CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Mike Hembree breaks down all the hottest story lines heading into the race. USA TODAY Sports
Kurt Busch, left, celebrates his victory in the 2017 Daytona 500 with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports)
It's NASCAR race day at Daytona International Speedway, and we've got all the information you need to get ready for today's 60th annual Daytona 500, the season-opener of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
START TIME: Newly retired NASCAR superstar and two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:53 p.m. ET, while retired NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will drive the pace car leading the field around the track. Academy Award winning actress Charlize Theron will wave the green flag at 3:05 p.m. ET.
RACE DISTANCE: The Daytona 500 is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 500 miles.
RACE STAGES: After a successful run last season, NASCAR will once again be dividing races into segments and handing out points. Here are the stages for today's race: Stage 1: 60 laps, Stage 2: 60 laps, Stage 3: 80 laps.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: The Navy Band Southeast will perform the national anthem at 2:46 p.m. ET followed by a flyover by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.
TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: Fox will broadcast the race and has a pre-race show beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network and Sirius/XM NASCAR Radio will call the event on the radio.
SUNDAY: Spotlight for 60th Daytona 500 is on youth movement
DAYTONA 500 AT 60: Bill France Sr.'s big dreams remain vibrant
MORE: Five unforgettable moments in the Daytona 500
WEATHER: The Weather Channel is calling for a gorgeous day in Daytona Beach with mostly sunny skies, a high of 74 degrees and a slim 5% chance of precipitation.
DANICA DOUBLE: Danica Patrick will make her final career NASCAR start today before ending her racing career where it began — at the Indianapolis 500 in May. Patrick's best career finish in the Daytona 500 is an eighth-place showing in 2013 when she started from the pole.
LAST TIME: Kurt Busch led just one lap — the final one — to score his first career victory in NASCAR's biggest race. Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick led the most laps (50) but finished 22nd. Their were eight cautions last year, and 15 cars crrashed out of the race.
LINEUP: Alex Bowman, who took over the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet when Earnhardt Jr. retired, will start from the pole alongside 2016 Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Here is the lineup for the 60th annual Daytona 500 (car number in parentheses):
1. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
2. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
3. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
4. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
5. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
6. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
7. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet
8. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota
9. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford
10. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford
11. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford
12. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota
13. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet
14. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
15. (38) David Ragan, Ford
16. (21) Paul Menard, Ford
17. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota
18. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford
19. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet
20. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
21. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet
22. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
23. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
24. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
25. (62) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet
26. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet
27. (00) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet
28. (7) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet
29. (51) Justin Marks, Chevrolet
30. (96) DJ Kennington, Toyota
31. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford
32. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
33. (24) William Byron Chevrolet
34. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota
35. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
36. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford
37. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
38. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
39. (92) David Gilliland, Ford
40. (66) Mark Thompson, Ford
NASCAR fans, get ready: the Daytona 500 is just a few hours away.
Drivers will soon hit the track at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., in hopes of winning the 500-mile race.
Read on for what you should know about this year’s competition.
What time is the Daytona 500?
Viewers can tune in Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX to catch the action.
Those with a participating TV provider can also watch the race online and on smart devices using FOX Sports GO.
How many laps are there?
"The Great American Race" consists of 200 laps.
Who are some of this year's drivers?
Expect to see 24-year-old Alex Bowman, who has already earned the top starting spot for the Daytona 500.
NASCAR star Danica Patrick -- who announced she will retire later this year -- let it slip Wednesday that she will drive the Indianapolis 500 for Ed Carpenter Racing. That race will take place in May.
"Oh, (shoot), did I just say that out loud?" Patrick said. "I've never done that in my career."
Jeffrey Earnhardt -- racer Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s nephew -- will enter the race, too, Yahoo! Sports reported.
NASCAR.com released the official starting lineup for the race late Thursday. Alex Bowman, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano took the top spots on this year's Daytona 500 starting lineup.
