As the NFL season approaches the end of its season, NASCAR fires its engines and prepares for another season of racing.

In football the season ends with the Super Bowl” but in NASCAR the season begins with one of the biggest races of the season – the Daytona 500.

NASCAR kicks off the season with a two week event known as Speedweeks that features half a dozen races across the three racing series; culminating with the 500.

Among the teams fielding cars for the “big race” is Spire Motorsports who has tapped NASCAR veteran Jamie McMurray to drive the number 77 car.  An analyst for FOX Sports, McMurray has not been behind the wheel full time for a number of years.  He last raced in the 2019 Daytona 500.

McMurray spoke on his opportunity to drive the number 7 car saying, “it doesn’t get any better than the Daytona 500, and I am so excited to have the opportunity, thanks to AdventHealth, to run this race one more time. I have enjoyed my time out of the car as an analyst covering NASCAR, but nothing can replace the feeling of actually racing.”

Also gearing up for a run in the Daytona 500 is Ty Dillon – younger brother to Austin Dillon and grandson of car owner Richard Childress.  Dillon will be driving the number 96 car for Gaunt Brothers Racing.

Dillon spoke on his chance to run in the 500 saying, “Gaunt Brothers Racing has given me a great opportunity to compete in the Daytona 500 and I couldn’t be happier.  I love superspeedway races and the Daytona 500 is the biggest of them all. Toyota has certainly proven itself in our sport and in the Daytona 500. I’m looking forward to racing with them and reuniting with Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company.”

As a part of the pre-race festivities before the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 on February 14, award winning Country music artist Luke Combs will perform.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Combs will perform live before a limited number of fans while millions of other will watch via their television sets.

Combs spoke on his upcoming performance saying, “I grew up watching the NASCAR race every Sunday with my granddad; that was our thing.  I never could have imagined back then that I’d be playing the Daytona 500 one day, so this is super awesome and is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile also spoke on Combs upcoming performance saying, “the tradition of the Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show has been an incredibly popular hit with race fans.  Luke has been one of the most influential country music stars over the last few years and his fan appeal is incredible. It’s a bonus, too, that he loves our sport. He will help get another thrilling DAYTONA 500, as well as a new NASCAR season, off to an exciting start.”

The Speedweeks festivities kick off on February 9 with the Prime Time running of Busch Clash at Daytona.

Speedweeks racing schedule:
Feb 9 – Busch Clash
Feb 10 – NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
Feb 11 – Cup Series Duals
Feb 12 – Camping World Truck Series qualifying and NextEra Energy 250
Feb 13 – Xfinity Series qualifying and Beff, It’s What’s for Dinner 300
Feb 14 – Daytona 500