Daytona International Speedway
Motorsport track in the United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, IMSA, 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 Daytona International Speedway logo | |
| Location | 1801 West International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC−5 (UTC−4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 29°11′8″N 81°4′10″W |
| Capacity | 101,500–167,785 (w/ infield, depending on configuration) 123,500 (grandstand capacity) |
| Owner | NASCAR[1] |
| Broke ground | November 25, 1957; 65 years ago (1957-11-25) |
| Opened | February 22, 1959; 64 years ago (1959-02-22) |
| Construction cost | US$3 million |
| Architect | Charles Moneypenny William France, Sr. |
| Major events | Current:
Former:
|
| Website | www |
| NASCAR Tri-Oval (1959–present)[2][3] | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.500 miles (4.023 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns: 31° Tri-oval: 18° Back straightaway: 3° |
| Race lap record | 0:40.364 ( Colin Braun, Roush Yates Ford EcoBoost 3.5L GDI V6tt, 2013, DP) |
Sports Car Course (1985–present)[3] | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.560 miles (5.729 km) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Banking | Oval turns: 31° Tri-Oval: 18° Back straightaway: 2° Infield: 0° (flat) |
| Race lap record | 1:33.724 ( Álex Palou, Cadillac DPi-V.R, 2022, DPi) |
NASCAR Road Course (2020–2021) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.570 miles (5.745 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Banking | Oval turns: 31° Tri-Oval: 18° Back straightaway: 2° Infield: 0° (flat) |
| Race lap record | 1:55.677 ( Chase Elliott, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, 2021, NASCAR Cup) |
Motorcycle Course (2005–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.950 miles (4.748 km) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Banking | Oval turns: 31° Tri-Oval: 18° Back straightaway: 2° Infield: 0° (flat) |
| Race lap record | 1:37.546 ( Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2007, Superbike) |
| Sports Car Course (1984)[2] | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.869 miles (6.228 km) |
| Race lap record | 1:45.209 ( Derek Bell, Porsche 962, 1984, IMSA GTP) |
| Sports Car Course (1975–1983)[2] | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.840 miles (6.180 km) |
| Race lap record | 1:45.360 ( Danny Ongais, Lola T600, 1982, IMSA GTP) |
| Sports Car Course (1959–1974)[2] | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.810 miles (6.132 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 1:41.250 ( Mark Donohue, Ferrari 512 M, 1971, Group 5) |
| Dirt Flat Track | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 0.25 miles (0.40 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Flat |
| Short Oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.40 miles (0.64 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Flat |
| Race lap record | 0:20.129 (Nate Monteith, Monteith Racing, 2013, Whelen All-American Series) |
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.