Denny Hamlin gets hot in short track season behind the best pit crew in the Cup Series (1:30); the increased importance of pit stops in the Next Gen era (5:00);why Martin Truex Jr. was unhappy with Denny Hamlin (9:30);Kyle Larson’swild finish (12:00); Chase Briscoe interview (15:30); the outlook for Stewart-Haas Racing and taking a leadership role (19:00); being in a contract year (21:30); why is approach has been more aggressive this season (23:00); Carson Hocevar interview (27:00); being trusted with helping guide Spire Motorsports’ vision (30:00): Zane Smith interview (34:30); Hendrick Motorsports brings its 40th anniversary celebration to Martinsville (36:30); Chase Elliott’s first memories of meeting Rick Hendrick and getting a full personal tour of the team’s campus (39:30); William Byron recalls his memories of watching Hendrick’s success at Martinsville as a fan in the grandstands (43:00).Dustin Long's Friday 5 column on the 7-second pit stop frontier: https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/friday-5-how-much-faster-can-nascar-cup-pit-crews-go
Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Denny Hamlin gets hot in short track season behind the best pit crew in the Cup Series (1:30); the increased importance of pit stops in the Next Gen era (5:00);why Martin Truex Jr. was unhappy with Denny Hamlin (9:30);Kyle Larson’swild finish (12:00); Chase Briscoe interview (15:30); the outlook for Stewart-Haas Racing and taking a leadership role (19:00); being in a contract year (21:30); why is approach has been more aggressive this season (23:00); Carson Hocevar interview (27:00); being trusted with helping guide Spire Motorsports’ vision (30:00): Zane Smith interview (34:30); Hendrick Motorsports brings its 40th anniversary celebration to Martinsville (36:30); Chase Elliott’s first memories of meeting Rick Hendrick and getting a full personal tour of the team’s campus (39:30); William Byron recalls his memories of watching Hendrick’s success at Martinsville as a fan in the grandstands (43:00).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dustin Long's Friday 5 column on the 7-second pit stop frontier: https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/friday-5-how-much-faster-can-nascar-cup-pit-crews-go&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Checking in on NASCAR’s early short track season with Denny Hamlin getting hot behind the best pit crew in Cup, and Martin Truex Jr. feeling heated about a potential restart violation. Interviews with Chase Briscoe, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith. And exploring the emotional connection of Hendrick Motorsports to Martinsville Speedway as the team celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Short track season: Denny Hamlin heats up as Martin Truex Jr. gets heated; Chase Briscoe on the future; Hendrick Motorsports’ emotional Martinsville ties

Toyota’s strong showing at Phoenix (2:30);the No. 20 scores a “cathartic” victory that shows the team remains championship caliber (6:30); the impact of a new short track rules package (9:00); the latest on adding horsepower (10:30); the struggles in the pits for Kyle Busch and his team (13:30); checking back on Kyle Larson’s Vegas win (16:00); Rajah Caruth reflects on his breakthrough victory (17:30); Steve Phelps on NASCAR considering Dodger Stadium for a Cup race (19:30); the charter system races the IndyCar Series and Michael Andretti’s candid comments to Roger Penske (22:30); IndyCar stars discuss an eye-popping contract extension for Pato O’Ward (24:30); St. Pete winner Josef Newgarden on having a new outlook and learning to love his job again (29:30).
Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Toyota’s strong showing at Phoenix (2:30);the No. 20 scores a “cathartic” victory that shows the team remains championship caliber (6:30); the impact of a new short track rules package (9:00); the latest on adding horsepower (10:30); the struggles in the pits for Kyle Busch and his team (13:30); checking back on Kyle Larson’s Vegas win (16:00); Rajah Caruth reflects on his breakthrough victory (17:30); Steve Phelps on NASCAR considering Dodger Stadium for a Cup race (19:30); the charter system races the IndyCar Series and Michael Andretti’s candid comments to Roger Penske (22:30); IndyCar stars discuss an eye-popping contract extension for Pato O’Ward (24:30); St. Pete winner Josef Newgarden on having a new outlook and learning to love his job again (29:30).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A recap of some major takeaways from NASCAR’s trips to Las Vegas and Phoenix, as well as the IndyCar 2024 opener in St. Petersburg. Among the topics: Toyota’s strong showing on a critical track; the short-track rules package debate; changes for Kyle Busch and his pit crew; Rajah Caruth’s breakthrough NASCAR victory; NASCAR president Steve Phelps on the possibility of racing at Dodger Stadium; a discussion of charter systems and big salaries in IndyCar; St. Pete winner Josef Newgarden and his new professional outlook.

