Florida Sports Wire

    Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson: 2027 Daytona 500 will be his final NASCAR race DAYTONA BEACH – Jimmie Johnson isn’t going away, but the countdown clock started ticking the moment he climbed out of his No. 84 Toyota Sunday at the Daytona International Speedway. He has nothing more to prove. He’s tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with a record seven NASCAR Cup Series Championships. He walked away as a full-time driver after the 2020 season. He tinkered with IndyCars, selected NASCAR starts and the 24 Hours of LeMans. But as a co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, he’s decided his time is more valuable in the shop and boardroom. That’s why he announced next year’s Daytona 500 will be his last. “I didn't use the word retirement way back when in 2020,” Johnson said. “I still love to compete and want to be on the track and racing. The journey as an owner, and certainly where I am in life right now, to compete at the Cup level, week in and week out, is just a door that's...

  Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images-NASCAR Six-time NBA Champion and Co-Car Owner Michael Jordan and driver Tyler Reddick hold the Harley J. Earl Trophy after Reddick passed Chase Elliott 150 yards short of the finish line to win Sunday's Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway. Victory makes NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordon Championship Car Owner   DAYTONA BEACH – Wildfires burned out of control four miles south of the Daytona International Speedway at the end of Sunday’s Daytona 500. They were so bad, the Florida Highway Patrol closed a portion of Interstate 95. North of I-95, a line of severe weather was moving closer with lightning, rain and high winds. But it was nothing in comparison to the storm brewing in the closing laps of the Great American Race. Twenty-five cars were wadded in a three- and four-wide scrum for a victory in the biggest stock car race in the world, each jockeying like lottery ping pong balls for last-lap run to the finish line. ...

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images/NASCAR The best way to make speed in Sunday's Daytona 500 is to line up nose-to-tail in long lines of traffic with trailing cars pushing the lead car. Daytona 500 starting time  moved up to 1:30 p.m. to avoid forecast of  late afternoon storms   DAYTONA BEACH – Chevrolets have the numbers and a new front nose for their ZL1. Fords have an advantage with experienced drivers and horsepower  with Doug Yates engines. And Toyota always plays the teammate game better than any of the  manufacturers  at the Daytona 500.   But one thing they all will share in Sunday’s Great American Race (1:30 p.m., FOX), are cars that are edgy and hard to handle.   “ Say a prayer.  It’s  going to be crazy,” said Joey Logano , who won in a Ford in 2015.   One thing  a   field of 41   probably won’t  have to worry about at the Daytona International Speedway is  bad weather . NASCAR moved the starting ...

Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images/NASCAR Chandler Smith rocketed from sixth place to a victory in the final mile after getting a push from fellow Ford driver Ty Majeski in Friday night's Fresh From Florida 250 Craftsman Truck Series race at the Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA BEACH –  Friday night’s  Fresh  From  Florida 250 season opener for the Craftsman Truck Series  was an extravaganz a like no other.   In addition to  T ruck  S eries regulars, it had three-time Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart,  three Cup Series regulars, former “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, YouTube influe ncer  Cleetus  McFarland  and daredevil Travis Pastrana in the field.   But  in  the end,  it  came down to brand loyalty and an enormous  amount  of luck that catapulted Chandler Smit h to Victory Lane.   The  T ruck  S eries regular with Front Row  Motorsports,  Smith’s Fo...