Daytona

Overview

Daytona International Speedway, located in Daytona Beach, Florida, is one of motorsport's most iconic venues. This 2.5-mile (4.02 km) tri-oval superspeedway, opened in 1959, is the home of the Daytona 500, known as "The Great American Race." The facility features multiple track configurations, including the sports car road course, which incorporates portions of the oval and infield sections. With its 31-degree high-banked turns, the speedway is a key venue in American motorsport and hosts some of racing's most significant events.

Technical Specifications and Track Features

The circuit offers multiple racing configurations:

• Main Superspeedway: 2.5-mile (4.02 km) tri-oval with 31-degree banked turns
• Road Course: 3.56-mile (5.73 km) circuit combining oval and infield sections
• Motorcycle Course: 2.95-mile (4.75 km) modified road course configuration

Other key features include:

• Front stretch: 3,800 feet (1,158 m) long with 18-degree banking
• Backstretch: 3,000 feet (914 m) long with 2-degree banking
• High-grip asphalt surface optimized for multi-class racing
• SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier system
• Stadium-style lighting for night racing
• Multiple pit road configurations for different series
• Advanced drainage system utilizing the infield Lake Lloyd

Facilities and Specialized Areas

Following the $400 million "DAYTONA Rising" renovation project, completed in 2016, the facility offers:

• Grandstand capacity for 101,500 spectators
• Five expanded and redesigned fan entrances ("injectors")
• 11 social areas called "neighborhoods" spanning football-field length
• Media center and broadcast facilities
• Expansive garage areas accommodating multiple racing series
• Gatorade Victory Lane with fan viewing areas
• The DAYTONA 500 Club and other premium hospitality venues
• FanZone providing infield access
• Lake Lloyd, a 29-acre (117,000 m²) man-made lake used for water sports events
• UNOH (University of Northwestern Ohio) Fan Zone
• Medical facilities meeting NASCAR and IMSA standards

History

The speedway's history began with its construction in 1957 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., who envisioned a permanent site to replace the beach-road course that had hosted racing since the 1930s. Opening in 1959, the inaugural Daytona 500 ended in a photo finish, with Lee Petty declared the winner over Johnny Beauchamp.

Key historical milestones include:

• 1962: Introduction of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA (originally a 3-hour race)
• 1998: Installation of lighting system for night racing
• 2010: Full track repaving, maintaining the original geometry
• 2016: Completion of the "DAYTONA Rising" project, transforming the facility into a modern motorsports stadium

Today, Daytona International Speedway continues to host major events, including the Daytona 500, Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, Coke Zero Sugar 400, and various motorcycle and endurance races, maintaining its status as "The World Center of Racing."