News, notes, quotes from Phoenix, Vegas, St. Pete: Catching up on Toyota’s surge, Rajah Caruth’s win, IndyCar charters and driver salaries

The anxious moments of waiting to be declared a Daytona 500 winner (1:30); Byron explains how he went from winning races online to winning in real life nearly overnight (3:30); the “impostor syndrome” of racing against Jimmie Johnson, his former neighbor (5:00); why Byron entered the 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder (6:30); how Byron overcame being a big factor in a massive wreck to refocus on winning a career-defining race (9:30); the thoughts of team owner Rick Hendrick and executive Jeff Gordon, former No. 24 driver (12:00); defending Cup champion Ryan Blaney on the bigger voice he’ll have in 2024 and how he’ll use it (15:00); Blaney’s reaction to the Netflix docuseries (17:30); Joey Logano on handing off the champion’s journal to his Penske teammate (20:30); Jimmie Johnson on Legacy Motor Club’s move to Toyota (23:30); Erik Jones on his transition through Cup (27:00); Brad Keselowski on expecting big things but also accepting responsibility (30:30); Martin Truex Jr. on the next generation of Cup drivers and why he doesn’t let bad days get to him anymore (33:00).
Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The anxious moments of waiting to be declared a Daytona 500 winner (1:30); Byron explains how he went from winning races online to winning in real life nearly overnight (3:30); the “impostor syndrome” of racing against Jimmie Johnson, his former neighbor (5:00); why Byron entered the 2024 season with a chip on his shoulder (6:30); how Byron overcame being a big factor in a massive wreck to refocus on winning a career-defining race (9:30); the thoughts of team owner Rick Hendrick and executive Jeff Gordon, former No. 24 driver (12:00); defending Cup champion Ryan Blaney on the bigger voice he’ll have in 2024 and how he’ll use it (15:00); Blaney’s reaction to the Netflix docuseries (17:30); Joey Logano on handing off the champion’s journal to his Penske teammate (20:30); Jimmie Johnson on Legacy Motor Club’s move to Toyota (23:30); Erik Jones on his transition through Cup (27:00); Brad Keselowski on expecting big things but also accepting responsibility (30:30); Martin Truex Jr. on the next generation of Cup drivers and why he doesn’t let bad days get to him anymore (33:00).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

With his first Daytona 500 victory, William Byron continues the momentum of his breakthrough 2023 season and overcomes some of the “impostor syndrome” that he’s felt as an iRacer turned NASCAR Cup Series championship contender. And some early season thoughts from Ryan Blaney, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr.

Daytona 500: William Byron continues breakthrough with biggest win of his career; catching up with Blaney, Johnson, Keselowski, Truex

