For over two decades Valentine’s Weekend has meant two things to me: Love/Romance and Racing. Once racing, especially NASCAR racing, entered my life February’s Valentine’s celebration was shared with racing in Daytona.
There were times when a Valentine’s gift was accompanied by a race win by my favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt. Remember when he used to win EVERYTHING at Daytona except the Daytona 500? That all changed in 1998, but I was a fan long before then.
In fact, Valentine’s gifts for my husband started to include, and in some instances, were only NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt-related items. From tiny remote control black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolets to a fabulous jacket touting Earnhardt’s (then) five championships, there was always something to show my love through Earnhardt.
This year Valentine’s Day is filled with racing; a race fan’s dream!
For ARCA fans – I’ve become one in recent years – the season opener is on Saturday, February 14th at 4pm ET. The Lucas Oil 200 Presented by AutoZone will be shown LIVE on Fox Sports 1. It is an 80 laps/200 miles race.
NASCAR fans can delight in the fact that full coverage begins this weekend. If you want to camp in front of the television, computer, or device all day on Valentine’s Day, it’s totally doable!
Fox Sports 1 is carrying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice from 10:30a – 12:25p, LIVE. Then, Fox Sports 2 takes over coverage from 1:30p – 3:25p with more LIVE NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice from Daytona.
There will be time for a short break before the ARCA series begins driver introductions and then that race begins and is broadcast LIVE as mentioned above.
In Prime Time race fans are treated to the first NASCAR race – non-points – of the 2015 season, the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited. This 75 lap (187.5 miles) race for bragging rights begins at 8:15pm ET and will be aired LIVE on Fox.
If binge-watching racing on Valentine’s Day isn’t enough, there’s always Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Qualifying presented by Kroger. That is being broadcasted LIVE on FOX at 1:30pm ET.
Hopefully you and your Valentine are like-minded when it comes to watching racing over the entire weekend!
Finally, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel #1 will be run on Thursday, February 19th at 7pm ET, LIVE on Fox. Directly after that, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duel #2 will be run on the same channel.
Throughout the week there are more NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practices being televised as well as NASCAR Camping World Truck and Xfinity practices and qualifying.
The NCWTS NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps/250 miles) will be run on Friday, February 20th at 7:30pm ET on Fox Sports 1, LIVE from Daytona.
The Xfinity Series will run its season opener Alert Today Florida 300 (120 laps/300 miles) on Saturday, February 21st at 3:30pm ET on Fox Sports 1, LIVE from Daytona.
And, finally, the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 (200 laps/500 miles), will air LIVE on Fox at 1pm ET.
It’s the week that NASCAR fans have been waiting for the entire off-season!
Stay with Drafting the Circuits on all of our social media to stay on top of the happenings and interact with other race fans for a one-of-a-kind shared experience.
Oh, and, Happy Valentine’s Day!