| Daytona 500 News: |
| The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap, 500 mile (805 km) NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. In 2008, the race will celebrate its 50th running.
The Daytona 500 is widely considered to be NASCAR's most important and prestigious race, and has the largest purse, although it is equivalent to other races on the calendar for championship purposes. It is also the circuit's first race of the year; this phenomenon is virtually unique in sports, which tend to have championships or other major events at the end of the season rather than the start. Since 1995, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500. The 2006 Daytona 500 attracted the sixth largest average live global TV audience of any sporting event that year with 20 million viewers. [1] The event serves as the final event of Speedweeks and is known as "The Great American Race" and the "Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing." It is held the third or second Sunday in February, and since 1971, has been loosely associated with Presidents Day weekend. The winner of the Daytona 500 is presented with the Harley J. Earl Trophy in Victory Lane, and the winning car is displayed, in race-winning condition, for one year at Daytona USA, a museum and gallery adjacent to Daytona International Speedway. |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
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Daytona 500
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11:59 pm
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Daytona International Speedway
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| Daytona 500 Tickets. 1990 Daytona 500
This edition of the Great American Race offered one of the races biggest upsets. Dale Earnhardt, who had won almost everything at DIS except the Daytona 500, looked like he would finally break his losing streak in the Great American Race. Earnhardts famous black No. 3 Chevrolet was the class of the field as he led 150 laps and nearly lapped the field. But Earnhardt couldnt lead the most important lap the final one. About a quarter lap away from the checkered flag and his elusive first Daytona 500 victory, Earnhardts right rear tire failed after running over a piece of bell housing. Earnhardt miraculously kept his car off the wall, but he was off the pace and out of contention. Derrike Cope, with Terry Labonte behind, passed Earnhardt as they headed toward the checkered flag. Cope, an up-and-coming driver from Spanaway, Wash., in only his third Daytona 500 start, fended off Terry Labonte to record one of the greatest upsets in motorsports history. Meanwhile, Earnhardt had to wait until 1998 and his 20th Daytona 500 start before finally hoisting the Harley J. Earl trophy in Daytonas Victory Lane. |