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Moonshine Cave Possibly Found Under Historic NASCAR Track in North Carolina

Mar 28, 2024
NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Josh Berry, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 21: Josh Berry, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21, 2023 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The legend of the moonshine cave at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina may finally have confirmation.

The track released a statement Thursday saying a sinkhole unveiled a potential moonshine cave underneath the frontstretch grandstands.

"When we began renovating and restoring North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, we'd often hear stories of how an old moonshine still was operated here on the property under the grandstands," said Steve Swift, senior vice president of operations and development at Speedway Motorsports. "Well, we haven't found a still (yet), but we've found a small cave and an interior wall that would have been the perfect location to not only make illegal liquor, but to hide from the law as well. We don't know how people would have gotten in and out, but as we uncover more, there's no telling what we might find."

Moonshiners and NASCAR have a storied relationship dating back to the Prohibition Era. Junior Johnson, a member of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame, was a famous bootlegger in the South during his time as one of the sport's premier drivers.

"Moonshiners put more time, energy, thought and love into their cars than any racer ever will," the late Johnson said. "Lose on the track and you go home. Lose with a load of whiskey and you go to jail."

For years, there had been rumors of a still located in the depths of North Wilkesboro Speedway but no confirmation. North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted NASCAR Cup Series races from 1951-1996 before being taken out of the circuit. It was brought back into NASCAR lore last year when the track became the new home of the All-Star Race.

The area impacted by the sinkhole has led to the removal of about 600 seats, and track officials will quickly move to make repairs ahead of the May event.

"Now we have a race before the race," Swift said. "The area that's been affected by the sinkhole is a frontstretch grandstand area with some of the best views of the track. We'll have a lot of work to get done before NASCAR All-Star Race Week."

Australian F1 Grand Prix 2024 Results: Carlos Sainz Wins as Max Verstappen DNF

Mar 24, 2024
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Scuderia Ferrari, Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 and Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari on the podium after the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Circuit on March 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Scuderia Ferrari, Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren F1 and Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari on the podium after the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Circuit on March 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Another Max Verstappen winning streak is over at the hands of Carlos Sainz.

Sainz captured the checkered flag Sunday in the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.

The 29-year-old was in a jovial mood after his victory, joking about his impending free agency in 2025 with Lewis Hamilton due to join the Ferrari team.

It was quite the turnaround for Sainz, who had only recently recovered from appendicitis.

Verstappen closed the 2023 season on a seven-race winning streak. He carried that form into 2024 by taking the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, the reigning F1 champion ran into the one thing Sunday that can stop Max Verstappen: himself.

His car experienced a mechanical failure just four laps in and he was forced to retire.

Given his general dominance on the track, a lot of fans welcomed the fact somebody else was going to win for once.

Verstappen wasn't the only major star to get a DNF. Engine failure ended Hamilton's day after he completed just 15 laps.

That move to Ferrari probably can't come soon enough for the seven-time F1 champion. Following a disappointing 2023 season with Mercedes, he has finished seventh, ninth and 18th to start 2024.

Seeing Ferrari drivers claim two spots on the podium at least offered Hamilton a glimpse into what next year could bring.

It was a tough day for Mercedes all around with George Russell crashing out on the final lap as he was battling with Fernando Alonso for sixth place.

Formula 1 stewards assessed a 20-second penalty to Alonso, which dropped him from sixth to eighth. They cited his "potentially dangerous" driving thanks to a brake test that led to Russell's wreck.

For the Mercedes team, Alonso's penalty didn't change the outcome for Russell. Team principal Toto Wolff said the double DNF was "tough to take, super tough."

"And I would be lying if I could say I feel positive about the situation and optimistic," he told reporters. "But you just need to overcome the nagging, negative thoughts and say, 'We will turn this around.'

"But today it feels very, very brutal."

Team Mercedes along with Verstappen will have some time to stew on their underwhelming finishes from the weekend. Drivers will get another week off before the Japanese Grand Prix gets underway at Suzuka International Racing Course.

Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix 2024 Results: Max Verstappen Wins 9th Straight Race

Mar 9, 2024
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 09: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-24 during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 09: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-24 during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen dominated the field en route to his ninth consecutive race win at the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

Verstappen opened the 2024 F1 season with a convincing win in Bahrain last week, and it was more of the same on Saturday, as he won by over 13 seconds.

