Daytona International Speedway

Track Info

Location	Daytona Beach, Florida
Type	Tri-Oval Superspeedway
Length	2.5 miles (4.023 km)
Banking	31 degrees in turns, 18 degrees in tri-oval, 3 degrees on backstretch
Surface	Asphalt
Capacity	~101,500
Opened	1959

Track Characteristics

Daytona International Speedway is the most iconic track in NASCAR. Built by Bill France Sr. and opened in 1959, this 2.5-mile tri-oval replaced the old Daytona Beach road course that ran partly on the sand and partly on the adjacent highway. The 31-degree banking in the turns allows cars to carry tremendous speed, and with restrictor plates (now superspeedway aero packages), racing at Daytona is defined by drafting, pack racing, and dramatic last-lap moves.

The tri-oval configuration gives fans in the main grandstand a clear view of the frontstretch action. The track's wide racing surface allows three- and four-wide racing through the turns, creating some of the most intense competition in all of motorsport. The high banking means cars can run flat out through the corners, keeping speeds consistently above 190 mph in the draft.

The DAYTONA Rising project, completed in 2016, transformed the facility with a massive overhaul that added wider concourses, improved sightlines, and modern amenities while preserving the track's legendary character. The infield also features a road course used for sports car racing, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) - approximately 5 miles from the track. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is about 90 miles north and often has cheaper flights.
Nearest City	Daytona Beach, FL. The track sits right along International Speedway Boulevard, minutes from the beach and hotels.

Series That Race Here

• NASCAR Cup Series - Daytona 500 (season opener) and Coke Zero Sugar 400 (regular season finale)
• NASCAR Xfinity Series
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
• IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - Rolex 24 at Daytona
• ARCA Menards Series

2026 NASCAR Event Info

Cup Race	Daytona 500
Date	February 15, 2026
TV	FOX
Summer Race	Coke Zero Sugar 400 - August 29, 2026 (NBC)

Track Records

Qualifying Record	Bill Elliott - 210.364 mph (1987)
Race Record	Buddy Baker - 177.602 mph (1980 Daytona 500)

Notable Past Races

• 1979 Daytona 500: The first 500-mile race broadcast live flag-to-flag on national TV. Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough crashed on the final lap, allowing Richard Petty to take the win while a fistfight broke out in the infield grass. This race is widely credited with putting NASCAR on the national map.
• 1998 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 after 20 years of heartbreak. Crew members from every team lined pit road to congratulate him in one of the most emotional moments in NASCAR history.
• 2001 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt was killed in a last-lap crash while protecting the 1-2 finish of his DEI drivers Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The tragedy changed NASCAR safety forever.
• 2016 Daytona 500: Denny Hamlin edged Martin Truex Jr. at the finish line by just 0.010 seconds in the closest Daytona 500 finish in history.

Track Facts

• The original Daytona beach-road course ran from 1936 to 1958, using both the hard-packed sand of Daytona Beach and a portion of Highway A1A.
• Lake Lloyd, a 29-acre lake in the infield, was created from the dirt excavated to build the track's banking. It has been used for powerboat racing and fishing.
• Bill Elliott's 1987 qualifying speed of 210.364 mph remains the all-time NASCAR speed record, set before restrictor plates were mandated.
• The Rolex 24 at Daytona, held each January on the combined oval-road course, is one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world.

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