Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway
Location1801 West International Speedway Blvd,
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
Time zoneUTC−5 (UTC−4 DST)
Coordinates29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W / 29.18556°N 81.06944°W / 29.18556; -81.06944
Capacity101,500–167,785 (w/ infield, depending on configuration) 123,500 (grandstand capacity)
OwnerNASCAR (2019–present)
International Speedway Corporation (1959–2019)[1]
OperatorNASCAR (1959–present)
Broke groundNovember 25, 1957 (1957-11-25)
OpenedFebruary 22, 1959 (1959-02-22)
Construction costUS$3 million
ArchitectCharles Moneypenny
William France, Sr.
Major eventsCurrent:

Former:

Websitehttp://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/
NASCAR Tri-Oval (1959–present)[2][3]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.500 miles (4.023 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns: 31°
Tri-oval: 18°
Back straightaway: 3°
Race lap record0:40.002 (United States Jonathan Roscoe, Roush Yates Mazda Rx7 2.6L 4 Rotor, 2024, Sports Compact)
Sports Car Course (1985–present)[3]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.560 miles (5.729 km)
Turns12
BankingOval turns: 31°
Tri-Oval: 18°
Back straightaway: 2°
Infield: 0° (flat)
Race lap record1:33.724 (Spain Alex Palou, Cadillac DPi-V.R, 2022, DPi)
NASCAR Road Course (2020–2021)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.570 miles (5.745 km)
Turns14
BankingOval turns: 31°
Tri-Oval: 18°
Back straightaway: 2°
Infield: 0° (flat)
Race lap record1:55.677 (United States Chase Elliott, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, 2021, NASCAR Cup)
Motorcycle Course (2005–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.950 miles (4.748 km)
Turns12
BankingOval turns: 31°
Tri-Oval: 18°
Back straightaway: 2°
Infield: 0° (flat)
Sports Car Course (1984)[2]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.869 miles (6.228 km)
Race lap record1:45.209 (United Kingdom Derek Bell, Porsche 962, 1984, IMSA GTP)
Sports Car Course (1975–1983)[2]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.840 miles (6.180 km)
Race lap record1:45.360 (United States Danny Ongais, Lola T600, 1982, IMSA GTP)
Sports Car Course (1959–1974)[2]
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.810 miles (6.132 km)
Turns7
Race lap record1:41.250 (United States Mark Donohue, Ferrari 512 M, 1971, Group 5)
Dirt Flat Track
SurfaceDirt
Length0.25 miles (0.40 km)
Turns4
BankingFlat
Short Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.40 miles (0.64 km)
Turns4
BankingFlat
Race lap record0:20.129 (Nate Monteith, Monteith Racing, 2013, Whelen All-American Series)

Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States, about 50 mi (80 km) north of Orlando. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. The venue also hosts the 24 Hours of Daytona, the most prestigious IMSA race and one of the three events that make up the Triple Crown of endurance racing. In addition to NASCAR and IMSA, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, SCCA, and AMA Supercross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.500 mi (4.023 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.560 mi (5.729 km) sports car course, a 2.950 mi (4.748 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320 ft (400 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing.

The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William "Bill" France Sr. to host racing that was held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. The speedway is operated by NASCAR pursuant to a lease with the City of Daytona Beach on the property that runs until 2054.[1][4] The venue describes itself as the "World Center of Racing".[5]

Lights were installed around the track in 1998, and today it is the third-largest single-lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated four times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010. On January 22, 2013, the fourth speedway renovation was unveiled. On July 5, 2013, ground was broken on "Daytona Rising" to remove backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation was by design-builder Barton Malow Company in partnership with Rossetti Architects. The project was completed in January 2016, and cost US $400 million. It emphasized improved fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called "injectors"), as well as wider and more comfortable seats, and more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations were complete, the track's grandstands had 101,500[6] permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000.[7][8] The project was finished before the start of Speedweeks in 2016.

  1. ^ a b Long, Mark (May 22, 2019). "NASCAR buys International Speedway Corp. for $2B". Associated Press. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Daytona - RacingCircuits.info". Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Daytona Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Lane, Mark (August 5, 2018). "Little-known special district leases land under the Daytona International Speedway". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Mike Hembree (February 5, 2018). "How Daytona Beach Became the 'World Center of Racing'". Autoweek.
  6. ^ "DAYTONA Rising". www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Reed, Steve (January 22, 2013). "Daytona International unveils plans for upgrade". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Daytona Rising". Daytona International Speedway. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2013.

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