2012 NASCAR Season

The Daytona 500 is the most prestigious event on the calendar. Last year rookie Trevor Bayne won in a thrilling finish. Who knows what excitement the 2012 version might bring. Here is what you need to know about the 2012 Daytona 500.

The 2012 NASCAr Sprint Cup Series schedule didn't change significantly from the previous year. No new tracks were added and none were dropped. Here is the 2012 NASCAR schedule as announced by NASCAR in September of 2011.

The 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule had some significant changes as two race tracks were dropped from the schedule and one new one was added. The overall result is that the 2012 season is one race shorter than it was last year. Here is the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

Of the three top NASCAR touring series the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule saw the most dramatic changes. Four race tracks disappeared from the schedule since last year which left some significant holes in the schedule. The addition of Rockingham Speedway and additional dates for Iowa and Kentucky still left the 2012 season two races shorter than last year. Here is the complete 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule.

The 2012 NASCAR Season will have a number of top drivers in new rides. Here are the biggest driver and team changes for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

The 2012 Budweiser Shootout featured restrictor plate racing of old. NASCAR no longer has the two-by-two restrictor plate racing that we saw in 2011 but it also featured three major wrecks known as "The Big One" which claimed the hopes of many fast cars. Kyle Busch nipped Tony Stewart at the line by .01 seconds to score the non-points victory.

The 2012 Gatorade Duel at Daytona races are in the books and Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth picked up the wins. The qualifying process is over and the field for the 2012 Daytona 500 is set.

The 2012 Daytona 500 was memorable for sure. Matt Kenseth got a push from teammate Greg Biffle to claim the win. The big story of this race was the two hour red flag for Juan Montoya's wreck under caution that took out a jet dryer causing a massive jet fuel fire. Simply bizarre.

Denny Hamlin had a fast car at the end of the 2012 Subway Fresh Fit 500 and enough fuel to make it to the checkered flag. Hamlin's win at Phoenix International Raceway gives him the early season point lead and makes him the man to watch in 2012.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship battle is a great storyline throughout the season. Here are the complete 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings.

The 2012 Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway featured long green flag runs as Tony Stewart had the best car in the closing laps to take the win.

The 2012 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway featured long green flag runs and "The Big One" making this race look a lot more like Daytona than the Bristol of old.

The 2012 Auto Club 400 on had one caution but the yellow flag flew when the rain swept over Auto Club Speedway on lap 123. Tony Stewart was out front when it mattered and claimed the win.

The 2012 Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway went to Ryan Newman but not before overtime fireworks took out the leaders and paved the way for Newman to take the win.

Greg Biffle was king in Texas, continuing a dominant Roush-Fenway Racing streak at the fast 1.5 Mile tri-oval. The 2012 Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway finished with a long green flag run but it didn't matter to Greg Biffle who could have won it in just about any racing scenario.

The 2012 STP 400 at Kansas Speedway featured long green flag runs as Martin Truex Jr. dominated most of the day. Truex's car went away after the final green flag pit stop which allowed Denny Hamlin to slip past him for the win.

Yellow flags played a huge role in the 2012 Capital City 400 presented by Virginia is for Lovers at Richmond International Raceway. Kyle Busch picked up the win for his fourth consecutive spring Richmond win.

The 2012 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway featured a green-white-checkers sprint for the win. Matt Kenseth was quickest all day but Brad Keselowski outsmarted the field in the final laps for the win.

The 2012 Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway started with long green flag runs and ended with a green-white-checkers. Jimmie Johnson drove away on the final restart and claimed the 200th victory for Hendrick Motorsports.

The 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race featured a new level of excitement as segment wins mattered. Jimmie Johnson had the best car in segment one and turned that into a $1 Million payday.