Daytona 500

Daytona 500

Venue:	Daytona International Speedway
Main sponsor:	-
First race:	1959
Distance:	500 miles (805 km)
Number of laps:	200
Former names:	First Annual 500 Mile International Sweepstakes (1959) Second Annual 500 Mile International Sweepstakes (1960) Daytona 500 by STP (1991–1993) Daytona 500 by Dodge (2001) Daytona 500 by Toyota (2007) Daytona 500 (1961–1991, 1994–2000, 2002–2006, since 2008)

The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile (805 km) race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series that takes place annually at the oval-shaped Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach , Florida . Since the curves can be driven through without taking off the gas, it has been one of four races on the Sprint Cup calendar since 1988 in which the engine power is limited by the restrictor plate . This measure limits the top speed to around 315 km / h, and even higher speeds can be achieved in the race due to the slipstream . The race was held for the first time in 1959 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008.

The Daytona 500 is considered the most important and prestigious NASCAR race, known as the "Great American Race" or the " Super Bowl of Motorsport". It is also the race in which by far the most prize money is awarded. It always takes place on the second or third Sunday in February, as the last event of the annual Daytona Speedweeks . Since 1995, the Daytona 500 has had the highest television ratings of all car races in the USA, as the legendary Indianapolis 500 has lost importance since the 1990s due to its split into two racing series. The 2007 race was the sixth most successful live sports broadcast of the year with 20 million viewers.

The winner of the Daytona 500 will be honored with the Harley J. Earl Trophy and the winning car will be in the Daytona Motorsport Museum for one year. Since 1971, the date has also been linked to Washington's Birthday , US President's Day.

Memorable Daytona 500

The race is the successor to the shorter race that was held on the Daytona Beach Road Course . This long oval once consisted of the sand of the beach and partly of the adjacent highways. Previous events were 200 miles long using stock cars. These cars were equipped with windshield wipers and radiators because the sand was a major obstacle for the driver. The Daytona 500 has been held at Daytona International Speedway since 1959.

1959-1969

Lee Petty , patriarch of a famous racing family, the most famous member of which is his son Richard Petty , won the first Daytona 500 on February 22, 1959, beating Johnny Beauchamp in an unusual way. Petty and Beauchamp lapped Joe Weatherly on the home straight, whereupon officials initially awarded Beauchamp the win after three cars crossed the finish line side by side. After viewing pictures and film clips several times, the verdict was revised three days later and Lee Petty was declared the winner.

In 1964 Richard Petty led his Plymouth with the new Hemi engine 184 of the 200 laps and won the Daytona 500. Plymouth took first, second and third places. The triumph was Petty's first victory on a super speedway.

The first Daytona 500 to be prematurely stopped because of rain was the race in 1965. Front-runner Marvin Panch and Fred Lorenzen met on lap 129 when it started to rain. Panch spun off the track and Lorenzen won the race after a total of 133 laps. The 1966 Daytona 500, which also had to be stopped prematurely due to rain on lap 198, was won by Richard Petty .

The 1967 race saw a formidable Mario Andretti . He led 112 of 200 laps, including the last 33 laps, and won the race. It was the only NASCAR race Andretti could win.

1970-1979

The 1970 race began with Cale Yarborough setting the pace right from the start, taking pole at a speed of 194.015 mph (312.237 km / h). Fate played a big role this year, because shortly after the green flag fell, some pilots got into trouble. First Richard Petty was hit, then Yarborough, who had to end the race early after 31 laps, of which he was leading 26. Donnie Allison and A. J. Foyt were the next drivers to give up. Later in the race, Pete Hamilton, a hitherto unknown driver, fought for the lead with Charlie Glotzbach and David Pearson. On lap 192 Hamilton overtook Pearson and took the lead, and although Pearson kept trying to regain the lead, Hamilton won the race. It was the first of four victories for Hamilton to have had a short but respectable NASCAR career. The Daytona 500 had the largest number of spectators so far in this race, a total of 103,800.

In 1973 there was a classic two-car duel between Petty and Buddy Baker . Of the first 150 laps, Baker was leading 118 laps, but Petty was hot on his heels after avoiding some engine problems from other drivers and an accident on lap 155. After the leaders Petty and Baker had completed their last pit stop ten laps before the end, Petty was able to show a lead of 4.4 seconds over Baker. But Baker was getting closer to him lap per lap and the lead was only 2.5 seconds with five laps to go, but then Baker's engine failed. He had to finish the race and Petty took his fourth Daytona 500 victory.

At the beginning of the 1974 season, the distance was shortened by ten percent in some races due to the energy crisis. Richard Petty was able to win the Daytona 500 twice in a row, which was only 180 laps (450 miles). The two 125-mile qualifying races have also been reduced to 45 laps (112.5 miles).

In 1976 Richard Petty was the first to cross the start and finish line with one lap before the end of the race, but was overtaken by David Pearson on the back straight . Petty tried to overtake Pearson on the bottom line in the last corner but failed to fully complete the maneuver. They collided and spun onto the grass in the infield a few meters from the finish line. Petty was unable to start his car, but Pearson kept his car running and crossed the finish line as the winner.

The 1978 race was not easy for Bobby Allison . He came to the race with a losing streak of 67 races without a win, but with eleven laps to go, he drove his Bud Moore Ford past Buddy Baker to take the lead. He didn't give up this in the last few laps and celebrated his first Daytona 500 victory.

The Daytona 500 in 1979 was the first 500 mile race to be broadcast live on national television. The television broadcast showed several on-board footage and there were several cameras mounted along the route. NASCAR received a lot of bad publicity because of a last-lap accident that led to a fight between leaders Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison (along with Donnie's brother Bobby Allison ). Donnie Allison led the race on the final lap. Cale Yarborough drove in his slipstream and tried to overtake him at the end of the back straight, but Allison drove to the battle line. Not wanting to lose ground, Yarborough decided to overtake Allison on the inside, but his left wheels went off the track and hit the grass. He lost control of his car and hit Allison in the side at the end of the back straight. When both drivers tried to keep their cars on the track, they touched several times before they finally collided with the wall at turn three. After both cars stalled on the grass, Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough began to argue violently. After they seemed to have cleared up the situation, the already lapped Bobby Allison drove over to the two and defended his brother. Then a wild brawl broke out. Richard Petty, who was half a lap behind at the time, was not impressed and won. This created a lot to talk about. The action even made it to the front page of the sports section of the New York Times .

1980-1989

Buddy Baker started the new decade with the fastest Daytona 500 in history. He won with an average speed of 177.602 mph (285.809 km / h).

The 1981 race saw Richard Petty take a very big risk to win his seventh Daytona 500. With 24 laps to go, Petty made his last scheduled pit stop, but instead of getting four new tires, his car was just refueled. It turned out to be a very good decision and Petty won the race. He was now the only driver who managed to win the Daytona 500 in three different decades.

In 1983, Cale Yarborough became the first driver to manage a qualifying lap of over 200 mph (320 km / h). However, Yarborough had an accident on his second qualifying lap and overturned at Turn 4. His car had to be withdrawn from participation and the record lap did not count. Despite the accident, Yarborough drove to victory the next day with a replacement car. A year later - 1984 - he set the record with an average speed of 201.848 mph (324.828 km / h). He then won the race for the second time in a row and in total he could now look back on four Daytona 500 victories.

In 1987 Bill Elliott set the record that is still standing today, he drove a qualifying lap of 210.364 mph (338.532 km / h). He then won the race for the second time in his career, having won the race two years earlier in 1985.

Between the two years - in 1986 - there was a spectacular race between Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine , who battled for victory over the last 70 laps. Earnhardt led ten laps and Bodine 60. When there were still three laps to go, Earnhardt pitted because he ran out of petrol in his tank. When he pulled out of the pits again, Earnhardt destroyed his piston and Geoff Bodine won with a lead of 11.26 seconds because he was a little more economical with his gasoline.

In the 1988 Daytona 500, the new Restrictor Plates were used in the Superspeedway races for the first time. They had the task of slowing down the cars using air flow limiters, as they had reached too high a speed in recent years. Before the race, nobody really knew how the new introduction would look. In the end, Bobby Allison won ahead of his son Davey Allison. Both celebrated together on Victory Lane. Bobby Allison was the oldest driver to ever win the Daytona 500. In the race there was also a bad accident by Richard Petty on lap 106. Petty spun, got underpuff and his car got on and crashed into the safety fence. After it had come to a standstill again on the route, A. J. Foyt and Brett Bodine crashed into his car, which broke in half. However, Petty was able to get out without significant injuries.

Darrell Waltrip won the Daytona 500 in 1989 after 17 tries. Fans cheered the winner with loud shouts, and after being interviewed by a reporter, Waltrip yelled into the camera, “I won the Daytona 500! I won the Daytona 500! ”He also did a little dance in Victory Lane.

