Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL
Considered one of the premiere racetracks in the US and probably one of the most well known, the Daytona International Speedway is the annual host of the biggest NASCAR race of the year, the Daytona 500, dubbed “The Great American Race.”
The history of the track is directly connected with the history of NASCAR itself, which was founded in the Daytona Beach area in 1947 by William France Sr. and other race aficionados. France originally began his races on the old Daytona Beach Road Course (which included the sandy beach), where several land speed records were set, but broke ground for the new speedway in 1957. Despite some funding problems, which were quickly solved with a check from the Pepsi-Cola Company, the track opened in 1959 and was, at that time, the fastest race track ever to host a stock car race. (That honor was lost when the Talladega Superspeedway opened in 1969.)
The Daytona International Speedway is a 2.5-mile-long tri-oval, a shape that was novel for the era in which it was built. It measures 40 feet wide and has an apron of anywhere from 12 to 30 feet. There is 31 degree banking at the turns and 18 degree banking at the start/finish line. The facility covers a total of about 480 acres and the stands can accommodate 168,000 spectators. The speedway is the site of dozens of races besides the famed Daytona 500. Everything from motorcycles to go-karts to stock cars race on this track and there’s even a 29- acre lake in the infield, dubbed Lake Lloyd, which has been the site of powerboat races. The facility is also used annually for a car show and a street rod meet as well as a number of other events and exhibits. The track is lighted for evening races and events.
Visitors are welcome at the track just about any time and it doesn’t even have to be a race day to enter. Guests can take a tour of the track and the facility in general by visiting the Daytona 500 Experience, an interactive attraction that is located on the grounds of the Daytona International Speedway. Special VIP tours can be arranged as well and guests who are willing to dole out some extra bucks can actually ride along with a racing professional or drive the track themselves, courtesy of the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Reservations for ride-alongs or driving most be made in advance and some training must be completed for the latter.
Each year, the facility sponsors Speedweeks, a three-week-long stretch in February that includes several events including the Daytona 500 qualifying race. Tickets for those races and for other races and events can be purchased online or at the track ticket booths.
During certain races or certain times of the year,
camping facilities are available at the Daytona International Speedway. Both
tent camping and RV camping are permitted and there are some sites available
with hook-ups. RVers can purchase camping packages that include not only
accommodations but also admission to the infield, grandstands, Sprint
FANZONE (live entertainment, food, etc.) and garages.
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