Author: Zach Dean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Jimmie Johnson and Chip Ganassi’s returns to the Rolex 24 at Daytona are among two of the storylines to watch in this weekend’s star-studded race.

Daytona International Speedway will host the first two races of the 2021 NASCAR season, replacing the event in Fontana, California, due to COVID-19.

The coronavirus wreaked havoc on this most recent NASCAR season, and it appears that will carry over into 2021.

In nine months, there will be a Jimmie Johnson-sized hole at Hendrick Motorsports. Can Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman or William Byron fill the void?

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, and he will be joined by Alex Bowman on front row.