First Things First - Daytona 500 Special, Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott join, Most To Gain & Lose 


Episode Date: February 14, 2026

(0:00) Ryan Blaney & Joey Logano join (11:25) Chase Elliott joins (18:45) Jeff Gordon joins (33:44) Most To Gain and Lose for Daytona 500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from the Daytona 500. It's the show that has increased the amount of guests on the show and the amount of official slash non-official race bar drivers just because he drives fast to work and now is fond of wearing a helmet. I'm Kevin Wilde's alongside Chris Broussard and a helmeted Nick Wright who just got tips from Ryan Blaney and Joey Lugano.

He's joined the program. Last night, we're going to jump right into it. The first duel, very good for Team Penske. Joey, you win it. Ryan, teammates come in second. And you guys are now here with us. Quick bio. Joey, 2015, Daytona 500 winner.

One of the NASCAR 75th greatest drivers, three-time Cup Series Chipp. Meanwhile, Ryan, 2023, NASCAR Cup Series chip, 17 wins in second place. And a lot of very close calls for Ryan, That's why we're pulling for you now. So welcome, fellas. I'm sorry for my co-host's helmeted introduction.

I got to tell you some, KW. Go for it. Unlike yesterday, I couldn't hear a damn thing you said because of the helmet and this. And I also, when I agreed to do this, thought, we were going to have about five minutes before two of the best drivers in the world sat down and I could be a clown, not in front of these guys.

But now, I think I just got to stick with it. Let's go. First of all, thank you guys for coming. Congratulations on the duel last night. Joey, that was the first duel was a little bit messy. And Joey, I'll use your quote, the Daytona 500 could be a total wreck fest. That can be.

So why do you think the cars are just loose or what's the deal? Yeah, it just seemed like the cars were, you know, really out of control yesterday. You know, in the draft, the way you move lanes forward is you physically push each other, bumper to bumper, push each other down the straightaways. And when you start doing that, the cars get a little unsettled. They don't like it too much.

So, you know, do you want to go fast? Well, if you want to go fast, it's going to come with a little bit of risk. And so, you know, today we have some practice to try to work on our cars. I think everyone's going to try to make that a little bit better, which may help. But when you get to the end of it, in the Great American Race, there's going to be a lot of pushing to shoving. And it can turn into something a lot to what we've seen in the first duel. Ryan, so just so you know, sorry, Joey, you're my pick. I said that yesterday.

You feel do-ish. However, I don't know how much of this specific race is, I don't want to say dumb luck, but luck. How much of winning this race is raw skill and how much of it is right place, right time, given a particularly last decade how the race has been run. I mean, I think it's a little bit of bold. I mean, you have to prepare the best you can.

You have to do the best you can. throughout the 400, 450 miles leading up to the end to position yourself in it. And that's a lot of skill that's involved. And I think in anything, there is good fortune, no matter what it is. You know, and in our sport, good fortune is, hey, I miss this wreck by an inch, you know, that wadded up 20 guys, but it kind of cleared the path for me. A lot of wreck avoidance is skill, but some of them you just get wotted up in. And I've, Joey and I have both been in those situations where there's nothing you can do

and you just end up on the tow truck. But I think it's majority skill, and you're going to need a little bit of good fortune, though, I think at the end of it. As teammates, how much are you guys actually helping each other versus trying to win for yourself? That's what makes NASCAR so unique, is that we're teammates, but you also, you know, you're competing against each other.

It makes it a challenging relationship, and for us, luckily, you know, Ryan and I have worked together for a long time. we've been through the good and the bad, right? And we've been able to work on that relationship. And I feel like we've got this equal understanding of how do we, how do we ultimately get ourselves to the start, finish line, and one of us win, right? I think it's important because, you know, we have the same boss,

the same people are building both of our cars. We need to be on the same team, especially when you come to racetracks like this. And I think we showed a great example last night, right? And, you know, I was a beneficiary of it last night. Thank you. You're welcome. But it can be roles reversed on Sunday, right? And it can very much be that way too.

