Next weekend, the 2021 NASCAR Cup season kicks off with the Daytona 500. In light of that, Austin Dillon spoke about what the iconic event means to him. It is worth mentioning that he won the race in the 2018 season, his first career win in the Cup Series. Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he said, “I don’t know if it is confidence. Or a feeling of love for the place. You drive through there and I start smiling. It’s like something else deep in your heart that gets you going. “It’s a cool place, it’s exciting to have some of the best memories I’ve ever had at the track. Just this past weekend in the 24-hour race, that was a blast,” he added [https://mobile.twitter.com/SiriusXMNASCAR/status/1357094012587450369]. Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon drives during the NASCAR Cup Series [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1128428612.jpg]LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 02: Austin Dillon (3) Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 on March 2, 2019, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Tami Pope/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Daytona International Speedway holds a lot of fond memories for the driver. Other than that, the feeling of just being at the track is an incredible one. It also helped that he visited Victory Lane on one occasion. CAN AUSTIN DILLON TAKE A SECOND DAYTONA 500 WIN? Considering that the race is well-known for producing surprise winners, no one can rule out Dillon. Of course, the driver boasts of an impressive record at the race and has never finished lower than 19th since the 2014 season, when he made his full-time Cup debut. The Richard Childress Racing driver was in excellent form in the 2020 season. Now, he will be aiming to carry it forward into the 2021 Cup Series campaign. The best part is that he will be racing at the Daytona International Speedway on three straight race weekends. It also helps that he competed in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-dale-earnhardt-jr-funny-take-on-austin-dillon-bizarre-mistake-during-rolex-24-at-daytona-practice/] last week. First and foremost, there is the Busch Clash at the track, followed by the Daytona 500 and later on the Go Bowling 235. Of course, in the case of the latter, the drivers will race on the road course. READ MORE – Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick Set Expectations of Strong NASCAR Season With Richard Childress Racing [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-austin-dillon-tyler-reddick-set-expectations-of-strong-nascar-season-with-richard-childress-racing/] 

Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon spoke
about the race's significance, especially since he won there.

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews.

Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

Dhruv George

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch.

Dhruv George | Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports

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Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv-George-1-96x96.png

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports,
having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv_George.png

Austin Dillon, Tyler Reddick Set Expectations of Strong NASCAR Season With
Richard Childress Racing

Austin Dillon during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing

FORT WORTH, TX - APRIL 11: Austin Dillon, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, sits in his car during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by John Harrelson/NASCAR via Getty Images)

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing - EssentiallySports

Starting off as a tennis author in 2018, Varun Khanna has gone on to contribute to EssentiallySports in various capacities. After setting up interviews with the likes of Serena Williams? coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Aliz? Cornet, and Noah Rubin, Varun is now part of all major ATP and WTA press conferences and has gone on to pen more than 1300 articles for EssentiallySports. He now heads the tennis and NBA division of the organization. While writing remains a passion for him, Varun has branched out into the marketing and communications department of EssentiallySports as well. When he wants to relax, Varun doesn?t have to venture away from tennis and NBA; he simply tunes in to Rafael Nadal and Michael Jordan?s exploits in their respective sports, past and present.

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Varun Khanna

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figure

strong

“Gets You Going” – Austin Dillon Explains Importance of the NASCAR Daytona 500
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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
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 <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
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.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

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 <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> 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.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called ‘The Great American Race’</strong></span></h2>
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.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
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.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> 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.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong> Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
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 <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'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. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> 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.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

Read on to know all about the glorious history, origins and lesser know facts about the crown-jewel race of NASCAR, the Daytona 500.

