Ahead of the Cup Series race at the Auto Club Speedway, Bubba Wallace appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show. Over there, he talked about a number of subjects. Among them, he cast his mind back to the season-opening Daytona 500 and how he came really close to winning the race. Funnily enough, this isn’t the first time he has finished as the runner-up at the Daytona 500. He said [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTyTWYjF3kQ], “So I finished 2nd in my first Daytona 500 in 2018. I was a wrecking ball of emotion, super cool, pumped. Like, ‘Ahhh! We finished 2nd! Awesome!’. Now, I was p*ssed, I was ready to rip somebody’s head off after this one. The first time, I was two car lengths back, that is maybe a second back. This one, being that close, coming off of Turn 4, which is probably two football fields away from the start-finish line. I’m like, ‘Damn! We’re not going to win. We’re going to finish 2nd or third, then it came down to that.'” WHAT NEXT FOR BUBBA WALLACE IN THE 2022 NASCAR CUP SEASON? On the bright side, the 23XI Racing driver knows that the season is long. So, this gives him plenty of opportunities to try and bag another win. The driver got a bit of criticism for his Talladega win, with many suggesting that he got lucky with the red flag. So, for obvious reasons, he was gutted to miss out on the win to Austin Cindric at Daytona. Bubba Wallace [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1373183500.jpg]FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 27: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Wheaties Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 27, 2022 in Fontana, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) A win at the iconic race could have potentially put a lot of the criticism to bed. Unfortunately, a first Daytona 500 win was not meant to be, so Wallace will have to try again. As mentioned before, the season is long, and there are more than 30 races for him to make his mark. How many races do you think Wallace will win this year? READ MORE: Bubba Wallace Reveals His “Driving Crazy” Experience Outside of NASCAR on Jimmy Kimmel Live [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-reveals-his-driving-crazy-experience-outside-of-nascar-on-jimmy-kimmel-live/] 

When Bubba Wallace barely missed out on winning his first Daytona 500, he
underwent a myriad of emotions, most of which were quite violent

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

https://www.staging.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/es_circle_black_logo.png

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 Motorsports author 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

Bubba Wallace Reveals His “Driving Crazy” Experience Outside of NASCAR on Jimmy
Kimmel Live

NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 - Practice

FONTANA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Wheaties Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 26, 2022 in Fontana, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 - Practice - EssentiallySports

NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 &#8211; Practice

Hailing from Bengaluru, Bhargav is a Marketing and Ops Executive at EssentiallySports. A former F1 and NASCAR author, he is a huge fan of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. Bhargav also has an MBA in Sports Management from the Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Pune. He is quite a genius in his field, having won the All-India Marketing Case Study Competition conducted by SRCC in 2015. Bhargav also loves to combine his love for marketing and sports by taking part in competitions like Knockout: Sports Marketing Case Study by IIM Ahmedabad. When not engrossed in sports, he likes to play the keyboard and watch some of his favorite sitcoms.

https://www.staging.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Bhargav_Gopal-180x180.jpg

Bhargav Gopal

Bubba Wallace on Coming in 2nd at Daytona 500, His Boss Michael Jordan & New Netflix Series

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“I Was Ready to Rip Somebody’s Head Off” – Bubba Wallace Reveals Heartbreak of
Daytona 500 on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Exclusive: Team Kicked out by NASCAR After a Driver “Snitched” On Them

Uncertain “Political Environment” Cause Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing
to Take a Major Sponsorship Hit

NASCAR Rumor: Joe Gibbs Racing to Potentially Wipe Out This Low-Level Cup Series
Team; Charter Movement Imminent

“Just Push Her”: Denny Hamlin Asks Tony Stewart’s Sensation To Move Hailie
Deegan Out of His Way

“You’re Pissing Me Off” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Instantly Shuts Down Denny Hamlin’s
Solution to Better Talladega

US Army rides in style & safety! NASCAR champs win acclaim for reinforced Chevy troop carriers 

Hendrick Tech for Army Trucks

Rumors of SHR downsizing fly as sponsorships dry up & Michael Jordan’s team eyes a ‘bargain’


23XI Frontrunners For A Third Car?

