Countdown to Daytona LIVE 2024

Countdown to Daytona LIVE 2024

>> WELL, THE GAME EVERY PLAYER WANTS TO WIN THE MOST USUALLY THE VERY LAST A SERIES. WHAT DID IT? >> AND STOCK CAR RACING. IT’S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. IT’S THE FIRST. IT’S WITH VERY FIRST NASCAR RACE. WHATEVER ON THE

IT’S ALSO WHERE THE SPORT LOST ONE OF ITS BIGGEST STARS. ALL THOSE MEMORIES, MICE, RENTER. THE SPECTACLE THAT SIGNALS BEGINNING OF EACH NEW SEASON. CAN BE REALIZED. >> THAT CAN BE MADE NEXT. CAR’S BIGGEST STAGE, THE DAYTONA 500.

>> WE ALL KNOW THE LINE. A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS. WELL, THIS IS THE CURRENT PICTURE. DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. WE GOT WORD EARLIER THIS MORNING. THERE’S GOING TO BE NO RACING TODAY. THE DAYTONA 500 HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW AT 04:00PM

EASTERN. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A RACING DOUBLE HEADER TOMORROW WITH THE XFINITY RACE. STARTING AT 11:00AM. >> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. AND WELCOME INTO COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA LIVE. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DISAPPOINTED. DRIVERS FANS. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WE’RE

DISAPPOINTED TO. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR GOAL REMAINS THE SAME. WE ARE GOING TO BRING YOU THE EXCITEMENT AND THE PAGEANTRY LEADING UP TO THE DAYTONA 500. YEAH, I’M KARLA GEBHART AND OF COURSE WE’VE GOT SO MUCH TO GET TO TODAY.

DESPITE THE RAINY CONDITIONS, WE STILL GOT TO SET THE STAGE FOR TOMORROW, RIGHT? GIVE YOU ALL THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS THAT MAKES THE DAYTONA 501 OF THE BIGGEST SPECTACLES IN SPORTS. WE’VE GOT A BIG TEAM. >> TO DO THAT WITH AS WELL.

DANNY HARDEN AND OF COURSE, GABE MCDONALD GOING BRING US ALL THE STORYLINES HEADING INTO THE 2024 SEASON. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, I KNOW YOU’RE DISAPPOINTED AS WELL. SO MUCH REALLY TO LOOK FORWARD TO. >> BUT WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW IN THE

DAYTONA 500 GAVE? LET’S START WITH YOU. KEVIN. MY EYES ARE ON THE MAN WHOSE GARAGE THAT I’M STANDING BY. RYAN BLANEY THE DEFENDING CUP SERIES CHAMPION. CAN HE WIN? THE BIG ONE IS LOOKING TO JOIN AN ELITE CLASS OF DRIVERS TO WIN

THE DAYTONA 500 FRESH OFF WINNING CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD. YOU’RE THE LAST 2000, OF COURSE, HE DOES HAVE A WIN HERE IN THE SUMMER. BUT I WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN WIN THE BIG ONE TOMORROW AFTERNOON. DANNY, WHAT DO YOU

HAVE YOUR EYES ON? >> THE DAYTONA 500 HAS BEEN LUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO RAIN OVER THE YEARS. CHECK THIS OUT. DAYTONA BEACH AREA. THEY GET ABOUT 51 INCHES OF RAIN OF YEAR. THAT’S A LOT. BUT ONLY 2 TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF THIS

EVENT. AND THERE’S BEEN 65 DAYTONA. 520 2020 12, THEY HAD TO MOVE THE RACE TO MONDAY. WELL, NOW MAKE IT THE 3RD TIME. BUT I THINK THESE GUYS WILL BE READY TO ROLL. IT’S ALL GOOD BECAUSE HE’S A GOOD RACE. AND TOMORROW.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANKS, DAVEY. WILL WE LOVE THE MANUFACTURER BATTLE, RIGHT? BUT TOMORROW I’M GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE TOYOTAS. THEY DIDN’T QUALIFY WELL IN THE SINGLE LAP QUALIFYING. BUT IN THE DOORS, THEY WON BOTH OF THOSE AND

THEY HAVE THE TOP 8 SPEEDS AT PRACTICE AS WELL. SO I’M LOOKING AT THIS. >> ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT’S JUST SO HARD TO COME UP WITH JUST ONE FAST THOUGHT. I LOVE THE ENERGY OF THE LAST 5 LAPS

IN THE DAYTONA 500. BUT I ALSO REALLY LOVE THE FLYOVER PERFORMED BY THE THUNDERBIRDS FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE. WHAT I SEE THOSE JETS AND I FEEL AND HEAR THAT RUMBLE. IT IS EPIC. AND I KNOW IT IS GO TIME.

>> AT THAT POINT GOING BACK TO THE >> OLD BEACH COURSE IN 1948. TO THE MOVE HERE IN 1959. TO THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, WINNING HERE IN DAYTONA A WHOLE. IT IS ALWAYS SPECIAL. YEAH, IT’S LIFE CHANGING. CAN BE CAREER

CHANGING FOR SOME OF THESE DRIVERS AND OF COURSE, A NOTCH TO YOUR CAREER AS A WHOLE. WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO MANY OF THE DRIVERS THIS WEEK. SOME OF THOSE THAT HAVE ONE OF THE 4 AND WHAT THAT MEANS. BUT ALSO

SOME OF THE GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO WIN THIS CROWN JEWEL. >> AND I FEEL LIKE YOU SPEND THE FIRST 2 OR 3 YEARS TAKING ALL THIS IN OF THE 500 YEAH AND THE RACE ITSELF AND THEN

KIND OF DONE IT 9 TIMES LIKE YOU JUST YOU LOOK AT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY, EVEN WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO BEING A KID AND WATCHING THIS RACE, YOU DREAM OF A MOMENT LIKE THAT WIND AND RAIN IN THE RACE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. SO

>> I THINK ANYBODY THAT SAYS THAT THEY HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT VISUALIZE TO JUST JUST AS LINE AT THIS POINT, RIGHT? WE’RE ALL RACE CAR DRIVERS. WE ALL WANT TO WIN THIS RACE JUST MUCH ANYBODY. >> IT’S CERTAINLY PROBABLY IS LIFE CHANGING FOR GUYS THAT

DON’T GET A CHANCE TO WIN ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO CERTAINLY WHEN THEY GET INTRODUCED ANYWHERE, IT’S GOING TO BE AS A DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. AND SO FOR US TO HAVE 3 OF THEM CERTAINLY PUTS ME IN A CATEGORY WITH WITH SOME OF THE

BEST AND IT’S SOMETHING CERTAINLY DON’T TAKE FOR GRANTED. >> JIMMIE JOHNSON KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500. HE’S DONE IT TWICE. THE KING, RICHARD PETTY. WANT IT. 7 TIMES IS ALSO A PART OF LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. JIMMY IS

HONORING THE KING WITH THE COLOR OF HIS RACE CAR THIS WEEKEND IS THAT SAME SKY BLUE THAT THE KING HAD ON HIS WINNING CAR 60 YEARS AGO WITH PETTY WON FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. JOHNSON ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE THE RACY HAD THEY SCORE A

LAST-LAP PASS. IT IS QUALIFYING RACE ON THURSDAY NIGHT TO GET >> MYLAN MAKE I WANT TO MAKE THE DAYTONA 500. I HAVE TO CALL OR ALL OF OUR PARTNERS STAND IN THE SWEET SHAKE HANDS DURING THE 500. NOT DRIVE A

CAR LIKE THIS IS RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND ISN’T CATCHING ON. GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY AND THEN AND ALMOST WRECK HAPPENS AND BLEEDING ON THE FLOOR AND HOPE FOR THE BEST AND JUST WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION. CHANGES WORKED OUT

HERE. THEY COME LIGHT. WELL, IT DID GO HIS WAY GOT IN THE DAYTONA 500 JIMMIE JOHNSON RETIRED LONG ENOUGH FROM FULL-TIME RACING TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME. THAT’S RIGHT. OF COURSE, THERE SEVERAL DRIVERS AT A THOUGHT ABOUT CALLING IT