So it's just that we know we're stronger together than we are alone. And I think that's something that really helps us on the race track. Is it ever – I'm going to follow it. Is it fairly common for teammates not to have that working relationship, but just, hey, I'm trying to get mine, or is that not really exist? I think that's pretty common. Each team's a little bit different, but I feel like at our group, We understand that the 400 employees that we have that build our cars and watch us every week,

they don't care which one of us wins. They just want one of our cars to win, and we want that company to be successful. We want Roger Penske to win the Daytona 500. Yes, you want to do the best for yourself, and you're going to do everything you can to do that, but the best thing that can happen is just he and I decide who it is against the teammates, and one of us win the race, and we're going to do everything we can to do that, but we're not going to put each other in jeopardy, but there are some, drivers out there that probably are kind of lone wolf by themselves, and that's just personal preference.

But we've always made it a big priority in our building to work as one as much as we can. I went back and watched the 2017 finish, and it was like, I think, Joey, you're pushing Ryan. It's like, oh, here comes the 21 car. And you come fly in for a second. But you weren't teammates at that point. It was just like out of the kindness of your own heart. Semi-teammates. I don't remember much of that.

I remember parts and pieces I've done. I mean, to Ryan's point, like, all you can do is, yeah, there we go. There's the race. Okay. Do you remember it now? Everyone's running out of gas. Ryan comes quiet. The announcers are like, here comes the 21.

I'm like, yeah. Now I remember. But I mean, like to Ryan's point earlier, you've got to put yourself up front and put yourself in position to get lucky. You don't just get lucky. You got to be close enough to the front. When things happen, you can capital. on that. And I think that's what, you know, we've been trying to do that for a long time. There we go. We're going to the front right there, Ryan. But yeah, I mean, that's kind of the

goal is just to be, you know, see the front. In that last lap, you have a chance. I have a question for each of you separately, kind of about your own personal stories. So I'm going to start with you, Ryan. My dad was a firefighter for 40 years. And that firefighting is one of the industries that is for a lot of people, a family business. It's a lot of grandfather's father's uncles, and I think some of his friends and colleagues were a little surprised when it was clear I was never going to be that. I don't know if there's a bigger family business than race car driving. So many of the stories are like yours that you know, you have, you know, a lineage of race car drivers. So I set that up to ask this. Is this the only job you ever thought you would

have? And can you remember a time as a child when you ever were like, Nah, maybe I won't race cars for a living. Yeah, I mean, growing up around it, my dad was a dirt racer from the 80s, 90s, moved to NASCAR in the late 90s. I was born in 93, so I was born into this racing world, and I was just in awe of not only my dad, but all the guys that are out there competing. And it's all I ever wanted to do. I don't think there was ever a point as long as I was allowed to do it, that I wanted to do anything else. Like, I just wanted to feed these guys. I wanted to do what my dad did.

And my dad never pushed me to do anything. My dad was always, are you sure you want to take this next step? Are you sure this is what you want to do? And my answer was yes every single time. So it is a very family sport just because it's kind of a niche sport to get into. But once you're in it, you fall in love with it. So I was fortunate to grow up, you know, around it and see it firsthand. So my only other job that I've ever gotten paid for,

besides racing was sweeping my dad's shop floors. I was a hell of a janitor growing up, cleaning toilets, sweeping floors, and my dad would give me $10. Other than that, it was always racing, so I've been pretty lucky. And Joey, to you, your story is one of, like, a young phenom who, I mean, I think it's fair to say,

has incredible hype going into his career, and one of the few athletes that reached that hype. That, you know, it's not like, you know, you're a three-time champion, you've won this race. So I assume now you know you are established. Early in your career, how much did that weigh on you? How much pressure was there on you as a young racer of what people expect me to become

before you had won the Daytona, before you had won a series championship? Yeah, I mean, that's a tricky place for a young kid to grow up in, right? To have all that hype. It can affect you in a lot of different ways. And unfortunately, mainly bad ways. Right, because I think you start to drink your own Kool-Aid, if you will, right? You start to start to believe in all the hype, and you start to just think you're that great,

and you don't go to work like you're supposed to. Or you start to get a lawyer again, right? Like, I mean, and then you see that with many athletes, with a young athletes coming up, and then you get the slice of humble pie. At some point, reality is going to slap you in the face. And it happened for me, right? I mean, to your point, I was a young phenom growing up from the age, of 12. Everyone was talking about, you know, when I get to Cup, when it's going to happen.