1990-1999

After years of trying to win the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt had the best chance in 1990. With seven laps to go, there was the third and last yellow light phase of the race. All came in the box except Derrike Cope. After the restart on lap 195, Earnhardt overtook Derrike Cope and took the lead again. But in the last lap Earnhardt drove over a small metal part, which was thrown onto the track by Rick Wilson after the engine burst, and his tire burst. Derrike Cope passed Earnhardt and won his first NASCAR race, the Daytona 500.

Earnhardt fared no better in 1991 either. When there were six laps left, Ernie Irvan overtook him in first place and later, when there were still two laps left, he even spun out and collided with Davey Allison and Kyle Petty. Irvan drove to victory under a yellow flag.

In 1992 Davey Allison won his only Daytona 500 after overcoming the "Big One" on lap 92 without a scratch. He then led the last 102 laps to victory.

In 1993 Jeff Gordon drove his first Daytona 500 and finished it right in the top five. On lap 170 Rusty Wallace tried to avoid the spinning cars of Michael Waltrip and Derrike Cope, but he lost control and rolled over several times in the infield of the back straight. With two laps to go, third-placed Dale Jarrett got a push from Geoff Bodine and overtook second Jeff Gordon. He even tried to get past Earnhardt and managed that after a little touch. Jarrett won the race and it was the fourth time for Dale Earnhardt that he was in the lead with less than ten laps to go and still couldn't win.

Sterling Marlin won the 1994 race with the last drop of gasoline in the tank. Many other of his competitors could not fight for victory because of insufficient fuel. Lake Speed ​​had to pit again with three laps to go in fourth place. It was exactly the same for Mark Martin , who had to head for the pits in third place two laps to go.

In 1995, Sterling Marlin was the first to cross the finish line again, making him the first driver since Cale Yarborough to win the Daytona 500 twice in a row. Dale Earnhardt finished second after improving from 17th to second in the last few laps. But Earnhardt found no way around Sterling Marlin and had still not won a Daytona 500 at this point.

In 1998, Dale Earnhardt managed to win the Daytona 500 for the first time after 20 attempts.

2000-2009

A typical racing situation since the introduction of air flow limiters: closely spaced vehicles in two or three lines next to each other.

In the last corner of the last lap in the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR's superstar Dale Earnhardt died after a seemingly harmless accident in which he was pushed by Rusty Wallace, lost control of his car and crashed into the outer wall almost head-on after another contact . The impact was so severe that his head shot forward and the base of the skull broke. He died on the way. In an accident on lap 173 involving 18 cars, Tony Stewart overturned and the race was briefly red flagged to clear up the many debris. Michael Waltrip made his first race for Team Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and won it. His team-mate Dale Earnhardt junior , the son of the victim, came second . Both cars belonged to Dale Earnhardt, who was in third place until his fatal accident.

In 2002, Sterling Marlin and Jeff Gordon battled it out for leadership. But they both touched and Gordon turned out, while a mass crash developed behind him. The race was briefly interrupted with the red flag when Marlin received a radio message that his fender was bent and touched the bike. Marlin got out of his car and straightened his fender. But NASCAR officials stopped this immediately because no one was allowed to make changes to their car while the red flag was on. Sterling Marlin was sent to the back of the field, clearing the way for Ward Burton to win.

Michael Waltrip won in 2003 after the race ended on lap 109 due to rain. The following year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first Daytona 500. It was also something special as his late father won the race for the first time exactly six years earlier to the day.

In 2005 Jeff Gordon won his third Daytona 500 and a year later his teammate Jimmie Johnson won the race.

The 2007 Daytona 500 took place exactly six years after Dale Earnhardt lost his life in an accident on the final lap. It was the first race in the NASCAR Nextel Cup from a non-American manufacturer, namely Toyota . Kevin Harvick won the race 0.020 seconds ahead of Mark Martin, who was overtaken by Harvick just a few meters from the finish line. It was the second-closest finish since the 1959 race when Lee Petty was declared the winner three days later.

2010-2016

The 52nd edition of the Daytona 500 in 2010 was the longest Daytona 500 of all time with a total duration of around 6 hours and 10 minutes. As part of the track asphalt came loose in Turn 2 and the track workers had to repair it, the race was paused twice by the red flag. This resulted in a total delay of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

2011 marked the tenth year after Dale Earnhardt's death . In honor of Dale Earnhardt, the third round turned into a silent lap , in which TV and radio presenters were silent and fans held three fingers in the air, which corresponds to his most famous starting number, number 3.