We remember a racing legend whose name isn't as widely known as the brand he helped build.

Forgotten Brother Behind Chevrolet’s Legacy

Delving into the business intricacies of the sports world ft. Chloe V. Mitchell

Exclusive unheard NBA stories with dunk master Austin Fritts

3 Time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane- The Chemist who made Arnold Schwarzenegger cry


MILLION DOLLAR BLING, Saudi Arabian Glory, World Title and More  Ft. Impa Kasanganay

<h1 style="text-align: center">23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
<p style="text-align: left">Would you believe it, if five years ago, somebody told you that NBA legend Michael Jordan would become a regular name in NASCAR? Most people would probably scoff at the idea. However, that's exactly what happened when 23XI came into inception. 23XI Racing is a stock car racing team that regularly competes in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team currently has two drivers in its team: Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, and Tyler Reddick driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE.</p>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639040 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F4irU_PWEAASKOc-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1769" height="723" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The History of 23XI Racing</strong></h2>
After a lot of speculations and vehement denials by Michael Jordan's representatives about a possible NASCAR entry, 23XI was finally founded in 2020. The team debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series on February 14, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway. The team is owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who is a minority stakeholder. 23XI reportedly has a technical alliance with JGR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the team named 23XI Racing?</strong></h2>
23XI Racing's name is a culmination of meaningful symbolism. While the team name is as unconventional as it can be, the backstory behind it is the stuff of legends. Pronounced twenty three-eleven, the team name is an amalgamation of two numbers, 23 and 11, where the former is Michael Jordan's jersey number that he adorned for most of his NBA career. And, 11 stands for Denny Hamlin's car number in his Cup series team, Joe Gibbs Racing, that he has driven for the entirety of his career.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing’s Net Worth 2024 </strong></h2>
23XI Racing owner Michael Jordan is reportedly the first athlete to attain billionaire status. And a small chunk of it went to his NASCAR team. As per reports from 2023, 23XI is reportedly worth $150 million. While this is definitely a lot less than where other Cup Series teams stand, which MJ's backing, the best of the team definitely awaits.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Drivers</strong></h2>
23XI currently backs two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series: Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Wallace was the first driver that was announced as a part of the team. What's interesting is that the #23 driver had left his former team Richard Petty Motorsports, who he had driven for four years, just eleven days prior to the announcement.

[caption id="attachment_1946369" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1946369 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1032013058h.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1280" /> July 15, 2023, Loudon, NH, United States of America: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Drivers, Bubba Wallace 23 and Tyler Reddick 45 get ready to qualify for the Crayon 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon NH. NASCAR Cup Series 2023: Crayon 301 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAa161 20230715_zaa_a161_021 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x[/caption]

Apart from Wallace, Kyle Busch's older brother Kurt Busch was roped in to drive the No. 45 car in the 2022 season. However, his stint at 23XI Racing was unfortunately a short one. Kurt Busch joined the team in 2021 and competed in 20 races throughout the season, before a mishap took away his chances to be back in NASCAR's top division. Busch fell prey to a wreck during the qualifying race at Pocono Raceway and was subsequently not cleared to race in the main event despite his qualification, due to a concussion. Soon after, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-community-comes-together-to-say-goodbye-to-cup-series-champ-kurt-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the driver announced his retirement from full-time racing in the Cup Series</a>. Currently, Kurt Busch serves as a consultant to 23Xi Racing.

[caption id="attachment_934728" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-934728 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-02-17T033117Z_1214388381_MT1USATODAY17701270_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="Kurt Busch" width="1920" height="1342" /> Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (45) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

After Kurt Busch's untimely retirement, Tyler Reddick joined the team to replace the former as the new driver of the No. 45 car. Reddick, who was originally scheduled to start racing 23XI Racing in 2024, joined the team earlier than scheduled, after the Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin owned team bought the remainder of his contract from his then team, Richard Childress Racing.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Partnerships and Endorsements</strong></h2>
Despite 23XI being a fairly new team in the NASCAR Cup Series, it boasts an arsenal of big-named sponsors. After all, with the likes of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin spearheading the team, sponsors seem to have that confidence. While brands like McDonald's, Root Insurance, DoorDash and Columbia Sportswear moved to 23XI Racing in 2021 with Bubba Wallace from Richard Petty Motorsports, Dr. Pepper joined hands with the team soon after.

