The Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida is home to some of the most significant NASCAR races there are. This is a 2.5 mile track and can seat 168,000 fans. Other racing associations share the track too so it is not exclusively a NASCAR facility. It is home to the race most Americans know, because there are so long: The Daytona 500. NASCAR is sponsoring this event as the Nextel Cup – Daytona 500 – "The Great American Race."
In 2008,50th Daytona 500 Nextel Cup Race will take place. NASCAR Daytona 500 is an 500-mile race that consists of 200 laps. This race will kick off the NASCAR season February 17. The winner of the Daytona 500 is selected the Harley J. Earl Trophy. Harley J. Earl was an automotive designer who has served as commissioner of NASCAR seconds. The Harley J. Earl Trophies will be plated in gold instead of silver for the 2008 race.
NASCAR Daytona 500 has asingle qualification procedure. The 35 best teams in the competition the previous year are automatically qualified to compete in the current Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway. There are 150-mile qualifying races held one week before the big race and the two best drivers of the qualification will be added to the 35. Other top qualifiers will fill the remaining spots to 43 and the former champions will be without blemish priority.
The Daytona International Speedwaysaw its share of exciting wins throughout its history. For example, take the Daytona 500 victory in 1976 when David Pearson has just beat the King Richard Petty Racing. The two actually wrecked on their dart for the finish and both cars went spinning. Richard Petty car stalled when he went into the infield. Pearson managed to retrieve his car on the line to 30 mph. All this excitement happened just 20 meters from the finish line.
The Daytona 500 has had itsshare of tragedies. In 2001, Dale Earnhardt was killed in an accident in the last turn of the last lap. Dale Earnhardt had won on this track 34 times.
It was thought that some modifications allowing drivers of faster cars have caused this failure and were abandoned in the rules after the fatal stroke. The amendments made by the cars more aerodynamic and has enabled more cars to take the lead during a race. The idea was to inject more excitement into the race at Daytona InternationalSpeedway and other tracks.
Since this 500 on the Daytona International Datyona NASCAR is so popular, there is a site dedicated to her: She http://www.daytona500.com streaming video of her previous races.
The Daytona 500 has made news with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Get the number 88 for his race car in the 50th to come. The number 88 is significant in NASCAR because it was the same number used in the years earlier by his grandfather RalphEarnhardt. But this is not the only link that gives the number 88 significant. The number 88 has a long list of drivers who have shown the number to include Bobbie Allison, Donnie Allison, Fireball Roberts and Darrell Waltrip to name a few. The number 88 was recorded in 65 victories and is ranked in the No. 9 all-time most winning numbers.
