The win puts Wallace in the third starting spot for the Daytona 500, a race he’s never won but twice finished runner up.

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,

The 87-year-old Petty, who won a record 200 races, remains an ambassador at Legacy Motor Club. Earnhardt died during a last-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500, creating a pivotal move toward better safety in a sport that had endured plenty of death.

Daytona International Speedway will host the 67th running of the Daytona 500 Sunday. Here is one fact about each of the first 66 races.

It is said cathedrals exist all around us, if only we have the eyes to see them. To the average person along the coast of Florida, the sands of Daytona Beach may not hold much wonder beyond being standard granular material and a suitable host for sunshine activities.

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With the threat of rain looming, NASCAR moved up the start time one hour for Sunday’s Daytona 500 to 1:30 p.m. EST