Former ESPN NASCAR analyst Andy Petree "will help explain rules" during Fox' telecast of today's Daytona 500 "and beyond." Petree said, "The hardcore fan will watch anyway. We have to try to engage these people who have just stuck a toe in the water, help educate them a little bit ... Our challenge is to try to grow the sport" (NEWSDAY, 2/21). An entertaining Daytona 500 "could go a long way in NASCAR’s efforts to reverse viewership trends of recent years, which have seen the TV numbers slip from their highs of 10 years ago" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/22).

Meanwhile, the weather forecast for today's race "is sunny and warm, with almost no chance of isolated showers" (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 2/22).

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch yesterday "presented his indefinite suspension appeal to NASCAR," and that appeal of the punishment stemming from allegations of domestic violence against Busch "was denied." The panel stood firm by their decision Saturday that Busch violated rules governing “actions detrimental to stock car racing” and their general “behavioral penalty” (SUNTIMES.com, 2/21). After losing his appeal to the panel, Busch last night "made an appeal" to NASCAR Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss, which he also lost (ESPN.com, 2/21).

A crowd of 70,205 attended Saturday night's Kings-Sharks NHL Stadium Series game at Levi's Stadium, the "third-largest crowd in NHL history." The 49ers' home stadium "was no frozen prairie," but the "genuine passion of fans who are establishing California as the epicenter of the sport's growth" was on display. The game, which the visiting Kings won 2-1, "continues a golden era for California hockey" (L.A. TIMES, 2/22). The game was played "under less-than-stellar ice conditions." Kings coach Darryl Sutter said, "It's hard to have great ice because it was so humid as the game went on. But I think they were doing everything they could to get snow off. I think they got their money's worth" (L.A. TIMES, 2/22). The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS' Mark Purdy writes under the header, "Outdoor Hockey A Smashing Success In San Jose."

MLB and MLBPA on Friday announced new initiatives "to quicken the pace of play," including countdown clocks for breaks between innings and modifications to the instant-replay process. MLB said that umpires "would enforce the rule requiring all hitters to keep at least one foot in the batter’s box." Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement said that the "most important starting point for improving pace of play was moving efficiently in and out of commercial breaks." Two clocks "will remind fans and players of that effort" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/21).

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in a "welterweight showdown that will be boxing's richest fight ever." Mayweather "could earn" $120M or more, while Pacquiao's split of the purse "will likely be" around $80M. The fight "finally came together in recent months with both fighters putting aside past differences over various issues" (AP, 2/20). The pay-per-view TV of the fight "will be a collaborative production effort between HBO and Showtime on a channel separate from the two networks." The gate "is expected to surpass" $40M, which would "more than double the record" of $20.1M set in September '13 (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/21).

Saints Owner Tom Benson in a letter to fans Friday wrote the franchise is working on "significant investments to enhance the fan experience," but '15 season-ticket prices will not increase. Benson "also thanked fans for support while he undergoes a fight to determine future ownership of the organization." Benson wrote he and his wife, Gayle, have been "overwhelmed by the kindness and encouragement you have given us" (NOLA.com, 2/20).

Single-A Midwest League South Bend Cubs Owner Andrew Berlin, who is also a minority, non-controlling partner of the White Sox, confirmed Friday via Twitter that he has become a minority investor in the MLB Cubs. Sources said that Berlin is "just one of several investors to have purchased minority interest in the Cubs in ownership’s efforts to raise as much as" $300M toward Wrigley Field renovations through the process. The size of Berlin's investment "was not immediately clear" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/21). Berlin "will hold on to his shares" of the White Sox (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/21).

Members of the '80 Gold Medal-winning U.S. hockey team reunited last night in Lake Placid, N.Y., as Herb Brooks Arena was "full of 'U-S-A, U-S-A' chants, and deep nostalgia for a sports moment that can’t ever be replicated" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/22). NBC and NBCSN today are presenting a "Hockey Day in America" tripleheader from Lake Placid (NEWSDAY.com, 2/20). Meanwhile, the DAILY NEWS' Mike Vaccaro writes under the header, "'Do You Believe In Miracles?': The 8 Best Sports Calls Ever."

The eight-stage, 724-mile Amgen Tour of California, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, "will start May 10 in Sacramento and finish in Pasadena on May 17." The final day "will see the riders depart L.A. Live" for a 60-mile stage (LATIMES.com, 2/21).

The North American debut of snowboarder Shaun White’s two-day Air + Style extreme sports and music festival yesterday at the Rose Bowl, "offered an eclectic mix of activities and attractions." Organizers said that it is the "first time" in the event's 22-year history that it "took a festival format, rather than assigned seating" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 2/22). Event GM & former NFL exec Jim Steeg said of Air + Style, "I worked the (NHL) hockey game last year at Dodger Stadium and this is so much bigger. It is massive" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 2/22).