And when I got to the Cup level, the NASCAR top level here, I got the slice of humble pie that I deserved, right? I went up against all the guys that were the phenoms, right? Growing up, now they're all here. And I got a butt kick for, you know, three years before I was able to get my head wrapped around things. But in those moments, I learned so much about myself. But I got beat down, right? I had to learn to lose. Right. I mean, it's something like, And it's important to know how to do, right? Because you've got to be able to learn from each mistake you make and try to somehow rebuild some confidence,

keep your team rallied behind you as an 18-year-old kid rallying a bunch of grown men around you to support that. That's hard to do. If I'm being honest, I failed at that, right? I lost my job. I was at a point that I was like, well, uh-oh, what am I going to do the rest of my life? I'm 21 years old, and I don't know if I'm going to make it.

And I had the amazing opportunity of driving the number 22 for Shell and Penn's Oil and Roger Penn's, 12, 13 years ago that happened. And I've been driving the same car ever since. But that moment is what taught me, okay, I gotta go to work. I'm not that good. I'm not that good of a race car driver. Now I know that.

And I can work on being better at least. That's great. That's great. Well, thank you guys very much. Best of luck on Sunday. You're going Blaney. Yeah. I might be a Logano guy.

Thank you. I'm saying a Legano guy. I'm right here. I'm right here. At least lie to me. I decided to become a Legonon guy. I was a LaGaio guy yesterday. They'll start three and five Sunday at 1230 on Fox, the Great American Race.

Chase Elliott is coming up next. Thank you guys. Best of luck on Sunday. Thank you guys. Good luck. Thank you. Welcome back to just an amazing episode of First Things First, live from the Daytona 500, as we count down the hours to the 68th running of the Great American Race.

Joining us now, he won last night's second duel, will start fourth on Sunday. and the number nine Chevy. It's Chase Elliott, Chase. Thank you for joining us. Second place in 2021. This is the third duel you won. I thought you were funny in your post-race interview. I'll quote you here, I've won this one before.

This isn't the one I won. It said you wanted to, quote, cautiously enjoy the duel victory. So congratulations on the duel. Is momentum a thing? Can you keep that going into Sunday? Yeah, I mean, it's one of those things. like I said, we have won that race before.

So it's like, man, it's a great start to your week. You know, it's one of those things where anytime you're on track, but win at Daytona, always great. Nice to get a good pit stall selection for the big race on Sunday. So, you know, that's one of those things that you can carry with you for sure,

but it's really hard to carry momentum. So much can happen in the event, but, you know, like I said, the whole premise of last night was just, hey, we got that good pit stall selection. We got a good box for Sunday. That's something you're gonna keep all day long. odds are you're probably not going to keep your track position for the entire 500 miles something's going to go wrong at some point so but a great start to the week for sure and got some work to do but we'll see how it works out tomorrow I have a potentially awkward question which is why are you so popular if people don't know you've won eight straight most popular driver awards that seems almost impossible I mean you seem like a very likable guy but to win it every year this decade why do you think the fans love you as much as that They do. Yeah, that's a great question. I ask myself that some days. You know, look, I think for me, if you've

followed the history of racing at all, my family has had a, you know, a huge stance in the sport for a long time. Your dad won the award a bunch too, right? He did. He did. And, you know, I've always tried to make sure that it's from my position, it's such a reflection of them, right? Like, you know, My dad and my uncles and my grandfather, you know, they have put so much time into this sport. And I think that they were just a really easy group of guys for fans to like over the years. And they had a lot of success. They kind of did it their way. And people love that.