Daytona 500: Origins, Past Winners, Race Results

Daytona 500 Archives

NASCAR

NASCAR Archives

LatestNASCAR - EssentiallySports News | EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the NASCAR Cup Series?</strong></h2>
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the authorizing body for stock-vehicle racing in North America. It was established in 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently, the organization fields four types of tracks: Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

[caption id="attachment_2675743" align="alignnone" width="5162"]<img class="wp-image-2675743 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-20T005209Z_1919194866_MT1USATODAY22564783_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="5162" height="3322" /> Feb 19, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Corey LaJoie (7), Kyle Busch (8) and A.J. Allmendinger (16) race three wide for the lead during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Origin</strong></h2>
The first-ever NASCAR race was held at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway on June 19, 1949 and Christian David "Jim" Roper was the victor after racer Glen Dunaway was disqualified for making illegal adjustments to his car.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 1949, NASCAR held its first-ever "Strictly Stock" race.</p>
Thirty-three drivers raced at Charlotte Speedway, six of which were future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Jim Roper was declared the winner following a disqualification to Glenn Dunaway. <a href="https://t.co/yBUDRcRxVo">pic.twitter.com/yBUDRcRxVo</a>

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1670832065690972160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is it named Cup Series? </strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of the racing arrangement in the NASCAR classification. The arrangement started in 1949 and was called the Strictly Stock Division. The series was subsequently known as the Grand National Division from 1950 to 1970.

Then, in 1971, it started renting its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was alluded to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series till 2003. From the next year onwards, the series came to be known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series till 2007 after a partnership with Nextel.

Sprint obtained Nextel in 2005 and 2008 saw the arrangement being renamed as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sprint remained the sponsor of the NASCAR Cup from 2008 to 2016. It was reported in December 2016 that Monster Energy would be the sponsor; therefore, the arrangement was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.

However, after decades of name changes, in 2017, the organization finally decided to shed off its old image and simply be named as the NASCAR Cup Series, with series sponsors being called 'Premier Partners'.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Cup Series?</strong></h2>
The NASCAR points system has been a complicated affair to say the least. Over the years, the organization has tried several iterations, namely the Latford system, the Chase and the current elimination playoffs format among others, to discern one that would be fair to each driver.

While the earlier system saw drivers being awarded points on the basis of prize money in a particular race, in 1972 a new format was introduced. This time the points were awarded on the basis of laps completed. However, even that came with its own flaws and just two years later, in 1974, the organization introduced point calculation based on a mathematical formula. However, given the complexity of the equation, Bill France Jr, the former CEO of NASCAR decided to step in and call upon his close friend Bob Latford, to come up with an efficient way, which later came to be known as Boot Hill Format or the Latford Model.

With equal points awarded in all races, as New York Times aptly put it: <em>"Mr. Latford set up his points scale to reward consistency rather than flashes of brilliance, and drivers seem to like it that way."</em>

This system was perhaps the longest-running one during that time, being replaced in 2003, by The Chase format. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series operates on the Playoff Format. The schedule consists of 31 oval races, 4 road course races, one street track race, and 4 non-championship races to be held on ovals. This also includes 16 playoff races, with four elimination rounds, namely, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 4 and Championship 4.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Teams</strong></h2>
As of 2024, the NASCAR Cup Series has 16 full-time teams participating and three manufacturers, namely Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford. As for the team with the most number of victories and championship, Hendrick Motorsports has has an undebatable upper hand, with 305 Cup Series wins and 14 drivers championships.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Venue</strong></h2>
The first championship race was reportedly held at Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile oval, on October 16, 1949. Currently, the final race of a Cup season is held at the Phoenix Raceway, which is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_1351857" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1351857 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-07T003206Z_1075855806_MT1USATODAY19376372_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg" alt="Joey Logano NASCAR" width="1920" height="1289" /> Nov 6, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races in the final laps of the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Championship</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series hosts three different championship under one name: The Driver's Championship, the Owner's Championship and the Manufacturer's Championship. The driver's championship as the name suggests is the award given to the driver that has emerged as the winner at the end of a season. On the other hand, the Owner's Championship aims to reward the team at the top of the points standings. The driver with the most championship wins are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports has won a record-breaking 14 championships till date.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1195372 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ezgif.com-gif-maker-3-78.jpg" alt="Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt NASCAR" width="1850" height="1253" />

