Daytona 500 news stories on Newser

After Fire, Rain, Matt Kenseth Wins Daytona 500

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:48:55 CST

Well, NASCAR certainly knows how to make a prime-time impression. Rain, fire, and Tide laundry detergent all factored into a Daytona 500 that will go down as the most bizarre in NASCAR history. And oh, yeah, Matt Kenseth picked up his second Daytona 500 title. The first Daytona 500 to...

Santorum to Daytona Driver: Race Like Me

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:59:50 CST

Is Rick Santorum the role model for winning the Daytona 500? That's what he told NASCAR driver Tony Raines before tonight's race: Use the "Santorum strategy," the Republican presidential candidate said today on Fox News. "Hang back and let the other cars in front get in wrecks ... or drop out...

Another Wealth Flub for Romney at NASCAR Race?

Mark Russell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:35:13 CST

Mitt Romney's attempts to show he's just a regular guy continue to go awry. At an appearance at the Daytona 500 yesterday (which was rained out for the first time in history), Romney was asked by an AP reporter if he follows NASCAR. "Not as closely as some of the...

Trevor Bayne, 20, Wins Daytona 500

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:25:00 CST

Leading on the final lap of the Daytona 500, a pack of veterans baring down on his bumper, Trevor Bayne didn't panic. He figured it would be a cool story to tell someday, how he led a lap in NASCAR's biggest show. Somebody, maybe Tony Stewart, would pass him any...

Sarah Palin Plans Visit to Daytona 500

M. Morris — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:41:00 CST

Sarah Palin is planning a romantic Valentine's Day—at the Daytona 500. Although the former Alaska governor won't have an official role in the race, she does have "NASCAR's blessing," the president of the Daytona International Speedway tells the Daytona Beach News-Journal , quoting the sport's governing body as saying, " NASCAR...

Kenseth Wins Rainy Daytona 500

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:20:08 CST

Rain that had threatened today's season-opening race finally rolled in moments after Matt Kenseth slid past Elliott Sadler for the lead, the AP reports. Then the former NASCAR champion was forced to sit out a 20-minute delay before claiming victory in the Daytona 500 after 152 of 200 laps. It...

NASCAR Needs to Rev Up

Wesley Oliver — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:18:01 CST

The US auto industry is teetering on the brink of destruction—and NASCAR isn't too far behind it. The Daytona 500, NASCAR’s Super Bowl, takes place Sunday, but business is stalling, leaving the costly sport looking for a lift, Sean Gregory and Steve Goldberg write in Time . “We need to...

Ryan Newman Wins Daytona 500

Mike Buss — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:06:58 CST

It appeared that Joe Gibbs Racing was going to take today's Daytona 500; the question was whether it would be Tony Stewart or his teammate Kyle Busch. That changed after a last-lap decision by Stewart to go low on the track, blocking Busch and freeing Ryan Newman to zoom past...

Earnhardt Takes Qualifier, Poised for Daytona

Lev Weinstein — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:07:19 CST

Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued his newfound success with Hendrick Motorsports yesterday, winning the first qualifying race for Sunday's Daytona 500. Coupled with his win in last Saturday's Shootout, Earnhardt must now be considered the favorite at the 500, and is on the cusp of a sweep no driver has yet...