MARK LONG
Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, heads down the main straightaway during the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 29, 2022. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
An Indy 500 ending to forget for 6-time series champ Dixon

By Mark Long May. 29, 2022 05:20 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Scott Dixon answered a few questions and started to trudge down

Tyrone Garrison plugs in a semi that is battery operated at the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 20, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indy 500 waves green flag on sustainability with lofty goals

By Mark Long May. 28, 2022 04:15 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Parked a few feet from the iconic pagoda at Indianapolis Motor

Alex Palou, of Spain, climbs into his car before qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
High-speed art: Indy 500 driver helmets styled to stand out

By Mark Long May. 27, 2022 02:43 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Stefan Wilson’s first racing helmet was a hand-me-down from his

Conor Daly waits for his crew to ready his car during practice for the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Pranks, practical jokes turn Indy paddock into silly season

By Mark Long May. 26, 2022 06:00 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Alexander Rossi knows everything and is divulging nothing.

Harrison Burton, right, flips as he wrecks on the backstretch as Christopher Bell, left, and Ross Chastain try but are unable to avoid the crash during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chuck McQuinn)
Double-digit skids continue for 0-for-evers in Daytona 500

By Mark Long Feb. 20, 2022 08:31 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Aric Almirola parked his No. 10 Ford during a brief red

Harrison Burton (21) flips over as he crashes with Denny Hamlin, left, and Alex Bowman (48) on the backstretch during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Don Howard)
Hamlin's chase for 4th Daytona 500 win ends with early crash

By Mark Long Feb. 20, 2022 05:15 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin became a

NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji poses with the No. 34 Chevrolet Camaro SS he will drive in the upcoming 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Iwuji will run his first full season in NASCAR with backing from Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and General Motors.(Garry Eller/HHP for Chevy Racing via AP)
Put me in, Coach! Gibbs gets top ride on grandfather's team

By Mark Long Feb. 18, 2022 12:41 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Put me in, Coach! Ty Gibbs is stepping into

Greg Biffle talks with 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)
Greg Biffle races into Daytona 500 after 5-year hiatus

By Mark Long Feb. 17, 2022 03:52 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Greg Biffle grabbed a seat on stage and flexed a bicep as

Brad Keselowski prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
'We're going to be timid': Parts shortage shadows Daytona

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2022 02:11 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR’s qualifying races likely will be tamer than normal

Kyle Busch drives during a qualifying session at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. NASCAR will stage an exhibition auto race Sunday at the Coliseum. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Elusive Daytona 500 'top of the to-do list' for Kyle Busch

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2022 02:46 AM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Busch makes no excuses for his Daytona 500 failures.

Brad Keselowski gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Heavy heart: Keselowski trying to honor late dad at Daytona

By Mark Long Feb. 15, 2022 05:13 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Brad Keselowski climbed out of his battered race car at

Joe Logano (22) races ahead of Kyle Busch (18) during a NASCAR exhibition auto race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
'Next Gen' car modernizes NASCAR, potentially levels field

By Mark Long Feb. 15, 2022 02:46 AM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR was long overdue to revamp its aging, arguably

Joey Logano (22) leads a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the end of the second stage as Austin Dillon (3), William Byron (24), Tyler Reddick (8) and Kyle Larson (5) follow at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Reddick lands NASCAR's final playoff spot despite crash

By Mark Long Aug. 29, 2021 03:09 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Reddick parked his taped-together Chevrolet on

Ryan Blaney celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Blaney wins at Daytona, Reddick earns final playoff berth

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2021 11:14 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — For all the potential outcomes that could have

NASCAR President Steve Phelps, right, presents a trophy to Wendell Scott's son Frank Scott, right of trophy, and relatives along with guest driver Bubba Wallace, second from left, before the Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR presented Scott's family a custom trophy commemorating his historic 1963 victory. Scott was the only Black driver to win a race at NASCAR's top level. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Overdue overture: NASCAR gives Scott family 1963 race trophy

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2021 07:34 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Wendell Scott's grandson stood on his tippy toes,

Justin Haley, front left, edges out AJ Allmendinger, center, to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)
Justin Haley wins Xfinity race, edging teammates at Daytona

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2021 02:44 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Justin Haley was content to sit back and help one of

FILE - In this July 18, 2021, file photo, Kurt Busch smiles at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Loudon, N.H. Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a long expected expansion move for the first-year organization. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Kurt Busch has multiyear deal with 23XI Racing, eyes charter

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2021 02:01 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kurt Busch has a multiyear deal with 23XI Racing,

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 1969, file photo, Wendell Scott sits in a race car, location not known. NASCAR will celebrate the legacy of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott and present the Scott family a trophy commemorating the driver’s historic race victory at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1963. A native of Danville, Va., Scott was the first African-American driver in NASCAR to win a race in the sport’s top series. (AP Photo/File)
NASCAR to present Wendell Scott's family with 1963 trophy

By Mark Long Aug. 27, 2021 02:22 PM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Wendell Scott told friends and family members for

Tyler Reddick (8) leaves the pit area with heavy damage after being involved in an incident on the track during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Teammates Reddick, Dillon eye final playoff spot at Daytona

By Mark Long Aug. 27, 2021 10:59 AM EDT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — There’s one guy Tyler Reddick doesn’t expect any

Race leader Noah Gragson (9) limps along the track after having made contact with David Starr with two laps to go in a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Snider wins at Homestead after Gragson slams into lapped car

By Mark Long Feb. 27, 2021 08:20 PM EST
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson had close to a 9-second lead, the outside