On Sunday, Feb. 26 (12:00 PM ET), FOX Sports proudly presents the 54th running of the Daytona 500. Coverage starts with the FOX NASCAR SUNDAY prerace show hosted by John Roberts, with up-to-the-minute reports, live interviews with drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action and analysis from Darrell Waltrip and Michael Waltrip. In an innovative new role, veteran analyst Jeff Hammond takes his extensive experience as a former championship-winning crew chief to where the action is, in the garages and pit road. During this year’s Daytona 500, Michael isn’t going to have a lot of down time. He starts the day at the FOX NASCAR SUNDAY prerace desk when FOX Sports coverage begins. Then the two-time Daytona 500 champion hopes to get behind the wheel and race in the Great American Race – a rare, perhaps unprecedented feat. Waltrip attempts to make his 75th start at Daytona International Speedway, the most of any driver, should he race his way into the starting lineup during Thursday’s Gatorade Duel at Daytona. Special FOX NASCAR SUNDAY Daytona 500 features:
- NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins the FOX NASCAR SUNDAY outdoor prerace set to talk about his chances in the Daytona 500 and what he hopes to accomplish in the 2012 season.
- Stock car’s biggest storyline and newest full-time addition, Danica Patrick, sits down with Hall of Fame Inductee and NASCAR on FOX analyst Darrell Waltrip to discuss her switch to stock car racing and how she expects to gain respect from her fellow competitors.
- A live performance by one of music’s most decorated artists, and four-time Grammy Award-winner Lenny Kravitz.
- Grand Marshals for Sunday’s race are Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Kate Upton and talented actress in FOX’s hit show GLEE, Jane Lynch.
- The youngest UFC Champion in the history of the sport, Jon “Bones” Jones serves as an honorary official.
Once the green flag drops, race announcer Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.