Latest Daytona 500 News

Latest Daytona 500 News

More Daytona 500 News

“I..F—-ed Up”: Bubba Wallace’s Insider Blames Himself After Major Daytona 500 Blunder

Freddie Kraft took the blame for Bubba Wallace’s Daytona 500 setback, admitting mistake that cost them a shot at victory.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 Practice & Qualifying Aug 31, 2024; Darlington, South Carolina,

Kyle Busch Faces a Harsh Truth After Strong Response to NASCAR’s Controversial Daytona 500 ‘Protocol’

Tommy Baldwin explains NASCAR's DVP rules following Kyle Busch's Daytona 500 controversy, shedding light on the policy's impact and fairness.
NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 – Qualifying

Bubba Wallace Proposes a Bold Solution to End NASCAR’s Hypocrisy on Dangerous Daytona Finish

Bubba Wallace proposes an idea to get rid of NASCAR's hypocrisy and bring forth a standardized rule for long term results.
NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice and Qualifying Nov 2, 2024; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver B

Denny Hamlin Opposes Kyle Busch With Bitter Truth as Rowdy Goes Ballistic Against NASCAR’s DVP Rule

Denny Hamlin corrects Kyle Busch's understanding of the new Damage Vehicle Policy after the controversy surrounding the Daytona 500.
Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin Reveals His Truth on William Byron’s Historic Win, Exposes NASCAR’s Big Blow to Cup Series ‘Stars’

After missing out on the Daytona 500, Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on William Byron's "lucky" win at the season opener.
William Byron, Denny Hamlin

Despite Crushing Roger Penske’s Hopes, Joey Logano Deemed Innocent in Daytona 500 Destruction by NASCAR Veterans

Joey Logano missed another chance at Daytona 500 and inspite of major crash, gets dismissal as innocent from the blame.
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Jimmie Johnson Hit With a Major Struggle at Legacy MC After Leaving Rick Hendrick & Chad Knaus’ Shadow

Jimmie Johnson opens up about the struggles he had to go through as a team owner after his tenure ended under Rick Hendrick and Chad Knaus.
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Jeff Gordon Left in Disbelief After Rick Hendrick Accidentally Manifests Successor’s Fate at Daytona

The Daytona 500 has officially wrapped up and 3-time winner Jeff Gordon was in shock when Rick Hendrick's prediction came true.
Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick

Denny Hamlin Exposes NASCAR’s Underhanded Tactic to Cover-Up Its Biggest Drawback

Denny Hamlin has outlined NASCAR's overreliance on wrecks, luck, and controversy to dominate headlines instead of focusing on the sport.
NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500

Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Left Teary-Eyed After Their 2-YO Daughter Fulfills a Dream

Samantha Busch gets emotional after she was able to fulfill her long-standing dream with Lennix Busch at the Daytona 500.
Kyle Busch and Family

Jimmie Johnson Leaves Behind Jeff Gordon to Set New Uncanny Daytona Record Against King Richard Petty

Jimmie Johnson rewrites history by entering the list of top-5 finishes in the Daytona 500 over 20 years after his first.
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“I’ve Spent So Much Money” – Denny Hamlin Expresses Regret Investing in 23XI With NASCAR’s Declining State

Denny Hamlin opens up on how superspeedway racing has decline and laments investing into 23XI Racing if nothing is going to change.
Michael Jordan Denny Hamlin NASCAR

Fans Trash NASCAR for Mimicking Formula 1’s Stringent Policies Ruining Their 77-Year Heritage

NASCAR fans hope the sanctioning body doesn't take a leaf out of F1's book and begin penalizing drivers for using swear words on the radio.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400

“Numb” Rick Hendrick Rubs Salt on Kyle Busch’s Wounds After Last Lap Theatrics at Daytona

Rick Hendrick reflects on the Daytona 500, sharing his experience watching William Byron win while adding insult to Kyle Busch's injury.
Rick Hendrick, Kyle Busch

Daytona’s Biggest Problem Exposed as Veteran Insider Sparks Another ‘Mickey Mouse’ Winner Controversy

Sunday's Daytona 500 was not only welcomed big celebrities and dignitaries but also was fest of crash spoilsport
DAYTONA, FL – FEBRUARY 19: Ricky Stenhouse Jr ( 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Kroger/Cottonelle Chevrolet) and Kyle Larson ( 5

Joey Logano Remains Unapologetic Despite Kyle Busch & Jeff Gordon’s “Stupid” Allegations

Joey Logano initiates a bold move leading to a 10 car pile-up on track receives criticism from Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch

Martin Truex Jr. Drops Cup Series Bombshell Moments After Tricon Heartbreak

Martin Truex Jr has been weighed by his father's legacy and recent disappointments only add to his woes further
NASCAR: Cup Practice and Qualifying

Christopher Bell Refuses To Play Daytona 500 Blame Game Despite Unfair Treatment by NASCAR Rivals

Christopher Bell’s Daytona 500 heartbreak ended in a terrifying crash—but as always, his response was pure class.
NASCAR: Cup Practice & Qualifying

Ross Chastain’s Hard Hitting Crash Spoils Trackhouse Racing’s Ingenious Move for Daytona

Ross Chastain’s Daytona disaster took out more than just his own car—it ended a NASCAR dream for a racing legend.
ross chastain helio castroneves

Nostalgic Jimmie Johnson Lets Out An Emotional Connection to William Byron After His Daytona Glory

Jimmie Johnson gets emotional as he recollects William Byron as a child and his growth as a driver through years.
NASCAR: Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona

Helio Castroneves States His Conditions for a NASCAR Return After His “Disappointing” Daytona 500

After a disaster-laden Daytona weekend, Helio Castroneves confesses his modified interests regarding NASCAR.
Helio Castroneves

Denny Hamlin Ready to Betray JGR Teammate as He Reveals Shocking Heel Turn in Cole Custer Callout

Denny Hamlin advices Cole Custer to wreck fellow teammate after last minute crash ends up championship hopes for him.
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Kyle Busch Fires 3-Word Accusation at Joey Logano for Sabotaging Roger Penske & Co’s Hopes

Kyle Busch accuses Joey Logano of "just creating chaos" after a late-race crash at the Daytona 500 that affected multiple drivers and teams.
Kyle busch and Joey Logano

Jeff Gordon Discloses Kyle Larson’s Worsening Mental Battle Against His Biggest Racing Weakness

Kyle Larson’s Daytona 500 curse struck again—but this time, Jeff Gordon is worried it’s more than just bad luck.
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Daytona 500: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Refuses to Blame Joey Logano Amid Shocking Alliance With Rival

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took the high road after the Daytona 500 crash and refuses to blame Joey Logano, saying he needs to see the replay first.
Joey Logano Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Jeff Gordon & William Byron Gang Up to Publicly Bash Joey Logano’s “Stupid” Actions at Daytona

Joey Logano's move that caused multi wreck on track gets hailed as stupid by Jeff Gordon and Daytona 500 winner William Byron.
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About Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500?

For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

via Imago

Origins of the Daytona 500

While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing. The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.

Why is the Daytona 500 called ‘The Great American Race’

As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crème de la crème. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

via Imago

Highlights of the Daytona 500

The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

 

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.

 Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500

Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as "the duels". The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.

The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt's greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

via Imago

 

The changes of the name of the Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.