DANICA PATRICK'S LAST NASCAR CAR DEBUTS
Who is the grand marshal?
The role of grand marshal is going to be filled by Earnhardt Jr., a two-time Daytona 500 champion. He won in 2004 and 2014.
The 43-year-old will give the famous command for drivers to start their engines, a Daytona International Speedway press release said.
Actor Owen Wilson, who voiced the race car Lightning McQueen in the "Cars" animated movie series, was grand marshal in 2017.
What else should I know about race day?
Former MLB player Chipper Jones will serve as an honorary race official. He will be introduced at the drivers' meeting, take a lap around Daytona International Speedway in a parade car and participate in question-and-answer sessions with fans.
Peyton Manning is set to serve as the honorary pace car driver. The former NFL star will be behind the wheel of the Toyota pace car and lead the 40-car field to the green flag to start the race.
Charlize Theron has been named honorary starter, and will wave the green flag for the season-opening race in NASCAR's Monster Energy Cup Series.
Country music group Rascal Flatts is set to perform a pre-race concert, while Navy Band Southeast will peform the national anthem.
There will also be a famous spectator: Patrick's boyfriend, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, will reportedly attend.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The wait is over. It's finally race day as the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off Sunday with the 60th running of the Daytona 500. When the green flag flies at 2:30 p.m. ET, drivers will race for 200 laps in hopes of cementing their place in auto NASCAR history.
Front row starters Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin will lead the field to start the race. Bowman, an 81-start Cup Series veteran, will be behind the wheel of now-retired NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s famous No. 88 as he seeks his first Daytona 500 win. As for Hamlin, the 2017 Cup Series playoff driver already knows what it's like to take home the checkered flag at The Great American Race, doing so in 2016.
Ryan Blaney will start the race third after winning the first Can-Am Duel in impressive fashion Thursday. Chase Elliott won the second duel and will start the race fourth. Both drivers wasted no time winning in their new rides with Blaney moving from the No. 21 to No. 12 and Elliott going from the No. 24 to the No. 9.
Starting lineup for the 2018 Daytona 500
Alex Bowman Denny Hamlin Ryan Blaney Chase Elliott Joey Logano Kevin Harvick Darrell Wallace Jr. Erik Jones Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Clint Bowyer Kurt Busch Kyle Busch Ryan Newman Austin Dillon David Ragan Paul Menard Daniel Suarez Trevor Bayne Jamie McMurray AJ Allmendinger Chris Buescher Michael McDowell Ty Dillon Martin Truex Jr. (champion) Brendan Gaughan Kasey Kahne Jeffrey Earnhardt Danica Patrick Justin Marks DJ Kennington Brad Keselowski Corey LaJoie William Byron Gray Gaulding Jimmie Johnson Matt DiBenedetto Aric Almirola Kyle Larson David Gilliland Mark Thompson
BOLD -- indicates 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoff driver
How to watch the Daytona 500
Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Length: 200 laps/500 miles
Stage 1: Ends on lap 60
Stage 2: Ends on lap 120
Final stage: Scheduled for lap 200
TV: Fox
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Past Daytona 500 winners racing Sunday
2017: Kurt Busch
2016: Denny Hamlin
2015: Joey Logano
2013: Jimmie Johnson
2011: Trevor Bayne
2010: Jamie McMurray
2008: Ryan Newman
2007: Kevin Harvick
2006: Jimmie Johnson
If you're interested in hearing what it's like to cross the finish line as the winner at Daytona, check out our interview with one-time 500 champion Trevor Bayne below. Bayne became the youngest to win The Great American race in 2011 just a day after his 20th birthday.
