The Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

The Sprint Unlimited at Daytona

February 10, 2014

NASCAR Storylines for Week of Feb. 10, 2014

 

After an offseason replete with offseason announcements – both in terms of drivers switching teams and competition changes – the NASCAR industry can now focus on the on-track competition.

 

First up on the docket: the most exciting preseason event in all of sports, the Sprint Unlimited (8 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio). The fan-favorite event kicks off an event-packed Speedweeks that culminates in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 23.  

 

Eighteen drivers are entered for the event, including 2013 rookies Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and three-time winner Tony Stewart, who returns to racing action after sustaining a broken leg that sidelined him for four months.

 

Once again, fans will play a big role in determining the outcome of the event when they vote for the race’s format, starting order and restart order for the final segment.

 

With reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champ Austin Dillon making the jump to the premier series this season, one thing is certain about the series’ title battle. The competition is wide open with Regan Smith and Elliott Sadler among the favorites heading into the season’s first race, the DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 22 (1:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, MRN, SiriusXM Satellite Radio).  

 

The jockeying among drivers and teams wasn’t limited to only the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series.

 

As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Daytona next week for the Feb. 21 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM Satellite Radio) a number of young guns will attempt to knock of defending series champion, veteran Matt Crafton.