More Daytona 500 Information

Daytona International Speedway, on the Florida coast at Daytona Beach, has an advantage over most tracks in being available year round for racing events. The track itself is a tri-oval that sits on a complex covering 480 acres. The infield boasts the 44-acre Lake Lloyd. With the long season and the versatility of the setting, Daytona International Speedway has room in its schedule for motorcycle racing, as well as Historic Sportscar Racing and other events.

The Daytona 500, as the season opener for the Sprint Cup, features well-rested drivers in top form. For that reason, the result of the 200-lap race is always exciting and sometimes controversial. For example, in 1979, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison were leading the race when they bumped each other on the final lap. They crashed in Turn 3, and while Richard Petty overtook them and won the race, Yarborough and Allison argued and eventually began a fistfight that included Bobby Allison, Donnie's brother.