Odds to win the 2018 Daytona 500
Betting odds for Sunday's Great American Race, per VegasInsider.com
Brad Keselowski 7/1
Chase Elliott 8/1
Denny Hamlin 9/1
Joey Logano 12/1
Kevin Harvick 12/1
Kyle Busch 12/1
Jimmie Johnson 15/1
Kyle Larson 15/1
Martin Truex Jr. 15/1
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 15/1
Field (any driver not listed, such as Danica Patrick) 15/1
Alex Bowman 20/1
Clint Bowyer 20/1
Erik Jones 20/1
Kurt Busch 20/1
Ryan Blaney 20/1
Jamie McMurray 25/1
William Byron 25/1
Aric Almirola 30/1
Austin Dillon 30/1
Daniel Suarez 35/1
Paul Menard 35/1
Trevor Bayne 40/1
Darrell Wallace Jr. 50/1
Ryan Newman 50/1
Kasey Kahne 65/1
Ty Dillon 75/1
Our Pick: Chase Elliott
Elliott showed us everything we needed to see during the second Can-Am Duel. We believe Elliott will break his second-place slump and earn his first career Cup Series victory on NASCAR's biggest stage. The 22-year-old's victory in the Duels locked in his fourth-place starting position, meaning he will have started four out of his five Daytona 500s in the top four.
VegasInsider has Elliott at 8/1 odds to win the race, second only to Brad Keselowski. Already the preseason favorite to win NASCAR's Most Popular Driver this season, Elliott ushers in the next era of NASCAR drivers Sunday, blocking the field on the final lap to win the race in his father's famed No. 9.
Now let's take a closer look at some of the drivers competing Sunday.
The Champion's Club
Kurt Busch celebrates after winning the 2017 Daytona 500. USATSI
NASCAR veteran and 2004 Cup Series champ Kurt Busch will be looking to defend his 2017 Daytona 500 title. Busch is no stranger to the front of the pack on the massive restrictor-plate track; before his victory last season, the No. 41 driver finished as the runner-up three times. While Kurt attempts to defend his checkered flag, his brother and fellow Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is seeking his first Daytona 500 win.
"It would mean the world to me," Kyle Busch said to CBS Sports when asked about potentially winning the Daytona 500. "It would mean just as much as winning that first championship back in 2015. It's the biggest race that we have. It's The Great American Race, it's the Daytona 500, it's our Super Bowl."
One of Kyle Busch's rivals on the track is restrictor-plate guru and 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski. The No. 2 driver has yet to win a Daytona 500 despite winning at the track in the summertime before. However, this year he's off to a hot start after winning the Clash on Sunday. Keselowski was so confident in his car and ability that he even tweeted before that race that he believed he would win.
Keselowski's desire to win The Great American race is so fierce that he told CBS Sports he would be willing to draft with Busch on the final lap if it meant taking home a checkered flag. It'll be an uphill battle for him though after getting caught up with Jamie McMurray in a wreck on the final laps of Duel No. 1.
.@JamieErdahl just asked Brad Keselowski if he'd work with rival Kyle Busch on the final lap if it meant winning the #Daytona500.. His answer? "Absolutely" without hesitation. — Matthew Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) February 14, 2018
Another NASCAR champion seeking a first Daytona 500 win? Last year's title winner Martin Truex Jr. The No. 78 driver absolutely dominated last season, winning eight races including the final one at Homestead. While Truex's average finish on restrictor-plate tracks is 26.7, he did come within .01 seconds of winning when Hamlin won the 500 two years ago.
So we've gotten through three of the Championship 4 drivers from last season, but now it's time to move to Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick. The 2014 Cup Series champion is no stranger to Victory Lane at this 2.5-mile superspeedway, adding his name to the Harley J. Earl trophy in 2007. Harvick will be looking to rebound from a lackluster 33rd-place finish last season. He hasn't finished higher than 22nd at Daytona since July 2016.
How could we talk about champions without bringing up Jimmie Johnson? The two-time Daytona 500 winner will begin his pursuit of a record eighth Cup title Sunday in his 17th season. Despite a disappointing (if you can call it disappointing) finish of 10th in the standings last year, Johnson brings 83 career victories, 222 top fives and 341 top 10s into 2018. A checkered flag at Daytona would not only tie him with Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth all-time with 84 wins but it would also punch his ticket to the playoffs before the season even hits its stride. He will have some work to do, starting from the rear after totaling his car in the first Can-Am Duel.
