February brings with it the familiar roar of engines descending onto Daytona International Speedway as the Daytona 500 returns to action. “The Great American Race,” as it’s come to be known, will see a sold-out crowd of nearly 200,000 spectators cheer on their favorite driver as they take on the high banks of Daytona’s iconic tri-oval at 200 miles per hour.
The race has come a long way since it took place on the sands of Daytona Beach in 1948. The modern iteration is one of the world’s biggest races, and this year’s event features some intriguing storylines.
Looking at Team Penske, which claimed back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024—plus the 2022 Daytona 500—will seek to maintain its dominance over the sport and the speedway with its trio of drivers; Joey Logano driving the 22 car, Ryan Blaney in the 12, and Austin Cindric in the 2.
Penske has also won the past two Rolex 24 Hour races at Daytona, and the past two Indy 500s with Josef Newgarden. This formidable team sees anything other than a first-place finish as a failure and has been the pinnacle of North American motorsport for years.
A team that has the speed, talent, and history to rival that of Penske is Hendrick Motorsports. Feilding the iconic No. 5, 9, 24, and 48 cars, Hendrick is looking to go back-to-back after a 2024 victory with the driver of the No. 24, William Byron.
But Hendrick teammates Chase Elliot and Kyle Larson are still battling to claim their first Daytona 500 wins. Both NASCAR Cup champions have yet to cross the finish line first and will fight to end years of bad luck, crashes and close finishes.
For Elliot, driver of the No. 9 and NASCAR’s most popular driver, it would mean joining his father Bill as a Daytona 500 champion. For Larson, driving the No. 5 and consistently named as one of the top race car drivers globally, it would mean another iconic race win to add to his ever-growing resume.
Or could this race see a spoiler? Michael McDowell came out of nowhere in 2021 to claim his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona.
Or will Toyota finally find its form after not winning the iconic race since 2020 with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin? Toyota has no shortage of high-caliber drivers and teams aiming to take the win, and maybe none as fierce as competitors as 23XI. The now three-car team is owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan—yes, that Michael Jordan.
The 23XI team is looking to not only claim a Daytona 500 win but claim a season championship after making the final four last season.
New this year is NASCAR’s open exemption provisional spot, granted to a driver outside of NASCAR with exceptional talent. The first recipient of this spot is four-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves, making his first Daytona 500 start with Trackhouse Racing in the No. 91 car.
Regardless of who comes out on top, the Daytona 500 always produces high-speed, unpredictable racing that you do not want to miss. The green flag for The Great American Race waves at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16, on FOX.