On a similar note, the Manufacturer's Championship sees Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) being awarded a championship based on how races their cars managed to dominate and the points accumulated. In this regard, US-based manufacturer Chevrolet has racked up the most Cup Series wins at 42, followed by Ford at 17, and Toyota at 3.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Track Types</strong></h2>
As mentioned earlier, the NASCAR Cup series organizes its races on four different types of tracks, namely, Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

When it comes to Intermediate tracks, it simply means <em>"any track greater than one mile in length, with the exception of both Daytona and Talladega" </em>according to the official NASCAR website and currently the Cup Series drivers compete on the following Intermediate tracks/Speedways :
<ul>
 	<li>Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.500-mile Quad-Oval, including a 2.280 miles Road Course)</li>
 	<li>Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Dover Motor Speedway (1.000-mile, Concrete Oval)</li>
 	<li>Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.500-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kansas Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Michigan International Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Phoenix Raceway (1.000-mile, Dogleg Oval)</li>
 	<li>Texas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>World Wide Technology Raceway (1.250-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
On the other hand, Superspeedways ae oval road courses of two miles or longer. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series has the following Superspeedways:
<ul>
 	<li>Auto Club Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicagoland Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Daytona International Speedway (2.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kentucky Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Pocono Raceway (2.500-mile, Triangular Oval)</li>
 	<li>Talladega Superspeedway (2.660-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
</ul>
The short tracks (less than 1 mile in length) that are part of NASCAR are:
<ul>
 	<li>Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Eldora Speedway (0.500-mile, Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Knoxville Raceway (0.500-mile, Oval</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)</li>
 	<li>Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (0.686-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Milwaukee Mile Speedway (1.015-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Richmond Raceway (0.750-mile, D-shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
As for Road Courses, NASCAR makes use of the following race tracks:
<ul>
 	<li>Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2.459-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicago Street Race (2.14 miles)</li>
 	<li>Circuit of the Americas (3.426-mile)</li>
 	<li>DAYTONA Road Course (4.170-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.400-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Portland International Raceway (1.967-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Road America(4.048-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sebring Raceway (3.741 mi, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile)</li>
 	<li>Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Crown Jewel Races</strong></h2>
While NASCAR has several racetracks that it competes on, there are a couple venues that are held in high regards. Currently there are four such venues/races, namely the Daytona 500 held at the Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola 500 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway , the Brickyard 400/Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.

Till date, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has the most number of Crown Jewel race wins (21), followed by Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson (14) and retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison (13).

[caption id="attachment_1691261" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1691261 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmie-Johnson-Jeff-Gordon.jpg" alt="Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon" width="1920" height="1280" /> January 20, 2017 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon introduce Rick Hendrick at the NASCAR Motorsport USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Rick Hendrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Richard Childress, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, and Benny Parsons. 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - ZUMAw123 20170120_zap_w123_024[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Cars</strong></h2>
NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and till date, there have been several iterations of the cars used during races. If we go back to the very inception of the sport, the first kind of vehicle that was used used to be called Generation - 1 (1948-1966), followed by Generation - 2 (1967-1980) and Generation - 3 (1981-1991). Later the Generation - 4 (1992 to 2007) was introduced , and then Generation - 5 (2007 -2012) and Generation - 6 (2013-2021) came into play. And currently, NASCAR features the Generation - 7 car that is also known as the Next-Gen.

Anothe notable model was the Generation - 5. Dubbed as the<em> "Car of Tomorrow"</em>, this model featured flaunted prominent front splitters under the bumpers and larger rear wings. Apart from that, according to NASCAR, the car also had <em>"significant safety advancements and a return to symmetrical bodies". </em>

[caption id="attachment_2651610" align="alignnone" width="3461"]<img class="wp-image-2651610 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T030626Z_974940649_MT1USATODAY22533198_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3461" height="2307" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Street Course</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series has come a long way since its initial days. The organization has always been open to developments and one of the most exciting ones came in 2023,when the tourney made its Street Course debut at Chicago.

