Check out the big wreck at Daytona NASCAR testing

  
   NASCAR Sprint Cup teams tried their hand at pack racing for the first time during Friday's test at Daytona International Speedway. It didn't go well for many teams.

NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose to drive in Rolex 24

   NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose will join Michael Shank Racing for the 2013 Rolex 24 At Daytona to drive the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Ford-Riley.

    Ambrose, who impressed in testing with the team during the "Roar Before the 24" over the weekend, will supplement the driving line up of A.J. Allmendinger, Justin Wilson, John Pew, and Ozz Negri as Negri continues to heal from an off-season testing injury. The team led five of eight practice sessions during the weekend between the two team Daytona Prototype entries.

"We couldn't have been happier with how quickly Marcos gelled with everyone on this team," offered Mike Shank. "Obviously (Ambrose) was very fast in the car, but he was also great out of it. That's hugely important for a race like this - you need to have everyone pulling in the same direction. He fits that perfectly."

Michael Waltrip to run Daytona 500 for Swan Racing

   Michael Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, will pilot Swan Racing's No. 30 in the Feb. 24 Daytona 500, reuniting him with former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. The race marks Swan Racing's Sprint Cup Series debut since announcing its new ownership last month.

    "I am thrilled to drive the No. 30 Toyota for Swan Racing and the chance to win a third Daytona 500," said Waltrip about the one-race deal. "Reuniting with Tony Jr. and Steve Hmiel brings back a lot of good memories and is going to create new ones."

    Waltrip will step in for the team's regular driver, David Stremme.

    "Michael is a familiar face for a lot of us here at Swan Racing," said Eury. "We know each other's habits, wants and needs on the track. We're going to Daytona to compete and hopefully we'll make a mark for Swan Racing."

Welcome to NASCAR, Travis Pastrana

  X Games star Travis Pastrana is used to scary stunts but even he may not have been prepared for his unofficial indoctrination into Roush Fenway Racing. Pastrana, who will drive fulltime in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season for RFR, took a plane ride with team co-owner Jack Roush.

   RFR put together a video of the ride. Check it out.

The race formerly known as the Budweiser Shootout

   Sprint has partnered with Daytona International Speedway to sponsor The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona, the fan-favorite non-points event formerly known as the Budweiser Shootout that traditionally kicks off the stock car portion of Speedweeks 2013 and the NASCAR season.

    The race will once again be held under the lights on Saturday night, Feb. 16 (FOX 8 p.m. ET) but will feature several new elements that will make this event even more of a fan favorite. Fans in attendance will be eligible to receive special upgraded race experiences from Sprint including roles as Grand Marshal, Honorary Starter, and trophy presenter. Fans can also help deliver the trophy to Gatorade Victory Lane or participate in driver introductions during pre-race ceremonies.

    “Sprint is entering its 10th season as title sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said Steve Gaffney, vice president of marketing for Sprint. “From the outset, we promised unprecedented access for race fans, and each year we challenge ourselves to honor that commitment in innovative ways. Thanks to the strength of our partnership with NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway, we have designed The Sprint Unlimited so that fans play a major role in all aspects of the event. It is the ideal way to start this milestone season, and we look forward to sharing all of the details later this month.”

    As announced earlier last year, the format for selecting the field of drivers in the invitation-only event will return to its roots for 2013. The eligible field of drivers will consist of pole winners from the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and past winners of race who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season.

You think Jeff Gordon gets this a lot?

 

   Do you think Jeff Gordon gets this a lot?

   Check out this video clip from a TV show called "I Get That A Lot," in which four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon is attempting to sell customers Quaker Oil - customers who don't believe they are talking to the real Gordon.

    The show airs at 8 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 9 on CBS.

Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer heading to Rolex 24

    Michael Waltrip Racing co-owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman, MWR NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer and road racing veteran Rui Aguas are entering the Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

   The AF Waltrip entry is a joint project of the Italian championship sports car team AF Corse and MWR. AF Waltrip has fielded Ferraris for Waltrip and Kauffman at sports car races since 2010.

    Bowyer is the newest member of the AF Waltrip driver lineup that has included Travis Pastrana and Brian Vickers in previous races.

    “I’m not really sure what I got myself into,” said Bowyer who won three races and finished second in the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. “Rob asked me to race and I said I would do it. Everyone has told me how much fun this race is. So, I’m ready. Running 24 hours is a long time, but we will give it our best shot.”