Michael Waltrip to honor Sandy Hook by driving No. 26 at Daytona 500

Michael Waltrip will drive No. 26 at the Daytona 500 to honor the 26 victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

John Raoux/AP

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Michael Waltrip will honor and raise funds for Sandy Hook Elementary School in the No. 26 car at the Daytona 500.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner was set to drive the No. 30 Toyota in a one-race deal. The number instead will be changed to No. 26 to honor the victims. Sandy Hook is the school in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed by a gunman on Dec. 14.

The No. 26 car was at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday and had a black and green ribbon on the hood. Waltrip also owns a team and all three entries will run with the "text NEWTOWN to 80888" decal for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.

NASCAR Brian France and Waltrip visited Newtown last week.