LOCALIZE IT: The Daytona 500 is here. Find a local connection to NASCAR’s Super Bowl

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: HT Image Unlike almost every other major sport, which end with their highest profile event, the NASCAR season starts with the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. Hendrick is locked out NASCAR starts season with fresh new champion and off-track revenue sharing dispute Advisory: AP 2024 auto racing coverage AP Auto Racing Hub ___ HOW TO WATCH FOX will televise the race live on free television, and its FS1 subsidiary will televise many of the events leading up the the main event. ___ TOP DRIVERS HOPING TO MAKE THE FIELD ALABAMA Bubba Wallace, hometown is Mobile — — — ARIZONA Alex Bowman, hometown is Tucson Michael McDowell, hometown is Glendale — — — CALIFORNIA Jimmie Johnson, hometown is El Cajon Kyle Larson, hometown is Elk Grove Tyler Reddick, hometown is Corning Zane Smith, hometown is Huntington Beach — — — CONNECTICUT Joey Logano, hometown is Middletown Ryan Preece, hometown is Berlin — — — FLORIDA Ross Chastain, hometown is Alva — — — GEORGIA Chase Elliott, hometown is Dawsonville — — — INDIANA Chase Briscoe, hometown is Mitchell Justin Haley, hometown is Winamac — — — MICHIGAN Carson Hocevar, hometown is Portage Erik Jones, hometown is Byron Brad Keselowski, hometown is Rochester — — — MISSISSIPPI Ricky Stenhouse Jr., hometown is Olive Branch — — — NEVADA Kyle Busch, hometown is Las Vegas Noah Gragson, hometown is Las Vegas — — — NEW JERSEY Martin Truex Jr., hometown is Mayetta — — — NORTH CAROLINA Harrison Burton, hometown is Huntersville William Byron, hometown is Charlotte Austin Cindric, hometown is Mooresville Austin Dillon, hometown is Welcome Ty Gibbs, hometown is Charlotte Todd Gilliland, hometown is Statesville Daniel Hemric, hometown is Kannapolis Corey Lajoie, hometown is Concord John Hunter Nemechek, hometown is Mooresville — — — OHIO Ryan Blaney, hometown is Hartford — — — OKLAHOMA Christopher Bell, hometown is Norman — — — TENNESSEE Josh Berry, hometown is Hendersonville — — — TEXAS Chris Buescher, hometown is Prosper — — — VIRGINIA Denny Hamlin, hometown is Chesterfield — — — — — — MEXICO Daniel Saurez, hometown is Monterrey NEW ZEALAND Shane van Gisberger, hometown is Auckland ___ ADDITIONAL CONTEXT The Daytona 500 was first carried live on television in 1979 and became the opening race of the season in 1982. Since Hamlin's back-to-back wins, the last three winners have been surprises: Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.. ___ AP COVERAGE AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing ___ Localize It is an occasional feature produced by The Associated Press for its customers’ use.