Gordon’s 2005 win drew a record 18.7 million viewers ... “He changed the commercial side of the sport more than anything,” three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin said.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Daytona 500 twice as a driver ... owns that has competed in the second-tier Xfinity Series since 2005 -- will make its Cup Series debut at next month's Daytona 500 ...