MARK LONG
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

Kyle Busch signs autographs as he enters the garage for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
Oh, what a beating! Toyota on a tear entering Cup finale

By Mark Long Nov. 16, 2019 04:51 PM EST
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Ed Laukes strolled onto the stage with his chest

Kevin Harvick waits in the garage for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice to begin on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Harvick is one of four drivers racing for the series championship. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Last hurrah for Homestead: track hosts final title races

By Mark Long Nov. 16, 2019 02:26 AM EST
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — In many ways, Homestead-Miami Speedway was the ideal

Tyler Reddick (2) and Cole Custer (00) head into the front stretch during the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Randy Holt)
Bell, Custer, Reddick go for Xfinity title before Cup jump

By Mark Long Nov. 15, 2019 02:30 PM EST
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Christopher Bell, Cole Custer and Tyler Reddick are

William Byron's crew pushes his car back to the garage after he was involved in a wreck during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Keselowski sends message to Daytona field: 'I'm not lifting'

By Mark Long Jul. 04, 2019 06:51 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Brad Keselowski says he was sending a message by

Matt Tifft (36), Kurt Busch (1) and Alex Bowman (88) lead a pack though the front stretch during a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Fireworks finale: Daytona prepares for last race in July

By Mark Long Jul. 04, 2019 06:38 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — There are few venues on NASCAR's schedule quite like

A fan follows events from the roof of a camper during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, May 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
NASCAR strikes $2B deal with ISC, will gain a dozen tracks

By Mark Long May. 22, 2019 09:40 AM EDT
NASCAR announced the $2 billion purchase of International Speedway Corp. on Wednesday

Denny Hamlin celebrates on the grass after winning a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Kyle Busch laments lack of help, runner-up finish at Daytona

By Mark Long Feb. 17, 2019 09:28 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Busch felt like an amiable teammate, willing to do

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 1979, file photo, Donnie Allison, in car 1, and Cale Yarborough, in car 11, crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 which put Richard Petty in Victory Lane in Daytona Beach, Fla. Donnie Allison and his brother Bobby ended up in a fight with Cale Yarborough because of the wreck. The 1979 race was instrumental in broadening NASCAR's southern roots. Forty years later, it still resonates as one of the most important days in NASCAR history. (AP Photo/Ric Feld, File)
Perfect Storm: The 500 and fight that changed NASCAR forever

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2019 03:08 AM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The first break came with the massive blizzard that

Martin Truex Jr. (19), Denny Hamlin (11), Kevin Harvick (4), Austin Dillon (3), Clint Bowyer (14), Erik Jones (20), Chase Elliott (9), Daniel Suarez (41), Ryan Newman (6), Alex Bowman (88) and Aric Almirola (10) are involved in a multi-car pileup during the NASCAR Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
NASCAR moving away from restrictor plates, not pack racing

By Mark Long Feb. 15, 2019 03:21 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — There has been a string of goodbyes at Daytona