And I think for me, I came into a situation that was advantageous because of the road that they have paved. And I've always tried to make sure that that reflection is really about them and the heritage more so than it is about me. and I'll always feel that way, you know, no matter whether I win the award or not win the award, you know, it's, I'm proud to kind of carry that legacy forward and try to do it to the best of my ability and how I think they would want me to do it as well. Your dad, Bill Elliott, won this race twice. So what advice is he given you about this particular race? Man, you know, it's changed so much.

You know, dad won it, I think, in 85 and 87, right? And you think about how much has changed in the world since 2000, much less since the 80s. And that guy wasn't even alive, you know, for either one of those wins. But so a lot has changed. And truthfully, I think from his perspective nowadays, it's more just about being dad and just being supportive. And, you know, the racing side is just, man, it's evolved. And the style of racing is a little different today. but he watches, you know, he keeps up, obviously, he wants us to do well,

but I think he's more in dad mode today than he is telling you how to do things or coaching, to your point. Last nine races, 30%, 38% of the drivers didn't finish. And we know that a certain amount of good fortune, bad fortune, plays a real part, and who gets across the finish line first or if you, you know, end up on a tow truck. What is your relationship with luck, chance, how does it not stress you out? How do you not say, oh, you know, we watch football games, a guy misses a field goal, the whole team loses their mind, but it feels like every driver we've spoken to is pretty

even keel about the element of luck in the race. I think the big thing is it doesn't do you a lot of good to worry about it, number one. But, you know, motorsports is just a little different. You know, it's just a little different than other sports. And particularly this race, I mean, they're, there's a lot of good to worry about it, number one. There are so many things that are out of our hands throughout this event. We're obviously in close proximity to other drivers and cars throughout the race. Really easy to make mistakes.

And that's just what the Daytona 500 is. You know, it is so much up in the air and a lot of things can happen. And from our perspective, and I've been doing this long enough now to, A, understand that, but B, just put emphasis on the things that we can control, you know, that there's a lot of things out of your hands, but there are some things that are in your control and getting a good pitch selection. That's something that we can help ourselves with, right?

You're just trying to make, you get presented information throughout the day and throughout the week, and you just try to take that information, process it, and help your team make the best educated decision of a guess at that time. And look, you're going to have to have things go your way to win this race. There's no doubt about that.

We know that. We've been close before. We've never gotten over the hump. You know, certainly hope we get our turn one day and we'd love it to be this time. That's not just racing. That's life advice. So 20 some years ago, Sports Illustrated did like a future stars thing where they picked a handful of 13-year-olds. One of them was Michael Kiddclis, who ended up being the second pick of the NBA draft.

One of them was Jordan Speath. And one of them was you. I'm just curious 13-year-old Chase Elliott when SportsElli. Illustrated like stamps you is like you're going to be the next big thing. Obviously good call by them. It worked out. But how does Chase Elliott walk into junior high that week? Like with the, with the copy of SI? Like how does how does that play out in the cafeteria? Yeah, it's one of those things you have to be really careful with because it's okay if it works out. But boy, if it doesn't, that could be a big problem. So no, that's not me. That's not how I, how I operate or how I like

to operate at least. But a really important. amazing thing and I remember it. I remember doing the photo shoot. You know, it was, it's been a while back now and we're all getting a little older, but I remember doing it and, you know, hearing about Jordan's feet and I've never, I've never met Jordan, but obviously I've watched his career unfold and becoming a master champion and all those things. And so really neat that, you know, that it worked out like it did. So I guess I don't know who was making that call or pretty good at all those decisions, but hey, I'm glad they were right. All right. Well, thank you very much. We know you got to get to practice.

Best of luck on Sunday. We're all rooting for you. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate you all hanging out with them. Yeah, thank you. Jeff Gordon coming up next on a special episode of First Things First from the Daytona 500. Way across the world within sung-down girls, my friend. Welcome back to just a wonderful episode of First things first.

