DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
James Gilbert/Getty ImagesNASCAR is kicking off its 65th Daytona 500 Sunday and the event will feature three drivers with Connecticut ties.
Joey Logano, Ryan Preece and Corey LaJoie will all be racing at Daytona. The race will be held on the Daytona International Speedway in Florida and will be broadcast on FOX at 2:30 p.m. EST.
Here's a look at the CT racers:
Joey Logano
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Busch Light Pole at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesCar No. 22
Connection: Originally from Middletown
Racing team: Penske
What to know: The 32-year-old is entering his 15th season in NASCAR, including 10 with Penske. Logano won the Daytona 500 back in 2015 and is the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion. He's become the 17th driver to win multiple Cup Series championships and told the Daytona Beach News-Journal his mantra of 2023 is "never enough," meaning the team is never working hard and there's never enough trophies.
Ryan Preece
Ryan Preece during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race media day Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chris O'Meara/Associated PressCar No. 41
Connection: From Berlin, attended Xavier High
Racing team: Stewart-Haas Racing
What to know: Preece recently accomplished a seventh-place finish in the Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 5. This was an important moment for the 32-year-old as he led a race-high of 43 laps, producing almost double his career laps total in this race alone. He also led more laps in his first outing with Stewart-Haas Racing than Preece has led in his last three years combined. Many people saw this performance as a career rebirth for Preece.
Corey LaJoie
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Corey LaJoie, driver of the #7 Celsius Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the Busch Light Pole at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Sean Gardner/Getty ImagesCar No. 7
Connection: Father and grandfather are from Norwalk
Racing team: Spire MotorSports
What to know: LaJoie is a third generation racer, his grandfather Don LaJoie is a member of the New England Racing Hall of Fame and his father, Randy LaJoie, won the Xfinity Series Championship in 1996 and 1997. This marks Corey's third season behind the Chevrolet wheel for Spire Motorsports. He previously drove for Go Fas Racing where he earned two top-10 finishes with the team in 2019.