Daytona 500 - biography

The Daytona 500 (nicknamed "the Super Bowl of motorsports" and "The Great American Race") is the most important motor race NASCAR Cup Series, and one of the largest in the United States, along with the Grand prize of the United States, the Indianapolis 500 and the 12 Hours of Sebring. It has played at the Daytona International Speedway oval (Florida), in mid-February each year since 1959.

In the same month and prior to the Daytona 500, preliminary races of the other two national divisions of NASCAR (NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series) and ARCA Series and the 24 Hours of Daytona dispute, one of the most important endurance races in the world. The tradition of Speed ​​Weeks Daytona dates back to the early twentieth century, when sprint fought at a beach circuit.

The maximum winning drivers of the Daytona 500 are Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough, with seven four wins respectively. Meanwhile, Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon lead recorded three wins each. Chevrolet car brand has won six of the ten editions disputed in the 2000s Since multiple collisions occur frequently in Daytona, drivers often succeed junior teams.

Qualifying format

The qualifying round of the Daytona 500 only determines the starting positions of the two best drivers. The remaining competitors must participate in one of two qualifying races (since 2013: Budweiser Duels, "Budweiser Duels").

The drivers ranked in odd positions are at the first qualifying race, and even dispute the second. The starting order of the two qualifying races is determined by qualifying times. Once challenged, the starting grid for the Daytona 500 is assembled with the pilots of the first qualifying race in the inner column, and the second on the outer column.

The qualifying races lasted 100 miles (160 km) until 1967, 125 miles (200 km) until 2004, and 150 miles (240 km) since 2005. The best placed riders in the championship last year have secured places in the qualifying races and the 500, even though they have achieved qualifying times ill or have completed the qualifying race in positions relegated.

Benchmarks

The Daytona 500. 1979 was the first American 500-mile race to be televised in its entirety live across America.

As a result of strong shocks and high speeds were recorded in 1988 he was forced to equip participants with a restrictor plate car in the air intake. This measurement is then imitated in the NASCAR Cup races at Talladega Superspeedway.

Deaths

Harold Haberling - 1964 trainings

Talmadge Prince - 1970 qualifying race

Friday Hassler    -  1972 qualifying race

Ricky Knotts      -  1980 qualifying race

Bruce Jacobi      -  1983 (he was in a coma to death in 1987), qualifying race

Neil Bonnett      -  1994 ranking

Rodney Orr        - 1994 ranking

Dale Earnhardt   - 2001, career


note from externa web .WIKIPEDIA

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