First Things First Daytona 500 Special, Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott join, Most To Gain & Lose
Feb 14, 2026
Jeff Gordon, Hall of Fame NASCAR driver and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman, shares perspective on team prep, strategy shifts, and his move from driver to executive. Chase Elliott, fan-favorite Daytona winner and racing scion, talks momentum, family legacy, and race-day mindset. Joey Logano, multi-time champion, breaks down duel chaos, draft behavior, and Penske team dynamics.
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Drafting Trade-Off: Speed Versus Stability
- Drafting at Daytona requires physical bumping that unsettles cars and raises risk when pushing for speed.
- Drivers accept higher risk to go fast and hope practice tweaks reduce instability before the race.
Prepare, Position, Then Hope For Luck
- Prepare meticulously and position yourself up front to capitalize when fortune strikes at Daytona.
- Practice wreck avoidance skills but recognize some crashes are unavoidable, so balance aggression with caution.
Born Into Racing, Swept Floors For $10
- Ryan Blaney says he grew up in racing with a dad who raced dirt and then moved to NASCAR, so racing was all he wanted.
- His only paid job outside racing was sweeping his dad's shop floors for $10, showing early immersion in the sport.