Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway

Track Length – 2.5 mile

 Seats – 168,000

Probably the best known race in the NASCAR schedule is the Daytona 500.  The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the year for NASCAR, and is the first race of the season as well.  The second race of the year for Daytona is the Coke Zero 400 held in July.

To a certain extent Daytona Beach helped NASCAR get started.  Racing on the beaches of Daytona evolved into the creation of what is today the Daytona International Speedway.  The track opened in 1959 and quickly became the premier race of NASCAR.  Today, Daytona is only one of two restrictor plate races for NASCAR.  The layout and length of the track allow the race cars to reach very high speeds that are not safe for either the fans or the drivers.  The restrictor plate limits the amount of air going into the carburetor, thus restricting the top speed of the cars. 

Some of the biggest names in NASCAR history have won the Daytona 500.  A win at the Great American Race ensures a driver will be in the history books.