Marty & McGee: NASCAR carrying a lot of momentum into 2024

The new Netflix series launched last month. The Clash at the Coliseum was last week. Come Sunday, the eyes of the racing world will be on Daytona International Speedway once again.

That’s right, a brand-new season of NASCAR is right around the corner. Qualifying for the 2024 Daytona 500 begins on Wednesday night. Twenty-four hours later, the Duel kicks off to confirm the final few places in the Great American Race, and the green flag drops on Sunday.

Who better to get you primed for another season of spirited stock-car shenanigans than Marty Smith and Ryan McGee?

McGee: All right, son. Daytona is here. Is there an overarching theme for the 2024 NASCAR season that you’re watching out for?

Marty: I think the sport has a lot of momentum coming off of the “Full Speed” documentary on Netflix.

– Watch Marty & McGee on SEC Network: Saturdays at 7 a.m. ET

McGee: Starring you.

Marty: It really developed a lot of characters that I think will garner interest from people that otherwise wouldn’t have known or cared. Certainly, Denny Hamlin was the big winner in that and he’ll be a factor at Daytona. You can put that in the bank.

McGee: One of only four three-time winners. The only drivers with more are Richard Petty with seven and Cale Yarborough with four.

Marty: There always feels like there’s a new and beautiful energy down there at Daytona every time we go, because it is a new season. There is that sense of renewal, rebirth.

McGee: We say it all the time, the Daytona 500 prerace grid is Earth’s happiest place. Remember that time we got caught out there walking the length of the pit lane? The only humans on the hot side of the wall were the drivers rolling out onto the track and Marty & McGee, walking our butts off, just hoping no NASCAR officials saw us.

Marty: We were pumping our fists and walking like hell, and the Wood Brothers were like, “Hey guys … um … what are you doing out there?” But that’s that energy I’m talking about. It’s always there. But I just think that this season has so much potential. Look at a champion like Ryan Blaney. I think…