QUITS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ABOUT THEIR MID 40’S ABBOTT. DANNY HARDEN. >> NOW GOING TO REJOIN US TODAY. YOU’VE GOT MORE ON A DRIVER WHO STOPPED ABOUT CALLING IT QUITS RECENTLY. >> YES, OF MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR WAS NOT DRIVING IN THE DAYTONA

500 TOMORROW. MOST LIKELY HE WOULD SPEND THE DAY HUNTING OR FISHING OR MAYBE EVEN BOTH. BUT THE DRIVER OF THE NUMBER 19 CAR, YOU KEEP PUSHING RETIREMENT DOWN THE ROAD. BUT HE KNOWS IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN SOON. >> MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR HAS

EXPERIENCE THE THRILL OF VICTORY. 34 TIMES IN THE CUP SERIES AND THE ULTIMATE THE 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT TJ HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED HIS SHARE OF RIP YOUR HEART OUT. THIS APPOINTMENT LIKE LOSING THE 2016 DAYTONA 500 BY JUST INCHES. DID DENNY HAMLIN? I

JUST GOT TO THINK OF, YOU KNOW, GUYS LIKE EARNHARDT TO YOU KNOW, HE WON EVERYTHING HERE AND IT TOOK HIM 20 YEARS TO WIN THIS RACE AND >> I IT’S JUST A TOUGH RACE TO WIN. TRUEX 19 STARTS IN THE

DAYTONA 500. JUST 2 TOP 10’S. BUT MAYBE THIS WILL BE THE YEAR FOR THIS DRIVER WHO HAS THOUGHT ABOUT RETIREMENT THE PAST 2 YEARS. BUT JUST COULDN’T YOU KNOW, 22 IS A TOUGH SEASON FOR US AND >> IT WAS DIFFICULT MORE

DIFFICULT TO MAKE DECISION TO COME BACK FOR LAST YEAR AND, YOU AFTER US THE WAY LAST YEAR WAS GOING MIDDLE OF SEASON LIKE, YEAH, NOT KEEP DOING THIS? YOU KNOW, BEEN HAVING FUN AND HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE FUN THIS YEAR. BUT IT 8.43,

THE OLDEST FULL-TIME CUP DRIVER IN THE GARAGE. >> TRUEX IS LOOKING FORWARD TO LIFE AFTER RACING. >> WHENEVER THAT COMES, I MEAN, I HAVE A LOT OF OBVIOUS WAY FROM THE TRACK. AND THAT’S KIND OF WHAT HELPS KEEP ME

GOING AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME BECAUSE, YES, A GRIND, YOU KNOW, GOING ON GOING ON 20 YEARS OF DOING THIS FULL TIME. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THAT’S A LOT. SO DO A LOT OF FUN STUFF AWAY FROM THE TRACK ON FISSION LOT

OF HOBBIES. THAT KEEPS ME GOING KEEPS RECHARGED EACH WEEK TO GO GRIND IT OUT. >> SO TOMORROW, MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR WILL GO HUNTING OR FISHING FOR THAT ELUSIVE DAYTONA 500 VICTORIES SO FAR OVER HIS FOR 19 AND THIS EVENT. BUT MAYBE TOMORROW WILL

BE HIS DAY. WE WILL SEE. >> ALL RIGHT-Y DANNY AND 19 IS CAR NUMBER. SO MAYBE THAT LINES FOR IT. HE’S GOT A FAST CAR. WE’LL CHECK BACK WITH DATING IN JUST A SECOND. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? AS EXCITING AS

IT IS TO WATCH THE DAYTONA 500 ON TELEVISION, IT IS EVEN BETTER TO BE HERE IN PERSON WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT, FEEL IT SMELL IT. WE KNOW WHAT THE DAYTONA 500 IS. ONE OF 36 RACES ON THE SCHEDULE, WHICH MEANS FANS HAVE 35 MORE

CHANCES TO MAKE IT TO A TRACKING. OF COURSE, NASCAR MAKES THIS REALLY EFFORTLESS FOR FANS OUT THERE. YOU CAN GO TO NASCAR DOT COM. >> SLASH TICKETS. CLICK ON THE TRACK THAT YOU WANT TO VISIT. AND, OF COURSE, JUST BUY YOUR

TICKETS AND MAKES IT ALL THAT SIMPLE. >> YEAH, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. AND WE REACHED OUR FIRST TIME OUT, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF SPORTS THEY USE TIMEOUTS. BUT NASCAR, IT’S A PIT STOP. YEAH. THEY MAKE A LOT OF PIT STOPS

IN NASCAR RACING, BUT WE’RE ONLY GOING TO MAKE A FEW FOR YOU HERE ON COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA LIVE. YOU KNOW WHAT THIS PLACE HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR CRASHES IN ALL OF NASCAR HISTORY. AND IT REALLY MAKES YOU APPRECIATE THESE DRIVERS

EVEN MORE WHEN THEY CLIMB RACE CAR. STILL TO COME, WE’RE GOING HEAR FROM RYAN PREECE DRIVER, THE NUMBER 41 CAR WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A TERRIBLE CRASH LAST SUMMER. WHAT’S HE THINKING AS HE CLIMBS IN THE RACE CAR? BUT COMING UP NEXT,

RYAN BLANEY TALKS ABOUT WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER AND WHAT HIS OFFSEASON LOOKS LIKE. >> SEEN IN THE PAST ARE NOW. I WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY. I THINK YOU CAN HEAR BEHIND ABOUT THE ONLY RACE CAR WE’RE

GETTING HERE TO SHOW CAR FROM DALE VICTORY HERE IN DAYTONA. BUT AGAIN, THEY’RE TAKING IT OUT TO GET OUT OF THE RAIN. YEAH, PRETTY LOUD THERE. BUT WE’VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP, RIGHT. AND OF COURSE, FOR 2023, NASCAR CHAMPION.

>> IS RYAN BLANEY. THE ALL SEASON IS ALWAYS BUSY FOR DRIVERS BECAUSE IT IS SO SHORT. THEY GOT TO FIT A LOT IN THERE. BUT IF YOU TALK TO RYAN BLANEY, I DON’T THINK ANYTHING COULD TOP THIS CHAMPIONSHIP OFFSEASON FOR HIM.

>> JUST THE 30 YEAR-OLD GUY WHO JUST DRIVES IN CIRCLES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST I’M THE SAME AS SAME AS THE NEXT PERSON. >> ALTHOUGH THAT MAY BE THROUGH AFTER THE 2023 SEASON. RYAN BLANEY IS ALSO A NASCAR

CUP SERIES. CHAMPION RYAN HAS JUST CRUSHED ABOUT ALWAYS BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE YEAR WHEN AN UNBELIEVABLE PLAYOFFS FOR US. SO WHAT DOES THE DRIVER DO AFTER WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP? >> I’LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY DON’T DO. HOST CHAMPIONSHIP RIGHT? >> THAT NIGHT, SUNDAY NIGHT,

WE HAD A GREAT CELEBRATION WITH MY THE NEXT MORNING WE HEADED OUT RIGHT? A NEW YORK SHOWS ONCE A NASDAQ LIKE THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF THAT MAYBE I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE. THAT’S INTERESTING ARE GONE THERE. BUT IT WAS IT WAS MADE

TO DO DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO DO AGAIN. I’M NOT GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THOSE 48 HOURS AFTER BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO RECREATE. >> THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS WERE FULL OF BIG MOMENTS. BUT THE REST OF HIS OFFSEASON WAS AS

WELL. NOT ONLY DID HE TURNED 30, BUT HE GOT ENGAGED TO HIS LONGTIME GIRLFRIEND A MOMENT THAT WAS PLANNED WELL IN ADVANCE. JUST TRYING TO LIKE I KNEW I WANTED DO I HAD PEOPLE ASKING ME LIKE, WELL, YOU WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP TO THAT. MAKE

YOU WANT TO APPROACH LIKE NOW I PLAN ON DOING THIS. THIS THAT WAS JUST THE CHERRY ON TOP. >> MAKE IT OFFICIAL. YOU KNOW, HIS INSTINCT. I NEVER REALLY HAD SOMEONE LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, SOMEONE I CAN REALLY ENJOY LIFE WITH AND GO THROUGH