Sergio PĆ©rez, who is Verstappen's Red Bull Racing teammate, was the runner-up for a second week in a row, while Charles Leclerc finished third. Here is a full rundown of the finishing order, courtesy of ESPN.com:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Sergio PĆ©rez

3. Charles Leclerc

4. Oscar Piastri

5. Fernando Alonso

6. George Russell

7. Oliver Bearman

8. Lando Norris

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico HĆ¼lkenberg

11. Alexander Albon

12. Esteban Ocon

13. Yuki Tsunoda

14. Logan Sargeant

15. Kevin Magnussen

16. Daniel Ricciardo

17. Valterri Bottas

18. Zhou Guanyu

19. Lance Stroll

20. Pierre Gasly

Verstappen led 48 of 50 laps Saturday after leading every lap last week, and the fan reaction on social media once again focused on the huge gap between Verstappen and his peers:

The 26-year-old Verstappen is the three-time defending F1 points champion, and he is well on his way to a fourth consecutive title.

With a ninth straight race win, Verstappen tied Sebastian Vettel for the second-most consecutive wins in F1 history. Verstappen holds the record with 10, and he will have a chance to match it in Melbourne in two weeks.

While Verstappen was the star of the show once again on Saturday, PĆ©rez continued to show that he is an elite driver in his own right with another second-place finish.

Also, Oliver Bearman put himself in elite company, becoming the third-youngest driver to ever start an F1 race at just 18 years of age.

The young phenom started in place of Carlos Sainz Jr., who was unable to compete due to appendicitis.

Lewis Hamilton, who is in the midst of his final season at Mercedes before making the move to Ferrari, never threatened the leaders Saturday and had to settle for a ninth-place finish.

Hamilton is arguably the greatest F1 driver of all time with a record 103 race wins to his credit, but the 39-year-old veteran has not been himself lately.

Last season, Hamilton did not win a race for the first time in his career, and he has finished outside the top five in each of the first two races this season.

The stars of F1 will have next week off before getting back on the track Down Under for the Australian Grand Prix on March 24.

Lewis Hamilton: Max Verstappen Is 'Definitely' on Mercedes F1's List to Replace Me

Mar 6, 2024
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 18: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes speaks to Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 18: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes speaks to Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Red Bull and Mercedes have one of the defining rivalries in F1, but a shocking move that would change the dynamics between the teams could eventually be in the works.

Lewis Hamilton, who has long been the face of the Mercedes team but will be heading to Ferrari in 2025, told reporters Wednesday his current team could replace his spot on the grid with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Hamilton went as far as to say Verstappen is "definitely on the Mercedes list."

Verstappen responded to questions about his future, telling reporters his intention is to "absolutely to stay with this team because I really enjoy it, and I'm really happy within the team." Verstappen added that "as long as we perform, there is no reason to leave."

It wasn't long ago Hamilton and Mercedes were the gold standard of the sport.

He won six world championships in seven years from 2014 through 2020, which brought his career total to seven world championships. However, things have changed of late with Verstappen winning the last three world titles and Red Bull claiming two constructors' titles.

The two constructors' titles snapped Mercedes' eight-year winning streak.

Yet it is a time of upheaval in F1 with Hamilton leaving his longtime team for Ferrari and Verstappen's future with Red Bull at least in doubt enough for his rival to mention a potential move to Mercedes.

What's more, Red Bull has been under the spotlight recently thanks to an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior by an employee.

Nate Saunders of ESPN noted Red Bull GmbH, which is the parent company of the race team, cleared team principal Christian Horner of misconduct. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and McLaren team principal Zak Brown asked F1 to seek more transparency from the investigation.

Perhaps most notably, Saunders reported Verstappen's father, Jos, "reportedly told those close to him that his son will leave Red Bull if Horner stays" and even was "reported to have had dinner with Wolff."

Jos Verstappen also told the Daily Mail, "There is tension here while [Horner] remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems."

Wolff even addressed speculation about Verstappen's future during a discussion with Sky Sports F1 (h/t Lydia Mee of FanNation).

"The market is very interesting," he said. "For a driver, the most important thing is to be with whoever is fastest, and there is no reason now for Max to leave Red Bull anytime soon. But we'll see what happens."

Losing Hamilton figured to be difficult for Mercedes given his history and overall meaning to the team.

However, replacing him with the three-time reigning world champion would both keep it in position to compete in 2025 and beyond and be quite the blow for its rival, Red Bull, in the process.

Bahrain F1 Grand Prix 2024 Results: Max Verstappen Cruises to Dominant Win in Opener

Mar 2, 2024
BAHRAIN - Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) during the Bahrain Grand Prix. ANP REMKO DE WAAL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
BAHRAIN - Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) during the Bahrain Grand Prix. ANP REMKO DE WAAL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

Max Verstappen's quest for a fourth consecutive Formula One title started in style Saturday, as he won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in dominant fashion at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Verstappen, who started on the pole, led all 57 laps and beat second-place finisher and Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio PĆ©rez by 22.457 seconds.