U.S. women's national soccer team G Hope Solo "was reinstated" to the team, "ending a 30-day suspension that had left her participation in this summer's World Cup in doubt" (LATIMES.com, 2/21).

NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will "join the Fox Sports 1 booth as an analyst during the June 13th Xfinity Series race" at Michigan Int'l Speedway for "the entire race" (USATODAY.com, 2/21).

The Ducks today will "unveil the name and logo of their new San Diego AHL affiliate" during Hockeyfest at the Valley View Casino Center (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/21).

Thousands of Rays fans yesterday "streamed into Tropicana Field ... for Fan Fest, where they could buy tickets, take batting practice and run the bases" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/22).

Hundreds of friends, family members and teammates gathered yesterday in Mississauga, Ontario, "to pay tribute to the life and career" of late NHLer Steve Montador, who "died last weekend at the age of 35" (CP, 2/21).

"This is not going to happen again. We're going to live up to our responsibility. We're going to fix this. And it starts right now​" — Daytona Int’l Speedway President Joie Chitwood III, on a stretch of unprotected concrete wall by the racing surface where driver Kyle Busch crashed (USA TODAY, 2/22).

"I think the national profile of our team has changed. We are poised to become the epicenter of baseball, and that’s exciting" — Marlins President David Samson, on the franchise making a splash with off-season moves and securing the '17 All-Star Game (MIAMI HERALD, 2/22).

"We were taking the time to educate them on situations that had nothing to do with football. For me, that's the biggest tragedy for those seniors. Tragedy is a hard word, but that group will never get that time back" — Northwestern Univ. football coach Pat Fitzgerald, on dealing with the distraction of unionization talks by players (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/22).

"I just don't know how you send that message to a coaching staff or players. That's not just something that we want people to think that we would do" — Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, on refusing to tank their remaining games to ensure a top draft pick (L.A. TIMES, 2/21).

"There’s a lot of work to be done and I think that what’s important is not to focus on a player making it look like we are succeeding or failing" — MLB's first Ambassador of Inclusion Billy Bean, on the league having no openly gay players (TORONTO STAR, 2/21).

"I cannot believe what these drivers have to do before they have to go perform. This is insane" — U.S. women’s national soccer team F Abby Wambach, on being in the pits prior to the Daytona 500 as one of the race's honorary starters (“2015 Daytona 500,” Fox, 2/22).

The ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION's Klepal & Tucker shared the findings of a review of NFL and MLB facility construction costs under the header, "Skyrocketing Stadiums." The data, which includes facilities both in use and under construction, "shows a rapid acceleration in stadium costs starting around 2008 that far surpasses the inflation rate." Technological infrastructure -- wireless networks, video boards, LED lighting and sustainability initiatives -- is "one of the major drivers behind escalating stadium costs."

The N.Y. TIMES' Viv Bernstein writes Hendrick Motorsports "has been called the Yankees of NASCAR," as it has achieved "a level of dominance never seen" in the sport's 66-year history. Heading into today's Daytona 500, the question facing the sport is "whether that dominance has led to a competitive imbalance," and if so, "what does that mean for NASCAR?" Meanwhile, the BOSTON GLOBE's Michael Vega writes NASCAR's "next wave of stars is on the move, setting an upward trajectory for the Sprint Cup circuit."

Elsewhere:

• Ex-basketball coach Tom Penders enjoys the "freedom" of Twitter's "soapbox."
• The effects of dementia have "become all too familiar" for former NFLers, spouses.
• Financial viability of women's sports is "far easier to describe than to realize."
• Punjabi "Hockey Night In Canada" telecasts are now a "staple for tens of thousands."
• There "will be no winners" in NFL's Deflategate, regardless of Wells Report's findings.
• NASCAR teams, politicians and celebrities are "traveling in style" to the Daytona 500.

If this were Super Bowl Sunday there would already be non-stop TV coverage on multiple channels. It IS SBS for #nascar and nowhere 2 b found

— jonniemuth (@jonniemuth) February 22, 2015

Love how @nfl is supporting fantasy players at the Combine through distributing materials to enhance their experience.

— Bill Sutton (@Sutton_ImpactU) February 22, 2015

California's also a huge rising developmental power and the teams draw reasonably well. Now the AHL will have a division there. That's good.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) February 22, 2015

I wonder if Alexey Shved can draw any parallels between the Iron Curtain and MSG's media policy? (the one Phil vowed to change but hasn't.)

— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) February 22, 2015

What better place to unveil our newest innovation, #TreadLite by UGG™, than at @NHL #StadiumSeries pic.twitter.com/2HRFYw8z9P

— UGG Australia (@UGGaustralia) February 21, 2015