LIFE WITH THEM. WHEN YOU FIND SOMEONE LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S JUST THE APPRECIATED. GIANNA SAID YES. AND BLANEY SAID YES TO NASCAR. >> USING HIS SEASON TO PROMOTE THE SPORT SAYING YES TO APPEARENCES INTERVIEWS AND ANYTHING ELSE TO DRIVE THE

CONVERSATION. BACK TO NASCAR. TO ME IN MY MIND, IT’S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I WANT THE SPORT TO BE HEALTHY BECAUSE I WANT TO BE IN THE SPORT FOR A LONG TIME. SO. >> I THINK IT’S JUST BUILDING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, GROWING

YOURSELF, GROWING THE SPORT AND THEN LEAVING IT BETTER. THEN WHEN YOU ARE PART OF IT. >> THE TIME REMAINING LEADING UP TO DAYTONA WILL BE FIT FOR PLANNING FROM WORKING WITH THE SOUND ATION TO PREPARING FOR ANOTHER LONG AHEAD. I ENJOY

THE OFFSEASON UNTIL JANUARY. 1ST. >> AND THEN I GET READY TO GO AGAIN AND GET IT IN TO GET BACK IN THE RACE CAR. AND YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT’S NORMAL, UNCOMFORTABLE THE EU AND THAT TO ME, THAT’S

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE AND WE’VE HAD OUR TIME TO CELEBRATE. BUT NOW IT’S OK TO REPLICATED. >> BLANEY TOOK A VICIOUS HIT HIS QUALIFYING RACE THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN HE GOT TURNED INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE IN-CAR

VIDEO REPLACE SHOW JUST HOW HARD IT WAS. THAT CAR WAS DESTROYED. HE’S OKAY FROM WHAT HE HAD TO GO TO A BACKUP CAR FOR THE 500, WHICH IS STILL A GOOD RACE CAR BLANEY HAD THE BEST 10 LAP AVERAGE IN PRACTICE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

SO HE’S READY FOR TOMORROW. THAT’S RIGHT. AND OF COURSE, ALL THE ACTION IS GOING TO BE TOMORROW. THANKS TO THE RAIN. NOW USUALLY ON RACE MORNING, THE GARAGES ARE BUZZING. YOU’VE GOT THE TEAMS. >> BUT WE HAVE TO BRING GABE

MCDONALD IN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE DAVID GARAGES ARE ARE PRETTY QUIET RIGHT NOW. RIGHT? >> THAT’S WHAT’S ACTUALLY GOING ON OUT HERE IN THE GARAGES. AND YOU GUYS JUST MENTIONED RIVALING. HE WILL BE IN ONE OF THOSE BACKUP CARS AFTER THAT WRECK IN THE DOORS.

AND BUT THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN A LOT OF WORK OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS IN THE GARAGE IS GETTING THESE CARS READY. ACTUALLY, 5 DRIVERS WHO ARE IN BACKUP CARS AND ALL THE TEAMS SAY THEY FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT WAS ANOTHER DRIVER

THAT’S GOING TO BE THE BACKUP IS RIGHT ACROSS THE GARAGE HERE. WE’VE GOT DANIEL HEMRIC OF COLLEAGUE RACING IN THE 31. HE’S ABOUT TO BE MAKING HIS 3RD START IN THE DAYTONA 500. A PRETTY SOLID SHOWING LAST YEAR, FINISHING 31ST. BUT HE’S

ONE OF THE 5 DRIVERS. YOU ALSO HAVE KYLE BUSCH LOOKING TO GET HIS FIRST WIN. WILLIAM BYRON AND NOAH GRAGSON. THEY WILL ALL BE IN BACK OF CARS WITH A WIN TO TAKE. YESTERDAY. THE PRE-RACE INSPECTION, ALL THE CARS WERE GOOD TO GO IN THE

FIRST OR SECOND TRY AND ALL THESE THINGS REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE DESPITE HAVING TO GO TO THESE BACKUPS FOR THE RACE COMING UP TOMORROW AFTERNOON. AND THAT’S OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE’LL SEE THE GARAGES LITTLE BIT MORE BUSY TOMORROW. BUT RIGHT NOW,

PRETTY QUIET, OF COURSE, WITH THE RAIN COMING THE SENATE. HE WOULD HAVE DOWN THERE. YES, ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE’S NOT GOING TO BE RACING TODAY, BUT ALSO THE PRE-RACE SHOW WAS GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR. PIT BULL WHO IS ALSO A NASCAR TEAM

OWNER. HE WAS GOING PUT ON A CONCERT HERE. >> BEFORE THE RACE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORLD MISTER WORLDWIDE. BUT HE’S DOING A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE SOON. SO WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM LOOKING FOR THAT SO MUCH. AND ALSO THE ROCK DWAYNE JOHNSON IS THE

GRAND MARSHAL. HE’S ALSO HERE AS WELL ABOUT MADISON. MARSH IS THE MISS AMERICA. SHE’LL BE DRIVING THE PACE CAR AND DJ COLLEGE. JUST HEARD FROM HIM A FEW MINUTES AGO. THE HONORARY STARTER. SO A LOT OF CELEBRITIES HERE AT THE

DAYTONA 500 AND THE FANS, THE FAN ZONE HERE IS USUALLY ABSOLUTELY ROCKING PRE-RACE. USUALLY COUPLE OF 1000 PEOPLE DOWN HERE EATING AND CELEBRATING. LISTEN TO DIFFERENT CONCERTS BEFORE THE RACE. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW TO SEE ALL

THAT HAPPEN. CLOSE TO 100. IT’S A SELLOUT CLOSE TO 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE STANDS AND MAYBE ANOTHER 50 OR 75,000 PEOPLE IN THE INFIELD. THIS PLACE AGAIN IS USUALLY ROCKING. IT’S REALLY QUIET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW. GUYS. >> ALL RIGHT, DANNY, WE NELSON

NEED TO POINT OUT THAT IT’S ERASING DOUBLE HEADER TOMORROW, THE XFINITY RACE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YESTERDAY WILL ALSO THE RUN TOMORROW. SO FANS CENTER HERE IN DAYTONA, THEY GET A BONUS. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN TO THE XFINITY RACE, THEY CAN

STICK AROUND. THAT RACE STARTS AT 11 O’CLOCK. THEY CAN STICK AROUND AND WATCH THE DAYTONA 500. SO A DOUBLE HEADER AND RACING DON’T GO OFF. AND THE FANS ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO JOIN. WE’VE REACHED THE TIMEOUT HERE ON COUNTDOWN TO

DAYTONA LIVE. WE HOPE YOU CAN STAY WITH US. THAT’S RIGHT. WE’VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW GUYS, THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE ARE 3 ROOKIES, A PART OF THE CLASS OF 2024, OF COURSE YOU GOT JOSH FERRY. >> CARSON, HOST OF OUR AND

ZAYNE SMITH. THEY’RE ALL IN GOOD CARS. BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS, >> CAN THEY WIN A RACE THIS SEASON? AND CAN YOU BELIEVE THERE’S A PICKLEBALL CRAZE, A NASCAR? THAT’S RIGHT. RCR DRIVER AUSTIN DILLON IS JUST ONE OF THOSE GUYS CALL. COURSE

MOTHER NATURE IS STILL HAVING HER WAY HERE AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. THE RAIN HAS DELAYED THE DAYTONA 500 UNTIL TOMORROW AS WELL. WITH THAT EXPANDED ERASE. YEAH. THE XFINITY RACE AT 11. >> THE DAYTONA 500 IS AT 4 O’CLOCK, YOU KNOW, AND ALL

THEY HAD A LOT OF THE PRE-RACE ACTIVITIES THAT WAS PLANNED. PIT BULL WAS ONE OF THEM, MISTER WORLDWIDE. HE IS IN THE MEDIA ROOM RIGHT NOW. LET’S GO AHEAD AND HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. >> ALL JUST TURN IT OVER TO

