Jeff Gordon
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 4 hrs ago

AJ Allmendinger climbs out of his car in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 20, 2021 04:41 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 02:34 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...

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 - In this Nov. 11, 2012 file photo, from left, Clint Bowyer (15), Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano crash in Turn 4 during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Nearly nine years after the four-time champion and the funniest guy in the garage were involved in one of the most infamous on-track paybacks in NASCAR history, the former rivals are now good friends and eager to share the Fox broadcast booth in 2021. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP, File)
From fight to Fox: NASCAR rivals play nice as TV teammates

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2021 03:48 PM EST

Race cars speed through the east horseshoe turn during the Rolex 24 hour auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Johnson invigorated after stint in prestigious Rolex 24

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 30, 2021 06:26 PM EST

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 12, 2020 11:53 AM EST
Nov. 15 1879 — Princeton beats Harvard 1-0 in a college football game held in New Jersey. The Tigers unveil the concept of using blockers...

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

FILE - In this May 19, 2012, file photo, crew chief Chad Knaus, left, reacts with Jimmie Johnson after Johnson won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star auto race in Concord, N.C. Chad Knaus will move off the pit stand and into a management role with Hendrick Motorsports, ending his crew chief career after seven championships. Hendrick on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, announced Knaus will move to vice president of competition. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Johnson and Knaus, NASCAR's 7-time champions, exit together

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 07, 2020 04:23 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, crew chief Alan Gustafson celebrates in victory lane after Chase Elliot won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The pressure will be intense for crew chiefs in NASCAR's championship race. There is no practice or qualifying under COVID-19 protocols, so the team leaders must be on top of their game. (AP Photo/Wesley Broome, File)
Crew chiefs feel the heat to be perfect in NASCAR finale

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 03, 2020 03:35 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson gets into his car during Daytona 500 auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Rick Hendrick eyeing balanced, stronger 2021 NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

Hendrick plucks champion Truck Series crew chief for No. 24

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 26, 2020 11:25 AM EDT
Hendrick Motorsports plucked crew chief Rudy Fugle away from Kyle Busch Motorsports on Monday to lead William Byron next season in the Cup Series. ...

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

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Alex Bowman shuffled to the No. 48 to replace Jimmie Johnson

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 06, 2020 03:46 PM EDT

William Byron stands with his trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Byron heads into playoffs with 2-year contract extension

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 01, 2020 03:36 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 13, 2020 11:32 AM EDT
Aug. 16 1920 — Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman is hit in the head with a pitch by New York’s Carl Mays. Chapman suffers a fractured skull...

FILE - In this June 26, 2006, file photo, Tony Stewart poses with the trophy after winning the Crown Royal IROC auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. The IROC Series, where the best drivers from various disciplines raced each other in equally prepared cars, ran for 30 seasons before Tony Stewart won its final championship in 2006 and the series quietly went away. Now Stewart, along with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham, has teamed with a group of heavyweights to bring an all-star circuit back in 2021. The Superstar Racing Experience plans a six-race, short-track series to air in prime-time on CBS in a Saturday night summer spectacular. (AP Photo/Paul Kizzle, File)
Stewart and Evernham team to recreate IROC as SRX All-Stars

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 13, 2020 08:47 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 2, 2020, file photo, Mercedes drivers Valtteri Bottas of Finland, left and Lewis Hamilton of Britain speak during the drivers news conference the at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria. As sports prepare to resume, journalists are facing the same reckoning that their colleagues who cover politics, education and entertainment have encountered — coming up with new approaches to coverage with reduced access and resources. Professional leagues closed media access to locker rooms and clubhouses in early March.(Mark Sutton/Pool via AP, File)
Games are restarting, but few reporters will be there

By Joe Reedy Jul. 08, 2020 12:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 1, 2020, file photo, Jimmie Johnson is introduced to the crowd during activities as he carries his youngest daughter Lydia as his oldest daughter Genevieve and wife Chandra follow prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Fontana, Calif. This year has hardly been the farewell tour Jimmie Johnson envisioned when he said 2020 would be his final season of full-time NASCAR racing. The seven-time champion has had to say his goodbyes at empty race tracks absent of all fanfare and now his streak of 663 consecutive races has ended because Johnson tested positive for the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Will Lester, File)
Column: Jimmie Johnson finds voice during last NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 07, 2020 01:27 PM EDT