Daytona International Speedway
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Partly Cloudy, 83F
Forecast:
Sat: Isolated Thunderstorms. High: 84 Low: 69
Sun: Isolated Thunderstorms. High: 86 Low: 69
Where And About
Ownership: International Speedway Corp.
Opened: 1959.
One lap: 2.5 miles.
Configuration: Tri-oval.
Banking: 31 degrees in turns, 3 degrees on straights.
Seating capacity: 168,000.
History
After races on the Beach Course - the beach, a public highway and a pair of turns - NASCAR founder William France Sr. began planning a new track for the premiere event for the series in 1953. On August 16, 1954, he signed a contract with city officials to create this new track that would become known as Daytona International Speedway. Ground was broken on Nov. 25, 1957.
After financial and construction delays, the track welcomed about 41,000 fans for the first race Feb. 22, 1959.
The facility today seats nearly 170,000 and has capacity for many more. In addition to the tri-ovel, a road course is also on the site and races are held for nearly every kind of vehicle from go-karts to sports cars to stock cars. The track hosts other events as well. The Cup series season opener, the Daytona 500, is NASCAR's biggest event.
Records
500-mile Cup race: Buddy Baker, 177.602, 1980.
400-mile Cup race: Bobby Allison, 173.473, 1980.
Cup qualifying: Bill Elliott, 210.364, 1987.
2008 winners
Daytona 500: Ryan Newman.
Coke Zero 400: Kyle Busch.
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