YOU TO OPEN UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU AND THINK YOU HAVE SOME NEW MUSIC THAT DROPPED THIS WEEK. >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN START BY SAYING, IT’S GOOD TO BE A. AND EVEN IF IT’S

RAINING, DO MATTER. BRING THE RIGHT TO THAT LIGHT. THE LIGHT REGARDLESS. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. APPRECIATE IT. SO IS AN HONOR AND A BLESSING TO BE OUT HERE. AND EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE NAS CONTRACT HOUSE FAMILY. SO WHEN WE

ANOTHER, WE WILL MAKE THE BEST OF NO PROBLEMS. JUST SOLUTIONS AS IT. HAHA. >> TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MUSIC. >> NO MUSIC. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU DID TELL ME ABOUT MY MAN. AS FAR AS THAT WITH AND THE MINNESOTA AP ACTUALLY 27

RECORDS. IT’S CALLED A TRACKHOUSE TRACKHOUSE DAYTONA 500. WHEN I’M LOOKING TO DO EVERY YEAR IS PUT OUT TRACKHOUSE ALBUMS WITH NASCAR, WHETHER IT BE AROUND THE HOMESTEAD RACE. THIS WILL BE IN DAYTONA 500, MAYBE 10 OF NEXT YEAR. THINGS OF THAT

NATURE JUST TO BE PUTTING THEM OUT. AND THE REASON THAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET THIS ONE OUT IS DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, WHO’S GIVEN ME AMAZING ADVICE, A MENTOR TO ME AND SOMEONE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH WAS A JIMMY

BUFFETT MONDAY REST IN PARADISE. AND WE HAVE A SONG ON THERE CALLED THANK GOD AND JIMMY BUFFETT. SO AND I’LL TELL YOU A STORY. ANOTHER DAY, BUT I OR I WANTED TO GET IT OUT AND CELEBRATE HIM HIS LIFE AND EVERYTHING THAT HE MEANT

TO THE WORLD AND TO MEET SOMEONE AGAIN JUST GAVE ME GREAT, GREAT ADVICE. AND AND LIVED. HE LIVED LIFE LIFE IT DIDN’T LIVE HIM KNOWS AND ADMIRE THAT ABOUT IT. AND ALSO GOT A RECORD WITH DOLLY PARTON ON WHICH AND ON A WHEN I GOT

ON THE PHONE DOLLY PARTON WAS FUNNY BECAUSE SHE SAID IT’S A IS THIS THIS IS MY FUTURE. A BOYFRIEND THAT STOOD ME UP ON MY FIRST PHONE CALL. HAHA, I SAID THIS. THE KIND OF WOMAN I WANT TO MAKE A RECORD WITH

DEFINITELY. SO THAT’S A BLESSING. I GOT A RECORD WITH THEIR WITH OWN. TIM MCGRAW AS WELL. THAT’S IN ON HIM. SO. AND NOW RODGERS WITH GOOD TIMES. SO IT’S SOMETHING FUN FOR THE FANS. SOMETHING FUN FOR THE SPORT AND MORNING

THING. SOMETHING FUN FOR THE WORLD IN A WAY TO BRING THEM TO THE SPORT AS WELL. SO ONE TIME FOR NASCAR AND OF COURSE, MISTER WORLDWIDE WAS GOING TO PERFORM TOMORROW, BUT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYMORE. BUT HE HAS PROMISED TO COME BACK

NEXT YEAR TO PERFORM THAT CONCERT. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. AND HIS OTHER CONNECTIONS TO NASCAR RACING IS HE’S A PART OWNER OF TRACKHOUSE RACING. NOW IN THE PAST. >> NASCAR RACING HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE TEAMS, BIG MONEY TEAMS. BUT IN THE LAST

COUPLE YEARS, THERE’S A NEW PLAYER ON THE BLOCK AND THAT NEW PLAYER IS TRACKHOUSE RACING. YEAH, THEY’RE DOING BIG THINGS. OF COURSE SHE GOT DANIEL SUAREZ AND ROSS CHASTAIN. THEY’VE ALREADY GOT SEVERAL WINS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF SEASONS FOR THE

TEAM. BUT TRACKHOUSE IS ALSO GROWING, TOO. YOU GOT SHANE VAN GISBERGEN. YOU’VE GOT SAYING SMITH, THEY’RE BOTH UNDER CONTRACT. TRACKHOUSE COULD BECOME A 3, MAYBE EVEN 4 CAR TEAM IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. ROSS CHASTAIN, OF COURSE, FIELDS.

>> LIKE HE’S BEEN THERE FROM THE START AND HE’S PROUD OF WHAT THEY’VE BUILT. BUT HE KNOWS THE FUTURE. IT CAN BE EVEN BRIGHTER FOR THIS TEAM. >> I’M PROUD OF IT. I’M PROUD TO SEE NEW I WANT I WANT FRESH PEOPLE THAT ARE HUNGRY

INJUSTICE DONE, THAT HE’S HIRED MORE PEOPLE. WE’VE GOT MORE EMPLOYEES NOW EVER HAD. KEEP GOING TO KEEP INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE. >> KARL, I FEEL LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY NEW FACES COMING INTO THE NASCAR CUP SERIES. THEY’RE REALLY HAVE.

THERE ARE 3 ROOKIES PART OF THE 2024 CLASS. BUT FULLER, IF YOU COUNT GABE MCDONALD THIS RIGHT NOW GAVE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE DAYTONA 500. SO IT VERY FITTING THAT YOU’RE GIVING US AN UPDATE ON ALL THE ROOKIES.

>> IT’S ONLY RIGHT THAT I’M HERE TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE ROOKIES, OF COURSE, BECAUSE EVEN THE EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, THEY FIND IT HARD TO WIN ON THE COUPLE. BUT ALL THROUGH THE ROOKIES THIS YEAR, CARSON HOCEVAR

ZAYNE SMITH AND THIS GUY WAS GARAGE ON BY JOSH BERRY. THEY ALL HAVE GOOD CARS AND THEY ALL FEEL THEY CAN WIN THE 500. THEY WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST ROOKIE TO WIN SINCE 2020. ALL DRIVERS GROVE DREAMING OF ONE

DAY REACHING THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN NASCAR CUP SERIES. EVEN WITH EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH IT. SOME STILL APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS. >> HAVE A. >> A GARAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, I’D ALWAYS BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT WINDOW AND BE A

FAN AND WANT AN AUTOGRAPH OR WANT TO BE AS CLOSE AS I COULD AND AND FIND OUT WHAT WHAT ALL THEY’RE DOING. THE RACE CARS AND AND NOW I GET THE EYE ON THIS SIDE. IT’S REALLY SPECIAL. >> CARSON HOCEVAR HIS FIRE

TEAM RAISING SMITH AND JOSH BERRY OF STEWART-HAAS RACING OR THE 3 DRIVERS VYING TO BE THE 2024 CUP SERIES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. THE TRIO WILL BE TESTED IN THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR WHILE THE DAYTONA 500 IS

UNCHARTED WATERS FOR HOST OF OUR AND BARRY SMITH HAS BEEN THROUGH THE FIRE. HE RACES WAY IN LAST YEAR AND HAD A SOLID SHOWING IN THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE, FINISHING 13 IN HIS DAYTONA 500 DEBUT EXPERIENCE. THE DAYTONA 500 IS SMART. REALLY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE

THAN ANY OTHER IS SPRING. SO GETTING TO EXPERIENCE THAT. HAS BEEN GREAT. BUT >> I’M EXCITED FOR THIS YEAR. KNOW. I ALWAYS SAY THEM FULL TIME AND EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS THE BEST TEACHER. THAT’S WHERE THE 33 YEAR-OLD BARRY HAS THE

EDGE OVER THE 2 YOUNG GUNS. BARRY ENTERS HIS FIRST FULL-TIME SEASON WITH 12 CUP SERIES RACES UNDER HIS BELT. A QUARTER OF THOSE ON FINISH IN THE TOP 10, WHICH INCLUDES A SECOND PLACE FINISH AT RICHMOND LAST YEAR. NOW HE HAS

