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Larry McReynolds, crew chief for NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jeffrey Earnhardt walks to the pit before the start of the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill, File)

Trump orders US to ditch the penny. What’s its connection to NASCAR’s most impactful Daytona 500?

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Former driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., watches as a crew works on Justin Allgaier's car during a practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

With tears flowing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets another shot at the Daytona 500 as a team owner

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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain stands on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)

Lando Norris says he’ll drive with ‘elbows out’ to compete with Max Verstappen this F1 season

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NASCAR Cup Series DAYTONA 500 Lineup

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Bubba Wallace , left, celebrates in Victory lane with his son Becks Hayden and his wife Amanda Carter after winning the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Oh, baby! Bubba Wallace celebrates his 1st win at Daytona with his newborn son and a new outlook

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Shane Van Gisbergen (88) and Cody Ware (51) crash during the second of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Castroneves to use “world-class driver” provisional to race in Daytona 500 after qualifying crash

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The Goodyear Blimp is prepared for takeoff, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Long)

Goodyear Blimp at 100: From Ronald Reagan to Ice Cube, ‘floating piece of Americana’ still thriving

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Kyle Larson answers questions during media day at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

What’s the difference between racing Indy 500 and Daytona 500? Drivers who have tried both explain

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Justin Allgaier, left, and Jimmie Johnson talk on the pit road during qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jimmie Johnson scuffled in his first 2 years as NASCAR team owner. Can he make Legacy a winner?

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Chase Briscoe climbs out of his car after taking pole position during qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Briscoe gives Toyota its first Daytona 500 pole as Johnson and Truex also lock into NASCAR opener

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Denny Hamlin climbs into his car during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

NASCAR files appeal against 23XI and Front Row just 1 hour before Daytona 500 qualifying begins

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Bubba Wallace talks with reporters during media day at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

NASCAR’s lone Black Cup driver Bubba Wallace ‘couldn’t care less’ if Trump attends Daytona 500

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Jimmie Johnson finishes putting on his helmet before a practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Denny Hamlin leads fast group of Toyotas in NASCAR’s opening practice for the Daytona 500

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Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, talks with other drivers during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

NASCAR drivers divided on new rule that could guarantee Helio Castroneves a spot in the Daytona 500

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Jimmie Johnson walks out during driver introductions for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 19, 2024, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file)

AUTO RACING: Auto racing season opens with 3 NASCAR races at Daytona, the last the premier 500

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Helio Castroneves is introduced before the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto race in Detroit, June 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, file)

NASCAR’s new ‘world-class driver’ rule makes Daytona 500 qualifying more complicated than ever

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Roger Penske speaks ahead of the NASCAR awards ceremony in Charlotte N.C., Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Reed, file)

Penske Entertainment names IMS President Doug Boles to same role at IndyCar, replacing Jay Frye

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Joey Logano celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series Championship auto race for the championship at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

NASCAR heads into 2025 with plenty of storylines, none bigger than a lawsuit filed by Michael Jordan

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Anthony Mackie poses during the photo call for the movie 'Captain America: Brave New World' in Rome, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

‘Captain America’ actor Anthony Mackie is named grand marshal for the Daytona 500

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Former driver Ricky Rudd poses for a photo after learning he was selected for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025, Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, File)

NASCAR honors ‘The Ironman’ Ricky Rudd and ‘Cousin Carl’ Edwards as Hall of Fame inductees

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NASCAR driver Ricky Rudd pushes his car with members of his crew into the garage during practice for the Autism Speaks 400 auto race at Dover Speedway in Dover, Del., Friday, June 1, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Edwards and Rudd walked away from NASCAR and never looked back. Their reunion is at the Hall of Fame

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Associated Press auto racing writer Mike Harris poses along the main straightway at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

NASCAR’s new Hall of Fame inductees include a WWII veteran, safety pioneer and former AP journalist

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Alex Bowman is introduced before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

NASCAR’s Alex Bowman moves on from playoff penalty and plans to use it as motivation in ’25

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Kick Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu of China walks through paddock ahead of the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)

Zhou Guanyu joins Ferrari as a reserve driver for 2025 F1 season

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Joey Logano (22) and Michael McDowell (34) lead the field to start the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 19, 2024, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

How to watch the Daytona 500 and what to watch for in ‘The Great American Race’

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Driver Tyler Reddick pushes his car alongside his pit crew prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

NASCAR’s Tyler Reddick focuses on Daytona and hopes team’s legal battle lands in rear-view mirror

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Denny Hamlin (11) and Chris Buescher (17) lead a pack of cars to a green flag during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

NASCAR introduces a new rule that will award a point for the fastest lap in every race

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Chase Elliott, center, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

NASCAR’s preseason Clash was once a Daytona 500 preview. Chase Elliott hopes that’s still the case

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Chase Elliott celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bowman Gray Stadium, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Chase Elliott wins Clash at Bowman Gray and sets sights on following it with Daytona 500 victory

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Race fans react as driver Burt Myers gets caught up between turns one and two during the 100-lap Modified race on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Walt Unks/The Winston-Salem Journal via AP, File)

Welcome to the Madhouse: NASCAR hits tiny Bowman Gray Stadium for rough-and-tumble racing

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