Dale Earnhardt Jr.
FILE -- In this April 3, 2010 file photo, Kevin Harvick takes the checkered flag at the finish line to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series Nashville 300 auto race at Nashville Superspeedway in Gladeville, Tenn. The track that had been shuttered for a decade will host its first ever Cup race on Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Nashville Superspeedway welcomes Cup debut as track reopens

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 15, 2021 04:36 PM EDT

Fans look on from the stands as some are still wearing mask and others are not during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover International Speedway, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Bowman parks 48 in familiar spot in victory lane at Dover

By Dan Gelston May. 16, 2021 05:53 PM EDT

Justin Allgaier celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Allgaier beats teammate, Earnhardt paces field at Darlington

By Pete Iacobelli May. 08, 2021 03:55 PM EDT

IndyCar driver Jimmie Johnson (48) signs the shirt of fan Caroline Gast of Sarasota after the morning practice session at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race, Sunday, April 25, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Jimmie Johnson to make Indy 500 debut - for NBC Sports

May. 04, 2021 01:45 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

Daniel Hemric (18) and Brandon Jones (19) lead the field at the restart of the rain delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Josh Berry gets 1st career Xfinity victory at Martinsville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 11, 2021 02:01 PM EDT

Driver Kyle Larson (5) pushes Christopher Bell (20) after a wreck during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Monday, March 29, 2021, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
COLUMN: Bristol avoided the mess most feared for a dirt race

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 30, 2021 07:05 PM EDT

Race leader Noah Gragson (9) limps along the track after having made contact with David Starr with two laps to go in a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Column: Love him or hate him, Gragson has NASCAR talking

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 22, 2021 06:56 PM EDT

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

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Feb. 14, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Feb. 15 1932 — Eddie Eagen, as a member of the four-man U.S. bobsled team, wins a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New...

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

FILE - This Feb. 9, 2020, file photo, shows a SAFER barrier wall in Turn 4 during qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race qualifying at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Steel And Foam Energy Reduction Barrier was designed to absorb and reduce kinetic energy during high-speed crashes. "Soft walls” have been gradually added to nearly every NASCAR track, first in high-impact areas, The Steel And Foam Energy Reduction Barrier was designed to absorb and reduce kinetic energy during high-speed crashes. "Soft walls” have been gradually added to nearly every NASCAR track, first in high-impact areas and later, after Kyle Busch broke both legs in a 2015 crash at Daytona, in place of nearly every spot of exposed wall. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Lasting legacy: Earnhardt's death saved lives, forced change

By Jenna Fryer, Dan Gelston And Mark Long Feb. 11, 2021 04:07 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2006, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr., puts on his helmet and protective HANS device during preparations the day before the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR mandated the use of head-and-neck restraints in late 2001. Drivers had resisted using the U-shaped neck restraint made of carbon fiber because they found it cumbersome and restrictive. They became required equipment after 25-year-old Blaise Alexander was killed in a crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway some eight months after Earnhardt's death.(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Lasting legacy: Earnhardt's death saved lives, forced change

By Jenna Fryer, Dan Gelston And Mark Long Feb. 11, 2021 04:06 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...

Hailie Deegan gets ready to go out during practice for the NASCAR Trucks series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Deegan ready to move on from slur and shine in NASCAR

By Dan Gelston Feb. 11, 2021 02:30 AM EST

Alex Bowman, right, gets a fist bump from one of his crew members after winning the pole position for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race during qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Bowman, Byron give Hendrick sweep of Daytona 500 front row

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 10, 2021 09:09 PM EST

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 - Singer-songwriter Luke Combs speaks in the press room after winning awards for male vocalist of the year and song of the year at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena, in this Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, file photo. NASCAR will attempt some normalcy at the season-opening Daytona 500 with a live pre-race concert featuring country music star Luke Combs. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
NASCAR to hold pre-race Daytona 500 concert with Luke Combs

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 19, 2021 10:24 AM EST

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