Special Sub-Topic: A Tribute To Daytona Authored by: RaceGirl24 Sub-topic of: NASCAR Tracks

The first race sanctioned by Nascar, was in what year?

1948. The first race sanctioned by Nascar was held February 15th, 1948, on the Beach-Road course in Daytona.

Who won the first race sanctioned by Nascar?

Red Byron. Byron won this race (February 15th, 1948) in a Ford on the 2 mile beach-road course at Daytona. He later became NASCAR's first season champion.

In 1949, the Beach-Road course was expanded to how many miles?

4.15 miles.

True or False: at one time the Daytona road course was a dirt, asphalt, and drag race all rolled in one?

True & T. This is true. The road course consisted of a race down the 2-lane strip of asphalt with a return across Daytona Beach's sand. Modifieds on the beach's road course hit speeds of 140 mph.

The opening of Daytona International Speedway was in what year?

1959. This also marked the beginning of a new era for NASCAR. Daytona was the first paved American superspeedway with high banks - the 31-degree banking rises five stories above the infield, which includes a road course.

True or False: the finish of the inaugural Daytona 500 took three days, for officials to declare Lee Petty the winner over Johnny Beauchamp?

True & T. True - February 22nd, 1959. The race was so close with 3 drivers crossing the finish at almost the same time, side by side. The 3rd car was lapped driver Joe Weatherly.

In what year did television decide to experiment and show a NASCAR race (Daytona 500) live on television?

1979. The network ABC, decided to take a gamble and show the last lap of the Daytona 500 (1976) live on television. 3 years later another Daytona 500 was shown live (flag to flag racing) and secured both the future of the sport and its place on television.

Who won the Daytona race that was first shown on television?

Richard Petty. Pearson won the race despite a last-turn collision with Allison. His Mercury was heavily damaged and he chugged very slowly to the checkered flag.

After the 1988 Daytona 500, Davey Allison made this quote: 'This might be the first time in my life I'm not terribly upset about finishing second'. Who finished ahead of him?

Bobby Allison. Davey said this after chasing his father, Bobby, to the checkered flag. Several years later tragedy struck the Allison family when Davey died in a tragic helicopter crash just as his career hit full speed.

Who won the final stock car race on Daytona's old Beach-Road course?

Paul Goldsmith. Goldsmith scored the victory of historic significance in 1958.