THE SPOTLIGHT OF NOT ONLY BEING A ROOKIE BUT FILLING THE SHOES OF FUTURE HALL OF FAMER KEVIN HARVICK IN THE NUMBER 4 CAR. KEVIN’S LEGACY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, RIGHT? I CANNOT. KEVIN HARVICK. >> NOT TRYING TO BE KEVIN HARVICK, BUT

>> BUT THE BENEFIT TO ME IS I’M STEPPING INTO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT KEVIN HAS BUILT FOR FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND I THINK THAT TO ME, THAT’S A HUGE WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS REGARDLESS OF HOW THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE ENTIRE

SEASON SHAKES OUT FOR THESE ROOKIES, NOTHING CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THE JOY THEY HAVE AS THEY GET TO FINALLY LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS IN THE CUP SERIES TO GET TO GET UP IN THAT RACE IS IT’S JUST SUCH AN HONOR REALLY

IN IT. I KNOW IT’S HOW EXCITING IT’S GOING TO EXCITED I GOT. >> I’VE WORKED ALL MY LIFE TO BE HERE AND I’M READY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. PRETTY EXCITED TO TAKE ON THIS JOURNEY AND KNOW THAT. >> WHEN YOU DO WHEN IT’S GOING

TO MEAN A >> OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THE OLD SAYING IT’S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU START, IT’S HOW YOU FINISH. BUT ONE OF THESE ROOKIES IN CARSON HOCEVAR IS IN PRETTY GOOD POSITION TOMORROW TO START OFF THE

RACE. HE WAS 4TH IN HIS DUEL ON THURSDAY NIGHT GIVEN A STARTING POSITION OF NIGHT IN THE DAYTONA 500. IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE A ROOKIE OF THE THE TOP 10 TO START THINGS OFF. KEVIN CARL, BACK TO YOU. >> IT GAVE. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. LET’S BRING IN DANNY HARNDEN. HE’S GOT A STORY ON NASCAR AND PICKLEBALL. YEAH, THAT IS A NEW COMBINATION. HOW BOUT OF DANNY? >> THEY GO LAST JULY AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY. THEY BROUGHT IN A COUPLE OF

PICKLEBALL COURTS INTO THE DRIVER’S GARAGE AREA. GUYS LIKE JOEY LOGANO AND KYLE BUSCH IN AUSTIN, DILLON AND TIDAL AND THEY WENT AT IT. YES, SOME OF THESE GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD AT A SPORT THAT SWEEPING THE COUNTRY. A NUMBER OF NASCAR DRIVERS HAVE COME

DOWN WITH A CASE OF PICKLEBALL FEVER, INCLUDING. >> AUSTIN DILLON, IF THERE’S A TOURNAMENT, A CHARITY EVENT OR EVEN JUST SOMEONE WANTING TO PRACTICE, AUSTIN IS IN, SO LOVE PING-PONG GROWN UP AND IT KINDA REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIGGER VERSION OF THAT. I

REALLY TAKEN A LIKING TO IT JUST A LOT OF FUN. AND IT KEEPS HIGH PACE. YOUR HAND-EYE COORDINATION REALLY MATTERS. AND >> YOU KNOW, IT’S A GOOD RETIREMENT PLAN FOR ME. WANT AFTER I’M DONE RACING. ALSTON WAS DESTINED FOR RACING

BECAUSE OF HIS FAMOUS GRANDFATHER, RICHARD CHILDRESS. >> BUT HE GOT INTO PICKLEBALL BECAUSE OF HIS DAD. IT’S BEEN A GOOD BONDING EXPERIENCE FOR THE GUYS AT RCR. WE’VE GOT 3 COURTS INDOORS SHARES. >> AND OUR GUYS ARE PLAYING IT

LAUNCHES. ITS ONE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART. GETS, YOU KNOW, CARDIO SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT THAT HARD. SO WE’VE GOT PLAY SOME GOOD PLAYERS SAY YOU’LL BE SWEATING PICKLEBALL IS A BIG HIT. COLLEAGUE RACING

AS WELL. KRIS RICE’S COLLEAGUES PRESIDENT AND LOVES TO GET OUT THERE AND MIX IT UP AS WELL. WHAT IT DOES FOR US IS AS RACERS. IT KEEPS OUR MINDS FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY WEEKEND. RIGHT BECAUSE AND YOU GET TO

MOUNT OPERATION, WANT YOU TO PICK A BALKAN, A MAD ABOUT THE LINE IF MAD ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. >> RACING MAY BE KEEN DOWN HERE AT DAYTONA, BUT JUST 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE SPEEDWAY IS A PLACE ONA A HUGE

FACILITY WITH 49 PICKLEBALL COURTS. THIS IS WHERE THE DEAL FOUND THEIR NEW PASSION. A LOT OF RULES THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. BUT IT’S CHALLENGING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO REALLY BE UNDER CONTROL IF YOU TRY TO GET TOO AGGRESSIVE, REALLY DOESN’T GO YOUR WAY.

YOU COULD SAY THE SAME HOLDS TRUE IN RACING. >> YEAH. ALL OF THESE NASCAR DRIVERS HAVE THAT COMPETITIVE NATURE IN THEIR DNA. SO IT DOESN’T MATTER IF PICKLEBALL OR PLAYING CARDS OR MONOPOLY OR BASKETBALL OR WHATEVER, THEY’LL DO ANYTHING TO WIN.

>> THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE TOMORROW. AND THE DAYTONA 500. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS, DANI. WELL, OF COURSE, THE BEST PART ABOUT THE DAYTONA 500 IS THERE COULD ALWAYS BE A POTENTIAL FIRST TIME WINNER MUCH LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

YEAH, WE’VE GOT MICHAEL MCDOWELL AUSTIN CENTER CAN LAST YEAR IT WAS RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR CELEBRATING IN VICTORY LANE. RICKY WINS FOR THE FIRST TIME. DESPITE STARTING >> THIRTY-FIRST IN THE RACE THIS YEAR, HE STARTS 35TH. WE’LL HEAR FROM STENHOUSE AHEAD.

>> HAS KEPT LOT AND CHASE ELLIOTT WOULD LIKE TO FORGET ABOUT 2023, BUT FOLKS IN THE MEDIA LIKE ME, WE JUST KEEP BRINGING IT UP. BUT IT’S TOUGH YEAR WAS ALSO AN OPPORT >> YOU KNOW, HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAS BEEN AT THE

TOP OF THE SPORT FOR SO LONG. IT’S KINDA HARD TO REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE ONCE A LITTLE TEAM. THAT’S RIGHT. DIED WAS THE ORIGINAL DRIVER. KIND OF HELP KEEP KEEP THE TEAM AFLOAT BACK IN 1984. BUT SINCE THEN, IT’S BEEN DRIVER AFTER DRIVER

SUCCESS STORY AFTER SUCCESS STORY. AND THE ONE CONSTANT FOR THIS TEAM IS TEAM OWNER RICK HENDRICK. >> 40TH ANNIVERSARIES ARE USUALLY SIGNIFIED BY THE RUPEE, WHICH FITTING FOR THIS SEASON IS HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS AND NASCAR. 76 YEAR HISTORY.

ANOTHER NASCAR WINSTON CUP CHAMPIONSHIP AND THERE’S NO DENYING THE SIGNIFICANCE THE TEAM HAS HAD IN THE SPORT. >> I GREW UP WATCHING HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AND THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH SO MANY ERA’S OF CARS AND DRIVERS, A TRUE GEM OF SORTS, BRILLIANTLY CUT AND

DEFINED BY BIG NAME DRIVER. >> AFTER BIG NAME DRIVER HELP HMS HOLD THE RECORD IN NEARLY EVERY STATISTICAL CATEGORY. ALMOST 80,000 LAPS LED 301 WINS AND 14 CHAMPIONSHIPS. AND IT ALL STARTS AT THE TOP WITH RICK HENDRICK HAS BEEN A TEAM

OWNER FOR OVER HALF OF NAS CARS. EXISTENCE IS JUST THE KIND OF GUY THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO WORK FOR IS THE KIND OF GUY THAT YOU WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR. HE’S JUST THAT KIND OF LEADER. MISTER AGE IS A SLIGHT.

