Gordon has no plans to race in Sprint Cup Series in 2016

Jeff Gordon is backing away from the possibility of running more races after this year. Gordon announced last month this will be his final year as a full-time driver, but he did not use the word retirement. On Thursday, he said it's "highly unlikely" he'll race a Sprint Cup car in 2016. He says it is difficult to put together a ride for one race and be competitive enough to win. He said trying to get a one-off ride with Hendrick Motorsports would be disruptive to the organization.(Associated Press)

Charlotte Motor Speedway's jet dryers helps teams get to Daytona

With inclement weather threatening the Charlotte area and many NASCAR teams trying to reach the Daytona International Speedway (where Sprint Cup practice resumes Wednesday), Charlotte Motor Speedway pitched in to ensure smoother travel southward.The track sent three jet dryers down the road to Concord Regional Airport, helping dry the runways covered by snow and sleet over the past 18 hours. More than a dozen flights transporting 700 members of the NASCAR industry were scheduled to head to the Daytona Beach, Fla., area over the next two days.Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith dispatched the jet dryers through his track’s operations staff after a NASCAR team called Tuesday morning with concern about the icy conditions.

After being dark Monday and Tuesday, Daytona’s Sprint Cup garage will reopen at noon Wednesday with practice beginning at 2 p.m.

Dale Earnhardt Candlelight Tribute Feb 18th

Every year since 2001, on February 18th fans around the world light a candle in respect of the legendary Dale Earnhardt. February 18, 2015 marks fourteen years that an annual candlelight tribute has been held at DEI to honor the late seven-time NASCAR Champion. Fans honor and pay special tribute to him on the grounds of Dale Earnhardt Inc. That evening the building itself will be closed and illuminated with candles, and a Guest Book will be available for signing and sharing special memories of Dale. Fans are invited to visit from 6pm until 8pm, at Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Highway 3, in Mooresville, NC. Those unable to attend are encouraged to light a candle at home that evening in remembrance of Dale Earnhardt's remarkable spirit and life, and all fans of Dale Earnhardt are asked to help "Continue the Legend" through their support of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation and of Dale's passions: Children, Education, and Environmental/Wildlife Conservation. The Showroom and Retail Store will be open during their regular hours on this day, from 11:00am -2:00pm.(DEI)

Team Xtreme's backup plan includes a backup car for the Duels

Reed Sorenson thought his opportunity to race in the Daytona 500 would be one and done entering qualifying on Sunday. After Sorenson blocked #15-Clint Bowyer - and went into the spin cycle process - it appeared the #44 Golden Corral Chevy and Team Xtreme Racing's hopes to run in the 500 were over. "We don't have a backup car as of now," Sorenson said on Sunday after the wreck. But Sorenson got a reprieve. "We had a car back at the shop we weren't going to bring it unless we needed it," Team Xtreme owner John Cohen told Motorsport.com on Tuesday. "The car will be coming down tonight." Sorenson will start 20th (but fall to the rear of the field for using a backup car) in the second Duel for Team Xtreme Racing. In July, he started second in the Daytona Cup race. His best finish on the 2.5-mile track is fifth - in the 2008 Daytona 500.(Motorsport)

Budweiser Duel #2 Starting Lineup

Starting Line Up by Row
Daytona International Speedway
Budweiser Duel #2
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Provided by NASCAR Statistics

Pos	Car#	Driver	Sponsor / Manu	Reason	Fastest Speed	Owners Points Rank
1	48	Jimmie Johnson	Lowe's Chevy	outside pole	201.135	11
2	18	Kyle Busch	M&M's Crispy Toyota	4th in qualifying	201.216	10
3	19	Carl Edwards	Arris Toyota	6th in qualifying	202.315	56
4	3	Austin Dillon	DOW Chevy	8th in qualifying	201.108	20
5	78	Martin Truex Jr.	Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevy	10th in qualifying	199.738	24
6	16	Greg Biffle	Ortho Ford	12th in qualifying	199.075	14
7	9	Sam Hornish Jr.	Twisted Tea Ford	14th in qualifying	199.119	23
8	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Fastenal Ford	16th in qualifying	202.334	27
9	21	Ryan Blaney(i)	Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford	18th in qualifying	199.084	43
10	55	Michael Waltrip	Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota	20th in qualifying	201.392	22
11	32	Bobby Labonte (PC8)	C & J Energy Services Ford	22nd in qualifying	199.067	38
12	7	Alex Bowman	Toy State/Nikko Chevy	24th in qualifying	198.229	33
13	31	Ryan Newman	Caterpillar Chevy	26th in qualifying	198.177	2
14	41	Kurt Busch (PC5)	Haas Automation Chevy	28th in qualifying	197.976	14
15	10	Danica Patrick	GoDaddy Chevy	30th in qualifying	197.959	28
16	62	Brian Scott(i)	Shore Lodge Chevy	32nd in qualifying	197.828	35
17	51	Justin Allgaier	Brandt Chevy	34th in qualifying	196.532	29
18	38	David Gilliland	Love's Travel Stops Ford	36th in qualifying	195.346	30
19	26	Jeb Burton	LiveDeal.com Download the App Toyota	38th in qualifying	195.004	31
20	44	Reed Sorenson	Golden Corral Chevy	40th in qualifying	194.978	44
21	34	David Ragan	Kentucky Fried Chicken Ford	42nd in qualifying	194.452	48
22	98	Josh Wise	Phoenix Construction Ford	44th in qualifying	193.386	37
23	66	Mike Wallace	Crazy Vapors/X8 Energy Gum Toyota	46th in qualifying	192.509	39
24	11	Denny Hamlin	FedEx Express Toyota	Time disallowed	0.000	3