This has been just fantastic, bro. It's been terrific. I mean, granted, Nick, you missed our team dinner last night. I wasn't invited. Other than that, this has been just a wonderful experience. And joining us now is a man who needs no introduction. He's a Hall of Famer, 93 Cup Series wins. He's a three-time Daytona 500 champion, long-time voice head Fox.

So welcome back. Jeff Gordon, Jeff, thank you so much for making time for us. You know, we're doing our research. It's an honor. It's unbelievable. We were a little scared of the planes to be. on the flight are we all i thought the glass was going to blow out the building we're doing research i'm like what am i supposed to ask jeff gordon so i'll start here i'm like i'll just ask just jeff gordon

how he views himself do you view yourself at this race as three-time champion Daytona 500 champion driver jeff Gordon or the guy who's going for as the vice chairman of hendrick his third straight driver win at the daytona five hundred it's such a long time ago when those wins came, you know, my last one in 05, the first one in 97, but it was at Hendrick Motorsport. So, you know, to be a part of the organization in this role now and be connected to the teams by, you know, just seeing their journey through their eyes and being, you know, understanding what that's like, at least from a driver and team standpoint, yeah, I would say it's more of the role that I'm in now. It's amazing to be on that list of Daytona 500 winners,

Nothing quite like it, but I'm full for our teams to go win out there on Sunday. Well, the man going for the three-peat, William Byron, is, of course, on your team. No one's ever three-peated. He'd be the seventh ever driver to have three Daytona 500 with the first win three in a row. He's going to have to do it in a backup car. How much does that change things, the backup car things, and what would a three-peat at this racetrack mean for the sport? Yeah, I mean, this is such a tough brain. to win. That's why it's never been done before. You know, there's so many things involved with

how you execute, how you avoid the crashes, there's a little luck involved. You've got to have a great race car. Just so many things have to go your way, decision making by the driver and the team. And that's why it's the most prestigious race to win. And how, you know, everybody looks at it as it's just hard to get one, let alone go for three in a row. Yeah, you know, listen, William, He's a smart racer. He's got a great team. Not concerned about the backup car at all. I think that car will be just as good or fast or be capable of winning this race. Worry a little bit about the track position that it will be starting with coming from the rear of the field with that car. And then, you know, how do you get that track position?

And then you just go to last year on that final lap. I mean, he was ninth, I think, crossing the line for the white flag. I never dreamed he could have won that race, and yet he did. So you just can never give up. And that's what that team, that team has a lot of fighting them. What's the biggest transition for you from driver to vice chairman? And I can imagine like there's so much of you that wants to get out there on the track. A little bit.

Well, there's so much that was going on when I was on the track that I had no idea was going on. I mean, just all the behind the scenes of what gets the team, what gets those race cars to the racetrack. you're so focused as a driver on your role and what you do with the race team and the prep that you have but there's so many people that make that happen from you know sponsors hiring people building the race cars that pick through that that is you know doing all their practices and getting fit and ready all the planning and preparation that goes on with engineers and all the all the data that they're sorting through. So I love it. I get to now be closer to all those things.

You know, folks in the engine shop doing every little nut and bolt on that engine. I just get to be involved with so many more people now and I get to enjoy it through their eyes when they have success. But it also is because you go through the journey of how you get there. So yeah, I'm really enjoying this role. I put the racing behind me. The only time I miss it is when those guys have like Chase Ellie had here last night. You're in that battle right to the end. There's guys jockey from position around here. You make a great move.

You cross the line first, and you win the race, checker flag. And you get to celebrate with your team. Nothing will ever replace that feeling that and that moment that you have as a race car driver. Jeff, have you seen Top Gun Maverick? I have. Get back in that car. It's like, you know who can do it? I can.

Who's out there? I wish this was Hollywood. Since your first time here, and now that you're on the other side of it, what has been the biggest difference in the race itself, and what is exactly the same? I mean, the competition has just gotten so much tighter. The cars are all more equal. The teams are all better.

