Defending Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman will move from the front to back row for Thursday’s second 150-mile qualifying race after replacing an engine following Wednesday’s first practice. Michael Waltrip and Jamie McMurray will go to the back as well after crashing in the second practice.

International Speedway Corporation plans to resurface Daytona International Speedway in three years, the first time that has occurred since 1978. “It has nothing to do with money, although it will be a $20 million project,” DIS president Robin Braig said.

Jimmie Johnson didn’t wear a brace in Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout and doesn’t plan to wear one in Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying races, Sunday’s Daytona 500 or any practice sessions. Johnson cut tendons in the middle finger on his left hand last month at the Rolex 24 trying to cut a hole in his fire suit. [...]

NASCAR considers tampering with the engine seals a major offense and worthy of a penalty of “a minimum of 100 championship driver and truck owner points,” according to a bulletin available in the Camping World Truck Series garage today.

Mark Martin is on the front row and Bill Elliott is in the field, giving Sunday’s Daytona 500 an almost surreal quality. Thing is, it’s all quite real. Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) is experiencing a late-career rebirth as part of the Hendrick Motorsports stable; Elliott (No. 21 Motorcraft Ford) is part of a renewed, [...]