCAR races a weekly viewing staple alongside his grandfather. โIf you wouldโve told me back then that Iโd be performing at the Daytona 500 one day, I wouldnโt have believed you,โ said Combs, a longtime fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Live music is a way for us to be able to disconnect from everything else, and just be there in the moment,โ Combs said.
The Daytona 500 will have โlimited fan capacityโ
Add the Daytona 500 to the list of major sporting events making adjustments in light of the pandemic. The Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday that the 63rd annual Daytona 500 will have limited fan capacity. The 63rd Annual #DAYTONA500 will have limited fan capacity. ๐ฐ: https://t.co/9cEIKinY8Y pic.twitter.com/ZSTM13Jra3 โ Daytona International Speedway (@DISupdates) December 2, 2020The annual race is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. Ticket holders are encouraged to review their options for the race on the trackโs website.
Kyle Larson reinstated to compete in NASCAR in 2021
FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson gets ready to climb into his car to practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR on Monday, Oct. 29, 2020, cleared Larson to return in 2021, ending his long suspension for using a racial slur while playing a video racing game. Larson was suspended in April after he used the n-word while playing an online racing game in which viewers could follow along. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Byron wins to reach Cup Series playoffs, knocks out Johnson
Those moves got him to victory lane for the first time in his young NASCAR Cup Series career and back in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Winless in 120 races, Johnson made a trip to victory lane to congratulate Byron and the No. Its a big win for Chad Knaus and William Byron," Johnson said. Its been a hard couple of years in the Cup Series and trying to get my first win and trying to gel with this team," Byron said. WALLACE REACTSWallace said before the race that there was not much of a dialogue among NASCAR drivers regarding sitting out the Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona.
Higher stakes at Daytona mean 'crazy things will happen'
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Racing at Daytona International Speedway always comes with a hefty dose of drama. Nearly half the field is looking to clinch a postseason berth with a victory, including seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson. Crazy things will happen.Thats exactly what NASCAR envisioned when it moved Daytonas summertime extravaganza to the regular-season finale. Cup races at Daytona already were considered wild-card events in which just about anyone could end up in victory lane. Throw in the raised stakes, and it's sure to create an ultra-intense couple of hours on the track.
Road king: Elliott wins at Daytona for 3rd straight on road
NASCARs most popular driver won the Cup Series road course race at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, holding off hard-charging Denny Hamlin following a late restart and notching his third consecutive victory away from ovals. The 24-year-old Elliott also won on road courses at Charlotte and at Watkins Glen last year. Elliott, Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. had the cars to beat. Making up that kind of ground on a 14-turn, 3.61-mile road course was a nearly impossible tough task, especially considering Elliott was turning mistake-free laps at the front of the field. Newman was one of the few Cup drivers with experience on Daytonas road course.
Longtime Daytona Speedway Employee Turns 100
Daytona International Speedway NASCARs Oldest employee celebrated a birthday. Juanita Epton, or as folks at Daytona International Speedway call her, Lightnin', turned 100 years old. Epton started working at the speedway when it was built in 1958 and She is still employed at Daytona International Speedway in ticket operations. Lightin says she has no plans to retire and cant wait to be able to get back to work. I love the people I work for and it is a nice place to work so why not stay until they tell me to get outEptons birthday parade even included a visit from Nascar CEO Jim France.
NASCAR's Johnson OK'd to race after 2 negative virus tests
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, Jimmie Johnson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has twice tested negative for the coronavirus and has been cleared to race Sunday, July 12, 2020 at Kentucky Speedway. Johnson missed the first race of his Cup career when he tested positive last Friday. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
NASCAR moving Watkins Glen race to Daytona road course next month
CHARLOTTE, N.C. NASCAR will move its August road course race from Watkins Glen in upstate New York because of state health restrictions, and the event will shift instead to the road course at Daytona International Speedway. Michigan International Speedway will host a doubleheader before NASCAR's debut on the Daytona road course. After that race, Dover International Speedway will host a doubleheader, and the playoff field will be finalized the next week at Daytona. NASCAR was not scheduled to compete on the road course at Daytona until next February in the exhibition Busch Clash to kick off the season. It will be the 13th Cup race since NASCAR resumed racing eight weeks ago.
Knocked out of Brickyard, Johnson copes at home with virus
FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020 file photo Jimmie Johnson climbs intp his car before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson will test an Indy car next week on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hes long said he is open to racing in the series but did not want to compete on ovals out of safety concerns. On Friday, July 3, 2020, he indicated recent safety improvements have softened his stance and the Indianapolis 500 is not entirely out of the picture. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Ban the Confederate flag? NASCAR could see the end of an era
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)The familiar scene of Confederate flags waved by fans at NASCAR tracks could soon be a relic of racings good ol boy roots. No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. So it starts with Confederate flags. They have no place for them.NASCAR has been more open in recent times to the to eradication of the Confederate flag, though it stopped short Tuesday of making any final decision on its fate. NASCAR in 2015 asked fans to refrain from displaying the Confederate Flag at our facilities and NASCAR events.Not everyone obliged and fans staunchly defended their Confederate flags and raised them from their RVs.
