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Daytona 500

NASCAR’s New Voice: Local Broadcaster Nick Yeoman Calls Daytona 500 & More

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor February 26, 2026

written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

Tyler Reddick secured his first Daytona 500 victory on Sunday, navigating a chaotic final lap that involved a 19-car crash to deliver a historic win for 23XI Racing and co-owner Michael Jordan. The 68th running of the Daytona 500, a sellout event for the 11th consecutive year, saw Reddick cross the finish line ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott.

The victory snapped a 38-race winless streak for Reddick, dating back to his win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October 2024. He became the 44th different driver to win the prestigious race. The dramatic finish saw Reddick pass Chase Elliott exiting Turn 4 on the final lap, according to reports from ESPN and Yahoo Sports.

“Last year was really hard for all of us, hard for me,” Reddick told Fox Sports after the race. “When you’re a Cup driver, and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year. For us to go on that drought we did made us gaze hard in the mirror, and really proud of everyone on our Toyota Camry. Worked really hard in the off-season, and there was many points in this race where we weren’t making decisions we wanted to, but we just reset, and every opportunity we got to reset we went back at it. Just speechless.”

The win marks Michael Jordan’s first Daytona 500 victory as a team owner. The NBC Sports report highlighted the significance of the win for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by the basketball legend.

Away from the track, a Lafayette, Indiana, resident, Nick Yeoman, a 2006 Jefferson High School graduate, recently made his debut as a co-anchor for the Performance Racing Network, calling a second consecutive Cup Series victory for Reddick at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Yeoman’s path to broadcasting began with a tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1992, when he was four years old. He credits his grandfather with an introduction to former IndyCar announcer Mike King, which opened doors to opportunities in motorsports broadcasting. Yeoman will continue to broadcast 10 IndyCar races this season, including the Indianapolis 500, balancing his modern role with NASCAR.

February 26, 2026 0 comments

Sport

Daytona Decisions: Ranking 6 Controversial Calls from NASCAR Weekend

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor February 18, 2026

written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

A massive 20-car wreck on Lap 124 of Sunday’s Daytona 500 dramatically reshaped the race, collecting several contenders including race leader Justin Allgaier and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. The incident, described as “The Considerable One” by multiple outlets, occurred as Hamlin attempted to pass Allgaier on Turn 4, according to Fox Sports.

The crash unfolded after Hamlin made an aggressive move on Allgaier, who was piloting the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Ryan Blaney, in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, provided a bump to Hamlin, creating a path to challenge for the lead. Allgaier then attempted a block, which Hamlin collided with, initiating the multi-car pileup.

Bubba Wallace managed to avoid the chaos and inherited the lead as a result of the wreck, ultimately securing the Stage 2 victory. Allgaier, Alex Bowman, and Todd Gilliland were forced to withdraw from the race due to damage sustained in the crash, though all three were evaluated and released from the infield care center, according to reports.

While Hamlin’s car appeared to avoid significant exterior damage, his team reported radio communication issues following the incident. The caution flag remained in effect through the conclude of Stage 2, allowing crews time to start the extensive cleanup process.

The wreck involved a significant number of drivers, including Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, William Byron, Michael McDowell, and Zane Smith, as detailed by Fox Sports and the News-Journal Online.

Allgaier took responsibility for the incident, acknowledging a difference in driving style between the NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series, where he typically competes. “I hate it for everybody else, but I’ll stand here and take the blame square on my shoulders,” Allgaier said, as reported by Bob Pockrass. “The runs are just different [in Cup]. The willingness for guys to be aggressive in those moments are probably a little bit different on the Cup side.”

NASCAR’s decision not to throw a caution on the final lap, despite wrecks in both the Truck Series and Cup Series races, also drew scrutiny. Michael McDowell, involved in both incidents, stated he had no issue with the call regarding his own car, noting he continued to move forward. However, the consistency of such decisions remains a point of discussion, particularly with another drafting race scheduled for Atlanta.

The approval of Cleetus McFarland to participate in the Truck Series race also sparked debate. McFarland, a popular YouTube personality and racetrack owner, had limited stock-car experience. NASCAR approved his participation alongside Mini Tyrrell, the Ram “Race for the Sea” winner, who also had limited experience. NASCAR faces a challenge in balancing marketing considerations with safety standards when approving drivers with limited backgrounds.

Riley Herbst’s move near the finish line, criticized by Brad Keselowski and his team, added another layer of controversy to the Daytona weekend. While the move appeared risky, Herbst maintained he was attempting to win the race and potentially avoid pushing teammate Chase Elliott. The incident ultimately overshadowed Herbst’s contribution to teammate Tyler Reddick’s eventual victory.

February 18, 2026 0 comments

Sport

Chase Elliott Wins NASCAR Duel #2, Alfredo Locks into Daytona 500

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor February 13, 2026

written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports secured a victory in the second Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday night, positioning himself well for Sunday’s Daytona 500. The race, a stark contrast to the chaotic opening Duel, saw Elliott cross the finish line ahead of Carson Hocevar by a margin of 0.065 seconds.

Elliott’s win, his third career Duel victory, earns him the fourth starting spot for the prestigious Daytona 500. He also collected 10 NASCAR Cup Series championship points, tying him with Joey Logano, winner of Duel 1, for the points lead heading into the main event. Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five finishers.

“A great way to get the blood pumping for sure on a Thursday night,” Elliott said after the race. “There was a lot going on those last handful… It was a lot of fun. Had some great support there. Carson [Hocevar] did a great job helping me control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy to Victory Lane tonight.” He acknowledged the collaborative effort with Hocevar, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining control whereas pushing for the lead.

