What’s new in NASCAR this season heading into the Daytona 500?

NASCAR continues its distinctive place within the sports activities panorama Sunday when it holds its greatest occasion initially, slightly than the top, of its season with the working of the sixty fifth Daytona 500. Wait, you say, isn’t this the seventy fifth anniversary of NASCAR? Indeed, it’s, however extra on that later.

Daytona isn’t even the primary 500-mile stock-car race as a result of the Southern 500 at Darlington preceded it. But it was on the sands of Daytona Beach, Fla., that Bill France Sr. began an auto racing circuit the place drivers have been in automobiles that seemed and acted like those individuals drove to work, besides sooner. Some even drove their race automobiles to the monitor to start with.

There is little inventory in inventory automotive racing now. The automobiles are precision crafted and examined and price a quarter-million to greater than a half-million {dollars}. Since the automobiles can wreck, the large groups have loads of additional motors and our bodies.

Speaking of groups, the little single-car man is at an obstacle as a result of there are 17 groups on the circuit, together with Hendricks Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, which have 4 automobiles every, the utmost allowed by NASCAR. In addition to the analysis and improvement pluses, drivers from the identical group usually assist their companions in drafting, pushing and blocking conditions.

So, what makes this season completely different? Here are a number of anticipated story strains on this yr’s model of NASCAR.

NASCAR’s seventy fifth season

It gained’t take lengthy earlier than the fixed point out of the seventy fifth season will begin to sound like an outdated LP with a scratch in it. NASCAR has a number of tips, together with the disclosing of its 75 biggest drivers, a 25-person addition from the record they did 25 years in the past. Even one thing as fan-friendly as this will rile up its passionate fan base. At the Rose Parade, NASCAR caught some blowback from followers when its float had depictions of Dale Earnhardt Sr., Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon however left Jimmie Johnson off the float.

NASCAR additionally has an inaugural road race in Chicago over July 4th weekend that features the long-lasting Grant Park and Lake Shore Drive. NASCAR is returning to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for its All-Star Race on May 21. The brief monitor has been largely shuttered since 1996 till Dale Earnhardt Jr. and civic leaders made it a mission to reopen the monitor.

Parity on the monitor

A sport hardly ever is aware of which is healthier, to have a dominant performer whom everybody can root for or in opposition to week after week, or an anyone-can-win sense of equality that brings the thrill of unpredictability. NASCAR appears to be traversing the trail of parity. Last yr, it had a record-tying 19 winners over 36 races. Five have been first-time winners. Lots of the credit score to this newfound sense of equality comes from the Next Gen automobiles that have been launched final yr. The purpose was to make it extra in regards to the ability of the motive force as an alternative of the cash behind the R&D of the groups.

Steve Phelps, NASCAR president, supplied proof to NBC Sports, which broadcasts the second half of the schedule after NFL Sundays. Fox has the rights to the primary half.

“We had a meeting with one of our race teams, who some people consider to be back of the [starting] grid,” Phelps mentioned. “And this principal said to me when I go to a racetrack, every single time, I believe we can win. I’ve never felt that before this Next Gen car, which is terrific. The underdog can come in here and win.”

What’s occurring at Joe Gibbs Racing?

First reply, sure, it’s that Joe Gibbs, who gained the Super Bowl thrice as coach of Washington. That’s two occasions fewer than he’s gained the NASCAR Cup sequence as an proprietor. Lots has modified since final yr. Most importantly, two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has left the group to affix Richard Childress Racing. That leaves veterans Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jr. and up-and-comer Christopher Bell.

Busch is being changed by Ty Gibbs, the grandson of the proprietor. It doesn’t seem as if the transfer is swaddled in nepotism as Ty is extremely proficient regardless of the very fact he has the child face of a 20-year-old who’s simply studying to shave. Last yr he gained the Xfinity Series, the triple-A for NASCAR.

He has some rising as much as do. At Martinsville’s Xfinity playoff race final yr he made contact with teammate Brandon Jones’ automotive on the ultimate additional time lap, eliminating his teammate, despite the fact that Gibbs had already certified for the ultimate. After the race he in contrast himself to Jesus in a radio interview. At the spring Martinsville race, he was eradicated from competitors on the final lap by Sam Mayer. During the cool-down lap, Gibbs bumped into Mayer’s automotive, leading to a fist combat on pit highway.

Is Kyle Busch in bother?

In brief, not so far as NASCAR is anxious. The two-time NASCAR Cup champion was sentenced to three ½ years in a Mexican jail and fined $1,100 earlier this month for “carrying a firearm without a license and possession of cartridges for the exclusive use of the armed forces” whereas boarding a personal aircraft in Cancun to return to the United States. The gun had six hole factors within the chamber. Busch mentioned he has a hid carry allow within the U.S. and forgot the handgun was in his bag when he went via a routine safety examine. There isn’t any rationalization as to how he was capable of depart and the way or if he should serve his jail sentence. Busch mentioned the state of affairs has been resolved.

A NASCAR spokesman informed Autoweek: “We do have a Member Conduct policy. With the information we received, we did not feel it warranted any disciplinary action.” Busch apologized and took duty for the incident.

Busch was requested in regards to the gun cost at NASCAR Media Day on Wednesday and he referred to his earlier assertion that it was resolved. He was questioned if an incident in August by which he and his household had been current at a taking pictures incident on the Mall of America in Minnesota performed any position in him having a gun. He mentioned he was a gun service earlier than in jurisdictions that you’re allowed it.

Finally, he was requested why he carries a gun. “Doesn’t matter,” Busch mentioned.

Busch has 60 Cup wins, tying him with Kevin Harvick for essentially the most victories by an energetic full-time driver.

Comings and goings

Retirements in NASCAR are inclined to have the identical really feel as these {of professional} boxers. It’s robust to present it up. With that caveat all the time hovering, Kevin Harvick, 47, has introduced that this season can be his final as a full-time racer. The key phrase right here is “full-time.” Harvick issued this assertion: “It’s definitely been hard to understand when that right moment is because we’ve been so fortunate to run well. But sometimes there are just other things going on that become more important and, for me, that time has come.”

After a poor 2022 season by which Truex, 42, didn’t end a single race within the prime three, breaking a seven-year profitable streak, there was hypothesis that if issues didn’t enhance this could possibly be it for him. But Truex gained the Clash on the Coliseum just lately. More success like that might preserve retirement dialogue on the again burner.

And talking of retirement, Jimmie Johnson, 47, has come out of his on a part-time foundation after leaving NASCAR two years in the past. He plans to run a restricted schedule, together with the Daytona 500. He’s additionally turn into a associate within the rebranded Legacy Motor Club, previously Petty GMS Motorsports. Maury Gallagher and Richard Petty are additionally a part of the possession group.

“Working through the 2022 season, I knew I wanted to come back in NASCAR and still moonlight in Indy cars,” Johnson informed The Times. His schedule hasn’t been introduced however Johnson says Auto Club Speedway in Fontana is on his “short list” if issues could be labored out. The El Cajon native as soon as referred to as Fontana his house monitor.