NASCAR looks to steer clear of protests over George Floyd
At the end of the day, theres a lot to talk about. When you sit down and listen, you realize theres a lot of injustices taking place across a broad spectrum. "But it's still an emotional and special moment to go back to tracks for what could be the final time." Johnson acknowledged that taking a stand against racism and police brutality could spark a backlash from some NASCAR fans. Im still trying to find that voice, but Im being pulled this way more than I have other times.
Racing to return to Daytona International Speedway in July
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ Racing will return to the Daytona International Speedway on July 4. The race will consist of three classes: Daytona Prototype International GT Le Mans and GT Daytona. โWeโre going back to our roots, taking a grand step back in time,โ said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. โSome of IMSAโ s WeatherTech Sports Car Championship most historic moments happened here, and there have been many memorable names that have conquered Daytona. We look forward to having IMSA back this summer to kick off their return to racing.โ
Daytona tweaks Speedweeks, moves Clash onto road course
NASCAR will hit the road for its first race in 2021, part of a schedule shakeup that starts at Daytona International Speedway. They include running the exhibition Busch Clash on the 3.56-mile road course that winds through the Daytona infield and packing seven races as well as Daytona 500 pole qualifying into a six-day span. The tweaks eliminate two traditional โdark daysโ at the track during Speedweeks and should provide a better fan experience leading into NASCARโs premier event, the Daytona 500. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Kyle Larson also have Rolex experience on the road course. โIt is a very unique road course,โ Wile said.
Promoter says Welcome to Rockville won't return to Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The show seems to be over for Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville. "My understanding for the plans for Met Park is they are being developed, possibly into retail and or an entertainment district. So any plan to reduce the size of Met Park is going to prevent Rockville from being able to come back, CEO Danny Hayes said. While the promoter said it doesn't see Welcome to Rockville returning to Jacksonville, they do plan on bringing another event to town. "Yeah, I don't think Daily's is a good trade for Met Park at all," Chip Southworth said.
Welcome to Rockville concert moving to Daytona
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Welcome to Rockville, a three-day music festival, announced on its website and Twitter that the concert is moving to the Daytona International Speedway. Welcome to Rockville is relocating to Daytona Beach, FL! Rikki and Chip Southworth have gone in years past and said it's a hard loss. It was literally tens of thousands of people that roll into town," Chip Southworth said. "Yeah, I don't think Daily's is a good trade for Met Park at all," Chip Southworth said.
Haley wins rain-shortened race at Daytona
Associated PressDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Justin Haley has won the rain-shortened Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, his first at NASCAR's top level. Lighting has halted the NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley in the lead. ___1:42 p.m.Pole-sitter and Cup Series points leader Joey Logano has won the first stage of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. The NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway has started a day later than scheduled. The start of the previously postponed NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway has been moved up 18 minutes because of a threat of rain.
Welcome to Rockville concert moving to Daytona
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Welcome to Rockville, a three-day music festival, announced on its website and Twitter that the concert is moving to the Daytona International Speedway. Welcome to Rockville is relocating to Daytona Beach, FL! Rikki and Chip Southworth have gone in years past and said it's a hard loss. It was literally tens of thousands of people that roll into town," Chip Southworth said. "Yeah, I don't think Daily's is a good trade for Met Park at all," Chip Southworth said.
Rain postpones NASCAR's final holiday visit to Daytona
Getty ImagesDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Rain spoiled one of NASCAR's last great traditions when Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway was postponed because of persistent poor weather. Daytona will instead host the regular-season finale in August, while the holiday weekend race will move to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Weather in part made Daytona amenable to surrendering the holiday weekend - every day since the track opened Thursday has been disrupted by either lightning or rain. Cup qualifying for Saturday night's race was canceled because lightning in the area prevented NASCAR access to inspect the cars. Thick dark clouds dumped heavy rain over Daytona most of Saturday afternoon, spoiling the pre-race pomp and circumstances surrounding the proud NASCAR event.
Weather wipes out qualifying for Saturday's NASCAR race at Daytona
Getty ImagesJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Bad weather wiped out qualifying for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Friday, meaning the field will be set by current owners points for the final July race at Daytona International Speedway. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch will start from the front row in Daytona Beach on Saturday night. The traditional July 4 Daytona race will move to late August next year. The July race in Daytona has significant history attached to it. Coke Zero Sugar 400 lineupRace: Saturday, Daytona International Speedway1.
David Ragan โFishing' for 2nd DIS Triumph
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ David Ragan knows his way around Daytona International Speedway. Ragan visited the โWorld Center of Racingโ to help promote the 61st annual Coke Zero Sugar 400 on July 6, the annual midseason midsummer event at DIS for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. โYean I can throw it [fishing pole] in as long as you point me in the right direction,โ said Ragan, who grew up fishing in Georgia. Itโs cool to fish here on Lake Lloyd.โIn 25 Daytona International Speedway starts, Ragan has three top-five finishes and five top 10s. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, as the Coke Zero Sugar 400 approaches.