Jeff Gordon
FILE - In this May 17, 2020, file photo, the grandstands are empty at Darlington Raceway before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Darlington, S.C. Darlington Raceway officials are excited about hosting the first of two scheduled NASCAR weekends, something the track hadn’t featured since 2004. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Harvick looks to jumpstart winless year again at Darlington

By Pete Iacobelli May. 08, 2021 12:06 PM EDT

NASCAR driver Harrison Burton drives away with his gas can still attached after a pit stop during the Geico 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday, April 25, 2021 in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Keselowski claims 6th win at Talladega with overtime pass

By John Zenor Apr. 25, 2021 06:22 PM EDT

FILE - Jimmie Johnson speaks about joining the team of Chip Ganassi for the IndyCar series at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., in this Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, file photo. Jimmie Johnson, with wisps of gray in his beard, is a 45-year-old rookie in the IndyCar Series ready to reintroduce himself. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
Jimmie Johnson ditches vanilla label during IndyCar debut

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 13, 2021 04:21 PM EDT

FILE - Jimmie Johnson speaks about joining the team of Chip Ganassi for the IndyCar series at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., in this Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, file photo. Jimmie Johnson, with wisps of gray in his beard, is a 45-year-old rookie in the IndyCar Series ready to reintroduce himself. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
Jimmie Johnson ditches vanilla label during IndyCar debut

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 13, 2021 04:10 PM EDT

FILE - Hooters 500 winner Bill Elliott, left, and NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki celebrate in Victory Lane following the Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Nov. 15, 1992, file photo. Chase Elliott will honor the late Alan Kulwicki by racing the same Hooters paint scheme that was on Kulwicki’s car in the 1992 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Kulwicki beat Bill Elliott for the Winston Cup title. Chase Elliott will run the paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on May 9, 2021. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Elliott honors Kulwicki with 1992 championship paint scheme

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 30, 2021 10:00 AM EDT

FILE - A crew member pours a sports drink over Kevin Harvick, from Bakersfiield, Calif., as he is interviewed in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this March 11, 2001, file photo. Harvick returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the 20th anniversary of his emotional first Cup victory.(AP Photo/Ric Feld, File)
Harvick reflects on anniversary of emotional Atlanta victory

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 18, 2021 03:57 PM EDT

Kyle Larson celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Column: Larson can't outrun past, only change conversation

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 08, 2021 02:52 PM EST

William Byron does doughnuts as he celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Column: Hendrick finds victory lane with rare outside hire

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 01, 2021 06:06 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2007, file photo, crew chief Steve Letarte watches Jeff Gordon during practice for the NASCAR 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., in this Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, file photo. NBC analyst Steve Letarte moonlights as the competition consultant for Spire Motorsports, a position he never imagined would put him back on top of a pit box. When COVID-19 protocols sidelined the regular crew chief, Letarte agreed to get back on top of a pit box Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He'll call the race for Corey LaJoie, his first time as crew chief since the 2014 season finale. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Letarte to play crew chief again in 1-race stint for Spire

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 25, 2021 06:46 PM EST

AJ Allmendinger climbs out of his car in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 20, 2021 04:41 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2001, file photo, Dale Earnhardt waves to fans during race introduction before the start of the Daytona 500 auto race at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, was killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the race that day as he tried to protect Michael Waltrip's victory (AP Photo/Russell Williams, File)
AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 04:31 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 02:34 PM EST
Feb. 13 1923 — The New York Renaissance, the first all-black pro basketball team, is organized. Rens become one of the dominant basketball...

Cody Ware gets ready for a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race practice session at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Who are you? Tiny NASCAR teams have slim chance at Daytona

By Mark Long Feb. 10, 2021 04:28 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2012 file photo, from left, Clint Bowyer (15), Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano crash in Turn 4 during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Nearly nine years after the four-time champion and the funniest guy in the garage were involved in one of the most infamous on-track paybacks in NASCAR history, the former rivals are now good friends and eager to share the Fox broadcast booth in 2021. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP, File)
From fight to Fox: NASCAR rivals play nice as TV teammates

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2021 03:48 PM EST

Race cars speed through the east horseshoe turn during the Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Johnson invigorated after stint in prestigious Rolex 24

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 30, 2021 06:26 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 12, 2020 11:53 AM EST
Nov. 15 1879 — Princeton beats Harvard 1-0 in a college football game held in New Jersey. The Tigers unveil the concept of using blockers...

Jimmie Johnson (48) pulls up next to Chase Elliott (9) in Turn 4 following Elliott's season championship victory in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Column: NASCAR closes stabilized, and energized by Elliott

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 09, 2020 01:45 PM EST

FILE - In this May 19, 2012, file photo, crew chief Chad Knaus, left, reacts with Jimmie Johnson after Johnson won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star auto race in Concord, N.C. Chad Knaus will move off the pit stand and into a management role with Hendrick Motorsports, ending his crew chief career after seven championships. Hendrick on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, announced Knaus will move to vice president of competition. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Johnson and Knaus, NASCAR's 7-time champions, exit together

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 07, 2020 04:23 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, crew chief Alan Gustafson celebrates in victory lane after Chase Elliot won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The pressure will be intense for crew chiefs in NASCAR's championship race. There is no practice or qualifying under COVID-19 protocols, so the team leaders must be on top of their game. (AP Photo/Wesley Broome, File)
Crew chiefs feel the heat to be perfect in NASCAR finale

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 03, 2020 03:35 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson gets into his car during Daytona 500 auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Rick Hendrick eyeing balanced, stronger 2021 NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT