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The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500 mile (805 km) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of the few restrictor plate races on the schedule.
The Daytona 500 is widely considered to be NASCAR's most important and prestigious race, and has the largest purse, although it is equivalent to other races on the calendar for championship purposes. It is also the circuit's first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500. The event is also known as "The Super Bowl of NASCAR" and "The Great American Race."
Memorable Daytona 500s
The race is the direct successor of shorter races that were held on Daytona Beach itself; however, the Daytona 500 has been held at the Daytona International Speedway since its inaugural run in 1959.
1959-1969
Lee Petty, founder of a famous racing family whose most renowned member was his son Richard, won the first Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959 defeating Johnny Beauchamp in a highly unusual manner. Petty and Beauchamp were lapping the car of Joe Weatherly at the finish, when officials initially called Beauchamp the winner as the three cars crossed the line. After reviewing photographs and video of the finish for three days, the call was reversed, and Petty won the first Daytona 500.1970-1979
In the 1976 Daytona 500, Richard Petty was leading on the last lap when he was passed on the backstretch by David Pearson. Petty tried to turn under Pearson coming off the final corner, but didn't clear Pearson. The contact caused by drivers to spin in to the grass in the infield just short of the finish line. Petty's car didn't start, but Pearson was able to drive his wrecked car just enough to limp over the finish line for the win.The 1979 Daytona 500 was the first nationally televised live 500 mile race. A final lap crash and subsequent fight between leaders Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison (along with Donnie's brother Bobby Allison) brought enough publicity to put NASCAR on the national radar. Donnie Allison was leading the race on the final lap with Yarborough drafting him tightly. As Yarborough attempted his signature slingshot pass at the end of the backstretch, Allison attempted to block him. Yarborough refused to give ground and as he pulled alongside Allison, his left side tires left the pavement and went into the wet and muddy infield grass. The grass caused Yarborough to lose control of his car and contacted Allison's car halfway down the backstretch. As both drivers tried to regain control, their cars made contact several more times before finally locking together and crashing into the outside wall in turn three. After the cars settled in the grass, Allison and Yarborough began to argue. After they had talked it out, Bobby Allison, who was lapped at that point, pulled over and began defending his brother, and a fight broke out. Richard Petty, who was over half a lap behind at the time of the crash, went on to win the race.
1980-1989
The 1988 Daytona 500 was the first race requiring the use of new restrictor plates. There was quite a bit of uncertainty entering the race about how well the restrictor plates would work. The restrictor plates were mandated because the speeds were getting too high at the superspeedways, as demonstrated at Bobby Allison's crash at Talladega in 1987. Bobby beat his son Davey Allison to the finish line for the win, and they had warm family moments celebrating the victory. Bobby became the oldest driver to win the Daytona 500. The race is also remembered for Richard Petty's wild accident. Petty spun, got airborne and tumbled along a large section of catch fence before his car came to a stop. The car was then torn nearly in half from hits by A. J. Foyt and Brett Bodine. Petty escaped without serious injury.The 1989 Daytona 500 was won by Darrell Waltrip, his first Daytona 500 victory after twenty attempts. Fans loudly cheered the child-like exuberance of his post-victory celebration as he was being interviewed by CBS pit reporter Mike Joy, shouting "I won the Daytona 500! I won the Daytona 500!" accompanied by a now-infamous "Ickey Shuffle" dance in Victory Lane.
1990-1999
Dale Earnhardt was running away with the 1990 Daytona 500. He had been close to winning Daytona 500s before, but this time he looked to be the certain winner. On lap 193 Geoff Bodine spun in the first turn, causing the third and final caution of the race. Everyone pitted except Derrike Cope who stayed out on the track. On the lap 195 restart, Earnhardt retook and held the lead until the final lap. On the backstretch, a piece of metal bell housing had fallen off Rick Wilson's car as his engine went. Earnhardt drove over the bell housing, causing the right rear tire blow. Earnhardt had to slow down, and Cope drove by Earnhardt to earn his first ever Winston Cup (now NEXTEL Cup) victory. It was the first of two victories for the relatively unknown Cope in the 1990 season.The 1998 Daytona 500 became famous for Dale Earnhardt finally winning one after 20 years of trying. Earnhardt usually was a frontrunner in the race, and had let a several Daytona 500s slip through his fingers before. Earnhardt slowly drove up pit lane giving high-fives to everyone, and teams sent their team members to congratulate Earnhardt. The victory was widely celebrated even by people who weren't his fans, and was a defining moment in Earnhardt's career and legacy.