Here is a full rundown of how the 20 drivers competing in Saturday's race fared:

  1. Max Verstappen
  2. Sergio PĆ©rez
  3. Carlos Sainz
  4. Charles Leclerc
  5. George Russell
  6. Lando Norris
  7. Lewis Hamilton
  8. Oscar Piastri
  9. Fernando Alonso
  10. Lance Stroll
  11. Zhou Guanyu
  12. Kevin Magnussen
  13. Daniel Ricciardo
  14. Yuki Tsunoda
  15. Alexander Albon
  16. Nico HĆ¼lkenberg
  17. Esteban Ocon
  18. Pierre Gasly
  19. Valterri Bottas
  20. Logan Sargeant

Verstappen won a remarkable 19 of the 22 races that were run last year, and PĆ©rez won two, so it came as little surprise that they opened the 2024 season in familiar territory.

During the 2023 campaign, Verstappen and PĆ©rez finished first and second on six occasions, and they are already on their way to perhaps equaling for surpassing that number in 2024.

Given how clearly Verstappen outclassed the field in Bahrain, there was a great deal of social media reaction regarding how easy the 26-year-old superstar made it look:

https://twitter.com/sirhqmilton/status/1763945794569158826
https://twitter.com/ScrewderiaF1/status/1763966572459172197
https://twitter.com/BEGUMV1/status/1763960882067894458

With his eighth race win in a row, Verstappen is in the midst of the third-longest winning streak in F1 history. Only Sebastian Vettel (nine) and Verstappen himself (10) have won more consecutive races.

The all-time F1 record for most points titles in a row is five by Michael Schumacher. Lewis Hamilton, Juan Manuel Fangio and Vettel are second on that list with four, and Verstappen is aiming to join that elite group.

PĆ©rez is perhaps the driver with the best chance of interrupting Verstappen's championship streak, but even he didn't pose a threat on Saturday.

Carlos Sainz, who was the only driver besides Verstappen and PĆ©rez to win a race last season, could also be in the mix over the course of the season after finishing third in Bahrain.

Hamilton, who is tied with Schumacher for the most career championships with seven, kicked off his final season at Mercedes with a seventh-place result.

The 39-year-old veteran, who will join Ferrari next year, finished third in the standings last year, but he didn't win a race for the first time in his F1 career.

Although Hamilton had nothing for Verstappen on Saturday, he is one of a handful of drivers that may have a chance to provide some competition on a week-to-week basis.

Verstappen will look to make it nine wins in a row next Saturday when the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix takes place in Jeddah.

Rajah Caruth Becomes 3rd Black Driver to win NASCAR National Series Race

Mar 2, 2024
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 01: Rajah Caruth, driver of the #71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 01, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 01: Rajah Caruth, driver of the #71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 01, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rajah Caruth became the third Black driver to ever win a NASCAR national series race when he took home the Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 on Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The 21-year-old Caruth, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, drives the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.

The Washington, D.C. native also didn't encounter too much stress down the stretch, comfortably holding off Tyler Ankru in second and Corey Heim in third.

He spoke with FOX Sports' Josh Sims afterward:

Wendell Scott is the first Black driver to ever win a NASCAR national series race after he took top honors in the 1964 Jacksonville 200.

Bubba Wallace then followed Scott. He is a six-time Craftsman Truck Series winner and also finished first twice in the NASCAR Cup Series, most recently at the 2022 Hollywood Casino 400.

Wallace congratulated Caruth after the big win.

Caruth, who got his start on the ARCA Menards series in 2021, made four appearances in the Truck series in 2022 before racing on the circuit full time in 2023. He drove the No. 24 Chevy for GMS Racing and finished 16th in the standings.

This year has gotten off to a great start for Caruth, who began the year with his highest-ever finish (third) at the Fresh From Florida 250. Caruth then took eighth at the Fr8 208 before earning top honors on Friday evening.

Up next for Caruth is the Weather Guard Truck Rrace at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 16.

Red Bull's Christian Horner Cleared After Investigation into Grievance by F1 Employee

Feb 28, 2024
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in the team principals press conference during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 22, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in the team principals press conference during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 22, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Formula One's Red Bull Racing team announced Wednesday that team principal and CEO Christian Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into allegations of misconduct.

Per Jenna Fryer of the Associated Press, Red Bull Racing released a statement Wednesday expressing confidence that the investigation was "fair, rigorous and impartial" while also noting the the complainant can appeal if they so choose:

Earlier this month, ESPN's Nate Saunders reported that the investigation stemmed from a Red Bull Racing employee alleging that Horner was responsible for "controlling text messages and behavior."

At the time, a spokesperson said Horner "rejects these claims entirely," and he was subsequently allowed to carry out his usual duties without facing any discipline.

The 50-year-old Horner has been the head of Red Bull Racing's F1 team since its inception in 2005.

With Horner at the helm, Red Bull has enjoyed enormous success, winning six Constructors' Championships and seven individual driver titles. Sebastian Vettel won four in a row from 2010 through 2013, and Max Verstappen has won each of the past three.

