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It doesn’t matter if you are a long-time fan or a newbie to the sport, this blog is a must-read for everyone interested in the Daytona Speedway and all things NASCAR.
New Names On The Roster
What’s more, even if you aren’t a fan of some of the drivers mentioned in this blog post, you’ll still want to keep up with their careers and stats.
This year’s NASCAR roster has a lot of new names that you might not be familiar with. For instance, Travis Kvapil is the son of the late Nelson Kvapil, who was a four-time champion in the ARCA Series. His son might make his NASCAR debut at some point this year. While Jack Harvey is best known for being the CEO of Harvey Norman, he is a lifelong racer whose team, Jack Harvey Motorsports, is a regular fixture on the Cup Series stages.
Another new name to keep an eye out for is Chase Paschel. Chase is best known for being an anchor on the NASCAR on Fox broadcasts and also for being a six-time ARCA race winner. He most recently drove for Roush Racing and had a team that finished in the top-five at every race this year. Chase also made the move to stock cars full-time this year and is determined to prove himself in the big leagues.
New Names On The Monster Energy Cup Series Roster
While a lot of the top names in NASCAR have remained the same, there is still plenty of depth and talent in the series. Newer teams and drivers might not have the experience, but they can certainly match the talent of the older teams and drivers. Take Chase Paschel for example. He is determined to prove that even though he is new to the series, he can be among the best at what he does.
Newcomers On The Triple-A Roster
In addition, the triple-A series has seen a lot of new faces this year and a lot of young talent looking to make the jump to the big leagues. For example, you have Max Blanchard, who became a NASCAR sensation when he dominated the lower levels of the sport. He won the Truck Series championship in his first season and has since won a record eight series championships. He’ll be making his Monster Energy Cup Series debut at the season-opener this year.
You also have Tyler Reddick, the 2017 ARCA champion, who has had an impressive rookie season behind the wheel of the No. 11 Chevrolet. The Texan has won six times this year and is always among the front-runners. He will be making his NASCAR debut at the season-opener in the Monster Energy Cup Series.
Randy LaJoie also has a lot to look forward to this year. LaJoie is one of the all-time greats in NASCAR history. He was a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and won 49 races in his career. He made the decision to come back for one more season and even though he is in his late 60s, he might still have another great season in him.
Key Changes For The SeasonThere are a few changes that are worth noting for this year. First, the car count has decreased. There are only 23 cars on the starting grid compared to 24 cars last year. While this might make the racing less exciting, the top-five results will still be the same. Plus, it will give the drivers a better chance at getting into the top five.
More Engagement With Fans
Another change is how the drivers interact with the fans. Back in the day, drivers would just show up at the track and drive. These days, the interaction is almost as good as if the drivers were in the cars with you. They are constantly checking in with their fans on social media, especially during the race. Jack Harvey is always among the first to respond with some kind words and even photos from the drivers’ pit-stop. This year, the hashtag #mypitstop is trending because of all the fans who want to know what their favorite drivers are doing while they are fueling up (and sometimes while they are refueling.)
It’s also worth noting that there is a lot more diversity among the drivers, both in terms of the nationalities and the genders. Chase Paschel is the first openly gay driver to compete in the Monster Energy Cup Series. While more people are aware of LGBTQ issues in sports, they still often face adversity just for being who they are. Luckily, Chase’s experience and courage in coming out will give him a strong voice in the fight for LGBTQ rights in motorsports.
Overall, What Is Happening At The Daytona Speedway Today?
Overall, it’s a pretty exciting time for the Daytona Speedway. There are a lot of new names and new faces. Plus, there is a lot of talent in the sport. A lot of old-school fans might be a little disappointed that there isn’t a whole lot of new-school flavor, but it still makes for some great racing.