Auto Racing Glance

[February 15, 2018]  MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles around a 2.50-mile oval), Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach, Florida.

TV: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET (approximate green flag 2:49 p.m. ET) -- Fox.

Radio: Motorsports Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

THIS WEEK: The 60th running of the Daytona 500 - the season's first of 36 points races -- will have plenty of drama but it won't have favorite son Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the field. Earnhardt is the latest big Cup Series retiree, coming on the heels of Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart in recent years, with Matt Kenseth joining them on the sideline at the end of 2017. That's eight championships and four of the most popular drivers in the sport over the last two decades. Danica Patrick is back for what she says is her last NASCAR race and the youth movement runs apace, with fans having the opportunity to pick a new favorite driver from the likes of Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, William Byron and Daniel Suarez. ... Kurt Busch is the defending winner. ... Bowman won the pole on Sunday. ... Martin Truex Jr. is the defending series champion. ... The field of 40 cars will be set Thursday night by the Daytona 500's unique qualifying races, called Duels, where drivers who have not already won a starting spot on the front row will be placed on the grid based on their finish in one of the two 150-mile Duel races. Only 40 cars are entered, so no driver will miss the race based on speed.

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: POWESRSHARES QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles 2.50-mile oval), Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach, Florida.

TV: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET - FS1.

Radio: Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

THIS WEEK: The series returns to action after the offseason for the first of 33 races. ... Ryan Reed won this race last winter. ... William Byron won the championship last season but has graduated to Cup and won't be defending his title.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES: NEXT ERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250 (100 laps, 250 miles around a 2.50-mile oval), Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach, Florida.

TV: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET -- Fox Sports 1.

Radio: Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

THIS WEEK: Also back to start 2018, the Trucks are running their first of 23 races. ... Kaz Grala won the race last year. ... Christopher Bell was last year's series champion, but has graduated to a full-time Xfinity Series ride and will not be defending his title.

--Field Level Media

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