MARK LONG
Jimmie Johnson drives his damaged car on pit road during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Jimmie Johnson proud of ending NASCAR career with 7 titles

By Mark Long Aug. 30, 2020 01:36 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Long after a fireworks extravaganza lit up Daytona

William Byron stands with his trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Byron wins to reach Cup Series playoffs, knocks out Johnson

By Mark Long Aug. 29, 2020 11:06 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron snaked his way through a smoky crash

FILE - Bubba Wallace, center, stands on pit road during the playing of "America the Beautiful" prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, July 19, 2020. NASCAR drivers don't plan to boycott Saturday night's, Aug. 29 race at Daytona International Speedway to raise awareness of social and racial injustices. Bubba Wallace, the only fulltime Black driver in the elite Cup Series, said that decision should not be interpreted as "turning away from the dark and evil acts that have taken over our nation.” (AP Photo/Ray Carlin, File)
Wallace says racing doesn't mean NASCAR is 'standing down'

By Mark Long Aug. 29, 2020 07:42 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bubba Wallace said there was not much of a dialogue

Chase Briscoe leads the field to start a NASCAR Xfinity auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Haley wins at Daytona after teammates crash on final lap

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2020 10:18 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Justin Haley and his Kaulig Racing teammates had a

Denny Hamlin (11) and Joey Logano (22) race for the lead during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Higher stakes at Daytona mean 'crazy things will happen'

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2020 01:11 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Racing at Daytona International Speedway always

Kevin Harvick drives through Turn 3 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Road king: Elliott wins at Daytona for 3rd straight roadie

By Mark Long Aug. 16, 2020 06:47 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Make it three in a row on the road for Chase Elliott

Christian Eckes leads the field through the road course during a NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Creed wins Truck Series road race, $50K bonus at Daytona

By Mark Long Aug. 16, 2020 02:35 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Sheldon Creed won the NASCAR Truck Series race on

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, Ryan Newman (6) goes airborne after colliding with Corey LaJoie (32) on the final lap of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway. Newman expects to get a little emotional when he drives into Daytona International Speedway this weekend. His last time through the famed track’s tunnel came in the back of an ambulance--with countless onlookers fearing for his life.(AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Ryan Newman returns to scene of harrowing Daytona 500 crash

By Mark Long Aug. 15, 2020 09:50 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Newman expects to get a little emotional when

Austin Cindric (22) leads the field to start the NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Cindric wins roadie at Daytona, his 5th in last 6 races

By Mark Long Aug. 15, 2020 07:38 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Austin Cindric threw a water bottle at one

A worker takes the temperature of a person arriving at Darlington Raceway before the Real Heroes 400 NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR, which has been idle since March 8 because of the coronavirus pandemic, makes its return at the track Sunday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
No universal playbook for virus testing in pro sports

By Mark Long May. 19, 2020 03:57 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — There is no universal playbook for coronavirus

Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, makes a pass over Daytona International Speedway before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Daytona tweaks Speedweeks, moves Clash onto road course

By Mark Long Mar. 04, 2020 01:20 PM EST
NASCAR will hit the road for its first race in 2021, part of a schedule shakeup

Ryan Newman (6) goes airborne after crashing into Corey LaJoie (32) during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Sunday's running of the race was postponed by rain. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Blaney's attempted push of Newman led to violent crash

By Mark Long Feb. 18, 2020 02:58 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Drafting, blocking and bumping are essential

Rescue workers remove Ryan Newman from his car after he was involved in a wreck on the last lap of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Ryan Newman's latest terrifying crash sends him to hospital

By Mark Long Feb. 17, 2020 09:44 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Newman has barrel-rolled his way through many

Car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, hugs driver Noah Gragson in Victory Lane after he won the NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Dale Jr. alters approach to flying after scary plane crash

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2020 12:47 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent decades taking risks on the

Clint Bowyer gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Ready for closeup? NASCAR funnyman Bowyer expands Fox gig

By Mark Long Feb. 15, 2020 02:16 AM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Clint Bowyer slips into the TV production studio,

Daniel Suarez (96) and Ryan Blaney wreck as they come out of Turn 4 during the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Suarez wrecks in qualifier, fails to land Daytona 500 spot

By Mark Long Feb. 13, 2020 10:21 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Suarez needed to race his way into the

Denny Hamlin answers questions form members of the media during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASCAR's guessing game: Trying to predict the Daytona 500

By Mark Long Feb. 13, 2020 04:58 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Survival is the most important skill in the Daytona

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. walks along pit road before NASCAR auto race qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Stenhouse wins Daytona 500 pole in debut with new team

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2020 01:44 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. needed just two days to get his

Michael Self celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the ARCA auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Self wins ARCA opener at Daytona, edges rising star Deegan

By Mark Long Feb. 08, 2020 07:19 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Michael Self took home the first trophy of

Kyle Busch, front left, celebrates with teammates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Gibbs wins 5th NASCAR title in season dedicated to late son

By Mark Long Nov. 17, 2019 08:46 PM EST
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Joe Gibbs won the first race, the last race and more