In a bid to turn make the schedule even more exciting, NASCAR officials were reportedly in talks with Chicago authorities for a number of years, with one attempt of a Chicago street race even dating back to the 1980s. However, owing to political pressure, that plan failed to materialize. Now, fast forward to four decades later and authorities were finally geared up to host an exciting, first-of-its-kind race in downtown Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_1911252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1911252 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-03T052154Z_1117738559_MT1USATODAY20983749_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GRANT-PARK-220.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view as cars race along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race viewed from the NEMA Chicago buliding. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Designed by race simulation video game developer iRacing, the race aimed to showcase the city's major landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain, the Grant Park and the Soldier Field Stadium, among others.

The first iteration of the race came in July of 2023, with New Zealand born driver Shane van Gisbergen clinching victory in his first-ever NASCAR race. If that's not iconic, what is?

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2804674 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0HhwcqXoAI3_zb.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" />
<table style="width: 75.2357%;height: 264px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Year of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">1949</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR "Strictly Stock" Race, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Last Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crown Jewel Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400/ Verizon 200, Southern 500</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Drivers with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Richard Petty (7), Dale Earnhardt (7) and Jimmie Johnson(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Red Byron</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Ryan Blaney (2023)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Team Penske</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

NASCAR Cup Series

Here's everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series, its Origin, Teams, History, Venues, Crown Jewel Races and more!

NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More

NASCAR Cup Series Archives

title

Ahead of the 2021 Daytona 500, Richard Childress Racing's Austin Dillon spoke about the race's significance, especially since he won there.

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“Gets You Going” – Austin Dillon Explains Importance of the NASCAR Daytona 500 to Him - EssentiallySports

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[caption id="attachment_455766" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-455766" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-133408425.jpg" alt="Austin Dillon posing with his Truck Series trophy in Homestead" width="1920" height="1280" /> HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, poses with the championship trophy after winning the 2011 Series Championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth, Salary and Endorsements</h2>
Austin Dillon is an American stock car racer.?Dillon drives the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.

He is additionally a part-time driver with the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dillon was named the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2010 in the Truck Series. He at that point won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Stats and Championship</h2>
Dillon additionally won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2013. He set the precedent for the most successive pole positions in the Nationwide Series at four.

In 2018 Dillon won the Daytona 500. He was the 2014 Daytona 500 pole sitter and the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 victor. Austin won the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Sponsors</h2>
Sponsors of Austin Dillon are Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet.

[caption id="attachment_455769" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-455769" src="https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-166331227.jpg" alt="Austin Dillon in NASCAR Cup Series" width="1920" height="1312" /> FORT WORTH, TX - APRIL 11: Austin Dillon, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, pulls into the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2>Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth</h2>
As indicated by <a href="https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/race-car-drivers/austin-dillon-net-worth/">celebrity net worth</a>, he has a net worth of $12 million. Austin has 3 Cup Series triumphs.
<h2>Austin Dillon: Family</h2>
Austin was born in Lewisville, North Carolina in April 1990. He is from a racing family. His dad Mike Dillon, brother Ty Dillon, and granddad Richard Childress are involved in NASCAR.

Dillon is married to previous NFL cheerleader Whitney Ward. He likewise played in the 2002 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

In 2019, Dillon made an appearance in the film Stuber with sibling Ty and Daniel Su?rez.

Dillon also appeared on the TV show SEAL Team.
<h2>How to contact Austin Dillon</h2>
Dillon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it's the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the Cup Series driver.