2000-present
The 2001 Daytona 500 was the darkest day in Daytona 500 history. On the final corner, several cars got together, and NASCAR's superstar Dale Earnhardt was killed in the incident. Michael Waltrip went on to win the race with his teamate Dale Jr. in 2nd.Sterling Marlin was battling Jeff Gordon for the lead of the 2002 Daytona 500 when they had contact. Gordon spun and caused a multi-car crash. NASCAR brought out the red flag (stopped the race) to allow the race to be raced to completion. NASCAR parked the cars on the backstretch. Marlin jumped out of his car, and pulled his damaged passenger side fender away from his tire. No one is allowed to work on a car during a red flag, so Marlin was sent to the back of the field. Marlin's move gave Ward Burton the win.
In 2003, the first ever rain-shortened Daytona 500 was run in which Michael Waltrip won and in 2004, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race three years after his father death and exactly six years to the date that his father won the Daytona 500. In 2005, Jeff Gordon won his third Daytona 500. Jimmie Johnson took the honors in 2006.
Qualifying procedure
Qualifying is unique at Daytona for the 500: some teams must race their way into the Daytona 500 field, however, since 2005, all exempt teams (the top 35 teams of the previous year in owner points) are guaranteed a spot in the Daytona 500. The first row is set by one round of qualifying, normally one week before the race. (Prior to 2003, two rounds; prior to 2001, three rounds) The remainder of the field is set by qualifying races (100 miles, 1959-1967, 125 miles, 1969-2004; 150 miles with two-lap overtime if necessary beginning in 2005 -- no races held in 1968 because of rain), with the top two cars not exempt advancing. After the exempt teams and top two non-exempt cars are added to the field, the top three non-exempt cars are added by fastest qualifing laps. A former Nextel Cup champion, if necessary, is added. Otherwise, the fourth fastest car is added to the field.
Prior to 2005, after the top two cars were set, the top 14 cars in the qualifying races advanced to the field, and then between six (1998-2003), eight (1995-97, 2004), or ten (until 1994) fastest cars which did not advance from the qualifing race were added, and since the mid-1980's, between two and seven cars were added by previous year's points performance and or championship.
Television
The Daytona 500 was the first 500-mile auto race to be televised live and in its entirety when CBS aired it in 1979. CBS continued airing until 2000. Since 2001, the race has alternated between FOX and NBC under the terms of the six year, $2.48 billion NASCAR television contract from 2001 until 2006.
Fox will broadcast the race on its own starting in 2007 as part of NASCAR's new television package.
A byproduct of both the track's 1998 lighting and the 2001 television package has been later start times. The race started at 12:15 p.m. (Eastern United States time) from 1979 until 2000. The start time was moved to 2:30 p.m. for the convenience of West Coast fans. The 2005 race ended at sunset for the first time in its history, and in 2006 it ended in near-complete darkness. The changing track conditions caused by the onset of darkness in the closing laps force the crew chiefs to predict the critical car setup adjustments needed for their final pit stop.
In 1986, the Daytona 500 paid tribute to the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, most remembered because of Christa McAuliffe, who was supposed to be the first teacher in space, but tragically, she perished in the explosion. Seventeen years later, in 2003, the Daytona 500 paid tribute to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. All cars carried a decal bearing the memory of the STS-107 crew.
List of Daytona 500 winners
| Year | Driver | Car # | Car Make | Start | Laps Led | Winner's prize | Average Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Lee Petty | 42 | Oldsmobile | 15th | 38 | $19,050 | 135.521 |
| 1960 | Robert G. "Junior" Johnson | 27 | Chevrolet | 9th | 67 | $19,600 | 124.740 |
| 1961 | Marvin Panch | 20 | Pontiac | 4th | 13 | $21,050 | 149.601 |
| 1962 | Edward G. "Fireball" Roberts | 22 | Pontiac | 1st | 144 | $24,190 | 152.529 |
| 1963 | DeWayne L. "Tiny" Lund | 21 | Ford | 12th | 127 | $24,550 | 151.566 |
