Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to NASCAR

Part of the new razzle-dazzle approach is a wholesale redesign of the definition of a NASCAR race. His outside pole this year comes in his first event back after sitting out much of the 2016 season with a head injury.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about Saturday’s race.

According to NASCAR.com, tonight’s race features a lineup of 17 drivers fighting for the early win at Daytona International Speedway.

The Clash is a 75-lap race that will be split into two segments by a competition caution after the completion of lap 25.

Though it may not be an official points-paying race, don’t underestimate the Clash as an important indicator of what’s to come at Daytona International Speedway a week later. According to VegasInsider.com, No. 88 leads the pack with his odds of winning this year’s Daytona 500 at 5-to-1, as of February 15. In the last 30 years, only a handful of drivers have won it twice and just two have won three times (Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon). This of course is great news for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet as the teammates both rest in front row for NASCAR’s SuperBowl next Sunday. Commandeering the No. 24 auto – the one that was made famous by Jeff Gordon during his hey day – Elliott has had to live in the shadow of the racing legend to begin his career.

“Considering my health, I can’t really put a date on it because I don’t know what’s going to happen going forward”. We just need to make sure we finish there.

“I do have a couple of races, not in the Cup Series, but in some other stuff coming up, ” he said.

“We’re definitely aware of it and we’re looking at our notes from over the years”, Earnhardt said.

“Just when I got it figured out, they changed the whole format”, said Cup racer Chris Buescher of Prosper, who has moved to the JTG Daugherty team for this season. “I feel like it’s so easy to get caught up in somebody else’s mess here”.

Bowman, who couldn’t find the necessary sponsor funds for an Xfinity ride, couldn’t wait to hear Earnhardt call his race.