Why the 2004 season was a crossroads of so many eras beginning and ending for NASCAR (1:30); former NASCAR on NBC announcer Allen Bestwick and sports journalist Brant James recall the impact of a visit by President George W. Bushto the Daytona 500 (5:30); the scene as President Bush arrived at the track (9:30); the president’s prerace interview (11:00); the delayed opening ceremonies and the command to start engines (12:30); how this was different from previous presidential visits to Cup races (15:00); Ben Affleck’s Daytona 500 appearance and NASCAR as a place to “see and be seen” (16:30); the debut of Nextel as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series (20:00); how Nextel changed the approach to NASCAR commercials and marketing (22:30); the origins of the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship format and NASCAR’s reasons for making the major change (26:00); how NASCAR introduced the controversial new playoff-style system and fended off criticism from fans and the industry (28:00); why Dale Jr. was an overwhelming prerace favorite to win his first Daytona 500 (35:30); the prerace twists between Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammates Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip and the tension between their teams (38:30); the massive wreck that took out Waltrip in the Daytona 500 (40:30); the surprising wingman bromance between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart (42:30); the surprising way the Daytona 500 ended with 300 consecutive miles under the green flag (45:00); the winning pass and the jubilant aftermath for Dale Jr. (47:30); how Dale Jr. tied all of the emotions together in his typically confessional and emotive postrace interviews (50:00); the congratulatory phone call from President Bush to Dale Jr. after the race (55:00); the Busch Series win postscript for Dale Jr. (58:00); how Earnhardt Jr.’s victory on Feb. 15, 2004 at Daytona closed the loop on his July 7, 2001 triumph at the same track (1:00).
Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Why the 2004 season was a crossroads of so many eras beginning and ending for NASCAR (1:30); former NASCAR on NBC announcer Allen Bestwick and sports journalist Brant James recall the impact of a visit by President George W. Bushto the Daytona 500 (5:30); the scene as President Bush arrived at the track (9:30); the president’s prerace interview (11:00); the delayed opening ceremonies and the command to start engines (12:30); how this was different from previous presidential visits to Cup races (15:00); Ben Affleck’s Daytona 500 appearance and NASCAR as a place to “see and be seen” (16:30); the debut of Nextel as the new title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series (20:00); how Nextel changed the approach to NASCAR commercials and marketing (22:30); the origins of the Chase for the Nextel Cup Championship format and NASCAR’s reasons for making the major change (26:00); how NASCAR introduced the controversial new playoff-style system and fended off criticism from fans and the industry (28:00); why Dale Jr. was an overwhelming prerace favorite to win his first Daytona 500 (35:30); the prerace twists between Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammates Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip and the tension between their teams (38:30); the massive wreck that took out Waltrip in the Daytona 500 (40:30); the surprising wingman bromance between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart (42:30); the surprising way the Daytona 500 ended with 300 consecutive miles under the green flag (45:00); the winning pass and the jubilant aftermath for Dale Jr. (47:30); how Dale Jr. tied all of the emotions together in his typically confessional and emotive postrace interviews (50:00); the congratulatory phone call from President Bush to Dale Jr. after the race (55:00); the Busch Series win postscript for Dale Jr. (58:00); how Earnhardt Jr.’s victory on Feb. 15, 2004 at Daytona closed the loop on his July 7, 2001 triumph at the same track (1:00).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

On the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Daytona 500, revisiting some of the major storylines and big moments before, during and after Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the Great American Race for the first time. With President George W. Bush and a cavalcade of stars on hand, NASCAR opened its season with a new title sponsor in Nextel and a new playoff-style system to choose its champion.

Remembering the historic 2004 Daytona 500 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning on a momentous day for NASCAR

Ryan Blaney on an emotional night in Nashville (3:00), thanking those who helped him earn the championship (7:00), his first meeting with Roger Penske (9:30), the responsibilities of being the reigning champion and what’s to come (11:00); Kyle Busch on his newfound popularity in 2023 (12:30), the sale of Kyle Busch Motorsports and why the timing is right for the next step in his career (15:00); Denny Hamlin on a new pathway to the championship and a new shop for his team with Michael Jordan (17:30), the shoulder injury he suffered last year that needed surgery (19:30) and if he’s become the loudest voice among drivers (21:30); Ross Chastain on the boost of winning the season finale (23:00), what it’s like being a polarizing rising star both booed and cheered (25:00), how he constantly reinvents his game (26:00), the watermelon farm refuge (28:00); Chase Elliott on a year he’d like to forget but needs to remember (29:00) and what it means to be a six-time Most Popular Driver (31:30).
Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Ryan Blaney on an emotional night in Nashville (3:00), thanking those who helped him earn the championship (7:00), his first meeting with Roger Penske (9:30), the responsibilities of being the reigning champion and what’s to come (11:00); Kyle Busch on his newfound popularity in 2023 (12:30), the sale of Kyle Busch Motorsports and why the timing is right for the next step in his career (15:00); Denny Hamlin on a new pathway to the championship and a new shop for his team with Michael Jordan (17:30), the shoulder injury he suffered last year that needed surgery (19:30) and if he’s become the loudest voice among drivers (21:30); Ross Chastain on the boost of winning the season finale (23:00), what it’s like being a polarizing rising star both booed and cheered (25:00), how he constantly reinvents his game (26:00), the watermelon farm refuge (28:00); Chase Elliott on a year he’d like to forget but needs to remember (29:00) and what it means to be a six-time Most Popular Driver (31:30).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visit www.nbcsports.com/nascar and www.nbcsports.com/motors for more NASCAR and motorsports coverage from NBC Sports.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

A look back at the 2023 season and look forward to 2024 through the eyes of five stars in the NASCAR Cup Series – Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.

2024 season preview: Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin look ahead this season while reflecting on 2023

Discussing the latest NASCAR news, including a weekly recap of races, events and a look ahead to what's next in the sport. Host Nate Ryan is joined by NBC Sports analysts such as Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett, Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty.

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