Everything You Need To Know About This Weekends Daytona 500
This Sunday marks the 59th running of the "Daytona 500". From what I understand the race is set to begin at 2:00pm EST. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the favorite to win. I also like the chances for Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin. You can see all of the odds by Clicking HERE. For NASCAR fans, the Daytona 500 is often regarded as sacred event and thought by many to be the most prestigious race of the year. In fact some fans call it the “Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing,” and an annual event that draws massive crowds and television audience of over +20 million viewers. The history of this prestigious race can be traced all the way back to 1903, when a group of thrill-seeking daredevils leveled out the sands of Ormond Beach in Florida for some friendly competitive racing! In 1955, a man named Bill France took this concept to a whole new level when he announced his intentions to construct a massive track known as the Daytona Beach Motor Speedway. Four years after this announcement, the first official Daytona 500 was underway! France would go on to found NASCAR and bring international attention to this once unheard of sport. Below are a few fun and interesting facts: (Source: Thenewswheel;
Sell Out Crowd Every Year: Every year the Daytona 500 sells out and each year approximately 200,000 fans are in attendance!
Highest Payout: The winner of the Daytona 500 receives the highest payout of any race in NASCAR, with top-performing drivers winning well over a million dollars.
The Track: The main track of the Daytona 500 is only 40-feet wide and 2.5-miles long, while the infield spans 180 acres which is enough to fit two full Disneylands.
Deaths: Sadly 10 NASCAR drivers have died at the Daytona International Speedway, including legendary driver Dale Earnhardt who crashed and died during the final lap of the 2001 race.
200 Laps: As the name implies, the distance of the race is 500 miles, which equates to 200 laps around the track, with speeds averaging somewhere around 150 mph.
Oldest and Youngest: The oldest winner of the race was Bobby Allison back in 1988 at the age of 50. The youngest winner was Trevor Bayne back in 2011 at the age of 20.
Pole Position: The pole position is the most proficient starting position in the Daytona 500 field, producing more winners (nine) than any other position; followed by second place (seven wins) and fourth place (seven wins). However, it has been 17 years since the pole winner last won the Great American Race (Dale Jarrett, 2000). Only five of the previous 58 Daytona 500s have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
The Pace Car: The Pontiac Trans-Am is the most-used DAYTONA 500 Pace Car, having made 13 appearances in the Great American Race.
The Petty Tradition: Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500, which was run on February 22, 1959. Interestingly the finish was so close that it took NASCAR three days to ultimately determine who won the race. Drivers Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp were battling for the lead coming off the final turn when they came across another car that was one lap down. The three cars came across the finish line three-wide, with Beauchamp initially being declared winner, but that decision was overturned three days later when photos revealed Petty crossed the finish line first and he was named the official winner.Lee Petty's son Richard, who began his racing career in 1958, won the Daytona 500 a record seven times and became NASCAR's first superstar before retiring in 1992.
Most Miles Completed: They estimate that Terry Laborite has race ed around Daytona an amazing 5,957 laps or 14,892.5 miles.
The Brawl: The 1979 Daytona 500 was the first time the “Great American Race” was broadcast live. Fans were treated to a excellent finish, as well as an entertaining fist fight between drivers Cale Yarborough and the Allison brothers. Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough were competing for the win on the final lap when the two collided and crashed, which gave the victory to Richard Petty. Following the collision, Yarborough and Allison both got out of their cars and engaged in a fist fight; Donnie’s brother Bobby even joined in to help his brother.
Lowest Starting Position to Win: In 2009 Matt Kenseth started form the 39th position and won the race.
Waltrip's Lucky 17: After earning his only career Daytona 500 victory in 1989, three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip exited his racecar and performed the “Ickey Shuffle” dance in victory lane before spiking his helmet like it was a football. Waltrip won the race in the No. 17 racecar, on the 17th of February, in his 17th attempt at winning the event.
Fastest Winning Speed: Back in 1980 Buddy Baker posted a a winning average speed of 177.602 miles per hour.
Earnhardt's Win: While the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. is tied for the all-time NASCAR lead with seven career championships, it took him 20 years before he won his first and only Daytona 500 in 1998. It was a very popular victory, as Earnhardt was greeted by and shook the hand of seemingly every member of NASCAR before he celebrated the win in victory lane.
