| The Daytona 500 is a NASCAR sprint race that | | | | raced in stock cars that were accoutered with |
| takes place annually around the mid or end of | | | | wipers and radiators to resist the sands. But since |
| February on a Sunday at the Daytona Speedway | | | | 1959 it has been replaced by 500 miles. Hence the |
| which is located in Florida. This restrictor place | | | | name "Daytona 500" that it took on since 1961. |
| race features 200 laps that amount to around | | | | The Daytona 500 race that was held in 2000 had |
| 500 miles. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in | | | | upsetting results. Johnny Benson was leading until |
| 2008. | | | | he was overtaken by Dale Jarrett owing to a |
| Commonly known as "The Great American Race" | | | | restart just four laps left. It resulted in a lead for |
| and the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing", it is | | | | Jarrett that he maintained for the rest of the laps |
| considered by several to be the most illustrious | | | | and successfully grabbed his third Daytona 500 |
| and distinguished event on the NASCAR calendar. | | | | title. |
| The scoring is similar to that of the average | | | | The 2007 Daytona 500 race for the first time |
| Sprint Cup races. Its importance can be judged | | | | featured a new foreign addition in the form of |
| from the fact that it is the annual opener of | | | | Toyota. This race was held six years after the |
| NASCAR events, instead of being held at the end | | | | demise of Dale Earnhardt. The race was finished |
| of the year like the other preeminent events. | | | | by two of the total Toyotas that were |
| Since 1995 it has been posting the highest ratings | | | | contesting in the race. The 2005 winner Dale |
| for auto races of all kinds on US television, | | | | Jarrett finished 23rd with Waltrip finishing at 30th. |
| surpassing the ratings of Indianapolis 500 that | | | | Tony Stewart who was initially leading the race |
| enjoys a higher track attendance. In 2006 | | | | fell out owing to a crash with Kurt Busch. The |
| Daytona 500 successfully managed to attract an | | | | crash is said to be similar to the crash that led to |
| audience of over 20 million which was the sixth | | | | the sad demise of Dale Earnhardt. But both the |
| highest average of a television telecast that year. | | | | contestants luckily managed to escape unscathed. |
| The winner bags the Harley J. Earl Trophy in | | | | The 2008 Daytona 500 race celebrated the 50th |
| Victory Lane and the winning car is put on display | | | | anniversary of this race which was first held in |
| for a whole year at the Daytona 500 Experience; | | | | 1959. This golden jubilee saw the inclusion of |
| which is a museum right next to the Daytona | | | | NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow for the very first |
| track. | | | | time in the running, after its introduction in 2007. It |
| Earlier this race was held on the sand and the | | | | was also the first race that was being held under |
| highway that is adjacent to the beach. Instead of | | | | the banner of the "Sprint Cup", after the merger |
| 500 miles it originally covered 200 miles that were | | | | of Sprint and NEXTEL that took place in 2005. |