Austin is on all the popular social media platforms such as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/austindillon3/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf_XZ9jAt6_tqna4XdvW8oA">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/austindillon3">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/austindillon3/">Facebook</a>. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Dillon also has his own <a href="https://austindillon.com/">official website</a>.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="301">Age</td>
<td width="301">30 Years</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Residence</td>
<td width="301">Welcome, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Nationality</td>
<td width="301">American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Team</td>
<td width="301">Richard Childress Racing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Endorsements</td>
<td width="301">Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Net Worth</td>
<td width="301">$12 Million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="301">Birthday</td>
<td width="301">April 27, 1990</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2></h2>

Austin Dillon

HOMESTEAD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 18: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Chevrolet, poses with the championship trophy after winning the 2011 Series Championship in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth, Salary and Endorsements Austin Dillon is an American stock car racer.?Dillon drives the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He is additionally a part-time driver with the #3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Dillon was named the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2010 in the Truck Series. He at that point won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title in 2011. Austin Dillon: Stats and Championship Dillon additionally won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 2012 and the NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 2013. He set the precedent for the most successive pole positions in the Nationwide Series at four. In 2018 Dillon won the Daytona 500. He was the 2014 Daytona 500 pole sitter and the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 victor. Austin won the 2020 O&#8217;Reilly Auto Parts 500. Austin Dillon: Sponsors Sponsors of Austin Dillon are Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet. FORT WORTH, TX &#8211; APRIL 11: Austin Dillon, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, pulls into the garage area during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gen-6 Testing at Texas Motor Speedway on April 11, 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Austin Dillon: 2021 Net Worth As indicated by celebrity net worth, he has a net worth of $12 million. Austin has 3 Cup Series triumphs. Austin Dillon: Family Austin was born in Lewisville, North Carolina in April 1990. He is from a racing family. His dad Mike Dillon, brother Ty Dillon, and granddad Richard Childress are involved in NASCAR. Dillon is married to previous NFL cheerleader Whitney Ward. He likewise played in the 2002 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In 2019, Dillon made an appearance in the film Stuber with sibling Ty and Daniel Su?rez. Dillon also appeared on the TV show SEAL Team. How to contact Austin Dillon Dillon is very active and highly popular on social media. As a result, it&#8217;s the most accessible and easiest method to keep in touch with the Cup Series driver. Austin is on all the popular social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. While these serve as an excellent platform for fan requests and interactions, Dillon also has his own official website.  Age 30 Years  Residence Welcome, North Carolina  Nationality American  Team Richard Childress Racing  Endorsements Coca-Cola, Dow, Bass Pro Shops, American Ethanol, Symbicort, Chevrolet  Net Worth $12 Million  Birthday April 27, 1990

Austin Dillon Archives

Austin Dillon Archives - EssentiallySports

<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>The Daytona 500 2024</b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
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.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called the Great American Race?</strong></h2>
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 race is also called the 'The Great American Race' and given the storied history of the Daytona International Speedway and its roots in racing, the moniker is surely a well-deserved one.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>When is the Daytona 500 2024?</strong></h2>
The 2024 Daytona 500 is set to be held on <strong>February 18, Sunday</strong> at<strong> 7:30pm GMT/2:30pm ET</strong>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
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 <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who are the past winners of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
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.

[caption id="attachment_859313" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-859313 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1018179224.jpg" alt="Richard Petty" width="1920" height="1280" /> BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 17: Team owner, Richard Petty, stands on pit road during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2018 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)[/caption]

Following 'The King' on the most-wins tally is Carl Yarborough with four wins in 1968, 1977, 1983 and 1984. The current vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon also won the Daytona 500 three times in 1997, 1999 and 2005. The Pied Piper of Daytona, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dale Earnhardt Jr</a> and seven-time Cup Series Champion <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jimmie-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jimmie Johnson</a> won the race on two occasions in 2004 and 2014, and 2006 and 2013, respectively.

