History of the Daytona 500 This article documents historical records, statistics, and race recaps of the Daytona 500, held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

As the 2025 race and the start of the NASCAR season approaches, we’re celebrating its legacy with a 25-day countdown, reliving the top moments that have defined this iconic event.

Feb 16, 2025 · The first Daytona 500 was held Feb. 22, 1959. So much has changed since then, and there’s plenty to catch up on ahead of Sunday’s 67th edition of “The Great American Race.”

Feb 15, 2025 · Daytona International Speedway will host the 67th running of the Daytona 500 Sunday. Here is one fact about each of the first 66 races.

How long does the Daytona 500 last? The race covers 500 miles over 200 laps, typically lasting between 3 to 4 hours, depending on track conditions and race incidents.

The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile NASCAR Cup Series race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. As one of two Cup races at Daytona, it's a prominent …

Daytona International Speedway opened its doors on February 22, 1959, with the inaugural Daytona 500. The first race was won by Lee Petty, and the event set the stage for the Daytona …

ON THE SAND — Before 1959’s Inaugural 500, races in Daytona were on the flat sand alongside the surf, turnning through the deep-sand dunes, and onto the coarsely paved A1A.

Dec 19, 2025 · The race has been held every February since 1959 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, and it consists of 200 laps around a 2.5-mile (4-km) tri …

The Daytona 500 was the first 500-mile (800 km) auto race to be televised live flag-to-flag on network television when CBS aired it in 1979, continuing to air until 2000.