Sports

Courtesy photo/NASCAR.

By Mark Williams for NSBNEWS.net

DAYTONA BEACH -- The green flag has waved on the historic Daytona International Speedway repavement. On Monday, crews began the process by removing lights poles, safer barrier and safety fence.

The safety fence and 57 light poles in both ends of the high banks are being removed as well 8,300 linear feet of safer barrier throughout the facility. The asphalt removal is expected to begin later this week or early next week.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here is a lap by lap rundown of the Coke Zero 400 won by Kevin Harvick, courtesy of NASCAR.com

Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR and posted courtesy of NASCAR.

The race’s eighth caution came out in lap 148 as 19 cars were collected in the "big one" and the red flag shown at Daytona International Speedway.

Here is the lap breakdown:

Lap 166 -- CHECKERED FLAG: After starting on the pole, Kevin Harvick holds off Kasey Kahne to win the Coke Zero 400. Jeff Gordon finishes third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in fourth.

Lap 165 -- LEAD CHANGE: Kevin Harvick takes the lead. WHITE FLAG

Photo at left by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR.

At left, Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes a pit stop as the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet crew services the NASCAR Nationwide Series new car Friday at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach.

Photo at right by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

Before the Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Nationwide Series new car race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Childress get ready to roll out the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet, bringing back memories of Dale Earnhardt Friday in Daytona Beach.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet to Gatorade Victory Lane in an exciting and emotional win in Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at historic Daytona International Speedway.It was the same No. 3 his father raced with.

In a green-white-checkered finish, Earnhardt, who was running the legendary blue and yellow paint scheme in honor of his father's recent induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, was able to hold off a hard-charging Joey Logano.

Monday Night Raw was nothing to write home about, which is why this report is short and sweet: The real excitement was the wrestling of Randy Orton.

The Viper was on his game in the main event match, a double tag team, with R. Truth, Evan Bourne, and Jon Morrison teaming up with Orton with the bad guys consisting of Ted Dibiase Jr., Chris Jericho, the Miz and Edge.

By MARK WILLIAMS For NSBNEWS.net

DAYTONA BEACH -- Funeral services for Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first championship winning owner who passed away Sunday morning in Atlanta will be held  Wednesday in Atlanta.

A viewing will be held starting at 6 6p.m. Tuesday at the HM Patterson Funeral Parlor at 1020 Spring Street, NW in Atlanta.

The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Peachtree Christian Church at Peachtree & Spring Street in Atlanta.

Parks was 96 at the time of his passing and and a true forefather of the sport. He owned the championship winning car in both NASCAR’s first Modified season of 1948 and “Strictly Stock” season of 1949.

Both championship-winning cars were driven by Red Byron. Parks’ car won two of the eight races in the inaugural 1949 season of what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – at historic Martinsville Speedway and the Daytona Beach & Road Course.

DAYTONA BEACH - The race to purchase coveted tickets for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20 is about to begin.

Tickets for the 2011 edition of "The Great American Race" - NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race - will go on sale 9 a.m. Friday.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.

Lyndsey Broughman and Ashley Smith, both 22 and New Smyrna Beach residents, who work at NSB's Pub 44, cheer the Denver Broncos' first round selection of Tim Tebow, the Heisman-winning quarterback from the University of Florida, chosen 25th overall  in the 2010 NFL Draft.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It was the cheer heard round New Smyrna Beach. Well, OK, maybe not that loud, but Pub 44 co-workers Lyndsey Broughman and Ashley Smith were pretty excited about the Denver Broncos' first round selection of Tim Tebow, the Heisman-winning quarterback of the Florida Gators, chosen 25th overal in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Courtesy photo/Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig

DAYTONA BEACH -- NASCAR officials announced Saturday at the Talladega International Speedway that the repaving of Daytona International Speedway will be moved up to July 4, right after the running of the Coke Zero 400, and almost a year ahead of schedule.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here are the results of the 2010 Lipton Cup Results, sponsored by the Smyrna Yacht Club held during the weekend of April 10:

2010 Lipton Cup Overall Results
Race
1 2 3 Total
Division I
1 Obsession 1 1 1 3
2 Morning Dew 2 2 2 6
3 Misty 4 3 3 10
4 Twilight 3 5 5 13

Division II
1 Rhapsody 1 1 1 3
2 Perpetual Motion 2 5 2 9
3 Spongecake 3 3 3 9
4 Adios 4 2 4 10
5 Class Act 5 4 5 14
6 Toki 6 8 6 20
7 Juust Right 8 8 8 24

Photo courtesy of Dugan. Jeremy Johnston took home the Open Shortboard title at the 2010 East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships.  New Smyrna Beach finished third in the tag team competition.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 2010 East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships concluded Wednesday in 3- to 5-foot surf at New Smyrna Beach Inlet with Jeremy Johnston taking the Open Shortboard title and UNCW taking home the Tag Team title.