The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series kicks off its historic 61th running of ... The Great American Race at Daytona and won the qualifying races in a pair of Ford sweeps that have the new Mustang positioned for a strong showing. William Byron and , in for , swept the top two spots in time trials last week and represent the youngest starting row in Daytona 500 history. Byron is 21 and Bowman is 25. NASCAR will continue to emphasize its rising young talent this year, led by , , , and , all playoff drivers last seaon. Elliott was voted NASCAR's most popular driver, an award won a record 16 times by his father, . A critical change this season is the introduction of an overhauled rules package designed to make the racing watchable again, but that will not be in effect this week in Daytona. The overhaul comes under new leadership at the top. replaced his nephew as chairman of NASCAR after Brian France took a leave of absence following an arrest. Drivers, start your engines. Daytona International Daytona 500 • Daytona International Speedway Speedway Daytona 500 lineup

RACE DISTANCE: 200 laps (500 miles) TRACK DISTANCE: 2.5 miles POS CAR DRIVER MAKE 1 (24) William Byron The track officially opened in 1959 MOST DAYTONA 500 WINS: – 7 Daytona ROW 1 Total acreage: 480 acres (1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1981) 50 mi Beach 2 (88) Alex Bowman Chevrolet Infield: 180 acres 50 km 3 (4) Kevin Harvick Ford (includes 29-acre Lake Lloyd) ROW 2 Start/finish FLORIDA 4 (22) Joey Logano Ford 5 (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford ROW 3 Miami 6 (14) Ford 7 (21) Ford ROW 4 8 (10) Ford Pit road 9 (32) Matt DiBenedetto Ford TURN 1 ROW 5 TURN 4 10 (11) 11 (19) Martin Truex Jr. Toyota ROW 6 12 (1) Chevrolet 13 (43) Chevrolet ROW 7 14 (12) Ryan Blaney Ford 15 (37) Chevrolet Created in 1958 by excavating dirt to ROW 8 16 (40) Chevrolet Banking in corners form the banks in turns 1-2 and 3-4. Jamie McMurray 31 degrees 17 (48) Chevrolet ROW 9 18 (9) Chase Elliott Chevrolet 19 (6) Ryan Newman Ford ROW 10 Lake Lloyd 20 (3) Austin Dillon Chevrolet 21 (47) * Chevrolet ROW 11 22 (13) Chevrolet 23 (41) Daniel Suarez Ford ROW 12 TURN 2 TURN 3 24 (38) Ford 25 (96) Toyota ROW 13 26 (42) Kyle Larson Chevrolet 27 (00) Chevrolet 8 ROW 14 28 (20) Erik Jones Toyota Need for 29 (8) * Chevrolet Average winning speed at the Daytona 500: ROW 15 30 (62) Chevrolet 200 MPH 31 (18) Toyota 2018 Monster Energy Series leaders ROW 16 1980: 32 (32) Corey LaJoie* Ford POINTS (top 5) WINS TOP 5 FINISHES 177.602 mph * 8 Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick 23 33 (36) Ford Joey Logano 5040 (Record) ROW 17 8 Kevin Harvick Kyle Busch 22 34 (34) Michael McDowell Ford Martin Truex Jr. 5035 4 Martin Truex Jr. Martin Truex Jr. 20 35 (2) Ford Kevin Harvick 5034 150 ROW 18 3 Chase Elliott Joey Logano 13 36 (15) * Chevrolet Kyle Busch 5033 3 Brad Keselowski Brad Keselowski 12 37 (52) * Chevrolet Aric Almirola 2354 2018: Austin Dillon ROW 19 3 Joey Logano Kyle Larson 12 1959: 150.545 mph 38 (51) BJ McLeod* Chevrolet 135.521 mph 39 (31) * Chevrolet In the driver’s seat 100 ROW 20 40 (27) Chevrolet After an impressive 2018 season, can Joey Logano win the NASCAR Cup Series 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 championship for the second year in a row? A look at the top title contenders: *Rookies

Kyle Clint Chase Denny Kevin Jimmie Kyle Joey Brad Martin Busch Bowyer Elliott HamlinF Harvick Johnson Larson Logano Keselowski Truex Jr. The 2015 Won twice in Son of two-time Finished Third in points Seven-time Winless in 2018, Defending 2012 series 2017 series Cup champi- 2018 after five Daytona 500 outside top for second series champion but has shown series champi- champ has at champ won four on has straight champ/Hall of nine in points straight coming off first promise in five on and Team least three times in 2018, his finished in the winless Famer Bill Elliott twice in last 11 season in winless season; full seasons with Penske star is victories in each final season at Furniture Row top four each seasons, won three times seasons; 2006 2018. Won starts fresh ; looking to of last three Racing, and with new crew considered one of the last making him a last season. Rookie of the series-leading become the first years at Team finished 2nd in of the best four years. dark horse for Voted most Year has yet to eight times, chief Kevin since Johnson Penske, including points. He should Has 51 career the 2019 popular driver in win his first giving him 45 Meendering. Has drivers in the in 2010 to three in a row flourish at Joe Cup wins. championship. 2018. Cup crown. in his career. 83 Cup wins. series. repeat. late last year. Gibbs Racing.

SOURCE: NASCAR