Viewer’s guide to Daytona 500, Speedweek

The long wait is nearly over for NASCAR fans. While the Clash at the Coliseum provided an appetizer, it is Daytona that marks the beginning of the season.

It is a season full of change.

Teams have a new car. The Clash was among the changes to the schedule, which includes Cup racing for the first time on June 5 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

The season also sees drivers in new places. Brad Keselowski left Team Penske to become an owner/driver of what is now RFK Racing. Austin Cindric takes over what had been Keselowski’s ride at Penske. Kurt Busch is Bubba Wallace‘s teammate at 23XI Racing.

This season also marks the debut of Petty GMS Motorsports with Ty Dillon and Erik Jones. Kaulig Racing, which won at the Indy road course while running a limited schedule last year, will have two cars run a full-time schedule this season. Justin Haley will be driver one car, while AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric and Noah Gragson will share the other car.

There’s much to keep an eye on this season.

Parts for the Next Gen car come from vendors instead of teams making those parts themselves, as has been done in the past. The pandemic has created supply issues in many areas, including the parts needed for the cars. Each organization is allowed seven cars for each of its teams. No organization will have the full complement of cars heading into Daytona. Some organizations may not have a backup car at Daytona for each of its teams.

What it means is that drivers will have to be careful to avoid damaging their car in practice and their qualifying race. This could mean that practices won’t see as much drafting by a large group. It also could mean that drivers take it careful in their qualifying races. It will be interesting to see