| 1964 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 2nd | 184 | $33,300 | 154.334 |
| 1965 | Fred Lorenzen | 28 | Ford | 4th | 25 (of 129) | $27,100 | 141.539* |
| 1966 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 1st | 108 (of 198) | $28,150 | 160.927* |
| 1967 | Mario Andretti | 11 | Ford | 12th | 112 | $48,900 | 146.926 |
| 1968 | Cale Yarborough | 21 | Mercury | 1st | 76 | $47,250 | 143.251 |
| 1969 | LeeRoy Yarbrough | 98 | Ford | 19th | 18 | $38,950 | 157.950 |
| 1970 | Pete Hamilton | 40 | Plymouth | 9th | 13 | $44,850 | 149.601 |
| 1971 | Richard Petty | 43 | Plymouth | 5th | 70 | $45,450 | 144.462 |
| 1972 | A.J. Foyt | 21 | Mercury | 2nd | 167 | $44,600 | 161.550 |
| 1973 | Richard Petty | 43 | Dodge | 7th | 17 | $36,100 | 157.205 |
| 1974 | Richard Petty | 43 | Dodge | 2nd | 73 (of 180) | $39,650 | 140.894* |
| 1975 | Benny Parsons | 72 | Chevrolet | 32nd | 4 | $43,905 | 153.649 |
| 1976 | David Pearson | 21 | Mercury | 7th | 37 | $46,800 | 152.181 |
| 1977 | Cale Yarborough | 11 | Chevrolet | 4th | 137 | $63,700 | 153.218 |
| 1978 | Bobby Allison | 15 | Ford | 33rd | 28 | $56,300 | 159.730 |
| 1979 | Richard Petty | 43 | Oldsmobile | 13th | 12 | $73,900 | 143.977 |
| 1980 | Buddy Baker | 28 | Oldsmobile | 1st | 143 | $102,175 | 177.602 |
| 1981 | Richard Petty | 43 | Buick | 8th | 26 | $90,575 | 169.651 |
| 1982 | Bobby Allison | 88 | Buick | 7th | 147 | $120,360 | 153.991 |
| 1983 | Cale Yarborough | 28 | Pontiac | 8th | 23 | $119,600 | 155.979 |
| 1984 | Cale Yarborough | 28 | Chevrolet | 1st | 89 | $160,300 | 150.994 |
| 1985 | Bill Elliott | 9 | Ford | 1st | 136 | $185,500 | 172.265 |
| 1986 | Geoff Bodine | 5 | Chevrolet | 2nd | 101 | $192,715 | 148.124 |
| 1987 | Bill Elliott | 9 | Ford | 1st | 104 | $204,150 | 176.263 |
| 1988 | Bobby Allison | 12 | Buick | 3rd | 70 | $202,940 | 137.531 |
| 1989 | Darrell Waltrip | 17 | Chevrolet | 2nd | 25 | $184,900 | 148.466 |
| 1990 | Derrike Cope | 10 | Chevrolet | 12th | 5 | $188,150 | 165.761 |
| 1991 | Ernie Irvan | 4 | Chevrolet | 2nd | 29 | $233,000 | 148.148 |
| 1992 | Davey Allison | 28 | Ford | 6th | 127 | $244,050 | 160.256 |
| 1993 | Dale Jarrett | 18 | Chevrolet | 2nd | 8 | $238,200 | 154.972 |
| 1994 | Sterling Marlin | 4 | Chevrolet | 4th | 30 | $258,275 | 156.931 |
| 1995 | Sterling Marlin | 4 | Chevrolet | 3rd | 105 | $300,460 | 141.710 |
| 1996 | Dale Jarrett | 88 | Ford | 7th | 40 | $360,775 | 154.308 |
| 1997 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 6th | 40 | $377,410 | 148.295 |
| 1998 | Dale Earnhardt | 3 | Chevrolet | 4th | 105 | $1,059,805 | 172.712 |
| 1999 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 1st | 15 | $1,172,246 | 161.551 |
| 2000 | Dale Jarrett | 88 | Ford | 1st | 87 | $1,277,975 | 155.669 |
| 2001 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Chevrolet | 19th | 23 | $1,331,185 | 161.783 |
| 2002 | Ward Burton | 22 | Dodge | 19th | 5 | $1,409,017 | 130.810 |
| 2003 | Michael Waltrip | 15 | Chevrolet | 4th | 68 (of 109) | $1,419,406 | 133.870* |
| 2004 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | 8 | Chevrolet | 3rd | 59 | $1,495,070 | 156.341 |
| 2005 | Jeff Gordon | 24 | Chevrolet | 15th | 28 (of 203) | $1,497,150 | 135.173* |
| 2006 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | Chevrolet | 9th | 24 (of 203) | $1,505,120 | 142.734* |
- 1965: 322.5 Miles (129 laps) because of rain
- 1966: 495 Miles (198 laps) because of rain
- 1974: 450 Miles (180 laps) because of energy crisis
- 2003: 272.5 Miles (109 laps) because of rain
- 2005: 507.5 Miles (203 laps) because of green-white-checkered rule
- 2006: 507.5 Miles (203 laps) because of green-white-checkered rule
NOTE: Effective July 25, 2004, NASCAR changed finish rules in national (Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series) competition. If at any time during the penultimate lap the race is under caution, the race will end with two green flag laps or the next caution upon the ensuing restart.
See also
External links
- Top 10 Daytona 500 moments
- Video clip from 1964 Scenes of pre-race time trials which include several crashes and spin outs. From the State Library & Archives of Florida.
- Official track website
- Daytona 500 history from official track website
- 2006 Daytona 500 results, use the left dropdown menu to select a different year
NASCAR Nextel Cup races | 1959 establishments | NASCAR | Sports in Florida
"Daytona 500"