Track Profile - Daytona International Raceway

02.04.08

by www.rotoworld.com.

Daytona International Raceway

Distance: 2.5 miles
Shape: Tri-oval
Banking: 31- turns, 3- straights
Frontstretch: 3,800 feet
Backstretch: 3,000 feet
Seating: 168,000

Race 1: February 17 - 2007 Daytona 500 winner: Kevin Harvick
Race 18: July 5 - 2007 Pepsi 400 winner: Jamie McMurray

Daytona International Raceway has been hosting two major NASCAR races each season since 1959. The Daytona 500, dubbed "The Great American Race", was won by Lee Petty who collected $19,050 for winning the inaugural race in 1959. Unlike any other sport, where the goal is getting to and winning the final game at the last venue, the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup and other sport season finales, NASCAR has it's Daytona 500. Drivers will compete for bragging rights in the first of 36 points races on the 2008 Sprint Cup schedule. In July, DIS hosts its second race of the Cup season. This time it will be high-speed racing under the lights at the 480 acre facility which is considered the "World Center of Racing". Bill Elliott set the Daytona track record in 1987, running 210.364 mph, just before restrictor plates were introduced to the sport. In addition to the tower suites, there are 168,000 grandstand seats for the fans to enjoy these events. Daytona renovated its infield prior to the 2005 season; adding a "Fan Zone" that allows fans to get one of the best up-close views of a NASCAR garage.

First Cup race: Bob Welborn ran 140.121 mph to win the pole in the No. 49 Chevrolet for the first Daytona 500 in February 1959. Lee Petty, in his own No. 42 Oldsmobile, won in a photo finish over Johnny Beauchamp's No. 73 Thunderbird. The first summer Cup event was the 1959 Firecracker 250 held on July 4th. Fireball Roberts put the Jim Stephens owned No. 3 Pontiac on the pole, led 84 of the 100 lap race and beat the rest of the 34 car field. He earned $7,050 for crossing the line 57 seconds ahead of runner-up Joe Weatherly's No. 12 Thunderbird.

Most points last 4 races: Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Casey Mears, Elliott Sadler

Best to avoid: Dave Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley