All three NASCAR series kick into high gear as the 2025 season officially begins this week at the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway, for the running of the Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity Series, ARCA series and Cup Series.
Focusing on the big race this week, five different drivers have won the Daytona 500 in the last five years – Denny Hamlin (2019-2020), Michael McDowell (2021), Austin Cindric (2022), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023) and William Byron (2024).
Byron will be looking to become the fifth different driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s this weekend, a list currently including Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84), Sterling Marlin (1994-95) and Denny Hamlin (2019-20).
New Zealander and former Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen is competing in his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series but there will also be some new faces in the 500. Four-time INDY500 champion and three-time Rolex 24 winner Helio Castroneves will compete in Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series Ride the ‘Dente 200 with Pinnacle Race Group before switching gears to head-up Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 for Sunday’s Great American Race, the fifth time the #91 raced for Trackhouse and the first time not on a road course.
Trackhouse Racing will feature four entries in the Daytona 500 from four countries, the first time in series history a team had four drivers from different countries – New Zealand, Mexico, United States and Brazil.
An impressive lineup of drivers will be attempting to qualify for the Daytona 500, including seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and last year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier as JR Motorsports and TRICON Garage will both attempt to make their Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500 this season.
Lastly, another story line to follow is Kyle Busch. Winless in 2024 and failing to win one race or more over consecutive seasons, Busch saw his record for wins per season fall by the wayside. In addition, he will be looking for his first ever win in 20 tries at Daytona.
Busch is looking for a rebound from a disappointing 2024 season with Richard Childress Racing, and Daytona would be just the shot in the arm Busch and RCR needs to get a jumpstart on the 2025 season.
Storylines
- This year’s event marks the 10th consecutive sellout of the Daytona 500.
- “Captain America: Brave New World” star Anthony Mackie will serve as grand marshal and give the command ahead of the Daytona 500.
- Grammy Award-winning Trackhouse Racing co-owner Pitbull will perform the Pre-Race Show ahead of the Daytona 500.
- Alan Ritchson will add some muscle as the honorary pace car driver for the 2025 Daytona 500. The actor and producer will lead the field to green for the 67th running of The Great American Race.
- The United States Air Force Thunderbirds return for the 15th consecutive year and 16th overall to perform the flyover above a completely sold-out crowd ahead of Sunday’s Daytona 500.
NASCAR on TV
Thursday, February 13
- NCTS Practice (FS1 at 5 p.m. ET)
- Duel at Daytona (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM at 7 p.m. ET)
Friday, February 14
- NCTS Qualifying (FS1 at 3 p.m. ET)
- NXS Practice (CW App at 4:30 p.m. ET)
- NCS Practice 2 (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM at 5:30 p.m. ET)
- NCTS Race (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM at 7:30p.m. ET)
Saturday, February 15
- NXS Qualifying (CW App at 10 a.m. ET)
- ARCA Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM at 12 p.m. ET)
- NCS Final Practice (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM at 3 p.m. ET)
- NXS Race (CW, MRN, SiriusXM at 5 p.m. ET)
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