Among the current batch of drivers, the one who clinched the most victory lane visits is <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denny Hamlin</a> with three wins, two of which were back-to-back (2016, 2019 and 2020). However, many talented drivers are yet to get their hands on the elusive title that includes two-time Cup Series champions <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Busch</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Larson</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the eligibility of the Daytona 500 2024?</strong></h2>
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.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The entry list for the Daytona 500 2024?</strong></h2>
The four non-charter teams that have announced their participation in the Daytona 500 2024 are:
<ul>
 	<li><span class="LinkEnhancement">David Ragan - </span>No. 60 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing</li>
 	<li>Anthony Alfredo - No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro for Beard Motorsports</li>
 	<li>Jimmie Johnson - the No. 84 Toyota Camry for Legacy Motor Club</li>
 	<li>BJ McLeod - No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro for Live Fast Motorsports</li>
</ul>
The charter teams that will participate in the Daytona 500 2024 are:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 53.0357%;height: 944px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px">
<h3>Owner-Manufacturer</h3>
</td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px">
<h3 style="text-align: center">Driver-Car Number</h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 144px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 144px;text-align: center"><strong>Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 144px;text-align: center">No. 5 - Kyle Larson<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 9 - Chase Elliott<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 24 - William Byron<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 48 - Alex Bowman</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 11 - Denny Hamlin<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 19 - Martin Truex Jr.<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 20 - Christopher Bell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 54 - Ty Gibbs</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 4 - Josh Berry (R)<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 10 - Noah Gragson<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 14 - Chase Briscoe<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 41 - Ryan Preece</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Team Penske, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 2 - Austin Cindric<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 12 - Ryan Blaney<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 22 - Joey Logano</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 3 - Austin Dillon<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 8 - Kyle Busch</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 16 - A.J. Allmendinger<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 31 - Daniel Hemric</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Legacy Motor Club, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 43 - Erik Jones</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>RFK Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 6 - Brad Keselowski<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 17 - Chris Buescher</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 1 - Ross Chastain<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 99 - Daniel Suarez</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 23 - Bubba Wallace<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 45 - Tyler Reddick</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 7 - Corey LaJoie<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 71 - Zane Smith<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (R)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 56px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 56px;text-align: center"><strong>Front Row Motorsports, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 56px;text-align: center">No. 34 - Michael McDowell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 38 - Todd Gilliland</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Rick Ware Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 15 - Riley Herbst<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 51 - Justin Haley</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>Wood Brothers Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 21 - Harrison Burton</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Grand Marshall and the Pre-race show at the Daytona 500, 2024</strong></h2>
The 2024 Daytona 500 will be a star-studded affair. This year, Hollywood actor and professional wrestler, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is set to perform the duties of the Grand Marshal.

As for the pre-race show, Trackhouse Racing Team co-owner Pitbull will light up the stage before the iconic race commences.<em> “It’s an honor to once again be part of the Great American Race, this time performing at the Daytona 500,”</em> Pitbull had said after the announcement was made.

[caption id="attachment_516696" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-516696 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210116150513/GettyImages-1211216417.jpg" alt="Pitbull prior to the NASCAR Daytona 500" width="1920" height="1280" /> AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Rapper Pitbull performs prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Tickets for the Daytona 500 2024</strong></h2>
For the first time in recent history, the tickets for the Daytona 500 race have been sold out. However, fans can still get a chance to witness the coveted race in person by buying reserved grandstands seats at the event's official ticketing partner, seatgeek.com. People looking for budget-friendly options have various alternatives, with the lowest being  $139 each for 1-4 tickets. For premium VIP packages, ticket prices range from $506 to $706 for 1-6 tickets. An important point to note is that the VIP packages will be inclusive of $25 food/beverage credit included with each ticket, FanZone passes featuring pre-race access to the track, and one Daytona 500 gift bundle per ticket holder.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Broadcasting of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 race will be broadcast live on Fox and the FOX Sports App. Users who do not have a cable connection can also watch the race on live streaming platforms that include FOX, such as YouTube TV, Hulu+, fuboTV and Sling TV.

From where to get last-minute tickets to which drivers to expect on the racetrack, here's everything you need to know about the 2024 Daytona 500.

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