The NFL's Redskins congratulate Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr.

   Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his second Daytona 500 on Sunday night and his favorite NFL team couldn't be more proud. LB Ryan Kerrigan, LB Nick Barnett and NT Chris Neild give their shout-outs to Junior as representatives of the Washington Redskins.

The 2014 Daytona 500 was NOT a primetime TV hit

   According to updated fast national ratings from The Nielsen Company, the Sunday night rain-delayed completion of the 2014 Daytona 500 on Fox - which began about 8:30 p.m. ET - drew an average of 9.3 million viewers.

   Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured his second career Daytona 500 victory in the event.

   The audience number is 44 percent lower than the 2013 Daytona 500, which was run on schedule in the afternoon (16.7 million viewers).

   The audience number is also 32 percent lower than the 2012 Daytona 500, which was also rain-delayed and run in primetime on Monday night (13.7 million viewers).

   The top five ranked markets were: Greensboro, N.C. (17.5 rating/26 share), Orlando, Fla. (13.2/21), Greenville, S.C. (13.0/20), Richmond, Va. (12.0/18) and Jacksonville, Fla. (11.8/18).

   The 2014 Daytona 500 experienced nearly a 6.5 hour rain delay, the longest in the event's history. In 2012, the reschedule primetime event received advance promotion since NASCAR rescheduled the event well in advance.

   NASCAR did see big year-to-year increases in discussion of the 2014 race on digital and social platforms, as well as a record traffic day on NASCAR.com.


 

Video highlights: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins the 2014 Daytona 500

   After a 6 1/2 hour rain delay, Dale Earnhardt Jr. holds off Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski on Sunday night for his second win in the Daytona 500.

Sneak peak of Jimmie Johnson's new Chevrolet commercial

   A new Chevrolet commercial that will air Sunday during the Daytona 500 featuring six-time Sprint Cup series champion Jimmie Johnson.

   "Are you ready to see how #TheNew breed of motorsports will push the limits of what's possible between man and machine?"

NASCAR releases list of 20 nominees for Hall of Fame induction

   Following are the 20 nominees for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically:

    Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500

    Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949

    Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
    Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion

    Bill Elliott, 1988 premier series champion, two-time Daytona 500 winner and 16-time Most Popular Driver

    Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others

    Rick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series

    Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier series champion

    Terry Labonte, Two-time NASCAR premier series champion

    Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600

    Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner

    Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion  

    Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion

    Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

    O. Bruton Smith, builder of Charlotte Motor Speedway and architect of Speedway Motorsports Inc.

    Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships

    Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"

    Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier series champion

    Rex White, 1960 NASCAR premier series champion

    Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner

 

   The five nominees for the inaugural Landmark Award are as follows…
    
   H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway

    Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as "Annie B.," she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

    Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner

    Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

    Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner / namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence

 

Tony Stewart issues a Danica Patrick-Richard Petty racing challenge

 

   During the first of two PRN Fast Talk Shows at Outback Steakhouse in Daytona with Doug Rice and Mark Garrow, Tony Stewart made it very clear how he feels about the negative remarks Richard Petty made recently about Danica Patrick. 

   “I told her she should challenge Richard to a heads up race,” said Stewart. “I think that would pretty much settle it once and for all, maybe get him to shut up a little bit too. He drove in an era when he had cars that were superior to what everybody else was running a lot. I think he forgets that, that NASCAR has changed a lot since he was a driver and how hard it really is now.” 

   Stewart added, “I will supply the cars, I don’t care. If he wants to race her I’ll make sure they have exactly the same set-up in the car and give him a chance. He can drive one of my 14 cars I don’t care.” 

   It was then suggested if Patrick ever won a race that she should ask Petty to autograph the checkered flag. Stewart, however, had another suggestion. “If I were her I’d take it over and cram it up his (bleep)…If it were me, that’s just me.” 

   To hear the audio, go here.

Is demand for Daytona 500 tickets at an all-time low ?

  

    According to at least one measure, demand for Daytona 500 tickets this season on the secondary ticket market is at an all-time low. 

   Data from SeatGeek, an entertainment ticket search engine, indicates the average ticket price for Sunday's 500 has fallen more than 30 percent in the last month, from a peak of $238 per ticket on Jan. 20 to $161 with four days remaining before the race.

 

   More findings from an analysis of ticket data from SeatGeek:

 

   - This year's average ticket price ($161) is down 18 percent from the 2013 Daytona 500, which drew an average of $197 per ticket on the resale market. In prior years, the race drew average ticket prices of $191 in 2012 and $203 in 2011.

 

   - As of Wednesday, the race is not close to being sold out. All of the cheapest seats have been sold (prices started at $32 per ticket), and those are up for sale on the secondary market starting at more than twice face value ($75 per ticket), but you can still find plenty of face value tickets at the online box office as low as $65 each in Turn 2, Lund and Allison seating areas. For the most part, all tower and box seating near the finish line is sold out, but aside from those areas, you can find tickets from the box office anywhere around the track.

 

   - Even in seating areas that have sold out, there are deals to be had on the secondary market. Campbell Box seats at the finish line had been going for about $450 apiece in late January, but they can be had Wednesday for $199 per ticket. Sprint Tower seats (only available from the box office as part of an $1,800 package including food and beverage, parking, gifts, celebrity appearances and VIP pre-race access) that were commanding $700 and up per ticket a month ago now start at around $300 each.

 

   All the latest information on pricing and availability for the Daytona 500 can be found on SeatGeek's event page for the race here.