In 2012, he was an honorary starter of the 54th annual Daytona 500, and served as the honorary pace car driver of the 58th Daytona 500 in 2016. See photos of John Cena at the Daytona 500 ...

In 2012, he was an honorary starter of the 54th annual Daytona 500, and served as the honorary pace car driver of the 58th Daytona 500 in 2016.

1982: The Daytona 500 became the official season-opening NASCAR race, a spot on the schedule it still holds. 1983: Cale Yarborough ruined his car during qualifying. No problem.

This Saturday's Cup race at Daytona won't be the 500, but the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with two spots in the playoffs still up ...

The 2016 Daytona 500, though, might have produced the key to how Gibbs can win the Daytona 500. His son Coy attended his first Daytona 500 since -- yup, 1993.