Dale Earnhardt
FILE - Driver Scott Dixon, left, and team owner Chip Ganassi celebrate after winning the NTT IndyCar Series Championship following an IndyCar auto race in St. Petersburg, Fla., in this Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, file photo. The upcoming IndyCar season will be headlined by the six-time IndyCar champion. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson, File)
Scott Dixon seeks motorsports milestone 7th championship

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 16, 2021 07:29 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

Kevin Harvick makes a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, March 7, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
NASCAR returns to its roots with 1st of 2 visits to Atlanta

By Paul Newberry Mar. 20, 2021 02:14 PM EDT

FILE - A crew member pours a sports drink over Kevin Harvick, from Bakersfiield, Calif., as he is interviewed in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cracker Barrel 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this March 11, 2001, file photo. Harvick returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the 20th anniversary of his emotional first Cup victory.(AP Photo/Ric Feld, File)
Harvick reflects on anniversary of emotional Atlanta victory

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 18, 2021 03:57 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

Ty Gibbs celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series road course auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ty Gibbs stuns grandfather, wins in first career NASCAR race

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 20, 2021 08:38 PM EST

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...

Michael McDowell crosses the finish line ahead of Austin Dillon to win the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Latest: Keselowski has no regrets about Daytona 500 end

By The Associated Press Feb. 14, 2021 02:28 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...

Anthony Alfredo (38), David Ragan (36), Kaz Grala (16), Garrett Smithley (13), and Chase Briscoe (14) crash during the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Party in a pandemic: NASCAR fans power through at Daytona

By Dan Gelston Feb. 13, 2021 02:48 AM EST

Austin Dillon, left, talks with car owner Richard Childress on pit road before the start of 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)
Denny Hamlin seeks historic 3rd straight Daytona 500 victory

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 12, 2021 05:26 PM EST

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500

By The Associated Press Feb. 12, 2021 01:38 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

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 02:38 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...

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...