The drivers are probably better. You know, I just think that I can remember coming down here the first few years, back in the mid-90s. And there were a handful of us that could break free from the rest of the group. Our, you know, things were just handling better, cars were faster, and you had an opportunity to really mix it up amongst a handful.

Now it's anybody's race. Truly, if you're in this race, you can win this race. And you've got to do everything right to get it done. So I just think, I do think it's even more difficult to win today than it's ever been. With respect to legends like Kale Yarborough Darrell Waltrip. I think most NASCAR fans look at if there is a Mount Rushmore. Yourself, Jimmy Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Senior, and Richard Petty.

Thank you. I'm happy to be in that company. I mean, I think it's probably general consensus. I know you wouldn't say it, but I think, I think that's how people feel. Of everyone driving today, contemporary drivers, are there one or two that you see and you say, you know what, that guy either has to make up or is on track or I could see one day elevating from great Hall of Fame level driver to the legendary status? Man, there's a bunch of guys I think that are incredibly talented out there. But you got to look at a guy like a Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin's been doing it for a long time,

doing it at a high level. All Denny needs is a few championships that kind of got away from him over the years. And I think you'd be immediately putting him up there in that category, probably the same for Kyle Bush. Now you've got Kyle Larson, you know, who I think is definitely in the conversation. And then, you know, William Byron, I would say, too, we're fortunate to have some guys, you know, Chase Elliott.

But I would say right now Connor Zillage is getting a lot of buzz as the future. Wow. He's got the personality, he's got the talent. He can win any track. He's not done that in the Cup series, but he's done that in every other series. So that seems to be a guy that's getting a lot of attention

like that. You know he's being compared to it? I pulled this from the Charlotte Observer. He's compared to Jeff Gordon. I knew I liked that kid. That's so funny. He's 19. That is great. Well, the format for the Chase title now is kind of, they're calling it back to the future, going back to what it was years ago. Do you like that move going back to that?

I do. You know, I won my four championships under an entire season of accumulating points. You know, then we went to the chase format, which is what we're now going to have. You know, that's that 10 race stretch after the regular season. We went to this playoff format, trying to compare ourselves to other sports. And we're just unique. We're different. We're not like other sports. So it's exciting as much drama is involved with these rounds and, you know, the eliminations. I don't think that is the best way for us to crown a champion or to recognize the best throughout the whole season. I think this is a great balance of that,

and it's going to reward consistency. It's going to reward aggressiveness. It's going to reward the race team over the season. I like it. Do you talk to the four drivers on Hendricks, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Will & Byron, who we talked about it for a while? Do you give each of those guys the same advice pre-race,

or do you tailor, hey, you should do this? solve this. How do you basically coach them up? I mean, let's be honest, I'm not coaching these guys. These guys have so much information they're being fed from their engineers, from their crew chiefs. You know, if they have somebody that's sort of a driver coach there in that conversation, I would probably just confuse the situation. What I do get involved in, I've been in the big moments. And so if I can relate to anything, it's what the pressure is like, what's on the table, or what's at stake, and just how to go out there and execute. Believe in your team, believe in the people that you're surrounded by,

believe in your own abilities. So in that sense, yes, it would be the same. But throughout the year when I'm talking to the guys, they all have their own unique personalities and receive information differently at different times. And I do try to balance that out through the relationship that I have of those guys. So this race has been run 67 times. First 57 years, we never had a champion only lead the final lap, and the last decade it's happened three times.

In the first 57 years, there were nine total last lap passes for first. In the last decade, it's happened five times. I know there's a lot of reasons for that, the next-chin cars, all of that. How do, given how the race has been run over the last decade, how does that impact strategy, and as far as the best way to, to win it, maybe this sounds dumb, I hope it doesn't. It seems like the best way to win it might not be lead the most laps. And so how do you, as a driver, how do you coach the driver, or to be in the best position to win a race that is so crazy at the end?

Yeah. Well, you come into it with a game plan. You know, there's a lot of, there's a big strategy, you know, the tool that the teams use, but there's a lot of, this is a chess match. The 200 mile for our chess match. It really is. And there's different personalities of how the drivers are working that strategy. There's different minds on pit road of how they think it's best.

