Michael Waltrip
FILE - Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, winner of the 2021 Indianapolis 500 auto race, poses during the traditional winners photo session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this Monday, May 31, 2021, file photo. Superstar Racing Experience was conceptualized as a series for former greats who still had the skills and desire to compete and square off in identically prepared cars at six of America’s classic short tracks. Castroneves has no full-time job this season so joining SRX was a no-brainer. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
SRX made-for-TV racing series debuts with Indy 500 winner

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 10, 2021 03:50 PM EDT

FILE - Tony Stewart celebrates his International Race of Champions (IROC) championship in victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006, file photo. Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), disclosed the format it will use Thursday, May 6, 2021, to The Associated Press when the all-star series launches this summer at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut on June 12 for the first of six Saturday night short-track races across the country. Stewart and co-founder Ray Evernham modeled the series after the popular but defunct International Race of Champions that pitted drivers from multiple formulas in identically prepared cars at various tracks for 30 years. (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)
SRX format to reward driver skills, smarts on short tracks

By Jenna Fryer May. 06, 2021 09:16 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 17, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 18 1928 — At Moritz, Switzerland, Sonja Henie becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating champion. At 15 years and 315 days, easily...

Kurt Busch, left, and Kaz Grala, talk on pit road before the second of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ready to retire? Kurt Busch leaves NASCAR fans guessing

By Dan Gelston Feb. 13, 2021 02:02 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 02:38 PM EST
Feb. 17 1923 — Cy Denneny of the Ottawa Senators becomes the NHL’s career scoring leader. He scores his 143rd goal to surpass Joe Malone in...

Aric Almirola, left, and Clint Bowyer, center, talks to a crew member prior to the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bowyer to retire and move to Fox NASCAR coverage in 2021

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 08, 2020 07:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2020, file photo, Alex Bowman waves to fans during driver introductions before the first of two Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bowman scored his first iRacing victory of NASCAR's invitational series by holding off Corey LaJoie and Ryan Preece in a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish at virtual Talladega Superspeedway. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Bowman makes it 3 straight for Hendrick with virtual victory

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 26, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 28, 2019, file photo, NASCAR Truck Series driver Ross Chastain talks to media at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. The NASCAR Truck Series has its championship race Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Brett Moffitt, Matt Crafton and Stewart Friesen join Ross Chastain in the championship field. Moffitt is the defending series champion and will try to become the first repeat winner since Crafton in 2013 and 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
NASCAR punishes 4 teams for tampering with season finale

Nov. 27, 2019 05:37 PM EST

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

NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, of Charlotte, N.C., finishes the 123rd Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
NASCAR driver Johnson runs Boston Marathon in 3:09:07

By Jimmy Golen Apr. 15, 2019 04:55 PM EDT

Corey LaJoie leans over the hood of his car with a likeness of him painted on the front end before a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
New-look Daytona 500 has a certain throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 17, 2019 02:42 AM EST

Kevin Harvick holds up his trophy after winning the first of two qualifying auto races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 16, 2019 07:13 PM EST

Michael Annett (1) crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Michael Annett wins Xfinity Series opener at Daytona

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 16, 2019 05:00 PM EST

Corey LaJoie leans over the hood of his car with a likeness of him painted on the front end before a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Fresh faces and new sponsors give Daytona 500 throwback feel

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 15, 2019 12:23 PM EST