Author Archives: NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines

After a long, cold winter without racing NASCAR makes its annual pilgrimage to Daytona Beach. While most of the country huddles under blankets, the drivers and some lucky fans get to spend two weeks basking in the Florida sun. Several practices, exhibition races and a qualification session give fantasy players a ton of data. Unfortunately, none of it is particularly useful in handicapping the Daytona 500.

With the Daytona 500 just days away, here's how the eight drivers in the Coca-Cola racing family are gearing up for the 2012 NASCAR season:

The No. 6 car of Roush Fenway Racing may have been the last vehicle to win a Sprint Cup event at Daytona International Speedway, but these Speedweeks it feels like something of a stepchild. The driver, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., is a full-time competitor in the Nationwide Series. The crew chief, Chad Norris, usually runs Roush's research and development department. The entire effort is a one-time deal, partly because the program had top 35 points available from last season, partly to provide the Roush brigade with an even number of entries in Sunday's Daytona 500.

Speedweeks 2012 at Daytona International Speedway is a third of the way complete and maybe the most significant face that hasn't been seen is that of Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers.

As teams make final preparations to start the 2012 race season, NASCAR announced Tuesday the lineup of 2012 contingency program sponsors for all three national series.

The 2013 Dodge Charger that will be run in the Sprint Cup Series beginning next season will be unveiled Mar. 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway following the driver's meeting prior to the running of the Kobalt Tools 400.

These days, the biggest thing going on with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s position in the Sprint Cup Series is he appreciates crew chief Steve Letarte and his men's hard work. Especially since that's placed their No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet near the front of the field.

Even though she had a guaranteed starting berth, even though hers would be the only car out on the race track, Danica Patrick still felt nervous prior to her first Sprint Cup qualifying session.

Jamie McMurray kicked off the 2010 season by leading the final two laps and winning the Daytona 500. Last year, Trevor Bayne came from nowhere and put his name on the Harley J. Earl trophy, becoming the youngest winner of the Great American Race. The past two 500's provided some amazing memories, but also vaulted some of the lesser-known names into the stratosphere.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A late draw and a gust of wind may have cost Trevor Bayne a shot at the Daytona 500 pole, but the defending race winner did earn a significant consolation prize.

His neck is a little stiff from his impact with the wall. One shin banged against an area inside the car that wasn't padded, but will be in the future. He cut one of his fingers trying to climb out of his upside-down vehicle. But beyond that, Jeff Gordon emerged remarkably unscathed from his dramatic tumbling accident in the final laps of Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle have put Roush Fenway Racing on the front row for the Daytona 500.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle have put Roush Fenway Racing on the front row for the Daytona 500.

Deals of the type that guaranteed Danica Patrick a starting berth in the Daytona 500 will continue, although NASCAR keeps looking for better ways to manage those partnerships and clarify what can be a confusing situation for fans.

The present looked an awful lot like the past at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night.

In one breath, Robby Gordon is bemoaning the fact he couldn't quit NASCAR even if he wanted to. He has money tied up in a race shop and airplanes, with crew members depending on him for their livelihood.

Kyle Busch used a last-gasp pass of defending NASCAR champion Tony Stewart to grab the first win of the 2012 season at Daytona International Speedway.

A Ford hasn't qualified on the front row for the Daytona 500 since Yates Racing teammates David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd scored a sweep in 2007.

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- The start-up team which will race the Nos. 83 and 93 Toyotas for a full-time 2012 slate in the Sprint Cup Series will be known at BK Racing. The team is led by an ownership group consisting of experienced and successful business people including Wayne Press, Scott Gunderson and others. General manager Harry McMullen will lead the team at the race shop and at the track.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick has participated in the Budweiser Shootout seven times, won it twice, and once used it as a springboard to a victory in the Daytona 500. But he can't recall a time when the season-opening exhibition at Daytona International Speedway carried as much significance as it does this year.