CONCORD, N.C. - On Monday, Hendrick Motorsports will take part in the biggest and most prestigious NASCAR Cup Series race in the 2024 DAYTONA 500.
Going back to 1959, Daytona International Speedway has hosted a 500-mile race on the 2.5-mile oval located about a stone's throw away from the coastline. Since 1982, the race has been the points-paying season kickoff for the Cup Series. Winning the Harley J. Earl Trophy is a crowning achievement for any driver and a victory in this event puts one in the history books forever.
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Hendrick Motorsports has gone to victory lane eight times in the DAYTONA 500. Geoff Bodine was the first to accomplish the feat in 1986 when he led 101 laps en route to Rick Hendrick's first DAYTONA 500 victory as an owner. Darrell Waltrip would win the race three years later (for the first time in his career) in 1989 followed by Jeff Gordon's three victories in 1997, 1999 and 2005. Jimmie Johnson would win the next two in 2006 and 2013 followed by the most recent victory with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014.
Last year's edition of "The Great American Race" was up and down for Hendrick Motorsports. The week started with yet another front-row lockout that saw Alex Bowman take his third DAYTONA 500 pole with teammate Kyle Larson earning the second starting position. When the race itself began, Chase Elliott was involved in an accident in turn four, resulting in an early exit from the event. Both Larson and William Byron were in position late in the going when separate incidents in overtime ended their bid for victory. Bowman was the only driver from the team to escape with a top-10 result as he would earn a fifth-place finish, his best in the DAYTONA 500.
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KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW FOR DAYTONA
Data provided by Racing Insights
Larson, No. 5 team
In the last 10 races on drafting tracks, Larson has started inside the top-10 spots, which is the longest active streak in the Cup Series. The 31-year-old driver has also started on the front row in the last two DAYTONA 500s.
Elliott, No. 9 team
While he may not have a victory at Daytona yet, Elliott was the runner-up finisher in 2021. The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet is one of six active Cup Series champions that have yet to win the sport's biggest race. He does however have three drafting track triumphs.
Byron, No. 24 team
Entering Daytona, Byron has the longest active streak of top-10 finishes at drafting tracks (four). With two victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the past two seasons and a summertime win at Daytona, he is tied with Elliott with three wins on drafting tracks.
Bowman, No. 48 team
Bowman has sat on the front row of the last six DAYTONA 500s. Both the six consecutive starts on the front row and the total of six starts on the front row are a record in the Cup Series. Last season, his fifth-place result was the first time a polesitter for "The Great American Race" earned a top-five finish in 22 years.
Hendrick Motorsports
A driver from Rick Hendrick's team has led a lap in the last 23 editions of the DAYTONA 500. Going back further, the team has also led at least one lap in 31 of the last 32 runnings of the 500-mile event.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Sunday's running of the DAYTONA 500 comes nearly 40 years to the day that Hendrick Motorsports made its Cup Series debut. The team's first start came in the 1984 DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 19, with Bodine finishing eighth. In 2024, the organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary in NASCAR.
HOW DOES THE FORMAT FOR THE 500 WORK?
The DAYTONA 500 carries its own unique set of procedural changes that will be different than a normal Cup Series weekend. Cars will qualify on Wednesday night, and that is the first on-track activity of the week. In the first round, Larson will go 28th, Byron will go 30th, Bowman will go 33rd and Elliott will go 36th out of the 42 cars. Each car will take its lap with the top 10 moving on to the final round to battle for the pole. The top-two fastest qualifiers will secure their starting positions for Sunday's main event on the front row.
On Thursday night, the entries will be split in half and the field will compete in two duel races to determine the rest of the starting positions for the DAYTONA 500. Points are on the line for the top-10 finishers of each duel race. There is a practice session each on Friday and Saturday before the 500-mile main event kicks off on Monday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TV COVERAGE
Wednesday, Feb. 14
8:15 p.m. ET: Qualifying - FS1
Thursday, Feb. 15
7 p.m. ET: Duel at Daytona 1 (60 laps/150 miles) - FS1
8:45 p.m. ET (approximately): Duel at Daytona 2 (60 laps/150 miles) - FS1
Friday, Feb. 16
5:35 p.m. ET: Practice - FS1
Saturday, Feb. 17
10:30 a.m. ET: Final Practice - FS1 (CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER)
Monday, Feb. 19
4 p.m. ET: DAYTONA 500 (200 laps/500 miles) - FOX
STAGE LENGTHS
Stage 1: Lap 65
Stage 2: Lap 130
End of Race: Lap 200
WILL THE RACE BE ON THE RADIO?
Yes, listeners can find the event on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
WHERE CAN I STREAM THE BROADCAST?
Fans can watch all the action with the FOX Sports Live app. For live updates and additional content during the race, head over to X and follow @TeamHendrick for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
HOW CAN I FIND FS1?
The location of this channel may vary depending on location. Enter your zip code and select your television provider at this link for assistance in finding what channel number FS1 is on your provider.