Sports

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Courtesy photo / "Junior" has the pole ahead of 23 other drivers tonight for the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Perhaps the getting the pole for tonight's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway in a blind draw is an omen of good things to come for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Courtesy photo / Saturday night's Bud Shootout goes Hollywood with Actress Amber Heard serving as grand marshal.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Hollywood actress Amber Heard will serve as the grand marshal for the 33rd annual Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night -- the star-studded non-points NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event that kicks off the stock car portion of Speedweeks 2011 at Daytona International Speedway.

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Courtesy photo / Scott Pruett and fellow Daytona Prototype champion Memo Rojas joined team newcomers Joey Hand and Graham Rahal in the No. 01 TELMEX/Target BMW/Riley, to take the checkered flag Sunday in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

DAYTONA BEACH -- It may be two trips around the clock, but it took as last-lap sprint for Scott Pruett to take theckered flag to win the Rolex 24 today at Daytona International Speedway.

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Photo courtesy of Grand-Am Road Racing / The 02 of Chip Ganassi Racing was chasing down the 01 sister car with less than two hours to go this afternoon in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The 2011 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Cask No. 16 is winding down this afternoon with 01 BMW Riley of Chip Ganassi Racing out front with the sister 02 car right behind with two hours to go.

For the first time since 2004, the race was delayed for 2 hours and 47 minutes this morning because of thick fog over the track.

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Photos by Jerry Markland/Getty Images /  NASCAR President Mike Helton speaks to the media Friday about the upcoming NASCAR seaon at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. During the Preseason Thunder Test on Friday at Daytona teammates Kasey Kahne (No. 4) and Brian Vickers (No. 83) and Jimmie Johnson (No. 48) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88) practice drafting.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Momentum is gaining in NASCAR for established Sprint Cup drivers like Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart who double up on the Nationide circuit to choose one or the other to challenge for a championship, but not both.

It was a hot topic at the track Friday, even hotter han the morning jet driers beating back moisture from overnight storms. Testing was still the order of the day Friday, especially in the afternoon, the second of three days in preparation for next month's Daytona 500.

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YouTube video of the crash-marred final lap of the 2010 Bud Shootout at Daytona won by Kevin Harvick.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The field for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will feature former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, a host of former outstanding rookies and a collection of previous winners at the "World Center of Racing." Adding to the drama of the 33rd annual season-opening event, this field of drivers will compete for the first time on Daytona's new asphalt.

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DAYTONA BEACH -- Sports cars from the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will test on the new racing surface of Daytona International Speedway beginning Friday and running through the weekend in advance of the Rolex 24 At Daytona the weekend of Jan. 27-30.

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 DAYTONA BEACH -- Daytona International Speedway has hired Ryan Tolley as director of sales effective Feb. 7. Andrew Booth has been promoted to senior manager of media relations and Joann Mantovani has been promoted to senior manager of advertising and promotions.

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Videoa and photos by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick. The NSB 'Cudas had reason to celebrate at Homecoming Friday night. They won a berth in the postseason with a 42-19 drubbing of district foe Viera. 'Cudas Coach Lance Jenkins was pleased as well. Check out our exclusive videos. At left, 2010 Homecoming Queen Kacey Joiner is all smiles before the raucous fans at the NSB Sports Complex, as she and the fans dealt with nightime temps that dipped into the low 50s. Believe it or not, even Coach Jenkins was smiling (OK, maybe not) after the game.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Even 'Cudas Coach Lance Jenkins caught a glimpse of Homecoming during halftime of the New Smyrna Beach romp of Viera that mercifully ended 42-19. The win Friday night at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex before a packed home crowd meant a second consecutive post-season in District 14-4A and first under Jenkins.

Videos by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick.

New Smyrna Beach quarterback Evan Schroeder and running back Raheem Mostert connected on several passing plays with no timeouts, the final one a touchdown strike, to come from behind in the closing minute of Thursday's home game for a 28-24 win over the previously unbeaten DeLand Bulldogs. Check out the game highlights in our first video and Coach Lance Jenkins reaction to the thrilling win in our second video.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- 'Cudas quarteback Evan Schroeder and running back Raheem Mostert hooked up on a series of passing plays starting from their own 25-yard line, the final one a 9-yard touchdown strike to give New  Smyrna Beach a 28-24 come-from-behind victory over previously unbeaten DeLand at the NSB Sports Complex.