In 2012 the race had to be postponed from Sunday to Monday for the first time in its history due to heavy rain. The start was postponed from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. due to further rainfall. So there was another premiere: The race was held for the first time at night and under floodlights. During a yellow phase on lap 160, Juan Pablo Montoya lost control of his car and crashed into a safety truck equipped with a helicopter turbine (for drying the track). Montoya and the driver of the truck survived the accident unscathed despite the explosion. After a two-hour break, the race could be continued. The race then lasted until 1 a.m. on Tuesday. Matt Kenseth took the win ahead of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Greg Biffle .

In 2013, Danica Patrick was the first woman to secure pole position in a Sprint Cup Series race. Patrick was also the first woman to lead the field for two rounds (90, 91) and achieved 8th place, the best position that a woman has ever achieved in the cup. The race win went to Jimmie Johnson for the second time since 2006 .

In 2014, the legendary car number 3 - now driven by Austin Dillon  - made its comeback and was able to claim pole position. After almost 40 of the 200 laps to be completed, the race had to be interrupted because heavy rain and a tornado warning made it impossible to continue the journey. The race continued under floodlights after the six hour break. A yellow phase shortly before the end of the race brought together the field of drivers, which had since been severely decimated by several accidents. Ultimately, Dale Earnhardt junior , who was leading after the restart , was able to prevail in the finish sprint and secured his second success at the Daytona 500 after 2004.

Denny Hamlin won the race in 2016 with a 0.010 second lead over Martin Truex junior , which was the closest finish in the history of the race. Hamlin had previously accumulated 94 laps in the lead, but at the start of the last lap he was only in fourth place.

