The future is bright for Ford owners in NASCAR

February 17, 2018 By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – On the eve of the Daytona 500, Ford team owners representing 10 Daytona 500 victories and five NASCAR championships addressed the racing media to share high expectations for the 2018 season and indulge in a few stories of their considerable time competing in NASCAR’s big leagues. Roger Penske, Jack Roush, Tony Stewart and Eddie Wood sat alongside Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports to field questions and provide perspective. “For 2018, there's been driver lineup changes in a lot of these teams," Rushbrook said. “I think all strengthening…

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Busy offseason for Toyota owners have them excited for 2018

February 17, 2018 By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Toyota racing executive Ed Laukes sat alongside the make’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team owners Joe Gibbs and Barney Visser to address the racing media Saturday morning eager for the group to step right in where it left off in 2017 – a lot of victory circles and on stage hoisting the championship trophy. Visser, who fields a Furniture Row Racing Toyota Camry for reigning champion Martin Truex Jr., made his first formal address to reporters since his team won the title in November. Visser suffered heart problems…

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Optimism abounds for Chevrolet owners; debut of the Camaro ZL1

February 16, 2018 By Holly Cain NASCAR Wire Service 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. Hall of Famers and Chevrolet team owners Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and Richard Petty sat alongside future Hall of Fame sure-bet Chip Ganassi and Jim Campbell, Chevrolet’s USA vice president - to discuss the make’s current state…

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Tyler Reddick inches past Elliott Sadler for five-overtime NASCAR Xfinity win

February 17, 2018 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a day race that ended under the lights, with the closest margin of victory in NASCAR history, Tyler Reddick finished Saturday’s PowerShares QQQ 300 less than three inches ahead of JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler. In the last of five overtimes, after a stoppage of 5 minutes, 27 seconds, and on the 23rd extra lap, Reddick made a move to the outside off Turn 4 and won a drag race with Sadler to the stripe after their cars bumped side-to-side coming to the finish line. The margin of…

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Johnny Sauter asserts plate-track dominance with Daytona win

February 16, 2018 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service 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. Sauter grabbed the lead from pole winner David Gilliland on Lap 92 of 100 and stayed out front the rest of the way. The victory was Sauter’s third at Daytona and 18th of his career. The 2016 series champion dedicated the…

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

February 16, 2018 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service 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. The wreck in question—and its aftermath—put NASCAR racing on the map. On…

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