>> MORE THE BEST PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THAT RIGHT, LIKE HE REALLY CARES ABOUT PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, AS A TEAM OWNER GREAT. BUT AS A FRIEND, BEEN REALLY GOOD TOO. >> HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAS 2 FORMER CHANCE ON THEIR CURRENT FOR DRIVER LINE-UP AND TO MAKE

THE FINAL 4 IN 2023. AND IN 40 YEARS THE BAR HAS NEVER BEEN LOWERED IN HMS. ITS ONLY SAID HIGHER WITH EACH YEAR, WHICH MEANS THE DAYTONA 500 IS NEXT ON THAT LIST. THE COOL TO GO OUT THERE. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN

THE 500 AND THE 40TH YEAR. >> THAT’S OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL. THERE’S THEY PUT A LOT EMPHASIS ON THAT. SO I FEEL LIKE OUR CARS AND OUR OUR MOTORS AND EVERYTHING ARE GOING TO BE WELL PREPARED IS JUST TRYING TO EXECUTE A RACE

THAT’S VERY UNPREDICTABLE. >> WE LOVE BEING HERE AND WE LOVE OR JUST EVERYBODY’S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT KICKING OFF OUR 40TH YEAR. >> ONE OF THE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS DRIVERS IS, OF COURSE, CHASE ELLIOTT DRIVER OF THE NUMBER 9 CAR LAST

SEASON WAS THE WORST OF HIS CAREER. HE CAN’T GET PAST 2023 FAST ENOUGH. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CHASE ELLIOTT. HE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS TEAM THAT HE COULD PUT TO GOOD USE IN 2024. IN TIME

YOU HAVE A TOUGH SEASON LIKE THAT. >> IT CAN. IT CAN DESTROY A RACE TEAM. NO ONE HAS TO REMIND CHASE ELLIOTT. HE HAD A TOUGH YEAR, A BROKEN LEG WHILE SNOWBOARDING CAUSED HIM TO MISS 6 RACES. HE WAS SUSPENDED

FOR ANOTHER ONE FOR WRECKING DENNY HAMLIN ON PURPOSE IN THE COKE 600. THE FAILED TO WIN A RACE AND MISS THE PLAYOFFS. JUST REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF OUR GROUP FOR STICKING TOGETHER. ELLIOTT IS HOPING THOSE HARD LESSONS WILL TRANSLATE TO MORE SUCCESS IN

2024. ARE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS GOING TO DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT? NO, I DON’T NECESSARILY THINK THAT’S THE CASE. THE COURSE OF OUR FIRST 8 SEASONS. WE’VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE AS SOME SUCCESS AND WE HAVE FACED YEARS LIKE LAST YEAR AND IT LOVELY. THOSE ARE.

>> THOSE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT SHAPE YOU AND THEY FORCE YOU TO RIDE THE WAVE AND STAY IN THAT MIDDLE GROUND ZONE AS AS BEST YOU CAN. CHASE LEARNED THAT FROM HIS DAD HALL OF FAMER BILL ELLIOTT. >> UNLIKE HIS DAD WHO WON THE

DAYTONA 500 TWICE. CHASE IS STILL LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST. IT’S SUCH A HARD RACE BECAUSE THERE’S SO MUCH OUT OF YOUR HANDS BEING CONSERVATIVE OR GETTING AGGRESSIVE HERE AT DAYTONA. >> ELLIE HIT HIS STRIDE. BOTH STRATEGIES. I’M STILL FOR, YOU

KNOW, FOR WHAT THAT IS. BUT I THINK ANYTIME YOU HAVE GOOD PACE IN YOUR CAR, YOU CAN STAY ON OFFENSE. I THINK IT HELPS YOUR ODDS OF PUT YOURSELF IN A GOOD POSITION, A GOOD POSITION FOR ELLIOT THIS SEASON WOULD

BE TO RUN ALL THE RACES. AND IF HE DOES. >> WINDS AND A CHAMPIONSHIP COULD FALL IN LINE. WE HAVE REACHED ANOTHER TIMEOUT HERE ON COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA LIVE AGAIN, THE DAYTONA 500 IS TOMORROW. >> WITH THE RAIN DELAY TODAY,

YOU KNOW WHAT? NASCAR DRIVERS? THEY ARE JUST WIRED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND I WE SEE IT EVERY SINGLE TIME WHEN THEY CLIMB IN THESE RACE CARS AND WE SEE THE SPECTACULAR CRASHES LAST SUMMER. RYAN PREECE EXPERIENCE

THAT WE’RE GOING TO HEAR FROM HIM AND HOW THAT ACCIDENT HAD AN IMPACT ON HIS CAREER. >> AND IN THE HISTORY OF THE DAYTONA 500, ONLY 4 DRIVERS HAVE WON IT BACK TO BACK IN RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR. YEAH. STRAIGHT AHEAD.

>> I’VE NEVER WANTED TO BE A METEOROLOGIST, BUT I KIND OF FEEL TODAY. HERE WE ARE IN DAYTONA. THIS IS A CURRENT LIVE PICTURE OF WHAT WE’RE EXPERIENCING. IT IS RAINING AND THE DAYTONA 500 HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW. AT 4 O’CLOCK.

>> THAT’S RIGHT. WE’VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT LAST YEAR’S WINNER, RIGHT? RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR. WHAT A MOMENT FOR HIM WINNING THAT ONE. HE HAS 3 CUP SERIES WINS BUT ALL 3 WINDS HAVE COME ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS. AND OF COURSE HE DID SURVIVE THE

LONGEST 500 IN NASCAR HISTORY JUST LAST SEASON, 212 LAPS INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 200 BECAUSE OF ALL OF THOSE RESTARTS. IF YOU REMEMBER THOSE NOW, STENHOUSE WAS LEADING JOY, LOOK WHEN THAT CAUTION CAME OUT. >> AND THAT’S WHEN HE WAS

DECLARED. THE WINNER ARE DANNY HARDEN CATCHES UP WITH THE DEFENDING CHAMP. NOW. >> CATCHING UP WITH THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THE DAYTONA 500, RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR AND RICKY. THEY SAY THAT WHEN YOU WIN THIS RACE, IT IS LIFE CHANGING. HAS IT

BEEN LIFE CHANGING OVER THE LAST 365 FOR SURE, AS IT’S BEEN, YOU KNOW, SUCH A ACCOMPLISHMENT, HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR MYSELF. MY RACE TEAM, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE ON THIS TEAM BEEN AT THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

AND SO TO FINALLY, YOU KNOW, CHECK THAT OFF THE BUCKET LIST THE TO DO LESS. IT WAS NICE AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO PROMOTE THE SPORT FROM OF THE DAYTONA 500, PROMOTE OUR GREAT PARTNERS IN THE CROW GRACING PROGRAM. JUST BEEN A DREAM

COME TRUE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT TO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THIS RACING. YES. SO BECAUSE OF THE RAIN, THEY’RE MOVING IT BACK TO MONDAY. >> YOU YOU PLAY AN OUTDOOR SPORT RIGHT HERE. YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. RAIN ENTERTAINING, EVERYBODY. THINK

ABOUT HAVING TO COME BACK AND DO THIS MONDAY. YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S PART OF IT, ESPECIALLY NOT IN FLORIDA, YOU KNOW, BUT YEAH, I THINK FOR US, YOU KNOW, WE WE KIND OF KNEW IT WAS WE WE KIND OF DID EVERYTHING EXPECTING TO TO

RACE ON MONDAY. SO EVERYTHING SHOULD BE GOOD. YOU KNOW, NOTHING. MAJOR CHANGES WITH OUR CAR. ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO JUST PART OF OUR YOU KNOW, IT SUCKS FOR A LOT OF FANS, BUT, YOU KNOW, LUCKILY, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OFF

TOMORROW SO THAT THAT SHOULD BE A HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WILL TUNE IN AND BE ABLE TO STAY FOR THE RACE. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT WHEN YOU WIN THE DAYTONA 500, THEY TAKE YOUR CAR AWAY FROM YOU. YOU’RE A GOLFER. YOU