The Next Generation of NASCAR
USATSI
Now it's time to talk about the new wave of NASCAR drivers. We mentioned Bowman and Elliott earlier, but this wouldn't be a preview post unless we talked about Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, William Byron, Darrell "Bubba" Wallace and more. The Daytona 500 is an opportunity for drivers to make a bigger name for themselves on the national stage and each of these young phenoms will be looking to make his mark.
Elliott, a heavy favorite to replace Dale Jr. as NASCAR's most popular driver, just barely missed out on his first career win multiple times last season. The most notable came at Phoenix ahead of the Championship 4 when now-retired driver Matt Kenseth passed him on the final laps to spoil his hopes for that elusive checkered flag. This season, Elliott moves from Jeff Gordon's No. 24 to his father Bill Elliott's famous No. 9. Elliott is one of the Vegas favorites to win the race at 8/1.
Taking Elliott's spot in the No. 24 this season is rookie sensation William Byron. The 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion will be making his much-anticipated Cup Series debut on the sport's biggest stage as he attempts to follow in Gordon's footsteps. Heck, Byron even brought the famed flames back onto the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. However, if Byron really wants to follow Gordon's lead, he'll have to win at Daytona. The NASCAR legend had three 500 victories over the course of his Hall of Fame career. Byron is expected to start from the rear of the field after being on the wrong end of a wreck in the first Can-Am Duel.
While we're talking Hendrick Motorsports let's talk about Alex Bowman. We mentioned him earlier as the pole sitter, but now it's time to take a deeper dive. Who exactly is this 24-year-old? Well, he's actually not as new to the sport as you might think. Bowman already has 81 Cup Series starts under his belt as he takes over for Dale Earnhardt Jr. He didn't race at the Cup level last season as he developed Hendrick's simulator, but did race twice in the Xfinity Series. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention he won one of those races. Expect Bowman to contend for a 500 crown Sunday.
Not much has been said about Erik Jones heading into this race and we're not necessarily sure why. Jones is the only driver in NASCAR history to win Rookie of the Year honors in all three series and now he heads over to one of the sport's top teams in Joe Gibbs Racing. Jones will be taking over for Matt Kenseth in the No. 20 car and is expected to contend for the playoffs this season. If he wants to win the Daytona 500 he'll have to do it from the back of the pack after crashing out of the second Can-Am Duel.
Duel No. 1 winner Ryan Blaney is in somewhat of a similar spot to Jones this season in that he's moving from a satellite team to the big dogs. Blaney is making the move from the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford to Team Penske. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene last season and finished ninth in the playoff standings when all was said in done. Many are expecting Blaney to make a big jump this year as he gains popularity among fans.
And finally let's talk about Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. He has been the talk of the town heading into the Daytona 500. His electric personality is something NASCAR has been seeking for quite some time as he joins The King's team, Richard Petty Motorsports. Wallace is the first African-American driver into the sport full-time since 1971. He only has four Cup starts under his belt, so Sunday's 500 will be his first. Wallace finished 33rd in last season's Xfinity Series race at Daytona.
The Danica Double
Danica Patrick is getting ready to suit up for two final rides into the sunset as the GoDaddy girl Getty Images
Danica Patrick will be making her final NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday. It's only fitting that her swan song takes place at the track where she made her mark in the sport. She was the first female to win a pole, lead laps and score a top-10 finish at Daytona.
Fans are used to seeing Patrick in the No. 10, but that car now belongs to Aric Almirola. This time around, Patrick will suit up in the car she made her debut in, the No. 7 GoDaddy Chevrolet. The spotlight will certainly be on Patrick for NASCAR's Super Bowl while her Super Bowl champion boyfriend Aaron Rodgers will also be in attendance. Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning will also be at the track Sunday in a different role, leading the field to green in the Toyota pace car.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
The 2018 season kicks off Sunday with the Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), with plenty of intrigue palpable. NASCAR.com staff members go out on a limb to make their picks for the both Sunday’s race and the 2018 season in general.
