Daytona 500: The Great American Race
On February 22, 1959, Johnny Beauchamp won the inaugural Daytona 500. Three days later, after careful inspection of finish line photographs, NASCAR officials overturned the decision and handed Lee Petty the title. This Sunday, the Daytona 500 will be run for the 50th time and, though it won’t take three days to determine the winner, we’ll likely see the same action, controversy and close finishes that have characterized the race since Petty’s disputed win. This guide teaches you the history and essentials of the race and points you toward the best sources for news and analysis.
Expand All Guide SectionsDaytona 500 Facts and History
The Daytona 500 is the most prestigious and most-watched race in the United States, and it marks the start of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup season. This section provides an overview of the Daytona 500, with sites covering the race and its history, the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and the Daytona Speedway. These sites can also assist those who are making the trip to Daytona with information on tickets, accomodations, and activities around the track.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Last year’s winner was Kevin Harvick, who won the race by just .02 seconds.
- If you’re just a casual fan and you have basic questions about the Daytona 500, visit HowStuffWorks’s guide to the Daytona 500.
Dulcinea's Picks
The Daytona 500
official Web site has race news, profiles of the contending drivers, ticket and visiting information, and more. Visit the “History” section to see past winners, a decade-by-decade history of the race, and recaps of the greatest finishes. Stop by the “Video” section for interviews with drivers recounting their favorite Daytona moments.
NASCAR.com
has profiles and pictures of the drivers, video from Speedweeks, and all the stats you need from last year’s Sprint Cup races. The NASCAR 101 page gives a good overview of the sport, with biographies of famous drivers, a glossary of terms, and an explanation of the Sprint Cup season.
The Daytona International Speedway
official site has information about the track that’s particularly useful for visiting fans, including maps, directions and local accommodations. Don’t miss the 3D views from the grandstands and animated tours of the infield and suites.
The Daytona 500 Experience
is an interactive museum celebrating the race’s history. Look for traditional museum exhibits as well as motion simulators, IMAX movies, a do-it-yourself pit stop, and more. It also features the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which lets you ride shotgun for a lap around the track. The site describes each attraction and gives information on museum hours, directions, and tickets.
Daytona 500 News and Analysis
Since the end of last year’s Sprint Cup, fans have been waiting to kick off the new season at Daytona. Get all the Daytona 500 news and commentary you need from these trusted sources.
Dulcinea's Insight
- For more sources for news and analysis, visit the findingDulcinea Auto Racing Web Guide.
- Most drivers have their own official Web sites with biographies, driver news, pictures and video, merchandise, and more. There are also fan pages for specific drivers, with news, pictures, and ways to connect with fellow fans. Google Directory has links to the official sites and fan sites of many NASCAR drivers.
Dulcinea's Picks
For mainstream media …
ESPN
offers news, stats, video and commentary from its team of racing experts. It also features content from Jayski’s Silly Season Site, which it purchased last year. You’ll find much of the news and rumors that Jayski is known for, plus a Jayski podcast, in which host Mark Garrow reviews the latest NASCAR news.
SportsIllustrated.com
features commentary from a large team of writers, who offer a Sprint Cup preview and much more.
FOXSports.com
offers the kind of coverage you’d expect from the network broadcasting the race, with analysis from Larry McReynolds, former Daytona 500 winner Darrell Waltrip, and others.
For racing-specific sites …
RacingOne
is a great source for racing news, stats, results, and track information. Stop by the very active Community section for blogs from fans and RacingOne’s staff, and a NASCAR message board. The site is also home to Motor Racing Network Radio (MRN Radio), which gives a broadcast schedule for the week and a list of affiliated radio stations.
That’s Racin’
is an affiliate of The Charlotte Observer, featuring top stories and racing commentary in the “Inside Line” section.
For blogs …
Frontstretch
has a staff of five editors and almost 20 writers offering humorous commentary on the world of NASCAR, and is one of the most popular sites for NASCAR fans to visit. The site’s large staff means that it adds many posts each day.
Do You NASCAR?
features links and commentary on NASCAR. The blog has been previewing the upcoming season team-by-team, analyzing which drivers to look out for on Sunday and beyond. Scroll down the right side to find a very large blogroll.
Ron Ripple
claims to be “NASCAR’s Biggest Fan” and he commentates on the sport with the sensibilities of a fan. What he lacks in technical analysis he makes up for in his honesty and enthusiasm for the sport.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
