NASCAR season schedule: start your engines

Associated Press

Updated: Feb 20, 2022 / 10:18 AM CST

FILE – Drivers restart after a weather delay during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

(AP) — The NASCAR season opener at Daytona International Speedway is upon us and the sold-out 2022 Daytona 500 (3:06 p.m. EST, Fox) will serve as the ultimate proving ground as the “Next Gen” car makes its debut.

Here is a look at the upcoming schedule:

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Daytona 500

Site: Daytona Beach, Florida.

Schedule: Wednesday, qualifying, 8:05 p.m.; Thursday, Duel 1, 7 p.m.; Duel 2, 9 p.m.; Friday, practice, 6 p.m.; Saturday, practice, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m.

Track: Daytona International Speedway

Race distance: 200 laps, 500 miles.

Last year: Michael McDowell won after starting 17th.

Last race: Kyle Larson won the season finale at Phoenix, his 10th win of the season, and claimed his first season championship.

Fast facts: Larson’s 10 wins were by far the most in the series. Martin Truex Jr. and Alex Bowman were next with four wins each. … Larson finished in the top five 20 times in 36 races. Denny Hamlin was next with 19 top-five runs. … Former Formula One champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve will be among those trying to qualify for the race. … Joey Logano won The Clash, a preseason exhibition on a quarter-mile oval at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Next race: Feb. 27, Fontana, California.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

Denny Hamlin (11) leads Kyle Busch (18) through the front stretch during a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
FILE – Drivers restart after a weather delay during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. It’s another season of change for NASCAR as it prepares for Sunday’s opening Daytona 500.(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Driver Todd Gilliland speaks to the media during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Driver Denny Hamlin answers a question during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Driver Cole Custer checks his phone as he waits for his turn during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Daniel Suarez looks over his car in his garage during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Bubba Wallace waits to go on camera for an interview during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Driver Kurt Busch answers a question during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Defending Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell, right, helps hold up a microphone stand that fell over during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Joey Logano talks to reporters during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
FILE – The 2022 Next Gen Toyota Camry Cup car is unveiled during a NASCAR media event in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. NASCAR was long overdue to revamp its aging, arguably outdated race car. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, Fle)
FILE – The 2022 Next Gen Ford Mustang Cup car is unveiled during a NASCAR media event in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. NASCAR was long overdue to revamp its aging, arguably outdated race car. .(AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Kevin Harvick heads down pit road during NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Cars run laps through the front stretch during NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300

Site: Daytona Beach, Florida

Schedule: Friday, practice, 4:35 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 11:35 a.m., and race, 5 p.m.

Track: Daytona International Speedway.

Race distance: 120 laps, 300 miles.

Last year: Austin Cindric won after starting on the pole.

Last race: Daniel Hemric won for the first time in 120 career starts to claim the series championship after starting fourth at Phoenix.

Fast facts: Hemric finished on the lead lap a series-best 31 times in 33 races in 2021. … Cindric has moved up to the Cup Series driving for Team Penske.

Next race: Feb. 26, Fontana, California.

Online: http://www.nascar.com

NASCAR TRUCK SERIES

NextEra Energy 250

Site: Daytona Beach, Florida

Schedule: Thursday, practice, 5 p.m.; Friday, qualifying, 3 p.m., and race, 7:30 p.m.

Track: Daytona International Speedway.

Race distance: 100 laps, 250 miles.

Last year: Ben Rhodes won after starting 23rd, the deepest starting spot for a race-winner all season.

Last race: Chandler Smith won the season finale at Phoenix, and third-place finisher Rhodes claimed the season championship.

Fast facts: Rhodes won the first two races last season, then didn’t win any of the 20 races that followed. … John Hunter Nemecheck won a series-best five races last season and tied Rhodes and Todd Gilliland with 16 top-10 finishes.

Next race: March 4, Las Vegas.

Online: http://www.nascar.com