ZACK ALBERT
Truck Series champion: Johnny Sauter. Just one position shy of the 2017 title, Sauter returns to cash in for his second crown in three years.
Xfinity Series champion: Christopher Bell. Last year’s Truck champ moves up, poised to seal his second NASCAR national series title.
Daytona 500 winner: Brad Keselowski. With a strong restrictor-plate acumen, all the variables set to finally align for the No. 2 crew at the Great American Race.
Surprise playoff qualifier: Kasey Kahne. Sure, Kahne qualified for the postseason last year to fill a two-year void, but this year’s mission is tougher: Bringing Leavine Family Racing its first playoff berth.
Bold prediction: Five first-time winners. Chase Elliott is expected to finally break through, but add Alex Bowman, William Byron, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez to that list.
Championship 4: Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. Two drivers from last year’s final quartet should return, but the Championship 4 mix gets younger with Elliott and Larson.
2018 champion: Kyle Busch. For all his racing accomplishments, it’s surprising that Rowdy doesn’t have championships in multiples. This year, he’s in line for title No. 2.
JONATHAN MERRYMAN
Camping World Truck Series champion: Johnny Sauter. One of the most consistent drivers in the Truck Series garage. Get ready for title No. 2.
Xfinity Series champion: Elliott Sadler. Homestead has lit a fire under the veteran, who is tired of being a bridesmaid.
Daytona 500 winner: Brad Keselowski. Starting from the rear of the field is no problem for Keselowski. I think he gets out front, and when he does, he will be very hard to pass.
Surprise playoff qualifier: William Byron. Is it really a surprise? Maybe not, but I needed to at least mention his name as a playoff driver.
Bold prediction: Alex Bowman wins one of the first 10 races of the year.
Championship 4: Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson.
2018 champion: Chase Elliott. He came out of the 2017 fall Phoenix race a different driver — one I don’t want to underestimate.
BRAD NORMAN
Camping World Truck Series champion Johnny Sauter. Sauter is simply too good at this point in his career. The playoff format suits him beautifully.
Xfinity Series champion: Christopher Bell. Elliott Sadler and Cole Custer both give a serious push, but Bell wins the title in his first year in the series.
Daytona 500 winner: Kyle Larson. Yeah, the Fords are fast this weekend, but it’s Daytona. The Joe Gibbs guys lurk late, but ultimately it’s Larson outrunning the field to the checkered.
Surprise playoff qualifier: Darrell Wallace Jr. The energy around the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team is incredible. Wallace Jr. won’t point his way in, either — he’ll win.
Bold prediction: Chase Elliott will win at least five races in 2018.
Championship 4: Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney.
2018 champion: Kyle Busch.
JESSICA RUFFIN
Camping World Truck Series champion: Johnny Sauter. The 2016 champ is motivated after missing the title last year. With ’17 champ Christopher Bell racing in the Xfinity Series this year, the title is Sauter’s to take.
Xfinity Series champion: Elliott Sadler. Look for last year’s regular-season champion to win the 2018 championship this year, as Sadler looks to seize a title narrowly missed last season.
Daytona 500 winner: Joey Logano. The Fords have proven to be the cars to beat in the long run at Daytona, and Team Penske’s Logano has the plate prowess to be patient when he needs to be (and aggressive when coming to the checkered).
Surprise playoff qualifier: William Byron. Byron’s rise through the ranks has been quick, but successful. He won multiple races in his Xfinity and Truck rookie seasons, so look for strong, consistent runs — if not a win — for the young driver this year.
Bold prediction: Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez will both win races — and make the Playoffs — for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Championship 4: Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
2018 champion: Kyle Busch.