CAN RELATE WITH THIS. ONE OF TIGER WOODS WON THE MASTERS AND TIGER. WE’RE TAKING YOUR GOLF CLUB. SORRY FOR A YEAR. WELL, SOMETIMES THEY DO TAKE SOME OF THEIR YEAH, I FEEL LIKE IT’S IT’S REALLY EASY TO REPLICATE GOLF YOU KNOW, IT’S

TOUGH TO REPLICATE RACE. CARS AS GOOD AS OUR RACE CAR WAS. YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE HERE, BUT MY GUYS REALLY WORKED HARD. THIS OFFSEASON ARE BOOST BY KROGER. PLUS, CAUGHT NOW COME ARROWS. REALLY, REALLY GOOD. IN THE STRONG THURSDAY NIGHT. THE

KNOWLES WHO LED A LOT OF GOT CAUGHT A LITTLE LITTLE ROCK THERE, BUT NOTHING TOO MAJOR. THE GUY’S GOT FIXED UP WE SHOULD BE READY TO GO HOME WHEN THEY ROLL THAT CAR OUT OF THE MUSEUM ALL OUR OTHER ONE AND

>> WE’RE HERE AT A KROGER SPONSOR EVENT EARLIER THIS WEEK. YOU’VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING COOL. WE DELIVER GROCERIES A COLD OR FAN RIGHT IN AND THEY HAD SOME RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR STAFF AT THEIR HOUSE NOW IS REALLY COOL. I HEADED OUT TO, YOU

KNOW, KROGER DELIVERY, SUCH SO BEGIN IN FLORIDA. AND THEY’RE REALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKING A BIG PUSH FOR THAT. AND I’M HAVING A LOT OF GOOD SUCCESS AND >> YEAH, I GOT TO GO IN THE DELIVERY TRUCK ITS DRIVER SAID IT WASN’T QUALIFIED IS A

LITTLE BUMMED ABOUT THAT. BUT THE FANS ARE SUPER PUMPED UP. THEY WERE MASSIVE RACE FANS OUT. THERE ARE FANS OF MARS AND SO THEY TOLD US TO GO OUT AND WIN FOR THEY GO. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. RICKY STENHOUSE

JUNIOR, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION OF THE DAYTONA 500. >> SO IT’S OF THEIR WITH DANNY AND RICKY STENHOUSE JUNIOR LAST YEAR’S DAYTONA 500 WINNER. EARLIER, I TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THE TEAMS DID IN THE GARAGES. THERE’S ANOTHER TEAM OF GUYS THAT ARE

GOING TO BE PUT TO THE TEST TOMORROW AND HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DRIVE THIS TRACKING. THOSE ARE THE GUYS THAT ARE DRIVING THE AIRTIGHT. OF COURSE, RIGHT HERE ON TOP OF THE FAN DECK, THEY WILL GO ALL ACROSS THIS TRACK TOMORROW.

BASICALLY IT’S KIND OF SWEEPING THE WINDOW, SO TO SPEAK. THEY GET ALL MOISTURE OFF THE TRACK AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHER TRUCKS THAT COME THROUGH LIKE A VACUUM TO GET SOME OF THE EXTRA MOISTURE OFF OF CITIES AIRTIGHT PUT IN

PLACE SINCE 2013. AND THEY REALLY DOES TAKE A LOT TAKEAWAY FROM A LOT OF THE DRIVING TIME. I MEAN, A LOT OF DRY TIME ON THE TRACK, RATHER CUT THAT TIME IN HALF. IT WILL TAKE DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS ABOUT HOUR AND A

HALF, SOMETIMES 2 HOURS. THAT’S OBVIOUSLY WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY BEFORE THEIR TITANS GOT IN PLACE, IT TOOK A LOT LONGER TO DRY. THE TRACK TEAMS IN THE GARAGE IS A LOT OF WORK BEFORE THE RACE

TOMORROW. ALL THE GUYS IN THAT ARE GOING TO BE DRIVING TO AIR TITANS ARE GOING TO BE PUT TO THE TEST TO GET THIS TRACK DRY. GET READY FOR RACING AT THE XFINITY AT 11TH. AND OF COURSE, THE DAYTONA 500 COMING

UP AT 04:00PM. GUYS. I GAVE THAT WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECT EXPLANATION OF WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW WHAT PART OF THE DRAW THE INTRIGUE HERE AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY IS THE FACT THAT DRIVERS ARE ALWAYS JUST A SPLIT SECOND AWAY FROM DISASTER.

>> THIS PLACE HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR ACCIDENTS IN NASCAR HISTORY. WE HAD RICHARD PETTY IN 1988 RUSTY WALLACE IN 1993. GOT BRIAN NEWMAN NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE IN 2003 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2020 ACCIDENTS. SO SPECTACULAR. YOU JUST NEVER

FORGET THEM. RYAN PREECE HAD ONE OF THOSE HERE LAST SUMMER, BUT HE’S BACK THIS YEAR AND HE’S READY TO CONQUER DAYTONA. IT TAKES CERTAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS TO BE A NASCAR DRIVER, ESPECIALLY AT A SUPERSPEEDWAY LIKE DAYTONA. SO SUPERSPEEDWAY RACING IS A GAME OF

>> I KNOW SOME, YOU KNOW, THEY OBVIOUSLY DREAD IT. >> I FOR ONE AND ONE WHO ENJOYS THE CHALLENGE OF IT. >> COUPLE FREEZE UP SIDE DOWN. HE’S BARREL ROLLING. THAT THOUGHT PROCESS WAS PUT TO THE TEST LAST YEAR FOR RYAN PREECE

WAS INVOLVED IN THE WORST ACCIDENT OF HIS CAREER IN THE SUMMER RACE AT DAYTONA. THE CAR GOT AIRBORNE BARREL ROLLED MULTIPLE TIMES AND VIOLENTLY FLIPPED, END OVER END BEFORE LANDING BACK ON ITS WHEELS. AND AS A RACER, YOU LOOK AT IT IS THAT THAT?

>> THIS IS THIS IS PART OF YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US HAVE WRECKED A LOT IN OUR LIFE AND AND WE’RE GOING CONTINUE TO RACK LIKE IT’S IT’S INEVITABLE. SO IF YOU’RE AFRAID THEIR RECORD HAVE INCIDENTS LIKE THAT. PROBABLY QUIT RACE NOT ONLY

NOT QUIT RACING. HE DIDN’T EVEN MISS A START. >> YOUR EYES. HE WAS BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HIS 41 CAR THE NEXT WEEK DARLINGTON WITH 2 BLACK EYES. I COME FROM RACING FAMILY. I NOW SAY, I MEAN, BOTH MY WIFE AND MY

FATHER, IT’S PROBABLY DONE MORE DAMAGE TO THEM THAN IT DID SEEING >> YOU KNOW, THE WAY I LOOK FOR A LITTLE WHILE. BUT FOR IS WHAT I DO. THIS IS WHAT I WAKE UP AND CHOOSE TO DO EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND. TO BE HONEST

WITH YOU, YOU COULD. YOU HEARD TOMORROW DOING ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING YOU DON’T EVEN LIKE. SO WHY NOT DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WRECK WAS THE LOW POINT OF AN EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING SEASON THAT SAW FINISH 20RD IN THE

POINTS AND MISS OUT ON THE PLAYOFFS. YOU LOOK AT IT. YOU LOOK AT THE SEASON AND YOU CAN HIDE FROM YOU KNOW, AND NONE OF US EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US WANTS TO BE BETTER AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT. HIS FIRST

CHANCE DOING BETTER COMES AT DAYTONA. >> AND HE CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY TO TAME THE BEAST. >> THEN WITH A TRIP TO VICTORY LANE. >> YOU KNOW, KARL, ARE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, THE PRIVILEGE TO BE AROUND A LOT OF

DIFFERENT ATHLETES, BUT NASCAR DRIVERS, THEY ARE JUST DIFFERENT. THEY’RE LIKE HUMAN GLADIATOR. I THINK THEY HAVE A GENE THAT WE JUST DON’T THINK RIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THAT’S THAT’S PART OF IT. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE SEE THE VIDEO OF THOSE SPECTACULAR CRASHES, IT

REALLY GOES TO SHOW JUST HOW IMPORTANT NASCAR SAFETY IS AND HOW MUCH THE STRIDES THAT THEY’VE MADE IN THAT AREA TO KEEP THESE DRIVERS SAY YES. SO TRUE. SAFETY SO IMPORTANT AND THIS POOR. BUT OF COURSE, WE’VE GOT SO MUCH MORE TO GET

TO ON. COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA. DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY. >> DAYTONA 500 YOU WHEN THEY ARE ALL SPECIAL WILL BE TALKING TO A GUY THAT 3 BEFORE NEXT. With thousands of wins every day… What will you do with your win? THIS RACE 3 TIMES BELIEVES IT

COULD BE 4, MAYBE EVEN 5. AND AS YOU WOULD GUESS. >> HAMLIN THIS A THREAT THIS YEAR. HAMLIN HAS 51 CAREER WITH THE ONLY ACTIVE DRIVERS WITH MORE KYLE JIMMIE JOHNSON. WHAT DANNY DOESN’T HAVE IS A CHAMPIONSHIP WHILE HE WANTS ONE.