And that's not all. DraftKings inked a multi-dimensional deal with the Cup Series team ahead of the 2o21 season. Apart from being the official sports betting partner of 23XI Racing, the company also acted as a primary sponsor for #23 driver, Bubba Wallace.

The driver has also had a partnership with Leidos, having joined hands as a primary partner in 2022. The brans primarily teams up with #23 driver Bubba Wallace.

23XI Racing's Michael Jordan popularized brand Jordan also came on-board ahead of the 2022 season when Kurt Busch joined the team. While the team had plans to sponsor the team since its inception, 23XI being a single car organization with Bubba Wallace, in 2021, with backing from Columbia Sportswear proved to be a hindrance. However, Busch's joining finally facilitated the onboarding of the highly popular company.

Additionally, in February 2023, Monster Brewing announced a partnership with 23XI Racing, with Tyler Reddick primarily adorning the colors of the brand. <em>"This is all really cool,"</em> Reddick had said at the time. <em>"And now I get to debut The Beast this weekend at <span class="xn-location">Fontana</span> here in <span class="xn-location">California</span>. With the race being in such close proximity to Monster's Global HQ, It worked out to where we got to unveil the Beast scheme here today before getting on-track this weekend... Really cool to unveil the scheme with all the employees today, "</em> the #45 driver added.

Apart from that, Xfinity, the brand and not the NASCAR division, also inked a deal with the team ahead of the 2o23 season. It backed Tyler Reddick at the Richmond Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway last year. The telecommunications brand also sponsored Bubba Wallace at the Martinsville Speedway playoff race in 2023.

In another exciting development, in January 2024, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-mobil-1-expands-its-presence-in-nascar-as-they-announce-a-new-deal-with-all-toyota-teams-in-the-cup-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toyota Racing Development(TRD) and Mobil 1 announced an expansion backing all Toyota NASCAR teams</a>, including 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick will kick-off the partnership by running a Mobil 1 race at Phoenix in March and Richmond in August. On the other hand, Mobil 1 will be backing Bubba Wallace as a primary sponsor at the Circuit of the Americas race in March.

More exciting names have also joined the team recently. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-makes-dream-come-true-as-23xi-teams-up-the-united-states-airforce-for-the-2024-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The #23 driver reunited with US Air Force</a>, who will serve as a primary sponsor for select races.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2639065 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/FvAJVpXaUAEBEDq.jpeg" alt="" width="1367" height="911" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Investments</strong></h2>
The team has been growing in leaps and bounds ever since it came into business. As recently as 2021, Charlotte Business Journal reported that the team had made a huge $16 million investment into building a team headquarter in Huntersville, North Carolina. The HQ was reportedly being built on a 15-acre site that the team had acquired for $3.7 million the same year. Talking about when the HQ can be expected to be up and running, President of 23XI Racing, Steve Lauletta had said, "<em>“We don’t have an actual date yet, but it will be in the very near future."</em>

The headquarter will be a grand affair as the building will not just be a race shop but also<a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-bubba-wallace-gives-insight-into-airspeed-23xis-sixteen-million-racing-mansion-in-north-carolina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> house a 120 room hotel and 12,000 square feet of office space</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Major Achievements and Awards</strong></h2>
If you think 23XI Racing shouldn't be taken seriously just because it's a new team, you're definitely wrong. Despite only three years of experience, the team has been leaving a mark. While 2021 and 2022 proved to be a lackluster season for the team, 2023 went down in history books. Both full-time drivers from the team, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace made it to the Playoffs for the first time in the team's history. While Reddick finished 6th on the standings after getting eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace finished 10th last year after getting post his Round of 12 race elimination at the Charlotte Roval.

