It was a bumpy buildup to the Daytona 500, which for days was overshadowed by disputes, drama, an injury to Kyle Busch and the suspension of his older brother, Kurt. Dozens of cars were wrecked, and on the morning of NASCAR's season-opening showcase, reigning series champion Kevin Harvick warned ''we're going to tear up some (more).'' So there was every reason to feel anxious going into ''The Great American Race.'' It wasn't necessary, as the Daytona 500 proved entertaining and trouble free - exactly what NASCAR needed. ''It was a great day, a really good event, and we enjoyed it,'' NASCAR chairman Brian France said Monday on SiriusXM NASCAR radio. After Jeff Gordon, racing in his final Daytona 500, led the field to green, he set the pace and led a race-high 87 laps as the event settled into a rhythm. More...