On the tracks | This weekend’s auto races


February 24, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

NASCAR

SPRINT CUP

DAYTONA 500

Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.

Schedule: Today, practice (Speed, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 6-7 p.m.); Saturday, practice (Speed, 10:30 a.m.-noon); Sunday, race, 1 p.m. (FOX, noon-5:30 p.m.).

Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).

Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.

Last year: Trevor Bayne became the youngest Daytona 500 winner at 20, beating Carl Edwards after Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed in the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. Bayne, making his second Sprint Cup start, gave the Wood Brothers team its fifth Daytona 500 victory and first since 1976.

Last week: Kyle Busch won the exhibition Budweiser Shootout, passing defending series champion Tony Stewart at the finish. Busch won by 0.013 seconds in the closest finish in the history of the race.

Next race: Subway Fresh Fit 500, March 4, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

NATIONWIDE

DRIVE4COPD 300

Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.

Schedule: Today, qualifying (ESPN2, 2-4 p.m.); Saturday, race, 1:15 p.m. (ESPN, noon-4 p.m.).

Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).

Race distance: 300 miles, 120 laps.

Last year: Tony Stewart won the race for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in seven seasons. Stewart overcame a late pit stop to fix a flat tire to catch Clint Bowyer at the finish line.

Next race: Bashas’ Supermarkets 200, March 3, Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK

NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES 250

Site: Daytona Beach. Fla.

Schedule: Thursday, practice (Speed, noon-1 p.m., 6:30-8 p.m.); Friday, qualifying (Speed, 4-5:30 p.m.), race, 7:30 p.m. (Speed, 7-10 p.m.).

Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles).

Race distance: 250 miles, 100 laps.

Last year: Michael Waltrip won on the 10th anniversary of his first Daytona 500 victory and car owner Dale Earnhardt’s death.

Next race: Kroger 250, March 31, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va.

NHRA FULL THROTTLE

Next event: NHRA Gatornationals, March 8-11, Auto Plus Raceway At Gainesville, Gainesville, Fla.

Associated Press