All Times EST
NASCAR
SPRINT CUP
DAYTONA 500
Site: Daytona Beach, Florida.
Schedule: Thursday, practice (Fox Sports 1, noon-1:30 p.m.), qualifying races, 7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, 5-10 p.m.); Friday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 10:30 a.m.-noon); Sunday, race, 1 p.m. (Fox, noon-5 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the season-opening race for the second time.
Fast facts: Jeff Gordon won the pole Sunday for his final Daytona 500. He won the race in 1997, 1999 and 2005. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson took the other front-row spot. The other starting positions will be set Thursday night in the qualifying races. … Kevin Harvick won the season title last year in his first season with Stewart-Haas Racing. He won the 2007 race. … Matt Kenseth won the wreck-filled Sprint Unlimited exhibition race Saturday night. … Carl Edwards is driving Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota after 11 seasons at Roush Fenway. … Aric Almirola won the rain-shortened July race at the track.
Next race: Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500, March 1, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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XFINITY
ALERT TODAY FLORIDA 300
Site: Daytona Beach, Florida.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 12:30-2 p.m., 3:30-4:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, noon-1:30 p.m.), race, 3:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, 3-6 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 300 miles, 120 laps.
Last year: Regan Smith won the opener, holding off Brad Keselowski.
Fast facts: Xfinity signed a 10-year sponsorship deal in September. It replaces Nationwide Insurance. … Kyle Busch won seven times last year to push his series-record total to 70. … Dale Earnhardt Jr. is racing. … Darrell Wallace Jr. is driving Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 6 Ford this season. He won four Truck series races last year for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Next race: Hisense 250, Feb. 28, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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CAMPING WORLD TRUCK
NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250
Site: Daytona Beach, Florida.
Schedule: Thursday, practice (Fox Sports 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 3:30-5 p.m.); Friday, qualifying (Fox Sports 1, 4:30-6 p.m.), race, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1, 7-10 p.m.).
Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 250 miles, 100 laps.
Last year: Kyle Busch raced to the first of his seven 2014 series victories. He became the first driver to win Truck, ARCA, Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at the track.
Fast facts: Busch has 42 series victories, nine short of Ron Hornaday Jr.’s record. … Erik Jones is racing full-time in Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 4 Toyota. The 18-year-old Jones had three victories in 12 starts last season, splitting time with Busch in the No. 51 truck. Jones also is driving in the Xfinity race Saturday for Joe Gibbs Racing. … Matt Crafton won the season title the last two years.
Next race: Atlanta 200, Feb. 28, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS
Site: Chandler, Arizona.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, Sunday, 1-3 a.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 6-8 p.m.).
Track: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Last year: Alexis DeJoria raced to her first Funny Car victory, beating Robert Hight in the final. Antron Brown won in Top Fuel, and Allen Johnson in Pro Stock.
Last event: Defending Funny Car champion Matt Hagan won the season-opening Winternationals on Feb. 8 in Pomona, California. Shawn Langdon won in Top Fuel, and Jason Line in Pro Stock.
Fast facts: John Force is racing a Chevrolet Camaro following Ford’s Mello Yello departure. The 65-year-old Funny Car great has a record 16 season titles and 141 event victories. John Force Racing also fields Funny Cars for Hight and daughter Courtney Force and a Top Fuel car for daughter Brittany Force.
Next event: Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 13-15, Auto-Plus Raceway, Gainesville, Florida.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
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OTHER RACES
WORLD OF OUTLAWS: Late Model and Super DIRTcar Series: DIRTcar Nationals, Thursday-Saturday, Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Florida. Online: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com
U.S. AUTO RACING CLUB: Sprint Car: Winter Dirt Games, Thursday-Saturday, Bubba Raceway Park, Ocala, Florida. Online: http://www.usacracing.com
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