The Englishman was a driver before becoming an executive, competing in the British Formula Renault Championship, British Formula Three, British Formula Two and Formula 3000 in the 1990s.

Red Bull Racing is once again considered the team to beat in 2024, as drivers Verstappen and Sergio PĆ©rez finished first and second in the standings last season and combined to win 21 of the 22 races.

The only race they didn't win saw Carlos Sainz Jr. prevail in the Singapore Grand Prix.

F1's 2024 season will officially begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, and Verstappen will begin his quest to become only the fifth driver in Formula One history to win four or more consecutive championships.

Video: Daniel SuƔrez Tops Blaney, Busch in Photo Finish in NASCAR Race at Atlanta

Feb 26, 2024
HAMPTON, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 25: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2024 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 25: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2024 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

After an exciting first week of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Daytona 500 last week, the Ambetter Health 400 didn't disappoint.

Daniel SuƔrez beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide photo finish Sunday night to claim his first victory of the season and the second of his Cup Series career.

SuƔrez led for just nine laps on Sunday, beating the runner-up Blaney by a 0.003-second margin. Busch was 0.007 seconds back from SuƔrez in third place.

Just behind the trio that provided one of the most exciting finishes in recent years, Austin Cindric placed fourth and Bubba Wallace finished in fifth place.

While the final lap of the race provided some thrills for fans, the race was marred by caution flags throughout. Just like the Daytona 500 last week, an early crash occurred, this time in just the second lap. A collision in the outside lane led to a 14-car pile-up, though Josh Williams was the only car that had to exit at that point. From there, several other caution flags slowed things down.

In last week's Daytona 500, William Byron took home the victory just seconds before the caution flag after a wreck right before the finish line.

Byron, who had a breakthrough season in 2023, sits atop the Cup Series standings with 77 points. SuƔrez and Busch sit just behind him in second and third, respectively.

If the first two races of the season are any indication of what this year's Cup Series will be like, fans are in for an exciting year.

Daytona 500 2024 Results: William Byron Wins NASCAR's Season Opener Under Caution

Feb 20, 2024
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The 2024 NASCAR season officially started on Monday afternoon, as William Byron secured a victory in an eventful Daytona 500.

Byron won his first Daytona 500 and his 11th career race in the NASCAR circuit. It also represented his first victory since Sep. 2023 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The Great American Race was originally scheduled for Sunday, although it was postponed due to a combination of rainfall on Saturday along with an inclement weather forecast for the following day.

Here are the results as well as a brief recap of the race.

Daytona 500 Results

  1. William Byron
  2. Alex Bowman
  3. Christopher Bell
  4. Corey LaJoie 
  5. Bubba Wallace
  6. A.J. Allmendinger
  7. John Hunter Nemecheck
  8. Erik Jones
  9. Noah Gragson
  10. Chase Briscoe

Full leaderboard available at NASCAR.com

The race started off with a small wreck, as the fifth lap contained a crash. Harrison Burton got hit by John Hunter Nemechek after he was bumped by Brad Keselowski. Carson Hocevar and Jimmie Johnson were also involved.

The middle of the race was mostly clean compared to past years, as Chase Elliot narrowly earned a victory in Stage 1. Stage 2 included another close finish, as a late-corner move from Ryan Blaney allowed him to move in front of teammate Austin Cindric to win the second stage.

Fans were beginning to wonder if the "Big One" would occur as the race started to draw to a close, although it happened with eight laps remaining.

Alex Bowman gave a shove to his teammate Byron, who then bumped into Keselowski and spun him into the outside lane before multiple cars were collected. 18 total cars were involved and included drivers such as Blaney, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano. Logano led for a race-high 45 laps before the crash.

Another wreck occurred just as Byron's No. 24 car received the white flag, although it was determined that the lap was completed to give the 26-year-old the victory under caution.

Byron's triumph gave Hendrick Motorsports its first win in the Daytona 500 since Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2014.

Video: The Rock Gives Starting Command for 2024 NASCAR Daytona 500

Feb 19, 2024
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Grand Marshal Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson waves to fans as he walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Grand Marshal Dwayne ā€œThe Rockā€ Johnson waves to fans as he walks onstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The 2024 NASCAR season officially began on Monday with the Daytona 500, and things kicked off with a rousing starting command from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson:

Monday's race was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, but it was pushed back due to inclement weather at Daytona International Speedway.

The Rock has been busy in recent weeks. On Jan. 23, he was appointed to the board of directors of TKO Group, the publicly traded company that owns WWE and the UFC.

He recently got involved in the main-event picture for WrestleMania 40 by starting a rivalry with Cody Rhodes, who is set to challenge his cousin Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at the marquee event in April.

Fans have surely enjoyed this string of appearances from The Rock, and it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon.

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