The race saw a strategic alliance between Hendrick Motorsports and Spire cars, working together to dictate the pace and control the finish until the final moments. Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin completed the top ten.

While Elliott’s victory garnered attention, the Duel also determined the final open spot in the Daytona 500 field. Anthony Alfredo, driving the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, secured the last remaining position in a closely watched battle with BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley.

Alfredo’s 18th-place finish was enough to lock him into the field, marking his third Daytona 500 start and his first since 2024. An emotional Alfredo expressed relief and gratitude, acknowledging the significance of the opportunity after facing uncertainty in his career. “Making it on time is a lot easier,” he said, visibly moved. “This is for the third time. It’s really cool… My career has had a lot of ups, and downs. You never realize when you’re going to get another shot.” He credited Beard Motorsports and Dude Wipes for their continued support.

McLeod, who finished 19th, was hampered by a fuel miscalculation, falling short of qualifying for the Daytona 500 by 27.5 seconds. He expressed frustration with fuel-saving strategies at superspeedways.

The race saw Chase Briscoe lead for a significant portion, with a focus on fuel conservation during the initial stages. Pit stop strategy became crucial in the closing laps, with McDowell briefly taking the lead before Elliott ultimately seized control. A brief moment of tension arose when Erik Jones led a line of Toyotas attempting to navigate through slower traffic, but the maneuver was executed without incident.

February 13, 2026 0 comments

Sport

Logano Wins Duel at Daytona, Mears Secures 500 Spot in Dramatic Finish

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor February 13, 2026

written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Joey Logano of Team Penske secured victory in the first of two qualifying races for the 68th Daytona 500 on Thursday night, but the evening’s most dramatic story unfolded in the battle to secure the final spots in Sunday’s main event. Veteran driver Casey Mears, piloting the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, earned a surprising and hard-fought berth in the field after a chaotic final lap.

Logano, starting sixth, utilized the high line to capture the lead and ultimately crossed the finish line ahead of teammate Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, John-Hunter Nemechek, and Brad Keselowski. The win earns Logano a third-place starting position for the Daytona 500 and 10 points in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, placing him atop the leaderboard.

However, the focus quickly shifted to the open car battle for the remaining two starting positions. Corey LaJoie appeared poised to lock in his spot until a late-race wreck on the final lap. “It looked good for 145.5 miles,” a dejected LaJoie said after being checked and released from the infield care center. “I thought we controlled the race as good as you can control it. The bottom lane got soft there, and the push came right as I picked the #6 [Keselowski] up, and it just turned me to the right. That sucks, man. These guys worked incredibly hard on this car. I’m honestly happy for Casey Mears and (team owner) Carl Long — it’s cool those guys got in, but I’m devastated. This is what you work for and I don’t have another one after this.”

Amidst the chaos, Mears, who had earlier spun and fallen a lap down, refused to lift off the accelerator as a multi-car wreck unfolded in front of him. He drove directly through the wreckage, sustaining nose damage but maintaining speed and ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh place – enough to secure his place in the Daytona 500. Chandler Smith, the other open entry, failed to qualify.

“Probably a little bit about the power of prayer, there was a lot of that going on inside the car,” Mears laughed, visibly shocked after the race. “Just couldn’t thank everybody enough for getting us here to begin with. Had an issue on pit road, but I got a run around the outside. Decided to stay in the gas, no matter what happened. When I saw them spinning and I missed the first guy (Lajoie), I thought, okay, good, and then I hit the #7 (Suarez). Anyway, I hit somebody square…and I knew when I hit him flat it didn’t tear up the car too much and I was going to be able to get back. But I didn’t know who was in front of me still, whether or not we made it. All the guys started going nuts on the radio.”

The race saw several early lead changes, with RFK Racing initially establishing a strong presence at the front of the field. A caution flag with 15 laps remaining, triggered by Mears’ earlier spin and contact with Gragson, reshuffled the running order and set the stage for a dramatic finish. Bubba Wallace was similarly involved in a late-race incident, spinning across the track but avoiding significant damage. The wreck also impacted drivers like Byron, Buescher, and Smith.

This will be Mears’ 14th start in the Daytona 500, and his first since the 2019 season, marking his 495th career start in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 15.

February 13, 2026 0 comments

Sport

Chandler Smith Targets Daytona 500 with Front Row Motorsports

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor January 30, 2026

written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

Here’s a breakdown of teh key information from the provided text, focusing on the upcoming 2026 Daytona 500 and drivers involved:

corey Smith:

* A 23-year-old driver with notable results in limited Cup Series starts: 17th at Richmond, 15th at Daytona (summer race), and 13th at Talladega in 2023.
* Experienced winner in lower series: 3 wins in the NASCAR O’reilly Auto Parts Series, 7 wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and 10 wins in ARCA.
* Was involved in a race-ending crash while running up front in Duel #1 (presumably a qualifying race).

2026 Daytona 500 Open Spots:

* A deep field of drivers are competing for only four open spots in the race.
* Drivers vying for a spot: Justin Allgaier, Corey LaJoie, Corey Heim, Anthony Alfredo, BJ McLeod, JJ Yeley, and Casey Mears.
* Jimmie Johnson is already locked into the race via an Open Exemption Provisional,reducing the competition to eight drivers for the remaining four spots.

the text also includes a link to an article about RFK Racing signing Corey LaJoie for the Daytona 500.

January 30, 2026 0 comments