Denny Hamlin paced the NASCAR Cup Series field during Wednesday’s opening practice session at Daytona International Speedway, turning a lap of 187.480 mph in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Denny Hamlin surged into the lead on the final lap of the Daytona 500 and thought he had a fourth victory in “The Great American Race” within his reach Sunday night.

Through 19 previous starts in the Daytona 500, Hamlin has achieved three victories, eight top-five results, 490 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.9. Currently, he holds the most ...

the debut of a bracket-style in-season tournament, and the first-ever Cup Series race outside of the U.S. in Mexico City.