NASCAR in a flash: The upcoming season

NASCAR in a flash: The upcoming season

This upcoming season starts in February. The races start the on the 16th with the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona. Then on the Thursday of that week, the Budweiser Duels start at Daytona also. They all are leading up to the Daytona 500 on Sunday the 24. Last year the Sprint Unlimited was called the Budweiser Shootout and the Budweiser Duels were called the Gatorade Duels.

The Sprint Unlimited is Feb. 16  the first race of the season. It is also the first Saturday night race of the season. For many years the Sprint Unlimited was called the Budweiser Shootout. I remember the race as the Budweiser Shootout because I watched it when I was younger.

Also, there is the Budweiser Duels on Feb. 21. There are two Duels, Duel one and Duel two. The place they finish in the duels is their starting position for the Daytona 500. Also like the Sprint Unlimited the Budweiser Duels were called the Gatorade Duels for many years. I remember when they were called the Gatorade Duels.

Then this all leads up to the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24 which is the official start to the season. Many popular drivers won the Daytona 500 like Dale Earnhardt Sr and Jimmie Johnson. This is the 55 running of the Daytona 500. I remember for the 50 running of it the lettering on the outside walls of the track were gold.