Dale Earnhardt
Jimmie Johnson shakes hands with fans during driver introductions before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Johnson is making his last Daytona 500 start. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
2-time Daytona 500 champ Johnson ready for one final ride

By Dan Gelston 20 hrs ago

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 24 hrs ago

Noah Gragson (9) celebrates on the roof of his car at the finish line after winning a NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Noah Gragson gives Earnhardt another win at Daytona

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 15, 2020 05:36 PM EST

Jimmie Johnson, right, talks with a crew member in his garage after a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Johnson 'energized' for likely final Daytona 500 start

By Dan Gelston Feb. 15, 2020 02:22 PM EST

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

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 1999, file photo, drivers in the first 125-mile Daytona 500 qualifying race start the race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Daytona Beach became the unofficial "Birthplace of Speed" in 1903 when two men argued over who had the fastest horseless carriage and decided things in a race on the white, hard packed sand along the Atlantic Ocean.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Track: 5th straight sellout for season-opening Daytona 500

Feb. 13, 2020 07:17 PM EST

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

Brad Keselowski, left, and Jimmie Johnson talk between interviews during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
DAYTONA NOTEBOOK: Jimmie Johnson mulls his 2021 options

By Dan Gelston Feb. 12, 2020 05:20 PM EST

Kyle Busch (18) climbs out of his car after coming to a stop on pit road after colliding in Turn 4 during the NASCAR Daytona Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Busch has done it all in NASCAR, except win the Daytona 500

By Dan Gelston Feb. 11, 2020 10:43 AM EST

William Byron prepares to go out on the track during a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hendrick extends primary sponsorship deal with Axalta

Feb. 10, 2020 04:04 PM EST

Jimmie Johnson waves to fans during introductions for the NASCAR Busch Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Keselowski plays repair man in rush to fix Daytona 500 car

By Dan Gelston Feb. 09, 2020 04:30 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2019, file photo, driver Jimmie Johnson smiles during media day for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. As he prepares for his final season of full-time racing, the most accomplished driver of his generation has changed his mindset. “I’m not chasing anything,” said Johnson, who is determined to enjoy his 19th and final Cup season. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Johnson drops "Chasing 8" motto before final NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 07, 2020 01:52 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Kyle Busch, center, holds up his trophy in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. NASCAR's season officially opens Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Change looming as NASCAR season arrives with Daytona 500

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 03, 2020 03:28 PM EST

FILE - In this July 13, 2007, file photo, John Andretti smiles as he climbs from his car after qualifying for the NASCAR auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Andretti, a member of one of racing's most families, has died following a battle with colon cancer, according to a Twitter post from Andretti Autosports on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2020. He was 56. (AP Photo/Warren Wimmer< File)
Versatile race-car driver John Andretti dies at 56

By Michael Marot Jan. 30, 2020 06:09 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, file photo, Kyle Busch climbs in his car for a turn to drive during testing for the upcoming Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Although his bid for a third championship doesn’t begin until the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16, his racing season starts this weekend with a cameo appearance in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Kyle Busch has 2 NASCAR titles and an eye on at least 5 more

Jenna Fryer Jan. 21, 2020 02:56 AM EST

FILE - In this May 3, 2001 file photo founder and chairman of Simpson Racing Products, Bill Simpson, is followed by reporters and photographers as he arrives at NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. The pioneer in safety for race car drivers has died. Bill Simpson died Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 from complications from a stroke. He was 79. (Nigel Cook/Daytona Beach News-Journal via AP)
Motorsports safety pioneer Bill Simpson dies after stroke

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 16, 2019 07:01 PM EST

Thursday Sports in Brief

By The Associated Press Dec. 06, 2019 02:49 AM EST
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa said being assured he'd likely remain a high NFL draft pick could make “the biggest...

NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, left, is interviewed after being named the most popular driver at the NASCAR Cup Series Awards Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Chase Elliott gets 2nd most popular NASCAR driver award

Jenna Fryer Dec. 05, 2019 08:28 PM EST

Team owner Joe Gibbs, left, speaks after being given the Bill France Award of Excellence at the NASCAR Cup Series Awards on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Joe Gibbs honored with NASCAR's award of excellence

Jenna Fryer Dec. 05, 2019 08:00 PM EST

FILE - In this July 20, 2019, file photo, Darius Rucker performs during the Group Therapy Tour at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rucker will perform a pre-race concert before the Daytona 500 in February. It will be Rucker’s fourth appearance at Daytona International Speedway and first at the “Great American Race,” which will again serve as NASCAR’s Cup Series season opener. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
Darius Rucker to perform pre-race concert before Daytona 500

Dec. 03, 2019 10:00 AM EST