And I think it evolves every year. It's never the same. But I think right now you've got to figure out how to get yourself into that position at the end of this race. And we just learned last year you can be anywhere in the top 10, basically, on that final lap and get it done. You know, there's definitely some luck involved in avoiding wrecks and getting yourself in that position, but most of it, I think, is you make your own luck through the decisions you make throughout the race. So, you know, when you make a bad decision, don't panic. You know, you'll get it back.

You need things happen quickly. But, yeah, just try to make the most conscious high percentage chance of moves that are going to either, you know, get you a net gain. or not lose too many positions. And I think you just play that throughout the whole race of maintaining track position, if you can. Yeah, I'm glad I'm not racing today. Well, that's what I was going to ask. And I'll tell you why, because the driver has so many things happening.

They're saving fuel. Don't give up this track position. There's a line coming on the outside. There's a line coming on the inside. Hey, we're going to pit this many left. There's just so much information that they're being fed. that I think it would be overloaded. How does that compare to when you were driving?

Well, again, I think you could separate yourself from the field most of the seasons that I was competitive down here to win rate with a 500. You really worked on your car and practice, got it handling really good, tried to make it go fast too. That was what the team was doing all winter long. But as a driver, we could get the car handling a little bit better than somebody else's.

Then I just need to not make mistakes. and that was the separator. These guys don't have that luxury anymore. So so much is riding on them and every decision that they make. And it's also, I think, what makes it so exciting, especially as we see somebody trying to go for three in a row

because it's really rare to do. I don't want to leave here without saying, Hendrick Motorsports also has three other chances win three in a row. Which has never been done. We'd like to accomplish that too. But as good as William has been down here, I don't care if he's going in the back of,

I think he still has a shot at winning it. But, you know, I'm not in the car anymore. It's intense. It's always been a big moment. And we've got four guys and four teams that I think are going to be in the mix. And I'm excited about that. And if I, you know, I don't know that there's a whole lot I'm going to be able to do to help them in that moment. But I know we put them in place and gave them the resources to be successful.

And I can't wait to see them go execute that. You were in, Jeff, more than 800 ratings. in your 25 years as a driver. Does anyone stand out more than the rest? There's two that really stand out for me. The first one, we went to Indianapolis with NASCAR a historical moment, the inaugural brickyard 400. As a kid that grew up, California, then I went to high school in Indiana,

always wanted to race in Indy 500. That was sort of my dream come true, was to go and compete there in the NASCAR event, but then to win it was just beyond, what I could ever imagine. And then my last win was at Martinsville, Virginia, and my final year in 15. My wife and my kids were there to enjoy the moment.

It was just I got to go race for a championship because of it. And it was one of my favorite tracks that I raced on throughout my career. So that was a really emotional win that I'll never forget. Well, Jeff, thank you so much. Best of luck on Sunday. Thank you. It's an honor for us. Absolutely.

More first things first. Live from the Daytona 500, count down to the 68th running of the Great American Race Sunday on Fox. Welcome back to just the best episode of First Things First we've done, especially since our post-Super Bowl episode was brutal. That's a high level. That was fun. That was a rough one.

Speaking of the Super Bowl of Brew, did you see the little twinkle in Wild's eye when he was like, wait, you can change the rules on how you crown a champion? Maybe NASCAR's on to something. 68th running of the Great American Race, Sunday 1230 on Fox. It's a place where legacies are made to find out who has the most to gain as a segment Nick likes to do called Most to Gain.

Get right to it. Eight people with the most to gain. And this Sunday's Daytona 500 live on Fox. Number eight, Wilde's pick, Joey Legano. He's a one-time winner. He would become the 14th man ever to win this race twice. He also has three Cup Series championships already. Last time he won a duel.

He came in second. So, you know, came close that time. Number seven, my pick, Ryan Blaney. He's never won, but he has two seconds, a fourth, three other top tens. He's the Cup Series champion from a couple years ago. He would stamp this ticket by winning this race. Number six, us, and we've already won. I just want to, Wilde loves to say we love sport.