23XI Racing team has also been picking up several accolades off the track as well. In February 2024, the team won the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards. "<em>For the third consecutive year, the 23XI Racing family was recognized at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Awards for living out our mission and values as they pertain to making motorsports more diverse, equitable and inclusive," </em>the official release said.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing’s Vision</strong></h2>
When it comes to 23XI Racing's future prospects, the team has a lot of cards set on the table. Inclusivity has been at the forefront of the team's beliefs. Speaking about the same and how Bubba Wallace has been a big-time contributor to that cause, team president Steve Lauletta said, <em>"It’s part of the mission and values of this team, and it was started by what Bubba did for the sport of Nascar in 2020 (by campaigning for a Confederate Flag ban at NASCAR tracks). We all believe in it and we want to make it a focus of what we do as a team, and our partners believe in it."</em>

Even team co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned how expanding the talent pool and encouraging inclusivity is a vision that the team definitely sees. In an interview with Associated Press, the #11 driver said, <em>“I’m looking at potential hires right now that we’ve got on the board — there’s England, Brazil and Israel, the next three hires."</em> "<em>We’re trying to make a very diverse team. Certainly it’s important to give opportunities to those that never thought racing was a job, a place that they could have a job opportunity, " </em>the co-owner further added.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1079908 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/EievOnNWAAMVQ05.0-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" />

And not just that, the team is also heavily involved in charitable causes such as the <b>23XI Speed Institute Tuition Programme,</b> under the team's educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The program which offers $5,000 each to 23 students every year besides providing them with opportunities <em>"such as scholarships and internships, as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field"</em>.

Speaking about the same, the team president said,<em> "This was the second year that we gave away 23 US$5,000 scholarships to students of diverse backgrounds that wanted to explore motorsports, whether that be in engineering or on the business side. Two of those winning scholarship recipients were interns with us this year, and they’ll be interns with us next year. Those are the kind of things that all of our partners are rallying behind and want to be a part of so that we can help change the sport.”</em>

What's clear is the 23Xi racing team is in NASCAR for more than just racing and championship wins!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing Social Media</strong></h2>
<table style="width: 439px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/23xiracing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://twitter.com/23XIRacing?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://x.com/23XIRacing/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.85px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Website</span></td>
<td style="width: 348.55px"><a href="https://www.23xiracing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.23xiracing.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="width: 59.7333%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">23XI Racing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Owners</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Denny Hamlin, Michael Jordan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%">Headquarters</td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Mooresville, North Carolina</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Series </span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Drivers</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Tyler Reddick (No. 45)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Sponsors</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">McDonald's, Beast Unleashed, Nasty Beast, Columbia Sportswear, MoneyLion, Leidos, U.S. Air Force, Jordan Brand. Mobil 1, Monster Energy, Xfinity, Draft Kings, Walmart, DoorDash, Dr Pepper, NBA 2K24, melin, Mack Trucks, R3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Manufacturer</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">Toyota</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Founded</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2020</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Latest Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">2024 Busch Light Clash At The Coliseum</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Championship</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">NA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Race Victories</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 25.744%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 73.2143%">$150 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

23XI Racing

Read on to find out about NASCAR Cup Series Team 23XI Racing's Net Worth, Endorsements, Achievements and Vision!

23XI Racing: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More

23XI Racing Archives

<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

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<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

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When Bubba Wallace barely missed out on winning his first Daytona 500, he underwent a myriad of emotions, most of which were quite violent

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"I Was Ready to Rip Someone's Head Off" - Bubba Wallace Doesn't Hold Back on Jimmy Kimmel Live

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Bubba Wallace

Find the latest news about Bubba Wallace, his current net worth, endorsements, childhood, achievements, and more on EssentiallySports.

“I Was Ready to Rip Somebody’s Head Off” – Bubba Wallace Reveals Heartbreak of Daytona 500 on Jimmy Kimmel Live

What next for Bubba Wallace in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season?