>> HE WON’T LET THAT OR GOAL ON HIM. >> WILL IT DEFINE KNOW, CERTAINLY FROM THE INSIDE IS NOT GOING TO FIND OUT. VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WINDS THAT I’VE HAD. THERE WILL BE A DAY WHERE THESE THE PERFORMANCE DROPS OFF THE I’M

NOT GOING TO BE OUT HERE JUST MAKING LAPS. I I WANT TO KNOW THAT I CAN WITH MY VERY FINAL RACE. THAT PERFORMANCE IS NOT DROPPING OFF TODAY GOING TO BE THIS WEEK OR THIS I’M NOT NIGHT. JUST THINK THAT IT WILL

HAPPEN IN A FEW YEARS. BUT I KNOW THAT WINDOW SLOWLY CLOSING. >> AND OF COURSE, DENNY HAMLIN IS CO-OWNER OF 23. 11 RACING NEXT TO SUPERSTAR MICHAEL JORDAN AND ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS AS BUBBA WALLACE BEEN PRETTY OPEN ABOUT THE MENTAL

ASPECT OF DRIVING A RACE CAR. DAVE MACDONALD JOINS US NOW. GIVE YOU’VE GOT MORE ON REALLY THIS MENTALITY THAT REALLY PLAYS A BIG PART IN TOMORROW’S RACE. >> ABSOLUTELY. BUT HAS BECOME ONE OF THOSE DRIVERS ARE REALLY JUST DOESN’T TAKE

ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY. BUT HE’S REALLY BEEN VERY OPEN JUST ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING AN ADVOCATE OF THAT AND HAVE IT PLAYS OUT ON THE RACETRACK. OF COURSE, HE’S HAD 2 VERY CLOSE FINISHES 2018 2022. COMING IN SECOND. EARLIER THIS WEEK, HE WAS JUST

WITH THE STRATEGY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THIS RACE AND SOMETIMES WHAT YOU DO. BUT SOMETIMES WHAT OTHERS DO. >> I REMEMBER MY MY FIRST DAYTONA 500. I DODGED 3 WRECKS, I BELIEVE THROWING SPARKS AND WHATNOT. ALL BENT

OUT OF SHAPE WHEN UP SECOND >> MY SECOND TIME I FINISHED SECOND 2022, I FINISHED RIGHT FRONT. FENDER. SO. IT’S CHAOTIC, BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY TO PROCESS. THINGS ARE MUCH SLOWER PACE AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO DO AND AND I FEEL LIKE

A LOT OF DRIVERS ARE JUST ONE STEP AWAY FROM MAKING THE RIGHT MOVE TO POSITION THEIR WIFE AND MYSELF. I MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES. GET TO THE FRONT AND THEN SAY LIKE DENNY HAMLIN. MAKES THE RIGHT MOVES TO DO THAT AND MAKES RIGHT

MOVES TO KEEP THEM SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> IT WAS A 3 TIME DAYTONA 500 WINNER. SO SO LEARNING I GOT TO DO SOME THINGS. I GOT TO CLEAN UP. BUT LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY ON SUNDAY. >> BUBBLE, OF COURSE. COMING OFF THE BEST YEAR OF HIS

CAREER, FINISHING 10TH IN THE POINT STANDINGS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS. ACTUALLY DONE PRETTY WELL IN SUPERSPEEDWAYS. HIS FIRST CAREER WIN COMING BACK IN TALLADEGA. SO WE’LL SEE IF YOU CAN AT A DAYTONA 500 WIN TO HIS RESUME. KEVIN CARL, BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, KATIE ABBOTT LAST BEEN SO CLOSE SO MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, STARTING AT THE SEASON OFF ON THE FOOT AS THE DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION. THAT BE THE WAY TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, THESE DRIVERS, THEY THINK ABOUT THE ONES THAT GET AWAY

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>> THIS IS A CURRENT LOOK AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. NO RACING TODAY. THE 500 POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW AT 04:00PM EASTERN TIME. WE MENTION THAT THE RACE IS A SELLOUT. WE HOPE FANS CAN COME BACK AND WATCH THIS GREAT,

GREAT RACE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ALSO HAVE 35 OTHER CHANCES TO WATCH NASCAR RACING THIS YEAR. THAT’S RIGHT. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE AN XFINITY SERIES TICKETS FOR TOMORROW, YOU CAN GET INTO THE 500 BUT ALL THE TICKETS ARE ALREADY ON SALE

FOR THIS RACE SEASON. A NASCAR MAKES THIS SUPER SIMPLE FOR YOU. GO TO NASCAR DOT COM SLASH TICKETS. >> PICK THAT TRACK. YOU WANT TO VISIT AND BUY YOUR TICKETS. YEAH. PRETTY SIMPLE STUFF. WELL, WE’VE REACHED THE TIME

OF THE SHOW WHERE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR PREDICTION ON WHO WE THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE DAYTONA 500 AND AGAIN. >> WE’RE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE FUN WITH THIS CAVE. WE’RE GOING TO

START WITH YOU. DO YOU THINK’S GOING TO BE IN VICTORY LANE? KEVIN? I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE THE MAN THAT HAS WON HERE 3 TIMES AND IS LOOKING TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. ADD TO HIS RESUME LIKE DENNY HAMLIN. WE SAW THAT TOYOTA’S IN PRACTICE

HOW WELL THEY CAN I THINK THAT HIM A GIFTED WINS HIS 4TH DAYTONA 500. THAT WAS ALREADY GREAT CAREER TOMORROW AFTERNOON. >> GUY HERE. HERE’S THE DEAL. KYLE BUSCH IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST NASCAR DRIVERS EVER. 229 TOTAL NASCAR

VICTORIES. BUT HERE AT THE DAYTONA 500, HE’S O FOR 18. BUT FOLKS, THIS IS HIS YEAR. KYLE BUSCH FINALLY BREAKS OUT AND WINS THE DAYTONA 500. >> ALL RIGHT. THANKS, DANNY. I KNOW I TALKED ABOUT TOYOTA’S STRONG EARLY IN THE SHOW, BUT

I THINK I’M GOING WITH THE CHEVY DRIVER TODAY. KYLE LARSON. HE’S ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED RACE CAR DRIVERS, LOTS OF CROWN JEWELS, BUT NOT YET A DAYTONA 500 GOING LARSON. >> ALL RIGHT. I’M GOING TO GO WITH THE GUY WHO HAS NEVER WON

THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR. HE’S BEEN CLOSE BEFORE HE LET SOME LAPS IN HIS DUEL QUALIFYING RACE AND THAT TOYOTA CAMP WAS VERY HAPPY. MARTIN TRUEX JUNIOR WINS THE DAYTONA 500. THE TOP OFF HIS

HALL OF FAME CAREER. I LIKE THAT. IT’S LIKE KIND OF LIKE DALE EARNHARDT, RIGHT? WAIT TILL THE 19TH YEAR. THE 20TH YEAR TO GET ONE. YEAH, FOLKS, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU WATCHING. COUNTDOWN TO DAYTONA H LIAC