Yeah, sport. And I got to tell you, no better indicator than how amazing this has been for all of us. to be able out here with the legends of the sport, kind of parachute in and just absolutely fall in love with it. Can I just have a quick caveat in most again? You realize why it's an iconic American and worldwide sports event. It's just it, you can feel it if you're here. So come on down, hop on a plane.

You can still be here. 1230 on Sunday. Number five, Brew, your guy, Bubble Wallace. The first ever Daytona, he raised in. He finished second. He was 36th, 1,000th of a second from a win in 2022. He's been so close, can he finally get it? Number four, Kyle Larson, part of Hendrick Motorsports team.

It's the only crown jewel race. He hasn't won. Reminds me a little bit of Alex Palo going into the last year's Indy 500, has won championships, season-long championships, but hadn't stamped himself in that race. He's actually never finished better than seven. Number three, Denny Hamlin would be a four-time champion joining Carl Yarborough and Richard Petty. He already has eight top fives.

He should have won for his first season-long championship last year, Denny Hamlin. Number two, William Byron going for a three-peat. No three-peats ever. The closest was Denny Hamlin. When he came in fifth five years ago, he would be the seventh ever three-time Daytona 500 champion. And number one, guest of first things first, Kyle Bush. Yeah. It's the only thing missing.

And to never win and then go win the pole and win the 500. No one's done that, by the way, since 2000. It would be his final crown jewel race. It would complete a first ballot Hall of Fame career group. Yeah, I'm going to add Brad Kislauski, who also like the two Kyle's, is going for the Grand Slams, the fourth crown of jewel race. And to do it on a broken leg or a leg broke less than two. months ago. He said that about a month ago, he was wondering if he'd ever walk again.

And so if he could win this race, that'd be fantastic. Well, you can't get fresh tires without going into the pit. It's time for most to lose. So here's the thing. We've had such a good time. I've liked all the drivers. Yes. I didn't really, I didn't even really want to do most to lose. But you guys said, really, you do one. You have to do the other list. It's your favorite thing on this. Number three, most to lose Sunday. Chicago Bull Michael Jordan.

Wait, why is that? Well, I don't know. Did you see LeBron James last night? And what about LeBron? Did he look awful spry? What does that happen? Well, what else happens on Sunday? The NBA All-Star game.

What if he wins All-Star MVP at age 41? Okay, you don't like that. What about this? Basketball owner, Michael Jordan, most to lose. I mean, oh, what can you, how can you expect? Exactly, since he sold the team. Meanwhile, he's looking across the racetrack.

Like, wow, Joe Gibbs changed sports, owns a team, is doing pretty well. And number one, most to lose. I'm a guess. Yeah. It's not Michael Jordan, is it? NASCAR owner, Michael Jordan. Dude, that was coming. You know who he co-owned the team with?

Denny Hamlin. Denny Hamlin's the favorite to win the race. But not for Michael's team. Michael's team's way back in the 20s. Denny Hamlin, meanwhile, might win it. So, most to lose. I'm as shocked as you guys that this is what ended up happening. Okay.

He's not shocked at all. Got 60 more seconds. Official picks. Official picks, bro. You know what? I was going to change, but just because of the most to lose, Bubba Wallace, who runs for 2311 Jordan's team. If he wins it, Jordan moves to most against.

I'm sticking with Joey Lugano. I flirted with a few other drivers. I am sticking with Lugano. He's been, had led the race, at least for a little while, in every nine of the last Daytona 500s. Now he just has to lead at the end. He's been very close. I think he gets it done, wins his second Daytona.

Ryan Blaney. He has seven top tens. He has four top fives. He has two seconds. He's never won it. He's a series champion. He was a great guess. Oh, yeah, teammates, exactly.

All right, Bruce. We're going to be drafted. We'll see. Yeah, exactly right. I'm confident. 68th running of the Daytona 500, live on Foxx. Sunday at 1230. Have a great weekend and enjoy the race.