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Media Day At Daytona

Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500. [Credit: Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images]

Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500. [Credit: Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images]

By Joe Jennings

DAYTONA BEACH – One day before engines fire at the Daytona International Speedway, 64 drivers from NASCAR’s three touring series came to the famed track to participate in Media Day. Dressed in their best driving uniform, the drivers were greeted by some 200 reporters from newspapers, Internet sites, and radio and television stations along with other outlets.

Questions range from a driver’s outlook on the season ahead, season’s past, new affiliations, winter activities, rule changes and a few bizarre queries. Other than the recent Advance Auto Parts Clash no stock-car racing has taken place since November, so everyone is in a good frame of mind.

Each driver spends approximately an hour on site and during this time, he or she makes the rounds of this well-organized event. On a red carpet, the drivers stand before a dozen or so stops for television interviews, sit for another half-dozen radio interviews and are convened for print interviews.

A few drivers, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson, are interviewed on the main stage, given their notoriety or to facilitate the process.

The youth movement was obvious with seemingly a growing number of new and young faces on hand. Examples are Noah Gragson, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Todd Gilliland and each is eager and determined to succeed. Some will succeed while others may not, but for now, each is enjoying his day in the sun.

On Thursday, the day starts with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice followed by a pair of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice sessions and the day is capped off under the lights by two Can-Am Duel 150-milers for the premier series. The first Duel gets the green flag at 7 p.m. ET.

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