List of Daytona 500 winners

year	date	driver	Automobile #	brand	Launch site	Leadership laps	Prize money	Average speed ( mph )	Average speed ( km / h )
1959	February 22	Lee Petty	42	Oldsmobile	15th	38	$ 19,050	135.521	218,100
1960	February 24th	Robert G. "Junior" Johnson	27	Chevrolet	9.	67	$ 19,600	124.740	200.750
1961	February 26th	Marvin Panch	20th	Pontiac	4th	13	$ 21,050	149,601	240.759
1962	February 18	Edward G. "Fireball" Roberts	22nd	Pontiac	1.	144	$ 24,190	152.529	245.472
1963	February 24th	DeWayne L. "Tiny" Lund	21st	ford	12.	127	$ 24,550	151,566	243,922
1964	February 23	Richard Petty	43	Plymouth	2.	184	$ 33,300	154,334	248,376
1965	14th of February	Fred Lorenzen	28	ford	4th	25 (of 129)	$ 27,100	141.539 *	227.785 *
1966	27th of February	Richard Petty	43	Plymouth	1.	108 (of 198)	$ 28,150	160.927 *	258.987 *
1967	February 26th	Mario Andretti	11	ford	12.	112	$ 48,900	146.926	236,454
1968	February 25	Cale Yarborough	21st	Mercury	1.	76	$ 47,250	143.251	230.540
1969	February 23	LeeRoy Yarbrough	98	ford	19th	18th	$ 38,950	157.950	254.196
1970	February 22	Pete Hamilton	40	Plymouth	9.	13	$ 44,850	149,601	240.759
1971	14th of February	Richard Petty	43	Plymouth	5.	70	$ 45,450	144,462	232.489
1972	20. February	AJ Foyt	21st	Mercury	2.	167	$ 44,600	161.550	259.990
1973	February 18	Richard Petty	43	Dodge	7th	17th	$ 36,100	157.205	252,997
1974	February 17th	Richard Petty	43	Dodge	2.	73 (of 180)	$ 39,650	140.894 *	226.747 *
1975	February 16	Benny Parsons	72	Chevrolet	32.	4th	$ 43,905	153.649	247.274
1976	February 15th	David Pearson	21st	Mercury	7th	37	$ 46,800	152.181	244,912
1977	20. February	Cale Yarborough	11	Chevrolet	4th	137	$ 63,700	153.218	246,580
1978	19th of February	Bobby Allison	15th	ford	33.	28	$ 56,300	159.730	257,061
1979	February 18	Richard Petty	43	Oldsmobile	13.	12	$ 73,900	143.977	231,709
1980	February 17th	Buddy Baker	28	Oldsmobile	1.	143	$ 102,175	177,602	285,823
1981	February 15th	Richard Petty	43	Buick	8th.	26th	$ 90,575	169.651	273,027
1982	14th of February	Bobby Allison	88	Buick	7th	147	$ 120,360	153,991	247,824
1983	20. February	Cale Yarborough	28	Pontiac	8th.	23	$ 119,600	155.979	251.024
1984	19th of February	Cale Yarborough	28	Chevrolet	1.	89	$ 160,300	150.994	243,001
1985	February 17th	Bill Elliott	9	ford	1.	136	$ 185,500	172.265	277.234
1986	February 16	Geoff Bodine	5	Chevrolet	2.	101	$ 192,715	148.124	238,382
1987	February 15th	Bill Elliott	9	ford	1.	104	$ 204,150	176.263	283.668
1988	14th of February	Bobby Allison	12	Buick	3.	70	$ 202,940	137.531	221,335
1989	19th of February	Darrell whale trip	17th	Chevrolet	2.	25th	$ 184,900	148.466	238,933
1990	February 18	Derrike Cope	10	Chevrolet	12.	5	$ 188,150	165.761	266.766
1991	February 17th	Ernie Irvan	4th	Chevrolet	2.	29	$ 233,000	148.148	238,421
1992	February 16	Davey Allison	28	ford	6th	127	$ 244,050	160.256	257.907
1993	14th of February	Dale Jarrett	18th	Chevrolet	2.	8th	$ 238,200	154,972	249,403
1994	20. February	Sterling marlin	4th	Chevrolet	4th	30th	$ 258,275	156.931	252,556
1995	19th of February	Sterling marlin	4th	Chevrolet	3.	105	$ 300,460	141.710	228.060
1996	February 18	Dale Jarrett	88	ford	7th	40	$ 360,775	154,308	248,335
1997	February 16	Jeff Gordon	24	Chevrolet	6th	40	$ 377,410	148.295	238.658
1998	February 15th	Dale Earnhardt	3	Chevrolet	4th	105	$ 1,059,805	172.712	277,953
1999	14th of February	Jeff Gordon	24	Chevrolet	1.	15th	$ 1,172,246	161,551	259,991
2000	20. February	Dale Jarrett	88	ford	1.	87	$ 1,277,975	155.669	250.525
2001	February 18	Michael Waltrip	15th	Chevrolet	19th	23	$ 1,331,185	161.783	260.365
2002	February 17th	Ward Burton	22nd	Dodge	19th	4th	$ 1,389,017	130.810	210.518
2003	February 16	Michael Waltrip	15th	Chevrolet	4th	68 (of 109)	$ 1,419,406	133.870 *	215.443 *
2004	February 15th	Dale Earnhardt junior	8th	Chevrolet	3.	59	$ 1,495,070	156.341	251,606
2005	20. February	Jeff Gordon	24	Chevrolet	15th	28 (of 203)	$ 1,497,150	135.173 *	217.540 *
2006	19th of February	Jimmie Johnson	48	Chevrolet	9.	24 (of 203)	$ 1,505,120	142.734 *	229.708 *
2007	February 18	Kevin Harvick	29	Chevrolet	34.	4 (of 202)	$ 1,510,469	149.333 *	240.328 *
2008	February 17th	Ryan Newman	12	Dodge	7th	8th	$ 1,506,045	152.672	245.702
2009	February 15th	Matt Kenseth	17th	ford	43.	7 (of 152)	$ 1,536,388	132.816 *	213.614 *
2010	14th of February	Jamie McMurray	1	Chevrolet	13.	2 (of 208)	$ 1,514,649	137.284 *	220.931 *
2011	20. February	Trevor Bayne	21st	ford	32.	4 (of 208)	$ 1,463,810	130.326 *	209.74 *
2012	February 26th	Matt Kenseth	17th	ford	4th	50 (of 202)	$ 1,589,387	140.256 *	225.72 *
2013	February 24th	Jimmie Johnson	48	Chevrolet	21st	17th	$ 1,525,275	159.250	256.29
2014	February 23	Dale Earnhardt junior	88	Chevrolet	9.	54	$ 1,506,363	145.290	233.82
2015	February 22	Joey Logano	22nd	ford	5.	31	$ 1,581,453	148.379	238.79
2016	21st of February	Denny Hamlin	11	Toyota	11.	95		157.549	253.50
2017	February 26th	Kurt Busch	41	ford	8th.	1		143.187	230.437
2018	February 18	Austin Dillon	3	Chevrolet	14th	1		150.54 *	242.27 *
2019	February 17th	Denny Hamlin	11	Toyota	10.	30th		137.44 *	221.18 *
2020	February 17th	Denny Hamlin	11	Toyota	20th

* The race did not go over the distance of 500 miles (200 laps), but was either stopped prematurely or extended by a few laps in order not to end in a yellow light phase.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Denny Hamlin wins thrilling Daytona 500 . ( nascar.com [accessed February 10, 2017]).